Halftime Hype

Having five NBA games on Christmas Day was definietly an interesting experiment for the league. At first, it makes some sense. The NBA was trying to reach a wider demographic, so by scheduling more games, 10 teams - not the typical 4 - were involved. Therefore, it's logical to assume more fans would watch the games or come to the arenas to support their team. However, critics had voiced their opinions. Commentator Jeff Van Gundy believed the games weren't as special, sacrificing quality for quantity.

I, for one, wasn't sure what to make of it. Often times, for some reason or another, nationally-televised games are close. That certainly wasn't the case yesterday. The average margin of defeat, seperating the winners from the losers, was 14.4 points. The majority of games were lost by double digits, excluding the Magic's 9-point loss to the Celtics. If they had been closer, there would be reason to believe that the 5-game lineup could be considered a success.



Ironically, the closest game was probably one of the lesser viewed nationally, between Miami and New York. Unless you were a dedicated fan on the West Coast, you probably didn't tune in to watch the Heat play against the Knicks at 9 AM. Understandably, though, this game didn't really concern anybody on the West Coast, and as long as people on the East Coast were watching at noon, all was well. Gallinari continues to prove he's more than a three-point threat, successful on all his seven free-throw attempts and collecting 8 rebounds. As commentator Marv Albert used to say, the "high man" for the Knicks had to be David Lee with 19 points (9-14 shooting) and 16 boards. The Knicks, much like the Magic, however, had a difficult time from the perimeter, successful on only 5 of 28 threes (17.9%). It also didn't help that Al Harrington, who played 32 minutes, went 5-for-20. For the Heat, the storyline was, as usual, dominated by D-Wade (30 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists) with a touch of Beasley (19 points on 7-for-16 shooting) and Jermaine O'Neal (11 points, 8rebounds).

The Celtics-Magic game was arguably the matchup of the day, considering that the Cavs blew out the Lakers in a sleeper. It was genuinely exciting to watch the two best teams in the Eastern Conference battle it out, as the Celtics pulled off a road win. Credit to Boston, for prevailing in the wake of Paul Pierce's surgery. Rajon Rondo had an amazing performance, finishing with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists - the only lowlight was his 8 turnovers (giving him a 1:1 assist/turnover ratio for the game). Despite Vince Carter's 27 points on 10-20 shooting and 4 steals, I had expected the Magic to win handily and exploit Pierce's absence. On the plus side for the Magic, they did convert on 20 out of 24 free-throw attempts (83.3.%), which means they did capitalize in that sense. On the contrary, I'm surprised the phrase "Hack-a-Rondo" hasn't been coined yet, as he really needs to work on his foul shots. What really seemed to kill the Magic was a tendency to settle behind the arc, hitting only 5 of their 26 three-point attempts (19.2%).



The much-hyped matchup with the Cavaliers facing the Lakers in Los Angeles ended badly - especially for the Lakers. With 4:04 remaining, and the Lakers trailing by about 20 points, Odom was ejected after receiving his second technical, Phil Jackson picked up a T after he neglected to insert a sub, and fans hurled foam fingers followed by a water bottle or two. It was just that kind of day for L.A. Kobe had a rare off-night, shooting 11-for-32 (34.4%), despite hitting all 12 of his free throws with a broken finger. Well, he wasn't totally off with 9 rebounds and 8 assists, which compensated for the play of...Derek Fisher, who finished with 0 assists, acted out of line with a technical foul and foul out of frustration against Mo Williams, followed by some jawing with Lebron James. Bynum and Gasol scored a combined total of 15 points, and according to Kobe, were simply "outworked." Artest fouled out with several minutes to go.

On the other hand, if you were a Cavs fan, you probably relished every moment of it, with contribution from Shaq (11 points, 7 rebounds), Lebron (26 points, 9 rebounds, 4assists), and most surprising, Mo Williams (28 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds). You have to be happy with your reserves, who outscored L.A.'s reserves 31-17. Overall, just a frustrating Christmas for the Lakers and their fans, with the complete opposite holding true for the Cavaliers and their fans.

The Clippers @ Phoenix game wasn't much better, especially for Angelenos, who had to endure yet another embarassing defeat on Christmas Day. Premier center, Marcus Camby, had to leave the game early with an injury and Eric Gordon could not hit a shot, going just 4-for-15. The Clippers' reserves, similar to those of the Lakers, didn't fare much better, only making 12-of-37 (32.4%). The highlights for L.A. were Kaman's 19 points and 10 boards, along with Rasual Butler's 22 points and 7 rebounds, both players increasingly becoming more relevant for the C's. For the Suns, seven players scored at least 12 or more points, showing that their bench deserves its due credit. Statistically for Phoenix, the notable players were Amare (26 points, 9 rebounds), J Rich (18 points, 8 rebounds), and of course, even at 35 years of age, Steve Nash (14 points, 8 assists). Off the bench, Admunson also managed to grab 10 boards. The story of the night, though, belonged to Grant Hill, who banked a three with three quarters of the court seperating him from the basket at the buzzer before halftime. The Clippers, who were almost at .500, now have an uphill battle ahead of them, with a record of (12-17).



Lastly, the Portland Trailblazers rode Brandon Roy's 41 points all the way to a 107-96 victory over the Nuggets. Despite 32 points and 9 rebounds by Carmelo and an impressive 12 points and 14 rebounds by K-Mart, Andre Miller's 14 rebounds and 8 assists, along with other contributions, allowed him to prevail over his former team. It was fair game until the fourth quarter, where Steve Blake drained five 3's in the last four minutes. Though the Nuggets could have used more contributions from their bench, reserve J.R. Smith mustered 20 points, although he it took 23 field-goal attempts to get there. Not to be forgotten are Birdman's 5 blocks, proving yet again that swatting the ball may, indeed, be the only thing he's good for.

At the end of the day, I, as I'm sure many of you all, was tired. Five games was simply too much, even though I didn't watch them all. Three games is acceptable, but anything more is pushing things a little too far. I couldn't watch SportsCenter, as ESPN once again decided it had nothing else to do than glorify Lebron James and nothing else and I didn't find much consolation in the rather odd Saturday Night Live Christmas Bash that I had been looking forward to. Anyway, lesson learned - hopefully.

As a Jew growing up in America, the holiday season is very different from everybody else. Besides the stark contrasts in the holidays of Hanukkah and Christmas, Americans glorify a mascot commonly referred to as Santa Claus, while the closest resemblance in Judaism consists of Judah Maccabi (excuse me if I mispelled his name). Being Jewish has enabled myself, along with many others, to profit from such things as Christmas sales, Christmas music (many songs of which were composed by Jews), and quite possibly the grandest treat of all, Christmas day NBA matchups.

They seem to have an unprecedented aura to them. For the last several years, every Christmas, I've closely watched my beloved Lakers and their respective opponent battle it out, at a time when the players and coaches would much rather relax with their families. I truly noticed the intensity of these games when the Lakers played against the Miami Heat in '04. The sheer animosity between Shaq and Kobe was just so entertaining. During the previous week, Shaq had compared himself to a brick wall and Kobe declared that he would be a Lamborghini - speeding past the proverbial brick wall. It was just great - until Shaq and Kobe became friends again on an MLK Day match-up.

Anyway, just last December the Lakers took on the Boston Celtics in another epic clash. Still relishing their championship victory, the C's were riding on a strong winning streak as they rolled with their heads hung high into Staples Center. Having given up a 24-point lead in the NBA Finals mere months prior, as well as the series, the Lakers were ready for revenge. It was the ultimate storyline. As well all remember, the Lakers won. But, at the end of the day, the atmosphere in the arena made it seem like a trophy was at stake.

Typically, in the past there have been a couple of Christmas day games. Tomorrow, however, there are a seemingly unparalleled total of five games, each with their own unique plotline. At noon ET, the games kick off with the Miami Heats at Madison Square Garden against the gradually improving New York Knicks. These teams don't have any agressive history other than a nasty Knicks loss during the season opener. The highlights of this game should mainly consist of D-Wade's presence and the Knicks wearing green jerseys.



Next, Boston faces off against the Magic in Orlando, featuring two Eastern contenders. If the Lakers vs. Cavs game headlines the Christmas festivities, this game comes in a close second. I'm looking forward to seeing the battle of the bigs with KG vs. Superman. Interestingly enough, Boston has a 12-1 road record, while the Magic are 12-2 at home. The main catalyst will be Paul Pierce's absence, which should allow Vince Carter to have a game-changing presence. A side-show to observe in this game would be Rondo vs. Jameer Nelson, one rising player against an All-Star guard.

Then, the game we've all been waiting for, the Cleveland Cavaliers playing against the Los Angeles Lakers - in L.A. Shaq eyeing Phil Jackson. Shaq vs. Kobe. Pau Gasol/Andrew Bynum vs. Shaq, and most noteworthy of all, Lebron James vs. Kobe Bryant. Some fans may recall the confrontation Shaq and Andrew Bynum had. Well, now I'd like to see how the big men clash, whether it be Gasol or Bynum against the Big Diesel. This game is even more exciting than the Miami-Lakers games of the past, as before it was limited to Shaq vs. Kobe, now it's Shaq against Kobe and Kobe vs. LBJ. Granted, this game won't be an indicator of who's better between LBJ and KB, but it will intensify the debate.

Following the game of the decade, the Clippers are hoping Angelenos still have enough left in them to root for the Clippers as they journey to Phoenix to take on the Suns. Coincidentally, the Brazillian Blur, Leandro Barbosa, is expected to play his first minutes since November. This may be the most under-publicized match-up of the day. Baron Davis vs. Steve Nash and Chris Kaman/Marcus Camby vs. Amare Stoudemire. Baron is no longer the spectacle he was in Golden State and Steve Nash may not be as exciting as he used to be, but these are still two of the league's best point guards going at it. For those who haven't followed him, Chris Kaman is proving himself to be a legit post threat and Marcus Camby is still the dauting rebounder and shotblocker of years' past. Nevertheless, Amare Stoudemire has only improved his game since the run-and-gun days, and with well-seasoned post moves, it would be reasonable to assume that whoever has the most points in the paint will ultimately win this game.

The day concludes with the Denver Nuggets looking for a win in Portland against the Trailblazers. This game really doesn't make much sense to me, in terms of fan appeal, except for Andre Miller playing against his old team(mates). Other than that, I would analyze Brandon Roy vs. Billups and Aldridge vs. Nene. Chauncey has done an amazing job in his tenure for Denver so far, but so has Roy. Both can score and get assists. Tomorrow, they will probably be forced into some one-on-one situations and that their decisions will surely affect the outcome of the game. Also, the young Aldridge will have to manage against a big, well-experienced, and probably stronger Nene in a fight for rebounds. I take back what I said; this may turn out to be a good matchup after all.

Generally, the NBA always delivers some form of Christmas entertainment or another. And as you're unwrapping presents or feasting or watching the Saturday Night Live Christmas Bash, like myself, don't forget to watch the NBA's gifts to you.

Now that many of the big names of the free agency have been signed and dealt to their respective teams, I think it's appropriate to predict championship contenders for the upcoming NBA season.

Western Conference

Los Angeles Lakers - The defending champs look like they can easily win another title. Despite the fact that they lost Ariza to Houston, they managed to make what may turn out to be a better deal with the acquisition of defensive beast, Ron Artest. I've said it before and I'll say it again: this move undoubtedly should silence those who criticize the Lakers for being "softies." As I've already noted in a previous post, it's hard to have a missing piece in the puzzle when you're on top, but apparently, there is always room for improvement. The Lakers improved. Plus, Lamar Odom is still in town. By keeping Odom, they have the rights to his versatility and possess one of the best sixth men in the entire league.

At point guard, the Lake Show retains the high IQ of Derek Fisher, a phenomenal presence on and off the court and especially in the locker room. Furthermore, if you haven't already noticed, Gasol has gotten stronger and his attitude has changed dramatically - for the better - since the Lakers were defeated only a couple of years ago by the Celtics. The All-Star is a great teammate and makes for a productive post presence; we've seen the ball thrown to him down low numerous times and see him convert on the majority of his possessions. The main weakness on the team may, indeed, be Andrew Bynum who has yet to develop but remains full of wonderful possibilities. If the Lakers are able to capitalize on his potential, they could have themselves a very special season.



Ultimately, though, the Lakers still have the two cornerstones of their franchise: Head Coach Phil Jackson and superstar Kobe Bryant. Phil expressed in early July that he will be back and even though he may share head coaching duties with defensive-minded assistant coach, Kurt Rambis, he is on the payroll and will be back for one more season with the Lake Show. And any team with Kobe is almost always a competitor in the NBA. Even after thirteen seasons of professional play, he's still committed to winning and is competitive drive is as strong as ever. This year we really saw him balance his scoring well and trust his teammates much more. That will only continue. If injuries don't hurt this team too badly, they are definitely a solid lock for the NBA Finals and the odds are that the Lakers will bring home the gold for the second consecutive season.

Denver Nuggets - Not to be redundant, but considering the fact that the Nuggets really haven't lost any talent over the summer, their contention should be taken seriously. Even after trading away Allen Iverson and receiving Chauncey Billups, I don't know how many people would've foreseen Denver almost pushing the Lakers to the brink in the Western Conference Finals. Nonetheless, we saw Melo mature, a phase that we should see Lebron go through this year, and accept the fact that in order to win, he'd need to listen to the new leader on the team.

The point of consistency on this team, for the time being, is Billups. If he can continue to hold this team together, victories should pile up. What Denver should wake up and realize is that by trading for Billups they might have gotten a marginally better point guard than Iverson, but they dropped an ego. Unfortunately, Carmelo Anthony can be a bit of a lunatic sometimes. J.R. Smith can take some crazy shots. Instead of A.I. barking at them or hogging the ball, in those situations it's Billups that can pull them aside and contribute his veteran knowledge.



The big factor, though, will prove to be how effective Nene and J.R. Smith can be. Nene helped out fantasy team owners tremendously last season with his superb numbers. Just when we though the Nuggets were on the verge of collapse after trading away Camby, Mr. Hilario emerges out of the shadows to prove us wrong. One could even argue that Nene did a better job than the Cambyman. As for J.R. Smith, his energy is unparalleled and can often result in quick bursts of scoring. There were games where he would drain three-point shot after three-point shot, regardless of the fact that the defense was in his face on each possession. Although, the key will be to see how he can control his energy. If the Nuggets can get consistent contributions from everybody on the team, their twenty-nine opponents that better be careful.

San Antonio Spurs - So far in this decade, the Spurs have seemingly always been strong contenders for the Larry O'Brien trophy. You could bet that Tim Duncan would still be performing his post moves come playoff time. There wasn't a single reason to doubt that Tony Parker would be getting inside for layups during the NBA tourney. You knew that Manu would be flopping in a seven game series. Despite all indications that this team is too old to compete, they keep hushing naysayers by dominating the West. In short, they're still beasts.

In the past, we've seen what a large impact Ginobli's presence has on the Spurs. They're just not the same without the Argentinian. Which makes the acquisition of Richard Jefferson all the better. They no longer have to put so much pressure on Manu. Now, all Parker really has to do is pass it to Richard Jefferson and leave it to him to create his own shot - or maybe give him a pick and let him shoot. Anyway, Jefferson brings a much more dynamic range and dependency. In clutch situations, I'm sure Gregg Poppavich didn't have a 100% faith in his team. Sure, they execute well, but they didn't have a scoring superstar. Emphasis on the word "scoring." When the clock is winding down, they don't have to think about who gets the last shot. It's going to be Richard Jefferson.



As if the Spurs needed another veteran, they snagged Antonio McDyess, one of the most consistent Pistons of the decade. His steady mid-range jumpshot and post maneuvers really helped out Detroit. If he can continue to work down low and spread the floor with a 15-footer, he can easily create a tough match-up. He's certainly an upgrade over Oberto, whose IQ I still question. McDyess, however, has been around and knows what it takes to be a champion, as do many of his teammates. He's surely self-motivated. If all these puzzle pieces come together for the Spurs and the starters can stay healthy, the Spurs' season should be just as fruitful as those that preceded it.

Eastern Conference

Cleveland Cavaliers - Many have jumped on to the Cavs' bandwagon since they signed Shaq. I'm not quite ready to get on board, but I will admit that they are certainly contenders. Shaq's been around for awhile - so has his ego - and now he realizes that it is no longer his time to shine. As a Cavalier, Shaq recognizes the fact that his numbers will decrease, that he will get less attention, and that he is the head of the witness protection program. Cleveland's grand jury is demanding that Shaq/(insert nickname here) come through and help the king secure gold. However, the pursuit to the promised land won't be an easy one.

Lebron will have to make sacrifices, too. Even though he is still the Commander-in-Chief of his army, he will have to learn how to delegate with his troops. He will no longer be the constant obsession of local reporters. He may no longer have the cover of every magazine to himself. Just like Shaq, he will learn have to share. In order to win as a team, LBJ will have to distribute and find Mr. O'Neal in the paint. He will have to pass up on jumpshots and instead give up the ball for a high percentage jam - by a witness. Additionally, #23 will have to step up his leadership - and that starts by being a good leader. When he chose not to shake hands with the Magic after losing in the Conference Finals, he became a total disappoint and exposed that he was a sore loser. That kind of behavior is unacceptable. It just won't be tolerated, at least, if the league decides to take action. And even if they don't, if Lebron doesn't use his brain, don't expect to see the Cavs in the Finals.



Another key element to a potential championship run will prove to be how many minutes can be split between the Big Z and the Big Aristotle. For the most part, Varajeo shouldn't be affected but how when will Mike Brown keep Shaq on the floor? When will he play Illgauskas? If the Cavs are able to balance minutes and both Shaq and Lebron make the necessary sacrifices, we may very well see the Cavs reach the main stage. After all, as Kobe and Lebron found out the hard way, MVP honors are only so meaningful if you can't win the real prize.

Boston Celtics - Ah, if only Boston had lost in the first round this year. Then the Celtics fans would have nothing to say. But, truth be told, the Celtics are still a powerhouse in the league and should be able to give the Cavs a run for their money. Without hesitation, this team holds the most dangerous group of veterans in the league. Spearheaded by nobody in particular, the starting lineup of this squad is simply scary.

In order to make a legitimate postseason run, the C's will need the same kind of clutch performances we saw from Ray Allen last year against the Chicago Bulls. Every time Derek Rose enjoyed a three-point play on a hard drive, you could sure bet that Ray Allen could follow that up with one of his deadly shots from behind the arc. Despite the absence of KG and the fact that Paul Pierce and Big Baby had fouled out, Allen persisted; he knew that no matter what, giving up was not an option. At his age, if he can match that passion this season, things could get ugly in the East.



On the other hand, the success of this franchise also lies heavily on the shoulders of their starting point guard. Rajon Rondo has already expressed a desire to leave Boston. If that happens, who will be his replacement? He's just such a great fit, it would really hurt the team to see him leave. However, the main catalyst in the Celtics' prosperity will prove to be health. With a veteran team, there's always the concern of injuries. We already saw how things went downhill went KG was sidelined. The Celtics can't afford an injury to Allen, Pierce, Garnett, or Wallace. If they can all keep healthy and stay together (cough, cough, Rondo), then expect a true battle in the Eastern Conference.

By the way, comments are always appreciated. In the last post, an elite reader submitted a suggestion - Ben, you could include Shaq and the Cavs in one of your posts - and guess what, I just did. Remember, story ideas and feedback are always appreciated.

Since the beginning of the last century, theologians and uneducated fans have made a big deal out of the NCAA's "playoffs," otherwise referred to as "March Madness." While it is a showcase of entertaining basketball games, it's cornered around miraculousness as opposed to true talent. Some might argue that "hey, they're just college kids. They're still developing their atheletic abilities." And I agree with that. Which is why I believe NBA playoffs > March Madness. Indeed, the true madness starts in April.



To further emphasize my point, take this comparison: Would you rather eat fruit before its ripe or wait until it's fully grown to enjoy the juicy citrus? The NBA playoffs are the delicious, ripe orange. But I'm still aware of the lingering opposition who may claim that "Upsets rarely ever happen in the NBA. It's way more fun seeing underdogs turn into gods in the NCAA tourney." And I can't refute that. However, I am predicting at least one major upset this year...

Western Conference Playoff Upset (2009 edition)

#2 Denver vs. #7 New Orleans - Don't get me wrong - I have a great deal of respect for the Denver Nuggets. They have completely rebuilt themselves and found a reliable point guard - who, I guess you could say, has elevated them to "elite" status. Whether or not they'll remain in that position is questionable. That said, there's no way the Nuggets will have an answer for Chris Paul & Co. I strongly oppose the people who constantly over-hype CP3 as a young basketball god. In fact, I believe Deron Williams is a better player than him. But NO's weapons can outplay Denver's tattoo artists - on most days, anyway. Even though Ronnie Brewer has been silently assassinating opposing teams throughout the season and Carlos Boozer is always a threat - think about the flip side; the Hornets have an All-Star and determined player in David West and a deadly shooter (if he is able to find a rhythm) in Peja. Then of course there's the PG match-up between the well-season Chauncy Billups and the striving star, Chris Paul. CP3's quickness and leadership have proved to be essential in all of the Hornets victories. I'm counting on him to outrun Billups on the break. Then again, I trust Billups' experience with the Pistons has made him wiser and that Billups will have the edge in decision-making, which will likely result in fewer turnovers (compared to CP3). The PG verdict: Chris Paul's speed will prevail over Billups' playoff expertise. And I'm looking forward to seeing Carmelo Anthony vs. David West. Obviously, Carmelo is the better player, but just like Ron Artest, his judgement down the stretch is not to be trusted. The big X-factor will be Tyson Chandler. How many minutes he plays - and how much or how little he produces in those minutes - will make the difference in this potential upset. I, personally, am confidant that Chandler (as well as most other centers in the NBA) can dominate against the drug-fueled Chris "Birdman" Andersen. For Denver, the x-factor from the beginning of the season has always been J.R. Smith. On some nights, he plays exceptional basketball as he lights the scoreboard and creates some great posters in the process. On other nights, he hurts the team more than he assists them, by playing selfishly with the bench and missing easy oppurtunities. The final verdict: the Hornets have enough jazz on their roster to not only outclass, but outplay the Nuggets.

By the way, from the posts written up to this point it may appear that this blog has a Western Conference bias - which is why my next post will either be an exclusive analysis of an Eastern Conference playoff match-up or a spotlight on a certain team.
So stay tuned!

Dope Jam of the Day

Disco Club - Black Eyed Peas - This song may be old but I hadn't heard it until I put my iPod on shuffle this week. The intro is majestic in the modern-sense. This song possesses the full extent of the Black Eyed Peas' genuine swagger : fresh, catchy rhymes that are a joy to listen to, clear and smooth vocals that give more meaning to the lyrics, a Middle-Eastern influence that makes the song, um...fun, to dance to (particularly if you're with a b/g-friend), and the grandest horns you'll ever hear in rap. For some reason, the song reminds me of "Don't Cha" by the PussyCat Dolls, except with much more vocal variety. I was really amazed to hear the vocal clarity of will.i.am, the slick rhyming of Taboo, and who knew Fergie sang so well back in the day? Listen to it by clicking here and click on the track thats 3:50.