Sports Talk with MC

by MC

The Pistons clobbered the Orlando Magic again today. They now lead their best of 7 series, 2-0.

Any more of this debauchery of the Magic, and Brian Hill truly ought to be given the boot.

He’s not maximizing Darko Millicic’s potential (Tony Battie’s getting way too much playing time; 65 starts in 65 games played?c’mon).

He’s not encouraged the development of Dwight Howard’s offensive game (he’s not getting enough touches).

He’s insisted on not playing JJ Redick (maybe he ought to get a bit more time than he has gotten thus far).

Get the point? =)

Footnote: Darko ought to go to a team like Toronto. He would flourish in their up and down style, and I think would be able to get time at the 4 or even the 3. Give him some love, will ya!

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This entire season, people have been dropping two names in the NBA MVP Race- Nash and Nowitzki.

We’ve seen a virtual stalemate all season long. People have called this the tightest MVP race in years. If both are as good as people tout them to be, and if they’re that important to their teams, then, why don’t we do a Grant Hill-Jason Kidd from 1994 and bestow them BOTH with MVP awards? I know that there is Mathematics involved in determining who receives the plum, but hey, if I had my way and were to judge everything based on quality, then I’d give the award to #’s 13 and 41.

FYI- For those who aren’t in the know, Hill and Kidd won co-Rookies of the Year in ‘94. Did they go quality over quantity then? I don’t know for certain, but somehow, it looked as if they did.

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Respect Nellie. Respect him, please.

Don’t just give him props because he’s the “old guy”. Love him because he’s basketball’s version of a “mad scientist”. This guy goes for more experiments than Frankenstein.

Don Nelson coaching the Golden State Warriors against the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA playoffs makes for quite the ironic twist. Nelson was the Warriors’ coach the last time the franchise made the postseason in ‘94. Avery Johnson (the Mavs head coach) was his starting point guard at the time. Nelson was the Mavericks’ coach during the Nash-Finley-Nowitzki years. Avery was Nellie’s protege during that time.

Compelling, isn’t it?

Smile for a change, Nellie! You’re winning for goodness sake! =)

In game one of their opening round series against Nellie’s troops, Dallas was sucked into playing small ball. If I were Avery Johnson (which I am not), I would have stuck with playing big, and controlling the tempo through playing zone defense. Once you slow Golden State down, you have a chance at exploiting their “wee-ness”, and their propensity for taking “bad shots” (”bad” is relative; alright for Nellie, bad for, say, a Van Gundy, Johnson, or Riley).

As inconsistent as he is, play Dampier. Play Diop too. Don’t use Dirk at center. Harrington will outrun him each and every time. At least if you play your traditional bigs against someone like Al Harrington, they’ll be able to use their bulk to muscle him out of position. Let Golden State shoot themselves in the foot by clogging passing lanes and splitting the floor up distinctly into 2 main parts, none more.

The Mavericks aren’t out this series yet, but they do have to make adjustments. They do have to tighten things up on ‘O and ‘D.

Save for getting their guts blown all across the American Airlines Center by the infamous quick step bazooka.

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The Houston Rockets are quietly making strides in the Western Conference. While everyone is pining over more high profile matchups like Dallas versus Golden State, San Antonio versus Denver, and Phoenix versus the Lakers, TMac and company have silenty staked their claim as a legitimate NBA title contender.

McGrady has openly stated (he made it known in an interview with analyst Stephen A. Smith) that if the Rockets do not make it past round 1, people should put the blame on him. Now that’s a leader at work. Big time players step up during the “crucial innings”. TMac is doing just that. While Yao may be the one whose upside everyone is talking about, it’s the former scoring champion’s understated resolve that may very well be the key to getting over the hump.

Well, that and of course Shane Battier.

My oh my, does Jerry West feel bad about trading him for Stromile Swift. Actually, West has a lot to cry about when it comes to the Grizz. At least his contract will be ending soon. That way, he’ll have a shot at a new beginning, that is, unless he is hired by the New York Knicks. “The Logo” would be aging 10 years by virtue of simply being in Manhattan.

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*That’s all for today, folks. More thoughts to come tomorrow.=)

Cheers,

MC