Sports Talk with MC

by MC

In the NBA Today:

-The Pistons have finally managed to dispatch the Orlando Magic. The Motor City crew defeated the inexperienced Floridians, 97-93, thereby the first team to earn the first ticket to the second round of the playoffs. Interesting to note that former Pistons Darko Millicic and Grant Hill both scored in double digits and had decent games, but there efforts, coupled with those of Dwight Howard, who has been erratic in the postseason (not to mention terrible from the charity stripe; Howard’s free throw shooting percentage has indeed been a CHARITY CASE), were just not enough to overcome the veteran poise of the men from Detroit. If things continue going down the road we’re seeing footprints on now, then we’re set to see a Bulls-Pistons tiff come round 2. Boy oh boy, will the Ben Wallace factor be a story there. Oh yes, I hope that the game I woke up at 3am to see wasn’t the last NBA contest Grant Hill will ever be participating in. His maturity, and overall athletic ability, is something that the league has benefitted from, really, for over a decade now. I’d hate to see him walk away from the game not having won a title.

-The Spurs took a 2-1 series lead over the pesky Nuggets today. Guess who took center stage for the Spurs? Robert Horry and Michael Finley. Why even attempt to teach old dogs new tricks when old dogs’ habits are just oh so fun to watch, and beneficial to your collective success?

-We could very well be on the eve of the dethroning of the Miami Heat. Is that a good thing? Perhaps. No one wants to see defending champions fight too hard while on crutches. I mean, as exciting as Wade can be, and as dominating Shaquille can still be on some nights, they’ve been caught, this year, winning and losing by putting medicated patches onto gaping wounds. Hand the hardware to a healthier, hungrier, younger, group. Zo’s had his time, and so have J-Will, Walker, and the Glove. Phoenix, Dallas, Detroit, Chicago, Utah, Cleveland, Houston, San Antonio (I’d hardly call them whippersnappers, but hey, they are downright scary and respectably unflustered by big game situations when “making things happen” matters the most)and maybe even Toronto and New Jersey, are standing by (sorry Denver and Washington, I don’t think you’re quite ready for the big show yet, with or without Agent Zero, and with or without AI, Camby, and ‘Melo; too much inconsistency here). I’ll have more on this one come tomorrow.

-Utah and Houston are tied at 2 games apiece. The Jazz got solid contributions on the ‘O end from Mehmet Okur, Matt Harpring, Boozer, and Williams, and managed to swarm Yao Ming and TMac with enough zone ‘D to force them into bad shooting nights. Next game is in Houston. I still feel that it’s anybody’s series at this point, but Yao Ming, and especially, McGrady, seem more driven at this point. Rockets, in my mind, seem poised to move on, but it’ll be very, very, close. Besides, Sloan deserves another day in the sun more than Jeff Van Gundy. Why? Anyone beaten up as much as Sloan has by Michael Jordan and co. deserve another crack at the big one not because he and his club weren’t part of the NBA’s elite. It’s just that, well, Michael, on the court, was god. No man in a dapper suit can beat god. Really.

Randoms quips:

-I really hope Toronto manages to come back in their series. I’ve always been a fan of European players and players who have experience playing in Europe, plus, I think Bargnani has a legit chance to become the next Dirk, with time. Moreover, Anthony Parker rocks!!! Hehe. Who’s laughing now?

-If Rick Carlisle wants history to repeat itself, he should coach in Sacto next year. Hey Ron Ron, remember me? =)

-Sebastian Telfair is incredibly careless, and stupid. Period. What a waste of remarkable athletic talent. =(

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