Silly Sports Related Pic of the Week

...wow.

Come up with a better headline than mine:

"Sam Cassell focused on seeing some action from the bench in Game 2."

The Silence of the Fans

Everyone who knows me knows that I am a psychotic rabid Padres fan (yes we actually do exist, both of us). Any baseball conversation I ever have always turns back to the Pads, to the point that it ends up irritating everyone around me. Think “da bears” guys from SNL but just me, and about the Padres. Yeah its pretty bad. Which makes the travesty that’s happening in downtown San Diego this year all the more painful for me to bear. I’m starting to lose my patience, and this is why.

The Padres are awful this year. There I said it. We are as of today the worst team in the NL West, hitting below .230 as a team (.227 !!!!!!!), scoring a paltry 3.2 runs per game, and without a doubt leading the league in expressionless faces. They’ve grounded in to roughly 396 thousand double plays, and have stolen a total of 7 bases. At the time this was written, their leading hitter is hitting .284 with a whopping 4 HR. Night in and night out these bums get a runner on 3^rd with less than two out, and they NEVER score. Ever. They’ll score 7 runs in the first game of the week (which the bullpen blows), then score 1 or 0 for the rest of the week. Jake Peavy, Chris Young, and Greg Maddux have ALL had games where they allowed 1 run on 5 or fewer hits and LOST. They’re just plain pathetic.

Which brings me to my point. I just don’t understand the point of this year’s Padres ballclub. Everyone this side of the Colorado River knew that the Diamondbacks were the best team in the division, and perhaps baseball, and that we didn’t stand a chance in hell of competing with them this year. Why in God’s name are we not playing the youngsters that we have all throughout the organization then, giving them some much needed big league experience so we can make a run for it next year. This Diamondbacks team did EXACTLY that (as did the Rockies, by the way), and went out and signed some huge free agents (Dan Haren and Randy Johnson) to make a run this year. For the last few years they’ve been that scrappy young team that’s almost got it, they just need a little more experience. You’re trying to tell me the Padres couldn’t have done that?

In an effort to make this as long winded as possible (and to show my true frustration) I’m going to break this team down by position and show you what I mean.

C – Josh Bard: the best thing about this position in my opinion is that Michael Barrett got injured forcing Buddy Black to play Bardo every night. I like Bard. He’s got a spaghetti arm and he’ll never hit like he did his first season with us, but he’s a serviceable catcher that the pitchers trust, that can call a hell of a game. No complaints here.

1B – Adrian Gonzales: stud. Wish he’d show a little more backbone, but a stud nonetheless. God awful in the clutch though, an almost guaranteed double play in the above mentioned situation (runner on third less than two outs).

2B – Tadahito Iguchi: he’ll heat up I’m sure, but shit. Come on man. At least he salvaged his April with the walkoff Saturday. Good show. Farrr better option than last years starting 2B (Marcus Giles).

SS – Khalil Greene: overrated. My fellow Padres fans will hate me for saying this, but look at his numbers. He’s got better than average range at SS, I can’t think of a better player when he goes horizontal, and he’s got a cannon for an arm, but his hitting is atrocious. He will be a career 250 hitter, mark my words (he’d need quite the hitting streak to even TOUCH 250 this year, much less remain there, but that’s not the point).

3B – Kevin Kouzmanoff: dude needs to calm down and hit. Underrated as a fielder, but I think he’s pressing too hard as a hitter.

SP – if they got run support they’d be among the best in baseball. No doubt in my mind. Pleasant surprise in Randy Wolf. Jake is the best in the business, hands down.

RP – see above. I won’t fall victim to the “burn Trevor at the stake for blowing games” mantra. The best pitchers in baseball give up a run every three innings, so it stands to reason that when a closer is given a one run lead in 4 straight relief appearances he’s bound to blow at least one of those games. The only thing that kills me is the predictability of it. OH and Trevor, don’t pitch to Bengi Molina anymore. Ever. Ok?

Everything I’ve said above would look like a decent team, right? They’re basically the squad that carried us to 89 wins last year, and a near playoff birth (tough to beat a team that doesn’t have to touch home plate to score, but that’s beside the point). Here’ where the wheels fall off the bus.

RF – Brian Giles: overpaid. 3 years removed from his prime. Sadly the only hitter on the team that I have any kind of confidence in this year. Hitting lead off? Really Bud Black? That’s the best you have to offer?

LF – the three headed monster of Scott Hairston, Paul McAnulty, and Justin Huber. Hairston is a total joke. He’s hitting about .170 at this point, and he always looks like he’s about to start crying. Start juicing again buddy, it was better for the fans. McAnulty and Huber are actually decent, but they don’t get enough playing time to get any kind of plate confidence. If it was up to me, these guys would be starting in left and right, respectively. That is unless we weren’t idiots and actually kept Milton Bradley. Miss him at all Sandy Alderson? I sure as hell do. You think his crazy ass would have let this bunch of bums play like this and get swept at home by the Giants? He would killed an umpire on the field before he let that happen. God I miss that guy. Anyone else notice that the current slump the Padres are in extends to last year? When he got injured? Yeah he’s that important.

CF – Jim Edmonds: it took me four tries to type that because I kept stabbing myself in the eye with my keys. He’s hitting 170, he is WAY too old and slow to cover that outfield. It’s a nightmare. A multi million dollar nightmare. And to think, Mike Cameron’s suspension would have ended today.

That doesn’t even take in to account the monster in the minors that is Chase Headley, a 3^rd baseman with a stellar bat who is being converted in to an outfielder.

Basically I would be so much happier if we just canned Giles, Hairston, and Edmonds, and let Huber, McAnulty, and Headley play. Sure theyd make some errors, and might not hit right away. But I’m pretty sure we’d still be 10-16 or better, maybe not in dead last place, and it would offer me something to look forward to. All I see now is a steaming pile of Mendoza line hitting atrocity. I was joking the other day that were the Padres to get in to a fight on the field, they would get their collective asses kicked because the only one that would put up any kind of a fight would be Jake Peavy. The rest of these bums just stand around lifeless the whole game with the same blank “can I go home and play guitar hero yet” expression on their faces.

But who am I kidding, what would be the point in fighting, these clowns can’t hit anyways.

2008 NBA Playoffs Preview

After one of the most exciting NBA seasons in recent memory, it’s finally time for the Playoffs! We’ve witnessed one of the tightest MVP races of all time, and since there still isn’t a clear cut favorite, the debate will inevitably continue for the next few weeks. The two teams that have historically achieved the greatest success, the Lakers and Celtics, are back on top once again. The Lakers were tops out west this year, and the Celtics finished with the best overall record in the league. Boston also completed the best single-season turnaround in NBA history as well. Finally, the Western Conference race was undeniably one of the most competitive in NBA History. There was a lengthy span during the year where eight teams were within three games of each other, and even today as the regular season ends, seeds 1-6 are only separated by two and a half games.

Now for the question everyone is asking: Who will win the NBA title this year?

Eastern Conference:

Boston Celtics (1) vs. Atlanta Hawks (8) – 8 games below .500, yet the Hawks are still in the playoffs. You gotta love the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately for the Atlanta, they get the chance to play the Celtics in the first round. The Hawks are a young team, and outside of Mike Bibby, they have with very little playoff experience. On the other hand, the Celtics are comprised mostly of veterans. This team has many playoff games under their belt, along with three superstars that are hungry for a championship. It doesn’t look very promising for the Hawks. In addition, not only does Boston have home court advantage, but the Celts have won all three games these two teams have played this year. Boston has also been extremely hot through the end of the season; although their starters have been resting quite a bit lately, the team has still been victorious in 11 out of their last 12 games. On the contrary, no one expects Atlanta to win, so the pressure is all on the Celtics. Atlanta has a very talented and athletic squad that will be competitive for years, but Boston is a much superior team in nearly every aspect of the game, and won’t allow this to be much of a series.
My prediction – Celtics in 4

Detroit Pistons (2) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7) – Although they’ve been struggling lately, Detroit still comes in with the second best record in the NBA. It seems like every year, Detroit coasts through the end of the regular season and waits until the playoffs to really turn it on. The Pistons are healthy right now, the starters are well-rested, and unlike the past, it appears that Detroit actually has a reliable bench this year. As for Philadelphia, they’ve a very young team with very little (if any) playoff experience. The 76ers have also lost seven of their last ten to end the season, including four straight losses. Plus, besides Igoudala, Philly doesn’t have many options on offense – The Pistons tenacious defense should eat them alive. Philly did split the season series with Detroit 2-2, so the Sixers have proven that they can play with these guys, which is why they probably won’t be swept. In the end, it’s all going to come down to playoff experience, and the Pistons will prevail.
My prediction – Pistons in 5

Orlando Magic (3) vs. Toronto Raptors (6) – The Magic won two out of the three games these teams played this season, and although they haven't been at their best lately, Orlando still finished with the third best record in the Eastern Conference. Dwight Howard’s play is the key to a Magic victory – he needs to realize that no one on the Raptors can guard him, especially not Chris Bosh, so he has the ability to completely dominate offensively in this series. Along with Howard, the rest of Orlando’s frontcourt is very talented as well, so Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turgoglu shouldn't have any issues against the Raptors either. Toronto shouldn’t be taken for granted though. In guards TJ Ford and Jose Calderon, the Raptors have a big advantage over Orlando at this position. If Ford and Calderon can control the tempo in the games, as well as get some good looks for their teammates, Toronto can pull off an upset. Since the Raptors are a very soft team, they live and die by their three pointers and jump shots. When this team gets hot, they can beat any team in the league. However, if Toronto’s shots aren't falling, this will not be a very competitive series. This first round matchup could very well go either way, but Howard and the Magic should edge out Toronto.
My prediction - Orlando in 6

Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. Washington Wizards (5) – What does LeBron need to do in Cleveland to get at least one decent player added to his team? If only he had a David West, Carlos Boozer, Paul Gasol... hell, even a Hedo Turgoglu playing alongside him. It's simply amazing that he's averaged nearly eight assists with the supporting cast that he has. Cleveland has not been playing well lately. It's not surprising that James' back is ailing, he's been carrying the team single-handedly all season, and it's finally catching up to him. The only player on the team that can regularly hit a wide open shot has been Daniel Gibson, who's been injured for nearly the entire second Half. As for the Wizards, they finally appear to be healthy, which isn't a good sign for the Cavs. Antwan Jamison has played probably the best season of his career, Caron Butler was an all-star this year, and Gilbert Arenas at 50% is still better than any of the Cavs options. Sorry, LeBron, even though you carried the Cavs into the NBA Finals last year, you're going to need help simply getting out of the first round this year. My prediction - Wizards in 6.

Western Conference:

Lakers vs. Nuggets - This probably won't be a tight series, however it should be exciting to watch. The Nuggets are one of the few times that can nearly match up with Los Angeles in terms of size, but that won't really matter, since Denver doesn't play defense...ever. Look for Kobe, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and potentially even Sasha Vujacic to seriously pad their stats in this series. It's also important to note that the Lakers convincingly beat Denver all three times they played this year, so the Nuggets have yet to prove that they can even be competitive against L.A. Since Denver does have Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony, and a great coach, look for a few of the games to be close. The end result of this series should be a sweep though.
My prediction – Lakers in 4

New Orleans Hornets (2) vs. Dallas Mavericks (7) – This series has upset written all over it. The Mavericks have a gigantic advantage in terms of playoff experience, especially in Jason Kidd and Devean George, who have played in the NBA Finals a few times. A second advantage that Dallas has is their reserves. Not only do the Mavs have a great bench, but these guys are all veterans, decent players that have regularly competed in the post season. Eddie Jones, Jason Terry, Juwan Howard and Devean George are all players that can be relied on if there are any injuries or starters in foul trouble. Plus, after their first round upset last year, Dallas is going to want this victory more than their opponent. New Orleans is a great team, they overachieved immensely by locking up the second seed in the west, and have played consistently well all season. The Hornets biggest issue is that they aren’t very deep – besides Chris Paul and David West, they don’t have many other offensive options. Tyson Chandler is a solid rebounder and defender, Peja can hit the open shot, and Bonzi Wells is a decent sixth man, but none of these guys are reliable on a regular basis. Due to depth and experience, along with clutch play by their superstar Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavs will win this matchup.
My prediction - Dallas in 6

San Antonio (3) vs. Phoenix (6) – Congratulations to Phoenix for finally addressing their biggest need. In acquiring Shaquille O’Neal, a big man that can play defense in the paint, the Suns finally have a player that can guard the elite power forwards and centers in the west. This leaves Amare Stoudemire, averaging 28ppg and 10 rebounds since the Shaq trade, free to focus entirely on offense. If this was 2004, Phoenix would be the favorite to win the 2008 NBA Finals. Unfortunately Shaq’s skills have been declining significantly the past few years, and while he may be big enough to defend Tim Duncan, his lack of quickness poses a big liability. As a result, even more so than in the past, Shaq frequently finds himself in foul trouble. This leads to Stoudemire being forced to cover Tim Duncan, and if this is a matchup that occurs for the majority of this series, Duncan will average 40 points per game and the Spurs are going to win convincingly. San Antonio ended the season very strong, even with the injury to Manu Ginobili. One can’t forget that the Spurs are still the reigning NBA Champions as well. At least in the playoffs, they seem to have Phoenix’s number, responsible for ending the Suns’ season in three out of the past four years. The Spurs live for big games - Ginobili is one of the best clutch players in the NBA, Duncan always rises to the occasion in playoff games, and Tony Parker is a great point guard with a ton of postseason experience. As for the Suns, they have improved quite a bit since their loss in the 2007 Playoffs. The team has added Grant Hill, a very talented player, and Gordon Giricek, a shooter that fits very well in their offense. Additionally, Phoenix is far too tough and experienced to be taken lightly because of their low seeding, and Steve Nash isn’t going to go down without a fight. If the Suns are going to beat San Antonio, this year is their best chance, but expect the Spurs to win this series.
My prediction – Spurs in 6

Utah Jazz (4) vs. Houston Rockets (5) – Sorry, T-Mac, but I don’t think this is your year to finally win a playoff matchup. This year, however, it’s not your fault. The Jazz are a very tough matchup for the Rockets. Houston is well known for its focus on defense, but their lack of size will be a big issue against Utah. The Rockets don’t have anyone that can guard Carlos Boozer – Mutombo isn’t quick enough and Luis Scola is giving up 30 pounds to him, so Boozer will be able to punish them both in the paint. Deron Williams is much bigger and far more talented than any of the Rocket’s point guards, so expect him to put up some big numbers as well. In addition, the key to Houston’s defense, Shane Battier, is best against shooting guards and small forwards who play on the perimeter. Utah’s strength is in its point guard and post players, and they don’t have any key guys at either of those positions, so Battier shouldn’t be much of a factor on the defensive end. While the Jazz are very deep, the injury to Yao Ming left the Rockets with no other consistent scoring options besides Tracy McGrady, which is going to pose another problem for Houston. Facing constant double and triple teams, T-Mac won’t have many good looks on offense, so the rest of the team needs to hit their open shots in order for these games to even be close. The Jazz cannot be beaten at home, notching a 37-4 record in Salt Lake City, so don’t expect Houston to win any games there. Since Utah doesn’t play particularly well on the road, this series probably won’t be a sweep, but Utah should dominate fairly easily.
My prediction – Utah in 5

- Scottie

King James for MVP!

Unlike every other writer and analyst in the universe, I do not have Kobe Bryant as the MVP of the 2007/08 NBA Season. I think his numbers have been great, he’s arguably the most talented player in the league, and he’s led the Lakers to the top of the Western Conference. Instead, I’d give the MVP to LeBron James, who has had a much more impressive season.

First of all, statistics are always a significant factor in the league’s MVP voting. Although their numbers are very similar, LeBron’s are better in every offensive category. James has scored more points per game than Kobe (30.2 to 28.6), he’s gotten more rebounds (7.9 to 6.4) and he’s dished out more assists (7.3 to 5.4). The fact that LeBron has nearly two more assists per game simply amazes me, due to the fact that Kobe has a MUCH superior supporting cast… seriously, it’s not even fair what LeBron is working with.

Speaking of their respective squads, have you noticed who Kobe plays with? I think another deciding aspect in the voting should be how each team would fare without the MVP candidate. The Lakers are a great team this year, especially with their mid-season acquisition of Pau Gasol, who is averaging 19 points and 9 rebounds this year. Although he’s been out a few games due to injury, he’s played great when he’s been healthy, and has typically been the go-to-guy in every season of his seven year career. Without Kobe, Gasol would be expected to carry the scoring load, and it probably wouldn’t be much of an issue. Los Angeles also has Lamar Odom, who consistently puts up solid numbers in every offensive category, and the up-and-coming Andrew Bynum, who was averaging 13ppg and 10rpg before his unfortunate injury. What I’m trying to say is that even without Kobe, the Lakers would be a playoff team. They’d have a pretty impressive starting lineup consisting of Derek Fisher, Sasha Vujacic, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum. Would they be at the top of the west? Doubtful, but I guarantee they could still be extremely competitive.

The Cleveland Cavaliers would be a completely different story if they didn’t have LeBron James on their roster, in fact, I’d be amazed if they would finish off this season with a better record than the Miami Heat. They’d have a starting lineup featuring Delonte West, a young, unproven combo-guard that’s mediocre at best (pending Daniel Gibson is still injured); Sasha Pavlovic, a very inconsistent, often-injured shooter; Wally Szczerbiak, a shooter that brings nothing else to the table; Ben Wallace, veteran forward well past his prime, who couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat; and Zydrundas Ilgauskas, an ailing center that’s a liability on defense and hasn’t left the ground in ages. Ouch. Not to mention the fact that they have no depth on their bench, including two players recently brought up from the NBADL. Without LeBron, who would be the leader on this team? Who would take the last shot? Would ANYONE be qualified to do so? I don’t think so. It’s safe to say that without King James, the Cavs would be a horrendous team.

Finally, the overall record of each team obviously plays a big part of the voting. Kobe’s Lakers would have the edge in this category; at the moment, the Lakers are 53-25 and LeBron’s Cavs are 42-35, a ten game discrepancy. More impressive is the fact that Los Angeles plays in the uber-competitive west, in probably the tightest conference race the NBA has ever seen, whereas Cleveland is the 4^th seed in a weak eastern conference. However, this still doesn’t change my perspective, favoring LeBron as the MVP. It all relates back to the players that James has surrounding him. Although the Lakers may have more wins, it’s because they have a better team – Kobe isn’t winning any of these games by himself. He doesn’t need to, because on the court with him, he has other players that consistently play great basketball night in and night out. In addition, the Lakers have an outstanding bench they can rely on in Ronny Turiaf, Luke Walton, and Sasha Vujacic. As for Cleveland, the only one they can continue to rely on is LeBron James, who’s led his team in scoring in 64 out of the 71 games he’s played. Big Z scores about 14 a game, and Daniel Gibson contributes almost 11, but other than that, there isn’t anyone else that’s even in double figures.

Yes, Kobe Bryant may arguably be the best player in the NBA right now, but he's not the MVP of the league this season. LeBron James is putting up substantially better numbers, he's single-handedly led his mediocre squad near the top of the conference, and let's face it, without King James, the Cavs would not be preparing for a playoff run... Instead, they'd most likely be lacing up their golf cleats.

- Scottie