Clash of the Titans
Sunday, February 1, 2009 : 5:59 AM : 1 comments
I spent four hours Saturday night/morning watching Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal slug it out in the finals for the Australia Open. There was a time when I watched a lot of tennis. Heck, there was a time when I played a lot of tennis. Nowadays, my tennis game is confined to video games. George has a Dreamcast and we've been on a major Virtua Tennis 2 kick. It's incredible how fun and satisfying playing doubles on this thing is, even though it's a decade old game system.Federer is often spoken of as the greatest player of all time. If he won this match, he would have tied Pete Sampras' record of fourteen Slam championships, all at the age of twenty seven. The only thing standing in his way was Nadal. Of course, as any casual tennis fan knows, Nadal is kicking some ass right now. The two of them are the definitive rivals of this generation and lately, Nadal has expanded his clay dominance to include a five set Wimbledon win over Federer that was hailed as the greatest tennis match of all time.
To be honest, I've never really seen Federer or Nadal play. I wouldn't have seen this match either except Helen got all excited at three in the morning and flipped on the television for the live broadcast. Everyone else I was with ended up falling asleep, but I kept watching because prime time for me is the middle of the night. Plus the match was just so damn good.
Throughout the whole thing, I couldn't help comparing the relationship of Federer and Nadal to Superman and Batman. All through the match I was trying to draw similarities in their games and their competitive relationship to their superhero counterparts. For awhile, I couldn't even decide which one was Superman and which was Batman. I flip flopped a few times before settling on Federer as Superman and Nadal as Batman. This comparison was pushed along by Federer's choice of blue shirt and Nadal's black (sort of) getup.
Watching Federer, it seems like he would be impossible to beat. He has every shot in the book, incredible touch from every angle, and no discernible weaknesses. He's been described as nigh invincible by writers and opponents. I read that he doesn't even have a full time coach because he's just that good.Nadal, on the other hand, has fewer weapons at his disposal. He has blistering groundstrokes, incredible defense, a few tricks up his sleeve, and is tenacious as hell. Coming off the longest Australian Open match ever two days prior, Nadal had a dinged up thigh muscle that threatened to hurt his mobility and endurance. But while the injury was certainly a factor, it didn't prevent Nadal from prevailing in another classic five setter.
At first I wanted Federer to win because he could tie history, but as it got past the third set, I noticed I was admiring Nadal's game more and more. He just kept pushing, kept running around, and wouldn't give up. He seemed to be on his heels quite a few times but always managed to grab the momentum back. It's exactly how Batman always beats Superman. Supes gets a little frustrated because he knows logically he should crush Bats but all his crushing blows keep whiffing. He's starts to lose his mental edge and suffers from a bit of insecurity.
If you're a fan of Superman and Batman, you know that Batman almost always wins in their head to head matchups. Bruce Wayne's just a weak human but he recognizes his disadvantages and works around them, enabling him to out-think and out-hustle Superman every time. He carefully pre-plans, picks his spots, and only engages when he's sure he's got the advantage. He knows he can't fly, he doesn't have heat vision or super breath, but all those things can be negated with forethought and fortitude.Superman's arch-nemesis is Lex Luthor but his arch-rival, Batman, is clearly the more compelling story as evidenced by fans' insatiable appetite for their battles. As the two greatest heroes in the DC Universe, they team up as often as they face off but there's always an ongoing subplot of who's better. Because of this, they make each other better in comparison and reflection, driving their "games" to new heights. Federer and Nadal have the same sort of quality about their relationship (even though they never team up) and without the other, we might not be able to fully appreciate their respective strengths, weaknesses, and legacies.
Question: If Nadal is Carlos Moya in Virtua Tennis (they both just pound the shit out of the ball), who is Federer? When we play Virtua Tennis, it's conceded that Moya and Tommy Haas are the two best characters in the game. It would be nice if virtual Haas' game was like Federer's but it's not. So my question is, who is Federer?
Labels: Sports
The Beautiful Game
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 : 2:09 PM : 0 comments
And from a recent Secret Santa (we used this site, which was awesome, Elfster.com), I received this book, "The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac" written by the great team behind freedarko.com. Basically the book celebrates and profiles some of the NBA's more interesting stars. Their manifesto focuses on the beauty of the game, the game beyond wins, losses, and stats. It's beautifully illustrated and a must-read for every basketball fan. I've often thought that the way someone plays the game reflects their personality and I know some people agree with me. I'd rather trust my fifteen minute impression of someone playing basketball than the one I get from talking to them. It's that serious.And check out this NBA Archetypes post by Upside and Motor. It's comprehensive, well thought out, and comes with examples. Freaking awesome.
Labels: Sports
Gang Green
: 12:04 AM : 1 comments
I mean, last year the team was thrown together, happened to gel and coalesced into championship form ahead of schedule. The common thinking was that the KG-Ray-Pierce trio would need one full year to hit their stride. Well, now they've hit their stride and they're crushing opponents. A showdown with the hated Lakers looms Christmas Day but even though the Celts have lost James Posey and PJ Brown, they are possibly better than last year. The Lakers are better this year too but we whupped them last year so I don't see how this year will be any different. Their biggest challenge will probably be Lebron and the Cavaliers out East, not the Lakers and the rest of the ragtag West contenders. How quickly things change.
This version of the Celtics is easy to love and is so basketball perfect-classic. A point guard who's a defensive terror and can both distribute and drive to the hoop at will. A two guard with the prettiest jumper in the game. A do everything small forward equally adept in all phases of the game. An ultra-athletic four who can post up, consistently drain the seventeen footer, and defend and rebound. A beefy center who has a mean streak and lives to block shots and clean the boards.
Plus they're all so fun to follow. I mean, for one, third year point guard Rajon Rondo is amazing. His first career triple double was 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 17 assists. Oh, and add three steals to boot. The last time someone threw up such a huge triple double was, well, Magic Johnson? Rondo's been killing teams this season and is making his case for the All Star squad. Ray Allen has found his niche in the offense (after struggling a bit on that end last season) and has been the early season team MVP. He's not over the hill, not by a long shot. Paul Pierce has fully evolved into the perfect all around player and he's upped his defensive intensity another notch this year. And Kendrick Perkins is a beast. Then there's Kevin Garnett, whose mouth is used to intimidate opponents and whip his teammates into a frenzy. Heck, he even made Glen Davis cry once.
I would love to watch this team in person. Just once. It might literally be a once in a lifetime experience, to see the defending Celtics live. Last year I said I'd pay $1000 to fly to Boston to catch a Finals game if they made it. Silly me. A thousand dollars wouldn't have gotten me anywhere near the court. This year, I looked up tickets for the Lakers-Celtics bash at Staples and the cheap seats were like $300. If I'm going to go watch them live, I want to watch it super up close and personal. I want to be sweated on and never wash my shirt again. Sadly, I don't have a few grand just lying around though. Is it worth a laptop to watch one basketball game? My heart says yes but my head (and wallet) say no.
Dammit.
Labels: Sports
The Air Up There
Wednesday, December 3, 2008 : 1:02 AM : 0 comments
"The rap on [Brett] Favre over the years has been his lack of impulse control, his confident conviction that he can 'make something happen' by dint of his will and a strong right arm. That's what accounts for the interceptions: forcing passes into bad situations.
But it also accounts for his success. It's what makes him exciting, what his fans most admire in him -- and most often cringe at. Like any mythological hero, he is thus undone by the very gift that makes him heroic."
-New York Times-
Labels: Sports
Didn't I Blow Your Mind
Saturday, October 11, 2008 : 12:34 AM : 0 comments
Oh what I would give to have John Hollinger's job. Watch the NBA all day and then apply fun statistical models to everything. As the new season approaches, Hollinger has given a break down for every player and even better, did individual scouting reports on all of them. That's insane! Seriously, like every player has a scouting report.It revealed great things like how Tony Parker rarely uses his left hand, even on layups. Or how Dirk Nowitzki might be the best shooting big man of all time -- Larry Bird just rolled his eyes. And how Dwayne Wade is a huge gambler on defense. Armed with this information, my (W)NBA career is surely only a few months away.
Seriously, I'd want these people's jobs: Bill Simmons, John Hollinger, or Steve Sabol. In that order.
Make sure to click on the player cards and check out the Hollinger reports. A few examples: Carmelo Anthony, Deron Williams, and Rajon Rondo. The most fascinating part of the reports is the little line at the bottom that compares the player in question to whom they're most like (at their current age). For example, Andrei Kirilenko is comparable to a young Derrick McKey. Michael Redd is Jerry Stackhouse. Joe Johnson is the second coming of Michael Finley. Plus lots of head scratchers like Shawn Marion is most similar to Chris Mullin?!
In other news, the Celtic's season opener and championship ring ceremony is on October 28th. Clear your social calendars. Also, the special edition DVDs of their season will be available starting then too. The set will feature complete games so everyone can relive their crushing victory over the Lakers. Over and over and over again...
Labels: Sports
Dirty Birds
Tuesday, September 9, 2008 : 1:10 AM : 1 comments
My NFL team had a great 2008 debut on my birthday. While I have no misconceptions about how good the Atlanta Falcons will be this year (they're clearly rebuilding), it's exciting how they broke out of the gate. They gave running back Michael Turner a huge free agent contract this summer and he responded by running for a franchise record 220 yards, leading the way for the Falcons to grind out a ridiculous 318 yards rushing. "Grind" isn't really the appropriate word there because the Detroit Lions clearly didn't offer much defense.Turner is nicknamed "The Burner" for his ability to break long runs, which is crazy considering he's a huge guy. Listed at five feet ten inches and two hundred and forty pounds, he's super thick and looks like a barrel plunging around on the field. He should remind Atlanta fans of Jamal Anderson, another huge but light on his feet running back, who led the Falcons to the Super Bowl ten years ago.
They got annihilated by the Broncos that day but I'd been a longtime fan of the Falcons and it was exciting nonetheless. I remember gathering a bunch of friends at my college apartment that year and preparing with a big bucket of KFC in anticipation of a championship. Whoops. Bad call as John Elway got his second title and rode off into the sunset. Since then, the Falcons' fortunes have risen and fallen with Michael Vick and we know how that story turned out.
To add insult to injury, their new head coach quit mid-season last year. Super bitch move and a sign that things really needed to change. This past off-season, they signed Michael Turner, drafted a promising rookie quarterback, and focused on rebuilding at almost every position. Knowing all this, I'd resigned myself to a lost season -- even deciding to support my hometown Chargers this year, even though I think they are big chokers -- but now things down south might be worth watching.
So why the Falcons? I've never lived in Atlanta, never had any reason to associate myself with them, and they certainly weren't a bandwagon type team. I mean, they're a franchise with only a handful of winning seasons and not much history.Well, the early Nineties Falcons had attitude and charisma. First there was Deion "Prime Time" Sanders, who captured my imagination early on with his flamboyant personality and dual sport success. Then it was Andre "Bad Moon" Rison, who was Sander's offensive counterpart and an amazingly productive receiver in his prime. Jerry Glanville, their head coach, was kind of an out there bad ass and the Falcons boasted MC Hammer as a celebrity fan who could often be found on the sidelines. The Falcons version of the run-and-shoot offense, dubbed the "Red Gun," provided fireworks aplenty, making them consistently exciting at a time when I was just learning about the game of football.
What sealed my love for the Falcons was Madden '92. That version of the game had Andre Rison and Michael Haynes as the wide receivers, both of whom were pretty much uncoverable. This was back it the day when you could actually control a WR and catch the damn ball yourself. A post pattern with Rison on the left and Haynes running a streak on the right was pretty much a guaranteed touchdown. Add in Deion (substituted in of course) and his blazing speed as a third receiver and it was game over. Plus, Sanders was consistently able to provide defensive stops and return kicks for touchdowns. I'm the type to commit to a team for life, even if they suck, and Madden clinched it, I was a Falcons fan.
As you can tell, I'm ecstatic that football is back on and I'm more than ready to defend my fantasy football championship. Some people react super surprised when they find out how big of a sports fan I am, probably because most of my talk is about geeky things or how much I like the color pink, but I've got a serious jones for football and basketball. Typically people look at me and go "Seriously? You don't look like you'd like sports at all..."
Okay, so what are you really trying to say?! I'll rock your world at the orange "Sports and Leisure" section, seriously.
Labels: Sports
Banner 17
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 : 11:14 PM : 0 comments
Finally. Since I've had no children, and may never, I think this could go down as the greatest day of my life. Yeah, yeah, it's so pointless/shallow to have such an amazing feeling stemming from a sporting event -- one that I clearly didn't play in -- but listen, I've been waiting for a Celtics' championship my entire life. They may have technically won championships in the Eighties but I was just a kid then. I have no memories of watching any championship Celtics' teams.In the last twenty years or so, I've only been able to read every book I could get on them, watched every video, and endured heartbreak after heartbreak as they sucked.
My only wish is that this could have happened on Father's Day because that would have been poetic. The reason I'm a Celtics fan is because back in Taiwan, they only showed the Finals and it was always the Lakers or the Celtics. My dad chose the Celtics and by extension so did I. Between Tiger's heroics on Sunday and the possible Game 5 clincher, I figured this would be fate. My dad loved golf, he liked basketball, and he helped me learn to appreciate both. So karmically it had to be Father's Day right? A day we would have surely spent together.
But this was pretty damn good too. A blowout win in Boston that got ever more amazing as the lead increased. This was a memory that I can cherish forever and the sheer childlike joy of cheering for this 2008 Celtics' team has been something not easily duplicated. Usually I was a Celtic superfan alone but this year I had a bunch of support -- some of it coerced.
To Frances for using her super powers of defeat and cheering on the Lakers. To Brian and Gene for highlighting the positive Celtics' matchups. To George for making the trek to an Irish bar for Game 6, while on a date no less. To Hong for always believing. To James for being the good luck charm. To me for jumping up and down like a crazy person. Actually, not to me because I still haven't found my Vegas ticket that would win me a princely sum from my pre-season bet.
Whatever. It's not about money, it's about heart. And to crossing off one item on my 43 Things. Let's do it again baby.
Labels: Sports
How Ya Like Me Now
Thursday, June 12, 2008 : 11:31 PM : 0 comments
What a roller coaster of a game. This was easily the greatest sporting experience of my life. Never had I dreamed that the Celtics could go up 3-1 against the hated Lakers, and in such spectacular fashion. The greatest Finals comeback of all time.After a close loss in Game 3, I was sad but satisfied. There was no way the Celtics wouldn't win at least one game in Los Angeles right? Even playing like utter crap, they were in it near the end. As I settled down for Game 4 I thought that this was a must win to insure no further Kobe-trionics. Sadly the entire first quarter was Laker lay ups, dunks, and highlight reel plays that enabled them to jump out to a twenty one point lead. I was messenging friends that it was already over.
But somewhere deep inside the kid in me kept the faith. Anything can happen right? Well, by halftime the lead was still eighteen points and it looked like a huge Game 5 was on the horizon -- with all the momentum going the Lakers' way. I was about ready to turn the game off and start writing a post about how the Celtics "played like sissies" and needed to go clothesline someone.
Then something crazy started happening. The Celtics were coming back. Slowly at first but then they gained steam and by the end of the third quarter they had erased the deficit to two. Could it be that I was actually going to witness an epic comeback?
I don't have to recap what happened, it'll be talked about forever anyway. The entire Los Angeles area is now devastated and I'm exhausted from cheering my heart out. All I can say is that ten days ago I feared the Lakers but now I'm delighted to bury them. The Celtics have a better team, they have great karma, they have magic (lower case) on their side. I would love to see them win championship number seventeen in Boston but whatever, just win the damn thing and have a parade back home.
By the way, I told you James Posey was a stud right? KG, I can't figure out why you suddenly can't make jumpers you've been hitting all post-season long but who cares. Just defend the basket, post up occasionally, and Paul and Ray will bring this one home. Speaking of Ray, Jesus is definitely resurrected. For the entire series he's been attacking the basket, dropping in picture perfect threes, playing tough defense, and coming up with key rebounds. Tonight he had an unbelievable Jordan-esque hang time ball fake reverse layup that was simply amazing.
Labels: Sports
And we're off...
Friday, June 6, 2008 : 2:43 AM : 0 comments
As I watched the Celtics' game, I was sure that my presence was screwing them up. As my team floundered, I had to change the channel. After watching the most futile first round of Jeopardy ever, "Wizard of Oz" appeared as a Double Jeopardy category. Most of the answers were pretty easy.This song won an Oscar despite almost being cut from the film. (Somewhere) Over the Rainbow. These were sold at an auction for $666,000. Ruby slippers. Buddy Epsen was allergic to his makeup for this role and was forced to back out of the movie. The Tin Man. Frank Morgan played the roles of Professor Marvel, The Gatekeeper, The Carriage Driver, The Guard Who Cries, and this character. The Wizard.I nailed them all and I was psyched to finally have some use for my extensive Wizard of Oz knowledge. Really, it's not often I can use my obsession to anything Oz related for good. If only trivia night had this as a category, I would have cleaned up. The wonderful thing was that soon afterwards, the Celtics came roaring back and won the game. I forced Frances to fake-cheer for the Lakers so that she could use her anti-winning powers to deflate Kobe & Co. It all worked to perfection.
It's so exciting when things go your way isn't it?
Labels: Entertainment, Sports
It's Go Time
Monday, June 2, 2008 : 1:51 PM : 0 comments
Here we go, it's all happening. Celtics versus Lakers, Round 11. It's the matchup we've been waiting twenty years to see. For being such a big Celtic fan, I've never actually never seen the Celtics play in the Finals. Their last trip was in 1987, when I was nine, and they lost to the Lakers. Still, I feel like I was there when Magic flipped in his little baby sky hook. That shot crushed me and I can't bear to watch it on highlight reels. It's a weird phenomenon to have such loyalty to someone (or someones) when you really weren't around formuch of it at the time.
While I'm delighted that Boston is doing so well this year, I'm solidly in the "I'm afraid of the Lakers camp." I've watched most of the playoff games this year and the Lakers are far and away better than anyone else. Add in Kobe Bryant as the ultimate game killer and I fear the Celtics are severe underdogs. Many of my friends have been kind enough to say that they think the Celtics can pull it off. But I'd prefer to remain hopefully pessimistic. I said during the Conference Finals that I'd prefer to have the Celtics lose the the Pistons early to avoid the historic burn of losing to the Lakers in the Finals. Nothing could be worse than a Lakers victory.
But I can dream of a championship can't I? I run through matchups in my head, I try to figure out how the Celtics can win, I think of how the untouted 2004 Pistons defeated a Shaq-Kobe Laker team that was supposed to dominate. There's hope here, but it's hard for me to envision the Celtics winning this year, especially when they've been so off and on with their performance.
Here's what I do know though: Paul Pierce will play the series of his life. Doc Rivers is an idiot. Kobe Bryant is a great player, but the ultimate faker in all of sports. Phil Jackson is a genius. Sam Cassell should never step on the court except to administer high fives during time outs. James Posey is a stud. Lamar Odom will disappear. Red Auerbach needs to do something ghostly. I need to find my $50 betting ticket on the Celtics (acquired last summer at 33-1 odds).
Nothing could be worse than losing to the Lakers, but nothing would be sweeter than beating them either. This is going to be an exciting two weeks.
Labels: Sports
The Warrior
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 : 10:25 AM : 0 comments
When Paul Pierce's career is over, will his number rise to the rafters in-between Larry Bird's #33 and Reggie Lewis' #35? Even if the Celtics never win a championship during his career, Pierce has proved himself to be one of the best players of his generation.Because the Celtics have been bad for so long, it's easy to dismiss Pierce as a franchise guy who couldn't quite carry a team. Look at his career accomplishments so far though. In ten years, he's been to six All-Star games, averaged 23 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and almost two steals a game. In addition, he has great shooting range, is an impeccable free throw shooter, possesses great court vision, and has proven to be a clutch performer time and time again. Oh, he also plays defense.
His Boston teams have reached the Eastern Conference Finals twice, in 2002 and 2008, both appearances coinciding with another All-Star caliber player (first Antoine Walker, then KG and RayRay) sharing the burden. Most of those other years, he's had to suffer from poor management decisions and/or horrendous coaching. Through all the adversity, Pierce has remained a true Celtic. After the glory of the Eighties and the tragedies of the Nineties, Pierce provided hope to the Celtic faithful for an entire decade.
I guess the question isn't really if he will have his number retired -- he definitely will -- but whether or not he'll make the Hall of Fame. If he wins a championship in the next year or two, that's a near certainty.
The craziest thing about all this is that Pierce was stabbed in September 2000 multiple times and was inches away from dying. He came back two months later, played like an All-Pro, and carried the Celts, just like he's always done.
He also has one of the best nicknames in sports: The Truth. Shaquille O'Neal, the originator of the nickname, dubbed him such after playing against Pierce early in his career.
"Take this down," said O'Neal. "My name is Shaquille O'Neal and Paul Pierce is the (expletive) truth. Quote me on that and don't take nothing out. I knew he could play, but I didn't know he could play like this. Paul Pierce is the truth.'"
Labels: Sports
Let's Hear It For The Boy(s)
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 : 7:50 PM : 0 comments
I feel the need to write a running diary on the crucial Game 5 between the Celtics and the Cavaliers. Larry Bird once said that Game 5 was the most important game of the series. I believe him.Before you read further, make sure you check out Bill Simmon's column on how terrible Doc Rivers is. He pretty much captures exactly what I've been feeling as I watch this Celtic team try to win a championship by losing every away game they play. It's riveting stuff. Warning: This post is super long but my team needs me -- especially since Lebron posterized the entire team -- so I don't care.
5:07 pm - Lebron James hits his first shot, a long jumper from the top of the key. It's only 2-0 but the Celtics have had two of their shots blocked, one 24 second violation, and a Garden full of fans who have nothing to cheer for. LBJ just hit a leaning fadeaway from the right corner. Greeeat. So much for shooting 26% this series.
Ray Allen falls down as Wally Szczerbiak drives around him, steps back, and hits a three in his face. Well, it would have been in his face if he had been upright. Ray Ray proceeds to miss a wide open three at the other end. Who said he's too old for this game?
Six minutes in, score tied 7-7, Paul Pierce drives the lane, flops around for a foul, and has the ball ripped out of his outstretched hands by LBJ. The King heads toward the open court and Allen isn't sure what to do: foul or let him lay it up? How about both? Way to weakly swipe at the ball Ray. Two plays later, he picks up his second foul and heads to the bench.
5:18 pm - Jmz had pointed out to me how those half-and-half NBA commercials featuring two players have everything coordinated, including the blinking. It's pretty incredible. Imagine how much work it must take to get these guys to blink and talk at the same speed. I wonder what the complete list of players they have footage of is. I mean, Derek Fisher is on now (paired with Deron Williams). He's like the fourth best player on his team. Do they shoot these things on the off days between series or everything is pre-shot? I need an ESPN story about this.The Celts have probably missed five or six shots from within three feet. Either blocked, bounced off their hands, or just rocket balled right off the backboard. This team is starting to resemble my real life basketball game, I can't layup either.
Paul Pierce's role on the Celtics is "Scorer." TNT does this thing where they assign team roles to every player as their stats flash up. What might Brian Scalabrine's role be? We may never know but I'd guess "Mascot."
Wally World is on fire, three for five, with two threes. Why are the Celts shooting so many three pointers? Rondo just shot a three -- and missed -- while Pierce and everyone else has been jacking them up for no good reason. The only player who should be unconscionably jacking up threes is James Posey, who I'm convinced is a true winner with his defense and clutch shooting.
End of the first quarter, 23-18 Cavaliers. Not too bad I guess. But LBJ is back on the map offensively and he's getting anywhere he wants on the floor.
5:40 pm - The Cavaliers have extended the lead to nine points. Sam I Am misses a heavily contested jump shot from the left side. Shock. The announcers say that he's 0-12 in the last three games. Zero for twelve? Isn't his forte instant scoring? Instead, his bricks are sinking the Celtics' ship. Vinnie Johnson was "The Microwave;" Sam is "The Freezer."
LBJ heads into the locker room, probably to get a phone call from The Commish telling him to cool it a bit before this becomes a blow out. There can be no LBJ fourth quarter heroics if the Cavs are up by twenty. Last year, Lebron went wild in Game 5 and won the game in overtime against the Pistons by traveling on the last two plays. The Cavs won the series by taking four straight games from the number one seed. The Celtics are working on being another footnote in Lebron's legend and it looks like they're well on their way there.
It's disgusting how the Celts are getting outhustled on everything. Rebounds, blocked shots, transition game. The Cavs are huge up front, with Ilgauskas, Joe Smith, Ben Wallace, and Anderson Varejao. They keep blocking and harassing everyone inside.
Is KG the skinniest seven footer ever? I'd like to imagine that given a foot or so, I'd be a Chinese version of KG. I can block shots, I have a turnaround fadeaway, I can pass well out of the post, I have spindly arms. He's also wearing my (old) favorite number, 5, this must be fate.
Scramble for a loose ball and Daniel Gibson ends up with it. He drives hard on KG, throws it up, and the ball rolls in. The crowd is booing. It's a thirteen point Cleveland lead. If it gets to twenty, I'm shutting the TV off. Sam's now zero for fourteen. Ray finally hits a shot though. Three!
5:55 pm - Four minutes left in the first half. The best Celtics player has been, well, nobody. The Least Valuable Player award goes to Ray Allen (check out his pre-game routine, he's like the Jerry Rice of the NBA). It's impossible to tell what he's thinking as he takes a wild drive toward the basket and turns it over. In just under an hour I'm questioning why I spent so many hours of my life watching basketball this season. Didn't I give up caring about sports four months ago?Rondo hits two three pointers in a row, the Celtics are only down by six! The crowd is going wild. The announcers comment on how consistently the crowd has been cheering "Dee-fense," as if that's a commendable thing. It's like saying they're doing a good job of staying awake.
Well, if the Celtics lose this game, at least I can cheer for the Lakers to lose to Utah during the next game. Maybe it can be a Cavs-Jazz Finals, with the main storyline being how badly Carlos Boozer stabbed Cleveland in the back. That would be fun, watching the ABC execs shoot themselves. Why aren't the Celtics getting more calls? Doesn't the league WANT them in the Finals?
Delonte West hits a three too. Delonte West and Wally are both former Celtics back to haunt their former team. This probably wasn't what they meant by "the ghosts of Celtic past." KG puts up a turnaround airball from ten feet away. Nice. He comes back and hits a smooth jumper from the top of the key though. One thing I've been impressed with is how good KG is at shooting faceup jumpers. He's Duncan-esque in his consistency. He's not Duncan-esque in his clutchness however.
6:09 pm - Pierce makes another patented awkward drive, runs over Delonte, and throws up a prayer that rolls in. A few years ago, I read something about how Pierce's game is "beautifully awkward" (whereas Antoine Walker's game was "awkwardly beautiful") and the term describes his game perfectly. He always looks slightly slow and out of control but somehow manages to be a dominant scorer.
The Celtics head into the half down by three, which is a huge moral victory since they've been getting killed. Lebron has 23 points on 8/14 shooting and a perfect 7/7 from the line.
This is actually a good series for nicknames. The Celtics have Garnett (The Kid, The Big Ticket, KG), Pierce (The Truth), Ray Allen (Ray Ray, Jesus), Cassell (Sam I Am) and Glen Davis (Big Baby).
Lebron has quite a few by himself (King James, Bron Bron, LBJ), and gets to add Daniel Gibson (Boobie), Zydrunas Ilgauskus (Big Z), Szczerbiak (Wally World), Ben Wallace (Big Ben), and Anderson Varejao (Sideshow Bob) on his side. I'd add "the real Joe Smith" in there too since he's been playing so well.
6:28 pm - Here we go, the most important twenty four minutes of the season -- until the inevitable Game 7, of course. Ray Allen starts things off with a three to pull them within one. Pierce picks up his third foul on a weak call by the refs. Rondo steals the ball and gets a quick layup. Celtics have their first lead of the game. Rondo is seriously good. It's only his sophomore season but he's great on defense, smart on offense, and definitely on his way to stardom -- like a Tony Parker-lite. He's the Tayshaun Prince of this team. Ray Ray rims out a seven footer. Alliteration is fun.I have this theory that the Celts are so good on defense and so bad on offense because they tighten up the rims. How many times have LBJ's shots rimmed in and out during games at the Garden? Sure, the Celtics would have the same problems but they usually get past it by only shooting short jumpers and layups. I heard that the Showtime Lakers used to cut their nets a little shorter to get the ball out quickly on a fast break. Cheaters.
Pierce makes a great drive toward the basket and then throws it backwards directly to Delonte West, who streaks down the court only to be knocked silly by Garnett -- after Rondo stripped him of the ball. KG then blocks West's next drive directly to Ben Wallace, who gets an uncontested dunk. Can't complain there though, I guess. Especially since KG comes right back and hits another long jumper to tie things up. Seven minutes left to go in the third.
Big Ben hits a beautiful floating layup off the glass and then helps KG off the floor. That's so nice; there must be a fraternity among Defensive Players of the Year. PP makes a subtle head fake to get LBJ flying past him. Big three, count it! Garnett has hit his last six shots, Pierce is playing Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde, and Ray Allen slow rolls in a layup. They're up by five!
6:45 pm - You know what's super funny? LBJ telling his mom to "Sit yo ass down!" in Game 4. PP had wrapped him up on a breakaway and took him into the stands. Gloria James happened to be right there and started yapping. Lebron was seen clearly telling her to back the hell down (video). Afterwards he said he was glad it wasn't Mother's Day. Gotta love this game.
The Celtics are shooting 82% this quarter and Lebron has no points. LBJ drives and then gets his shot double blocked by KG and KP (Kendrick Perkins). This is the way the Celtics should be playing. It's hard to lose when you shoot over 80%, keep it up.
Big Baby is coming in. He's good for a few fouls, a quick burst of energy, and knocking people to the floor. Why isn't Leon Powe playing? Doc Rivers is so terrible. Big Baby makes an easy layup off a beautiful pass from Garnett. I don't care, Powe should still be in there. A Rondo-Garnett-Pierce passing frenzy leads to a give and go PP dunk. They're up by eleven. Big Baby falls backwards onto Varejao at the other end, crushing him and sending him to the line.
7:05 pm - Start of the fourth and it's looking like a Celtics win. I mean, Big Baby just put in another basket and short of a miraculous effort by LBJ, the game's over. Oh wait, isn't this exactly what David Stern called LBJ about in the first quarter? Crap. I'm mentally preparing myself for a Lebron-led comeback.
Luckily, Sideshow Bob keeps missing free throws. Why is he the offensive focal point exactly? Come to think of it, Mike Brown is a horrible couch too. Coach, I mean, coach. Eh, I'm not even gonna bother correcting that, they're essentially synonyms in this series.
Big Baby with an ugly turnover. Ten minutes left and KG's still on the bench. Hey Doc, maybe you should get your MVP back in the game? I wonder if Danny Ainge will fire him at the end of the season. I wouldn't even mind Avery Johnson or something at this point. Hell, bring back Rick Pitino.
Ray's looking good. He just hit another three. Too bad it was a practice shot after the whistle. We'll take it though. Big Baby trucks through for a tough lay in. The lead's only eight points and LBJ still hasn't done a thing the entire second half. Oh never mind, he just backed up for a short floater. Hold onto your panties.
Ray misses from the exact same spot he just hit one from during the stop. This one counted...as a miss. Rondo and Garnett go to the same high pick and roll that produced a dunk three seconds earlier. Not surprisingly, Cleveland's ready for it this time. Big Baby goes flying and somersaults over Wally Sczerbiak on the ensuing scramble. Good effort, time to get him out of there. Hello, Doc?
7:22 pm - Five minutes to go, up by ten after a Delonte steal and LBJ dunk. It's now or never to seal this game. Delonte has been everywhere this second half and he just got another steal. Two in five seconds. If the Celts can't pull this one out with West and Varejao spearheading the Cavalier's "attack," the Celtics don't deserve to win.I'm such a sports pessimist. I can't watch anything without thinking something horrible will happen to my team. It really sucks the joy out of my viewing experience. I'm constantly focused on the negative and never the positive, as this diary has clearly demonstrated. Maybe I am a Debbie Downer like Jmz said...
Rondo hits another runner in the lane. Goddam he's good. Stars of the game: Rondo (20 PTS, 13 AST, 2 3PT/STL/BLK, 1 TO), Garnett (26 PTS, 16 REB, 3 BLK), Big Baby (3-4 FG), Paul Pierce (29 PTS, 11-13 FT), and David Stern for telling LBJ to take the night off so they can get a few more games out of this series. Let's hope Rivers pays attention and never plays Cassell again except when Rondo needs a rest. Rajon is clearly twenty times better at this point. Hell, dial up Eddie House if you need instant offense. I'm a big Cassell fan but he's horrible this year.
KG, Pierce, Rondo, and Allen have all played over forty minutes this game. That doesn't bode well for the next game. Oh look, Danny Ainge was presented with a little glass trophy pre-game for winning Executive of the Year. I got better trophies for participating in read-a-thons in middle school. The glass bauble is seriously tiny. Weak.
7:32 pm - There's only two minutes and thirty seconds to go but I'm still not convinced the game is over because the Celtics are only up by eight. The free throw disparity is the Cavaliers 27 and the Celtics 13. Ray Allen just missed what could have been a back breaking three. Missed pretty badly too. Luckily, LBJ can't hit one at the other end either. Oh wait, Delonte stole the ball in the backcourt and laid it in. Lead down to six. Pierce misses a layup. And then a free throw. This is going perfectly according to plan I'm sure.
King James with an easy drive and layup. One minute left, up by five. Hold the celebratory balloons. The Cavs are pressing full court and the Celtics can't get the ball past half court. Way to go best team in the regular season. Bob Cousy just collapsed.
7:45 pm - There's still 11.6 seconds to go but it should be over. Should. It's a six point lead and it's just a free throw medley. The game sealing play? Ray Allen, of all people, tipping a rebound to Garnett with forty seconds left so the C's could run out the clock. What a disgusting game. At least they won I guess. Nothing about this team screams championship to me.
See you in two days for Cavs 110 - Celtics 69. If you made it through this entire post, we should probably hang out.
Labels: Sports
Curse of the Jon-bino
Sunday, May 4, 2008 : 4:42 AM : 0 comments
I've been religiously watching the NBA playoffs this season. Normally, I'll catch a few games on if I'm around but usually any excuse to get away from a TV will take me away from the game on-screen. Part of the reason is that the dominant teams of the past few years have been so boring to watch. The Spurs, Pistons, Mavericks, and just about every other contender outside of Phoenix seemed incredibly boring. Well, this year it's been a different story. More specifically, the Celtics are back!After winning the regular season and getting acclaim and accolades, Kevin Garnett and Co. were hailed as championship contenders and virtual shoo-ins for the Finals (possibly against the Lakers no less). I tried to watch as many Celtic games as I could, even going so far as to schedule their nationally televised games into my Google Calendar. I bought McFarlane figures of Pierce, Garnett, and Ray-Ray for good luck. Everything was going swimmingly as the playoffs started.
Now, after three straight home wins for the lowly Atlanta Hawks, the Celtics are on the verge of being on the wrong end of the biggest playoff upset ever. Seriously. The team with the best record in the league could lose to a team that won just barely half as many games as they did. That's not just embarrassing, it's catastrophic. And it's not due to injury, unfairness, or bad officiating. The Celtics have been trying hard but they just can't seem to win.
For some reason, whenever I watch an important game and cheer on the team I want to win, they lose. It's as if all my other good life karma is turned upside down when I watch sports. So now the dilemma is if I should make the effort to wake up early and watch tomorrow's deciding game or not. Right now, since it's 4:51 AM (the game's in five hours) and I haven't slept, I'm leaning towards "No." Then again, if this is possibly the last Celtic game of the season, shouldn't I lend my support? Would it be better if I didn't watch since I'm like seriously cursed?
Should I have bigger life concerns to be worried about?
Labels: Sports
Hut One...
Thursday, January 31, 2008 : 4:07 AM : 0 comments
I'm headed to my first Super Bowl. And what an epic one it's shaping up to be. My fellow Wolverine, Tom Brady, will be quarterbacking The New America's Team, the Patriots, toward a historic undefeated season. Back in college, Tom and I would often sit around dreaming of where we would be in five years. Now, here we are, a little off schedule but still on time, headed for a happy reunion after achieving worldly fame and fortune. Admittedly, most of the fame and fortune is on his side but I have had my small successes.Then again, much like my ability to seemingly always end up on the wrong side of excitement, I'll be attending Super Bowl XLII in a service capacity. It's my version of always the bridesmaid, never the bride. We'll be working the Super Bowl Experience from Thursday till Saturday, and then flying out on Sunday.
So, I'll be watching the game from home, just like you schlups. But oh the fun I'll have in the meantime. You're jealous aren't you? I can totally tell.
34+20+21 = 17
Monday, July 30, 2007 : 2:21 PM : 0 comments
A few weeks ago I posted about how excited I was, on the heels of their trade for Ray Allen, that the Celtics would be relevant again. I said, "While I'm not delusional enough to think that adding Ray Allen will take the Celtics to a championship, this will at least make them respectable." Well, forget respectable. The Celtics have landed the original kid wonder, Kevin Garnett (who wears my favorite number) and despite having to mortgage the future, this will make the Boston Celtics a contender in the weak Eastern Conference.
If Lebron James and nobody can get to the Finals, what will Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett do? That's a fantasy team roster filled with a trio of franchise players. I bet Larry Bird is ready to suit up and give it a go. Or at least Danny Ainge and Kevin McHale -- the two GMs and ex-Celtics who have screwed up their respective franchises for the past few years -- are getting ready to play again. Celtic pride made them agree to this blockbuster trade and championship number seventeen is surely on the way.Doubters may say that we won't have enough depth but I say: "What, Brian Scalabrine doesn't scare you? Are you crazy?"
Labels: Sports
Jesus and the Truth
Thursday, June 28, 2007 : 7:09 PM : 0 comments
About a month ago, I was in a room full of friends when out of the blue, I got a text that said simply "5." And I died. What did it mean? It meant that my beloved Boston Celtics -- the second worst team in the NBA last year -- had somehow managed to snag only the fifth pick in the draft.For those of you who don't follow basketball, this year's draft is only two-deep in potential franchise changing superstars (Greg Oden and Kevin Durant). Picking all the way at number five meant getting an okay player, but not an amazing one. The Celtics haven't won shit since the Larry Bird days. We need a championship, bad; the coveted number seventeen.
The 2007 draft is happening right now -- I'm at work so I can't watch -- but I've been on pins and needles all day because it's been the Celtics' modus operandi lately to do the dumb thing. And the dumb thing this year would have been to trade all the young talent they've acquired (and lost many games with) over the past few years for just one big star -- even if that star is Kevin Garnett, Shawn Marion, or Jermaine O'Neal.
I was hoping they would stay put and just take Corey Brewer, or at worst, maybe Yi Jianlian if they really had to. That would have been a stand pat move but just fine with me.But out of the blue, the Celtics acquired Ray Allen from the Supersonics for the low low price of their #5 pick (Georgetown's Jeff Green), Wally Szerbiak, and Delonte West. Who? Exactly. They just got one of the purest shooters ever for a bunch of scrubs and a rookie? Ray Allen was born to be a Celtic -- as was Tim Duncan, who we should have had -- with his quiet demeanor and assassin's touch. Plus the Celtics already have a player named Allan Ray so this is just kind of fun.
While I'm not delusional enough to think that adding Ray Allen will take the Celtics to a championship, this will at least make them respectable. People are saying that Ray is old but players who stroke it like Ray will always be valuable. He's an All-Star and his nickname (Jesus Shuttlesworth) evokes one of Larry Legend's nicknames (Basketball Jesus). This hardly makes up for the slide we've been on since Len Bias died but for now, it'll do.
With Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and the up-and-coming Al Jefferson, I think I love the outlook for my Celtics (although Simmons hates it). Heck, I think I love the NBA again.
Labels: Sports
