Noooooo!!!!!!

Where is the accountability, David Stern? How can the NBA possibly reward this guy after his performance during game 6 of the Cavs-Celtics series? I’m not even going to get into all the foolishness that went on in that debacle, but lets just say I’ve seen Harlem Globetrotters – Washington Generals games that were more legitimate. And what is Bavetta even doing still officiating important games? He should have been banned, arrested and possibly deported after his role in game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals.

But, instead David Stern and the NBA continue to send Bavetta, Joey Crawford, Bennett Salvatore, etc. to fix… errrr, officiate the biggest games of the playoffs. Does Stern have this little faith in the quality of the NBA product that he feels he needs to turn the league into the WWE just to get his most marketable players and teams to advance in the playoffs? I just don’t get it. Why are you trying to ruin the game that I and so many other fans love?

The audacity of the NBA in how they deal with official really is astounding. Not only do they quite obviously officiate games way different depending on arena, team and player involved in each call, but they don’t even make an attempt to appear unbiased. How could anyone argue that Dick Bavetta of all the basketball refs on this planet is the best person to be officiating this (or any) NBA game. Think about that. The NBA could basically choose any referee in the whole world to work these games and Dick Bavetta, Joey Crawford and Bennett Salvadore are the best three people they could come up with. Seriously? You are telling us all that there is no one in the world who could do this better?

Why isn’t Arlen Specter calling for an investigation into all of this? Tim Donaghy was alleged to have fixed over 100 NBA games! And clearly, something else is very, very wrong with how these games are being officiated. And its not like this is something new. I can remember back in 1999 the refs giving every single call to the Jazz in their first round series win against the Kings. Ralph freaking Nader even chimed in on that absurd game 6 from 2002. And lets not forget last year’s Suns-Spurs series, the Heat-Mavs Finals, just about any Lakers game from the Shaq-Kobe era… I could go on and on. God help us all if Lebron ever goes to New York… it will be like the perfect storm of NBA referee fixing.

I would honestly feel better with Doneghy working the game over the guys I mentioned above; at least Doneghy was (from what I can tell) fixing the over/under.

Oh, and one more thing, Stern… I’m not sure if you’re aware or not, but many of us now have DVR/Tivo. This makes it very easy to rewind any questionable call that is made. Combined with clear HDTV, we can easily see these bad calls instantly. So, your strategy of having ABC not show replays on obviously blown calls is not going to stop us from seeing through the BS. (I wonder who got fired today for letting that Lebron jersey pull replay) In fact, if anything, the fact that you are not showing these replays gives more credence to those of us who believe these games are being fixed or at least assisted by the NBA and its refs.

Anyway, I sincerely hope that I am wrong and this game tonight plays out fairly and the only deciding factor is that the better team will win. We will see…

Its been a while since I’ve posted, but I am reinvigorated for the playoffs. An amazing NBA season came to a somewhat uneventful end. The only intrigue over the past few weeks was the battle for the last playoff spot in the West. Now that all the dust has settled on the regular season, I am more than ready for the playoffs to begin.

This year’s Western Conference is loaded and I could see anyone coming out. People talk about the golden years of the NBA being when the Celtics played the Lakers or when Jordan’s Bulls dominated. I never understood that. Sure, those teams were great, but where’s the drama? I would much prefer this year’s scenario where we have 8 excellent teams in the West, each capable of beating any of the other teams. John Hollinger has an excellent piece on just this subject.

Western Conference

I’ll start with my predictions in the West, though I should point out that I have zero confidence in these picks. I wouldn’t be surprised if any of my picks lost in the first round or even if they all went down! Anyway, here we go…

West First Round

Lakers over Nuggets (7 games) – I think people are underestimating Denver, and they can make a series out of this. The Lakers have shown to be the best team in the West, but I think they are vulnerable as long as Bynum’s health is in question.

Jazz over Rockets (5 games) – The Rockets had that great run, but I don’t think they have enough to stay with the Jazz. The Jazz have been on fire down the stretch and I expect them to continue to play well, especially at home.

Spurs over Suns (7 games) - I think the Suns with a healthy Shawn Marion take this. But I still hate the Shaq trade. Amare has been on fire and they have played better with Shaq recently, but I don’t think they play good enough defense to beat the Spurs.

Hornets over Mavs (6 games) - I see CP3 all over this series. New Orleans has been just a flat out better team plus they will have the edge in motivation against Dallas.

Western Conference Semis

Lakers over Jazz (7 games) – Bynum should be at least back on the court by this series. That combined with Kobe’s ability to take over games, the Lakers’ homecourt advantage and the likelihood of the refs keeping it “fair” for the Lakers makes me pick Los Angeles in this battle of what I think are the West’s two best teams.

Hornets over Spurs (7 games) - The Hornets have the big guys to neutralize Duncan down low and CP3 should be able to take over. I think the Spurs age is starting to catch up with them and see them losing a hard fought series here in 7 games.

Western Conference Finals

Lakers over Hornets (6 games) – By this time Bynum should be 100% or close to it. With a healthy Bynum and homecourt advantage, I don’t see anyone in the West staying with the Lakers. look for Kobe to dominate this series in this matchup of MVP candidates.

Eastern Conference

The East seems much easier to predict and I feel fairly confident about my picks here. Of course, I also predicted a Suns-Raptors NBA Finals matchup last year… so take these with a grain of salt.

East First Round

Celtics over Hawks (4 games) – This is a total mismatch on every level.

Wizards over Cavs (6 games) – As much as the NBA would love to see Lebron go further in the playoffs, this Cavs team really isn’t any good. The midseason trade seems to have hurt more than it helped. Even without Arenas, i would give the Wizards the edge. Now that he’s back, I see the Wizards winning fairly easily. Of course, Lebron could always go bananas like he did in last year’s playoffs and make this prediction look foolish.

Magic over Raptors (6 games) – The Magic are the team that no one is talking about. They come into the playoffs red hot and should be able to take out a decent Raptors team.

Pistons over Sixers (5 games) – Detroit is just too deep and experienced. Successful season for Philly as they are headed in the right direction.

Eastern Conference Semis

Celtics over Wizards (5 games) – Remember when Gilbert Arenas predicted the Wizards would beat the Celts in the season opener, then they got blasted by 20? Thats pretty much how I see this series going.

Pistons over Magic (7 games) - I agonized over this pick more than any in the East. I think the Magic are an equal team to Detroit, but the Pistons just have too much experience. Usually the effect of experience can be overstated, but this Pistons team plays exceptionally well together (cliche alert!… the sum > parts) and they know all the tricks and when to use them.

Eastern Conference Finals

Celtics over Pistons (5 games) – The Celtics are too good defensively and KG will not let the team lose focus. The Pistons will be exhausted from their last series and when the Celts take game 3 or 4 at the Palace, the Pistons will have no chance in game 5.

NBA Finals

Celtics over Lakers (6 games) – Boy, I went out on a limb here, huh? In the series that everyone seems to be predicting, in the end I see banner number 17 being raised to the rafters of the Garden. To much defense, too much intensity and too much KG and Paul Pierce for a very good Lakers team to handle.

Isiah Thomas was officially fired this morning.  I’m baffled at this move… what has Isiah done to deserve this?!

Rank – Team – (Record) – +/- Pt Differential – Previous Ranking

1 – Boston Celtics (58-15) +10.4 last week rank: 1
Week results: 3-1

2 – New Orleans Hornets (50-22) +5.0 last week rank: 2
Week results: 3-1

3 – San Antonio Spurs (51-23) +5.0 last week rank: 7
Week results: 4-0

4 – Detroit Pistons (52-21) +7.1 last week rank: 6
Week results: 3-1

5 – Utah Jazz (48-26) +6.3 last week rank: 4
Week results: 2-1

6 – Phoenix Suns (49-24) +4.8 last week rank: 5
Week results: 2-2

7 – Houston Rockets (49-24) +4.3 last week rank: 8
Week results: 2-1

8 – LA Lakers (50-24) +6.6 last week rank: 3
Week results: 2-2

9 – Denver Nuggets (45-28) +4.0 last week rank: 10
Week results: 3-0

10 – Orlando Magic (47-27) +4.8 last week rank: 11
Week results: 1-1

11 – Golden State Warriors (45-28) +3.0 last week rank: 9
Week results: 2-2

12 – Philadelphia 76ers (37-37) +0.7 last week rank: 12
Week results: 2-2

13 – Washington Wizards (38-35) +0.0 last week rank: 14
Week results: 2-2

14 – Toronto Raptors (37-36) +2.9 last week rank: 17
Week results: 2-1

15 – Dallas Mavericks (45-28) +4.3 last week rank: 13
Week results: 1-2

16 – Cleveland Cavaliers (41-33) –0.4 last week rank: 16
Week results: 1-2

17 – Sacramento Kings (33-40) –2.3 last week rank: 18
Week results: 2-2

18 – Portland Trailblazers (38-36) –0.8 last week rank: 15
Week results: 1-3

19 – Atlanta Hawks (33-40) –1.6 last week rank: 19
Week results: 3-1

20 – New Jersey Nets (31-43) –4.8 last week rank: 21
Week results: 2-2

21 – Indiana Pacers (30-43) –1.8 last week rank: 20
Week results: 1-2

22 – Charlotte Bobcats (28-45) –4.6 last week rank: 24
Week results: 3-1

23 – Chicago Bulls (29-44) –2.8 last week rank: 23
Week results: 2-2

24 – Milwaukee Bucks (24-48) –6.7 last week rank: 22
Week results: 0-4

25 – Minnesota Timberwolves (19-53) –6.5 last week rank: 25
Week results: 1-2

26 – Memphis Grizzlies (19-54) –6.2 last week rank: 26
Week results: 1-3

27 – LA Clippers (22-51) –6.5 last week rank: 27
Week results: 1-3

28 – New York Knicks (20-53) –6.9 last week rank: 28
Week results: 1-3

29 – Seattle Supersonics (17-57) –8.6 last week rank: 29
Week results: 1-3

30 – Miami Heat (13-60) –8.7 last week rank: 30
Week results: 1-3

Rank – Team – (Record) – +/- Pt Differential – Previous Ranking

1 – Boston Celtics (55-14) +10.1 last week rank: 2
Week results: 3-1

2 – New Orleans Hornets (47-21) +5.3 last week rank: 5
Week results: 3-0

3 – LA Lakers (48-22) +7.1 last week rank: 7
Week results: 3-1

4 – Utah Jazz (46-25) +6.0 last week rank: 4
Week results: 2-1

5 – Phoenix Suns (47-22) +5.1 last week rank: 9
Week results: 3-0

6 – Detroit Pistons (49-20) +7.1 last week rank: 3
Week results: 1-2

7 – San Antonio Spurs (47-23) +4.5 last week rank: 10
Week results: 3-1

8 – Houston Rockets (47-23) +4.5 last week rank: 1
Week results: 1-3

9 – Golden State Warriors (43-26) +2.9 last week rank: 8
Week results: 2-2

10 – Denver Nuggets (42-28) +3.7 last week rank: 11
Week results: 2-2

11 – Orlando Magic (46-26) +4.9 last week rank: 12
Week results: 2-2

12 – Philadelphia 76ers (35-35) +0.6 last week rank: 13
Week results: 2-1

13 – Dallas Mavericks (44-26) +4.6 last week rank: 6
Week results: 0-3

14 – Washington Wizards (36-33) +0.2 last week rank: 14
Week results: 3-1

15 – Portland Trailblazers (37-33) –0.6 last week rank: 15
Week results: 2-1

16 – Cleveland Cavaliers (40-31) –0.3 last week rank: 16
Week results: 2-2

17 – Toronto Raptors (35-35) +2.9 last week rank: 18
Week results: 1-3

18 – Sacramento Kings (31-38) –2.4 last week rank: 17
Week results: 1-2

19 – Atlanta Hawks (30-39) –2.2 last week rank: 21
Week results: 2-1

20 – Indiana Pacers (29-41) –2.1 last week rank: 22
Week results: 4-0

21 – New Jersey Nets (29-41) –5.2 last week rank: 19
Week results: 1-3

22 – Milwaukee Bucks (25-44) –6.5 last week rank: 24
Week results: 2-1

23 – Chicago Bulls (27-42) –2.7 last week rank: 20
Week results: 1-3

24 – Charlotte Bobcats (25-44) –4.9 last week rank: 23
Week results: 1-2

25 – Minnesota Timberwolves (18-51) –6.5 last week rank: 26
Week results: 3-1

26 – Memphis Grizzlies (18-51) –6.0 last week rank: 29
Week results: 3-1

27 – LA Clippers (21-48) –6.5 last week rank: 25
Week results: 0-4

28 – New York Knicks (19-50) –7.0 last week rank: 27
Week results: 0-3

29 – Seattle Supersonics (16-54) –9.0 last week rank: 28
Week results: 0-3

30 – Miami Heat (12-57) –8.4 last week rank: 30
Week results: 1-3

Rank – Team – (Record) – +/- Pt Differential – Previous Ranking

1 – Houston Rockets (46-20) +5.5 last week rank: 4
Week results: 4-0

2 – Boston Celtics (52-13) +10.4 last week rank: 1
Week results: 3-1

3 – Detroit Pistons (48-18) +7.7 last week rank: 5
Week results: 2-1

4 – Utah Jazz (44-24) +6.0 last week rank: 6
Week results: 2-2

5 – New Orleans Hornets (44-21) +5.0 last week rank: 7
Week results: 2-1

6 – Dallas Mavericks (44-23) +5.0 last week rank: 9
Week results: 4-0

7 – LA Lakers (45-21) +7.0 last week rank: 2
Week results: 1-2

8 – Golden State Warriors (41-24) +3.1 last week rank: 8
Week results: 2-1

9 – Phoenix Suns (44-22) +4.8 last week rank: 10
Week results: 3-0

10 – San Antonio Spurs (44-22) +4.2 last week rank: 3
Week results: 1-3

11 – Denver Nuggets (40-26) +3.9 last week rank: 11
Week results: 3-1

12 – Orlando Magic (44-24) +4.8 last week rank: 13
Week results: 4-0

13 – Philadelphia 76ers (33-34) +0.8 last week rank: 14
Week results: 3-1

14 – Washington Wizards (33-32) –0.1 last week rank: 17
Week results: 3-0

15 – Portland Trailblazers (35-32) –0.7 last week rank: 15
Week results: 2-2

16 – Cleveland Cavaliers (38-29) –0.3 last week rank: 12
Week results: 2-2

17 – Sacramento Kings (30-36) –2.5 last week rank: 18
Week results: 2-1

18 – Toronto Raptors (34-32) +2.9 last week rank: 16
Week results: 0-4

19 – New Jersey Nets (28-38) –5.1 last week rank: 22
Week results: 2-1

20 – Chicago Bulls (26-39) –2.5 last week rank: 20
Week results: 1-1

21 – Atlanta Hawks (28-38) –2.4 last week rank: 21
Week results: 2-2

22 – Indiana Pacers (25-41) –2.4 last week rank: 23
Week results: 1-2

23 – Charlotte Bobcats (24-42) –5.0 last week rank: 19
Week results: 0-3

24 – Milwaukee Bucks (23-43) –6.7 last week rank: 24
Week results: 0-3

25 – LA Clippers (21-44) –6.3 last week rank: 25
Week results: 1-3

26 – Minnesota Timberwolves (15-50) –7.2 last week rank: 26
Week results: 1-2

27 – New York Knicks (19-47) –6.6 last week rank: 27
Week results: 1-2

28 – Seattle Supersonics (16-51) –8.7 last week rank: 28
Week results: 0-4

29 – Memphis Grizzlies (15-50) –6.9 last week rank: 29
Week results: 0-3

30 – Miami Heat (11-54) –7.9 last week rank: 30
Week results: 0-4

Most Valuable Player:

1. Kobe Bryant
2. Lebron James
3. Kevin Garnett
4. Chris Paul
5. Tracy McGrady
6. Dwight Howard
7. Tim Duncan
8. Steve Nash
9. Dirk Nowitzki
10. Chauncey Billups

———————————————————————————————————-

Rookie of the Year:

1. Kevin Durant
2. Luis Scola
3. Al Horford
4. Jamario Moon
5. Carl Landry
6. Al Thornton
7. Thaddeus Young
8. Juan Carlos Navarro
9. Joakim Noah
10. Mike Conley

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Most Improved Player:

1. Andrew Bynum
2. Rajon Rondo
3. Rudy Gay
4. Travis Outlaw
5. Jose Calderon
6. Hedo Turkoglu
7. Ronnie Brewer
8. John Salmons
9. Jordan Farmar
10. Kendrick Perkins

———————————————————————————————————-

Coach of the Year

1. Rick Adelman
2. Byron Scott
3. Doc Rivers
4. Maurice Cheeks
5. Phil Jackson
6. Don Nelson
7. Jerry Sloan
8. Flip Saunders
9. Nate McMillan
10. Eddie Jordan

NBA Star of the Week – Tracy McGrady

McGrady and the Rockets can do no wrong

Tracy McGrady - Even the injury to Yao Ming cannot slow the Rockets down.  McGrady has carried the Rockets since Yao’s injury and their win streak is now at 18.  In three wins last week, McGrady averaged 32.3 pts, 7.7 ast, 5.0 reb while shooting 56% from the field.

———————————————————————————————————————-

NBA Goat of the Week – Mark Cuban

Cubes is now anti-blogger?

Mark Cuban – According to the Dallas News, Mark Cuban has banned all bloggers from the Mavs locker room. Apparently, bloggers wrote things that Cuban doesn’t approve of so they lost their access.  Of all people to pull this… what a hypocrite!
]]> http://str8hoops.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/nba-stargoat-of-the-week-week-19-tracy-mcgrady-mark-cuban/feed/ 1 Chris Tracy McGrady Mark Cuban