For Whom the Bell Tolls
comment to come... after this amazing double OT game...
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Monday, May 15, 2006
Is It All Just a Dream? (Neon Flame Ignite!)
After a solid run that will stand as one of the most memorable in the storied history of the New York Knickerbockers franchise, it looks like it's over for Larry Brown. What was it he said back in his last days with the Pistons? That it would be a "dream job" to coach the Knicks? The dream was all ours, Larry, what a dreamy season it was -- worth the $40 million buyout. (Don't spend it all in one place!) With dreams like this, who needs cable television? Thanks for teaching the kids the game, Lar, and installing a solid system with sound fundamentals and defensive principles. The team you leave behind bears the mark of a master, a true sensei. Don't sweat the record, bro....
Thank god New Yorkers have Isiah "Man with the Plan" Thomas! If anyone can turn this struggling franchise around, its Zeke. The time has come to remake the Knicks in your image, Isiah, and finish the urgent job of making the Knicks the most intimidatingly deplorable franchise on the face of the earth. You are a godsend, my man! The day that hordes of Knicks fans seize the Garden and burn it violently to the ground is nigh.
When it comes, I want Jim Dolan's spleen on a plate.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Memo: Kaman to world
You don't know me, but I'm going to bust out and take the Los Angeles Clippers farther than the Los Angeles Lakers in the '06 playoffs, along side the hardest working most overlooked MVP player, Elton Brand. And then I am going to play Dirk in the conference finals and rearrange everything that has been normal in the Western conference, especially with my flamey orange mane.
It's true, what the dude says is true. I might have floated down here from outer space, but I am telling you, what this kid says is true. PS. I have seen one too many a playoff series lost.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
There Goes Round 1 (Ding!), Here Comes Round 2
No surprises really in the first round, except for maybe the fact that Kobe took 3 shots in the second half of a game 7 when his team was down by 15. MVP - Pshaw! but that is another post from last month isn't it?
Each one of the four series (excepting DET/CLE) features well-matched teams where the series should be close. The biggest surprise obviously was what happenned in Miami. It remains to be seen the extent of RJ's injury but Game 1 in the Heat/Nets series must've been a HUGE wakeup call for the Shaq-n-Wades. Just like when he was with the Celtics, the Nets were able to contain any upside from Shake-n-Bake Antoine and all the other Shaq-n-Wade helpers and cruised out to an early 22 point lead which was a big enough cushion to sit RJ for the majority of the 2nd half due to what is being termed as a "mild ankle sprain" (though RJ's expression sure didn't look like it was very mild). If he can get back and healthy for Game 3, the Nets should be in good shape to defend their newfound homecourt advantage in this series.
They call him "trois day" and yes he has always been handsome. Perhaps Tony P. can get him a date with Teri Hatcher during the offseason.
PHX - what can you say? - Steve Nash is the MVP, Mike D'Antoni is the Coach of the Year, Boris Diaw is the Most Improved Player, and Shawn Marion is like a team of hard-working Mexicans doing all the work that nobody else wants to do and getting no credit for it either. But still he consistently brings down 20 and 12 and guards the toughest matchup on the other team. The Suns' coaching staff charted Marion in Game 7 with 20 deflections, all while guarding Lamar Odom (who is probably about a half-foot taller than him) and Kobe Bryant (who Charles Barkley claims is the "best basketball player in the world"). TWENTY DEFLECTIONS! Why don't they chart this as a fantasy stat? It could be argued that deflections are just as meaningful if not more so than blocks (though a block would be considered a deflection as well) but this is an argument for the Bill James crowd in the offseason.
Robert Horry bites Jerry Stackhouse in a Spurs comeback victory in early March which essentially decided the home court in this series. After the game, the Riverwalk in San Antonio was plastered with signs that read "Thanks Dick Bavetta!"
One other quibble I had with the Round 2 Game 1s: Jerry Stackhouse what are you thinking? Your team is down by two with 3 seconds to go and your enormous center seals off the lane for you for an easy tying layup and what do you do? Back it out to the 3 point line for a contested three-pointer? I hope you realize this makes absolutely no sense and, furthermore, I hope you realize that this is why you've been traded so much and now must come off the bench despite your outsized talent. It is your peasized brain that fritzes out in the playoffs that keeps you from being a household name. One would hope you are not still afraid of Robert Horry biting you like he did on March 2. Oh you are? Well maybe the Little General will sit you down in the last 5 minutes of this one. He definitely should. Even if Marquis Daniels sometimes loses his head and inexplicably throws the ball away, I bet he would have taken the sure 2 points and gone into overtime and not tried to play hero and failed miserably.
Each one of the four series (excepting DET/CLE) features well-matched teams where the series should be close. The biggest surprise obviously was what happenned in Miami. It remains to be seen the extent of RJ's injury but Game 1 in the Heat/Nets series must've been a HUGE wakeup call for the Shaq-n-Wades. Just like when he was with the Celtics, the Nets were able to contain any upside from Shake-n-Bake Antoine and all the other Shaq-n-Wade helpers and cruised out to an early 22 point lead which was a big enough cushion to sit RJ for the majority of the 2nd half due to what is being termed as a "mild ankle sprain" (though RJ's expression sure didn't look like it was very mild). If he can get back and healthy for Game 3, the Nets should be in good shape to defend their newfound homecourt advantage in this series.
They call him "trois day" and yes he has always been handsome. Perhaps Tony P. can get him a date with Teri Hatcher during the offseason.
PHX - what can you say? - Steve Nash is the MVP, Mike D'Antoni is the Coach of the Year, Boris Diaw is the Most Improved Player, and Shawn Marion is like a team of hard-working Mexicans doing all the work that nobody else wants to do and getting no credit for it either. But still he consistently brings down 20 and 12 and guards the toughest matchup on the other team. The Suns' coaching staff charted Marion in Game 7 with 20 deflections, all while guarding Lamar Odom (who is probably about a half-foot taller than him) and Kobe Bryant (who Charles Barkley claims is the "best basketball player in the world"). TWENTY DEFLECTIONS! Why don't they chart this as a fantasy stat? It could be argued that deflections are just as meaningful if not more so than blocks (though a block would be considered a deflection as well) but this is an argument for the Bill James crowd in the offseason.
Robert Horry bites Jerry Stackhouse in a Spurs comeback victory in early March which essentially decided the home court in this series. After the game, the Riverwalk in San Antonio was plastered with signs that read "Thanks Dick Bavetta!"
One other quibble I had with the Round 2 Game 1s: Jerry Stackhouse what are you thinking? Your team is down by two with 3 seconds to go and your enormous center seals off the lane for you for an easy tying layup and what do you do? Back it out to the 3 point line for a contested three-pointer? I hope you realize this makes absolutely no sense and, furthermore, I hope you realize that this is why you've been traded so much and now must come off the bench despite your outsized talent. It is your peasized brain that fritzes out in the playoffs that keeps you from being a household name. One would hope you are not still afraid of Robert Horry biting you like he did on March 2. Oh you are? Well maybe the Little General will sit you down in the last 5 minutes of this one. He definitely should. Even if Marquis Daniels sometimes loses his head and inexplicably throws the ball away, I bet he would have taken the sure 2 points and gone into overtime and not tried to play hero and failed miserably.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Most Valuable Playa... again!
Steve Nash did it again. He defied the odds, overcame adversity, and just flat out proved that he was a winner of major proportions. This man is at the top of the game right now. Even the next MVP, LeBron James, must surely agree (since his much-improved team hasn't tasted nearly the success an the Suns) that Steve is the man. Dirk could make a case, but it would be a losing one and I am sure he is happy for his buddy (and hungry for success of his own).Nash took a team that was without its best player all year ... and guided them to the 2nd seed in the west. The Suns were supposed to be big winners this year, BUT... Amare Stoudemire was out all year and they lost an all star caliber player in Joe Johnson (and QRich... and their bench). At least Nash had All-NBA stud Shawn Marion - the Amazing Matrix - to help him... BUT... who else?... who else?... Raja Bell... Boris Diaw... Leandro Barbosa... Eddie House... James Jones... Tim Thomas... these guys are good young players with potential, but they were nobodies (Tim Thomas wasn't a nobody - he WAS just irrelevant) until they came to Phoenix. I want to go to Phoenix!
If there was any doubt about Nash deserving the award, it was answered in a dominating performance against Kobe and the Lakers in game 7. The Suns were basically robbed of a 2-2 series score in game 4,... and with their backs to the walls, on the verge of elimination, the won game 5 in LA (without Raja Bell). Then just rolled into playing Suns basketball and into rolling over the Lakers... in 7.And now, the western semis... and another team called LA. These playoffs are amazing... and they are just getting started!
Saturday, May 06, 2006
in the eeeevening
Question: Kobe is this where you thought you'd be after going up 3-1 on PHX?
Nah man, it's cool [Licks lips] facing a must win Game 7 against an Amare-less PHX in order to face the Clippers in the second round is exactly where I want to be[Licks lips again] I mean, against PHX, I just seem to get any shot I want. [Licks lips] The Lakers are my team, and for the record that's spelt T, I, E, M. [Licks lips again]
Nah man, it's cool [Licks lips] facing a must win Game 7 against an Amare-less PHX in order to face the Clippers in the second round is exactly where I want to be[Licks lips again] I mean, against PHX, I just seem to get any shot I want. [Licks lips] The Lakers are my team, and for the record that's spelt T, I, E, M. [Licks lips again]
Friday, May 05, 2006
FRACASO!
Holy sh*t! What a game, what a series... I'm choked up that it's over. I held out hope for a game 7, but this evening's theatrics were the next best thing. Ho-ly sh*t. Arenas's three to tie the game was a brilliant clutch play made from nowheresville in the deep backcourt. That alone would have made his playoff reputation. In the ensuing overtime, with Washington ahead by one point and in possession of the ball, he was put on the line with 14 seconds left -- and the two free throws he missed will for the moment taint that playoff reputation.
I feel for teh guy; it seems, weirdly, that even LeBron felt for him after the first miss (unless the words he shared with him at the foul line were words of discouragement, although that would seem crazily unsportsmanlike). Anyway, as we all by now know, he missed teh second as well. Down by one point with 14 seconds on the clock, the Cavs turn in the clutch to, of all people, Damon Jones, who hadn't played at all in the game (to say nothing of the series), and who now hits the longest two pointer possible and swishes it like he was the "greatest shooter of all time."
oh the irony. Cavs advance for the first time since 1993. (Needless to say, they will be summarily dealt with by Detroit.) I will shed a tear for the best first round series of 2006 (barring some wild PHX-LAL action).
MCA
I feel for teh guy; it seems, weirdly, that even LeBron felt for him after the first miss (unless the words he shared with him at the foul line were words of discouragement, although that would seem crazily unsportsmanlike). Anyway, as we all by now know, he missed teh second as well. Down by one point with 14 seconds on the clock, the Cavs turn in the clutch to, of all people, Damon Jones, who hadn't played at all in the game (to say nothing of the series), and who now hits the longest two pointer possible and swishes it like he was the "greatest shooter of all time."
oh the irony. Cavs advance for the first time since 1993. (Needless to say, they will be summarily dealt with by Detroit.) I will shed a tear for the best first round series of 2006 (barring some wild PHX-LAL action).
MCA
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Freeway Series, LA
I am so proud of the Los Angeles Clippers -- it is like New Year's in my brain of basketball passions! Thirty years is a long time to wait to advance in the playoffs. I suspect they will make easy work of the Lakers, and the Los Angeles press will be beside itself. I agree wholeheartedly with shaman that the Clippers are as good as a lock for the Conference Finals, which in itself will make broadcast coverage something of an event in its acknowledgment of the franchise's emergence from the depths. I differ however in my fervent hope and desire that they advance to the Finals, capping what has been a most tremendous year for the team. There, they will lose to the Pistons.
But meanwhile we have a number of series on our hands. San Antonio looks surprisingly vulnerable, not nearly as dominant as one might have expected them to be. But I suppose that is part of their psychology... Sacramento, in any event, has definitely got an underrated assemblage of pieces that is difficult to ignore. It's nice to see a competitive series, and I look forward to tonight's game.
And how about the Bulls? (Boy am I NOT feeling Miami.) Man do I love the playoffs; it turns out regular season basketball sux! Regular season has its place, but where else do you see Andres Nocioni playing absolutely out of his head? Guys like Manu Ginobili are forged in the playoffs -- it's where salaries and respect are earned. But for my money the best series is the Cleveland/Washington series. I preferred Cleveland but Washington is making me a believer -- while the rosters are evenly matched, i think, with a slight advantage for Cleveland because of their frontcourt, Washington appears to have mre consistent contributors. Where the hell is Zydrunas Ilgauskas's post play? Cleveland seems lost offensively, relying on crazy lebron heroics, and they've gotta right the ship if they want to advance.
good times.
MCA
Monday, May 01, 2006
Nash Robbed! And he's still classier than Kobe...
Boy you'd have thought since the Suns clearly called timeout twice before young Walton tied Nash up and since he was obviously fouled multiple times by a team who had to foul him in an end-of-game situation. You'd have thought he would be a little more bitter. But no, you get "in those situations, those are tough calls to make. The first one, I slipped. The second was pretty physical. Boris (Diaw) was calling time out. I don't know. It was a jump ball. There were some costly plays down the stretch that didn't go our way. We did everything we could to win the game. It wasn't meant to be." That's MVP for you. Kobe would definitely not have reacted that way. Or at least not before this generation-defining series.
The whole last 5 and a 1/2 minutes of the game felt like watching a Nike commercial didn't it? Only instead of little kids reenacting MJ's Greatest Moments it was Kobe with the confident last-second swish, the improbable 20-foot high arcing buzzer beater, and the familiar strong arm pump running up the court after it's over. All that was missing was B.J. Armstrong and John Paxson.
I'm going on vacation and I hope have cable there cause these playoffs are off the chain!
The whole last 5 and a 1/2 minutes of the game felt like watching a Nike commercial didn't it? Only instead of little kids reenacting MJ's Greatest Moments it was Kobe with the confident last-second swish, the improbable 20-foot high arcing buzzer beater, and the familiar strong arm pump running up the court after it's over. All that was missing was B.J. Armstrong and John Paxson.
I'm going on vacation and I hope have cable there cause these playoffs are off the chain!
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Kobe and the Battle of LA
Well, the PHX-LAL series is over (unofficially)... Kobe just ripped the hearts out of my Suns with a last-second, OT game-winner... Kobe is the friggin' best at getting a good shot in end-of-game situations... he's almost as good as Mike... but once again I have to ask "why?... why didn't he play like this all year?"... whatever... punk-arse Kobe... I hate the boy... and now he is changing his number to MJ+1 (24)?... what's up with that?... (on a sidenote, I did not know that Kobe's favorite player while growing up in Italy was MIKE D'ANTONI!... wow!... and now he has to change his number from D'Antoni's #8?)... anyway, the boy is amazing... and imminently hate-able... and SO damn good...
Good thing for Nash (or LeBron) that the MVP is already decided upon, 'cause the Lakers moving past the 1st round is an amazing feat that might be worthy of an MVP for Kobe (if the voting included the playoffs)... and maybe COY for Master Phil... and now for my real feelings on this sheet - f*** the Lakers!
there is still some slight hope that the Suns can come back from 3-1 down... but I ain't counting on it... it looks like the Battle of LA is coming!... that should be interesting... Clippers in 6!... all the way to the Conference Finals baby!... Sam-I-Am, Elton, Kaman, Cat, Maggs, RadMan, Livingston,... what a ride for the Clippers!... it will be great to see these guys finally having some big time success... f*** Donald Sterling... but the Clips and thier fans deserve this great ride after all the years of absolute patheticlivity... Go Clips!
So, the Western finals will be Texas vs California... hmm... I'll take Texas... for $1000...
playoff shaman
Good thing for Nash (or LeBron) that the MVP is already decided upon, 'cause the Lakers moving past the 1st round is an amazing feat that might be worthy of an MVP for Kobe (if the voting included the playoffs)... and maybe COY for Master Phil... and now for my real feelings on this sheet - f*** the Lakers!
there is still some slight hope that the Suns can come back from 3-1 down... but I ain't counting on it... it looks like the Battle of LA is coming!... that should be interesting... Clippers in 6!... all the way to the Conference Finals baby!... Sam-I-Am, Elton, Kaman, Cat, Maggs, RadMan, Livingston,... what a ride for the Clippers!... it will be great to see these guys finally having some big time success... f*** Donald Sterling... but the Clips and thier fans deserve this great ride after all the years of absolute patheticlivity... Go Clips!
So, the Western finals will be Texas vs California... hmm... I'll take Texas... for $1000...
playoff shaman
Friday, April 28, 2006
2006 Playoff Prognostications
For the record I just want to lay out my take... so here goes.
The East:
Detroit is the team. No other team compares. Only an injury will derail these playas from the finals.
Miami... may be the opponent for the Pistons... and I think their frontcourt could match up OK with the Walaces and Prince (if Alonzo gets back on the floor)... but I think the Heat are vulnerable in the 2nd round... the NJ-IND winner (Indiana in 6) could pose some problems... the Pacers have got bodies to throw at Shaq... Jermaine O'Neal seems to be fired up and HEALTHY... if only Peja could contribute?... but in the end... it'll be Miami in 6 over Indiana in one semifinal.
Detroit is gonna matchup against the Washington-Cleveland winner... and it won't be easy... but whoever comes out of that series (the biggest toss-up in my opinion) is gonna be drained... right now, I think the Wiz have the edge... my man Arenas is a bad mo fo... but the Pistons will roll in 5... maybe 6 (I doubt it) in the other semifinal.
In the East Finals, I see the Pistons rolling again... in 5... 6 at the most...
On to the wild wild wild west!
The Spurs, Dallas, and LA (clippers) are the teams I like.... obviosly the Spurs and Mavs are rolling... but Dallas and San Antonio will meet in the western semifinals... and I like San Antonio (again)... they are just so good at playoff basketball - they defend, they rebound, the get to the rim instead of relying on jump shots, etc, etc, etc... Duncan and Parker are awesome.... and they have not-so-secret (playoff) weapon in Manu (and Finley... and Horry... and Brent Barry... and Nazr... and Van Excel...etc, etc, etc... Spurs in 7 (love that homecourt advantage!).
In the other semifinal, I see the Clippers (a VERY dangerous bunch) against the Suns (although I have not counted out the Lakers). An LA-LA series would be fun (because the Clips would win), but I think the Suns are better... and will prevail in 6 or 7 games to meet the "other" LA team. In that matchup, I like the Clips... to much inside firepower for the Suns to deal with... and they've got the perimeter plaers too... and Sam-I-Am... Clipper over Suns in 6.
So the west will come down to San Antonio vs. the Clippers... and experience, defense, big bodies, and penetration will allow the Spurs to march on to the Finals... in 6 games.
In the Finals, I see a great rematch... but the Pistons have homecourt this year... and they will need it... in game 7... redemtion will be thiers... the Spurs will be worn out... and won't be able to stem the tide of the 2006 NBA Champs... the Detroit Pistons.
shaman
The East:
Detroit is the team. No other team compares. Only an injury will derail these playas from the finals.
Miami... may be the opponent for the Pistons... and I think their frontcourt could match up OK with the Walaces and Prince (if Alonzo gets back on the floor)... but I think the Heat are vulnerable in the 2nd round... the NJ-IND winner (Indiana in 6) could pose some problems... the Pacers have got bodies to throw at Shaq... Jermaine O'Neal seems to be fired up and HEALTHY... if only Peja could contribute?... but in the end... it'll be Miami in 6 over Indiana in one semifinal.
Detroit is gonna matchup against the Washington-Cleveland winner... and it won't be easy... but whoever comes out of that series (the biggest toss-up in my opinion) is gonna be drained... right now, I think the Wiz have the edge... my man Arenas is a bad mo fo... but the Pistons will roll in 5... maybe 6 (I doubt it) in the other semifinal.
In the East Finals, I see the Pistons rolling again... in 5... 6 at the most...
On to the wild wild wild west!
The Spurs, Dallas, and LA (clippers) are the teams I like.... obviosly the Spurs and Mavs are rolling... but Dallas and San Antonio will meet in the western semifinals... and I like San Antonio (again)... they are just so good at playoff basketball - they defend, they rebound, the get to the rim instead of relying on jump shots, etc, etc, etc... Duncan and Parker are awesome.... and they have not-so-secret (playoff) weapon in Manu (and Finley... and Horry... and Brent Barry... and Nazr... and Van Excel...etc, etc, etc... Spurs in 7 (love that homecourt advantage!).
In the other semifinal, I see the Clippers (a VERY dangerous bunch) against the Suns (although I have not counted out the Lakers). An LA-LA series would be fun (because the Clips would win), but I think the Suns are better... and will prevail in 6 or 7 games to meet the "other" LA team. In that matchup, I like the Clips... to much inside firepower for the Suns to deal with... and they've got the perimeter plaers too... and Sam-I-Am... Clipper over Suns in 6.
So the west will come down to San Antonio vs. the Clippers... and experience, defense, big bodies, and penetration will allow the Spurs to march on to the Finals... in 6 games.
In the Finals, I see a great rematch... but the Pistons have homecourt this year... and they will need it... in game 7... redemtion will be thiers... the Spurs will be worn out... and won't be able to stem the tide of the 2006 NBA Champs... the Detroit Pistons.
shaman
Keeper League for next Year???
What does everyone think about doing a keeper league with 3 players from our 04-05 rosters? I think everone has got 3 keepers that they feel good about? We could use the commisioner league to do the keeper league and do a regular Serious Playas league too. Not sure how many people are on board for this, so some big names might be in the player pool at draft time... but that is not a bad thing. I don't know?
I think we need a few more Serious Playas?
Post your opinions!
shaman
I think we need a few more Serious Playas?
Post your opinions!
shaman
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
... And Nasty Nash is MVP again!
Oh to be in Blacktop in the spring. It is getting hotter here and the asphalt is unforgiving. Played ball yesterday for two-and-a-half hours and now am sore as hell. But I tell you all the hours spent watching NBA this year has sure paid off. I was even able to pull off a Marion-esque oop! Believe it! Also, check out the new links to the right... if you have anymore let me know. Those are the ones I check during the season.
Here's a little more foregiving picture of the MVP.
Enough self-references, we're here to celebrate the impending re-coronation of one of Blacktop's favorite sons. His team has led the league in scoring a whopping five years in a row. From Inside Hoops NBA Rumours:
"Suns star Steve Nash will be named the NBA's Most Valuable Player for a second straight season, according to a league source familiar with the voting. The announcement may not come for two weeks, like last season's May 8 ceremony. The votes have been tabulated in what was expected to be a close race with LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki, Chauncey Billups and Kobe Bryant." Arizona Republic
"With nearly 60 percent of the ballots counted in early exit polls, it appears Steve Nash is headed for his second straight Most Valuable Player award. In a Tribune survey of 75 of the 127 writers and broadcasters who cast official MVP ballots with the NBA, Nash has a sizable lead over Cleveland's LeBron James for the award." East Valley Tribune
"Nash received 30 first-place votes, 24 second-place votes and 549 total points in the Tribune survey, giving him a 141-point lead over (LeBron) James — who has 408 points but only garnered 11 first-place votes." East Valley Tribune
"Dirk Nowitzki ranks third in total points (370) and second in first-place votes (12), but the Dallas Morning News, citing several league sources, reported Tuesday that Nowitzki did not win the MVP award. Kobe Bryant of the Lakers, the league's leading scorer at 35.4 points per game, received 11 first-place votes and ranks fourth in total points (279), but 48 of the 75 writers polled had Bryant listed either fourth (18), fifth (17) or left him off their ballots completely (13). Chauncey Billups of Detroit placed fifth in the survey with 246 points and 10 first-place votes."
What's amazing really is the margin which Nash looks like he will win by... and the extent to which NBA insiders distinctly DO NOT believe that Kobe is even close to the MVP, with 64% listing him fourth or worse. I called it here first. Mark Jackson is off his rocker. I guess we'll see for real tonight and in the rest of the Suns/Lakers series.
Here's a little more foregiving picture of the MVP.
Enough self-references, we're here to celebrate the impending re-coronation of one of Blacktop's favorite sons. His team has led the league in scoring a whopping five years in a row. From Inside Hoops NBA Rumours:
"Suns star Steve Nash will be named the NBA's Most Valuable Player for a second straight season, according to a league source familiar with the voting. The announcement may not come for two weeks, like last season's May 8 ceremony. The votes have been tabulated in what was expected to be a close race with LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki, Chauncey Billups and Kobe Bryant." Arizona Republic
"With nearly 60 percent of the ballots counted in early exit polls, it appears Steve Nash is headed for his second straight Most Valuable Player award. In a Tribune survey of 75 of the 127 writers and broadcasters who cast official MVP ballots with the NBA, Nash has a sizable lead over Cleveland's LeBron James for the award." East Valley Tribune
"Nash received 30 first-place votes, 24 second-place votes and 549 total points in the Tribune survey, giving him a 141-point lead over (LeBron) James — who has 408 points but only garnered 11 first-place votes." East Valley Tribune
"Dirk Nowitzki ranks third in total points (370) and second in first-place votes (12), but the Dallas Morning News, citing several league sources, reported Tuesday that Nowitzki did not win the MVP award. Kobe Bryant of the Lakers, the league's leading scorer at 35.4 points per game, received 11 first-place votes and ranks fourth in total points (279), but 48 of the 75 writers polled had Bryant listed either fourth (18), fifth (17) or left him off their ballots completely (13). Chauncey Billups of Detroit placed fifth in the survey with 246 points and 10 first-place votes."
What's amazing really is the margin which Nash looks like he will win by... and the extent to which NBA insiders distinctly DO NOT believe that Kobe is even close to the MVP, with 64% listing him fourth or worse. I called it here first. Mark Jackson is off his rocker. I guess we'll see for real tonight and in the rest of the Suns/Lakers series.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
The Trades 05-06
Some great trade action this year! Miguel, Nicky, and myself were the prime beneficiaries I have to say... and Bad "trades" DNA self-imploded with a series of bad trades in mid-January... but hey!... it is all a roll of the dice anyway.... and a BIG reason why I love fantasy hoops. If you don't have the kind of team you want after a month or two of play... then make trades!!!
"we all know that the winner of 2-for-1 trades is the player recieving the one player", Theophrastus von Kwahn, unknown
2/27
Hill, Grant F ORL - Traded from Celts Ever
Maggette, Corey F LAC - Traded from shaman rising
2/13
Allen, Ray G SEA - Traded from Celts Ever
Stoudemire, Amare C PHO - Traded from Celts Ever
Camby, Marcus C DEN - Traded from Bad DNA
Ford, T.J. G MIL - Traded from Bad DNA
02/07
Stojakovic, Peja F IND - Traded from The Green Wave
Okur, Mehmet C UTA - Traded from shaman rising
01/25
Pachulia, Zaza C ATL - Traded from el Encanadecimiento
Thomas, Kurt F PHO - Traded from el Encanadecimiento
Murphy, Troy F GS - Traded from The Fell Swoops
01/20
Dunleavy, Mike F GS - Traded from The Estate Papers
Jackson, Stephen G IND - Traded from The Estate Papers
Francis, Steve G NY - Traded from ShowTime
01/20
Felton, Raymond G CHA - Traded from Cruel Bastion
Head, Luther G HOU - Traded from Di's Devildogs
01/12
Carter, Vince G NJ - Traded from Bad DNA
Smith, Josh F ATL - Traded from Bad DNA
Iguodala, Andre G PHI - Traded from Blacktop Bling-Blingers
Odom, Lamar F LAL - Traded from Blacktop Bling-Blingers
01/10
Diogu, Ike F GS - Traded from shaman rising
Ford, T.J. G MIL - Traded from shaman rising
Johnson, Joe G ATL - Traded from Bad DNA
"Who's your daddy?
shaman is a pimp, he totally pimped out Bad DNA. anyone else wanna get spanked by shaman? trade deadline is coming up -- surely someone wants to swap a nice piece for next to nothing.... i bet it's a masochistic thrill getting swindled by the best! 'scuse me, just ta(l)king out the trash." MA - 01/16
12/30
Bell, Raja G PHO - Traded from ShowTime
Lewis, Rashard F SEA - Traded from ShowTime
Diaw, Boris G PHO - Traded from Blacktop Bling-Blingers
Prince, Tayshaun F DET - Traded from Blacktop Bling-Blingers
12/23
Butler, Caron F WAS - Traded from The Green Wave
Stoudamire, Damon G MEM - Traded from The Green Wave
Szczerbiak, Wally F BOS - Traded from Bad DNA
12/23
Gasol, Pau F MEM - Traded from Celts Ever
Battier, Shane G MEM - Traded from shaman rising
Randolph, Zach F POR - Traded from shaman rising
12/19
Marbury, Stephon G NY - Traded from el Encanadecimiento
Kidd, Jason G NJ - Traded from The Fell Swoops
12/16
Bryant, Kobe G LAL - Traded from shaman rising
Arenas, Gilbert G WAS - Traded from Cruel Bastion
Jasikevicius, Sarunas G IND - Traded from Cruel Bastion
"...latest Kobe gem... 81 pts, 2 asts. Theo, why aren't you banging the drum on the Kobe-Arenas trade? Cruel One, you do realize you don't get extra points for winning the Points Category by 2,000 don't you?"
Nicholas Krapels, 01/23
12/05
Jackson, Stephen G IND - Traded from el Encanadecimiento
Villanueva, Charlie F TOR - Traded from The Estate Papers
12/03
Butler, Caron F WAS - Traded from el Encanadecimiento
Stojakovic, Peja F IND - Traded from el Encanadecimiento
Nowitzki, Dirk F DAL - Traded from The Green Wave
Telfair, Sebastian G POR - Traded from The Green Wave
12/02
Hughes, Larry G CLE - Traded from The Estate Papers
Wallace, Ben C DET - Traded from The Green Wave
11/11
Brown, P.J. F NO - Traded from shaman risingWilliams, Mo G MIL - Traded from shaman rising
Ford, T.J. G MIL - Traded from ShowTime
"Knock, Who's There?
Shaman should have Mo Williams, P.J. Brown, Zach Randolph and Shane Battier and NOT Pau Gasol and Joe Johnson.
Shaman should have Mo Williams, P.J. Brown, Zach Randolph and Shane Battier and NOT Pau Gasol and Joe Johnson WHO?
This league is filled with SUCKA FOOLS IDIOTS!"
Theophrastus Magnes von Mead, 01/21
"we all know that the winner of 2-for-1 trades is the player recieving the one player", Theophrastus von Kwahn, unknown
2/27
Hill, Grant F ORL - Traded from Celts Ever
Maggette, Corey F LAC - Traded from shaman rising
2/13
Allen, Ray G SEA - Traded from Celts Ever
Stoudemire, Amare C PHO - Traded from Celts Ever
Camby, Marcus C DEN - Traded from Bad DNA
Ford, T.J. G MIL - Traded from Bad DNA
02/07
Stojakovic, Peja F IND - Traded from The Green Wave
Okur, Mehmet C UTA - Traded from shaman rising
01/25
Pachulia, Zaza C ATL - Traded from el Encanadecimiento
Thomas, Kurt F PHO - Traded from el Encanadecimiento
Murphy, Troy F GS - Traded from The Fell Swoops
01/20
Dunleavy, Mike F GS - Traded from The Estate Papers
Jackson, Stephen G IND - Traded from The Estate Papers
Francis, Steve G NY - Traded from ShowTime
01/20
Felton, Raymond G CHA - Traded from Cruel Bastion
Head, Luther G HOU - Traded from Di's Devildogs
01/12
Carter, Vince G NJ - Traded from Bad DNA
Smith, Josh F ATL - Traded from Bad DNA
Iguodala, Andre G PHI - Traded from Blacktop Bling-Blingers
Odom, Lamar F LAL - Traded from Blacktop Bling-Blingers
01/10
Diogu, Ike F GS - Traded from shaman rising
Ford, T.J. G MIL - Traded from shaman rising
Johnson, Joe G ATL - Traded from Bad DNA
"Who's your daddy?
shaman is a pimp, he totally pimped out Bad DNA. anyone else wanna get spanked by shaman? trade deadline is coming up -- surely someone wants to swap a nice piece for next to nothing.... i bet it's a masochistic thrill getting swindled by the best! 'scuse me, just ta(l)king out the trash." MA - 01/16
12/30
Bell, Raja G PHO - Traded from ShowTime
Lewis, Rashard F SEA - Traded from ShowTime
Diaw, Boris G PHO - Traded from Blacktop Bling-Blingers
Prince, Tayshaun F DET - Traded from Blacktop Bling-Blingers
12/23
Butler, Caron F WAS - Traded from The Green Wave
Stoudamire, Damon G MEM - Traded from The Green Wave
Szczerbiak, Wally F BOS - Traded from Bad DNA
12/23
Gasol, Pau F MEM - Traded from Celts Ever
Battier, Shane G MEM - Traded from shaman rising
Randolph, Zach F POR - Traded from shaman rising
12/19
Marbury, Stephon G NY - Traded from el Encanadecimiento
Kidd, Jason G NJ - Traded from The Fell Swoops
12/16
Bryant, Kobe G LAL - Traded from shaman rising
Arenas, Gilbert G WAS - Traded from Cruel Bastion
Jasikevicius, Sarunas G IND - Traded from Cruel Bastion
"...latest Kobe gem... 81 pts, 2 asts. Theo, why aren't you banging the drum on the Kobe-Arenas trade? Cruel One, you do realize you don't get extra points for winning the Points Category by 2,000 don't you?"
Nicholas Krapels, 01/23
12/05
Jackson, Stephen G IND - Traded from el Encanadecimiento
Villanueva, Charlie F TOR - Traded from The Estate Papers
12/03
Butler, Caron F WAS - Traded from el Encanadecimiento
Stojakovic, Peja F IND - Traded from el Encanadecimiento
Nowitzki, Dirk F DAL - Traded from The Green Wave
Telfair, Sebastian G POR - Traded from The Green Wave
12/02
Hughes, Larry G CLE - Traded from The Estate Papers
Wallace, Ben C DET - Traded from The Green Wave
11/11
Brown, P.J. F NO - Traded from shaman risingWilliams, Mo G MIL - Traded from shaman rising
Ford, T.J. G MIL - Traded from ShowTime
"Knock, Who's There?
Shaman should have Mo Williams, P.J. Brown, Zach Randolph and Shane Battier and NOT Pau Gasol and Joe Johnson.
Shaman should have Mo Williams, P.J. Brown, Zach Randolph and Shane Battier and NOT Pau Gasol and Joe Johnson WHO?
This league is filled with SUCKA FOOLS IDIOTS!"
Theophrastus Magnes von Mead, 01/21
The Draft 05-06
2005 Draft Results
Round 1
1 Bad DNA LeBron James (F CLE)
2 Concord Spiders Kevin Garnett (F MIN)
3 The Green Wave Dirk Nowitzki (F DAL)
4 Celts Ever Tracy McGrady (G HOU)
5 Blacktop Bling-Blingers Shawn Marion (F PHO)
6 shaman rising Kobe Bryant (G LAL)
7 The Fell Swoops* Allen Iverson (G PHI)
8 Cruel Bastion Tim Duncan (F SA)
9 The Estate Papers* Steve Nash (G PHO)
10 Di's Devildogs Shaquille O'Neal (C MIA)
11 el Encanadecimiento Elton Brand (F LAC)
12 ShowTime Dwyane Wade (G MIA)
Round 2
13 ShowTime Steve Francis (G ORL)
14 el Encanadecimiento Stephon Marbury (G NY)
15 Di's Devildogs Jermaine O'Neal (F IND)
16 The Estate Papers* Paul Pierce (F BOS)
17 Cruel Bastion Gilbert Arenas (G WAS)
18 The Fell Swoops* Jason Kidd (G NJ)
19 shaman rising Andrei Kirilenko (F UTA)
20 Blacktop Bling-Blingers Yao Ming (C HOU)
21 Celts Ever Ray Allen (G SEA)
22 The Green Wave Ben Wallace (C DET)
23 Concord Spiders Baron Davis (G GS)
24 Bad DNA Emeka Okafor (F CHA)
Round 3
25 Bad DNA Vince Carter (G NJ)
26 Concord Spiders Carmelo Anthony (F DEN)
27 The Green Wave Ron Artest (F IND)
28 Celts Ever Pau Gasol (F MEM)
29 Blacktop Bling-Blingers Andre Miller (G DEN)
30 shaman rising Chris Bosh (F TOR)
31 The Fell Swoops* Chris Webber (F PHI)
32 Cruel Bastion Zydrunas Ilgauskas (C CLE)
33 The Estate Papers Jason Richardson (G GS)
34 Di's Devildogs Mike Bibby (G SAC)
35 el Encanadecimiento Peja Stojakovic (F SAC)
36 ShowTime Rashard Lewis (F SEA)
Round 4
37 ShowTime Jamaal Magloire (C NO)
38 el Encanadecimiento Brad Miller (C SAC)
39 Di's Devildogs Richard Jefferson (F NJ)
40 The Estate Papers Larry Hughes (G CLE)
41 Cruel Bastion Chauncey Billups (G DET)
42 The Fell Swoops* Antoine Walker (F MIA)
43 shaman rising Manu Ginobili (G SA)
44 Blacktop Bling-Blingers Kirk Hinrich (G CHI)
45 Celts Ever Amare Stoudemire (C PHO)
46 The Green Wave Michael Redd (G MIL)
47 Concord Spiders Dwight Howard (F ORL)
48 Bad DNA Marcus Camby (C DEN)
Round 5
49 Bad DNA Joe Johnson (G ATL)
50 Concord Spiders Jason Terry (G DAL)
51 The Green Wave Sam Cassell (G LAC)
52 Celts Ever Antawn Jamison (F WAS)
53 Blacktop Bling-Blingers Lamar Odom (F LAL)
54 shaman rising Zach Randolph (F POR)
55 The Fell Swoops Troy Murphy (F GS)
56 Cruel Bastion Rasheed Wallace (F DET)
57 The Estate Papers Corey Maggette (F LAC)
58 Di's Devildogs Richard Hamilton (G DET)
59 el Encanadecimiento Stephen Jackson (G IND)
60 ShowTime T.J. Ford (G MIL)
Round 6
61 ShowTime Al Harrington (F ATL)
62 el Encanadecimiento Luke Ridnour (G SEA)
63 Di's Devildogs Kenyon Martin (F DEN)
64 The Estate Papers Carlos Boozer (F UTA)
65 Cruel Bastion Tony Parker (G SA)
66 The Fell Swoops Rasho Nesterovic (C SA)
67 shaman rising Chris Paul (G NO)
68 Blacktop Bling-Blingers Andre Iguodala (G PHI)
69 Celts Ever Jalen Rose (F TOR)
70 The Green Wave Damon Stoudamire (G MEM)
71 Concord Spiders Andrew Bogut (C MIL)
72 Bad DNA Josh Smith (F ATL)
Round 7
73 Bad DNA Donyell Marshall (F CLE)
74 Concord Spiders Shareef Abdur-Rahim (F SAC)
75 The Green Wave Kurt Thomas (F PHO)
76 Celts Ever Jamal Crawford (G NY)
77 Blacktop Bling-Blingers Josh Howard (F DAL)
78 shaman rising Mehmet Okur (C UTA)
79 The Fell Swoops Chucky Atkins (G WAS)
80 Cruel Bastion Cuttino Mobley (G LAC)
81 The Estate Papers Eddy Curry (C NY)
82 Di's Devildogs Desmond Mason (F MIL)
83 el Encanadecimiento Caron Butler (F WAS)
84 ShowTime Primoz Brezec (C CHA)
Round 8
85 ShowTime J.R. Smith (G NO)
86 el Encanadecimiento Rafer Alston (G HOU)
87 Di's Devildogs Jamaal Tinsley (G IND)
88 The Estate Papers Bobby Simmons (F MIL)
89 Cruel Bastion Ricky Davis (F BOS)
90 The Fell Swoops Joel Przybilla (C POR)
91 shaman rising Kyle Korver (F PHI)
92 Blacktop Bling-Blingers Tayshaun Prince (F DET)
93 Celts Ever Grant Hill (F ORL)
94 The Green Wave Tyson Chandler (C CHI)
95 Concord Spiders Nenad Krstic (C NJ)
96 Bad DNA Jason Williams (G MIA)
Round 9
97 Bad DNA Eddie Jones (G MEM)
98 Concord Spiders Ben Gordon (G CHI)
99 The Green Wave Marko Jaric (G MIN)
100 Celts Ever Michael Finley (G SA)
101 Blacktop Bling-Blingers Josh Childress (F ATL)
102 shaman rising P.J. Brown (F NO)
103 The Fell Swoops Kwame Brown (F LAL)
104 Cruel Bastion Quentin Richardson (F NY)
105 The Estate Papers Brevin Knight (G CHA)
106 Di's Devildogs Bonzi Wells (G SAC)
107 el Encanadecimiento Mike Dunleavy (F GS)
108 ShowTime Marvin Williams (F ATL)
...
MISC...
109 ShowTime Charlie Villanueva (F TOR)
121 Bad DNA Wally Szczerbiak (F MIN)
122 Concord Spiders Drew Gooden (F CLE)
123 The Green Wave Kenny Thomas (F SAC)
128 Cruel Bastion Udonis Haslem (F MIA)
130 Di's Devildogs Gerald Wallace (F CHA)
131 el Encanadecimiento Mike James (G TOR)
132 ShowTime Raymond Felton (G CHA)
133 ShowTime Luol Deng (F CHI)
134 el Encanadecimiento Mike Miller (F MEM)
155 el Encanadecimiento Zaza Pachulia (C ATL)
That is what happened in late October 2005.
Looking at the results for our 05-06 season vs. the draft,... I guess it is best to draft in the middle positions? ... No! ... Wait a minute... in the 04-05 season, we had the same top 3 finishers as in 05-06 and those teams drafted 1-2-3... so it is better to draft in the top 4... no!.... wait a minute... it just doesn't matter... a good draft is a good draft and a bad draft is a bad draft... pick smart... get value... take risks, but not too many... blah, blah, blah...
I bolded some key value picks that I felt were important and marked a few crappy picks in red. As you can see, the league is not won on draft day, but it can certainly be lost on draft day. It is interesting to look back and see strategies at work AND how things played out over the season.
Waiting for next year,
shaman
Round 1
1 Bad DNA LeBron James (F CLE)
2 Concord Spiders Kevin Garnett (F MIN)
3 The Green Wave Dirk Nowitzki (F DAL)
4 Celts Ever Tracy McGrady (G HOU)
5 Blacktop Bling-Blingers Shawn Marion (F PHO)
6 shaman rising Kobe Bryant (G LAL)
7 The Fell Swoops* Allen Iverson (G PHI)
8 Cruel Bastion Tim Duncan (F SA)
9 The Estate Papers* Steve Nash (G PHO)
10 Di's Devildogs Shaquille O'Neal (C MIA)
11 el Encanadecimiento Elton Brand (F LAC)
12 ShowTime Dwyane Wade (G MIA)
Round 2
13 ShowTime Steve Francis (G ORL)
14 el Encanadecimiento Stephon Marbury (G NY)
15 Di's Devildogs Jermaine O'Neal (F IND)
16 The Estate Papers* Paul Pierce (F BOS)
17 Cruel Bastion Gilbert Arenas (G WAS)
18 The Fell Swoops* Jason Kidd (G NJ)
19 shaman rising Andrei Kirilenko (F UTA)
20 Blacktop Bling-Blingers Yao Ming (C HOU)
21 Celts Ever Ray Allen (G SEA)
22 The Green Wave Ben Wallace (C DET)
23 Concord Spiders Baron Davis (G GS)
24 Bad DNA Emeka Okafor (F CHA)
Round 3
25 Bad DNA Vince Carter (G NJ)
26 Concord Spiders Carmelo Anthony (F DEN)
27 The Green Wave Ron Artest (F IND)
28 Celts Ever Pau Gasol (F MEM)
29 Blacktop Bling-Blingers Andre Miller (G DEN)
30 shaman rising Chris Bosh (F TOR)
31 The Fell Swoops* Chris Webber (F PHI)
32 Cruel Bastion Zydrunas Ilgauskas (C CLE)
33 The Estate Papers Jason Richardson (G GS)
34 Di's Devildogs Mike Bibby (G SAC)
35 el Encanadecimiento Peja Stojakovic (F SAC)
36 ShowTime Rashard Lewis (F SEA)
Round 4
37 ShowTime Jamaal Magloire (C NO)
38 el Encanadecimiento Brad Miller (C SAC)
39 Di's Devildogs Richard Jefferson (F NJ)
40 The Estate Papers Larry Hughes (G CLE)
41 Cruel Bastion Chauncey Billups (G DET)
42 The Fell Swoops* Antoine Walker (F MIA)
43 shaman rising Manu Ginobili (G SA)
44 Blacktop Bling-Blingers Kirk Hinrich (G CHI)
45 Celts Ever Amare Stoudemire (C PHO)
46 The Green Wave Michael Redd (G MIL)
47 Concord Spiders Dwight Howard (F ORL)
48 Bad DNA Marcus Camby (C DEN)
Round 5
49 Bad DNA Joe Johnson (G ATL)
50 Concord Spiders Jason Terry (G DAL)
51 The Green Wave Sam Cassell (G LAC)
52 Celts Ever Antawn Jamison (F WAS)
53 Blacktop Bling-Blingers Lamar Odom (F LAL)
54 shaman rising Zach Randolph (F POR)
55 The Fell Swoops Troy Murphy (F GS)
56 Cruel Bastion Rasheed Wallace (F DET)
57 The Estate Papers Corey Maggette (F LAC)
58 Di's Devildogs Richard Hamilton (G DET)
59 el Encanadecimiento Stephen Jackson (G IND)
60 ShowTime T.J. Ford (G MIL)
Round 6
61 ShowTime Al Harrington (F ATL)
62 el Encanadecimiento Luke Ridnour (G SEA)
63 Di's Devildogs Kenyon Martin (F DEN)
64 The Estate Papers Carlos Boozer (F UTA)
65 Cruel Bastion Tony Parker (G SA)
66 The Fell Swoops Rasho Nesterovic (C SA)
67 shaman rising Chris Paul (G NO)
68 Blacktop Bling-Blingers Andre Iguodala (G PHI)
69 Celts Ever Jalen Rose (F TOR)
70 The Green Wave Damon Stoudamire (G MEM)
71 Concord Spiders Andrew Bogut (C MIL)
72 Bad DNA Josh Smith (F ATL)
Round 7
73 Bad DNA Donyell Marshall (F CLE)
74 Concord Spiders Shareef Abdur-Rahim (F SAC)
75 The Green Wave Kurt Thomas (F PHO)
76 Celts Ever Jamal Crawford (G NY)
77 Blacktop Bling-Blingers Josh Howard (F DAL)
78 shaman rising Mehmet Okur (C UTA)
79 The Fell Swoops Chucky Atkins (G WAS)
80 Cruel Bastion Cuttino Mobley (G LAC)
81 The Estate Papers Eddy Curry (C NY)
82 Di's Devildogs Desmond Mason (F MIL)
83 el Encanadecimiento Caron Butler (F WAS)
84 ShowTime Primoz Brezec (C CHA)
Round 8
85 ShowTime J.R. Smith (G NO)
86 el Encanadecimiento Rafer Alston (G HOU)
87 Di's Devildogs Jamaal Tinsley (G IND)
88 The Estate Papers Bobby Simmons (F MIL)
89 Cruel Bastion Ricky Davis (F BOS)
90 The Fell Swoops Joel Przybilla (C POR)
91 shaman rising Kyle Korver (F PHI)
92 Blacktop Bling-Blingers Tayshaun Prince (F DET)
93 Celts Ever Grant Hill (F ORL)
94 The Green Wave Tyson Chandler (C CHI)
95 Concord Spiders Nenad Krstic (C NJ)
96 Bad DNA Jason Williams (G MIA)
Round 9
97 Bad DNA Eddie Jones (G MEM)
98 Concord Spiders Ben Gordon (G CHI)
99 The Green Wave Marko Jaric (G MIN)
100 Celts Ever Michael Finley (G SA)
101 Blacktop Bling-Blingers Josh Childress (F ATL)
102 shaman rising P.J. Brown (F NO)
103 The Fell Swoops Kwame Brown (F LAL)
104 Cruel Bastion Quentin Richardson (F NY)
105 The Estate Papers Brevin Knight (G CHA)
106 Di's Devildogs Bonzi Wells (G SAC)
107 el Encanadecimiento Mike Dunleavy (F GS)
108 ShowTime Marvin Williams (F ATL)
...
MISC...
109 ShowTime Charlie Villanueva (F TOR)
121 Bad DNA Wally Szczerbiak (F MIN)
122 Concord Spiders Drew Gooden (F CLE)
123 The Green Wave Kenny Thomas (F SAC)
128 Cruel Bastion Udonis Haslem (F MIA)
130 Di's Devildogs Gerald Wallace (F CHA)
131 el Encanadecimiento Mike James (G TOR)
132 ShowTime Raymond Felton (G CHA)
133 ShowTime Luol Deng (F CHI)
134 el Encanadecimiento Mike Miller (F MEM)
155 el Encanadecimiento Zaza Pachulia (C ATL)
That is what happened in late October 2005.
Looking at the results for our 05-06 season vs. the draft,... I guess it is best to draft in the middle positions? ... No! ... Wait a minute... in the 04-05 season, we had the same top 3 finishers as in 05-06 and those teams drafted 1-2-3... so it is better to draft in the top 4... no!.... wait a minute... it just doesn't matter... a good draft is a good draft and a bad draft is a bad draft... pick smart... get value... take risks, but not too many... blah, blah, blah...
I bolded some key value picks that I felt were important and marked a few crappy picks in red. As you can see, the league is not won on draft day, but it can certainly be lost on draft day. It is interesting to look back and see strategies at work AND how things played out over the season.
Waiting for next year,
shaman
Friday, April 21, 2006
Final Standings
Posted Here for all eternity (where are last year's standings?):
FINAL STANDINGS
1 shaman rising 80.0 1.0 0.0
2 Blacktop Bling-Blingers 78.0 2.0 2.0
3 Cruel Bastion 75.0 -1.0 5.0
4 el Encanadecimiento 71.0 1.0 9.0
5 Bad DNA 58.0 1.0 22.0
6 The Estate Papers 55.0 -2.0 25.0
7 Concord Spiders 50.0 0.0 30.0
8 ShowTime 42.0 0.0 38.0
9 Di's Devildogs 37.0 3.0 43.0
10 The Green Wave 31.0 0.0 49.0
11 Celts Ever 27.0 -1.0 53.0
12 The Fell Swoops 20.0 -4.0 60.0
Standings Updated as of: 4/21/06 3:52 AM EST
STATS BREAKDOWN
Team 3PT Pts Dif
Bad DNA 891 12 1
Cruel Bastion 878 11 -1
Blacktop Bling-Blingers 791 10 3
The Estate Papers 789 9 -1
shaman rising 778 8 0
Celts Ever 774 7 -2
The Green Wave 743 6 0
el Encanadecimiento 691 5 0
Di's Devildogs 582 4 0
Concord Spiders 564 3 0
The Fell Swoops 482 2 0
ShowTime 452 1 0
Team AST Pts Dif
el Encanadecimiento 3228 12 0
shaman rising 3172 11 0
Cruel Bastion 3012 10 0
The Estate Papers 2991 9 0
Blacktop Bling-Blingers 2978 8 0
Bad DNA 2518 7 0
ShowTime 2489 6 0
Concord Spiders 2327 5 0
Di's Devildogs 2276 4 2
The Green Wave 2255 3 0
The Fell Swoops 2251 2 -2
Celts Ever 1895 1 0
Team BK Pts Dif
shaman rising 672 12 0
Blacktop Bling-Blingers 648 11 0
Bad DNA 576 10 0
Cruel Bastion 568 9 0
el Encanadecimiento 549 8 0
Di's Devildogs 516 7 1
Concord Spiders 498 6 -1
ShowTime 435 5 0
The Estate Papers 428 4 0
Celts Ever 393 3 0
The Green Wave 385 2 0
The Fell Swoops 328 1 0
Team FGP Pts Dif
Di's Devildogs 47.7 12 0
Concord Spiders 47.5 11 0
Blacktop Bling-Blingers 46.8 10 0
The Estate Papers 46.7 9 0
Cruel Bastion 46.4 8 0
ShowTime 46.0 7 0
shaman rising 46.0 6 0
el Encanadecimiento 45.9 5 0
Bad DNA 45.5 4 0
The Fell Swoops 44.5 3 0
The Green Wave 44.3 2 0
Celts Ever 43.9 1 0
Team FTP Pts Dif
el Encanadecimiento 80.5 12 0
Cruel Bastion 79.6 11 0
The Green Wave 78.7 10 0
shaman rising 78.5 9 0
Blacktop Bling-Blingers 77.2 8 0
Bad DNA 76.7 7 0
Celts Ever 76.4 6 0
The Fell Swoops 75.4 5 0
ShowTime 74.8 4 0
Concord Spiders 74.5 3 0
The Estate Papers 74.1 2 0
Di's Devildogs 72.9 1 0
Team PTS Pts Dif
Cruel Bastion 14476 12 0
shaman rising 13949 11 0
Blacktop Bling-Blingers 12900 10 0
Concord Spiders 12447 9 0
el Encanadecimiento 12318 8 1
The Estate Papers 12229 7 -1
Di's Devildogs 12115 6 0
ShowTime 11908 5 0
Bad DNA 11832 4 0
Celts Ever 10999 3 0
The Green Wave 10757 2 0
The Fell Swoops 10622 1 0
Team ST Pts Dif
shaman rising 913 12 0
Blacktop Bling-Blingers 910 11 0
The Estate Papers 894 10 0
el Encanadecimiento 852 9 0
Bad DNA 851 8 0
Cruel Bastion 808 7 0
ShowTime 799 6 0
The Green Wave 745 5 0
Concord Spiders 731 4 1
The Fell Swoops 729 3 -1
Celts Ever 670 2 0
Di's Devildogs 668 1 0
Team TRB Pts Dif
el Encanadecimiento 5065 12 0
shaman rising 4993 11 1
Blacktop Bling-Blingers 4969 10 -1
Concord Spiders 4839 9 0
ShowTime 4507 8 0
Cruel Bastion 4498 7 0
Bad DNA 4459 6 0
The Estate Papers 4402 5 0
Celts Ever 4100 4 1
The Fell Swoops 4092 3 -1
Di's Devildogs 3946 2 0
The Green Wave 3759 1 0
FINAL STANDINGS
1 shaman rising 80.0 1.0 0.0
2 Blacktop Bling-Blingers 78.0 2.0 2.0
3 Cruel Bastion 75.0 -1.0 5.0
4 el Encanadecimiento 71.0 1.0 9.0
5 Bad DNA 58.0 1.0 22.0
6 The Estate Papers 55.0 -2.0 25.0
7 Concord Spiders 50.0 0.0 30.0
8 ShowTime 42.0 0.0 38.0
9 Di's Devildogs 37.0 3.0 43.0
10 The Green Wave 31.0 0.0 49.0
11 Celts Ever 27.0 -1.0 53.0
12 The Fell Swoops 20.0 -4.0 60.0
Standings Updated as of: 4/21/06 3:52 AM EST
STATS BREAKDOWN
Team 3PT Pts Dif
Bad DNA 891 12 1
Cruel Bastion 878 11 -1
Blacktop Bling-Blingers 791 10 3
The Estate Papers 789 9 -1
shaman rising 778 8 0
Celts Ever 774 7 -2
The Green Wave 743 6 0
el Encanadecimiento 691 5 0
Di's Devildogs 582 4 0
Concord Spiders 564 3 0
The Fell Swoops 482 2 0
ShowTime 452 1 0
Team AST Pts Dif
el Encanadecimiento 3228 12 0
shaman rising 3172 11 0
Cruel Bastion 3012 10 0
The Estate Papers 2991 9 0
Blacktop Bling-Blingers 2978 8 0
Bad DNA 2518 7 0
ShowTime 2489 6 0
Concord Spiders 2327 5 0
Di's Devildogs 2276 4 2
The Green Wave 2255 3 0
The Fell Swoops 2251 2 -2
Celts Ever 1895 1 0
Team BK Pts Dif
shaman rising 672 12 0
Blacktop Bling-Blingers 648 11 0
Bad DNA 576 10 0
Cruel Bastion 568 9 0
el Encanadecimiento 549 8 0
Di's Devildogs 516 7 1
Concord Spiders 498 6 -1
ShowTime 435 5 0
The Estate Papers 428 4 0
Celts Ever 393 3 0
The Green Wave 385 2 0
The Fell Swoops 328 1 0
Team FGP Pts Dif
Di's Devildogs 47.7 12 0
Concord Spiders 47.5 11 0
Blacktop Bling-Blingers 46.8 10 0
The Estate Papers 46.7 9 0
Cruel Bastion 46.4 8 0
ShowTime 46.0 7 0
shaman rising 46.0 6 0
el Encanadecimiento 45.9 5 0
Bad DNA 45.5 4 0
The Fell Swoops 44.5 3 0
The Green Wave 44.3 2 0
Celts Ever 43.9 1 0
Team FTP Pts Dif
el Encanadecimiento 80.5 12 0
Cruel Bastion 79.6 11 0
The Green Wave 78.7 10 0
shaman rising 78.5 9 0
Blacktop Bling-Blingers 77.2 8 0
Bad DNA 76.7 7 0
Celts Ever 76.4 6 0
The Fell Swoops 75.4 5 0
ShowTime 74.8 4 0
Concord Spiders 74.5 3 0
The Estate Papers 74.1 2 0
Di's Devildogs 72.9 1 0
Team PTS Pts Dif
Cruel Bastion 14476 12 0
shaman rising 13949 11 0
Blacktop Bling-Blingers 12900 10 0
Concord Spiders 12447 9 0
el Encanadecimiento 12318 8 1
The Estate Papers 12229 7 -1
Di's Devildogs 12115 6 0
ShowTime 11908 5 0
Bad DNA 11832 4 0
Celts Ever 10999 3 0
The Green Wave 10757 2 0
The Fell Swoops 10622 1 0
Team ST Pts Dif
shaman rising 913 12 0
Blacktop Bling-Blingers 910 11 0
The Estate Papers 894 10 0
el Encanadecimiento 852 9 0
Bad DNA 851 8 0
Cruel Bastion 808 7 0
ShowTime 799 6 0
The Green Wave 745 5 0
Concord Spiders 731 4 1
The Fell Swoops 729 3 -1
Celts Ever 670 2 0
Di's Devildogs 668 1 0
Team TRB Pts Dif
el Encanadecimiento 5065 12 0
shaman rising 4993 11 1
Blacktop Bling-Blingers 4969 10 -1
Concord Spiders 4839 9 0
ShowTime 4507 8 0
Cruel Bastion 4498 7 0
Bad DNA 4459 6 0
The Estate Papers 4402 5 0
Celts Ever 4100 4 1
The Fell Swoops 4092 3 -1
Di's Devildogs 3946 2 0
The Green Wave 3759 1 0
Thursday, April 20, 2006
The most Serious Playa is... Shaman
By a whopping 3 steals which secured 2 category points for the champion as the steals category leader wins the entire league. All this despite the Blacktop's winning the marathon final period title by 5 points over shaman, driven by the vendetta-motivated performance of Kyle Korver, who was dropped by shaman for just this final period and whose 15 3 pointers this week basically earned Blacktop 3 total category points against shaman. That's good, last year I won by one category point given to me by 2 steals by someone (Andre Iguodala) that shaman had dropped for the final period.
This league is great. It is truly remarkable that I had any chance at all, given that shaman's own Andrei Kirilenko stomped on my main man Yao Ming's foot in the 1st game of this crucial 6 game period. It is ironic that AK secured shaman the championship not by his stats but by his accidental foot-stomping. Good thing he came back from that injury so he could injure another freakishly talented foreign-born player. After dominating the Rebounds category for almost 20 weeks, The Bling-Blingers fell to 3rd in the Rebounds category, trailing shaman by 34 total. I'm fairly confident that Yao, averaging 10 rebs/game for the year would have amassed that much in the 4 1/2 games he missed due to the injury. He could have gotten those 3 steals too. But nevertheless, such is the game of fantasy hoops particularly in the Serious Playas league. So congratulations shaman... no doubt next year will be just as close.
Blacktop's title hopes ended 4 games early this year, as Yao was carted off after a game with the Utah Jazz. Check out those Eurotrash black denim jeans! That's not business casual!
This league is great. It is truly remarkable that I had any chance at all, given that shaman's own Andrei Kirilenko stomped on my main man Yao Ming's foot in the 1st game of this crucial 6 game period. It is ironic that AK secured shaman the championship not by his stats but by his accidental foot-stomping. Good thing he came back from that injury so he could injure another freakishly talented foreign-born player. After dominating the Rebounds category for almost 20 weeks, The Bling-Blingers fell to 3rd in the Rebounds category, trailing shaman by 34 total. I'm fairly confident that Yao, averaging 10 rebs/game for the year would have amassed that much in the 4 1/2 games he missed due to the injury. He could have gotten those 3 steals too. But nevertheless, such is the game of fantasy hoops particularly in the Serious Playas league. So congratulations shaman... no doubt next year will be just as close.
Blacktop's title hopes ended 4 games early this year, as Yao was carted off after a game with the Utah Jazz. Check out those Eurotrash black denim jeans! That's not business casual!
Monday, April 17, 2006
NBA Regular Season MVP is not Kobe
I think it basically comes down to three:
Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, LeBron James.
What's that Mark Jackson? You say Kobe?
Let's review the facts with 2 games to go (games which the above three should be sitting while Kobe won't thanks to their MVP years).
Nash 19.0 ppg 10.5 apg 4.2 rpg .8spg .2bpg 51%FG 92%FT 143 3s
Marion 21.7 ppg 1.8 apg 11.9 rpg 2.0spg 1.7bpg 52.2%FG 81.6%FT 94 3s
James 31.4 ppg 6.6 apg 7.0 rpg 1.5 spg .84bpg 48%FG 73.8%FT 127 3s
Bryant 35.4 ppg 4.5 apg 5.3 rpg 1.8 spg .38bpg 44.9%FG 84.9%FT 176 3s
Phoenix Suns (52-28)
Cleveland Cavs (48-32)
Los Angeles Lakers (44-37)
Let's all remember where Kobe's rings came from.
Bryant may lead the league in points per game and he may have scored 81 against a lowly Toronto team that basically didn't even guard him on a night he couldn't miss. But one could argue that this year is not even Kobe's own best season. In the 2005-6 season, Kobe posted his lowest rebounding and assists total since 1998, his lowest blocks per game average since his 18 year old rookie season, and shot an impressive number of threes (176) at an unimpressive rate (34.6%). Perhaps if he was a bit more humble, he'd settle less for those 35 foot jumpers he often resorts to. Granted, there is only one other Laker that matters (Lamar Odom) but Kobe and the Lakers were not without any critical players throughout the season. Contrast that to the othe MVP candidates where the Suns had to deal with (and permanently adapt to) the loss of Amare Stoudemire, a 26/9 talent from the season before, and where LeBron lost more than half the season to second fiddle Larry Hughes. What Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Drew Gooden? Yeah, what's the difference between you guys and Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown?
Maybe it's good Steve left Dallas, so he and Dirk could stop getting wasted on their nights off.
Nash is a point guard who shoots 51% from the field, 90+% from the line, and 40+% from three. He hardly ever hurts his team and makes everyone else undeniably better, as evidenced by the Suns record without Steve Nash since they signed him. Seven Suns (Nash, Marion, Bell, Diaw, Jones, House, Barbosa) are having their best year scoring-wise ever. And sure part of that is the system of coach Mike D'Antoni but none of it would work without Nash. He's averaging three and a half points per game more than last year's MVP performance, while dishing it out only 1 assist less per game even though he lost the easy target Amare. He's better statistically than he was last year also in fg%, ft%, 3s, blocks, and rebounds. And he's done all this while losing 3 of his 5 starters (Joe Johnson, Quentin Richardson, Amare Stoudemire) from the year before. I just don't see how if Steve Nash won the MVP award last year how he wouldn't win the award this year having had an even better season statistically and overcome more injuries to critical players than last year. Plus, shouldn't he get at least some of the credit for the rapid development of Boris Diaw?
Come on, he's just such a swell dude, let's just give him the MVP anyway.
Marion is another Sun who deserves mention although I find it hard to argue for Nash and then in turn also support Marion. But there is more merit for Marion as MVP than Kobe. Logging in an astounding 40.4 min/g, Marion also played out of position while finishing in the top 10 in the league in rebounding, steals, and minutes. He, along with Nash led the Suns to the third-best record in the West when nobody thought they could hang without Amare. It was Marion that filled in all the gaps the Suns were looking for and it is his energy that leads the team.
Yeah Kobe shooting 3s from near halfcourt is great but can you still get your head up in the net? You guys should have seen the other photo I had for this.
Perhaps the best case for MVP besides Nash is LeBron James. 2nd in minutes, 3rd in scoring, his Cavs are in the playoffs for the first time since 1992 (and with homecourt advantage I might add) and he lacked the late season swoon that doomed his 2004-5 season. He has become a leader, a player that despite all odds will find a way to win. Though statistically he is only really about 4 points a game better than last year (not that that isn't significant) but it is in the team's record that his season must be evaluated. If the Cavs beat Atlanta on Wednesday they will finish with 50 wins for the first time since the Ehlo/Daugherty/Nance/Price dynasty and 8 games better than last year.
Really one should mention AI... who has been tearing it up these past two years with little recognition. HO hum, another 30ppg year while also in the top 15 in steals and assists. His FG% just keeps getting better, topping out this year at nearly 45%. These young guys have got to mature quick, cause CWebb's knee can't last much longer and AI don't like that he don't get no respect. You da man!
He may be an All-Star MVP but he's no MVP and he's not an Olympian either. Whaaaa???
No doubt without each of these players their teams would be lost. But who has the greatest impact on their team? And more importantly who deserves the MVP? My vote is with Nash. Again.
Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, LeBron James.
What's that Mark Jackson? You say Kobe?
Let's review the facts with 2 games to go (games which the above three should be sitting while Kobe won't thanks to their MVP years).
Nash 19.0 ppg 10.5 apg 4.2 rpg .8spg .2bpg 51%FG 92%FT 143 3s
Marion 21.7 ppg 1.8 apg 11.9 rpg 2.0spg 1.7bpg 52.2%FG 81.6%FT 94 3s
James 31.4 ppg 6.6 apg 7.0 rpg 1.5 spg .84bpg 48%FG 73.8%FT 127 3s
Bryant 35.4 ppg 4.5 apg 5.3 rpg 1.8 spg .38bpg 44.9%FG 84.9%FT 176 3s
Phoenix Suns (52-28)
Cleveland Cavs (48-32)
Los Angeles Lakers (44-37)
Let's all remember where Kobe's rings came from.
Bryant may lead the league in points per game and he may have scored 81 against a lowly Toronto team that basically didn't even guard him on a night he couldn't miss. But one could argue that this year is not even Kobe's own best season. In the 2005-6 season, Kobe posted his lowest rebounding and assists total since 1998, his lowest blocks per game average since his 18 year old rookie season, and shot an impressive number of threes (176) at an unimpressive rate (34.6%). Perhaps if he was a bit more humble, he'd settle less for those 35 foot jumpers he often resorts to. Granted, there is only one other Laker that matters (Lamar Odom) but Kobe and the Lakers were not without any critical players throughout the season. Contrast that to the othe MVP candidates where the Suns had to deal with (and permanently adapt to) the loss of Amare Stoudemire, a 26/9 talent from the season before, and where LeBron lost more than half the season to second fiddle Larry Hughes. What Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Drew Gooden? Yeah, what's the difference between you guys and Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown?
Maybe it's good Steve left Dallas, so he and Dirk could stop getting wasted on their nights off.
Nash is a point guard who shoots 51% from the field, 90+% from the line, and 40+% from three. He hardly ever hurts his team and makes everyone else undeniably better, as evidenced by the Suns record without Steve Nash since they signed him. Seven Suns (Nash, Marion, Bell, Diaw, Jones, House, Barbosa) are having their best year scoring-wise ever. And sure part of that is the system of coach Mike D'Antoni but none of it would work without Nash. He's averaging three and a half points per game more than last year's MVP performance, while dishing it out only 1 assist less per game even though he lost the easy target Amare. He's better statistically than he was last year also in fg%, ft%, 3s, blocks, and rebounds. And he's done all this while losing 3 of his 5 starters (Joe Johnson, Quentin Richardson, Amare Stoudemire) from the year before. I just don't see how if Steve Nash won the MVP award last year how he wouldn't win the award this year having had an even better season statistically and overcome more injuries to critical players than last year. Plus, shouldn't he get at least some of the credit for the rapid development of Boris Diaw?
Come on, he's just such a swell dude, let's just give him the MVP anyway.
Marion is another Sun who deserves mention although I find it hard to argue for Nash and then in turn also support Marion. But there is more merit for Marion as MVP than Kobe. Logging in an astounding 40.4 min/g, Marion also played out of position while finishing in the top 10 in the league in rebounding, steals, and minutes. He, along with Nash led the Suns to the third-best record in the West when nobody thought they could hang without Amare. It was Marion that filled in all the gaps the Suns were looking for and it is his energy that leads the team.
Yeah Kobe shooting 3s from near halfcourt is great but can you still get your head up in the net? You guys should have seen the other photo I had for this.
Perhaps the best case for MVP besides Nash is LeBron James. 2nd in minutes, 3rd in scoring, his Cavs are in the playoffs for the first time since 1992 (and with homecourt advantage I might add) and he lacked the late season swoon that doomed his 2004-5 season. He has become a leader, a player that despite all odds will find a way to win. Though statistically he is only really about 4 points a game better than last year (not that that isn't significant) but it is in the team's record that his season must be evaluated. If the Cavs beat Atlanta on Wednesday they will finish with 50 wins for the first time since the Ehlo/Daugherty/Nance/Price dynasty and 8 games better than last year.
Really one should mention AI... who has been tearing it up these past two years with little recognition. HO hum, another 30ppg year while also in the top 15 in steals and assists. His FG% just keeps getting better, topping out this year at nearly 45%. These young guys have got to mature quick, cause CWebb's knee can't last much longer and AI don't like that he don't get no respect. You da man!
He may be an All-Star MVP but he's no MVP and he's not an Olympian either. Whaaaa???
No doubt without each of these players their teams would be lost. But who has the greatest impact on their team? And more importantly who deserves the MVP? My vote is with Nash. Again.
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