Tuesday NBA Throw-Up: Opening Day Edition

After watching Opening Day in this short but sweet NBA Season, many interesting thoughts are dancing in our heads, and like itchy algae of the brain, we scratch our opinions into a new edition of NBA Throw-Up.

The Knicks are the team to beat in the Atlantic Division. Say what you will about Boston's established chemistry, the upcoming addition of all-star Paul Pierce, the bright edition of Brandon "Delicious" Bass, or Rondo's emergence as the Celtics' leader, they simply aren't going to win as many games as the New Yorkers. There are a few NBA cities that are feeling the excitement of a promising new basketball season, cities that haven't felt this way in a long time, and New York is among them (Minneapolis is also). With a full season (or semi-full, what with the lockout taking its toll) ahead of them to hammer out the details, to determine an ideal rotation, and get to injured guys back into the mix (we all know that when Baron Davis feels the pressure of a good situation, he tends to rise to the occasion), the Knicks should find themselves on par, if not above the Boston Celtics in the final playoff seeding. With a serious lack of front-court depth, the Boston team of leprechauns are finally poised to fall out of contention. The Knicks, on the other hand, are heading in a different direction. Lead by Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, the boys from Manhattan have all the upside, and while they might not be able to overcome the powerhouse Heat or Bulls, the Knicks are knocking on all the right doors, while Boston will be holding on for dear life like an elderly geezer water-skiing.

The Dallas Mavericks looked bad. And not just bad. The Mavs looked really bad. In their 105-94 loss to the Miami Heat, only Jason Terry showed the heart and drive that made Dallas the champions we've all grown so fond of (unless you haven't). Dirk Nowitzki looked a step slow all night, and for a guy who plays a step slow anyway, this additional slow step is an early season concern. Certainly Germany's darling will find his way back to elite greatness, because that's what he is, but with reports of him taking three months away from basketball and exercise, the guy looked somewhat scrawny and awkward out there, more so than we've come accustomed to. And while Dirk isn't the guy to worry about, as we should all expect him to find his game in a relatively short span of early season games, it's the rest of the Mavericks that gave me the worry worms deep down in my guts. Jason Kidd is set to turn 39 in March. After giving Dallas everything during the playoffs last year, is it possible that he's slipped into a mental ease of dedication? Lamar Odom will become a reliable force for Dallas, but he's not the defensive anchor that Tyson Chandler was. Brendan Haywood isn't either (in fact, Brendan Haywood might just be the worst starting center in the Western Conference). Vince Carter doesn't even like basketball all that much, and his attitude will certainly affect his playing time, as it appears Vince is already on some sort of leash held by Coach Rick Carlisle. It's going to be a long season, one full of bumps for the champs. If they hope to repeat some of their success from last year, they'll need to figure some things out, things that at this point seem to be completely mysterious and potentially improbable.

The Miami Heat are still the villains of the NBA. Regardless of how people perceive Kris Humphries, Miami and their monopoly of guys named Dwyane or LeBron can't escape the hate. We've noticed James trying his darndest to smile into the camera, to wish us a Merry Christmas, to create whisperings of how he's a real stand-up guy, of how he loves Ohio and loves people everywhere, and of how he just wants to be our friend. Tough break, sinister LeBron. You made your bed, now you sleep on it. You don't want basketball fans to hate your guts? Maybe you shouldn't have quit on Cleveland. Maybe you shouldn't have formed a super-core super-team with your pals. Sure, it's all good for you to do whatever you want in free agency, that's your right as a businessman (because as the players reiterate pretty constantly, the NBA IS a business. But don't come crying to Jim Grey or Michelle Tafoya about how it's unfair that everybody hates your guts, because like love, or fear, or excitement, hate and dislike are organic feelings that occur through a process of logical brain-chemistry. And although LeBron and his Heat teammates are heavy favorites to win it all next spring, it won't be James's championship like it would have been in Cleveland. It'll be like NSYNC winning a Grammy. Manufactured success, the kind that makes people angry. The kind that breeds negativity. LeBron can try as hard as he wants to get us back. He can make the "sincere" commercials that he's suddenly so fond of. He can do charity work until his thumbs fall off. But that guy ditched his chances to be one of the noble greats. And the NBA is a better place because of it. We all love to hate in sports, and thanks to James, we have as huge of a target to aim our disdain towards as any I can ever remember.

It sure was strange watching Kobe Bryant fumble away the victory that seemed almost in hand for his Lakers against the Bulls. Up by 6 with under a minute to go, the Lakers looked poised to win the season opening against Derek Rose and the defending number 1 of last year's Eastern Conference. Luol Deng missed the next shot for the bulls, and a defensive rebound would have sealed the deal, but Deng wasn't blocked out and he got the offensive board and quickly put in a bucket near the hoop. To make matters worse, Pau Gasol (who had a poor game with only 14 points and 8 rebounds on lousy percentages) fouled Deng for a 3-point play which Luol converted. Lakers lead cut in half to 3. After running some clock, the Lakers ended the following possession with a Bryant miss which was collected by Deng. In some sort of foolish attempt to take possession away from Luol, Kobe fouled the Bulls' forward, and with Los Angeles in the penalty, it stopped the clock and gave Chicago two free points (as Deng converted on both free throws), cutting the lead down to one. Next came the real head scratcher. With Kobe receiving the ball near the mid-court sideline, he picked up his dribble and stood still for a few moments, expecting a foul. When he suddenly realized that the Bulls were trapping him, he panicked and tried to pass it to Gasol, who was as surprised as the rest of us. Deng was right there to slap the pass away and grab possession for the steal. As the final seconds ticked away, Chicago got the ball to its leader, Rose, who hit an incredibly difficult shot in the lane to take the lead. With one final chance, Bryant dribbled the ball down the court, and forgetting that he had teammates, took the shot into 3 Bulls defenders, getting his attempt at victory blocked with ease by Deng. A very entertaining finish to a great game, it was all the right moves by Deng and all the wrong ones by Bryant that delivered Chicago a 1-0 record.

The Clippers have the depth to make some noise in the playoffs. As long as they can stay healthy, and if they can develop the team-first chemistry needed to win, something that a guy like Chris Paul is an expert in creating, the Clips of Los Angeles have the pieces to succeed THIS SEASON. The Western Conference is as up-in-the-air as ever, and as a result we're poised for an extremely entertaining campaign on the horizon. The clear-cut favorite from most experts is Oklahoma City, but right behind them it's a shifty free-for-all. Dallas, the champs, lost key contributors (Chandler, Stevenson, Barea, and even Peja) and brought in a lesser talented import of players. While watching them play basketball against Miami, I noticed Brian Cardinal, airballing a three pointer, playing 14 minutes, and I thought to myself, this is not the recipe for winnings basketball. But anyway, alongside Dallas in the wide-open West are the Spurs, who are a year older (and they were old as hell last year). The Grizzlies are about as talented as the rest, but lack the winning experience that most think is necessary to go to the Finals. The Lakers are suddenly in disarray, and their talent isn't what it used to be. Portland is always a candidate to surprise some folks, and if they can finally stay healthy they might be able to make a rumble in Rip City. And right in with this group sits the Clippers. With brainy veterans Paul and Chauncey Billups running the show for Los Angeles, I wouldn't put it past them to challenge the Thunder (or whomever it may be) for the Western Conference Title.

BASKETBALL REASONS !!!

It was the story that grabbed everyone’s attention, superstar point guard Chris Paul was traded to the mighty LA Lakers for star forwards Pau Gasol, Khloe Kardashian, and Lamar Odom. Within the hour the news wire was red hot with Laker title talk and even hopes of acquiring center Dwight Howard from the Magic. In addition to the Lakers and Hornets, the Houston Rockets were also in the mix and were trading several more players to acquire Pau Gasol. This was quickly developing into the biggest story of not only the new season but potentially the next several years.

The three-team trade was:
Los Angeles: Chris Paul
New Orleans: Khloe Kardashian, Lamar Odom, Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, and Goran Dragic.
Houston: Pau Gasol

Jim and I were hot on the trail of our first big post of the new season… I immediately starting working on graphics and Jim on the story:


Chris Paul is playing for the Lakers next season. Unstoppable flashbacks are hitting everyone. The Lakers franchise over the last 30 years: Lakers draft Magic Johnson (winning time), Lakers sign Shaquille O'Neal and draft Kobe Bryant (winning time), the Lakers trade nobodies and prospects for Pau Gasol (winning time)... Chris Paul is the same as everyone else. He's suddenly living in one of the country's biggest hotspots. He's suddenly living in a sweet house like the one Robert Altman lived in. He's playing the role of co-superstar leader with Kobe Bryant in his mid-30s. A passing of the torch is in the works.

As I kept checking for updates, I noticed a comment somewhere that the deal wasn’t exactly done and that some important people were complaining about something. Oh well, I thought and continued working. An hour later Jim told me, “the deal is dead.” I thought he was joking, and really didn’t want to believe him. I couldn’t understand how the breaking news story was suddenly unbroken. So what happened?!

All trades must be approved by the league, and apparently NBA commissioner David Stern did not approve the deal. I was further reminded that last year the NBA purchased the New Orleans Hornets because of problems with the ownership. As a result, NBA commissioner David Stern was also the acting president of the Hornets and Chris Paul's future.

Further stories surfaced that in the final meetings to approve the new NBA labor deal, many league owners were furious over the Lakers acquiring Chris Paul and potentially landing Dwight Howard. Michael Jordan and Mark Cuban were names mentioned, but then Dan Gilbert the “Lebron's Spurned Lover (owner)" of the Cleveland Cavaliers show the show by leaking his thoughts to the press:

Commissioner,

It would be a travesty to allow the Lakers to acquire Chris Paul in the apparent trade being discussed. This trade should go to a vote of the 29 owners of the Hornets.

… I just don't see how we can allow this trade to happen. I know the vast majority of owners feel the same way that I do. When will we just change the name of 25 of the 30 teams to the Washington Generals?

Please advise...
Dan G.

The next day an NBA league official gave a statement that changed it all:

“Not true that owners killed the (3-team) deal. It wasn’t even discussed at the Board meeting… League office declined to make the trade for BASKETBALL REASONS.”
-Tim Frank

Nobody knew what the hell Basketball Reasons were then, and I only have bizarre theories on what they are now. BASKETBALL REASONS!


The next BASKETBALL REASONS we knew Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom were traded to the Dallas Mavericks for a single draft pick. As a Dallas Mavericks homer, I NOW LOVED BASKETBALL REASONS! The NBA Champion Mavericks had committed to a semi rebuilding project that involved not resigning several key players from their roster. But in one felled swooped, they snatched a gem… all due to BASKETBALL REASONS!

It was sealed, Chris Paul was not going to be an LA Laker and attention was now turned towards a trade for Dwight Howard. Players like Nene Hilario, David West, and other dynamic free agents were still on the market too. Everyone was waiting for the rest of the dominoes to fall…


And just like that, Chris Paul was heading back to LA, but this time it was a trade to the cross gym rivals, the LA Clippers! CP3 was now paired with dunk champion Blake Griffin and company. I bet Blake Griffin loves BASKETBALL REASONS too. Along the way, the Clippers also landed veteran guard Chauncey Billups, forward Caron Butler, and resigned their young dunking center DeAndre Jordan.

Interestingly enough, after all the hurt feelings… the Clippers and Lakers played all their starters in the first preseason game and put on a show. It was simply awesome.

NOW WE ALL HAVE "BASKETBALL REASONS" TO BE EXCITED!

The NBA is back on Christmas day featuring:

BOSTON CELTICS at NEW YORK KNICKS – 12:00 PM

MIAMI HEAT at DALLAS MAVERICKS – 2:30 PM

CHICAGO BULLS at LA LAKERS – 5:00 PM

ORLANDO MAGIC at OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER – 8:00 PM

LA CLIPPERS at GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS – 10:30 PM

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes: NBA Style

We're only a few moments away from the Christmas kick-off to this strange NBA season. Just like every other year, a bunch of players are going to step it up this go-around, bust out of mediocrity, join the fold of big-time production, while others who have been near the top, having brought it for a while, will undoubtedly drop off and become mere memories of what once was. It's time to take a look at the players who we can expect to emerge as very good, or even great players, and also the players who will fail to mimic their past successes. And with these changes come new expectations for them and their respected teams.

Expect Major Stuff From:



Marcus Thornton, Sacramento Kings
Thornton has done it before, coming out of nowhere to score baskets in bunches. His abilities to shoot from anywhere, drive and finish, and pass with a decent degree of effectiveness. Basically, this guy can score, and the only thing holding him back in years past was lack of minutes/lack of confidence. With a new contract, and a starting gig in Capitol City, Thornton will get his fair share of minutes in the intriguing Kings' back-court. Expect 19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists per game.

DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers
Like Thornton, Jordan's first couple years in the NBA came without a consistent role in the clumsy Clippers' rotation. He's always been seen as a project center, with a lot of potential to anchor a team's defense by swatting shots and boxing out 2-3 guys at a time. Last year, with Chris Kaman finding himself with constant nagging injuries, Jordan was finally given a legitimate shot to start in the middle, and as a result he blocked 142 shots. With Kaman's trade to the Hornets, Jordan is the man now, Dawg, and along with similar block totals, the arrival of Chris Paul should help his offensive game as well. Expect 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game.

CJ Miles, Utah Jazz
Miles was sort of a weird player last year. Often in Jerry Sloan's doghouse, his conditioning and work ethic were often questioned by those close to the Utah fold. Also playing behind Andrei Kirilenko and Raja Bell, while fighting for minutes with rookie fan-favorite Gordon Hayward, Miles was about as inconsistent as they come. With Kirilenko in Russia, Raja Bell suddenly an old man, and with Miles showing at training camp with a much more muscular frame with less body fat, maybe the shenanigans that Sloan saw in Miles are a thing of the past. His starting lineup spot may or may not be official, but his minutes in the rotation will definitely be higher this year. His offensive abilities will rival Devin Harris for most important in Utah's back-court. Expect 17 points, 2 three-pointers, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block per game.

Paul George, Indiana Pacers
Paul George grew 2 inches since last season, and the 22 year old guard/forward for the Indiana Pacers will be stepping into a meaningful role for a team that many (including us) think will contend for a middle seed in the Eastern Conference. Paulie G. is going to focus his attention on defense, where his length and quickness allows him to guard anyone on the court outside of centers and some power forwards. What's intriguing about Paulie G. is his new-found confidence, which is creating a buzz in Indianapolis. In the preseason he was seen making 3s, slashing with and without the ball, finishing at the rim, and knocking down pull-up jumpers from all around. His offense was sharp, and it complimented the other guys in the starting lineup. With Mike "Floppy Hair" Dunleavey going to the Bucks, and Brandon Rush going to the Warriors, an opening for meaningful minutes are on the horizon for Paulie G., and I expect him to succeed with them. Expect 14 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block per game.

Other guys to bust out in big ways: Greg Monroe (Detroit), Jodie Meeks (Philly), Norris Cole (Miami), and Tyler Hansborough (Indiana)

Expect Significant Decline From:



Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers
Pau had one of the worst playoff series of all time last spring against the Champion Dallas Mavericks. He averaged 13.1 points in the series, shooting under 43%. Gasol, a career .522 shooter, looked miserable out there, a shadow of the guy who won rings alongside Kobe and Phil. He was outmatched by Dirk Nowitzki in every aspect of play, and Dirk, a guy nobody ever thought of as a great defender, was able to get stops on the regular when Pau tried to bring it. So certainly Gasol will be heading into the new season with a giant chip on his shoulder, ready to prove that his Lakers are still the team to beat out West. But then came a failed trade to the Rockets due to Basketball Reasons, and suddenly his homeboy Lamar is in Dallas. Heading into the new season, the Lakers have never needed Pau Gasol to play great basketball as they do right now. Kobe is another year closer to his swan song, and although an equally large amount of pressure is on Andrew Bynum, his inevitable injury problems will leave the ball in Gasol's hands down low. I for one, think he's bound for more of what we saw against Dallas. Expect 17 points, 9 rebounds, and a much lower field goal percentage than what we're used to seeing from Pau.

Chauncey Billups, Los Angeles Clippers
Billups has bought into what Coach Vinny Del Negro is selling, finding himself as the starting shooting guard for the biggest splashers this NBA off-season. They traded away a big chunk of last year's rotation for point guards Chris Paul and Billups, and the dynamic of the roster now headlines with Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan. Not to mention Caron Butler, who will now start at small forward. Butler is a good player, but can sometimes bog down the offense with one-on-one isolation plays. Del Negro will have to figure out how to utilize the new players while featuring Blake Griffin and CP3 as the go-to-guys. With Billups, who admits that one of his past strengths was being bigger and stronger than opposing point guards, now finds himself smaller than his shooting guard match-ups. Already having lost a speed-step in the last year or two, Billups will likely see the ball less in his hands and more in Paul's. As a result, Billips is likely to become a 3-point shooter and little else. Expect 15 points, 4 assists, and not much else per game.

Channing Frye, Phoenix Suns
Frye has been quite the player for Phoenix for the last two seasons. He's capable of leading the league in 3-pointers, with his size and high release, he knocks down nearly 200 long-balls annually. This year, however, there's more competition on the Suns for playing time at the center and power forward positions. Marcin Gortat has shown that he's deserving of starter minutes, getting it done on both ends of the floor. Hakim Warrick isn't necessarily a great player, but he's certainly capable, and will take some minutes from Frye. Throw into the mix a more mature Robin Lopez and a promising young rookie in Markieff Morris, and add it up with Frye's usual early season struggles (this preseason he scored a total of 8 points on 1 of 14 shooting (with 6 free throws). The Suns are certainly fading from our minds, and Steve Nash is another guy that we could make the case for inclusion in this declining list of players, but Nash is too old and too amazing to write negatively about. Expect 13 points, 6 rebounds, and little else per game.

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
This one is maybe a little too bold, a little too stretchy, a tad bit on the wild side, but I've got this weird hunch that Doc Howard is going to let this season affect his game. I'll be the first to admit that once he finds his way to New Jersey, or Dallas, or Lakers Land, his attitude and insanity will go from negative to positive (gotta love that positive insanity), but until that day rises with old Papa Sunshine from the East, Doc Howard will be mired in a slump (according to his normal standards). Decline seems realistic, even if it's temporary. He'll probably play a similar breed of defense that we're used to, and his stats will project as such, but his outstanding field goal percentage, I think, will be lower than usual. Maybe I'm nuts, but I'm just not crazy about Orlando or Doc Howard this year. The supporting cast looks weak, and defenses will be able to focus on double and triple teaming the big fella. I expect his numbers to resemble those of his first three seasons in the NBA rather than his last three (.550ish instead of .620ish) up until he gets traded. His preseason showed us that his mind is somewhere else, as the Orlando Magic that was competing for an Eastern Conference title are now firmly off in the sunset. Expect 20 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks, and bad free throw shooting to go with a significant drop in field goal percentage.

Now get ready for a fun-filled Christmas Day! As we ignore our relatives and sit firmly glued to our television screens, just as Saint Nick and some of the taller elves always intended.

TD3Q's "Just a Peek": Eastern Conference Edition

Out East, a cold zone, a land of regret, where teams slither around, slapping each others hands away from their cookie pots. Where the team owners sit around in dilapidated old offices, like mobsters in glossy restaurants, giving their title of leadership a bad reputation. It's in the Eastern Conference, in this, the shorter, but sweeter 2011-2012 NBA season, where we challenge ourselves to reveal insightful data and proficient concepts.

There are three different groups that teams fall into heading into the season. There are the horrible teams (in the East, there are horrible teams everywhere), the good teams, and the teams that have a shot at actually singing along to Freddy Mercury next June, Larry O'Brien Trophy in hand.


Group One: Teams that Stink
Cleveland, Charlotte, and Toronto are going to stink. Cleveland won't stink quite as bad as last year's last place team, mired in a marathon season, their first without LeBron James. Hey, it got them the number one pick. They drafted a point guard named Kyrie Irvin. Someday he'll probably be pretty good. Their owner is an emotional roller coaster. Now they'll go out there and lose most of their games, as will the Raptors and the Bobcats. And that's all there is to it.


Group Two: Teams that Are Good
Next we examine our second group, the good teams, those middle-of-the-pack squads that bring the fight with some interesting ideas and game plans, who shift around like loose matter, winning more games than they lose. Highlighting this fun bunch, the Philadelphia 76ers.
Philly's identity has entered Jrue Holiday, where the young point guard finds comfort in leading. With a veteran team, a potentially big year from Elton Brand, and a core that's used to each other, the Sixers are poised for a jump in the standings. They'll find themselves just on the outside, looking in at the real-deal contenders.

Atlanta seems determined to ignore the fact that they need a real starting center, as they'll continue to use Al Horford and Josh Smith out of position. Losing Jamal Crawford and giving Jeff Teague the keys in his second year will result in a slight regression, and the Hawks are going to be looking somber at times. Pouting is contagious, and Atlanta might lead the league in it this year. Don't get too attached to the Hawks. That's my advice.

Orlando is destined for implosion. I hesitate to say too much, but that place is done for. I'm sorry, I've said too much.



With Deron Williams coming off having his number retired in Turkey, he and the Nets seem to have a World Class point guard running the show. With the most important Russian person as the team owner, there truly is a whiff of mobster stuff in the New Jersey Nets inner circle. They should be able to attract one or two New York lovers to join the fold. Doc Howard seems to think it would be fun to join the Nets. There's plenty to like about a team that's been really lousy for a bunch of years, but the fancy future that comes with winning a championship definitely won't be unfolding in Stink Town this season. Maybe in a few years in Brooklyn.

Indiana was a nice story last season, sneaking in the playoffs and putting up a tiny fight against the Chicago Bulls. This season they've got an improved roster, ongoing development of some mighty important youngsters (Hibby, Paul George (George is poised to really play like a winner in a much bigger role), and Darren Collison. Pacers looking cool!

Andrew Bogut was in a constant bad dream last season, what with his elbow sending enormous amounts of pain into his whole body. Well, he's smiling again, something he never did, not even once, last season. He's claiming that the pain has subsided, and the hallucinations have stopped completely. Can Brandon Jennings take the next step? I honestly don't know. Stephen Jackson is getting old. Beno Udrih is getting cold. Drew Gooden is getting bold. And that's the Bucks news I've been told.

Washington and Detroit are lucky to be associated with this group, the second group, the one that has all the mediocre to pretty good teams. Truth is, Detroit and Washington are still pretty lousy. Detroit seems to be the worst managed team in the East. Somehow Joe Dumars was given a lifetime free pass and he's gone insane and now all he wants to do is try to screw things up. After signing two of the biggest busts to lucrative long-term deals last off-season (Charlie V. and Benny G.), they went ahead and gave Tayshaun Prince a big new contract. On the plus side, we get to watch Greg Monroe do some things. But although Monroe is cool, Detroit as a whole will be fortunate to contend for the playoffs. Washington even more so.

Group 3: Contending
I'm giving the New York Knicks some sort of weird benefit of the doubt on this one. They signed a champion center in Tyson Chandler, and they'll have all season to figure it out with some insane offensive firepower of one-two punch Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire. They're one of those teams that gets what they want, and it wouldn't be surprising to see them land some more talent as time shoves forward relentlessly. Baron Davis is already on board, and who knows, maybe even some good players will join also.

Boston looks to get back on the saddle after their banged and bruised bodies lost in last season's semis to the Miami Heat. The series wasn't very close, so Boston's got a lot to prove if they want to stay in the title picture. Miami seems too strong for an old leathery team like Boston. And the sad news regarding their young forward, Jeff Green, and his heart issue keeping him off the court this season, will definitely affect their bench rotations. Boston is probably more in the Philadelphia boat this year, a fitting scene, considering their close bond from the way-back-when (Colonial Times).



So you take out all the teams that I've already mentioned and you get the two heavy weights. You get Chicago, and you get Miami. You know the story, I don't need to candy coat any of it for you. Chicago got Rip Hamilton. Miami got Shane Battier. Chicago has the MVP, D-Rose, and Miami has the Super-Star Super-Core with LeBron, Wade, and Shane Battier. Hopefully we'll get to watch the two teams in this season's Eastern Conference Finals (either that or Pacers/Bucks is a close second).

But that's a long way down the road. In the meantime, let's just sit back, relax, rest easy on the sorrow, child, and let the Triple Dribble be your guide. Look for it, midway through the 3rd Quarter. Don't blink or you'll miss it.

And We're Back

A message from the editors:

"As the NBA Lockout has been lifted, we at Triple Dribble in the 3rd Quarter would like to formally invite all readers and nonreaders to attend a special gala to celebrate the return of your favorite sports blog. This Sunday at the Marietta Banquet Hall in Marietta, Minnesota, wine and snacks will be served as we bring in the new season in style. Thanks for your dedicated love of our blog, and please continue fighting the pirates on the high seas. Thank you.

-Jim Ponds and Coyote, editors and chieftains, TD3Q

Where the %$*@#$ is my NBA?

Baseball season is over. The Cardinals have stopped celebrating.
Football comes but twice a week, and Indianapolis is often on TV.
Hockey? It's too late for us to start following hockey, don't you think?
College sports? College sports are funny games compared to their professional counterparts.

We need the NBA. As the players and owners continue to find themselves on opposite sides of a door named Lockout, we lock ourselves inside our crust-sheds, drinking the tonic of our time, trying our best to hide from the creepiness and the helplessness of the real world. How do we cope with a failing humankind? We watch sports, and not just any sports, no. We watch the NBA, the MLB, and the NFL. We watch March Madness when it happens, but find it difficult to focus on the pre-March college level. We enjoy Grand Slam tennis, but it's easy to find a Slam slipping by without much attention spent toward it. But we like it. We do.

Missing NBA games though... how are we going to avoid the tragedy around us without them? Usually around this time of year, we can fluidly transition from the centuries-old World Series of baseball into the final days of Preseason NBA exhibitions without noticing murder, corruption, greed, sad drug addiction, bounty-hunter lawlessness, foolish bribery, and the like. Then suddenly, without a warning to the wind, it's November, and NBA games count again, and there we sit with technology our copilot, watching games and kicking all else to the curb. Sure, we still have to work in the factories, libraries, or tuna canneries like everybody else, but we can watch basketball at night! And we can leave the street-life to the vigilantes and the crime-lords they seek to destroy.

Not in 2011, however. No. Not this go-around. The word on the street is that the Collective Bargaining Agreement is anything but. In fact, one doesn't exist right now, as players and owners and other people who also love grabbing money keep fighting the bad fight. No money now, no games now, just a bunch of old-timey tom-foolery. It's not safe in some parts of the world. And without the NBA, it's never been so soul-shatteringly apparent like it is now.

Lockout (Real Talk)

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Nothing Wrong With It: Mavs Use Thievery to Win First Championship

The Dallas Mavericks are as guilty as anyone when it comes to Highway Robbery in the trading realm of professional hoops. Spurs coach Gregg Popovic, who screamed bloody murder when the Lakers and Grizzlies had the Gasol boys switch bedrooms back in 2008, didn't seem to mention anything with his patented brand of rage when the Mavs flexed their wealth muscles and brought in a handful of Wizards, a Raptor, and a Bobcat over the last two years. In hindsight? Never has a team given up so little to receive so much to go on and win an NBA title so quickly, a feat that Mark Cuban and Dirk Nowitzki have been trying to accomplish since Calvin Booth's Infamous Bucket (also known as Michael Finley's Greatest Assist) back in the 2001 NBA Playoffs, when the Little Mavericks beat the Utah Jazz for their first Playoff series victory in their first Playoff appearance in eleven years.

Yes, after eleven years, the Mavs were back, but it would take another long decade for them to win it all. What changed over the last decade for Dallas, full of 50-win seasons and post season heartbreak, to put them over the top for their dominating title run? After a boatload of tinkering, after two weird coaches had to get fired, and another brilliant coach had to be brought in, the real progress began almost exactly 2 years ago, on July 9, 2009, when the Dallas Mavericks found themselves as the main beneficiary of a 4-Team trade.


In that trade with the Raptors, Grizzlies, and Orlando Magic, the Mavs gave up exactly Jerry Stackhouse (his expiring contract being the real apple of Toronto's eye), Devean George, and Antoine Wright (who the Raptors envisioned as their starting shooting guard... yikes). In return the Mavericks received Shawn Marion and Kris Humphries. Kris was already a slightly valuable young player, with real potential and a rock solid attitude. He was arguably the second best player involved in the trade. The Mavs later sent him to New Jersey in a way less dramatic money saving move.

Marion was the real prize of the day though, and although his joining the Mavericks was done through sign-and-trade, meaning he had chosen to sign with them on his own, the deal shines brightly in many ways regarding Dallas, their brains, and their bucks. Toronto let Marion walk in order to give more money to Hedo Turkoglu, a contract that has turned out to be one of the worst in the league (and one of the most traded). Marion meanwhile, came to Dallas in exchange for simple nothings (Devean George being one of the worst Mavericks of all time), and after just two quick years, his role as the Mavericks' best perimeter defender and third scoring option are as responsible for their championship as anything, and his price tag has shown to be extremely reasonable.


With Marion on board, things were looking improved. But the Maverick roster still had the same glaring problems; at small forward and at center the Mavericks were playing a gimpy Josh Howard and an always pathetic Erick Dampier. If the Mavs wanted a ring, the squad still needed improvement. So Donnie Nelson and crew went back to work, and oops, they did it again. This time with the blow-it-up Washington Wizards, the Mavericks pillaged the Wiz for nearly half their rotation, receiving Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, and DeShawn Stevenson. In their dusty tracks, the ultra-wealthy Dallas team had left the scraps of Josh Howard, his upcoming torn ACL, and Drew "Baby Don't Tug On My Rat Tail" Gooden. Oh... and the Mavs somehow also received cash considerations and somehow didn't have to touch the ticking time-bomb of Gilbert Arenas's contract... Wow.

The strangest thing about this deal is that none of the three Wizard players' contracts were epically long or painful. Haywood's was actually expiring after that season, and Caron's and Stevenson's after the following. The Wizards simply gave up, and the Mavericks were happy to be there to take full advantage. Butler might have been hurt for the title run, but his solid play leading up to his injury was crucial for Dallas' success up to mid-season. Stevenson ended up as the most dominant 3-point shooter in the Finals, and, when he wants to be, Haywood's probably the best backup center in the league.

The final lopsided trade piece of the championship puzzle, the trade with Charlotte for Tyson Chandler, turned out to be the luckiest of the three swaps. With the first two trades, Mavs fans showed high excitement for what they meant to the team's chances. The trades had people feeling extremely good for the sake of Maverick contention. But when the NBA hit the free agent bonanza in the summer of 2010, after a post season in which Dallas saw themselves lose in the first round for the third time in four years, Mavs fans wanted the team to step it up, and many figured the only way to do so was to sign LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, Dwyane Wade, or somehow convince Conference rivals Denver or New Orleans to trade us their best players in Carmelo Anthony or Chris Paul. The trade bait? One expiring contract of Erick Dampier, a unique trade chip that allowed another team to erase substantial payroll. It was a tool the super-rich Mavs had designed themselves, purely to take advantage of those with financial woes, or to compensate those with escaping free agent superstars. Mavs fans wanted to pull a Pau Gasol trade of their own, only instead of the promising young Marc Gasol, a player who has quickly evolved into an all-star caliber center whom that Lake Show had surrendered to obtain Pau, the Mavs fans wanted to give up Erick Dampier, a player everyone hated because he stinks. And although the fans' attitude might have matched Dampier's abilities, the Mavericks ended up pulling a trade that did just what they had hoped, only nobody at the time thought it as such.

Many considered the Chandler trade a waste, seeing Tyson as an injury prone shadow of his former self. Some considered Dampier for Tyson a wash, more of the same. Oh how little did they understand, how Tyson Chandler, a player who was unsuccessfully traded twice before the Mavericks finally somehow cracked the code (first he flunked his physical on a trade to OKC, then the Bobcats backed out at the midnight hour in a potential Chandler trade with Toronto), would become the second most important player on the 2011 Championship Dallas Maverick roster. And the most ruthless thing is, the trade's lopsided results don't stop there! Also unloaded by Dallas in the trade was Matt Carroll, who the Bobcats will have sitting on their bench for the next two seasons for $7,400,000. For Maverick fans, it's been pure magic as we watched this freshly acquired talent destroy all in their way to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy. You have to love the NBA, where the rich get richer, and the poor beg for a drastic cut in payroll and a hard salary cap to level the playing field. Good luck with that one, silly poor teams. And good luck to Gregg Popovic, the angriest man in sports.

Thursday NBA Throw-Up: Finals Edition

After the better part of a century of living, Shaquille O'Neal has committed to retirement as a player in the NBA, a notion that, even if intended as a bluff, is at its core most definite and intense. Although he's been a non-factor for a few years now, O'Neal has always kept us remembering the ugly fights, such as the big swing-and-a-miss with Brad Miller. He's tried really really hard to keep the faces smiling, or occasionally afraid of him, or really anything just as long as the faces are there, watching his movements, dreaming of a distant future, one where they love the Shaq man. Well, guess what, that future is now, and Shaq's a goner, but with him goes the true definition of greatness, a definition that very few can match. And even though for some reason, it feels great to know Shaq is gone forever, a tiny part of us will miss him, but probably not all that often. For undoubtedly, Shaq's persistent effort to get the faces to watch him will continue on a TV channel near you.


With all the reports coming out of Euroleague about Ricky Rubio, it seriously seems like the Timberpups are up to their old tricks, with an emphasis on the old and the tricks. Rubio, with open court vision that pays off, finds himself unable to play defense, shoot the ball, or develop muscle. Seems like another obvious bust for the perpetual Timberpups, who get their name from the old lumberjack days of yesteryear. "Timber!!!!!" somebody yelled while failing to hold in a roadhouse chuckle. That somebody was you, and that place was the Target Center, an empty nest full of falling trees of symbol.


Out in Portland, the corporate fat cats are trying to get Brandon Roy to hang it up, call it a career, giving the Blazers a huge break financially for years to come. Those Blazer fat cats desire a corporate bail-out, NBA style, and it's offbeat pandemonium, the kind you'd expect out of Oregon. We asked accounting specialist Grant Frost about his take on the matter, thinking that only a financial wizard of Grant's caliber could unspin the back and forth web of lies coming from behind the scenes in Portland, Oregon. "It's truly shocking. It reminds me of the plot of Cast Away a little bit. I mean what's Helen Hunt supposed to do? Brandon Roy's knees are gone and they're never coming back. But... what if they do?" reports Frost.

Gilbert Arenas is on Twitter talking about needing slaves/girlfriends to make him breakfast in the morning. Pretty weird thing to talk about on Twitter. I knew Gil was old school, but geez, slave girls? Good luck explaining this one Mr. Arenas.

Definitely the big talk in the NBA right now is all about one guy, Kenyon Martin. Where will he wind up next season. As one of the premier crazy guys in the NBA, Martin tries harder than most to play intensely good defense on two bad knees. Set to turn 34 next season, Martin is becoming the kind of veteran guy that we can all be fond of. I'd love to watch him play a meaningful role off a bench for a contending team. He'll definitely want to play for a championship at this stage of his life. Fingers crossed he signs with Portland. More realistically, he signs with Miami.

How could anyone root for these guys?

Mavericks-Heat: Game 5, 2006.

We're big fans of venturing through the time continuum and in 2011 as in 2006 the Mavericks and the Heat are in the finals. This overtime in particular was a crucial turning point in deciding the fate of both clubs.  In retrospect, it is the way basketball go... for sure. WARNING to Mavericks fans: watching this video may result in heart break, anger, bi-polar, or other harmful physical or psychological effects.

If you are a fan of either team, you have to like the current version of the rosters more than the past... Enjoy! 

Eastern Conference Finals Review: Aint Bullsheat'n Yall!

After watching Miami take a 2-1 advantage in the Eastern Conference Finals, it's clear that the Bulls are in a world of trouble, a trouble indicted by the lack of confidence, a lack of confidence that comes from inexperience, and an inexperience that is becoming the glaring conduit of Bulls Eastern Conference Finals failure 2o11.

Heading into the series, we considered all sides and angles of everything Miami and Chicago, trying to dissect what it would take for the ball to bounce this way or that. My favorite aspect of championship basketball is depth. Team depth seems to always been the most evident thing on every championship team, and it's an easy argument every time some scruffy little Knicks fan tries telling me that NYK can beat the Celtics in the first round, or that the Heat have the tricks to stomp their way into June basketball. I always support the team of plenty. A team like Dallas, or Chicago, have not only backups, but they have backups for their backups. Omer Asik goes down? Bring on Kurt Thomas. Ronnie "Don't Call Me Corey" Brewer, Kyle Korver, Keith "French Food" Bogans all take their turns contributing in the wings. Boozer turns into Gibson. Noah into Asik. Only their backup to Derrick Rose, young C.J. Watson, is a true hazard to Bulls success. I've watched a lot of Bulls basketball over the season and playoffs, and I rarely see Watson make his jump shot, yet I see him shoot it whenever he can. Bad brain? Yes! Fortunately for Chicago they have a point guard in Rose who can play 40+ minutes a night.

So why does Miami have the 2-1 edge as well as a Game 4 home game to take control of the series? Well, as Miami is proving, perhaps there's something even bigger than depth when it comes to being victorious in the playoffs. Surely we all figured Chicago to have the demeanor to win the East, what with them owning the best regular season record, the MVP, the Coach of the Year, and a roster that plays 11 deep. In what has been a watered down Eastern Conference Playoffs leading up to this Bulls/Heat contest, Chicago implemented their depth, taking care of business. But bright lights are burning stronger here in the Conference Finals, and as a result I'm seeing unsure, uncool Bulls, the kind normally saved for bovine comic book conventions and all-night bovine Call of Duty marathons. It's ugly, it's nerdy, and it's killing the Eastern Conference.

In what was supposed to be one of the greatest playoffs of all time, failure is responsible for the recent outcomes more so than greatness. In the first round, failure kept Orlando at bay. The Spurs keep making excuses (although legitimate (Ginobili played with broken bone in arm)), giving their historically epic series against Memphis a "Spurs beat themselves" vibe that the Grizzlies don't deserve. The Lakers collapsed in curious failure against Dallas, even though the Mavs were extremely unbeatable in that series. Boston wasn't themselves, and the showdown we'd all been waiting for out East, Celtics and Heat, was merely a shadow of what could have been, again, due to flailing and failure. And now the Chicago Bulls aren't handling themselves.
 
The MVP Rose is showing us very pedestrian numbers on a consistent basis. For the playoffs his shooting numbers are down across the board, yet he's averaging very similar totals in points and assists as he did in the reg. He's trying to do it all alone here against the Heat, simply because his supporting cast is disappearing. Kyle Korver can't buy a bucket, Boozer's as inconsistent as they come, Gibson's starry eyed, Noah's never recovered all the way to the player he was early in the year, and as a result of all this, Luol Deng's team is one loss away from being strangle-held. Chicago can't afford to trail 1-3, yet winning in Miami in Game 4 is looking mighty daunting. I hope they can figure it out, because I'm sick of all the failure in this year's playoffs. Other than a few series', the battles haven't been top notch, and struggles have never glared so bluntly in the NBA tournament, and they'll likely continue out East, with the Bulls unsure of what happens next.

Round One Rebound Free-4-All - NBA Postseason Thoughts You Can Trust

With the Boston Celtics about to slug it out with the Miami Heat, the Bulls given a second straight push-over opponent in Atlanta, the Mavs and Lakers meeting in the playoffs for the first time since 1988, and with the Grizzlies, America's Team, going up against another fresh face, Oklahoma City, NBA fans gotta feel great about the second round situations about to unfold. It was an unforgettable first round, and the 2011 playoffs continue to shine like a freshly cleaned dagger.

Most folks probably expected the Celtics and Heat to see each other in the playoffs, but before the season started, most would have expected it to be in the Conference Finals. Instead, the 2nd and 3rd seeds are facing off in the Semis, giving the Eastern Conference a Christmas-come-early feel. Doc Rivers insists that Shaquille O'Neal will play in the series, but it's unclear if it will matter. Thankfully for Boston, the Heat's center position is one of historic weakness (a side result from the formation of the superstar super-core), and Shaq's mass shouldn't be needed (Dampier, I'm calling you out!). Sure, his body is capable of blobbing up the paint, giving the Celtics a cool dinosaur look on defense with some positive results, but Boston's gotten very little from Shaq all year. I don't suppose it's time to begin relying on him now. "Shaq was supposed to be Dwight Howard repellent, but turns out there ain't no Dwight Howards coming through Beantown this postseason, so screw it!" said Celtics season ticket holder Bud Reeves.

Dirk Nowitzki was just a boy in Germany when the Mavericks last met the Lakers in the postseason. Seems hard to believe, but believe it you must. It's altogether possible that Dirk Nowitzki's Mavs are confidently feeling the monkey back lifted after taking care of business in Portland for the Game 6 closeout. With the extra days off, Jason Kidd has a chance to rest his aching feet. His feet have become monstrous over 16 seasons, and just one brief glimpse has been known to frighten the bravest of goths. Perhaps the team with more crazy-brain will win. So which team has more crazy-brain? Mavs got Jet Terry, D-Shawn Stevenson, Brian Cardinal, and Tyson Chandler. Lakers got Kobe B, Ron Artest, Matt Barnes, and Steve Blake. Tough to call, just watch out for all eight of these crazy-wild guys, because they're all bringing the fireworks to this tight-lipped playoff series. Should be explosive! Children look away!

Although I've got plenty of doubts about the Bulls, I trust them to take care of the Atlanta Hawks. No chance Atlanta does it again, right?... Nope. It truly is nearly impossible. Everyone's talking about Kirk Hinrich's injury as the broken table leg, and without him the table's bound to fall. Kirk Hinrich's a good pro, but if no Hiney means the Hawks are doomed, I'm pretty sure the doom was already front and center, creating tropical storm patterns over present-day Atlanta, with or without Captain Kirk. Prove me wrong Jeff Teague. Prove us all wrong.... (yeah right).

Our time portal comparison proved to be legitimate, as two cracks in the living parallelogram occurred during the Western Conference's first round. Dallas meets Portland, 3rd vs. 6th seeds, just as it was in the 2003 playoffs. Things started off eerily similar, but before Dirk Nowitzki saw his young father dancing at prom, he dominated the basketball series, giving Dallas the good result, just as it was in '03. "I swear, I saw Dirk scoring some 31 points to beat the Blazers, but also, I could have sworn I saw Nowitzki on the local news, turning a scooter into a skateboard," said Dallas fan J.P. Hiltoppington.

Secondly, in uncanny 2007 style 8th seed dominance, the Memphis Grizzlies upset the San Antonio Spurs, bringing smiles to the faces of Don Nelson, Baron Davis, and Stephen Jackson. Suddenly, the old feelings were back. Men started kissing their wives more. Tweens went through their old toy boxes. Babies didn't understand, but it didn't matter. It's ecstatic pure bliss in 8th seeded Memphis, and ladies and gentlemen, it's contagious. But for the Grizzlies, time doesn't stand still. Their first round victory was epic and wonderful, but this 8th seed's journey isn't over. A legitimate chance at the Conference Finals is in sight. Here come KD with the Rumble in the Sky. A fresh taste of second round basketball. Sure tastes good (like seasonal fruit).

Teams will be on the hunt for as many Tony Allen types as possible this summer. Cheap, dedicated, sometimes on the covers of insane magazines, Tony Allen types play with a general ferocity that intimidates older, more flamboyant players. The Grizzlies noticed it earlier in the year, and added even more Tony Allen type talent with the Shane Battier trade. The loss of Rudy "The High Score Kid" Gay took it further, only this time by accident. Take away a flashy offensive player, the kind of guy who consistently wants the ball to create his shot, and replace with a Tony Allen type. Bing-bang-boom, you're team is suddenly playing with contagious team-first energy (side effects include poor shot selection, inability to create shot, O.J. Mayo wants to play too, crazy haircuts).

The Spurs have handled it well, losing so soon to the 8th seeded Griz. Chalking the lost round up to inferior effort and strength appears to be the Spurs' reasoning, and all post-series feelings seem to lack the insane disbelief that Dallas and NBA fans felt in 2007. Back then, Dallas and Mavs fans were crying baby-style. For two straight weeks following the '07 upset, Dirk was seen throwing furniture at least twice a day. The Spurs are taking the high road, and the classiness is appreciated. General praise for the Griz is the main ingredient in all Spur interviews, and although it takes the pressure off the situation, isn't there something about all this high road strolling that seems a bit chicken-shit? Is it wrong to want more Spur sadness?

And now, a moment to remember those who gave us their best during the first round of the playoffs, yet lost in the end with bitter regret. These fellas fought to the finish line, and filled the stat sheets as they went. Yet it was not enough, as team ball reigns supreme.

Carmelo Anthony, NYK

26 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.3 spg, .8 bpg

Dwight Howard, ORL

27 ppg, 15.5 rpg, 1.8 bpg

Kenyon Martin, DEN

11.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg

Oddsmakers, Championship Edition, TD3Q's Official Odds to Win Championship

Here are our odds for each remaining team to win the 2011 championship. Updated every hour. Please inquire with our bookies for betting opportunities. Creative bets only.

Lakers, 2/3 odds
It's pretty annoying but all signs point to another Laker championship. They'll be favorites in every series, and will probably continue to win in 6. Ron Artest's happiness keeps it a feel good story though. When Artest smiles, he lights up every arena bringing admiration and warmth, both home and away.

Mavs, 4/1 odds
Dallas has the potential to beat the Lakers, and surely they will win two, maybe three games against Lamar's crew. It's not impossible for them to upset the heavily-jeweled Lake Show, it's just that, having watched the Mavs, and having watched the Lakers, each for the last 12 years, I think it's pretty unlikely for anything to change all of a sudden. But hey, prove me wrong Dallas. Prove me wrong.

Thunder, 4/1 odds
Quadruple your cash, bet on the Rumble in the Sky. Walter Rustbroom seems a little bit phased by the big show, and his drives are a bit on the unsure side. Kevin Durant is impossible to slow down right now, and will continue to put up a big chunk of the score. It's gotta come from the supporting cast. If Westbrook can't get it going, James Harden and Serge Ibaka will need to pick up the slack. Memphis loves to win though, and that's no joke.

Grizzlies, 6/1 odds
The Griz have it all covered. Take a checklist to it, mark 'em off. Quick, heady point guard, capable of knocking down big shots, check. MVP caliber post presence, check (Zach Randolph). MVP caliber face-up mid-range shooter, check (same guy, Z-Bo). Ace defensive perimeter wing rotation, check. Spanish-born center making everything he shoots, check. A steady-handed coach, calling plays from the soul. Pick a number on a dice and let it roll. That's the Grizzlies. Wish 'em luck. They have a chance.

Bulls, 5/4 odds
How fortunate for the Bulls that they get another easy opponent in the 2011 playoffs. After business taking came easy against the Indiana Pacers, Chicago faces the upset boys of Atlanta, a team that struggles to match Chicago's talent on a good day, soaking wet. With the Coach of the Year and the MVP playing for the Bulls, it's smooth sailing until the Eastern Conference Finals. Can the Bulls fight through two straight legendarily heroic battles? Watch the games to find out.

Heat, 3/1 odds
By losing out on the 1st seed in the East, Miami and Boston fell out of the HOV lane and into a smaller two-lane highway. It's suddenly harder to pass, but while over in that HOV lane, the Bulls drive however they want, up until the HOV lane ends here at the end of the Semis. Can a Heat or Celtics team outplay the triple-team-blast of Boston, Chicago, and whichever West powerhouse ends up in the Finals? Hence the 3/1 odds. Good luck, team with little depth.

Celtics, 5/2 odds
The experience of Boston's players gives them some sort of advantage over their rival Heat. The Celtics, when healthy in the KG era, play basketball in the Finals, and that's the way it's been. It gives them the edge over Miami, and it gives them the best bet to outplay the Bulls. By sweeping the thin Knicks of New York City, Boston's been granted days full of rest and recuperation. It's my belief that the time off has done them good, and perhaps it's given Rajon Rondo the means to heal back up into the player they need him to be.

Hawks, 30/1 odds
The real longshot, the Atlanta Hawks. Losing their starting PG for the series, the Hawks find themselves even skinnier for depth. The Hawks matchup fairly well with everyone on Chicago's starting unit except for the bright glare of Derrick Rose. Rose should continue to shine, and help from Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer (who is dealing with some toe turf burns) should send the Hawks into elimination skies, flying off into the sunset.

Two Teams Trapped in Time: Time Out!!! Time Travel!! Choke Time for Mavs. Game 4

The uncertainty of time has calmed itself. We're almost positive now that the parallel between the 2003 Dallas Portland playoff series and the 2011 Dallas Portland playoff series isn't as blurred as earlier thought, and in fact, sits quite perpendicular. With a respect and admiration for the NBA past and present, we reflect on two Game 4s, each won by Portland, each resulting in different vibes in two different series' in two different years of the Dallas and Portland first round playoff rivalry.

If there was one form of time altering during the Trailblazer's 84-82 Game 4 win, it was Brandon Roy playing like a healthy superstar again (maybe for the last time?). Roy's 4th quarter play should go down in first round history as one of the most heroic of all time. Hardly getting off the bench in game 3, Brandon was entirely unstoppable on Saturday evening, scoring a point per minute on the floor (24 in 24). His hesitation moves put scared thoughts in Dallas's defense, as Shawn Marion, Jason Kidd, and Jason Terry each found themselves eating Roy's bad-knee dust. The home-team Blazers outscored Dallas by 20 in the final frame, taking hard control of the series with back to back wins.

Perhaps 2003 injuries to Scottie Pippen, Derek Anderson, and Arvydas Sabonis were blessings in street clothes, as it gave new chances to both future and former NBA stars. Zach Randolph, inserted into the starting unit, played 41 minutes, finishing with 25 points and 15 rebounds. Damon Stoudamire, a troubled young man for years and years, was able to put it all behind him for one special night, starting and dishing it out 11 times to go with 17 points. It was a valiant effort by the whole squad, both healthy and hurt. Pippen was out, but he used his knowledge to assist suspect coach Mo Cheeks, and during the crucial 3rd quarter run, Pippen handed out pep talks as a motivational prince. Portland destroyed the Mavericks in Game 4 of the 2003 first round series.

Perhaps Bonzi Wells' 45 point explosion in Game 2 of the 2003 series was a poison in disguise, as he stunk up the joints in games 3 and 4. In Game 4, one that Dallas was trying to win to sweep the series, Wells shot just 6 of 21. His volume shooting hurt our eyes, but playoff basketball is a team oriented theology that takes place on two ends, and Bonzi's defense helped seal the first win of the series for old Portland. Wells recorded 5 steals in the game, and Portland as a unit forced 15 Dallas turnovers, a very uncharacteristic total for the 2003 Mavs.

As for 2011 Dallas, they played with the stuff of horrible choke artists, something they've become pretty accustomed to over the Dirk Nowitzki years. Being up by 24 points late in the 3rd quarter, Dallas stopped playing aggressive basketball. The blame can't be pointed to any one player, however, as Dallas's star, we expect more from Germany's favorite son. As the game clock ticked, Dirk found himself with the ball numerous times in the 4th quarter, only to pass it out of single coverage like a hot potato. Twice, with point guard Andre Miller guarding him in transition, Nowitzki was, for some strange reason, reluctant to do work with the mismatch. Jason Terry is always capable of hitting shots in bunches down the stretch, and he made good on a few important jumpers, but Dallas lacked any and all predatory instincts. Without the spark of toughness, Dallas flailed to one of their worst collapses of all time (actually, if this were another team it would be easier to call it one of the worst collapses, but as it is Dallas, it's hard to fit this example in with the large mass of Maverick playoff failures).

Perhaps the 2011 Game 4 loss can be chalked up to old age, or bad coaching, or both. With Jason Kidd obviously approaching menopause, his decision making down the stretch resembled that of a paunchy, drunk frat girl. He bobbled, overshot, slipped, and spilled. As a result, Dallas lost the game in sad sad fashion, giving the poor Dallas faithful a taste of the awful medicine that they've grown to hate over the years. Where can Coach Carlisle look to fix things? Portland has the momentum, yet Dallas has the home-court advantage. Misery is a powerful emotion, and the NBA brings buckets of it. For once though, Mavs fans wish it were headed to the other city.

Steve Nash was absolutely invisible in Game 4 of the 2003 series. It very well could have been this game that single-handedly gave Mark Cuban the insight to let Nash mosey off into the sunset (and into an MVP role with high flying Phoenix). Steve was scoreless for the game, and had as many turnovers as he had combined rebounds and assists (4, 1, and 3). Michael "Fin-Dawg" Finley couldn't find his touch either, as he finished with just 7 points. Nick "The Quick" Van Exel had a strong first half, and Dallas actually led at halftime with a slight 3 point advantage, but in the 3rd quarter everything fell apart. With Portland scoring 21 straight, and outscoring Dallas by 23 for the period, every hip Portland fan finally felt a tiny tinge of happiness, watching the Blazers win in the playoffs for the first time in 11 tries. But surely the Mavericks, up 3-1, will be able to take care of business back in Big D, right?...

With Game 5 approaching fast, both then and now, Dallas is in two very different scenarios. Although it's dangerous, 2003 Dallas doesn't feel the sense of urgency, and as a result, they're bound to find themselves back in Portland for a Game 6. 2011 Dallas limps home losers of a game they should have won. In the past, the Mavericks have been unable to overcome mental defeats such as Game 4's collapse. Kidd needs to stop this junk and play basketball. Stop playing the clock, Kidd, and play ball. If only the time portal could somehow affect Kidd, but he was too busy playing MVP level point guard for the Eastern Conference Nets back in 2003, and the history between Dallas and Portland just a mystery to what the Kidd did .

As for the Blazers, they'll ride into Dallas all knotted up and loving it. They still have a first team caliber superstar in LaMarcus Aldridge, and if the glue guys can play like they normally do, it's not looking so hot for Dallas's boys in blue. As time moves forward, games become finalized, and as of today, we sit and think, "will we find ourselves at the American Airlines Center for Game 7?" It happened in 2003, and it sure looks like it could happen again in 2011. Two games need to be split to finalize the time parallelogram. It begins Monday night in Texas.

Time Wrinkle Expanding! Mavs Blazers, Game 3, 2003 vs. 2011

Something has happened. The fabric of time, as we know it, can only be a one-direction constant. Or so we thought. Last night, while watching Game 3 of the 2011 and 2003 first round series' featuring the Dallas Mavericks and the Portland Trailblazers, my VCR started playing on its own terms.

 

Then, it was all about coming home and getting everyone on the same page.  Although two leaders from the regular season in Scottie Pippen and Derek Anderson were now sitting on the bench in a fancy fancy suits, this Blazers team was a savvy and deep group.  Another leading scorer emerged off the bench in the form of the “Kobe Stopper Kobe Stopper Kobe Stopper”… Ruben Patterson.  His aggressive play yielded 9 trips to stripe, ending with a team high 19 pts and even grabbed 9 rbs (5 offensive at that).

Although Bonzi did not carry over his career shooting performance from the previous game, he managed to turn the extra defensive attention into 6 asts and still dropped in a respectable 15 pts. Damon Stoudamire continued his solid play going 3-4 from behind the arch and finishing with 16 pts. Sentimental Blazer favorite, Arvydas Sabonis came off the bench to abuse the Mavs for 14 bone bruising minutes to contribute 16 pts 4 rbs and 3 fouls! Overall, the Blazers had a balanced scoring attack with five players scoring in double figures, but just didn’t have enough to pull away from the Mavs.

 

Just as then, now in 2011 the Blazer’s home court advantage obviously still means something for the confidence and spirit of the team.  The most notable character to be carried by the gales of cheering was second year player Wes Mathews.  After Brandon Roy went down at the beginning of the year, Mathews emerged to fill the offensive vacuum. He finished the year averaging a hair under 16 ppg and scored 20 pts or more in 25 games this season. On Thursday night, Mathews felt the fire of the crowd and came out shooting red-hot.   LA LaMarcus Aldridge continued his unstoppable offensive barrage posting, spinning, juking, shimmy shimmy ya-ing, and dropping hoop after hoop.  LA finished with a cool 20 pts 1 blk 1 stl and 4 rbs.

Andre Miller also continued his solid play, controlling tempo, making crafty moves in the post, and playing with intensity.  Nothing says, “I’m the man” like taking the chewing gum out of your mouth and fist pumping the crowd. BRANDON ROY ladies and gentlemen! Injury has robbed this guy of elite play, but hasn’t taken his heart and passion for the game.  After venting to the media about a lack of playing time, Roy let his on-court play do the talking by shooting with confidence and determination.  His buckets were a huge emotional lift that let his teammates know… it was time to take the game and get a win. 

For the Ole Mavericks, it was all about Nick & Nash setting the table.  The Dallas trade for Nick Van Exel and Raef Lafrentz allowed Nelly to run his super duper reckless abandon offense, often playing two pgs at the same time and letting his center and forwards slide out to hit 3 pointers.  Nelly’s mad scientist offense worked perfectly on this night.  Nick & Nash penetrated with ease then kicked the ball out for open shots. Nick & Nash finished with a combined 23 pts and 17 asts! Not to down play Dirk’s amazing night as he shot a sick 5-6 from behind the arch and finished the game with 42 pts and 10 rbs. Even Raef dropped 20 pts by connecting on 4-6 three pointers. In the end, Dallas won by connecting on 13 three point shots and going hard on the offensive end… Nelly-Ball.

The 2011 performance was nowhere near as smooth as the 2003. Basically the Mavs looked terrible for almost the whole first half with the notable exception of Jason Terry.  Kidd was being defensively pressured by Gerald Wallace and Wes-Wes Mathews as soon as he crossed half court.  Dirk was getting good looks, but everything was simply rimming out.  Tyson Chandler was having trouble setting screens and not getting called for fouls. Haywood continued his odyssey at the line. Yet somehow, the Mavericks were hanging on.

Jet Terry was feeling it! Shooting whenever and wherever he wanted. Whether in the lane, from three, or on the elbow the Jet was flying all over place. Jet eventually finished the game with a modest 29 pts and 7 ats (5-7 from 3-pt). As for Dirk, he was struggling but wisely decided to take it hard to the hoop and look for fouls.  After finding a stroke from the line, Dirk regained his late game form and managed to hit some big 4th quarter buckets. Although some will point to the controversial 2pt/3pt shot by J-Kidd. The real questionable call had to be Rick Carlisle leaving JJ Barea on the floor for an extended stretch in the 4th.  We love JJ and recognize his talents, but overexposure is a real problem for many role players.  If you leave them on the floor too long, their returns eventually diminish.  JJ had been playing great, but Carlisle probably needed to go back to Peja or Marion mid-way through the 4th, instead of the tiny three guard rotation. In the end, the Mavs just didn't have enough to claw their way to the victory.

All in all, the Rose garden gave Blazers the boost they were looking for and helped to slightly close the tear in the time continuum. Time differential is important for us all. If we feel too intertwined with the 2003 series, insanity could ensue. Thankfully, the Portland victory has given this series a voice all of its own. Game 4 should give us an even fresher and more entertaining time than previous games, however, if old Dallas finds a way to win, we'll be right back where we were in 2003, with the Mavs up 3-1.