5-3-04 - The Bachelorette Party
4-26-04 - Eternal Sunshine
4-25-04 - EBall
4-21-04 - Kevin on Running
4-20-04 - Some Thoughts
4-19-04 - NBA Review/Preview
4-18-04 - Reena's Guest Column
Archives
For those of your tired of or heartbroken by the NBA, I understand if you stop reading. For those of you who are not, let's take a look at the needs of the teams that were eliminated in the first round.
Boston Celtics - Has a team ever gone from tough and gritty to soft and quitting quicker than the Celtics. Has there ever been a sadder playoff performance turned in by a team. What exactly is their plan? They don't have cap room, they don't have much talent (outside of Paul Pierce and maybe Ricky Davis), and they are totally undisciplined. They just hired a coach who was fired after coaching a team of a similar make-up to a 1-17 start this year. Sure they have three first round draft picks this year, but that didn't help two years ago (Joe Johnson - traded, Kedrick Brown - ouch, Joseph Forte - ugh). This team will get worse before it gets better. they may at least entertain the idea of trading Pierce for multiple pieces.
1) Jealous Guy - Elliot Smith (Lennon cover)
2) Rape Me - Nirvana
3) I Was Just Thinking - Teitur
4) Cmon Baby - Bob Schneider
5) Get in the Van - 2 Skinnee J's
6) About Her - Malcolm McLaren
7) Let Go - Frou Frou
8) Dig Through My Window - Guided by Voices
9) Secret - Maroon 5
10) The Bronze Beached Boys - Pas/Cal
Denver Nuggets - There is no way that the Nuggets season can be described as anything short of a success. Going from a team that was undoubtedly the least talented team in the NBA to one that fought valiantly in the playoffs against the Western Conference's Number One seed is a huge accomplishment. Now, they have to be careful not to regress like Phoenix did this year. Finding Marcus Camby some front-line help and adding another backcourt scorer should be priorities.
Houston Rockets - Is Steve Francis going to be traded this off season? That question is going to be on the tongue of every sports radio caller in Houston for the next four months. I am inclined to try to give him another year to get used to Yao and Van Gundy's system because I highly doubt that they will be able to get equal talent for him in a trade. One player I'd consider moving him for is Ray Allen, who the Sonics are rumored to have soured on. Although neither he nor Cuttino Mobley is a point guard, I am convinced that the two could handle both the ball handling and the defensive duties at the one. The Rockets also need to find a backup point to play more minutes (sorry Mike Wilks) and a P.J. Brown-ish four.
Memphis Grizzlies - Like the Nuggets, the Grizzlies season has to be viewed as a success. Sure they were swept in the playoffs, but that tells us how good San Antonio is more than it indicts Memphis. Yes, Hubie Brown has had success with the extended ten and eleven man rotations, but that style doesn't win in the playoffs. The Grizzlies need to package some pieces (maybe even Pau Gasol) for a bonafide superstar. If McGrady, Pierce, or Kobe becomes available, Jerry West should jump at the chance to make a move. The Grizzlies, as currently configured, are never going past the first round.
Miami Heat - Sure, the Heat aren't technically eliminated from the playoffs yet, but there is little doubt that the winner of their series with the Hornets will be dismantled by Indiana. The Heat do have promise though. With a big man (maybe Blount?) and a return to his rookie form from Caron Butler, this team can be a major player in the East next year.
Milwaukee Bucks - First thing that this team to do is pray for a full recovery from T.J. Ford. Second is sign Terry Porter to an extension. Third, offer Michael Redd the keys to the city. He played with guts in the series with Detroit, making for a much more entertaining series than anyone anticipated. This team is still a talented post man away from being a real threat (Mehmet Okur?), but you have to like how they are rebuilding on the fly.
New Orleans Hornets - Maybe you will come through against the Heat in Game 7. Maybe you will shock the world and throw a scare into the Pacers. If not good luck in the Western Conference guys. You aren't a playoff team there.
New York Knicks - It is always embarrassing for your upset speciall playoff team to be swept and dismantled in the opening round of the playoffs. To my credit, though, I thought Allan Houston would play and I hate Jason Kidd with such a passion that I couldn't dream of picking his team to win a playoff series. The Knicks future is not too promising. They have virtually no young talent, their salary cap is a mess, and they have Isiah Thomas running the team. Maybe this team gels with more time next year...probably not, though. At least they can comfort themselves with the fact that they are in the East.
SECOND ROUND PREDICTIONS
East -
#4/#5 Fodder vs. #1 Indiana - It is an open secret that the East has only three real teams in it. Miami is a nice story, New Orleans has some playoff experience, but neither has half the talent or chemistry of this Pacers team. Everyone is talking about the Nets and the Pistons, but I believe that the Pacers are going to be returning to the Finals this year. They are for real. Pacers in 5.
#3 New Jersey vs. #2 Detroit - The Nets were impressive in round one and there is no doubt that this group knows how to win. If they can get this series played at their (up-) tempo, they definitely are capable of beating Detroit. Unfortunately for them, I believe the Pistons will control the tempo and limit the Nets from scoring in the paint. Detroit provides the Nets with match-up nightmares and will win this series more handily than most think. Pistons in 5.
West -
# 4 Sacramento vs. #1 Minnesota - I absolutely love Kevin Garnett. There is no player in the NBA who can do more. I love these Timberwolves. They play hard every night and don't back down in physical games the way they have in years past. But the Kings find themselves in the unique position of being both more experienced and hungrier. The sense that this is their last shot as a unit is palpable, and I think they have enough to eek out a victory in this series. Give the Wolves one more year. Kings, on the road, in 7.
#3 Los Angeles vs. #2 San Antonio (San Antonio leads 1-0) - Anyone who watched the Lakers-Rockets series knows that L.A. should have been down 3-1 going back to Los Angeles. They simply got lucky to dosge bullets against an inexperienced, undisciplined team. The fact that the Rockets were even in those games shows that all is not right in Lakerville. The Spurs, on the other hand, are looking nearly untouchable. If that isn't enough, they have Robert Horry. Either he or Steve Kerr (now retired) have played on the world champs each of the last ten years. That has to be unprecedented over a span that includes 5 different champions. Spurs in 5.
