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The good folks up in Bristol
have likely been looking forward to this night for months, and for good reason.
They picked two winners, two exciting playoff rematches between four teams that
are holding their own in 2008-09, and they’re letting those who don’t have League Pass
‘ave a taste. Nicely done, ESPN.
We can’t discount that the Hornets played last night, that
they didn’t destroy the Grizzlies as expected, and that New Orleans didn’t
exactly have the look of a team that was looking past its opponents toward
tonight’s contest. Still, you also can’t discount that Chris Paul has been
fantastic this season, that he was born to thrive in the sort low-possession
games that the Spurs thrive in as well, and that the home crowd should help.
On San Antonio’s
side? Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker. Three guys who have taken turns
acting as the team’s best player this season. Depth. History. Accomplishments. Beards. Don’t sleep
on these guys.
Nine games tonight, comment away down below, enjoy yourself.
New Orleans Hornets:
14-7, 87.5 possessions per game (28th), 110.5 points scored per 100
possessions (4th), 105.1 points allowed per 100 possessions (11th).
Portable Radio.
San Antonio Spurs:
15-8, 88.2 possessions per game (27th), 108.5 points scored per 100
possessions (9th), 104.7 points allowed per 100 possessions (10th).
A look around the league and the web that covers it. It’s also important to note that the rotation order and starting nods aren’t always listed in order of importance. That’s for you, dear reader, to figure out.
C: The Suns Virtual Locker Room. Terry Porter is the greatest actor alive. (Thanks, Zach.)
PF: Yardbarker, via Hooped Up. "Ya gotsta understand, Acie Law love the kids!"
SF: Blazer’s Edge. Eighties babies came of age at just the right moment to enjoy the early 90s Blazers.
SG: Upside and Motor. Mahoney breaks down the NBA archetype hierarchy. Pretty colors, cool diagrams.
PG: Seattle Weekly. "Did Rick Ross write Thunderstruck? No? Well, I have no idea who he is then."
6th: Hoop Heads North. "Ten" interesting facts about new Raptors big man Jake Voskuhl.
7th: SI.com. LeBron’s nonprofit organization is cutting its staff and some of its charitable work. Ugh.
8th: 3SoB. A new blogger roundtable on how officiating might differ according to status in the NBA.
9th: Straight Cash Homey Dot Net. Today’s random jersey sighting smells like cabbage. Guess who?
10th: The Sporting Blog. Shoals: "Will people actually be comparing these Celtics to those hallowed Bulls? Or is this just about the numbers?"
This won’t come as a shocker, but TIME Magazine officially named President-elect Barack Obama its 2008 "Person of the Year" today. (Yes, I finished second again. Always the bridesmaid, man. Always the bridesmaid …)
In this week’s issue, which hits newsstands Friday, Oregon State’s men’s basketball coach, Craig Robinson, writes about playing ball with his Presidential brother-in-law. Here’s a tasty appetizer:
People always ask me to describe my brother-in-law’s game. Well, he has a very nice outside shot that has gotten better over the years, because as we get older, we can’t go to the basket as easily. He’s very thin, but he’s not weak. You can tell the guy has played. He is extremely left-handed. Most left-handed guys are quicker going to their right. Well, he’s better going to his left. I’ll have to work on that with him.
And Robinson on what Barack’s game says about the man and the way he’s going to lead:
Well, he’s competitive yet inclusive. He’s unselfish, which, where I come from, is the greatest compliment you can give both a player and a leader. And he’s consistent. You’ve got a guy at the top who ran a campaign — and who is going to run a government — in a classy, efficient and considerate manner. That’s the same guy I got to know playing hoops when he was dating my sister.
There’s also a great part about Barack possibly building a ball court in the White House. Check it out.
Carmelo’s fish stories ("this
big!") got you down? Sick of fighting through holiday mall traffic when you
need to get to Radio Shack to buy a cassette deck head cleaner, only to find
they stopped making the darn things in 1992? Sick of the punk cashier at the
Radio Shack (birth year: 1992) who made fun of you as soon as you skulked out
of the Radio Shack? Angry that your Bodyguard
Soundtrack tape sounds muddy and undefined? Want to go back to talking
about Carmelo’s catch?
Come on by at 3 p.m. EST. We will always love you.
We’re probably not overrating this game. The hype, we think, is deserved.
Atlanta plays Boston well, they may have been trampled by about 82
points per game in the four Massachusetts-based contests during last season’s
playoffs, but they also gave a good fight on the road against the C’s last
month, and the Boston/Atlanta games have always been close in Georgia.
There will be more games to pay attention to as your afternoon
moves along, but we should throw a few stats your way and let the comment
section trash talking start now. After all, we’re less than five hours away,
and most Celtics/Hawks fans will tell you that most Atlanta/Boston fans are
unemployed and typing from their Mom’s basement anyway, so it’s never too early
to put this post up.
Boston Celtics: 23-2,
91.7 possessions per game (16th), 109 points scored per 100
possessions (7th), 97.8 points allowed per 100 possessions (1st).
Atlanta Hawks: 15-9,
89.3 possessions per game (26th), 108 points scored per 100
possessions (11th), 106.1 points allowed per 100 possessions (15th).