PhDribble

The Young and the Restless

It's been a remarkable half-first round.  And I have been reluctant to post because the returns have only started to come in.  There are so many sweet sites to read intelligent commentary from day-to-day, game-to-game, even quarter-to-quarter [look to your right sidebar for just a few of my favorites.]  But the historian in me wants to see how the action will unfold before drawing conclusions. 

Sports by nature are teological, we write the story starting with the outcome and working backwards.  How much will the Atlanta Kaw-Kaws two wins matter?  Well, if the Celts win it all...not even a bit.  If they faulter in the finals...maybe it will be seen as a sign.  If the Celts flop in the CFs or get slammed by Lebron...well, then the Hawks' wins will loom larger and larger as glaring evidence of the Celts age, Doc's panic, and so on and so on...

So, what now?  For me, I have just been enjoying the ride.  The playoffs really are a new season and faultering is inevitable.  Playing well, hitting slumps, these are all going to happen in four rounds of best of sevens.  It is, as the truism goes, how the teams respond.

That being said, the Hawks and Sixers have given all of us a big sloppy high-flying early Xmas.  Their simultaneous surprises has led many to group them together.  Rightly so.  And when watching these teams, it is hard to resist a comparison to the Baby Bulls.  And when making such a comparison, it leads us to ask: will these teams continue to grow into title contenders or will they peak and disintegrate like their Chicago brethren?

A closer examination should show us that these teams are potentially going in opposite directions.  All excuses aside (contracts, injuries, Skiles,) the Baby Bulls could not take the next step.  They lacked the superstar, the leader, the charismatic center to ground their team and lead them to the next level. And this is where I see a major difference between Atlanta and Philly.  While Joe Amazing proved to the whole world that he has budding superstar potential, AI proved once again, as Agent Zero so aptly pointed out, that he'll be a great #2.  Under the leadership of Joe, the Hawks' potential to contend appears limitless.  Philly lacks that piece. While I love me some Little Louie, Baddeus, and the Carney Knowledge, the Sixers need to play it verrrry smart in these next few years.  It will not be enough to surround this corps with pieces.  None of these young'uns will be able to lead them to the promised land.  They need a blockbuster.  And they need it before the team goes the way of the Bulls.

Riley the Terrible

When Vladimir Putin agreed to step aside as president of Russia, he made sure one thing was clear: his successor would be his man.  He chose Dmitry Medvedev to succede him because Medvedev's rise was dependent on Putin.  And there remains little doubt that although the chairs will soon shift, Putin still holds the leash.

And so in Miami.  Is it little surprise that Riley promoted a coach who has no credibility of his own?  At 37 Erik Spoelstra will be the youngest coach in the Lig.  Is it any surprise that Riley found a man who would have no recourse, no independent power base to assert his authority?  Miami is as Riley does.  There will be no StanVan 2.0.  Riley may not be on the bench but he has made sure this time that he holds all the strings.

Games Are Fun - III

Who can resist the Look-Alikes?

1. Answer

2. Answer

3. Answer

Revisionist History

Sometimes a piece of evidence just sends my historian's heart atwitter.  I have written earlier at the PhDribble about the change in Lig culture from the Jordan days to today's "Age of Play the Right Way":

"...In fact, Lebrand's handlers and he have crafted an image far different than Jordan's.  In the 'I Wanna Be Like Mike' campaign, Jordan was the absent, unobtainable ideal.  Highlights flashed, but Jordan-the-man never appeared.  He remained clouded in mystery, a super-human force that could only be dreamed of, whose underwear Cuba only wishes he could wear.  Conversely, Lebron narrates his newest shoe ad, depicting himself as the humble superstar, the new kind of superstar, the new ideal.  He tells the keedz that they can be better than him, that he's far from perfect, that even Lebrand needs to keep working on his skeels.  Even as Lebron has become Lebrand, his image has not mimicked Michael's.  His image has portrayed a different idea of American virtue: selfless and hard-working..." (Nov 20, 2007)

And now, right on cue, MJs new commercial:

Where "Rafer? I Hardly Knew 'Er" Happens

Where I Hope He's Calling A Play Happens

In the Age of the Romantics

It's been a hectic last week.  Got the flu and then got some major Passover action.  So, I've been able to watch, too many thoughts, no time to post.  But I'll leave you with a quick story. 

"Who is that guy?!" My x-hipster-costume-designer-turned-med-student female friend asked me.  I was in the Brooklyn for a seder with my college friends.  "That guy is not a basketball player! What is he doing on the floor??? He looks like a grizzled hippie!"  I couldn't convince her that little Stevie had won two MVPs...until she started to watch him play. "Wait, wait, he's really good."  You see, my friend was having what I like to call, "The Steve Nash Experience."   It's amazing how quickly we forget or maybe how easily we become inured from the true beautiful absurdity of the Lig.   Steve Nash should not exist.  Or if he does, he should be holding a drum circle for under-privileged youths in the Portland suburbs.  But there he is.  Breaking down men twice as big and three times as quick.  He's a phenomenon. But one whose true absurdity only the unintiated can still appreciate.  Luckily, the SNE is not a singular event.  We still have our own SNEs.  Most of us are right now in the midst of submitting ourselves to the hypnotic amazing that is CP3...

And a Classic Walton on Diaw, from a buddy of mine:

Where the Elusive Duevo-Floppas Happens.

Reasons Why Mark Madsen Is the Best Twelfth Man in the League - III

Contrary to popular opinion, Mark "the Maddog" Madsen is NOT a secret agent.  He does, however, double as a State Senator from the Utah's 13th Congressional District.

Evidence A: That is no amateur handshake.

Evidence B: As the Deseret Morning News reported in Jan 2006, "Sen. Chris Buttars', R-West Jordan, presents his bill before the Senate Education Committee Tuesday."

Look familiar?

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Yup.  Madsen has been making that argument
since his days at Stanford -->

 

Evidence C: In August of 2007, Madsen injured himself on his "personal watercraft."  Yet unlike VladRad and his ski accident, Madsen received no public flak or organizational censure.  Why?  CAUSE THEY KNOW!  You see, Rep Madsen had other business to attend to.  Conveniently injuring "himself" in August, one month later...from the September 2007 "Interim Highlights" Newsletter for the Utah Legislature, it seems the Maddog had some international business to attend to...the Commitee:

"Received reports about diplomacy training for legislators as a means of enhancing their effectiveness in meeting with foreign dignitaries and business people in Utah and abroad...A Global Trade Newsletter is also being developed by staff members to inform policymakers as well as foreign visitors and business people about Utah."

The Commitee Chairs: Sen. Mark Madsen / Rep. Sheryl Allen

Vote or Sigh: 2008 NBA Blog Awards

Aww shucks. We got a nom.  Thanks to HP for setting it all up, clearly a lot of work, and much love for all around.  Go over and vote for you're faves...I'm not sayin...I'm just sayin.