With the 2003 NBA draft coming up on Thursday, the Knickerbockers are starting to sound desperate and – sadly – it looks like the Sprewell Era might be over. Can’t we just get rid of Dolan and Layden instead?
Category: Sports
Texas Two-Step.
So, the Spurs won it all, thanks to a 19-0 Nets collapse in the fourth. Bleah…can’t say I’m too excited about that. To my mind, San Antonio is flawed and boring. But I do find it interesting, as the Sportsguy pointed out, that either Steve Kerr or Robert Horry has won a ring each of the past ten years. With that in mind, I wonder who the Knicks’ll be drafting. Chris Kaman, perhaps?
On the Prowl.
The new Bob Johnson-owned NBA franchise unveiled their name, logo, and uniforms on Wednesday, and they’re the
Small Man in a Big State.
Word on the street is Jeff Van Gundy has decided on the Rockets over the Wizards. To my mind, Houston just became a dangerous team to meet in the first round. Rudy T may be the nicest guy in the world, but Houston’s offense this past year was embarrassingly bad…basically Steve Francis, Moochie Norris, or Cuttino Mobley would speed to the hole and try to score 1-on-5 while Yao stood around looking confused. With a disciplined O and Van Gundy’s trademark tenacious D, the Rockets could turn a few heads next year.
Diamond in the Rough.
Bleah…so much for ABC’s “Old School” advertising strategy. Game 3 was some of the worst NBA basketball I’ve ever seen, and this is coming from a guy who really enjoys watching Knicks-Heat series. Just plain ugly…Kinda sad when the most memorable part of the game is the halftime show. Speaking of which, I’m more out of it than I thought. From what alternate universe did this Lil’ Kim version of Jewel come from? I remember her as an adorable snaggletoothed and deadly earnest folk chanteuse. She’s the last person I ever expected to drop the acoustic guitar and start hip-hopping to a Britney bounce. Well, I can’t say I’ve ever been a big fan, but with its infectious hurdy-gurdy backbeat, “Intuition” seems like it might just be this summer’s “Get this Party Started” – the bubble-gum pop song you can’t get out of your head. And from Jewel too…Who knew?
Captain Kidd.
While the baseball world copes with Sammy’s corked bat, basketball fans prepare to gather around the telly for the start of the NBA finals tonight. I expect the Spurs will take it, but I want to root for New Jersey, so I’ll go out on a limb and say Nets in 6. JKidd, this is your hour.
The Mercenary.
With NBA coach firings coming fast and furious, Slate takes a moment to burst the Larry Brown bubble. I have to say I’m inclined to agree. Given both his own coaching tour and his often inexplicable trades every year, it seems Brown’s got a terminal case of basketball ADD. Is he really the right guy to take Detroit over the hump?
Kerrazy shooting.
Can’t say I was rooting for the Spurs last night, but it was kinda heartwarming to see Steve Kerr get in a final three-ball spree. Now this should actually make for an interesting Finals, as the Spurs are worse than last year’s Lakers and the Nets are better than they were last year. Here’s hoping Jason Kidd leads the East to glory.
Race and the Hoop.
“For years, black ballplayers were stereotyped as not being interested in playing defense. When black players became very good at defense and began to dominate the league on the defensive end, the NBA loaded the dice. And this is precisely where the Euro players stepped in.” Dan McGraw talks about race and the foreign invasion of basketball in the Village Voice. I’m not sure I buy the zone defense conspiracy theory being promulgated, but there’s some interesting food for thought here nonetheless. And it is pretty sad to see how far the league will go to pander to white people — For example, the Frank Sinatra ad mentioned, or the ridiculous soft-focus Finals ads (“This is old school basketball.”) on ABC right now.
Gonzo to the Rim.
I weep for Sacramento, but so what? It was like betting on a three-legged horse. Dr. Thompson checks in from the NBA finals.