In Other News . . .

This falls under the heading of Totally Out The Ass speculation.

Seems like damn near everybody in the NBA is priming their checkbooks and gearing up for the biggest auction since Cash In The Attic debuted. Okay, bad example.

Of all the players in the NBA today, the man who arguably has the best claim to Greatest Of The Post-Jordan Era is Lebron James. According to basketball-reference.com, he averaged 29.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 2 blocks, and 0.8 steals per game last year. And he's only 24 (!), still a young man by NBA standards.

And he's gone on record -- several times -- saying he doesn't want to stay in Cleveland. Which has certain teams not-so-quietly clearing out cap space. James's contract is up in 2010.

Now there's no indication that the slightest thought of Bron-Bron in a Mavs uni hasn't even begun to speculate about the merest possibility of crossing the Organizational mind. But they'd be remiss to not at least run the scenario through . . . especially when Bron-Bron and Jason Kidd have had several instances of public flirting while he was playing for the Nets. That would require keeping Kidd around another couple of years though, and that would eat up too much ready cash. Espeically with both the Nets and the Knicks being quite . . . indiscrete about their lust for Bron-Bron's services.

Argh! As a fan, I'd love having Lebron's ability on my team. Rooting for him might prove to be a bit problematic. My allegience is with the Mavs, of course, but cheering for them's easy because I like and admire most of the players. I don't know how I feel about a player with no demonstrated loyalty to his current organization. The jury in my head is split; some of the panel remind me that this is a business and James has the right to seek a situation more personally and professionally beneficial, and some cross their arms and stubbornly insist that loyalty means something, goddammit.

In a perfect world we'd find a way to get LeBron and still keep Dirk and Kidd. OhmyGod, the insides faint. But that's not possible.
-BJ

Game 3, Dallas Mavericks host Cleveland Cavaliers

Theme: (I'd hoped not to use this) Mindless Self Indulgence, "Stupid MF"
Game info: Please don't look

I've clung, suction cup Garfield like, to the idea that my Mavs are not outclassed at this table. That ideal -- illusion would probably be the more accurate word -- took a major hit last night. We were pwned at damn near every stage. It hurt somewhere in the belly when the Mavs struck the colors with 04:30 left. LeBron had 29 points . . . and according to one stats geek or another, that's an afterthought.

I don't want to go over this game, and I'm seriously considering burning the tape. I'll probably want it later though; when I'm in a "before turning the gun on herself" mood. On the way out of the AAC I felt like a parent facing down their rotten kid. I don't want to look at you, I don't want to talk to you, I don't even wanna think about you for the next twelve hours! Maybe then we can discuss this rationally.

It's been that and a few extra, and I think I can be rational. For small stretches, anyway.

Let's discuss rebounding. Or more precisely, the lack of it. Why aren't you guys after that damn ball every time it hits anything other than nylon? The platitudes all over the walls last year no doubt grated, but that doesn't make them not true. Let's see, free throw accuracy still an issue, not doing a good job of protecting the ball, and what is up with not hitting threes? Our go-to guy is one of the best three shooters in the league, for God's sake.

I posited a few weeks ago that the Mavs could still win even if the Bad Guys successfully shut down Dirk. That's another idea I need to revise. It hurts my heart to have to admit this; Dirk was crap last night. And the team is not capable of taking on the true comers without him.

And frustration aside, is there something else the matter? I saw him leave the arena for a while sometime in the first half -- dude what's wrong?

Ima go cry now.

Offense Sells Tickets
Defense Wins Games
Rebounding Wins Titles
Ball Don't Lie

Final:100-81, Cavaliers
-BJ

The Regular Season, or Now We Start Playing For Keepsies

It's here! It's here! Thank you Jesus and St. Jude, it's here! The NBA Regular Season. All aboard, hit the road, all aboard, here we go . . .

The Bulls v. Bucks game, not really interested (though the score's a bit of a shock). Lakers v. Portland . . . what was that about the 'Blazers being contenders this year? Admittedly, this was against the LAL Traveling FunFair and Whoopass Parlour. Greg Oden out with an injury? What a shock.

Celtics v. Cavs . . . that I wish I could've seen. From the stats, it looks like it was a nifty game. The recap shows a Mo Williams assist to The Flying LeBron that's gotta make ya smile. Damn my lack of cable. Poverty's a bitch, guys.

Closer to home, it's been confirmed that Dallas will be hosting the All-Star Events next year. Background; the American Airlines Center doesn't have the seating capacity for all the spectators the All-Star stuff brings in, unless the Org bumps out season ticket holders and Mr. Cuban's not willing to do that. I don't know whose idea it was, but it's genius; hold the All-Star game at the new Cowboys Stadium that's being built in Arlington. Seating capacity is right around 50,000, more than double that of the AAC. Room for everybody! Definetely on my gotta-see list.

So 2008-2009 gets under way. The storylines blow wide open tonight, with most of the rest of the league having their openers. In roughly thirty hours, the Rockets draw nigh. I. Can't. Wait.
-BJ

Back Where It Belongs

- Okay, remember how I said Team Spain wouldn't be a problem? Whoops. Sorry. Team Spain played a phenominal game. I kept waiting for Team USA to kill their will and turn the game into a let's-get-the-dying-over-with situation. It never happened. They just would not die. I was on the edge of my seat until the final posession.

- The inconsistancy of officiating is going to have to be addressed by FIBA, and the sooner the better. All the teams complained about the calls throughout the Games.

- I'd sooner eat soup made from my own flesh than say it, but Kobe Bryant did impress me. Favorably. MVP 2008.

- That said, I think I could learn to seriously love LeBron James.

- I'm going to have to study the tape some more, but I find it interesting that USA had the most fits with zone defesne, as opposed to man-to-man. I'm also noticing -- as usual please correct me if I'm wrong on this -- that Chris Paul had problems cracking it on dribble penetration. That's out of character if I understand his game right.

- If you look at the stat sheets, Jason Kidd didn't do any such of a much. But the entire team, coaches included, cite him as a leader of class and honor.

- On Team Spain's end of it, we're going to have to keep an eye on Ricky Rubio. He's still got his milk teeth; in a couple of years he's going to be terrifying.

- None, repeat none, of the medalists have a goddamn thing to apologize for. They brought honor to their countries and their clan.

- Comparing Team USA 2008 to the Dream Team is the same as comparing Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordan, or Dirk to Larry Bird. It's inaccurate and unfair to all parties involved. The Dream Team was a once in a millenium collection of divinely gifted talent. Team USA was just the best in the world. That's all they have to be. And that's plenty.

I'm honored and delighted to have had this team representing the United States on the world stage. Congratulations, gentlemen.

USA!
-BJ

Fatality

Jesus Christ.

I'm suddenly thankful I couldn't watch this one.

We all knew Team Germany was outclassed at this table. We all knew it was a worthy achievement for them to even make the Games, period.

But . . . oh, my God. It wasn't a cooldown, cats and kittens. Remember the original Mortal Kombat? The one where your best friend would inevitably kick your ass by playing Sub-Zero? Like that.

Short of a meltdown of supernova proportions or major injuries to Dwayne Wade (who by the way is beginning to scare me) and LeBron James and all three of the point guards -- a run-in with the Dallas Derby Devils perhaps? -- Team USA's solid. When they recap the gold/silver game for the closing ceremonies, I think the theme from The Untouchables is a good choice for background music.
-BJ