To The Advancement Of Friends

Awlright, to the folks who read this blog (take off your coats, stay awhile, watch out for the leopard pit), I have some news to pass along.

JakeN's blog, NBA on the Brain, is going website. The new digs will be partitioned off -- reality based coverage on the main page and his Real Person Fic twists given their own pages named NBA Dramatique. I recommend both. Even if he is a Spurs fan.

Here's the new link: http://www.nbaonthebrain.com/
-BJ

'Tis The Eve Of The Regular Season

And thank God for that.

As usual, the immortals on my shoulders are each making their cases. The angel on my right says we've upgraded and then some, with the addition of Shawn Marion. Drew Gooden showed some good things in the preseason. The keystone pair -- Dirk and Kidd -- took the summer off, meaning they're fresh and rested. Roadrunner Beaubois looks like he could be a contender (and one of the nice things about having Kidd is he speeds up learning curves, particularly for points).

The devil on my right isn't nearly so eloquent. His arguement against the Mavs going anywhere or doing anything this year can be summed up in two words; Josh Howard.

He's our most versitile player, our best defensive guy, and when he's on he's an All-Star, full stop. For a variety of reasons, he hasn't been on nearly enough the past couple of years. Some of it is factors beyond his control -- nobody plans on losing kinfolk or rolling an ankle -- and some of it is self-inflicted.

The situation with J-Ho is simply this; he had arthroscopic repair surgery on his injured ankle about a week after the season ended. That was six months ago. Coach Carlisle is being extremely vague about his recovery timetable, and that's starting to scare me.

The devil doesn't have to say anything else. I know the rest of the list of Things That Can Go Wrong -- (insert player name) is past it, somebody gets hurt, things just don't gel.

Things will unfold the way they will unfold. Do I think this is a championship team? I can't answer that, it's too early. Being frank, in order for that to happen, we're going to need a significant chunk of luck.

But why be glum? It's basketball season! See you tomorrow. If all goes according to plan I'll be there with E. Honda face paint and a song in my heart. Mavericks!
-BJ

Off The Beaten Path A Bit

NBA.com is running a series of columns about offbeat places that're hosting preseason games. One of them being my own hometown, Grand Rapids, Michigan. I was up there this weekend, visiting family (couldn't stay long enough to catch the game, dammit).

Everybody's struggling, these days. In the Midwest, and in Michigan particularly, the economy's been in depression mode for almost as long as I've been alive. Grand Rapids is holding on a little better than the Detroit metro region because what's left of the furniture industry is still viable and the Van Andel Institute is getting some serious backing -- the news came down just a little while ago that MSU is basing a major research study there.

As a whole, though, it's getting so that the only people left in the region are those who can't or won't leave -- and the won't contingent is shrinking. A friend of mine is a Detroiter down to his fingernails, and even he's packed up for an extended leave of absence.

Sports are a luxury, except when they're not. Sport can make life, even for one day, worthwhile. For one day, it does not suck that you are a part of that time and place. And that matters. Here's hoping the Pistons' new owners recognize that, and are both clever and lucky.

Even with clever and lucky, I think, one by one, the major franchises are going to find a way to leave. Check back in 2020 and see who's left, in a city that was once beautiful and alive. The Paris of the Midwest.
-BJ

God I'm Tired Of This

According to a columnist -- the column, for reasons that pass understanding, is featured on NBA.com -- there's a difference between a "franchise player" and a "foundation player." "Franchise players" are the divine accidents, the acolytes to the holy alter upon which the names of Russell, Chamberlain, Bird, Magic, Jordan et al are enshrined. They are seething cauldrons of Manliness in a sport crammed with Men. "Foundation players" are Men, but not on the same level.

And of course and as usual, guess who's not quite Good Enough.

This man's logic escapes me. I'll grant that Chris Paul is something special . . . but in terms of the postseason his teams have gone nowhere. By this author's own rules -- players that can win, No Matter What -- Chris Paul would not qualify. Neither would Dewayne Wade -- did Miami even make it out of the first round last spring? And just to nitpick, if Kevin Garnett were truly a Franchise player by Vince Thomas's definition of the term, wouldn't he have won a title with Minnesota?

Where our Dirk is concerned, Mr. Thomas is no better than the ESPN "analysts" who only watch the Mavs when forced by contract to do so. Dirk's averages have remained otherworldly for going on ten years. How does that disqualify him from Franchise status? As far as the Finals faceplants, how much blame can be totally assigned to Dirk is debateable. God knows he's never tried to duck any of it.

Mr. Thomas's column is nothing more than an NBA version of Top Gear's Cool Wall. Fun for arguing purposes and good for absolutely nothing else.
-BJ

Preseason, Dallas Mavericks host Orlando Magic

Theme: Neuroticfish's cover, "They're Coming To Take Me Away"
Game Info: Click.

Overall, not the most auspicious debut. Field goal percentage just this side of bloody disgusting, our newest and most exciting FNG didn't play because of a calf injury, Dirk couldn't hit the broadside of a barn (to be fair, he got to the line plenty), Superman got an invitation to get the fuck out partway through the third, said invitation extended to Dampier shortly thereafter, an activity that normally takes a couple of hours took nearly three due to 62 (!) total fouls, and because of a miscommunication between me and a DART guy I missed my train and didn't get home until after midnight.

Welcome to exhibition basketball.

And tomorrow the debate begins -- which hurts more? Getting kicked in the Gortats or pounded in the Bass?

Final: 110-105, Magic
-BJ