nba musings

I’ve always liked Matt Barnes. Generally speaking, I love tough players that don’t take any crap from anyone. But, seriously? You can’t be a little more subtle than to literally body check an opposing player into your own bench? Hell, into your own coach?! Tsk tsk. I haven’t seen anything so ridiculous since Lamar Odom tackled Ray Allen out of bounds in ’08. Kudos to Rondo and the team for quickly getting over there to retrieve KG before he went apocalyptic. I guess that’s what happens though when you announce to anyone who will listen that you want to guard Paul Pierce and then forget to show up and actually, you know, guard him. Pretty embarrassing, I would imagine. But, dude seriously, loose ball? Like the loose ball Robert Horry was going for?

In case you missed it:

Whenever my team struggles, I almost always suspect it has more to do with the between the ears stuff than anything else. Mainly because with a team full of present and future all-stars, there’s no way the problem is talent, so it has to be something else. This season, I keep hearing: 1) They’re old! 2) They’re injured 3) Did I mention they’re old? 4) Like geriatric “I have no teeth and need a new hip” old? Well, while those things are true to a degree, I don’t hear anyone saying anything about Kobe (who is also over 30 and also injured, but playing great) so I tend to think those are excuses. So again, when my team under-performs, I immediately start worrying about their psychological makeup (a by-product of being the daughter of a sports psychologist possibly). So, when I heard these comments from Rondo via the morning radio honks earlier today, I said, “A-ha!”

“In the locker room, you can feel it. You don’t feel like it’s the same continuity and camaraderie in the locker room as it was the first year. The first year, it was a crazy spirit in the locker room. But now it doesn’t feel the same. It’s not the same right now. We’ve got to find a way to get that back somehow, some way.” [Boston Herald: Rondo hints at other problems for Celtics]

So the ubuntu has fallen off the rose, huh? Does not surprise me. I actually think it left town the day KG got hurt last season and just hasn’t come back. Hopefully Rondo airing the dirty laundry will help kick start some kind of positive locker room karma joujou. Or it will split the team further apart. Either way, I think he did the right thing speaking up. Somebody had to kick this team in the ass.

Related articles:

• Boston.com/Mazz – Celtics need something to believe in
• ESPN – Rajon Rondo hints at locker room issues for the Boston Celtics

I heard a story on TBJ today about KG being asked about meeting some of the Pacers rookies over the summer to which he replied, “Fuck your rookies.”

Which reminded me of a random conversation w/Mom last week.

Me: I can’t believe we lost to the Pacers.
Mom: You know who did it, right? Who had a good game?
Me: Who?
Mom: Psycho.

As a Duke loving, Carolina hater… I’m gonna have to just go ahead and agree with KG.

I’m back, motherf—ers!
* Boston.com: “But Garnett was not just grinning yesterday, following his first official practice since surgery. He was the gregarious, guffawing Garnett. Patellas and popliteus tendons were forgotten. Garnett trained at full speed, along with everyone else, through about three-quarters of the two-hour workout.” [Read the full article: Full speed ahead for Garnett]

Milk carton caption: Missing combo-guard
* Sigh, poor Delonte. I don’t know what’s going on, but for two straight days my Twitter feed has been full of “Delonte missed practice, unexcused” tweets.

Can we all just agree to ban track suits as wedding attire?
* Khlodom wed on Sunday as expected. The countdown to the inevitable “Lamar & Khloe still love & respect one another immensely, but grew apart due to their busy lifestyles” press release begins.

Wedding inspires Tush to run back to Bush
* Someone was supposed to send Reggie Bush my way when he and Kim K. called it quits several months ago. Unfortunately, he never showed up (aw, shucks) and sources say that after Khloe’s wedding (still wearing her purple “Mrs. & Mrs. Odom” track suit, by the by), Kim flew to NOLA to reunite with her former flame and now they’re back on like donkey kong.

Ok, now Steph has really gone insane
* Vibe reports that Steph went off on Jay-Z again via his 24/7 Starbury Plus channel on Justin TV. Sigh. I like Steph, but I’m not on board with the gay diss. He should know better than that. [Read the full article: Stephon Marbury Drops Another Jay-Z Diss]

Charles Barkley thinks you’re a loser
* During a recent interview with Dan Patrick, Charles Barkley expressed his disapproval towards social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook: ”I’m not a damn loser. I don’t Twitter. I think Twittering and all that Facebook crap … that just makes you a loser. I never said to myself, ‘I wonder what what’s his name is doing today.’” Haha, gotta love him. [Read full article: Barkley says Twitter is for losers, weighs in on T.O., Jordan]

NBA Musings gets around
* Nat from Heels on Hardwood was nice enough to ask me to write up a Celtics preview for her blog. It was fun to actually start thinking about basketball again. This off-season has been crazy long. You can scope that out @ Heels on Hardwood – Match Ups – Toronto Raptors v/s Boston Celtics

Update 9/19: Zoe has been found! Yayyyy!
Help find Zoe! * John from Red’s Army has an adorable boston terrier named Zoe who is lost. If you live in the Foxboro, MA area or surrounding area, please visit this special blog and see how you can help: http://missingzoe.wordpress.com/. Today’s tip: If you see her, please call Foxboro Animal Control at 508-384-2523 BEFORE trying to approach her.  She’s a timid little dog.  She might be more likely to run off than walk over.

There’s actual new Celtics news? What hell you say?
* The Boston Globe recently posted a couple of Celtics tidbits. The first is about KG and his progress recovering from knee surgery. Sigh. I know it’s unrealistic, but I had kind of hoped his health wouldn’t be an issue once the season started. The second update has to do with Rondo and his contract extension. Actually, there isn’t much actual news on that. Just a confirmation that Danny Ainge plans to talk to Rondo’s agent and they may or may not be on the same page. Read the full articles @ The Boston Globe – Garnett making progress | Ainge to Rondo: We’ll talk

Kerry Rhodes is writing checks with his mouth
* So… apparently Kerry Rhodes is running his mouth about embarrassing the New England Patriots and rattling Tom Brady. Now, there was a time in the not-so-distant past when I would have called out Rhodes for being a yap-yap poodle better at flapping his gums than playing football. But, I’ve evolved. Like a veteran, I just grin and shake my head. I am content to pat him on the head like he’s a sassy toddler and say, “Awww, you’re so cute.” *wink* The quotables can be perused @ The Boston Globe – Rhodes wants to embarrass Patriots

This just in: Michael Jordan is a vindictive bitch
* While I was away, trying to resolve my domain relocation drama, Michael Jordan was inducted into the basketball hall of fame. I watched his speech while yacking it up with the peeps on Twitter and I thought he sounded like an ungracious ass. Other people didn’t have a problem with it. Actually, I didn’t have a problem with it either. I just thought he was being himself. One time, my mom and I were watching a Lakers game and she turned to me and said, “I don’t like Kobe. He’s not nice like Michael Jordan.” Wow. So, not only can my mom not pronounced Yao Ming’s name correctly to save her life, she actually thinks Michael Jordan is “nicer” than Kobe Bryant. Only someone who knows nothing about MJ would say that. He was, is and will always be – a dick. But, you know that line in Heathers when Veronica asks Heather Duke why she’s such a megabitch? Well her response is exactly what MJ would probably say, “Because I can be.” Mike Wilbon has a similar take. Read it @ The Washington Post – The Speech: That’s MJ

Kanye to NBAMusings.com: You ain’t no Beyonce (via Kanyelicio.us)

These silly season rumors are giving me fits. It seemed like the very minute game 7 finished and the Celtics went fishing in Dingle, Ireland, people started speculating about who isn’t going to be back next year. Thoughts immediately flashed through my brain. Will they keep Leon or Big Baby? The answer is clear, simple and finite. Leon stays! Baby can go. I’ll miss him, but not as much as I’d miss Leon. This is not Sophie’s Choice for me. The decision is clear. After that, I pondered how quickly they’d tell Mikki Moore and Stephon Marbury not to let the door hit them in the ass on the way out. No problem with that. The rookies? Haven’t gotten attached to them. They can go too. However, there were certain players that I just assumed were untouchable. Never for a moment did I think I might have to brace myself for life without Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo or Kendrick Perkins. I think I could almost handle losing Ray. As much as I love him, I probably wouldn’t go into mourning if they felt like they had to trade him. But, the idea of trading either Perk or Rondo is just completely unbelievable to me. Rondo is a star. He has a lot to learn still, but he’s a star. And, what can you say about Kendrick Perkins? He’s the most underrated player on that whole team. Trading Rondo and Perk, in my opinion would be as ridiculous as trading KG and Paul Pierce. I will NOT part with any of them. You hear me, Wyc?!

Here is what I’ll agree to part with:

ps. Keep your grubby little mitts of Scal! I will NOT part with Scal either! Get back! *jabbing the air with a pitchfork*

NBA Finals Game 1
Lakers v. Magic 100-75

This game was a classic “die by the 3″ game. The Lakers defense was part of it, but the Magic also missed a ton of wide open shots. Simply put, the Magic are who we thought they were. The key to me was how the Lakers controlled Dwight. When Dwight can be controlled, the Magic are toast. I’ve read this book before. More than that though, Kobe was just a monster. He had a psycho look in his eye and as I said before this series started, there’s no way he’s not going to avenge last season’s finals. I’m sure the Magic will heat up and probably aren’t going to get swept. Past that though, I’m not sure how long this series can go.

It amused me that right before the game, David Stern announced that he was fining LeBron $25k for not speaking to the media. Strange that he had four off-days where he could’ve announced that, but instead waited until right before game 1. I’m sure LeBron won’t miss that $25k since that kind of money has to be cushion change to him. It was interesting to me when Stern said that LeBron would come and speak out about this at a later date. Why? He already spoke out about it last Sunday when he said he did nothing wrong. So now we are supposed to be sitting here waiting with bated breath for him to come BACK out and change his tune? Like, oh ok, NOW he’s sorry. NOW he realizes it was wrong. Ridiculous. I think the whole thing was overblown, but I also think LeBron’s first instincts and first comments were the truth. He’s spoiled and a bad sport. Nothing more, nothing less. I don’t want to hear another thing he has to say on the subject because spin control makes me cranky.

In other news, apparently KG is making championship guarantees for the next two seasons. Sigh. Oh KG, why do you do this to me? Not long ago, I stated that only chumps make guarantees. I would never call you a chump… but, cut it out.

Recent postings from around the blogosphere:

• Talk Hoops/Both Teams Played Hard – Cross Polination: Emails With Both Teams Played Hard, NBA Finals Preview | Talking Hoops with Talk Hoops: Vol. III (Zach & Jared are hilarious and a great team. Read volume 3 and then check the archives for 1 & 2. They are lengthy, so you’ll need a little time to read everything, but it’s worth every minute.)
• Heels on Hardwood – NBA Withdrawal: 10 Paperbacks for the Basketball Fan (Nat’s lists have been literally rocking my world. Read this post and then be sure to check all of her other great hoops-related recommendations.)
• The No-Look Pass – Chronicles Of Crotty #19: Come Clean (The latest podcast from Rey-Rey and his SoCal posse of Clips/Lakers fans. Check this one out and then be sure to backtrack through the archives. The guys have a lot of fun while sharing their insights on the game.)

Oh and ps. Found out last night that Kobe is Larry Bird’s favorite player. Why don’t you just tell me that Derek Jeter is Jim Rice’s favorite player while you’re at it.

1. Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau has been making the interviews rounds for head coaching opportunities with Philly and Sactown. Good luck, Tom!
2. The Globe’s Marc Spears reports that KG will have surgery on his right knee sometime next week.
3. Stephon Marbury on his future with the Celtics: “I mean I love it here, I loved playing basketball here. That’s where I am right now… I don’t know what my future holds. I”m just going to wait and see what the future holds.”
4. Big Baby on his future with the Celtics: “I love Boston. It’s a wonderful place. But if the opportunity is here, it’s here. If it’s somewhere else, it’s somewhere else. I have to go where the opportunity is.”
5. In April, Leon Powe received that month’s NBA Community Assist award. As the April NBA Community Assist Award recipient, Powe will receive the David Robinson Plaque with the inscription, “Following the standard set by NBA Legend David Robinson who improved the community piece by piece.”
6. Doc recently revealed that the Celtics starters were even more banged up than we thought. Perk/shoulder, Ray/hamstring, Paul/knee. Thankfully fishing doesn’t require any of those body parts to be fully functional.
7. Sam Cassell has been hired as an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards. Congrats Sam!

Playoffs Game 5
Celtics v. Bulls 106-104

I don’t know about the Celtics, but this first round is exhausting… for me. I’m so tired. Lol. These close games that end in OT or double OT are killing me slowly with a dull rusty dinner fork. I believe I’ve already stated that I hate close games when it comes to my team. Since I’m mentally and physically exhausted (staying up half the night watching heart attack basketball and then getting up at 6:30am for the day job will do that to a person), I’m going to just post my thoughts in a free form (possibly non-coherent) bullet point list.

• Paul looked awful until the end of the game. He was missing in action on offense and defense. The comeback was great and he continues to prove he’s one of the most clutch guys in the game, but I just wish he hadn’t taken so long to get it going.
• I think Ray got some of Perk’s calls. Perk got ZERO fouls and Ray Allen fouled out. Something is rotten in Denmark. My theory is that they just gave Perk’s calls to Ray. (Haha.)
• Steph. Shoot the ball. Shoot it. It’s what you do. How can you not do it? Do it. Shoot it. Sigh.
• After the game, Doc told reporters that Tony Allen’s play during the game was… *drumroll* Phenomenal. No, not a typo. Phenomenal. *shaking head*
• I hate to admit it, but our bench is weak sauce. I love them, I really do, but they aren’t stepping up.
• Rondo continues to be a fan-freaking-tastic stat machine and thank the good lord allmighty for that.
• I’ve wanted to fist fight several website commenters and Twitter tweeters (tweeps? Ugh, Twitter lingo is so stupid) in the last week. Ah yes, the NBA playoffs are here. I’m trying to remind myself that close games with questionable calls (on both sides) bring out the irrational in people (including me). Howeva *nod to Stephen A.*, to the person/people who insist that Rondo PUNCHED Brad Miller… Settle down, Skippy. Was it flagrant? Possibly. Did the Bulls get hosed a little bit by the non-call? Possibly. Did he recklessly lay a hard foul on Brad Miller? Definitely. But, he DID NOT punch him. That’s ridiculous. I don’t care how many camera angles you viewed that play from. There was no punch. I might bleed green, but I’m not unreasonable. If it was a punch, I’d admit it. [I'll concede it was a bitch-slap. ]
• Why do NBA fans who don’t root for the Celtics have such a problem with KG yelling profanity and heckling the other team’s players from the bench? Big deal. I can understand the poor bastards that have to listen to it complaining, but I don’t understand viewers at home getting all up in arms about it. I think this is just KG’s way of contributing. He can’t play, so he’s harrassing the other team’s players to try and throw them off their game. Obnoxious yes, but not a felony.

I have a lot more on my mind, but this post is already long enough. I’ll zip it and go back to watching tonight’s MIA/ATL game. This one has been pretty chippy dippy. Players were shoved. Technicals were assessed. Flagrants were erroneously called. Ah yes, good times, good times.

Related news:

• CelticsBlog: KG: Not Winning Any Sportsmanship Awards
• Red’s Army: The Last Word On Officials
• Celtics Hub: A Word on Flagrant Fouls
• Celtics 17: Late Game Recap, Early Game Preview
• Both Teams Played Hard: Brad Miller Is Dead…On the Inside
• NBA Noise: Elbows, face slaps, fines, fouls and suspensions

“Let’s go Boston…”