The Dream Team: Get Over It, Isiah!

One could make an argument that Isiah Thomas should have been on the Dream Team over John Stockton, but why would you?  During the 1991-92 season, Isiah averaged 18 points and 7 assists while Stockton averaged 15 points and 13 assists.  Isiah may have been deserving of being on the Dream Team but that wasn't the criteria for being on that team.  It was marketability.  The architects of the Dream Team knew that sending the best of the NBA would win gold but the money that could be made off of the Dream Team was the driving force.  The hottest player in the NBA was Michael Jordan, who was coming off his second straight NBA championship.  During the Tournament of the Americas, six games were played and Stockton played in only 2 of them.  Would Isiah been okay with that?  The competitor that he was tells me no.  Stockton had no issue with it.  During the Olympics, 8 games were played and Stockton played in only 4 of them.  Once again, Isiah wouldn't have stood for that.  We all now know that Jordan would not have played if Isiah was apart of it but it wasn't just Jordan who objected.  We all should have seen the documentary on the Dream Team by now and all those who didn't want Isiah there admitted as much.  From a business standpoint, it was a no-brainer.  It sucks for Isiah but money talks and BS walks.  It wasn't just Jordan and it never was but Jordan was the easy "scapegoat" given the recent history between the two at the time.  Piston fans can cry all they want but who in this world is ever rewarded with something after they have burned so many bridges and rubbed one too many people, with influence, the wrong way?  The answer is no one and it always will be.   Articles like the one Peter Vecsey wrote for the New York Post yesterday makes me sick.  Full of finger pointing and sour grapes.  Who the hell is Vecsey to try and throw anyone under the bus in favor of Isiah Thomas?  If you don't believe me here's the link: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/nets/dream_team_not_worth_glorifying_6WVVJS8tn3tmCFDaYxUMjJ 

If Isiah was so great and so loved, why is it that for a time, he couldn't go back to his hometown of Chicago?  Maybe Isiah wasn't the angel some thought he was and no one was going to allow Jordan and Magic to not be apart of the Dream Team.  This was the beginning of the "It Sucks to be Isiah Thomas" era.

Comparing Stockton and Isiah isn't a hard thing to do.  Since both play the PG position at roughly the same time, which one would you take?  Now before I answer, I must admit that I am a Bulls fan.  I have been since I was about 10 years old.  I watched as the Pistons eliminated the Bulls from 1988-90.  I watched the "Bad Boys" beat up on Jordan, Pippen and the Bulls on their way to 3 straight NBA Finals appearances, winning 2.  Outside of Joe Dumars, I hated the Pistons, like most people did.  How else do you think they got the Bad Boys nickname.  One thing about all of that is I have always respected them.  They were a good team and they won championships.  Something Stockton and the Jazz were never able to do.  I have always been a fan of basketball and will continue to be.  Now that I've got that out of the way, we can begin.

Take away Isiah's two rings, what are the real differences between the two?  The answer is nothing except for "star power" and that's a stretch.  Stockton came into the league in 1985 4 years after Isiah did.  Isiah averaged at least 20 points and 10 assists from 1984-87, his best statistical years.  Isiah finished with a 3:1 assist to turnover ratio over a 13 year career.  Isiah was an all-star every year from 1982-93 except for the 1991 mid-season game.  He finished his career averaging 19 points and 9 assists.  For a little guy, Isiah was a great player but was never a great PG.  He led the league in assists twice (1984 & 1985) and finished 7th overall.  One could argue that injuries ended Isiah's career, which in some ways it did but his standing as a PG was declining even in his championship years.  No doubt his HOF induction in 2000 was deserved.

Stockton wasn't the scorer that Isiah was and he didn't need to be considering he played with Karl Malone.  Stockton was a prototypical PG with a "pass first" mentality.  He led the league in assists from 1988 through 1996, eventually becoming the all-time assists leader.  Stockton also is the all-time leader in steals and has a 5:1 assist to turnover ration for his career.  Stockton would become a 10-time all-star and MVP of the All-Star game in 1993.  There have been 6 seasons where the most assists ever in a season happened and Stockton was the guy 5 of those times (Isiah was the other).  Stockton holds the record for most seasons, games, and consecutive games played for one team.  He was inducted into the HOF in 2009.

D!

Why The Heat Should Lose This Series...

There is no doubt that Game 2 of the 2012 NBA Finals was a great one.  What have we learned about these teams?  So far we know that the Heat can't hold a lead on the Thunder.  After an 18-2 start and a 17 point lead, the Thunder got as close as 2 before the Heat pulled it out.  Just look at the box score of Game 2.  The Heat played their best game as a team and OKC didn't.

Don't let Bosh's 6-13 fool you.  Most of those shots were putbacks, 6 of them in fact.  I'm not hating on Bosh but offensively it was the LeBron and DWade show for the Heat.  They shot a combined 20-42 from the field.  Miami's Big 3 play well in Game 2, as they should all the time.  Shana Battier stayed hot from behind the arc but didn't contribute in any other way.  Over Battier's 11 years in the league, he has proven that he isn't that consistent.  Battier will need to keep shooting this well in order for the Heat to pull this series out.  Defensively, the Heat looked better but throughout the game, we saw that the Thunder found the holes in the Heat defense.  Going one step further, it seemed that LeBron was looking for the switch so he would have to get posterized by KD, especially late in the 4th quarter.  Go back a watch.  I'm sure the game will be replayed on NBA TV.  In Game 3, LeBron needs to guard KD all game and make someone else beat them.  That is what the great players do, they guard the other teams best player.  Larry, Magic, Jordan did it and LeBron must do it.  I'm not giving LeBron a pass on the stupid 3 he took with 18 seconds to play.  He was 12-12 from the free throw line but he didn't take it to the basket like he had all game.

At the end of the day, OKC missed a lot of shots that they normally make.  One could argue that Miami's defense played a part, but the shots the Thunder missed were open shot.  OKC's Big 3 did outscore Miami's 80-72 but no one else was able to make shots, unlike in Game 1.  If OKC learned anything it has to be that Miami can't stop them.  In the first two games of this series, the Heat could hold big leads.  Once again in the 4th quarter, the Thunder played beyond their young years and fought their way back into the game.  Even in the final 2 minutes, when the Thunder faithful were starting to file out, the Thunder kept fighting and cut the lead to two, 98-96.  KD playing with 5 fouls went off in the 4th quarter.  He made 7 shots without a miss during OKC's early run to cut the lead to single digits.  At times its seemed that the Thunder were going 5 on 3 and put the Heat on their heels.  OKC ran the Heat to the point of exhaustion and LeBron should have been called for a foul on KD in the final seconds.  How that ref didn't call it is any body's guess.  LeBron's body language showed he didn't want any part of KD at that time.  KD through caution to the wind and tried to put his team on his back and will them to a win.  Say what you want about Westbrook shooting 26 times.  He also had 8 boards, 7 ast and only 2 turnovers.  Coach Scott Brooks will take that every game from Westbrook so you missed me on that.  I will say that Harden needs to stop with all the flopping.  Everyone is aware of the flopping problem in the NBA and the refs aren't going to call it.  If you are in the NBA then you should be able to guard someone or at least defend them to your help.  Its hard for me to respect a guy who only wants to get bailed out by the ref.  Going into Game 3, KD, Harden and Westbrook need to do what they have done all year to get to this point.  Keep their heads up, keep grinding and play Thunder basketball.

So many times leading up to this Finals series, we heard people say experience beats youth so I ask again, what happens when experience gets tired?  Exactly what did happen, OKC made a game out of what should have been a blowout.  Give the Thunder credit, they didn't get down on themselves and they played their way back into the game.  Once they figure out how to start the game fast and not get down early, Miami will be in trouble and shouldn't win another game.  It all comes down to OKC doing what they have done all year and that's KD, Westbrook and Harden doing what they do and the role players knocking down the open shots.  The Heat didn't show me anything new.  They jumped out to a lead and barely held on for the win.  That is not what championship teams look like.  Miami will have to duplicate this effort 3 more times and hope the Thunder don't figure out that they must play with a sense of urgency from start to finish.  The fact that Scott Brooks is a great coach leads me to believe that the Thunder will figure it out sooner then later and that is all bad for the Heat.  My new prediction for this series is OKC in 6.  Yep, the Thunder will win 2 of 3 in Miami.  Yeah, I said it!

D!

A Champion Will Rise

The lockout, regardless of your personal feelings, led to a great start of a great season and a wonderful Christmas present.  Basketball fans have been treated to a season filled with great plays and raised blood pressure.  We saw the Clippers become relevant again.  We saw the Lakers look human.  We rooted against the Heat, to know avail so far and we witnessed the apparent end to the Big 3 in Boston.  The Bulls run to a title was cut short due to a injury to Derrick Rose and the Knicks teased us with what could be but ultimately wasn't.  Who would have thought that Jeremy Lin would be considered "the missing piece" over Melo?  I know I didn't.  We can play the "what if" game all day but at the end of the day, the teams that won beat the teams that were put in front of them.  No question that the Thunder and Heat have earned their place in the NBA Finals.  Now, we find ourselves at the end of a great season, even in its shortened state and excited about what the Finals could bring.

The stage for the NBA Finals is set and we couldn't ask for a better matchup.  Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the OKC Thunder against LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat.  So much for the small market teams not having a chance of winning in this league.  We have watched the Thunder grow over the last couple of years and we knew that they were something special and would be for quite sometime.  Some say that the Thunder are a year ahead of schedule but how is that true?  The Thunder have played well the last 2 postseasons and lost to the eventual champions in those years (Lakers in 2010 and Dallas in 2011).  This was their "growing up" time and they have proved that in the playoffs this year.  Its no secret that in order to get to the Finals, the Thunder beat the last 3 Western Conference champions and 3 of the last 4 NBA champions (Lakers, Spurs and Mavericks).  Winning his 3rd scoring title, Kevin Durant proved that he deserves to be considered a superstar in the NBA.  At 23 years of age, Durant and Westbrook have shown that they are hungry and more experienced then some give them credit for.  The Thunder have a "Big 3" of there own when you add Sixth Man of the Year James Harden off the bench.  Get off the "youth" thing.  Over the last 2 years, the Thunder have gained the necessary experience needed to win a title.  From a first round exit in 2010 to the Finals in 2012.  That doesn't happen by accident. The Thunder are the Western Conference champs, not because the other teams were bad but because they wanted it more.  The best part is that the Thunder believe that they could and should win.

The Heat, are in an "unfinished business" mode.  Last year, the Heat fell apart as the Mavs won the franchises first NBA title.  Two years after promising multiple championship runs, the Heat are still looking for number one.  In order for the Heat to win, LeBron James will have to play like the 3-time MVP that he his.  He has to play up to and beyond what he has shown in two Finals series that he has played.  LeBron must play the part that Michael Jordan once called a "utility position".  He must step in and deliver where ever the Heat are lacking.  LeBron must plug the holes that the Thunder could expose.  LeBron needs to be the LeBron we know he could be and not the LeBron who we have seen.  LeBron must be the dominate force he was in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals.  If LeBron drives to the rim at least twice as much as he shoots jumpers, then the Heat can spread the floor and open up shots for Chalmers and Battier and James Jones.  Dwayne Wade will find his way like he always does.  In many ways, the 2012 Heat remind me of the 1996 Bulls with LeBron playing the part of Jordan, Wade as Pippen and Bosh as Rodman.  I'm talking in terms of play and potential.  Don't get it twisted thought, the 1996 Bulls team would destroy the Heat.   If Bosh plays the way he played in Toronto, then the Thunder will have no chance.  Bosh is the difference maker because he is the only real low post threat the Heat have.  The time for excuses is over.  The Heat must win this year or face the prospect that this group can't win.  It will only get harder as teams are getting better each year and the injuries won't be as many next year.  The time is now.

At the end of the day, basketball fans want a great series.  This is, afterall, the NBA Finals.  This is where legends are made and legacies are written.  Its where champions are made.  The Thunder are the younger, less experienced team but the Heat must match the hunger that the Thunder have in order to win.  LeBron has to want it more than Durant.  I predict a 7 game series with the Thunder winning.  Yeah, I said it.

D!

Game 7: One Game to Rule Them All

Would we want it any other way?  Boston vs. Miami in Game 7 for the Eastern Conference crown, one game to decide it all.  The Celtics are trying to prove that they are just young enough to pull off a championship run while the Heat are realizing that it really is easier said then done.

Last year, the Heat got somewhat of a pass after losing in the Finals to Dallas.  They needed to have a year to gel together.  Well now they have had the better part of 2 years and those same questions from last June are still unanswered.  Taking LeBron's Game 6 heroics out of the argument, the Heat haven't looked any different then the Heat of last season.  Still too many mental mistakes and no depth on the bench.  Yeah sure, Chalmers or Haslim may play well for a game, maybe two at most.  No one else on the bench is scaring any one in the league.  The Heat go as DWade and LeBron go and lately, neither of them seem to have that killer instinct that all champions have.  That's why Dallas won the title.  The Heat looked like they had learned their lessons after taking a 2-0 lead in the series but it was something about Rondo's 44 points in Game 2 that gave the Celtics a ray of hope going into Game 3.  Boston would win the next 3 games and continued questions regarding LeBron not being a closer and DWade not showing up at all resurfaced.  Try as they might, no one can blame Chris Bosh at all.  It's Game 7, so Bosh needs to play 30+ minutes and the Big 3 in Miami need to stop looking for excuses and execute down the stretch.  In some ways, the Heat look like a younger version of the Celtics, without the rings of course.  Yeah I know DWade has one but Shaq isn't walking through the door.  DWade needs to be himself by moving without the ball.  This will make it hard for the Celtics to throw double and triple teams at LeBron.  Create havoc for Boston and allow LeBron to do his thing.  Most importantly, DWade should focus on Rondo on the defensive end.  From a simple perspective, LeBron played a great Game 6 and that's it.  No one else in a Heat uniform showed up.  I was impressed but at the same time, we all have seen LeBron go off like that before.  He still hasn't been that go to guy late in the 4th like he needs to be.  Its do or die for LeBron.  Regardless of what DWade does, LeBron has to play just as menacing in Game 7 that he did in Game 6.  I'm not saying he has to score 45 points, but he needs to have a solid triple double, something like 30, 15 and 10.  LeBron has done half the job and now he needs to complete the task.  He gave the Heat a chance to return to the NBA Finals, but its Game 7.  Anything can happen in Game 7.

Boston is the NBA version of the "little engine" that thinks they can.  No one outside of Boston thought the Celtics would even get to the ECF.  As far as I'm concerned, they wouldn't be if Derrick Rose doesn't get injured.  Yeah, I said it!  The Celtics are old but you never underestimate the heart of a champion, as Rudy T once said.  Boston has proven that they can win in Miami.  The Celtics core players have played in 7 game 7s. This isn't their first rodeo.  KG, Pierce, Ray Allen and Rondo need to reach back to 2008 one more time if they want to move on to the Finals.  Ray has slowly started to find his shooting touch and the Celtics will need it.  The Celtics will need their full arsenal in order to beat the Heat.  I expect the Celtics to come out with the fire and intensity that they should have came out with in Game 6.  Don't be surprised if Rondo has another 40+ point game.  Paul Pierce will not have as bad a game as he did in Game 6.  This is for everything.  The entire season and probably direction of both teams hang on this game.  Anything can happen in a Game 7.

Whether you are a fan of the Heat or Celtics doesn't matter.  As basketball fans, we all have seen a great series.  The only thing left is to watch and enjoy a great Game 7.  Once Game 7 is over, the only question that will remain is if either of these teams can beat the OKC Thunder.  I don't think either of them can but that's why they play the game.

D!

What I saw in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals

No one thought the Celtics would be up in this series let alone have a close-out opportunity at home.  That is the reality of these playoffs.  Boston needs to come out and play with  high intensity.  They need to end this game early and close this series out.  You can't allow the Heat to hang around.  Don't turn the ball over and take smart shots.  This is the blueprint the Celtics should use tonight.  The Heat need to forget all of the failures and go out and play basketball.  Stop worrying what analysts are saying.  LeBron and DWade should play their game and let the chips fall where they fall.  Bosh, when in, needs to keep building on the 14 minutes and 9 points he had in Game 5.  Work back in and not do too much.  Bosh doesn't have a feel for the series just yet.  He should be ready should there be a Game 7.

I'm actually typing this as I watch the game.  At the 4 minute mark in the 1st quarter, I asked myself when Boston is playing with any sense of urgency?  Its like there was no killer instinct at all.  Wasn't so bad at first because the Heat weren't doing anything either and DWade seems like he's a no-show tonight.  Well except for LeBron.  I guess LeBron was the only one to get the memo that this is a elimination game.  No fire from anyone not named LeBron.  Rondo is showing signs but nothing consistent.

But wait, isn't Boston supposed to be the experienced team?  The team that has been there, done that all the way to a 3-2 series lead in the ECF?  This isn't teaching an old dog new tricks.  The old dogs need to do what they already know how to do.  What they have already done.  The Celtics should have come out with a high level of emotion and take it to the Heat.  Get them back on there heels and set the tempo of the game.  Instead, Boston decided to watch LeBron take control.  Only two missed shots for LeBron and a 30 point first half.  That's 30 points on 14 shots.  But, we've seen things like this before.  Its not the first 3 quarters of a game that we wonder about LeBron.  Its that all important 4th!  Pierce in foul trouble and on the bench.  The Celtics can't win with Pierce on the bench.

Now will we see a Paul Pierce sighting in the 2nd half or will the "truth" be on the bench in foul trouble?  Even as the 3rd quarter begins, still no urgency.  Forget the Spurs, I'm bored by both teams right now. Neither seems to be playing like this isn't a big game and slowly this game is getting out of hand because the Heat are actually making some shots and nothing is falling for the Celtics.  17 point lead at the 10 minute mark.  Really? KG gets a technical for that?  So laughable!  Its not like this is the Pacers and Pistons playing.  Well at least the officiating is consistent at being terrible. I'm wanting Rondo to keep going like he was to end the half.  Just take over and take shots.  I want Rondo to go for 40+.  Especially how LeBron is playing.  Not like I care who wins this game.  I'm a Bulls fan.  I want an epic game.  A game where greatness was played and fans are left speechless.

It took Boston 9 minutes but they finally woke up and started playing.  The cut the lead to 10 then LeBron hits a 3.  He now has 39 and the Heat back up by 10 and it looks like they've are trying to set the cruise control button.  Ray Allen answers with a 2 but I think Boston is gaining momentum, down eleven.  Besides, outside of LeBron, the Heat haven't shown up.  No DWade at all.  Is this an illusion?  Is DWade gonna ride LeBron for 3 quarters then, like a good tag team, take over in the 4th?  Or will the Celtics realize that they are playing a one-trick pony right now?  The Celtics end the 3rd quarter with three bad possessions.  They didn't run any sort of offensive set and come away with no points.  Heat really on the boards and not allowing 2nd shots.  The Celtics have no body language.  The Heat are little more active but only LeBron is fully checked in.  LeBron with 41 & 10 after three quarters.

This game is over.  Can I have the last 3 hours back?  It was nice to see LeBron go off but the question of him showing up in the 4th quarter still is unanswered.  To his credit, he did make sure this  wasn't a game at any time in the 4th so that counts, doesn't it?  45 points, 15 board and 5 assists, what more did LeBron need to do?  Remember, DWade didn't show up.  Never mind the 17 & 8 he put up.  LeBron outscored the Big 3 of Boston 45-42.  LeBron let DWade save himself for Game 7.  One could argue that this is another way for LeBron to run from being held completely accountable for the failures and letdowns of the Heat for the past 2 years.  Yeah, I know that's a bit of a stretch.  What can I say, I don't like all the attention LeBron gets for having won nothing but I digress.  LeBron is a baller though.

Boston just missed shots.  They shot 42% from the field.  KG, Rondo and Pierce combined to shoot 39% from the field.  Most of the missed shots were from right at the rim.  I could understand if they were missed jumpers but you got to make those point blank shots.  That's like missing a dunk.  You just can't do that.  Its not like Miami was playing great defense.  For the most part, Boston got the shots they wanted, they just didn't hit them.  I'm not convinced the Celtics have packed it in.  The Heat must have stayed back in MIA.  No one saw LeBron playing like this tonight and no one thought the Celtics would play this bad. I believe this will go down as a bad game at the wrong time for the Celtics.  I don't expect LeBron to go for 45 & 15 either.  I do expect DWade to play better and wouldn't be surprised if Bosh has a huge game.  For this to be a great Game 7, the Big 3 of Boston need to show up.  Pierce has to be an impact player in Game 7.  Rondo needs to keep doing what he is doing and so does KG.  Limit the turnovers and attack the rim.  Play with a passion and with heart.  Regardless of who wins Game 7, it will be alot closer then Game 6 as long as both teams show up and play.  Remember, anything can happen in a Game 7.

D!