Daily Thoughts 3/29

Hey there guys,

It has been awhile since I have done this so forgive me if I am a little rusty.

Today I'll just be talking about the Knicks big win last night, the Celts recent struggles, the NFL Lockout, and some NCAA Tourney talk.

As always you know I love to hear what you think.




NBA

So last night the New York Knicks beat the Orlando Magic 113-106 in overtime. And naturally with the New York Knicks being the second most followed team behind the Miami Heat in the media this is now the turning point win for the Knicks. 

But come on now. Let’s call this one like it is. The Knicks got a home game against an injured Magic team, and needed Dwight Howard to foul out to win. Missing from the Magic Monday night was three guards, including starting Point Guard Jameer Nelson. Nelson’s 13 points and +4 Assist-to-Turnover ratio, was replaced with Gilbert Arenas’ nine points and +/- (five assists to five turnovers). Hell Arenas did not even match the numbers that he has been posting as a backup this season, going 2-11 from the field. Also missing from the lineup was sixth man J.J. Reddick, though he has been out for a little bit, and backup shooting guard Quentin Richardson. The Magic were playing with three guards last night. When Hedo Turkoglu and Howard each fouled out in overtime, the Magic were then playing with two starters. 

In all fairness the Knicks did play a good game, Carmelo Anthony dropped 39 points and picked up 10 rebounds. But I am not buying that this is going to be a team that can make some noise going into the playoffs.

Since the acquisition of Chauncey Billups and Anthony, the Knicks have allowed triple digits in 70% (14 of 20) of their games, compared to the 42% (25 of 60) before the big trade. They are also 8-12 since the trade, and are 2-9 in their 11 games, which has caused them to dip below .500 on the season. 

While it is good for the NBA to have the Knicks relevant again, I do not believe in a team that has two of the worst defenders in the league ever being more than a regular season circus show. Anthony and C Amare Stoudemire will put up enough points night in and night out to keep fans coming, and be on ESPN enough to bring the league to a new level. 

But at 36-38 they qualify for seventh in the East, meaning they would have to first deal with the Boston Celtics. If the Knicks were in the West, they wouldn’t even make the playoffs. 

But this brings me to a whole different point, and that is: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BOSTON CELTICS?? Let’s look at what Boston has done since trading Kendrick Perkins. 

They are 10-8 (.555) going +1.9 in point differential, compared to being 8-4 with Perkins this season (he missed the majority of the season due to injury) and going +5.3 in pt diff. He is one of the best defensive centers in the league, and when completely healthy can shut down ANYONE down low. Now Boston is relying on a rotation of Nenad Krstic, and the aging, injury prone O’Neal brothers, Shaq and Jermaine (no relation). 

If the Celts weren’t matched up with the Knicks in the first round right now, I wouldn’t be surprised with a first round exit. Now with remaining games at San Antonio, Atlanta, Chicago, and Miami, as well as home games with Philadelphia and New York, there is actually a chance that Boston, who spent the first half of the season atop the East, could finish fourth.

NFL

I won’t spend much time on the NFL Lockout. Simply put it is not worth it. This is a joke. The NFL should be downright embarrassed. 

The owners are making ridiculous demands of the players, asking them to risk injury for two more games, as well as take a pay cut, and the players have responded with ridiculous demands of their own. While this does not necessarily sound crazy when two sides are negotiating, both have in turn acted about as immature as a group of “professionals” can in this situation. The owners have locked the players out, and now, when the players finally want to talk again have decided that they do not want to meet with the players, and would rather take this to court. 

I say finally meet, because the players, and their new leader, DeMaurice Smith, have walked out on every meeting with the owners thus far. While one can say that the owners are not budging with their demands, I have begun to wonder how much of it is the owners and how much of it is Smith, who as pointed out in this article has made a habit of contradicting himself so far. The players are also losing money the longer they stick with him, as the NFLPA, now just a trade association, has lawyers that are all friends and former colleagues of Smith. And they are getting paid every day that Smith wants to go to court. 

Derp = $$$$

Read the article for the details, and the other reasons as to how Smith is actually hurting the players. 

Numerous sources come out on a daily basis that put Smith in the spotlight. Asking college players to boycott the NFL draft for starters, and while Patrick Peterson said he was not contacted regarding a boycott, he did admit to hearing something from smith regarding the day of the draft. I’m sorry but the draft is not for Smith, nor is it for current players. It is a day for all of the college players and their families, and the fact that Smith is trying to bring the lockout into this is childish.

I am not pro-owners, and I am not pro-players. I am pro-fans. And right now both sides need to grow up.

NCAA BASKETBALL

Now on to a topic of misery for a lot people right now: The NCAA Tournament. 

I’m not going to get into my bracket, because it has already been used as firewood at this point. Let’s talk about the final four.

I want to give props to Kentucky and VCU. Two teams I didn’t believe in heading into the Tournament. Kentucky fans, this does not mean that I didn’t think you didn’t have the talent, I was worried about your depth. Josh Harrelson, Terrance Jones, and Brandon Knight play almost the entire game, and I thought when faced up a team, like Ohio State who has more depth, you would lose it at the end of the game. Not only did you beat Ohio State, but you took out a great tourney coach, and equally talented North Carolina team.

VCU. What can you say. Nobody believed in them heading into this tournament, and they have responded by destroying big team after big team. Down goes USC, Goergetown, Purdue, Florida State, and finally Kansas. They are killing teams on the boards, and are riding an emotional momentum tidal wave into the final four.

Now here is why I don’t think that either is going to make it.

Kemba Walker

Kentucky has John Calipari. And while Cal is known for his pomade, and great point guards, and taking his teams on deep tourney runs, he has yet to finish. He has zero national championships. And it’s not like he hasn’t had the opportunities. I don’t believe that Cal knows how to get over that hump. Jim Calhoun, despite looking like that corporate backstabber, has closed the deal before, once in 1999, and again in 2004. Added to that is that Kentucky IS lacking in depth. Uconn currently has eight players earning double digit minutes per game, compared to the six for Kentucky. Kentucky has four players that are on the court for over thirty minutes a game, compared to the one by Uconn. That one by the way happens to be one of the best players in the game in Kemba Walker, who has gone off so far in the Huskies post game tear of nine consecutive wins, averaging 26.8 points per game. Can Kentucky keep up for another game? I have my doubts, starting with the head ball coach. I like Uconn 70-67

Butler coach Brad Stevens

As for VCU, I’ll put it simple, Butler has been here before. VCU may be thinking, ok guys let’s keep this close. Bad idea. That is where Butler will kill you. And give you a heart attack. Butler just knows how to win. I mean, I don’t know how else to put it. Butler 65-64 on a last second lay in by Matt Howard.

Butler vs. Uconn for the Finals.You heard it here first. 

Hope you guys have enjoyed this, and had a wonderful Tuesday. I'll see you Thursday. 

BATTEMAN