No More Comparisons

Sometimes, Canadians are plain smarter than Americans. The NHL hands out both a regular season MVP and a playoffs MVP plus the obvious Finals MVP. It silences a lot of pointless arguments about if a player was truly deserving of the MVP distinction after a playoff meltdown. All meaningless arguments would be resolved with the simple addition of an award, plus it’s not like sports has ever been against more awards. Look at college football, they have a freaking best punter award (look it up: it’s the Ray Guy Award). Would any professional basketball fan, player, or executive question the addition of a trophy that has been deserved since the inception of the league? It’s so simple. And then we wouldn’t have to spend a week debating if Derrick Rose deserved the MVP recognition this year; because the answer is yes. And yes. And yes.

MVP voting has always been a fickle matter. There is no rubric for how a voter should cast their vote, which results in a lot of mixed views. Let’s start with “Most Valuable” or which player had the greatest impact on their team, who drives their team to more wins by their overall play and leadership. Realistically, there were three candidates for voting this year: Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard, and Lebron James (with Dirk Nowitzki receiving an honorable mention). If replaced with an average player at their position which team would falter the most? Not the Miami Heat. Although Lebron accounts for their playoff success, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh could have carried that team to a four or three seed in the regular season considering how Wade lifted the Heat to a five seed last year by himself. Dwight Howard has a reasonable case because the Magic’s offense is based upon his play. However, it’s hard to gauge the Orlando team holistically because of their mid season trade and how much that boosted the team versus how much the previous players were hurting the team. That being said, the Magic would falter without Howard but former Magic backup Marcin Gortat proved himself to be an adequate replacement when Howard was out of the game. A Gortat-Magic could stumble into a mid seed depending on all the different trades the team would make.

 However, Derrick Rose gets the nod because without him, the Chicago Bulls would struggle to even make it into the playoffs, let alone have regular season success. The Bulls would still have a staunch defense because of head coach Tom Thibodeau’s philosophies but would be an offensive joke without Rose. Who would create the offense, Luol Deng? Not if last night’s performance was any indication as the Bulls desperately needed any shot to fly through the net, Deng could only be found in the corner hoping Derrick Rose made something happened. Carlos Boozer didn’t even play at the end of the game because the head coach has such a lack of trust in him. In terms of value, there was no better player in the regular season this year than Derrick Rose.

Others think MVP means best player in the regular season, and if that’s the definition, then Lebron James should be the MVP. But it should not be the sole basis for a media member’s vote, just like the pure value of a player shouldn’t be the decision for a member vote either (although it should be the foundation of their vote). Another factor to consider would be the media story of the year or looking back, what stands out the most in the regular season. Derrick Rose and the charging Chicago Bulls surmounting the number one seed was the story all year. (Pre season goes to “The Decision” and Miami’s shenanigans and post season goes to young teams collapsing and Dirk’s surge.) Derrick Rose was the MVP of the 2010-11 regular season because of his value and memorable rise to greatness as a point guard, even if he wasn’t the best player on the court at all times. Maybe he wasn’t your MVP and that’s ok, but at least you should understand my argument as to why Rose was mine.

Everyone seems to drop the regular season before the MVP title, even the bitter Lebron James who mentioned Rose by “MVP” in his on court interview with Craig Sager following their Game 4 win. The irony is that Lebron signed with Miami to win championships—which they are on the verge of completing that mission—but James thought he could still hold on to his individual titles. Michael Jordan didn’t receive the MVP award several times because voters became bored with voting for the same player multiple times in a row, a distinct possibility with Lebron this year as he won the last two MVPs. No one question Lebron’s greatness, but the recent comparisons to Jordan are absurd.

Scottie Pippen trumped all when he uttered the blasphemous “"Michael Jordan is probably the greatest scorer to ever play in the game, but I may go as far as to say that LeBron James may be the greatest player to ever play the game because he's so potent offensively that not only can he score at will, but he keeps everybody involved and you have to be on your P's and Q's on defense because no guy on the basketball court is not a threat to score when LeBron James is out there. Not only that, but he's also doing it on the defensive end."

It’s hard to truly compare Jordan to James because Lebron’s career isn’t over but even if we limit it to the first eight years (James is in his eighth year), Jordan is still a better player even though he didn’t play the majority of his second year due to a foot injury But can we stop with the Lebron is suddenly great on defense stance, especially when comparing him to Jordan? Jordan has been on the NBA All-Defense 1^st team since his fourth year (1987-88) and remaining on the team from that point on (remember we’re acting as if MJ’s career ended after his eighth year), Jordan also won NBA Defensive Player of the Year in his fourth year as well. Lebron has only recently entered NBA All-Defense 1^st team in his sixth year and hasn’t touched an NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Jordan had been a great defender earlier than James and stayed that way throughout. However, since Lebron’s impressive shut down of the regular season MVP Derrick Rose is so recent, people forget how good Michael was.

Offensively, Jordan was always better, look at the awards. MJ has been on the All Star team since his rookie year and James started his consecutive All Star streak in his second year. Jordan was the league’s scoring champion since his second year and James has only received the award once in 2008 (his fifth year). Jordan has three MVPs, James two, but maybe that’s why Bron Bron was so upset that he didn’t receive the award this year? Then there is the obvious: championships. Michael has two with the third around the corner and James must win one this year to keep pace.

In every way Michael Jordan has been better than Lebron James up to this point: credentials, championships, even pure eye test, MJ beats Lebron. Now, because LBJ is our modern star and MJ’s former teammate who has been jealous of his prowess and greatness since they began playing with each other, we want to crown Lebron King? Admittedly, Lebron is a better passer than Michael (James- 7.0 assists per game Jordan- 5.6  assists per game) and a slightly better rebounder (James- 7.1 boards per game Jordan -6.0 boards per game) but MJ was better defensively, offensively and was purely a better winner than Lebron. Hell, Jordan’s HOF speech was filled with digs or gripes against various players because he cared that much. Jordan has so many career defining moments that they made a video game about his top ten, if the game was made about Lebron it would be answering the interview questions from Jim Gray correctly at “The Decision” (You’re taking your talents to: A) Cleveland B) South Beach C) Pluto or D) Metropolis) and his epic comeback against the Detroit Pistons and that’s it.

So, please shut your  jealous mouth Scottie Pippen and everyone else who believes LBJ is better than MJ, at least for now. Maybe Lebron can transcend Michael like so many desperately want him to do, but I doubt it. And if Lebron is ever crowned the King, I’m moving to Canada.

Hater While You Were Hating...

Anakin Skywalker: “If you’re not with me, then you’re my enemy.”

Obi-Wan Kenobi: “Only a Sith deals in absolutes.”

Has to be in the top ten of movie quotes of all time, indisputable. At this point, we know Anakin has turned to the dark side to save Padame but this moment crystallized his transformation. We all know what happens next: Obi-Wan defeats Anakin, Anakin turns into Darth Vader but not before his son Luke and daughter Leia are born who will eventually lead the Rebel forces to defeat the Imperial army therefore saving the galaxy (spoiler alert!). Almost all of us have watched at least one Star Wars epic (Episode II doesn’t count) but none of us have learned that fundamental message aforementioned by Obi Wan.

“Only a Sith deals in absolutes.”

As evidenced when I was recently talking to some friends about the botched 1993 draft by the Orlando Magic, who along with me are Magic fans. I was shooting off my mouth (surprisingly) why Chris Webber made so much more sense for the Magic after they lucked into the No. 1 pick that year. Webber was one of the few breeds of forward who was as stellar at passing as he was shooting, great defender down low (Hardaway was a sieve), and had more raw talent than Hardaway had talent. Instead, Orlando traded back to the No. 3 pick because they were so impressed with Hardaway’s one workout that no one else saw. By drafting Chris Webber, the Magic had a greater chance of convincing Shaq to stay—O’Neal and Hardaway had a falling out that convinced Shaq to leave—kept  Scott Skiles to run point in 1994 and possibly sign a role player like Steve Kerr who was fundamental in the Bulls’ second threepeat. Don’t forget Orlando also drafted Darrel Armstrong in 1994 who proved to be a valuable asset and fan favorite in Orlando. The Magic could have had a starting five of Skiles, Armstrong, Kerr, C-Webb, and Shaq for the next six to seven years at least and fill in various role players and low level veterans throughout to patch the holes of the team. That sounds a lot better than a failed 1995 Finals performance, Shaq leaving, watching Hardaway flame out, and Orlando basketball entering obscurity until they drafted Dwight Howard.

No Magic fan can convince me that they would rather have the what-if starting five instead of the one year of greatness Orlando had. However, my Magic friends were telling me how crucial Penny was to the ’95 run (true) and at least he had a decent career post-Shaq. Since when has basketball been about just being able to compete? It seemed they were all too wary of criticizing their team and being seen as a hater. This hater notion has to be the most frustrating inanity of sports fandom.

Either I’m a die-hard fanatic who loves every financial and athletic move my team makes or I’m an annoying hater who isn’t a true fan. Which leads us to Lebron James, the most polarizing athlete in professional sports. I like Lebron, he’s distanced himself as the best player in the NBA right now. However, I, along with 85% of the country, hated The Decision. I distaste the Miami Heat’s basketball version of Two and a Half Men (when is Bosh being replaced by Ashton?) and how they have a good chance of winning the championship destroying any concept of team I’ve ever known. Despite all that, I can’t deny how great Dwayne Wade and Lebron James have been this postseason. Any labels of choke artist have been stripped from Lebron as we watched him crush the Celtics’ dreams in Games 4 and 5 scoring the last four points to force overtime, the go ahead basket for the win to start overtime, and score the last 10 points of the game of Game 5 to close out the series. He then rallied against Chicago putting the team on his back again scoring only the last seven points this time. Watching both James and Wade kill themselves on offense and defense with Wade clearly rattling both Ray Allen’s and Derrick Rose’s shooting performances in the respective series has been an absolute treat. The problem is no one can separate The Decision between their decision if they like the player or not. Criticizing is fair and should happen like Orlando’s botched draft in 1993 but bashing a player’s talents, calling him overrated simply because he was selfish is the definition of a true hater. No more hating, I thought we dealt with that a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

Clutch, Closers, and Kleptomaniacs

One of the most valued characteristics of modern sports is the clutch ability. Can he hit the game winning 3, lead the 2 minute drive, get 3 outs in the bottom of the 9^th? We as fans ask a ludicrous consistency from our players, expecting Peyton Manning to always lead the Colts down the field, telling our friends “Ray Allen always makes this shot,” when in reality they don’t. The NBA Playoffs have been a microcosm study of our fascination with closers in sports and has led to a humanizing of our favorite players, our heroes. Even if we don’t want to admit it.

Let’s define the difference between being clutch and what a closer is in NBA terms. Being clutch is the ability to hit the game winning shot when the team has the last possession to win or tie the game. A closer is defined by the player that the offense runs through in the last 5 minutes of a game. For example, even though Derek Fischer is the point guard for the Lakers, Kobe Bryant begins running the plays in big games with five minutes left. Speaking of which, wasn’t Kobe Bryant “the man” when it came to being clutch and a closer, not this year. Most of the time, closers are seen as an offensive threat but the defensive capabilities of a team and the closer on that team should be considered as well. The Lakers were leading by seven points with five minutes left in both Games 1 and 3 against the Mavericks but they lost both games. They ceased to play defense and those fade away jumpers that Kobe used to always swish through the net, started hitting the rim. Most will point to the Lakers’ porous defense for their playoff debauchery but Kobe did miss that three in Game 1 and he did become ineffective as the Laker closer in Games 2 and 3. This shouldn’t be a surprise though, examine the Lakers’ last regular season game and watch Kobe Bryant miss shot after shot with five minutes left in the 4^th quarter but then switch into classic Kobe by nailing the game tying shot in a fall away manner. Eventually the shots stop falling for the closers in the NBA and instead of reasoning to realistic causes like age, stellar defense by the opposing team, or even a poor call, they are thrown asunder. However, for 25 other teams in the NBA, they want Kobe on their team taking that shot every time.

As much as people tout Kobe Bryant as Mr. Clutch, he also holds the record for most missed game winning shots. Before the Lakers won their last two championships, Bryant was tied for most game winning shots in the playoffs (4 for 8 before 2009 Playoffs) by the man who is being criticized for his late game heroics: Lebron James. Before Game 5 of the Celtics-Heat series, Lebron has been atrocious at clutching a victory as a member of the Miami Heat. Some will tell you that the last play usually comes down to the closer of the team creating his own shot and winning the game. Part of that is true, but how often do teams with the last shot come out of a time out before their last possession.  I would argue at least 75% of the time. It would then make sense for that team to have some sort of play to execute for the last possession, even if it is creating separation between the defense and the closer. Yet, the Miami Heat have been a work in progress all year, every part of their game has struggled, so when they stumble in executing the final play of the game, why would it not be expected for them to falter in that area of play? Don’t get me wrong, Lebron James should be partly blamed for his late game woes but let’s not solely blame him for his team’s late game tribulations.

That being said, when he finally produced in Game 5 against the Celtics scoring 10 points by himself, he shouldn’t have acted as if he had won the Olympics all over again by kneeling on the ground, overcome by emotion. Give America a break. The Heat are merely halfway through winning the championship and after defeating the team that hasn’t won the championship the past two years, yet they act like their high school girlfriends finally gave up their v-card. Forget about the Chicago Bulls looming around the corner whose matchups are terrible for the Heat (Chicago’s Rose and Noah are far superior than Miami’s Bibby and Anthony. Carlos Boozer vs. Chris Bosh is a toss-up depending on who feels like playing that night) or that they still have to make the freaking NBA Finals.

The Russel Westbrook-Kevin Durant argument that has been constructed within the playoffs particularly against the Grizzlies shouldn’t be an argument. Russell Westbrook has a better matchup than Kevin Durant but if my point has somehow been lost here it is: give your best player the freaking ball. Stats become meaningless within the last shot of the game, if they meant something, Greivis Vasquez (whose first name clearly doesn’t know the rule I before E except after C) should take the final shot for the Memphis Grizzlies. No matter if they are on a cold streak or are finally showing their age, they are still your best player. Let’s all stop being such kleptomaniacs. Everyone knows who the best player is on their respective team and who they want shooting in the final possession; just as everyone outside of the Miami Heat and their fans knows their win was miniscule if they fail hereafter. Then again, maybe I’m the klepto because I care about sports this much. 

Not your Typical NBA Playoffs Preview

When it comes to big events in sports such as the NBA playoffs, every sportswriter in America wants to give their input of who will win but this year that doesn’t make sense. The NBA playoffs are the most open they have been in a long time which is a good thing; we could have a playoffs better than 1993. Since I don’t want to give you the obligatory Chicago Bulls- Los Angelos Lakers pick that every sports pundit in America will, I want to share a unique fact, matchup, or observation from each opening series that most people ignore or just don’t think is important. Let’s see if you do.

1 Chicago Bulls vs. 8 Indiana Pacers

Funny thing about Derrick Rose, the clear NBA MVP, is that he is terrified of clowns. Yes, the man who is devoid of emotion during his interviews; cringes in fear if he sees a round, red nose or a water-squirting flower. Apparently some Pacers fans heard about this and want to dress as clowns for Game 3 of the series, which if they do is can’t-miss TV. In fact, it’s the only reason why America will watch any of this series.

2 Miami Heat vs. 7 Philadelphia 76ers

Experts in running form from Miami decided to study the Miami Heat players and their individual running posture. They discovered that Dwayne Wade has the worst running form possible while his teammate Lebron James runs with perfect posture. When Wade runs, he extends his leg too far, landing directly on heels, all while locking his knee. Wade also has each exact physical problem that runners of this nature are predicted to have. It will probably have little outcome on this series but if he does injure himself, and the half-star Chris Bosh is having one of his “few” bad games, the Heat  could have an early exit in this playoffs.

3 Boston Celtics vs. 6 New York Knicks

The two teams that made significant trades at the trade deadline that have produced questionable outcomes. The Boston Celtics are the only team to be considered favorites in the playoffs before a trade and now are worried about escaping the first round. How do you make that Perkins trade? Especially for Nenad Kristic and Jeff Green, neither able to find a role in this team as of yet. There is no way that Kristic and Green were the best offers on the table when Kendrick Perkins was being shopped around. Danny Ainge: “Hey do you want a center who will radically change your team’s defensive identity, creating a toughness that is seriously lacking in this league?” Apparently not. The Knicks’ problem isn’t their players, it’s their coach. Mike D’Antoni coaches one style in the NBA, even when he receives one of the most dominant half court players in the game in Carmelo Anthony, he chooses wants to run his players up and down the court. Unless the Knicks magically advance to the Conference Finals, expect D’Antoni to be fired next season.

4 Orlando Magic vs. 5 Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks’ Jason Collins has been touted as the Dwight Howard and Shaquille O’Neal killer because for reasons unknown, he really bothers those players. It will be the only time that a game may be decided by Jason Collins in his entire career but what I find more interesting is how much Shaq and Dwight love to associate with each other.

Shaq: “I’m Superman”

Dwight: “Did you see me wear that cape and dunk? I’m Superman!”

Shaq: “Yeah I believe the goatee gives me a different look. It gives me that intimidating look I was going for.”

 Dwight: “Don’t you love my half lip mustache. I almost cut my lip every morning shaving but I just look so good.”

 Dwight: “I don’t know why but Jason Collins really bothered me tonight, I will still own the matchup during the playoffs though.

Shaq: “Everyone says Jason Collins bothers Dwight, I hope I don’t have to play him, he could be a career killer.”

No Shaq, that would be Kazaam.

1 San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Let’s be honest, this has to be the least intriguing matchup in the first round. The Spurs have been playing the same team basketball in the least exciting way forever. For that reason Tim Duncan has been vastly underrated by most, generally not included in the top 10 players of the NBA even though he is an obvious choice. When you’re watching the Spurs sweep a team that lack any type of team identity, appreciate how consistent the Spurs have been, even if it is slightly boring.

2 Los Angelos Lakers vs. 7 New Orleans Hornets

An observation that most have ignored or refused to speak of is that Kobe Bryant has quietly been on the decline this season. The final regular season game was the perfect example: within the last four minutes of the game, the Sacramento Kings were mounting a comeback. Kobe attempted to put the team on his back and ended up missing five shots in a row as the Kings stole the lead from the Lakers. However, with five seconds left, Kobe shoots a ridiculous three and forces the game into overtime. He rides the momentum of his three in overtime to win the game and is touted as the hero, again. During highlights, ESPN forgets to mention Kobe’s cold streak and the American public never know that Kobe almost lost the game for the Lakers. Kobe is still the guy with the ball in his hand with a minute left, but don’t be shocked if he starts trending towards missing those clutch shots instead of making them.

3 Dallas Mavericks vs. 6 Portland Trailblazers

When everyone predicts an upset is it even an upset anymore? The Dallas Mavericks are the most underachieving team in sports but nobody is even giving them a chance. It always seems when everyone jumps on an upset—see Butler in 2011 March Madness Final—the dominant team usually wins. It almost makes me nervous to not predict the Trailblazers upsetting the Mavericks. Almost. When every bottom seeded team in a conference wants to play your team in the first round of the playoffs, that’s a bad sign. The Trailblazers have too many bodies to throw at Dirk he won’t be as significant and the Trailblazers arguably have four of the top five players in this series, it’s a no brainer. Portland in 6.

4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 5 Denver Nuggets

I believe that the Thunder are going to win it all but I’m ok if they don’t and here’s why. If the Nuggets win the Finals (which won’t happen), Disney is  going to have to make a sports movie about them. It has the perfect set up. “A team falls short the year before because their coach had cancer and came back this year with high hopes. Their two star players left them so they could lose on a different team for more money. After their departure, the team banded together winning more games than with their stars. They fought through better teams throughout the postseason and proved that teamwork always comes first. Gold Rush: the true story of how a small team overcame so much.”

If only.

Jimmer Fredette’s Future: NBA Fame or Obscurity?

The magical run is over for my favorite college basketball player Jimmer Fredette, not even Gus Johnson could save Fredette’s immediate future in the NCAA tournament. How Fredette’s skill set will translate to the NBA remains to be seen but let’s speculate.  Fredette has been called “Mr. Clutch,” commended for his confidence in shooting 30-foot three pointers, and can take over most games when he wants. Sound familiar? Enter JJ Redick, who had every single one of these same accolades in a much more difficult conference, it’s a lot easier averaging 30+ a game against the Mountain West than the ACC. Redick was showing the nation the ridiculous threes Fredette is so often praised for years before but why do we forget about that? JJ Redick still holds the NCAA record for most 3-pointers in a college career (457) but what is the last significant basketball memory for Redick. Oh…

Or even better…

Redick was once regarded as the most dominant player in college basketball and now he can’t even guard players from lackluster sub-.500 teams. How can he fade from our memories so quickly? Sure, people always knocked JJ for his “lack of athletic ability” and subpar defensive skills but praised him for his “pure shooting capability.” This is starting to sound all too familiar. Jimmer has one of the best shots I’ve seen in college basketball, better than JJ’s, but a more fair comparison of Fredette to an NBA player would actually not be JJ Redick as so many people seem to think, it would actually be Redick’s Orlando Magic teammate Jameer Nelson. A scoring-first point guard who has to learn how to facilitate the ball, something Fredette, nor Nelson when he first entered the league, has never had to do but is it their fault?

People are crushing Jimmer for being a ballhog in the Florida game Thursday night but honestly who was he going to pass it to? His one good teammate was kicked off the team, let’s pass it to the guys who are shooting 33% versus the best player on the team. Admittedly, Jimmer was not having his best shooting night (38%) but that stat is inflated by the many shot he was forced to attempt to keep his team in the game. Florida would not allow Jimmer to shoot the three, he was only 3-15 in the game but you remove his three point field goals and attempts and Jimmer is a solid 57% shot for the game. Obviously, he took those shots and didn’t make them but it’s bombastic to think Jimmer was being a ballhog when there were really no other options.

All comparisons aside, Fredette will be good in the NBA, not great. He will never be Derrick Rose but with a superstar on his team, he can shine. My best description for Fredette in the NBA would be the “irrational confidence guy” on his team, the guy who thinks he’s a lot better than he is. Think John Starks on the Patrick Ewing New York Knicks, Stephon Marbury on basically every team he ever played, and Eddie House/Nate Robinson on last year’s Celtics team. He can be a game changer, but not all the time, just sometimes. But sometimes is good enough and I hope Jimmer will prove me wrong, but it’s not very likely. He’s this year’s Tim Tebow, never capable of leading a team to a championship, but with capable players surround him, he can make the difference, even if it’s only for a game.     

Why Brackets are Great (and Terrible)

March Madness creates great pandemonium for sports fans and journalists; Gus Johnson, buzzer beaters, and brackets are madness defined for sports (mostly Gus Johnson). The true secret to why people watch the tournament with such great fervor is those silly little brackets. Everyone knows it. Why do you think ESPN will have Doug Gottlieb and every other college basketball analyst talk Bracketology for fifteen minutes on Sportscenter? They know it’s what you want. Whose Richmond and what are their upsets of an upset? Can San Diego State go all the way? There are standards for filling out brackets. There’s always a 12-5 upset. Don’t have all 1’s in the Final Four (People loved that one last year). Try not to pick against your family members’ alma maters until forced to. People will fill multiple brackets with differing determinations and enter them into the same office pool in the hopes of winning a little extra cash. It is insane. And I absolutely love it.

I have only recently asked “The Madness” her hand in marriage. It began when my uncle, a Gonzaga alum, was watching those Bracketology shows, filling his bracket with hopes (Got to give the man credit, he won his office pool the year Florida won.) and wondered why I wasn’t doing the same. I explained how I had never been able to get into college basketball; I was more a Pro fan. However, I was curious to try my luck with this whole bracket deal. I watched a bit of the show with him, and mustering every ounce of college basketball knowledge I had, which was none, to fill out that silly, little bracket.  I suddenly became an intense viewer, watching more college basketball than I previously knew was possible. I remember being so proud of picking San Diego State as a 12 seed to upset whichever 5 seed they were playing. I also remember being absolutely crushed when they lost their next game, but here’s the secret: I didn’t even have them winning the next game. I had become so attached to a team that I didn’t know existed prior to being handed a blank bracket because they won me a small victory in the first round that didn’t have a true impact on the tournament. It doesn’t make sense, but it’s the same reason after bragging to my uncle about my previous genius in picking that upset, I erased a previous pick and changed it, all so I could proclaim my greatness some more. Of course in the end, he kicked my ass but I still had that one small upset.

Does no one else see how brackets cause such great madness in our country? I rooted for Michigan State last night more than I have ever cheered for my Florida State Seminoles before. I was more upset that the refs called traveling against Kalin Lucas than when Florida State kicker Dustin Hopkins kicked wide right against the North Carolina Tar heels to win the game. I even had UNC players taunting us fans in the stands yelling, “This is our house now, baby! Our house!” Hell, I’m still upset about that traveling call even when multiple replays confirm the call.

Whoever originally thought of giving fans brackets to fill, should be praised and cursed at the same time. It’s a terrible curse but I wouldn’t want “The Madness” any other way. 

By the way, my Final Four is Ohio State, Kansas, San Diego State, and St. John's (I had hope) with San Diego State winning it all.

The Fair Scrutiny of The Miami Heat

America loves drama. We love the spectacle of last minute heroics. Think of great sports’ moments and events like The Catch, any of Michael Jordan’s game winners, and even Landon Donovan’s stoppage time goal to beat Algeria last summer will come to mind. Reggie Miller became famous because of his ability to nail the shot in winning time (ESPN 30 for 30 pun intended) virtually against one team. Analysts will argue Ben Roethlisberger is a better quarterback than Dan Marino because of his crunch time performances. So when the Miami Heat can’t perform under the clutch, their team is going to become scrutinized by the media, but only because they want all the attention on themselves.   

Of course they’re going too far in saying the Miami Heat aren’t viable in the 2011 playoffs because everyone knows they are one of the best teams in basketball. However, it is a problem when your team has the worst field goal percentage (1-16) in the last 10 seconds of a game to either win or tie. Some Heat fans may argue that it’s only the regular season so it’s not indicative of the production in the postseason, but hitting a shot with 10 seconds left has nothing to do with regular season vs. postseason effort. It shouldn’t require any more effort or a presence of the moment for a player to do something he is paid millions of dollars to do and something he’s been doing for his entire life. Maybe it’s a problem that Michael Jordan was so good at claiming last second victories.  There’s now an unfair expectation for every self-proclaimed superstar to perform under the pressure; if they don’t, they’re seen as less of a player. That being said, the NBA has rapidly become a win-in-the-last minute league and if a team can’t keep pace, then they will fall from the top. Maybe a little unfair but what, are you going to go cry about it. Oh wait…

Crygate or better known as the media’s inability to name controversies without adding gate to the end of it. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra had one of the ultimate sports faux pas and told the media that “a couple of guys were crying after in the locker room after tonight’s loss.”

Now, every sports league is laughing at the Miami Heat and Lebron James and Dwayne Wade are attempting to defend their coach. It’s a joke. No crying in the regular season. Possibly if there’s a last second improbable loss in Game 7 of the NBA Finals but that’s it. The only man on the Heat team being genuine about their recent losing streak is Dwayne Wade in saying, “I don’t expect any sympathy from anyone. Media, fans, players…”

How can he? How can a team (read two and a half superstars) hold a pep rally with fireworks, a marching band, and dancers and proclaim they are going to win“five, six, seven, eight championships” and not expect other teams to play them hard each game? Why brag about selling out every away game and then question why the respective teams’ fans are taking shots at the Miami Heat any chance they get? What is there to gain when you call for “The Decision” to build media hype but only have that same media scrutinize every move, every game you play? The Heat wanted all of this, remember?

How about instead of dealing with the extracurricular activities that come with playing in the NBA, the Heat address the problems they are having on the court? Like, James’ and Wade’s inability to drive to the net against good teams because they ensure their defense forces James and Wade to beat them with their jump shot outside the paint. Teams recognize how uncomfortable James and Wade are with their jump shot, especially outside the three point range considering they are both below average three point shooters, so they use it to their advantage. Maybe they should consider their obvious lack of a big man down low, and how teams can focus more defenders forcing the outside shots by James and Wade. Is Chris Bosh the answer? Only if he receives the ball inside the paint, instead of expecting him to post up every time outside the paint which has generally resulted in him shooting an awkward fade away shot. Their supposed sharpshooters (Mike Miller, Eddie House, James Jones) that were key players on their previous teams can’t make a single shot but how can they provide any significant contribution when they play less than 10 minutes a game, if at all. Eddie House didn’t even play against the Portland Trail Blazers last night based on Erik Spoelstra’s decision.

The biggest question of all, is why the best shooters on the Heat are consistently on the bench when they need three point shots the most. Eddie House hit the three that won the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in late January. Why is he not even playing? Because Mike Miller missed an open three against the Lakers last month, is he not capable of handling the big moment? Is Chris Bosh really the right guy to shoot the three against the Orlando Magic? I don’t know, these are questions that Head Coach Erik Spoelstra has to answer. Maybe he believes that the Big Three are the only ones capable of handling the drama of late game heroics. Because really that’s all sports boils down to sometimes, drama. Be it comments, crying, Winning Time, clutch time performers; sports is fed by the drama of the moment. That’s why we watch, not for the intricate defenses or the blowout wins, but for living in the drama of the moment only sports can provide.