It was a dark night, chilly and damp, when the stranger came back to town. Looking for something to do, he wandered into a nearby Starbucks, hoping to shoot the breeze with somebody.
Sitting down next to a jowled man in a king Felix jersey, he asked: “Hey, how about those Sonics?”
The man looked across, a scowl on his face. “What Sonics? You mean that restaurant?”
“No, no,” replied the stranger. “The Supersonics. The basketball team. You know, green jerseys, 1979 NBA Champions.”
The scowled man shrugged and went back to his mocha frappuccino. So the stranger moved on along the Starbucks, asking about the Sonics.
“They played in the ’96 Finals, against MJ and the Bulls.”
“Was that the first year the Jazz collapsed, or the second?”
“They beat Houston in overtime of game seven in ‘93”
“I thought that was Phoenix.”
“They went to two finals in a row in the 70s!”
“Yeah, the Blazers were a good team back then, eh”
He kept moving, asking, getting nowhere.
“Shawn Kemp?”
“Wasn’t he that bum in Cleveland?”
“Jack Sikma?”
“He was that Milwaukee guy, right? The one who broke McHale’s foot?”
“Ray Allen?”
“Yeah, the Boston guy. Good outside shooter.”
Exasperated, he hailed a cab and went downtown. The arena was down there; maybe he’d find a fan or two hanging around.
“Take me to KeyWest.”
“Key what? You mean the office complexes downtown? They’re closed, but it’s your dollar, chief.”
The stranger got no relief downtown. No arena, no basketball fans, not a sign of the Sonics. Just a bunch of tall buildings, coffee stores and the needled tower.
Finally, he walked over to a homeless man, lying on the curb, covered in a dirty green and gold blanket. Throwing him a nickel, he asked what happened to the Sonics.
“The Sonics? That team doesn’t live here anymore.”
“What happened?”
“Coffee man sold them to a man who traded away the stars, bought out the lease, moved them to Oklahoma. All that’s left now is a box of jerseys and a handful of bitter fans.”
“And nobody did anything?”
The homeless man shrugged. “What was there to do? The commish let it happen. The owners let it happen. All the fans got was to keep a name.”
“That’s horrible!”
“That’s progress, baby.” The homeless man rolled over and covered his head with the blanket.
Dejected, the stranger walked back to the Starbucks.
“How about those Mariners?”
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Was game six rigged? 82games finds out
The most infamous game of the past 25 years - and maybe ever in the NBA - was played a little over six years ago and prompted allegations that it was rigged by the NBA; even Ralph Nader called for an inquiry (he's gotta keep himself busy between doomed election campaigns, one assumes).
It was game six of the 2002 Western Finals between the Lakers and the Kings. Most remembered for the Lakers 40 free throws and Kobe hitting Mike Bibby with an elbow and Bibby getting the foul.
And it's divided people unlike any other game in the history of the NBA. Mike Wilbon of the Washington Post called it the worst officiated game he had ever seen. Bill Simmons called it the most disturbing subplot of the postseason: "from an officiating standpoint, the most one-sided game of the past decade".
This past post-season, when Tim Donaghy said that this game was determined by company men, it took on a life of it's own.
But now Roland Beech, the founder of 82games.com, has broken the game down, call by call by call, in excruciating detail. And he's found out the game may may have been unduly effected by the officiating. It's a long red but it's worth it.
One unaddressed point, though: as Bill Simmons pointed out in 2002, Dick Bavetta was also involved in several other controversial games:
Now, if only 82games.com could break down some other games and settle some other debates, for once and for all.
It was game six of the 2002 Western Finals between the Lakers and the Kings. Most remembered for the Lakers 40 free throws and Kobe hitting Mike Bibby with an elbow and Bibby getting the foul.
And it's divided people unlike any other game in the history of the NBA. Mike Wilbon of the Washington Post called it the worst officiated game he had ever seen. Bill Simmons called it the most disturbing subplot of the postseason: "from an officiating standpoint, the most one-sided game of the past decade".
This past post-season, when Tim Donaghy said that this game was determined by company men, it took on a life of it's own.
But now Roland Beech, the founder of 82games.com, has broken the game down, call by call by call, in excruciating detail. And he's found out the game may may have been unduly effected by the officiating. It's a long red but it's worth it.
One unaddressed point, though: as Bill Simmons pointed out in 2002, Dick Bavetta was also involved in several other controversial games:
1999, Knicks-Pacers, Game 3 ... 1999, Knicks-Pacers, Game 6 ... 1999, Spurs-Knicks, Game 3 ... 2000, Knicks-Heat, Game 7 ... 2000, Lakers-Blazers, Game 7 ... 2002, Celtics-Nets, Game 4
Now, if only 82games.com could break down some other games and settle some other debates, for once and for all.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Angels pitch a no-hit, still lose (Sunday Links)
it's only happened five times, and last night was the fifth: the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim had two pitchers combine to throw a no-hitter - but they still lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 1-0.
How does this happen? Two errors, a steal and a sacrifice fly, that's how.
In the fifth inning, Dodgers Matt Kemp reached on a fielding error by Jared Weaver, stole second, advanced on a throwing error by Angels catcher Jeff Mathis and then scored from third on a Blake DeWhitt sac fly.
It's the first time this has happened since 1992, reported the Elias Sports Bureau, and the fifth time since 1900.
Predictably, this is the lead in most sports sections - but go with the AP recap of the game, which interviews everybody from the pitchers to the managers to even the official scorer.
Over in the opinion pages, the Kansas City Star's Jason Whitlock brings up Brandon Rush as an example why NCAA schools should have athletes - in particular, basketball players - major in the sport they play. It's an interesting point, and it's not one without it's merits.
William C Rhoden goes on a similar path in the New York Times with a column on Joe Dumar's return to and graduation from college and asks why more players don't do the same in a one-and-done era.
Elsewhere, Mike Lupica joins the LeBron-is-headed-to-New-York party, over half a year since LeBron wore a Yankees hat to an Indians/Yankees playoff game. But here, he uses it - and one fan's reaction to the 2008 Draft - to show the state of that franchise.
But what if LeBron jumps to the Nets? What then, Lupica? Anyway.
Finally, the blogs: Deadspin's new editor starts on Monday, and it's a familiar face. But it's got nothing on the latest from the Stephen A Smith Hecking Society of Gentlemen, who are back and better then ever.
How does this happen? Two errors, a steal and a sacrifice fly, that's how.
In the fifth inning, Dodgers Matt Kemp reached on a fielding error by Jared Weaver, stole second, advanced on a throwing error by Angels catcher Jeff Mathis and then scored from third on a Blake DeWhitt sac fly.
It's the first time this has happened since 1992, reported the Elias Sports Bureau, and the fifth time since 1900.
Predictably, this is the lead in most sports sections - but go with the AP recap of the game, which interviews everybody from the pitchers to the managers to even the official scorer.
Over in the opinion pages, the Kansas City Star's Jason Whitlock brings up Brandon Rush as an example why NCAA schools should have athletes - in particular, basketball players - major in the sport they play. It's an interesting point, and it's not one without it's merits.
"A kid who wants to be an architect can study architecture, a musician can study music. But a basketball player can’t study his discipline and receive academic credit for it. And we wonder why so many of these kids have no interest in school.
You can teach all the educational disciplines — math, English, science, etc. — through athletics. You can teach kids to think critically by properly teaching them the sports world. All the responsibility of preparing Chalmers and Arthur for the NBA (and life) should not have fallen on the overworked shoulders of Bill Self and his coaching staff."
William C Rhoden goes on a similar path in the New York Times with a column on Joe Dumar's return to and graduation from college and asks why more players don't do the same in a one-and-done era.
"One year in college isn’t the answer either, and a growing number of people inside the lawyer-run N.B.A. know it.
They know, as Dumars came to understand, that it’s fine to have photo ops in which players read books to young people. But how can you preach the value of an education if you don’t value it enough to return to college to finish what you began?"
Elsewhere, Mike Lupica joins the LeBron-is-headed-to-New-York party, over half a year since LeBron wore a Yankees hat to an Indians/Yankees playoff game. But here, he uses it - and one fan's reaction to the 2008 Draft - to show the state of that franchise.
"So now everybody plays Fantasy Basketball with LeBron. You want to know how far the Knicks have fallen? The pipe dream about LeBron - and that's all it is right now - is how far. The Knicks aren't just the worst team in town, they are the one furthest from being something."
But what if LeBron jumps to the Nets? What then, Lupica? Anyway.
Finally, the blogs: Deadspin's new editor starts on Monday, and it's a familiar face. But it's got nothing on the latest from the Stephen A Smith Hecking Society of Gentlemen, who are back and better then ever.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
O'Neal for Ford deal works both ways for Raps
Taken at face value, trading away a starting point guard, a good backup centre and a first round draft pick for an oft-injured centre doesn’t seem like a great move.
But trading away TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and the 17th pick is a shrewd move by Toronto Raptors GM Bryan Coangelo.
For most of last season, but especially in the playoffs, the Raptors found themselves with two glaring problems. First was the lack of a solid big man, which centre Rasho Nesterovic was not, Andrea Bargnani did not want to be.
Sure, their outside shooting style worked well enough for most of the year: they won 41 games and the sixth seed in the playoffs. They even won against the likes of Orlando, Portland and Boston.
But look a little closer at those box scores. For example, in that 114-112 win over Boston, the Raptors shot an exceptional 15 of 21 from outside, with Carlos Delfino hitting five of five. But their inside game was the opposite – they only grabbed four offensive boards, the same number as Ray Allen.
In the playoffs against Orlando, this was especially obvious. All throughout those five games, Toronto had no answer to the Magic’s Dwight Howard, costing them the series. Their outside shooting was matched by Orlando and they didn’t have the inside game to compensate.
Surely, this is one of the major reasons that the Raptors underachieved. If you go by their Pythagorean record, a tool that goes by points scored and allowed, the Raps should have won 49 games, not 42.
That was major fault number one. Number two was their point guard situation.
When Atlanta Hawks centre Al Horford knocked Ford down on a drive to the basket in December –injuring Ford enough to be removed on a stretcher - it looked like the Raptors season could be hitting an unfortunate and early end, say nothing about the long-term effects the injury would have on Ford.
But a funny thing happened. Backup Jose Calderon, who by that point was splitting time with Ford and coming off the bench, blossomed as a starter. While he may have lucked into a starting role, he seemed to be a linchpin for the Raptors, who began to thrive.
They won three of the next four games, and went on to win eight games in January, including a dramatic double overtime win over Portland. Calderon, he with the deft outside touch and the great passing skills, had improved dramatically from the previous season and was a major part of the Raptors success.
If Ford didn’t come back, the Raptors might have been okay. But he came back, and it threw the Raptors off their game.
When the Raptors traded for Ford, he was supposed to be the starting PG and he was paid appropriately: to the tune of $8 million, says basketball-reference.com. But with the great play of Calderon, would it be fair to immediately stick Ford back in the starting position?
But that’s what the Raptors did. Not starting put Ford in a funk, and it was the last thing the Raptors needed late in the season, when they were battling for a playoff spot.
Both Ford and Calderon was a logjam, and an especially bad one to have. Ford had become temperamental, had a reputation for taking bad shots and was an injury risk. Calderon, who was again coming off the bench, but looked to be the better point guard, was a free agent after the season.
Both wanted to start, and the one who didn’t was likely gone. What to do?
A couple days before the draft, trade rumours began to fly. One was TJ to the Suns for Boris Diaw, a trade that wouldn’t have fixed much. Where would Diaw, a combo forward-guard, fit in the rotation? And what of his reputation for vanishing in big games?
Another was TJ going to the Knicks for Jamal Crawford. This trade would’ve helped the Knicks, who need a point guard, but not the Raptors, who don’t need another swingman.
But the rumour that became fact was Ford, Nesterovic, a player to be named later and the Raptors first round pick to the Indiana Pacers, who would send Jermaine O’Neal in return.
In the past three seasons, O’Neal’s stock had fallen considerably. While he had played in six all-star games and had made three All-NBA teams from 2001-02 to 2003-04, he had now played a full season since 2003-04. Plus, he still had the stigma from the Brawl at the Palace, which helped foster a reputation as a hothead.
In 2007-08, his numbers looked like this: 1206 minutes played (his lowest since becoming a starter), 225 FG (same), 283 rebounds (the same, and close to his lowest ever) and 87 blocks (he once had 228 blocks in a season).
So, what was Colangelo thinking? Surely, he could get better value for TJ, couldn’t he?
But, the more one thinks about this deal, the more sense it makes – since it works both ways.
First off, if O’Neal stays healthy, he dramatically improves the Raptors frontcourt. Instead of playing centre, Bosh can move to forward and Bargnani can come off the bench. Suddenly, the Raptors starting five will likely be this: Chris Bosh, O’Neal, Calderon, Delfino and Anthony Parker.
That means they have an inside game that matches against Orlando – by putting O’Neal in the low post against Howard. And they still have a good outside game with Delfino, and Calderon.
That means their bench improves too: Jamario Moon becomes their sixth man, and the pressure of Bargnani is turned down considerably. Plus, it solves their PG logjam, too.
But, like I said before, it works the other way too: if O’Neal isn’t healthy.
Why’s that? His salary, which maxes out at $23 million in two seasons, expires in 2009-10.
That’s the year that more then a few marquee players – such as LeBron James – become free agents. And while it doesn’t give the Raptors a lot of wiggle room now, it gives them the space to make a big splash in a couple seasons.
Remember, it was big, hefty deals that helped a lot of teams make big splashes this season with trades. Like Keith Van Horn’s expiring contract, which helped to bring Jason Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks.
So if O’Neal’s a bust and the Raptors are in good shape, his expiring deal could be worth a lot to a rebuilding team, and bring in some young talent. Or they could hang on him and sign a major talent or two.
Simply put, this trade works both ways. It’s a slick move by Colangelo, and it’s one the Raptors will be glad to have made, no matter what happens.
But trading away TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and the 17th pick is a shrewd move by Toronto Raptors GM Bryan Coangelo.
For most of last season, but especially in the playoffs, the Raptors found themselves with two glaring problems. First was the lack of a solid big man, which centre Rasho Nesterovic was not, Andrea Bargnani did not want to be.
Sure, their outside shooting style worked well enough for most of the year: they won 41 games and the sixth seed in the playoffs. They even won against the likes of Orlando, Portland and Boston.
But look a little closer at those box scores. For example, in that 114-112 win over Boston, the Raptors shot an exceptional 15 of 21 from outside, with Carlos Delfino hitting five of five. But their inside game was the opposite – they only grabbed four offensive boards, the same number as Ray Allen.
In the playoffs against Orlando, this was especially obvious. All throughout those five games, Toronto had no answer to the Magic’s Dwight Howard, costing them the series. Their outside shooting was matched by Orlando and they didn’t have the inside game to compensate.
Surely, this is one of the major reasons that the Raptors underachieved. If you go by their Pythagorean record, a tool that goes by points scored and allowed, the Raps should have won 49 games, not 42.
That was major fault number one. Number two was their point guard situation.
When Atlanta Hawks centre Al Horford knocked Ford down on a drive to the basket in December –injuring Ford enough to be removed on a stretcher - it looked like the Raptors season could be hitting an unfortunate and early end, say nothing about the long-term effects the injury would have on Ford.
But a funny thing happened. Backup Jose Calderon, who by that point was splitting time with Ford and coming off the bench, blossomed as a starter. While he may have lucked into a starting role, he seemed to be a linchpin for the Raptors, who began to thrive.
They won three of the next four games, and went on to win eight games in January, including a dramatic double overtime win over Portland. Calderon, he with the deft outside touch and the great passing skills, had improved dramatically from the previous season and was a major part of the Raptors success.
If Ford didn’t come back, the Raptors might have been okay. But he came back, and it threw the Raptors off their game.
When the Raptors traded for Ford, he was supposed to be the starting PG and he was paid appropriately: to the tune of $8 million, says basketball-reference.com. But with the great play of Calderon, would it be fair to immediately stick Ford back in the starting position?
But that’s what the Raptors did. Not starting put Ford in a funk, and it was the last thing the Raptors needed late in the season, when they were battling for a playoff spot.
Both Ford and Calderon was a logjam, and an especially bad one to have. Ford had become temperamental, had a reputation for taking bad shots and was an injury risk. Calderon, who was again coming off the bench, but looked to be the better point guard, was a free agent after the season.
Both wanted to start, and the one who didn’t was likely gone. What to do?
A couple days before the draft, trade rumours began to fly. One was TJ to the Suns for Boris Diaw, a trade that wouldn’t have fixed much. Where would Diaw, a combo forward-guard, fit in the rotation? And what of his reputation for vanishing in big games?
Another was TJ going to the Knicks for Jamal Crawford. This trade would’ve helped the Knicks, who need a point guard, but not the Raptors, who don’t need another swingman.
But the rumour that became fact was Ford, Nesterovic, a player to be named later and the Raptors first round pick to the Indiana Pacers, who would send Jermaine O’Neal in return.
In the past three seasons, O’Neal’s stock had fallen considerably. While he had played in six all-star games and had made three All-NBA teams from 2001-02 to 2003-04, he had now played a full season since 2003-04. Plus, he still had the stigma from the Brawl at the Palace, which helped foster a reputation as a hothead.
In 2007-08, his numbers looked like this: 1206 minutes played (his lowest since becoming a starter), 225 FG (same), 283 rebounds (the same, and close to his lowest ever) and 87 blocks (he once had 228 blocks in a season).
So, what was Colangelo thinking? Surely, he could get better value for TJ, couldn’t he?
But, the more one thinks about this deal, the more sense it makes – since it works both ways.
First off, if O’Neal stays healthy, he dramatically improves the Raptors frontcourt. Instead of playing centre, Bosh can move to forward and Bargnani can come off the bench. Suddenly, the Raptors starting five will likely be this: Chris Bosh, O’Neal, Calderon, Delfino and Anthony Parker.
That means they have an inside game that matches against Orlando – by putting O’Neal in the low post against Howard. And they still have a good outside game with Delfino, and Calderon.
That means their bench improves too: Jamario Moon becomes their sixth man, and the pressure of Bargnani is turned down considerably. Plus, it solves their PG logjam, too.
But, like I said before, it works the other way too: if O’Neal isn’t healthy.
Why’s that? His salary, which maxes out at $23 million in two seasons, expires in 2009-10.
That’s the year that more then a few marquee players – such as LeBron James – become free agents. And while it doesn’t give the Raptors a lot of wiggle room now, it gives them the space to make a big splash in a couple seasons.
Remember, it was big, hefty deals that helped a lot of teams make big splashes this season with trades. Like Keith Van Horn’s expiring contract, which helped to bring Jason Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks.
So if O’Neal’s a bust and the Raptors are in good shape, his expiring deal could be worth a lot to a rebuilding team, and bring in some young talent. Or they could hang on him and sign a major talent or two.
Simply put, this trade works both ways. It’s a slick move by Colangelo, and it’s one the Raptors will be glad to have made, no matter what happens.
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