Monday Thoughts

Sorry for the lack of posts around these parts recently. I have been depressed since the Magic lost the NBA finals. No, I don't particularly like the Magic. And I like Lamar Odom, so it's not a total loss. I just had to come to terms with the end of the season.

Thankfully, there was the draft. And it was good.

Here's a quick Monday recap of the draft after a weekend to fully digest it.

PICKS I LIKED

James Harden - Oklahoma City (#3)
I don't really have to reiterate this, but screw it. James Harden is perfect for the Thunder. He can score, he can facilitate, he can defend. And the beard.

Brandon Jennings - Milwaukee (#10)
He is going to be good. Seriously, with V-Nuv, Ramon Sessions, Amir, and Jennings, the Bucks are must-watch basketball. And we care that he came late to the draft?

Jrue Holiday - Philadelphia (#17)
I don't understand any hostility towards this pick. Mock drafts don't accomplish much, and you can't take Chad Ford too seriously, but the dude was definitely in the lottery. I think he's going to be a terrific player even if he doesn't reach his potential. Knock his college stats, but he played off the ball significantly at UCLA. For a team that needed a long term solution at the point and already has Louis Williams coming off the bench, grabbing Holiday at 17 is a coup.

Jeff Teague - Atlanta (#19)
Imagine a Teague-Crawford backcourt off the bench. Yeah, you also like this pick.

Eric Maynor - Utah (#20)
Duke-VCU. Need I say more?

PICKS I DISLIKED

Surprisingly, I don't have much to say here. Weak draft? I guess. Hansbrough? Let's see what he can do before we knock the pick. The TimberLOLves (Trey wins, yet again)? They aren't done yet. Mullens? At the end of the first round, the upside is worth it.

And now, the long summer begins. Summer league, trades, endless speculating, endless waiting. But after the Shaq and Carter trades, and a draft full of storylines, it's time to get excited.

NBA Finals Preview Spectacular!

It's been a long season. A good season, to be sure. But long. And now we have two teams remaining. Or three, if we count the Pistons. The true champions.

Oh, sorry. I lost consciousness for a bit there. What was I saying again?

Right. The NBA Finals.

On one hand, we have the Los Angeles Lakers. They defeated the Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets on the road to the finals. They chased Carlos Boozer out of Salt Lake City, broke Yao's foot, and fractured Nene's arm. They are good at basketball. They are also talented economists and pastry chefs.

And then there are the Orlando Magic. They met challenges offered by Andre Iguodala, Rajon Rondo, and LeBron James. They overcame mathematics, history, and mythology. And Wall Street executives.

This is going to be a terrific and competitive series. I am going to prepare you for it.

ORLANDO MAGIC

IMPORTANT PLAYER: Hedo Turkoglu
Hedo runs this offense. Sorry, Rafer. Give Hedo the ball, let him facilitate, and win games.

OTHER IMPORTANT PLAYER: Rashard Lewis
No one can guard Rashard Lewis if his shot is falling. He should also drive to the basket against Pau, or whoever happens to guard him. As Moore has said repeatedly, the Magic go where Hedo and Shard take them. That, or HOWARD SMASH!

COULD BE AN IMPORTANT PLAYER: Courtney Lee
Guarding Kobe may fall to Mickael Pietrus, but I hope Lee is initially given the task. If anything, the mask may scare or irritate Kobe enough to miss some shots. Imagine if Shane Battier wore a mask. Wait, never mind. Don't do that.

IMPORTANT PLAY: Dwight Howard screen-and-roll
I'm borrowing this from Skeets. Not only is it important to put Dwight in motion, but the screen-and-roll gives Hedo the opportunity to score off the dribble or start working the drive-and-kick offense. This may be less important if Dwight can score in the post with similar effectiveness to Game 6, but I'm not so sure that he can sustain it all series.

IMPORTANT STATISTIC: Defensive efficiency, 101.9 pts/100 possessions (1st in NBA)
The Magic are good at defense. They pressure shooters. They have Dwight Howard to anchor the lane. The Lakers will have to be on point to beat them.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

IMPORTANT PLAYER: Pau Gasol
Kobe is Kobe. Kobe will be Kobe. Pau must score. Pau must play defense.

OTHER IMPORTANT PLAYER: Lamar Odom
Odom can be awesome. Since the Magic have such a strong bench, he needs to have a great series. Plus, who doesn't want to see an epic Pietrus/Odom battle? Oh, everyone but me? Shoot.

COULD BE AN IMPORTANT PLAYER: Andrew Bynum
Dwight Howard is order, stabilizing the Magic on offense and defense. Theoretically, Bynum could counter some of that influence. That probably won't happen. However, if there is anyone on the Lakers who can ensure victory, it's him. Strong rebounding by Bynum could negate some of Dwight's offense, and if he can force Dwight out of deep post position, his limited repertoire becomes a huge liability. But that is a big "if."

IMPORTANT PLAY: Don't let Derek Fisher take shots
In all seriousness, Lakers: work the ball, work the triangle, play hard. Initiate the offense. Let Kobe score. Let Pau score. Let Odom do things. And don't let Derek Fisher take shots. I cannot stress this enough.

IMPORTANT STATISTIC: 23.0 FT/FG (20th in NBA)
The Lakers do not get to the free throw line. And the Magic do not foul (20.9 FT/FG, 4th in NBA). This puts more pressure on Laker shooters, and we already know how good Orlando's defense is at forcing low-percentage shots. Don't believe me? Ask Mo Williams.

And now, the moment no one has been waiting for...

IMPORTANT PREDICTION: Magic in 7. Why? Gortat. Just Gortat.

(H/T Knickerblogger for the stats)

Thabeet Lightning

It's draft time, and that means it's time for endless speculation. Our thoughts turn to the future directly after the season ends and the present is settled. Team needs, mock drafts, player comparisons. I love it. I try to be nonpartisan at draft time, but it isn't always easy. Although I am not from Oklahoma or Seattle (we feel for you, Seattleites), I love the Thunder. But then again, who doesn't? They are champions of FD. They have universal appeal. They can be revolutionary. And that is why they cannot draft Hasheem Thabeet.

Clearly, OKC has a bright future. They have a young core based around the offensive genius of Kevin Durant, caught somewhere between savant and assassin. Jeff Green is a perfect complement to Durant's explosive ability. He can guard all positions, and is as skilled on the perimeter as he is posting up. That doesn't mean he can be that idiomatic franchise player, but paired with someone like Durant, Green becomes more than he is. Russell Westbrook, the most volatile of the three, mans the point. He is capable of all things at all times. In fact, they all are. They are an organic expression of athleticism and apositionality, and they represent change that is distant from D'Antoni's exiled plotting.

And while he could be a great player, Hasheem Thabeet counteracts the Thunder's meaning. He will be a defensive force, that cannot be denied. He will learn how to rotate efficiently, he will continue to improve his footwork, and he will be able to disrupt any opposing offense. In time. And I even think his offense will come around. After all, Thabeet has only played basketball for a few years. If he wants to be great, and he goes to the right place and gets the right instruction, he will be. Oklahoma City could even be that place.

But no, any further pieces the Thunder acquire need to fit into their apositional vision. Drafting Thabeet rejects this framework and entrenches convention. Unlike D'Antoni's teams, this model cannot be emulated or moved. Their athleticism and versatility, combined with the freedom of Brooks' system, makes them unique and eminently interesting. Nevertheless, there is a certain kindred spirit underlying this experimentation in Oklahoma, and embracing Thabeet is tantamount to giving up on it. In the short-term, he is a prototypical center who is only capable of accomplishing the tasks of his position. A developing team with such enormous creative potential needs players who expand its options, not limit them.

Both Ricky Rubio and James Harden can add to this team without fundamentally altering it. Rubio can't shake the Nash comparisons, and for good reason. His type of playmaking can be an orienting force, one that would catalyze the athletic gifts of his teammates. In this system, his poor shooting wouldn't even matter. Harden would become another cog in the machine, adding excellent midrange shooting and a tremendous passing ability. He practically ran the Arizona State offense and compiled great pace-adjusted assist totals, which allows Russell Westbrook more freedom to develop on or off the ball. Rubio will probably be off the board at the third pick. And the Thunder will have options. DeMar DeRozan, Tyreke Evans, and yes, Thabeet, will be available. Resist temptation, draft James Harden.

Hasheem Thabeet will be a good NBA player, but the Thunder shouldn't draft him. We need Oklahoma City to become what they were meant to be. And the only way they can move forward is without the big man from Connecticut.

Meet Your Takers

Blake Griffin: The Clippers? THE CLIPPERS? You have got to be freaking kidding me! I mean, at least the Grizzlies have O.J. Mayo. I'm doomed.

[Phone rings]

Who could that be?

Hello?


Zach Randolph: Hello? Is this Blake Griffin?

Blake Griffin: Yes, this is he.

Zach Randolph: Hey Blake, it's me, Zachary Randolph. I just wanted to check in with you and see how you were feeling. Big night for you, sir.

Blake Griffin: Yeah, I guess. Can you tell me a bit about the Clippers?

Zach Randolph: Oh, Blake. The Clippers are quite splendid. You are going to love it here.

Blake Griffin: Really? I, uh, wasn't expecting you to say that.

Zach Randolph: Nah, we just have a bad reputation. It's great. Really great.

Blake Griffin: How are the other guys on the team?

Zach Randolph: They're awesome. Chris Kaman is my bud. He's hilarious. And this one time, me and Baron stayed up until 10 PM playing Mario. 10 PM! And Marcus Camby is always doing jumping jacks. Oh, and Eric Gordon. He's a peach.

Blake Griffin: And Coach Dunleavy?

Zach Randolph: Coach Dunleavy is the best person I've ever known. He's kind, snuggly, and the best tactician this side of Napoleon.

Blake Griffin: Wow, that sounds great. I'm excited. I can't wait to meet you guys.

Zach Randolph: And we can't wait to meet you.

Blake Griffin: Thanks, Zach. Take care.

Zach Randolph: Take care, bud.

[Hangs up the phone]

Blake Griffin: Wow, I was not expecting the conversation to go like that. Maybe it's not so bad after all.

Somewhere in California...

Mike Dunleavy: *releases Randolph from chokehold* Good job, Zach.

Zach Randolph: YO COACH WHAT WAS THAT YOU CANT TREAT ME LIKE THAT IM YO FRANCHISE IM YO FRANCHISE THAT WAS STRAIGHT UP WEAK IM GULLY IM A GROWN MAN YOU CANT TREAT ME LIKE THAT.

Mike Dunleavy: *elbows Randolph in the chest* Shut up, punk.

Totally Awesome NBA Draft Lottery Preview!

It's time for the NBA Draft Lottery again, folks. That means hope for some and heartbreak for others. And there is glory for the strong.

But you might not know what to expect. It is a confusing night. Well, I will tell you what to think. Here is a rundown of the highs and lows of this epic event.

TEAM THAT I WANT TO GET THE FIRST PICK: Sacramento Kings
This is for you, Ziller. Also, presuming that Shock & Hawes are firmly entrenched already, it is unlikely that Blake Griffin is selected by the Kings. Ricky Rubio must come to Sacramento. He seems like the perfect complement to Kevin Martin in the backcourt, and his playmaking will set up Thompson and Hawes with easy shots. Plus, no one wants to see Beno Udrih start. Unless you are Beno Udrih.

ANOTHER TEAM THAT WOULD BE COOL WITH ME IF THEY GOT THE FIRST PICK: Oklahoma City Thunder
Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin. Dominance. I wish Patrick Patterson was still in the draft. He would be perfect for OKC.

TEAM THAT SHOULD NOT GET THE FIRST PICK: Los Angeles Clippers
Sorry, Arnovitz and ClipperSteve. I can't. I just can't.

TEAM WITH A COOL LOTTERY REPRESENTATIVE: Charlotte Bobcats
D.J. Augustin is representing the Bobcats. He had a great rookie season, considering the draft pick was canned with Brook Lopez still on the board. Dude offered a 14.95 PER this season. Larry Brown used him effectively, and I like that he is getting the credit he deserves.

TEAM WITH AN UNCOOL REPRESENTATIVE: Minnesota Timberwolves
I have already expressed my distaste for Kevin Love. Why not send Al Jefferson? He's the franchise player, he's actually good, and he isn't just a gimmick who can rebound. Maybe they want him to throw outlet passes with the ping pong balls. Or send Craig Smith. Why? Because Craig Smith is awesome, that's why.

TEAM THAT I AM AMBIVALENT ABOUT: Milwaukee Bucks
I've been to Milwaukee. It's nice. Quiet, but nice. I wish them no harm.

PRELIMINARY DRAFT ANALYSIS

PLAYER THAT I LIKE AROUND THE FIFTH PICK: James Harden
Harden probably won't be a star, but he is a great shooter and facilitator. He propelled the Arizona State offense as a shooting guard, and would be a solid option next to a non-traditional point guard because of his excellent passing. He would be a great fit in OKC, provided they do not grab a top pick.

PLAYER THAT I LOVE AT THE END OF THE LOTTERY: Jeff Teague
Jeff Teague is the future. He can create his own shot and is terrific off the dribble. He is super athletic. He has a scorer's mentality. He can learn to be a point guard. This is a guy you want on your team. Phoenix, pray that he falls to you.

PLAYER I DO NOT LIKE: Hasheem Thabeet
I think he will be a terrific defender, but I am concerned about his offensive development. If he continues to progress at his current rate, then I will be wrong. That said, I do not want to be the team with the third pick.

PLAYER I WANT TO GO TO THE RAPTORS: Demar DeRozan
The Raptors would be great with an athletic wing player. Demar DeRozan needs time to develop, but his play in the NCAA Tournament was very encouraging. Playing with Jose Calderon, a hyper-controlled point guard, could give DeRozan significant usage next season. He would be a great piece paired with Chris Bosh over the long-term.

PLAYER I WANT TO GO TO THE WIZARDS: Tyreke Evans
Tyreke Evans and Gilbert Arenas. Need I say more?

I hope this was enlightening. I have a gift for completely arbitrary draft analysis.

(H/T DraftExpress for everything. If you aren't reading them, start now. Also, FanHouse for the image)

Renaming Glen Davis

It has to stop. It has to stop now. Glen Davis can no longer be called Big Baby.

I don't care how it started. I don't care if his mother calls him that. I don't care if he likes it. I don't care.

But I do care about changing it.

The nickname is a media menace. I don't know if you read, but I do. I read many newspapers and weblogs and Twitters. And much like some Orlando Magic fans, I find myself maddened by the constant cliches and jokes. Big Baby fosters horrible journalism. Seriously, this stuff is worse than Plaschke, although there are many people who are actually doing good things with it. As for the bad, I do not have a specific example, but I will write one that I am sure has appeared in many, many places. Are you ready?

Last night, Glen Davis was no longer a Big Baby. Last night, Glen Davis became a man.

BOOM! See what I did there? Totally unexpected.

It doesn't even describe him. Whatever he has become in these playoffs--and yes, he has changed--he is no longer Big Baby. He is a 17 foot jump shot. Who pushes kids.

I am not clever enough to create an appropriate nickname. That's why I leave it up to you, internets. Make a new nickname to save us from this scourge. Please take up this mantle. I can't do it alone.

Craig Sager Wreaks Havoc

Craig Sager: Rejected. Constantly made fun of by players and fans. All because of my clothes. I like my clothes.

My mother and teachers always told me to express myself, but I have trouble verbally organizing my thoughts. Sure, I can ask Rick Adelman a few banal questions. But can I tell my wife the myriad reasons I enjoy key lime pie? No. I tried to do it through the written word, but I always end up sounding like a bastardized Rousseau. I tried doing it through song. I tried doing through art. I even tried doing it through dance. Bad idea.

But then I found my one true purpose. The only way to channel my emotions: fashion.

My suits are the window to my soul. They help me cope with the world and the difficult things that happen every day. But other people don't understand. They ridicule me.

And Kevin Garnett. Oooooooooooh, don't get me started on Kevin Garnett!



Well, I'm tired of it.

Since I cannot express my thoughts through conventional means, I have spent my hours in silence trying to develop superpowers. And I have. Oh, I have.

Mind control.

And I will now deploy it. SPEAK!

Aaron Brooks: I thought we played a great game. It was tough without Yao, but we did it.

Craig Sager: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! THE WORLD IS MINE!

(H/T Skeets for the Brooks image)

Dwight Howard Realizes the Truth

Saturday night, after the Boston Celtics have just defeated the Chicago Bulls

Dwight Howard: I have to fight with Perkins for 7 games? Crap. At least they have no shot at beating us this season. I mean, we have you, Jameer.

Jameer Nelson: Bro, I'm injured.

Dwight Howard: What? When did this happen?

Jameer Nelson: Like four months ago. I fell on my shoulder.

Dwight Howard: Dude, I thought you just got lost after we went camping at Gortat's llama ranch.

Jameer Nelson: No, that was Anthony Johnson.

Dwight Howard: Well, that's not a problem. We still have Kyle Lowry to man the point.

Jameer Nelson: No, Houston got Kyle Lowry. We traded a first-round pick for Rafer Alston.

Dwight Howard: NO. NO WE DID NOT.

Jameer Nelson: You've been playing with him for three months. What did you think was happening?

Dwight Howard: I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THIS. NOT RAFER. ANYTHING BUT RAFER.

Jameer Nelson: Too late, bro. Too late.


Rafer Alston: Yo D, yo whatup JaMz? Ima get ready to skip 2 mah loU up in Cindy Lou Who, nah mean? You broz in?

Dwight Howard: Kill me now.

James Posey Loves You

It's time to prepare for the end of the Hornets. Whether the whole concept is dead, the myth of Chris Paul is over, or we just accept that they aren't very good, we need to be realistic.

For some members of the team, the offseason will be a time to reboot. Chris Paul is the best point guard in a league that is becoming increasingly dependent on the position. David West and Tyson Chandler, when healthy, are stars caught in CP3's gravitational field. Without Paul on the court, the team is either lost or completely transparent. It was that environment that allowed Jannero Pargo, through all his faults, to administer his own brand of justice.

For others, it is a just a pause. Rasual Butler time travels, Peja has no meaning, and Hilton Armstrong ceases to exist. The true outcast is James Posey.

Posey means different things to different people but still retains his identity. James is James. He is championship glue, ardent defender, three point assassin. He is none of those things.

Statistically, Posey has been remarkably consistent during his career (Thanks, basketball-reference):

Clearly, James is in the decline phase of his career, and he still offers capable defense of slower 3s and smaller 4s, efficient three-point shooting, and hugs for teammates. He was a key player in getting the Celtics the championship last year. Surprisingly. He was excellent in the clutch, scoring 14.8 points (adjusted by 82games) with a 0.500 eFG%.

Compare that to this season, where Posey's on-court presence is negligible but his clutch scoring and efficiency are up. I'm not going to go over the problems with his contract, seeing as KD already wrote that killer piece this week. However, even if Tyson Chandler fully recovers, I doubt Posey can play the same role he did with Boston.

Shoals (I think) said last year how funny it was that the Celtics were so dependent on Posey threes to win games. It's true, and Posey was a perfect fit for Boston at the end of games. Not only did he fit defensively, adding both versatility and toughness when Kendrick Perkins was off the floor, but he spaced the floor. This allowed more freedom for the rest of the lineup, who for better or worse, all had some ability to create their own shot (yes, I am including KG and Rondo).

On the Hornets, Posey is somewhat more limited because he is a catch-and-shoot threat only. Chris Paul dominates the ball in the clutch and scores 45.1 points/48. This inevitably leads to some assists for James, which explains the jump in his efficiency and clutch scoring. However, the scoring potential of this lineup is inherently limited, as Posey is often inserted into the game along with Butler, Peja, or Chandler in addition to CP3 and David West. With two (arguably) players able to truly create, this team just has a hard time scoring.

While Posey has a reputation for championship-building, he can't overcome these structural shortcomings. Unless the Hornets manage to procure cheap scorers and more depth (think Von Wafer), he's stuck.

On Bill Walker and Intangibles

This is not meant to be a screed, but I think there are some things that need to be said. I respect Doc Rivers, and what he did to get the Celtics the championship last season. I respect that he somehow learned to manage the rotation and unite the team around the cosmic Thibodeau/KG defense. I don’t think that we need to rehash his problems before the KG trade, and I don’t think that anyone needs to question every decision he makes. This critique is more related to the fallout of his coaching than the actual rationale behind it.

As you may or may not have noticed from my posts and my frequent commenting around the internets, I like Bill Walker. I really like Bill Walker. I understand that he is a rookie, that I need to be realistic, and that I need to temper my expectations. That said, it is hard to stomach the ubiquitous criticism that he is a punk and that he somehow deserves our scorn for not respecting elders. And it’s hard to stomach when Brian Scalabrine gets playing time over him.

But this isn’t about Scalabrine. And this isn’t about Walker’s playing time. I know why Walker doesn’t play. We all do. It’s because Rivers does not trust rookies, or at least certain rookies. And he certainly does not trust Walker—not enough to get crunch time minutes, and not enough to get (many) postseason minutes. The one young player he does trust, beyond comprehension, is Glen Davis. For some reason, Davis has never been on Rivers’ bad side. Before trades sent Sebastian Telfair and Delonte West out of Boston, Rivers would yank point guards and rookies out as soon as they made a mistake. When depth threatened that strategy, he relented, and Rondo’s development was keyed by that confidence, even if it was forced.

That isn’t the case with Davis. From the instant he was drafted, Rivers has had confidence in him. In 07-08, Davis played 13.6 minutes per game over 69 games, including 10 games in November. He was given 15.5 minutes per game in December. Compare this to Leon Powe, who played in 56 games and didn’t start receiving meaningful minutes until late January. All he did was put up a 21.04 PER over the season. Davis offered a PER of 11.40 in 07 and was terrible for most of this season, but that’s besides that point.

The problems with Scalabrine are well-documented, and if you’re reading this blog, I don’t need to spell them out for you. However, fans respond to this criticism with cries about his intangibles, and how he is an indispensable part of the locker room.

Brian Scalabrine is probably a cool guy. I’m sure I’d get along with him. I’d buy him drinks if I met him in a bar. But why is he a great teammate when Bill Walker gets derided? Everything that I’ve seen from Walker indicates that he is a dude who would do anything to win. He isn’t scared of anyone, and he aims to destroy with his athleticism, even if his knees can’t handle it. That is someone who I want on my team. That is someone I want playing as much as possible.

I know that Bill Walker probably won’t ever get the playing time that I think he merits. After all, it is Bill Walker. Even so, the primacy of Scalabrine’s intangibles is not an adequate reason for justifying his playing time and denying Walker’s. It’s lazy journalism and lazy fandom. And we all deserve better.

The Hawk Speaks

Sapnin America? It's me, Hawkitus T. Spirit. You can call me Heezy.

The mainstream media is telling you that I disrupted last night's Hawks-Heat playoff game. It's true--I did. But that's not the whole story.

You see, they keep me in a cage. A horrible cage. Next to Mike Bibby. I can't stand him.

Last year, they kept me next to Salim Stoudamire.
He talked to me. He fed me. He told me his secrets.

But then Salim left. And I was depressed.

Until last night.

Last night, I spread my wings and soared into the night. I was free, not only in my heart, but in my mind. It was like Salim had come back into my life.

And then I saw him.
And it all came flooding back. I resigned myself to my fate.

SALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIM. Come back to me.

Possible Screenplays for Rasual Butler

• Rasual travels back in time and must make his parents fall in love, thus ensuring that he is born. While in 1955, Rasual falls in love and has children. He realizes he is his own son.
• Rasual comes to possess an all-powerful ring. He is sent on a quest to destroy, but learns how to wield it. He becomes lord of the world. All shall love him and despair.
• Rasual investigates the Zodiac killer. He finds the culprit, and the handwriting matches.
• Rasual leads the Hornets in a daring casino robbery to win back his ex-girlfriend. He becomes the casino owner.
• Rasual looks like the President of the United States, who has a stroke. Rasual becomes President. He amends the constitution and becomes President for life.
• Rasual is a Congressman who funds a covert war against the Soviets in Afghanistan. It all works out and he goes to live with his many women secretaries in Guatemala.
• Rasual is Iron Man.
  

Assorted Thoughts on Celtics-Bulls

• Why Glen Davis gets 40 minutes is beyond me. 18 points on 15 shots and only 3 rebounds. Compare this to Leon Powe, who netted 8 on 5 shots and 8 rebounds with only 2 fewer shots at the line. Davis is terrible on rotations, and even though he's lost weight, he still plays under the basket and is overwhelmed by both Brad Miller-types and Tyrus Thomas.
• I don't buy the whole "Leon is our bench scorer" bit, mostly because Davis has free reign to chuck up as many shots as he wants when he is on the court. Powe gets usage during one stretch every game, and then gets buried by Rivers. This is not Davis getting his due. This is not letting Powe recover from his injury. This is straight up Rivers, mismanaging the rotation.
• Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose are awesome. I am so excited to watch the rest of the series.
• Speaking of Brad Miller, what's up, dude? The Bulls would have crushed the Celtics if his shot was on.
• Ray Allen's ankles need rest. His shot is flat, and he can't keep playing 39 minutes a game.
• Salmons' beard is teleology.
  

Demetri Martin Presents the NBA Playoffs

Hi. Welcome to Important Things with Demetri Martin and carbs.

I'm carbs.

Tonight's Important Thing is the NBA Playoffs.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (66-16)
IMPORTANT THING: DESTINY
LeBron James is evolution. LeBron James is creation. LeBron James is science.

2. Boston Celtics (62-20)
IMPORTANT THING: SAFETY
Rajon Rondo is the keeper of keys and the arbiter of justice.

3. Orlando Magic (59-23)
IMPORTANT THING: GRAVITY
Dwight Howard is the sun and Rashard Lewis is the east.

4. Atlanta Hawks (47-35)
IMPORTANT THING: GAMES
Prepare to be outhustled, outjumped, and outran.

5. Miami Heat (43-39)
IMPORTANT THING: BACKPACKS
Chris Quinn is upset about this card.

6. Philadelphia 76ers (41-41)
IMPORTANT THING: CHAOS
Thaddeus Young and Andre Iguodala love to take the ball from you.

7. Chicago Bulls (41-41)
IMPORTANT THING: PUZZLES
Vinny Del Negro listens to Will Shortz on his iPod.

8. Detroit Pistons (39-43)
IMPORTANT THING: PROCRASTINATION
Rasheed Wallace and Jason Maxiell go to the buffet. Yeah, that buffet.

WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Los Angeles Lakers (65-17)
IMPORTANT THING: AWESOMENESS
Do you really want to play the Lakers?

2. Denver Nuggets (54-28)
IMPORTANT THING: COOLNESS
Dahntay Jones starts for this team. Seriously.

3. San Antonio Spurs (54-28)
IMPORTANT THING: ORDER
Tim Duncan studies geometry. Roger Mason Jr. studies courage.

4. Portland Trail Blazers
IMPORTANT THING: TIMING
Brandon Roy collects watches. He has many watches.

5. Houston Rockets (53-29)
IMPORTANT THING: COMPUTERS
Kyle Lowry is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.

6. Dallas Mavericks (50-32)
IMPORTANT THING: RESOLVE
Mark Cuban likes stats. And strange stats. And stats that like Jason Kidd.

7. New Orleans Hornets (49-33)
IMPORTANT THING: PRECISION
Chris Paul is a samurai on roller skates. With radio transmitters.

8. Utah Jazz (48-34)
IMPORTANT THING: TRADITION
Jerry Sloan demands viewership.

Point Guards and Point Centers

In Shoals' indispensable Then & Now column this week, he mentioned this potential externality of the postseason:

A thought for the draft: While Williams's Jazz, who are absolutely inept on the road, shouldn't be doing much in the postseason, what happens if the Hornets go on a run, Billups takes the Nuggets deeper into the playoffs than they've been in years, or Derrick Rose puts his name back on the map by going down in a blaze of nationally-televised glory against Boston? Does the stock of the PG in general shoot up? Or if Bynum provides the Lakers with the ammunition they need to coast right past even the Cavs or Celtics, or Dwight Howard's Magic (admittedly Hedo-less for the time being) surprise us all and make the Finals, is there a run on big men? When the class is considered weak, "best available" gives way to a referendum on what kind of players matter.

I think he even underestimates the impact of a CP3 or Rose explosion. Any indication of point guard domination will completely reorient this draft. Looking at the latest DraftExpress 2009 mock, here are the point guards likely to get snatched in the first round:

• Ricky Rubio (2nd)
• Brandon Jennings (6th)
• Tyreke Evans (8th)
• Stephen Curry (10th)
• Ty Lawson (12th)
• Jonny Flynn (15th)
• Jeff Teague (19th)
• Eric Maynor (20th)
• Jrue Holiday (23rd)
  
• Darren Collison (28th)
  
• Nick Calathes (30th)

Patty Mills and A.J. Price follow early in the second round. This list does not count either James Harden or Willie Warren, although anyone who watched Harden this year (5.1 ast/40 pace-adjusted) knows how much he facilitated ASU's offense. Any change in point guard value will affect Harden and possibly Warren as well.

Beyond Blake Griffin, the stock of big men is relatively weak. Hasheem Thabeet is extremely limited offensively. Ed Davis and Greg Monroe are likely to return to school and need more experience. Cole Aldrich will probably follow the same course. B.J. Mullens is the definition of raw.

If Chicago pulls off an upset or Paul leads the Hornets to the Western Conference finals, what's to stop Jonny Flynn, Jeff Teague, or even Eric Maynor slipping into the lottery? What if Rajon Rondo, not Paul Pierce or KG, leads the Celtics past the Cavs? Given the right team, Ricky Rubio could unseat Griffin at the top of the draft or Jrue Holiday could skyrocket up the boards. This could even have lingering effects on the 2010 offseason. If point guards are really the way forward, how does this change the market for Chris Bosh?

The NBA playoffs are always a spectacle. This year may be a panacea.

TCD Exclusive: Sixers Change Lineup

PHILADELPHIA -- The Carbs Dribble has learned that the Philadelphia 76ers plan to revamp their starting lineup prior to the beginning of the playoffs. Most commentators believe that the Eastern Conference will be won the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, or Orlando Magic. Today, the Sixers will attempt to shatter that equilibrium. Interim coach Tony DiLeo will use this lineup in their first round playoff series.

PG: Handouts Guy Ed
Handouts Guy Ed, more affectionately known as Handouts, will be the primary ballhandler for this new lineup. He never loses the dribble, rarely turns the ball over, and is a master at running the break.

SG: Dad Hey Outguns
Outguns is the team's leading scorer and a deadly shooter. He can take you off the dribble, and if you leave him open, he won't miss.

SF: Daunted Hugs Yo
Daunted Hugs is a tenacious wing defender who can drive at will. He is a combination of Bruce Bowen's ferocity, Shane Battier's intellectualism (computers?), and Gerald Wallace.

PF: Eh Gaudy Donuts
Donuts is a power forward whose game most resembles Carlos Boozer. You know, the good parts. Just kidding. There are no good parts. Carlos probably wouldn't get the joke, either.

(Disclaimer: Previous section may or may not have been written by Matt Moore)

C: Daunt Ye Doughs
Daunt Ye Doughs is an unparalleled defensive force. He blocks every shot. He grabs every rebound. He gets out on every screen. He intimidates Dwight Howard.

I was able to sit down with Mr. Doughs at practice yesterday. I asked him a few questions about the new lineup.

TCD: How excited are you to be named to the starting lineup for the playoffs?
DYD: I am very excited. I've been doing my thing all year and Coach DiLeo finally recognized me.
TCD: What do you think your chances are in the postseason?
DYD: If we go out there and play our game, I think we can beat any team, man. Even the Bucks.
TCD: How do you feel about the other members of the new starting lineup?
DYD: They're great, man. Great. I feel like I've been playing with these guys for years. We're just so in sync. It's like they cloned me four times.
TCD: Thanks for joining me.
DYD: Yep.

This is a truly interesting development. This new lineup may propel the Sixers to the NBA finals.

Get pumped, Philadelphia!

Ramon Sessions For America

America is in trouble. We face a deepening economic crisis, two international wars, and the threat of having to watch golf on TV. To triumph over these problems, we need a new direction.
As, you know, America has a history of political Sessions:
Ramon Sessions shares this civic impulse, and is running for Congress. In Wisconsin. Watch out, Russ Feingold! Here is a closer look at Ramon's platform:
Ramon Sessions understands defense. He favors a strong military. He will fight for you.
Ramon Sessions knows that in this economic climate, people need assistance. He will extend benefits for all Americans.
Politics today is increasingly contentious. Ramon Sessions believes that we need to work together to help America. Here, Ramon is having a great discussion with his colleagues from Sacramento.
America needs support from our allies if we want to achieve desirable international outcomes. Ramon Sessions has always understood this. He is pictured here having productive negotiations with ambassadors from Canada and Australia.

Ramon Sessions believes in America. Ramon Sessions believes in you. Vote for Ramon Sessions in November!