The Chinese Revolution?

If you like basketball shoes, you'll like this post...if not, no need to read on...it's pretty long.

If you're watching the Eastern Conference Finals and you grew up a sneakerhead, you've definitely noticed what I notice- there are some weird shoes on the court.

Now, Chinese brands have been trying to crack the US basketball market for around four or five years...but haven't even made waves.  The brand Li-Ning, most-notably, has dumped a ton of money into the US hardwood market.  They opened a US design facility in Portland, OR a few years ago in an effort to woo some Nike or Adidas talent or fill the void left by And1 slipping into the abyss of bargain basement footwear.

They got a lot of talented people to take the cash grab and help their effort, but in the last calendar year, Li-Ning gave up on that idea and closed down the Portland office.  They also had a consultant group out of the Northeast attempting to help them define their design language or the tough-to-crack US basketball market.  I can tell you that the designs weren't the problem, the perception was.

Li-Ning started its push by signing Baron Davis a few years ago as their guy. The problem was that Davis' best basketball was behind him, and few people want to buy a shoe based on the endorsement of a chubby point guard (as a chubby point guard, I know this). They continued by grabbing up a handful of players who were younger and cheaper than the Superstar...and during the 2012 All-star game weekend, you probably noticed a ton of guys wearing weird brands...but many weren't in the All-Star game; they were in the other activities.  The dunk contest makes sense as a way to pimp a brand; but when guys like Dominique Wilkins, Dee Brown and Michael Jordan helped brands and specific shoes break into the market while winning dunk contests, that market was much different.

If you like or dislike Nike as a brand, it really doesn't matter at this point- they simply own this market.  It seems that no matter what other players try to break in; no matter who merges with whom...the Swoosh gets stronger. In the late-90s, when I worked for Puma, we had Vince Carter under contract and a few friends of mine designed Carter's shoes.  They a bit of a splash as Carter became a player to watch by winning the dunk contest and becoming an All-Star.  This was an era in which big shoe deals were withering away; Nike, Adidas, Brooks, Converse and upstart brands alike had all spent too much cash in an effort to get the right guy in their shoes...so many players, especially young guys, were getting product-only deals.  But Puma bucked that trend in an effort to re-establish itself as a performance brand in America after about 15 years in the bargain bin.

They went after Vince Carter with a bag of cash and a signature shoe that was his.  As he grew in popularity, he decided to use a wrinkle in his contract to worm out of it- He claimed the Pumas injured him, which they did not, and started wearing every brand but Puma as litigation ensued. He ended up wearing Nike Shox...and Nike gobbled up more market share.

I believe Nike's percentage of the market share at that point hovered around 60%...and brands like Puma had smart marketing people and handsome designers (like this guy) trying to figure out how to get a crumb off of that sizable pie...but Puma couldn't do it...and really neither has anyone else been able to do it.

Reebok, Adidas and others have made runs at Nike with a product here or a product there...Nike's technology went from the air unit, to tensil or zoom air, to multi-pressure air bags, to shox, to 360 air and finally back to a combo of Nike's old, defunct patented air unit and some rubberized EVA with brilliant marketing behind it...and the Swoosh marches on.

So now, Nike sits atop the basketball market with an iron grip on it's 90-something percent share of a market that I care less-and-less about as I grow older...but that market still spends a ton of dough.  Chinese brands know that.

The trickle down of the urban fashion basketball market to the suburban performance basketball market is a continuous cycle of Nike dominance. Sure, some of their shoes are expensive, and some are kinda silly...but if you play, you know that Nike generally offers a lot in its bread-and-butter $90 product because the factories know that they'll order a ton of them as the smaller brands...even larger, smaller brands simply can't match Nike's numbers; so Nike gets better deals on materials, molds and everything in the chain than their competitors.  But, Nike doesn't own their factories...so the Chinese brands thought there was an opportunity there, especially as Nike and other brands began the exodus of China in favor of developing nations (Vietnam, Bangledesh, Korea) who were hungry to earn the shoe company's business.

The factories that might have once produced a ton of basketball shoes for Adi, Reebok, Puma, Nike, Under Armour, And1 and anyone else were making more product for the growing Chinese market and less for an American market seeking higher quality and continued lower prices.  Some of the brands that we're seeing emerge from China are little more than factory brands...others, like Li-Ning are trying to chase Nike and do what Nike does, but with a mostly-Chinese model.

Dwyane Wade wears Li-Ning shoes now...after years with Converse (Nike owned), then Jordan Brand (also Nike owned)...and some pretty lucrative contracts, Wade decided to step away from the America first market.  Wade's last contract with the Jumpman was worth around $10 million.  Nike continues to try to replace Jordan and re-capture that magic, but can't do it with just one man; as we talked about earlier, the market is too different...the toothpaste is out of the tube; and it's been done.

Wade got another lucrative deal with Li-Ning, but didn't get nearly as much cash up front (according to reports)...BUT, got a share of ownership of the brand that made its international launch at the 2008 olympiad in Beijing.  Since it's not an American company, there are no published reports of what he got; it's estimated he received between 2.5% and 5% of the brand...and based on Li-Ning's current growth, Wade's seemingly shortsighted switch (from an American sneakerhead's perspective) could make him over a half-billion dollars in the next decade...the richest endorsement deal ever.  Bigger than Tiger or MJ's deals with Nike.

Now, will Li-Ning grown like they forecast? If their lack of success in the American market is any indicator, the answer is a resounding no. But the Chinese market is booming.  The problem is, lots of the numbers in the Chinese market are still funny numbers.  That said, for a guy that's clearly on the downhill of his career, Wade's move wasn't too much of a gamble.

Sidebar note to DWade: If you don't fall after every drive, you might not get every foul called...but you might prolong your career a bit and stay off of the IR.

The main reason I wrote this piece wasn't Wade though...it was the Pacers' George Hill. Hill had a small deal with Nike prior to this February when Chinese brand, Peak offered him his own shoe.  I haven't found how much money was exchanged...but his shoes are pretty nasty (in the opinion of this old shoe designer and former sneakerhead).  But, they accomplished one thing- they got my attention.  In the sea of swooshes and stripes on an NBA court, the ugly asymmetrical design of the GH3 Peaks got my attention.

So I did some research and found a press release of Hill's new relationship with Peak Shoes...and this is a direct cut-and-paste:

'PEAK SPORTS signed George Hill from NBA INDIANA PACERS in January, 2013, and offering George Hill special PEAK professional basketball sneakers. This shoe is actually re-engraved version of the classic basketball shoes with PEAK's unique LOGO "Peak Triangle. In the first game of this season 2013 with his lucky PEAK basketball sneakers, George Hill made ​​his career in the first three pairs of 15 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds, rate the team to victory over the 76ers. George Hill said: "I hope Peak boots bring more luck for him, like Shane Battier, Jason Kidd who won championship."'

That kinda says it all, doesn't it?

Now, my Mandarin is pretty shaky...but the guy or gal that wrote/translated this press release should probably not pen press releases for the US market in English.

Methinks that if I represented George Hill, I'd try to get that quote expunged from the interwebnets or at minimum have it replaced with something that I actually said.

I've heard Hill speak a few times- he doesn't sound like a dumb guy...and he surely doesn't refer to himself as "him"...at least not in the interviews that I've seen.

So, will we all be wearing Chinese brands in the near future as we seek our first three pairs...errrrrrr triple double on the hardwood? Doubtful. The leap for most Americans from wearing Chinese-made product to openly-Chinese-owned brands seems like a chasm that won't be bridged in the near future.  But, if one of these brands can fool a few thousand people (give or take a million) for a year or two with clever marketing, they might be able to break in; hasn't happened yet, obviously.

As I've always said, let the best product, in a fair market win.

Keep Your Hands Off of the College Game, Dick.

I caught the third half of NBA basketball that I've watched all season tonight...it was entertaining, but it wasn't basketball.

The Pacers gave the Heat all they could handle before Bron Bron made an astoundingly-athletic play to lay the ball in before the clock hit triple zero.  The things James can do with a basketball in his hands, whether dribbling or traveling are astounding.  He'd be the best tight end in the NFL right now if he would have chosen to do so; the guy is a freak.  I'm not diminishing his athleticism, or anyone else's for that matter, in the NBA- they're amazing athletes...that's probably part of the reason I hate the NBA so much...These guys don't need any more help.

Things like giving the ball to the offense on the other side of half court after a timeout has been called following a basket show the silliness of the game.  If a team allows their opposition to score and a second or two is remaining, they should have to work to get the ball up the court...not be awarded with the ball in the position to score easily. You already know that I can't stand the NBA if you come here very often...so the thought of college basketball moving closer and closer to that game simply pains me.

As I watched tonight, I was reminded how much more I like college basketball.  Don't get me wrong, there's plenty wrong with the game...but I blame most of that on the NBA and people like Dick Vitale who are incessantly insisting that the NCAA continues to take steps toward the NBA game.

Crappy, inconsistent, overly-demonstrative officiating is something NBA players and teams have to deal with; it's a way of life, and its a monster that they've allowed, if not encouraged, to grow out of control. The fact that I know the name of three or four NBA officials, in itself says a lot; I'm not sure if I know the names of the starting five on the team from my hometown.  The asshats in gray shirts with black sleeves love being part of the story...and their little brothers, Hightower, Burr, Valentine and others love getting lathered up with a good home crowd.  Rather or not any of them realize it, NO ONE came to see them do their job and I truly wish we didn't know who they are (professionally, anyway).

If you've watched a game with Vitale swallowing the mic, you've heard the names of the officials as he reminds us how Valentine (or someone else who is awful at his job) is one of the best in the game.  No, he's really not, but it's not surprising that Vitale likes his style. While Vitale calls college games, he lusts for college basketball to become whatever sport the NBA has become.

Everything about the NBA takes too long. The season is about 20 games too long, the playoffs take too long and should have never been extended...and the game itself is excruciatingly-long. Game stoppages are more common than action.  One of the stoppages that Vitale wants to be brought down into the college game is the jump ball after each tie-up.  The possession arrow has been a part of college basketball for over 30 years. It's not perfect, but it keeps the game moving, and maybe more so, it's not an NBA rule, so I'm a fan of it.  Also, the possession arrow favors good fundamentals.  For instance, if a big man holds the ball up high, he's generally not going to get tied up by a smaller player.  In this scenario, the NBA rule will reward the taller guy with an easy jump over a smaller player for bringing the ball down.  Also, if a guy gives up his dribble too early, there should be a consequence; the tie-up is one of those consequences.

Now, the NCAA has a real problem in the simple fact that offensive players aren't allowed to stand their ground.  Often, the defender will accost and beat-up an offensive player in an effort to get the tie-up forcing that player to try to break free. Officials need to blow the whistle on the initial contact. If a defender can't make the play cleanly, it's a foul; pretty simple.  Afterall, basketball was once a game that didn't require pads beneath the unis.  But the NBA has already filtered down too much to the college game.  We need less of that, not more like Vitale insists upon.

So we already have a game that that allows too much banging 25 feet away from the basket, let alone in the paint...but that's not enough for Dukie V.  He also wants the NCAA to have six fouls like the league:

"I am sick and tired of seeing star players getting whistled for two quick fouls and then winding up on the sideline. Nothing against the officials that are out there doing their job, but there were too many times this past season where stars were sitting because coaches were afraid they would get a third foul in the first half."

Did you catch that? His premise says a lot about what he thinks about college basketball.  He thinks it's about the star players...not about the team.  He wants it to be about the individual; isolation plays, one-on-ones...that's what college fans want, right? Not really. I'd argue that even the majority of fans of teams like Kentucky and other NBA mills are still there to watch their squad, not just individuals. Sure foul trouble hurts, but this argument is a bit like a political argument in which we should make everything legal because the jails are too crowded. This type of thinking has large consequences and really doesn't address the root of the problem.  PLUS, and more obvious, the college game is 40 minutes long...the NBA game is 48 minutes long.  I wasn't a math major.  But I can tell you with a decent amount of confidence that both games give every player one foul for every 8 minutes played.  Seems pretty fair, no?

Vitale continues his asinine argument by saying this sixth foul is needed because the game is more physical than it used to be.  Finally, we agree on something...BUT, giving the players another foul isn't the answer- calling the game consistently and less like an NBA game would cure this problem.

Another thing that Dukie V wants to see changed is he wants the shot clock to be changed from 35 to 30 seconds.  Once again, this takes college basketball another step toward the NBA game; a place that people like me don't want to see it go. His argument is that offensive efficiency needs to be improved.  The theory is of course flawed because a rushed shot isn't a better shot...But really, this is another rule that would greatly favor the teams that have superstars.  Setting up a play and moving the ball isn't what Vitale wants.  He wants more running, less discipline, less team basketball and more one-on-one matchups.

All of that is great in the NBA. There are 30 teams in the NBA, drafts, salary caps, and contracts have a way of creating parity*. But in the NCAA, you have small athletic departments competing with much larger ones. Butler's budgets are no where near that of Kentucky, UConn...or even Purdue.  But they still have to play these teams...and guys like Brad Stevens use their brains to try to offset the clear talent disparity; and it works.  Many of Vitale's proposed changes move the college game toward the murky waters of a one-on-one game.  Most players had plenty of that style in AAU ball; the really good ones will get to play it again in the league. Talent will always be king, but the reason Cinderella exists at all is generally because of tremendous coaching.

Oh yeah, one more thing Vitale wants- he wants every college basketball player to be paid.  Perrrrrrrfect. At the very least, he's consistent- Consistently moronic and ironic.  Vitale perpetually defends guys like Calipari and Calhoun who break NCAA rules like they breath...Coach Vitale, memo: Many of the teams that are loaded with the superstars and diaper dandies that you love so much already pay their players, baby!  I guess in his world, his pals could stop living a lie; so that'd be nice for them.

Vitale yells about how college basketball is the greatest game in the world, YET, he's trying his damnedest to make college basketball into the game that used to be basketball in the NBA.

The NCAA would be wise to do as so many of us have continually done whenever Vitale is speaking, and hit the mute button.


*When Stern isn't making exceptions to certain trades and blocking others

It Used To Matter Around Here...

The Pacers played the Knicks for the first time in the playoffs in 13 years today and came away with a win after traveling to the most-famous arena in the world.  The guys who were supposed to play well for the Pacers and Knicks did so- George and West led the Pacers as Anthony and Smith countered for the once-hated Knicks.

Following the game, local Indianapolis TV stations tried to capture the mood in Indy bars about how the fans felt in the wake of the Pacers not allowing NY to defend home court...the apathy was palpable.  I empathize with the meh feeling.

15 years ago, I like the NBA...and I loved playoff basketball.  I really loved when the Pacers played the Knicks.  Not only could you feel the energy in Market Square Arena, but you could feel it in the city.  Miller, Davis and Smits...Starks, Oakley and Ewing. Sure I sound like an old guy, but it's not the same anymore (and get off my lawn!).

J confessed the other night during a Half-Handsome Hour that he actually is more of a Rangers fan that a Purdue fan; surprising, kinda...but he's been a Rangers fan much longer than a Purdue fan.  He didn't start rooting for Purdue until he decided to go there back in the early-mid 90s.  But the same thing might have been said at one time for the Knicks (I'm putting words in his mouth right now, mind you).  I can assure you that it wouldn't be said today; J doesn't care too much for the Knicks, or the NBA for that matter anymore.

As for me, I was brainwashed to be a Purdue fan and can never remember not rooting for Purdue.  BUT, before I ever went to a Purdue game, I went to Pacers games.  My Grandfather owned the Pacers in the 70s and 80s...my family sat courtside. I can remember kneeling on the court and coloring on my seat during games when I was bored.  Willard Eason, my Grandpa, sold his interest in the Pacers after building Market Square Arena and moving the Pacers from the ABA to the NBA...and when he died, actually well before that, he had no connection to the team. But that didn't stop me from watching and caring about the Pacers during middle school, high school and college.

But like my pal J Money with his Knicks, I don't care too much for the Pacers anymore...or the NBA for that matter.

There are only so many hours in the day and sports year...and time is more precious the older my kids get.  If I'm going to waste spend time watching sports these days, it's generally not going to be NBA basketball, except for some playoff basketball maybe...I just don't care about it.  But, for some reason, my seven year old son does like the Pacers...so we watched the game this afternoon.

I can honestly say, I don't know many of the players on the Pacers roster...and I'm OK with it. I feel about the Pacers kinda like I feel about Purdue's womens' basketball team- since they represent something close to me, so I want to see them do well...but it doesn't bother me at all when they lose.

They lost me at the brawl...but if I was being honest, I was already on my way out when that happened.  When I lived in the Northeast in the late-90s and the NBA was pimping guys like Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady as the generation to replace Jordan and company, I wasn't on board.  I didn't like the personalities or the style of play anymore and my gaze was shifting full-time to Purdue and everything around it.

It really doesn't matter why it happened, but it happened.  Anymore, I probably wouldn't pay more than $15 for a Pacers game; in fact, I think I payed around that last year when I took my son to see JJ and E'Twaun sit on the bench for the Celtics.  It was boring, the regular season is passionless and the NBA didn't really rekindle an old flame that day.

But it used to matter; J and I used to talk trash about the Pacers v. Knicks...we used to care and actually move our schedules around to watch those games on TV...not-so-much anymore.

In the wake of watching the IndyCar race from Brazil on TV, on a rainy Sunday afternoon; TBD was napping, Mrs. BDowd was working, and LBD and I watched the Pacers take a 1-0 lead over the Knicks...and no one really cared (around here, anyway).

In case you didn't watch, this definitely didn't happen today.

Man, I Wish The NBA PROMOTED Guys Who Didn't Suck

I'm going to counterpoint myself because like Harvey Dent, I am of multiple minds.

A lot of people simply pointed out that there are likable players and perhaps even entire teams in the NBA. Obviously, this is a matter of opinion and with the way we pretty much hate the NBA around here, you can imagine how skeptical we might be.

However, if I'm being fair, it's true. Last year's Mavs team, to me, is a good example. A bunch of guys who seem to genuinely like each other (rather than just for the cameras). I even wrote about how much they made me sort of actually like NBA basketball if only for a few nights. Guys who are thrilled and humbled to have won a championship, rather than immediately think of a way to scream out a tagline of one of their sponsors (and yet do it incorrectly).

This year, teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder fit the bill. Some might argue the Pacers also are likable. So why don't teams like this get promoted? Oh, right. Because they're not the Celtics or Lakers or the Heat. And just to remind you of what kind of guy LeBron James is, in case you find yourself rooting for him, from a Wojo column last June:

There’s nothing real about James’ world, and never has been. He’s a prisoner of a life that his sycophants and enablers and our sporting culture has created for him. He’s rich and talented and something of a tortured soul. He’s the flawed superstar for these flawed times. He’s a creation of a basketball breeding ground full of such twisted priorities and warped principles. Almost every person who’s ever had to work closely with him, who has spent significant time, who’s watched him belittle and bully people, told me they were rooting hard against him. That’s sad, and that’s something he doesn’t understand and probably never will.

So yes, there are actually likable guys and teams out in the NBA. There are charitable guys and considerate guys and guys who play because they love playing and care about their fans. But the faces that the league chooses to promote heavily are not the kinds of guys I can possibly think about rooting anything but against.

Man, I Wish The NBA Didn't Suck

Likable?

Every now and then we write about the NBA around these parts, which is weird because we generally think the NBA product sucks. So maybe that's why we do it, because as you know, we love to complain about things that really grind our gears.

The thought I keep coming back to is this: The NBA is just terrible.

I grew up in NJ in the '80s and '90s so I remember the Knicks being terrible in the '80s but at least sort of likable, then ascending to be a 60-win team in the Pat Riley era, albeit one that could never get past Jordan. I remember being in high school when the Knicks found a way to lose to the Bulls in 1993 even with home court advantage when Charles Smith was "blocked" four times, without a foul ever being committed! Yay, Jordan Rules! (Yes, I'm rambling now, but it's not like you have anything better to do.)

I was also a real fan of the Knicks (yes, I can admit this) when in 1994 -- yes, with Michael on hiatus -- the Knicks made the Finals and actually had a 3-2 lead, but then went to Houston thanks to the NBA's idiotic 2-3-2 format and lost Games 6 and 7, helped by John Starks shooting like Boilerdowd at the Co-Rec in the same era.

I was still a fan in 1997, when the Miami Heat's PJ Brown started a near riot as the Knicks were taking a 3-1 series lead, resulting in suspensions galore (this was the beginning of the rule where leaving the bench resulted in a suspension and guys weren't used to it yet, thus peacemakers were suspended). So many Knicks were suspended that they had to stagger the suspensions or else the Knicks wouldn't have enough players. They wound up losing in 7.

I was a happy fan who felt like I was getting a bonus in 1999, when the Knicks as the 8-seed knocked out the 1-seed Heat and went all the way to the Finals, losing to San Antonio. So yeah, I was an NBA fan, I suppose, but I never lived and died with the Knicks the way I do with Purdue, for example.

What am I getting at? Well, I just think the league is completely unlikable anymore and there's also almost zero excitement in the playoffs, at least in these early rounds. Did anyone really think the Knicks had a shot against the Heat? I loved listening to NY sports radio and hearing people talk themselves into the idea that the Knicks had a chance. Come on. I mean, obviously, they should have a chance, given the likes of Stoudamire and Anthony, but this team is dysfunctional and not interested in actually acting like, you know, a team.

Sure, the Sixers are looking to pull a major upset over the Bulls, but once Rose went down, I think the Bulls folded the tent. I'm not even going to bag on them about that, either, because that was just crushing.

In the end, you know the teams that are going to be in the hunt. And sadly, those teams are made up of unlikable d-bags. LeBron James? Dwayne Wade? Kobe Bryant? Egotistical, arrogant, disingenuous d-bags.

Kobe Bryant screws anything that will move while he's married and then lies about it -- this is a guy you want to root for? Carmelo Anthony is a career underachiever (8 first round exits in 9 playoffs) who pouted his way out of Denver and then undermined his coach in New York, ultimately getting D'Antoni to resign. LeBron? Well, the list of reasons to hate him is endless.

The league is unlikable and predictable. Look at these series! There literally isn't a competitive one among them. Brutal. Compare this to my NHL, where nearly every series has been competitive and compelling and where literally every team in the playoffs can have legitimate hope to advance deep. Oh, and where the players give genuine interviews and seem earnest in their team-first attitudes.

I wish the NBA was more compelling. I wish the guys were easier to root for. I wish the series were exciting in the first couple of rounds and worth watching. But they aren't. The NBA is a terrible product right now, in my opinion. And that really grinds my gears.

NBA, NFL and baseball Boiler Updates (Monday Gumbo)

I tuned in for much of the fourth quarter of the Celtics hoping to see a glimpse of Smooge or JJ...and I got to see it! But what I saw was merely Moore on the bench following Rajon Rondo's spastic nonsensical pair of techs following a questionable call in the closing minute of the contest.

Much like Ron World War a week ago, not only was Rondo a bad actor in this stanza, but he lied after saying he didn't mean to run into the official.

Not only did he mean to, he put his chest out just before bumping the official for effect.  And whenever a professional athlete says they inadvertently ran into someone, our antennae should perk up.  These guys are the best athletes in the world...and are pretty coordinated as well. I'm a pretty average person, when it comes to coordination, and I hardly ever just run into someone when not pushed or throw elbows into someones neck accidentally.  Rondo isn't on the same level of maliciousness, obviously...but he's acted pretty dumb in the situation's wake by lying.

No need for Moore to wear a uni under his warm-up
thanks to Doc

A Reason to Watch the Finals?

Here's the deal- I haven't watched a single minute of the NBA Finals live. I don't like the Lakers or the Celtics organizations, I'm not a fan of most of the superstars playing for either team...so I'm rooting against both. Plus, I don't like the league to begin with.

But, the press conference with Nate Robinson & Big Baby was pretty entertaining...and anytime a grown man can run a line of spittle out of his mouth, that's must-see TV.

As much of the Twitterverse said, Big Baby will now never lose his nickname.

All that said, I'm still not watching.

NBA Playoffs Thoughts

I take away a few things before the NBA Playoffs start. First, ESPN is promoting a NBA Playoffs Bracket. It's almost like they're paying homage to that great March sporting event that also uses a bracket... the BCS. Oh wait. It's exactly like that, well except for the BCS part. Why? Because people love brackets. It's a simple fact. Brackets work and people can follow along easily.

Second, look at the parity in the Western conference. Every team has between 50 and 57 wins. Does anyone out there really want to play 7 seed San Antonio? I know I wouldn't want my team playing against them. They're loaded with experience and have been playing their best ball lately. Oklahoma City made the playoffs and I don't see them not making the playoffs for a long time now. They're young and talented, and oh by the way, have tons of cap space too. Once they left Seattle they became a perfectly run franchise. The Lakers should get by them, but I don't think it will be as easy as some talking heads.

Over in the East, it's definitely top heavy. Atlanta should scare people, but because they have to go through Orlando to advance, I think their season ends in the second round. I think the Cavs will have a harder time in the first round against the Bulls than they will in the second round against either the Celtics or Heat. Should the Cavs and Magic match up in the conference finals, I think the winner of that series will win the whole thing. While the Cavs have home court and a better record, they really need to be concerned about the Magic. The past week the Cavs have rested their starters and proceeded to lose 4 in a row. I guess we'll see if they can just turn it back on come Saturday. For their sake (and mine) I hope they can. Shaq has been out for 6 weeks and the Cavs will need to have him fully integrated before a series with Dwight Howard comes along. The entire Cavs offseason was predicated on just such a matchup, so we'll get to see if Shaq can do more than slow down Howard, and we'll see if the added length of Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker can contain Rashard Lewis. It should be a better matchup than last year.

Also, the freaking Cavs need to win it this year. For my sanity.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are having way too much fun

With the pregame dancing and fake photography, the in game dancing, the constant clowning, and now the spoofing of commercials, when do they have time to dominate the Detroit Pistons? Oh that's right. All the time.

My Conspiracy Theory was Correct?

For those of you who know me well, you've probably heard me rant about how I thought the NBA was rigged. That said, I used to believe that games outcomes weren't steered, but controlled to a great degree. There are a lot of theories out there about how the game can be controlled...from salary cap breaks to things that simply make the game more entertaining, there is a lot of room and even some evidence of tampering.





My theory was elaborate, but plausible. The first element of my conspiracy was the officials. As we're seeing in each game of th 2008 playoffs, they can control the outcome of contests. For instance, we've seen 60 point swings during this year's playoffs in at least 3 series. I've heard for so long that the players are professionals...little things like crowds and environments simply don't affect athletes of this ilk. Well, if that's the case, something else is at play here...the foul counts don't help anything either.

The second layer of my theory was that the coaches were involved. Granted, not all coaches played along, but most do. Subtle changes in the rotation of players can make a big difference. We saw a bit of this last night as the Lakers held a slim lead and the Celtics came out of one of their last timeouts with only one of the big three in the game. Why would a coach do such a thing? Well, it's simple. That coach owes EVERYTHING to the NBA. What type of guy owes so much? An ex-player, of course. In fact, I can only count 7 coaches that didn't play in the league...most, in fact, had long, successful careers.

The third layer was that a superstar from each team needed to play ball wit the plan...this guy can't be just any good player, he needs to be a guy who, once again, feels somewhat in debt to the league for his status. I'm not talking about throwing the game, I'm talking about missing free throws, faking sickness or injury or even taking it easy from time to time.

Many have questioned my theory...and I understand them thinking I'm nuts. Afterall, we haven't heard a songbird come to the forefront and spout off about anything even close...until now.

Granted, this little birdie is a less-than reputable source in the fact that his character is clearly horrible...but even liars tell the truth sometimes. Tim Doneghy has started talking about various playoff series in which the league told officials, not just him, to keep certain players from playing their game. To some, this is sacrilege, but the story has legs as former Rockets coach was fined, and get this, $100,000, for complaining about officiating during the Rockets/Mavs series a few years ago.

This goes along with my vast theory as Van Gundy is just a good coach...not an ex-player. Like his brother who has also gotten into trouble with the league for complaining about officials, these two have never been tight-lipped about their displeasure about NBA officials...until last night.

If you saw the halftime story about Doneghy's account of the series in question, I found it laughable. Van Gundy wouldn't really talk about his problems with the refs and Stern's response, to me anyway, was not believable. Just like in the Roger Clemens case, the easiest thing to do is to start questioning the words of a proven liar...but what if both sides are liars? Then it comes down to the court of public opinion...Like a gameshow, Who's the Bigger Liar?

Regardless of what the public and eventually the legal system finds out, it doesn't matter who was the bigger liar...The biggest victims of such a conspiracy would be the fans first, and the game second.

Like all pessimists, I hope you can tell me I'm wrong someday...But I seriously doubt you'll be able to.

Is There Anything Redeeming About The NBA Finals?

Okay, NBA and David Stern, you got the series you wanted -- Lakers/Celtics. Hoo-freaking-rah. And sure, I guess I'm a little more likely to take an interest in this series because of the two franchises and that's exactly what they want. But there's so little that's redeeming about these NBA Finals and it irritates me that people still worship these clowns. To whit:

- Why would anyone cheer for Kobe? Can someone explain this to me? I mean, other than Lakers fans, why would you like him? He's a transparent, backstabbing, childish, adultering (and maybe rapist), juvenile brat who pouts and spouts off when he doesn't get his way... and who never really knows what's good for him or the team. I give the Lakers front office amazing credit for the way they put this team together and resisted the urge to dump Kobe last summer. It turns out that the Lakers are freaking good now and that the players Mitch Kupchak was stockpiling have nearly all worked out, and they'll probably be good for a while now. It's not inconceiveable that Kobe and the Lakers will be back in the Finals on a regular basis for the next five years. Yet just a year ago, the little a-hole was saying he wanted to leave... then he didn't, then he did. Maybe he just didn't realize radio shows in LA could eventually be heard by people in New York and vice versa. Or maybe he's just a crazy little brat who should stick to basketball and let others run the team. Shut up and play and make your $20 mill, Kobe. Ugh. Who would want to see him win? He deserves a 23-59 season, not a title.

- The Celts big 3. Well, these guys aren't awful, I guess. But it's kind of hard to root for guys who cruise into town to cash in on a fortuitous situation and wind up with a title. Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen were their teams biggest stars for years and absolutely never delivered. Garnett couldn't get the T-Wolves out of the first round for years and probably sullied the image of Flip Saunders, which Flip is clearly still paying for. As for Allen, likable guy, but never a winner. If these guys win it all, will you feel happy for them? Maybe, I guess, since they've all been longtime players who haven't been able to win. But winning in a uniform they've spent the least amount of time in? I don't know. Also, Doc Rivers is not a very good coach. That will come to light in this series, I think.

- Nice start times, ABC/NBA money-printing machine. Yes, tonight's Game 1 begins at.... wait for it... 9 effing o'clock, Eastern time! That's nucking futs! 9 PM!!! This is inexcusable. I understand the Lakers play in LA and thus, it's only 6 PM there, but people in LA don't even work that late so why not start it at 8 PM, at least, Eastern time, so that people in Boston can kind of enjoy it. Morons. And don't even get me started on the wait time we just had for the Finals to start. How come the Celts first-round Game 7 with Atlanta was on the same day as other Game 1s of the second round? How can you begin the second round without some teams being out of the first? Oh, you're in a hurry to keep things moving? Fantastic. But then why have four off-days before starting the Finals? Ohhhhh, so games can land on the weekend. Well-played, NBA. Not moronic at all.

- The NBA's archaic 2-3-2 Finals format. And it's only for the Finals! Brilliant! And don't give me the "travel" argument. These teams travel on private charter jets with the finest creature comforts, replete with masseuses and probably BJs from fluffers. I don't want to hear anyone feeling sorry for these guys for having to take a couple of cross-country flights. I have to do that for my job oftentimes and I don't get days off in between and I also don't get, oh, you know, three effing months off after a project. And if you're going to use this argument that, well, the 2-3-2 cuts down on travel, well, then, okay, I want to see Games 1 and 2 on back to back nights, and then one day off and then Games 3, 4 and 5 on three consecutive nights, with one day off to go back to Boston for Games 6 and 7. But that's not how it will be done. These guys are so delicate that they get days off all over the place. Oh, wait, that's right -- it's for money/TV reasons. Even this Sunday's Game 2 (Game 2 not until SUNDAY -- if it goes 7, it will take two weeks; ridiculous) will be at 9 PM, Eastern. For what reason? Idiotic NBA.

So tell me... am I wrong? What's awesome about this series?

Unwatchable

The NBA, as you know isn't the most interesting product on the television. But, in a typical summer, I usually really enjoy taking in quite a few playoff games. The reason is simple- for me, there's not much else that's sports-related and by this time, with only NHL, WNBA and MLB on the TV, I'm sports-starved.

As usual, I've tuned into the games as I flipped around. Problem is, the product is horrible to watch. It's not the fact that the quality of athlete isn't there. No one will argue that Manu Ginobli, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Pau Gasol, The Big 3 in Boston, and the veterans in Detroit aren't talented, but their games surely have become unwatchable.

I understand why the league instructs its officials to swallow their whistles a bit for the home teams, but what we've witnessed in the '08 playoffs has been goofy if not ridiculous. Last night contest in San Antonio was no exception. The Lakers were getting beaten up...that's what the Spurs do, but they were also getting jobbed while they were on defense. Derrick Fisher got 3 quickly in the first half and the superstar of the league (arguably) was getting smacked every time he shot the ball...and never went to the free throw line for shooting fouls.

I'm by no means a Kobe fan- the guy's an arrogant jerk...but, he does draw fouls. What we've been watching isn't basketball; it's really become like the Harlem Globetrotters, except the Washington Generals change every two games or so.

It's really no wonder the US has been less-than-stellar versus international competition the last few years. But, it's no less sad as it used to be one of America's past times.

Instead of watching the playoffs, I've caught up with Jon & Kate Plus 8 with my wife, Mythbusters reruns, Modern Marvels (any topic) or even Women's college softball (as long as Arizona's playing). I'd love to watch a classic Purdue game, but my pals at Comcast don't carry the Big Ten network, and my buddies at AT&T finally let me know that I can't get UVerse much to my chagrin. I'd love to tell you that I've dug into a book or tow during the last month, but I'm not much of a reader...In fact, reading books usually ends with me napping (a la watching Pistons v. Celtics)...so that's no good.

It's a good thing that it doesn't get dark until 9:00 in Indiana so I can stay outside as long as possible working on my skateboard skills or my killer raindrop jumpshot.

Thanks for nothing, Mr. Stern. I know I'm no longer in the ideal market age group, but seriously, not one of my friends finds the NBA worth a damn any longer.

Seriously, Boston...The Hawks?

It's been well-documented that I think the NBA sucks. And the playoffs are for the most part continuing to illustrate that suckitude. LA sweeps Denver, San Antonio has dominated Phoenix, and the Hornets are crushing the no-heart Mavs. And those were expected to be the good series

But just like last year's first round, when Golden State took down top-seed Dallas, there's a lone interesting series going on in the first round... and it happens to be the one that everybody thought would be a complete walkover.

The 66-16 Celtics have somehow allowed the Atlanta Hawks -- the 37-45 Hawks -- back into this series.

I still don't think there a chance in hell that the Celtics will lose this series. But after a year of nobody talking about it, here is suddenly a huge reminder that Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen have been playoff disappointments their entire careers and Doc Rivers hasn't really done much as a coach in the NBA.

Most interesting thing learned, though... the Hawks actually have bloggers... wow. What must that be like most nights

"We lost again tonight... only 3400 people were here."

This is the week blogging for the Hawks actually pays off.

That's how you define beat down.

Nobody beats the Wiz.


Apparently the Wizards weren't too despondent about being down 2-0 in the playoffs. They responded with their very own rousing game of beatdown.


This is the Cavs before game 3.


















This is the Cavs after game 3.

How do you define beatdown?

Is a 30 point defeat considered a beatdown? I suppose on an individual level it is. In the bigger scheme though, a single victory doesn't much matter. The Cavs need to stay in the Wizards heads and pull off the sweep. Going into the end of the season, the Cavs had no momentum. Now that they've put together a squeaker and a blowout, maybe they can continue this throughout the playoffs. The problem is waiting in Boston though. I truly believe that should the Cavs get past the Wizards, that they'd have no problems with the Pistons. The problem for them is that the Pistons aren't next in line. Like it or not, the east goes through Boston.

On a side note, apparently LeBron is just a bit taller than DeShawn "My hand tastes good" Stevenson. You'd think DeShawn would've learned his yapping lesson, but no. When he cut the Cavs lead last night from 19 to 16 he licked his hand... Um. I don't think you should showboat when you're down by 16. Just a thought.