After tonight's Celtics-Magic Eastern Conference finals game, I am ashamed and embarrassed for the NBA. If you who are reading this post are fans of professional basketball, I know that you agree.
It's hard to tell where to start with such an awful game, but I think the point that needs the most belaboring is certainly the officiating. By game's end, I would have liked nothing more than for someone to walk right up to Joe Crawford and strip him of his NBA officiating status.
This, remember, is the same man that threw San Antonio forward Tim Duncan out of a game and actually challenged him to a fight afterwards. Who does that?
Joe Crawford and the rest of the officiating staff in my opinion was the embodiment of what a referee shouldn't be like in game 5. I can't verbally express to you in words what exactly happened, because the highlights will be replayed, and I urge you to look for yourself, but I will try for a number of points.
In the first half, Celtics center Kendrick Perkins was whistled for a technical foul while trying to help teammate Paul Pierce up off the floor. His hand slipped out of Pierce's grip, and Perkins accidentally elbowed Magic center Dwight Howard in the chest. The refs weren't going to hesitate on this one. Perkinds was "T'd" up in no time.
The second time Perkins was called he was thrown out of the game (two technicals equals an automatic ejection). The game itself is physical, especially since it's the Eastern Conference Finals. Howard and Perkins are the biggest guys on the floor, so they obviously will be battling for position. Perkins tapped Howard's elbow, causing him to lose control of the ball. Perkins was called for the questionable foul, and almost lost his temper. But he restrained himself and began walking downcourt away from the refs, a good decision for any NBA player facing that situation. The refs proceeded to give him a technical anyway, which meant his ejection from the game.
Any basketball player in the NBA is supposed to be physically fit and strong, but the acting going on in this series by both teams is ridiculous. The refs were prompted to call the most needless fouls because Jameer Nelson or Paul Pierce fell when someone touched their arm. Flopping is everywhere, and no one's going to stop doing it, but I wish the referees in tonight's game didn't call a foul every time it happened.
I know that it's not the easiest thing to catch and call (or not call) a foul on, but it's the playoffs! Every team is more physical because they have a common goal: to win a championship. So when someone touches another player's elbow, or Rasheed Wallace or Perkins get physical with Howard or Brandon Bass down on the blocks, please just let them play! I'm not going to accuse the NBA or refs of trying to "make the series interesting" by aiding Orlando's cause, but the fouls that were called tonight really should have been left alone. Extremely poor referee-ing going on tonight.
One other thing in the game that served to piss me off incredibly (aside from the lack of shooting ability or defensive skill on the Celtics part) was when Glen Davis took a Dwight Howard elbow to the face after going up to block a shot. Howard, who we've learned from this series throws menacing "bows," brought his elbow swiftly down on Big Baby's nose, which knocked him almost unconscious. He remained on the floor for several seconds after the Magic had taken the ball upcourt, and attempted to get up after Celtics head coach Doc Rivers shouted at him to hurry off the floor. He staggered for a bit, then slipped and fell, clearly not all there from the impact of Howard's hit.
What really got to me was when Davis tried to get up but slipped and fell again, the Magic crowd loved it, and began cheering at his clear lack of functioning motor skills. I will call the Orlando fans out who were at that game: you are the definition of classless. You may point your fingers elsewhere, and say that I'm biased because I'm a Celtics fans, but it doesn't matter. For those who watched it on TV, we saw it.
There's also a lot of conspiracy talk circulating that the NBA is trying to send this series into as many games as possible to make more money. While that does make sense because this is a business, it's not an excuse for why the Celtics haven't shown up to the last two contests. I don't necessarily agree with any conspiracy theories, I just want the Celtics to play the basketball they are capable of playing, which looked a lot like the first three games in this series.
People say that this could be the basketball version of the Bruins Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Flyers, but that's not right either. The Magic have won two games, and have to return to Boston for game 6 on Friday, where you know Doc will have his players ready to go. No need for panic yet.
But after sitting and suffering through tonight's game, I'd say it's time for a few changes to the Celtics offensive/defensive woes, and a decently officiated game on Friday would be appreciated.
So here's hoping that Friday's game 6 matchup in Boston will bring the necessary changes that basketball fans need to see.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Addressing Tanking
It's been a while since I've heard the term "tanking," referring to any team's collapse at virtually the end of its season in order to gain a higher draft spot (or more draft stock, in the NBA Lottery's case). If you've kept up with SportsCenter in the last few years, you've probably heard the term once or twice, but in general not too often.
I've recently been involved in a discussion about how the NBA Draft Lottery prevents teams from tanking, which in my opinion seems like the only upside to the lottery system. While I agree that the lottery may keep teams from tanking at the end of their season (because no one has a set draft position, just greater stock toward the first pick), I don't think tanking should be a concern in any way, regardless of whether or not the NBA takes up a regular draft system or keeps it as is.
When a team intentionally tanks as its season wraps up and the postseason becomes an unattainable goal, it's usually a top draft choice that becomes the prize upon which its eyes are fixated. This is most common in the NFL, where there is an abundance of stellar players from college, and the cream of the crop is awarded to those who lose the most.
But just because tanking might mean a top draft choice doesn't necessarily mean all the problems from last season will be solved that way.
Every team and every front office organization in the world of sports is very aware that it is first and foremost a business, and by tanking teams lose serious amounts of money. It's bad enough that the team is in tanking position in the first place, which obviously doesn't do wonders for the fan base. But to purposely lose games at the end of the season really turns people against an organization, because it's certainly not a step in the right direction. No one wants to buy tickets and go to games to watch a team purposely lose. And if the front office of a sports club has control of its staff and players, which they should, they wouldn't allow tanking.
So if the NBA were to switch its draft system over to a standarized one (worst team gets first pick), I don't think tanking would be any issue. It hasn't been an issue for years in any sport, and not much would change that would make tanking a serious problem. It's still a business, which is what everyone needs to remember. The reason teams get better (as was brought up in one of my off-blog conversations) is by building bench depth, trading for players that fit team needs, and hiring coaches and staff members that will get the job done. And what is all of that completed with? That's right...MONEY!
So here's to the thought of tanking having been an experiment of the past, and a complete failure of a concept.
I've recently been involved in a discussion about how the NBA Draft Lottery prevents teams from tanking, which in my opinion seems like the only upside to the lottery system. While I agree that the lottery may keep teams from tanking at the end of their season (because no one has a set draft position, just greater stock toward the first pick), I don't think tanking should be a concern in any way, regardless of whether or not the NBA takes up a regular draft system or keeps it as is.
When a team intentionally tanks as its season wraps up and the postseason becomes an unattainable goal, it's usually a top draft choice that becomes the prize upon which its eyes are fixated. This is most common in the NFL, where there is an abundance of stellar players from college, and the cream of the crop is awarded to those who lose the most.
But just because tanking might mean a top draft choice doesn't necessarily mean all the problems from last season will be solved that way.
Every team and every front office organization in the world of sports is very aware that it is first and foremost a business, and by tanking teams lose serious amounts of money. It's bad enough that the team is in tanking position in the first place, which obviously doesn't do wonders for the fan base. But to purposely lose games at the end of the season really turns people against an organization, because it's certainly not a step in the right direction. No one wants to buy tickets and go to games to watch a team purposely lose. And if the front office of a sports club has control of its staff and players, which they should, they wouldn't allow tanking.
So if the NBA were to switch its draft system over to a standarized one (worst team gets first pick), I don't think tanking would be any issue. It hasn't been an issue for years in any sport, and not much would change that would make tanking a serious problem. It's still a business, which is what everyone needs to remember. The reason teams get better (as was brought up in one of my off-blog conversations) is by building bench depth, trading for players that fit team needs, and hiring coaches and staff members that will get the job done. And what is all of that completed with? That's right...MONEY!
So here's to the thought of tanking having been an experiment of the past, and a complete failure of a concept.
A Little Bit About the NBA Draft Lottery
There's something about the NBA Draft Lottery that I absolutely detest.
To fill everyone in, last night (May 18) was the annual NBA Draft Lottery, a system that determines where an NBA franchise will select their picks in the upcoming NBA Draft on June 24. The New Jersey Nets, a team that had one of the worst records in league history at 12-70, will not be selecting first overall, as many people would have imagined.
I am in no way a Nets fan. But I feel that if things were fair in this league that has fluctuated on the brink of complete and utter failure for decades now, the worst team with the worst record should have the first overall selection come draft day.
That to me seems like the most logical situation.
However for some reason, league officials feel the need to make the draft selection process more of a gambling game. The team with the worst record has the most STOCK in garnering the first selection, while the next five or so lowly teams in the league have a slightly lower chance at the first pick, but a chance nonetheless.
The Nets had a 25 percent chance of attaining that coveted pick, which would ultimately result in undoubtedly the best and most likely pick in the draft: Kentucky freshman John Wall, whom many experts say could easily be among the most elite point guards in the league within just a year's time. But how often have we seen in past years the team with the best shot at the first pick actually receive it?
This is all by chance, of course, so it's not like history (or anyone else) has it out for the team with the best chances. But again, we find that the Nets come away with the THIRD overall pick, not the first, which belongs to the Washington Wizards.
It seems to me that this whole thing should be automatic. The Nets (12-70) have the worst record, so they get the first pick. Done. The Timberwolves (15-67) have the second worst record. They get the second pick. Simple. Sacramento (25-57) get the third pick, and so on. It just makes sense. But instead, New Jersey gets third, Minnesota picks fourth and Sacramento fifth.
The one thing that keeps me somewhat at peace with this ordeal is the fact that the Nets at the very least have some bright spots: Brook Lopez, Devin Harris (for now), the third best player in the upcoming draft, a new billionaire owner who will probably do wonders for the organization (like maybe move them out of New Jersey to a bigger media outlet [Brooklyn]), and a shot at signing the best player in the game today (LeBron James). The Wizards have no bright spots; not even Gilbert Arenas, who can shoot the lights out, but can't stay out of trouble or away from injury for two consecutive games. The traded away two of their top players at mid-season in Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, and not even head coach Flip Saunders, despite his credible coaching resume, can't turn this team around.
But the Wizards weren't the worst team in basketball! Regardless of how hopeless they were, they didn't gain that first pick because they desperately needed it. They got lucky! Did anyone see the Wizards representative's face at the Lottery, and how shocked she was when they announced it? Because they as an ogranization didn't deserve it; the Nets did.
Now it appears John Wall will be a Wizard, and the Nets may have to settle for neither of the two best players in the draft bunch (unless the 76ers, the team with the second-overall selection, pass up on Evan Turner for Wesley Johnson or Derrick Favors).
As a Celtics fan, I obviously don't have any qualms with the way things turned out three years ago when the C's had the worst record in the NBA, but ended up with the fifth pick in the lottery gamble.
But that's easy for me to say now, because I know what has happened in those in between years. We traded for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, won a championship, and are currently up 2-0 on the Orlando Magic in the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals. But what about before all that, when we drew the fifth pick in the 2007 Draft? Greg Oden and Kevin Durant were the two best players in the nation, and one of them was supposed to be wearing Celtic green before that fateful lottery.
Like I said, we know now that things turned out perfectly for the Celtics, but we can't predict the same thing for the Nets, the Wizards or any other NBA team. All we know is that the Nets will be robbed of the best player this year, all because of this wacky system.
I'd love to see the draft lottery abolished completely in my lifetime, which I think will happen eventually. The more teams like the Celtics and Nets get gambled out of their rightful picks, the more criticism will surface about the system.
But the NBA Draft itself, as well as the NFL Draft, are two of my favorite non-championship sporting events, and I look forward to writing more about which athlete fits in where as the draft draws closer.
So for now: here's hoping for an NBA Draft revolution.
To fill everyone in, last night (May 18) was the annual NBA Draft Lottery, a system that determines where an NBA franchise will select their picks in the upcoming NBA Draft on June 24. The New Jersey Nets, a team that had one of the worst records in league history at 12-70, will not be selecting first overall, as many people would have imagined.
I am in no way a Nets fan. But I feel that if things were fair in this league that has fluctuated on the brink of complete and utter failure for decades now, the worst team with the worst record should have the first overall selection come draft day.
That to me seems like the most logical situation.
However for some reason, league officials feel the need to make the draft selection process more of a gambling game. The team with the worst record has the most STOCK in garnering the first selection, while the next five or so lowly teams in the league have a slightly lower chance at the first pick, but a chance nonetheless.
The Nets had a 25 percent chance of attaining that coveted pick, which would ultimately result in undoubtedly the best and most likely pick in the draft: Kentucky freshman John Wall, whom many experts say could easily be among the most elite point guards in the league within just a year's time. But how often have we seen in past years the team with the best shot at the first pick actually receive it?
This is all by chance, of course, so it's not like history (or anyone else) has it out for the team with the best chances. But again, we find that the Nets come away with the THIRD overall pick, not the first, which belongs to the Washington Wizards.
It seems to me that this whole thing should be automatic. The Nets (12-70) have the worst record, so they get the first pick. Done. The Timberwolves (15-67) have the second worst record. They get the second pick. Simple. Sacramento (25-57) get the third pick, and so on. It just makes sense. But instead, New Jersey gets third, Minnesota picks fourth and Sacramento fifth.
The one thing that keeps me somewhat at peace with this ordeal is the fact that the Nets at the very least have some bright spots: Brook Lopez, Devin Harris (for now), the third best player in the upcoming draft, a new billionaire owner who will probably do wonders for the organization (like maybe move them out of New Jersey to a bigger media outlet [Brooklyn]), and a shot at signing the best player in the game today (LeBron James). The Wizards have no bright spots; not even Gilbert Arenas, who can shoot the lights out, but can't stay out of trouble or away from injury for two consecutive games. The traded away two of their top players at mid-season in Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, and not even head coach Flip Saunders, despite his credible coaching resume, can't turn this team around.
But the Wizards weren't the worst team in basketball! Regardless of how hopeless they were, they didn't gain that first pick because they desperately needed it. They got lucky! Did anyone see the Wizards representative's face at the Lottery, and how shocked she was when they announced it? Because they as an ogranization didn't deserve it; the Nets did.
Now it appears John Wall will be a Wizard, and the Nets may have to settle for neither of the two best players in the draft bunch (unless the 76ers, the team with the second-overall selection, pass up on Evan Turner for Wesley Johnson or Derrick Favors).
As a Celtics fan, I obviously don't have any qualms with the way things turned out three years ago when the C's had the worst record in the NBA, but ended up with the fifth pick in the lottery gamble.
But that's easy for me to say now, because I know what has happened in those in between years. We traded for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, won a championship, and are currently up 2-0 on the Orlando Magic in the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals. But what about before all that, when we drew the fifth pick in the 2007 Draft? Greg Oden and Kevin Durant were the two best players in the nation, and one of them was supposed to be wearing Celtic green before that fateful lottery.
Like I said, we know now that things turned out perfectly for the Celtics, but we can't predict the same thing for the Nets, the Wizards or any other NBA team. All we know is that the Nets will be robbed of the best player this year, all because of this wacky system.
I'd love to see the draft lottery abolished completely in my lifetime, which I think will happen eventually. The more teams like the Celtics and Nets get gambled out of their rightful picks, the more criticism will surface about the system.
But the NBA Draft itself, as well as the NFL Draft, are two of my favorite non-championship sporting events, and I look forward to writing more about which athlete fits in where as the draft draws closer.
So for now: here's hoping for an NBA Draft revolution.
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