Bulls, Pistons, Cavs, Nets, Suns... Warriors?

San Antone and Denver is an interesting series. The Spurs are clearly superior, but Denver is an excellent team and they're playing their asses off. Houston and Utah is damn sure turning into a 7 game duke-fest for supremacy. So none of them can be lumped into the group of teams whooping serious ass in the first round.
The Bulls and Pistons successfully completed sweeps, humiliating their respective opponents. The Cavs should join that club by finishing their sweep of the Wizards tonight. Despite all the shit being talked all over the league about how great the Raptors are, they will likely be shown the door tomorrow night on their own home court. The Nets have pretty much wrapped up a very convincing argument that they are not only better than the Raps, but so much better it's not really even a contest. The Suns gave me a scare losing that one game to the Lakers, but as I expected, Kobe's heroics are really only good for 1, maybe 2 games in a series. Unless a miracle occurs, Suns should take it in 5.
Which leaves only one series. I certainly expected that I'd group that series in with the other slaughterhouses. But I expected to be talking about a Mavs sweep. I never thought in a million years I'd be writing about the Warriors with a 3-1 lead. I was at Oracle arena in Oakland last night to watch Baron Davis wash away years of bad memories of shoddy work ethic, poor conditioning, injury, disappointment, lack of leadership, bad breath and dandruff, with a legendary performance in a blemish-free Game 4 take down of the Mavericks.
It was a glory to behold.
The Warriors played defense. For real, no-shit, man-up, lock down defense. Dirk had a good game, but he looked tamed out there. Mikael Pietrus is a defensive whirlwind who can drain 3s. Matt Barnes may be the most energetic, level headed, fundamentally sound 6th man in the business. Biedrins is a spry 7 ft rebound machine, and he's faster than the dickens. Monta Ellis is a breath of fresh air in a sea of disappointing prep-to-pro air heads. Jason Richardson? How about one of the most versatile, athletic, high energy guards in the league. Al Harrington has been cold on the offensive end, but never out of energy. Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson are writing their names into playoff legend. They're hitting shots, creating shots, playing D, and hyping up the home crowd like you can't imagine.
When Baron hit a nearly half-court 3 pointer at the buzzer before half time there was a palpable feeling in Oakland. A foreign emotion for Bay Area basketball fans that's as tangible as the 20,000 "We Believe," towels being twirled by the Warriors faithful:

We can win this.

And not just one game, or one series. The Warriors are a threat. A scrappy, energetic threat to the NBA's Southwest power elite. Dallas is soiling their pants wondering what to do next. That's for sure. But you have to start wondering if Houston, San Antonio or Phoenix can have much more luck against this rowdy bunch from Oakland. Buckle up Bay Area fans. The Warriors mean business.

Monday Morning Bullshitters

Many fans said they were touched by the sincerity of Artest's apology to his family, teammates and fans during a news conference Saturday. "I was very moved by that. It was all coming from his heart," said Kings fan Barbara Rust. "I thought it was very sincere and made a big impression on me." News10.net
Rust went on to say that she thought Michael Richards and Mel Gibson were sincere in their apologies as well. Then I told her that the word "gullible" wasn't in the dictionary and she totally lost her shit...


Dumars also consulted with Pistons physical therapist Arnie Kander. "That's the first thing I wanted to know -- is this something that Arnie was passing out, because if he was, then we have a team full of guys (using it)," Dumars said. "But Arnie said no. All the things he gives out are natural. He doesn't believe in all that synthetic stuff." Detroit News
'Cause I bet Arnie would be in a huge hurry to admit he doles out illegal drugs to his players. Kander continued by saying Hydro cortisone is "straight up organic 'n' shit..."


It’s bad enough the Pacers are playing themselves out the playoffs with their current nine game losing streak that could continue for several more games. To make things worse (if that’s possible), Jamaal Tinsley was suspended a game for continually deciding to show up for practice whenever he wants. I’ve been told that this is a trend that happened numerous times in past seasons. It wasn’t until Saturday that coach Rick Carlisle publicly put his foot down by suspending Tinsley, who can’t seem to stay away from negative news. Indianapolis Star
As if being a criminal, a malcontent, a constant injury case and a 30% shooter wasn't bad enough, it looks like Tins is an asshole too.

It's funny now, little more than a vignette. But it wasn't funny then. Not to Andre Iguodala. Not during the 2004 NBA draft, when ESPN analyst Dick Vitale said Iguodala was a mistake for the 76ers at No. 9 in the first round. Not when Vitale said the pick should have been Luke Jackson. "Vitale said, 'Iguodala was a [27 percent] shooter from the college three-point line. He's not going to be able to play,' '' Iguodala recalled. "I thought, 'I'll remember that.' '' Philadelphia Daily News

Dick, baby, "the less you make declarative statements, the less apt you are to look a fool in retrospect..."