Thoughts on the playoffs

So I just wrote a constitutional law exam, and had some thoughts about the weekend of basketball while knee deep in sodomy (cases).

--Derrick Rose is good. Really good. I mean, he could be the second best under 30 point guard in the league by the end of next year. (sorry Deron). The kid just has it. And I can’t tell whether his total dearth of personality and emotion helps or hurts. At this point, I think it helps. He never seems to get fazed (other than the bad foul on PP at the end of overtime) and his teammates seem to feed off of his calm (if that makes sense). I think, for the future, if he’s on a team with emotional guys, or veterans, it will be perfect. If he’s got to be the vocal leader, well. I saw that interview with Lieberman in the post game, and he’s not exactly Winston Churchill out there. Can’t we inject him with a little bit of personality? I mean, just a little Sam Cassell goes a long way.

--Rasheed, Rasheed, Rasheed. What happened man? I mean, I don’t know if Barkley’s take that he could have been top 10 ever is quite accurate, but I just don’t get that guy. He should certainly be the most dominant player to come out of Carolina since MJ. Did he just spend too much time in Portland to give a damn anymore? I love the guy, I really do. By all accounts, he’s a family man, his teammates love him, and he has the most loyal friends in the league. I guess he’s that guy at work who plays solitaire and surfs the web 6 hours a day and then gets more done in the last 2 hours then anyone else all day. He does a good job when he shows up to play, but damn. What could have been. He’s Doc Gooden without the cocaine excuse.

--I love the Spurs. You have to respect what they’ve done, and the way they’ve done it. Duncan’s top 5 ever, Manu is better than a balding white guy should ever be, and I’m even starting to come around on Parker. But it’s time. I can’t help it, I’m tired of seeing the Spurs. That and no one’s been screwed as bad as Dallas was in the ’06 finals since…well, Sacramento in the ’02 semis.

--Not to pile on T-Mac or anything…wait, screw it, I’m about to pile on. I like Houston, I think they’re better without him. I’m happy Houston is about to finally advance while he’s sitting out. Simmons got it wrong when he put Elton Brand as least valuable player. He at least has to share that honor with McGrady. The guy has been overrated and underperformed since he came in the league. There’s a lot of players you could say that about, but not to the degree of him. He mailed it in his last year in Orlando: points down, rebounds down, shooting percentage down, and he’s just never shown any consistency in Houston. His act this year was just indefensible: waffled back and forth with his injury before he decided he was hurt, then suddenly decided he needed surgery a few days before he was going to be traded. The guy is Antoine Walker with a little bit better jump shot (and a few less pounds, but give him time). That’s right. I made the Antoine Walker comparison. Too many shots, too little defense, and a lot of losses. The only saving grace when John Wall goes to Kentucky is that T-Mac is his favorite player. I’m not sure I can handle that. (but I’m willing to try, John)

--Philly is decent. They’re one player away /insert Elton Brand joke here/ from being a pretty good team. That Thaddeus Young/Iguodola combo is pretty good, it’s just too bad they mortgaged their future on Elton Brand. Well done Duke. It’s pretty bad when your biggest contributor in the playoffs so far has been Dahntay Jones. Hey, at least Deng and Brand look good in their suits. Oh, and Orlando is not built for this. When your best crunch time player is Hedo Turkoglu, you’re in trouble

--I’m a Kobe guy, I still think he’s the best player on the planet (though I’m finding it a lot harder to argue that lately), but the whole shaking the head/screaming/he can’t guard me act seems a little unnecessary. He’s been there before, and obviously, the Lakers are on a mission. Play it a little cooler man.

--CP3 can’t do it alone. The only help he’s getting right now is from West. I’m not even sure Tyson Chandler is alive anymore.

--Speaking of CP, I love watching the Hawks, but every time I watch them, I just think about what that team could do with CP on it. Has there ever been a team to run alley ‘oops every other time down the court? Can you imagine some of the CP to Josh Smith hookups we’d see? With Joe Johnson knocking down outside shots? Holy smokes I’m giddy just thinking about it. Hell, even Paul Hewitt could coach that team. Hey-O. But really, Marvin Williams is a…no. Even a Carolina fan can’t defend that one.

Anyway, it’s back to studying until tonight. God I love the NBA playoffs. It’s hard to believe it’s been a whole year since I had this much Tyler Perry in my life. I think they just make up a new show for him every year. Kind of missing Frank Caliendo though. The NBA…where mediocre t.v. personalities become significant part of our lives for 6 weeks…happens.

And thus, it begins...

What a start. The two best point guards in the east in a thriller. Add that to the two best pros Roy Williams has produced (to date) and overtime in the Garden, and that's got to be a great start to the 2009 playoffs. Now all we need is for Rose to tone down his fiery post-game interview, and we're on. The NBA, where thank you, ma'am, may I have another...happens.