The Take: Celtics Too Quick To Judge Sebastian Telfair

I don’t condone it. Sebastian Telfair, the Boston Celtics’ guard and NYC hoops legend, allegedly broke the law and was arrested. He was holding an unregistered gun, speeding, and driving with a suspended license.

But I don’t judge it. I don’t judge someone who was anointed the point guard that would bring New York City back. I don’t judge someone who has an entourage of yes-men hanging off him. I don’t judge someone’s loyalty to the neighborhood that raised him-even if it is the projects. I don’t judge someone who’s nuclear and extended family depends on his salary as a basketball player.

And I certainly don’t judge someone when the facts have yet to be established.

Unfortunately, the Boston Celtics have placed a moral judgment on Sebastian Telfair. A day after his arrest, the green-and-white essentially cut their point guard. He has no locker or nameplate. And he doesn’t figure in the team’s long-term plans.

"The facts and circumstances of his case have not been determined, but he does not have a Celtics locker and we do not anticipate that he will," Syc Groesbeck, Boston’s managing partner said in an e-mail.

Clearly, Groesbeck has been drinking David Stern’s Kool Aid and attending the commissioner’s school on how to rule like an unenlightened dictator.

Forget about innocent until proven guilty-although the Celtics clearly have not extended this right to Telfair. Boston should not be so quick to assume the role of judge, jury, and executioner. And they should not pass a moral or legal judgment without the facts of the case.

After all, the assault charges against Celtic Tony Allen were just dropped-TODAY. He got to stay with the Celtics throughout the judicial process. And he was assumed to be innocent until proven guilty. And guess what? He was found not guilty. The case didn’t even see the courts.

So why does Allen get special treatment over Telfair? Why does Allen get the right to clear his name and not Telfair?

The Celtics have every right to cut Telfair. Just not for moral purposes. They could argue that any player, who is truly dedicated to his craft, should not be out at 4am in the morning.

That’s absolutely fair. You’ll get no argument from me.

The Celtics could also cut Telfair because he wasn’t in their long term plans. After all, Delonte West and Rajon Rondo, Boston’s other two young point guards, outplayed Telfair. They’re probably not out at 4am either.

That’s also fair. Once again, you’ll get no argument from me.

But the Celtics can’t cop the high-and-mighty routine. It doesn’t wash. They’ve established precedence with Allen.

And the Celtics knew exactly what they were getting when they acquired Telfair in a summertime trade. Telfair’s not a bad guy. But he’s not the Brady Bunch. He never will be the Brady Brunch. And, frankly, he was never given a chance to be the Brady Bunch.

Still confused Syc Grousbeck? Forward me your email address, I’ll paypal you five dollars Canadian and you can rent the documentary Through the Fire. This should provide some insight into Telfair’s life. His upbringing’s not normal-even for a professional athlete.

The Celtics could have done more to help. If they were so concerned with Telfair’s character, then sign a veteran point guard. Yes, bring in an older, experienced player to mentor Telfair and all the young players on Boston’s roster. In Toronto, Darrick Martin helps the Raptors two young point guards. A few years back, Avery Johnson, when he was playing for the Spurs, took Antonio Daniels under his wing. Daniels, a few years later in Seattle, fostered the same relationship with Luke Ridnour.

And don’t say Coach Doc Rivers acted as a mentor. Rivers is a head coach. He doesn’t have the time to act like a big brother and nor should he be expected to.

The Celtics can absolutely cut Telfair based on last year’s lackluster performance. However, they can not cut him for moral reasons. Let the facts come to light.

Nobody should rush to judge a 20-year old kid. Take a moment and consider Telfair’s life and circumstances.

By Oly Sandor. Contact Oly at olysandor@hoopsvibe.com. Click here to read more of his NBA blog.

NBA Wrap-up For April 25, Playoff Edition

Top 3 Stories

1) The Sun ain’t shinning on the Lakers
2) The Heat head home facing a 2-0 deficit
3) Raptors even the series with a game 2 victory

1) The Suns frustrate Bryant and the Lakers

What Happened: There will be no more questions about the Phoenix Suns lethargic play in game one. Phoenix played their usual up-tempo game, routing the Los Angeles Lakers by a score of 126-98.

The Suns had six players score in double figures. Steve Nash dropped 16 points and 14 assists, while his ‘back-up’, Leandro Barbosa, the freshly-minted sixth man of the year, scored 26.

Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire combined for 38 points and 19 rebounds. James Jones chipped in with 12 points. Raja Bell bounced back from a tough game one, scoring 11 points.

The Lakers were completely out-classed and never looked competitive. Kobe Bryant, the NBA’s scoring champ, passed on several open-shots in an attempt to involve his teammates.

His strategy backfired. No Laker wanted to assert themselves on offense. Bryant led the Lakers with 15 points on 5 of 13 shooting. Jordan Farmar, Maurice Evans, and Lamar Odom each had 10 points.

Phoenix leads the series 2-0. Game three will be played Thursday night in Los Angeles.

Reaction of Phoenix Coach Mike D’Antoni on the win:
"It’s hard to single things out. Our defense was really good, our rebounding was really good, we really ran well, and I don’t know if we can play any better than that. (ESPN)

Reaction of Phoenix forward Shawn Marion on his team’s play:
"It was like everything was working tonight on all cylinders. You can’t ever go out there and play perfect, but I think we did everything we wanted on both ends of the floor." (ESPN)

Reaction of CNN reporter Kelly Dwyer on Los Angeles’ chances:
“And there’s no chance of them catching up to these Suns, by the way. How hot is this team? No big runs for Phoenix on Tuesday in the win, just a sustained white hot sheet of fancy passin’ and lights-out shooting. Phoenix "won" this game more than Los Angeles "lost" it; but we’re focusing on the limpy Lakers this time out.” (CNNSI)

My Take: The Suns are virtually unbeatable when they’re allowed to play at such a lightning-quick pace. From the opening tip, they pushed the tempo and never let up.

Consider this statistic. Phoenix rarely loses when they score 30 points or more in a single quarter. Opposing teams know this, so they try to stop the Suns from scoring 30 points or more in a single quarter.

In game two, the Suns had three quarters where they scored 30 points or more.

Right now, the starters are rolling. The bench is contributing. Raja Bell, who struggled in the series-opener, broke out in game two, hitting several three-pointers. Phoenix looks flat-out dangerous.

The Lakers, on the other hand, just looked flat. First off, their body-language was awful in game 2. They lacked enthusiasm and energy. I was glad Lamar Odom gave Nash a firm foul towards the end of the third quarter. It showed L.A. still cared.

Bryant can’t defer to his teammates. Under different circumstances, with different teammates, he should absolutely swing the ball and involve others. Right now, none of his teammates are interested in stepping-up and taking ownership.

Game two proved it: the 2006-07 Lakers lose when Bryant passes. They live and die by Kobe the ’Scorer.’

2) Chicago rolls to a 2-0 lead over Miami

What Happened: Miami is on the ropes. And Chicago is looking for the knockout.

The Bulls, led by Ben Gordon and Luol Deng, defeated the Heat by a score of 107-89 to take a commanding 2-0 series lead.

Gordon scored 27 points, including 11 in the third quarter, which helped the Bulls build a 17 point lead. Deng took over for Gordon in the game’s final frame. Chicago’s small forward scored 14 in the fourth quarter and ended up with 26 points.

Once again, Gordon and Deng outplayed Shaquille O’Neal and Wade, who both had sub-par performances for Miami. O’Neal had 17 points, while Wade finished with 21 points.

But the Bulls can’t relax. They know Miami came from back from a 2-0 deficit to win last year’s NBA Finals against Dallas.

Game three is in Miami on Friday.

Reaction of Miami center Shaquille O’Neal on the game two loss:
"I have been around a long time and I’ve been in all these situations before. Basically, the Bulls did what they’re supposed to do and protect their home court. We have to play smarter basketball. We got to come with a lot more energy and play with a lot more effort and a lot more passion." (ESPN)

Reaction of Miami center Alonozo Mourning on the Heat pulling off a comeback:
"We’ve been here before, you know what I’m saying?" I have the utmost confidence in my teammates and this team that we can pick ourselves back up and get back on track." (CNNSI)

Reaction of Chicago forward Luol Deng on staying focused:
 "We’ve got to be mature enough to understand that Miami has been in this situation. We can’t relax. We have to keep playing aggressive." (CNNSI)

My Take: The Bulls are a tough team. But they’re especially tough when their perimeter players are making shots. And, make no mistake about it, Ben Gordon and Luol Deng are making shots.

Deng’s emergence gives Chicago another closer down the stretch. The re-incarnation of James Worthy was brilliant in game two, making several fourth quarter shots to preserve the Bulls’ lead.

Deng takes the pressure off of Gordon and opens things up for all his teammates.

Miami look uninterested. I think they believe it’s still the regular season. They have to play some defense and get O’Neal and Wade involved.

Coming back from a 2-0 series deficit will be difficult for the Heat. They’re a year older. And Chicago has home-court advantage.

3) Raptors celebrate coach of the year award by getting even

What Happened: Sam Mitchell won the NBA’s coach of the year award on Tuesday afternoon. And Anthony Parker and Chris Bosh helped him win his first playoff game as a coach on Tuesday evening.

The Toronto Raptors got 51points combined from Parker and Bosh to beat the New Jersey Nets 94-84 in game two of their Eastern Conference playoff series.

Toronto trailed heading into the fourth quarter, but became more aggressive on offense and clinched the game.

The Nets were certainly competitive. Vince Carter had 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Jason Kidd added 14 points and 11 rebounds. But Richard Jefferson, who was so impressive in the series opener, ended up with just 13 points.

The series is now tied 1-1. Game 3 will be played in New Jersey on Friday.

Reaction of Toronto Coach Sam Mitchell on Anthony Parker’s inspired play:
 "We need Anthony Parker to continue to play like that. He was just unbelievable tonight. In that fourth quarter, when we needed him, he stepped up." (CNNSI)

Reaction of Toronto forward Chris Bosh on Anthony Parker’s performance:
“He wasn’t the prettiest player but he got the job done and that’s kind of how the playoffs are. You just have to get the job done, no matter what happens." (ESPN)

Reaction of Toronto guard Anthony Parker on the win:
“We definitely turned a corner as a team tonight because we gutted it out, especially when things weren’t going well. This was a game we had to have. We couldn’t go to Jersey down 0-2. Now we’ve got to go to Jersey and get one." (CNNSI)

My Take: I think Toronto showed their true colors in game 2. Yes, they struggled in the first-half. But, like they have all season, the Raptors rallied and found a way to win.

Anthony Parker led the charge. This guy embodies Raptor basketball. He’s blue-collar. He works hard. And he’s a team guy. Parker, like all the Raptors, was much more assertive and aggressive in the second half.

I think Toronto will have an excellent game 3. The ‘dinos’ looked nervous in game 1 and for the first half of game 2. Now they’ve got a victory under their belt. They’re feeling good about themselves and this will carry over into New Jersey.


Come back tomorrow morning for another edition of the NBA Wrap-up, Playoff Edition. Click here for more of Oly Sandor’s NBA blog

The Take: Sonics Will Be Leaving Seattle-And Soon

The Seattle SuperSonics have started making changes. Today, they fired Coach Bob Hill and GM Rick Sund after posting a disappointing 31-51 record.

But Hill and Sund are just the beginning. Bigger changes are on the horizon for this franchise. I think the Sonics will soon be gone, leaving the Emerald City forever. Their legacy erased.

No more 1978 NBA Title. No more Downtown Freddie Brown. No more Xavier McDaniel. No more Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. Forget it. The green-and-gold are done.

After all, Seattle-area politicians once again rejected the team’s request for public funding to help finance and build a new arena.

Clay Bennett, the club’s new owner, is from Oklahoma City. His hometown has a shiny new arena and a legion of dedicated NBA fans after hosting the relocated Hornets for two years.

After a two year sample, Oklahoma City is hungry for more NBA basketball. Seattle politicians have had enough. It’s a natural swap.

What a terrible turn for this once mighty franchise. I remember January 1992, Sonics versus Heat. This was the first NBA game I ever saw live.

Seattle was one of the NBA’s glamor teams. Gary Payton’s glove smothered opposing 1-guards. Shawn Kemp, before the weight-gain, drugs, and babies, was an old school version of Amare Stoudemire, holding down the low block with spectacular jams. And Coach George Karl was perched on the sideline, flashing that same perma-smirk you see today.

They posted 60 win seasons on the regular. They embarrassed opponents. And they held their own against the 1996 Bulls in the NBA Finals.

But things soured. Jim Mcilvaine’s absurd contract eventually led to Kemp demanding a trade. The Sonics dealt their Reign Man and ended up with forward Vin Baker.

This trade marked the end of Seattle’s dynasty. Baker was a bust. His play, and personal life, was up-and-down. Karl was fired as coach; Paul Westphal was brought in as the sideline boss, but only for a minute.

Changes were occurring off the court, too. Howard Schultz, of Starbuck’s fame, bought the team. Schultz had huge expectations, thinking he could apply the same business principals from his coffee chain directly to the NBA.

No dice. The new owner got into a public dispute with Gary Payton, the Sonics one remaining superstar. And ‘The Glove’ was soon dealt to Milwaukee for Ray Allen.

But ‘The Glove’ wasn’t Schultz’s biggest problem. Not even close. That was the stadium. As tenants-only in Key Arena, the Sonics couldn’t generate enough revenue to break even. In fact, they were losing money, big money. Minority owners were regularly called upon to inject cash.

A lack of finances killed the on-court product, too. After a decent 2005 season, the Sonics lacked the cash to re-sign Antonio Daniels and Coach Nate McMillian.

Fans grew tired of their team’s woos, while Schulz grew tired of battling politicians for a new arena. He sold the Sonics to Bennett’s Oklahoma City group.

Today’s news is just the start of something bigger. Without a new arena, the Sonics will become a lame duck franchise. And Oklahoma City is waiting. What a terrible way for this once proud franchise to leave Seattle.

What was the score between the Sonics and Heat in January of 1992? I don’t remember. But it forever hooked this kid on hoops.

Click here and read Oly Sandor’s NBA blog everday.

NBA Wrap-up For April 24, Playoff Edition

NBA Wrap-up For April 24, Playoff Edition

Top 3 Stories

1) Helping Dallas, Phoenix, and San Antonio win game 2
2) The Rockets are up 2-0
3) Detroit toying with Orlando

1) Adjustments for the West’s big three

What Happened: The Western Conference’s big three, Dallas, San Antonio, and Phoenix, all looked shaky in the opening game of their playoff series.

Dallas, the first seed in the Western Conference, got locked into a small-ball duel with Don Nelson and Golden State. The Mavericks had no answer for Coach Nelson’s left-sided double-teams on superstar Dirk Nowitzki.

Phoenix, the second seed in the Western Conference, looked lethargic in beating a one-man Laker team. The Suns lose game one if Leandro Barbosa, the freshly-minted bench player of the year, doesn’t come up with a huge second half.

San Antonio, the third seed in the Western Conference, had no answer for Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson. These two volume shooters hit more than half their field goal attempts. Where was the Spurs’ trademark defense? Tim Duncan was a non-factor, scoring just 14 points and turning the ball over 5 times.

Here’s how ESPN reporter Mark Stein saw these three games:

Reaction of: ESPN reporter Mark Stein on Dallas losing to Golden State:
 “Avery Johnson caved into Don Nelson’s matchup madness before the opening tip by starting Dirk Nowitzki at center for the first time all season and now Dallas looks somehow farther away than it did coming in from countering Golden State’s athleticism … and the Warriors’ backcourt size … and their continued success, spearheaded by Stephen Jackson, in preventing Dirk from going left and keeping him out of his comfort zones.” (ESPN)

Reaction of ESPN reporter Mark Stein on Phoenix struggling to beat Los Angeles:
 “Maybe the best thing you can say about the Suns’ Sunday is that their two main rivals were beaten. Phoenix got its victory in the end but was inexplicably flat and jittery against an ultrathin Lakers team that entered the playoffs playing worse ball than anyone else in the field.” (ESPN)

Reaction of ESPN reporter Mark Stein on San Antonio losing to Denver:
“The Spurs Manu Ginobili was snuffed out by the Nuggets’ team coverage, Tim Duncan was neutralized by Nene on a joga bonito day for the NBA’s Brazilians and Carmelo Anthony hit the hosts with the most composed playoff performance we’ve ever seen from him. Factor in the grit of a typically fearless-on-the-road Allen Iverson and you can’t help but believe that winning the opener in San Antonio is more significant for Denver this time than it was in 2005.” (ESPN)

My Take on Dallas’ adjustments for game two: I think Dallas needs to be Dallas. Forget changing their starting line-up to match-up against the Warriors. The Mavericks posted the league’s best regular season record, the Warriors should adjust to them. This mean Erick Dampier draws back into the starting line-up and Dallas slows the tempo.

Dirk Nowitzki has to adjust to Golden State’s double-team. The Warriors had success bringing an extra defender from the left-hand side when Nowitzki backed down his check.

In this situation, Nowitzki has two options. First, he can pass the ball before the double-team arrives. Then he can demand a return pass back into the hi-post or cut off the ball.

Second, he can look for different ways to get his offense. For example, Nowitzki could drive to the basket or take his check to the low block.

My Take on Phoenix’s adjustments for game two: I think the Suns lacked energy for the first half of game one. So they should start Leandro Barbosa, the super-sub. The Brazilian blur brings speed and enthusiasm; he’s perfect for setting a fast-paced tempo. When Barbosa’s racing up the court, the Lakers are forced to play at an uncomfortable pace.

The Suns also need Raja Bell to get off on offense. The lock-down defender only had two points in game one. He needs to make his shots so Bryant won’t cheat on defense.

My Take on San Antonio’s adjustments for game two: The Spurs need Tim Duncan to get involved. Timmy D needs to hit a few signature bank shots and draw either Nene or Camby away from the paint. Then Manu Ginobili can start driving to the basket.

The Spurs have to do a better job on Iverson and Anthony. These two can get their points, but only if they shot a low percentage. Opponents are in for a rough night when Denver’s dynamic duo hits more than half their shots.

2) T-Mac leads Houston to another victory

What Happened: Tracy McGrady had another strong game, leading the Houston Rockets to a 98-90 win over the Utah Jazz.

McGrady had 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in the win. But McGrady wasn’t the best player on the floor-that was Carlos Boozer, Utah’s star power forward.

Boozer scored 41 points, matching a career-high. He also added 12 rebounds and 6 assists in the loss.

The Rockets now lead the series 2-0. Game 3 is in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Reaction of Houston guard Tracy McGrady on the importance of getting to the line:
"We find some way to keep ourselves in a game, despite shooting the ball extremely bad. But we hit big shots when we needed them. We’re doing a great job of getting to the free throw line." (ESPN)

Reaction of Houston forward Shane Battier on Tracy McGrady getting to the line:
"Mac did a great job cutting to the basket and getting to the free throw line. That’s the only way we can survive 36 percent shooting." (CNNSI)

My Take: Houston is poised for a playoff breakthrough. Their star, Tracy McGrady, is in a zone. Today, he shot a poor percentage, making just 9 of 29 attempts from the floor, but he grabbed 10 boards and got to the charity stripe.

McGrady’s changing his legacy as a basketball player. In Toronto and Orlando, he was labeled a selfish slacker. Right now, he looks like a poised, mature superstar. He’s tapped into all that potential, becoming the franchise stud and leader he always should have been.

Point blank: T-Mac’s been as good as any player in the playoffs. When healthy, McGrady’s one of the NBA’s best.

I love Houston’s supporting cast. Chucky Hayes, the undersized 4, is all heart. Rafer Alston is a great fit at the 1-spot. Shane Battier gets it done as a utility player. And Yao Ming is a star center. But McGrady is the straw that stirs the drink.

3) Detroit’s balance leads to another win

What Happened: Detroit’s balanced attack was too much for Orlando. The Pistons had four starters score at least 17 points in a 98-90 victory over the Magic in game 2 of their playoff series.

Detroit’s starting backcourt, Rip Hamilton and Chauncey Billups, combined for 43 points, while Rasheed Wallace hit for 18 and Tayshaun Prince added 17 points.

The Pistons’ centers also had big nights. Chris Webber had 10 points and 9 rebounds. Antonio McDyess chipped with 9 points and 11 rebounds.

Grant Hill and Hedo Turkoglu kept Orlando close. Hill tallied 21 points and 8 rebounds. Turkoglu chipped in with 22 points.

Game 3 is in Orlando. Detroit leads the series 2-0.

Reaction of Detroit forward Rasheed Wallace on staying focused for the rest of the series:
"We can’t let them get back into the series. We have to get that third win." (CNNSI.com)

Reaction of Orlando forward Grant Hill on the series:
“They are a good team. We are learning to be a good team." (ESPN)

Reaction of Orlando Coach Brian Hill on trying to contain Detroit’s balanced attack:
"It isn’t just that they’re balanced. They are balanced and they are good. You have to play solid defense against them because they are used to playing together and they are very unselfish. It’s tough." (CNNSI)

My Take: I think Detroit, when they receive balanced scoring, are tough to beat. They completely toyed with Orlando. When their starting unit is clicking, the Pistons can compete with any team in the NBA.

Game 3 will be a test for the Pistons. Can they stay focused and put Orlando away? 


Come back tomorrow morning for another edition of the NBA Wrap-up, Playoff Edition. Click here for more of Oly Sandor’s NBA blog

A Message For The Kobe-Haters

I can hear the Kobe-haters. After remaining silent for most of the season, they’ve come out of the woodwork to criticize his game 1 dud.

They’re knocking his 1 for 10 fourth quarter shooting performance. They’re blaming the loss on what they see as his typical ball-hogging antics.

This isn’t fair. After all, Kobe the Facilitator had to become Kobe the Scorer for the Lakers to make the playoffs.

With Lamar Odom and Luke Walton injured, the purple-and-gold needed their all world guard to drop 50 points per game. 

He’s had to score for his team to win, simple as that. Once again, on Sunday, Bryant had no choice but to look for his own shot and go for 50. And he was close, tallying a remarkable 28 points in the first half.

Sure, down the stretch, he missed a lot. But no Laker, other than Lamar Odom, was looking to contribute. And no other Laker wanted the ball-they all looked afraid.

Besides, this team already made their choice. They decided long ago to live by Kobe the Scorer and die by Kobe the Scorer.

 Last night, they died by their choice.

So blame Bryant for missing those shots, but don’t blame him for taking them. That’s on Bryant’s teammates who have come to rely on Kobe the Scorer.

Click here and read Oly Sandor’s NBA blog everday.

NBA Wrap-up For April 23, Playoff Edition

NBA Wrap-up for April 23, Playoff Edition

Top 3 Stories

1) Warriors shock the world...
2) And the Nuggets also shock the world
3) King James and the Cavs gets an injury scare, but recover

1) A not-so-Golden surprise for Dallas.

What Happened: Don Nelson still has a few tricks up his sleeve. His unorthodox small-ball helped the Golden State Warriors beat his old team, the Dallas Mavericks, in game one of the Western Conference quarterfinals.

Baron Davis scored 19 of his 33 points in the third quarter. But his best work was on defense, where the Warriors as a team frustrated the Mavericks’ offense.

This result is not surprising. Golden State went 3-0 against Dallas in the post- season.

Reaction of Golden State Coach Don Nelson on gaining experience through the win:
’’We don’t expect to be world champs at the end of the playoffs, but every time we play in a high-intensity game like these are going to be, we gain experience. I’m really happy about that.’’ (CNNSI.com)

Reaction of Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki on the implications of losing:
“Obviously the pressure is on us all the way. Nobody expects them to win. Shooting 35 percent on our home court won’t get it done. We’ve got to get better shots and go from there.” (CNNSI.com)

Reaction of San Francisco Chronicle reporter Bruce Jenkins on the win:
"Who knows where it goes from here? The story lines, rich to begin with, only deepen. It’s safe to say the Mavericks’ confidence is shaken, and that Nelson’s pregame quote — saying all three of the Warriors’ wins over Dallas this season were "flukes" — was yet another misdirection play from the master. They weren’t flukes at all. Nor was this. Enjoy your night, Warriors fans. There hasn’t been one like it in a long, long time.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

 My Take: I think Golden State deserves credit. They suckered Dallas into tinkering with their starting line-up and got the Mavericks to play small ball. This is surprising. We’ve seen the Mavericks struggle with small, up-and-down teams. So I’m a bit perplexed as to why Dallas’ coaching staff chose to go small.

The Warriors defense, yes defense, also limited Dirk Nowitzki to just 14 points. And Jerry Stackhouse was completely shut-out.

Baron Davis had an amazing all-round game. B-diddy tallied 33 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 assists. And he also played solid man-to-man defense.

2) The Nuggets take The Alamo by storm.

What happened: Don’t tell Denver they’re the underdog. The Nuggets used a 12-0 fourth quarter run to beat the San Antonio Spurs 95-89 in game one of the Western Conference quarterfinals.

Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony led the way combining for 61 points in the victory. Denver also got some stops on defense, holding superstar Tim Duncan to just 14 points.

There’s a sense history is repeating itself. In 2005, Denver upset the Spurs in game one of their playoff series, but then lost the next four games to San Antonio. So the Nuggets weren’t putting too much stock into the victory.

Reaction of Denver forward Carmelo Anthony on his team’s expectations:
“Two years ago we probably were just happy to be in the playoffs. Now we ain’t just happy to be in the playoffs. We know we’re a good team and when we play good we can play with the best of them." (NBA.com)

Reaction of Denver guard Allen Iverson on the importance of defense:
“It was important to come out and play defense. We understand that we can score points, we’ve been saying that all year long. We can score points, that’s not our problem. We’ve got to be able to stop people. When we needed the stops, we got it." (NBA.com)

Reaction of San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili on the road ahead:
"So now we really got to step up. Now we know we have to go to Denver and take one or two games. First of all we have to focus on the next one because it’s going to be a huge one for us." (CNNSI.com)

My Take: I wasn’t shocked Denver won. However, I was shocked by the way they won-through defense. Camby and Nene did a great job limiting Duncan to 14 points in 40 minutes. The Nuggets also contained Ginobili, holding him to 9 points.

Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony did a great job on offense. Yes, they combined for 61 points. But, most importantly, they shot over fifty percent from the floor.

Denver should be concerned with their lack of bench scoring. J.R Smith, Linas Klieza, and Eduardo Najera combined for just 5 points off the bench. The Nuggets will need more from their second unit.

3) Injury can’t stop LeBron James and the Cavaliers.

What Happened: The Cleveland Cavaliers were supposed to walk all over a banged-up Washington Wizards squad. But the Cavaliers received their own injury scare in game one when LeBron James rolled his ankle during the third quarter.

James remained in the contest, helping the Cavaliers to a 97-82 victory in game one of this Eastern Conference series. He ended up with 23 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists, while Larry Hughes added 27 points and 7 rebounds.

The Wizards, who are currently without all stars Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, were supposed to be easy prey for the Cavaliers.

But Antawn Jamison and Jarvis Hayes kept the game respectable for Washington, combining for 46 points.

Reaction of Cleveland guard LeBron James on spraining his ankle:
"I had no intention of not coming back. First game of the playoffs, we’ve got to set a tone. If I was able to limp on it, I was going to be in there." (NBA.com)

Reaction of Cleveland Coach Mike Woodson on James going down:
"That made everybody’s heart jump a little bit. You don’t want to see that happen to any of your guys, let alone LeBron” (ESPN.com)

Reaction of Washington forward Antawn Jamison on Larry Hughes’ performance:
"We were worried about LeBron, we were worried about the big fella down low and trying to box out Drew Gooden. Larry did a great job of getting in the teeth of the defense." (NBA.com)

My Take: I don’t think Washington can win this series. When Arenas and Butler went down with injuries, the Wizards were forced to change their identity as an offensive team and become more defensive-minded. This is not an easy thing to do. The Wizards deserve credit for trying to change their identity and staying competitive in games, but they lack the personnel and time to complete this difficult transition.

During the season, James has often looked out of sync with teammates. It’s almost like they don’t know how to play with him. This, however, wasn’t a problem in game 1. Larry Hughes punished his old team, while Zydrunas Ilgauskas contributed after James’ injury.

If Cleveland continues to get big contributions from the supporting cast, the Cavaliers suddenly become a much more dangerous team.

Come back tomorrow morning for another edition of the NBA Wrap-up, Playoff Edition. Click here for more of Oly Sandor’s NBA blog.

NBA Wrap-up For April 22, Playoff Edition

NBA Wrap-up for April 22, Playoff Edition

Top 3 Stories

1) New Jersey’s other two stars win the game
2) Deng and Gordon upstage Shaq and Wade
3) Ah Houston...the Jazz have a big problem in Tracy McGrady

1) Carter receives a rough welcome, but Richard Jefferson leads the Nets to a game one win

What Happened: The boisterous crowd at Air Canada Center wanted one thing: to distract Vince Cater for game 1 of the Nets and Raptors playoff series.

They succeeded in putting off their former franchise player-Carter starred for the Raptors for several season before requesting a trade three years ago.

Carter shot 5 of 19 from the floor and was mostly a non-factor due to foul trouble.

But New Jersey did just find without him. The Nets got huge performances from Richard Jefferson and Jason Kidd to beat the Raptors by a score of 96-91.

Reaction of New Jersey guard Vince Carter on the play of Richard Jefferson:
"RJ’s confidence has soared, he’s playing phenomenal basketball. Our team as a whole trusts each other. We’re playing off of each other and it’s great. The whole machine is well-oiled. We’re feeding off other, trusting each other and that’s really the big picture.’’ (NBA.com)

Reaction of New Jersey Coach Lawrence Frank on the play of Jason Kidd:
"He’s a Hall of Famer. The Nets didn’t start winning until Jason Kidd came here six years ago, so obviously we are very fortunate. He’s a huge reason for our success.’’ (NBA.com)

Reaction of Toronto forward Chris Bosh on the Raptors’ poor play:
"I don’t think we played our best basketball today.We have to take what we did from this game, learn from it and just remember that so we can come back in Game 2 and play a lot better. They were definitely more poised than we were. They came out a lot more calm. The things we didn’t do well they took advantage of.’’ (TSN.ca)

My Take: I think there are few factors worth noting from this game. First, Toronto showed their lack of playoff experience. This is to be expected. The Raptors looked nervous and flat for most of the game. T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon, Toronto’s two-headed point guard monster, were the only players to produce. Still, the ‘dinos’ were right there and had a chance to win.

Second, New Jersey is much better than their regular season record indicates. Richard Jefferson is healthy and producing. For stretches of the second half, R.J. carried the entire Nets offense with his sweeping drives to the basket.

Third, the Nets have a nice supporting cast. Josh Boone, Bostjan Nachbar, and Eddie House bring energy off the bench, while Mikki Moore has the length to defend Chris Bosh. This will be a close series.

2) Deng and Gordon ’un-bullievable’ in cooling the Heat

What Happened: Kirk Hinrich had an off-night. But Loul Deng and Ben Gordon picked up the slack, leading the Bulls to a 96-91 win over the Heat in game one of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

Deng was the difference, hitting for 33 points, while Gordon connected for 24 points and 11 assists, including two late free throws to seal the win.

The Heat nearly won even though stars Dwayne Wade and Shaquille O’Neal sat for long stretches in the second half because of foul trouble.

Reaction of Chicago forward Luol Deng on the win:
"This game was really big. Now that we have the lead, most of the time the team that loses has to adjust. We did a lot of things today that worked for us." (NBA.com)

Reaction of Miami guard Dwayne Wade on his sub-par performance:
"More and more as we’re going through the playoffs, I’ll continue to see my confidence come back in my game. There’s stuff I want to do that I’m not able to do, but I’ll continue to work on it before and after practice.” (NBA.com)

Reaction of Miami center Shaquille O’Neal on the Bulls flopping:
“It’s just unfortunate that people fall for that. I’m used to just outplaying somebody and just playing hard, but I guess that’s what you got to do to stop Shaq." (ESPN.com)

My Take: Chicago used their trademark defense to suffocate Miami. I was impressed with Ben Wallace manning up on O’Neal, while rookie Thabo Sefolosha held his own against D-Wade.

The Bulls will be tough to beat if they continue to get scoring from perimeter players like Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, and Andres Nocioni.

Miami has been inconsistent for most of the season, so it’s hard to gauge their play on Saturday. However, the Heat looked out of sync with Wade on the floor. It’s like they developed a separate identity when he was injured.

One positive for Miami was the play of Antoine Walker. The small forward had struggled for most of the regular season, but tallied 20 points in the loss.

3) T-Mac’s second half help the Rockets soar to a game one win

 What Happened: It’s a good thing Tracy McGrady has a short memory. The Rocket forgot about his poor first half performance to score 22 of his 23 points in the game’s second half.   

 The seven-time All Star missed his first six shots and admitted to being nervous before the game.

Houston trailed by nine points at halftime. But the Rockets used McGrady’s hot shooting to take a third quarter lead and never looked back.

Yao Ming ended up with 28 points and 13 rebounds.

Reaction of Houston guard Tracy McGrady on calming down for the second half:
“"I told myself at halftime to calm down. I had to take a couple of deep breaths and gather myself together because I was on a high ... coming out in the third quarter I was more relaxed." (NBA.com)

Reaction of Houston Coach Jeff Van Gundy on McGrady’s struggling early in the game:
“"Sometimes when you want something so bad, it works against you a little bit. That’s what happened with him in the first half." (NBA.com)

 Reaction of Utah guard Deron Williams on the game’s grinding pace:
"We knew this would be a dogfight and a defensive battle. They made a nice run and we seemed to hang our heads a little bit." (NBA.com)

My Take: When McGrady’s rolling, Houston’s a tough, tough team to beat. Watching the second half, the Rockets’ complimentary players really fed off T-Mac’s moxy and swagger. Every time he hit a shot, the team’s confidence grew. 

I think Houston is dangerous. This group is feeling good about things and playing together. Even their body language was great in this game. Whenever a Rocket player got knocked to the floor, several teammates were there to physically pick each other up.

Utah is a solid team, but they’ve had problems defending the off-guard spot all season. McGrady and the Rockets exploited this on Saturday night.

Come back tomorrow morning for another edition of the NBA Wrap-up, Playoff Edition. Click here for more of Oly Sandor’s NBA blog. Contact Oly at olysandor@hoopsvibe.com.

Wolves can’t be bringing back McHale....

I think everyone can see it-everyone but the Minnesota Timberwolves, of course.

Kevin McHale, the Wolves’ long-time GM, no longer possesses the ability to evaluate talent. Basically, he’s lost his touch for the game, overpaying very marginal players and drafting poorly.

But this isn’t breaking news. McHale’s been awful for a while. He failed to replace Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell. He overpaid Troy Hudson and Mike James. And he’s drafted poorly.

Last January, he fired Coach Dwayne Casey, even though the team was challenging for the Western Conference’s last playoff spot, and brought in Coach Randy Wittman.

With Wittman on the sideline, the Wolves fell apart. This isn’t a one-year thing. An amazing comeback season isn’t in the cards for the former Celtic. Here’s why: McHale is a bad executive.

So I was shocked to find out he was keeping his GM post with the Wolves. I was even more shocked to find out Coach Randy Wittman was returning to the bench.

And then I found out Kevin Garnett will be staying in Minnesota.

Where’s the direction with this franchise? Where’s the long-term vision?

It’s time to rebuild and retool. Cut bait with McHale. Send Wittman back to his old post as an assistant coach with some other team.

And, most importantly, trade Garnett. This is not an indictment on KG’s play or attitude. He’s an all-time great-a first ballot Hall of Famer. But sometimes an all-time great needs a new home and a fresh start.

It’s not working in Minnesota. I can’t watch The Big Ticket drop double-double after double-double on opposing teams and still lose by twenty. It’s disheartening.

The Wolves aren’t a playoff team. A culture of losing and apathy has started to permeate around this franchise. He deserves better, much better.

A Garnett trade would yield some picks and cap relief. Instead of being stuck in the lottery, the Wolves could rebuild. And Garnett gets a shot at the playoffs.

But McHale’s not competent enough to make such changes. Everyone can see it, everyone but the Minnesota Timberwolves, of course.

Playoffs Live: Toronto Versus Vince Carter, It’s Oh-So Personal.

 “It’s over. It’s over,” yelled the TNT panel.

Vince Carter had just won the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest. On his last dunk, he pushed his entire forearm through the hoop. After witnessing this feat the crowd fell silent; for once, momentarily, Charles Barkley was speechless.

Carter strutted and pranced around the court, basking in the props given by fans, players, and the media.

This was the peak for Carter, when he received unconditional love from everyone. And Toronto, his home team, gave him the most love.

After all, Carter brought the Raptors back. His aerial dynamics gave the team a global identity after they stumbled in the late nineties.

But ‘Air Canada’ soon crashed on the runway. He stopped playing hard. The Raptors missed the playoffs. Then he requested a trade, destroying the franchise.

Toronto fans felt betrayed. Like a jilted lover they despised Carter, especially when he publicly admitted to not trying his hardest.

Time doesn’t heal all wounds. Three years later, the Raptors have recovered, winning the Atlantic Division. But the fans still want blood.

Today, Toronto fans are hoping for that blood. The Raptors are meeting the Nets in game one of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Two hours before the game, Raptor fans start chanting: “VC sucks. VC sucks.” Twenty thousand fans unified in their hatred of Carter.

You can barely hear the Toronto pre-game show. Carter’s picture appears on the teleprompter. Fans, hanging around the perimeter of the broadcast booth, immediately drown out the commentators by yelling: “Let’s go Raptors” and “VC sucks.”

This game is personal. Starting line-ups are announced. Carter is booed ferociously. He’s jeered each time he touches the rock.

But the Raptors look nervous and fall behind. Chris Bosh picks up some early fouls. The Nets are scoring down low and running off of several Raptor turnovers. At halftime, Toronto leads 51-41. Carter has been okay, hitting 3 of 9 shots for 7 points.

The second half begins. ...

The Raptors start with an impressive 8-0 run. Bosh hits a jumper and on another possession gets to the free-throw line on a tough, aggressive move. He nails both free-throws. New Jersey’s lead is dwindling.

Carter picks up two quick fouls and is sent to the bench. The stadium erupts in a chorus of boos. 

But Carter’s foul trouble is irrelevant. Richard Jefferson, the underrated small forward, is on the mark. He’s getting to the rim, converting easy baskets.

New Jersey’s lead stays at ten points for most of the third quarter. The Raptors are trying to make a run, but keep falling short.

T.J. Ford is talking to his teammates in attempt to lift the Raptors’ energy. No luck. Bosh misses a two-foot lay-up. The Nets bigs’, Mikki Moore and Jason Collins, are dominating the glass.

Kris Humphries, a rugged power forward, enters the game for Toronto. He should bring some energy and provide rebounding.

The Nets lead 78-65. 12 minutes left to play.

Carter’s back in the game for the start of the fourth quarter. The booing resumes. The Nets call a timeout, 9 minutes left. New Jersey’s leading 90-80.

Vince’s mom, Michelle, is at the game, sitting courtside. She conducts an interview and seems amused by the hate directed towards her son. Mrs. Carter brushes off the atmosphere, comparing it to a Duke and North Carolina game.

Jose Calderon is hot. He hits a pair of three-pointers and a lay-up. The stadium erupts. The lead is suddenly just six points.

The Nets have stagnated. They’re not getting any easy buckets. They’re not stopping anybody. And the Raptors are all over the glass.

Chris Bosh is hot-and-cold. He’s great when going to the basket and attacking the defense. But he misses when fading away because Moore has a long body and amazing wing-span.

New Jersey is up three points with seconds left. Carter is fouled. V.C. splits his free throws, connecting on one of two.

The miss doesn’t matter. The game ends. The Nets win by a score of 96-91. 

Toronto’s fans are very quiet-silent, in fact. The chants are no more. Carter struggled from the floor, but contributed down the stretch. Fans will have to wait until game 2 for revenge.

Oly Sandor is hoopsvibe’s NBA analyst. Click here to read more of his blog.

NBA Wrap-up for April 21, Playoff Edition

Top 3 Stories

1) Five classic shots to get you in the mood for playoff basketball
2) Sebastian Telfair packing heat
3) Musselman out as coach of the Kings

1) Five playoff buzzer-beaters to get you ready for the second season

It’s Christmas for NBA fans. And the gift of great playoff basketball is waiting to be unwrapped and watched by hoop heads everywhere.

Fans, like players, can get complacent during an 82 game regular season. A seven month season makes us forget why we watch basketball.

But the playoffs remind us how much we love basketball. So let’s celebrate the playoffs.

Below are my five all-time favorite playoff shots to get you in the mood for the second season. Click on the links below. Watch and enjoy. As always, tell us about your favorite playoff shot in the comment box below.

1) ‘The Fisher King.’ Lakers vs. Spurs, Game 5, Playoffs 2004.

2) ‘The MJ push-off.’ Bulls vs. Jazz, Game 6, Finals 1998.

3) ‘Big-shot Bob.’ Lakers vs. Kings, Game 4, Playoffs 2002.

4) ‘Agent Zero is born.’ Wizards vs. Bulls, Game 5, Playoffs 2005.

5) ’MJ killing Craig Ehlo.’ Bulls vs. Cavaliers, Game 5, Playoffs 1989.
 

2) Telfair once again in trouble with the law

What Happened: Sebastian Telfair is once again making headlines for all the wrong reasons. On Friday morning, he was arrested for gun possession and driving with a suspended license after being pulled over for speeding in Yonkers, New York.

Later in the day, Telfair pleaded not guilty in Yonkers City court and was released on bail.

This is not the first time Telfair has been in trouble with the law. During his rookie season with the Trail Blazers, he was fined for bringing a loaded gun onto the team plane. Last fall, Telfair reported his $50, 000 chain necklace stolen from a night spot.

Reaction of New York police officer Kieran O’Leary on Telfair’s behavior while in custody:
“Our officers said he behaved like a gentlemen.” (ESPN)

Reaction of Boston owner Wyc Grousbeck on Telfair getting arrested:
"The players on the Celtics have been explicitly warned, this year, to obey the team and league gun prohibition as well as state laws. We take this very seriously, and will act accordingly once the facts have been determined.” (CNNSI)

Reaction of Ed Hayes who’s representing Telfair:
 “He’s never been arrested before. He came from total poverty and made enormous sacrifices for his family and I think that entitles him to the benefit of the doubt from the public as to what really happened here." (Boston Globe)

My Take: I think this is a real problem for Sebastian Telfair. In just over 16 months, he’s been caught up in three ugly incidents-two of which involve guns.

I could never tell a grown man like Telfair to turn his back on where he’s from. But Telfair has to cut ties with the negative influences (only) from his old neighborhood. This is a decision only he can make. Forget about his days as a high school hoops legend. He doesn’t owe anyone for his success.

Soon, his rookie contract will expire. Telfair is a backup on a bad team. Last season, another rookie, Rajon Rondo, kicked his ass and took his starting position. He needs to correct his game and behavior to land that big money extension.

3) One and done for Eric Musselman

What Happened: The Sacramento Kings had seen enough. On Friday, they fired Coach Eric Musselman after just one disappointing season.

The Kings finished well back of the playoffs with a 33-49 record. The team was plagued by feuds and inconsistent play.

And on October 20th, Musselman got arrested for drunk driving following the team’s first pre-season game.

Reaction of Kings’ president of basketball operation Geoff Petrie on firing Eric Musselman: “We’ve got to sit down and look at the process and how we did it," Geoff Petrie, the Kings’ president of basketball operations, said of last summer’s coaching search. There was some concern — not that we were out of the playoffs, but the way we were out of it. We just couldn’t get the level of consistency that would allow us to (make the postseason).” (CNNSI.com)

Reaction of CBS Sports reporter Tony Mejia on the firing of Eric Musselman:
”This is what Musselman dealt with. He didn’t fare well, and he didn’t fall on his face. Ultimately, he messed up enough that the Maloof brothers were able to let him go without much scrutiny. You could see this coming. It was unfortunate, but you could see it. Understand that the Maloofs are most at fault here, because they should have never made Rick Adelman feel unwanted in the first place. Last I checked, he had Artest and Bonzi Wells playing unbelievable basketball, scaring the daylights out of San Antonio as a No. 1 seed in the 2006 playoffs.” (CBS Sports)

Reaction of Sacramento Bee writer Marty McNeal on Eric Musselman’s prickly personality:
”However, as much as statistics and won-lost record matter, it’s the measure of a man that highly influences his ability to lead. Ultimately, a player will have to respect his coach to buy heart and soul into the program. It’s not always a must, but it doesn’t hurt to have a couple of folks actually like you as a person. As hard as he tried to make people like him, Musselman couldn’t do it and didn’t realize it can’t be done." (Sacramento Bee)

My Take: This situation was flawed from the beginning. Musselman had no control over most of the problems. Mike Bibby couldn’t make a shot because of a wrist injury. Brad Miller had an off-season. Ron Artest, once again, flipped out.

But Musselman may be too competitive for his own good-if there is such a thing. For example, two years ago I wrote an article that barely mentioned Musselman. There was nothing disparaging about him. Yet, he still emailed me to say "hi". Basically, the coach was letting me know he paid attention to what was written about him.

I have no problem with this. Journalists should be accountable. And Musselman seemed like a decent guy. But why is he paying attention to an article that barely mentions him?

Personally, I think he’s a bright and hardworking coach. He just needs the right situation.

Come back tomorrow morning for another edition of the NBA Wrap-up, featuring Oly Sandor’s cutting-edge analysis. Got a comment or question? Use the comment box or email Oly at olysandor@hoopsvibe.com.