We realize it's still the offseason but I PERSONALLY LOVED Beverly Hills 90210 (I can't speak for the others). So to celebrate this awesome day, I came to a realization.

Okay, so he doesn't coach in the NBA (although we know how much Kobe Bryant wanted him to coach the Lakers) but Mike Krzyzewski (I really hate spelling that name... and hate it pronouncing it even more), coach of the Blue Devils of Duke University and the U.S. National (Olympic) Team, looks like James Eckhouse. James Eckhouse played Jim Walsh, the awesome dad of Brandon and Brenda Walsh. Looking through 90210 clips last night (don't ask), I realized how much these guys resemble each other.

You be the judge.

Follow my NBA "commentary" on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. Also, check out our FaceBook page.

Do you hate LeBron James that much? And the Miami Heat? Rock this tee. I'm pretty sure only people outside Miami would buy this little number. If people in Cleveland need a shirt to replace their burned LeBron James jerseys from last July, I think this is an adequate replacement, right? Oh, and to those that buy this shirt, I dare you to wear this at a Heat or Dolphins game.

Mucho credit to Glenn Moore from Sports Talk Cleveland and The Dugout Sports Show.

Follow my NBA "commentary" on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. Also, check out our FaceBook page.

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So I started reading Terry Pluto's 1995 NBA book titled Falling From Grace, and there's a chapter called, "Why Johnny Can't Shoot" which talks about why NBA players in the mid-90's sucked at shooting. In the previous chapters, he talked about players making millions of dollars from contracts and endorsements and not spending enough time honing their skills and working on fundamentals. He even throws in a quote from Isiah Thomas, "Kids today are more concerned with learning how to dunk than learning how to play".

The majority of the chapter focuses on free throw shooting and looks into why a guy like Chris Dudley, a career 46% free throw shooter, couldn't consistently make free throws and and why Shaq could go 0-8 from the line during a stretch against the Pacers in the playoffs. Of course he mentions the mental aspect of the free throw but also talks about free throw form and how some of the shooting techniques of some of these players are so bad that it would be worth trying something else.

Sebastian Pruiti of NBAPlaybook.com recently took a look at some of the free throw shooting forms of a few of the notoriously bad free throw shooters in the league. Bad techniques and habits still exist and perhaps have gotten worse in some cases... and then there's Chuck Hayes:

So is it time to try something else? Pluto suggests the Rick Barry underhand method. Barry tells a story about showing Chris Dudley his free throw shooting method before a game once:

I talked to him, showed him some of the basic principles of the underhanded free throw. He threw a few up there, and they bounced around and went in. He wasn't even shooting it right, but it was still soft enough to fall into the basket. Now here was a guy who couldn't even hit the rim sometimes, and I showed him a shot that at least gave him a chance. You'd think he'd follow up on it, right? He never even bothered to ask me or anyone else about shooting underhanded. He just kept embarrassing himself the old way. You have to be a moron to be that stubborn.

Ouch. That's pretty harsh Rick. Looks like Bill Simmons is right.

But anyway, Barry's got the 3rd highest free throw shooting percentage in NBA history, and he makes the underhanded free throw look so easy:

It's been a long time since anyone in the NBA has shot it underhanded but maybe it's time it makes a comeback. There are excuses why players wouldn't want to try it: "It doesn't feel comfortable", "It looks stupid", and "No one else does it", but there really are no good excuses on why not to try it. Even physics proves that everyone should shoot underhand. (Psst! Did you hear that, Andris Biedrins?)

Rick Barry even made a proposal:

Let me work with Shaq and pay me so much for each percentage point that he improves from the line from the previous season. Shaq would get better, his team would win more games, and I'd make a lot of money. He can make 70 percent underhanded if I worked with him and he stayed with the shot.

Sounds like a good deal. It would be amusing to see him attempt a single underhanded free throw, let alone see him shoot it underhanded during games for the rest of his career. But hey, it could happen, right? He's on the squad where anything's possible.

Questions? Comments? Feel free to leave a comment below or:
Hit up the Bolo Box – Peter@thenolookpass.com
Follow me on Twitter: @Yungbolo Also, join our Facebook page!

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Hosted by...

THE CHRONICLES OF CROTTY KREW!

PICTURED L to R
David Diep (@illastrate): (PF) Does not watch Power Rangers.
Jimmy Castro (@WinInTheEnd): (SF) Does not know the Costa Rican equivalent to Jersey Shore?
Nick Perkins (@EvilFlair): (C) Beauty pageant expert.
Rey Moralde (@TheNoLookPass): (PG) Loved the Pink Power Ranger.
Peter Kim (@YungBolo): (SG) Wants to be "The Situation".

BREAK IT DOWN
A. Hall of Fame talk. Right after we talked about gibberish for five minutes.
B. Little talk about World Championships. What is it about Rajon Rondo getting cut?
C. Carmelo Anthony wants out of Denver.
D. J.R. Smith is not happy.
E. All hail Kwame Brown.
F. We kinda cut the L.A. segment short because Peter wanted to watch Jersey Shore early. No joke.

This episode was awful. Awfully awesome.

TEASERS
JIMMY: "Pippen... well, he's a little bitch."

REY: "There was a rumor... that the Red Power Ranger did gay porn. It was like him on steroids... not that I saw pictures or anything like that."

NICK: "That was a major major mistake."

DAVE: "But even (Khalid) El-Amin wasn't that big (260 pounds). Even Mateen Cleaves wasn't that big... that would mean (Baron Davis) would be bigger than Gary Trent."
REY: "SHAQ of the MAC!"

PETER: "Shoutout to the cast of the Jersey Shore!"

REY: "Did anyone watch Power Rangers?"
JIMMY: "Not me."
NICK: "Not me... and the silent ones won't admit anything."

EXTRACURRICULARS
This is for Peter.

Awful.

CREDITS

BANNER
Greg Sorvig

MUSIC
Free Your Mind by En Vogue (instrumental)
F**k You by Cee-Lo Green
I Want It That Way by Backstreet Boys
Rumors by Timex Social Club
Bebot by Black-Eyed Peas

PROMOS
Glenn Moore from Dugout Sports Show
Russ Bengtson from SLAM Online
John Crotty, Miami Heat radio analyst
Zach Harper from TalkHoops and Cowbell Kingdom
Ron Artest from the Los Angeles Lakers
Jared Dudley from the Phoenix Suns
C.J. Miles from the Utah Jazz
Clipper Steve from Clips Nation

We ENCOURAGE you to either look through our podcast archives OR you can subscribe to us on iTunes by clicking on that podcast icon below.

.

We'd appreciate it if you give us a review on our iTunes page. Thank you for pushing play!

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BG and DJ clownin'.

Sometimes a little change is needed give some hope. Well, today, the Los Angeles Clippers unveiled their new jerseys for the 2010-11 season.

The changes are minimal. The red, white and blue scheme remains, but the once wide trim is now thin. And so are the numbers, which has a different font very similar to that of the Detroit Pistons.

Before:

The Legendary Frankie Muniz rockin' the old home whites.

After:

I'm a little more fond of the home jerseys than the road ones, in which I preferred the older, darker red tint. However, in general, I like the new unis more. It may not be a huge change, but it's a positive change. And at this point, I'll take it.

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Scottie Pippen was just enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2010.

His statistics and accolades alone speak for themselves.

REGULAR SEASON CAREER STATS: 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2 steals per game.
PLAYOFF CAREER STATS: 17.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.9 steals per game.

Pippen's resume is very, very impressive.

*6 championship rings.
*7 All-Star selections (1993-94 All-Star game MVP).
*7 All-NBA team selections (3 on the first team).
*10 All-NBA Defensive team selections (8 on the first team).
*Led the NBA in steals in 1994-95.
*Third in MVP voting in the 1993-94 season.
*One of only three players in NBA history (Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon) to get 200 steals and 100 blocks in a single season.
*Part of the 1992 Dream Team that won the Gold Medal in the Olympics.
*Voted as one of the 50 Greatest Players in the 50th Anniversary of the NBA.

There are still those detractors that will say that Michael Jordan was a big help on why he got those accolades.

Basketball is a team game. It’s not like there would be NOTHING left over after Jordan. Someone had to step up to be Jordan’s sidekick. And it was Scottie that stepped up. Those All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defensive team selections are no joke. And Pippen didn't get selected to the 1992 Dream Team just because he was teammates with Michael Jordan.

For most of his career, Pippen was the one that handled the ball and orchestrated the offense. He defined the “point forward” role as his lankiness enabled him to play the “3” or even the “4” spot while his point guard skills enabled him to also be the floor general. He can penetrate the lane with the best of ‘em and was a threat every time he got inside. Scottie can finish it on his own or dish it out to an open teammate.

While Pippen never averaged more than 22 points a game in a season, he was always a threat to score 30 points. Scottie was an outstanding finisher on the open court (a prolific dunker during his career).

LeBron James is making the chasedown blocks vogue today. But Pippen specialized on those chasedown blocks. He had incredible athleticism (Scottie competed in the 1990 Slam Dunk contest and actually did a dunk from the freethrow line) and that speed and agility helped him become one of the greatest defensive players the league has ever seen. He was arguably an even better defender than Michael Jordan because he covered so much more ground. He was great at anticipating the passing lanes. There was the aforementioned chasedown blocks. And Pippen was an outstanding one-on-one lockdown defender. People took notice on how great of a defender Scottie was in the 1991 Finals against the Lakers when he made life difficult for Magic Johnson.

His all-around game helped Chicago clinch their first championship. While Michael Jordan took home the Finals MVP honors, he couldn’t have done it without Scottie Pippen’s help. Pippen led the Bulls in scoring in the series-ending Game 5 with 32 points as the Bulls proved that they were no longer a one-man team.

To punctuate how good Scottie Pippen really was, look no further than the 1993-94 season, the year Jordan decided that hitting curve balls was his choice of sport.

It looked like the Bulls were going to sink with no Michael Jordan on the helm. But Pippen did just about everything for the Bulls as he averaged career highs in points (22.0), rebounds (8.7), and steals (2.9) to help lead Chicago to two 10-game winning streaks in that 1993-94 season and a 55-27 record (two less wins in the regular season than the 1992-93 title team and the Bulls took the Knicks to a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals). Pippen finished third behind Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson in the MVP voting. In a league dominated by centers at the time, Pippen was arguably the best all-around player in the game.

When Jordan returned, he was at the peak of his game. Jordan was looked at as the #1 player in the game and Pippen was considered #1A. That devastating one-two punch led the Bulls to a record 72 wins and a title in the 1995-96 season and would have won 70 again in the 1996-97 season had they not dropped either one of the last two contests that year.

Whether the fans think he’s overrated or overlooked, the evidence is simply there. Yes, Scottie Pippen is forever linked to Michael Jordan but he didn’t choose to be Jordan’s teammate. Instead, Scottie Pippen worked very tirelessly on his game to become the Hall-of-Famer that he is today. Yeah, he may be eternally known as Michael Jordan’s sidekick but, with the accolades and championships he collected over his 17-year career, it’s not exactly a bad thing. If anything, Pippen is the ultimate teammate (whenever teams look for their #2 guy, coaches and the front office always say that they're looking for their "Scottie Pippen"). He didn’t mind not getting all the credit as long as his team was winning basketball games. And win he and his teams did a lot of.

Congratulations to Scottie Pippen for making the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Follow my NBA "commentary" on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. Also, check out our FaceBook page.

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Collison is taking his talents to South Bend(close enough).

Earlier Wednesday afternoon, the Nets, Rockets, Hornets, and Pacers completed a four-way trade with the centerpieces being Darren Collison to Indy and Trevor Ariza to New Orleans. Time for a grade breakdown:

Indiana Pacers receive Darren Collison, James Posey - the Pacers are clearly the winner of this deal. In exchange for the rising talent out of UCLA in Collison, they have to take on Posey and a reasonable two years remaining on his contract. Posey is still a very good defender and a capable three-point shooter. Collison immediately gives Indy a starting PG who will easily replace the oft-injured T.J. Ford. This may mean the end of Ford's tenure there. With Paul George and Danny Granger on the wings, and Roy Hibbert in the middle, the Pacers have slowly built a talented young nucleus that can go nowhere but up. Grade: A

New Orleans Hornets receive Trevor Ariza - in Ariza, the Hornets get a young wing player with explosive leaping ability and very good defensive instincts. Ariza has proven he can drop 20 on any given night. Laker fans may pity him for being "downgraded" to NOH, but is there reason to feel sorry for anyone who gets to play alongside Chris Paul, the best PG in the league? Expect Ariza's percentages to spike all around. This is probably the best situation for him to blossom into a true scoring threat. Giving up Collison was tough, but with an aging starting lineup, they needed a young guy who can score and defend. Grade: B

New Jersey Nets receive Troy Murphy - Murphy gives them another big body alongside Derrick Favors and Brook Lopez. The difference is Murphy has outside range. Though it remains what the Nets' long-term plans are for him, he will contribute this year and along with Morrow, will stretch defenses with their shooting ability. Courtney Lee was a non-factor last year in NJ and expendable with the rise of Terrence Williams. Grade: B+

Houston Rockets receive Courtney Lee, $6M trade exception - Lee was a hot commodity in Orlando, having played major minutes on that Finals team. However, his stock has dropped since and he's just trying to find his way back into relevance. Rockets are looking at Kevin Martin to be the man on the wing now. And considering how much they spent this offseason (re-signing Scola, Lowry, signing Brad Miller), luxury taxes were a serious concern. With this move, they save money now and for the future. Grade: B+

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Elton Brand has come a long way. He was considered by many as an MVP candidate in 2006, but more recently he's been a different kind of MVP. Perhaps Doug Collins can talk him into becoming at least a "discounted section" player instead of a "clearance rack" guy. We'll see next season--

But anyway, the person who bought this jersey probably thinks they got a good deal.

Thanks for the heads up on the picture - @RikDaddy @Solecollector

Questions? Comments? Feel free to leave a comment below or:
Hit up the Bolo Box – Peter@thenolookpass.com
Follow me on Twitter: @Yungbolo Also, join our Facebook page!

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It was eight years ago today (August 5, 2002) that the legendary late, great play-by-play announcer of the Los Angeles Lakers, Chick Hearn, passed away.

In many ways, Chick Hearn was the Los Angeles Lakers. For a long time, it was him that completed your Laker games and he was the constant for many years of that franchise. If you weren't at the Great Western Forum or the Staples Center, Chick made you feel like you were there yourself. His non-stop play-by-play is incredible. He can convey what's going on during a game, whether it's television or radio, and never made you feel lost. And he does it in remarkable rapid-fire delivery that only he can. Chick Hearn never seemed to run out of ways to illustrate a current situation and, even at his advanced age, you wonder how he did it. He was the best at debscribing what was going on in a ballgame with his endless basketball jargon. (Listen to his awesome play-by-play over here.)

Some of his basketball terminology has become staples of the game. Slam dunk was coined by Chick himself. So was triple-double. And even give and go. His other phrases, such as "The mustard is off the hot dog", are very familiar "Chick-isms" as well.

He had an amazing gift. Chick Hearn brought tremendous emotion to each basketball contest. During a game, he made you excited for the Lakers. He made you sad for the team. He was frustrated along with you. And he was happy with the Laker faithful. He was the Lakers' biggest fan. Everyone knew he rooted for L.A. but he'll criticize the team, too, when the situation called for it. That's why he was so good at his job. He would have so much fun calling games for this current Laker team and be proud of them. And we would have fun listening to him talk about Kobe Bryant's evolution and Pau Gasol's incredible post game. Chick was great at balancing his homerism and professionalism of calling the game.

Chick is an example of how I want myself to be like. He loved his job. He had a passion for his work. He called 3,338 straight games for 36 years! That's a man that loved and honed his craft. Even when he had laryngitis, he still (albeit a bit humorously) called the game. But that's how much he loved it. As a person, I never knew anyone that disliked him. He was the consummate professional and everyone just seemed to love him. Chick Hearn just seemed to put a smile on everyone's face. On the pre-game shows or even post-game commentary, you can tell by his voice on how he seemed to LOVE not only the game of basketball but life itself. He and Stu Lantz formed a marvelous tandem and had great chemistry that is almost unmatched between two-man announcing teams these days. And not only was he loyal to the sport but he was also loyal to his wife, Marge. They were a few days short of celebrating their 64th wedding anniversary before he passed away.

I never had a chance to meet the man himself but it seemed like I knew him forever because I grew up listening to him and because we shared that one common ground of basketball. Chick Hearn brought people together with his infectious enthusiasm of the game... and his enthusiasm of life itself. While there are great play-by-play men today such as Marv Albert and Kevin Harlan, Chick Hearn has no equal when it comes to calling a basketball game. Current Laker play-by-play man, Joel Meyers, said it himself: Chick Hearn is irreplaceable. His announcing is always missed. More importantly, his presence in this world is always missed.

But his legacy will live on forever. We miss you, Chick Hearn.

Follow my NBA "commentary" on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. Also, check out our FaceBook page.

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So Shaquille O'Neal is headed to the Celtics. I wish him luck.

I got many, many, many comments from fellow L.A. Laker fans saying that he's a ring-chaser, a traitor, and that his jersey should NEVER be retired at Staples Center.

What?

Okay, so his "legacy will be a little tainted" because he played for another team. But let's look at this for a minute or three.

If Shaq wants to continue playing in the NBA for whatever reason, let him. Sure, he's past his prime. Whatever. But he still has the right to continue his basketball career as he chooses. Wherever it may be. And don't compare this to Brett Favre, who, as a starting quarterback, can hold up an entire NFL franchise by not making any decisions about his NFL career. And it's even worse that he's wishy-washy.

"Ring-chaser." I never knew it was so bad to go after a championship. That's what every player wants. And Shaq can still contribute. What is he supposed to do if he still feels he's got some left in the tank? Go to the Timberwolves? What would you people do in his shoes?

"Traitor." What? So Boston gave him the opportunity to play. How come he wasn't a "traitor" when he was at Cleveland playing with the equally (if not, more) HATED LeBron James? Again, he feels he still has something left in the tank. He still wants to play in the NBA. You wouldn't tell me you'd do the same thing. What? You're going to think, "Oh, I played for the Lakers! Sure, I can still play a couple of more years but I shouldn't play for the Celtics because I'd be branded as a traitor!" WHO THINKS THAT?! They don't think about these things! Besides, Shaq's not even an ORIGINAL Laker. Did y'all forget that Shaq first played for the Orlando Magic?!

"His jersey should NOT be retired." Really? Seriously? Okay. Hate him now, L.A. Fine. He plays for the most hated rival. I get it. But by not retiring his jersey, you're basically not acknowledging his career, what he did for the Lakers, and the Lakers of 2000-02. Shaq was at his best during his 8-year Laker tenure. He was the Most Valuable Player in 2000. He earned three Final MVPs from 2000-02. Kobe Bryant, who is beloved nowadays for having five rings, would most likely only have TWO if it wasn't for Shaq. He was the most dominant player in that period of time. NOT retire his jersey? That's a bit harsh, man. You know what? Let's just FORGET that the championships from 2000-02 EVER happened. Let's just forget that Shaq was the face of this franchise (or even the league) in those years.

I understand that the NBA is a business. Does loyalty mean a lot to me? Sure. I would love it if there were still people like Reggie Miller, Larry Bird... hell, even Kobe Bryant and Paul Pierce... and that they can stay with one franchise for the entire duration of their career. But don't forget that it's a two-way street. Sometimes, franchises trade away players as much as players demand one-way tickets out of a team.

Is it hard to swallow that Shaq's a Celtic? Sure. But it's his next career move and you can't fault a man for wanting to continue his NBA career, even if he is past his prime or even if he is supposedly going to taint his legacy. So what if he wore four more jerseys (all in a short period of time, anyway) after his illustrious Laker career? To me, Shaq will be a Hall-of-Famer. To me, Shaq will always be a Laker. And to me, I will never forget what Shaq did for L.A. in those prime years of his. He gave Figueroa St. parades three years in a row. As a Laker fan, I will be eternally grateful for that.

Good luck to Shaq in Boston. Doesn't mean I'm rooting for ya to go all the way this year, though.

Follow my NBA "commentary" on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. Also, check out our FaceBook page.

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SECOND WEEKEND
Travel arrangements were different this time around. Peter could only go for one day while I went with my cousin. My cousin decided that he wanted to go on a Thursday night instead of Friday morning. That meant an extra night to party.

I called Zach Harper about an hour before we got there and he told me to go to the Hard Rock Cafe. I was dropped off at Hard Rock around 2 A.M. Our buddy from Red's Army, John Karalis, arrived about three minutes after I got there. Then I met a whole mess of people from Holly MacKenzie to Natasha from Heels on Hardwood to D.J. Foster from ClipperBlog.Com. I don't remember the rest of the night (I tend not to after beverages) but I ended up crashing at the "TrueHoop house."

I woke up to Nathan Begley from Portland Roundball Society walking into the house. Pretty soon, most of the TrueHoop guys were up and discussing basketball (I felt so inferior compared to these guys... and that's why they're on TrueHoop and I'm just a lowly independent). After that, we went to the Cox Pavilion to watch the ballgames. Got some interviews done, met some more people (like James from Outside The NBA and Tom Liston of Raptors Republic), and watched an incredible Summer League game between the Washington Wizards and the New Orleans Hornets. Of course, the buzz around the building was Javale McGee slam-punking on some poor Hornet.

VIDEO CREDIT: Mark Travis from But The Game Is On

After that, I waited for Jeff Garcia from Project Spurs to show up. Once he arrived, we took a much-needed (15-minute) rest before we went out on the Strip. And I don't remember much of that night. Apparently, according to Miss Stack Mack, I was singing a lot. But I do that sober, too.

SB NATION VS TRUEHOOP, GAME 2
Saturday morning was the hastily put-together second game of the TrueHoop/SB Nation series. I was once again put under the SB Nation team while Peter was back on TrueHoop's side. The rosters?

TRUEHOOP
Nathan Begley from Portland Roundball Society
Zach Harper from TalkHoops Dot Net and Cowbell Kingdom
Joe Gerrity from Hornets 24/7
Matt Moore from Hardwood Paroxysm
Surya Fernandez from Hot Hot Hoops

SB NATION
Scott Schroeder from Ridiculous Upside
Brian Ball and Rohan Ramadas from At The Hive
Andrew Sharp from the main NBA page of SB Nation
"Clipper" Steve Perrin from Clips Nation

SB Nation won the rematch, 36-22. Boy, did most of us look out of shape. Probably the worst thing I watched since seeing a clip of Jersey Shore. In any case, the full recap is at Clips Nation. Also, check out my NO-LOOK PASS on the video Peter provided around the 8-minute mark.

The routine was pretty much the same for Saturday. I did talk to Gary Payton for a bit; that was pretty cool. And we did see Peter's favorite NBA owner, Donald Sterling...

Curse me for putting off this report for so long because now I'm even remembering less of this day. Anyway, later that night, I met even more awesome bloggers like Ben from Blazers Edge and Kyle from Truth About It. The night was a blur. Jeff reminded me yesterday that a woman spilled a drink on me. I'm awesome.

Also, I'm pretty positive Zach Harper lost money playing Casino War. I mean, the endless strategy of getting a higher card against the dealer... it was just too much for poor Harper.

K-W-A-M-E
The week before, John and I were sorta trash-talking. It led to a H-O-R-S-E competition between us. I changed the letters from H-O-R-S-E to K-W-A-M-E. It was appropriate because the original bet was that whoever lost the game would wear a Kwame Brown jersey for a whole day in Vegas. The jersey didn't arrive in time.

Well, I lost by two letters. We'll have full details here and in Red's Army very soon as well as a video. As for the bet, we have yet to revise it but I'm sure it'll involve me wearing it at a very public venue.

THE LAST DAY
We were all very exhausted at this point. I actually did some physical activity on the last two mornings of Summer League, which was a bad idea because I BARELY got any sleep in Sin City. When I was talking to Zach and Nathan for our podcast, I made a note on how tired we all were at that point.

The day ended with me getting declined by Jeremy Lin for an interview (he was with family)... and Jeff and I meeting up with (another) Jeff from Inside Hoops... while my cousin had problems with his car battery. But, man, it was such a great time. If I plan to do 10 DAYS next year... man... that's going to be a battle. Sure, it's a great time but it's also very taxing on the body. We'll see what happens.

Shoutouts and brief player analysis on the next entry. Whenever that might be...

And, yes, that's me, Karalis, and Peter. No, I'm really not that tall. I'm really only 5'7". Karalis is like eight feet tall.

Follow my NBA "commentary" on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. Also, check out our FaceBook page.

Well, the roster expanded. The sausage... fest grew. It became an 8-man roster. Our name was then changed to the 8th Seed.

Adam Best from Fansided left a few months ago. So our main roster is down to 7 but, keeping in tradition, we leave an 8th spot open for a guest blogger to come in.

For the July 2010 helping, Jeff Garcia from Project Spurs hosted the festivities. He brought in Surya Fernandez of Hot Hot Hoops. Hot Hot Hoops happens to be the Miami Heat blog of the TrueHoop Network. Obviously, he was brought in to talk about the Heat and that new LeBron James/Dwyane Wade/Chris Bosh trio. Miami NWO. Miami 3:16. Whatever you want to call it.

That fired up Glenn Moore, who happens to be from Cleveland. For basically the first 15 minutes, Surya and Glenn got into a very heated debate about what happened. Great stuff.

For the rest of the show, we talked about Las Vegas and Summer League. I didn't even know some woman spilled a drink on me. I hope she was hot. Jeff said she was.

Anyway...check out Episode 13 of the 8th Seed over at Project Spurs. You will love it.

Here's the 8-man rotation, the Twitter names, and the sites represented!
Glenn Moore (@DugoutSportShow, Dugout Sports Show)
Jeff Garcia and Michael De Leon (@sa2ny2004 and @mdeleon, Project Spurs)
Jared Wade (@BothTeamsPlayed and @8pts9secs, Both Teams Played Hard and Eight Points Nine Seconds)
John Karalis (@RedsArmy, Red's Army)
Zach Harper (@talkhoops and @Cowbell_Kingdom, TalkHoops and Cowbell Kingdom)
Surya Fernandez (@MiamiHeatTweet, Hot Hot Hoops)

Follow me on Twitter. My name is @TheNoLookPass. Also, join our FaceBook page.

Kids born in the 80's (like me), grew up watching 90's basketball. Guys like Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway, Kevin Johnson, and Patrick Ewing were our heroes. Luckily for us, Bonafide Icon has made some T-shirts to remind us how awesome they once were and how today's stars are nothing like the stars of the past. Check 'em out--

The Zeeked Tee - Buy it here!

Tough call. Who has the best hairdo on this shirt? If Michael Cage was on it, he would have won but I gotta say it's a toss-up between A.C. Green and "Sky" Walker.

The Point Gods - Buy it here!

Dunking on The Dream, Crossing up the G.O.A.T., One of the biggest names in New York basketball history, and the killer crossover. These guys changed the game and eventually changed the way we think about, politics, practice, life after the NBA and homophobia.

Questions? Comments? Feel free to leave a comment below or:
Hit up the Bolo Box – Peter@thenolookpass.com
Follow me on Twitter: @Yungbolo Also, join our Facebook page!

Matt Barnes is the newest member of the Los Angeles Lakers and is one of the most ferocious competitors in the game today. He made a name for himself last season as a member of the Orlando Magic in a nationally televised game against the Lakers, where Barnes and Kobe Bryant got into a heated match-up. A few months later, he finds himself as Kobe's newest teammate. I sure as hell don't mind having Matt Barnes on the Lakers.

While hard-nosed and extremely competitive on the court, Matt Barnes is very humble off of it. We had a chance to chat with Barnes himself as we talked about the free agency business, the Laker fans, and his switching teams seemingly every season.

TNLP: First off, thank you for giving us traffic on our website. When you were in Orlando, you remember that "Matt Barnes Will Kill You T-Shirt?" I actually put that up on the website and it got us so much traffic. How did you feel about that one?

MATT BARNES: It was crazy. Someone out there made the shirt. I just thought it was funny. And it kinda caught on quick out there and a lot of people liked 'em. It was a cool situation.

TNLP: You said it was a dream come true to become a Laker. Take us through the process. You opted out of Orlando... and I understand that was a business move. Were you surprised that Orlando didn't give you an offer?

MB: Yeah. My understanding was that we were going to re-sign there. (My agent and family) understood the reason behind opting out. It was not unhappiness; it was a business move. Things didn't happen the way we thought they would. Stuff went on behind the scenes there that we didn't find out until it was too late. Unfortunately, it is a business and we had to part ways. But I had a great time in Orlando. Wish things could've worked out. But if I'm leaving Orlando, there's no place better than the best team in the league.

TNLP: Did Miami give you an offer?

MB: Miami and the Lakers were the final two teams that it came down to. I had a chance to speak with Pat Riley and I had a chance to speak with Kobe and Mitch Kupchak. They were both offering the same (money)... both great teams... but the Lakers are a proven winning team (going for three in a row). And it came down to me being born and raised in California. Getting a chance to go to UCLA was a dream come true... and another dream of mine was to play for the Lakers. It came down to those two teams and I try to stay on the West Coast.

TNLP: How long have the Lakers been courting you? Have they been courting you since the beginning?

MB: Mitch Kupchak told me that I've been on the radar for a while. And like I said, it's been a childhood dream of mine to play for them. We've crossed paths a few times in discussions (but nothing at the time worked out). Better late than never. I'm finally here, I'm very excited, and I'm ready to do whatever it takes to win another title.

TNLP: So it looks like you and Kobe are cool. Have you and Lamar Odom talked yet?

MB: I haven't gotten a chance to speak with Lamar but I'm sure that's water under the bridge. Everybody knew the battle between me and Kobe... you know, both being competitive and both wanting our teams to win. I think it was nothing more than that. The media blew it up to make it out to be "me vs him" or "this vs that." It was Orlando versus the Lakers. We happened to win. A lot of emotions got caught up in that game but, like I said, it was just a game. Everything should be fine now that I'm a Laker.

(Image by Jose3030.)

TNLP: Are you tired of moving teams basically every year? Or have you accepted switching homes every season?

MB: Very frustrating. There have been people who have been in my position before... you know, bounced around for a few teams before they actually got a shot. I feel like I had my shot in Golden State in 2006-07 season. I played well and got a new contract there. Unfortunately, a year after I got that contract, my mom passed away. I had one good season and then I had a down season. Teams were looking at me and were all, "Oh, he's a flash in the pan." I moved on to Phoenix and had another solid season. I put up consistent numbers, played well, and started but our team didn't make the Playoffs. Things didn't work out there. Then I got to Orlando and had another solid season. We reach the Eastern Conference Finals and lose. And from all indications and understanding, I thought, finally, I found a home. My family loves it here. I love it here. But that didn't work out...

It is frustrating. I would like to have that financial security; I'd like to be able to call one place home for a while. But it is what it is. I'm tremendously blessed to even have an opportunity to play in the league. I've accepted what's going on. I'm gonna keep continuing to work hard to hopefully lock down that long-term deal... but everything happens for a reason. So I'm here. I'm a Laker now. And I hope to continue to be a Laker but I've learned not to look past this season. This season is the most important season of my life. And I'm going to play it that way like I do every other season and then we'll talk numbers and years after this season. This year, the most important thing is to help this team to win another championship.

TNLP: Now you will be the first NBA player to play in all four California NBA teams!

MB: It's funny and it's kinda frustrating. Early on in my career, I really didn't get a chance to play. I wasn't a high draft pick. (Didn't play much) with the Clippers and the Kings. Went out East and didn't get a chance to play. Then went back West out in Golden State and I finally got a chance to play. I look at my career... even though I'm going into my eighth season, I feel like my career really only started four years ago because I didn't play much early on. Once I got a chance, I kicked that door down and make sure that I was gonna keep playing. I did everything I possibly could every night to be on the court. And I've had a chance to play with great teams and great players. That's kind of my history. Like I said, I'm going into my eighth year but I feel like I've only been playing in the league for four or five years.

TNLP: Were you surprised how much the Laker Nation really hated you? They detested you last season when you were playing with the Magic.

MB: It was crazy. I was messing around on Twitter the other day. I said something like, "Hey, are we good now? Do you guys still hate me?" I had tons of people that answered, "Oh, we hated you... (and all kinds of cuss words) but now you're a Laker so it's good." I just think it's a strong loyal following which shows the Lakers have a great fan base. I said yesterday that playing for the Los Angeles Lakers is second to none in sports. It's being compared to a Yankee in baseball or a Dallas Cowboy in football but I still feel that being a Laker is second to none. Hopefully, through my hard work and my play that I'll win some people over who are still a little sour on me.

TNLP: Tell us about your basketball camp.

MB: My basketball camp is from August 2-6 with EA Sports in Redwood City. It'll be from 9-3:30 everyday. It's for kids from 8-14. We have a good turnout every year. EA Sports gives the kids a chance to play video games... they set up activities outside the basketball camp. I'm tremendously blessed to have an opportunity to have my camp there. I have a great relationship with them and it's a good time.

TNLP: Last question... so who got you into Twitter?

MB: I'm starting a couple of clothing lines. A friend of mine said it was a good way to get the name out of my clothing line and my charities out there so I jumped on the Twitter bandwagon. I've gotten a little trouble on there but it's really benefitted myself, my foundation, and my clothing line.

TNLP: Thank you so much.

MB: I appreciate you having me.

We'd like to thank Matt Barnes for giving us a few minutes of his time. You can follow the newest Laker on Twitter. His handle is @Matt_Barnes22.

You can also visit Barnes' foundation, Athletes Vs Cancer, and his clothing line, Elusion Clothing.

Also... follow my NBA "commentary" on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. Also, check out our FaceBook page.

SWINGMAN GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS MATT BARNES WHT JERSEY M    US $24.99

MATT BARNES UCLA Home College Jersey - Medium    US $29.99

MATT BARNES AUTO SIGNED CLIPPERS GAME USED JERSEY GAI    US $299.99

I'm trying to come up with the best way possible to talk about Summer League in Las Vegas. This may not be your normal basketball entry... but then again, when have we done anything normal?

FIRST WEEKEND
I went with Peter, Nick, and Jimmy. When I'm a passenger during a long drive, I don't react very well. But I managed to stay awake the whole time.

I hadn't been to Las Vegas in four years, which seems really silly because it's only a four-hour drive from where we're coming from. Anyway, I was too late in getting my media credentials but no big deal. I'll know better next year.

All these NBA people were walking around. It was hard to pay attention to the game with all these people around. As Jeff from Inside Hoops said, "It's part networking, part interviewing, part watching, and part hanging out." I learned that very quickly.

It was really cool to finally meet Tracy Murray in real life. He actually moved to Las Vegas recently. It's funny because I've been keeping in touch with him for the past year and we had never met in real life when he was still in Southern California. It was awesome that he instantly remembered us. Also saw Mark Travis from But The Game Is On (the first of many times I would see him throughout Summer League). Great kid that will go places in the future.

After both games, we met up with Poor Man's Commish from Golden State Of Mind. Apparently, he was trying to set up an SB Nation Vs TrueHoop game. TNLP is not affiliated with either of those groups but we wanted to play a little ball, anyway, so we decided that we wanted to hit that up.

Before we left the Cox Pavilion, Peter stopped Brent Barry for a picture (which Jimmy bungled by making a 12-second video instead). Right after that, I talked to Brent asking for an interview in the future. And this was what he said.

BRENT BARRY: "What did you say? No-Look?! I get your tweets! TNLP! You're those crazy L.A. guys!"

CRAZY L.A. GUYS.

We were flabbergasted by this reaction. We never got back to Brent since we didn't run into him again but that basically made our weekend. Brent Barry called us the "crazy L.A. guys." Ha ha ha.

And he gets our tweets? Barry doesn't have Twitter. We'll soon find out. Hopefully.

SB NATION VS TRUEHOOP, GAME 1
We woke up around 8 (might be amazing to a lot of you but I really normally wake up around this time during weekends, no matter how much sleep). Made our way to the gym where we saw a lot of guys shooting around. I could only assume those were the SB Nation/TrueHoop guys. We saw Mr. Poor Man's Commish and then after that, made our introductions with each other. As mentioned, TNLP is not affiliated with either group so us four were divided to those two teams. The teams were as follows...

TRUEHOOP
John Krolik (@JohnKrolik) from Cavs: The Blog
Andrew Tonry from Portland Roundball Society
Spencer Hall (@saltcityhoops) from Salt City Hoops
Michael Schwartz (@ValleyOfTheSuns) from Valley Of The Suns
Rob Mahoney (@RobMahoney) from The Two Man Game

Peter and Jimmy joined them.

SB NATION
Seth Rosenthal (@PTKnicksBlog) from Posting And Toasting
Brian Ball (@atthehive) from At The Hive
Rohan Ramadas, also from At The Hive.
Seth Pollack (@sethpo) from Bright Side Of The Sun
Pepsi Porciuncula from a Las Vegas Asian League.

Nick and I ended up joining SB Nation.

The whole recap can be found here in Golden State of Mind. And the Box Score is right here. Rob Mahoney dominated. It helps to be 9 feet tall, obviously, but he was just eating up all the boards and was unstoppable in the paint. Rob had 32 points and 17 rebounds... and I can't even do that with an individual in NBA2K10. TrueHoop won, 50-47, as Brian missed a last-second three-pointer. I also wished that a certain someone knew the meaning of "drive and dish." Ha ha ha. Yes, Jimmy shot more than I did. That's how involved I was. But, overall, it was in good fun.

We went to have lunch at the Palms. An elderly couple talked to us about whether we liked tattoos or not. The elderly lady focused on whether we would like our significant others to have tattoos. Personally, I've never been huge on tattoos but if Megan Fox EVER wants to make out with me, I'd be stupid to turn that down.

The four of us went back to Cox Pavilion to watch a full day of games. We wore our TNLP T-Shirts. On the earlier part of the day, the lovely Adena Andrews (interactive producer of NBA.Com) stopped by to say hello. Hope you're enjoying your T-Shirt!

We were surprised to see Jason Terry sitting at the bench of the Mavericks summer league team. I asked for an interview and I was granted one at halftime. I already knew he was going to be cool about it as he has been good with interacting with his fans. Also met up with the WarriorsWorld crew. Great group of people. Dennis (@tuffyr) from SLAM also stopped by to say hello. I'm not sure what we talked about since I'm having trouble remembering this day. Ha ha. Also caught up with Jessica Camerato from WEEI in Boston, someone that I hadn't seen in more than a year. Was really cool to see everybody. The T-Shirts that we were wearing also did the job on advertising.

Before we left, Kevin McHale saw us and this was what he said...

KEVIN McHALE: "I see you guys with T-Shirts! TheNoLookPass.Com? I can dig that! I'm all over that!"

I love how we ended both nights with NBA TV guys noticing us. Awesome.

We went home very satisfied. And we had one more weekend of Summer League to do.

Follow my NBA "commentary" on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. Also, check out our FaceBook page.

Hosted by...

THE CHRONICLES OF CROTTY KREW!

PICTURED L to R
David Diep (@illastrate): (PF) Not a gambler.
Jimmy Castro (@WinInTheEnd): (SF) He's good at BJ. I think that means BlackJack.
Nick Perkins: (C) Red or black. Is this the Matrix? Wait. Wrong color.
Rey Moralde (@TheNoLookPass): (PG) Casino War! Such a strategic game!
Peter Kim (@YungBolo): (SG) Can't read his Pokerface!

THE VISITORS!
I talked to lots of people in Summer League. You've seen some of these interviews in print already... but you get to hear them in audio! Some of these talks may sound funny as these conversations were made throughout last weekend.

Jason Terry from the Dallas Mavericks.
Natasha from Heels On Hardwood.
John Karalis from Red's Army.
Joel Meyers, L.A. Lakers Play-By-Play Announcer.
David Kahn, President of the Timberwolves Basketball Operations.
Jeff Garcia from Project Spurs.
Zach Harper from TalkHoops and Cowbell Kingdom.
Nathan Begley from Portland Roundball Society.

BREAK IT DOWN
We all talked about our Summer League experiences and we got into an extended discussion about Jeremy Lin, a rare Asian-American NBA player (who was recently signed by the Golden State Warriors).

TEASERS
REY: "Three superstars... oh, my gosh... what is going on here?"
JOHN KARALIS: "Whatever it is... it was distracting and awesome."

ZACH HARPER: "(Hassan) Whitesides impressed me with his shotblocking... it's like us out in the Hard Rock last night... awareness was not great... played WAR for no reason! Lost some money! He's a little bit of a space cadet."

NATHAN BEGLEY: "What happens in Vegas... stays in Vegas."

REY: "How happy are you that Hedo Turkoglu is gone?"
NATASHA: "All I'm gonna say is... ball."

CREDITS

BANNER
Greg Sorvig

MUSIC
Free Your Mind by En Vogue (instrumental)
Footloose by Kenny Loggins
Superhero by Jane's Addiction
Buy U A Drank by T-Pain and Yung Joc
Leaving Las Vegas by Sheryl Crow

PROMOS
James Herbert from Outside The NBA
Jason Riley from The Lakers Nation
John Crotty, Miami Heat radio analyst
Eric Pincus from Hoopsworld Dot Com
Chris Manning from The Lakers Nation
Elie Seckbach from ES News
Zach Lowe from Celtics Hub
Jeff Garcia from Project Spurs
Zach Harper from TalkHoops and Cowbell Kingdom
Russ Bengtson from SLAM Online

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“How do you feel about being the token Asian on the team?”

“What?”

“It’s obvious to everyone that the only reason you’re on the team is for cosmetic ones.”

“That’s bullshit. I bust my ass to be on this team.”

“But you never get to play.”

“So what? I’m still on the team.”

The above lines are taken from the 2002 motion picture Better Luck Tomorrow, which tells the story of a group of overachieving Asian kids who grow bored of living within the trappings of being the model minority. The film, independently financed by the filmmakers themselves, would become an official selection at the Sundance Film Festival, where it went on to win the Grand Jury Prize.  Subsequently, it would become the first film ever picked up for distribution by MTV Films.

Some would tell you that the film earned its distribution based off its own merits. Others might say that the film was picked up during a time that the Viacom subsidiary was desperately looking to tap a growing Asian-American market.

Jeremy Lin is a basketball player. Without a resume which featured time at a major NCAA Division I Basketball program, the 6’ 3” combo guard did not become one of the names called on the night of the 2010 NBA Draft. Lin would later receive an invite to play on the Dallas Mavericks Summer League roster, where he became a fan favorite during his time on the team. In the following days, he would fulfill his dream of joining the NBA by reaching an agreement to join the Golden State Warriors.

Some would tell you that the Ivy League standout earned his spot on an NBA roster based off his inspired play at this year’s Summer League. Others might say that his partially-guaranteed contract was given at a time when new Warriors ownership was looking to make a splash, adding him to the roster to tap the San Francisco Bay Area’s large Asian-American community.

It is a story of parents who dared to dream that one of their children might grow up to play in the NBA – a story of persistent determination after going unnoticed, even by schools in Lin’s home state of California.  And yet, the story continues to be one about Taiwanese-immigrant parents that dreamed their son would someday play in the National Basketball Association – a story of how an Asian-American basketball player didn’t give up on his belief that he could play the sport professionally. Considering how much of an underdog story it is for any undrafted player to make an NBA roster, a significant amount of focus is being made on what Jeremy Lin is rather than who Jeremy Lin is. Ask Eduardo Najera if he got the same exposure for being only the second Mexican-born player in the NBA, or if Jamario Moon was given the same amount of press for his 7-year journey into the league.

Why is it then that so much attention has been given on Lin’s ethnic background? There are a handful of Asians in professional sports across America, as well as a number of Asian-American athletes, either past or present.  Short-term memory may be a likely cause. An issue here that most would like to avoid publicly discussing, though, is the notion that more than any other race, Asians and Asian-Americans are defined by their ethnicity.

“I feel like, at least from my own opinion of myself, I’m first and foremost a Christian and also a basketball player, and all anyone really wants to focus on is me being Asian-American,” he says in an interview on Bay Area radio station KNBR.

Stories have circulated of the racial slurs that Jeremy Lin had to endure while playing at Harvard, stories that mention that the slurs persisted throughout his entire college career. In a transcript from San Jose Mercury News columnist Tim Kawakami, Lin mentions: “It was bad the first couple times. But I just learned to block it out. It taught me a lot. It just made me a better player, just mentally stronger.”

Even more disheartening is Lin’s  belief that he expects the slurs to follow him into the NBA.

In the case of sports, it is widely accepted and believed that strength and toughness are needed to compete at an elite level. In the case of Asians and Asian-Americans – especially when it comes to males – the stereotype that follows them is that they are weak and timid. Put the two together and it becomes easy to see why Asians in general are stereotyped as being poor athletes.

Perhaps that is why most colleges were apprehensive about offering Jeremy Lin a scholarship, preferring him to walk-on to the program with no guarantees of making a team. Perhaps that is why he wasn’t selected on the night of the 2010 NBA Draft. Perhaps that is why some are still questioning whether or not his contract with the Golden State Warriors was given for basketball reasons.

It must have been quite the surprise then when Lin held his ground against number one pick John Wall, eventually usurping the Cox Pavilion crowd. And whatever scouts and basketball fans alike were saying before the Summer League? Well, there are definitely less of them saying those things now.

Does this make Jeremy Lin a role-model? To some, perhaps. Does this make Jeremy Lin a pioneer? Not so much in the basketball sense, where Wang Zhizhi was the first Chinese player and Wataru Misaka the first Asian-American. Lin’s journey to the NBA isn’t a story about how he is different. Instead, Jeremy Lin’s story is about how Asian-Americans don’t have to be perceived as different. It’s not a story of an Asian-American basketball player making a roster. It’s a story of a player joining the team he rooted for as a child.

Perceptions aren’t going to change overnight. Nonetheless, with his arrival in the league, Lin is showing the world he is ready to play. He may have yet to log a single minute of time in the regular season, but the longer he stays on the team and in the league, the less people will think of him as an Asian-American basketball player, and more will see him the way he views himself – as just a basketball player.

Find me on Twitter as: @dingyu

The No-Look Pass on Twitter: @TheNoLookPass

Join our Facebook Page!

(Photo courtesy of Garett Elwood/NBA Entertainment/Getty Images)

THE CHRONICLES OF CROTTY KREW!

PICTURED L to R
David Diep (@illastrate): (PF) Stayed home past the couple weekends.
Jimmy Castro (@WinInTheEnd): (SF) Shaved his head. Whoopee.
Nick Perkins: (C) Just a crazy L.A. guy.
Rey Moralde (@TheNoLookPass): (PG) Doesn't remember his Vegas nights.
Peter Kim (@YungBolo): (SG) Loves to be in charge.

BREAK IT DOWN
We just talk about the offseason movement going on. We couldn't possibly talk about EVERY move in 40 minutes. So we just bungled our way through.

TEASERS
PETER: "If you take a look at Boston and L.A., they're the ones that really won this offseason. They're still the teams to beat."

REY: "Let's move on to the Clippers. Peter, go ahead."
PETER: "Do we have to?"

REY: "LeBron loves Z. It's not Cuttino Mobley and Steve Francis but..."
DAVE: "Jungle fever!"

DAVE: "There's one thing I do like about (Vinny) Del Negro and that he has no playbook."
REY: "If he has no playbook, why does he call timeout at the wrong time?!"
DAVE: "That's because he has no playbook. He doesn't know what the hell he's doing."

CREDITS

BANNER
Greg Sorvig

MUSIC
Free Your Mind by En Vogue (instrumental)
How Crazy Are You? by Meja (from Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball)
No Easy Way Out by Robert Tepper (from Rocky IV)
Escape by Enrique Iglesias

PROMOS
Violet Kanian from Violet Kanian
Holly MacKenzie from SLAM Online
Stephanie K of Stephanie K Music Dot Com
Mark Locsin from Hoopshead Central
John Crotty, Miami Heat radio analyst

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I caught up with the Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations, David Kahn, at Summer League. He didn't have too much time available as I walked with him to the media room (where I wasn't allowed in the first place... ha ha). Didn't get to ask him about Wesley Johnson but he did answer a few other questions.

TNLP: What do you think of the (Timberwolves) in this offseason?

DAVID KAHN: Well, I think we have a lot more talent and athleticism and shooting than we have a year ago at this time. By no means do I feel that we're an elite ballclub yet but I think we have made some additions that I think will. There's some young players that I think could become part of our core nucleus for the next several years.

TNLP: You just traded Al Jefferson. What direction are we going here? Who is the guy you're going to build around?

DK: We don't build around anybody, per se. I want to have a team that's filled with talent, not just one guy or two guys... but many guys. We're all looking for that one special guy, who you can say is your "A" player (number 1 player). As I've said publically, Al's not that. That was part of the issue that we had. Al on a really good team is probably the second or third best option (player). I don't know if we have somebody that we identify that is that kind of guy on our team but I think with Michael Beasley and his capability to score, certainly we'll look to get some big things out of Michael.

TNLP: What do you expect out of your new acquisition, Martell Webster?

DK: I expect Martell to show a lot more game than he probably was able to show in Portland. I think the way he was used in Portland, he often times was the floor-spacer. He had to be on the wing... and was just a 3-point shooter. In our team, he'll be asked to do a lot more. He's a big defensive player and we expect him to be able to help us in that perimeter defense.

(At this point, he had to go to the media room so I could only ask one more question.)

TNLP: And, lastly, anything about Ricky Rubio?

DK: What do you want to know?

TNLP: When is he coming here? Do you know anything about that?

DK: A year from now.

TNLP: A year from now. Are you for sure?

DK: Mhmmmm.

TNLP: Okay. Thank you so much.

DK: You got it.

We'd like to thank Mr. Kahn for this interview and almost getting me into trouble.

Follow my NBA blurbs on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. And check out our FaceBook page.

While the swingman-turned-singer works on his road back to the NBA, we at The No Look Pass wish him the best with his second career. His upcoming album, "Rehabbing R&B," is set to drop this fall.

You can also listen to the song here:

Follow him on Twitter: @KareemRush.

Find me on Twitter as @dingyu.
The No-Look Pass on Twitter: @TheNoLookPass
Join our Facebook Page!

TNLP got a chance to see the Clippers in action on Saturday during the second weekend of the 2010 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. It wasn't pretty and I'm not sure if it's better to see a 15 point loss or a loss by a last second shot. Either way, I'll do my best to recap what happened with some interesting pictures from the Clippers' perspective (for the Spurs' perspective, be sure to check out Jeff Garcia's recap at Project Spurs).

To our surprise, our favorite Clippers owner, Donald T. Sterling was in the house to watch the game.

It was also a good sign seeing Blake Griffin back out on the court shooting around with the team before the game. He's at 100% health right now so let's hope that he stays that way this season.

As the game began, the Clippers looked to get DeAndre Jordan started early by getting him the ball on nearly every possession to start the game. It led to a number of isolation plays on the block. He finished a number of them, including a nice drive and dunk from the baseline.

However, outside of Jordan's offense, the Clippers were unable to get much going in the first half outside of some scoring from Jeremy Richardson, and defensively, the team continually gave up outside shots to the Spurs' Alonzo Gee (who had 20 points for the game) and 22 points in the paint. The Clippers also received little help from their 2003 draft pick Sofoklis Schortsanitis as he mishandled the ball and was unable to keep the Spurs out of the paint on his own.

The score at the half was 39-26 in favor of the Spurs.

The Clippers looked good at the start of the second half with a 3-pointer by Aminu and a solid drive to the hoop on the proceeding possession. The Clippers also looked to push the tempo, utilizing Eric Bledsoe's speed to get the ball up the court. However, it led to a number of turnovers (a common occurrence for the Clippers in Summer League) and sloppy plays and the Clippers just couldn't get their offense going. Outside of a few scores by Willie Warren, the Clippers went on a drought and found themselves down 56-41 after 3.

The lead was pushed to 61-42 with 8 minutes left to go but the Clippers were ignited by a big shot block by Sofo on a dunk attempt which led to a 6-0 run for the Clippers.

Just when it looked like the Clippers were going to make it a close game, the Clippers began to fall apart as they continually missed free throws and struggled to score, even when Jordan returned with 4:30 left in the game.

Aminu continued to run the break well but also continued to miss free throws and on one possession, played good perimeter defense but made a rookie error by biting on a pump fake by the Spurs' Curtis Jerrells.

Aminu did have 16 points and was a bright spot for the Clippers as they fell to the Spurs 77-62. The Clippers also lost the following game as mentioned and went 1-4 during their 5 games in Las Vegas.

It's difficult to say how the Clippers are going to be, and how they're going to look once the season begins but a number of things are still in the air. Dave wrote about the compatibility between the Clippers and Tracy McGrady, Al-Farouq Aminu doesn't appear to be ready to step into a starting role and is still transitioning from being a 4 to a 3, and the Clippers sign a handful of Minnesota Timberwolves. No matter what happens, we'll keep you updated.

Side notes:

• Sofo is BIG. He moves extremely well for a guy his size and looks a lot bigger in person. I felt fortunate to finally see him play. It could very well be my first and last. The re-signing of Craig Smith means Sofo probably won't be suiting up in a Clippers uniform next season.

• (Former?) Assistant coach John Lucas was in the building.

• Yes Clipper fans, this is exactly who you think that is. That Granger guy isn't that great anyway.

Photo Credit: Lisa Woo

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]]> http://www.thenolookpass.com/2010/07/21/tnlp-at-2010-nba-summer-league-clippers/feed/ 0 http://www.thenolookpass.com/2010/07/20/tnlp-talks-to-joel-meyers/ http://www.thenolookpass.com/2010/07/20/tnlp-talks-to-joel-meyers/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:24:43 +0000 Rey-Rey http://www.thenolookpass.com/?p=4818

Joel Meyers (left, with Bob Pettit on the right) has been announcing games for the Lakers since 2003.

Being the play-by-play man of arguably the most storied franchise in the NBA is one of the best jobs in the league. For many years, the legendary Chick Hearn filled that position. Now the spot is owned by Joel Meyers, who has been in that position since 2005, two years after he joined the Lakers as the radio play-by-play man. I caught up with Mr. Meyers at Summer League, where he was working for NBA TV.

TNLP: I'm right here with Joel Meyers, L.A. Lakers play-by-play man! How's it going? What are you doing here in Summer League? Do you do this every year?

JOEL MEYERS: Two games a day. Seven consecutive years in Las Vegas (before that, Long Beach), get a head start on the season, and get to see all the young guys.

TNLP: You are working overtime, sir. Lakers... they added Steve Blake. They kept Derek Fisher. They might re-sign Shannon Brown. How do you like the outlook of the Lakers this season?

JM: Well, Steve Blake was an exceptional addition. Great to see Derek Fisher back: a glue guy, a stabilizer, a leader in the locker room (and also brings great chemistry). Don't forget Derek Fisher is also President of the Players' Association. Everything's great with the Lakers. If Bynum gets healthy... it could be a third consecutive title.

TNLP: What do you think about the second-rounders: Devin Ebanks and Derrick Caracter.

JM: Both guys could eventually be in the rotation before the end of the year. Ebanks: very similar (kinda scary) look like Trevor Ariza but a little bit longer. He's defensively going to be a real help for the Lakers down the road. And Caracter's a nice rebounder. He looks like he could be a double-double guy eventually.

TNLP: And everyone's been asking, I'm sure, around the NBA about LeBron, Wade, and Bosh. What do you think of this personally?

JM: Well, it's one thing to have dinner with the guy and it's another thing to live with the guy. We'll find out what their chemistry is, who gets what they want at the end of games, and if everybody gets along. I hope for the best because they're in the Eastern Conference so Lakers wouldn't even see them until the NBA Finals, anyway. My best to Miami.

TNLP: And one more thing, it's really hard to fill in the man... the late, great Chick Hearn's shoes. Do you feel any pressure of doing that?

JM: No, no. The Lakers have made me feel very welcome but nobody will ever replace the voice of the Lakers... and that is Chick Hearn.

TNLP: Thank you, sir.

JM: My pleasure.

We'd like to thank Joel Meyers for kindly giving us a few minutes of his very busy schedule.

Follow my NBA blurbs on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. And check out our FaceBook page.

When Tracy McGrady was traded to New York last February, there was a buzz in NYC. He was easily the most dynamic star they've had in years. T-Mac dropped 26 huge points in his Knick debut vs. the Thunder and it had the fans chomping at the bit. But as days passed and games were lost, McGrady never truly regained his old form. He showed flashes, still had excellent playmaking skills, but one could tell he was a step slow. He admitted himself he wasn't fully healed.

So here we are three weeks into free agency and McGrady remains just that - a free agent. Though he has received some interest, it has been minimal and he's now expected to work out for the Clippers this Wednesday.

Whether this is a good gamble for the Clips has been well-debated the past week. DJ Foster wrote an article for ESPN saying it's a bad move for LA. I think it's the opposite. Since the season ended, the Clippers have had a glaring need at small forward. It didn't seem likely that Rasual Butler was coming back, and one-by-one, the swingman crop was thinning out in the market. McGrady remains one of the very few starting caliber players remaining. He gives the Clippers what they sorely need - a versatile player who can play both SF/SG, a very good facilitator(second to Baron Davis), veteran leadership and a swagger to take and make big shots. The Clippers are a very young team with six guys 21 and under. A youngster such as Aminu could learn from T-Mac on how to be a better all-around player.

The risk should be minimal. Seeing as how McGrady doesn't have much leverage anymore to command a long-term, lucrative deal, perhaps a one or two year below MLE deal will be enough. It would be a low-risk/high-reward situation that could turn out to be fruitful for LA. McGrady won't have to be the leading scorer, the burden will not be solely on his shoulders. With Davis, Griffin, Gordon and Kaman, he is just another weapon. If Tracy can regain his form from even two years ago, a playoff berth is entirely possible. Not only would that further legitimize the franchise, but it would increase T-Mac's market value for his next gig wherever that may be.

Yup, eHarmony couldn't have matched a better couple.

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Rey and I participated once again in the second game of the SBNation vs. Truehoop Blogger battle that took place this past Saturday during the second weekend of the Las Vegas NBA Summer League. The No-Look Pass guys were split up once again with Rey going to the SBNation side and me on the TrueHoop team.

Despite a late run by the TrueHoop team, the SBNation squad held on to their lead and responded with a late run to close out the game. Steve Perrin, aka Clipper Steve, wrote a recap of the game 2. Be sure to check that out. (And also be sure to check out Poor Man's Commish's recap of game 1).

Obviously, none of us are extraordinary basketball players (video evidence below), but hey, we're bloggers! Here was the lineup for each team--

SBNation's Squad:

• Ridiculous Scott from Ridiculous Upside; (Grey shirt, black shorts)
• Brian from At The Hive; (White shirt, black shorts)
• Rohan from At the Hive; (Red shirt)
• Andrew Sharp from SBNation NBA; (White shirt, grey shorts)
• Steve Perrin from ClipsNation; (Darko jersey)
• Rey from The No Look Pass; (TNLP T-shirt)

TrueHoop Network Squad:

• Nathan Begley from Portland Roundball Society; (White shirt, blue shorts with white stripe)
• Zach Harper from Cowbell Kingdom; (Red shirt, blue shorts)
• Joe Gerrity from Hornets 247; (Grey shirt, white shorts with blue trim)
• Matt Moore from Hardwood Paroxysm; (Blue shirt, black shorts with red stripe)
• Surya Fernandez from Hot Hot Hoops; (White shirt, blue shorts)
• Peter Kim from The No-Look Pass; (All black outfit)

Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, we actually have some video footage from the latter half of the game. It's got sloppy plays, turnovers, 3-pointers, NO-LOOK PASSES, and a Darko Milicic jersey.

Enjoy and try not to laugh too hard.

A huge thank you to Poor Man's Commish for setting up the event. Follow him on Twitter: @PoorMansCommish

Questions? Comments? Feel free to leave a comment below or:
Hit up the Bolo Box – Peter@thenolookpass.com
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If one is to follow the events written in Brian Windhorst’s recollection of events that culminated in the unification of the NBA’s new big three, there could certainly be a case made that what’s been happening in the league is right out of a motion picture. Was there a plan in place? If so, how long were they plotting to do this? How much did Heat President Pat Riley know about the plan when he began to clear space for the 2010 Free Agency period? There are a lot of questions to ask, and frankly, speculation can be found all over the internet.

What’s a person to do with all the rampant discussion and rumors? If living in Los Angeles has taught me anything, it’s this: when you’ve got a good story, dramatize it. In fact, isn’t there some widely known cable movie network that already has a knack for making films detailing the history in sports? Why not ponder what a movie might look like? I imagine it would be something like this:

Michael Jai White as LeBron James: He’s definitely got the build for it, as well as much of the look. He’s played sports figures before, and while he tends to play one-dimensional characters at times, he also showed a lighter side to him in the hilarious Black Dynamite.

Omar Epps as Dwayne Wade: With roles in critically acclaimed sports films such as Major League II and Against the Ropes, Omar Epps steps in as D-Wade. Maybe this is just bias coming from a person who has spent far too many Mondays in front of a television watching House, M.D., but considering his resume and charisma, it sticks.

Marlon Wayans as Chris Bosh: This was actually a suggestion from fellow TNLP staff-member David Diep, and it definitely works. Any time spent watching the videos on Chris Bosh’s YouTube account is a clear indicator of how much of a joker he is, so why not get a comedian to play his role?

Ray Liotta as Dan Gilbert: After the scathing letter that was posted on the Cavs’ website after the airing of “The Decision,” it was seen by many that the Cavs owner, while willing to win and proud to represent his city, definitely had a mean and vengeful side to him. It’s not all that different than the types of roles Ray Liotta plays, so why not plug him in here as well?

Robert Forster as Pat Riley: He’s shown that he can be quite the versatile actor, ranging from good guy roles in Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown to playing the evil Arthur Petrelli in Heroes, plus he’s previously played the role of coach in a major NBA film. As a mentor to Wade and the power player that puts the three together, Forster gets the nod here.

There are clearly tons more roles that could be filled in here, but sticking to this main cast is a good start.  Other notable mentions? Terence Howard as William “Worldwide Wes” Wesley, perhaps? Brian Cox as Mickey Arison? Jesse Spencer as Nick Arison? Lots of possibilities to go on.

What would this thing be called, anyway? Indecision? Caught in the Heat? The King of South Beach? Let’s not think about titles just yet, especially since these guys haven’t won one together as a team. After all, depending on how next season plays out, this might only be the premise of the film. There will be drama throughout, but if the Heat don’t win the title? Some might say this film would be a tragedy.

Follow Brandon Tomyoy on Twitter. His username is @dingyu. He’s also our substitute podcaster in case one of us can’t make it. Our 6^th man, if you will.

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Changes are inevitable. That includes even the champions of the last two seasons, the Los Angeles Lakers. They really only had one change in the roster last offseason: Ron Artest went to the Lakers while Trevor Ariza packed his bags for Houston. This time around, the backcourt gets a little makeover. Let's take a look at every Laker guard not named Kobe Bryant.

JORDAN FARMAR
He's gone. I'll miss him a little.

I have been a HUGE Farmar defender for a long time. I thought he had enough talent to be a starter in this league and Farmar himself thinks so. Jordan rubbed a lot of the Laker fans the wrong way with his confidence. People claimed he was a bad apple, whiny, and never listened to Phil Jackson. Get me some evidence where he was actually a bad apple and whiny. Sure, he went away from the Triangle a few times but he was never a detriment to teammates and was never whiny about his role. He knew he had to work hard to unseat Derek Fisher as the starting point guard. But his inconsistencies and overzealousness never put him over the hump. Plus he never seemed to pay attention to defense.

Jordan Farmar has a lot of likable attributes. He can run an offense. It's just that in the Triangle, a "traditional" point guard is not needed and Farmar likes to set up the offense with the ball in his hands. His fearlessness and confidence can go a long way; sometimes, he's in over his head but I'd rather have that than someone who's timid. Farmar was certainly more of a good fit in an uptempo offense.

Now he goes to New Jersey where Devin Harris is currently installed as the starting point guard. If Harris gets dealt, he'll have a chance to run whatever kind of show Avery Johnson is going to run. Avery was pretty tough on Harris when they were together at Dallas. Let's see if Farmar grows into the player that we all expected him to be under the Nets brass.

SHANNON BROWN
He opted out. He wants more money. And I'm indifferent towards his potential leaving.

Shannon Brown excites a crowd. People love his thunderous dunks. That's probably the best thing he can do. Shannon is more of a shooting guard than a point guard. His jumper's improved but his ballhandling skills aren't the best. There are times where he irritates teammates the same way Jordan Farmar does: he tries to do too much and doesn't let the game come to him. Shannon was exposed to be a volume shooter on some parts of the season. And his defense isn't the greatest, either, even though he'll come up with a spectacular defensive gem once in a while. Still, he's a hard worker, he knows the offense, and the Lakers like his potential.

I can't blame him if he takes the money. I also don't blame him if he decides that he's all about the titles (he won't make much less than he would being out in the free agent market). It's not a bad move if the Lakers retain his services. But it's not bad, either, if the Lakers choose to go another direction. They just better find a suitable swingman to replace him.

SASHA VUJACIC
Sasha probably wanted that revenge the most against Boston. So it was fitting that he was the one to ice the title with those freethrows late in the game.

He's a valuable commodity on and off the court. Vujacic is in the last year of his contract and could prove useful as trade bait later on. Fans everywhere ridicule him for being "useless" on the court but the fact of the matter is he plays irritating defense and can get under the skin of the opponents. He hasn't shot the ball well since that breakout 2007-08 season but Sasha is familiar with the Triangle and can play both positions if needed.

The Machine may not be shooting well but you know damn well you're going to get the effort out of him. I love his passion out there, even if uncontrolled at times. I just don't love him for $5 million a year.

STEVE BLAKE
Steve Blake is perfect for this team.

Blake just stays within the parameters of the team. With the Lakers struggling with the 3 the past year, he might become their best 3-point shooter. Blake has a high basketball IQ and is a fast learner; he should be able to learn the Triangle no problem. Steve Blake is also a willing (not the best) defender in the backcourt, which the Lakers surely need help on. Let's just say Blake has become Phil Jackson's John Paxson of 2010. Or Steve Kerr. Or Ron Harper.

Steve Blake has proven to be a dependable playmaker and, at 30, he should be able to cut into Derek Fisher's minutes, which is vital for the Lakers as Phil intends to save Fisher for the postseason. Plus in the Triangle offense and with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol working, Blake should have those three-pointers open for most of the game. This is where Blake can prove his worth.

Great signing for the Lakers. Plus he'll be a short-term solution at the 1 once Fisher is gone (which could be any year now).

DEREK FISHER
Fisher is 36 years old. He is on his last legs. He will struggle. So why bring him back?

Even if he doesn't play anymore, it'd be great to keep him around as an advisor. Fisher's biggest impact is off the court. If the players choose not to listen to Phil Jackson or Brian Shaw, it is Fisher that they will listen to. Especially Kobe Bryant. And as long as Kobe is happy and kept in check, that's what matters most for the Lakers.

Fisher struggled mightily in the regular season. This was why it was so essential to have Farmar and Brown play well; Fisher needed to be saved for the all-important postseason. Once the postseason arrived, Fisher showed why he was one of the most clutch players in today's game. That breakaway lay-up against three Celtics in the waning seconds of Game 3 of the Finals. That three-pointer in Game 7 that completed the comeback against Boston. He lives for those moments.

Now he might have a hard time in the regular season again but as long as he's in Kobe's ear and he can make it to the postseason, Fisher will be fine. Especially now that a more efficient point guard in Steve Blake is coming off the bench.

The biggest weakness for the Lakers has always been guarding quick point guards. Not sure if this solves all problems. Maybe Blake is a better defender than we think. Maybe Shannon improves his defensive posturing. Maybe Sasha gets more playing time to defend them. We'll see what happens then.

Follow my NBA "commentary" on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. Also, check out our FaceBook page.

Well, we all know what LeBron James did. He bolted Cleveland, embarrassed the city in front of national television, and went to Miami to join friends Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Where does the Cleveland Cavalier franchise go from here? I couldn't get a more qualified person to answer these questions than someone who resides in Cleveland, Glenn Moore. As some of you may know, Glenn is part of the 8th Seed Podcast and the man behind The Dugout Sports Show. You can also catch some of Glenn's work at Sports Talk Cleveland.

TNLP: Well, I gave you some time to cool off. When he mentioned that he was taking his "talents to South Beach", what was your reaction that moment?

GLENN MOORE: Honestly, I was not surprised. My question of LeBron's loyalty started in 2007 when he wore a New York Yankees hat to a Cleveland Indians-Yankees playoff game in Cleveland. He was flaunting it, showing it off to the crowd. And when the Indians beat the Yankees to advance in the playoffs, he then was spotted wearing an Indians hat. With all the reports leading up to that exact moment, I thought he was gone for good. But being from Cleveland and living here all my life, the other half of me wanted to believe LeBron wouldn't drag this region of Ohio through the mud. But that is exactly what he did. He disgraced Northeast Ohio and Cavs fans everywhere by doing it on national television.

TNLP: How do you feel about it now?

GLENN: I'm over it. Life goes on. The Cleveland Cavaliers WILL tip off in the fall. Granted, they might not be very good or be a championship caliber team, but basketball in Cleveland is here to stay. LeBron will be hated a long time here in Cleveland. But me personally, I knew he would go. And I moved on from that fact a while ago.

TNLP: What do you think was the key moment that turned it around for Miami? Or do you believe that this was all premeditated from the start?

GLENN: Everybody knows Dwyane Wade and LeBron both wanted to play with one another for a very long time. But was it possible? That was the question fans and even the players themselves thought. I think when the cap space was available a couple months ago that this idea of forming a "Superteam" gained momentum. I DO NOT believe LeBron when he said "I made up my mind this morning". I think he had this planned out for at least a few weeks.

TNLP: Do you believe Dan Gilbert and think he quit on the Cavs against Boston?

GLENN: Looking back at that game, yes I believe LeBron quit. If it was because they were down early and couldn't come back or if LeBron "threw" the game is yet to be determined. But one thing is for sure, LeBron did not give it his all during that series. And it's sad. Because if LeBron did not give up, then maybe he would have stayed in Cleveland to go for two in a row. His passion and loyalty have both come into question in the past couple months.

TNLP: Do you think that LeBron was thinking more about free agency than the Cavs during the regular season?

GLENN: If anybody thinks LeBron was more into free agency than the Cavaliers, they are crazy. He wanted to win a championship here in Cleveland. He understood why Cleveland fans have had so much pain in the past 40-plus years. This is why him leaving is hard for Cavs fans. Because he knew how bad we, as a city, wanted a championship. But no, I don't think LeBron was more about free agency than winning a championship.

TNLP: What do you think the Cavs should've done differently in the past few years?

GLENN: Cavs owner Dan Gilbert did all he can to put the best team around LeBron James. Through trade and free agency, Gilbert put the team over the salary cap and paid extra money to bring this city a championship and keep LeBron happy. He let LeBron bring his buddies on team flights. Let LeBron change the team's travel itinerary so he could stay an extra night in New York. Problem is, Dan Gilbert is no victim here. He enabled LeBron to become this egotistically driven player.

TNLP: The city is definitely hurt. What's the worst thing you've personally witnessed in Cleveland since the announcement.

GLENN: Personally, for me watching and listening to LeBron's comments from the past few years have hurt me the most. Listening to LeBron thank the fans, his teammates. Promising fans to bring a championship to Cleveland. That is more emotional to me than any jersey-burning video out there.

TNLP: The Cavs have to move on. What's next for them?

GLENN: If I was in charge, I would blow up the roster and start from scratch. Get draft picks, which they got from Miami. Get young players for cheap and just shoot for contending in a few years. But I believe Gilbert will try to win now, adding some high salary players and sneak into the playoffs now. Whether that is the right decision, we will see.

We'd like to thank Glenn Moore for doing this. Our thoughts are with the city of Cleveland.

Follow my NBA blurbs on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. You can also follow Glenn Moore as well. His handle is @dugoutsportshow.

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Hulk Hogan became a heel (bad guy) and formed a rebel group of badass wrestlers to take over the old WCW (World Championship Wrestling). They were known as the nWo (New World Order).

Well, we likened that to LeBron James and Chris Bosh turning heel as they "turned their backs" on their old teams and formed a superpower group in Miami with Dwyane Wade. Someone dubbed this the mWo, complete with this video.

I personally prefer Miami 3:16 after their jersey numbers (3- Wade, 1- Bosh, 6- LeBron). Either way, the Miami Heat are now the most hated team in the NBA (mostly because of that ridiculous "Decision" show).

And I can't wait to see which team full of good guys will take down this new heel team.

VIDEO CREDIT: Nic3rack

HAT TIP: PerfectChaun

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While we were at Summer League, Jason Terry from the Dallas Mavericks was kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions.

TNLP: What brings you here in Summer League? We're surprised you're here!

JASON TERRY: Well, I'm just here watching Roddy Beaubois and (first-round pick) Dominique Jones. These are two young players that can help our team next year.

TNLP: Rodrigue Beaubois? How good can he be?

JT: He can be great! He's a player that reminds me a lot of myself. He can score with the best of them. Defensively, he's long and active like Rajon Rondo.

TNLP: You just re-signed Dirk Nowitzki and Brendan Haywood. How good is this Dallas Mavericks team? Can you go all the way?

JT: That's our goal. Our goal every year is to win a championship every year and, right now, we signed Dirk... we signed Brendan Haywood... we add a couple more pieces and we're right back as contenders next year.

(NOTE: Yes, that is me interviewing Mr. Jason Terry. I need a haircut.)

TNLP: Everybody's asking about this. LeBron. Wade. Bosh. All together. What do you think of that team?

JT: They gotta come through Texas first. We'll see what happens. I'm still mad about the '06 Finals. LeBron just walked into a fire he doesn't know about.

TNLP: Oh, I see how it is!

JT: Yeah.

TNLP: You're in your early 30's. How long can you keep this going? You don't seem like you're declining at all.

JT: Not at all. I think I can keep it going for 6 or 7 more years, God willing. The goal is to win a championship. I'm not gonna stop until I get it done.

TNLP: Do you have a broadcasting career ahead of you?

JT: Hopefully, in the future. Coaching and analyst.

TNLP: Coaching in the NBA? College? High school?

JT: University of Arizona. And then into the broadcast booth.

TNLP: Thank you, sir.

JT: Okay, thanks a lot.

Follow my NBA blurbs on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. And check out our FaceBook page.

Back in 2007, LeBron James had an ambitious goal summed up in two words: global icon. In July 2010, the sports world stopped to give him undivided attention.

LeBron wanted all eyes on him and he got it Thursday night, thanks much in part to the media and NBA fans fawning over his every little step and ESPN allowing him to buy an hour-long prime-time slot to publicly execute Cleveland’s soul en masse on national TV. “The Decision” wasn’t so much a glorified press conference as it was a sleazy, self-serving moment for LeBron to convince the world that he owns it and we’re all just paying rent as lowly witnesses.

Ever since LeBron was a sophomore in high school, college scouts, pro scouts, NBA alumni and media alike were ready to ordain him the next big thing in a superstar-driven league. Flashing camera bulbs, forecasts of unparalleled success in all avenues of life, a line around the block of prospective suitors willing to do anything to be down with the King… Is it really a surprise that someone in his position would go on living life assuming carte blanche?

It all reminds me of a previous article in TNLP that analogized the 2010 NBA Free Agency sweepstakes to a Pick-Up Artist game. Cleveland may have come off as the desperate guy hitting on the hottest girl in the club. Kowtowing isn’t always the best way to a girl’s (or in this case, guy’s) heart. Acting needy, as opposed to simply interested, doesn’t do much for one’s perceived social value. Then again, this is Cleveland we’re talking about here, where the adopted religion is fatalism cross-pollinated with defeatism. Surely you’ve become knowledgeable with Cleveland’s woebegone history from Willie Mays’ over-the-shoulder catch against the Indians to Michael Jordan’s dagger over Craig Ehlo to best the Cavaliers. (And that’s not counting Lake Cuyahoga catching fire or Dennis Kunicich’s tenure as mayor.)

Now vilified, the vitriol against LeBron is at a fever pitch across the country and all over the Internet. Traitor. Megalomaniac. Narcissist. Coward. Insensitive jerk. Those are just a few choice words being associated with LeBron. The ones that are FCC-friendly, that is.

Spurned Cavaliers fans will claim LeBron has no loyalty except to himself. He’s entitled to that, as is any human being. Contractually speaking, a player is expected to bust his hump, earn his salary, play reasonably nice with his teammates and uphold a positive image of the team and the league. An organization is obliged to cut the player’s check. If additional promises are made, make good on those too. In that sense, neither Cleveland nor LeBron can be truly labeled as disloyal or be held in negligence. The organization dished out the money, made trades and free agent signings with the intent of winning a ring for the King. LeBron did what we all see in the highlight reels. To his credit, he tried to cash in on every opportunity to win a title, alas to no avail. LeBron didn’t owe the Cavaliers brass and its fans anything, other than perhaps graciousness and class that was absent during “The Decision”.

I don’t fault LeBron for going to greener pastures. I don’t think less of his talents on the court. I do think he took the easier path to glory, but that’s just a byproduct of him swallowing his pride and admitting he needed more help than Cleveland could provide. The easier path to glory is now synonymous to the express lane on the Highway to Hell in the eyes of Cavaliers fans.

LeBron, you got your wish. Everyone around the globe now recognizes you for what you are. Goal achieved?

PHOTO CREDIT: Larry Busacca/Getty Images.

Mel Baltazar is TNLP's newest contributor. You can follow him on Twitter. His handle is @djmelvis.

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LeBron James will don a Miami Heat jersey in the coming season. And I feel really, really bad for the city of Cleveland.

I didn't agree with this whole 60-minute special (honestly, I don't know a lot of people that DID). I thought it was a huge cry for attention on this "Look At Me" Tour he had been doing for years. Plus he made it seem like he was bigger than the game of basketball itself (especially when he hasn't won a championship... superstars that have championships usually get a pass). He jerked around a whole city for years which culminated into crushing Clevelanders with his announcement to go to Miami. The city of Cleveland was absolutely embarrassed in front of national television. It was cruel, to say the least. In some cities, sports are all people have to escape reality... and when a local sports hero of theirs leaves, it's extremely crushing. Anyway, he could've made the announcement quietly and just do a press conference right after but, nooo, they just had to do a show about it and leave a few cities in suspense (ESPECIALLY his home state). Is that how you treat Cleveland, LeBron?

To counter that, being in the spotlight is all he's known. He probably doesn't even realize how much he's hurt a city. We do have to realize that it is his right to choose whatever city he wants to play in. I mean, that's why he's a free agent, right? Everyone in the NBA has been or will be a free agent once. He did thank the Cleveland Cavalier franchise so it's not as if he hates his home state all of a sudden. He decided he wanted to further his career somewhere else. It's his decision and no one else's. I completely understand that. But to humiliate an entire city with this unnecessary hour-long special? Not cool, LeBron. Not cool at all.

My brother is a huge LeBron defender and he called me a hater. Well, I don't know. I went through a list of events that slowly made LeBron unlikable in my eyes (funny enough, this was written exactly one year before he made that cruel, cruel announcement). It carried over to next year when he disrespected the Chicago Bulls by dancing on the sidelines during a blowout (which Joakim Noah took exception to). And now this whole thing that led up to this ridiculous free agency period. He may have won the city of Miami as fans but you can bet that he's the most villified NBA star right now (with his antics on AND off the court), especially in Cleveland. No city deserves to get this treatment.

As for the basketball itself, Cleveland probably DID have the edge coming into the offseason. But a few moves were made that changed the NBA landscape. He wanted to win and teams cleared cap space and acquired players that would give him the best chance to do it. At the start, it was probably Cleveland. But let's face it; after those changes, I'd pick Miami, too. They have the best 1-2 punch out of all the teams that made changes (better than Chicago with Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer... better than Cleveland with Antawn Jamison and Mo Williams... and better than New York with Amar'e Stoudemire and, uhh, I'll get back to you on that). And on top of all that, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are a couple of his closest buddies. I guess losing a few million dollars won't hit them too hard and the money will come, anyway, when they win. And win they will do a lot of.

This is very much like the Boston Three Party three summers ago except that it's a younger version. Stars sacrificing some stats and some money just so they have a chance to win that elusive title. Bosh went from a bad situation in Toronto to join Wade for a quest for his own ring (even without LeBron, they would have a pretty good shot at it). LeBron is indeed about winning (proved me wrong) so he went to a team that has the best chance to do it. And don't tell me some players aren't itching for a chance to play with this threesome in South Beach and, most likely, a chance for an NBA championship ring.

As far as LeBron's legacy goes, I think it may be inaccurate to call him a Scottie Pippen (no disrespect to Scottie, of course). LeBron still has the greatest potential out of those three but I'm sure he'll sleep better at night knowing that he has teammates that he can trust and that he doesn't have to carry a team on his back anymore. Of course, we may never see that potential completely tapped because he IS playing with such great players in Bosh and Wade. We may still include him in some Greatest of All-Time lists but he won't be as high on the list because every accomplishment (especially potential NBA titles) of his will be a bit diminished by some sort of accompanying catch.

"LeBron has three rings BUT he had Wade and Bosh with him."

"LeBron averaged 25 points BUT he could've averaged 30 if he didn't have Wade and Bosh."

But, hey, maybe he just wants to win championships and doesn't care about going 35-9-9 a game in a season. Because, ultimately, the prize IS the NBA Championship, right? Can't blame LeBron for going after THAT. We prop up Kobe Bryant for his five rings. The stats are just icing on a sweet cake.

If he does win his first championship, then the fans of the league wouldn't villify him as much (except in Cleveland where he will be unforgiven).

You can bet I'll be watching this team, though. As mentioned, I didn't agree to how LeBron (and Bosh) got there, but this is one stupendous team. I do want to see some of the greatest basketball played and this trio of Bosh, Wade, and James can provide that. I like to watch great basketball whether it's the Lakers, the Magic, or the Celtics. I know that my L.A. colors are telling me that I should hate Boston but I'd be stupid to think they don't play good basketball. I do think that Miami is still Wade's team (seniority and all) but I'm sure they'll all provide their leaderships in their own way much like the Celtics of today.

Anyway, I probably lost my point somewhere in this entry. Actually, the point is that LeBron has a right to play anywhere he pleases as much as every NBA free agent has a right to choose a place as well. I just wish he could've done it in a more humbling and quiet manner instead of producing a 60-minute show needlessly and torturing an entire city that he called home for a long, long time. It was disrespectful and callous to Cleveland. No wonder Dan Gilbert (Cavs owner) is seething mad.

LeBron James put himself in a no-win situation by going through with all of this hoopla. And he will be in this no-win situation until he and his buddies win that title in Miami.

Unfortunately, Cleveland didn't win, either. And they lost the most out of all of this ridiculousness.

PHOTO CREDIT: Bob Luckey/AP.

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Being a Clipper fan is one of the hardest things to do in all of sports. Hell, in all of life. But somehow I'm still alive. After the signing of Vinny Del Negro, I had to vent to the Clipper big wigs. Here is the letter I just e-mailed them.

Dear Mr. Roeser and Mr. Olshey:
 
I have been a Clipper fan for 15 years now. Through the many ups and downs(mostly downs), I've stuck with the team. Even through Dunleavy's horrific tenure as Coach, I maintained my fandom. When I heard he was let go, it was a breath of fresh air. I thought it was a move in the right direction for this franchise. I was anxious to see who would become the next coach to lead this team back to respectability.
 
Months passed and there was no hire. The Bulls signed defensive genius Tom Thibodeau. Avery Johnson to the Nets. The Cavs signed a good coach in Byron Scott. One by one, prospective coaches were taken off the market. And since I heard the Clippers have had many interviews for the position, I assumed there was some serious progress being made. Part of me was intrigued about the possiblity of a rookie coach coming in to give this roster a fresh outlook. Mark Jackson seemed like a good candidate. Then there were assistant coaches such as Brian Shaw and Elston Turner who deserve a chance somewhere. One particular assistant coach stood out to you guys - Dwayne Casey.
 
He is widely thought to have been unfairly released by Minnesota years back. He is also higly regarded league-wide as a good X's and O's coach known to develop young talent. Seems like a perfect match, right? Then here comes Vinny Del Negro. Sure, he took the Bulls to two straight playoff appearances in the weaker East, but the knock on him was his lack of a playbook, not knowing what to do out of a timeout, and just overall not enough experience. I thought to myself, "is this the coach I would want to lead this young team?" And although he may not be the WORST option, I couldn't approve of him with a resounding "YES."
 
Then it happened. He was hired on to coach the Clippers. What can I say now? I thought Casey had the upper hand all-along and in the end, VDN is our coach. I would like an explanation as to why he was the choice after all this deliberation. What are you guys seeing that we(the fans and media alike) aren't? Is he that great of an interview to the point where his words overpowered his previous actions? Is reputation not taken into account in the hiring process? I am trying to understand your reasoning for his hire, but have come up with little. Perhaps you would convince me with an eloquent explanation. I will still support Vinny because he is OUR coach and I truly want him to succeed. But I must say the end result is anti-climatic and disappointing to an extent. I hope he proves myself along with many in Clipper Nation wrong. And I sure hope if he does fail, that it won't be dragged along for another seven terrifying years that we all had to suffer through.
 
In conclusion, I think you did a great job in the draft Mr. Olshey. I am excited to see these young rookies play as well as Sofo. I hope FA turns out well and we build a solid roster. Please do not let us down. Thank you so much for your time.
 
 
 
Regards,
David Diep

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He pretty much confirmed that he and Chris Bosh are going to play in Miami this coming season. Barring injuries, they'll be a great duo for years to come. But, again, let's hold off on how well Miami will do because the offseason just started and Miami only has Michael Beasley (and I think Mario Chalmers) signed on the roster. But this was big for Miami and the Heat fans. And bad for teams like Chicago and New Jersey (don't forget Toronto, too, who may lose Bosh for nothing). At least, New York didn't come way empty-handed (they got Amar'e Stoudemire a couple of days ago).

Of course, everyone that follows the NBA knows that some dude will be making a special announcement on a one-hour special about his future on some channel tomorrow right around 9 P.M. Eastern. Monster ratings for that station, I bet, but to dedicate an hour for a mere four-word announcement is just sickening. Wade just announced it in a much more low-key, humbling manner and I give Wade props for that.

If the special announcement tomorrow is, "I'm going to Miami," the Heat will have one scary trio.

VIDEO CREDIT: From Wade's Twitter account.

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Amar'e Stoudemire went to New York for a five-year, $100 million deal.

Suns fans had mixed emotions but, let's face it, both sides had to move on. And both sides will be okay.

Amar'e is an incredible offensive talent. Even before Steve Nash got there, he was already piling up the points. Of course, he solidified his position as one of the best at it when Nash brought his game to the Suns.

But he was often injured and was terrible on the defensive end. The Suns also put him on the trading block seemingly every year and it had to frustrate Amar'e to no end. It was notable that this season, Stoudemire almost reunited with his former Sun teammate, Shaquille O'Neal, in Cleveland before the Cavs decided to take Antawn Jamison instead. That might have been the final straw as the Suns last-ditch attempt to keep him was turned down by Stoudemire.

Now Amar'e is reunited with Mike D'Antoni, the former Suns coach that Stoudemire didn't exactly defend as D'Antoni escaped to the Knicks. It's easy to make up when money talks and the feeling of being wanted is there. I think that's what Stoudemire seemed to want more than anything else. Sure, he loved playing in Phoenix but he didn't exactly love being on the trading block multiple times. He needed to start over and will get a fresh start in New York as he tries to help revive a winning culture in Madison Square Garden.

As for Phoenix? Well, every star that Steve Nash worked with in the last six seasons has left the valley of the sun. Joe Johnson is with the Hawks and has raked in almost $200 million with that franchise (nearly $70 million on his first contract and a new $119 million deal that he agreed to a few days ago). Shawn Marion was traded to Miami for Shaq, who himself was traded to Cleveland. Now Amar'e is gone. But Nash will push on. He is an extremely loyal player and will not complain about the cards that were dealt to him. Will he win a ring in his career? Most likely not, especially if he stays in Phoenix. But as long as he's happy with the chemistry of the team, there's no stopping him. Steve Nash is a two-time MVP and will probably get his team to 50 wins yet again in the tough Western Conference. And remember that he took the Suns to the Western Conference Finals when Joe Johnson had already left the offseason before and Stoudemire was sidelined that year.

It will be strange to see Amar'e Stoudemire in a Knicks uni and not be the recipient of Nash's sweet dishes. But both sides had to move on for their own reasons. And in the end, they'll both be just fine.

Well, of course, until Stoudemire deals with the tough Big Apple media if the Knicks falter to another 25-win campaign...

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Well, the roster expanded. The sausage... fest grew and we were up to EIGHT DUDES. Our name was then changed to the 8th Seed.

We are now down to a regular 7-man crew with Adam Best from FanSided leaving us a few months ago. An eighth spot is left open for guest spots. In this month, we got Kelly Dwyer from the world-famous Ball Don't Lie blog of Yahoo! Sports.

I ATTEMPTED to host this episode but technology failed me. So Jeff Garcia was kind enough to take over as host. We break down the long-awaited free agency period, the NBA Draft, and the coaching/front office changes that have been made so far.

TEASERS
REY: "John Karalis from Red's Army! My best friend! What's up?"
JOHN: "What's up, you mother...? I'm not talking to you. I'm not talking to you."

ZACH: "I got a quick 2-part question for Kelly that's kinda related to this whole thing. 1) Is it true that you are actually a robot and not a real person?"

KELLY: "It's a fun time, isn't it, guys? With nothing that can be relied upon and no source that we can trust!"

GLENN: "I really hate Brian Shaw right now."

Here's the 8-man rotation, the Twitter names, and the sites represented!
Glenn Moore (@DugoutSportShow, Dugout Sports Show)
Jeff Garcia and Michael De Leon (@sa2ny2004 and @mdeleon, Project Spurs)
Jared Wade (@BothTeamsPlayed and @8pts9secs, Both Teams Played Hard and Eight Points Nine Seconds)
John Karalis (@RedsArmy, Red's Army)
Zach Harper (@talkhoops and @Cowbell_Kingdom, TalkHoops and Cowbell Kingdom)
Kelly Dwyer (@KDonhoops, Ball Don't Lie)

CREDITS

VOICEOVER
Victoria from Scarlet Rhapsody: I totally appreciate you lending your voice to the intro. Thanks.

MUSIC
Free Your Mind by En Vogue (instrumental)
Intro from M.A.S.K (M.A.S.K. cartoon produced by DIC enterprises)
I Got 5 On It by Luniz
Tha Shiznit by Snoop Doggy Dogg

Listen to us. You'll love it.

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By now, any sports fan on the internet has had a lion’s share of NBA Free Agency articles to choose from across all the various sporting news sites, blogs and forums across the Internet.  Where will LeBron go? Who is clearing cap? Who is able to offer more than one max contract? What are cap holds and how do they affect a team’s salary? Did Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson seriously do a movie last winter called Tooth Fairy? It’s all very confusing and there is just so much to comprehend.

If you think about it, isn’t Free Agency just like clubbing? A bunch of guys are going to the club, each one thinking they’ll have a shot at taking someone home. Problem is, there are only a few standouts, and in this particular case, they’ve all been dancing amongst themselves in the middle of the floor and have no problems playing the role of tease.

One after one, each guy goes up to the group with their best openers. Of course, some end up having better game than others, and those select few end up going home with the most attractive of the lot. For them, it’s a successful night out, but for the others, they’ve just struck out. To make matters worse, all the guys there have convinced their friends and associates back at home that they won’t be leaving the club empty handed, so what in the world do these guys do now?

Some guys take a modest approach, carefully looking for some way to get value from the connections they can still make with the remaining lot. For others, on the other hand, panic will set in. They’ll start looking around the club, convincing themselves that someone there can still make the night a success. Conveniently, they’ll start to sell themselves on the virtues of the ones left, sadly overlooking the glaring problems that exist – perhaps mental issues, age, or being one-dimensional – with taking one of the leftovers home. And in doing so, these guys start to really lay it on thick, blinded by the combination of envy, pride, competition, frustration, and ultimately, desperation.

The morning after, when these guys wake up and a sense of regret and remorse set in, all that’s left is the embarrassing feeling of being stuck with the mess that followed them home. The friends can only look on in disbelief as they realize that they are, by association, tied to it, and that the only way to get rid of that dead weight is for the guy to convince someone else that said dead weight actually has value.

Situations like these explain how Jerome James can end up with a 5 year, $30 million contract.

The biggest no-brainer prediction in this season’s free agency would be to say that LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, regardless of how much Stonecutter-like plotting that they’ve done, will all end up in an NBA uniform next season. Speculation on which uniforms (or uniform, depending on which rumor you’re reading) can be found all over, but the fact is this: there will be some teams that do not end up with one of these players. Another fact: some teams may not even end up with the second tier, which is headlined by the likes of Joe Johnson and Amar’e Stoudemire. Wherever anyone ends up, basketball will still be played next season.

If your team isn’t the winner of being this offseason’s Free Agent Pick-Up Artist, then sure, they might be bad next season. Who is to say, though, that they won’t be just as bad if they overpay someone who isn’t able to significantly improve the team? Let this be a warning to teams and their fans. Plus, what few have mentioned is how next year’s free agent class, headlined by some guy named Carmelo Anthony, is a fairly strong class in and of itself. Think about that before you start talking yourself into believing that Rudy Gay is worth a max contract.

This was an entry by TNLP contributor Brandon Tomyoy.
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If you listened to our podcast last week where we discussed the NBA Draft, you'd have heard that I gave the Clippers an A-. For the fourth straight year, I felt the Clippers made out well in the draft. It started with Al Thornton(14th pick) in 2007, a late lottery selection who turned out to be a good value pick. In 2008, Eric Gordon, drafted 7th, turned out to be a very good shooting guard who still has All-Star potential. At #35, DeAndre Jordan fell onto the Clippers' laps. A young big man project with tons of potential, it was similar to how Hassan Whiteside was snatched up at #33 this year for the Kings. And of course, in 2009, the Clippers won the lottery and selected none other than Blake Griffin, the obvious consensus choice for #1. 2010 saw Al-Farouq Aminu picked at #8, Eric Bledsoe at #18(acquired in a trade with OKC), and Willie Warren at #54. I "only" gave them an A- because I felt Paul George might've been the right choice because he can help the Clippers now with his polished offensive game. However, Aminu perhaps has greater potential and could turn out to be a Josh Smith/Shawn Marion type. Anyhow, these three guys should help the team in some form or fashion this season:

Aminu - His name means "the chief has arrived". And if that's the case, we're in for a treat. One thing that translates well from NCAA to the NBA is rebounding. Aminu was a master of said category at Wake Forest. His knack for anticipating missed shots is impressive. What's more impressive is his offensive rebounding, as 40% of his caroms came on the offensive end. His ridculously long 7'3.25" wingspan also translates well at the pro level. I've heard some comparisons to another former Clipper, Darius Miles. Both are lanky, athletic kids. The main difference is Miles was an immature teenager straight out of High School. Aminu played two years of college ball in the ACC, widely regarded as the toughest conference in NCAA basketball. That alone gives Aminu the upper hand by a mile, no pun intended. Depending on what the Clips do in free agency, Aminu could be thrust into a starting position at SF or back up the 3/4 spots. If he's off the bench, expect 15-20 mins a night. There'll be nights when the team plays extremely lethargic in the ocean where Aminu's hustle will be the sole reason they're still in the game. His jumper might not be there yet, but if he can cut to the hole whenever Kaman or Griffin is double-teamed(which will happen often), that should lead to many easy baskets.

Bledsoe - the Clippers' quest to find a backup PG came to fruition last Thursday in the form of one Eric Bledsoe. A blinding quick guard, Bledsoe's situation coming to Kentucky was unique. He's played point guard his entire life, but chose to attend Kentucky for a chance to win a title. He knew he would have to defer to John Wall, and Calipari moved Bledsoe over to SG. He might've underperformed at times, but was still able to show his brilliance. In the NBA, however, he will strictly be a PG, where he should put his playmaking skills to use. He should be a nice fit for the Clippers, and given Baron's injury history, Eric will have the opportunity to start a few games and prove his worth. Perhaps he can even start a "quarterback controversy" a la Chris Paul/Darren Collison.

Warren - At the beginning of the 2009/10 College Basketball season, most mock drafts had Warren as a surefire lottery pick. But then the season started and things went awry. Warren was not nearly as successful as when he had Blake Griffin to pass the ball to. He struggled as "the man" in Sooner country. His attitude was also in question. Not a very smart choice if you were to pick him in the lottery, but at #54, he is without a doubt a low risk/extremely high reward selection. Nobody is even sure he'll make the roster, so there is absolutely no pressure on the young man. But should he make it, expect Blake Griffin to keep him in check. He would be an ideal backup at SG for Eric Gordon as his scoring prowess can be exceptional.

 This group reminds me a lot of the early 2000's squad of Brand/Miles/Maggette/Richardson/etc. Those years brought excitement to LA, though short-lived. I hope this time around, longevity will be the outcome.

For info on the press conference introducing the Clippers' draft picks, click here.

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I know this is what Clipper fans want.

It's almost July 1st and that's when free agency starts. This period will shape the league for the next few years. Most of the best players of the NBA are free to sign wherever they want. Some of the teams shed pretty much most of their players under contracts just to get a chance to sign these big free agents. And reporters are claiming that they have breaking news every damn second before the period has even started.

And that's why I haven't written about anything. I'd rather wait than speculate.

Sure, I have my own guesses on where they're going to go. I think Dwayne Wade stays. I think LeBron James stays. I think Joe Johnson goes to New York. I think Chris Bosh will join Wade.

But I'd be an idiot to say I know where they're going to go. And I think a lot of these reporters are jumping the gun way too early. They very well may be right that LeBron and Bosh are going to go to Chicago together but I'm not a psychic and neither are they. I guess they get paid to be psychics and I suppose some people want me to do the same thing but I'd rather just watch it all unfold. If I'm going to report something, I'd rather be accurate than first. It's possibly the most exciting offseason in NBA history. It's a great time to be an NBA fan... and it's especially an exciting time for the teams that have the cap space to sign these free agents.

I can't read the mind of a Dwyane Wade. I can't read the mind of a Chris Bosh. For all we know, we could be played by fools by most of these free agents. But we'd also be naive to think that everyone's going to stay with their old teams. To the people that "get it right" later on... so what? Do you want a cookie or something? Pat on the back? Tell you "job well done"? And to the people that get it wrong (very likely), they're not going to admit it, anyway. Sorry that I don't want to join in on playing a game of chance.

In the meantime, I'm going to wait and see where Amar'e Stoudemire decides to sign and drives his coach crazy with his defensive prowess. I will also hope that the Lakers sign a player with a discount tag and the Clippers sign a big free agent (fat chance).

Because that's all I can really do.

PHOTO CREDIT: FirstToGo.Com

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Hosted by…

THE CHRONICLES OF CROTTY KREW!

PICTURED L to R
David Diep (@illastrate): (PF) Sponsored by Fliptop Battles.
Nick Perkins: (C) Still watching Isner vs. Mahut.
Rey Moralde (@TheNoLookPass): (PG) REALLY wanted Jollibee.
Peter Kim (@YungBolo): (SG) Korea advances, Clippers draft well, Futurama is back! Life is terrible...

BREAK IT DOWN

This is our annual NBA Draft show and it wasn't as exciting as last year when we decided to head to Denny's to do the podcast but it was still interesting even without Jimmy Castro who is nowhere to be found.

And here's our man, Al Farouq Aminu. The #8 pick by the Clippers in the 2010 NBA Draft.

TEASERS

Dave: "Gordon Hayward is going to replace none other than... Kyle Korver, another white guy!"

Rey: "KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHN!!!!!!"

CREDITS

BANNER
Greg Sorvig

MUSIC
Free Your Mind by En Vogue (instrumental)
Mercy (Remix) by Duffy featuring The Game
Dear Summer by Memphis Bleek Jay-Z

PROMOS
John Crotty
C.J. Miles of the Utah Jazz (@CJMiles34)

We ENCOURAGE you to either look through our podcast archives OR you can subscribe to us on iTunes by clicking on that podcast icon below.

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There have been a number of memorable draft picks in the last 30 years or so but there have also been a number of questionable picks. The No-Look Pass has put together a list of some of our favorite obscure players from picks 1-10 in honor of today's draft.

1. Pervis Ellison - Sacramento Kings 1st pick 1989 NBA Draft

Nicknamed "Never Nervous Pervis" in college, Ellison found himself on the sidelines with injuries during his rookie season and quickly earned the nickname, "Out of Service Pervis". He was dealt to the Washington Bullets the following season and came off the bench. The following season, he was moved into the starting lineup and averaged 20.0 points and 11.2 rebounds and earned Most Improved Player honors. Unfortunately, knee injuries kept him from maintaining that same level of output. Ellison played another 9 injury plagued years in the NBA before calling it quits 9 games into the 2000-2001 season with the Seattle Supersonics.

2. Steve Stipanovich - Indiana Pacers 2nd pick 1983 NBA Draft

It didn't seem too bad getting a 7-foot center who was a star in college at Missouri along with Jon Sundvold. Stipanovich would go on to have solid career averages of 13.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, but a mysterious knee condition forced him to retire in 1989.

3. Chris Washburn - Golden State Warriors 3rd pick 1986 NBA Draft

The 6'11 Washburn appeared in 35 games during his rookie season with the Warriors and only started in 2 of them. It seems as though he saved his best for the LA teams as he would go on to score 17 points on 8-13 shooting against both the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers. However, knee tendinitis led to anti-inflammatories which led to a kidney infection which eventually led to his admittance into a drug rehabilitation facility in Van Nuys, CA. Washburn was never able to get it together and lasted only 37 games the next season and was done with his NBA career after 2 seasons.

4. Marcus Fizer - Chicago Bulls 4th pick 2000 NBA Draft

Fizer was a high draft pick but unlike most high draft picks, was never a consistent starter and only started in 35 of his 289 total games. He was productive in his second season with the Bulls averaging 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game but a torn ACL in 2003 led to his decline. He moved on to the Bucks and played with them for a season before being named the 2005-06 D-League MVP and signing a 10-day contract with the New Orleans Hornets at the end of the season. His NBA career was finished after his stint with the Hornets and unfortunately for Fizer, he would be more remembered for his 31 tattoos than his play on the court.

5. Nikoloz Tskitishvili - Denver Nuggets 5th pick 2002 NBA Draft

Tskitishvili won a championship in Italy with Benetton Treviso under Mike D'antoni and seemed poised to make an impact in the NBA. Unfortunately, that was not the case as he went on to average 2.9 points and 1.8 rebounds per game during his 4-year NBA career. He was reunited with D'antoni in Phoenix but was waived in July of 2006. Tskitishvili was listed as number 30 on ESPN's "The 100 Worst Draft Picks Ever".

6. DerMarr Johnson - Atlanta Hawks 6th pick 2000 NBA Draft

Johnson didn't see much playing time even on a struggling Atlanta Hawks team. His best season was his second season where he upped his averages to 8.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Unfortunately, before the start of his 3rd season, Johnson crashed his car into a tree and severely injured his neck and sat out the entire season. He made a comeback with the Knicks in 2004 before playing for the Nuggets for 3 seasons. He bounced around the D-League before landing on the Spurs for 5 games before getting into trouble with the law.

7. Bobby Hurley - Sacramento Kings 7th pick 1993 NBA Draft

Hurley had an outstanding NCAA career at Duke University before heading to the NBA in '93. Things changed drastically in December of that year as Hurley, who was not wearing his seatbelt, was involved in a major car accident. Luckily, teammate Mike Peplowski was following close behind him and was able to stay by his side until help arrived. Hurley recovered and returned to the Kings the following season but never lived up to expectations with career averages of 3.8 points and 3.3 assists per game.

8. Lancaster Gordon - Los Angeles Clippers 8th pick 1984 NBA Draft

The Clippers selected Lancaster Gordon with the 8th pick in 1984 when Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley were already selected. Otis Thorpe and Kevin Willis, who had extended careers in the NBA were still on the board and even John Stockton was available when the Clippers selected again at number 13. Unfortunately for the Clippers, Gordon never really developed even on teams that finished with 12 and 17 wins. He retired as a Clipper in '88 with career averages of 5.6 points and 1.5 assists per game.

9. Samaki Walker - Dallas Mavericks 9th pick 1996 NBA Draft

There were big names in the 1996 NBA draft: Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, and Ray Allen just to name a few, but none of them were as stylish as Samaki Walker. He did not have a spectacular career, but played solid minutes on successful teams early in his career, playing with the Mavericks, Spurs and won a championship with the Lakers in 2002. He bounced around from team to team until 2006 when he was waived by the Indiana Pacers.

10. Luke Jackson - Cleveland Cavaliers 10th pick 2004 NBA Draft

The Cavaliers went from drafting LeBron James in 2003, to drafting Luke Jackson in '04. He was the 10th pick and only played in 10 games during his rookie season. He would play in another 36 the following season before being traded and eventually waived by the Boston Celtics. From there Jackson would bounce around the D-League and teams such as the Clippers, Raptors and Heat before his NBA playing days ended in 2008. He had career averages of 3.5 points and 1.2 rebounds per game--

That's our list and while there is a great deal of uncertainty of which player will go to which team in the 2010 NBA Draft, these 10 players will be remembered forever for one reason or another. The No-Look Pass salutes these obscure NBA draft picks.

Questions? Comments? Feel free to leave a comment below or:
Hit up the Bolo Box – Peter@thenolookpass.com
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Xavier Henry may be one of the best polished players at his position in the draft and could ultimately be better than his draft counterparts. He just doesn't know it yet.

Henry's a fairly efficient player as he shot 45.8FG, 41.8 3PT, and 78.3FT. He's one of those players who isn't overly athletic, but enough where he can be a threat on the open floor.

If the Clippers were to draft him, they could definitely use his shooting ability. He would be a great compliment to Eric Gordon as two guys on the wing who can drill a jumper. His defensive prowess along with passing ability will also help him adjust to the NBA game. If the Clips just wanted a solid player who can do all the little things and just play good basketball, then Henry is the guy. He is projected to go anywhere from #8 until the late teens. He may not have the ceiling of Al-Farouq Aminu, but could end up as the better player down the road.

X-Man!

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Imagine this - a kid growing up in Southern California, loved the Clippers, and then ends up in the NBA, possibly playing for said team. Well, that kid's name is Paul George.

At first glance, the thing that stands out about George is his quick release. It looks so effortless when he lets it fly and when it goes in, it's a thing of beauty. He has NBA range indeed, but must improve on his shooting percentages (42.4% FG, 35.3 3PT in sophomore campaign). He's also a very good rebounder for a wingman.

Of course there are glaring weaknesses such as a tendency to turn the ball over and an inability to pull up for a shot off the dribble with enough effectiveness. However, he's shown a desire to learn and compete in his workouts and that's always a positive. Because of this, it possibly might've helped himself jump a couple of spots on the board.

What he would mean for the Clippers? Well, he can play SF although he stated he preferred SG. Will his lanky frame be strong enough to cover the LeBron's and Melo's of the league? For the Clips, his knack for scoring and shooting ability would come in handy more than a guy like Aminu. Blake Griffin and Chris Kaman will see many double teams and it would be nice to have a guy like George on the perimeter spotting up. He's been compared to a Trevor Ariza/Danny Granger type which isn't bad at all. But the Clips might have better options at #8. Nonetheless, I would welcome him with open arms if he were selected by them.

George Bulldoggin' it.

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AF1 takes flight.

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People are talking about Kobe Bryant's legacy and Ron Artest's fairy tale story. But I wanna give props to someone I've been particularly harsh on over the past couple of seasons.

The Lakers don't win this championship without Derek Fisher.

Derek Fisher made the game-tying three-pointer with about six minutes left in Game 7. That was possibly the biggest play of the game because the Lakers never trailed after that game. And that's one of the many big shots he has made in this postseason run.

A lot of L.A. fans called for Fisher's head (including me) during the regular season. He shot 38 percent from the field this season so he wasn't exactly winning back fans by shooting that poorly. Well, when people talked about his locker room presence and being an emotional leader for the team, I completely understand now.

The Lakers are Kobe Bryant's team. But Kobe has let it known that only one teammate can call him out when he's going the wrong direction. That teammate would be Derek Fisher. Kobe and Fisher came into the league together in 1996. They pretty much grew up together under the Laker banner. And those two guys were backcourt partners for the majority of their careers. Fisher left L.A. after the 2004 season and it's no coincidence that Kobe had some of the worst years of his career (record-wise, not statistical) when he left. When Derek came back for the 2007-08 season, Kobe had an MVP season and the Lakers made their first of three straight trips to the NBA Finals. Sure, the Pau Gasol fleece had a lot to do with them going to the Finals... but Derek Fisher's leadership, locker room presence (especially around Kobe), and big-time shot-taking helped L.A. get back to the top.

Back to the present, I had mentioned that Derek shot poorly in the regular season. Well, in the playoffs, he stepped up his game like all clutch players would. Fisher shot 45 percent in the postseason and increased his scoring from 7.5 in the regular year to 10.3 in the Playoffs. Sure, the younger guards like Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar had enough talent to unseat Fisher from the starting 1 position. But Fisher never surrendered and was there for the Lakers when they needed him the most. Derek was there to calm Kobe down. Derek was there to defend against some of the younger point guards. Derek was there to make and take the big shot. Derek Fisher was there for the L.A. Lakers. I'm sure every team wished they had someone like Derek Fisher to depend on for a big play.

I certainly want you back for one more season, Derek Fisher. I bit into the concept that you're completely done... hook, line, sinker.

But in the end, I'm glad we still got Fish.

PHOTO CREDITS: Mark J. Terrill/AP.

You can follow me on Twitter. User name is @TheNoLookPass. And go to our FaceBook page and LIKE it!

We moved into our own Dot Com last summer... and, man, has TNLP grown over the past year or so. We added a few new writers, did a few new features, got great guests to interview, etc. It has been awesome! And, of course, we loved interacting with everyone on Twitter during the games. We try our best to entertain, no matter what the score is for certain games.

We never thought we'd have guests like Andre Aldridge, Lang Whitaker, and even John Crotty at TNLP when we first started. But our hard work in terms of both networking and writing really paid off. We hope to continue to provide fellow NBA fans next season. But right now, we're just going to chill a little bit with the offseason. Obviously, we're sad that the season is over but we welcome the break as much as everyone else. Still, we'll do our best to stay visible in the offseason as we talk draft, summer league, and free agency. Hell, I'm not done talking about the NBA Finals just yet.

I also want to personally thank Fanway and SLAM Online for giving this NBA fan a chance to contribute to their sites. I hope to contribute a lot more in the future... and, in fact, SLAM is one of the reasons why TNLP exists. And there would be no TNLP without the readers and fellow bloggers I communicate with. It's pretty much impossible to name all of you here but we're all thinking of you!

Thank you to the NBA. And thank you to the fellow bloggers, readers, tweeters… and everybody else for making the 2009-2010 season memorable.

sincerely,
Rey Moralde A.K.A. "Rey-Rey"
founder and editor of The No-Look Pass

You can follow me on Twitter. User name is @TheNoLookPass. And go to our FaceBook page and LIKE it!

Hosted by...

THE CHRONICLES OF CROTTY KREW!

PICTURED L to R
David Diep (@illastrate): (PF) Watching the World Cup.
Jimmy Castro (@WinInTheEnd): (SF) Didn't watch the Stanley Cup.
Nick Perkins: (C) Playing in Stanley Roberts' position.
Rey Moralde (@TheNoLookPass): (PG) Doesn't wanna play in Fred Roberts' position.
Peter Kim (@YungBolo): (SG) His country lost in the World Cup.

BREAK IT DOWN
All of us except for Dave actually did this podcast at a friend's house. Dave stayed home and talked to us through the internets.

Forgive my nasally voice but I'm trying to recover from a cold. Anyway, we break down Game 7 of the NBA Finals. And Nick has a story with a certain Million Dollar Man. NYA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.

TEASERS
REY: "Your starting line-up is HERE. Doc Rivers was missing his..."

PETER: "Dave was like, 'Do we really need to do this?' I said, 'Yeah, I need someone to help me ride this out with.'"

DAVE: "If I have to be there, it might just be too much. I might become suicidal..."

CREDITS

BANNER
Greg Sorvig

MUSIC
Free Your Mind by En Vogue (instrumental)
Thank You by Boyz II Men
I Love L.A. by Brian McKnight

PROMOS
Violet Kanian from Violet Kanian
Holly MacKenzie from SLAM Online
Stephanie K of Stephanie K Music Dot Com
Eric Pincus from Hoopsworld Dot Com

We ENCOURAGE you to either look through our podcast archives OR you can subscribe to us on iTunes by clicking on that podcast icon below.

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We'd appreciate it if you give us a review on our iTunes page. Thank you for pushing play!

You can follow me on Twitter. User name is @TheNoLookPass. BACK-TO-BACK TITLES, BABY.

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It wasn't pretty.

(EAST) #4 BOSTON CELTICS 79 @ (WEST) #1 LOS ANGELES LAKERS 83
(Lakers win series, 4-3)

Coming out of the gate, Boston looked like their 2008 self. They went to a different strategy. Instead of letting Kobe Bryant go wild, they decided to blanket him on defense. And the Lakers had trouble finding the basket. However, the presence of Kendrick Perkins (who injured his knee in Game 6) was missed. There was a possession where Pau Gasol gobbled up about four offensive rebounds. More on that later.

It was just the worst time for Kobe to have a bad shooting night. He was just throwing up bricks. Kobe ended up a paltry 6 for 24. The Celtics, in the meantime, enjoyed the ugly, scrappy game. Kevin Garnett was just getting in front of Pau for easy lay-ups, Glen Davis was overpowering the Lakers under the basket, and Rasheed Wallace (who started in place of Perkins) was abusing Gasol and Lamar Odom on the post.

One Laker did step up and it was a mild surprise to everybody. Ron Artest kept the Lakers afloat with timely baskets and defense. Still, the pace favored Boston... and they led at the half, 40-34.

The Celtics continued to take advantage of the Laker misses and extended the lead to 49-36, their biggest in the game. But the Lakers defense started to go to another level as the Celtics hung on to a 57-53 after 3.

Both teams decided to ride their starters for the majority of the fourth quarter. It seemed like it affected the Celtics more than the Lakers as the Celtics defense wasn't flying around like the first three quarters. The Lakers got more aggressive in the fourth quarter and were finally able to tie the game at 61 after Artest's big three-point play. Derek Fisher followed it up with a huge three-pointer to get it deadlocked again at 64-up... and Kobe followed it up with two freethrows to take the lead.

The Lakers continued to pummel Boston on the glass and it was clear that the Lakers were the more aggressive team in the fourth, which is a huge reason why Lakers attempted 20 more freethrows than the Celtics in the game (which, I'm sure, got plenty of play from Celtic fans and conspiracy theorists). Still, the Lakers were only up, 76-73, late in the fourth before Artest came up big again with a huge three that gave them a six-point cushion. Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo had late threes to keep the game within striking distance but Sasha Vujacic (of all people) iced the title with two final freethrows.

As mentioned, Kobe only shot 6/24... but he did end up with 23 points and 15 rebounds. Ron Artest had the biggest game of his life with 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals. Gasol came up big as well with 19 points and 18 boards (9 on the offensive end). All five Boston starters had double figures... and they were led by Paul Pierce with 18 points (though he was 5/15). Ray Allen notably struggled on the field as he went 3 for 14. As mentioned, the battle of the boards belonged to the Lakers. Lakers had 53 rebounds compared to Boston's 40. L.A. had a huge edge on the offensive glass, 23-8. And while Rasheed Wallace is a better offensive player (still a great post player), Kendrick Perkins' monster body was missed as he could've helped prevent L.A. from getting the boards.

For Boston, it was an improbable playoff run. Very few thought they would make it this far and yet they missed a championship by only five points. Boston would probably be celebrating Banner 18 had a few bounces and shots go their way.

But as for the Lakers? It's sweet revenge. And now they can sit on their back-to-back titles without that Bostonian monkey on their backs.

PHOTO CREDITS: 1) Chris Pizzello/AP. 2) Mark J. Terrill/AP.

You can follow me on Twitter. User name is @TheNoLookPass. BACK-TO-BACK TITLES, BABY.

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Well, here we are. Game 7 of the NBA Finals. I should pinch myself and repeat what I just said. It’s Game 7 of the NBA Finals. What? It’s Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

It all comes down to this game. 80+ hours of total basketball time each for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics in the past seven months come down to one final match-up. It's Game 7 of the NBA Finals. For all of us that are fans of the league, it cannot get any better than this. Two of the most storied franchises in NBA history are fighting it out for all the marbles in a Game 7.

One final game in a winner-take-all. Someone can potentially be a hero. Someone can potentially be a goat. This game could be remembered for a long, long time. It could be an instant classic. You've got two teams that have been pretty much on top for the last three seasons. One team is led by someone who's entering the final chapter of a storied career. One team could be making one last stand. It almost seems destined. It's the Los Angeles Lakers against the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. It just seems fitting. It just feels right.

There are all these statistics. Boston is 34-1 in best-of-seven series where they led the opponents, 3-2. The home team is 13-3 in Game 7 of NBA Finals history. The Lakers are only 2-9 against the Celtics in the NBA Finals. The Celtics are the only team to beat the Lakers at Staples Center in the postseason. Since the 2-3-2 Finals format was created in 1985 (which, by the way, has to go... but that's another story), there have only been three Game 7's... and the home team was 3-0. Kendrick Perkins is hurt (and out for Game 7). Andrew Bynum is hurt.

Does all of that really matter? I guess if you want them to matter, sure. But there is always a first time for everything. There are exceptions to the supposed rules. There is always something that stands out. There is always the 6 percent that don't agree with the other 94 percent. The only supposed edge here is of home court where the Lakers have ruled the majority of the year. Let's face it, though; in the end, it does not matter. Both of these teams will play their butts off and will do everything in their power to get that one final win in Game 7.

It’s inevitable that people will get ahead of themselves and talk about the legacies of players and coaches instead of talking about the potential greatness of Game 7 itself. As far as "legacies" are concerned, that's just something the rest of the media will chew on. In my mind, they are just all adding to their resume. Phil Jackson would get an 11th ring. Kobe Bryant would add a fifth ring to his awesome hall-of-fame career if he and the Lakers win Game 7. Forget his comparisons to Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, or Jerry West; five rings is five rings. Even if he lost twice in the NBA Finals, so what? Magic lost four times in the Finals and his legacy is not "tarnished." It's not often a player goes to the NBA Finals for half of his career when some players don't even get to sniff the NBA Finals once. While everyone will compare Kobe to every great player out there, Kobe Bryant (win or lose) will be recognized as one of the all-time greats in NBA history and is possibly the greatest player in this generation.

As far as the team in green is concerned, this team will be recognized for having one of the more improbable championship runs ever. The Celtics limped into the postseason before finding their mojo in mid-April. They blasted through the Miami Heat, even though some people picked the Heat to upset Boston. The Celtics embarrassed Cleveland, the team with the best record this season. And they plowed through Orlando, the Eastern Conference Champions of last year. Not a lot of people (including me) gave them much of a shot to get to the Finals... and yet they're at the cusp of another NBA title. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo would add a second ring to their great careers and would be mentioned among the all-time Celtic greats who have multiple rings.

I’m sure these “legacies” are on the back of their minds. But all that really matters to them right now is Game 7. They just want to win. They’ll let the media talk about legacies, the “what ifs”, the “what-could-have-beens”, etc. At the end of the day, it’s all about winning that elusive championship. Again, not many even get to the championship round. The players and coaches can talk about legacies later on when they’re on their rocking chairs talking to their children and their children’s children. Game 7 of the NBA Finals is the only thing that matters.

Whether you're a Lakers fan, a Celtics fan, or just a basketball fan in general, I can't emphasize on how great this is. I can't possibly describe in a thousand words the magnitude of this game. You have to love this. Whatever happens in this game will be remembered for a long time. Some of the things that will be said after this game will be unfair because of what happened. As I mentioned earlier, someone can potentially be a hero and someone can potentially be a goat. Someone from the winning team might get a lifetime pass from the team's fan base. Someone from the losing team might need to hide from that team's fan base.

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that we should enjoy this final round (it has been a great Finals!). Well, I'm telling you all now that we, as NBA fans, should not miss this game. I'm not going to take this for granted; it's Game 7 of the NBA Finals for crying out loud! There is nothing better, there is nothing more at stake, and it may be years before we see another Game 7 in the NBA Finals (the last one being at 2005). The fact that it's the Lakers and the Celtics that are duking it out for the title is just the icing on one sweet, delicious cake.

Buckle up, ladies and gentlemen. By the time Thursday at 9 P.M. gets here and we’re all watching this magnificent match-up, you're going to wish that Game 7 of the NBA Finals will go on forever.

Follow my NBA blurbs on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. And check out our FaceBook page.

Last week, The No-Look Pass brought out the Obscure Lakers & Celtics. This week we're still sticking with the Lakers vs. Celtics theme and since this series is going to a 7th game, it only makes sense to bring out some of the obscure #7's. So let's take it back before Marquis Daniels and Lamar Odom and even before Tony Delk and Isaiah Rider--

Obscure Celtic #7's

Ernie DiGregorio

DiGregorio, a career 90.2% free-throw shooter, played for both the Lakers and Celtics in the 1977-78 season. Unfortunately, that was his final season in the NBA after 5 years of suffering from a nagging knee injury.

Andre Turner

Turner, the 5'11 Memphis legend was actually drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 3rd round of the '86 draft but never played for them. He suited up for 3 games for the Celtics during the '86-87 season, then went on to play with a number of other teams, averaging 4.5 points and 3.1 assists over his 6 year NBA career.

Kelvin Upshaw

Upshaw, a 6'2 guard, played 37 games over the course of the 1988-89 and '89-90 seasons with the Celtics. He averaged 7.0 points per game during his first season but had to fight for playing time with Otis Birdsong, Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge and Brian Shaw. The following season, the Celtics brought in John Bagley; essentially making Upshaw expendable. He went on to play for several other teams over the course of the following 2 seasons before heading overseas.

Mel Riebe

Riebe is another "little guy" on this list but at 5'11, he played both guard and forward positions for the Celtics during the 1947-48 and '48-'49 seasons. He played 81 games and averaged 10.6 points per game and shot below 30% from the field in a very different era.

Tony Delk

Delk, most likely remembered for his 53 point game in 2001, played for the Celtics in 2002 and 2003. He was an integral part of the team that lost to the eventual Eastern Conference Champion New Jersey Nets in consecutive seasons and according to 82games.com, the lineup of Delk, Paul Pierce, Eric Williams, Antoine Walker and Tony Battie was the top 5-man unit.

Obscure Laker #7's

Demetrius Calip

Calip was #7 on the Lakers for 7 games during the '07 1991-92 season. He was a star for the Michigan Wolverines but not in the NBA. He was however, a star on the silver screen for two basketball movies- Eddie and Blue Chips.

Marty Byrnes

Byrnes was a 6'7 forward who played for the Lakers during the '79-'80 season. He averaged 2.0 points and shot 50% from the field in 32 games during his only season with the Lakers and had a championship ring on his finger when it was all said and done.

Lester "The Molester" Conner

Surprisingly, Conner actually had a more spectacular career with the Clippers as he would only play 2 games with the Lakers during his final season in 1994-95 averaging 1 point and 2.5 minutes of playing time. He moved onto coaching and was an assistant with the Celtics under Rick Pitino and most recently under Jim O'Brien with the Indiana Pacers.

Sam Jacobson

The 6'4 Jacobson was drafted by the Lakers in the first round of the 1998 NBA draft. He only appeared in 2 games for the Lakers during his rookie season and appeared in 3 games the following season before being waived. He was on the team during the right era but didn't last long enough to get a ring.

Trevor Wilson

The 6'8 forward Trevor Wilson, signed with the Lakers as a free agent in 1993. He played well during his 5 game stint with the Lakers averaging 10.2 points and 5.6 rebounds. Unfortunately, he was waived in December but fortunately, he did not have to suffer through the Magic Johnson coaching era--

We may not see any obscure players make it into game 7 on Thursday, but The No-Look Pass salutes these ten #7's who are legends in their own right.

Questions? Comments? Feel free to leave a comment below or:
Hit up the Bolo Box – Peter@thenolookpass.com
Follow me on Twitter: @Yungbolo Also, join our Facebook page!

Oh, what home-cooking can do for you.

(EAST) #4 BOSTON CELTICS 67 @ (WEST) #1 LOS ANGELES LAKERS 89
(Series is tied, 3-3)

Well, we knew that the Lakers weren't just going to lay down on Game 6. We knew that they were going to come out with guns blazing. The Celtics, who came in here with a 3-2 series lead, seemed like they came to war with just knives and beer bottles.

Boston received a bad omen early when Kendrick Perkins injured his right knee in the first quarter when the Lakers were up, 18-12. Reports say that it was a sprain and that he could very well be out for Game 7. It's not like the loss of Perkins could make up for the Celtics' deficit... but they were badly outrebounded by the Lakers (30-13 in the first half), 52-39. The rebounding and the play inside have always been huge keys in this series.

Kobe Bryant told his boys to man up and man up the Lakers did. We saw Ron Artest and Pau Gasol get aggressive early. And later on, the much-maligned Laker bench outgunned the Celtic bench to the tune of 25-13 in the game (24-0 in the first three quarters). And the Laker defense was just all over the place. You knew it was a good day for the Lakers when Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown both had highlight dunks... and you knew it was a bad day for the Celtics when Rajon Rondo and Shelden Williams missed dunks. The Celtics didn't help themselves when they missed a few more point-blank lay-ups. While the Lakers didn't exactly light things up (41 percent), Boston shot an atrocious 33 percent from the field on their way to an equally terrible 67 points.

There's really no need to go further with this; the Lakers just plastered the Celtics on Game 6. Kobe led the way with 26 points and 11 rebounds while Pau Gasol was one dime away from a trip-dub (17-13-9). Ray Allen led the green team with 19 points.

Now it's all for the marbles. One game left in the season. One team wins the championship. One team will join the 28 other teams that didn't win it. One team might repeat as champs... and one team can reclaim the crown that they lost last year.

Lakers Vs Celtics. Game 7. And as an NBA fan, it can't get any better than this.

Well, maybe if I were besides Maria Menounos.

PHOTO CREDITS: 1) Ronald Martinez/Getty Images. 2) Mark J. Terrill/AP.

You can follow me on Twitter. User name is @TheNoLookPass. NOTHING EASY. WE'RE GOING TO GAME 7, BABY.

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Last fall, we talked to C.J. Miles from the Utah Jazz in the Chronicles of Crotty podcast. He felt that his team had all the pieces to win it all. It was not to be as his team lost to the eventual Western Conference Champions, the Los Angeles Lakers.

I caught up with C.J. and talked to him recently on the phone. We talked about the past season among other things.

TNLP: How are you doing, man?

CJ: I'm good, man. I'm just in Dallas. I do a camp back where I grew up every year so that's what I'm doing the rest of the week. I'm just kinda hanging out.

TNLP: What are your plans for the offseason? Just work on your game, basically? Anything you're gonna work on?

CJ: Continue to keep working, man. Keep trying to get better. Keep getting stronger, more athletic, watch some film, picking apart some of my games... anything I can work on.

TNLP: You had a wrist injury early this season. How'd you feel about it at the time?

CJ: That was tough for me, actually. I felt this year was going to be my best year. I felt I was going to make a big leap as far as my career went and playing time and everything. I was able to pick up some slack at the end of the year and the playoffs. I was in the best shape I have ever been. I was the most athletic I have ever been. Everything just felt good coming into the season. And then it happened at a preseason game, a good preseason game at that. It just kinda killed my spirit for a little bit but after a week or so, I just had to suck it up, get back to work, and just try to stay in shape while I was out.

TNLP: You didn't make it a secret that you wanted to be Most Improved Player. But you did have a great postseason. Is this what we should expect from you next season?

CJ: Definitely. Just to play that way and be aggressive. I think I'll be a lot better than that. I didn't shoot as well in the playoffs as I wanted to (as far as jumpshots). Being aggressive and attacking the basket was a big part of my game that I added and worked on. And it was portrayed in the playoffs and towards the end of the year. I think it's going to help me out a lot... getting to the freethrow line more. And defensively, I made a lot of strides also.

TNLP: We talked last fall and you said that this team can contend for a championship now. I don't mean to bring this up but you guys got swept by the Lakers. Do you still feel that way because (Mehmet Okur) was out or do you think the team needs some major changes?

CJ: Memo definitely would've helped. I can't say that we would've won with him there. I don't know how everybody would've played but it definitely would've helped. We definitely have the pieces to do it; we just gotta keep working as a team. Another big, big body would definitely help, especially when you play (a team) with a big guy.

TNLP: I'm sure everyone is dying to know about this but what do you think Carlos Boozer is going to do this offseason? Have you talked to him at all or is that his business?

CJ: I haven't talked to him (about it). I talked to him once but I wouldn't ask him about that. If he wanted to tell me, he'd tell me. Hopefully, he's back here. We talked about it during the season and the end of the year when it was brought up; he definitely wanted to be here in Utah. I don't see a reason why he would leave with the team that we have and the strides that we made as a team and it's getting better. Hopefully, he still wants to be part of this situation.

TNLP: You guys still had a very good season even though you got eliminated in the second round. What was your favorite moment this season?

CJ: I think the playoffs, just in general. The whole experience was the best because it's my first actual playoff run... like playing minutes. And it taught me to be able to make an impact to show a lot of people that didn't know that I could play... be able to show some people that I can play and I belong.

TNLP: Are you watching the NBA Finals?

CJ: Yeah, I'm watching.

TNLP: Who do you got?

CJ: The way Boston is playing, I kinda see them winning a game in L.A. and winning the series.

TNLP: Oh, that's nice of you.

CJ: *laughs* You never know. L.A.'s going back home. The young guys on the team are going to play better at home than they do on the road. It's going to be tough. I can see it definitely going seven games, though.

TNLP: On to other things... do you have high hopes for your Dallas Cowboys this season?

CJ: I always have high hopes. Hopefully, we can keep it going this whole year.

TNLP: Just keeping the faith, right?

CJ: I'm never gonna quit on them.

TNLP: What are you currently jamming to on your iPod right now?

CJ: Wiz Khalifa, Curren$y, J. Cole, Drake, a lot of the younger guys... I bump into heavy rotation now. Those are pretty much my favorites there. There's always going to be Eminem, Jay-Z, (Beyonce), 2Pac... I have playlists with all their albums.

TNLP: How are the video games as of late?

CJ: I kinda slowed down. I used to be a video game-head but I'm not as bad anymore. I still play 2K10, Call of Duty, but I kinda faded away from it. I just kinda chill now. I don't play that much. I never stepped down from a challenge but, at the same time, I don't play 'em as much as I used to.

TNLP: What do you do on your spare time then if it's not the video games?

CJ: I just hang out. I'm a big movie guy... I love to watch movies. I just kinda hang out with my boys. Go out and chill with my best friends... see what's going on. (But) I'm a nap-taker. I love to sleep.

TNLP: Anything else you wanna say?

Everybody that's mad at me for rooting for Boston... don't be mad at me! *laughs* The L.A. fans outweigh the Boston fans... but other than that, thanks for the support... to the people that do know who I am... to the fans that appreciate my game. Keep watching next season.

TNLP: All right. Cool. Thanks. Keep it going.

CJ: Appreciate it. Thanks a lot.

PHOTO CREDIT: 1) Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images. 2) Unknown.

You can follow me on Twitter. User name is @TheNoLookPass. You can also hit up C.J. Miles at Twitter. His name is @CJMiles34.

By the way, go to our FaceBook page and LIKE it!

The Atlanta Hawks stayed in-house and promoted assistant Larry Drew (former Clipper and Laker!) to the head coach position. I was having a nice debate with someone about this on Twitter. He thought it was a horrible hire and that the Hawks would regress next year.

Well, I thought Mike Woodson wasn't exactly a good coach in my book (and a lot of people would agree with me on that). I just thought that the Hawks roster playing together for years was key to improving their record every subsequent year. I thought Woodson's guidance can only take them so far. The last two seasons ended with second-round sweeps. And the way the Hawks ended their season a month ago, it seemed like they needed a new voice to listen to.

The Hawks have a big chance of regressing if they lose their #1 guy, Joe Johnson, in the next few weeks. That's the main key right there. But seriously, what makes Larry Drew a worse hire than Tom Thibodeau (a forever assistant) and Monty Williams (another first-time head coach)? Larry Drew's also getting his first chance as a head coach. Does this mean he'll be worse than Woodson? I don't know. Does this mean he'll be better than Woodson? I don't know. But come on, just because he's not a big name doesn't mean he's going to crash and burn. I'm glad he's getting a shot. It's his first time. Let him do some work.

I'm sure people complained when Gregg Popovich (once a Larry Brown assistant). He's got four championships on his resume now. Pat Riley was also once an assistant. He's got five rings. Scotty Brooks was P.J. Carlesimo's assistant in Oklahoma City. Look what he did to that team. Of course, for every Scott Brooks, there's also a Randy Wittman. So not everything's rosy when it comes to hiring an unknown name.

Let's just wait and see what Drew does before everyone comes down on him.

Follow my NBA blurbs on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. And check out our FaceBook page.

*No matter how we slice it, Kobe Bryant dominating the ball usually results in a Laker loss. Am I blaming him? No. It's a team effort; we blame the Lakers. Did he have to take it in his own hands? Sure. But I still thought he could've done a better job involving the offense. And I agree with a lot of pundits out there (hey, Matt Moore!). Kobe should've saved this as a last resort instead of having to do this in the third quarter. But this is what usually happens: Kobe puts on a show and the rest of the team are in awe. Kobe knows he doesn't have to do it all by himself... but at the same time, the rest of the guys have to step up. Only Pau Gasol was in double figures besides Kobe for L.A.

*I love how L.A. has turned their backs once again on Lamar Odom and Ron Artest. L.A. fans wanted Odom gone in 2008 but yet they wanted him back last summer. Now they want him gone again. Today, fans want Ron gone and are clamoring for Trevor Ariza. Of course, last week, they were saying how much they loved Ron. All I gotta say about this is keep the faith and don't overreact so much. Don't they think they know what's on the line? Don't forget that Ron had been doing an outstanding job checking Pierce in the first three games.

*Kobe was right when he said that they needed to play better defense. 56 percent shooting by Boston in Game 5. Sure, some of those shots you have to tip your hat to but seeing Ray Allen cut free for a lay-in would drive Laker fans nuts.

*I love how Andrew Bynum was all fixed up for this game but pretty much did nothing after he got 6 early points. Yes, he is a key but he should show up. Jackie Taylor (That Sports Babe) told me he was wincing around 8 minutes into the game. Well, he played 32 minutes so he was able to play through it. He just wasn't involved.

*There's really no other way of saying this but Boston wanted it more. It's cliche but it's true. They just seemed to outhustle the Lakers in everything and had more of a sense of urgency to win this game.

*Last time the Lakers were down 3-2 in the NBA Finals was 1988. Lakers went on to win both games at home.

*People kept asking me for predictions for the rest of the series. Does it matter at this point? I just want the Lakers to win. I don't care if I'm right or wrong about my prediction. I've been right before and I've been wrong before. Let's just watch it happen to see whether Boston takes home Banner #18 or Los Angeles becomes the first back-to-back champions since they won three in a row from 2000-2002.

PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images.

You can follow me on Twitter. User name is @TheNoLookPass. At the most, two more games left in the season.

By the way, go to our FaceBook page and LIKE it!

#1 Los Angeles Lakers 86 @ #4 Boston Celtics 92 (Boston leads 3-2)

Paul Pierce said they would not be coming back to LA. He lied. However he decided to make up for it in Game 5.

He put on a stellar shooting display en route to 27 points on 12-for-21 from the field. On display was the vintage Pierce arsenal, including a plethora of stepback jumpers.  The Celtics as a whole shot incredibly well (.563 for the game). The first half saw a close game as the score was 45-39 Celtics  at the half.

The second half saw Boston coming out of the gate to take a double-digit lead, but Kobe Bryant had other ideas. He erupted in the third and single-handedly kept the Lakers in the game despite none of his teammates showing up. He scored 19 in the quarter, showing his three-point range.

The fourth quarter saw the C's open up an 87-75 after a spectacular tip in by Rondo off of a missed Pierce three-point attempt:

Those type of hustle plays gave Boston the edge the entire game. One particular play towards the end that basically iced the game was a full court inbounds pass to Pierce with only four seconds left to advance the ball in which he caught it and, almost going out of  bounds on the sideline, threw a bullet pass to Rondo under the basket for a layup. It was a timely, game saving play.

Now both teams head back to Los Angeles in which the Lakers must win both to become back-to-back Champions. One win would give the Celtics their 18th NBA Championship. With a 3-2 lead, you have to wonder if the C's will come out with hunger like it's a do-or-die game. Winning in LA is no easy task, let alone three straight vs. the defending champs. Stay tuned.

Follow me on Twitter @illastrate

Follow The No-Look pass @TheNoLookpass

Also, please join our Facebook page!

That foot right there with the nicely painted green toenails? That is Ray Allen's foot.

Maybe that's the secret to having possibly the best shot in the game today. Paint your toenails of whatever color team you're playing for and you're set!

Hey, Sasha Vujacic. Time to paint your toenails purple.

Hat tip to Marcel Mutoni. Screencapped from the NBA Finals Game 4 Mini-Movie from NBA.Com.

You can follow me on Twitter. User name is @TheNoLookPass. No, I don't paint my toenails.

By the way, go to our FaceBook page and LIKE it!

Hosted by...

THE CHRONICLES OF CROTTY KREW!

PICTURED L to R
David Diep (@illastrate): (PF) Loves the Finals.
Jimmy Castro (@WinInTheEnd): (SF) Hates the Finals right now.
Nick Perkins: (C) Playing Final Fantasy.
Rey Moralde (@TheNoLookPass): (PG) Playing Final Fight.
Peter Kim (@YungBolo): (SG) Playing Rad Racer.

THE VISITOR

John Karalis from Red's Army returns and invades TNLP to brag about the Boston victory.

BREAK IT DOWN
A. Recorded after Game 4 of the NBA Finals. We talked about the game with Mr. Karalis.
B. Coaches on the move. Avery Johnson to the Nets. Is Tom Izzo REALLY going to Cleveland?
C. The LeBron free agent tour? Ugh.
D. Kareem Rush is singing now. We did put his song in the podcast.
E. We again tried hard to talk about the Clippers.

TEASERS
NICK: "You're not drunk enough for this podcast, John. I'm sorry to say."

JOHN KARALIS: "I have my Khloe Kardashian mask on! UGLY SISTER! UGLY SISTER!"
REY: "If it makes you feel any better, I don't like her much, either. I still think Kim is prettier than Khloe so you can go ahead and cover your ugly face, John."

REY: "Don't you think that the officiating has sorta taken away from the greatness of this series?"
JOHN: "Yeah, man... officials have been... God... how do I say this?"

JIMMY: "Two more to go. Take it one game at a time. It's not gonna be easy. Beat those damn Irishmen."
REY: "Now you say it when Karalis is not here!"
NICK: "That's when he strikes best!"

DAVE: "I'm on cheaptickets.com trying to book a flight to Boston for the parade."
PETER: "I should ask John that... if they would gladly accept Dave and I as Laker-haters."

CREDITS

BANNER
Greg Sorvig

MUSIC
Free Your Mind by En Vogue (instrumental)
Iesha by Another Bad Creation
She's On Fire by Amy Holland
Cool It Now by New Edition
Hold You Down by Kareem Rush

PROMOS
Margaret from Eyeroll Sports
Jason Riley from The Lakers Nation
Clipper Steve from Clips Nation
Zach Harper from TalkHoops and Cowbell Kingdom
Violet Kanian from Violet Kanian
Holly MacKenzie from SLAM Online
Stephanie K of Stephanie K Music Dot Com
Jonathan Santiago from Davis Sports Deli Podcast
Elie Seckbach from ES News
Zach Lowe from Celtics Hub
Eric Pincus from Hoopsworld Dot Com

We ENCOURAGE you to either look through our podcast archives OR you can subscribe to us on iTunes by clicking on that podcast icon below.

.

We'd appreciate it if you give us a review on our iTunes page. Thank you for pushing play!

Boston Celtics 96 Los Angeles Lakers 89

Lakers win Game 1 and as Rey Moralde said, if the Lakers lose Game 2, then there is going to be panic and that everyone would say that the Lakers would be in trouble. Lakers go on to lose Game 2, big trouble until Fisher saves Game 3. The Celtics would have their work cut out for them if they went down 3-1 considering that no team in the NBA Finals has come back from that deficit. But how did things play out? Let's recap:

The first half wasn't nearly as interesting as the second half. It was a low-scoring 1st quarter but Paul Pierce took it to Ron Artest and scored 10 points on 4-7 shooting (5-8 including the shot shown below):

Ray Allen continued to struggle from the field and many of Allen's shots that Kevin Arnovitz mentioned from Game 3 were seen in the first half, including contested and uncontested shots, attempts late in the shot clock and even shots closed out by Pau Gasol:

The first half ended with some momentum for the Celtics but the Lakers held the lead despite giving up offensive rebounds and only having Andrew Bynum play for 10 minutes due to his knee.

The second half was a different story. The Lakers were able to get production from their stars, Bryant and Gasol. Gasol had another efficient game, scoring 21 points on 6-13 shooting and Bryant connected on consecutive shots several times in the second half. They were able to maintain the lead but Ray Allen seemed to regain his shot and the Celtics gained momentum on a transition layup by Garnett and trailed by only 2 points heading into the 4th quarter.

The Celtics' bench was the story throughout the game but mainly in the 4th quarter. The Lakers struggled against the Suns' reserves in the Conference Finals and struggled once again with the Celtics' reserves. A higher level of energy and different matchups such as Davis vs. Odom and Artest vs. Ray Allen coupled with the fact that Odom had to play heavy minutes with Bynum out appeared to befuddle the Laker defense. They continued to give up second chance points, points in the paint (54 on the night) allowed Robinson to get into the lane and allowed Davis to score 9 of his 18 points in the 4th.

The Celtics reserves were able to help push the lead to 11 at one point but it came down to how well the team could execute down the stretch; more specifically, the final 2:30.

With 2:18 left, Paul Pierce was able to hit a jumper from the elbow on Artest in nearly the same spot that he was called for an offensive foul earlier in the season.

The Lakers score on the ensuing possession. The Celtics come back up the floor, miss a shot but a defensive play from Garnett, keeps the ball on their end of the court and a questionable blocking call on Bryant leads to a 3-point play for the Celtics.

However, on the next possession, the Lakers get a questionable call which sends Bryant to the line for 3 free-throws with 1:08 to play, and converts a 3-point play of his own.

Pierce misses a jumper on the next possession, the Lakers regain possession, Bryant gets the ball near the baseline and as he attempts to pass it out to Lamar Odom, Rondo reaches into the passing lane and scores on the other end and essentially puts the game out of reach for the Lakers.

The Celtics go on to win 96-89 and tie the series at 2 games each. The pivotal Game 5 will be in Boston on Sunday as one of the teams will go up 3-2. Check back here at The No-Look Pass for more recaps during the NBA Finals.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Questions? Comments? Feel free to leave a comment below or:
Hit up the Bolo Box – Peter@thenolookpass.com
Follow me on Twitter: @Yungbolo Also, join our Facebook page!

]]> http://www.thenolookpass.com/2010/06/11/2010-nba-playoffs-game-4-recap/feed/ 0 http://www.thenolookpass.com/2010/06/10/2010-nba-finals-game-4-twitter-play-by-play/ http://www.thenolookpass.com/2010/06/10/2010-nba-finals-game-4-twitter-play-by-play/#comments Fri, 11 Jun 2010 04:09:24 +0000 Rey-Rey http://www.thenolookpass.com/?p=4589 We know that Twitter these days is almost a must during the NBA experience. This time around, we tweet about Game 4 of the 2010 NBA Finals between the Lakers and the Celtics. I love to get reactions from fans, bloggers, reporters, and players alike.

Check out them tweets.

PRE-GAME
jdzavadil
@TheNoLookPass Anita Baker's haircut makes Joe Dirt look like a demi-god.

BasketballFiend
I'm disappointed Big Baby licking his lips didn't make it onto the Celtics' video intro.

danielbuerge_LA
For such a storied franchise the Celtics have too many gimmicks in their opening line-ups - i.e. a leprechaun with giant lit-up gloves.

jadande
Crowd intensity at the Garden is wayyyy down from Game 3.

1ST QUARTER
SekouSmithNBA
Two shots on a drive to the basket. The stripes are off to a rousing start tonight. Unbelievable.

latmedina
Lakers left Allen wide open in corner, but his shooting struggles continue

KDonhoops
Don't you just get the feeling that this could be a really, really, really good game?

SLAMonline
Wouldn't it be amazing if KG turned into an #AngryArvydasSabonis for his last few seasons? That's a world I want to live in. #sickpass

russbengtson
Andrew Bynum is moving like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar out there. Of course Kareem is 63 years old.

bandwagonknick
Both offenses running much better. Celtics making extra pass & penetrating, Lakers feeding their bigs more effectively.

bruce_arthur
Big Baby's checking in! Better stretch my laughing muscles.

MrMichaelLee
Pierce has 10 of BOS's 14. Pierce doesn't realize it now, but Ron Artest's "Chinese blow" defense is just getting started.

wal33d
Paul Pierce's "truth" nickname comments are so overrused...

haloahk
Horrible shot Artest.

gx5
Keep shooting, Artest. #Celtics #Lakers

alanhahn
The Celtics are so pissed about the officiating, they've resorted to punching the refs.

(Credit to sportsmacheteny for finding it.)

mimilikes
Dang! Poor R.Wallace got jacked!

END OF 1: Boston leads, 19-16.

2ND QUARTER
RicBucher
Never seen Kobe have to work this hard to get shots. Left ankle is clearly not right. Can't see it improving as series goes on.

forumbluegold
Wow. A high post flash, back cut, and a lay in. Huh. This offense does work.

mattyg_funk
That is the type of 3 you take, Farmar. The one before that: not so much.

ptknicksblog
Glen Davis is "undersized"? Jeff Van Gundy apparently sees in 2-D.

MikeMSchwartz
A Big Baby fastbreak is the best kind of fastbreak.

athleteint
@TheNoLookPass The way Big Baby is playing, it's more like Lamar stole his lunch.

MHCranberry
Okay, so: anyone touches Gasol, they get a foul. Reliably. Fuckers.

rlevine33
Nate Robinson and Tony Allen are the only Celtics to commit a turnover so far tonight. Sounds about right.

wondahbap
Uh oh. Mamba unleashed right now. Shot looking confident.

cocoqt81
Okay, what the hell does Hand down, man down even mean? I need to know, since this guy might be the coach of my favorite team.

marcel_mutoni
the celtics offense is as pretty as odom's wife.

Susan_Shan
Offensive foul on Pierce? Excellent officiating continues in this series. #Celtics #Lakers

celtsfan33
Stop crying about the calls. Play Defense - get Rebounds and get the ball to KG on the blocks.

chibbs_1
Lakers getting some bs calls

tr3yball
More F bombs for KG after that shot! #Celtics

AT THE HALF: Lakers have the lead, 45-42.

HALFTIME
DavidjBrickley
Anyone else feel that Lakers have complete control of this game? No team has ever came back from 3-1 in FInals. Big 24 minutes coming up

3RD QUARTER
YKLee13
Andrew must be really hurting...=( Stay strong big fella!

iamMARSZ
"The [soft] label doesn't fit anymore." Van Gundy talking about Pau Gasol

24Lakers7
Boston is out of sync. We must take advantage!

NBAnoise
WHO IS THIS DEREK FISHER?! Just one miracle shot after another.

Suga_Shane
Whatever I said about good officiating, forget it!

eyesoffire
I don't mind bad calls as long as they're not called on the Lakers

LakersReporter
Loudest its been all night here as LA lead's cut to 1 again, thanks to KG's D, then layup. Crowd begging for a lead here...

aimeemabelle
"His hands get caught up in the body of Allen..." Yeah, I'm so mature.

jose3030
Ray Ray's momma look JUST like him. It's crazy

BigMck
Kobe is trying to bait Perk into a tech. He's doing a ton of yapping. Don't fall for it Perk.

lazenby
This is a circle jerk of missed shots.

ThatSportsBabe
Oooooh KOBE. Back to backs. #WordToYourMamba

sophiabiabia
Damn Kobe. I'm speechless. What a performance and it's not even 4th quarter.

END OF 3: Lakers 62, Boston 60.

4TH QUARTER
LAIreland
I'll be surprised if BOS doesn't double team Kobe for the rest of game. No other Lakers are hurting them. Somebody else needs to step up

BREEZEakaB_R_
Has anyone seen lamar odom

ticktock6
Dunno, got a feeling about this one. This is what storming back looks like. This is what home court looks like.

uesampang
Damn Big Baby!!!! As a Pistons fan, now I see why Joe D was trying to sign him

ILLnanay
Omg get big baby a bib

tuffyr
Either the sound on my TV just cut out for 15 minutes or Sheed said, "Fudge."

TommyGibbs15
Nice way to redeem yourself sheed

AestheticsGirl
Nate got a "T" for being "emotionally drunk." #JVG *dying* #NateIsALightWeight

Jubanator14
There is something hilarious about a 5'9 guy taunting a 6'9 guys armpit.

MagicBasketball
Shouldn't Perkins get in trouble for leaving the bench right there?

KevinDing
Main reason Boston is about to tie the series: Celtics outscoring Lakers in paint, 48-30 -- again showing Bynum's value.

jimrome
Tony Allen just forgot he was Tony Allen

nbamate
Celtics bench proving they can win Finals games (shades of Powe in '08). Lakers bench absolutely cannot.

jerseychaser54
Don't call my name, Don't call my name..#rajonrondo

netw3rk
Rondo has "create a player" kind of speed.

EricPincus
lakers missed drew out there tonight

END OF GAME: Boston ties the series, 96-89.

POSTGAME
MikePradaSBN
I want Glen Davis to give the best man's speech at my wedding.

docfunk
Big Baby speaks EXACTLY like AC Slater. #ThingsImAshamedToKnow

PHOTO CREDITS: 1-3) Getty Images.

Follow my NBA blurbs on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. And check out our FaceBook page.

So we're sticking with the Lakers vs. Celtics theme at TNLP so it was definitely time for the Lakers vs. Celtics obscure NBA player starting 5. There are so many players to choose from but we picked our favorite 5 from each team. Here they are--

Celtics Obscure Starting 5

Jimmy Oliver (G) - Oliver played 1 season for the C's, appeared in 44 games and even started in 6 of them. He averaged 4.9 points and 1 rebound per game and had the honor of playing alongside Todd Lichti and Chris Corchiani. Oliver also played on the 1998 FIBA World Championship team with Brad Miller and Ashraf Amaya and went on to win the Saporta Cup with his Maroussi Athens team in 2001.

Allan Ray (G) - Ray doesn't have any nicknames listed so we'll call him Shuttlesworth Jasus. He only played for the Celtics during the 06-07 season and found himself playing heavy minutes as a result of injuries to some of the other players. He even logged 41 minutes twice and scored over 20 points 3 times. He asked to be waived by the Celtics after the season in order to pursue a $2 million contract overseas. Hopefully for his sake, he'll be remembered for more than just an eyeball.

Random fact: The Celtics were 0-12 that season when Ray scored 11 or more points.

Greg Minor (G/F) - Minor played for the Celtics for 5 seasons and appeared in 277 games. He was a high-flyer and appeared in the 1996 Slam Dunk Contest. Unfortunately, he suffered a career ending hip injury in a game against the Miami Heat in 1999. Over the years he has stayed connected to basketball and is currently an assistant coach for the D-League's Bakersfield Jam.

Michael (Mike) Smith (F) - I'm sure most Celtics fans would like to forget this one. BJ Armstrong? Shawn Kemp? Tim Hardaway? Nope, the Celtics selected Mike Smith with the 13th pick in the 1989 NBA Draft. Red Auerbach felt that Smith could be a Larry Bird type of player and decided to draft him but Smith was unable to create his own shot and was blocked frequently as a result of his slow release. He lasted 2 seasons with the Celtics before being shipped off to the Clippers and now tells stories of his days playing with Larry Bird as a color commentator for the Clippers' telecasts.

Stojko Vrankovic (C) - Vrankovic played 2 seasons with the Celtics from 1990-1992 and was known for his shot blocking ability. He averaged nearly 1 blocked shot and 5 minutes of playing time which translated to a 6.3 block average per 36 minutes. He had more success overseas and his team captain for Panathinaikos recalls a clutch play:

"All that happened at the end of the game is unbelievable, a few seconds that lasted one century! I remember Stojko (Vrankovic) running like...Carl Lewis from one side to the other to stop (José Antonio) Montero. He blocked the layup almost at the buzzer and he sealed the victory."

Lakers Obscure Starting 5

John Celestand (G) - Celestand played for the 1999-2000 championship Laker team but only appeared in 16 games. He averaged 2.3 points and 1.3 assists and unfortunately is remembered for getting crossed by Vince Carter. After the NBA he played overseas in Italy, France and Germany. He's also the president of Celestand Consulting and through Celestand Consulting he works with ESPN, Comcast Sportsnet Philly and ISP Sports covering college and pro basketball according to his Twitter account.

Tony Smith (G) - Smith was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1990 draft by the Lakers (The Lakers acquired the pick from the Spurs for Mike Smrek). He was a solid player and hit 5 of his 7 shots in only 32 minutes of total play in the 1991 NBA Finals. He remained with the Lakers until 1995.

Irving Thomas (F) - Thomas the 6'8 small forward played on the 1990-1991 Lakers team that made the NBA Finals. He lasted 1 season and appeared in 26 games. The highlight of his season came April 21, 1991 when he logged 12 minutes and scored 9 points as the Lakers beat the Supersonics.

Antonio Harvey (F/C) - Harvey, a 6'11 PF/C for the Lakers from 93-95 appeared in 86 games and started in 14 of them. Even though he was a rookie, he was able to log more playing time than teammates Trevor Wilson and veteran Danny Schayes. He was known as a high-flyer and participated in the 1995 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Unfortunately, he is remembered for waiting until the final seconds to try and pull off a 360-dunk.

Jamal Sampson (F/C) - Sampson was a local product from Inglewood, California so it was only right for him to play for the Lakers during his 5 seasons of being a journeyman. He only played in 10 games but he posted a near triple-double against the Clippers on January 17, 2004 with 9 points and 10 boards. He later played for the Bobcats, Kings and Nuggets where he always kept up the camaraderie. He is currently a part of Smart Gilas, a developmental team in the Philippines--

So are our squads. No disrespect to Demetrius Calip, Frankie King, Mike Penberthy, Alaa Abdelnaby, Vitaly Potapenko, and Nate Driggers. Be sure to check out The No-Look Pass for more Obscure Player features and coverage of the Lakers vs. Celtics 2010 NBA Finals matchup.

Questions? Comments? Feel free to leave a comment below or:
Hit up the Bolo Box – Peter@thenolookpass.com
Follow me on Twitter: @Yungbolo Also, join our Facebook page!

]]> http://www.thenolookpass.com/2010/06/09/we-like-obscure-nba-players-lakers-vs-celtics-edition/feed/ 3 http://www.thenolookpass.com/2010/06/09/2010-nba-finals-game-3-recap/ http://www.thenolookpass.com/2010/06/09/2010-nba-finals-game-3-recap/#comments Wed, 09 Jun 2010 07:27:39 +0000 Rey-Rey http://www.thenolookpass.com/?p=4571

The scene returned to the Gah-den. But...

#1 LOS ANGELES LAKERS (WEST) 91 @ #4 BOSTON CELTICS (EAST) 84
(Lakers lead series, 2-1)

First off, so I can get this out of the way, this was the best officiated game of the Finals. Yeah, they botched about three or four calls in a row at one point... but, for the most part, they did an adequate job refereeing the game. And they went to the replays when necessary. I'll give the officials props for that.

So before I get bombarded from both sides, I should probably talk about the game.

Kevin Garnett was pretty much sizzling the entire game. He scored on the first three Celtic possessions. But the problem was that he was the only player from Boston producing. We'll get to that in a little bit.

The funny thing was that it was a Lamar Odom banker from downtown (HE CALLED IT. I SAW IT! Ha ha.) that ignited the Lakers. It gave L.A. the lead that they would not relinquish the entire night. The Lakers surged to a 37-20 lead early in the second as the bench gave them a nice spark. The Celtics managed to cut it down to 12 by the end of the first half but it was clear that the Lakers were scrappier in the contest as they were just beating the Celtics on the glass.

But, again, I just don't know why the Lakers keep going back to a formula that doesn't work. Can someone tell them that they're just not a very good perimeter shooting team? Kobe Bryant put up a wrist-hurting 29 shots, mostly from the perimeter. That's exactly how Boston wants to beat the Lakers. Boston's bench (especially Tony Allen and Glen Davis) then helped cut the lead down to as little as four right before the third quarter ended.

While Kobe struggled and the Laker bigs didn't get enough touches, Big Baby and Garnett mostly carried Boston in the fourth. The Celtics cut the deficit to one. Then a familiar face for the Lakers came to the rescue.

Hook. Line. Sinker. Fish.

Derek Fisher added yet ANOTHER clutch game to his resume as he went for 11 points in the fourth quarter. If the Lakers go on to win the series, his coast-to-coast lay-up (he also got fouled) against three Celtics with 48 seconds left will be replayed in years to come. That particular three-point play put the Lakers up, 87-80, and was essentially the DAGGER (Mark Jackson, please use that word correctly next time) that stabbed the heart of Boston in Game 3.

Kobe led the Lakers with 29 points while Fisher finished with 16 (as mentioned, 11 in the last stanza). Pau Gasol didn't get enough touches but he did finish with 13 and 10. Odom came off the pine to score 12. Ron Artest didn't have a good offensive night but he has made Paul Pierce a non-factor. Pierce has averaged 16 points in this series (15 in Game 3) but he has really never gotten a rhythm going and has had to work really hard to get shots. Ray Allen had an incredible performance in Game 2 and had another surprising game in Game 3... although this time, it went the other way around. None of Allen's 13 shots (8 from downtown) found the hole. I suppose it just really evened out his supernova night from Game 2. KG led the Celtics with 25 points. Rajon Rondo had a quiet 11-point, 8-assist effort. And, once again, the rebounds were a factor. L.A. outrebounded Boston, 43-35.

Boston hopes to even the series on Thursday. And they hope that Ray Allen can make more shots than me since I made as many shots as he did on Game 3.

Hi, Maria. Call me. Or maybe just tweet me. That might be easier.

PHOTO CREDITS: 1) Winslow Townson/AP. 2) Ronald Martinez/Getty Images. 3) Elsa/Getty Images

Follow my NBA blurbs on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. And check out our FaceBook page.

I really don't have any intention of rewatching the game because as much as it is well-played when there are no whistles being blown, it's hard to watch a game that is just full of it. Kobe Bryant got called for two phantom fouls. Kendrick Perkins got called for a foul on Kobe without touching him. Paul Pierce blocked Ron Artest cleanly and got called for a foul there. Dave thought that Pau Gasol touched the ball last on a crucial possession while everyone else thought that Kevin Garnett poked it last.

Yes, the officiating has been horrible. And this is the kind of bullshit that gets people thinking there's a conspiracy against their team (which gets REALLY tiring, believe me). But as much as people want to believe a Tim Donaghy, do realize that officiating is subjective and can be a very difficult job in any level. From personal experience, I played in a rec league with Nick, Peter, and Dave. The referees there were bad in my view, too! So I don't really believe in the conspiracy theories people mention... but I DO agree that officiating HAS to get better and be more consistent. Even Jack Nicholson hates it.

I can forgive Game 1. They decided to call it really tight after Ron Artest and Paul Pierce got tangled up. Game 2 was almost unwatchable, though. So many botched calls. I hope to not see that again the rest of the series. These two teams are the best of the best NBA teams. Let them play their game and let us watch some great basketball.

I get that the referees won't be perfect. But clean it up, at least. And don't try to be THE superstars in what could still be potentially a great series. Referees are there to moderate the game, not to add to the drama. And while Game 1 was consistently called tight, I hope they let the players play in Game 3. Let them have a little physicality. Let THEM provide the action and the drama. They're the stars of this show. Refs, don't blow the whistle too often or else people will accuse you of blowing something else.

And to those that said that the Lakers lost because Kobe Bryant was sitting down for most of the third quarter, the Lakers led, 90-89, with a little bit over three minutes left. Maybe players and fans alike should worry about execution more than the referees. Because execution is going to win over referee calls any day. They didn't get EVERY call wrong, ya know. Maybe Lakers should try guarding Ray Allen next time or go back to what works in the offense instead of putting up bad perimeter shots.

Let's hope for a well-played game and officiating that's a tad competent.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mark J. Terrill/AP.

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#4 Boston Celtics 103 @ #1 Los Angeles Lakers 94 (Series tied 1-1)

The sequel of "He Got Game" was released today. And Jesus Shuttlesworth gave an Oscar-worthy performance this time.

In what was an exciting game 2, perhaps the most extraordinary part of it came at the hands of Ray Allen. He put on a shooting display for the ages connecting on 7-of-7 three's in the first half. He would finish 8-for-11, but the damage was already done. There was nothing that stopped him tonight. The Lakers weren't quick enough to come out on him everytime, and even when they were able to, Allen still hit 'em. He was truly in the zone, the Twilight Zone perhaps?

It was a close game until the Celtics opened up a double-digit lead in the second quarter. However, the Lakers would climb back in it like they usually did punctuated by a Shelden Williams(gulp) turnover on an inbounds which lead to a Kobe Bryant(gulp x2) buzzer beating three to cut it to six at the half.

It would go back and forth in the third quarter, with a key contribution from Nate Robinson off the bench (7 points in 6 mins). Then there was a controversial call where Pau Gasol and Kevin Garnett both fought for a loose ball that was tapped out of bounds. It was called in favor of the Celtics and stayed that way upon further review. Some say KG practically palmed the ball out of bounds, but if you watch the replay, you can see Gasol's fingers poke the ball as it extended further than KG's palm. Whatever you may think, it will be highly debated for awhile. And with that, Rondo was able to hit a wide open jumper for a 95-90 lead. The C's would finish the game on a 16-4 run and never look back.

You can only blame the referees so much. And that goes both ways. Even in game 1, where the Celtics main players were in foul trouble, there was no excuse for Boston to play with such little aggression. Game 2 saw Kevin Garnett in foul trouble, but the C's didn't make any excuses this time as Rondo and Allen were spectacular. Bynum and Gasol shoot great percentages from the field and the line, but Kobe was in foul trouble and couldn't get his shot going. Now it's back to Boston for games 3-5 to see what each team is really made of.

Target Practice.

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As Stu Lantz said, it was only right. We miss Nick the Quick. And we also miss Chick Hearn. Oh, yeah. What's up, Sam Bowie? We miss you, too.

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Hosted by...

THE CHRONICLES OF CROTTY KREW!

PICTURED L to R
David Diep (@illastrate): (PF) Hates the Finals.
Jimmy Castro (@WinInTheEnd): (SF) Loves the Finals.
Nick Perkins: (C) Didn't take any Final.
Rey Moralde (@TheNoLookPass): (PG) Definitely flunked his Final.
Peter Kim (@YungBolo): (SG) IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN.

BREAK IT DOWN
A. Recorded after Game 1 of the NBA Finals. We talked about the game.
B. We talk about the coaching carousel. We all thought Tyreke Evans was driving fast. And a couple of trades are rumored.
C. We tried hard to talk about the Clippers.
D. What is going on with TNLP?!

TEASERS
JIMMY: "Three games to go. Gotta take it one step at a time."

PETER: "There's so many times that (Kevin Garnett) is either overthinking or not thinking at all. He's like pulling a Lamar Odom or something."

DAVE: "That's what Mike Peplowski does! He saves lives!"

REY: "(Michael Jordan) has always been hard to get a hold of when it comes to video games."
NICK: "Come on. He's been in plenty of video games. Like Chaos In The Windy City!"

EXTRACURRICULARS
This is supposed to be funny?

I can break these cuffs.

We had way too much fun with this video.

CREDITS

BANNER
Greg Sorvig

MUSIC
Free Your Mind by En Vogue (instrumental)
Livin' It Up by Ja Rule and Cash
Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai
I'm On A Boat by The Lonely Island and T-Pain
Informer by Snow

PROMOS
Ron Artest from the Los Angeles Lakers
John Crotty, Miami Heat radio analyst
Jonathan Santiago from Davis Sports Deli Podcast
Marc Locsin from Hoopshead Central
Elie Seckbach from ES News
Zach Lowe from Celtics Hub
Eric Pincus from Hoopsworld Dot Com
Zach Harper from TalkHoops and Cowbell Kingdom

We ENCOURAGE you to either look through our podcast archives OR you can subscribe to us on iTunes by clicking on that podcast icon below.

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We'd appreciate it if you give us a review on our iTunes page. Thank you for pushing play!

#4 BOSTON CELTICS (EAST) 89 @ #1 LOS ANGELES LAKERS (WEST) 102
(Lakers lead series, 1-0)

This game was well-played in the beginning. Yes. Well-played when there was no stoppage of play. So many whistles were blown and I thought this little slowdown would be in favor of Boston.

Something was different about this Laker team, though. The double-technical between Ron Artest and Paul Pierce immediately showed that the Lakers were ready for the Celtics. And then later on, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum were just having their way inside the paint. The missing link from the 2008 team showed that he really was an important cog in this series.

They kept going inside at will. In the meantime, Boston, despite staying close in the first half, just couldn't get any sort of offensive rhythm going. It might have been because of the whistle-happy referees but, really, the game was called tightly on both sides and the Lakers were finally able to break the game open late in the first half.

The foul trouble (among other things) really plagued the Celtics. Ray Allen didn't have much of an impact in his 27 minutes of play as he almost ended up fouling out of the game. Paul Pierce also had five at the end of the game... and had a tough time getting those 24 points against Ron Artest (who is no Vlad Radmanovic). Kevin Garnett looked old on both sides of the floor. But most importantly, Rajon Rondo (despite ending up with a 13-6-8 line) didn't put his fingerprints all over the game.

The Laker defense was simply better today and outmuscled them on the boards (42-31). Plus they actually stayed on the inside. The Lakers only took 10 shots behind the arc, which is far fewer than the 30-something threes we saw in games against the Thunder and the Suns. It felt like they were in total control of this ballgame, save for one Boston run early in the fourth. Kobe Bryant was brilliant with 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists (including a three-pointer filled with douchebaggery with seconds left in the game to give the Staples Center fans tacos and every Laker fan not at Staples some virtual tacos). Pau toughened up for this game and had a 23-14 night. He and Bynum absolutely diced the Celtics frontline inside.

But it's just one game. As I've said before, one game can easily change the complexion of the series. If Boston wins Game 2, everyone will overreact and say that the Lakers are in trouble. Lakers have to take care of business in Game 2 or else they might have that cloud of doubt hovering over their heads when they go back to TD Banknorth Gah-den.

Let's watch the next chapter on Sunday, okay?

PHOTO CREDIT: Mark J. Terrill/AP.

Follow my NBA blurbs on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. And check out our FaceBook page.

Check out them tweets.

PRE-GAME
SI_ChrisBallard
Best T-shirt at Staples: Handicapped Wheelchair sign w/ words "PAUL PIERCE PARKING ONLY"

lkrgirl
Im so glad we have home court advantage this time!!!!! maybe we can win it at home this year!!!

Daniel_Artest
Me and Ron used to watch the NBA finals and to watch him about to get it in is special. I kno LA fans are happy but I'm feeling..........

AestheticsGirl
Too many people are picking Celtics to win. #MakesMeUneasy #WantFullOnUnderdogStatus

DuranLA
Rasheed Wallace dressed up for the Finals http://yfrog.com/1712039042j

ShamSports
From above, the Staples Center looks like a referees whistle. http://bit.ly/96B9Vf Coincidence? No freaking way.

stephiebrady81
my sister who knows nothing about sports just walked into my room and said "who is that? Paul Pierce?" about Rajon Rondo. sigh.

St33zyOne
Why does Jeff Van Gundy always look sedated

1ST QUARTER
mlawyue
Pierce and Artest. Yes, yes and yes. Love it.

Truth_About_It
Chill out Joey Crawford.

VioletKanian
Omggggg!!! Fight already! Lmao!!!! Is it bad that I cheered?

BluesForARedSun
Sasha Vujacic! OH YEAH BRINGING OUT THE BIG GUNS

tuffyr
Artest deserves a second tech for that fast break.

bandwagonknick
Staples sounds LOUD. Is this really LA?

marcel_mutoni
If Bynum learned to make five-footers, he'd really be something. Sigh.

Doc_aka_UNBorn
Boston never seen THIS Laker team in the finals.

russbengtson
Tony Allen AND Sasha in the first quarter???? Is it possible to be thankful and disappointed at the same time?

RedsArmy
Nice handle, Queensbridge

forumbluegold
The Lakers are exhibiting excellent timing in their offensive actions right now. Every flash is in good sequence with cuts right off them.

BrettEP
And the "Wheel-chair!" chant rains down from the upper level on Paul Pierce as he shoots free throws.

hoopedup
Lack of cheeseburgers, keeps Ray Allen's shot aligned JVG. #fact

latmedina
If I wanted to watch a free-throw shooting contest, I would've gone to the park

END OF 1: Lakers lead, 26-21.

2ND QUARTER
ahmong
I see the lakers making extra passes, Oh wait Kobe is not on the floor #figures

johnschuhmann
Did Doris just say that these were the 2 best defensive teams in the playoffs? Umm... what? The Lakers' D was near awful the last 2 rounds.

BGleas
Hate the way this is being called RT @TheNoLookPass: I just got called for a foul, too.

LakerGMC
This officiating crew is obviously jealous of all the attention given to Jim Joyce.

SLAMonline
Whoa. Dustin Hoffman just kissed a dude on the mouth during the Kiss Cam here at Staples.

mrjones10
That guy #30 in green looks like Sheed. Except he's playing hard.

thejonlee
Tony Allen jumpers, I like it.

fictionaldj
I would have children with Ron Artest.

END OF 1ST HALF: Lakers lead at the half, 50-41.

HALFTIME
stackmack
Man, I love Jeff Van Gundy. Thanksgiving with the Van Gundys would be the best holiday ever. Ever, ever.

BothTeamsPlayed
Through one half, all we know is that LA can outplay Boston for one half in LA. Sounds about right. Also, nice shot Rajon.

jeskeets
Minus Rondo's deep two, the end of that half sure had a "saved by the bell" feel to it for the Celtics. (Note: Boxing, not Belding.)

LakersReporter
Lakers dominated paint points 28-12. Credit ball movement on O and active help defense.

3RD QUARTER
BlkSportsOnline
Two iffy fouls...Artest was getting into position and Ray Allen pushed off..Refs once again put the whistles away

RobCuzican
Whistles continue to blow at Celtics v Lakers ...some really bad calls goin' on

celticsblog
careful Perk, they're trying to bait you

FastTimesAtRF
These refs blowing it.....on both ends

celticshub
LA shooting 55%, rebounding 42% of misses = offense beating defense. Badly.

sophiabiabia
"Kevin garnet hyperventilating a little bit.." yah no... That's his regular breathing. #duh

JoannePistonFan
Pau's flopping act is SO tired. He's an excellent player, so why does he even resort to that ish?

BQRMagic
They just called a foul on Pau Gasol for flopping. I feel like I've just seen a unicorn.

hoopshype
Superb play by the Lakers. Not much Boston can't do against this.

thetruthsports
Gonna be hard for Celtics to come back if Ray Allen can't play.

sharapovasthigh
Rasheed Wallace could pull out a gun and shoot a Laker in the head, and he'd still say it wasn't a foul.

ItsMr5Star
Derek Fisher just made $50. Haha

END OF 3: Lakers up big, 84-64. Ouch.

4TH QUARTER
aainthea
i'd have nightmares if sheed jumped over me like that.

EricPincus
Good thing for the Lakers games are only 36 minutes

NBAnoise
I thought about going to the grocery store as the C's were down by 20 going into the 3rd, but it looks like the C's are coming back.

Reallisa
Laker fans wearing gold T-shirts: This is the One....Hmm, is that a slogan or a premonition about Kevin Garnett's rebound total tonight?

skywaker9
@TheNoLookPass Who is worse at holding big leads, Boston or LA?

NoObstacles92
Boston playing desperate. #NotAGoodLook

the_capital_t
#lessonsfromkobe In order to be great, you have to be socially maladjusted.

HPbasketball
If you need it, you'll find Kevin Garnett's legacy in the gutter drinking a malt liquor and singing Irish sailor songs.

Dascenzo
Kevin Garnett just made Kevin Garnett cry on the bench.

LAMase
Damn Paul Pierce "sells" those fouls.

CJMiles34
Why does KG always push somebody when Tha play over lol

bruce_arthur
As brutally as Boston played, this wasn't quite a blowout. It just felt like one.

FINAL: Lakers win, 102-89.

POSTGAME
docfunk
It's not over until Mike Breen BANGs. Get your mind out of the gutter.

PHOTO CREDITS: 1) Beto Duran. 2) Christian Petersen/Getty Images. 3) Mark J. Terrill/AP.

Follow my NBA blurbs on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. And check out our FaceBook page.

What have I been doing, though?!

First off, I did an Episode of The 8th Seed over at The Dugout Sports Show, hosted by Glenn Moore. Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports joined us.

I did another podcast (along with the ever-so-great Peter Kim) with the Davis Sports Deli guys, Jon Santiago (who has done a guest entry before) and Aaron Fischman. Listen to us here if you want.

I did a little Q&A over at Hoops Head Central with aspiring blogger, Marc Locsin.

Also did a similar Q&A with Gino's Jungle, an awesome Celtics blog.

I was also involved at Complex.Com's What's The Consensus? feature. It talked about... of course, the NBA Finals. I feel glad to be part of this awesome panel. Check it out.

And... one more thing... I wrote a column for SLAM talking about how we should just enjoy the Finals.

Yes. SLAM.

I am now going to be a regular contributor to SLAM Online (in addition to the stuff that I already do). It still feels surreal to me. Will it affect TNLP at all? No. Not at all. I'm just happy and proud to be doing columns for them. We're only going to slow down at TNLP because the season is almost over but continue to expect the same stuff we've been doing here. I will contribute to SLAM once a week. At least.

Anyway, ENJOY THE FINALS. I AM READY.

Follow me on Twitter for random commentary on the FINALS. The user name is @TheNoLookPass.

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PETER PICKS: Boston in 7.
DAVE PICKS: Boston in 7.
JIMMY PICKS: Lakers in 6.
NICK PICKS: Lakers in 7.

(Somehow, my head (the "analyst"... ha ha, that's funny) and my heart (the fan in me) are having a battle in this match-up. Of course, I'm also insane. Let's see what the two parts of me say about this final round.)

HEAD: So it's the Lakers against the Celtics.

HEART: I have waited two years for this match-up.

We pretty much know the match-ups here. There ARE a few faces here, though. Rasheed Wallace joined the Celtics for veteran help. Nate Robinson came in a midseason trade and had a huge Game 6 against Orlando. Marquis Daniels was brought in as a back-up to help relieve Paul Pierce. On the other side, the lone new guy for the Lakers is Ron Artest.

Ron Artest was definitely needed for this series.

A few things troubled me about the Lakers run to the postseason. They basically got the most ideal opponents possible on the way to the championship round. This is not to take away from the Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz, and the Phoenix Suns. But those teams didn't have the necessary height to match up well with the Lakers like the Denver Nuggets and the Dallas Mavericks did.

Whatever. If they're really that good, they should beat EVERY team. No excuses!

The Celtics had a very impressive run. Some people were even picking against them in the first round when they were going against Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat. But the Celtics just ran over every team that got in their way. The Cleveland Cavaliers couldn't figure out the Celtic puzzle. The LeBron James era might end because of these Celtics. And Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic looked like a D-League team when going against the Celtics. Boston beat the two best teams in the East, record-wise... and eliminated the teams that had huge star power in Wade, Bron, and D12. That's just scary stuff.

But it's okay. Kobe Bryant is another level above those guys. They don't have anyone that can guard Kobe!

But give credit where credit is due. Kobe is on another planet the way he's playing. Pau Gasol is having an outstanding postseason run. Ron Artest has finally found his groove. Lamar Odom somehow shows up when he's most needed. Derek Fisher has played really well in the postseason. And the bench hasn't been a huge letdown. Just hope they don't melt down against Boston.

On the other side, we saw the Celtics suffocating defense that just took other teams out of their comfort zones. The Heat, Cavs, and Magic looked all lost competing against Boston. Kevin Garnett is getting stronger in the postseason. Paul Pierce can still get the job done. Ray Allen is still one hell of a shooter. And we know that Rajon Rondo has pretty much become the #1 guy in Boston. I wouldn't be surprised if the Laker Triangle offense turns into some weird trapezoid.

It don't matter! We got Kobe, baby!

Each team does present one match-up problem for the other. Kobe Bryant can run wild against Boston. The last time they met, though, they did a pretty good job holding Kobe down. As for the Celtics, they can have Rondo run circles around whatever point guard Lakers put against him. This isn't the Rondo of 2008; today's Rondo is something else. The rest of the team runs through Rondo instead of Rondo having to play off them. Maybe Kobe or Ron will play him on spurts but he is definitely a match-up problem.

How is that a match-up problem? Rondo can't shoot.

The frontline is going to be huge. Kendrick Perkins, Garnett, Glen "Big Baby" Davis, and Rasheed Wallace play great defense. Physicality, craftiness, help defense... they got it all inside. It's up to Gasol, Odom, Artest, and Andrew Bynum to counter. Bynum's injury is a worry. But at least, he is actually present in this match-up as opposed to 2008. It also helps that the experience playing together and against the Celtics will pay dividends in the Finals.

Please show up, guys... please show up, guys... please show up, guys...

The bench will play a huge key, too. Odom covers most of the deficiencies of the second unit but it'd be huge if someone from the Sasha Vujacic/Jordan Farmar/Shannon Brown triumvirate steps up. The bench from the Celtics side is much deeper. And it even got deeper recently. Tony Allen has been playing hellish defense. We know what Sheed and Baby can do. And now, Nate Robinson can provide instant offense like he did in the clinching game against the Orlando Magic. It's likely that the Celtics will get more production out of their bench than the Lakers but, of course, Sheed can always revert back to his regular season self.

THE MACHINE.

In the end, it all comes down to defense. Boston has played better competition while L.A. has pretty much played the ideal opponents. I'd like it better if L.A. went through a big team like Dallas or Denver but Boston feels battle-tested. And they are the only team that's not afraid of the Lakers. After all, they beat them before in 2008. They know what to do against them. L.A.'s supporting cast can still be taken out and Boston knows how to do just that. I really hate to say this and be like J.A. Adande but I think Boston wins this in si...HOLD ON.

Take off those supposed "ANALYST" GLASSES. What kind of L.A. fan are you?! No matter what, an L.A. fan will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER pick Boston to beat Los Angeles. The Lakers CAN play defense. Kobe Bryant is the best player on the court. Pau Gasol isn't and will not be afraid of the Celtics. Bynum will play a big key. Odom will NOT disappear. Artest will defend Pierce. It will go L.A.'s way or nothing else! I say SWEEP THE CELTICS. YEAH.

Okay. Lakers in six is probably a bit more realistic.

Los Angeles, take it back home.

You can follow BOTH head and heart on Twitter. User name is @TheNoLookPass. We all know he's crazy.

By the way, go to our FaceBook page and LIKE it!

On the eve of Larry King’s interview with LeBron James (and the first day of the NBA Finals, for those who still care), the blogosphere is rife with speculation on what hidden meanings or inferences can be taken from its transcript.  Like the circus the NBA has become since the Cavaliers exited the playoffs, the next 30-plus days should escalate the infuriating-yet-engrossing spectacle that has become the road to a summer that could potentially take the current landscape of the NBA and tilt it on its head.  For many NBA teams and their fans, this is tortuous foreplay with no promise of gratification down the line.

It must come as great news to Clipper fans when discovering that LeBron had positive things to say about the team during the interview. He speaks positively about the players and the city, but what is he actually saying at all? When Quentin Tarantino was once questioned about similarities between Reservoir Dogs and Ringo Lam’s 1987 film City on Fire, his response was that he loved the movie and owns a poster of the film. When LeBron James is asked about the Clippers as a potential destination, he says they have great players in a great city, but it’s not always about the city.

The truth is, LBJ is saying about as much about the Clippers as an option as Tarantino is about ripping off a Chinese movie.  He really doesn’t have to say anything at this point, as any team is ready and willing to make their pitch at the drop of a hat.  On the other hand, if anyone is to make a serious case that LeBron belongs in a Clipper uniform, it’s got to happen fast.  Pundits and critics alike will say “it’s the Clippers,” a blanket statement meant to define the team as a laughingstock, a mockery, a curse and an afterthought all rolled into one. And while many disregard the team from the LeBron sweepstakes on these grounds, the team’s lackluster history is the exact reason why LeBron James should consider the team.

Why join a team that has no history of winning when it’s all about winning?  Here’s a question: is LeBron James about winning, or is he about creating a brand?  Common sense would say that the best player in the league is going to be a winner wherever he goes, but if King James truly wants to become an icon, there could be no better way to do it than to single-handedly transform the most beleaguered NBA franchise in league history. Who else can lay claim to that? Not Jordan. Not Wilt. Not even Kobe, who thought for a second that he’d try before ultimately running back to the Lakers.

It’s all pretty simple, and can be summed up in one sentence: If LeBron James turns around the Los Angeles Clippers and wins a championship with the team, he will be considered by many as the greatest player in the history of the NBA.  As with other pioneers, he would be creating his own history rather than following history.  It could be the beginning of a legacy for someone many call the best player in the league today. And should it actually happen? Then we will all truly be witnesses to history in the making.

Photo Credit: Lorenzo Bevilaqua/CNN

Follow Brandon on Twitter. His username is @dingyu.
Also, join our FaceBook page.

Guess who's back? The Lakers are back in the Finals. Third straight year. And guess who's in the way? Those pesky Boston Celtics.

Well, I'm not even going to delay this any further. Let's talk Lakers with the guys from The Lakers Nation, Jason Riley and Chris Manning. Shoutout to Brian Kamenetzky from ESPN Land O'Lakers as he already had enough on his plate. Thanks to him for participating in the rest of the previews, though.

Let's do this. Their answers are in purple.

Tell me the truth. You didn't expect Boston in the Finals, did you? I know some of you rooted for 'em (what a sin) but you didn't EXPECT them to be there.

JASON RILEY: I admit, I got caught up in the whole Celtics are reeling extravaganza at the end of the regular season. In my defense, the C’s had the same pulse a Kristen Stewart Oscar campaign might have. I remember them losing to the Nets… at the TD Garden… in April… after building a 20-point lead. I was a guest on a Midwest radio show around that time and boldly declared the Boston Celtics to be done. .

I picked Miami in 6 games. I picked Cleveland in 6 games. I picked Orlando in 7 games.

Every time I get a call from my boss I’m expecting him to say, “Look, Jason, you’ve had a good run, but you just don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. Maybe start watching basketball every once in a while and then come talk to us in a few years. Good luck in whatever non-basketball related career you choose to pursue.”

I was 100% wrong about Boston – but to redeem just a shred of credibility, I did pick every non-Boston series in the playoffs correctly. (Pats myself on the back)

Lastly, Rey, for the record, I did not, at any point, root for the Boston Celtics. As much as I loved the idea of a shot at redemption for ‘08, I simply could not bring myself to wish good fortune on them. I understand the we want Boston movement from Lakers fans, but I was certainly not part of that crowd.

CHRIS MANNING: Honestly, I was one of the rare people that predicted Boston would make it back to the finals assuming they're healthy. I openly rooted for them because I selfishly wanted revenge on Boston. I mean, who wouldn't? Still, I am not shocked that they made it but I'm certainly shocked at how well they came together, like the Lakers, despite what their records say. Beating Cleveland and Orlando is impressive, but I never thought either of those two teams would make it if the C's were healthy. People laughed and said they were old, but they showed championship poise and veteran leadership, much like the Lakers, to pull through the series.

Every time I see green, there is a bitter-blood taste in my mouth when thinking about 2008. Lakers and Celtics is a storied rivalry that ranks among the top echelon in all of sports. 2008 renewed it with the current generation of great players and moments. Yes, I've wanted Boston. They've wanted us. Now it's the battle of the titans.

So if the Lakers win the 2010 title, will this be THAT much sweeter than the 2009 title?

JASON: Absolutely, 100%, Yes.

I’d go as far as saying the historical significance of the ’09 NBA championship hinges on what happens over the next ten days.

If the Lakers repeat, it validates their ’09 victory over the Orlando Magic and gives them a decided edge over Boston as the best team in the NBA over the past three seasons.

If the Lakers lose, it will be the second loss to essentially the same Celtics team in just three years – certifying the popular assertion out of Boston that a healthy KG would have resulted in a three-peat.

There is no question that this NBA title for the Lakers would be far more significant for everyone involved.

CHRIS: Yes, it will. Like Kobe said, 2008 taught them how to be champions. ANY victory over the Celtics will be much more meaningful; especially the finals. Fans still remember the great rivalry of the past and walking around L.A., there is nothing like being stopped with people raising fists in the air saying "let's go" and then saying they hate Boston. This is the pinnacle of basketball in my opinion and can solidify Kobe's legacy as every great Laker seemingly beat the Celtics. In other words, there couldn't have been a better scenario for Lakers fans.

The Lakers kinda had the ideal opponents. Does this get them ready for the Celtics?

JASON: Nope.

Oak City, Utah and Phoenix were essentially the same team. Explosive, up-tempo offense with mediocre, we want to outscore you defense. The Thunder and Suns were able to draw out some urgency from the Lakers (both lost in six games), but neither team posed the defensive threat that L.A. will see from the C’s in the Finals.

On the other side of the bracket, the Celtics have been thoroughly tested – beating three superstars (Wade, Lebron and Howard) in as many series, and doing so in convincing fashion. For all intents and purposes, they are every bit as good on the defensive side of the ball as they were when they won the title in ’08.

Fortunately for the Lakers, the Celtics are the Celtics, and it won’t take any pep-talks from Phil or locker room visits from Magic to motivate them. I have said all season that a focused, energized Lakers’ team is the best in the NBA – the Celtics will undoubtedly put that assertion to the test over the next ten days.

CHRIS: Boston has one key and his name is Rajon Rondo. If Westbrook, Williams and Nash haven't prepared us for Rondo, I don't know another set of PG's that will. The zone played by the Suns was also key as Boston will likely zone up against L.A.

Most of all, both sides beat some of the most talented and tough-minded teams in the league. I don't believe you can necessarily go by records because if the Celtics were healthy, they'd have the #1 seed in East.

At this point, if the Lakers aren't ready, Boston will have a new championship. Both teams are champions, tough and experienced. Bring it on.

Keys to victory for the Lakers.

JASON: I could easily write 20+ keys to victory in this series. For your sake (and mine), I’ll keep it to just three:

Toughness.
It’s no secret that the C’s hung their hat on this in the ’08 Finals. Perkins/KG/Sheed/Big Baby love to play physical. As they did with D-Howard, they will try to beat you up in the post and coerce you into being hesitant. This type of game is not in the Lakers DNA. Even so, they have to stand up to the challenge and not be forced into a passive, jump-shooting game. The Lakers bigs’ (Pau, Drew and Odom) ability (or failure) to match the C’s toughness will be a huge storyline in this series. .

Artest vs. Pierce.
This is exactly why the Lakers brought Ron Artest to Los Angeles. This is his moment. For better or worse, his career will likely be defined by what he does over the next 4-7 games. How will the refs call this match-up? Will they let Ron be physical? Will the Pierce-flop draw a foul call? Those are all questions that we can’t answer right now.

I will say this: Pierce vs. Artest (’10) sounds a whole lot better to the Lakers than Pierce vs. Radmanovic (’08).

The 1st Quarter.
While the Celtics tackled the Eastern Conference playoffs, they were heavily reliant on getting out to quick starts in the opening quarter. Why?

Two reasons.

(1) They’re not exactly spring chickens anymore.
(2) They haven’t finished games well at any point during this season, including in the playoffs.

Check out the numbers they posted in the fourth quarter (and O.T.) of their series vs. Orlando:

Gm 1 (-12) | Gm 2 (-5) | Gm 3 (-5) |Gm 4 (-5) |Gm 5 (-12) |Gm 6 (-9)

Orlando won the fourth quarter in all six games, outscoring Boston by a total of 48 points, but lost the series, 4-2.

Fluke? I don’t think so. In each playoff series, the C’s have looked worse and worse in the all-important fourth quarter. If the Lakers can eliminate the Celtics hot starts, I really like their chances in this series.

CHRIS: 1. Stopping Rondo's movement and setting up others.
2. Controlling the glass.
3. Picking up a tech on Perkins (Hey, he'll be suspended for a game, right?).
4. Matching intensity.
5. Imposing our will.
6. Make them bleed.

No need for predictions here. Anything you want to say to L.A.? To Boston? To me? The NBA? Your dog? ANYBODY?

JASON: To L.A.: Back-to-back championship merchandise will be available immediately following the trophy presentation at Staples Center on June 15th!

To Boston: I believe NBA.com has some archived highlights you can watch from the ’08 Finals. Just lookin’ out for you guys.

To Rey: Congrats on the SLAM gig, bro. Keep up the good work! And once again, thanks for bringing me on board for the ’10 playoffs.

To the NBA: Word on the street is that Jim Joyce is on the job market. You gotta’ do what you gotta’ do to get Lebron to the Finals, right?

See you at the Parade, L.A.

CHRIS: Revenge is coming...

I am SO ready to go.

PHOTO CREDITS: 1 and 2) Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images. 3) Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images.

Follow me on Twitter for random commentary on the FINALS. The user name is @TheNoLookPass.

And LIKE our FaceBook page. That's right! LIKE! 'Cause we said so!

Remember that 1997 Arizona Wildcats team? Well, what's the first player that comes to mind? For me, it was the legendary Miles Simon.

Simon teamed up with current NBA player Mike Bibby to form a one-two punch in the backcourt whom would eventually lead Lute Olson's Cats to the National Title. Simon was a smooth guard who could score at will. He averaged 18.4 points, 4.1 rpg, and 4.2 apg during the championship season. His career averages were 14.6/3.8/4.0. The team was also loaded with NBA caliber players such as Michael Dickerson and Jason Terry.

Being that I'm an Orange County native, I found myself watching Simon on TV during his Mater Dei High(a basketball hotbed) years. He was a dominant player in high school and was CIF player of the year. They would play at the Honda Center(formerly the Arrowhead Pond) for their title games. Also, my younger brother, who is a Cal State Fullerton alum, spotted Simon at the campus gym playing pickup ball a few years ago.

Simon was drafted by the Orlando Magic 46th overall in the 1998 NBA draft. His career was short-lived, as he only played five games. He would then play in Israel, Italy, Dakota Wizards(NBDL), and Seattle Supersonics(pre-season) before accepting a job as assistant coach for the Arizona Wildcats from 2005-2008.

It's a shame Simon never developed into a solid NBA player because I really believed he had the tools coming out of college. But I will never forget that '97 Cats team. It was a fun team to watch...and for that, I thank you Miles. Godspeed.

EDIT: Simon is now an analyst at Fox Sports Net. He is also training with Stanford standout and NBA prospect Landry Fields. (Thanks ShamSports)

Can't forget this ridiculous shot. And Reggie Geary.

Well, guess who's back in the Finals? Did anyone expect this? The Boston Celtics are back after a one-year absence.

People would probably argue that they would be going for a three-peat had Kevin Garnett played last year. Then again, no one really expected them to be here, either, before the postseason started.

So to my dismay, I get to hear more chatter from John Karalis (of Red's Army) again. This time, he's not alone. One of the boys from Gino's Jungle (I think it's Brandon) stops by (can y'all clarify?!) and gives us his opinion on the Finals as well. I feel sick. Like I ate a deep fried artichoke.

Anyway... ya know the drill by now. Their answers are in green. Hollah!

Tell me how awesome your defense has been. Is this on par as the 2008 Boston team?

JOHN KARALIS: It's been pretty damn good. It was a little different in 2008 because KG was healthier and he could handle a little bit more. But Rondo is better this year. And the bench defense has has stepped up pretty nicely, which was also the case in 2008.

So there are some similarities, but definitely some differences too. It's probably not where it was in 2008, but it's pretty close.

GINO'S JUNGLE: The defense has gotten us to where we are today. When this team allows under 90 points they are unbeatable and the numbers prove that. The one thing that separates this year's team defensively from the 2008 team is that they still have struggled to play this great defense consistently. If you look at the games they have lost during the post season you will notice that they have allowed over 90 points in all six losses and over 100 points in all but one of those losses. Just like the NBA commercial says: It's all about the defense.

Well, L.A. is here. Don't lie to me. Does it make that much more special if your boys beat the Lakers?

JOHN: Hell yeah, it does. Like I've told you before... I'll never root for the Lakers, but I'm also not upset that they made it to the Finals this year. Winning a title is always sweet... but beating the Lakers makes it SOOO much better.

GINO'S JUNGLE: Of course, it does. There is nothing like beating your biggest rivals for the league's top prize. With the two teams winning the championship once each during the past two seasons, it makes it even more special. This series will put all the questions aside. There will be no more asking, "What if KG was healthy?" or "What if Bynum was healthy?" Both teams are beaten up but still ready to go. It's the playoffs; the time when the boys are seprated from the men.

I know it's natural for you to hate the Lakers being from Boston. But when did this all start for you?

JOHN: In the 80's. I'm a product of those rivalries. I remember how much those guys wanted to crush each other. And it felt like they were playing each other every year. The Lakers were always over there on the West Coast... just strutting their stuff and being the little media darlings while the Celtics were here in the northeast... fighting blizzards, and knocking the shit out of people. It was a contrast in styles that just fueled everything so perfectly.

GINO'S JUNGLE: With me being not even 20 years old yet, I was not around to see the days of Bird vs. Magic so that's a difficult question for me. I guess the simple answer would be to say the hatred started as soon as I came out of the womb and started being raised by a family that bleeds Boston sports. With the Celtics struggles during the 90's and early 2000's, I really never got a chance to really hate the Lakers. 2008 definitely gave me that chance. After all, how can you like a team with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, and.....THE MACHINE?

All right. Give me a few keys to beat the Lakers.

JOHN: 1. Control the front line. The Lakers are awesome when Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum are doing their thing. They're damn near unbeatable when those guys are playing well. But the Lakers are VERY pedestrian when those guys are invisible. Keep those guys in check, and it won't matter if Kobe goes for 40.

2. Run and penetrate. The Lakers aren't the best when it comes to transition defense. Meanwhile, the Celtics have Rajon Rondo who is as good a transition point guard as you'll find. You don't even have to be open for him to find you. If the Celtics can push the tempo, they'll pull LA out of position and score some easy baskets.

3. Pressure Fisher. Fish can hit open jumpers and he's great at running, and scoring, in the triangle offense. But if Rondo can put pressure on him and have LA start the offense with 14 or 15 seconds on the clock, it will make life easier on the rest of the team defensively by taking a lot of the triangle options away.

4. Make Kobe shoot. The more Kobe shoots, the better it is for the C's. The rest of that team sulks when he doesn't share. If Kobe really is pissed about losing in 2008, maybe he'll try to do too much and, in turn, alienate his team. And if you can clog the lane and prevent him from getting to the rim for much of the game, he'll resort to jump shots... and that will give the C's a major advantage.

GINO'S JUNGLE: Defense, defense, and ummm defense. I've said it since day one and I'll continue to say it. No matter what kind of offensive flow this team has on a given night, if the defense is at top form they will be very hard to beat. Ray Allen has to step up defensively against Kobe and the guys coming off the bench (Tony Allen) also have to do a good job in limiting his production. From the offensive standpoint, I am also going to be looking at Ray Allen to be the difference-maker. You can talk about Rondo and Pierce all you want but if you look back to the 2008 Finals, Ray Allen was the one that came through. When he is stroking it from behind the arc, 9 times out of 10 the entire Celtics offense will be clicking.

There's no need for predictions. We all know how badly you want to beat L.A. So any final words to everyone out there. Boston. Los Angeles. The NBA. Me. Whoever you want.

JOHN: The Lakers are boxing, the Celtics are UFC. Boxing will win you a few fights... but UFC will break your goddamn neck if you're not careful. Gasol and Bynum don't have that hardcore nature in them. The Celtics... ALL OF THEM... do. When push comes to shove, Gasol and Bynum will piss themselves... and piss Kobe off.

So to Boston: we're winning this thing.

To Los Angeles: Boston's winning this thing.

To the NBA: Boston's winning this thing.

To you: Boston's winning this thing.

To that random guy talking to himself on the back of the bus while wearing a tattered denim jacked and clutching an 80's boombox: Take a fucking shower. You stink. But wait until after Boston wins this thing.

Because Boston... IS... winning this thing.

GINO'S JUNGLE: Well, let's go down the list here starting with Boston. Boston fans, this is our time. This is what this city and its fans live for. We live for hanging championship banners. We live for making the TD Garden a jungle. And we live for throwing awesome championship parades. So whether your watching from the Garden, a bar, or at home I expect you to be unable to talk following each and every game of the NBA Finals.

Now on to Hollywood's finest. Enjoy your time in the spotlight. This starting lineup has never been beaten in the playoffs and it will stay that way. Appreciate the fact you have the privilege to play against the most storied franchise in the history of the NBA. Enjoy the series and good luck.

Words for the NBA... hmmmm... well I guess all I have to say is enjoy all the money you're making off this series.

And to you Rey... Thanks for being a respectable Lakers fan; there are very few out there. You're a Lakers fan, though. So I still can't like you. Enjoy the series and I'll send you some pictures from the Celtics championship parade to put on TNLP.

Why did I have you guys on the blog again? Dammit.

PHOTO CREDITS: 1) Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images. 2 ) Jim Rogash/Getty Images.

Follow me on Twitter for random commentary on the FINALS. The user name is @TheNoLookPass.

And LIKE our FaceBook page. That's right! LIKE! 'Cause we said so!

Pictured: Center (left to right) - Kevin Durant, Hot Wings -- Dude on the left: Eric Gordon? Dude under the TV: Mo Williams? Dude on the right: Etan Thomas?

So it looks like Kamille Leai aka Hot Wings a former contestant on VH1's reality show "Real Chance of Love" was hanging out with Kevin Durant and posted this photo on her Facebook page.

A number of questions arise but the question really is-- how can you make a 6'10 basketball player stand out even more? The answer is simple: a hilarious shirt (based on the NBA commercials a few years back).

The picture is a little blurry but the message is clear. Where will amazing happen next? You never know with the Durantula. Stay tuned...

Questions? Comments? Feel free to leave a comment or:
Hit up the Bolo Box – Peter@thenolookpass.com
Follow me on Twitter: @Yungbolo Also, join our Facebook page!

]]> http://www.thenolookpass.com/2010/06/02/kevin-durant-amazing-happens-where/feed/ 4 http://www.thenolookpass.com/2010/05/31/b-ball-video-games-are-cool-lakers-vs-celtics/ http://www.thenolookpass.com/2010/05/31/b-ball-video-games-are-cool-lakers-vs-celtics/#comments Mon, 31 May 2010 19:09:56 +0000 Rey-Rey http://www.thenolookpass.com/?p=4496 Welcome to B-Ball Video Games Are Cool... where we review basketball video games of the past. Most of you readers may never play these... so we do and we tell you how good, bad, or ugly these games are. Some of you may even be surprised that these games exist!

PAST B-BALL VIDEO GAME REVIEWS
11. All-Pro Basketball (NES)
12. Double Dribble (NES)
13. NBA Jam (S-NES)
14. NBA All-Star Challenge (S-NES)
15. NBA Jam T.E. (S-NES)

In celebration of the Lakers and the Celtics making the Finals, I decided to go play a classic game that kicked off a series.

Electronic Arts made Lakers Vs Celtics and the NBA Playoffs originally for the PC... and then brought it over to console systems for the first time for the Sega Genesis in late 1990. At the time, it was a huge feat to get NBA player and team likenesses.

As you see in the pic above, you have a choice of 10 teams. You get a choice of eight playoff teams (supposedly the final eight teams from the year before... but since this is LAKERS VS CELTICS... the Knicks were ousted from this group... if y'all remember, the Celtics lost in the first round of the 1990 playoffs to the Knicks) and both All-Star teams. So you can have two Magic Johnsons on the same court by pitting the Lakers against the Western All-Stars! Cool!

I'm pretty sure that the guy on the left was based after Chick Hearn's likeness. The guy on the right, however, looked a little bit more like Mike Tyson.

Look at them starting line-ups from both teams! R.I.P. Reggie Lewis and Dennis Johnson.

I remember really loving the game when it first came out. Obviously, most sports games don't age very well and this one's a perfect example. What we were satisfied back in 1990 is not so satisfying in 2010. The controls are a little jerky and it moves a little choppy. And almost like every other old B-Ball video game, it's not so hard to steal the basketball. But there were actually fouls being called here! A foul actually sends the opponent to the line immediately. So I suppose there are really... no fouls to give in any game. And, by the way, there is no freethrow gauge or meter. Freethrows are very, very random so you have to hope that your player doesn't miss a freethrow. Oh, the excitement!

Each team has their 12-man rosters intact but that's all you'll really get. The NBA fan will be disappointed that they don't keep in-game stats. You'll never know whether Magic Johnson dished out 11 assists or if Michael Jordan poured in 40 points!

As you can see, EA did their very best to keep player's likenesses. The picture above has James Worthy's goggles. And the picture below has Vlade Divac! You can tell! Awesome!

The guys from EA must have thought that there was a huge difference between players that are 6'9" and 6'10". It's amazing how much taller (and lankier) Kevin McHale is compared to James Worthy (see freethrow pic above).

Gotta love the coach's reaction in the pic below.

It's actually painful to see the shooting in this game. When you miss, it has an excruciating "BONG" sound. When you make it, it always looks like a bank shot the way it goes in.

Of course, shooting in the key produces some amazing dunks. You don't even need to get a running start to do a gliding dunk. It's incredible what someone like Mike Gminski can do from the freethrow line.

One more thing that Lakers vs Celtics was known for? Signature shots. Superstars have spots where they just do their awesome signature move.

For example, David Robinson (not Dominique Wilkins) does a windmill dunk from the elbow.

Magic Johnson does a fake pass into a lay-up.

Now the funny thing about these signature moves is that they do them even when it's not necessary. Magic's signature lay-up is actually one of the easiest shots to block in this game. And it's hilarious when Isiah Thomas is all alone on a fastbreak and still does the spin move.

And then there's the Tom Chambers double-pump dunk.

This dunk was based off Chambers' signature dunk over Mark Jackson (considered to be one of the best in-game dunks in history). It's not very uncommon to miss a dunk in the game. But for Chambers? He never, EVER misses that dunk. Chambers can be standing near the three-point line above the elbow and he can pull off that dunk no problem. And it makes no sound. Definitely one of the more hilarious exploitable moves in a basketball video game. Speaking of sound, the background music played during the game is funky. I like it.

One more funny thing about this game. It's obviously funny when 7-foot centers dunk from the freethrow line with ease. Well, certain point guards that have never dunked in a game can fly, too! Witness John Stockton walk in the air.

It's just amusing to see guys like Terry Porter and Magic do 360 dunks.

By the way, there's a "tournament" mode where you can try to win an NBA Championship. The problem was that you can't adjust the time for each quarter; it's stuck at 12 minutes. When I was younger, I decided to give it a shot. Back then, it was B-Ball video game heaven to do such a thing. It's obviously a nightmare now especially when the clock in this game is actually in real-time. And I'm not sure if anyone else did this... but I sure hope y'all didn't. I ended up winning the championship as the Lakers... and all I got was a picture of a trophy. All that time wasted... for a trophy picture. Congratulations! You wasted a month playing this game! Sucker!

As far as me playing a game of this to show you guys that I still got it? I never finished the Lakers/Celtics game I was playing. The Genesis froze on me. I guess the cartridge needed blowing. Damn old systems.

Final note about this game? This was the precursor to the NBA Live series. So this game is special no matter how badly it plays now.

Follow my NBA blurbs on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. I'm ready for the NBA FINALS.

Check out our FaceBook page.

Oklahoma City Thunder
Utah Jazz
Phoenix Suns

And now, they have a shirt ready to go for the last opponent, the Boston Celtics. Here ya go...

It's the Boston Massacre 2010. I'm sure L.A. Laker fans would love to wear that.

Here's a closer look at the logo.

Wanna get one? Cop it at Sports Enemy Dot com. And they still have the rest of the T-Shirts that I linked earlier available as well.

Follow my NBA blurbs on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. I'm getting ready for the NBA FINALS.

Check out our FaceBook page.

Around springtime... and only during the years when the Lakers have a championship-caliber team, a whole mess of Los Angeles Laker flags come out in full force in Southern California. You'll mostly see them stuck on the side of the vehicles and it's not uncommon to see a horde of those in parking lots or one of the traffic-filled Southern California freeways (I HATE YOU, 405!).

I started seeing these Laker flags during that dominant 2001 Playoff run when Los Angeles went on a 15-1 tear. Yes, there are some true Laker fans in Southern Cali but there are a lot of bandwagon fans (people that I have not heard cheer the Lakers during the lean years are suddenly cheering them... or people just cheer for them because it's the cool thing to do) and these Laker flags can be the epitome of bandwagon. So me and my buddies decided that we'd start to count Laker flags during the day. Then we made it into a game. When we count Laker flags, we have to call out the Laker flag we catch first and claim that as our count. For instance, I'll call out, "ONE!", when I see a Laker flag and that would go under my count. The next flag my buddy catches before me will call out, "ONE!" And so on and so forth. It's not uncommon (like the first picture) to see four flags on one car. Yesterday, Nick counted 11 flags and I only counted 5 (16 total throughout the day). To be fair, I was driving and he wasn't.

We did notice that there aren't as many flags in 2010 than in 2001. Then again, maybe it's because I don't get out as much anymore. When I was by myself, I counted 61 flags in one day. That's my record and I believe that was in the same 2001 postseason.

Well, whether I need to get out more or not, there's no denying that I need more of a life if I'm out there counting Laker flags during the day.

Follow my NBA blurbs on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. No, I don't own a Laker flag.

Check out our FaceBook page.

I personally waited two years for this.

But first, let's talk about the game. Both teams were shooting lights out. And the pace definitely favored the Suns. The first quarter ended with a 37-34 Laker lead but I thought that L.A. had to clamp down on their defense.

They did indeed. The Lakers held the Suns to 19 points in the second quarter. Ron Artest, the hero of Game 5, was probably inspired by his game-winner as he scored 17 points in the first half. Kobe Bryant ended the half with a three-pointer that would have made Dan Majerle proud; he hit that from about 28 feet deep. The Laker lead increased to 65-53 by halftime.

The third quarter was yet another quarter won by the Lakers and I thought at the time that the Suns had no sense of urgency. Kobe continued to hit shots while it looked like the Suns were just content to trade baskets with Los Angeles. The lead blew up to 91-74 in favor of L.A. and it seemed like the rout was on.

But it was one play that just turned it around for the Suns. Goran Dragic made a jumper over fellow Slovenian (and our favorite!) Sasha Vujacic. It seemed like Goran was talking to Sasha right after that. Maybe Dragic told Sasha that he was going to take Maria Sharapova away from him; I don't really know. Anyway, Sasha raised his arms up while Dragic was on his ear and Sasha's shoulder hit Dragic in the face (it was called a flagrant foul). Goran sold it like The Rock used to do in the WWE.

This happened at the start of the fourth quarter and that play inspired the Suns to make one last rally. Phoenix started out on a 16-5 run (the first 8 points by Dragic). That surge cut the Laker lead down to 95-90.

But every time the Suns got closer, Mr. Bryant would do something to stop it. He just seemed to will his team to victory. After making two difficult jumpers, he stuck a third jumper right in front of Grant Hill's umbrella-like defense. Phoenix played great defense on Kobe Bryant in the last few minutes but when he's making jumpers like those, you really can't say anything about it. He just keeps proving time and time again that he's still the man in the NBA and that there is no better game-ender than that snake named Kobe. Bryant ended the game with an indelible 37 points. Ron Artest helped out with his best scoring game of the season with 25 points. On the other side, the Suns were led by Amar'e Stoudemire (27 points) and Steve Nash (21 points).

I've said it in the past that nobody expected Phoenix to be in the Western Conference Finals. But they provided one hell of a cinderella run. I really feel for Nash (he was in tears after the loss). He has done everything he could to try to get that elusive championship and hasn't even made the NBA Finals in his career. I root for the Lakers, yes, but he's one of the individuals that I root for to get that ring. He's running out of time in his storied career and it's hard to say if he'll get that close to the title again. Stoudemire can opt out of his contract this summer. Does he think Phoenix gives him the best chance for a ring? Or does he think teaming up with one of the big free agents will give him that? And Alvin Gentry has been one hell of a coach. He showed what he can do when he has talent around him. He was definitely one of the best coaches in the league this season.

Meanwhile, the Lakers are in back in the Final Round for the third straight year. Half of their "revenge list" is done. I liked how they didn't even bother to wear any Western Conference Championship gear because they know what the big picture is. Now they get to face the Boston Celtics... and they have waited two seasons for this. I'm so glad we're getting the rematch. Kobe and Derek Fisher wanna win Ring #5... and the whole team wants to help get Ron his first championship. More importantly, the Lakers want to win Banner #16 to get closer to Boston's all-time record of 17 titles. On the expense of Boston, no less.

Lakers Vs Celtics in the 21st Century, Round 2. Here we come.

PHOTO CREDITS: 1 and 2) AP Photos.

Follow my NBA blurbs on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. I'm ready for the NBA FINALS.

Check out our FaceBook page.

Check out them tweets.

PRE-GAME
ThatPatsGirl
For those of you at the Garden: GIVE. THEM. HELL. Show them why there are no fans like Boston!!! LETS GOOO!!!

ahmong
I think the only way for Orlando to win this game is to give Vince Carter an "accidental" concussion.

VioletKanian
Let's go @dwighthoward kick some boston butt!!!!!

RedsArmy
"our defensive reputation is at stake tonight... it's in your hands". Fuck... Doc laying it on the line. I LOVE IT!!

1ST QUARTER
gx5
I love the way Rondo is playing right now. This is great.

AmyKNelson
Whoa that looked like Garnett just tried to karate chop Howard's arm off ...

russbengtson
Big Baby has bigger things than Jameer Nelson stuck between his teeth.

bruce_arthur
If KG didn't play basketball, he'd definitely be in a fight club. But it'd be more of a talk-tough-and-slap-arms-until-separated club.

Treenie5
Rondo has sooo much padding on. He should just wear the Marion Jones Fullbody track suit! It would b easier 2 put on.

BasketballFiend
Physically, Big Baby seems fine. Needless to say, that clear path he gave Jameer to the lane was awful defense. #bigbabywatch

ArashMarkazi
So after all the titles the Patriots, Red Sox and Celtics have won recently we're still talking about the "tortured Boston sports fan."

Smooth_Operatah
So, uh, Vince Carter still sucks. And what-not.

DevineBoston
And that's why Rondo is a Martian, kids.

NBA_REAL_TALK
Rondo with the @TheNoLookPass to Pierce! so smooth #NBA

docfunk
Perkins looks like he just saw Transformer 2. #PerkinsFace

YKLee13
Rondo chants are hideous to listen to. LOL.

one66soul
Rondo must be shooting one of those "fall down" commercials ala Wade

END OF 1ST: Boston leads, 30-19.

2ND QUARTER
JRiley21
Vince Carter is an ice-cream sandwich in a freezer full of steaks.

The_Real_LLC
The entire bar screamed when baby missed that lay up

SebastianPruiti
Did Mark Jackson just say "If you build it, they will come" And then not finish the point? He has cliche turrets....

AndreHoops
Message to JVG---the 11th man for Boston IS ballin!!

Suga_Shane
It's okay, Nate. Keep it up. Camp in Jameer's brain cells. Make it your home!

MHCranberry
You know Boston is playing well when Boston hate starts cropping up in the twitter feed.

LDrabs32
PARTY FOUL on JJ lol

basketballista
awesome to see Nate doing so well w/Celts...NY fans know he has it in him

DoucheLarue
"R. Wallace misses a 25-foot three-pointer from the right wing." That joke never gets old.

thejonlee
Shades of old Sacto Kings JWill with that transition pull up 3.

marcel_mutoni
Stan Van Gundy is so upset, he might swallow Nate Robinson at halftime. #snacktime

AT THE HALF: Boston leads, 55-42. NATE ROBINSON leads the Celts with 13 pts.

HALFTIME
MojoHoops
Who's the guy making shots for Orlando who looks like Vince Carter? #nba

BQRMagic
Friend 1: "What do Vince Carter's career, Gary Coleman, and the Magic's season have in common today?" Friend 2: "They all came up short?"

3RD QUARTER
jasquared27
I love it when Ray Allen makes his shots...cause they show his mega-excited mom. That age with blonde hair? #cougaralert lmao

jcamerato
The #Celtics are beating the #Magic at their own game - 7/11 3PG to 2/6 3PG

humdinga91
Stan Van Gundy is going to have a heart attack before this game finishes.

BigMck
ABC needs to give us more closeups of Ray's wife, nevermind his mom.

tuffyr
Book of Job explained. RT @marcel_mutoni: Stan Van Gundy should never be allowed to win. His suffering is far too entertaining.

gquaye
Vince Carter is playing hot potato. He is scared of the rock

Truth_About_It
Christ. We still have a quarter left? I want my Friday night back.

mrjones10
The fastbreak 3ptr is the old Jason Williams. Sadly its the current Jason Williams as well

END OF 3: Boston leads Orlando, 82-61. Ouch.

4TH QUARTER
MzOnThaDubble
They need to send Carter to Timbuktu

thetillshow
Dear Mike Breen, Rondo's okay.

outsidethenba
Man, orlando, this is your season. Blah.

dg21
Rashard Lewis will be known as the guy who got Lebron-Kobe money but plays like Mo Williams..Otis Smith should clear his desk right now

drjefflo
17 point lead is not safe with these magic & refs #celtics

jabberjim
Well I am a good sport and will say congrats Celtics. Looks like this one is yours. We made it a series though.

ticktock6
I can't help it. I love Paul Pierce. @mW_ is skeptical. Rooting for Magic. But I love Paul Pierce. I just had to say it.

celticsblog
Sheed and Nate helped us win this series, ...we need the cameraman to pan to Ainge sitting with a smug grin

YankeesGod2722
RashardLewis is so overpaid. Y da hell he a top 10 paid player in the NBA he's not even a top 20 player

jerseychaser54
Be careful what you wish for #Laker lovers..

hsinlingwang
those beat LA chants are really annoying

truehoop
The Celtics are a disciplined, team-oriented machine. But for a while, Nate Robinson's playground dream replaced all of that.

FINAL: Boston returns to the NBA Finals, 96-84.

POSTGAME
BothTeamsPlayed
Clearly, the Magic can never win a title with Patrick Ewing. #unnecessary #mean

PHOTO CREDIT: Reuters Pictures.

Follow my NBA blurbs on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. And check out our FaceBook page.

The Celtics looked to get Kevin Garnett the ball in the post early on but 2 quick and early fouls sent him to the bench. Unfortunately for the Magic, they were unable to capitalize on the opportunity as the Celtics were able to maintain their focus without them and came out with a strong offensive attack led by Rajon Rondo. Mark Jackson made a point on the telecast that 2 years ago, the Celtics were led by the Big 3 but now, Rondo has established himself as the leader. He was able to get into the paint at will, and making Games 4 and 5 where he appeared to be a step slow seem like a distant memory.

On a play towards the end of the first quarter, Rondo took a hard fall on a shot attempt on which he was fouled. He stayed down but was able to gather himself to sink two free-throws while hearing a chorus of "MVP" chants from the Garden Crowd. His 12 first quarter points helped the Celtics take a double digit lead into the second quarter.

Magic Johnson mentioned in the pregame show that he wanted to see Nate Robinson become a factor and that's exactly what happened. Robinson connected on two three pointers and his defense was solid as he was able to directly able to force turnovers and indirectly force turnovers by getting Jameer Nelson to get rid of the ball which led to the Magic unsuccessfully to swinging the ball around the perimeter.

Robinson continued to score and maintained a high level of energy and the Magic had no answers for him which included Jameer Nelson who committed a flagrant foul on Robinson.

The Magic countered with a substitution for Jason Williams and continued to isolate Howard in the post until he came out of the game with 3 fouls at the 4:22 mark and then put the ball in the hands of Vince Carter who attacked the basket, scored 13 points in the half and cut a lead to 13 from 21.

The second half started with much of the same things that were seen in the first. The Magic looked to feed the ball to Howard in the post, missed outside shots and the Celtics worked the ball around and continued their efficient 3-point barrage. The Celtics jumped out to a 17 point lead midway though the quarter.

The lead grew to 22 after a hard foul on Dwight Howard sent Paul Pierce to the line. The crowd was displeased and began chanting, "HOWARD SUCKS". However, the foul and the chants were unable to ignite the Magic as they trailed by 21 heading into the 4th and took a number of questionable shots, but credit is due to the Celtics' defense as they held the Magic to another 19 point quarter.

Sloppy play from both teams kept the lead around 20 points for the first half of the quarter. It would have been an opportunity for the Magic to catch up as the Celticx went over 4 and a half minutes without a score but they continued to miss shots as a result of poor execution.

With less than 3 minutes left, the Magic attempted to shoot early in the shot clock which led to a quick Howard layup and a missed outside shot from Lewis and the Boston crowd began to chant, "BEAT LA!"

For the Magic it was too little, too late as they were unable to hit timely shots down the stretch and their miracle comeback came to an end with a 96-84 loss. Onto the finals for the Celtics--

That's it for tonight, be sure to check back tomorrow to see if the Suns are able to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss in Game 5.

Questions? Comments? Feel free to leave a comment or:
Hit up the Bolo Box – Peter@thenolookpass.com
Follow me on Twitter: @Yungbolo Also, join our Facebook page!

Hosted by...

THE CHRONICLES OF CROTTY KREW!

PICTURED L to R
David Diep (@illastrate): (PF) Favorite game-winning shot? Steve Novak!
Jimmy Castro (@WinInTheEnd): (SF) HORRY... FOR THE WIN!
Nick Perkins: (C) Kobe Bryant! BANG!
Rey Moralde (@TheNoLookPass): (PG) Magic Johnson. A hook shot of 12... GOOD!
Peter Kim (@YungBolo): (SG) BILLY HOYLE!

BREAK IT DOWN
A. We seriously recorded right after Game 5 between the Suns and the Lakers (Ron Artest for the victory!). Anyway, we tried. NBA news! Mike Brown was fired. NBA is on a fining spree.
B. Conference Finals stuff. Orlando is still alive?!
C. L.A. Segment. We know about that exciting Game 5... and we talked about the Clipper parade for LeBron James. Peter talked to our good friend, Clipper Darrell, for a little bit as well.

TEASERS
JIMMY: "I jumped up and down and I was hugging my brother. I don't even do that to my brother."
DAVE: "...eww."

DAVE: "These radio people... they really don't know how bad Mike Brown is! Especially the L.A. media."

REY: "Big Baby has a concussion..."
NICK: "He got knocked out!"
REY: "Hey, Big Baby! What day is it?!"
NICK: "Chocolate cake!"

PETER: "(Referees) should be held accountable... people pay good money to see this and they try to take over the f***ing game."

PETER: "I'm gonna keep the shirt that I got. "The Clipper Nation Wants The King." It says James with 6 on the back. So when he signs wherever he's gonna sign, I'm gonna throw that in my closet along with my Michael Olowokandi shirt, er, newspaper that I kept."
REY: "Wait a second. You have a Michael Olowokandi shirt?"
PETER: "I tried to make it so that you guys wouldn't hear that..."

EXTRACURRICULARS
TRAINING MONTAGE.

CREDITS

BANNER
Greg Sorvig

MUSIC
Free Your Mind by En Vogue (instrumental)
Tik Tok by Ke$ha
Hearts On Fire by John Cafferty from Rocky IV
Mash-Up of Kirby's Adventure and Drop It Like It's Hot by Snoop Doggy Dogg and Pharrell
You're The Best Around by Joe Esposito from The Karate Kid

PROMOS
Tracy Murray, 12-year NBA veteran
John Crotty, Miami Heat radio analyst
Marc Locsin from Hoopshead Central
James Herbert from Outside The NBA
Dave Mendonca and Audley Stephenson from The NBA Breakdown
Ron Artest from the Los Angeles Lakers
Clipper Darrell, L.A. Clippers superfan

We ENCOURAGE you to either look through our podcast archives OR you can subscribe to us on iTunes by clicking on that podcast icon below.

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We'd appreciate it if you give us a review on our iTunes page. Thank you for pushing play!

What a game.

#3 PHOENIX SUNS 101 @ #1 LOS ANGELES LAKERS 103
(Lakers lead series, 3-2)

Every second counts in a basketball game. When players and coaches say that "they have to play all 48 minutes in a game", they truly mean it. No better example than what happened in what was probably the most exciting game of the postseason so far. The Lakers truly escaped this one as a very game Phoenix Suns came close to bringing home a 3-2 lead back at the desert.

And in a 48-minute basketball game, there are plenty of chances to make up mistakes that had happened earlier. If one player misses a shot, they can take another one later to make up for it. If one player turns the ball over, he'll do better to finish the play and NOT turn it over. Basically, you keep playing. And this game was an example of getting second, third, fourth, fifth, eighteenth chances in this basketball contest.

It looked like the Lakers were on the way to another blowout. In the second quarter, Kobe Bryant snarled and made three straight shots from behind the arc that gave the Lakers an early 41-25 lead. The Laker starting backcourt was simply sizzling. L.A. also had a gameplan of making Steve Nash the Suns' primary scorer. He scored 15 points in the first half. Of course, if they're going to do that, make Nash really work for it. Oh, yeah. Derek Fisher was guarding him. Nash Vs Fisher was one hell of a defensive battle (gah, sarcasm doesn't translate very well on text). Fisher scored 13 points in the first half himself.

The Lakers extended their lead to 74-56 in the third quarter. The Phoenix bench was quiet in the first half but they blew up starting at the end of the third with a 16-4 run that closed the Suns within six. And I sure as hell enjoyed that faceoff between Sasha Vujacic (who finally got to play) and Goran Dragic. Put them in the UFC. Ultimate Flailing Championship.

The Suns put their starters back with five minutes left in the game... and hung around. The Lakers couldn't put the game away even after leading, 93-85, in the closing minutes. Nash made clutch shot after clutch shot and was able to get the Suns within 3, 101-98. Later on, Ron Artest missed a jumper. L.A. got the offensive rebound and passed it to a wide-open Artest. The shotclock barely started, Lakers had a 3-point lead and had a chance to play the clock (there were 56 seconds left at the time), and Ron shot the 3-ball, anyway. I heard the whole Staples Center groan from my place.

The Suns didn't capitalize, though. Then Pau Gasol missed a what-could-have-been a career signature play when he tried to jam on a couple of Suns players (dunk caromed off the back of the rim). In the ensuing possession, the Suns went for the tie and finally got it with a Jason Richardson banker.

We all knew the ball was going to Kobe. He missed a desperation shot but Ron was able to outmuscle Richardson and made the game-winning putback to give the Lakers that 103-101 victory and a 3-2 series lead. That was redemption to a tee. And, oh, how quickly we forgot that curious three by Ron.

A great highlight, of course, was Ron's interview with Craig Sager right after.