Building an NBA Frankenstein

By Jack Maidment

I am a big comic book fan. Marvel, DC; I don’t care. If there are super powers and freaky scientific experiments a-happening I am there with lycra-clad bells on.

Every night we see unbelievable athletes in the NBA doing things with their bodies which 99.9% of the rest of us can only experience in the third person.

The average NBA player is an otherworldy specimen of humanity, but some of them are positively mutant. Freakish even.

Blake Griffin’s latest dunk got me thinking: If I was an evil genius (think more Dr Doom/Magneto than Kim Kardashian) hell bent on stealing the attributes of others to create my very own Deadpool, who would I want to pickpocket?

We are basically walking the Space Jam path. Come with me, position by position.

PG.

Fast don’t lie and my mutant has got to be fast. This was a tough decision, but I’m taking Derrick Rose’s Power Speed over Ty Lawson’s Jet Speed (Russell Westbrook was also in the mix too). I want a guy who has gears and nobody can change up and down like Rose.

SG.

Call it quickness or elusiveness, whatever, I want my guy to be slippery, and for that I am abducting Dwyane Wade. Nobody does Now-You-See-Me-Now-You-Don’t like Wade. If he was unavailable I would have no qualms about picking up Steve Nash or Manu Ginobli here.

SF.

Like there was any doubt which small forward I would be stealing from. Whatever LeBron James has I want for my player, but since I’m taking one thing per player, I’m taking LeBron’s mental toughness…. Just checking you were paying attention. I want no part of LeBron’s mental faculties, but I will gladly take his juggernaut-ness. It’s a word. And it roughly translates as wanting people to get the hell out of the way of my evil-genius player because they are scared he will trample them to death. Like this guy.

PF.

I want Blake’s legs and his elevation. As seen here. Here. And here. Best leaper in the game, and I am only stealing from the best.

C.

If this was the 1960s I am calling Wilt, inviting him to a Hollywood starlet’s party, then chloroforming him and stealing his physique but since Chamberlain is off the table, I’m taking Dwight Howard and his strength.

My mutant’s name? LeLake Wightrose

Got better?

Starting Five: The week’s best NBA players

By Jack Maidment

The Week’s Best

@Carlos Boozer. The Chicago Bulls power forward with the fat contract scored 31 points, a season high, against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday in a 118-97 win while pulling down six rebounds. He put up 26 of them in the first half as Chicago played another game without All-World point guard Derrick Rose. It’s the kind of game the Bulls were expecting when they snatched Boozer from the Utah Jazz and the kind of game he has seldom played since moving to the Windy City. For the Bulls to keep winning without Rose and to win in June they need more games like this from Boozer.

@Louis Williams. The Philadelphia 76ers are currently in the midst of a three game winning streak and are undefeated at home (6-0) with an overall record of 10-3, good enough for tops in the Atlantic Division and second (!) overall in the Eastern Conference. No one on the Sixers scores more than 16 points a game but they have seven guys averaging double digits. Phila may be winning by committee, but Williams is their spark plug. He hasn’t started any games this year, coming off the bench 13 times, but he leads the team in scoring at 16.2 points a game in just 25 minutes. He’s also throwing in four assists and shooting .417 from three.

@Dwight Howard. The game’s best center has been going berserk in the last week, leading the Orlando Magic on a five game win streak and third place in the Eastern Conference. In his last three games he has scored 78 points as well as grabbing almost 17 rebounds a night.

@Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook. Oklahoma City fans rejoice. The Thunder are on an NBA-best seven game win streak and possess the league’s best record while their two best players are playing so well I couldn’t choose between them for this week’s Starting Five. Westbrook has had games of 26-7-4, 21-8-8 and 22-2-7 in his last three while Durant over the same period has scored 28, 28 and 29. They are the league’s best pairing at present and are starting to distance the Thunder as the best in the West.

NBA Superstar League: The reign of Kobe

Kobe starts off #1

By Jack Maidment

NBA Superstar League: A weekly statistical snapshot, out every Friday, ranking ten of the best players in the league.

Play well and your team wins, you move up the table. If you suck, lose or moan about team mates, you move down. Simple.

The ten are in place for this season with LeBron/Wade counting as one person.

Our 10: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James/Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Dirk Nowitzki, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge.

Let’s get to it.

Week 1.

1. Kobe Bryant: UTA, PHX, MEM. Three wins. More than 100 points scored. Nine total turnovers. At least 38 minutes played each game. Kobe is the superstar playing the best right now. It’s not even close. He is on a tear. Number one.

2. Kevin Durant: NOH, MEM, SAS. Three wins against two and a half good teams and lots of work from Durant. He has done a lot of everything this week, 29-3-10 with 4 blocks against New Orleans, 22-5-11 going 8-8 from the line against the Grizzlies and 21-7-10, 10-10 from the line against the Spurs. He has been doing what superstars do. Just win.

3. Dwight Howard: GSW, POR, SAC. Three good wins for a bad Magic team and Dwight did what he had to do to grab the Ws. He put up 45 and 23(!) against the Warriors who made him shoot 39(!) free throws to earn them, the most in NBA history.

4. Chris Paul: MIA, POR, MIL. Two wins and a loss to Portland. Huge win against the Heat in which he had 26-11-6 and three steals. Forgettable games against the Blazers and Bucks, but on the strength of his performance against Miami, Paul deserves his fourth place spot.

5. Derrick Rose: MIN, DET, ATL. Two wins and a loss. He put up 31 and 11 on Minnesota and 22 and 8 on the Pistons, both wins. He struggled against the Hawks, scoring just 8 with 6 assists in a tough loss. He outdueled Ricky Rubio, did what he had to do against Detroit and went 3-10 against the Hawks. A mediocre week by the MVP’s standard. But the Bulls are 10-2. He’ll move up next week.

6. Dirk Nowitzki: BOS, DET, NOH. A shadow of who he was last season but three wins nonetheless. He scored just 10 on 2-11 shooting against New Orleans before picking it up against hapless Detroit. He’s not Dirk right now, but he is getting there, and wins are wins.

7. LaMarcus Aldridge: ORL, LAC, CLE. A loss against a reasonably good Magic team and two wins against the Clippers and Cavaliers. He has been solid, if not stellar, and averaged about 22 and 8 in the last three. All he needs to move up further are a few big nights with marquee wins.

8. Carmelo Anthony: MEM, PHI, CHA. He put up 14 before spraining his ankle against Memphis and 27 and 22 the two games before. The Knicks had won four in a row before losing to the Grizzlies, but are 5-5 in their last 10, so hopefully his Knicks are starting to figure it out.

9. Kevin Love: CHI, TOR, WAS. Two losses and a win. Minnesota’s PF has struggled mightily this week. He went 5-18 from the field against the Bulls, 3-16 against the Raptors (both losses) and 7-16 in a win over the Wizards. He has less talent to work with than most of the other guys on this list, but still, he hasn’t played well the last three.

10. LeBron James: LAC, GSW, NJN. Two losses and a win. He was 9-17 from the stripe in a loss to the Clippers. His line was 23-7-13 but the free throws in the fourth quarter killed his team. In a loss to the Warriors he had 26-7-11. His best performance was reserved for a win against the horrible Nets who he torched for 32-9-7. Superstars win games when it matters. This week he didn’t.

An almost comprehensive and only marginally biased breakdown of every starting center in the NBA

When he isn't asking for a trade, he is The Best

By Jack Maidment

Greg Stiemsma is currently the starting center for the Boston Celtics.

If that is not a good enough reason to examine the state of the center position in the NBA right now, I don’t know what is, so here is a breakdown of the 30 brave souls who are starting down low this season.

Safe to say this could get interesting.

STUDS. There are two and only two and one is significantly better and more reliable than the other. Simply put, Dwight Howard is far and away the best big man in the NBA. Then there is Andrew Bynum who, when his knees aren’t on vacation, is a monster. Consistently. These are the only truly elite centers in the NBA right now. Good start.

GOOD, COULD BE GREAT. Andrew Bogut. Before his elbow almost fell off, the Australian was on his way to becoming a very good and almost great player. He rebounds, he scores, he cares. What’s not to love?

Even though I know he will make me regret it, DeMarcus Cousins also makes this tier. Hear me out. When he isn’t being a petulant teenager he is really good. I’m not sure he will figure it out in Sacramento but soon enough I believe he will. He is too talented and too big not to.

NEVER GOING TO BE STARS BUT VALUABLE. This group is the most diverse and ranges from very valuable to better-than-solid. All of them have issues which prevent them being ranked higher. But they all do really good things for their teams. They include: Tyson Chandler (see Championship, Dallas), Kendrick Perkins (see Defense, Scowl), Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Marc Gasol (almost made the next level), Al Jefferson.

TABLE GUYS. They giveth and they taketh away. Usually excel at one thing, struggle elsewhere. But ultimately valuable in some way: Nene, Andereson Varejao, Chris Kaman, Joel Anthony, Brook Lopez (scores, but I like my centers to rebound – I’m old fashioned), Marcus Camby.

UP AND COMERS. Could go either way. Will probably end up as either table guys or NGTBSBV guys. Greg Monroe, DeAndre Jordan, JaVale McGee (Just. He should be putting it together by now)

GUYS THAT MAKE YOU SAY URGGGGH, YEAH, HE’S OKAY. Roy Hibbert, Marcin Gortat. Enough said.

TEAR JERKERS. Players who make you cry when you see them hit the floor for the tip. Usually overpaid. More frustrating than anything else. Brendan Haywood, Kwame Brown, Samuel Dalembert, Darko Milicic.

NOT CENTERS AND PROBABLY MUTANTS. Harsh, but probably fair. Andrea Bargnani because he is 7ft tall and had three rebounds last year (look it up), DeJaun Blair because I’m pretty sure I read he has no knees.

WHO? Greg Stiemsma. Byron Mullens. Spencer Hawes (didn’t know about Spencer ‘I work out with Shawn Kemp’ Hawes, so he landed here. Apologies). If anyone can tell me where these guys played college ball, that would be great. Thanks.

That’s your 30.

NBA Finals: My Name Is Pau Gasol. Adios Orlando

by Jack Maidment

Against the very best you may only get one opportunity. One chance to turn the tide, to take advantage of the single time that your opponent slips just a little.

Sunday night the Orlando Magic did not get one opportunity to switch the momentum in the NBA Finals, they got two. As Game 2 built to its climax, the Los Angeles Lakers left the door slightly ajar for Dwight Howard and co on two occasions.

Despite excellent platy calling from Stan Van Gundy, the Magic failed to convert two golden looks, both falling to Courtney Lee. Instead of taking the Lakers back to Florida all tied up, they return home in a 2-0 hole.

Ominous? Yep. The Lakers are 37-1 in series where they have won the opening two games.

Before this Finals began the focus was placed firmly on the Lake Show. If Orlando ended up Champions it would be because the Lakers had gifted it to them.

Regardless of the fact that such a point of view entirely belittles the accomplishments of a very strong Orlando team, it forgets how dangerous the magic can be. Look up potent in the dictionary. There’s a picture of Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis right next to that of Hugh Hefner.

However, if you were one of those people who believed in the Magic, you understood that they had a legitimate chance at rings if they ticked the right boxes.

1. Big games from Lewis to fully justify the amount of money that Florida’s finest (sorry Mr Wade) has committed to his lucrative contract.

2. Continuing clutch play from Turkey’s finest export (?).

Check on both counts. In Game 2 Lewis and Turkoglu combine to go 9-18 from down town. 50% from beyond the arc? Yeah, that could help.

3. Dominance down low and on the glass from Dwight Howard.

He may not have had 40, but Game 2’s perfomance saw Howard grab 16 rebounds to go with his 17 points. That’s pretty good going considering he is rebounding against Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom, 1 on 3.

4. Contain Kobe.

Easier said than done for sure, but 29 and 8 for KB24 is a vast improvement on the 40+ he took in the series opener.

The Magic did all these 4 things in Game 2 but still roll out of town on a downer. Why?

Pau Gasol. The Spaniard is absolutely the key to Los Angeles’ victory and Orlando’s defeat.

24 and 10. Gaudy numbers from a player who is making the people calling him ‘soft’ look pretty silly.

It was Gasol that powered the Lakers to Game 2, 3-3 from the field and 5 of 5 from the line in the 4^th quarter and the overtime period.

The City of Angels climbed aboard and he carried them to 2 and 0.

The Lakers record in this situation might be scary, but the combination of Pau and Kobe is scarier. Spanish. English. Telepathy? Their communication is simply infallible.

Game 3 is the biggest in Orlando’s history and anything other than a win will spell the end of their season.

Perhaps it is time to say goodbye to Orlando?

Or as Pau would say:

 

‘Gracias por todo, hasta luego. Adios.’

NBA Finals Preview: Orlando Magic Promise Problems for Los Angeles Lakers

by Jack Maidment

The Los Angeles Lakers.

The Orlando Magic.

Two teams. Two vastly different histories.

The Lakers are heading to The Finals for the 30^th time. They hope to win their 15^th title.

In dramatic contrast, the Magic will be appearing in The Finals for only the second time. Since sampling the delights of The Big Dance with Shaquille O’Neal back in 1995, Orlando has very much been an ‘also ran’ when the Playoffs role around.

But the emergence of another All-Star, All League Center in the shape of Dwight Howard, has powered the Magic to the Promised Land despite the prevailing sense of doubt that has emanated from the media all season long.

Boston, LA, San Antonio, Cleveland. They were the ‘real’ contenders.

Yet here we are. Two teams with vastly differing pasts will meet in The Finals for the NBA Championship. And both deserve their spot.

The Lakers may be the Jekyll and Hyde of pro sports, but their talent cannot be questioned. Nor can their heart, which has been shown numerous times.

When the Lake Show was seemingly in a hole, even if they had put themselves in it, they came out firing and ultimately are still standing.

Character, like tea, reveals itself in hot water and you better believe that’s true. As the water boiled around them, the Lakers, led by Kobe Bryant, made the plays that mattered to get the W.

Meanwhile, regardless of commentators’ love of the phrase ‘live and die by the 3 pointer’, Orlando has progressed and shows no signs of changing their style.

And why would they. You can’t stay hot all the time. True. But when you have a team with more long range threats than the US Navy it doesn’t matter if 1,2 or 3 of your guys goes cold. You still got the other 3.

Combine the shooting of Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, Rafer Alston, Mickael Pietrus, JJ Reddick and Courtney Lee with the inside presence of Dwight Howard and the grossly underrated Marcin Gortat then you have a recipe for success.

So where will the Championship be won and loss?

1. Home Court.

The Lakers must be secretly excited that they avoid the Cleveland Cavaliers and thus an extra road game. Their regular season hard work has paid off with the Magic needing a win at the Staples Centre to have any chance at the Gold.

Both teams have maintained a constant disregard for home court this post season. Both have had disappointing losses at home only to follow them up with huge road wins to recover the advantage.

If the trend continues then we have a rollercoaster 7 game stretch ahead of us.

But. If the Lakers can stamp their authority on the series with victories in the opening two games the Magic will face a huge task to wrestle the trophy from Phil Jackson’s hands.

2. Front Court Vs Front Court

The respective 3,4 and 5s of these teams would leave just about every team in the NBA green with jealousy. Both are extremely talented.

The way in which they match up in The Finals will go some way to deciding who prevails.

The difficulty for the Lakers falls on the defensive end where the Magic will provide the same match up problems as they did the Cleveland Cavaliers.

3 guys, all 6-10 or bigger. All Mobile. 2 of them will kill you off the dribble despite their size.

Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom will have their hands full. Whoever isn’t trying to contain Dwight Howard will be tasked with sticking to Lewis and Turkoglu.

Odom is the best equipped to deal with the outside threat of the Magic big men, but who picks up the other guy? Pau or Bynum on Lewis? That could get ugly.

All this to worry about while simultaneously trying to keep Howard off the glass.

3. Kobe Bryant

Kobe’s importance to LA is huge. The Magic will unlikely allow him to score 1 on 1 while they take care of his team mates, but such is his ability out of the double team that doubling up can allow Kobe to get his entire team scoring, boosting the feel good factor and mood of the crowd.

In a series that will undoubtedly be tight, Kobe down the stretch could be the difference. The Magic will look to hustle and hurry him all series long but he will get his. You just have to live with that.

Lakers in 6.

NBA Conference Finals: No Answer For Dwight Howard Leaves Cleveland Cavaliers In A Big, Big Hole

by Jack Maidment

The coach of Florida Tech recently described Dwight Howard as the most formidable post player in the NBA and the strength of last night’s performance from the Orlando Magic’s All-Star Center absolutely vindicated the statement.

One of the criticisms of Howard is that his team cannot dump the ball inside when it really matters because his moves down low are far from polished and epitomise the word raw.

Yet, through sheer power and physicality, Howard dominated the overtime period that put the Magic up 3-1 against a Cleveland Cavaliers team that appeared tetchy and over reliant on too few players.

The frustration of losing to a team which were not supposed to cause this many problems to the team with the regular season’s best record was characterised by the facial expressions of LeBron James in the 4^th quarter.

Manifest in numerous turnovers down the stretch, LeBron was constantly pulling faces that hinted toward his dissatisfaction with his team mates.

Such annoyance was hardly unfounded since only Delonte West turned up down the stretch, executing in the low post, keeping the Cavs in it.

However, regardless of his teammates, LeBron did not play well and the Cavaliers did not deserve the win. The game should have ended in regulation but for a foul that only LeBron can coax out of officials.

Driving the lane on the last possession of the 4^th, he expected Mickeal Pietrus to stop him, but his lean in found no marker and James fell to the floor. Pietrus was called for the foul and the King of Akron nailed the two free throws to tie the game after a ridiculous Rashard Lewis 3 had given the Magic a deserved lead.

The entire game had been punctuated by Rafer Alston’s hot hand so it was with surprise that the Magic went to Howard consecutively in OT. And damn he delivered.

He bullied Anderson Varejao into fouling out and then proceeded to attack Zydraunus Ilgauskus who had no answer. Three straight dunks and a few free throws and the Cavaliers were left chasing the game.

Mo Williams, who was mediocre from the field but outstanding at getting to the line, may well be regretting his guaranteed victory trash talk now that his team head back to Cleveland in a 3-1 hole, a defecit that has only been overturned 8 times before.

It is perhaps worth highlighting the officiating of this game in the sense that the consistency from those in charge was simply horrible. Worst of all was the technical called on Dwight.

He made a basket despite Varejao grabbing him around the neck and roared with excitement after getting the and-1 opportunity. Apparently that constitutes a T.

Combined with LeBron’s phantom foul which was plain embarrassing and a no call on another Varejao wrestling match on Howard’s lob attempt that would have won the game, the refs were just awful.

Luckily the best team won regardless of dodgy decisions and the Magic will march into Cleveland with the Finals firmly in their sights.

Anything other than a team response from the Cavaliers will result in another loss and a series defeat on their home floor.

Even if their team spirit returns, the Cavs will still have no answer fro Howard who holds the fate of his team in his hands.

It is time for the Cleveland Cavaliers to go big, or go home.  

 

NBA Conference Finals: Call It. I Dare You.

by Jack Maidment

16 have become 4 and the NBA Finals are in sight for the few that are still standing.

LA will face Denver for the Western Conference Championship and the chance to face either Cleveland or Orlando who are poised to commence battle to decide who the East’s finest is over 7 games.

Half of the draw has merely fulfilled the prophecy set out by most people at the start of this NBA season. The Cleveland Cavaliers and the LA Lakers were both lock picks to be still playing this late in May.

On the flip side of the coin the Orlando Magic and the Denver Nuggets were very, very few people’s choice to make it this far. Yet, here they are, with all of the marbles on the line for the team that can perform and take care of business.

Before the rise of Denver, the Lakers were supposed to glide straight back to the Finals, uncontested. Yet rise Denver has to the point where many are calling the series Denver’s way. Anyone who says they called that in October is a liar.

Similarly, the Cavaliers have marched to the East’s big game, simply destroying all comers. Despite this, people are still tipping the Magic to take the series, most notably Charles Barkley.

The way in which Orlando dispatched the defending champion Celtics was a little unerring. It was the sort of performance that Champions put in. Game 7 on the road. They stepped up and grabbed the opportunity to try and contain LeBron for a shot at the Big Dance.

The Playoffs dictate that teams that make it this far are ‘real’. You cannot luck out consecutively. Nope. All 4 teams are here to play, and play they undoubtedly will.

In the first round, the chance at the trophy seems a far off possibility but if you make the Conference Finals the smell of Finals success grows more pungent, more alluring.

Before a game is played, the Cavaliers should be favourites to advance. Orlando presents them with huge match up problems especially in the front court which Ohio’s finest will have to try and counter.

Rashard Lewis, as Boston found to their cost, is damn tough to handle. At 6-10 he has the length to cause problems in the post, but the fact that he is more comfortable creating off the dribble causes havoc for less mobile bigs, like Zydraunas Ilgauskas.

You would assume that LeBron would pick up Hedo Turkoglu leaving Anderson Varejao with the unenviable task of keeping Dwight Howard in check. Not happening.

The Magic, however are well equipped to cover the Cavs with a roster of good athletes and able defenders. The likes of Mickael Pietrus and Rafer Alston should lock down the perimeter leaving their Defensive Player of the Year to roam the inside causing havoc.

The key to the series? LBJ. LeBron has ate up better defenders than Hedo and if it comes to it, The King is more than capable of carrying his team to the finish line. How the Magic try and contain LeBron James could decide who advances.

Meanwhile the West is very much a battle of length versus aggressive athleticism. Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odum are as long a front 3 as the NBA has to offer. All skilled, but bangers? Nope.

Nene, Chris Anderson, Kenyon Martin? All are undersized but counter what they lack vertically with energy and hustle. Oh, and bruising. How LA reacts to the challenge in the paint will go a long way to deciding who proceeds.

The Lakers are overpowered at the point with Chauncey Billups doing his thing and in JR Smith and Carmelo Anthony they have an offensive punch to counter Kobe Bryant.

The prospect of Kobe and Carmelo, arguably the two best flat out scorers in the L, going at it to take their team to the Finals is mouth watering indeed.

Both series are close. Too close.

Lakers/Cavs Finals? Don’t count on it yet. 

NBA Playoffs 2009 Eastern Conference Semi Finals Game 5: Welcome Back Stephon Marbury

by Jack Maidment

It is game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semi Finals and the Celtics are down big. Paul Pierce is the only player that Boston has been able to count on for points.

Ray Allen is suffering. Nothing is falling for Mr Shuttlesworth, every miss taking the crowd further and further out of the game.

Big Baby Davis is doing his best, but 3^rd option on a Championship he is not.

Kevin Garnett is quiet on the sideline, looking at the ground rather than talking smack.

The Celtic’s struggles offensively are underlined by their crumbling defense that previously would have kept them in the game during a scoring drought.

The 4^th quarter begins and Doc Rivers is flat out of answers for the Orlando Magic’s charge. And so, he gambles.

Welcome back Starbury. The one time Knick and All Star heads onto the floor surely appreciating the magnitude of a game that must have seemed a distant dream at the start of this season as he sat and rotted in street clothes on the New York Bench.

The crowd is quiet, knowing that Stephon Marbury has hardly been stellar coming of the bench since he signed. But I guess beggars can not be choosers and so he goes to work.

The inevitable rust of a player who is over 30 and played little is clear. He misses a couple of jumpers. And then, the man with the tattoo on his head, starts to play. As he once did.

He hits a 3. And a jumper. He starts to demand the ball and is visibly annoyed when the Celts differ to Big Baby for a Kobe-esque fadeaway. Which, surprise, misses.

The next time down the floor Marbury gets the ball, drives, resets, asks for a screen at the three point line, drives right, finds space. 3. Nothing but net.

One. Man. Offense.

A once double digit lead begins to dwindle and the Magic are stuck stiff. The free flowing, gunning offense, has died and they settle for tough 3s with hands in their face.

The dreaded ‘choke’ is descending on the Magic and it is all because of Marbury. He scores 11 points in a row and nails a free throw to take it to 12. In 5 minutes.

Pierce hits a pull up J and the Cs are up 1. Time out Orlando and the lid is getting blown off the building. Starbury returns to the bench, bumps and slaps are dished and Magic stew at the other end.

With no hyperbole, Stephon Marbury has just saved the Celtics. They are energised, especially Ray Allen, who proceeds to forget that he couldn’t hit a barn door in the first 3 quarters with huge three pointers. And Garnett is shouting.

He has got his war face on.

The game closes with the teams exchanging free throws. But the result is never in doubt as the Cs take the win and go into game 6 at Disney Land with a firm grip on the series and crucially, the momentum.

Stephon Marbury is back.

NBA Playoffs 2009: Fouls Are Fouls, Right?

The question is there to be asked. Should there be equality across the League in dealing with players that break the rules of conduct, or should certain people be exempt from them in the interest of entertainment?

This year’s playoff series have done nothing but highlight the disparities in the way that the NBA deals with its superstars and everybody else.

The best example of this chasm of difference came in game 2 of the Lakers/Rockets Semi Final match up.

Coming off of a screen Derek Fisher dropped his shoulder and ran over Luis Scola. He was ejected and subsequently banned for game 3. The whole saga was underlined by high fives from his team mates as he left the court. Ha. Playoff Basketball.

The game was littered with technicals and joining Fisher in the locker room was Ron Artest who was thrown out mid way through the fourth for ‘gesturing’ at Kobe Bryant.

He ‘gestured’ and shouted a little. A fairly calm response from the combustible Artest considering he had been elbowed in the throat by Kobe Bryant under the basket.

So, while Fisher and Artest lounged in the lockers, Kobe talked about a good, hard, playoff game. He knew damn well that he was never getting ejected let alone banned for a foul that was obvious, but not as blatant as needed to get a star as bright as the Mamba to receive a ban.

Meanwhile back East in game 2 of the Celtics/Magic series Rafer Alston was ejected and banned for the next game as a result of slapping Eddie House round the back of the head. Whoops.

You cannot really defend Rafer’s suspension and Fisher’s was undoubtedly harsh, but Bryant’s lack of a short holiday is just bemusing if not really surprising. Superstars don’t get suspended, do they?

The one problem with that assessment is that Dwight Howard was recently banned for a game because he threw an elbow at Samuel Dalembert.

Howard, the lead vote getter for the All Star game, is the epitome of a Star in the NBA. But. The blatant nature of his elbow effectively made it impossible for the League NOT to suspend him.

Kobe’s was amid the scrimmage for a rebound whereas Dwight nailed Dalembert as the ball went the other way. And it’s kinda hard to miss a seven footer throwing an elbow.

Most people don’t have a problem with the League’s stars getting preferential treatment in the suspension column because it is why we watch. Best players in the world playing the game.

However, it is the extent of this blind-eye-turning that truly undermines the game. It is why LeBron goes most games picking up ONE foul.

For a player that often picks up the trickiest perimeter assignment, that is amazing. He must be really, really good. No doubt, but fouls are fouls and the referees are apparently stead fast in the belief that ‘Oh, it’s LeBron, can’t have been a foul.’

For the opposing team, how much does that suck. Just ask Atlanta. They did not get one call in Game 2. Not One. Josh Smith got practically assaulted by James yet, oh wait, yep, its Cleveland ball. Josh Smith must have fouled LeBron as he fell to the floor.

Keep the stars in the game, but fouls are fouls.