Alittle NBA Update in plezWorld

I've long since hung up the high-top sneakers and b'ball shorts, I rarely follow the local Atlanta Hawks because they've been mired in less-than-stellar achievement for the better part of 20 years, and college basketball is so much more exciting than the NBA, but...

...there comes a point in every season, where even plezWorld has to return to his sports roots and turn his attention to the NBA!

Actually, this has been a very good season for the home team: the Hawks are solid at the 4th seed in the East. They haven't finished the season this high since...?!? Last year they barely made it to the playoffs and took the top seeded Boston Celtics to seven games in the opening round. This year, they're looking to do some damage come playoff time.

The Beast of the East is LeBron James along with his Cleveland Cavaliers. Tonight they secured the top spot in the East by besting the 76ers in Philly. Following closely behind Cleveland is Boston and Orlando. This year, the East Playoffs will attempt to match the intensity and competition that has ruled the West for the past 10 years.

If the playoffs began tomorrow, the Cavs would be hosting the fading Pistons, (2) Boston Celtics would be playing the Bulls, the (3) Magic would host the 76ers, and the (4) Atlanta Hawks, yeah, the Hawks! would be matched up with the Heat... very interesting. To be honest, I can't see the Cavs not going to the NBA Finals this year.

~ ~ ~

Out West, there's the Kobe Bryant-led Lakers with an insurmountable 10 game lead on the second place Denver Nuggets. Bryant hasn't sniffed a ring since Shaq left LA, I'm sure he is gearing up to will his team to the NBA Finals again this year.

The top tier of the West is really tight with all remaining seven teams within a game or two of each other. So after the (1) Lakers vs. (7) Jazz, they you have (2) Denver vs. (7) Dallas, (3) San Antonio vs. (6) New Orleans Hornets, and Houston against Portland (who currently has the same record).

There's no way we won't be seeing a Lakers-Cavs finals this year.

~ ~ ~

plez sez: I'll take the Cavs in six!

~ ~ Citations ~ ~

Read the ESPN.com article about the Cavs claiming the top seed in the NBA Playoffs.

Read the ESPN.com article about pairings if NBA Playoffs started tonight.

Read the AJC.com article about how the Atlanta Hawks clinched the fourth seed in the East.

Read the MEDIA article about how it was 1988 since the Hawks won back-to-back road games while also overcoming halftime deficits - over 20 years ago!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sick Day in plezWorld - GI Edition

feel like *ish* ... my stomach has been in knots since lunch. dinner was a can of ginger ale.

temporary relief came in the form of "the pink stuff!" and occasional "runs" to the toilet... yuck!

and there were so many things i wanted to blog about:

a plezWorld reaction to tonight's CNN Presents: Black in America [show info here]

Obama in the Middle East [story here and here]
asia, africa, tokyo, mexico... we went to the places people told us not to go! - Malcolm McLaren and the World Famous Supreme Team (1983)

Hello Dolly! (the big wind lands in texas) [story here]

LA Gov Jindal will not be McCain's Veep [story here]
no liberal bias around here!

Josh Childress of the Atlanta Hawks flying away to Greece [story here]
the best sixth man in the NBA spurns the Hawks free agent offer so he can play in Europe!

A girl fight in the WBNA [story here]
it's not that serious!

George Bush losing his grip on reality [story here and video here]
nothing new here!

i wonder if i'm sick because i didn't boil my water? [story here]
i live in DeKalb County, but not in an advisory zip code

well, there's always tomorrow...

Shaq Freestyle Rap

Shaquille O'Neal Does Some Freestyle Rap

plez sez: Shaq sounds kinda bitter, if you ask me (he spent this year's NBA Finals at home and he's only got one more ring than Kobe Bryant)! but it seemed like good fun, except the rip on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaq couldn't carry Kareem's jock strap!

but you gotta love the hook: "Kobe, tell me how my ass taste!"

Boston Wins (Again)

I'll admit it, I was rooting for the Los Angeles Lakers. I was hoping that Kobe Bryant and the Lakers would sweep the Celtics.

In this year's NBA Championship Finals, it was basically the other way around: the Celtics won all of their games at home and won a crucial road game in Los Angeles. The Celtics bounced back from their lackluster performance during the opening rounds with the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers to take care of business against the Pistons. They turned it up a notch (especially, that awesome defense) against the Lakers who never really contended! The Celtics were pretty close to winning the other road games in Los Angeles, as well.

The score tonight was a blowout victory 131-92... so the Celtics are the new NBA Champions... almost 20 years after those Larry Bird-led teams of the late 80's. The Boston Red Sox won the World Series and the New England Patriots lost the Super Bowl on the last possession of the New York Giants. And all three teams will probably contend for championships next season as well.

So, I guess that makes Boston, Massachusetts the center of the sports world!

8 Seconds to Game Seven

Piture courtesy of my Palm Treo 680 and the Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks are up 102-100 with 8 seconds left and Bibby's on the line...

HAWKS WIN 103-100 and force a Game 7 in Boston on Sunday!

2 Minutes 'Til Game Seven

Picture courtesy of my Palm Treo 680

The Highlight Factory (Philips Arena in Atlanta) is rocking as the Hawks look to extend their improbable season to Game 7 of the playoffs with the Boston Celtics. The Hawks are winning 97-93.

Go Hawks!

Halftime at the Highlight Factory

Picture courtesy of my Palm Treo 680

I'm at the NBA Playoffs game with one of my Sands who produced some playoff tix for Game 6 between the Atlanta Hawks and the Boston Celtics. The Hawks continue to give top seeded Celtics fits at Philips Arena.

The Hawks have erased a ten point Celtic lead to pull within one at the half.

Go Hawks!

Atlanta Hawks in NBA Playoffs

Since the 1999 NBA season, Atlanta Hawks fans have been waiting to return to playoffs. Well, the prayers of Hawks fans everywhere - well, there's only a few left - have been answered: with a loss by the Indianapolis Pacers earlier this evening, the Hawks have backed into the eighth (and final) spot in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

Unfortunately, that means that they'll square off against the top seeded Boston Celtics who currently own the best record in the NBA. And even more than that, the Celtics' second team mopped up the gym with the Hawks on this past Saturday night.

This is probably a mixed blessing since the Hawks will undoubtedly have an early exit from the playoffs - think three and out! Their poor excuse for a head coach and their inept GM will probably get reprieves from a pink slip... so it is guaranteed to be more mediocrity next year, since they won't be in the NBA Lottery (which they would've blown anyway).

Hurray for the Hawks... boo hoo for the Hawks fans who'll get the chance to see their miserable season (below .500) extended for another three games in a series of pitiful blowouts at the hands of the dreaded Boston Celtics.

Read the AJC article about the Hawks' playoff bid here.


plez sez: thinking out loud - if the Hawks were to win the first round series against the Celtics, that would easily be the biggest upset in the history of modern sports!

i only posted this article because i'm a homer... i honestly couldn't name the five starters for Atlanta Hawks, nor have i seen more than 10 seconds of any of their games this season. so i don't even count as a fair weather fan!

plezWorld - Squeaky Wheels

in my days as a wiry, quick, and athletic youngster, plezWorld spent countless (and when i say countless, i mean thousands of) hours honing my skills on the basketball court and abusing any unsuspecting chap in a grueling two set beatdown on the tennis court. growing up in New York, one was expected to play 'ball and emulate basketball gods like Walt (Clyde) Frazier, Earl (The Pearl) Monroe, Nate (Tiny) Archibald, Wilt (The Stilt) Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and my personal favorite, Julius (Dr. J) Erving. tattered sneakers (with the requisite hole in the toe), white tube socks (with the requisite hole in the toe), sprained thumbs, and scabbed knees from numerous scrapes with the blacktop court were as much a part of the game as the chain-link nets, crooked rims, and metal backboards of the neighborhood park where i played until lack of sunlight sent me home (clinton street, sleepy hollow, ny).

the Georgia Tech SAC (student athletic center) was where i spent my college days... often forsaking my studies for 3 or 4 hour marathon runs on Court #1 (where all the ballers played)! i twisted my spindly ankles and twisted my right knee more times than i'd like to recall. OUCH! a quick ride to the student infirmary, a hasty x-ray, an ice pack, crutches, and a bottle of those 500 mg Tylenol pills with Codeine for the pain. a few weeks later, as soon as i could bend and put some pressure on my knee, i'd be back in SAC with my high-flying, reckless abandon game of ball... until my poor knees buckled under the pressure of my game. this went on until well after graduation... when i graduated to church league basketball. neither the jersey colors nor the numbers mattered... as long as i had a trusty knee brace, some new high top leather Nikes, and a jock strap, i was good to go.

while this was going on, plezWorld also played team tennis (ALTA Tennis) for over 10 years on various teams in the Atlanta area. joy for me was waiting for the summer sun to set around 8:30 PM and then spending the next 2 to 3 hours running baseline to net playing 4 or 5 sets against one or two other players under the lights. i have a couple of frat brothers who were so traumatized by the abusive nature of my game that they have developed amnesia concerning having ever played against me. when i was in college, i used to hit with one of the Georgia Tech Assistant Tennis coaches on days that the team didn't practice.

then about 5 or 6 years ago, i noticed that i had lost more than a step (in the first game of the season, i committed 4 fouls in the first 3 minutes of the game)! i finally hung it up when this wily high-flying cat leapt over me for a dunk... and all i remember seeing was the Air Jordan logo on the bottom of his shoes! my days as a thin hipped, wiry church league terror were over... and the pain had only just begun. my knees began to squeak and scream like those on Joe Namath. i can even hear them when i'm going up a flight of stairs.

a few months ago, i spoke to a frat brother of mine who referees high school and church league basketball games about the pain in my knees. he swears by GLUCOSAMINE & CHONDROITIN dietary supplements... they reported repair and rejuvenate the cartilage around your joints. a two month supply runs about $25.

so, plezWorld has been popping 3 of these big ass horse pills daily in hopes that they'll restore my aching knees to their pre-injury state (more than likely, i probably need one of those operations to "clean out" the debris in my knees... but i got queasy just typing that!). i'll report back on how my knees are doing in a few months... wish 'em luck!

About Glucosamine & Chondroitin:
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are substances found naturally in the body. Glucosamine is a form of amino sugar that is believed to play a role in cartilage formation and repair. Chondroitin sulfate is part of a large protein molecule (proteoglycan) that gives cartilage elasticity.

Both glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are sold as dietary or nutritional supplements. They are extracted from animal tissue: glucosamine from crab, lobster or shrimp shells; and chondroitin sulfate from animal cartilage, such as tracheas or shark cartilage.

Past studies show that some people with mild to moderate osteoarthritis (OA) taking either glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate reported pain relief at a level similar to that of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Some research indicates that the supplements might also slow cartilage damage in people with OA.

Greg Oden Out for Rookie Season

The New York Times reports that Greg Oden, the number one pick of the 2007 draft of the Portland Trail Blazers, will miss his rookie season because of microfracture surgery on his right knee.

The article quotes the Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard said as saying, "Certainly this is a setback, but our future is still incredibly bright."

Excerpts of the article include:

Greg Oden, the top pick in this year's NBA draft, likely will miss his first season with the Portland Trail Blazers after surgery on his right knee Thursday.

Doctors found cartilage damage during an exploratory procedure, and team physician Dr. Don Roberts performed microfracture surgery to repair the damage.

"There are things about this that are positive for Greg. First of all, he is young. The area where the damage was is small and the rest of his knee looked normal," Roberts said in a statement.

The 7-foot center is expected to be on crutches for up to eight weeks. Full recovery likely will take six to 12 months, the team said. Oden was the No. 1 pick in the June draft out of Ohio State, where he averaged 15.7 points and 9.6 rebounds.

plez sez: echoes of sam bowie (remember portland picked sam bowie over michael jordan in the 1983 draft). echoes of bill walton (plagued by knee problems most of his career, bill walton's one good year resulting in an nba championship for the trail blazers).

i feel bad for the franchise. they had an opportunity to pick a more dynamic player who has a tremendous up-side that gred oden does not possess (kevin durant from texas). they went with the "sure thing": a 7-footer who can walk and chew gum at the same time! but nothing is sure when you're dealing with 18- and 19-year olds. for the life of me, i cannot understand how these professional teams can put out so much money for an unproven commodity... it just seems to risky! (check out this ESPN article)

now, the trail blazers will have to suffer for that risk (played his one year in college with a cast on his right wrist, he had a tonsillectomy soon after he was drafted, and now this).

plezWorld and the NBA Draft

Every year about this time, Atlanta Hawks fans sit with rapt attention on the NBA Draft Board. We've been burnt and scorned in just about every draft going back 10 years or more. For the past 3 or 4 years, the Hawks have shunned the center position and point guard position by loading up on tall, lanky first round forwards (Josh Smith (high school), Josh Childress (Stanford), Marvin Williams (UNC), Shelden Williams (Duke), etc.). They haven't smelled the playoffs since before this bald spot on the back of my head and I'm waiting with sweaty palms like the rest of the fans hoping that they don't waste another first round pick in this year's draft (scheduled for Thursday, June 28th).

Everyone has an opinion about the upcoming draft and I'm no exception. This year is particularly scary for us Hawks fans, because we essentially have the "pressure" of picking first, since Oden and Durant are givens at the one and two spot... so ALL EYES will be on how the Hawks manage (or mismanage) their two first round picks (at #3 and #11).

Making the assumption that there won't be any trades and every team will make its appointed pick, what follows are the mock drafts (well, the lottery picks) as predicted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and ESPN, with commentary from plezWorld:

1. Portland Trailblazers
   AJC: Greg Oden, C, Ohio State - No one passes on a dominant 7-footer who can anchor a title contending team for the next decade. Not even Portland.
   ESPN: Kevin Durant, SF, Texas - For his killer instinct and excellent workout for the team.
   
   plez sez: You gotta go with the big man, Greg Oden (C, Ohio State). With one hand, he basically secured his team's spot in the national championship game. And a mobile, athletic 7-footer like Oden comes around once a decade, you can't pass this one up!
   
   
2. Seattle Supersonics
   AJC: Kevin Durant, F, Texas - Ranks right up there with Michael Jordan as one of the best consolation prizes in draft history.
   ESPN: Greg Oden, C, Ohio State - This is a no-brainer! This is the easiest pick in the entire draft.
   
   plez sez: This is an automatic pick, when David Stern takes the podium for the Number 1 pick, he should just stay up there and announce the second pick.
   
   
3. Atlanta Hawks
   AJC: Yi Jianlian, C, China - The intriguing possibilities involved with this 7-foot physical specimen, both on and off the court, are too great for the Hawks to pass up.
   ESPN: Al Horford, PF, Florida - Considered the third best prospect in the draft after a great season (with a second national championship) and a great workout.
   
   plez sez: Although, it would be great to have 1 billion additional Hawks fans (in China), the Hawks need a real NBA player, like Al Horford. His father, Tito Horford, also played in the NBA. And remember, Yao Ming (Houston Rockets) still hasn't gotten his team out of the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
   
   
4. Memphis Grizzlies
   AJC: Al Horford, F, Florida - Grizzlies get a draft day surprise in the ready-to-play Horford, the player they had rated No. 3, thanks to the Hawks' gamble.
   ESPN: Mike Conley, Jr., PG, Ohio State - He's a really good point guard with lots of upside (since he left Ohio State after only one season) and he led his team to the national championship game.
   
   plez sez: If the Hawks do as I say, then Mike Conley will be available for the Grizzlies. If not, I won't be able to see who the Grizzlies are taking because I will have thrown something BIG and HEAVY at my big screen TV!
   
   
5. Boston Celtics
   AJC: Jeff Green, F, Georgetown - Green's versatility and maturity are too much to pass up for a team needing to provide Paul Pierce with immediate assistance.
   ESPN: Corey Brewer, SG, Florida - Another player from Florida's two-time national championship team.
   
   plez sez: Paul Pierce is going to need some help, I imagine the Celtics will probably be trading this pick away as part of a deal to keep Pierce around. But if they keep it, they'll take either Brewer or Yi Jianlian (the 7-footer from China).
   
   
6. Milwaukee Bucks
   AJC: Brandan Wright, F, North Carolina - He is two or three years away from providing the type of help a pick this high should, but his upside is too much to pass up.
   ESPN: Jeff Green, F, Georgetown - Since Yi Jianlian has said that he won't play in Milwaukee, I guess they have to take the best available talent.
   
   plez sez: Green was a bigger factor for Georgetown than Wright was for UNC... I'd go with Green!
   
   
7. Minnesota Timberwolves
   AJC: Spencer Hawes, C, Washington - Kevin McHale sees a whole lot of himself in Hawes, the most offensively skilled big man in this draft.
   ESPN: Yi Jianlian, C, China - He has the most value of anyone on the board (so they could always trade his rights), and we all know they're trading KG at some point.
   
   plez sez: I'd go with Hawes out of Washington, I don't know if the Minneapolis is on the list of cities that Jianlian will play for.
   
   
8. Charlotte Bobcats
   AJC: Corey Brewer, F, Florida - The Bobcats have continue to build with experienced talents from winning programs, players like Brewer.
   ESPN: Brandon Wright, F, UNC - Big upside and North Carolina pedigree.
   
   plez sez: Six of one, half a dozen of the other... I would pick Joakim Noah.
   
   
9. Chicago Bulls
   AJC: Joakim Noah, C/F, Florida - Pair the fiery Noah with Tyrus Thomas on the frontline and the Bulls are ready for a decade's worth of deep playoff runs in the East.
   ESPN: Joakim Noah, C/F, Florida - Another guy from the two-time national championship team.
   
   plez sez: If Noah is available, this would be the best pick, but for some reason, I don't see him lasting until the 10th pick.
   
   
10. Sacramento Kings
    AJC: Al Thornton, F, Florida State - If Ron Artest gets moved in a trade, the Kings will already have his replacement.
    ESPN: Julian Wright, SF, Kansas - Lots of potential.
    
    plez sez: With the Kings in the same division as the Spurs, Mavericks, Suns, Rockets, and the same state as the Lakers and Warriors, they will be bringing up the rear in the West for the next 10 years... so it doesn't matter who they pick. My favorite pick for this spot is Thaddeus Young from Georgia Tech.
    
    
11. Atlanta Hawks
    AJC: Mike Conley Jr., G, Ohio State - The Hawks get smooched by lady luck just like they did on lottery night and get their top rated point guard after the rest fall in love with the big guys.
    ESPN: Acie Law IV, PG, Texas A&M - Considered by many to be the best point guard in the draft.
    
    plez sez: Being the homer that I am, I would hope that the Hawks use their second first round draft pick on a local product, Javaris Crittendon, who played both high school and college ball (Georgia Tech) in Altanta. And he's mentioned in the same breath as Conley and Law.
    
    
12. Philadelphia 76ers
    AJC: Javaris Crittenton, G, Georgia Tech - Move over Louis Williams, Crittenton fills the 76ers need for a quality understudy to veteran point guard Andre Miller.
    ESPN: Al Thornton, SF, Florida State - One of the few forwards who can come into the NBA and play right away.
    
    plez sez: If the Hawks do what I say, then Acie Law IV should be available for the 76ers.
    
    
13. New Orleans
    AJC: Nick Young, G, USC - The only thing the Hornets don't have is ultra athletic running mate for Chris Paul. The dynamic Young fits that bill.
    ESPN: Spencer Hawes, C, Washington - If he's still available, you can't pass on an offensive minded center for the Hornets.
    
    plez sez: If Hawes is still available this late in the draft, you have to go with the big man.
    
    
14. Los Angeles Clippers
    AJC: Acie Law IV, G, Texas A&M - The Clippers need a security blanket in case Shaun Livingston doesn't make a full recovery from knee surgery.
    ESPN: Nick Young, SG, Southern California - Best available.
    
    plez sez: If Acie Law IV drops this far, I'd be surprised.

plezWorld's last word: Thaddeus Young (F, Georgia Tech) will be a Top 20 selection; I have him as a forward who is in the mix with Jeff Green and Brandon Wright.

And if I'm even half-right with my selections, I may've found my second career! *smile*