PUBLIC ENEMY #1 and #1A

Am I the only basketball fan outside of Oklahoma City that can’t stand Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka? Perkins, scowl and everything, plays dirtier than most but complains about every call. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have him on my team, but he is so dirty.  Did anyone see the play against Houston last night where he HELD Chandler Parson’s hand to prevent him from playing D against a 3-point shooting Thabo Sefolosha? The worst part of it was that the ref was right there and didn’t even make the call.  I understand home court but this was ridiculous. How is that basketball? You can’t see it from this pic but there’s a referee standing direclty behind Perkins.

As for Ibaka, he just annoys the heck out of me.  Somebody tell him the finger wag after a block was coveted by Mutumbo.  While the PF is a stud, his 13 ppg and almost 8 rpg don’t do him justice.  I just don’t understand how this guy became a tough guy after just 4 years in the league? I wish the Charles Oakleys and teh Bill Laimbeers were here to knock him on his ass.  And how did this guy slip to the 24th pick in the draft? Oh well, looks like the winner in the West is going to come down to the Clippers and Thunder.  But the way these 2 guys are playing, I don’t think the Clippers bigs are ready to mix it.

SAY GOODBYE TO THESE LAKERS

Deja vu all over again…Los Angeles Lakers blew another 4th quarter lead tonight, just like they did in game 2.  Instead of being up 3 games to 1, the Lakers just kissed their season and hopes of a Championship… GOODBYE.  I blame Kobe for game 2’s loss.  I blame the team for this one.  Changing of the guard, well that happened last year when the Lake Show got swept by Dallas. This was just a reminder for all those Angelinos that thought that the Lakers were going to pull this series out.  There’s something toxic, cancerous about this Lakers team. It reminds me of Shaq’s last year.  Andrew Bynum was dominating the 1st half. 2nd half, M.I.A.  Blame the others for not getting the ball to him. Blame Bynum for not getting open. Blame Mike Brown for not drawing up plays for Bynum.  Pau Gasol, I’m done defending this guy. Step aside Dirk Nowitzki, here’s the posterboy for softness.  Ramon Session, disappointing is all I can say. Lakers bench, what bench? Kobe Bryant, Kobe Bryant… Too many errors, too many mistakes, too many bad shots too, too many turnovers. How easy was it for Westbrook and Durant to score? GEEZ, James Harden looked like a superstar. The Lakers are gonna get blasted next game.  I promise you that they will lose by double digits. As for the offseason, now would be the time for Jimbo Buss to make a name for himself.  Put everyone on the block.  Get some heart on this team. To have 3 all-stars on 1 team and no get past the second round for the 2nd year in a row is a joke. If this same team returns next year, you can expect another playoff torching.  Buss should call Sterling and maybe join the two teams.

Mavericks v. Thunder, LET’S GET DIRTY!

Just 1 day away from the Western Conference Finals. Win or go home! The Dallas Mavericks have the home ocourt advantage and we all know how important that is, ask the Lakers.  It surprised us all when they swept the Lakers. I personally thought that Dallas was the weakest of the 8 Western playoff teams and the Lakers would run Dallas in 5 games. The Thunder went the distance with an underrated Memphis Grizzlies team. At the end of the day, it was obvious to me that the Thunder go as far as NOT DURANT but as far as Russell Westbrook goes. No the Mavs have been sitting idle for over 1 week.  Rusty? Maybe, but these guys are veterans.  I do think that it’s the best chance for the Thunder to steal one. I think the Mavs are gonna have their hands full with the Westbrook  There’s no one on Dallas that can hold him.  On the flip side, Nowitzki is gonna have a field day. We know that neither Perkins, Ibaka or Durant can hang with him.  They’re either too slow, too short, or too skinny to guard.  It’s gonna be interesting.  I think that I’m gonna take Dallas.  I know I’m cheering for them but I wouldn’t bet on them.  They do deserve it though, it might be Jason Kidd’s last chance as the window on these vets, Terry, Dirk, Marion, Chandler, Stojakovic  etc. is closing QUICK!!! And I’d love to see Mark Cuban getting the hardware from David Stern…

NBA PLAYOFF PREVIEW: WESTERN CONFERENCE

What was always the more interesting of the 2 conferences is turning out to be a bore.  But before we turn the page on the Western Conference playoffs, here are my picks for the first round:

Memphis Grizzlies v. San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs have amassed the best record in the West and for good reason.  I’m a little concerned with the Ginobli injury but playing against a young and inexperienced Memphis team is the perfect anecdote. With OJ Mayo regressing, I don’t think Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol can lead them past the Spurs for a whole series.  Look for the Grizz to steal a game or 2 but the Spurs should coast through this seriers

New Orleans Hornets v. Los Angeles Lakers: The surging Lakers all of a sudden have run into a wall.  Injuries to Bynum and an irate Bryant, this team looks like the lost their flow.  But let’s not forget, they’re the Lakers, they come with a lot of baggage and drama, but at the end of the day, they’re good, they’re stacked, they’re experienced.  The series with the Hornets might go to 6 but the Lakers should pull it out.

Dallas Mavericks v. Portland Trail Blazers: Can someone say upset special? True the Mavs have Dirk and Terry but is anyone ever afraid of them.  There’s something about Lamarcus Alridge and the Blazers that you don’t wanna mess with.  I’m not saying the Mavs don’t stand a chance, but if they blow home court, I don’t think they’re gonna be able to pull off a win in Portland.

Oklahoma City Thunder v. Denver Nuggets: The Thuggets have been playing better without Carmelo, but it’s time to come back down to reality. The Thunder are legit contenders to win the West and have the best chance to upend the Lakers.  The addition of Perkins (and his big mouth) have given this team a true force in the middle.  Watch for these guys to sweep the Nuggets. Sorry J.R. Smith, you know I hate it when you lose (that’s call online sarcasm).

Enjoy round 1!!!

LOS ANGELES LAKERS UP 2-0; THAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE

A win is a win, right? Listen, at the end of the day, on paper, it doesn’t matter if you blow them out or win on a last second buzzer-beater. Look at me making excuses for the Lakers’ pitiful performance last night in Game 2 of the NBA playoffs.  Sure they won, but by a measly 3 points… ugh! I bought some NBA tickets from Lavatickets.com and watched the game live at Staples last night. The thought that kept recurring in my head throughout the game was “when are the Lakers gonna put the Thunder away?” There’s no doubt that they’re going to win this series, in 4 or 5 games, but if the Lakers had come out and pounded the Thunder last night, they would’ve sent a message to their future playoff opponents that would’ve read something like “we’re for real OR you don’t wanna face us.”  The message that they actually sent was “ehh, we’re from LA, basketball isn’t our life.”

Thank god for some last second Kobe Bryant heroics or else I would’ve been writing a completely different article today. I do question some of his decisions and tantrums last night that hurt the Lakers. Andrew Bynum nowhere to be found on the offensive end (6 points in 32 minutes).  Derek Fisher needs to stop shooting (2-10). The best thing that happened to the Lakers was when this guy fouled out. Gasol and Bryant combined for 64 points.  I wonder what the Lakers would do if they had a bench?

Having lived in LA all my life, you get used to this type of play from the Lakers.  Already looking ahead, thinking about their second round playoff opponent; Jazz or Nuggets.  I would LOVE it if the Jazz upset the Thuggets, I mean Nuggets.  Pick up your playoff tickets and go support your team. This has been one of the best NBA playoffs in a long time.