There are number of truths out there that simply (and unfortunately can't be ignored). Here are few (that wonderfully intersect with my observations from the weekend.
#1 Orlando is Still a Contender
I should get my biases out of the way. I hate Orlando. Not just because they beat the Cavs but Stan and his brother grate on my nerves with their frenetic spastic ways. I find Dwight Howard the dirtiest elbower since Karl Malone. And then there's Vinsanity. The hope (and the prediction) that with Vince chucking up shots instead of Hedo's play making Orlando would step back. The Truth is that as of today...not really. They have the #2 defense (by FG %) and slowly realizing that Howard is the center of the offense. Coupled with Nelson and Carter improving in efficiency (Carter's shooting 51% in February) and Orlando is simply one of the few teams that can win the championship.
#2 The Bobcats will Make the Playoffs
Speaking of annoying coaches...Larry Brown. Larry Brown did this year what Larry Brown normally does. Rearrange the team, complain , and get his team to play defense. And it's worked. Under the radar Felton is feeding to great wing players and now with the added defensive presence of Tyrus Thomas, the Bobcats - who have the 3rd best record in the East since the new year, seem poised to make the playoffs. Sigh.
#3 Kentucky is Red Hot
Let's be honest John Calipari gives snake oil salesmen a bad name. This year he cajoled, bribed, massaged, etc. 2 of the 3 best freshmen in the country to play for his Wildcats. While John Wall has gotten more hype, I'd argue Demarcus Cousin (who averages a double-double) is just as if not more important to the teams success. With wins of Miss State and Vandy....Kentucky has all but secured a number 1 seed in the tournament
#4 Oregon Ducks In the Running for Worst Image in College Football
Where once University of Miami sat alone for criminal behavior, their fall from grace (both on and off the field) has left things open. The Oregon seems hell-bent on taking on that title. While everyone remembers Blunt's sucker punch, this offseason seem to have to have topped that. Within a month, 4 separate players have been arrested or had incidents. And not just minor things like DUIs or racist facebook rants but things like stealing computers and strangulation (which according to research is in fact illegal in Oregon). Big thumbs up guys on trying to secure #1 in the college football ranking of most out of control program.
7 comments:
Don't fret over the Oregon Ducks. They all have a bright future playing for the Cincinnati Bengals.
1) I'll believe Orlando when I see it. They might be the second-best team in the East but, then again, I'm not overly impressed with the East when Boston still ranks as a top-4 seed.
2) Before we start sucking Larry Brown's leaky dick for a job well done, it bears mentioning that the Bobcats added Stephen Jackson from Golden State for free. Is the coach doing a good job when the team adds one of the better players in the NBA and subtracts no one?
3) I hate Calipari.
4) Don't crown Oregon just yet. The Florida Gators are no slouches in the criminality department either.
@Hitman - so right.
1) Orlando is for real. Did anyone forget that last year they beat Boston and Cleveland, and though they lost in 6 to the Lakers, that series would have been very different had c. lee made that arobatic layup.
2) ugh. the bobcats are an awful matchup for the cavs and honestly... they'd probably beat the celtics in a playoff series for sure. i think the hawks and magic can take them out. it will be ineteresting to see how the standings look at the end, and if the bobcats do in fact take out a superpower (which would then give credit to larry brown).
@Gutsy - Beating Boston last year wasn't impressive. Beating the Cavs last year was the only impressive thing the Magic did.
@Hitman - great line
I don't understand your position... why was beating Boston NOT impressive? Orlando was down 3-2 in the series, doesn't that make it more impressive?
@Gutsy - Because Boston was a much different team last year than the year before when they won the title. They went to 7 games vs. the undermanned Bulls and probably should've lost that series. They were without KG whose career seems to have hit the tipping point last spring. In short, the Magic beat a team they should've beaten, given how old and injured the Celtics were last year.
Post a Comment