In The Paint: Round Two
Each week of the NBA season, Tamer Chamma will look back on the week that was in the Association with insightful thoughts, opinions and observations
I’ve had a lot of fun over the last year and a half at the expense of Chris Bosh by referring to the Heat’s “Big Three” as the Big Two and a Half. This attempt at humor (which has been used by others I might add) had more to do with the fact that Bosh is being placed in the same class as LeBron James and Dwayne Wade when this trio is referred to as the Big Three. While this assertion is ridiculous Bosh is still a very good player and the strained abdominal injury he suffered in Game One of the Heat’s Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the Pacers on Sunday is a significant blow to Miami’s title chances. Bosh makes the Heat’s underwhelming half court offense effective at times because he is so adept at knocking down 15-18 footers when the offense breaks down. He is also great at using the space James and Wade create on drives to the basket to get into the paint himself when the ball is kicked out to him.
In The Paint: Round 1 Continues
Each week of the NBA season, Tamer Chamma will look back on the week that was in the Association with insightful thoughts, opinions and observations
I’ve heard several media personalities state this week that LeBron James is back to being the go to guy on the Heat. This is almost solely based on his series so far against the Knicks. The first problem with this statement is that absolutely zero conclusions should be drawn about the Heat or any players on the Heat based on their 1st round series with New York. Miami is so much better, hungrier and healthier than the Knicks that it is amazing this series is going to a 5th game. James could have sat out the first five games and the Knicks still would have struggled to win a game.
In The Paint: NBA Playoffs Round 1
Each week of the NBA season, Tamer Chamma will look back on the week that was in the Association with insightful thoughts, opinions and observations
It’s funny what a difference a few days can make. Late last Thursday night the Knicks were rolling. They just completed the regular season with 18 wins in their last 24 games. Carmelo Anthony was playing the best basketball of his short Knicks career, even when teamed with Amar’e Stoudemire. New York looked like a dangerous team capable of giving the Heat a series and finally bringing meaningful playoff basketball back to the Big Apple.
Steve Nash Exits the HARD Way
Two time NBA MVP and future Hall of Famer Steve Nash may have played his last game last Thursday night. By most accounts Nash single-handedly kept the Suns a creditable franchise the last decade. So how dis Phoenix / Nash fans decide to send him on his way? With a large penis that’s how.
Check out the crowd behind the hosts of the Phoenix Suns post game show. Look closely in the background among the signs mocking Kobe Bryant and the “Lets get Nashty” sign as the The Tentacle of Love pops up twice, once two the right over the Bud Light sign then in the center next to the pink “sucks” directed at Kobe.
Metta World What?
In the past few years, Ron Artest has been trying to clean up his reputation; competing on Dancing With The Stars showing his softer, playful side…even going as far as changing his name to…wait for it… “Metta World Peace.” Yesterday definitely ruined any progress he was making in trying to swoon America. If anyone missed the Lakers/Thunder game – you can watch SportsCenter to learn what I’m talking about, because this was certainly a top story. Better yet, it’s plastered all over the internet, here check it out…
In The Paint: Western Conference Playoff Race
Each week of the NBA season, Tamer Chamma will look back on the week that was in the Association with insightful thoughts, opinions and observations
The race for the top seed in the Western Conference carries a lot more significance than just home court advantage throughout the first three rounds of the playoffs. Whoever finishes first, likely the Spurs, will play either Utah, Phoenix or Houston while the runner up will draw the defending champion Mavericks or the run and gun Nuggets. The Jazz and Rockets are too inexperienced and the Suns lack the talent necessary to give the Spurs or Thunder a series. On the other hand the Mavs, while certainly not the same team as last year, is playoff tested and certainly won’t go down quietly. The Nuggets are an annoying team to play in the first round because of their energy and fast paced style. While San Antonio or OKC would likely survive Denver they could come out of the series tired, which is not good news if the Lakers are waiting in Round 2.
In The Paint: Eastern Conference Chaos
Each week of the NBA season, Tamer Chamma will look back on the week that was in the Association with insightful thoughts, opinions and observations
With less then 10 games remaining in the regular season handicapping the upcoming Eastern Conference playoffs is next to impossible. The injury machine that is Derrick Rose makes the top seeded Bulls extremely vulnerable. Sure Chicago is excellent defensively and beasts on the boards but if Rose can’t stay healthy and regain his MVP form they will not have enough offense to make it to the Finals. Just a few weeks ago, the Magic seemed like a sexy Finals sleeper pick. Now not winning a single playoff game is a real possibility with Dwight Howard in danger of going under the knife if the herniated disk in his back doesn’t respond to treatment over the next two weeks. Then you have the Heat. The mental health of this team is the real question as they continue to flop in high profile games. In April alone, they have lost three nationally televised games; twice to the Celtics and once to the Bulls.
Speaking of Boston they look like the best bet right now to win this conference. They are relatively healthy, peaking at the right time and have the championship pedigree none of the other seven playoff teams can match. Age is not even a huge issue with this team despite Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen all being on the wrong side of 33. An infusion of young talent from the likes of Brandon Bass and Avery Bradley along with the rejuvenated play of Rajon Rondo has given this team a youthful appearance despite the significant age of their big three.
“Lam-Lam” and Dallas Part Ways
Yes, I admit that I occasionally watch “Khloe & Lamar”…by occassionally I obviously mean religiously every Sunday evening. Sorry, I’m not sorry. What I actually am sorry about is that “Lam Lam” (as Khloe refers to him in her ever so annoying baby-talk voice) is done for the season. It was a shocker when the Lakers traded him in the first place, but it was sadly not a shocker that he could never really find his footing in Dallas. For the defending champs who had their line-up set and centered around Dirk, everyone knew it would be difficult for Odom to establish a role or even learn his role at all.
In The Paint: Jeremy Lin
Each week of the NBA season, Tamer Chamma will look back on the week that was in the Association with insightful thoughts, opinions and observations
Many people think that the Jeremy Lin regular season ending knee injury is devastating to the Knicks because Lin is clearly the best point guard on the team. The truth is that he really isn’t. Baron Davis may not be able to score with Lin but he facilitates the offense just as well and takes care of the ball better than the turnover prone Lin. The reason Linsanity will be missed around the Garden is because New York’s backup point guard situation is abysmal and Davis has only proven that he can play effectively when he’s logging less than 30 minutes a night. That means 20-25 minutes per game will be handled by Toney Douglas or Iman Shumpert, both of whom couldn’t effectively run a high school offense, or Mike Bibby, who should have retired three years ago. The Knicks offense grinds to halt whenever these guys are running the show. All is not lost for New York though. Their defense has been playing at an elite level ever since Mike Woodson took over and Carmelo Anthony seems much more comfortable offensively without Amar’e Stoudemire sharing the spotlight. As long as these two revelations continue the Knicks will still make the playoffs and would give the Bulls all they could handle in a potential first round matchup.
In The Paint: Derrick Rose
Each week of the NBA season, Tamer Chamma will look back on the week that was in the Association with insightful thoughts, opinions and observations
Derrick Rose’s inability to stay healthy this year has to be a concern at this point for the Bulls. Rose has missed 16 games and counting, first with a toe injury then back spasms and now a groin injury. Chicago is an impressive 12-4 without Rose but this record is a bit misleading since 10 of the games were against sub.500 teams. The Bulls ability to get to the Finals with Rose is suspect considering their limited offensive options in crunch time. If Rose is missing or limited during the playoffs (you would have to think it would take a significant injury to keep the reigning MVP out of a playoff game) the Bulls may struggle to get out of the first round let alone make it out of the East. Even though they will likely be the second seed, it will take a minor miracle to deny the Heat a trip back to the Finals.
- Follow TheXLog.com:
-
Recent XLogs
-
-
