The 2008 WWOD? NBA Blogger Mock Draft

While counting down the minutes until ESPN's NBA draft guru Chad Ford released the fourth iteration of his NBA mock draft a few weeks ago, I was struck by a moment of inspiration. I was standing on the edge of my toilet hanging a clock, the porcelain was wet, I slipped, hit my head on the sink, and when I came to I had a revelation! A vision! A picture in my head! A picture of this!

I saw a bright and shiny world free of Chad Ford's bright and shiny smile. I saw a loose confederacy of sports bloggers reveling in our collective obsession. To make this Ford-less dream a reality I've conducted the 2008 WWOD? NBA Blogger Mock Draft with the help and patience of the many fine writers devoted to sports blogging around the US of A (and oddly enough a Suns blogger in Italy). This blogger mock draft runs like the real-live NBA draft happening Thursday night, with each team's or city's blogger making a draft pick in the same order (determined by the draft lottery) that the real-life team officials will do so.

It always seemed to me that most of mock drafts were created by monolithic know-it-all voices and therefore have nothing to do with the real draft, which involves constituencies from every NBA city who live and die (and are employed by) their team and don't care if it makes for a better story if Player Z plays in City Y. Well, it seemed like that until now.

In the immortal words of Pete Venkman, "I love this plan. I'm excited to be a part of it." And I hope you are too.

Part One: The "Lottery" Picks

#1: Chicago Bulls, represented by C. Casson of Bull Riding:
The Pick: Derrick Rose, out of the University of Memphis
The Reason For: I have seen plenty of good scorer's and I do believe Mike Beasley will be one, but the hardest positions in the draft to cover are the center and point guard position. Derrick Rose is a truly unique point guard with extraordinary athletic gifts. They simply don't make them like Derrick Rose too often.
The Pick Bull Riding doesn't want: To say I don't want a player on my team is harsh because as long as they're bringing something to the table on both ends of the floor, than I'm happy. If anything, I wouldn't want a guy who isn't going to come in and leave it on the floor every night, which is a rarity in today's game. You just don't find guys too often anymore, that you can say at the end of a game, "OK, that guy came out here and did everything possible to try and get his team a win."

#2 Miami Heat, represented by The South Florida Fan Blog:
The Pick: Michael Beasley, out of Kansas State University
The Reason For: This decision was pretty much like clockwork (though I fully expect the Heat to make the clock work for all its seconds). Prevailing wisdom has Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley as the premier players in this draft, so we were content to take whichever one remained. Though Rose would have been a better fit, we are quite pleased with Beasley, whose mammoth freshman performance at Kansas St. dwarfed even Kevin Durant's highly publicized showing last year in the same conference. Sure, Beasley has a quirky personality. So what? That should just make the Madden 2009 games with Udonis Haslem all the more invigorating!
The Pick The South Florida Fan Blog doesn't want: O.J. Mayo.
The Reason Against: Unlike Beasley, there are some legitimate character issues at play here. This, from a guy who takes pleasure in emulating black holes, considers himself a Hollywood starlet, and puts the shade in shady characters. No thanks.
The Blogger and the Blog: I'm ASponge of The South Florida Fan Blog, the voice of the eloquent (if we deserve such an epithet) fan for all Miami-area sports teams.

#3 Minnesota Timberwolves, represented by TwolvesBlog.com:
The Pick: O.J. Mayo, out of the University of Southern California
The Reason For: After Beasley and Rose, O.J. is undoubtedly the most talented prospect left. The Wolves would be out of their minds to pass on him.
The Pick TwolvesBlog doesn't want: Brook Lopez
The Reason Against: He may as well be called "Bust" Lopez. There's no way he's worth the #3 pick.
The Blog: TWolvesBlog.com is the most-visited Timberwolves website on the internet. We feature multiple daily updates with all the latest Wolves news and original articles, as well as podcasts and a very active forum community.

#4 Seattle Supersonics, represented by SonicsCentral/Save Our Sonics:
The Pick: Jeryd Bayless, out of the University of Arizona

The Reason For: While there are conflicting reports out there that would have the Sonics selecting Brook Lopez, Russell Westbrook, or Eric Gordon the odds on favorite still has to be Bayless. The Sonics are in need of a point guard who can mesh with young stars Kevin Durant and Jeff Green. Furthermore the lack of aggression and penetration on the part of their guards has been a big factor in their terrible play in recent years. Bayless is a natural fit but the Sonics could go several directions and should select best player available. The flexibilty of Durant and Green will allow the pair to play any combination of the 2,3, or 4 positions and the new draft choice should be able to find a role in the offense no matter what position they play. PG However remains the biggest single need on the roster.
The Pick SonicsCentral doesn’t want: Eric Gordon
The Reason Against: At 6'3 he lacks the height to be an effective shooting guard in the league and with a top 5 pick teams should be wary of drafting players who lack the physical tools to be dominant at their position. If the Sonics are infatuated with Gordon they should trade down to acquire him in the 6-10 range.
The Blogger and the Blog(s): I am Brian Robinson and I operate SonicsCentral and am a co-founder of Save Our Sonics, attempting to retain professional basketball. Over the last 5 years I have been accredited media for the Sonics, developed strong organizational relationships, appeared on hundreds of sports and news radio shows nationwide as well as television appearances. Additionally I served as a developmental consultant for tmobile.nba.com. As the co-founder of SaveOurSonics I have worked closely with and against team ownerships and the league corporate offices, represented the fans in testimony before the Washington State Legislature, and assembled more than 10,000 members to SaveOurSonics, conducting multiple events including a courthouse rally of more than 3000 Sonics fans this month.

(and, since the Sonics fans need to be heard now more than ever, I decided to let them pick twice. Sort of)

#4 Seattle Supersonics, represented by SeaTown Sports:
The Pick: Jerryd Bayless, out of the University of Arizona
The Reason For: Jerryd Bayless would be able to be a significant contributor right off the bat. The point guard situation in Seattle is bad. Luke Ridnour has been horrible ever since Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis left. Earl Watson isn't the floor commander a point guard needs to be. Bayless and Kevin Durant would form one of the top young backcourts in the NBA.
The Pick SeaTown Sports doesn't want: Kevin Love.
The Reason Against: Believe it or not, Jerryd Bayless isn't the consensus pick, and in ESPN's Chad Ford's latest mock draft, he has the Sonics taking Love. Although he is one of the most NBA-ready and the most fundamentally sound players in the draft, the Sonics would make a big mistake by taking him. The Sonics can't draft a player in the front line when their back court needs the most help. Besides, Kevin Love is almost a clone of Nick Collison in my opinion.
The Blogger and the Blog: Kevin Cacabelos Senior Editor/Writer at SeaTown Sports.

#5 Memphis Grizzlies, represented by 3 Shades of Blue:
The Pick: Kevin Love, out of the University of California, Los Angeles

The Reason For: Who can utilize a "slow white guy with weight issues" better than Memphis, one of the fattest cities in America (BBQ Nachos rule!) that already employs the "running in wet concrete" stylings of Darko Milicic and Jason Collins? Besides, just think about how much mileage fans of other teams will get out of the frontcourt pairing of Rudy Gay and Kevin Love. In all seriousness though, Kevin Love is exactly the kind of player that the Grizzlies have been missing over the past few years -- a tough, fiery competitor with a wide range of skills who will exploit every advantage he is given.
The Pick 3 Shades of Blue doesn't want: Danilo Gallinari.
The Reason Against: As hard a time as Memphis will initially have in accepting a "slow, fat, white guy" as their top draft choice, if you go with a "white European whose game is predicated on finesse" to that mix so quickly after the Pau Gasol fiasco, then there is liable to be a riot in downtown Memphis. It's not that I don't think that Gallinari is talented and skilled (because he is), but he's not what most Grizzlies fans are looking for at this point, even if he turns out to be the next Dirk Nowitzki.
The Blogger and the Blog: Joshua Coleman and 3 Shades of Blue.

#6. New York Knicks, represented by What Would Oakley Do?:
The Pick: Joe Alexander, out of West Virginia University
The Reason For: I'd like to say it wasn't just that NCAA Tourney game against Duke. But that wouldn't be totally true. I'd like to say that it wasn't just that Big East tourney game against UConn. But that wouldn't be entirely true either. And, most of all I'd like to say that my rationale for making this pick has nothing to do with something as predictably foolhardy as "tremendous upside." Alas, all three of those things are largely behind this pick. With my March man-crush Derrick Rose off the board and the two players that I would have been unable to pass, Beasley and Mayo, gone as well I can't help but tap Alexander. Some would say it was a reach but with Milwaukee poised to nab him two picks later I don't think so.

This thought process all started when I saw highly touted Italian player Dalino Gallinari slotted into the Knicks spot by the preeminent Chad Ford in his initial mock draft. To be honest, I liked the idea of getting a steal (which any risk/player ends up being if you're right) at the small forward position. The Knicks have been looking for a star at the #3 spot since Bernard King's knee injury. Most importantly, I agreed with Chad Ford that the Knicks should go away from the point guard position once we missed out on Rose or Mayo. There are two reasons why the Knicks should draft a small forward (barring a trade for the two PGs already mentioned). The first is that all the other top-ranked guards in this year's draft class are combo guards whose ships have had their profiles lifted by the rising waters surrounding Derrick Rose in the NCAA and Chris Paul in the NBA. Those two made the point guard position sexier than it's been since Isiah and Magic were starting the All-Star Game. Those two are "true" point guards and always have been. Those two are not shooting guards in point guard bodies. And, neither is Steve Nash, who ran D'Antoni's offense in Phoenix. But, you know who is a combo guard? Stephon Marbury. And a pretty darn good one, actually. If that's what we're looking for (and, in the long term, it is most decidedly not) then we're all set.

Forgetting about Marbury (if just for one sweet moment), it was thinking of Nash that made me finally settle on Alexander. Thinking about Nash made me realize the second reason the Knicks should not draft a point guard. Mike D'Antoni never developed a young point guard in Phoenix, he signed Nash as a free agent after the Mavericks figured out he was too old. Not to win MVP Awards. In fact, one of the point guards D'Antoni actually drafted in Phoenix, before trading him away, was Nate Robinson. Incidentally, D'Antoni's Suns also drafted Rajon Rondo only to trade him as well. So, this is a long way of saying that I don't think D'Antoni's strong suit (or main interest) is developing point guards even if he is a great point guard coach. I think he wants to bring in someone like T.J. Ford (or not, but you know what I mean) or just see what the PGs already on his roster can do with his offense. I think what he really needs unique athletic freaks like Shawn Marion to run his offense and I think Alexander is just that sort of explosive player.

Also on the plus side of the ledger for Alexander in D'Antoni's book, he went to West Virginia University (in D'Antoni's home state) and speaks Mandarin (D'Antoni is bilingual as well). Those two things should have gotten him in the Knicks coach's good graces. And, if those two things don't then the fact that his dunks are youtube gold and competitive spirit has been the only thing more impressive at pre-draft workouts around the league than his freakish athleticism.

And it's this athleticism that puts Alexander ahead of my Gallinari, the Italian small forward that Ford decked out in orange and blue all month long. These two guys play the same position are about the same height and are high upside guys. The knock on Gallinari is his athleticism. The knock on Alexander is that his handle and long distance shot need to be more consistent. Well, I think you can't teach Gallinari's deficiency while Alexander has years to hone his. Therefore I go with a small forward with two first names. Yup, another thing that I shouldn't like about him. Except I do.
The Pick WWOD? doesn't want: Any player in the draft listed 6-10 or above. That means Kevin Love, Brook Lopez, Deandre Jordan, Alexis Ajinca, Kosta Koufos, Anthony Randolph or anyone else whose height was a virtual lock to get them this far (to the draft) since they were 15 years old.
The Reason Against: If the Knicks are drafting a player who needs some polishing then I don't want him to be a plodding seven footer or a willowy pivot who needs to put on weight or even an overweight and undersized post player. So I don't want these guys. I want agile, springy and strong dudes who can move around and want to run right over other peoples faces. I want the guy who claimed his team was going to beat Duke in the NCAA tournament and who told a reporter in Detroit that he was the best prospect in a star-studded workout. I want Joe Alexander.
The Blog: If you blogged here, you'd be home right now.

#7 Los Angeles Clippers, represented by ClipsNation:
The Pick: Eric Gordon, out of Indiana University
The Reason For: If Elton Brand (very likely) and Corey Maggette (a possibility) both return for next season, the Clippers four best players will be front court players. Meanwhile, their projected starting point guard (Shaun Livingston) has not played basketball in almost 17 months, and the collection of journeymen points who ended the season on the roster (Brevin Knight, Dan Dickau and Smush Parker) are something less than awe-inspiring. As for the other guard spot, Cat Mobley will turn 33 before the start of the season and is coming off the worst season of his pro career, and there aren't any other shooting guards currently signed. So while the old saying goes that you draft the 'best player available', the Clippers needs in the backcourt would seem to be an overriding concern. Fortunately, Eric Gordon may well meet both criteria. A great perimeter scorer with almost unlimited range and an incredible first step, possessing the body of an NFL linebacker, Gordon actually tested out as MORE athletic (better in sprints, agility tests, jumping ability and strength) than the supposedly super-athletic Jerryd Bayless and Russell Westbrook at the Orlando pre-draft combine. So he's big, he can score, and he's a great athlete. In addition, he was projected as high as the top three of this draft as recently as February. So what happened? A wrist injury and a coaching scandal at Indiana contributed to a dismal last month to his college career. The Clippers are hoping that those issues are long behind him, and that he can be the explosive perimeter scorer they've lacked for so many years.
The Pick ClipsNation doesn't want: D.J. Augustin
The Reason Against: Point guard is arguably the Clippers' bigger need, and it's highly unlikely that Gordon can make the transition to NBA point. But, DJ Augustin, the best pure point guard left on the board, is a stretch with the seventh pick. And while he would no doubt be an improvement over Brevin Knight, the idea of two point guards under 6 feet tall is a little hard to take. Livingston at 6'7" mitigates that problem of course, but the Clippers must fact the possibility that he could still be a long way from playing. I just don't think you can have your top two point guards both be height-challenged.
The Blogger and the Blog: ClipperSteve of ClipsNation.com.

#8 Miwaukee Bucks, represented by The Bratwurst:
The Pick:Russell Westbrook, out of the University of California, Los Angeles
The Reason For:Westbrook is the best player available at this point. The Bucks despite having two guards under long-term contracts, clearly could use another good guard rotation. With John Hammond and Scott Skiles in town, I think Michael Redd and Mo Williams both have a decent chance of falling out of favor for not playing hard. That said, maybe drafting a guard motivates Redd and Williams to work hard.
The Pick The Bratwurst doesn't want: Brook Lopez
The Reason Against: With no other rebounder in the starting five outside of Bogut, it's a little dangerous to take a weak rebounder/strong scrorer with a shoot happy backcourt.
The Blogger and the Blog: Jeramey Jannene of TheBratwurst.com

#9. Charlotte Bobcats, represented by Queens City Hoops:
The Pick: Brook Lopez, out of Stanford University
The Reason For: As long as he's better than Nazr, I'm happy.
The Blog: Queen City Hoops.

#10. New Jersey Nets, represented (sort of, but without their consent) by NetsDaily:
The Pick: Danilo Gallinari, out of Italy
The Reason For: Some fellow who goes by the handle of Dumpy over at this blog says that the Nets would ideally draft Westbrook or Gallinari at this spot.
The Blog: Like I said, this pick was gleaned from my readings over at NetsDaily. No one from the site ever returned my emails nor did anyone from the only other Nets blog I found (the one that really didn't want Gallnero).

#11. Indiana Pacers, represented by Indy Cornrows:
The Pick: D.J. Augustin, out of the University of Texas
The Reason For: The Pacers desperately need a point guard who can lead the team and, well, actually play. Augustin may have some size limitations but he knows how to lead a team from the point, pushing the ball into the hands of scorers as well as running the pick 'n roll in the half court.
The Pick Indy Cornrows doesn't want: DeAndre Jordan
Why: Despite his physical gifts I'm a little leary of his drive to be a great basketball player. He's young and his game is immature so maybe in time he'll be great but the Pacers need help now. Going the project route hasn't worked out lately.
The Blogger and the Blog:Tom Lewis aka Cornrows.

#12. Sacramento Kings, represented by Sactown Royalty:
The Pick: Anthony Randolph, out of Louisiana State University
The Reason:: There's a 1-in-2,000,000,000,000.5 chance he becomes the greatest of all-time.
The Pick Sactown Royalty doesn't want: Trent Plaisted. Really, I'm breezy besides that.
The Reason Against: Becuase he's Trent Plaisted, man.
The Blogger and the Blog: Tom Ziller and Sactown Royalty.

#13. Portland Trailblazers, represented by Sean from OregonLive:
The Pick:Brandon Rush, out of the University of Kansas.
The Reason For: Working with the best of what's left on the board, the Blazers elect to bring in the most versatile player on both ends of the floor. After working out for the Blazers last weekend, GM Kevin Pritchard openly stated his affinity for players who come out of big programs (and it doesn't hurt when that player recently won a National Championship at KP's alma mater). The Blazers are already loaded at the small forward position with Martell Webster, Travis Outlaw and James Jones, but Pritchard sees Rush's versatility as allowing him to contribute at positions 1 through 3.
With the addition of both Greg Oden and Rudy Fernandez to the mix, the Blazers don't need someone to make a major splash immediately, although, as KP has stated, Rush will be able to step in a contribute immediately. And head coach Nate McMillan has shown he's immune to rushing (pun intended) rookies into playing time. Pritchard has also made it clear he would like to add speed and defense to the backcourt rotation, both of which Rush will bring.
The Blazers are entering a championship window and a long-term project (like many of the big stiff left) are not in Portland's plans. Pritchard is a man who likes to stack his assests and with the 13th pick, adding another asset to the mix gives the best GM in the league another weapon and further his Prtichslapping of the association.
The Blog and the Blogger: Sean Meagher covering the Blazers over at OregonLive.

(and just because most people I know can't get enough Portland Trailblazers anaylsis they will be awarded to two picks. Sort of.)

#13. Portland Trailblazers, represented by Deceptively Quick:
The Pick: Brandon Rush, out of the University of Kansas
The Reason For:He brings length, athleticism, winning, and perimeter defense. He is competent enough offensively to keep the opposition cognizant of his existence. These types of adjectives are commonly applied to humans described as "critical role players," and such humans seem to help win championships. When you conceptualize NBA Brandon Rush, think Tayshaun Prince-ish (assuming a hopefully similar personality conducive to NBA productivity) with a less disturbing silhouette and a more hilarious hair cut. For a team like Portland that already has foundational franchise players in place, such an addition seems a natural complement.
Of course, all this lacks the flair of what we come to expect from a Kevin Pritchard draft. Nonetheless, Rush is a healthy option that will likely be available should a sexy trade or seven not materialize on draft night. Watch and discuss.
The Blog: Deceptively Quick brings you Blazers news and more from the Finnish Underground. Or something.

#14. Golden State Warriors, represented by Fear the Beard:
The Pick: Donté Greene, out of Syracuse University
The Reason For: The Dubs need somebody who can get the job done in the paint on both ends of the floor. Greene is a tremendous athlete with nice upside, especially given the peculiar demands of Nellieball. He's developing a tough inside game and he has the athleticism and length to be a difference maker on defense. He's only 6'9", but he's got a standing reach of 9'0"; that helps a lot in a league where leaving your feet means a foul and some of Nelson's well-charted rookie pine. Plus, he can run. And he's got a nice stroke. The Pick Fear the Beard doesn't want: The other reason we want Greene is because we don't want to draft another guy named Kosta to play for the Bakersfield Jam next season. Although we would love to hear Jim Barnett's first "Kosta to Kosta" joke sometime in the middle of the third quarter of the first pre-season game, having two dudes named Kosta on the squad would feel kinda strange. Like bathing in borscht.
The Blogger and the Blog:I am Daniel Turman. I wrote this on the subway. Guthrie Dolin and Matthew Meschery also contributed to this logic and our decision. We are Fear the Beard.

PART 2: THE REST OF THE FIRST ROUND

#15. Phoenix Suns, represented by the Sons of Steve Nash:
The Pick: Mario Chalmers, out of the University of Kansas
The Reason For: For once the Suns will draft a player they can use and not simply pick some talent and ship him somewhere else for future picks or cash considerations as they did with Loul Deng, Rajon Rondo, Sergio Rodriguez and Rudy Fernandez.
The Suns' biggest needs are (1) find a back up point guard to play at least 15 minutes a game; (2) add some defense to the team and (3) find someone who can play right now, as the Suns are looking at a 2-year window. Plus Chalmers reminds a bit of Terry Porter, solid defender, good shooter and ready to play with a 3-year experience at a top-level program like Kansas. So, Mario, welcome to the Valley!
The Blogger and the Blog: Steve Fan of Sons of Steve Nash.

#16. Philadelphia 76ers, represented by The 700 Level:
The Pick: DeAndre Jordan, out Texas A&M University
The Blogger and the Blog: Enrico founded The 700 Level, a Philadelphia-based sports website for those who love their Philly sports but don't take things too seriously.

#17. Toronto Raptors, represented by Raptors HQ:
The Pick: Alexis Ajinca, out of France
The Blog: RaptorsHQ isn't simply a spot for stats and updates though, the HQ prides itself on its great community of readers who make the site what it is.

#18. Washington Wizards, represented by Bullets Forever:
The Pick: Maureese Speights, out of the University of Florida
The Reason For: Outside of Kevin Love, Maureese Speights looks good. He's the third-best rebounder of the [big man] group, behind Love and Jason Thompson, who played in a small conference. He's also a very efficient scorer (62 TS%) with his back to the basket, and that'd add a really nice dimension to our second team. He doesn't get to the free throw line enough, and he turns the ball over more than I'd like, but his rebounding strength and ability to score efficiently outweigh those concerns. He's also young, so he might be our best chance of getting a true impact big in the middle of the first round.
The Pick Bullets Forever doesn't want: Just say no to Robin Lopez.
The Reason Against: His rebounding, which I thought was a strength, is a major red flag, and he turns it over even more than Speights.

#19. Cleveland Cavaliers, represented by Cavalier Attitude:
The Pick: Chris Douglas-Roberts, out of the University of Memphis
The Reason For: Anyone who watched the Cavs-Celtics series knows that Cleveland has defense and rebounding down. They just need somebody other than LB to put the ball in the basket. CDR does that, and he's versatile in how he does it. His high basketball IQ would allow him to fit in almost right away. He doesn't fill a positional need for the Cavs, but he helps them get more scoring from the supporting cast, which is what this team sorely needs.
The Pick Cavalier Attitude doesn't want: Kosta Koufus
The Reason Against: Cleveland's frontcourt is known for being way too soft. Way too soft. Even after losing to the Cavs in the '07 ECF, Detroit players thought that the Cavs were still too soft despite beating them. You won't hear them say that about the Spurs or Celtics. Koufus is finesse, and the Cavs need strength up front. I'd take Marreese Speights here, but he went a pick earlier to the Wizards.
The Blogger and the Blog: Amar Panchmatia, senior writer at Cavalier Attitude.

#20. Charlotte Bobcats, represented by Queen City Hoops*:
The Pick: Darrell Arthur, out of the University of Kansas
*Queen City Hoops previously selected Brook Lopez with the ninth pick in the draft.

#21. New Jersey Nets, represented (again, sort of) by Nets Daily:
The Pick: Roy Hibbert, out of Georgetown University
The Reason For: Just like the eleventh pick in this mock draft, this choice of Hibbert is based on the views of some fellow by the moniker of Dumpy over at NetsDaily.

#22. Orlando Magic, represented by Believing in Magic:
The Pick: Kosta Koufos, out of THE Ohio State University
The Reason For: Orlando is in need of a bigger point guard, a more dynamic shooting guard and a big man to compliment Dwight Howard. From a value perspective, Koufos is a steal for Orlando. His versatility on offense and size should give Orlando one of, if not the most formidable big man combo in the NBA for years to come. As polished as Koufos is on offense already, he will only get better and he has the ability to draw defenders away from Howard in the post.
The Pick Believing in Magic doesn’t want: With players that are left on the board, I would hate to see the Magic select Bill Walker from Kansas St. In this draft, Chris Douglas-Roberts is off the board but if he is available at 22, I think it would be a huge mistake for Orlando to select him. Both players are G/F’s who are athletic and have a lot of potential, but neither one would fit in Orlando’s system, despite both players filling a need.
The Blogger and the Blog: I am Brendan Sonnone, writer for Believing in Magic and Jaguars Journal at MVN.com. I also have contributed to dozens of other websites, including AOL.com and About.com, as well as Scout.com. Sports journalism has long been a passion of mine, and I am pursuing my dream of becoming a sports journalist at the University of Central Florida. I have lived in Orlando for most of my life and have grown up with the Magic and am forever dedicated to them, through good times and bad. Covering the Magic has been an excellent experience and the more I write about them, the closer I feel to the team, which is all any fan can ask for.

#23. Utah Jazz, represented by my best guess (because this team has fewer bloggers than Salt Lake City has people of color):
The Pick: JaVale McGee, out of the University of Nevada
The Reason For: In the run-up to the draft all you heard about was how they were going to take Hibbert. And, I don’t think that was just a PR move to make them seem, um, you know friendlier to large African Americans. I think it is the truth and that they want a big. They’ve got no interior presence from the center position. Okur can be great for stretches but he is a jump shooter and the lesser Collins brother is, well, he is the lesser Collins brother. Since Hibbert is off the board already I awarded them the next biggest thing. And a guy who has lived in Nevada and might be vaguely prepared to live in Utah.

#24. Seattle Supersonics, represented by SeaTown Sports:
The Pick: Serge Ibaka, out of The Congo
The Reason For: A solid talent at the power forward position. He will be able to improve and develop his game overseas. The Sonics will bring him over to the U.S when there is a roster spot available
The Pick SeaTown Sports doesn't want: Jason Thompson.
The Reason Against: Underdeveloped at the center position, while Swift, Petro, and Sene are all already under developed.
The Blog: SeaTown Sports also selected for the Sonics earlier in the draft at the 4-spot.

#25. Houston Rockets, represented by The Dream Shake:
The Pick:Courtney Lee, out of Western Kentucky University
The Reason For: Because there is no way this actually happens. If Lee is still there I will do cartwheels tonight. He's 22 and not some 1 and done guy that won't contribute for 2 more years. The Rockets have 3 needs, 1. Get a new PG, 2. Get a SG/SF that can spell TMac and Battier and 3. Get a suitable backup for Yao, someone that can learn, help now and be traded later if we can't sign them. Lee addresses need 2 very well. He's 6'5 so he has decent size and has a good shot. Hell, he even can shoot free throws, something we at the Dream Shake really appreciate (See Tmac this year and any Chuck Hayes shot). He's not a fantastic ball handler, but I just lived through the Luther Head era, so he'll probably look like CP3 in comparison. I think I would really like the Courtney Lee era, maybe Tmac will even give him some of his old pointers on getting to the hole
The Pick The Dream Shake doesn't want: Anyone that is French, even if Tony Parker comes into the draft, no freaking thank you! I just do not want anything to do with projects from countries that wave the white flag whenever they get a chance. Or those that don't get that while Eva Longoria is hot, she's 10 years older than you and you are a millionaire basketball player and can bang just about anything you want.
The Reason Against: If I have to explain that to you I'll have Tommy come back there and hit you on the head with a tack hammer...
The Blogger and the Blog: Lee Grammier is a Rockets and Houston sports fan for life (Also, Hook 'em Horns!) and can be found at The Dream Shake.

#26. San Antonio Spurs, represented by WWOD?*:
The Pick: Nicolas Bautum, out of France
The Reason For: He's young and quick (which they desperately need) and and French (which they clearly love) and probably already super-tight with Tony Parker. He also stopped working out or answering calls from other teams after working out with the Spurs.
*Since there is only one legit Spurs blog out on the Interwebs and I couldn't track the writer(s) down.

#27. New Orleans Hornets,** allegedly*** represented by At the Hive:
The Pick: Robin Lopez, out of Stanford University
The Reason For: In reading up on what the Hornets need I noticed that some sort of physical front court presence was a high priority. If Hilton Armstrong is out of fashion in the Big Easy then Lopez should be in. He could end up being a steal at this point in the first round and is a strong guy who knows through and through that he is on the floor to get rebounds and hustle. The bizarre symbiotic division of labor that he and his brother has instilled a knowledge of his role into him and as long as their isn't some weird twin-inferiority complex that we don't know about then he will be perfectly suited to contributing to a good team off the bench.

And, still to come....
#28. Memphis Grizzlies, represented by 3 Shades of Blue
#29. Detroit Pistons, represented by Pistons Podcast

And, in doing what I'm about to do I may create a paradox and tear the fabric of space and time (see, I knew this had something to do with a flux capacitor): I'm posting the Celtics No. 30 pick before posting the two immediately before it because, well, because it's already 6 PM, I don't have the other two picks yet and the C's pick (the last of the round) is a well-thought through pick that should be available to all those draftniks undoubtedly reading this as they watch the events unfold tonight. Hopefully neither the Grizzlies nor Pistons reps are planning on snagging this kid. I think not and that's ultimately why I felt it was not a hell-worthy trespass to post slightly out of order.

#30. Boston Celtics, represented by Green Bandwagon:
The Pick: Ante Tomic, out of Croatia
The Reason For: Not to be obnoxious but I was a little busier this year watching the Celtics dominate opponents and take names later. As a result I'm not as up to date with the draft prospects as I should be. However, that's not to say I did not cram for this mock draft. First there are Boston's needs – a back up point guard with handle and a back up center, particularly if P.J. Brown decides to retire. Unfortunately, Ben Q. Rock of Third Quarter Collapse explains how rare it is to get impact players in the bottom third of the first round. Taking in consideration the fact that point guards and centers take a while to develop and a roster that is built to win now means Boston's chances of filling its holes through the draft are not good. That's why it may make sense to follow Chad Ford's recent prediction and draft Ante Tomic. As Ford noted he could continue to develop in Europe and join the C's in a couple of seasons. Furthermore, the Celtics would draft their first Croatian since Dino Radja. This is exciting for several reasons.
1. I can call him the Croatian Sensation. No losers there.
2. If Tomic joins the team and it does not work out he could still reenact the Radja/Todd Day fight with a player to be named later. Tomic could even go as far to say, "I do not like this 'player to be named later.'"
3. In yet another ode to Radja Tomic could demand a trade to a team located in a warm weather city and someone within the Celtics organization could pull a Rick Pitino and quip, "We explained to him that it's not Club Med." Scratch that. Not cool.
The Pick Green Bandwagon doesn't want: The other Lopez brother if he falls that far, which to be fair he is not expected to do.
The Reason Against: Well for starters I don't even know his first name. And even though he is praised as a hustle player that does the dirty work he terrifies me.
The Blogger and the Blog: Jim Weeks grew up in Massachusetts. He runs Green Bandwagon and though he has no reason to and expects to be mocked, still believes in Gerald Green.

**At The Hive and the Hornets still get their pick in this draft because the draft pick wasn't moved until after this draft had begun. You see, once we crossed the threshold into the 2008 WWOD? NBA Blogger Mock Draft then we were no longer bound by the realities of your real world. Got it?

***Because the clock was winding down and certain mock drafters were not available (or, rather, still humoring me as they had been kind enough to do for the past few days) I made this pick on behalf of the At The Hive. I did my best to make the choice based off their own opinions on their own website. But they may totally disagree, all the same. If time permits I'll get their actual pick in place.

Better Know Your Head Coach (Part 1)

The first in WWOD?'s three-part series Better Know Your (NEW) Head Coach explores the background and life story of Mike D'Antoni - from his hometown of Mullens, West Virginia to his new work place of Madison Square Garden. This is your official primer on D'Antoni.

In case you hadn't heard, the New York Knickerbockers of the NBA hired a new head coach back in May. The team's previous coach, Isiah Thomas, was fired after an interminable death march that makes the Willie Randolph saga seem like the joyous and brief harmony of a group of briskly strolling charolers on a mid December night.

Although the roster appears in shambles the New York Knicks gig is still one of the most coveted jobs in sports. Coaching the Knicks goes along with coaching the Lakers, Celtics and Bulls as the top jobs in the pro game. It's on par with coaching men's b-ball at UCLA or paid, grown-up football in Dallas, Texas. I mean, it's coaching hoops in New York City. In the Mecca. It's the Great White Way. Even if recent seasons were more vaudeville than Broadway this is the Big Time.So, for the first time in a long time, the Knicks as an organization were dealing from a position of power in conducting their coaching search. For the first time in a long time they had something that other people actually covet. Actually they had two somethings that many somebodies coveted: they had the job itself to offer and they had all the money that goes along with it. And, with both of those things Donnie Walsh was able to land the 2004-2005 NBA Coach of the Year, Mike D'Antoni.

Born on May 8, 1951 in Mullens, West Virginia, D'Antoni has been zigging when everyone thought he should be zagging throughout his entire life. He is a Taurus and true to his sign of the Zodiac has a great work ethic, is artistic (see the offense he installed in Phoenix) and has a good sense of humor (read 7 Seconds Or Less). Also, true to his sign, he can be stubborn and prone to getting stuck in ruts (more about that in Part 2).

D'Antoni's hometown of Mullens is a small no-movie-theater and no-bowling-alley place in the mountainous south west of West Virginia. It could be said that D'Antoni lived in the sticks. But the truth is that you had to drive several miles to the next town to find a five-and-dime store that sold sticks. Perhaps because of a lack of options, the D'Antonis were a basketball family. The family patriarch, Lewis, was the coach at Mullens High School. His sons Dan and Mike were the local hardwood heroes. Mike was the top-rated baller in the state during his senior year at Mullens High and had recruiters making their way to his out-of-the-way home. In spite of being heavily recruited out of high school by in-state powerhouse West Virginia University (where everyone in Morgantown was hoping he would prove to be the homegrown second-coming of Jerry West) and out-of-state programs like Duke and Davidson, D'Antoni chose to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Dan (who is now an assistant coach on his staff in NY) and head to Marshall University. He was 19-years old in 1970 when a tragic airplane crash claimed the lives of 37 Marshall football players and 12 coaches. Many of the students who perished resided in the same athlete-dorm as the young point guard and at least twenty were people whom he considered friends. During his time on campus Mike led the team to NIT and NCAA tournament appearances.

After his standout college career at Marshall University, D'Antoni was drafted by the Kansas City-Omaha Kings in the 2nd round of the 1973 NBA Draft. He was the second pick of the second round in a draft headlined by Doug Collins. The Kansas City-Omaha team that he joined had finished last in the Midwest Division the previous season in spite of the presence of Tiny Archibald at the point guard spot. The year before D'Antoni had been drafted Archibald led the NBA in minutes played, field goals made, field goals attempted, free throws made, free throws attempted, assists and points. Archibald had been 1st Team All-NBA selection. So, no matter how much D'Antoni shined in spot duty, and shine he did as he was was an all-NBA Rookie Second Team choice for 1974, there was not much room for him on the stat sheet or on the court.

After 3 seasons stuck behind Archibald with the Kings, D'Antoni tested the waters of the freewheeling ABA, playing for the Spirits of St. Louis in 1976. He signed with the San Antonio Spurs the following season and found himself back in the NBA thanks to the 1977 merger of the two leagues. The Spurs team that D'Antoni joined was George Gervin's squad. It was Gervin's team and it was Gervin's ball. Quickly realizing that his situation in San Antonio was no better (and perhaps worse) than Kansas City, his Spurs career lasted just two games before he left our shores for the fast-cars and fast-play of Italy.

The pairing of D'Antonio and Olimpia Milano of the Italian league was a near perfect union from jump street. His confidence, being an American player coming to the Italian league in his prime years rather than after his best years were behind him (see Gervin), started D'Antoni on a legendary European career. He would go on to become his club's all-time leading scorer and lead them to five Italian titles, two Euroleague titles, two Cups of Italy, one Korac Cup and one Intercontinental Cup. He was their Michael Jordan. He would be voted the league’s top point guard of all time in 1990, which is a far more illustrious honor than the NBA All-Time Top 50 memberships doled out stateside in 1996.

D'Antoni's nickname across the continent was Arsène Lupin for his deft ability to steal the ball from other players. Lupin was a fictional character, a gentleman thief, created by French novelist Maurice Leblanc. This dapper thief was a sort of rakish contemporary counterpart to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. While Holmes solved mysteries from the right side of the law with his trademark erudition and logic, Lupin was a more mustachioed do-gooder who was trying to avoid detection by the bad guys and the "good" guys.

Like Lupin, Mike D'Antoni was a mustachioed phenom and most of his countrymen had no idea. Among the select few who Americans who knew full well the measure of this man was a young boy whose father's line of work caused him to spend several of his formative years living at the epicenter of D'Antoni's heroics. This young boy would eventually move back to America and take up the game of his idol (and not coincidentally, his father). In homage to D'Antoni this precocious hoopster would wear his No. 8 upon reaching the NBA. You might have heard of this D'Antoni disciple, his name is Kobe Bryant. He may have erroniously been dubbed the "next Jordan" but it was D'Antoni's number on his uniform through the first ten seasons of his career.

After hanging up his high-tops Arsene Lupin was ready to become a coach. He began his career as the head coach for the Milanese club where he became a legend. He patrolled the sidelines for Olimpio Milano from 1990 to 1994, leading the club to the 1993 Korac Cup. He was then tapped to coach Pallacanestro Treviso Benetton, another Italian club. During his 3-year tenure the team captured the Cup of Europe and Coppa Italia and won the league title. He was twice voted the Coach of the Year. In other words, he was awesome.With Europe conquered, he re-crossed the Atlantic Ocean. The first NBA coaching job ever held by D'Antoni was with the Denver Nuggets. He joined the Nuggets during the 1997-98 season as he was the club’s director of player personnel. The head coach of the Nuggets that season was Bill Hanzlik. His team finished in last place in the Midwest Division. The next year, D'Antoni took over the reins. It was the 50-game season shortened by the work stoppage and D'Antoni never got his team - featuring Nick Van Exel, Antonio McDyess and Chauncey Billups - turned around. They scratched out only 14 victories in that foreshortened campaign and the rookie head coach was fired without little thought. D'Antoni latched on with the San Antonio Spurs as a scout during the 1999-2000 season an was also an assistant for a Portland Trail Blazers squad helmed by Mike Dunleavy in 2000-01.

With progress in the New World slow, D'Antoni returned to Italy for a second stint as the coach of Benetton Treviso in 2001. In his one season back in Europe he picked up right where he left off, leading the team to a 28-8 record and a league championship. Perhaps reassured of his abilities (or perhaps having just reassured others back home) he returned to the NBA as a Phoenix Suns assistant in 2002 under Frank Johnson. In 2003, D'Antoni took over during midseason as Phoenix head coach and, despite leading the team to a poor record in the second half of the year, he received a vote of confidence for producing inspired play from an injury riddled team.

And, that bit of faith in him has arguably altered the trajectory of the NBA game. The patience that father and son Collangelo showed in their young employee was prescient. The next season, with D'Antoni's encouragement, the team acquired Canadian point guard Steve Nash. The introduction of Nash to a team which already included Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire produced a perfect storm and an incredible turnaround for the franchise. Whether the system made the players or the players made the system was inconsequential as the wins and rave reviews piled up.

The Suns averaged 58 wins in D’Antoni’s four full seasons and made the Western Conference finals in 2005 and 2006. They were one of four teams — along with Detroit, San Antonio and Dallas — to win at least 50 games in each of the last four years. The team's open, free-flowing style of play rejuvenated the league and lured back fans who had tuned out in recent years. His teams were the favorites of television programmers and players in the Association as well. D'Antoni would win the NBA Coach of the Year Award and his star pupil, point guard Steve Nash, would win back-to-back NBA Most Valuable Player Awards.

And, now D'Antoni is paired with Stephon Marbury. What could go wrong?

The Nadir: This Morning Was the Lowest Point for a Fan Of Team With A History of Low Points

Of all the low-points in New York Metropolitans history during my tenure as a fan of the club - from the Vince Coleman firecracker incident, the David Cone masturbation fiasco, the Piazza-is-gay brouhaha, the disappointments of the 1986 team after 1986, the awful free-agents signings of the Bonilla/Coleman era, the awful free-agent signings of the Alomar/Vaughn era, the stomach-turning Zambrano/Kazmir trade, the results of Tom Glavine's final start of the 2007 season or any of the other myriad episodes that have kept this ballclub from ever shaking it's lovable-loser reputation earned during the infamous 120-loss 1962 season, there hasn't been anything that has made me feel as embarrassed to be a fan of this organization as what transpired last night and what has transpired all season long in regards to the job status of former Mets manager Willie Randolph.

Now, don't get me wrong, I can understand why the ownership of the Mets and General Manager Omar Minaya would have wanted, or even felt obligated, to dismiss Randolph. However, I cannot believe the cowardice, callousness and unabashedly condescending way in which the axe ultimately fell. Again, I have never felt worse about being a Mets fan as I do this morning. Nothing has made me hang me head at this precise angle. Not even receiving my 2007 NLDS tickets in the mail.

This is a two-part error in my opinion. First of all, I disagree with the decision to fire Randolph at this juncture. Secondly, the firing itself (putting one's feelings about it aside) was handled without class and without respect for either Randolph or the fans who support this team.

Again, it didn't seem the time to make this move here at WWOD?. Frankly, the time had come and gone. And even if it hadn't totally gone, early this morning, approximately 3:15 in the AM on the East Coast, was most assuredly not the time to fire Willie Randolph. The Mets have won three out of four and are just a game under .500 with Johan Santana slated to start tonight. This team is one win away from having a clean slate going into the All-Star Break.

And, to delve a bit deeper, this team is an a anomalous-Billy-Wagner-week from sitting a few games over .500 and only a few games out of first place in the division. Wagner, who had allowed just one earned run over the first 23 games that he appeared in, allowed six runs during a brutal three game stretch where he blew three games the Mets should have won. While I know baseball is a results game, I just can't agree to letting those three games that a three-time All-Star closer and potential Hall of Famer blew be the ones that push a manager past the point of no return. In each game Randolph got the ball to Wagner in the exact situation where Wagner is one of the best of his generation. Randolph and his team did their job in those games. And the team is playing better. They really are. Beltran is starting to hit, the bench moves were working better (see Cancel's pinch-hit over the weekend) and the starting pitching is coming around (although this fact had been obscured by last week's bullpen implosions).

So, I don't think this was the time to fire Randolph. In my opinion, there were two times where he could have (perhaps, even should have) been let go. He could have been sacked after the Mets were swept in a four-game set down in Atlanta. That is an axe-worthy trespass in these parts and no one would have begrudged Minaya or the Wilpons a decisive movement after that sweep. No one. Not even a Willie partisan like myself. But they didn't act at that point.

And, of course, the other time to fire Randolph was at the conclusion of last season's epic September swoon. The phrase "seven game lead" will forever be etched in my mind. There was every pretext and subtext and billboard-sized text necessary for such a move at that point. However, after (in a bit of foreshadowing) letting their manager twist in the wind the announcement was made that no changes were in the offing. And, that should have been that.

Because if the Mets didn't fire Willie for last year last year then they can't fire him for last year this year. Which is essentially what has happened. Let's not kid ourselves.

Of course, those are the optimist's reasons for not firing Randolph. In other words, the glass half-full side of me says that Willie should not have been fired because he had this thing under control. Because this team is poised to climb over .500 and is setting it's sights on the July 4th series in Philadelphia to announce their return to the NL East race. However, the fact of the matter is that this team is very poorly constructed. To pretend that the thing holding the 2008 Mets back is the managerial decisions of Randolph is Wilpon naivete at best and Minaya's myopic arrogance at worst. And, that's why the pessimistic glass half-full (of paint thinner) side of me says that the manager is not the problem. This team just isn't that good at playing baseball.

The problem is that this team is constructed worse than the 2007-2008 New York Knicks. Yeah, I just wrote that. That just happened. At least with last season's Knicks there was a sense of possibility heading into the season. The team was a trendy sleeper pick to reach the playoffs and people were intrigued about the possibility of Zach Randolph (coming off a statistically great season in Portland) and Eddy Curry (coming off of a breakout season in NY) playing together in the frontcourt as well as the continued development of Jamal Crawford, David Lee and Renaldo Balkman. That the Knicks ended up being horribly coached and terribly matched personality wise is beside the point here. What does matter is that the depth chart showed promise (even if the starting lineups didn't) and that there was a conceivable storyline by which the Knicks were decent, if not surprisingly good. Isiah Thomas and his cohorts believed that Randolph and Curry could play together effectively. And they had recent statistical evidence that both were capable of being All-Stars. If this had actually been the case then the Knicks might have been dominant in the East. Of course, Isiah was wrong about those two players. Painfully, embarrassingly wrong as usual. But at least you knew what he was trying to accomplish. Had he been better equipped to do his job he might have done better but at least you saw that he was trying to do something. There was a (flawed, overreaching) logic there.

Conversely the Mets came into the 2008 season with almost all of the problems that they had at the end of last season. The organization chose to blame the manager and the players for the debacle rather than taking a hard look at the roster, which stayed mostly intact. Minaya and the rest of the front office chose to believe the fiction that the 2007 team ould fix itself for 2008 and that the deficiencies of certain players during the entire second half of the season where not the fault of the players but were products of the circumstances. In part because of this outlook, Mets GM Minaya only managed to upgrade one solitary spot in the starting rotation by the difference between Glavine and Johan. Granted, that is a considerable upgrade both on the field and in the hearts and minds but that trade not only wiped clean the farm system but also masked the multiple problems with the club.

It was no secret that first baseman Carlos Delgado was abyssmal last season. He looked like his time as first-rate first bagger was behind him. So, how did they team address this? They didn't. They penciled him in to start 150 games and didn't even find a servicable backup. Delgado is currently under contract through next season (although they can by him out of his final year) and no one at the Big League or Minor League level is ready to play that position on a daily basis. Moving to Delgado's right, we find balky kneed slap-hitter Luis Castillo, who was signed in the offseason to a 4-year deal. Although he is only 32 years old (which only sounds young in the steroids era), Castillo just had knee surgery and has been appreciably slowing down for some time. He has zero pop in his bat and is a serious health concern. This was true last season and it is more true this season. Although there are a few old bench players capable of manning second base, the team's only young replacement player, Ruben Gotay, was inexplicably released before the start of the season and is now an Atlanta Brave. In other words, there was no legitimate second option at second either.

Meanwhile, left fielder Moises Alou and former ace Pedro Martinez both finished off last season as guys who could still play when they could actually play but were unable to play most of the time. Both were uber-injury prone and had missed large swaths of the 2007 season. Both players have stayed true to form this year, playing well during the brief periods that they've actually been healthy enough to take the field. Back-up plans in this case? Although Angel Pagan played better than anyone had a right to expect when the season started, the Mets have already played Fernando Tatis in 21 games this season and Nelson Figueroa started 6 times. Those two are not exactly the sort of insure policies that a club would have if they didn't expect too older, injury-waiting-to-happen sort of players to go against their recent history and stay healthy all year long.

Such inaction and wishful thinking is evident up and down the roster after one gets past the acquisition of Santana. And, while this isn't the place (yet) to indict Minaya for constructing this team with less care than a high-rise crane it is worth noting that Randolph had been held accountable to the expectations of the 2006 club (and, yup, it sure looks like that was the year for this team) with a 2008 club that is older and not nearly as deep as the one his bosses supplied him back then.

So, not only do I not think that the current baseball circumstances (i.e. team record) dictate firing Randolph but I surely don't think that he is the one who is responsible for this team's current straits.

But, even if I did feel that Randolph deserved to go, I would never have wanted to see him treated like he has been treated in the last 72 hours. He has been dangled on a line by his former employers, asked to go out and win ballgames (which he has) while being subjected to the humiliation of being trotted out in front of colleagues and a media corps. that already know he is about to be cut loose. In the past few days I felt like he handled it well, I particularly enjoyed the way he called out Adam Rubin of the Daily News for his transparent Art Howe questions after Friday night's win over the Rangers.

And, it is on this score, the treatment of Randolph, that Minaya and the Mets organization have doomed themselves. They have turned even those who were actively calling for Willie's ouster, whether in their newspaper columns, their talk radio shows or just passing the time in a folding lawn chair on the sidewalk in front of their houses, against them. Minaya and the Wilpons have turned Willie into a martyr.

The Mets organization had Randolph fly across the country, from New York to Anaheim. They had him board that cross-country flight on Father's Day, leaving behind his family, so that he could manage one last game, which he won over a first-place team incidentally. They had him fly across the country so that they could fire him away from the fans and do so late enough to miss the back pages and front pages of the local papers the next day. They fired him after he got back to the hotel from the Angels Stadium. After a win in a series opener. They fired him after he gave his postgame remarks and the beat reporters were all tucked in their hotel beds. They fired him after he might have even relaxed, letting his guard down, knowing that he had his ace taking the hill the next evening and a good chance to win his second-straight series. They fired him after even those Mets fans who stayed up to watch the West coast game had gone to bed and after the last round of Sportscenter and Baseball Tonight broadcasts were taped at ESPN HQ in Bristol, CT.

And, why? Because Minaya thinks that he A) is smarter than you; B) doesn't owe you an explanation anyway; C) there can be no final public moment for Willie in a Mets uniform.

The Mets (Minaya and the Wilpons) has confused the public evaluation (or at least perceived evaluation) of Willie's performance with the public opinion of him as a man. Even those New Yorkers (and Jersey folks too) who felt like Willie had to be fired this season still respected him. They still knew that he had pulled himself up from Brooklyn to the heights of the America's Pastime. They knew that he was hard-working and honest and loyal (perhaps to a fault) and that he was the sort of guy that you would choose to mold the lives of young men. He was a Yankee. He was a Met. And, he took the Mets to the playoffs in his second season and got them within one swing of the pennant. He was from Brooklyn and he raised his family in North Jersey. For all these reasons, and for so many more, even those who wanted him stripped of his job never condoned him being stripped of his dignity. Of him being whisked away in the dead of night as if he had never been there at all. Even those who wanted a fresh start for this team still respected Willie. And they will not react kindly to the way this was handled.

As ESPN baseball writer Buster Olney wrote this morning, "Even the writers of The Sopranos could not have invented a more recklessly handled hit."

I couldn't agree more.

Forgetting that I disagree with firing Randolph at this particular time, the way in which this all played out after that decision was made was far worse than it ever had to be. And, this will only come back to haunt Minaya and the Wilpons. Those newspapermen and radio personalities are smart enough to know that this firing was orchestrated to cut them out of the loop, even if only for a few hours, and they will not take kindly to that. Those who otherwise would have welcomed this move will now only do so after qualifying their disdain for the way it went down and those who were undecided will rail against the churlishness of the Mets and the amateurish way they conduct their business.

The referendum on Omar Minaya starts in full-force this morning. And, he won't be able to keep it out of the papers any longer.

A Brief History of the Scariest Day of the Year

If a Friday should happen to fall upon the 13th of any given month then you're in trouble. We all are. Friday the 13th is considered a day of bad luck and danger in the U.S. of A. as well as most of Western Europe. Except in Italy, where they get all freaked out by Friday the 17th. Which is just crazy.

This superstition arose in part because of the unholy union of the number thirteen and Friday, which have each been considered unlucky for a really long time. So, that makes Friday the 13th like the exact opposite of peanut butter cups, which take two things that are great on their own - peanut butter and chocolate - and make one thing that is even better together.

The number 13 has been the unwelcome table guest at the all-numbers dinner party ever since Jesus's last Passover meal. Ever since that fateful meal - also known as the Last Supper by people who don't really know what Passover is - it has been considered terribly bad unlucky to have thirteen people seated at a table. The fear is that as soon as that last person pulls up a chair that one of the diners is doomed to die imminently. Another reason that mankind has been totally uncomfortable around the number 13 is that it is most decidedly not the number 12. Everyone loves the number 12. In numerology, the number 12 is considered the number of completeness. This is why there are 12 months of the year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 tribes of Israel and 12 Apostles of Jesus. Or, are there 12 of those things only because that number is completeness? Total mind blow. Remember, there is no spoon.

Either way, 13 is no good. Insofar as it is incomplete and may have played a larger role than Judas in the rucifiction-cay of a certain personal savior. And, this neatly brings us to Friday. Which was the day on which the aforementioned J.C. was crucified, possibly because of that whole 13-guests-at-a-table thing. Not surprisingly, Christians have viewed this day of the week a little skeptically ever since.

Of course, the holiday celebrated on the Friday during Easter weekend is called "Good" Friday. As ever, the Roman Catholic Church is ironic to the last. Those less versed in the actual lack of goodness of that day may have taken this whole good Friday thing a bit too literally and eventually opened up a chain of reasonably-priced restaurants called T.G.I. Friday's. Or they may not, but either way, there is something also ironic about naming a restaurant with an acronym that stands for "Thank God It's Friday" when, you know, Friday is very, very unlucky because that was the day that some people may, or may not (we're not here to debate the historical reality of any of this, just to deal with the anecdotal reality), have killed God's kid. So, this deity probably wouldn't be too keen on Fridays no matter how much he/she loved potato skins. Or, maybe I'm just over-thinking this.

And, from all of these mystical and religious underpinnings sprang that most spiritual of film cycles: the Friday the 13th series featuring Jason Voorhees and all manner of nubile young men and women who are doomed to be mutilated (not too long after being titillated).

"A Boy Named Sasha"

(An oft-overlooked track from the Johnny Cash archives)





My papa left Slovenia when I was three
And he didn't leave much to ma and me
I was raised by Papa Smurf, Gepeto and Mufasa
Now, I don't blame him cause he run and hid
But the meanest thing that he ever did
Was before he left, he named me "Sasha."

Well, he must o' thought that is quite a joke
And it didn't help that he left us flat broke,
Depending on strangers, tu casa es mi casa?
Some folks would giggle and I'd get red
And some guy'd laugh but my defense'd get in his head,
I tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named "Sasha."

Well, I grew up tall and I grew up mean,
My hair got long and my shot got keen,
I'd roam from court to court to hide my shame.
But I made a vow to the Dream Team's stars
That I'd search the pick-up games and groupie bars
And kill that man who gave me that awful name.

Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad
From a worn-out Skybox card that my mother'd had,
And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye.
He was big and bent and greasy and old,
And I looked at him and my game went cold
And I said: "My name is 'Sasha!'!
I get picked last, after Mbenga from Kinshasa!
Now your gonna die!!"

Well, I faked hard right hit a jumper in his eyes
And he went down, he took the charge to my surprise,
He could flop with the best and he had the ref's ear.
But when the zebra turned around I put a 'bow in his teeth
And we crashed to the stands, Nicholson got out his seat
Kicking and a' gouging, rolling in sweat and the beer.

I tell ya, I've fought All-NBA men
But I really can't remember when,
He kicked like the Worm and had Stockton's guile.
I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss,
He went for his ball but I wrapped it up first,
He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile.

And he said: "Son, this league is rough
And if a ballers gonna make it, he's gotta be tough
And I knew the Zen Master wouldn't let me help ya along.
So I give ya that name and I said goodbye
I knew you'd have to get tough or die
And it's the name that helped to make you strong."

He said: "Now you just played one hell of a game
And I know you hate me, and all the Lakers feel the same
To kill me now, or let me keep living as a dishwasher.
But ya ought to thank me, before I die,
For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye
Cause I'm the son-of-a-bitch that named you "Sasha'"

I got all choked up and I let down my hair
And I called him my pa, and he called me his son,
And I came away with a different point of view.
And I think about him, now and then,
Every time I try and every time I win,
And if I ever have a son, I think I'm gonna name him
Lamar or Pau! Anything but Sasha! I still hate that name!

Choose Your Own Adventure: Mbenga and Mindy

The Not So Final Word on How the NBA FInals Will Play Out

Part 1: The PreRamble
The boy's name, Didier, means "much-desired." It is of French origin, although he is not. The boy is from Zaire. In Africa. Or, he was from Zaire until Zaire became the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May 1997 after a Civil War was partially triggered by the ongoing genocide in neighboring Rwanda. Hutu and Tutsi groups within Zaire emulated their Rwandan brethren and various nearby parties -- from the tribal to the corporate -- used this internal strife to seek their personal profit in the natural resource rich country in the heart of the African continent.

A world away that very same month Phil Jackson was coaching Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls past the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Heat were a surprise guest on Jackson's dance card after riding a despicable play by power forward P.J. Brown and a draconian ruling of the NBA, regarding a brief on-court fracas that had resulted from Brown tossing Knicks point guard Charlie Ward into the stands at the end of blowout Knicks victory, to a bid in the Conference Finals.

However, it would be years before Phil Jackson would encounter our young hero. It would be years before young Didier would, in fact, help Jackson battle a team featuring the very same P.J. Brown. After all, young Didier Ilunga Mbenga was only sixteen years old in 1997. His father worked for the government that was losing it's grip on the country that had been Zaire all his life. When the new regime assumed power those connected to the previous party were hunted down. At best they were imprisoned, for life. At worst, they were executed. Young Didier and his father were both imprisoned. It was a crime for this teenager to be his father's son.

Unable to save himself, Didier's father negotiated on behalf of his son, who like him was slated for the executioner. The teenager fled the country, boarding a plane to Belgium where he received asylum. Forced to start from scratch in a strange land, Didier found solace in a new game: basketball. Discovered by Belgian hoops hero Willy Steveniers while playing at the refugee center where he lived, the increasingly large Mbenga worked his way from a refugee camp to the Belgian professional leagues.

After five seasons playing pro ball in Belgium, Mbenga emigrated to the United States during the 2004-2005 season and was signed by the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. Although the timeline doesn't exactly sync up there are rumors (or at least there might be after this) on the Internets that his first year in the NBA was actually the source material for Eddie Murphy's 1988 film Coming to America. All in all, Mbenga's first season was less memorable than the film. He appeared in only 15 games for the Mavericks that season, tallying 15 points, 13 personal fouls and 8 rebounds. Still, he was brought back by the team the following season.

And that was when his biggest moment in a Mavericks uniform (even though he was actually in street clothes and deactivated for the game in question) occurred. Oddly it came off the court rather than on it. During Game 4 of the 2006 Western Conference Finals in Phoenix, Mbenga thought he saw Dallas Coach Avery Johnson's wife being disturbed by some fans. He, allegedly, went into the stands with Mavs owner Mark Cuban to help Mrs. Johnson out of the situation and into the Dallas locker room. Regardless of his intentions, the NBA's Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson suspended him for six games without pay. The full duration of those six games lasted longer than the sum total of the minutes (241) that Mbenga had played during the entire 2005-2006 regular season.

When asked about watching the Finals (where the Mavs advanced after dispatching the Suns in seven games) from home, Mbenga remarked, "Sometimes, I can't watch. When I start watching, especially when Diop or Erick have foul trouble, I get mad. I might shoot the TV."

Thanks to such demonstrated acts of loyalty (or perhaps in spite of them) Mbenga signed a three-year contract extension with Dallas during the offseason. Of course, he was then waived by the team midway through the 2006-2007 campaign so that they could sign Juwan Howard. Which was nice.

After a spending the early phases of the 2007-2008 season on the bench of the Golden State Warriors under the direction of his old coach in Dallas, Don Nelson, he was waived by that team too. And, most fortunate for everyone involved -- more fortunate than they yet even know -- D.J. Mbenga was signed to a 10-day contract by the Los Angeles Lakers on January 21, 2008. Later the next month, the Lakers signed Mbenga for the rest of the 2007-2008 season. He appeared in 26 games for Los Angeles, playing a total of 195 minutes in the famed purple and gold. He scored 64 points, blocked 16 shots and developed a small-but-fierce cult following as the team plowed through one of the toughest conference races in years en route to the NBA Finals. And it was there that Fate would have him make his stand.

STAY TUNED TO FIND OUT HOW THIS TWISTING TALE OF HEROISM AND WOE ENDS

Part 2: The Finals

Game 1:
The Lakers are the favorites to win the 2008 NBA Finals when the lead official lofts the ball into the air at halfcourt of the TD Bank-Something-Or-Other Center in Boston, Massachusetts. And, when Paul Pierce went down beneath his own basket early in the third quarter it seemed like that favored-status was secure, if not absolutely mandated by the basketball gods. However, Pierce made a (melo)dramatic comeback later in the period and led his team to victory. Obscured by the Pierce's performance was the overall physical and mental domination that the Celtics had throughout the game, even when they were trailing by five at the half. Kevin Garnett tied Kobe for the game-high in points (24) and bested everyone on the floor with his game-high level of intensity (the much-heralded but little-seen 110%). His intensity may be the most obvious thing to note about Garnett but there is a reason for that. The Celtics fed of his early aggressiveness (8 points in the first quarer) and played with a mean streak throughout the game. The Celtics dominated the glass, 46-33, and controlled the interior on both ends of the court. The frontcourt matchups were dominated by the men in green. Radmonovic was a non-factor, Gasol couldn’t match Garnett’s strength and Odom, who grabbed just six rebounds, was either too small against Perkins or Garnett or was too slow against Pierce. D.J. Mbenga didn’t see any time for the Lakers.

The Celtics were breathing fire while Kobe and co. were sputtering exhaust. It was this fire in their green and white bellies that allowed Boston to keep focused when Pierce went down midway through the third session. In fact, the Celtics actually took their first lead of the second half while Pierce was out of action. He left the game with his team trailing by four points. When he returned several minutes (real-time minutes) later he stepped onto the court just before Ray Allen sank the second of two free-throws to put the home team up by 2 points. Now, this shouldn’t take away from Pierce’s performance down the stretch — those back-to-back three pointers were HUGE. But the way that quarter played out practically and not just emotionally should show that the Celtics showed up with a greater physical and mental toughness than their opponents in Game 1.

Game 2
Buoyed by their Game 1 result and the presence of not-so-injured Paul Pierce in the starting lineup the Celtics again tried to come out the aggressors in Game 2. On the other side of the ball, however, the Lakers seemed a bit more fleet of foot and proud in spirit in the first quarter. Gasol looked at least interested in matching Garnett’s energy, scoring six first quarter points. And Kobe looked more assertive and more like an MVP rather than a Jamal Crawford-esque gunner.

Alas as the game wears on into the second and third quarters it becomes patently clear that the Lakers have no physical presence to speak of. Kobe certainly doesn’t bring such a presence to this team the way that Shaq's literally and metaphorically anchored the most recent Laker championship squads. Gasol is too slight and Odom only can use his size to his advantage when he can be matched up against another team’s small forward. And, while it’s true that Derek Fisher could be considered strong for his position it must be remembered that his “strength” stands 6-1 and weighs 185 pounds. Meanwhile, the Celtics have size and muscle to spare, bringing players like Leon Powe and P.J. Brown off the bench. Powe, in particular flexes his way through a scene-stealing cameo. His exuberance and will to get to the rim highlight the emotionless and toothless play of the Lakers jump-shooting attack and vacuous defense in the paint. This is a particular problem because with Kobe and Vujacic the Lakers can at least count on hitting some shots. There is no such hope for their defense to be gleaned from what has transpired so far.

The LA frontcourt almost always seems to be in a mismatch that works in the favor of the other team. Vladimir Radmanovic seems particularly ill-suited for this series thus far. Not only does he prevents Lamar Odom from playing the 3-spot, which, in turn, forces the Odom/Gasol combo to matchup on Perkins/Garnett, but his erratic, one-dimensional 3-point shooting game spoiled the team's best rally and landed them squarely in too-little, too-late territory.

The lack of strong interior play means that the Lakers are dependent on long-range shots. Or, to be more precise, they are dependent on Kobe hitting long-range shots will blanketed in pesky defenders. And, even though they hit enough in the waning moments to reduce a twenty point lead to two points with less than a minute to play they did not depart Boston's Logan International Airport with any sense of confidence. They are bruised and battered. They couldn't tell how they felt. And, they were unrecognizable to their fans.

Game 3
Returning to Los Angeles, the shine has come off of this Lakers team. The city knows that Game 3 is do-or-die. Which is not the way this was supposed to be. This series was supposed to be two-parts nostalgia trip to the 1980s, two-parts dramatic ratings boon for ABC and four-parts coronation of Kobe as the MVP-who-could. However, Kobe has gone from all-powerful MVP to erratic streak-shooter. Gasol has gone from manna-from-Memphis to a swift power-forward masquerading as a center, who taking a beating from Celtics and doesn’t seem to have the bulk to anchor the interior of the defense. Odom has been timid and altogether unable to maximize his unique combination of size and quickness. Not only are the Lakers down 2 games to nil but they’ve been getting bullied.

In the hours before tip-off Lakers coach and guru Phil Jackson wanders the bowels of the Staples Center with a dog-eared copy of his favorite book, Robert M. Pirisg’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance tucked into the left front pocket of his corduroy blazer. He is at a loss. And his team has two of them because of it.

The corridor down which he has been walking turns sharply to the left and the ends abruptly. He can't remember having ever been down this way before, even though he has spent the better part of the last X years of his life in this very building. There is a doorway on left side and a doorway on his right side. He pauses, unsure which door to choose. Bright light leaks from the edges of the door to his right and the faint prattle of excited voices can be heard as well. Meanwhile the door to his left offers only silence.

Which Door Should Phil choose?

He reaches for the door to his left, choosing the dark unknown over, what he fears may be, the bright lights and incessant questions of the media. However, the door to his left is locked. He pivots on his right foot, starting to turn back towards the right door to see if it is unlocked.

And, that's when it dawns on him: Knock on the door. Phil is someone not accustomed to knocking. After all, a lot of doors open for you when you've got ten championship rings. He's not someone who often has to ask for help with anything, even if it's the simple act of opening a locked door from the inside. His first thought is to something the way he planned. If that doesn’t pan out then his second thought is to do something entirely different. But one look at the light from flashing flashbulbs pooling beneath the door across the hall gives him pause. Desperate times do call for desperate measures. Phil knocks on the door on the left side.

His knocks reverberates through this corridor somewhere beneath the parquet floor of the Staples Center. It is answered by silence. But soundlessly, without the clickety-clack of locks unlocking or without the knob visibly turning the door swings inward.

Phil walks through the doorway, having no choice now that he has chosen this left-door adventure. Inside the lights are dim but apparently sensor-activated. They brighten with each step he takes into the interior of the chamber. There are two men inside. One is impossibly large while the other is possibly large but decidedly smaller than his companion.

It is Lakers reserve center D.J. Mbenga and Lakers Assistant Coach Kurt Rambis. They're watching two televisions. One replays film from the Game 2 played just hours ago in Boston while the other shows Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals.

...To Be Continued

TALE OF THE TAPE: Lakers versus Celtics

To pick up a newspaper this morning or to turn on the television in the past few days you would think that Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics meeting in the 2008 NBA Finals had been preordained by Nostradamus in his Les Propheities in 1555, just after he called the French Revolution and the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Or that this matchup and had been discovered encrypted in the five books of the Torah using the equidistant letter sequence method that revealed, among other things predicted in this "Bible Code", the 1995 assassination of the Israeli Prime Minister.

From ancient times it might seem that this matchup was fated against all odds. You'd think Magic Johnson actually bowed out of the game of his own volition and not due to an illness that he may, or may not, actually have in order to sow the seeds for the team that treads the boards in LA today.You'd think that the Basketball Jesus had made this matchup so after turning all the water in Canseco Fieldhouse into wine to lament the lost season under his watch.

So slanted is the coverage and so epic is the hype that you might even think that former Laker great Jerry West would have held behind-closed-door meetings in order to send the best player from Memphis to Los Angeles to push his old team over the top and that Kevin McHale would have done the same in Minneapolis for his Celtics. Oh, wait. Those last two did actually happen. Nevermind.

Well, whether it was massive collusion or the work of the gods, it has come to pass: The Lakers of Los Angeles (by way of Minneapolis) are taking on the Celtics of Boston for the 2008 championship of the National Basketball Association. So, let's get to know them both and see how they measure up with one another:

Regular Season Wins:
Lakers: 66
Celtics
Edge: Celtics. Yes, the (L)East was the weaker conference but there ain't two ways about, 66 games is a lot.

Regular Season Margin of Victory:
Lakers: +7.3
Celtics: +10.3
Edge: Celtics. They were running teams off the floor in the regular season from jumpstreet. It took the Lakers a lot longer to get themselves rolling, to realize they were a championship caliber team.

Postseason Seed:
Lakers: 1
Celtics: 1
Edge: Lakers. The West this year was as powerful as any conference we've seen in years.

Playoff Wins:
Lakers: 12
Celtics: 12
Edge: Even. They both got here. Now, it's just a race for those next four.

Playoff Losses:
Lakers: 3
Celtics: 8
Edge: Lakers. This is the key number. It took the Celtics five more games to reach the Finals. And they were supposed to be taking the "easier" route through the East. Of course, with a team making it's first run through May and June together it could be argued that the Celtics will benefit from this time together. It could also, and more convincingly, be argued that the Lakers are rolling because they're just that good.

Playoff Margin of Victory:
Lakers: +6.4
Celtics: +4.3
Edge: Lakers. These numbers are confusing because Boston has tended to win blowouts at home and lose tight games on the road (or at home). Meanwhile the Lakers have been consistently winning by almost the same margin as in the regular season, which shows they've appropriately upped their game to the level of competition.

Average Points Scored, Regular Season:
Lakers: 108.6
Celtics: 100.3
Edge: Lakers. Although both teams scored the way they needed to given the style of play in their respective conferences, the Lakers put up more points against better teams.

Average Points Scored, Postseason:
Lakers: 105.9
Celtics: 91.6
Edge: Huge edge for the Lakers. Here is the big question facing the Celtics: Can they score enough points? Ray Allen is scuffling and Kevin Garnett is primarily a jump-shooter. Can Pierce cancel out Kobe? Can Posey and House score enough off the bench to offset whatever the Lakers are going to get from Vujacic and Farmar?

Average Points Allowed, Regular Season:
Lakers: 101.3
Celtics: 90.3
Edge: Celtics. They were the premier defensive team in the league this season.

Average Points Allowed, Postseason:
Lakers: 99.5
Celtics: 87.3
Edge: Celtics. See above.

Leading Scorer, Regular Season:
Lakers: Kobe Bryant, 28.3 PPG (3)
Celtics: Paul Pierce, 19.6 (30)
Edge: Lakers, but not by as much as people think. Kobe is the game's preeminent scorer but Pierce can fill it up and create his own shot. Remember he out-dueled Lebron in Game 7 of the (L)Eastern Semi-Finals.

Leading Scorer, Postseason:
Lakers: Kobe Bryant, 31.9 PPG
Celtics: Kevin Garnett, 21.1 PPG
Edge: Lakers. When it come to scoring the ball the answer is Kobe every time. He's the leading scorer in these playoffs. He's shown the ability to take over playoff games down the stretch, just ask the Spurs. If the Celtics hope to win this series Paul Pierce move the needle on this category to EVEN. Still, it's worth noting that KG has upped his output in the postseason. He needs to be aggressive and outscore Gasol.

Team Free Throw Attempts Per Game, Regular Season:
Lakers: 27.7 FTPG
Celtics: 26.5
Edge: Lakers. On the right night Kobe can take 20 free throw attempts on his own and on a "bad" night the Lakers still have two starters (Kobe, Odom) who can create their own shot and therefore get to the line at will. The Celtics only have one (Pierce).

Team Free Throw Attempts Per Game, Postseason:
Lakers: 29.5 FTAPG
Celtics: 25.0 FTPG
Edge: Lakers, going away. The Lakers have increased their already gaudy regular season total to a playoff best-29.5 attempts per game while the Celtics have backtracked.

Team Rebounds Per Game, Regular Season:
Lakers: 44.1
Celtics: 42.0
Edge: Lakers. With Odom and Gasol aggressively and swiftly going to the offensive boards the Celtics will need to limit the Lakers to just one shot attempt each time down the floor.

Team Rebounds Per Game, Playoffs:
Lakers: 40.5
Celtics: 39.4
Edge: Slight edge to Celtics. The Lakers are playing far more possessions than the Celtics and should have a wider margin here.

Leading Rebounder, Regular Season:
Lakers: Lamar Odom, 10.6 RPG
Celtics: Kevin Garnett, 9.2 RPG
Edge: Even. Rebounding is going to be huge in this series and both teams have players capable of dominating the glass and hauling down 20+ on any given night. Both these players need to have double-doubles throughout the series for their team to have a chance.

Leading Rebounder, Postseason:
Lakers: Lamar Odom, 10.3 RPG
Celtics: Kevin Garnett, 9.8 RPG
Edge: Even. See Above

Leader in Minutes, Regular Season:
Lakers: Kobe Bryant, 38.9 MPG
Celtics: Paul Pierce & Ray Allen, 35.9 MPG
Edge: Celtics. Thanks to so many blowouts in the regular season the Big Three was able to take it easy down the stretch a few times a week. The question is whether or not the used up all that reserve energy after playing so many more games than the Lakers in the postseason.

Leader in Minutes, Postseason:
Lakers: Kobe Bryant, 40.5 MPG
Celtics: Kevin Garnett, 38.0 MPG
Edge: Lakers. For starters, Kobe is so pathologically driven to win that I honestly don't believe that fatigue is an in-game factor for him as much as for others. However, even if it is, it is important to remember that Kobe has average 40.5 minutes over 15 games while KG has average 38 minutes over 20 games. The Lakers should be fresher, even the guy who is always on the court.

Leader in 3-point Shots Made, Regular Season:
Lakers: Kobe Bryant, 150
Celtics: Ray Allen, 180
Edge: Slight Edge Celtics. Even though Ray Allen has struggling mightily at points in these playoffs he still has the best stroke I've seen this side of Allan Houston. Kobe is a streak shooter from deep who just seems to make deep, contested, line-drive shots by sheer force of will.

Leader in 3-point Shots Made, Postseason:
Lakers: Kobe Bryant & Sasha Vujacic tied with 23
Celtics: Ray Allen, 33 3PM (followed by Paul Pierce with 32)
Edge: Celtics. I don't doubt that the Celtics are better equipped to shoot the three-pointer over the course of a game, but are they better equipped to hit the big, dagger 3 in the fourth?

Leader in Assists, Regular Season:
Lakers: Kobe Bryant, 5.4 APG
Celtics: Rajon Rondo, 5.1 APG
Edge: Celtics. There's something to be said for division of labor and defined roles. You want your point guard to be spreading the ball around the floor. And, not the guy who has been known as one of the game's most selfish players. Kobe has shown (Game 7 of that series against the Suns a few years ago and in countless regular season games) that he can lose sight of the big picture when switching from his passive to aggressive modes. It's a fine thing that he has learned to give up the ball to his teammates but not a fine thing that they have to depend upon him to get them the ball.

Leader in Assists, Postseason:
Lakers: Kobe Bryant, 5.8 APG
Celtics: Rajon Rondo, 6.6 APG
Edge: Celtics. And, bigger than in the regular season. Rondo has upped his number of assists while playing fewer possessions and ceding some time to Sam I Am.

Leader in Steals, Regular Season:
Lakers: Kobe Bryant, 1.84 SPG
Celtics: Rajon Rondo, 1.68 SPG
Edge: Even. Although the Lakers may have the better overall thief I will pull the C's even here thanks to their overall team defense orchestrated by defensive guru Tom Thibedeau.

Leader in Steals, Posteason:
Lakers: Derek Fisher, 2.27 SPG
Celtics: Rajon Rondo, 1.80
Edge: Lakers. Having the stronger veteran D'ing up Rondo is a huge advantage for the Lakers.

Leader in Blocked Shots, Regular Season:
Lakers: Ronny Turiaf, 1.38 BPG
Celtics: Kevin Garnett, 1. 25 BPG
Edge: Celtics since Turiaf doesn't start and I don't see him earning enough minutes to have that marked a shot-blocking presence in this series.

Leader in Blocked Shots, Postseason:
Lakers: Pau Gasol, 2.47 BPG
Celtics: Kendrick Perkins, 1.35 BPG
Edge: Huge edge for LA. Gasol is long and active in the paint. He's an All-Star. Mr. Perkins? Not quite.

Leader in Personal Fouls, Regular Season:
Lakers: Lamar Odom, 2.9 FPG
Celtics: Paul Pierce, 2.5 FPG
Edge: Slight Edge Celtics. While neither team can afford to go without these two I really do think that Odom's defense (either on Pierce or KG) is the key to the Lakers success and his proclivity for drawing fouls could be a factor in this series.

Leader in Personal Fouls, Postseason:
Lakers: Lamar Odom, 3.3 FPG
Celtics: Kendrick Perkins, 3.5 FPG (Pierce is at 3.3 FPG)
Edge: Even. With PJ Brown and Posey on the bench and KG's ability to defend the 5-spot, Perkins is expendable. Pierce and Odom are not, though.

Leader in Comedic Film Characters In Uniform:
Lakers: Fletch, Chevy Chase
Celtics: Celtic Pride, starring Dan Aykroyd, Damon Wayans and Daniel Stern
Edge: Lakers, by a long shot

OVERALL EDGE
Lakers: 14
Celtics: 12
Even: 5
Lakers Win in 6 Games. Nostradamus totally called it.

Happy Cinco De Mayo

If you needed an excuse to drink a post-work margarita or order takeout from that great Mexican place near your house then you'll be pleased to know today is Cinco de Mayo.

Little known fact, today is NOT actually the Mexican independence day (which is in September), rather it is anniversary of a victory over French soldiers in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. This battle only slowed down the French, though, who would occupy Mexico City just one year later. Moreover, Cinco de Mayo is not celebrated throughout Mexico. Although it is commemorated in the state of Puebla where the battle took place it is really an American holiday that spread from Southern California to tex-mex chain restaurants around the country. Americans took to the holiday because it brought together our disparate loves for salsa, pinatas and seeing the French lose at stuff.

The Knicks Are Like the Dream Team

Insofar as Isiah Thomas is Not Allowed to Contact Them

Isiah Thomas knows all about the ol' freeze out. He's done the freezing and he's been frost bit before. As the story goes Isiah Thomas was the ring leader in the East locker room prior to the 1985 NBA All-Star Game. In this capacity he convinced his teammates, including Moses Malone, Larry Legend, Dr. J, Bernard King and the Chief, to keep the ball out of the hands of a rookie from the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan. Thomas's reason for this was that he felt like the young scorer was getting an inordinate amount of media attention for someone who hadn't paid his dues yet. You might have heard of this Jordan character. Well, apparently he was a bit of competitor and he didn't take kindly to being locked out of the offense. In fact, he held that grudge for decades.

When the IOC amended their rules so as to allow professional basketball players to participate in the 1992 Olympics the whole sporting world was aflutter with the possibilities. The NBA was in a golden era and the spots on the team were priceless. Chuck Daly was named the head coach of the squad and the roster was assembled. The starting center was Patrick Ewing (of course). The starting power forward was Karl Malone. The starting small forward was Charles Barkley. The starting shooting guard was Michael Jordan. And the starting point guard? It sure as hell wasn't Isiah Thomas. It was Magic Johnson. And the backup point guard? Isiah? Nope. It was John Stockton.

This time, as the tale is told, Michael Jordan was the one doing the freezing out. And Isiah was the one out in the cold. He was passed over by the United States men's national basketball team in spite of recently leading the Pistons to back-to-back titles in the years leading up to the Games. He was passed over in spite of the fact that he was undeniably one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game. He was passed over in spite of the fact that his own coach was calling the shots.

He missed out on one of the defining moments for a generation of ballers because he was so selfishly short-sighted in that 1985 All-Star Game. He missed out because his petty jealousy incited him to use his Napoleonic sway as PG in that game to try to take down a kid who had done nothing wrong other than score points as a rookie. And, don't get me wrong, I hate Michael Jordan as much as you can actually hate a professional athlete that you don't know. But, I'd take his side in this battle.

And, as usual, Jordan wins in this rivalry too. Yeah he only got off 9 shot attempts as a starter in his first All-Star Game appearance but he also led the most celebrated team possibly in the history of sport and participated in what could only have been some of the most dramatic high-stakes poker games in the history of gambling during those weeks in Spain.

So, Isiah must have felt a familiar feeling when new Knicks Team President Donnie Walsh informed him the other day that he was prohibited from making any contact with any players on the Knicks roster or coaches on the coaching staff. He must have had a little deja vu. Because he's been here before. He's been told to stay away from team's he felt, in one case rightly and in the other wrongly, that he should have been on. He knows what it's like to not be welcome. To be frozen out.

The karmic paybacks are just starting for Isiah Lord Thomas. He tried to hold down Jordan. Talk about your all-time backfires. He tried to run the Knicks for his own vanity rather than for the fans and for the players. He stubbornly insisted that he would never quit or change even if the circumstances seemed to beg either or both of those moves. And, now his bluff has been called. He has been stripped of his titles. He's likely had to give up all of his office space. He can't show up at the Garden unless he's coming to report to Walsh. He is barred from contact with anyone other Walsh. And his bold proclamations about never quitting, ever, will force him to be powerlessly present as his work is undone. His refusal to admit failure will allow him to be even further humiliated by Walsh who can now use him as an errand boy and doesn't seem shy about doing so, already mentioning that Isiah will be available to be sent to Europe if there is a prospect to be seen.

That example of the sort of task that Isiah could be assigned is particularly hilarious given the complete lack of European scouting that occurred under his stewardship. And, this is why I have no problem with the fact that Isiah hasn't been totally fired from the organization. In fact, I like this even better. He's been stripped of all power and now only has accountability, something that he never had before. Now he is Donnie Walsh's basketball concierge. That is a far more shameful fate than simply being fired. If he'd been fired he could have just left town. He could have potentially even moved on to another pursuit (probably not a NBA job) and distanced himself from the past few years of his life. That isn't an option now.

He's stuck, frozen in fact, by his refusal to quit. He's not allowed to talk to the players who he coached and hired because of how poorly he has been known to handle himself. Walsh doesn't want Isiah whispering poisoned somethings in the ears of Jamal Crawford or any other Knicks who may still foolishly trust him. He doesn't want him turning the Knicks locker room against whomever the new coach is in the same way that he turned that 1985 All-Star Game locker room against Jordan.

"This House Is Clean"

Isiah Thomas Is Removed As Knicks Coach

A poltergeist has been exercised from the World's Most Famous Arena. Isiah Thomas will no longer be haunting the sidelines at the Garden. He will no longer be allowed to move around the furniture (or the personnel) while everyone is soundly asleep.

Donnie Walsh made the inevitable announcement late yesterday afternoon that Isiah would not return as coach next season. Everyone knew it just had to be coming. I mean, just look at the last year of his terrible tenure. But we all wanted it so bad that we were afraid that it wouldn't happen. We were so beaten down by the past seven seasons, by everything that has happened from the day that Patrick was traded to Seattle right through the way that Mike Dunleavy carved us up for 36 points for the third time this season. Non-Knicks fans would tease about the possibility that lil' Jimmy Dolan would somehow get Isiah a stay of execution for one more season. When Kiki Vandeweghe was rumored for the gig that Walsh ended up taking the papers reported that Isiah's staying on was a condition of the tentative deal. But Kiki wasn't an Academic All-American at UCLA by accident and he walked away.

And, clearly there was no way that the ol' pro from the Bronx was going to sign on to start with one hand tied behind his back. Walsh knows this city enough to know that if he took the helm of the S.S.Knickerbocker and didn't fire Isiah immediately that we would leave port next season with a breach already in the hull. He'd be taking on water and losing fan support from day one if he didn't make that move. He knew that by firing Isiah he would gain the goodwill of the citizenry and that he would be given a free pass for early struggles because those struggles would be growing pains rather than death throes.

Growing pains and death throes. That will be the difference between next season and last season. Because Isiah Thomas is gone (at least from sight if not from the payroll) this ballclub can move forward. For the first time in a long time, something went the way it was supposed to. Something went the way that we had hoped.

And, after seeing how quickly and clinically Walsh removed Isiah from this position one can even hope to see things being done the right way from here on out.

"I can't really tell you where he failed with the club. I think that we reached a point this season when our team didn't compete for a long time," new team president Donnie Walsh said. "The bottom line is that we haven't won and the team didn't look like it was motivated to try to win and be competitive."~Donnie Walsh on demoting Isiah Thomas