The NBA: Where Tony Parker is Unimpressed by the Hawks Home Court Win Streak

Random thoughts about last nights loss:

1. You could look at Tony Parker's 42 point 10 assist night and easily come to the conclusion that Mike Bibby did a horrible job defending him, but you shouldn't look at it that way. Let's be honest, no one expected Bibby to contain Parker (if you did then you clearly don't watch Hawks games) we only hoped he'd do an admirable job. He didn't, but that's fine because like I said no one expected him to do so anyway. It's not all Bibby fault. The Hawks front line did little to hinder Parker's layup drills.
2. We/Everyone raves about Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Steve Nash as great point guards and they are very good, but Tony Parker's name should be mentioned among if not before them. Parker is really good when he has Duncan and Ginobili alongside him. Parker is borderline great when he's missing one of them. He may not average double digit assists (although 7 assists is nothing to hang your head about) but I defy you to name a point guard who can get to the rim and finish as well as Parker. The thing that sets him apart the most from his peers is he has several championship rings and a Finals MVP. I'm sure he'd rather win another championship than win the adulation of the media, so people can go ahead and continue ignoring him.
3. Joe needs a killer instinct. He sorta has one sometimes, but not really. He has to realize when certain players just can't guard him. Each "offensive set" took him about 9 seconds too long to come to the conclusion that he could take Ime Udoke off the dribble pretty much at will. He needs to recognize these things sooner. That being said, he missed a ton of shots that he probably wouldn't miss any other night. He still finished with 30 points on 13-23 shooting. Somehow he had a +/- of -10. See why I don't pay attention to +/-? I don't understand it.
4. When I thought about this match up as Al Horford's chance to go up against the player I hope he turns into one day, I wasn't talking about Drew Gooden........ Al's 2-9 shooting does nothing to help my case that the offense should run through him. But, much like Joe he missed shots he'd normally make so I won't fret.
5. One of the security ladies noticed Tim Duncan wasn't playing so she wondered why the Spurs were winning. I explained to her that it's because their coach is far superior to our/most coaches. He actually had what we'll just call a "game plan" and he went about getting his team to execute it.

The NBA: Where Joe Johnson continues to be unimpresssed by All-Star guards not named Joe Johnson

Joe The Basketball Player has been awesome lately. Yesterday he was so good I found myself yelling "Take him Joe, he can't guard you" at everyone on Portland's team who attempted to guard him. In fairness to Portland, the game was played at 10:00 their time so they were probably a teeny bit tired. Oh well, them's the breaks.

Back to Joe..


He's got that Bruce Leroy, Last Dragon kinda Glow.







I just had to re-post this picture. It's just an awesome shot that I found on Yahoo after the Utah game. It's fitting because Joe has been glowing over the past week. He's done it all. Drives to the basket, killer crossovers followed by step back 15 footers, 3 pointers (yesterday not so much) and he still has the time to rack up a handful of assists. So unselfish. When going over the list of players I thought needed to step up in Marvin's absence Joe was like 4th on that list which doesn't really make sense considering he's the best player on the team. I guess I should kinda expect the best player on the team to do best player on the team things when their team needs it. For weeks I've been waiting on Joe to have one of those "there's no way in hell we're losing THIS game tonight" games. He's had four of them in a row. Thanks for your cooperation Joe.

Wimbledon, Yankees, Agent Zero

Just a few quick thoughts:

The Wimbledon Final between Federer and Nadal was AMAZING! It looked like Federer was going to get beat in straight sets, but then there was a little rain delay during the 3rd set and it kind of re energized him. (At least that's what the announcer eluded too) The truth is that the only reason Federer won sets 3 and 4 is because they were decided by a tiebreak. He could NOT break Nadal's serve today when he really needed to. He only broke him one time which is hard to believe because he's Roger freakin Federer. He just couldn't get that big shot against Nadal's serve. It was unbelievable! I knew as soon as Nadal broke him in the 5th set it was over. I think he knew it too deep down inside. This Sunday was the first Sunday in months that I didn't miss football season.

Yesterday in the women's Final Venus beat Serena. Venus is a beast on grass so I knew she'd win no matter how well Serena was playing.

The Yankees disgust me right now! In less than 25 days I'm going to Yankee Stadium to watch them play the Los Angeles Angels of Beverly Hills Anaheim California or whatever it is they call themselves these days and I fear by that time the Yankees might not be in the playoff race. How can the last season in Yankees Stadium as I know it end with anything less than a World Series ring?? I'll tell you how, because they can't hit and pitch on the same day. If they get a good outing by the starting pitcher they give him little to no run support. It's awful, just awful. And on top of all that, everyone is banged up. I'd be disappointed if they didn't make the playoffs no matter what season it is, but this season in particular it would be severely disappointing.

Gilbert Arenas is not worth $100 million. He just isn't. He's cute and funny and honest and quirky and a whole lot of other adjectives except franchise player. The Wizards finished with the same record without Arenas as they would have finished with if he were playing. That's just the truth, look it up. I just don't understand when a guy became worth $100 million just because he is the best player on YOUR team. There might be 5 players in the NBA who are legitimately worth $100 million and Gil is not among them. If you get that kind of money you HAVE to be able to take your team to the Finals. He can't even get his team out of the first round! And, he has a bum knee! Signing that contract means there are no more excuses. When you take franchise player money then you need to do franchise player things. I'm talking to you too J.O. and Rashard Lewis.

And Hawks fans have the nerve to say Josh isn't worth $65 million. Puhleeze! If Gil is worth $111 million then Josh is worth $65 million. Easily.