Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Alex's Game Plan


I have been an NBA fan throughout the nearly 20 (technically 19 and a half) years I have been on this Earth, and while I still love watching the NBA, there have been some issues recently that have crossed my mind as a fan. Now, as we enter the offseason, I would like to address some of them. 

1. Flopping


Flopping has always been a part of the NBA since Day 1. That's just fact. Teams have had specialists that take charges, or flop, depending on who you ask. Players like Derek Fisher (much as I still love him), Manu Ginobili, Vlade Divac, and Reggie Evans have all made careers out of flopping. To me, flopping has only gotten worse, and this year, it has gotten especially out of hand, with teams like the Clippers and Heat attempting to draw charges by flopping on most defensive plays. This is getting more and more blatant, and the NBA must put an end to it. 

My take: Penalize flopping by allowing the offensive team to inbound and restart possession from the time of the flop just like any normal foul, add flops in players' personal foul totals, and train officials to differentiate between an actual offensive foul and a flop. 

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Think Blue

Picture courtesy of Stamford Advocate

I realized, I haven't written nearly as much on my Dodgers as I had planned to. But, I have a good excuse for it, with the Kings' Stanley Cup run and NBA playoff coverage I've been doing. A lot has happened since the last time I wrote a Dodger article. My boy Matt Kemp has missed about a month and a half worth of games, but the Dodgers have held up well without him. These last few games, however, have been disastrous. First off, the Dodgers were humiliated, embarrassed in a sweep in Oakland at the hands of the A's, then to make it worse, the Mickey Mouse Club, I mean, the Angels, took 2 out of 3 in Anaheim over the weekend, taking the Freeway Series 4-2, with the two wins over the weekend coming after the Dodgers blew early leads. To top it all off, the Dodgers were demolished by our hated black and orange rivals by the Bay (I won't even say their fuckin' names, that's how much I hate them) 8-0. Now, as I write this, the Dodgers are locked in another critical game with that team up north, and our division lead down to just 2 games. 

Despite the anger that you saw in the last paragraph, I am staying positive. I know this is a very talented team that has been able to survive, and has held up well, without Matt in our lineup. I know what this team is capable of and what their potential is, which is why you saw some of my frustration in that last paragraph. Do I think we can win this series against the Giants, and the next one against the Mets? Absolutely, but we have to play smarter, more disciplined, get our offense going, and most of all, not make stupid decisions that allowed us to blow leads in the last series. We do that, we will pile up the wins like we have done for most of the year, and stay in 1st place. We don't do any of the things I just listed, well, I don't need to explain. 

Monday, June 25, 2012

NBA Finals Wrap-Up 2012


As readers of this blog know, I am not exactly the biggest fan of LeBron James. In fact, I have been very critical of him. However, all bias and hatred aside, he played the best basketball of his career in these NBA playoffs. He finally silenced everyone, myself included, who believed he would never win a ring. Admittedly, this is hard for me to write, but I want to be fair. I'm giving the man his due for his performance. I've always known he was capable of this, but he has failed to deliver on it, which is a big reason why I've been so critical of him in years past, and this year too, until it became apparent he was finally going to win last week. How do I feel? I have mixed feelings, to be completely honest. On one hand, I have to give LeBron his due the same way I've given it to Kobe, Shaq, Duncan, and Dirk in the past, which I have no problem with doing. But, on the other hand, seeing LeBron, Wade, and Bosh holding the trophy made me feel that their win justified the whole concept of superteams, and that everyone else in the league would try to copy it. Full disclosure, I've always thought superteams were entertaining for the fans, and created a lot of storylines, but I've also felt that they're bad for the sport as a whole. I'll talk more about the issues surrounding the NBA later, but for now, as much as it pains me to say it, congratulations, Miami.

And now, one last question with @Mel_Loves_LAL:

We all know LeBron's Finals MVP, but who's your under the radar MVP?
Mel: Without question Shane Battier.


Thanks Mel, for your analysis during these Finals, and most of all, for taking the time out of your day to do so. 

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Moment of Zen


Last night, on HBO's Real Sports, former Lakers coach Phil Jackson sat down with Andrea Kremer to discuss everything from the Lakers, to the Knicks and Heat, life after the NBA, and any possible chances he would some day come back to the NBA. In the interview, he made a number of interesting statements, to say the least.

On the Lakers: 

"Jim is a guy that saw Andrew as a kid and thought Bynum was going to be a great pick for our team. But in the process, I think he's wanted Andrew to have a bigger and bigger role, and I think he's hired his coach for Andrew to have a bigger and bigger role. And that kind of disjointed the symmetry of what the Lakers were really about this last year. Andrew is an All-Star center; he did a wonderful job. But what happened was it took Pau out of his game, and it took the team away from some of their game. So they changed the style dramatically." 

On Jim Buss taking control of the Lakers: 

"He wants to put his stamp on what he's going to do. And I think he's decided that he'll go in a different direction. He's got some ideas about how the game should progress, how talent should be picked up... He's a guy that believes a lot in statistics and in numbers and in stuff like that. I'm a guy that believes in what the product is and I see it, can touch and feel, watch (it) run up and down the court."

Those two statements, as a Laker fan, sum up how I feel about the Lakers at this moment. I feel that Pau was out of his game and out of his position because of the new emphasis on Andrew Bynum. Pau worked much better in the low post, but it seems to now be reserved for Bynum. I, personally, have not been a fan of Jim Buss' management style, and while Phil did not criticize Jim Buss, at least not openly, his statements about Jim did not ease my concerns about the team one bit. 

Phil also made a statement that caught my attention, particularly because of the influence he still holds in the NBA, despite being retired. He said, "I find myself watching hockey playoffs before basketball playoff games. Less commercials, more fun, much more action, yeah." He preceded that statement by saying, "Everything is done off the dribble. Everything is a screen-roll to a screen-roll to a screen-roll. So the innovation is very limited in what's going on." This speaks volumes about the state of the NBA today, when one of the NBA's most iconic figures, and to many people (including myself), the greatest coach in the history of the game says that. So, NBA, if you're listening, if Phil Jackson says your game lacks creativity, you need to work on it. 

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

NBA Finals Game 4: A Fan's Take


Another game, another game breakdown with Mel (Follow her on Twitter at @Mel_Loves_LAL). Miami overcame a 16 point deficit, and again held on to win, and now stand 1 win away from an NBA title. Game 5 is Thursday night at 6:00 (9:00 for the people out East). 

OK, this is a question that cannot be answered definitively or easily, but what is going on mentally with OKC?
Mel: In my opinion, the lack of experience, their frustration on missed foul calls, & all of the pressure that they are under has taken them out of their element and has forced them to try to be the great hero who silences the NBA's most hated villain. They are obviously not as ready for this moment as everyone thought they were.

What do you think has been Miami's greatest advantage this series (besides LeBron)?
Mel: Miami's greatest advantage thus far has been the stepping up of their role players namely Battier & Chalmers. They have been great for the Heat in this series. Miami seems to be locked in mentally. From the starting 5 all the way down the bench. That's a big plus for them.

What do you think the Thunder need to do in Game 5 to avoid elimination?
Mel: Everyone needs to play like they want it more than the Heat. They have to be locked mentally and focused on getting this series back on their home turf. They have to have the mentality that ALL of the remaining games are Game 7. Win or go home.

Last one, who wins on Thursday? 
Mel: I'm going to stay consistent with my pick. OKC wins Thursday.

Again, a special thanks to Mel Young for helping out again. 

Monday, June 18, 2012

NBA Finals Game 3: A Fan's Take


Here we are again with Mel (@Mel_Loves_LAL on Twitter) to break down another thrilling NBA Finals game. Game 3 was a fight to the finish, with Miami again surviving, this time on their home court, with Game 4 tomorrow night at 6:00 (9:00 for you East Coast people). 

Scale of 1-10, how concerned should OKC fans be after last night's game?
Mel: Definitely an 8. Not quite panic mode yet because OKC played their best game of the series last night, but still silly mistakes cost them the game.

Who do you think is the most overlooked player so far in this series?
Mel: Mario Chalmers. He's not producing major numbers on offense, but he's very tenacious on the defensive end of the floor and he  does the little things that don't show up on the stat sheet.

What do you think has been the biggest reason Harden has not played well? Is it nerves, good D by Miami, or a combination?
Mel: I'd say a combination of both, but moreso nerves. He's gone away from the player he was in the first 3 rounds. He's not attacking the rim enough or being aggressive enough. He's making bad decisions. He seems to be playing scared. It's not a good  sign for OKC. He's playing like he's not ready for this moment.

Last one, who wins tomorrow night?
Mel: OKC wins tomorrow night. It's do or die for them in my opinion. 

Thanks to Mel Young again for taking the time to do this. 

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Throwback of the Week: Lucky Luc


The Kings' Stanley Cup win on Monday night brought great joy and happiness to the Kings organization and Kings fans everywhere. But, one person in particular that was on the minds of fans everywhere, along with longtime announcers Bob Miller and Jim Fox, and scouts Ace Bailey and Mark Bavis, who were killed in the terrorist attacks on September 11, was Luc Robitaille. Luc is perhaps the most popular player in team history, and that's really saying something, considering that The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, played for the Kings for 8 seasons. If you don't believe me, just look at what the Kings wrote on his bio. What is more amazing than seeing Luc Robitaille finally raise the Stanley Cup as a King was how he got to this point. 

Luc Robitaille was an 18 year old from Quebec who was not valued very highly by NHL scouts. Many scouts believed he lacked skating ability. The only NHL team willing to take a chance on him was the Los Angeles Kings, who ended up selecting him with the 171st pick in the 9th round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. After a couple of years in the minor leagues, he made his Kings debut in 1986, and in his rookie season, scored 45 goals and dished out 39 assists for 84 points, enough to give him the 1986-87 Calder Trophy for Rookie of the Year. The following season, 1987-88, began a stretch of 6 straight seasons until 1993 where Luc was selected to the NHL All-Star Team and played in the NHL All-Star Game every year. Also, he helped lead the Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to Montreal 4-1. He was the team leader much of the season, as Wayne Gretzky battled injuries. After the 1993-94 season, Luc was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, then was traded again, this time to the New York Rangers in the after the 1995 season. After two seasons in New York, Luc returned to L.A. in a trade on August 28, 1997. In his return to L.A., he had somewhat of a career revival. In 4 seasons in his second stint with the Kings from 1997-2001, he made the NHL All-Star Second Team in 2001, and played in 2 All-Star Games (1999, 2001). Then, he signed with Detroit after the 2001 season, where in 2002, he won the Stanley Cup that eluded him 9 years earlier with the Kings. Then, in 2003, Luc returned to L.A. to play for the Kings for 2 more seasons, ending in his retirement in 2006. Since 2007, he has been the Kings' President of Business Operations, where he remains to this day. 

Mention great L.A. athletes, and you'll hear the usual: Kobe, Magic, Kareem, Jerry, Wayne. I believe that Luc Robitaille deserves to be among them. He overcame all kinds of odds to become the NHL's all time leading scorer among left wings (668 goals, 726 assists, 1394 points) and was inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009. Not bad for a kid who couldn't skate and had trouble with English when he first arrived in L.A. in 1986. In many ways, the story of Luc Robitaille personifies this Kings team. He was written off and no one gave him a chance, but he made up for it through hard work and determination. He was never the fastest skater or most athletic player in the NHL, but he had an amazing career despite those supposed obstacles, and now, he can finally raise Lord Stanley's Cup as a King. 

Good interview with Luc, talking about his life and career: 

Thursday, June 14, 2012

NBA Finals Game 2: A Fan's Take


Tonight, we continue the NBA Finals discussion with a Game 2 discussion with Mel (Follow her at @Mel_Loves_LAL on Twitter). Miami withstood a late OKC charge to even up the series at 1 a piece, with Game 3 coming Sunday at 5:00 (if you're in LA, 8:00 out East). 

What was the biggest difference between Games 1 and 2?
Mel: The biggest difference was definitely how Miami came out to start the game and how they mantained that focus. Dwyane Wade was much better than in Game 1.

I've never liked singling out players, as you know, but how much, on a scale of 1-10, did Westbrook affect OKC tonight?
Mel: I won't say he was the biggest problem, but he was a major part of it. I'd say an 8. He wants this so bad and I see it. I can also appreciate it, but at the same time, he needs to be smart about the decisions he makes. He's going to cost them this series if he doesn't play smarter.

Why do you think the Thunder keep getting off to slow starts in this series? Is it simply hustle/energy, or something else?
Mel: It's definitely their energy. They come out sluggish and lacking intensity. It's also nerves. They look so scared at times.

Which player has been the biggest surprise of the series and the biggest disappointment so far, after 2 games?
Mel: Thus far, the biggest surprise has been Battier. He's playing great defense and offense for Miami which helps to take so much pressure off of James and Wade. The biggest difference has been Westbrook. His stat line may say that he's been efficient, but watching him be so anxious and stagnant on offense, then to see him lack on D is not fun to watch because he's such a high caliber player. I'd like to see him make better decisions as well as move the ball. He's go to expand his court vision.

Last one, who wins on Sunday?
Mel: Miami will win on Sunday.

Thanks again to Mel Young for her participation in this discussion. 




Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Our Day Has Come


Well, it's been 45 years in the making, but we did it, Kings fans. We freakin' did it. Kings fans of a certain age and older say this moment should've come 19 years ago in 1993, but that's another story for another time. To non-Kings fans who hopped on the bandwagon during the run, thanks for the support, and we can talk shit again when we play your team next season. To all the new Kings fans, we hope you stay. To the Devils fans who showed us love and gave us props after the win, thanks for a great series, and your guys deserve credit for fighting to the end.

However, I would like to address a certain section of the hockey fan community. This segment of hockey fans seems to have a problem with us for whatever reason. It could be they're bitter Ducks, Sharks, Coyotes, or Stars fans (oh well, kiss our ass). Or it could be that they simply seem to have a problem that LA has a winning hockey team. Oh, you know who you are. Admit it. You think that just because LA has a winning hockey team, that it's time to degrade us as a fanbase and claim that we've "been waiting for this moment since May" or that we simply don't know shit about hockey. You think that somehow, because we have a high average temperature, we don't deserve this. Think again, motherfuckers. Think again. People in cities like Boston, New York, and Toronto all seem to think we're a bunch of bandwagoners who only hopped on the Kings train after the Lakers lost in the playoffs. Let me tell you, that is simply not the case. Thanks to Twitter, I can interact with all kinds of people, and the Kings fans I follow know their shit. I can say that with great confidence. They've been around for the ups and downs, they've seen it all, from Wayne, Luc, and Co. to Jonathan, Dustin, and Drew, even going as far back as the '70s. That crowd you heard Monday night, that was us. That was 45 years of frustration and pain and demons, all gone in one night in June. So, to anyone who still thinks we don't know hockey, suck one. I have just one question to ask you: Do these look like bandwagoners?

NBA Finals Game 1: A Fan's Take



For the NBA Finals, I decided to discuss games with someone I follow on Twitter and give you her take on the game. So, I asked fellow CSUN student Melanie Young, @Mel_Loves_LAL (follow her, especially if you love hoops) what she thought about Game 1 last night. Here's what she said:

So, what do you take away from tonight's game?
Mel: OKC is shook, but they still have what it takes to win.

What adjustments does Miami have to make for Game 2 Thursday?
Mel: Bosh has to start, they have to play defense all the way through & not just the 1st half, & they have to attack the basket.

Any concerns that OKC fans should have right now?
Mel: Yes, Harden played horribly tonight & RW has got to play smarter. Those two have to be just as focused & productive as KD.

One last thing: Who wins on Thursday?
Mel: OKC, without a doubt. The nerves are gone now. Harden & Westbrook will adjust. 

Once again, special thanks to @Mel_Loves_LAL.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Kings of the NHL

Picture credit: Palm Beach Post

Well, they did it. After I predicted my LA Kings would win the Stanley Cup in April, right after they upset the Canucks, they pulled it off. At 7:49 pm on June 11, 2012, 45 years of Kings fans' heartbreak and pain were erased. From Marty McSorley's illegal stick in the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals to the missed opportunities and bad teams over the years, it was all washed away when captain Dustin Brown raised hockey's ultimate prize, the Stanley Cup. It is said that the Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy to win in all of sports, but the Kings made it look relatively easy. I mean, think about it. Aside from dropping 2 in a row in the Stanley Cup Finals against the New Jersey Devils after taking a 3-0 lead, they had a pretty easy road to the Cup. Even the game that clinched the Cup looked easy. After Steve Bernier of the Devils got a 5 minute penalty and eventual ejection for checking Rob Scuderi, the Kings raced out to a 3-0 lead in the 5 minutes they held the power play advantage. The Kings then scored 3 more goals, including an empty net, and were never seriously threatened in a 6-1 win.

I was thrilled, excited, that the Kings were up 3-0 in the series and eagerly anticipated Game 4. When the Kings lost, I said, "Oh well, they don't lose on the road. They'll get it Saturday." Saturday and Game 5 came, Kings lost again. My frustration was starting to mount. I heard some Devils fans talking shit, saying the Kings were gonna choke, and that they would make history. I, for one, never believed it. I believed that if anyone was going to make history, it would be the Kings, ending a 45 year wait for Lord Stanley's Cup. Just like I thought, the Kings did raise the Stanley Cup on home ice, winning the only way they knew how: with Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Quick and the defense shutting down the Devils' offense, and our scorers coming through when it mattered. I truly believe this was one of the great playoff runs of all-time. The Kings went 16-4 in the playoffs, which is tied for second best since the best of 7 in all rounds format was introduced in 1988, with 3 other teams: the 1993 Montreal Canadiens (who, coincidentally beat the Kings the last time they went to the Stanley Cup Finals), 1995 New Jersey Devils (who, coincidentally, was the team the Kings beat to win the Cup), and the 1997 Detroit Red Wings. However, what truly makes this one special in my view, is the circumstances. The Kings were the 8th seed, got the last playoff spot in the final days of the regular season, then proceeded to not just beat, but dominate, the top 3 teams in the Western Conference (Vancouver, St. Louis, Phoenix) to go to the Stanley Cup Finals, then beat a very dangerous 6th seeded New Jersey Devils team to win it all. All in all, this was a Stanley Cup run that will go down as one of the greatest of all time.

Kings Week

In honor of the LA Kings' Stanley Cup Finals win, the rest of this week is officially Kings Week here at The Sports Idiot.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Throwback of the Week: Supersonic



"It's ironic, I had the brew, she had the chronic, the Lakers beat the Supersonics." - Ice Cube

With the Oklahoma City Thunder's Seattle Supersonics' win in the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday night, I have been thinking the last couple of days about what could have been for Seattle basketball fans. I live in Los Angeles and my Laker affiliation is well known, but I can't help but feel for them. The Thunder look primed and ready to win an NBA title, and judging from the reaction of some fans I talked to, this was an extremely painful moment for Seattle fans. Now, I could go on about the story of how the Oklahoma City Thunder came to be, and how the Sonics moved from Seattle, but I'll let Sonicsgate explain it, as they do a far better job at it than I ever will.

Seattle, I'll just say it straight out: you guys were screwed by Clay Bennett, Howard Schultz, David Stern, and the politicians. You deserved better, and to have a team with 40 years of tradition and history stolen from under you is a fucking disgrace. Some people will say you guys sound bitter, but you have every goddamn right to be. The way your team was stolen from you was corrupt, to put it nicely. There are a lot of other ways to describe it, but I don't have all day, and I have other stuff I want to include on this page. The Sonics seemed headed in the right direction when they left, and I know to have it taken from you, then to see Oklahoma reap the benefits of a series of high draft picks, trades, and free agent signings, first with a roughly 30 win turnaround from year 1 to year 2, a trip to the Western Conference Finals the next year, and now a Western Conference title with a trip to the NBA Finals and a possible NBA title has to hurt. In my mind, it should be you, Seattle, celebrating right now. It should be you who have the loudest, most hostile arena for visiting teams to play in the NBA. Shit, I still refer to them as the Sonics instead of the Thunder more often than not. My point is, I truly feel bad for you, Seattle. I remember every time my Lakers would go up to Seattle, it would be a loud crowd full of knowledgable fans who loved their team, and no matter what, no matter how good or bad the Sonics were, I knew the Lakers would be in for a tough game. Yes, Seattle, I do think Durant, Westbrook, Harden, and Ibaka should be wearing green and gold instead of that blue and orange, because this should've been your moment. This should've been your team. 

If you're not a Seattle fan or from Seattle and are reading this article, here's the documentary Sonicsgate,  which explains everything. So if you have 2 free hours, watch it. Even if you don't, I recommend that you do anyway. 

Thursday, June 7, 2012

The Answer


Now, I've made no secret for my Laker love on this blog, especially about a certain #24. But, today was the birthday of one of my all-time favorite players, Allen Ezail Iverson. I did an post on AI last month, but this one is different. That one was more about the repercussions of one of his actions, this one is more about AI as a whole. He gave us 14 years of thrills and excitement on the court, never failed to entertain us fans throughout his ups, downs, and controversies, and along with Kobe, inspired a generation of kids to pick up a basketball. I can remember being 8 years old spending an entire afternoon in my driveway trying to imitate his crossover. To put it this way, if I had tried it against him, I would have the ball stripped and stolen, and he would already be at the other end putting it in for a layup. I can also remember being 8 and a half, sitting in front of the TV frustrated and amazed at the same time while watching him pick apart my Lakers to end their playoff winning streak in Game 1 of the 2001 Finals. Throughout, he always remained my favorite non-Lakers player in the NBA. If the Lakers weren't playing on a certain day or time, but the Sixers had a nationally televised game at the time, I would watch just to see what The Answer would do. I would always watch the All-Star game to see my three favorite players: Kobe, Shaq, and The Answer. I can even remember when I was 7, the first nice pair of basketball shoes I ever had were Reebok Answer IIIs. 

When we talk about the greatest "small guys" in the history of the NBA, Allen Iverson should be at or near the top of that list. He had the combination of scoring ability, fundamentals, highlight moves and toughness. His toughness came from overcoming the baggage he carried when he was younger, from growing up poor, and his arrest and imprisonment for several months in 1993 after a bowling alley fight. However, he never gave up and after being given a second chance, became more determined to achieve his goals. Allen Iverson never gave up and fulfilled his dreams of playing in the NBA. Reading his story when I was young inspired me because no matter what life threw at me, I knew that if Allen made it, I could too. So, this fan says thank you, Allen. Thank you for all the great moments, thank you for all the shows you put on in every game, whether it was exhibition, regular season, All-Star, playoffs, or the NBA Finals, and thank you for showing me that you can overcome tough circumstances in life by simply believing in yourself, never giving up, and never backing down from a challenge. 


Friday, June 1, 2012

Throwback of the Week: Unstoppable



The San Antonio Spurs' 20 game winning streak, which ended last night in a 102-82 loss to the Thunder in Oklahoma City, brought back childhood memories of my L.A. Lakers' 2001 title run. With all due respect to the 1996 Bulls, 1987 Lakers, 1983 76ers, and 1972 Lakers, it is the most dominant single-season playoff run in the history of the NBA. 15-1 overall, 7-1 at home (more on the lone home loss later), and a perfect undefeated 8-0 road record on the road, with an average margin of victory of 13.8 points per game. In other words, the Lakers just straight whooped every opponent they faced. What makes the run so special was the circumstances they endured that season. So, let's take a trip down memory lane. 

The Lakers entered the 2000-01 season the defending NBA champions. Led by a pair of superstars, reigning MVP Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant, the Lakers looked set to repeat their magic of the previous year and win another NBA title. But, it would be more difficult than they ever imagined. A feud between Kobe and Shaq, which had been brewing for the past couple of years, exploded, and at mid-season, with the Lakers struggling at 5th in the West, and at 31-16, with one more loss than they had the previous season (67-15), analysts wrote the Lakers off. However, the Lakers steadily began to play better in the second half, and a turning point came in early April, when Kobe missed a couple of weeks due to injury. Up to that point, a major problem for the Lakers was finding the right balance between getting the ball to Shaq and Kobe getting the shots he wanted. During his time on the injured list, Kobe realized his role in the offense, and when he returned to the lineup with four games to go in the season, the Lakers won all in convincing fashion to clinch the Pacific Division for the second straight year, with Shaq and Kobe leading the way, along with contributions from Rick Fox, Derek Fisher, Robert Horry, and Horace Grant.