Why not Chicago?

In a way, it seems like Chicago is the only place LeBron could go.*



For one thing, it’s a team that, with Rose and Noah and a host of well-fitting role players, is already a playoff contender. Add LeBron to that mix — especially if he brings Bosh with him, which would seem likely — and you’re talking about a team that, on paper, should be able to beat anybody. LeBron’s Bulls (again, on paper) look like a juggernaut that would surpass even the 2001 Lakers.

For another, LeBron could take the torch from his boyhood idol and become the one who delivers Chicago back to its rightful glorious place in Basketball History. (And let’s just say he could match MJ’s six rings there — in the very same city, in the very same uni. In terms of history and perception, if you’re LeBron, could you not imagine people someday discussing you as MJ’s only equal?)

Now follow me blindly for a minute here...

Next to MJ, Kobe represents the closest concept of how LeBron wants to evolve as a basketball superstar. We saw how profoundly LeBron seemed to respond after they played together during the 2008 Olympic games. We’ve seen how competitive he gets when he faces Kobe head-to-head. And we know he just watched, with chewed fingernails, as Kobe grab that fifth ring (which makes him now only one shy of you-know-who).

And while Bron was watching Kobe and his peeps standing around waiting to be handed the Larry O’Brien trophy, he saw Stu Scott take the mic. He watched as Scott brought Magic Johnson to the stage by introducing him as “the greatest Laker of all time.” Ouch. Kobe had just clinched his fifth ring not five minutes before, and Scott was sure to remind him that, not only is he no MJ, he’s not even the greatest Laker.

I have no doubt in my mind that LeBron noticed. Big time. And he made instant work of this simple arithmetic: If he ever goes to Chicago, he will have to win ten rings and build a skyscraper higher than the Sears Tower to ever be thought of as better than MJ.

My best guess? He stays in Cleveland...and starts really calling the shots there.

(My second-best guess? Prokorov leverages Bron’s relationship with Jay-Z and shocks us all by signing him to the Newark/Brooklyn Nyets. A long shot, yes; but I would put a C-note down on 50-1 odds if it were offered.)

G.

*Regarding the meeting between Wade, LeBron and Bosh, where they supposedly discussed joining forces in Miami, ESPN’s Ric Bucher made a great point: that in choosing to go there, LeBron would be implicitly saying that he needs Wade to win a title, which is something that, and I quote, “wouldn’t really fit with the LeBron James brand.” Sadly, that is precisely the reason Miami ain’t gonna happen.

Prediction: Finals

The Lakers have to win this thing, right? That’s what my gut is telling me.

But my gut has been wrong before. (Not where it applies to the Orlando Magic, mind you, but in other contexts.)

For no real good reason, allow me to break it down like Tevye from “Fiddler on the Roof”...



> The two teams met just a couple of years ago, and we saw what happened then. As the good book says, “There is faith and there is reality. Always believe reality.” I may not have that right exactly.

> On the other hand, it’s been two years that Pau has gotten to gel with his teammates. The Lakers are a better TEAM than they were...as evidenced, in part, by the ring they grabbed last year. This is a team with a history (!) and a tradition (!) of winning.

> The Lakers also have Bynum back (though he’ll play limited minutes), and Ron-Ron (who replaced Ariza, who was hurt during the ’08 Finals). So the Lakers have a slightly better interior presence than before, plus a defender who can get in the tuches of whichever C is giving them the most trouble. Oy vey.

> But on the other hand, Rondo is playing on an entirely different level. If he can keep from getting the shpilkes, he’s going to be the answer for this C’s team. The goy can get to the rack at will, and/or facilitate by finding the open shooter anywhere on the floor. Gevalt geshreeyeh!

> The C’s are a flat-out better defensive team. And like the good book says, “Defense wins in the Finals.” Or something.

> The C’s have more weapons and a deeper bench.

> The C’s don’t have that shmedrik Ron-Ron doing dumb shit.

> The Lakers have Kobe...who has been a miracle of miracles! I hesitate to use this strong a word, but in his case it applies: Kobe has been makkif. (Transcendent.)

> On the other hand, Kobe has been transcendent for a month. He’s been a self-destructive meshugeneh his entire career. If the Lakers struggle early, which version of Kobe will emerge?

> Kobe is a warrior, and this is a vengeance series for him. He got his shmeckle knocked around in 2008. If that happens again, his legacy will be written as such. Is he gonna let that happen? What about history?! What about TRADITION?!?

> Repeat: the C’s are a flat-out better defensive team. “Defense wins in the Finals.” It is the word of Hashem.

Oy, this is a tough one. The only thing I’m certain of is that I couldn’t be more excited about the Finals this year. No matter what happens. Vos vet zein, vet zein.

All right, all right, my prediction already:

C’s in 7.

-G

Prediction: the Magic runs out

This is the face we're gonna be looking at deep in the 4th tonight:



With the C's team D cranked up to 11 and D-Ho drawing dumb touch fouls, the Magic are gonna wind up settling for jumpers. Then I see them bricking a few...the loud-ass Boston home crowd gettin in their heads...and that'll be that.

This team is soft, and their leader is a dope. Not a team built for the playoffs. They're lucky as shit they had their first two rounds against dogshit opponents.

Bye-bye, Dwight. You can ask Jesus why all the way back to Orlando.

G.

The Future

Is it me or did this moribund franchise just get its prayers answered? I've been wishing, hoping of the #2 spot. Hoping for #1 would have been greedy. #2 was a stretch but within comprehension. And look what happened...

I can't even process this right now, but just a couple quick thoughts:

1. We're back in the hunt for attracting the best coach available.
2. We can now jettison Elton's terrible contract if we chose to trade the pick (not saying we should, just sayin' we could)
3. We've got the rights to the best shooting guard in the draft, and perhaps the best in the last few drafts.
4. If he's a leader, Evan Turner could be our franchise player for the next decade. If he's a leader, and a potent scorer, we just got a lot better with the roster we already have.
5. I'm getting tickets to the opener.

A Few Questions From the Playoffs thusfar

1. How bout Stevie Vittles displaying his warrior spirit? Good sh!t from the old man. I love the from-out-of-nowhere feel of this team. They were ready to blow it up at the deadline. Now, they're one series away from playing for a chip. I love Stevie getting another shot. With Robin Lopez in the mix, who knows what could happen?

2. Who else is scared/excited for the next decade of the Durantula? Also, who has a better nickname for him? Simmons got on his bandwagon mad early. Dude was right. Durant's got the eye of the tiger. He's a top five player right now. If you were starting your franchise today, he's on the very, very short list of guys you'd take first. Who besides LeBron do you take before him? Deron? Rose? Not me.

3. Speaking of LeBron, what have we actually witnessed? I'm not a LeBron hater. However, the fact remains that tales of his greatness have been greatly exaggerated (at least so far). The unfortunate fact is that LeBron has served better the marketing needs of the NBA than he has his own legacy on the court. I think he's working with a so-so supporting cast. I think he's got the potential to be the greatest player of his era. But LeBron's got to do something on the court (namely, win a ring or three) before he will have earned his nickname. People been callin' him the King for three years. Still ain't won sh!t. And, I don't think he's going to this year either.

4. Speaking of winning things, will Kobe win his fifth ring and cement his place in the top 10 All-time? I don't know. If I had to bet, I think I might say no. There's something about this Orlando team that scares the crap out of me. They are loaded (like 2003 Trailblazers loaded). They been there already. And (and this is gone sound crazy), they got Vince............. Yeah, I said it.

As the curtain closes…

As the curtain begins to close on Round 1, some thoughts/questions on the playoffs so far:

> Is Dwight Howard out his f**king mind?



> Good to see Timmy Fundamentals emerge from his coma last night. An inspired performance. Now, two questions:

1. Can Pop get enough consistent performance from old-ass TD, too-young George Hill, not-quite-100% Parker and can’t-quite-breath-right Ginobilli, to beat the Suns? The way Grant Hill and J-Rich have been playing, I think no.

2a. Just how devastated is Dirk? Might he really opt out of his contract this summer? Let’s say yes. That begs another question: Do you want him for your team? The guy has been the best player on a loaded team that’s managed to get come up short for, what, ten years? At what point does a guy start to get the stink of poison on him?

2b. In defense of Dirk, I have to call out Rick Carlisle. When Beaubois is streaking for 16+ points, why on earth do you sit him to get ice-cold Jason Terry back on the floor? Some nights a player just doesn’t have it, coach. Always go with the hot hand. That’s textbook shit, Rick.

> I’m making this deal right now with God: If somehow, some way, the Erz should draw the #1 pick, Flash should decide to sign with us, and Jeff Van Gundy should come out of retirement to coach us, I will TOTALLY start believing in you again. I’ll even go back to church on Sundays and shit.

> Now, since there is no God, a question for the real world: How many titles do Bulls win if Flash goes to Chicago this summer? Another one: Will Avery be fired as Erz head coach after one season or two? or three?

> The Lakers probably close it out tonight. But what if OKC wins? Do you bet against them in a Game 7? Either way, what kind of shot does the winner of this series have against the red-hot Jazz? Speaking of…

> Is George Karl really a much better coach than I ever thought? How did Denver fall apart like this?

FINALS PREDICTION:

Cavs / Suns

And honestly? I’m not sure who wins that series.

John Wall

Why the Erz need to go 18-64 this season...