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      The Finals, Game 7: With a little help from his friends…

      June 17, 2010 /

      Kobe Bryant played a miserable offensive game, going just 6-of-24 from the field, 0-for-6 from long range and turning the ball over four times. But the rest of the Lakers stepped up. Whether it was Pau Gasol’s travel layup with 1:30 to play, Ron Artest’s timely three-pointer with 1:00 remaining or Sasha Vujacic’s clutch free throws to seal the game with 0:11 to play, Kobe’s supporting cast came through when they needed to.

      Lakers win, 83-79.

      Kobe finished with 23-15-2, which looks pretty good until you realize that he missed 18 shots and forced some terrible attempts. Gasol added a gritty 19-18, and had nine of the Lakers’ TWENTY-THREE offensive rebounds. (The L.A. absolutely pounded the C’s on the glass, which was one area where Boston desperately missed Kendrick Perkins.) Artest had 20-5 and five steals. He wasn’t terribly efficient offensively, but he hit some important shots and bothered Paul Pierce into 5-of-15 shooting. Artest no longer has to live with the specter of Trevor Ariza circling his entire existence in Los Angeles. In his own weird way, he has truly become a Laker.

      For the Celtics, Kevin Garnet (17-3, four blocks) played well offensively (8-of-13), but he just didn’t get it done on the defensive glass. Rajon Rondo (14-8-10) had a very nice game, but wasn’t able to push the ball enough to take it over. Paul Pierce (18-10-2) and Ray Allen (13-2-2) combined to go a dreadful 8-of-29 from the field.

      It wasn’t a cleanly played Game 7, but it was tight the whole way and it was one of the best defensive Finals games I’ve ever seen. To put this in perspective, the Lakers shot 32.5% from the field and still won the game…and the title.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, NBA Finals, News, Rumors & Gossip

      I’m confused.

      June 17, 2010 /

      Yesterday, I wondered why Fran Fraschilla is convinced that Xavier Henry lacks lateral quickness, and today, as I was reading ESPN’s mock draft, I saw this exchange:

      15. Milwaukee Bucks (Russillo): Xavier Henry, SF/SG, Kansas
      The Explanation: I was afraid he would go to Memphis at No. 12. He could be the answer to Michael Redd if he isn’t healthy and the Bucks lose John Salmons.
      The Peanut Gallery: Ford comes at him ruthlessly, saying, “Didn’t Cole Aldrich post better lane agility numbers in Chicago?” Fraschilla hits the slow note as well, while Hume knocks Russillo for even thinking Redd might be healthy. Backed into a corner, Russillo can merely muster, “But they need a wing scorer!”

      Again, according to ESPN’s own numbers, Henry scored an 11.1 on the lane agility drill, which was the 8th fastest time of the 45 players who participated.

      Why is Ford saying that he’s slow?

      By the way, Aldrich finished in 11.48 seconds.

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA, NBA Draft

      Quick – everybody pile on!

      June 17, 2010 /

      Many of Albert Haynesworth’s Redskins teammates have expressed their displeasure over the last two days in the defensive tackle’s decision not to report to a mandatory mini-camp because he wants to be traded.

      Actually, let me start this post over. In 3…2…1…

      Many of Albert Haynesworth’s Redskins teammates think he’s a bum. And this post is in dedication to all the things that they’ve said about him since he’s decided that he can dictate where he plays and in what system he plays in.

      London Fletcher:

      “He can say what he wants to say about being traded, but there are ways he can’t be a Redskin — give the money back. I’m sure they’ll take it, and we’ll move on without him. I want teammates I can count on, depend on and know in the fourth quarter, will make a play and do the job that’s called of him. We need people we can depend on. Right now, he’s showed he can’t be depended on.”

      “It’s no different than his attitude and approach to last year’s defense, about wanting everything to revolve around him and him making plays. And if it didn’t benefit him, he wasn’t really willing to do it.”

      “There’s ways he cannot be a Redskin: Give the money back. We’ll move on without him. I want teammates who I can depend on, who I can count on, who in the fourth quarter I know is going to be there to make a play or do his job that the defense calls [for]. We need people that we can depend on. And at the end of the day, right now, he’s showing that he can’t be depended upon. … Last year we had a lot of selfishness that took place, and we got 4-12 out of that. This year, we can’t have that.”

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, NFL

      Twins to make a run at Cliff Lee?

      June 17, 2010 /

      It was the Phillies yesterday, today it’s the Twins.

      The daily Cliff Lee trade rumors have already begun.

      Sources tell ESPN’s Tom Pelissero that the Twins are considering making a serious run at acquiring Lee from the Mariners. As Pelissero notes, Minnesota likes their starting rotation, but it might not be good enough to win in October. That’s where Lee comes in.

      Lee went 22-3 with a 2.54 earned-run average for the Cleveland Indians in 2008. His numbers actually are better in several categories this season for the woeful Mariners — including a 0.932 WHIP and a 15:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio — even though he started the season with an abdominal injury that forced him to undergo plasma injection therapy.

      The prorated portion of Lee’s $9 million salary wouldn’t be prohibitive for an organization with a record payroll already. The obstacle would be putting together a package good enough for the Mariners to sacrifice the two draft picks they’d receive if Lee, 31, leaves as a free agent after the season.

      The Twins’ first-round pick in 2007, Class-AA outfielder Ben Revere, is the most expendable of the team’s top assets, but it’d take more than that. And giving up top catching prospect Wilson Ramos would be a hefty price for a hired gun who might depart after only a few months.

      It’s hard to see the Twins making a move like this, because they generally rely on the talent they have on their roster (which is mostly homegrown) to win. But if they’re serious about contending for a World Series this year, they might be willing to pay a significant price to acquire Lee.

      Of course, Lee is a free agent next year and the Twins would have to justify giving up marquee young talent in exchange for a player that will more than likely move on to greener pastures next year. I just can’t see them parting with Revere and Ramos for a half season of Lee, but then again stranger things have happened. (You know, like Ted Lilly coming within three outs of a perfect game.)


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, MLB

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