The Nba playoff schedule for the past few years has both baffled me and annoyed me to no end. I mean I'm not in the best shape in the world (certainly not in terrible shape either), but I know for a fact that if asked to I could play 48 minutes of basketball every other day. Why then is it that hard for David Stern to schedule these games every other day? It's pretty logical, gets the series some buzz, and you always know when the games will be on. Certainly there must be some reason, there sure is, but its not one I that I can stand.
Remember the Spurs vs. Lakers series a few years ago where there were so many days in between games that the Lakers flew back from San Antonio to LA, so they could practice at Shaq's house during an off day. Now thats some free time. Well it's happenned again this year, well I'm not sure if the Mavericks plan on practicing at Dirks house, but they certainly have time. After the beatdown the Mavs laid on the Spurs last night they have a nice three day window to relax. In addition the Pistons and Cavs have the same chimpanzee made schedule. What could they possibly do in their 3 days off, hmm...Maybe they can run a marathon. Catch a Texas Ranger game, enjoy a nice team viewing of Brokeback mountain, maybe Lebron can cry himself to sleep for 72 hours. Maybe even catch two games of the Nets vs. Heat series. That's right the Nets and Heat as well as the Clips and Suns play tonight and then have the traditional one day off and play again on friday night. They only have a few hour plane flight in comparison to a few hour bus ride to get out of the way. So there has to be a reason right.
Yep, the NBA caves to Network demands. Apparently signing a contract with the NBA gives ABC and ESPN and TNT the right to choose when to play games and influence the playoff runs. Even David Stern came out and admitted he was wrong and that the Spurs got screwed in scheduling. Why did the Spurs play at noon central time after just finishing up their series 35 hours before? Oh simply because ABC wanted to play the classic matchup of the Pistons and Cavs in the 3 o'clock hour. And all they have to do apparently is tell the NBA this and it shall be done.
So ESPN in addition clicked their heels together and said, we want games 3, and it shall be done. I guess David Stern simply jumps up and down for the money.
More Thoughts on the NBA:
1) Speaking of David Stern, have you ever listened to an interview conducted with him. He is the most walk the line annoying I dont want to cross any player the wrong way man ever. Here's a sample: "David who do you think was the MVP this season?", "They all had great seasons." So, knowing that these questions lead to no answer Dan Patrick starts asking him about all the suspensions and then Stern starts saying that he doesn't know why Patrick isn't asking him questions about the matchups and the good NBA stories. It's bothering, if I don't hear another Stern interview in my lifetime, I won't be missing anything.
2) My sister laughed when I turned on the Pistons game last night, in between every Randy Johnson walk, and saw Ben Wallace and his fro. Really I think Afros are simple enjoyment for most all people I know. There's nothing cool about the cornrow look, but when Wallace buts out with his furry fro and headband look at home, its enjoyable.
3) The 7 game series are unnecesary. The first round was chalk, and would have been chalk if it was 5 games. There is no reason for 7 games, the disparity between the top seeds and bottom seeds are so large that there will rarely ever be an upset in a 7 game series, and upsets are always enjoyable. Who wants chalk? If you do you might as well just pick up video footage of a Woman's Basketball tournament.
4) I look pretty right so far on this Cavs Pistons series. The pistons are giving them a serious beatdown. Which leads the question of why ABC would want to show the Pistons game in the late supposedly better slot on this past sunday in favor of the Mavs Spurs? Was this assumption really anything big? The Pistons dominated the season series versus the Cavs., while the Mavs Spurs pits the 2nd and 3rd best records in the league against each other. Apparently the executives think that Lebron sells more than a good basketball game, maybe he does, if so I'm an idiot.
5) And so is David Stern, all he ever does is say that the NBA is to the point where there are so many great players and that the NBA markets all of its players. Stop lieing David, ABC picked that game because of Lebron, you know it, admit it. Superstars sell the NBA, sorry.
6) If you watch NBA film from the days of the Pistons of old in comparison to now, the fouls back then were much harder. Some of these NBA fouls that are getting called, for instance the game winner for the Pacers in game 1 against the Nets, if called on a playground or during a pickup up game would land you a look from everyone on the court that says man this dude cries more than Dick Vermeil. A hard foul is needed every now and then in every basketball game, or so I think, and practice.
7) Heat in a beatdown tonight. Without RJ the Nets just don't have enough ammo. Look for Antoine to have a big night.... that was sarcasm.
8) Suns squeek out another close one, this game will end sometime in between my first and second stages of REM sleep.
Remember the Spurs vs. Lakers series a few years ago where there were so many days in between games that the Lakers flew back from San Antonio to LA, so they could practice at Shaq's house during an off day. Now thats some free time. Well it's happenned again this year, well I'm not sure if the Mavericks plan on practicing at Dirks house, but they certainly have time. After the beatdown the Mavs laid on the Spurs last night they have a nice three day window to relax. In addition the Pistons and Cavs have the same chimpanzee made schedule. What could they possibly do in their 3 days off, hmm...Maybe they can run a marathon. Catch a Texas Ranger game, enjoy a nice team viewing of Brokeback mountain, maybe Lebron can cry himself to sleep for 72 hours. Maybe even catch two games of the Nets vs. Heat series. That's right the Nets and Heat as well as the Clips and Suns play tonight and then have the traditional one day off and play again on friday night. They only have a few hour plane flight in comparison to a few hour bus ride to get out of the way. So there has to be a reason right.
Yep, the NBA caves to Network demands. Apparently signing a contract with the NBA gives ABC and ESPN and TNT the right to choose when to play games and influence the playoff runs. Even David Stern came out and admitted he was wrong and that the Spurs got screwed in scheduling. Why did the Spurs play at noon central time after just finishing up their series 35 hours before? Oh simply because ABC wanted to play the classic matchup of the Pistons and Cavs in the 3 o'clock hour. And all they have to do apparently is tell the NBA this and it shall be done.
So ESPN in addition clicked their heels together and said, we want games 3, and it shall be done. I guess David Stern simply jumps up and down for the money.
More Thoughts on the NBA:
1) Speaking of David Stern, have you ever listened to an interview conducted with him. He is the most walk the line annoying I dont want to cross any player the wrong way man ever. Here's a sample: "David who do you think was the MVP this season?", "They all had great seasons." So, knowing that these questions lead to no answer Dan Patrick starts asking him about all the suspensions and then Stern starts saying that he doesn't know why Patrick isn't asking him questions about the matchups and the good NBA stories. It's bothering, if I don't hear another Stern interview in my lifetime, I won't be missing anything.
2) My sister laughed when I turned on the Pistons game last night, in between every Randy Johnson walk, and saw Ben Wallace and his fro. Really I think Afros are simple enjoyment for most all people I know. There's nothing cool about the cornrow look, but when Wallace buts out with his furry fro and headband look at home, its enjoyable.
3) The 7 game series are unnecesary. The first round was chalk, and would have been chalk if it was 5 games. There is no reason for 7 games, the disparity between the top seeds and bottom seeds are so large that there will rarely ever be an upset in a 7 game series, and upsets are always enjoyable. Who wants chalk? If you do you might as well just pick up video footage of a Woman's Basketball tournament.
4) I look pretty right so far on this Cavs Pistons series. The pistons are giving them a serious beatdown. Which leads the question of why ABC would want to show the Pistons game in the late supposedly better slot on this past sunday in favor of the Mavs Spurs? Was this assumption really anything big? The Pistons dominated the season series versus the Cavs., while the Mavs Spurs pits the 2nd and 3rd best records in the league against each other. Apparently the executives think that Lebron sells more than a good basketball game, maybe he does, if so I'm an idiot.
5) And so is David Stern, all he ever does is say that the NBA is to the point where there are so many great players and that the NBA markets all of its players. Stop lieing David, ABC picked that game because of Lebron, you know it, admit it. Superstars sell the NBA, sorry.
6) If you watch NBA film from the days of the Pistons of old in comparison to now, the fouls back then were much harder. Some of these NBA fouls that are getting called, for instance the game winner for the Pacers in game 1 against the Nets, if called on a playground or during a pickup up game would land you a look from everyone on the court that says man this dude cries more than Dick Vermeil. A hard foul is needed every now and then in every basketball game, or so I think, and practice.
7) Heat in a beatdown tonight. Without RJ the Nets just don't have enough ammo. Look for Antoine to have a big night.... that was sarcasm.
8) Suns squeek out another close one, this game will end sometime in between my first and second stages of REM sleep.
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