7 Pieces (of trivia)

     In Day 2 of the 22nd FIBA Asia Champions' Cup, Smart Gilas Pilipinas destroyed the KL Westport Dragons of Malaysia, 95-64.  While Gilas played listlessly in the first half (and let the Dragons end the 1st half with the lead), they came roaring back with tremendous defense in the 2nd, allowing the Dragons only 24 points.  To amuse myself in the listless first half, I began asking myself questions and I've come up with these 7 entertaining pieces of trivia.

1.  Dylan Ababou scored 6 points in 5 minutes 4 seconds in Gilas' first game.  In tonight's game, Ababou scored 5 in 3 minutes 43 seconds.  That means Ababou has more points than minutes played, with a ratio of 1.25 points per 1 minute. Talk about a scoring machine!


2.  Gilas now holds the distinction of not only being the 1st team to use all 12 players but also having all 12 score at least 2 points, as Asi Taulava and Jason Ballesteros scored today.


3.  Marcus Douthit played only 19 minutes and 20 seconds today, making this his shortest stint in a sanctioned game, since being ejected for an altercation in the finals of the Dubai International.

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Five Things

     The big news of the night would be Smart GIlas Pilipinas drubbed Saudi Arabia, 101-69, to auspiciously open their bid in the FIBA Asia Champions' Cup.  I think it's the least exciting of the encouraging news of the night.  Everyone expects Gilas to beat Saudi, but here are the five things I deem more exciting from tonight's game.

5. The Excellence of Execution - It was truly a refreshing sight to see PBA All Stars Don Don Hontiveros and Jimmy Alapag on the Gilas bench.  More exciting to see, though,  is how hard Hontiveros was playing to acclimate himself into the rotations.  GIlas was able to run a couple of sets with Hontiveros in, so it seems he's picking things up well.  Alapag may not have played but it was great seeing him consult with JV Casio about where point guards would go during a particular play.

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My Favorite Mistake

     In today's society, it seems more premium is placed on noting people's mistakes.  In today's NBA, everyone is waiting constantly for the next team with the next failed experiment.  The problem with this, though, is some mistakes turn out to be delayed strokes of genius.  Just take a look at the final four teams in this year's NBA playoffs.


Senior Moment

     It's amazing how quiet the Dallas Mavericks have been this year.  Even outspoken owner Mark Cuban has been a good little boy.  Perhaps, they long knew what others are only discovering now.  After yet another playoff flameout last year, everyone wanted the Mavs to blow up the veteran line up and rebuild.  They didn't heed the calls and kept the team intact, hoping another year together would see the development of the team.  Many were quick to call that a mistake, yet here they are, in the Western Conference finals after demolishing the defending champions the Los Angeles Lakers.  The extra year together has seen the development of JJ Barea, the resurgence of Shawn Marion and the full maturation of Dirk Nowitzki as a franchise player. With home court advantage against the Thunder, keeping the team intact may make GM Donnie Nelson a legendary executive.


Trade OK'd

      The Oklahoma City Thunder were the envy of the league with it's financial flexibility and very young roster of great players with great attitudes.  Everyone kept talking of the future and how the Thunder would be kings then.  The future couldn't come soon enough, though as GM Sam Presti pulled the trigger on a deal sending Jeff Green and Nenad Krystic to the Boston Celtics for Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson.  He then proceeded to sign Perkins to a long term deal.  Both actions drew wagging fingers from doubters, but they were silenced soon enough.  Perkins, while not putting up great numbers, has been a great locker room presence for the young Thunder, especially during their losses.  Meanwhile, Green's departure opened the door for James Harden and Serge Ibaka to shine, with both players piling up career numbers almost immediately after the trade.  If that big mid season trade was a mistake, more team should make mistakes as the Thunder are a series away from the NBA finals.


Heat Check

      Of course, the biggest mistake this season was Lebron James publicly spurning his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat on national TV.  The Heat haters, though, pointed to a different one in castigating the Heat.  The acquisition of the "Big Three" of James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh may have been a coup, but others pointed out that that left the Heat thin in the support department, especially up front.  People said it was a mistake to load up on superstars and that the lack of help will tell on the Heat in the playoffs.  Now, though, critics are slowly biting their tongue.  The Heat have flourished in the playoffs, not just because Wade and James have learned to play off one another, but also Coach Erik Spoelstra has finally gotten though on his team and have them playing choking defense.  While Lebron's PR choices continue to be errors, forming the superstar trio with Bosh and Wade seems to be a good "decision."


Bullish Run

     In the off season, the Bulls were in great shape.  A promising young team, a new defensive-minded head coach and lots of money to get Dwayne Wade, Lebron James or Chris Bosh (or two of three).  Then, amid the pandering and ego stroking of the superstars, the Bulls' stars Derrick Rose and Joachim Noah, made it clear that they could care less if any of the three stars joined them.  People were horrified as their statements meant none of the three would join them.  It was a mistake, they said, as the Bulls were at least two years away from being great.  Fast forward to the playoffs and the Bulls have home court advantage, the league Most Valuable Player in Rose and a vaunted, unforgiving defense.  Rose has become the superstar people thought the Bulls needed to get in the off season, and the supposed weak line up has become one of the NBA's deepest teams.  Now, the people are talking about how the Heat can compete with the Bulls, and not the other way around. 


     
     With my meager 50% success rate in playoff series predictions this year, I won't be blogging any previews.  What I will be doing is checking out which "mistake" turns out to be the most genius of strokes.

photos courtesy of Getty Images

The Long Kiss Goodnight

     In just two weeks, the sporting world has witnessed what seems to be the departure of three hall of famers.  While all three have greatness as their common trait, the manner in which they departed their sport varies tremendously.  The differences, though, highlight the toughest question every competitive athlete must answer, "Is it time to hang them up?"


Clock Strikes 11

     Heading into the 2011 NBA Playoffs, the Lakers seemed to be in trouble.  Their game lacked the usual flow, execution and swagger that were signatures of Phil Jackson-coached teams.  Still, it surprised everyone as a team, led by Kobe Bryant, the NBA's most clutch player since Michael Jordan and coached by 11 time champion coach Jackson, struggled through a weak New Orleans Hornets team and then proceeded to be dismissed by the Dallas Mavericks in a sweep.  While losing is part of every team, even the great ones, this final stand for Jackson was sad at best.  The winningest coach of the playoffs couldn't muster up any supreme effort from his players and worst of all, he couldn't keep his players' attitudes and frustrations in check, failing to stop both Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum from hurting the Mavericks' players with blatant dirty plays.  As many highs as Jackson attained in his career, that exit was just plain horrible.


Race to (B)itch Mountain 

      When Floyd Mayweather cooked up yet another excuse not to face Manny Pacquiao, "Sugar" Shane Mosley stepped up to challenge the Filipino champ.  While many were quick to scoff at Mosley and his advancing age, I defended their fight because Mosley would at least man up and trade punches with Pacman; or so I thought.  After testing Pacquiao's power and getting knocked down in round 3, Mosley did the unthinkable. The man who beat the great Oscar de la Hoya (twice) and the man who racked up over 30 KO's to his name ran, and I mean RAN. Mosley spent rounds 4 through 12 backpedalling, trying his best to get some cardio while avoiding getting hit.  So cowardly was his tactics that Pacquiao literally stopped and asked him to punch in the middle of the fight. This shameful loss may be only one loss in Mosley's storied career and he himself is unsure if his career is over, but as exits go, this is probably the worst.  A tremendous career littered with supreme talent and transcendent achievements will forever be tarnished by a tragic race around the ring.


It's Only Natural

      Ask anyone and they'll tell you that sports are for the young, but apparently, Randy Couture didn't get the memo.  At well over 40, Couture was still fighting at a high level and even racked up yet another three-fight winning streak.  Couture, though, was already contemplating retirement and was looking for one last big fight.  With a hall of fame career and five titles to his name, it made a lot of sense for Randy to seek out an easy fight to put a cherry on top of his sundae of a career.  Instead, he asked for a match against Lyoto Machida, the UFC's most elusive fighter and resident karate kid.  Machida posed plenty of problems for Couture, but he wanted a true challenge as his last fight, just like every other fight he fought in his long career.  While Couture was eventually knocked out (via a tremendous "Crane Kick" by Machida), he exited with his head held high (albeit lacking a tooth) because he went out the same way he came in; fighting at a tremendously high level.  Just like Japan's samurais before, Couture went out swinging and he (and we as fans) couldn't ask for a better end.



     The competitive nature of athletes makes it difficult to determine when it is time to stop and retire.  Oftentimes, we see athletes play one more game or fight one more match than they should've.  Here's a hint for them, though.  They make a conscious effort to end things on their terms, fighting/playing as hard as they can and then exit.  If they're going to be unable to maintain a high level like Phil Jackson or embarrass themselves like Shane Mosley, they might as well hang them up early.

Fifty Peso Previews: 2011 NBA Playoffs (2nd Round)

     The 1st round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs ended early as there were no seven game series, but it was quite an interesting one.  The bad news was several teams didn't do their part and put my forecast percentage at an all time low of 50%. (Damn you Orlando and Portland!!!)  Not to be deterred, here are my forecasts for the 2nd round which kicks off tomorrow.


Chicago Bulls (1) vs Atlanta Hawks (5)

     The Hawks are brimming with confidence right now, but they are lacking as Kirk Hinrich is doubtful for the entire series.  Given that their choices at guard aren't exactly full of lock down defenders, one of the 2 heavy scoring guards (Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford) will have to guard Bulls' superstar Derrick Rose. That does not bode well for the Hawks at all.  Meanwhile the Bulls have their own issues with Carlos Boozer suffering turf toe (I know, right?).  The Bulls played awful defense (by their standards) in the 1st round but expect them to regain their defensive intensity and give the Hawks plenty of trouble.


Fearless Forecast: Bulls take series (4 games to 2)


Boston Celtics (3) vs Miami Heat (2)

      It's finally here. The series everyone has been waiting for is in the 2nd round as I predicted.  The Heat (esp. Lebron) need this win to disprove the growing notion that he can't win.  The problem is he needs Wade to carry the team offensively and Wade has struggled mightily against the Celtics.  All three Heat superstars have to guard one of the Celtics' offensive greats, and that kind of pressure defensively will mean a lot of trouble once they try to play offense. Much has been made about Shaq's absence, but the Heat aren't big either and Glen Davis, Jermaine O'Neal and Nenad Krystic may be more than enough in the middle.


Fearless Forecast: Celtics take series (4 games to 2)


Oklahoma City Thunder (4) vs Memphis Grizzlies (8)

      The battle of teams that were supposed to be good only in the future promises to be an intriguing one.  Each team's strengths offensively are matched by their opponent's defensive strength.  The outside operators of the Thunder (Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant) will find their defensive matches in Tony Allen and Shane Battier, while the Grizz's dominant big men (Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol) will have to contend with Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins' defense.  The key will be which team will be able to find unsung heroes to step up.  The Grizz's lack of three-point shooting may come into play here.


Fearless Forecast: Thunder take series (4 games to 2)


Los Angeles Lakers (2) vs Dallas Mavericks (3)

      Both teams are happy to be in the second round as they faced spirited opponents in the first, but neither will be happy without a Western Conference Finals berth.  The Mavericks have traditionally faltered in the playoffs because they only relied on Dirk Nowitzki's brilliance, but as they proved me wrong against the Blazers, it was clear that the Mavs play D now.  That D will be tested against the Lakers who have yet to play impressively for a prolonged period of time this year.  The answer to this series will be inside.  If the Mavs can somehow neutralize either Pau Gasol or Andrew Bynum, then the Lakers will not get to defend their title.  That might be too hard for a seven game series though.


Fearless Forecast: Lakers take series (4 games to 2)