A photo of Robert Horry at the moment David West's back really started to hurt. Deep thoughts about cheap shots. Basketbawful on the same play: "Horry measured West and gave him a shot right in the lower back. Horry knew West's back was injured. Everybody knew West's back was injured. It was a textbook example of a cheap shot. Look, I've played a lot of basketball over the years, both organized and not-so-organized. Stuff like that doesn't happen by accident. It just doesn't. And if you think otherwise, then you're fooling yourself. Horry measured West and gave him a really hard -- and clearly illegal, since it resulted in an offensive foul -- shot into a part of West's body that was known to be injured. Did Horry intend to take West out of the game, or even incapacitate him for Game 7? Probably not. But that barely makes the act any less senseless. And whether he meant for it to happen or not, there's a pretty good likelihood that West will be far from 100 percent for Game 7. Which is a pretty good tradeoff for a simple offensive foul, isn't it? And for those of you who are inevitably going to defend Mr. Cheap Shot, go ahead and answer this question in your defense: How would you react if you were playing pickup basketball and somebody purposely took a shot at your injured back/knee/ankle/whatever? Would you laugh it off as just a good, hard basketball play? Or would you want to strangle the guy?"
In Europe, players don't have standard rights like those in the NBA have. There's a hodge-podge all across the various nations, and that can be problematic. There's an effort afoot to address that.
Remember healthy Dwyane Wade? I just watched that whole video, and what I had forgotten was how bossy his game is. The defense says: We have two defenders here on the perimeter, you can't go to the hoop. And Wade tells the defense to shut its trap. Then he uses his body like an axe, splitting that logjam nicely into kindling, while fans warm their hands in the glow of the Heat. (Via the blog The Peninsula is Mightier, whose author Gregory emailed an idea: "Remember during the regular season, when we thought that Western Conference playoff race was like a playoff race? With all the home teams winning in the postseason, maybe that was the playoff race. Home-court advantage, usually won by just a game or two, is defining each series. It's like last year, when everyone knew the Suns-Spurs series was the Finals. This year, it's not going to get any better than that regular-season stretch run.")
TrueHoop reader Michael: "Look at Bruce Bowen's leg. As a defender, you can't accidentally get it up there. How do you get your left leg that high while contesting a shot? I almost want to say he trained himself to jump awkwardly like that to maximize the chance that "incidental contact" happens without a whistle. Maybe i'm crazy. I know he's a great defender, he's in great shape for his age, he's made himself into a succesful player on a great team, and he does good things off the court. But some of those defensive tricks he employs ... you know what I'm getting at. Dirty."
Bill Woten, author of the book Game 7, emails some facts about New Orleans and San Antonio: "Although he previously has not coached a Game 7, Byron Scott played in seven (4-3 record) during his 14-year career. The only player on the Hornets' 12-man roster to experience victory in a Game 7 is reserve Mike James, who logged nine minutes in Detroit's blowout win over New Jersey in the 2004 Eastern semifinals. This will be Robert Horry's ninth Game 7, tying him with eight others for second most all-time behind Bill Russell (10). Michael Jordan is the all-time scoring average leader in Game 7s (33.7, minimum three games). Tim Duncan, who will be playing in his third Game 7, needs 36 points to overtake Jordan. Byron Scott (95.4 percent) is the top free-throw shooter in Game 7 history (minimum 20 made), followed by Larry Bird (95.1) and Sam Cassell (95.0). Manu Ginobili is combined 14-for-14 in his two prior Game 7s. This will be the 99th Game 7 in NBA history. The home team is 79-19, including 16-4 in this West semifinals round. In Game 7 history, the home team is 47-7 when leading after one quarter, 61-6 when leading at halftime, and 62-2 when leading after three quarters."
A blogger known as Windsurf17 explains his love of the Spurs. "Everyone is gunning for them, no one likes them (I'm thinking David West might be the most charmingly frustrated star ever. Good thing he didn't have to play against Dennis Rodman. I mean, Fabricio Oberto's renting out a townhouse in your head? Fabs? Wow.) And you couldn't tell if they care or not. That's what I love about them. I care too much what people think about me. Sometimes I don't try as hard as I should because of it. Like, say you, me and five other guys I just kind-of-know sit down for lunch. There is a decent chance I won't pray out loud before I eat because I care what y'all think about me. What a Jesus-freak. Dork. See how the Spurs can be inspiring? They don't care what you think."
Frank Zicarelli of the Toronto Sun: "'I would like to start and that's the most important thing,' [Jose] Calderon is quoted as saying in yesterday's edition of the Spanish daily sports newspaper El Mundo Deportivo, a sentiment he first shared with visitors to his website. But now comes the kicker. Continued Calderon in the article: 'I've been two years with him but I don't know if I could be another year because things would have to change.' Barring a complete personality makeover by Ford, which doesn't seem likely, nothing can change in Raptorland. That is why a change in scenery for Calderon is best for all parties concerned." Players like Jose Calderon -- young, super-efficient point guards -- don't come around very often. I'd be surprised if he's moved for anything but a superstar.
Former Jazz great Mark Eaton has a blog on the Legends of Basketball site, and he is using it to advocate turkey hunting. He also, however, has a great little anecdote from his playing days: "The playoff series with the Jazz and the Lakers is very similar to a series I played in 1988. We beat Clyde Drexler and the Portland Trailblazers on a Friday night, and 36 hours later found ourselves at the fabulous Forum in Los Angeles taking on the defending World Champion Los Angeles Lakers. We lost Game 1 by 12 points and were feeling pretty low when we walked back to the locker room. However, our coach, Frank Layden, had a plan and employed an unusual strategy. While we sat there waiting for a tongue lashing, Frank approached the situation with a completely unorthodox approach. He walked into the locker room and closed the door behind him. He looked at us all sitting in our chairs and said, 'Guys that was a tough one, and here's what we're going to do next. I am going to close the locker room to the press.' Now, in the NBA at that time, it was a $10,000 fine to close the locker room to the press. This was a very bold move. Next he said, 'You guys are going to take a shower and go out the back door to the bus. I am going to go out in the hallway and tell the press that the Lakers are simply the greatest team I've ever seen and that we have no business being out on the court with them.' Karl Malone and I looked at each other and just shook our heads. What is he thinking? Has he lost his mind? Then Frank said, 'On Tuesday night, we're going to come back and kick their rear ends.' All of a sudden we started smiling at each other. This is starting to get pretty funny. We jumped in the shower and went out to the bus. The press was infuriated that they couldn't speak with us, and Frank got some major air time as the media lambasted him for closing the locker room. He had a little smirk on his face as he got on the bus! We came back on Tuesday night and took care of the Lakers. In fact, we won Game 2 and Game 3. It was a brilliant strategy. I asked Frank years later when he thought of that strategy. Was it during the game? No, he told me he thought it up while he was walking back to the locker room! Apparently, to be a great coach you have to be able to think on your feet!"
Ron Hitley of Hornets247: "The bench is killing us in this series. [Jannero] Pargo was 1-of-6 from the field tonight, his only bucket coming in garbage time. Lately he hasn't been making up for his shooting woes with much else either, although his efforts to draw two charges in the first quarter tonight were admirable. Pity the calls went the other way. As for Bonzi [Wells], his only contributions tonight were three missed shots and two fouls. For a guy who's pretty good at attacking the rim and not known for his jump shoot, he's been staying out of the paint and settling for way too many J's in this series. I expected much more from him given his reputation against the Spurs in the playoffs and his impending free agency." UPDATE: Imagining the mind of Jannero Pargo.
Chad Ford (Insider) tells us that Kevin Love has lost weight and looks fantastic in his pre-draft workouts. The thing that would worry me is: He was playing for an NCAA title not too long ago, yet was clearly not in the best shape, tiring noticeably down the stretch of the pivotal game. (Ford reports he has lost 13 pounds since the end of the UCLA season.) Color me concerned about a guy who couldn't get himself in tip top shape when his team really needed him. If, however, Love has only now learned techniques to be slimmer, and will remain so, then he's probably got a bright NBA future ahead of him.
Good or bad news for the Seattle fans -- Nothing hurts this guy anymore. And if life is anything like an Everest documentary, that could save him.
Suns reportedly interviewing Terry Porter, Mark Jackson, and Elston Turner. I'm pulling for my childhood hero, Terry Porter. But let's not forget, the Suns have a great guy, and a former head coach, on staff, too, in Alvin Gentry. I have to think he'll get consideration.
The Wizards, this season, allowed more three-pointers than any other team in history. And the claim that their defense improved this year falls almost entirely apart when you factor in their slower pace. Washington slowed the game down, but there really is not evidence they stopped people at an improved rate.
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