This week, I began a summer hiatus from writing my daily USA TODAY Sports column. Still, can't help but file a few notes this morning:
The Blackhawks' Cup-winning flurry in the final minute (plus change, to be exact) was the greatest finish ever to a Stanley Cup finals. Yes, it was a Game 6, not a Game 7. Yes, it happened in regulation, not sudden-death overtime. But coming from a goal down on the road to clinch a Cup? Wow.
More: Steve Darcis qualifies for Upset of the Year... Yasiel Puig, Yasiel Puig, Yasiel Puig... Brian Shaw being hired by the Nuggets isn't nearly as intriguing or important as the Grizzlies promoting wildly underrated lead assistant Dave Joerger... I'm partial to Mississippi State, but the CWS best-of-3 format doesn't leave a lot of room for error -- advantage: UCLA... yes, Puig-mania, but Wil Myers is no slouch... that Bulls-go-fishing could-Wizards-trade-No.-3-pick-for-Luol-Deng rumor yesterday nearly wrecked me... Three days from the NBA Draft, I've still got it Cavs/Noel, Magic/Oladipo, Wizards/Porter (or, at least, I hope that's how it goes)...
-- D.S.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
6/21 (LeBron + Heat x 2) Quickie
Last year's breakthrough championship for LeBron was his most meaningful, but this second one is more important -- and will likely become a "most important" once LeBron gets to 3+ titles, as early as next year.
It was the toughest opponent he'll ever face -- far tougher than any of the six teams (5 if you count the Jazz only once) that Michael Jordan had to beat.
And he elevated his game to near-perfection -- by far the best he has ever been, and that's not too far off from "best there ever was."
I love that he didn't cheer as the clock hit 0.0 -- he later showed some emotion, but his initial impulse was to display a look that said "Well, of COURSE we won a title again."
Regardless of the handful of unlucky bounces for the Spurs (or lucky ones for the Heat) that ultimately gave the Heat the game, LeBron has put himself on another stratosphere.
Even if it feels like another Heat d'accompli next season, and... that's OK. This Heat-Spurs series was a non-stop thrill ride played at such a high level that it was entirely satisfying.
The only issue is if LeBron, like Jordan, can never again find a Finals foe that is worthy of pushing him to his limits and then, amazingly for him AND the rest of us, beyond.
-- D.S.
It was the toughest opponent he'll ever face -- far tougher than any of the six teams (5 if you count the Jazz only once) that Michael Jordan had to beat.
And he elevated his game to near-perfection -- by far the best he has ever been, and that's not too far off from "best there ever was."
I love that he didn't cheer as the clock hit 0.0 -- he later showed some emotion, but his initial impulse was to display a look that said "Well, of COURSE we won a title again."
Regardless of the handful of unlucky bounces for the Spurs (or lucky ones for the Heat) that ultimately gave the Heat the game, LeBron has put himself on another stratosphere.
Even if it feels like another Heat d'accompli next season, and... that's OK. This Heat-Spurs series was a non-stop thrill ride played at such a high level that it was entirely satisfying.
The only issue is if LeBron, like Jordan, can never again find a Finals foe that is worthy of pushing him to his limits and then, amazingly for him AND the rest of us, beyond.
-- D.S.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
6/19 (Wow, That Game) Quickie
I think it's worth asking: Was last night the greatest game in NBA history?
I don't think it's crazy, and -- given the stakes, stars, storylines, moments, flow and finish -- at the very least, I think it merits a place in the conversation.
Some people will hate that. And, yes, it is "instant history" at its finest/worst and me going once more to the "superlative" well.
(More superlatives from last night: The sequence from the moment LeBron lost his headband until the end of the game was the finest stretch of his career... Ray Allen's 3 was the biggest of his career... it was the best game of Chris Bosh's often-maligned career... That was probably the best half of Tim Duncan's career... It was certainly the best game of Kawhi Leonard's career.)
But that doesn't change the fact that it was one of the most epic games in NBA history. LeBron himself called it the greatest game he has ever been a part of.
If the Heat win Game 7, I think it seals Game 6 as the Greatest NBA Game Ever.
And, perhaps even more impressively, if the Heat lose Game 7, their effort in Game 6 ensures that no one -- at least no one reasonable -- would be able to say that the Heat were unworthy, even in defeat.
-- D.S.
I don't think it's crazy, and -- given the stakes, stars, storylines, moments, flow and finish -- at the very least, I think it merits a place in the conversation.
Some people will hate that. And, yes, it is "instant history" at its finest/worst and me going once more to the "superlative" well.
(More superlatives from last night: The sequence from the moment LeBron lost his headband until the end of the game was the finest stretch of his career... Ray Allen's 3 was the biggest of his career... it was the best game of Chris Bosh's often-maligned career... That was probably the best half of Tim Duncan's career... It was certainly the best game of Kawhi Leonard's career.)
But that doesn't change the fact that it was one of the most epic games in NBA history. LeBron himself called it the greatest game he has ever been a part of.
If the Heat win Game 7, I think it seals Game 6 as the Greatest NBA Game Ever.
And, perhaps even more impressively, if the Heat lose Game 7, their effort in Game 6 ensures that no one -- at least no one reasonable -- would be able to say that the Heat were unworthy, even in defeat.
-- D.S.
Monday, June 17, 2013
06/17 (Ginobili) Quickie
Happy belated Father's Day to all the dads out there. As I wrote on Twitter yesterday: If only I was half as good at being a dad as I love being a dad. But I work at it every day.
Meanwhile, the Heat are on the brink. Win or else for Game 6 in Miami tomorrow night. And even if they win that, it's win or else for Game 7 in Miami on Thursday night.
The issue is that the Heat have yet to be able to string together two straight winning peformances -- either against the Spurs or the Pacers a round ago.
Meanwhile, the Spurs might also be similarly stymied, but they have clearly been able to make the necessary adjustments from losing game to winning game, most notably last night and the starting of Manu Ginobili for the first time all season.
The Spurs treated last night like it was a must-win... because it really was. And now the Heat are in trouble.
-- D.S.
Meanwhile, the Heat are on the brink. Win or else for Game 6 in Miami tomorrow night. And even if they win that, it's win or else for Game 7 in Miami on Thursday night.
The issue is that the Heat have yet to be able to string together two straight winning peformances -- either against the Spurs or the Pacers a round ago.
Meanwhile, the Spurs might also be similarly stymied, but they have clearly been able to make the necessary adjustments from losing game to winning game, most notably last night and the starting of Manu Ginobili for the first time all season.
The Spurs treated last night like it was a must-win... because it really was. And now the Heat are in trouble.
-- D.S.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
6/11 (Tebow/Pats) Quickie
It's not like I didn't see this coming. Frankly, it seemed obvious back in 2007, then again in 2008, then again in 2010, then again during this current Tebow interregnum.
Because of that, I have been mentally preparing myself for the fandom switch to the Patriots -- a team I have disliked and rooted against for a long time.
I certainly didn't want this, even if I saw it coming. But I accept it, obviously, and therefore will be buying the obligatory Tebow "5" jersey (the return back to his original high school number being a bonus side benefit of this move).
Most people loathe the fact that I, years ago, decided that I would simply root for whatever team Tim Tebow is on. First it was the Broncos. Then the Jets. Now the Patriots.
More on that later.
-- D.S.
Because of that, I have been mentally preparing myself for the fandom switch to the Patriots -- a team I have disliked and rooted against for a long time.
I certainly didn't want this, even if I saw it coming. But I accept it, obviously, and therefore will be buying the obligatory Tebow "5" jersey (the return back to his original high school number being a bonus side benefit of this move).
Most people loathe the fact that I, years ago, decided that I would simply root for whatever team Tim Tebow is on. First it was the Broncos. Then the Jets. Now the Patriots.
More on that later.
-- D.S.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Patriots Sign Tim Tebow
I have been pushing this since 2008: The Patriots are the best fit for Tim Tebow. Now we'll see for real.
-- D.S.
-- D.S.
Tuesday, June 04, 2013
6/4 (Heat-Spurs) Quickie
Here's the brutal (yet glorious!) thing about expectations for the Heat:
The Game 7 win over the Pacers was necessary, but not nearly sufficient, to consider their season a success.
In the end, the Heat -- exclusively -- are "NBA champs or fail."
Last night was something they had to do, but as I write for USA TODAY Sports today, it is meaningless if they lose the title to the Spurs.
I have written a lot about the core appeal of Florida fandom to me when I first had the opportunity 12 years ago: Crushing expectations.
After a lifetime of rooting for Northwestern (up to that point, "bowl eligibility or fail!") and the Wizards ("just don't lose your place in the draft order during the NBA Lottery!"), there was something so invigorating about rooting for a team where even a single loss can ruin a season.
I will be rooting for the Spurs, for a lot of reasons: I think the Heat are more interesting when they lose epically. I love the idea of the "Duncan Dynasty" extending beyond the Spurs' last title another half-decade, truly one of the most remarkable runs in the history of the NBA -- most uber-elite player can win multiple titles in a row. It takes a truly unique situation to win five titles over 15 years.
If I was a Heat fan, if I was LeBron James, if I was a fan of the NBA... I wouldn't want it any other way than it is right now.
-- D.S.
The Game 7 win over the Pacers was necessary, but not nearly sufficient, to consider their season a success.
In the end, the Heat -- exclusively -- are "NBA champs or fail."
Last night was something they had to do, but as I write for USA TODAY Sports today, it is meaningless if they lose the title to the Spurs.
I have written a lot about the core appeal of Florida fandom to me when I first had the opportunity 12 years ago: Crushing expectations.
After a lifetime of rooting for Northwestern (up to that point, "bowl eligibility or fail!") and the Wizards ("just don't lose your place in the draft order during the NBA Lottery!"), there was something so invigorating about rooting for a team where even a single loss can ruin a season.
I will be rooting for the Spurs, for a lot of reasons: I think the Heat are more interesting when they lose epically. I love the idea of the "Duncan Dynasty" extending beyond the Spurs' last title another half-decade, truly one of the most remarkable runs in the history of the NBA -- most uber-elite player can win multiple titles in a row. It takes a truly unique situation to win five titles over 15 years.
If I was a Heat fan, if I was LeBron James, if I was a fan of the NBA... I wouldn't want it any other way than it is right now.
-- D.S.
Monday, June 03, 2013
6/3 (Heat-Pacers Game 7) Quickie
Tonight doesn't qualify as a toss-up: The Heat will probably win.
Regardless of the sorry state of the full "Big Three," they still have LeBron. They have the result of Game 5. They have Chris Andersen back (and, in the effective absence of Wade and Bosh, that's a not insubstantial X-factor). They have home-court advantage. They have what I would qualify as a slight mental edge, even as confident as the Pacers might seem to be (or have reason to be).
That said, the only question for me today is: What if Miami loses?
It's kind of incredible: LeBron's superlative season would be a failure. The era of the Big Three would be effectively over. Instead of an epic Heat-Spurs, we get... well, not Heat-Spurs.
Every single bit of pressure is on the Heat. Will they fall short?
If they do, it is way more interesting than if they win.
-- D.S.
Regardless of the sorry state of the full "Big Three," they still have LeBron. They have the result of Game 5. They have Chris Andersen back (and, in the effective absence of Wade and Bosh, that's a not insubstantial X-factor). They have home-court advantage. They have what I would qualify as a slight mental edge, even as confident as the Pacers might seem to be (or have reason to be).
That said, the only question for me today is: What if Miami loses?
It's kind of incredible: LeBron's superlative season would be a failure. The era of the Big Three would be effectively over. Instead of an epic Heat-Spurs, we get... well, not Heat-Spurs.
Every single bit of pressure is on the Heat. Will they fall short?
If they do, it is way more interesting than if they win.
-- D.S.
Sunday, June 02, 2013
6/2 (Grant Hill) Quickie
Happy retirement to Grant Hill. We 40-year-olds have to stick together.
(Can't wait for Heat-Pacers Game 7 on Monday night. Wow.)
-- D.S.
(Can't wait for Heat-Pacers Game 7 on Monday night. Wow.)
-- D.S.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
05/29 (Rebounding) Quickie
Mrs. Quickie won me over on our first date when she talked about how offensive rebounding was the essential skill in winning basketball.
I couldn't help but think about that as the Pacers out-rebounded the Heat last night -- 49-30 for the game, 17-4 in the devastating 4th quarter.
Whew: That one sequence with about two minutes to go when Paul George missed a 3 and Roy Hibbert got the O-rebound and put-back, then on the Pacers' next offensive set, the missed shot by Stephenson, followed by a David West O-rebound, out to Hibbert for a jumper, which he missed... then followed up by grabbing his own miss and putting it back in, including a foul on the shot by LeBron, his 5th, which would emerge as rather important when, a half-minute later, LeBron was called for that absurd offensive foul and had to leave the game.
(Today's USA TODAY Sports column leads with Joey Crawford's officiating, but quickly moves to the more deterministic factor of Indiana's rebounding. Check it out here.)
It is important to keep in mind that everything broke right for the Pacers and they STILL only won narrowly. But they won. And they seem to have the template for keeping pace with the Heat: Rebound, rebound, rebound:
It was all the more impressive that the Pacers came back from Tuesday's Game 3 debacle at home to punch the Heat in the mouth, not unlike the way the Heat won Game 4 of their conference semifinal series a year ago.
The Pacers seem unafraid. Chris Bosh is hobbled, joining Dwyane Wade -- LeBron remains unstoppable, and even moreso when he gets a corrective measure in the foul category from the refs in Game 5 back in Miami. But he is more alone in his greatness than he has been since his final season with the Cavs.
The pendulum continues to swing in this series, and I'm back to the delightful idea that this is a toss-up -- no question: The Pacers have a shot at knocking off the Heat.
-- D.S.
I couldn't help but think about that as the Pacers out-rebounded the Heat last night -- 49-30 for the game, 17-4 in the devastating 4th quarter.
Whew: That one sequence with about two minutes to go when Paul George missed a 3 and Roy Hibbert got the O-rebound and put-back, then on the Pacers' next offensive set, the missed shot by Stephenson, followed by a David West O-rebound, out to Hibbert for a jumper, which he missed... then followed up by grabbing his own miss and putting it back in, including a foul on the shot by LeBron, his 5th, which would emerge as rather important when, a half-minute later, LeBron was called for that absurd offensive foul and had to leave the game.
(Today's USA TODAY Sports column leads with Joey Crawford's officiating, but quickly moves to the more deterministic factor of Indiana's rebounding. Check it out here.)
It is important to keep in mind that everything broke right for the Pacers and they STILL only won narrowly. But they won. And they seem to have the template for keeping pace with the Heat: Rebound, rebound, rebound:
It was all the more impressive that the Pacers came back from Tuesday's Game 3 debacle at home to punch the Heat in the mouth, not unlike the way the Heat won Game 4 of their conference semifinal series a year ago.
The Pacers seem unafraid. Chris Bosh is hobbled, joining Dwyane Wade -- LeBron remains unstoppable, and even moreso when he gets a corrective measure in the foul category from the refs in Game 5 back in Miami. But he is more alone in his greatness than he has been since his final season with the Cavs.
The pendulum continues to swing in this series, and I'm back to the delightful idea that this is a toss-up -- no question: The Pacers have a shot at knocking off the Heat.
-- D.S.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
5/26 (Duncan Dynasty) Quickie
Tim Duncan is amazing.
At his age, making 1st-team All-NBA, then leading the Spurs to an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals (potentially giving the Spurs extra rest and prep time while the Heat battles it out with the Pacers) and positioning himself for yet another NBA championship.
When I was writing for ESPN.com, I coined a phrase "Duncan Dynasty" to represent how we will remember the era between Michael Jordan's final title and LeBron's first. I still think that fits, and -- let's not downplay it -- at 9 years (1999-2007, Duncan's most recent title) it is longer than the Jordan Era (1991-1998), if not quite as many rings. But if Duncan extends it to 2013 (particularly in what is presumed to have been the peak of the "LeBron Era"), then it puts his greatness at a whole new level.
If you haven't yet, it's time to appreciate what Duncan is doing this season. The Duncan Dynasty continues.
Meanwhile:
*Who's watching the Indy 500? I always enjoy it, even if I don't follow the sport.
*Neymar to Barcelona: That's a biggie. Huge future awaits for him in Europe.
*Everett Gholson is out at Notre Dame: That's huge. He makes that offense go.
Oh, and sort of an important game for LeBron and the Heat tonight in Indianapolis -- win, and they take back the series; lose, and they are no worse off than they were a year ago after Game 3 in Indianapolis, but it would feel different, given how this series has started.
-- D.S.
At his age, making 1st-team All-NBA, then leading the Spurs to an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals (potentially giving the Spurs extra rest and prep time while the Heat battles it out with the Pacers) and positioning himself for yet another NBA championship.
When I was writing for ESPN.com, I coined a phrase "Duncan Dynasty" to represent how we will remember the era between Michael Jordan's final title and LeBron's first. I still think that fits, and -- let's not downplay it -- at 9 years (1999-2007, Duncan's most recent title) it is longer than the Jordan Era (1991-1998), if not quite as many rings. But if Duncan extends it to 2013 (particularly in what is presumed to have been the peak of the "LeBron Era"), then it puts his greatness at a whole new level.
If you haven't yet, it's time to appreciate what Duncan is doing this season. The Duncan Dynasty continues.
Meanwhile:
*Who's watching the Indy 500? I always enjoy it, even if I don't follow the sport.
*Neymar to Barcelona: That's a biggie. Huge future awaits for him in Europe.
*Everett Gholson is out at Notre Dame: That's huge. He makes that offense go.
Oh, and sort of an important game for LeBron and the Heat tonight in Indianapolis -- win, and they take back the series; lose, and they are no worse off than they were a year ago after Game 3 in Indianapolis, but it would feel different, given how this series has started.
-- D.S.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
5/25 (Very Saturday) Quickie
So impressed with the Pacers' win last night.
It flipped one narrative -- that the Pacers would be broken by how Game 1 ended.
It resuscitated another narrative -- that Roy Hibbert indeed is a series-changer.
It obliterated another narrative -- that LeBron has become infallible, particularly at the end of games.
It restored the "series doesn't start until road team wins" narrative -- the one we thought we lost in Game 1.
Good for Indiana -- hell of a win.
-- D.S.
It flipped one narrative -- that the Pacers would be broken by how Game 1 ended.
It resuscitated another narrative -- that Roy Hibbert indeed is a series-changer.
It obliterated another narrative -- that LeBron has become infallible, particularly at the end of games.
It restored the "series doesn't start until road team wins" narrative -- the one we thought we lost in Game 1.
Good for Indiana -- hell of a win.
-- D.S.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
5/22 (Wizards Lottery!) Quickie
Guess I'm still in shock that the/my Wizards bounced from No. 8 in the NBA Draft order to No. 3.
For months -- since October or November, really -- I have been obsessing over the chance they have to draft Otto Porter, only to watch his draft stock skyrocket away from the Wizards' position.
Now, they have a shot.
I still think that there is a reasonable chance that Cleveland skips Nerlens Noel and drafts Otto Porter -- as weird as that might be to draft someone as sensible as Porter No. 1 overall.
But in the absence of the Cavs foiling Wizards fans for the umpteenth time -- I guess we got them last year when we got Bradley Beal, a player they coveted -- my Wiz just might land Porter.
It feels too good to be true -- that would be two straight years of ideal draftees, three in four years.
It actually makes up for the bungling of Jan Vesely in 2011 and the various other draft failures, in virtually every scenario other than the player falling into our lap as no-brainers (Wall, Beal).
That is the NBA Lottery at its best: Giving fans of largely hopeless franchises a boost of hope.
As I write in today's Morning Win column for USA TODAY Sports, I think that hope should extend to Cavs fans that bringing in Noel, combined with the rest of the talent (plus the cap space), might be enough to lure LeBron back to Cleveland after he finishes collecting rings in Miami.
-- D.S.
For months -- since October or November, really -- I have been obsessing over the chance they have to draft Otto Porter, only to watch his draft stock skyrocket away from the Wizards' position.
Now, they have a shot.
I still think that there is a reasonable chance that Cleveland skips Nerlens Noel and drafts Otto Porter -- as weird as that might be to draft someone as sensible as Porter No. 1 overall.
But in the absence of the Cavs foiling Wizards fans for the umpteenth time -- I guess we got them last year when we got Bradley Beal, a player they coveted -- my Wiz just might land Porter.
It feels too good to be true -- that would be two straight years of ideal draftees, three in four years.
It actually makes up for the bungling of Jan Vesely in 2011 and the various other draft failures, in virtually every scenario other than the player falling into our lap as no-brainers (Wall, Beal).
That is the NBA Lottery at its best: Giving fans of largely hopeless franchises a boost of hope.
As I write in today's Morning Win column for USA TODAY Sports, I think that hope should extend to Cavs fans that bringing in Noel, combined with the rest of the talent (plus the cap space), might be enough to lure LeBron back to Cleveland after he finishes collecting rings in Miami.
-- D.S.
Monday, May 20, 2013
5/20 (Fun Times) Quickie
Had one of my favorite moments as a parent yesterday. We had Gabe's 7th birthday party at a local sports complex, one of those ones that has an indoor football field, soccer field, floor hockey rink, basketball court, ice rink, etc. There was a half-hour of flag football, a half-hour of soccer, a half-hour of bouncy houses and then a half-hour for the kids to sit exhausted and eat pizza and cake.
Anyway, the kids got set up for the football game -- football is Gabe's favorite sport (despite the understanding that he will never be allowed to play the tackle version himself). The sportsplex-supplied "coach/QB" gave Gabe the ball on the first play, a handoff where he was quickly surrounded by his friends.
Gabe juked outside, then inside, then bounced to the outside again... then just turned on the jets. I have never seen him run so fast - or look so happy. The whole thing happened so quickly, I didn't even have my iPhone set up to video it, but instead I watched it first-hand, and I am much happier with the mythology and the memory of him zipping down the sidelines.
My first thought was: "He looked like Tavon Austin! No, really!" But then I realized what I had just witnessed was the purest expression of joy I have ever seen from him -- it is a memory for a lifetime.
-- D.S.
Anyway, the kids got set up for the football game -- football is Gabe's favorite sport (despite the understanding that he will never be allowed to play the tackle version himself). The sportsplex-supplied "coach/QB" gave Gabe the ball on the first play, a handoff where he was quickly surrounded by his friends.
Gabe juked outside, then inside, then bounced to the outside again... then just turned on the jets. I have never seen him run so fast - or look so happy. The whole thing happened so quickly, I didn't even have my iPhone set up to video it, but instead I watched it first-hand, and I am much happier with the mythology and the memory of him zipping down the sidelines.
My first thought was: "He looked like Tavon Austin! No, really!" But then I realized what I had just witnessed was the purest expression of joy I have ever seen from him -- it is a memory for a lifetime.
-- D.S.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
5/16 (Grizzlies) Quickie
The Grizzlies beat the Thunder so decisively that it made me wonder whether Memphis would have beaten OKC even if the Thunder were at full-strength.
It has become a given that as soon as Westbrook was ruled out of the playoffs, OKC was not even close to the team expected to win a second straight West title.
So what's a fair expectation, without Westbrook? Making (but losing) the conference finals? I don't think so -- the Thunder without Westbrook are a playoff team in the West, but clearly not a Top 2 team (let alone No. 1), and possibly not even Top 4. So this exit is fairly appropriate.
The real question is whether this Grizzlies team - as constructed, with those unstoppable two guys up front -- would have beaten OKC this year anyway. I think they would have. It's at least an argument.
And so I'm happy to give OKC an asterisk on this season, but let's not assume they would have gotten past Memphis either way -- at least in this scenario, they have an excuse.
Meanwhile, it is Gabe's 7th birthday. Some of you have been around long enough to remember when I announced he was born in the Quickie on ESPN.com back in May of '06, then all the adventures since.
Now he is a fully formed sports fan -- his favorite players are Cam Newton and Russell Westbrook. His favorite sports are football and basketball (although he also plays soccer and baseball). He loves NFL Red Zone. He is through the fifth Harry Potter book -- his signature gift this year was a Potter Quidditch jersey, which I'm not sure he'll take off. We are celebrating by taking him to Dave and Busters for dinner tonight -- his choice. He is wildly independent, and it is exciting to watch, even as I struggle to give him that leeway to figure out life. It's nice to have sports to bring us together.
-- D.S.
It has become a given that as soon as Westbrook was ruled out of the playoffs, OKC was not even close to the team expected to win a second straight West title.
So what's a fair expectation, without Westbrook? Making (but losing) the conference finals? I don't think so -- the Thunder without Westbrook are a playoff team in the West, but clearly not a Top 2 team (let alone No. 1), and possibly not even Top 4. So this exit is fairly appropriate.
The real question is whether this Grizzlies team - as constructed, with those unstoppable two guys up front -- would have beaten OKC this year anyway. I think they would have. It's at least an argument.
And so I'm happy to give OKC an asterisk on this season, but let's not assume they would have gotten past Memphis either way -- at least in this scenario, they have an excuse.
Meanwhile, it is Gabe's 7th birthday. Some of you have been around long enough to remember when I announced he was born in the Quickie on ESPN.com back in May of '06, then all the adventures since.
Now he is a fully formed sports fan -- his favorite players are Cam Newton and Russell Westbrook. His favorite sports are football and basketball (although he also plays soccer and baseball). He loves NFL Red Zone. He is through the fifth Harry Potter book -- his signature gift this year was a Potter Quidditch jersey, which I'm not sure he'll take off. We are celebrating by taking him to Dave and Busters for dinner tonight -- his choice. He is wildly independent, and it is exciting to watch, even as I struggle to give him that leeway to figure out life. It's nice to have sports to bring us together.
-- D.S.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
5/15 (Knicks Et Al) Quickie
Flattered that Mike and Mike spent a block discussing my Andrew Wiggins column from yesterday. Greenberg had tweeted it out, so I knew it was on their radar. I feel strongly enough about the topic that I am glad it resonated with folks. (Ironically, the column itself didn't do nearly the same audience numbers as some of the other ones I have been doing over the past few weeks.)
Wiggins at Kansas is... sort of deflating. I will watch them, obviously, if only for Wiggins, but I am pessimistic that he can carry them to a national title, a la Danny Manning. This was a moment for a superstar prep to really make a statement about the vestigial role of college hoops, specifically for players only planning to spend a year in college before being a Top 5 NBA Draft pick.
Meanwhile, I'm circling around a concept for the NBA Playoffs that is tantamount to a "TKO" -- no team is eliminated until they lose four games, but at some point (say, down 3-1), it's effectively over. The Knicks are done -- not just because they are down 3-1, by the way, but also because the Pacers are playing so much better.
As a Wizards fan, it is heartening to see the success of the Pacers and Grizzlies -- two teams that grind -- making hay in the playoffs. Now, to call them "superstar-free" is misleading, because Paul George is one of the Top 10 talents in the NBA, and I'm pretty comfortable putting Marc Gasol in that group, too. But they are doing it with consistency across multiple positions, plus a winning system. (That is clearly how the Spurs are grinding down the Warriors.)
Last thing: Clayton Kershaw may well be the best pitcher in baseball, but 132 pitches is insane.
-- D.S.
Wiggins at Kansas is... sort of deflating. I will watch them, obviously, if only for Wiggins, but I am pessimistic that he can carry them to a national title, a la Danny Manning. This was a moment for a superstar prep to really make a statement about the vestigial role of college hoops, specifically for players only planning to spend a year in college before being a Top 5 NBA Draft pick.
Meanwhile, I'm circling around a concept for the NBA Playoffs that is tantamount to a "TKO" -- no team is eliminated until they lose four games, but at some point (say, down 3-1), it's effectively over. The Knicks are done -- not just because they are down 3-1, by the way, but also because the Pacers are playing so much better.
As a Wizards fan, it is heartening to see the success of the Pacers and Grizzlies -- two teams that grind -- making hay in the playoffs. Now, to call them "superstar-free" is misleading, because Paul George is one of the Top 10 talents in the NBA, and I'm pretty comfortable putting Marc Gasol in that group, too. But they are doing it with consistency across multiple positions, plus a winning system. (That is clearly how the Spurs are grinding down the Warriors.)
Last thing: Clayton Kershaw may well be the best pitcher in baseball, but 132 pitches is insane.
-- D.S.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
May 14 (Wiggins) Quickie
Top prep -- the best prep since LeBron, actually -- Andrew Wiggins picked Kansas, in a bit of a surprise.
But the real move should've been to skip college altogether and go to the D League, where he would instantly have access to sponsor dollars, future earnings and NBA coaching -- all without hurting his lock-to-be-first-pick draft stock.
Longtime readers know this is one my capital-i Issues: The absurdity of professional league "age limits," which are sitting right there to be disrupted.
There is nothing -- nothing -- rational about a surefire NBA draft-pick prep spending even a single year in college before going pro.
If I had a lot of money, I would offer the top five preps $200,000 each to sit out the year and do nothing but train for the NBA, giving them access to the best trainers possible.
All the players would have to do is promise to tithe 1% of their first NBA contract extension -- probably somewhere around $400,000, but hopefully higher directly because of their experience in my one-year program -- which would allow me to fund the next player down the line, along with operating costs, which would also be supported by a shoe deal and other marketing deals, which would be revenue-shared with the players.
There is a lot of dumb investment money being thrown around -- it is hard to believe that raising $10M as the equivalent of a seed fund and accelerator for basketball talent (with the potential for at least a 2X return) is out of reach.
Anyway, here's hoping Andrew Wiggins doesn't get injured, like Nerlens Noel. (Of course, that ACL tear won't keep Noel from being the No. 1 overall pick of this year's draft.
-- D.S.
But the real move should've been to skip college altogether and go to the D League, where he would instantly have access to sponsor dollars, future earnings and NBA coaching -- all without hurting his lock-to-be-first-pick draft stock.
Longtime readers know this is one my capital-i Issues: The absurdity of professional league "age limits," which are sitting right there to be disrupted.
There is nothing -- nothing -- rational about a surefire NBA draft-pick prep spending even a single year in college before going pro.
If I had a lot of money, I would offer the top five preps $200,000 each to sit out the year and do nothing but train for the NBA, giving them access to the best trainers possible.
All the players would have to do is promise to tithe 1% of their first NBA contract extension -- probably somewhere around $400,000, but hopefully higher directly because of their experience in my one-year program -- which would allow me to fund the next player down the line, along with operating costs, which would also be supported by a shoe deal and other marketing deals, which would be revenue-shared with the players.
There is a lot of dumb investment money being thrown around -- it is hard to believe that raising $10M as the equivalent of a seed fund and accelerator for basketball talent (with the potential for at least a 2X return) is out of reach.
Anyway, here's hoping Andrew Wiggins doesn't get injured, like Nerlens Noel. (Of course, that ACL tear won't keep Noel from being the No. 1 overall pick of this year's draft.
-- D.S.
Friday, May 10, 2013
5/10 (Happy Mother's Day) Quickie
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms!
I had planned to write about Mother's Day today in the USA TODAY Sports column, but "Angry Heat Fan" needed some closure.
Between yesterday morning -- when I was pretty out in front of it (that's not to self-credit, but just to highlight that it only really popped once the casual/non-fans got to work and heard about it) -- and this morning, it became The Story. You would be -- or maybe wouldn't be -- shocked at how dominant it was among all sports stories fans could have chosen from yesterday.
There were a lot of good reasons why -- visual, accessible to non-fans, high-profile event, risque but not TOO risque -- and today I looked back on the 24-hour surge and tried to make some sense of it.
Enjoy your weekend. Lots of good NBA, good NHL and Players Championship, among other things. Don't forget Mother's Day.
-- D.S.
I had planned to write about Mother's Day today in the USA TODAY Sports column, but "Angry Heat Fan" needed some closure.
Between yesterday morning -- when I was pretty out in front of it (that's not to self-credit, but just to highlight that it only really popped once the casual/non-fans got to work and heard about it) -- and this morning, it became The Story. You would be -- or maybe wouldn't be -- shocked at how dominant it was among all sports stories fans could have chosen from yesterday.
There were a lot of good reasons why -- visual, accessible to non-fans, high-profile event, risque but not TOO risque -- and today I looked back on the 24-hour surge and tried to make some sense of it.
Enjoy your weekend. Lots of good NBA, good NHL and Players Championship, among other things. Don't forget Mother's Day.
-- D.S.
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
5/8 (Coaching) Quickie
Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson retired today. He is the greatest coach in soccer history, which qualifies him on the short list for discussion about the greatest coaches in sports history, period.
Domestically, it is hard to appreciate Ferguson's career, so in today's Morning Win column for USA TODAY Sports, I tried to pull it back to wonder what the toughest coaching seats to fill are, with the qualifier of current coaches.
Ferguson is near the top, but I would rank Nick Saban ahead of him. Alabama might be able to get a top-tier replacement eventually -- maybe not someone at the Urban Meyer level, but certainly Dan Mullen or, if the NFL doesn't work out, Chip Kelly. But the reality is that no one in U.S. sports runs a team like Saban.
I actually thought that Butler's basketball coaching job would be immensely difficult to fill -- I mean, they will find someone. But they will be hard-pressed to find someone as good as Brad Stevens, who is arguably the best coach in college basketball.
Jim Harbaugh has immediately set a new gold standard for NFL coaching, thus making himself fairly indispensable. (You wonder if Stanford's David Shaw could immediately step in and take over the role with little drop-off... that mitigates Harbaugh's "toughest seat to fill" status.
I actually think Doc Rivers will be hard to replace in Boston -- not only is the head-coaching pipeline in the NBA really weak, but it is almost impossible to find the combination of Rivers' prior head-coaching experience, plus his work as an assistant, plus his authority as a former player (who played for some all-time great coaches). Then layer in the end of the Big Three era -- and, with it, any realistic shot that Boston will be competitive at the top level for the foreseeable future. Maybe that makes the job easier to fill -- the expectations are fairly low, a testament to the job Rivers has done.
Anyway, please check out the column, which also includes a rip on Phil Jackson (as your team's top executive), praise of Matt Harvey (the obvious current choice to start the All-Star Game for the NL) and thumbs-up for the Grizzlies and Knicks.
-- D.S.
Domestically, it is hard to appreciate Ferguson's career, so in today's Morning Win column for USA TODAY Sports, I tried to pull it back to wonder what the toughest coaching seats to fill are, with the qualifier of current coaches.
Ferguson is near the top, but I would rank Nick Saban ahead of him. Alabama might be able to get a top-tier replacement eventually -- maybe not someone at the Urban Meyer level, but certainly Dan Mullen or, if the NFL doesn't work out, Chip Kelly. But the reality is that no one in U.S. sports runs a team like Saban.
I actually thought that Butler's basketball coaching job would be immensely difficult to fill -- I mean, they will find someone. But they will be hard-pressed to find someone as good as Brad Stevens, who is arguably the best coach in college basketball.
Jim Harbaugh has immediately set a new gold standard for NFL coaching, thus making himself fairly indispensable. (You wonder if Stanford's David Shaw could immediately step in and take over the role with little drop-off... that mitigates Harbaugh's "toughest seat to fill" status.
I actually think Doc Rivers will be hard to replace in Boston -- not only is the head-coaching pipeline in the NBA really weak, but it is almost impossible to find the combination of Rivers' prior head-coaching experience, plus his work as an assistant, plus his authority as a former player (who played for some all-time great coaches). Then layer in the end of the Big Three era -- and, with it, any realistic shot that Boston will be competitive at the top level for the foreseeable future. Maybe that makes the job easier to fill -- the expectations are fairly low, a testament to the job Rivers has done.
Anyway, please check out the column, which also includes a rip on Phil Jackson (as your team's top executive), praise of Matt Harvey (the obvious current choice to start the All-Star Game for the NL) and thumbs-up for the Grizzlies and Knicks.
-- D.S.
Sunday, May 05, 2013
5/5 (Very) Quickie
*Joakim Noah wins the weekend.
*Should've paid more attention to the pre-race odds on Orb.
*Games like yesterday afternoon when the Caps beat the Rangers in OT are when you realize that, even with the craziness for the Redskins and the new enthusiasm for the Nationals, D.C. is a really good hockey town.
*Mayweather? More like "Meh-weather," amirite?
*Grizzlies over the Thunder in 6.
*Knicks over the Pacers in 7.
*Don't feel particularly good about either of those last two.
-- D.S.
*Should've paid more attention to the pre-race odds on Orb.
*Games like yesterday afternoon when the Caps beat the Rangers in OT are when you realize that, even with the craziness for the Redskins and the new enthusiasm for the Nationals, D.C. is a really good hockey town.
*Mayweather? More like "Meh-weather," amirite?
*Grizzlies over the Thunder in 6.
*Knicks over the Pacers in 7.
*Don't feel particularly good about either of those last two.
-- D.S.
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