Orlando vs. Boston

If Kevin Garnett were able bodied (don’t they have cortisone in Boston?) I wouldn’t even waste my massively valuable time writing up this synopsis but since he isn’t, here I GO!!!  After a long series with Chicago we learned a few things about the “new” Celts,  #1 Paul Pierce isn’t as good as he thinks.  Sure he made some big shots but he also effed up a lot, i.e) fouling Noah on a bonehead play that probably cost them the game if not another over time. #2 Boston can get REALLY thin, REALLY fast up front (I am really trying to get a Big Baby joke in here but I am tired) and #3 Brian Scalabrine and Tony Allen are part of an elaborate rouse by Ashton Kutcher to Punk the whole world into thinking these 2 DUDS could actually make and NBA squad.  As for Orlando, I think they are way too big for the Celts but not too deep for them.  If they can get O Town in foul trouble, I think they will be able to pressure their back up players into a big enough hole that they can’t recover but that is a LOOONG stretch….Magic in 6

Atlanta vs. Cleveland

If you skipped the first match up to get to this one you may want to go back to the first sentence and read slowly.  My time is valuable and the Cavaliers time is too.  I mean how is LeBron going to celebrate being MVP at 24 years old when he has to play these damn playoff games.  Cavs = good, Hawks = not good enough. Cavs in 4

Lakers vs. Rockets

I think this is a match up I am anticipating more than most people.  One of 2 of the worlds best players (depending on who you like better) vs. one of the worlds best defenders and piss off artists.  And if you don’t know who I am talking about, its Yao Ming and Sasha Vujacic…..No seriously, earlier in the year Kobe vs. Artest was AWESOME and gave me my favourite clip of the year which I posted on the site here.  I think people are MAJORLY looking past the Big Man and his band of merry men and just thinking LeBron/Kobe finals.  Houston is here for a reason, they have a deep team filled with role players that just come to play basketball.  Sure they don’t have T-Mac but T-Mac doesn’t have knees or a back so he would only slow them down.  What I think this series will come down to is how well Ming can play Gasol and how bad Artest can piss off Kobe.  If Ming gets in foul trouble consistently, Houston loses.  If Artest can piss Kobe off enough to make him shoot 50 times and forget his teammates, I think LA loses.  But…LA in 6

Denver vs. Dallas

I have previously stated my disdain for the Mavericks and their style of play and nothing afforded me more happiness then seeing them get beat on Sunday while I was nursing a WICKED hangover (THANK YOU PACQUIAO).  I think Denver is WAY too deep, too dirty and too well rounded to even get sucked into the Diggler’s one man band act.  Billups is better than Kidd (at this point in their career), anyone is better than JJ Barea, JR Smith is Jason Terry with attitude, Melo and Dirk are  fairly even, Martin is a real thug as opposed to Josh Howard and Nene is a REAL beast as opposed to Ericka Dampier (shout out to the Big Shaqtus).  I can see the Mavs lulling the Nuggets to sleep for a game or two so I will say….Denver in 6

Let me know what you guys think in the comments section….PROVE ME WRONG CELTICS!!!

Peace!

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As I mentioned/showed before, Rondo Bruce Lee’d Brad Miller on a pivotal play in OT on Tuesday and wasn’t penalized by Stu Jackson like D12 was for his mishap.  Then last night during the best basketball game I have watched  EVER, Rondo and Kirk “the Hobbit” Hinrich got in a wee skirmish in the first quarter.  During a rebounding scenario, Hinrich and Rondo were out near the 3 point line when they got “tangled” up, so Rondo deciding he didn’t like the manwich he was making with Kirk decided to toss him into the scorers table.  Rajon was assessed a flagrant foul and it was said the league was going to look at the play again.  Last night, Stu Jackson reviewed the tape and proclaimed there would not be any additional penalties assessed to either Hinrich or Rondo.

I know the foul on Miller was tic-tac and this foul wasn’t necessarily ALL Rajon’s fault.  But I can only imagine the penalty a guy like Artest or even ‘Sheed would receive if they pulled this move off, especially, two days after they went after a dudes head!  I am posting the video below so you guys can let me know what you think.  Does Stu have a man crush on Rajon or is he just the victim of wrong place wrong time all the time???

P.S  I like how Hinrich responds after he bounces off the scorers table.  I didn’t expect him to be so GANGSTA, he gets some street cred from me for that move and subsequently I lose TONS of street cred for admitting that in a public forum.

Peace!

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Peace!

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To me, Mikki Moore makes sense because he fits in with the teams intensity and I just think Kevin Garnett is gonna have a lot of fun messing with him like he does with Glen “Big Baby” Davis.  If Steph signs though, I am not sure how its going to work out. I guess it all depends on which Starbury shows up?  Sure him and KG go way back to their high top fade days back in Minny but I seem to remember that didn’t end well either?  It may only be for a few weeks while they make a run at the title but it only takes one player to make or break a team.  The Celts DO need a serviceable back up PG but they don’t need a guy who wants to be bigger than the team.

Where else could Steph go?  Well I know Miami wants a PG and MAYBE the Spurs and Magic but I doubt they would want to mess with what they have going so far.  A lot of lottery teams would probably take a crack at him but does he want to go that route AGAIN?  I feel bad for Steph, I do.  He used to be my favourite PG when I was a young buck playing the position myself, he was flashy, arrogant and quick as hell and it’s sad to seem him now.  Head tatted up, sitting in street clothes and getting disrespected by his OWN teammates.  Whatever happens I hope it works out well for Steph because to be honest, I think he’s pretty close to losing it mentally.

Then again, Marbury may not sign and this could be all for not but let’s say he DOES sign, how do YOU think it will work out? Let me hear it.

Peace!

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Saturday Night:  MMA - UFC Fight Night – Free on SpikeTV at 9pm ET!  The fight card MIGHT not be anything close to last weekends GSP vs. BJ Penn but it’s free, there’s ring girls and Cain Velasquez is going to be a beast in this sport and this might be the last time you see him for free.

NHL – Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens, 7pm ET on CBC - Two of the NHL’s most storied franchises, one for winning the most championships and one for well…Not winning one in about 42 years but who’s counting?  Plus you may get another free fight night when Mikhail Grabovski and Andrei Kostitsyn go at it for the Belorussian Featherweight title.

Sunday:  NBA - San Antonio Spurs vs Boston Celtics, 1pm ABC - Could this be the passing of the guard?  Or the old dog showing the puppy who’s boss?  San Antone used to be shoo-in’s for making the finals and always had a shot at winning it but lately, all we hear is the Celtics and Lakers are going to win.  So let’s see how this plays out…

NBA – LA Lakers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 3:30pm ABC – East vs. West, Kobe vs. LeBron, potential finals match up, what else could you ask for?  If you think this is going to be a regular Sunday game you are sorely mistaken.  Nobody hates losing more than Kobe and nobody hates everyone talking about LeBron more than Kobe.  Nobody hates losing more than LeBron and nobody hates being compared to Kobe more than LeBron, so let’s see who comes out on top.

Well that’s what GoatDiesel will be viewing this weekend, what are you all watching???  Let me know in the comment section…

Peace!

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Every year, every team goes through injuries, big and small.  This year, it seems like most of them are big, as in big players getting hurt on big teams.  3 more have just gone down in the last week, Jameer Nelson, Andrew Bynum and Chris Paul, with the most serious being Jameer Nelson last night.  As of right now the reports are saying either 8-10 weeks or the season and however you slice it, the Magic appeared to be pigeonholed at the PG spot.  Their only real serviceable back up is Anthony Johnson (Beetlejuice) and no offence to his pretty face but he ain’t gonna cut it.  What can the Magic do?  First, they have to decide if they want to shut down Nelson for the year and opt for surgery right away or they can try and rehab him until the playoffs start and see where he is at that point.  No matter what the Magic decide to do with Nelson, I think they need to make a trade and with the deadline up in a few weeks, I think that is going to be the option they choose.  The first person who comes to mind is Jamaal Tinsley.  The Pacers are DYING to get rid of him and after he knocks the rust off (and about 15lbs) no one would be better than him to feed the BEAST AKA Dwight Howard, the rock down low.  The only other guy I could see going to the Magic would be Earl Watson.  Not happy with his roll in Oklahoma, Watson has been begging for a trade since about November and the Thunder could always use some veteran leadership, a draft pick or at least some money?  Well realistically they could use ANYTHING, so this deal may go down too.

Jameer’s injury not only plays a factor with the Magic but it also plays a part with All Star Weekend.  Jameer is a reserve on the All Star team and also a participant in the PG Skills Challenge.  In my earlier post about the All Star reserves, I sort of, kind of, called out Jameer stating that their may be some other suitable PG’s in the league that deserved his spot.  The first guy who comes to mind is Rajon Rondo.  Rondo is the PG on the best team in the East and has also had some monster games this year, including 2 HUGE triple doubles.  Another guy that could fill in for Nelson on the East squad is Mo Williams and no one would be happier the LeBron James.  Williams seems to be the PG the Cavs have been looking for, now second in the East with him at the helm, things couldn’t be going much better for the Cavs and LeBron will tell you its all because of Mighty Mo.  Either guy could take over for Nelson in the skills challenge as well but I would like to see either, the other guy who doesn’t get chosen or Jose Calderon.  With Calderon’s injury earlier in the year, he kind of negates himself from the running in the All Star game debate but the world needs to know about the Spaniard’s swagger.  He is quick, one of the most accurate passers in the NBA and he’s fun to watch. Regardless of what happens during All Star weekend, one thing is for sure, the Orlando Magic need help and they need it NOW.  Dwight Howard is a beast but he can’t do it all by himself and as much as I like a good laugh, I don’t think J.J Redick and Beetlejuice are the answer.  

Good luck Jameer, I hope you heal up soon. To the NBA, CHOOSE CALDERON FOR THE SKILLS CHALLENGE!  Think of it as a global marketing tool!

Peace!

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Seriously, name ONE player you would take from the Cavs besides LeBron?  Ok, I know Bosh and LeBron are on different levels but what I am getting at is, you don’t necessarily need the best players on your team to win, you need a good leader and good team chemistry and we have neither.  The Cavs has bought into the team philosophy of defence and they all truly believe, like the rest of the world, that LeBron is the greatest player in the league right now (Sorry Kobe).  The only thing it seems like the Raptors have bought into is a philosophy that we can’t close out games and no matter what happens, its always your fault, not Chris Bosh’s. I have been at almost all the Raps home games and I have seen things progressively getting worse and worse as far as team chemistry goes.  It all started when Sam Mitchell got fired, Bosh was noticeably sulking and that’s fine with me for a few games but you are a professional get over it. Then during halftime warm ups, as soon as his teammates came to join him he would sit on the bench and….sulk.  Then I saw something funny while I was at the Phoenix game, Chris was flying down on a 2 on 1 with Joey Graham and he fired a very high and hard no look pass that Joey couldn’t handle.  Chris then began to yell at Graham, usually Graham would apologize but this time he just walked away from Bosh and when he continued to yell, Joey turned around an just waved Bosh off, as if to say “Shut up, it was your fault anyway”.  To me that shows a sign that not only has he lost faith in the team but the team has had enough of his antics and lost faith in Bosh.

What are the Raptors options now?  With a losing record, an unhappy franchise player and no cap space, not many.  Now that Bosh has gone public and let the rest of the league know he is no longer happy in Toronto, his value INSTANTLY dropped.  That is an all too familiar situation for us Raptors fans, welcome Vince Carter 2.0!  The only benefit Raps fans have this time around is a better GM, well supposedly.  Will we trade Bosh?  I am not sure? I could even see this story being denied by Bosh in the next 48 hours and that could also be Colalgelo’s plan, so we don’t end up with Alonzo Mourning in return.  If we do trade Bosh right now I don’t even think it’s possible to get fair value for him because of his contract and where he is in his career because obviously if you trade Bosh you are instantly in rebuild mode and you’re not going to get 2 or 3 young studs for well..1 young stud???  Its a very weird situation and one that will be very interesting to see if it plays out as a saga or more like a short one page story.

For me, if Bosh really said this stuff (after all it was Stephen A. Smith who reported it) I think it should show the organization what type of player they are building around.  Sure losing is no fun but man up and wait till the offseason to let the team know your intentions for the coming year.  You certainly don’t go calling up ESPN after a 20+ point blow out and tell the team that way. Because you just look like a sore loser that can’t handle the pressure of being the leader of a losing team.  If you need some inspiration, look at Paul Pierce.  That guy went through the wringer EVERY YEAR he was in Boston and from what I remember, he never publicly demanded a trade (to clarify Bosh didn’t directly but this has to be seen as a back hand way out) and now look at him.  I know the chances of us landing something similar to KG and Ray Allen are very slim, I just think there would have been a better way out than this.

Can we turn this around?  For sure!  We are only 4 games out of the final playoff spot and the Raps last 2 months of games is about as easy as it gets in the NBA.  We do probably need to make a trade though, just not CB4.  I am not even sure O’Neal should be traded but something has to go down and the deadline is only a few weeks away so don’t be surprised if that is sooner than later.  In the mean time, Bosh you’re a good player but you have your faults too, so stop blaming your teammates, start taking the ball to the rack and most of all, keep your future plans to yourself and out Stephen A. Smith’s ear.  There is one thing for sure, its onlt going to get a lot harder for Bosh here on out because he’s definitely going to hear it from fans that are upset about what he has said…

Peace!

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First off, HOW DARE YOU!!! Last year I let you get away with it because we were winning and I admit, the fans in the ACC could have definitely been louder on occasion but not this year!  This season was supposed to be different. You got your help down low so you don’t bitch about being tired.  For crying out loud they turned their #1 pick from one of the best SFs in the league (Andrea) into a centre, just so you would have help.  And still you have the audacity to call out the fans for booing when you were only down 3?  Did you fall asleep for the first 3 quarters of that game?  You WERE up by 17, we weren’t booing you because you were down 3 it was because you were blowing your 4th double digit lead of the season, AT HOME!!!

You wanted to be MVP this season?  Too bad they don’t cast their ballots after 7 games, you woulda been a shoo in.  You started out this season with so much promise.  You had your big man next to you taking some weight off your shoulders in the post. You finally had a point guard that wanted to give you the ball rather then chuck shots.  Everything was perfect, then came the New Jersey game.  I am not so blind with rage right now that I am going to blame you for that loss but I am wholeheartedly going to blame you for what happened after it.  Like I said before, you wanted to be MVP?  Well an MVP takes a heart breaking loss and makes its something to build off. What did you do?  You sulked for a WHOLE game AT HOME for all to watch.  Don’t think you can get away with your subtleties with me! I am watching you and I have been since I lostsight of you during our playoff series with the Nets.  Then again, it wasn’t my fault, you weren’t there until about game 5 when it was pretty much in the bag.  And at that Sunday game against the Celtics, you were up to some things I was used to watching a certain #15 pull.  During time outs you weren’t with the team, one time you were even so BALLSY that during a pivotal stretch you decided it was better to practice “scoop shots” on the net rather then listen to you coach.  No wonder Sam Mitchell got fired, his “franchise player” wasn’t listening to him.  Oh it doesn’t stop there, at half time you came out early to practice that effing high elbow shot you just love SO MUCH, then as soon as a teammate stepped on that court what did you do?  Y0u walk over to the bench and sulk AGAIN.  Oh boo hoo…Toronto’s ex-hero came back into town and beat you in dramatic fashion. Christ, if you would have only got this upset during the playoffs in ’06-’07 we might have WON more than 2 games. 

You can be mad at whoever blew that defensive assignment on that back screen and let Vince win that game but then you wouldn’t want to open the flood gates for fingering point, so I will.  Let’s take your latest feat of leadership and basketball prowess that played out tonight.  Down 24 to INDIANA, Toronto mustered an unreal comeback on the road, breaking the lead down to 1.  Indiana had probably made 3 of their last 12 shots and like always you get caught out of position on D and Mike Dunleavy JR. is wide open.  So what trick do you pull out of your MVP bag?  Foul him on a desperation 3 that he probably had 30% of going in and probably a 10% chance if you just ran out extending your arms.  Naw…Lets give a career 80% FT shooter 3 shots in a close game with less than a minute to go. MVP, MVP!!!  Sure sure, that’s ONE game right?  WRONG!  I’ll even let the Chicago “game” winner the other night slide because Noah played  good defence (not that there wasn’t 4 other guys on your team on the court) but why don’t we skip to Boston game in the 4th quarter on the 12th of January. The Raptors stage yet another comeback in the 4th, IN BOSTON. It’s gotta be Chris Bosh time right?  WRONG AGAIN!  I can’t even count the number of times you fumbled the ball, made a bad pass or just seem disinterested in having the ball at all.  So who do we rely on to take this game into OT? None other than everyone else’s favourite scape goat, Andrea Bargnani.  This guy was a number one pick ,chosen by someone else. That pressure on him isn’t self-induced it was just part of the territory but everyone let’s you slide because “Bosh had no help, what was he supposed to do? Garnettwas guarding him”  Sorry that doesn’t pass with me. 

You know how much money I could have made off you this season if I would bet $100 for the last minute of every game or even how you would play against a certain team? L.A: I told my boys “Bosh won’t show up, it’s the big stage” $100.  Chicago game – To the guy in the seats behind me: “So what’s the last play?” Buddy: “I don’t even wanna guess” Goat: “I call Bosh low post, blown lay up”.  Well I would have had $100 if you could made it past Noah to attempt a lay up.  Portland to my bro on Blackberry Messenger:  “Steve Blake 3″ (it happened) “I call last play to Bosh, blown jumper” $100 because there is no way you can call whatever that was a layup, you were 9 feet from the backboard.  If you guys are this predictable to me?  How about someone who JUST watches game tape EVERYDAY for a living?

I know what everyone is thinking.  “Goat, take it easy on this guy he’s a professional athlete.  He can’t win all the games.” You know what, you’re right.  I shouldn’t expect him to come out and win every game by himself but the SECOND he tells me the ACC has to be louder because they need us for support, he puts the onus on himself now.  If we cheer and yell and scream until our throats are raw,  that Mofo better start winning some close games in the final seconds.  The next time, when he tells me “Its hard to take when you’re down 3 and you get booed”.  First off, you told us to be vocal so we were.  Secondly, don’t try and put ANY blame on people like me, who save all their cash for tickets, to see a ”star” player  who can’t admit he needs to man up rather than blame the fans for blowing a 14 point lead. All because we booed, GROW UP! 

Is Chris Bosh an All Star? Maybe? Is he a top 10 talent? Nope.  If I was starting a franchise would I choose him? Nope.  Why? Plain and simple, this guy is NOT a leader.  You ask any Raptors fan that isn’t blind and they will say the same thing because we have all seen it so many times.  In games when you’re all digging deep and need a leader 9 times out of 10 we lose.  Don’tbelieve me?  Look it up, its FACT.  Sure, like I said before he can’t win every game but how about even 50% shit even 40% I would be happy with but no we don’t even get THAT.  Seriously in your head think back to the last close game we won?  Orlando at home on the 4th of Jan? Don’t forget we were also up 12 at one point AT HOME but regardless that is one game ALL season and trust me there has been more then 2 close games all season. 

Do I hate Chris Bosh?  No not even close.  I think he is a good player and he could be a great player but he has a lot more work to do then a lot of people give him credit for.  The first thing I would LOVE for Chris to do is STOP TAKING SO MANY JUMPERS.  Chris, we KNOW you can shoot big man! Very good but come on, you’re fast, your agile and your angry, take it to the RACK.  The other night I saw you blow by Kevin Garnett and hammer it home and sure that may seem like a great play but that tells me something.  Youjust blew by one of the best defenders at your position with ease, that means you could do that to almost anyone. But you would rather step back and take shots full well knowing, we are one of the weakest rebounding teams in the league.  Now I don’t know if that is coaching but I can’t think for a minute your coaches would be that dumb.  We have Andrea, AP and Kapono to stretch the defence we certainly dont need you out there.  The second thing I would tell Chris to do is MAN UP.  I would WAY rather you tell me to “F*** off” then say “its hard when you’re getting booed”.  COME ON, I know you apologized for that statement but that was from the heart and sure it must be hard when you lose at home and you’re getting booed but that’s your life and your job, you chose it.  You don’t wanna get booed, WIN or at least don’t continuously blow double digit leads at home.  Its that too much to ask for?

Now I know all the blame shouldn’tbe on you and I am probably writing this in haste but I had to get this off my chest.  You successfully ruined another Friday night for me.  I know it’s sad that a basketball game dictated my night but that’s the truth of the matter and if things keep going the way they’re going, you’re going to ruin my whole year.  Then I am going to move to Oklahoma City. Where their star player at least plays his heart out everynight  and he’s not waiting for 2010 so he can cash a fat cheque and let another superstar do all the work *cough Lebron in New York*

Chris, I like you, I really do!  But please stop calling me and the Raptor fans out, start playing some heartfelt basketball for a FULL 4 QUARTERS and let’s just make it to the effing second round of the playoffs.  Then I’ll get off your ass and you can go play video games with LBJ in NYC in 2010.  Deal?

Peace!

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