Monthly Archive for April, 2008

And The Winner Is…

Published
by
Anthony Iafolla
on April 23, 2008
in NBA
. 1 Comment

The NBA MVP will be announced soon, and most experts believe that the winner will be Kobe Bryant.  The top candidates this season are Bryant, Chris Paul, LeBron James, and Kevin Garnett.  The MVP is always a tough argument because there is so many criteria that one can look at in order to determine the winner.  Is it the most VALUABLE player?  Is it the best player on the best team?  I think it’s a little bit of both. Well, I am going to break down the top four candidates here, with a focus on the debate between the top two in my opinion: Bryant and Paul.  At the end, there will be a clear cut winner. 

LeBron James 

Statistically speaking, LeBron James had the best season of any player in the league.  He led the league in scoring at 30 a game, averaged 7.2 assists ( 8th in the league), and averaged 7.9 boards per game.  He was also 3rd in minutes, shot 48% from the field, and was 10th in steals at 1.84.  I believe you could vote LeBron James as the MVP every year based on the fact he is the most unstoppable player in the NBA.  Problem is, in order for him to win, he must carry his team to the top, and this season it did not happen.  Its not his fault his team is mostly crap, and without LeBron they are a lottery team, but this season there are too many other candidates more worthy, so LeBron finishes 4th on my ballot. 

Kevin Garnett 

When Garnett was traded to the Boston Celtics it instantly energized the team and its fans.  His presence and determination and focus catapulted them to a title contender.  Add Ray Allen to the mix and you had 3 future hall of famers playing together, all of whom are starving for their first title.  Garnett’s stats do not blow you away, but he is in the debate for taking a storied franchise from the lottery to the best record in the NBA.  His presence as well helped transform the Celtics into maybe the best defensive team in the NBA.  I do believe that the Celtics would still be a top 5 team in the east without him.  With Pierce and Allen, and Rondo at the point they could contend in the East, but Garnett takes them to the top.  In most years, I would have no problem with KG as the MVP.  But this has not been most years.  So, 3rd place it is. 

The top 2: Kobe vs. CP3 

So here we are.  As stated earlier, it looks like Kobe will probably win with Paul finishing a close second.  Kobe Bryant probably should already have an award on his mantle.  Last year, he was the sole reason that his team made the playoffs.  He is the best player in the NBA today.  He finished second in the league in scoring, 9th in steals, averaged 5.4 assists and 6.3 boards.  He led the Lakers to the best record in the brutally tough Western Conference. 

Chris Paul led the league in assists with 11.6 and steals with 2.7, as well as scoring 21.1 points a game.  He was 3rd in the league in assist to turnover ratio at 4.6.  With apologies to Steve Nash and Deron Williams, Chris Paul is absolutely the best point guard in the NBA.  He led the young Hornets to the 2nd seed in the aforementioned Western Conference.  Watch a Hornets game for 2 minutes and you realize that if he stays healthy, you are watching a man that will go down as one of the greatest point guards we have ever seen lace ‘em up.   

My ballot would have Bryant 2nd and Chris Paul as the 2008 NBA MVP.  Kobe is the best player in the league, and if there was a Player of the Year, it would be him.  Both men have taken their teams above expectations.  Bryant might only be the MVP because his bitching and whining in the off-season regarding his supporting cast seemed to motivate them,  especially Andrew Bynum.  Chris Paul’s teammates seem to love the guy.  It has never seemed to me that Kobe’s teammates like him, they are afraid of him.  I give him credit for being more of a team guy this year, but let’s be real, the dude wanted out up until the half way point in the season.  That is not an MVP to me.  Chris Paul makes every guy on his team infinitely better.  The Hornets rode Paul all the way this year.  Everyone figured at some point they would come down to earth.  It never happened.  I also would argue that Bryant’s supporting cast is better.  He had the best up and coming center in Bynum, Lamar Odom, who is now the 3rd option with Bynum hurt, and let’s not forget the Gasol hijacking (I mean trade).  When Lamar Odom is your 3rd option, and 4th when fully healthy, you have a pretty stacked team.  The Lakers bench is also the best in the league.  I’m not saying West, Chandler, and Peja are not a good supporting cast, but with no Chris Paul, they would be mediocre players, with the likely exception of West.  Also, remember that the Lakers were 28-16, which is certainly not bad before they made the trade for Gasol, and they went 29-9 after the trade.  This team does not finish at the top without the trade.  The great part is, we may get to see these two face off in the Western Conference Finals.  Now that would be fun! My vote is for Chris Paul for MVP.  Only problem is, my vote does not count.

Early Returns on NBA Playoffs Are Solid

Published
by
Chris Iafolla
on April 21, 2008
in NBA
. 3 Comments

It happens often: sporting events are hyped up so much that it is near impossible for them to live up to the high expectations. With every columnist and blogger on the planet (including the two here) flinging hyperbole on the potential of these playoffs, the stars seemed to be aligning for yet another monumental let down. But if the first set of games was any indication, these playoffs may not disappoint.

Let’s recap the interesting games…

Suns vs. Spurs: Steve Nash didn’t come away with a bloody nose this time around, but the Suns certainly took their fair share of body shots. With the Spurs seemingly on the ropes all day, the Suns failed to deliver the proverbial knockout punch. And like good teams always do, the Spurs just kept scratching and clawing.

This game was the poster child for impossibly high expectations, yet it somehow surpassed even those lofty expectations. The image of Tim Duncan draining his first three of the season to send the game into double OT will be seared in the memory of every Suns fan if they do not find a way to pull this series out and will only add to the growing legacy of Tim Duncan.

Sixers vs. Pistons: Both my brother and I picked the Pistons to beat our Sixers in five, but I don’t think either one of us thought the boys from Philly would march into Motown and steal Game one. Mo Cheeks has the Sixers playing as hard as any team in the league–giving them a chance to win every time they step on the court. Eventually, their inexperience will catch up with them, but mark my words, three years from now when the Sixers are making a run at a title, they will be talking about how THIS series showed them what it means to play at a championship level.

Mavs vs. Hornets: If is even possible, I think we all underestimated how good Chris Paul really is. I was among the many people that felt that Hornets lack of experience would burn them against the battle-tested Mavs. But Chris Paul had other plans. He single-handedly turned that game around and dispelled any ideas that he could not handle playoff-intensity basketball.

Cleveland vs. Washington: With all of the trash talking leading up to the game, you almost knew there would be some sort of altercation, and the Cavs and Wizards did not let us down. Just before halftime, Lebron and Haywood kicked up a bit of skirmish at halftime. Much like a manager getting purposely kicked out in baseball, Lebron gave his team a much needed spark by refusing to be pushed around. The intensity in this series should be fun to watch.

Too often in sports, we manufacture intensity and drama, ultimately cheapening the games themselves. But this time around, the hype seemed to have matched the outcome in the early going. Here’s hoping the rest of the playoffs are as fun as the first set of games.

NFL Draft Busts: Blame the GM, Not the Player

Published
by
Chris Iafolla
on April 19, 2008
in NFL
. 0 Comments

As the NFL draft rapidly approaches, the onslaught of typical draft columns has picked up steam.  From Todd McShay to Mel Kiper, the NFL Draft machine is in full swing.  And with that machine comes a barrage of columns highlighting the all-time worst draft busts.  I’m not here to add to those columns, but rather to take a look from a different angle.

The majority of draft bust articles focus on the player-laying the blame at the feet of the person that was drafted.  But shouldn’t we be blaming the person doing the drafting?  Sure, a player bears the brunt of the responsibility to perform on the field, but the expectations that a player is saddled with as a result of their draft position falls squarely on the shoulders of the GM.  Instead of focusing on the player, we should be highly critical of the GM that thought it was prudent to select the player in that position.

As an Eagles fan, the prime example that comes to mind is Mike Mamula.  Mamula came into the NFL draft combine as an unheralded defensive end from Boston College.  After putting up eye-popping combine numbers, he skyrocketed up draft boards.  Ray Rhodes immediately fell in love with Mamula-trading away the Eagles first and second round picks to move up and grab him with the 7th pick.  Mamula was largely a disappointment.  But to be fair, he did have two seasons with 8.5 sacks and finished his career with 31.5 sacks.  Not numbers that warrant his draft pick, but not horrible either.  So again I ask, is it Mike Mamula’s fault that he never lived up to expectations or Ray Rhodes’ for jumping up in the draft to take him at that spot?

I’d contend that the blame should be place on Ray Rhodes-not Mike Mamula.

I am by no means suggesting that a player does not have some responsibility to play to the best of his abilities.  But every article written about drafts past focuses on the player as the true bust.  But in reality, their talent never warranted the expectations they carried around.  For Mamula, had he been drafted in the 3rd or 4th round where his talent suggested he should be taken, we might be talking about him as a bargain.

It’s time we hold the GMs accountable for their draft miscues and not just the players.

Playoff Predictions from the Other Brother

Published
by
Chris Iafolla
on April 18, 2008
in NBA
. 1 Comment

So, my brother and I had what we thought would be a brilliant idea–he posts his playoff predictions and then I post mine.  We rarely agree on much, so we figured it would be a good way to document who had the right prediction heading into the playoffs.  But low and behold, after giving Anthony first crack and posting his predictions, it turns out that we think more alike than we knew.  In fact, our picks are so similar that we are forecasting the same Finals series–Suns versus Pistons.  AND….you guessed it, the same winner–the Pistons.

And to echo what Anthony wrote, the current version of the NBA playoffs is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory.  While I hate both teams, how cool is it that the Lakers and Celtics sit atop each of their respective conferences?  For me, it harkens back the glory days of the NBA.  Adding more drama to the mix, the West is a hodge podge of teams with a chance to win.  It is parity at its greatest.  With the exception of the Nuggets, I honestly would not be surprised to see any team come out of the West.

Without further adieu, I will give you my version of Playoff Predictions, which is not much different than my brother’s.

Atlanta vs. Boston: Not much to say here more than was already stated–Celts in a sweep.  Sorry Josh Smith, you will not be “shocking the world.”

Philadelphia vs. Detroit: Again, the key points have been covered.  The Sixers are an up and coming team, but they are a couple of years a way from being able to compete with the Pistons of the world.  Detroit in 5.

Toronto vs. Orlando: I think this series will be a lot closer and more exciting than my brother thinks it will be, but in the end, the Magic win in 7.

Cleveland vs. Washington: Anthony stole a bit of my thunder here, so see below for a full explanation–Cleveland in 6.

Lakers vs. Denver: The Nuggets are a frustrating team.  If they could play an ounce of defense, they have the offensive firepower to beat any team.  Problem is, the rely solely on their offense and have thrown the concept of defense out the window entirely.  I do think the Nuggets will make this interesting, winning 2 games.  Lakers in 6.

Phoenix vs. San Antonio: Like my brother said, it is a shame this series is so early in the playoff.  My hunch?  Whoever wins this series comes out of the West.  This series provides one of the most interesting story lines of the playoffs.  The Suns acquired Shaq for one reason during the season–to match up with Tim Duncan.  To add to the drama, the Spurs bounced the Suns from the playoffs last year in a series that resembled a hockey game more than basketball.  The difference this year is that the Suns will not be pushed around.  With Shaq, they have the physical presence to match up with the Spurs.  Suns in 6.

Dallas vs. New Orleans: Here is where my brother and I part ways.  The Mavs are playing with a purpose and level of effort they have not been able to match all season long.   While the Mavs have been here before, the Hornets have not.  I think over the course of a long playoff-intensity series, Jason Kidd will physically wear down Chris Paul.  Mavs in 6.

Rockets vs. Jazz: The Jazz simply do not get bounced early in the playoffs.  Jazz in 5.

That takes us through the first round, now let’s see if it lives through the hype.

NBA Playoff Predictions

Published
by
Anthony Iafolla
on April 18, 2008
in NBA
. 0 Comments

The NBA Playoffs are here!  This is the most excited I have been about the playoffs in awhile.  I’m always excited, but this year has been a great season for the NBA.  With young players like LeBron, Howard, Paul, and D. Williams carrying the torch, all seems to be going well for the NBA.  With the Lakers and Celtics back at center stage, the storylines are endless.  Will the Shaq trade boost Phoenix to the elusive Championship or will Steve Kerr look like a bonehead.  Will Kobe win without Shaq finally?  Can KG bring a parade to the starving city of Boston (really guys, you’ve had enough between the Pats and Sox, plus BC hockey!!!)?  Are the Spurs finally done?  Can the Hornets, even with their inexperience make some noise?…Ok.. You get the point.  Now I’m just being ridiculous and asking questions to see how many I can write before I get bored.  Not to mention, my Sixers are back in the playoffs and that has me juiced…even if it will not last long.  So, without further ado here are my picks for the 2008 Playoffs.  These are sure to be right, so head to Vegas ASAP. 

EASTERN CONFERENCE Even though everyone likes to dump on the East, there are still some good series that will play out.  Will it go according to form like most people think, or will there be a shocker in the mix?  Will I ever stop asking questions and just get to my picks?  Hmmm… 

Atlanta vs. BostonThis one really couldn’t be easier.  I mean, seriously.  The Hawks may as well start booking their vacations now.  The Celtics have 30 more wins!  30!!!  Garnett may actually eat Marvin Williams.  This is going to be an ugly one. Celtics in 4 

Philly vs. DetroitI would love to go with my boys in this one, but they just are not ready for the big time yet.  I think there will be a few tense moments for Detroit, and when the games are played in Philly, the Sixers speed and athleticism will bother the Pistons a bit, but not enough to steal more than one game. Pistons in 5 

Toronto vs. OrlandoChris Bosh will get his.  Probably 30 + a game, but I do not see the supporting cast of the Raptors being able to score enough to match Orlando’s big 3 of Howard, Lewis, and Hedo.  This could be where Howard has one of those series where he averages an insane 26 and 15…This in my opinion is a boring series.  Nothing too exciting here. Magic in 6 

Washington vs. ClevelandMan I love Charles Barkley!  I also agree with him.  The Cavs have been stuck in neutral for a month and the Wizards have been playing their best basketball of the season, as well as getting healthy.  Leave it to Agent 0…only one less the number of playoff series his teams have won.  Why would you piss off LeBron James?  Didn’t he see that is not a good idea based on games against the Raptors and Knicks this year.  And what the hell is Stevenson opening his mouth for?  Dude, you averaged 11 points a game. Shut up.  I would have picked the Wizards, but now with even just a little bit of help from West, Sczerbiak, Ilgauskas and company LeBron’s anger will carry the Cavs. Cavs in 7 Those are my first round picks. 

I will revisit this after the first round, but just to put it on record I see Boston defeating Cleveland in 6 and Detroit over Orlando in 6 in the second round to set up the matchup everyone has assumed would happen all year.  I will break it down further when it happens, but I have been picking Detroit all year.  Something tells me I am going to regret this, but I say Detroit in 7.  Maybe its just because I cannot stand to see another Beantown celebration. 

WESTERN CONFERENCE I think this time I will just get to the picks.  My question mark key is broken. 

Denver vs. Los AngelesWell I live in LaLa Land, and I have been talking up a Lakers first round demise for months, and then they go and draw Denver.  Damn!  Now I’m screwed.  There is no way the Lakers lose to Denver.  They are so dysfunctional and play a brand of basketball that has zero chance of getting them anywhere in the playoffs.  Probably because George Karl has gone crazy.  Allen Iverson will be fun to watch, Carmelo will be drunk, and J.R. Smith will shoot 17 threes a game.  The Lakers may average 142 point per game.  The Lakers will not lose to the new Portland Trailblazers. Lakers in 5 

Dallas vs. New OrleansThis is a tough one.  The Mavs looked like they were on the brink of missing the playoffs and then we would have had a cage match to the death between Mark Cuban and Avery Johnson (and by the way Avery would have won by making Cuban’s ears explode with his voice).  Then, Dirk cam back from his injury and willed them to the playoffs.  The Mavs can be scary when they are on, but I am not sure they will be.  Yes, these Hornets are young, but they are good.  Chris Paul will run circles around Kidd in this.  The Mavs were better before the trade.   Hornets in 7 

Phoenix vs. San AntonioThis is the best series of the first round and maybe the entire playoffs.  I am pissed this is in the first round.  I wanted to see this later in the playoffs.  Yes, the Spurs are old and banged up.  Shaq’s hip is always a question mark.  I just feel like the Suns are really gelling now.  They beat the Spurs both times since the trade, and actually played tough D in those games.  If this were to go to a 7th game, I do not think the Suns would win, which is why they will steal a game in San Antonio.  Probably game one.  I think Shaq and Stoudemire will be too much for the Spurs frontcourt to handle throughout the series. Suns in 6 

Utah vs. HoustonHouston had a nice run, but in the playoffs they will miss Yao Ming.  Houston can defend, but they will not be able to defend Deron Williams and the well oiled Jazz offense.  Another early exit for poor Tracy McGrady. Jazz in 6 This sets up my chance for an upset.  The Jazz take down the Lakers in 7 in the semis and Phoenix wins in 6 against New Orleans.  Setting up a Suns, Jazz final.  I see the Suns winning this one in 7. 

NBA FINALS Pistons in 7 Again I will be writing more as the Playoffs shake out.  I am sure that I will have a lot of words to eat, but either way, this should be an exciting couple months of games, and I am going to sit back and enjoy watching.

Too Much Sportmanship?

Published
by
Anthony Iafolla
on April 15, 2008
in Other
. 2 Comments

 

As the NHL Playoffs have gotten underway, it had me thinking of a tradition in hockey that I love.  A tradition that is not seen in other sports, and I truly wish there was more of.  I am speaking of when, after beating the snot out of each other for four to seven games, all 25 men line up on the ice and shake hands and exchange a few words of respect.  I love that!  That is the true meaning of sportsmanship in my opinion. 

 When we were all young and playing in our community leagues, this is what we were taught.  The reason I bring this up, is that many times in professional sports today, there seems to be a little too much sportsmanship.  What I mean is I cannot stand seeing NBA players walk out onto the court before a game and every single player freakin’ HUGS his opponent!  Save it for after you have played 48 minutes.  This will happen before every NBA playoff game in the upcoming weeks and months.  I do not want to see Dwight Howard smack LeBron James to the hardwood to prevent a poster dunk, and then help him up as if he was sorry he did it. 

I see this type of thing every time I turn on the TV to watch a game.  I see linebackers crunching a running back to the ground and then offering a helping hand up.  NO!  He is the opposition.  He is the enemy for 60 minutes.   Treat him as such!  I have no proof, but I doubt that Bill Russell hugged Wilt Chamberlain before each game.  I know, I know, Isaiah and Magic practically made out on the court, but I would never question their desire to win.  I guess in the end that is what I am getting at.  As a fan, I do not want my heroes to like the guys on the other team.  I do not want to see them exchange dinner plans before they hit the field or court.  I want to know that they share the same passionate dislike for them as I do. 

Maybe they don’t. There are reasons for this of course: Free agency, the fact that they are paid so much, share the same agents, and hang out at the same resorts in the off-season. I am not saying that today’s athletes are not driven to win, merely that I would like them to show a little less love to their opponents before a game or series.  Be friends later.  I can remember playing ball with buddies of mine and we would trade elbows for an hour, and curse and glare at each other.  Then bump fists and have a beer.  That’s how it should be. 

Recently, after being traded to Phoenix, Shaq was leveled to the floor during a game.  I believe it was Tim Duncan, but don’t quote me, tried to help him up.  Shaq refused.  Message sent. You are not my friend.  Big shocker: Shaq has 4 rings.  Give me more of that type.  In hockey, they get paid well, but they also still seem to be some of the most down to earth guys in sports (Even if no one knows it).  They are a “man’s man”.  Do battle.  Pour your heart out on the floor, field, or ice.  May the best man/men win.  To clarify, I am all for respect and sportsmanship, just save it until after you have done what you came there to do:  Which at the professional level, should be to win.  Now line up and shake hands fellas!

Heard in the Cheap Seats Bends to Will of Loyal Readers—Adds Staff Member

Published
by
Chris Iafolla
on April 14, 2008
in Other
. 1 Comment

Alright already–I’ve read your countless emails, heard your relentless pleas and witnessed your incessant begging for more Heard in the Cheap Seats.  And really, I can’t say I blame you entirely.  I too wake up in the morning wondering when I will get my fill of this blog.  But alas, I am only one man and can’t always keep up with the throngs of fans that have clung to this blog.

But fear not loyal readers, I have addressed your concern by adding a staff member.  Starting as early as tonight, you will begin to see posts from a new team member at Heard in the Cheap Seats–my older brother Anthony.  That’s right, we now have two staff members and offices on the left and right coasts (Anthony is in LA and I am in Boston).  We don’t know this to be true, but we are going to lay claim to being the first brother blogging combo in the sports blogging realm.  We fully intend to create Iafolla enterprises.

But seriously, stop by and check out Anthony’s posts–he’s never shy with an opinion and will undoubtedly add a lot of value to the conversation we hope grows on this site.

Thanks for stopping by and keep coming back!  With Anthony on board, we should be able to post on a more frequent basis.

Tiger Time?

Published
by
Chris Iafolla
on April 9, 2008
in Other
. 0 Comments

 

Tomorrow kicks off one of my favorite four days of the sports calendar year–The Masters.  There is something about the mystique and lure of Augusta National that produces an event–you know what’s coming next–unlike any other (sorry I had to).

And just like years past this year’s Masters is not short on intrigue. Sure, Tiger Woods comes to the tournament as the overwhelming favorite, but he is doing his part to add a little drama despite what many view as a forgone conclusion.  Since the golf season started, Tiger has been beating his own drum, proclaiming “the Grand Slam is easily within reach.”  Many may scoff at such bravado but before we work ourselves into a frenzy, let’s evaluate this statement for what it is–the truth.

Tiger has been playing golf at a level never seen before.  It has to be demoralizing for his competitors to know that if Tiger brings his A game, they simple can not win.  No way.  No how.  Tiger is one of the few athletes in sport (if not the only one) that is so clearly without peers he can’t lose on his best day.  It is this fact that gives him the right to say a Grand slam is easily within reach.  If Tiger continues to play the way he has to start the season, it is not only easily within reach, it is an absolute certainty.

By putting a stake in the ground, Tiger has added a certain level of drama to this tournament.  If he doesn’t win, will people be questioning his bravado?  I know I won’t.

Where’s the Madness?

Published
by
Chris Iafolla
on April 6, 2008
in College Sports
. 0 Comments

A few days ago, like many others, I was getting ready to write a post about how this was the greatest Final Four in tournament history. The numbers support that assertion. For starters, this is the first Final Four with four number 1 seeds. But the numbers don’t stop there. The combined record of these teams was 141-9 going into last night’s games–you guessed it, the best in tournament history. And perhaps most impressively, these teams are not the typical up-and-comers that permeate the tourney. No, these teams have 17 national championships and 48 trips to the Final Four combined. These are basketball juggernauts.  I’m glad I never got around to writing that post because last night’s games did not live up to the hype.

So what did we learn last night? We learned what I suspected since UNC struggled to beat Duke at the end of the regular season–the Tar Heels do not have the pure scorers needed to get past a team like Kansas. The Achilles Heel (pun intended) of UNC turned out to be its half court offense. Kansas had the athleticism to keep pace with UNC and force them in to a half-court offense. The result? An offense that looked lost and reverted to playing a game of one-on-one every time down the court. Sounds strange that a team averaging close to 100 ppg in the tournament could be doomed by their offensive inabilities–but that was exactly the case. Of course, their apparent disregard of defense didn’t help matters.

But hey, I’m not complaining, I have Kansas winning it all in my bracket.

On the other side of the bracket, we learned two things we should have known all along.

First, decades of college dominance amounts to squat once game time rolls around. Analysts, experts, commentators…you name it, all fell into the trap of giving UCLA an edge simply because they are the Blue and Gold. Well, John Wooden be damned, but UCLA teams of yesteryear had as much impact on the outcome of last night’s game as I did–zero.

The second thing we learned is guard play once again ruled the roost in the tournament. As has been proven time and time again, solid guard play is the key to making a long run in the NCAA tournament. Last night, the best guard in Derrick Rose, perhaps the best player in this tournament, carried Memphis to victory.

So with a thrilling finale, can this tournament still amount to the greatest Final Four in history? It depends on how you measure greatness. Going in, the thing that was so unique was that you really couldn’t consider any team winning an upset. There seemed to be unparalleled parity. If last night’s games proved anything, the parity was nothing more than a mirage.