Category: Sports

The Michael Jordan Finals MVP Award

 

Yesterday, I suggested that the NBA honor its greatest champion by changing the name of the league title to the Bill Russell Trophy. As good an idea as that is, it causes a potential conundrum because the Bill Russell Finals MVP Award is already given to an individual for his Finals performance. As I mentioned yesterday, the idea of a Finals specific MVP came about in 1969 so Russell never won the award. I think a sound argument can be made that the award would be more appropriately named after Michael Jordan.

 

Jordan after all won 6 Finals MVPs and is widely considered the greatest individual player in league history.[i] Jordan, like Russell, is an important enough figure that the trophy would retain its distinction. In fact, among the fans to whom the NBA consistently markets, this move would be considered an elevation in status.

 

Now if we could convince Russell and Jordan to share the stage and deliver the trophies together… WOW!

 

 

FDO

 

 

[i] While I disagree with that contention, I understand why people (especially those 40 and under) believe it true.

 

 

The Bill Russell NBA Finals Trophy

 

I'm convinced that the NBA should create named awards to honor the legends of the game AND provide tangible rewards for specific accomplishments. This is the first in a series of suggestions in that vein. 

 

 

I think Bill Russell should be honored by naming the NBA Finals Trophy after him. The Bill Russell Trophy seems like a great idea to me.[i] There is already precedent for this since the trophy used to be named for Walter Brown then was changed to honor Larry O’Brien. What player, coach or fan cares about Larry O’Brien? I appreciate that Bill Russell has had the NBA Finals MVP Trophy named after him; it makes a little sense as an honorific. However, the award didn’t start until 1969 so Russell didn’t have the opportunity to win the award himself. And more appropriately, this would be the team award. Who exemplifies team more than Bill Russell?

 

Naming the trophy for Bill Russell would recognize his place as the greatest champion in American team sports history. It would also connect the trophy to an important figure in the way the Lombardi Trophy does. It happens regularly that football players talk about winning the Lombardi Trophy because that very name resonates with the NFL’s concept of winning. No one ever talks about winning the O’Brien Trophy. Winning the Russell Trophy? That’s got cache. 

 

This change would mean that Bill Russell would have two Finals Trophies named after him which seems odd. Tomorrow, I’ll give you the perfect solution to that dilemma.

 

 

FDO

 

 

[i] Even if the NBA goes a different route, O’Brien needs to be dumped anyway. David Stern has been much more important than O’Brien. 

 

Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James

 

What most basketball fans seem to be hoping for is that tonight begins a critical new chapter in NBA history: KD vs. LBJ.

 

In 2012, LeBron still has ‘the conn’. He’s the best player, 3x MVP, Olympic Gold Medalist, one of the 20 greatest ever[i]… while Durant has visions of those achievements he’s still clearly in 2nd place right now. That’s as it should be though, both in the sense of a natural progression and in terms of building interest.

 

The best outcome for the development of this rivalry is the one I anticipate happening. LeBron wins. (Yes, of course, that means Miami wins but in the world of NBA marketing, it’s LeBron.) If LeBron wins, he’ll be elevated out of the circle of Greatest Non-Champions[ii]. However, if he loses, he’ll be 0-3 in the Finals. That would be an extraordinary weight to bear.

 

If Durant wins, he’ll be considered among the most precocious champions ever but he still won’t be in the inner circle of that group[iii]. If Durant loses, that’ll be seen as perfectly fine! OKC is so young that reaching the Finals is a tremendous accomplishment in itself and the battle to climb the last peak will be a dominant storyline next season.

 

One juicy subplot that’s not received much attention yet is highly intriguing to me. This summer, Durant and James are both on the US Men’s Olympic team. They’re both incredibly well equipped for the international game and likely to share minutes, leadership and practice time. How different will London be if James’ Heat are champions or if Durant’s Thunder have the rings?

 

KD vs. LBJ. Sounds great to me.

 

 

FDO

 

[i] Please don’t try to find 20 better players. You can’t.

[ii] Guys like Elgin Baylor, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Dominique Wilkins, Stockton-to-Malone… Very good company.

[iii] Kareem, Bird, Magic… AMAZING company! 

 

2012 NBA Finals Preview

 

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Miami Heat: The Summer Storm Series

 

I have no idea what’s gonna happen in this series.

 

There, I admitted it. No one else seems to be able to acknowledge how confusing these playoffs have been but I think the shifts in momentum and pressure have been extraordinary and difficult to anticipate.

 

Just consider that 2 weeks ago, many folks in the media were openly wondering if the Spurs could go through the playoffs undefeated[i]. The Thunder were too young and Russell Westbrook too egotistical, Scott Brooks couldn’t make in game coaching moves and the post combo of Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka didn’t score enough. Remember all that talk? Now, Charles Barkley is openly asking Tim Duncan to retire and the Spurs are being written off (again) as championship contenders going forward. The Thunder are being ordained as a likely dynasty and Kevin Durant is being anointed as the true heir to Kobe Bryant as the NBA’s next great winner.[ii]  

 

Last week’s primary dramas centered on the Heat’s failings.  Many pundits questioned which of Miami’s Big Three would be sent packing this summer, along with Coach Erik Spoelstra. Falling behind 3-2 to the Boston Celtics apparently meant that the Heat’s team building model was fatally flawed and the Heat would suffer accordingly. LeBron James’ Game 5 fiasco[iii] continued to reveal him as a “master of panic”[iv]. That all changed when Miami won two incredibly impressive victories and appear to be clicking as at no other time in the playoffs.

 

All this is to say that over the course of the last 4, 5, 6 or 7 games of this NBA season, we’re likely to see an amazing variety of twists and turns. In basketball more than any other major American sport, change happens abruptly. One half, one quarter or even one shot can transform a game. That’s part of the joy of basketball!

 

To my way of thinking, there are more Heat players who can transform a game. In a series with rough equalities across the board, I think that matters quite a bit. Combining that with an edge in experience, desperation and the one player who can do everything on the court, I anticipate a Miami victory. Perhaps the end of the Thunder’s season will mirror last year’s as they lose to the eventual champs on the road. That means I’m gonna ride with Liam’s Mum[v] and predict Miami winning in 5 games.

 

I’m not sure I believe it either.

 

 

FDO

 

 

 

 

[i] I tried to link to the discussion on ESPN’s First Take but the video’s been removed. Should I feel surprised?

[ii] I think Tim Duncan should feel offended by this whole line of reasoning. Duncan has been the best player for 4 championship teams. Kobe’s been the best for 2 titlists.

[iii] His game high 30 points and game high 13 rebounds would be considered extraordinary for anyone else.

[iv] Shaq’s derisive comment about his former coach Stan Van Gundy has been applied to James numerous times.

[v] It’s an ESPN’s Mike and Mike joke. 

 

NBA 2011-12 preseason predictions

 

MVP:

1. LeBron James

2. Kevin Durant

3. Zach Randolph


Rookie of the Year:

1. Kemba Walker

2. Kawhi Leonard

3. Kyrie Irving

 

Most Improved Player:  

1. Greg Monroe

2. Derrick Favors

3. Mike Conley

 

Coach of the Year:  

1. Rick Adelman

2. Lionel Hollins

3. Erik Spoelstra

 

Pacific Division Champion:  Los Angeles Clippers

Northwest Division Champion:  Oklahoma City Thunder

Southwest Division Champion:   Memphis Grizzlies

Southeast Division Champion:  Miami Heat

Central Division Champion:  Chicago Bulls

Atlantic Division Champion:  New York

 

Western Conference Champion:  Memphis Grizzlies

Eastern Conference Champion:  Miami Heat

 

NBA Champion:  Miami Heat

 

This year will be the kind of regular spring that will allow for the players to have more control over games than coaches. That’s  a substantial shift from the past decade plus when tight reined coaches have attempted to dictate every element of gameplay.

 

This year, many games will be decided by depth, continuity, energy and intensity.  Young teams with intact cores and excellent playmakers will triumph over defense and system oriented teams. I’m looking forward to seeing a few 130-128 games and the changing of the guard portended by last year’s playoffs.  Can anyone say- Grizz/Heat Finals?

 

 FDO

 

Some Bonds Can’t Be Cashed In

 

Barry Bonds was convicted of obstruction of justice in the BALCO case. Apparently our government has spent something like $50 million on this effort. It’s stunning on multiple fronts. Bonds won’t have to serve any jail time and isn’t banned from working Major League Baseball. Typically, a player with his pedigree would have his pick of jobs but that won’t happen for Bonds.

 

ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian says that the taint of steroids is too strong for baseball teams to take a chance by hiring a player who is associated with the drugs. That’s why Barry Bonds won’t be employed by a major league team again. I disagree strongly with his reasoning.

 

Mark McGwire's job as the hitting coach in St. Louis is evidence that it's not about steroids; it's about personality. If you're beloved, you're more easily forgiven. In ‘98 McGwire lied repeatedly about his use of PEDs but he's been given a chance to work in MLB again. He never demonstrated any attempt to give back any gains he made from his drug use. He never donated the money he made or asked to be removed from the record books. Nope. He just apologized.

 

And that was enough apparently to gain a high level of forgiveness. There were virtually no fans who were abusive to him as the Cardinals traveled this season and his history only came up a couple times during the teams unlikely run to a World Series championship. Big Mac is back!

 

The contrast could not be clearer when it comes to Barry Bonds. As much as some people would like to see Bonds back in the game, it won't happen simply because he won't a) put on the cape of public contrition or b) have the fan support to allow a team to hire him without issue. The Giants know that he (and they) would be publicly vilified as soon as he wore their uniform again, even as a hitting coach just like McGwire. 

 

Ultimately, Kurkjian is right and Bonds is likely done with MLB.  (Rather, MLB is likely done with Bonds.)  But don’t believe that it’s because of what he did. After all, we now know that scores of players knowingly, willingly and deliberately took PEDs. It’s not the what; it’s the who. And that’s the last sad chapter of this entirely sad story.   

 

 

FDO

 

 

One Thing I Really Like Is…Replacement Names

 

NBA Nicknames that Replace Given Names


Here’s the corollary to the original post about nicknames.


The NBA has had a vast number of players whose given names have been virtually replaced by their nicknames. Replaced to the point it would seem more peculiar to use their given name. These are the ones I can think of right now although there are probably many others. I’m not even counting the guys who often have their nicknames used but not always. That means there’s no Bones Barry, no Cat Mobley and no Clyde Frazier here. Even without them, this is an awesome list.


 

Magic Johnson

Pearl Washington

Tree Rollins

Tiny Archibald

Moochie Norris

Bimbo Coles

Muggsy Bogues

Doc Rivers

Spud Webb

Boobie Gibson

Slick Watts

Buck Williams

Mookie Blaylock

Pooh Richardson

Sleepy Floyd

Fat Lever

Cornbread Maxwell

Flip Murray

Rip Hamilton

Speedy Claxton

Truck Robinson

 

Yep, this is quite a list. I repeat myself. I love nicknames.

 

FDO

 

Late Additions:


Fly Williams

Smush Parker

 

One Thing I Don’t Like Is…

 

When I type ‘E’, my computer doesn’t go to ESPN.com automatically. This is not a good sign. Let me explain. 

 

I love sports. I enjoy reading, thinking, watching and even writing about sports. Yet, my computer’s default for ‘E’ is Edline, a Website that I use to update grades, share resources and provide assignments for my students. What the computer is trying to tell me is simply that I use Edline more than I use ESPN. <smh> I repeat: This is not a good sign. 

 

It’ll be great to have Winter Break arrive so I can give ESPN the place of prominence it deserves!

 

 

FDO

 

 

One Thing I Don’t Like Is…

 

Green Bay’s coach Mike McCarthy took a few seconds on ESPN’s Mike and Mike show Thursday to consider what his team needs to improve upon in the remainder of the season.

His answer: forcing more fumbles. 


In this worst of all possible years to be both a Colts and Vikings fan, I was tempted to vomit. 

 

 

FDO

 

 

One Thing I Don’t Like Is…

 

How much I miss the NBA! 

 

Watching a high school basketball game tonight, I realized I was psychoanalyzing one of the players based on her free throw shooting. I got it bad, folks. C'mon, December 25, c'mon! 


 

FDO