First of All: Uniforms
Before I address any actual gameplay, I would first like to comment on a travesty on the basketball court, the increasing outrageousness of NBA uniforms. Complication for the sake of complication.We all know that in a few short years NBA jerseys, similar to those in soccer, will be plastered with advertisements and logos. It's already begun. But why all the other unnecessary alternate uniforms? Can we preserve any kind of sanctity in the classic, simple jersey? The most egregious example comes from Portland, where the Trail Blazers don uniforms with "Rip City" across the chest. Is that a joke? You can have your slang, that's all good and well, but when you step on that basketball court and represent that franchise and that city, you are the Portland Trail Blazers, a professional basketball team. Conduct yourselves like it, look like it. I laughed as the Blazers, a heavy favorite, got swept out of the playoffs in the first round by the upstart Pelicans. In a similar vein, the best team in basketball, Golden State, wears uniforms that read "The City." Who decided you were The City? What does that even mean? Again, you are a professional sports franchise, act like it. This perversion of jerseys does not end with the names across the chest, but also includes the array of colors and designs NBA franchises feel the need to implement. For example, the Utah Jazz sported this bright orange lava-looking attire in some home games this playoffs, most notably in Game 3 against the Rockets. When I turned this game on, I legitimately did not even know who was playing. The orange jerseys were such a stark contrast to anything at all redolent of the Utah Jazz. I do not understand. What was wrong with the traditional white for home and colored for away scheme? Are they trying to be the NFL? Again, complication for the sake of complication. This is why I so appreciate, and I mentioned this to a friend of mine, the sheer simplicity of the Boston Celtics jerseys. White with Celtics at home, and green with Boston on the road. At least one traditional franchise is preserving the simplicity of the classic jerseys. Here are a few of the notable great ones. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
On to Basketball: Home Teams Go Up 3-2
 |
| The Warriors find themselves looking up at the Rockets |
The most stunning result of this NBA Playoffs so far was the Rockets 95-92 win over the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena on Tuesday night, which evened the Western Conference Finals at 2-2. Houston's improbable victory snapped the Warriors 16-game home playoff winning streak, and showed the defending champs to be fallible. Gods do bleed. In fact, Golden State not only looked mortal on Tuesday night, they looked lost, particularly in the fourth quarter. The Warriors came out of the locker room, as they always seem to do, like they were shot out of a cannon. They outscored the Rockets 34-17 in the third, and appeared poised to move within one game of a fourth straight finals appearance. That, however, was when hubris struck. In a final frame where they were outscored 25-12, the Warriors were nothing short of embarrassing. They played sloppy, they played entitled, and they played lazy. As Michael Wilbon would say, they're "slurping the Kool-Aid." They're feeling themselves, and it's costing them dearly. The number of poor possessions down the stretch of Game 4 was stunning, particularly when they came from the most efficient offensive team in the history of the league. The plan looks something like this: Dribble around the top of the key, 30 feet from the basket, until the shot clock dwindles to 5, then launch a contested three. Or better yet, throw the ball away. And this isn't just the Warriors. This lack of efficient, offensive basketball is an epidemic in the NBA, particularly in these playoffs. How many times do I have to watch a star player isolate himself and dribble 10 or 15 seconds off the clock before stepping into a low-percentage three-pointer? Durant does it, LeBron does it, Harden does it. What ever happened to the beautiful game that the 2014 San Antonio Spurs demonstrated to us? Has this been lost?
What is so stunning about the Warriors ineptitude late in these games is that they were the team that took the beautiful game to another level. They seem to have forgotten this. They seem to have lost their way. They have gone from a team that executed at the highest offensive level we've ever seen, to a team that believes they deserve to win simply by lacing them up and stepping on the court. After a season of showing the game, and their opponents, little to no respect, maybe it's finally catching up to them. After the Game 4 meltdown, it was more of the same in Game 5, when one careless play after another led to a 98-94 loss. Poor shot selection, turnovers, 24-second violations, you name it. And, as absolutely hilarious as it was to watch Draymond Green, the league's premier jackass, fumble the ball and subsequently the game, away, that was not even his fault. Steph Curry, the two-time MVP and possibly the most prolific shooter in the history of the league, gave up the ball the moment he crossed half-court, throwing a careless bounce-pass at the feet of a moving and ill-prepared Green. What's the matter, Steph? Afraid to shoot? Where's the shimmy now?
 |
| Green dives for the ball after Curry's errant pass |
If Golden State goes on the lose this series, this photo of Green diving helplessly for the loose ball in the waning moments of Game 5 may be the lasting image. However, I don't think it's going down like that. Remember, the Warriors have been here before. They trailed 3 games to 1 to a Durant-led Thunder team just two years ago. Klay Thompson, who is quickly becoming the only likable player on this roster, pulled their feet out of the fire with a remarkable 41-point performance on the road in Game 6. So while yes, the Rockets have taken a 3-2 lead, the advantage comes more due to Golden State's arrogance and ineptitude than their strong play. In fact, the Rockets have had nearly as many "hide-the-women-and-children" possessions as the Warriors have. If I have to watch James Harden dribble between his legs for 20 seconds just to launch a step-back three and come up a foot short one more time I'm going to puke. I have no confidence in Harden in the playoffs. Never have, never will. With their backs against the wall, it is time for the best team in basketball to do some introspection and self-evaluation. They need to remember why they are so damn good, and play their game. I heard a statistic during the last broadcast that the Warriors aim to reach 300 passes a game. I would be surprised if they reached this mark in either Game 4 or 5. Going a step further, it is less about quantity of passes than quality of passes. I think we will see a different Warriors team Saturday night at Oracle Arena. No dancing, no shimmying, no disrespect, all business. If they play like they are capable, they will win this series. If they get back to the beautiful game, they will win this series. Warriors in 7.
 |
| At Age 33, LeBron James may have had his best season yet |
In a matter of weeks, James Harden will be voted the NBA's Most Valuable Player. Congratulations to Harden, but LeBron James was the most valuable player to his team this season, and it isn't even close. For the first time in his career, LeBron James, at age 33, played all 82 games. Let me repeat, for the first time in his entire career, LeBron James played all 82 games in the regular season. He averaged 27 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.6 rebounds, while leading an unstable, disoriented, constantly in-flux team to the fourth seed in the East. He carried them past the live-dog Pacers team in the first round, and completely exposed the fraudulent Toronto Raptors in a four-game sweep in the second round. But he has collided with a different beast in these Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics. That is a true team that plays smart, plays for each other, and simply does not lose at home.
 |
| Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown are playing beyond their years |
