What a crazy week eh? Spurs get their asses kicked twice in once week, social media got to witness an epic meltdown in real time by Kanye West, Blake Griffin (Buster of the Week?) broke his hand on a smaller dude’s face, and the NBA did everything it could to ruin yet another All-Star Weekend.
First of all, I’ll be honest, I usually don’t even mess with All-Star Weekend. Rookies-Sophomore game is mildly interseting, but everything else is corny.
The Slam Dunk contest is played out, but I understand why they still do it. The 3 point contest always sounds better than it ever is, and I’ve got no time to watch 2 ball, HORSE, or “Around the world”.
The All Star Game itself is almost as bad as the NFL Pro Bowl (coincidentally being played today), in that no one really tries on defense, and the only time your interest is piqued, is the very last 4 minutes of the game. Even though baseball is boring as hell to watch, they still get it right, in that everyone tries, and no one has to worry about getting hurt. You actually get to see pure competition throught the game from start to finish.
So why am I bitching about All Star Weekend? Because I can. First of all, how you going to have an All Star Game in New York Lite Toronto and hire Sting for the gig?
This move typifies what the NBA All Star weekend is really about, which is corporate sponsorship and schmoozing. All the corny ass events and games, are really for the owners to drum up money, and make connects with other corporations.
In exchange for the paid trip to said city chosen, players get to hit the clubs and exclusive parties with other all-stars. No doubt Toronto will be lit that weekend, and a lot of money will be made for the city (especially at the strip clubs). As for the groupies, well, let’s just say the hotel lobbies in town are going to look like the Player’s Ball. #don’tgetcaughtupfellas
Back to my point about Sting, this goes to show you just how out of touch the NBA owners are with the black audience. I doubt players are going to be hanging out by tunnels to watch Gordon Sumner sing “Desert Rose.”
They don’t make Beats commericals with Kobe banging “Roxanne” on his headphones to get hype for games. This is for the big check writers, and the potential big check writers, and their wives and girlfriends, who will be sipping port and scotch in the luxury boxes, snapping their fingers off beat (or doing yoga poses) to the performance.
To be honest, I figured they’d let that one light skinned child actor do the show in his hometown. You know that guy who is a poor man’s L.L. Cool J. What’s his name? Drowsy? Droopy? Drizzy? Oh yeahhhhhhhhhh Drake. Maybe that was too obvious, but you can’t say that young people don’t mess with him. People do love his music, I don’t get it, but I’m old. I don’t have to.
As for the All Star selections themselves, I don’t really have a problem with with who made it (for the most part). It stinks that having a not so good this year Kobe Bryant on the team robbed my boy Dame Lillard from a deserving spot.
If the NBA is insisting on letting old guys play the game for their farewell, just create a grandfather spot for them. They can put a rocking chair on the bench, get a little bit of burn to appease the fans, and then sit their old asses down.
The fan voting needs to be curbed. Its obvious that the casual fan doesn’t know shit about basketball, and the All Star voting process only exacerbates this fact. Do you know we almost had ZaZa Pachulia’s ass in the starting lineup?
I’m not saying the league should wrestle the fans’ voting rights away completely. It is after all, for the fans, but too much money is tied up in making the All-Star team. Anthony Davis almost got screwd out of 23 million because of this nonsense. Why not split a 1/3 of the voting power between coaches, players, and the fans? This seems to me the most balanced way to get the All-Star teams right.
Lastly, how is Toronto coach, Dwayne Casey not representing during All-Star weekend? Tyronn Lue had 4 career victories, and has never coached in the playoffs, and he is coaching the All-Star game? #fail
Anyway, enough of the bitchfest. Let’s get to this week’s games:
Monday
Dallas-Atlanta
Just go with it.
San Antonio-Orlando
Tough week for Spurs fans. Watching them get beat like they did this week TWICE, is akin to feeling of dating someone for 5 months, and somehow only just finding out that they have no desire to ever have children. This of course is fine, if you are just enjoying the process and don’t care about the outcome. But if you are a fan expecting a championship (or a child if you want to continue the analogy), then you kind of already know how this is going to end.
I alluded to this in episode 4 of the FullSass Podcast when we did a brief NBA preview, when I mentioned I was worried about the health of Tony Parker–and the point guard position in general.
Five of the Spurs’ seven losses have come at the hands of speedy guards with nice handles. They couldn’t contain Kyrie Irving last night (who I’m sure will crack a ribcage sneezing sometime during the playoffs), and we saw what Steph Curry did to them on Monday. Westbrook lit them up for 33 on opening night, and John Wall and Bradley Beal did some damage during that L they took in D.C.
Tony Parker has never been the best defender, his height (or lack thereof) creates mismatches when they are on defense, but now he is old, and can’t even stay in front of dudes.
He is still at times electrifying to watch, but if anyone remembers those “Six seconds or less” Suns teams, Steve Nash would get abused on the defensive end. There is just no hiding Parker against those teams, but “Pops” can’t afford to not have him running the offense. Its a tough spot to be in, and it is something I’m not used to seeing for the Spurs. I was waiting for that other shoe to drop, and it finally did this week. You never know what can happen during a season, but outside of major injury to one of the key Warriors players (Steph, Klay, or Dray), I don’t see this being the Spurs year to get the chip.
“Tap that Vein” Tuesday
Milwaukee-Portland
This could be fun. I’m already putting aside that money I’m going to lose on the Bucks making the conference Finals. My FullSass partner suggested that maybe Jason Kidd isn’t a good coach. I’m not ready to give up on him yet. We’ll see what they are made of in year 3 next season.
Wednesday
Orlando-Oklahoma City
You never know with this Thunder team. Their role players are trash, and I feel more foolish by the day that I picked them to come out of the west. Kevin Durant and Westbrook are still fun to watch though.
Chicago-Sacramento
I hope Boogie feels better by this game, otherwise the Kings are going to struggle against the Bulls’ frontcourt.
Thursday
New York-Detroit
This will be a not so bad game, or it can be a #goodassgame. I’m not sure if there will be an in between.
Toronto-Portland
Two really good backcourts facing off.
Friday
Chicago-Denver
Don’t be surprised to see the Nugs’ on here. Will Barton has been Gerald Green 2.0, and Mike Malone is coaching these boys. They are going to ruin a team’s playoff chances late in the season.
Memphis-New York
Godzingis vs. the Spanish Bear. I’d buy that for a dollar!
San Antonio-Dallas
Este el noche cuando mi sobrino “El Gordo” le vuelve una aficionado de los Spurs. Buenas suertes “Los Mavs”
Saturday
Oklahoma City-Golden State (Good Ass Game of the Week)
Hey Russ, is anybody going to show up for this game besides you and KD?
Portland-Houston
“Dame is gonna Dame. Busters gonna Bust. All the Rockets fans. Left up in the dust.” I almost feel sorry for Rockets fans. Almost.
Sunday
Sunday afternoon games should be banned from the league. Anything played before 4pm is usually sloppy and lethargic. Don’t do it. Spend some time with your significant other before you ignore them for 3 hours during the Super Bowl. By the way:
Panthers 45-Broncos 17
Is this how black people felt when Doug Williams was the QB for the Washington Racists? #dabonemCam
Enjoy Super Bowl Week.
Peace,
BM
thisagoodassgame@gmail.com