Live From The Nosebleeds

If you want unadulterated analysis of basketball, whether it's the NBA, college basketball, or some pick-up game I saw yesterday, take a gander at my blog.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

D-Wade vs. Dirk

First and foremost, I'd like to start this post off positively. Congratulations to Josh Howard for making his first all-star appearance, thanks to NBA commissioner David Stern's veto. As the second best player on the league's best team (record-wise thus far at least), he definitely deserved it. Oh, and I'm glad Carmelo Anthony got his due, too. Should have happened last year, should have been selected up front this year, but it looks like his selection was finally meant to be. Kudos to the two of them.

Now to the nastiness that is the Dwyane Wade/Dirk Nowitzki beef, which Sports Illustrated columnist Tony Mejia eloquently writes about. Am I disputing the fact that he thinks Wade may in fact be right? I'm a Dallas Mavericks' fan, and I'll be the first one to admit that Nowitzki didn't play his best basketball at crunch time during the finals. In fact, I can even understand Wade's assertion that the media pays more attention to Dallas losing the series than they give the Heat (and the officials) for winning it.

But, come on, Dwyane. Is now really the time to reflect back to a time when you guys were in a much better position, especially when you're sitting 9th in the severely watered down Eastern Conference, while Dallas is sitting happily in 1st in the stacked Western Conference? I'm not even going to mention the fact that Dallas beat them a couple weeks ago, simply because I'm scared D-Wade will leave an anonymous comment saying, "We didn't have Shaq."

Let it go, man. You have your ring, and no matter what the media thinks that's ultimately all that matters. I would say Dirk will make you eat your words, but I doubt he'll see you in a meaningful basketball game this spring. Maybe he'll do it next year.

I love your game. Don't get all "Kobe" on us.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

The Landscape of the ACC

Last night I caught my first glimpse of the Maryland Terrapins in a little bit, and let me just say that as a fan I was none too pleased with the results. Last night's 69-65 loss to the suddenly scorching University of Virginia Cavaliers leaves them in a precarious position for the third straight year.

They're officially on the verge of their third straight NIT appearance.

There are some programs that live for an invite to any post season play. For example, if the Towson Tigers made it to the NIT, that would be a tremendous accomplishment for a mid-major program on the rise. For the Terps, an appearance in the NIT would be considered a failure.

I never thought I'd say this in a million years as a devoted Maryland fan, but it may be time for them to consider other options at the head coaching position.

Gary Williams' grace period is close to expiring. His Terps won it all in 2001-2002 (my freshman year in college, laugh-out-loud). They followed that up with a sweet sixteen showing and an ACC tournament championship. There's no written rule, but there should be a de facto one about failure to maintain success level. Since that 2003-2004 season, the Terps have failed to reach the NCAA Tournament. In fact, they haven't even won the NIT.

It's not like his teams haven't been talented. Last year's seniors were tabbed as one of his best classes ever when they initially committed, and this year's bunch of seniors were considered the second best recruiting class at the time (Florida State's was number one that year).

But, for whatever reason he's failed to get anything out of that talent. He can't relate to his players like he was once able to. For the past three seasons they've shown flashes of brilliance, but they've also been wildly inconsistent. Despite their 17-7 record, this season might be the worst display of that.

Don't get me wrong. Williams has done a great deal for the University of Maryland. Over the years he's created a great atmosphere in College Park. It's just that his magic doesn't seem to be working anymore. Hopefully the players on Maryland's team read this and prove me wrong, and I want them to succeed. I'm just not going to get my hopes up like I did the previous two seasons.


The above rant takes nothing away from Virginia, who like I said has been on a tear and suddenly stands alone atop the Atlantic Coast Conference standings. Who honestly could have predicted that?

Honestly?

I figured the North Carolina Tar Heels would have this thing wrapped up by now, with their NBA quality depth and fiery head coach Roy Williams. I still think that they're by far and away the best team in the conference, but the fact that at press time they're not in first place is surprising.

Tonight's game against Duke is going to be huge. I read in today's Baltimore Sun that it's only the fifth time in 30 years that both teams head into the vaunted rivalry coming off of a loss. That's amazing.

In terms of analysis, I will basically repeat what I told one of my co-workers yesterday. If I was Duke's starting point guard and my two and a half foot daughter was in the pivot, it would still be a close game. Year in and year out, no matter how much the rosters have changed, Duke is still nearly unbeatable at home... and it's a huge rivalry game, so that makes it double.

I know the Blue Devils are a far cry from the successful teams of their past, but do you think Coach K is going to let them lose this game? I've got Duke by eight over Carolina.

We'll see if I'm right.