Sorry...

I'm apologizing for the lack of activity here at Le Basketbawl over the last few weeks. We've really been struggling with the playoffs for whatever reason. This being our first year in the basketball blog world, we've found a lack of topics now that the playoffs have started.

That may sound a little crazy since the playoffs have been so damn good this year, but we also don't find it all that meaningful to write the same recap post that everyone else has written after each game. Also with there being just 1 to 2 games per night, it really becomes difficult to not beat that damn horse over and over.

Our goal has always been to dig up the unheard of story or basketball blurb, and right now there just aren't many of those. We definitely aren't leaving or shutting down the site as we have enjoyed the hell out of our first year in the biz, so please bare with us!

Quote of the Year: NBA on the Billups Shot

"We determined that the play that concluded with Chauncey Billups' three-point field goal at the end of the third quarter took approximately 5.7 seconds. Because there were only 5.1 seconds remaining in the quarter when the play began, the shot would not have counted had the clock continued to run."

"But under NBA rules, the referees had to make their own decision as to whether or not the shot was launched in time due to the clock malfunction without using video review or another timing device to aid a split-second call. The referees followed proper procedure in addressing the clock malfunction by estimating the elapsed time and using their judgement as to whether the shot was taken in time."

-Joel Litvin, President of Basketball Operations for the NBA

My response: Estimating elapsed time using judgement? Umm...what? They estimated that the play took place in 4.8 seconds or something when in actuality the play was 5.7 seconds long? Very nice estimation guys.

Referees aren't paid to tell time. That is why we have a clock and a replay. Change the damn rules NBA.

Quick Rant: The Pistons are just better.

Can we stop complaining about Chauncey’s 3rd quarter buzzer beater? If you really think this shot was the reason the Magic lost then you are an absolute fool. Games aren’t won or lost on 3rd quarter controversial buzzer beaters people.

Yeah, yeah…argue that it changed the momentum or something weak like that. Well if that’s your argument, then explain to me how the refs and announcers and everyone else in the world, discussing the situation for 10+ minutes during the game, builds on that momentum. Everyone in the place knew that the call was botched and realizing you just got a freebie doesn’t necessarily mean, “Weehee! It’s momentum time!”

I keep hearing that the Magic were “screwed” and with the “technology the league has, they should have been able to get it right.” Well first off, the Magic lost that game plain and simple. “Live and die by the 3” sound familiar to anyone? Secondly, the league may have the technology but the RULES do not allow them to replay the call. What they should have done was re-do the entire play and I’m actually still wondering why they didn’t.

I guess if that would have happened the Magic would have won though, right? You know, because the team that has been to 5-6 straight Eastern Conference Championships is just a push-over.

Wade starts working that damn knee!

According to the Miami Herald, Dwyane Wade will start his off season rehab program in Chicago with Michael Jordan’s former trainer, Tim Grover. It sounds like the goal is for Wade to be ready enough to convince Team USA to allow him to play in this summer’s Olympic Games. Wait…what?

The guy has missed almost 2 seasons with an ailing knee and shoulder and just checked out the final 15 or so games of the regular season to prepare for the next. So how does taking time off for a few months and then crash coursing it during the summer for the Olympics make any sense to the Heat? The guy hasn’t finished a season for 2 straight years and you are going to let him tear his body up right before the NBA season starts? Oh, and new coach Erik Spoelstra wants to play an uptempo, slashing, dunking offense? How on Earth does this make sense to anyone?

I’m afraid we’ve seen the best D-Wade will ever be unless Grover works some miracle or unless Wade really does adapt his game like MJ did to prolong his career.

Billups wins NBA's Citizenship Award

Don’t ask me why, but I was surprised to hear that Chauncey had won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. When I think of him, his on court play doesn’t scream “Hey, I do all kinds of crazy stuff for charity!” However, after reading this article I feel like an idiot, plain and simple.

The past winners like KG, Nash, Reggie Miller, Dikembe, and David Robinson all seemed like obvious choices during the years they had won. When you read this article, it brings to light a whole other side of Billups that you wish you had known beforehand. The article lists at least 4 different organizations he deals with and each organization is different and is not strictly focused on basketball. Many of them involve bringing kids to games as part of the program, but the focus is not on athletics. Many of the organizations focus on academics, rather than making the next NBA superstar which I greatly admire.

Another interesting highlight from the article was the acknowledgement of Ron Artest as one of the five finalists for the award. We all know of the trouble Ron gets into on and sometimes even off the court, so to see his name as a finalist is a pretty big deal. He may lead a whacko personal life, but he still manages to find time to give back to his communities and to children. (Maybe he’s so busy with charities that he forgot to feed those dogs? Cheap shot! Not necessary I know!)

The point is that articles like these should happen more often. I think many of us get caught up in the game itself and the personalities we see from players on the court, when off the court they are completely different people. Obviously, you’d be a fool not to realize that, but I just feel at times we get so caught up in a hard foul or ejection that switches our mind completely into “He’s a horrible guy!” mode.

Congrats Chauncey!

How are the Hornets "Feeling" to You?

I think it’s pretty clear that we operate on the “feel” test here at Le Basketbawl, so we’re wondering how everyone is “feeling” about the Hornets at this point?

They have definitely put on quite the show this year and even though I wasn’t sure if they were for real, they continue to prove me wrong. I’m still not getting the “feeling” that they can win it all though.

They almost “feel” a little bit like the Mavericks of 2 years ago. You know, the team that surprisingly rolled to the Finals to face the big dog Miami Heat only to fall short somehow with the series in hand. They have this young core group of players that have gotten really hot lately and everything is flowing so nicely, but in the East we have those cagey veteran Celtics that would love to abuse their lack of experience in an NBA Finals setting.

Now, in no way am I comparing Chris Paul to Dirk because I would expect a fat double slap to the face from every one of you, but I do “feel” like something is missing. I think it has to be experience…oh and they’ll have to go through a certain Laker player.

Let me have your thoughts!