Hornets Hype

This is Boston. Step across the threshold with those and you KNOW NOT what those crazy Puritans might do to you. You think I’m kidding. But I know. (That one was for mW. Go cups and road sodas for the world when CP wins his.)

Congratulations to the Boston Celtics, 2008 NBA Champions!

Now watch out… we’re coming for you.

This was originally a comment I was making down below, but I realized it was getting so long I might as well post it. The perks to owning the blog. People keep mentioning how this could be the Hornets next year, playing in June. It’s true, the more LA collapses the more I wish the Hornets had just brought it a little harder in Game 7.

But honestly? Damn, I hate honesty when it has to do with my team, but… We would have been in the same situation the Lakers are in. The Celtics just plug away with this ruthless look in their eyes. No, ruthless isn’t quite the right word… well, except if you’re Kevin Garnett. Cold, efficient, then? Maybe if you’re Ray Allen, but that doesn’t fit for Paul Pierce, who plays the opposite of cold. They know, man. 10-12 years in the league and you know. I’m talking, I guess, about the “Big Three,” though it applies to certain members of the bench as well. They’re not letting this one go.

I thought the Hornets wouldn’t let Game 7 go. But “I thought” is not “I know.” And I pretty much know that the Celtics won’t lose this series.

I think Byron Scott was wise when he recognized that– you have to experience what it feels like to lose so you know in the future. The Hornets’ fire– and yes, even the competitiveness of Chris Paul– wouldn’t have gotten it done. Man, it sucks to admit that all those “experience blah blah” people were right. But it seems kind of obvious now. I love the Hornets, and I find them more exciting to watch than either the Celtics or the Lakers (even I have to admit that Kobe does impossible things, but his teammates aren’t inspiring “wow” moments in me the way CP3’s lovable supporting cast does).

But they don’t have… that. Not yet. What is “that”? I don’t know exactly. But you watch Allen and Pierce and you know what I’m talking about.

The Hornets may have showed us they have Passion, Purpose, and Pride, but they don’t have that. (Side note: Am I the only one who sits around trying to figure out which Hornet corresponds to which part of that slogan? I think I have finally settled on Tyson Chandler being the Passion part, Chris Paul being the Purpose, and David West being the Pride. I realize I’ve left Peja out, but Peja’s none of those things– he’s the artillery.) They are all full of the energy and the fire and the wackiness and the pure talent that makes watching sports great. But they’re not quite the masters of the killer instinct yet. And that’s OK.

In contrast, by all accounts, this Celtics team was fully cognizant of the fact that, with the personnel it had, this year was the time. Their stated goal from the preseason was to win a championship. While you can make the argument that that’s every team’s goal, it’s not… not really. The Hornets were aiming at making the playoffs and maybe putting together a little bit of a run. It was a realistic goal, considering the past few seasons. And they accomplished it. And, to a large extent, this year’s version of the Lakers is in a similar situation right now.

You have to think teams like the Hornets and the Lakers will come more focused next season, right from the beginning. I just think back to the games the Hornets dropped against crappy teams early in the year. I think back to the games where the home advantage wasn’t there for them. I think back, amusingly, to when mW was explaining to me that in a tough division like the Southwest, the Hornets should be looking to lock up no less than third in order to get a good playoff seeding (who knew then that they would spend much of the spring looking down at the rest of the Western Conference?). And I think next year they win those games. Why? Because they know who they want to be.

“You don’t go from not making the playoffs to winning a championship,” Byron Scott told the Hornets after Game 7. “It just doesn’t work that way.” Hello, irony. The Hornets aren’t the Celtics, though. (“What up, nice to meet you, we were brought here to win a championship? We all on the same page? Good. Let’s go.”) They’re a lot younger. And they don’t have “that,” because if they did, they wouldn’t have lost Game 7. Shit, I thought the Celtics were going to be the victims of an upset a billion times this spring… but they weren’t. They somehow woke up at the exact moment they had to; they smelled blood and went for it with an uncanny instinct.

And, here’s the funny and slightly ironic thing, when — I suppose “if” is the better word, but it’ll probably be “when”– the Hornets come back more focused and mature, more businesslike, more stone cold killer-esque, I’m not sure there isn’t a part of me who’ll miss the “Whatever! We love each other! Us against the world! Let’s plaaaaay!” feel of this year’s Hornets.

I don’t know what that means.

(Oh, see? Complete with a pic of David West and everything.)

How is this in any way, shape, or form practical for her job? I’m just saying.

</being the girl>

So Kevin Garnett has a special Finals shoe, complete with a picture of the trophy and the NBA Finals logo on the inside. They did a closeup on TV and they’re pretty sweet looking shoes (though I personally think the home version is a little bit pimper). But how sweet are they really? You have to click for the zoom. “Huh,” I thought, having run across this picture in a game gallery. “What are all those little numbers? OK… How come it says 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 on the other side of his shoe? And why’s the 4 a different color? What’s the significance of that?”

Well, that became pretty obvious when I saw the KG Game 3 shoe… You guessed it, he has a special pair for each game. The Game 3 has the 3 highlighted in green. OK, now that’s cool. See, this is the stuff you miss when you sit far away and watch games live rather than on TV. I didn’t realize until the last game of the season, for instance, that D West’s shoes say “D West” on the back. And forget all the secret stuff that CP3’s shoes say. There’s a pair sitting out on my doormat and I could examine them for an hour and probably still miss something.

Update: Funny!

I was gonna go look in the gallery for that shot of the D West shoe, but I found something totally better, from a charity event in NOLA last week… D West in a COLOR! Yes! Seriously! (OK, I’m aware that it is statistically unlikely that David West gets along in life without any colors in his wardrobe. I just think it’s funny that we don’t see him in them, like, ever.) Speaking of this post and NBA fashion, do you picture KG having an entire closet in his house reserved for his collection of sweater vests?

It’s a classic matchup. Ticktock6 says go Celtics. mW says remember the Garden; go Lakers. So here we go. Check back. We’ll be commenting through the game and re-posting to this thread!

Q1 – 10:13: Kobe’s already shooting free-throws and the crowd is shouting “MVP, MVP.” Followed by a off-ball foul by Perkins and a quick Odom-Gasol easy basket. Celtics look confused. [mW]

Q1 – 9:30: Kobe just got two steals and Doc “Cry Me A” Rivers is such a bitch about it he just got a technical. Awesome. [mW]

Q1 – 7:16: Radmanovich’s 3 builds the lead to 8; C’s still can’t make a shot, and there is the Gasol-Odom connection again. Celtics call a timeout. 16-6 Lakers. [mw]

Q1 – 5:53: Garnett is sitting with 2 fouls and PP just turned the ball over. Followed by another Radman 3. Lakers by 14. This is what everyone expected from the Lakers in Game 3. [mW]

Q1 – 3:26: Fisher jumper perfect. Perkins bricks. Odom from 17 feet. House bricks a 3 and Gasol grabs the rebound, followed by a PP foul. Celtics in the penalty, Lakers to shoot two. This is insane. [mW]

Q1- TV timeout: this is a classic case where one team will just not make all their shots all game and the other team won’t miss them all game. [TT6]

Q1 – 1:58: PP robbed of an and-1, but Ray Allen got a three, so I’ll take a 5-0 run by the Celtics. [TT6]

Q1 – 0:51: Posey adds to the Boston brickhouse, while Kobe dishes to Gasol. Take two more free ones. Followed by a dumb loose ball foul by the C’s bald guy. I approve of this message. [mW]

Q1 – 0:00: C’s make an odd shot. Lakers shooting 14-15th free throws THIS QUARTER. The Lakers take a 20 point lead into the break, the largest lead after one quarter. I’m going to get dinner. This sucks. [TT6]

Q2 – 10:32: Lakers by 22 and Kobe had no FG??!?! (And Vujacicicic just came in for the first time.) Who’s scoring? [TT6]

Q2 -9:44 : another C’s turnover; Lakers return kind. WHOA, sick block by Ariza! [mW]

Q2 – 8:13: Luke Walton makes a 3 after having a minute and a half to think about it. Damn. Well there’s Will Smith, I love him. Best thing in this game so far. [TT6]

Q2 – 6:20: Odom’s 7-7, KG finds rim, but Farmar can’t capitalize on the other end. ANOTHER Kobe steal, but a quick Cassell foul. Vujacic unconscious for 3. The C’s might be thinking of calling in Brian Scalabrine. [mW]

Q2 -4:50 : The Machine with a steal; Lakers run the ball. Coming back the for the C’s Cassell continues his post-retirement bricklaying practice. Then the creepy Magic-Birdsplit-face ad. Coming back, JVG highlights two plays where FOUR Celtics collapse on Kobe. Thereafter, C’s drop another brick [mW]

Q2 – 2:47: the shot disparity is swinging. What did you expect? C’s within 12 now! [TT6]

Q2 – 0:00: Fish gets the 2+1. Ray Allen doesn’t even get the brick near the house, and then a monster by Gasol dunk with authority! Damn, did Radman just play D? Hmmm…looked like a KG goaltended on Radman at the other end, but the C’s miss at the other end–as ‘Sheed would say, “ball don’t lie.” Ooof…Kobe picks up his 3rd foul (and only has 3 points!). OOOOOOOOhhhh, Farmar with a running 3 at the buzzer!! Lakers up big at half , 58-40. [mW]

Q3 – 9:35: KG and Kobe exchange daggers to start the second half. Then Gasol and KG exchange misses, before KG backs into the basket and Odom drives and draws a foul on an injured Perkins. Rough break for the latter, but it’s obvious the Celtics are trying to get KG involved. Probably a good move. [mW]

Q3 – 8:59: when’s the last time you’ve seen this many players injured in one series, for one team? [TT6]

Q3 – 7:03: wow. Kobe from deep with a hand in his face. Then the Celtics throw it away for the 10th time. Doc is at a loss. He tried to go to P.J., didn’t like what he was getting, so goes small with Posey. I never believe in going small for an extended time. Let’s see what happens. [mW]

Q3 – 6:59: every time they cut it to 10, the Lakers push it back to 20. What are you going to do? [TT6]

Q3 – 6:03: did Radmanovich cut his hair? I swear it was longer the other week… [mW]

Q3 – 6:03: are you sure you’re not confusing him with Vujacic? [TT6]

Q3 – 2:58: C’s 5-18 from three-point range, including the ugly three Posey just rimmed. Odom draws another foul in the paint and Doc can only smile in disbelief. Yet, the C’s force a few turnovers and come within 11. [mW]

Q3 – 2:43: mW is just PARAPHRASING ME. What I really said was, “Ray Allen mothaf@ckas! Paul Pierce mothaf@ckas!” Word. Love, Me. [TT6]

Q3 – 2:18: and KG subsequently gets an offensive foul and Posey fouls at the other end. In desperation, Doc turns to Tony Allen for the first time in forever. [mW]

Q3 – 2:01: AND ONE, BITCHES! [TT6]

Q3 – 1:33: nice block by KG on Gasol, followed by a smart foul by Gasol at the other end to prevent an easy basket. C’s then drop a 3. They’re within 6. Damn.

Q3 – 0:59: keep that alien bitch on the bench, House is the man! This is his fucking game! [TT6]

Q3 – 0:42: Vujacic wears a girl’s headband! [TT6]

Q3- 0:00: P.J. ends the quarter posterizing Kobe. Celtics go on a 15-3 run and are only down 73-71 heading into the fourth. I’m not worried, though. [mW]

Q4 – 9:47: Kobe opens the 4th with 7 points…but is continuing with good D on Pierce. Meanwhile, Powe ties it, while Kobe continues to shoot cold… [mW]

Q4 – TV timeout: we’ve just seen the 834th commercial for ABC’s alleged show called “Wipeout.” I’m going to kill myself if I see another commercial for this garbage show. [mW]

Q4 – 6:16: Kobe for for a long two. He’s starting to heat up. House bricks at the other end, despite TT6’s temporary crush, and Farmar gets the rebound. But KG then makes a tough shot and ties it again. But Turiaf rejects P.J., protects the rim, and then Odom puts the Laker back up by 2. [mW]

Q4 – 5:47: Farmar another rebound, and Kobe burns PP for a dunk, but Pierce might be injured again? Lakers by 4. [mW]

Q4 – 5:44: I have no love for House. I only have love for P^2. [TT6. Obvi.]

Q4 – 4:45: there’s 5 minutes left and every basket is contested and the score keeps changing. This is killing me. [mW]

Q4 – 4:45: this is a great game. [TT6]

Q4 – 3:23: there’s no reason Ray Allen got that rebound or just beat seven Lakers to the basket to push the lead to 3. [mW]

Q4 – 2:31: basketball is such a rush. There’s so much scoring and it’s so crazy how it flows. I love it. How did I not watch this before? [TT6]

Q4 – 2:31: shut up. You had nothing to say twenty minutes ago. Fair weather fan. [mW]

Q4 – 1:44: C’s by 5. JVG points out that Phil had put in the unit that made the made the come back run in Game 2. A foul and 2 free throws later and its a 3 point game. PP then goes to the basket and draws contact. Makes 1. [mW]

Q4 – 1:22: PP immediately fouls Kobe at the other end. 1st in the last two minutes. Kobe then drives and makes it a 2 point game. [mW]

Q4 – 1:11: OH SHIT! Posey for three! [TT6]

Q4 – 0:46: Fisher for a long 2. PP draws a cheap foul. Hits 2. [mW]

Q4 – 0:15: Gasol dunk, one possession game. But Ray-Ray puts up a lay-up at the end of the shot clock. Back up to 5.[mW]

Q4 – 0:03: Lakers come up empty. Now we have to watch House scream like he’s a superstar. Fuck the Celtics. [mW]

Q4 – 0:00 I’m going to quote Serenity: “We have done the impossible, and that makes us mighty.” [TT6]

Via Dime, I present for your entertainment the NBA Finals Celtics-Lakers Wife Showdown. I about spit out my ravioli thanks to commenter #4, who says, “Once again Kobe’s teammates don’t provide him with too much help.” Haha. The Celtics are currently winning the poll.

All I can say is, damn, ladies. I’ve dated guys who were 6′5″ and 6′6″ and it was a major pain in my ass. You have to wear heels all the time just so more than your head is in pictures. Seriously. And I’m not even that short. (Actually, come to think of it, how tall are Luke Walton’s and P2’s girls? They’re the only two who come close.)

The NBA… where goofy looking men with hot wives/girlfriends happen.

Great article on ESPN today about allegations that the league fixed Playoff series. Conspiracy theorists globally are feeling vindicated. Personally, I remember Jeff Van Gundy making allegations three years ago that he was told about league plans to fuck the Rockets and Yao Ming. He was fined $100,000 and then mysteriously retracted his allegations. The story disappeared. Until Tim Donaghy corroborated it this week. And then JVG reiterated his claims tonight on national TV, though stopping short of saying he would endorse Donaghy’s claims beyond that particular series. Of course, reading his body language, he was chomping at the bit to say more. Conversely, when ABC showed David Stern’s response, his body language was clearly uncomfortable with the lie he was uttering through forced smiles. That’s just my read. But the truth was in his eyes. You just have to look for it.

Another impugned series by Donaghy? Kings-Lakers 2002. Another oft-complained about series. And surprise, surprise, there were also allegations of favoring star players. Gee, really? In the NBA? What? By the way, someone found our site the other day using the search term “NBA referee steals game.” Yeah. Probably a Laker fan. While I make no excuse for the lameness of some Laker fans, the refereeing was definitely wicked questionable in Game 2. But, expect it to be lopsided the other way in L.A. to ensure a 2-2 split. Because as Donaghy makes clear, and anyone otherwise enlightened can see, the NBA cares more about a long series to ensure TV revenues and happy sponsors than who wins. Of course, that’s assuming both teams have superstars and big markets.

Right. But people will say Donaghy’s a rogue. He’s just trying to save himself. Right. His accusations are so implausible. Bullshit. They’re what most fans think most of the time but have no proof thereof. Which, of course, is the hallmark of a good conspiracy. So such logic says the Finals will start in Game 5. By then the refs, and Stern, won’t care who wins. They will have made their money.

… I can’t help feeling like Hornets/Lakers would have been epic. Like we were slightly cheated. The Spurs were already more than half done when L.A. got them. I know there wasn’t a huge chance, but… sometimes I feel like we could have beaten the Lakers. We could have beaten the Celtics. Every time I saw one of these teams miss the connection for an alley oop tonight… I thought about Chris Paul.

We could have been great in the Conference Finals. We would have been great.

Definition: Player who is not a member of your hometown/primary team, whose pure awesomeness you have come to admire thanks to watching the NBA playoffs. The Playoff Crush, unlike the real life crush, is not predicated on physical attractiveness but rather on some combination of the aforementioned awesomeness factor (see Game 7 vs. Cleveland), on-court personality, and other X factors that vary depending on the person.

Example: 1) I have a playoff crush on Paul Pierce, who I find inexplicably sexy despite the fact that he is, let’s face it, not really hot. 2) Many people around the internet were heard to proclaim their playoff crushes on Chris Paul when the Hornets hit the playoffs and you could actually watch them on TV.

Related Terms:

Playoff Man Crush: If you are a dude, what you have is a Playoff Man Crush. Right on, guys. Own that shit.

Footnote 1: How you like that blog hijack?

Footnote 2: I am not sure that there’s any Hornet player for whom, if you run a Google search, as many pictures of him at bars immediately pop up as do when you Google Paul Pierce. Haha.

I know the draft and free agency are the big topics up next for the Hornets this summer. But how about looking a little further into the future?

Specifically, ahead to the pair of Hornets preseason games that will be played in Berlin and Barcelona as part of the NBA Europe Live Tour 2008. Although I could see how team personnel might consider it a logistical nightmare, I think it’s actually a cool concept (despite the fact that it deprives us NOLA fans of our Hornets for the third week of October preseason games– horrors!), and also a chance for European NBA fans to check out the teams live. (Dare I also say, a chance, since the Hornets drew the Washington Wizards as their opponent, to get revenge for that slightly embarrassing stretch of losses this spring?)

Plus it could be fun to follow back home, if they send some talented and fun media people along (not the T.P., dear lord, their article on Byron Scott’s new contract last week used the same quote from the Game 7 press conference that I’d already seen six places… I mean, can’t they do better than that?) I did a little research on who went last year and what they did while they were there.

And let me tell you, if it’s anything like Celtics in Rome, this could potentially be a source of endless entertainment. Never mind the fact that I’m still reading articles this week crediting the trip as a time of bonding in which the team solidified their goals for the year. But here’s a quick sampling of the silliness that went down:

• The Big Three sip cappuccinos on the porch of their hotel with teeny tiny spoons (I don’t know why this video entertains me so much). Garnett: “We’re the Ceatles. Like the Beatles… but the Ceatles. And I’m Paul.” (While sitting next to Paul Pierce, who is like, Wait, wha–?)
• Big Baby gets hit by a mini-car on the streets of Rome. “I was walking to go meet the guys to get something to eat and – this is no lie – a car really hit me. I was crossing the street, and then a guy slows down to come around a corner and – boom. The guy was like, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.’ I swear it happened. But the car was so small. He kind of hit me on the thigh, but it didn’t even hurt at all. I mean, it was one of those small cars that just fits two people. You see them all over here. I told my mom I got hit by a car, and she was like, ‘Oh, lord, are you hurt?’ I told her, ‘No, mom, I’m way bigger than the car.’”
• Ray Allen rents a scooter and there’s actually a photo of him getting told off by a cop for parking in the wrong spot. And indeed, the rest of the Celtic-as-tourists photos are pretty funny too.
• The team poses for pictures with costumed gladiators at the Colosseum.
• The starters shave their heads for team solidarity (not a huge sacrifice for Ray and KG…)

I expect great things out of Hornets in Europe. Seriously, guys. Don’t disappoint.

Random Fact of the Day: The Hornets have played in Europe once before, in 1994, when they went 1-1 in Paris and Bologna.