These are trying times for a general sports blog, but the solution to attempting to keep track of 16 playoff series over two sports: stay focussed, read the blogs, and keep a healthy remote with a spare set of batteries always on hand.
You'll notice the blogroll just grew this morning with a set of places where the puck stopping is quite good, especially at playoff time -- do have a look at them. As for hoops, it is coming soon.
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| ASSOCIATED PRESS |
| Vince fall down. |
In the meantime, here's a number of items and observations from watching and surfing that have warmed the cockles of my heart:
Vince Carter. Nothing says schadenfreude better than VC going Vinceoverteakettle and putting up one of those 31 points on 33 shots nights. Old pal Dave D'Alessandro's Nets Blast has been a blast all this season, and reading Lawrence Frank's smooching up to VC after his opening night airballs is good for a chuckle and even hotter cockles.
The Flyers. Still on the schadenfreude beat, Philly getting creamed show can only get more ornery. James Mirtle figures that the eggheads going all hard-boiled is worth a mention -- "Vegas is taking odds on Ruff vs. Hitchcock" -- but really, coaches getting into each other's mugs and planting seeds for later is standard playoff theatre. What's going on the ice is full-out drama and a quick (though oversimplified) shorthand for what the new NHL is supposed to be about -- the Sabres' youth, open-ice quickness and thrift hammering the expensive, slow, along-the-boards Flyers (Disclaimer: I'm rooting hard -- hard! - for the Sabres, having wagered $10 in the office pool for a San Jose-Buffalo final).
LeBron James. So here's this 21-year-old's playoff debut: 48 minutes, 32 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists (he even got to the line 11 times, making this a quad double in my book). James might or might not be able to take the Cavs much further than the second round -- he's 21 years old, with nowhere near the supporting cast that the same-aged Kobe had in winning it all with the Lakers six years ago -- and surely the Wizards aren't about to be blown away. But he's the closest thing to must-watch material in the NBA as long as Cleveland lasts.
Chicago Bulls. It's taken them this long to climb out from under the shadow of the Jordan era, but they're finally on the way back and giving the Heat a mild scare. A good team to keep your eye on -- next year -- and not bad for a look-in now and then while they're still breathing.
Sidney Crosby. No, he's not here. But this latest Crosby, Inc. advertisement is, or at least will be -- thanks to J-Rich for sending it along -- filmed in beautiful downtown Mimico.
You said 'hot cockles'. [insert Beavis and/or Butthead sniggers here]
Posted by: Carla | April 25, 2006 at 12:51 PM
No NBA team with Vince Carter as the lead scorer will win. It's that simple. He takes too many bad shots, can't take contact and isn't mentally tough enough. In game 1, 10 for 20 in the paint. Good numbers. And then 1 for everything else outside. This is still the same guy who takes a whack of 28 foot turnaround fadeaway jumpers. Last time I checked, not a good percentage shot. And Coach Frank (or JKidd or both) should be shot for putting the ball in Vince's hands 30+ times when he has RJ as his running mate. If VC is cold then feed RJ.
Posted by: Mark Freedman | April 25, 2006 at 01:45 PM