Sometimes, when the stars are perfectly aligned, two opposites mesh as one. Things link up, play off each other perfectly, and two individual parts add up to equal an even better sum.
When it comes to sporting events, you'd be hard pressed to find two greater opposites than NBA All-Star weekend and the pairs ice dancing event at the Winter Olympics. On Saturday night, the sounds of the Ying Yang Twins or Chris Brown will accompany the 360 dunks of Josh Smith and Hakim Warrick. At the same time, Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto will be attempting triple lutzes with Beethoven or Bach playing in the background.
On TNT, there will be the ever-talkative/always opinionated tandem of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley. On NBC, you'll have the ever-humble team of Tom Hammond, Tracy Wilson and Sandra Bezic. There will be horribly tossed alley-oop passes coinciding with heartbreaking spills. Three-point buckets and the Ravensburger Waltz. Who can ask for anything more?
If you have picture-in-picture on your HD television, dust it off Saturday evening. Oil and water will never seem so perfect.
In the spirit of these two tremendously different events clashing on the same night, let's do a bit of mix and match. Here's the NBA's First Half of the Season Medal Ceremony:
I. MVP
Gold: Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns via Canada — This off-season, Amare Stoudemire went down, Quentin Richardson was traded to New York, and Joe Johnson signed with Atlanta. There's an entirely new bench, Jimmy Jackson's out of the fold, and Paul Shirley's selling sitcom pilots. All this, and the Suns haven't missed a beat. Nash is the reason why.
The Canadian point guard is like your good looking friend who goes out just to hang with the guys and play foosball. He's more concerned with everyone else having a good time than putting up his own numbers. His energy's infectious, though, and in the end, everyone comes out on top. If the playoffs started today, the Suns would be the No. 2 seed out west — and no one predicted that.
 |
Silver: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers via USA — LeBron's averaging 31.2 ppg; he's carried the Cavs despite the loss of Larry Hughes, and Cleveland's headed to the playoffs for the first time since the Tyrone Hill era. Yes, there was once a Tyrone Hill era in Cleveland.
Bronze: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers via USA — Hmm. He's averaging 35 points per game, scored 81 in a game and is carrying the Lakers like Brittney does her rapper/dancer/fashion guru/golfer/genius husband.
II. Coach of the Year
Gold: Avery Johnson, Dallas Mavericks via USA — As Steve Kerr's been saying since the third week of the season, Johnson "has changed the culture" in Dallas. The Mavs have the second-best record in the league and are the best squad in the NBA since December 31.
Silver: Flip Saunders, Detroit Pistons via USA — Larry who?
Bronze: Byron Scott, New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets via USA — This season, the Hornets have played in three different home arenas, are all living in temporary homes and compete in the NBA's toughest division. Despite all this, they're playing the franchise's best basketball since moving from Charlotte. Scott's erasing the generally held belief in Jersey that Eddie Jordan was really the brain behind those Eastern Conference Championship squads.
III. Rookie of the Year
Gold: Chris Paul, New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets via USA — Paul's putting up ridiculous numbers for a rookie (15.9 ppg, 7.7 apg), leading the NBA's biggest surprise team and playing through injuries with no complaints.
Silver: Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee Bucks via Australia — The Aussie big man's performed well this season, giving solid minutes and putting up quality numbers (9.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg). I guess he's not Luc Longley after all.
Bronze: Charlie Villanueva, Toronto Raptors via USA — Imagine if Connecticut still had this guy. Fortunately for the Raptors, they don't. In the first half of the season, Villanueva embraced living in Toronto, proved to be a reliable scorer and silenced all the talking heads that killed Toronto for picking him seventh overall in the NBA draft.
IV. Most Improved:
Gold: Boris Diaw, Phoenix, via France — Considered a bust in Atlanta, Diaw's evolved into the NBA's "other" Frenchman (apologies to Mickael Pietrus) in Phoenix. Diaw's averaging 12.0 ppg, 5.8 apg, and 6.6 rpg on the Western Conference's third-best team.
Silver: Speedy Claxton, New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets via USA — Pretty much an NBA journeyman until this year, Claxton's put up remarkable numbers with the Hornets (12.8 ppg, 4.7 apg, 3.0 rpg). All the while, he's mentored rookie Chris Paul and spelled him at the point. Speedy's got an NBA championship ring from his time with San Antonio in 2002-03. He's brought that experience and veteran leadership to the young Hornets in 2005-'06.
Bronze: Smush Parker, Los Angeles Lakers via USA — With a funky name and even funkier game, the former Fordham star's been the Lakers' third option for the greater part of the season. Having toiled in the minors and hopped from NBA city to city over the past few seasons, Smush has found a home in Phil Jackson's backcourt. He's averaging a respectable 11.5 ppg and 3.2 apg.
 |
V. Surprise Contributor
Gold: Eddie House, Phoenix via USA — House was a star at Arizona State, an end of the bench guy on Miami and an afterthought in Sacramento. This year, he's become the Suns' secret weapon off the bench. Though only seeing 17.6 minutes per game, House is averaging double digits in points (10.6) and shooting better than 40 percent from behind the arc (.405). Take that, Hugh Laurie.
Silver: Kevin Martin, Sacramento via USA — Ron Artest was supposed to be the kick-start the Kings needed heading into the All-Star break. Kevin Martin might have very well been that guy, instead. Martin, a second-year "tweener" out of Western Carolina, scored in double digits in 11 of the Kings last 12 games. He put up 10 or more only twice in the Kings' first 19 contests.
Bronze: Jose Calderon, Toronto via Spain — An undrafted rookie free agent from Spain, Calderon's been a wonderful surprise for the Raptors. Averaging 24.7 minutes per game, Calderon's made the most of his time on the court. He ranks 18th in the NBA in assists per turnover ratio (2.67) and ninth in the NBA in assists per 48 minutes (9.4).
VI. Clutch Shooter
Gold: David West, New Orleans/Oklahoma City via USA — Bizarre statistic of the year: Of the 29 New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornet wins, David West has made game-winning shots in three of them. On February 13, West hit a 20-footer at the buzzer to beat Washington. On December 28, it was Houston on the wrong end of a West last-second jumper. January 30? Milwaukee got it.
Silver: Carmelo Anthony, Denver via USA — In a three-day span back in January, Anthony hit game-winning shots to beat Western Conference foes Houston (92-90) and Phoenix (139-137).
Bronze: Dwyane Wade, Miami via USA — Wade's last second bucket against the Pistons on February 12 was just another in a long line of clutch, game-saving scores that he's provided for the under-achieving Heat this year.
VII. Inflammatory Quotes
Gold: Charles Barkley on Oklahoma City: "The Oklahoma Sooners and the Hornets are the only brothers in town."
Silver: Danny Fortson on some of his critics: "My reputation has been destroyed by Jerry Colangelo and Peter Vecsey from the New York Post, (it's) as simple as that. Ever since they went out and talked about me, my life sucks and I blame them."
Bronze: Mark Cuban on Phil Jackson: "I own Phil Jackson. Not literally of course. That thrill belongs to the smartest businesswoman in professional sports, Jeannie Buss. Figuratively, however, the coach formerly known as the Zen Master must now be considered my bucket boy."
VIII. Best Commercials
Gold: "The LeBrons," Nike: Sometimes confusing, sometimes bizarre, always entertaining.
Silver: "Homewreckers", Gatorade Fierce: Premiering this weekend, Vince Carter, Ben Wallace and Dwyane Wade leave the NBA hard court to challenge three streetballers on their home court. Different and pretty cool — but would have been cooler if The Professor, Escalade and AO were waiting.
Bronze: "The King" as Steve Young, Burger King: I couldn't resist. The sight of the King stumbling into the end zone brings immediate joy. It's so good, it gets a bronze in the basketball category. What'd you expect — that weird/lonely Kevin Garnett Adidas one? Not quite.
IX. Biggest Duds
Gold: Jerome James, New York via USA — One of the reasons the Knicks are an absolute embarrassment in 2005-06.
Silver: Eddy Curry, New York via USA — See above.
Bronze: Larry Brown, New York via USA — Also see above.
Final Medal Count:
0 commentaires:
Post a Comment