I know. You don't have to tell me. You don't have to comment saying I told you so or an emphatic happy face. I know we lost. I knew we would win the last game, and I knew we would lose this game because of one thing: Avery Johnson's comments. When Johnson said that the Warriors had the pressure, he was as wrong as could be. Why would they have the pressure? They're not the team that's about to get shown up. The Mavs faced the pressure more than any team in these playoffs. This all could've been avoided, as many of you know, had the Mavericks actually beaten the Warriors in the last game of the season. The Mavs rested ALL their starters and let the Warriors easily beat them, giving the Warriors the 8th seed. Had the Mavs won, we wouldn't be sitting here, me typing and you reading. Anyway, here is my rant. There are big changes to come in big D. Mark Cuban is pissed. It's highly likely and plausible that he sells the team this offseason. This loss is easily worse than the loss to the Heat last year. I don't care what you say. Yes, last year was the championship. But at least we showed something last year. What did we show this year? That we have a half-ass MVP, that we can't play defense worth crap, and that our star player thinks the meaning of "drive in the paint" thinks driving in a car through wet paint. Clearly, we had a worse showing this year. Here is what I compare Dirk to: Brad Lidge. For those of you who don't know who he is, go look it up. For those of you who do, you totally understand what I mean. Lidge gave up that HR to Albert Pujols in game 1. Ever since then, he's ever been the same. Last year in the finals, Dirk missed those 2 key free throws in game 3. Ever since then, he hasn't been the same in big game situations. How does the probably MVP shoot 2-13 with 8 points? He had more rebounds (10) than points, after shooting 50% in the regular season. Dirk took so many outside, contested jumpers, something he learned wouldn't work in games 3 and 4. In game 5, he actually drove the lane towards the end, and what happened? We won. He won. This time, he didn't drive the lane until the 3rd quarter! Disgusting. Another thing that pissed me off. In the press conference, Dirk said two things that should get him traded. One, he said that he felt "sorry for the organization". Why? Why does the organization need your sympathy? It's not like they did anything wrong. The players make the organziation. This was your fault. The biggest thing that he said that really got my blood boiling was when one of the reporters questioned Dirk and said "What is the biggest thing the Mavs need?". Dirk responded with "we need a low post presence". A low post presence? Dirk, you stood at the three point line this ENTIRE SERIES! You were supposed to be the low post presence in these games. You were the tallest guy on the court, and you stood around looking to take jumpers, which clearly didn't fall. Shame on you, Dirk. Shame on you.
What other big changes are in store? As I said, a sale is not out of the question. Some trades here and there are bound to happen. I would not be surprised to see the city of Dallas ask Dirk to be traded. MVP? No. Steve Nash is an MVP. Kobe Bryant (as much as I hate to say it) is an MVP. Dirk is NOT an MVP. Jason Terry? I hope he stays. Stack BETTER stay. Howard is a lock to stay. Everyone else on this team is bait, even Devin Harris. I could possibly see Terry being traded, thus allowing Harris to assume the starting role. Harris did show some signs of shooting life towards the end of the game, so thats a good thing. I'm actually kind of scared about this offseason. It's gonna get ugly. Again, shame on you, Dirk. Shame on you.
You have to tip your hats to the Warriors. Baron Davis played a hell of a game after getting injured. Steven Jackson is just sick. Sure, he has an attitude problem, but damn, that kid can ball. Montae Ellis is going to be a star. Matt Barnes, the journey ugly tattoo man is a beast. And how about Don Nelson? Coming back to coach in August, the last coach to lead the Warriors to a playoff win, beats the team he oh so hates. Did you see the hugs that he shared with Davis and Jackson as the game was over? That's how you know you have a good team. Chemistry, happiness, things like that. Shame on you, Dirk.
As for my happiness, that comes from the Red Sox winning again, this time off a Manny HR in the 8th inning. He's so good.
My predictions for the rest of the NBA:
Nets beat the Raptors, Bulls beat the Heat, Nets beat the Cavs, Bulls beat the Nets.
Suns beat the Spurs, Rockets beat the Jazz and the Warriors, Suns beat the Rockets.
Suns beat the Bulls. Nash is Finals MVP.
Shame on you, Dirk Nowitzki. Shame on you.
-Shahnavaz Makhani
Friday, May 4, 2007
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
The Team Players Have Captured My Heart
So, as I sit here at the PCL (which is a library on the UT campus), I contemplate writing for today. It is a true fact that I do have two tests tomorrow, both of which can sigificantly raise my GPA. One of them is computer science, which, up until 3 minutes ago, I had no idea how to do. The other is philosophy, an entirely essay based test, on which my grades have risen for each exam I have taken. So, am I worred? You're damn right I am.
The title of this post is directed towards, as the title reads, the "team players". Now, you might ask yourself, who are these team players that you speak of? Every team has at least one. But why do you choose to bring about this topic today, on the eve of two of the hardest tests of your freshman year? Because, my friends, two of my favorite teams have been involved in this "team player" idea. The New England Patriots, with Mr. Team Player, Mr. America, Mr. I'm-so-good-looking-even-men-want-me, Mr. Tom Brady, and, of course, the Dallas Mavericks. We'll get to the Patriots later, because I'm sure many people (the 2 that read this) have never felt their eye lids open so widely when they read "Dallas Mavericks". No, I am not talking about a 7-foot, half-ass MVP by the name of Dirk Now-I-Can't-Shoot-In-The-Playoffs. I'm talking about Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse. Two players brought in by Don Nelson. The trade of Jerry Stackhouse was highly criticized, not only by me, but by experts as well! Giving up the 6th man of the year (Antwaan Jamison) for a player who was deemed as a problematic, streaky shooter? You gotta be kidding me! And yes, I do understand that Jamison is now starting, putting up 20 and 5 a game. But look at what Stack has done. Accepting the role of 6th man, he has come off the bench and put up monster numbers. If it wasn't for Leandro Barbosa, Stack would EASILY be the 6th man of the year. No questions asked. During this series against the Warriors, Stack has put up somewhere around 20 a game. Thats ridiculous. Dirk hasn't passed 23 yet. Stack is driving inside, moving around, getting open. You can see the passion on his face when he plays. I'm telling you right now. This Mavericks team goes as Jerry Stackhouse goes. If he doesn't have a good game tonight, say goodbye to the playoffs and hello to your home and speculation of trades, firings, and selling of the team. Another key player, as I mentioned before, is none other tha Jason Terry. After spending a few years with the crappy ass Atlanta Hawks, Don Nelson brought in Jet to be one of the leaders of this team. He's done all that and more. Jet plays with that same passion, that same fire that Stack does. The Jet knows when he's hot and when he's not. He knows when/where to pass the ball, he knows how to make the smart decisions. Stack and Jet have been the most consistent players on this team during this playoff walk (yes, I said walk, not run). Hopefully, they show up tonight.
I'm predicting the game. I don't want to, but to hell with it, I might as well. Mavs win, just because Dirk is pissed that Avery talked shit about him, Avery is pissed that Dirk is bitching, Stack and Jet will bring it (whatever it may be), and the game is in Dallas. Mavs win, 104-98.
This next section will be short because, as I said, I do have two tests tomorrow. Tom Brady has always been one of my favorite players. People think I like him just because he won a Super Bowl and because he plays in Boston. While those are contributing factors, those aren't the main reasons. I loved what Brady did for the Pats when Drew Bledsoe went down. Being a 6th round pick, he came in and showed people that he was worth so much more. The turning point where I realized that he was in fact my favorite player was in the offseason of the 2002-2003 campaign after the Pats had won the Super Bowl. Mr. Clutch (Tom Brady), when he was offered literally the same contract that Peyton Manning was given (somewhere in the range of 7 years, $100 million), Brady turned it down, took a smaller raise, and told Patriots management to re-sign players so that they can keep the Super Bowl team together and win it again. Sure enough, thats what they did. But then, as the story goes, Pats management became retarded, let Deion Branch walk away, and then we sucked. Reche Caldwell as a starting receiver? How about not. However, that all changed on Sunday, when the Patriots traded for Randy Moss. The Patriots threw A LOT of money around this offseason, signing highly coveted Adelius Thomas from Baltimore, Kelly Washington from Cincinnati, trading for Wes Welker from Miami, and now this, trading for Randy Moss. And how did they get Moss? Tom Brady resctructured his contract. He did it again. For the good of the team, Tom Brady let some money go so they could win another championship. That is why he is my favorite player. Bam.
-Shahnavaz Makhani
The title of this post is directed towards, as the title reads, the "team players". Now, you might ask yourself, who are these team players that you speak of? Every team has at least one. But why do you choose to bring about this topic today, on the eve of two of the hardest tests of your freshman year? Because, my friends, two of my favorite teams have been involved in this "team player" idea. The New England Patriots, with Mr. Team Player, Mr. America, Mr. I'm-so-good-looking-even-men-want-me, Mr. Tom Brady, and, of course, the Dallas Mavericks. We'll get to the Patriots later, because I'm sure many people (the 2 that read this) have never felt their eye lids open so widely when they read "Dallas Mavericks". No, I am not talking about a 7-foot, half-ass MVP by the name of Dirk Now-I-Can't-Shoot-In-The-Playoffs. I'm talking about Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse. Two players brought in by Don Nelson. The trade of Jerry Stackhouse was highly criticized, not only by me, but by experts as well! Giving up the 6th man of the year (Antwaan Jamison) for a player who was deemed as a problematic, streaky shooter? You gotta be kidding me! And yes, I do understand that Jamison is now starting, putting up 20 and 5 a game. But look at what Stack has done. Accepting the role of 6th man, he has come off the bench and put up monster numbers. If it wasn't for Leandro Barbosa, Stack would EASILY be the 6th man of the year. No questions asked. During this series against the Warriors, Stack has put up somewhere around 20 a game. Thats ridiculous. Dirk hasn't passed 23 yet. Stack is driving inside, moving around, getting open. You can see the passion on his face when he plays. I'm telling you right now. This Mavericks team goes as Jerry Stackhouse goes. If he doesn't have a good game tonight, say goodbye to the playoffs and hello to your home and speculation of trades, firings, and selling of the team. Another key player, as I mentioned before, is none other tha Jason Terry. After spending a few years with the crappy ass Atlanta Hawks, Don Nelson brought in Jet to be one of the leaders of this team. He's done all that and more. Jet plays with that same passion, that same fire that Stack does. The Jet knows when he's hot and when he's not. He knows when/where to pass the ball, he knows how to make the smart decisions. Stack and Jet have been the most consistent players on this team during this playoff walk (yes, I said walk, not run). Hopefully, they show up tonight.
I'm predicting the game. I don't want to, but to hell with it, I might as well. Mavs win, just because Dirk is pissed that Avery talked shit about him, Avery is pissed that Dirk is bitching, Stack and Jet will bring it (whatever it may be), and the game is in Dallas. Mavs win, 104-98.
This next section will be short because, as I said, I do have two tests tomorrow. Tom Brady has always been one of my favorite players. People think I like him just because he won a Super Bowl and because he plays in Boston. While those are contributing factors, those aren't the main reasons. I loved what Brady did for the Pats when Drew Bledsoe went down. Being a 6th round pick, he came in and showed people that he was worth so much more. The turning point where I realized that he was in fact my favorite player was in the offseason of the 2002-2003 campaign after the Pats had won the Super Bowl. Mr. Clutch (Tom Brady), when he was offered literally the same contract that Peyton Manning was given (somewhere in the range of 7 years, $100 million), Brady turned it down, took a smaller raise, and told Patriots management to re-sign players so that they can keep the Super Bowl team together and win it again. Sure enough, thats what they did. But then, as the story goes, Pats management became retarded, let Deion Branch walk away, and then we sucked. Reche Caldwell as a starting receiver? How about not. However, that all changed on Sunday, when the Patriots traded for Randy Moss. The Patriots threw A LOT of money around this offseason, signing highly coveted Adelius Thomas from Baltimore, Kelly Washington from Cincinnati, trading for Wes Welker from Miami, and now this, trading for Randy Moss. And how did they get Moss? Tom Brady resctructured his contract. He did it again. For the good of the team, Tom Brady let some money go so they could win another championship. That is why he is my favorite player. Bam.
-Shahnavaz Makhani
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