Links To The Present: April 20, 2010
2010-04-20
Video of this vicious facial here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nQ8TK6K5rI
“Let’s stop and go over that again. The Bulls took 22 more shots, scored 56 points in the paint and turned the ball over four times, a franchise record. As in none of the six championship teams ever did better. And they lost by 10 points. This goes back to the point I’ve been making for some time now: It is hard to beat the Cavs, even just once.” [Brian Windhorst’s Beat Blog]
“I think I celebrate everything that’s good,” said Moon, whose 12 points and four 3-pointers were post-season highs. “I just try to give my teammates motivation. If we make a bad play, I try to come over and say something positive, and if we make a good play I put a little extra on it to keep the motivation going. “It’s just about keeping everybody going. I just try to make sure we’re loose and positive and ready to play.” [Mary Schmitt Boyer on Jamario Moon]
Did a little research. The Rising Moon shone for just under 20 minutes last night. This season, when the Moon is out for at least 19 minutes, he shoots 40% from 3 (25/63) and 53% from the field (84/158).
“How does 20-of-22 from the foul line sound from the NBA’s worst free-throw shooting team?” [Terry Pluto’s Scribbles]
Terry Pluto thinks the Cavs need to shy away from launching deep balls against the Bulls junk defenses. If not for this series, but for the next. And he thinks Mike Brown has no shortage of confidence leaving Shaq and Jamison on the bench in the fourth.
“Have we learned nothing from Spike Lee and Chris Bosh’s girlfriend? You don’t poke a bear with a stick. Particularly not when that bear is in the zone. Says the aforementioned, metaphorical bear — one LeBron James — about his picnic-basket-stealing, forest-fire-preventing, here-and-there-and-everywhere-bouncing, too-cold-too-hot-just-right-porridge-eating, 1986-Super-Bowl-dominating, Man-vs-Wild-surviving (I can keep going if you want) zone” [Jared Wade – Hardwood Paroxysm]
“You like it? You think Cleveland is cool?” he said, when asked if he wished to retract any of his remarks. “I’ve never heard anybody say I’m going to Cleveland on vacation. What’s good about Cleveland?” Other than cultural stuff like a world-class art museum and symphony orchestra, medical care that is the envy of the world, Little Italy, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the West Side Market, green parkland, a spectacular Great Lakes shoreline and that LeBron guy, you mean? [Bill Livingston on Noah’s Antics]
Each one seemed personal too. Because after each made jumper in front of the Bulls bench — and there were seven — James turned and glared at the Bulls reserves as he backpedaled down the court. A few words were shared, but mainly a glare. “Every time I caught the ball over there, they were daring me to shoot the ball. Telling me I couldn’t shoot, or ‘You can’t make jump shots so take the shot.’ So that’s what I did.” – LeBron James on Chicago’s bench “They were talking the whole game,” James said. “Every time I caught the ball over there, they were daring me to shoot the ball. Telling me I couldn’t shoot, or ‘You can’t make jump shots so take the shot.’ So that’s what I did.” [Patrick McManamon on Taunting LeBron]
Tim Povtak says Dwight Howard is a legitimate MVP candidate. Small sample sizes are never good arguments, but this box score is a microcosm of why D12 is a defensive juggernaut and not an MVP.
I really don’t know how to introduce this piece by Henry Abbott on PLAYOFF LeBRON. Let’s just say, it’s riSICKulous, and Kobe fans everywhere are going to need oxygen masks if they find out how much better LeBron is than their beloved Mamba in the postseason.
Tweets To The Present: (follow me @tompestak)
“Dwight Howard wins Def. Player of Year Award. LeBron 4th, Andy Varejao also got votes.” [Brian Windhorst]
“x2 RT @russbengtson: YES RT @HowardBeckNYT: I’ve sometimes wondered if ballots need to be made public, just to hold voters accountable.” [Jared Wade]
“Have to stick up for Cleveland. Good town, good folks. It ain’t NY, but that’s the point. Having said that, keep the quotes coming, Joakim.” [Ken Berger]
“Jamario Moon says that contributing tonight is the best moment of his “journey.” But it’s not the “icing on the cake.”” [Scott@WFNY]
Just remember kids, Chicago is once again the murder capital of the UNited States! Let’s all go to Chicago!!
Listening to ESPN Chicago right now because Windhorst is supposed to come on soon. These guys are absolutely tearing up the city of Cleveland. What the fuck is wrong with these douche bags?
I agree with Rich about the voting, but I thought they were commenting on the MVP ballots, which should still be public.
As for Moon, I just love seeing him on our team. He’s always happy, he seems like a genuinely good, funny guy. There have been several times this season where he did something that just cracked me up, because that’s how his personality is. He seems like a quirky, goofy guy that’s always gonna have fun, and I love seeing that.
I love seeing Moon smile. And Antawn. This team has so much personality. Why does everyone hate them so much for loving what they do?
@HoopsDogg – I just remember how awesome he was in that Christmas Day game in LA. He was seriously dominating the Lakers – getting his hand on all kinds of passes, finishing in transition, hitting shots in the half-court. I’ve felt all year that he makes good things happen when he’s on the court with the starters and he just kinda jacks up bad shots when he gets thrown out there in garbage time. The numbers seem to back that up (at least this year)
I’ve been saying that about Moon for months. This has pretty much been the book on him his whole career.
Isaac, as a lifelong American I feel you. I’ve always thought that if you need a Hall of Fame induction to be remembered, you’re not really worth remembering anyway. Like the collective bargaining agreement, its an institution for the lesser players rather than the greats. Dennis Johnson gets a little more longevity, but wtf does a hall of fame induction do for Jordan’s legacy? Nothing that his game didn’t already do 10 times more effectively. If the NBA was smart, they’d go the Hard Rock Cafe route, so at least I can have a burger and a beer while I… Read more »
I never understand the HOF, seems such an odd institution. People take it seriously, yet it isn’t attached to the NBA, NCAA or FIBA. The voting is anonymous, and sometimes totally absurd. Its essentially an unofficial museum of basketball, but everybody gets so worked up about it. I’m from the UK originally, so I didnt grow up with the whole idea of Halls of Fame, and they are one of the only aspects of American sports I could never get, or enjoy.
Absolutely HOF ballots should be made public. This is not a right like voting in public elections is. It doesn’t inherently belong to you. It is not something you are forced to do. It is 100% a privilege. You should be honored to get a vote for the HOF. Therefore, your vote is not your own..it is those who have given you the privilege to vote. Again, voting in public elections is wholly yours. No one has given you that right. It just is. Voting in the HOF is granted unto to you and because of that your vote should… Read more »