Slam Dunk Central

I have a couple thoughts on the NBA Playoffs before they begin Saturday:

What in the world has gotten into DeShawn Stevenson? What does this guy put in his coffee every morning? It was one thing for him to call LeBron James overrated a few weeks ago, although Stevenson may have had a point. James should be averaging a triple-double by now, his fifth season; putting up 30 points (on 48 percent shooting from the field), 8 rebounds and 7 assists per game is unacceptable for a player as lauded as James.

But Stevenson’s latest rip extended past any active NBA player. He talked smack to a Hall-of-Famer. After TNT NBA analyst Charles Barkley (23,757 career points, 12,546 career rebounds, 11-time All Star, 11-time All-NBAer, one gold medal, one of the 50 greatest ever) called Stevenson’s Wizards the “dumbest team in the history of civilization” for the amount of frivolous trash talk they participate in, Stevenson had some choice words for Barkley, a player who accomplished more in one-half a season than Stevenson has in his eight-year career.

“Are we really going to listen to a guy who said Yao Ming would not be an All-Star in this league,” Stevenson wondered. “I mean really. So who cares what he has to say? Tell Charles Barkley to chill and worry about other things. Don’t worry about the Washington Wizards.”

Well, since Barkley is paid to analyze the NBA, it is his job to worry about the Wizards. Stevenson might want to introduce himself to the idea of a totem pole. Bums like him, whose career accomplishments register barely a blip on the NBA radar, probably shouldn’t be calling one of the league’s current best players overrated, in the first place. But to question the statements of one of the game’s all-time greatest players ? and to do it in such a callous manner ? is outrageously insane. Not only does Barkley talk trash with the best of them, his past success gives him the credibility to criticize loudmouth players who haven’t done anything to justify being loudmouthed.

I can’t wait to watch the NBA on TNT’s next studio telecast for Barkley’s thoughts and I can’t wait to watch King James torch the Stevenson and the Wizards in the first round. So, I guess we can thank Stevenson for at least giving us a reason to check out a first round Eastern Conference series.

?

Even though David Stern would probably deny this to his deathbed, the NBA’s dream final four scenario for the upcoming playoffs had to be the Lakers vs. Suns and Celtics vs. Cavaliers. The first match up, still a Conference Finals possibility with the Lakers slotted #1 and the Suns #6, has so many interesting layers to it.

The Suns have knocked the Lakers out of the playoffs the last two years. The Shaq-Kobe face-off has a new plot twist since this is the first time each has faced each other in the postseason. Pau Gasol’s career has been revitalized now that he is on a championship contender, Lamar Odom is thriving as the third man on the Lakers, Amare Stoudemire is decimating the Association since Shaq joined, Steve Nash is on his last legs as a truly elite player and there is the added story line of Andrew Bynum’s return. Plus, Grant Hill is still searching for his first ring.

The Celtics and Cavs don’t have a rivalry, but they have the interesting match-up of the league’s possible best team against the possible best player. Kevin Garnett and the Celtics, with their mystique, vs. LeBron James. It’s reminiscent of Bird and the Celtics vs. Jordan in the ’80s. However, the match-up would have to take place in the second round, rather than the Eastern Conference Finals, since the Celtics own the top seed and the Cavs the four seed. Nevertheless, it would be an extremely fun second round battle if the Celtics knock off the Hawks and the Cavs dismiss the Wizards. LeBron and his quest to become an NBA immortal vs. the Celtics’ Big Three and their quests to win their first titles. It’s ironic that the the Big Three have played 33 cumulative seasons without an NBA Finals appearance, but LeBron made the Finals in just his fourth season.