Aug

5

Parallel Universes Of The NBA

Filed Under SDC COMMENTARY | Leave a Comment

What if you found a portal to a parallel universe? What if you could slide into a thousand different worlds, where it’s the same year, and you’re the same person, but everything else is different?

Sliders 1995-2000

I have admitted to you before on these pages, that part of me is an 11 year old geek. (It’s Time For Commissioner Stern To Jump From The Chopper) I have had a fascination with sci-fi since I was a child, especially when it comes to subjects like time travel, and parallel universes. While the rest of the planet has been hooked on J.K. Rowling, and Stephanie Myer, my guy to read is Harry Turtledove.

I am very pleased with the way that my life has turned out! But I always wonder what would happen if we turned left instead of right, if we zagged, instead of zigged. My life would have been altered completely, if I had not gone to Maine and been a Camp Counselor in 1978. If I had not I would not have met, fallen in love with, and married my wife. I am sure you also have had those moments in your life that if they occurred differently would have altered your existence.

“Sliders” was a show that first appeared on Fox, and then was on the Sci-Fi Network. It took the premise that there are an infinite number of parallel universes, that share our time, but are in different dimensions. The series featured four “Sliders” who were trying to find there way back to their original universe. As they did they went to a series of alternate worlds, where things were different, such as the United States still being under British rule. Like most television shows, it started out well, and by the last season had pretty much been spent. Only one of the original characters remained on the show, it was a pale imitation.

But still I have always liked the premise, and I got to thinking, what if we could travel through that portal What would the NBA look like in a parallel universe?

June 14, 2007 Cavaliers Sweep Spurs In Four 83-82

After forty three years the “monkey” is finally off the back of Cleveland sports fans, they have won their elusive championship. The Cleveland Cavaliers won their first NBA Championship defeating the San Antonio Spurs 83-82. Cleveland swept the Western Conference Champions in four games taking the first two games in San Antonio, and then winning the next two games at Gund Arena. Cleveland head coach Paul Silas said that while the players won the games, the real credit goes to Cleveland President of Basketball Operations Jim Paxson. Silas drenched with champagne and with an ear to ear grin spoke to reporters after the game. Silas said “I always thought we had a chance, but when Pax got J-Kidd, I knew right then we were going all the way!”

Paxson was named NBA Executive of the Year, after acquiring point guard Jason Kidd from the New Jersey Nets, for Sasha Pavlovic, Anderson Varejao, and veterans Eric Snow, and Ira Newble. Kidd who had the reputation of a malcontent with New Jersey was an instant leader for Cleveland from the moment the trade was completed.

Paxson told reporters, that although the acquisition of Kidd was important that was just the last piece of the puzzle. Paxson said that patience, and not allowing outside criticism to effect him was key. Paxson told reporters “This plan has been in place from the moment we traded Andre Miller to Memphis in 2002. As you are well aware, the Clippers had offered us Darius Miles for Andre, but we turned it down. You guys criticized me, the fans criticized me, for not taking the short term fix. But we knew we wanted the Grizzlies draft pick that it was the right thing to do. Where would we be if we had traded for Miles, after what he did? And without that Memphis draft pick, we don’t have LeBron.”

Paxson traded former Cavaliers point guard Andre Miller to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2002, for the Grizzlies first round draft pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. The Cavaliers of course won the Lottery with that pick and took Akron high school star LeBron James with the first selection in the draft. Darius Miles who made his first movie during the Summer of 2002, “The Perfect Score” retired from the Association following the 2002-2003 campaign to pursue a movie career. Miles teamed up with Will Smith in a remake of the movie “Tango And Cash” and the film was so successful they have made five sequels, with a sixth just given the green light.

Paxson said there were also other players who were huge factors in their winning their first NBA Finals. “It seems like a no-brainer now that we gave Carlos Boozer a max contract, but there were a lot of late nights making that decision. But Carlos, along with LeBron, and the “Iron-Man” have been the core of our team. You add Jason, and Daniel, we had an un-stoppable starting five.”

Rookie Daniel Gibson flourished once he teamed up with the veteran Kidd, becoming a dynamic back-court. Added to the front court of James, Boozer, and the “Iron-Man” Zydrunas Ilgauskas who has still not missed a game since starting with the Cavaliers in 1997, made them the team to beat going into the Post Season.  But what Cleveland did in the Finals was unprecedented in the history of the NBA. All five starters each played 48 minutes per game, there were no substitutions from the Cavaliers bench. LBJ told reporters that was the game plan going into the series. The NBA Finals MVP said “actually it was J-Kidd’s idea, and we all thought it was great. We will have plenty of time to rest this Summer!”

Cleveland Team Owner Gordon Gund,?told reporters that he was overcome with emotion. Gund said “A young man from Detroit made me a very substantial offer a couple of years ago to sell the team. I seriously considered it before saying no. I am so glad I turned him down.”

June 20, 2006 Lakers Win Fifth NBA Finals In Seven Years Defeat Detroit 95-92?

The Los Angeles Lakers have won their fifth NBA Finals Championship in the last seven seasons, as they defeated the Detoit Pistons in game six 95-92. The win was the second year in a row that the Lakers defeated the Pistons in the Finals. Los Angeles lost to Detroit back in their first match-up in 2004, when the Lakers fell to the Pistons four games to one. Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was the NBA Finals MVP, and his teammate center Shaquille O’Neal said that Kobe deserved the award. “Kobe is the reason we are still together” the center said. “Dr. Buss was ready to tear this team apart after 2004, but Kobe talked him out of it.”

After the Lakers lost to Detroit in the 2004 Finals, there were rumors that Lakers Team Owner Jerry Buss was going to let coach Phil Jackson walk away, and trade Shaquille O’Neal. Although there has never been any official confirmation, sources close to the team say Bryant pleaded with Buss to bring the duo back, saying he could not win a Championship without his “partners” as he refers to Shaq and Jackson. Kobe was also a key component in 2004, of Team USA winning the Gold Medal at the Olympics in Greece. Not only was Bryant’s play stellar, but he was able to talk Olympic coach Larry Brown into using the younger players on the team,?including Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James who were key contributors to the USA winning the Gold.

August 15, 2007 Stern Says Refs Who Broke The Rules Must Go!

In a move he described as the hardest thing he has ever had to do in his professional career, NBA Commissioner David Stern released a statement that all NBA referees who were in violation of the rules concerning gambling would be immediately dismissed. Stern said the terminated officials would be replaced by current NCAA referees, as well as some from the NBDL. Stern’s statement read “These are good men, but still they broke the rules. I realize that the rules are archaic, and they will be changed. But how can the Association have any credibility with the public, if we allow these men to keep their jobs?”

Stern who held a press conference earlier today, admitted that some officials were being terminated for violations as benign as just being in a casino. But Stern stressed the officials knew what the rules were and still disregarded them. The Commissioner?said to one reporter “For crying out loud, we fine players for wearing their shorts too long! How foolish would I look if I allowed these men to stay employed by the NBA? The men who were hired to enforce the rules, were breaking the rules!”

No number has been released as of yet of how many officials will be terminated, but sources close to the situation say almost half will be let go. Stern stressed that there were enough veteran officials still employed to make sure each three man rotation of officials had at least one experienced referee. The Commissioner said “We realize this will be a difficult transition, but the short term setbacks will be more than offset by what we gain back, our credibility.”

 © Copyright 2008 thesackattack.net



Aug

5

Team USA Wins UGLY Defeats Australia 87-76

Filed Under Slam Dunk Olympics Central | Leave a Comment

Hopefully they just had to get this clunker out of their system. Team USA remains undefeated in exhibition basketball, but this was not a game that any member of the team could have been proud of. Team USA looked like a NBA team just before the All-Star break, when you know it’s an effort just?to go up and down the court for 48 minutes. After shooting in upper sixties percentile in their first few games, the Americans barely were over the fifty percent mark shooting 50.8% (32-63.) And they were just plain bad from outside the arc, shooting 16.7% (3-18) and barely passable at the charity stripe 60.6% (20-33.) This against the Australian National team playing without center Andrew Bogut as Team USA won in Shanghai 87-76.

It is debatable whether this is the last taste you would want in your mouth before taking the floor in Beijing. Yes a win is a win, but Team USA realizes if they play like they did Tuesday, against one of the stronger teams in the Olympics, they will not receive the Gold Medal. With this team anything less is just unacceptable. So the question is do they use this as a motivating factor, that bitter taste of this final ugly win? With Coach K. Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James setting the tone I think they will.?

Dwyane Wade showed that he is all the way back health wise as he once again led Team USA with 22 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals.?LeBron James had a strong all around performance scoring 16 points, 5 steals, 4 assists, 3 blocks, 1 rebound, Kobe Bryant scored 13 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block.?Carmelo Anthony? recorded a double-double scoring 12 points, grabbing 10 boards, 1 assist, 1 block.

The Australian team was led by Patrick Mills, and? Chris Antsey who each scored 13 points in the loss. Team USA is now 5-0 in exhibition games. Next stop, Sunday in Beijing as they face Olympics host China featuring center Yao Ming.

? Copyright 2008 thesackattack.net??

Aug

5

ESPN: Fran Fraschilla Breaks Down Team USA’s Chances In Beijing

Filed Under ESPN Commentary, Slam Dunk Olympics Central | Leave a Comment

Aug

5

Herrmann Signs One Year Deal With Pistons

Filed Under NBA Free Agents | Leave a Comment

The “Detroit Free Press” has reported that the Detroit Pistons have signed unrestricted free agent forward Walter Herrmann to a one year deal. Herrmann who recently completed his second season in the Association, split the campaign between the Charlotte Bobcats and the Pistons. Herrmann spent his first season in the NBA with the Bobcats. The Argentinian native, will back-up starting small forward Tayshaun Prince next season. Herrmann has played in 93 games, and has averaged 6.4 points, 2.3 rebounds per game.

? Copyright 2008 thesackattack.net