He is gone. I would feel better if he wasn’t headed to Boston, but if there is no sudden change of heart (see: Turkoglu, Hedo), Sheed will suit up in a green jersey next season.

The funny thing about Sheed is that he actually is the Detroit Pistons of the last few years in a way. Falling asleep on the court from time to time, struggles to find motivation day in and day out, thinks he can switch it on at any time and, too bad but it is true, he often just disappears when we need him the most. Still, he is unique – there is nobody with his set of skills out there and he is hilarious – a joy to watch and to listen to so you better look forward to that, Boston fans (I heard your bandwagon got bigger since KG arrived so there should be enough room for some of Sheed’s fanbase – not me, tho).

It’s always hard to see one of “your” guys leave for a rival team, but this is a business after all – I would take the best offer too, so I can’t blame Sheed. We took him for granted and didn’t give him the feeling that we want him here (because we don’t – rebuilding ‘n’ stuff), but it is only human to go where people want you to be around. The Celtics know why they send their big 3 over to woo Sheed – it worked. I wouldn’t want to work somewhere where people doubt me and I don’t feel appreciated.

Sheed, I know you won’t read this, but anyway: thanks for the memories (and one title – yeah, what up!) and I wish you only the best in Boston.

First, here are the facts:

Ben Gordon agreed to a deal that is worth about $ 58 mil/5 years and Charlie Villanueva agreed to a deal that will pay him $ 40 mil/5 years. That is about $100 mil in the next 5 years for the Detroit Pistons so Gordon and Villanueva better bring their A game.

I’m not sure if I like this or not. Throwing big money at Ben Gordon when we could probably got him for less doesn’t bother me too much, but are those two guys really worth an investment like this? Will they turn our team around and get us through the 1st round of the playoffs? I don’t see it. We desperately need a big man who can put the ball in the basket and Charlie Villanueva could fill that hole. He won’t score 20 a night, but he is a threat around the hoop at least.

But what is up with Joe D and his new found love for undersized volume shooters? Is a guy who is taking 25 shots a game while only scoring on 40% of them really worth $11-12 mil a year? Did his 1st round performance against the Celtics really put him that much over the top? I think Joe is still riding this “we need somebody to trade baskets with the other teams superstar in the final minutes“-wave (he got that after LeBron destroyed us in the game that shall not be named a few years back – scoring like the last 25 points for the Cavs – you know what I’m talking about). We used to be a team that didn’t need anyone to step up in the final seconds, because we took care of business early and cruised to victory. Once upon a time, when we did need somebody to step up, there was this guy called “Mr. Big Shot” – they didn’t give him that nickname for nothing.

Can't wait for the next Pistons - Bulls game

Now, times have changed. Ben Gordon will be our starting shooting guard (yeah, I know he is saying he will come off the bench, be our 6th man ‘n’ stuff – but just wait til we hit our first 3 games losing streak)…so…what will happen with Rip? Rip has a big contract and those are hard to get rid off nowadays. Will they move him to small forward and trade Tayshaun? Well, looking at the draft and the Tayshaun-clone we drafted in the 1st round – could be. Would I like that? Hell no. Would I prefer a Rip trade? No, I’d like to have both guys around, but that won’t happen. We still need a big man and now we are limited to trading, because we threw our cap space away in a single day. Joe D could have at least pretended to be taking a look at David Lee and let the Knicks match the offer or whatever, but you know what they say in NY…it is what it is.

According to various pages on the web (I’m looking at you ESPN, Hoopshype and the other usual suspects) Elton Brand is definitely on the trading block. Well, I never was shy to say that I don’t like Carlos Boozer – I don’t think he fits the Pistons style and, way worse, he is evil – yeah, evil. Just look at that guy and what he has done so far (see: Cleveland). Just a bad character and we should keep those guys out of town, don’t you think so?

Of course there is a difference in going after a free agent and trading for somebody, but it’s still a no-brainer to me. Contract-wise, it would be pretty much the same. Brand has a long contract worth $ 13.7 mil/year. Do you think Boozer would sign for less? Yeah, it’s a bad economy and stuff, but we ain’t talking about Darko Milicic here (who is earning $ 7 mil/year, btw). Both can put up 20/10 any given night, but the big difference is this one right here:

Elton Brand has something to proof! That is exactly the mentality the Pistons need and the way of thinking I’m missing in the last few years. Our championship squad back in the day had something to proof. Guys who were traded often (see: Chauncey Billups), guys who were overlooked for several reasons (see: Tayshaun Prince) and so on and so on. After winning and cruising through the next season our guys took everything for granted – but it’s not. Brand had a great career, but he couldn’t live up to what was expected of him in Philly (injuries, bad rotation, didn’t fit the style – choose one or several of those reasons) – and now he is on the block after signing a big contract.

This guy has to have a mindset of destroying everybody around him and proving every doubter wrong. That’s the guy I want to have on my team!

I still can remember the day I read about Mark Cuban for the first time. A passionate owner, a real fan having his own team and bleeding their colors – how cool is that? The thought still gets me excited, because he is living the dream of many sports fans out there.

He really tried to change the game, pointing out flaws and showing ways to do it better while also sharing his thoughts with basketball fans all over the world on his blog. I don’t know of course, but I still like to think that he once or twice just wrote/said something for the lone reason to upset David Stern.

Today I read about Mark Cuban calling Kenyon Martin a thug, actually telling K-Mart’s mom that her son is a thug. (If you want to read more about that, click here.) My first thought was: “Oh, here we go again…“. I don’t know when I grew tired of Mark Cuban’s act, because I still think I should like what he is trying to do…but I can’t.

First question I asked myself: Did Mark become a cry-baby over the years? Always hearing somebody complain makes you expect him to do so and that leads to a bad image, I guess. That shouldn’t be the case, because on most things he has a very good point, but still…something has changed.

Is it the way he handles things? Going to the media every chance he gets? Attention whore? No, not really, he isn’t nearly enough in the media to be considered an attention whore.

Is it the fact that he told K-Mart’s mother that her son is a thug? Kinda crossing a line there. No big deal, but it tells you a lot about him. Here he is, a 50 year old billionaire, talking to a player’s mom – is that…normal? No, not really. I think for me it was the day when he started feuding with J.R. Smith, but I don’t know what changed exactly.

I’d prefer a guy like Cuban to lead my favorite team over any owner out there. Not afraid to call things out, like when he criticized Dwayne Wade’s performance in the NBA Finals 2006 back in the day. Everybody sports fan should love to have an owner like that, but still…something changed…

Yeah, I know what you are thinking: Just because they both wear masks to protect their face and play shooting guard, they aren’t the same kind of player. True. But if you have seen game 4 of the Boston Celtics – Orlando Magic game you will agree with me on the following:

• Both have a very nice pull-up jumpshot they can drop on their opponents any time they have a decent look.
• If you don’t believe me, check the following video at 1:38 and 1:44:

• They are quick defenders and have a physical advantage against most other guards (Lee – strength & speed, Hamilton – height).

One big part is missing, of course: the moving without the ball and coming off screens to bury deep jumpers, but Lee will get those if he stays consistent with his mid-range game for another year.

Comparing their rookie season stats, Lee is actually better, but you can’t compare those numbers – too many factors like teammates, minutes and off the court stuff have to be considered.

Anyway, Lee is scoring 0.6 points less, but on way more effective shooting (.450 FG%, .404 3pt%). It is too early to tell how good Courtney Lee can be, but a comparison to All-Star guard Richard ‘Rip’ Hamilton is probably just the beginning…

We will quickly sum up the predictions here, but if you feel like reading the whole story, click here.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Series: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons

Prediction: Cavaliers in 6

The Cavaliers didn’t need 6 games, 4 were enough to finish off the artists formerly known as the Detroit Pistons. It wasn’t hard to pick the winner of this 1st round series, too bad we didn’t want to accept the fact that a sweep was probable.

Series: Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls

Prediction: Celtics in 6

Well, game 7 is upon us, but we were so close that get this one right. Damn you, Paul Pierce and your missed free throw! Just kidding, this was the best thing that could have happened to us. Can we extend this series to best of 15 or something?

Series: Orlando Magic vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Prediction: Magic in 5

Close enough. 5 or 6, c’mon, that’s pretty much the same.

Series: Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat

Prediction: Heat in 7

…and we stand by this. You really believe anyone not named LeBron or Kobe has a chance against Wade in a game 7? Thought so…

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Series: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Utah Jazz

Prediction: Lakers in 4

Close enough.

Series: Denver Nuggets vs. New Orleans Hornets

Prediction: Nuggets in 6

I expected Chris Paul to at least try to win another game, but well…it took  the Nuggets only 5 games to finish the Hornets off. Can’t wait for the 2nd series against…

Series: San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks

Prediction: Spurs in 7

…the Dallas Mavericks. I really thought the Spurs had one more run in them, but the Mavs proved me wrong in 5 games. That hurts.

Series: Houston Rockets vs. Portland Blazers

Prediction: Blazers in 7

Yeah…I know.

So, we got 6/8 series right. Pretty bad if you ask me, but we’ll try to redeem ourselves in the 2nd round.

Chauncey got the Joe Dumars trophy – which reflects fair play, integrity and behavior on and off the court. (Is it just me or is it ironic that Chauncey got a trophy named after the guy who traded him?)

Anyway, this award is special, because each team nominates one of it’s players for this award and NBA players vote who gets it. This tells us two things:

1. NBA players know that Chauncey Billups is a class act.
2. The Denver Nuggets know that Melo isn’t. Just kidding, Melo is running wild on the Hornets right now. He will have to step it up in the next series, tho.

Congrats on winning the award, Chauncey! This playoffs are special and I hope that the Nuggets will make the Western Conference Finals and give the Lakers a run for their money.

What would you say if I called the Celtics – Bulls series the best 1st round series ever in the NBA playoffs? Too early to tell? Maybe, but we are really close. I don’t know if I have EVER seen a better 1st round series my favorite team wasn’t involved in (you know, the games of your favorite teams are always better than the others).

Celtics – Bulls – Game 2

118 – 115

If the NBA playoffs where a TV sitcom like ‘Friends‘ this episode would be called “The one with Ray Allen’s dagger three”. It’s not like it was a good shot or that Ray was wide open…he faded to the side, but it just looked right and I’m sure it felt right to him.

What a shot!

Ben Gordon and Ray Allen where going at it the whole 2nd half. Both are crazy good shooters and they just felt it yesterday (well, Allen started doing his thing in the 2nd half, but he had the last word so he won, I guess). Ben Gordon scored 42 points on 24 shots. Think about that for a second. 6/11 from deep. How hot was he you ask?

Bullseye!

If you are looking for the game highlights, check out the video below or head over to the NBA homepage for a better quality version:

If you missed the game, you better get the replay or something, because this one was for the ages. Ben Gordon vs Ray Allen was a good old fashioned duel – a shootout.

Oh, btw, Rajon Rondo had a pretty impressive triple double: 19 points, 16 assists, 12 rebounds and 5 steals. Am I getting crazy or is it normal not to be surprised to see Rondo put up superstar numbers?

San Antonio Spurs – Dallas Mavericks – Game 2

105 – 84

The Spurs took an 11 point lead after the 1st, but this time they kept it – not like in game 1 when they just called it a day and let the Mavericks do whatever they wanted to do.

The two key differences? Defense and Tony Parker. Why defense? Well, they held all but three Mavs below double digits and Jason Terry was the only Mav to break the 15 point barrier. Yeah, you read that right.

Tony Parker? Well, 38 points on 22 shots and 8 assists for good measure. 38 points – let me put this into context for you: Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Jason Kidd scored 34 points…combined. If we add Josh Howard’s 7 points, they scored only 3 more points than Tony Parker alone.

…and the game recap:

Day 2 of the Playoffs didn’t disappoint. It wasn’t as spectacular as the 1st day with the Celtics – Bulls overtime thriller, but it was far from boring.

Lakers – Jazz – Game 1

113 – 100

This game was everything we thought it would be – a Lakers victory, nearly a blowout, the Lakers were never in danger of losing the game. Kobe started of distributing the ball by dishing out 4 assists before he even scored a point, but he still got himself a team-high 24 points.

Trevor Ariza stepped his game up by scoring 21 points – he punished the Jazz for every double team on Kobe or Pau. Carlos Boozer brought his A-game and scored a game-high 27 points while Deron Williams scored 16 and added 17 assists. They still lost by 13…

Magic – 76ers – Game 1

100 – 98

This was probably the best game to watch. The 76ers came out of the gate firing, not looking intimidated at all. They beat the Magic on their ground by doing what the Magic usually do best – 3-point shooting. The 76ers bench made 7 threes. Dwight Howard was the only Magic player who scored more than 18 points – he was good for 31 points and 16 boards.

The game was tied 98 – 98 with 12.4 seconds to go. Here is what happened next:

NBA Playoffs – Where Andre Igoudala happens.

Hawks – Heat – Game 1

90 – 64

WOW. Just WOW. 64 points? This has to be some kind of record. Here is the Heat’s scoring for each quarter: 21 – 18 – 18 – 7. 7 4th quarter points? 7?! The Hawks had 6 players in double digits while the Heat only had Wade (19) and Beasley (10).

Why were the Hawks able to win by such a big margin? They went under the screens on pick & rolls and defended the drive. They took away what the Heat do best – they made them shoot jumpers all night long.

And when they were able to attack the rim, this happened:

The Hawks look like the Heat’s worst nightmare. A long, athletic team that can prevent you from driving to the hoop and block shots left and right. The Heat have to change their whole game plan…and it probably still won’t be enough.

Dunk On U

Nuggets – Hornets – Game 1

113 – 84

Chauncey Billups – Chauncey Billups – Chauncey Billups! With each passing day the Allen Iverson – Chauncey Billups trade looks better and better for Denver. 36 points on 8/9 3-point shooting and a team-high 8 assists. WOW! So much for Chris Paul dominating. Don’t get me wrong, Cp3 was the only Hornet who showed up ready to play. Kenyon Martin totally took David West out of the game and the Nuggets were just red-hot. J.R. Smith missed all of his 7 three-point attempts, but still finished with 19 points – the Nuggets finished the game with a 50.7% FG-% and a 52.4% 3pt-% overall.

Mr. Big Shot

A very nice way to start the playoffs. The Celtics – Bulls Overtime Thriller, LeBron James doing his thing as usual, the Mavericks earning a win in San Antonio and the Rockets dismantling the Blazers.

Celtics – Bulls – Game 1

The best game was the 1st one and the series will only get better from here on out. Is Derrick Rose able to give us an encore to his rookie playoff record setting performance? 36 points and 11 assists – one of a kind playoff debut.

Game 1 Derrick Rose Highlights

The young fella is incredible. Give him just a little space and he will find a way to finish at the rim…or he will bury a shot right in your face…he doesn’t care, he’ll get his either way. Are the Bulls able to win even if Rose doesn’t score 30+? We’ll see on Monday.

Cavaliers – Pistons – Game 1

I got tired of hearing the national media talking about how the Cavs will sweep the Pistons and demolish them without breaking a sweat. Guess what…that’s exactly what happened.

Game 1 LeBron James Highlights

38 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal for the Chosen One. Another day at the office, I guess…

Spurs vs. Mavericks – Game 1

The Spurs grabbed an 11-point lead after the 1st quarter, but it only went downhill from there. It was all Mavericks til the end. They tied the game after the 3rd quarter and outscored Tim Duncan’s team 31 – 23 in the 4th.

Spurs – Mavs Game 1 Highlight

Losing Ginobili really hurts the Spurs. This would have ended differently with a healthy Manu. Anyway, the Mavs had too many players stepping up their game tonight. 3 guys off the bench scored in double figures – Brandon Bass, JJ Barea and Jason Terry.

Tim Duncan and Tony Parker did what they had to do (27 and 24 points respectively), but they sure need one more guy to step up now that Manu is out.

Blazers vs. Rockets – Game 1

If you thought the Cavaliers 18 point blowout victory over the Pistons was something else, you have no idea. The Rockets destroyed the Blazers by 27(!). Yao Ming & Co. grabbed an early 11 point lead, but they weren’t feeling like giving it up (see San Antonio Spurs Game 1). They preferred to outscore the Blazers by 7 in the 2nd quarter as well.

Down 18 at halftime, the Blazers only managed to score 14 points in the 3rd quarter – not nearly enough. This game was rather hard to watch if you are a Blazers fan.

Rockets – Blazers Game 1 Highlights

…Jalen Rose analyzes