Points in the Paint

» May 20, 2009 7:09 PM | By Brandon Hoffman
  • Chris Ballard of SI.com:  “Two years ago, if you’d asked me who would end up having the better career, Billups or Iverson, there’s no question I would have chosen AI. But two years from now? The way it’s going, it could well be the 32-year-old Billups, who has led seven straight teams to the conference finals under four different coaches and won the title in 2004. Even those who loved Iverson most now question the Answer. When The Philadelphia Inquirer ran a poll last week asking whether the Sixers should take a chance on signing Iverson because ‘he’s still a dynamic player and a crowd pleaser’ or whether they should pass because ‘he failed with the Nuggets and the Pistons,’ 66.1% opted for the latter. That’s a far cry from other sports heroes such as Ken Griffey Jr., who was welcomed back to Seattle as if he might bring the SuperSonics with him. Which is to say that people appear to know who Allen Iverson is. What’s changing, with every Nuggets win, is who he was.”
  • In an inteview with the “The Starting Five,” Boston Celtics beat writer Marc J. Spears comments on Kevin Garnett’s intensity and reveals why he left the bench during Game 1 of Boston’s first round series versus Chicago:  “Q: Why wasn’t he on the bench. Is it because of his intensity? That’s what is being reported. A: Yes, he can’t handle it. When he was hurt he tried to slip away at halftime and suit up and they had to get him away. He has a hard time being out there and not being able to do anything about it.” Doc Rivers basically deflected all questions pertaining to Garnett leaving the bench by stating that “Kevin Garnett is not playing in these playoffs.” Little did we know that Garnett was in the locker room lacing up his kicks. Have I mentioned that KG is one of my favorite players? The guy could barely run, but was ready to go to war for his teammates after seeing them struggle for 24 minutes against the Bulls. I know I’m a Kevin Garnett apologist, but forget his foul mouth and sideline antics, this is what makes KG special. Dude plays with more heart than some teams combined.
  • Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports:  “Everything he tries works. These playoffs have been so easy for him. No drama. No challenges. He picked up his MVP trophy at his old high school, insisted that everyone knows how he hated to talk about himself, and then talked forever about … himself. They just cheered him louder. Here comes Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday   Orlando and Cleveland   and everyone wonders: Does LeBron ever stop smiling on his way to the NBA Finals? Boston loses Kevin Garnett(notes), and Orlando loses Jameer Nelson(notes), and no one in the Eastern Conference gets a complete crack at these Cleveland Cavaliers. They pounded the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks in eight bludgeoning games, and the most stress that ‘Bron’s had came from bowling with teammates inside his mansion.”
  • Stan Van Gundy isn’t concerned about his image:  “Van Gundy has grown accustomed to people asking about his clothes, particularly after following the impeccably-dressed Pat Riley in Miami, then coming to Orlando to follow Brian Hill, who never coached a game without a tie and a nice looking suit. ‘Guys like us, who don’t have much of a neck, ties don’t work really well,” said Magic point guard Anthony Johnson. ‘So I understand where Stan is coming from. Dressing up is not a big thing with me. And it’s definitely not for him. You have to work with what you have.’ Van Gundy was quick to point out, though, that he and his brother Jeff, the former Knicks coach turned broadcaster, were pictured in a men’s magazine during games in which they were coaching. ‘I was GQ, page 69 in the June issue. Look it up. Me and my brother. So go check it out,” he said proudly. ‘So there, I am a GQ guy.’ Turns out, though, his picture is not in GQ, but in the June issue of Esquire Magazine, tiny photos of him and his brother, both in their coaching attire. It is under a headline that reads: ‘People Who Seem Like They’ve Been Drinking.’”
  • In the postgame press conference following LA’s Game 1 victory over Denver, Kobe Bryant was asked whether he read Jerry West’s claim that LeBron James had “surpassed” him as the game’s greatest player. Bryant replied that he hadn’t read the story, but his choice of words, and tone of voice indicated otherwise. Johnny Ludden of Yahoo! Sports has the story:  “In an interview with Reuters on Monday, West declared James ‘has a chance to be arguably the greatest player ever to play the game.’in an interview with Reuters on Monday, West declared James ‘has a chance to be arguably the greatest player ever to play the game. If I had to have somebody make a last-second shot, it would be Kobe Bryant,’ West said. ‘But even though it’s hard for me to be objective, because I brought Kobe to Los Angeles, I do think LeBron has surpassed Kobe as a player.’ Bryant would later say he didn’t find any inspiration from West’s words. Nor, he said, did it matter who uttered them. He was lying. The NBA could hand LeBron the MVP trophy, but this was different. This mattered. West had traded for him on draft night. Supported him when he needed support. Allowed him to use Hollywood as his stage. At times, Bryant had described West as a second father. Deep down, Dad’s words had to sting. LeBron? Already?” It’s worth reading the whole story. There’s plenty more. But this quote from Bryant really caught my eye:  “I’ll use it as motivation, certainly. But it’s not something that for years the challenge has been winning another championship. And that’s the challenge that I’ve accepted. It hasn’t been can you stay on top as the best individual basketball player. That’s not something that’s driven me. It’s winning another championship. Although, I do enjoy the challenge of having another player come along to challenge me for that top spot. That’s always fun.” Stay on top. Challenge me for that top spot. Bryant doesn’t sound like a player whose conceded the crown to LeBron, adding “If I wanted to go out there and put up 35 points a night I could do that.” Ken Berger hit the nail on the head when he wrote: “There’s only one way to settle this. Kobe and LeBron both know what it is, and it doesn’t happen on pay-per-view.”

Category: 2009 NBA Playoffs, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Points in the Paint

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