CP3 Ain’t My MVP

Chris Paul did prove something this season: Namely that he is still at least a year away from being a full fledged MVP. While Paul had one of the best seasons for a point guard in the history of the NBA he is not quite ready to will his team to the championship. After Kobe delivered the dagger to Utah in game 6 on the road, and Lebron almost single handedly beat Boston’s big 3 on the road, with one of the great game 7 playoff performances of all time, CP3 failed to live up to top billing in his own building in his own game 7.

Paul finished the game with 18 points and 14 assists; however, he was nowhere to be seen in the fourth quarter with the game on the line. The Hornets went down by double figures heading into the fourth and Paul’s backup, journeyman Jannero Pargo ended up turning up the tempo and scoring on numerous big shots to bring the Hornets within 3 in the final two minutes. But that is as close as they got. In fact, Pargo was torching the Spurs so badly that they ended up putting

All-World defender Bruce Bowen on Pargo instead of Paul or sharpshooter

Peja Stojakovic. Can someone say contract year?

In the final minutes Tony Parker hit a midrange jumper and Manu Ginobili flushed the Hornets’ dreams with clutch free throw shooting down the stretch. Chris Paul definitely deserves a shot to be the starting point guard on the USA Basketball team this summer, however, he will have to wait another year for a chance at a ring. This all leaves me with one last question…..Why is Tim Duncan not in the top 5 in MVP voting every season?

Wake up, Mr. West, Mr. West

Ladies and gentleman, the sportstoilet would like to introduce Mr. Fundamental 2.0. Tonight Tim Duncan literally got the nickname taken from him. Its like the 1995 Playoffs when David Robinson won the MVP award, and Hakeem Olajuwon proceeded to dominate him and be hailed as MVP after the playoffs. David West used a variety of smooth jumpshots, head fakes and pump fakes inside, as well as crafty spin moves and use of the rim to get his shot off against taller opponents inside.

Mr West actually reminded me of Tim Duncan 3 or 4 years ago when if you backed off a step he’d bank if off the glass and if you doubled inside he’d either find an open teammate or lay in anyway. David West’s line tonight, try 38 points on 16-25 shooting, with 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 blocks, and 2 steals for good measure. He even went 6-7 from the line, and spent stretches of the game guarding Timmy in single coverage and doing a nice job. Everyone lately has been calling CP3 the next coming at the point, but his pick and rolls and pick and pops would not be nearly as deadly without West coming off the screen and without Peja at the 3 point line and Chandler ready for the lob. In fact in the half court set, West’s ability to create his own shots and shots for others has truly been what has taken ‘Nawlins to the next level. Just to give you an idea, take a look at David West's career stats and see how much he has improved every year.

What makes West, Mr. Fundamental 2.0 is that he is also an emotional leader and catalyst for his ball club. In the first round, instead of getting intimidated by the more experienced Dallas Mavericks, he love tapped Dirk Nowitzki in the face and got in the German's head, before outplaying him and then eliminating them from the playoffs. I think one could argue that he deserves either Jamison's or Bosh's spot on the Olympic team this summer.

As for the series I think San Antonio will be able to hold serve at home in a very close one, and New Orleans finally gives them the old flush in game seven.

Man on Fire?

From the beginning of this series I thought the New Orleans Hornets led by my first pick in this year’s fantasy draft, Chris Paul, would take the series. I know the consensus pick has been the Spurs however something about how CP3 carried my fantasy team this year has had me believing in the Hornets. I knew the whole time that the X-factor would be Peja Stojakovic; if he could hit those deadly threes it would be a done deal I thought. I mean, we all know Chris Paul would get him the open looks at the basket, the question was whether Peja would step up to the challenge. And in the first two games he did show up, hitting 7 – 11 from the beyond the arc and 17 – 28 from the field. However the one thing I forgot to factor into my equation was that the San Antonio Spurs had Mr. Popovich at the helm. At first Coach Pop put his best defender (Bowen) on Paul in order to try and slow the best point guard in the league, but CP3 cannot be stopped and he showed that. Coach Popovich decided to put Bowen on my X-factor and by doing so has evened the series. Stojakovic shot 5 – 16 from the field in the last two games and only 1 – 4 from beyond the arc. Chris Paul will go off, West will contribute, and Chandler will get his share of rebounds and easy put backs. Despite everything if Peja can’t hit threes someone else will have to or the Hornets can start to flush their playoff hopes down the sports toilet.
I would love to sit here and tell you that I believe the home court advantage was the reason that each one of these games has been won by the home team. It’s not though. The San Antonio Spurs are seasoned veterans that can win at home or away; they just needed their head coach to make the necessary adjustments. And maybe Tim Duncan just needed a couple of days to feel better and in turn make Byron sick to his stomach. The Spurs are winning this series unless Byron Scott makes somehow figures out how to outcoach Popovich or Chris Paul puts forth two legendary performances.

King Lame

To start, off I just want to say: this is all the media's fault. Had they treated Lebron like a normal incoming player out of high school, like a Josh Smith, and not like the second coming, I would go easier on the guy. Why do so many people speak so highly of this boy? Laybrin is Shawn Kemp 2.0. He is Kemp with a little better court vision. Kemp got to the finals too. He just never won. Kemp at least showed the world his skills in a dunk contest, Lebron, N/A. ESPN has been stroking this guy for way too long. If you get told something long enough of course you start to believe. Ever read Orwell, 2+2=5? Come on, end it, there are some of us out here who can look past the hype. Lebron has like 10 game winners in his life, right? Less? I dunno. He's not clutch, he turns the ball over more than any star that I can remember and doubles that nightly with missed shots. You always see the craziest play he does all night in the highlights and then we are supposed to look at this guy like he's basketball Jesus. Fuck that! It's got to end. Homeboy shot 19% over the last two games against the C's. Come on! I've just had enough. Nike is to blame too. Witness? Witness what? A lot of missed shots? A lot of blah blah blah by sports anchors defending his poor performances. Trust me if I started a franchise right now, keeping age in mind, I'd still take Kobe over him at 30. I'd take CP3 over him and Dwight Howard. I'd even consider Chris Bosh, Josh Smith or Deron Williams. I'm not trying to sell jerseys on my team, I just want W's, that's why I'd take those guys. Lebron I'll admit this, you are a great host for TV. SNL, great, so was the ESPYs. Maybe you should join the view, or the male view with Mario Lopez, whatever that show is called. Enjoy the sweep, I hate the Celtics but at least by them winning it's one step closer to Lakers v. Celtics. That's good for me, that's good for David stern, that's good for ratings and that's good for the public. We can finally watch two perfectly assembled, storied franchises battle it out for basketball supremacy. No Lebron in the finals, he does not equal rating, because he does not equal talent.

Kobe is the only unanimous selection for All NBA First team

All NBA First Team

Kobe Bryant, the league's MVP, led the voting for the NBA's first team. Other selections were MVP runner up and N.O. Hornets point guard Chris Paul; the oft-over hyped and one man gang, Mr. Trple-Double (Points, shots missed, turnovers) Lebron James; the Boston savior who fell into a cushy spot, never won anything, just like his teammates, Kevin Garnett; and the future of big men, the man that Supermanned that rim, Dwight "Superman" Howard. This team sounds about right. You always have to consider Tim duncan and if Pau was on the Lakers all year, no matter what kind of staggering numbers Howard put up, I think he had a chance at center.
Credit: ESPN News