Thursday, February 21, 2008

Let's blow some shit up


















Despite rumblings by talking sports hairpieces, this certainly caught me a bit off guard. Get it? Off guard?

Who would've thought at the beginning of the season that the Bulls would end up sucking as much as an elected Republican official that they'd all but give up in mid-February by trading their defensive (and yes, overpriced) centerpiece to a hated division rival while taking on said rival's salary cap albatross?

Sure he was inconsistent but I liked Drew Gooden, yet once we get our injured players back (Tweedledum, Tweedledumber and Boobie), I think we can challenge Boston and Detroit for the Eastern crown. Why? The Man With The Amazing Afro is going to have something to prove and we've added a legitimate outside shooter in Wally World. Sure, Wallace is indeed overpaid and aging not all that gracefully, but let's face it: the window is going to be slammed shut in a few years once LeBron leaves for shinier pastures.

Anyway, our roster as it currently stands:

5 Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Dwayne Jones
4 Ben Wallace, Anderson Varejao
3 LeBron James, Joe Smith, Sasha Pavlovic
2 Wally Szczerbiak, Daniel Gibson, Devin Brown
1 Delonte West, Eric Snow, Damon Jones

Detroit is probably deeper with a more experienced starting five and Boston has the big three and an improving, youthful bench, but we have the one thing they don't: the best player in the league, and that gives us a puncher's chance.

18 comments:

Jennifer Briney said...

Hey Randel,

Just wanted to let you know that I'm going to live blog the debate tonight - most likely all by myself - so if you would like to join me, I would feel less like a tiny blog loser :-). I'm starting right at 5pm (Los Angeles time). No biggie if you can't make it, but it could be fun.

By the way, my Lakers beat the Suns last night. Woo hoo!

Randal Graves said...

Lakers? Boo!

I'd like to, but needless to say, I'm stuck at work for another hour. ;-)

enigma4ever said...

Hey you- a Ctown Person...
So I missed all of this...oh no..please tell me we did not trade drew...Did we ???

I trust Ferry....but this makes me nervous....

come see me over at Watergate Summer...

Distributorcap said...

sports -- you sure know how to make a guy like John McCain

8-)

pissed off patricia said...

Weee, I have no idea what you're talking about but hey, if you believe it, count me in too.

Randal Graves said...

enigma, we in fact did, but standing pat wasn't going to get it done probably, and there is certainly an element of risk, but what the hell. Maybe it'll work.

dcap, now that's a low blow. ;-)

POP, really? I believe in unicorns. Send me money to help protect their natural habitat.

La Belette Rouge said...

Your poetry I totally get. Your language of metaphor is beautiful, accessible, to those willing to engage with it, and creates an unmistakable emotional reaction. But, when you write about basketball I understand it less than computer Hypertext or an obscure Czech dialect. I am sure you feel the same way when I write about makeup.

Randal Graves said...

You're very kind, and your last part is quite truthful. But trust me, the trade has potential, just like I'll trust you that some kind of mascara goes better with some kind of blouse. ;-)

s. douglas said...

I just want to Indians to resign Sabbathia.

I didn't even know Cleveland had a basketball team.

When did that happen?

La Belette Rouge said...

I trust you. ;-)

Dean Wormer said...

I dunno I still think the strangest trade of the year had to be sending Shaq to Phoenix.

It's not like the Suns had a dearth of veteran players who were close to retirement or anything.

Guys are going to need a bunch of walkers.

Randal Graves said...

fairlane, not for $20 million. Pitchers break down far too easily.
And ain't you a big barrel of funny.

LBR, and I, you. ;-)

dean, oh no question. Sure, Marion was disgruntled, but the dude is, what, 28? Get some first round picks, not an aging center. Phoenix has made some bad moves in recent years: this one, not keeping the rights to Luol Deng, trading Kurt Thomas, the rights to Rudy Fernandez. But hey, when your owner would rather save cash in lieu of going for a title, what can you do?

s. douglas said...

I don't know about the Suns' trade being the most puzzling.

The Mavs traded four players, two first round picks,and cash for a point guard who went to high school with Bod Cousy.

"A big barrel of funny." I think I'll make that my new tagline.

Randal Graves said...

I'm not necessarily a fan of that trade either, since you're shaving ten years off at point, but at least Kidd can still play. Of course, if Shaq goes for 18-10 per game and the Suns win the title, then kudos. These are all gambles, except the Gasol trade. If they still had Bynum healthy? Ugh.

Freida Bee said...

Aw man, you got me. I usually just skip the posts with the guys in those tight knickers, but you threw me off with the bomb pic and I was sure this was going to be a post about the Bush administration.

Randal Graves said...

You damn well know that when I post about Chimpy and his cohorts that I only use a smiley face. Sheesh!

Snave said...

Good luck with Wally. He is a great shooter, but he wants the ball, and he wants to shoot, all the time. I'm a Portland Trailblazers fan, but I also follow the Sonics. Every time I watched them on TV, he would be passing up passes to open guys so he could fire up a three whether or not there was anyone under the hoop to rebound. Scheise... I don't even know who the Sonics got for Wally, but I was glad to see him go... Maybe he felt like he had to do more, seeing as how the Sonics are so utterly shitty and will be moving to OK City in a year or two anyway.

I can remember when the Cavs used to be horrific, and the ESPN announcers would refer to them as the Cadavaliers. They have come a LONG way since then, and I don't see how a real NBA fan couldn't find something to like in that. If Cleveland has the five players listed first at each position 1-5 in their starting lineup (but with Gibson instead of Wally) I think that competes with (and is potentially better than) every other team in the league.

It would be a good time to be a Cleveland sports fan! The Indians should get C.C. signed at all costs. I look at him and Carmona and the supporting cast in the rotation, and while I don't think it's as good a rotation as that of my Mariners, I think it's danged good. And what can you say about Grady Sizemore? Ya gotta love Garko, Blake, Victor Martinez... I think Jason Michaels and Franklin Gutierrez are up and coming young outfielders. Peralta is steady, and ex-Mariner Asdrubal Cabrera should develop into a very good MLB player. They were 96-66 last year, and although there haven't been a whole lot of changes and they might get another strong challenge from a built-up Detroit, I'd think they're still the favorites to win the AL Central.

The Browns had a good season in 2007 too!

Cleveland DOES rock.

Randal Graves said...

You're certainly right about Wally, but I think - hope - that LeBron's clout - and it's VERY considerable - will keep in line. Plus, with Boobie out for 6 weeks, we desperately needed an outside shooter. This whole trade for a run this year and next, that's about it.

As for the Indians, it'll be between us and Detroit as you say, especially now that Santana is out of the league. I just hope that Sabathia and Carmona don't have tired arms because Detroit can really score, at least on paper. It should be a hell of a race all season, barring injuries to either club. Not sure I want to commit $20 million to ONE pitcher, though. :)