SB Nation User Blog: coachk

Playoffs

coachk — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:38:16 -0000

With the season approaching the quarter pole, it might seem crazy to guarantee that the Pacers, at 9-10, will make the playoffs. However, according to ESPN's John Hollnger, the Pacers are a virtual lock for the post-season .

Interestingly, Hollinger projects Indy as the 6th seed in the East, exactly the same spot predicted by Keester99 last month .

Reggie to Boston?

coachk — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:59:06 -0000

I haven't had time to digest this yet, but espn.com is reporting that Reggie Miller is considering a comeback with the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics appear intent on capturing the title in Boston's 30 and over league. No word yet on whether Bob Cousy has been asked to spell Rajon Rondo for 11 or 12 minutes per game.

I'm excited by the fact that there will be a buzz around the Celtics next season. I'm disappointed, however, that the youth movement was scrapped out of what appears to have been Ainge's apparent discontent with any of the options that were available with the #5 pick in the draft. The KG trade doesn't bother me -- the fact is that it was a trade that HAD to be made once Delonte and #5 were exchanged for Ray Allen. All in all, I predict nothing more than an unfulfilling short-term fling that, in a few short years, leaves the C's worse off than the morass of suck that was last season.

Anyhow, thought this news would interest Pacer Nation. Frankly, nothing Ainge does from here on out would surprise me. Maybe he'll become player/GM as well.

Spenser Hawes Redux

coachk — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 11:21:56 -0000

Several months ago, I used this space to argue that the Pacers should push for the playoffs rather than "tank" to get into the lottery (and keep their pick). My thought was that it was better to take pride in making the tourney than to tank for the right to end up with what most likely would be, and was, the 10th pick, which most likely would be, and was, Spenser Hawes.

Hindsight is a Lasik-like 20-15 and, with the clarity it provides, me thinks I was wrong.

Like Cornrows, I'll chuckle every time I hear his name, but Stanko underwhelms. Perhaps shutting things down and ending up with Hawes, Al Thornton, Julien Wright or Acie Law was the way to go. Who knows. I wouldn't be surprised however, if Carlisle, JO, Granger and every other Pacer who busted tail down the strecth find "thank you" notes from the Atlanta front office in tomorrow's mail.

Speaking of front offices, it appears more certain than ever that neither Ainge, McHale, nor LJL spent much time seeking Red's tutelage after practice.

Two segues and I'm finally onto the Celtics and the Ray Allen acquisition. The deal reminds me of my five years at UVM. What looks sexy at 11:30 PM, seems horrific at dawn's early light. Take heart Pacer fans, as you enjoy your morning coffee, your team is not any worse than it was yesterday. I'm sure that there's a philosophical argument, then, that the Pacers improved simply by not getting any worse.

The Celts have no such argument. The 5 pick, a solid young PG, and a decent shooter with a contract that will be attractive bait as it expires in 08-09 were exchanged for an aging shooting guard with a huge contract and fresh scars from double ankle surgery. Wow.

Trade Winds are a Blowin'

coachk — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 21:34:38 -0000

Just popped in from the first day of summer camp to find this blockbuster rumor. What strikes me isn't the deal, but the way the authors treat the JO-to-the-Celts piece as an afterthought. The main deal -- KG to LA, Bynum & Odom to Indy, unnamed bodies to Minny -- is deemed workable only if a fourth team gets involved, with no mention of the fourth team. It wasn't until I scrolled down and saw the link to Ford's Insider that I noticed the "oh yeah, the 4th geam would be Boston. They'd get JO." WOW! That's a rather important "oh, by the way..."

If this is true, Wally and his contract must be going back to Minnesota, but who is going with them? Has Danny traded the one the game's best young power forward so that Paul Pierce can make a run with JO? With Chauncy opting out, Sheed on the block, the Spurs dominating the Cavs, and the general dearth of quality in the East, will teams (Celts) take on huge contracts to make one brief run?

Love this stuff. Hurry back Cornrows.

Keeping Pace

coachk — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 11:42:31 -0000

Well, the reverse psychology didn't work. I tuned into SportsCenter around 630PM and noticed the following scrawl across the Ticker: "Bucks G Michael Redd to miss rest of season". Where's my bookie when I need him? Yikes.

Final result was as predicted: Orlando in a walk.. Redd's absence is especially noteworthy in games in which the Bucks defense is absent as well. Nothing like going into a shoot-out without your top gun. Oh well. We knew the Magic wouldn't lose EVERY game down the stretch. Now's the time to keep pace in Philly .

Not much in the Philly papers about the 76'ers. Nice bit on the new AI and his commitment to defense. Might be required reading for the young Rebs next year.

Sixers are sneaky. GSchindo, a Sixer fan since Doc was an intern, points out that, but for AI (the original) sitting for several games before being traded, Philly might be talking playoffs. Andre Miller and friends are 16-14 in their last 30; not spectacular, but, over a full season, a playoff pace in the East.

Reverse Psych

coachk — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 15:35:48 -0000

[Editor's Note: coachk brings a little reality check this morning.]

My optimistic musings are a thing of the past. I'm a cynic this morning, my coffee cup already half empty.

Milwaukee has no chance against Orlando tonight. The Bucks have lost 9 of 10, including consecutive losses to the lowly Hawks and Knicks.

Michael Redd's knee will keep him from scoring, if not from playing. Earl Boykins is too small to play in the NBA. Dan Gadzuric v. Dwight Howard? Two words: Ms. Match.

Don't bother Pacer fans. Finish your taxes. Watch 24. Check out The Black Donnellys. (Oh Jenny....) Whatever you do, no need to catch the Bucks-Magic. Tomorrow will dawn with the Pacers needing a win in Philly to stay within a game of Orlando. I can feel it.

Psych.

JO: A Man At Work

coachk — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 17:07:02 -0000

[Editor's Note: coachk watched the game and has the story behind the numbers in the box score which explains the key to the Pacers win.]

JO is a man.

Today's write-ups will undoubtedly focus on Dunleavy's first-half, 14 points, and McLeod's three-point plays (of the old-fashioned variety nonetheless) that finally put the C's to bed. Let's not lose JO's work -- and I mean WORK-- in the proverbial shuffle.

I sat down to watch the game with a strange mix of emotions. (more on that later). The Pacers bolted to a 26-15 lead after the first. In the process, JO had 10 rebounds. Check it out for yourself. There were 22 rebounds in the first quarter. The tally:

Jermaine: 10
Boston: 7
Other Pacers: 5

That's professional.

Fast forward to the fourth quarter. The Celts' started pressing. The inbounder's man doubled the ball, with Rajon Rondo playing free saftey behind them. Nothing fancy, but it caused the Pacers fits. McLeod -- before his 3-point plays -- made consecutive turnovers. The first led to a lay-up for Alan Ray, the second gave the Celts the ball with a chance to cut the Pacers' lead to 4.

JO drew an offensive foul.

Ensuing Indiana possession, Keith's first "and-1".

Game over.

Jermaine showed up at the office and put in a HARD night's work. Dirty work. But the work that must be done for a team to remain in the hunt. And, this morning, in the hunt is exactly where the Pacers remain. Nice work JO.

A few random thoughts -- as you might know, I've been a Celtic fan all my life. As I went about my Saturday, I found myself anticipating a steak on the grill and the Celtics-Pacers game. Then, it struck me: I hadn't looked forward to sitting down to watch the Celtics in years. My rough guess was 5 years -- the Eastern Conference finals in 2002. Unfortunately, for a Celts fan, it was the Pacers that rekindled the feeling. How times have changed.......gotta give a nod to the Pacers girls and the short-shorts with bikini tops......does Conseco have the loudest generated-noise in the league? The bit that "yells" DEFENSE is so loud the Fieldhouse sounds eerily quiet when Indiana gets the ball back....I'm not sure I'll ever believe that Bassy is the all-time leading scorer in the history of NYC high school hoops.

Go Grizz!

coachk — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 13:15:10 -0000

Fear not Pacer Nation, the Grizz aren't sleepwalking into Orlando tonight. Time out -- how long is the NBA going to let Memphis be the Grizzlies? While Paul Gasol does his best to win the "Looks Most Like the Team Mascot" award, he's about the closest thing to a Grizzlie bear inside the Tennessee state lines. As usual, I digress....

....the Hound Dogs have lost 4 of 6, but a closer look at the results shows that they might catch a rabbit tonight. Sprinkled into the last half-dozen are wins at Portland & LA, close losses at Golden State and against Phoenix, and another loss to Golden State in which Memphis led by 2 to start the fourth. Rudy Gay and Hakim Warrick bring a Big East flava to Graceland, but,lately, Tarance Kinsey has put up numbers with Mike Miller and Damon Stoudamire out. One last tidbit, the Grizz have won four in a row against Orlando, and 8 of the last 9.

I like the vibes coming from the Grizz camp. A bona fide star in Gasol, a star in the making in Gay, and, in Kinsey, a guy who smells it -- he got his chance and is taking advantage. Something tells me those three are going to do more than just play out the schedule.

I predict the Grizz win a squeaker, with old friend Chucky Atkins -- the same Chucky Atkins who was added & dropped from my fantasy team about 372 times over the years -- doing what Chucky does and nailing a a deep three to Ice it. Couple that predicition with the Pacers protecting the house against the Green, and I'm looking forward to a "Pacers Resurrected!" column from Cornrows on Easter morn'.

The loony's been MIA lately, but reappears today. Living close to the border, I've often stumbled back across with Loonies in my pockets. So, today's loony goes to the Toronto Raptors, your Atlantic Division champs. Really, the fact that the Raptors won the division that is home to the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Philadephia 76'ers is a fairly significant milestone in Stern's march to global supremacy. Imagine the Atlanta Thrashers being crowned division champs in a division that they share with the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Chicago Blackhawks. Now that's loony.

By a thread

coachk — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 12:49:51 -0000

Yes, the Pacers are hanging. I know, you're sick of hearing it from me. I can't help it. Despite Marquis'knee and the other injuries, I see a chance, however slim, that the Pacers close the season with a 6-2 burst. If so, it would force the Magic to go 4-3 to force a tie. It's possible.

Of course, if you'd prefer the lottery, the Pacers lurk a mere game "behind" the Knicks and Wolves, and just two behind Philly, Portland, and Seattle in the race for one of the 10 worst records. I guess the lottery remains possible too.

I fear the worst: no playoffs AND no pick.

Last night's Celts-Bucks clash made me think of this riddle Any suspicions of "tanking" would have been cured if Doc and Krystowiak had to switch teams for the night. Each would have had no choice but to coach for the win.

Flip

coachk — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:00:38 -0000

Wow -- I guess we know what Flip Saunders thought of the Pacers/Warriors trade. Chauncey's comments didn't surprise me; Flip's did. Seems to me he's more than happy to face the reconstituted Pacers. Was he just being honest, or did he throw Larry under the bus?

On another topic, who can blame a guy for not wanting to work during vacation? Especially when he doesn't even have to leave the house to go on vacation!

Seriously, is anyone surprised that, one year into the whole "we're committed to 2008!!!", that someone wants some time off? If LBJ doesn't play this summer, what will Colangelo and cohorts do? Boot LeBron from the 2008 roster for failing to honor his commitment? That'd be funny. "I'm sorry Mr. James, you can't come. You weren't at practice last summer." Maybe we'll find out who runs USA Basketball -- USA Basketball or shoe companies/TV execs.

Personally, I hope it turns into such a fiasco that we end up having qualifying tournaments to see who will represent the USA in the Olympic qualifying tournaments. Like a civil war in which in USA Basketball's authority is challenged. The Nike guys could quit and form their own team. Same for anyone else. We'll allow 28 teams, with automatic top seeds, and first-round byes, to Team Nike, the Knicks, (so Zeke can botch that too), Team USA (non-Nike edition), and the original Dream Team. Winner gets to wear the Red, White and Blue in Bejiing.

Ok..I'll stop now......