He pitched in Augusta for his first rehab start. He only went three innings, but it invoked mixed emotions.
On the one hand Smoltz was an Atlanta Brave for as long as I can remember. I can distinctly recall his magical second half of the 1991 season which culminated in him winning the game that clinched the pennant, winning Game 7 of the NLCS, and dueling Jack Morris in Game 7 of the World Series.
On the other hand this is the man who was insulted by the lack of loyalty by the Braves when they would only offer $2-2.5 million guaranteed to a 42-year-old pitcher who was coming off yet another major surgery on his throwing arm and would only pitch half a season... if he was lucky.
I wanted to give him a standing ovation.
I wanted to heckle him mercilessly about his greed and imply he was still paying off his divorce.
In the end I did nothing. As he walked off in the third inning and everyone rose around me to applaud, I sat there motionless and stared.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Cleveland, COME ON DOWN!!!
I know, I know. Everyone is thinking the same thing: Atlanta has no chance against Cleveland. Well I'm here to tell you that you are wrong.
And I know what else you are thinking. There is no way that these two amateurs keep up the pace and preview every game. Well I'm here to tell you that you are absolutely right.
With that in mind, this blog is all about the good news and the bad news.
Good News
Atlanta has a chance against Cleveland. When you get down to it, they are very similar teams. Both run their offense the majority of the time through a wing player who is 6'8". Both have big men who are not the most skilled/utilized on offense, but can play some mean defense. Both have guards that do not create too much offense, but can knock down a shot. Mo Williams is basically a younger Bibby.
On defense, Atlanta has three wing defenders (Joe, Mo, and Marv) to throw at LeBron. If Marvin is healthy, he and Mo will get the majority of the looks. You know, however, that Cleveland will try to employ the same strategy as the Heat and use the Hawks "switch on everything" philosophy to get LeBron more favorable match-ups. The only frontcourt player that can score for the Cavs is Big Z, and all he has is the 15 foot shot, so Josh and Al should be able to help out against LeBron. On the wings, Atlanta has to close out quickly on the 3 ball since the Cavs have tons of shooters with Williams, West, Gibson, Pavlovic, and Szczerbiak. If Atlanta can keep LeBron out of the paint like they did with Wade and close out on the Cleveland shooters, the Hawks can keep the score tight.
On offense there are mismatches to be had. Varejao matches up well with Horford and Zaza, but the Cavs do not have a player, outside of LeBron, who can match up with Josh. And the Cavs won't waste LeBron on Josh. So if he is focused and attacking the rim, Josh can give the Cavs a headache. Additionally, if Marvin is healthy, LeBron will have to choose between guarding him and Joe. This will leave the other guarded by West. While West is a feisty defender, he is all of 6'3", so either Joe or Marvin will have a huge height mismatch they should be able to exploit. So we're not getting shut out...
Bad News
This is your only scheduled preview. And even worse, the Hawks are probably going to lose this series. There is no way the Hawks take two games in Cleveland as they will be lucky to steal one. Additionally it is going to very difficult to win all three at home with the way LeBron can put the Cavs on his back.
Best-case scenario: The Hawks steal Game One from a rusty Cavs team, win one of the two home games, win Game 6, and force the Cavs to beat us in Game 7. Or they could go the same route as the team that no one believed in last year and get destroyed on the road and win all the game at home. Either way, the Hawks aren't stealing two games in Cleveland, and there is no way they are winning Game 7 on the road.
Cavs in 7.
And I know what else you are thinking. There is no way that these two amateurs keep up the pace and preview every game. Well I'm here to tell you that you are absolutely right.
With that in mind, this blog is all about the good news and the bad news.
Good News
Atlanta has a chance against Cleveland. When you get down to it, they are very similar teams. Both run their offense the majority of the time through a wing player who is 6'8". Both have big men who are not the most skilled/utilized on offense, but can play some mean defense. Both have guards that do not create too much offense, but can knock down a shot. Mo Williams is basically a younger Bibby.
On defense, Atlanta has three wing defenders (Joe, Mo, and Marv) to throw at LeBron. If Marvin is healthy, he and Mo will get the majority of the looks. You know, however, that Cleveland will try to employ the same strategy as the Heat and use the Hawks "switch on everything" philosophy to get LeBron more favorable match-ups. The only frontcourt player that can score for the Cavs is Big Z, and all he has is the 15 foot shot, so Josh and Al should be able to help out against LeBron. On the wings, Atlanta has to close out quickly on the 3 ball since the Cavs have tons of shooters with Williams, West, Gibson, Pavlovic, and Szczerbiak. If Atlanta can keep LeBron out of the paint like they did with Wade and close out on the Cleveland shooters, the Hawks can keep the score tight.
On offense there are mismatches to be had. Varejao matches up well with Horford and Zaza, but the Cavs do not have a player, outside of LeBron, who can match up with Josh. And the Cavs won't waste LeBron on Josh. So if he is focused and attacking the rim, Josh can give the Cavs a headache. Additionally, if Marvin is healthy, LeBron will have to choose between guarding him and Joe. This will leave the other guarded by West. While West is a feisty defender, he is all of 6'3", so either Joe or Marvin will have a huge height mismatch they should be able to exploit. So we're not getting shut out...
Bad News
This is your only scheduled preview. And even worse, the Hawks are probably going to lose this series. There is no way the Hawks take two games in Cleveland as they will be lucky to steal one. Additionally it is going to very difficult to win all three at home with the way LeBron can put the Cavs on his back.
Best-case scenario: The Hawks steal Game One from a rusty Cavs team, win one of the two home games, win Game 6, and force the Cavs to beat us in Game 7. Or they could go the same route as the team that no one believed in last year and get destroyed on the road and win all the game at home. Either way, the Hawks aren't stealing two games in Cleveland, and there is no way they are winning Game 7 on the road.
Cavs in 7.
My Live Twittering Project
I forgot to predict Sundays game. I would have predicted a victory and Joe's resurgence (honestly).
I did, however, twitter the whole thing. here it is unedited. I stopped tweeting (or chirping or whatever the hell drew calls it) with about 8 mins to go in the 4th when the game was over basically.
To hell with fraking. Joe fucking johnson showed up3:12 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Its all over but the crying3:09 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
There's no "d" in beasley3:06 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Up by 20. Beautiful3:00 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Hell yeah smoove2:59 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Freakinnnnnnn joe johnson2:54 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Dwade: is that sweat or tears?2:52 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
8 second violation. I love it2:51 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Mmm. Ball movement creates contact2:48 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Freakin "freakin"2:42 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
"Ball movement" makes me giggle every time I hear it2:39 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Halftime points: keep up energy. Attack the rim on both ends. Hit your 3s2:23 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Damn. Missed oop from smoove2:08 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
The announcers just called a wade airball a pass2:08 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Joe freaking johnson is showing up. Somewhere hawksdawgs is smiling1:58 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Great pass by flip1:55 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Great outlet pass after the steal. Playing with heart1:53 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Bibby for threeeeeeeeeeeee1:53 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
@officiating: sigh1:51 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
That's a holy shit 31:48 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Dirty z all over the place1:47 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Huuuuuuuuuuuuge 3 by joe1:43 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Hustle and flow1:42 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
"Dirty" z1:36 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
I can live seeing heat shoot contested jumpers1:36 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Dear abc: does dwade penis taste good?1:34 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
End of one up by 2. Wade looks exhausted already. We look energized1:32 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Mario in to club someone. And I'm happy1:30 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Just realized I didn't write a preview. Here it is. Hawks win on strength of joe josh and bibby. Mo evans hits a big 3 at the end1:29 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Airball. Airball. Airball1:28 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Yeah josh. Forcing beasley to go to his right is the best move1:27 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
The nba. Where taking down zaza isn't a foul1:26 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
We have to box out if we want to win1:25 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
James jones looks like curious george1:25 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
How many seconds can anthony stand in the lane1:17 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Horford needs to go faster1:17 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Nice dish by smoove. Consistent josh today?1:12 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Nice up and under1:11 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Hoop and the harm. Someone needs to step up with bibby1:10 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
I love how demoralizing shot clock violations are.1:09 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Stop the sloppiness plz1:08 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Getting josh going to the rim early is a good thing1:07 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Not sure how I feel about booing wade. You don't want to anger great players like that1:07 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Difference between al and zaza. Al can jump1:06 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
As will josh dribbling1:05 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Poor rotation will kill us1:05 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
JO or no jo we need to attack the paint1:03 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Big al dressed. Hoping to see "the boss"1:02 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Curious to see who the refs are1:01 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Live tweeting the hawks game1:01 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
I did, however, twitter the whole thing. here it is unedited. I stopped tweeting (or chirping or whatever the hell drew calls it) with about 8 mins to go in the 4th when the game was over basically.
To hell with fraking. Joe fucking johnson showed up3:12 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Its all over but the crying3:09 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
There's no "d" in beasley3:06 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Up by 20. Beautiful3:00 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Hell yeah smoove2:59 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Freakinnnnnnn joe johnson2:54 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Dwade: is that sweat or tears?2:52 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
8 second violation. I love it2:51 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Mmm. Ball movement creates contact2:48 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Freakin "freakin"2:42 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
"Ball movement" makes me giggle every time I hear it2:39 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Halftime points: keep up energy. Attack the rim on both ends. Hit your 3s2:23 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Damn. Missed oop from smoove2:08 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
The announcers just called a wade airball a pass2:08 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Joe freaking johnson is showing up. Somewhere hawksdawgs is smiling1:58 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Great pass by flip1:55 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Great outlet pass after the steal. Playing with heart1:53 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Bibby for threeeeeeeeeeeee1:53 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
@officiating: sigh1:51 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
That's a holy shit 31:48 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Dirty z all over the place1:47 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Huuuuuuuuuuuuge 3 by joe1:43 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Hustle and flow1:42 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
"Dirty" z1:36 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
I can live seeing heat shoot contested jumpers1:36 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Dear abc: does dwade penis taste good?1:34 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
End of one up by 2. Wade looks exhausted already. We look energized1:32 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Mario in to club someone. And I'm happy1:30 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Just realized I didn't write a preview. Here it is. Hawks win on strength of joe josh and bibby. Mo evans hits a big 3 at the end1:29 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Airball. Airball. Airball1:28 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Yeah josh. Forcing beasley to go to his right is the best move1:27 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
The nba. Where taking down zaza isn't a foul1:26 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
We have to box out if we want to win1:25 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
James jones looks like curious george1:25 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
How many seconds can anthony stand in the lane1:17 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Horford needs to go faster1:17 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Nice dish by smoove. Consistent josh today?1:12 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Nice up and under1:11 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Hoop and the harm. Someone needs to step up with bibby1:10 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
I love how demoralizing shot clock violations are.1:09 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Stop the sloppiness plz1:08 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Getting josh going to the rim early is a good thing1:07 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Not sure how I feel about booing wade. You don't want to anger great players like that1:07 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Difference between al and zaza. Al can jump1:06 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
As will josh dribbling1:05 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Poor rotation will kill us1:05 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
JO or no jo we need to attack the paint1:03 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Big al dressed. Hoping to see "the boss"1:02 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Curious to see who the refs are1:01 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Live tweeting the hawks game1:01 PM May 3rd from TwitterBerry
Friday, May 1, 2009
Game 6 in Miami
It's getting chippy in the Southeast. The Heat are mad at Josh Smith for his dunk attempt. They are mad at Mario West for his celebration for stopping Wade. They are mad at how physical the Hawks have been, especially Zaza.
But you know what this all reeks of? Desperation. It's a playoff series. The Heat are one loss away from being eliminated. Do they really need to get mad at the Hawks in order to summon the motivation to put up a fight in this series? Wade and Erik Spoelstra realize that half of their team is ready to pack it in and go on vacation, and they have to conjure up some false beef with the Hawks in order to keep the rest of the Heat motivated. And it might work for this game...
The Heat are going to try and come out tonight like a bat out of hell. This is especially true since the Hawks will be missing both Al Horford and Marvin Williams, and Solomon Jones (god help us) will be starting.
But this game comes down to two factors. First, and most importantly, is how Wade's back feels. If he is still tentative and refuses to drive the lane, like he has been the last two games, then the Heat do not stand a chance. If he can loosen up his back and is hitting the lane like he was in the first two games, then the second factor will come into play. Second, is whether the rest of the Heat show up for Game 6. The Heat won Games 2 and 3 not only because Wade was clicking, but because his teammates were hitting shots.
Due to the evidence from the second half of Game 5, I'm going to say that Wade does get loosened up for Game 6 and goes off at home. Similarly, the rest of the Heat find inspiration from the home crowd, grows a collective backbone, and actually helps out Wade. But the Hawks will scratch and claw the whole way and make this the first game decided by single digits.
Hawks 86, Heat 94.
But you know what this all reeks of? Desperation. It's a playoff series. The Heat are one loss away from being eliminated. Do they really need to get mad at the Hawks in order to summon the motivation to put up a fight in this series? Wade and Erik Spoelstra realize that half of their team is ready to pack it in and go on vacation, and they have to conjure up some false beef with the Hawks in order to keep the rest of the Heat motivated. And it might work for this game...
The Heat are going to try and come out tonight like a bat out of hell. This is especially true since the Hawks will be missing both Al Horford and Marvin Williams, and Solomon Jones (god help us) will be starting.
But this game comes down to two factors. First, and most importantly, is how Wade's back feels. If he is still tentative and refuses to drive the lane, like he has been the last two games, then the Heat do not stand a chance. If he can loosen up his back and is hitting the lane like he was in the first two games, then the second factor will come into play. Second, is whether the rest of the Heat show up for Game 6. The Heat won Games 2 and 3 not only because Wade was clicking, but because his teammates were hitting shots.
Due to the evidence from the second half of Game 5, I'm going to say that Wade does get loosened up for Game 6 and goes off at home. Similarly, the rest of the Heat find inspiration from the home crowd, grows a collective backbone, and actually helps out Wade. But the Hawks will scratch and claw the whole way and make this the first game decided by single digits.
Hawks 86, Heat 94.
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