I'm going to be brief here, mostly because I am back on the plantation and I'm behind on my work. Until someone sponsors me or picks me up...ESPN, I'm talking to you...then I gotta keep pushing at this 8 to 5. By the way, why is it that when you are clearly on vacation that people still send you requests and want them completed before you even come back to work? Didn't you see my OUT OF OFFICE up??? I'm clearly hitting the craps tables and dancing on random soft booties in Vegas, ok? You hear that? Ok, thanks.
LOL
Now...I've been known to write an "out-there" article every once in a while. Or as some readers like to say, "Ed, what the f*ck are you thinking?"
Two articles come to mind, one being slammed for no one thinking they had a shot and the other for me completely writing them off entirely. Here they are:
The Denver Nuggets Will Win The 2009 NBA Championship
The Orlando Magic Will Never Win The NBA Championship
First off, there isn't a person I've met in life that would have picked Denver OR Orlando at all even to get to the Conference Finals, much less having a legitimate shot at getting or winning the championship. No one has said this. Not even Orlando fans. Not even Denver fans.
Yet its funny how sports play out, they can make you feel like a genius and a moron in a split second. The two most heart-staking thoughts I had coming into the end of the NBA season and the playoffs is that Denver really could make a run and that Orlando is lacking that one piece to take them over the top.
My realization was that Denver is one of the few healthy teams in the playoffs and have added maybe one of the top 3-4 clutch players in his generation in Chauncey Billups. They have 3 legitimate bigs who can all rebound, defend, and get you ugly points. They have numerous shooters that can shot you out the building in JR Smith and Linas Kleiza, and that they have the one burgeoning star that has the chance to be in the class of the big 3 in Carmelo Anthony. The fact that I realized this in February however, made it absurd, and you the reader let me know about it. As you should have.
The other thought is that Orlando as currently constructed wouldn't have a shot in hell to go far in the playoffs. They have no one to be tough with Dwight Howard, they don't play great defense, and I really had no faith in their coach. You the reader, agreed with me for the most part. However, Ed didn't do his research on Orlando for one thing, they've always had Cleveland's number, period. Ed didn't do his research on Boston, who although put up a valiant effort were undermanned versus the healthier Orlando squad. KG and Leon Powe would've greatly helped the C's, thus not burning out Ray and Pierce. I also didn't foresee Stan Van Gundy (no more Ron Jeremy references, he's earned it) learning to become a better coach. There's something to be said about learning on the fly, and I think he's figured that out a bit. He's got a potential 10-year starter in Courtney Lee, and why Mikael Pietrus hasn't been used as much as possible is crazy to me. Rashard, Hedo, and Dwight are making all the right plays, and their entire squad is contributing. Brian Windhorst from the Cleveland Plain-Dealer said it on Mike and Mike early one morning and its stuck with me, if you could draw up a team to take out the Cavs, its the Orlando Magic. Hyper-athletic big man, a forward who can take advantage of Cleveland's non-athletic bigs (looking at you Varejao), and a stable of 3-point shooters who can pick and roll and spread the floor for said athletic big man, Dwight Howard.So for you the "Anonymous" commenter who wants to pile onto the Denver argument for "knowing" they could do it and say "The Nuggets are the best "team" in the NBA, and I believe they will win if they believe in themselves." HAHA...and for the "Anonymous" commentor who wants to pile onto the Orlando argument and say that Ed should, "Leave the writing and stick to short fictional stories and grocery lists..." HAHA
With all that said, isn't that what we really want from the playoffs and sports in general? Trust me, Orlando beating up on Cleveland isn't the biggest upset story in the world. The UEFA Cup final between Manchester United and Barcelona was mega-huge. Barcelona upsetting ManU created drama worldwide because everyone penciled in ManU to win, drama ensued. Just like everyone penciled in Kobe v. LeBron. We're 5 days away from seeing if someone can shock the world one more time.
THAT WASN'T BRIEF AT ALL WAS IT? WAS I OUT OF LINE? WHY WOULD YOU COMMENT ANONYMOUSLY ANYWAY? LOL...
-Ed.
www.edthesportsfan.com
Comments
7 Responses to "Startling Fact #1 - Ed Is A Genius & Moron Simultaneously"I'm not gonna say I was completely on board with Orlando but I have always defended them as a team that is a legit contender in the East. I said this about them back in January:
Something to consider with everyone drooling all over the Cavs is that they have a modest 12-8 road record right now. That's probably not going to get it done come playoff time, especially if they aren't able to secure the #1 seed and home court advantage. Even the Celtics are just 13-7 on the road this season after their recent stretch of poor play. However, the Orlando Magic currently have a 17-5 road record, which is tops in the NBA. Just another reason to think that the Magic are legit contenders in the East, even more so if they finish with the best record.Of course that was before Jameer Nelson got hurt and I kind of soured on them after that, but at least I brought it up right?
Crap I even said this a few weeks before that:
While everyone is talking about the Celtics, Cavs, and Lakers; the Orlando Magic are quietly putting together a monster season. They are currently third in the Eastern Conference with 28-8 record, including a solid 15-3 home record. While I am not the biggest Dwight Howard fan, because I simply don't think he has enough low post scoring moves to dominate in the playoffs against high quality defenses, Howard does have enough pieces around him for the Magic to give the Celtics and Cavs problems once the playoffs come. We all know what Rashard Lewis(19.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 41.0% 3FG) and Hedo Turkoglu(16.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists) bring to the Magic every night, but the difference in this years team is the play of Jameer Nelson. As a team, the Magic are currently ranked 9th in the NBA in offensive efficiency and a solid 3rd in defensive efficiency just a little behind the Celtics and Cavs. So while many people are asking if Boston will be able to beat Cleveland this year in the playoffs, I think it's fair to wonder if maybe Boston or Cleveland gets knocked off by the Magic in the second round of the playoffs. It's even possible that they could end up in the NBA Finals and they certainly would be deserving of that with the way they have played so far this season.Looks like my lack of faith in Rafer Alston got the better of me....
For Denver..I said this about them back on Dec. 1st:
Is it time to start taking the Denver Nuggets seriously? The Nuggets improved to 12-6 after Chauncey Billups poured in 28 points to help Denver defeat the Rockets last night. The Nuggets are somewhat surprisingly ranked 6th in defensive efficiency despite the fact it looked like what was a horrible defensive team would only get worse once losing Marcus Camby. Nene, Chris Anderson, and Kenyon Martin have filled in admirably though. Nene has been especially good this season and is averaging career highs in points(14.9), rebounds(7.2), blocks(1.6), and FG%(62.8%). On the negative side of things for the Nuggets, Carmelo Anthony has had a nagging elbow injury all season long and J.R. Smith has not emerged with the breakout season that many predicted once Allen Iverson was traded. However, with the Nuggets improved defensively and the addition of a proven leader like Chauncey Billups, the Nuggets might not be the first round playoff pushovers they have been in the past.That's as close as I came to making any predictions about them, but I seriously need to go back and look at these things when I make my final predictions! I say some shit and then I pick the opposite.
Check the tape, I told you you went too far saying Orlando would NEVER win a championship. But yeah, no one saw this coming this year, for sure.
I won't front I thought Orlando was DOA...The Cavs were a freight train, lead, follow, or get out of the way. Most teams chose option 3.
As for Denver, I had a co-worker tell me if the Nuggets got the #2 they would advance to the Conference Finals. He further said they would get out of the first round regardless. Me being the part-time blogger/sports aficinado that I am, poop pooped the Conference Finals idea. At that point, 2-5 was changing daily.
As a blogger, you have to go out on a limb, it's what makes it fun. I totally wiffed on the NCAA tournament.
Orlando hit 17 threes, and still needed overtime to win a home game. If their outside shooters are hot, you just have to tip your cap. Forget Rashard and Hedo, when Rafer chips in six threes, it's a long night. If you put extra help on the perimeter and don't double Dwight, easy dunks.
The Cavs may be regretting not making a deadline deal for a big man who could at least hang with Dwight and slow him down a little.
Z. Ilg, Vareijo, Ben.. None of them can even annoy him one on one, much less guard him.
All the Cavs can do is hope that the threes start clanking. Otherwise, the search for a big man for next season starts in May instead of June.
JAG
Orlando hit 17 threes, and still needed overtime to win a home game. If their outside shooters are hot, you just have to tip your cap. Forget Rashard and Hedo, when Rafer chips in six threes, it's a long night. If you put extra help on the perimeter and don't double Dwight, easy dunks.
The Cavs may be regretting not making a deadline deal for a big man who could at least hang with Dwight and slow him down a little.
Z. Ilg, Vareijo, Ben.. None of them can even annoy him one on one, much less guard him.
All the Cavs can do is hope that the threes start clanking. Otherwise, the search for a big man for next season starts in May instead of June.
JAG
*points and laughs* I'm rolling with the new and improved Pistons...er..Nuggets. I hope they can bully and elbow their way to the Finals!!!
"First off, there isn't a person I've met in life that would have picked Denver OR Orlando at all even to get to the Conference Finals, much less having a legitimate shot at getting or winning the championship. No one has said this. Not even Orlando fans. Not even Denver fans."
Not even Orlando fans you say? Did you talk to any Orlando fans or did you just make that up? I'm guessing the latter.
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