More knee problems for Laker Nation

Our boy RK isn’t the only one in LaLa Land with knee troubles these days.
The Times reports Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum might have to undergo exploratory surgery on his sore left knee if it doesn’t feel any better in the next month or so.
Say it ain’t so ’Drew. The West Coast Rebel Alliance is counting on you to defeat the Evil Imperial Forces out of Boston or Detroit.
So Bynum is surely done for the playoffs, which keeps the pressure on Pau Gasol and the other Lakers big men to hold it down in the middle. Then again, the Lakers have been doing that fairly well since Bynum was sidelined in January and are unbeaten in the postseason.
As for RK, I was over at the house today and Laker fans everywhere will be happy to know he’s looking good after his knee surgery on Tuesday. I didn’t even have to help him to the bathroom, which was clutch. Hopefully he’ll be back posting soon, new ACL and all. That's his knee to the right by the way. Hope you weren't eating while reading.

Quote of the Day: Magic Johnson

We love Earvin “Magic” Johnson, but we had to raise question over his quote last night on the TNT postgame show following the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Game 4 victory over the Boston Celtics.
TNT producers got some chuckles when they showed a handful of embarrassing clips of former NBA stars Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith.
The funniest clips were of the Magic Man’s talk show “The Magic Hour.” They also talked about Johnson’s short coaching stint, going 5-11 with the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Those are the two worst things I did in my life: coaching 16 games and The Magic Hour.”

Ummm, what about cheating on your wife with the groupie who gave you AIDS?

OK, that’s a low blow, because it is amazing Magic is still going strong. It’s been 17 years since he announced he had AIDS and retired from the game. Today, Johnson looks healthy as ever, as well or even better than Smith or Barkley. In fact, how fun would it be to watch those three guys play a little pickup game together?
Here’s a good piece from USA Today a couple years ago talking about Magic’s bout with AIDS, 15 years after his shocking announcement and retirement from the NBA.

Celtic Pride

Part of the recovery from ACL Knee surgery is keeping your knee iced and elevated while laying on the couch. Which means plenty of TV watching. I tried re watching last nights depressing game 4 between the Lakers and Jazz (on VHS, nice!) but couldn’t do it. I started feeiling ill and I don’t think it was the Vicodin that I am taking for the knee. But thanks to my boy BSlim who came by to check on me, I got some good stuff to watch: Gang Related, Tupac’s last movie, Kobe’s 81 (on VHS, nice!) and Celtic Pride.

After deliberating I went with Celtic Pride the classic nineties movie with Dan Aykroyd, Daniel Stern, and In Living Color legend Damon Wayans. If you haven’t seen it, see it. It is the comedic story of two crazed Celtics fans (Dan Aykroyd and Daniel Stern) kidnapping the best player in the NBA, Utah Jazz superstar Lewis Scott (Damon Wayans) during the NBA finals.

But it got me thinking that this lunatic plot line could happen. The Jazz have just squared up the series with the Lakers. The Spurs have done the same with the Hornets. This really is anybody’s series in the West. And the Celtics have a good chance to come out of the East. So a Celtics/Jazz series is not that far fetched. And I know some Celtics fans who would be just crazy enough to try such a kidnapping as Aykroyd and Stern. Who would the unfortunate Jazz player be? My money is on Deron Williams. The Celtics would have no chance of containing the muscular guard in a 7 game series. Rajon Rondo would have no chance to stop him. The guy is a beast on the drive. He’s got the body of D Fish with the slashing ability of Iverson. He would destroy the Celtics back court. Williams also has great court vision which was evident from the number of alley oops he set up on the Lakers last night.

If it is Celtics/Jazz in the finals and I was Jazz management, I would hire some extra security to watch Deron’s back through out the series. Celtics fans are that crazy.

LeBron's belated Mother's Day wish

O.J. Mayo’s mom got her Mother’s Day gift a day early.
LeBron James’ mom got her Mother’s Day shoutout a day late.
In case you missed it, that was indeed LeBron’s mom who got in the face of Paul Pierce when the Boston forward wrapped up LeBron on a layup attempt and the two went barreling into the stands tonight in the second quarter of the Cleveland Cavaliers' 88-77 Game 4 victory.
But instead of turning his anger toward Pierce or the Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers star went off on his poor moms (video here).

“Sit yo ass down!”

That's what BronBron barked at Gloria James as the players stumbled back toward the floor.
And TNT caught the whole scene and even replayed it at halftime.
Nice. Wonder what LeBron got her for Mother’s Day. A nice cup of shut the f---- up. Maybe a fresh can of whoopass.
Happy Mother's Day Mamma LeBron!
Then again, it’s not like Gloria LeBron is your model citizen.
A couple years ago, LeBron’s mom was arrested for driving while intoxicated, disorderly conduct and other charges, kicking out the back window of a cop car in the process.
Gloria James, come on down! You’re the next contestant on BG’s “Name That Criminal.”

The Hornets play in New Orleans now?

How in the world are the defending NBA champions down 2-0 to the New Orleans Hornets? (Heck, there are a lot of writers and headline writers who still haven't realized the Hornets have moved from Charlotte!)
Same reason the Boston Celtics went seven games against the lowly Atlanta Hawks, I guess.
Home-court advantage has been huge in the playoffs this year, especially with all of the parity in the Association.
Just look at the conference semifinals.
Heading into tonight’s games, home teams are 8-0.
Vegas junkies know this, so bear with me if you’re reading Beau-C, but home-court advantage is worth about three points as far as the power ratings and spreads are concerned, which Jeff Sagarin notes on his NBA rankings.
But in the playoffs, when the crowds get even louder (New Orleans had as loud an arena as I've heard in the first two games against the Spurs) and the players get even more hyped, I’d argue the home crowd is worth at least two possessions.
Sagarin is mostly known for his college rankings, but you might check out his NBA rankings as well. They’re on target (which is more than LeBron could say in Game 1) and are a good tool for tools who like to gamble.
If the teams are close, go with the home team.
Visiting teams historically are at a disadvantage in the postseason. Especially in decisive Game 7 situations, where visiting teams have won just six times since 1995 when both Houston (at Phoenix) and Indiana (in your house at New York, Spike!) pulled it off.

5/9 update:
After Thursday night's games, home teams are now 10-0 in the second round of the playoffs. The Celtics went up 2-0 with another win over the Cavs, while the Spurs finally took a game from the Hornets. According to EastCoastSPN tonight, Teams that win the first two games in a series go on to win the series 94 percent of the time.

Then again, on this day in 1993, the Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles Lakers 112-104 in overtime to become the first NBA team to lose two playoff games at home and then come back to win three straight. So there's hope after all for your Spurs fans.

Kobe officially wins first MVP

This post is dedicated to our boy RK, a hardcore Lakers fan who is going under the knife today for knee surgery.
While the doctors were playing Hack a Kilimnik, KB24 finally got that MVP trophy he's been waiting a dozen years for.
That's right, Kobe Bryant has officially won the MVP award, too bad RK will be out of commission the rest of the day and will be too hopped up on Vicodin to realize it finally happened. Bryant earned 1,105 points, including 82 first place votes, from a panel of 126 sportswriters and broadcasters. Rounding out the top five in voting for this season’s award were New Orleans’ Chris Paul (889 points), Boston’s Kevin Garnett (670 points), Cleveland’s LeBron James (438 points) and Orlando’s Dwight Howard (60 points).

Here's to the MVP award coming back to the West Coast where it belongs, and RK getting healthy and getting back on the basketball court where he belongs.

Now let’s see if Kobe – the first Laker to win the award since Shaq in 2000 – can win the big trophy, which previous MVP winners Dirk Nowitzki (2007), Steve Nash (2005-06) and Kevin Garnett (2004) couldn’t do before him.

A look at the previous Los Angeles Lakers who have won the MVP award.

1999-00 - Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
1989-90 - Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
1988-89 - Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
1986-87 - Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
1979-80 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles
1976-77 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles
1975-76 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles

Where Sideshow Bob Happens

The third edition of WCBias.com's spoof on the NBA’s “There Can Only Be One” slash “Where Amazing Happens” campaign, goes back to a post on the horrendous hair being displayed in the postseason. The posterboy for the NBA's bad hairdos has to be Sideshow Varejao. Here's our All-Postseason Hair Club for Men Team – a.k.a. the dudes with the worst ’dos in the playoffs this year.

How do you have a job Amy Lawrence?

Today’s East Coast media blunder (a regular segment we'll just call "How do you have a job?") comes from our girl Amy Lawrence, who spent the better part of the night on ESPN Radio’s “Game Night” talking about the Los Angeles Lakers’ big win over the Utah Jazz at “The Forum.”
The Lakers might be playing a “Showtime” brand of basketball again in Los Angeles, but they haven’t played at The Great Western Forum for nearly a decade — moving to the Staples Center for the 1999-2000 season.
Maybe Amy was just getting geeked up for next month's George Michael concert at The “Fabulous” Forum. Or maybe she’s another ESPN hack who doesn’t know what’s going on West of the Mississippi.
But basketball isn’t being played at The Forum these days, not on Sundays at least, where the Faithful Central Bible Church and a congregation of more than 12,000 strong hold their morning worship at 10 a.m.
Since it’s still Sunday on the West Coast, please be sure to say a little prayer for Amy y’all.
Now repeat after me: “How do you have a job Amy Lawrence?”
Amen.

Kobe living up to MVP billing

While the NBA still hasn’t officially announced the MVP voting as of this post, Kobe Bryant sure looked like the MVP with a 38-point, six-rebound, seven-assist performance in the Lakers’ 109-98 victory over the Utah Jazz in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.
You could’ve made a case for three or four players to win the MVP this season. But what will truly define those candidates this year is how successful they are in the postseason. A look at the MVP candidates’ numbers heading into Sunday’s games:
Kobe Bryant: 39.3 mpg, 33.5 ppg, .500 FG%, 5.3 RPG, 6.3 APG
Chris Paul: 40.4 mpg, 24.6 ppg, .500 FG%, 5.6 RPG, 12.0 APG
Kevin Garnett: 38.3 mpg, 21.5 ppg, .459 FG %, 8.5 RPG, 4.0 APG
LeBron James: 41.5 mpg, 29.8 ppg, .483 FG%, 9.5 RPG, 7.7 APG

Where Laughing Doesn't Happen

Here’s the second installation of WCBias.com’s spoof on the NBA’s “There Can Only Be One” slash “Where Amazing Happens” campaign, focusing on another controversial NBA referee, Joey Crawford, who was reinstated this season after reportedly challenging Tim Duncan to a fight a year ago and ejecting the Spurs star from a game for, get this, laughing on the bench. Despite his history with Duncan, Crawford was allowed to officiate the Spurs’ series against the Suns, which I wrote about extensively here.

WCBias.com: There can only be one

The dumpster divers at WCBias.com have acquired exclusive cutting-room floor images from the advertising campaign David Stern didn’t want you to see during the 2008 playoffs. This is the first in our series spoofing the NBA’s “There Can Only Be One” slash “Where Amazing Happens” campaign, focusing on crooked NBA referee Tim Donaghy. Click on the image for a larger view.

Kobe finally gets his MVP award

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant will be named MVP, according to a story in The Times.
After leading the league in scoring the previous two seasons at 35.4 and 31.6 ppg, Kobe actually began to distribute this year and was second to scoring champion LeBron James at 28.3 this past regular season. He also averaged 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists.
So after 12 seasons, Kobe will finally get his MVP — and it comes during the one year that he’d probably prefer an NBA title over an individual award like the MVP. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
Kobe’s ability to make his teammates better — a lot like New Orleans guard Chris Paul and Boston’s Kevin Garnett did — is what put him over the top this season. That and leading the Lakers to the top seed in the Western Conference.
Don’t tell RK this, but I think Garnett (docked for playing in the East, which they dominated, and alongside Paul Pierce and Ray Allen) should’ve earned as much consideration as Kobe (who played in a balanced conference with Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom — maybe Kwame Brown should be the MVP, for being so bad the Lakers traded Phil Jackson's pet kitty away for Gasol). But after being taken to a Game 7 by the Atlanta Hawks, that KG4MVP campaign isn’t looking so hot.
Kobe also jumped over a car this year, so maybe that was what swayed the MVP voters (writers and broadcasters).
This is one year it would’ve been beneficial to wait on voting for the MVP until after the postseason. If that were the case, Tim Duncan or CP3 would have something to say about Kobe taking home his first MVP trophy.
Whoever the MVP candidate, you can bet they'd rather be holding up the Larry O'Brien Trophy at season's end. The Maurice Podoloff Trophy just doesn't have the same (championship) ring attached to it.

Would You Rather?

Eat a snail? Or eat a spider? Get punched in the nose? Or get punched in the nads? Face the Rockets? Or face the Jazz?

The Rockets got the best of the Los Angeles Lakers this season. But the Rockets are a puzzlement, how on Earth did they win 22 in a row without Yao. With an amazing amount of guts. Tracy avoided his tendency to get injured, while pushing his team to victory. When his shots didn't fall somebody else picked up the slack. Skip To My Lou finally proved that he can be a legit guard in this league. Offensively Houston is only 22nd in the league. But defensively they are number 4 in points allowed per game and 2nd in FG% allowed. Shane Battier does an excellent job on limitng Kobes shot selection. But if the Rockets can miracuously get past the Jazz they will be dog-tired, using everything they got to do it. Plus the Lakers are playing at a very high clip right now. The rest of the Lakers would have to play big to help out Kobe. Gasol would have a field day of high percentage shots. Lakers in 5.

The Jazz had the best home record of the NBA, so the Lakers would be very grateful of their home court advantage against the Jazz. But the Jazz aren't invincible at home, the Lakers did give it too them on their homecourt back in March. The Stockton-Malone reincarnation of Boozer and Williams is scary. Boozer alone offers dreadful match ups for the Lakers whose only physical presence download is Turiaf. The guards will also have a tough time keeping D Will in front of them. The rest of the matchups are pretty close for the Lakers. AK47 is playing well again but can his length match that of Gasols or Lamars. The Lakers would have to bring a complete game to take the Jazz out. Lakers in 6.

Rockets or Jazz?

Rockets.

Much to do about 'dos

Is it just me, or is there some ugly basketball going down in the Eastern Conference? Maybe I’m just blinded by all of the bad tattoos and hideous hairdos out East, where three of the four first-round series were still undecided heading into Thursday’s action. The series have been close, but the brand of basketball being played is anything but hair-raising.
That being said, we bring you the first annual WCBias.com All-Postseason Hair Club for Men Team – a.k.a. the dudes with the worst ’dos in the playoffs this year:

FIRST TEAM
Center
Samuel Dalembert, 76ers
Chuck Liddell can pull the mohawk, even Mr. T made it cool, but the frohawk just isn’t getting it done Dalembert. It’s the worst ’hawk I’ve seen since Atlanta traded for Isaiah Rider and later cut the alleged kidnapper before the season was even up. It’s not the ugliest mohawk I’ve seen, Al Harrington (right) takes that title, but it’s up there. Thankfully the Detroit Pistons knocked Dalembert’s ’do and the 76ers out of the playoffs on Thursday.
Guard
DeShawn Stevenson, Wizards
DeShawn’s stupid comments about LeBron James, calling the league’s most overwhelming player its most “overrated,” his swipe at LeBron's head (right), not to mention the mini mohawk and nappy beard, put him over the hump. And since the Wizards’ jerseys look like something out of the WNBA or the developmental league, he makes the team just for poppin’ his collar in that repulsive gold getup. And as far as the “overrated” comments go, coming into tonight’s game there’s no comparison. Stevenson is averaging 12.8 points, 3.0 assists and 2.2 rebounds. LeBron is averaging more than double those numbers at 30.4 points, 6.6 assists and 8.8 rebounds, and he doesn’t have a jacked up ’do or uni to speak of.
Forward
Anderson Varejao, Cavaliers
To DeShawn’s credit, at least his ’do is new and isn’t as played out as Anderson Varejao’s. When I watch the Cavs play, I can’t help but think I’m watching an episode of The Simpsons, with Varejao playing the role of Sideshow Bob. I guess that makes LeBron Krusty the Clown. For those still reading this convoluted hair piece, The LeKrusty the Clown Show airs tonight at 4 p.m. with LeKrusty putting the smackdown on DeShawn to wrap up the series.
Forward
Brian Skinner, Suns
Well, I guess the bad ’dos make it out west, too, if you take Brian Skinner’s goatee into consideration. And this is coming from a blogger who has a naturally red goat on his chin. Skinner’s half orange, half black version, however, is just plain outdated. George Clinton is the bomb and all, but there’s a reason he’s not playing in the NBA. Skinner’s look works for the P-Funk Era, problem is, that era ended two decades ago. I guess it’s fitting, though, since the time has passed Skinner and the Suns, too, thanks to Timmy, G-Dog and Mr. Longoria.
Guard
Damon Jones
And last but not least, little-used Damon Jones makes the list for two reasons. There aren’t many guards with bad ’dos (mostly just those stiffs in the frontcourt), and well, Cleveland fans are so hard up for a title these days they actually started a petition in hopes of keeping Jones from cutting his mohawk – thinking it would help them bring that poor city a title. I’m not even sure if Jones has the mohawk anymore, since the guy never sees the court, but mohawk or not, D.J. makes the list because he and petitioning Cleveland Fan are annoying.

HONORABLE MENTION
Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors
Bosh and his twisties, or whatever you call those things, literally just missed the cut because too many big men out there need to visit the barber shop. It’s hard to rip on Bosh, because he’s playing in Toronto without whining about having to play in Toronto (Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter). Did I mention the guy has to play in Toronto? Yes, Toronto. Apparently they play basketball in Canada. Despite playing in Toronto, Bosh led his team to the playoffs this season. Oh yeah, and he had a funny YouTube video, making his pitch for the All-Star Game, so that outta be worth something.
Pau Gasol, Los Angels Lakers
Sorry RK, but your boy needs to do something about that beard. Guy has more hair on his neck than the rest of the Lake show has on its head. Even Phil thinks he’s due for a little shave under the chin. Thing is, Gasol helped my fantasy squad go from worst to first in the final month of the season, so he’s not quite first-team material just yet.
Andrei Kirilenko, Utah Jazz
Same goes for Kirilenko, another forward who just missed the starting lineup. The flat-topped one was on the fantasy team, too, so I have to give him a reprieve. Kind of like his wife does each year when she gives him a shank-a-skank pass. I still don’t get what that’s all about.

Worm gets pinched in L.A.

The Worm is in trouble again after allegedly striking a woman at a Century City hotel in Los Angeles.
Former NBA forward Dennis Rodman, who wrapped up his whirlwind of a career with the Lakers and Mavs, was jailed Wednesday for investigation of felony domestic violence and freed on $50,000 bail earlier today.
His manager later told TMZ (and yes, I can't believe I just cited TMZ) that Rodman grabbed and bruised the woman’s arm after the pair drank too much and argued. Prince said Rodman's drinking has escalated because of a divorce, and he plans to enter rehab.
Not much of a shocker considering his past. There were always two athletes I worried would end up in jail or dead because of something stupid they did off the court, or in Mike Tyson’s case, outside the ring. Not that Tyson didn’t do anything cannibalistic in the ring, too. The other is obviously Rodman, a former Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons star rebounder who has a history of substance abuse and hasn’t exactly turned his life around since hanging up the sneakers.
It’s hard to believe these two headcases were once among the most elite athletes in their respective sports.
Especially Rodman, who was hard to watch when he handled the rock (he did, however, lead the league in FG percentage in 1989) but was nails defensively, named defensive player of the year twice and becoming a five-time NBA champion.

It's officicial, Stern has lost it

Dear Mr. David Stern,
I know you're busy this time of year with all of the playoffs and everything, but I was hoping you could answer me this one quick question: What in the hell, or in this case the Valley of the Suns, were you thinking having Joey Crawford officiate the San Antonio-Phoenix series?

I know the story has been neglected by most of the writers on the pro hoops beat, not just the East Coast scribblers this time around, but have you forgotten, too? Wasn’t it Crawford who was suspended last April for challenging Tim Duncan to a fight?

You know better than anyone that the NBA doesn’t need another referee scandal on its hands, even if the hoops hacks have buried that other referee scandal you tried so desperately to put behind you last summer.

Well, WCBias remembers Tim Donaghy betting on games the previous two seasons. We also remember Crawford ejecting a superstar for, get this, laughing on the bench (here's video proof). Heck, you should be rewarding Duncan – the most stoic player on the planet – whenever the dude finally shows some emotion, not penalizing him.

After being run from the game last year, Duncan said Crawford “looked at me and said, ‘Do you want to fight?’ Do you want to fight?’ If he wants to fight, we can fight. I don't have any problem with him, but we can do it if he wants to.”

Yikes. Is the NBA so hard up for officiating that you need to bring Crawford back into a neck-in-neck conference title race where an official’s call could be the difference in a series?

To be fair, I thought Crawford remained objective for the most part in Tuesday’s Game 5, but you could tell he wanted nothing to do with Duncan and refused to acknowledge him whenever the Spurs forward questioned a play.

If anything, it looked like Crawford and Co. were on the Spurs’ side in this one, maybe trying to make up with Pop and the boys for what Stern called "improper conduct" and "inappropriate comments made to Duncan during the game."

In fact, there were at least three questionable calls late in the fourth when Shaq, Diaw and Stoudemire picked up their fifth personals on bogus “tripping” fouls. Crawford slapped O’Neal with his fifth when Duncan tripped over his own leg with six minutes to go.

Maybe Timmy and Joey worked out their differences and are on the same page again. Maybe the two still hate each other. The average fan and the hoops hacks courtside obviously don’t know, so why set yourself up for another potential referee scandal when you could’ve easily kept Crawford home during the playoffs or banished him to cover the garbage teams in the East?

Regards,
WCBias

Lakers sweep, Nuggets need a change

The Laker brooms came out and swept the Nuggets under the rug in Denver's own house. The Lakes did have a tough battle on hand because they played average and the Nuggets played their best game of the series. But the Lakers still won by 6. A tribute to how good the Lakers are.

So what do you do if you are a Laker fan? Throw up your hands and yell "Halelujah! We're back!" Made it to the second round for the first time since 2004. What a long and grueling wait that was! To wait four years to be considered the favorites to win the West. Wow... Whew... That's a long... time. Wait a minute, that is nothing short of a miracle. It's taken the Celtics 20-something years to get back to the level of respect they demand, and the Lakers just did it in four. I know the Lakers haven't won anything yet, but it sure smells close... maybe this year. Definitely next year. It was a long dry spell when Magic retired and Shaq and Kobe came in and did their winning. I didn't mind the days of Nick the Quick, Sedale Threat, Eddie Jones and Cedrick Ceballos. But I don't want to see it again. Maybe Lakers fans have become spoiled and expect greatness all the time. So with the pressure on Mitch Kupchak... he got it done in four years.

So what do you do if you are a Nuggets fan? You throw your hands and cry "Trade Carmelo!" It is pretty clear that there are too many guns on that team. One named Carmelo and one named Allen. You gotta get rid of one of them. That has to be Carmelo. Iverson is a better scorer, more mature and more competitive. I didn't see AI laugh when his shots weren't falling like Carmelo was doing. And Iverson kept his mouth shut when he knew he should after Game 2, a tribute to his wisdom in this stage of his career. The only downfall is Iverson's age, 32. This is his 11th NBA season. But like a small dog that lives for 15 years, Iverson is small enough to still have four more good years. Besides, he hasn't shown any signs of slowing down being the fourth leading scorer in the NBA this season. He would've been second or third if he didn't have to share the ball with Melo. So trade Melo for a center... an offensive center. Like an Al Jefferson or a Yao Ming.

WCBias' Brian Milne said it best last night, "Iverson has never had a true center on his team." And he's right. He's tried to do it with two different forwards. Chris Webber couldn't help. Carmelo can't do it. Let the experiment continue. Get a center before this old pup is gone.

Cover your eyes, Shaq's at the line

Tonight’s Suns-Spurs game reminded me of the Elks Lodge Hoops Shoot contests we used to compete in as a kid.
You know, those cover-your-eyes free-throw contests where 8- to 10-year olds shanked free throws all over your rundown junior high gymnasium -- lucky to hit rim on every other shot attempt.
If you went 7 of 10 you were guaranteed a trophy twice your size and earned spot in the state shootout.
The Phoenix Suns looked like a bunch of snot-nosed kids at the charity strip tonight, hitting just 20 of 37 in a 92-87 loss at San Antonio. That’s a shankalicious 54.1 percent, which wasn’t even good enough to get you in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Elks Lodge Hoops Shoot.
The Spurs, who took the series 4-1 and advance to face New Orleans and NBA Coach of the Year and former Showtime guard Byron Scott in the next round, were 24 of 30 (80 percent).
Shaq was a brutal 9 of 20 from the line in this one, although he did hit 4 of 6 in the final five minutes when San Antonio went to the Hack a Shaq. The Big Cactus always says he hits the free throws when they count, but in the playoffs this year (at least out West), every free throw counts -- and watching an aging Shaq shoot free throws nowadays is like watching Charles Barkley swing a golf club. Just plain ugly.
If the Suns hit just 70 percent of their free throws, they keep their season alive.
Instead, the Spurs did what they always do, hit their free throws, played great defense and got a big night out of two of the big three.
Until someone can figure out how carbon copy what the Spurs are doing, the defending champs are still the team to beat in my eyes.

There's no time like Miller Time

Former Indianapolis Pacers sharpshooter Reggie Miller didn’t make the cut for the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players in 1996, and it appears Cheryl’s little bro won’t be making the NBA’s 50 Greatest Color Commentators, either.

Miller, now a color commentator for TNT, on LeBron James during the Cavaliers’ game against Washington on April 21:

“Lebron is like a fullback. With a full steam of head, you're not going to be able to grab him.”

About the West Coast Bias Sports Blog

Welcome to the West Coast Bias Sports Blog, where it’s all West Coast all the time.
The West Coast Bias Sports Blog is based out of San Luis Obispo, Calif., located halfway between Los Angeles and the Bay Area. This All-Star cast of West Coast Bias Sports Blog contributors has unique takes on the SoCal and NorCal professional and collegiate sports scenes as well as what’s going on in the Pacific Northwest over to the Midwest.
In short, the West Coast Sports Blog is a must-read Weblog produced by West Coast sports fans for West Coast sports fans.
Only this blog covers it all out West, with occasional jabs out East. From the Lakers’ sweep of the Denver Nuggets (Is there really a ‘D’ in Denver?), to the Oakland Raiders taking Darren McFadden with the fourth pick of the NFL Draft (who says you can't have a dozen RBs on your roster?), WCBias.com covers it all.
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Just nothing but Left Coast love.
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