Setting Suns and Missing Lynx

Last week was something wasn't it? NBA suspensions, controversial playoff close-outs, Jerry Falwell passes away...wait, that's not sports related. Nonetheless, all the hubbub around these events made for an interesting week. For anybody who cares, check out the exchange between Christopher Hitchens and Sean Hannity regarding Falwell's death. You'll find it on You Tube. Very corrosive and revealing.

Unfortunately for Phoenix, the NBA decided to pay homage to the letter of the law instead of common sense. That's their call, and there's no use whining about it. Hopefully they'll change the rule in the off season to reflect the desired outcome of the initial effort--no additional players contributing to a fracas. The Suns played hard, but there was no way they were going to match up with a pretty deep Spurs team. I noticed Jalen Rose and Marcus Banks never got off the bench. D'Antoni was hinting in the Phoenix papers today about chemistry problems on his team. Hmm...wonder where those problems came from?

Still, the major impact of that series for me was the dwindling respect for the Spurs as an organization. Again, I thought Popovich's response to the whole Horry debacle was disappointing and unprofessional. Who I am I to be calling Pop unprofessional? I am no one in particular. As a fan and ardent follower of the NBA, however, I think there's a time and place for ordinary people to stand up and voice their displeasure regarding those who refuse to hold themselves accountable in events that degrade the events we hold dear. In the end, it really doesn't mean much in the scheme of things that the Suns were screwed; with all that's going on the world, it's a small blip. But it's one more tattered fiber in society's tapestry; leaders who refuse to publicly acknowledge mistakes and flaws in organizational or personal behavior. We all can have different perspectives on the issue, but the fact is on that night, Horry did something by all accounts thuggish and cheap. Whether Nash flopped after getting knocked down to dramatize the act by no means lessens the initial action. I haven't heard Pop apologize for that initial act, or criticize Horry for it. I think admitting the mistake and showing actual remorse for that type of cheap shot is the least he could do, especially since he's got Bruce Bowen on his team--the dirtiest player in the NBA. I thought Pop had more class than that, but it appears not. He's still a great coach, but maybe just a little less of a human being.

Moving on to our Lynx team...wow, what a start! And we're hearing familiar strains from the organization, regarding the lack of low post presence. Despite unanimity in the national media regarding Lindsey Harding being ROY in the league, couldn't they have found a way to get some more low post help?

Glen Taylor is ruining basketball in this market. His failure to hire people with any sort of clue in running a basketball operation is truly disturbing. I'm happy for Katie Smith, who won a championship last year with the Shock. I might eventually have the same joy for KG; but it's a little more apples and oranges with him, because of the salary he's making. My contention all along is that it's not only loyalty, but money that's at the heart of his issues. It's much easier to move women star players around than the men, because of the drastically lower salaries. Katie got traded, we got a bunch of draft choices, and for the last two years we essentially got the two #1's in the draft. What are we going to have to show for it? Despite the two quality backcourt players we obtained, until we get those few missing pieces in the front court, it's still looking pretty cloudy for this team's future.

Last night, we actually out rebounded the Fever, but couldn't shoot fish in a barrel. Our star of last year--Seimone Augustus--may be out for a while with a knee injury. We're still relying on Nicole Ohlde to find out how to gain enough upper body strength to actually FINISH a play around the basket which illuminates the bigger issue: both Minnesota teams can't get off the jump shooting team ethic. If you can't find a way to get easy buckets, through great defense, offensive execution, or low post excellence, then there will be nights where the shots simply don't fall, creating inconsistency. People who have played ball in grade school through YMCA leagues understand this--why can't they? Until you strike the right balance, our teams will never break through.

I love watching sports in downtown Minneapolis on a summer night. Put the Twins fairly close by and the warehouse district should be buzzing and an attraction for years to come. I hope the Lynx can find a way to stick around, despite the buffoonery of their front office. When it's right, women's basketball is a fast, team oriented game. It doesn't play much above the rim, and the shooting percentages have to be better, but the athletes are getting better by the year. Given the ticket pricing and playing season, it's a game for the rest of us. Based on those dynamics, I'm willing to go out and give my money to even a bad team, if they have some hope for the future. That's why I'm going this year...in search of hope.