The NBA season lurched to a close in a game more like mud wrestling than basketball. David Stern must be happy to witness Kobe Bryant receive more accolades for rebounds than shooting baskets. The broadcast looked back on past Lakers-Celtics games, all of them with scores in the 100s for both teams.
Masters of offensive grace flashed on the screen: Bob Cousy, Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Larry Byrd, Elgin Baylor. Even that defensive genius Bil Russell had 30 points in one game. Now, we have Kobe, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce clanking baskets. All too often, the game resembled the one that Lakeer superfan Jack Nicholson conducted in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Next." The constant Celtics mugging led to the Lakers traipsing to the foul line in the final quarter. To be fair, the nerve-wracking finale had a flurry of three-point baskets. Overall, though, the game reflected a turn toward brutal defense over beautiful offense. Remember when the zone was illegal? When more points were scored on 15-foot jumpshots than putbakcs on rebounds?
Give it to the Lakers for toughness, especially Pau Gasol and Ron Artest. In blowing a 13-point lead, the Celtics showed their age, and coach Doc Rivers couldn't devise a coherent offenseive strategy. If he has nothing else to do, Gasol can fly over to Johannesberg to give his countrymen a hand with overcoming the World Cup upset to Switzerland.
On to the U.S. Open, although I don't find it that interesting this year. Maybe it's having to hear Chris Berman do his tiresome name-pun routine duing the ESPN telecast. Or the prospect of prime-time golf. I never remember a West Coast U.S. Open jutting so far into the evening before. The U.S. Golf Association has at the behest of television moved up tee times. As it was, several players were going to have to finish in the dark. Even with HD, Pebble Beach looked very, very dark at the end. Speaking of dark, what was all of those ugly spots on the greens? I've seen smoother greens on municipal courses in lower Alabama. Later, a player talked of the dreaded "poa annua." That's what Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelsen were muttering to themselves after not making a birdie between them.
Hey, Atlanta sports fans, how about those Bravos? They're showing themselves a National League team unafraid of those American League designated hitter bully boys. Winning series against the Twins on the road and then back home against the Rays, with as many athletes as an NFL team, especially the woeful Tampa Bay Bucs. Troy Glaus, the comeback player of the year.
On the worrisome front, Jason Heyward keeps struggling with strikeouts. He did smash a home run, his firtst in weeks. Is it really that aching thumb, or is the kid finding it tough to adjust to major league pitching? The other day, the color guy gave him some advice to stand closer to the plate. He does look a bit far away from it.
And Chipper, considering retirement, keeps struggling. Braves fans hope he can regain a semblance of his former hitting strength. With that pitching staff, though, the Braves might be able to overcome a few offensive weak spots.