One word has been used to describe last night's NBA Draft: boring. Newsflash: every professional sports league's draft is boring and over analyzed, yet the audience increases by the millions with each passing year. On the contrary, while it may have been dull this draft at least kept your attention throughout as there were 16 deals made during the draft or in the hours thereafter. I'll have to get out my book but that has to be some sort of record for the NBA. If not, the Portland Trailblazers had to have set a new landmark by swinging five of the 16. Who knows how any of the 60 players selected are going to pan out for the teams that selected them, but here's what I think of the all the action from Thursday night and a few guesses as to what we may be saying about the 2008 class 5-7 years down the line.
Best draft: New Jersey Nets. The Nets gave fans a reason to believe in the organization again after a disastrous 2007-08 season. The early trade of Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons looks confusing on the surface but it will rid them of RJ's ridiculous contract and give them cap space for the LeBron sweepstakes in 2010. As for their draft night selections, the Nets haven't had a decent big since Kenyon Martin in 2004 and they landed two in this draft in Stanford's Brooks Lopez and California's Ryan Anderson. In the past few years New Jersey has wasted time and money on bigs like Shawn Williams and Josh Boone, but make no mistake, these two will solidify the pivot very soon if not next season. Lopez and Anderson combined for 40 points, 19 rebounds and three blocks per game last season in the Pac-10 which, in my opinion, was the strongest conference in college basketball. I'm looking forward to watching this combination develop. They also made a great value pick at No. 40 with Memphis wing Chris Douglas-Roberts, a player most scouts saw as a late first rounder.
Worst draft: Seattle Sonics. I was going to say the Indiana Pacers, but they're going to get beaten up again here shortly so I figured I'd give it a deeper look and this is what I came up with. The Sonics needed a draft similar to the one the Nets had to give their fans in whatever city they play in next year some hope. Instead they draft Russell Westbrook from UCLA with the fourth pick. He projects as a point and Seattle already has two young ones in Luke Ridnour and Earl Watson. I know those names don't scare you, but why not have them as holdovers for another season and draft Brooks Lopez to anchor the middle where they currently have, uh, no one (sorry Nick Collison). Or draft D.J. Augustine or Jerryd Bayless. Or trade the picks for a veteran to help Kevin Durant. Do anything but take Westbrook at four. They noticed their need for a center a bit late because they drafted a big with their last four selections (Serge Ibaka-24, DJ White- 29, DeVon Hardin- 50, Sasha Kaun- 56). I'm confused as to what the Sonics strategy was and in a few years they will be too.
Biggest Steal: Most everybody will say Kansas' Darrell Arthur, but I'm going to go with Ohio State's Kosta Koufos. Koufos somehow landed in Utah's lap at 23 after most scouts saw his name coming off the board in the mid-late teens. When picking that late in the first round, general managers are looking for players with the potential to help their team in the future, but not so much the upcoming season. Koufos is perfect for Jerry Sloan's offense that needs big men with range to succeed. He shot 51 percent from the floor and 35 percent from deep last year so this is a player that could potentially step in right away and help the Jazz. Mehmet Okur could be the perfect mentor to Koufos early on and I see Koufos developing into a better version of Okur. He's fairly athletic for someone who is 7-1 and he blocked just under two shots per game last year in Columbus so the defensive potential is there as well.
Biggest Reach: Sacramento taking Rider PF Jason Thompson at No. 12. Thompson was projected as a late-first/early-second round pick and was taken in the lottery by Sactown. What? LSU's Anthony Randolph, who I never knew played a minute last year but everyone seems to be so high on, was still on the board as was Robin Lopez and Marreese Speights from Florida. ESPN's Chad Ford said Thompson is solid and nothing more and has reached his ceiling, meaning what you see now is what you're going to get. He averaged 20 points, 13 rebounds and almost three blocks last season, but there is some question whether his destruction of the MAAC will translate to the NBA. I would have to agree that the beasts of the blocks in the Western Conference are a bit tougher to deal with then whatever LeMoyne was throwing at him the past four years, so add me to the group of second guessers.
What were they thinking? Pick: The Charlotte Bobcats selecting D.J. Augustine with the ninth pick. The Bobcats could have very easily landed in the "Worst Draft" category, but drafting the Bob Cousy Award winner, given to the best point guard in college basketball, isn't necessarily a bad thing. I guess Micheal Jordan could chalk this up as taking the best player available rather than taking the biggest need, but I'm not buying it. Jordan was blessed when Brooks Lopez fell to nine and I bet you that even his ex-wife thought he wouldn't screw up and pass on him. Lo and behold, he did, but that's okay because M.J. made it clear long before Thursday night that he has no idea when it comes to talent evaluation (Adam Morrison over Brandon Roy and of course the whole Kwame Brown fiasco), which is weird based on that story that he saw Michael Finley becoming an NBA star when he met him in middle school. I always thought that story was a lie, too. Anyway, the BobJohnsonCats have Raymond Felton at point guard and Nazr Mohammad and Ryan Hollins playing next to Emeka Okafor. Doesn't that mean that the better choice would have been taking Lopez, who would have fit in perfectly next to the defensive minded, glass-eating Okafor? Well, hey, at least they paid millions to move up to No. 20 to take Alex Ajinca to make up for the mistake. Awful, Michael.
Best Deal/Worst Deal: Portland getting the rights to Jerryd Bayless and Ike Diogu from Indiana and sending them the rights to Brandon Rush and Jarrett Jack. Lucky for you this is a package deal which means less time you have to spend reading this garbage. Since I'm an optimist, let's start with the good part. The Blazers landed Bayless who, in my mind, is the best point guard in this draft to add to their bundle of young talent and potential all-stars. Diogu is no slouch either as he possesses strength, decent range and the ability to finish down low. I believe firmly that if Portland can keep its young core intact, and that will be a big if when the rookie contracts expire, they will be champions within the next five years and Bayless will be the one at the controls. His averages of 20 points and four assists at Arizona last year should eventually translate to the NBA because this kid has the full arsenal offensively and the weapons around him to create easy opportunities for. This also allows Brandon Roy to play off the ball full-time and not worry so much about being the distributer. Then throw in the twin towers of this era in Greg Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge and you have one scary monster growing in the Northwest.
On the flip side, the Indiana Pacers (sigh). This has nothing to do with this particular deal but you kick off draft day by getting rid of Jermaine O'Neal for a pair of old high tops and a wet towel, then you go and do this. Everyone knows and understands they are trying to rebuild, but you don't do that by throwing away your best asset. I also would like an explanation as to why Larry Bird dealt Bayless who, again, could turn into one of the great point guards of this generation for Jarrett Jack. Starting the rebuilding process by drafting a potentially great point guard is a great way to start, but trading one away for a back-up is very bad. The problem is that Jack will be Indiana's starter because all indications point to the organization buying out Jamaal Tinsley's contract sometime in the near future, leaving them with Jack and Travis Diener to run the offense. Huh? This rebuilding project looks to be one that is very long and drawn out and a lot of that has to do with this stumper. If you weren't sure as to why I wanted to nail the Pacers for having the worst draft, you may now have a better idea.
Second rounder most likely to achieve star status: Billy Walker, Kansas State, pick No. 47 by Boston. Second round picks generally end up becoming role players in the NBA or star players overseas, but rarely do they rise to reach the top flight of NBA players. Gilbert Arenas, Monta Ellis, Carlos Boozer, Rashard Lewis and Stephen Jackson are among the few that have and if someone from the class of 2008 is going to, it most likely will be Walker. Scouts say he could put Vince Carter's highlight reels to shame and would have been a lottery pick last year had he not injured his ACL. That may be the only thing that keeps Walker from becoming the player many believed he would and I'm going to go out on a limb and say he has a career comparable to the Mavericks Josh Howard. He averaged 16 and six playing next to Michael Beasley at KSU last year and it's hard to imagine him not having the same production on the NBA level if he can stay healthy. The talent is obviously there and him slipping to Boston late in the second may be a blessing in disguise because he will have no pressure to perform for the next year or two. If he uses that time to get his knees right, get his weight down and develop his game to go along with his freakish athletic ability, Walker will have the other 29 GM's wishing they had taken a chance. Mark it down.
Best Player: Derrick Rose, Memphis. I know, I know, I'm taking a real chance by saying the No. 1 pick will be the best player from this year's class. Well actually I may be. Go back 10 years to the 1998 draft, one that is now fair to evaluate. The Clippers took Michael Olowokandi with the first pick. The best player from that class? Paul Pierce, selected No. 10 by Boston. How about the 2001 class? Michael Jordan and the Washington Wizards had the first pick and took (gulp) Kwame Brown. The best player from '01, Gilbert Arenas, was taken 31 players later by Golden State. The point I'm trying to make is that No. 1 is far from a sure thing, but to me, Rose is about as sure as they come. The thing I love already is his situation. One reason many top picks don't pan out is because they get stuck on horrible teams and can't handle the burden of carrying a city. Rose landed in Chicago on a team that was projected by yours truly, and many professionals I might add, to win the Eastern Conference about eight months ago. That of course was an awful prediction, but there is much more talent on the Bulls roster than there is on most teams with the first pick. As of today he'll be playing with guys like Ben Gordon, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng, but my guess is that John Paxson will package Gordon and others to pick up a quality veteran that can help better the situation right away. Then there is Rose's game. He's got the complete package and all the tools to be just as special as Chris Paul or Deron Williams have recently become for their teams. Most importantly his college coach, John Calipari, said Rose has the desire to be the best point guard to ever play the game. You don't hear that type of endorsement from college coaches as often as you used to, but Calipari said it and meant it. A kid with his talent and any desire at all has to be a sure bet to become the best player from the 2008 draft class and maybe even more.
Biggest Bust: Anthony Randolph, LSU. I was going to go with Kevin Love here, but the more I watch his highlights and look at his numbers the more I think he will become nothing less than Emeka Okafor statistically. Any player selected in the lottery that does not pan out should be considered a bust and Randolph rounded out the lottery. I swear on everything holy that I had never heard of him until about a week ago and that says something because I follow college basketball religiously. Watching ESPN's clips of Randolph and looking at his numbers, I think of one player: Stromile Swift. Same build, same school, same raw ability that will ultimately amount to nothing. He averaged 16 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Nice numbers, but he also has the shooting percentage of a shooting guard except a majority of his attempts come from about 8-10 feet closer. He also averages a Jason Kidd-like three turnovers per game despite the fact that he doesn't touch the ball anywhere near as much as a point guard does. Randolph put up solid numbers on a bad team, just like Swift. He is 6-10 and all of 197 lbs. I'm 6-1/185, do the math. The two things he has going for him that Swift didn't is he is going to Golden State, not Memphis, and he was the 14th pick, not the second. His draft profile compared him to Brandan Wright, who was the eighth pick in last year's draft and Randolph's new teammate. At this point, that's not a bad projection because, like Wright, the Warriors have no idea what they are getting in Randolph. But if I had to guess I would say he is the bust of 2008.
DTM
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Thats A Wrap: C's Blast La La's for Banner No. 17
Even as we speak, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen have to be asking themselves, 'how did I get here?' Last year at this time they watched from the couch in three different cities as the Spurs won their fourth title in nine years while, between them, they had zero finals appearances. Somehow, someway they found themselves in the same area code by the end of August and 10 months later had finally reached the pinnacle of professional basketball after a 131-92 drubbing of the Los Angeles Lakers.
As wrong as it is, all of the great ones need a championship to validate their careers. Speaking with Michelle Tafoya minutes after the victory had become official an exasperated Garnett said repeatedly, "What can you say now? I'm certified." What he meant was his place in basketball history is secure and all of his detractors have nothing left to say. The same now goes for Pierce and Allen who, before this season, were known as the selfish player who played no defense and the Lord of the Jumper, respectively. Both flashed their whole package in the finals and for all Garnett was in the clincher (with that monster 26-point, 12-rebound, 3-block performance I had forecasted yesterday) it was the two guards who made a majority of the plays down the stretch for the C's. Pierce took home the MVP, but it very easily could have (and in my opinion should have) gone to Allen who set an NBA finals record with 22 three-pointers made in the series.
I hate admitting when I am wrong, but boy was I totally off base with regards to these Celtics. And not just in the Eastern semi's when I said LeBron would take over Game 7 in Boston or in the finals which I predicted the Lakers to win in 6, but from the very beginning. If you go back to my NBA predictions you'll see that I picked the Toronto Raptors to win the Atlantic Division and Boston finishing as the five seed. What?! Well maybe I'm not as certified for this as I once thought.
Boston was the best team in the NBA from November 1-June 17 because they had three unselfish superstars yearning for their first championship, an extremely underrated coach in Doc Rivers that stressed defense, and a collection of role players who went above and beyond what I felt they were capable of. One of the reasons I was so skeptical about the C's was because of everyone surrounding the "Big 3." Rajon Rondo came into the season as a young point guard who couldn't shoot and grew into the perfect fit for the team. He capped off his sophmore campaign with a 21-point, 8-assist and 6-steal performance, one so fine that Phil Jackson said afterwords was the difference in the ballgame. Kendrick Perkins is one of the better post defenders and rebounders in the NBA and didn't need to score so he too was a perfect fit. But the biggest shock was the play of James Posey, Eddie House and P.J. Brown, especially in the Finals. All three played great defense, got to loose balls, hit timely shots and are just as much a reason the Celtics are champions today as the "Big 3." The beauty of their title run, in case you hadn't already noticed, is that it was a total team effort. In a league that promotes individual stars, the 2007-08 Boston Celtics showed what can be accomplished when players work together and stars sacrifice their games for the betterment of the team.
One last thought from last night. If anyone still thinks athletes don't care about the sports they play, go back and watch Garnett's reaction after the game. He was running around the floor at TD Banknorth Garden screaming, crying, smiling, kissing the leprechaun and hugging everyone- including NBA legend Bill Russell- that was in plain view. He and Pierce both were still out of breath as they spoke to the media roughly 30 minutes after the win. If that didn't inspire ringless superstars sitting where these two were at this time last year then maybe nothing will. Money is great, but you get the impression from these players that the grind of it all isn't worth it without the winning.
Another NBA season in the books, one that will go down as one of the best in league history. I hate when it's over, but after going through a few scenarios that could see more superstars landing in different cities similar to the way Allen and Garnett did last summer, next season could end up being even better. Hopefully next June we'll be discussing Houston Rockets tandem Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming or Allen Iverson, wherever he may be, asking themselves "how did I get here?" But don't be surprised if the conversation centers around a Celtics repeat.
DTM
(Many of you may be wondering why Kobe Bryant's name didn't pop up once in this ramble. I felt that he and the Lakers weren't deserving of the space after losing by 40 and allowing 131 points in an elimination game in the NBA Finals. Note to Kobe: Jordan would have never allowed that, but it's okay because you'll never be Jordan.)
As wrong as it is, all of the great ones need a championship to validate their careers. Speaking with Michelle Tafoya minutes after the victory had become official an exasperated Garnett said repeatedly, "What can you say now? I'm certified." What he meant was his place in basketball history is secure and all of his detractors have nothing left to say. The same now goes for Pierce and Allen who, before this season, were known as the selfish player who played no defense and the Lord of the Jumper, respectively. Both flashed their whole package in the finals and for all Garnett was in the clincher (with that monster 26-point, 12-rebound, 3-block performance I had forecasted yesterday) it was the two guards who made a majority of the plays down the stretch for the C's. Pierce took home the MVP, but it very easily could have (and in my opinion should have) gone to Allen who set an NBA finals record with 22 three-pointers made in the series.
I hate admitting when I am wrong, but boy was I totally off base with regards to these Celtics. And not just in the Eastern semi's when I said LeBron would take over Game 7 in Boston or in the finals which I predicted the Lakers to win in 6, but from the very beginning. If you go back to my NBA predictions you'll see that I picked the Toronto Raptors to win the Atlantic Division and Boston finishing as the five seed. What?! Well maybe I'm not as certified for this as I once thought.
Boston was the best team in the NBA from November 1-June 17 because they had three unselfish superstars yearning for their first championship, an extremely underrated coach in Doc Rivers that stressed defense, and a collection of role players who went above and beyond what I felt they were capable of. One of the reasons I was so skeptical about the C's was because of everyone surrounding the "Big 3." Rajon Rondo came into the season as a young point guard who couldn't shoot and grew into the perfect fit for the team. He capped off his sophmore campaign with a 21-point, 8-assist and 6-steal performance, one so fine that Phil Jackson said afterwords was the difference in the ballgame. Kendrick Perkins is one of the better post defenders and rebounders in the NBA and didn't need to score so he too was a perfect fit. But the biggest shock was the play of James Posey, Eddie House and P.J. Brown, especially in the Finals. All three played great defense, got to loose balls, hit timely shots and are just as much a reason the Celtics are champions today as the "Big 3." The beauty of their title run, in case you hadn't already noticed, is that it was a total team effort. In a league that promotes individual stars, the 2007-08 Boston Celtics showed what can be accomplished when players work together and stars sacrifice their games for the betterment of the team.
One last thought from last night. If anyone still thinks athletes don't care about the sports they play, go back and watch Garnett's reaction after the game. He was running around the floor at TD Banknorth Garden screaming, crying, smiling, kissing the leprechaun and hugging everyone- including NBA legend Bill Russell- that was in plain view. He and Pierce both were still out of breath as they spoke to the media roughly 30 minutes after the win. If that didn't inspire ringless superstars sitting where these two were at this time last year then maybe nothing will. Money is great, but you get the impression from these players that the grind of it all isn't worth it without the winning.
Another NBA season in the books, one that will go down as one of the best in league history. I hate when it's over, but after going through a few scenarios that could see more superstars landing in different cities similar to the way Allen and Garnett did last summer, next season could end up being even better. Hopefully next June we'll be discussing Houston Rockets tandem Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming or Allen Iverson, wherever he may be, asking themselves "how did I get here?" But don't be surprised if the conversation centers around a Celtics repeat.
DTM
(Many of you may be wondering why Kobe Bryant's name didn't pop up once in this ramble. I felt that he and the Lakers weren't deserving of the space after losing by 40 and allowing 131 points in an elimination game in the NBA Finals. Note to Kobe: Jordan would have never allowed that, but it's okay because you'll never be Jordan.)
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Celtics Must Have 6th Sense
Procrastinating is never a good idea. Putting off paying the bills, filing your taxes or waiting to start a 20-page thesis paper the night before it's due are all situations that generally end badly for the procrastinator. The same applies in the sporting world, in this case the NBA Finals, where the Boston Celtics are serving Championship Point #2 at the TD Banknorth Garden tonight. So that begs the question to Doc, KG and Co.: why put off 'til Thursday what you can finish tonight?
A Game 6 slip up by the home team would not be the end of the world, but it would be a terrible reversal of fortunes that may spell doom. Not only would the Celtics be on the brink of becoming the the first team in NBA Finals history to blow a 3-1 series lead, but they would have to stop Kobe Bryant for the last 48 minutes of the 2007-08 NBA season, with his fourth NBA championship staring him right in the face, to avoid doing so. The thought makes the men in green shake and the fans sweat. As much as you may hate Bryant and love the lovable "Big 3," I know about 80 percent of the country would put their money on No. 24 in a deciding Game 7 in Boston, L.A., Beijing, wherever. That's why the Celtics must be driven to end this now while they're ahead.
Boston has not lacked the killer instinct in this series, evidenced by their 24-point rally in Game 4 and their near comeback from 20 down in Game 5. They talked about finishing the series in L.A and nearly did just that, so fans and observers should not worry that the C's will come out and lay an egg tonight because they have a mere one game edge and the comfort of hosting a potential winner-takes-all game on Thursday. They want to finish it tonight, whether or not they can is a whole 'nother question.
This has been one of the strangest Finals in recent years, mostly because both teams have a legitimate shot at winning it all, which has not been the case lately (see the New Jersey Nets in '02 and '03 and the LeBroneliers last year), but also because both teams have absolutely dominated each game at different times. The past three games have seen one team go up by 20+ points, only to lose the lead entirely or have to come up with a clutch shot or a big stop to hang on for dear life. What's also very odd is how quiet the series' two biggest superstars, Bryant and Kevin Garnett, have been for the most part. The Celtics defense has been incredible on Bryant and his supporting cast has mostly failed him through the first five games, but it's amazing how soft Garnett has played against one of the league's finest softies in Pau Gasol.
KG is similar to Tim Duncan in that he can score 20 and grab 15 rebounds in his sleep, but there are times where those numbers are bigger than his actual impact on the game. The other 29 teams in the NBA would love to have that problem, but aren't you just waiting for Garnett to have a dominating 33-point, 7-rebound, 3-block performance in this series as he did in the pivitol Game 5 against the Pistons? It may come tonight. Check that, it must come tonight. This is exactly why Boston capped off their amazing summer by trading for the Big Ticket- so he would bring his intensity and insane ability to the floor in the biggest game of the season and deliver the city its 17th banner. If this sleeping giant doesn't come alive tonight, you can bet that the other one will when it matters most.
Kobe needs this series to cement his legacy; he knows it, Phil Jackson knows it, you and I know it and Kobe knows that all of the above know it. Picture the Lakers coming back from 3-1 down and winning the last two games in Boston, with No. 24 going off for 35 in Game 7 and winning Finals MVP. MJ never did it and there isn't an athlete in professional sports that is as obsessed with one-upping a legend as much as Bryant is with Jordan. He has his chance to do it and soak in every television, radio and print analyst anointing him as the best that ever lived for at least a week until the hype dies down and reality sets back in. The scary thing is, he can do it and make it look easy, which is why it is imperative Boston seals the deal tonight.
For tonight I'm sticking with the C's, but beyond that... well, not so much. Kobe won't be denied in a Game 7 so, Boston, finish your work tonight or, like so many others, you could face the consequences of procrastination.
DTM
A Game 6 slip up by the home team would not be the end of the world, but it would be a terrible reversal of fortunes that may spell doom. Not only would the Celtics be on the brink of becoming the the first team in NBA Finals history to blow a 3-1 series lead, but they would have to stop Kobe Bryant for the last 48 minutes of the 2007-08 NBA season, with his fourth NBA championship staring him right in the face, to avoid doing so. The thought makes the men in green shake and the fans sweat. As much as you may hate Bryant and love the lovable "Big 3," I know about 80 percent of the country would put their money on No. 24 in a deciding Game 7 in Boston, L.A., Beijing, wherever. That's why the Celtics must be driven to end this now while they're ahead.
Boston has not lacked the killer instinct in this series, evidenced by their 24-point rally in Game 4 and their near comeback from 20 down in Game 5. They talked about finishing the series in L.A and nearly did just that, so fans and observers should not worry that the C's will come out and lay an egg tonight because they have a mere one game edge and the comfort of hosting a potential winner-takes-all game on Thursday. They want to finish it tonight, whether or not they can is a whole 'nother question.
This has been one of the strangest Finals in recent years, mostly because both teams have a legitimate shot at winning it all, which has not been the case lately (see the New Jersey Nets in '02 and '03 and the LeBroneliers last year), but also because both teams have absolutely dominated each game at different times. The past three games have seen one team go up by 20+ points, only to lose the lead entirely or have to come up with a clutch shot or a big stop to hang on for dear life. What's also very odd is how quiet the series' two biggest superstars, Bryant and Kevin Garnett, have been for the most part. The Celtics defense has been incredible on Bryant and his supporting cast has mostly failed him through the first five games, but it's amazing how soft Garnett has played against one of the league's finest softies in Pau Gasol.
KG is similar to Tim Duncan in that he can score 20 and grab 15 rebounds in his sleep, but there are times where those numbers are bigger than his actual impact on the game. The other 29 teams in the NBA would love to have that problem, but aren't you just waiting for Garnett to have a dominating 33-point, 7-rebound, 3-block performance in this series as he did in the pivitol Game 5 against the Pistons? It may come tonight. Check that, it must come tonight. This is exactly why Boston capped off their amazing summer by trading for the Big Ticket- so he would bring his intensity and insane ability to the floor in the biggest game of the season and deliver the city its 17th banner. If this sleeping giant doesn't come alive tonight, you can bet that the other one will when it matters most.
Kobe needs this series to cement his legacy; he knows it, Phil Jackson knows it, you and I know it and Kobe knows that all of the above know it. Picture the Lakers coming back from 3-1 down and winning the last two games in Boston, with No. 24 going off for 35 in Game 7 and winning Finals MVP. MJ never did it and there isn't an athlete in professional sports that is as obsessed with one-upping a legend as much as Bryant is with Jordan. He has his chance to do it and soak in every television, radio and print analyst anointing him as the best that ever lived for at least a week until the hype dies down and reality sets back in. The scary thing is, he can do it and make it look easy, which is why it is imperative Boston seals the deal tonight.
For tonight I'm sticking with the C's, but beyond that... well, not so much. Kobe won't be denied in a Game 7 so, Boston, finish your work tonight or, like so many others, you could face the consequences of procrastination.
DTM
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Reaction to the Dolphins Releasing Zach Thomas
1,866 tackles, 19.5 sacks, 17 interceptions, 13 forced fumbles, 7 fumble recoveries, 4 TD, 7 Pro Bowl selections, 5 AP First Team All-Pro selections.
That is what Bill Parcells or Jeff Ireland or Tony Sparano let loose from the Miami Dolphins today. The numbers, as great as they are, do not justify what a great player Zach Thomas was for the past twelve years. He was the heart and soul of the Dolphins and the defenses he led, save 2007 when he missed all but five games, were outstanding, finishing in the top-5 a number of times, and rarely outside the top-10. Similar to the way Dan Marino never won a championship because the defense could never stop anyone, Zach Thomas will leave Miami ringless because the offense often struggled to put up 17 point in a game. He wore his emotions on his sleeve, something that he often says probably hurt the team more then it helped, but that was how tough each loss was for him. One of my favorite Zach Thomas moments was after a loss to the Jets in October 2001, in which the team had a 17-0 haltime lead, he came out and said that the team was soft and "absolute garbage." That isn't something that most coaches would want their leaders saying to the media after a loss, but that is just the kind of player Zach was. The Dolphins responded by winning six of their final eight games after that and finishing atop the AFC East with New England.
Inspiring is a word that best defines Thomas. A late 5th round draft choice in 1996, few remember him being drafted at all and the ones who do probably didn't think he had a shot to make the roster. Turns out this 5-11, 228 pound, smaller-than-most-running backs-linebacker did make the roster. Then he won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after notching 180 tackles, two sacks, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles. The rest is history after that because those numbers became commonplace for Thomas over the next 11 seasons.
You want inspiring? Four of my most memorable moments watching Thomas could be labeled as just that. How about in the first half of his first career game he puts a hit on Patriots wide receiver Shawn Jefferson that left him motionless on the ground and ultimately knocked him out for the game? It was the hit heard 'round the league because from that point on, the NFL knew who Zach Thomas was. How about his 22 tackles in the 2002 Wild Card Playoff game against the Ravens? Doctors advised him to sit the game out because of fear that if he played he would sustain serious injuries to his already injured neck. The man's well-being was on the line and rather then sit and watch the fate of his team unfold before him, he went out and did everything he could to help them advance. How about the game clinching interception in the 2001 season opener in Tennessee? The Dolphins led the host Titans 24-16 with less than two minutes to play. Neil O'Donnell took over for an injured Steve McNair and tried to lead them to a last minute comeback. Thomas stepped into the flat, picked off O'Donnell's pass and ran it back for a touchdown, and even threw in a front flip as he crossed the goal-line. Lastly, how about the two stops he made on Falcons rookie phenom Michael Vick in the waning seconds in 2001? Thomas was underrated athletically, but there is no reason he should have been able to track down and stop Vick short of the goal line on consecutive plays from the one yard-line. But he did, preserving a 21-14 victory and clinching the final playoff spot he would have in his career as a Dolphin.
Zach Thomas will forever be a fan favorite in Miami and will have his jersey retired and name plastered in the Dolphins Ring of Fame at Dolphins Stadium as soon as he calls it a career. Thomas began his career as a long shot to make Jimmy Johnson's first Miami roster and finished it as the best linebacker in Dolphins history, and arguably a Hall of Fame linebacker. I'll never understand why he isn't a sure bet for Canton, but I hope to one day have a vote and I can assure you that Zach Thomas will get my vote every year until he is voted in. Name three linebackers who have been better then Thomas the past 12 years.. Tough isn't it? If you came up with any, how many of them led defenses that were constantly in the top-5 to 10 in the league? Ray Lewis. That's all I have. But wait... Zach has more tackles than anyone currently in the Hall of Fame. That has to count for something. The one thing writers say holds him back is his lack of playoff success, which again, has little to do with his play. If every player was as good and as dedicated and played with as much heart as Thomas did for Miami, he would've won the Super Bowl. Unfortunately it doesn't work like that, so please don't hold that against him.
I hope he does give it one more shot with a contender, as hard as it would be to see him in the middle of any defense other than Miami. In fact, sign with New England. Miami Herald's Dolphins beat writer Armando Sulguero wrote in his blog today that he hopes Thomas does anything but that. But why not? Junior Seau and Teddi Bruschi are unsigned and Thomas is better then both of them now and maybe ever, so there is room for him. And, while this past season showed nothing is guaranteed, the Patriots will be in the playoffs and will give him the best shot to win the ring he deserves. So you have my blessing Zach (I know how much that matters), and how could I not grant you that much after you granted me so many blessings on the field for the past 12 seasons? As usual, I am sad when another Dolphins legend leaves without the hardware because he was letdown by the other side of the ball and management in general. But unlike the other sports writers of the world, I won't hold that against you. Thanks for everything.
DTM
That is what Bill Parcells or Jeff Ireland or Tony Sparano let loose from the Miami Dolphins today. The numbers, as great as they are, do not justify what a great player Zach Thomas was for the past twelve years. He was the heart and soul of the Dolphins and the defenses he led, save 2007 when he missed all but five games, were outstanding, finishing in the top-5 a number of times, and rarely outside the top-10. Similar to the way Dan Marino never won a championship because the defense could never stop anyone, Zach Thomas will leave Miami ringless because the offense often struggled to put up 17 point in a game. He wore his emotions on his sleeve, something that he often says probably hurt the team more then it helped, but that was how tough each loss was for him. One of my favorite Zach Thomas moments was after a loss to the Jets in October 2001, in which the team had a 17-0 haltime lead, he came out and said that the team was soft and "absolute garbage." That isn't something that most coaches would want their leaders saying to the media after a loss, but that is just the kind of player Zach was. The Dolphins responded by winning six of their final eight games after that and finishing atop the AFC East with New England.
Inspiring is a word that best defines Thomas. A late 5th round draft choice in 1996, few remember him being drafted at all and the ones who do probably didn't think he had a shot to make the roster. Turns out this 5-11, 228 pound, smaller-than-most-running backs-linebacker did make the roster. Then he won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after notching 180 tackles, two sacks, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles. The rest is history after that because those numbers became commonplace for Thomas over the next 11 seasons.
You want inspiring? Four of my most memorable moments watching Thomas could be labeled as just that. How about in the first half of his first career game he puts a hit on Patriots wide receiver Shawn Jefferson that left him motionless on the ground and ultimately knocked him out for the game? It was the hit heard 'round the league because from that point on, the NFL knew who Zach Thomas was. How about his 22 tackles in the 2002 Wild Card Playoff game against the Ravens? Doctors advised him to sit the game out because of fear that if he played he would sustain serious injuries to his already injured neck. The man's well-being was on the line and rather then sit and watch the fate of his team unfold before him, he went out and did everything he could to help them advance. How about the game clinching interception in the 2001 season opener in Tennessee? The Dolphins led the host Titans 24-16 with less than two minutes to play. Neil O'Donnell took over for an injured Steve McNair and tried to lead them to a last minute comeback. Thomas stepped into the flat, picked off O'Donnell's pass and ran it back for a touchdown, and even threw in a front flip as he crossed the goal-line. Lastly, how about the two stops he made on Falcons rookie phenom Michael Vick in the waning seconds in 2001? Thomas was underrated athletically, but there is no reason he should have been able to track down and stop Vick short of the goal line on consecutive plays from the one yard-line. But he did, preserving a 21-14 victory and clinching the final playoff spot he would have in his career as a Dolphin.
Zach Thomas will forever be a fan favorite in Miami and will have his jersey retired and name plastered in the Dolphins Ring of Fame at Dolphins Stadium as soon as he calls it a career. Thomas began his career as a long shot to make Jimmy Johnson's first Miami roster and finished it as the best linebacker in Dolphins history, and arguably a Hall of Fame linebacker. I'll never understand why he isn't a sure bet for Canton, but I hope to one day have a vote and I can assure you that Zach Thomas will get my vote every year until he is voted in. Name three linebackers who have been better then Thomas the past 12 years.. Tough isn't it? If you came up with any, how many of them led defenses that were constantly in the top-5 to 10 in the league? Ray Lewis. That's all I have. But wait... Zach has more tackles than anyone currently in the Hall of Fame. That has to count for something. The one thing writers say holds him back is his lack of playoff success, which again, has little to do with his play. If every player was as good and as dedicated and played with as much heart as Thomas did for Miami, he would've won the Super Bowl. Unfortunately it doesn't work like that, so please don't hold that against him.
I hope he does give it one more shot with a contender, as hard as it would be to see him in the middle of any defense other than Miami. In fact, sign with New England. Miami Herald's Dolphins beat writer Armando Sulguero wrote in his blog today that he hopes Thomas does anything but that. But why not? Junior Seau and Teddi Bruschi are unsigned and Thomas is better then both of them now and maybe ever, so there is room for him. And, while this past season showed nothing is guaranteed, the Patriots will be in the playoffs and will give him the best shot to win the ring he deserves. So you have my blessing Zach (I know how much that matters), and how could I not grant you that much after you granted me so many blessings on the field for the past 12 seasons? As usual, I am sad when another Dolphins legend leaves without the hardware because he was letdown by the other side of the ball and management in general. But unlike the other sports writers of the world, I won't hold that against you. Thanks for everything.
DTM
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Shaq Trade Puts Flame Out In Phoenix
If the Suns traded for Shaquille O'Neal to rid themselves of their unhappy star Shawn Marion then great, mission accomplished. But if new General Manager Steve Kerr really believes this move makes the Suns better then he clearly will never be as good of a personnel man as he was a set shooter. Everything you are reading about this trade from the so-called professional analysts is true (for once). Shaq is a bad fit in Phoenix. He would have been four years ago if he came straight from L.A. when he actually had some gas left in the tank, and since his large tank is sitting on "E" right now, it's an even worse fit. The Suns are a run and gun, out-shoot, we-dare-you-to-outscore-us team. They have never been about stopping anybody nor have they ever attempted to beat a team in the half-court. Look at O'Neal's history. Name me one team he has played on that wasn't at least very good on defense and played strictly in the half court on offense? You can't because naturally Shaq's presence in the paint will make you a better defensive team if the players around you are willing to play on that end, and of course if you have the most dominant big man of this century, you aren't going to run your offense in transition.
Newsflash: the Suns just traded away their best defender in Marion, leaving them with one player on their team who has even heard the word defense (Raja Bell), which will minimize Shaq's effect on the defensive end, and there aren't many players on the Suns who are equipped to play offense in the half-court. Amare Stoudamire has no mid-range game, which is what a four man must have playing next to the Big Fella, and the guards are all used to releasing down the floor as soon as a rebound is cleared and waiting on the other end for Steve Nash to find them. How do you think Bell, Barbosa, Grant Hill, and Boris Diaw are going to fare now that they are constricted to the half-court? This is a trade that would have to be made at the beginning of the season for it to work because that would allow the players and coaches to get accustomed to working with O'Neal and getting used to a new style offense. That is exactly what those 10 preseason games are for. Unfortunately, the season is just about 50 games old, so there is no "wait it out" period for the Suns. The clock has been ticking on this franchise for the past few years now and with their new addition being 35 and out of gas, one has to believe that the Suns window to capture the championship that has eluded them is closing at an even faster rate.
DTM
Newsflash: the Suns just traded away their best defender in Marion, leaving them with one player on their team who has even heard the word defense (Raja Bell), which will minimize Shaq's effect on the defensive end, and there aren't many players on the Suns who are equipped to play offense in the half-court. Amare Stoudamire has no mid-range game, which is what a four man must have playing next to the Big Fella, and the guards are all used to releasing down the floor as soon as a rebound is cleared and waiting on the other end for Steve Nash to find them. How do you think Bell, Barbosa, Grant Hill, and Boris Diaw are going to fare now that they are constricted to the half-court? This is a trade that would have to be made at the beginning of the season for it to work because that would allow the players and coaches to get accustomed to working with O'Neal and getting used to a new style offense. That is exactly what those 10 preseason games are for. Unfortunately, the season is just about 50 games old, so there is no "wait it out" period for the Suns. The clock has been ticking on this franchise for the past few years now and with their new addition being 35 and out of gas, one has to believe that the Suns window to capture the championship that has eluded them is closing at an even faster rate.
DTM
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Super Bowl Sunday: The Idiot Makes His Final Pick
The day has finally come. Super Bowl Sunday. The final chapter of a rather anti-climactic season. As predictable as this season has been, I've still managed to log a 4-6 record picking these playoffs, and these two teams have contributed to that record in different ways. Of the the four games I picked correctly, two of them were games New England won, which doesn't make me a genius because everyone has been picking New England since late-April 2007. Of the six games I've picked wrong, the Giants won three of them. I stand 2-0 picking New England games and 0-3 in picking Giants games, so something has to give today.
Super Bowl: New York Giants vs. New England Patriots
The ridiculous amount of senseless coverage the media gives the Super Bowl in the two weeks leading up to the game has had me laughing even harder than usual. Not because a player said something funny or another player got arrested the night before the biggest game of their lives, but because of the media members themselves analyzing this game. I would say that I've seen about 40% of the media, whether it be on television or on the internet, picking the Giants to win this game. So let me get this straight.. all of you people who have been worshipping the machine that is the New England Patriots all year long, and yes I mean ALL OF YOU, are now picking them to lose the biggest game of the season and break up their undefeated season? And for what reason? Because the Giants ONLY lost to them by three points a month ago at home in the final week of the season in a meaningless game other than the fact that it cemented New England into regular season history forever? And it's all the same people who a week prior to that were saying the Giants were going to lose in Buffalo and thus be eliminated from the playoffs because they had no chance of beating the Patriots the final week of the season. This is why I can't wait to become a part of the professional media because I can say one thing all year long and then completely change my opinion on a whim based on no real logic.
Look the Giants are a great story. Eli Manning has had a great postseason and who doesn't feel good for Lawrence "thank god they aren't calling me Scott Norwood, Jr." Tynes after he saved his career with that 47-yard kick in overtime to send New York to the Super Bowl? But this is the Patriots we're talking about here. They've been here before, in case you forgot, and rather recently. They've won four, or excuse me, three (it will be four after tonight) of the last five Super Bowls, and still have many of the same pieces in place from those championship teams. The scary thing about it is that the pieces that aren't the same are better than the ones that were there before. Take for example the Super Bowl MVP from their last title in 2005, Deion Branch. Yea, that MVP was replaced by some dude named Randy Moss. An old Corey Dillion has been replaced by Lawrence Maroney, and the 95-year old slot receiver, Troy Brown, has been replaced by Wes Welker, who led the entire league in catches this year. Is the defense old? Sure it is, but it's never been about the players on defense during their reign, it's been about the brains behind the defense. Yes, I'm talking about Bill Belichek. You didn't think wide receiver Troy Brown in his mid-30's was truly a great cornerback did you? Of course he wasn't, but Belichek made him look competent for the time he had to fill in. Belichek will throw everything he has at Eli Manning today and it will be a great experience for him to refer back to someday, but for today, it will be a nightmare. Any offense the Giants get will be from the running game and their little bolt of lightning, Ahmed Bradshaw. That may work in the Giants favor because that means the clock is moving and the Patriots offense is off the field; however, I can't see it working long enough and manufacturing enough points to win the game.
So yes, Plaxico Burress, the Patriots will outscore you today and they will score more than 17 points in doing so. And yes, fans and media members everywhere, we are going to see history today whether you like it or not, and I'm not talking about the Greatest Upset in Super Bowl History. The Patriots are going to win this game going away because that's just what they do. Whenever they hear that the media thinks they may have a test on their hands, they pull through with their best performance of the season. Anyone who is upset about that can blame the wonderful media because the Patriots successful march to history is entirely their fault.
Patriots: 37
Giants: 17
MVP: It will be Tom Brady, but if I had to guess someone else I would go with Wes Welker.
NostraDTMus
Super Bowl: New York Giants vs. New England Patriots
The ridiculous amount of senseless coverage the media gives the Super Bowl in the two weeks leading up to the game has had me laughing even harder than usual. Not because a player said something funny or another player got arrested the night before the biggest game of their lives, but because of the media members themselves analyzing this game. I would say that I've seen about 40% of the media, whether it be on television or on the internet, picking the Giants to win this game. So let me get this straight.. all of you people who have been worshipping the machine that is the New England Patriots all year long, and yes I mean ALL OF YOU, are now picking them to lose the biggest game of the season and break up their undefeated season? And for what reason? Because the Giants ONLY lost to them by three points a month ago at home in the final week of the season in a meaningless game other than the fact that it cemented New England into regular season history forever? And it's all the same people who a week prior to that were saying the Giants were going to lose in Buffalo and thus be eliminated from the playoffs because they had no chance of beating the Patriots the final week of the season. This is why I can't wait to become a part of the professional media because I can say one thing all year long and then completely change my opinion on a whim based on no real logic.
Look the Giants are a great story. Eli Manning has had a great postseason and who doesn't feel good for Lawrence "thank god they aren't calling me Scott Norwood, Jr." Tynes after he saved his career with that 47-yard kick in overtime to send New York to the Super Bowl? But this is the Patriots we're talking about here. They've been here before, in case you forgot, and rather recently. They've won four, or excuse me, three (it will be four after tonight) of the last five Super Bowls, and still have many of the same pieces in place from those championship teams. The scary thing about it is that the pieces that aren't the same are better than the ones that were there before. Take for example the Super Bowl MVP from their last title in 2005, Deion Branch. Yea, that MVP was replaced by some dude named Randy Moss. An old Corey Dillion has been replaced by Lawrence Maroney, and the 95-year old slot receiver, Troy Brown, has been replaced by Wes Welker, who led the entire league in catches this year. Is the defense old? Sure it is, but it's never been about the players on defense during their reign, it's been about the brains behind the defense. Yes, I'm talking about Bill Belichek. You didn't think wide receiver Troy Brown in his mid-30's was truly a great cornerback did you? Of course he wasn't, but Belichek made him look competent for the time he had to fill in. Belichek will throw everything he has at Eli Manning today and it will be a great experience for him to refer back to someday, but for today, it will be a nightmare. Any offense the Giants get will be from the running game and their little bolt of lightning, Ahmed Bradshaw. That may work in the Giants favor because that means the clock is moving and the Patriots offense is off the field; however, I can't see it working long enough and manufacturing enough points to win the game.
So yes, Plaxico Burress, the Patriots will outscore you today and they will score more than 17 points in doing so. And yes, fans and media members everywhere, we are going to see history today whether you like it or not, and I'm not talking about the Greatest Upset in Super Bowl History. The Patriots are going to win this game going away because that's just what they do. Whenever they hear that the media thinks they may have a test on their hands, they pull through with their best performance of the season. Anyone who is upset about that can blame the wonderful media because the Patriots successful march to history is entirely their fault.
Patriots: 37
Giants: 17
MVP: It will be Tom Brady, but if I had to guess someone else I would go with Wes Welker.
NostraDTMus
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Guess Who! NBA All-Star Edition
This time of year there is always much debate about who should really be starting for the NBA All-Star teams. The fact is, the NBA All-Star game can be the most exciting, but is always the most meaningless and fraud of them all. For the most part, the starters remain the same each season, even if a certain star switches conferences (see Kevin Garnett). And why is that? Well, because unlike the MLB and NFL, the NBA's All-Star teams are selected by the fans. No player vote is counted, nor is the coaches. That leaves players like Chris Paul, who in my opinion is the league MVP through the season's first half, possibly out of the game entirely. The NBA needs to do something about this because the fans often get it wrong.
NBA legend and TNT analyst Charles Barkley was particularly upset about one of the starters named this past Thursday, and I can't for the life of me understand why he has such beef with this particular selection. I'll let you decide how legitimate Barkley's argument is. Without giving away their names, I'm going to list each player's numbers through the games of January 25; their role on the team, and their team's record to this point. At the end, after you have a chance to decide the legitimacy of Sir Charles' beef, I will give you the names of each player. A little 'Guess Who'- NBA Edition.
Player A (named All-Star starter)- 43 games/22.1 ppg/10.7 rpg/2.4 apg/2.7 bpg
Offensive role: Focal point of offense, player opposing team must gameplan for most
Defensive role: Most dependable post defender, shot alterer
Team Record: 24-19 (SOS- .519)
Player B (Barkley's choice)- 41 games/9.4 ppg/14.4 rpg/3 apg/3.9 bpg
Offensive role: Fourth option at best, requires no extra game planning from opposition
Defensive role: Own the paint, change shots, defensive catalyst
Team record: 26-16 (SOS- .489)
Viewing the numbers, it becomes clear that both players are used differently by their respective ball club. However, the only true deficit in any statistical category comes in points per game. Player A dominates that category, and is considerably close in each other category listed. Player A leads his team in points, rebounds, and blocked shots and is the focal point of the offense. He is also depended on just as heavily as Player B in his role on defense- to clog the lane, and change shots. Player B has little to no responsibility on offense other than to take up space and clean the glass. That allows him to save his energy for one end of the floor, while Player A clearly does not have this luxury. Player B's team has a slightly better record, but that slim margin can be wiped out by the fact that Player A's team has played a considerably more difficult schedule to this point.
So who are these mystery candidates? I'll give you a few clues. Player A is the worst officiated player in the NBA and has kept his team above water despite the team's other star missing 15 games. Player B plays on a team with two players who were named All-Star starters, which doesn't help his cause in any way because it could be argued that their ability has helped Player B flourish.
If you didn't know before the clues, and you still don't know with the help of them, then what you have gathered at this point is that you wasted your time reading this piece because you know nothing about the NBA. Player A is the Houston Rockets center, Yao Ming, and Player B is the Denver Nuggets center, Marcus Camby. Both players deserve a spot on the roster and lets be real, it really doesn't matter which is on the court at what time because centers are basically invisible throughout the All-Star game anyway because it's a guards showcase. And I know Barkley is a true Rockets hater, but seriously Charles, Yao deserves to be the Western Conference's starter at center and you don't have enough ammo in that tank to convince me otherwise.
DTM
NBA legend and TNT analyst Charles Barkley was particularly upset about one of the starters named this past Thursday, and I can't for the life of me understand why he has such beef with this particular selection. I'll let you decide how legitimate Barkley's argument is. Without giving away their names, I'm going to list each player's numbers through the games of January 25; their role on the team, and their team's record to this point. At the end, after you have a chance to decide the legitimacy of Sir Charles' beef, I will give you the names of each player. A little 'Guess Who'- NBA Edition.
Player A (named All-Star starter)- 43 games/22.1 ppg/10.7 rpg/2.4 apg/2.7 bpg
Offensive role: Focal point of offense, player opposing team must gameplan for most
Defensive role: Most dependable post defender, shot alterer
Team Record: 24-19 (SOS- .519)
Player B (Barkley's choice)- 41 games/9.4 ppg/14.4 rpg/3 apg/3.9 bpg
Offensive role: Fourth option at best, requires no extra game planning from opposition
Defensive role: Own the paint, change shots, defensive catalyst
Team record: 26-16 (SOS- .489)
Viewing the numbers, it becomes clear that both players are used differently by their respective ball club. However, the only true deficit in any statistical category comes in points per game. Player A dominates that category, and is considerably close in each other category listed. Player A leads his team in points, rebounds, and blocked shots and is the focal point of the offense. He is also depended on just as heavily as Player B in his role on defense- to clog the lane, and change shots. Player B has little to no responsibility on offense other than to take up space and clean the glass. That allows him to save his energy for one end of the floor, while Player A clearly does not have this luxury. Player B's team has a slightly better record, but that slim margin can be wiped out by the fact that Player A's team has played a considerably more difficult schedule to this point.
So who are these mystery candidates? I'll give you a few clues. Player A is the worst officiated player in the NBA and has kept his team above water despite the team's other star missing 15 games. Player B plays on a team with two players who were named All-Star starters, which doesn't help his cause in any way because it could be argued that their ability has helped Player B flourish.
If you didn't know before the clues, and you still don't know with the help of them, then what you have gathered at this point is that you wasted your time reading this piece because you know nothing about the NBA. Player A is the Houston Rockets center, Yao Ming, and Player B is the Denver Nuggets center, Marcus Camby. Both players deserve a spot on the roster and lets be real, it really doesn't matter which is on the court at what time because centers are basically invisible throughout the All-Star game anyway because it's a guards showcase. And I know Barkley is a true Rockets hater, but seriously Charles, Yao deserves to be the Western Conference's starter at center and you don't have enough ammo in that tank to convince me otherwise.
DTM
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