Dwight - Beast or No Beast?

Well tomorrow is the big day in Hoopennium history. It's the day which we really attack this thing and get things in motion more than they already are. I'm excited but nervous at the same time, hopefully things begin to carry the way they should. Now let's talk a little NBA..

I must say I am pretty surprised the Cavs bowed out as easily they did, but looking at the series they had with the Magic, I guess it was pretty clear that the Magic was the better team and deserved to win the series. I predicted on my twitter before Game 6 that the Magic would win behind 20 and 15 from Dwight and boy did I underestimate Dwight. Instead he finished with 40 points in just a truly dominating performance. The Magic really present some defensive dilemmas for any opposing teams. Double Dwight and now your leaving three to play four and are vulnerable to giving up rotation threes. Leave Dwight alone and single covered and well..he's going to score 40. Especially with Big Z or Anderson Varejao guarding him.

Here's where the NBA and the media is an interesting thing. The series before you had Kendrick Perkins doing more than an adequate job on Dwight, pushing him away from the basket, and forcing Dwight to try and score on moves going away from the hoop, ala running hooks. Somewhere in the middle of that series it was deemed by most that Dwight had no post game and was at times a detriment to his team when he got a touch in the low post. I remember reading something during the Sixers series in which someone was making the case that the Magic were actually better off with Gortat in the lineup. Now fast forward to Game 6 and Howard goes off for 40 points and now he is talked about as being dominant in the low blocks. If nothing else its an interesting argument.

How does all this factor into the finals matchup with the Lakers? Well lets look at the players that will potentially be covering Howard and how they matchup: Dwights measurables courtesy of ESPN.com. (Dwight Howard player page) 6-11, 265. Playoff Averages 18 games, 21.7 ppg, 15.4 rpg, 2.2 bpg.

Andrew Bynum - 7-0, 285. Playoff Averages 18 games, 16.9 mpg, 6.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.0 bpg. Sounds weird saying it, but Bynum may be the key to things for the Lakers, at least on the defensive side of the ball. The key to defending the Magic is staying home on their shooters and single covering Dwight, but as we saw in Game 6, when he is physically superior to his opponent he is just too overpowering to stop. Bynum though presents the combination of girth (similiar to Perkins who held Dwight to 16 ppg in that series) to push Dwight away from the hoop just a littler further before his first touch. He also then has the height and length to contest Dwights hooks, providing he has the lateral quickness to stay in front of him. I think it is interesting how the Lakers fans perception was that the difference between this years playoffs and last years playoffs was that this year they were going to have the services of Bynum. Then the playoffs started and Bynum found his minutes diminishing and his confidence shrinking, only to now be thrust back into things and considered a major piece. Bynum is going to get his fair shot here in this series to prove his true worth. While Howard has firmly established himself as the best young center in the game, and probably best center in general in the game, Bynum has a real shot to establish himself as a playoff performer in this series.

Pau Gasol - 7-0, 250 lbs. Playoff averages 18 games, 39.9 mpg, 18.2 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 2.0 bpg. Gasol is going to be an interesting matchup playing Howard. While he certainly has the length and lateral ability to give Howard some trouble, he certainly lacks the power to bump Dwight off his spots and disrupt him that way. Also Gasol is not known as much of a "banger" and his toughness will once again come into question here. Now assuming the Magic start Alston, Pietrus(Who I think will get the start of C. Lee, to cover Kobe), Turk, Lewis, Howard, question is how do the Lakers counter? Do they counter with a lineup of, Fisher, Kobe, Ariza, Gasol, Bynum? With that five you have Fish on Alston, Kobe on Pietrus, Bynum on Howard, but then what do you do with Gasol and Ariza? Either way you go you're going to have Gasol in an un-favorable matchup covering a perimeter player. Or if your Phil Jackson do you start Odom instead of Bynum and then allow Gasol to play behind Howard where he's at risk to get into early foul trouble? Some interesting choices lie ahead.

DJ Mbenga - 7-0, 255 lbs. Playoff Averages 4 games, 2.5 mpg, 0.5 ppg, o.5 rpg, .25 bpg. While Mbenga certainly hasn't played much at all this playoffs or regular season for that matter, Mbenga has one basic thing going for him which provides him with some value...6 personal fouls. I hate to downgrade a professional basketball player to just 6 personal fouls, but let's be honest, thats all Mbenga has going for him (Does anyone remember Elden Campbell in the Lakers/Pistons final in 2004?) Now I am not suggesting that Mbenga will play much in this series either, but the one notion about covering Dwight is to wrap him up and make him earn his points at the line, though Howard is shooting .647 from the foul line in the playoffs and came off 70 percent shooting from the line in the Cleveland series in which he was sent to the line 67 times, the most in his three playoff series. I still agree with when the time presents itself to have Mbenga go in there, bang Dwight, and then wrap him up and see if he can continue his hot shooting. Now the Lakers need to do a better job than Cleveland did of fouling and not allowing Howard to get the ball above his head when from there he can still finish the shot, and attempt to score 3 points, as opposed to fouling him and him scoring either 0, 1, or 2 points.

In true man to man situations these are the players on the Lakers roster who are best equipped to play Howard. In a pinch I suppose you could play Odom sparingly on him, but I just worry about the other 4 players on the court for the Lakers if that was the case. Also keep in mind that the Lakers play that sort of hybrid man/zone defense in which they send another defender (usually a big) to the ball side and then zone up the weakside, however, that is used more in wing isolations which the Magic do not do so much.

Should make for an interesting series full of adjustments, but the I think the Lakers are little thin in front line depth, so it would be in the Magic's best interest to go into Dwight early and often, putting the pressure on Gasol/Bynum to play Howard without fouling him.

One other quick thought about Lebron James. I'm pretty surprised there hasn't been much backlash for his actions after Game 6, and if there has been, I haven't seen the articles so please send them. Now I can understand not shaking hands, and while I don't agree and think it makes you look a little immature, I understand it. I don't understand though how he did not face the media. Facing the media is a part of being a professional and should be done when things are good or bad. I think he owed it to his fans or witnesses to be accountable for the series. I also think its interesting and is a topic to discuss in more detail maybe further in media perception. Now what is the general attitude of anyone involved if Kobe Bryant did the same thing? I'll tell you..Kobe would be villified. How about Michael Jordan? MJ would probably be praised for being an ultimate competitor. So its interesting the way the same action can be spun in three different directions. If I had one tip for the Cavs though and Mike Brown (if he keeps his job, COY and canned in the same year?) it would be this: Next year, when breaking your huddles, mutter this phrase...All Business on three, 1, 2, 3..All business!! I think the Cavs and LeBron in particular need to take a little more of a "business like" approach to the season, and a little less pre-game posing and gametime posing after big plays. Here's the thing Lebron, we get it. You're an amazing physical specimen, with gifts given to you that no other basketball player has ever had. You have the combination of size, strength, athleticism and basketball skill that is basically unheard of. We get it. In Game 1 Lebron had this stretch in the second quarter of three plays: an open court monster dunk, then he came down on defense and stuffed Dwight Howard on a weak side block in which he fell over, the Cavs brought the ball up the court and then hit James who was trailing the play for a knockdown three in which basically tore the roof off the building. James then after the ensuing Magic timeout was walking along the sideline hamming it up for the crowd. Oh yeah, the Cavs lost Game 1, and the series. Like I said, we get it Lebron. Next year I'd like to see more of a "we've been here before approach" and less of a "I'm the best in the world and I'm going to show off like I am approach".

The Weekend 1000

Here's how the weekend is going to be going blog wise here.

Friday night - will be at a bar to watch the Lakers Nuggets Game 6. Thoughts may follow though its not definite.

Sat/Sun I am going to be at an AAU tournament most of both days, probably keeping notes for some writing about AAU on Sunday night or Monday. Check Twitter, which will be updated slightly more regulary through the weekend though if you're keeping up with all things Hoopennium related.

We have 11 followers so far, but each day we've added one and thats encourage. Monday we are going full fledged pedal to the metal. I need to start gathering video and aligning things up for my viewing. Enjoy the games tonight..Lets see if the Black Mamba can be the killer I think he is on the road or if Denver will hold serve and send this thing to seven.

Updates and Some Quick Thoughts on Cavs-Magics

So day 2 in of the operation and we're chugging along here like a well oiled machine at Team Hoopennium. If I had a whole bunch of ducks, I'd be putting them in a row right now (ducks in a row). Thats where we're at. Organizing everything, getting everything set for our big June push. To give you a reminder of ways to get in touch with Hoopennium:

Twitter - www.twitter.com/h00pennium

Facebook - You can find me on facebook, just search Hoop Ennium

As always email - hoopennium@gmail.com

Now some quick thoughts from the Cavs/Magic Game 5.

-The Magic are just the better team in this series. I think they will win Game 6. Their baskets just come much easier. A high pick and roll, and two passes and they have wide open three for Alston or Lewis or Lee or Pietrus. It's pretty much that easy. If the three is not there..you have the Cavs scrambling in rotation and the Magic then have drive and kick opportunities. Also on the roll Dwight or Gortat are able to get good positioning for weak side O-Rebounds.

-Is Hedo one of the best 6-10 creators off the Pick and Roll ever? He gets pretty much whatever he wants off it each time it seems. He's a threat to shoot from deep and he's deceptive on his drives to the hoop in a way in which Ginobili was. Taking angled strides to the basket. Plus his height gives him the vision advantage and it allows him to throw over the top of the defense.

-Who's more important to the Cavs success, Delonte West or Mo Williams? Williams is the all-star guard and probably the obvious choice. But upon further review, West has taken a game deciding shot in Game 1 already (which he missed but still trusted to take) and seems more of a crunch time guy. Plus he's covering Hedo freaking Turkoglu for stretches! He's giving up close to seven inches in that matchup! And doing a good job at it by the way.

-Lebron James is absolutely unstoppable when moving with a full head of steam, especially in transition. Reminds of this one clip of Charles Barkley barreling coast to coast, except he's bigger, stronger and faster. And more agile. And a better leaper. And a stronger finisher. And has better handle. Yeah he's pretty good. Can't the Cavs get some sets where Lebrons receiving a dribble hand-off off of a curl or something? To generate some of that forward motion for him?

- Big Z looks like he's playing with cement blocks as sneakers. He looks much slower than normal. Wonder if those puppies are acting up again like in the old days. Oh yeah well that and the fact that he's also covering a guy nicknamed "Superman".

- Either way, we're all winners here because this series has been entertaining. Despite people's thoughts on the fouls which there has been too many. But I've still had a lot of enjoyment watching and hope it goes seven.

-On a lighter note, how many Millers can be in one broadcast. I really really hope two is the limit. Reg or Cheryl hopefully don't have any sons or daughters on the way. I hope not.


Ok so thats all for tonight. Keep your eye out for updates. Enjoy Lakers Nuggets. Holla, 1000 hours baby, Can it be done???

Hoopennium Begins!

So here you are. You've stumbled upon this thing, Hoopennium. You're here and you're probably thinking to yourself..what is this? Who would do such a thing? 1000 hours of basketball consumption in four months, is that boy nuts?

Well I'm here to tell you that yes I am nuts. I am crazy, and basketball is what drove me there. Here's my story.

So I was in my shower thinking of ways to connect myself with the game that I love. I was trying to think of countless gimmicks to have a creative outlet for basketball. I came to realize a few things:

One - I've taken so much from the game. I've consumed it as a player, and happy to say I still play as often as possible even though I'm washed up. As a fan first and foremost (Nets 2010 baby!). I've dabbled into coaching a little, 10 year old AAU is a lot rougher than you might think. And lately I've really been deep into the blog world, spending countless hours reading and listening to podcasts and what have you about basketball. You know what, it's time to give back.

Two - As previously mentioned, I really like watching and discussing basketball.

So given those two facts this is the best idea I came up with. The 1000 hour basketball movement. To be perfectly clear of what the goal is here: The goal is to consume (I'll get into why I use the word consume later) 1000 hours of basketball from July 1 - October 31 (Four months, roughly end of NBA season to roughly beginning of NBA season).

I want this to be a movement of sorts..sort of like the book The Wave. I want the movement to gain national acclaim. We're hitting the streets (digital) hard. We got the facebook, we got the twitter, and we got the blog obviously so we're set to go.

Now I know what some of the nay sayers might be saying. 1000 hours of basketball in four months, I do that in my sleep! Well I'm trying to represent the everyday man. The common basketball fan who has to work for his basketball consumption. I don't have the privilige (yet) of waking up everyday and popping in some basketball dvd to earn my money.

Doing some simple math. 4 months = 120 days. 120 days = 2880 hours. 1000/120 days = 8 hours a day! Some mathematician can probably figure out the percentage that 1000 is of 2880, and I am sure it is high. So thats the hill we're looking to climb right now Hoopennium followers!

What I plan to do is consume my basketball everyday from July 1 to October 31. When I say consume, I think it will mostly be video watching. Video will consist of NBA games past or present, european games, college games, high school games, instructional videos - basically anything I can get my hands on. However I use the word consume to leave the option open for camp counseling (which I'm going to be doing to make money, so deal) and playing (which I can't give up, so deal.) So for instance, if I play a two hour game of pick up baskeball thats going to go into the count. Now each night after I do whatever it is I do, I'm going to jump onto this blog and reflect on what I did. Now because a major motivation of this is to gain more knowledge most of my posts will be analytical or at least thats the plan. But there will be the humorous or my attempt at least at humor, or just simply reflective pieces in there.

Over the next month I'm going to be working my hardest on getting the Hoopennium movement out there, and amassing film. But spread the word, spread the word. The more followers the better. This thing is going to take off and you're all going to be better for it. Until then, keep following the movement. Check your twitters for some posts, check your facebooks for pokes, you know the deal. You can email the movement anytime of day or night at Hoopennium@gmail.com. Let the movement begin.