Smack / Jun 7, 2007 / 5:09 am

Beginning of the End

So, whoddya got? Game 1 of the Finals is tonight: LeBron and the Cavs vs. Duncan and the Spurs in San Antonio. We’ve made our predictions, and majority around the office has TD getting fitted for a fourth ring … Yesterday was Finals Media Day, and we caught some of the Cavs’ interviews. Scariest line of the day, courtesy of Mike Brown: “I’m not going to put extra pressure on [the players] by trying to be creative and telling them stuff.” … LeBron said in his press conference that being the underdog is nothing new, since the Cavs have been counted out every step of the way so far. He must have forgotten about the Wizards series. Literally can’t think of a single person who had Washington winning that one — or even winning a game, for that matter … Watching Donyell Marshall and Ira Newble with their cameras out taping Damon Jones getting interviewed, it makes you think; is this really the NBA Finals? What would be the Spurs equivalent; Jackie Butler and Beno Udrich taping a Jacque Vaughn interview? … Seems like it’s been forever since we last saw last year’s champs, who have some moves to make this summer if they want to be in the mix in ‘08. The Miami Herald says the Heat are looking at everyone from Ron Artest to Rashard Lewis to Mike Bibby to Mike James … A lot has been made of Kevin Durant’s inability to bench 185 pounds one time at the Orlando pre-draft camp. Like we said in yesterday’s Smack, it’s definitely not a good thing that KD was technically the weakest of the 80-something players at the camp, but at the same time, it won’t affect his Top-2 draft status and doesn’t mean he won’t be a dominant scorer in the League. Here’s Texas coach Rick Barnes‘ take: “If people question his strength, they’re stupid,” Barnes told the Dallas Morning News. “If they are looking for weight lifters to come out of Texas, that’s not what we’re producing. There are a lot of guys who can bench press 300 pounds in the NBA who couldn’t play dead in a cowboy movie. Kevin’s the best player in the draft, period, at any position.” … It only really matters what Portland and Seattle think of KD, though, and according to the Seattle Times, the Sonics aren’t worried about the bench-press fiasco. Apparently Robert Swift didn’t do so hot in that area when he was an incoming rookie, and now he’s the strongest player on the team … Durant and Greg Oden are inevitably going 1-2 in some order, but what will the Hawks do at No. 3? Reportedly a number of team officials are headed to L.A. to watch Yi Jianlian work out this week … With Billy Donovan all in news (he’s now officially out of his Orlando deal), remember back when Quin Snyder was the young, sought-after college coach of the moment? Snyder had seemingly gone underground since leaving Mizzou, but he’s resurfaced as the new head coach of the D-League’s Austin Toros … The Sonics are reportedly set to offer San Antonio’s assistant GM Sam Presti their GM job, and might offer the coaching job to P.J. Carlesimo to “keep the whole Spurs thing together,” according to the Tacoma News Tribune … Big day today for Dime (aside from the Finals). Our playground publication Bounce, a member of the Dime family, completely re-launced its website today. It’s dope. The site functions like Dimemag.com, but features individual blogs from some of the biggest names in the grassroots basketball industry, including Bobbito “Kool Bob Love” Garcia, our own Justin Leonard, Paul Rivera (aka PR, aka leaving us for a great gig with Nike), rookie EBC baller Christian Grant-Fields (aka “Showboat,” aka “Mr. Buckets”) — another one of our own — as well as Sean “10-Day” Couch, Stanley Lumax, AO and more. Head over to the Bounce site today and check it out at Bouncmag.com … We’re out like Mike’s creativity …

2 Responses to “Beginning of the End”

  1. Fish says:

    In fairness to Mike Brown there is something to be said for sticking with his approach thus far (let James figure it out while I keep everyone loose). Too many coaches in the league are constantly telling us how they are the only factor that determines whether they win or lose. Up until this season it was Scott Skiles (he seemed to ease off this year), and previously we had Larry Brown telling anyone who would listen that he was The Man. Bring on the players coach.

    Fair enough, the Wizards was a gimme (regards Lebrons “underdogs”), but to be honest we have all written them off at one time or another. Be honest folks, did you really believe they would get this far?

  2. John Basedow FC says:

    Is Pat still writing Smack, or is he too busy toying with Kobe’s balls?

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