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Ball Don't Lie

Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:15 pm EDT

Too much Rod Benson: Amazing

By Rod Benson


"Where will amazing happen this year?"

It's the question that appears in all the NBA commercials. It brings forth the memories of where you were when Magic hit the hook-shot over the Celtics' front line, or when Jordan hit the mid-range J to beat the Craig Ehlo Cavaliers.

It would appear that this season, amazing happens in almost every game. Yes, I've read the articles by Bill Simmons and others, criticizing officiating and other things from this year's playoffs, and I do agree with a lot of the points. Still, some crazy stuff has happened.

I was at an important dinner, getting score updates on my phone via NBA.com two Fridays ago. I had my phone hidden beneath the table, checking the score whenever the auto-update coincided with a break in the table conversation. With 13 seconds left the score was tied. I sat there, silent, awaiting what seemed to be a full timeout. I took a sip of water and almost spit it right back out when the score changed to show that Orlando was now up two points on Cleveland with one second left. I know I made a funny noise because some other patrons turned and gave me a look.

Thinking that the game was over, I began to relax. I was now only waiting for the recap to come up. I reached for a roll and looked back at my phone. Cavs won by one point. I jumped out of my seat screaming, clearly hitting my knees on the bottom of the table. Now everyone was forced to ask. I told them "I'm not sure, but I think LeBron James(notes) just did something legendary." Crazy.

On another night, I sat in the living room of a close friend of mine (the same guy who told everyone I was Plaxico.) As four of us sat down to start watching the Lakers and Nuggets go head-to-head, one of my boys started talking about how much he likes Dahntay Jones(notes). I told him that I've seen Dahntay dunk on something like ten people live in the D-League, but that I hate playing against him because he will do whatever it takes. When my friend asked me what that meant, I told him that I've definitely been tripped by Jones on more than one occasion. I also said that in the D-League a lot of guys go that hard because they are trying to get called up. I informed my boy that he may try to trip me but there’s NO WAY he'd do it to a guy like Kobe with the bright lights shining on him.

Twenty minutes later, ESPN showed a little "Dirty Play" highlight reel featuring none other than Mr. Jones. The same foot that got me a few times before sent Kobe to the ground. Crazy.

A few days later, while driving back to the Bay Area from San Diego, I listened as Kobe and the Lakers won a series that people had thought they might lose. The Nuggets took the defending conference champs and beat them up, played them rough, and made it a great series. Crazy.

A couple nights ago I watched Dwight Howard(notes) drop 40 on the Cavs and pick up a win to go to the Finals. 'Nuff said. Crazy.

Now it's time for the NBA Finals and I wonder what craziness awaits? Maybe Jordan Farmar(notes) slaps Rafer Alston(notes) just because. Maybe Dwight Howard hits his first legendary game winner. Maybe it's a three.

Maybe Kobe misses Game 1 due to the shower he needs to take after LeBron's talcum powdered their whole house.

Maybe LeBron moves out of Kobe's house altogether and rents a copy of "Return of the King." He'll be back.

Maybe Spike Lee drops "J.J. Redick: Shootin' Treys." It follows him as he shoots treys in practice. It'd probably be as interesting as "Doin' Work" was.

Maybe a "Reggie's Mailbag" spot will be witty and funny.

Maybe Orlando wins it all, putting Howard in a new class of NBA big men.

Maybe the Lakers win it all and VitaminWater crowns Kobe as the best.

Who knows what will happen? I guess that's the point. I don't exactly know where amazing will "happen this year." I do know that just because the King didn't make it to his throne doesn't mean that I won’t be watching to see if Dwight goes from Tom Welling Superman to Christopher Reeves status.

Who knows? Maybe Superman is suspect to the venom of a Black Mamba and nobody knows it.

*****

Rod Benson is a Cal grad who plays for the D-League's Reno Bighorns. When he's not busy watching the NBA Playoffs, he blogs one or two times a week on Ball Don't Lie. Read his archive, pay a visit to TooMuchRodBenson.com and always support the Boom Tho movement.

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58 Comments

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  1. Captain Flitzy
    1. Posted by Captain Flitzy Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:39 pm EDT

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    good read
  2. SCSF- LA where repeats and 3-peats happen!
    2. Posted by SCSF- LA where repeats and 3-peats happen! Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:39 pm EDT

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    Laker over Magic in 6
  3. alex m
    3. Posted by alex m Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:41 pm EDT

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    Gasol vs. Howard??? Spanish man will be afraid, very.
  4. SCSF- LA where repeats and 3-peats happen!
    4. Posted by SCSF- LA where repeats and 3-peats happen! Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:42 pm EDT

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    WHERE'S king/ballhog, farryl, huskiesboi, jack s, CavsChamps2009, SMRB/BOOMER, and the rest of the HATERS....
    BECOME WITTNESSES or be another victim! LeBronze "THE CHOKEN 1" for MVP get that weak crap outta here!!!!!!!
  5. tonybaseball24
    5. Posted by tonybaseball24 Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:49 pm EDT

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    HOLY CRAP that picture (Kobe tea bagging Howard) is amazing!! Lakers in 6
  6. TheBiggestLakerFanEver
    6. Posted by TheBiggestLakerFanEver Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:15 pm EDT

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    Walter E is retarded...I think we can see either some really high scoring games, if the two teams try to outscore each other, or we can see some really low scoring games if defenses tighten up and jump shots aren't falling. Both teams like to shoot jumpers, both teams at times have motivational problems...I'd like to think that The NBA Finals are enough motivation for both teams to bring their A games.
    Here's to hoping this is as great a Finals as it looks like on paper!!!
    Bynum vs. Howard
    Gasol vs. Lewis
    Ariza/Kobe vs. Lee/Pietrus
    Odom vs. Turkoglu
    Fisher/Brown/Farmar vs. Alston/Johnson
    I think Alston could be an X factor, he has a decent jumper and he's quick...(Rondo, Parker, Brooks, Iverson...) The Lakers don't like quick little guards. Alston and Orlando's 3-point shooting will be key. For the Lakers it's Bynum, the bench, and RE-BOUND-ING that's the key.
    Very evenly matched teams, and before the Playoffs started I said, the Lakers are only afraid of 2 teams, Charlotte and Orlando, and Charlotte's not in the playoffs. If the Lakers pull this series out, they deserve the Championship having beaten the 4 teams, the probably match up best against them...Utah, Houston, Denver, and Orlando.
    GO LAKERS!!!
  7. Nicolas
    7. Posted by Nicolas Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:15 pm EDT

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    And Kobe would make it if he had Clevelands roster????? nope nope nope,It just proves its not a One man gang. Go bang a minor KObe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  8. hans k
    8. Posted by hans k Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:16 pm EDT

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    Kobe is a beast, he plays very intens.. But I hope that the depth of the Magic will be the factor. Kobe will make 39 points a game, but I trully hope Orlando will win this year!
    Go Magic!
    Nice post Rod, keep it comming!
  9. csr
    9. Posted by csr Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:22 pm EDT

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    That second picture is all kinds of awesome: We have the obligatory "Kobe dunks" but that's not where the greatness is. No, that belongs to Brian Grant and Stevie Franchise, who look like they are enjoying the scenery.
  10. LA Confidential
    10. Posted by LA Confidential Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:29 pm EDT

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    But he is not with Cleveland is he? He is in Los Angeles, city of champions. Oh yeah Good Luck keeping your savior in Cleveland. Once he leaves Cleveland Cavaliers they are going on to join the same league as our junior varsity team Clippers. Oh yeah, Nicholas S, since your cavs are out of the playoffs who are you going to watch your beloved Indians hahaha Cleveland is a joke. So step off.
  11. April O
    11. Posted by April O Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:32 pm EDT

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    there is a couple hot chicks in the top picture....
  12. choy
    12. Posted by choy Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:35 pm EDT

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    another case of one player on one team is better than any player on the other team. but the other team overall is a better team. huge matchup decision to be made by Phil Jackson. if he plays Bynum at C then Gasol will be guarding Rashard Lewis at PF. Rashard will either force Gasol to go out on the perimiter and then drive past him. of if Gasol gives Lewis too much space, Lewis shoots the lights out. but if Phil puts Odom at PF to match Lewis' quickness, then he'd have to put Gasol at C. and Gasol is is about as tough as a bar or chocolate in the middle of a desert. also, we'd have to see if Ariza at SF can match up to a bigger and stronger Turkoglu.
    Lakers basically lose every matchup except for SG
    but if the game is close, there's always the Kobe factor. so the Magic should play every game like its game 6 of the ECF. open up a good lead, maintain it, and don't give Kobe a chance to come up with big shots
  13. Nicolas
    13. Posted by Nicolas Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:40 pm EDT

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    LA. Confidential,, good movie,,,, I could care less,,, not a cleveland fan at all ,not even from OH. I hate the nba , the only reason I Watched it was cause Lebron, Yeah Kobe is good real good, But I could care a piss who wins... The only thing I like about Cleveland was getting C.C. in the trade last year........ so You "STEP OFF"
  14. TheBiggestLakerFanEver
    14. Posted by TheBiggestLakerFanEver Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:42 pm EDT

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    hans k (post #9) It's interesting you bring up the depth of the Magic. They really only have 3 guys coming off the bench. Van Gundy has kept a very tight rotation. Pietrus, Gortat, and Johnson. Reddick and Battie have seen some very limited minutes depending on matchups, but these guys bring some serious flaws (Reddick's defense and Battie's offense).
    The Lakers have a slightly deeper bench, although not nearly as consistent. Odom and Pietrus are big anchors off the bench...and Orlando usually has at least 3 starters in the game at any given time. The Lakers at times will have just Pau in the game with 4 bench players. I think Odom's going to have to continue to produce off the bench like he has in Games 5 and 6, because Pietrus was an X factor in the ECF. He made James work for his points (which allowed the Magic to avoid double teaming) and he also chipped in with some critical bench points.
    I think the Lakers will be best served to attack the rim early, and get Howard in foul trouble, and then use Gasol and Bynum inside, since that's where the advantage would be with Howard on the bench. But I don't think the Magic have a big advantage off the bench unless Pietrus outplays Odom.
  15. d p
    15. Posted by d p Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:48 pm EDT

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    Rod the Spurs really should call you and sign you to a deal. Timmy needs the help and you deserve the big lights :)
  16. TheBiggestLakerFanEver
    16. Posted by TheBiggestLakerFanEver Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:49 pm EDT

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    Damnit...I cannot stress this enough, the MAIN KEY to the Lakers winning this series will be chasing the Magic off 3-pointers (and into long 2-point jumpshots) and REBOUNDING!!! If they can do those two things, I think the Lakers can win the series. There are other keys, but those are the main ones. Make the Magic shoot contested 2's and REBOUND! And both of those things comes down to effort.
  17. So-to-the-Co
    17. Posted by So-to-the-Co Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:53 pm EDT

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    "Maybe Spike Lee drops "J.J. Redick: Shootin' Treys." It follows him as he shoots treys in practice. It'd probably be as interesting as "Doin' Work" was."
    Thank you, Rod. I thought I was the only one who felt that way about "Doin' Work."
  18. tanida yungan
    18. Posted by tanida yungan Mon Jun 01, 2009 2:01 pm EDT

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    as long as Phil Jackson will not let D Fish too long in the court let him play at least 4 mintues for the first quearter...put Shannon Brown or J Farmar againt the Orlandos' midget lakers will be alright. All they need to do is to create foul on Howard and thats the end of the story...defense and cover the perimeter shooters.
  19. TheBiggestLakerFanEver
    19. Posted by TheBiggestLakerFanEver Mon Jun 01, 2009 2:09 pm EDT

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    tanida yungan (post #19) Cleveland tried that. Howard averaged over 9 free throws a game (and if you ignore game 1 when he only had 2 free throws he averaged 10.8 freethrows a game) and he hit 68% of them. Howard has shown he can hit his free throws when they matter. The Lakers don't want to use up all those fouls either...what are you gonna give Mbenga and Powell minutes just to foul Howard? That's not gonna work (to say the least). The Lakers best bet to contain Howard is to attack him. Cleveland showed he's susceptible to foul trouble. So go right at him, and get him out of the game. That opens up the interior for the Lakers to exploit with Gasol, Bynum, and Odom. Gortat is capable, but he's no match for our bigs.
    Again though, Howard's not the problem. It's the 3-point shooting of the Magic that should have the Lakers worried. And Aaron Brooks showed us that none of our guards (Fisher, Farmar, or Brown) can guard little quick Point Guards...and how could I have left Chris Paul off that earlier list. The Lakers also have to REBOUND. Don't add anything to these "keys to the series". The Lakers need to focus on defending the 3 and rebounding. That's it, not Howard, not anything else.
  20. Shaka
    20. Posted by Shaka Mon Jun 01, 2009 2:49 pm EDT

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    For all the talk of match ups....lets be honest, Bynum and Gasol are not Big Z and Sideshow Bob. Ariza is a better on ball defender than LBJ was, and then you have Odom and Walton comming off the bench. Kobe is a better defender (and scorer) than Delonte West. The Trio of Fisher, Farmar and Brown will combined will out play Mo Williams.
    The Cav's played the Magic pretty evenly. The Cav's gave up big leads (as the Lakers are prone to do) and didnt have the skill or experience to deliver when the game counts, in the 4th quarter.
    Howard is a beast, but he never really had to play much defense. They remind me of the Suns of a couple of years ago except they don't have Nash.
    Cleveland looked good against Detroit and Atlanta, the Magic looked good against Cleveland, the Lakers will look good agianst the Magic. I would not be surprised if the Lakers sweep the Magic.
    The Lakers are arrogant and so are their fans, 30 finals appearances gives you that right.
    We are all witnesses.
  21. Larry
    21. Posted by Larry Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

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    what shaka said!
  22. Anton
    22. Posted by Anton Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    Shaka - if there is complacency in the game with the Lakers, then expect the Lakers to mail in one or two games and suffer losses. If Orlando bring it, expect the Lakers to do the same. It won't be a sweep. Like everybody else, nobody wants to give the Magic any credit even though the Lakers took care of the Lakers in the season.
  23. TheBiggestLakerFanEver
    23. Posted by TheBiggestLakerFanEver Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:29 pm EDT

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    Shaka...I disagree with you whole-heartedly. Cleveland looked terrible against Orlando, and were only in it because of Lebron James. The Lakers have problems guarding the 3-point line and the Magic excel at the 3-point shot. My opinion has always been about the guarding the 3. The only reason I pointed to the one-on-one matchups is because I don't think the Lakers have a clear advantage at any position. I get tired of people talking about people getting beat off the dribble. Everyone gets beat off the dribble. And Ariza is not a better on ball defender than Lebron...Did you not watch Carmello have his way with Ariza in 5 of the 6 games? Both teams play defense in spurts. The problem is if Orlando is hitting 3's during the one of the Lakers' lapse of effort on defense, can the Lakers come back.
    You are an ignorant fool to say that the Lakers have earned the right to be arrogant. These Lakers have appeared in ONE FINALS, and haven't won a championship. The only Lakers left from the 2002 Championship team are Bryant and Fisher (and coaches). And even if they had been around for all 30 Finals appearances, that still doesn't give you the right to be arrogant. It's called RESPECT and SPORTSMANSHIP...understanding that your opponent is busting his ass just as hard as you are, and one of you will not realize your dreams this year. Sometimes it's gonna be you, sometimes it's gonna be them, but this is still a game and a job. And because it is a game, you need to respect your opponent and because it's a job you need to be professional and humbly gracious that you were given the opportunity to play basketball for a living.
    No player EVER has the right to be arrogant. Of course, you can't expect as much from some fans. The Magic WILL NOT be swept, and the Lakers will have to fight mighty hard and give a mighty effort if they want a chance to win. The Magic will also have to give a mighty fight if they hope to have a chance. That's what makes professional sports so entertaining, that two competitors will give their all for a prize only one can win.
    GOOD LUCK ORLANDO -- You DESERVE to be here, you are a formidable opponent, and I only hope that you give us your best fight, as I hope we give you our best fight, and MAY THE BEST TEAM WIN!!!
    All year, the Top 4 teams has been Boston, Cleveland, Los Angeles, and Orlando...The Magic have taken care of the first 2, it seems only destiny would have the Lakers be their final matchup. Written off all year, as number 4 and not on their level...I gave you credit, I respected you all year, and even lost faith when Jameer went down. But props to your Management for making the trade to bring in a suitable substitute in Rafer, and further solidifying your place as an elite team in the NBA.
    You've conquered the consensus 3rd best team in the NBA, the Boston Celtics...You then conquered who many considered the 2nd best team in the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers...Now your final test...The Los Angeles Lakers, the best team in the NBA...If I wasn't TheBiggestLakerFanEver...I'd be rooting for you and a historic end to a historic season...But I am TheBiggestLakerFanEver so I can only say Good Luck...and may the best team win...
    GO LAKERS!!!
    P.S. Even Cinderella's MAGICal story had to end at midnight
  24. MR.MVP
    24. Posted by MR.MVP Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:36 pm EDT

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    I told you all Amazing will Happen in Los Angeles!!!! We will be 2009 NBA Champions!!! Lakers baby!!!!
  25. Gassy Garry
    25. Posted by Gassy Garry Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:48 pm EDT

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    LAKE SHOW IN THE HOUSE!!!!!!
    I hope the LAKERS don't take the Magic lightly & put the foot on the gas & never look back!!!
    LAKERS 2009 NBA CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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