Now, believe it or not, back before you kids had the ANBCBSPNNFOX sports network that you have today, there was this amazing network called TNT — where they had crappy original shows but for unexplained reasons, their NBA coverage surpasses every single sports show about any sports.

Let’s bring you up to speed: May 2nd, 2008. The Washington Wizards’ legion of fans versus Cleveland’s royalty. Of course LeBron was the easy choice to plow through a measly opponent like the Wizards… as their key stars are just trying to recover while a great role player is invoking a rap war over the hardwood floor.

But you obviously have not been reading up on their mystique (not the WNBA team). This is a team that will do magnificiant damage in the realms of the unseen. This is a team that shall unequivocally push their limits as a collective onto an undeserving royal. They will rise up and make it game seven…because I’m really needing the points in my playoff point.

Undeniably, I’ve been a T-Mac fan 4 lifez. Part of the enduring love and frustration for rooting a marvel such as he is not seeing his failure in the first round exits. Nay. It is our own unfulfilled expectations of superiority for a beast that cannot be defined—Darwin couldn’t draw shit like this.

If it were up to the 12 Gods of Kobol, T-Mac would’ve been ostracized long ago into Cylon kingdom. He’s not one of the pure NBA great. His storyline never changes. Worst of all, he keeps an arsenal of power that will only come out to attack when you least, and inconsequentially, expected. He is a frakking toaster.

But I still root for the guy. Because through his sideway eyes I see myself. One that was destined for greatness but for some reason our GPS gadget broke. We’re in perpetual lost-hood. Until we crawl ourselves out of the cave, there is but one option: faith in the unknown. That is the legend of the right shoulder vein.

As for the old soul Hawks versus the old old Celtics. It will make my heart warm up like the south if Atlanta maintains their idealism by flipping the script. No one gave them a single game. Yet Joe Johnson came to cross up that delusion (what up Leon Powe) by reminding the world he was once untouchable as an original mover of the ‘05 Phoenix Suns team. Let them pass and the world will be in total order. Chaos will be Boston’s street name.

Oy, two posts in one day about the Miami Heat? Ugh. Oh well, we have to toughen up for this shit.So mister D-Wade isn’t going to be back on time for training camp because the doctor has some words of sage advice:

“I’m a fast healer, but my doctor really wants to make sure I’m well and I’m healthy and we don’t have to go through this process again,” Wade said. “He’d rather for me not to rush back to get in training camp and maybe aggravate something early in the season.”

Dude plays hard every night so I don’t blame the Doctor to keep an eye on things. I guess there really isn’t a point to this post other than to photoshop Wade in Doctor Who because there’s a doctor involved in the story. And also because Doctor Who is magnificent… and also because I’m a nerd.

Wade says injury rehab going according to plan, but may not be ready by training camp [Yahoo¿]

Pistons beat Cavaliers:

‘Twas a low scoring affair with Detroit seemingly in control the entire time (even though the game was close most of the game). Don’t be fooled by the fact that LeBron James had 20, 5, and 6, he wasn’t really a factor.

So, get it? I Wonder where LBJ was…… Yeaaaah…

ANYWAYS, if this is a preview of what’s to come in the playoffs, then I’m sorry Cavalier faithfuls, your boys aren’t bringing home the cash, money, hoes this June.

Special note of the game: I just love how crazy Sheed looks most of the time, he’s like a sub-atomic isotope—you just don’t know when it’ll blow up (that is what an isotope does right? ugh, chemistry professor hated me). It’s no wonder their team has the biggest blog followings in Need4Sheed (who’s getting a guest spot on NBA.com!) and Detroit Bad Boys.

Phoenix beat LaL:

For some reason, this game should’ve been titled: The SMUSH Parker Episode. They couldn’t stop talking about him! Not that the commentary was good (they were talking about how he’s not on Phil Jackson’s good side because well—he truly sucks at his position for the Lakers) but OMG they could have at least not had the a Smush camera as well.

Kobe yet again had to shoulder the scoring, which is why I feel even if it’ll be a rematch of last year’s first round, the Suns would just dominate. The Lake Show just don’t have any type of defining chemistry out there (there I go with the science talk again) whereas Nash and Co. will burn them alive by inevitably running their thing.

Special note of the game: End of the first quarter, Dick Bavetta and the refs caught Kobe fouling RahRah with 0.3 seconds left on the clock. They caught this… on replay. So when they came back from commercials they actually replayed those 0.3 seconds left, and went straight into the 2nd QT. I don’t really mind the fact they replayed, but I’m just curious how soon will it be until replays will be used a lot more.

Charlotte BoobieCats beat Miami:

I didn’t actually see this game, so I’ll just grab Ira Winderman’s game quotes:

– “At the end of the day, you always want to win, you always want to come back and help the team win,” Wade said. “At times, I looked OK, and at times I didn’t. They were coming at me and I had a lot of turnovers, missed a lot of free throws. But one thing about me, I won’t do that too often.”

- “I’m not going to do anything stupid. I wouldn’t have shot-faked like that on my left side,” he said. “I knew it was my strong side, my right side.”

– And yes, O’Neal left without comment again.

Oh Shaq! You mischief you.

Special note of the game: While this game was in progress, I believe I was having an apple. It was delicious.

Elsewhere…….for NBA fans everywhere that don’t know who to root for in the playoffs: T-Dot. Raptors were able to close to a Bulls team that weren’t taking the game lightly, fun team to watch……Philly ‘beat’ Atlanta, though when these two teams play, no one really wins……Houston over Kings, the Maloofs plan on opening a casino at the top of Yao’s head……

In other news:

Dan Steinzzzz and Jamie Mottzzzzz did Blog Show episode #Allen Iverson last Friday rounding up, and I counted, a zillion blogs. The Unrelatedness got a shoutout! HUZZAH! That spectacular ego-inflating tidbit aside, their show is getting pretty kickass, all we need now is some nekkid hobos in the background…

Here is what AP writer Tim Reynolds is stirring up:

Dwyane Wade sat before a bank of microphones on March 5, saying he would need at least two weeks of rehabilitating his dislocated left shoulder before deciding whether to return to the Miami Heat this season.

It’s been two weeks. Still, no one knows for sure when the NBA finals MVP will be back.

And if a timetable exists, Wade isn’t saying just yet.

Hmmm……

This is of course in regards to Mr. (not Ice) Cube’s latest BLOG!Maverick! entry that refers to a passing remark by D-Wade that may or may not be out of context from the Miami Herald:

”At the end of the day,” Wade said, “you’re remembered for what you did at the end. . . I think that’s the reason — Dirk says they gave us the championship last year, but he’s the reason they lost the championship, because he wasn’t the leader that he’s supposed to be in the closing moments. That’s because of great defense by us, but also he wasn’t assertive enough as a leader’s supposed to be.”

That really doesn’t say much man, especially given the context of the blurb in the original article (which, isn’t much to begin with). I take it someone posed a question in the form of: “So Dwyane, what do you think when some people say that the Heat didn’t win the Finals, but that Dirk and the Mavs gave it up?” [obviously that's just me speculating..] And perhaps that’s where some misinterpretation set it.

So I really had to just laugh a bit when Marky went off like he did:

Dwayne I don’t blame you for not looking at tapes of the finals. You obviously didn’t. You would have seen your unbelievable skills and some other unbelievable elements that if I could discuss honestly here I would get fined for.

You are right, endings are remembered. And the ending of 3 of the games of the Finals will be remembered alongside Game 6 of the King vs Lakers Conf Finals a few years ago.

I guess you have earned the right to criticize Dirk with an obvious display of your own leadership skills.

I’m just glad he had the sense in holding back several OMGZ, u PHukin n33bs!!one1one

I appreciate Cuban, well, because he can be a down right genius most of the time. But dude, really, Let.It.Go. your team is doing amazing while their team isn’t—you see that road? Yeah, that one, it’s higher, take it please.

In Other News:

Hurrah! Carmelo Anthony got un-snubbed, and so did Josh Howard! T’is a mix of emotions for me.. as I somehow still would like the other Memo to join the club…

Happy Weekend errrvrybody!

No, I haven’t seen that show before. Yes, I’m far too young to know its significance. But that phrase has somehow been burned into my subconcious.

ANYwho. Should LeBron be suspended after seeing that (or what you can make out of that blurry crap I call editing…) I don’t think it merits a suspension and neither did Kobe on Sunday for that matter. But since this is David Stern’s show and we’re all just watching—right is wrong, up is down and Shaq can run again.

That is to say I think (at press time) the lig will make the suspension because BronBron’s clothesline connected at the head and nowhere near the ball. That’s not to say his intention wasn’t for the ball, which is what I’m actually saying (he just timed it horribly wrong), but since KB recently served his due, I’m pretty sure James has to be ruled the same way.

I think it’s stupid that the NBA is setting arbitrary precedents for “flow of the game”-type contact and making a suspension out of it and I really don’t like the direction this is going. It’s one thing to clean up dirty play, it’s another to pre-emtively strike the players and covering it by saying it’s “for the people” and “democracy” and that “Saddam had WMDs”….oh wait, I’m TOTALLY off now.. anyway, where was I?

Um… go Colts! (I assume they are one half of the teams playing the pigskin pastime?)

Ref Derek Richardson: Nonono, that wasn’t a foul Dwyane.
Dwyane Wade: (silent)
Richardson: Look, I mean, maybe there was contact, but I didn’t see it
Wade: (silent)
Richardson: ….well I guess I sort of did see it.. but I can’t give you all the calls
Wade: (still no speaky)
Richardson: ….alright alright! I’ll give you all the next calls man! Just stop whatever you’re doing now!!
Wade: (now muttering in satanic tongue)
Richardson: good god! I think I just committed a foul on you…What the hell are you doing to me?!

Yes, this topic is as old as Kevin Willis, but there are some fun quotes from SunSentinel’s latest remix of Wade’s theatrics, asking players if there are “favor calls”:

“It’s 100 percent real,” Nets forward Richard Jefferson said. “It’s an unspoken thing.”

“As far as close calls, if you have more star power, you probably get that call,” said Golden State guard Jason Richardson, who has gained that stature in the past year.

While their point from a player’s perspective is taken, I just had to snicker at the fact that those are currently injured.

Separating fact, myth

Such opinions rankle Ronnie Nunn, the NBA’s director of officials. Nunn, a former player at George Washington University, said he’s the first person with a basketball background in the past 25 years to hold the job and that he’s trying to use that experience to improve the officiating.

He puts respect calls alongside other “myths” that are accepted as fact in the league’s culture, like “home cooking” and the league favoring teams in large markets. Nunn said these observations are passed down as fact to each generation of players, coaches and fans.

Ahh, good ‘ol NBA myths. You notice that Nunn doesn’t dispel the myth of snorting powdered Cocoa Puffs for extra energy huh? What about that myth RonRon??

Anyhow, it’s unsure whether officiating will evolve dramatically to where one day fans can log on to NBA.com and vote for their favourite refs (Bob Delaney holla! ps if nba.com does this, I want my cut) And since refereeing in the NBA is never perfect—everyone will just have to play the game within the game (the tricks mentioned the article) and win those unseen battles along the way.

But Nunn probably will say that’s a myth too—hell, I bet he thinks I’m a myth for typing all this up!

In other (self)news THEHYPEGUY.COM:

Time for class… wee!/ugh. I’ll post up the RadioCast bit later when I get back!

Yup, one more thing, the new domain [THEHYPEGUY.COM], unlike the Deathstar, is now fully operational! If ever you feel the need to refresh your links (who wouldn’t!) be sure to update yours truly!

Once again, stopped by my buddies’ “sport talk” show at school. Um.. yeah, that third, incomprehensible voice (in more ways than one) was moi. My mic was ass. Be kind…

ooooh new player[audio=http://odeo.com/show/7273883/1200712/download/TheHypeNBAReport.mp3]

[Downloadable 19.7 MB mp3 - 14:36 mins]
[Previously on TheHype's NBA RadioCasts...]

The Association thinks Dwyane Wade can’t stop trying to draw fouls wherever he goes. But I think he simply knows a thing or 3 about balancing gracefully in the wave…of…life (Waltonism!).

Full disclosure before this game gets started: I’ve only seen Chapters 1-5 from last year’s weird “phenomenon” (which is why the joke is a bit stale).

Annnyyyways. Good morning y’all, this is a great way for me to get a head start in the day as after the game I’m heading straight out with the advantage of having the whole day ahead of me. That’s assuming I don’t collaspe from exhaustion of waking up at this zombie hour.

Alrighty, let’s see if ze Germans/ Dirk Nowitzki can put up a good test for Team USA.

One thing I should note with my above photo.. there’s no real story there. They just merely played in the same Finals, that’s about it, they hardly went head to head most of the time. It was more: Wade vs. The Refs and the City of Dallas.

1st Quarter:
Wow, lightning quick bucket by Germany before I even get settled in to be answered by? That’s right, Shane m’f'n Battier. Just like last game he gets the first play of the game.. weird. Germany gets another shot to go which get answered by Lebron’s jumper and then a tip back dunk after forcing a turnover for a break.

Woah! Dirk gets first bucket! Watch out now. 6-6 @ 7:24

Man, Carmelo’s cross is so nice… to bad he dunked it on the rim; he was fouled though. After his free throws are made Captain Kirk decides to check in to the captain’s log and get a steal and give it to Lebron for a jumper over Dirk.

Jumpshots are the name of the game for Team USA now even though they had success attacking the zone quick like Wade did. It’s now 16-14 Germany with 3:25 to go.

OMG! A Chris Bosh sighting! And he scored on an alley-oop! Good thinking Chris! (He did get a close bucket a little bit before… but that’s after he missed the dunk before that)

Jim Durham is utterly confused as to the difference between Dwight Howard and Elton Brand. Yay, finally Wade penetrates the zone to dish it to Joe Johnson for a 3 to make it 20-21, still Germany lead with a minute left. HMMM.. interesting.

“Holy Moly” is used by Fran Francilla after the refs give the most absurd continuation play for Dwight Howard. He makes his FTs to take the lead 23-21 to close the quarter. Okay, it’s over, I’m calling it. Team USA won’t play around for the rest of the game. I think this is as close as Deutschland is going to get (aaaand queue me getting ready to eat these words later on)

2nd Quarter:
Team USA stays with JJ, Kirk, Bosh, Melo and Wade. This is probably optimal for quick steals and good defensive runs. As I write that, Kirk gets burned by his man to get an easy feed 2 feet from the bucket and gets fouled by Kirk.

I wish I looked up the German team’s players. They are quite sharp and deserve the respect… ehhh.. I’m not getting paid for this. It’s all tied up at 25 a piece with 7:05 to go.

Dirk isn’t the one with all the points though (only 4pts so far and missing a bunch), which is a great positive for their team though, but I worry they won’t be able to keep it up much longer if Dirk can’t get going for the rest of the game.

Team USA isn’t doing a good job against this German zone as Lebron gets called for a charge. Elton puts the team back two, and then answered by Nowitzki by his good looking shot. Team USA jacks up a couple 3s that rattle out… they were open I guess, but is that how you want to win this game? I’m not saying like I know anything… As I write that, JJ gets a good 3 after a penetration pass to make it 33-29 with 4:00 to go.

Heh, this game is still close after (sorry any German readers for not getting their names down) they get an easy layup from a breakaway. 31-33

Bosh is redeeming everything! He almost gets the steal but is quick enough to run and collect the board.. then on the offensive end he tips to ball away from the Germans that ensues in a Melo bucket. 37-33 with 2:10 to go.

Coming out of the timeout, we see that familiar Wade steal and goes for the one man break… which he MISSES since he was expecting a foul. For his punishment, Wade gets slapped on the face from a German player unintentionally due to Flailing-Arm-itis.

Germany gets a good tip dunk which keeps this game in amazingly close margin of 39-40 at the end of the half. Well, time for me to find refreshments. Of note: Dirk has 3 fouls. Who’s going to Melo-it up in this 3rd quarter a la the Italy game? Stay tuned!

3rd Quarter:
Alright internet connection, we meet again, I’ve come to avenge my last live-bloggin session meltdown! Okay, I opened the German roster team, so let’s see if I can make this slightly more respectable. Okulaja leads all players will 11pts and Dirk is behind him with 8. The US obviously has more balanaced scoring. Hey, I bet Brad Miller loves his vacation in Japan huh?

Ohhh boy.. two steals from the US which Lebron converts in one of them. Lucky for Dirk et al. the refs calls travelling as if there’s a bonus for each one called.

Femerling (see! I’m good!) shows Dwight what good post footwork is as he makes the up and under shot…Howeva, Melo just flushes it strong just as everyone is sleeping (ooooh Melo is waking up… Mr. 3rd quarter) Hamann gets fouled for an and 1 but Melo is the one again to hit the 3. Next play, guess who steals and goes for the dunk?? GUESS! Okay it’s Carmelo Anthony. 51-43. Where’s Wade? P. Diddy is making sure his home boy’s face is good for the next catwalk.

Chris Paul can’t buy a jump shot for the moment as he misses an open 3. Side not: I really hate that horn that’s being blared in the stands, whatever the hell it is. Melo for 3 again, like you had to guess. Wade takes a three in another play..juuuust misses it by about 7 yards (aaairball). But he goes back to attack mode afterwards to get the hit to go to the line.

Paul decides to work for Habitat For Humanity as he builds several houses out of the bricks (sorry Chris..your shot isn’t there today yo) In other news: Wade got STUFFed bad at the rim from a dunk attempt. Several possessions later, Bosh is all about the hustle in grabbing the offensive board and connecting with Paul for a lookaway alley-half-oop as Bosh dumps the ball in behins his back into the net (yeah, I butchered that last part pretty bad…)

Dirk finally gets going again to nail a shot and get fouled. 48-60

Lebron gets a couple (but he seems relatively quiet huh, it’s all about the Carmelo show) and then as the time ticks down the quarter he dishes it to Paul for the 3 at the buzzerr……. he finally hits one. Yay for Chris Paul! You can stop building that house now. 67-52

4th Quarter:
Hah, Chris Bosh takes a three and makes it count.. okay now he’s just showing off. Ugh.. how bad are the replays huh? They don’t show the start of the play (it’s like the crew’s thinking: “ehh, it’s around the play people want to watch) and they always show it at bad times (like when there’s still play going on)

Well, lots of plays came and went but Germany just can’t close the gap enough for now as Anthony tips in and gets fouled 77-61 with 4:54 to go. Damn, the Semis look awesome.. but it’s IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. Jesus.. 3am.

As this game gets pretty much out of hand, sorry Dirk, I just like to say how much I’m loving this International style. Not just the teams involved, but the organization. For instance, there’s shot clock malfunctions and bad reffin but it feels so pure and real, very unlike what’s bad about the NBA now. Sure the NBA has the highest quality in a lot of things, but seeing these games makes you appreciate those things more and keeps you down to Earth I guess. It’s not glamourous but still fun as hell because you’re playing with your countrymen.

Yeah, this game is booked. I just had a thought (shocker!), what if Team USA plays Germany or Italy in a Series instead of just single game elimination? I mean, in those two games the opposition were able to have the lead at times but just ran out of time.. I get the feeling they can win at least once. Then what if you were to do a Series against Argentina or Spain? Still think USA can win just like that? Good things to think about.

End of game 85-65. Hope that was…um.. somewhat entertaining. Until next time!

Apologies for not saying something.. anything about the first Team USA game the other night.. I was sleeping.. very soundly (what can I say? gotta get my sleep on). So, forgiveness please! My sentiments are like most there out; that the team is just a bit pumped to get things started with games that count. I’m sure they can take a lot from the Puerto Rico game and make sure not to be as slugish. As for the China game.. not much you can take from that.. other than: just don’t get injured.

One thing that I believe Team USA can improve on is their jersey sponsorships. I mean, everyone else has a huge, ugly, intrusive logo right in front of theirs, why not the US? I hence forth give you my suggestions:

There’s like little “company” I want you to know about..

Ah, playing with those toys were the best times of my life (like 10 minutes ago)

“Have you seen my stapler?

Sesame Street is going corporate yo.