prayers for blowouts

Last Night’s Lottery Numbers

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As I mentioned in my Burnside piece last week, I find the NBA Draft Lottery much more entertaining than the Draft itself. Hope, intrigue, and random chance are all at play, not to mention the future of a handful of NBA franchises. Knowing ESPN’s coverage of the event would probably be painfully drawn out - and of course it was - I sat down in front of the TV and played Uno with my kids, all the while keeping tabs on what was happening in Secaucus.

A few thoughts…

+ Could Jay-Z have looked any more nervous in his interview with Doris Burke? H to the izz-O, V to the is he really that uncomfortable? Funny how a seasoned performer can look so out of place in a different venue. What was worse, Host Mark Jones made an unfunny “99 Problems” joke when he threw it down to Burke, who proceeded to make her own “99 Problems” joke at the end of the interview. With apologies to John Piper, that 90 seconds of my life was a complete waste.

+ Speaking of not looking good, Larry Bird’s battle with late-night snacking doesn’t seem to be going so well. The Hick from French Lick looked like he’s spent a few too many evenings licking french-fry residue off of his fingers. I say that with the utmost love and respect for the man, mind you, after all, he gave me so many wonderful moments growing up as a Celtics fan in Massachusetts. (my favorite moment of that clip is at the 2:00 mark…I remember watching that live with my brother Josh like it was yesterday.)

+ I thought Fred Hoiberg holding the Teddy Bear from the kid who has been through a 100 surgical procedures was a nice touch, but did anyone else notice how he flinched when he found out his Timberwolves were left outside of the Top 2? For a second I thought he was going tear the head off the bear and rip all of the cotton out of it with his teeth. Good job showing some restraint there, Fred. Good job.

+ Speaking of unhappy people, Kirk Hinrich has got to be a little annoyed today, doesn’t he? With Derrick Rose at the top of most draft boards, his role as starting PG for the Bulls suddenly has a big old question mark next to it. Chad Ford has the Bulls taking Beasley with the first pick, but I’m not buying it. I know I’m not the only one saying this, but the emergence of Chris Paul and Deron Williams as young stars who can lead their team deep into the playoffs has sent a signal to the league that a game-changer like Derrick Rose should not be passed on (Just ask the Hawks).

+ You don’t think Rick Pitino would mull over an offer to coach Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah, and Derrick Rose in the NBA Eastern Conference? I’m not saying that Paxson would offer the job to him, but I bet he’d find the possibility enticing.

+ Someone needs to tell these Team Representatives that we’d much rather see them express their disappointment with not moving up in the draft than the forced smiles through gritted teeth that they gave us last night. You wanted a better pick than you got - it’s okay to show some disappointment. I mean, how great would it have been if Mike D’Antoni had slammed his fist down onto the table and gone into a mustachioed tirade when his Knicks didn’t move in to the top 3?

+ So last year the top 2 talents landed in the West and this year they will land in the East. Could this be the start of a renaissance for the Eastern Conference? I think so…

Oh and in case you were wondering, we only played two games on Uno and Parker and Kylie each won a game. I was so angry that I didn’t win, i ripped the cover off of a couch cushion and pulled the foam padding out with my teeth in a fit of rage. If only I had the restraint of Fred Hoiberg. Oh well…