Best playoffs performances.

The NBA is pursuing its vote about the best performances of the decade. Now it is the turn of the best playoff game in the 2000's. Here is my opinion about the picks.

Portland -Lakers game 7 2000: This is my pick. Because this game has drawn the Lakers' dynasty. I don't know if the Lakers would have become they have been in the early 2000s if they would not have won this game. That sealed the union between Kobe and O'Neal.

Kings - Lakers 2002 game 7: That has hurt. I have been a fan of the Kings for the longest time. In my opinion, the Kings were playing at this time the best offensive basketball I have ever seen. Unfortunately, Stojakovic was coming back from injuries and hasn't played any minutes of the series. He shot an airball in the money time (which I don't blame due to the circumstances). But the Lakers had to face one of their best ennemies at this time. I remember watching the game, it was just hard...

2005 NBA Finals: SAS-DET, Game 5:

That is a pretty cool pick as San Antonio has been one of the greatest team in this decade. It is good that they are honored as a nominee. Even though the series was great; ending up with a 7 game, but there was nothing really remarkable out of that game.

2006 West Semis: DAL-SAS, Game 7!

A pretty nice one two with Nowitzky becoming an actual superstar thanks to this performance. He became clutch and brought his team into the NBA finals. Nevertheless, the finals were not that good. I don't pick this one.

2008 East Semis: CLE-BOS, Game 7

One of my favorite. Lebron James just was fantastic, but the teamwork of Boston and their fighting spirit was too much to overcome.

2009 East 1st Rd: BOS-CHI, Game 6

Probably the best game in terms of scenario and intensity. But that was a first round game. And neither of the time won the championship this year. It might have been exciting and enter into history. But I'd rather pick the game that drove the Lakers in the finals and earn their first championship rings with O'Neal and Kobe

Stephen Jackson Lands In Charlotte

Stephen Jackson has been requesting for a trade since this summer as he doesn't see how his Golden Stat Warriors could be competitive this year. Golden State has just accepted an offer from the Charlotte Bobcats that sends Stephen Jackson for Raja Bell and Radmanovic.

Now I don't really see how Stephen Jackson could be happy with this deal. He made it clear that he wanted to play for a title contender at this point of his career, and hence, he named couple of teams that met the requirements. That was certainly not the Bobcats.

"He's happy for three reasons: one, he respects Larry Brown very much; two, the respect he has for Michael Jordan; and three, the opportunity to play and have his value recognized," said Jackson's agent, Mark Stevens. "He's honored that Michael Jordan wants him."

I don't really believe that could work out. Of course, Stephen Jackson is a great addition to the Bobcats' roster, he's going to bring shooting skill and scoring, but that might not be enough to turn Charlotte into a playoffs team. I'd like to see further in the season how the Bobcats and Stephen Jackson turns.

Brandon Jennings Could Have Been Great With The Knicks

Sincerely, I don't understand what is wrong with the managing staff of the Knicks. I have been a fan of New York since I've studied there, and I will always be. I am not the kind of guy to change his mind like that. But I really don't understand the Knicks.

They are eager to get Lebron James, and I am sure that they would have a chance simply because New York is the biggest sport market in the world. But how do you want to convince Lebron James to leave an NBA title contender for a team that is going in limbo. You need at least to set up a supporting cast that would assure James to be playing in the playoffs.

Now New York was seeking for a point guard for that matters, that could potentially help Lebron James. Hence they were looking after Stephen Curry and Ricky Rubio. But when Stephen Curry wasn't available as Golden Stat drafted him, they chose Jordan Hill, a Forward, instead of picking another great talent in Brandon Jennings.

Jordan Hill is still struggling to play in the NBA while Jennings is thriving. Jennings have just scored 55 points, the highest a rookie has ever made since 1968, and is doing great. I believe it could have been a perfect fit for the Knicks, since Nate Robinson isn't a real point guard, and it could help the Knicks with their scoring deficit. Also, in case Lebron James, come, they needed a supporting guy who could score to stretch the defense.

I don't see how Jordan Hill is any better than the forward James have in Cleveland. I am skeptik with the chances to bring James in the Big Apple.

Byron Scott Out Of New Orleans

Byron Scott has been recently fired by the New Orleans Hornets. Of course, this event is linked with the bad start of the team, while the Hornets seemed to be one of the most promising team in the league two years ago. Now the New Orleans are struggling, and it seems there is no will of any players to start a revolution.

In my opinion, the bad start of the Hornets isn't due to Byron Scott, who is I believe one of the best coach in the league. It is simply due to poor general management decisions. Of course New Orleans owns a great superstar in Chris Paul, but it isn't enough to make a run to the playoffs in such a competitive western conference.

New Orleans might have a great shooter in Stojakovic, a great defender with Okafor and great talent with West, their bench is too tight and there is no way this team will have a valid run in the playoffs for quite a while.

I wish the best for Byron Scott, and also for Chris Paul, that might have a long season ahead of him.

Iverson's Behavior Is Unprofessional

I have heard that Iverson has left the Memphis Grizzlies for personnal reasons for an undetermined amount of time. Of course, these reasons are linked with the crisis Memphis had with Iverson, who is not really eager to start games on the bench.

Of course, as I have said previously, I don't understand why Memphis signed Iverson, and also why Iverson accepted, as the situation was to me clear right from the beginning. But still, I can't believe that Iverson is already arguing while the season has just started.

I believe this might be the end of Iverson's career, which hasn't really been a success, but that looks like other career ends of similar players.

Mon premier site Internet: Petits souvenirs

Je viens de retrouver grâce à un ami un souvenir qui me tenait beaucoup à coeur. En effet, en 2003, j'avais ouvert mon premier site Internet. C'était pour mon club de basket, le CALHR basket. Désespéré de ne pas avoir de représentation en ligne du club, j'ai décidé de tester, et donc, j'ai trouvé un service qui permettait de créer des sites Internet pour des clubs sportifs.

Voici le site Internet, qui avait été fait avec les moyens de l'époque. Un bon souvenir...

Worried About The San Antonio Spurs

I am very worried about the bad start of the season of the Spurs. Of course, the Spurs are used to do slow starts and speed up when it really matters the most, the playoffs. But still, they haven't get used to loose two games the first ten days of the season. Moreover, Tony Parker announced recently that the Spurs were planning on changing their strategy this year, with a tough western conference competition combined to a lot of home games in the first half of the season.

Of course, winning at Utah is difficult, with one of the hottest crowed of the US sport business. But what worries me the most, is that it seems on the defensive end that there are the most problems. The Spurs have always been a defensive minded team. Tim Duncan has been on of the best defender in the NBA for more than a decade.

It seems that the Spurs are still struggling in getting their new players together. A lot of things have changed for the Spurs. They have a brand new paint with Bayless and McDyess supporting Tim Duncan. Richard Jefferson probably needs a little bit of time to get along with his new mates.

But still, I don't understand why the Spurs are doing so poorly on the defensive end, which should be the most secure part of their games.

Iverson And The End Of The Shooting Point Guard

Iverson's career is going in limbo. There is no doubt about that. He failed to fit in the Piston's team play, he doesn't have the quickness he used to, and he is now in one of the worst NBA franchise.



But with the end of Iverson's career, it is the end of a certain idea of the NBA that is disappearing. Actually, an NBA concept that borned with Iverson's arrival in the league. Iverson has been a unique player in the NBA: A small player with amazing quickeness and scoring abilities. Due to his particularity, The Sixers had to accomodate the team and the system to get the best out of Iverson's amazing talent. They made him play shooting guard, got a bunch of great role players on his side to help him on the defence end, but also get rebounds (Tyronne Hill, Dikembe Mutumbo among others).



Not so long after Iverson's arrival (actually the very same year), two other wonderful players came in: Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis. They had the very same kind of profile: strong athletic skills and quickness despite their lack of size, and strong scoring skills. Those three ones had 4 to 5 amazing years in the league. They seemed to be unstopable and where clueless questions for opponents, which were struggling to get a defensive response.



But as the years go by, we have seen that those three players career went into limbo. Their huge ego resulting from their scoring option number 1 status made them considering terrible career choices. You can see the Marbury's drama in New York. Steve Francis got injured and no team was willing to get such a player in their roster.



The same thing for Iverson.

What A Terrible Idea To Get Iverson For The Grizzlies

I'd like to know what went through the mind of Memphis' front office when they made the decision to sign Allen Iverson. It seems obvious that such a superstar will help you to sell a bunch of jerseys, but still, if you focus on the needs of the team, there is no way Iverson could help.

You have a bunch of young promising players, especially scorers like Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo, and you add up an old veteran which needs to keep the ball to be productive. Moreover, Iverson owns a a great ego, the kind of ego superstars are made of. But I don't see Iverson getting back its superstar aura any time soon, as his career is going in limbo. Of course, he can still score, but can't be productive enough to be of any help at any team.

I hope Iverson won't disorganize the Grizzlies team, because it is still very weak and need stability to grow. Now Iverson must be able to work on himself, accept his role player profile.

What Misses To The Hornets To Become A Premium Team

Let's face it, the Hornets, as the team is composed right now, is not able to pass the first round of the playoffs. The Western Conference is loaded with talent, and the New Orleans Hornets, at some point one of the raising stars in the league, as gone in limbo. Stojakovic is getting old, they have killed the combo Paul-Chandler (which might be a good point since Okafor is a great defender, which was not Chandler). But still, this team is lacking a great scorer to help Chris Paul make the plays. They need actually someone like Stephen Jackson, with great shooting abilities, or Kevin Martin, but mainly someone who is able to play one on one.

Now don't get me wrong, this team will not be able to become an NBA title contender for quite a while. They are still very weak on the defensive end. But at least, it could convince Chris Paul he's in a competitive team at the moment, which is not the case right now.

Joe Alexander's Future at Milwaukee

Milwaukee has decided not to pick up their thrid year option on Joe Alexander. That makes Alexander highest pick ever (8th pick in 2008) to have his rookie contract option declined. Only two other players, Golden State’s Patrick O’Bryant (9th pick in 2006) and the Los Angeles Clippers Yaroslav Korolev (12th pick in 2005) have had their teams pass on their first contract options. Alexander is now scheduled to become a free agent after the 2009-10 season.

This is something I don't quite understand. Alexander is a promising young player, which owns great shooting skills. I have faith in his talents, and I am sure he would interest a bunch of clubs when the season will end. Milwaukee don't really own premium players at the small forward position, and I don't see the reason why they are not eager to give another chance to Joe Alexander.

New Orleans struggle in this early season

I am actually not really surprised that New Orleans experience so much problem this season. Last year they failed in concreting their good 2007-2008 season. Now they have changed their center, for a promosing Emeka Okafor, but that doesn't have proven yet he has the same offensive skills than Tyson Chandler.

I am worried about the Hornets future, a promising franchise I have been following for quite a while. The main evidence is this loss against the Knicks whereas Paul has scored 32 and dishes out 13 assists. I believe this is going to be a very long season, as long as they don't find someone to consistently score on Paul's side.