Preview: NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs (First Round)
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers (61-21) vs. (8) Chicago Bulls (41-41)
The last time these two teams faced each other on April 8th, Chicago pulled off a thrilling victory that helped launch them into the playoffs over the Toronto Raptors. Problem is, the Bulls did so without soon to-be MVP LeBron James, who was resting before the start of the playoffs. This time around, James has promised the Bulls that they will face a “different monster” in the playoffs. Sporting the league’s best record this season, the Cavaliers are well equipped to make a strong run to Championship. Since his arrival in Cleveland, Coach Mike Brown has stressed defense and his team has responded — The Cavs ranked third in the league in Opponents field goal percentage (44.2%) this season. Cleveland also kept opponents off the glass; the team led the league in rebound differential (3.93), showing that they rarely give teams second chances on defense. Chicago on the other hand had a very up and down season. Amidst rumors of Coach Vinny Del Negro’s firing, cap clearing trades, front office disputes, and a key injury to the improved Joakim Noah, the Bulls struggled midway through the season before making a late push into the playoffs (12-17 in February and March, including a 10-game losing streak). The Bulls’ success in this series depends on the play of second year All-Star guard Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah (6-12 with Noah out of the lineup). Rose will need to shoot well from the field and use his ability to get into the paint at will to set up his teammates. Without departed guard Ben Gordon’s scoring and ability to make big shots for Chicago this year, Rose, Noah, and forward Luol Deng must transform the Bulls into a team of overachievers: the Bulls must play above their heads offensively and work hard on keeping LeBron James out of the paint — very difficult goals to accomplish four times out of seven games for a series victory. Joakim Noah has proclaimed that the Bulls plan on “shocking the world” by defeating Cleveland. LeBron James, along with a revamped supporting class which includes a returning Shaquille O’Neal (torn thumb ligaments), trade deadline acquisition Antawn Jamison, and Mo Williams, will make sure that Noah’s prediction won’t come true.
Prediction: Cavaliers in Five
(2) Orlando Magic (59-23) vs. (7) Charlotte Bobcats (44-38)
The defending eastern conference champion Orlando Magic hope to return to the NBA finals. Don’t let the high number of threes per game (27.3) the Magic shoot fool you: the team ranked in the top 5 in nearly every defensive category this season. Behind superstar center Dwight Howard, point guard Jameer Nelson, and forward Rashard Lewis, the Magic take on the Charlotte Bobcats, who made the playoffs for the first time in their 6 year history. Since acquiring Steven Jackson from the Warriors, the Bobcats have played with a confidence and swagger that propelled the team into the playoffs. The Bobcats rank 1st in the NBA in defensive efficiency and though they struggle to consistently score, they do a great job of controlling the tempo of their games. The Magic have the ability to sweep the Bobcats, provided they make their threes. However, it’s a well known fact that at times the team gets away from getting Dwight Howard the ball. Combine this fact with an off-shooting night, and Charlotte may be able to steal a game or two. Otherwise, look for the Magic to beat Larry Brown, Captain Jack, and the Bobcats.
Prediction: Magic in Five
(3) Atlanta Hawks (53-29) vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks (46-36)
The Milwaukee Bucks have built off of last season’s 34 win campaign behind the development of their young players. Rookie Brandon Jennings, who generated some buzz around the league after a 55 point game in November, has since cooled off and shot 35% from the field from January to April. Much of the Bucks’ success this season should be credited to the lesser known talent on the roster. 2005 #1 overall pick Andrew Bogut stepped his game up this season, averaging 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. However, after dislocating his right elbow in an April 3 game against Phoenix, he will be out for the playoffs. It will be up to unproven forwards Ersan Ilyasova and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute to provide offensive and defensive support. Veterans Kurt Thomas, John Salmons, Carlos Delfino, Luke Ridnour, Jerry Stackhouse also headline a Bucks team that is eyeing an upset. Head Coach Scott Skiles is a serious coach of the year candidate, he got his team to work hard every night and squeezed every ounce out of the talent he was given. But is Milwaukee’s improvement this season enough for the Atlanta Hawks to “Fear the Deer”? Atlanta is the most athletic team in the NBA; few teams can match the Hawks’ explosiveness in a frontcourt that features Marvin Williams, Josh Smith, and Al Horford. In the backcourt, Mike Bibby will have his hands full dealing with Brandon Jennings, but the veteran guard is never afraid of taking the big shot. The Bucks also have no answer for the Hawks’ quiet, yet immensely talented leading man Joe Johnson. Sixth-man of the year candidate Jamal Crawford is impossible to guard when hot, making up for an otherwise underwhelming bench that features the likes of Zaza Pachulia, Jeff Teague, and Mo Evans. Brandon Jennings has slowed down since his hot start, but with his lightning-quick first step and Milwaukee’s hardnosed style of play, the Bucks will make Atlanta work in order to make it to the second round. To win a game, the Bucks will have to shoot well from the field and make sure they provide extra help on defense now that Andrew Bogut won’t be providing a shot-blocking presence. Atlanta will win this series, but the Bucks will go down swinging.
Prediction: Hawks in Six
(4) Boston Celtics (50-32) vs. (5) Miami Heat (47-35)
Does it feel like the Celtics won 50 games this year? After winning the title in 2008, the Celtics have looked old, slow, and indifferent on the court. Since starting the season at 23-8 the Celtics played near .500 basketball (27-24) from January to the end of the season. The Celtics’ team mantra “Ubuntu” calls for team generosity and a strong sense of community. However, 2009-2010 Celtics season hasn’t been filled with peace and happiness. Boston has a laundry list on issues on and off the court. Kevin Garnett has looked gimpy since undergoing knee procedures. GM Danny Ainge’s questioning of Rajon Rondo’s maturity led to trade rumors over the summer. Ray Allen’s name was also mentioned in trade rumors. Some have been calling for the firing of Coach Doc Rivers. The offseason signing of Rasheed Wallace hasn’t gone as planned; Wallace shot a career worst 40.9% from the field and 28.3% from behind the arc this season. Trade Deadline acquisition Nate Robinson has not provided the spark off the bench the Celtics hoped he would. There have even been rumors circulating that there is some locker room friction between the Celtics “Big Three” of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett and the younger starters, Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins. The Celtics take all of their baggage into their first round matchup against the Miami Heat. The Miami Heat are all about Dwayne Wade. Wade leads the worst supporting cast in the playoffs in a matchup against the 2008 champs. The key for a Miami series victory is plain and simple: Dwyane Wade be Dwyane Wade and carry the Heat on his back offensively. He has to shoot well from the field, get to the line, and find open shots for his teammates. The Heat must also continue to play the solid defense that guided them to the second best Opponents field goal percentage in the NBA (43.9%). As far as first round matchups go in the east, Miami has the greatest chance to pull off an upset. Yet despite the Celtics’ internal troubles, they still have enough talent to beat the Heat. The team issues may resurface to trip the Celtics up in the second round, but they should be able to handle Dwyane Wade’s outbursts over the course of a 7 game series.
Prediction: Celtics in 7
The Media Trying to Tame the Tiger
“The issue involved here was my repeated irresponsible behavior. I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did is not acceptable, and I am the only person to blame.” –Tiger Woods, From his February 19th News Conference (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Why do we care about Tiger Woods? Well, it’s all about brand recognition. Sure, we all know how spectacular Tiger Woods is on the golf course. Few golfers have been able to stare the man down on Sundays, when he has victory in his grasp, and pull out a win over one of the most dominant athletes of this generation. Yet today, one associates Tiger Woods with golf as much as he or she associates him with the swoosh symbol on his chest. People see him sinking a birdie putt in a tournament as often as they see him driving a Buick or palling it up with Roger Federer in Gillette commercials. The Tiger Woods cheating scandal has severely damaged the Tiger Woods brand. Just as a corporation like Toyota has to issue statement after statement and scramble to reclaim consumers’ trust and loyalty following its recent vehicle recalls, Tiger Woods had to repair his image to fix his brand. He took the first step towards said reparation last Friday, in a closed press conference where he addressed his recent struggles. No members of the media were allowed to ask any questions, the statement was for Tiger to restore consumer confidence in the Tiger brand and speak to all those he felt he had wronged.
Tiger Woods’ mechanical apology to the world last Friday was a reminder that even the most transcendent public figures have to answer to someone, at some point, in their lives. In his address, Woods was surprisingly candid with his admission to having extramarital affairs. He said he was “deeply sorry” for his “irresponsible and selfish” behavior. He apologized to everyone, from his wife Elin, to his sponsors, to his fans. Tiger even stated that he was undergoing therapy to better himself and that his desire to “become a better person” and a “better man” trump his desires to play the game he’s dominated for the last ten or so years. And yet, for some, Tiger’s apology wasn’t enough. Media members from across all genres and platforms have denigrated Tiger’s statement, saying it wasn’t “remorseful” or that it was too “cold” and “rehearsed”. Others complained that Tiger didn’t take any questions from the media, citing that his statement was another example of Tiger’s insatiable desire to control anyone and anything around him.
To all these criticisms, I say that Tiger’s personal life, specifically in reference to his genuine emotions, is none of our business. In reality, there’s no way any of us truly know what is going on inside of Tiger Woods’ heart. He’s never been one to publically display his personal emotions to the media, so it’s difficult to gauge his sincerity without a baseline. There’s no magical elixir to make Tiger Woods tell the truth, nor is there any magical instrument to tell if tiger is actually sorry about cheating on his wife. Even if such a device existed, should it really matter to the general public whether or not Tiger feels true remorse for his actions? Going back to the Toyota analogy, are consumers today more concerned about whether or not the corporation is genuinely sorry for producing faulty cars, or more concerned with the brand’s plans to insure that cars in the future will be safe and functional?
It definitely was necessary for Tiger to speak after the media firestorm detailing his actions. He needed to clear the air on a variety of issues because of his status as one of the world’s largest, most influential figures. His endorsements with brands like Nike and Gatorade as well as his supposed status as a role model made it necessary to prepare his image with some type of statement. But much of the anger related to the nature of Tiger’s apology is misguided. With his apology, Tiger said that:
- He is sorry; he let down his sponsors and fans, and wants to be forgiven.
- He believes that he deserves to be criticized for his ridiculously selfish and privileged behavior.
- He wants to become a better person in the future for his family, and is undergoing therapy to help him through the process.
- He wishes that his family be left alone as they work things out.
- He doesn’t know when he will return to golf because getting his life in order is more important.
What more can anyone want from Tiger Woods after an apology where he outlined all the vices that have plagued him, says he is trying to get better, and asks for some time and forgiveness for his actions? The delivery or motivations behind his apology shouldn’t matter to the average person.
It’s OK not to like Tiger Woods. Given the media exposure of Tiger Woods’ personal life, it’s understandable that some are repulsed and insulted by his actions. Some people didn’t like Tiger before his scandal and will continue to dislike him. Others looked up to Tigers Woods with admiration before his recent struggles. They will choose to either support him as he tries to mentally recover and repair his image or take offense to his recent actions and abandon the Tiger brand altogether. Regardless of how someone feels about Tiger, no one has the right the judge the sincerity of his actions or expect certain level of real emotion as he speaks. Whether or not Tiger is truly sorry for his actions should only be his wife and family’s concern. They are the ones who are truly invested in Tiger Woods’ life. They are the individuals who have been most affected by his actions. They are the group that has to look in him eye everyday and trust that he has changed for the better. They are the people who Tiger Woods desperately needs to appease–not some low-level member of the media who doesn’t know Tiger Woods and is somehow outraged that he can’t ask him questions at a press conference.
Tiger ended his address by saying that he hopes those that who have been offended, disgusted, or disappointed by his actions will find room in their hearts to “one day believe” in him again. The consumers, the general public, will believe in him again through their wallets and increased viewership of tournaments at which he plays. Let’s hope for Tiger’s sake that he can find a way to make his wife and family believe in Tiger Woods, the man. Unlike media or the general public, Tiger’s family probably could care less about the growth of his brand and more about his personal development and signs of true change.