Uh Dala....hopefully you are watching the game tonight and saw none other than Lebron James guarding the other teams point guard for most of the 2nd half of the 1st quarter...

Magic played point guard but rarely was matched up against the other team's point. That job went to byron scott or michael cooper or norm nixon when he was there. Bird played 3 or 4 but was always matched up against the slower player of the other team. Iverson played 2 guard at philly but rarely matched up against the other team's two guard.

My point is that just because you "play" a position doesnt mean you defend it.

LOL. LOL. they are basically playing zone and the other teams point is a self check. His job isnt to "guard" the point its to double off the ball because that is the weakest player.

Chuck im giving basketball classes saturday mornings. You are welcome to attend. The first class is titled "the cap" and its intended to inform guys like king glorious that you can't trade 3 players for a single draft pick. Bring the donuts and the coffee.

he is guarding Rafer Alsoton now, you know one of those guys that he doesnt have enough lateral quickness to cover...

Regardless of what defense they are using he is matched up against the other teams pgs who havent even bothered to attempt to drive by him. he also doesnt usually double, he is usually the weakside help. Guarding the pg allows him to cover both sides since they usually start the offense near the middle of the court. Feel free to use that in your class.

Its not that it is the "point" that he is covering. Alston is the weakest offensive player on the floor so they are basically letting him get his. Basically, a zone.

Alston has hit a couple of shots now. Also, if you notice, they are switching on the high screen and roll and shading to the screener.

Basically, they are giving alston zero respect. If it makes you feel better to say that he is "covering" alston, have at it even though Doug Collins just pointed out exactly what i just said.

I will say this though. He covers a ton of ground quickly. Not side to side so much but straight on no one can cover ground like Lebron.

I know the cap fairly well but as long as you're teaching I'll ask, what happens if the Clippers just paid Zach Randolph his $28 million to get the f*ck out of Los Angeles? Does he still count against the cap both years the same as if he were there or do they just take a cap hit the one year and are free in year two?

Good question. The buyout amount would be distributed over the remaining years of the contract. Lets take randolph for example. He is owed roughly 28 million i think. If he settles for say 20 milllion, 10 million would count this year and 10 million next year. If there were 4 years left, it would be 5 million per year against the cap.

That's what I figured. So even if they want to dump him they'd have to pay $14 million a year, same as they could pay him to be an extra body in practice.

How the hell did Cleveland blow this???

Orlando has Rafer Alston at point...Cleveland hasnt blown anything yet.

I really hope Cleveland doesn't blow this. I'm really looking forward to a showdown between the two best players in basketball.
























Lebron and Melo

Just stand still Dwight, you had position, don't jump. Lebron is sick.

LOL. the great Delonte West.

The best the Magic have played this year.........we have a hell'uva series unfolding here.

I didn't see Labron get hurt....what happened to him?

What city are they from?? Cleveland. End of story. Bad matchup for Cleveland all the way around. Orlando has dominated them the last 3 years. Just because it's the playoffs doesn't magically mean Cleveland can suddenly match up with them.

Great game. Could have gone either way. I think Van gundy made some adjustments at half time that really made the difference including the way they attacked the lebron zone and halfcourt traps.

Obviously, Cleveland's perimeter shooters will do a better job in hitting the open shots in the subsequent games. A couple of interesting stats:

- cleveland's bench was outscored 25-5 and all five points came from joe smith.

- orlando shot 55% from the field.



Interesting what charles barkley said just now. "cleveland tried to hide lebron on defense against rafer alston." LOL

ok he isnt guarding the pg, it is just an illusion. Regardless of the purpose he is matched up with the PG and was for more than 1/2 the game. And referring to Doug Collins is really weak...

They got beat thats what happened to him. Kobe has a finger issue whenever the lakers start losing. Its quite fashionable you know.

Next game when he throws in 40, he is even more of a stud because he did it while nursing an injury.