The Chicago Bulls have announced that Doug Collins is going to be their next head coach.
SJ: Well color me shocked. Didn’t he just said he had ‘no interest’ in coaching again. And that he wanted to spend time with his grandkids? Crazy what a team with the #1 pick will do to you. That and a competitive spirit but that didn’t matter. Collins’ reputation has always been that he is a good teacher with young talent. The Bulls have plenty of that so it’s a good hire in that respect. The question is does he still have that fire to [...]

No need for a big write-up on last night’s Boston/Detroit game. Straight to the point, the C’s escaped with the victory. The props that were going to go to Kendrick Perkins were taken away as he disappeared in the most important quarter of the game. I will give props to KG and Doc Rivers. Doc…way to finally implement the ‘we’re going to foul you instead of let you shoot threes’ strategy. In my head after Stuckey hit the three to cut it the lead to 100-99 Doc said ‘F this’. Kudos to you.
Wait. I forgot about Sam Cassell. Did anyone [...]

We’re not talking about the Lakers going into San Antonio and handing the defending champs their first home loss of the postseason. We’re not talking about how LA is one win away from the Finals. Nor are we talking about how the Spurs are on the brink of elimination, again about to lose in their chase for that elusive back-to-back ring.
We’re talking about referees and conspiracy theories. After a great season and great playoffs, we’re sitting here talking about referees and conspiracy theories.
Conspiracy theorists saw this coming so they probably have shit-eating grins right about now. You know the kind [...]

Nothing too surprising last night. The internet may be full of people who pull the “just when you write them off they’re back” card. Unnecessary. There are certain guarantees in life. Just like people will always watch the Super Bowl and American Idol…and just like Madonna will change her personality every 5 years to stay “fresh”, just like how Inside the NBA will never get old and how the new American Gladiators will never measure up to the old (Gemini would have murdered Zen). Just like ‘The Hills’ will always close the show with dramatic music and camera cuts no [...]

(preface this by saying this series is far from over)
The easy thing to do after Game 2 was to hand the Eastern Conference throne to the Pistons. I can’t blame those who automatically did such a thing. The uninformed were being stuffed with ‘The Celtics can’t win on the road’, ‘They haven’t won all postseason’. It seemed like simple Everywhere you looked the storyline was ‘can the Celtics win on the road?’ and that 0-fer stat was thrown in everyone’s face.
People didn’t do their homework.
This is the Detroit Pistons we are dealing with. What exactly have they done to earn [...]

Very interested in seeing how San Antonio responds. The same way that they broke Phoenix’s heart in Game 1, they just got their heartbroken. We could probably count on our hands the times that the Spurs have choked up a 20+ lead during this era. Think about how many times they have done that in a GAME let alone a half in the playoffs. One of the biggest knocks against the Spurs and one of the biggest reasons they have never gone back to back: they lose motivation. Do the Spurs have enough motivation to come back and try and [...]

That was one great game.
I highly doubt any of the talking heads with microphones or those with pens in their hands are going to take the time to say that. They’ll instead do what they do and go for a storyline or a soundbite. This series…is not over. The road to the title now goes through Auburn Hills…
…just like it has the last 5 years.
You know you’ve seen a great game when both teams can come out of it with a positive outlook. I’m sure both teams fanbases’ or going to spin it. In Detroit’s favor is the fact that [...]

(I’m a day late sue me)
Detroit/Boston: Game 1 is already in the books so I can’t do a huge write up on this series. Let’s instead pretend to be on ESPN and point out the obvious. The Pistons can’t win if Chauncey is going to be hobbled the entire series. And to be honest I’m not sure he is going to get any better than he was last night health wise. Having a week off to rest and to get treatment is out of the window. Flip needs to get Chauncey down in the post and have him work out [...]

(No worries I’ve already slapped myself multiple times for the title. It was completely irresistible.)
In an event that no one (not even gypsies) saw coming, the Bulls brought their 1.7% chance of getting the #1 pick in this years NBA Draft and left Secaucus with that number one pick. No one saw this coming, especially not yours truly. But you know we probably should have known that anything in the world is possible if Skip Bayless is being paid to be on television everyday, Tim Legler is a basketball expert and Kevin Federline is still somewhat relevant.
This is the ultimate [...]

It’s amazing the difference a year makes.
Last year we were sweating out the days leading up to the NBA Draft Lottery here at the Project. The date May 22nd was make-it or break-it for us. Not getting one of the top 2 picks would have crushed the remaining Blazer faithful. Especially after the sting of having the best c chance in 06 and watching Toronto get the #1 pick. The stress level leading up to last year was unbearable…it is quite nice actually being able to enjoy the lottery for once.
(Don’t believe me? Take it from me…last year was the [...]