Maverick Domination

Daily Scratch-Monday June 12, 2006
Podcast here:http://media.libsyn.com/media/sportsitch/2006-06-12-20-17-57.mp3
NBA Finals Aftermath:

What we are seeing in this year's NBA finals is truly a paradigm shift. Tall, skilled post players used to dominate the game and you could not win a title without one. 2006 brings the coming of a new, differently skilled big man that can handle the ball, score from anywhere on the court and shoot the ball like a guard. Dirk Nowitzki has brought the NBA into a new era.

Last night's game was evidence that the era of the big man has passed. Now that Shaq has deteriorated into a shell of his former self, especially in the Finals, the center position in the NBA will be just a placeholder and tall guys who have no discernible skills other than being tall, will take up. Shaq truly was the last man to take the mantle from the great bigs of other eras. Russell, Chamberlain, Kareem, Hakeem, Patrick (even though he didn't win a title) and now Shaquille will be the end of the list of great, dominating post players in the NBA.

The big guy in the NBA now looks like Dirk. He has taken what KG, Tracy McGrady, Jermaine O'Neal and Amare Stoudamire haven't done yet and showed them the way. These seven foot, two fifty, scrawny players that can shoot the ball from 25, 30 feet, many of them coming from Europe, are the new wave for the NBA. International scouting is a critical component for teams now more than ever. These European leagues have taught their kids growing up how to handle the ball and shoot it well from a young age and now they are all grown up they still know how to do these things. Things changed for Dirk when he learned to attack the basket regularly. The guy learned to be more aggressive and take it the hoop and this moved him from a good player to a star in the league. There are other international players that should be taking notes from how the Mavericks were able to make their run through to the Finals. We are watching the new blueprint take shape. And with it, the death of one era and the birth of another.

laters
cvz
Rebels by 10

I Think I Won the Lottery

Let me take the opportunity to welcome you to the Sports Itch again! I have ventured into the realm of podcasting and now have attached a way for you to take the Itch with you and download into your player of choice. (Yes, all you ladies can now listen to me in bed. So can you guys. That's a little disturbing, so if you are doing it, fellas, just keep it to yourselves.)

Your Daily Scratch will consist of my opinion on something happening in the world of sports and/or pop culture. I'll try to keep it to one topic, but no promises (especially if I end up talking about something interesting!) Set your player to download all new feeds as I try to keep up with this brave new technology and help you to scratch your daily sports itch.

I plan to include other segments as well so stay tuned for those in the coming soon blog area notch post place.

As always, please feel free to comment on my commentary as discussion makes the world go 'round. (I may even add a segment where I read my email. Exciting, huh?)

laters
cvz
Rebels by 10