Behind The Scoreboard - Claude Vinson


Thursday, April 19, 2007
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Behind The Scoreboard
By Claude Vinson

Early pick has to be Dallas

Would you believe that the playoffs in the NBA begin next Saturday? Would you also believe that as late as Sunday there were still some spots being decided?

Would you also believe that at the same juncture, over half the teams across the league were playing below five hundred? Also, there are probably too many factors involved to try and figure that one so we will drop it right there.

One thing that is encouraging is that the defending champion, Miami Heat, has clinched their division and is back in the hunt. We all know that for whatever reason, the champions in most arenas have that “letdown” after a championship year. Before anyone jumps to conclusions, yours truly is not predicting a repeat by the Heat.

However, I don’t feel that the three teams which have not been selected yet will have much to say about the final outcome.

If there were a possible pick at this point, it would be foolhardy to select any team other than the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks’ owner (Cuban ) has been uncharacteristically quiet, albeit his coach (Avery Johnson) hasn’t. Johnson, still smarting for the way things turned out last season, has issued some edicts to his team about things that will not be tolerated this season. Think Mark made him do it?

Our team to the North, which all of us should be elatedly supporting, won their 20th game over the weekend and will finish in the cellar behind the Boston Celtics.

The Griz are not fooling themselves. They know that they have a lot of work to do. They need a sound prescription for healing, a good coach and a very good front court man.The quest for the latter two could prove to be backbreakers – and heartbreakers.

First, is there really a coach out there with the grits and groceries to pull the Griz out of its quagmire? And, if, mind you, “IF”, some of the collegiate player “giants” who are eligible for the upcoming draft decide to go pro, will the Griz get the best?

Interesting puzzle, huh?

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