It's All In A Name

Thanks to Rod Benson (of Yahoo Sports, Ball Don't Lie) for providing one of the most entertaining reads I've experienced in a while. Amazing what a Cal grad can come up with.

I can't say the same for everyone, but I've really enjoyed this years NBA playoffs. It seems that every game there's something more interesting than the game before. If the Lakers lose by 30 one night, they come back and win by 40 the next night. If the Hawks lose by 10 one night, they come back and lose by 20 the next night. The Bulls and Celts went to the wire and the Spurs got knocked out early — both surprising results.

For me, the playoffs changed when Antoine Wright failed to successfully foul 'Melo in Game 3. He then started a media frenzy when he asked the media if he was supposed to "Derek Fisher" 'Melo to prevent the shot attempt. Whether he was right or wrong, or the quote was good or bad, it changed the way I look at every player and every play in the playoffs.

Remember the days when a fade-away jumper was called a "Jordan"? A shot off the glass used to be called a "Duncan"? At least that's what we called them where I played. Antoine Wright(notes) opened up a whole new way of naming plays on the court that I had never thought of before.

For example, an extremely hard intentional foul is now a "Derek Fisher." No matter what, it's a term coined forever. Now, if someone tries to "Derek Fisher" you and still hit a game winner, then you pulled a "'Melo." If you pull a "'Melo" without the "Fisher," then it's just a "Big Baby." If you hit a three in somebody's face, then you "Eddie Housed" him. But beware, repeatedly "Eddie Housing" somebody will definitely result in that person "Rafer Alstoning" you right back.

Take off your headband first, please.

Are you starting to see how my mind has been working since Wright didn't wrap 'Melo up?

The thing is that some guys' names already have meaning. Like no matter Paul Pierce(notes) does, pulling a "Pierce" in the playoffs means that you have to get hurt so badly that you can't even walk, and then come back and play like you've never played before.

Pulling a "Kobe" has so many meanings I can't even begin to count.

When I watched Ron Artest(notes) get ejected against the Lakers twice, I would have called an ejection a "Ron Artest." I would have considered cutting a Rockets logo into your hair to be a "Ron Artest." I would have even said that if people call you "Kobenator," that you must have pulled a "Ron Artest," but anybody who has watched the NBA for years knows that pulling a "Ron Artest" involves a cup of beer, a scorer's table, and a melee brawl.

It's all so confusing.

I'm loving these playoffs for a number of reasons — "The Name Game" just happens to be my favorite right now. Thanks, Antoine. I guess the NBA playoffs are where "making a name for yourself happens."

Does someone else's name "mean" something? Let me know.

Time For Me To Ball and Some News

I hope my coach does not want us to adopt this blocking out technique Chris Bosh is using.

Over the next four days I will be in Cairns for their annual Queensland Cup. This has become a four team event that the Taipans put on during the preseason.

This year Sydney Spirit will join the three Queensland franchises (Gold Coast, Cairns and Townsville) as we battle it out for this prestigious title.

All teams play each other once during the tournament and a winner is crowned at the end. If there are multiple teams on the same amount of wins at the end of it all, Cairns head honcho Juanita O'Brein finds her Casio fx-82 (calculator), punches some numbers in furiously and will then announce that Cairns won due to the formula she was using.

What I'm really looking forward to seeing over the weekend:

- If Pero Cameron has changed his eating habits over the off season. I'm sure I will find out when he sets his first screen on me.

- How new Sydney Spirit import Derrick Lowe is handling playing for a high octane team. Lowe went to Washington State University, a school that takes every ounce of air out of the ball.

- Will anyone have a worse haircut then Corey "Homicide" Williams? I find that hard to believe, but I will take my camera just in case.

- How many times a Cairns fan yells out "nice shot (Brad) Newley", when it is actually Cam Tovey.

- Does Daniel Joyce have any new ink?

- Will Spirit rebounding machine Matt Knight still be rockin a perm this year?

- How confused Corey Williams will be when both Brad and Drew Williamson are on the court at the same time? Corey has had a little problem so far remembering who is who.

Tomorrow night's games are as follows:

Townsville Crocs vs Sydney Spirit (5.30pm)
Cairns Taipans vs Gold Coast Blaze (8.00pm)

I will have daily updates on these games, providing Cairns hotels have Internet service.

News and Views

- Yao Ming's bed from the Beijing Olympics is just one of the many items up for auction.

- Darryl McDonald and Warrick Giddey will lace them up this weekend for the Melbourne Tigers. The Tigers are hurting for numbers for their preseason game due to several of their players (and coach) committed to the ABA finals this weekend. I wonder if Andrew Gaze will dust them off, just so Giddey can get a stat in the form of an assist?

- I know my man over at A Stern Warning will have covered this so go there to find more. But former Portland Trailblazer Kevin Duckworth has died at the age of 44. I once bumped into the "Duck" in a USA airport. My recollection of this moment - the biggest leather jacket I have ever seen to this day. (I have seen 7'6 Shaun Bradley wearing a leather jacket but the "string bean" shopped for his jacket in the belt section.) RIP Kevin Duckworth.

- Perennial ABA juggernaut Cameron Tragardh is trying to flex his muscle. This year's ABA is not over and the Wollongong Hawks centre is already putting demands on Bundaberg if they wish to secure his signature for next season.

- The guys at Sports Count have a few good reads. First one is on NBA players and their tuff stickers, while they also get in on the athletes and blogging debate.

- Cairns Taipan Gary Boodnikoff is getting back to his best.

- Darwin All-Stars lighting it up in the Brunei Cup.

- Adelaide 36ers believe they have a good feeling about this team.

- World Hoops Blog has athlete/blogger Rod Benson signed in France.

- New Zealand Breakers are coming to the mainland for 8 days to see what is new in the world plus play some preseason games.

- Crocs go hard, as always.

- TrueHoop has a nice write up about Kevin Duckworth.

- Not a good day for former NBA players. Wayman Tisdale has part of his leg removed to stop cancer.

- A couple weeks ago I introduced an Aussie kid by the name of Angus Brandt. He has caught the attention of many college coaches in the USA. Here is a little update of what a scouting service is hearing and check out the list of schools already.

- New Zealand Breaker fans, you can now get closer to your favourite player. Check this out.

Check out athlete/blogger Rod Benson on ESPN's E:60