Celtics-Heat Game 1: Let's Get Physical, Physical

Yesterday's game one matchup in the Eastern semis between Boston and Miami presented what is likely to be the case for seven games: chippy basketball between two teams that so clearly hate each other, it's beyond Romeo and Juliet shit. Here are some (increasingly belligerent) thoughts that I jotted down as I watched in anguish, sipping Bud Light Wheats (or whatever they're called; good though, very good beer) and yelling at my television.

The New Big Three?

Kelly Dwyer raises a very good point about the cover of Sports Illustrated's NBA preview issue:


Weird, right?! If I had to guess, I'd say that Russell Westbrook was busy studying up on Obama's tax policy and James Harden was combing his beard.

Love the cover nonetheless.

Weekend Edition: Nenad Jailed, Thunder Sound Off

Oklahoma City Thunder Center Nenad Krstic, generally known for his jumpshot and aversion to physical contact, spent last night in jail after throwing a chair in a brawl that erupted during an international game between Serbia and Greece.

The Thunder met their demise this post season due to their lack of a true big man. Krstic's tenure with the Thunder has been regarded as a stopgap, a space-filler until the team can develop one of their young Centers. We've offered a few ideas for them, but so far none have taken. So at 8.4 points and 5 rebounds per game, Nenad Krstic remains their man. A Krstic suspension could spell bad news for the young guns of OKC. The Thunder have plenty to say about Nenad's brawl. Here are some highlights:

Team Dreamin' 2011: THUNDER

At No Regard, we love basketball. We love the spectacle and strategy of the game, but sometimes the league's lack of imagination confounds and disappoints us. Call us optimists, visionaries, or kids who watched too much Space Jam, but we have ideas. Damn are we gonna share 'em.

The Thunder found near-immediate success settling into Oklahoma City; that which can't be credited directly to Kevin Durant's instant superstardom certainly goes to a young bench teeming with raw talent.

Watching a Thunder game this season guarantees three things:

1) KD and Russell Westbrook continuing to blossom before your eyes.

2) A host of rising stars jockeying to position themselves around Kid Delish and Jet Zero.

3) A gargantuan and vacuous black hole at the 5-spot, a position the front office seems intent to never actually fill.

The Thunder need more guards like Peyton Manning needs another endorsement deal. Ignoring the need for big men troubled them all season. Surrendering the paint buried them in the playoffs. Do we have ideas for them? Of course we do.

Consider the above photo. Pick out who is the most bored and who is the craftiest guy there. Easy, right? Bored goes to Nick Collison (Lower Left, Napping). Craftiest goes to James Harden (Top Back Right, Suit).

James, Nick, can you guys come over here for a second? Hey fellas, have you ever seen Freak the Mighty?

Perfect. Here’s what we’re gonna do…