What The Playoffs Mean: The Playoffs Kinda Suck When Your Team Plays

The playoffs are the sacred text, broad and malleable enough to explain any point of view. They are the way players reach immortality, the way GMs keep their jobs for another year. They are the reason Courtney Lee, Trevor Ariza, JJ Barea and Derek Fisher are kind of close to household names. They are why they play the games and why we watch. But they also mean a lot more than this, which is why we are here. From now until the end of the finals, we'll be here, toiling away, trying to unpack exactly what makes these games so great, exactly What The Playoffs Mean.
 
Here's how I imagine a day in the life of a near-homeless heroin addict:

No Regard Recaps: A New Source of Clean Energy

One Game We Watched Last Night: Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Nuggets: 114, Thunder: 104

This game is the answer the America's clean energy question. Watching Russ and Kenneth and Iggy and even Reggie Jackson blur across the floor like manic jaguars in fast forward presents an idea: Harness this energy to power cities. A Westbrook drive could heat a school for three days. A Faried offensive rebound and dunk could run a fleet of buses for a week. A JaVale goaltend could power one goaltending-powered joke machine for eternity.

If we want to get that highly coveted federal grant, though, somebody has to talk to Kevin Durant. In the fourth quarter, he was not being absurdly athletic and energetic (even though he is). He was being unfailingly polite. On most possessions, he stood behind the three line to the left of the key and called for the ball, which never came. On two consecutive possessions he calmly waved at Westbrook like someone who has run into a friend he is only sort of excited to see. Russell is too constantly hopped up on fury and Cheetos to notice such tepid pleas. Kev didn't get the ball. He is and will always be the most important piece of the Thunder's government proposal, so he needs to act like it.

Sure, this whole energy experiment has its risks (as Serge's bloodied head discovered on its own), but what revolution doesn't? A playoff series between these two teams would ween us of foreign oil in seven games.

One Game We Didn't Watch Last Night: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Sacramento Kings

Clippers: 101, Kings: 116

Haha, ok. So happy the Kings didn't waste a 19-point, 7-assist game by Toney Douglas.

No Regard Presidential Previews: Oklahoma City Thunder (Teddy Roosevelt)

Oh the season. Oh the season! Election or NBA, both are upon us. We're getting into the spirit by bringing you our season previews (with a little help from the presidents). One per day for the next 30 days—which will bring us to the Day of Reckoning. So please join us on the campaign trail as we shake hands, kiss babies and sink jumpers.

“Believe you can and you're halfway there.” - Theodore Roosevelt

An irrepressible, trust-busting, 42-year-old Rough Rider took office upon the assassination of William McKinley. Believing in a policy of walking softly and carrying a big stick, President Theodore Roosevelt issued a corollary to the Monroe Doctrine intended to exercise international policy power whenever necessary. The world was officially on notice. 

The young, confident, occasionally belligerent Thunder came out of nowhere, have taken their lumps and are in this thing for the long haul. New challenges await in the west and a Finals return is not a given. Just as the original Bull Moose gave a 90 minute speech while bleeding through his shirt mere minutes after taking a bullet to the chest, Durant, Westbrook and Harden took to London shortly after their heartbreaking Finals loss and returned wearing gold (no thanks to their buddy Serge Ibaka, who took silver playing for Spain, despite being from the Republic of Congo, go figure). The Thunder are not scared of anything or anyone, and the return of Eric Maynor, as well as the absolute steal of Perry Jones, III in the draft could provide the additional firepower necessary to defeat the Lakers in what we can go ahead and assume will be an epic seven-game Western Conference Finals.

As one of only two current NBA contenders (the other being the Spurs) that was actually built through the draft, the Thunder provide a fascinating longitudinal study of what a team should look like when organically constructed. Durant, Westbrook, Harden and Ibaka have been together for three playoff runs of increasing length, and their ability to play together has improved noticeably each season. There is one final step left, but the road looks more difficult than ever. Will the rough riding Thunder break through the increasingly crowded field? Will Kevin Durant finally hoist a Podoloff trophy? Will Russell Westbrook stop dressing like his sole purpose is to confuse old people? (No, he probably won't.) 

Rushed Pull-Up Jumpers

Pokemon who the team should adopt as its new mascot: Pikachu

Headline we'll be most sick of reading: "Are Durant and Westbrook on the Same Page?"

Headline we're most looking forward to: "James Harden Shaves Beard, Visits Orthodontist"

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you enter the pearly gates?: "My, you fellas have certainly grown."

Lockout Update: Russell Westbrook

The NBPA rejected the owner's latest offer today, most likely dooming the 2011-2012 NBA season.

Russell Westbrook sported a red zip-up sweatshirt to the announcement.

No Regard Daily Recap: Broken Promises, Happy Surprises

One Game We Watched Last Night Even Though We Told You We'd Watch Something Else: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. New Jersey Nets

Thunder: 123, Nets: 120 (3OT)

I was honestly excited for the Grizzlies-Hawks game. When Adam said those sorts of games are pretty much what we're about, I nodded silently but vigorously in my cubicle. Unfortunately, I didn't watch one second of said matchup. I was too busy detoxing in the Nets-Thunder triple overtime holistic sauna.

No Regard Daily Recap: Can There Really Be Only One?



Yeah, I know that's not Chris Paul on the far right, but 3/4s ain't bad.

One Game We Watched Last Night: New Orleans Hornets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Hornets: 89, Thunder: 95

And One Game We Couldn't Help But Watch For A Bit Because The Point Guards Are So Good: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Utah Jazz

Bucks: 88, Jazz: 109


Point guards are really all that matter anymore. We've known this for some time now, but every night in the 2010-2011 NBA season is a blinding reminder. When I look at the schedule each afternoon, it reads not as a collection of teams, but a table of point guards. That's why I was surprised yesterday when Adam picked the Utah-Milwaukee contest as the game we probably wouldn't watch. But that's Brandon Jennings against Deron Williams! I thought to myself. Then I read what Adam actually wrote, only to hear that the Bucks would be decimated by injury, surely leading to them start at least one dude who has no business in a starting line-up (that turned out to be Larry Sanders), and giving relatively big minutes to someone I've never heard of (a person named Jon Brockman played 19 minutes). Still, I couldn't help peeking in a few times to see the two guards hopscotch with one another—and to make sure Deron Williams' hair still looked like it came from The Fifth Element future.

The game I did watch from start to finish, though, was a point guard game of chicken. The quickest way to say it is that Russell Westbrook outplayed Chris Paul (not to mention his own teammate Kevin Durant) in the fourth quarter, positioning his team for the win.

The longer way to explain what happened is that the NBA has turned into Highlander for the league's best point guards. Each night the top guys try to decapitate whichever guard stands in their way, with the eventual goal of being the final immortal standing. Guys who would have done damage in years past—Jameer Nelson, Raymond Felton, and even Tyreke Evans after what Derrick Rose did to him the other night—look like they've never held a blade before. The 2010-2011 season is the time of The Gathering, folks.

You can tell Chris Paul is not pleased with any of this. He thought he's lobbed off enough heads a few years ago to be considered number one, but an ungodly influx of young new point guards has forced him to polish his blade and start slicing. (Interestingly enough, his sword kind of looks like a huge knee brace now.) Last night his craftiness was one quarter away from besting Westbrook's athleticism, but Westbrook took over in the fourth. No one man should have all that power those Cheetos.

No Regard Daily Recap: 10-27-10

One Game We Watched Last Night: Oklahoma City Thunder Vs. Chicago Bulls

Chicago: 95 Thunder: 106

The night, as predicted, belonged to the stars that shined in Turkey this summer for team USA. Durant, Rose and Westbrook were all brilliant in a game that was fast paced, exciting to watch, and full of high-flying offense. KD and Westbrook's combined 58 points led the Thunder to their first win of the season, but Rose's penetration, finishing around the basket, and silly-precise passing didn't make things easy for OKC's version of Batman and Robin. The avid fan should feel more than satisfied with this game after watching young, humble stars put on a show during prime time. And the casual fan got to witness plenty of play above the rim. Here are a few observations that stood out for me:

No Regard Daily Previews: 10-27-10

Game We Will Definitely Watch Tonight: Chicago Bulls Vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

There is a lot on the line for the NBA's new golden boy, Kevin Durant, this season. He's been the recent recipient of some serious praise by fans and experts alike, as many believe that Durant will not only repeat as the NBA's leading scorer, but will also be the league's MVP. After watching his effort this summer, I'm inclined to agree with these arguments. Durant's the real deal Holyfield. And he's got the work ethic and attitude to dominate this year and beyond. I'll be a kid in a candy shop tonight getting my first look at him in an OKC uniform since losing to LA in six last year.

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.

Earning Those Cheetos

Semi-Finals, baby! Team USA bested Russia behind inspired efforts from OKC's finest today in Turkey. Westbrook came up with steal after steal and was able to fly to the rim for some powerful finishes and KD was deadly as usual on the offensive end for the red, white and blue.

The Russians battled in the first half, keeping the game close with offensive rebounding and solid jump-shooting, but they could not find an answer to America's gambling defense during the 3rd quarter. It was a dominating half for the Yanks. Looking ahead, they potentially face a piping-hot Luis Scola-led Argentina team in a game that awards the winner a spot in the finals of this tournament.

Two more wins and Lady Liberty proves once again that basketball's international crown rightfully belongs to the United States of America. Enjoy those cheesy snacks, Westbrook; you burned off those calories, man.

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:

No Regard Video Exclusive: Russell Westbrook Gets The Gold Treatment

NRVE (No Regard Video Exclusives) are our videos. We shoot them, we cut them, we post them. You watch them. It's that simple. Check back for more on-the-spot video updates from major basketball events and original content that hopefully makes you laugh as much as Steve Nash's YouTube channel.

Before you watch this video, you're going to need SOME context. Russell Westbrook had just finished playing for the White Team at last night's World Basketball Festival. Unfortunately, Westbrook's team lost, but you wouldn't know it if you compared Rondo's post-game treatment to Westbrook's. Though the Celtic's PG was denied a seat at the Jay-Z show, our man Russell was given center stage tickets and TWO bags of Cheetos upon losing. We know that this video is just a really long clip of one of our favorite OKC boys eating chips, but pay attention to the way he signs every autograph and high-fives a dude even though he's got cheesy-fingers! What a man.

Want to know what Rondo thought about all this? Keep reading...

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…