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He truly is a poor man's Bill Simmons. By fighting an off-the-cuff emotional article with another one, he's just looking like a BlogBaby.
BLOGFISH
The 33-8 Mavs: Half-Way, and Half-Wits
Somebody around here once wrote that "Mike Fisher is a poor man's Bill Simmons,'' which I took as a compliment in many ways. To labor as I have since 1982 to get editors to approve of sports articles I considered insightful and accurate yet snarky and edgy -- and then to see young Simmons do it so effortlessly, and better than I ever dreamed -- well, I couldn't be more pleased. (Except for the "poor man'' part. Less "poor,'' I guess, would technically cause me to be more pleased.)
So I don't want to get in a pissin' match with Simmons when I reference his recent french-kiss-disguised-as-a-column praising the Phoenix Suns as "surpass(ing) anything we've seen since Magic-Kareem-Worthy-Cooper-Scott-Thompson/Green or Bird-Parish-McHale-Johnson-Ainge-Walton'' and potentially "historically good.''
Bill, how can the Phoenix Suns be the greatest team in NBA history when they aren't even the greatest team in this year's Western Conference?
Thursday's 114-95 home win over the Lakers brings us to the halfway point of the NBA season, a good time to take stock in what elite teams like Phoenix and Dallas are accomplishing. Let's cover some of the happenings at American Airlines Center while also digging though Simmons' exhaustive (and as always, highly-entertaining) Suns suck-up and see if there are bones to pick, gaps to fill, components that are missing. ...
SIMMONS WRITES: The Phoenix Suns. ... have a chance to be historically good. You could be bouncing your grandkids on your lap someday and telling them that you watched the 2007 Suns. Naturally, nobody's talking about them. Everyone's tired of hearing about Nash at this point, and since they don't have the best record in the league, there isn't any urgency to make a fuss about them. But. ... They're sniffing at true greatness.
BONES, GAPS AND MISSING COMPONENTS: One of Simmons' greatest skills is combining the know-how of a basketball insider with the crazy-off-the-wall hoohaw of a beer-and-baloney-filled fan. Only using those split personalities can he write one sentence that says "nobody's talking about them'' and then another sentence that says "Everyone's tired of hearing about'' them.
Bill, if "nobody's talking about them,'' how can anyone be "tired'' of them?
Nobody talks about the Phoenix Suns? Las Vegas digs the Suns. Jack McCallum just wrote a book about 'em. Sports Illustrated seems to love them second only to D-Wade. And, um, Mr. Simmons. ... you just wrote a one-billion-word essay on them for "The Worldwide Leader In Sports.''
Since when is the publishing world, Sports Illustrated and ESPN "nobody''?
SIMMONS WRITES: The Suns are 26-2 in their last 28 games. Here were their two losses: Dec. 22: They lose to the Wizards in OT (144-139) in a game that Arenas tied with a 3-point play in regulation, then Nash missed a wide-open 3 that could have ended it. Dec. 28: They lose in Dallas by two (101-99) when Nowitzki made a jumper with 0.1 seconds left. With two reasonable breaks (Nash making the 3-pointer, Nowitzki missing the jumper), the Suns could be working on a 28-game winning streak right now.
BONES, GAPS AND MISSING COMPONENTS: Well, yeah, but. ...
, if Nowitzki missed other shots, other teams would be winning games against Dallas. And if Nash made every shot, Phoenix would never lose.
How is the fantasy of a "two-losses-short-of-a-28-game-win-streak'' superior to this reality: During approximately the same time frame, the Mavs mounted REAL streaks of 12 wins, 13 wins and now six wins. Bill, add it up: 12+13+6 = 31. That's 31 REAL WINS that were achieved in REAL STREAKS.
Not streaks you "wish'' would happen because you enjoy watching the Suns. Real wins. Real streaks. Real streaks that provide the Mavs with a 33-8 record through the halfway point of the season, which ties the franchise-best mark (set in 2002-03) through 41 games played.
I'm not saying being 26-2 isn't impressive. I am saying it's NOT Magic-Kareem-Worthy-Cooper-Scott-Thompson/Green or Bird-Parish-McHale-Johnson-Ainge-Walton. In fact, I'm saying that because there is a certain other active NBA team that has a similarly impressive winning percentage (with a 33-4 mark in their last 37 outings) and that certain team is 2-0 against the "historically good'' Suns and that certain team is in first place in the NBA while the "historically good'' Suns are not in first place. ...
A missing component, Bill?
SIMMONS WRITES: Barbosa: He'd be the best guard on more than half the teams in the league right now. ... Diaw: Killed them in the first few weeks by showing up out of shape, now he's fine ... Bell: He's also their fiercest compe or ... Marion: As long as he's happy, playing hard and feeling even mildly appreciated, the 2007 Suns are unstoppable ... Stoudemire: I'd say he's about 87 percent back, which makes him the second-best center alive (behind Yao and tied with Dwight Howard) and a top-20 player. ... Nash: I wouldn't have voted him MVP the past two years (when he did win), but I'd absolutely vote for him this year (when he won't win because nobody's prepared for a world where Steve Nash is a three-time NBA MVP).
BONES, GAPS AND MISSING COMPONENTS: We can play that same game with the Mavs' roster -- and base it on Thursday's win over the Lakers alone: Josh Howard finished with 29 points and 11 rebounds. ... Jason Terry recorded a double-double with 12 points and a Mavs-season-high 13 assists. ... Erick Dampier grabbed 10 rebounds and his little-used backup 'Gana Diop grabbed eight more. ... "Scrubs'' Devean George, Jerry Stackhouse and Anthony Johnson all scored in double figures. ... Oh yeah, and Dirk (with another almost-automatic 27/10) is, like, the best basketball player on the planet.
Phoenix is better than all that? By what measure?
My take on Simmons' Suns takes (and notice he only goes six deep because Phoenix only goes six deep): Barbosa would be Dallas' third-best guard. ... Diaw being out of shape is quite an accomplishment! ... Bell's "fierceness'' is familiar. It reminds of Mavs spare parts Buckner, George and Stackhouse. ... Stoudemire is an incredible talent. To say anything more, at his age and coming off the knee problems, is premature. ... Nash is. ... well, read on.
SIMMONS WRITES: That's the biggest difference between the 2006 Suns and the 2007 Suns, with Nash's haircut symbolizing everything -- they play with a chip on their shoulder. ... (Nash has) a new and improved killer instinct.
BONES, GAPS AND MISSING COMPONENTS: Okay, I officially cannot stand it anymore! Steve Nash changed his hairstyle and that's why the Suns are as good as Magic's Lakers and Bird's Celtics. ... and BETTER than Dirk's Mavs?!
Two sidebar issues here: One, Simmons will be tickled to learn that now Nash and the fellas are putting away the razors as long as their win streak continues. "I don't know who started it, but I got suckered into it,'' Nash said. (Ain't those Suns cute, Bill?) Two, Dirk cut his hair short to begin the year and will let it grow all season. And Jason Terry appears to have gotten his 'do shaved way down. And Austin Croshere seems to have a receeding headline and. ... wait a minute. ... why are we discussing the strategic importance of Suns' and Mavs' hairdos?
SIMMONS WRITES: If the Suns stay healthy, they should win 67-70 games and nobody should touch them in the playoffs except for Dallas, the one contender that can dictate a specific tempo and force its opponents to abide by it. Still, I can't imagine the Suns blowing a seven-game series. ...
BONES, GAPS AND MISSING COMPONENTS: Boy, I CAN imagine the Suns losing a playoff series. Since, you know, I saw them do it just a few months ago against Dallas! The 75-Member Staff was speculating the other day, as Simmons did with Phoenix, on Dallas' chances of winning 70. The Mavs are 33-8. You do realize, don't you, that to win 70, they'd have to be SUBSTANTIALLY BETTER in the second half than they've been in the first? That after going 33-8 in the first 41 games, they'd have to go 36-6 in the second half?
Does anybody really wanna put a buck on Dallas doing that? Or on Phoenix being even better than that?
Once again, the crazy-off-the-wall hoohaw of a beer-and-baloney-filled fan.
He truly is a poor man's Bill Simmons. By fighting an off-the-cuff emotional article with another one, he's just looking like a BlogBaby.
Is this guy a professional writer?
No wonder I've never heard of him.
no. he simply just shot down the hype about the Suns being "historically" great that Simmons tried to hype up.
are you a professional sportswriter analyst (if that even exists)?
no wonder no one gives a what you think, including the writer of this article.
anyways, the fact is, its only halfway through the season, and there is a lot of basketball left to be played. its way too early to crown anyone champions, or say that a team will win 70 games, and be historically great on the level of the 96 Bulls and such. 70 wins is nice. but it doesnt mean a damn thing unless you got a championship that comes with it.
lmao, the best part of fisher's piece is when he targets the whole "historically good" part of simmons' love poem, that's some pwnage
hey moron, you do realize how bill simmons got his job with espn don't you?
Last edited by ponky; 01-19-2007 at 04:57 PM. Reason: grammar
Dude, the Mavs are the best team in the NBA bar none. Suns are good, even great, no question. But the Mavs are the best. Period.
End of discussion.
"OH YEAH!!! ESPN's Bill Simmons got ripped to shreds by some blogger no ones ever heard of! That will teach him!! YEAH!!!"
- Mavericks fans
Don't be jealous...take Simmons' advice and take some time to stop and admire what an incredible team the Suns are. Like he said, you might not see a team this good for years to come.
It's pretty easy to rip Simmon's arguments to shreds, famous or not famous. No one's claiming the Suns aren't a great team, or that they will not beat the Mavericks in the playoffs, but Simmon's argument is wrong: Dallas has been the best team in the NBA thus far, just a hair better than Phoenix. Doesn't mean Phoenix won't overtake them at some point this season, just that the annointing is a little premature and short-sighted.
you never answered my question, continue with your idiocy...there are lots of very knowledgeable suns fans, jmark-something, amare32, sometimes ron mexico when he's not busy being a homer....you're not one of them, you never produce anything of substance
It won't surprise me if Phoenix and Dallas end with only a few games apart in the final w/l records.
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AleksaNicole
Last edited by Amare_32; 09-01-2011 at 02:42 PM.
Please, I'm the most objective SOB on this board... by "objective" I mean Dirk gets all the whistles... haha.
Let's just do it and get it over with. Then when we're done I'll do the Tim Thomas hand in the face to your boyfriend and see if he thinks it's taunting... just kidding.
Back on topic - "Blogfish"??? this looks like it could have been written by "BlogMaverick" himself...
Mavsfan logic: If a 12 year old girl beat Shaq in a free throw shooting contest, that would teach Shaq and his 4 championship rings and 100 gazillion dollars.
Shaq would be pwned fo sho, right Mavs fans???
Yea-yuhhhhh!
Whiners please note:
po·ten·tial /pəˈtɛnʃəl/ [puh-ten-shuhl] –adjective
1. possible, as opposed to actual: the potential uses of nuclear energy.
2. capable of being or becoming: a potential danger to safety.
3. Grammar. expressing possibility: the potential subjunctive in Latin; the potential use of can in I can go.
4. Archaic. potent1.
–noun
5. possibility; potentiality: an investment that has little growth potential.
6. a latent excellence or ability that may or may not be developed.
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME potencial (< OF) < LL potentiālis. See potency, -al1]
Simmons ain't saying they ARE historically great. He's saying it's possible. He's also NOT saying that the Mavs are NOT potentially historically great.
The English Language - your friend when you are trying to make a point.
Hey.....eh...Ponky,
The ol "I don't like and its not cuz youre a Suns fan or that you make fun of my team" post has no effect on me. Im not losing sleep over the friends Im not making from the Dallas area.
Its OBVIOUS Dallas fans are jealous at the love the Suns are receiving.
Hey...its not our fault Dirk choked in the finals. Its not our fault Avery Johnson decided to slow the Mavs' game down to a crawl. Its not our fault that Cuban is so unpopular. Its not our fault Dirk and co. aren't cool ("Looking for freedom" anyone?).
Mavs fans/bloggers read Simmons' piece and thought "Why is he writing this stuff about the Suns and not about us?" Instead of looking at your own teams weaknesses as an answer, you decided the only appropriate thing to do was to try to rip the Suns. That doesn't change Simmons' article.
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