Cup of Coffee

Cup of Coffee: June 15, 2015 Saying it’s Not Enough is To Mistate It

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What LeBron is doing in this series is all you can ask for. To say it is not enough is to not understand. True, Golden State won last night and was the better team. The not enough part was from the other guys in Cleveland.

78 thoughts on “Cup of Coffee: June 15, 2015 Saying it’s Not Enough is To Mistate It”

  2. The NBA last night.

    Golden State went small last night and I think it was a winning strategy. I think. What it allowed LeBron to do was to go absolutely wild and he put up another game for the ages: a triple double with 40 points. In addition, I think that LeBron didn't look so exhausted. So, you could argue that it gave Cleveland a chance. I like that they went back to Mosgov late. He was ineffective, though, and that spelled doom because in the long run, Cleveland didn't have the other parts to stay with GSW, especially when Curry goes off like he did.

    I love the game of basketball. I love the NBA. Why the NBA? Why not college basketball? Because the NBA doesn't have the single elimination gimmick. Without a seven game series, we might have been talking about Dellavedova for years. He's already just a footnote, though, with this format. No, the NBA is about elite squads lining up and playing best of seven. I suppose some would say "cash grab". Perhaps a five game series would be enough. Really, though. If you are a fan of the game, why wouldn't you want to see the singular brilliance of the Best Player of the World up against the greatest cold-blooded assassin the game has ever seen? That's what we had last night. I'm not going to say that LBJ is the greatest player ever, but he's on a very short list. I think this is the best Finals performance I've ever seen, all apologies to those who are still clinging to Rick Barry is teh greatest. I suppose some say that it's "ugly", but I think that's just code for I still hate LeBron for I dunno, a mistake he made five years ago. Last night, though, we've also seen what I believe to be unbelievable shooting by Curry. You could say that that was a fluke last night. But, I've seen him do it many times. LeBron has put on a show all series that should have every real basketball fan nodding in admiration. Last night, Curry did the same. I literally thought I can't believe that about ten times last night.

    Also, wasn't it so much fun to watch Andre Iguodala clank free throw after free throw when Cleveland employed the hack-a-bricklayer tactic? I hate that so much. I suppose Andre should just make his free throws, amirite? Adam Silver, you need to end this nonsense after this season.

    On Tuesday night, Cleveland needs to slow the game down and try to build a lead to hold GSW off late. It's possible that they could do that. But, GSW is in control and I don't see how the Warriors don't win this title.

    1. What about an opening round with five-game series (or two rounds)?

      I'll agree that the NCAA tournament is sugar rush and freak occurrences, which is why I prefer it, as I am not particularly a fan of the sport.
      I can't imagine serious fans prefer the NCAA to the NBA, although it seemed like it might be aesthetically displeasing at the turn of the millennium when the Lakers and Spurs were everything.

    2. I saw people on Facebook griping about LeBron saying he is the best player in the world. He's completely correct! I don't know why that upsets people.

      1. Letting others say you are the best player in the world has the advantage of third-party validation of the claim. Also, much less douche baggy.

    3. I'm still not (entirely) persuaded, but I am very, very impressed. Last night's LBJ performance was perhaps his best of the series. Certainly it was his most efficient. He was brilliant. He just isn't getting enough help.

      But whatever. This has been a very compelling series. Two different styles, trying to impose their wills on the other. Cleveland, playing with one hand tied behind its back, has been incredible. GSW's superior talent and depth, and Kerr's willingness to adapt, is ever so slowly pulling this series out. But absolutely nothing in this series has been easy (other than Mozgov's many dunks on dives to the rim).

      One other thing -- I've been very happy for David Lee. Dude has been a Mensch all year. He was a freaking All Star two years ago and had nearly the same numbers pre-break last year (18.8/9.8/2.3) before getting injured down the stretch. He is finally getting a chance to contribute meaningfully and taking advantage (other than missing too many g-d layups!).

      Also, Andrew Bogut is saying all the right things -- and possibly even believing them. The Warriors very likely would not have made the Finals without him, and here he is getting a DNP? Wow. Again, Kudos to Kerr for staying flexible and for creating an environment in which every player seems to have bought in.

      1. Let me try to lay out the case for Rick Barry, however.

        In the 1975 Finals, his Warriors swept the heavily-favored Bullets. 29.5 ppg/4 rpg/5 apg/3.5 steals/g, 43 min/g. It was basically Rick Barry and the Warriors defense. Arguably the biggest upset in an NBA championship finals series. Those were huge numbers.

        When you go through the series game-by-game, they don't seem quite so impressive. Phil Smith had a huge Game 1, Keith Wilkes played great defense against the Big E as a very undersized 4 (sound familiar?), and the two-headed monster of Clifford Ray and George Johnson combined for 17.5 reb/g.

        But, make no mistake, Barry was the focus of everything on the court at the offensive end, and the Bullets did everything they could to try to take him out of his game (including Mike Riordan being a thug in Game 4). It just didn't work.

        For all-around play, LeBron's numbers are more impressive, and he's certainly a great, great, great player having a great, great, great series. But give Barry some love, man.

        1. I have way too many friends that are Michael Jordan fans. I'm sick of hearing that LeBron isn't Jordan. Or that Jordan would have taken over that game last night and won it.

          1. So true. At last count, MJ won exactly zero rings without Scottie Pippen, who just happens to be (deservedly) one of the top 50 NBA players all-time, and who was in his prime. LeBron's next best player, with Kyrie out, has been Tristan Thompson, a guy who is basically a poor man's Dennis Rodman.

        2. Heheheh.

          In the absence of turnover stats from 1975, I calculate Barry's usage rate in the Finals at about 30.8. With turnovers, probably around 35. That's quite a bit below LeBron's current levels. Usage rate, of course, does not include assists, just FGA, FTA, and turnovers. LeBron has either scored, assisted, or hockey-assisted on nearly every Cavs basket in this series. Pretty astounding.

  3. Jose Berrios came out of yesterday's game after three innings. The game log shows that the last out of the third was a ground ball hit back to him. I can't find out anything about his condition, which I take as a good sign--if he was seriously hurt, you'd think it would be big news. If anyone sees anything, please let me know.

  4. So, weather permitting, I think I may end up being the first citizen to witness the amazing Byron Buxton in a Major League game. I'm planning to see tomorrows afternoon game in STL with a friend (yeah, he's a Cards fan).
    Not sure who has the game recap for Tuesday's game, but if they don't mind, I'd like to have a crack at it.

    1. I'm pretty sure PMinell is going to be at tonight's tilt. Weather permitting, and all that.

      1. That said, I'm eager to hear a report/recap from someone actually witnessing the healing powers of Buxton in person.

  5. I'm headed to the Thursday game with work. Anyone else going?
    It's a division outing, not entertaining clients, so I wouldn't get scolded for walking off for a bit, like I did last year.

    1. I'm tempted. Haven't been this year, so if I end up going I'll shoot you a line. Maybe Mags'll be up for it plus Kingsfield softball/Lowbrow Nachos after for a big Thursday? Only time will tell.

        1. The Kingsfield Pickup Softball thing, usually stops by around 9pm on Thursdays for the awesomeness that is LB Happy Hour. I don't think I have your # so I emailed you mine.

    2. A few of us are considering it, but I have a lunch meeting I haven't been able to wiggle out of yet.

    1. Mauer has always lacked power, or at least power relative to his 6-foot-5 frame and unrealistic expectations for how he might develop into a perfect, flawless player, but even his modest power has vanished.

      Woof, what a sentence. Occasionally editors are a good thing. That piece could have used a 250 word trim.

        1. Yeesh ... I didn't see it before MinnPost. I appreciated the content of the article, if not the delivery.

  7. Mrs. Hayes & I enjoyed our weekend trip up to the Cities. We drove through rain all the way from the People's Republic to somewhere between Hudson & St. Paul, where it finally cleared. My cousin's grad party was nice - plenty of time to chat with family, especially my 85-year old great uncle Tom, who I don't get to see much anymore. He's the oldest living relative on my paternal grandmother's side.

    We stayed downtown at Hotel Ivy, which was my first time staying in a true luxury hotel. What an eye-opening experience. There were fewer outlets for charging electronics than in most any other hotel room I've stayed in above the Motel 6 level. They wanted another freakin' $6 for hotel WiFi for one night on top of a room rate just under two Benjamins. The bathroom was pretty swank and the towels were nice.

    Saturday night we went to Vincent for cocktails, appetizers, and dessert. Not much has changed - I'm pretty sure some of the pictures are hanging in the same places as they were 14 years ago. I had a pretty good Aviation along with some nice steak tartare, and the butterscotch custard was mighty good. Brunch was even better - we hit Victor's 1959 Café. Mrs. Hayes enjoyed her plantain omelette, and my "Bistec" (really Pulpeta - Cuban meatloaf stuffed with chorizo, onions, & green olives and slathered in Creole gravy) sandwich was delicious. We laughed about the "American Brunch" menu, which was filled with Greek dishes. Mrs. Hayes' life in one menu. We'll be back.

    We rounded out the trip with stops at Kitchen Window and Magers & Quinn. I got a ticket for parking in a residential permit-only area on Girard. The sign that indicated the permit zone was more than halfway down the block and not evident to anyone who would be parking near the corner, so I'm not sure that's exactly fair. It probably killed the difference between buying used books & new, but it was fun to browse a deep, top-notch shop, anyway.

      1. There were at least eight things I wanted to try. I was disappointed that I didn't have room for the mango waffle.

    2. I got a ticket for parking in a residential permit-only area on Girard. The sign that indicated the permit zone was more than halfway down the block and not evident to anyone who would be parking near the corner, so I'm not sure that's exactly fair.

      Heh, I've definitely gotten that ticket before.

  8. Day game(s) alert: Chattanooga is at Birmingham at 11:30 Central and Lansing is at Cedar Rapids at noon.

  9. Movie Day will be Thursday. I used to be able too participate because Monday was a day off, but that hasn't been the case in a while.

    1. I got half, but feel like I should have gotten more. Seems like I should know number 4, but just cant put my finger on it. I got...

      'Spoiler' SelectShow

      1. I don't think I've mentioned it yet, but the Bob avatar has vaulted into my top 3.

        1. I've grown pretty fond of it, too. I picked it at first thinking "good enough for now, I can always change it later" but its only been a few weeks and I can't really think of anything that would make me want to switch.

          1. Um, your name is Mike so...

            I'm just saying that's pretty confusing. That's all.

            2. Image search for "Mike" turns up this gem first. Pretty sure that's not what I want people picturing me as.

              Though, Mikes Tyson and Ehrmantraut show up in top 20 or so, and I guess those wouldn't be too bad. Still don't think they beat Bob, though.

              1. Mike, from now until if/when I meet you at a mini-caucus, I'll be picturing you as the fella from that gem.

          1. Wait, I think I'm wrong. It gave me credit for another one I tried and I didn't notice that it didn't delete that entry when I clicked "back".

      1. Gah! I knew I should have gotten that one. I tried a bunch in that genre, just never could come up with the right one.

  11. Rand with an excellent piece "about Buxton" but really about life.

    This has been a recurring theme lately for my shares, I think. Baseball as metaphor for life. I love this sport.

    1. 'Spoiler' SelectShow

  13. Apparently Bud Black has been fired or otherwise relieved of his duties as manager of the Padres. Somehow he managed to keep his sanity through three ownership changes and pretty mediocre commitment to on-field talent. Any team looking for a change in the dugout should have him high on their list.

    Meanwhile, Andy MacPhail is apparently on the short list for the Phillies' team president gig. I kinda thought he was done after the Orioles.

  14. So, one of the hazards of a staycation is altogether too much time on the Bookface. One of my FB friends is a (very conservative) nurse. She happened to comment on an article claiming that "another" 12-year old girl had just died due to receiving a Gardasil vaccination.

    GAAAH! As of March, some 67 million girls had received HPV vaccines (mostly Garadsil) and the CDC has collected info on some 23,000 reports of side effects, 8 percent of which were considered "serious" side-effects, the vast majority of which have been minor in fact. Those reports include 87 allegations of deaths shortly after administration, some 44 of which the CDC has been able to verify as actual deaths, zero of which the CDC could actually attribute even in part to the vaccine.

    In contrast, more than 11,000 american women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, and more than 3,000 die each year from it. Most of those cases are attributable to infection with one or more HPV strain, whcih infections are largely preventable with timely vaccination.

    The cost of vaccination is on the order of $250 per girl (and, increasingly, boy, as boys are both HPV transmitters and susceptible to associated cancers of the penis). Widespread vaccination has been estimated to cost between $13K and $50K per quality-adjusted life year saved.

    if you don't want to vaccinate your daughters at 12, fine. But don't stick your head in the sand. An estimated half of American girls are sexually active by age 16. Get her protected before she is infected (and her odds of becoming infected with HPV remain on the order of one in two by her mid-twenties).

    Rant off.

    1. I imagine I will.

      But the bigger hazard of a staycation is having to use the term staycation.

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