Empty the Bench

- That’s the NBA Finals matchup everyone wanted to see, eh? That’s LeBron James “saving the NBA playoffs” and making these last few games of the 2006/07 season watchable? Huh. By my count, that was one of the ugliest all-around contests I’ve ever seen in the Finals, and unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be much indication of that changing all series. By the time the second quarter clock mercifully ticked down to zero, I found myself deliberating between soldiering on through the second half, hoping for some decent basketball to magically present itself, or flicking over to Close Encounters of the Third Kind on AMC.

- It was somewhat amusing during the Eastern Conference Finals, but the endearing humor of Daniel Gibson’s “Boobie” nickname wears off a little bit more every time it’s mentioned. It’s kind of like taking the first bite from a plate of Olive Garden pasta: at first it tastes great, but with each bite it becomes less and less appealing, until finally you push the plate away and ask for the check. That’s not taking anything away from Gibson, the player–his transformation during the playoffs from a green rookie into a legitimate perimeter-scoring threat has been one of the best stories of the postseason–but enough with the “chuckle chuckle his nickname is Boobie chuckle chuckle” stuff. It’s starting to sound a little too, I don’t know, Beavis and Butthead. Are you listening, Mike Breen?

- Ever wonder what goes through the mind of a president of a renowned psychological assessment firm (Caliper)? Check out Jeff Wong’s great interview with Dr. Herb Greenberg over at HoopsAddict.com. Greenberg works with quite a few teams in assessing potential draft picks and how well they project in the pros.

- He’s taken quite a bashing lately, with everyone from Pistons fans to national and local sportswriters alike taking this opportunity to persecute Rasheed Wallace like he was the bane of the NBA and the sole reason for Detroit’s postseason collapse against the Cavs. It’s almost like some think he deserves the death penalty via rusty nails slowly being turned into his skull from 40 different directions. The Ghosts of Wayne Fontes, however, aren’t hearing it.

- Oh, and about how LeBron James was not only going to “save the NBA playoffs,” but also the NBA Finals ratings? Well, that didn’t work out quite so well either. Last night’s Game 1 contest established an all-time low overnight rating. Sports Media Watch has some thoughts on why it happened. Note, Mr. David Stern, that perhaps the superstar nirvana you seek isn’t so unquestionably blissful after all.

- We’re big, big fans of free-agent forward Rashard Lewis, formerly of the Seattle SuperSonics. We’re psyched about the potential landing places for him, including back in the great Northwest with, potentially, Kevin Durant. The one place we don’t want to see him end up is with the poisonous Miami Heat. Please, o great Basketball gods, don’t let it come to fruition.

- Did Joe Dumars and the Pistons promise Rodney Stuckey that if he’s still there for the taking in the upcoming draft, they will definitely pick him?

- Stan Van Gundy was officially named the new head coach of the Orlando Magic. We think he’s a decent enough coach and that he got a bad rep in Miami when Pat Riley threw him under the bus and forced his resignation. Still, every time I see him, I always think about my girlfriend likening him to a defeated vacuum-cleaner salesman.

- ESPN’s John Hollinger lists his top 10 NBA Finals teams ever.

- It’s no secret that Phoenix Suns forward Shawn Marion is on the trading block this summer. One rumor has him landing in Boston in exchange for the fifth-overall pick. I know the Celts are still smarting over missing out on on Oden and Durant, but there’s still going to be an incredible prospect waiting for them at #5. Marion is a great player, but they need to ask for more if they’re serious about this deal.