THE PALLILOG
Pallilo's view: You might have missed it in your World Series celebrations, but the Rockets are rolling
Nov 10, 2017, 8:09 am
James Harden and Chris Paul have only had one game together. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Almost completely overshadowed by THE ASTROS RUN TO WIN THE WORLD SERIES!...The Rockets have ripped off a 9-3 start.
For the most part so far this season no Chris Paul, no problem. Though for the Rockets to max out on their potential they will need a healthy and high-level Paul come playoff time in the spring. For now however James Harden sure isn’t missing his new to-have-been running mate. With Paul having been out since aggravating his sore knee in the season opener, the Rockets’ offense has been what it was last season: really good with everything revolving around James Harden. With Paul for a full season, Harden probably had little shot this season at the NBA MVP award for which he was runner-up last season. Without Paul for at least a quarter of the regular season schedule with Harden again putting up monster numbers and the Rockets running with Golden State at the top of the Western Conference, he may be the early favorite. With Paul George and Carmelo Anthony added to the Oklahoma City roster, Russell Westbrook’s chances of repeating as MVP are very small. And with the MVP based entirely on the regular season, voters should not penalize Harden for any doubts they have about his ability to deliver deeply into the postseason.
The Cavaliers here Thursday meant the only visit of the season from LeBron James. Such visits are to be savored. LeBron is at worst is the fourth greatest player of all-time. Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar the others in the Fabbest of Fours. LeBron might be number two. In the 80s I was in my teens and 20s. LeBron James is better than were Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. And they were awesome! LeBron vs. Kobe Bryant isn’t close. Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Tim Duncan, and Hakeem Olajwuon are four more legends of the game. Bill Russell is the greatest winner in hoops history. None were as great a player as LeBron.
King James turns 33 next month, with little slippage showing in his game. He’s off to a start of a 14th consecutive season averaging more than 25 points per game. No one else has done 12. James is the greatest physical specimen to ever play basketball and still has a shot to make it a legit argument vs. Jordan for greatest player ever. Those who knock James for his 3-5 record in NBA Finals series need to grasp a couple of things. Number one, LeBron has led eight teams to the NBA Finals! Two, only once has he lost in the Finals as a favorite. Three, the 2007 Cavs’ club he carried to the Finals as a 22-year old is, except James, arguably the weakest Finals roster ever. Or maybe I’m grossly underrating the Daniel Gibson, Larry Hughes, Sasha Pavolic, Drew Gooden, Zydrunas Ilgauskas quintet. They were the other Cavs who started games during the Spurs’ easy four game sweep.
On to LA
The Texans play at the Rams Sunday in what must be one of the lesser anticipated games in Texans’ history. With DeShaun Watson finished until 2018, their season is functionally finished at 3-5 (and as 12 point underdogs at the super-surprising Rams, likely 3-6). More interesting this week was Head Coach Bill O’Brien sounding ridiculous in talking about how Colin Kaepernick “hasn’t played football in a while” as a reason for not signing him, after having signed Matt McGloin and T.J. Yates off the street. And then this week cutting McGloin to sign Josh “I last threw an NFL pass in 2011” Johnson. It wasn’t the first absurd utterance from O’Brien when talking about his QBs. In this instance though his owner did him no favors. Look, regardless of how you feel about Kaepernick’s social activism, it’s Bob McNair’s decision to make, whether on a football or personal level. In the end they are McNair’s Texans not Houston’s Texans. If McNair is timid after his botched (though unfairly excoriated) “can’t have the inmates running the prison” remark, so be it. But if the following is true then McNair should simply and directly have said or issued a statement: “There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Colin Kaepernick will play for the Texans.”
For your attention if of interest…I had the chance to narrate an audio book written by Chris Campise celebrating the Astros run to the ultimate in their sport. It is called “History Earned.” It’s available via download at www.historyearned.com Cost is $13.99 with $1 from every purchase earmarked toward ongoing (and will be for a long time) Harvey relief efforts.
Buzzer beaters
1. Which game is less interesting: UT-Kansas or A&M-New Mexico? 2. I wish Houston wasn’t as lousy a major college basketball market as there is in America 3. Best puddings: Bronze-chocolate Silver-tapioca Gold-butterscotch
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Dusty Baker has won the fourth Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Baseball Digest.
The beloved Baker retired following the 2023 season after spending 56 years in the majors as a player, coach and manager. He was honored Thursday with an annual distinction that “recognizes a living individual whose career has been spent in or around Major League Baseball and who has made significant contributions to the game.”
Willie Mays won the inaugural award in 2021, followed by Vin Scully in 2022 and Joe Torre last year.
“Receiving this award is a tremendous honor,” Baker said in a news release. “I never thought that I’d be in the class of the people that received this award. I know that my late mom and dad would be proud of me. This is really special.”
The 74-year-old Baker broke into the big leagues as a teenager with the Atlanta Braves in 1968 and played 19 seasons. He made two All-Star teams, won two Silver Slugger awards and earned a Gold Glove in the outfield.
He was the 1977 NL Championship Series MVP and finished fourth in 1980 NL MVP voting before helping the Los Angeles Dodgers win the 1981 World Series.
Following his playing career, Baker was a coach for the San Francisco Giants from 1988-92 and then became their manager in 1993. He won the first of his three NL Manager of the Year awards with the Giants that season and spent 26 years as a big league skipper, also guiding the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals and Houston Astros.
Baker took all those teams to the playoffs, winning 10 division crowns, three pennants and finally a World Series championship in 2022 with the Astros. He ranks seventh on the career list with 2,183 wins and is the only manager in major league history to lead five franchises to division titles.
In January, he returned to the Giants as a special adviser to baseball operations. Baker's former team is 7-18 under new Astros manager Joe Espada.
“On behalf of Major League Baseball, I am honored to congratulate Dusty Baker as the 2024 recipient of Baseball Digest’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He joins an incredible club," Commissioner Rob Manfred said. "Dusty represents leadership, goodwill, and winning baseball. His ability to connect with others, across generations, is second to none. He is a championship manager and player. But, most importantly, Dusty is an extraordinary ambassador for our national pastime.”
Baker was selected in voting by an 18-member panel from a list of candidates that also included Bob Costas, Sandy Koufax, Tony La Russa, Jim Leyland, Rachel Robinson and Bud Selig, among others.