Anybody Wanna Play Defense? Anybody?

Watching the NCAA Tournament it is unbelievable how time and time again the the teams allow their opponents to dribble down the floor and hit a big shot to tie the game or close the gap. (Worse yet, it is amazing how many of those game tying plays have come on layups).

Defense, kids. It is the other half of the game.

Seems like the only reason many of these "great games" have been interesting is because the teams don't know how to close it out.

People like to rip on the NBA for what they perceive to be a lack of defense, but watch those games in the final minutes and tell me how many easy buckets you see.

I guess we'll see if the Sweet 16 can identify any kids who know how to do more than play matador defense when it really matters.

NBA Contracts

The Chicago Tribune's Sam Smith reveals contract "logic" in the NBA:

Money matters

The absurdity that is NBA contract discussions is playing out with the Clippers now. They offered Chris Kaman an extension worth $50 million over five years, which doesn't seem unfair for their fourth-best starter. But Kaman, using a logic that amazingly worked for Tyson Chandler, said he's better than Chandler and Samuel Dalembert, who signed for $63 million and $64 million, respectively. So if the Bulls and 76ers made mistakes, the Clippers have to also? Pro sports is the only place that argument actually works.