Morey or Less

Rockets geeky guru GM Daryl Morey, the stats savant Bill Simmons sucks up to, might have outed himself as a hoarder. The Rockets, who had zero first-round selections in 2011, have now stockpiled three: numbers 12, 16 and 18. Houston has missed the playoffs for three straight season, despite posting a winning record in each of them, so "Dork Elvis" has his team "all shook up." Mr. MIT is miffed by mediocrity.

They've coveted a center since Yao Ming retired and a trade for Pau Gasol last year was voided by the league. In order to chase after Dwight Howard, they had chase out Chase Budinger. And they might not be done dealing, since a pick inside the top ten might be required to secure the services of the association's best big man, bad back and all.

At least the Rockets, unlike the hesitant Howard, know what they want. Still, if Morey and Houston can't move any of what are assets only through this evening for a prominent player, they'll look like asses come tomorrow.

Drifting During Drafting

It's called a draft, but it doesn't blow by anymore, ever since ESPN assumed coverage of the event a decade ago. While it's no multiple-day marathon, like its NFL equivalent, four hours is still such a serious time commitment that you almost need "athleticism" to watch until the end - or at least excellent "intangibles." As for the awkward and immediate post-pick interviews, they have virtually no "upside."

Still, there's something to be said for seeing it through. Last year's saving grace was that the fella besides Barkley who's funniest when he's frank, Jeff Van Gundy, grew as grumpy as we did at the plodding pace. It's also worth mentioning that the last man standing in 2011, Isaiah Thomas, the sixtieth selection, was at least a ruby-in-the-rough (diamond would be an exaggeration), averaging 11.5 ppg in 65 games for Sacramento, higher than fellow first-year King Jimmer Fredette, who was taken 50 spots ahead of Thomas. Since there could be another late-round discovery, we'll take the Stuart Scott approach to the draft: we'll keep one eye on it*.

*Scott will now be doing this from home because he was booted from the broadcast.

The Heat of the Moment

LeBron James capped a long, strange trip (if you can consider two years lengthy) since his divisive decision with a triple-double to capture the championship he was convinced he couldn't in Cleveland (he was correct when it came to that crummy crew, but somehow he made changing co-workers controversial). By whipping the Thunder - and leading his team in points, assists, rebounds, minutes played, free throws made in the title-taking tilt - James insured that his ceaseless and caustic critics will have to find a new whipping boy next season. It has to feel liberating, to transition from being lambasted to lionized, which is what winning does to a persuasive press (ourselves included). It reshaped Dirk Nowitzki's reputation and LeBron's should be restored; redeemed at least in the eyes of the rational. Like Kevin Spacey in Superman Returns, James was miscast as a villain (or at least played the part poorly).

On the whole, fans are both forgiving and forgetful*. In the months that follow (and assuming there's no letdown from LeBron in London), James will be considered clutch now that he's clutched the Larry O'Brien trophy. For those who need to re-direct the rage that has become part of their routine since July 8, 2010 or who will miss finding fault in famous public figures, well, there's always the 2012 Presidential race.

*it probably has something to do with all the lite beer they drink; Miller mitigates meanness and memories

Finals Exam

School hasn't let out yet for LeBron James, but he is one win away from acing the test, albeit on the third attempt (the finals are like the SATs, you can take it multiple times and select only your best results to count). James was one rebound shy of a triple-double in the Heat's third straight victory, who can clinch the championship at home on Thursday. James, as usual, has been hard to cover and hardcovers might deserve some credit.

LeBron has been reading the Thunder's defense closely, which perhaps we can attribute to his pre-game ritual of burying his nose in a book*, as opposed to tweeting or turning on the TV. Ironically, he's completed Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point while practically pushing the Thunder to theirs.

James has also finished the The Hunger Games trilogy and he's displayed the deliberate determination of its heroine, Katniss Everdeen (although not the arrow-aiming ability). We'd say he's Catching Fire at the right time and soon no one will be Mockingjames^. Even if the Heat improbably implode, it's nice to know that the NBA's "Read to Achieve" campaign got through to someone.

* a (Barnes &) Noble pursuit
^ his new hobby may be making him haughty, since Serge Ibaka is the second player in the postseason James he has said is "stupid"(Danny Granger was the first). Here's a reminder to remain humble: the Hunger Games series is intended for young adults.

There Can Be Only Uno

As LeBron James and Kevin Durant hunt for hardware on the hardwood, Roy Hibbert and Jeremy Lin searched their surroundings for silly souvenirs on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The conclusion: Hibbert cheats*, knows white people on a more intimate level than Lin and is willing to pay a premium for a pooch (Lin could purchase 150 watches for the price of Hibbert's puppy). Once the prize was announced, we wondered if winning was worth it, but maybe a competition involving mad dashes does deserve mad Kardashians, scavengers in their own right (of sports stars).

*whether it's at cards or just with cards, we don't know

Who's Up Four It?

Ignore options one through three on either team, the deciding factor in the finals will be the fourth-best player on the Heat or Thunder and it's unclear exactly who that is. There are three likely candidates for each side: Battier, Chalmers and Haslem for Miami; and Ibaka, Sefolosha and Fisher for Oklahoma City. It has to be considered discouraging news for the Heat that in game 1, Battier and Chalmers contributed considerably - combining for 29 points (on 11-16 shooting), including 6 made threes, with 6 assists against 1 turnover - yet the Heat still lost. Haslem did his part on defense, hauling in a game-high 11 rebounds. Miami can't realistically expect much more from its scant support staff.

We believe the series' secret savior will emerge from the Thunder's secondary trio, due to the defense of Ibaka and Sefolosha, plus the experience of Fisher, who may not be lord of the rings, but he's at least earned the title of liege. Fisher has knocked down the 2nd-most three-pointers in NBA Finals history so, like David Stern in a room with Jim Rome*, he can't be left alone. LeBron scored 30 points, more than he had in any finals game previously, but he wasn't a force in the fourth, which is why the Heat need to find a fourth or else they'll be forlorn.

if Rome was burning, now he has to be fuming

One Canadian's Pinterest

Former Sixers and Nets center Todd MacCulloch spent his NBA riches the same way any 12-year-old boy would: on pinball and Slurpee machines*. Finally MacCulloch, who has won tournaments and is hosting a world championship at his house - found a game in which he can be a high scorer. Congrats, T-Mac, you're the Kevin Durant of flipper flicking.

*items we'd probably purchase, too, if we had a few hundred thousand dollars lying around