Beware prognosticators - most know nothing

One of the problems we sports nuts deal with is listening to or reading the predictions of those who don't know a blessed thing of which they spew.

It's NBA draft time, so that means there are more folk than normal talking loud and saying nothing.

Around these parts in Sacramento, the hot talk pertains to the Kings' possession of the No. 5 pick in next Wednesday's draft.

People all over the country predict or guess whom the Kings will select. However, these prognosticators truly have no idea, so why pretend to know or even have a legitimate clue.

Clearly, the Kings would love to get a physical big man to play in the middle and that description has Kentucky's DeMarcus Cousins written all over it. Cousins is a 19-year-old talent with the skill to perform around the basket and on the perimeter.

Cousins, though, is described by many as a young man who has been difficult to deal with. He carries a label as having, "red flags."

One wonders how many of those labeling him also would have fit that category as a 19-year-old. I've had major problems finding out definitively finding out what these red flags are other than the kid has a little attitude.

He argued with John Calipari? Yeah? And? If that gives you a red flag, then the people distributing those flags probably are out of them.

Cousins has a weight problem as in he can't wait to eat. That's a red flag?

Certainly, it's something to be considered and worked with, but if the cat loves to play basketball (as I've heard he does) and is intelligent (as I've heard he is), then that's why teams have organizations - to help young talented guys become better players and people.

No doubt Cousins has issues. So do I and so do most humans. From what my sources say, Cousins needs most to increase his endurance.

Talent wins in the NBA and the Kings need it, especially with this kid's characteristics. If he's there at No. 5, the Kings need to grab him and begin the process of helping him maximize his abilities.

Of course, there is the possibility the Kings decide to trade their pick and move down. Those decisions most often are made during the draft when players are selected and teams believe they can get a player they like with a lower pick.

If the Kings opt to choose Cousins, they have a coach in Leonard (Truck) Robinson, who is tailor-made for this project. Robinson doesn't play, as in take any stuff.

Game 7 - it's on

Seeing Kendrick Perkins go down with a knee injury in Game 6 of the 2010 NBA Finals was heartbreaking. He's in one of the biggest games of his young career and a freak accident like that occurs.

All Perkins does is play hard and egolessly, yet life dealt him that card. I thought I was one of the few who ran into dealers like that.

Yeah, he complains about nearly every foul, but the young man plays hard. Here's hoping his long-term career isn't stunted by torn knee ligaments.

On the other side of the ledger there's Andrew Bynum. Now this kid has jeopardized his career by continuing to play with torn meniscus in right knee. Bynum, whom Kobe Bryant suggested as trade bait a couple of seasons ago, has shown nothing but heart while limping through the playoffs.

Bynum has been courageous playing through obvious pain and putting the team ahead of his personal future. Regardless of what doctors say, there is no way to know if he's doing irreparable damage to his knee.

Only time will tell.

However, we do know the young man is showing large gumption every night Boston's talented and physical front line.

What cracks me up is hearing and reading folks talk about trading him to bring in Chris Bosh. The only way the Los Angeles Lakers should do that is if they believe Bynum never will be healthy again. In five seasons, Bynum has played all 82 games just once. In his past three seasons, he's played 35, 50 and 65 games, respectively.

He won turn 23 until October. It's a little too early to give up on a guy who goes to the house strong even on a gimpy knee.

Moreover, Bosh is a talent, but when I've seen him, he's been a 6-11 jump shooter. Now, his shot is nice, but tell me we haven't reached the age when big men no longer even try to play like big men.

As for Game Seven, once again, the team for which the most players perform closest to their peak level will win. That's nothing new. Barring a truly dominating one or two-player performance, that's usually the way games, playoffs or regular-season, work.

It's not rocket science, folks.

Perhaps as important as anything will be the performances of the officiating crew. The guess here is we'll see Joey Crawford and Danny Crawford. As for the third referee, Eddie F. Rush is another likely choice.

The officiating, particularly early in the Finals was inconsistent and difficult for both teams to figure.

However, the NBA has been hamstrung by its current low quality of officials and injuries to Steve Javie and Mark Wunderlich. Wow! Javie used to be a veritable technical machine, but definitely has become one of the league's best.

The Celtics will not go down easily. They have too many seasoned and clutch veterans, but I like the Lakers in a close game.

After all, I picked the Lakers in six or seven. Ride or die.

Game 5 winner won't necessarily win NBA Finals

The winner of Game Five of the best-of-seven NBA Finals obviously will have two games remaining in which one victory makes it the 2010 champion.

However, a Game Five victory will be no guarantee of a series victory.

The Los Angeles Lakers certainly would gain a huge advantage with a victory and then returning home for Game Six and Seven, if necessary.

The Boston Celtics, armed with a 3-2 lead, would need just one victory in either of those two game in L.A., to win their second title in three seasons.

Yet, I believe it would not be impossible nor totally implausible for either team to win both games in Los Angeles, regardless of the situation. It's more inconceivable to believe people doubt the ability of either team to win a game.

Ultimately, when Game Six arrives, that singularly becomes the focus. There will be only the need to win that game and then it's a Game Seven for all the marbles.

Unquestionably, the Lakers would be glad to play that one at Staples Center, but there's no way the veteran Boston Celtics would fail to relish the opportunity to win that game on the road.

The defensively-oriented flavor both teams utilize almost promise close games that will be won in the final five minutes. That's the way it has been in six games, including two regular-season contests.

Which team can get the most solid performances from the most players? That's what will determine the outcome Sunday, Tuesday and possibly Thursday, if necessary.

If Glen (Big Baby) Davis, Nate Robinson and Tony Allen perform their roles to support the starters, the Celtics will be tough to beat. Conversely, should Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown chime in with timely contributions, that makes the Lakers a formidable opponent as well.

In that scenario, we've got a sweet game ahead.

Consider: Ray Allen has made eight three-point field-goals, each in Game Two. He's zero-for-14 in the other three games.

What if Kendrick Perkins and Rasheed Wallace each receive a technical and are suspended for the next game for receiving seven during the playoffs?

If the league is going to put those restraints on players, shouldn't a player with seven technicals during the playoffs immediately have to go sit down and then miss the next game? If the NBA is going to penalize, why wait until the next game?

For the record, if you can't play 28 games without getting seven technicals, you deserve some penalty.

Who is going to win Game Five? I have no idea and that's the way it should be.

Around the world in a boat alone? Why?

Call me a nut, but if you are 16 or 17 years old, shouldn't you have better things to do than try to sail alone around the world?

It's great Abby Sunderland was picked up safely Saturday by a French fishing vessel, but what the heck was she doing out there alone anyhow?

It doesn't seem as if sailing around the world with one or even two other people would be less of an achievement. I do understand her brother, Zac, also sailed around the world before her.

Then again, my idea of sailing is on the Circle Line around Manhattan or from Manhattan to Staten Island.

Kobe is the man, but Gasol is key to series

Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol likely is the NBA's largest enigma.

However, he's also a major key to how well the Lakers fare in these NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.

Gasol may be the league's most offensively-skilled big man. He can score inside with either hand. He sees the floor well and passes well. Gasol makes 15-footers and can be a force on the offensive boards.

He's listed at 7-feet, 250 pounds and has nights when he's virtually unstoppable at the offensive end.

On this Lakers squad, it's his teammates who most often stop him by failing to deliver the ball. Granted, Gasol will have to work hard against Boston's defensively-oriented squad to get good position.

During two regular-season meetings, Gasol scored 11 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and had four turnovers in 41 minutes of a 90-89 Lakers victory Jan. 31 in Boston. He had just nine field-goal attempts as Kobe Bryant took 20 shots, Andrew Bynum had 13 and Ron Artest got 12 shots.

Bryant (ankle injury) didn't play in an 87-86 loss Feb. 18 in Los Angeles. Gasol scored 22 on seven of 12 shooting and eight of eight from the line. Gasol needs to get in the vicinity of 15 field-goal attempts in order for the Lakers to be effective around the basket.

And it will take mere minutes, if not seconds, for Boston's Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins to lay wood on Gasol. Then Rasheed Wallace and Glen (Big Baby) Davis come off the bench with more physicality.

The Celtics will test Gasol with physical play, frankly, because that's the Spaniard's weakness. This is his opportunity to erase that tag forever. Can he do so? That's a question I can't answer.

I'll always remember Gasol, then with Memphis, signing a max contract then telling Commercial-Appeal beat writer Ron Tillery how the team needed to find someone to defend and rebound. I remember reading the quote and calling Tillery because I just knew the editing process had failed him.

I couldn't believe Gasol said that. Tillery, however, acknowledged those were Gasol's words.

And he said them immediately after signing a max contract. The dude is 7-feet, 250 and looking for someone else to defend and rebound. Something is wrong with that picture.

Basically Gasol said he didn't want to be the man, but getting paid as if he were 'the man' was all good. He can't be criticized for accepting the money offered, but he should have been spanked for shirking responsibility.

However, he lucked into the trade to the Lakers and now can ride side-saddle with Bryant.

Kobe Bean will do his thing and now it's up to Gasol to carry his weight against guys who look him eye-to-eye.

What to look for

The Celtics are the league's best at making scorers do work in crowds. No team surrenders fewer unchallenged shots.

Rajon Rondo scored 21 and 14 points, respectively, during the two regular-season games and also contributed 12 and 11 assists. He had five steals in Boston's 87-86 victory.

Boston's Tony Allen was not nearly as effective or active in the conference finals against Orlando as he was in the semifinals against Cleveland. He suffered from a right ankle injury and his ability to function normally will be a major key.

Allen may be the league's most athletic player to return from a major injury. Allen, you may remember tore two ligaments in his left knee in Jan 2007 dunking after a whistle in a game. You also may remember him dunking on top of Cleveland forward Antawn Jamison's cranium last month in the East's semifinals.

Watch Kevin Garnett jump to knock down shots after the whistle. One only can hope he never injures himself with that stupidity.

In Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, the Celtics have two of the game's best clutch shooters.

The Celtics are 9-2 in NBA Finals matchups against the L.A. Lakers. That stat won't mean a thing in this series.

The Lakers will back off Rondo and make the sometime reluctant shooter beat them from the perimeter. The Celtics will challenge Artest and everyone else not named Bryant beat them from the outside.

Question of the day

Is the Lakers-Celtics matchup the best rivalry in sports?