Season In Balance

Last night, in a game that should have been approached as a must-win game 7, the Cavaliers came out on their home court and played like it was a scrimmage. Hell, I'd expect a team to show more intensity in an off-season charity game. The Cavs were outperformed in nearly every aspect of the game as Boston dismantled Cleveland in a 120-88 blowout, good for the Cavs' worst home playoff loss ever.

If you're a Cavs fan, you'd like to credit Paul Pierce and the Boston defense for holding James to 15 points on 3-14 shooting, but the fact of the matter is that LeBron's poor performance falls largely on his own shoulders. He started the game getting his teammates involved with 4 assists in the first quarter, which is all well and good, but he should have started attacking the rim sooner than he did. James just couldn't hit a shot in the first half, and when he did start to take it to the hoop in the second quarter, Boston smartly made him earn it at the line to prevent him from getting in rhythm.

The second quarter was possibly some of the ugliest basketball I've seen during these playoffs outside of the Hawks pitiful performance against the Magic. The Cavs were stuck at 29 points for nearly 6 minutes, turning the ball over and missing shot after shot as they basically invited the Celtics to take the lead into the half. Garnett was having his way with Jamison, Pierce got into a rhythm for the first time this series, and Mo couldn't keep up with Ray Allen as he moved without the ball and knocked down jumpers. Keep in mind that a lot of this was going down without Rondo on the floor.

Big Baby Wants To Be Called The "Ticket Stub"

Glen "Big Baby" Davis is once again trying to shed his long-time nickname of Big Baby after his first attempt to adopt the nickname "Uno Uno" failed. I'd like to think that myself and Teenage Mustache played a role in putting "Uno Uno" to bed early.

Kevin Garnett has been known as the "Big Ticket" ever since he was drafted out of high school by the Timberwolves in 1995. Apparently someone started calling Big Baby the "Ticket Stub" when he had to fill in for Garnett during last year's playoffs. I think it's safe to assume that Big Baby coined the nickname for himself, especially considering how he's embraced it. He's gone as far as referring to himself as the "Ticket Stub" in first person... twice in a row!

"The ‘Ticket Stub,’ he’ll be ready,” said Big Baby. “I just can’t wait to help them. The ‘Ticket Stub’ loves to fill big shoes.”

In addition to being a shameless rip-off of Chad Ochocinco, I think one of the main reasons "Uno Uno" didn't catch on is because it failed to emphasize Davis' stocky build. If a Glen Davis nickname is going to have any staying power, this physical attribute must be incorporated. Why do you think the nickname Big Baby has stuck with him for so long?

Unlike "Uno Uno," the "Ticket Stub" actually does make reference to Big Baby's build, as he's basically a walking stub. This makes it slightly better than "Uno Uno," but I still question the nickname's potential for longevity. Big Baby is just so perfect. I can't imagine any other nickname taking it's place.

Sorry, Big Baby. Nobody's going to call you the "Ticket Stub" except for maybe your teammates, who will probably do it either to make you feel better about yourself or to make fun of you behind your back for constantly referring to yourself as the "Ticket Stub" in first person.

Your nickname is Big Baby. Deal with it.

Quotes from Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports

Shaq Hacked!

The hand is part of the ball, right? Unfortunately for the Cavs, Shaq is out 6-8 weeks after thumb surgery. Shaq was injured on a brutal hack by Big Baby, "I wish I was Ochocinco," Davis. Clearly Davis was going for the ball, which includes Shaq's thumb, because there was no foul called on the play. Shaq did tell an ESPN reporter today that he would only miss 6 weeks, which would be the start of the Playoffs.

I think this will probably hurt the Cavs chemistry in the Playoffs because they won't get much time to perfect playing together. Hopefully that transition will be as seem less as Danny Ferry thought the Jamison transition would be. They lost three straight after the Jamison trade. It doesn't matter too much if you loose three straight in the regular season, but you can't do that in the Playoffs.

P. S. Come on Big Baby, you know you want to be Ochocinco, stealing his blonde mohawk, and trying to steal his nickname method. You might as well 'kiss the baby' on trying to change your name cause it ain't happenin' Big Baby.

Glen Uno Uno Davis? Really?

Let's admit it:  Ocho Cinco is a stupid nickname.  But Chad has so much charisma that he makes his D+ Spanish 101 endearing.  I can hardly imagine Glen "Big Baby" Davis can do the same.

But after hearing our own Dank Game post about his supposed new nickname becoming "Uno Uno" in homage to Ochocinco, I began to imagine the horrors if this homage goes any further.  For Example, will Chad's infamous Mohawk from 2006 be sitting atop Davis' big baby head anytime soon?  If it does, it will look the image to the right.

Here's a question - given that most pro teams are located in big cities, and most big cities have Hispanic populations anymore, why is it Cincinnati and Boston where we've got players doing Spanish-related nonsense?  Why not in a city like LA, Chicago, New York, or Miami?

Big Baby doesn't want to be called Big Baby anymore

Celtics coach Doc Rivers has said that Glen 'Big Baby' Davis needs to grow up after he was fined for telling a Pistons fan to "suck [his] dick" who had been heckling him, by calling him "fat boy" and "chubs." So how does he respond to Doc Rivers plea for growth? He wants to lose his life-long nickname, Big Baby. Yeah, you heard me, Big Baby doesn't want to be called Big Baby anymore.

"I've been called 'Big Baby' all through my life," said Big Baby before Monday's game against the Clippers. "But I'm going through changes. I'm in a cocoon and I'm coming out a different player, a different person. Basically, the new person is growth. I'm shedding that 'Big Baby' and you can see something else, not the past."

That's some heavy stuff, Big Baby.

Big Baby has requested that fans come up with a new nickname via his Twitter page (@GlenDavisNBA) to help him finally break out of his cocoon, a new man. I was thinking something along the lines of "The All Grown-up Big Boy" or Glen "100% Man" Davis.

Turns out his fans' suggestions were all for naught, as The Boston Metro's Jeff Howe suggested that Big Baby go with the nickname "Uno Uno," to reference his #11 jersey and pay homage to (read: blatantly rip-off) Dank Game hero, Chad Ochocinco.

"I like that," said Big Baby. "I'll be 'Uno Uno.' That's my new name. Don't Call me 'Big Baby' any more. 'Uno Uno.' I'm serious. If somebody calls me ('Big Baby'), I'll be really mad."

So, Uno Uno it is. What an original nickname. Rolls off the tongue perfectly, too. Uno Uno. Yeah, I like that. It's definitely gonna catch on, Big Baby... errr, I mean Uno Uno.

Shoot, I hope he doesn't get steamin' mad that I accidentally called him Big Baby. I wouldn't want Big Baby to have to unleash one of his notorious temper tantrums on me.

via Ball Don't Lie

Big Baby to the NFL

According to ProFootballTalk.com, Glen "Big Baby" Davis has a serious itch to play NFL football some day. Specifically, after he becomes a super star in the NBA. I could continue to regurgitate information from Mike Florio's post, but his trademark wit was clearly on when he wrote his article, so why don't you just read that instead.

In the meantime, I've made this ridiculous Photoshop art for you to marvel at.

Slim, does this count as an NBA or NFL post?