Boston Bakes Beans

All I keep hearing in my mind is the old NBC NBA theme song from the mid 90’s, please listen because this will get anyone pumped to watch or play some hoops.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UooitEU6AtE

The hype leading up to Game 6 of the Cleveland Boston game was full of mixed emotions. It was all about Lebron’s future and how bad Cleveland sports have been for the past forever, forever ever... On the other hand Boston was sitting back getting ready to play, no distractions or looming free agency which is very important for a team trying to win a NBA championship. Tonight called for a sweet main course to go with the most exciting basketball game of the year.

This is one of my favorite dishes to make and one of the simplest too. This recipe only calls for a few ingredients and about 2-3hrs (I cook this in my crock-pot but if you don’t have the time you can bake in the oven at 375 for about 35 minutes).

2 pieces of boneless organic chicken (skinless)

28 oz can of baked beans (if you make your own beans even better)

12-15 cherry tomatoes cut in half

Fresh basil

Salt and pepper to taste

1 bay leaf

Dash of paprika

2 cups of white rice

Clove of garlic

Start out by seasoning the chicken with salt, pepper, garlic and paprika. Place in crock-pot and cover chicken with fresh basil leaves, again use as much as one likes. Next chop your cherry tomatoes in half and place in crock-pot. Cover chicken with baked beans and add your bay leaf. Serve with white rice and enjoy this sweet yet savory dish.

Boston’s crowd arrived on time and was up to the challenge. Boston got off to a great start in Game 6, which can make or break a game. (Just look at Game 3 in Boston last week). This series was similar to the Bulls Pistons series of the late 80’s. Rick Mahorn said it best,

“We were just throwing stuff out there for (the media). It was just a joke. Chuck (Daly, Pistons coach) throws it out there that we had some secret plan to stop Jordan, and everybody just jumped on it. Everybody was writing stories about this strategy. When we kept reading about it, Isiah told us that we had gotten in their heads, and that's how we had them beat”.

Except Boston did not speak out, they actually said nothing. It was the pending free agency media circus for the services of Lebron James. It was the what if’s and negative sport moments that have happened to the city of Cleveland. I heard the horror stories about Cleveland all day from many different media outlets. The Sports Guy ran through them, before the game ESPN educated us, in the 3rd quarter announcer Mike Breen mentioned all the tragic events (even saying sorry up front kinda like I hate to do this but) and the post game reports where know different. Maybe this is why Cleveland did not look as focused?

Boston beat them the same way they did all series with team basketball. Rondo ran the offense at Boston’s pace and controlled the game. Mo Williams had a nice first half but choose to disappeared in the second half. Antwan was flat out terrible, as Barkley would say, the whole series. To defend Antwan on the offensive end; Cleveland does not run plays for him, no pick and rolls just one-on-one shots. I think Mike Brown will get fired, actually he has to get fired. How can he come back after not making the finals two years in a row after being the number 1 team during the regular season. Brown lost confidence in players and the team showed it. Hickson was a non-factor, which made no sense to me why he did not play. Cleveland needed to be more athletic in this series because Boston is hardly athletic. Cleveland should have run more because Boston does not want any part of that. I said this to many of my friends last summer when the Cavs traded for Shaq that it was the wrong move to make. He is too slow, clogs the paint and plays no defense. What difference did he really make? Have we seen the last of Shaq? Big Z?

I think KG’s quotes after the game where really interesting. He spoke about Lebron's future and loyalty. Saying,

“Loyalty is something that hurts you at times because you can't get youth back. I can honestly say that if I can go back and do my situation over, knowing what I know now with this organization, I'd of done it a little sooner”.

After all, the NBA is a business as so many players say, so why should Lebron not look around for the best situation possible for him and his family? He is trying to build his own legacy so why not go where he thinks he has the best chance of making his dreams come true. If another company recruited you to go and work for them that had a better place to live, co-workers, and more of an opportunity to have career advancement, would you go? Most people would not think twice even if you had to relocate. After all you’re only young once? Only 49 days to go. If I am a Cleveland fan I would send Lebron something else to listen to then Jay-Z right now.

I got a million ways to get it
Choose one (choose one)
Hey, bring it back (bring it back)
Now double your money and make a stack

I’m on to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one