Jason Kidd and Mike Tomlin. I don’t think I ever thought I’d write a post that included both of them. I am today.

The coaches of the Brooklyn Nets and Pittsburgh Steelers respectively, Kidd and Tomlin have both had moments in games over the past 28 hours that should have been embarrassing and definitely have been disrespectful to the games they coach.

The Water Spill

Kidd went first. Last night, on Thanksgiving Eve, Kidd’s team was down by two points and had no timeouts remaining with 8.3 second remaining in the game.

You watch the video and decide what you think:

Today, it was reported that Kidd was fined $50,000 for his transgression. The Nets still lost the game to the Lakers. At 4-11, they have been a huge disappointment this season after acquiring both Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce this offseason.

That's an expensive spill… Report: Jason Kidd to be fined $50,000 for drink 'timeout' – http://t.co/G3wtIziwEn (via @EyeOnBasketball)

— CBSSports.com (@CBSSports) November 29, 2013

With relatively high expectations in New York this year, Kidd has a lot of pressure on him to start winning. Losing to the Lakers, who weren’t supposed to be very good this year, he made the desperate move of a coach who doesn’t see any other options.

Screwed over by 2 backdoor covers today. 0 and 3 for the day. 22 games below for the season. I feel like I'm being coached by Jason Kidd.

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) November 29, 2013

In the way

Pittsburgh Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin is someone I respected so much before tonight. Coming into the game, he was 68-39 as the head coach of the Steelers. His team has been to two Super Bowls and won one during his tenure. I always loved his demeanor, attitude, and the way his teams played.

On a kick return during which the Ravens’ Jacoby Jones looked like he was going all the way, Tomlin got in the way. Go here and check for yourself. It was a ballsy play — the officials could have awarded the Ravens the touchdown anyway and I’m pretty sure they could have also ejected Tomlin. Instead, Jones cut inside and was tackled. Instead of the possible touchdown, the Ravens only managed a field goal on the ensuing drive. In essence, Tomlin might have saved his team an important four points.

Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin Nearly Collides With Ravens' Jacoby Jones During 73-Yard Kickoff Return (GIF) http://t.co/yhIGpPqjmT

— NESN (@NESN) November 29, 2013

As a fan of Tomlin, who I thought was so stand-up, I was very disappointed. I would be really surprised if the NFL didn’t fine him.

Mike Tomlin's reaction: http://t.co/UskmQ5wgja

— Smart Football (@smartfootball) November 29, 2013

After going 8-8 last season and missing the playoffs, Pittsburgh is in danger of missing the postseason for the second year in a row. Like Kidd, Tomlin was desperate in a rivalry game that looked like it might have been getting out of hand. It was a level of desperation I would expect from a rookie like Kidd. But, for a seasoned, Super Bowl-winning head coach to do something like that was disappointing.

In the end, both Kidd and Tomlin lost games they really needed to win. Their teams just didn’t have enough on the respective nights. Kidd and Tomlin are both intense competitors. When neither of their teams were good enough, they just couldn’t help themselves. It’s safe to say neither the Steelers or Nets are going to end up matching their beginning of the year expectations. Desperation in professional sports is a heck of a thing.

The 2013 NBA offseason had major implications on the fate of the league in the coming years. This offseason brought fans many unusual moves. Big-name players switched teams, the “bad” teams got better, and some of the most historic teams in history look as they are going to fall off the map for awhile. Clearly, the league is going through some changes both in players and perception.

Can LeBron and the Heat win a third straight NBA title or will another team de-throne them? By Steve Jurvetson (Flickr: LeBron James), via Wikimedia Commons

Josh Smith joined the Pistons, Andre Igoudala joined Golden State (this one happened before Howard), Al Jefferson joined the Bobcats, Chris Kaman and Nick Young went to the Lakers, Metta World Peace joined the Knicks, Paul Millsap went to Atlanta, Brandon Knight and Brandon Jennings were traded for each other, Monta Ellis went to Dallas, Greg Oden and Michael Beasley joined Miami, Chauncey Billups went back to Detroit and Andrew Bynum and his hair move to Cleveland, where (of course) a bank is located.

Within all the madness, there were a few retirements and coaching moves too. Doc Rivers left Boston to become the Clippers coach, and Jason Kidd became the Nets coach. George Karl and Lionel Hollins lost their jobs despite the Nuggets and Grizzlies having great seasons. In addition to Jason Kidd retiring, Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady also decided it was time to hang it up.

For me, one move made me feel sick to my stomach and I’m a Lakers fan. Longtime Celtics Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were dealt to the Nets and for some reason that makes me mad. It has recently come out that LeBron and the Miami Heat are critical of the move since both Pierce and Garnett criticized Ray Allen last season for leaving Boston and joining Miami. Unlike Allen, Pierce and Garnett were traded away, and although Garnett waived his no trade clause he did it because he wanted to keep playing alongside Pierce. The move of Pierce and Garnett means the Celtics (like the Lakers) will probably have less than spectacular seasons ahead.

The NBA looks as it is shaping up to be great in the next ten or so years and I for one, am very excited. There is so much young talent in the league and it will only get better. The 2013-14 season tips off in a couple weeks and I will be glued to my TV all season long.

Who do you think was the biggest NBA move of the summer? Comment below!

Kidd turned the Mavericks, a perpetual doormat of a franchise, into an instant threat to win any game on any night. He was the main facilitator for wing scorers Jamal Mashburn and Jim Jackson. What Kidd could do with the ball from the outlet hadn’t been seen since Magic Johnson in his prime.

The 1994-95 Dallas squad Kidd was drafted by, along with the following year’s 1995-96 team, also featured current Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks. Brooks was Kidd’s backup at point guard during both seasons. I’m surprised the telecast of the Western Conference Finals hasn’t spewed this connection ad nauseum. They usually eat this kind of stuff up?

Kidd is third all-time in regular season triple-doubles with 107 and is first in playoff triple-doubles with 11.  The primary taste of finals action Kidd saw came when he lead the Nets to back to back finals in 2002 and 2003.  Amidst both ascensions, he ultimately fell short of the pinnacle.

The most amazing reality is that Kidd has played the most post season games of any active player that hasn’t won a championship, while taking his team to the playoffs the last 14 years straight.  The odds of so many close opportunities missed puts the Atlanta Braves to shame.

All this being said, the point being asserted is that Kidd has come full circle.  Before this recent playoff run, the easy argument could have been made that Kidd was simply a shell of what he once was.  This can no longer be debated, as he can at age 38, amazingly still do a lot of the same things that made him such a hot commodity when he was drafted.

His decision-making is still at a level that is so elite, that I defy you to find anyone in the league that has the ability to captain the way Kidd is still able to.

Derrick Rose, while immensely talented with an NBA MVP under his belt at the youngest age there has ever been one, still has room to grow and makes far more mistakes running the point than Kidd has on average over his illustrious career.  This is not to say Rose won’t eventually go down in history as encompassingly superior, but it is to say that Kidd currently is a better overall manager of his team on the floor, with his cunning acumen and his refined awareness.

Russell Westbrook, another up-and-coming combo guard, can’t even be mentioned in the same sentence, due to his immaturity, defiance and selfishness.  Westbrook has a long way to go to be that true floor general everyone expects, and after viewing his latest chapter, I lead myself to believe he could eventually become a bust, based on his current potential, coupled with his deflation of a true winner’s attitude.

Chris Paul can be thrown in the mix, but he hasn’t reached the NBA elite.  It can be debated that the best help he has ever had is David West, but Paul’s skill set is not the same as Kidd’s.  Yes, Paul may be able to weave mismatches with slightly more efficiency and haste, but a player Paul’s size can’t match-up on defense versus a 6’4″ one guard.  Defense is where the advantage lies.  It can never be forgotten that they term one’s position based on their defensive match-up foremost and certainly.

Steve Nash may rival Kidd, as he features a couple of MVP’s, but his lack of size and defense has always been a liability.  The chemistry value that Nash has brought to every team he has ever suited up for cannot be glossed over, and his outside shooting, as well as his one-handed, floater game cannot be discounted.  The fact of the matter is, Kidd has lasted at an exclusive level longer than Nash in their shared, dwindling years.  Maybe if Nash and Dirk had stayed together, I’d be singing a different tune.

Kidd’s defense might not be as athletic as it used to be, but he has made up for that with the experience and savvy of anticipation and being in the right place at the right time.  His penetration skills might have regressed in his latter years, but he has made up for that with his exceptional three-point shooting, which has been near the top of the league during the last 5 years.

Kidd has now lead Dallas to the point of the only once charted, and that as an extremely less experienced team.  He is one step away from leading the team he was originally drafted by back to the Finals.  It would be only Dallas’ second Finals appearance, and the first in which they would be potentially favored.

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Let the attention now move from the great story of Kidd to the even greater story of these NBA Playoffs, Dirk Nowitzki.

In 2006, The Heat toppled the Mavericks in the NBA Finals.  If this same match-up ends up unfolding in about a week, no doubt the Mavericks will be looking to avenge, regardless of the star power of “the big three.”  You can boast three all-stars, but no one is going to guard the skill-set that Dirk boasts.  This much cannot be disputed.

Good luck with that, “Heatles.”  You can bring John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to the stage, but everyone will rally and cry in populous that no one has the game to match Elvis.

Watching Sir’ Dirk diggler his way between double teams then drop the off-foot fade away, with feathered bangs haunting his brow is like hot chocolate with a bust of hand-whipped cream lapping at the tongue…sizzle sizzle and more busty sizzle.

My nizzle.

Fans swore off of Dirk after his Mavs famous meltdown in 06′ and 07′; said he was overrated, couldn’t hit the big shot, seven feet but soft as butter, a lanky vanilla–sweet but melts with contact.

Well not so fast.

In the meantime Nowitski has collected an MVP, eclipsed twenty thousand career points,and freeze framed his Shaggy Doobie Do face in the list of all-time greats. Dirk’s freakazoid bar, with his insante giftedness to dribble like a point, hit the fade away like a guard, rebound as a forward and finish inside is Lady Gaga unparalleled.

Did I just say Lady Gaga unparalleled?  I did because Dirk is the the greatest powerforward to ever play this game.

Yes you heard me. My condolences to Timmy Duncan, but today I am writing with a blasphemous resignation to the truth of things. I have post stamped this through the mailman, and asked his caddy Sir Charles, to verify its arrival. Dirk is not only the greatest powerforward, but when it comes to closers is listed as: MJ….Bird…..West…..Kobe….Dirk.

Monday’s performance was one of the greatest this league has ever seen. Dropping 48 on OKC in game one of the Western Conference Finals, he did it in Gaga fashion: 12-15 shooting, 24-24 from the free throw line, hitting clutch jumpers late to close out the Thunder in the fourth quarter. Setting the tone from the get go, Dirk started 4-4 with the Mavs first ten points, and twenty in the first half. It was obvious  that this Sir’ Dirk is no longer living under the devils of his past.

OKC looked stupefied in his wakes and had no answer for him all evening, throwing seven different defenders his way including: former Defensive Player of the Year Thabo Sefalosha, and block king Serge Ibaka. His unguardable abilities and size caused former NBA coach turned ESPN TV personality Jeff Van Gundy, to continualy pose the X and O question, “How do you stop that?” His sidekick, former point guard Mark Jackson returned, “You got to close the air space.”

Air space?

This is not about some make believe air space, this is about fate. As much as I love the twenty-three year old Durant–a two time scoring champ, and gifted 6’10 wingman with the ability to hit the three, take you off dribble, and get up and finish, I am aware that his moment has not arrived yet.

It was obvious Monday who the better team is. This is not your usual lay-down and die Dallas Mavs team who’ve become more of a hard-nosed defensive squad with their yet classic art of tres droplet supremes. Key moments on Monday included: Barrea sparking Dallas with twelve straight points in the third, and Jason Kidd bringing stability at point when Darantula made it a game scoring Jasseven of his teams ten points in a 10-0 run in the fourth to pull to within five with 3:34 to play. Like a black widow spider dangling from a single thread, only to lose her luscious prey a few inches from her triangular grasp, that is as close as things would get. This year there is no hesitation from the Mavs–a collective of cast-aways, bridging their way to title ascension.

And with a German juggernaut like Dirk taking them there, it bids the question, “will this finally be their year?”