Courtside View: Previewing the 2013-14 Season
The 2013-14 season is just hours away and the reigning champs are looking to start the season. off with a victory against a newly equipped rivalry, in the Chicago Bulls. Following that game on TNT, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers are showcased. I will tell you who is the most dominant team between these two. In the past, I've always said the western conference is the better conference, but with teams like the Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks, all upgrading their odds to win a championship to overthrow the defending champs. The west still have dominant teams, but not like the East. This is probably one of the biggest seasons I've been most excited about in awhile. I'll also tell you why the bottom-feeder teams are going to be looking to make their ways up to the top.
Former number one overall pick, Greg Oden, either has ended up broke, or just couldn't walk away from the game without proving himself. One of the biggest busts in NBA history, Oden has returned to the NBA, ready to make an impact with the Miami Heat. The problem with Oden is that he couldn't never stay healthy. He was always hurt. In fact he signed his big contract with the Portland Trailblazers and then said he was hurt. I can just imagine his thoughts..."I can't play now, but I definitely can cash the checks." As if the Heat needed Help, the core of the team is still in tact. With LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh. The Heat will be there at the end, when it is all said and done. If Wade can stay healthy, this team will be more than a handful. Add Ray Allen to the pot and you now have a complete full course dish. However, the Bulls are looking to throw leftovers in that pot. You can't forget about the Bulls...The same team that derailed the Heats 27 game winning streak, and they did it without their prized possession Derrick Rose. Add him to the mix now and this team has a roster, who can outplay anyone in the league. Did I mention they went 8-0 in the pre-season. I know it doesn't count, but it is worth noting.
The Lakers and Clippers play in the same arena. The Staples center has always been home to the five time NBA champ...Kobe Bryant. Things maybe starting to change in favor or the Clippers. This is a team I'm looking forward to seeing. The Clippers are deep and now have a coach who is defensive minded in Doc Rivers. Chris Paul is a great point guard in this league, but Rivers has called out Paul. Letting him know he hasn't done anything in this league. That's one way to push a player to play harder. I can tell you, Rivers has already won that locker room over. If he gets Blake Griffin to commit to playing better defense, no opposing team will be able to score in the low-post. DeAndre Jordan has defense, he just doesn't have offense. He makes nasty looking dunks, he just can't make free throws. Rivers will have to change that, hire a guru or something, but Jordan and Griffin have to be able to make free throws. Who is playing opening night for the Lakers, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol, are the only big names. Kobe Bryant, may be in the building, but he won't be on the court. The 15x all-star is sidelined due to an torn Achilles tendon late last season. It is not known, when he will return. The scale is starting to tilt towards the Clippers side. The team is younger and more talented, while the Lakers are playing, hoping, not to establish injuries along the way.
The eastern conference has gotten better as a whole. The Indiana Pacers are going to welcome their star before their star back in...Danny Granger. Granger missed the majority of the 2012-13 season, due to an patellar injury. Limited to five games last season, Granger is going to miss the first three weeks of this season, due to a calf injury. While he was out, it gave rising star, Paul George, the keys to the team. George is an all-around outstanding player. The former Fresno State product, became an all-star, became the most improved player, and was on the second all-defensive team, thanks to Granger being side-lined. This team isn't worried about missing him. With Roy Hibbert, George Hill, David West and Paul George healthy, this team will be balling-out. They replace Tyler Hannsbrough, with Luis Scola. A more well-rounded player. Scola can score and rebound. That is a great replacement. Other teams such as the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks, have been talking trash all off-season, about being the better team. Who is exactly is better? The Nets acquired aging stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. With a team who already had Deron William, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez. This team already had offensive, but now jus became defensive. If Healthy this team can go a long way. The Knicks added Andrea Bargnani, Metta World Peace, and re-signed J.R. Smith. They drafted Tim Hardaway Jr., to a team who already had Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler, and Iman Shumphert. No one is expecting much from this team, but I beg to differ. They broke the record for most three pointers made last season and I expect that to continue this year. That's what happens when you double team Carmelo Anthony.
Bottom-feeder teams, such as the Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Milwaukee Bucks, are making the league more interesting. The Raptors, Cavaliers and Bucks have some big name people. I've seen them in the pre-season and teams won't be able to beat them, just by showing up. These teams are going to be tough to beat. They are more hungrier, than established teams, because they have more to prove. If they can hang with the tough teams in the regular season, they can make a playoff leap. The Raptors in the playoffs, yes. Same can be said about the others. You think the Washing ton Wizards are going to be easy, with John Wall, Bradley Beal, Trevor Ariza, Nene, Marcin Gortat. That is a good team. Notice most of these teams are from the eastern conference, the better conference. The western conference are good, but not great. The Oklahoma Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets will be in the playoffs, but with injuries, aging and first year acquisitions, I'm not sure how far these teams will go. With the Clippers they are established, throw in a coach, who can make the right moves and you now have a contender. Who will throw the Heat off ?. The eastern conference is up for grabs. Everybody got better, but the Heat really didn't. The Bulls, Pacers, Nets, and Knicks all will be throwing blows at them. The question is, will anyone of them be haymakers! This season is going to be exciting!
Showing posts with label NBA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NBA. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Fourth & Forever: Faking Injuries to Slow Down Offenses
Fourth & Forever: Faking Injuries to Slow Down Offenses
Earlier this week, former Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher admitted, the Bears faked injuries to slow down offenses. Its not hard to see that some players do take dives to stop the clock, or to help their team catch a breather. This happens all the time and no one who isn't attending to the injured player really doesn't know if the player is actually hurt. Urlacher, who is now an analyst for Fox Sports 1 brought up the topic this week and had no problem throwing his former team under the bus. For someone to break silence and trash solidarity with the team they formerly played for is unheard of. It may seem like the eight time pro-bowler is still a little bitter at his former ball club, who have moved on without the inside linebacker. The Bears offered Urlacher a $2 million salary this past offseason. Urlacher took it as a slap in the face. Telling Urlacher to, "take this offer or leave it." So Urlacher left it and both sides ultimately went their separate ways. When a player is drafted and plays their whole career for one team and in the end, feels like the team didn't appreciate them, is when negative emotions come out. We've seen this all offseason with former Packers receiver Greg Jennings talking bad about his former club, but nothing about breaking a code of silence.
I remember when the New York Giants beat the St. Louis Rams two years ago 28-16, that was televised on ESPN. Yeah it made my stomach hurt to watch the Rams play, but what made me feel sick to my stomach, was how the Giants beat the Rams. The Rams were driving down the field on the Giants defense and was inside the 10. The Rams were in a no-huddle offense and were getting ready to hike the ball, when the Giants weren't sure what they wanted to do. They wanted to put in their-goal line defense and had two players fall down to the ground to slow down the offense. They received a free time-out by having two people fake an injury. Literally, both defensive back Deon Grant and linebacker Jacquian Williams fell to the ground at the same time. Check it out in this YouTube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV3K_ML2UsI. In the end the Rams settled for a field-goal, after the faking of the injuries allowed the Giants to use a free timeout to get certain people in the game. The Giants weren't fooling anyone, because the commentators kept showing the replay over and over. If you watched that game, you can see Rams quarterback Sam Bradford display his frustration in what was going on. I mean everyone knew.
That was the first time, I've actually seen something like that. I'm sure it happens a lot, but the Giants were one of the few teams to get caught. If a team runs a, "No huddle offense" or a, "Hurry-up," offense," that takes advantages of defenses who are winded, or for defensive coordinators who need to get the right personnel on the field. Its the reason why its starting to become popular in the NFL. Its all about exploiting the defense to score easier points. It reminds me of my last blog, when I discussed Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly's offense, in how they ran over 80 plays and lost the time of possession to the New England Patriots in the first preseason game. This is a developing trend in the NFL. When the Rams run the "Hurry-up," and it are successful in going the length of the field, then you know its a new day and age. If you look at the San Francisco 49ers defense. They barely switch people in and out of the lineup. There personnel is an every-down team. The same linemen and the same linebackers, play every down. Not to many teams can do that, so faking injuries is a way to get the right people in as well as fresh legs, without having to use a timeout.
This is ruining the league. I rank this just as bad as the replacement referees. Its messing up the game. When the recent Hall of Fame inductee and ESPN commentator Chris Carter was raving about the replacement refs and how the NFL wants to protect their shield. He should add this to the list about protecting the shield. The NFL has sent out memos to teams about faking injuries, which include penalties and more severe penalties for players after the game. For me, that's not good enough. Teams and players who are caught faking injuries should know what their punishment is going to be, going into the game. Not just a warning or threat. When people flopped in the NBA, the league fined them and told them they would be fined more if they did it again. The NFL needs to set the bar higher. The NFL needs to come out and say what would happen and not something they come up with the night before. If its an important game, someone might fake an injury, lets say in a playoff game and the team goes all the way because of it. You're telling me other teammates won't help pay the fine? There Super Bowl champs, people would help pay for it. People paid for George Zimmerman's attorneys, fans will pay for league fines. They need to discipline cheaters with yearly suspensions. HGH to the fourth power. Suspend them for a year and than see how quickly they wish to hold their ankle and then come back in two plays later. SET THE BAR! Four game suspensions for abusing the substance abuse policy is nothing. It should be eight. MLB is 50 games for a first time abuser. SET THE BAR! What's a fine these days? People lineup to pay for it.
I respect Brian Urlacher for coming out and breaking a teams code, especially if it has something to do with cheating. If a coach has signals that they give to players to cheat, I put them in the same category as former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. That's how I see a coach who dignifies cheating, regarding how big or small it is. A sin is a sin, regardless of how big or small. They should be suspended for a year, than a petty slap on the hand fine. They're cheaters who are interfering with the outcome of the game. Until the league actually sets the bar, someone is going to test that rule. Whether the refs catch it or the league, the bar needs to be set. Urlacher probably didn't agree with what was going on around him, but if you play for that team, you can't say anything. What goes on in the locker room, stays in the locker room. That's why its called a code of silence. That's why the whole Saints defense didn't get suspended because they all didn't want to participate in bounty hunts. Same with faking injuries. I'm glad to see someone finally came out and admit that they were apart of it. Memo to the NFL...SET THE BAR!
Earlier this week, former Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher admitted, the Bears faked injuries to slow down offenses. Its not hard to see that some players do take dives to stop the clock, or to help their team catch a breather. This happens all the time and no one who isn't attending to the injured player really doesn't know if the player is actually hurt. Urlacher, who is now an analyst for Fox Sports 1 brought up the topic this week and had no problem throwing his former team under the bus. For someone to break silence and trash solidarity with the team they formerly played for is unheard of. It may seem like the eight time pro-bowler is still a little bitter at his former ball club, who have moved on without the inside linebacker. The Bears offered Urlacher a $2 million salary this past offseason. Urlacher took it as a slap in the face. Telling Urlacher to, "take this offer or leave it." So Urlacher left it and both sides ultimately went their separate ways. When a player is drafted and plays their whole career for one team and in the end, feels like the team didn't appreciate them, is when negative emotions come out. We've seen this all offseason with former Packers receiver Greg Jennings talking bad about his former club, but nothing about breaking a code of silence.
I remember when the New York Giants beat the St. Louis Rams two years ago 28-16, that was televised on ESPN. Yeah it made my stomach hurt to watch the Rams play, but what made me feel sick to my stomach, was how the Giants beat the Rams. The Rams were driving down the field on the Giants defense and was inside the 10. The Rams were in a no-huddle offense and were getting ready to hike the ball, when the Giants weren't sure what they wanted to do. They wanted to put in their-goal line defense and had two players fall down to the ground to slow down the offense. They received a free time-out by having two people fake an injury. Literally, both defensive back Deon Grant and linebacker Jacquian Williams fell to the ground at the same time. Check it out in this YouTube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV3K_ML2UsI. In the end the Rams settled for a field-goal, after the faking of the injuries allowed the Giants to use a free timeout to get certain people in the game. The Giants weren't fooling anyone, because the commentators kept showing the replay over and over. If you watched that game, you can see Rams quarterback Sam Bradford display his frustration in what was going on. I mean everyone knew.
That was the first time, I've actually seen something like that. I'm sure it happens a lot, but the Giants were one of the few teams to get caught. If a team runs a, "No huddle offense" or a, "Hurry-up," offense," that takes advantages of defenses who are winded, or for defensive coordinators who need to get the right personnel on the field. Its the reason why its starting to become popular in the NFL. Its all about exploiting the defense to score easier points. It reminds me of my last blog, when I discussed Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly's offense, in how they ran over 80 plays and lost the time of possession to the New England Patriots in the first preseason game. This is a developing trend in the NFL. When the Rams run the "Hurry-up," and it are successful in going the length of the field, then you know its a new day and age. If you look at the San Francisco 49ers defense. They barely switch people in and out of the lineup. There personnel is an every-down team. The same linemen and the same linebackers, play every down. Not to many teams can do that, so faking injuries is a way to get the right people in as well as fresh legs, without having to use a timeout.
This is ruining the league. I rank this just as bad as the replacement referees. Its messing up the game. When the recent Hall of Fame inductee and ESPN commentator Chris Carter was raving about the replacement refs and how the NFL wants to protect their shield. He should add this to the list about protecting the shield. The NFL has sent out memos to teams about faking injuries, which include penalties and more severe penalties for players after the game. For me, that's not good enough. Teams and players who are caught faking injuries should know what their punishment is going to be, going into the game. Not just a warning or threat. When people flopped in the NBA, the league fined them and told them they would be fined more if they did it again. The NFL needs to set the bar higher. The NFL needs to come out and say what would happen and not something they come up with the night before. If its an important game, someone might fake an injury, lets say in a playoff game and the team goes all the way because of it. You're telling me other teammates won't help pay the fine? There Super Bowl champs, people would help pay for it. People paid for George Zimmerman's attorneys, fans will pay for league fines. They need to discipline cheaters with yearly suspensions. HGH to the fourth power. Suspend them for a year and than see how quickly they wish to hold their ankle and then come back in two plays later. SET THE BAR! Four game suspensions for abusing the substance abuse policy is nothing. It should be eight. MLB is 50 games for a first time abuser. SET THE BAR! What's a fine these days? People lineup to pay for it.
I respect Brian Urlacher for coming out and breaking a teams code, especially if it has something to do with cheating. If a coach has signals that they give to players to cheat, I put them in the same category as former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. That's how I see a coach who dignifies cheating, regarding how big or small it is. A sin is a sin, regardless of how big or small. They should be suspended for a year, than a petty slap on the hand fine. They're cheaters who are interfering with the outcome of the game. Until the league actually sets the bar, someone is going to test that rule. Whether the refs catch it or the league, the bar needs to be set. Urlacher probably didn't agree with what was going on around him, but if you play for that team, you can't say anything. What goes on in the locker room, stays in the locker room. That's why its called a code of silence. That's why the whole Saints defense didn't get suspended because they all didn't want to participate in bounty hunts. Same with faking injuries. I'm glad to see someone finally came out and admit that they were apart of it. Memo to the NFL...SET THE BAR!
Monday, July 1, 2013
2013 NBA DRAFT DIARY: Part III
Hasan R
(Part II of Hasan's diary can be read here).
Pick 11, Philadelphia 76ers: Jrue Holiday is gone and they
replace him with Michael Carter-Williams. Advanced metrics place
Carter-Williams as a top guard in this draft and he provides Philly with size
and a pure PG to throw lobs up for Noel. Throw in the 2014 first-round pick
they also got (1-5 protected) and the 76ers came away with a killer haul and
have set themselves up for a fantastic future rebuild.
Pick 12, Oklahoma City Thunder: Still reeling from losing James Harden,
they need to find a sixth man who can play meaningful minutes behind Russell Westbrook
and Kevin Durant. Frankly, this team is pretty stacked and are smart at drafting so I
trust their pick. Steven Adams is the announced pick and I’m ok with this.
Adams is an athlete with tons of potential. Strong athlete combined with great
size makes him a terrific defender, but needs to improve on the offensive side
of the ball. Thankfully, offense is something OKC doesn’t suffer and provided
that Adams can help them crash the boards and protect the rim would make him a
good pick.
Pick 13, Dallas Mavericks: A TRADE! Mavs trade this pick to
the Celtics for the no. 16 pick and two future second-round picks. The Boston Celtics in
turn draft Kelly Olynyk, a stretch 4 who can catch the ball on the high post
and drive to the basket. Definitely part of the rebuilding process for Boston,
but by no means an impact pick.
Pick 14, Utah Jazz: Man, watching the draft is fun and
exciting, but draining. There is so much dead airspace and ESPN scrambles to put
it all together. But I wouldn’t have it any other way! Anyway, the Timberwolves
select Shabazz Muhammad. Prolific scorer on the wings and a good shooters,
Shabazz proves to be a good pick, especially this far down. Best part of his
interview is the fact that he is being asked about the Wolves whilst wearing a
Utah Jazz hat. Definitely a highlight in the draft.
Pick 15, Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks select Giannis
Adetokunbo. Whoa, try saying that three times fast. This dude can handle the
ball, can shoot the 3 and has a crazy wingspan. Scouts peg him as not being NBA
ready and we won’t really know if he can make the transition from Greece to
the NBA. He will either be a home run or a bust, and we should know in a couple
of years.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
2013 NBA DRAFT DIARY: Part II
Hasan R
(Part I of Hasan's diary can be read here).
Pick 6, New Orleans Pelicans: AND HE IS FINALLY PICKED!
Nerlens Noel free fall has stopped and his landing spot is in New Orleans!
Nerlens Noel and Anthony Davis! The Thin Towers! Guys, we have a really fun
frontcourt…and he’s been traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. Does this mean Andrew Bynum will not suit up for the 76ers? ESPN is reporting that he is traded to
the 76ers along with a protected 2014 first round pick for Jrue Holiday and a
2013 second round pick. Great trade for both teams.
Pick 7, Sacramento Kings: Ben McLemore has been selected by
the Kings. A potential star with a high upside, McLemore is a great
shooter and elite athlete. The Kings needed shooting and athleticism and they
got it. Love this pick for this Kings. What this fan base needed, especially
after the shenanigans with Seattle.
Pick 8, Detroit Pistons: Rumored to be grabbing a point guard, the
Pistons have opted to pivot and grab Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. One of the best
shooters in the draft, this is a good injection of talent to a backcourt with
Brandon Knight running the point. Should be a fun backcourt to watch and keep
an eye on this season.
Pick 9, Minnesota Timberwolves: Wolves select Trey Burke and
he has been flipped to the Utah Jazz for their no. 14 and 21 picks. Jazz needed
a point guard and Burke fits the bill. Most NBA ready guard in this draft he
can start immediately for the Jazz.
Pick 10, Portland Trail Blazers: These guys have been eyeing
a PG this draft and get it in the form of CJ McCollum. He projects to be a very
similar PG to Damian Lillard making this a fantastically fun backcourt to watch.
*Immediately removes Pelicans from League Pass and replaces them with the
Trail Blazers*. This pairing has potential to score lots of points, create space
for LaMarcus Aldridge, and McCollum can shoot well, handle the ball well and
create his own shot. Good running mate for Lillard and this backcourt should
have opposing defenses in fits if they can click.
Part III of Hasan's diary is available.
Part III of Hasan's diary is available.
Friday, June 28, 2013
2013 NBA DRAFT DIARY: Part I
Hasan R
Hello everyone and welcome to my first DRAFT DIARY. That’s
right folks, I am ripping off Bill
Simmons’ shtick (and who cares? It’s
not like he’ll be doing a draft diary this year because he’ll be too busy on TV
to do one anyway, right?). This draft proves
to be an interesting one with NBA
pundits moaning that it is a “weak draft” and it’s a bit of a gamble outside of
the top 10 picks. So, without further ado, let’s start talking about David
Stern’s final draft.
But for good measure: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Pick 1, Cleveland
Cavaliers: Ok, frankly for pick 1, I am absolutely expecting that they pick
Nerlens Noel. I mean injury or no injury,
he is one of the top players in this draft and Cleveland can afford to gamble
on his ability to start giving them depth at the C/PF position. AND HOLY HELL THEY DON’T PICK HIM. They pick Anthony Bennett! SHOCKER. Bill Simmons
is genuinely perplexed. I am too. I suppose he would make a great pick and roll
partner for Kyrie Irving, and
projects to be a 20 and 10 player going forward, so I suppose it could have
been worse. They could’ve drafted me (absolutely not—Ed).
Pick 2, Orlando Magic:
The Magic are still undergoing a rebuilding project of sorts and have what they
want in explosive guard, Victor Oladipo.
There is absolutely no way they do not take him and I cannot fathom a scenario
where they don’t go with a player who projects to be a star, given his immense
upside. And that is what the Magic do in selecting Oladipo, which is fantastic.
Hopefully they can slot him into the starting rotation now that Arron
Afflalo is gone. Oladipo was one of my favorite players in the
college game last season and I’m hoping he’ll flourish in the NBA with Orlando.
Pick 3, Washington
Wizards: Washington Wizards are now on the clock. Based on conversations I’ve had with Felipe M, this is one of the teams we’re
hoping, with the right moves, can make the playoffs. And I can only see one payer over here which
addresses the need the Wizards have at SF. And as I type this out, Otto Porter was selected by the Washington
Wizards. This is a perfect fit for this team. Great wing player to pair with John Wall and Brad Beal and is able to play off the ball well. Good defender and
willing to defend, I hope he does help the Wizards make the playoffs.
Pick 4, Charlotte
Bobcats: Hey, look! Nerlens Noel is still on the board! Alex Len is still on the board! Ben McLemore still on the board! Picks
looking good for the Bobcats: three fairly safe picks up there. And the Bobcats
decide to pick CODY ZELLER!!??!! A
major downgrade from Noel or Len, Zeller is a bizarre pick for number 4. Once
again, the Bobcats are snakebitten by one Michael
Jordan. What are they thinking in Charlotte?
Pick 5, Phoenix Suns:
ALEX LEN HAS JUST BEEN DRAFTED AHEAD OF NERLENS NOEL. Hey, maybe we have a Geno Smith situation occurring here at
the NBA draft regarding Noel. Somebody cue Tom Petty. Anyway, this was a
fantastic pick for Phoenix. Rumors pegged the Cavs picking Len as well and I’m
not surprised. Suns love him and he can take over for Marcin Gortat eventually. Of course the Suns medical team had
hang-ups about Noel’s knee, but Len is the second best big man in this draft
and a good pick for Phoenix.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
COURTSIDE VIEW: 2013 NBA DRAFT--Cavs/Knicks Edition
Johnny J
This will be my last NBA story for the 2012-13 campaign. I will continue my writing on stories and my opinions about different NFL topics. You can look forward to more of my opinions and jabs on the NFL. Ask about me at Fourth & Forever (coming soon!).
The 2013 NBA Draft is just days away and if you are excited like I am, you are wondering who your favorite team is going to draft. I will be be dissecting a couple of the high projected prospects and if they're a good fit for the Cleveland Cavaliers. In other words, if you were a General Manager of an NBA team, do you draft for need or do you just grab the best available player, regardless if they fill that void in your line-up? Lottery picks can sometimes be hard to predict. Just because a player was awesome in college, doesn't mean he has what it takes to succeed in the pros. For a team like the New York Knicks (late 1st round pick), they might be better off taking the "best available" player.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have two picks in the first round, including the number one pick overall. They also have the 19th pick as well. They won the NBA Lottery for the second time in three years. In 2011, the Cavaliers gambled on a young point guard named Kyrie Irving, who only played eight games at Duke due to an injury. He came back in the NCAA Tournament and scored 28 points in a Sweet Sixteen loss to Arizona. Two years later, at age 21, he is now an All-Star. So where do the Cavaliers go on building a team around Irving? There's been talk that the Cavs may trade the first pick, but I doubt that will happen. They've also been flirting with the Dallas Mavericks about acquiring forward veteran Shawn Marion to move up six spots to #13th (from 19th) and they would be taking $9.3 million off the books for the Mavs in return. The Mavs are hoping to have as much money as possible, for when July 1st rolls around, they hope of landing Chris Paul and Dwight Howard (Can't have one without the other, apparently--Ed).
In my opinion, the Cavs only need to fill a few spots, such as both starting forward positions and a shooting guard. They are good at center with Anderson Varejao and North Carolina product Tyler Zeller. I know a lot of mock drafts have the Cavs taking a center since Varejao only has one year left on his contract, but I don't know about taking one early. They have a center now in Zeller. I like him; he deserves a chance to start. He put up great numbers at UNC. Let him be the man in the middle. With the number one pick, the Cavs should draft for need, so I would pass on a center and take shooting guard Victor Oladipo out of Indiana. He would be a great complement to Irving. This guy has a great all-around game and upside. He can shoot, drive, and finish. Plus he has great athletic ability. A young backcourt that will make the Cavs more dangerous sounds tempting to me. Then at pick #19 or (#13 if they make that trade I was talking about earlier), I think the Cavs should draft center Gorgui Dieng from Louisville. He can play the four as well as center as he is equipped with a short-range jumper. He is a rim protector. Imagine him and Varejao on the floor at the same time. That just gets my mouth watery for what they can do with two second round picks. I would prefer to see them trade one of the two second round picks and grab Paul Pierce. They made a pitch to the Celtics for Pierce already. I think that would be a great pick-up. Talk about making the playoffs! He is someone who can give the Cavs leadership presence. Make a package built around Paul Pierce for a second round pick. Plus he only has one year left. It's worth a try.
The New York Knicks on the other hand, needs to draft for best available player. A lot of the good players who can fill their need at point guard and center will be gone at pick #24. With that said, I like the Knicks to draft center Kelly Olynyk. A center that can score. A Knicks' fans dream. Simply because Tyson Chandler and Marcus Camby can't score on their own. Bleacher Report has him going at #23 to the Indiana Pacers, but if he falls, the Knicks should grab him. Bleacher has the Knicks grabbing another shooter. Another shooter!!! They don't need another shooter, unless Olynyk is gone. He is the only center I would bite on. He is a need and best available player rolled into a nice gift bag for New York. Olynyk can back-up Chandler and help spread the floor and clear the paint because of his shooting ability. He would be a great addition to New York who got killed on the boards against the Pacers in the playoffs. Draft for need here!
If Olynk is gone at 24. Then you grab the best available player. Such as Allen Crabbe, a shooter out of California. I still like this pick, but all the shooters the Knicks have can't be on the floor at the same time. That did no good in the playoffs. Because, realistically, people have bad games (J.R. Smith) and slumps can occur. I'm expecting all of the Knicks free-agent shooters to re-sign. Guys like J.R. Smith, Chris Copeland, and Pablo Prigioni. If they don't, then you have to replace them. The only way the Knicks will move pass top-notch teams in the Eastern Conference is if they have a low-post scorer. You can't trust Amar'e Stoudemire's grandfather knees. He hits the floor hard, he goes out and stays out for a long period of time. Also he has a restriction on his minutes. He can't play more than 30 minutes a game. Next they will be saying he can't play all 82 games in the season. Olynyk is the answer!
The Cavs and the Knicks are headed in different directions. The Cavs are getting young talent and the Knicks are just getting older. If the Cavs make the right moves to build a team around Irving, they will be an elite team in a couple of years. Yes, an elite team, I didn't stutter and you're hearing it first from me. The Cavaliers will be an Eastern Conference contender. The Knicks are built to win now. Now as in, "re-sign your shooters" and draft the guy who led the Gonzaga Bulldogs to a 33-2 record. Drafting for best available player is the only option and he is projected right around that magic number of 24.
More NBA content is available here.
This will be my last NBA story for the 2012-13 campaign. I will continue my writing on stories and my opinions about different NFL topics. You can look forward to more of my opinions and jabs on the NFL. Ask about me at Fourth & Forever (coming soon!).
The 2013 NBA Draft is just days away and if you are excited like I am, you are wondering who your favorite team is going to draft. I will be be dissecting a couple of the high projected prospects and if they're a good fit for the Cleveland Cavaliers. In other words, if you were a General Manager of an NBA team, do you draft for need or do you just grab the best available player, regardless if they fill that void in your line-up? Lottery picks can sometimes be hard to predict. Just because a player was awesome in college, doesn't mean he has what it takes to succeed in the pros. For a team like the New York Knicks (late 1st round pick), they might be better off taking the "best available" player.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have two picks in the first round, including the number one pick overall. They also have the 19th pick as well. They won the NBA Lottery for the second time in three years. In 2011, the Cavaliers gambled on a young point guard named Kyrie Irving, who only played eight games at Duke due to an injury. He came back in the NCAA Tournament and scored 28 points in a Sweet Sixteen loss to Arizona. Two years later, at age 21, he is now an All-Star. So where do the Cavaliers go on building a team around Irving? There's been talk that the Cavs may trade the first pick, but I doubt that will happen. They've also been flirting with the Dallas Mavericks about acquiring forward veteran Shawn Marion to move up six spots to #13th (from 19th) and they would be taking $9.3 million off the books for the Mavs in return. The Mavs are hoping to have as much money as possible, for when July 1st rolls around, they hope of landing Chris Paul and Dwight Howard (Can't have one without the other, apparently--Ed).
In my opinion, the Cavs only need to fill a few spots, such as both starting forward positions and a shooting guard. They are good at center with Anderson Varejao and North Carolina product Tyler Zeller. I know a lot of mock drafts have the Cavs taking a center since Varejao only has one year left on his contract, but I don't know about taking one early. They have a center now in Zeller. I like him; he deserves a chance to start. He put up great numbers at UNC. Let him be the man in the middle. With the number one pick, the Cavs should draft for need, so I would pass on a center and take shooting guard Victor Oladipo out of Indiana. He would be a great complement to Irving. This guy has a great all-around game and upside. He can shoot, drive, and finish. Plus he has great athletic ability. A young backcourt that will make the Cavs more dangerous sounds tempting to me. Then at pick #19 or (#13 if they make that trade I was talking about earlier), I think the Cavs should draft center Gorgui Dieng from Louisville. He can play the four as well as center as he is equipped with a short-range jumper. He is a rim protector. Imagine him and Varejao on the floor at the same time. That just gets my mouth watery for what they can do with two second round picks. I would prefer to see them trade one of the two second round picks and grab Paul Pierce. They made a pitch to the Celtics for Pierce already. I think that would be a great pick-up. Talk about making the playoffs! He is someone who can give the Cavs leadership presence. Make a package built around Paul Pierce for a second round pick. Plus he only has one year left. It's worth a try.
The New York Knicks on the other hand, needs to draft for best available player. A lot of the good players who can fill their need at point guard and center will be gone at pick #24. With that said, I like the Knicks to draft center Kelly Olynyk. A center that can score. A Knicks' fans dream. Simply because Tyson Chandler and Marcus Camby can't score on their own. Bleacher Report has him going at #23 to the Indiana Pacers, but if he falls, the Knicks should grab him. Bleacher has the Knicks grabbing another shooter. Another shooter!!! They don't need another shooter, unless Olynyk is gone. He is the only center I would bite on. He is a need and best available player rolled into a nice gift bag for New York. Olynyk can back-up Chandler and help spread the floor and clear the paint because of his shooting ability. He would be a great addition to New York who got killed on the boards against the Pacers in the playoffs. Draft for need here!
If Olynk is gone at 24. Then you grab the best available player. Such as Allen Crabbe, a shooter out of California. I still like this pick, but all the shooters the Knicks have can't be on the floor at the same time. That did no good in the playoffs. Because, realistically, people have bad games (J.R. Smith) and slumps can occur. I'm expecting all of the Knicks free-agent shooters to re-sign. Guys like J.R. Smith, Chris Copeland, and Pablo Prigioni. If they don't, then you have to replace them. The only way the Knicks will move pass top-notch teams in the Eastern Conference is if they have a low-post scorer. You can't trust Amar'e Stoudemire's grandfather knees. He hits the floor hard, he goes out and stays out for a long period of time. Also he has a restriction on his minutes. He can't play more than 30 minutes a game. Next they will be saying he can't play all 82 games in the season. Olynyk is the answer!
The Cavs and the Knicks are headed in different directions. The Cavs are getting young talent and the Knicks are just getting older. If the Cavs make the right moves to build a team around Irving, they will be an elite team in a couple of years. Yes, an elite team, I didn't stutter and you're hearing it first from me. The Cavaliers will be an Eastern Conference contender. The Knicks are built to win now. Now as in, "re-sign your shooters" and draft the guy who led the Gonzaga Bulldogs to a 33-2 record. Drafting for best available player is the only option and he is projected right around that magic number of 24.
More NBA content is available here.
Monday, June 24, 2013
COURTSIDE VIEW: What Would you do for a Klondike Bar?
Johnny J
With the Miami Heat winning back-to-back NBA titles, it is official; I just lost another bet. In fact, I lost three bets that came out to a grand total of $60. I usually don't make bets unless I absolutely feel the team I pick will win. That didn't happen. My luck was so bad, that one team I gambled on was actually swept in these playoffs, which made it worse. So the next day, when I saw the person who won the wagers, I quickly went up to him and paid off my debt. I don't like being in debt so I try and pay off my debtors as soon as possible. There's no chasing me down or confronting me because I would go looking for that person I owe money to first. There's no waiting until the next time I get paid because I would have the money on me already just in case I do lose. When that happens, I earn the reputation of me being an honest person. People don't mind making wages with me because I end up chasing them down to get rid of my debt. Chris Bosh, I hope you are taking notes because I feel you owe Pat Riley and your teammates your salary, which is just as bad as Ray Allen jumping on the bandwagon with the enemy.
Game 7, on Wednesday night, had to be one of the worst games, if not the worst for a so-called superstar in NBA history. Bosh didn't even score a single point. He played 28 minutes in one of the most anticipated games in an NBA Finals. How did he come out on the floor like a person who just couldn't get the job done? A superstar should do his job and show up to big games. He had zero points and seven rebounds. When Pat Riley signed him to a six-year, $109 million dollar contract, he pictured a dominant max contract player who was a productive, franchise-type player with the Toronto Raptors. The same player who became the all-time leading scorer for the Raptors. A double-double average a night guy. Instead, he got a newborn baby who was brought in by a stork. A newborn who was looking to get nurtured by the real superstars of the team. In others words, Bosh is softer than ______(insert your favorite brand name fabric softener--Ed). He's someone who is riding backseat of a championship team. Riding the talents of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
So be a man, chase Pat Riley down, and give him your whole earnings of your check. The whole $17 million and some change check for this past season because you're in debt, my friend. A grand total of seven rebounds...seven and one block. ITS AN NBA FINALS, GAME 7! Third String center Joel Anthony could have produced more stats in that time (and for one-fifth of the cost--Ed). So between Bosh and Wade, I would have to say Bosh is the one who is gone next season (despite qualifying for Early Termination Option, highly doubt that Bosh will walk away from $19 million+ for next season--Ed). I can't see the Heat paying a salary that is just going to increase. Riley is probably trying to work out a deal/trade right now. Maybe a second round pick in return would suffice. Bosh must be best friends with Brooklyn Nets' player, Joe Johnson. I heard he steals from the front office as well. What would you do for a Klondike Bar, Bosh? For a ring, for a chance to glorify and get paid off of your teammates' talents? I would feel better sleeping if I knew Heat veteran, Shane Battier received that salary instead.
Mr. "He Got Game" himself, Ray Allen. Leaving your friendships with the Boston Celtics to jump on the back of LeBron James. Taking less money to join the enemy of your Celtics' team. One of the best shooters in NBA history, desperate for another ring, I see. He had a few highlights in Game Six to help the Heat prevail, but overall I see why Kevin Garnett doesn't talk to him any more. Where is your self-respect? I just threw out my, "He Got Game" movie. Allen may have eased his way to another ring, but I'm sure he is still upset about San Antonio Spurs' role-player, Danny Green breaking his record for most threes made in a NBA Finals. I couldn't reside with the enemy, especially for less money. That's just something I couldn't do. Obviously he must have thought the Celtics were a step slower in reaching the Finals again (Doc Rivers definitely thinks so--Ed). If he continued to play for the Celtics and if Rajon Rondo was healthy, I believe the Celtics could have reached the finals. What would you do for a Klondike Bar, Ray? Kiss the rival, lose your friend. It must be ice cream in the middle, because dishonor is something that carries weight. Enjoy the 2% fat Klondike bar.
Bosh is a fraud--a fraud I tell you (Kevin Durant would say he's a "fake tough guy."--Ed). Anywhere he goes, he is going to be stealing. Just seven rebounds in an NBA Finals is worse than terrible. He stole minutes as well. He robbed somebody who was worthy of those 28 minutes. Riley knows what has to be done. Give him the boot and make him earn that $109 million salary somewhere else. As far as Ray goes, going AWOL on his former championship team; the things people will do to be in the spotlight. I didn't see him in any highlights on the Heat's 27 game win streak, so enjoy it while you can, you aren't getting any younger.
More NBA content is available here.
With the Miami Heat winning back-to-back NBA titles, it is official; I just lost another bet. In fact, I lost three bets that came out to a grand total of $60. I usually don't make bets unless I absolutely feel the team I pick will win. That didn't happen. My luck was so bad, that one team I gambled on was actually swept in these playoffs, which made it worse. So the next day, when I saw the person who won the wagers, I quickly went up to him and paid off my debt. I don't like being in debt so I try and pay off my debtors as soon as possible. There's no chasing me down or confronting me because I would go looking for that person I owe money to first. There's no waiting until the next time I get paid because I would have the money on me already just in case I do lose. When that happens, I earn the reputation of me being an honest person. People don't mind making wages with me because I end up chasing them down to get rid of my debt. Chris Bosh, I hope you are taking notes because I feel you owe Pat Riley and your teammates your salary, which is just as bad as Ray Allen jumping on the bandwagon with the enemy.
Game 7, on Wednesday night, had to be one of the worst games, if not the worst for a so-called superstar in NBA history. Bosh didn't even score a single point. He played 28 minutes in one of the most anticipated games in an NBA Finals. How did he come out on the floor like a person who just couldn't get the job done? A superstar should do his job and show up to big games. He had zero points and seven rebounds. When Pat Riley signed him to a six-year, $109 million dollar contract, he pictured a dominant max contract player who was a productive, franchise-type player with the Toronto Raptors. The same player who became the all-time leading scorer for the Raptors. A double-double average a night guy. Instead, he got a newborn baby who was brought in by a stork. A newborn who was looking to get nurtured by the real superstars of the team. In others words, Bosh is softer than ______(insert your favorite brand name fabric softener--Ed). He's someone who is riding backseat of a championship team. Riding the talents of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
So be a man, chase Pat Riley down, and give him your whole earnings of your check. The whole $17 million and some change check for this past season because you're in debt, my friend. A grand total of seven rebounds...seven and one block. ITS AN NBA FINALS, GAME 7! Third String center Joel Anthony could have produced more stats in that time (and for one-fifth of the cost--Ed). So between Bosh and Wade, I would have to say Bosh is the one who is gone next season (despite qualifying for Early Termination Option, highly doubt that Bosh will walk away from $19 million+ for next season--Ed). I can't see the Heat paying a salary that is just going to increase. Riley is probably trying to work out a deal/trade right now. Maybe a second round pick in return would suffice. Bosh must be best friends with Brooklyn Nets' player, Joe Johnson. I heard he steals from the front office as well. What would you do for a Klondike Bar, Bosh? For a ring, for a chance to glorify and get paid off of your teammates' talents? I would feel better sleeping if I knew Heat veteran, Shane Battier received that salary instead.
Mr. "He Got Game" himself, Ray Allen. Leaving your friendships with the Boston Celtics to jump on the back of LeBron James. Taking less money to join the enemy of your Celtics' team. One of the best shooters in NBA history, desperate for another ring, I see. He had a few highlights in Game Six to help the Heat prevail, but overall I see why Kevin Garnett doesn't talk to him any more. Where is your self-respect? I just threw out my, "He Got Game" movie. Allen may have eased his way to another ring, but I'm sure he is still upset about San Antonio Spurs' role-player, Danny Green breaking his record for most threes made in a NBA Finals. I couldn't reside with the enemy, especially for less money. That's just something I couldn't do. Obviously he must have thought the Celtics were a step slower in reaching the Finals again (Doc Rivers definitely thinks so--Ed). If he continued to play for the Celtics and if Rajon Rondo was healthy, I believe the Celtics could have reached the finals. What would you do for a Klondike Bar, Ray? Kiss the rival, lose your friend. It must be ice cream in the middle, because dishonor is something that carries weight. Enjoy the 2% fat Klondike bar.
Bosh is a fraud--a fraud I tell you (Kevin Durant would say he's a "fake tough guy."--Ed). Anywhere he goes, he is going to be stealing. Just seven rebounds in an NBA Finals is worse than terrible. He stole minutes as well. He robbed somebody who was worthy of those 28 minutes. Riley knows what has to be done. Give him the boot and make him earn that $109 million salary somewhere else. As far as Ray goes, going AWOL on his former championship team; the things people will do to be in the spotlight. I didn't see him in any highlights on the Heat's 27 game win streak, so enjoy it while you can, you aren't getting any younger.
More NBA content is available here.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
COURTSIDE VIEW: Straight Sixes
Johnny J
Dice have six sides to it--six faces--with one one shot on landing on six for every time its rolled. The odds of rolling a six are 5:1. You can fail five times while only being successful one time. Now moving to a bigger scale. The Miami Heat were favored to beat the San Antonio Spurs, 5:12. That means if someone was betting on the game, they would have received $5 profit for every $12 wagered. But for a team that was favored to win it, the odds are not that high. Now with the Spurs leading three games to two, the outcome of the series can either end in game six or seven. The Heat have to win two games and the odds of them winning are 3:1 in seven games. The odds of the Spurs ending it in game six is 6:1 or 13:2 in seven. The odds are higher because they're not favored. Now for LeBron James to win Finals MVP is 4:9, while Tony Parker's odds are 9:2. But for a role player such as Danny Green on winning are a whopping 30:1. Right now he is the MVP. "Straight Sixes" is the discussion of the Heat's big three vs the Spurs' old three. A look at game six and LeBron James changing his number to six.
The Miami Heat are on the verge of being defeated in the NBA Finals for the second time in three years. James recorded a triple-double in a loss in game one and has been showing flashes of what an MVP should look like by simply looking more for his shots. Triple-doubles are astonishing in an NBA Finals, but it don't mean squat in a loss. Chris Bosh is more of a role player than a star. He puts mediocre stats up, but the biggest surprise to me is Dwyane Wade finding, looking, and driving to find his stats. Wade is doing what he has to do in order to take the pressure off of the King. In game five, he had 25 points and 10 assists. I just now remembered his name is "Flash." Thanks for finally reminding me, D-Wade. While Wade did what he had to, Parker did what he needed to, scoring 26 points. He is the leader of the team. He knew the Spurs can't be down in the series going back to South Beach. He made Mario Chalmers look like a little kid who couldn't defend. Tim Duncan is amazing at his age. Still a very dangerous low-post threat, posting a double-double in Game Five and has been throughout the series. Manu Ginobili finally found his game in the starting lineup. Welcome to the party; better late than never! It was a great move by Gregg Popovich. It's what needed to be done to get his game going.
Looking ahead to Game Six, I expect the Miami Heat to win. The series has gone win, lose, win, lose for both teams. Home court advantage doesn't seem to matter. I know the NBA is happy as they're getting the most out of this NBA Finals (So is the TV Networks that pony up large sums of money into these Finals--Ed). If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Ginobili will be in the starting lineup again. Put him, Parker, and Duncan around shooters like Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard. That is a dangerous inside and out combination. Green went 6 for 10 behind the arc in Game Five. I felt like everything he threw at the rim was going in. This kid from the University of North Carolina, (Yeah Tar Heels!) has really made a name for himself. No more dancing in the Cleveland Cavaliers circles to entertain James. On the other side, I look for James to be more aggressive in the open-court. It's win or go home! I don't expect him to do much passing. I also expect Wade to also be aggressive. He looked good the last two games. I can finally stop saying, "There was a D-Wade sighting on the floor." Besides it's kind of late to make changes in a do or die game. The Spurs experimented with Ginobili and it payed off.
I bet when James and company were dancing on stage in their introduction to the Heat fans a couple of years ago, they probably thought that getting a ring wouldn't be this hard. Now on the verge of dancing back to the couch, I look at the man who changed his jersey number to build his own legacy. James gave up the number 23, for his Olympic jersey number six. He has accomplished a lot, including winning a gold medal. He has only one ring though, which doesn't scream "better than Michael Jordan." So with him changing his number, he showed to Jordan what he thinks about him and all the talk had died down on the comparison. Currently, James does have a lot of individual trophies, but he lacks the most important ones--Championships. Changing your number is fine (Kobe Bryant has went from wearing 8 to 24, but he has five rings!). So it's safe to say he had built his legacy around being a champion and LeBron has built his around being the best player in the game. Jordan changed his number from 23 to 45. Oh wait, he has six rings! How many rings does James have? One. Kobe and Jordan earned the right to change their number. Just like Jordan said, "I'll take Kobe Bryant over Lebron James with the first pick."
Landing on six: Gambling always has the number six involved. The lottery consists of six numbers for at least three of the big games. Straight Sixes: the old big three versus the Heat's big three. It's looking forward to Game Six and the legacy James has built wearing number six. I'm looking forward to see how James is going to come out. Is he going to look to get the Finals MVP with another triple-double, or going to consider winning it all is more important and that he has to take over? The Heat are better with the floor being spread out, meaning Mike Miller and Ray Allen in at the same time. The Spurs are going to continue to put up points with their "we can't miss mentality." The Spurs are thinking of winning their 5th championship in Game 6 and cementing their own legacy as well. Game 6 can't arrive fast enough!
More NBA content is available here.
Dice have six sides to it--six faces--with one one shot on landing on six for every time its rolled. The odds of rolling a six are 5:1. You can fail five times while only being successful one time. Now moving to a bigger scale. The Miami Heat were favored to beat the San Antonio Spurs, 5:12. That means if someone was betting on the game, they would have received $5 profit for every $12 wagered. But for a team that was favored to win it, the odds are not that high. Now with the Spurs leading three games to two, the outcome of the series can either end in game six or seven. The Heat have to win two games and the odds of them winning are 3:1 in seven games. The odds of the Spurs ending it in game six is 6:1 or 13:2 in seven. The odds are higher because they're not favored. Now for LeBron James to win Finals MVP is 4:9, while Tony Parker's odds are 9:2. But for a role player such as Danny Green on winning are a whopping 30:1. Right now he is the MVP. "Straight Sixes" is the discussion of the Heat's big three vs the Spurs' old three. A look at game six and LeBron James changing his number to six.
The Miami Heat are on the verge of being defeated in the NBA Finals for the second time in three years. James recorded a triple-double in a loss in game one and has been showing flashes of what an MVP should look like by simply looking more for his shots. Triple-doubles are astonishing in an NBA Finals, but it don't mean squat in a loss. Chris Bosh is more of a role player than a star. He puts mediocre stats up, but the biggest surprise to me is Dwyane Wade finding, looking, and driving to find his stats. Wade is doing what he has to do in order to take the pressure off of the King. In game five, he had 25 points and 10 assists. I just now remembered his name is "Flash." Thanks for finally reminding me, D-Wade. While Wade did what he had to, Parker did what he needed to, scoring 26 points. He is the leader of the team. He knew the Spurs can't be down in the series going back to South Beach. He made Mario Chalmers look like a little kid who couldn't defend. Tim Duncan is amazing at his age. Still a very dangerous low-post threat, posting a double-double in Game Five and has been throughout the series. Manu Ginobili finally found his game in the starting lineup. Welcome to the party; better late than never! It was a great move by Gregg Popovich. It's what needed to be done to get his game going.
Looking ahead to Game Six, I expect the Miami Heat to win. The series has gone win, lose, win, lose for both teams. Home court advantage doesn't seem to matter. I know the NBA is happy as they're getting the most out of this NBA Finals (So is the TV Networks that pony up large sums of money into these Finals--Ed). If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Ginobili will be in the starting lineup again. Put him, Parker, and Duncan around shooters like Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard. That is a dangerous inside and out combination. Green went 6 for 10 behind the arc in Game Five. I felt like everything he threw at the rim was going in. This kid from the University of North Carolina, (Yeah Tar Heels!) has really made a name for himself. No more dancing in the Cleveland Cavaliers circles to entertain James. On the other side, I look for James to be more aggressive in the open-court. It's win or go home! I don't expect him to do much passing. I also expect Wade to also be aggressive. He looked good the last two games. I can finally stop saying, "There was a D-Wade sighting on the floor." Besides it's kind of late to make changes in a do or die game. The Spurs experimented with Ginobili and it payed off.
I bet when James and company were dancing on stage in their introduction to the Heat fans a couple of years ago, they probably thought that getting a ring wouldn't be this hard. Now on the verge of dancing back to the couch, I look at the man who changed his jersey number to build his own legacy. James gave up the number 23, for his Olympic jersey number six. He has accomplished a lot, including winning a gold medal. He has only one ring though, which doesn't scream "better than Michael Jordan." So with him changing his number, he showed to Jordan what he thinks about him and all the talk had died down on the comparison. Currently, James does have a lot of individual trophies, but he lacks the most important ones--Championships. Changing your number is fine (Kobe Bryant has went from wearing 8 to 24, but he has five rings!). So it's safe to say he had built his legacy around being a champion and LeBron has built his around being the best player in the game. Jordan changed his number from 23 to 45. Oh wait, he has six rings! How many rings does James have? One. Kobe and Jordan earned the right to change their number. Just like Jordan said, "I'll take Kobe Bryant over Lebron James with the first pick."
Landing on six: Gambling always has the number six involved. The lottery consists of six numbers for at least three of the big games. Straight Sixes: the old big three versus the Heat's big three. It's looking forward to Game Six and the legacy James has built wearing number six. I'm looking forward to see how James is going to come out. Is he going to look to get the Finals MVP with another triple-double, or going to consider winning it all is more important and that he has to take over? The Heat are better with the floor being spread out, meaning Mike Miller and Ray Allen in at the same time. The Spurs are going to continue to put up points with their "we can't miss mentality." The Spurs are thinking of winning their 5th championship in Game 6 and cementing their own legacy as well. Game 6 can't arrive fast enough!
More NBA content is available here.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
COURTSIDE VIEW: Breaded Rolls and Flat Pop
Johnny J
The pick and roll and the pick in pop, has been around since I can remember. They are one of the most uncomplicated types of offenses to run and one the most difficult to defend. But for a team that has been titled old and rugged, running this type of offense has made the San Antonio Spurs playing great team basketball. Each and every year under Gregg Popovich, the Spurs have been one of the top teams in the Western Conference. He has four championships since 1999 using the same techniques and he has found players to fill the void, to go with his offense. The pick and roll and pick and pop are ran to perfection by the Spurs because they have good players who run it in Tony Parker and Tim Duncan. When you have players who have been repeating the same songs over and over for a decade, the song must be a hit. Not to mention DJ Pop on the turntables. This song just turned from a hit to a classic.
When Duncan sets a screen or pick for Parker, the 14x All-Star can quickly roll to the hoop, anticipating a pass from Parker for an easy dunk or lay-up. That's called "pick and roll." If the roll is guarded, Duncan can shoot the rock after getting the ball from Parker off the screen. That's called a "pick and pop." The same goes for Parker. If the screen setter is guarded, he can roll to the basket or come off the screen and shoot it. It's the customer's choice; you can either take the bread roll or a flat pop. It's flat because they do it so much that it's getting old. But it works! If a second defender has to help and guard against it, then that person leaves a wide-open shooter, because the floor is always spread out when ran. If you look at Spurs' guard Danny Green in game 2 against the Heat. He was 6-6 from the field, a ridiculous 5-5 from behind the arc (you dare to leave a player from North Carolina open, Miami?). You just get torched from a player that was just standing around.
Think of a young Steve Nash and a much younger Amar'e Stoudemire, who also ran the pick and rolls when the Phoenix Suns were a playoff team. Teams have to have a good point guard to run it and a good center or power forward, who can shoot and finish. The Spurs have that, but Tony Parker isn't just a good point guard, he is a great point guard! So I call guards like him "Generals." The floor Generals are the ones who give orders. They can have the chef serve the dish down your throat or if you your food is rare, they can do it themselves. They have great fundamentals and basketball skills. Good awareness that helps guide the rock to its unnatural home. Its simple, the rock isn't suppose to know who's hands its going to land on, but the General does. He gave the order. Now who would you rather serve you: the chef or the waiter?
Every once in awhile, people call off work. When this happens, the restaurant is short-handed or in total disarray. In Game 2 of the Finals, this is what happened. Everybody who was on the schedule, had a bad night. Serving the same food, the Spurs committed 17 turnovers. It wasn't just the waiter, but everyone on staff. Parker had a bad shooting and serving night. It actually looked like the Spurs played better when he was not on the floor. Duncan had a bad night, too and so did forward Kawhi Leonard. It looked like they both wanted to call in sick. Although Leonard did go in to pick up his check by playing great defense on LeBron James. James was 7-17 from the field. After Leonard picked up his check, he returned an hour later not wanting to do the work for the check. You have to play both sides of the ball. If Parker and Duncan have a bad night, someone has to pick up their customers' orders.
I already knew this was going to be a long series. As much as I wanted a sweep and my wallet wanted it to be a sweep, I knew it wasn't going to be one. In the end, I still have the Spurs coming out on top. You think just because the Heat did a good job defending the pick and roll in one night, that the Spurs are going to stop from moving forward? Not at all! It's just going to make them work harder at smoothing it out. The next three games are at the Alamo. For a team that has only lost one game at home in the playoffs and six in the regular season, it's going to be tough for any opposing team to disrupt the Spurs' flow at home. The concession stands are going to be packed. I heard all their going to be serving is breaded rolls and flat pop. Enjoy!
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The pick and roll and the pick in pop, has been around since I can remember. They are one of the most uncomplicated types of offenses to run and one the most difficult to defend. But for a team that has been titled old and rugged, running this type of offense has made the San Antonio Spurs playing great team basketball. Each and every year under Gregg Popovich, the Spurs have been one of the top teams in the Western Conference. He has four championships since 1999 using the same techniques and he has found players to fill the void, to go with his offense. The pick and roll and pick and pop are ran to perfection by the Spurs because they have good players who run it in Tony Parker and Tim Duncan. When you have players who have been repeating the same songs over and over for a decade, the song must be a hit. Not to mention DJ Pop on the turntables. This song just turned from a hit to a classic.
When Duncan sets a screen or pick for Parker, the 14x All-Star can quickly roll to the hoop, anticipating a pass from Parker for an easy dunk or lay-up. That's called "pick and roll." If the roll is guarded, Duncan can shoot the rock after getting the ball from Parker off the screen. That's called a "pick and pop." The same goes for Parker. If the screen setter is guarded, he can roll to the basket or come off the screen and shoot it. It's the customer's choice; you can either take the bread roll or a flat pop. It's flat because they do it so much that it's getting old. But it works! If a second defender has to help and guard against it, then that person leaves a wide-open shooter, because the floor is always spread out when ran. If you look at Spurs' guard Danny Green in game 2 against the Heat. He was 6-6 from the field, a ridiculous 5-5 from behind the arc (you dare to leave a player from North Carolina open, Miami?). You just get torched from a player that was just standing around.
Think of a young Steve Nash and a much younger Amar'e Stoudemire, who also ran the pick and rolls when the Phoenix Suns were a playoff team. Teams have to have a good point guard to run it and a good center or power forward, who can shoot and finish. The Spurs have that, but Tony Parker isn't just a good point guard, he is a great point guard! So I call guards like him "Generals." The floor Generals are the ones who give orders. They can have the chef serve the dish down your throat or if you your food is rare, they can do it themselves. They have great fundamentals and basketball skills. Good awareness that helps guide the rock to its unnatural home. Its simple, the rock isn't suppose to know who's hands its going to land on, but the General does. He gave the order. Now who would you rather serve you: the chef or the waiter?
Every once in awhile, people call off work. When this happens, the restaurant is short-handed or in total disarray. In Game 2 of the Finals, this is what happened. Everybody who was on the schedule, had a bad night. Serving the same food, the Spurs committed 17 turnovers. It wasn't just the waiter, but everyone on staff. Parker had a bad shooting and serving night. It actually looked like the Spurs played better when he was not on the floor. Duncan had a bad night, too and so did forward Kawhi Leonard. It looked like they both wanted to call in sick. Although Leonard did go in to pick up his check by playing great defense on LeBron James. James was 7-17 from the field. After Leonard picked up his check, he returned an hour later not wanting to do the work for the check. You have to play both sides of the ball. If Parker and Duncan have a bad night, someone has to pick up their customers' orders.
I already knew this was going to be a long series. As much as I wanted a sweep and my wallet wanted it to be a sweep, I knew it wasn't going to be one. In the end, I still have the Spurs coming out on top. You think just because the Heat did a good job defending the pick and roll in one night, that the Spurs are going to stop from moving forward? Not at all! It's just going to make them work harder at smoothing it out. The next three games are at the Alamo. For a team that has only lost one game at home in the playoffs and six in the regular season, it's going to be tough for any opposing team to disrupt the Spurs' flow at home. The concession stands are going to be packed. I heard all their going to be serving is breaded rolls and flat pop. Enjoy!
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Friday, May 24, 2013
POINT/COUNTERPOINT: Brooklyn Nets
@nbadebates25 I think the #Nets are very overrated. They're going to be a good team in the East--by default. They're not that special
— Felipe M (@pathological_h8) October 23, 2012
@nbadebates25 Lopez is weak in the middle on D. Johnson is a weak perimeter player. Wallace's best days are behind him. All big names #hype
— Felipe M (@pathological_h8) October 23, 2012
Felipe M
Check out our take on the Philadelphia 76ers.
Hasan R. and I now look at the future prospects of the Brooklyn Nets for next season.
Felipe: I thought
the Nets were a very overrated, overhyped team coming into this season and I
definitely think the Nets are in deep trouble after their disappointing, first
round loss at the hands of the Chicago
Bulls. This team looks like a perpetual, average team if they decide to bring
everybody back. The only coach that can fix their problems, Phil Jackson, doesn't want to coach
that team. Ownership has created a high-pressured environment to the club, but
a veteran team with very little upside does not bring championships.
Hasan: Nets are
definitely in a bad space. Ownership
just spent without thinking what was best for the future, which probably leads
to the Brooklyn Nets possibly missing out of next season’s playoffs or coming
in as 7th/8th seed.
Felipe: Let’s not forget the situation in Brooklyn was
magnified because of Deron Williams. His play and conditioning at the beginning of
the year was inexcusable. You can tell
that he
started taking things more serious when Avery
Johnson was fired. Not only did
his play improved, but he started losing weight as well. Nevertheless, your franchise player has to
show commitment from day one, not when the coach gets fired. I think investing all of this money and
energy for D-Will to be the focal point of that team may have been a
mistake.
Hasan: Can’t argue with that statement on Williams. D-Will earned himself the title of a “coach
killer,” so best of luck to whoever the Nets hire to coach this wreck. Deron needs to learn to play with this team and
that is the key to their success. They are lucky to have Brook Lopez and if they can figure out schemes that maximize his
potential and build a successful offense that utilizes him, they can eke out a
bunch of victories.
Felipe: And I know I referred to Lopez as soft at the beginning of the
year, but I tip my hat off to him for making the All-Star team and showing more heart in the paint area, on both
sides of the ball, than in years past.
The Bulls were still
able to bully him at times, but held his own and even stepped up his production
in certain statistical categories (especially blocks and rebounds) in the
series vs. the gritty Bulls.
On the downside, one of the players getting
credit for helping to add toughness to Lopez’s game, Andray Blatche will probably not re-sign with the team as he played
well enough to get a bigger contract than the one-year deal Brooklyn gave him
this season.
Hasan: Unfortunately, they have no choice but to reload in the free agent
market and D-Will better get out there and start recruiting. Then again, it’s hard to utilize that
strategy when they are pretty cash-strapped and only time will tell who they
can afford this offseason. Other teams
are better prepared for this current free agent market and the Nets may not
have what it takes to create a better team to make it out of round 1 of the
playoffs next season either.
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POINT/COUNTERPOINT: Philadelphia 76ers
Felipe M
Had a good, but very long conversation about the future of the NBA with fellow basketball fan, and diehard New York Knicks' fan, Hasan R. The following is our thoughts on the state of the Philadelphia 76ers
Felipe: I've always
like the 76ers, but they're always missing something, I'm just not sure what exactly
that is. But they have up-and-comers JrueHoliday and Evan Turner. They also have some good talent with guys like Thaddeus Young and Spencer Hawes and Lavoy
Allen to a lesser extent. Not sure
what Jason Richardson can still
bring for next season. However, they’re
getting a new coach and already have a President/GM in Sam Hinkie (formerly
of the Houston Rockets). So I think
Philly’s arrow is pointing up.
Hasan: Totally
counted out the 76ers, but you reminded me a lot of what makes them a threat
going forward. This year was the first in a rebuilding phase anyway with Andre Iguodala gone and if Andrew Bynum actually plays for the
76ers, they have a lethal team. Not exactly NBA championship caliber, but one
that is setting itself up with a good core that should hit its stride in late
2014/early 2015. If they can draft a wing player in the mold of Iguodala, this could be a lethal
team.
Felipe:
Technically, the 76ers have
been rebuilding for a few years now.
Yes, they have made the playoffs, but haven’t had a winning season since
2004-05. And I really don’t see Bynum
ever suiting up for Philly and they would have to be absolutely desperate to
want him this bad. I have to question
his heart and his degenerative knees. And the
76ers didn’t do much when they had Iguodala with the team so I doubt getting
another player in that mold will help much.
I would actually suggest getting a big man (maybe a guy like Cody Zeller as his stock seems to be
dropping) would prove to be helpful, but then again, it depends what kind of
coach they will hire.
Hasan: They have most definitely been rebuilding for a few years and
sadly this last season was a lost one. I understand your concern with Bynum, but my above idea for Philly was
that they DO manage to re-sign Bynum, and that he suits up and then you've got the 76ers
vying for a dynamic wing to pair up with Evan Turner. Then hopefully get some
veteran presence and they may even be able to compete for a low playoff seed
this upcoming season.
That being said, let's think
about what happens if they fail to retain Bynum. Not only does that Bynum trade look
absolutely horrific in retrospect (not like the trade didn't look bad
enough when it was made), but it also means that it's time to tear it all down.
If Bynum is gone the most likely draft pick for them would be Cody Zeller or
even Kelly Olynyk. That also makes their second round picks
extremely valuable because the best way to rebuild is through the draft.
Sadly, it is a bit tough to
really judge this team without a basketball coach because we still aren't too
sure about the style of play they will employ. Holding out against hope that
they manage to re-sign Bynum and go ahead with my earlier idea, if only for the
sheer fun it would be to watch Bynum and Holiday play together.
Felipe: At least we agree on the 76ers needing a new coach in order for us
to gauge which direction they will go in terms of personnel. I definitely have to disagree with you on
Andrew Bynum. His best days are behind
him and I just don’t see him wanting to stay in Philly and Philly would do
itself a favor by looking elsewhere to start another rebuilding project. Luckily for them, their new GM is a statistical analytics guy and hopefully, that will make him see that re-signing Bynum will prove to be a mistake.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
COURTSIDE VIEW: Pacemaker
Johnny J
Welcome to the first Courtside View entry. I'm your host, Johnny J! This week's topic is all about the Indiana Pacers.
Indiana was real good at slowing down the high-powered New York Knicks' offense (RIP--Ed). The Knicks were actually ranked 11th in scoring for the regular season, averaging 100 PPG. The Miami Heat, the Pacers' opponent in the Eastern Conference Finals, ranked 5th with 102.9 PPG. The Pacers will try and make the Heat play at their pace, meaning plenty of half-court ball. Indiana knows they can't out-score the Heat and I wonder, how much do they have left in the tank after going six games with the Knicks? Indiana only averaged 94.7 PPG in the regular season (92 PPG in the playoffs--Ed) and ranked a sub-par 23rd in the league.
With Miami only averaging 12 fastbreak points per game, I can really see the pacemaker Pacers controlling the game. They have a "team" that can have a different leading scorer every game. Yes, they have a young star in Paul George (Johnny J wrote about Paul George last month: he's really "lights out"--Ed), but he still has a lot to learn, before I put him in the top-tier list of players in the NBA.
George is a player who can potentially average a triple-double with his style of play. He doesn't need the ball in his hands every time to make an impact in the game. But the ball does go through his hands almost every play. Whether it's on a rebound, pass, or shot. In the playoffs he has averaged 19.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. The most improved player at 22 has shown up!
The Knicks averaged 31.5 points from three pointers. They were second in the league, with the Heat, coming in third averaging 25.7. The Pacers averaged first in opponents three pointers percentage and field goal percentage. The Heat likes to spread the floor, just like the Knicks did, but the Knicks couldn't hit their shots, averaging only 37% from behind the arc against Indiana. How will Miami learn from the Knicks mistakes? Indiana, doesn't like to double team opponents. With defensive-minded players like Paul George, George Hill and Roy Hibbert, they don't have to. George was on the all-defensive second team and Hibbert could've been on the list as well. The tall, imposing freak had 19 blocks in six games (3.2 per game) against the Knicks.
The Pacers won the series 2-1 in the regular season against the Heat. Both wins coming at home at Conseco Fieldhouse. The Pacers were 30-11 at home in the regular season and 6-0 at home in the postseason. As good as the Pacers are at home, it is imperative that the prove that they can win on the road in this series. That is just a fact of life: Champions win on the road! They finished up the Atlanta Hawks on the road and they also stole game one in New York. I believe they can do it. They have the attitude of a championship team, and they stayed composed throughout the playoffs. They're not that deep off the bench, but neither is Miami. I also acknowledge they are young and everybody on the court, regardless of position or size, attacks the glass. They were first in rebounds averaging 45 per game. They're like beasts on the glass (We explained how the Miami Heat have struggled against good rebounding clubs this season--Ed).
I see this series going seven games without a doubt in my mind. The Pacers can match the intensity of the Heat, but it's going to be about "who is going to want it more?" The pressure is more on the Heat. Not only do they have three All-Stars, but one in particular, LeBron James, is being compared to as the greatest of all time (Numbers don't lie--Ed).
This maybe the last time the big three are together. The pacers will crash the boards and they will not send double teams as every man can hold his own defensive assignment. It will limit the threes from the role players and it will be a physical battle. I believe home-court will be a major factor, but I believe the Pacers will steal one in south beach.
More NBA content is available here.
Welcome to the first Courtside View entry. I'm your host, Johnny J! This week's topic is all about the Indiana Pacers.
Indiana was real good at slowing down the high-powered New York Knicks' offense (RIP--Ed). The Knicks were actually ranked 11th in scoring for the regular season, averaging 100 PPG. The Miami Heat, the Pacers' opponent in the Eastern Conference Finals, ranked 5th with 102.9 PPG. The Pacers will try and make the Heat play at their pace, meaning plenty of half-court ball. Indiana knows they can't out-score the Heat and I wonder, how much do they have left in the tank after going six games with the Knicks? Indiana only averaged 94.7 PPG in the regular season (92 PPG in the playoffs--Ed) and ranked a sub-par 23rd in the league.
With Miami only averaging 12 fastbreak points per game, I can really see the pacemaker Pacers controlling the game. They have a "team" that can have a different leading scorer every game. Yes, they have a young star in Paul George (Johnny J wrote about Paul George last month: he's really "lights out"--Ed), but he still has a lot to learn, before I put him in the top-tier list of players in the NBA.
George is a player who can potentially average a triple-double with his style of play. He doesn't need the ball in his hands every time to make an impact in the game. But the ball does go through his hands almost every play. Whether it's on a rebound, pass, or shot. In the playoffs he has averaged 19.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. The most improved player at 22 has shown up!
The Knicks averaged 31.5 points from three pointers. They were second in the league, with the Heat, coming in third averaging 25.7. The Pacers averaged first in opponents three pointers percentage and field goal percentage. The Heat likes to spread the floor, just like the Knicks did, but the Knicks couldn't hit their shots, averaging only 37% from behind the arc against Indiana. How will Miami learn from the Knicks mistakes? Indiana, doesn't like to double team opponents. With defensive-minded players like Paul George, George Hill and Roy Hibbert, they don't have to. George was on the all-defensive second team and Hibbert could've been on the list as well. The tall, imposing freak had 19 blocks in six games (3.2 per game) against the Knicks.
The Pacers won the series 2-1 in the regular season against the Heat. Both wins coming at home at Conseco Fieldhouse. The Pacers were 30-11 at home in the regular season and 6-0 at home in the postseason. As good as the Pacers are at home, it is imperative that the prove that they can win on the road in this series. That is just a fact of life: Champions win on the road! They finished up the Atlanta Hawks on the road and they also stole game one in New York. I believe they can do it. They have the attitude of a championship team, and they stayed composed throughout the playoffs. They're not that deep off the bench, but neither is Miami. I also acknowledge they are young and everybody on the court, regardless of position or size, attacks the glass. They were first in rebounds averaging 45 per game. They're like beasts on the glass (We explained how the Miami Heat have struggled against good rebounding clubs this season--Ed).
I see this series going seven games without a doubt in my mind. The Pacers can match the intensity of the Heat, but it's going to be about "who is going to want it more?" The pressure is more on the Heat. Not only do they have three All-Stars, but one in particular, LeBron James, is being compared to as the greatest of all time (Numbers don't lie--Ed).
This maybe the last time the big three are together. The pacers will crash the boards and they will not send double teams as every man can hold his own defensive assignment. It will limit the threes from the role players and it will be a physical battle. I believe home-court will be a major factor, but I believe the Pacers will steal one in south beach.
More NBA content is available here.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
DERRICK ROSE: Running of the Bulls
Johnny J
 |
| Derrick Rose has not worn a game jersey all season long. |
Chicago Bulls star guard Derrick Rose is watching his team get outplayed by the Miami Heat. With the Bulls on the brink of elimination, Rose continues to say he isn't ready from his torn ACL injury. The same injury that has kept him on the sidelines for the past year. But that isn't true, Rose has been practicing for the past two months. From what I can tell, he can do everything from run, jump, and clap his hands on the bench, while his teammates continue to play through various injuries and ailments. I wonder what goes through his head when he sees his teammates out on the court giving their all?
Rose is one of my favorite players in the NBA. He is the only Bulls' player whose jersey I actually bought. He is a hometown kid who has won over the city of Chicago with his unique style of play. His quick cuts and his hard play has led to the 24 year-old winning the MVP two years ago. The same player who had been drafted number one overall by the Bulls in 2008. The one who led the Memphis Tigers to the NCAA Championship Game. Named Mr. Illinois Basketball in 2007 and won multiple championships at Simeon High School. So its safe to say that Rose has been a winner all his life. Why would his attitude or credibility be an issue now?
He tore his ACL a year ago. The same-day New York Knicks' guard Iman Shumphert tore his ACL in the first round of the playoffs against the Miami Heat (never wear Adidas and hoop!). He came back in the middle of the season, in the month of January to be exact and has been better than ever. This guy is a key player for the Knicks. He moves pretty well for someone who suffered a serious knee injury 9 months ago or so. He struggled at first, but he gained confidence over the past couple of months. He now averages 8.8 PPG, and 6.3 RBP in the playoffs. Rose's confidence may not be there, but he has to play to regain it, to recover it. To once again be at the head of the pack in the "Running of the Bulls."
(I have been saying that he should have done that during the regular season, like his doctors suggested of him as part of his rehab regiment. Columnist Dan Bernstein shared his sentiments about a month ago--Ed)
(I have been saying that he should have done that during the regular season, like his doctors suggested of him as part of his rehab regiment. Columnist Dan Bernstein shared his sentiments about a month ago--Ed)
The season may end for the Bulls tonight, as they have already stated that Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich will not play in Game 5. It would be nice for Rose to intimidate the Heat by suiting up. Shock the country and play. Boost your team up. Be the hype man as Flavor Flav was to Public Enemy. Do something people won't expect. Let your fans know why they cheer for you and what they mean to you as an athlete. Lead the team out of the tunnel. Make a public service announcement. Tell us your credibility is about to take off. The Bulls are still in it, but for how long? Is it just going to be another trip to South Beach or a round trip back to Chicago? You maybe the one who makes this playoff series hard for LeBron.
The city needs you; the fans need you. Your team needs you. Show them that you never lost that first step. Show them your confidence is tilted up. I haven't worn my D-Rose jersey all year long. Give me a reason to pull it out! Run with the Bulls! Spain isn't the only country who does that. Defend the United Center, defend the line-up introduction video with the Bulls running through the opponent. Play your game and your skills will slowly get back in form. Get mentally strong in the game. You have the heart of a champion. Prove it!
More NBA content is available here.
Photo courtesy of Johnny J.
More NBA content is available here.
Photo courtesy of Johnny J.
Monday, May 13, 2013
NBA LESSONS: v5.2: Point/Counterpoint
Felipe M
Interesting question asked by NBA Debates over the weekend: Who has the brightest future: Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, or James Harden? I asked our favorite Sacramento
Kings’ fan, Josh C. about it.
What we ended up with was another long-winded conversation about the
state of the NBA...
Josh: If it weren't
for his ankles, I'd say Curry. The guy
is “Basketball” and might end up being one of the top 3 shooters of all time. But because of his ankles, I'll reluctantly
pick Harden. He has a pitbull mentality,
but there just seems an aura of calmness surrounding him. He knows he's a top 5 player but doesn't
flaunt it. Complete game with a humongous basketball IQ and can really function
in the 1, 2 or 3 spots. I also think he wants it bad enough to improve on what
he did this year.
Felipe: Just out of
curiosity, who's in your top 5 in the NBA? I figure it has to be LeBron James, Kevin Durant, James
Harden, and....?????
Josh: Durant, James,
Harden and quite honestly, I'm not sure anymore. With the injuries to Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose, (and Kobe Bryant for that matter), the rest of the top 5 is kind of
murky at present time. Does Dwight Howard deserve to be there? Is Kyrie Irving there yet? Did Paul George just ascend into the
conversation? Do I believe Carmelo
Anthony is a top 5 player? I guess Chris
Paul has to be there by default, but I question how long his knees will let
him stay in "elite" territory. Is it fair to at least mention Tim Duncan after the year he had (even
if he was coming off years that pointed towards the inevitable demise of his illustrious
career)? Dwyane Wade is no longer in the conversation, right? Or does his 24.00 PER suggest otherwise? Tony
Parker? I never imagined I would even think of him as top 10, but I really
have to stop and think.
It's so difficult to put a guy up next to another guy (both
elite) and say, "yep, this guy is better" (and this goes back to our
previous conversation of comparing across generations. It's just as hard to compare across systems
and different positions).
Felipe: I went through
the same struggles trying to come up with a top five. Hesitant to add Harden
after only one season of him carrying a franchise, but with all the injuries
and question marks surrounding the rest of the game's elite, it’s really hard
not to include him along James and Durant.
I guess Anthony would be on that list of top 5 players as well.
Chris Paul as the league's best, pure point guard would make the rest of that
short list
Josh: If you backed me
into a corner and made me give you 5 names right now (keeping out Westbrook,
Rose, and Kobe due to injury) I'd have to say (in no particular order) Lebron,
Durant, Harden, CP3, and--I think I'm going to lean towards ‘Melo, but a case
could easily be made for Wade, Parker, and even Steph. My hesitation with Parker and Duncan is that
I'm not sure which one is even better of the 2 at this point.
Felipe: It’s Parker, but regardless--
Josh: Also, the reason
I'm not hesitant about putting Harden there is that I argued coming into the
season that Harden would be the better player of Harden/Westbrook in 2 seasons,
and before the injury, I would have said Westbrook is top 5. I think Harden played like a top 5 player this
season and, most importantly, I don't think it was a fluke. I believe 100% in
his talent and that this season was just the starting point.
Felipe: Definitely not a
fluke! Over exceeding even the highest
of high expectations that were placed on Harden is what made Harden's season
superb. Like I said, would like to see
more than one season of him doing this, but there's no doubt (barring injury)
he can easily do it again. Wade, Parker,
and Curry come with too many injury concerns. So our top 5 of Melo, James, Durant, CP3, and
Harden seems to make the most sense as it currently stands right now.
For the record, this is how I would rank these five players:
- LeBron James
- Kevin Durant
- Carmelo Anthony
- James Harden
- Chris Paul
Josh: Did you realize
there wasn't a single 20/10 guy in the league this year? That's freaking
unheard of! Over the last 12 seasons
prior to this one, at least 3 players hit that mark 10 out of the 12 seasons,
and 2 of them hit that mark in the other 2 seasons. Just goes to show the wacky
season it was
Felipe: Come on dude, I'm way ahead of you! There are five theories that TrueHoop listed as the possibilities
for the lack of 20/10 guys in the NBA this year—meaning 20 points and 10
rebounds just to clarify.
But once again, the evolution of the NBA going with perimeter
players to make it a more open, more exciting, fast-paced game is incredibly
evident after this regular season concluded.
Josh: Evidenced by the
fact that if you made a top 10 players’ list in the league right now (and included
Rose, Kobe, Westbrook—even though we don't know for sure if Kobe can come back
and be “Kobe,”...), we'd likely end up without a single PF/C (though Dwight can
move in there if he redeems himself wherever he goes next year. And I think Marc Gasol has a strong case to
be on the cusp of top 10, too (okay, maybe I'm a bit biased with him).
Felipe: I kind of like
the NBA this way
Josh: Regarding the
TrueHoop article: instead of them looking too deep, all they needed to do was
look at the surface and see that the 2 reigning, perennial 20/10 guys were
shells of their former selves due to injury (but somewhat being a big whiny
baby on a team with the mamba). Those
guys were Kevin Love and D-Howard. The other players that can potentially
average 20/10 are mostly in the twilight of their careers, or just slightly
declining below 20/10 levels either by changed role on their teams, or simply
they don't try as hard as they once did.
This group includes the following:
- Zach Randolph
- Blake Griffin
- Kevin Garnett
- Carlos Boozer
- Al Jefferson
Then you have the guys who can score twenty, but struggle to average
even 9 boards a game because, quite frankly, they're afraid of rebounding (one
could say there are fewer rebounds available, but I don't think it makes a
difference with this group).
- Brook Lopez
- LaMarcus Aldridge
If you take it one step further, we had our other group of 20/10
guys, and that's the PGs that were 20 in the buckets’ category and 10 assisted
buckets. We're missing that as well and partially because those players suffer
from the same scenario as above (Chris
Paul, Deron Williams, etc...).
While the game has evolved and changed, a lot of the perimeter change has to do with the talent coming through as well. The NBA (as with anything else) is cyclical and while right now the best players in the game are all wings (and point guards if you don't consider a PG as a wing), in a few years that could shift to where our dominant presences are again the larger bodies. Conversely, perhaps those larger bodies may never come as well.
While the game has evolved and changed, a lot of the perimeter change has to do with the talent coming through as well. The NBA (as with anything else) is cyclical and while right now the best players in the game are all wings (and point guards if you don't consider a PG as a wing), in a few years that could shift to where our dominant presences are again the larger bodies. Conversely, perhaps those larger bodies may never come as well.
One of our future 20/10ers is already in the league in the form of one Mr. Anthony Davis.
Felipe: Which was my
next point: the 20-10 guys of yesteryear are seeing diminished skills and
whereas Dwightmare and K-Love would have been two players that can reach that
milestone, the game itself has not developed the big men that are skilled
enough to score with relative ease and have the ability to rebound in bunches.
I think a big issue is the fact that a lot of the big men that are coming up
the high school and college ranks are becoming perimeter players (i.e. Kevin
Durant, LeBron James, etc.). Not only that, but these same big men are not
being taught to play like the big men that we saw dominate the 1980s and 1990s.
A guy like Roy Hibbert is a
throwback, but I don't think he has the skill to be a 20-10 guy (Finished 12-8).
Even Davis' potential to be a 20-10 guy
(finished 13.5-8) lies heavily in his athleticism. But can he develop into a
Tim Duncan-like frontcourt player? I'm not so sure. He might develop an outside shot before he
develops a more fluid post game. And he's still lanky enough where more,
well-built big men will find a way to push him around from the boards.
Maybe DeMarcus Cousins could be that guy
(17.1-9.9), but he's already so amazingly skilled and talented, the question
should really be, why the hell hasn't he been that 20-10 guy yet?
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