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 LeBron James. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LeBron James. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
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!
More NBA content is available.
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!
More NBA content is available.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
COURTSIDE VIEW: "Revenge is the Sweetest Joy"
Johnny J
2Pac once said, "Revenge is the sweetest Joy" (90% of our readers should know the rest of that line--Ed). To LeBron James, the 2007 Cleveland Cavaliers were suppose to win it all. Instead, those dreams were swept in a dust pan and thrown away by the San Antonio Spurs. Six years later, with a stacked resume, LeBron looks to have the last laugh. Since that defeat, LeBron has won an NBA championship, won Finals MVP, has reached the Finals, three consecutive years, won an NBA scoring title and has two gold medals in the Olympics. Oh, did I mention that he is considered the best player on the planet right now?
This year's best scorer in the NBA, Carmelo Anthony, still hasn't learned that it takes more than one player to win a championship. Now at 28, a mature and focused James is up to the challenge of facing the same team who crushed his chance of winning his first ring.
James also has two other All-Stars on his team in Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Yes, Bosh is soft, but he still was an All-Star. LeBron needed help from other superstars to eventually win a ring last year against the Oklahoma City Thunder. An Avengers team was created and the Miami Heat have been too hot to extinguish. When the Heat lose, everyone panics--everyone but the Heat. They continue to play their game. My first thought on Game 7 between the Heat and the underdog Indiana Pacers was that LeBron is going to take over. I mean he has to because his team is not showing up. Instead in the first quarter, he passed on a few shots. He had 6 points at the end of the first quarter (on pace for 24 points--that's not too shabby!--Ed) and they were only down by two. He let the game come to him. At halftime he had 18 points (36 points' pace?--Ed) and he finished with 32 points. He scored when he needed to. There was even a Dwyane Wade sighting as he scored 21 points to help LeBron and company advance to the Finals.
But if their is a team, who I believe can put the flames out, it is the Spurs. Over the first three rounds, they showed me that old men can play (besides Uncle Drew that is). They swept the Los Angeles Lakers, beat the young and talented backcourt of the Golden State Warriors, and swept the Memphis Grizzlies with the same broom they used on the Lakers. That's what opened my eyes, and then I closed them because dirt got in my eyes from the sweep. Oh wait, that was just the thought of me losing $40 bucks for thinking old men can't jump. The Spurs are not a physical team, but they can get up and down the court with the best of them. Even though they have three aging stars, they would have a total of nine days of rest before Thursday's Game 1 match-up.
(Not to be confused with the Louisville Cardinals' Second Wind. Click here, if you want to read my entry on the Cardinals' march to the NCAA Championship).
During the regular season, the Heat and Spurs played chess with each other. Both teams sent messages to one another by not playing their "Big Three" on the road during their regular season match-ups. The Spurs were fined a quarter of a million dollars for resting their big players against the Heat. Even though they lost, they only lost by five in Miami. That told me that they would still be a great team even without their stars. The Heat countered the Spurs by resting James and Wade in the Alamo (Bosh played so they wouldn't get fined, in my opinion). Amazingly, the Heat won by two on a Bosh three-pointer. I don't know if they knew they would see each other in the Finals, but they didn't want to give away any scripts. Now is the time to see if that fine was worth it. No scripts given out here!
(Unless you believe in NBA conspiracies--Ed).
I believe this is the last year for the big three in Miami. Between Bosh being soft and Wade's bum knee, they're getting weaker. Plus, with the Cavaliers getting yet another #1 overall pick, going back to Cleveland looks more appetizing for LeBron (irony much?--Ed). Is Pat Riley going to have to choke a player to get them to do what he wants them to do? The Spurs have been through this for over a decade. They know what's at stake. A dynasty is getting ready to take the floor. I'll put my dustpan away for this series. It's definitely going to be long. James is going to be looking at making his list of accomplishments even longer and all that work he has put into making a name for himself. This is the time to use the talents that took him to South Beach. This is the time to silence all of the critics and haters. This is the time for James to once again feel the sweet joy of revenge.
More NBA content is available.
2Pac once said, "Revenge is the sweetest Joy" (90% of our readers should know the rest of that line--Ed). To LeBron James, the 2007 Cleveland Cavaliers were suppose to win it all. Instead, those dreams were swept in a dust pan and thrown away by the San Antonio Spurs. Six years later, with a stacked resume, LeBron looks to have the last laugh. Since that defeat, LeBron has won an NBA championship, won Finals MVP, has reached the Finals, three consecutive years, won an NBA scoring title and has two gold medals in the Olympics. Oh, did I mention that he is considered the best player on the planet right now?
This year's best scorer in the NBA, Carmelo Anthony, still hasn't learned that it takes more than one player to win a championship. Now at 28, a mature and focused James is up to the challenge of facing the same team who crushed his chance of winning his first ring.
James also has two other All-Stars on his team in Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Yes, Bosh is soft, but he still was an All-Star. LeBron needed help from other superstars to eventually win a ring last year against the Oklahoma City Thunder. An Avengers team was created and the Miami Heat have been too hot to extinguish. When the Heat lose, everyone panics--everyone but the Heat. They continue to play their game. My first thought on Game 7 between the Heat and the underdog Indiana Pacers was that LeBron is going to take over. I mean he has to because his team is not showing up. Instead in the first quarter, he passed on a few shots. He had 6 points at the end of the first quarter (on pace for 24 points--that's not too shabby!--Ed) and they were only down by two. He let the game come to him. At halftime he had 18 points (36 points' pace?--Ed) and he finished with 32 points. He scored when he needed to. There was even a Dwyane Wade sighting as he scored 21 points to help LeBron and company advance to the Finals.
But if their is a team, who I believe can put the flames out, it is the Spurs. Over the first three rounds, they showed me that old men can play (besides Uncle Drew that is). They swept the Los Angeles Lakers, beat the young and talented backcourt of the Golden State Warriors, and swept the Memphis Grizzlies with the same broom they used on the Lakers. That's what opened my eyes, and then I closed them because dirt got in my eyes from the sweep. Oh wait, that was just the thought of me losing $40 bucks for thinking old men can't jump. The Spurs are not a physical team, but they can get up and down the court with the best of them. Even though they have three aging stars, they would have a total of nine days of rest before Thursday's Game 1 match-up.
(Not to be confused with the Louisville Cardinals' Second Wind. Click here, if you want to read my entry on the Cardinals' march to the NCAA Championship).
During the regular season, the Heat and Spurs played chess with each other. Both teams sent messages to one another by not playing their "Big Three" on the road during their regular season match-ups. The Spurs were fined a quarter of a million dollars for resting their big players against the Heat. Even though they lost, they only lost by five in Miami. That told me that they would still be a great team even without their stars. The Heat countered the Spurs by resting James and Wade in the Alamo (Bosh played so they wouldn't get fined, in my opinion). Amazingly, the Heat won by two on a Bosh three-pointer. I don't know if they knew they would see each other in the Finals, but they didn't want to give away any scripts. Now is the time to see if that fine was worth it. No scripts given out here!
(Unless you believe in NBA conspiracies--Ed).
I believe this is the last year for the big three in Miami. Between Bosh being soft and Wade's bum knee, they're getting weaker. Plus, with the Cavaliers getting yet another #1 overall pick, going back to Cleveland looks more appetizing for LeBron (irony much?--Ed). Is Pat Riley going to have to choke a player to get them to do what he wants them to do? The Spurs have been through this for over a decade. They know what's at stake. A dynasty is getting ready to take the floor. I'll put my dustpan away for this series. It's definitely going to be long. James is going to be looking at making his list of accomplishments even longer and all that work he has put into making a name for himself. This is the time to use the talents that took him to South Beach. This is the time to silence all of the critics and haters. This is the time for James to once again feel the sweet joy of revenge.
More NBA content is available.
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?
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
NBA LESSONS: v5.1
Once again, the #Bulls out rebound the #Heat. One would think Miami fixed that issue for the #NBAplayoffs #NBAlessons #firstplaceissues
— Felipe M (@pathological_h8) May 7, 2013
Felipe M
Game 1 of the NBA Playoff match-up between the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat took a surprising turn as the short-handed Bulls upset the Heat in Miami on Monday night. But if one were to take a closer look at the team statistics after the game, fans shouldn't have been that surprised as the Bulls have found ways to compete with, and even beat, the Miami Heat (minus one blowout) during the regular season with a similar formula for success.
As a Bulls' fan, I know better than to rely too heavily on regular season success. However, we've seen the Heat struggle against the better, rebounding clubs in the NBA. I even went as far as saying that "poor rebounding teams get exposed in the playoffs." Sure enough, that's what happened in Game 1. However, before we look too deep into Game 1, let's take a look at how both teams have fared against each other in the Regular Season to see if there's a pattern that we should be noticing.
Here is the first match-up of the regular season:
Team
|
Score
|
3PT%
|
FT M-A
|
FT%
|
Total Rebs
|
Off Rebs
|
Pts in Paint
|
|
Chicago
|
96
|
35.7%
|
19-24
|
79.2%
|
48
|
19
|
46
|
|
Miami
|
89
|
25%
|
24-31
|
77.4%
|
28
|
4
|
34
|
|
As the score will indicate, this was a very close game. The rest of the stats will prove that as FG%, Assists, Turnovers, etc. are pretty even. However, as the table will show, despite the Heat attempting 31 free throw attempts, seven more than the Bulls (this stat is always a concern because of their three superstars: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh and a tendency for officials to give them more foul calls), the Bulls, as I explained back in January, simply out-worked the Heat in rebounds and points in the paint. The Bulls also shot a lot better from 3-point range, which would solidify their victory in Miami. Nevertheless, the hard work done in the paint and in the glass against a seemingly, more finesse Heat team is the blueprint to victory.
Unfortunately for the Bulls in the second match-up, the Heat were looking for revenge and made Chicago look like "Lambs at the Slaughter":
Team
|
Score
|
FG%
|
FT%
|
Persnl Fouls
|
Stls + Blocks
|
TOs
|
Pts in Paint
|
Miami
|
86
|
50.7%
|
64.3%
|
15
|
20
|
17
|
38
|
Chicago
|
67
|
37.3%
|
81.8%
|
15
|
14
|
26
|
38
|
The Heat were hitting on all cylinders in the 2nd game, but despite the impressive field goal percentage, the Heat only scored 86 points. However, their defense actually showed up in this game, as the allowed only 26 points combined in the 2nd and 4th quarter of this game. The Heat controlled the tempo on offense. One thing worth nothing is the high FT% that the Bulls shot. This would be a recurring theme as the Bulls, despite getting lesser attempts at the line, would go on to dominate in terms of percentage.
I spoke of the Heat controlling the game's tempo, but as one will notice, personal fouls called were distributed evenly. Favoritism, in this regard, has not been shown to the Heat, but it's worth noting that of the four regular season games, the 30 combined fouls were the lowest called in their games. The other three games always had a minimum of 35 fouls called combined by both teams. Perhaps the lowered fouls called proved to benefit the Heat's preference to run up-and-down the court (again, "tempo").
As mentioned, the Heat's defense came to play in this game as they were the more aggressive team on the defensive side, accumulating more blocks and steals and creating more turnovers. The Heat would continue to dominate the "Steals+Blocks" category for the rest of this series. However, despite the defensive prowess, the Bulls scored 57% of their points from the paint area. Another recurring theme as this should be a red flag for a Miami Heat team that's had a reputation for being a perceived finesse team with no formidable defensive big man in the middle (Bosh, it seems, is not the answer). So despite actually tying the Bulls in this category, the Heat settled for more jump shots (again, finesse) that were going in at a higher rate. Nevertheless, all the jump-shooting meant less free throw attempts (only 14 in this game). Despite the blowout, this game was more indicative of the Bulls' struggles on offense at this juncture of the season. The way the Heat were playing, the results should have been a lot worse for the Bulls, but they only lost by 19 points.
#heatstreak? More like #heatstroke whoo! Great job #BullsOne of the most exhilarating games of the 2012-13 NBA season, the Bulls found a way to end the Heat's 27-game winning streak. Not only did the Bulls win, but they won without the heart, soul, leader, and big presence in the middle, Joakim Noah:
— Felipe M (@pathological_h8) March 28, 2013
Team
|
Score
|
FT M-A
|
FT%
|
Tot Rebs
|
Off Rebs
|
Asts
|
Pts in Paint
|
Miami
|
97
|
16-23
|
69.6%
|
31
|
6
|
15
|
54
|
Chicago
|
101
|
13-18
|
72.2%
|
43
|
12
|
27
|
40
|
The Heat were awarded more FT attempts, but not by a large margin. And once again, they shot worse than the Bulls from the charity stripe. If the Heat would have shot better from the line, perhaps the result would have been different. Not listed on the table is that the Heat, again, dominated steals + blocks, but only had a +5 on the turnover margin. They did a good job of controlling the ball and not making mistakes on the offensive end. Unfortunately for them, it only produced 15 assists.
However, the Bulls' win can be attributed to going after the Heat's weakness: dominating the glass. Even though they took care of the ball, the Heat found it hard to get the ball back. Twelve offensive rebounds for the Bulls means more time to kill off the clock by regaining ball possession and less of a chance for the Heat to score. Fouls were called pretty evenly and a total of 35 were called in this game. Again, the Bulls might benefit from more fouls being called as it slows down the Heat's uptempo style.
Finally, the Heat did a good job scoring 54 points in the paint--with no Joakim Noah there to clog the middle, defensively. Before this game, the Heat only averaged 36 points in the paint against the Bulls. The fact that the Bulls were able to score 40 in the paint (42 points in the paint/game in the first two games against the Heat) without the services of Noah speaks volumes.
So inadequate free throw shooting along with terrible rebounding ended the Heat's historic winning streak. For the finale, the Heat would avenge this loss, but not in a very impressive way:
Team
|
Score
|
FG%
|
3-PT%
|
FT%
|
Tot Rebs
|
Off Rebs
|
Pts in Paint
|
Chicago
|
93
|
35.4%
|
42.3%
|
77.4%
|
45
|
11
|
24
|
Miami
|
105
|
51.4%
|
35.3%
|
65.9%
|
44
|
4
|
44
|
It is worth prefacing that both Noah and Taj Gibson were out for this game and the Bulls still managed to keep this game close. The Heat won on the strength of their shooting, but the Bulls were able to keep it close with their free throw and 3-point shooting. Despite having 10 more free throw attempts than the Bulls (41-31), Chicago still shot a better percentage from the line.
Rebounds were pretty even without Gibson and Noah, but the Bulls still managed to grab 11 offensive rebounds. And the Heat's "Big 3" played for more than 31 minutes/player so that's pretty inexcusable. At least they dominated the paint by outscoring Chicago by 20, but that's like me getting 20 more points against a five-year old guarding me in the paint.
Which brings us to Game 1:
Team
|
Score
|
FG%
|
3-PT%
|
FT%
|
Tot Rebs
|
TOs
|
Pts in Paint
|
Chicago
|
93
|
43.7%
|
38.9%
|
82.8%
|
46
|
15
|
40
|
Miami
|
86
|
39.7%
|
29.2%
|
68%
|
32
|
8
|
32
|
What do you see? The same formula that the Bulls have been using to be successful against the NBA Champions. This time, however, the Bulls were shooting the ball better than the Heat. Usually, the Heat have the advantage in the shooting department, or at worst for them it's pretty even, but the Bulls have not shot the ball better than the Heat. Add to that the Heat's woeful 3-pt and FT%; if Miami just makes one more 3-pointer or hits a few more free throw shots, we might be talking about a different result.
One will also notice that the Heat took extremely good care of the ball in this game. Also, the offensive rebounds were pretty equal. Nevertheless, the same recipe that help defeat the Heat in two out of the four regular season games is in full effect in this playoff game--Bulls outrebounded Miami by 14. You add the fact that the Bulls, once again, dominated points in the paint and that pretty much sums up the Bulls' formula in defeating the Heat in this series: control the glass, control the paint. Chicago will not outplay the Heat in the perimeter and will not win a shootout (at least not often) against them either. The Bulls have to do the two things they have done well against the Heat this year--glass and paint.
Again, many people were dismissing the Heat's rebounding struggles in the regular season by justifying that they would be ready for the playoffs. Although the Heat have held their own in the rebounding department this postseason, they finished dead last in rebounds per game and were among the worst teams in the rebound differential category as well. As mentioned before in early January, "poor rebounding teams get exposed in the playoffs." If the Heat don't correct that part of their game soon, their chances to repeat as champions will disappear. Because if they're struggling against the Bulls now, what happens in the event that they have to face the Indiana Pacers in the next round? Why the Pacers? Because they finished as the best rebounding team in the NBA.
More NBA content is available here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)