Courtside View: Previewing the 2013-14 Season

  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!

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. 

Felipe: And that’s what happens when you try to build a club in a rushed manner like the Brooklyn Nets did in the last couple of seasons.  

More NBA content is available here. 

NEW YORK HYPE

Johnny J


New York is one of biggest markets in the world for professional athletes. So it's no wonder  New York draws the best athletes from around the globe. It's the place everyone wants to be. Its like playing on the biggest stage of all sports stadiums. The bright lights mixed in with the night scene. It's a major attraction. Well about 11 sports teams call this east coast state home. With it being the biggest stage to play on, fans of these teams expect to win. If they don't get what they want, then athletes will hear it. Not just from fans, but from the media. They will eat you alive when you don't win. It can be a difficult place to call home for sports players. However if you are helping this city win, it could be a good place to call home.

Some super athletes cannot
be booed, however.

The Big Apple, has plenty to be happy about:  the New York Rangers and Islanders would be in the playoffs if they started today; The New York Mets are three games over .500 (and probably the most exciting young pitcher, Matt Harvey--Ed); Alex Rodriguez still hasn't suited up yet, but the Yankees are the Yankees; the New York Jets finally brought in a quarterback to give Mark Sanchez competition; the Brooklyn Nets have made their first playoff appearance since 2007--back when Jason Kidd was running the point.

But the number one team sports fans should be happy about is the New York Knicks have established a team that can compete with the Miami Heat. The Knicks have accomplished a lot under Mike Woodson's first full season as shot-caller. They have secured the number two seed in the Eastern Conference, their first since the 93-94 season. They won the Atlantic Division for the first time since '94. They won over 50 games for the first time since 1999-2000, as well as winning thirteen games in the row that was snapped last Thursday against the Chicago Bulls. It was the third longest winning streak in franchise history.

They've done all this without their crippled $100 million dollar man, whom has missed 51 games this season and is expected to miss the final two games of the regular season. There is word Amar'e Stoudemire won't even be ready for the first round of the playoffs, which start next Sunday. All I can say is, Gotham isn't a place I see him playing in next season. Oh, but I do thank you for helping Carmelo Anthony come over, which then helped J.R. "Swish" Smith make his decision to defend Gotham together. If my cap had Night Thrasher on it, that would be Stoudemire; someone that likes to go around giving people karate chops. No special moves. Read up on Night Thrasher.

Spike Lee has the Knicks;
Stan Lee has these heroes.

Knicks' fans have desperately waited for a championship, since winning it 40 years ago. This year could be the year that Spike Lee gets his money's worth, sitting courtside.  That guy doesn't miss too many Knicks' games--he may not miss any practices!  I saw him sitting courtside when they beat the Heat in Miami a couple of weeks ago. He may even have his own locker. Watch Spike glorify the Knicks.

People talked about the Knicks having an ancient team with four players being over the age of 35, but I see it as leadership in the locker room. Yes, three of them are hurt, but I still would like to hear their voices in the locker room, mentoring and encouraging the team. They will be ready for the playoffs as Mike Woodson announced yesterday.  Now with a super-team to take down the infamous villains known as the Heat, I look forward to watching The King get his crown knocked off. There are superheroes all over the city, but only the New York Knicks can call Gotham home!

More NBA content is available here. 

All photos courtesy of Johnny J. 

NBA LESSONS: v2.1

Dan P

Adidas, Nike: let's call it even?
(photo courtesy of Ed Mancia)

Random NBA thoughts by Dan P. 

1.) Somehow, the Boston Celtics are 7-1 without star point guard, Rajon Rondo. 

It's perplexing how the Celtics have been winning since the Rondo injury.  They’ve ranked near the bottom third of the league (18th overall) averaging a mere 96.3 points per game while averaging a tremendous 23.5 assists per game (4th overall).  How the Celtics will continue to keep the high assists numbers is highly questionable.

For all the hype surrounding this win streak, I chalk it up to the Celtics’ veterans who were tired of hearing they couldn't win without Rondo.  Poke an old elephant with a stick and it's still sure to charge.  Ultimately the age of the team and the rigors of the playoffs will doom them; it’s no mystery.  

That's not to say the Celtics can't make some noise come playoff time.  The East is wide open and no team has yet to solidify itself as the true No. 2 seed in the Conference.  

With all that being said, I just can’t picture them going too far without Rondo.

2.) The Brooklyn Nets are pursuing a trade with the Atlanta Hawks for Josh Smith.  

The Hawks are looking for a young center so a third team is likely in the mix.  Look for the following young centers/rebounders on the block: 

• Marcin Gortat-- 11.4 Points Per Game; 8.7 Rebounds Per Game
• JaVale McGee--  10PPG, 5RPG
• DeAndre Jordan-- 9PPG, 7.3RPG
• J.J. Hickson-- 12.9PPG, 10.6RPG
• Nikola Pekovic--  15.8PPG, 8.8RPG
• Kris Humphries-- 5.8PPG, 6.2RPG

3.) The Golden State Warriors will be displaying a new jersey this season with sleeves.

I'm on the fence with these new Golden State jerseys from Adidas, but I'll get to that in a bit. The fabled golden sleeves make their debut February 22nd against the San Antonio Spurs and the team is very excited at the opportunity to start a new trend in the NBA.  The jersey itself is golden yellow with less outlining and stripes than their regular home/road jerseys.  It has a two color "V" style neck design that is reminiscent of the official's jerseys and the sleeves themselves are really only quarter cut length or short t-shirt length.  

When we see changes like this, our initial thought is to run, run far away and cry foul.  However, it only takes a few valid stars like a LeBron James or Kevin Durant (both currently employed by Nike--Ed)  to vouch for them and have their teams also produce these alternatives and then the jersey becomes part of the NBA.  

Everyone thought the Oregon Ducks (also Nike--Ed) were crazy for essentially playing in a different jersey every game but that's what sells and that's what the players want to wear.  Everything is a brand and brands are meant to be recognized.  And if any sport can make it work, its the NBA where fashion is just as important as the tradition.  

For more on the NBA, click here. 

NBA PICK UP GAME 2012: Shooting Guards (You don't want on your team)

Felipe M

I conducted a small poll asking the simple question, "Which five NBA players would you not want to have on your pickup team?"  Needless to say, I ended up getting very different answers so I decided to split this into a 5 part series based on NBA positions.  What follows is the list of players followed by the reasoning behind the selection. Players are ranked based on perception of most talented, to least talented player.

1. Joe Johnson--Brooklyn is in the house! Unfortunately, Johnson was hated on this list. Might just be the most overrated player in the NBA. As we're finding out in Atlanta, Johnson might've been holding back the Hawks and has underwhelmed fans in terms of counting stats. His last game against the Oklahoma City Thunder saw him post 33 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, but his previous game against the San Antonio Spurs, he only scored 12 points, 0 rebounds, and 2 assists. Pretty adequate stat line, but for a second banana like Johnson, this is disappointing. He frustrates fans by dribbling the ball too much (a recurring theme in this edition), but the best line came from one fan who stated "being overpaid made him actually think he's worth it."
• Johnson's scoring, rebounding, and assists' averages are down from last season. Also down are his field goal percentage (FG%), free-throw percentage (FT%), and 3-point percentage (3PT%) from last year. Johnson is also 31 years-old and is playing in his 11th year in the NBA. Add it all up and that would explain why I was confident in predicting the struggles for the New Jersey Nets.
2. Jamal Crawford--This one is a no-brainer.  You ever play with a guy who all he wants to do is dribble the ball and constantly try to break defeders' ankles and also thinks he can blow by a defense by his lonesome?  Well, that's Jamal Crawford. His handles are fun to watch, but let's face it, in the playground game, unless you're playing in New York City or you're watching a one-on-one tournament, he can be one of the most annoying people on the court. As a Chicago Bulls' fan, Crawford was a very annoying player to watch because of his selfishness.  And he also plays terrible defense (at least that's his reputation).
• Many fans agree as one person stated that he would "want to play... [with] guys who look to make the right play instead of going for their own shot all the time."  
• Despite the perceived selfishness, Crawford is indeed an integral part of the surging L.A. Clippers' bench, providing instant offense. He's averaging his most points/game since 2009, averaging over a steal per game for the first time since 2007, and showing improvements in FG% and 3PT% compared to last season.
3. Tyreke Evans--After 4 seasons in the NBA, Evans has become sort of the ringleader and holding down the title of "Dumbest Player in the NBA" playing for the "Dumbest team in the NBA." It's no secret my disappointment of Evans whose NBA career started with so much promise only to have fizzled in the last couple of seasons. Injuries have a lot to do with it, I'll give him that, but you can't deny his poor play. The Sacramento Kings have tried to do everything with Evans, utilizing him at point guard, then adding guards who can switch to point so Evans can be the off-guard on certain possessions, and they even have placed him at small forward where he clearly does not like to play. After all this time in the NBA, the same old story still is true: if Evans doesn't have the ball in his hands, he simply just isn't interested in playing in the game. It's true in the NBA and it's true when you and your other 3 teammates are working up-and-down the court, but Evans isn't doing much except waiting to get the ball back.
4. Jason Richardson--This was an interesting one. Richardson has certainly tried his best to go from a high-flying athlete, to a savvy veteran who is comfortable taking shots from anywhere on the court. One fan, however, vented his frustration because of inconsistent play when Richardson was on that fan's fantasy basketball team: "he always came up short, but then just when I was ready to cut him, he'd show up with a big game and then I was forced to keep him around." 
• The best way to desribe Richardson is by saying that he's a poor man's Joe Johnson: both players are 31 years-old and in their 11th year in the league. Obviously, Johnson plays more minutes, but both have similar shooting percentages from the field and 3-point range. Although Richardson is producing similar numbers like he did last season with the Orlando Magic, Richardson's career, in general, has been declining in the last couple of seasons or so. 
5. Leandro Barbosa--Yet another guy who is perceived to have a low skill-set, but makes up with athleticism. However, Barbosa, as one fan pointed out, is on this list for a different reason as he has been accused of "sleeping and impregnating Steve Nash's wife."  Besides having a player on your team who is posting his lowest FG% of his career, you can't have a teammate who might end up sleeping with your spouse.  That just can't be accepted. (Let the record show that these are just allegations).

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• Nick Young--"he's a chucker and his 'swagger' would irritate the [hell] out of me," and "he would leave in the middle of a game because he didn't want to miss his barber shop appointment." I've actually played a game with a guy who did indeed leave in the middle of a game because he had to go get his haircut. And is there anyone more annoying than playing with a guy who is more concerned with the way he "looks" on the court than how his "play" looks on the court?  Oh yeah, the jerk who takes countless, stupid shots would be more annoying.  In this case, Young takes the cake on this one.
• Ben Gordon--Speaking of guys who chuck up shots, Gordon has never met a shot he did not like. The most frustrating part about Gordon is that he will actually make the luckiest shots ever so you really can't yell at him for constantly shooting.  His best years came as a Bulls' player where he would, more often than not, come off the bench and single-handedly ignite countless Bulls' comebacks. He can still shoot the ball, but hasn't averaged 15 points per game since he was a Bull and hasn't averaged over 3 rebounds per game since...he was a Bull.  
• Best part about Gordon however is he gives every guard that's 6'3" with large wingspans, but who cannot play defense or play point guard hope that he too can one day shoot his way into a multi-million dollar contract
• DeShawn Stevenson--It only seemed like yesterday that Stevenson was selected out of high school and became an instant bust for the Utah Jazz. However, this is Stevenson's 12th season in the NBA! One of the most inconsistent NBA players you'll ever find, showing flashes in one game, and then doing nothing, but take up space for several games after. If there are intangibles to Stevenson's game (good defender?) that I'm not aware of, I would like to hear them now. 
• Gerald Green--If the NBA was void of skill and talent and was just a young, athletic, dunking league, then Green would be the greatest player of all time.  

 More NBA discussion is welcomed here.