Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
LeBron's Birthday For Sale
I'm planning bar golf for my birthday. Anyone want to sponsor it for $10,000 minimum?? Make sure you read the whole article and then don't forget to click on the 'Click here to see the endorsement pitch' link at the bottom. And if you're so inclined go ahead and RSVP as well! It just keeps getting better and better with LeBron. There's also some links to LBJ's new mansion and Chris Bosh's $12.5 million mansion. That's right folks, Chris Bosh has a $12.5 million house. Ugh. Sometimes I really don't get the NBA.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Western Conference Christmas Wishes
Continuing to the West after yesterday's Eastern Conference Christmas Wishes post...
Utah Jazz
Very simple... more MVP-caliber from Deron Williams. They've won some big games this season, Jerry Sloan may finally get his elusive Coach of the Year Award, and the Jazz may just break into the upper echelon of title contenders in the West, along with the Lakers, Spurs and Mavs.
Oklahoma City
To find their defensive prowess they've lost since last year. Durant is still scoring and Russell Westbrook has made the jump into the 'Top PG In the League' conversations but they won't seriously contend in the West without playing some defense. They currently sit 16th in defensive efficiency giving up an average of 103.8 points per 100 possessions (accounts for pace of play) - that puts them just behind the Nets. Compare that to their main Western Conference foes: Dallas (6th) at 100.0; San Antonio (8th) at 100.7; LA Lakers (10th) at 102.0.
Denver Nuggets
Some sort of closure to the Melodrama currently enveloping their day to day activities. At this point it's fairly clear they are going to trade him. It may be for picks and Derrick Favors, or it may be for Gallinari and Fields, but either way Nuggets fans have to be rooting for a resolution to come soon.
Portland Trail Blazers
What can you say about injuries for this team over the years? At this point Blazers fans need to be wishing for an entire new training staff, possibly that of the Phoenix Suns, who have resurrected the careers of Shaq and Grant Hill among others.
Minnesota Timberwolves
How about the coaches vote Kevin Love into the All-Star Game? He's got A LOT of tough competition in the West behind Dirk, Durant, Duncan, Melo, Gasol and Blake Griffin but get a look at these stats. He's shooting 45.5%, averaging a 20.8 ppg and 15.5 rpg, and he's currently 7th in John Hollinger's PER ranking. He's also 2nd in overall Rebound Rate (% of missed shots that a player rebounds), behing only Reggie Evans. Evans has played half as many games as Love and plays 8 fewer minutes per game when he does play.
LA Lakers
For Laker fans it's all about winning championships and the best way for them to win one this year is to have a healthy Andrew Bynum in the lineup reducing the work load and minutes for Pau Gasol. Just having Bynum active for games provides a huge boost for Gasol and obviously any Finals match up with the Celtics will hinge on interior strength.
Phoenix Suns
Quick history lesson. The 2004-2005 Suns consisted of the following in order of minutes played that season:
Joe Johnson, Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire, Quentin Richardson, Steve Nash, Leandro Barbosa. They won 62 games and finished first in the West, led the league in scoring and ushered in the '7 Seconds or Less' era. They went on to lose in the Conference Finals to the Spurs. Steve Nash is currently the only player from that group still on the team - that's how many roster iterations they'e made the last six years. I know Amare just left this past summer, but year and year they seem poised to really make a jump before shaking things up - think Shaq, the latest Vince Carter/Hedo deal with the Magic. Taken individually the moves seem to have made sense at the time, but overall Suns fans need to hope for some consistency and a true vision for this team moving forward, especially as Nash moves on or retires in the coming years.
Golden State Warriors
Another team that kind of got their gifts early this year with new ownership. They have a slew of injuries that aren't allowing them to play up their full potential this season, but things are looking bright for the Warriors moving forward. Plus, one of their fans got this as another early present.
LA Clippers
Year after year... same old story for Clips fans... a new owner.
Sacramento
How about the team staying in town? One of, if not, the worst team in the league right now is still looking for a new permanent home. Rumors have surfaced for months about them potentially leaving Sacramento if they can't get a new arena deal done. Hard to believe this team was competing toe-to-toe with the Lakers at the beginning of the decade.
San Antonio
No team has a more pleasant and unexpected start to the season. With the league's best record and a mere three losses going in to Christmas, the Spurs have taken back their spot among the league's elite. But these aren't your same old Spurs, winning with Tim Duncan and defense. They're still led by Duncan, Parker and Ginobili, but they've reinvigorated their bench with young role players and are pushing the ball. They're currently 12th in pace but are leading the league in offensive efficiency at 110.7 points per 100 possessions. Spurs fans should hope for more of the same in the New Year.
Dallas Mavericks
A lot of people have been surprised by the Mavs this season but not me. I predicted they'd vault to the near top of the conference and lose in the Conference Finals to the Lakers. Although, their place in the standings isn't surprising to me, they have still impressed with their style of play and bench contributions. It just seems like they need one more championship caliber piece at the two-guard spot. Maybe that piece if Richard Hamilton??
New Orleans Hornets
The darlings of the first two weeks of the season have fallen from grace lately. But just like the Kings, what Hornets want the most is to know the team will remain in town. Although they don't need a new arena in NOLA, they do need new ownership that is committed to keeping the team in town. Hopefully, David Stern can find someone willing to do just that.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets have been the exact opposite of the Hornets, starting miserable slow at 3-11 before winning 10 of their last 14 games. They're steadily climbing up the standings in the West and should compete for the 7th or 8th seed in the West. Amid the tragic news about Yao's foot injury, this could still be a successful season in Houston. That's what they're hoping for at least.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies need some consistency. Rudy Gay is actually playing up to his $80 million contract, and they are trying to put pieces around him by signing Mike Conley to an extension. They just need to stop playing to the level of their competition. Among their 12 wins this season they count the Heat, Mavericks and Lakers, but among their 17 losses they have the Warriors, Wizards, Cavaliers and Nets.
Golden State Warriors
Another team that kind of got their gifts early this year with new ownership. They have a slew of injuries that aren't allowing them to play up their full potential this season, but things are looking bright for the Warriors moving forward. Plus, one of their fans got this as another early present.
LA Clippers
Year after year... same old story for Clips fans... a new owner.
Sacramento
How about the team staying in town? One of, if not, the worst team in the league right now is still looking for a new permanent home. Rumors have surfaced for months about them potentially leaving Sacramento if they can't get a new arena deal done. Hard to believe this team was competing toe-to-toe with the Lakers at the beginning of the decade.
San Antonio
No team has a more pleasant and unexpected start to the season. With the league's best record and a mere three losses going in to Christmas, the Spurs have taken back their spot among the league's elite. But these aren't your same old Spurs, winning with Tim Duncan and defense. They're still led by Duncan, Parker and Ginobili, but they've reinvigorated their bench with young role players and are pushing the ball. They're currently 12th in pace but are leading the league in offensive efficiency at 110.7 points per 100 possessions. Spurs fans should hope for more of the same in the New Year.
Dallas Mavericks
A lot of people have been surprised by the Mavs this season but not me. I predicted they'd vault to the near top of the conference and lose in the Conference Finals to the Lakers. Although, their place in the standings isn't surprising to me, they have still impressed with their style of play and bench contributions. It just seems like they need one more championship caliber piece at the two-guard spot. Maybe that piece if Richard Hamilton??
New Orleans Hornets
The darlings of the first two weeks of the season have fallen from grace lately. But just like the Kings, what Hornets want the most is to know the team will remain in town. Although they don't need a new arena in NOLA, they do need new ownership that is committed to keeping the team in town. Hopefully, David Stern can find someone willing to do just that.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets have been the exact opposite of the Hornets, starting miserable slow at 3-11 before winning 10 of their last 14 games. They're steadily climbing up the standings in the West and should compete for the 7th or 8th seed in the West. Amid the tragic news about Yao's foot injury, this could still be a successful season in Houston. That's what they're hoping for at least.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies need some consistency. Rudy Gay is actually playing up to his $80 million contract, and they are trying to put pieces around him by signing Mike Conley to an extension. They just need to stop playing to the level of their competition. Among their 12 wins this season they count the Heat, Mavericks and Lakers, but among their 17 losses they have the Warriors, Wizards, Cavaliers and Nets.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Kobe's Xmas Kicks
These are AWESOME! Although they won't go with the purple and gold of the Lakers these are still SICK Christmas/Mamba-themed kicks. Well done!
The Sunshine State
When LeBron and Bosh joined D Wade in South Beach is created one the scariest road trips for the rest of the league, the 'Florida Swing' down to Miami then back up to play Dwight Howard and the Magic at their brand new arena. Many of these trips are back to backs making it extremely difficult for teams to get out of there with a 2-0 trip. The only other comparable trip in recent memory is the Texas Triangle to Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Incredibly, and thanks to NBA TV, I've now seen the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks sweep the Florida teams both on back to backs. I didn't think anyone would do this all season but WOW both of them have been incredible in doing so. Dallas in particular really showed me what kind of team they are by bookending Miami's 12 game winning streak by beating the Heat home and away. Utah's was a little more fluky after their huge comeback against Miami but there was nothing fluky about either of Dallas' wins. Maybe the Knicks can pay back LeBron and Co. for the second half beat down they got when they play at Miami next week. Then two days later it's up to the Amway Center for New York.
Eastern Conference Christmas Wishes
Kind of a gimmicky thing ESPN sometimes does but I like it for the NBA, especially this year with the amazing Christmas Day slate of games. So without further adieu, here are the gifts each team is looking for this Christmas season, Eastern Conference version...
Boston Celtics
The only thing Boston needs this season is to stay healthy. Obviously, KG is back to his 2008 form, Pierce is as clutch as ever, and Ray Allen shows no signs of slowing down. They need Rondo to come back from his ankle injury but most of all they need Kendrick Perkins to come back, and they need to their two big free agent signings, both named O'Neal healthy again.
New York Knicks
As great as the Knicks have been they still have a few holiday wishes this year. One would be to beat some quality teams which they can start doing right away after squandering an opportunity against the Celtics last week and getting shut down in the second half versus Miami two nights later. The Thunder and Bulls both come to the Garden this week, and the Florida trip awaits next week to Orlando and Miami. Something about Carmelo Anthony may also brighten up their spirits this holiday season but more on another time.
Philadelphia 76ers
After a 3-13 start the Sixers have won eight of eleven, but I think they're biggest wish is to make their own mark on the Philly sports scene. Mike Vick, Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay, and the first place Flyers all have their stake in the ground already, but if the Sixers can squeeze a 7 or 8 seed out of this young team led by Doug Collins, then the Philly sports scene will be complete.
Toronto Raptors
Although they haven't played terrible so far this season they clearly aren't contenders, so I think the best things the Raptors can wish for are more Demar Derozan dunks.
New Jersey Nets
More Melodrama found across the river in the dirty Jerz, however Nets fans and their owner must be pining for anyone to want to come to New Jersey for the next year or so before the team heads to Brooklyn. After LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Amare, Boozer, and David Lee all spurned the Russian billionaire they need to get someone in town to compete with the Knicks new cache - especially if Melo continues to his reluctance to sign an extension with anyone other than the Bockers.
Chicago Bulls
Healthy big men. They have an early season MVP candidate in Derrick Rose, a great second year player in Taj Gibson, and a resurgent Luol Deng. Only problems have been Boozer missing the first part of the season and just as he came back, Joakim Noah is going to miss major time. This all the makings of the 'team no one wants to play come playoff time,' if they can get their starting front court all healthy in time.
Indiana Pacers
Pacers fans have to pretty excited about their team's chances to sneak into the Eastern playoffs this year, so as for holiday wishes... how about more third quarters like this one?
Milwaukee Bucks
Not to harp on too many injuries because as you can already tell, every team has them in some way, shape or form, but the Bucks are another team struggling with role players filling in for starters. The Bucks just need to find some semblance of the offense they had last year when they claimed the sixth seed. They still have some time to get it right but they need to right the ship quickly.
Detroit Pistons
No doubt Pistons fans aren't excited for the day when Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton are traded but at this point they have to be looking forward to some sort of rebuilding process and it starts by finding a taker for Prince's expiring contract and the three years remaining on Rip's deal. There are definitely a couple teams looking for a solid two-guard that may be willing to absorb Hamilton's nearly $50 million remaining.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Just hope the next time LeBron visits the Q it goes better than it did the first time.
Miami Heat
They pretty much got everything they could've asked for during Christmas in July, but I'm sure the players and coaches are hoping that their own fans would show up on time, at least for the important games. FAN UP MIAMI!
Orlando Magic
Gotta love their owner and GM for being bold and pulling the trigger early on a major deal. Now the fans and team have to hope Turk goes back to his former Magic self, and Gilbert Arenas has to go back to scoring 20 ppg and learn how to play a little defense for Stan Van. J Rich should fit in seamlessly but we won't know if the Magic's holiday dreams come true until May or June.
Atlanta Hawks
Not sure what else Hawks fans can hope for, but Joe Johnson must be hoping for one of two things: either more wins when he's in the lineup, or less wins for Atlanta when he's out of the lineup. Although I suppose he has $119 million reasons not to worry about a damn thing.
Charlotte Bobcats
At this point they just have to worry that anymore attempts to rebuild don't lead to their former players having career years. See: Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton.
Washington Wizards
Dear Santa -
All we want for Christmas are two healthy knees for John Wall.
Sincerely -
Everyone connected to the Wizards organization.
Boston Celtics
The only thing Boston needs this season is to stay healthy. Obviously, KG is back to his 2008 form, Pierce is as clutch as ever, and Ray Allen shows no signs of slowing down. They need Rondo to come back from his ankle injury but most of all they need Kendrick Perkins to come back, and they need to their two big free agent signings, both named O'Neal healthy again.
New York Knicks
As great as the Knicks have been they still have a few holiday wishes this year. One would be to beat some quality teams which they can start doing right away after squandering an opportunity against the Celtics last week and getting shut down in the second half versus Miami two nights later. The Thunder and Bulls both come to the Garden this week, and the Florida trip awaits next week to Orlando and Miami. Something about Carmelo Anthony may also brighten up their spirits this holiday season but more on another time.
Philadelphia 76ers
After a 3-13 start the Sixers have won eight of eleven, but I think they're biggest wish is to make their own mark on the Philly sports scene. Mike Vick, Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay, and the first place Flyers all have their stake in the ground already, but if the Sixers can squeeze a 7 or 8 seed out of this young team led by Doug Collins, then the Philly sports scene will be complete.
Toronto Raptors
Although they haven't played terrible so far this season they clearly aren't contenders, so I think the best things the Raptors can wish for are more Demar Derozan dunks.
New Jersey Nets
More Melodrama found across the river in the dirty Jerz, however Nets fans and their owner must be pining for anyone to want to come to New Jersey for the next year or so before the team heads to Brooklyn. After LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Amare, Boozer, and David Lee all spurned the Russian billionaire they need to get someone in town to compete with the Knicks new cache - especially if Melo continues to his reluctance to sign an extension with anyone other than the Bockers.
Chicago Bulls
Healthy big men. They have an early season MVP candidate in Derrick Rose, a great second year player in Taj Gibson, and a resurgent Luol Deng. Only problems have been Boozer missing the first part of the season and just as he came back, Joakim Noah is going to miss major time. This all the makings of the 'team no one wants to play come playoff time,' if they can get their starting front court all healthy in time.
Indiana Pacers
Pacers fans have to pretty excited about their team's chances to sneak into the Eastern playoffs this year, so as for holiday wishes... how about more third quarters like this one?
Milwaukee Bucks
Not to harp on too many injuries because as you can already tell, every team has them in some way, shape or form, but the Bucks are another team struggling with role players filling in for starters. The Bucks just need to find some semblance of the offense they had last year when they claimed the sixth seed. They still have some time to get it right but they need to right the ship quickly.
Detroit Pistons
No doubt Pistons fans aren't excited for the day when Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton are traded but at this point they have to be looking forward to some sort of rebuilding process and it starts by finding a taker for Prince's expiring contract and the three years remaining on Rip's deal. There are definitely a couple teams looking for a solid two-guard that may be willing to absorb Hamilton's nearly $50 million remaining.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Just hope the next time LeBron visits the Q it goes better than it did the first time.
Miami Heat
They pretty much got everything they could've asked for during Christmas in July, but I'm sure the players and coaches are hoping that their own fans would show up on time, at least for the important games. FAN UP MIAMI!
Orlando Magic
Gotta love their owner and GM for being bold and pulling the trigger early on a major deal. Now the fans and team have to hope Turk goes back to his former Magic self, and Gilbert Arenas has to go back to scoring 20 ppg and learn how to play a little defense for Stan Van. J Rich should fit in seamlessly but we won't know if the Magic's holiday dreams come true until May or June.
Atlanta Hawks
Not sure what else Hawks fans can hope for, but Joe Johnson must be hoping for one of two things: either more wins when he's in the lineup, or less wins for Atlanta when he's out of the lineup. Although I suppose he has $119 million reasons not to worry about a damn thing.
Charlotte Bobcats
At this point they just have to worry that anymore attempts to rebuild don't lead to their former players having career years. See: Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton.
Washington Wizards
Dear Santa -
All we want for Christmas are two healthy knees for John Wall.
Sincerely -
Everyone connected to the Wizards organization.
Would your team's owner do this?
Awesome blog post over at Golden State of Mind (Warrior's Blog) that TrueHoop linked to.
The setup: disgruntled fan and blogger emails team owner directly and gets a passionate email back within three hours! Awesome stuff here, and great to hear some of the best fans in the league may actually get some watchable basketball to cheer for - they were incredible back during the 08 playoff run.
Kobe's Kicks
Kobe's new kicks... look pretty bad ass, especially compared to some of the other boring designs out there...
Monday, December 20, 2010
Big Holidays NBA TV
I cannot get enough of these commercials I literally love every second of every one of them hahaha.
Friday, December 17, 2010
`LeBron Arbitrage' Proves Losing Bet Even as Knicks Wins Give Hope to Fans - Bloomberg
Cool article on secondary ticket markets involving the Knicks and Heat. I have a pair of $74 seats for tonight's game. Based on this article I could turn that $148 into about $600 if I wanted to haha. Not a chance in hell I'm doing that though! LETS GO KNICKS!
ESPN Video Recap
Cool recap from the 90s of the Knicks Heat rivalry. I hope somebody DECKS LeBron tonight hahahaha.
Do Not Adjust Your Monitor
Move over Russell Westbrook, we have a new clubhouse leader for dunk of the year. This is INSANE I could not believe it when I saw it. Wow, just wow.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Dr J McGee
JaVale McGee of the Wizards trying to dunk from the free throw line DURING A GAME! The Wizards were down 25 with 20 seconds to go so I applaud an effort like this. Would've been better if he was at home, oh and if he had come anywhere near succeeding. I did read that he can actually do that dunk so maybe we'll see him bust this out again some time.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Last Night's Top Plays
Usually I don't bother posting highlights and things of that nature because other sites have plenty of those, but last night was a pretty special night in the L. Buzzer beaters, sick passes, tip ins, blocks, last night legitimately had it at all. Here's last night's NBA.com Top Ten, definitely worth a watch, especially the top five.
Awesome Reebok Contest
Thank you John Wall and Reebok for this awesome way to kill some time while bored at work. Great interactive way to push the Zigs and John Wall from Reebok. First prize is a trip for two to the All Star game in LA where you get to watch John Wall wear the shoes you designed?! How SICK is that? Plus, 10 finalists get a free pair of the shoes they designed? Awesome contest, I love this. I haven't been this excited about the Reebok brand or a player they signed since Iverson was crossing people over in his 'Answer' series kicks in Philly.
Another LeMansion
LeBron just bought ANOTHER house in Miami, this one a $9 million bayfront home in Coconut Grove. It's over 12,000 square feet and has a dock for TWO 60-foot yachts.
My favorite part of reading this though, is that it was purchased by Suite 823 Investments. Good job by the AP to find out that's the HQ for James' marketing company LRMR. I wish I could start an investment company over night and name it 837 Sumner Investments or Apt 7D Investments. I'll post any pictures I come across later on.
My favorite part of reading this though, is that it was purchased by Suite 823 Investments. Good job by the AP to find out that's the HQ for James' marketing company LRMR. I wish I could start an investment company over night and name it 837 Sumner Investments or Apt 7D Investments. I'll post any pictures I come across later on.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
$395 Basketball Sneakers
Because I can't get enough sneaker talk, here's a look at the $395 sneakers Gilbert Arenas was wearing last night. They're not Nikes, or Jordans, or Adidas, or anything like that. Check it out...
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
New Favorite Dunk
Blake Griffin has been throwing em down all season, D Rose had a couple versus my Knicks earlier this year, but this dunk by MY BOY Russell Westbrook is my clubhouse leader for dunk of the year!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Heat Warming Up Finally?
After watching the Heat-Cavs game, well the first three quarters anyway, I was left with only one thought. It wasn't LeBron's dominating performance, or D Wade's near triple double while coming to the side of his SuperFriend teammate, and it wasn't the way LeBron toyed with the entire Cavs team and fans by mocking them during the game.
I was left with a more simple feeling... uh oh.
It's almost as if the Heat were sleeping giants looking for a real challenge. Sure they've lost some games they shouldn't have this season (Indy, Memphis), but they kept towing the company line throughout the first 19 games of the season. It was going to take time and they'd eventually figure it out. After they got waxed playing the Mavericks to fall to 9-8 there was an apparent team meeting that most media pundits are pointing out as the turning point. I don't think that team meeting meant much of anything unless the topic of the conversation was, "We need to figure this out by the time we go to Cleveland."
The Cleveland game finally forced the Heat to bond over something larger and more important than the lofty expectations placed on them at the start of the season. Even during their 'Hollywood' introduction to Miami they never said they wanted to challenge the Bulls 72 win season. All they talked about was winning more and more championships. Why worry in the beginning of the season when a championship is all this team will be measured by come season's end? But the Cleveland game meant something more to at least one of the Big Three. A lack luster performance, even in victory, would've subjugated LeBron and the Heat to even more questions and even more pressure leading in to their Christmas Day game versus the Lakers. Imagine if they would've some how lost to the Cavs?! With neither of these an option the Heat came together and played their most inspired basketball of the season, cutting the hearts out of the city of Cleveland in the process.
Now the 'heat' is off the Big Three for a few weeks before the much-hyped match up versus LA. They can fly slightly under the radar now at 13-8 after passing their biggest obstacle of the young season. Yes, they've played the Celtics twice and the Magic once, but this Heat team will be measured by how it does in the playoffs versus the Eastern Conference favorites. The Cavs, Knicks and Lakers games will provide the most hype and build up during the regular season. After watching their performance, LeBron's specifically, I'm now terrified for the Heat's first game at MSG this season on Friday, December 17th. I was mildly excited before the Cavs game and even pining for an upset after the Knicks recent winning streak.
Now? All I can think is... uh oh.
I was left with a more simple feeling... uh oh.
It's almost as if the Heat were sleeping giants looking for a real challenge. Sure they've lost some games they shouldn't have this season (Indy, Memphis), but they kept towing the company line throughout the first 19 games of the season. It was going to take time and they'd eventually figure it out. After they got waxed playing the Mavericks to fall to 9-8 there was an apparent team meeting that most media pundits are pointing out as the turning point. I don't think that team meeting meant much of anything unless the topic of the conversation was, "We need to figure this out by the time we go to Cleveland."
The Cleveland game finally forced the Heat to bond over something larger and more important than the lofty expectations placed on them at the start of the season. Even during their 'Hollywood' introduction to Miami they never said they wanted to challenge the Bulls 72 win season. All they talked about was winning more and more championships. Why worry in the beginning of the season when a championship is all this team will be measured by come season's end? But the Cleveland game meant something more to at least one of the Big Three. A lack luster performance, even in victory, would've subjugated LeBron and the Heat to even more questions and even more pressure leading in to their Christmas Day game versus the Lakers. Imagine if they would've some how lost to the Cavs?! With neither of these an option the Heat came together and played their most inspired basketball of the season, cutting the hearts out of the city of Cleveland in the process.
Now the 'heat' is off the Big Three for a few weeks before the much-hyped match up versus LA. They can fly slightly under the radar now at 13-8 after passing their biggest obstacle of the young season. Yes, they've played the Celtics twice and the Magic once, but this Heat team will be measured by how it does in the playoffs versus the Eastern Conference favorites. The Cavs, Knicks and Lakers games will provide the most hype and build up during the regular season. After watching their performance, LeBron's specifically, I'm now terrified for the Heat's first game at MSG this season on Friday, December 17th. I was mildly excited before the Cavs game and even pining for an upset after the Knicks recent winning streak.
Now? All I can think is... uh oh.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Freeze Frame Powder Toss
Great freeze frame shot of LeBron's powder toss from last night. Lots of people booing, lots of cameras, GREAT SIGN by the guy on the far right, but my favorite part are the double middle fingers in this shot.
LeBron's Intro and Powder Toss Last Night
Pretty crazy that this generated so much coverage and news but I have to honestly admit I was just as enthralled in it all as the next person. I'm glad he went through with it. I'm going to watch the entire game, well not the entire game since LBJ sat out the whole 4th quarter haha, on DVR tonight and I'll have a full reaction to the game later tonight or tomorrow.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Cavs Lebron pitch video...
Cleveland Cavaliers Tug at LeBron's Heart With Video -- NBA FanHouse
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The Cleveland Optimist
Quick article from the 'The Optimist' for the Cavs on NBA.com. Pretty good read but wasn't going to post on the blog until I read this part....
Cleveland Chants
I'm really really really hoping this catches on in other cities for other sports teams. Not the specifics of anti-LeBron chants, just the idea of a single group of people responding all at once based on pregame or in game tweets.
Hard to imagine enough people will see this and laugh at his introduction instead of booing the absolute sh*t out of him. Too much hate and anger pent up to laugh in my opinion. Plus, I don't think it will play nearly as well on TV as 10-15 minutes of booing. That's what I'd go for...
At forward, #6... BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
LeBron.... BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
James.... BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
Then just keep on booing right through the first Cavaliers basket. Cuse fans know what I'm talking about! How we stand and clap until we make a basket? Cavs fans should stand and boo LeBron until the Cavs score, then cheer like crazy after they score. Then obviously you boo him every time he touches the ball and every time he scores. LOVE the idea for coordinated chants while he's at the free throw line though! That's the best part.
Hard to imagine enough people will see this and laugh at his introduction instead of booing the absolute sh*t out of him. Too much hate and anger pent up to laugh in my opinion. Plus, I don't think it will play nearly as well on TV as 10-15 minutes of booing. That's what I'd go for...
At forward, #6... BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
LeBron.... BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
James.... BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
Then just keep on booing right through the first Cavaliers basket. Cuse fans know what I'm talking about! How we stand and clap until we make a basket? Cavs fans should stand and boo LeBron until the Cavs score, then cheer like crazy after they score. Then obviously you boo him every time he touches the ball and every time he scores. LOVE the idea for coordinated chants while he's at the free throw line though! That's the best part.
LeBron's Powder Toss
Two videos... the first one is a video from NBA.com of LeBron's chalk toss just last night at home in Miami versus the Pistons. It happens in the first few seconds, no need to watch the rest.
The second video is a LeBron introduction as a member of the Cavs posted back in the 08-09 season by a fan at the game. About 45 seconds in or so he does the powder toss.
Just watch each respective powder toss in these videos... notice the difference in the fans? Does anyone in Miami give a crap? Are they disappointed he's throwing talcum powder instead of pure Colombian cocaine? On the flip side, how excited are the Cavs fans? They brought their own confetti and/or the arena passed it out to fans in the lower bowl to simulate his powder toss!
Seems to me like he should do the toss again tonight in front of the Cleveland fans because his new fans in Miami... AREN'T EVEN AT THE GAME YET TO ENJOY THE PREGAME RITUAL!
Let me type that again... the fans in Miami ARE NOT EVEN AT THE GAME YET!
FAN UP MIAMI!
The second video is a LeBron introduction as a member of the Cavs posted back in the 08-09 season by a fan at the game. About 45 seconds in or so he does the powder toss.
Just watch each respective powder toss in these videos... notice the difference in the fans? Does anyone in Miami give a crap? Are they disappointed he's throwing talcum powder instead of pure Colombian cocaine? On the flip side, how excited are the Cavs fans? They brought their own confetti and/or the arena passed it out to fans in the lower bowl to simulate his powder toss!
Seems to me like he should do the toss again tonight in front of the Cleveland fans because his new fans in Miami... AREN'T EVEN AT THE GAME YET TO ENJOY THE PREGAME RITUAL!
Let me type that again... the fans in Miami ARE NOT EVEN AT THE GAME YET!
FAN UP MIAMI!
LeBron is Trying To Break Cleveland's Heart!
A great video recap of just how far we've come since July 8th (watch with sound).
I hate hearing LeBron say he understands what it's like to be a fan, and that he understands how some of the Cleveland fans feel toward him. If you understand ANY of that, then there would've been no reason for the Decision. Everything I'm reading, especially this EXCELLENT piece called Believeland that was on ESPN.com yesterday (highly recommend taking the time to read through this at some point today before the game), indicates that most Clevelanders understand moving away from Cleveland, but the way it was handled was the worst part. The question will never be answered and it still remains... how could LeBron and his team of advisors not know the backlash that would come from that spectacle?!
I hate hearing LeBron say he understands what it's like to be a fan, and that he understands how some of the Cleveland fans feel toward him. If you understand ANY of that, then there would've been no reason for the Decision. Everything I'm reading, especially this EXCELLENT piece called Believeland that was on ESPN.com yesterday (highly recommend taking the time to read through this at some point today before the game), indicates that most Clevelanders understand moving away from Cleveland, but the way it was handled was the worst part. The question will never be answered and it still remains... how could LeBron and his team of advisors not know the backlash that would come from that spectacle?!
Day 2: Akron Beacon Journal Cover
Even less coverage and headline pop on the cover of the Beacon Journal in LeBron's hometown of Akron. There can't seriously be more important news in Akron of all places than LeBron can there? Cmon now.
Day 2: Cleveland Headlines
Here's this morning's cover page of the Plain-Dealer in Cleveland... Really odd to me that it doesn't dominate the entire page. I know it's 'just sports' but how is this not the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth most important news story in the minds of Clevelanders today? Multiple people have already said it, but it's worth mentioning again - the NY Post would've had a FIELD DAY WITH THIS!!!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
25 Days of In Your Eye NBA!
I had planned on writing a 'Ten Things Im Thankful For This Season' post last week but got side tracked with boozing and the short week. So in light of that I'm rolling out the 25 Days of In Your Eye to keep in the holiday spirit! Each day will feature a new post, video, links, or other content. For tonight, just a quick picture that will become a featured post later in the series... FAN UP MIAMI!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
John Hollinger on Point Guards... Two Days After In Your Eye NBA
Insider only on ESPN so sorry if you don't have it but GREAT look at D Rose, Russ Westbrook, and John Wall as the 'new' breed of point guards in the league following in the footsteps of CP3, D Will, Rondo and Nash, J Kidd, and Chauncey.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Point Guards are Starting Pitchers
The San Francisco Giants cruised through the Texas Rangers in five games to win their first World Series in 56 years behind the strength of their pitching. Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, and Madison Bumgarner combined to give up as many hits in five games as the Giants scored runs, 29, across the five game series. Lincecum, in particular, was incredible throughout the entire postseason, winning heads up battles against the Braves' Derek Lowe, the Phillies' Roy Halladay, and twice beating previously undefeated Cliff Lee. The entire baseball playoffs were all about pitching, more so than ever before this season. The League Championship Series' were defined by the aces of each team with CC Sabathia and Lee in the AL, and Halladay and Lincecum in the NL.
So why am I talking about baseball and pitching on an NBA blog? Because a starting point guard in the NBA is the new ace starting pitcher in baseball. Teams with a stud ace will always have a shot at making the playoffs in baseball, and the same is becoming true for stud point guards in the NBA.
The League has never had a deeper crop of point guards from the top teams to the cellar dwellers. More point guards are being taken earlier in drafts than ever before, highlighted by 2009's first round draft class that included Tyreke Evans, Ricky Rubio, Jonny Flynn, Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings, Jrue Holiday, Ty Lawson, Jeff Teague, Darren Collison, and Rodrigue Beaubois. The previous year included Derrick Rose at number one overall, Russell Westbrook, DJ Augustin, Jerryd Bayless, and George Hill. In fact, there are a whopping 18 starting or backup point guards in the league right now that have been drafted in the first round since 2008 with three back ups being second rounders and one a D-League call up. All told, that's 22 starting or back up PG's taken or signed within the last three years which is about a third of the league's point guards!
(See this chart for each team's starting and back up guards and what year they were drafted)
The youth movement is most prevalent in the Eastern Conference, where there are less established contenders than in the West. In the East, six of the fifteen teams have a starting PG drafted in the past three years. The West however, has six starting PG's that were drafted in the 90s compared to the East's zero. Remarkably, only three first round point guards taken since the 2005 draft are currently out of the league. They are Marcus Williams, currently playing in Russia, Javaris Crittendon of 'pick one' fame who is a free agent, and Ricky Rubio who's only out of the league for one more season after being taken by the Timberwolves in 2009.
This crop of point guards is very reminiscent of the crop of young starting pitchers infiltrating major league baseball. There are still plenty of heavy weight veteran aces. For every Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay there is a Derek Fisher and Andre Miller. But with the Giants hoisting the World Series trophy behind Lincecum and Cain (both 26), Sanchez (27), and Bumgarner (21), the youth movement will continue in baseball. Perhaps we're still a couple years away in the NBA from the current crop of young guards ascending to championship contention, but if can learn anything from baseball, anything can happen once the playoffs start. To prove my point ask yourself a question - would you really be surprised if 2008 draftees Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose were the starting point guards in the NBA Finals this season?
So why am I talking about baseball and pitching on an NBA blog? Because a starting point guard in the NBA is the new ace starting pitcher in baseball. Teams with a stud ace will always have a shot at making the playoffs in baseball, and the same is becoming true for stud point guards in the NBA.
The League has never had a deeper crop of point guards from the top teams to the cellar dwellers. More point guards are being taken earlier in drafts than ever before, highlighted by 2009's first round draft class that included Tyreke Evans, Ricky Rubio, Jonny Flynn, Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings, Jrue Holiday, Ty Lawson, Jeff Teague, Darren Collison, and Rodrigue Beaubois. The previous year included Derrick Rose at number one overall, Russell Westbrook, DJ Augustin, Jerryd Bayless, and George Hill. In fact, there are a whopping 18 starting or backup point guards in the league right now that have been drafted in the first round since 2008 with three back ups being second rounders and one a D-League call up. All told, that's 22 starting or back up PG's taken or signed within the last three years which is about a third of the league's point guards!
(See this chart for each team's starting and back up guards and what year they were drafted)
The youth movement is most prevalent in the Eastern Conference, where there are less established contenders than in the West. In the East, six of the fifteen teams have a starting PG drafted in the past three years. The West however, has six starting PG's that were drafted in the 90s compared to the East's zero. Remarkably, only three first round point guards taken since the 2005 draft are currently out of the league. They are Marcus Williams, currently playing in Russia, Javaris Crittendon of 'pick one' fame who is a free agent, and Ricky Rubio who's only out of the league for one more season after being taken by the Timberwolves in 2009.
This crop of point guards is very reminiscent of the crop of young starting pitchers infiltrating major league baseball. There are still plenty of heavy weight veteran aces. For every Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay there is a Derek Fisher and Andre Miller. But with the Giants hoisting the World Series trophy behind Lincecum and Cain (both 26), Sanchez (27), and Bumgarner (21), the youth movement will continue in baseball. Perhaps we're still a couple years away in the NBA from the current crop of young guards ascending to championship contention, but if can learn anything from baseball, anything can happen once the playoffs start. To prove my point ask yourself a question - would you really be surprised if 2008 draftees Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose were the starting point guards in the NBA Finals this season?
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Couple Mistakes
A couple quick revisions to my bold predictions. The Heat and Magic cannot finish 1-2 in the East because they play in the same division. Likewise, the Heat and Celtics can't meet in the East Finals in the Heat are the 1 and the Celts are the 5 seed. So I'm revising to have the Celtics finish second in the East by virtue of winning the Atlantic Division and having a better record than the Central winning Bucks, and moving the Magic down to the 4 seed. Heat over Magic, Celtics over Bucks, the Heat over Celtics in the Eastern Finals.
(Shoutout to John Huetter for the correction)
(Shoutout to John Huetter for the correction)
Quick Links for the Start of the Season
Jason Whitlock's viewpoint on the LeBron Nike commercial. I agree with Jason when he compares the 'LeBrand' to Lucky with the Mad Men comparisons, but he loses me toward the end with the racism discussion. Then it seems to abruptly end. Still a good read though.
Despite the labor strife, business seems to be up for the NBA this year. Can't believe the Heat-Lakers has an average ticket price of $893 for Christmas Day!
Carmelo has a new documentary coming out and obviously my favorite part is him talking about the Cuse! Interesting how deep his ties to New York and Brooklyn seem to be, when all we ever heard at Cuse was how much he repped B-more.
Great WSJ article on Michael Jordan's ownership of the Bobcats. Personally, I think it's great that the game's greatest player is now actively involved in an ownership role. This can only be good for the Bobcats and the League.
If you liked the Nets billboard near MSG this summer then you'll love the Knicks rebuttal. Unfortunately, it seems to be tucked away in the construction zone, but still an AWESOME move to remind Brooklyn of the team that should make it to the playoffs this year and plays in the Mecca.
Despite the labor strife, business seems to be up for the NBA this year. Can't believe the Heat-Lakers has an average ticket price of $893 for Christmas Day!
Carmelo has a new documentary coming out and obviously my favorite part is him talking about the Cuse! Interesting how deep his ties to New York and Brooklyn seem to be, when all we ever heard at Cuse was how much he repped B-more.
Great WSJ article on Michael Jordan's ownership of the Bobcats. Personally, I think it's great that the game's greatest player is now actively involved in an ownership role. This can only be good for the Bobcats and the League.
If you liked the Nets billboard near MSG this summer then you'll love the Knicks rebuttal. Unfortunately, it seems to be tucked away in the construction zone, but still an AWESOME move to remind Brooklyn of the team that should make it to the playoffs this year and plays in the Mecca.
What Should I Do? The Answer.
Is LeBron James the new Allen Iverson? Sure sounds crazy at first.
When people think of The Answer they think of the cornrows, his ‘practice’ rant, his crossover, and the turbulent tail end of his career that’s left him playing in Turkey this season.
When people think of The Chosen One they think of The Decision, his Chosen One tattoo, the comparisons to Michael Jordan and of course, his Nike commercials.
The newest Nike commercial does an amazing job of capturing LeBron in his current mindset. That is, comfortable with his decision, determined to win, happy in South Beach playing his friends, but still fun-loving in his wink-of-the-eye I know something you don’t know manner.
While this will never be confused with any sort of apology for the way The Decision was handled, and I’m sure no one in Cleveland feels any better about how it all went down, this is the first true proof that LeBron has been listening and has heard every one of his critics. Sure, he’s offered a few cryptic tweets and retweeted comments by some of his haters, but this takes it a few steps further:
· He says ‘This went well’ as he drives by the Witnesses banner being taken down
· He asks us if he should have his Chosen One tattoo removed
· He pokes fun at MJ’s legacy by asking if he should just sell shoes
· He gives a wink and a shout out to Charles Barkley’s criticism by proclaiming he is not a role model and taking a bite of a donut
· He asks if he should be a championship chaser – likely a shot at Kobe Bryant
· He wants to know if he should stop listening to those closest to him
· And most powerfully, he asks us if he should be the villain
This spot shows us that contrary to how we felt in early July, LeBron does indeed get it. He understands what he did, he knows how it came off, but he’s still okay with his decision. It also tells us that while he may not care what we think, he has listened and heard the public outcries over his decision and The Decision.
For his entire career we have indeed wanted LeBron to be who WE wanted him to be. The next Airness, the next MJ, the next ‘Best Ever.’ These projections left most of us confused, angry, and disappointed by LeBron’s decision to ‘take his talents to South Beach.’ Clevelanders especially will never forget the way he left them for dead by mailing in the middle games of the Celtics series and then hanging them out to dry until he announced The Decision on national television. I touched on this in my previous post. Perhaps we never should’ve expected so much in this day and age. Maybe we should have seen him all along as a happy-go-lucky Magic Johnson 2.0 that wants to win, but wants to have fun doing so. Surely, the responsibility and anointing wasn’t done solely by the fans, as the media and James himself fed into the machine. It wasn’t the fans who proclaimed that the #23 should be retired by the league and then announced we were switching to a #6 jersey (that was oh-by-the-way worn by the greatest champion in the history of the sport, Bill Russell). It wasn’t the fans that urged him to get CHOSEN ONE tattooed across his back. And it wasn’t the fans that put him on a Sports Illustrated cover while he was still in high school. Everything converged in a relatively short amount of time and had all of us wondering when he would win his sixth and eventually seventh NBA title.
Allen Iverson came in to the league as the ‘new breed’ with his cornrows, tattoos, and take no prisoners attitude. He was never the next Jordan, he was the guy that crossed Jordan over his rookie year with a ‘take-that’ attitude to the stars of the late 80’s and early 90’s. But again the questions must be asked. Did Allen Iverson want to be the outcast? Did he want to be confused? Time and again in the twilight of his NBA career he professed to being misunderstood and only wanted to be remembered for giving his all every time he stepped on the basketball court (for a game that is). Yet, the same confusion, anger, and disappointment that has recently been projected toward LeBron was at one time put on The Answer. We loved how he competed, how he was the biggest small man on the court every night, and how he recklessly crossed over foes and took hit after hit getting to the rim. Yet, the mainstream media and fans never really accepted Iverson. I’m sure race played a role in much of this as it had throughout Iverson’s life, as the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on Iverson’s infamous bowling alley brawl excellently soportrayed. But without focusing on that, consider again the way he felt he was misunderstood. Perhaps we projected unfair negative characteristics toward Iverson in the same way we projected positive ones on LeBron. Consider how AI’s interviews, the practice rant, his off the court domestic troubles, and refusal to accept a minor role in his later years all fueled this criticism the same way the media and LeBron himself contributed to his ‘Next Michael Jordan’ image.
In the end, I believe LeBron will win most of us back over, and the new Nike commercial is the first step toward doing that. Much like a bad break up and despite the way it was handled, LeBron made the best decision for him. Eventually, once the winning starts, we’ll re-anoint him and begin counting championships. Maybe that will happen as soon as this season, maybe it will take a couple years for the talent to mesh in Miami. Until then, though, we’ll continue to feel mystified, slighted, and disappointed – the same way we once felt or maybe still feel about Allen Iverson.
Four Bold Predictions You Haven't Read Anywhere
Took a couple months of since there really wasn't big time noteworthy news after Team USA coasted to the gold medal in the World Championships. Yes, there were the Carmelo trade rumors but nothing ever seemed substantial enough to me to actually write about. And if I myself was overwhelmed with the amount of predictions, Heat coverage, and preseason rankings, I knew no one would want to read more about it here.
I generally hate 'expert predictions,' but I'll make a few of my own 'bold predictions' and avoid the obvious.
Bold Prediction #1 - Kevin Durant will NOT win the MVP.
He may very well win the scoring title again but I honestly think the MVP is still LeBron's to lose. Would you vote for Durant basically putting up the exact same stats as last year - there's no way he scores more than 30 a game this year now that the Thunder won't sneak up on anyone - or LeBron who slaps up a 25, 12 and 8 for the season for a 64-win Heat team? With or without Wade and Bosh, if LeBron dominates and ups his rebounding and assist numbers (shouldn't be hard on this team) to near triple double levels how will he not be the Most Valuable Player in the league? Sorry, KD, not your turn just yet. You've mastered scoring the ball but you need to find other ways to impact the game and make the guys around you better before taking the MVP from LBJ.
Bold Prediction #2 - The Lakers will NOT runaway with the Western Conference this year.
I love the Lakers in the West for obvious reasons and to three-peat in Phil Jackson's last season, buuuuuut they are slowly but surely transforming into the Celtics: still playing at a championship level and NO ONE will want to see them in the playoffs but the regular season is going to be used to limit starters' minutes and work in their new bench players, Steve Blake and Matt Barnes. The triangle offense can literally take years to master, so they'll need to make sure Blake and Barnes are ready for the playoffs. And obviously, there's no need to run Kobe, Derek Fisher and Andrew Bynum through a wall in the regular season just to flame out in the playoffs. I predict a #3 seed for the Lakers
Bold Prediction #3 - Carmelo won't be traded until after the season.
I really hope this doesn't come true and that the Nuggets buckle and deal him to my Knicks by the trade deadline in February but I just don't see it happening. With George Karl back on the sidelines and Carmelo leading the way - he's too proud of a player to sulk and 'Vince Carter' his way out of town - the Nuggets should be in thick of the playoff race in the West. Name eight teams that are significantly better than the Nuggets out West? I just don't see. You're telling me they are going to trade their star player in the middle of a playoff race for cap relief, draft picks and young talent? Again, I just don't see it. Especially in a league where playoff gate revenues make such a huge difference in the bottom line, there's no way they could make the move. Plus, this extra time will give the Knicks more time to deal for another team's first round draft choice in an upcoming draft that they can then include in their own Anthony deal. The Nuggets stay competitive this season, get more for dealing Melo, and Melo gets dealt to his preferred destination - oh and I get to watch one my favorite players ever in person on a nightly basis... everybody wins.
Bold Prediction #4 - The Bucks will be an 'elite' team in the Eastern Conference.
While I don't think they'll break the Heat and Magic duo for a top two seed, I'm putting the Bucks in at #3, ahead of the Bulls and Celtics. While they won't necessarily sneak up on anyone, they play in a system and a style that is tough for other teams to adjust too. Not to mention, Brandon Jennings and Andrew Bogut will have another year playing together. Underrated signing in the crazy Summer of 2010? Corey Maggette to the Bucks to provide a scoring punch. I do love the Bulls but without Boozer early in the season I think they'll struggle a bit, just enough to let the Bucks pass them in the standings. Also, I don't think the Bucks are just this year's version of the Hawks from the past few seasons, talented, not in the top three, and a clear step below the other teams. They may not crack the top two in the standings in the regular season and compete at the same level as the Heat and Magic, but I think the Celtics will have it on cruise control for the first four-five months of the season like they did last year. They essentially replaced Rasheed Wallace's laziness with Shaq's laziness and obviously they are all a year older. Ironically, I still think the Celtics will make it to the Conference Finals and I'll hate it every step of the way, but at least for the regular season the Bucks will be in the top three.
Lastly, I wish I had a more Bold Prediction for the Conference Finals but I'm going with Miami over Boston and the LA Lakers over Dallas, with the Lakers taking out the Heat in the Finals.
The Celtics go in as a 5-seed but have one last playoff run in them and with Shaq (in shape, sort of, by then) and Jermaine O'Neal it'll be hard for other teams to match up with them in a long series. For some reason I like the Mavs to replace the 09-10 Suns as the 'team that was supposed to compete that ends up making a serious run in the playoffs.' I even have them losing to the Lakers just like the Suns last season.
In the Finals it'll come down to Finals experience, bench strength and coaching. Wade does have one Finals MVP and LeBron has been to the Finals (swept by the Spurs), but I don't know how the Heat will match up with Bynum and Pau Gasol with only Chris Bosh. I also don't fully believe in the Heat bench just yet. I think they'll be ok enough in the regular season and eventually Mike Miller will come back from injury and take his starting spot back, but I think the Lakers new pieces put them over the top. As for the last point, coaching, Phil Jackson versus Erik Spoelstra is a no contest win for Jackson in the Finals as far as I can see. And if they go the entire season could you imagine Phil getting to the Finals and his team not winning him his 12th Championship, and fourth career three-peat? Kobe won't let that happen.
I generally hate 'expert predictions,' but I'll make a few of my own 'bold predictions' and avoid the obvious.
Bold Prediction #1 - Kevin Durant will NOT win the MVP.
He may very well win the scoring title again but I honestly think the MVP is still LeBron's to lose. Would you vote for Durant basically putting up the exact same stats as last year - there's no way he scores more than 30 a game this year now that the Thunder won't sneak up on anyone - or LeBron who slaps up a 25, 12 and 8 for the season for a 64-win Heat team? With or without Wade and Bosh, if LeBron dominates and ups his rebounding and assist numbers (shouldn't be hard on this team) to near triple double levels how will he not be the Most Valuable Player in the league? Sorry, KD, not your turn just yet. You've mastered scoring the ball but you need to find other ways to impact the game and make the guys around you better before taking the MVP from LBJ.
Bold Prediction #2 - The Lakers will NOT runaway with the Western Conference this year.
I love the Lakers in the West for obvious reasons and to three-peat in Phil Jackson's last season, buuuuuut they are slowly but surely transforming into the Celtics: still playing at a championship level and NO ONE will want to see them in the playoffs but the regular season is going to be used to limit starters' minutes and work in their new bench players, Steve Blake and Matt Barnes. The triangle offense can literally take years to master, so they'll need to make sure Blake and Barnes are ready for the playoffs. And obviously, there's no need to run Kobe, Derek Fisher and Andrew Bynum through a wall in the regular season just to flame out in the playoffs. I predict a #3 seed for the Lakers
Bold Prediction #3 - Carmelo won't be traded until after the season.
I really hope this doesn't come true and that the Nuggets buckle and deal him to my Knicks by the trade deadline in February but I just don't see it happening. With George Karl back on the sidelines and Carmelo leading the way - he's too proud of a player to sulk and 'Vince Carter' his way out of town - the Nuggets should be in thick of the playoff race in the West. Name eight teams that are significantly better than the Nuggets out West? I just don't see. You're telling me they are going to trade their star player in the middle of a playoff race for cap relief, draft picks and young talent? Again, I just don't see it. Especially in a league where playoff gate revenues make such a huge difference in the bottom line, there's no way they could make the move. Plus, this extra time will give the Knicks more time to deal for another team's first round draft choice in an upcoming draft that they can then include in their own Anthony deal. The Nuggets stay competitive this season, get more for dealing Melo, and Melo gets dealt to his preferred destination - oh and I get to watch one my favorite players ever in person on a nightly basis... everybody wins.
Bold Prediction #4 - The Bucks will be an 'elite' team in the Eastern Conference.
While I don't think they'll break the Heat and Magic duo for a top two seed, I'm putting the Bucks in at #3, ahead of the Bulls and Celtics. While they won't necessarily sneak up on anyone, they play in a system and a style that is tough for other teams to adjust too. Not to mention, Brandon Jennings and Andrew Bogut will have another year playing together. Underrated signing in the crazy Summer of 2010? Corey Maggette to the Bucks to provide a scoring punch. I do love the Bulls but without Boozer early in the season I think they'll struggle a bit, just enough to let the Bucks pass them in the standings. Also, I don't think the Bucks are just this year's version of the Hawks from the past few seasons, talented, not in the top three, and a clear step below the other teams. They may not crack the top two in the standings in the regular season and compete at the same level as the Heat and Magic, but I think the Celtics will have it on cruise control for the first four-five months of the season like they did last year. They essentially replaced Rasheed Wallace's laziness with Shaq's laziness and obviously they are all a year older. Ironically, I still think the Celtics will make it to the Conference Finals and I'll hate it every step of the way, but at least for the regular season the Bucks will be in the top three.
Lastly, I wish I had a more Bold Prediction for the Conference Finals but I'm going with Miami over Boston and the LA Lakers over Dallas, with the Lakers taking out the Heat in the Finals.
The Celtics go in as a 5-seed but have one last playoff run in them and with Shaq (in shape, sort of, by then) and Jermaine O'Neal it'll be hard for other teams to match up with them in a long series. For some reason I like the Mavs to replace the 09-10 Suns as the 'team that was supposed to compete that ends up making a serious run in the playoffs.' I even have them losing to the Lakers just like the Suns last season.
In the Finals it'll come down to Finals experience, bench strength and coaching. Wade does have one Finals MVP and LeBron has been to the Finals (swept by the Spurs), but I don't know how the Heat will match up with Bynum and Pau Gasol with only Chris Bosh. I also don't fully believe in the Heat bench just yet. I think they'll be ok enough in the regular season and eventually Mike Miller will come back from injury and take his starting spot back, but I think the Lakers new pieces put them over the top. As for the last point, coaching, Phil Jackson versus Erik Spoelstra is a no contest win for Jackson in the Finals as far as I can see. And if they go the entire season could you imagine Phil getting to the Finals and his team not winning him his 12th Championship, and fourth career three-peat? Kobe won't let that happen.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Replacing the Lebron banner in Cleveland
We Are All Witnesses... of Sherwin Williams. Check out the cool time lapse video of the new sign being made too. Wish it was a bit longer but still kind of cool.
Also on this link, click on the Fast Don't Lie ad and watch the new adiZero commercials with Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose. High comedy for sure haha.
Will Lebron's sneaker sales 'Rise?'
My favorite Twitter follow, @darrenrovell, asks the all important question about Lebron's new Nike ad... Will it actually help sell $160 sneakers?
My take? I'm guessing most of the kids and people that want them would've bought them either way but this type of spot will certainly not hurt when it comes to reaching people on the fence. Plus, it may not directly help move pairs of this version, but if a spot like this can convince people maybe he's not such a bad guy after all, it could lead to more people being willing to buy his sneakers or other products he endorses more in the future.
Free Beer!... With a Heat Loss
SWEET DEAL in Hollywood, FL!
Consider that the best team in history (95-96 Bulls) still lost 10 games and this could get pricey if nagging injuries and the bullseye on their backs leave the Heat finishing around 55-27 or so. Either way though, GREAT MARKETING and an awesome way to indirectly tie themselves to the team. Would you even bother going to another bar if you lived within 20 minutes of this place?
Friday, August 27, 2010
Lebron James and Da U
Lebron James spent some time working out with CP3 among others at the UM campus. An off season workout isn't really newsworthy but just the thought of James ending up on the sideline IN COLUMBUS for Miami-Ohio State the second week of the season is incredible! Not to mention Da U alumni that LBJ will probably start hanging out with... Michael Irvin, Ray Lewis, Jeremy Shockey... crazy, killer, and crazy!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Could YOU be an NBA Owner?
Everybody reading this has at some point thought 'what the hell are they doing? If I was running that team I would've never done that! What they should've done is this and this!'
Well, I have a special treat for you today. Doubtful most of you heard about Grizzlies Owner Michael Heisley's interview on The Chris Vernon Show earlier this week. If you did, then you can ignore the rest of this post. If not... this will be the best post in the short history of In Your Eye NBA I promise you that. You don't have to care one iota about the Grizzlies or the players involved in the discussion to find this story incredible.
First some quick background information...
Heisley bought the Grizzlies in 2000, moved them to Memphis in 2001 and the team has been to the playoff three times in the last ten years. He's resided over every personnel decision, draft and front office hiring. He approved the Pau Gasol trade and pulled the trigger on the Hasheem Thabeet draft in 2009, but also hired Jerry West as GM in the beginning of the decade and this past summer forked over $84 million to Rudy Gay when it was widely believed the restricted free agent would sign elsewhere.
The current issue with the Grizzlies and Heisley is the negotiations with former Kansas Jayhawk Xavier Henry, drafted 12th overall this past June, and former Maryland Terrapin Greivis Vasquez, drafted 28th overall. The first year salary figure for the 12th pick in this year's draft was $1.6835 million. Under the current CBA team's are allowed to negotiate down to 80% of that figure and up to 120% of that figure. In addition to the team and the player, the agent also plays a vital role in this since agents do not get a commission on non-negotiated salaries. In other words, if a player is drafted and signed 80-100% of his scale figure, that player's agent will not get paid on that deal. As you can imagine, most teams just 'negotiate' the salary to 120% of the scale figure because that improves relations with the agents in the league, and the player is happy they got the max offer allowed. In essense, everybody wins at the 120% figure. Everybody that is... except Michael Heisley.
Every first round draft pick in the 2010 draft has been signed this season except for Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez. The reason is that Heisley has included performance metrics into each of their contracts, rather than just rubber stamping the 120% figure for both.
In his interview with Chris Vernon on 730 Fox Sports Memphis, Heisley discussed the situation with Henry, the Thabeet draft, signing Allen Iverson, and even admits to never had read the Collective Bargaining Agreement. (Pulled from http://sportsradiointerviews.com/)
When asked why he is the only owner of the only team that hasn't signed its first round picks Heisley replied:
“That’s fine! I’ve got plenty of time to sign the rookies. We’re negotiating. There’s nothing going to happen for the next 30 days or 60 days. I’m sitting here, they didn’t come to summer camp, OK.”
Here's Heisley on why he would deviate from the widely accepted practice of giving every first round rookie a 120% scale contract
“I guess the good question is why doesn’t the rest of the league do it? They negotiated it. It’s part of the collective bargaining agreement. I assume it was put in there — I don’t know, I was not part of that negotiation — but normally you don’t put something like that into the wage scale thing unless you intend to have a performance criteria. Obviously other teams have chose not to use it. There have been teams that have used it. There are teams this year that are using it. But there’s absolutely no question the vast majority of teams have not used it.”
It gets better yet, when pressed to answer how he thinks trying to include performance criteria will be viewed by agents and incoming rookies in the future:
“If you do that and every time you turn around, if you run around saying ‘I’m not going to do anything because I don’t want to piss off, as you say it, piss off current players, other players and so on in this league. Let me tell you something … what we ought to do, is just, according to you, is just call up Arn [Arn Tellem, Henry's agent] and say ‘Tell me, what am I supposed to do?’”
And finally my favorite... when asked repeatedly by Vernon where the idea of including performance clauses came from in the first place, Heisley went off:
“I’ve never seen the collective bargaining agreement.” What? “I’ve never seen it?” How is that possible?: “It’s very possible. Is there anything that you haven’t seen in your life? I don’t own an NBA franchise: “Well what would you do, study the collective bargaining agreement? … I’ve got a bunch of people that work for the Grizzlies. Some of those people have been working with the collective bargaining agreement in this league for 20, 30 years. I basically pay those people.”
If you have 35 minutes to blow I HIGHLY recommend listening to the full interview which you can find here on Chris Vernon's blog. If not I hope the synopsis above has shocked and awed you as much as it did me. The arrogance - that really must be heard to be believed - with which Heisley speak is truly surreal. He refers to Vernon as 'son' multiple times even though it's clear to anyone listening that Vernon is controlling the conversation and painting Heisley into some difficult corners. The best is saved for last when Vernon offers his opinion on Heisley's tenure as owner and basically tells him 'you thought this would be fun at first, then when the team didn't win in the playoffs, you severely cut back and hired a bunch of yes-men that have ceded control of the team to you.' It's really high comedy to hear how defensive and hypocritical Heisley becomes.
The next time you find yourself thinking you can run and manage your favorite team better than the current GM or Owner... you might just be right. (Yes, I'm talking to YOU fellow Knicks fans!)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Back to Beantown for Rondo
In a somewhat surprising development, Rajon Rondo has withdrawn his name from Team USA. All signs had been pointing to the last spot on the roster coming down to Eric Gordon, Stephen Curry, or Eric Gordon. I had noted over the weekend that I assumed Rondo was a lock along with Derrick Rose and Chauncey Billups. As much as I thought this team didn't need Kevin Love, of all the six PGs they were planning on keeping, I'm definitely not sad at all to see Rondo go. It will be interesting if more information becomes available regarding an injury, a falling out with the coaching staff or some other reason for this premature withdrawal. Team USA plays in Athens against Greece tomorrow at noon on ESPN, and the last cut was going to be made tomorrow night after that game. Interesting timing to say the least for Rondo's decision.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
USA-Spain Recap from ESPN
Recap of USA-Spain game from this afternoon. Reairing now on ESPN2 also. Shoutout to Jimmy B and going 'Orange!'
Team USA Weekend Recap
Been a few quiet weeks on the NBA front, but I do have some awesome pictures that I'll put up from the Team USA scrimmage at Radio City (yes it was on stage at Radio City). After a pushover exhibition versus France in Madison Square Garden, Team USA ratcheted up the competition this weekend with two games in Madrid against Lithuania and Spain. I'll skip a general recap of each game and just focus on a couple key points from things I noticed that ESPN and NBATV didn't really focus on.
The battle for the last spot on the roster appears to be between Eric Gordon, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, which makes sense given that Derrick Rose, Chauncey Billups, and Rajon Rondo are all locks to be on the team. Each of them brings a unique skill set to the roster.
Gordon - Perfect international guard, big body, can shoot the three and get to the rim
Curry - lights out shooter than this team somewhat lacks that can also create when needed
Westbrook - the worst shooter of the three, but the best off the dribble and can play solid defense as a young guard
Personally, I'd love it if they kept all three since this team isn't set up like a traditional NBA team with a PG, SG, and SF in the back court. Billups is playing as a two-guard while Rose or Rondo run the point and I think the same could happen with these three off the bench. Westbrook and Curry more or less need the ball in their hands to score, but Gordon is the perfect shooting guard on the second unit. If they did choose to keep all three then I think the cut should be Kevin Love. He's barely played in any of the exhibition games and while this team severely lacks a post presence, other than providing five more fouls what does Love bring to the team otherwise? His playing time could be a result of some nagging injuries and/or the coaching staff playing the guards because they still have to evaluate them. This team's strength is its guard play, so why not load up on them instead of having Love as the 12th man on the bench. Yes, the Lamar Odom/Tyson Chandler center tandem is going to struggle but is the 6'9" Love going to improve the front line that much more? Plus, at least LO and Tyson can get out and run with these guards unlike Love.
In the end, the last player off the bench won't matter all that much, but here's my list of guys that are going to SHINE in the international format. I'm not listing Durant because he's obviously a beast (see: Sunday's 25/10/4 blocks in a 40 minute game versus the defending world champions).
Andre Iguodala - perfect game for FIBA play. Can create, get to the rim, knock down the mid range jumper - a key in international play because the 3-pt line is about three feet closer than the NBA line, making it a long 2-pt shot in the League. He can also defend and his versatility should really shine a la Carmelo on the 08 Olympic champs.
Rudy Gay - he can be a scoring machine off the bench and fill in while Durant takes a breather. Again, he's versatile and while he doesn't play defense like Iguodala he can play the 2, 3, or 4 on this team and stretch the defense with his shooting.
Derrick Rose - again, I keep saying it, but he's built for international play has a strong, tough, bigger guard that can take the bumps and hits that FIBA officials allow to happen - unlike NBA officials. He can get around anyone in the world and could put up monster numbers penetrating and kicking out to Durant or finding Odom after the defense collapses on him.
One more tune up exhibition versus Greece in Athens on Wednesday at noon before the Championship starts on Saturday. I'll have a more in depth preview of the entire tournament later this week after the Greece game.
The battle for the last spot on the roster appears to be between Eric Gordon, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, which makes sense given that Derrick Rose, Chauncey Billups, and Rajon Rondo are all locks to be on the team. Each of them brings a unique skill set to the roster.
Gordon - Perfect international guard, big body, can shoot the three and get to the rim
Curry - lights out shooter than this team somewhat lacks that can also create when needed
Westbrook - the worst shooter of the three, but the best off the dribble and can play solid defense as a young guard
Personally, I'd love it if they kept all three since this team isn't set up like a traditional NBA team with a PG, SG, and SF in the back court. Billups is playing as a two-guard while Rose or Rondo run the point and I think the same could happen with these three off the bench. Westbrook and Curry more or less need the ball in their hands to score, but Gordon is the perfect shooting guard on the second unit. If they did choose to keep all three then I think the cut should be Kevin Love. He's barely played in any of the exhibition games and while this team severely lacks a post presence, other than providing five more fouls what does Love bring to the team otherwise? His playing time could be a result of some nagging injuries and/or the coaching staff playing the guards because they still have to evaluate them. This team's strength is its guard play, so why not load up on them instead of having Love as the 12th man on the bench. Yes, the Lamar Odom/Tyson Chandler center tandem is going to struggle but is the 6'9" Love going to improve the front line that much more? Plus, at least LO and Tyson can get out and run with these guards unlike Love.
In the end, the last player off the bench won't matter all that much, but here's my list of guys that are going to SHINE in the international format. I'm not listing Durant because he's obviously a beast (see: Sunday's 25/10/4 blocks in a 40 minute game versus the defending world champions).
Andre Iguodala - perfect game for FIBA play. Can create, get to the rim, knock down the mid range jumper - a key in international play because the 3-pt line is about three feet closer than the NBA line, making it a long 2-pt shot in the League. He can also defend and his versatility should really shine a la Carmelo on the 08 Olympic champs.
Rudy Gay - he can be a scoring machine off the bench and fill in while Durant takes a breather. Again, he's versatile and while he doesn't play defense like Iguodala he can play the 2, 3, or 4 on this team and stretch the defense with his shooting.
Derrick Rose - again, I keep saying it, but he's built for international play has a strong, tough, bigger guard that can take the bumps and hits that FIBA officials allow to happen - unlike NBA officials. He can get around anyone in the world and could put up monster numbers penetrating and kicking out to Durant or finding Odom after the defense collapses on him.
One more tune up exhibition versus Greece in Athens on Wednesday at noon before the Championship starts on Saturday. I'll have a more in depth preview of the entire tournament later this week after the Greece game.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Derrick Rose Loves Skittles
Derrick Rose, tasting the rainbow... with his own customized Skittles machine! And it'll be stocked for him for at least three years and has a voice activation feature whenever he walks by! How jealous can one person be? Of all the things athletes get to do and have that I never will... this is honestly right up there in the 'things I'd never even think of' category.
Relax Denver, but not too much
One of my favorites, Woody Paige of the Denver Post, trying to calm down the uproar in Denver over the claims Melo wants out, specifically to New York.
Personally, I hope he does want out since he's one my top three favorite players in the league and I'd get to see him 20+ times a season plus he'd be the savior of the college I went to and possibly the city that I moved to after college. Somewhere back at home I still have Melo's signature from after the celebration when the team returned to Cuse. How SICK would it be to add another after a Knicks parade in downtown Manhattan???
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Worlds are colliding!
Doubtful most of you know who is Freddie Gibbs is, but Chavo and I were at show at SOB's last week in NYC... and now he's going on The BS Report with Bill Simmons!
Gotta love when gangsta rap, sports, and social networking all come together - or at least I do!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Partial NBA Schedule
The NBA continues its tradition of releasing the 'marquee matchups' a week before the entire schedule comes out... Knicks on Christmas Day!
Heat open at Celtics, and Rockets at Lakers to open the season Tuesday, October 26th. Less than three months!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Lebron finally thanks Cleve... I mean Akron...
Lebron James marketing team continues to do a bang up job of managing his image. This time they've taken out an ad in the Akron Beacon Journal - NOT the Cleveland Plain Dealer - thanking the residents for their support over the years. The article quotes James as he explains his connection to Akron with his 'lifelong friends and mentors,' that provided 'guidance, encouragement and support.' Maybe with the CORRECT mentors, guidance and encouragement he wouldn't be in the position he's in now.
Note to every celebrity, athlete, or aspiring business person: based on the handling of this whole situation.... Akron is NOT the place to find smart business minds.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Drama Already Building in Miami
The Great Headband Debate in Miami... will he or wont he be allowed to wear a headband given the long standing tradition of Pat Riley not allowing his players (save, Jermaine O'Neal) to wear headbands? The drama builds in South Beach...
Sunday, August 1, 2010
How to leave Cleveland - by Z.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas played his entire 14-year career in Cleveland up until this summer when he left to join Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat. Why is no one in Cleveland bitter toward Big Z? Here's why.
CP3 Trade Scenarios
A lot of time has been devoted to the new Big Three down in Miami, but now I want to talk about another big three.... CP3. Although he voiced his support for the franchise and said he wants to stay a Hornet, it's clear Chris Paul could be on his way out of New Orleans anytime between now and the February 2012 trade line (just months before his current contract expires). It wouldn't make sense for him to come out directly to the public and announce his trade demands because that would ultimately lower his value to the Hornets and became a PR nightmare (see: The Decision). Whether he meant it or not, he had to buy his current team some time to field offers and throw his support behind his new coach and general manager to save face with the fans.
I found the timing of all this very suspicious after I heard that Paul had left Octagon and moved to CAA's Leon Rose, who is also LeBron James' agent. Paul has been nothing but a model citizen in New Orleans, reviving basketball there after Hurricane Katrina and going above and beyond with his community involvement. Suddenly, within weeks of switching agents, he now wanted out and had a preferred list of teams to be traded to? It all seems pretty fishy to me.
On the other hand, Paul is one of my top three favorite players in the league and is the sole reason I adopted the Hornets as my non-Knicks NBA team to follow. I understand why he'd want out of New Orleans and join a team contending for a championship right now. Can you imagine Paul and Amare Stoudemire running pick and rolls all night long a la Nash-Stoudemire and Paul-Chandler? What about Paul teaming up with Dwight Howard? Paul and Brandon Roy? Paul and Dirk in Dallas? Are you kidding me?
There's something different about being a point guard and wanting to join forces with another dominant player, especially a post player. Throughout history very few point guards have been the best and go-to man on championship-level teams. Steve Nash. Isiah Thomas. Magic Johnson. That's the list the last thirty years and Nash still hasn't been to a Finals. Stockton had Malone. Parker had Duncan. Kobe had Shaq and then Pau. Even Magic had Kareem. It makes what Jordan and Pippen did without a true post presence absolutely remarkable (even LeBron and Wade will have Bosh).
I'm assuming the Hornets will indeed move Paul, possibly this season depending on his health. If he plays well through 50 games and the Hornets are already out of the playoff mix in a hotly contested Western Conference, the Hornets will be hard-pressed to hold onto him for another summer, when they still won't have very much cap flexibility. They will lose Peja Stojakovic's $14 million off the books, but are already over the cap heading in to this season and will have pay increases going toward Paul, Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton.
So in light of all the back and forth I think they'll move Paul this winter, barring a great start and serious playoff contention. Below are links to trades using the ESPN Trade Machine to each of Paul's four requested teams. In any effort to move Paul the Hornets will almost look to move Emeka Okafor's monster four-year $52 million remaining contract, and/or James Posey's two-year $13 million albatross. They'd also want young talent they can build around and draft picks as compensation.
First up is the Knicks. The Knicks are one of the few teams that won't balk at absorbing bad contracts - just look at the past decade. Therefore taking on Okafor and Posey is worth it to get Paul. All of the players going to New Orleans would be on one year deals, thereby allowing the Hornets to clear as much space as possible (bye bye Eddy Curry!). They'd also get some good young talent in Gallinari and Anthony Randolph plus a backup point guard in Toney Douglas to fill in behind their new starter, Collison.
The Knicks trot out a starting lineup of Paul, Bill Walker, Posey, Stoudemire and Okafor, then scour waivers for minimum level players to fill out the lineup.
The trouble for the Knicks would be including draft picks to sweeten the deal, since they don't have their 2012 first round pick and subsequently cannot trade their 2011 or 2013 picks.
Next we have the Magic. This is an enticing deal since it still allows New Orleans to compete with the pieces they'll get back. The Magic could also include some picks in the deal, but they are unlikely to be great picks with the Magic set up to go to deep into the playoffs year after year. This trade allows New Orleans to keep selling tickets and jerseys with Carter and Nelson joining the fold, and gives them the opportunity to develop their young players and be a great cap situation in 2012 - the year Paul will be a free agent anyhow.
The Magic get rid of Carter's contract and upgrade from Nelson to Paul and become the immediate #1 contender to the Heat's dynasty. They may already be the #1 contender, but having Paul and Howard gives them major advantages at the two places on the floor where the Heat will struggle.
The Blazers could make an interesting play as well. They would have to give up LaMarcus Aldridge in this deal, which would be a major blow, however for a team that's been searching for a point guard for years, it may be worth it to get CP3. The Hornets would then have a new franchise cornerstone and someone to pair with Thornton and Collison as the wave of the future. They'd also get Andre Miller to bring Collison along, Greg Oden and promising young forward Nicolas Batum.
For the Blazers they pair Paul with Roy and go for the gold in the West. They'd be a little light on the wings, but Okafor and Camby would be a pretty solid rebounding and defending tandem down low.
Dallas would be an incredible spot for Paul to land, assuming Dirk still has enough left in the tank for deep playoff runs the next 3-5 years. Although this trade is not legal at this point, by the trade deadline in February Tyson Chandler could be included in a multi-player trade. The Hornets receive Chandler's expiring contract, essentially erasing the Chandler-Okafor trade they made, plus Caron Butler's $10 million contract. They'd also get a reasonably priced Shawn Marion, although he does still have four years left on that deal. Young point guard Rodrigue Beaubois would be sent to New Orleans as well. The Mavs would have no problem taking on the deals of Okafor and Posey, and would have their point guard of the present and future to replace Jason Kidd. Kidd would become their back up and have his legs saved for the post season. Dirk would be able to cede the spotlight to Paul come crunch time and Okafor would only be counted for rebounding and defense.
Using these trades as examples, I'd say Portland would have the best chance to nab Paul from the Hornets because they are giving up the best non-Paul piece in Aldridge. The Magic are interesting, but I think their best shot would be next summer when Carter is an expiring $18 million contract. The Knicks can take both Okafor and Posey and offer up a a good mix of expiring contracts and young players but there's not a blue-chipper in there to sell to New Orleans, unless Gallinari plays lights out the first half of the season. The Mavericks are also interesting, but again their draft choices are virtually useless and they're not giving up a blue-chipper either.
If New Orleans does end up trading CP3, they need to make sure they get back the right mix of draft choices and young players in order to rebuild around Collison and Thornton, or they have to make a blockbuster move to try and get close-to-equal back for Paul. Otherwise, they'll be right where there are now, in salary cap hell and missing the playoffs... which is this reason Chris Paul wants to be traded in the first place.
I found the timing of all this very suspicious after I heard that Paul had left Octagon and moved to CAA's Leon Rose, who is also LeBron James' agent. Paul has been nothing but a model citizen in New Orleans, reviving basketball there after Hurricane Katrina and going above and beyond with his community involvement. Suddenly, within weeks of switching agents, he now wanted out and had a preferred list of teams to be traded to? It all seems pretty fishy to me.
On the other hand, Paul is one of my top three favorite players in the league and is the sole reason I adopted the Hornets as my non-Knicks NBA team to follow. I understand why he'd want out of New Orleans and join a team contending for a championship right now. Can you imagine Paul and Amare Stoudemire running pick and rolls all night long a la Nash-Stoudemire and Paul-Chandler? What about Paul teaming up with Dwight Howard? Paul and Brandon Roy? Paul and Dirk in Dallas? Are you kidding me?
There's something different about being a point guard and wanting to join forces with another dominant player, especially a post player. Throughout history very few point guards have been the best and go-to man on championship-level teams. Steve Nash. Isiah Thomas. Magic Johnson. That's the list the last thirty years and Nash still hasn't been to a Finals. Stockton had Malone. Parker had Duncan. Kobe had Shaq and then Pau. Even Magic had Kareem. It makes what Jordan and Pippen did without a true post presence absolutely remarkable (even LeBron and Wade will have Bosh).
I'm assuming the Hornets will indeed move Paul, possibly this season depending on his health. If he plays well through 50 games and the Hornets are already out of the playoff mix in a hotly contested Western Conference, the Hornets will be hard-pressed to hold onto him for another summer, when they still won't have very much cap flexibility. They will lose Peja Stojakovic's $14 million off the books, but are already over the cap heading in to this season and will have pay increases going toward Paul, Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton.
So in light of all the back and forth I think they'll move Paul this winter, barring a great start and serious playoff contention. Below are links to trades using the ESPN Trade Machine to each of Paul's four requested teams. In any effort to move Paul the Hornets will almost look to move Emeka Okafor's monster four-year $52 million remaining contract, and/or James Posey's two-year $13 million albatross. They'd also want young talent they can build around and draft picks as compensation.
First up is the Knicks. The Knicks are one of the few teams that won't balk at absorbing bad contracts - just look at the past decade. Therefore taking on Okafor and Posey is worth it to get Paul. All of the players going to New Orleans would be on one year deals, thereby allowing the Hornets to clear as much space as possible (bye bye Eddy Curry!). They'd also get some good young talent in Gallinari and Anthony Randolph plus a backup point guard in Toney Douglas to fill in behind their new starter, Collison.
The Knicks trot out a starting lineup of Paul, Bill Walker, Posey, Stoudemire and Okafor, then scour waivers for minimum level players to fill out the lineup.
The trouble for the Knicks would be including draft picks to sweeten the deal, since they don't have their 2012 first round pick and subsequently cannot trade their 2011 or 2013 picks.
Next we have the Magic. This is an enticing deal since it still allows New Orleans to compete with the pieces they'll get back. The Magic could also include some picks in the deal, but they are unlikely to be great picks with the Magic set up to go to deep into the playoffs year after year. This trade allows New Orleans to keep selling tickets and jerseys with Carter and Nelson joining the fold, and gives them the opportunity to develop their young players and be a great cap situation in 2012 - the year Paul will be a free agent anyhow.
The Magic get rid of Carter's contract and upgrade from Nelson to Paul and become the immediate #1 contender to the Heat's dynasty. They may already be the #1 contender, but having Paul and Howard gives them major advantages at the two places on the floor where the Heat will struggle.
The Blazers could make an interesting play as well. They would have to give up LaMarcus Aldridge in this deal, which would be a major blow, however for a team that's been searching for a point guard for years, it may be worth it to get CP3. The Hornets would then have a new franchise cornerstone and someone to pair with Thornton and Collison as the wave of the future. They'd also get Andre Miller to bring Collison along, Greg Oden and promising young forward Nicolas Batum.
For the Blazers they pair Paul with Roy and go for the gold in the West. They'd be a little light on the wings, but Okafor and Camby would be a pretty solid rebounding and defending tandem down low.
Dallas would be an incredible spot for Paul to land, assuming Dirk still has enough left in the tank for deep playoff runs the next 3-5 years. Although this trade is not legal at this point, by the trade deadline in February Tyson Chandler could be included in a multi-player trade. The Hornets receive Chandler's expiring contract, essentially erasing the Chandler-Okafor trade they made, plus Caron Butler's $10 million contract. They'd also get a reasonably priced Shawn Marion, although he does still have four years left on that deal. Young point guard Rodrigue Beaubois would be sent to New Orleans as well. The Mavs would have no problem taking on the deals of Okafor and Posey, and would have their point guard of the present and future to replace Jason Kidd. Kidd would become their back up and have his legs saved for the post season. Dirk would be able to cede the spotlight to Paul come crunch time and Okafor would only be counted for rebounding and defense.
Using these trades as examples, I'd say Portland would have the best chance to nab Paul from the Hornets because they are giving up the best non-Paul piece in Aldridge. The Magic are interesting, but I think their best shot would be next summer when Carter is an expiring $18 million contract. The Knicks can take both Okafor and Posey and offer up a a good mix of expiring contracts and young players but there's not a blue-chipper in there to sell to New Orleans, unless Gallinari plays lights out the first half of the season. The Mavericks are also interesting, but again their draft choices are virtually useless and they're not giving up a blue-chipper either.
If New Orleans does end up trading CP3, they need to make sure they get back the right mix of draft choices and young players in order to rebuild around Collison and Thornton, or they have to make a blockbuster move to try and get close-to-equal back for Paul. Otherwise, they'll be right where there are now, in salary cap hell and missing the playoffs... which is this reason Chris Paul wants to be traded in the first place.
Heat Fire Sales Staff
The Heat fired their entire ticket sales staff because they "no longer require a season ticket sales team to sell tickets." Gotta feel for those people that went from guaranteed to be at every home Heat game to out of a job.
More on the Lebron Story from Dan LeBatard
Dan LeBatard of the Miami Herald talks about journalism in the Twitter, camera-phone, everyone-is-a-reporter day and age. He also touches on the difficulty for ESPN of reporting the news while airing the same games it reports on.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Why the Lebron Article Was Pulled
If you haven't checked out the article you can see it here, but if you already have and are wondering what the big deal was like I was, here's the answer.
That's some pretty shady reporting for an ESPN reporter considering who he was with and where he knew they'd be going.
That's some pretty shady reporting for an ESPN reporter considering who he was with and where he knew they'd be going.
Awesome Video
I may have to start having a Video of the Day! Awesome compilation (shoutout to Marv Levy!), only thing it's missing in my eyes is a Denny Green 'If you wanna crown their ass, then crown em!' With that said anytime you have Brett Favre, Mike Tyson, Tiger Woods, Lebron James and Ryan Leaf together you've done something truly special.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Cakes for the King
Here's a nice little recap on Lebron's escapades out in Vegas.
Striped shirts and sunglasses in the club for eeeeeeverybody! At least the cake with the jersey in it looks kind of cool, but the crown one looks like a little girl's easy bake oven disaster! And does anyone else have a realllly weird feeling about Chris Paul spending so much time with Lebron and leaving Octagon for CAA and Leon Rose? It'll be interesting to see how CP3's (non)trade demands are handled. If they're anything like The Decision, CP3 is going to be in PR hell with his BFF.
Striped shirts and sunglasses in the club for eeeeeeverybody! At least the cake with the jersey in it looks kind of cool, but the crown one looks like a little girl's easy bake oven disaster! And does anyone else have a realllly weird feeling about Chris Paul spending so much time with Lebron and leaving Octagon for CAA and Leon Rose? It'll be interesting to see how CP3's (non)trade demands are handled. If they're anything like The Decision, CP3 is going to be in PR hell with his BFF.
Video of the Week
Not as good as the Lebron/n.W.o. videos but I still think we're off to a rousing start for Videos of the Week. This one's about six minutes but definitely worth it.
This weeks winner was sent to me by a coworker and is an instant classic. All you need to know... Fireworks + Chris Kaman = Youtube Sensation
This weeks winner was sent to me by a coworker and is an instant classic. All you need to know... Fireworks + Chris Kaman = Youtube Sensation
Deadspin Link to Pulled LeBron Story
In case you didn't hear, a story about LeBron was mysteriously pulled off ESPN.com this afternoon. Amid some wild speculation, ESPN reported the story was simply in editing and not supposed to be posted at that time. Deadspin has the article and you can read it here.
Really nothing too crazy going on there. If you ever been to Tao you know the hot tub dancers they mention and it's really not a big deal.
My favorite parts are the mentions to his new unofficial theme song 'I'm in Miami.' HA!
(Special thanks to Nevin for the Deadspin link)
Really nothing too crazy going on there. If you ever been to Tao you know the hot tub dancers they mention and it's really not a big deal.
My favorite parts are the mentions to his new unofficial theme song 'I'm in Miami.' HA!
(Special thanks to Nevin for the Deadspin link)
Vacation Update
Sorry everyone, been busy with some travel and work things that have kept me from posting the past couple weeks. Rest assured, I've stayed on top of everything regarding Chris Paul, Team USA, and some of the minor free agent signings.
I'll be back in full force later this week or this weekend with thoughts on CP3, some possible trade scenarios, and my thoughts on the whole 'super team phenomenon.'
Then it's Team USA time as they prepare for the FIBA Championships in late August. I'll have some breakdowns of the top contending teams and roster updates for the USA. Plus, I hope to attend at least part of the World Basketball Festival being held in NYC August 12-15th.
Stay with me as we get through the lean time of the year after the free agency bonanza. Luckily, we have the FIBA tournament to hold us over.
I'll be back in full force later this week or this weekend with thoughts on CP3, some possible trade scenarios, and my thoughts on the whole 'super team phenomenon.'
Then it's Team USA time as they prepare for the FIBA Championships in late August. I'll have some breakdowns of the top contending teams and roster updates for the USA. Plus, I hope to attend at least part of the World Basketball Festival being held in NYC August 12-15th.
Stay with me as we get through the lean time of the year after the free agency bonanza. Luckily, we have the FIBA tournament to hold us over.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The NBA in Europe
Remember when all the talk in the NBA was about players going to Europe for exorbitant contracts, no taxes, cars and housing including, and lavish adventures with billionaire European owners? It started with Josh Childress leaving the Hawks to join the Greek powerhouse Olympiacos. Then Brandon Jennings skipped college to play professionally in Europe. Suddenly, the NBA's best were rumored to be heading across the Atlantic as well including Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
Obviously, a lot has changed in those two years. The global economy has slowed, Kobe Bryant has one back-to-back championships, and we all know 'The Decision' LeBron James just made.
But one thing, in my opinion, that was very underreported two years ago, is the severe security problems that exist at European basketball games.
Josh Childress is now back in the states and headed for the Phoenix Suns after a sign-and-trade deal was worked out with the Atlanta Hawks (the Hawks still had Childress' rights).
Here's part of what he had to say in his introductory news conference after joining the Suns.
"So we go out to the floor and everybody’s coughing and their eyes are burning. Come to find out that the police had to shoot tear gas in the gym because the fans were so rowdy. So we’re on the floor, everybody’s hurting, their throat and everything so we had to go into the locker room for 20 minutes and wait for the arena to clear out a little bit. We get back out on the floor and we play the first half, five minutes into the second half a group of our fans, I’d probably say about six M80s, they kind of combined them into one and threw them at our rival teams bench. Their whole team was at halfcourt to kind of huddle up together and kind of protect each other and as soon as that happened they just started pelting them with everything you can think of. I mean, chunks of marble, they broke toilets in the arena. One guy I know said he got hit with a bottle of urine and crap. It’s just unbelievable man. It was unbelievable. That was the last game, so you can kind of imagine."
As exciting and innovative as it would be for David Stern to launch his 'European Division' A LOT has to come together in the next 10 years for that to be a realistic possibility. In addition to newer, state of the art arenas, working out scheduling conflicts, and fitting any expansion plans in to the new CBA that's coming next year, the number one thing the NBA will have to contend with is simple security.
The Artest Melee was one of the darkest moments in NBA history in regards to safety and player-fan interaction, but could you imagine seeing something like what Childress described above occurring stateside? The angriest fan base in the country right now is the spurned Cavaliers fans. Could you imagine them throwing things at the Miami Heat bench when LeBron comes back to town?
Talk about the m.W.o.! (God I love this video!)
Obviously, a lot has changed in those two years. The global economy has slowed, Kobe Bryant has one back-to-back championships, and we all know 'The Decision' LeBron James just made.
But one thing, in my opinion, that was very underreported two years ago, is the severe security problems that exist at European basketball games.
Josh Childress is now back in the states and headed for the Phoenix Suns after a sign-and-trade deal was worked out with the Atlanta Hawks (the Hawks still had Childress' rights).
Here's part of what he had to say in his introductory news conference after joining the Suns.
"So we go out to the floor and everybody’s coughing and their eyes are burning. Come to find out that the police had to shoot tear gas in the gym because the fans were so rowdy. So we’re on the floor, everybody’s hurting, their throat and everything so we had to go into the locker room for 20 minutes and wait for the arena to clear out a little bit. We get back out on the floor and we play the first half, five minutes into the second half a group of our fans, I’d probably say about six M80s, they kind of combined them into one and threw them at our rival teams bench. Their whole team was at halfcourt to kind of huddle up together and kind of protect each other and as soon as that happened they just started pelting them with everything you can think of. I mean, chunks of marble, they broke toilets in the arena. One guy I know said he got hit with a bottle of urine and crap. It’s just unbelievable man. It was unbelievable. That was the last game, so you can kind of imagine."
As exciting and innovative as it would be for David Stern to launch his 'European Division' A LOT has to come together in the next 10 years for that to be a realistic possibility. In addition to newer, state of the art arenas, working out scheduling conflicts, and fitting any expansion plans in to the new CBA that's coming next year, the number one thing the NBA will have to contend with is simple security.
The Artest Melee was one of the darkest moments in NBA history in regards to safety and player-fan interaction, but could you imagine seeing something like what Childress described above occurring stateside? The angriest fan base in the country right now is the spurned Cavaliers fans. Could you imagine them throwing things at the Miami Heat bench when LeBron comes back to town?
Talk about the m.W.o.! (God I love this video!)
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