“Doc Rivers will return to coach the Celtics, a source close to him confirms to Y! Sports. He will honor the final year of his contract.”
@WojYahooNBA
This is huge for the Boston Celtics as it makes it more likely that the Big 3 will return and that they will be contending at least one more year for an NBA Championship.
Okay this is a little late but I have been away since the weekend and finally want to rant on the England vs. Germany game. So let me start with this…ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Those referees are straight up DUMB! Making incorrect offside calls and calling BS fouls is bad enough but damn, are they blind? That ball obviously crossed over the goal line, it was a few feet behind it. I was outraged by this miscall and it actually made me want to break the TV…good thing I didn’t because I was staying at a hotel that day.
www.tsn.ca
That goal could have changed the whole game. I will admit that England did not play well, but they were on fire during the final 10 minutes of that first half. Lampard’s goal would have changed the whole morale of the team and they could have played a different style of ball during the second half. The game would of technically started off fresh in the second half but instead England came back to the field one goal down.
England may have still lost the game but FIFA needs some new referees. I guess I should be happy that they didn’t go out on penalty shoot outs this time.
So I am sure everybody has already heard about the new dream scenario, the Miami Heat are trying to get Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh all on the same team. It has been rumored that these three superstars all met up this weekend in Miami to discuss their free agency plans. This would just be totally insane! I am not sure who else they will have on that team besides Mario Chalmers and maybe Michael Beasley, but still wow.
I am not quite sure how well Lebron and Wade will work together but they have had experience in it while playing for Team USA. The biggest issue I have with this is that they would be going to Miami. Miami is Dwayne Wade’s team. The situation may have to be similar to when Garnett and Ray Allen went to Boston and understood that it was still Pierce’s team. This may be tough for Lebron to go somewhere else and not have it be his team, I mean he is the best player in the league. Also both Lebron and Wade are pretty similar players statistically wise. They both score, rebound, assist, block and steal. Neither is an exceptional three point shooter either.
I would love to see this happen but am not fully confident on how it will work out. It may be more exciting to see Lebron/Wade/Johnson team up with Bosh/Amar’e/Lee. Oh and of course we can not forget Dirk Nowitzki, who has decided to opt-out of his contract with the Dallas Mavericks. Too bad he’s not a few years younger, because that would of just made things so much more interesting.
When it comes down to it, I still believe the best option is for either Lebron and Bosh or Wade and Bosh to head to Chicago. Maybe then they can trade Loul Deng and get a legit shooter like J.J Redick, Joe Johnson or Ray Allen. Either way, those two stars will be joining Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah and will be forming an amazing, young squad.
A little over 24 hours away from the free agency period to begin and things are getting even more interesting. Let’s see where the new big three end up.
So amidst the Lebron-Wade-Bosh Hoopla, I think many of us have overlooked the coaches situation this off-season.
Cleveland’s situation: Today Byron Scott dropped a bombshell that he is interested in the Cavs position with or without Lebron James. This is exactly why I think Byron Scott is legit. He doesn’t immediately run to the best team out there with all the superstars but is willing to invest time in a team to make it into a winner. In all his stops thus far, Scott has reached the playoffs and improved the team soon after his arrival. Without James in Cleveland, he will take over a team that is without a GM and is stuck with many long and expensive contracts. Cleveland fans, if Scott truly does become the next coach of the Cavaliers, be assured that you are getting a coach who knows how to win, be it with LBJ or not.
Clippers Situation: I don’t even know where to start…what are you guys doing?! Vinny Del Negro or Dwayne Casey?! You have a solid young nucleus and it’s time you invest a little bit in their futures. I am not saying Del Negro and Dwayne Casey are bad coaches, but it would make more sense to bring in a more experienced guy who can provide a solid foundation for all those young players. Then again..this is why you are the Clippers..
Lakers Situation: Phil Jackson, I have no idea what you are planning to do but honestly the Lakers are in good hands either way. If Phil decides he can’t do it anymore..Brian Shaw is a great fit for the team..if he doesn’t bolt to Cleveland. Shaw has been on Jackson’s staff for many years now and I think is more than capable of running the Lakers. The transition would be easy especially because all the players know and like him. If Phil comes back..well..that’s not too bad either.
Celtics Situation: As I had mentioned in my previous post, the Celtic off-season depends on Doc Rivers. No one knows exactly what he is going to do. Reports out of Boston today are that he is more likely to stay and fulfill the last year of his contract. Doc has become well liked among the players and also the city. It is hard to imagine anyone else coaching the Celtics, but if he does leave the only other person I can see coaching the team successfully is Jeff Van Gundy. Van Gundy, like Rivers, is a defensive minded coach who has had success with big name players and cities. The only negative with that is that JVG most likely is not going away from his ABC position.
All in all, this offseason is going to be amazing from both a coach and player perspective. July 1st..can you come any sooner?!
1. Washington Wizards John Wall PG
2. Philadelphia Sixers Evan Turner SG
3. New Jersey Nets Derrick Favors PF
4. Minnesota Timberwolves Wesley Johnson SF
5. Sacramento Kings DeMarcus Cousins PF
6. Golden State Warriors Ekpe Udoh PF
7. Detroit Pistons Greg Monroe C
8. LA Clippers Al-Farouq Aminu SF
9. Utah Jazz Gordon Hayward SF
10. Indiana Pacers Paul George SF
11. New Orleans Hornets Cole Aldrich C(Traded to OKC)
12. Memphis Grizzlies Xavier Henry SG
13. Toronto Raptors Ed Davis PF
14. Houston Rockets Patrick Patterson PF
15. Milwaukee Bucks Larry Sanders PF
16. Minnesota Timberwolves Luke Babbitt SF(Traded to POR)
17. Chicago Bulls Kevin Seraphin PF(Traded to WAS)
18. Oklahoma City Thunder Eric Bledsoe PG(Traded to LAC)
19. Boston Celtics Avery Bradley SG
20. San Antonio Spurs James Anderson SG
21. Oklahoma City Thunder Craig Brackins PF(Traded to NOH)
22. Portland Trailblazers Elliot Williams SG
23. Minnesota Timberwolves Trevor Booker PF(Traded to WAS)
24. Atlanta Hawks Damion James SF(Traded to NJN)
25. Memphis Grizzlies Dominique Jones SG(Traded to DAL)
26. Oklahoma City Thunder Quincy Pondexter SF(Traded to NOH)
27. New Jersey Nets Jordan Crawford SG(Traded to ATL)
28. Memphis Grizzlies Greivis Vasquez PG
29. Orlando Magic Daniel Orton PF
30. Washington Wizards Lazar Hayward SF (Traded to MIN)
2nd Round:
1. New Jersey Nets Tibor Pleiss C(Traded to OKC)
2. Miami Heat Dexter Pittman C
3. Sacramento Kings Hassan Whiteside C
4. Portland Trailblazers Armon Johnson PG
5. Washington Wizards Nemanja Bjelica SF(Traded to MIN)
6. Detroit Pistons Terrico White PG
7. Milwaukee Bucks Darington Hobson SF
8. New York Knicks Andy Rautins SG
9. New York Knicks Landry Fields G
10. Indiana Pacers Lance Stephenson SG
11. Miami Heat Jarvis Varnado PF
12. Miami Heat Da’Sean Butler SF
13. LA Lakers Devin Ebanks SF
14. Milwaukee Bucks Jerome Jordan C
15. Minnesota Timberwolves Paulo Prestes PF
16. Phoenix Suns Gani Lawal PF
17. Milwaukee Bucks Tiny Gallon PF
18. Miami Heat Latavious Williams SF(Traded to OKC)
19. San Antonio Spurs Ryan Richards C
20. Dallas Mavericks Solomon Alabi C
21. Oklahoma City Thunder Magnum Rolle F(Traded to IND)
22. Boston Celtics Luke Harangody PF
23. Atlanta Hawks Pape Sy F
24. LA Clippers Willie Warren PG
25. Utah Jazz Jeremy Evans F
26. Minnesota Timberwolves Hamady N’diaye C(Traded to WAS)
27. Indiana Pacers Ryan Reid F(Traded to OKC)
28. LA Lakers Derrick Caracter PF
29. Orlando Magic Stanley Robinson SF
30. Phoenix Suns Dwayne Collins PF
Now that the Lakers-Celtics series drama is over, let’s look at what everyone is waiting for come July 1st: NBA Free Agency. I HOPE the NBA is going to look much different. It only makes things more interesting.
Could you imagine if Carlos Boozer was still in Cleveland? Jeez. The fact is that he isn’t. I can’t imagine him in another jersey than the Utah Jazz, but I think it’s time the Jazz need to part ways with him. Paul Millsap is a much better player in my opinion. He has a longer wingspan than Boozer, and can shoot the midrange jumper a lot more consistently than Boozer can. The Jazz also have a top pick in this year’s draft.
Now Boozer is a little undersized, and with today’s best team’s having a front court duo or trio of length, I honestly think it’d be best if Boozer played a Lamar Odom role on a good team. Don’t believe me? Look at a clip from this year’s playoffs.
One option is the Nets. With Brook Lopez and Derrick Favors, the addition of Boozer would be a very dangerous trio. A good scenario would be to start Boozer for the first year while Favors gets more accustomed to the NBA, and have Favors slide to the starting line-up after a season. With the veteran leadership of Boozer, Favors will become a better individual player.
Another option would be the Suns. This is if they keep Amar’e and both Boozer and Stoudemire agree to take a pay cut, as well as drop some other players from the Suns free-agency list. A Lopez, Stoudemire, Boozer trio would be deadly. That would be the best chance for Nash to get his first ring and finally get through the Lakers front line.
Now the Bulls would be fine for Boozer if he gets a Lebron or Wade as well, but if that doesn’t happen Boozer’s situation won’t be much better than it is now and he’ll still be sitting on his couch mid May.
David Lee has become a favorite of mine. The guy gets things done offensively. He’s relatively undersized but still manages to grab 11 rebounds a game. This is an All-Star caliber player.
Now David Lee is pretty much the only bright spot of the Knicks and has been for a few years. The Knicks decided to pick up a useless pick last year and unfortunately don’t have a pick this year. The only thing that can really save them at this point is the free agency. I don’t think they can keep Lee with another one of their expected free agents.
Now I don’t know what’s been up with the Hawks. They had a team that shouldn’t have been swept by the Magic. Ya, Horford is undersized and Josh Smith should be a Small Forward, but seven games against a Buck team with no Center, and getting broomed by Magic. Unacceptable. Especially with one of the best guards in the NBA in your starting line-up.
For those reasons mentioned above, and many more, I can’t imagine Joe Johnson being the number one option on a team. He’s almost 29 years old. He’s still a very good player and can go off offensively and defensively on any given night, but he needs someone of equal status or greater on his team to be successful. Let’s look at some of the options out there.
The Knicks are obviously looking for everyone they can get so that wouldn’t be a bad option, but it all depends on who else goes there. He and David Lee aren’t going to go too far, but it would definitely make the Knicks a playoff team if they can get a decent PG.
The Nets are another option. Devin Harris is a scoring PG and Johnson doesn’t always need the ball to be successful because he is an excellent passer. This could take some load off of Devin Harris on the perimeter.
PG- Devin Harris
SG- Courtney Lee
SF-Joe Johnson
PF-Derrick Favors
C-Brook Lopez
Not bad at all. That’s very good on paper. Still a young team, but they can definitely make a push into the playoffs with this team.
The Bulls are another team that could excel with Johnson. I know, I know…James or Wade would be much sexier, but Johnson wouldn’t be that bad too. It might even be the best option for the Bulls. Wade and James demand the ball a lot, and so does Derrick Rose. Johnson doesn’t do that, and will still be a huge factor on the team. If anyone saw last years playoffs, Derrick Rose amazed me. He’s very, very good and extremely capable of being a number one option on the team.
PG- Derrick Rose
SG- Joe Johnson
SF- Luol Deng
PF – Taj Gibson
C – Joakim Noah
That is a huge back court and a scary one defensively and offensively. I think that’s his best bet. He could also go to Miami, but thats contingent on so many “if’s”.
Amar’e is a phenomenal player and can change the dimension of any contending team. I feel bad for Nash. That’s one guy that deserved a championship and if Stoudemire decides to leave that’s the end of it for Steve Nash the Great. I’ve never been a huge fan of Stoudemire only because he’s too one dimensional. His jump shot got a tad bit better this year, but I’ve only seen him do two moves down in the post in my years of watching him. He can’t shoot the fade-away jumper with his back toward the basket. That’s a huge flaw in his game as a power forward.
Even with his flaws, he is an enormous talent. When he’s hot he can’t miss, the problem is that he doesn’t get hot very often. The Suns went on a huge run this year and I applaud their efforts, but if Amar’e had a few more moves in his arsenal it would have given the Lakers a lot more trouble.
I think the best player to go alongside Stoudemire is Lebron. Amar’e can’t really create much for his own. If it wasn’t for the Nash-Stoudemire pick and roll scheme, Amar’e wouldn’t be even half as successful in putting up numbers. I can just imagine Lebron and Stoudemire working great together because James is such an incredible passer. Wade is a good passer too, but nothing like Lebron. So my advice to Amar’e : Go wherever Lebron James goes.
To me, Chris Bosh is the second best power forward in the league right now. Pau Gasol being the first, but that’s obviously debatable. There’s no clear cut BEST right now since Garnett and Duncan are on the decline now. Chris Bosh is so talented and versatile. He’s not the best defender, but the guy gets it done offensively. He can shoot the three sometimes, hit the mid range jumper, post up and score with ease, and rebounds efficiently. He’s very very good. I think sometimes people don’t realize how good he is because he’s playing in a totally different country. I think wherever he goes, it’s going to drastically change any team, contending or not.
It would be ideal if Wade or Lebron can join him, but that might not happen. Since any team he goes to will change for the better, it doesn’t really matter where he signs as long as it’s not back with the Raptors. The Knicks would be a great bet because that would only lure one of the other great players to head over there as well.
Now comes the first of the big two free agents. What can I say about Dwayne Wade other than how incredible he is. He’s my second favorite player after Kobe Bryant. The way the teams this summer are going, it seems that the Nets, Bulls, and Miami are the favorites for every player in the free-agency. The only thing the Knicks have to offer to these players is New York City and Madison Square Garden. Other than that, they have nothing and if they get no one from the free-agency they can kiss another season good bye.
Wade is entering his prime now, and I’ve felt bad for him because he’s had such crappy teams these past few years. Miami has a lot of cap space now though and they can really make a push for Wade and another big named player. According to recent speculation, Miami is going to shop Bosh first, Boozer second, then Stoudemire. I’m not quite sure if I agree with the second and third ordering.
Miami seems like the best possibility for Wade right now. I don’t really see him leaving at all because of his close relationship to Pat Riley and what they have to offer to Wade. I’d like to see him go to Chicago because that’s where he’s from, but the Rose and Wade combo might not be too effective because they are almost the same player. If they can get one of the three power forwards, Miami can be looking really good next year if they can add some decent role players as well.
I don’t think Wade has any interest going to the Nets or the Knicks so we’ll leave it at that.
Here comes the big fish. I’m pretty sure ever since the guy came into the league and got drafted by the Cavs teams have been waiting for this time to come. I think Lebron James has been the most hyped player the NBA has ever seen. Jordan, Kobe, Magic all were hyped but they had to work for their hype. This kid has been the King since he came into the NBA without even playing one game. Can you blame people though? The guy is a physical beast. If I were to create a player in an NBA video game, I’d create something like Lebron.
So now that we know how good the guy is, let’s get to business. I know the Knicks have been the most aggressive suitors for Lebron, but sorry New York I don’t think Lebron’s going to end up there. Don’t worry though, there are other great players in the draft that can save your franchise.
The Bulls are a sexy prospect for Lebron. He’s a huge Jordan fan and spoke about the number 23 earlier this year and how it should be retired by the NBA. What better way to revere your idol than to bring another championship to Jordan’s old city? I think Bosh is going to go wherever Lebron goes, and any team they go to will be scary. Very, very Scary. I don’t even want to think about that right now because of how happy I am that the Lakers won. Just picture this:
PG- Derrick Rose
SG- Lebron James
SF- Luol Deng
PF- Chris Bosh
C- Joakim Noah
Ouch. That’s one young and extremely good team. Their back court would be a match-up nightmare for almost every team in the NBA. I don’t even know which team could match the speed of that back court. Defensively, well let’s just say they’d own the NBA. Derrick Rose is a terrific defender, Lebron James is a terrific Defender, and even if Chris Bosh isn’t a very good defender, Joakim Noah is. What an insane team this would be. Let’s also not forget that the best defensive coach, Tom Thobideau, in the NBA signed with the Bulls.
The Nets are also a very good prospect. If they can get Bosh and Lebron, or anyone and Lebron, the Nets would be an incredible team in a year or two. Brooklyn is a great city and he would own the city like he does right now with Cleveland.
We are finally are the 2nd stage of the FIFA World Cup and there have already been many surprises. Let us start with the biggest disappointments, France and Italy. Both of these teams were the last World Cup finalists, Italy being the defending champions. Italy was ranked 5th in the world while France was 9th. That is two of the top 10 teams out of the World Cup in the first round. Teams such as England, Spain and USA had a tough time making it to the next round but came up successful in the end.
Being an England fan, stage 2 does not look good. First they face Germany, one of their bitter rivals, and hoping that they get through that obstacle, they will most likely have Argentina waiting for them. It is going to be a tough road for England to get through, especially if they keep playing as poorly as they have been. They showed some life in their last game yet it still was not a convincing victory and definitely was not a performance that could compete against the better teams. They are going to need to buckle down and Wayne Rooney is going to have to come alive if they want to have any chance against Germany and Argentina.
The USA on the other hand have a more simpler route to the final four. Out of the 4 teams in their round, they are the highest ranked, meaning should have the best chance of getting through. They also have not been playing sensational, but somehow are still able to work their magic near the end of games. Robert Green’s mistake, in the game against England, came back to be very beneficial for the USA, allowing them to top the group and be placed into the better situation.
We may also be heading towards an intriguing match-up of Brazil and Netherlands, with both teams having pretty successful first rounds.
The two must see games from the round of 16, in my opinion, are the England vs. Germany game and of course the Portugal vs. Spain match-up. The second of which will be a match-up of the 2nd and 3rd ranked teams in the world. Not being a big fan of Portugal and Ronaldo, I am hoping for a Spanish win.
The road to the World Cup Finals is definitely going to be exciting and I will be here crossing my fingers, hoping that England can somehow shape up and get through the giants that are waiting for them.
After perusing through all the message boards, blogs, and obviously ESPN, SI, Yahoo, and local beat writers for each team, this is what I got. Obviously the biggest storyline is what the Nets and T-Wolves do at 3 and 4 in regards to Cousins, Favors and Johnson. For any Minnesota T-Wolves fans’ sakes, I’m praying for your GM cause I don’t think he will survive another cold winter in the Twin Cities if he screws this draft up. More on David Kahn later (unless he becomes a genius tomorrow)
1. Wizards- John Wall
2. Sixers- Evan Turner
3. Nets- Derrick Favors
4. T-Wolves- Wesley Johnson
5. Kings- DeMarcus Cousins
6. Warriors- Ekpe Udoh
7. Pistons- Greg Monroe
8. Clippers- Al-Farouq Aminu
9. Jazz- Paul George
10. Pacers- Ed Davis
Notes: If anyone is an NBA basketball nut like I am and you love hearing about rumors. I seriously suggest you get a Twitter account and follow every possible NBA journalist/insider/nationally known blogger/ beat writer for your favorite NBA team. Everything breaks first on Twitter: rumors, trades, free agency signings, drama between players, coaches, etc.
According to Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Sacramento Kings will select DeMarcus Cousins with their 5th pick in tomorrow’s NBA draft. To see the report along with other draft buzz reported by Yahoo check out the report at:
