Name: Avi
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Lakers vs. Nuggets Preview
April 28th, 2012
Photo courtesy of bleacherreport.com
The Lakers are back after their mini-reform from last season to face a familiar foe in the first round in the Denver Nuggets. A lot was made of the Lakers exit last year when they were swept by the Mavericks in the second round after coming off back to back championships. The Lakers were questioned, Phil Jackson left, the Chris Paul trade fell apart, Mike Brown was brought in, and Lamar Odom was traded to the Mavs. Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets have been playing solid basketball all season long with no real go-to scorer after trading their superstar Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks last year and trading away Nene at the trade deadline after they just gave him a huge contract last summer. Both teams have different looks from years past, but both teams have adapted to these changes and are starting to play good basketball.
George Karl’s Nuggets have bought into the the “team game” system and it has paid off. In a strange move, the Nuggets decided to trade Nene after giving him a $67 million contract in the offseason. In return, the Nuggets got bone-head JaVale McGee and Ronny Turiaf. The Nuggets can recover from this loss (which can be argued as a gain by taking that contract off the books) because of rookie Kenneth Faried. He didn’t get much media attention in college and still continues to get a lack of attention for being an outstanding rookie. Faried is an absolute hustle player, and the model big man you want on your team. Faried will get to all loose balls and go after every rebound. He will definitely force Gasol and Bynum to stay honest on the glass. The Nuggets also have arguably the fastest guy in the NBA in Ty Lawson, a characteristic that is known to give the Lakers major problems. The X factor will be Al Harrington for the Nuggets, who went off on the Lakers in their one victory over the Lakers this season.
The Lakers on the other hand have been playing well as of late, but consistency has been a problem for this team in this short, high-density schedule. This is the time this team should thrive. Their roster and their system is built around success in the post season. The Lakeshow runs the half court, pound it down low, defensive, physical basketball (although some of that physicality and defense will be missed with the suspension of Meta World Peace). The Lakers have had success against this team this season, going 3-1 in the season series. The key, like always, will be to get the big men involved. Andrew Bynum has also had his issues with coach Mike Brown, so it will be interesting to see which Bynum shows up to play. With that said, Kobe Bryant is still the hungriest player in this league and his mind is set on that 6th championship. The key for Kobe is to get his team to believe and really lead them through the playoffs. Kobe’s shooting has certainly been inconsistent throughout the year, bugged with various injuries such as the finger, nose, and shin, but this is the time that Kobe thrives.
The Lakers should be able to dominate this team, I’ll take the Lakers in 5.
Clippers vs. Grizzlies Preview
April 28th, 2012
Photo courtesy of articles.latimes.com
The Los Angeles Clippers are finally back into the playoffs for the first time since 2006. They matchup with the up and coming Grizzlies who had one of the biggest upsets in history last year when they ousted the top seeded Spurs. Both teams did a seed switch at the end of the season to give Memphis the home court advantage (something you may have not known if you tried to follow this series on ESPN).
The Grizzlies once again flew under the radar because of the injury to Zach Randolph which kept him out for the majority of the season. Nonetheless, Marc Gasol picked up a majority of the slack down low and made his first allstar appearance. The Grizz are a true force to be reckoned with down low, and arguably the best low post combo behind Bynum and Gasol, but Lionell Hollins has chose to bring Z-Bo off the bench since coming back from his injury. The strategy has proven to be effective, but Randolph will have to be a real factor if the Grizzlies plan to move past the Clippers. The Grizzlies in their uptempo offense are extremely dangerous, which should make it really interesting against the Clips who like to get out and running too. One thing that has to be mentioned is that Rudy Gay will be playing unlike last year’s playoffs, but it will be interesting to see how he meshes with Randolph for the alpha dog. O.J. Mayo can really push this team to the next level if he can provide the instant offense off the bench.
The Clippers on the other hand are coming into the offseason with two losses that lost them the 4th seed and a groin injury to Chris Paul to go with it. It always helps to have a young team enter the playoffs with momentum and “peaking at the right time” and I’m not sure the Clippers have either going for them. With that said Chris Paul is the best point guard in the league and can give any oppsing team nightmares. He has a unique ability of setting up guys in great spots and making them look great. It will be interesting to see how much of a factor the groin will be for CP3. Both DJ and Griffin will be challenged by the presence down low, so it will be interesting to see how they are able to adjust. The X factor for the Clippers will be Randy Foye. He has the ability to cone into the game and knock down a few 3s in a hurry.
The edge is to the Grizz who have been through the playoffs with this group of guys. They also matchup really well to the Clippers, and the home court advantage will prove to be too much. I’ll take the Grizzlies in 7.
NBA Teams to Watch
December 22nd, 2011
Kevin Love, photo courtesy of usatoday.com
LOS ANGELES, CA — Every year in the NBA, there are always a few surprise teams that come out of nowhere and surprise everyone. For the casual NBA fan, they never realize it until you see them in the first round of the playoffs. This offseason has been crazy to say the least; it’s like the ticking time bomb in Speed that blows up if you slow down. The big moves this offseason have been the Lob City Clippers signing Chris Paul and the New York Knicks signing Tyson Chandler. Everyone else seems to be on Dwight watch (Otis Smith, I would not want to be you right now). With that said, there have been a few teams that have slowly started putting those edge pieces of the puzzle together and now they can actually kind of see the puzzle looking like what the cover does.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers were that team last year where you were left saying, “How the hell did the Pacers make it? The East must be really bad…” The fact was, the East was pretty bad, but the Pacers were not. They gave the No. 1 seed Chicago Bulls all they could handle in that first round, and really exposed the Bulls and their glaring weakness of offense outside of D-Rose. They were just held back Coach Jim O’Brien who was there for the first 44 games and finished his tenure with 17-27 record. I’m still wondering how that guy was there since 2007 (common Larry Legend, you knew he had to go a long time back). After that, interim coach Frank Vogel took over and the Pacers just started to click. A major reason for the success was because Vogel realized how talented Tyler Hansbrough was. O’Brien never figured out that Psycho T would out work every single player on the floor, a skill that is just not that easy to find nowadays in the NBA. Every good team has to have that guy who really doesn’t give a f*** about anything that will chase after every ball and stand up for every teammate in scuffles, and Psycho T was that guy for the Pacers. Hansbrough made Carlos Boozer look softer than Shawn Bradley in that first round. The Pacers this offseason made a great move by signing David West and stealing him from the Celtics (a move that could really hurt the Celtics if they match up with the Pacers in the playoffs). This lineup is a young one that can really out work you, especially in a short condensed season. Darren Collison is a promising young guard with lightening speed. They have their star in Danny Granger and plenty of complimentary swingmen in Paul George, George Hill, and Dahntay Jones. Down low they have Roy Hibbert, David West, and Psycho T. Roy Hibbert is one of the most underrated big men in the league. If it wasn’t for Blake “I’ll dunk anything you throw in a 10 foot radius around the rim” Griffin, I think Hibbert could have made a real case for Rookie of the Year. The big fella put up 13 points, 8 boards, and 2 blocks per night last year! I can only imagine those numbers will boost some more under a full season with Vogel as coach, especially the rebounds (I love this guy for fantasy basketball). I will take that front court over any front court in the East. I like the Pacers to contend for the 5th spot in the East.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies for years have been that team that you always looked over on the schedule, but slowly Jerry West and crew built up that roster to what it is today. The most lob-sided trade of this generation – Pau Gasol and Shannon Brown for Kwame Brown, Aaron McKie, Javaris Crittenton, and the rights to Marc Gasol – ended up working out really well for the Grizz. The trade obviously landed them Marc Gasol, a key to their playoff success last year, and it also cleared up the cap space for them to go out and sign Zach Randolph. They cleaned house for a reason, and they were able to put together the pieces to build a young and exciting team in Memphis. This team is has the right attitude and hunger (if you go to the Memphis Grizzlies homepage you will be greeted by Zach Randolph in a pose that is ready to pounce on you and eat you alive with the phrase ‘Time to Grind’ in the background. I absolutely love it). What this team did last year to the Spurs and almost to the Thunder was no fluke, and I don’t expect any sophomore year slump from them. The roster is so young and talented. Mike Conley is an underrated guard running the show out there and he is determined to give a big “EFF YOU!” to everyone who thought he was overpaid (this one guy named Kobe Bryant had something to say about the contract). OJ Mayo has had his struggles, but I think can really break out (yes I still believe the hype). Rudy Gay is an all-out stud, and to think they did what they did last year in the playoffs without him is astonishing. THEY DIDN’T HAVE THEIR BEST PLAYER IN THE PLAYOFFS AND NEARLY MADE IT TO THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS. The Grizz did themselves a huge favor and resigned the big Gasol to team up with Zach Randolph to be the most dangerous F-C combo in the Western Conference (until Andrew Bynum doesn’t play a full season without getting hurt, I can’t give this to the Lakers as much as it kills me not to). I also love Tony Allen and Sam Young off the bench. Sam Young could be a poor man’s James Harden for this team; he can come off the bench and hit the long ball in bunches. I’m going to put the Grizzlies in the 4th spot in the West, with a first round match up with the Lob City Clippers (yes, I am going to call them the Lob City Clippers for the rest of the season, maybe longer…)
Minnesota Timberwolves
Yes, the Timberwolves finished 17-65 last year, which put them as the worst team in the NBA. Yes, they have the worst General Manager in the NBA (link). Yes, they are in one of the smallest markets in the NBA. With that said, I think the Timberwolves are ready to make a real splash this season, granted the fact that Kahn doesn’t Kevin Love for 3 draft picks (all being guards of course). The only way the Wolves can go is up from here. Kevin Love obviously had a breakout year last year, winning comeback player of the year with his ridiculous 15 rebound average per game (the guy was an absolute fantasy gold mine last year, never lost in rebounds the entire season). They are bringing in just the right coach for this team in Rick Adelman. As a Lakers fan, I love Kurt Rambis, but that situation was not good for him as a first year coach. Adelman is a much more seasoned guy and he has done positive things for every team he has coached. The guy simply gets it, he has that “it” factor, and if we are talking simple Xs and Os, I think he is one of the best coaches in the NBA. Adelman will be the perfect coach for Michael Beasly; a guy who has a ton of talent but just doesn’t have all the screws fitted tight in the dome. Rookie coaches Spoelstra and Rambis had no idea how to handle the guy, but Adelman has dealt with head cases like this before (Ron Artest era in Houston), and I think he’ll be able to guide him down the right path. They also have to very promising rookies in Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams (my pick for ROY). Rubio has been well documented as a poor shooter, but I think he has the skill set to be successful in a league full of speedy guards (a lot of which aren’t great shooters i.e. Rondo, Rose, Collison). The also brought in (and overpaid might I add) JJ Barea to be backcourt mates with Rubio. Adelman is also a big fan of big men who can shoot the ball from range (Vlade Divac, Brad Miller who happens to be on the Wolves, and Yao Ming), and will also have that in Darko Milicic. I really see the Wolves competing this year and predict a finish no lower than 10th in the Western Conference, which is a big upgrade from dead last.
NBA Preview: Central Division
December 22nd, 2011
MVP D-Rose, photo courtesy of picturessports.com
Team: Chicago Bulls
2010/11 Record: 62-20 – 1st in Eastern Conference
2010/11 Review:
ZS: The Bulls really came out of nowhere to get 60 wins. A talented team that added some nice pieces a year ago but they played above their real talent level. They did have the MVP but Rose needed help in the playoffs and it didn’t come. Great defense but made baskets win you games too.
AS: The Bulls came out of the gates firing. D-Rose proved he’s a force to be reckoned with in this league, and one of the most elite PGs in the league. Making it to the Eastern Conference Finals was definitely a good season for the Bulls.
Team Needs in 2011/12:
ZS: D-Rose needs that sidekick. Someone who can relieve him and I believe that is a big man. Boozer did not cut it. I think they need a scoring big man who doesn’t have a hideous shot…or beard.
AS: I agree with Zayd completely. This team is one big move away from blowing up. I am surprised the Bulls haven’t been in the talks for big Dwight so far. They could also use some help from Carlos Loozer.
Outlook for 2011/12:
ZS: Probably won’t win the conference again but will be at least the 2 seed. They could easily make the Finals if they add that big man.
AS: I think this team will suffer from somewhat of a sophomore slump. They will make noise in the playoffs though, and will be a tougher out for Miami than last year.
No. 1 pick Kyrie Irving, photo courtesy of hawkfantasysports.wordpress.com
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
2010/11 Record: 19-63 – 15th in Eastern Conference
2010/11 Review:
ZS: The aftermath of LeBron leaving was in full effect. It really dismantled this team and it was unfortunate to see. They did beat the Lakers though. Not sure why they traded there one bright spot in Hickson.
AS: See Cleveland sports history.
Team Needs in 2011/12:
ZS: What don’t they need? Maybe a new owner who doesn’t have a personal vendetta and makes ridiculous claims about who will win a title first, them or the Heat.
AS: This team needs just about anything and everything. Can you name more than 5 guys on this roster? This team also needs rookie Kyrie Irving to be a superstar, there is a ton of pressure on him.
Outlook for 2011/12:
ZS: Bleak
AS: To think that Gilbert refused to trade JJ Hickson for Amare last summer (a trade that probably would have kept Lebron in town); the outlook doesn’t look good. Oh, and JJ Hickson isn’t there anymore, he was traded for Omri Caspi. OMRI FREAKING CASPI. I’m done.
Gordon and Villanueva, photo courtesy of thesportsbank.net
Team: Detroit Pistons
2010/11 Record: 30-52 – 11th in Eastern Conference
2010/11 Review:
AS: The Pistons had a rebuilding year that was in the making for about 3 years. Tracy McGrady actually played well for the Pistons last year.
ZS: The Pistons have some good players but overall this team just doesn’t have a direction and it was clear they were not playoff contenders.
Team Needs in 2011/12:
AS: This team needs to develop an identity again. As of right now, they’re a struggling franchise in a struggling town. They need to go back to that blue-collar play they had when they won the chip.
ZS: Exactly what Avi said, they need to regain that Detroit Piston mentality that was so successful for them. Problem is those players are lacking in this NBA. They have too many good players that play the same position. Spread out that talent.
Outlook for 2011/12:
AS: Things aren’t looking great in D-town. I think they float right around 11th in the East again this year.
ZS: Bottom of the Eastern Conference again. Not going anywhere for a while. If the CBA made it tough for stars to leave then what happens to a team with no star to begin with?
Danny Granger, photo courtesy of alwaysmillertime.com
Team: Indiana Pacers
2010/11 Record: 37-45 – 8th in Eastern Conference
2010/11 Review:
AS: The Pacers had a great run back in the playoffs first time since 2006. They even fired Jim O’Brien after a disappointing start, and the team took a full 180 since. Psycho T was unleashed!
ZS: There is always a team that slips into the Eastern Playoffs that just gets lucky but really isn’t going anywhere. I love Granger but he’s not showing he could take this team anywhere.
Team Needs in 2011/12:
AS: The Pacers need to continue to their growth from last season. Psycho T proved that he can ball with the bigs down there despite his size. The Pacers made a great move bringing in David West and stealing him from the Celtics.
ZS: Well with David West they just need to get the rest of the pieces that fit around Granger and him.
Outlook for 2011/12:
AS: The Pacers compete for the 6th spot in the playoffs. They jump the Sixers and the Magic. This team has a lot of potential with a great front court with Hibbert, Hansbrough, and West. I think Hibbert is very underrated and will have a breakout season.
ZS: If this team plays well defensively and can get their offense in line quickly they could get as high as 5th. Something about this team just feels underrated and lockout seasons have some strange things that can happen.
B-Jennings, photo courtesy of puri-travel.com
Team: Milwaukee Bucks
2010/11 Record: 35-47 – 9th in Eastern Conference
2010/11 Review:
AS: After the Fear the Deer campaign in the 2010 playoffs, the Bucks had a bit of a setback, most notably because of the freak arm injury to Andrew Bogut. This ultimately caused the Bucks to miss the playoffs.
ZS: A team I like but just gets rocked by injuries time after time. Barely missed the playoffs but are not good enough to win titles.
Team Needs in 2011/12:
AS: The Bucks could use a better power forward. Luc Mbah a Mounte just doesn’t have the size down low. The team needs Bogut to bounce back from his freak injury and lead them back into the playoffs.
ZS: They have Jennings and SteJax with Bogut down low and are an ok team but without help down low things will not go well for them.
Outlook for 2011/12:
AS: If healthy, the Bucks could make a real push for the 8th spot into the playoffs again.
ZS: A low seeded playoff team but they won’t get far.
NBA Preview: Southeast Division
December 20th, 2011LOS ANGELES, CA — It’s day 3 of our NBA Divisional Preview. Zayd and I look at the Southeast Division. Make sure you check out the all the other posts for Day 1: Atlantic Division and Day 2: Pacific Division
Josh Smith, photo courtesy of speculativesports.com
Team: Atlanta Hawks
2010/11 Record: 44-38 – 5th in Eastern Conference
2010/11 Review:
ZS: Atlanta was eliminated from the Eastern Conference Semifinals by the Chicago Bulls in what seems to be the repetitive theme for this team regardless of the coach. Easily one of the most athletic teams in the league but they lack a true inside presence and just can’t get anywhere in the playoffs.
AS: The Hawks had a surprisingly good run into the playoffs last year as they beat the Magic in the first round. This team has been in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference since 2007, but have failed to make any real noise in the playoffs. A lot of people forget in the whole hoopla of Lebron and Bosh coming to Miami, it was actually Joe Johnson who was the real winner of the summer. He took home the biggest contract with the least expectations.
Team Needs in 2011/12:
AS: The team made a really nice transition from Mike Bibby to Jeff Teague last year, and Teague was a stud in the playoffs. I am interested to see the development of Teague this year, and if this team can build on their second round showing from last year. Financially with the new CBA, this team may regret giving Joe Johnson what they did. I think the Hawks are dedicated to the core groups of guys they have, but losing Jamal Crawford really hurts, he was a guy who could come off the bench and put in 15 per game and was an integral part to their offense the last two years.
ZS: They have some young talented players like Teague, Horford, Smith, and Johnson and will be a tough team night in night out as long as they show the effort but they lack a true inside presence that can solidify their defense. Smith is a strong defender but he would be much more effective as a weak-side and come-from-behind shot blocker.
Outlook for 2011/12:
AS: I think the Hawks could challenge the Magic and Pacers for the 4th seed in Eastern Conference, but I like both teams better and drawing the 6th spot could lead to a first round elimination. A lot of the Hawks fortunes lie on the shoulders of Jeff Teague.
ZS: I don’t see why anything will change for them since money will be tight for them after that contract Joe Johnson has. I expect a 5th or 6th place finish and losing in the first round after 6 games.
MJ, photo courtesy of eurweb.com
Team: Charlotte Bobcats
2010/11 Record: 34-48 – 10th in Eastern Conference
2010/11 Review:
AS: The highlight for the Bobcats was that Michael Jordon became a partial owner of the team. Unfortunately, he became a cheap skate and traded away the best player on the team in Gerald Wallace. Jordan left this roster with nothing to build around.
ZS: This team had a future, then Wallace, Okafor and Felton were gone. So was that future. It just seemed like they restarted mid plan and are looking for a new path to go.
Team Needs in 2011/12:
AS: The Bobcats need a go-to scorer. Their roster has a bunch of guys that are role players like Tyrus Thomas, Joel Pryzbilla, Borris Diaw, and Corey Maggette.This team may very well need a new owner, because Jordon was at the front of complaining owners during thel ockout but refuses to put a competitive squad on the floor. Good luck making any money.
ZS: Exactly what Avi said.
Outlook for 2011/12:
AS: Unfortunately for the Bobcats, it seems like the main goal of management is to remain profitable rather than competitive. I don’t see the Bobcats making the playoffs this year again. Hitting .500 should be their goal, which may actuallly make the playoffs in the East.
ZS: A team really going nowhere in my opinion, and when a partial owner was responsible for the Kwame Brown debacle I don’t see a bright future ahead for them. Bottom of the Eastern Conference again.
"The Big 3," photo courtesy of theurbandaily.com
Team: Miami Heat
2010/11 Record: 58-24 – 2nd in Eastern Conference
2010/11 Review:
AS: The Heat actually lived up to expectations and made it to the Finals. They got the bus rolling at the right time of the season, and handled the Celtics in the playoffs. Unfortunately a bunch of washed out guys who are just riding coattails for a ring as role players didn’t work.
ZS: Having LBJ and Wade on the same team never hurts. They were solid defensively which really helped them and did not have as much drama as I expected. They could have won the title but met the Mavs at the wrong time.
Team Needs in 2011/12:
AS: They need some real role players. A bunch of them who did much of nothing (Bibby, Dampier, Juwan Howard, James Jones, and Magloire) are all unrestricted free agents. All I can say is I don’t understand why they signed Eddy Curry.
ZS: They need a center to let Bosh float around and a decent playbook capable point guard who can relieve Wade and LeBron from the ball handling and court control. But adding Battier is really underrated.
Outlook for 2011/12:
AS: At this point with current rosters, as much as it hurts to say, the Heat will be back in the Finals.
ZS: There really is no team in the East (with their current rosters) that can take this team in a series. They will probably win the East and make it to the Finals.
Dwight Howard, photo courtesy of forbes.com
Team: Orlando Magic
2010/11 Record: 52-30 – 4th in Eastern Conference
2010/11 Review:
ZS: Dwight Howard! That’s about all you can get excited about on this team. They have overpaid so many players its sad. They just clearly did not have enough to win last season.
AS: The only bright spot on this team is Superman in the middle. Aside from that, everything went wrong for the Magic. The trade for Gilbert Arenas was horrible. They let go of one overpaid washed out star, Vince Carter, and picked up another one in Arenas. I wonder if Arenas is still spending $2k a week to feed his pet sharks..
Team Needs in 2011/12:
ZS: Well its looking like Dwight is gone so make sure you either get quality young talent now or plenty of draft pick from lottery bound teams. They should either make the moves to make Dwight happy or begin a rebuilding plan.
AS: Similar to the Hornets, the Magic need to get something in return for the inevitable trade of Dwight Howard. There is nothing Otis Smith can do to keep him in Orlando any longer.
Outlook for 2011/12:
ZS: I think if there is one team they don’t want to send Dwight to its the Lakers and repeat the Shaq event. But with Bynum as the likely trade piece from LA its looking like a viable destination. Dwight is ahead of Bynum overall but Andrew is a better offensive player. Thing is they have no one to surround either but luckily in the East they are a playoff team.
AS: The Magic were able to shed Arenas’s contract via amnesty. Now they just have to get rid of Turkoglu’s contract and get something in return and rebuild. Otis Smith has to be on the hot seat. Fans don’t worry though, they have the coolest arena in the leauge where you can easily be entertained for 3 hours without even watching a second of the game!
John Wall, photo courtesy of canishoopus.com
Team: Washington Wizards
2010/11 Record: 23-59 – 13th in Eastern Conference
2010/11 Review:
ZS: There is a lot of talent on this roster. And they got rid of Gilbert Albatross Arenas. Problem is they have Rashard Lewis’ contract using up over 50% of what they are paying.
AS: The Wizards have a very talented stud in John Wall, but the surrounding pieces were certainly lacking. Rashard Lewis, arguably the most overpaid player of the last decade, did the same thing he had been doing in Seattle and Orlando – nothing.
Team Needs in 2011/12:
ZS: Surround Wall with players who can make good cuts and open shots. I like Wall and I think he is going to have a good career but he will need the players and pieces to make it work. Wall can be a superstar but he is going to need support. But this team is rebuilding quietly and intelligently.
AS: The team needed to amnesty Rashard Lewis and his $20+ million he is set to make this season, but they failed to do that. They have a good core with Wall and McGee, but they need to surround those guys with some more talented players. Nick Young could be 3 different players on any given night.
Outlook for 2011/12:
ZS: Still do not see this team making the playoffs although they might rank higher than expect. I would say 2 more years before this team can get into the playoffs. But if they keep this up they could have a Thunder or Grizzlies-like uprising.
AS: I agree with Zayd that this team is still a few years away from making some real noise. Like I mentioned, they have a nice core with Wall and McGee, but Nick Young still has to prove he is a viable and consistent third option.
Stern – The New Scrooge
December 14th, 2011
Courtesy of soraspy.com
David Stern has officially taken his power trip too far. I’m not trying to downplay or “hate” on the Clippers at all with this post, but they got away with a trade that they simply should never have been in the position to be able to make. Congratulations for taking advantage of the situation and making the biggest move in franchise history, and they derailed their cross-town rival while they were at it (intentionally or unintentionally is a decision I’ll leave up to you). Stern robbed the Lakers in broad daylight, and there is no other way to phrase it. Unfortunately, like every other controversy with the NBA, it will be shoved under the rug, but I’ll take the opportunity to call him out on it while I have this platform to do so.
The reason the Lakers trade was rejected was for “basketball reasons” according to a statement released by David Stern. BASKETBALL REASONS. As ridiculous as that sounds, it turns out that even that isn’t the true reason the Lakers-Rockets-Hornets deal was turned down by Stern. The real reason the trade was turned down was because David Stern’s MO the whole time was to get a deal that would make selling the Hornets easier. It wasn’t for “basketball reasons,” because if it was, the deal with the Lakers would have gone through because it was the better basketball deal. Odom, Scola, Martin, and Dragic are a better deal than Gordon, Kaman, Aminu, and Minny’s 1st round draft pick (that pick may be a lottery pick, but Minny will be much better than they were last year) anyday of the week.
Making a trade for financial reasons and not for putting the best team on the floor for New Orleans is a conflict of interest. Stern cares about what money can go into the pockets of the owners, not if the Hornets will be able to compete in the Western Conference and make it back into the playoffs. What Dell Demps was trying to do was get the best deal for the Hornets to put the best team on the floor this season, aka his job. What David Stern was doing was looking out for the back pocket of his owners like he has done all summer, but this time it directly effected a franchise and the team they put on the floor. The owners don’t care if the Hornets win, they simply want the money in their pockets. Ask yourself this question, do you think owners want a championship caliber team in New Orleans (a team they only have 1/29 piece in) over their own teams? Absolutely not. The league should no longer be able to own a team for this simple fact;the owners would not want to put a better team on the floor for the Hornets if its costing their own teams losses.
Stern and the league can keep throwing their catch phrases like “small-markets” and “competitive balance,” but it’s all bullshit. David Stern could care less about competitive balance. He wants the big markets to get the big players and bring in the big bucks. One of the league’s biggest sources of income is through the massive TV deals they have with ESPN/ABC/TNT. Teams in big markets drive these TV deals up due to more viewership. That is the kind of stuff David Stern cares about. He doesn’t care about the city of New Orleans, the same way he didn’t care about Seattle.
David Stern has made the NBA more of a business than any other sport in the United States. He has allowed the name on the back of the jersey to mean more than the name on the front of the jersey. For that reason, NBA players to get paid more than anyone else. This pay scale issue became evident in this last lockout. The NBA owners realized they want a bigger piece of this lucrative pie. At the end, it’s all about the money, and the Lakers ended up being the biggest victim of this “get rich quick” scheme. The owners were in uproar about the proposed CP3 deal to the Lakers because the Lakers were getting the best point guard in the league while saving money. That money they saved decreased the amount that put the Lakers over the salary cap, which equals luxury tax money. The proposed trade would have saved the Lakers $20 million in luxury tax, and that $20 million would have been split among the 29 owners. That was the real issue, which gets buried by stupid reasons like “basketball reasons” and “competitive balance.” The fact was the owners, most notably Dan Gilbert, didn’t want to lose the $690,000 of free money that they were getting. The Lakers were penalized for making a great trade and a great financial decision. The inability of small market teams like Cleveland to make smart financial decisions should not result in negative consequences for large markets like Los Angeles who make smart financial decisions and put together good teams.
Once again this entire conspiracy will be thrown under the rug by the NBA, but it needs to be brought to light. David Stern has royally screwed the Lakers. He rejected a trade due to the greed of the 29 owners, which forced the Lakers to trade Odom (I am not blaming the entire trade on Stern, Jim Buss made a huge blunder trading him to the Mavs, but it is Stern’s fault that the Lakers were put in the situation that they were).
Letter to Jim Buss
December 13th, 2011Dear Mr. Jim Buss,
I have been a Lakers fan for the last 15 years, perhaps more, but I can’t remember stuff before I was 7 years old. I understand that you are new in this role as “owner,” since your father Dr. Buss has handed you the reigns, but I still don’t understand the thought process you have been going through the past 5 days.
I can’t blame you for not trying getting Chris Paul in purple and gold since you sent in two deals only to be rejected by the scrooge twice. I understand what you were trying to do by making the move as well — address the glaring weakness of point guard for the team. I was happy with the possible move of teaming Kobe Bryant with the best true point guard since our very own Magic Johnson in Chris Paul. You were even able to keep Andrew Bynum, which kept the possibility of getting Dwight Howard too alive.
I am beyond upset with the league and most notably David Stern and the way he dealt with the situation, and I understand why Gasol and Odom were upset with their names in trade rumors after they were major cornerstones in our 2 championships. They have a right to be upset, but at the end of the day it is a business, and we all know in LA the expectations every year are a championship. Anything less is considered a failure. Period.
The problem I have is your following moves. How could you let Lamar Odom go for absolutely nothing? Not just let him go for nothing, but give him away to the defending champions and the team that just swept you out of the playoffs last year. There is absolutely no way you can defend this decision. I love Lamar and what he did for LA, and I am in no way understating his impact upon this team, but I honestly don’t care how he felt about the rumors. The fact remains the NBA is a business, and much more of a business than a sport in recent years. If he was offended, it’s honestly too bad. Pau Gasol was able to deal with the situation like a professional, I don’t understand why Odom wasn’t held to the same standards. At the end of the day, he gets paid millions of dollars to do his job, and being traded comes with the territory. If you for some reason felt like you owed that to him, you are dead wrong.
I really hope this move was just a precursor to other moves, because the squad we are left with is in no way better than what we had last year. All of us Lakers fans are left with nothing but questions. Even if this move is to get Dwight Howard, it is going to come at a much more expensive cost than it needed to be. Orlando is already asking for both Howard and Bynum, and on top of that we just gave away Odom for free. We may get Dwight Howard at the end of the day, but I am in no way convinced it’s worth it at the cost of Odom, Gasol, and Bynum. The big men were the reason we won two championships. Even with Dwight Howard, we don’t address the point guard situation at all.
I hope you understand you have the best player since Michael Jordan on your team. Unfortunately he is at the end of his prime and only has a couple of good years left in him. So far your two moves have been to hire Mike Brown and getting rid of Lamar Odom for nothing. Please do not let this be a preview for this team under your ownership, because it is not looking good at all.
Concerned Lakers Fan,
Avi Shah
Which Big 3 Would You Take?
December 5th, 2011With the NBA season finally back, let the rumors and trade talk commence! In the past week, we’ve heard that Chris Paul would like to go to New York, to form a Big 3 up there with Amare and Melo. So I asked, what if he does go to New York…which Big 3 would you take? New York or Miami? The PMB staff weighed in:
Amish Doshi: I don’t think this is going to happen during the season. I think Paul will walk (if the Hornets can’t trade him) at the end of the year and make up what he loses in endorsement money in NY. I think the Knicks have a better big 3 because LeBron James and Dwayne Wade still haven’t learned completely how to play together at one time. CP3 is a natural fit for the Knicks because he is one of the few of a dying breed of pure point guards left in the NBA meaning he is looking to distribute first and will score as a last resort. A lot of people have forgotten about how good Chris Paul is due to infatuations with score first point guards such as Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook and Deron Williams as well as Rondo (another one of the few pure point guards). Paul will easily find Melo and Amare in their best spots on the floor and will adjust the Knicks pace of the game because he is a coach on the floor. He has made lower level players look like All Stars in the past such as Tyson Chandler and David West. He has no real glaring weaknesses whatsoever. The Heat meanwhile have major weaknesses such as determining who their crunch time scorer is and whether either Wade or James can really play off the ball which doesn’t just mean stand and spot up for shots. It means coming off screens, making cuts to the rim, adjusting to zone defenses…all of that. One of those two players has to learn how to play that way otherwise it will just be a carousel of constant undefined roles IMO. Granted they made the finals doing this last year without a real great half court offense but that is not sustainable for winning championship. Games slow down inevitably. Chris Paul is a more perfect match and thus makes the Knicks the team with the better “Big 3”.
Ryan Dunn: While the New York Knicks don’t have Chris Paul yet, obtaining Paul obviously gives them one of the top guards in the league. Is it enough to give them a three as good as the Heat’s three of Lebron, Bosh, and Wade? It’s tough to make a decision seeing as Paul hasn’t played a game with the Knicks at all. He is an assist machine, a top flight shooter in all regards, and is tough defensively with his speed and hands. So you have to figure that having Paul makes Carmelo Anthony’s and Amar’e Stoudemire’s production in every category jump pretty significantly. Still, you put even hypothesized numbers against the Heat, and I actually feel it’s not enough. The Heat are beasts on the glass, are phenomenal shooters, and are the most athletic trio defensively when it comes to NBA superstar trios (maybe the league should shift to just three-on-three play). Statistically speaking, I’d have to take Miami even if Paul made Stoudemire and Anthony even better. Personally however, I would want New York’s potential group just for likability barring of course an over the top and arrogance plagued press conference.
Zayd Sharif: First, looking at Bosh vs. Amare I would easily take Amare since he is a better player but both don’t fully satisfy that down low player need a team needs. James vs. Melo is a pretty close one and I’ve always liked Melo and little more. LeBron seems to have this tendency to fade late once in a while…Melo is great in the clutch. Finally between Wade and CP3, it’s a straight wash for me. Now putting them together I’ll take the Knicks. Wade and LeBron are almost too similar in what they offer to I’d rather CP handle the ball, Melo be that wing and I guess that leaves Amare down low. So ya, the Knicks, if this happens.
Gautam Shah: The value of a point guard cannot be undermined. Chris Paul is a special player who makes a star out of average players and gets his teammates the ball, putting them in opportunities to score. He has never played with a bonafide scorer like Carmelo Anthony and I think that in itself would be very exciting. Pair that with a freak athlete with quickness in the post who has developed the ability to hit a Bosh-range jumper? I’ll be riding that bandwagon all day long. We saw that last year both Wade and James needed the ball to be successful, and James’ timidness and willingness to overpass in the Finals caused confusion amongst the teammates as nobody knew what their role on the team was. Paul will get the ball in the 4th quarter and run a proper offense to get to two scorers who can beat their men one-on-one. Paul’s ability to drive, hit the three paired with incredible court-vision and leadership upgrades every position on the Knicks on offense. Let’s move over to the defensive side of the ball. Bosh and Amare are both average defenders, nothing special here. Wade is a terrific defender and James’ athleticism makes him the best off ball defender in the NBA (Ytube Lebron James Blocks).
Jaymin Patel: If you had asked me this question last year, I probably would have said I would take Wade, Lebron and Bosh in a landslide. However, we’ve seen that the Heat have problems executing on the offensive side of the ball because they can’t seem to figure out who should be the primary ball handler. If you take a look at the proposed Big 3 in New York, they will have no problems on offense. CP3 will handle the ball, Carmelo will take over in the fourth quarter and Stoudemire has a diverse enough offensive game to feed off of the activity of both of those players. The problems they will encounter, in contrast to the Heat, will be on the defensive side of the ball because Anthony and Stoudemire are not quite known for their defensive prowess. That being said, I believe that you can build a better roster around the hypothetical Big 3 in NY because, in the NBA, you can find good defensive talent on the cheap much easier than good offensive talent. It’s close, but I’d take the Knicks.
Who Would You Draft: Tebow or Newton?
November 20th, 2011This season in the NFL has been dubbed as “the year of the quarterback,” with QBs putting the ball in the air much more than before. Two quarterbacks, Tim Tebow and Cam Newton, have certainly made a ton of headlines. Both are outstanding characters and have brought a positive vibe and outlook to two markets that have seen their fair share of struggles in the past few seasons. This past year’s first overall pick Cam Newton has played exceptionally well for the Carolina Panthers and is the front-runner for the Rookie of the Year. Unfortunately for the Panthers, Newton’s great stats have not translated into wins this season, although his play has shown much promise for the future. Meanwhile in Denver, Tim Tebow has taken over the reins as starting quarterback and has won 4 out of 5 games. The Broncos reached for Tebow in the 2010 draft by trading up to take him with the 25th overall pick in the draft; a decision that was criticized by many experts and analysts. Although Tebow’s numbers have not been good for a starting QB in the NFL, he is winning games. Tebow throughout his career at Florida was known as a “winner,” and perhaps that is translating over into the NFL even though most thought it never would. So if you were the general manager of an NFL franchise and had both Newton and Tebow on the board, who would you draft?
photo courtesy of weallscheme.com
Cam Newton has had everyone’s attention this season from Week 1 with his unbelievable 422 yard, 2 TD game against the Cardinals, which unfortunately ended in a loss for the Panthers. Newton has thrown for 2605 yards, 11 TDs, rushed for 374 yards, and 7 rushing TDs. With that said, the Panthers have only won 2 games this season, but Newton has shown so much promise. When Peyton Manning started his career with the Indianapolis Colts, he had similar struggles that Newton is having. It’s clear what Peyton Manning then became — arguably the best QB in football. Newton certainly has the skills needed to be a successful QB in the NFL, and Panthers fans have a lot to look forward to in the near future. Newton is exactly the type of QB you would want to draft with the first overall pick in the draft. He without a doubt is a franchise QB for years to come for the Panthers.
photo courtesy of blog.al.com
Tim Tebow on the other hand has been the anti-quarterback to say the least. Tebow this year in his 5 starts has thrown for only 709 yards with only a 44.8% completion rate. One of his wins against the Kansas City Chiefs came with him only completing 2 out of 8 passes. Tebow has rushed for 388 yards with 3 rushing TDs. The Denver Broncos offense has looked unconventional at best. Credit goes to John Fox and his coaching squad for completely changing their offense midseason to cater to Tebow. The offense has a limited play book which revolves around wildcat plays for Tebow because he simply can’t throw the ball. Nonetheless the fact remains, the Broncos have won 4 games with Tebow as the starter. The guy simply knows how to win, and he has put the Broncos in the hunt for the AFC West.
So the question remains, who would you pick if both Tebow and Newton were both left on the board? For me the answer is easy–you have to go with Cam Newton. There have been a number of quarterbacks who play with an unconventional style such as Michael Vick and Vince Young (who ironically are on the same team now) that have never won anything. Tebow may be able to win a few games for the Broncos in the regular season against mediocre teams, but it will never transfer over into the playoffs where there are elite teams and elite defenses. Cam Newton needs to develop the closer gene, but that will come with experience. He has the tools in place to be a great QB in the NFL. Newton’s style of play has translated to wins historically in the NFL. Winning regular season games is great, but winning in the playoffs and competing for championships is the ultimate goal of any NFL franchise (unless you are the Indianapolis Colts this year who are putting on a great ‘Suck for Luck’ campaign). So let the Tebow fans rejoice now, but this will not last. Cam Newton is a future star.
Hungry Bears
November 17th, 2011
Courtesy of sportsgrindent.com
The Chicago Bears have slowly risen there way up to the top of the NFC and have finally gotten some attention. It is eerily similar to their run that they made to the NFC Championship game last year. Yeah, I know you forgot, it was the Bears that Aaron Rodgers crushed to get to the Super Bowl. This season looks like another promising one, but fans from the Windy City will certainly be hoping for a better finish this season. With strong defense, a fabulous run game, and a determined QB, the Bears may have the perfect concoction to make a charge into the playoffs again.
The biggest issue for the Bears has to be their division. The NFC North is the best division in football with three teams that could very well win the NFC. The Packers obviously being the defending champions, are the favorites to win the division with their 9-0 start. The Detroit Lions have surged this season finally tapping into some of the potential they had built up. The Lions are also 6-3 like the Bears, but it appears the Lions stock is slightly falling, while the Bears stock is certainly rising. The Lions lack the ability to run the ball and stop the run – two weaknesses that will hurt them tremendously in their run to make the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Bears are getting some of the best performances from their stars. The three-headed defensive monster of Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher, and Lance Briggs may be the most dangerous trio in the league (although Carlos Rogers, Justin Smith, and Patrick Willis from San Francisco are pretty damn good too). Devin Hester continues to be the most explosive return man the NFL has ever seen. Matt Forte has been the best running back in the league so far, even in Mike Martz’s high powered aerial offense (PAY THE MAN!). Jay Cutler has stepped into his roll as the leader of his team, highlighted by the clinic he put on Monday Night Football against the Eagles.
The Bears have what it takes to make it into the playoffs, and I believe they will surpass the Detroit Lions and secure on of the NFC Wildcard spots. Left on the schedule is the AFC West, which has been a struggling division to say the least, and most notably one more matchup with the Packers. It is not going to be an easy road for the Bears, but their confidence is at an all time high with wins against the Buccaneers, Eagles, and Lions over the last three weeks.
At the end of the day, defense and the running game always win December and January. The Bears have some of the best personnel at each of those positions. Jay Cutler has a chip on his shoulder, especially the way he went out last year in the NFC Championship game. His commitment was questioned, and he has come out shutting down all his critics. The stars may just line up for the Bears to make a deep run into the playoffs. This is a team that should not be slept on.
