It really bothers me that people consistently rank Rajon Rondo ahead of this San Antonio Spurs legend. You don't even have to guard Rondo at the end of games!
Check out my full-length story on Bleacher Report.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
NBA Power Rankings: Thunder, Lightning and a Rainstorm of Young Superstars
So I haven't been blogging much because the Nets, Jets and Mets suck, but I'm feeling good tonight after a 67-61 Jumpshooters victory over our arch rivals from Franklin Square. Now I'm on a basketball kick. That being said, let's get into my first edition of NBA Power Rankings for the 2011-12 season.
30. Charlotte Bobcats (3-22): Directly from my Twitter account @RedSoxAuthor prior to game one of the NBA regular season: I find it amusing that
The
29. New Orleans Hornets (4-21): We have to cut them some slack because they've been playing without their best player in SG Eric Gordon for (basically) the entire season, but that doesn't change the fact that they're one of the two worst teams in the league at the moment. Rotational players F Carl Landry and PF/C Jason Smith were also recently injured. Things aren't looking good.
28. Washington Wizards (5-20): This franchise needs an organizational overhaul. They have talented performers in PG John Wall, SG Nick Young, PF Andray Blatche and C JaVale McGee, but this team plays nearly unwatchable "team" basketball. Their halfcourt offense is laughable and they have no idea how to secure victories in close games. They need a couple of smart, solid veteran leaders.
27. Detroit Pistons (6-20): They're one of the worst teams in the NBA at full strength, so you can imagine how difficult it's been for them without a legitimate scorer in SG Ben Gordon and three-point maker in F Charlie Villanueva. UConn Crewww.
26. Toronto Raptors (8-18): They need Andrea Bargnani back fast, and at full strength, in order to make a backdoor run at the 8-seed in the East.
25. New Jersey Nets (8-18): My favorite team has heart and a superb coaching staff, but it's tough to win without Brook Lopez, Marshon Brooks, Mehmet Okur and DeShawn Stevenson. Anthony Morrow has missed games of late as well. Right now it's Deron Williams, Kris Humphries and Avery Johnson against the world. (Cue my impression of Avery. You'll have to hear it in person.)
24. Sacramento Kings (9-16): This team has some of the same continuity issues as the aforementioned Wizards. The Kings are a little deeper which leads to a slightly better record, but they need to refine their halfcourt play -- particularly late in games.
23. Golden State Warriors (8-13): I definitely like their big three of SG Monta Ellis, PG Stephen Curry and PF David Lee, but this is the shallowest team in the West. Everything revolves around three players and that's a recipe for disaster in the league's deeper conference.
22. Cleveland Cavaliers (9-14): I'm all the way on the Kyrie Irving bandwagon -- smooth, poised, smart, versatile and effective. I have him in the top-10 point guards already. Also, I have to give Anderson Varejao his due; I can't stand him as a fan, but as an analyst he's a winning player who truly impacts the game on both ends of the court. I'd take him on my Nets or Knicks in a heartbeat.
21. Phoenix Suns (11-14): Coming on of late thanks to the combination of point guard (and leader) Steve Nash and underrated all-around center Marcin Gortat.
20. Milwaukee Bucks (10-14): They're a relatively easy playoff selection with C Andrew Bogut, but they can never seem to keep him on the court. In the long run it'll always be tough with him in and out of the lineup.
19. New York Knicks (10-15): Jeremy "Linsanity" is under way...we'll see how long it lasts. It's easy to assume that he won't continue at this astonishing level, but he's still likely better than Toney Douglas or Mike Bibby as a floor general. Tyson Chandler has been well worth the investment, but Melo (now injured) and Amar'e have been disappointments thus far this season.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves (13-12): There's no question that Rick Adelman is one of the premier head coaches in the NBA, and I'm not surprised that he's taken talented youngsters and turned them into a really competitive group. Consistent with his past teams, Adelman's Wolves are especially adept offensively.
17. Utah Jazz (13-11): If PG Devin Harris wasn't stinking up the gym, this squad would likely be in the top 15. Excellent frontcourt with Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and Derrick Favors.
16. Memphis Grizzlies (12-13): I respect this team's tough, gritty, physical style and they still have a strong top three in C Marc Gasol, SF Rudy Gay and PG Mike Conley -- even without star PF Zach Randolph.
15. Houston Rockets (14-11): PG Kyle Lowry's two-year transition from career back-up to top-tier floor general is most responsible for the Rockets surprising success through 25 games.
14. Orlando Magic (15-10): I think it's hard to argue against Dwight Howard as the best two-way player in the NBA, but there isn't much of a supporting cast here -- it kind of reminds me of LeBron with the Cavs.
F Ryan Anderson has been Orlando's No. 2 performer, but Jameer Nelson and Jason Richardson have struggled mightily. JJ Redick hasn't been as consistent as Stan Van Gundy needs him to be, either.
13. Atlanta Hawks (16-9): They are holding their own for now, but eventually the loss of C Al Horford will catch up to them. Zaza Pachulia is a legitimate back-up center, but Atlanta's offense will suffer over time with Horford out of the mix. Josh Smith is overrated, too.
12. Portland Trail Blazers (14-11): It bothers me that LaMarcus Aldridge hasn't been included in the "best power forwards in the game" discussion with Kevin Love and Blake Griffin, but Aldridge's team has been terrible in close games down the stretch. They need to figure out their late-game identity if they want to box with the big boys.
11. Denver Nuggets (15-10): I love the way George Karl has his guys playing collectively (particularly on the offensive end), but the Danilo Gallinari injury is a killer at this point in time. I have to give the healthier teams the nod right now.
10. Boston Celtics (14-10): After a slow, injury-plagued start, The Big Four are finally back together and Doc Rivers' boys are playing beautiful, fundamentally-sound basketball. I really enjoy watching them when they have their collective rhythm.
9. Dallas Mavericks (14-11): They obviously miss the combination of C Tyson Chandler and PG JJ Barea, but they're still three games above the .500 mark without that duo and injured leader, Jason Kidd. Rick Carlisle's defending champions know how to execute through Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry when it matters. That's worth an awful lot.
8. Los Angeles Lakers (14-11): They have no depth like the aforementioned Wizards and Warriors, but they do have Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. That's more than enough sometimes. Kobe's MVP right now.
7. Indiana Pacers (17-7): I doubt they'll be better than the Celtics, Mavs and Lakers in the long run, but the Pacers do boast a strong talent pool with a number of highly competent players. Their starting lineup -- Darren Collison, Paul George, Danny Granger, David West and Roy Hibbert -- is well balanced and carefully constructed, and there's usefulness on the bench in Tyler Hansbrough, Dahntay Jones, A.J. Price and Louis Amundson.
6. Philadelphia 76ers (18-7): Very similar to the Pacers, in the sense that they have depth and roster versatility. I'm a Lou Williams guy as well.
5. San Antonio Spurs (17-9): Gregg Popovich is the Bill Belichick of the NBA. No Manu Ginobili for awhile...who cares? Pop coaches them to victory anyway.
4. Los Angeles Clippers (15-7): Losing SG Chauncey Billups for the season is rough; luckily the Clippers have a very capable fill-in in G Randy Foye. Mo Williams will continue to provide a spark and scoring off the bench, while Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Caron Butler put on a show as starters. This club's chemistry is developing rapidly. They're scary good at times.
3. Chicago Bulls (21-6)
At full strength, I believe the Bulls are the best team in the NBA. I love their motion offense, tenacious defense and overall depth, so the only problem right now is Derrick Rose. He's now sidelined for the second time already this season, and his fearless approach to the game is beginning to worry me. The Heat can completely hold their own if Dwyane Wade goes down while attacking the rim, but it's far more difficult for the Bulls.
Rose needs to pace himself better during the regular season, in an effort to protect his team's postseason and championship chances. If he's out there and fully healthy in the playoffs, Tom Thibodeau's Bulls are the favorite to me.
2. Miami Heat (19-6)
I'll be pretty shocked if the Bulls and Heat don't meet in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Heat are showcasing superior chemistry in their second season as the most talked about team in the NBA, and Mario Chalmers has emerged as Erik Spoelstra's legitimate fourth option. The identity is there right now -- they're going to be awfully tough to beat.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (20-5)
I'm going with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden at the top spot, not only because they currently boast the best record in the game, but also because they have an easier path to the NBA Finals than the Bulls or Heat.
The Bulls and Heat will almost certainly have to deal with each other, whereas the Thunder are the clear favorite to come out of the West. They are young, hungry, long, athletic, skilled and determined. They're closing games extremely well and opposing teams don't seem to have an answer for Durant/Westbrook/Harden when they're on the court at the same time. They're incredibly entertaining, too.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
2012: The Year I Stopped Caring About Sports?
I never imagined I'd write such a blasphemous title, but it may very well be true. I just don't care too much about sports right now. Maybe I'm just fed up.
I can't stand the people who are calling for the end of the Rex Ryan/Mark Sanchez Era after one mediocre, 8-8 season. I've been watching the Jets for over 20 years and we've been to three AFC Championship games during that time span -- two of those appearances came within the three seasons of the Ryan/Sanchez regime. Can fans stop overreacting and have a little patience?
I don't think Ryan is a football mastermind, and I don't think Sanchez is a superstar quarterback in the making, but I do know the duo has won a respectable amount of tough, gritty games in the past three years. I'm more than willing to give them a couple more seasons to work things out, and hopefully get us headed back to championship caliber football.
The rest of the Jets fans don't seem to be into that.
Meanwhile, Santonio Holmes is a punk and Plaxico Burress is old and slow. The Jets need to replace their entire receiving corps with the exception of slot man Jeremy Kerley.
In the end, the annoying, impatient Jets fans make me not care much at all. Find some perspective, people.
Then there's my crappy Mets. The Jets have brutally impatient fans and players who throw each other under the bus, and the Mets have no money and a professional liar as a GM.
Sandy Alderson knows what he's doing as a general manager, make no mistake about that; unfortunately that description includes his ability to deceive fans with tricky lingo and empty promises. Last week there was a report that an anonymous Met said Alderson's "turning New York into Oakland," and that certainly seems to be the case. I'm not blaming Alderson for the lack of pizzazz on our current Mets roster -- I know I can blame the Wilpons for their financial failures -- but Sandy never gives it to us straight. He never comes out and says, "We have no chance to be a player in the races for any of the major free agents, at any position."
I wish he would just put us out of our collective miseries. Just tell we poor Mets fans that we have absolutely no shot to win for a long, long time because of a complete and utter financial disaster.
That way I won't have to watch the games. I don't think I'll watch much anyway this upcoming season.
Last season GM Billy King pulled off an impact deal that netted franchise PG Deron Williams, but now the guy can't really make a shot. He was shooting around 45-46% FG for his impressive career in Utah, then he comes to the swamp and consistently shoots around 37%. Go figure.
This offseason it seemed like we had a legitimate shot to pair all-world center Dwight Howard with D-Will, but alas, it wasn't meant to be. The package that featured C Brook Lopez and two first-round picks wasn't enough to seal the deal prior to the season, and once the season was ready to get under way, Lopez went down with a devastating foot injury. Even if he returns sometime during the second half, the Magic aren't going to want damaged goods in exchange for (in my opinion) the best two-way player in the NBA.
Not only will we not get Dwight, but we'll also lose Deron at the deadline or after the season. He'll sign elsewhere and shoot 46% again. Yay.
I know it's bad when the Islanders are my favorite team to watch.
The Islanders are, and have been, one of the worst teams in the NHL for quite some time now. And yet, in the past few months I've preferred watching them over the Jets, Nets and Knicks.
Why? I don't know. Generally speaking I much prefer basketball and football to hockey, but at least the Islanders have some young, hungry players who have pride in their profession.
John Tavares is easily my favorite local athlete these days because he's an extremely hard worker who is also immensely talented. He doesn't simply sit on his talent to see how far his natural ability can take him, instead he busts his ass and develops his all-around game on a nightly basis. Not to mention the fact that he's the textbook definition of a team player. I think the concept of "team play" is most important in hockey and basketball, so Tavares' unselfish style suits his sport of choice. Things haven't gone according to plan this season (many projected the young Islanders as a breakout team on the rise), but I do believe this group will reach its potential within the next few years.
John Tavares is easily my favorite local athlete these days because he's an extremely hard worker who is also immensely talented. He doesn't simply sit on his talent to see how far his natural ability can take him, instead he busts his ass and develops his all-around game on a nightly basis. Not to mention the fact that he's the textbook definition of a team player. I think the concept of "team play" is most important in hockey and basketball, so Tavares' unselfish style suits his sport of choice. Things haven't gone according to plan this season (many projected the young Islanders as a breakout team on the rise), but I do believe this group will reach its potential within the next few years.
P.A. Parenteau is an excellent distributor, Matt Moulson is a legitimate finisher, Kyle Okposo has all-around ability, Michael Grabner possesses blinding speed, Nino Niederreiter is considered one of the top prospects in the game, Ryan Strome is on the way, and Travis Hamonic and Milan Jurcina are a pair of promising defensemen.
Still, I don't have the natural love of hockey that I have for both baseball and basketball. Eh, I don't feel like rambling anymore. You get the idea. My teams suck and I've had enough of it. I have better things to do with my time. Hopefully.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Christmas Day in the NBA: Santa Claus Delivers Superstars In Top Form
I'm so glad the NBA is back...
I don't think I could have endured another minute of hockey. I hope everyone's holidays have been triumphant successes, but let's cease the celebrating for a moment and get down to business...
When the Knicks were up 17 in this one, I really thought they were going to pull away with it -- and shame on me for that. I should know Doc Rivers' Celtics better than that by now; they don't roll over for anyone, especially Mike D'Antoni's Knicks.
With top scorer and emotional leader Paul Pierce injured and out of the lineup, the less explosive Celtics stormed back into a game that appeared to be slipping away. Point guard Rajon Rondo was simply outstanding, and newly-acquired power forward Brandon Bass was doin' work in the paint.
Bass outworked Tyson Chandler, Jared Jeffries, Renaldo Balkman and Amar'e Stoudemire on the glass, and also served as one of Boston's leading scorers.
The Celtics fought back from 17 down to take a double-digit lead at one point, but the Knicks also refused to quit. Most of the credit for the Knicks' resiliency has to go to superstar Carmelo Anthony, who finished with 37 points and the majority of New York's clutch buckets.
The Knicks squeaked out a two-point opening victory and Melo was the hero, but they lost rookie Iman Shumpert and Jeffries to injuries in the process. We'll see what kind of effect this has on D'Antoni's bench in the coming games. Overall it wasn't pretty for the Knicks...but a win's a win.
The Celtics fought back from 17 down to take a double-digit lead at one point, but the Knicks also refused to quit. Most of the credit for the Knicks' resiliency has to go to superstar Carmelo Anthony, who finished with 37 points and the majority of New York's clutch buckets.
The Knicks squeaked out a two-point opening victory and Melo was the hero, but they lost rookie Iman Shumpert and Jeffries to injuries in the process. We'll see what kind of effect this has on D'Antoni's bench in the coming games. Overall it wasn't pretty for the Knicks...but a win's a win.
Miami Heat @ Dallas Mavericks
I don't think there's any question that the Heat are on a mission this season. Both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade came out flying yesterday, and Rick Carlisle's defending-champion Mavs had no answer for the dynamic duo's skill and athleticism.
Erik Spoelstra's boys put a beating on the Mavs, and it was no fluke. The Mavs aren't the same team without two of their most explosive players in Tyson Chandler and JJ Barea. Yesterday they looked slow, old and un-athletic. They'll certainly be a playoff team but may not win their stacked division that includes the Grizzlies, Spurs, Rockets and Hornets.
One of the keys for the Heat was the smooth outside shooting of SF James Jones. We know what Miami can (and will) get from LeBron, Wade and Chris Bosh, but when perimeter guys like Jones, Shane Battier and Mike Miller are knocking down open looks, this team is nearly impossible to guard.
If the Heat stay healthy they're the best team in the NBA. It's a no-brainer.
Chicago Bulls @ Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers completely outplayed the Bulls in this one...and lost. Ouch. I've been quick to point out the Lakers' weaknesses this season but they impressed me -- without suspended starting center Andrew Bynum -- in yesterday's opener.
Kobe Bryant was spectacular, but that's hardly ever surprising. The pleasant surprises were SF Devin Ebanks, PF Josh McRoberts, PF Troy Murphy, PG Steve Blake and G Andrew Goudelock.
The Lakers brass has been talking up Ebanks since he was drafted, and he did a nice job as a sneaky starter at the small forward position. I like head coach Mike Brown's decision to go with Ebanks over veteran Matt Barnes. These Lakers need more youth and potential explosiveness.
McRoberts and Murphy played solidly as they collectively gobbled the minutes that would have belonged to Bynum. Both will have bench roles when Bynum returns from injury, but they'll likely end up battling one another for time. Blake (who I'm not a huge fan of) played a more well-rounded game than usual, and I was impressed with Goudelock's beautiful shooting form and touch. I didn't know much about him heading into the game.
As for the victorious Bulls, they didn't play particularly well but I believe they're one of the top three teams in the NBA. I love their bench with C.J. Watson, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, Taj Gibson and Omer Asik. I think that bench, as a starting lineup, would give the true starters on the Bobcats, Cavs, Warriors and Raptors trouble (to name a handful).
MVP Derrick Rose's jumper looked smooth and effortless. If he maintains the form he showcased in the opener, he's going to be in for an even bigger season than the last. Newly-acquired SG Richard Hamilton seemed out of sorts, but I'm sure he and Rose will figure it out over time. Credit Tom Thibodeau's defense for clamping down in the final three minutes and allowing themselves the opportunity to get back into the game offensively. Rose capped the win with his patented, running one-hander in the lane.
Needless to say, the Lakers and their fans were absolutely stunned.
Orlando Magic @ Oklahoma City Thunder
No surprises in this one. The Magic, a franchise in total disarray, couldn't have been expected to go into the hostile OKC environment and pull out a victory over one of the premier teams in the league. A Magic win simply wasn't plausible.
Stan Van Gundy's bunch got off to a blistering hot start in the opening seven minutes, but it was mostly downhill from there. The Magic are Dwight Howard and a group of average players, whereas the Thunder showcase dynamic young talent in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka.
Durant was spectacular yesterday, and this is just one blemish in what's going to be a long, hard, frustrating season for Orlando.
Chris Paul was just toying with the Warriors last night. It was pretty obvious. The deeper, more talented Clippers allowed the shallow, limited Warriors to hang around for most of the evening, but when Los Angeles wanted control of the game...they took it.
CP3 spent most of the game trying to keep PF Blake Griffin, SG Chauncey Billups and SF Caron Butler involved, but when the Clippers needed timely hoops down the stretch, CP3 was their man. He hit four consecutive shots from the floor in the fourth quarter, essentially demolishing Mark Jackson's hopes and dreams in his professional coaching debut. He's in for a long rookie season as a coach. It's pretty clear that the Warriors are going to be one of the thinnest and weakest teams in the NBA.
For more of my thoughts on this game, check out my updates on Twitter @RedSoxAuthor. Happy New Year, all.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
L.A. Confidential: Are the Lakers Quietly Falling From Grace?
I know it's a (supposedly) meaningless preseason game, but the Lakers look absolutely awful against the Clippers right now. As I type they're trailing 96-74 with nine minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
Over the course of the past few days I've come to an eye-opening realization: The current Lakers are literally a three-man team: SG Kobe Bryant, PF Pau Gasol and C Andrew Bynum. Keep in mind, the Lakers got embarrassed and swept out of the playoffs last season with Lamar Odom and Phil Jackson.
Now they have Troy Murphy and Mike Brown.
"Showtime" fans have to have a gag reaction to the preceding sentence. I have a gag reaction, and I could care less about the success (or possible lack thereof) of this year's Lakers. I'm going to keep it short and sweet -- this team has no depth, a major downgrade at the head coaching position and a third-best player (Bynum) who gets hurt every season.
I don't see any upside here. The Odom trade was a real head-scratcher. Kill your second unit and give him to the team (Dallas Mavericks) that swept you out of the postseason?
Are you feeling okay, Mitch Kupchak?
Watching them play tonight -- no rhythm, explosiveness, cohesion, versatility -- I honestly feel bad that the Chris Paul trade fell through. Independent of this preseason game (as ugly as it has been), I view the Lakers as no better than a five seed in the West. Fifth may even be a little generous.
I'm confident that the Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies will be the top teams in the West. The second tier includes the San Antonio Spurs, Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers and Lakers.
I wouldn't be completely shocked if the Lakers finished seventh. They need to add depth and raw talent. Kobe's going to have nights where he feels like he's playing with Smush Parker and Kwame Brown again.
So what does this all mean? Well, I can guarantee one thing for you right now...
There is no way -- constructed as they are at this very moment -- that the Lakers can win the NBA Championship this season. You can book that.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Todd Haley Gets the Ax: That and More Tuesday Night Randomness
I have a handful of things I'd like to touch on and, well, I don't feel like any of them require their own, personal post. And away we go...
1. Todd Haley's Firing
Am I the only one who gets really frustrated when head football coaches get canned amidst hopeless circumstances?
I mean seriously, what the hell is Todd Haley supposed to do with Tyler Palko under center and Jamaal Charles out for the season?
He has a quarterback who would be lucky to be considered average in the Arena Football League (does it even exist anymore?), and two of his best players -- Charles and S Eric Berry -- didn't even get a chance to make an impact this season. Charles played in one full game and Berry missed them all.
It's funny because I actually thought Haley was having one of the better coaching seasons in the league. After Kansas City fell to 0-3 in ugly fashion, I thought they'd be lucky to win two games the entire year. But Haley eventually led them to the .500 mark (albeit briefly) and their current 5-8 record is hardly embarrassing given their devastating injuries.
Haley's a good football coach. He was considered an offensive genius during his tenure as OC in Arizona; he's fiery and sticks up for his players. He shouldn't have any problem latching on elsewhere as an assistant.
2. Jim Leonhard's Season-Ending Injury
C'mon, enough with the rah-rah crap. There was a two-page spread about the "impact" of Leonhard's injury in Monday's Daily News.
Really, two pages for a laughably undersized safety who has made two or three explosive plays the entire season?
I'd rather have a long, athletic safety who is a legitimate playmaker than a "leader" who gets toasted and run over by bigger and stronger opponents. Leonhard's greatest asset to the Jets is actually his ability to catch punts. Joe McKnight, Antonio Cromartie and Jeremy Kerley don't seem to be able to do that.
Leonhard is a good "team guy" but his replacement Brodney Pool is actually a better football player. Gang Green won't be missing much here...I'm sorry.
3. Frans Nielsen and Michael Grabner
At least a few people have to be thinking..."who the hell are these two guys?"
I know, I can't believe it either -- I'm writing about hockey again.
Well I've been watching the Islanders because the Knicks and Nets haven't been around, and I'm getting awfully frustrated with both Nielsen and Grabner. The Islanders "A" line of John Tavares, Matt Moulson and P.A. Parenteau has been outstanding and basically carries the team on a nightly basis, but the "B" line featuring Nielsen and Grabner has been a complete and utter disappointment.
Nielsen was a "Fro Guy" last season, showcasing superb stick-handling and nifty moves in the offensive zone. This year he's been good on the penalty kill but sub-par in every other aspect of the game. Grabner was the Islanders best goal scorer a season ago, and this year he's nowhere to be found. Not only is he failing to cash in plays, he's also failing to distribute the puck and successfully assist his teammates.
If the "B" line doesn't get it going (that includes Kyle Okposo even though he's been okay of late), Jack Capuano's squad has no chance to reach the postseason in the Eastern Conference. Another season, another disappointment?
4. Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats
So I was looking over the current rosters in the NBA's Eastern Conference and I got nauseous while examining the Bobcats. Rotoworld says PG D.J. Augustin, SG Gerald Henderson, SF Corey Maggette, PF Derrick Brown and C DeSagana Diop are Charlotte's starters. Yikes. Yeesh.
Kemba Walker, a rookie and UConn family member of mine, could end up being Charlotte's best player this year. Henderson and Maggette are both injury-prone, and Boris Diaw and Diop...well...you know...they both have four-letter last names beginning with "D" and enjoy Taco Bell as an offseason workout.
If Silas knows what's good for him, he'll make Kemba the focal point of the team from the outset. Nothing to lose -- I don't think anyone's expecting this team to win more than 20 games.
I also wanted to touch on Tony Sparano's firing, but I need to sleep. Peace!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
The Holdout Is Over: David Stern Shockingly Vetoes the Chris Paul Trade, and More...
Between the rumors, speculation, actual trades and signings, my friends and I have been in an NBA frenzy the past handful of days.
Let me sort some things out with a team-by-team examination...
New Jersey Nets: My poor Nets. The CP3 trade to the Lakers gets vetoed and L.A. subsequently becomes the frontrunner to land Dwight Howard. We can never seem to catch a break. The Nets have C Brook Lopez and two first round picks on the table -- a reasonable offer -- but the Lakers have more to offer in the combination of PF Pau Gasol and C Andrew Bynum. It seems, at this point, that L.A. is still trying to determine if Gasol and Bynum are too much to part with. I hope general manager Mitch Kupchak decides he'd be getting the short end of the stick, which would keep the Nets and GM Billy King in serious contention for Dwight.
If Dwight ends up in L.A. or Dallas (I think the Mavs are a long shot though), I hope New Jersey lands PF/C Nene Hilario. The Nets have been linked to Nene in many reports, but a plethora of other teams have justified interest in him as well.
If Billy King doesn't pick up Dwight or Nene with the most cap space in the league, I'm going to have a difficult time watching the Nets this season. The next set of possible additions drops off to guys like SFs Andrei Kirilenko and Richard Jefferson. Ugh.
New York Knicks: Is it worth it to add SG Jamal Crawford if they have to subtract G Toney Douglas? I'm not entirely sure. Crawford is superior to Douglas, but not by an awful lot. Crawford is one of the premier ballhandlers in the NBA and he's a more skillful passer than Douglas, but he doesn't look to pass very often. "JCross" is (and always has been) a shoot-first player. And there's nothing wrong with that, as long as Crawford's head coach utilizes him correctly. Larry Drew and the Hawks had the right idea using JCross as his sixth man and leader of Atlanta's second unit.
If the Knicks can add Crawford without losing Douglas -- which is obviously their preferred scenario -- it will be interesting to see how head coach Mike D'Antoni handles New York's backcourt rotation. He would have Crawford, Douglas, newly-acquired Mike Bibby and Landry Fields for two starting spots. Of course there's a possibility that Fields gets included in a sign-and-trade for Crawford.
As far as the C Tyson Chandler signing goes, he's a perfect fit for the Knicks. New York added explosive offense in Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire last season, but they clearly lacked a strong defensive presence in the paint. Chandler will be that guy, and he's also well-equipped to run with D'Antoni's wide-open offense. Chandler is long, lean, athletic and an explosive open court finisher. Outstanding pick-up for New York.
New Orleans Hornets: David Stern is delusional. SG Kevin Martin, PF Luis Scola, F Lamar Odom, PG Goran Dragic and a first round pick aren't enough for one player?
I understand that the one player, Chris Paul, is one of the top 10 players in the NBA, but it can be argued that Martin, Scola and Odom are all within the top 35-to-40. Martin is one of the premier scorers in the game, Scola is a tough, skilled power forward and we all know Odom is as versatile as they come. Dragic has a good reputation around the league as a lightning quick, up-and-coming point guard with some nice, natural ability.
I actually believe that the Hornets franchise would be in better shape with those four players (and the first round pick) than CP3 by his lonesome. Maybe that's just me, but I'm not devaluing the quality of that package simply because Martin, Scola and Odom don't have the "superstar" label.
Los Angeles Lakers: I've already discussed the Dwight Howard possibilities, but what if the CP3 deal went through? Would they definitely be better by adding Paul and subtracting both Gasol and Odom? That would leave the injury-prone Bynum as their only impact player in the paint. I love the idea of Kobe and CP3 playing side-by-side, but if Bynum went down (as he generally does) the Lakers' once-powerful frontcourt would be non-existent. It would have been a risky trade for Kupchak. Paul is injury-prone as well.
Dallas Mavericks: Lost Chandler and will likely lose JJ Barea, but added Odom and likely Vince Carter. They've downgraded but at least they aren't standing pat. It will certainly be difficult for them to repeat without Chandler and Barea who were clearly two of Rick Carlisle's most valuable players. It's going to be tough, but worst comes to worst, they still have last season's championship to cure any and all ills.
More to come whenever I have the urge.
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