The NBA GURU Panel

I Am Not Doing An Interview Right Now

2012-05-09T14:33:00.002-07:00

You have to love Rondo's tenacity on and off the court. The guy does not allow anyone to push him around. He does the pushing as we all know with his Game 2 suspension. As feisty as Rondo is, he is not very intimating as the reporter films Rondo despite Rondo telling him not to. The reporter continues to film even when Rondo gets in his face. Watching the Celtics, it is easy to point out Rondo's loud, high voice. Rondo is in the spotlight. HAHAHA Rondo is hilarious!

Miami vs New York

2012-04-28T16:18:00.000-07:00

Prediction on winning series: Heat win series in 5 games. Heat: 65% Knicks: 35% PG: Mario Chalmers PG: Baron Davis SG: Dwyane Wade SG: Iman Shumpert SF: LeBron James SF: Carmelo Anthony PF: Udonis Haslem PF: Amar'e Stoudemire C: Chris Bosh C: Tyson Chandler .Heat has been to this stage and had some success (Wade winning a title) and the rest of the crew getting to the NBA Finals last season. So this post season shouldnt be anything different from what they've already experienced from other years as they already know what needs to be done to have to return to th finals. As the Heat do not really have much of a bench they are going to primarily reply on their stars for majority of the points. We know what LeBron and Wade can do from what has been done in the past but if Miami wants a legit chance at claiming the title they'll need CONSISTENT play from Chris Bosh. One could only think that the main reason why Miami has a chance at actally claiming this year's title is the number of games played this season is far shorter then normal. So a team that utilizes their stars for 90% of their offense that would normally wear down ataround 75 games or exactly at seasons end now has enough energy and explosion to carry themselves far into this years playoffs. KnicksNew York have been riddled with injuries all season. Amar'e Stoudemire (recently back), Carmelo Anthony, Jeremy Lin (still injured), Iman Shumpert (injury today) along with a couple others. However, Carmelo and compan have been red hot especially during the month of April while Melo averaged over 30PPG in the month of April. As they face off against the Heat the odds looked to be on their side as there interior defense (Amar'e and Chandler) and offense (only Amar'e) would cause problems for the dash and pass offense in Miami. Carmelo on the wing matching up against LeBron is goint to be a very intriguing matchup as both players are pure scorers who can put the ball in the basket almost at will. Jeremy Lin being out doesn't suite well with the Knicks as he [Lin] could potentially take advantage of the poor PG position in Miami. When it comes down to it, the Knicks are going to need to be on the top of their game as they appear to be a little short handed early on in this series but the possibilty of an upset is very likely. Final say: The star power meter is at full strength in South Beach and the odds look to be slightly in favor for the Heat crew.

Playoff Time

2012-04-28T15:16:00.001-07:00

The 2012 Playoff have kicked off and it features a few teams that have not seen the playoff stage in quite some time (Pacers, Clippers, Philidelphia). Which team do you think is going to prevail? There is a lot of hunger in this years Playoffs, more than normal, as LeBron James and the Heat fight for another chance at the title. The "original" big three in Boston would like to notch another title for the ever so winning Celtics franchise. Kobe Bryant along with the two bigs down low have fought off criticism all season that they weren't capable of even getting to the playoffs. So as we kick off Playoff Saturday today lets take a more indepth look at what we can expect this year and what my predictions are each match-up. Which players will rise and which players will fall? Lets get to it as we look at every teams chance.

To Play or Not To Play?

2012-04-25T13:59:00.003-07:00

Do you remember when Ginobili broke his arm in the last game of the 2011 regular season? It was a meaningless game as the Spurs already locked up the first seed and Phoenix was already eliminated from playoff contention. Yet Popovich decided to play the Big 3 despite resting them the night before against the Lakers. Why would he do such a thing? The answer is to remain sharp and avoid rust.

This year the Spurs face the same situation, that is end the regular season with two meaningless games. The difference is last year the Spurs were struggling down the stretch losing 8 of their last 12 games and this year the Spurs are the hottest team in basketball. Like he has done all season, Popovich must continue his balancing act and decide if the risk of possibly losing a key player to injury is worth keeping the team sharp.

In my opinion, Popovich should rest his stars just to make sure history does not repeat itself. If the Big 3 play, the worst case scenario is that they lose a key member of the team to an injury. On the other hand, the worst case scenario is the team loses some momentum heading into the playoffs and not sharp to start their series versus Utah or Denver. To me the answer is simple, the Big 3 should rest and avoid all risk as they gear up for a championship run.

Pop please rest your stars and do not do anything stupid to hurt the team's chance at a title.

That was edited right?

2012-04-21T14:03:00.002-07:00

I've seen a lot of good passes in my day ranging from behind the back passes to alley-oop passes. The one I saw with Manu Ginobli threading the needle inside the paint to an anxious Bonner waiting for the ball to lay in, is one of the best passes I've seen in a long time. I thought it had to be edited you cant even see the ball moving he threw it so hard. After over exaggerating the one handed bullet pass I realized that has to be a top 10 play of the year nominee.

Just watching it all unfold you'd think it was a play; Tiago Splitter gets the offensive board kicks it to Manu and he send it's immediately inside with a laser beam throw (left handed I must add) to Bonner for the easy 2. The fluidity of the play was just astounding but I'm not quite sure if I'd give it the overall number one pass I've seen. I think Jason Williams elbow pass (if that even makes any sense) in the 2000 rookie game might be my personal favorite. Check it out.

Both passes were fun to watch and goes to show dunks don't always make the highlights. I know there are a ton of other great passes made by a lot of other people in the past and during this season, however, these two happen to be my personal favorite.

Visit next week for our countdown of the top ten plays of the regular season.

Sell out Saturday! (NBA by the Day)

2012-04-21T04:54:00.001-07:00

Drum roll please (insert whatever noise you associate with a drum). Selling Travis Outlaw (SF) of the Sacramento Kings!

Sacramento lost Friday night to Oklahoma by 11 points and I must say Travis Outlaw had no part in helping the team in anyway, regain momentum to overthrow the Thunder. I mean we knew the chances of the Kings winning against a feisty Thunder team in seek of the first place spot in the west was no easy task, but they actually had a shot this game. Maybe things would have changed if Outlaws 27 minutes were to go elsewhere.

Travis Outlaw had 27 minutes. 0/6 shooting the ball with 4 rebounds and one point. That's right one point. I understand the NBA always has tough defense but in all honesty I think I could have tallied up more points then that (anyone a fan of half court shots?)

I could show his highlight of this game if your interested in wasting 12.6 seconds of your life but I'll save you the trouble. You can spend your time doing other things like perfecting that half court shot eh?!

Season averages: MPG 11.4 PPG 3.6 RPG 1.4 APG 0.4

Anyways, the award for Sell out Saturday goes to Travis Outlaw. Let's hope we don't see another abysmal performance from him again in this short season.

Tis' the Season to be Injured.

2012-04-20T18:36:00.001-07:00

Unfortunately with the season being affected by the lockout and the season being significantly reduced to 66 games, numerous players have found it hard to stay healthy while enduring this years strenuous schedule.

Currently, there is a total of 79 players injured in the NBA and no team is excluded from this horrific stat. This season has plagued many teams by keeping key players off the court and on the bench making planning and player rotations hard to keep stable.

Durable players like Dwight Howard, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant had to sit out games in order to rest the minor injuries they've acquired over the course of the season. The most recent and unfortunate news being that Dwight Howard is out for the remainder of the season to have his back operate on for a herniated and bulging disk. This should really put into perspective how rough this season truly is. He relies purely on his athleticism and size to make moves in the low post, so hopefully having a serious injury and operation for a player who seeks contact won't disrupt his game in the future.

The only time we see these players is on the court. We all need to take into consideration the workouts they do to get stronger, the practices they try to squeeze in before a game to get on the same page, and the travel time for their away games all take a toll.

Just as my fellow writer Rick Bartra posted in his article below, the intensity of games played from now on are on the rise as the playoffs creep closer. I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say I want to see every team play with all of their players healthy to see the true potential of each team.

For example the Golden State Warriors were forced to start four rookies while Nate Robinson (PG), David Lee (PF), Andrew Bogut (C), Stephen Curry (PG), and Andris Biedrins (C) were all watching from the bench in their tailored suits.

Defenses are always far greater in the playoffs than they are in the regular season and what comes along with feisty defenses is a lot of injuries. Who knows maybe the team that has the best chance of winning the finals is the team who is the healthiest. Bosh and Wade being out for a little time this season could potentially be beaten by a team like the Pacers who've adapted surprisingly quite well to Darren Collison's absence.

A team like New York, while missing Jeremy Lin, (Amar'e expected back next week) can upend the Rose-less Bulls in Chicago. Yes I know, statistically it looks like Chicago is better off without Rose, but I doubt any team is truly "better off" without their reigning MVP.

Only time can tell and the time is almost here as we all prepare for what we've been waiting for since Christmas, Playoff Basketball.

Sources:
1.http://www.betinf.com/nba_injured.htm
2.http://cache.heraldinteractive.com/blogs/sports/rap_sheet/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/red-cross-logo565.png

Tensions Flair As Playoffs Approach

2012-04-20T13:16:00.002-07:00

Indiana Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks

As the NBA regular season hits its final stretch, teams are battling for playoff position and are playing for their lives. Yesterday's games provides a taste of what lies ahead in the playoffs, given proof by three ejections- Larry Sanders, James Jones, and Robin Lopez. With a week left in the regular season, teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, and the Houston Rockets are essentially playing games with a playoff-like intensity.

As a huge NBA fan, I love to see players playing with emotion, especially when there is a lot on the line. Games played between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets and New Orleans Hornets, Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls, and the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Clippers showed fans what playoff basketball is all about as tensions flaired to irregular levels.

With Milwaukee slipping from the playoff race, Larry Sanders decided to take his frustrations out on the Indiana Pacers. After bulldozing through Danny Granger, Saunders was confronted by George Hill and other Pacer players unwilling to let Saunder intimidate them. Fortunately for the Pacers, they have an enforcer for these kind of situations- David West. West had to be restrained as he was going to show that he was not going to let Mr. Sanders show up his playoff bound team.

Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Clippers

Out in Phoenix, physical play was also in play as the Suns battled the Los Angeles Clippers, as the Suns are determined to lock in the eight seed in what can be Steve Nash's last season in Phoenix. Fighting for their playoff lives, the Suns stepped up to the plate and pulled out a much needed victory.

Unfortunately, for the Clippers they experienced more than a regular season loss as the Suns provided yet more proof that Blake Griffin is unable to carry his team on his back late in games. Furthermore, Griffin's psyche must be in disarray as he has more evidence to believe that he is a target of hard fouls especially as he tries to posterize opponents. With the Clippers up by three in the middle of the fourth quarter, Mo Williams dished a behind the back pass to Griffin who went up for another poster, but met strong resistance as Robin Lopez met him midair and essentially pulled him down by the neck. Undoubtedly, Lopez's play was completely uncalled for and does not belong in the game. The problem with the Clippers is that Griffin's teammates are not matching their opponent's "dirty" play towards Griffin. I completely agree with Charles Barkley's assessment stating that "you cannot be a punching bag." The Clippers have the personal to mix things up if teams continue to attack Griffin, so hopefully Kenyon Martin, DeAndre Jordan, or Reggie Evans steps up to the plate and defend Griffin in the playoffs because quite frankly Chris Paul is too small for that role.

Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls

In Miami, the Bulls and Heat added another page to their new rivalry as James Jones was ejected for throwing his elbows in Joakim Noah's face and Dwyane received a technical for throwing down Richard Hamilton. Additionally, John Lucas III was blindsided by a vicious, but clean, backcourt screen set by Lebron James. Although stars Derrick Rose and Chris Bosh did not play, this exhibition game is definitely a sign of things to come as the Bulls and Heat are likely in a collision course in the Eastern Conference. As a fan of the game, you have to love the bad blood between the two teams especially the way Noah loves to run his mouth.

In a less physical but equally important game, the Houston Rockets fells to the New Orleans Hornets in overtime marking their sixth loss in a row. Once comfortably sitting at the sixth seed, the Rockets are on the outside looking in trying to grab the last playoff spot in the West. You can argue that the Rockets are not worthy of a playoff spot since they lost to the Hornets in essentially a "must win" game, but the Hornets have been playing some good basketball with the return of Eric Gordon to the lineup.

The NBA Playoffs are right around the corner, and if they are like the action we saw on April 19th, fans better hang on for a fun ride. Watch any regular season game in the next week and you will see that the stakes are high, the intensity has raised, and Playoff basketball is here.

I think the Miami Dolphins found a new WR!

2012-04-19T06:20:00.000-07:00

In the event that LeBron decides to hang the shoes up and pull the cleats off the shelf that is.

The past few weeks Toronto has played exceptionally well beating a few contenders but last night just wasn't their day as Miami took it to them and came away with the win. In the process, LeBron shows off his old high school football skills as he snags a full court pass to lay it in as time expired. Most have either known he played football in highschool or even seen his highlights. We should all remember the Kevin Durant and LeBron charity flag football game when there was a possibility of no NBA this season. Until that day happens I guess he will stay busy making highlights on the hardwood and there were a few parts during this game that had some very highlight worthy plays which would keep any fan on their feet, regardless of the opponent.

Some had to think in the month of March when the Heat slumped a bit and LeBron had a slight decrease in his numbers that Kevin Durant had a prime chance to snag the MVP title. As of late, he (LeBron) has shown his normal tenacity when attacking the rim and his jump shot making him my new favorite to win the prestigious award.

Its a close race but unfortunately, for one of these players, one won't make the finish line.

Frozen In Time?

2012-04-18T21:59:00.002-07:00

Just in case you missed it, Tony Parker literally froze Steve Blake on a fastbreak drive. Now, Steve Blake is not the most athletic guard, but still he was humiliated on that Tony Parker crossover. Even the Staples Center crowd was in "ahhh."

Yeah the Spurs get the reputation of being old, so notoriously Parker is also deemed old. He calls his old label, "old by association" - that is by playing with Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan, whom are 34 and 35 years old respectively. So all this nonsense of Parker being old is outrageous. He is only 29 years old, even though he has been in Silver and Black for 11 years. Afterall, an "old" man would not be able to freeze a very capable point guard like Tony Parker did in the Spurs dominant victory over the Lakers.

Unfortunately, Tony Parker will not recieve many votes for MVP given that he is in a "small market" called San Antonio. But like Parker says, if the Big Three won 4 titles in a large market like New York, they would be considered "basketball gods." Parker will have to continue to wow the league like he has all season, just to be recognized despite being a legit MVP candidate. Shout out to Tony Parker for not only freezing Steve Blake, but also seemingly freezing the ageless Spurs.
TP 4 MVP for 5 titles. 4+5= 9 TP.

Where's the Love?

2012-04-17T23:11:00.000-07:00

Kevin Love that is.

Mall of America, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Timberwolves. Let's be honest, what does Minnesota have to offer? Bitter cold weather that is bone chilling? No beaches like places in California or Florida have to boast about. No heavy media attention like Los Angeles and New York have that some players envy. They do however have a 23 year old PF who should be getting way more attention then he's currently.

Pau Gasol is yesterday's news while we take a more in depth look into a player that has the potential and skill set to be one of the best (that's right one of the best) PF to ever play the game.

Kevin Love is averaging 26 PPG and 13 RPG and is currently number 4 in the race for the scoring title and his most recent unfortunate injury is dwindling his chances. Tied with Kevin Durant in 3 pointers averaged in a game whom he beat in the three point contest. Second in the league in rebounds. He's a big guy who can step back and hit the big three and has the footwork of a shooting guard when he is working in the low post. Excited to see what he can do in the passing game once a little help is brought into town. 23 years of age and attempting to lead a team from the depths of the NBA's worst teams in recent years to be a contender for a title. His disposition on the court shows his maturity level and the respect he has for the game. His work ethic is of a person fighting to make the 12 man squad. He is the next best thing, we are currently a witness to his potential. So why is it that a soft player like Pau Gasol, attitude ridden Andrew Bynum and childish Dwight Howard always the talk of trade rumors or big plays?

Look at his supporting cast that he has in Minnesota and all that I can see is a very near future Mega Star. The numbers he is able to put up while facing relentless double teams and defenses that have him as the main piece and you can't help but be amazed at this season feats.

Photo Source: http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/images/photos/001/632/124/141206132_crop_650x440.jpg?1332950577

The Luck of the Irish?

2012-04-10T20:29:00.006-07:00

Do the Boston Celtics have one more post-season run left in them? With two convincing wins over the Miami Heat, it appears that the Celtics are as dangerous as ever. Given that Miami and Chicago have struggled of late, it would be foolish to count the Celtics out. When looking at the Eastern Conference, it appears that the Celtics and Knicks are peaking at the right time while the Bulls, Heat, Magic, and Sixers are declining. The East is as open as ever, as the Bulls seems that they can not stay healthy with reigning MVP Derek Rose coming in and out of the lineup and Richard Hamilton not meeting high expectations. The Heat on the other hand, do not seem as untouchable as everyone deemed they would be when the stars aligned in Miami.

So why not Boston? It is true that any chance they might have depends on the health of the trio of aging superstars, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen while Rajon Rondo orchestrates the offense and is essentially the head of the Celtic snake. If they can stay healthy, they are capable of hanging with the likes of the Bulls and Heat as they showed tonight by defeating the Heat in Miami, which is not an easy task. The Celtics may lack frontcourt depth, but it is not like Miami is dominating in the post anyways and Chicago only has one legit post scorer in Boozer. Furthermore, Celtic fans must be ecstatic about the development of Avery Bradley, a tenacious guard capable of slowing down stars Dwayne Wade and Derek Rose, is playing with supreme confidence which has allowed him to excel on both defense and offense.

Miami and Chicago are definitely the favorites in the East, but the Celtics remain a threat as they are peaking at the right time. With the luck of the Irish, do not be surprised if Boston makes one last run at a championship.

Apparently there isnt an "All" in Dallas

2012-04-10T10:06:00.000-07:00

Lamar Odom inactive for remainder of the season.

Its no secret that winning back to back titles in the NBA or in any sport at that is no easy task, however, before the start of this season the defending NBA World Champions Dallas Mavericks were able to acquire Lamar Odom (star sixth man) from the Lakers. This seem to make their chances of repeating all that more possible, but from the get go Odom was displeased to be traded from his beloved city in Los Angeles. Averaging a mere 6 PPG and 4 RPG its quite easy to see that the productivity level just isn't there.

This is a time of the year where teams are making that final push to make the playoffs or increase there rankings amongst the top, and its sad to see a player with talent that would be able to help a team like Dallas tremendously off the bench go out the way he is. Whats next for Odom? Probably wont be able to pick up a check this season and that's not hard to imagine seeing that he wasn't able to wrap his head around the concept of being traded to another organization, even if his heart is set on LA.

Look at Derek Fisher, long time Laker traded and taking it quite well as he is currently helping the Oklahoma City Thunder in any way he can. Yes the Thunder are contenders in the West, and so are the Dallas Mavericks as well. I understand if he was traded to Charlotte and the feeling of losing game in and game out could get overwhelming but going to a contender you have to make the most of the situation. Deron Williams going from Utah to the New Jersey Nets is another prime example of a player making the most of a situation in which he is able to really showcase his abilities and star potential in a growing franchise.

Leaving Los Angeles took a serious toll on Lamar Odom, something none of us saw coming. He hasn't been able to adapt to the new team and environment but when he's motivated to play he's very exciting to watch and very productive. I wish the best for Odom and hope to see him make a strong return in the near future.

Lamar Odom not playing with the team for the rest of the season doesn't really affect Dallas' chance at all if you ask me. They never really clicked and his presence wont be missed as he did very little to propel this team.

Suffering Silently

2012-04-09T18:42:00.003-07:00

Maybe MJ needs to make a comeback.

As I am currently typing this it is currently 98 - 71 and the Washington Wizards (not much better) are up on the Charlotte Bobcats in the final quarter of play and I am positive just by their track record (7-47) that the score is a direct reflection of their nonathletic and poorly coached team.

This is a team that has obviously flown under the radar due to the poor record but hasn't received much scrutiny as they probably should.

4-21 record at home. 30th in the NBA in PPG (88.1). 28th in the NBA in RPG (39.3). 28th in the NBA in points allowed (101). Corey Maggette leads the team in scoring with a league average (15.1 PPG) which by no standards is a start to getting this team on the right path. Some look at the coach and figure their needs to be a change if they want to see some moves happen. While a lot others look towards the ownership and you sort of have to wonder, Is the failure and extremely bad play of Charlotte enough to taint the legacy of the great Micheal Jordan?

Hall of Fame inductee in 2009. 6-Time NBA Champion in 6 Finals appearances. 5-Time MVP. 10-Time scoring Champion. 14-Time all star as well as 6-time Finals MVP. I could go on with the jaw dropping stats that Jordan was able to string together during the course of his career but those numbers alone should be enough to let anyone else know that he is a WINNER. The word WIN is in there and that is something he has had a lot of success in doing, however, seems like his "WINNING" mentality didn't quite carry over to his ownership side. Coaching one of the worst teams for a number of years is bound to hurt his legacy right? Id say so, maybe as much as it does LeBron joining forces with Wade and Bosh (low blow?).

Only time can tell whether we will witness the greatest basketball player of all time become one of the worst owners of all time.

Sources: http://blog.oregonlive.com/playbooksandprofits/2007/12/medium_489-1219bobcats.embedded.prod_affiliate.57.jpg

Stan Van "Done"dy

2012-04-06T19:41:00.001-07:00

The tension and drama in Orlando has gone on too long if you ask any loyal NBA fan. I feel at times if I'm watching an episode of Real Housewives when I see the arguing and disagreement between Van Gundy and Dwight Howard. I believe its safe to say that at seasons end (or next trade deadline) one of the two will be gone, the real question is who? Straight-forward, uptight and passionate coach in Stan Van Gundy (Thanks Ricky) or the relaxed, positive and gentle giant superstar, Dwight Howard. We can expect this to be a question that will be swirling around the NBA for a good bit of time now.

In my opinion I think Dwight will end up staying and Van Gundy being gone. Van Gundy, being in the hot seat, is like playing hot potato (sorta resembles Mr. Potato Head) and you can expect him to be gone at the end of this season. A good way to make the next step in keeping Dwight Howard at the trade deadline next season would be to get rid of a coach whom Howard isn't too fond about. There has been rumors that Howard wants him fired and as the truth concerning that topic will most likely not get out but its a good bet to think that is to be somewhat accurate.

There have been posts going around that say Stan Van Gundy is a great coach and is deserving of his job in Orlando, and the "Drama King" Howard should be shipped elsewhere. My questions to believers of this proposal is, How many Championships has Van Gundy brought to GM Otis Smith?! Do you buy a ticket to an Orlando Magic game to see Van Gundy waddle on the side line throwing tantrums or the players making memorable moments you'll remember at nights end?! Its a players league and I don't ever remember going to a NBA game and watching the coach for the duration of that game.

Who knows, maybe we will see Stan gone at the end of the season and Howard shipped out before the trade deadline next season. Until then looks like we all have to stay tuned until the next episode of the ever so entertaining "Dwight Sweepstakes" (catchy eh?).

Links for the pictures below as they do not belong to me.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_magic/files/2011/04/stan-van-gundy-31.jpg

http://www.almightydad.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/potato_23.gif

Lebanese Player Drops 113 Pts in One Game!

2012-04-06T19:28:00.006-07:00

Dropping 50 points on any level is no easy task. Dropping 81 points is quite impressive, ask Kobe Bryant or the Toronto Raptors if you don't believe me. So when news broke that a Lebanese basketball player dropped 113 points in one game, I was in shock. How many people can drop 30 points at their local gym? Not many that is fore sure.

Now I am not saying this guy has NBA talent level, but still his feat is no joke and I would not be surprised if a NBA team invited him to their summer league team. One thing is for sure, this guy is a cool customer from behind the three point line where he nailed 32 threes out of 59 attempts. One team making 32 threes is very impressive, but one guy doing it is something you might see in a video game but not in real life. What I want to know is where was the defense? I mean my god, you could put my 14 year old sister out there and I guarantee you this guy would not drop a 113 points.

Props to this Lebanese basketball player, but I will not go out on a limb and say "Mama there goes that man! Get this guy a new contract!"

Source: guyism.com

Welcome to Los Angeles

2012-04-05T03:03:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Los Angeles home to ~~Chris Paul~~ Kobe Bryant.

As the final game of the regular season comes to an end between a much anticipated new found rivalry between in state teams, LA Lakers and LA Clippers, Kobe is still (and always will be) The King of Los Angeles. With the acquisition of Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups, Mo Williams and Caron Butler there were high expectations from Clipper Fans (I call them Bandwagon Fans) to achieve new heights that the Clips haven't seen in a while now.

Most importantly to a few other hardcore fans, they wanted to win out in the Staples Center against the Purple and Gold.

This was a very fitting new rivalry as there was a lot of new faces this season such as the players listed above as well as; Matt Barnes and most importantly Mike Brown in LA. With the huge story at the start of the season with Kobe hurting his wrist Laker hopefuls were wondering if their season was up in smoke before it really even started. As the anticipation grew and the drama ensued, the Lakers prevailed victorious by winning the season series 2-1 by a close margin in their series finale. With the strong playing by both Blake Griffin and Andrew Bynum during this season, both showed that there here to (stay healthy) show their dominance for years to come. Blake Griffin posting 22 points and 14 rebounds as Andrew Bynum posted 12 points and 16 rebounds. When it came down to it the play makers played a huge role in these three games.

Battle of the Stars:

Chris Paul - MPG: 35.3 PPG: 23 RPG: 3.3 APG: 11.3 SPG: 1.3

Kobe Bryant - MPG: 40 PPG: 32.3 RPG: 6.3 APG: 5.3 SPG: 0.6

The likely hood of a rematch between the two teams is very possible and would be a very exciting to see in a 7 game series mainly due to the fact no team would have home court as they share the Staples Center. Even with new coach and players, the tenacity of the Lakers (well coached and molded by Phil Jackson) prove well worthy of strong considerations come this off season as Chris Paul and company didn't have quite enough to overthrow King Bryant.

The Spurs Better With Age?

2012-04-04T20:45:00.003-07:00

How have the "old" Spurs continued to be contenders year in and out? Every year the so called "experts" say this will be the season the Spurs will fall, yet it has yet to happen. The Spurs as an organization are a model franchise. They pay their stars generously and surround them with interchangeable role players ala Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry, Brent Barry, Fabricio Oberto and now Tiago Splitter, Danny Green, Dejuan Blair, Kawhi Leonard, Action Jackson, etc. With this model, they have been able to remain competitive by retaining their stars and playing an unselfish brand of basketball all under the helm of Popovich.

Although Duncan is no longer the dominate force he once was, the internal improvements on the team (Parker, Green, and Splitter) have allowed his effective non-dominate play to not harm the team's chance to contend. The Spurs have also transitioned to more of an offensive team rather than a dominate defensive team, realizing that they simply do not have the personal to play lockdown defense and that the NBA as a whole has transitioned into more of an offensive league. Having made key additions at the trade deadline and under the leadership and consistency of the Big 3, the Spurs are sure to quiet their yearly doubters as they are determined to return to the promise land- the Finals. Under the radar, on top of the standings.

Brandon Jennings Steers the Deer!?

2012-04-03T15:37:00.000-07:00

Brandon Jennings finishes the game with 19 points, but pouring in 17 in the third quarter that really gave Milwaukee the late game edge needed to pull a win off. The final playoff spot in the East is most certainly within reach, as Milwaukee inches closer with each win. The Bucks are in a favorable place in their schedule now to be able to botch a few more wins and secure an 8th seed in the East. Seeing that Jeremy Lin (or LINjured) and Amar'e Stoudemire are likely to miss the remainder of the season, looks like the new look Bucks are in a prime spot to steal the spotlight and sneak into the playoffs. Are we soon to hear, "Fear The Dear"!

The Mamba Strikes Again- KB Game Winner

2012-03-31T18:50:00.002-07:00

Kobe Bryant, arguably the most clutch player of his generation, strikes again as he sends a three point dagger down on the Hornets to give the Lakers the win. Despite having one of the worst shooting nights of his career, Kobe proved to be clutch when his team needed him the most. As much as I hate the Lakers, I respect Kobe's game and he deserves props for his late game heroics.

Bonehead Play of the Week- Andrew Bynum

2012-03-30T12:10:00.005-07:00

What is Bynum doing shooting a three with 16 seconds left in the shot clock with only a 6 point lead? Props to Coach Mike Brown for taking him out of the game and benching him. You cannot allow one of your star players to pull one of these antics and get away with it. Brown sent a message to the team, showing them he is in charge. To top if off, Bynum goes to the bench and starts laughing...WTF! He has no respect for his coach and it looks like Lakerland should be worried about their chances of even making it past the first round. They were completely dismantled in the second half of their loss to OKC. Looks like Coach Brown will not last long in LA, as several players have even said they would rather return to the triangle offense. What do you all think, was it a good move or bad move for Brown to bench Bynum?

Miami Heat looking to "Heat up"?

2012-03-30T05:53:00.000-07:00

Derek Fisher going to the Thunder threw a wrench in the Miami Heat's quest to obtain a strong veteran point guard to assist them this year in the playoffs.

However in lue of them missing out on an opportunity to seal the deal with the proven clutch guard in Fisher, someone else has come into the picture that could very well be the missing piece in taking the Heat to the next level.

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, two time MVP winner (05' and 06'), eight time All-Star, and seven time All-NBA selection, the Hall of Fame awaits his retirement to induct his wide array of skill sets hes shown to be effective throughout his career.

That's right, Steve Nash.

He was heard quoting on the Dan Patrick show if the Suns do not make any improvement he wants to play elsewhere. Steve Nash playing with LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh only spells trouble for all the other teams in the Eastern Conference. Sure the Heat still don't have that interior defense but when you look at their production now, majority consist of LeBron and Wade. Acquiring Nash would only do wonders for Chris Bosh as it did for Amar'e Stoudemire in Phoenix. Just like Deron Williams made Boozer look better and Chris Paul made David West look better this is what Nash will do for Bosh.

Averaging a double double on the season (Nash) you figure he still has a few years left in him (38 years old) to be able to take the Heat to the promise land and capture a championship, something Nash shares in common with LeBron (no rings). Only one could wonder if this taints LeBron James legacy even more as he is needing, what it looks like, more and more star players to be around him just to capture a ring. I mean we have seen how "Win a Ring for the King" campaign ended up with Shaq and the most famous "We are Witnesses" just showed how we witnessed him lead the Cavaliers to the NBA playoffs 4 times and falling short each time. Can Nash be the answer?

A possible starting five looking like PG: Steve Nash SG: Dwayne Wade SF: LeBron James PF: Chris Bosh C: (none are even worth mentioning) could very easily set them to be the team to bet out East. Slight drop in numbers for LeBron (assists) can be expected but that can go along way if he isn't needed as much to do most the work during the regular season so when it comes playoff time and the fourth quarter hits fatigue wont play a direct factor. Chris Bosh can expect a spike in point totals as well.

With Nash coming out saying he wont play on a team that is going to improve, its safe to say that the next few months will be interesting to see as many different teams could use his play making abilities.

Let the Steve Nash Sweepstakes being!

Lets Talk MVP!

2012-03-28T02:36:00.001-07:00

On your mark, get set, Go! The Award Races have begun and the most sought after and the most meaningful to most players is the Most Valuable Player award. Reining winner Derrick Rose looks as if he wont be able to defend that title this year as injuries have seem to plague him this season. So that being said there will be a new MVP winner this year, yet there isn't a definite answer of who that individual can be. Here are my Top 3 players who have a legitimate chance to capture this prestigious award.

Drum roll please!

Lead Candidate: OKC F Kevin Durant
Spurs, Lakers, Celtics, and Heat all have something in common with each other and it seems to be a trend that is trying to be implemented by many teams now and that is having a "Big Three". Mimicking the days back in 96' - 98' when Jordan, Pippen and Rodman had their dominance in the late 90's. You look at the Oklahoma City Thunder and you don't see that nor a glimpse of that in the near future you see a young polished team being led by a young player(the kid is only 23) in Kevin Durant. I know there are still games to be played this season but he won the scoring title last year putting up 30.1 PPG and now he sits around 27.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 8.1 RPG which are all career numbers for him! Your talking about a player who was in MVP talks last year and missed out and still able to not only stay healthy (surprising by his frame) but able to elevate his game to an even higher level having the best record in the Western Conference (38-12) and the second best record in the the NBA. He doesn't have a Wade and Bosh to lean on when hes on an off day nor does he have a Duncan or Ginobili to bail him out when his shot isn't falling, hes got to be the primary play maker for this organization. Remove him from the equation and I honestly believe they have a hard time competing for the 8th spot in a scrappy Western Conference.

Runner-up Candidate: LA G Kobe Bryant
Laker for Life! We wont see him in a Philly uniform or any other jersey as he progresses in his career. He has been and always will be as long as he plays the Ticket Selling, Crowd Drawing, The Undisputed Celebrity of Los Angeles (sorry Chris Paul) but most importantly hes been a Sargent on the court. What do I mean by Sargent? A leader who is able to orchestrate the defense and offense while hes on the court a facilitator (yes he has been doing this for some time) who not only can make the clutch shot when needed but mold a team that many thought at the start of the season (I'm guilty too) wouldn't make any noise during the regular season and yeah, we were quite wrong. Averaging 27.9 points in the month of March and showing that a a wrist and broken nose wont slow him down at all this season. He has done all this whilst being coached by first year coach of the Lakers (Mike Brown) and with arguably the best 6th man in the NBA (Lamar Odom) gone. Posting enough wins to be 3rd in the Western Conference Standing and leading the team in scoring and steals, he is showing he still has that tenacity (that has seemed to rub off on Bynum and Gasol) to make a usual run in the playoffs. If he doesn't win the MVP maybe an award for "Most Durable" would be fitting, yes?

Closing in Candidate: MIA F LeBron James
Whats new? Seems as if his name is always in the mix when it comes to MVP discussion. So far leading the Heat in Points (26.7), Assists (6.6), Rebounds (8.3) and Steals (2.0) it would be crazy not to include this guy in MVP talk. However, just like last year towards this time looks like the Miami Heat are running ragged as the uptempo team (3rd in scoring) tries to close the year strong. Losing to teams on the road late is a bad sign, especially regarding the fact that Chicago is pulling away without star player Rose. He has been in numerous discussions as being the best Basketball player on this planet (far fetched?) but until he shows that he can take over a game and hit the go ahead shot or game winning shot then I cant give him top consideration. Wade taking over in the 4th quarter while LeBron coasts and produces low numbers in the 4th tell me if anything Wade and LeBron can share an MVP trophy. The difference between him and Kobe should be clear as day. Kobe is making players around him look better. LeBron needs to get on board and make players like Mario Chalmers and I will go on a limb and say Chris Bosh to play up to his previous all star level if they want to make a serious run again this year. LeBron might claim hes hungry for a Championship but until he shows that in the 4th quarter he doesn't have my vote.

Eye on the Prize (West Top 4)

2012-03-27T21:16:00.013-07:00

If the playoffs started today, how would the top 4 teams in the West fair?

OKC Thunder: The Thunder arguably have the best scorer, best point guard, and sixth man. But who do they have to play offense in the post? Serge Ibaka? Kenderick Perkins? The Thunder's isolation basketball will limit their title chances to some degree but you can almost pencil in the Thunder to make the Western Conference Finals. Will Russell Westbrook finally put his ego aside and be Durant's Robin, if so the Thunder have a great chance to make it to the promise land.
CONTENDER

SA Spurs: Everyone has been saying the Spurs are old for years now, dating back to their title run in 2007. The truth is outside of Duncan and Ginobili, who are both playing a career low in minutes, the team actually has a lot of young talented players: Splitter, Neal, Leonard, Blair, Green. They also have a solid mix of vets: Parker, Jackson, Diaw, Bonner to mesh with TD and Manu. Expect the Spurs to avenge last year's disappointing first round exit and make a serious run at the championship.
CONTENDER

LA Lakers: Any team led by Kobe Bryant has a chance to make it to the Finals. This year Andrew Bynum is having a career year and has established himself as the second best center behind Dwight Howard. With the trade deadline having past, expect Gasol to play much more freely and dominant. The Lakers addressed a glaring hole in the backcourt by aquiring Ramon Sessions who allows Kobe to be the beneficiary of plays made by the point guard. With solid contributions from Metta, Barnes, Blake, and Goudelock the Lakers have a descent chance for a title run but not as great as OKC or SAS.
CONTENDER

LA Clippers: CP3 has changed the culture out in Clipperland. The expectations are high and Lob City has become a great show, but the Clippers seem to lack front court depth. Blake Griffin is a couple years out from being a dominant playoff performer. Opposing defense will force him to take jump shots, and he is not reliable at this point of his career. He will also undoubtedly meet some physical, perhaps dirty play in the playoffs as well. DeAndre Jordan, Kenyon Martin, and Reggie Evans will simply not be enough front court fire power to help Griffin and Paul go deep into the playoffs. The acquisition of Nick Young helps overcome the loss of Billups, but the Clippers are a young team and not quite ready for a deep playoff run. Expect the Clippers to make it to the second round.
PRETENDER

Stay tuned for my evaluation of the 5-8 seeds...

The Real Meaning of "Crunch Time"

2012-03-27T18:11:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the year for a lot of teams to make that final run to acquire that golden ticket to get them, hopefully, to the promise land (NBA Finals). However, especially during not so player friendly season, many players have been dealt their fair share of injuries. During this time injuries play a huge role in their teams success on the court (obviously) but, during "Crunch Time" whose really at risk here, the teams on the cusp missing the playoffs and adding possible tension into the locker room and the coach's fate or the long term health of these players? I want to take a more in depth look at two players, Western Conference player & Eastern Conference player, (no bias here) to give more insight on how these players absence can make or break their teams chance.

On the West Coast the Houston Rockets have played surprisingly well at home (5th most home wins in the West) which was being led by PG Kyle Lowry. Many see the Rockets falling off toward the final month of play and who can blame them when Lowry has been out since March 10th from his Bacterial Infection and treatment (likely to miss season). He has really been the standout guy (along with Scola) in Houston having career numbers in Points (15.9), Assists (7.2), and Rebounds (5.3) showing that he has the potential to take the reins in Houston. Sitting at the 8th spot in the west isn't any guarantee as we should all know (real fans should know) the Western Conference for quite some time has been known for having multiple teams over .500 miss out on a chance to participate in the post season. It will be interesting to see if Houston can hold on without Kyle Lowry to orchestrate the offense.

On the East Coast the New York Knicks have been on and off in the lime light, as well as the spot light (I'm sure we all had an overdose of "Lin"sanity). They, along with the Rockets, currently hold the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference. Due to the lack of talent out East they have a far greater chance of maintaining their position or possibly moving up a spot or two in the playoff run. Still some (especially Knicks Fans) are sweating the fact that their Star big man Amar'e Stoudemire could potentially be lost for the whole year to a bulging disk in his back. This isnt your Bogut or your Elton Brand, this is a player who received a serious amount of consideration last year for MVP prior to Carmelo Anthony arriving. He's there offensive anchor in the post and their intimidation factor (along with Chandler) for any opposing team. With the Bucks right on their heels and Amare being M.I.A. for possibly the rest of the season its not hard to see Knicks dropping the ball down the stretch.

So I ask you, which team is hurting to have their "Knick"ed and "Hurt"ston player back??