"The most likely trade construction, if talks were to progress to the serious stage, would send Deng to the Wizards for the No. 3 pick and center Emeka Okafor, who would have to formally opt into his contract for next season ($14.5 million) this week for the trade to go through."
The Bulls have been flirting with the idea of trading Luol Deng and could be using this, along with speculation of talks with the Cavaliers, to gauge the trade value of this All-Star swingman.
Via Marc Stein/ESPN
Showing posts with label NBA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NBA. Show all posts
Monday, June 24, 2013
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Sports- Helping Or Hurting Our Economy?
People wonder why we're in a "depression". They question taxes, health care, and job employment. Blame goes towards politicians, the president, political parties, and every one else within arms length; but why don't people question how our tax dollars fund sports stadiums?
The answer is simple. Owners and teams "threaten" to leave their city unless they get a city-funded facility, and a major sports team (whether winning or losing) can stimulate even the weakest economy. But when an owner has 7 other companies and makes $50 million a year in growth, why can't he pay for the stadium out of his own pocket. The fans pay for tickets to sit in "their" arena, buy over-priced refreshments, and spend millions a year in memorabilia. While in return the players get more money than the average family makes in 5 lifetimes, and the owners almost never fail to garner a hefty profit.
AEG built a future Los Angeles NFL stadium, hoping to be the future home to an NFL team. Farmers Insurance will pay $700 million over 30 years for naming rights to this as-yet-nonexistent stadium, plus an additional $300 million if it plays host to two NFL teams. The naming rights to a stadium is worth a potential amount of $1 billion, and it is doesn't even house a team yet. AEG did not need the city to issue bonds for $350 million, saving the tax payers that burden of debt. The Jets and Giants jointly built the "New Meadowlands" in New Jersey, housing both New York football teams. It was deemed the most expensive stadium in the world, costing $1.6 billion to create. Surely within due time the naming rights for this arena will go for a high price tag. Long term offers have been rumored through companies such as AshleyMadison.com and Allianza.
The financial situations of teams is already being question, most recently with the storied LA Dodgers. Owners right off trips to Europe on their private jets as a scouting expense and thus pay a lot less in taxes each fiscal year. It doesn't matter if these funds weren't "designated" for education or health care, re-allocate them; spend those millions of dollars are improving the economy, employing more workers, and proving aid for the poor. The league offices of each sport should not allow a franchise to move solely on the basis of threatening the tax payers for funding. The fans bring enough money into the pockets of owners and players, who live like Kings, they shouldn't have to fund their palaces as well.
The answer is simple. Owners and teams "threaten" to leave their city unless they get a city-funded facility, and a major sports team (whether winning or losing) can stimulate even the weakest economy. But when an owner has 7 other companies and makes $50 million a year in growth, why can't he pay for the stadium out of his own pocket. The fans pay for tickets to sit in "their" arena, buy over-priced refreshments, and spend millions a year in memorabilia. While in return the players get more money than the average family makes in 5 lifetimes, and the owners almost never fail to garner a hefty profit.
AEG built a future Los Angeles NFL stadium, hoping to be the future home to an NFL team. Farmers Insurance will pay $700 million over 30 years for naming rights to this as-yet-nonexistent stadium, plus an additional $300 million if it plays host to two NFL teams. The naming rights to a stadium is worth a potential amount of $1 billion, and it is doesn't even house a team yet. AEG did not need the city to issue bonds for $350 million, saving the tax payers that burden of debt. The Jets and Giants jointly built the "New Meadowlands" in New Jersey, housing both New York football teams. It was deemed the most expensive stadium in the world, costing $1.6 billion to create. Surely within due time the naming rights for this arena will go for a high price tag. Long term offers have been rumored through companies such as AshleyMadison.com and Allianza.
The financial situations of teams is already being question, most recently with the storied LA Dodgers. Owners right off trips to Europe on their private jets as a scouting expense and thus pay a lot less in taxes each fiscal year. It doesn't matter if these funds weren't "designated" for education or health care, re-allocate them; spend those millions of dollars are improving the economy, employing more workers, and proving aid for the poor. The league offices of each sport should not allow a franchise to move solely on the basis of threatening the tax payers for funding. The fans bring enough money into the pockets of owners and players, who live like Kings, they shouldn't have to fund their palaces as well.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Charles Jenkins- Hofstra's Pride & Joy
"Last Monday Charles Jenkins was summoned to the office of Hofstra athletic director Jack Hayes, and who could blame him. The last time Jenkins had been in Hayes' office, he got the news that Tim Welsh, who had just been named coach, was resigning after a DWI arrest and that Mo Cassara would be taking over. In a prior visit, Jenkins had been told that long-time Hofstra coach Tom Pecora was leaving to take the reins at Fordham"
But this the news was about Charles, Hofstra had decided to retire Jenkins' number 22 before his final home game, Saturday afternoon against Hofstra. Charles wears 22 in honor of his late brother, Kareem Albritton, who was shot back in 2001 at the age of 22. He was named CAA Player of the Year and is lock to win it again in 2010-2011. We have even heard Jenkins' name being mentioned in National Player of the Year talks, he is one of only three players to lead their conference in both points and assists (Duke's Nolan Smith and Cleveland State's Norris Cole).
Jenkins is currently Hofstra's all-time leading scorer with 2,441 points, surpassing Antoine Aguido's previous record, and will continue to add to that total during the CAA tournament. Jenkins is the second leading scorer in CAA history, behind only the great David Robinson of Navy. He was recently named one of 30 finalists for the Nasmith Award (for best collegiate basketball player in the country). Hofstra is sporting a 20-10 record, 14-4 in conference, good for 2nd place in the CAA. If they team can win its next three games they will be the in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2001. Making the big dance would be a great way for Charles Jenkins to end his college career.
There has been many discussions over whether Jenkins will play at the next level. Hofstra has only produced one NBA player: Speedy Claxton 2001-2008, but has had many former athletes play overseas in places like Turkey and Puerto Rico. David Satriano of the New York Post said "Charles Jenkins showed yesterday why he has garnered national attention, and might be a lottery pick in this year's NBA Draft." This is a big leap for a guy who wasn't even listed in mock drafts back in the Fall. Jenkins is a phenomenal scorer but he does with efficiency, 53% from field goal range and 42% from behind the arch. Although he is only 6'3" Jenkins weights 220 pounds and is built like a linebacker. Whenever Charles isn't in the gym you could find him in the weight room. His body type is ideal for a NBA combo guard. Hofstra's senior guard is the fourth leading scorer in the country and each day his draft stock seems to be rising. In his senior season he had to deal with losing long time Hofstra coach Tom Pecora and and the resignation of Tim Welsh, all in a single off-season. In addition we saw the transfer of multiple Hofstra players following Pecora's departure to Fordham.
Hopefully the Pride can continue their stellar season and earn a bid into the NCAA tournament. Jenkins has one of the most consistent careers in recent history, most top scorers enter the draft after one or two seasons, but Charles was been at Hofstra for 5 years (after being red-shirted his freshman year). Experts and finally started placing Jenkins on their draft boards, late second round, but a team that has a guard need should really like at Jenkins. He can score from anywhere on the court, rebounds well for his size, and passes the ball like a true point guard. Look for a similar situation to the one we are seeing with the Knicks and Landry Fields: a senior guard from a "mid-level" conference who filled the stat sheet but got little recognition. Landry Fields was taken in the second round but is easily outplaying every rookie selected ahead of him, including guys like John Wall. If it wasn't for Blake Griffin (injured prior to the 2009-2010 season) Landry Fields would be the favorite for Rookie of the Year. Whichever team "gambles" on Charles Jenkins will hit the jackpot. I see him immediately playing significant minutes at both guard spots. His handles, shooting ability, and defensive skills will make him a valuable asset for a rebuilding team. The perfect "win-win" situation would be for the Chicago Bulls to draft Jenkins in the second round. The Bulls' weakest link is Keith Bogans at SG, but the team still has Kyle Korver off the bench. Bogans and Korver can hold their own until Jenkins develops and learns the system. Jenkins would be a great compliment to Derrick Rose and ironically is a hybrid cross between the style's of Rose and Deng. If Jenkins can develop into his role within a season or two the Bulls will be the favorites in the East and a dangerous offensive machine.
But this the news was about Charles, Hofstra had decided to retire Jenkins' number 22 before his final home game, Saturday afternoon against Hofstra. Charles wears 22 in honor of his late brother, Kareem Albritton, who was shot back in 2001 at the age of 22. He was named CAA Player of the Year and is lock to win it again in 2010-2011. We have even heard Jenkins' name being mentioned in National Player of the Year talks, he is one of only three players to lead their conference in both points and assists (Duke's Nolan Smith and Cleveland State's Norris Cole).
Jenkins is currently Hofstra's all-time leading scorer with 2,441 points, surpassing Antoine Aguido's previous record, and will continue to add to that total during the CAA tournament. Jenkins is the second leading scorer in CAA history, behind only the great David Robinson of Navy. He was recently named one of 30 finalists for the Nasmith Award (for best collegiate basketball player in the country). Hofstra is sporting a 20-10 record, 14-4 in conference, good for 2nd place in the CAA. If they team can win its next three games they will be the in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2001. Making the big dance would be a great way for Charles Jenkins to end his college career.
There has been many discussions over whether Jenkins will play at the next level. Hofstra has only produced one NBA player: Speedy Claxton 2001-2008, but has had many former athletes play overseas in places like Turkey and Puerto Rico. David Satriano of the New York Post said "Charles Jenkins showed yesterday why he has garnered national attention, and might be a lottery pick in this year's NBA Draft." This is a big leap for a guy who wasn't even listed in mock drafts back in the Fall. Jenkins is a phenomenal scorer but he does with efficiency, 53% from field goal range and 42% from behind the arch. Although he is only 6'3" Jenkins weights 220 pounds and is built like a linebacker. Whenever Charles isn't in the gym you could find him in the weight room. His body type is ideal for a NBA combo guard. Hofstra's senior guard is the fourth leading scorer in the country and each day his draft stock seems to be rising. In his senior season he had to deal with losing long time Hofstra coach Tom Pecora and and the resignation of Tim Welsh, all in a single off-season. In addition we saw the transfer of multiple Hofstra players following Pecora's departure to Fordham.
Hopefully the Pride can continue their stellar season and earn a bid into the NCAA tournament. Jenkins has one of the most consistent careers in recent history, most top scorers enter the draft after one or two seasons, but Charles was been at Hofstra for 5 years (after being red-shirted his freshman year). Experts and finally started placing Jenkins on their draft boards, late second round, but a team that has a guard need should really like at Jenkins. He can score from anywhere on the court, rebounds well for his size, and passes the ball like a true point guard. Look for a similar situation to the one we are seeing with the Knicks and Landry Fields: a senior guard from a "mid-level" conference who filled the stat sheet but got little recognition. Landry Fields was taken in the second round but is easily outplaying every rookie selected ahead of him, including guys like John Wall. If it wasn't for Blake Griffin (injured prior to the 2009-2010 season) Landry Fields would be the favorite for Rookie of the Year. Whichever team "gambles" on Charles Jenkins will hit the jackpot. I see him immediately playing significant minutes at both guard spots. His handles, shooting ability, and defensive skills will make him a valuable asset for a rebuilding team. The perfect "win-win" situation would be for the Chicago Bulls to draft Jenkins in the second round. The Bulls' weakest link is Keith Bogans at SG, but the team still has Kyle Korver off the bench. Bogans and Korver can hold their own until Jenkins develops and learns the system. Jenkins would be a great compliment to Derrick Rose and ironically is a hybrid cross between the style's of Rose and Deng. If Jenkins can develop into his role within a season or two the Bulls will be the favorites in the East and a dangerous offensive machine.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The Best vs. The Rest
Introduction
More than ever the NBA seems to be divided into two distinct categories, "the good vs. the bad", "the contenders vs. the pretenders", "the best vs. the rest", but in reality this trend has existed for over 50 years. Two teams in the league, the Boston Celitcs and Los Angeles Lakers (formerly of Minneapolis), have combined to win the finals 33 of the 64 times. Boston has appeared in the finals 21 times, winning 17 of those games. The Lakers have been in the championship game a record 31 times, and hold a 16-15 record in those games. The Chicago Bulls (or should I say Michael Jordan) are a distant third with a perfect 6-0 finals record. Jordan and the Bulls dominated the league during the 90s, with 2 "three-peats" in that span, only separate by MJ's retirement. Next in the list is another undefeated team, the Spurs, 4-0 in the 2000s. The dynasty has been lead by Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobli. The Bullets (now Wizards), Hawks, Blazers, Kings, Sonics (now Thunder), and Bucks have all only earned one title, all of which were won prior to 1980. The Miami Heat won the finals in 2006, their first in franchise history. The Pistons, 76ers, and Warriors all have 3 championships while the Knicks, who have appeared in the finals 8 times (4th most all-time), have came out on top twice. After the Lakers and Celtics there aren't many times with multiple championships and only one other team has over 5 (the Bulls) and that took the talents of greatest player to walk the planet.
A quick tally of the 64 championships looks like this: Celtics (17), Lakers (16), Bulls (6), Spurs (4), Pistons (3), 76ers (3), Warriors (3), Knicks (2), Wizards (1), Hawks (1), Blazers (1), Sonics/Thunder (1), Bucks (1), Heat (1), and Kings (1).
Prior to this year, or even this decade, teams had multiple superstars. The top four teams: Celtics, Lakers, Bulls, and Spurs all won their titles with at least two All-Star level players. Everyone talks about Boston's Big 3 of KG, Allen, and Pierce but the original Big 3 was Bird, Parish, and McHale. "Superteams" have existed and flourished since the dawn of the NBA, the only difference now is who controls it.
How did Carmelo get to New York? Who created the Heat's "New Big 3"? Players are beginning to have all the leverage and control by holding their teams hostage. During the hay-day of the NBA, teams were stacked due to the draft, trades, scouting, and a myraid of other reasons, but never because Magic Johnson decided to team up with Larry Bird. Did Michael Jordan team up with Isiah when he couldn't beat the Pistons? No, he worked on his game and eventually created a dynasty with the Bulls? What did LeBron do when he couldn't beat the Celtics? Create a mega-team with Wade in Miami.
The owners definitely seem have a strong desire to re-take control of the league, and they have every right to do so. The players job is to go out on the court and give it their all, for whatever team they are on, not play fantasy basketball with the media. People were satisfied with domination during the 70s and 80s because those teams were built "fairly" and other franchises were still competing with their own superstars. But today players like Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony are jealous of guys like Kobe and Tim Duncan who hold multiple rings. Their egos are telling them that the only way to win is by teaming up with another high level player, rather than be part of a re-building process for the future. Part of this attitude change is because guys feel that they need a ring (or multiple) to be considered "great". There is a whole different mystique when you see Michael Jordan in Springfield, with his 6 championships. Hall of Famers like George Gervin, Pete Maravich, Reggie Miller, Patrick Ewing, Jason Kidd, Mark Jackson, Dominique Wilkins, Artis Gilmore, Elgin Baylor, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Steve Nash, and Karl Malone are all outstanding players who are without a ring. None of these guys demanded to be traded or teamed up with one another, and their careers are still looked upon with awe. There is a separation between the "ring-less" players and legends like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, but it is because of how they earned those rings as much as it how many they have.
This separation is starting to divide the league into an even greater unbalanced sea-saw. It was one thing when there were 9 or 10 teams in contention (per conference) and the other 6 or 7 were left behind, because at least then around half of the league felt they had a chance in post-season play. Today the consensus is that the number is becoming slimmer and slimmer, going from 9 or 10 per conference to around 3 or 4. Even with a salary cap basketball is starting to feel like a league with a bunch of "Yankee" teams spending money and competing against each other, leaving the Devil Rays for a life irrelevance with no-name talent. Who really has a chance at winning the title this season? Let's break it down:
Mediocre
If we break down the league by talent level we need to start with the mediocre teams who will not a championship any time soon. Mediocre: Cavaliers, Kings, Wizards, Raptor Pistons, Bucks, Bobcats, Rockets, Nets, Timberwolves, and Clippers. These are teams that are currently out of the playoffs in their respective conferences and a majority of them currently lack the necessary talent to elevate themselves. After the recent trade deadline I would also add Denver and Utah to this list, both organizations traded their one and only All-Star (top 15 player) and have no viable replacement, as well as the 76ers and Pacers. This list consists of 15 mediocre teams, many of which are in small markets, who combined only had two players selected to the All-Star game (Derron and Griffin), Love was selected as an injury replacement. These teams do have young talent but for the near future their chance at winning a title is slim to none. When 15 out of your 30 teams are considered "mediocre" you know there is a problem.
The Rockets have their star in Kevin Martin but the rest of the roster is scarce when it comes to talent, John Wall and Tyreke Evans are play makers without guys to pass the ball off to, and Derron Williams doesn't seem likely to stay with the Nets when they move to Brooklyn. The only two teams with bright (distant) futures are the Clippers and the Timberwolves. Each team already has their franchise big man, Blake Griffin and Kevin Love respectively, who will attract fans and hopefully other superstars. But the rest of their rosters are only filled with potential not substance. In 3 or 4 seasons these two teams have the best chance of replacing teams like Boston and San Antonio in the elite group.
Elite
There are some elite teams who have more All-Stars than those 15 teams combined. We can rattle off a list of 5 or 6 teams who we think will be in the finals and I guarantee we get it right. Elite: (East)- Celtics, Heat, Bulls, Magic, Knicks, and Hawks? West- Lakers, Spurs, Mavericks, and Thunder. The Knicks and definitely the Hawks are more of a "middle of the pack" team but because they are in the East they have a small chance to be in the finals or at least make some noise and upset some teams, especially the Knicks. In the East these 6 teams combined for 13 All-Star selections (the entire East roster plus Carmelo). This just shows the domination currently occurring in the NBA and the next two players in line, Raymond Felton and Josh Smith, are on the Knicks and Hawks respectively. The Eastern conference is much weaker than the West is due to the high number of bad teams in the East. The 76ers and Pacers are the 7 and 8 seed but would be in the bottom of the West standings. Combined their only real good player is Andre Iguodala who hasn't even lived up to his hype due to on-going injuries. Both these teams have a bunch of young players: Paul George, Roy Hibbert, Darren Collision, Thaddeus Young, Jodie Meeks, and Evan Turner, but at best those guys will develop into role players and hold these franchises to mediocrity.
The Hawks have always been a very good team but can't get passed their 5th seed label (first round victory at best), but they locked up Joe Johnson and have two studs down low in Horford and Smith. Although they probably won't win a title, their talent level is high.
The Knicks belong in this category because of their future, they have 2 top five scorers and are looking to add CP3 or Derron Williams in 2012. If that happens the Knicks will be the favorites, along with Miami in the East. This season no team wants to see them in playoffs because they have two studs who could drop 40 in a playoff game. But their lack of depth, especially down low, will prove to be their down-fall come playoff time.
The Bulls are not always mentioned with the likes of Miami and Boston but Chicago has an MVP candidate, Derrick Rose, as well as top high level big men (Boozer signed at the max in July and Joackim Noah). Loul Deng is a great wing player, although overpaid, and the team has a solid bench lead by Gibson and Korver. If they had a better 2 guard they would be my favorites to win it all.
Orlando really needs to hope they can win now because it is almost a fore gone conclusion that Dwight leaves for LA in 2012. They have two post seasons left to bring a title to South Florida. They really only have one superstar but a lot of good role players: Hedo, Jason Richardson, Jameer, and Arenas. Sadly, within 1.5 seasons Orlando will join the list of mediocre teams without an All-Star.
Boston and Miami both have their "Big 3s" but Boston just shipped off Perkins, as well as two of their other bigs, so they don't have that huge advantage down low anymore. This leaves the East favorite wide open. These franchises are headed in opposite directions. If Miami can add a point guard and/or true center they will be even scarier for years to come. Boston on the other hand is looking at a very old team, only Rondo will still be an elite player in a season or two. KG and Allen will be on their last legs very soon and their production will be in question. The Celtic's window of opportunity is only very small but after it has closed it will be hard to gauge Boston's status.
The Lakers are looking for their second "three-peat" and to tie the Celtics for most championship banners. As long as they have Kobe LA will be in contention. Gasol has taken over the role Shaq had during the Lakers' first title run and Odom has been the third part of the triangle offense.
San Antonio had their best 1st half record in franchise history, only 10 losses at the All-Star break, and seems to be unstoppable. Greg Popovich is coaching this team to perfection. There biggest boost from last year has been with depth due to the development of guys like Dejuan Blair and Gary Neal. This team is going to stick together despite being in a "small market". San Antonio, like LA, continues the Big 3 theme.
Mark Cuban is one of the greatest owners in sports, ask anyone who has played for him. Dallas was looking to make a move at the deadline but couldn't move Caron Butler because they were unwilling to part with Rodrigue Beaubois. A reunion between Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki was sky-rocketed Dallas up the standings. Both of these guys are hungry for a ring, they are arguably the best active players without a title in their career. Tyson Chandler has been a pleaseant surprise, overshadowing Brendan Haywood downlow, and their depth is probably the best in the league. Jason Terry, J.J Barea, and Shawne Marion are extremely versatile. In addition signing Peja Stojakovic makes the Mavs even deadlier from long range. Dirk, Peja, J.Kidd, Terry, and Marion have been knocking down treys at an alarming rate for over a decade. This team has the perfect mix to make another appearance in the conference finals.
The Thunder have taken the league by storm the last two seasons. Scott Brooks has developed Russell Westbrook into a perfect compliment for Kevin Durant. Jeff Green was thought to be the last piece of the trio but Oklahoma City traded him to Boston for Perkins and Nate Robinson. Kendrick Perkins is the perfect addition for this roster; young, athletic, and a big body. Jeff Green was a scoring wing and didn't offer much use for a team with Durant and Ibaka locked in at the forward positions. The team has tremendous depth at the guard position: Thabo Sefolosha, Eric Maynor, James Harden, and Nate Robinson. All guys who can rotate around the two guard position. Down low Perkins and Ibaka are the shot-blockers down low, teams will think twice about slashing to the hoop against OKC.
In Between
This group is the difference between the West and East. The East is strictly good vs. bad but the West has a small group of teams that aren't at the highest level but could be very soon. The Hornets, Blazers, Grizzlies, Warriors and Suns are the lower playoff teams who seem to be a piece away from elite. All of these rosters have guys who were All-Star snubs and also guys who have mysterious futures.
To being we have New Orleans, the Hornets have the best point guard around in Chris Paul and second star in David West. You would think their future is bright, one player away from a "big 3", but nothing could be farther from the truth. David West is a free agent this season and will almost certainly find a new home come July, everyone knows the rumors of Chris Paul and the Knicks in 2012, and Emeka Okafor is eating up a lot of their cap space from now until 2014. On top of this the teams was bought by the NBA, and is essentially owned by the league's 29 other teams. Mark Cuban was openly appalled when the Hornets traded for Carl Landry, and his $3 million dollar salary, for Marcus Thornton (making around $800k). This trend will continue if New Orleans take on any more significant financial obligations.
Another team with a gloom future is Phoenix. The Suns have taken a huge turn for the worse after being left with nothing after letting Amar'e Stoudemire sign with the Knicks. The days of Mike D'Antoni, Steve Nash, Amar'e, Shawne Marion, and Joe Johnson is long gone. That team had a "big 4" before the Celtics were even relevant again. But a lot of bad trades left with wishing for a time machine. Steve Nash is an old body and on his last legs (literally), Vince Carter will likely be trade to leave because of $18 million salary but either way he is a log jam in their flexibility, and Robin Lopez is no where near the talent they had hoped. Channing Frye, Hakim Warrick, Josh Childress, and Mickael Pietrus are only making around $6 million until 2015 which also hinders the Sun's ability to bring in more talent. This team couldn't win a title with Amar'e and without him they are headed for mediocrity.
Memphis is in big trouble come the off season. They have one of the best combos down low with Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph and before Rudy Gay's injury Memphis had the most underrated trio in the league, and a fourth star in Mike Conley was also emerging. But Memphis has to be concerned with their chances in retaining these guys, Randolph and Gasol are unrestricted free agents. Randolph will want somewhere in the area of his current $17 million salary while Gasol will easily demand a raise from his $3 million contract, about a 400% raise. With the free agency pool weak especially down low, Nene may sign an extension with Denver, look for Zbo and Gasol to have numerous offers. The Grizzlies play in a small market and may even move back to Vancouver soon. Memphis has the talent to be a playoff team in the West and if they can somehow manage to keep their bigs then the Grizz will be a scary team, bordering elite (very unlikely scenario due to cap space)
The last two teams, Golden State and Portland, are very intriguing futures both short term and long term. Golden State runs a very fast paced offense with Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry in the back court. They have a good young group down low with David Lee and Andris Biendris, plus Dorrell Wright at the 3 gives them another scorer who can do a little bit of everything. These guys aren't All-Stars, except for maybe Monta, but they have 4 extremely talented young players who are yet to hit their potential. This time won't win a title I guarantee that, but they can be like the Hawks; the perennial 5th seed who may win a first round matchup but is fun to watch in the regular season. On the other hand there is Portland who still can't shake the injury curse. They just traded for Gerald Wallace which adds to their depth. Portland has 5 or 6 guys they can throw at you who play multiple positions. Lamarcus Aldridge was the biggest All-Star snub and is the future of the NBA. If Brandon Roy can finally keep himself relatively healthy and return to old form then Portland has two players in their primes to build around. Additionally Rudy Fernandez, Wesley Matthews, Marcus Camby, and Andre Miller are all great role players. If Greg Oden can stay on the court and be the third piece for Portland then that would elevate the Blazers above Dallas fighting with Oklahoma City for the third spot in the West.
Summary
10 Elite Teams: Boston, Miami, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Dallas, Orlando, Chicago, Oklahoma City, Atlanta and New York
15 Mediocre Teams: Cavaliers, Kings, Wizards, Raptor Pistons, Bucks, Bobcats, Rockets, Nets, Timberwolves, Clippers, Jazz, Nuggets, 76ers, and Pacers
5 In Between Teams: Grizzlies, Suns, Warriors, Blazers, and Hornets (only Portland looks truly poised for a jump to the elite)
More than ever the NBA seems to be divided into two distinct categories, "the good vs. the bad", "the contenders vs. the pretenders", "the best vs. the rest", but in reality this trend has existed for over 50 years. Two teams in the league, the Boston Celitcs and Los Angeles Lakers (formerly of Minneapolis), have combined to win the finals 33 of the 64 times. Boston has appeared in the finals 21 times, winning 17 of those games. The Lakers have been in the championship game a record 31 times, and hold a 16-15 record in those games. The Chicago Bulls (or should I say Michael Jordan) are a distant third with a perfect 6-0 finals record. Jordan and the Bulls dominated the league during the 90s, with 2 "three-peats" in that span, only separate by MJ's retirement. Next in the list is another undefeated team, the Spurs, 4-0 in the 2000s. The dynasty has been lead by Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobli. The Bullets (now Wizards), Hawks, Blazers, Kings, Sonics (now Thunder), and Bucks have all only earned one title, all of which were won prior to 1980. The Miami Heat won the finals in 2006, their first in franchise history. The Pistons, 76ers, and Warriors all have 3 championships while the Knicks, who have appeared in the finals 8 times (4th most all-time), have came out on top twice. After the Lakers and Celtics there aren't many times with multiple championships and only one other team has over 5 (the Bulls) and that took the talents of greatest player to walk the planet.
A quick tally of the 64 championships looks like this: Celtics (17), Lakers (16), Bulls (6), Spurs (4), Pistons (3), 76ers (3), Warriors (3), Knicks (2), Wizards (1), Hawks (1), Blazers (1), Sonics/Thunder (1), Bucks (1), Heat (1), and Kings (1).
Prior to this year, or even this decade, teams had multiple superstars. The top four teams: Celtics, Lakers, Bulls, and Spurs all won their titles with at least two All-Star level players. Everyone talks about Boston's Big 3 of KG, Allen, and Pierce but the original Big 3 was Bird, Parish, and McHale. "Superteams" have existed and flourished since the dawn of the NBA, the only difference now is who controls it.
How did Carmelo get to New York? Who created the Heat's "New Big 3"? Players are beginning to have all the leverage and control by holding their teams hostage. During the hay-day of the NBA, teams were stacked due to the draft, trades, scouting, and a myraid of other reasons, but never because Magic Johnson decided to team up with Larry Bird. Did Michael Jordan team up with Isiah when he couldn't beat the Pistons? No, he worked on his game and eventually created a dynasty with the Bulls? What did LeBron do when he couldn't beat the Celtics? Create a mega-team with Wade in Miami.
The owners definitely seem have a strong desire to re-take control of the league, and they have every right to do so. The players job is to go out on the court and give it their all, for whatever team they are on, not play fantasy basketball with the media. People were satisfied with domination during the 70s and 80s because those teams were built "fairly" and other franchises were still competing with their own superstars. But today players like Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony are jealous of guys like Kobe and Tim Duncan who hold multiple rings. Their egos are telling them that the only way to win is by teaming up with another high level player, rather than be part of a re-building process for the future. Part of this attitude change is because guys feel that they need a ring (or multiple) to be considered "great". There is a whole different mystique when you see Michael Jordan in Springfield, with his 6 championships. Hall of Famers like George Gervin, Pete Maravich, Reggie Miller, Patrick Ewing, Jason Kidd, Mark Jackson, Dominique Wilkins, Artis Gilmore, Elgin Baylor, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Steve Nash, and Karl Malone are all outstanding players who are without a ring. None of these guys demanded to be traded or teamed up with one another, and their careers are still looked upon with awe. There is a separation between the "ring-less" players and legends like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, but it is because of how they earned those rings as much as it how many they have.
This separation is starting to divide the league into an even greater unbalanced sea-saw. It was one thing when there were 9 or 10 teams in contention (per conference) and the other 6 or 7 were left behind, because at least then around half of the league felt they had a chance in post-season play. Today the consensus is that the number is becoming slimmer and slimmer, going from 9 or 10 per conference to around 3 or 4. Even with a salary cap basketball is starting to feel like a league with a bunch of "Yankee" teams spending money and competing against each other, leaving the Devil Rays for a life irrelevance with no-name talent. Who really has a chance at winning the title this season? Let's break it down:
Mediocre
If we break down the league by talent level we need to start with the mediocre teams who will not a championship any time soon. Mediocre: Cavaliers, Kings, Wizards, Raptor Pistons, Bucks, Bobcats, Rockets, Nets, Timberwolves, and Clippers. These are teams that are currently out of the playoffs in their respective conferences and a majority of them currently lack the necessary talent to elevate themselves. After the recent trade deadline I would also add Denver and Utah to this list, both organizations traded their one and only All-Star (top 15 player) and have no viable replacement, as well as the 76ers and Pacers. This list consists of 15 mediocre teams, many of which are in small markets, who combined only had two players selected to the All-Star game (Derron and Griffin), Love was selected as an injury replacement. These teams do have young talent but for the near future their chance at winning a title is slim to none. When 15 out of your 30 teams are considered "mediocre" you know there is a problem.
The Rockets have their star in Kevin Martin but the rest of the roster is scarce when it comes to talent, John Wall and Tyreke Evans are play makers without guys to pass the ball off to, and Derron Williams doesn't seem likely to stay with the Nets when they move to Brooklyn. The only two teams with bright (distant) futures are the Clippers and the Timberwolves. Each team already has their franchise big man, Blake Griffin and Kevin Love respectively, who will attract fans and hopefully other superstars. But the rest of their rosters are only filled with potential not substance. In 3 or 4 seasons these two teams have the best chance of replacing teams like Boston and San Antonio in the elite group.
Elite
There are some elite teams who have more All-Stars than those 15 teams combined. We can rattle off a list of 5 or 6 teams who we think will be in the finals and I guarantee we get it right. Elite: (East)- Celtics, Heat, Bulls, Magic, Knicks, and Hawks? West- Lakers, Spurs, Mavericks, and Thunder. The Knicks and definitely the Hawks are more of a "middle of the pack" team but because they are in the East they have a small chance to be in the finals or at least make some noise and upset some teams, especially the Knicks. In the East these 6 teams combined for 13 All-Star selections (the entire East roster plus Carmelo). This just shows the domination currently occurring in the NBA and the next two players in line, Raymond Felton and Josh Smith, are on the Knicks and Hawks respectively. The Eastern conference is much weaker than the West is due to the high number of bad teams in the East. The 76ers and Pacers are the 7 and 8 seed but would be in the bottom of the West standings. Combined their only real good player is Andre Iguodala who hasn't even lived up to his hype due to on-going injuries. Both these teams have a bunch of young players: Paul George, Roy Hibbert, Darren Collision, Thaddeus Young, Jodie Meeks, and Evan Turner, but at best those guys will develop into role players and hold these franchises to mediocrity.
The Hawks have always been a very good team but can't get passed their 5th seed label (first round victory at best), but they locked up Joe Johnson and have two studs down low in Horford and Smith. Although they probably won't win a title, their talent level is high.
The Knicks belong in this category because of their future, they have 2 top five scorers and are looking to add CP3 or Derron Williams in 2012. If that happens the Knicks will be the favorites, along with Miami in the East. This season no team wants to see them in playoffs because they have two studs who could drop 40 in a playoff game. But their lack of depth, especially down low, will prove to be their down-fall come playoff time.
The Bulls are not always mentioned with the likes of Miami and Boston but Chicago has an MVP candidate, Derrick Rose, as well as top high level big men (Boozer signed at the max in July and Joackim Noah). Loul Deng is a great wing player, although overpaid, and the team has a solid bench lead by Gibson and Korver. If they had a better 2 guard they would be my favorites to win it all.
Orlando really needs to hope they can win now because it is almost a fore gone conclusion that Dwight leaves for LA in 2012. They have two post seasons left to bring a title to South Florida. They really only have one superstar but a lot of good role players: Hedo, Jason Richardson, Jameer, and Arenas. Sadly, within 1.5 seasons Orlando will join the list of mediocre teams without an All-Star.
Boston and Miami both have their "Big 3s" but Boston just shipped off Perkins, as well as two of their other bigs, so they don't have that huge advantage down low anymore. This leaves the East favorite wide open. These franchises are headed in opposite directions. If Miami can add a point guard and/or true center they will be even scarier for years to come. Boston on the other hand is looking at a very old team, only Rondo will still be an elite player in a season or two. KG and Allen will be on their last legs very soon and their production will be in question. The Celtic's window of opportunity is only very small but after it has closed it will be hard to gauge Boston's status.
The Lakers are looking for their second "three-peat" and to tie the Celtics for most championship banners. As long as they have Kobe LA will be in contention. Gasol has taken over the role Shaq had during the Lakers' first title run and Odom has been the third part of the triangle offense.
San Antonio had their best 1st half record in franchise history, only 10 losses at the All-Star break, and seems to be unstoppable. Greg Popovich is coaching this team to perfection. There biggest boost from last year has been with depth due to the development of guys like Dejuan Blair and Gary Neal. This team is going to stick together despite being in a "small market". San Antonio, like LA, continues the Big 3 theme.
Mark Cuban is one of the greatest owners in sports, ask anyone who has played for him. Dallas was looking to make a move at the deadline but couldn't move Caron Butler because they were unwilling to part with Rodrigue Beaubois. A reunion between Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki was sky-rocketed Dallas up the standings. Both of these guys are hungry for a ring, they are arguably the best active players without a title in their career. Tyson Chandler has been a pleaseant surprise, overshadowing Brendan Haywood downlow, and their depth is probably the best in the league. Jason Terry, J.J Barea, and Shawne Marion are extremely versatile. In addition signing Peja Stojakovic makes the Mavs even deadlier from long range. Dirk, Peja, J.Kidd, Terry, and Marion have been knocking down treys at an alarming rate for over a decade. This team has the perfect mix to make another appearance in the conference finals.
The Thunder have taken the league by storm the last two seasons. Scott Brooks has developed Russell Westbrook into a perfect compliment for Kevin Durant. Jeff Green was thought to be the last piece of the trio but Oklahoma City traded him to Boston for Perkins and Nate Robinson. Kendrick Perkins is the perfect addition for this roster; young, athletic, and a big body. Jeff Green was a scoring wing and didn't offer much use for a team with Durant and Ibaka locked in at the forward positions. The team has tremendous depth at the guard position: Thabo Sefolosha, Eric Maynor, James Harden, and Nate Robinson. All guys who can rotate around the two guard position. Down low Perkins and Ibaka are the shot-blockers down low, teams will think twice about slashing to the hoop against OKC.
In Between
This group is the difference between the West and East. The East is strictly good vs. bad but the West has a small group of teams that aren't at the highest level but could be very soon. The Hornets, Blazers, Grizzlies, Warriors and Suns are the lower playoff teams who seem to be a piece away from elite. All of these rosters have guys who were All-Star snubs and also guys who have mysterious futures.
To being we have New Orleans, the Hornets have the best point guard around in Chris Paul and second star in David West. You would think their future is bright, one player away from a "big 3", but nothing could be farther from the truth. David West is a free agent this season and will almost certainly find a new home come July, everyone knows the rumors of Chris Paul and the Knicks in 2012, and Emeka Okafor is eating up a lot of their cap space from now until 2014. On top of this the teams was bought by the NBA, and is essentially owned by the league's 29 other teams. Mark Cuban was openly appalled when the Hornets traded for Carl Landry, and his $3 million dollar salary, for Marcus Thornton (making around $800k). This trend will continue if New Orleans take on any more significant financial obligations.
Another team with a gloom future is Phoenix. The Suns have taken a huge turn for the worse after being left with nothing after letting Amar'e Stoudemire sign with the Knicks. The days of Mike D'Antoni, Steve Nash, Amar'e, Shawne Marion, and Joe Johnson is long gone. That team had a "big 4" before the Celtics were even relevant again. But a lot of bad trades left with wishing for a time machine. Steve Nash is an old body and on his last legs (literally), Vince Carter will likely be trade to leave because of $18 million salary but either way he is a log jam in their flexibility, and Robin Lopez is no where near the talent they had hoped. Channing Frye, Hakim Warrick, Josh Childress, and Mickael Pietrus are only making around $6 million until 2015 which also hinders the Sun's ability to bring in more talent. This team couldn't win a title with Amar'e and without him they are headed for mediocrity.
Memphis is in big trouble come the off season. They have one of the best combos down low with Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph and before Rudy Gay's injury Memphis had the most underrated trio in the league, and a fourth star in Mike Conley was also emerging. But Memphis has to be concerned with their chances in retaining these guys, Randolph and Gasol are unrestricted free agents. Randolph will want somewhere in the area of his current $17 million salary while Gasol will easily demand a raise from his $3 million contract, about a 400% raise. With the free agency pool weak especially down low, Nene may sign an extension with Denver, look for Zbo and Gasol to have numerous offers. The Grizzlies play in a small market and may even move back to Vancouver soon. Memphis has the talent to be a playoff team in the West and if they can somehow manage to keep their bigs then the Grizz will be a scary team, bordering elite (very unlikely scenario due to cap space)
The last two teams, Golden State and Portland, are very intriguing futures both short term and long term. Golden State runs a very fast paced offense with Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry in the back court. They have a good young group down low with David Lee and Andris Biendris, plus Dorrell Wright at the 3 gives them another scorer who can do a little bit of everything. These guys aren't All-Stars, except for maybe Monta, but they have 4 extremely talented young players who are yet to hit their potential. This time won't win a title I guarantee that, but they can be like the Hawks; the perennial 5th seed who may win a first round matchup but is fun to watch in the regular season. On the other hand there is Portland who still can't shake the injury curse. They just traded for Gerald Wallace which adds to their depth. Portland has 5 or 6 guys they can throw at you who play multiple positions. Lamarcus Aldridge was the biggest All-Star snub and is the future of the NBA. If Brandon Roy can finally keep himself relatively healthy and return to old form then Portland has two players in their primes to build around. Additionally Rudy Fernandez, Wesley Matthews, Marcus Camby, and Andre Miller are all great role players. If Greg Oden can stay on the court and be the third piece for Portland then that would elevate the Blazers above Dallas fighting with Oklahoma City for the third spot in the West.
Summary
10 Elite Teams: Boston, Miami, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Dallas, Orlando, Chicago, Oklahoma City, Atlanta and New York
15 Mediocre Teams: Cavaliers, Kings, Wizards, Raptor Pistons, Bucks, Bobcats, Rockets, Nets, Timberwolves, Clippers, Jazz, Nuggets, 76ers, and Pacers
5 In Between Teams: Grizzlies, Suns, Warriors, Blazers, and Hornets (only Portland looks truly poised for a jump to the elite)
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Kobe vs. Michael: The End All Debate
On Friday Kobe played his 1,072nd career game against the New Orleans Hornets. Michael Jordan finished his career with 1,072 career games over 15 different seasons (19 year span due to retirements).
Games Played- Bryant: Since Kobe is just 32 and has never retired he will still have time to continue his career and accumulate more stats, wins, and rings. Michael career took place from the ages of 21 to 40 while Kobe has been in the league since he was 18, straight of out high school.
Games Started- Jordan: MJ began his career as a starter is rookie year, and finally retired a 40 year old starter for the Wizards. Out of his 1,072 games Jordan started all but 33 of them (97%) while Kobe has started 924 (86%)
Minutes Played- Jordan: Michael has played over 1,000 more minutes over the same number of games and his average of 38.3 minutes per game is higher than Kobe's average of 36.5. Michael had seen playing time regardless of age, over 3,000 minutes as a rookie and over 3,000 minutes at the age of 40. While Kobe only averaged 15 minutes per game as a rookie but now averages around 34.
Field Goals- Jordan: Jordan's numbers are in higher volume: Michael made 12, 192 shots (11.4 per game) while Kobe made 9,432 shots (8.8 per game), Jordan took 24,537 shots (22.9 per game) as opposed to Kobe's 20,728 shots (19.3 per game).
Free Throws- Jordan: MJ made more free throws and was sent to the line more often; ordan made 7,327 free throws (6.8 per game) to Bryant's 6,859 free throws made (6.4 per game). In regards to attempts Michael took 8,772 free throws (8.2 per game) while Kobe attempted 8,190 free throws (7.6 per game). There free throw percentages are almost identical 85.5 and 85.7, with Kobe beating out Michael by 0.2 percent. Overall the edge goes to MJ since they shot the same percentage but Michael was at the line more frequently.
Three Pointers- Bryant: Kobe runs away in this category making 1,370 three-pointers (1.3 per game), more than doubling Michael's 581 three-pointers (0.5 per game). Of course Kobe also took a ton more shots from behind the arc: 4,041 three-pointers (3.8 per game) as compared to MJ's 1,778 three-pointers (1.7 per game). But despite the huge gap in numbers Kobe only topped Michael by 1.2 percent (33.9% vs. 32.7 for MJ). Kobe's huge advantage is lessened by the fact that Michael was almost equally as effective form behind the arch but just took less long range shots.
Rebounding- Jordan: Although Kobe is taller than Michael (only slightly) Michael grabbed 1,668 offensive rebounds (1.6 per game) to Kobe's 1,266 offensive rebounds (1.2 per game). On the other end MJ had 5,004 defensive rebounds (4.7 per game) while Kobe brought in 4,406 defensive rebounds (4.1 per game). None the less both players have great numbers for shooting guards. After 1,072 career games, Kobe grabbed 5,672 total rebounds (5.3 per game), much less than Michael who grabbed 6,672 total rebounds (6.2 per game). In the exact same number of games Michael Jordan has exactly 1,000 more rebounds than Kobe.
Assists- Jordan: Michael once averaged 8 dimes a game back in the 88-89 season (along with 8 boards), one of the most impressive single seasons of all time. Jordan dished off for 5,633 assists (5.3 per game) in his career while Kobe has accumulated 5,020 assists (4.7 per game).
Steals- Jordan: No doubt MJ wins in this category, he's one of the greatest perimeter defenders in NBA history. Jordan lead the league in steals three times. He has 2,514 steals (2.3 per game) versus Kobe who has 1,617 steals (1.5 per game) thus far.
Blocks- Jordan: Again Jordan runs away in this category, Michael still holds the record for most all time blocks by a guard, 893 shots (0.8 per game). Kobe has a blocked a respectable 569 shots (0.5 per game).
Turnovers- Jordan: Bryant turned the ball over 3,133 times (2.9 per game), while Jordan turned the ball over 2,924 times (2.7 per game). Turning the ball over leads to the other team's points. Both players did it a lot, but Jordan did it less often.
Fouls- Jordan: In 1,072 Jordan committed 39 less fouls, an outstanding fact considering how he had so many more steals and blocks. Despite Jordan's tough defense and agressiveness he managed to play smart and commit less career fouls, 2,783, than Kobe: 2,822.
Total Points- Jordan: We all know Kobe has been making headlines climbing the all-time scoring list, passing Hall of Famers, but through an the same number of games MJ has over 5,000 more points: 32,292 aagaint Kobe's 27,093. MJ averaged a mind-blogging 30.1 points per game ranging over a long 15 season, 19 year career, which did not end until he was 40 years old. Kobe boosts a career average of 25.3 points per game, a number that has been increasing ever since his playing time has. Kobe's 15 minutes per game at 18 years old limited his numbers.
OVERALL/WINNING- MICHAEL JORDAN:
Michael Jordan is the great player to walk the planet and everyone loves to debate "Kobe vs. Michael" but the numbers don't lie, there is no debate. Michael Jordan scored more points, shot more efficiently from the field and from the line, grabbed more rebounds on both ends on the floor, was a better defender, committed less fouls, and turned the ball over less frequently than Kobe. The only category Kobe came out in top in was three point shooting, but really it goes down as a tie. This is because Michael only shot 1.2 percent less form behind the arch than Kobe, so many Kobe should be taking less threes than he has been.
Michael is 6-0 in the NBA Finals and came out the Finals MVP in each of the 6 series. Kobe is 5 for 7 in his finals appearances and only won 2 MVPS out of those 5 wins. MJ: 100% in the finals, won 100% of the MVPs. Kobe: 70% in the finals, winning the MVP only 2 out 5 times (40%).
Some Information Extracted From: Zachmo Marsupalami (Contributor)
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Should Knick Fans Be Optimistic Or Fearful?
Since 2008, Knick fans have dreamed of welcoming LeBron James to the Garden; but as the summer of 2010 passed by, Knick fans agonized at "The Decision", where the Big 3 decided to “take their talents to South Beach”. Knick fans cynically watch with a smile, as the Heat is only a mere one game ahead of the Knicks; both teams are hovering around .500. In hindsight, it's a bittersweet feeling. These same Knicks have shown signs of a bright future on occasion, while also showing signs of a regression to last season's woes.
1. Amar'e Stoudemire is worth his max contract and is playing like an MVP caliber player.
22.6 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2.2 APG, and 2.1 BPG
His assist and block numbers are career highs and his points and rebounds are exactly what we fans expected, All Star and MVP type numbers. Obviously he knows and fits into D'Antoni's system and once the offense begins to click we can expect all of his numbers to increase. Amar'e has played much better basketball than Chris Bosh and Carlos Boozer has yet to see the court in a Bulls uniform. The Knicks came away with the best deal when it came to signing a high priced big man.
2. Raymond Felton has been the biggest surprise so far this season for the Knicks and maybe in the entire NBA.
It looks like we finally found our franchise point guard; Raymond Felton is putting up the best stats of his career (career highs in: points, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals, ft%, 3 pt%, 3 pointers made, and field goal percentage). 18 points, 8 assists, and 2 steals a game is much better than we expected after Felton averaged 12 points and 5.5 assists last season with Charlotte. He has been criticized for his inability to run the pick and roll with Amar'e and for not being a D'Antoni point guard like Steve Nash was for the Suns. But even if that is true, imagine how much better the Knicks and Felton will be once he learns how to play the two-man game with Amar'e. Felton has been a great defender, clutch shooter, and smart leader all season and will continue to flourish in this system. He is getting everybody the ball and making this offense click. We expected Amar'e to fill the stat sheet but Felton is not far behind.
3. Rookie Landry Fields
The starting shooting guard role was the major point of discussion in the off season, Azuibuike was brought in to play that position; but, he is still recovering from injury and is yet to play a game for the Knicks. Roger Mason and Andy Rautins were thought to be perfect for this system where the shooting guard does just that, shoot 3's. But both players are not even in the rotation and have yet to impress the coaching staff. Chandler and Gallo both were mentioned as potential starters but with their size and offense style they both were better suited to play the opposite wing, with Chandler being the 6th man. Both Douglas and Fields impressed fans with their hustle and defense enough to earn consideration for the starting position. But Douglas is still more of a point guard with a shooting guard style of play. Douglas is probably the best perimeter defender on the roster but his combo guard style did not fit the needs at the 2. So as the season began rookie Landry Fields got the nod to be the team's starting shooting guard and has made the most of his opportunity averaging 11 points and 7 rebounds. Fields is the team's second leading rebounder, which is very impressive for a guard. This should not come as much surprise because Landry Fields average 22 points and 9 rebounds last season at Stanford playing on the wing. He almost always the height advantage over his defenders seeing as he is 6'7", which makes rebounding a huge advantage for the team. He makes the hustle plays and is always working hard and getting up and down the court. He is not the conventional shooting guard for D'Antoni's system, but the way he is playing you can't argue he deserves the minutes.
4. Anthony Randolph's Averages Per 48 minutes (11.6 points, 14.3 Rebounds, and 3.18 Blocks)
Anthony Randolph was supposed to be the main piece of the David Lee trade, a player with All Star potential who has been hurt. Fans had high hopes of Randolph have a Gallinari type breakout season but so far he is barely seeing playing time. The first few games he played in a Knick's uniform did not resemble his high flying-highlight reel style we saw in spurts over for the Warriors. But recently he was put in during a blowout and showed signs of a higher basketball IQ, instead of forcing the ball he slowed it down and made smart passes. Although he finished with 0 points and 2 assists, everyone has to be pleased with the improvements in his mental game. Let's hope his erratic play and constant fear of making a mistake is part of his past. Randolph is only 21 and still has that same potential plus he would be a perfect center in D'Antoni's system. He could block shots, rebound, score on the fast break, and be a presence down low on both sides of the ball. The Knicks have already transformed into a high quality defensive unit that can block shots and cause turnovers at will so with the addition of Randolph down low this team could give any offense a hard time.
The future looks bright for the New York Knicks and fans should be optimistic because as the season goes on the wins will start to come in bunches. Amar'e is one of the best players in the NBA, Felton is playing like a top 5 point guard in his first season under MikeD'Antoni, Chandler is the front runner for 6th man of the year award and is playing to impress in hope a new contract, Gallinai is always a threat when he has the ball and is one of the most versatile wing players in the league, and with the vast depth and young talent on this roster we can look forward to a fun season of quality basketball for the first time in this decade.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
The One Reason the Heat Will Not Win the Championship
The Miami Heat have worst the starting pointing guard in the NBA.
Think about that, in all likelihood 31 teams have a better starting point guard. If you look at any other contender the have a top 10-15 starting point guard leading their team.
The Elite Teams
Lakers: Derek Fisher- Although he is not considered an elite statistical point guard he is a winner. A 5-time NBA champion, all with the Lakers says it all. The past 5 seasons he has played in all 82 games. He runs the offense and is a smart player. 9 points and 3 assists seems mediocre but 5 time NBA champion means he must be doing something right.
Celtics: Rajon Rondo- He might be the best pure point guard in the league right now. He is the best defensive point guard around and already has a ring. He leads the league in assist with an outstanding 15 a game. That number will obviously go down but he has cemented his place into the "Big 4" and is the best player on the best team in the east.
Hornets: Chris Paul- The Hornets have started off undefeated and Chris Paul is the favorite in the MVP race. He has been the face of the organization despite trade rumors surfacing this summer. If you look at the roster it doesn't seem like one that would be undefeated after this many games but Chris Paul can score, make plays, and win games. With Durant, LeBron, and Kobe putting sub-par numbers up so far Chris Paul is my early MVP favorite.
Magic: Jameer Nelson- His game has taken a step backwards due to injuries but once he is healthy the Magic will be a force again in the east. He is averaging 15 points and 6 assists so far this season which is a good sign.
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Thunder: Russell Westrbrook- The Thunder's success or failure rests in the hands of pre season MVP favorite Kevin Durant. He has not lived up to that label or his new contract but he will come into form soon. But this might be the biggest surprise of the season, the play of Russell Westbrook. This is only his third season (4th pick in the 2008 draft). The Thunder traded away back up point guard Darren Collison in the offseason because they knew Westbrook was their point guard for the future. He averaged 16 and 8 last year and this season his assists have stayed about the same, at 8, but he's scoring 24 points a game while also grabbing 6.5 rebounds a game. He has 5 double doubles and 2 30+ point games already. He has shown he IS a top 10 point with room to grow.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
The King of Queens
The Miami Heat will not win the NBA championship this season and won't even be playing for it. People have been quick to assume the Heat will win 4 or 5 rings the next 6 seasons but let's focus on this year.
1. The Center Position: Joel Anthony
Does any team have a worse starting center than the Miami Heat? They need someone down low to rebound, block shots, and be a threat. Joel Anthony has averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds in his first three seasons, he is not going to scare anyone. He would be no match for players like Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol. In this decade a majority of the championship teams have had all start caliber centers who average double digit points and rebounds as well as being outstanding defenders (Shaq, Gasol, Duncan, etc).
2. Point Guard: Carlos Arroyo/Mario Chalmers
Realistically the only way to fix this would be to have LeBron play the point down the strech late in games. But they lack a true point guard to run the offense and be a facilitator. They don't need a scoring point guard, just someone who can defend and make good passes. Arroyo has bounced around and is really a average back up point guard. Chalmers has played well his first two seasons but his inexperience will show when trying to handle all these superstars. Yet again look at the other top teams, they all have true point guards leading their teams. Derek Fisher, Rondo, Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose; all players who can score and hit free throws when needed but more importantly have high basketball IQs. I don't see Chalmers or Arroyo being able to guard anyone of these elite point guards. Derek Fisher would have been an extremely valuable addition to this roster.
3. Bench and Depth
After the "Big 3" the roster is full of players in the wrong side of their prime or players who shouldn't see the court unless it's from the bench. Haslem has been around for a while and will be the back up 4, he could be useful when Bosh takes a rest. Eddie House is instant offense and a great 3 point shooter, but it's not like their is a lack of offense on the Heat. Mike Miller is out for at least half the season but would've been a great 6th man, he will be missed.
4. The 3 Queens
LeBron will put up his stats night after night, but he still needs to improve his shooting and free throws. Wade sat out almost all of the preseason and will be rusty, while Bosh will be in an unfamiliar position going from a first option to a third. There is only one ball so someone is going to have to sacrifice points. Bosh is a great player but cannot defend players like Kevin Garnett and Amar'e down low. This just adds to the fact that the Bosh/Joel Anthony low post presence is a joke.
The wins, the blow outs, the fame will all be there this season but the rings will not. The Lakers and Celtics improved and had time to get healthy. The Magic and Spurs realize they need to win now after being so close the past few years. And in addition the Bulls and Thunder and legit contenders now and in the future. The Celtics, Magic, or Bulls could easily take down the Heat in a 7 game series. I would not put the Heat in a league of their own. The Lakers are the team to beat in the NBA, the Celtics are the team to beat in the East. Until this new Heat team fixes their problems (and gets some hardware) that won't change.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
LeBron and "The Decision"
As a Knick fan every since 2008 I have put all my hopes and faith into signing LeBron in 2010. But as the summer approached I realized we had serious competition. New York, Chicago, Miami, LA Clippers, Dallas, New Jersey and of course Cleveland all were in the hunt. I immediately knew the Clippers were eliminated. There was no chance that LeBron would go to Los Angeles and be in Kobe's shadow and literally be playing in Kobe's house. The next team to go was Dallas because it was clear that Dirk was not going anywhere and the deal was too complicated to work out. The only reason people even mentioned Dallas is because with Mark Cuban anything is possible. Now New Jersey, even though it seems that New Jersey was in the race I thought they had no chance. If he would leave Cleveland he would not chose New Jersey over New York. The Nets are stuck in New Jersey for 3 years with no roster. This leaves Cleveland, New York, Chicago, Miami. I felt any of these were possible. At the time I also had thought Wade was considering leaving Miami for hometown of Chicago and possibly bring in LeBron. I dismissed the rumors of LeBron, Wade, & Bosh going anywhere together as a fantasy. All 4 had there features: Cleveland- his hometown, his team for 7 seasons, family, loyalty, legacy...Chicago- best core group of talent and money...New York- best city in the world, marketing, msg, money...Miami- flexibility, good city, smart management. In my reasoning I did not attach Wade to Miami. I then narrowed it down to two: Cleveland and New York. Of course I am biased but I have reasons. Cleveland will always be in it because it is team and home, but if he was going to leave why would he go to Chicago where he will always be #2 to MJ and compared in every way. In Miami there is no one on the roster unless he brings people with him and with Wade it will always be wade vs lebron to the fans. The fans would be most understanding to a move to New York because it is the greatest city and a major career opportunity outside of just basketball. He could rebuild a team and be the King of New York. But when LeBron announced he was joining Wade and Bosh in Miami for a big 3 it was career suicide. For Wade and Bosh this is a good move because Bosh has a chance to get his max money and win titles (he is not worries about legacy since he is not one of the greatest of all time) and for wade he already has his ring and is staying at home. But LeBron is concieding any chance at being considered the greatest player of all time. No matter what he does he will never surpass Kobe, Michael, Magic, Kareem, Bird, and Russell. All were players who were commited to intergirty in the game. All of whom also have won a large number of titles. Even if LeBron wins 4 rings in the next 6 seasons he will be behind a large number of people. He put himself into a situation where Wade will always be better than LeBron due to the 1 ring advantage. If he had stayed in Cleveland and proved his loyalty then he had a chance to stay there for the rest of his career and even if he only won 1 or 2 titles he would still be in the top 10.
My Projected New York Knick's Starting Lineup
PG- Raymond Felton- The Knick's signed him to a 3 year deal after LeBron's decision. Felton has averaged about 13 points and 6.5 assists in his first five seasons and never missed more than 4 games in a single reason. He can be a key addition and immediately have an impact as the team's point guard. Felton shot 39% from 3 point range last season and will have a lot of opportunities to shoot the long ball in D'antoni's system. Adding Raymond Felton is a good move because it allows second year PG Toney Douglas to remain in the back up role. Felton adds to a good young core of talent in New York and can spread the ball in this fast paced offense as well as being able to drive and hit 3's when necessary. I love this signing because he is also a above average defender and has always been healthy, some refreshing news for Knick fans. With Chandler slashing to the hoop, Gallo being a matchup nightmare, and Amare down low Felton should be able to rack up the assists. I predict that Felton will average around 13 points and 7-8 assists a game. This is a much needed change as Duhon (a free agent) had seen a sharp decrease in his numbers.
SG- Wilson Chandler- In his fourth season season Chandler is most likely going to be the starting shooting guard on this team. Even though he is 6'8" and listed as a SF he seems to be the only option to fill the need at SG. This will be his first year as a full starter. He has shown he has the ability to get to the hoop and finish strong. Chandler could be a primary scoring option. Last season when T-Mac arrived McGrady was the primary option and took away time from Chandler. None the less Chandler made the most of his chances and will see an increase in shots. Last season he averaged around 15 points and 5.5 rebounds as well as 2 assist. It will be interesting to see how more playing time, shift to SG, and the addition of Amare of other role players will impact his numbers. The wild card in predicting Chandler's stats is Kelenna Azukuike. Azukuike only played nine games games list year but should be healthy for the start of training camp. Azukuike is 6'5" and will most likely be a used as wing player either at the 2 or the 3. I can see a competiton between Azukuike and Chandler for a starting spot but I think Chandler will start off. The shift from playing SF to SG might see a drop in his rebounds but an increase in assist. Wilson definitely needs to work on his 3 point percentage because he will see a lot of looks in this offense. Ultimately I can see that being the reason why Azukuike may move into the starting SG role with Chandler being the 6th man & backup SG/SF.
SF- Danilo Gallinari- In 08-09 (his rookie season) he did not see much playing time and was insignificant. But last season was a breakthrough. His second year in the league out of Italy "Gallo" was one of the few bright spots on the Knicks. He was a fan favorite and a unique player. Gallinari was amongst the league leaders in 3 point shooting and will be used so spread the floor. At 6'10" he almost always will have the height advantage over the opposing SF. He can either stay on the wing knock down shots, post up a smaller defender, or drive to the hoop with his quickness. The pick and roll betwen Gallo and Amare will be deadly and should be the focal point of the Knick's offense. I expect to see increases in his points and rebounds as he matures and improves. He was a lot of potential and can even go down and play the 4 or 5 in a smaller lineup. Look for him to be used on drive and kicks and to work the post. He plays good defense and is very coachable and energetic. Look for him to emerge as the leader of the wing on the Knicks. Azukuike or Chandler can also see some time at SF depending on the type of lineup. Watch out for his rebounding and blocks to sky rocket with his height and leaping ability.
PF- Amar'e Stoudemire- He is the Knick's prize this offseason. The summer of 2010 was supposed to be about LeBron, Wade, or Bosh for the Knicks, unfortunately all three teamed up in Miami. With Joe Johnson, Dirk, Pierce, and Rudy Gay all re signing with there teams the Knicks were lucky to get Amare in the beginning. Teams like the Clippers and Nets are now left with money to spend and no one to give it to. In my opinion Amare was the second best big man in this free agency class. With Bosh leading it, Amare is a better player than Lee and Boozer. This is the first time the Knicks have had an all star that is not out of his prime (or injuried) in a long time. Amare's is seen as a superstar in this league. He won rookie of the year in 2002, is a 5 time all star, and was named to the All NBA second team last season. Upto this point he has spent his entire career with the Suns and has been a major part of some teams. Amare played under D'antoni and knows the system. This is a huge move for the Knicks and gives some hope to the fans. Undoubtedly Amare will be the primary scoring option and leader of this team. He has suffered some injuries to his knee and eye but played and started all 82 games last season. His stats are of course very good and he brings a low post presence to the Knicks that other teams should fear. I think if he stays healthy he can put up numbers as high as 25 points with 10 rebounds. We saw David Lee average 20 and 12 and Lee was a double double machine in New York. I see no reason why Amare cannot grab 10-11 boards in this fast paced offense. He will do a majority of his work down low and also shot some jumpers. With Gallo and Chandler on the wings Amare will have a lot of options and should get a few assist per game.
C- Anthony Randolph- I do not know if Randolph will start off the season in the starting lineup but he should definitely be in it before December. He was one of the players that the Knicks received in the David Lee start this offseason. He is also the most coveted of the three. This kid is full of potential and at 6'10" is extremely athletic. He was injured last year and played sparely in his rookie season but Randolph showed signs of superstar talent at times in those games. If you just look at his stats you may see a nice young big man to come off the bench and play some strong minutes but I see more. I see the potential for a starting center that can score 15 points and grab 8-9 rebounds. Not to mention countless blocks and a major presence down low. I'm basing this on a few highlights of him but we haven't seen him play much at all. If he can develop a mid range jumper then the Knicks have a franchise big man that can be used in many ways. I compare him to a Gerald Wallace or a Lamar Odom with a higher ceiling. A big man that can run up and down the court and be a scoring threat in the open court. I don't see him doing much "back to the basket" work but maybe he can develop that which will turn him into an all star. The move to get Randolph was one that had a purpose to trade Lee who was a free agent in return for something. The other two pieces, Azukuike and Turiaf can be role players off the bench but Randolph has tremendous potential. I can see someone else beginning the season at center. If Randolph stays healthy watch out for him when he Knicks decide to run or as a help defender. Currently his body is not as big as needed and he needs to hit the weight room to be able to go up against some other centers.
Bench:
I see Douglas being the back up PG to Felton (again), Kelenna Azukuike as the 6th man getting a lot of minutes (like chandler), Bill Walker will be a "Nate Robinson" type scoring spark off the bench, Andy Rautins as the sharp shooter (Eddie House last season), and Earl Barron as the back up big men at PF/C. The rotation will include: Felton, Gallo, Amare, Chandler, Randolph, Azukuike, with Barron and Douglas in the mix. It seems as if the Knicks are full of young players but there is not enough room for everyone. Out of the three rookies I think Rautins is the best but can't see him getting much time with all these guards. Landry Fields and Jerome Jordan will most likely sit back and watch for the time being. While Curry and Turiaf are the veterans bigs ready for garbage time.
PG- Felton/Douglas
SG- Chandler/Azukuike/ Walker
SF- Gallo/Azukuike/ Rautins
PF-Amare/Barron
C-Randolph/Turiaf
Curry should be traded by the deadline and rookies Landry Fields and Jerome Jordan are nice pieces for the future.
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