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Audio Rant: Why Kevin Love Should be MVP
Last time, I blogged about the merits of Kevin Love. Here is a little audio blog about why I think Kevin should be the MVP. Enjoy.
Kevin Love: Most Talented Forward in the Game? He can be!
Let me start off with this: Kevin Love has been the best forward in the game over the last 2 years. The dude can flat out rebound! There is not a better rebounder in the game today. I mean yes D- Howard averages more , but K-Love isnt nearly as big. Kevin Love truly outrebounds other players. He’s got the Dennis Rodman rebounding talent with an outside shot that opposing players dread. He averages a solid double double and flirts with 20-20s every other game. I will not sit here and say that he’s invited to the same table as Garnett, K.Malone, Barkley and in my opinion the greatest PF to ever play in Tim Duncan. However, Love has a different style than these guys. He simply does everything and he does it all well. For a player to shatter rebounding records at such a fast clip and at such a young age, is just beautiful. He will end up with the most rebounds in NBA history.(assuming he stays healthy). The good thing about all this is he brings back the style of the old-time forwards. Bob Petit, Kevin Mchale, Dave Debuscherre- these are old-school players who played the game how it should be played. AS A TEAM!!. Players today for the most part are only looking out for themselves and dont have respect for the game. 20 Years ago, a player would have never refused to go into a game or demand a trade. These shenanigans ruin the integrity of the game. So I wanted to personally say that Kevin Love (aside from that questionable beard) is great for the game. Its because of players like him that the game can go on.
Next time, we will look at point guards. For now, tell us what YOU think!
Lebron for MVP? Dont Bank on it!
Some people seem to be under the impression that Lebron James deserves this without question. That’s incorrect. Lebron is certainly displaying some top tier talent that has been bottled up. He’s been putting up dazzling numbers all season long, However when it comes to crunch time he’s MIA (literally and figuratively). There are certain “tools of the trade” that can be taught no matter how bad or good a player is. Can’t hit a free throw for the life of you? There’s an app for that, Can’t throw it in the ocean? App for that too! Can’t play defense? Yep! There’s one for that as well. However, You can’t teach heart! You can’t teach a player to “win at all costs”. Certain players are just born with it or develop it in their youth (Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Kobe to name a few). But when the game is on the line? Lebron has no heart or will to just take it on his own and accept the criticism. He wants everyone to love him. He also has that other player you may have heard of named Wade who can close out games ala Mariano Rivera.
What do you think?
Hating on David Stern and NBA Owners? Don’t Bite the Hand that Feeds You!
With all that went down this past offseason, fans, players and others alike seem to have negative feelings towards David Stern and team owners. I must say, throughout all the turmoil, I never once felt David Stern is at fault. I mean yes, he sided with the billionaire owners and no he didn’t once budge for the players. But understand this: If you were making millions of dollars a year and your boss told you that business is bad and you need to rough up some customers and show them that you will not lay down, wouldn’t you too? David Stern has truly been the best commissioner in pro sports over the last 25 years. He has been paid handsomely and deserves it too! But doesn’t he own a different color tie other than red? He’s always wearing a navy suit and red tie!! In all seriousness, we need this calm and collected man in order to continue enjoying the greatest game on earth.
I was a little disturbed at Monday night’s fiasco out by the Bay during “Chris Mullins Night”. For those of you unaware, the hometown fans ruined this joyous night by continously booing Joe Lacob (majority team owner) while trying to address the “classy” bunch that came out to witness this wonderful event. Check out the Warriors owner getting booed in the video below. This was just stupid! Although I do not agree with the “genius” trade, this man has been spending countless $ to better this wonderful franchise. They haven’t been relevant since the Gulf War but they have made significant progress. Have we been quick to write off that first round upset (perhaps the biggest in playoff history) of the Mavs? This team is going places, give it time and patience.
Trade Discussions and Playoff Predictions
With last minute trades that occurred at the deadline last week, I have compiled the winners, losers and playoff predictions of this years shortened, wild and unpredictable season.
Trades that actually make a difference(or not):
Dwight Howard stayed put during his soap opera filled year. He previously vowed to opt out and demanded a trade, but at the last minute had incurred cold feet and opted to stay on in Orlando for at least another year and see where they go. Since D-WILL is going to become a free agent, my money is on the Magic signing this mega talented point guard. I still believe the Magic have enough to contend for the Eastern Finals, but the Bulls or Heat will send them to Disneyland a little early.
The Nets are the biggest losers here: Not only did they fail to execute a trade to bring in Superman, they also guaranteed themselves to lose out on Deron Williams staying put and heading to beloved Brooklyn. They did trade Okur and one of the 11 players named Williams on their squad for super athletic Gerald Wallace but that wont do much. The Nets will be heading into obscurity over the next few years and be a doormat in the NBA. However, they are lucky that they have an owner with deep pockets but aside from a couple of trips to the Finals in 2002 and 2003, they are used to stinking worse than a sanitation plant. (Private Brooklyn Joke)
The Lakers have improved mostly in my opinion. I do not condone sending Derek Fisher into early retirement after he vowed to play another 1-2 seasons to win another ring alongside Kobe. The deal only clarified that this is a business. And business as usual means someone is going to be insulted. The Lakers did receive an upgrade at the 1 spot in Ramon Sessions who can penetrate, dish and knock down the open shot. They sent Luke Walton packing as well. They got younger at both positions, but lets face it : Jordan Hill isnt exactly a top 100 player in the game. So Ramon Sessions will be the x- factor here since Bynum is playing his best ball yet. Pau Gasol is pretending he doesn’t speak or understand English while ignoring his trade rumors and Kobe is playing at an MVP level. Don’t be surprised if you see them playing for the ring.
Denver surprisingly dealt Nene. This was the only real shocker during the trade deadline. They had re-signed Nene to a big fat contract (5 years north of $65 million). Seems like they wanted to get younger and have the rest of the team to play alongside youth. They received Javale Mcgee and Nick Young in return. Mcgee , who has perhaps the worst body language since Rasheed Wallace, is simply not a true big man. He’s a highlight reel. Nene is a solid 5 and can keep up with anyone at his position. I don’t understand this trade. Denver will not get better and will be dealing Mcgee in no time.
Golden State was another winner (Sarcasm all over the place) on trade day. They deal perhaps their most exciting player since Run TMC and receive an oft- injured big man in return. They also received Stephen Jackson but got rid of him quicker than referee Joey Crawford calling a technical foul on Doc Rivers. We all knew that Ellis and Curry could not play together forever and one of them would have to go. But why send away a player who can and has dropped 50 on any given night? My suspicions are that Ellis would have demanded big money once his contract was up and Joe Lacob and Peter Guber (majority owners of the Warriors) were not willing to spend it on the uber- talented Ellis. Golden State wont see the post season for a few years unless Bogut stays 100% healthy and plays at an All-Star level.
Milwaukee upset their fans and let go of the best thing that happened to them since their homegrown beer company planted itself there. I mean how do you basically tell Brandon Jennings that we don’t need your services anymore? The guy can score, defend and pass with the best of them and now Jennings’s feelings are hurt and we all know how sensitive he is. They did pick up the electrifying Ellis but without a center: Bye Bye playoff hopes.
The Spurs somehow wiggled their way into receiving Stephen Jackson for underperforming overpaid Richard Jefferson (he’s another reason why the NBA had a lockout!! A.k.a. horrible contracts). Pop is the only coach that was able to control this talented head case. The Spurs definitely improved here and will continue to have a stellar season.
Oh I almost forgot: Mike D’antoni “shockingly” resigned 2 days prior to the deadline. This was not a surprise. When you give up your entire roster full of talented youth in return for a talented scorer (and it ends there), and that scorer does not perform at satisfactory results and disrupts a 9 game winning streak in which Harvard alum Jeremy Lin becomes more popular than Lady Gaga, then this is what happens. I did not like the trade for Melo (he was coming to NY anyways as a free agent) So why do that? And you expect D’antoni to win with a player who does not respect winning unless he’s solely the main event? Come on James Dolan!! This was not Mikes fault, you should have sent Melo packing and let him be someone else’s headache. Knicks won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. Except scratching their heads or behinds, whichever will have them.
Playoff predictions:
Eastern Conference.
1. The Miami Heat are just too good. Lebron is playing at his usual All-Star level, Wade is hanging in there and Bosh has vastly improved his last season dud. They are just that damn good.
2. Chicago Bulls- If Rose cant stay healthy, then they will exit early. Anything other than a Finals appearance will be a failure. Should Rose stay healthy and Rip Hamilton actually play, They will give the Heat a run for their money.
3. Orlando Magic- With Howard confirming he will stay put, The Magic have hung around and taken control of the 3 seed. If Jameer Nelson can play as well as he played against the Heat recently, they will make a deep run in the playoffs and possibly make a surprising Finals appearance.
4. Philadelphia 76ers- This will be a tight race. The Pacers and Sixers have played so similar that sometimes I’m glad they have complete opposite uniform colors. They both have similar guards and similar forwards. They both started off well and then had mid season slides. The good thing here is that neither of them will do much this season. They may scare a team with one of Holiday’s 30 point outbursts and/or Lou Williams 3 point shooting extravaganzas. But thats all the Sixers will see.
5. Indiana Pacers. Ill make this short. Look up a paragraph.
6. Boston Celtics- This team has the best chance to dethrone the top three. Their record wont show it, but how can you ever count out an aging Kevin Garnett? Ray Allen? I mean these are 1st ballot Hall of Famers who can still ball! Paul Pierce is not playing at his best level, but Rajon Rondo is making up for it. If any of the top three seeds should suffer an injury to any of their star players, look for this team to shock the fans.
7. Atlanta Hawks- With Josh Smith demanding a trade and then not getting what he wanted, I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t give it his all. The good part for this team is that he never has. He’s talented and athletic but never plays his best. I really don’t know what to make of this team, except that making the playoffs is better than not I guess.
8. New York Knicks- This is the juggernaut of the conference. I don’t like Carmelo. I just don’t. He’s not a superstar and needs the ball in his hands to be effective. He doesn’t play defense, cannot rebound and passes only when he’s stuck. However, Amare and Chandler are still very good players and Jeremy Lin has shown he can play. His turnovers will hurt them in the playoffs unless James Dolan grants Mike Woodson his 3 wishes.
1.Lin doesn’t turnover the ball
2. Amare returns to last seasons form.
3. Melo gets hurt.
With that being said, the Knicks are still capable of forcing a long series with anybody and if things go their way, they will be a dangerous team.
Cav Talk:
The Cleveland Cavaliers have really shocked me this year. They lose everything with “Le-whatshisname” bolting for South Beach and then turn up a vast improvement from last year with a 10th-11th place finish in the east? Have you seen Kyrie Irving? He is the truth! If you ask me thats almost as good as making a playoff appearance and has me scratching my head about the guarantee that Dan Gilbert made. In case your wondering? He basically told Lebron that he will win a ring before Bron & Company. Laughing? Yep, so was everyone else. But dont hold your breath. Cleveland will win a ring before Lebron like i was a fighter pilot in the 23rd infantry.
Western Conference predictions
1. Oklahoma City Thunder- This team has more talent than any one team in the league. Kevin Durant, Westbrook, Perkins, Serge “IBLOCKA” James Harden. If there is a more talented and deeper team, then I would like to meet them. This team has shown that they are good and ready for a title run. But can Westbrook play “robin” to Durant? I dont think so! Should Durant miss a game winning shot, Westbrook will take the ball and go straight to the rack no matter how many teammates are open. Ive seen Westbrook do it, he puts on his “Manson Lamps” and goes headfirst to the basket. That will be their achilles heel. I have a feeling Westbrook wont be a wearing a Thunder uniform should they not win a ring this year.
2. San Antonio Spurs- Year in and year out the Spurs seem to keep on doing it. They get older and somehow snag the top 2-3 seeds in their conference. Duncan is getting older and his stats are diminishing, yet the Spurs keep winning. Unfortunately for them though, it doesnt translate to postseason winning. They had their run of 4 rings in 10 years, but thats done with. They wont be playing come mid-june, that much i can assure you of.
3 Los Angeles Lakers- They improved with the Derek Fisher trade. They snagged Ramon Sessions whom they had their eye on ever since Chris Paul signed with Lob City. Bynum is playing better than he ever has and Pau Gasol is getting back to his All-Star numbers. Kobe is playing at his usual MVP level (although at times he tries to do too much). However, Kobe is Kobe and he is the best player of the last 10 years without QUESTION! Look for them to make a deep run and fight their way into the Finals.
4. Memphis Grizzlies- They continue to make a name for themselves yet nobody takes them seriously. They lost Zach Randolph to injury and yet they still kept pace and held on to the 4-5 seed all this time. Rudy Gay has been injured as well for some time. I give them a lot of credit. I don’t think they will pull off an upset though. They dont have the man power and will most likely make an early exit.
5. Dallas Mavericks- They started the season by underachieving. Lamar Odom has been a huge bust ever since arriving here. Dirk has willed his team back though. They received ODOM for practically nothing and got nothing from him so far. I don’t see them doing much this year except winning a game or two in a 1st round series.
6. Los Angeles Clippers- I know most people wont like me for this. But i just don’t credit the Clippers with being for real. Yes they have Chris Paul, Yes they have Blake Griffin. Has either of them won anything other than a dunk contest and skills challenge? I think not!! They are definitely the most enjoyable team to watch, but getting past the 2nd round? I wouldn’t’ bet on it.
7. Denver Nuggets- They earn this spot because of a deep roster and good coach. They got worse by dealing Nene. Yet they became more athletic with Mcgee and Nick young. However , we have seen Nick young throw the ball into the 18th row on a wide open layup so I’m not sure athletic counts for much. I cant see them going far, but they will push some teams to the brink in a few games.
8. Utah Jazz- Yes they are a few games out of this spot as of press time. But they are better than the nuggets and Houston who holds the 8 spot as of now. They are a physical and athletic squad who don’t have the leadership they are used to ever since Sloan bolted for the beach via Deron Williams. They too will force a long series with whomever draws them and wont go easy. But it will be a while before we can see this team making a deep playoff run.
Honorable mention. The T-wolves get this spot without question. They were playing good basketball before Ricky Rubio went down with a torn acl.That is just heartbreaking because they actually were on their way to the playoffs. This team has perhaps the best forward in the game today in Kevin Love. He can do just about everything and he wins too! Rubio had a chain of get well wishes via twitter from superstar athletes and rappers/actors. We wish him a speedy recovery and i see this team becoming a team to reckon with in the next few years.
David Stern: All good things must come to an end
Dear David Stern,
We as fans are very grateful what you have done for the NBA over the last few decades. However, the last 2 years or so you have evolved into a tyrant. The most recent disgrace was the Lakers trade being vetoed. What you did has irreparable repercussions. Not only did the the fan’s most beloved team have to get rid of one of their most popular players, they also got nothing in return. We understand that you do not want the Hornets to have to relocate elsewhere and to leave the franchise in disarray. This is understandable- but to veto that trade and to allow the Clippers to obtain Chris Paul is just beyond comprehension. I have a feeling that the cheapskate cry-baby Donald Sterling had a say in this. Donald is not a good owner and the only reason his franchise has not filed for Chapter 11 is because he’s in Hollywood. With that being said, Mr Stern: Please step down and retire gracefully with class. You have done a fantastic job and have been the
best commissioner in professional sports.Good luck in your future endeavors. Thank you for all your wonderful years and devotion to this great game.
What an Opening Day for the NBA!
What a start!
It all started in New York where the Knicks opened up a 17 point lead early on.However, Rondo and the Celtics werent gonna let this one get away so easy. Rajon Rondo is playing with a chip on his shoulder since the trade talks have not stopped and he proved his worth with 31 points and 13 assists. He single handedly brought the celtics back in to this game. The biggest star of the night was Carmelo Anthony and his 37 points, he hit 2 big free throws with 5 seconds left. The celtics had 1 last shot and Kevin Garnett bricked it. Being the master of cheap shots, Garnett wasnt through. Bill Walker played great defense on that last shot. A scuffle ensued when Garnett shoved Walker after the shot was missed, Walker mouthed something and got into his face. Garnett decided it was time to choke Walker and thats how Christmas day started. Ive said this before, Kevin Garnett is a veteran, but hes a bully. He only gets physical with players that are either rookies or ones
that dont fight back. I would pay good money to see Garnett try these antics with Kenyon Martin or Kurt Thomas. He has been doing this for years, he wouldnt have lasted a full season had Oakley or Anthony Mason been the victim. With that being said, The Knicks showed great offense with mediocre defense and if they dont pull it together on the defensive end, they will be playing golf come june.
The finals rematch between the Heat and Mavericks was one sided the whole way. The Heat came into this season with revenge on their minds and it sure showed. Even if Lebron James didnt look like he was trying hard enough, his usual near triple double showed it. I tell ya, the Heat are tough, and even tougher this year with Shane Battier and their added fuel of last year’s loss in the Finals. Seeing the Mavs championship banner lifted into the rafters had to hurt. Its tough to see how anyone can stop this team. Only a defensive powerhouse like the bulls has a shot to stop this team.
THE LAKERS GAME!- Easily the most exciting game on the Christmas roster, Kobe Bryant proved why he’s one of the greatest to ever play and D- Rose showed why he’s the reigning mvp. This game saw over a dozen lead changes and went down to the wire. With the Lakers up by a point with 20 seconds left, they turned the ball over and Rose drove the lane with a floater to take the lead. With 3 seconds left, Kobe went 1 on 1 but ended up getting swarmed and had his shot blocked. I think this was a good loss for the Bynum-less Lakers. Just shows how strong this team is even without Bynum and a not- 100% Kobe. Kobe has something to prove this season, he showed it. Dont be shocked if the Lakers go to the finals and Kobe gets MVP. I was very happy with how Josh Mcroberts played. He is not soft, and is a great addition to this veteran squad.
Okahoma City Thunder manhandled D. Howard & Co. It was not a surprise. OKC is just simply better. With Howard’s contract uncertainty, he wont be trying too hard to prove anyone otherwise. He clearly wasn’t playing to his ability and he wont be any time soon until he knows his financial and future team. The Thunder are the favorite to come out of the West, with so many weapons they are just too tough to predict and defend. James Harden is far and away the best player off the bench in the game today, and he showed it last night. Look for this team to win any which way they can.
Perhaps the most anticipated game on the schedule was the last game. The Clippers beating the Warriors in a way which i was a little surprised, has me thinking that the Clippers are more serious rather than fun. There were not many “OMG” moments last night, There sure will be with this athletic squad! The game was pretty close the whole way until CP3 decided enough is enough. I like the fact that Vinny Del Negro is allowing this team to run up and down the floor at their own pace. The Clippers are fun and going to winning a whole lot of games. However, i still dont think theyre a contender just yet. The Warriors were a little banged up, but they have what it takes to make a run at the last playoff spot. Stay tuned, this is going to be an unforgettable year in the NBA.
2011-2012 Western Conference Preview
Western Conference Preview-
1.Oklahoma City Thunder- This team has played enough together and played damn well doing just that!. With that being said, its time to see how far this team can go. There is no going downhill from here, Durant wants a title and he will do what it takes to get there. Westbrook is a top 5 pg who can score 25 ppg. Perkins trimmed 30 lbs and will be versatile. Harden is arguably the best player off the bench in the game today. Can Westbrook play Robin to Durant? I believe so!
2. Los Angeles Lakers- Yes, they did lose out on the Chris Paul trade and yes they did lose big on trading away odom for almost nothing in return. But when you’ve got the best player over the last 15 years on your team, Gasol and a healthy Bynum? There is no way that Kobe is letting last years embarrassment fly by. He’s back with a vengeance and he’s got a defensive minded coach riding along. The Lakers will make a big move sometime before the trade deadline whether it be Dwight Howard or Deron Williams or possibly both. Either way the Lakers are back and hungrier than ever.
3. Dallas Mavericks- Yes they lost Tyson Chandler who single handedly carried the defense of the reigning champs. But they got Lamar Odom whos as versatile as they come. They did lose J.J. Barea, but they also picked up Vince Carter. The Mavs are not a fluke and they can very well be playing next June. If everyone stays healthy, they will give the former 2 some trouble.
4. Los Angeles Clippers- I love the Chris Paul signing to team up with the most explosive dunker today. This team will be a highlight reel night after night. However, I do not think that Blake Griffin is prepared to bang with the big boys just yet. He possesses the talent,hands, and strength of an NBA all star. But i just dont see them making it past the 2nd round just yet.
5. Memphis Grizzlies- Was there a bigger surprise last year than what the Grizz did to the Spurs? I mean, how they did it left the basketball world talking to themselves. The Grizz are a gritty offensive and defensive juggernaut. Zach Randolph had his most productive season to date and Marc Gasol had people forgetting about his brother Pau in Hollywood. They have a lot of weapons and Rudy Gay is healthy now. They could sneak in to the Western conference finals but highly unlikely.
6. San Antonio Spurs- They just keep getting older and older yet somehow they still stay in contention all season long. Tony Parker is a lighting fast aging pg whos only progress is making it to #4 on the NBA’S top 10 most hated players (true story). Tim Duncan is a Hall of Famer but he cannot go the full 48 @ the same pace anymore. Ginobili is a tough player to guard, but again.. Where will that take them? They will make a tough 1st round exit.
7. Portland Trail Blazers- Losing a talented pg in Brandon roy (thats an understatement) to early retirement was a big loss for this squad. They acquired Jamal Crawford whos on top of his game and an experienced Lamarcus Aldridge is only going uphill from here on out. Gerald Wallace, Nicolas Batum, the list goes on. This is a wonderful team who have a roster full of guys that let their games do the talking. Should Oden stay healthy, they may make it out of the 1st round.
8.Golden State Warriors- I would like to see them make the playoffs. Ive always loved the Warriors fast paced offense. Steph Curry and Monta Ellis jelled last season. Now they must adapt to a defensive minded coach in rookie coach Mark Jackson. They will score points in bunches and should they adapt to their new coach and play some defense, they will make it into the playoffs and make whichever team they play regret drawing this offensive powerhouse!
9.Utah Jazz- They will miss their beloved coach Jerry Sloan and so will the fans. But its time to regroup and figure out a way to go back to their winning ways. They have an underrated front line and the player they received in the Deron Williams trade is going to have a monster season. Yes folks! Derrick Favors will make the Nets regret giving up on him so quickly. He’s a bottle of talent just waiting to explode!. Al Jefferson is back and Devin Harris still has game left in him. I give them this spot because they need a year or 2 to get it together before they can become a playoff contender.
10.Denver Nuggets-They take this spot because noone really knows what this team is ever capable of. They give teams problems because their players are so physically strong. If their big men can stay healthy, and their guards are consistent? Then they will jump a spot or 2 come seasons end. But the Nuggets rosters are always filled with talented inconsistent players. George Karl is as intelligent of a coach you will find. But how far can a coach actually drive his team? This is the season to find out.
11. Minnesota Timberwolves- Now this is the most exciting Timberwolves team since Marbury and Garnett split up. Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, Michael Beasley, Derrick Williams, Martell Webster, Jose Barea, and of course Rick Adelman coaching this young exciting run and gun offense. Need i remind you that Rick Adelman coached perhaps the #1 exciting team in the late 90s in the Sacramento Kings, then coached the defensive minded Rockets and one can only imagine that this team will be putting up 100+ ppg night in and night out. If theyre able to play well together and play some defense they may be able to pull of a playoff berth. Highly unlikely, but sit back and enjoy the show.
12 .New Orleans Hornets- They made out better than people assume in the Chris Paul trade. Eric Gordon is a young rising star in the game, Chris Kaman is a hard worker who comes to work EVERY day. They hung on to Trevor Ariza who is versatile enough to keep them in relativity. This franchise is in a hurry to get a buyer to absolve the NBA of this diminishing franchise. Its a shame though. This franchise 3 years ago was zipping to the top of the league and never looking back. I wish them luck, they are going to need it.
13. Houston Rockets- The upside to this team is they are fairly young and are not burdened with bad contracts to aging superstars. They have a ways to go before they will be fighting for playoff contention and until they stack up and make some big moves, you wont be seeing this team any where near the post season. They lost out on the trade that was vetoed by David Stern and its a shame, because they probably would have had enough to sneak in to contention. For now though, they are in rebuilding mode.
14. Phoenix Suns- Steve Nash is still getting it done! The window has closed on this aging squad and once they are able to pull of a few good draft picks and maybe sign a big name or 2, their aging greats (Nash and Grant Hill) will have retired by then. They will still be a team that puts up 100ppg, but they will also give up 115 ppg, and in this league, defense wins championships.
15. Sacramento Kings- This franchise at one point was perhaps the most fun and rocking place to be. They had so much talent in the late 90s and early 2000s that everyone wanted to play there. The Maloof brothers really built a wonderful franchise. However, they are uncertain if the team will stay in Sacramento and it hurts since they were at one point, tops in attendance for 3 years straight.They did get Jimmer Freddette in the draft and he is a player that is going to shock fans and players alike. Hes going to be the Tim Tebow of the NBA. Tyreke Evans can flat out ball! and if Demarcus Cousins can keep playing the way he did last season without fighting with coaches and teammates then they will be fine. Lets hope theyre able to stay in their wonderful city and keep their loyal fans happy.
2011-2012 Eastern Conference Preview
EASTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW-
1. MIAMI HEAT- With the addition of Shane Battier, the Heat take the top spot. Besides having the strongest offense, they have the strongest defensive roster as well. Should cruise through the season and the 1st 2 rounds of the playoffs. Although they are still light at the point guard slot, “Lewhatshisname” and Wade are talented enough to carry the team with a cardboard cutout @ the 1.
2. Chicago Bulls- The only team in the east that can give Miami a hard time, They may not have “his airness” or D-Wade on their squad, But they posess, Derrick Rose, easily the best point guard in the game today. Rumor has it he has been working on his slashing during the offseason though I am not sure if it needed work. If Boozer plays the way he played before he got his fat contract then they should give the Heat a real hard time and possibly come out of the east. With Deng and Noah doing their usual work down low, they will definitely be the most exciting defensive minded team to watch.
3. NEW YORK KNICKS- I didnt want to put them here, but im a realist, and when you have Carmelo Anthony, Amare, and Tyson Chandler as your starting front line, you can’t diasagree that they belong here. Last season gave Amare and Carmelo enough time to learn each others game, Chandler will make them matter on the defensive end. Theyre weak at both guard spots but adding Baron Davis will definitely give them spunk and a dose of nostalgia. With that being said, when your 2 starting guards for the time being are Tony Douglas and Landry Fields, you are not exactly going anywhere.
4. Orlando Magic- With all the uncertainty about whether Howard will go or stay, The Magic are going to have a tough time focusing on this season’s success. Should Howard stay with the Magic, their position may change since Howard is still the best center in the game today. They received Glen “crybaby” Davis for Brandon Bass. Theyre both hardworkers, but i dont think Davis will make a difference. This team will just be lost all season long. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Stan Van Gundy.
5. Boston Celtics- The shortened season definitely benefits an aging Celtics team that did not get better in the offseason. They did get bigger though with the addition of Brandon Bass. Allen, Garnett and Pierce are only getting older, and Rondo has heard his name in trade talks more times than i swore off pasta. The Celtics are capable of going on a roll midseason, but they may want to save their old legs for the post season where like Kevin Garnett stated “Anything is possibleeeeee!!!!”
6. Atlanta Hawks- I’m a little sad to put the Hawks here. However, they did not get better and everyone else only got stronger. The Hawks over the last few years have shown heart and talent, but can Josh Smith really lead this team past the 2nd round? I dont think so. They will definitely be fun to watch as usual, but they will make their usual 1st-2nd round exit with the East being so strong.
7.Indiana Pacers- This is going to surprise alot of people. With the addition of David West, these Pacers can very well jump a few spots as long as West does his thing. Danny Granger is underrated, Roy Hibbert can hold his own and Crazy Tyler Hansborough will help on the boards. This is perhaps the 2nd best front line in the east. Collison and West know each others game so there wont be any issues here in Indy. The only question is… Can they do it all season and into the playoffs… PLAYOFFS? PLAYOFFS?
8. Philadelphia 76ERS- Very talented, they have alot of young guns and veterans Iguodala and Elton Brand should carry them into the playoffs. Thaddeus Young and Jrue Holiday are only getting better. As long as the Sixers dont do anything foolish (like bring back allen iverson @ discounted rate of $100.00 a game) they will
have a strong showing but early exit in the post season.
9.Milwaukee Bucks- I like them, they may even slip into the 7th or 8th seed for the playoffs if they can put together a nice run during the season while the others are slumping. Adding Captain Jack and Shaun Livingston is a plus, and with a healthy Bogut and Jennings they will be a tough beat.
10.New Jersey Nets- This is going to be it for Jersey, I dont believe they will receive an NBA franchise again. Rightfully so! Deron Williams is a top 3 pg, but who else is on this team? Are there any other legitimate players on this team aside from “Hook Lopez”? They should be grateful for having Williams and thats all folks!
11. Charlotte Bobcats- I like this team, but they dont have what it takes to contend for a playoff spot. They traded away Stephen Jackson and Livingston, but they did take Kemba Walker in the draft. Walker will do well and add excitement to this team by scoring in bunches. But Bismack Biyombo? Seriously? If you could find a more talented offensive player in pre- school id be surprised. I mean he is just TERRIBLE! but he does bring defense to the table, and if someone can convince some free agents to come to Charlotte, its Michael Jordan, stay tuned, cause i have a feeling this team will be on the up and up in the near future.
12.Toronto Raptors- This team has not even come to close to relevance since Chris Bosh skipped town for South Beach. (Rightfully so!) There is nothing good about Toronto other than hockey games and beer. If this organization plans on keeping itself in the NBA, they ought to do something fast. They have a few good pieces in Derozan and Bargnani, but lets be honest… They should count their blessings that they are in the eastern conference.
13.Washington Wizards- They are probably the worst exciting team to watch. John Wall can PLAY! and Javale McGee can sure dunk with the best of them. With the whole Gilbert Arenas fiasco in the rear, This team will improve very slowly. BUt they will improve. Rashard Lewis should keep them semi-relevant and they have a loyal fanbase who will support the team however far they go. Their owner is behind the team as well and is looking to do whatever it will take to keep his team out of obscurity.
14.Detroit Pistons- A team that ruled the eastern conference for 3 years under Larry Brown has fallen from grace. Completely out of the picture!!. They have a few good players on their roster but when players dont listen to their own coach and Joe dumars’ future uncertain as well. This team is just.. Clueless, I mean i honestly dont have any positive outlook for this team. Ridiculously fat contracts belonging to Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva buried this team for years to come. Kyle Singler the only bright spot on this team and thats only because of his beach blonde hair.
15.Cleveland Cavaliers- Ok no argument here. This team is just terrible. Theyre heading downhill and about to fade in to nowhere land like they were 10 years ago. Lebron James single handedly destroyed this franchise by leaving for the warmer climate. I would have liked to see Lebron bring them a title. Dan Gilbert would have done anything and everything to buy them a title. But Lebron wanted out and out he went along with the possibility of bringing a title here. The only upside to this team is they used their # 1 pick in this years draft on Kyrie Irving. But it wont be long before Irving skips town for a title contending team.
Stay tuned for my preview of the Western Conference!
Lebron says: ” I am not Superior to Anyone”
I have been asked for my opinion concerning Lebron and the Miami Heat many times this past year. Here goes:
The Heat can be defined in six words: TOO MUCH TALENT, NOT ENOUGH CHARACTER!
Lebron: You need to accept the repercussions for leaving your hometown the way you did. Leaving Cleveland was not a bad move, but having titled your decision as “The Decision” certainly was. Throwing a circus-like party with Bosh and Wade was another bad move along with promising Miami fans that you will deliver north of six championships. Throwing fries at a world class chef and shouting “Their cold!” is a classless act. Addressing the world saying: “Yes we lost, but when everyone wakes up in the morning they are gonna to still have the same problems as before,” is indirectly taking shots at the less fortunate.
“King James,” “The Chosen One,” or any other name that you wish to be called: You made your bed, now sleep in it!
MilesAboveTheRim 