The Beautiful Game

2012-01-02T18:12:00.000-08:00

The Hardwood Macbeth

I don't know if a there has been a player that I change my mind about more often than Demarcus Cousins. I recollect disgust back in his Kentucky days as he would pout and scream at the officials and also argue with coach Calipari as if he was roaming the sidelines and calling fouls on his as well. He would remind me of everything that most people I know complain about with modern basketball. I would argue that not all players were prima donnas, selfish and didn't truly love the game. With every new tirade and blasé performance, Demarcus made my stance increasingly difficult. All he seemed to care about was himself and it didn't matter who or what stood in the way of his own needs. I would openly chastise him but then he would actually focus and everything would change. For being such a large man-child, he has soft hands, great feet, incredible length and great bounce. His talent and natural athletic gifts are undeniable but his psyche is incredibly fragile. I always found it ironic how polarizing he was with me considering he always seemed bipolar. At any given moment, he can snap and lose focus and throw himself and his team out of the game. I feared that any team that would take him in would be bringing on the second coming of Derrick Coleman. Derrick could be breathtaking on the court and you would swear that you were witnessing the ascension of one of the all-time greats. Like Demarcus, Derrick could be incredibly immature and mercurial. No matter how outrageous their actions were and are, you could not help but be intrigued by their gifts. Big men with skill sets like Demarcus and Derrick are like unicorns or Bigfoot. Where Derrick fell, I hoped that Demarcus would rise.

Cousins had a rookie years full of ups and downs. For being so long and also being quite large, his field goal percentage ended up being only 43%. This was mostly due to poor shot selection but he also shot only 30% from 3-to-9 feet. Only 32.5% of his buckets at the rim were assisted and a point guard that can create for him would be optimal but a big man with as much skill as he has should be able to finish at close range regardless of the players around him. He obviously needs to finish and take better shots but he also just needs to take care of the ball. Cousins throws horrible passes and tends to force the issue rather than let the game develop. I think he has the ability to create for others but he needs to find patience and for somebody that doesn't seem to understand how to control himself, this may take some time to develop, if it does at all. Demarcus can also rack up the technical fouls. He was towards the top of the league with 14 T's and he was tied for a league high 3 ejections. Cousins has issues controlling his temper and these stats did not surprise me in the least. Being young and inexperienced, he also had a tendency to foul too often. He averaged a foul every seven minutes. His understanding of the game flow should improve but he also needs to not reach or go for balls that are out of his range. With all of these stats, you would think I felt he could not play at all and only showcased a set of red flags. This is not true. He was in the top 30 last year in rebound rate and was among the top 15 power forwards in steals per minute. I can recollect watching his game against the Lakers on 1/28/11 and feeling like he was the best big man on the court for periods of time and that was playing against Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. He overwhelmed almost everybody in that game with his size and athleticism and I could truly see the true glimmer of hope that most scouts and GMs saw within Cousins. For his own good, I hoped he would take that momentum he built in the second half of the season last year and silence critics like myself. Unfortunately, history just repeated itself.

Only four games into the season, Demarcus supposedly demanded a trade from Sacramento. This stems from issues with Coach Westphal and the lack of an apparent offensive system in Sacramento. There is seemingly no direction right now and when the touches are not coming and you feel that there is no connection with the head coach, trouble can only be looming. When I first heard about this, I could somewhat empathize with his position but the old school part of myself felt that second year players do not have this kind of leverage, especially players that have obviously not shown that are an elite NBA player yet. We all get caught up in the potential of players, especially young bigs, but how much do you give up for a player like Cousins? I am intrigued by him like anybody but his personality on the court and in the locker room could be a team killer if you try to base your franchise around him. If I was a GM and had the chance to pull the trigger for Demarcus, I would try to not to give up too much of my future with picks and proven NBA talent. Cousins may have the highest risk/reward of any player in the league and if the Kings actually do elect to let him go, they will either look like they fleeced another team or look like they gave up on an all-time great far before they hit their prime both mentally and physically. If I were the Kings, I would let Westphal go and start anew. He lost the team and the Kings need a new voice and a leader that can optimize the talent they have assembled. Cousins is still only 21 and a strong leader could help both him and the other young Kings like Evans and Fredette reach their full potential. I hope Cousins reaches his ceiling as he could be a force coming into a new decade of NBA stars, but I am also on the side of the fence of those that question his mental makeup. Life tends to be cyclical and he truly seems to be Derrick Coleman 2.0. A big that transcends the game but won't allow themselves to succeed due to not being able to keep their inner demons at bay. For any fan of the game, this should break your heart.

2011-01-06T10:41:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the Memories Steve!

If you came by my desk at work, you would immediately know that I am both a Suns fan and a Steve Nash fan. I cannot think of a player in my Suns lifetime that has been more inspiring than Steve. That says a lot because the team has been very successful since I can recollect. From a pure point guard perspective, Steve is one of the best ever. His vision is incredible and I can say, without a doubt, that he is the best shooter that has ever lived. That may seem like homer talk but the stats don't lie. His on court skills are undeniable but his off the court presence is even better. He is humble in a world filled with God complexes and he is a professional and a leader that any player would ride into battle with. I will always remember his amazing performances and I have always feared life after Steve. I hate to say it but I have to be a realist, that time is now.

Suns fans and beat writers all look for a specific reason for our sudden downfall. Some blame poor management for picking up fringe players with bad contracts like Warrick or Frye. Others point to Amare walking as the ultimate reason for our failures. In some respects, they are both correct but our window has been closed for some time now. I know we made the Western Conference Finals but that was truly unexpected. We did not have the size and defense to truly compete with the Lakers and Celtics of the world. We would scrap and play well but those limitations have been blazing brightly for years. It's time to go back to the drawing board. I still want to push tempo and be the Suns we all know and love but we need some toughness and some size for a change. With our current position, the only way to really do this is by letting Steve go. It's only fair to him as we're mired in mediocrity with no end in site. We need a youth movement and players, picks and salary cap relief are the only way to go. It's time to stop pretending.

I know the Suns are debating this move as they don't want the uproar of the fan base. We are all spoiled with winning but we need a little futility before we can ascend once again. Steve will always be my favorite Sun and I can never thank him enough for the countless memories he gave me over the course of his career. I only wish him well but it's time to move on. I only pray that our management doesn't draft poorly and dig us into a deeper hole but only time will tell. There is an amiable break up on the horizon, let's just hope that both parties can walk away the better for it.

2010-12-28T12:17:00.000-08:00

Popularity Contest

I feel that I'm seeing a lot of discussions centered on the NBA All-Star game recently. Every year, I gripe personally or rather loudly about who gets in and who doesn't. I understand that there are a limited amount of roster spots but the game should be a true reflection of the best players currently in the NBA. I know I don't want to see a broken down T-Mac or AI just because the fans still remember them from when. I also do not want to see a player voted in just because his country has an overwhelming amount of people supporting them IE Yao Ming. Don't get me wrong, I like that people can vote but it seems that people are voting predominantly based on recollection or limited knowledge rather than the truth. If a guy is busting his butt and destroying the competition, he should be in, regardless of his country of origin or the record of his current team. One player can make a tremendous difference to a franchise but you cannot punish them for the lack of overall talent around them or due to how green their supporting cast may be. Looking around the league, a few guys come to mind that deserve to be recognized and should get some burn in the All-Star game. Maybe the game isn't significant any longer but with the right people involved, it may start to evolve into the competitive clash that the game once was. Without further ado, here are some players that deserve your votes and their teams record simply should not matter.

I know the T-Wolves are 8-24 and stink it up on most nights but Kevin Love has blossomed into a bona fide stud. He doesn't captivate you above the rim or in transition but he gets it done the old school way. He fights and scratches and sees the game in a very cerebral way. He is a living example of a player that wasn't overtly blessed athletically but compensates with basketball IQ. He might not make you jump out of your seat or show up in the Top Ten plays on Sportscenter but his 15.5 boards per game are all the justification you need. Give Love some love!!

I used to hate on Monta all the time. I'm not too proud to admit that. I grew up on Steve Nash and John Stockton and I appreciate selfless players. Monta would just freeze everybody out in the past and only look for his. This year though, I feel that he is letting the game come to him. We all know his first step may be the quickest in the league and that he can score at will. The thing that impresses me is his increase in field goal percentages, assists and also the decline of his turnovers. He is finally understanding the game and that is a scary thought for the opposition. Yes, I know the Warriors are pretty bad but don't punish one of the most exciting players in the league because of this.

Hoss should be in the All-Star game. He is the very reason a game like this even exists. Also, I did just call Blake Hoss. I created that nickname and I am sticking to it. I haven't seen a combination of this reckless, powerful and graceful abandon since pre-microfracture Amare. The real difference is that Blake is not simply a dunker. He works his butt off and boards like a mad man and actually hands out quite a few assists. I know he is young, is not an elite defender and can't make a free throw to save his life but he should be in the game. This kid is the future if he stays healthy and I know I will be watching every second of it. Giddy up!

2010-12-20T09:54:00.000-08:00

The Trade

Trades are always exciting in the NBA and it is even that much more exciting when it involves your own team. If you have ever read this blog before, you would know that I was born and raised in Phoenix and I grew up on the purple and orange. Last season was fantastic to watch and that was one of my favorite teams we ever put on the floor. That being said, I knew we weren't getting by the elite teams. Even with all of the hype about a suddenly "improved" defense, we were still small and some of our best players, Amare and Nash, are not good defenders. I sincerely hoped for the best after Amare walked and was somewhat perplexed by our moves like many of you.

We ended up with a team full of swings. There was so much redundancy and I applaud Alvin Gentry for just trying to figure out a way to make it work. We were still lacking in defense and we actually got smaller in the front court and worse on the boards. As we were hovering around .500, I knew something had to give. The rumor about Hedo being shopped was being circulated hard and I knew somebody would have to be tossed in to take on that contract. I hate to see J Rich go but with what we obtained, I'm actually pleasantly pleased.

I've seen many people out there, journalists I respect greatly, hammering this trade due to it not bringing in the pieces Nash needs to win now. My question to them is this, do you see an Amare or Pau sitting out there right now? Jason Thompson or Anderson Verejao would not take us to promise land. I knew we had to fix a gaping hole in our front court and continue to improve our perimeter defense. This trade actually does that two fold.

Mickael Pietrus gives us a very solid perimeter defender and a player that is great spotting up. He will be spoon fed by Nash as long as he is a Sun and he should flourish. There will not be pressure to do more than that and he has proven he can play that role. He is also pushing Josh Childress to improve and you can tell Josh is hearing footsteps after he great game against the Thunder last night. Now we only have one too many wings and it should be a dog fight to see who comes out on top. If Josh plays like he did last night, the only thing that Mickael does better on the floor is hit the three. It really depends on spacing and what Alvin feels we need. The 3 ball could be imperative with J Rich not being there now though.

The Polish Hammer is a Godsend. That isn't hyperbole either if you had been watching. If I had to watch one more team walk in for a layup or volleyball the offense boards around, I was going to jump off the Columbia Tower here in Seattle. Gortat can rebound and block shots and his fluidity will be great in transition and in the pick and roll. He has been one of the better back up centers in the league for some time and with Robin struggling on the court and with injuries, he is great insurance to have. Much like how Pietrus will push Chilly, Gortat will push Robin. It is amazing to actually have a gross of centers on the Suns.

Vinsanity is still the unknown quantity. He is not J Rich and I would not profess that he can completely fill those shoes. I will miss Richardson on our squad and he was a huge reason we had the run we did in the playoffs last season. Vince just needs to hit open looks and attack the rim from time to time. His contract is expiring and unless our staff and Steve transform him, I don't see him staying beyond this season. I am hopeful for the best but this deal was meant more for size and defense, not for Vince.

The other nice X factor with this trade is Orlando's first rounder. It might not be a high pick but we could package picks and move up or potentially use it in another trade, especially if it could help us get a pretty good PF. There are a lot of possibilities but I do feel we are better off now than we were. We were not going to win it all last year with our deficiencies in the front court and we were especially not going to with even less size this year. This pushes us in the right direction and I only hope more young assets are on the horizon. This is not a slap in the face to Steve. He is a professional and will do everything he can to help us win. He will always most likely be a Sun and he can push any squad to great limits. Before we all lash out, let's see how this works. I've seen Steve do more with less before.

2010-12-17T10:13:00.000-08:00

Manu The Forgotten?

When you think about the San Antonio Spurs, what comes to mind? Tim Duncan? Tony Parker? The Tony Parker and Eva Longoria split? Their league leading record? So many things come to mind when you think about the Spurs but the last few nights have been a demonstration of the glue guy that keeps it all together, Manu Ginobili.

Manu has always kind of gotten a bad rap. He is known as a flopper, a complainer and also being reckless as his style of play always seems to leave him banged up. By skipping his national team duties and resting in the off season for once, Manu looks revitalized. He showed flashes of being a top ten player in the league again last year but injuries got in the way once again. This year, knock on wood, he looks to be feeling great and leading the Spurs at the age of 33. He has cashed a few game winners lately and this is another demonstration of his clutch play and importance to his team. He can be unstoppable with the ball in his hands but there are so many more intangibles to his game. He is a great passer, ball handler, is good in the passing lanes and can make buckets from all kinds of angles from anywhere on the court. His talent is undeniable but he has always been a shadow of sorts.

I think that avid fans appreciate Manu. People on the outside that have a casual interest probably only see him for the stereotypes that I listed previously. Duncan is the best power forward ever and Tony Parker has always been a damn good point guard but Manu's skill set has been integral to the success of the Spurs. As his health goes, the Spurs go. Every NBA team needs a guy that you can clear out with and let loose and any team could use a guy that is a virtual Swiss Army knife.

The last few nights and a couple game winners later further illustrate my point. In a league full of sudden parody and nobody really jumping out as the MVP front runner, Manu has to be in these initial conversations. Anything can happen over the duration of a season but as of right now, Manu is playing fantastic basketball and he deserves recognition for it. Timmy is fading into the sunset but Manu is still creating chaos on the court in a good way. You may not like the flopping of the crying but you cannot deny the talent.

2010-12-13T16:37:00.000-08:00

The Beautiful Game is on Twitter

http://twitter.com/bonitagame

I have officially entered the world of Twitter. Swing on over and feel free to chime in with comments or questions and I will try to post as much as possible and will hopefully be somewhat entertaining to read y'all.

2010-12-12T19:42:00.000-08:00

Carmelo a Knick??

I was looking around the Internets and noticed that Melo is telling the Nuggets that the only team he will sign with is the Knicks. I'm sure that a majority of Knicks fans are rejoicing about the idea of landing another max-contract player to put alongside Amare. On paper, you would think that getting another player like Melo just makes too much sense. Then again, people need to think about who the Knicks currently have, who they would give up and how their two alpha dogs will interact.

Chris Sheridan was speculating that the Knicks would have to give up Danilo Gallinari, Landry Fields, Eddy Curry's expiring contract and a number one pick. That is a boat load to give up for any player. I'm not saying that Danilo or Landry are as good as Carmelo but you can argue that they are young, have a lot of potential still and fit certain roles on a team that is playing well right now. Throw in an expiring contract and a draft pick, most likely from the Anthony Randolphy trade and you could be giving up a bit too much. I like Anthony's game but I have never loved it. He is a pure scorer and is rebounding a bit better but he isn't the type of player that makes his teammates better and he is never going to lock anybody down defensively. You have to think about all those pieces you would be giving up Knicks fans and also if Melo is worth it, especially when playing him with Amare.

You know how I feel about Amare in terms of rebounding and defense. He is also not a stellar passer. He is great on the run and spotting up on the hedge in the half court. Carmelo is great in the half court as well, spotting up in a very similar fashion. Who gets the ball on offensive sets? I think that Amare could coexist with a great player, he already has with Nash in Phoenix. Carmelo is not as selfless as Nash and I don't know if he could handle being second fiddle on some nights. It would be fun to watch but you could have a Lebron/Wade issue on the horizon.

Carmelo could help bring even more excitement back to the Garden. He could also cause a log jam in the half court on offense and the Knicks would still be lacking what they need most, somebody in the middle to cover up for Amare on the glass and on D. Carmelo certainly doesn't achieve either of these really and I honestly think money spent on somebody like Marc Gasol in the offseason may make more sense, especially if you have to give so much up. Buyer beware is all I say.

2010-12-12T17:56:00.000-08:00

SAT for the NBA

With a lockout on the horizon, you seem to get a few more details about what is on the table in the negotiations on a daily basis. The other day, I read that the players are wanting to fight the age limit set in place. For those not in the know, the age limit stipulates that you need to be one year removed from high school before you can play in the L. This is such a polarizing subject. On one hand, you have people that point to the Lebron's and Amare's of the world and say, "You can play at 18! If you can do it, why should you have to wait a year?" On the other hand, you have those that say, "They are not mentally or physically prepared for the rigors of the NBA both on and off the court!" I can see both arguments in this situation. Most guys at 18 are not ready for that type of celebrity or that sudden influx of money. I could not imagine myself at 18 with millions of dollars. My house would have looked like Tom Hanks's pad in Big. Most people fresh out of high school are also physically not there yet. You have rare cases of people looking like they are 30 at 18 but most kids look like they are 18. I think of people like Brandon Wright that had a world of potential but did not allow themselves time on the court and in the weight room in college to develop properly. I go back-and-forth on this issue but I think there could be a happy medium here. Why not test the kids that want to go pro?

Anybody that wants to go pro can be put through a series of mental and physical examinations. This can drastically increase your draft stock if you perform well. If somebody fresh out of high school thinks they have it, why not test them and allow them entrance if they meet certain standards? The tests that normally showcase your draft position could also be the standard that allows a high school kid to enter the draft.

Any draft geek like myself knows about the combine. You have a series of tests that scouts and teams hold up as an example of your aptitude for the pro game. You are tested in vertical leaping ability, 3/4 court speed and standing reach for example. Draft sites and the NBA have been compiling these findings for years now. You can look back in time and find an average for each position within each physical test. So, if you're a power forward, you will have to be able to lift 185-pounds a certain number of times to illustrate that you can hit the average for most pros at that position at a similar age. If you cannot attain the totals, you have to go to college and continue to develop. You can do the same for players from a mental standpoint too.

People like Mark Cuban and Danny Ainge are notorious for putting players through mental examinations. This can help demonstrate correlations mentally between previous players and also help a team gain insight into a player that you could not achieve in a half-hour interview. If a player goes through these exams and is deemed not mentally fit for the tests ahead in the NBA, then they need to continue their basketball education in college and come out when they feel they are ready to pass these standards.

This may seem radical but it is a way to measure if a player is NBA worthy. There may be more tests and ideas that come over time but I would think that special players like Lebron would pass these easily and be placed in the NBA without any issues. This may also help players like Ndudi Ebi reexamine their path and potentially build themselves up in college and then go to the pros much later then they did. This could help the NBA get players that are better prepared for showtime and also allow kids to grow in college and enter the NBA at the proper time. Again, I know it is not the perfect idea but this is a bit of a wishy washy issue. Some players can play immediately and some players cannot. Why not utilize what is already available to teams in the draft and help separate the dreamers and the truly gifted? You should not stop the elite players from playing at a stage worthy of their skills. You should not also allow players that have "potential" to be drafted much too high again and begin to saturate the game once again.

2010-12-09T21:23:00.000-08:00

Kyrie Irving Possibly Out for Year

I was shocked that I was actually saddened by an injury to a Duke player. I normally hate on Duke and all the mystique and elitism of the entire team. This year though, I really like their squad. It seems more like a team you would see at UNC with the athleticism and pushed tempo. Coming out of St. Patrick, I loved everything about his game. In an era of athletes redefining the point guard position, it is a breath of fresh air to see a true old school point guard. Kyrie is smooth and poised and can kill you at the rim, on the pull up, in transition or finding an open teammate. He may not be the best athlete at the top of the draft order but he is far from being unathletic and his intangibles are things you simply cannot teach. Any team in need of a true floor leader should not even have to think about their pick if Kyrie is on the board. But, with the chance of a lockout and a potential lost season due to a toe injury, he may be back to team up with Austin Rivers come next season. The rich continue to get richer and I only wish Kyrie a speedy recovery. He is a pleasure to watch for any fan of the pure game.

2010-12-07T12:44:00.000-08:00

Knicks Talk Premature

Being a Suns fan, I always watch the Knicks out of the corner of my eye. I'm curious to see what D'Antoni can do without Nash and I'm also curious to see how Amare does without his point guard and with a new contract. The Knicks have been winning as of late and fans clamoring for success and media outlets that reside predominantly on the East coast are stating that the team is much improved. I guess it would not take much to improve over previous seasons but I have a hard time swallowing all the talks about Felton being a revelation and that Stoudemire is going to lead the Knicks to high seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. I think this is all smoke and mirrors and by the end of the season, you will hear more trash talk than praise when the Knicks get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. I know Knicks fans are probably thinking, "The playoffs would be great!". You, Knicks fans, deserve better.

The first thing to take into consideration is Raymond Felton. Not surprinsingly, his stats have gotten a bit of a boost in the Knicks system. For his career, he averages 13.6 ppg and 6.6 apg. This season, he is averaging 18.1 ppg and 8.5 apg. I expect improvement in a more free-flowing offense but can you really rely upon somebody that could not get consistent burn in the Bobcats organization? Players can always improve as well but do you honestly believe that a career .413% shooter from the field is going to keep this up? I expect a better season as I noted just due to the system and some of his targets but it is still early and I expect the law of averages to come around again.

Speaking of the law of averages, let's talk about Amare. His averages look about the same as they usually do. He seems to be shooting the 3 a bit more and his turnovers and scoring are up with more of a focal role. He will always be a Sportscenter star. He is the type of guy that is you exclusively watch Sportscenter, he is one of the best players in the league. When you truly watch him, as I have his entire career, you know better. His stats are hollow and he will never rebound efficently and he will also never stop anybody on defense. Is it really a shock that Kevin Love grabbed 30 boards and it was on Stat? Bill Simmons always jokes that the Knicks will have odd stats like this put up on them all season due to their lack of size and defense. You can almost solely point that at Amare. He will make excuses for not ever being taught D or say that he will step his intensity up on D but these are his staple statements. Expect many points and highlight dunks but not the overall game that a 100 million dollar player needs Knicks fans. I know you are smart enough to know this and I'm sorry you have to yell at him for knucklehead plays over the next five-years.

The other thing to look at is schedule. Who have the Knicks beat that was relevant? They beat a Hornets team that is coming back to Earth and Sacramento, Golden State, the Clip Show, the Bobcats twice, Detroit, Jersey and the T-Wolves over this current winning streak. I know that good teams should beat teams like this but outside of beating Chicago sans Boozer, I can't point to one meaningful win all season. This upcoming stretch starting with Denver on the 12th should be very telling. I will eat crow if they beat up on the Nuggets, Celtics and Heat but I highly doubt it. I see them moving up in the power rankings on ESPN and I know this will shift dramatically in a few weeks when they feasibly only win three more games in December. Time will tell of course but a team relying on a star power forward that doesn't play D or rebound, a back-up point guard on most teams, a rookie that is shockingly playing out of his mind and a short bench that D'Antoni always goes to and wears his player out with, then I think that time will not be too kind.

P.S. For those of you wondering about Anthony Randolph, here is a word to the wise. Coach Mike doesn't develop young players well. He would rather play vets and let them succeed and bench young players and not give them any burn. I'm really surprised that Fields is getting any time at all. That is probably out of need more than anything being that he can rebound and this team needs every one they can get. The Suns young players like Dudley, Dragic and Lopez did not excel until he was gone and Gentry came in. Randolph will be a waste until he goes somewhere that gives him the time and confidence to succeed.

2010-12-05T15:26:00.000-08:00

The Golden Age of the Point Guard

The current NBA is being driven by a bevy of talented, young point guards. Since hand-checking has been taken out of the league, quicker players have been given a clear path to create and attack. There has never been a time in the NBA where the point guard mattered more. The league has always been a place where giants roam and generally succeed. In many ways, this is still the case but teams are trying to take advantage of the leeway that has been given to perimeter players. I always recollect big men being the most coveted players in the draft but now, it seems that point guards have taken over. You have John Wall, Derrick Rose, Ricky Rubio, Russell Westbrook and many other quality guards being snatched up quickly at the top of the draft order. We're fortunate to have so many quality ones playing right now but the real question is, who is the best? This is a constant debate amongst my friends. It seems to change daily with each match up or new amazing highlight. Choosing the best point guard is a matter of substance really.

In a traditional sense, a point guard's main duty is to be the quarterback on the court. They set the offense and create the tone for the entire game. With more freedom for creativity, athletic guards who are more combo than creator have become the norm. Court vision seems like an afterthought and now teams want to know about vertical leap, 3/4 court speed and wingspan. Players like Westbrook and Rose are a highlight reel waiting to happen but I am old school in how I like my point guards. That being said, I present my top 5 point guards in the NBA currently. This will probably change by tomorrow but I'm sticking with this for the next fifteen minutes. My picks come with a caveat. I am more Magic and Stockton than I am Iverson and Billups. Watching a true point guard set the stage for his team is my favorite thing to watch in basketball. You need to be able to score when you have to but that should not be your primary focus, in my opinion. Feel free to disagree but this debate is maybe the most exciting one in the modern NBA.

5. Rajon Rondo: I love Rondo's game. As a Suns fan, I cringe when I see him play for Celtics. He would be amazing in the Suns system and I can't believe his lack of a jumper supposedly kept D'Antoni away from him. A guy can dream right? Rajon leads the league in assists with 14.1 per game. I LOVE his game. He is always pushing the tempo and creating for others. He is a joy to watch on the fast break and his creativity is breathtaking at times. He is great on the glass, fantastic in the passing lanes and is perpetually attacking. His lack of an outside shot is a bit of a turn off for me but the only true issue I have with Rondo is his attitude. I was not shocked to see him booted of Team USA. I have always heard that he is difficult and I don't want that in my leaders. It also doesn't hurt that a few of the guys listed ahead of him on this list outplayed him recently.

4. Derrick Rose: Rose is part of the new breed of point guards. He is a phenomenal athlete that is constantly in attach mode. He soars above the rim and explodes past defenders with an array of lightning quick dribble moves. He was solely living in the paint for his scoring initially but you can tell that he has been working on his 3-point shot. He is shooting .35% on the season thus far and this has helped boost his scoring avaerge to 25.7 ppg. He is distributing much better at 8.1 apg and that was the biggest knock on his game to me. As I have stated, I prefer a point guard that passes first and then looks to score second. I appreciate his improved vision but he will always be a score first kind of point guard. The thing that has risen him to this level is that he can take games over now. There are few players out there that make me fearful at the end of games and Rose is one of them. There have been several occasions this season that he put the team on his back and won games while Boozer was out. He is quite impressive and the Team USA glow seems to have rubbed off on him as well.

3. Deron Williams: I always feel badly for Deron Williams. He is a tremendous player that always has to be compared to Chris Paul. Deron was blessed with a perfect body for the point guard position. He is nearly unstoppable when he is on and his strength and size overwhelms most opposing guards. There is little that he can't do offensively and he displays an all-around game that is played inside/out and he can kill you with the pull up jumper or on the pick and roll. Deron just isn't extremely long or explosive and this limits him somewhat defensively. He will never lead the league in steals and while he is good laterally, most quick guards can beat him to the spot. Like I said, Deron is great but he will never have the all-around game that Paul has and we all need to stop comparing them when their games are very different.

2. Russell Westbrook: I never dreamed that Russell Westbrook would be in this place. We have all seen that Howland's system can hide some players with its conservatism, but Westbrook did not seem like he had the point guard gene in his blood. He seemed like the prototype new age point guard that attacked opponents and did nothing more than that. Westbrook has become a point guard that I have never seen before. He shows the abilities of a versatile small forward but has the ability to score and distribute like a point guard. His outside shot and confidence grew with team USA and he has stepped up and become the early season MVP on a team that includes the early favorite for MVP. His creativity, turnovers and outside shot still need to improve but he has become almost unstoppable and effects the game in so many different ways.

1. Chris Paul: It's amazing how quickly people forget about you when you are hurt. Paul was the best player in the league a few years ago but while he was injured, people questioned who the best point guard in the league truly was and even had the audacity to claim that the Hornets did not need him since Darren Collison was playing so well in his absence. As a floor general, the best comparison I can find to Paul is Nash. Paul may not be the shooter that Nash is but he is a MUCH better defender, is better at attacking the rim and turns the ball over much less. Nash plays the game almost perfectly but Paul is still superior to him. That is as high a compliment that I can think of for a point guard and remember, I'm a Suns fan. People also need to recognize how much Paul is getting out of a team that really doesn't have much to it. He is making everyone around him better and is leading his team and pushing them as far as they can go. They might not win it all or be in the same position by the end of the year, but I guarantee Paul will lead the league in PER and also get the most out of his team that any point guard truly could.

2010-12-04T21:43:00.000-08:00

The Worm Deserves the Hall

Heading into the vote for the Hall of Fame this year, there was a debate centered around Dennis Rodman and his chances of entering the Hall. I can somewhat see a debate over the validity of his Hall of Fame credentials. There have been many players that were more competent offensively. We always hear accolades for the Big O and his season of averaging a triple-double or there is the constant discussion of the Big Dipper and his 100-point game against the Knicks. In reality, it seems that every player that is within our conscesnius was great offensively. I can recall the images of Jordan flying through the air for a forceful dunk or see Magic Johnson delivering a no-look pass to Worthy on the break. Offensive is glamerous and when players have special abilities, it is transcendent. On the other hand, basketball is not always pretty. In order to win and do it consistently, your team has to be able to rebound and play defense. I'm sure you've all heard the cliche saying of, "Defense wins championships". As a Suns fan, I can attest to this being true. If you can't get stops when it counts or keep the other team off the glass, you simply can't win. Every NBA team needs garbage men to be able to lock the other team down or control the backboards. Dennis Rodman was the best garbage man the league will ever see. That is a complement, I promise.

Let's take a little trip down memory lane. Rodman led the league in rebounding between 91-97. The highest total RPG he averaged over that period was 18.7. This is an unprecendented feat and deserves praise from everybody. Sportscenter lauds a player like Dwight Howard for pulling down 20-boards on occasion but imagine if he did that on a nightly basis. Rodman was to rebounding to what Jordan was to scoring. He was the best of his generation and the best rebounder ever. People can argue all they want about Wilt but he did not have the competition that Rodman faced nightly and Rodman was only 6'7 while doing all of this. He wasn't one dimensional as a rebounder either. He was also named to the all-defensive first team seven times as well. He wasn't a dominant shot blocker or ball thief but he knew how to lock somebody down. He was one of the best man defenders at his position ever. His Bulls and Pistons teams were dominant defensively as a whole but Worm was the best defender towards the tail-end of his Pistons career and was right up there with Jordan and Pippen on those Bulls teams as well. He was capable, in his prime, of covering one through five on the defensive end.

Rodman never had a sexy game but the credentials are there to make the Hall of Fame. He lacked offensive polish but the biggest hurdle for him may be himself. I mean that his odd behavior probably turns off many traditionalists. He was outrageous at times and did public stunts like wearing dresses to book signings or dyed his hair vibrant colors like hot pint or leopard print. In a modern NBA where entertainment is put at the forefront, I don't know why anybody would be turned off by this. You couldn't help but stare and wonder what odd thing he may do next. Deep inside, he was troubled and almost took his own life and it is a miracle that he was able to overcome those personal demons. I don't always agree with his actions but I also knew that he was going through his own struggles. I'm sure he wasn't the easiest teammate in the world to get along with but when the lights turned on, he was always prepared. That is all you can ask for from a teammate and you knew he was going to work hard and give it everything he had every single night.

When the time comes for the Hall of Fame voting next year, I hope that the voters can look beyond the obvious with Dennis Rodman. He was odd and difficult and his game was not conventional. What he was was the best rebounder ever and he was also one of the best defenders ever as well. Dunks and points get you on Sportscenter but the work in the trenches gets you rings. Is it a coincidence that the Worm has 5 rings? One can argue that he played on great teams that aided him to this but that would also discredit a player who had unique gifts. There will never be another Dennis Rodman and if you haven't seen him play, do yourself a favor and watch some old tapes. He was an artist on the glass and played as hard as anybody ever will. No matter how crazy he acted, he always gave a damn. It's about time somebody recognized this and gave him his rightfull place in the Hall of Fame.

2010-10-03T20:14:00.000-07:00

Public Enemy Number 1

Lebron James used to be somebody that inspired me. It feels like just yesterday, he was playing St Vincent - St Mary High School and was a phenomenon. I recollect feeling that the hype had to be unwarranted. I had seen far too many Ndubi Ebi's and Jonathan Bender's to just accept praises like "He's the next MJ" or "He's the next Magic". I tracked his accolades online and I was more than excited when I found out one of his games would be on national television. I was apprehensive initially and then I saw him play. As a senior, he looked like a 30-year old man already. He was strong, powerful and quick; a young Karl Malone but more explosive. He barreled his way down the court but this wasn't simply a physical freak by any stretch of the imagination. I saw what the scouts and players were seeing. Certain elite players have an innate feel for the game that no others have. They know when to shoot, when to find the open man and when to lead. It was apparent within 15 minutes how great this kid already was but that he could be an elite level player in the NBA at 18. I had never seen anything like it and I loved the way he smiled and played and took joy in the game and his teammates. You couldn't help but pull for this kid a little bit.

Fast forward to 2010 and we have complete new beginnings. Lebron has inspired many players and fans and has taken over the title, in some people's eyes, as the best player in the game. His game has become more refined with age and he isn't just all athleticism and vision any longer. There is a better defensive game, a better outside shot and more of a desire to win. He had been on the cusp in Cleveland and was revered as the savior of the city by the Cavs fans. Going into "The Decision", I couldn't help but think about that kid I say years ago. While his ego had grown, I still felt he was a good guy. He seemed like a good teammate and he still remained loyal to all of those that stood by him. I remember thinking, "He has to come back to Cleveland for his pride and his love for the city and his team". I was truly shocked at the spectacle that "The Decision" became. The children, the references in the third person and the utter contempt for anything that was his past. I heard him say how Kobe inspired him with his drive but you know as well as I do that Kobe would never play second fiddle to anybody. Lebron walks into a stacked deck and smugly acts as if the last 7-years didn't matter. I felt for the fans of Cleveland who struggled for so long and I felt for his former team who will go down in flames this year, but I also felt for Lebron.

I was watching the Lebron James documentary the other day called "More Than a Game". I loved seeing Lebron, so talented and young and getting engrossed with the game. It was a pleasure to watch him rally around his teammates and friends and it was beautiful to watch his relationship with Dru, Willie, Romeo and coach Dru. You could see that they all reveled in playing together but they were all like brothers and enjoyed the time off the court almost more. It was inspiring to watch them ascend the ranks of high school basketball and eventually become the top ranked team in the land. Lebron had somewhat of an ego like most stars have but he was selfless. He wanted his teammates to shine just as much as himself and his constant giving was evident on and off the court. I loved seeing this side of Lebron and remembering how great a ball player he was but also how gracious he was to be blessed with such great friends and a father figure in coach Dru for the first time in his life.

The other day I read Lebron's comments in the media about racism being the reason behind the sudden hatred among the masses towards him. While I can't deny that racism still exists, this was a blatant attempt to deflect just criticism. Publicly humiliating your former team and coming across with a bit of a God complex can change perceptions rather quickly. I think back to his game in earlier years and how it progressed to more of a selfish style of play and that was a direct reflection of what he had become. This can be blamed on him in many ways but also on his coaches and his handlers that allowed this metamorphosis from being a giver to being a taker. He had become what the general consensus felt the NBA was, selfish kids with too much money and too much of "me" rather than "we". I hated to see somebody that I felt would be the next step in the game and a step in the right direction. I envisioned team play being the center of all this and Lebron leading the way with a smile while rejoicing in the game and the moments that he was fortunate enough and special enough to be a part of.

I don't hate Lebron or have strong feelings of disgust towards him for what he did. He had every right to go in whatever direction he chose. I don't agree with his actions or what he will ultimately do to his legacy. I know he will be booed and despised all season long and I can only hope that somehow, the kid I saw at 18 will come back to us. There is still time and I don't want him to become the stigma in which he is already knee deep in. It will be good for him as a person but it will help the NBA move forward, especially with somebody leading the way that has undeniable rare abilities. Then again, I might be naive and think that the money and the power aren't truly at the center of why people play in the modern era.

2009-02-10T13:54:00.000-08:00

LEADERS ARE BORN

Sorry to the Amare apologists, but I too must hate.

I think that is the most important point that I think is not being discussed here. Can Amare LEAD a team to a championship???

The organization has made every effort to help him grow. They have marketed him more than anyone. They have made roster moves to accomodate his weaknesses. Wrong hire or not, Terry Porter was brought in "for Amare" - all be it a cost effective choice for it.

So while Amare can point back at the organization, he also needs to appreciate what they have done for him... including max out his contract for every year he has been in the league.

Amare has provided some incredibly entertaining moments... that I will never argue. He has worked hard to recover from injury. He has worked hard on becoming an offensive force. He throws down some of the most athletic dunks and has proven to be one of the most dangerous pick and roll big men in the league, as his pop jumper is consistent, and his hands moving to the basket are as good as any in the league. These skills have been the ideal compliment to Nash.

That is where the compliments end from me.

I think Amare has near peaked. Can he become more consistent with his jumper? Yes. Can he finally develop a post game? Possibly. Can he spend an offseason learning how to use his left hand? One can hope.

However, there are two aspects which time plays no bearing on, and they are the two most important factors in my eyes, in what distinguishes Amare and a leader of a championship team. Effort and Basketball IQ. You either have them or you dont.

While Amare has shown to effective blocking shots off the weakside, his defense is atrocious. This is due to IQ and effort. He does not understand team defense positioning, positioning for boxing out, nor does he put forth the effort to make up for his lack of positioning. He watches loose balls, he allows his man to get to the glass, and on man to man defese he allows his man to establish position too often. He doesnt work hard on the defensive end, and there is no debate about this.

Did anyone see Speights last night? Kind of hard to miss it. How about Al Jefferson the past two years? Boozer? Duncan? The list is endless. Every PF's eyes light up knowing they face Amare as they have free reign to the glass.

Back to my most important point... Can Amare LEAD a team to a championship????

Has there been any championship team whose best player does not play defense?

Amare every year tells fans he is going to play defense this year, yet every game, every season, he fails to close out on jumpshots, box out, cover the weakside, step out on high p&r... etc, etc, etc.

And he is the annointed LEADER by the organization... and... well... himself. Is it not true that the rest of the team most likely follows suit of the leader?

Now, I realize Amare has not had the most defensive minded head coach. Mike D did not teach toughness, or bother at all with any defensive drills. And I highly doubt his AAU coaches were cramming his head with defensive footwork and establishing position.

Kerr, knowing this surrounded him with one of the most prominent defensive rebounders ever as well as a big man who could keep Amare off of 5's.

Anyone who bashes Kerr for acquiring Shaq must be insane, as Shaq has done everything and more than he has been asked. Shaq has been exposed to only one weakness: stepping out on the P&R... and considering his presence is more valuable in the paint, and he lacks the fluidity to do so anymore, I can not be upset with this.

Marion meanwhile, is now complaining for another team. You all remember Marion complaining right? You remember every year his dissappearance in the playoffs? You remember his complete lack of development of any kind???

Now... You counter by saying that trade took away from our ability to run... I would say that 4 straight games of 30+ pts fast break shows that we are more than able. The fast break however requires a defensive stop or defensive rebound, and then an effort to get down. Grant Hill, J-Rich, Barnes, Babs have all been flying down the court of late... anyone notice who hasnt? Amare. One of the greatest assets Amare brought was his ability to get up and down the court. Now, he is satisfied with a light jog and playing filler on the secondary break.

Additionally, on the pace and positioning on offense, Amare has 15-20 minutes a night where he is on the floor without Shaq. So his opportunity for an open paint is there. However, Amare has not developed a 1 on 1 game. He has not developed a post game. Essentially Amare is 2 dimensional when not feeding off of Nash. Face up J or dribble hard right. Defenders know this, and hence they are stripping him before he hits the paint, or are in position when he goes up. Do you all not see that half of his shots are right into the defenders hands? He is either blocked or throws up a wreckless shot and screams for a foul. This leads to my final point...

Amare is going to diminish a lot faster than people realize. He already has shown signs of not being able to jump over people, nor jump as quickly for follow ups as he once did. This guy has had two serious knee injuries... and while I credit our medical staff, and I am by no means a doctor, Amare's athleticism will decline before it increases.

When a players athleticism declines he has his skill and his IQ to fall back on. Personally, I dont see either of those to be Amare's strong suits.

So again, I ask, can he LEAD this team to a championship???

Here is another question... and extremely pertinent to the matter... come 2010, would you feel comfortable giving him another max contract? another 6 years of Amare carrying nearly 20 million of the cap???

Personally I dont think he can LEAD a team to a championship, and there is no way in hell I would wish to extend a max contract to him, thus, my belief is get what you can when you can. And when he still putting up highlights, and being voted an all star - and thus marketable, I would certainly consider his value as high as it will be in the next two years.

Additionally, I believe the effort and IQ are there with the rest of the roster. Substituting a player like Rasheed Wallace, for example, and I consider the Suns as one of the better teams in the west, with potential to have it click at some point. We have some old players, no doubt, but they are capable if they are playing like a TEAM... and the most important means to playing as a TEAM is your leaders. This more so than your coach. (and mind you I am not a fan of porter, but this is another rant all together).

I am done... continue on Amare apologists, and continue to be satisfied with less than a championship.

- Wanka

2009-02-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

It's Time

If you would have asked me three-years ago if I would ever advocate a trade for Amare Stoudemire, I would have said no. Pardon the pun but he was truly our prodigal son. We drafted him and watched him go from a raw but awe inspiring young athlete to a scoring machine that couldn't be contained. He dunked on anyone that stood in his way and greats like Duncan and Garnett had trouble stopping this force of nature. Time though, can change everything.

Initially, all Amare could live on was effort. He crashed the glass with reckless abandon and threw his body around all over the court. With his new found jump shot and offensive game, that effort has vanished. It's not rare to see the 6'10'' jumping jack pull down five or six boards a game. It's also not rare to see opposing big men with limited ability routinely score on him. He has become strictly a scorer with little substance.

In his mind, he feels that he's on par with the likes of Lebron and Bosh but it is very apparent that those players have surpassed him long ago. His development has stunted and you also can't forget his knees. Microfracture surgery looms again on the horizon and once that explosive lift is finally gone, what will remain? It's hard to say goodbye to a player that I've watched mature and come back from adversity. But, in the end, he will never evolve beyond what he currently is. It's a shame really because he could have been one to remember. In retrospect, I will remember him, but more for what he could have been.

2009-01-06T13:36:00.000-08:00

The Rise of the Little Man

Ask the most casual observer of basketball what they think of when someone says the word "basketball" and one of the most prevalent answers you will receive will be "tall people" or simply some iteration of tall. I can recall as a child being in awe at the size of these men that seemed like giants flying high above the Earth. To this day, journeyman foul magnet Mark West seems like one of the largest human beings that ever walked the planet. I know this isn't the case now but at that time, he might as well have been Paul Bunyan.

Hiding behind all those towers has always been the little man. In terms of relative height, point guards are usually pretty tall people in everyday life. But on the floor in the NBA, it seems like a living reenactment of David and Goliath. These smallish people can't possibly stand up to this pillars of strength right? That's the beauty of basketball. Beyond the amazing grace of these tall men lies another fun battle on a nightly basis. The smallest people on the court can be unstoppable at times and in the modern NBA, they are starting to dominate it.

Many great guards have come before us. We had the razzle dazzle of Pistol Pete, the originator of show time in Bob Cousy, the blinding speed of Tiny Archibald and the pick and roll perfection of John Stockton. There have been countless guards that captured the imagination of the nation but they still lived in the shadows of Wilt, Shaq and Russell. Now though, the times are a changing. Chris Paul is openly discussed in MVP conversations every year now. Deron Williams carried the Jazz to the Western Conference Finals just last year. Rajon Rondo is stuffing stat lines like Big O at 6'1 and 170 pounds soaking wet. Devin Harris is a one-man scoring machine on a nightly basis. Derrick Rose is on pace to be the next rookie of year and Russell Westbrook is showing flashes of brilliance as well.

We've now entered a time where the best athletes are no longer your shooting guards or small forwards. Point guards today not only orchestrate the beautiful music that is basketball but they are completely controlling the game on both ends of the floor. They can be unstoppable scoring and distributing and disrupt the game on the defensive side of the ball as well. With so many teams looking to open things up and let these amazing athletes create, the point guard is as important as it has ever been. With Ricky Rubio, Brandon Jennings and Jrue Holiday approaching us on the horizon, this trend will only continue to grow.

So next time you go to a game and sit in amazement at the size of the big men, don't forget to look down at the point guards and watch as they control the game themselves.

2008-12-01T11:19:00.000-08:00

Uh-Oh!

Write it down, stamp it, seal it and call your grandma and tell her that Derrick Rose is ROY.

2008-11-21T16:50:00.000-08:00

McCALLUM TAKES BUYOUT?

No more SI for Jack McCallum apparently.

Sad.

At least they still have Chris "The USA won't win a gold until at least 2016" Mannix... Really, SI... awesome!

- Palka.

2008-11-21T12:10:00.000-08:00

Crawford for Harrington??

I saw this trade come through on the wire and I don't know what to think. I can somewhat see this from Golden State's standpoint being that Crawford can fill it up and we all know that Nellie likes him some runnin and gunnin. Then again, they have been playing well and the time that players like Anthony Morrow is getting right now is so valuable. Hopefully this won't disrupt team chemistry too much and they can continue to spread the wealth. This will either go very well for them or very bad and I don't really see an in-between. This could be a dynamic back court with Crawford and Ellis running the show, Maggette and Jackson on the wings and Latvian rebounding machine manning the middle. Or this will turn into Crawford gunning too much, Ellis being pissed about a lesser team role, Maggette's leg falling off and Jackson stabbing somebody. Stay tuned...

As for the Knicks, this has to be strictly a salary move. Maybe they just looked around and said, "@#$% it". This means less minutes for David Lee and can someone explain to me why he isn't playing? Is it because he doesn't have a good enough J for coach D? Also, this means more Nate Robinson and I think that is frightening. This is more of a salary cap move than anything else and if I'm the Knicks and I continue to stink, does a great city really justify a high profile signing?

What are you thoughts Knicks and Warriors fans if there are any out there that read the blog?

2008-11-12T10:20:00.000-08:00

Al Holy Horford!

Cruising around the boxscores last night, I came across an insane line. Al Horford had 27 points, 17 rebounds and 6 blocks. He got more looks with Josh Smith being out but Horford has produced more than I thought he would coming out of college. I knew he was talented and had an NBA body but of the big three from Florida (I can't stop saying "big three"!), I thought that Noah would be the best pro and that Brewer could even end up being better than big Al in the end. Boy was I wrong.

While Al continues to rack up double-doubles, Noah just drinks and smokes pot in the streets and Corey Brewer, last I checked, still weighs 111 pounds. This could all turn around of course with a little maturation. Al was obviously ahead of the game physically and is off to an early lead in NBA success among the Florida boys. We'll see how it all turns out but Al is the anchor of an undefeated team and his success needs to be recognized.

-Aaron

2008-11-12T08:19:00.000-08:00

NEW SHOW IN TOWN

I was quite excited for my first serving of "Fan Night" on NBATV. A matchup of two of the best teams in the league and a clear choice of the best game of the night - by the fans. Not that I was not flipping over to the amazingly entertaining matchup of the Spurs and Knicks... because I wasn't.

Frankly I really wasn't watching that much of the Lakers and Mavs either, because even though I was, I could not wait to get back to the studio crew of Ahmad Rashād, Gary Payton and Chris Webber.

As much as I love the crew of Chuck, Kenny and Erny, I have never been as captivated as I was by the riveting smack flowing back and forth between The Glove and C-Webb, not to mention the greatest unintentional humor of Rashād trying to keep up. Which is the nice way of me saying Rashād had not been blacker since he popped out of the womb.

Charles may have moves, but GP is a bad Mo'Fo.

Listening to GP and C-Webb do the highlights, was in fact the highlight of my evening. GP had a constant chirp to him. Making sounds I had never heard telecast. While C-Webb could have been called C-Smooth. Offering up a dose of truth to each of The Glove's indiscernible calls.

Whoooooooo... Oh na, son... Oh na... Why you trying to block dat? Why even jump? What you thinkin? No business... dont you know who dat is?

(what i was able to make of GP)

Throwing it down like a man. Cause thats how a man does it.

(C-Webb offered, making me realize Lebron dunking was a life lesson)

I have never asked for much in life, but I remember a Christmas wish list back in 1995 where all I wanted was Sports Center to be done on BET... Well, thanks to NBATV, I did not even have to fake cancer.

Rob McElhenney is going to hell...

I could go on and on about Rashād slinging jive and suddenly acquiring a slur of the street, but really that would be a detractor from the beauty that is the chemistry between GP and C-Webb. How no general manager had the where with all to match these two is beyond me; from the description of New York's salary cap struggles and doomed breakdown of Eddy Curry to their top ten highlight analysis, my life is forever changed in the best way.

Thank you NBATV - See you next Tuesday...

- PALKA

2008-11-10T16:19:00.000-08:00

ROY???

No disrespect intended here but I didn't think OJ Mayo would produce like this, this quickly. I've gotten so caught up in the rightful hype of Derrick Rose and Mike Beasley that I drifted away from OJ. I have followed OJ closely for years as the child prodigy from West Virginia that was playing varsity ball as an 8th grader. I think after hearing about questionable attitude issues, switching schools and then going to LA, I thought he had gotten too big for himself.

Then stories started leaking out about his work ethic at USC being exceptional and the same thing was echoed during workouts and by coach Mike in Memphis currently. His numbers are backing up the hype as well. The last three games, he's put up 28, 20 and 31 points. I understand that they were playing teams like Golden State and Sac Town but those are impressive numbers nonetheless. It's an early season but he's averaging 19 on the season and shooting a respectable 44%. At the end of the year, he may not win ROY but he should be in consideration and I wouldn't be shocked at all if he keeps putting up numbers like he is. He'll get plenty of time on a bad Memphis team to showcase his all around game.

-Aaron

2008-11-09T21:51:00.000-08:00

The Spanish Inquisition

I've sat back and watched in amazement as the game I love so much has grown on a world wide scale. It never ceases to amaze me how players from all corners of the globe end up in the NBA with the longest of shots and they not only make it but they succeed. I remember watching in amazement as players from outside our soil like Dirk or Manu not only did well but played at an All-Star level in the NBA and proved that region does not designate aptitude on the playing court. For years, the Argentineans proved this as much as anybody but right now, Spain is taking the torch from all comers as the top country in the world outside the good ol' USA that is producing basketball talent.

We all have seen the exploits of Pau Gasol but they are so many other players that have done well for themselves on the NBA hardwood. Jose Calderon finally got the starting nod in Toronto and he's averaging a nifty 16 and 10 per game thus far in the great white north. Down in Memphis, Pau's brother Marc is averaging 10 and 8 on the season and had a monster game against Golden State in which he put up 27 an 16. Up here in the Pacific Northwest, Rudy Fernandez picked right back up where he left off in the Olympics and is averaging 14 points a game playing along side fellow countryman Sergio Rodriguez.

Now, this may not seem rare as we've seen waves of talent come from regions like Serbia, Lithuania, Brazil, the aforementioned Argentina, Italy, etc. Some hot prospects come out but as you've seen in recent times, new countries emerge as a hotbed of talent and it seems that the big names from those given regions dry up over time. What began with Pau seven-years ago is just getting bigger. Rudy and Marc just came to the States and the upcoming class of players looks very strong as well.

Ricky is tall!

I've mentioned and awed at the exploits and poise of Ricky Rubio and he showcased this in the Olympics. He could very well be a number one pick once he comes out and any team that grabs him is getting something truly special. Beyond Ricky though, you have fantastic players on the horizon like Victor Claver, Sergio Lull and Pablo Aguilar. All this talent in a large but not quite that large region got me thinking, why is there SO much talent in a small pool?

I think all of this can be traced back to their own shores. In 1992, the original Dream Team was created and the world took notice. In Barcelona, people were able to watch all time great players like MJ, Barkley, Magic and Stockton take center court and dominate. It was awe inspiring as a fan but I could also imagine seeing it for the first time. Imagine the first time you saw Jordan levitate, or Magic no look somebody. Those things resonate forever and they obviously did with the Spanish people as well. It can be no real surprise to anyone either that the ACB league in Spain is the hardest in the world to play in outside the NBA and is also the most organized. While many, including myself may cringe at the image of David Stern, the Dream Team and his reach across borders was a brilliant concept that is paying off in spades now. They have structure and passion for basketball in Spain and the results are telling.

So, the next time you hear a Spaniard's name called during the draft or on Sportscenter, remember that this is just the beginning. Players will continue to roll in from around the globe but Spain will remain the second best country outside our borders at producing basketball talent. This may all change of course but for the time being, viva Espana!

-Aaron

2008-11-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

POSTED BY PALKA

When not shooting kids, Al Powell/Carl Winslow loves eating twinkies. Deep fried.

FLAT FEET SYNDROME

Playing on your heels... Playing like you enjoyed election night a little too much...

Playing with FLAT FEET.

At what point as a coach do you just acknowledge your team does not have it for the night?

NEVER.

On Friday night, the Suns were Sgt. Al Powell, a desk jockey. A flat footed squad unqualified for the court.

Watching the game on Season Pass, I had no problem sacrificing a night on the town to listen to Stacey King, Neil Funk, and Ronny Garretson's whistle. (No, really, Stat just went to the line again.) They called a decent game, if not a cultural mash-up as King continued to sing Ludicrous while Rose threw it down on Leandro Barbosa, a man who looks lost if not bewildered as to what his role is with the "new" old Suns, and Funk wanted to bring back Johnny Cash, I suppose to match the dark sleep Phoenix conceded to on the third game of a four game Eastern Conference road swing.

That was disgusting.

Not to be deterred, and believing Stacey's proclamation that the Suns are not a team you sleep on, I stuck around to watch a game that pushed every one of my basketball passion buttons.

I understand sometimes it just is not your night. I understand when another team is shooting the lights out, there is not a lot you can do. What I do not understand is the Flat Feet Syndrome which can completely sabotage a team. Where does the hunger go? Where is the pride?

It is not by good fortune that every loose ball is going to one side, it is that only one side wants that loose ball. Only one side cares. Nothing is more infuriating to see.

At one point, I saw Raja Bell get mad. He pulled up hit a three, and tried to stoke the flames of a melancholy squad. When that fell short, after the 200th turnover of the night, he dove in at Rose's body on an extremely frustrated reach in, but a poignant effort to say he would not quit, even if short 20 points. His attempts to ignite the pride in his squad, though, fell on deaf ear. This was a night of Flat Feet. A night the Suns feel short of the qualifications needed to participate on a professional level.

In a 3rd quarter interview Kerr excused the team. "There will be nights like this while we transition" (to paraphrase). Funk, the Bulls play-by-play was more critical, saying he never liked Terry Porter's offense.

Frankly, what I saw had little to do with the sets; it had little to do with new rotations. It had all to do with effort, and the Suns gave none.

To come home with a split would be a major let down, after starting off 2-0 on this swing. And, yes, I realize they are only 6 games deep in the season, but I refuse to be so cynical as to just accept that "there will be nights like this".

Terry Porter was a fierce competitor, and that attitude needs to be a foundation in this squad if they wish to take on the likes of Los Angeles, a team that does not seem to be taking any nights off. As Porter brings his squad into Milwaukee, his former stomping grounds, on the second night of a double header, and last game of the swing, lets all pay attention to the energy level. Lets watch to see if the squad reacts with a determined first quarter, playing on their toes, and going for each ball as if it were theirs. Set the tone early, Terry. Instill the nightly passion that you played with and do not let this veteran laden team be satisfied at any moment.

Flat feet syndrome... be gone.

2008-11-04T13:12:00.000-08:00

Iverson on the Go!

Well, the Billups move happened much sooner than I anticipated. I thought I would look sharp if he were moved later in the year but I didn't see this one coming at all. I've sat back and watched initial reactions and thought about it myself. I think initially, this trade helps Denver. They needed a steady hand to right the ship and Chauncey can more than do that with his experience and abilities. Iverson will provide scoring but I don't really know if I like his dynamic on that team. Detroit is built upon team first and selfless play and even though AI plays his heart out, I still see him wanting and needing to be that number one guy. This move was really made for down the road though. This gives Stuckey a chance to shine and ensures that Maxiell and Johnson get the burn they need to develop their skills. This also gives Detroit a shot at free agency come 2010. So, Denver will shine now but if the youngins' get it done and grow and a big name free agent comes to Michigan, they will look like the big winners down the road.

-Aaron

2008-10-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

The New Season is Here! The New Season is Here!

With the new season upon us, it's time to move ahead, wash away memories of last season and start anew. With these new changes comes a little different format. Beyond just writing more, I will be going back and forth with my best basketball buddy on the planet, John. We will co-write some pieces, have our own posts, or just respond to one another. If anything, it will be fun to actually print some of the discussions we have over cocktails. In this post, I will give my predictions on various awards and champs and John will respond with his thoughts as well. Let the discussions and season begin! FINALLY!

Lets start out with some seeding predictions for the East and West.

West

1. Lake Show - While I hate to do this with an admitted bias, I must. They all seemed to gel well and with less pressure on Kobe and a healthy Bynum back, they should be really tough to beat. The only thing that could come back to haunt them is the hectic schedule Kobe has been playing with. He's too proud to sit and his body may be feeling it come April.

2. Hornets - This team needs health to survive and potentially win it all but what team doesn't? CP3 will only be better which is scary, Chandler and Wright should continue to improve and the addition of Posey provides insurance if Peja somehow hurts his back due to too much hair gel.

3. Jazz - The Jazz should be playing sweet Jazz flute ala Ron Burgondy. Williams and Boozer will still be a force but they have great depth with a healthy and fit Okur, an improving Ronnie Brewer and the junk man AK47.

4. Rockets - This is a team that will show flashes early but injuries will haunt them in the end. Artest may stay healthy physically, not mentally, but that doesn't mean that T Mac and Yao will still be there with him. At some point they will be proclaimed the best team in all the land and they will fade come playoff time due to the injuries I referenced. Also expect 1,000,000 references to the "Big 3" this year.

5. Spurs - They will go through some pains without Manu for sure but Pop and this smart bunch always find a way. They will cruise and turn it on come March like they always do.

6. Suns - This is another team that will struggle initially with a new style of play and personnel. Age can always be a factor but added depth and a coach that uses a bench will help these worries.

7. Blazers - This years sexy pick. Everybody and their mama has the Blazers being successful with their uber talented young core. They will have ups and downs but they will end up being somewhere in the middle as they learn more about the game and their team in general.

8. Dallas - They have slipped a lot and they regret the Devin Harris trade no matter what they say but they still have a lot of talent and Diop is back to help secure a weak defensive front line.

East

1. Boston - I don't expect a slip with KG and Paul Pierce around. They will be pushed nightly but they still have the "Big 3", I even said it, but they have depth even without Posey around. Losing him could hurt come playoff time but they will still own the regular season.

2. Philly - Take a good up and coming team and drop one of the best post players in the league on their roster and you get a much improved squad. They are a bit of a sexy pick this year too but it is hard to overlook their abundance of young talent ala Portland.

3. Detroit - This is a team that will struggle initially to find an identity. A new coach and new roles within the team will cause a little chaos, even for a team that knows one another so well. Just wait for a Chauncey Billups/Rodney Stuckey starting conversation come March. Just you wait...

4. Cleveland - Williams will help but Lebron will continue to run wild. If his Olympic play is an indication of things to come, watch out. This could be the season that not only makes him memorable but legendary.

5. Orlando - This team is still lean on point guards but Dwight Howard is still a force of nature.

6. Toronto - I expect a solid season from JO and an All-Star season from Chris Bosh and Calderon. They seem hungry and if Bargnani plays up to his potential, could be scary come playoff time.

7. Atlanta - This is a hit or miss pick. They will either play to their potential or injuries will catch up with Bibby and Speedy again and they will sorely miss the bench production of Childress.

8. Bulls - They will have a fun open style with Vinny in house and it should be fun to watch players like Rose, Thomas and Noah grow. Kirk should have a great year and I expect a big bounce back from Deng.

Champ??

I hate to admit it but I think that this is LA's year. If they stay healthy, there is no reason that they shouldn't be able to hang with any team on any given night. Kobe could fade and make this tough but he should have enough around him to help ease that burden.

Awards

MVP - This is Lebron's year all the way. He will put up 30, 7, and 7 and play much improved defense. If he gets rolling, the Cavs could be really tough to beat come playoff time.

Defensive Player of the Year - I am going out on a limb and picking a wild card here. I think Josh Smith takes it this year. If Atlanta makes the playoffs again and he puts up his insane numbers per the norm, he has to be in this discussion. He is a force when motivated.

Sixth Man - I am going out on a limb and taking Louis Williams here. He will put up big numbers off the bench in Philly and I see them as a top tier team in the East this season. All he needs is eyes on him when he plays which he will have now.

Most Improved Player - Andrew Bynum will walk away with this. He will be healthy and motivated on a very good team. This is his to lose.

Coach of the Year - This always seems to go to the coach that has a team that improves the most. Congrats Maurice Cheeks!

Rookie of the Year - I wouldn't normally go with a point guard but I think Rose will get the time and enough points to win this award and take it from Mike "Be Easy" Beasley.

2008-05-22T13:17:00.000-07:00

I'm Back!!

First of all, I want to apologize to the two people that read my blog for the long delay. I've had a ton of things going on in everyday life but I am alive and kicking and have many things on my mind. It may be a little Suns-centric but you understand the bias.

Coach Mike

My first thoughts go back to Mike D'Antoni. While I have always respected his offensive vision and class, I have to say that many of his coaching tactics had worn thin. While I appreciate the beauty of what the Suns offense once was, I had to come to a hard realization that it was never going to get us the ring. While we were quick, we were small and couldn't board or contest shots on the interior. Even with the speed we had on the exterior, our man-to-man defense was poor and while Shawn and Raja have the ability, it wasn't there every night. It also didn't hurt that coach Mike stubbornly played a short bench and refused to acquiesce to another teams style. This became increasingly more apparent watching Greg Popovich pick us apart systematically again and then watch the Spurs play various styles. I wish coach Mike the best of luck but a lot of these issues will come to light soon enough under the spotlight that is New York media.

The Draft

I'm not one to bring up conspiracy theories, but how does Chicago get the first pick in the draft? I used to laugh at people when they would question this but with the smoke and illusion the NBA puts behind the lottery process, it's hard not to question this. A team with a 1% chance ends up with the top pick and they have a shot at a local stud in Derrick Rose. Of course it sounds like the Bulls may like Beasley but that could be tactics regardless. Speaking of all these players..

While everyone is familiar with Rose and Beasley, there are a few players that I am man crushing on right now that I feel would not only be good for the Suns but will become very good pros.

Joe Alexander

I was really impressed with Joe's game this year. His athleticism is off the charts but there are other aspects of his game that I really enjoy. First of all, he plays hard, all the time. I always respect players like this, especially the ones that have a bit of a chip on their shoulder. Secondly, being that he has only been playing for five years, his game has a ton of upside. I hate to sound cliché, but I could see his handle, mid-range jump shot and overall basketball sense growing game by game. I think he's going to be a gamer and I would be surprised if he wasn't in the long run.

Nicolas Batum

I've had my eye on Nicolas for a few years now. NBADRAFT.NET pointed him out and his dominating performance during the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in 2006 where he was the tournament MVP. I've heard comments about him drifting in games but I have a different perspective then others in this discussion. In the games that really counted, like the game against Maccabi this year, he stepped his game up. He is always big when he has to be and when you combine that with his athleticism and just overall skills at the tender age of 19, he has tremendous potential.

I'll have more on the draft as it approaches and I promise to post more often.

2007-12-28T15:56:00.000-08:00

Just Saying

Of course when you boldly predict things before the season you know you will most likely be wrong but it's nice to be right from time to time. Case in point, Andrew Bynum.

As the season began, it looked like LaMarcus Aldridge was going to run away with the Most Improved Player award, but times, they are a changing. It's hard to accept but a Laker is really improving and that is improving their chances in the West. While Andrew is averaging a very good 12.5 points and 10 boards a game, you have to look at recent times to appreciate where he is going. He keeps surpassing his career high in points and he recently did that against my Suns with 28 points and 12 boards. He had 24 and 11 against the Sixers and 17 and 11 against the Warriors. He is becoming more of a focus of the Lakers offense and there is no telling where his numbers will go. So, for the time being, at least one prediction looks safe.

2007-11-12T11:16:00.001-08:00

Player To Watch:Austin Daye

While flipping the channels around this weekend, I happened upon a Gonzaga game up here in Washington. I've always been a fan of their hustle and the great coaching of Mark Few, so I stopped to watch for a bit. I was mostly following Matt Bouldin who looked solid last year and I was also curious to see if the Freshman Austin Daye would get some burn. Austin almost went to my Alma mater ASU and I was wondering what my Devils would be missing. I had heard that he was lighting up summer leagues in LA and after watching him for a while, I can see why. While he is SUPER skinny and has tunnel vision a bit, his fearless attitude on offense is surprising for a Freshman. He can handle at 6'9/6'10, has good range on his J, can get up and down the floor quickly, has freakishly long arms which leads to blocks and steals and he plays with fire. As you can tell, I came away impressed and I will be keeping an eye on this kid for the remainder of what may be his only year at Gonzaga.

2007-10-30T09:08:00.000-07:00

Tis that season again! It's time to stare deeply into my crystal ball and wrongly predict another NBA campaign. Well, maybe I will get one or two right somewhere along the way. Let's begin, shall we?

Rookie Of The Year: Yi Jianlian

I would have never guessed that I would go in this direction but after looking at his preseason numbers, the fact that he will start and that he is 32 years old, I think this has become a pretty safe bet. Durant is the sexy pick here but Yi has a lot more experience and this will be extremely valuable against the crafty and stronger NBA vets.

Most Improved Player: Andrew Bynum

Who will win the award for having better stats due to actually getting playing time this year? I think Bynum is that guy. He came into the league at a SUPER young age and has shown flashes of brilliance along the way. Now, with some real playing time, he should start to put up great numbers along the line of Andris Biedrins last year. Someone like Ronnie Brewer may step up as well but my money is on Bynum for now.

Defensive Player of the Year: Bruce Bowen

Year after year I keep predicting the sexy candidate but Bowen is always a safe bet to finish in the top three. As long as the NBA keeps letting the guy use every old school tactic in the book, he will be a tough defender. He's the old man at the park that holds, grabs and gets in your head and before you know it, completely shuts you down. I tip my cap to the guy for being able to do this for so many years and chances are, his name will be called at the end of this year for the first time. Can you believe the guy has never won the award??

6th Man of the Year: Leandro Barbosa

Historically speaking, the 6th Man award changes hands almost every year. But, Leandro is a perfect bench player ala Bobby Jackson or Vinnie Johnson. He comes into the game hot and can just dominate offensively. Coach Mike loves this guy and he will get every opportunity to win this award again.

MVP:KG

I think this year will be the celebration of KG. The guy has been dominating the league for years on teams that had less than stellar talent. Now, in a lesser conference and with real talent alongside him, he will shine. The wins will come and on a national level, people will see his amazing all around game. I've always been a big fan of his effort and game and his reward will come this year in the form of an MVP trophy.

Coach Of The Year: Rick Adelman

The Rockets are the sexy pick this year which makes me not want to do this but I can just see the team playing well under a more open offense that Adelman will implement. He's been through the wars with the Blazers and the Kings and there is no reason to think that a team with Yao, Tmac and other solid player like Wells and Scola can't provide great success as well.

Finals: Spurs and Celtics

Every year I try to predict this and every year as of late, I pick the Suns to get here. This year, I am going against conventional wisdom with the hope that things go in the opposite direction. That being said, this Finals match up just makes sense. The Spurs just continue to get it done and the only thing that can stop them is themselves and maybe the Mavs if they get lucky. As for the Celtics, I don't see much competition beyond the young Bulls. It would be a thing of beauty to watch KG get to the Finals and just play his heart out every night. In the end though, no three players are better than the entire sum of a quality team. Spurs in 6 and it will be hard to see the pain in true champions like KG, Pierce and Allen's eyes when it all comes to an end.

2007-10-16T16:09:00.000-07:00

Birthday Wishes!

On the eve of my 27th birthday, I have many wishes for the upcoming basketball seasons in both college and the NBA. Let's take a peak into my fantasy land...

I'm wishing that a team steps up and represents college hoops as well as the Florida Gators did. While people can grow tired of seeing repeat champions, you have to respect a team that hustles, plays defense and plays with an overall passion. The team that could fill this role in the upcoming year is UCLA.

I also wish for a player to capture the nations consciousness like Kevin Durant did last year. While I'm a bit down on the character of players like OJ Mayo and Michael Beasley, they have the type of talent to get viewers to tune in.

I wish for an NBA champion to be decided by the play on the court rather than politics or bad officiating. I don't want to see a player rewarded free throws because of star status or a team punished because of another team's actions. There should be a clear champion and no doubt in anyone's mind.

I wish people in the United States would love basketball as much as myself. While I enjoy football, baseball and many other sports, I'm tired of basketball continually being third fiddle. I'm happy to see the rest of the world coming along for the ride and I hope in time that Sportscenter will lead off with basketball highlights instead of a discussion about the Giants and Falcons during the fall.

I wish NBA players would stop thinking about dollar signs and endorsement deals so the game could be played in an unselfish manner and so the negative perception of the NBA as a whole would disappear. Casual fans only see the Kobe's and Carmelo's instead of Steve Nash, Dwayne Wade, Tim Duncan and many other great ambassadors for the game.

I wish the NBA would call traveling consistently... Seriously, just one time.

I wish an NBA trade that is rumored would happen at least one time. I don't know if I can handle another Shawn Marion for any player in the league scenario.

Finally, I just wish for a good season with some parody and good games played well and good health to all those involved. Get well Greg Oden!

2007-10-08T19:39:00.000-07:00

Player to Watch

Every year the Suns have a shot at a lottery pick, I obsess about those first thirteen picks. Who will go where? What do the Suns need? Somewhere along the way I find a player I am insanely intrigued by like Sergio Rodriguez or Shaun Livingston in the past. This year, that man, er, teenager, is Serge Ibaka. Apparently, I can only like players that have names that begin with "Serg"..

I watched the video above after reading about this kid via NBADRAFT.NET and Draftexpress and I've been fascinated ever since. Keep in mind that he is seventeen,(21 in Mutombo years), and 6'10. Look at his speed from end to end, his touch with his jumper, his insane leaping ability and best of all, hustle and fire on the boards or as a weak-side defender.

He is firing up draft boards across the net and it won't be long before Chad Ford has a blog declaring Serge the next Reign Man or Amare Stoudemire. I don't know what he will become and a lot of this will be on him to continue to work on his game and learn how to properly utilize his obvious gifts. Being that he plays in Spain, at least the coaching and competition should help prepare him for just that. Keep your eye on this kid because I wouldn't be shocked to hear his name called in the late lottery, hopefully by the Suns, on draft night.

2007-09-11T21:16:00.000-07:00

Tis the offseason and the trade rumors and speculation continually fly around to keep bored basketball geeks like myself preoccupied. I normally scoff at most because they are simply rumors but there are some trades that come around from time to time that actually make sense. I saw one today and after reflecting on it and hearing peoples reactions, I have several thoughts.

VS.

I think the general reaction to a trade by most fans from what I have seen is usually looked at from both a homer and perception level. What I mean by this is that when there is a deal involving your team, especially a good player on your team, almost no trades are good enough due to someone being a homer and also the stigma that surrounds that player. This stigma is what gets people into the All-Star game every year despite the fact that someone else played better. For Suns fans, Shawn is a consecutive All-Star while AK47 is a crier that had a down season last year. To truly analyze a trade though, you need to break the players down from their salary to their personality to fully understand if the trade is either good or bad. Let's look at Shawn and Andrei.

Offense:

Both players are fast and explosive and excel on the break and slashing to the basket. Neither of them really has a J to speak of but Shawn hits from the line at a pretty good clip. Andrei is the better ball handler and passer while Shawn struggles to create his own shot for himself and others. This is close to a wash but I give the slight edge to..

Winner

AK47

Defense:

Both of these players can be a nightmare on D due to their length and athleticism. Andrei isn't far behind Shawn in steals but the Matrix is consistently in the top five in this category. As far as blocks, AK47 may be the best weak-side shot blocker in the game. The game is the living embodiment of Mr. Fantastic and he does a fantastic job off the ball anticipating. I've always felt Shawn is overrated in man-to-man defense but he is quicker laterally and does a little better job with perimeter coverage. This is really tough but when healthy, AK47 is a defensive player of the year candidate.

Winner

AK47

Rebounding:

This is a contest that Andrei can't win. Shawn is one of the best rebounding small forwards in the history of the NBA and his quick leaping ability makes him a terror on the glass.

Winner

The Matrix

Health:

This is another no contest as of right now. While Shawn has more years and minutes on his 29 year old body, Andrei has been more injury prone thus far in his career. Shawn is truly an iron man but at 26, Andrei could greatly improve this perception of him.

Winner

The Matrix

Salary:

Shawn is the more expensive player right now and he is coming up on an extension in his contract. While he may feel that he is still worth maximum dollars, his playoff performances and lack of growth in his game offer a different visual. AK47 is a little bit cheaper and if he can put up comparable numbers to two years ago, is worth the money due to the difference he makes on the defensive side of the ball.

Winner

AK47

Chemistry:

Before this past season, I had not heard a peep about Kirilenko. He seemed like a tough player that just played hard every night. With his lack of minutes and move from the four to the three, the frustration grew and there was an obvious rift between he and Sloan. Shawn has supposedly had issues with being third fiddle on the Suns for years and has openly questioned whether or not he would be appreciated elsewhere. In both cases, there is obvious tension between these players and their teams.

Winner:

Tie

Looking at all these scenarios, it's apparent that when healthy, Andrei Kirilenko provides better defense and offense while Shawn is a better rebounder and is more durable. The Suns have a reliable player but they have glaring holes on their interior with a lack of shot blocking and there are also those whispers about chemistry problems. In the end, I would take the risk on Kirilenko and play him at the four again and watch the numbers pile up while he runs beside Steve Nash. People are too easily forgotten and at 26, there is still a lot of potential for AK47 to find.

2007-07-25T08:35:00.000-07:00

The Scandal!

While most people are acting as if they just found out soylent green is people over this whole scandal, I'm actually excited for what I feel will be sweeping changes. In a move that shouldn't be that shocking, being that sports and gambling go hand in hand, Tim Donaghy made the league have to self reflect and hopefully create a league that is officiated in an even manner. The league can deny that things are called evenly now but anyone that watches the game consistently or even casually knows that stars get calls in order to keep them on the court which gives people their monies worth and that home teams get calls so the fans remain relatively happy. I understand that people will always have a bias due to personal opinion but it would be nice to watch a game and just see it called down the middle. Some people will always see issues with officiating due to their own bias and it being subjective but people seem to respect the way the college game or even the high school game is called. This will help get people beyond the conspiract theories and then they can focus on the overall lack of fundamentals instead. Well, that's a whole other story for another day.

2007-07-01T20:53:00.001-07:00

Some draft thoughts

I needed a day to regain my composure after the Suns sold away another first round draft pick in order to save money. I understand wanting to keep a team intact and keep your payroll down but why would you trade away a player you could simply stash in Europe for another year? The Spurs have ridden the stash a player routine for years and I don't know why more teams don't do it. It helps your payroll in the now and eventually you have a seasoned player that can come over and play immediately. They did it again this year with Tiago Splitter and I have a feeling I will be cursing at the screen at him in the near future. Seriously though, it is more jealousy than hate. Can you says Patriots of the NBA? And breathe... On to the rest of my draft thoughts.

1)I will be person number 1000000000000 to say that Portland is doing a nice job. While it is hard to say if every young prospect pans out, they have enough around that a few could be very good. I really like their nucleus and I would be surprised if they weren't in the playoffs next year.

2)I can't stand it when players make demands on where they want to go. People were fearing that Yi wouldn't play in Milwaukee and my only response is, who is this guy? I understand that he has a lot of potential and I've studied his game a bit but what ever happened to feeling honored to just get a shot in the NBA? I didn't like it when Steve Francis, a great player at Maryland, demanded a trade from Vancouver. I really don't like it when a player from a very weak Asian league acts as if he can't play in a place that doesn't fit his exact needs.

3)Speaking of Yi, does anyone find it odd that the Sonics passed on a guy that could have been HUGE in the Asian community of Seattle. I know it may be a bit redundant with Durant but so is Green and Lewis. I'm thinking more and more that the Sonics simply have no desire to stay in this city which is a shame.

4)Atlanta really missed the boat on Conley. I really like Horford but I'm beginning to see a reoccurring theme with the Hawks. They just keep drafting players that play a similar position until one pans out. Law could be a solid pro but he will not distribute enough to their athletic wings and it will cause an offense that should be breaking to bog down.

5)Brandon Wright could be great in Golden State. Nellie is great at working with young players and finding their strengths and he could find a great role in the Warriors break neck offense with Wright. He's a little ways off due to his body and maturity but in a year or two, he could be a steal considering they gave up a player that they really didn't want to begin with in Richardson.

6)As you've seen before, I'm a big Noah fan. Skiles will love that kid and he should be able to fill the role that Ben Wallace will have difficulty doing soon in the rebounding and weak-side help department.

7)While I may bag on the Suns at the beginning of this post, I can't bag on their pick of Alando Tucker so much any more. I wasn't pumped about it initially due to the anger coming from dealing the 24th pick but I really like what he brings to the table. Every year a great college player like him slips due to a lack of something but people tend to lose the fact that he was GREAT for a very good program at Wisconsin, has great athleticism and is a high quality person to boot. Dudley was picked earlier under similar circumstances and I have a feeling if Alando had attended the predraft camp as well, he would have probably gone in that spot. People value upside and think within the box a bit too much. The game is evolving and traditional viewpoints don't always hold true.

8)I really like Byars and I can't believe that Portland got both him and McRoberts in the second round. Josh was a number one recruit at one point and sometimes people can be better pros than college players. That front line of Oden, Aldridge, Frye and him looks pretty imposing.

I will not grade teams because noone knows for certain how any of these picks will pan out. Some players that were supposed to be great will fail and players that were supposedly doomed turn out to be great. This draft did have a lot of potential thought and in the coming years, this draft as well as 2003 will probably be the drafts that define the next ten years of basketball.

2007-06-10T19:33:00.000-07:00

Sweatin' To the Combines

Every year, like a moth to a flame, I eagerly await the results from the predraft camp. I like to see who can jump out of the gym, who's actually four inches shorter than their college listed height and who can't bench 185 pounds. I'm interested in this but I don't think teams should take much stock in this beyond height, weight and wingspan. Those stats could help dictate a position for a player and could either hinder or help them. The NBA is full of dynamic athletes but on the court statistics are what teams should really focus on. People who think Durant's stock should slip due to this are crazy just like anyone that passed on Josh Howard because they wanted potential rather than results. This all goes back to my post about Joakim earlier and I'm afraid someone will take Yi, who could be very solid, over a player that has a much slimmer chance of failing. I get excited about potential as well but how many teams do we need in the league like Atlanta or Boston that are full of potential and nothing else?

2007-06-01T08:44:00.000-07:00

The King of Television

While I may not agree with a lot of what the NBA is doing currently, it is hard for me to not support a league that displays my favorite sport. I'm not about individual play and I prefer basketball that showcases the team over any one player but Lebron James will save the NBA this year. Every game he steps up and builds upon his legend, the league gets more and more fans to tune in. Another Finals with defensive oriented teams like the Spurs and Pistons could be devastating for the league. While I appreciate the coaching of the Spurs a more casual fan just might as well take a Tylenol PM instead. If the Cavs move on, I would be surprised if they beat the Spurs but then again, I thought the Pistons would roll right over them as well. Enjoy the show and the NBA needed this right now just like Magic and Bird in the early 80's and MJ in the early 90's.

2007-05-23T15:16:00.000-07:00

Oden and Durant bad for the NBA?

Don't be intimidated by my photo shopping ability. In case you couldn't tell, those are horns and that is in direct retaliation to the fire and brimstone being spewed by NBA analysts from the East coast.

I understand that everyone has a bias in some way shape or form. It come come up due to location, religion, race, gender, etc. But, I am somewhat surprised to the reaction of two great players coming to the Pacific Northwest. I understand that the East is weak and that these players could help the right side of the coast out but top picks don't guarantee anything. Drafting is always a crap shoot and who knows how good these kids will turn out. Rather than point a finger at bad coaching and management, people will continue to bring up luck amongst other excuses.

My take you ask? I say be happy we might bring more attention to the sport we love. I also say be happy that basketball in Seattle might be saved. The NBA just needs to make sure to get these kids on TV for the East coasters of the world and make sure they market them as much as possible along with their other young stars. Also East Coasters, stop referring to Seattle as an afterthought in terms of big markets. I seem to recall a lot of people enjoying the exploits of the reign man and the glove not too long ago.

2007-05-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

Save the Sonics!

Being born and raised in Phoenix, the only real tie I have to the Sonics is on a rivalry basis. I always respected their teams and I grew up as a great fan of Gary Payton. I remember running around on the basketball court at ten with my bright green GP jersey on. I have recently moved to the Seattle area and the future of the team is uncertain. I can't imagine my Suns potentially moving to Oklahoma City after I've spent years cheering my heart out for them in the good times and the bad. There is hope now that it looks like Kevin Durant will be playing here and if management is smart and can work a deal for Rashard Lewis, things could be looking up very quickly. People in the area are fighting for their Sonics and I know I want to watch NBA on a yearly basis and I feel all of their pain. So, I think everyone that cares about the NBA or basketball needs to go to Save our Sonics and let their voices be known. I understand the state's perspective on potentially overtaxing people due to the numerous arenas in recent years but they need to think about the history involved here with the most successful team in Seattle sports history.

2007-05-19T22:19:00.000-07:00

Joakim Noah Under the Spotlight

While I will have some interest in the remainder of the postseason, I would be lying if I said that it was still very interesting considering the fact that the Suns have been eliminated. The horror!!

I'm better now...

Well, my mind has drifted off to draft land once again and if lady luck is with the Suns, they can land an upper tier lottery pick. Then again, the Hawks could end up with a top three pick and the Suns disappointment will just keep on rolling. Besides my pessimism, I've been trying to figure out the best fit for the Suns. I've looked at everyone from Yi Jianlian to Corey Brewer. One thing keeps coming up in studying the draft that somewhat irks me is the consensus on Joakim Noah right now.

By all accounts, had Joakim Noah declared last year for the draft, he would have been the first pick. He was the MVP of the tournament last year and scouts were declaring him either a taller Andrei Kirilenko, Tyson Chandler with a higher bball IQ or Marcus Camby with better distribution skills. Defying all logic at the time, Joakim returned to school to take another run at history. While he did the admirable thing, of course all this brought upon himself was a much brighter spotlight.

All scouts have pointed out is his lack of a jumpshot, his narrow shoulders that don't look like they could hold much more weight, his lack of a post game, etc. Where they see a lack of growth, they are not seeing what they have loved about him all along. He plays with incredible fire and is a vocal leader. He attacks the glass, runs the floor like a deer,plays great defense, handles the ball well and can distribute. His game will expand more and more once he gets out of the Florida system. He was lucky enough to play with some amazing talents but now his game can flourish and expand. Chad Ford and Jonathon Givony have reported how hard he is working out in California right now and the weight and jumpshot shouldn't be far behind with his fire.

My main point of contention with this is that he is being, and I am copyrighting this term, Leinarted. This also may have to become Quinned. Matt Leinart was passed on by team after team after he returned to USC for his senior year. Suddenly he was too slow and his arm wasn't strong enough. Teams like Oakland passed on him even though they needed a quarterback. Yes I know this is a football analogy but it is what comes to mind. All I am saying is that teams are overthinking everything with Joakim right now. How often do athletic seven footers that play their ass off every night come along? To top it off he is a leader and has a lot of charisma. I, for one, would love the Suns to get him and I think that any team that gets him will be lucky to have him.

2007-05-17T08:45:00.000-07:00

Commissioner for a Day

All of this talk about rules and suspensions and then listening to David Stern made me realize that the NBA needs a change. While the league is making money annually, many fans are still being turned off by many things. If I were somehow handed the reigns for one day, how would I handle this? I've thought about this long and hard and here are my thoughts.

1) Clean Up the Officiating

While the NBA can continue to say they have the best officials in the world, we as fans know that is not correct. While we may have a bias towards our team, anybody that watches the games consistently will tell you that the only thing that is consistent about officiating in today's NBA is the inconsistency. It may be drastic but the NBA should rid itself of all the officials that have been working for an extended period of time. They are jaded by the game and the money and new blood needs to be implemented. I say look to the NBDL, College and Europe for officials. I tell them to call the game down the middle and to not think about how famous a certain player is. Also, I understand the playoffs are more intense so they should let them play but anything that is over the line means automatic ejection, (cough,cough, Bruce Bowen). Here are some other rules within the game that I would change:

A) Flopping should be an offense. We don't want the league to go all futbol on us. I say if you flop once, you get a warning. If you do it again, it is a technical and the other team gets a foul shot.

B) A travel is a travel. I understand you can't call them all but it would be nice to see the league not allow players to dance all over the floor. These guys have been playing forever and should understand that three or four steps or picking up your pivot foot is not allowed.

C) The bench fight rule should still remain but it should be clarified. If players leave the bench and touch anyone or get in anyone's face, they are suspended one game. As coach Mike and Bill Simmons stated, it is human nature to want to be there for your friends and teammates.

D) Complaining should be allowed to a point. It is fine to be emotional but not after every call that goes against you. Also, superstars should not be devoid of T's just due to their status.

2) Hire all new Advertising and PR people for the league. While the league continues to pump out video of the game in the 50's accompanied by music from 1985, it just makes me feel they have no idea who their demographic is. The league is full of young and hip people that should be put to the forefront of everything. Allow their personalities to shine and allow them to wear what they want on the sidelines. Highlight them in commercials and create new video packages with modern players and updated music. We should never forget our past but we need to highlight what is good about the present and future as well.

3) Change the arena environment. I'm fine with the big introductions but I'm tired of the dancers and the music being played during the game. I want to hear the crowd "ooo" and "ahh" and I want to hear them boo the enemy and cheer on the home team. You go to a game to let loose and scream, not to be told when to cheer and to have to yell over Guns N Roses.

This is all I can think of right now that really bothers me about the game. I love basketball but I feel that the NBA allows politics and money to get in front of the essence of the game. It's time to get the corrupt feel out of everything and to allow the fans to really know the players and have a more enjoyable game experience.

2007-05-03T11:44:00.000-07:00

Catching Up With Bad Predictions!

Awards are being passed out in the NBA just about every day right now and I thought it would be a good time to look back at my predictions and see how things turned out.

Rookie of the Year Prediction: Adam Morrison

Rookie of the Year Winner: Brandon Roy

Morrison seemed like a safe pick at the beginning of the season because the Bobcats needed someone to market and someone that could score. Unfortunately, neither has been the case thus far for Ammo.

Roy was supposed to be the safest pick in the draft and he looks more and more like it every day. He is poised and versatile and you can't have enough players like that in the modern NBA.

MIP Prediction: Josh Smith

MIP Winner: Monta Ellis

While Josh had a good year and showed those flashes of brilliance at the end of the year, Monta was a surprise to almost everyone. He brought that Allen Iverson type little man scoring to the table nightly. He should only continue to improve in Nellie's uptempo style.

Defensive Player of the Year Prediction: AK47

Defensive Player of the Year: Marcus Camby

I picked one often injured player to win while another won. It's sad that AK isn't getting minutes at the four where he could flourish as a weak-side defender. Hopefully he ends up on a team where he can because Boozer is the man in Utah from here on out.

As for Marcus, I'm happy that he was healthy for a year and was able to showcase his immense shot blocking ability.

Coach of the Year Prediction: Brian Hill

Coach of the Year Winner: Sam Mitchell

The Magic made the playoffs but underachieved and Brian may be on the way out. Sam looked like he was on the way out but ended up having a great year. There is still the perception out there he isn't a great coach and I know Iavaroni is high on their wish list. How crazy would it be to see a coach of the year in the D league the year after?

6th Man of the Year Prediction: Leandro Barbosa

6th Man of the Year Winner: Leandro Barbosa

It's been a pleasure to watch Leandro grow into a star over the years and I'm so happy that he achieved this award. I only hope he can give the Spurs troubles like he did to most of the league.

As for MVP and the Finals, it looks like it may be Dirk but it has not been announced yet and the Suns are alive but we all know the Heat aren't going back. So, it looks like I ended up with one right! YES! I'll be back with more playoff and award chatter later.

2007-04-06T14:40:00.000-07:00

Dem Florida Boyz!!

I'm not going to toot my horn by mentioning that I picked Florida but I thought I would mention it at least. In modern basketball, it's hard to pick a team to repeat due to great players turning pro early and just the amount of teams and the fact that you can be eliminated by playing one poor game. This Florida team however, is different. They are loaded with NBA talent and the thing that is really special about this team is that these players play with all their heart. People always complain that the special players or NBA players are spoiled brats that only play for money. While I see people hating on Florida consistenly, I simply can't understand it. Appreciate these extrememly talented players that are good people and play the game for the purity of it. This team will go down in history as one of the best ever within the NCAA and I have no problem saying that I enjoyed every moment of the ride.

2007-03-13T10:56:00.000-07:00

Oh, the madness of March!

I'm not going to sit down and break down every game in every bracket because, like most people, I haven't had the time to scout VCU or Oral Roberts at length. If anything, I thought I could suggest who I think will be in the Final Four and who I think will be king of the hill.

The Final Four

VS.

This would be an interesting matchup a year after the fact. These are two very different teams. UCLA is a very controlled team that plays grind it out basketball and fantastic defense. Florida is an uptempo team that kills you on the interior with their bigs and on the exterior with kick outs to their guards. Guard play is huge in college basketball and will get UCLA far but I don't see them getting past a team so much larger than themselves.

VS.

I know this is the sexy pick but it is hard to ignore all the NBA level talent on both these teams. Due to their inexperience though, I could see this being a sloppy game full of a lot of nerves. In the end though, I don't think Oden can contain both Hansbrough and Wright. OSU is used to being the bigger team but they will struggle to contain their bigs as well as their guards on kickouts.

The Final!

VS.

This will be a great matchup between two teams full of NBA talent. This will be an up and down game with a lot of scoring and highlight reel plays. In the end though, the experience amongst Brewer, Noah, Horford and Green will be too much for the young Tar Heels. It will be a close one but with the way the Gators have hit the switch again, the title will be in their hands once again. After all is said and done, we can only hope for this...

I'll give my impressions on the actual tournament and how I was probably completely wrong in the next couple of weeks. Enjoy the Madness!

2007-03-02T13:51:00.001-08:00

Who is the best young point guard in all the land??

Being a person who admires the point guard position more than any other in basketball, I love all the hype and discussion going on in college basketball right now. It really is a toss up depending on what you look for in a lead guard but it is fun to look at and dissect D.J. Augustin, Mike Conley, Javaris Crittenton and Darren Collison. While some discussion focuses on who is the best within college basketball, I'm looking at them as NBA prospects for this piece. Let's begin, shall we?

Our competitors:

Javaris Crittenton 6'5 200 lbs

I read somewhere earlier in the year that compared Javaris to Steve Francis and after watching him a few times, I would have to agree with that. While he displays more heart, his intangibles are very similar. He is a big lead guard that has freakish athleticism. He is at his best slashing and attacking the rim. He has a good handle and shows pretty good court vision. He also rebounds well due to his size and leaping ability.

While many may not agree, I don't like his skill set. While he does give the ball up, he isn't a true pass first point guard. He is a scoring guard that will put up good numbers in the pros and the thought of him potentially becoming an all-star isn't out of the question. But, he would fit in better with a slower tempo team that runs more half court sets with isolations.

Darren Collison 6'1 165 lbs

The thing that I think about when I watch Darren is poise. He has obviously had good coaching in the past and Howland is fantastic at getting his players to play both properly and hard. I guess those go hand in hand. Darren knows when to push, when to slow it down, when to shoot and when to pass. A lot of this is coaching but a lot of this is something that just resides within a player. He is a flash in the open court and you can thank his Olympic parents with their super duper DNA. His stroke is solid and I can only see it improving. To top all this off, he's a great on the ball defender that is a terror in the passing lanes.

Really, the only knock on Darren is going to be size. Teams all want giant point guards and when a point guard is a traditional size, he will be labeled as undersized. He will never be a giant both in height or in bulk but I wouldn't be shocked if he ended up being at about 175 lbs before it is all said and done.

D.J. Augustin 5'11 175 lbs

The thing I like most about D.J. is his ability to take over a game with his scoring when he needs to and then just simply distribute when he needs to. While Collison understands this, he can't score at the rate that D.J. can. He can shoot it from inside, mid-range and deep. His passing is top notch and he may have the best vision in college hoops outside of Jordan at Marist. He's a strong kid both mentally and physically. You can tell he's been in the Texas weight training program and he survived the disaster of Katrina with his family.

The knocks and D.J. are going to go back to size. He is probably 5'10 and people will question if he will constantly be posted up in the pros and if he'll be able to get his shot off. He is a bit turnover prone but I don't harp on that too much because he's trying to make the right play. Also, he needs to learn to stay within himself and not get too out of control. Really, the thing to remember here is that he is just a kid. Most of these things only come with experience.

Mike Conley Jr. 6'1 180lbs

Mike is another pass first point guard that shows great poise. He is very unselfish and always looks for his teammates before he ever thinks about shooting. But, as he showed against Wisconsin, knows when it is time score. He is a great on the ball defender and is actually probably the best defender amongst this group, which is saying a lot. He is also the son of a former Olympic athlete and is blessed with terrific athleticism and strength.

The biggest knocks on Mike are going to be his height and his jump shot. He doesn't possess the scoring ability of Javaris or D.J. . This can always improve but his array of floaters and mid-range game are probably always going to be his bread and butter.

Now I'm sure you're asking, well, who do you really like as the best pro? Honestly, that's a really tough question. All of these guys have great strengths and a few weaknesses like anybody. Right now though, before the tournament, I'm leaning towards D.J. Outside of Javaris, all of these guys will be labeled as undersized. While Mike and Darren play great defense and are fantastic point guards in their own right, D.J. has tremendous vision and a great ability to score. He is a great competitor that should be able to be a pretty good defender before it is all said and done. Then again, this all may change after March. We're lucky to be in an era where the pass first point guard is coming back and we've got so many people carrying the torch.

Note: I understand that Ty Lawson is very talented and is in the same mold as Raymond Felton but I wanted to dissect players that are currently being discussed in draft circles. Don't sweat it Tar Heel fans...

2007-02-27T16:17:00.000-08:00

And down goes Livingston...

I feel your pain Clippers fans. I watched Amare Stoudemire, one of the most awe inspiring athletes I've ever seen be reduced to a moderate athlete that struggled to get his jump shot off against Jason Collins. Then again, I've watched him slowly get better and better. It's been a joy to watch this humbling experience transform him from cocky young player to confident leader.

The thing to keep in mind is that Shaun had a terrible injury but not the dreaded microfracture surgery. He's very young and in an elite class of point guards that jumped straight to the pros from highschool. He will only continue to get stronger and that jumper will slowly start to fall. His ability is too great to simply not have something special within himself. Just continue to be patient and pray the Clippers retain him. If they don't, an uptempo team will fully utilize his abilities at some point and then what the Clip show sees in practice every day will be on full display for the world. Keep your head up Shaun...

UPDATE...

Upon further testing, Shaun has tears within the ACL, MCL and PCL. On top of this, he suffered a patella dislocation. The initial word is that he is out eight to twelve months. In a game that requires such hard cuts, I would look for him on the later side of things. He has a long road back but this will say a lot about his patient, maturity and desire over the next year. I for one hope it makes him stronger.

2007-02-15T13:34:00.000-08:00

"You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known," Hardaway said. "I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."

When I heard this comment that Tim Hardaway made about John Amaechi today I could and couldn't believe it. You feel that we are becoming a forward thinking society that has a little more social consciousness about themselves. Then again, this is a slow process. While many African Americans are finally being treated equally, there are still many people that live in a time within themselves that can't tolerate something of that nature. While I understand one represents a people as a whole and another represents sexuality, regardless, they represent stereotypes and hate. Homosexuals within sports are thrown within a very damning atmosphere themselves.

Playing sports, you see a very macho community. It is full of testosterone and stories like Wilt's sleeping with 20,000 women is a perfect example of this. I can see why John would feel like an outcast even among friends. People don't need to fully agree with his lifestyle on a religious or moral level, but they should be able to understand that he is simply a teammate and not some sexual maniac that lusts for every man that walks. Hopefully this will put an idea out there that many athletes have either known about or thought about and open up some discussion. People also need to recognize that all athletes aren't like Tim and have a more open mind as well.

2007-02-14T15:47:00.000-08:00

You can't surf the web for fifteen seconds without coming across some article that discusses whether or not Kevin Durant or Greg Oden should be the first pick in the draft. This really depends on whom is drafting and also the age of that person. By saying that, I mean that traditional, more old school thinking would suggest Oden is a no brainer. While people that are inspired by systems like those of the Suns would think that Durant could be a force of nature. I thought I could give my two cents on the subject and give the tale of the tape.

Kevin Durant: 6'9, 217 pounds, 11' wingspan

This kid is the living, breathing version of Mr. Fantastic. His arms go for days and when you combine that with his height and athletic ability, he can't be stopped on his jumper and could eventually be a terror on weak-side help defense. It is simply unreal to see someone his height crossing people over on the perimeter and then pulling up for a twenty-three foot three pointer. What is also rare for someone his age is his ability to post up. His basketball IQ is high and this is reflected in his ability to make the right decision and not loose his poise. In otherwords, he is a match up nightmare for any team he plays against because he is a shooting guard in a power forwards body.

Defensively, Durant is starting to show his weak-side help potential. He had a five steal game against Iowa State and has also had a few games with five blocks. While this is improving, his perimeter defense and post defense in one on one situations is where he is lacking. While he plays like a two guard, he can't move his feet quickly enough to keep other traditional two guards or even threes in front of him. While Kevin has put on weight, he still has a lot of room to grow and you can see this if a big boy gets him down low. He doesn't have the strength in his lower body to keep anyone from getting deep position on him in the paint. All of this can be improved upon with maturity and weight work as well as desire.

Greg Oden: 7'0 255lbs

I think the photo of Greg above was taken in 1967. Sorry, I was the only person that discusses bball that hadn't made an Oden age joke yet. I feel better now. Where's the peach basket?

Greg is the true definition of a traditional center. He is very much in the mold of centers of old like Bill Russell, Patrick Ewing (circa G Town), Alonzo Mourning, etc. I say this because his main task on every given night is to patrol the lane and that means blocking shots and cleaning the glass. He won't put on a dribbling display, a passing clinic or even show fifteen foot range on his J. He is a dirt worker that many, many NBA teams covet because they feel that defense wins championships. This leads to where I am on these two.

Being in Phoenix in recent years, you can't help but see the focus of the NBA shifting to athleticism and fast pace offense. I've seen time and time again where bigger centers struggle with high octane offense. Honestly, had the Mavs not choked in the Finals last year, Durant may be more of the consensus right now. While I agree that defense is important, Kevin has a chance to create an entire new position along the lines of shooting forward. Imagine a 6'10, 235 lb shooting guard that can do everything that someone like TMac can except he doesn't have a bad back or an on and off attitude. While I may eat my words down the road, Durant is the new breed of NBA player and I know teams like Phoenix and Dallas would covet him and see his vast potential. Oden may end up being the next Zo but I don't see enough in him offensively and from a hunger standpoint that I would pick him over Durant.

2007-01-23T13:01:00.000-08:00

The Suns and Mavs, the Mavs and Suns. The regular season is just a prequel to the playoffs but that still doesn't stop debate. While Dallas and Phoenix continue to roll off wins and winning streaks, the debate over which team is better is being discussed heavily. There is a lot of back and forth and in all reality, until a series is played, it is very subjective. I thought I would take a crack at it after both discussing and hearing both sides of the equation on slamonline.com.

Now, the perception among both teams is that the Suns are the high octane team that leads the league in all scoring categories. The Mavs can score but there is also the feel among the general public that they also play great defense now under Avery Johnson. The Suns can score and the Mavs are better defensively but that also doesn't mean that Phoenix isn't playing any defense either. John Hollinger always discusses pace factor when discussing offense and also the effect that has on the defense in turn.

Avery has slowed the Mavs down offensively and created a team predicated on isolations more than anything else. These isolations center around Dirk but Jason Terry and Josh Howard do very well in this set. The Mavs are long and athletic and disruptive on defense. This centers around Josh Howard, Devin Harris and Erik Dampier. They are all great weak-side defenders but I don't really see anyone on the team that is a stopper ala a Trenton Hassell. The Mavs also have a solid bench when Jerry Stackhouse is healthy. If he is injured, which he is often, the likes of Devean "kick out" George likely don't strike fear in anyone's heart.

The Suns are run and gun all the way but this also does not mean they can't play in the half court. With Amare back, along with Boris and Steve, the team is more than capable of creating in a playoff type atmosphere. Most people view Raja Bell as the true defensive player on the Suns but he has actually been struggling this year. Shawn has been great as a weak-side defender as always and has played very well as an on the ball defender considering he is matched up against any player at almost any time. Kurt remains one of the best low post defenders in the league and Amare has become a great weak-side defender. That's right, Amare. The bench isn't extremely deep but goes eight deep with the 6th man of the year thus far Barbosa and a greatly improving James Jones.

The way I see it, the Mavs are the same strong team they were last year that is built in more of a traditional playoff style. They play the half court game on offense and try to make things as difficult as possible on offense. The Suns still play uptempo but with several key additions back, can easily slide into a half court system. The defense is right there with Dallas and the real key to victory in a seven game series relies on Amare's knees. I believe Nash will be healthy but if Amare can even play at the same level he is at now, will be a force getting rebounds, blocking shots and getting to the free throw line. People can't credit him being back enough. Without him, the Mavs are the clear cut champs but otherwise, I like the Suns and feel they turn the corner this year. Time will tell...

2007-01-04T07:53:00.000-08:00

We're getting deeper into the season and the pretenders that looked like contenders look like pretenders again and the contenders that looked like pretenders are back to looking like contenders. Of course most basketball journalists are discussing mid-season awards as well as All-Star selections all over the place. Once again Steve Nash's name is either at the top or right next to it in all MVP discussions. Once again though, people seemingly undervalue him and throw out wild accusations like he is only getting the award because he's white. I thought in this post I could provide a little clarity on what I've been lucky enough to see over the course of the last two and a half years.

In an age where the score first point guard has become the standard, players like Nash have been a revelation. It's a thing of beauty to watch a true point guard orchestrate the tempo of a game. Mike D'Antoni has a great system in place but Steve truly is the engine that is the driving force behind it. Players simply have to get out on the break and find an opening and they know that they have a great chance of seeing the ball. Steve has proven this time and time again with teams that he's led leading the league in scoring for five consecutive years.

The thing that truly seperates him from other point guards in the league currently and many on the all-time greats list, is his ability to score. While Nash is an outstanding passer, he has a knack for knowing when to pick up the scoring slack. To see a point guard shoot for over 50% from the floor, 40% from the three point line and 90% from the free throw line, is simply amazing. He kills other teams with the long range game, the mid-range game, floaters, left and right handed layups and a variety of other moves. He's currently at 20 points per game but he could easily average 25 if he wanted.

So when people complain that other players are better choices for the MVP award, remember that we are seeing one of the all-time best point guards leading one of the all-time best offenses. Detractors can point to the fact that he doesn't play defense, which is more due to a lack of lateral quickness than effort. He's outstanding in so many other areas and every great player had a flaw. People who point to race are simply grasping at straws. Watch him play for just a couple of consecutive games and tell me Steve Nash doesn't play the game the right way.

2006-12-19T12:19:00.000-08:00

The Gauntlet in the Garden!

You can't turn on ESPN or basically any news station without seeing something about the brawl. While one part of me wants to stay away from the subject due to more overexposure than the Olsen twins... I digress

First of all, people need to stop comparing this to the situation in Detroit. That was a complete riot and this was a scuffle between a few heated players. As many people have pointed out in recent days, fights used to be normal within basketball. Teams had goons much like hockey and even the stars like Bird and Barkley would be known to thrown down. This is not uncommon by any means and is more knee-jerk reactions by people who have been waiting for another fight with bated breath. Calm down people! In the heat of the moment with testosterone raging like wild fire, things do happen.

More than anything, all I could think about beyond the fact that Nate Robinson is Stephen Jackson's midget, crazier brother, was that Carmelo just stepped down a bit in my eyes again. He has always seemed like a punk to me and watching him throw a punch at a guy with his hands down and then run away didn't change that perception. Bill Simmons can swear Mardy was asking for it (which he was), but he reacted like a kid once again. Whether he refuses to enter a game, calls out AK47 or cheap shots someone, his true character always comes through. His veiled apology through his PR person didn't help either. His talent is immense but his attitude, much like Kobe's, will always shine through.

As for Zeke and G Karl, they just need to duke it out in a cage. I kid, I kid. There are always unspoken laws in sports. You don't stare at home run balls and you sit your starters when you're up by 10000 points. George and Zeke are both known for being, well, not the greatest guys and this just demonstrated that. George should have sat his boys and there should not have been orders given to foul any Nuggets that entered the paint.

The suspensions where harsh but I do agree with the NBA in some degree. You hate to see this with the game you love because people will only say the continual stereotypes you already hear about the game. "It's too black", "They are all thugs!", etc, etc. All I want is for people to see the true beauty and art of the game and not judge an entire league on a few incidents. When fans of other games point fingers, they can't deny the criminals and steroid users in football and baseball. All games have their dark pasts but basketball honestly may be the cleanest of them all in reality.

2006-12-12T09:47:00.000-08:00

I thought I would give the season twenty games or so before I looked back at my projections and analyzed how things are going thus far. Some are right on while others...... I don't want to talk about it but I must.

Rookie of the Year Prediction: Adam Morrison

Rookie of the Year Thus Far: The stache

This is an award by default. It's like giving a ribbon to a kid who didn't place in the top three but is just "special". Ammo has had his moments for sure but he is sputtering recently like George Jetson's flying briefcase. He also needs to start boarding a bit more and distributing the ball as well. Most of this will come with weight work as well as time within the system. Bargnani is playing good ball in spare minutes and the same goes for John Hollinger's man crush, Paul Milsap.

Most Improved Player Prediction: Josh Smith

Most Improved Player Thus Far: Andris Biedrins

Josh has teased us, or been a "tantilizer" like Bill Simmons would say. If I were a Hawks fan I would feel like a highschooler again that had the captain of the cheerleading squad that would flirt but never fully commit to a date. You see that potential there but she doesn't. His break out year may be a year away which is good news for Suns fans that stare at Hawks box scores hoping for a lose.

Some people will claim Monte Ellis here, which is fair, but he doesn't do much for me beyond scoring ability. Andris is boarding like man, blocking shots and making shots when he gets opportunities. He has to work on his free throw stroke but his numbers have been amazing since Nellie gave him some burn.

Defensive Player of the Year Prediction: AK47

Defensive Player of the Year Thus Far: Emeka Okafor

I haven't seen a 100 block game from him in a little bit but he has put up some insane numbers already this year. He had 8 blocks against Dallas, seven against the Big Easy and 6 against Indiana. It's good to see him healthy and playing well since he's such a stand up guy. Speaking of healthy...

I feel for you Jazz fans. You expect big things from AK47 and he ends up hurt again and he is struggling to fit within the system with everyone back. Then again, you have the best record in the league... so I don't pity you.

6th Man of the Year Prediction: Leandro Barbosa

6th Man of the Year Thus Far: Leandro Barbosa

He has started a bit this year but he has been instant offense off the bench. He's averaging 17 points to go along with 4 assists per game. This is super encouraging for Suns fans because beyond scoring, we never really wanted to see him handle the ball or have to make a decision. It would be like handing George Bush the rock and letting him dictate things. He will always be more of a scorer but his vision and point guard instincts are improving daily.

MVP Prediction: King James

MVP Thus Far: Steve Nash

You can call homerism on this but Nash is putting up insane numbers. He's already had a 20 assist game and then followed that up with a 43 point game. He does all the right things to win and always gives the Suns a chance in every game. He will lead the league in assists again and there is a chance he will be the first 20 and 10 guy since Timmy Hardaway back in 92. He's got skillz!

Finals Matchup: Suns vs. Pistons

The real finale will be in the Western conference finals but I had to pick someone from the East. You could honestly throw a pick up squad out there and they would have a chance to at least be a 5th seed in the East. I still go with the Suns because they have been through the wars the last couple seasons and Amare is beasting again. If you need any proof of this, watch the Magic game as he pushes Dwight Howard around like his little brother. The Jazz, Spurs and Mavs are all solid but with an inside/outside game going in Phoenix, we are really tough to beat. They are even playing a little defense! Writers won't admit to it but they are greatly improved in this area with Kurt, Raja, Shawn and Marcus Banks around.

Others Shocks and Surprises!

I'm glad to see that the NBA finally listened to the players and brought back the old ball. I understand not wanting to slaughter animals for a game but at least take your time and properly test balls. There is no rush and this will ultimately dictate how the game is played in the end. I only hope the players can adjust quickly to bringing back the old ball once again.

2006-10-30T12:56:00.000-08:00

There are two more awards to add to the list. This should do it for my predictions before the season rolls out. I'm looking forward to another year of hoops and I hope it is as exciting as it was last year.

Defensive Player Of The Year: AK47

Andrei would have at least one defensive player of the year award had he remained healthy. He looks to be in good health and I think he needs a year of health to benefit his team and silence critics. There is no better weak-side defender in the league and he is one of the few players that can change an entire game without scoring a point. I wouldn't be shocked to see him end up with 2.5 blocks and 2.5 steals per game.

6th Man Of The Year: Leandro Barbosa

The scoring has always been there for the Blur but his improved defense will keep him on the court longer. With more time, will come more points and more exposure. I told friends that I thought he could become another Bobby Jackson before his time was done, and he is really nearing that status.

2006-10-26T13:30:00.000-07:00

It is prediction time ladies and gents. I'll look deep within my Magic Eightball and see what lies ahead this season in the NBA. I'll run down the awards and all the teams that I feel are going to be big winners this year. Feel free to agree or disagree, but chances are we will all mostly be wrong.

Rookie Of The Year: Adam Morrison

He will get an opportunity right away to put up points for those tangerine orange Bobcats. While most rookies will struggle to find time, Ammo should be a focal point of an offense in desperate need of a pure scorer. I wouldn't be shocked to see him put up seventeen to eighteen points per game. Foye and Roy should both have good years as well but once again, they will not be a focal point of an offense. You can't stop the stache...

Most Improved Player: Josh Smith

I agree with John Hollinger in regard to this award. The player that wins it is usually just a young bench player or recently traded player that is finally getting some burn. It is great to recognize improvement but the All-Star game and the various other awards around the league should be enough. Being that the award is around though still, I have to pick someone. Josh Smith has a game very similar to players like Shawn Marion or AK47. He's versatile and is a terror on defense. His jump shot is improving and combined with his flash, should create a perfect ingredient for MIP.

MVP:King James

While nothing would make me happier than seeing Steve win another MVP, this will most likely be Lebron's year. His insane numbers will just continue to rise and the Cavs look set to win 55+ games. The first time I saw him play, I told my father that I thought he would average a triple double at some point in his career. It's only a matter of time before he does it, maybe even this year. The crazy thing about all this, is that he's only 21 and all this seems like a possibility.

Coach Of The Year: Brian Hill

All the ingredients are in place for the Magic to have a great year. Dwight Howard, Darko and Jameer should all only be better. The rest of the team is a nice blend of vets like Grant Hill and Pat Garrity to go along with other whippersnappers like Ariza and J.J. They won't win the East by any means but they will make the playoffs and improve enough that Brian Hill should be considered a real option for coach of the year.

Finals: Suns vs. Heat

Deep down inside, I wanted to pick the Cavs or Bulls to be in the finals. I don't feel like the Bulls have enough inside scoring or experience and the Cavs don't really have much outside shooting. Shaq doesn't have much left in the tank and this will most likely be his last hurrah.

Anyone who reads here knows my Suns bias but all the ingredients are there for them to make it all the way. Even without Amare, I would be tempted to put them in the finals now that Kurt Thomas is healthy and Nash has a true backup. With Amare improving day by day and the rest of the youth like Diaw, Barbosa and Banks doing the same, there is no reason this team shouldn't win the whole thing. Besides, we're due after waiting since the late 60's for a title. Give us one!!

2006-10-19T10:47:00.000-07:00

It's been a while but there has not been much to talk about! I've been riding a roller coaster ride that is called: "Amare Stoudemire's Knee" for over a year now. He looks to be rounding into form and I only pray that Suns curse that began with Lew will not strike again.

I was working on putting together my fantasy team this year and sleepers kept popping up left and right. Nothing is more gratifying than grabbing a guy in the 9th round that ends up not only starting but putting up great numbers for you. We all hope we find a Boris Diaw, not a Yinka Dare. Here are a few cats that could round into form this season.

Josh Smith

Initially, when the Suns traded Joe to Atlanta, I really wanted them to request Josh. I heard Atlanta was expecting that and was shocked when they requested Boris. He is the closest thing I have ever seen to Shawn Marion, who's game is very hard to duplicate. Josh flies up and down the court and attacks the rim relentlessly. Not only that, but he gets a ton of blocks and steals. Hopefully his J will improve a bit, as well as his ball handling, but there is no reason to think the kid won't get any good looks with both Speedy and Joe on board.

Dwight Howard

I know he's already very good but he is about to become great. He is already the best rebounder in the game but his post moves and all around offense are rounding into form. He has all the potential in the world and don't be shocked to see him pull out a 25/25 game at some point this season. That may seem like something that could only happen in NBA Live or Lakers vs. Celtcis, but it could very well be a reality.

Leandro Barbosa

It's been both fun and depressing to watch Leandro over the course of his career with the Suns. He can look like the second coming of the "Microwave" and then look like Robert Pack hopped up on speed. He's finally starting to understand pacing and he is picking his spots rather than constantly pushing the fast forward button. He is starting to focus on defense and with his length, could be a magnet for steals. Don't be shocked if he is 6th man of the year in '07.

Shaun Livingston

Sam I am is bound to get injured at some point this year, being that he is on the cusp of being 1000. Seriously, how long does it seem like he's been in the league? I think both he and Dikembe Mutombo were drafted in 1967. Shaun is putting up great scoring numbers in the preseason and is really working on his J. To top it off, he has great vision to go along with great defense. People compare him to Magic but I see Penny Hardaway with more defense written all over him. This should be the year his numbers rise up.

I can't wait for the season to start and I'll be posting my predictions here very shortly.

2006-09-07T11:30:00.000-07:00

This is belated but I wanted to discuss how the World Championships played out and how my picks looked afterward. Not to toot my own horn but I was right on with Greece and the US squad. The thing that killed me was that Argentina and Spain game. To make matters worse, Argentina only lost by a point. I can't wait for more international ball next summer and then the big dance in 2008.

On a side note, get well Pau. I've broken the same bone in my foot and it's more irritating that you can't play than anything else. Have a speedy recover and I expect him back to full strength ASAP.

2006-09-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

A lose from an American perspective...

To anyone that tries to follow the international game, you realize that there are many great teams scattered across the globe. It has been a pleasure as a basketball fan to see the game continually grow and reach such a great status in various countries. After this latest US defeat by Greece, it is obvious that many people just don't see the truth yet.

The American basketball player is usually an exceptional athlete that plays high above the rim with a lot of flash and bravado. These players have been held up to such a degree that they feel and act as if they are invincible. The true idea of "team" is something that they know but do not necessarily adhere to. That is why I found it so hard to believe that we would simply waltz into this tournament with almost no time together and just walk all over teams in the truest sense.

Teams like Greece, Argentina and Spain play what I consider to be, real basketball. They obviously have very talented players and I would be foolish to assume that there isn't a little ego in some of them, but, they get it. They understand the basic fundamentals of basketball that seem to be lost in the modern day American player. Greece ran a simply pick and roll and completely left the US clueless. Until the American team plays together for a while and builds cohesion and realizes that there are aspects of their games that they need to improve, they will never beat teams of this caliber. Honestly though, I don't know if that will happen. The International player may not be as athletically gifted but they play the game the right way and will always have a place on many US team rosters.

I congratulate Greece on a great performance and apologize for the US players that did not do the same. It's time for America to put the ego aside, grow from this experience and try to properly utilize all that ability. It's time for some soul searching for many players on this US roster and I truly hope that we have the fire within us to come back strong in 2008. Until then, I will watch these true "teams" and enjoy the beauty and enthusiasm that they play the game with.

2006-08-20T19:01:00.000-07:00

There is a name coming out of Europe that many people here in the states could be getting to know very well in about the year 2010. DraftExpress did some coverage on him and my friend Christophe did over at EuropeanProspects. His name is Ricard Rubio and he could easily be the top pick when he becomes draft eligible. His Spanish team at the U16 championships won the gold medal and Ricard took home MVP honors and finished the final game with 51 points, 24 rebounds, 12 assists and 7 steals. Seriously, those were his stats. He already is on the bench for DKV Joventut, which is one of the top teams in Spain. The scary thing is, he is only 15 years old! I could barely make myself breakfast at that age and he is putting up stats and creating hype like a young Lebron or OJ Mayo. His J needs work, but being only 15, I suspect it will improve. Playing along with someone like Rudy Fernandez should help him elevate his game. Keep your eyes open for this kid because the Stern man may be calling his name number one over all in the not too distant future.

2006-08-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

News just broke that Tony Parker has a broken finger and will not be playing in the championships. Well, go ahead and move France on down and move Team USA up. If any other new developments come up, I will feel free to change my mind again. : )

2006-08-17T15:02:00.000-07:00

The World Championships!

Finally, basketball ladies and gentlemen! I've been held up in my apartment with my girlfriend and cat trying to get over my basketball addiction. I can't sleep at night, I can't eat and all I watch is CSI and I keep hoping Grissom pulls out a basketball. Let's talk world hoops, shall we?

Everyone and their mother is going to pick the US team but I don't see two things on this team that are going to be very important in this tourney. This team doesn't have great outside shooters and this team doesn't play very good defense, especially now that Bowen is off the team. While people like Lebron and Carmelo will continue to pump out team first catch phrases, this hasn't helped them play defense any other time. Kirk and Melo might pump some long distance treys and help break down these zones but there aren't enough people with a mid range game to really help them out. I'm not saying they will be awful but I don't see them finishing higher than third. Here's my crack at the top three...

1. Argentina

This team is full of NBA talent and they have played together for years. I simply love to watch this team play. Their offensive execution is a thing of beauty and I look forward to seeing them every chance I can get. Ruben Magnano needs to be credited with this system and he showcases that now in the Italian league.Look for Nocioni to break out here much like he did in the playoffs for the Bulls.

2. Greece

I'm not just putting this here because I'm hoping for a couple boxes of hummus. Although, I wouldn't turn them away. Regardless, this is a true team. They won the European Championship last year and this team D's up. Diamantidis is probably the best defender in Europe and Yannakis is simply a great coach that easily could be in the NBA before you know it.

3. France

This is an extrememly talented team that I have mentioned before. I'm not just saying this because I love French bread, cheese and wine either. They are loaded with NBA talent top to bottom and all it would take for them to possibly win this whole thing is Diaw or Parker really breaking out. Gelable could become a more recognized name due to his defense and athleticism after this tourney.

I see team USA and Spain falling somewhere in fourth or fifth. This US team just needs more time together and time to evolve to the international game. Next time around, if we keep this core intact and add Greg Oden, the tourney is ours to lose.

2006-07-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

U18 Championship Update

France took home the gold medal against Lithuania be beating them 77-72. This was a remarkable come back considering the fact that the French had lost three consecutive games at one point. France finally started playing up to their potential and rallied off four consecutive wins. Nicolas Batum took home the MVP honors by averaging 14 points and about 8 boards a game. This kid is a steak dinner and weight room away from being lottery bound. You can't forget Ludovic Vaty and Antoine Diot who look more and more like pros every game. Alexis Ajinca still has a ways to go in terms of his body but he has all the skills in the world to be held in the same breath with these other fantastic kids too. People jumped on his potential too early most likely and he is a ways away from being what he will be. Congratulations France!

2006-07-24T16:56:00.000-07:00

The U18 championships are under way in Europe! Here are some notes from the contest thus far...

This was supposed to be France's tournament to lose but Spain has been fantastic thus far. I don't think this squad will be producing any pros but they are doing very well and have beaten teams like Serbia and France thus far.

Chavdar Kostov has been on fire thus far doing his best George Gervin impersonation. He's had three games with over thirty points and is leading the tournament with an average of 26 PPG.

Nicolas Batum is someone I've mentioned in the past and you all should know that I'm very high on him. To say the least, I wasn't very thrilled about his early game stats. He's picked things up as of late though and tallied 17 and 12 against Lithuania and had 18 and 16 against Greece. While his versatility has always been known, these rebounding stats only add to the list of things that Nicolas can do well.

France is playing much better and look to be rolling again. They are simply too talented not to. Remember to keep an eye on Alexis Ajinca and Ludovic Vaty as well.

To keep up with all the stats and happenings, follow this link to the good stuff!

http://www.fibaeurope-u18men.com/en/

2006-07-09T20:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the dog days of summer...

We're now officially in that awkward stage of the basketball season. NBA players are participating in summer leagues, highschoolers are playing a little AAU ball and the rest of us are wondering what offseason move, if any, our teams will pull off. Thankfully, there are a few items of note.

Numero Uno:

Amare is mobile and playing again. For Suns fans, every step Amare takes is a step towards our future. While he is not as explosive yet, nor will he be for a while, but there are some great signs. His overall game and understanding are vastly improved and he's showing this off with some dirbbling and passing displays thus far in summer league play. Hopefully we'll start to see a few vicious dunks thrown in here and there. To be honest though, I would take a game similar to Karl Malone's or Chris Webber's circa the Sactown days. Keep an eye on those boxscores kids.

Numero Dos:

The world championships are coming this August. This should help baskeball fans in general breath a sigh of relief since we'll be without legit games for two months. It should be fun to see how we bounce back and to see if another country steps forward or if another young phenom can step and become the next big draft prospect. My dark horse for the tourney, if you could call it that, is France. I really like their team and they now have five NBA players on the squad in Parker, Pietrus, Diaw, Petro and Turiaf. If Pietrus can play up to his abilities, France could be tough.

2006-06-29T10:31:00.000-07:00

The draft was upon us and now it is beyond us. I'll be the first to admit to being a complete draft geek. I study the mock drafts and follow box scores all year in preparation for a few hours on one day in June. Let's see who had a great day and who had a not so great day.

Winners!

Portland "No Longer Jailblazers"

Aldridge was a great pick up because there was an obvious need at center with Pryzbilla taking off and Ratliff being on the decline. While Telfair has a lot of potential, any Portland fan can't complain about getting Brandon Roy. I honestly feel that either he or Tyrus Thomas will end up being the best players in this draft. To put a little cherry on top, they also snagged Sergio Rodriguez and Joel Freeland. Now if they can ship off the Cheech and Chong Darius Miles and Zach Randolph, Portland fans will have a reason to cheer and a great young team to build upon.

Da Bulls

I think that the Thomas pick is a little redundant with all the size this team already has but I can see how you can't resist someone with that much potential. If they keep Chandler around, they may have the most explosive front court in the NBA. The pick I really liked was Sefolosha. The Bulls are height challenged in the back court and Thabo will provide length, athleticism, skill and a sweet name to the team. Imagine the PA announcer bellowing "Taboooooo!" after every great play. I know you're jealous.

Memphis

The funny part is that I'm not putting them here because of the Rudy Gay pick up. The look on Gay's face as teams passed on him didn't come across as disappointment to me as much as disgust. I don't think he could believe some of the players that went before him. I'm not a fan of his heart and I'm honestly surprised that Jerry passed on guys like Brewer and Sefolosha. I also don't like that they ended up getting Swift back because I don't like his contract as well as his heart. I know this sounds like a bashathon but I really liked the Lowry pick as well as getting Johnson. To me, their most glaring need was at the one and Lowry will do great things for them. Johnson could end up being the steal of the draft due to his great size and athleticism. Teams passed on him probably due to age but you need to stop living off of potential all the time.

Losers!

Phoenix

I hate to do this and it tears at my heart like a Lifetime movie but I am very upset with how this draft went down for my Suns. Steve Nash is aging like a fine wine but great backups that you can groom for the future don't come along often either. Rando or Rodriguez would have been ideal candidates for that exact role. I don't see many great guards coming down the pipe any time soon and the Suns simply gave up on these players for money. If they don't resign the main core and bring everyone back, I'm going on strike.

The Knickerbockers

Ah, Isiah... Why this man has any power in New York still is beyond me. He goes and takes a second rounder with the 21st pick and then drafts a slow combo guard at 29. Break out your rabbit's feet and four leaf clovers New York. I'm not saying that in hope that they win this season but that Isiah is fired half way through it.

Seattle

Seattle already has an improving Robert Swift and a solid backup in Johan Petro. So what do you draft? That's right, another center! Huh? They needed rebounding and toughness at the four with the Evans trade and they passed on Cedric Simmons who could have been a great fit in their uptempo system.

2006-06-28T09:56:00.000-07:00

It doesn't look like I'll be able to cover the entire draft prior to it due to time constraints, aka having to work. But, if anyone has any questions out there I'm more than willing to try to answer what's rolling around in your brain. After the draft, I'll make sure to discuss who I feel are the winners and losers come Thursday morning.

2006-06-26T21:49:00.000-07:00

It's draft time so I figured it was about time for me to give a bit of a preview. I'll initially start with the top five picks and move through the first round five picks at a time. So, let's dig in...

1.Toronto

Leave it to Bryan Colangelo to finally get a number one pick as soon as he leaves Phoenix. If only that luck would have been there for his Dad when a little guy named Lew Alcindor came into the NBA via UCLA. There aren't any Lew's in this draft but there are some solid choices at the top of the board. With a solid building block in Chris Bosh playing the four and Charlie Villanueva playing really well last year, the Raptors are pretty much set at the three and the four for a while. Everyone seems to think that Bargnani is the guy but I honestly feel that Bryan is using that as potential trade bait. The Raps have more pressing needs at the center, the point guard position and the two guard. Lamarcus Aldridge makes a lot of sense here but he seems a bit soft and his game is comparable to Channing Frye who went ninth last year. If I was Toronto, I would trade down a bit or just take Brandon Roy who can contribute immediately and be one of the cornerstones of the team for the next decade.

2. Chicago

Thomas seems to be the consensus here but that really doesn't make much sense to me. With players like Chandler, Deng, Sweetney and Nocioni in the front court, the two guard position seems like the biggest need. Gordon won't fill that role full time due to defensive nightmares due to a small backcourt. Roy should be the guy here again because he could come in and help lead a team that is already in the playoff hunt.

3.Charlotte

The BET/JumpMan Cats are looking hard at the small forward position from most reports. It's a toss up here between Rudy Gay and Adam Morrison. For my two cents, Gay has a ton of potential but Morrison has a lot more heart than Gay and a higher basketball IQ. Also, you can't stop the stache...

4.Portland

Portland would love a shot at Roy and Morrison here but I think they're going to be off the board. Regardless, they already have nice pieces at their positions in Webster and Outlaw. Outlaw deserves minutes and should be starting next season. If not, I'd love to see him in Phoenix's system. Thomas or Aldridge should be the guys here. Randolph aka Big Eddie Winslow, is difficult and the signs are all over the wall that coach Mac and him are not simpatico. Pryzbilla is out the door and Theo Ratliff isn't going to be taking over that position so it's time to find a big fella. Gut feeling, Aldridge is the guy.

5.Atlanta

Being that Atlanta is picking here, chances are that they will take a swing player or just someone that noone saw coming. Who knows, maybe Bob Cousy won't be off the board. Thomas could help complete a ferocious front line that flies up and down the court. With Marvin Williams around now though, he really shouldn't be picked. Marcus Williams should be picked up here. I don't think he's the best point guard in the draft but the perception is that he is. I think that Sergio Rodriguez and Rajon Rando will end up being better pros but Williams could allow JJ to play full time two guard and help get Atlanta's athletes out on the break.

2006-06-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to inform anyone out there of another great blog. If you enjoy European basketball or are curious about future prospects in the draft via Europe, check out http://www.europeanprospects.com . The site really is great and there are a lot of great videos that aren't anywhere out there on the internet.

2006-06-22T08:43:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to all the Knicks fans in the world. That team becomes more and more of a joke on a daily basis. While Larry Brown was obviously not a good fit for this team, Thomas sure isn't either. His blunders in Indiana cannot be ignored. I honestly think that former WWF valet Captain Lou Albano could do a better job then both of these men.

While I pity anyone that has to try to deal with a backcourt of Starbury and the Franchise, there are some good pieces to build upon. First of all, play Frye and Lee. Both of these young guys showed great promise last year and on a team that played so poorly, why not give the kids a chance? I would start Steph along side a bigger guard like Q and bring Francis off the bench in a sixth man high octane role. More than anything else, just find a squad that works and keep them out there. This team won't necessarily be good but they could at least not be a laughing stock. It would be great for the NBA to have the knicks succeed. I won't ever say the same for the Lakers. : )

2006-06-20T19:06:00.000-07:00

Here I am writing about all this stuff on the current happenings around the NBA and I haven't even written anything about the NBA Finals. There are some dynamic talents on display with players like Dirk and Dwayne Wade but I just haven't gotten into it. I guess I was on such a high from the Phoenix run that I didn't know what to do with myself without our floppy haired floor general running the show. After hearing about Mark Cuban's antics, I'm kind of happy I haven't tuned in. While the officiating can be very poor at times, there is no "conspiracy" within the NBA. If there was, the Knicks and Lakers would be champions every year and David Stern would have ratings through the roof. I used to love the story of how Mark obtained the Mavs and felt like he was one of us. He was just a normal guy that happened to be able to purchase an NBA franchise. As time has gone on though, he's become more and more egotistical. The money has finally gotten to his head and you can tell that he feels that he is above the his team, his players and the NBA in general. I love the way the Mavs play ball but deep down, I don't want Mark to raise that golden orb above his head. My predication you ask? Mavs in seven but I'm not happy about it....

2006-06-18T19:10:00.000-07:00

The draft is quickly approaching and once again my team, the Phoenix Suns, have all kinds of rumors swirling around them. They have been infamous over the years for putting out smoke screens in order to allow them to draft who they want. The best example of this came in 2002 when they supposedly loved everyone from Chris Wilcox to Jared Jeffries but coveted Amare Stoudemire all along. Now they supposedly love Rodney Carney, Saer Sene and Thabo Sefolosha. While all of them would fit well into our system, I have a feeling that they really want Sergio Rodriguez. Steve can't play the bulk of the minutes year after year and Sergio really fits our system as well as anyone I've seen in recent years. Here are a couple highlights to wet your appetites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBa0dqhRdas&search=sergio%20rodriguez

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPuDjcOVyYs&search=sergio%20rodriguez

2006-06-17T14:55:00.000-07:00

basket-ball

After the Nickoloz Tskitishvili disaster of 2002, many NBA and draft pundits proclaimed the European invasion to be over. I think anyone involved with the Nuggets organization would admit to falling in love with the idea of the next Dirk Nowitzki. Who wouldn't want a seven footer that runs the floor like a small forward and shoots the three like a shooting guard? The thing most people failed to realize is that Dirk is a one of a kind player. How many potential MJ's have come down the pipe in the last fifteen years? I'm not saying Dirk is MJ but he is working his way into the top 25 players in NBA history. Euro's and players worldwide have been unfairly put under a microscope while their American counterparts can fail to meet expectations themselves. There are great American players and great players from outside the States too. The same can be said for players that aren't very good. While we will always produce amazing talent in the U.S., there is a new hotbed of talent starting to come out of Europe. It's not Germany, Switzerland or even the previous hotbed, Serbia. It's actually France. That's right, France.

When you think France and basketball, a few readily available names probably jump to mind in the NBA. Tony Parker has been blazing across the NBA hardword for years now with the Spurs. Boris Diaw came out of nowhere this year to become a force for the Suns. Mickael Pietrus could probably do well too if Golden State would stop playing Dunleavy as if he deserved his contract. Some other players like Johan Petro and Mickaël Gelabale may not be recognizable to few outside of my own NBA obsession but they do have the potential to do good things in Seattle. Ronny Turiaf amazingly showed signs of real potential in the postseason this year for LA despite having heart surgery earlier in the year. While these players are representing France very well in the NBA and abroad, there are some hot new prospects that will be showing up in the NBA draft in 2007 or 2008.

A lot of people may not know that there are competitions within basketball that represent respective countries for players that are 18 years of age and younger. It gives kids across the globe the chance to participate in high level competition against their peers, represent their country but also represent themselves. While the NBA scouting radar is all over the globe, no matter how big that radar is, the world is always a little bit bigger. Players can slip through the cracks and events like this can really open a lot of people's eyes. A few French prospects have done just that.

Nicolas Batum:

As with any young prospect, it's really hard to decipher who will be the best among them down the road. I list Nicolas first because he really falls in line with what people are describing as the new vogue of the NBA. Teams want players like a Josh Howard or a Boris Diaw that can play and guard multiple positions. Nicolas is 6'8 and will most likely be a two guard or small forward down the line. NBADraft.net really hit it on the head when they compared him to Joe Johnson. He can handle the ball well, shoot inside and out and also distribute. He is also showing the defensive potential that Joe is as well. The difference between the two is that Batum has to work on his body, which shouldn't be shocking since he's only 18. Athletically though, Batum is both quicker and more explosive off the ground. Come next year, don't be shocked if Nicolas is a lottery pick.

Alexis Ajinca:

It will probably be a toss up between Saer Sene and Alexis once he gets to the NBA to see who has the longer wingspan. His huge wingspan allows him to be a force on the defensive side of the ball. While some sites are comparing him to KG, his offensive skills are nowhere near that level. His shot is decent and he can definately throw down but he doesn't really have post moves or anything off the dribble. He runs very well and his real potential is as mentioned, on D. Being that big men are at a premium, Alexis may end up being the better pro down the line once he fills out.

Ludovic Vaty:

Ludovic, like Nicolas, is a great athlete. Ludovic is a power forward that lives in the paint and aggresively attacks the rim and the glass. I believe that he had a knee injury and while he was out, players like Nicolas and Alexis had an opportunity to showcase more of their skills. While Nicolas exploded at the Albert Schweitzer tournament, Ludovic cannot be forgotten. Vaty looks to have bounced back and played well at the Douai tournament. Keep an eye on him with the European U18 championships.

All of these kids have unbelieveable potential. It should be fun to watch them grow over the course of the next two years. They should all be in the NBA but they all hopefully continue to work on their games and bodies in order to maximize their talent. As you can see, while France is showing well thus far, their future is very bright.

2006-06-15T18:40:00.000-07:00

I would like to take this opportunity for myself, to introduce, myself. I'm a mid-twenties guy that was born and raised in sunny Phoenix, Arizona. At a tender age, my father took me to my first Phoenix Suns game. I don't really remember the moment that I fell in love with the game really but I kind of always remember feeling that way. There was something so amazing about these giant men that could run and leap like they were something straight out of a comic book. I soaked up any information on the game I could whether it was from a book, a telecaster, my father or simply playing myself. It's hard to believe that a game with such a simple concept as putting a ball in a bucket can be so complex. It's really a life long process to fully understand why and how players and teams as a whole do the things they do. Over the course of this blog I will discuss all aspects of the game from the draft to x's and o's to sneakers. Anyone who is really into the game understands that basketball is more than just a game, it is a way of life. Hopefully you enjoy the ride and discuss this game with me, this beautiful game...