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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Uh-Oh!





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

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.

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?

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.