The general consensus regarding Lebron's ESPN special was that it represented everything that is wrong with the egotistical NBA. And that is absolutely correct. However, when Lebron "took his talents to South Beach," the NBA was the biggest winner. There are two reasons why:
1) The NBA is a league driven by great teams and dynasties. The best years of the NBA are all defined by one or two dominate teams. The 60's featured the Russell's Celtics and Wilt's Warriors/76ers/Lakers. The 80's had the Showtime Lakers versus Bird's Celtics. And the 90's belonged to Jordan's Bulls. Since then we have been treated to 1 great team, Shaq and Kobe's Lakers, and a bunch of other good teams. And the NBA's overall brand has suffered for this fact. By putting three stars on one team (with the prospect of more Miami Thrices happening elsewhere), the NBA should once again have great dynasty-worthy teams. Bird and Jordan may remaniss about being the only superstar on their teams, but in reality those teams were absolutely stacked. As were the Showtime Lakers and Russell's Celtics. The salary cap has done a great job of spreading the talent around the NBA, but the overall brand has suffered because of it. The Miami Heat should begin to reverse this trend starting next year.
2) Everyone loves a villain. More accurately, everyone loves to cheer against a villain. And the Miami Heat are the biggest villains the NBA has had in a very long time. The closest comparison in any sport to the Heat is the Yankees. Not the historically Yankees (the most successful franchise in sports history), but the Yankees of right now. They have more stars than any other team in the league and fans across the nation hate them for it. And yet, because they hate them so much, they sell out every single game they play. Most baseball teams charge more for Yankees tickets than any other ticket. The Heat could face similar treatment this year and certainly will in the future. Even in venues like Atlanta, the Heat will sell out because everyone will come to cheer against them and see the Miami Thrice fall flat on their faces. Lebron James has gone from being the most loved to the most hated player in the NBA, but one thing has not changed. He is still the most popular draw in the league.
And the NBA may be entering another golden age because of it.
Showing posts with label NBA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NBA. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
The King's New Court
First of all, how ridiculous was the Lebron special tonight, "The Decision". It was like watching the Super Bowl or the Lost finale. If you include Sportscenter, Lebron's decision got 4 hours of air time. He is the most talented player in the NBA, but it still seems a little excessive. That being said, what does Lebron's decision mean for his career? (Be sure to vote in the poll to the right about whether Lebron made the right choice)
First of all, I cannot believe Lebron did that to Cleveland. I know its been reported for 2 days that Lebron is going to Miami, but I really didn't think he would do it. Lebron is my favorite player, but was terrible. I'm sorry Cleveland, that was hard to watch. No one will blame you for burning his jersey in the street (I'm not making that up, they actually are doing that).
The Chosen One just made the biggest mistake of his career. But before I talk about the bad, there is a lot of good from this move. This team has an opportunity to be better than I originally suspected. Much, much better. With Lebron as Magic, Dwayne as Michael, and Bosh as an All-Star big man, the Heats can be an all-time great team. And they should be able to add more than just scrubs (I know this contradicts what I said last week). The exact details of the 3 stars signings aren't known yet, but if they hold on to Michael Beasley, he is a great 4th option. Mario Chalmers could emerge as a good NBA player, along the lines of a poor man's Rondo. They should be able to fill the roster out with veteran guys who are willing to sacrifice some money for a ring. And Pat Riley is an all-time great coach and whether he is in the front office or on the bench, he will make this team that much better. He also has a lot of experience managing multiple superstars with the Showtime Lakers of the 80's. This team really could win multiple titles and possible become a dynasty.
However, the rings have nothing to do why this choice was a bad one. Despite being the most gifted player to ever touch a basketball, Lebron has cemented his legacy as a guy who needed help. Tonight on "The Decision", Lebron made the good point that every great team of the past 20 years had at least 2 superstars. And he is absolutely right. But something about this move is different. Michael didn't seek out Pippen and Magic didn't leave his hometown for Kareem. No matter how many titles they win together, this Heat team will always be Wade and Lebron's. And Lebron was good enough to win alone. Had he stayed in Cleveland, Lebron could have become the greatest player in league history. Now, at best, he can only be one of the greatest players of all time. More importantly, Lebron has lost his universal appeal to fans. It won't hurt his advertising dollars, but never again will the King be loved like he was before. He abondaned his hometown for greener pastures on national TV. And since his hometown is Cleveland, it hurts that much worst. The Cleve last won a major sports title in 1964. That was 46 years ago! Lebron was the greatest opportunity to win a title that Cleveland could possibly have. In a single moment, the Cavs have gone from being title contenders to lottery contenders. The best hope for the Cavs next year is that they tank and get a high pick in the draft so the can try to draft the most ironic pick in league history, a player they can only hope will be the next Lebron James.
Next year's NBA is going to be very different from this year's. The East has finally passed the West as the premier conference. Out west, the Lakers are the clear favorite with the Thunder, Trailblazers, Mavericks, Spurs, and Nuggets as contenders as well. But the real power now lies in the East. Four teams have a realistic shot of representing the East in the finals and all can beat the Lakers. They are the Heat, Magic, Bulls, and Celtics (Sorry Hawks, but your in tier 2 along with the Bucks, Knicks, and Bobcats). Of those 4, the Heat have the best long-term prospects. I predict they will win 3 titles in the next 5 seasons. But next year, I think the Bulls are going to surprise a lot of people and take the East. They have a fantastic core and plenty of cap room to make additional moves. I also like the Thunder to shock the world and beat the Lakers. And in a Durant versus Rose NBA final, Chicago will show Lebron they don't need him and win their 1st post-Michael title. Yeah, that probably won't happen but it would be a great way to head into the inevitable NBA lockout.
One more note about Lebron, now that his decision is over, it is finally time to devote this blog to my real favorite topic, football! (After one or two more posts about the World Cup of course)
First of all, I cannot believe Lebron did that to Cleveland. I know its been reported for 2 days that Lebron is going to Miami, but I really didn't think he would do it. Lebron is my favorite player, but was terrible. I'm sorry Cleveland, that was hard to watch. No one will blame you for burning his jersey in the street (I'm not making that up, they actually are doing that).
The Chosen One just made the biggest mistake of his career. But before I talk about the bad, there is a lot of good from this move. This team has an opportunity to be better than I originally suspected. Much, much better. With Lebron as Magic, Dwayne as Michael, and Bosh as an All-Star big man, the Heats can be an all-time great team. And they should be able to add more than just scrubs (I know this contradicts what I said last week). The exact details of the 3 stars signings aren't known yet, but if they hold on to Michael Beasley, he is a great 4th option. Mario Chalmers could emerge as a good NBA player, along the lines of a poor man's Rondo. They should be able to fill the roster out with veteran guys who are willing to sacrifice some money for a ring. And Pat Riley is an all-time great coach and whether he is in the front office or on the bench, he will make this team that much better. He also has a lot of experience managing multiple superstars with the Showtime Lakers of the 80's. This team really could win multiple titles and possible become a dynasty.
However, the rings have nothing to do why this choice was a bad one. Despite being the most gifted player to ever touch a basketball, Lebron has cemented his legacy as a guy who needed help. Tonight on "The Decision", Lebron made the good point that every great team of the past 20 years had at least 2 superstars. And he is absolutely right. But something about this move is different. Michael didn't seek out Pippen and Magic didn't leave his hometown for Kareem. No matter how many titles they win together, this Heat team will always be Wade and Lebron's. And Lebron was good enough to win alone. Had he stayed in Cleveland, Lebron could have become the greatest player in league history. Now, at best, he can only be one of the greatest players of all time. More importantly, Lebron has lost his universal appeal to fans. It won't hurt his advertising dollars, but never again will the King be loved like he was before. He abondaned his hometown for greener pastures on national TV. And since his hometown is Cleveland, it hurts that much worst. The Cleve last won a major sports title in 1964. That was 46 years ago! Lebron was the greatest opportunity to win a title that Cleveland could possibly have. In a single moment, the Cavs have gone from being title contenders to lottery contenders. The best hope for the Cavs next year is that they tank and get a high pick in the draft so the can try to draft the most ironic pick in league history, a player they can only hope will be the next Lebron James.
Next year's NBA is going to be very different from this year's. The East has finally passed the West as the premier conference. Out west, the Lakers are the clear favorite with the Thunder, Trailblazers, Mavericks, Spurs, and Nuggets as contenders as well. But the real power now lies in the East. Four teams have a realistic shot of representing the East in the finals and all can beat the Lakers. They are the Heat, Magic, Bulls, and Celtics (Sorry Hawks, but your in tier 2 along with the Bucks, Knicks, and Bobcats). Of those 4, the Heat have the best long-term prospects. I predict they will win 3 titles in the next 5 seasons. But next year, I think the Bulls are going to surprise a lot of people and take the East. They have a fantastic core and plenty of cap room to make additional moves. I also like the Thunder to shock the world and beat the Lakers. And in a Durant versus Rose NBA final, Chicago will show Lebron they don't need him and win their 1st post-Michael title. Yeah, that probably won't happen but it would be a great way to head into the inevitable NBA lockout.
One more note about Lebron, now that his decision is over, it is finally time to devote this blog to my real favorite topic, football! (After one or two more posts about the World Cup of course)
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Is New York "the" destination city?
This question really boils down to two separate questions. Does geography matter when it comes to sports? And is New York a good place for basketball? (Also, vote in the poll to the right. Are college or pro sports better?)
Yes, geography absolutely matters when it comes to sports, but not in the way that everyone talks about. In today's global economy, a star can earn the same endorsements in Oklahoma City or New York. What really matters is the star's appeal (a combination of personality and talent), not his location. Nike will sponsor the best players in the NBA no matter where they are. However, there are two ways where geography can make a difference. The first deals with girls, namely famous girls. Good players become stars when they have a famous woman by their side. Tony Parker went from a good point guard to an NBA star when he married Eva Longoria. And famous women live in big cities. Second, in a big city, the local media is also the national media. As the local newspaper of Gotham, the New York Times covers the Yankees and the Knicks closer than other teams. In this way, a local star in New York becomes a national star.
That being said, New York is not a good place to play sports, especially basketball. The media coverage in New York is intense, too intense. Lots of great athletes can't handle the big city. Even more realize the hassle of the New York media just isn't worth it. Plus, unlike Los Angeles or Dallas, the weather in New York is awful. All other things being equal, its always better to be in the place with better weather. Most importantly, the Knicks are way, way down on the New York sports pecking order. The city clearly belongs to the Yankees. The Mets, Jets, and Giants are all also higher on the pecking order than the Knicks. Plus, many people from the city are from out of town and have their own team loyalties.
The motivation behind this article is all of the talk about Lebron taking the opportunity to play in Gotham. The rumor was dead and buried, but resurfaced today as King James' team announcement grows closer. Lebron will definitely not go to New York because they are not a good basketball team and the city isn't even a destination for athletes.
Cleveland has made it a race, but I still thing Chi-town wins the King James sweepstakes. Go Bulls!
Yes, geography absolutely matters when it comes to sports, but not in the way that everyone talks about. In today's global economy, a star can earn the same endorsements in Oklahoma City or New York. What really matters is the star's appeal (a combination of personality and talent), not his location. Nike will sponsor the best players in the NBA no matter where they are. However, there are two ways where geography can make a difference. The first deals with girls, namely famous girls. Good players become stars when they have a famous woman by their side. Tony Parker went from a good point guard to an NBA star when he married Eva Longoria. And famous women live in big cities. Second, in a big city, the local media is also the national media. As the local newspaper of Gotham, the New York Times covers the Yankees and the Knicks closer than other teams. In this way, a local star in New York becomes a national star.
That being said, New York is not a good place to play sports, especially basketball. The media coverage in New York is intense, too intense. Lots of great athletes can't handle the big city. Even more realize the hassle of the New York media just isn't worth it. Plus, unlike Los Angeles or Dallas, the weather in New York is awful. All other things being equal, its always better to be in the place with better weather. Most importantly, the Knicks are way, way down on the New York sports pecking order. The city clearly belongs to the Yankees. The Mets, Jets, and Giants are all also higher on the pecking order than the Knicks. Plus, many people from the city are from out of town and have their own team loyalties.
The motivation behind this article is all of the talk about Lebron taking the opportunity to play in Gotham. The rumor was dead and buried, but resurfaced today as King James' team announcement grows closer. Lebron will definitely not go to New York because they are not a good basketball team and the city isn't even a destination for athletes.
Cleveland has made it a race, but I still thing Chi-town wins the King James sweepstakes. Go Bulls!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Musings about basketball and soccer
I was going to write my predictions for the NBA free agency mayhem tonight. I decided to do something slightly different for two reasons. First of all, some of the NBA dominoes have already started to feel (thank you, Rudy Gay). Second, NBA free agency is way to crazy to give predictions that are anything more than wild guesses. That being said, here are my thoughts about free agency (with some World Cup stuff thrown in too):
- It is amazing how many realistic possibilities exist for how this free agency nonsense could turn out. Lebron could go to 1 of 6 teams. Factoring in sign and trades, Chris Bosh could go to one of 10 or 12 teams. Lebron, Wade, and Bosh could all play together or they could all end up in separate cities. Chris Paul could get traded to any team and then that team will immediately become a contender for Lebron. Or he could stay in New Orleans. And that doesn't even take into account scenarios involving Joe Johnson, Amare, Carlos Boozer, or any number of other free agents. Despite all the speculation that has gone it to this topic and the amount of awesome scenarios, I can't help but think that it will end up being kind of anti-climatic, much like college football expansion.
- For all the talk about who is going to be the big decider in NBA free agency, it turns out it isn't any of the players. Check out this article to see who the real power is in the NBA (it is real well written and eye-opening): http://www.gq.com/sports/profiles/200706/william-wesley-worldwide-wes-nba-basketball
- Ghana's loss today was at least as heart breaking to watch as Team USA's defeat. They came SO close to taking Africa further than it has every gone in a Cup. One of the hardest things to watch in sports is when a team outplays its opponent and still loses. Ghana had every opportunity to win and couldn't come through. Not to lessen Uruguay's win, but by the end of that game, they were just barely hanging on. I can't imagine how Asamoah Gyan feels after missing the game winning kick. Still, Ghana should be proud for doing so well with the youngest team in the tournament and for representing their continent so well.
- Luis Suarez's handball was such a head-ups play! If he doesn't commit that red card, Uruguay goes home and I am writing this article about how amazing Ghana is. It sucks that he will miss the next match, but without that contribution, Uruguay would not be in the semi-finals.
- The talk among sports writers is that most of the contracts given out so far in the NBA have been incredibly bloated. No one will argue that Rudy Gay isn't worth $82 million. But I think Minnesota's signing of Darko Milic is going to turn out better than most people predict. Darko hasn't lived up to expectations at all, but he was playing well at the end of last season. He is still young and could blossom into a serviceable starting center. And the Bucks signing of Drew Gooden is a very smart move. Rather than blow their cap room on 1 marquee free agent, the Bucks have signed multiple starting quality players. In a 7 game playoff series, a quality team will beat 1 star player and a bunch of scrubs every time. Fear the Deer! (that is the Buck's rallying cry)
- The advantage of being a novice soccer fan is that I don't feel a huge amount of loyalty to any 1 team. Obviously I was cheering for Team USA and I had chosen to cheer for African teams as well. But now that both of those options are gone, I have no problem finding a new team to cheer for. I will be supporting whoever wins the Argentina-Germany game tomorrow. I like both of these teams because I thoroughly enjoyed their 2006 quarterfinals match-up. Also, Diego Maradona makes the game so much more interesting. And I have seen Germany play in person and I own a Germany jersey.
- Finally, rather than predict free agency, I am going to say where I wish guys would go:
- It is amazing how many realistic possibilities exist for how this free agency nonsense could turn out. Lebron could go to 1 of 6 teams. Factoring in sign and trades, Chris Bosh could go to one of 10 or 12 teams. Lebron, Wade, and Bosh could all play together or they could all end up in separate cities. Chris Paul could get traded to any team and then that team will immediately become a contender for Lebron. Or he could stay in New Orleans. And that doesn't even take into account scenarios involving Joe Johnson, Amare, Carlos Boozer, or any number of other free agents. Despite all the speculation that has gone it to this topic and the amount of awesome scenarios, I can't help but think that it will end up being kind of anti-climatic, much like college football expansion.
- For all the talk about who is going to be the big decider in NBA free agency, it turns out it isn't any of the players. Check out this article to see who the real power is in the NBA (it is real well written and eye-opening): http://www.gq.com/sports/profiles/200706/william-wesley-worldwide-wes-nba-basketball
- Ghana's loss today was at least as heart breaking to watch as Team USA's defeat. They came SO close to taking Africa further than it has every gone in a Cup. One of the hardest things to watch in sports is when a team outplays its opponent and still loses. Ghana had every opportunity to win and couldn't come through. Not to lessen Uruguay's win, but by the end of that game, they were just barely hanging on. I can't imagine how Asamoah Gyan feels after missing the game winning kick. Still, Ghana should be proud for doing so well with the youngest team in the tournament and for representing their continent so well.
- Luis Suarez's handball was such a head-ups play! If he doesn't commit that red card, Uruguay goes home and I am writing this article about how amazing Ghana is. It sucks that he will miss the next match, but without that contribution, Uruguay would not be in the semi-finals.
- The talk among sports writers is that most of the contracts given out so far in the NBA have been incredibly bloated. No one will argue that Rudy Gay isn't worth $82 million. But I think Minnesota's signing of Darko Milic is going to turn out better than most people predict. Darko hasn't lived up to expectations at all, but he was playing well at the end of last season. He is still young and could blossom into a serviceable starting center. And the Bucks signing of Drew Gooden is a very smart move. Rather than blow their cap room on 1 marquee free agent, the Bucks have signed multiple starting quality players. In a 7 game playoff series, a quality team will beat 1 star player and a bunch of scrubs every time. Fear the Deer! (that is the Buck's rallying cry)
- The advantage of being a novice soccer fan is that I don't feel a huge amount of loyalty to any 1 team. Obviously I was cheering for Team USA and I had chosen to cheer for African teams as well. But now that both of those options are gone, I have no problem finding a new team to cheer for. I will be supporting whoever wins the Argentina-Germany game tomorrow. I like both of these teams because I thoroughly enjoyed their 2006 quarterfinals match-up. Also, Diego Maradona makes the game so much more interesting. And I have seen Germany play in person and I own a Germany jersey.
- Finally, rather than predict free agency, I am going to say where I wish guys would go:
- Lebron - New Jersey Nets
- Dwayne Wade - Miami Heat
- Joe Johnson - Atlanta Hawks
- Amare - New York Knicks
- Chris Bosh - Houston Rockets
- Carlos Boozer - Miami Heat
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Where will the King make his court?
This article is Part 1 of a 2-part series about the impending NBA free agency. This posts deals with the possible destination of the biggest free agent in NBA (and probably sports) history, Lebron James. Part 2 will be my predictions for where the top free agents will end up. Without further ado, here is my analysis of where the King will go next (it works towards the most likely, meaning the Knicks are the least likely possible winner of the Lebron sweepstakes):
6) New York Knicks - They have been planning on acquiring Lebron for over two years, but it does not make any sense for him to end up in NYC. In order to have the cap room to sign Lebron and another top player, the Knicks have gutted their roster to the point where they are basically an expansion team. Even with Lebron and a hypothetical Chris Bosh, this team won't be able to compete for the NBA title because there won't be another above-average player on the team. Plus, in today's global economy, New York's marketing advantage over other cities isn't nearly as big as it once was. And the city already has the greatest baseball team in the history of the world, it doesn't need the best basketball player in the world too.
5) Cleveland Cavaliers - It pains me to rank the home team in this competition so low. Especially, when you take into account how much the city of Cleveland has suffered when it comes to sports. But it would be an awful basketball decision for Lebron to return to the Cleve. Like New York, this team does not have the talent to win an NBA title. Mo Williams has got to be the worst shooter in NBA history and Antwan Jamison isn't getting any younger or any taller. While the Cavs can offer Lebron $30 million more than any other team, this amount shouldn't sway his decision. The King could make over $1 billion in his life. He shouldn't sacrifice his legacy and many, many titles for $30 million.
4) LA Clippers - Most writers have the Clippers rated lower than this. But if you actually look at the talent on this team, it is very good. With Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Aminu Al-Farouq, Blake Griffin, and Chris Kaman, the Clippers have a great starting 5. Throw in the King and they have one of the best 6-deep lineups in the league. Plus, LA has the same big city appeal as NYC. And Lebron could beat Kobe in Kobe's town. However, Clippers' owner Donald Sterling is one of the worst owners in American sports. And the Clippers are cursed. If Lebron signed in LA, he would probably break every bone in his body.
3) New Jersey Nets - This is another team that most writers have rated lower than this. The Nets also have a good core with Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, and Brook Lopez. Add Lebron and this team becomes way better than the 12 wins they got last year. Plus they have a super Russian billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov. And they are moving to Brooklyn in 2 years. And Lebron's good friend Jay-Z is also a part owner. And the Nets give Lebron access to all of the perks of NYC without having to deal with the awfulness that is the Knicks. Still the Nets have to play 2 more years in Newark, and NO ONE wants to go to New Jersey. Plus, the Nets are close enough to the Yankees that they probably can't handle anymore awesomeness.
2) Miami Heat - The Heat were much lower on this list until word came out about the free-agent pow-wow that Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Lebron had where they all decided to go to Miami. If Lebron has already made this decision, its his business, but it would be a terribly career move. A team with 3 superstars and 3 alpha dogs is inherently unstable. Even if they could win one or two titles (and I don't think they would) this team would break up before they could cement their legacy as one of the best ever. Plus, if Lebron wins all of his titles with Wade, he can never claim to be an all-time great. Part of being a basketball legend is winning when you are "the man" on your team. Magic won as the alpha-dog. Michael won as the alpha-dog. Kareem won as the alpha-dog. Kobe thinks he won as the alpha-dog. Finally, this team would not be as good as it first appears. With 3 guys under near max contracts, they would barely be able to sign enough scrubs to fill out a roster. And 3 superstars and 7 scrubs are not going to beat a great team. Lebron doesn't need to surround himself with the best talent. He has more than enough talent to win. He needs to join a good team. A good team like:
1) Chicago Bulls - The Bulls can offer Lebron everything he has ever wanted, and more. They have a great foundation in place and with him, they would instantly become the best team in the league. Their hypothetical starting line-up is Derrick Rose, Lebron, Luol Deng, Chris Bosh, and Joakim Noah with Taj Gibson as the 6th man. Plus Chicago is big enough to offer a lot of the perks of NYC or LA while still having the smaller town feel of Cleveland. And it isn't that far away from Lebron's boyhood home of Akron, OH. But the best reason for Lebron to go to Chi-town is one that no one is talking about. Unlike Kobe, Lebron is all about honoring Michael Jordan's greatness. What better way to honor Jordan than to rebuild the dynasty in his city and lift the Bulls franchise to a level almost on-par with the Lakers and Celtics. If the Bulls can keep their core of Rose, Lebron, Bosh, and Noah together for the next 8 to 10 years, then they should win 8 to 10 titles.
Chicago wins!
6) New York Knicks - They have been planning on acquiring Lebron for over two years, but it does not make any sense for him to end up in NYC. In order to have the cap room to sign Lebron and another top player, the Knicks have gutted their roster to the point where they are basically an expansion team. Even with Lebron and a hypothetical Chris Bosh, this team won't be able to compete for the NBA title because there won't be another above-average player on the team. Plus, in today's global economy, New York's marketing advantage over other cities isn't nearly as big as it once was. And the city already has the greatest baseball team in the history of the world, it doesn't need the best basketball player in the world too.
5) Cleveland Cavaliers - It pains me to rank the home team in this competition so low. Especially, when you take into account how much the city of Cleveland has suffered when it comes to sports. But it would be an awful basketball decision for Lebron to return to the Cleve. Like New York, this team does not have the talent to win an NBA title. Mo Williams has got to be the worst shooter in NBA history and Antwan Jamison isn't getting any younger or any taller. While the Cavs can offer Lebron $30 million more than any other team, this amount shouldn't sway his decision. The King could make over $1 billion in his life. He shouldn't sacrifice his legacy and many, many titles for $30 million.
4) LA Clippers - Most writers have the Clippers rated lower than this. But if you actually look at the talent on this team, it is very good. With Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Aminu Al-Farouq, Blake Griffin, and Chris Kaman, the Clippers have a great starting 5. Throw in the King and they have one of the best 6-deep lineups in the league. Plus, LA has the same big city appeal as NYC. And Lebron could beat Kobe in Kobe's town. However, Clippers' owner Donald Sterling is one of the worst owners in American sports. And the Clippers are cursed. If Lebron signed in LA, he would probably break every bone in his body.
3) New Jersey Nets - This is another team that most writers have rated lower than this. The Nets also have a good core with Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, and Brook Lopez. Add Lebron and this team becomes way better than the 12 wins they got last year. Plus they have a super Russian billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov. And they are moving to Brooklyn in 2 years. And Lebron's good friend Jay-Z is also a part owner. And the Nets give Lebron access to all of the perks of NYC without having to deal with the awfulness that is the Knicks. Still the Nets have to play 2 more years in Newark, and NO ONE wants to go to New Jersey. Plus, the Nets are close enough to the Yankees that they probably can't handle anymore awesomeness.
2) Miami Heat - The Heat were much lower on this list until word came out about the free-agent pow-wow that Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Lebron had where they all decided to go to Miami. If Lebron has already made this decision, its his business, but it would be a terribly career move. A team with 3 superstars and 3 alpha dogs is inherently unstable. Even if they could win one or two titles (and I don't think they would) this team would break up before they could cement their legacy as one of the best ever. Plus, if Lebron wins all of his titles with Wade, he can never claim to be an all-time great. Part of being a basketball legend is winning when you are "the man" on your team. Magic won as the alpha-dog. Michael won as the alpha-dog. Kareem won as the alpha-dog. Kobe thinks he won as the alpha-dog. Finally, this team would not be as good as it first appears. With 3 guys under near max contracts, they would barely be able to sign enough scrubs to fill out a roster. And 3 superstars and 7 scrubs are not going to beat a great team. Lebron doesn't need to surround himself with the best talent. He has more than enough talent to win. He needs to join a good team. A good team like:
1) Chicago Bulls - The Bulls can offer Lebron everything he has ever wanted, and more. They have a great foundation in place and with him, they would instantly become the best team in the league. Their hypothetical starting line-up is Derrick Rose, Lebron, Luol Deng, Chris Bosh, and Joakim Noah with Taj Gibson as the 6th man. Plus Chicago is big enough to offer a lot of the perks of NYC or LA while still having the smaller town feel of Cleveland. And it isn't that far away from Lebron's boyhood home of Akron, OH. But the best reason for Lebron to go to Chi-town is one that no one is talking about. Unlike Kobe, Lebron is all about honoring Michael Jordan's greatness. What better way to honor Jordan than to rebuild the dynasty in his city and lift the Bulls franchise to a level almost on-par with the Lakers and Celtics. If the Bulls can keep their core of Rose, Lebron, Bosh, and Noah together for the next 8 to 10 years, then they should win 8 to 10 titles.
Chicago wins!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The 10 Greatest NBA Players of all Time
The motivations behind writing this post are twofold. First of all, I have been blogging about the World Cup for the past couple posts and will continue to in the next couple posts so it is nice to take a break from Soccer (Good luck Team USA!). Second, with the Kobe winning his 5th title, a popular sports debate has been whether he is now in contention for the title of greatest player of all time. Here is my list of the 10 greatest NBA players of all time (feel free to comment with your own list):
10) Kobe Bryant - Kobe is not the greatest player of all time and there is really nothing he can do to change that fact. Yes he has 5 titles, which is more than most other guys on this list. But all 5 of those titles came with an all time great coach (Phil Jackson) and a dominant big man (Shaq and Gasol). In the years where Kobe did not have another elite talent to share the load with, his team wasn't nearly as good. Besides, he played terribly in the biggest game of his life, Game 7 of this year's finals.
9b) Tim Duncan - When I first wrote this list, Timmy wasn't on it. Which makes perfect sense because he is the most forgotten great player of this generation. Tim Duncan has won 4 NBA titles with a good, but certainly not great, supporting cast. That is something very few guys on this list can claim. He is easily the most consistent player in the post-Jordan NBA. And he is a much more likable figure than Kobe so he finishes ahead of him.
9a) Shaq - I didn't feel that it was right to separate Shaq and Duncan because they have the same number of NBA titles (4) and it is impossible to pick just one of them as the great big man of this era. Like Kobe, Shaq has always had a great teammate (Kobe and Dwayne Wade). However, on their first title team, Shaq was easily the superstar and Kobe was merrily the sidekick. And more importantly, when he was on, there wasn't a player in the NBA who could stop the Big Diesel. He is possibly the most dominant big man since Wilt. Plus he has a plethora of really awesome nicknames!
8) Julius Erving - Dr. J is on this list as much for his contributions to basketball as he is for his accomplishments. Dr. J did win 3 ABA and NBA titles. More importantly, his popularity was key to the NBA/ABA merger. And Dr. J turned the slam dunk from a bring shot that only big men did to a spectacular shot that anyone can do. And, he invented the cross-over dribble. Think about how many slam dunks and cross-over dribbles happen during a basketball game. That is why Dr. J is number 8.
7) Larry Bird - While not overly athletic, Larry Bird was immensely talented and one of the most fundamentally strong players in NBA history. He did not have a weakness in his game. Larry Legend won 3 NBA titles and together with Magic Johnson helped to bring the NBA back into the public limelight.
6) Jerry West - I don't know too much about Jerry West's career, but I do know the discussion for greatest Laker of all-time comes down Jerry, Kobe, or Magic. Plus, Jerry is usually mentioned in lists like this one. He only won 1 NBA title, but he did lose to Bill Russell's Celtics in the title game 8 times! Plus he averaged 27.0 points for his career despite playing before the addition of the 3-point line.
5) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Kareem has more titles than any of the guys he finishes ahead of with 6. Plus his skyhook is the most unstoppable offensive weapon in the history of the NBA. And he is the NBA's all-time scoring leader. Kareem would be higher on this list if not for the amazing quality of guys in front of him.
4) Oscar Robertson - I don't know to much about Oscar Robertson's career, but I do know that he is mentioned on every list like this one. He also averaged a triple double for the first five years of his career, which is simply amazing! (For comparison, Lebron's best single season has left him 1.5 assists and 2 rebounds per game short of approaching this feat.)
3) Bill Russell - Bill Russell could make it on this list simply by the fact that he won 11 NBA titles! But he is also the greatest defensive player and co-greatest rebounder in NBA history. He averaged 20 rebounds for a season 10 times! (For comparison, Dwight Howards best single season average is 14.2 rebounds.) However, Russell was never the focal point of his team's offense, so he can't be higher on this list, despite all those NBA titles.
2b) Michael Jordan - Everyone knows that His Airness is the greatest player of all-time. And if you read on you will see my logic for placing him not at the top. But as to why Michael is where he is, Jordan won 6 NBA titles in his career (and would have won more had he not decided to try baseball). He is the greatest shooting guard in the history of the game and probably the most clutch player as well. Plus, he is the most popular player of all-time and every great player in today's game is thought of in terms of how they compare to Michael.
2a) Magic Johnson - Make no mistake about it, Magic Johnson deserves to be right here with Michael Jordan (and actually slightly ahead of him). Michael Jordan was a dominant shooting guard; Magic Johnson was a dominant player at every position on the floor. He is the only player in NBA history who can make that claim. Despite being a point guard, Magic Johnson started Game 6 of the NBA Finals his rookie year at center and had the incredible stat line 42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assist, and 3 steals. It is difficult to compare Magic's all-time numbers because his career was cut short at the age of 32 due to his testing positive for HIV. Still, in his shortened career, Magic won 5 NBA titles. I have no doubt that had he continued playing Magic's Lakers would have challenged Michael's Bulls for the NBA title every year and probably won a few.
1) Wilt Chamberlain - I was all set to make Michael and Magic co-greatest players of all-time until I did some further research into Wilt. Rather than make arguments about why Wilt is the greatest player of all-time, I am going to let his numbers speak for themselves. Wilt averaged 30.1 points and 22.9 rebounds for his career! He once scored 100 points in a game! He once grabbed 55 rebounds in a game! He once averaged 50 points for a season! He average 40 points in a different season! Those overwhelming number (and many more) are the reason Wilt Chamberlain is the greatest NBA player of all-time, despite winning only 2 NBA titles.
Incomplete) Lebron James - I have Lebron here as an anticpatory pick. Although his accomplishments don't merit his inclusion yet, Lebron will most certainly be on this list one day. He is the closest thing the NBA has seen to Magic since Magic. And he will undoubtatly win his share of NBA titles like everyone else on this list. Michael Jordan didn't win his first title until his 7th season in the league and he was known in the late 80's as a great player who couldn't win a the big one. The reason I have chosen to put Lebron's Incomplete ahead of everyone else on this list is that I believe if he plays as well as he can, the King will retire as the greatest NBA player of all-time.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
A Great 24 Hours of Sports (and the bad officiating that went with it)
Thursday night and Friday morning were what being a sports fan is all about. Two huge games that were battled to the very end by teams that left everything they had on the court (or pitch). Since it came first, lets talk about the NBA Finals Game 7 first. I haven't written about this series at all, so let me go ahead and say I desperately wanted the Celtics to win. Not because I really like the Celtics, but because I just really don't like the Lakers. But regardless, this game was exactly what defensive basketball is all about. That is why it pained me as a sports fan to see the horrendous officiating in the 4th quarter. The Celtics couldn't help but foul the Lakers with the way the refs were calling the game. Towards the end there was a possession where Garnett "fouled" Gasol even though he had his hands tucked into his chest to avoid fouling at all costs. And this was far from an isolated incident. I'm not saying the Lakers didn't deserve the title, I'm just not happy with the way it happened. I've got a couple other observations from the game as well. Even though he played well, the Celtics did the smart thing by putting the ball is Artest's hands in the 4th quarter. If you watch him for any length of time, it becomes clear that he is not fundamentally good at the game of basketball. Yes, he is a great defender and very athletic, but when it comes to shooting, passing, and dribbling, Artest is a gamble every time he touches the ball. Also, even though he is an awful shooter, Rondo's 3-pointer at the very end of the game was absolutely incredible. He got the rebound about halfway between the basket and the 3-point line, dribbled out, and immediately turned around and drilled a huge shot without really squaring himself up. If he can ever develop a jump shot, he could entire the Lebron-Kobe-Wade level of superstardom
I was going to make this post all about the NBA Finals, but then I watched the USA soccer game today. That game serves as a perfect example of how our team operates. We always play to the level of our opponent. And we can only play well when no one believes in us. During the first half, when we were supposed to be doing well, our team was just short of terrible. Slovenia easily had the game in hand. But in the second half, with the game already out of reach, we came out and absolutely dominated. That was a second half for the ages. Donovan's goal was exactly the type of performance we need from our best player if we are going to be serious contenders. And Altidore's header to Bradley's foot for the second score was one of the prettiest goals I've seen since I started really watching soccer. And then there was the third goal. The goal that was going to cap off one of the greatest comebacks in World Cup history. The goal that would have propelled us into the knockout rounds. The goal that got absolutely robbed from our boys. I totally agree with the referee that there was holding on that play (I really don't think play is the right term, so if someone know better, please let me know). And it was on Slovenia. Bob Bradley says he saw three separate US players being held by Slovenian players. I don't know enough about soccer to recognize that many, but I know what the Slovenian player was doing to Michael Bradley stopped just short of assault. And much like in football where holding happens on every block during every player, in soccer holding happens on every player during every set piece. The rule for the refs is you only make the call if the penalty is blatant. And there is no blatant USA holding on that play. Regardless of the fact that it should of been a win, we should still be proud of our team's comeback in the second half. We are still in a great position to advance and make it to the knockout rounds, where anything can happen. Go USA!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Its a great week in sports!
A couple times a year their is a sports week that makes us all happy to be fans. Usually, these weeks happen during the fall or winter and revolve around college and pro football. But this week is one of those weeks! The World Cup is beginning. The baseball draft is going on. The College World Series is mid-swing. The most classic NBA finals is happening. Baseball is reaching its pre-All Star break height. And as an added bonus, their is a massive re-alignment going on the college conference landscape [more on this topic coming soon]. But the biggest story of the week (and possibly history) happened tonight. Super-ultra-mega phenom Stephen Strasburg made his major league debut. And he exceed expectations! With 14 strikeouts in 7 inning (including his last 7 batters faced) Strasburg showed he is every bit as good as advertised. As a Yankees fan I only have one more comment to make about Stephen. I can not wait to see him dominate Game 1 of the World Series in a couple years, in pinstripes of course!
Friday, May 28, 2010
What a set of finals!
This is going to be a short, excited post today. Short because I am packing and leaving for the beach today. And excited because wow, what a turn the conference finals have taken! Last time I wrote about the Suns and Magic, they seemed dead in the water. Since then so much has changed. In the East, momentum is wholly in Orlando's court. Jameer Nelson is showing that it is possibly to outplay the fantastic Rajon Rondo. Rashard Lewis has re-discovered his 3-point shot and is once again an offensive force. And Dwight Howard is bullying every big man the Celtics throw at him. [Isn't amazing that they are accomplishing all of this without any major contribution from Vince Carter. Imagine if they still had the Hedo Turkoglu.] Last time I wrote about them, I said the Magic had a 5% chance of winning this series. After watching the last two games, they now have an even 50% chance of winning the East. And out West, the Suns have captured lightening in a bottle. Beyond a rejuvenated Amare and they absurdly deep and talented bench, the Suns swept the Lakers in the desert and came within 2 points of stunning the champs at home. Still, LA is undefeated at home and when both teams play to their full potential is vastly superior, so they stil must be considered the heavy favorite. The Suns new odds to win are 35%. However these two series end up, it should be an incredible ride!
Monday, May 24, 2010
It Ain't Over Till It's Over
They did it. The Magic and Suns both won their MUST win games. And just as impressively, they both won with truly dominate performances from their superstars. Amare Stoudemire went a long way towards quieting his critics with his 42-point, 11-rebound performance. And Dwight Howard showed that the Magic will not go down with a fight with his 32-point,16-rebound, 4-block performance. But are these performances sustainable? What chance do the Magic and Suns have of rallying and pulling off the upset? Lets look at the Suns first. Down 2-1, the Suns really aren't in awful shape. They have shown that when the cards break their way, they can beat the Lakers. Just as importantly, they made LA bleed and showed they can be beat. However, to win this series, the Suns are going to have to play at least to their Game 3 level 3 more times. And two of those times will be in LA. So while it is possible, it will be incredibly difficult for Phoenix to win this series. The Suns have a 15% chance of winning this series. Now the Magic, they are in must worse shape. Even if they can sustain tonight's effort for 3 more games, the Magic cannot win this series. It took a dominate performance and overtime to win tonight. There is one thing Orlando can do to totally revolutionize this series and give themselves a fighting chance. And that is for same thing I have been preaching this whole series to happen. Rashard Lewis absolutely has too light it up from behind the arc. He played better tonight, but he needs to take his game to a whole new level. If Lewis can pick his game and clear Garnett out of the lane, then the Magic can give themselves the chance to pull off the ultimate upset. The Magic have a 5% chance of winning this series.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Can the Magic Still Win?
Of course they can. The Magic obliterated the Hawks with a group of 3-point sharpshooters. They shot so well from beyond the arc that they destroyed Atlanta without a dominating offensive performance from Dwight Howard. On the defensive end however, Howard was incredibly dominating. His numbers don't even fully show how many Hawks' shots he altered. Now flash to the first two games of this series. Howards' offensive numbers have been much higher, with him scoring 30 in Game 2. On the defensive end he has turned in a much more pedestrian effort. Kendrick Perkins has been doing a better job of entire defense than Howard has. More deadly for the Magic however, has been the sudden loss of their outside shot. Rashard Lewis had an excellent Hawks series, but he has been stone cold versus the Celtics. His impact is two-fold. First, he gives Orlando the obvious benefit of a hot outside shot. Second and more importantly, he pulls KG out of the lane giving Howard much more room to maneuver and out-athletic Perkins. If the Magic can get Lewis to heat up and Howard to get back to his old defensive ways, they definitely can still win this series. One final note: The Magic need Vince Carter to work as a part of their offense like he did in the Hawks series rather than playing one-on-one clear out basketball like he is in this series. Vince is a valuable asset for Orlando as a part of their greater offensive scheme. However, he most certainly can not beat the Celtics by himself. If Vince is playing too great a role in the Orlando offensive, they have no shot at all.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Can the Suns pull the upset?
Short answer, absolutely. The way these playoffs have been going, anything is possible (as KG would say). However, for things to break the Phoenix way, a couple things have to happen.
First and foremost, they are going to have to find a way to steal at least one win in LA. Obviously, the Suns have to win at least one game on the road to win the series. Realistically, the Suns are going to need to win two games in Hollywood because the Lakers will inevitably have a tour de force game on the road in Phoenix. The Celtics-Cavs series showed many times over what a great team can do if faced with a must win game. That being said, Phoenix can win this series if they find a way to win on the road.
To have any shot in this series, the Suns are also going to have to run the Lakers off of the court, and then run some more. Luckily, these Suns are built to win exactly this way. The OK City Thunder showed that the Lakers can be beat by a running team. Unfortunately, the Thunder were eliminated because they couldn't sustain their fast break dominance over an entire series. If the Suns can find a way to do what the Thunder couldn't, a shot in the finals will be theirs.
Finally, the Suns need for Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire to have the series's of their lives. Lets deal with Nash first. The only position on the floor where the Suns maintain a clear positional advantage is point guard. Therefore, they need Nash to dominate his matchup with Derek Fisher. There are rumors that the Lakers will attempt to negate this advantage by guarding Nash with Kobe. However, Nash's three-headed skill set of shooting the three, nailing free throws, and threading the needle with his passing should allow him to play at a high level regardless of who is covering him. Plus, if Nash can occupy all of Kobe's energy, one of the Sun's outside shooters (most likely Jason Richardson) should be able to heat up.
More importantly, the Suns NEED Amare to turn in a truly dominating performance. The Lakers greatest strength is their gigantic front court. If Phoenix can get their offense up and running, they may be able to send 7-footer Andrew Bynum to the pine, leaving Stoudemire to match up with 7-footer Pau Gasol. However, if they are forced to play a half-court game, Amare is going to need to hold his own versus both big men. Throw in 6-foot-10 Lamar Odom and it becomes apparent how daunting of a task Amare faces (Note: if Robin Lopez can play, that gives the Suns a 7-footer and true center to help them battle the Lakers' twin towers).
While these points are the most important, the Suns need some other things to break their way as well. Specifically, the Suns could use some top-shelf defense by Grant Hill, a couple hot outside shooters, and at least some minutes from Lopez. Considering all of these factors, I must pick the Lakers despite my desire to see Phoenix win. I think Phoenix will steal one on the road, but ultimately it will be Lakers in 6.
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