Atlanta lands Jamal Crawford from the Warriors for....well, nothing. OK, it was actually Acie Law and Speedy Claxton. Apparently, Claxton is done playing and 80% of his contract is covered by insurance. And well, Acie Law, the former 1st round pick is simply a bust. Do you see Don Nelson playing this kid? Well, since I put it like that - who knows what Nellie may do. This was a player/salary dump. It was made pretty clear by the Warriors in the off-season that they had no future plans for Jamal....so they got rid of him. The Warriors really didn't need him...he didn't make them better...and they have a boatload of swingmen...so he was redundant.
For the Hawks...does he make them better? On the surface you have to say yes...he can score, handle the ball and gives them depth. If Bibby doesn't come back...Jamal can run the point if needed. Ideally, I think you want him as your 6th man. Crawford's history is one that shows he can score but he certainly doesn't breed winning. The Bulls, Knicks, and Warriors certainly didn't excel while he was around. That being said, it is difficult to find guys (who you can acquire for Law & Claxton) that can average 20ppg and even drop 50+ points in a game. I like the move for the Hawks simply because they are at least trying to get better.
I see the Blazers and Mavericks made a deal where Portland moves up from #24 to #22....they must want someone specific to give up 3 picks to move up 2 spots...
Oh, and then there was that other minor deal involving that Shaq guy. Cleveland lands the big man for spare parts (Big Ben, Sasha, 2nd rounder, and cash). Can you say salary dump?
From the Cavaliers perspective this is really just a one year gamble with little risk. Shaq is set to make 20 million this coming season - the last year of his enormous contract. So what? Is he being overpaid? Sure. But Ben Wallace was set to make 14+ million and you know what he gives you...squat. Pavlovic was set to make 5 million and he is useless...so why not make this deal. If it doesn't work out...you let Shaq walk. Not sure how the Cavs plan on using Big Z and Shaq together...and do they bring back Varejao now? I think they have to. Remember, the Cavs have to show Lebron that they want to win now...so that they can sign him next summer. This move was all about that...Lebron wanted Shaq. He got Shaq. Now go win the East.
For the Suns...it's rebuild time. Trade Amare. Trade Nash. Let Grant Hill go...and rebuild. If you think you can compete with Nash, Richardson, Barbosa, Amare, Hill, etc...you're dreaming. If you weren't rebuilding then when you traded Shaq you would have acquired some players and not just bench-fodder.
The next move is either Amare or Nash. Rumours this morning indicate that the Suns and Rockets are discussing a deal involving Amare/Barbosa for McGrady/Brooks/Landry. Does it make sense? Sure, the Suns would be clearing cap space as T-Mac only has one more season left and Yao has made it clear he won't re-sign in Houston unless McGrady is gone. Will it get done? Who knows?
Can there be any truth to the rumors that Portland wants Steve Nash? I guess I'd be buying more tickets next season so Ryan and I can go watch some Blazer games and he can see Steve Nash play.
As I mentioned to Philly Woo on the phone on Monday....the salary dump trades continue. And there will be more today. If you're an NBA owner and you have money to spend (OK, that's still a lot of teams) and you are not being affected by the world economy (OK, now we're under 10 teams) then you can really build a winning a team (or at least acquire some talented players) this summer. The whole goal is to win the championship...not to just be very good every year (cause look where that gets Utah every season). So, if you have the chance to be good this upcoming season and you think you could be very good with the addition of one player...then go for it. Why not? All the GM's are going to get canned at some point - none of them will work for life with the same team - so if you have a chance to get the ring - do it!
OK, one last Mock Draft attempt for me this morning (which will be incorrect in 2 hours because of several trades probably)
1. Clippers - Blake Griffin
2. Grizzlies - Hasheem Thabeet
3. Thunder - Ricky Rubio (who they will then trade)
4. Kings - Tyreke Evans
5. T-Wolves - Stephen Curry
6. T-Wolves - James Harden
7. Warriors - Jordan Hill
8. Knicks - Jonny Flynn
9. Raptors - DeMar DeRozan
10. Bucks - Jrue Holiday
11. Nets - Terrence Williams
12. Bobcats - Gerald Henderson
13. Pacers - Ty Lawson
14. Suns - Earl Clark
After that...come on...it's a crapshoot out there. By the way, they are calling this a deep bench draft...meaning that in 5 years there will be a lot of guys still in the NBA earning a paycheque. However, only Griffin is a max-contract type player and there are only a handful of other potential all-stars down the road. I'm excited for this draft...man, I missed my calling...I should have been a GM in the NBA. Not sure SFU offered those courses though...oh well.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
The Trades Begin...
San Anonio gets Richard Jefferson from Milwaukee for Bowen, Oberto, and Kurt Thomas.
This is a money saving move for the Bucks as Bowen will likely be bought out. Kurt Thomas is in the last year of his deal (he can actually still be a servicable backup as well). Oberto was quickly shipped out to Detroit for Amir Johnson. The Pistons obviously like the fact they could buy out Oberto and the Bucks want a younger, cheaper PF for his potential.
For the Bucks, does this mean they now try to re-sign Sessions and Charlie V? Should they really want to re-sign them? Do they start over completely and find a taker for Michael Redd?
As for the Spurs, they are now the big 4. Definately more firepower with RJ. However, after big Timmy - who is going to rebound the ball?? Matt Bonner? Ian Mihimi? The Spurs are going to need to address their lack of rebounding in a hurry. Rumours are already starting that they have interest in Rasheed Wallace. Interesting idea I guess. If anyone can control him it could be Pops and Timmy D. So, the Spurs are NOT done...they will have to address the rebounding.
The T-Wolves and Wizards hooked up a big deal late last night. The Wolves gave away Randy Foye and Mike Miller to get Songalia, Thomas, some russian kid and the #5 pick.
My take on it...the Wizards instantly become a playoff team in the East. They have Arenas, Foye, Nick Young and Deshawn Stevenson in the backcourt with Butler, Jamison, McGee, Blatche, Haywood, and McGuire up front. If they stay healthy, they could compete for a spot in the East for sure....
What are the T-Wolves doing???? They now have the 5, 6, 18, and 28 picks in the draft. So they are going to get young whether they like it or not. A lot of NBA chat sites applaud them for building around Jefferson, Love and Corey Brewer. Corey Brewer??? Are you kidding me? The kid didn't even play last year and apparently can't shoot. Build around Corey Brewer - come on!
Now, the rumors are that the T-Wolves really want Ricky Rubio. That being said, reports this morning indicate that the Thunder have hired a Barcelona law firm to help negotiate Rubio's buyout in Spain - if they pick him. Would you really go to all the trouble now to hire a law firm IN CASE you pick the guy. That's like hiring a divorce lawyer before you get married - just in case things didn't work out down the road. Odd.
Maybe the T-Wolves are going to package something else up to move up to the #2 slot. No matter what they do...they will have some rebuilding to do - that's for sure.
This is a money saving move for the Bucks as Bowen will likely be bought out. Kurt Thomas is in the last year of his deal (he can actually still be a servicable backup as well). Oberto was quickly shipped out to Detroit for Amir Johnson. The Pistons obviously like the fact they could buy out Oberto and the Bucks want a younger, cheaper PF for his potential.
For the Bucks, does this mean they now try to re-sign Sessions and Charlie V? Should they really want to re-sign them? Do they start over completely and find a taker for Michael Redd?
As for the Spurs, they are now the big 4. Definately more firepower with RJ. However, after big Timmy - who is going to rebound the ball?? Matt Bonner? Ian Mihimi? The Spurs are going to need to address their lack of rebounding in a hurry. Rumours are already starting that they have interest in Rasheed Wallace. Interesting idea I guess. If anyone can control him it could be Pops and Timmy D. So, the Spurs are NOT done...they will have to address the rebounding.
The T-Wolves and Wizards hooked up a big deal late last night. The Wolves gave away Randy Foye and Mike Miller to get Songalia, Thomas, some russian kid and the #5 pick.
My take on it...the Wizards instantly become a playoff team in the East. They have Arenas, Foye, Nick Young and Deshawn Stevenson in the backcourt with Butler, Jamison, McGee, Blatche, Haywood, and McGuire up front. If they stay healthy, they could compete for a spot in the East for sure....
What are the T-Wolves doing???? They now have the 5, 6, 18, and 28 picks in the draft. So they are going to get young whether they like it or not. A lot of NBA chat sites applaud them for building around Jefferson, Love and Corey Brewer. Corey Brewer??? Are you kidding me? The kid didn't even play last year and apparently can't shoot. Build around Corey Brewer - come on!
Now, the rumors are that the T-Wolves really want Ricky Rubio. That being said, reports this morning indicate that the Thunder have hired a Barcelona law firm to help negotiate Rubio's buyout in Spain - if they pick him. Would you really go to all the trouble now to hire a law firm IN CASE you pick the guy. That's like hiring a divorce lawyer before you get married - just in case things didn't work out down the road. Odd.
Maybe the T-Wolves are going to package something else up to move up to the #2 slot. No matter what they do...they will have some rebuilding to do - that's for sure.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Mock Draft continued...
16. Bulls - Earl Clark. At 6'10 he's capable of handling the ball. Bulls need more size (according to reports)? He was rated in the top-10 a couple weeks ago - so something is making him slide this far down the draft.
17. 76ers - Jrue Holiday. The thought is PG here in case Andre Miller leaves via free agency. Holiday can be found all over draft boards and this is likely low for him. UCLA point guards appear to stick in the league anyways (Baron, Farmar, Westbrook, etc)
18. Timberwolves - Terrence Williams. A talented player but has a little history of trouble. Lots of teams like his talent though. I can see him going around 10 or falling into the 20's. The T-Wolves got Curry with their earlier pick in my draft and now shoot for the stars as they need some athleticism on the wings (Mike Miller isn't the most athletic 2/3 in the world)
19. Hawks - Chase Budinger. A downtown specialist who can jump out of the gym. Having another reliable marksman from 3pt range is always helpful.
20. Tyler Hansbrough. Is he not a Jerry Sloan type player? He's big, got size, he can shoot, he hustles and the biggest factor of all....he's white. Perfect fit in Utah.
21. Hornets. Wayne Ellington. No offense to Rasual Butler or Morris Peterson but this 6'5 shooting guard from North Carolina may want your job from opening day.
22. Mavericks. Eric Maynor. A 6'3 PG who can spell Jason Kidd or takeover if Kidd leaves. This allows the Mavs to not have to play Terry at the point. This Maynor kid can really score too.
23. Kings. Austin Daye. A possible Tayshaun Prince type player. The concern is that at 6'11 he couldn't bench press 185 pounds one time. Not once!!!
24. Blazers - Omar Casspri. Unknown (to me) prospect from Israel. Apparently in workouts he's beatin' guys up. Literally, others have broken noses and black eyes. A tough guy is exactly what the Blazers need for their bench (cause Channing Frye wasn's scaring anyone)
25. Thunder - DaJuan Summers. A big forward from Georgetown who played with Jeff Green. That Hoya worked out OK.
26. Bulls - Marcus Thornton. 6'4 SG who could replace Gordon if he leaves.
27. Grizzlies - Derrick Brown.
28. Timberwolves - Sam Young
29. Lakers - Jeff Teague - I forgot about him so he'll go much higher in the draft.
30. Cavaliers - Taj Gibson.
17. 76ers - Jrue Holiday. The thought is PG here in case Andre Miller leaves via free agency. Holiday can be found all over draft boards and this is likely low for him. UCLA point guards appear to stick in the league anyways (Baron, Farmar, Westbrook, etc)
18. Timberwolves - Terrence Williams. A talented player but has a little history of trouble. Lots of teams like his talent though. I can see him going around 10 or falling into the 20's. The T-Wolves got Curry with their earlier pick in my draft and now shoot for the stars as they need some athleticism on the wings (Mike Miller isn't the most athletic 2/3 in the world)
19. Hawks - Chase Budinger. A downtown specialist who can jump out of the gym. Having another reliable marksman from 3pt range is always helpful.
20. Tyler Hansbrough. Is he not a Jerry Sloan type player? He's big, got size, he can shoot, he hustles and the biggest factor of all....he's white. Perfect fit in Utah.
21. Hornets. Wayne Ellington. No offense to Rasual Butler or Morris Peterson but this 6'5 shooting guard from North Carolina may want your job from opening day.
22. Mavericks. Eric Maynor. A 6'3 PG who can spell Jason Kidd or takeover if Kidd leaves. This allows the Mavs to not have to play Terry at the point. This Maynor kid can really score too.
23. Kings. Austin Daye. A possible Tayshaun Prince type player. The concern is that at 6'11 he couldn't bench press 185 pounds one time. Not once!!!
24. Blazers - Omar Casspri. Unknown (to me) prospect from Israel. Apparently in workouts he's beatin' guys up. Literally, others have broken noses and black eyes. A tough guy is exactly what the Blazers need for their bench (cause Channing Frye wasn's scaring anyone)
25. Thunder - DaJuan Summers. A big forward from Georgetown who played with Jeff Green. That Hoya worked out OK.
26. Bulls - Marcus Thornton. 6'4 SG who could replace Gordon if he leaves.
27. Grizzlies - Derrick Brown.
28. Timberwolves - Sam Young
29. Lakers - Jeff Teague - I forgot about him so he'll go much higher in the draft.
30. Cavaliers - Taj Gibson.
My Mock Draft
Well, this will be very difficult to do considering I haven't seen the guys workout or play (m)any games in college. I've never met them. I don't know what the teams could be planning on doing with their restricted Free Agents. I don't know what kind of trades will occur. Anyways, I'm going to take a shot at it anyways - just for fun. Besides, it's Father's Day and I am having a nice morning.
1. Clippers - Blake Griffin. Even the Clips don't screw this one up. Now, who will they trade in the summer? Camby, Kaman, or Z-Bo? Kaman and Camby must be in the most demand.
2. Grizzlies - Hasheem Thabeet. They will be scared off by Rubio's buyout and they believe that Conley can run the point. What a lot of team don't have and cannot find in this draft is a shot-blocking big man. So they take him. That being said, I think he will be a poor man's Samuel Dalembert - which doesn't say much does it.
3. Thunder - James Harden. A tough, hard-nosed, left handed shooting guard. You don't pass those up. The Thunder start him right away with Westbrook, Durant, Green, and Krstic.
4. Kings - Ricky Rubio. Apparently, he's too good to pass up. We'll see I guess. Just because you played well in the Olympics against the US doesn't mean you're a guaranteed star (look at Patty Mills for Australia). Maybe the Kings pick him and then trade him.
5. Wizards - Jordan Hill. Apparently a solid PF prospect. And he can step in if they trade Jamison.
6. TimberWolves - Stephen Curry. His stock is rising. His Dad was a great shooter for years in the NBA. It's in the kid's blood. OK, he's a little small - but he will be good. Curry and Mike Miller should nail a lot of 3's with Love and AJ on the blocks.
7. Warriors - Tyreke Evans. A big guard who can handle the ball. They need someone with size to play in the backcourt with little Monta. What probably happens though is that the Warriors select a 6'6 swingman (to go with the other 8 on their roster)
8. Knicks - Jonny Flynn. They take the kid from Syracuse. Apparently he can fly around the court. Wouldn't D'Antoni want a PG who can run and pass? Seeems like a good fit.
9. Raptors - Demar Derozan. Talented and raw SG who can learn from Parker. They could also go with Gerald Henderson from Duke.
10. Bucks - Brandon Jennings. High schooler who spent a year in Italy. A lefty PG with good size. He could go anywhere in this draft. Does he start right away?
11. Nets - Dejuan Blair - undersized big man with bad knees? Why not. The Nets need rebounding and toughness because Yi Jianlin absolutely sucks.
12. Bobcats - Gerald Henderson. A Duke product who can learn from Raja Bell. Can any rookie taken here impress Larry Brown enough to get minutes though?
13. Pacers - Ty Lawson. A proven winner who can spell TJ Ford in the backcourt.
14. Suns - James Johnson. 6'8 and 260. They need another forward who can play.
15. Pistons - BJ Mullens. I'm putting him here based on articles I've read. I think he'll be a bust though as his college numbers were pretty weak. Some teams see 7'0 and drool though. I don't see him being a factor at all next year.
I'll complete the back half of the draft later....
1. Clippers - Blake Griffin. Even the Clips don't screw this one up. Now, who will they trade in the summer? Camby, Kaman, or Z-Bo? Kaman and Camby must be in the most demand.
2. Grizzlies - Hasheem Thabeet. They will be scared off by Rubio's buyout and they believe that Conley can run the point. What a lot of team don't have and cannot find in this draft is a shot-blocking big man. So they take him. That being said, I think he will be a poor man's Samuel Dalembert - which doesn't say much does it.
3. Thunder - James Harden. A tough, hard-nosed, left handed shooting guard. You don't pass those up. The Thunder start him right away with Westbrook, Durant, Green, and Krstic.
4. Kings - Ricky Rubio. Apparently, he's too good to pass up. We'll see I guess. Just because you played well in the Olympics against the US doesn't mean you're a guaranteed star (look at Patty Mills for Australia). Maybe the Kings pick him and then trade him.
5. Wizards - Jordan Hill. Apparently a solid PF prospect. And he can step in if they trade Jamison.
6. TimberWolves - Stephen Curry. His stock is rising. His Dad was a great shooter for years in the NBA. It's in the kid's blood. OK, he's a little small - but he will be good. Curry and Mike Miller should nail a lot of 3's with Love and AJ on the blocks.
7. Warriors - Tyreke Evans. A big guard who can handle the ball. They need someone with size to play in the backcourt with little Monta. What probably happens though is that the Warriors select a 6'6 swingman (to go with the other 8 on their roster)
8. Knicks - Jonny Flynn. They take the kid from Syracuse. Apparently he can fly around the court. Wouldn't D'Antoni want a PG who can run and pass? Seeems like a good fit.
9. Raptors - Demar Derozan. Talented and raw SG who can learn from Parker. They could also go with Gerald Henderson from Duke.
10. Bucks - Brandon Jennings. High schooler who spent a year in Italy. A lefty PG with good size. He could go anywhere in this draft. Does he start right away?
11. Nets - Dejuan Blair - undersized big man with bad knees? Why not. The Nets need rebounding and toughness because Yi Jianlin absolutely sucks.
12. Bobcats - Gerald Henderson. A Duke product who can learn from Raja Bell. Can any rookie taken here impress Larry Brown enough to get minutes though?
13. Pacers - Ty Lawson. A proven winner who can spell TJ Ford in the backcourt.
14. Suns - James Johnson. 6'8 and 260. They need another forward who can play.
15. Pistons - BJ Mullens. I'm putting him here based on articles I've read. I think he'll be a bust though as his college numbers were pretty weak. Some teams see 7'0 and drool though. I don't see him being a factor at all next year.
I'll complete the back half of the draft later....
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
2009 NBA DRAFT
And with the 1st overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Clippers select.....
I know what you're thinking. They will screw it up. They always do. In their 25 years in existence, they have been in the draft lottery 20 times!! Wow. Amazing. Check it out. It's true.
Can the Clippers really get this one wrong though? The name to call is Blake Griffin. I've only seen him play a couple of times, but the kid is a beast. There are all sorts of comparisons going around. Karl Malone with the jumper (yet). Anthony Mason, but better. A Buck Williams workhorse. An AC Green with an offensive game. All are very good for a kid whose never played a game in the NBA yet.
Make no bones about it - not even the Clippers can screw this one up. Can they? There is no choice between Rose or Beasley. There is no Oden or Durant debate. The pick is Griffin.
If they pick Griffin - then the trades will have to begin. You can't have Zach, Camby, Kaman, and Griffin. I don't care how Captain Dork Dunleavy can spin that one. It won't work. What would he say? "We wanted to go really big to slow the pace down so we're going to play Zach at the 2 tonight."
Already today I saw a Camby or Kaman to the Bulls for Hinrich. So, once they take Griffin, one of the 3 bigs will have to go.
BUT.....what if Oklahoma City comes-a-callin'? "Hi, it's Sam Presti here. We have the #3 pick this year and four #1's in the next two seasons. Can we make a deal?"
Oklahoma would obviously want their #1 son. (Griffin is from Oklahoma and played college ball there!). The Clippers would have to at least listen.
Now, that being said, I actually think the #3 pick for Oklahoma should be Thabeet from Connecticut. They say he could be a Mutombo like player - which is exactly what Hijack City needs - a big shot-blocking presence. That's what they have missed having to play Collison and Krstic in the middle.
So, look at the Clippers roster right now.
G - Baron Davis, Eric Gordon
F - Al Thornton, Zach Randolph
C - Camby/Kaman/Jordan
So, let's say the Clippers draft Griffin and trade Kaman for Hinrich
G - Baron, Gordon
F - Thornton, Zach
C - Camby
Bench - Hinrich. Griffin, Jordan
can that work? it looks good on paper doesn't it? (well, in my books, Baron de beuf isn't running my team but...)
that doesn't even count your specialists like Novak or Mardy Collins or those types...
I'm not saying the Clippers are making the playoffs or anything but drafting Griffin and then making a smart trade of one of their big guys would do them worlds of good.
Personally, I'd move Randolph and his punk attitude so I could start Griffin right away...
So, it all makes sense, with the 1st pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the LA Clippers select.....
Ricky Rubio.
I know what you're thinking. They will screw it up. They always do. In their 25 years in existence, they have been in the draft lottery 20 times!! Wow. Amazing. Check it out. It's true.
Can the Clippers really get this one wrong though? The name to call is Blake Griffin. I've only seen him play a couple of times, but the kid is a beast. There are all sorts of comparisons going around. Karl Malone with the jumper (yet). Anthony Mason, but better. A Buck Williams workhorse. An AC Green with an offensive game. All are very good for a kid whose never played a game in the NBA yet.
Make no bones about it - not even the Clippers can screw this one up. Can they? There is no choice between Rose or Beasley. There is no Oden or Durant debate. The pick is Griffin.
If they pick Griffin - then the trades will have to begin. You can't have Zach, Camby, Kaman, and Griffin. I don't care how Captain Dork Dunleavy can spin that one. It won't work. What would he say? "We wanted to go really big to slow the pace down so we're going to play Zach at the 2 tonight."
Already today I saw a Camby or Kaman to the Bulls for Hinrich. So, once they take Griffin, one of the 3 bigs will have to go.
BUT.....what if Oklahoma City comes-a-callin'? "Hi, it's Sam Presti here. We have the #3 pick this year and four #1's in the next two seasons. Can we make a deal?"
Oklahoma would obviously want their #1 son. (Griffin is from Oklahoma and played college ball there!). The Clippers would have to at least listen.
Now, that being said, I actually think the #3 pick for Oklahoma should be Thabeet from Connecticut. They say he could be a Mutombo like player - which is exactly what Hijack City needs - a big shot-blocking presence. That's what they have missed having to play Collison and Krstic in the middle.
So, look at the Clippers roster right now.
G - Baron Davis, Eric Gordon
F - Al Thornton, Zach Randolph
C - Camby/Kaman/Jordan
So, let's say the Clippers draft Griffin and trade Kaman for Hinrich
G - Baron, Gordon
F - Thornton, Zach
C - Camby
Bench - Hinrich. Griffin, Jordan
can that work? it looks good on paper doesn't it? (well, in my books, Baron de beuf isn't running my team but...)
that doesn't even count your specialists like Novak or Mardy Collins or those types...
I'm not saying the Clippers are making the playoffs or anything but drafting Griffin and then making a smart trade of one of their big guys would do them worlds of good.
Personally, I'd move Randolph and his punk attitude so I could start Griffin right away...
So, it all makes sense, with the 1st pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the LA Clippers select.....
Ricky Rubio.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
And then...
Well, I just returned from Disneyland. I could have gone to a the Lakers vs. Rockets at the Staples Centre, but a ticket in the upper bowl, endzone, was over $100 bucks. Ridiculous. Plus, there just isn't enough time in the day when you're at the Happiest Place on Earth and you have a 5 year old! Anyways....
What has happened since my last post? Well, the Cavs continue their dominance. They are crushing the hapless Hawks. It must be kind of disappointing for Hawks fans because they know they have no chance - yet they still have to play the games. I bet sometimes the players wish they could just call it a day. OK, OK, we're playing the Cavs, no thanks, we'll pass, they win.
The Nuggets are up 3-0 on the Mavs. Surprising? No, not really. I didn't really think the Mavs were that good to begin with...but what is surprising is that the Nuggets are better than I thought they were. Can one player (Billups) really mean that much to a team? Apparently. They are a very deep team with many ways to beat you. They have 4 legitimate scoring threats (Carmelo, Chauncey, Nene, and JR Smith), they have 2 shut-down defenders in Jones and K-Mart and they have the Energizer Bunny Birdman in Chris Andersen...there is a lot to like there. They will be tough to beat.
The Lakers and Rockets are now tied 2-2 - this after the Rockets beat LA without Yao today. Why is it that the Rockets get better once their so-called superstars fall off?? T-Mac goes down and the Rockets gel. Yao goes down and Brooks, Scola, and Battier save the day?? In the end though, I think the Lakers are just too good. And besides, the NBA wants a Lebron vs. Kobe final - so that's what they will get. On a side note - why is Andrew Bynum not playing? Did he forget? Does Phil know he's back? I find this a bit odd.
The Celtics and Magic are now tied 2-2. Does it matter? Can either of these teams beat the Cavs? Unlikely. I think the Magic would fare much better with Jameer Nelson running the show instead of 'jack'em if you got it' Rafer Alston. He's shooting 40 and 32 in the playoffs...right on his averages. Go check out Rajon Rondo's playoff stats - amazing. 29.6 tendex (Woo would be proud of me for getting a Tendex reference in). Rajon is averaging 18ppg, 11apg, and 9rpg with 2.7 steals. Holy Moly!
I want to comment on two former players, no, Superstars who continue to amaze me with their current employment.
Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan.
First off, I believe MJ was the greatest player of all-time. No doubt about it. He transcended the game. He made basketball a passion of mine. He was fun to watch. He made me believe that you never give up. The guy, on the court, was amazing. But what is his off-the-court legacy??
MJ "retired" to play baseball. I think we all know by now that he didn't quit to play baseball - he was forced to take a leave of absense due to gambling problems. We can't say that because it would ruin his reputation.
Jordan's father was murdered in 1993 by two teenagers. Was this payback for unpaid gambling debts? Who knows...
Why did Jordan come back as a Wizard? Was this really necessary? What did he have to prove? It was a disaster.
So, MJ joins the Wizards front office and convinces them to draft Kwame Brown 1st overall. Ouch.
So, MJ is the best player of all-time - does that necessarily mean he's a good GM?? No.
Yet he continues to get those types of jobs. He failed miserably with the Wizards - yet - for some reason (because of his name) - the Bobcats say come on in and run our show. And to this day, the Bobcats still suck.
And Isiah Thomas is the same way. I don't need to rant on about his Knicks performance - which may just have been the worst GM'ing ever seen!! So, why on earth does Florida International offer this guy a coaching job????? When does your name not mean anything anymore?? I'm going to assume that most college kids don't get paid (most of the good ones probably do) so why would kids wanting to find a University to play at pick FIU? Because Isiah Thomas is the coach? Has he made anyone better as a coach?? If he can't write you a cheque - why pick that school? Just so you can say you played for Isiah Thomas? Is that worth anything these days? Is that worth bragging about? Why is Isiah Thomas getting this opportunity? What has he done in the past to say to FIU that he should be coach?? Did he go to FIU? No. So what gives? Why does he continue to get jobs?? Because of who he is. Simple as that. No other reason. Face it, this is how the NBA old-boys club works. It still shocks me. Oh well.
I emailed Chris Pershick the other day hoping to get his year-end Basketball story. No luck. I was kind of hoping to get his take on the 08/09 JBL season. I have started my Excel spreadsheet for next season already. I think I will protect Jameer Nelson, Eric Gordon, Dwayne Wade, and maybe Francisco Garcia. So, my draft focus will be forwards - and lots of them. I'd also like to get my hands on this Blake Griffin kid - he looks like the real deal. Whoever gets the #1 pick will have themselves a solid player for years to come. But who gets that pick? We find out at the end of the month.
Until next time....enjoy the offseason. Free agency is just around the corner!
What has happened since my last post? Well, the Cavs continue their dominance. They are crushing the hapless Hawks. It must be kind of disappointing for Hawks fans because they know they have no chance - yet they still have to play the games. I bet sometimes the players wish they could just call it a day. OK, OK, we're playing the Cavs, no thanks, we'll pass, they win.
The Nuggets are up 3-0 on the Mavs. Surprising? No, not really. I didn't really think the Mavs were that good to begin with...but what is surprising is that the Nuggets are better than I thought they were. Can one player (Billups) really mean that much to a team? Apparently. They are a very deep team with many ways to beat you. They have 4 legitimate scoring threats (Carmelo, Chauncey, Nene, and JR Smith), they have 2 shut-down defenders in Jones and K-Mart and they have the Energizer Bunny Birdman in Chris Andersen...there is a lot to like there. They will be tough to beat.
The Lakers and Rockets are now tied 2-2 - this after the Rockets beat LA without Yao today. Why is it that the Rockets get better once their so-called superstars fall off?? T-Mac goes down and the Rockets gel. Yao goes down and Brooks, Scola, and Battier save the day?? In the end though, I think the Lakers are just too good. And besides, the NBA wants a Lebron vs. Kobe final - so that's what they will get. On a side note - why is Andrew Bynum not playing? Did he forget? Does Phil know he's back? I find this a bit odd.
The Celtics and Magic are now tied 2-2. Does it matter? Can either of these teams beat the Cavs? Unlikely. I think the Magic would fare much better with Jameer Nelson running the show instead of 'jack'em if you got it' Rafer Alston. He's shooting 40 and 32 in the playoffs...right on his averages. Go check out Rajon Rondo's playoff stats - amazing. 29.6 tendex (Woo would be proud of me for getting a Tendex reference in). Rajon is averaging 18ppg, 11apg, and 9rpg with 2.7 steals. Holy Moly!
I want to comment on two former players, no, Superstars who continue to amaze me with their current employment.
Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan.
First off, I believe MJ was the greatest player of all-time. No doubt about it. He transcended the game. He made basketball a passion of mine. He was fun to watch. He made me believe that you never give up. The guy, on the court, was amazing. But what is his off-the-court legacy??
MJ "retired" to play baseball. I think we all know by now that he didn't quit to play baseball - he was forced to take a leave of absense due to gambling problems. We can't say that because it would ruin his reputation.
Jordan's father was murdered in 1993 by two teenagers. Was this payback for unpaid gambling debts? Who knows...
Why did Jordan come back as a Wizard? Was this really necessary? What did he have to prove? It was a disaster.
So, MJ joins the Wizards front office and convinces them to draft Kwame Brown 1st overall. Ouch.
So, MJ is the best player of all-time - does that necessarily mean he's a good GM?? No.
Yet he continues to get those types of jobs. He failed miserably with the Wizards - yet - for some reason (because of his name) - the Bobcats say come on in and run our show. And to this day, the Bobcats still suck.
And Isiah Thomas is the same way. I don't need to rant on about his Knicks performance - which may just have been the worst GM'ing ever seen!! So, why on earth does Florida International offer this guy a coaching job????? When does your name not mean anything anymore?? I'm going to assume that most college kids don't get paid (most of the good ones probably do) so why would kids wanting to find a University to play at pick FIU? Because Isiah Thomas is the coach? Has he made anyone better as a coach?? If he can't write you a cheque - why pick that school? Just so you can say you played for Isiah Thomas? Is that worth anything these days? Is that worth bragging about? Why is Isiah Thomas getting this opportunity? What has he done in the past to say to FIU that he should be coach?? Did he go to FIU? No. So what gives? Why does he continue to get jobs?? Because of who he is. Simple as that. No other reason. Face it, this is how the NBA old-boys club works. It still shocks me. Oh well.
I emailed Chris Pershick the other day hoping to get his year-end Basketball story. No luck. I was kind of hoping to get his take on the 08/09 JBL season. I have started my Excel spreadsheet for next season already. I think I will protect Jameer Nelson, Eric Gordon, Dwayne Wade, and maybe Francisco Garcia. So, my draft focus will be forwards - and lots of them. I'd also like to get my hands on this Blake Griffin kid - he looks like the real deal. Whoever gets the #1 pick will have themselves a solid player for years to come. But who gets that pick? We find out at the end of the month.
Until next time....enjoy the offseason. Free agency is just around the corner!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Playoff Update & Random Thoughts
The Bulls & Celtics head to a game 7 tonight. This series has been a classic (so they say) with 4 of the 6 games going into overtime! The Baby Bulls are growing up fast and are certainly giving the defending champs a big test here without KG. Should we be surprised though? The Hawks took the Celtics to 7 games last season WITH Garnett! What has this series taught us?? Rondo is a major stud. Rose is on the verge of stardom. And the Bulls aren't that far away from being really good (considering they are playing without Luol Deng).
The Magic disposed of the 76ers in 6 games. Ho-hum. D12 put up 24-16 and 3 blocks per game. Ho-hum. IF the Celtics lose to the Bulls...are the Magic good enough to challenge the Cavs for East supremacy? NO. The Cavaliers will represent the East in the NBA finals. Lock it up.
The Cavs destroyed the Pistons in 4 games - beating them by double digits every night. They are ready for their makeover.
Could this off-season actually be a busy one with numerous teams in need of makeovers?
The Pistons will certainly look to make changes. Rasheed and Iverson are FA's and I can't see them coming back.
The Hornets just showed that they are no where near where they need to be to contend out West. Chris Paul and David West got man-handled by the Nuggets in the 1st round - including a 58 point loss. The Hornets were 49-33 in the regular season - but they looked horrible in this series. Byron Scott will surely be canned because this team quit on him. They need to add a SG and some depth. Rasual Butler scares nobody and Peja/Chandler look like they're ready for the retirement home. And the bench saviour of James Posey is not enough. Tell me who else is on their bench?? You can't. Hilton Armstrong. Sean Marks, Morris Peterson, and Antonio Daniels? Come on! Did they really expect to beat anyone with that bench?? So, my question would be is this the worst 49 win team ever??
What about the Utah Jazz. The Lakers took them out 4-1. Boozer is unhappy. AK47 is overpaid and under-utilized. What about Korver? Okur? Paul Millsap needs an extension. Can Boozer and Millsap co-exist? Numerous changes could happen here too. Boozer to Detroit is one prominent rumor.
Oh how the mighty Spurs have fallen. They got really old once the season ended. Even Timmy D couldn't help them this time. Tony Parker looks amazing and Timmy can handle being 2nd fiddle - but without Manu and a deeper supporting cast, this team appears doomed. The Spurs have always been good because of their system...but at some point, I think, you have to at least have SOME talent on your roster. Plus, having some athletes helps in todays NBA. Does the 3-head monster of Matt Bonner, Kurt Thomas, Fabricio Oberto really scare any opposing PG's from driving the lane? Bruce Bowen got old like light-switch fast. Whammo. He's old. Will they look to get younger?
And what did the Blazers learn from their 1st round exit?? That Roy and Aldridge need a 3rd option. Roy averaged 27ppg and LA scored 20ppg - no one else averaged over 10ppg. That's a problem. They might have too much depth and need to package them up to get a 3rd option.
So, you have all these playoff teams that need minor/major upgrades. That doesn't even address the 14 other teams that missed the playoffs and who you know will be looking for change.
The Clippers will have to do something with Kaman/Zach/Camby - cause that doesn't work.
The Warriors have 9 swingmen on their roster and have told Jamal Crawford to opt out.
There are plenty of possibilities this season as numerous teams want to make a change to get better and then numerous teams want to make a change so they can clear cap space for the 2010 sweepstakes.
I look forward to seeing what happens this summer with player movement and seeing what happens at the draft.
I think my next post will deal with 2 former superstars who continue to get 'breaks' just because of who they are....stay tuned.
The Magic disposed of the 76ers in 6 games. Ho-hum. D12 put up 24-16 and 3 blocks per game. Ho-hum. IF the Celtics lose to the Bulls...are the Magic good enough to challenge the Cavs for East supremacy? NO. The Cavaliers will represent the East in the NBA finals. Lock it up.
The Cavs destroyed the Pistons in 4 games - beating them by double digits every night. They are ready for their makeover.
Could this off-season actually be a busy one with numerous teams in need of makeovers?
The Pistons will certainly look to make changes. Rasheed and Iverson are FA's and I can't see them coming back.
The Hornets just showed that they are no where near where they need to be to contend out West. Chris Paul and David West got man-handled by the Nuggets in the 1st round - including a 58 point loss. The Hornets were 49-33 in the regular season - but they looked horrible in this series. Byron Scott will surely be canned because this team quit on him. They need to add a SG and some depth. Rasual Butler scares nobody and Peja/Chandler look like they're ready for the retirement home. And the bench saviour of James Posey is not enough. Tell me who else is on their bench?? You can't. Hilton Armstrong. Sean Marks, Morris Peterson, and Antonio Daniels? Come on! Did they really expect to beat anyone with that bench?? So, my question would be is this the worst 49 win team ever??
What about the Utah Jazz. The Lakers took them out 4-1. Boozer is unhappy. AK47 is overpaid and under-utilized. What about Korver? Okur? Paul Millsap needs an extension. Can Boozer and Millsap co-exist? Numerous changes could happen here too. Boozer to Detroit is one prominent rumor.
Oh how the mighty Spurs have fallen. They got really old once the season ended. Even Timmy D couldn't help them this time. Tony Parker looks amazing and Timmy can handle being 2nd fiddle - but without Manu and a deeper supporting cast, this team appears doomed. The Spurs have always been good because of their system...but at some point, I think, you have to at least have SOME talent on your roster. Plus, having some athletes helps in todays NBA. Does the 3-head monster of Matt Bonner, Kurt Thomas, Fabricio Oberto really scare any opposing PG's from driving the lane? Bruce Bowen got old like light-switch fast. Whammo. He's old. Will they look to get younger?
And what did the Blazers learn from their 1st round exit?? That Roy and Aldridge need a 3rd option. Roy averaged 27ppg and LA scored 20ppg - no one else averaged over 10ppg. That's a problem. They might have too much depth and need to package them up to get a 3rd option.
So, you have all these playoff teams that need minor/major upgrades. That doesn't even address the 14 other teams that missed the playoffs and who you know will be looking for change.
The Clippers will have to do something with Kaman/Zach/Camby - cause that doesn't work.
The Warriors have 9 swingmen on their roster and have told Jamal Crawford to opt out.
There are plenty of possibilities this season as numerous teams want to make a change to get better and then numerous teams want to make a change so they can clear cap space for the 2010 sweepstakes.
I look forward to seeing what happens this summer with player movement and seeing what happens at the draft.
I think my next post will deal with 2 former superstars who continue to get 'breaks' just because of who they are....stay tuned.
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