Drive and Kick

Reflections on an abysmal start to the Heat-Hawks series

2009-04-21T14:02:00.000-07:00

Originally published in the Miami edition of the Examiner.

The good news:

Everything considered, the game one performance was probably as bad as it can get, so there’s really nowhere to go, but up. I don’t imagine too many other occasions when Wade will not break 20 points and have more turnovers (8), than assists (5).
Hopefully this was the game that this young Heat team needed to get its playoff jitters out of its system.
There’s still a chance that the Heat will bounce back in game two and steal home court advantage. As demoralizing as this loss was, at least it came on the road, where the Heat weren’t expected to win anyway.
James Jones actually looked like he was playing in rhythm for the first time in a while. Against a Hawks team that likes to pack the paint, his three-point shooting will be vital.

The bad news:

Jermaine O’Neal. It was worrisome how ineffective he was. It wouldn’t be as ominous had he played well in other games against Atlanta this year, but he hasn’t. (Look at these box scores from his regular season games against the Hawks: 11/7. 2/27. Don't let the 11 rebound game fool you. That was the same game that he allowed Horford to grab 22 rebound.) The fact that he only produced five points and two rebounds last night is inexcusable. The Heat simply need more from the center position. They’re not paying him $21 million to play like Joel Anthony.I think part of the problem stems from when O'Neal starts off the game with a jump shooter's mentality. In other words, for whatever reason, he decides to shoot contested 15-footers, rather than take it to the basket. I’ve noticed that in the games he’s played well, he has attacked the rim early. By starting off aggressively, the defenders react by sagging off a bit, giving him more space to shoot. The center match up is key to this series, and for the Heat to have a chance, it cannot continue to be as one-sided as it was last night.
The starting lineup. Even though he was having an off night, Beasley (10 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks) out-performed Haslem (6 points, 5 rebounds). This was with Beasley missing open looks that he usually converts. For a good portion of the game, the Heat simply didn’t have the offensive firepower to keep pace with the Hawks. Against a team that really packs it in defensively, the Heat needs to have shot makers out there to make the Hawks pay. To put it simply, whenever Haslem shoots open jumpers, the Hawks have won that possession.
Do the Heat have an answer for Al Horford? Horford had far more of an impact than his stat line suggests (14 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks). He was able to aggressively trap Wade and protect the paint, as well as hit open jumpers when O’Neal sagged.
In order for the Heat to keep it close next game, they need to focus on two fundamental points: Limit turnovers (19 is far too many) and protect the back court in transition (I'm looking at you Chalmers. Wade too). Oh, and start Beasley.

Reactions to an intense opening day of the 2009 NBA Playoffs

2009-04-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

Originally published in the Miami edition of the Examiner.

I’ll be honest. I didn’t really plan on writing another article so soon after that 4,000-word playoff prediction yesterday, but here I am. After watching the majority of the action yesterday, there’s definitely some points that I had to mention. So let’s begin.

· Derrick Rose looked like Kenny Powers in his prime. Wow. What a way to begin your playoff career. Welcome to the Derrick Rose era everyone. Chris Paul, what up? Ever since he came on the scene as a freshman at Memphis, I’ve been about as big of a Rose fan as anyone. Back when Miami was auditioning D-leaguers for spots in the starting lineup, and in the process of jostling for lottery position, I remember praying that somehow Miami would grab him with the first pick in the draft (No offense, Beasley. You were up there too). In Rose, I saw a guy that despised losing with a passion (he was in tears and inconsolable after his team’s last second loss in the NCAA Championship last year), and someone who also demonstrated excellent lead-by-example leadership skills. All while playing the potentially uncomfortable role of freshman team leader. And that’s without talking about his ridiculous floor vision and athleticism. Now, he’s raising his game for the playoffs just like he did for the NCAA tournament. 36 points in his playoff debut? Clap it up.

Miami would have had Dwyane Wade and Dwyane Wade the sequel, had they been able to draft him. I swear this isn’t in the back of my mind whenever I see him play. I’m fine. Really. Beasley will probably be a top-three power forward in the league in a couple of years. I’m fine. (Every time I watch Rose dominate a game for the Bulls, I feel like the creepy ex-boyfriend/girlfriend of someone that keeps insincerely telling everyone around them that they’re, “happy for the other person now. Even if they're with someone else.” I apologize.)

· All right, I’m back. I still think the Celtics will win in seven, although it will be far from easy. As long as Pierce and Allen don’t play as badly as they did last night in the remaining games, they should be alright.

· Was anyone else watching the Portland-Houston game and wondering who looked older, Oden or Mutombo? I still can’t decide.

· I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t expecting that stinker performance from the Blazers. A couple of times in the telecast, the commentator kept reiterating that Brandon Roy couldn’t do it on his own. At the time he had something like 18 points on 8 for 18 shooting. I remember thinking to myself, “is he really doing all that much for his team?” Being the most talented player on the court doesn’t automatically mean that you’re doing that much to help your team win. While Roy is clearly an incredibly talented player, after watching a decent number of Portland games this year, I feel that he doesn’t dominate a game in the same overwhelming way that LeBron, Wade, Kobe, or even Chris Paul can (I say “even” in regards to Paul, only because I’m thinking more in terms of two guards, and even then I still can’t leave CP3 out).

While Roy can have periods of inspired play, there seems to be stretches in quarters where he just doesn’t impose his will and do something with the ball. In such instances, you can forget he’s even on the floor. He only had two assists last night, and this low number was not because he was creating a ton of missed chances for his stray-shooting teammates. He simply didn’t create that many assist opportunities when he attacked the rim. To be considered a true superstar, and not just a good all star (Yes, there’s different levels of stardom, the terms aren’t interchangeable. To me at least), you have to be able to impact the game in more ways than just scoring. Especially when you have such talented players around you, as Roy does. To put it mildly, he should be averaging a little more than just 5 assists per game.

I’m not saying he doesn’t have it in him. Brandon Roy, it’s on you. And your teammates as well. But mostly you. If they don’t step it up next game, then you have to set them up with easy chances to get them going. Let’s see what you got.

· What did I tell you about Spoelstra? Just as I predicted yesterday, today he told reporters that Haslem would be his starting power forward for game one of the Hawks series. While he didn’t say who would start at small forward, either way I think Haslem should be coming off the bench. Even if Beasley still starts (an unlikely option since he hasn’t played small forward all season), it then means that Wade will have to defend Joe Johnson and risk early foul trouble while wasting energy. I can’t say I’m not disappointed with this news. My verdict is still out on Spoelstra, as he is a rookie coach and should be cut some slack, but I can’t say I’ve been enamored with his performance thus far.

Update!

2009-04-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

So as of this week, I am officially writing for the Miami edition of the Examiner, as the Miami Heat Examiner. I will be writing regularly for the Examiner, somewhere around four to five times a week. I'll continue to post articles here, and keep Drive and Kick updated.

Since Examiner columns will be centered on the NBA, specifically the Miami Heat, I look forward to posting pieces on other subjects (other sports, music, films, etc) on this website. It should be fun.

Be sure to check my Examiner page regularly as you'll find pieces there that are exclusive to that site.

As always, comments are welcomed on either site and I enjoy getting feedback.

Thanks for reading. Till next time.

First round picks part two: Who will be left in the West?

2009-04-18T02:09:00.000-07:00

Originally published in the Miami edition of The Examiner.

Los Angeles (1) vs. Utah (8)

Potentially interesting series here. While the Lakers seem to be superior to the rest of the West, Utah is a strong eighth seed. I’ve heard some analysts make the case for Utah giving L.A. some problems by pointing to the fact that Utah has already beaten L.A. once this year, and that Kirlenko’s length can bother Kobe.

The case for Kirlenko as Kobe-stopper (or even just Kobe-nuisance) is mostly based on their last game in which he held Kobe to 16 points. Yeah…okay. Any subscribers to this theory must have a pretty serious case of selective memory to disregard the fact that Kobe has also torched the Jazz for 37 and 40 points in the two other contests.
Nevertheless, I think most people agree that Utah has too much talent to be such a low seed. Given how up for grabs the West has been, a couple months back I would have put money on the Jazz sneaking into the second seed, instead, they barely qualified for the playoffs. I guess that’s what happens when you can’t defend anyone.

In a way, this Jazz team reminds me a lot of the so-near-yet-so-far Phoenix teams from a couple seasons back. Deron Williams now, like Steve Nash then, is clearly the leader, best player, and closer on the team. A healthy Carlos Boozer, much like a healthy Amare Stoudamire, is a potent offensive weapon, but a mediocre defender. Plus you can’t forget Ronnie Brewer playing the part of defensive stopper (Raja Bell) and Kirlenko playing the role of the extremely versatile, yet just as moody small forward (Shawn Marion).

Utah definitely has to make some moves this summer. If anything, they should learn from the mistakes the Suns have made and act prudently, rather than reverting a last ditch effort, when the team was already on the decline. I’d say they should let the injury-prone Boozer leave and use the space to resign the more aggressive, better defender in Paul Millsap. Beyond that, Kirlenko’s contract is pretty crippling and I don’t really see them getting a better option at center than Okur for now. I feel like this team is one move away. Give them a legit shot-blocking, defensive center (think a Samuel Dalembert-type) and a dynamic shooting guard or small forward who can create his own shot (see: Rudy Gay) and this team would be very, very dangerous.

I’m looking to the future for this Jazz team because let’s be honest, it’s definitely not happening for them this year. Although they play the Lakers probably as well as any of the other Western teams do (which really isn’t saying much), I don’t see this series going past five, maybe six games. The Lakers length up front tends to give Boozer and Millsap headaches, and really the only advantage the Jazz have is at the point guard position. So unless Deron goes into Magic Johnson mode, the writing is more or less on the wall.

Final verdict:

Lakers in 6.

Denver (2) vs. New Orleans (7)

Probably the Western conference series I am most excited for. While on paper it’s a second seed versus a seventh seed, because the records of the teams from two through eight were so close, in reality this series will be as competitive as a fourth seed against a fifth seed. I see upset potential all over this one.

The point guard battle will be intense with two of the best in the league in Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups going at it. This will be the key to this series. While no one can keep up with the lightning-quick Paul, Billups does have a size and strength advantage in his favor and is generally seen as a solid defensive point guard.

While it will be a fascinating battle of wills, it is a match up that I will ultimately be dominated by Paul. This 32-year-old version of Billups is not the same defensive presence he was five years ago when he led Detroit to a championship. I saw Paul demolish an over the hill Jason Kidd last year, and even if it’s not to the same extent, I’m expecting more of the same this year. Old point guards are like old boxers, the last thing they want is to go against a guy nearly a decade younger and three steps quicker.

Furthermore, I think we will see the true value of James Posey in this series, as he will be able to defend Carmelo Anthony or J.R. Smith effectively. At the same time, I don’t think the Nuggets will be able to contain David West, who seems to be one those players that kick it up a notch when playoff time rolls around.

Outside of Billups and Kenyon Martin, none of these Denver players have entered a series as favorites. Playing with higher expectations is a different ball game and some players simply crack under the pressure (*cough* Eddie Jones. Yeah, I said it). I’m not saying the Nuggets will or won’t, but either way, they will be going against an experienced Hornets team that has been there before and clearly thrives in such situations.

Final verdict:

Hornets in 6.

San Antonio (3) vs. Dallas (6)
Doesn’t it seem like one way or another, every year the Spurs and Mavs end up playing each other in the playoffs? Luckily, because these teams know each other so well, the games have generally been highly competitive and have provided their fair share of buzzer beating finishes. Although the Spurs seem to be showing signs of age throughout, and Ginobli’s absence will surely be felt, I can’t ever rule out the Spurs on an odd numbered year.

Maybe I have too much faith in Popovich’s game planning and Duncan’s ability to come through in the biggest moments, but I find it really difficult to ever pick against them, especially in the first round. I think Roger Mason will pick up some of the offensive slack with Manu out, especially when considering the fact that he has already had two games against Dallas this year when he’s scored over 20 points (23 and 25).

One more thing: I read somewhere that Spurs rookie George Hill has not made Popovich’s playoff rotation, which I think is a shame. Obviously, Pop has seen him play far more up close and frequently than I have, but based on the games I have seen him in (including a game against the Heat, which I had really good tickets for), I would not at all be surprised if at some point in the next few year, he will be considered a top 10 point guard. He has a ridiculous wingspan; seems to be a really quick-footed, solid defender; and already has a pretty decent jump shot. If that sounds a lot like Rajon Rondo (minus the part about having a solid jump shot), then you see where I’m going with this.

Popovich’s eye for talent is amazing, as his “diamond in the rough” draft choices seem to hit far more often than they miss. Greg Popovich, take a bow son. The Miami Heat Examiner salutes you. Alright, now sit down.
Where were we? Oh, right.

Final verdict:

Spurs in 7

Portland (4) vs. Houston (5)

I’m not going to lie, since the playoff match ups were finalized I’ve gone back and forth on picking the winner for this series about a half dozen times already. Thankfully the playoffs start tomorrow or I’d probably end up rewriting this paragraph a couple more times.

This is one of those series where there are so many unknown variables:
How will Portland’s young players react to the playoff atmosphere?
Will Oden hurt himself in the lay up line?
Will Ron Artest go Ron Artest on someone?
Who will Houston go to at the end of games?
Will Yao Ming ever flagrant foul someone that tries to dunk on him? (Not really relevant to this series, but come on man! Don’t let people treat you’re like a 7’6’’dunk prop)

So many questions and I wish knew the answers. There are a lot of things to like about Houston. For starters I think they’re arguably the best defensive team in the league. You know Brandon Roy can’t be too overjoyed about the idea of playing potentially seven games against Shane Battier and Ron Artest. They have solid, if not great, players at almost every position (point guard is still “eh”). Their center is also their best free throw shooter, meaning they don’t have to worry about teams intentionally fouling him instead of giving up a high percentage look. At the same time, their lack of a dominant perimeter scorer at the end of games worries me. If Artest really is that guy, then I don’t see this team going too far.

On the other hand, Portland is one of the most tantalizing teams talent-wise. They have so many different looks they can throw at you, and a handful of players that could each go off for 20-30 points on any given night. More importantly though, they have that go-to-guy at the end of games, and that’s what separates these two teams. With the game on the line, I’d feel far more confident as a Blazers fan knowing that Brandon Roy can turn even a terrible look into a game winner. Which is why…

Final verdict:

Blazers in 7

Thanks for reading. I enjoy receiving all feedback, and if you think your picks will prove to be more accurate than mine, then feel free to leave a comment with your predictions. Should be interesting. Also, check back frequently as I will be writing columns throughout the playoffs including my picks for the next round as soon as those match ups are set. Till next time.

First round predictions part 1: Who will be the beast of the east?

2009-04-17T23:09:00.000-07:00

Originally published in the Miami edition of The Examiner

Cleveland (1) vs. Detroit (8)

Alright, let’s give the team with the best record in the league the respect they deserve, and start things off with them. It’s funny how times change and roles are reversed. A couple years back, when Lebron was struggling to get past Detroit, the media jumped at the opportunity to compare his difficulties with Detroit to what Jordan faced with the Bad Boy Pistons of the late 80‘s and early 90’s. Such a comparison was an easy one to make, but far from accurate as the 80’s Pistons makes any subsequent Detroit team look fairly mild mannered.

This Detroit team bears no resemblance to anything even slightly intimidating. While everyone keeps saying that this Pistons team is looking to the future, I still don’t see how that justifies the Billups deal. Since the Pistons were looking to clear salary, why not trade Hamilton instead and keep Stuckey as a shooting guard. I don’t see how a Billups/Stuckey back court isn’t ten times better than anything involving Iverson/Hamilton/Stuckey. The obvious reason is that Stuckey plays more like a shooting guard than a natural point guard.

You also can’t undervalue the importance of Chauncey’s leadership, clearly demonstrated in the way he transformed the Nuggets from a team with about as much chemistry as a sober Real World cast, into the second seed in the West. While I do think this same Pistons team with Billups instead of Hamilton would have fared better during the regular season and probably gotten a higher seed, against Cleveland it wouldn’t really matter either way. So I guess this whole paragraph isn’t exactly relevant to picking the winner of this series. Whatever. You’re welcome.

I think Lebron still has respect for the Pistons (even if it’s is simply from memory and has nothing to do with this current squad), and won’t look past the first round like some top seeds have in the past (I’m looking at you Boston). Respect aside, Lebron will also probably want to crush Detroit in four games, simply to exact revenge on the Pistons one last time for cutting his postseason short a couple years back. I don’ t see the Pistons winning any games in Cleveland, but I can imagine Lebron locking up Stuckey in the last couple minutes of a close game in Detroit, grabbing a road win, and in turn breaking what’s left of Detroit’s spirit.

Final verdict:

Cavs in 5.

Boston (2) vs. Chicago (7)

A series that would be fairly predictable if Boston was anywhere near injury-fee, now becomes a bit more uncertain with the announcement that KG will not only miss this series, but likely the entire postseason as well. From a neutral perspective it’s a shame that KG is injured. He is a captivating presence on the court and raises the intensity level of any series. It’s also particularly disappointing because he actually gives the Celtics a legitimate shot of beating the Cavs and Lakers.

Unfortunately for Boston, not only do they have to play without their vocal leader and former defensive player of the year, they have to do so against arguably the hottest team in the league. Coming into the playoffs, the Bulls have won 9 of their last 12 games behind Derrick Rose’s steady play. The mid season pickup of John Salmons and Brad Miller has been very significant after losing Luol Deng to injury.

(Random thought: If the rumors are true, and Miami did have a chance to land Brad Miller and John Salmons instead of Jermaine O’neal, then I’m not sure Riles made the best decision. Salmons is a proven 20-point scorer, and considering Miami’s offensive woes, I think he could have gone a long way in alleviating some of the offensive weight on Wade’s shoulders. The counter argument is that O’neal’s contract conveniently expires in the all important summer of 2010 (unlike Salmon’s that expires in 2011), which many say, combined with the first round pick from Toronto, was the deciding factor. Fair enough Riley, you want to go after the big names like everyone else.

However, the deal really wouldn’t have hurt Miami that much financially. In fact, had the Heat made the deal, they still would have had Brad Miller ($11.3 million) come off the cap in 2010, while only having to pay Salmons ($6 million) in 2011. That’s Udonis Haslem’s salary. Considering that with Bealsey’s recent emergence, Haslem has somewhat expendable (and many, myself included, would ideally like to see Haslem traded for a quality small forward), I just think acquiring Salmons and Miller would have been a smart choice. Plus it’s not exactly like Jermaine “5-rebounds-a-game” O’neal has been anything close to a dominant inside presence. Oh well, at least Jermaine is scheduled to work with Tim Grover (the man who got Wade into the best shape of his life this past summer), so there’s always the possibility of a miraculous rejuvenation. Just don’t hold your breath.)

Anyway, where was I? Ah yes, the Bulls-Celtics series. I think that while this series seems to have some upset potential, ultimately I see the Celtics holding off this young Bulls team. Part of the reason is that the Celtics have Rajon Rondo, arguably the best defensive point guard in the league right now, to guard Derrick Rose, the catalyst of the Bull’s offense. You had a good run Chicago, and your future is definitely bright, but this is where it ends. It’ll be an interesting series though, one that I’ll make a priority to watch.

Final verdict:

Celtics in 7.

Orlando (3) vs. Philadelphia (6)

The Magic have been an enigma of late. One night they’re dismantling the Cavs, the next week they’re losing crucial games that ultimately gave the second seed to Boston. These playoffs are going to go a long way in how the Magic will be perceived. The team and its fans always seem to believe that they don’t get enough respect from the media and pundits alike. It seems that they are usually regarded as the best team outside of the Celtics, Cavs, and Lakers; just not on that same level the top three. The Magic may have a point. Here’ their chance to change that. They should be able to comfortably win this first round series against the Sixers, and assuming that Boston gets past Chicago, they will be facing a KG-less Celtics team in the second round. At that point it’s very simple, they have to beat the Celtics. Period. If they can’t win that series, I don’t want to hear or read any comments next year about them not getting the proper respect next year, even if they have the best record in the league. So Orlando, it’s on you.

The thing that would worry me if I were a Magic fan, is their lack of a dominant go to guy. At this point Magic fans are probably yelling “ What about DWIGHT HOWARD?!!” at their computers, but I still don’t put him in that category. Let me explain.

Has Howard had dominant performances? Sure.
Is he a load to handle inside? Of course.
But can he carry a team on his back down the stretch of a close game? I don’t think so.

And that is what he will have to do in the playoffs. Smart teams like the Celtics aren’t going to double team him and give open three-point shots to there marksmen. They’re going to single cover him and say “alright, let’s see what you can do.” I’ve seen Detroit do this to them successfully in years past, and teams will continue to do so until he becomes unguardable one on one, and demands the ball every time down the court in a close game like Shaq did.

That is why right now Hedo Turkoglu tends to take the role of closer. He has the size and handle to be a tough cover towards the end of games. The thing that we still don’t know is how healthy his ankle is. If he’s not a hundred percent, it’s going to be even tougher to win close games.

I mention this now, although I’m sure Orlando will look great against the Sixers. Howard won’t have to work defensively against any of the Sixer big men, and the Magic will simply out-shoot them from three.

The Sixers do have an advantage at point guard though, and if they are able to dictate the tempo, then I could see them keeping it close in a couple games.

Final verdict:

Magic in 5

Atlanta (4) vs. Miami (5)

Yeah, I saved the best one for last. Well probably not the “best” one if you want to be annoyingly technical, but certainly the series I’ll be pressing the closest attention to. First off, from a fan’s perspective I think it’s great to see the Heat back in the playoffs at all after last year’s astonishingly terrible performance.

While everyone associated with the Heat must be relieved that they have avoided a first round match up against a division winner, let us keep in mind that Atlanta will not be a walk in the park either. This Hawks team played last year’s eventual champions, the Boston Celtics, about as well as anyone did, taking them to seven games. It’s a team that tends to give the Heat a bit of trouble too.

Wade has been held to 21 points in two of the three games against the Hawks this year and their athletic big men seem to give Beasley and O’neal a bit of trouble. There confidence is also running high after last year’s unexpected success and with home court secured for the first round, I’m sure that they’ll be expecting at least a second round appearance. This series will be a close one, probably going the whole seven games. The Heat are so reliant on its young players that I’m sure this series will mimic their regular season performances. There will be games where they are firing on all cylinders and look dominant (most likely the home games), and games where they can’t get anything going and lose by double digits.

Overall, I think that Miami has two things going for them that both involve Diddy’s favorite model:

1. The recent schedule has been kind to Miami. Because they were able to secure the fifth seed with two games in hand, Dwyane Wade will have had a full week of rest before game one. On top of that, Miami has a couple extra days off in between games. Game one is on Sunday, game two on Wednesday, and then game three is back in Miami on Saturday. These days off gives Wade the best chance to remain fresh, and in turn drastically improves the Heat’s chances in this series.

2. Mr. Wade seems to be in the perfect mindset. In an interview with Stephen A. Smith, Wade mentioned that he plays far better when he is angry and has a chip on his shoulder. Judging by his recent comments that he believes everyone is doubting his team, it’s safe to say that same chip will be Shaq-sized by the time the series begins.

The only thing that gives me cause for concern is Spoelstra and his respect/admiration/fear for team captain, Udonis Haslem. (Well not really fear, but still). Healthy or not, there is no way Haslem should start ahead of Beasley. There’s rumors that Beasley might start at the small forward spot, and that shouldn’t happen either, because then Wade would have to expend precious energy defending Joe Johnson. The only starting lineup that makes sense at this point is: Chalmers, Wade, Moon/Diawara, Beasley, and O’neal. However knowing Spoelstra, I expect him to try Beasley off the bench in the first two games (both of which will likely result in losses) and then MAYBE try starting Beasley in game three. You heard it here first.

Everything considered, I think Dwyane Wade’s experience and clutchness will push Miami over the edge.

Final verdict:

Heat in 7.

Check back soon for my preview of the Western conference. Oh, and while I’m here, my pick for the Finals is Cavs over Lakers in 7. That is all. For now.

A quick follow up to yesterday's article by Thomas Johnson

2009-04-11T16:28:00.000-07:00

A few short hours before last night’s game against Boston, Eric Spoelstra decided to finally go out on a limb and reinsert Michael Beasley into the starting lineup.

I can’t give him too much credit for this decision though, as the main reason Beasley started was due to a groin strain that rendered Jamario Moon inactive. So with Udonis Haslem and Moon both out, it really only left Beasley, Wright, or Magloire as possible starters at the four. Choosing the starter in this situation is about as an easy of a choice as being asked to pick out the most attractive Kardashian sister.

Nevertheless, after being subject to some of Spoelstra’s previous rotation decisions this season, I let out a sigh of relief when I saw Beasley on the floor for the tip off.

I think it is pretty safe to say that Beasley’s 23-point, 13-rebound performance against an elite Celtic team (albeit one without Kevin Garnett) further demonstrated just how valuable of a contributor he can be for this Heat team.

He attacked the hoop effectively and scored efficiently (converting 10 out of his 20 shots). His defense was not outstanding, but solid enough. I was most impressed with the 13 rebounds (5 of which came on the offensive end), since it would be a huge boast for the team if Beasley can start hitting the glass like he did in college.

Minus the turnover he had in the final few minutes, Beasley’s play was more or less everything that you could ask for from the second overall pick.

So for those of you keeping track at home, Beasley has now had back-to-back games in the 20-point, 10-rebound range. It will be interesting to see how things pan-out once Moon and Haslem are injury-free again.

In regards to his future playing time and role on the team, I am going to have to be realistic. There have already been a few occasions this season when he has had so called “breakout games,” only to return to his usual role of more or less 20 minutes off the bench a few games later.

We all know how short of a leash he has to work with, so I don’t doubt for a minute that his recent stellar play could be mitigated (in Spoelstra’s eyes, of course) by one disappointing performance in the next few games.

Either way, I am not going to lie; I had a wide smile on my face as I watched Beasley do against the Celtics exactly what I (and many others) knew he could do all along when given the chance.

I just hope Spoelstra sees this too and at the very least bumps Beasley's minutes up to at least 30 every game when the starters return. Or that Haslem and Moon miss a few playoff games with injuries too. I’m just kidding. Sort of.

A few thoughts as the playoffs approach by Thomas Johnson

2009-04-10T13:55:00.000-07:00

Originally published with Playerspress Sportscaster Network: http://playerpress.com/articles/a-few-heat-thoughts-as-the-playoffs-approach

With the playoffs rapidly approaching, and the focus now squarely on whether the Heat will grab the fifth or sixth seed, it seems like a good a time to reflect on the season thus far and look forward to the climax of the basketball season.

As anyone who follows the game will tell you, pretty much every team in the East would rather play Atlanta than Orlando. Of course the only way Miami (41-37) will be playing the Hawks is if they finish fifth, ahead of Philadelphia (40-37), the team that the Heat shares an almost identical record with to this point.

At the moment, all signs point to the race for fifth place coming down to the final game of the season. Miami will face Detroit at home while Philadelphia has to travel to Cleveland. While at first glance it may seem that Miami has a great scheduling advantage here, keep in mind that there is still a chance that Philadelphia will be facing a Cavs team whose fate has already been sealed and in which case will likely be resting their starters, while Miami could be facing a Detroit team still battling to avoid finishing eighth.

Considering that Cleveland (63-15) has a four game lead in the East, their only remaining concern is in regards to securing home court throughout the playoffs by finishing with a better record than the Lakers (62-16). So from a Miami perspective, besides hoping that the Heat more or less win-out, you should also keep an eye on the Cavs and Lakers remaining games, and hope that the two teams remain in a battle for the best record all the way till the last game of the season, making the Cavs-Sixers contest a significant game for both teams. Should that fail to happen, there’s always the chance that Dwyane Wade will give his buddy Lebron a phone call and ask for a favor:

“Come on man. We were in China together for six weeks. China!”
“I’ll put you in a T-mobile commercial. Charles? Charles who? Come on Bron I need this!”
“Just go out there, score 50, grab the scoring title *cough* and a win *cough*, and you can have yourself the perfect ending to the regular season.”

In order for the Heat to finish strong, they will have to play the guys that give them the best to chance of winning. It’s a simple enough concept. Probably not even worth mentioning, right? Well it is when the coach has kept the second best player on the team on the bench for the grand majority of the season in favor of Udonis Haslem and now Yakhouba Diawara (Who? Exactly.)

Now if you look back at some of my older articles, it’s pretty clear that I’ve been saying all along that Michael Beasley should be the team’s starting power forward. There are various arguments echoed by everyone from Pat Riley to Erik Spoelstra as well as some beat writers that defend his role as sixth man. The main reason given to justify him coming off the bench usually centers on the belief that Beasley is a defensive liability and cannot defend the opposing teams’ best power forward without getting into early foul trouble. I have also heard the justification that the team needs Beasley as a spark off the bench, and that he does not grab enough rebounds.

While I still maintain my belief that Miami would be in a better position record wise had they stayed with Beasley as a starter for the majority of the season, or simply played him at least 30 minutes off the bench, I am aware that his defensive lapses have been an issue. However, it is also clear to any objective fan that he has improved in leaps and bounds in this area of his game, and if he is ever going to be more than a career sixth man, he is going to have to learn how to avoid foul trouble while defending quality players. The main way this is accomplished is by gaining experience through playing time as practice can only simulate so much. Besides, what forward on the Heat is he really going to have trouble defending in practice?

Sure he is going to get scored on and give up some big nights offensively to whoever he is defending, but guess what, so does everyone else on this team at some point. Wade, our best defender, has been torched by the likes of Jamal Crawford and even rookie
O.J. Mayo. Mario Chalmers, the rookie leader in steals, has been burnt numerous times by various speedy point guards. Even Sebastian Telfair scored a career-high 30 points against Mario.

(On a side note: When you’re defending a player that’s been in the league for a few years and he happens to set a new career high against you, that’s one thing. But when said career high is a whopping 30 points, well that tells you a little something about the caliber of the player who just owned you. From a personal standpoint, I’d rather give up 50 points to Kobe as that’s something that is almost expected, rather than be the one guy who’s going to play the role of supporting actor for at least half of Telfair’s season highlight tape. That’s like being the one guy Paris Hilton says “No” to.)

I mention all this not to chastise Wade and Chalmers for getting lit up occasionally (well maybe Chalmers just a little. We are talking about Telfair.), but to make the broader point that getting scored on in this league does happen, and it seems inconsistent for a coach to come down so much harder on one player while being far more lenient with others. That aside, I believe that the Heat’s offense needs just as much improvement as Beasley’s defense. On too many occasions this season, it has been Wade or bust. When he is playing at a ridiculously high level that can sometimes work. But when he isn’t, well let’s just say that the results have been far from pretty.

Too often at the end of games, while Beasley is reclining on the bench, the opposing team sends Udonis Haslem’s defender to double team Wade, and the Heat’s offense sputters and stalls out. The best example of this was the Heat-Cavs game a little while back when Mike Brown executed this perfectly by sending Varejo at Wade, basically daring anyone else on the team to shoot, and ended up winning a game that Miami had a significant late lead in. As a fan it’s infuriating.

This same anemic offense is the reason the Heat still tends to find itself facing significant first quarter deposits, and in need of Beasley’s “spark” off the bench in the first place. Crazy concept, but there would be less of a need for said “spark,” if the first unit had enough offensive firepower to get off to better starts. Hmm, I wonder how that could be accomplished.

That considered, it’s shocking how long it has taken Spoelstra to work on developing chemistry between Beasley and Wade. It’s only recently that we’re starting to see a somewhat consistent dose of pick and rolls between the two. And this is with four games left in the season. Instead, for the majority of the season that has been a play centered on Haslem and Wade.

Of course Haslem is the better screener and has six seasons of chemistry with Wade, but that is exactly why it should be Beasley involved in that play as he needs to get used to playing off of Wade. We already know what Haslem is as a player: a solid leader and supporting player, but at best a 12-point and 10-rebound type of player. Instead Beasley, the player with the much higher ceiling, is only recently showing what he’s truly capable of because he has the chance to now play significant minutes with Haslem injured.

The fundamental problem comes down to perception. The way Spoelstra has managed Beasley would make more sense if Miami were legitimate championship contenders, but considering that this is at best a couple-rounds-and-done team, this season should be used as a building block for next year. That’s not to say that wins and losses go out the window, but as long as the Heat still made the playoffs I think it would have made sense to focus on developing chemistry even at the expense of a win or two.

You can only imagine how much more dangerous this team would be right now with an offense built around a cohesive Beasley-Wade pick and roll that would have had a whole season to work out any kinks. Then imagine how much better they would be in a year’s time with another season of playing together on an every game basis. That chemistry can be the difference between going deep into the playoffs next season and going home early.

The thing that I cannot get my head around is how even with Haslem out and on the heels of Beasley’s 25-point, 9-rebound performance against the Hornets, Spoelstra still hasn’t committed to giving Beasley the starting nod for the Heat’s next game against the Celtics. Instead Coach Spoelstra is sticking to his mantra that Beasley must improve his defense, even though it was Diawara who picked up two early fouls last game. I’m not buying it. At this stage in the season, I think the decision to keep Beasley on the bench comes down to the fact that it makes life easier for Spoelstra personnel-wise.

Hypothetically, if Beasley were to finish out the rest of the regular season as a starter while putting up numbers on par with what he did against the Hornets, then Spoelstra would have a tough (at least in his eyes) decision to make. He would have to decide between starting a hot Beasley or a rusty Haslem in the first round series; a move that would no doubt be highly scrutinized by many (besides just me), assuming the likely scenario that he would stick with Haslem regardless.

Beasley’s success as a starter would also only intensify the second-guessing by the media and fans as to whether the move should have been made far earlier in the season. By playing it safe and staying with the same rotation, Spoelstra avoids the same level of questioning and scrutiny, so on an personal level it makes a lot of sense for him. Does it make basketball sense? I didn’t think so before, and I still don’t now.

One final note: Check back here soon after the playoff seeding has been determined as I will be breaking down each series and picking the winners.

The cost of being an occasionally 'rational' sports fan by Thomas Johnson

2009-03-11T13:14:00.000-07:00

Originally published with Playerspress Sportscaster Network: http://playerpress.com/articles/the-cost-of-being-an-occasionally-rational-sports-fan

On the heels of yet another season-defining performance from Dwyane Wade, I should be sharing my thoughts on what just transpired a mere 24 hours ago. I would love to, however, there’s a small problem. That is, I wasn’t able to watch past the three-minute mark of the fourth quarter. That’s right, I missed the first overtime period. Second period? Missed that too.

The irony of all ironies is that I could have been at this game. I could have witnessed Wade’s buzzer beating three-pointer first hand. But I didn’t. I could have been one of the fans cheering hysterically as he stood on the scorer’s table. But I wasn’t. You see, being the broke college student that I am, I decided to actually be somewhat fiscally responsible for once. And a lot of good that did me.

This fateful story begins with Erika, a good friend of mine calling me regarding some discounted lower bowl tickets she had come across. While my immediate gut reaction was of course ‘Yes!!’ this decision was unfortunately short-lived.

Shortly after being told about the offer, I proceeded to call a couple more friends to get them in on it too. I called my buddy Andrew (a fellow Heat-diehard) to let him in on this sweet deal as well, only to be met with an ‘I’d love to, but I’m broke’ reaction. Ugh, sobering reality.

Up until that point I had forcefully ignored the fact that only two days earlier I had been lamenting over my dire finances. I had pushed past this detail and was doing well with my reliable short-term gratification justification of ‘only living once’ and ‘not being able to put a price on experience’. You see, the funny thing about the majority of people (myself included) is that it’s just so much easier to do something you know you shouldn’t be doing when there is someone else right there with you making the same mistake. This can apply to anything: skipping class, that one last drink, buying tickets you can’t afford, you name it.

Unfortunately for the both of us, this time Andrew wasn’t joining me in mistake-making. Still, undeterred by his initial reaction, I thought I’d go online and check my bank account to see if I could spot him the cash. I was in for a surprise.

Forget spotting Andrew, judging by the lack of digits and decimal places, it probably wasn’t too smart of an idea for me to be spotting myself. That’s not to say, that I couldn’t have afforded the tickets, just that it would have been PB and J sandwiches for lunch and dinner for the next solid week or so.

Consequently, It was at about this point that I made the stupid decision to be rational. Gone was my ‘only living once’ mantra. Instead I started trying to rationalize the more frugal choice:

‘The playoffs are coming up. I’ll need some cash for those games…’
‘It’s 6:30 already, by the time we get there the first quarter will be done and I’ll be one of those annoying late-arriving fans that I can’t stand….’
‘At least I’ve already seen Derrick Rose in person once this year…’
‘There’s always TV, I’ll just watch it with a couple beers, it won’t be so bad….’

After talking myself into saving some money by not going, I called Erika back and let her know that I would unfortunately have to give the game a miss. Since my girlfriend had just arrived at my house, ‘we’ instead decided to make it a movie night. I had just come across the movie ‘Taken’ and figured why not? I went into the other room and set the DVR to record the game. However, like an idiot, I forgot to record the next program right after the game, a precautionary measure just in case the game ran a little longer.

(Time for a mini rant: Is it such a crazy, technologically-improbable idea that somewhere, somehow, one of the geniuses working at DirecTV could come up with a more fluid recording system? I don’t know, maybe one that allows networks to notify the satellite companies when a program is obviously going to run past its time slot so they can digitally extend the recording time. I know I can’t be the only person out there that has watched an entire recording of something only to miss the last 10-15 minutes of the program because the show ran longer than expected. When was the last time a basketball game ended at the time it was scheduled to anyway? Maybe change the estimated run time for basketball games from two and a half hours to three. Is that crazy? It’s 2009 and somehow DVR’s seem to cause just about the same amount of frustration that VCRs did. It drives me wild. And if you think I’m deflecting the attention from my lack of forethought to modern technology, then you know me too well.)

That aside, let’s get back to my depressing reality. Whilst I was in the midst of ‘enjoying’ a pretty generic action flick, Wade had probably just hit his third three pointer of the night, although it’s anyone’s guess. At this point I think that it’s also worth mentioning that I can no longer even pretend to be a fair critic of ‘Taken’. Don’t ask me what I thought of the movie. Seriously. I now have way too many negative associations with this film to even pretend to look at this flick as a movie, and not as something that just took away my time from something far more important. (Yeah, I’m not bitter)

So anyway, after the movie my girlfriend leaves and I decide to finally sit down and watch the recording of the game. This tends to happen more and more frequently where I’ll miss watching a game live and instead watch the recording later that night after avoiding pretty much any sports media, text message, or phone call that could possibly tip me off as to the result. This might be the only thing I’m kind of OCD about. I read way too much into things and just based on the tone of a buddy’s voice, even if there is no mention of the game, I feel like I can guess if Miami won or not (and more often than not I’m annoyingly right). So there’s that.

However, all of this is a moot point, because even with all the avoidance in the world, none of it mattered when my recording stopped at the 3:34 mark of the fourth quarter. I had been fast-forwarding through the game, with an eye on how much time was left, so it wasn’t really a surprise. (Of course I was hoping that the last 20 minutes of the recording somehow fit in the entire fourth quarter. Ah, delusional optimism.) It was a close game at that point (I believe the Bulls were up by two), and I figured that it would probably be decided in the final seconds. I just didn’t know that these last seconds would in fact still be a couple overtime periods away.

Of course I then go online to find out how the game finished, not expecting anything too out the ordinary, so you can imagine my shock when I see the headline “Wade scores 48 to beat the Bulls in double overtime” staring back at me. I had such a mixed reaction to the news. Being a Heat fan, I was of course thrilled to see that Wade had once again surpassed his own lofty standards of greatness and willed the team to a significant victory with playoff implications.

But that aside, on a purely selfish level I felt an overwhelming sense of frustration. It was a weird mix of knowing that while I should be feeling overjoyed by the news, I just couldn’t convince myself that that was how I actually felt. I’m guessing that this odd combination of joy and frustration is kind of comparable to what a former star player feels when winning a championship, not as a core contributor, but as the tenth guy on the bench (see Glen Rice). While there is no denying that winning a championship is in and of itself awesome, I’d be shocked if inside, Glen Rice wasn’t significantly bothered by the fact that he finally got his ring as a footnote instead of as a headliner.

Part of the frustration was due to the fact that I knew, (based on a lifetime of watching basketball) just how much of a thrill ride it must have been to watch that game live. I watched the highlights almost out of obligation and the dramatic ending of the game (Wade stealing the ball and hitting a three at the buzzer) only added insult to injury. It’s a game I’ll never get back. I will only be able to halfheartedly nod in agreement when friends tell me how incredible it was, and when I hear commentators reference this particular game to make a broader point about Wade’s MVP candidacy or career, part of me will always cringe on the inside.

Considering that I could have had good seats for this game made the matter so much worse. Upon reflection, I couldn’t believe my own financial justifications for not going. What was I thinking? My own motto of never putting a price on experiences was looking so wise in hindsight. I wish I would have ran with it.

In a way, it’s games like this that give the relationship between sports and fans some sort of perspective. One of the main reasons people watch sports at all is because on any given night, something amazing might happen. Considering that I am fortunate enough to be watching Wade at the peak of his career, in the midst of one of his best stretches of play, only increases the odds that something unbelievable like this 48-point game might happen at any time. All things considered, there are three things I can take away from this whole ordeal:

1. Dwyane Wade has reached the point where I am going to have to start fitting my schedule around watching Heat games. Not the other way round.

2. If I ever have a chance to get a good deal on tickets again, you better believe I’m food stamping it up before I miss another potentially epic game.

3. I will never watch ‘Taken’ again. Ever.

Dwyane Wade: A Case Study on the Effects of Superstardom by Thomas Johnson

2009-03-04T12:01:00.000-08:00

Originally published with Playerspress Sportscaster Network: http://playerpress.com/articles/dwyane-wade-and-the-high-price-of-superstardom

They say that power corrupts and that absolute power corrupts absolutely, but can the same be said about fame and success?

Considering the fact that Dwyane Wade seems to be continually out doing himself recently, you’re probably expecting this to be an article advocating his MVP candidacy.

To the surprise of most, I’ll have to leave that piece for another writer. I’m not going to mention his stat-stuffing performances that include a 50-point game against Orlando, 31-point, 16-assist game against Detroit, followed by his 46- point domination of New York (including a fourth quarter in which he outscored the entire Knicks team), or the 41 he just dropped against the Cavs’ top-three defense. No, no. I’m not going to mention any of that. (I couldn’t resist.)

For as amazing as his performances have been this year, one subplot that has really stood out to me is just how much his personality has evolved over time; from a shy Marquette rookie to the international superstar we see today. You see, living in Miami, I watched Wade closely from day one. Like many, I saw the potential for something special early on.

In that first year, there was no Shaq-given nickname, no huge endorsements and ad campaigns, and unfortunately no jump shot either. At that point, Wade’s marketability was yet to be realized.

Dwyane Wade was simply a shy kid from the Chi, trying to fit in on a veteran team. Looking back at that 2003 draft night, Wade’s personality and life experiences were so vastly different to Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony, two players selected ahead of him.

Wade, a few years older than both, was already a married father, while the other two were more or less fresh out of high school. As crazy as it sounds now, Wade received next to no hype. There’s an interview he did with Slam magazine when he was still at Marquette, in which the interviewer notes how shy and out of his element Wade appeared to be when he was recognized by other students on campus.

In comparison, Lebron was already a pretty big blip on the basketball radar by the time he was 16, and two years later signed a huge contract with Nike before he had even played his first NBA minute. Carmelo also received a large amount of national attention after leading Syracuse to a national championship during his one year in college. Even Darko had the intrigue of being a completely unknown variable, combined with the potential bust-factor.

The fact that Wade was in the shadow of two of his fellow rookies suited him (and Miami fans) well. He often mentioned how he was free to operate without the same national media scrutiny that Lebron and Carmelo were constantly under.

As strange as it seems today considering his widespread popularity, that year I went to a mall and walked into literally every sports store looking for a Wade replica jersey to nearly no avail. I finally found one at a specialty store after shifting through countless Eddie Jones and Brian Grant castoffs. It took me so long to find one, not because they were sold out, but because none of these chain stores carried his number ‘3’ jersey yet.

In that first year he was our guy; a player that was loved in Miami, but hardly known nationally. His exciting style of play and humble demeanor made it impossible not to like the guy.
His demeanor and personality are worth mentioning because basketball is one of those sports where fans tend to feel more directly connected to players. Whereas in football, a league where teams have always been marketed over players, and the helmets and pads create a buffer; in basketball any emotion is instantly noticeable to the fans.
It’s a sport where fans tend to study players’ body language just as they would examine a box score. (Just look at how many NBA analysts where down on Beasley because of his pre-draft workout body language.)

That digression aside, I remember speaking to friends at the time about how atypical a player Wade was. In this Cribs-era of sports, where posses and groupies are the norm, Dwyane seemed to be cut from a different cloth. As corny as it may sound, I remember watching interviews and thinking that he seemed like a genuine guy, the type of guy you’d let your sister date.

In games, he had that killer instinct, but it was offset with a humble undertone, which meant he rarely ever displayed outward emotion that could be seen as showing an opponent up. In a sense he was more Tim Duncan than Kobe Bryant.

I mention all of this to make one thing clear; as far as judging personal characteristics, Wade seemed to have as strong a foundation as anyone I have seen. While it’s hard to make these assertions from afar, from all accounts he appeared to be a good-natured, down to earth, human being.

Fast-forward six years to present day. With Shaq having come and gone, and this now truly being Wade’s team, it’s amazing how times have changed.

I remember joking around with a couple friends how after signing a deal to model with Sean John, Diddy probably tried talking Wade into upgrading from his high school sweetheart and start dating actresses now that he was ‘big time.’ The fact that at the time he appeared to be a happily married man that had just built his mom a church, only made the premise more unlikely and funnier. Now that he is divorced and allegedly dating Gabrielle Union, the same joke seems somewhat prophetic.

The man went from someone who was uncomfortable in the off-court spotlight at Marquette, to the guy we see on countless commercials, mingling with A-listers, and wearing a band-aid bearing his own name. To put it mildly, Wade is not exactly camera shy anymore.

Some would say that it’s just a case of his personality developing over time and having the confidence to be himself.

While I can see this to an extent, I highly doubt that Wade would have developed in such a way, had he never been in the spotlight, surrounded by people acquiescing his ego. Based on what I observed when he first entered the league, had he never made the NBA and instead lived the life of an average person, it’s easy to imagine him going through life as an everyday, softly spoken, family man. Of course it’s anyone’s guess.

You have to understand, the point of all this is not to cast judgment and imply that Wade has changed for the worse, but rather to ask the question of whether it is even possible for anyone to stay grounded when fans and media alike, as well as the core group of people around you (many of whom tend to have a vested interest in your success) are constantly telling you how wonderful you are.

We see it all the time in Hollywood and the music industry. Kanye West is a prime example. A large part of his initial popularity was due to his average Joe perspective in his first album that made him easier to relate to than a gangster rapper. However, over time his ego grew and image evolved to the point that while he is still putting out quality music, his entourage now resembles Prince’s Revolution and he is debating changing his name to something more Louis Vuitton-related. Now is this a bad thing? It depends on how attached you are to first impressions. Kanye’s ever-changing persona is generally entertaining to the public, just as Wade wearing boxing gloves and a robe to address the media is.

As an entertainer, Wade has developed as much as he has in basketball. And in a way this is a good thing. From a marketing standpoint, the more outgoing you are, the better. There’s a reason that Kevin Garnet has more commercials out there than Tim Duncan. Quiet doesn’t sell.

On the flip side, neither does arrogance (for the most part). The smart athletes and public figures are able to control their perception by saying the right things so that people simply see them as confident, yet still modest. To put it cynically, almost every athlete is arrogant, the popular ones are just better at hiding it. Wade has this skill. In interviews he’ll never say where he thinks he ranks in terms of the best players in the league, even though I’m sure that on the inside he’s not putting anyone ahead of himself. On the other hand, going back to Kanye, he seems to almost take pride in arrogance and outlandish statements; something that does not sit well with the majority of people.

Now I know this article might lead you to believe that I feel a bit negative towards this ‘changed’ Wade, but overall I don’t. Granted, when he first joined the Heat, the humble attitude was a refreshing change, but at the same time, for Wade to be the phenomenal player he is now, supreme confidence is a necessity. If the same confidence that enables him to score 24 points in a fourth quarter also means that his ego sometimes shows up in other situations, then so be it.

Would the younger, quieter Wade scream out “THIS IS MY HOUSE!” to the crowd during that same 24-point fourth quarter? Definitely not. And you know what, that was probably my favorite moment of the season thus far.

I think everyone privately thinks that they are different and that their personality would be immune to money, fame, and praise. I see it the other way. If I were in the same position I don’t doubt for a second that all of it would go to my head. (‘Johnson’ Band-Aids here I come!) I’m sure I’m nowhere near as humble now as Wade was when he was in college, so if this guy ever makes it big, look out.

The bottom line is that as long as the effect of stardom and everything that comes with it is limited to simply inflating an athlete’s ego, but not to the point of creating an alienating arrogance, then all things considered, there are far worse things that can happen to a player. Like getting drafted by the Clippers.

Deadline Deal Decisions by Thomas Johnson

2009-02-17T00:50:00.002-08:00

Originally published with Playerspress Sportscaster Network: http://playerpress.com/articles/the-amare-fiasco

Now that the All Star Game festivities have come to a close, with the West giving the East a Chris Brown-like beating, I thought this would be a good time to ramble on for a few hundred words about the recent trade activity (or lack thereof) in the NBA. Right, where to start? How about with the biggest story coming from the land of the Suns: the Amare Stoudemire situation.

Being the Miami fan that I am, I have to say that upon hearing the news that the O’Neal-Marion swap had finally been made after weeks of conjuncture, my reaction fell somewhere between relieved and what T.I. felt when he found out he could do an MTV show to avoid 30 years in the pen. Since Miami had been rumored to be in the front-running to make a deal involving Beasley and Marion for Amare, I had been terrified that Riley, Mr. Short-Term-Gratification himself, would not be able to resist the possibility of making the team relevant again (in his eyes) with a big-name acquisition.

I have argued this point with a few heat fans recently and my basic premise is this: If the Heat would have made the trade, they would have basically been losing Beasley for a year and a half of Amare, with no guarantee that he would re-sign here anyway.

Would the move sell tickets? Yes.
Would it be completely mortgaging the future for a shaky present? Definitely.

While I am content with the deal Miami made with Toronto I don’t know if I can give Riley too much credit for not pulling the trigger on the Amare deal since many sources close to the situation have said that it ultimately came down to Suns GM Steve Kerr not wanting a reunion with Marion while also wanting the Bull’s Tyrus Thomas more than Michael Beasley. Tyrus Thomas? Really?!

I like Steve Kerr, I really do. I’ve heard him in various interviews and by all accounts he seems to be a fairly levelheaded guy, but that last comment might be a fair reflection of his ability to assess talent.

His assessment of Beasley’s value in relation to Tyrus Thomas’ tells me one thing for certain; some of these GM’s do not watch as much basketball as we think they do. While Beasley’s numbers are far from gaudy (a fairly average 13 and 5), this is more of a reflection of his inconsistent minutes than basketball ability. If you go through his game log, the kid has played his best in the games that matter the most on a personal and team level.

For starters he has outplayed Derrick Rose in both meetings (including his ‘don’t trade me game’ right before the O’neal deal when he put up 21 points and 7 rebounds on 9 for 10 shooting). Then there was the 23 point (10-16 shooting), 5 rebound game in Los Angeles against the Lakers, a game in which he led the team in fourth quarter scoring and almost single-handedly brought the team within striking distance. He also has games of 20 and 8 against the Spurs, 17 and 11 against the Celtics, to name a couple more.

I’m not going to go over every good game he’s had. The point is that when the lights are the brightest, Beasley has the ability to step up and deliver on the biggest stage and in the most important moments.

This mentality is not something you can teach. Combine this with his ambidextrous scoring ability around the basket and his 37 percent shooting from three and you have all the ingredients for a future All Star in this league. Oh, and he just turned 20.

To put it plainly I don’t know how someone like Kerr does not see this, or how a significant portion of the national media mumbles about Beasley being a potential bust. It blows my mind.

While there are definitely weaknesses in his game (I would love to see him finish stronger at the rim and set better screens), I will be shocked if he does not take the next step, if not with Miami then somewhere else. And that was my worst fear in this situation. That Beasley, under-appreciated even by a solid number of Heat fans, would get traded and put up monster numbers elsewhere for the next ten to fifteen years. That’s why I would be fuming if the Stoudemire deal went through.

There is a good chance that in six years when Beasley is Amare’s age, he will be an even better player. Besides, Amare plays less defense than even Beasley does now. Now if we were talking about a Beasley-Bosh deal… Well, let’s just say that would require more consideration. Anyway, at least the Heat and I have made it through year one of the Beasley era. I’ll try not to bring up this whole Beasley issue again. No promises though.

All right, on to other things. Now where were we? The Beasley-snub aside I’m going to put my GM hat on for a second and look at what else the Suns could do with its current unit. Assuming they’re going into full blown demolition mode and are determined to move Amare I don’t see how making a deal with Chicago isn’t the best move for both sides. The Bulls have a plethora of young moveable pieces: Hinrich (expendable now that Rose has bloomed), Luol Deng (proven he is far more Robin than Batman), Tyrus Thomas (Steve Kerr’s apparent love interest), as well as the lesser names (Nocioni, Noah, etc).

Is it just me, or does Stoudemire and Barbosa for Hinrich, Thomas, and Deng make too much sense not to happen?

The Suns get a solid point guard to eventually take the reigns from an aging Nash; an athletic power forward in Thomas to replace Stoudemire; and Deng, a big upgrade over their current small forwards. Chicago would finally get the explosive inside scoring and post presence they’ve always needed as well as be able to team Barbosa and Rose together at the guard positions, giving them by far the fastest backcourt in the league.

Maybe that’s the problem. It is after all a deal between Steve Kerr and John ‘I’m glad I helped this team win championships with my threes, because this GM thing isn’t working out so well’ Paxson.

I’m going to try to be brief here because Paxson’s missteps are worthy of a separate column.

Basically his hesitance towards big trades involving trading away young players (remember the potential Kobe deal that never happened?) as well as general missteps (Ben Wallace, Tyson Chandler, Lamarcus Aldridge anyone?) has led to an under performing, mediocre team. This is without even mentioning that he gave the head-coaching job to an unproven Vinny Del Negro while someone who would have made a lot more sense like Celtics assistant coach and defensive mastermind Tom Thibodeau was left constantly checking his empty voicemail box this past summer. Whoops, guess I mentioned it.

In a way Pax is somewhat bizarro Riley, a GM so concerned about not moving young players with potential that he is willing to bypass Hall of Fame talent. That being said, for someone that has made so many mistakes yet still retains his job, you would hope that at the very least there is the chance he will learn from past misjudgments. I mean there is enough material.

So why not make this deal? Considering how determined Phoenix seems to be to make some sort of move, Paxson could probably even make the deal without losing Deng. If I were in Paxson’s position right now, I’d give up almost anything short of Rose to make this deal happen. How does an offense based around a Rose-Stoudemire pick and roll game not make the playoffs every year?

Anyone who even casually watches the NBA knows how essential the pick and roll is to an offense, and it’s hard to imagine Rose and Stoudemire not being the next unguardable duo.

The barometer for the impact of any deal is how other teams in the same conference perceive the moves, and you’re kidding yourself if you don’t think that every coach in the East would cringe at the thought of this deal happening for Chicago.

As a basketball fan I would love to see it happen. As a Heat fan, I hope Chicago stays put. That should tell you everything you need to know.

Lakers-Celtics: A reminder of what's missing in today's game by Thomas Johnson

2009-02-09T23:59:00.000-08:00

Originally published with Playerspress Sportscaster Network: http://playerpress.com/articles/lakers-celtics-a-reminder-of-what-s-missing-in-today-s-game

Watching Thursday night’s epic hardwood punch-up between formerly bitter rivals reminded me why I fell in love with the game in the first place. Gone were the typical nonchalant exchanges between players on opposite sides that we constantly see now in most midseason games.

Instead, there was no short dosage of hard fouls, constant jawing well after plays were over, and of course the stray elbows and menacing stares; basically all the characteristics of 80’s and 90’s-era playoff basketball.

Maybe it’s just me, but I’ll always take this type of atmosphere and level of competition over the current flagrant-fearing, friendlier basketball; albeit if there isn’t always squeaky-clean ‘sportsmanship.’

My early basketball experiences involved watching the yearly, suspension-guaranteeing Heat-Knick playoff encounters. The outcomes of these games mattered so much more to both sides, not simply because it was win or go home time, but because of how much built up animosity there was between the two teams.

The personal history between feuding players on opposite sides ran deep (Alonzo Mourning vs. Larry Johnson, P.J. Brown vs. Charlie Ward, Jeff Van Gundy vs. Zo’s knee, etc), and made the overall game that much more of an intense experience for the players and fans.

There were a number of similarly fiery moments on display in last night’s game. In the first half there was Rondo shoving Kobe’s shoulder when both players were near mid-court attending to fallen teammates, punctuated with young Rajon telling Mr. Bryant to ‘F--- off’ a couple times before the two were separated.

Then there was the odd series of events between Lamar Odom and Kevin Garnett. After a few minutes of both players trash talking back and forth, we see Garnett turn away from Odom and apparently say something unflattering to him in the process. Lamar responds not by shoving or yelling something witty at him, but by smacking KG in the butt with a little extra ‘love.’ This led to one of the more awkward face-to-face confrontations in the game that probably went something like:
Garnett: “Aye, what the- don’t smack me that hard on the ass again, man.”
Odom: “I’ll smack whatever ass I wanna smack man. Back off me.”
Garnett: “Don’t…”

(On a side note: I’m someone that watches a solid amount of basketball, and because I live in Miami I tend to watch a lot of Heat games that air on local TV. That being said I wish every game I watched had the same production quality as these nationally televised TNT and ESPN games. The close-up shots of players interacting at key points after a play is over, generally right when something extracurricular is going on gives me a much better idea of what’s happening in the trenches. It’s for games like these that multiple camera angles and high quality close-ups are a big plus.)

Anyways, back to the game. The hostility grew as the game went on, with commonly overlooked details carrying more significance to the players and the fans.

As usual, KG was in his ‘protect-the-basket-after-a-stop-in-play’ mode, only this time he was smacking the ball off the backboard with enough force to send the ball flying back to the three-point line. Whenever there was a change in possession KG was not avoiding contact, instead he would bump into the closest Lakers player. Garnett was basically jumping at any opportunity to assert alpha dog status on his home court.

While the hard-nosed play went back and forth both ways, it just seems that it is a style that the Celtics thrive in, while the Lakers have to adjust to it.

Starting with KG and moving down the chain of command, there are a number of players (Pierce, Perkins, and Rondo for instance. With KG, 4/5 of their starting lineup) that seem to relish this gritty, playground style of play.

In comparison, on the other side of the court there’s obviously Kobe and his fearless competitive drive, but with Bynum now out there does not seem to be a plethora of players that enjoy the tough, physical nature of these games. Keep in mind this is more an observation of the Lakers' temperament and not of their ability to succeed in a highly competitive environment.

Gasol for instance seems to be the type of player that does not like to involve himself in any of the jawing, but would rather keep the focus on his own play. To his credit, this year he has played far better against the C’s than he did in last year’s Finals, when he seemed to shy away from the physical play near the basket and was somewhat taken out of his element.

The stats for both teams illustrate the vastly different styles of play. While this may no longer be the Showtime Lake-show, this Lakers team is finessing its way to first place in the league in scoring (averaging 108.9 points per game), while the Celtics stringent D gives up the second fewest points in the league (Right behind Cleveland, allowing the opposition 91.9 points per game). From my perspective it’s fascinating to watch this battle of contrasting styles, and see who can really establish their will and execute in crunch time.

While L.A. has now swept the season series, if I was a Lakers-fan I would not be feeling overly confident about the possibility of running into Boston for the second straight year in the Finals. Kobe is still yet to prove that he can score efficiently against this Celtic defense (He was 10 for 31), as he seems to become almost strictly a jump shooter.

The other concern I have is in regards to the possibility of Bynum not coming back this season (Remember how his return date for the knee injury last year kept getting pushed back). Should the Lakers be in this position, it comes down to whether they can get the same performances they got last night out of Odom and Gasol in a seven game series against the Celtics, something that definitely didn’t happen last year.

Regardless of how things play out, the dramatic ending to this latest battle will only add to the intensity of their next encounter, one that might very well take place this June.

Best NBA Players to Build a Team Around: The Top 10

2009-01-02T13:48:00.000-08:00

Originally published with Playerspress Sportscaster Network: http://playerpress.com/articles/best-nba-players-to-build-a-team-around-the-top-10

All right, so here’s a hypothetical. Just for the sake of arguing irrelevance, imagine that there was a draft today where every team in the NBA had to pick an entirely new roster and every player in the league was eligible. So the GM with the first pick could choose any player in the NBA today.

There would be one additional criteria factoring into the hypothetical. (My hypothetical, why not, right?) This would be that the GM would have to win a championship within five years or lose their job. I include this component just to ensure that this list will be more reflective of the best talent in the league right now, instead of putting a huge emphasis on age and ending up with silly picks.

One more note, this is not a list of the best fantasy players. This is a list more about what players could generate the most wins and ultimately put the team in the best position to contend for a championship, rather than simply put up big regular season numbers.

Now with that aside let’s move on to the main event, the first ten picks in this mock draft, and consequently a list of the top ten players in the NBA.

10. Derrick Rose

Why so high?

I know what you’re saying:

‘Derrick Rose?!’

‘At the ten spot?!’

‘Isn’t that way too high for a rookie?’

Well, ten years ago those were stronger arguments, but with the rule changes that make it so much more difficult to defend perimeter players, lightning-quick guys such as Rose become nearly unstoppable. Besides, this is no typical rookie we’re talking about. As a point guard two years removed from high school he is putting up numbers (17 points, 6 assists per game on 47 percent shooting.) on par with what guys like Chris Paul (16 points, 7.8 assists per game on 43 percent shooting) and Dwyane Wade (16 points, 4.5 assists per game on 46 percent shooting) did their rookie seasons. I compare Rose to these two players because I see more Wade/ Paul in him than the Paul/ Deron Williams combination that many ‘experts’ point to.

He has an incredible first step and ball control which allow him to get to the basket at will, combined with the athleticism and size to finish at the rim in ways that CP3 can only dream of. You also have to take into account that Derrick is shooting such a high percentage with teams sagging far off him, trying to lure him into a jump shot. Even with this cushion, he is still able to blow past his defender. Once he develops that outside shot (much like D-Wade did), I would not be in the least surprised to see Rose shoot up this list.

He has the talent and personality to be the face of a franchise. That is why if I’m a GM building a team to win a title within the next five years, while there are better players available for this current season, I am confident that he will take that next big step in the next year or two (much like Wade and Paul did in their sophomore seasons). I believe that by his third year in the NBA (at the latest), he will be a top two or three point guard in the league, so with that in mind taking him tenth is a relative steal.

Why so low?

Again, a lot of what I’m saying is based on potential. Obviously I’m assuming he will be phenomenal, but at the same time I’m not going to put him ahead of a guy like Deron Williams who has already proven that he is the second best point guard in the NBA. Nonetheless, I think that even the most diehard Bulls fan wouldn’t have any complaints with their rookie being considered the tenth best pick in the NBA.

9. Deron Williams

Why so high?

Having the second best point guard in the league as your franchise player figures to be a good start especially when you consider how well he matches up with Chris Paul. That bothersome ankle has slowed his start this year, although even with that being said, he is still dishing out nearly 10 assists per game. He has ideal size at his position (6’3, 207 lbs), which means on defense he is able to switch onto some shooting guards, while on the other end he can back down smaller point guards. Even with his size, he is still one of the quickest playmakers and can get to the rim at will. Despite his shooting numbers taking a bit of a dip this year, throughout his career he has been a very solid 3-point shooter. He has all the tools to lead a team for years to come.

Why so low?

Despite all of his good qualities I don’t know if he can carry a team to the Promised Land as the best player on a team. He has achieved some playoff success (leading his team against Houston and Golden State for instance), but these were in series in which his team was favored. I’m not convinced that he can carry a lesser talented team to victory in a series against one of the elite teams (LA, San Antonio, etc.) Until that happens, the ninth spot is as good as it gets for Deron.

8. Chris Bosh

Why so high?

The third biggest name in the 2010 free agent sweepstakes is by no means a consolation prize. This past summer it was clear that Bosh was Coach K’s go-to crunch time big man on the Olympic team. His versatility and combination of size and quickness enable him to defend the other team’s best big man while also being able to contain quick point guards on pick and rolls. This year he has increased his scoring while also grabbing nearly 10 rebounds per game. In the next few years it looks like he could be poised to become the best power forward in the game once Garnett and Duncan eventually give up the title.

Why so low?

With all his scoring ability, I still think there is work to be done on the defensive side of the ball. As a 6’10 power forward, he is averaging less than a block per game, far too low considering his athletic ability. I see him as a player who is going to need another great player alongside him to achieve postseason success. In other words, while Lebron can do it with Mo Williams as the number two option, I think Bosh needs at least another elite player (a Joe Johnson type) to handle some of the crunch time scoring and playmaking. So while Bosh is a great talent, he isn’t a transcendent, ‘put him on my team and we’re as good as in the playoffs’-type just yet. In other words, he might be more John C. Reilly than Will Ferrell, an ideal complimentary piece, but maybe not a headliner.

7. Kevin Garnett

Why so high?

While the numbers are not as staggering as they once were, his impact has never been felt stronger. He is a player that has shown the ability to anchor a defense, and even more impressively, change a team’s identity. A leader in every sense of the word, he backs up his teammates with everything short of a crossbow, while also holding every teammate fully accountable. Not to mention the fact that he might be the best pick and roll defender in recent history. He is a franchise player in that he imposes his identity on the team to the point that he becomes the franchise.

Why so low?

The intangibles are still there, however this is not the 2004 Kevin Garnett who’s going to give you 24 and 14, while playing 40 minutes a night. At this point he can lead a team every night from the emotional standpoint, but I don’t see him still being able to be the go to guy on offense every game for too much longer. One further point in regards to the ongoing KG vs. Duncan debate that has lasted their entire careers.

The Garnett fans argue that we’re now seeing KG attain the same type of success Duncan has experienced because of a stronger supporting cast, and that if the roles were reversed earlier on, Garnett could easily have as many titles. I don’t buy it. All you have to do is look at any close playoff game in which either has been a part of. At the end of the game the Spurs can count on Duncan in the post to get them a score or wide-open shot. By comparison, Garnett has nothing close to a consistent low-post game. Besides the one fall away baseline jumper, there aren’t too many go-to moves.

In years past, this has always haunted his teams in close games. Now that he has Pierce and Allen, this flaw is minimized, but it still does not change the fact that Duncan is far more reliable as the go to guy in a close game.

6. Tim Duncan

Why so high?

The man is a winner, plain and simple. While the characters change, the plot generally remains the same. Pop coaches, Duncan rolls out of bed and puts up a 20/10 while anchoring one of the best defensive team in the league, and the Spurs are contenders. His success speaks for itself, and even at his maturing age, I still know that Duncan will give me a chance to compete for a championship. Considering Duncan’s skill set, he has a game that will age well as it is not based on athleticism. It is not unrealistic to imagine Duncan playing at a high level well into his late 30’s, similar to Karl Malone.

Why so low?

He isn’t getting any younger at 32. Right now his age is not an issue, but the window is closing. Part of the reason he is aging well is that he has a strong supporting cast in San Antonio, with Parker and Ginobli able to amount for a large portion of the offense. So at this stage, if I’m picking him to be my franchise player for the next five years, I better make sure he has a very solid supporting cast around him, more so than earlier in his career.

5. Kobe Bryant

Why so high?

Just by looking at last summer’s Olympic team, it’s clear who still has alpha dog status in the league. He might not have been the best player on the team every game, but it was clear who was the leader. If it was the end of a close game, you better believe Kobe would have to be triple teamed before he was giving up that last shot. And the other players understood. That’s what happens when you have more championships than any of your perimeter peers.

Kobe’s killer instinct is something even ‘King’ James recently said that he wished he had. While his numbers are not as impressive, this is due more to playing with a stacked supporting cast, and having less of a burden to carry on offense. Make no mistake about it; Kobe can still go toe to toe on both ends of the floor with any player in the league.

Why so low?

If I’m a GM that needs a championship within five years, Kobe is very much a front-end investment. In other words in four years time, I think I’d rather have a 27 year-old Lebron, Dwight, or Paul; even a 31 year old Wade, than a 34 year-old Kobe. That aside, Kobe’s less than impressive performance in last year’s finals did not go unnoticed and is ultimately the biggest issue. I was genuinely shocked to see Kobe go out with a whimper instead of guns blazing. While Boston is without question an incredible defensive team, I was waiting for Kobe to go into nonstop attack mode and just keep driving to the basket and at least get to the line. I waited all series.

After watching the rematch against the Celtics this year, I noticed a similar reluctance to take it to the basket. While the win obviously takes precedence, it’s not a good sign that Kobe has become almost strictly a jump shooter against elite defenses. This means that when his shot is on, his team is fine. However when it isn’t, he does not really have a plan B at this point (see last year’s Finals).

Towards the end of his career, Jordan developed his post up moves when he could not get to the basket with the same ease. I haven’t seen Kobe utilize this element of his game enough to where it becomes his preferred location on the floor. Keep in mind that while he is only 30, his body has logged 12 seasons of basketball including deep playoff runs, which already amount to over 1,100 games played. Over the next few years this will become more noticeable

4. Dwight Howard

Why so high?

The man child walked straight out of high school averaging a double-double and hasn’t looked back since. His athletic ability makes the jaws drop, but what’s caught my eye this season is his defense. Coming into this year, he had never averaged more than 2.1 blocks per games. This year? 3.7 swats per contest. To be honest, it’s about time. It’s always nice to see a player who can kiss the rim, commit to protecting the basket with such ferocity. While I do think the next step has to be improving his non-dunking, back to the basket scoring, right now his presence on defense and the boards and young age give him the fourth spot. Let’s hope the best is yet to come.

Why so low?

I know, I know. The classic NBA drafting philosophy is that size should always win out. That thinking should put Howard ahead of Paul right? Well here’s the thing about that. While Howard is the best center in the NBA today (not exactly the hardest thing to do nowadays compared to the early 90’s for instance), I haven’t seen him display the same kind of ability to dominate a playoff series against a formidable opponent that the next three have. If anything, Detroit has shown that if you have the personnel to play him physically and take away his dunk opportunities, it is possible to make Superman look more like Clark Kent.

While I know he is still very young (especially in big man years) and has time to develop a wider array of finely tuned post moves, for now I would not put him in the same class as lets say a young Shaq in regards to this list. While he can dominate defensively and on the glass, I don’t feel too comfortable with him as my number one option on offense down the stretch of a close game.

3. Chris Paul

Why so high?

If I’m building a team around Paul I know three things. He is going to be the best player at his position every night. That at 23, it seems more likely than not that for at least the next five years he will be giving me at least a 20/10 while making everyone around him better. And thirdly, he will be without question the leader of the team and hold other players accountable.

Personally I see CP3 as somewhat of a John Stockon/ Isiah Thomas hybrid. His floor vision and passing ability are comparable to either, while his incredibly efficient shooting touch and league leading thievery remind me of vintage Stockton combined with Isiah’s lighting quickness and ability to take over a game with his own offense if need be.

Why so low?

While he proved last year in the playoffs against Dallas that he can dominate a series with his passing and scoring, I still would not put this scoring ability in the same class with Dwyane and Lebron. His diminutive stature obviously prevents him from being able to finish at the rim with the same capacity. I also feel that to an extent, his success on offense is more predicated on having good shooters with him than those two. (So far New Orleans has generally had better shooters than either Cleveland or Miami).

I know that he is a point guard, and that the responsibility is to run the offense, but again if I’m picking a franchise player, I ideally want a player that can score at will down the stretch of a close game. It’s hardly a condemnation of Chris Paul. He is still by far the best point guard in the league; I’d just rather have these next two guys if I’m my sole focus is a championship.

2. Dwyane Wade

Why so high?

Dwyane hears the doubters. I’m sure I will too when some see Wade at the number two spot. However these critics should also take note of what he’s accomplished the past couple years (Finals MVP, one of the three best players on the US Gold medal team) and more importantly what he is doing now that he is (finally) injury free. Wade has been playing arguably the best basketball of his life for the first part of this season. While I’m not someone that puts too much emphasis on stats, what impresses is me is not that he is leading the league in scoring (I mean even Jerry Stackhouse did it once. Look it up if you don’t believe me), but that that he is doing it so efficiently. Through 29 games,

Wade is shooting just a shade under 49 percent. Forty-nine! Since the 2000-2001 season, only one other player has had close to as high of a shooting percentage while leading the league in scoring (Lebron shooting 48 percent last year). Besides the scoring, Wade is still in the top 10 in assists despite the fact that he is playing with a limited supporting cast on offense.

This year he has committed to defense, not only playing the passing lanes, but also taking the challenge to play better on-ball defense. He is also top 20 in the league in blocked shots as a 6’4 shooting guard. We have all seen how clutch he can be on the biggest stages, taking over games on offense and willing less talented teams to victory. These intangibles and the ability to dominate playoff series are what wins championships and what I want from a franchise player.

Why so low?

The homer in me would love to give him the number one spot and argue about it for months. However the realist in me also knows that his age (he turns 27 this January), size, and proneness to injury give Lebron the edge. (Even before the surgeries he was far from the iron man, having never played a full season including the haunting rib injury in the 05’ conference finals against Detroit).

1. Lebron James

Why so high?

‘King’ James has arguably the highest ceiling of any player in recent NBA history. While I’d say that in regards to skills and intangibles it’s a toss up between him and Wade, there are other factors that swing it in James’ favor. The fact that Lebron is only 23 year old (nearly four years younger than Dwyane) and has been putting up around 27 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists for what feels like the last four years, combined with his ridiculous size and athleticism more than justify the media frenzy surrounding his 2010 free agency and his spot at the top of this list.

I keep hearing commentators mention that his height and weight are in the 6’9, 275-284 lbs. range rather than what his official bio (6’8, 245 lbs.) lists him. Considering this, it always seems to boggle my mind that a player the size of a heavy college center can soar the way he does; kind of like a taller, heavier, more athletic Charles Barkley. If Lebron ever fine-tunes his post game, then he will quite literally be impossible to guard.

His young age and durability (he only misses the few odds games each year with relatively small injuries) means that if I’m building a team around LBJ, I won’t be worried about this guy physically breaking down anytime soon.

(Others receiving consideration for the list: Paul Pierce, Greg Oden, Al Jefferson, Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant.)

Where There’s a Wade There’s a Way

2008-11-23T15:44:00.001-08:00

At this early stage in the season it is fairly safe to say that Dwyane Wade is playing close to the best basketball of his career. Statistically speaking, his numbers have been nothing short of MVP credentials. You have to look no further than the league leaders of any significant category to illustrate this fact.

Scoring? He’s a hair behind first place averaging 28.9 points per game.

Assists? Wade is in the top five, keeping up with the league’s elite distributors.

Defense, you ask? In regards to the perceived biggest weakness of his game, Wade is top three in steals, and remarkably, tied for fifth in the league in blocks. Fifth. The six-foot-four shooting guard is keeping pace with centers and power forwards as he protects the paint of a Heat team devoid of any significant shot blockers.

His incredible performance creates an interesting dilemma for Pat Riley.

Right now Wade is near the peak of his game. Considering the fact that he is 26 and likely won’t play at this level forever, do you make a move that might tie up cap space past 2009-2010 and relatively speaking go for broke, or do you wait and hope that Miami can land a big name free agent in 2010?

To a degree there has to be a sense of immediacy in any plans made. That does not mean there should be a mortgaging of the future (trading Beasley), just that if Riley can swing a deal for an impact player while keeping Beasley and Wade there should definitely be some consideration even if the deal takes up future cap space.

You don't want to waste away prime years of Wade's career in the hope that you can make a huge signing in the future. That approach can backfire pretty easily if Wade gets injured, ends up signing elsewhere, or if you simply cannot land a big name free agent in 2010.

Riley has the bargaining chips (Marion’s expiring contract being the prime example), now it’s just finding the right deal. With so many teams freeing up space for the future, it is clear that not everyone will be a winner in the 2010 free agent stakes.

Look at the moves New York has made. Intent on looking towards the future, they gave away two of their best players. While this makes sense for New York, Miami should not emulate this approach. Instead Riles should try to make deals with teams making lopsided deals talent-wise just to clear cap space.

Considering the fact that Golden State got Jamal Crawford for an under performing Al Harrington, then Miami should be able to wrestle away an impact player (ideally an inside presence) for anything short of Beasley or Wade.

If Miami could land such a player (Marcus Camby anyone?), then the Heat would be catapulted into post-season relevance instead of simply making up the numbers. Since a championship is the only thing that truly matters, why wait for the future? The time is now.

Being Far from Easy with Beasley

2008-11-20T18:17:00.000-08:00

Considering the Heat’s dismal record last year and D-league lineups, the fact that the team sits rather comfortably at .500 and as of today tied for the final playoff spot in the revamped Eastern Conference, should be cause for celebration right? Well it’s all a matter of perspective. While the start has been solid, there is a worrisome subplot developing involving Miami’s prized second pick, a certain Michael Beasley.

While no one on the Heat’s coaching staff doubts his blatant scoring ability and smooth jump shot, the focus has instead been on his defense, or lack thereof. After a solid start to the first few games, Beasley has seen his minutes decline to the point where he has had to watch the fourth quarters of close games from an unlikely vantage point, the end of the bench.

In the last two games, Beasley has played 16 and 12 minutes respectively. The golden child brought in to ease Dwyane Wade’s scoring burden has been playing Dorrel Wright minutes. This, to put it simply, is unacceptable.

From the small sample size of games played, Spoelstra has apparently seen enough of Beasley to conclude that his minutes will have to be earned on the defensive side before he can get anything close to considerable playing time.

While this is no surprise considering that Spoelstra is cut from the same cloth as Riley, you have to wonder if this attitude is beneficial to both the Heat and Beasley. The problem I have with this is that while there is no doubting Riley's coaching credentials, he has always been notoriously gun shy in giving out minutes to rookies. He, like many old school coaches subscribes to the notion that the NBA is largely the No Boys Allowed league and that means minutes for rookies are anything but guaranteed.

Even if there might be something to be said for an approach that keeps a young player’s ego in check, you can’t treat the second overall pick of the draft, a player coming off the best statistical season of any freshman in the NCAA, the same way you would treat a fringe second round player. To put it mildly Beasley needs a much longer leash. Not only would this benefit him, but the team as a whole since there could be longer stretches of play with a legit second option on the floor with Wade. Besides, the only way a young player develops better team defense is by (wait for it, novel concept) getting consistent enough minutes so that he is developing chemistry with his teammates even when he is struggling.

Look no further than the other heralded rookies this year. Derrick Rose has had games that vary from brilliant to barely watchable. However you don’t see Vinny Del Negro benching Rose after a poor shooting, high turnover game. He is given enough room for error that he can make a couple bad plays without nervously looking at the bench to see if his backup is tearing off the sweatpants and moving towards the scorer’s table.

I was hopeful that Spoelstra would emulate Stan Van Gundy’s handling of a young Dwyane Wade in deciding how to proceed with Beasley. Unfortunately we’ve witnessed the youngest, baby-faced coach take the hard-line, old school mentality.

I am not denying that his defense needs work and it would be nice to see him in the low post more often. These are points that should be addressed. However, considering that Beasley is putting up better rookie numbers than Bosh, KG, David West, Amare did without having plays run for him, it is clear that Beasley at 19 has a vast amount of untapped potential. Here’s hoping he’s given a chance to show some of it this year.

What Now For The Heat?

2008-05-05T17:59:00.000-07:00

For the second time in the past five years Pat Riley steps down as coach at his team's weakest point. Coming off a year that he will gladly forget, Riley leaves behind a team with an ailing superstar, no dominant big man, and a tight salary cap situation. While many perceive Riley's retirement from coaching as a dent to the Heat organization, in reality it is a move that will improve the team in the long run.

To state the obvious Riley is a decorated coach who finally brought his long-promised championship to Miami, but despite his hall of fame credentials, he is not the right man to continue coaching this team. This is due to the fact that every coach has their strengths and weaknesses, including the great ones. This relates to X's and O's, but also to situations in general.

There are some coaches who thrive in the underdog role, overachieving with what many consider lesser talented teams. Take Don Nelson for instance. Unquestionably one of the most innovative offensive minds, he thrived with the early 90's Golden State teams as well as with the present Baron Davis-led squads. The master of small ball, his teams were an upset waiting to happen; an unpredictable lower seed no team wanted to draw. However his years in Dallas, while successful, did not live up to the lofty expectations. With championship favored teams he was unable to take the final step.

Then there is Pat Riley. Looking at his resume it is clear what teams he thrives with. Give Riles a dominant center, an all star perimeter player and adequate supporting cast and more likely than not he will get the job done. Like Phil Jackson, Riley has proven that he can command the respect of even the biggest egos, and thrive in the largest markets with the loftiest of expectations. That being said, I would not go as far as to call him the most adaptable coach. I find it hard to imagine Riley taking the Stan Van Gundy-led '03-'04 Heat team, consisting mostly of perimeter scorers, to the playoffs.

In that particular team there were players that while talented, did not fit the typical profile of their position. Take Lamar Odom. Although 6'10, he is more of a slasher than the typical bruising power forwards (Charles Oakley and P.J. Brown for instance) that Riley seems to prefer. Then there was Dwyane Wade. Before he was 'Flash' he was a rookie playing out of position at point guard that ended up starting nearly every game he played in. Considering Pat's cautious (to say the least) attitude towards young players, it's hard to imagine Wade having as long of a rope had Riley been coaching him his rookie year.

That rookie season let Wade experience all of the ups and downs that set the foundation for his rise to superstardom. To this day Wade credits Van Gundy for allowing him to make mistakes, while still giving him consistent minutes. That young, dynamic core of Wade, Butler, Odom, and Haslem ended up making the second round of the playoffs before being dismantled to bring Shaq into town.

The team Miami has right now far more resembles the young athletic '03-'04 team than the '06 championship team, in other words this current roster is far from a Riley team. This is also obvious to Pat. Rather than risk another losing season with a team he is already less than completely comfortable with, he has made the same move he did back in 2003 (albeit with more warning), giving an up and coming assistant coach a chance to build something formidable out of a bunch of rather heterogeneous pieces.

Provided Spoelstra possesses the ability to steer a more unconventional versatile group of players (in other words as long as there is more Van Gundy in him than Riley), then the team should at least make strides in his first year as coach. The team has athletic stars in Wade and Marion as well as young players with potential in Wright and Cook. Combined with the acquisition of another likely starter through the upcoming draft, it is clear that at the very least this could be an exciting run and gun team, not far behind the top teams in the East.

First Round thoughts

2008-04-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

I would have liked to start this blog at the beginning of the playoffs, but since that didn't happen, let's jump straight in.

So far there's been a couple series that have been a lot more interesting than I thought they would be, and a couple that haven't really lived up to the hype.

Lets start with the good ones.

Boston (1) vs. Atlanta (8)
Seriously, who would have guessed this (besides the 20 or so Hawks fans in Atlanta)? After the molly-whomping (yeah I know, good word) that Boston gave them in games 1 and 2, Atlanta has shown some guts and fought back winning games 3 and 4 at home, at times making the first place Celtics look their age.
The thing that stands out to me is how the Hawks players are finally standing up to the physical play of the Celtics. In the first two games in Boston, the younger Hawks looked generally intimated, by KG and his crew. Fast forward to game 4 and we see Za Za Pachulia about to go blow for blow with Garnet. Amazing turnaround. Also of note has been the play of Josh Smith. For years many saw Smith as an amazing athlete with a lot of potential, who hadn't yet figured out how to put it all together. In this series, he is using his Lebron-esque ups to be a menace on the inside; blocking seven shots one game, scoring 28 another. It's always gratifying for a fan base to see these young prospects turn into impact players (Paging Dorrell Wright).
I don't see the Hawks winning this series, but even if the Celts win in 6, the Hawks can still hang their hats on the fact that they made the best team in the league (at least record wise) sweat out a series that most thought would be a sweep.
This also brings me to another point. I still can't understand why so many so-called experts pronounce series over when one teams is up 2-0, having won both games at home. Then the other team fights back and wins its home games, levels the series, and all of a sudden this is some great comeback, when all that's happened is each team has done what they're supposed to do. I buy into the philosophy that a series has not truly started until a team has won on the road.

Pistons (2) vs. Sixers (7)
The fact that this series is even at two games apiece surprises a lot of people, but it shouldn't really. The Sixers much like the Hawks are a young athletic team with a veteran point guard who got hot at the right time. While they are a seventh seed, keep in mind they ended the year winning 22 out of their last 34 games beating the Mavs, Spurs, Suns, Celtics, and Pistons (twice) along the way. Add that to the Piston's generally laid-back attitude towards what they consider 'lesser opponents' and it's no wonder that this series is tied.
That's the funny thing about these recent Pistons teams. They carry themselves with a swagger that can help them win big games on the road (Although it hurts me to say, the Game 7 in Miami a few years back, being one example), but can also come back to bite them. The problem comes when they underestimate teams that pose a genuine threat, like Cleveland last year when Lebron decided to Jordan the series. That being said, it would not surprise me to see them win this series and end up beating Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals, because they can also hang with any team in the league. Without a doubt this swagger catch 22 probably keeps Pistons GM Joe Dumars' blood pressure at unsafe levels.

Cleveland (4) vs. Washington (5)
A series that would have been far closer if Gilbert Arenas was closer to a hundred percent, or if he did not play at all. I think having a still-recovering Arenas disrupts the flow of their offense more than anything, since the Wiz run a Princeton offense based primarily on cuts and passing. While Arenas can be a volume scorer, a pass-first point guard he is not.
It's pretty clear at this point that the Cavs will likely win this series, but watching all the hard fouls and trash-talking reminds me why I love the playoffs (even if David Stern and his crew keep trying to eliminate this element of the game).

Orlando (3) vs. Toronto (6)
Probably considered the least interesting matchup of the first round, this series played out in a fairly predictable way. Both teams have similar styles; a dominant inside presence surrounded by sharpshooters. The determining factor though is that Orlando has the most dominant big man in today's game and a proven clutch performer in Turkoglu, whereas in Toronto there is no legit second scorer and chemistry issues (Bosh openly questioned his teammates' clutchness before the playoffs started).
One other note; when did Turkoglu all of a sudden turn into an Eastern European Ginobli in terms of clutchness? This season I've seen him hit a half dozen game winners as well as continually end his drives with thunderous dunks. For these reasons he may be turning into the anti-Nowitski.

Now onto the Western Conference. Just for the record, as I am writing this the Spurs are up 3-1 on the Suns, the Lakers have swept the Nuggets, The Hornets are up 3-1 on the Mavs, and the Jazz are up 3-1 on the Rockets.

San Antonio (3) vs. Phoenix (6)
Beyond the epic game one, the most anticipated first round series has not quite lived up to the hype. While Suns fans would argue that this series could very easily be level right now if not for a Duncan 3-pointer, it does little to change the fact that for yet another year the Suns are poised to be eliminated by San Antonio. Don't get me wrong, last year I was with the majority in feeling that the Suns got shafted with the untimely suspensions, but this year they have no one to blame but themselves. Game three is case in point. Down 2-0, you would expect them to come out with at least the same energy that the Hawks mustered against the Celts; instead they came out flat and got beaten handedly.
While D'Antoni is a competent coach, I find it mind-blowing that he still tries to put Nash on Parker, when it has been established since he arrived in Phoenix that Nash cannot stay in front of him. When D'Antoni finally started Diaw over the injured (surprise?) Grant Hill in game four, and assigned him to guard his fellow Frenchmen, things finally began to look up. However, when Phoenix wins because Raja Bell and Diaw are its two best players, things are not looking up. Let's be honest, does anyone expect Diaw to have anything near to a triple double for the next three games, or Raja Bell to shoot lights out?
Everyone points to this series being a measure of the effectiveness of the Shaq deal, but if you look at this series from the second half of game 2 onwards, Nash and Amare have played far from their best basketball. The once unguardable pick and roll has appeared out of sync, and the Spurs have seemingly found a way to contain the explosive Stoudemire.
I still feel that the Suns will push it to at least six, but for them to have any chance of doing so; Nash and Stoudemire need to get back to being on the same sentence again, never mind the same page.

New Orleans (2) vs. Dallas (7)
The other barometer series that will measure the impact of a blockbuster trade (in this case the Jason Kidd deal). After Chris Paul looked completely unstoppable in the first two games, Dallas found a way to slow him down a bit, but other Hornets players like David West and Stojakovic as well as Pargo have picked up the slack. Many analysts picked this series as the upset of the first round because of Dallas' experience, but it became clear after the first game that New Orleans was up to the challenge. The young Hornets were the aggressors, exemplified by West getting right in the veteran Nowitski's face and giving him a light tap on the cheek.
Just looking at how big of a factor he has been in this series combined with his ridiculous numbers (a near 25 and 11), it still amazes me that Paul lost out the MVP race to Kobe. While this is a topic for another blog, I find it ridiculous that Paul did not win the award after posting better numbers than either of Nash's MVP seasons and leading an out-of-nowhere New Orleans team to the second seed in the uber-competitive western conference.

Houston (4) vs. Utah (5)
It's hard not to feel for Tracy McGrady. His team will likely fall short in the first round for what feels like the eighteenth time. His "blame me" tirade was evident of just how much he feels the pressure of the media and his own expectations. While no one really expected this undermanned Houston team to beat the deep Jazz, I also don't agree with all the T-Mac apologists. On Inside the NBA, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley were saying how McGrady had been giving all he had, and simply ran out of gas in the fourth quarters. While I am aware of this, I still think that carrying a team for all four quarters and winning the game and ultimately a series is what separates superstars from all-stars. While McGrady has put up great numbers, he always seems to put up 30 in a big game, when his team really needed 40 to win. I can't see this series going past tonight.

Los Angeles (1) vs. Denver (8)
Probably the most predictable of the Western first round matchups. Denver is the perfect example of bad chemistry and have played deplorable defense combined with a general lack of effort. To beat a more talented team you have to win every hustle stat, grab loose balls and play near-flawless team basketball. The Nuggets instead are proof that two superstar scorers by no means guarantee playoff success. I personally wish the Warriors had grabbed the last seed, as it's hard to imagine an L.A.-Golden State matchup being this mundane.

What Next for the Heat?

2007-05-07T00:25:00.000-07:00

Pat Riley is at a crossroad.

Behind him are the days as strict disciplinarian and old school coach. Today, he is the veteran-friendly coach who by his own accounts has at times been too harsh on his players. However, if coaching is anything like a classroom, then Riley has been dealing with a pretty disruptive seven-foot-one "student."

As we all know, the man who rode in on the eighteen wheeler takes the regular season about as seriously as baseball took steroids. This laid back attitude has in fact served him and his teams quite well in the past.

The stats show that Shaq has had more playoff success in the past few years than anyone not named Jordan. As the man himself has said many times, it has never really mattered what seed his teams had earned, he has won championships as the first and as the fourth seed. While it is easy to fall into this attitude (after all the season is 82 games long right?), at this point in his career, the notion of simply waiting to "turn it on" is hazardous to say the least.

It did work at one point, but this is not the same twenty-something year old Shaq we're talking about who put up 30 point, 20 rebound nights on the regular. This Shaq is the one who averaged thirteen points per game in last years Finals against Dallas. The same man who "makes the free throws when they count" and "turns it on when it's time to play" could not do either against Eric Dampier of all people.

As painful as it can be to admit, there does come a time when a man has to accept his limitations. That is not to say that Shaq is not still a great player, simply that the self-professed "Most Dominant Ever" is just not as overpowering as he once was.

This Chicago series painfully proved that talk is cheap. The Heat players all said the right things about being ready for the big games, but when Miami's season ended in early May instead of late June, it was clear that the last minute approach finally caught up to them.

Keep in mind that while he may not be as dominant on the court anymore, he is still very much the controlling force in the locker room. That being said, in order for Miami to have any chance of recapturing the magic of 2006, there not only has to be a new influx of talent, but a change in the collective mind state.

This year Dallas demonstrated that regular season dominance is by no means a free pass to the finals, while Miami also proved that the opposite approach can also lead to an early exit. At the very least, if not for the sake of winning meaningless division titles, the regular season should be taken seriously enough so that there is at least continuity and some semblance of team chemistry on the court.

Just like any corporation, a change starts up top, so while Riley has said all the right things, it will be on Shaq to set the tone for next year.