Michael Jordan.
Just the very mentioning of that name can stir up a lot of different feelings, emotions, debates, and comparisons. But one thing that intrigued me was something I heard while watching "Open Court" on NBATV.
With all of these comparisons to Michael Jordan (Lebron, Kobe, etc.), Kenny Smith came up with a very good point. As great as those two guys were, neither one of them have won the championship when they weren’t on a team where someone else commanded a double team at times. Lebron had Wade and Kobe had Shaq. Michael never had anyone who would get double teamed and leave openings for him. As great as Scottie Pippen was, he was never listed on the scouting report as: Double in the post or double team when he drives. Against the Bulls, you would actually double Mike and dare Scottie to beat you.
Now, think about that for a second. You're the focal point EVERY game for every season you are in the NBA and you STILL average 30+ ppg. That’s incredible. I think one thing Mike has over anyone they compare him to, is his ability to shoot the midrange jump shot and score from the post. His post game and midrange jumper were unreal. All while being All-NBA Defensive 1st team the majority of his career...
I could go on all day...I'll just end it there. Mike is the G.O.A.T.
Peace.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
When Thirteen Ain't Enough...
You see what I did there?
First of all let me just say this before I go in. James Harden's performance last year and during the playoffs has earned him the right to get a much bigger contract. Now, with that being said, let's be real for a second. How much clout should you really expect being a sixth man? Also, leaving a good situation to be the man doesn't always work out. Go ask Tracy McGrady. Or Stephan Marbury.
James Harden turned down 52 million to go to Houston for 60 million. Now, let’s be real again, when you're making that much money, that extra 8 million isn't that huge of a deal. So there was some premeditation or hidden reasoning behind him turning down that contract extension. I just don't see the logic in this situation either. Why leave a championship contender to go to a playoff hopeful? Oh yea, also go ask Turkoglu, who left Orlando to go to Toronto to stink it up, realize he wasn't that great then came crawling back, but I digress. As good as Harden is, what team has a legitimate shot with him running the show? Louis Scola is gone, Courtney Lee is gone, and Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry are also gone. So with two players with 7 years experience, and the average time in the league at around 2.5 years, what exactly are the Rockets going to do differently? Harden and Lin will be the stars for Houston, and to me that spells Draft Lottery.
Now on the other hand for OKC, that's another blow to the brotherhood-like chemistry they had built up over the years through the draft. They won't be as good but they won’t drop very far because the addition of Kevin Martin will be better than most think. He's nowhere near as good a playmaker as Harden, but as a shooter he is as good if not better. One of the knocks on Martin has been he is a tab bit uncoachable, but I think a little dose of winning will cure all that. They also get Jeremy Lamb, who has a lot of potential but I'm not sure he'll be much of a factor his first year.
But all in all…Harden made an awful and selfish choice and OKC lost a little but definitely come out more on top in comparison.
Peace.
First of all let me just say this before I go in. James Harden's performance last year and during the playoffs has earned him the right to get a much bigger contract. Now, with that being said, let's be real for a second. How much clout should you really expect being a sixth man? Also, leaving a good situation to be the man doesn't always work out. Go ask Tracy McGrady. Or Stephan Marbury.
James Harden turned down 52 million to go to Houston for 60 million. Now, let’s be real again, when you're making that much money, that extra 8 million isn't that huge of a deal. So there was some premeditation or hidden reasoning behind him turning down that contract extension. I just don't see the logic in this situation either. Why leave a championship contender to go to a playoff hopeful? Oh yea, also go ask Turkoglu, who left Orlando to go to Toronto to stink it up, realize he wasn't that great then came crawling back, but I digress. As good as Harden is, what team has a legitimate shot with him running the show? Louis Scola is gone, Courtney Lee is gone, and Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry are also gone. So with two players with 7 years experience, and the average time in the league at around 2.5 years, what exactly are the Rockets going to do differently? Harden and Lin will be the stars for Houston, and to me that spells Draft Lottery.
Now on the other hand for OKC, that's another blow to the brotherhood-like chemistry they had built up over the years through the draft. They won't be as good but they won’t drop very far because the addition of Kevin Martin will be better than most think. He's nowhere near as good a playmaker as Harden, but as a shooter he is as good if not better. One of the knocks on Martin has been he is a tab bit uncoachable, but I think a little dose of winning will cure all that. They also get Jeremy Lamb, who has a lot of potential but I'm not sure he'll be much of a factor his first year.
But all in all…Harden made an awful and selfish choice and OKC lost a little but definitely come out more on top in comparison.
Peace.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Player Spotlight: Andre Igoudala
What’s Good Ya'll?!
Another segment of this Blog will be the Player Spotlight. This will highlight players that either need recognition or I predict will have a career/breakout season.
For the first Player Spotlight the player of choice is Andre Iguodala. Iggy has been known his whole career as an extremely athletic wing player who was very good on the defensive end of the floor. But when it comes to the offensive end of the floor he’s known as a Jack-of-all-trades, but a master of none. He has average shooting ability, average handle, average to no post game, and somewhat of clutch playmaking ability.
One thing that I believe will give Iggy life is his recent move to the Denver Nuggets. The 76ers were a run and gun team, but, they had a lot of able young athletic players that all played the same style. And when you have a bunch of equal players running together, it’s really hard to have outstanding numbers because everyone is capable of contributing. Now that he is in Denver, I think Iggy will be thrust into being the star and will be head and shoulders above in regard to who is the 1st option. He will be able to get out on the break and score, turn his defense into offense and get the plays called for him on a consistent basis.
As far as his numbers go, last season he averaged 12 ppg 5 ast and 6 reb, so you can see what I mean when I said a jack-of-all-trades. Those are decent number but those will not really jump out at you. This season I expect Iggy to average around 17 ppg and remain with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. I also believe once he gets comfortable in Denver, he will score a career high in points at some point in this season.
Until next time...
BE EASY!
Another segment of this Blog will be the Player Spotlight. This will highlight players that either need recognition or I predict will have a career/breakout season.
For the first Player Spotlight the player of choice is Andre Iguodala. Iggy has been known his whole career as an extremely athletic wing player who was very good on the defensive end of the floor. But when it comes to the offensive end of the floor he’s known as a Jack-of-all-trades, but a master of none. He has average shooting ability, average handle, average to no post game, and somewhat of clutch playmaking ability.
One thing that I believe will give Iggy life is his recent move to the Denver Nuggets. The 76ers were a run and gun team, but, they had a lot of able young athletic players that all played the same style. And when you have a bunch of equal players running together, it’s really hard to have outstanding numbers because everyone is capable of contributing. Now that he is in Denver, I think Iggy will be thrust into being the star and will be head and shoulders above in regard to who is the 1st option. He will be able to get out on the break and score, turn his defense into offense and get the plays called for him on a consistent basis.
As far as his numbers go, last season he averaged 12 ppg 5 ast and 6 reb, so you can see what I mean when I said a jack-of-all-trades. Those are decent number but those will not really jump out at you. This season I expect Iggy to average around 17 ppg and remain with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. I also believe once he gets comfortable in Denver, he will score a career high in points at some point in this season.
Until next time...
BE EASY!
Monday, October 15, 2012
2012-13 NBA Predictions and Thoughts
What's the deal people?!
The NBA season is upon us, which means hopes are up and anticipation for the NBA season is very high. The preseason has just begun and it's looking to be a very great season. A very good rookie class is ready to make their names known and a lot of movement in the league causes for a more balance of power.
PREDICTIONS
NBA CHAMPIONS:
To be honest, with as equal as both conferences are now, at least concerning the top 3 teams of each conference as a whole, this is a very tough question. Now, for all those who know me, I am a die-hard Spurs fan, but I am also a realist. With all of these super-teams forming it makes it tough for us who make our moves through the draft to compete. But, with that being said, I've seen my guys to 4 titles, so I'll live. But if I just had to pick a team to win it all, I would have to go with the Miami Heat. Not only are they defending champions, but they have gotten even better with the acquisition of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. Now they have two dead-eye shooters on the wings. Who will teams double off of? They will definitely be a problem. I know a lot of you will be riding the Lakers bandwagon, but just like Miami, I don't think the first year will be the year that they win it all.
MVP:
Kobe Bryant.
And the reason that I say that is, Kobe is still playing at a high level and he has the wherewithal to know his time is dwindling. I think that with a revamped team, whose bench is still dreadful (that's another blog, though), Kobe will be given "life" for lack of a better word. Plus, u just can't go wrong with the Black Mamba.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:
Damien Lillard.
I know, everyone is either thinking who? or just plain shocked that I'm not going with Anthony Davis. I just think that Damien is a very good player. Anthony Davis is a very good player and will be very good. But A.D. is very small and has to go up against some really good big men. Damien on the other hand, is already the same size of most of his opposition. He's a very skilled guard who can run a team and score when needed too. Remember I said this when he's averaging a double double.
UNDERACHIEVE:
Team: Chicago Bulls
Will still be decent but D. Rose will be absent. Period.
Player: Thomas Robinson/Dion Waiter
Thomas Robinson struggle mightily in the summer league and is an undersized power forward at 6'8. It spells trouble. And Dion just got drafted to a team with bad karma. Poor Guy.
Until Next Time....
BE EASY!
The NBA season is upon us, which means hopes are up and anticipation for the NBA season is very high. The preseason has just begun and it's looking to be a very great season. A very good rookie class is ready to make their names known and a lot of movement in the league causes for a more balance of power.
PREDICTIONS
NBA CHAMPIONS:
To be honest, with as equal as both conferences are now, at least concerning the top 3 teams of each conference as a whole, this is a very tough question. Now, for all those who know me, I am a die-hard Spurs fan, but I am also a realist. With all of these super-teams forming it makes it tough for us who make our moves through the draft to compete. But, with that being said, I've seen my guys to 4 titles, so I'll live. But if I just had to pick a team to win it all, I would have to go with the Miami Heat. Not only are they defending champions, but they have gotten even better with the acquisition of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. Now they have two dead-eye shooters on the wings. Who will teams double off of? They will definitely be a problem. I know a lot of you will be riding the Lakers bandwagon, but just like Miami, I don't think the first year will be the year that they win it all.
MVP:
Kobe Bryant.
And the reason that I say that is, Kobe is still playing at a high level and he has the wherewithal to know his time is dwindling. I think that with a revamped team, whose bench is still dreadful (that's another blog, though), Kobe will be given "life" for lack of a better word. Plus, u just can't go wrong with the Black Mamba.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:
Damien Lillard.
I know, everyone is either thinking who? or just plain shocked that I'm not going with Anthony Davis. I just think that Damien is a very good player. Anthony Davis is a very good player and will be very good. But A.D. is very small and has to go up against some really good big men. Damien on the other hand, is already the same size of most of his opposition. He's a very skilled guard who can run a team and score when needed too. Remember I said this when he's averaging a double double.
UNDERACHIEVE:
Team: Chicago Bulls
Will still be decent but D. Rose will be absent. Period.
Player: Thomas Robinson/Dion Waiter
Thomas Robinson struggle mightily in the summer league and is an undersized power forward at 6'8. It spells trouble. And Dion just got drafted to a team with bad karma. Poor Guy.
Until Next Time....
BE EASY!
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