Ten Things: Blow Up Edition (Part 2)

 5) Andrew Bynum, C (LAL): Isn't this picture funny? I once wrote a very long post about how these two centers should trade teams and it would benefit both teams because let's be honest, Dwight Howard is leaving the Magic after this season, and I really don't think Kobe likes Bynum that much. Did you know that this is Bynum's 7th season and he's only 24?? Since Dwight isn't arriving in Tinseltown this year, Bynum will have to be a big part of the Lakers this season if they want to get back to championship form. Bynum has gotten better every season thanks in large part to Kareem Abdul-Jabar and his ability to bulk up from a skinny 270 to a strong 285. However, he hasn't been on the court enough to produce for the Lakers. Knee injuries have bothered him almost every year (he averages only 55 games a season, played only one entire season) and because of that, it usually takes him some time to get adjusted to his role. This season, Bynum will have to be more of a focus in the offense with both Kobe and Pau Gasol a year older, he will have to be an enforcer in the paint with Gasol on defense, and he will have to return to his 2009-10 form and be even better if the Lakers want to have a chance at returning to championship glory. The key to Bynum having a breakout season is just staying healthy and hopefully this lockout will give him enough rest so us basketball fans can see his true potential come into fruition.  

4) Serge Ibaka, F (OKC): Air Congo is one of the most perplexing players in the league for me to evaluate when I watch him. Since his rookie season I've thought to myself, if this guy can put it all together, he will be one scary player. However, I see him as a guy that just won't ever get there. He'll be super athletic but I don't think he'll ever round out his game. In year two, the promise he showed was even greater, and once again I was second-guessing him fully reaching his potential. Ibaka became a starter in the second half of last season, and he showed a nice touch from 15 feet, would've led the league in blocks if he had started from game 1, and he is definitely going to be a part of the KD/Westbrook (maybe CP3 instead?) wrecking crew for many years to come. I'm convinced that Ibaka can reach an all-star level and if the Thunder are to get to the Finals this year, he will have to be great. All he's done to prove himself is work hard this summer as well. He played with the Gasol brothers (I pray to the basketball gods hoping he learned a Gasol hook shot, please!) and the Spanish national team and he's currently playing with Real Madrid in Spain. Ibaka is playing against the best competition possible right now and hopefully he'll be ready to take his game to the next level in you guessed it...year 3. 

 3) James Harden, G (OKC): Is there an Oklahoma City Thunder bias for ranking Ibaka fourth and Harden third? Absolutely, but the two have been playing this summer just as much as their team leader, Mr. Durant, and Harden has looked real good. Harden has been a big part of the Drew League and other all-star games this summer, where he's put up numbers like 29, 48, and 51. He is a lethal scorer and he's only started 5 games in his career...5 games?? No knock on him, but Jodie Meeks who was in the same draft class has started 64 games in his career...That's ridiculous! If Scott Brooks doesn't start Harden this year he needs to be fired. While everyone was busy complaining about Russy taking too many shots in the playoffs and criticizing the poor interior defense of Perkins & Ibaka against Z-Bo & Dirk, they failed to notice Harden's brilliance and how important he is to the team when he's on the court (Game 4 against the Mavs last year). He can run the offense (Thunder's biggest weakness), he spaces the floor with his 3-point shooting which allows Westbrook & Durant to play 1-on-1, and he can create his own shot. Is he a liability on defense? Yeah, but that's why they acquired Perkins and have Ibaka to protect the paint. Harden averaged 12 ppg in 27 mpg last year. If he gets 10 more minutes per game, boom squared can definitely average 18 a game, possibly 20. Do the right thing Scotty Brooks and start Harden and that sexy beard, please.     

2) Tyreke Evans, G (SAC): For the 2010 Rookie of the Year, 2011 was a year he'd probably like to forget. Like most NBA players, he went through the so-called "Sophomore Slump" but in large part it was due to a plantar fasciitis injury that plagued him all season. Tyreke looks healthy again and I truly believe this will be the year we see 23-7-6 from him. Tyreke will also be taking on a much bigger role this season and most likely that will be at the point guard position because Marcus Thornton is still on the team and with the arrival of The Jimmer, Evans will have to run the offense. It shouldn't be a problem though because he has been a more productive player in his career as a primary ball-handler, and he'll have plenty of weapons on the wings and the post (DeMarcus Cousins, J.J. Hickson, & Jason Thompson) to help him thrive. The shooting guard position has been on the decline in the last few years with only Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade being the only superstar shooting guards in the league, but who's next? Manu Ginobili? Too old. Monta Ellis? Still too one dimensional. It used to be Brandon Roy, but his injury has dropped him out and I believe in Tyreke's third season he'll be ready to claim that status as the 3rd best shooting guard in the league. His jumper will be better, he'll have to become a playmaker, and could he possibly mold himself into the new Penny Hardaway? I think so. He will be an all-star this season and Mr. Euro-Step will be the leader in the revival of the cow bells in Sacramento. Look out for him to "Reke Havoc" this year.

1) John Wall, G (WSH): Last season, we saw one of John Calipari's point guards blow up on his way to his first MVP and this year will be the blow up for another one of his past point guards, the Dougie King, John Wall. Unlike Mr. Rose however, I believe that Wall will reach his superstar status a year earlier. Wall is one of those new breed of point guards in the league that is slowly starting to revolutionize the point guard position. Last year we saw Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose use their incredible athleticism and speed to fill up the stat sheet on a nightly basis, and Wall will follow suit. If Blake Griffin wasn't a rookie last season, Wall would have been the rookie of the year, and his solid season (16-5-8) wouldn't have been overlooked. This summer Wall has looked excellent playing in the NC Pro-Am League and the numerous all-star games set up by the players which included a 50-point effort. He's improved his jump shot immensely and that incredible athleticism hasn't gone anywhere. The Wizards team has gotten better as well with the addition of the man with the most swag on draft night, Jan Vesely, and the best defender of the draft, Chris Singleton. JaVale McGee is a year older and hopefully better, Jordan Crawford is a nice prospect, and hopefully Andray Blatche and Nick Young learn the concept of team basketball. They also have Rashard Lewis who is expendable and if he stays on the team can spread the floor. With all his weapons, Wall should have an amazing season (I say...22-7-10) and if he can get the Wizards to the playoffs I predict a possible all-NBA team. Who doesn't want to see him dougie after dunking on Chris Bosh in the first round of the playoffs? 
           

Ten Things: The Blow Up Edition (Part 1)

Happy opening night everybody, I hope you all enjoyed the Mavs/Bulls & Thunder/Lakers tonight. That dunk by D-Rose on Tyson Chandler was amazing and Kobe's game-winner at the buzzer?? Speechless...oh wait that's right, the lockout is still going on that was just my imagination of how tonight should have been. Just last Thursday night, I thought like the rest of you, that the lockout could very well be over by Friday morning. Once again, after many hours of negotiating and "progress," the meetings ended with no agreement and the lockout continued. This time the inability to agree on a new deal has officially taken away the possibility of a full season. A shortened season means less basketball and less opportunities to see the development of some of the up-and-coming players in the league. There definitely isn't a lack in young talent in the league right now and these will be the ten guys that you might want to consider having on your fantasy when/if the season begins. Too bad we won't get to see a full season of their progress, but in the words of J. Cole, these guys are about to blow up... 

10) DeAndre Jordan, C (LAC): Pop quiz! Which Los Angeles Clipper dunked the most in the NBA last season per possession? If you answered Blake Griffin, sorry that's incorrect. The correct answer is DeAndre Jordan. Any real basketball fan knows DeAndre puts people on posters, but DeAndre can do much more than dunk. He's an excellent rebounder and shot blocker as well. Filling in for the often-injured Chris Kaman last season, he averaged 8.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg, and 2 bpg in only 27 minutes per game for the final 2 months of the season. Give the man an offseason to work on the skill portion of his game and an extra 10 minutes per game and we're looking at someone who can average a double-double easily. Jordan has worked hard to remove the label of "immature" and "lazy" coming out of college which made him slide to the 2nd round of the 2008 draft (8th best player in the class of 2007) and he is due to reward the Clippers for their partience. Of course Jordan's progression all depends on what the Clippers do with Chris Kaman. The perfect plan for the Clips? Trade Kaman to the Miami Heat for Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem, and Joel Anthony (The Clips can waive Haslem and he can go back to Miami, don't worry Heat fans). Mike Miller will contribute in LA and most importantly the "Dunk Show" starring Jordan and Blake Griffin will broadcast for 70 games? 60 games? 50 games? Regardless of how many games, warning to all centers and power forwards playing the Clippers next year, watch your head.

9) Derrick Williams, F (Min): If I'm wrong on this one, anyone that reads the blog can blast me in the future, but Derrick Williams is going to be a superstar in this league. He's an underrated jump shooter (it will get better) and he's too big to be defended by a 3 and too quick to be defended by a 4. His skill and size, and that sneaky athleticism will make him one of the toughest players to guard, and he's on the perfect team. Perfect team you're asking? Perfect team made by the Kahhhhhnnnn?? Possibly, if he can get rid of the right players (Beasley, Ridnour, Tolliver, Webster, & Darko Nipples) and get a decent center...maybe Nene and a good bench in return. You might be looking at the most fun team to watch in the league besides the other team in LA. You have a starting 5 with Ricky Rubio, Wes Johnson, D-Will, Kevin Love <3, & Nene, with Derrick Williams and Kevin Love being the focus and Wes Johnson possibly being a primary scorer for the team. I'm not saying Williams will be an immediate all-star this season, but in time he will be, and this season he will put up numbers, he'll be really good, and he'll be the rookie of the year, guaranteed. Bill Simmons seems to agree with me on this one (scroll to #16 &17), and as long as I have his blessing then it's ok. If Williams lives up to the hype I'm giving him, then sorry Cleveland, next year's draft? Here's to hoping Kyrie will be good too.

8) OJ Mayo, G (Mem): For OJ, this is long overdue, and his "blow up" needs to come now. There are no more excuses. There weren't any for his disappointing season last year (benched for Tony Allen) and there won't be any for him this season. He needs to become the lead perimeter scorer for his team or at least be the sidekick in perimeter scoring to Rudy Gay. The third overall pick in the 2008 draft, Mayo has been disappointing so far in his career and instead of living to the phenom hype he had as a high school player, he's slowly becoming the new J.R. Smith. (high-volume shooter, low-percentage scorer) I love J.R., but he's supposed to be better than that. His numbers have gotten worse each season (rookie year: 82 games started 18.5 ppg, last year: 17 games started,11.3 ppg) and it's time for him to turn it around. I've always been high on OJ (Me in 2008 college bracket: USC in the Final Four = USC eliminated in the 1st Round...) and I'm not going to give up on him yet. He will be the starting shooting guard on the Grizzlies this year and he will become that scorer, I promise on behalf of OJ's talents.  

7) Jrue Holiday, G (Phi): Year 3...year 3 is usually the year when an up-and-coming player separates himself from being good in the league to being great and Holiday is one of four guys to be listed coming from the draft class of '09 that is on his way to being great. In his 2nd season, almost all his production doubled from his rookie season and that was due to an improved jump shot and becoming the starting point guard of the team. Holiday's game has really developed since his subpar Freshman season at UCLA when he paired up with Darren Collison forming the darkest backcourt in college history. His struggles in college weren't really his fault though because he was playing out of position and his game was better-suited for the pros anyways. Holiday was the Sixers second best player last year averaging 14 ppg, 6.5 rpg, & 4 rpg and he's only going to get better this season. His length makes him one of the best perimeter defenders in the league and the point guard of the future in Philly should have no problems getting work done this year. 

6) Ty Lawson, G (Den): If you ask me who the fastest point guard in the NBA is today, I will tell you it is Ty Lawson. No one can run 94 ft. down one end and back to the other faster than Lawson, not even the league's MVP. Lawson is another one of those 3rd year guys that is ready to make his mark in the league and last season we only got a little taste of what he's capable of. This season there's no Chauncey and there's no Raymond Felton in the way. The starting job (Andre Miller? Never) is his to take and so is the keys to the team. Lawson will be depended on to provide high energy with highlight plays, and push the tempo, while being the leader of the team. He is guaranteed a much larger role this year especially since J.R. Smith, Wilson Chandler, and Kenyon Martin will not be able to return from China until March, and Nene isn't guaranteed to be back, leaving Aaron Afflalo and Danillo Gallinari as the only significant players guaranteed to return when the season starts. I can still remember Lawson as a Freshman at UNC and his game has come a long way since. He once could not shoot a three to save his life and now he is one of the deep threats in the league. His speed has not changed and for a 5'10 point guard, he has some major bounce. Look for his game to round out this year and he sure won't be rusty when the season does begin because he's currently playing in Lithuania. When you watch the Nuggets this year, recognize that tiny blur in the crazy Nikes.


Enjoy the new music on the side & check back tomorrow for Part 2....