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....


   

    

Basketball Never Stops & All Things Lockout

It's been four months since the last post, but I am glad to say, we're back. Like the NBA lockout, I had decided to stop writing until Josh and I could agree on the split profit from writing this blog. I'm just kidding, there is no profit whatsoever. The only profit I hope to receive is the enjoyment of whoever reads this (thanks for all the support). Anyways back to the game that I love and the current situation of the league that runs the game. This lockout is terrible, besides the fact that us fans lose games and the chance to watch John Wall blow up, The "Blake Show" and gang compete for a playoff spot, or the Heat choke for another season (hopefully); this lockout affects more than the players and owners. The people who work in the arenas where games are played are currently jobless and many have been laid off due to the lockout. A lot of people are losing money and the sooner a new labor deal is made, the better it is for all sides negotiating. As I say that however, it doesn't mean that the lockout is ending anytime soon. While the players have seemed like the bad guys refusing on a 50/50 split supposedly proposed by dictator Stern, sorry commissioner Stern, the players run the league and no league generates their success through its players and stars more than the NBA. Therefore the players need to "STAND" strong for what they believe is the proper revenue split and not cede to the owners until it's right regardless if the season is cancelled.

In my opinion, I think the lockout will end around mid-December, early January, and there will most likely be a 50-game season. I'm not an expert on this however so this is all based on what I hear and read from Chris Broussard and Adrian Wojnarowski. But enough of all the lockout talk, I'm feeling like celebrating the summer of basketball that did happen. While this lockout has been in effect for the last 112 days, it hasn't stopped the players from playing. So while some of you may not be up to speed on what's been going on, I've got you covered:

MVP of the Summer: Kevin Durant - Since the summer of 2010, no man has been busier playing basketball than KD Three Five. Last summer he won a gold medal at the World Championships with team USA and this summer he has been playing everywhere from the Goodman League in DC to the Drew League in LA to Rucker Park in NY. Besides all this traveling Durant has been killing it everywhere he's played dropping 66 at the Rucker, 59 against LeBron in the Melo/Goodman game, and 44 including a game-clinching block on teammate, James Harden in the Drew/Goodman game. With that being said, I don't see a ceiling for Durant's game and if/when the season begins, everyone should be ready to see KD win his first MVP.

Best Shoe of the Summer: KD IV -Besides KD winning my MVP of the summer, he also wins this award. There really isn't much detail to this shoe yet, except that it's going to be $95 (always price-friendly). I'm a big fan of the strap and it has an awesome look in my opinion. Coming off the KD III which had many great reviews and retail success, the IV's look to be another great shoe designed by Leo Chang and the great minds at Nike.

Newcomer of the Summer: Josh Selby (Memphis Grizzlies) - I mentioned him in my last post that he may be one of the sleepers of the draft and in the summer he has done nothing but prove he may actually be the biggest steal in the draft. I mentioned before that Selby was ranked as the best high school player in the class of 2010 so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the dude can play. Selby has shown up for numerous league games this summer playing alongside the NBA's elite and has not backed down. There has been his battle with Brandon Jennings, but I'll just let his game do the talking, enjoy the video:

Video Blog of the Summer: Brandon Jennings - The "Curator of Cool" wins my vote for best video blog. There have been numerous players that have chronicled their offseason during this lockout including Kevin Durant, the boys from Seattle, and even our Asian pride, Jeremy Lin, but none have provided more entertainment, great editing, and music than Young Money's video blog. Besides the basketball side of Jennings's videos, the documentation of his life is fascinating and I'm a big fan of the music, view it for yourself...

Best Dressed: Amare Stoudemire - The next award has nothing to do with basketball, but as the NBA culture has progressed into a league of players obsessed with attending fashion shows rather than labor meetings, this summer, Stoudemire reigned supreme in the style game. It's not a complete shock because STAT has been swagging out for the past few seasons and his obsession for fashion is no secret. The man has become good friends with designers such as Anna Wintour and Tommy Hilfiger and he's been everywhere promoting his new Nike's as shoes that are good for wear on and off the court.

Bay Area Baller of the Summer: Wendell McKines - Lastly, with all the all-star games and summer leagues that occurred around the country, the Pro-Am league back in the city was also an event to partake in. With occasional guest appearances by Matt Barnes, Dorrell Wright, and the next Blake Griffin, Aaron Gordon (he's only 15??), the league wasn't short of good competiton. I know you were all probably expecting Kiwi, but McKines, the MVP of the Pro Am averaged 34, 15, & 3 (including 51 in the championship game-clincher) and he was a straight monster in big games murdering Matt Barnes any chance he got. Look for Mr. McKines to be doing his thing for his senior season at New Mexico State this year and enjoy his highlights   

Well that's my take on the summer of lockout basketball and I hope this helps with the deprivation of NBA basketball. There actually hasn't been a shortage of basketball going on. The players are putting games together every other week and they want to play. Here's to hoping that this hunger to play translates to real NBA games soon. Until next time folks.

5 Things: Draft Special

The NBA Draft is tonight and with a very weak draft class, there should be some very interesting moves made. Only hours away:

5) International Men of Mystery: Enes Kanter, Jonas Valanciunas, Jan Vesely, and Donatas Motiejunas (Josh loves the Donatas). What do all these names have in common? They're all projected top 20 picks, European, and most likely busts. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Euros are soft except for the Dirk. Kanter has very limited game footage to evaluate and he's being drafted solely on potential and individual workouts (see Darko Milicic) which is usually not great. He's also sat out for a whole year while practicing with the Kentucky Wildcats. Valanciunas, Vesely, and Motiejunas are basically typical Euro-hyped prospects that are very tall and long and have a "good motor," whatever that means. One of these guys may actually be good, but there's been too many Nikoloz Tskitishvili's in the past to make me believe in these guys.  

4) Potential & Sleepers: Bismack Biyombo, Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, and the Morris Twins. What do these guys have most in common? They're probably the most hyped players in the draft that are continuing to soar up the draft boards. I love Klay Thompson's game a lot and he's got great blood lines. He's an excellent scorer and he really reminds me of Kevin Martin. I also like Kawhi Leonard because I think he does everything well, but nothing great. He's getting comparisons to Gerald Wallace and I think he'll need time to develop and contribute the way Wallace has in his career. Leonard is still very young and very raw. As for the Morris Twins and Biyombo, I don't really like them too much. Marcus Morris the better prospect is an undersized power forward that wants to be a small forward, he's pretty cocky and claims he has a better mid-range game than Carmelo. He also believes that he and his brother are better than the Lopez twins. Really? Markieff may end up being the better twin brother in the end, but he should have spent one more year in college. Bismack Biyombo is considered to be Ben Wallace 2.0. With him, it's a hit or miss. He will either be a beast or a bust. Serge Ibaka or Adonal Foyle (No offense buddy). He has no offensive game whatsoever, but he's "19" and may develop into a great player, and he is definitely the most intriguing player in this draft.

While the players mentioned above are getting all the shine, there are a couple of guys in this draft that I think are not getting enough love. The first one is Tristan Thompson, After playing only one season at Texas, I compare him to Marcus Morris and if he had played another 2 seasons at Texas, he could have been a much better prospect than Morris and a potential top 5 pick. He's still young so he'll need time to develop, but he is already an excellent offensive rebounder and a great weak side defender. The offensive game will come and he just needs to work on being more consistent. Marshon Brooks and Josh Selby are two players with stocks going in opposite directions. Brooks' is going up while Selby's has been declining since he graduated high school. However, I like both guys. Brooks is your poor man's Kemba or Jimmer in this draft and he will just fill it up. An amazing scorer and underrated rebounder (7 rpg). Selby was considered by some as the best freshman in the class of 2010. However his freshman season was cut in half due to receiving improper benefits and while he played for Kansas he never really seemed to fit or provide the impact that was expected of him. He's undersized as a shooting guard and his attitude is a question mark, but his potential is what could make him special.  Lastly, Justin Harper. He's a faceup power forward that played four years at Richmond so his game is pretty polished. He's good with his feet and has a solid shooting touch making him great for the pick and pop. Watching him in the tournamnet makes me believe that even though he'll be 22 by opening night, he can still develop a solid back-to-the-basket game and become a David West-type power forward in the league.

3) Kemba vs. Jimmer: The two were the darlings of the college season, one a national champion & player of the year, the other a legend all across the nation from the Great Salt Lake to the mecca of basketball. As their collegiate careers came to a close, the pandemonium surrounding the two did not stop. Jimmer was asked to stop attending classes while Kemba's championship run rocketed his stock into the top 10 of most mock draft boards. Kemba's game has not been as knit-picked as Jimmer, as he's drawing comparisons to Tim Hardaway and from me, Allen Iverson. He's quick with a killer crossover, a consistently improving jumper, and he posesses that "it." That killer instinct that only few players possess. The only criticism I have of him is that he'll be a score first point guard and he's a little undersized, but Cardiac Kemba will be just fine in the league.

The bigger question is Jimmer Fredette. One day he's projected to go as high as 7th to the Kings and the next day he drops to 17th to the Knicks. He's gotten comparisons to Adam Morrison, J.J. Reddick, Mark Price, any other great white scorer at the collegiate level, and even Eddie House. The one sure thing about Jimmer is that he will sell tickets especially if he becomes a Jazz (collegiate city) or Knick (hometown team). He's been criticized for his lack of size, his lack of defense, and his inability to play without the ball, but I see something special in this guy. I believe he will be to basketball what Tim Tebow is to football. It's hard to not cheer for Jimmer. He's a great guy and he's worked really hard to become the player that he is. He doesn't lack the confidence and is a strong competitor. The dude is straight chiseled, he can create his own shot, he can shoot the lights out, and given the right team he can definitely succeed. Ben Gordon is who he will be in this league, remember that folks.     

2)  Trades Galore: Every season during the draft, there are plenty of trades made. Veterans and superstars traded for high lottery picks, trades for cash, and trades for future draft picks five years later are all a part of the extravaganza. With a weak free agency, an inevitable lockout on its way, and an unknown CBA to be determined, there will be plenty of moves made before the NBA is officially closed with no business. Already rumored to go are veteran point guards like Steve Nash, Tony Parker, Baron Davis, and Raymond Felton. There has been a Pau Gasol for Kevin Love and the 2nd Pick proposed, Andre Iguodala and Josh Smith have been mentioned, and one of the craziest proposals I heard while watching ESPN's Around the Horn yesterday was Jeff Van Gundy suggesting LeBron James being traded for Dwight Howard. Teams are going to be desperate to make moves knowing there's exactly one week left to do it, so expect a lot of action tonight. There are so many crazy trades that may happen and some will definitely happen.   

 1) The Best Player in the Draft Will Be: Brandon Knight. Yup I said Brandon Knight. Why? In the words of my favorite commentator, Bill Raftery, the man has "Onions!" He is super clutch and besides that I love his size (6'3, 185, and long) and smarts on and off the court (4.0 student, Academic All-American). I've always loved his game and in his only season at Kentucky, he was able to lead his team one round further than John Wall did his Freshman season. His game is just like his hype in the draft, quiet. He's not flashy and he won't blow you away, but he will be consistent and he will be a very good developing point guard for many years in the league.  He can also play shooting guard and he reminds me of Jrue Holiday with more size and athleticism. Despite the knock on his ball-handling, I personally like him more than Kyrie Irving, and he's probably the most sure thing in this draft besides...

Chris Singleton. I think Chris Singleton is highly underrated and is the best overall defender in this draft. He is not going to be a great scorer and isn't very quick, but he is athletic, strong, and big (6'9, 225). He can shoot the rock and he is a very good rebounder especially on the offensive glass. His stock is decent, but probably would have been better if he had not broken his foot and missed 8 weeks of the season. His impact was felt however in the later rounds of the tournament when he returned. He most likely won't be a superstar in this league, but he will be a very good starting small forward for many years.

Other than these two guys, and Kyrie Irving, I believe that every player in this draft is a question mark and being an expert at evaluating prospects is impossible, but that's what makes the draft so great. Who knows, maybe when it's all said and done, Jimmer Fredette may be a superstar scorer and Bismack Biyombo becomes the greatest shot blocking, defensive forward the league has ever seen. You never know and that is why tonight's draft is worth watching.

Winning the Right Way.

“This is an old bunch. We don’t run fast or jump high. These guys had each other’s backs. We played the right way. We trusted the pass. This is a phenomenal thing for the city of Dallas.” - Rick Carlisle

In the NBA, experience and trust prevail over everything. Teamwork is the key to success and individual talent is overrated. It can only take a team so far. It takes the right blend of talent and personalities filling specific roles to create a championship team. I've always believed that experience is the key to winning and I had been riding the veteran teams (Lakers, Celtics, Spurs) all season. As the Playoffs progressed and all these teams were being eliminated by the young, up-and-coming teams of the league, I found myself shamefully rooting for the Miami Heat. I won't admit to being a bandwagon fan because I truly hate the Heat. I have no respect for LeBron James and his massive ego and it was a shame to see him turn likable guys like Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh into villains of the league. However, I couldn't help but cheer for great basketball and the Miami Heat were doing just that in the first three rounds of the Playoffs. It certainly seemed like these guys would change the blueprint of creating a dynasty in the NBA, but that's where I forgot about the history of the game.

Besides Magic Johnson, everyone has to pay their dues before they win a ring. It took Mike 7 years to finally beat the Pistons and win his first. I can still vividly remember when I was 6 years old watching Kobe Bryant as a rookie hoist three straight air balls in overtime of an elimination game in Utah. The fans erupted screaming, "Airball!" after every miss. Kobe didn't win his first ring until his fourth season and if you want to discredit the Shaq rings, then it took Kobe 12 years to be the leader of a championship team. Everyone has to pay their dues even the best. Even the first super team of the new era, the Boston Celtics of 2008, had to lose individually before winning together. Kevin Garnett made it out of the first round only once on the T-Wolves and Ray Allen only had four career Playoff appearances and Paul Pierce as well. All three of them advancing as far as the Conference Finals only once.

As the Mavericks finished off the Heat last night and the celebration began, I couldn't help but notice the genuine happiness and the look of relief on each player's face. Years of disappointment and failures lifted off their shoulders. Each players' experience in the league had contributed to making this team work. Each one of the players besides Rodrigue Beaubois, Dominique Jones, and Corey Brewer have had long journeys to get to this championship plateau.The stories very intriguing to me and I can't help but reflect on each players' road to being a champion. 

Of course when a team wins a title, the accolades usually go to the players, but I'll start with the mind that put this all together and the man who deserves a ton of credit for his minor adjustments in the Finals that proved game-changing, coach Rick Carlisle. As a head coach, I felt like Rick Carlisle always got the bitter end of the stick. When he was the Pistons coach, he was fired right before the team reached its peak and he was never given full credit for leading a team with its main attraction being Ben Wallace and its  two best scorers being Mehmet Okur and Chauncey Billups to two division titles. Carlisle moved onto the Indiana Pacers and in his first season, led the Pacers to the NBA's best regular-season record, but they would lose to Larry Brown and the Pistons in the Conference Finals thanks to Reggie Miller's legs. The following season, Carlisle had a team that was a definite title contender, but the Malice in the Palace changed all that. A couple mediocre seasons after that in Indiana left Carlisle working for ESPN for a year. Carlisle would be hired by the Mavs in 2008 and the coach and team shared the same characteristic, greatness always underachieving. His first two seasons were disappointments in the Playoffs, losing in the first round, but this was the season where it all came together, finally. The first round = perseverance. The second round = Peja Stojakovic. The Conference Finals = Shawn Marion & Dirk Nowitzki. The Finals = Jason Terry, J.J. Barea, & the zone defense. Everything was coached to perfection, match-ups were set correctly (Jason Kidd on D-Wade), rotations were excellent (J.J. Barea for DeShawn Stevenson), positioning was flawless (move Dirk from low post to high post), every detail was important and executed correctly. Rick Carlisle was the mastermind behind the success and after years of being looked over and all the Jim Carey jokes, he finally gets the credit he deserves for being a great coach in this league.

Now to the players. The Mavericks winning this championship was an entire team effort. Everyone contributed at some point in this run and I'll begin with the tough guys and the guy who couldn't play, Caron Butler. Butler was supposed to be a huge part of this team this year, Dirk's sidekick, but a torn patellar tendon in his right knee cost him the season. For "Tough Juice" it's been a struggle his whole career, but he wins where he began his career, in South Beach, and his injury this year may have actually been a turning point for the team because it allowed Shawn Marion to be in the starting lineup at small forward. Shawn Marion is another former Heat that always seems to be the best player on a team that gets unnoticed. In his tenure in Phoenix, the Matrix was a perennial all-star and stat-stuffer. 1 of only 5 players to be a part of the 1500 steals/1000 blocks club, Shawn Marion has always been a great player on the wrong team. His stats were exaggerated on the run-and-gun Suns, his tenure in Miami was forgettable, and I didn't even remember him being on the Raptors. The Matrix was a perfect fit for these Mavericks and his game was much needed. Always unorthodox, unselfish, and able to play any style of basketball, he brought defense, energy, and flip shots that were uncommon to the culture in Dallas.  

Now to the all important bench players, and I mean it with the utmost respect. Brian "The Custodian" Cardinal was a walking punchline for Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy in the Finals, but what he lacks in athleticism and skill he demonstrates with toughness, hard hard fouls, and an occasional three. A vagabond through out his career, he's always been resilient and he was always my favorite white Warrior in the mid 2000s (sorry Mike D and Troy). Ian Mahimmi hit that buzzer-beater to end the third last night, big shot, honestly. He was not phased by replacing Brendan Haywood. Brendan Haywood ---> looks like a Ninja Turtle, but he might be one of the best back-up centers in the league. Willing to come off the bench after starting his whole career, he is an ultimate team player.  DeShawn Stevenson another former Wizard, really impressed me with his defense, and hit timely threes in the first half. Compared to Michael Jordan coming out of high school,  he's been kind of a joke his entire career, but he really isn't too bad of a player. I am quite amazed that he and Soulja Boy have won their war against LeBron James and Jay-Z. Lastly, Peja Stojakovic. His career actually ended in 2004, but he returned for one round of the Playoffs this year. Peja was a part of those glorious series against the Lakers in the early 2000s which resulted in Playoff exits every year as he played on, in my opinion, the best team in my lifetime to never win a title. All those losses in the past were forgotten this year as Peja sunk the Lakers with three after three and played a big part in this year's championship run.

The next two guys are the x-factors, and the guys that I feel took away the "softeness" that defined the Mavericks and I'll begin with the one that got away...Tyson Chandler. I say that being a Thunder fan, and he was the perfect center for that team. The rescinded trade proved beneficial to the Mavs and Mark Cuban took a huge risk signing him, and it paid off immensely. Chandler looked like the all-star caliber center he was in 2007 and it was his interior defense that made it difficult for LeBron and D-Wade to drive the lane. The other guy, I absolutely hate, but he is magic, J.J. Barea. He lives the perfect life, he stands about 5 feet tall but plays with the heart of a giant. The man hits miraculous lay-ups and crazy floaters, and he's an absolute pest on both ends of the floor, but it's so effective. I want to break the guy's legs, but I can't help but appreciate the player he is and how he made the league and became a huge part of the Mavs. From being undrafted, to playing in Puerto Rico and the D-League, Barea has become quite the popular player now and he deserves all the recognition.

 The last three guys, are the heart and soul of the team. When you think of the Dallas Mavericks, you think, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, and Dirk Nowitzki. For Jason Kidd it took 17 years to finally win a championship and the 3rd time was a charm. What impresses me the most about him is the way he's changed his game as he's aged. Kidd was never a great athlete, but he used to be a walking triple-double. He's continued to improve his jumper, still plays excellent defense, and remains a premiere point guard in the league. When he was traded back to Dallas for Devin Harris, I doubted the move because I thought J-Kidd had nothing left, but boy was I wrong. Losing in the past (New Jersey 2003 & 2004) never deterred him and he always maintained the same demeanor through out the years. On this team he was the ultimate leader and his underrated defense and huge threes led the way.  As for Dirk and JET, those two were the remaining guys from the 2006 team, and they took that defeat and grew from it. After years of losing in Atlanta, Jason Terry found a home in Dallas as one of the best sixth men in the league. He never demanded to be in the starting line-up and has always played in the best interest of the team. A future head coach in the NBA, JET was probably the best Maverick in the Finals, yes he was better than Dirk. For Dirk, what hasn't already been said about him? He is the best power forward in the NBA now, and he is definitely one of the 50 greatest players of all-time, of course I say this being an NBA child of the late 90s/early 2000s. The "soft" label can be thrown out the window and LeBron could really learn how to be a closer from this guy. All those 360 spins and one foot jumpers at the free-throw line have paid off for the German and he has finally validated his career. It sounds corny, but I'm really proud of him. Since losing in 2006 (That year I was a big fan of the Mavs and was ecstatic when he finally beat Tim Duncan) and after personally witnessing him crumble under the pressure of Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes in 2007, he's definitely grown a lot and changed my opinion of him as a player.

All the Mavericks have grown through out their career. All of them have lost in their careers, but they grew from their defeats. Each player sacrificed for each other,  took a part of their past, took a part of their skill, and put it together to create the perfect chemistry and win.      

As the Finals came to an end last night, the one veteran team that I had forgot about was the one that actually came through. A group of guys that most dismissed at this point of their careers; they played the game correctly with heart and veteran savvy and showed that there are absolutely no shortcuts when it comes to winning. Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard. The Miami Heat should learn from that. The Mavs played basketball I'm accustomed to watching and for at least one more season there will not be a monopolized league of super teams. For that I say thank you Dallas Mavericks, thank you Mark Cuban, and thank you Holger Geschwindner. The long journey is finally complete. Congratulations and respect.