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. 

The Finals Preview: Dallas Mavericks vs. Miami Heat

After a month and a half of Derrick Rose, Growl nation, Kevin Durant backpacks, and excessive T-Mobile commercials, the Playoffs are over and it's time for the Finals. It's down to the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat and both teams are playing fantastic basketball, very deserving of playing for the Larry O'Brien trophy. A rematch of the 2006 NBA Finals, let's see who will be crowned champion when it's all said and done:

Dallas Mavericks

This year's Mavs team is very reminiscent of the team in 2006 that lost in 6 to the Heat, a team with a lot of depth that has no weaknesses. Unlike the mid 2000 Mavericks however, these Mavs aren't soft and certainly don't crack under pressure. They've thrived in comeback situations this year and have won all their series-clinching games at the first opportunity. The Dirk Nowitzki who once was intimidated by smaller, more athletic defenders (Matt Barnes) and taunted for loving the Hasselhoff  is no longer being ridiculed. He's been the best player in these Playoffs and he's become the most difficult cover in the NBA. He defines the saying "practice makes perfect" and his work ethic has gotten him another chance at a title as the Mavs window of opportunity closes. Besides the German, the Mavs have also played great defense allowing 93 points per game and shutting teams out in the final minutes of games. Tyson Chandler and Brandon Haywood have made it difficult to score in the paint and Shawn Marion continues to be a pest on defense and offense. Jason Kidd has reinvented his game as he ages, and he along with JET, Peja, and J.J. Barea continue to keep defenses honest spreading the floor with the 3 ball and creating room for Dirk to work.

Miami Heat

In comparison to the 2006 championship team, this year's Heat team is the 2006 team on steroids. Unlike a team assembled of aging superstars (Shaq, Gary Payton, Antoine Walker, etc.) this team has three superstars not even in their prime yet and they're clicking at the perfect time. After all the scrutiny, and embarrassing moments  during the season, the Heat have overcome all their past drama and are clearly focused on one objective, winning basketball games. The big 3 have been excellent and are only getting better with each series. Mike Bibby, Mario Chalmers, and Joel Anthony have done exactly what is asked of them and the Gator boys (Mike Miller & Udonis Haslem) have provided difference making performances in the Playoffs that was lacking in the regular season. Chris Bosh looks like one of the best big men in the league again, Dwyane Wade hasn't been stellar, but he's been a good enough Pippen to Mr. Clutch in these Playoffs, LeBron James, and the "Decision" maker himself has been absolutely wonderful. LeBron might be playing the best basketball of his career and he's doing it on both ends of the floor. He's closed games out with hard drives and jumpers, but most importantly, he's done it with his defense. In the previous series against the Bulls, he locked down Derrick Rose to 6% shooting when defending him in the 4th quarter and used his incredible athleticism and size to suffocate the MVP. While everyone criticized LeBron for not having a killer instinct, it seems like he finally understands the full extent of his talent and he may get the last laugh when it's all said and done, proving all haters, including myself, wrong.  

Key Players:

Shawn Marion (DAL) - He was the key to the previous series and he will be again for this series. Dirk will get his on offense and of course is the most important player on the Mavs, but The Matrix has the most important task on the team, and that is to stop LeBron James on the defensive end. These Playoffs have been a resurrection of the all-star Shawn Marion, and he needs to continue to provide that energy and make the opposing team's star player work to get his on offense. Marion will also need to keep LeBron honest on defense and continue to score as well.    

Dwyane Wade (MIA) - He and Udonis Haslem are the only guys left from the 2006 championship team, and he will need to take that experience of winning it all and show the rest of the guys how it's done. In 2006, D-Wade single-handedly won a championship himself and  introduced himself to the world as a league superstar for many years to come. This time around he has greater parts around him, but it's still his job to be the main scoring threat and lead by example. Although it seems that the Heat are now LeBron's team,  Wade is the one that has been there and done it, and he will have to be the difference of this series.

The Edge:

Although this is a series that I definitely did not want to see, I'm positive it will be an excellent series. I don't see any blowouts and I see hard-fought defensive games throughout, similar to game 4 of the Heat/Bulls series. The Mavericks have a hungry veteran squad that knows this may be the last opportunity to win a championship. While the Heat have an opportunity to quiet all the haters, and validate their preseason plans of beginning a dynasty in South Beach. The Mavericks will have one advantage in this series and that is Dirk Nowitzki. He will be a huge problem for the Heat, but that will be it. The Heat play excellent team defense that I have not seen since the Detroit Pistons of the mid 2000s. The Heat will close on passing lanes and contest those threes that were open in previous series for the Mavs and it's going to be very difficult for Dirk to get offensive help. Since the Celtics series, I've been convinced that no one will stop LeBron on this journey for his first title. The man is determined and it's a shame he couldn't play with this desire in Cleveland. Even if the Mavs find a way to throw him off his game, did I forget to mention they still have a guy named Dwyane Wade on their team, oh and Chris Bosh as well. If Dirk couldn't beat D-Wade by himself in 2006, what makes me think he will beat them this time around when the Heat have two more superstars. I understand that this Mavericks team is better and Dirk is a much better player now, but no one is stopping this Heat team. No one is stopping this team from changing the league and beginning an era of super teams. All hail the King.

  

Series: (4-2) - Miami Heat

Playoff Previews: Conference Finals

It's been a crazy Playoffs. It's the beginning of a new era in the NBA. Let's see how the Final Four fair:

Western Conference Finals 

2) Dallas Mavericks vs. 4) Oklahoma City Thunder

The Dallas Mavericks come into this series with a lot of momentum and rest after their beat down of the Los Angeles Lakers. The rest however can have two effects on the team. It can either be very beneficial for a veteran team like the Mavs in need of it or it can be damaging towards that momentum the Mavs had. I think that we'll see the Mavs a little rusty at the start of Game 1 but the long break won't have a huge effect. Zach Randolph had his way with Serge Ibaka in the Conference Semis, and Dirk Nowitzki should be able to do the same. He may even be a more difficult cover. Of course, the one aspect of the Mavs that made them so great in the series against the Lakers that will have to be present in this series as well is three-point shooting. If Jason Terry and Peja Stojakovic can continue shooting the lights out, there is no way this team loses the series. The Mavs are deep and very experienced which will definitely give them an advantage over the Thunder, and they have the "Little Leprechaun of Luck," J.J. Barea.

 

As for the Oklahoma City Thunder, they come off a tough series with the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies deserve a lot of credit for their "never quit" attitude, but that series shouldn't have been as difficult as it was for the Thunder. Often at times, the Thunder showed brilliance because of their limitless talent, but they failed to execute on numerous occasions due to their lack of experience. They can be so much better yet their youth holds them back from what their capable of doing. With all that said however, they've still made it to the Western Conference Finals and they are very dangerous. They're underdogs in this series, but the way I see it, they've overachieved and they're playing with house money with nothing to lose. How they play against the Mavs in this series will most likely be exactly the same as the series against the Grizzlies but with added pressure that the Thunder shouldn't worry about. Kevin Durant will have brilliant games like game 7 Sunday, and he'll probably give a stinker at some point in the series. Perkins and Ibaka will continue to be gritty and physical and Nick Collison should be able to aggravate Dirk a little. James Harden will continue to shoot the ball well and hopefully the rest of bench will continue its solid play.   

Key Players: Russell Westbrook (OKC): Russ is going to have to be the main guy in this series. In these Playoffs, Jason Kidd has not matched up against a young, athletic guard yet, and Westbrook can and will cause a ton of defensive problems for the Mavs. However, he cannot lose his head and be selfish getting caught up with taking jumpers and playing too fast and out of control. All he has to do is attack with a controlled pace and continue to get to the rim. If he can play the way he had in the final games of the series against the Grizzlies, Russ can be capable of getting triple-doubles every game this series. He can be the guy getting the spotlight instead of KD in this series, but he just needs to do it correctly.

Shawn Marion (DAL): I think he's been one of the most underrated players for the Mavs in their Playoff run and his versatility to play the 3 or 4 allows the Mavs to play different rotations (small ball for 3s, big for D, etc.) to their advantage. His main task in this series is to slow down Kevin Durant and tire him out on the other end being a small offensive factor as well. He's been locking down the opposing teams' best wing scorers, and the Mavs are depending on him to slow down the league's scoring champ this series.    

I haven't predicted too many series correctly this year, and I hope I'm wrong again on this one. I have to give the edge to the Mavericks only because of home-court advantage. I really don't believe either team has an edge, and I think this series will actually be better than the Bulls-Heat series. Please KD, prove me wrong.

Series: (4-3) - Dallas Mavericks 

Eastern Conference Finals

1) Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat

No Boston? No problem. This will be an excellent series regardless of what happened in Game 1. You can discredit the series against the Celtics because as great as the Heat were, the C's were just bad and old. The series was an ass-whopping provided by the Heat and sure the Heat can celebrate about it, but it was only advancing past the second round. However, that series did bring out a lot of positives for Miami. It starts with D-Wade and LeBron playing at their highest level of basketball and Chris Bosh is starting to come along as well. After watching Game 1, I could be really discouraged about the Heat and their poor offense, but there's no reason for that. The Heat still have LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, and they're still capable of taking over games any night.

Before Game 1, everyone had the Heat as a heavy favorite and many forgot how good the Bulls really were. This was the team with the best record in the regular season and they play suffocating defense. As I watch them more and more, they remind me a lot of the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers, with better compliments for its superstar. D-Rose is gonna be a nightmare to guard for Mike Bibby and Mario Chalmers and their defense will make it difficult for Bron and Wade to penetrate and get whatever they want. Keith Bogans and Kyle Korver are going to have to hit their threes, the bench will have to continue to dominate like Game 1, and Joakim Noah is going to have to be a beast inside, of course defensively, but offensively as well. 

Key Players: Carlos Boozer (CHI): As important as Derrick Rose is to the Bulls, Boozer is just as important in the series, and maybe even more important in this series. He's been missing in these playoffs, and this is his time to pick up the slack. D-Rose can't do it by himself and Carlos Boozer needs to score. He cannot be outplayed by Chris Bosh and he needs to put up a stat line of 20 points and 12 rebounds a game. In a supposed perimeter-oriented series, he will have to be the x-factor inside and be dominant. It's his time to prove he was worth the big bucks this offseason.

LeBron James (MIA): So he beat the Celtics, and he finally admitted he couldn't do it without Bosh and Wade, finally offering a sincere apology to Cleveland. However, he still hasn't accomplished anything. He's been further in his career already and he can't just settle with beating the C's. He has the compliments now and it's up to him to take his talent to an even higher level in this series and through the rest of the playoffs. Kobe is gone, the Celtics are gone, and now is his chance to take the spotlight and really show the league what he's capable of doing. Triple-doubles or bust for LeBron in this series.

This series will be a continual grind throughout. Both teams are excellent on defense and the edge for each game will be decided by whoever controls the tempo. In the end, I will still give an edge to the Heat, slightly, mainly because they have two superstars in D-Wade and LeBron and because of what they're capable of.  If they can have performances similar to the ones against the Celtics and live up to their potential, the only thing stopping the Heat would be themselves regardless of how great the Bulls defense is.

Series: (4-2) - Miami Heat     

Rebirth of a Dynasty

“It was a challenge bigger than we could beat this year...It’s been a wonderful run.”

With these final words from Phil Jackson, it put a close to another era of championship basketball in Los Angeles. The signs were there, the end was coming, but this soon, no one could predict it. These Lakers were too talented, too experienced, too well-coached to not beat the Mavericks and the rest of the league on their way to a 3-peat. For all the haters, including myself, let's be honest, a bit of why we hated the Lakers was because we feared the Lakers. They have the best player on the planet, they had the best front court, and they had the Zen Master, the greatest to ever coach in the NBA.

That wasn't enough this time around. Too many egos, too much arrogance, too much inner conflict & lack of trust, not enough execution, and age finally caught up to this team. The biggest weaknesses of the Lakers were exposed by the Mavs, mixed with weak emotions, and lost motivation, leading to the embarrassing sweep witnessed Sunday. Just like 2004, the Lakers had the better team in the series, but didn't play like it. They were outplayed in every aspect of the game, and each player on the team had their personal flaws exposed. Pau Gasol (too soft), Derek Fisher (too old), and Ron Artest (worst player in the NBA) are some perfect examples. Steve Blake and Matt Barnes who were supposed to be excellent pick-ups backfired, and the consistent guys all season, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom played ok, but ended the year shamefully. Lastly of course is Kobe Bryant, and I can't really blame Kobe for this letdown, but with a chance to further his already great legacy and be Jordan-esque by leading his team back from a 3-0 deficit, I thought he would come through with some vintage Kobe. That Kobe didn't show and it seemed like he ran out of gas. All those playoff games, all those nights of putting the team on his shoulders finally caught up. Kobe couldn't do it anymore. The entire team had made its final impression, disorganized and in need of a change.

Laker nation seems to be in a state of panic because of their astonishing beat down and the abrupt end to their season, but they're actually not far from being contenders again next season. The roster needs an overhaul, a new coach needs to be hired, and a bit of Mitch Kupchak magic/cheating needs to take place in order for a contender to be in place next season. There is no way this team will drop off dramatically as long as Kobe Bryant remains on the roster, but there is a lot of work to do starting with:

1) Hiring the Right Guy: Before the Lakers can make any roster changes, they have to figure out who takes over for Phil Jackson. They have to figure out if they still want to run the triangle or do they head in a new direction. Do they want to be more uptempo? Do they want to be more defensive? Do they want an experienced coach or a fresh new face? The rumors of John Calipari and Coach K don't make sense to me if the team wants to stay as contenders. Jeff Van Gundy is another popular name, but he's being thrown around every team that needs a coach, and Nate McMillan is another coach who may be considered, but I believe is not a very good fit. A darkhorse candidate I think fit for the job would be current Minnesota Timberwolves' coach Kurt Rambis, who was Phil Jackson's top assistant before taking the job in Minnesota, but he'd have to be fired to be hired. Therefore the current front-runner and best fit to be Phil's successor is current assistant coach and former player, Brian Shaw. He'll continue to run the triangle and he'll bring the same demeanor of Phil similar to his playing style: calm, cool, and collective. Shaw's been Phil Jackson's assistant for the past few years now and he has Kobe's vote of confidence and I think he'd be an excellent coach.

2) Everyone but Kobe: While I do like the talent of the current team, the chemistry and characters of the players do not mesh well together. As of now, everyone can be moved on the team except for Kobe Bryant. The problem with changing this team though, is the lack of cap flexibility. Theo Ratliff and Joe Smith will be gone, and player options for Matt Barnes (most likely to accept) and Shannon Brown (Lakers need to have him accept) are the only other potential eliminators of contracts. Other than that, this team has everyone else under contract for a couple more seasons so they'll remain capped out. So where to begin reconstructing? I'll begin with the minor changes starting with: 

- Point Guard: Most be more athletic and younger and if Derek Fisher is to be back, he will have to accept a role as a back-up point guard. Steve Blake has not lived up to any expectations and if he can be moved, he should be moved. The free agency doesn't have too many appealing guards so I believe the draft would be the best place to find their next point guard. The only problem, the Lakers only have a 2nd round pick.

- Ron Artest: When Ron Artest signed with the Lakers I thought he would be a perfect fit. He was one of the better small forwards in the league and provided that "Dennis Rodman" edge that a soft Lakers team needed. The only problem was that Artest's tenure as a Laker has been terrible and he's been terrible. His crazy antics are inexcusable and ineffective and he has lost all offensive skill whatsoever. He needs to be traded immediately to any team that would be crazy enough to want him and the Lakers should take anyone offered with a contract less than 3 years. His perfect replacement, Tayshaun Prince. He's a long, excellent defender with championship experience and he has the ability to stretch the floor with his three-point shooting. He won't be costly and could be signed with a mid-level exception.

- Depth & 3-Point Shooting: The Lakers bench was outplayed immensely in the Mavericks series and was even outplayed in the first round by the Hornets. All season they had the best bench player in the league, Lamar Odom, but that was it. Shannon Brown disappeared after the first quarter of the season and I already mentioned Matt Barnes and Steve Blake's ineffectiveness. Their first task of course should be obtaining three-point shooting. Every team needs a Kyle Korver and call me crazy, but Sasha Vujacic returning would not be a bad idea. The Machine is feisty on defense and he can hit the three ball. A couple other options via free agency may be Jason Kapono, Daequan Cook (restricted FA), Anthony Parker, and the most intriguing pick-up to me could be Michael Redd. After filling the 3-point shooting void, the next task is beefing up the front court, starting with tough, bigs that offer 6 hard fouls. The Lakers have a soft interior and the easiest way to shake that persona is to acquire hard-nosed back up big men. Nzar Mohammed comes to mind, Reggie Evans will grab some boards and nuts, and why not bring back DJ Mbenga just for luck. Of course, the back up big men are just necessary for depth and toughness, but the biggest change will need to come with the starting front court of the Lake show and of course that leads to:  

 3) Superman Landing in Hollywood: This is the most important and crucial task for Kobe Bryant and Mitch Kupchak to accomplish this offseason, but if executed properly, will have the Lakers as the team to beat next year and possibly for many more seasons. Dwight Howard is the perfect player for Kobe to pass the torch to as his best games seem to be behind him and I can almost see a Laker team forming reminiscent to the dynasty of the early 2000s. Dwight can take on the same role as Shaq, having the offense run through him, and Kobe would become the second option with less pressure and work placed on him. Along with being the focal point of the offense, Dwight would be able to work with Kareem Abdul-Jabar to further his offensive skill, and if the triangle is executed correctly it may result in numerous MVP and championship trophies for Superman.

At the deadline, I mentioned this potential trade to a couple friends and they thought I was crazy, but with the Lakers' downfall and Dwight's future intentions known, this trade seems more and more likely. The Lakers possess the greatest trade pieces for the Magic and it's a pretty simple thing to do for the Lakers. If they play their cards correctly they can also come out of a trade with more than just Dwight Howard. It first begins with Kobe doing whatever it takes to lure and convince the big man into believing Socal is the place to be and not New York similar to the way Dwyane Wade persuaded Bosh and LeBron to head to South Beach. The Magic are already in a tight situation because they don't want to risk losing another franchise center at the peak of his career without getting anything in return. Therefore if Dwight is persuaded and wants to be in LA then the Magic are almost forced to oblige. The Magic could demand Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, and the entire Laker roster and as many future draft picks as they want, and if I am the Lakers they can have all of that except for Kobe. A multiple-team deal would seem most likely, but if it were just between the two teams, the most realistic deal I think that can be proposed would be Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Steve Blake, Shannon Brown (needs to accept opiton), and four future draft picks in return for Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, Brandon Bass, Ryan Anderson, Hedo Turkoglu, and Chris Duhon. Most likely there won't be just a trade between the two because I don't believe the Magic want to have both Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol on their roster, and I don't think the Lakers want Hedo Turkoglu's outrageous contract. However, if these are the guys that the Lakers acquire besides Dwight from Orlando, they can all contribute.

Jameer Nelson is a gritty point guard who has played his entire career with a chip on his shoulder and he would be a huge upgrade from Grandpa Fish. Brandon Bass will have one role which is grab rebounds and be as aggressive as possible. Hedo Turkoglu will continue to suck. Chris Duhon will be... Chris Duhon, and I think a huge X-factor will be Ryan Anderson. The reason I say that is because he can be "Big Shot Bob" for these potential new Lakers. He had a career year and he's a great shooter. If all goes according to plan, we could very well see a Lakers' roster next season like this:


Bench: Nzar Mohammed (FA), DJ Mbenga (FA), Reggie Evans (FA), Ryan Anderson (via Trade Orl), Matt Barnes (Returning), Luke Walton (Returning), Hedo Turkoglu (via Trade Orl), Sasha Vujacic (via sign & trade NJ - Ron Artest), Chris Duhon (via Trade Orl), Derek Fisher (Returning)

Starters: PG: Jameer Nelson (via Trade Orl), SG: Kobe Bryant (Returning), SF: Tayshaun Prince (via FA), PF: Brandon Bass (via Trade Orl), C: Dwight Howard (via Trade Orl)

With a rested and remotivated Kobe Bryant, a new beginning for Dwight Howard, and a revamped roster, the Lakers could very well be a dynasty again without any period of decline. While Phil Jackson rides off to Montana and the previous era of Laker basketball was laid to rest on Sunday. A brighter and better future may be rising in Tinsel Town and for the rest of the league, they should all be afraid, very afraid.       

Playoff Previews: Round 2

Conference Semis, only two surprise teams still in the party (Hawks & Grizzlies). Let's see what's to come.
Western Conference

4) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 8) Memphis Grizzlies
It was a great upset for the Grizzlies in the first round, not as great as this one, but still deserving of accolades. They ended an era of San Antonio basketball, and this is a team that will not be beaten easily. They played excellent against the Thunder today, and it looks like Z-Bo and brother Marc will be a huge problem through out the series. That still doesn't change my opinion of the series however. I still think the Thunder will get it together. Kevin Durant needs to be more aggressive and Russell Westbrook needs to stop chucking jumpers repeatedly. Perkins will be more of an enforcer inside and "Iblaka" won't allow Zach Randolph to continue to look like the best power forward in the league. The Grizzles will win one more in the series at home, but the Thunder will move on. 

Series: (4-2) - Oklahoma City Thunder

2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. 3) Dallas Mavericks 
The battle of old men should actually be a very fun series to watch. The Dallas Mavericks are not the same team that falters in the playoffs that we've seen in the past. They are resilient and it was evident in the way they bounced back after blowing game 4 to the Blazers and definitively finishing off the series in six games. As for the Lakers, I still believe their biggest opponent in defending their title is themselves. The Lakers live for the unnecessary drama. They still believe they can turn on the switch whenever they want and that attitude needs to end immediately. Pau Gasol needs to grow a pair and Derek Fisher needs to find a fountain of youth. In the end Kobe won't allow an exit in the semis. The ankle injury? That was Hollywood, he'll carry them to the next round, but how many more series can he do that before it takes its toll. He needs help, and hopefully it comes this series.

Series: (4-2) - Los Angeles Lakers   

Eastern Conference

1) Chicago Bulls vs. 5) Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks finally broke their curse of first round exits and they look like their starting to get it together. It's just unfortunate their next series is against the Bulls. I don't see much of a series here and with Captain Kirk most likely out for the series, Derrick Rose should have a field day. When I watched the Bulls in the first round, I expected them to struggle a bit, but the slow starts in games were overblown. This team is the real deal. They handled their business and outplayed the weaker Pacers down the stretch the way they should. The Hawks will probably get one at home, but Derrick Rose is unbelievably great, Joakim Noah is crazy, and they'll take care of the Hawks with ease. ATL Hawk down.

Series: (4-1) - Chicago Bulls

2) Miami Heat vs. 3) Boston Celtics
This is probably the most anticipated series of the semis and the intensity of the series was quite evident today. Although the Celtics dominated the season series, the Miami Heat are a much better team now. They still play the take-turns game with D-Wade and Bron Bron, but the difference is everyone compliments that now very well, and the game is coming easy for Chris Bosh the way it should've been for him all season. For the Celtics, they swept the Knicks, but I can't call Carmelo Anthony vs. The Boston Celtics a legitimate series. They have the experience and they have the big 4, but their lack of firepower and aging core were exposed greatly today. The Celtics still have Rajon Rondo and he is the difference in the series. The ability to takeover a game without scoring goes a long way. James Jones will not score 25 points again in this series and the Celtics will shake game 1 off, I'm positive. Until the road team wins, this is not a series. I've gone with the C's all season and I still believe in experience over LeBron James's playoff curse, so I can't change my pick now. Prove me right Rondo.

Series: (4-3) - Boston Celtics