In case the newest billboards adorning local Houston freeways failed to communicate the point effectively, let me make it infinitely clear: the Rockets and their fans are absolutely ecstatic to have acquired James Harden. And you know what? They should be.
Ever since the tragic fall of Yao Ming, Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey has been stockpiling draft picks and young players in hopes to entice a trade partner more obsessively than bayou dwellers hoard bottled water and canned goods during hurricane season. It's a process that takes time and after whiffing on names like Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard most of the Rockets faithful began to question if Morey was valuing his collection of "assets" more than the rest of the NBA. Fortunately "Dork Elvis" stayed the course and was finally able to execute the blockbuster trade he had been promising for the better part of three years.
Harden gives the Rockets a centerpiece - something they haven't had since Yao Ming and Tracy Mcgrady hobbled out of town. He will join Jeremy Lin to form one of the most promising and identifiable backourts in the league. The "beard-sanity" combo looks to have the makings of something special as both Lin and Harden are exceptional pick-and-roll players. Harden's ability to create offense off the dribble will prove invaluable in clutch situations - an area where the Rockets have struggled in recent years.
Many criticize the Rockets by saying they over payed for a player who is better suited in a sixth-man role. Harden's average of 24.2 points per game, which is currently the fourth highest in the NBA, proves that the beard has more to his game than that sixth-man spot he perfected in Oklahoma City.
Even more exciting is the fact that despite the contracts the Rockets inked Lin, Asik and Harden to this offseason they can still very easily maneuver far enough under the cap to make another max offer to a free agent as soon as next year. Consider the three promising rookie bigs on the roster this year and Daryl Morey may have proved the old myth that you can't rebuild without a season of tanking to be complete bologna.
I walked into the gym Wednesday night knowing two things: I am out of shape, and my Memphis Grizzlies were on a 5-game winning streak heading into Oklahoma City.
I got on the elliptical machine toward the end of the first quarter. Memphis was down 10 as I get to work.
And right on cue, the Grizz start working as well.
The great surprises of the season, Memphis' bench players, started hitting outside jumpshots led by Quincy Pondexter and Wayne Ellington who scored back-to-back-to-back-to-back buckets to get Memphis back into it.
(Speaking of the Memphis bench, fomer Grizzly draft-dud Hasheem Thabeet is now on the Thunder . He rumbled around the court, lanky arms flapping around as the quick Grizzly guards zipped by him. Oh well.)
Memphis began to work the ball to the high post and let Gasol survey the court and act as a giant post which the guards run around to create space. After a few inside buckets from Gasol and a couple more threes from Q, the Grizzlies had the lead.
I had just broken a sweat.
As the Grizzlies and Thunder continued to attack each other, I stepped down for my first break of the evening. But Pondexter had no intentions of quitting, hitting two more buckets before a Thunder timeout.
The bench for the Grizzlies has worked wonders this season. Ellington, Pondexter and Jared Bayless all have made more than 10 three-pointers this season, more than anyone on Memphis.
Last year, the Memphis offense resembled my attempts to work out-- hardly consistent, difficult to look at and everyone was left sore and disappointed (maybe that one was just me). Last year, the Grizzlies scored 95 points per game and shot 32 percent from beyond the arc. They are up to 102 points per game and are shooting almost 40% from three-point land, both of which are fifth best in the NBA.
What I am used to seeing from Memphis is stingy defense. My favorite play-- and this seems to happen at least three times a game-- is when a player will drive to the hoop and every Grizzly he goes by will hack at the ball, inevitably popping it out as it rolls on the ground until someone dives on it, usually resulting in mayhem. This is a time when the play worked:
The half winded down, Memphis had the lead and I was sweating as hard as Zach Randolph. I was excited by the offensive flurry so far, but I think half the people in the gym were giving me odd looks when I would grunt and pump my fist after every Memphis basket.
The second half began, I resumed running and Tony Allen unleashed his inner crazy: screaming, leaping uncontrollably, diving at every loose ball and picking up two quick fouls in the process. I love Tony Allen.
On offense, Mike Conley was attacking the basket (another new feature of Memphis Basketball 2K13) and Zach Randolph was making Z-Bo shots.
A Z-Bo Shot
As I started to note all the good things that were happening, for a split second I forgot about a certain Durantula lurking on the Thunder's team. He started taking over on offense. The crowd in OKC started to heat up. I ran faster.
After a timeout, the Memphis defense stepped up, a few more steals catalyzed by the Everyone-Grab-at-the-Ball-and-Kick-It-Around-Until-We-Get-It strategy and I was feeling comfortable with the late third quarter lead.
At this point, I had been in the gym much longer than I had anticipated, so I went to shoot a few baskets to cool down.
When I got back to the game, I had missed the excitement of Z-Bo and Kendrick Perkins getting ejected for calling each other fat and tacky.
Nevertheless, the win streak extended to 6 as the Griz head back to Memphis tonight to take on the undefeated Knicks and my favorite non-Grizzly, Carmelo Anthony.
Please allow the next overreaction (in all caps of course): NO ONE CAN STOP ZBO AND MARKY-MARK! MEMPHIS CAN MAKE THREES NOW! LAKERS SUCK! DURANT IS TOO SKINNY TO PUT THE TEAM ON HIS BACK! WHAT ARE MEMPHIS HOTEL PRICES LOOKING LIKE IN JUNE?? I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THE HOBBIT COMES OUT IN THEATERS! IT LOOKS SO GOOD AND I AM GLAD TO SEE THEY STUCK WITH PETER JACKSON AS THE DIRECTOR!
But seriously
While I'm not sure I will get my lazy self back to the gym again, let's hope Memphis does not get as complacent as me, and they continue their impressive bench play, offensive spacing and defensive aggressiveness.
I spend an inordinate amount of time watching TV and movies. What I enjoy about the flashing images on my screen is meticulously developed characters with a story that draws the viewer to the edge of his or her seat as we watch the characters we have built a connection with thrive or fail in front of us.
These are the same reasons I love the NBA. Some fans are born and bred fans of a specific team, but my family never enjoyed professional basketball like I do now. I feel the same connection with players and teams that I feel when I watch a movie. Each team or player forms a story line worth following, if you make the connection.
Whether it's Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen going to Boston and revitalizing the Celtics, or watching the Kings and Bobcats try to survive as organizations, the NBA is full of fascinating plots every year.
Here are my predictions for the most interesting players and teams for this season.
Memphis Grizzlies
I shall once again take the reigns as captain of the Grizzlies Bandwagon. This team has captivated me for the past three years: Zach Randolph, a New York reject, found his place in Memphis as a backboard banger and mid-range master; Marc Gasol emerged from Pau's shadow with his own All-Star formula as a rebounder and tough inside scorer; Rudy Gay, Mike Conley, Jr. and Tony Allen are an enticing back-court. Hopefully Gay and Randolph can find their stride working together, Conley can continue to improve as a ball-handler and defender, and Allen can find an offensive rhythm. My biggest question for the Grizzlies: who can come off the bench and score? The loss of O.J. Mayo is detrimental if only for his sporadic scoring off the bench. I think Memphis will be the 5 seed in the West, but, to beat the big boys, Memphis needs to find its niche.
Uni-brow Nation
The Hornets begin their Anthony Davis era with an interesting roster. Will Davis be a full-time center on defense or roam in a zone? Can Al-Forouq Aminu produce consistently on offense? Does Eric Gordon even want to be in New Orleans? How many times will Austin Rivers go 0-9 from three-point territory? How quickly before everyone in the New Orleans Arena has unibrows? Obviously a lot of questions but there are some serious advantages for the Hornets. They have a young roster with only one bloated contract (Gordon, who deserves it). Monty Williams looks like an up-and-coming defensive strategist who could mesh with Davis to create a defensive juggernaut in the future. Ryan Anderson is an interesting piece to open the floor for Gordon drives to the lane and Davis in the post. All things considered, the Hornets, at best, are battling for an 8-seed; at worst they are the number 10 pick in the draft.
Brandon Roy
I love a comeback story, and it will be great to see Roy suit up in Minnesota this season. But can Roy's knees function in the grind of an 82-game schedule? I think they can. Assuming he is medically cleared to play, Roy should not have to rely on his athleticism as much as he did in Portland. Rick Adelman runs a "Corner" offense in Minnesota which relies on pick and roll/pick and pop, interior passing and spot up shooting. In Portland, Roy was primarily an isolation threat who used his natural agility to beat players to the hoop. I don't think he can be a defensive stopper, but he can be an effective third option behind a healthy Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio combo, if that ever happens.
And, to piss off Dimitri...
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland has two roads its team can venture on this year. One is a flourishing offensive team behind Kyrie Irving. The second is the lottery. This is Cleveland we are talking about, so Irving will probably be on pace for an MVP season, then his knees will explode and the Cavs will lose 30 straight.
Los Angeles Lakers
As a long-time Laker hater, it was difficult seeing them pick up Steve Nash this summer. Let us hope the Triad of Evil (Bryant, Neck Beard, Howard) is enough to dim the shining light of Nash's goodness on the court. Yet I find myself yelling at my friends that the Lakers will hoist the golden trophies at the end of June... After two years of early-playoff exits, it is again tough to be a Laker-hater.
Dirk Nowitzki
Last year was a rough year for the Big German. His Mavericks were done away with quickly by the Thunder in the first round of the playoffs and he made the All-Star team on his name alone. The big news is Dirk will miss about 6 weeks after undergoing knee surgery. Dirk is 34, and this injury made me wonder if we will see him around much longer. I grew into a basketball fan around the time Dirk was making a mark on the league so I wish him all the best. What was the point of this paragraph? An excuse to show this video. All hail Dirk and his Awkward-but-Clutch-Jump-Shooting!
Ivan Johnson
Of all the interesting teams and characters this season, Ivan Johnson reigns supreme. Johnson is a hybrid PF/C for the Hawks, and he is my candidate for the player most likely to brawl with fans in the stands, since Ron Artest already did that one.
I could go on about his eccentric personality (he wears a grill during games and got banned from playing basketball in South Korea. BANNED!) and his playing style (he broke the backboard in practice last week. PRACTICE!), or you could read Rembert Browne's "Ivan Johnson Chronicles" on Grantland. I recommend the latter.
It’s mid-October and that means
two things. The NFL’s unofficial contest of which team can incorporate the most
pink into their color scheme is well underway and so is the NBA preseason.
Yeah, I know the preseason is meaningless. In fact the only thing that might be
more trivial is NBA season projections. Lucky for you that’s exactly what this
post is about! Without further ado, here is my take on the NBA using
state-of-the-art tier technology.
Tier One: Nobody will be surprised if these teams are hoisting the
Larry O’Brien trophy in June
Tier Two: If the stars align just right, these teams could win it
all
Tier Three: These teams won’t go all the way, but they’re capable
of a playoff run
Tier Four: As the season wraps up these teams will be duking it out
for the final playoff seed
Tier Five: The lottery crew
Tier Six: With the number one pick, the *enter tier six team here*
select…
Tier One: Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder
LeBron James needs more than one ring to fulfill his promise to Miami
The Heat are the reigning champs
and they have the best player on the planet in LeBron James. That’s reason
enough for me to consider them the favorites heading into the season despite
the Lakers’ acquisition of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash. Let’s be honest
though, the Lakers are going to tear it up this season and the only thing that
could potentially keep them from reaching the promised land is Pau Gasol’s neck
beard. That or Metta World Peace’s razor-sharp elbows. Speaking of those elbows, James Harden is in a contract year. Consider that and the fact that the Thunder are fresh off their first finals appearance and you’re looking at one hungry and talented roster.
Tier Two: Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics
The biggest flaw in Rose's game is his durability
Can Derrick Rose stay healthy? Will
Kawhi Leonard take the next step? Do Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett have enough
left in the tank to lead the Celtics? These are the questions facing the tier
twos and if they respond they have enough talent to run with the big boys in
tier one.
Tier Three: Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers,
Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks
Along with a new city and logo, the Nets will also change another thing about the franchise this year: they'll actually win games
West:
Iggy to Denver will have the
Nuggets improve on their positive 2011-2012 campaign. The “Lob City” Clippers
will again provide a lot of highlights but don’t sport a deep enough roster to
be considered elite. The Mavs are getting long in the tooth and have a lot of
new pieces to work in. Memphis is looking like a tough out and their size will
continue to create mismatches down low.
East:
Don’t look now, but the Eastern
Conference is actually looking like they’ll have a solid group of playoff teams
for the first time since the three-point line was introduced. OK, maybe it
hasn’t been that long but all four of these teams will hit the court with solid
rosters capable of winning fifty games.
Tier Four: Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trailblazers, Utah
Jazz, New Orleans Hornets, Toronto Raptors,
Atlanta Hawks
These are two guys I don't want to mess with. Look at those beards!
West:
I’m buying into the Timberwolves
this year and if you forced me to pick a team from this group that’s who I’d go
with. Getting a healthy Rubio to pair with a nasty blue-collar front line of
Love and Pekovic will go far in getting playoff basketball back in Minnesota.
Not to mention if Brandon Roy can perform anywhere near the level he was at
before his pseudo retirement the Wolves can make some noise.
East:
You read that right. I think the
Raptors will make the playoffs this year. They’ve assembled a balanced roster
that doesn’t have Jose Calderon as a starting point guard anymore. Kyle Lowry
was a nice pickup for Toronto and he’ll fit in perfectly with this group. The
big Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas also will make his NBA debut this season and
could form a nice frontcourt with Andrea Bargnani.
Tier Five: Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, Milwaukee Bucks,
Cleveland Cavaliers
Another trip to the lottery will drive Houston "Linsane"
West:
As much as I don’t want it to be
true, I think the Rockets will be on the outside looking in when the playoffs
roll around. Sad day. The Suns will struggle in the post-Steve Nash era and
will be the Rockets’ number one competitor for the fourteenth pick in the NBA Draft.
Golden State is going to need more than Andrew Bogut to get to the playoffs.
East:
Washington will be improved this
year but there is nowhere to go but up from last season. John Wall and Bradley
Beal form a talented young backcourt that shows promise for the future. Getting
Monta Ellis will make the Bucks a little more fun to watch but it was overall a
lateral move. Kyrie Irving is going to need some help to make Cleveland a
playoff team and Dion Waiters is not it.
Tier Six: Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Charlotte
Bobcats
West:
DeMarcus Cousins and Thomas
Robinson is a very nice start but the Kings have to build around these guys to
start moving up the NBA ladder.
East:
I think it’s essentially a pickem’ between which of these three teams is more terrible. The Pistons need some backcourt help. Maybe Magic GM Rob Hennigan can find his Kevin Durant in the 2013 draft to move Orlando out from under the shadow of the “Dwightmare.” The Bobcats are the Bobcats. Do you think MJ has one more comeback in him? Me neither.
On Wednesday, the Phoenix Suns lost their third consecutive game that inevitably knocked them out of the playoffs. But more importantly: it may have been Steve Nash's last game in Phoenix. Nash has one year left on his contract and every ESPN talking head thinks Nash should be traded to a contender. I agree, and I suggested this trade in a previous blog post.
Whether or not Nash stays is a question to ponder over the summer, but my initial thought was about Nash's legacy as an NBA player. Is he the best white basketball player ever? I am sure everyone can think of five or six studs with light skin, so I put together a list to see where Nash belongs.
Larry Bird
When you hear white basketball players, you think Larry Bird. And it is for a good reason. Larry Legend averaged 23.4 points, 10 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game over his 13 year career. He made 10 All-Star Game appearances, won three MVPs, two finals MVPs, 10 First Team All-NBA honors and was an original member of the Dream Team that won gold in the Olympics. Bird was an icon in the 80s and his rivalry with Magic Johnson is one of the greatest ever.
"Pistol" Pete Maravich
Growing up in Baton Rouge, it is impossible to not hear about the Pistol. LSU, Maravich's old stomping grounds, named its basketball arena after him. Maravich revolutionized the game with his deep shooting and flashy passes, and is one of the best college players ever ( he averaged 43.8, 44.2 and 44.5 points per game in his three years playing for LSU's varsity squad). In the pros, Pistol averaged 24 points, five assists and four rebounds in an era without a three point line.
Bob Cousy
Bob Cousy is one of the original legends on the court. Cousy helped build the Celtics into a dynasty in the 50s and 60s and they have maintained there dominance since. Cousy won six NBA championships and was the original Magic Johnson using his full court vision and fast break passing to burn opponents. Cousy averaged 18 points, 7.5 assists and 5.2 rebounds, was a 13 time All-Star and a two-time MVP.
Dirk Nowitzki
After earning his ring last year, Dirk is locked into the hall of fame. Nowitzki has never had an All-Star cast around him, yet has consistently led Dallas to the playoffs and been one of the top 10 players in the NBA every year (except maybe this season).
Nowitzki is an 11 time All-Star, and has averaged 24 points and eight rebounds over his 13 year career. Also, I think he has a few more years or one more championship run in him.
Jerry West
Jerry West is the icon of the NBA. Literally. You see pictures of him every day and probably don't realize it. Does this look familiar? How about this:
He is so photogenic.
Well it's the same guy. But West did more than pose for the NBA logo. West was the Lakers' version of Bob Cousy, leading Los Angeles to prominence in the 60s that has not been lost yet. West averaged 27 points, six assists and five rebounds over his time in LA. More importantly, West was a winner, making 13 playoff appearances in 14 years and winning one championship
There is my Top 5. There are plenty worthy candidates I would give honorable mention: Bob Pettit, Rick Barry, Jason Kidd, Bill Walton, John Stockton.
Now to make the case for Steve Nash. Nash plays for Phoenix, a team with historically bad management. The best players this team has had (besides Nash) are pre-awesome Joe Johnson (current being awesome in Atlanta), Shawn Marion (traded away for Shaq), post-awesome Shaq and Amare Stoudemire (currently being decent in New York). Johnson and Stoudemire were not paid for how they played so they left.
Since then, the Suns team has overpaid good back up players to be okay starters (Marcin Gortat, Shannon Brown, Jared Dudley and Channing Frye), acquired too many role players who are not stars (Sebastian Telfair, Hakim Warrick, Josh Childress, Robin Lopez) and had many an injured veteran play somewhat rejuvenated basketball (Grant Hill and Michael Redd). That is what their current roster looks like, and a 38-year-old Nash almost willed them into the playoffs.
This is Steve Nash. He wills a team of over-achievers to win. And he throws insane assists. And he has odd hair. And he is from Canada. I digress.
In college, Nash lead Santa Clara to two straight tournament appearances that included an upset over 10-seed Maryland.
Nash pulled a Suns team whose starters were Shawn Marion, Boris Diaw, Tim Thomas and Leandro Barbosa to the Western Conference finals in 2006. Now, yes, Marion was an excellent player, but Nash deserves the credit for dragging a team with this, this and this (and yes that is absolutely them) to within two games of the NBA finals.
Nash is a two-time MVP (in 2005 and 2006 nonetheless), eight time All-Star, has the fifth most assists in NBA history, and is so loyal that the Suns should already have his jersey in the rafters.
Nash could have won championships with other teams. Instead he stuck it out with his teammates, and has built a winning program in Phoenix.
I hope wherever he goes he can win, because Steve Nash is one of the best (both in skill and class) to run the courts.
**All stats are courtesy of NBA.com's archives and/or www.basketball-reference.com.**
Hands down, Miami is the most talented team in the NBA. However, the Knicks moved up to the seven seed with their win today and a Knicks-Heat matchup (while it would be awesome to watch) could be a killer for the Heat. Carmelo and company match up well against the Big Three and could pull off the upset. If LeBron can show up in crunch time this year, I see the Heat running away with the title.
The Defense with the Question Marks: Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are likely locked into the top spot in the East, and will probably win their first round matchup. However, Derrick Rose's injury has slowed down the Chicago offense. Rip Hamilton has not had the offensive presence expected. Carlos Boozer cannot lead this team alone. All these things point to a difficult second round matchup against either Boston or Atlanta. I would not be surprised to see the Bulls slip up against an energized Celtics or Hawks team looking to prove themselves.
The Dark Horse: New York Knicks
The Knicks probably cannot jump Orlando to get the six seed (three games back with two games remaining), which means they will play Miami or Chicago in the first round. If the Knicks can get passed the two powerhouses, the Knicks could make a run to the Eastern Conference Finals. For that to happen, Carmelo, Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler need to find their rhythm together. New York has the talent to win it all, but can they play cohesively?
The Invisible Horse: Indiana Pacers
The Pacers are the third seed in the East. Seriously. All the Heat-Bulls-Knicks hype has left Indiana to creep into the three seed with a first round matchup against the Dwight Howard-less Magic. Let's get imaginative for a second: Roy Hibbert dominates the not-so-Big Baby and pushes the Pacers past Orlando. Danny Granger and David West play their best against the Heat who just had a six or seven game battle with the Knicks. West muscles in and around Bosh, Granger shoots the lights out, Darren Collison and George Hill dominate Mario Chalmers, Tyler Hansbrough goes Psycho T... I'm feeling it! Sign me up for the Pacers bandwagon.
The Unstoppable Juggernaut: Boston Celtics
Boston is back! After a slow start, Coach Doc Rivers has the pieces in place to make another playoff run. Paul Pierce is playing like a young Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett has found his place at the five spot, and Ray Allen is playing well off the bench. The emergence of Avery Bradley and Greg Stiemsma have given energy to this "old" team. The bad news: Boston has lost three of four to Chicago in the regular season. The good news: Boston has won two of three against Miami. Boston needs to pray for Miami to steal the one seed from Chicago to get the better matchup. Either way, the Celtics are a team on a run right now, and could beat anyone four times.
The Other Guys: Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers
Let me start out by saying: the Hawks have a chance. Unfortunately, they draw Boston in the first round and I cannot see this unproven gang going into Boston Garden to take down the vets. Sorry, Atlanta, maybe another year.
Orlando is all kind of screwed. Without Dwight Howard, Glen Davis starts at center. Most high school centers are bigger than Davis. Anyway, unless Jameer Nelson, J.J. Reddick and Ryan Andersen knock down a flurry of threes every game, Orlando will get dominated in the first round by Indiana.
Philadelphia started strong (once the projected five seed), but a late season collapse has them clinging to the eight seed in the East. They will play Chicago, and do not have the offense to keep up with the Bulls. It should be a short post season for Philly and they need to build their frontcourt in the offseason.
That image was tarnished at the beginning of the season when Howard requested a trade. After misleading rumors for months, Howard agreed to stay with the Magic until his his contract runs out at the end of the 2012-2013 season.
Magic fans were only able to breath for a few days.
Unless you gave up watching the NBA for lent, you heard the accusations about Howard asking Magic management to fire head coach Stan Van Gundy. Now, Van Gundy is on the hot seat and Howard has turned into a diva.
The disparity between Howard and Van Gundy has sent Orlando into a tailspin.
I would hate to be a Magic fan. Orlando has lost five straight. Hedo Turkoglu is out for three weeks. Van Gundy is likely on his way out. I would be surprised if Howard resigns with the Magic after next season.
The Dwight Howard drama has been an embarrassment for the entire NBA, not just Orlando. From LeBron James' disastrous "decision" to Carmelo Anthony's "Melo-drama" in Denver, superstars are basking in the spotlight and humiliating their current teams by talking trades in the middle of the season.
I lost respect for Howard over this saga, and I bet most of Orlando shares my sentiment. For the past six years, Howard has quietly dominated in the paint. Now he has put himself before the team, and his play has deteriorated.
The trend of superstars playing puppet-master over the rest of the league needs to stop. I am not a fan of the "super teams" like the Miami Heat because it takes away the art of building a team through development and smart off-season moves. Most detrimentally, it negates the importance of a general manager and coach. Just get a couple stars who are buddies, and put them on the same team. Win. Repeat.
Howard is just another in the long list of spoiled NBA stars.
Superman has turned into Orlando's greatest super-villain.
Starting Monday, the New Orleans Hornets went through a gauntlet of four games on the road in six days. I was able to watch the last two, against Portland and the Lakers, and these two games were exact portrayals of the Hornets' season as a whole.
On Thursday, the Hornets were outmanned by the Blazers. Literally. Eight Hornets dressed out in Portland. Emeka Okafor was out with a knee injury. Gustavo Ayon was with his newborn child. Chris Kaman had the sniffles. Trevor Ariza and Jarret Jack had injured right ankles. Eric Gordon was not there because he is Eric Gordon.
Despite the eight-man team, the Hornets fought as they have all season. Carl Landry, back from injury, scored 24 hard, strong points. Marco Belinelli did his best Peja Stojakovic impression and hit a career best seven of 11 from beyond the arc.
But two players were not enough to down the Blazers.
LaMarcus Aldridge is an All-Star for a reason. Although his shoulders have been hurting from carrying his team the entire season, Aldridge managed 25 points and hit a clutch jump shot in the final seconds to put the Hornets out of the game. J.J. Hickson came back from the dead to rally the troops off the bench with 12 points. And I didn't know who he was, but Luke Babbitt sunk four three-pointers to stun the Hornets.
Yesterday, the Lakers proved, in this lockout season, talent surmounts effort at the end of games. Pau Gasol dropped 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds on the undersized Hornets (Lance Thomas and Jason Smith started in the post) and Andrew Bynum had a double-double. While Kobe Bryant only managed 11 points and one three-pointer, he hit the shot that counted.
The game was tied with 10 seconds left. Bryant had the ball at the top of the key. Trevor Ariza, who usually matches up against Bryant for the Hornets, was out, so Jarrett Jack guarded Bryant. Jack sagged off Bryant because he had not been shooting well all game. Kobe faked the drive, pulled up and drained the game winner. It was his first three-pointer of the game.
The Hornets have been tough to watch all season. New Orleans' offense has been anemic (29th in points per game) since Eric Gordon was injured. Coach Monty Williams has developed one of the best defenses in the country, but they get outplayed in the fourth quarter by superior talent.
Monty Williams is one of the best young coaches in the league. Most of his players are one dimensional, but a good draft can get the Hornets back into playoff contention.
Although the playoffs are not until June, each conference is beginning to take shape. So let us break down the postseason picture in the West to get a better idea of what to expect.
The Favorite- Oklahoma City Thunder
Kevin Durant has been doing amazing things this year, and if LeBron James had not been playing out of his mind, Durant would be the unanimous MVP. Russel Westbrook, the question mark coming into the season, has cut down his turnovers and been able to mesh more cohesively with Durant and company than last season. The Thunder's weakness is they could get pushed around by a team with a dominant big man (see the 2011 Western Conference Finals against Dallas), but Durant and Westbrook should be able to overcome any weakness with their dominant scoring. I would be shocked to see the Thunder lose before the NBA Finals.
This dynamic duo should lead the Thunder into the NBA Finals.
The Pesky Veterans- San Antonio Spurs
These guys will not go away. With a team average age of 57 (I didn't do the math), the Spurs continue to find ways to dominate in the regular season and get a high seed in the playoffs. The most interesting aspect for the Spurs is the trade for Stephen Jackson. I am not sure if Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan and Jackson can keep it up for a seven-game series, but if they can, they could give the Thunder a run for their money.
Age has yet to affect these three Spurs veterans.
The Hollywood Dramas- Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers
Both the Lakers and Clippers have extreme positives and negatives. The Lakers have been in a groove since the acquisition of Ramon Sessions. The Clippers are a high-flying, scoring machine. But the Lakers have been beaten by inferior teams and have looked slow during some games. The Clippers seemingly imploded last week, cannot make free-throws and turn the ball over in critical possessions. The two LA teams will make for fun drama in the playoffs.
These big men will battle for their teams come June.
The Dark Horse- Memphis Grizzlies
I would venture to guess the casual NBA fan has no idea that Memphis is currently the projected six seed in the West. The Grizzlies have quietly won games all season, and are starting to get healthy at the right team. Memphis has proven it can beat any team, but they have alos had recent losses to lowly teams like Toronto. With Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph dominating the post, Mike Conley running the offense, Tony Allen continuing to be one of the best perimeter defenders and Rudy Gay scoring everywhere on the court, Memphis is my team to watch in the West.
The Grizzlies need to rally together and build some momentum going into the playoffs.
The High-Energy, High-Risk Teams- Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets
Only two of these teams will make the playoffs. The Nuggets are the top scoring team in the NBA, and, with the return of Wilson Chandler from China, will probably have enough to get into the postseason, but I doubt they will go far. Along with their top offense, the Nuggets have the worst defense, giving up 103 points per game. The Jazz shot off to a fast start to the season, but have slowed down. Utah is one of the most balanced teams in the NBA, but when Al Jefferson is shut down -- which is no easy task -- the Jazz usually get outscored. I think Utah will be the odd-man-out at the season's end. The Rockets are currently on the outside looking in. But they have started to gather momentum, and when Kyle Lowry returns to the lineup, Houston should be able to squeak into the eight seed.
As the trade deadline came to a close Thursday afternoon, six teams made moves to shake up the NBA.
The first trade of the week sent Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Golden State Warriors for Stephen Jackson and Andrew Bogut. This move broke up the Stephen Curry/Monta Ellis hellacious backcourt, but brings the talented yet injury prone Andrew Bogut to Oakland. If Bogut can remain healthy, a Curry to Bogut connection would be something the Warriors could build on.
The Bucks were able to get rid of Stephen Jackson, someone who had never fit into the Milwaukee system. Where this trade seems odd to me is the pairing of Ellis and Brandon Jennings. Both guards demand the ball and score tons of points. However, if they can develop a post presence to grab the misses Jennings and Ellis throw up the Bucks could have some strong potential.
Milwaukee hopes Ellis can lead them back to the playoffs.
The Warriors, however, did not hold on to Jackson long. They traded Jackson to San Antonio for Richard Jefferson and the Spurs' 2012 first-round pick. The draft pick is probably a more valuable asset for the rebuilding Warriors, but Jefferson is going to cost them a few extra dollars. San Antonio, on the other hand, saves some money and Greg Popovich reunites with Jackson. If Jackson can mesh with Pop and the team, the Spurs -- as much as I hate to admit it -- are going to be serious title contenders.
The last time Tim Duncan and Jackson were on the same team, they won a championship.
The Lakers finally adressed their point guard needs by trading for Ramon Sessions. Los Angeles sent Cleveland benchwarmers Luke Walton and Jason Kapono, the Laker's 2012 draft pick and the rights to swap the Heat's 2013 pick (currently in the Cavalier's possession) with LA. Sessions played valuable minutes in his first game with the Lakers and should be able to give Kobe Bryant the boost he needed. As a Laker-hater, this trade baffles me. The Cavs got next to nothing for an extraordinary back up point guard who only had two years on his contract and the Cavs did not have to pay him a lot (about $4.3 million a year). The Lakers get a steal to replace the worn-out Derek Fisher and can sit inconsistent Steve Blake on the bench.
The Portland Trail Blazers demolished their foundation and are in the rebuilding process. Portland traded aging starters Marcus Camby to the Rockets and Gerald Wallace to the Nets. They received Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams and a first round pick from the Nets and Johnny Flynn, Hasheem Thabeet and a second round pick from the Rockets. Portland finally waived Greg Oden after the first round pick struggled through years of injury and no productivity. The Blazers look to rework their team around all-star LaMarcus Aldridge.
The Wizards got rid of their not-top-ten highlight machine in JaVale McGee and Nick Young. Washington acquired Nene from the Nuggets, and they hope to give John Wall a weapon on the inside. I'm not sure this was the best move for the Wizards. While McGee and Young were problematic, McGee is long and athletic and could have been a future contributor. If the Wizards could have gotten a better draft pick (they only obtained a future pick of an unspecified round), this trade could have made a more significant impact on the future of the Wizard organization.
The Nuggets, who traded for McGee, are looking to build a younger team, and they are doing that by swapping Nene for McGee. The Clippers traded a backup forward to Washington for Young. The Clips are trying to find a perimeter scorer to replace the injured Chauncey Billups, and Young may be the perfect fit.
During a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves' point guard Ricky Rubio tore his ACL, and Rubio will not step on the hardwood again this season.
The Timberwolves are one of several young teams in the NBA who are making changes to be competitive in the next few years.
Rubio's loss was a huge momentum burst for the Wolves, but Minnesota still has the pieces to make the playoffs next year. Kevin Love is on the verge of being an All-Star. There is a handful of valuable, young talent (Wesley Johnson, Michael Beasley, Derrick Williams, Anthony Randolph) who can be traded for more pieces or developed into valuable contributors.
The Timberwolves will have plenty to celebrate about in the coming years.
I expect Minnesota to be a six or seven seed next year, and with good front office moves, the Wolves could be competing for a title within five years.
The team that benefits most from the Rubio injury is the New Orleans Hornets. The Hornets acquired the Wolves' first round draft pick in the Chris Paul trade and hope Minnesota's record drops due to the injury.
The Hornets, armed with two potential top-ten picks, should be an exciting, young team next year. The most sensible picks for the Hornets are a power forward (Anthony Davis if they win the lottery, if not, Thomas Robinson or Jared Sullinger) and whoever is the best available player with Minnesota's pick.
Eric Gordon hopes to have young talent by his side when he returns from injury.
Armed with two stars and a roster of solid defensive players, the Hornets will be competitive in the West next season and will probably be in the playoffs in two years.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are going to be dangerous next year. Kyrie Irving is phenomenal and Tristan Thompson is a rising star.
When these two rookies get experience and wing players who can score, the Cavaliers will not be far from title contention.
Irving and Thompson appear to have a bright future playing with each other.
Their current problem is a lack of depth and scoring outside of Irving and Antawn Jamison, but one or two drafts and smart moves in free agency should keep the Cavs competitive in the East.
If I were the Cavs' general manager, I would have traded Jamison this season. With an expiring contract, Jamison would have been a valuable trade asset and would have fetched a good price (draft picks and/or young scorers). Jamison is on the decline of his career, and the Cavaliers need to lean on young players to build for the future.
Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic are in a trade stalemate that has the entire basketball world swirling with trade ideas.
Trade rumors have kept Howard frustrated all season.
While I hope Howard stays in Orlando, and the Magic administration should do whatever it takes to keep him, I fired up the NBA Trade Machine on ESPN.com to figure out possible trade scenarios for the Magic.
As soon as the NBA lockout ended and Dwight Howard trade speculation began, most experts pointed to the New Jersey Nets as the landing point for Howard. If the Nets and Magic agree to this trade, it helps both teams.
Howard looks pretty good in New Jersey red.
The Nets team up Dwight Howard and Deron Williams as they move to Brooklyn, and the Magic get Lopez, an up-and-coming center who they can build their new team around. If Okur can get his game back, he would be a valuable back up center with a propensity to shoot 3's, so he would be a fitting piece in Orlando's rebuilding puzzle. Stevenson makes the trip to Orlando as well, but, while he is a solid jump-shooter, he is mainly dealt to make the numbers work.
This trade is more ambitious and unlikely, but it would shake things up in the East.
Atlanta fans would love to see more of this.
The Hawks, with Howard and Turkoglu, would become instant title contenders. The combination of Joe Johnson's shooting and Howard on the inside would be hard for any team, even the Miami Heat, to defend.
The Magic would replace Howard with Horoford, who is a borderline all-star when he is healthy. Adding Josh Smith would give Orlando a young high-flyer who could sell tickets and be a winning player while the Magic continue to build a contending team.
The last part of the trade was not necessary, but Howard has hinted that he wants to play with Jackson, and Jackson has not been cooperating in Milwaukee. Marvin Williams would be a better fit in Milwaukee than Jackson, and it would give the Bucks some salary room.
While I was tinkering with the trade machine, I wanted to get a trade to keep Howard in Orlando.
Another ambitious trade, but everyone wins in this situation.
Howard would love to have Nash passing him the ball, instead of having to guard him
Nash and Hill join forces with Howard for one or two last runs at a title. Howard gets all-star players on his team, so he would stick around in Orlando.
The Suns get a younger point guard in Nelson, a young shooter in Redick and a experienced veteran in Turkoglu. Phoenix would save a few dollars and position themselves to make a championship run in the near future.
I urge Dwight Howard to stay in Orlando, mainly because I have a bad feeling he will end up in Los Angeles wearing purple and yellow. But for this to happen, the Magic will have to get someone like Nash to keep Howard living in Disney World.
I wanted to pretend the New Orleans Hornets were not playing the season.
The Chris Paul trade in the off-season was exciting until Eric Gordon, New Orleans' only hope for a successful year, went out with bone and knee injuries after playing only two games.
The season took a violent turn for the worse, and the Hornets were bottom feeding and desperately scrambling to find players to wear the blue and yellow jerseys.
The worst part was my home-state Hornets were not competing. Their offense was non-existent and the team looked exasperated. Eric Gordon seemed disinterested with the Hornets, and Dell Demps, New Orleans' General Manager, benched Chris Kaman while they tried to trade him.
However, during February, the Hornets have created some buzz (no pun intended), and have been enjoyable to watch.
Other than the blowout against the Chicago Bulls, the Hornets have kept the games close and winnable.
For this feat, head coach Monty Williams deserves a standing ovation.
Williams has been able to coach a depleted team to play tough defense for four quarters and defense has been the key to the Hornets' recent success.
Apart from coaching, New Orleans has been able to find solid players to make a promising team foundation for the future.
Gustavo Ayon, an undrafted free agent out of Mexico, has played himself into the starting lineup by being a consistent defender and rebounder, a decent scorer from the power forward position and a hustle/effort player.
Greivis Vasquez stepped up to fill in the shoes of the injured Jarret Jack and, since February began, has been averaging over 12 points and seven assists per game. Vasquez's most impressive feat was his Lin-surmountable defense against Jeremy Lin during the Hornet's upset of the New York Knicks.
After going into a black hole of dreadful basketball, Marco Belinelli has re-emerged as the Hornet's best three-point shooter. In February, Belinelli has averaged 46 percent from beyond the arc, including six of seven from three point range in a win against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The good news for the Hornets is that no one expects them to win, and they are likely to end the season with a lottery pick. Early draft speculation points to UConn center Andre Drummond or Kansas power forward Thomas Robinson as likely picks for the Hornets. Both players would address needs for the Hornets and could be immediate starters in New Orleans.
Even better news is that the NBA-owned Hornets have apparently found a group to buy the team from NBA commissioner David Stern. The buyers are rumored to be headed by a California businessman and Tom Benson's (New Orleans Saints owner) brother.
So let's keep watching the Hornets, as general manager Dell Demps and Coach Williams build this team for the future. While they make currently look like a under-manned college team, the Hornets have the coaches, players and now (hopefully) the owners to sustain the Hornets as a threat playing in the Big Easy.
This week the NBA released the All-Star teams for the East and West. In response, I have put together my own team of guys who are not All-Stars. The Consolation Prize Fun Team. My criteria were simple: which remaining players would make a team most fun to watch?
Point Guards: Jeremy Lin, Brandon Jennings, Ricky Rubio
Jeremy Lin has saved New York's season. The undrafted, Asian-American Harvard graduate has defied all odds and shocked the NBA. Last night he out-dueled Kobe Bryant. Though he has only started four games this season and has turned the ball over due to his lack of experience, Lin does have the Harvard learning curve to his advantage. Not to mention Lin genuinely has fun playing basketball and a smile that lights up the room. What's not to like?
Brandon Jennings may have made the All-Star team if he had not been playing for a below-average Bucks team in the West. Jennings is a bit of a streaky shooter, but his ability to turn it on and drain three-pointers puts him on this team.
Ricky Rubio has lived up to the hype. The Spanish-born distributor is averaging almost nine assists per game for Minnesota. In his rookie season, he and Kevin Love have given the Timberwolves hope for the future. His flashy passing makes him a shoe-in for the Fun Team.
Shooting Guards: Rudy Gay, Monta Ellis
Rudy Gay makes this team because I think he deserved to be an All-Star. Gay has kept Memphis' playoff hopes alive despite the injury to Zach Randolph. But by no means is Gay not fun. The 6'8" guard can make fade away shots like Kobe and throw down dunks like Blake Griffin. Just ask LeBron.
Monta Ellis is another victim of being on a bad team. But Ellis is a hybrid guard who can slash to the rim and make the tough shots. Ellis is the only reason I would watch Golden State play, and he is a bright future star for the NBA.
Small Forward: James Harden
James Harden is a great player for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The sixth-man of the year candidate has given the Thunder a solid third option behing Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook. But let's be honest, Harden is on this team because of his beard. It is up there with Brian Wilson as the best facial hair in sports.
Power Forwards: Josh Smith, Gustavo Ayon
Josh Smith has been a highlight machine for Atlanta. Smith has the talent and athleticism to make him a poor man's Blake Griffin. Smith's long range game is still in the works, but he is powerful big man who can also contribute on the defensive side. He makes the Fun Team so the point guards have someone to throw the alley-oops to.
Gustavo Ayon is just fun. He does not put up the best numbers, but he is scarily efficient and plays hard. Ayon has given the Hornets fan a glimmer of light in their dark season. The Goose gets a spot on the Fun Team because of his nickname and because the Hornets need some representation.
Centers: DeAndre Jordan, Paul Millsap
DeAndre Jordan is Blake Griffin's partner in crime. Jordan is one of the most athletic centers in the game and is known for his huge blocks and dunks for the Clippers. Nothing would make me more excited than getting to watch Ricky Rubio lob to Jordan and Josh Smith all night, so Jordan is an easy pick for the Fun squad.
Paul Millsap has been one of the most fun guys to watch in the NBA the past few years. He does not make the Sports Center highlight reel often, but the undersized (6'8") center has been a rebounding machine. Millsap is another guy I think was snubbed from the All-Star team, but he can have a spot on my Fun Team any day.
I would not bet any money that this team could beat the All-Stars, but putting these guys on the same court would be spectacle I would not soon forget.
The NBA never fails to give the world story-worthy material.
For example, this week I was unsure what to write about in my blog. Then Blake Griffin gave me, and the rest of the sports writers in America, something to write about.
Already being crowned the dunk of the year, Griffin's slam over Kendrick Perkins is being debated as one of the best dunks of all time.
Similarly, the Dwayne Wade to LeBron James alley-oop the day before garnered nation-wide attention until Griffin stole the spotlight.
While these two jams were outstanding, I will now give credit to Paul George for a dunk that would have been the best of the week if it had not been for the seemingly supernatural plays from James and Griffin.
George's dunk, while not the most athletic of the three, was the most flashy. Griffin's posterization of Kendrick Perkins was an impressive display of power, but Vince Carter did him one better in the Olympics. James' dunk was outstanding because he jumped over John Lucas, but Lucas is only 5'11", at best.
Griffin and James' dunks received the most media attention, and deservingly so. But I would like to give Paul George the credit he deserves. George had the speed to pass the defenders on the fast break, and then the ability to jump, turn 180 degrees, double-pump the ball and throw it through the rim with two hands.
These three dunks highlighted the week filled with ESPN Top-10 dunks, or as I like to call it, Dunk Week.
Of course, Dunk Week would not be complete without an homage to the two greatest dunkers in NBA history and the best dunks of their career.
Batman returns to the big screen this summer in The Dark Knight Rises. In the film, Gotham is threatened by the terrorist leader Bane. Currently in New York, the real life Gotham, the bane of the city is the lousy New York Knicks.
With all-stars Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, the Knicks were expecting to be a top seed in the playoffs this season. However, if the season ended today, the Knicks would not be in the post season.
The Knicks have struggled to a 7-12 record this season.
The Knicks have several problems to address. Firstly, New York has inconsistent point guard play. The signing of 32-year-old veteran Baron Davis and his beard are supposed to improve the postion, but Davis is still sitting on the bench due to injury.
Baron Davis is reportedly out shape and not ready to be in the Knicks line-up.
Another issue the New York media harp on is turnovers. The Knicks are tied for the third-most turnovers per game in the NBA and have the fourth least assists per game.
Most likely, these early struggles are due to a team of stars struggling to mesh after a locked-out off-season without training camp. Tyson Chandler came over from the Mavericks to be a defensive stopper, but has struggled to fit into the Knick's offense.
It is not time to give up on the Knicks. When Carmelo and Davis return to action, the Knicks could be an offensive powerhouse. The recent emergence of Bill Walker as a scoring threat off the bench may energize the lethargic New York second unit.
I would be surprised if the Knicks do not make the playoffs in the end, but they need to rise back up, like the Dark Knight, in order to restore order to the basketball world.
