The Miami Heat have the best record in the Eastern Conference, but not many analysts think they have the best chance of even getting to the NBA Finals this year. They have three All-Star players in Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, but beyond those three all they have are question marks. Their bench and role players are very inconsistent and they have a hard time helping the three All-Stars, especially on the offensive end. Some of this can be attributed to the fact that the Heat has had some injury trouble. Their fourth best player, Mike Miller, missed the first few months of the season, and he is really just now playing on a consistent basis. Miller is an all around guard, who can shoot and pass very well. The Heat also lost their second best role player, Udonis Haslem to injury for the entire year. Haslem was only other quality big men the Heat had besides Chris Bosh.
The Miami Heat might have caught a break though, because two key players have announced that they will more than likely join the Heat. Both Troy Murphy and Mike Bibby have agreed to buy-outs with their teams in order to sign a contract with the Miami Heat. A buy-out is when a player and a team reach an agreement in the terms of money for the player to be released from their contract. Murphy, who is one of the more underrated players in the league, will immediately be the second best big man on the Heat's roster. He brings rebounding and a scoring ability that the Heat would love to have. Bibby, while past his prime, can still shoot the ball very well and could help the Heat in that fashion. The only problem with these two acquisitions is that neither player has signed a contract with the Heat yet. While both players have said that they will go to the Heat, other elite teams are also trying to get these players. The acquisitions of both Murphy and Bibby could be a huge boost for the Miami Heat's championship chances. For more information about the Miami Heat visit their website here.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Joakim Noah: Key to the Bulls
The Chicago Bulls have sneaked into the talk of the elite teams in the NBA. When I say elite I mean teams that actually have a real chance of winning the NBA Championship this year. I believe Joakim Noah is the real key to how far this team will go. It is kind of funny, because he isn't even one of the two best players on the Bulls. Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer are the Bulls two best players, so how can Noah be this team's key to success?
Well for one he is one of only a handful of "true centers" in the NBA who are any good. When I say "true center” I mean players with the ideal height and weight of a center (around 7 feet tall and 260 pounds) and that has a true post up game style. Today the game has transitioned to place where most big men are quicker finesse players instead of the traditional power post players. This makes "true centers" that much more valuable, and that is a prime reason why Noah is so important to the Bulls. Looking into the other elite teams Noah will be a huge factor in the game because of the players he will have to play against. He will have to guard All-Stars like Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, Al Horford, Amare Stoudimire, Tim Duncan, Chris Bosh, Pau Gasol and Dirk Nowitzki. Noah is the anchor of the Bulls defense that ranks top 3 in the NBA; he is a top five rebounder in the league as well. For me it is easy to see why Noah is the key to the Bulls. For more information about the Chicago Bulls visit their website here.
Well for one he is one of only a handful of "true centers" in the NBA who are any good. When I say "true center” I mean players with the ideal height and weight of a center (around 7 feet tall and 260 pounds) and that has a true post up game style. Today the game has transitioned to place where most big men are quicker finesse players instead of the traditional power post players. This makes "true centers" that much more valuable, and that is a prime reason why Noah is so important to the Bulls. Looking into the other elite teams Noah will be a huge factor in the game because of the players he will have to play against. He will have to guard All-Stars like Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, Al Horford, Amare Stoudimire, Tim Duncan, Chris Bosh, Pau Gasol and Dirk Nowitzki. Noah is the anchor of the Bulls defense that ranks top 3 in the NBA; he is a top five rebounder in the league as well. For me it is easy to see why Noah is the key to the Bulls. For more information about the Chicago Bulls visit their website here.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
The Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics entered the season widely considered as the best team in the East, even though some though the Miami Heat might be the best. They really have shown up until a few weeks ago that they were not only the most complete team in the Eastern Conference, but maybe in the whole league. When I say complete I mean that they didn't really have any weaknesses. They play great on offense and defense. They have a point guard in Rajon Rondo that is great at distributing the ball, which is evident because he leads the league in assists. They have the newly anointed three point record holder Ray Allen. They have an all around scoring small forward Paul Pierce. They have an ever-tenacious Kevin Garnett who is a great player on both ends of the court. They had a good young center Kendrick Perkins, who rebounds, plays great defense, and is a perfect fit for their team. They also had a good bench.
That was before the trade deadline. Now they have traded Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic. They gave away a young center and a scorer off their bench for a good young forward and a below average big man. Now no one knows if this trade will end up helping the Celtics or hurting the Celtics. Jeff Green is a versatile forward who can defend multiple positions and can drive well to the hoop, while Krstic is nothing special. Now the Celtics have a void at the center position unless Shaquille O'Neal recovers from injury quickly. It was a surprising move for a team that many considered to be the best team in the league. Will the move pay off? We will have to wait till the playoffs for that answer. For more information about the Boston Celtics visit their website here.
That was before the trade deadline. Now they have traded Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic. They gave away a young center and a scorer off their bench for a good young forward and a below average big man. Now no one knows if this trade will end up helping the Celtics or hurting the Celtics. Jeff Green is a versatile forward who can defend multiple positions and can drive well to the hoop, while Krstic is nothing special. Now the Celtics have a void at the center position unless Shaquille O'Neal recovers from injury quickly. It was a surprising move for a team that many considered to be the best team in the league. Will the move pay off? We will have to wait till the playoffs for that answer. For more information about the Boston Celtics visit their website here.
Friday, February 25, 2011
The Reigning Champions
The Los Angeles Lakers came into this season as the odds on favorite to win the NBA championship after they had won the last two. The Lakers have the same core players from last year and really only added reserve forward Matt Barnes and backup point guard Steve Blake and let backup point guard Jordan Farmar go. The team still has the same starting lineup as last year including Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum (who started the year on the Injured Reserve, but is now back and starting), Ron Artest, and Derek Fisher. The team also has its most important reserve players including the versatile Lamar Odom and Shannon Brown. So the question is why are they 41-19 and third in the Western Conference by a whopping 8 games, when they have finished the last 3 years with the best record in the Western Conference.
The naysayers (and there aren't many naysayers) say that the team, which is old, is finally showing that it is getting old. The naysayers have a point the team is old as most of its players are upwards of 30 year old. Kobe Bryant, the team’s best player, while still very good, is no longer playing at an MVP level and that is causing a ripple effect throughout the team. Also Ron Artest is absolutely abysmal, he used to be a good player but now he a killing the team on both ends of the court.
The funny thing is that for a team that is playing so questionably, many analysts still pick them to win the Western Conference come playoffs time. Some even believe they will still win the NBA Championship; I am surely not one of them. I do know that whatever the outcome we all can't wait to see what happens to the Lakers come playoff time. Will they show their age in the playoffs or will they "Three-peat” the way they did earlier this decade. For more information about the Los Angeles Lakers visit their website here.
The naysayers (and there aren't many naysayers) say that the team, which is old, is finally showing that it is getting old. The naysayers have a point the team is old as most of its players are upwards of 30 year old. Kobe Bryant, the team’s best player, while still very good, is no longer playing at an MVP level and that is causing a ripple effect throughout the team. Also Ron Artest is absolutely abysmal, he used to be a good player but now he a killing the team on both ends of the court.
The funny thing is that for a team that is playing so questionably, many analysts still pick them to win the Western Conference come playoffs time. Some even believe they will still win the NBA Championship; I am surely not one of them. I do know that whatever the outcome we all can't wait to see what happens to the Lakers come playoff time. Will they show their age in the playoffs or will they "Three-peat” the way they did earlier this decade. For more information about the Los Angeles Lakers visit their website here.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
NBA Trade Deadline
Today the NBA Trade Deadline officially passed at 3:00 PM, and there was no shortage of deadline deals. Typically at this point of the season teams know pretty much where they stand with the rest of the league. Teams that are trying to contend in the playoffs (or buyers) are looking to get better now, and teams that consider themselves out of contention (or sellers) are looking to get better for the future. Normally it all works out because the buyers normally trade with sellers, and in theory it should work out for everybody.
There were many trades that came down to the wire, which means many teams got better today. To start of course the New York Knicks got better with their recent acquisition of Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, they could of possibly put themselves in a position to be a top four team in the east. Portland also got better in their acquisition of Gerald Wallace, and when they finally get healthy he could be a big help. The surprise of the day was the Boston Celtics trading away their starting center Kendrick Perkins, for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic. It was surprising because the Celtics, who are considered one of the two best teams in the east, didn't get the better of the trade. They traded away a key player for two role players, and that isn't something contending teams do. There were also plenty of teams that got better for the future either by getting rid of large contracts, getting good young players, or getting draft picks. The trade deadline deals once again jumpstarted the excitement around the league for the down stretch of the season. To see all the transactions that happened visit the NBA.com transaction page here.
There were many trades that came down to the wire, which means many teams got better today. To start of course the New York Knicks got better with their recent acquisition of Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, they could of possibly put themselves in a position to be a top four team in the east. Portland also got better in their acquisition of Gerald Wallace, and when they finally get healthy he could be a big help. The surprise of the day was the Boston Celtics trading away their starting center Kendrick Perkins, for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic. It was surprising because the Celtics, who are considered one of the two best teams in the east, didn't get the better of the trade. They traded away a key player for two role players, and that isn't something contending teams do. There were also plenty of teams that got better for the future either by getting rid of large contracts, getting good young players, or getting draft picks. The trade deadline deals once again jumpstarted the excitement around the league for the down stretch of the season. To see all the transactions that happened visit the NBA.com transaction page here.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The Carmelo Anthony Situation (Revisited)
3 days before the trading deadline it finally happened, Carmelo Anthony was traded to the New York Knicks. It was the only team he said he would accept a contract extension for in the first place, and they finally gave in to the Denver Nuggets trade demands. The Knicks had to give up 3 starters including Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler, and Danilo Gallinari, as well as a top prospect Timofey Mozgov, a 2014 first round draft pick, 2 second round draft picks, and cash considerations. They also had to trade Eddy Curry and another talented prospect Anthony Randolph to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Corey Brewer. They had to make the second trade for financial reasons. It seems to me like they traded a lot of assets away to get a player that they probably could have gotten this summer.
Carmelo would have been a free agent this summer, and after saying the only team he would sign an extension with was the Knicks, the Knicks still traded away a lot of their talent to get him. The only other team that even tried to get Carmelo was the New Jersey Nets, and though they did put a very attractive offer out to the Nuggets (who accepted the trade offer, pending an extension from Carmelo), they never had a real chance at getting him because Carmelo wouldn't have accepted an extension from them. So my guess is that the Knicks are still glad they got their man, even though now they will have to rebuild the rest of the team around him and Amare Stoudimire. The Nuggets have to be pleased with what they got for a player that wasn't going to be with them next year anyway. The Timberwolves are ecstatic that they were lucky enough to have gotten a great prospect like Anthony Randolph for what they got him for. So I guess everyone is happy, even though it seems like the Knicks got shafted in the deal, but if they like the trade who am I to argue. For more information about the New York Knicks click here, for more information about the Denver Nuggets click here, and for more information about the Minnestoa Timberwolves click here.
Carmelo would have been a free agent this summer, and after saying the only team he would sign an extension with was the Knicks, the Knicks still traded away a lot of their talent to get him. The only other team that even tried to get Carmelo was the New Jersey Nets, and though they did put a very attractive offer out to the Nuggets (who accepted the trade offer, pending an extension from Carmelo), they never had a real chance at getting him because Carmelo wouldn't have accepted an extension from them. So my guess is that the Knicks are still glad they got their man, even though now they will have to rebuild the rest of the team around him and Amare Stoudimire. The Nuggets have to be pleased with what they got for a player that wasn't going to be with them next year anyway. The Timberwolves are ecstatic that they were lucky enough to have gotten a great prospect like Anthony Randolph for what they got him for. So I guess everyone is happy, even though it seems like the Knicks got shafted in the deal, but if they like the trade who am I to argue. For more information about the New York Knicks click here, for more information about the Denver Nuggets click here, and for more information about the Minnestoa Timberwolves click here.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Kobe Bryant
After watching last nights NBA Allstar Game and Kobe Bryant's 37 point 14 rebound MVP performance, it got me thinking how good Kobe Bryant really is. I have never been a big fan of Bryant, the Los Angelas Lakers and he have always been on the lists of teams that i root against. Though i have never been fan, i do realize and respect how good Bryant really is. He has won 5 NBA titles with the same team, and he has been a huge contributor on all 5 championship teams. Many think he should be considered closer to Michael Jordan in terms of how good he really is. He is only 1 championship away from the 6 titles that Jordan has. Also many already consider him to be the second best shooting guard of all time. The biggest thing that he has going for him is that he might not be finished. He is still one of the best players in the NBA, and he still is on one of the elite teams in the NBA. I guess the only question left would be where do we rank him against Jordan.
Most Bryant fans would say he is very close to Michael Jordan because he does have so many championships, but on three of those championship teams he wasn't even the best player, Shaq was. While he has been a dominant player in this league for many years, he also only has won MVP trophy. I'm not trying to take anything away from Bryant because he is an exceptionally great player. At the same time though i think people weigh too much on how many championship teams he has been on, without looking at how good his teammates were. There is no doubt how good Bryant is, but lets leave the Jordan comparisons for someone else.
Most Bryant fans would say he is very close to Michael Jordan because he does have so many championships, but on three of those championship teams he wasn't even the best player, Shaq was. While he has been a dominant player in this league for many years, he also only has won MVP trophy. I'm not trying to take anything away from Bryant because he is an exceptionally great player. At the same time though i think people weigh too much on how many championship teams he has been on, without looking at how good his teammates were. There is no doubt how good Bryant is, but lets leave the Jordan comparisons for someone else.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
The NBA All-Star Game
It is NBA All-star Sunday and the game is about to kick off, and it reminds me of all the past All--star games and what the All-star game means to the NBA. I wasn't old enough to see the great All-star games of the 1980s with NBA greats like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Julius Erving, Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins, and a young Michael Jordan. My greatest All-star memories include an older Michael Jordan playing with the Washington Wizards in a game that went to overtime in 2000, Vince Carter's great dunk contest showing in 2001, that also included a great show of dunks in the game, and of course Lebron James's first All-star game and all the hype that went with it.
As I am watching this year's All-star game in Los Angeles you can see that the fans get a true show of entertainment that lacks nothing in star power. Not only do we see the NBA's biggest stars but also the biggest stars in the entertainment business. I've seen music stars such as Jay-Z, Beyonce, Kanye West, Rihanna, Diddy, Stevie Wonder, Steven Tyler and Justin Bieber, and also movie stars such as Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson, and Denzel Washington. So it really is a treat for fans to see all these people at one place having a great time watching the great basketball stars of today. We all get to see the best of the best playing with and against each other for some of the best basketball entertainment that can be seen. This is the time that everyone gets to see just how good some of the best athletes truly are. For photos from the All-Star Game click here.
As I am watching this year's All-star game in Los Angeles you can see that the fans get a true show of entertainment that lacks nothing in star power. Not only do we see the NBA's biggest stars but also the biggest stars in the entertainment business. I've seen music stars such as Jay-Z, Beyonce, Kanye West, Rihanna, Diddy, Stevie Wonder, Steven Tyler and Justin Bieber, and also movie stars such as Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson, and Denzel Washington. So it really is a treat for fans to see all these people at one place having a great time watching the great basketball stars of today. We all get to see the best of the best playing with and against each other for some of the best basketball entertainment that can be seen. This is the time that everyone gets to see just how good some of the best athletes truly are. For photos from the All-Star Game click here.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
The NBA Dunk Contest
NBA Allstar Weekend is just days away and NBA fans can't wait until the festivities start. If you’re a fan like me you watch everything, the NBA Celebrity Game, Allstar Saturday, the Rookie Allstar Game, and the NBA Allstar Game. It's not called "Allstar Weekend" for nothing; the entire weekend is going to be exciting from Friday to Sunday night. The Allstar Weekend has changed a lot though in recent years, and that is because of the falling off of the Slam Dunk Contest. It used to be that the Slam Dunk Contest was a main event on par or even above the Allstar Game. Many NBA fans can remember the epic Slam Dunk contests of the late 1980s involving Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, and Spud Webb. Dr. J is known worldwide for some of his epic dunks in dunk contests in the 70s and 80s. The Dunk Contest used to be "The Event" now it’s just an event.
The main reason that the Slam Dunk Contest isn't so exciting these days is because the best players aren't in it. In the late 1980s, Jordan, Wilkins and Webb were some of the best players in the league and they were facing off against each other in the dunk contest. Nowadays we are lucky to get one star player, and even if we do the other participants aren't up to that stars caliber. The last few notable dunk contests involved only one great player, Dwight Howard in 2009, Vince Carter in 2001, but there was never another start player involved. Even this year there is the much hyped and anticipated Blake Griffin, who has electrified us all year with some amazing dunks, but there is no one else in this year’s contest that can come close to his star power. The league needs to get a true star player showdown if it ever wants to revive the Slam Dunk Contest. For photos from the NBA Dunk contest click here.
The main reason that the Slam Dunk Contest isn't so exciting these days is because the best players aren't in it. In the late 1980s, Jordan, Wilkins and Webb were some of the best players in the league and they were facing off against each other in the dunk contest. Nowadays we are lucky to get one star player, and even if we do the other participants aren't up to that stars caliber. The last few notable dunk contests involved only one great player, Dwight Howard in 2009, Vince Carter in 2001, but there was never another start player involved. Even this year there is the much hyped and anticipated Blake Griffin, who has electrified us all year with some amazing dunks, but there is no one else in this year’s contest that can come close to his star power. The league needs to get a true star player showdown if it ever wants to revive the Slam Dunk Contest. For photos from the NBA Dunk contest click here.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
The TrueHoop Blog
Today i would like to promote a blog that is very good in the same area of my blog, which is NBA basketball. The TrueHoop Blog, which is on ESPN at http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop, focuses on any and all things that have to do with NBA basketball. The TrueHoop Blog has eight contributors who are all NBA writers for ESPN, they include Henry Abbott, J.A. Adande, Marc Stein, Kevin Arnovitz, Chris Broussard, Chris Sheridan, John Hollinger, and Chad Ford.
The TrueHoop Blog is a one stop shop for all things NBA. They cover everything going in the NBA. They also promote a blog for every NBA team, of course all of these individual team blogs are also ESPN affiliated. They also do a great job of incorporating all the information about whatever topic they are discussing. They will reference other ESPN articles and materials when needed, and they link it right in their blog. The TrueHoop blog has an easy to read layout, and every article shows the which contributor wrote it, as well as the exact time and date it was written. They also have a feature of the blog that lets readers just look at parts of the blog by a specific contributors.
Another great feature of the TrueHoop Blog is that the contributors are all actual writers from ESPN, so they get to talk to all the key people involved in every topic to get the information first hand. Another strength of the TrueHoop Blog is that they always do updates on former posts, so readers get the full story. The TrueHoop Blog is a great inspiration to my own blog and I recommend it to others who are looking for NBA basketball information.
The TrueHoop Blog is a one stop shop for all things NBA. They cover everything going in the NBA. They also promote a blog for every NBA team, of course all of these individual team blogs are also ESPN affiliated. They also do a great job of incorporating all the information about whatever topic they are discussing. They will reference other ESPN articles and materials when needed, and they link it right in their blog. The TrueHoop blog has an easy to read layout, and every article shows the which contributor wrote it, as well as the exact time and date it was written. They also have a feature of the blog that lets readers just look at parts of the blog by a specific contributors.
Another great feature of the TrueHoop Blog is that the contributors are all actual writers from ESPN, so they get to talk to all the key people involved in every topic to get the information first hand. Another strength of the TrueHoop Blog is that they always do updates on former posts, so readers get the full story. The TrueHoop Blog is a great inspiration to my own blog and I recommend it to others who are looking for NBA basketball information.
Monday, February 14, 2011
The Miami Heat
The Miami Heat had probably the most highly publicized off-season ever in NBA history. Mainly because they added Lebron James and Chris Bosh along with Dwayne Wade to form one of the absolute best threesomes in NBA history. Through all the love and through all the hate the question on everyone's mind is how will they perform. They were definitely going to be talented but were they going to be one of the elite teams in the NBA.
Many thought the Heat might make a run at the 1998 Chicago Bulls record season where they one 72 games. They started the season terrible, and almost everyone had written them off as an elite team. Then there team started to click, they got healthy and they started winning games. They are as of today the second best team in the Eastern Conference, behind only the Boston Celtics who are a half of a game ahead of the Heat. They have shown all the naysayers that they are an elite team, but can they win the championship. The Heat lost last night to the Boston Celtics for the 3rd time this season, and in the process they have brought up the question of if they could win against the Celtics in the playoffs. The Celtics as of right now are the front-runners to win the championship right now, and the Heat are 0-3 against them. They play once more later this season and believe me they need to win that game. Everyone knows that the regular season record means nothing when playoff time comes, but at the same time when a team dominates you there is a psychological edge that they hold over you. The great thing is we get to see how it all plays out over the next few months, I don't know about you but I can't wait.
Many thought the Heat might make a run at the 1998 Chicago Bulls record season where they one 72 games. They started the season terrible, and almost everyone had written them off as an elite team. Then there team started to click, they got healthy and they started winning games. They are as of today the second best team in the Eastern Conference, behind only the Boston Celtics who are a half of a game ahead of the Heat. They have shown all the naysayers that they are an elite team, but can they win the championship. The Heat lost last night to the Boston Celtics for the 3rd time this season, and in the process they have brought up the question of if they could win against the Celtics in the playoffs. The Celtics as of right now are the front-runners to win the championship right now, and the Heat are 0-3 against them. They play once more later this season and believe me they need to win that game. Everyone knows that the regular season record means nothing when playoff time comes, but at the same time when a team dominates you there is a psychological edge that they hold over you. The great thing is we get to see how it all plays out over the next few months, I don't know about you but I can't wait.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Some of the Best of All Time
I've already talked about how this is one of the best ages of basketball ever, and here I'm going to expand on that and talk about the caliber of players that are playing right now. As fans watching today we are able to as the famous Lebron James commercials say it "Witness" greatness in today's game. Every era has its own hall of fame players but I don't think they have this kind of caliber of hall of fame players.
At the point guard position right now we have two of the top 10 point guards of all time in Jason Kidd and Steve Nash. Kidd, who is a 10 time All-star and former Rookie of the year, just recently moved to second all time in assists and Nash is a 7 time All-star and 2 time MVP.
At shooting guard we have Kobe Bryant who is already considered to be the second best shooting guard of all time behind Michael Jordan. He is a 13 time All-star, he has won 1 MVP, he has 2 Finals MVPs, he has won 2 scoring titles, but even better he has 5 NBA Championships so far.
At power forward there is Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan. Garnett is a 14 time All-star, who has one MVP, one Defensive Player of the Year award and 1 NBA Championship. Then there is Tim Duncan who is already considered the best power forward of all time. He is a 13 time All-star, he won a rookie of the year award, he is a 2 time MVP, he is a 3 time Finals MVP, and he has won 4 NBA Championships.
At Center there is Shaquille O' Neal who many believe is already the best center of all time. He is a 15 time All-star, he won a Rookie of the Year award, he has won a MVP, he has won 3 Finals MVPs, he is a 2 time scoring champion, and he is a 4 time NBA Champion.
Not to mention there is Dirk Nowitzki who is the best international player of all time, and Ray Allen who will be the all time 3 point shot leader tonight most likely as he is just one 3 pointer away from tying the record. Also there is a great young group of players that will undoubtedly make it to the hall of fame one day. We should all recognize the great era of basketball we are watching.
All accolades are referenced from NBA.com
At the point guard position right now we have two of the top 10 point guards of all time in Jason Kidd and Steve Nash. Kidd, who is a 10 time All-star and former Rookie of the year, just recently moved to second all time in assists and Nash is a 7 time All-star and 2 time MVP.
At shooting guard we have Kobe Bryant who is already considered to be the second best shooting guard of all time behind Michael Jordan. He is a 13 time All-star, he has won 1 MVP, he has 2 Finals MVPs, he has won 2 scoring titles, but even better he has 5 NBA Championships so far.
At power forward there is Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan. Garnett is a 14 time All-star, who has one MVP, one Defensive Player of the Year award and 1 NBA Championship. Then there is Tim Duncan who is already considered the best power forward of all time. He is a 13 time All-star, he won a rookie of the year award, he is a 2 time MVP, he is a 3 time Finals MVP, and he has won 4 NBA Championships.
At Center there is Shaquille O' Neal who many believe is already the best center of all time. He is a 15 time All-star, he won a Rookie of the Year award, he has won a MVP, he has won 3 Finals MVPs, he is a 2 time scoring champion, and he is a 4 time NBA Champion.
Not to mention there is Dirk Nowitzki who is the best international player of all time, and Ray Allen who will be the all time 3 point shot leader tonight most likely as he is just one 3 pointer away from tying the record. Also there is a great young group of players that will undoubtedly make it to the hall of fame one day. We should all recognize the great era of basketball we are watching.
All accolades are referenced from NBA.com
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Remembering Jerry Sloan
In a surprising decision Jerry Sloan, the coach of the Utah Jazz, resigned today. Just a few days ago he had signed a contract extension to coach through next year, which makes this move that much more surprising. At 68, Sloan was the longest tenured coach in major professional sports, and this was his 23rd season with the Utah Jazz. He started out with the Jazz as a scout and worked his way through the organization and became the head coach. It has been reported by ESPN, that Sloan's deteriorating relationship with his point guard and best player Deron Williams could be what drove Sloan to resign. During halftime of last night’s game there was a heated argument between Sloan and Williams because Williams called a different play than Sloan had told him to. The thought is that this argument was the last straw and Sloan just couldn’t take it anymore.
Sloan, who will be remembered for his fiery attitude and his truthful speaking, was already inducted to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame a couple of years ago. His career is highlighted by his longevity, and a terrific career record. He has taken the Jazz to the NBA Finals twice losing to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in both 1997 and 1998. During the mid 1990s the Jazz had a standout team that included Hall of Fame players John Stockton and Karl Malone, who are still known as one of the best NBA duos of all time. Sloan is widely considered to be the best coach to never win a NBA Championship and it is easy to see why.
Sloan, who will be remembered for his fiery attitude and his truthful speaking, was already inducted to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame a couple of years ago. His career is highlighted by his longevity, and a terrific career record. He has taken the Jazz to the NBA Finals twice losing to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in both 1997 and 1998. During the mid 1990s the Jazz had a standout team that included Hall of Fame players John Stockton and Karl Malone, who are still known as one of the best NBA duos of all time. Sloan is widely considered to be the best coach to never win a NBA Championship and it is easy to see why.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Who is The MVP?
We are about at the half point of the NBA season right now, and this is the time where people start projecting what will happen for the rest of the season. One question that is always a hot topic is who is the MVP so far.
The way I see it right now there are about four legit candidates for the MVP. While many things could change in the second half of the season, right now I'd say the MVP candidates are Derrick Rose, Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki, and Dwight Howard. For each candidate I will give a brief resume for MVP this season.
Derrick Rose - The Bulls have been a huge surprise this year holding the 3rd best record in the Eastern Conference. This has all happened with both the Bulls second and third best players battling injuries this year. The Bulls haven't been at full strength yet this year, but they still boast such a great record and that is because of Rose's consistency throughout the season. He is top 10 in both scoring and assist, and many believe he is the leading candidate right now.
Lebron James - Lebron is already a two time MVP, and even though he has other superstars on his team (Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh) he some how manages to distance as the leader of this team. He is also top 10 in both scoring and assists though he also boast a great rebounding number as well. Throw in his tough defense and it is easy to see why he is most widely considered the best player in the NBA today, but is he the MVP this season
Kevin Durant - Durant is leading a very young and promising Oklahoma City Thunder team to the fourth best record in the very deep Western Conference after they barely got in the playoffs last year. He is also the leading scorer in the NBA, something that never hurts an MVP candidates chances.
Dirk Nowitzki - He has also already won an MVP before, and he is currently leading his Dallas Mavericks to a surprising second best record in the tougher Western Conference. He is top 10 in both scoring and rebounding, and has kept his team playing great while the entire team has battled injuries.
The way I see it right now there are about four legit candidates for the MVP. While many things could change in the second half of the season, right now I'd say the MVP candidates are Derrick Rose, Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki, and Dwight Howard. For each candidate I will give a brief resume for MVP this season.
Derrick Rose - The Bulls have been a huge surprise this year holding the 3rd best record in the Eastern Conference. This has all happened with both the Bulls second and third best players battling injuries this year. The Bulls haven't been at full strength yet this year, but they still boast such a great record and that is because of Rose's consistency throughout the season. He is top 10 in both scoring and assist, and many believe he is the leading candidate right now.
Lebron James - Lebron is already a two time MVP, and even though he has other superstars on his team (Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh) he some how manages to distance as the leader of this team. He is also top 10 in both scoring and assists though he also boast a great rebounding number as well. Throw in his tough defense and it is easy to see why he is most widely considered the best player in the NBA today, but is he the MVP this season
Kevin Durant - Durant is leading a very young and promising Oklahoma City Thunder team to the fourth best record in the very deep Western Conference after they barely got in the playoffs last year. He is also the leading scorer in the NBA, something that never hurts an MVP candidates chances.
Dirk Nowitzki - He has also already won an MVP before, and he is currently leading his Dallas Mavericks to a surprising second best record in the tougher Western Conference. He is top 10 in both scoring and rebounding, and has kept his team playing great while the entire team has battled injuries.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
So Many Point Guards
Point guard is the position that is a must have in today's NBA. The league transitioned from a slower half court game to more of a full court running game, and it is almost impossible to run without a point guard. I can't remember any point in time where there has been so many good point guards in the NBA at the same time. There are the older veteran point guards who are past their prime but still pretty darn good. Then there is the current crop of young point guards who are starting to make a name for themselves in the league. Lastly there are the great point guards of today.
The first category of point guards is the Old-Timers.
Steve Nash - This category has to start with the 2-time MVP who is still one of the most entertaining today.
Jason Kidd - Kidd is considered to be one of the top 3 point guards of all time and has to be the best all around point guard outside of Magic Johnson.
Chauncey Billups - I can't leave out Mr. Big Shot, who is still known for his NBA Final's MVP award
The Second category of point guards is the Up-In-Comers
John Wall - I have to start with the 2010 first pick of the draft, out of Kentucky, the lighting fast Ultra athletic John Wall.
Tyreke Evans - The smooth 6'6 guard is most of a scorer than a passer but he still is gonna be really good
Russell Westbrook - He came on the scene as a shooting guard but the ultra athletic point guard is having a breakout season.
The Third category of point guards is the Cream of the Crop
Derrick Rose - I start with the unbelievable athletic guard in Chicago that is more of a scorer, but is in the MVP conversation right now.
Chris Paul - The pass first guard is probably the best at mixing his passing and scoring duties.
Deron Williams - He is big, and very versatile, he can do it all at the point guard position.
Rajon Rondo - The best passer in the game today, who also hails from Kentucky
Tony Parker - While many wouldn't even consider his name here, all the French phenom has done since he has been in the league is win NBA Titles and be extremely efficient.
The first category of point guards is the Old-Timers.
Steve Nash - This category has to start with the 2-time MVP who is still one of the most entertaining today.
Jason Kidd - Kidd is considered to be one of the top 3 point guards of all time and has to be the best all around point guard outside of Magic Johnson.
Chauncey Billups - I can't leave out Mr. Big Shot, who is still known for his NBA Final's MVP award
The Second category of point guards is the Up-In-Comers
John Wall - I have to start with the 2010 first pick of the draft, out of Kentucky, the lighting fast Ultra athletic John Wall.
Tyreke Evans - The smooth 6'6 guard is most of a scorer than a passer but he still is gonna be really good
Russell Westbrook - He came on the scene as a shooting guard but the ultra athletic point guard is having a breakout season.
The Third category of point guards is the Cream of the Crop
Derrick Rose - I start with the unbelievable athletic guard in Chicago that is more of a scorer, but is in the MVP conversation right now.
Chris Paul - The pass first guard is probably the best at mixing his passing and scoring duties.
Deron Williams - He is big, and very versatile, he can do it all at the point guard position.
Rajon Rondo - The best passer in the game today, who also hails from Kentucky
Tony Parker - While many wouldn't even consider his name here, all the French phenom has done since he has been in the league is win NBA Titles and be extremely efficient.
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