Frank-ly Speaking: New Coaches In The East

Lawrence Frank: It was clear that Mo-town needed a new direction. Not even a season into his head coaching gig in Detroit, John Kuester, had lost all connections with the Piston players and fan-base. An erratic Rip Hamilton was relegated to the bench and the rest of the team played like they might as well have joined him. Other than former-Zag Austin Daye and Jonas Jerebko taking some real steps forward, the roster was rounded out by underwhelming performances from old dogs, Ben Wallace and Chris Wilcox, banged up seasons from CV, Prince, Rodney Stuckey, and Ben Gordon, and finally, youngsters Will Bynum and Jason Maxiell all but regressing before our very eyes. With all that said, even when the team was relatively healthy, they really never looked like they wanted to play anyway. A once proud franchise that all too eerily resembles the state of the city it calls home, is in need of a pick-me-up. Enter Lawrence Frank.

In my short-time as a student of the NBA game, I've never witnessed a coach take a team's mentality from worst to first so quickly. When he received his first coaching gig in New Jersey in 2004, he took a downtrodden Nets team on winning streak of 13 games, right out of the gate. The only thing I recall changing in the Net style of play was that Vince Carter became more of a basketball player than a one-dimensional highlight reel. VC has since gone to the opposite extreme and become just an absolute bomber of ill-advised shots. (There's got to be a better way to phrase that, but the mention of Vince Carter's game causes me to lose control of the use of my linguistics.) Anyway, that's neither here nor there.

It should be noted that five years later, Frank was issued walking papers after his Nets squad started out the season inauspiciously with an 0 and 16 record that stretched beyond his tenure (go Sixers), so to an extent you're only as good as the players around you.

But that's just it, nobody knows how good the players around him are. I mean, I'm not advocating for this too hard, the glass of the Detroit Pistons is most certainly half empty, but with a team about as motivated to win as a shark is to eat celery, and dysfunctional enough to abandon professionalism entirely and not show up for practice as some sort of silent, yet all too public, form of protest, I'm surprised the glass has any liquid in it at all. Ridiculous.

Time will tell if Charlie and Ben were worth their price tags, T-Mac worth the injury risk, Teyshaun will ever be back, Rip will ever play again, and Joe Dumars will have a job at all under these new owners, but Lawrence Frank may well be the guy in the short-term to get this team back on the assembly line. (Reaching for a car reference.)

Detroit needs a true point guard. Not a star, per se, but anyone who can share the ball half as well as Chauncey did. At this point, it's clear it's not Stuckey. Maybe shopping some of those 2s is on the horizon. Frank won't lead them into the future, but he could be the perfect guy to get the attitude of winning and respect back in Detroit. Frank's a buffer coach, but likely the mechanic the Pistons need to get their motor running again. (Okay, that was the last one, I promise.)

Dwayne Casey- Much like the aforementioned Kevin McHale, Casey looks to rebound from an '05 coaching stint in Minnesota that didn't go too well. Since that time Casey has picked up some jewelry, as he was an assistant coach for last year's champs, the Mavs. Any championship experience helps, but the likelihood of the Raptors being successful is slim. You'll forgive my lack of knowledge on the subject, but I'm not even really sure how Casey would run the team, and the pieces there seem limited. DeRozan is someone worth building around to an extent, and Bargnani has a nice little game, but overall I see more of the same in Toronto and I have little doubt that they will spend at least one more season as "Chris Bosh's former team". The Raptors have some picks from overseas that they hope will eventually turn things around, but honestly, your guess is as good as mine. I'll see the results when you do and as a biased Mavs fan, I sure do wish him the best.

Booth To The Huddle: Manifest Destiny in the West

The following is my analysis of new coaches in the Western Conference.

Mike Brown (L.A. Lakers): Let's get it out of the way. It is a near impossible feat to step into the great Phil Jackson's shoes and fill them overnight. Phil leaving was his choice, not the organization's. Too much criticism for the Brown hiring is unwarranted. I don't think there was any hiring to be made that wouldn't be met with similar skepticism. Adleman and Larry Brown come to mind as possibilities, but even then, none of those coaches have the zen of ten to prove worthy of tenure.

Think about what Mike Brown walks into. He sets up shop in one of the biggest cities in America surrounded by glitz, glamour, smog, and people who expect as much perfection on the basketball court as they do from their hairstylist. Surely I'm generalizing, but the prevailing attitude is relevant. Brown is inheriting a championship worthy team filled with players who, while not in the twilight of their careers, are certainly not as young as they used to be. This is also a squad that in spite of a semi-ironic name change clearly has its issues off the court regarding chemistry and Lord knows what else. Not being caught up on gossip rags and reality television, I'm not the guy to tell you that aspect of the game. Brown certainly does have his hands full. With that said, he's also walking into a place where Kobe Bryant is your starting 2 guard, Andrew Bynum and Matt Barnes fix to be healthy, Mr. Peace steps out of the beguiling triangle, Shannon Brown improves every year, and two of the most versatile bigs in the league, Gasol and Odom, are still in the tail ends of their respective primes. I feel pretty safe saying Brown's glass is half full.

Regarding this team's window closing, I personally don't get the debate. Kobe is noticeably showing the effects of his years on the grind for the first time I can remember, but he's still Kobe, and I challenge you to drop him out of the ten best players in the league this season (15, maybe). D. Fish may well be over the hill, but Steve Blake is backing him up. Everyone else of championship importance, excluding Bynum, may not be a spring chicken, but if the Spurs can keep in going for as long as they have, and the Celtics can be favored in the East before that regrettable trade, I think we're at least two seasons away from this being a true discussion.

Regarding Brown as a coach, I think this past year's playoff run by the Heat shows us that the success of the Cavs had a little more to do with Mike Brown than one might have initially thought. LeBron certainly makes all the difference, but to have the best record in the East two years in a row and a Finals visit with LeBron and relative nobodies as of now trumps a star-studded Heat team coming off a Finals loss that in hindsight wasn't as close as it felt in the moment.

Brown's teams always hung their hat on defense and rebounding hard. Of course, a lot of that had to do with LeBron having next to no jumper early in his career, but nonetheless, Brown loves the little things, and after being destroyed almost single handedly by JJ Barea this past May, perhaps a dose of the little things is just what Dr. Buss ordered. I am curious to see what happens on offense. So much of what happened in Cleveland was LeBron dominating the ball, driving and dishing to West, Gibson, and the great Donyell Marshall. The Lakers will need more formal sets and ball movement to properly utilize their wealth of talent.

Mike Brown is not Phil Jackson, but he is Mike Brown, and Phil Jackson did just get dismantled by the title-bound Mavs. Until proven otherwise, Brown may have the tools to hold a metaphorical mirror up to this Lakers squad and get the Lake-show back on track before the title window closes for the foreseeable future.

Mark Jackson (Golden State): Let's be honest, when it comes to catchy mantras, Mark Jackson is second to none. However, I question how the 2-3 zone known as "hand down, man down" will translate to the sidelines. Now, I tend to think that anything that steps away permanently from Nellie-ball is a step in the right direction, but here is a man with absolutely no coaching experience to his name. Definitely a risky pick for the Bay Area. With that said, you don't get to be third all-time in assists without knowing a bit more than catchphrases.

The point guard truly runs the team and is, in a sense, responsible for knowing everyone else's role as a position and individual so that you can get your teammates the ball where they and the consequent team can be successful. As fun and admittedly easy it can be to make fun of Mark Jackson, the St. John's alum is no dummy. With a re energized Monta Ellis, a presumably healthy Steph Curry, Dorrel Wright's breakout season, and a ton of youth around him, perhaps Jackson can grow into coaching as his squad grows into playing. If he can get David Lee to be the 20-15)player he's capable of being, the Warriors may well have picked up the steal of the coaching market. Mama, there goes that coach.

Kevin McHale (Houston): A solemn moment of silence for McHale's announcing career. There are a couple commentators a really enjoy, but his honesty, analysis, and levity in his work made him by far my favorite analyst. It was great to have a guy who knew at heart that it was just a game and still managed to be insightful and intelligent. I'll miss him this season, assuming we play it. Houston is not an easy place to roll into as they come off a fire sale of most anyone of value this past year and Yao calls it quits. Former Suns backup, Dragic, has some promise, and they still have the human army knife, Luis Scola and the hardest working man in high-tops, Chuck Hayes. Lowry and Martin appear to be flourishing and Patterson appears to be on the verge of blossoming. With that said, Rick Adleman was always great at making the most out of what he had. McHale's gig is definitely a rebuilding one, but he's got some blue collar guys that can help his cause in the long run. Coming off a brief coaching stint in Minnesota, clearly rebuilding is something McHale is comfortable with attempting.

Give Peace A Chance

Check out my other miscellanious blog for my thoughts on Ron Artests name change and some very minor Laker notes centered around Mike Brown.

Check back in later this week for fresh material regarding new coaches for a season I hope will still take place.

In the mean time: http://polidmb.blogspot.com/2011/06/give-peace-chance.html Ron Artest keeps the peace.

Full Court Press: A Reading From the Contemporary Testament of the King James Bible

A brief reprieve from the the typcial article slinkies. A quick poem on my relationship to the game. Hope you dig.

The parables of my youth were written in crossover dribbles

By giants and titans foreign to my area of the suburbs.

These were the manifestations of my hopes and dreams

And shortcomings I did not yet know existed.

What Jesus would do was irrelevant.

As it was written in the Scripture in the Book of Jordan:

And Nike spoke unto them, 'Just Do It'

And yea there was much rejoicing amongst the people as they supped upon their manna sending many a hosanna with voices raised and hands to the sky paying homage to the billboard of Larry Johnson in drag.

Always respect your elders.

Jock Jams were played on portable CD players while pick up games ebbed and flowed by the light of the star leading them to the little town of New York City where the Messiah was deep in prayer within the Garden of Madison Square.

I, like most, had no idea what "it" was, but I was certain my Air Jordans would help me traverse fallow fields of asphalt presided over by twin ten-foot scarecrows with Mutumbo fingers waving, screaming

Don't bring it in here unless you got it in here.

I tried to ask Spike the Baptist about it, but Reggie Miller systematically suffocated and decapitated that cat in '94.

His films ain't been the same since.

Armed with nothing but my pride, confidence, love of the game

And other addictive substances, I had the world at my fingertips.

It was leather and as orange as the fire within me.

I carved a step back jumper in the image of Cartwright

Out of sweat and carpenter's wood.

I could not make a quick move to my right to same the season of 1998.

In my fantasies I was not audacious enough to assume the alter-ego of

His-Airness.

I would always be the one who gave him the rock where he wanted it for the fade.

If the laces were aligned and the tongue was out,

You might as well get back on offense; it was wet without a doubt.

But God so loved the game that he gave

His only begotten son to baseball and Bugs Bunny

So that his children may know what it's like not to lose in the final seconds.

Shaqtun Pilate washed his hands and wept as the equipment supervisor's son

Was stripped down to his comfort fit Hanes and hung upon the rim.

Shaq could have saved him, but never could make a free throw when it mattered.

To His right,

In His image.

A man monikered Malone

From the time post Moses appealed to Him.

Are you not the greatest of all time?

Save yourself and prove it.

Then they will never refute you.

Michael countered thus,

Do you not suppose I could appeal to my Father,

Who would at once send me Phil Jackson and Dean Smith

To come to my aid?

Truly I tell you, you will never reach the promised land.

Malone stared straight ahead, unfazed.

A Mailman doesn't require deliverance.

Stockton sighed in shorts that remind us

"Hoosiers" is inspired by a true story.

Stockton hung his heavy head, disheartened,

Forgive him Father, for he know not what he do.

To His left, another.

Head of hair the color of a lost, enlightened brother.

Tattooed to the toe

Vibrant incarnate

Rodzilla

Board killer by birthright

Prodigal son of Detroit and San Antone.

'Can you not see?' said he

I am a faithful sinner.

Unabashed cousin of calamity.

Creature of chaos and crime.

Shepherd of a forgotten flock.

Simply put, I'm a bad motherfucker.

We all pay the piper,

To my fate I am resigned.

We have earned this

It is ours

We have earned this

It is ours

We have earned this

It is ours

'Be free from your burden,' said Michael to the apostle.

I bestow upon you the name of St. Dennis.

I assure you, you will be at my right hand in the kingdom of Springfield.

With gold upon our fingers, we will be together in paradise.

A redeemed Rodman was on the rebound.

'I will always love you, Michael.'

Said a sullen Scottie Pippen with a snake upon his shoulder.

McDonald's fries in hand.

The fallen king was silent and only spoke

Following a 20-second timeout of which he had three remaining.

'Scottie, you will deny me three times before LeBron wins a ring.'

A

K

A

Before the cock crows.

Pippen, perplexed, swore his loyalty until the summer of 2011.

When he realized what he'd done, he fell to his knees

And banished himself from the United Center.

The legacy of Michael Jordan was buried in a cave.

Three days later, his banner was risen to the rafters.

The Rapture occurred as one season turned

The faithful rewarded with three more championships

To sail into the sunset.

And like that he was gone again.

Bryon Russell's broken ankles

The only evidence of his presence.

What was left was the abyss.

Extinct was the Magic of Johnson,

The medicine of Dr. Julius.

The knowledge of McAddos and don'ts.

The game was devoid

Of all things team based.

Except in the Spurs, but America grew weary of Tim Duncan's humility.

The lepers of Los Angeles, sequestered to Sacramento

Were the only glimmer of hope that one day,

Five men would play as one again.

Darkness fell upon the land as Allen Iverson became the face of the professional game.

And he didn't even have to practice.

If that man is the answer,

I no longer give a shit about the question.

Just when things were at their bleakest,

There came a European liberation

Rescuing basketball from apathy and stagnation.

The watching world reviled and revolted against the uniformity of the slam dunk.

Born again was the jump shot and bounce pass.

Symbols of the era time forgot were rejuvenated

As the ideals of Jason Kidd and Ray Allen were reinforced

By kindred spirits like Nash and Dirk

Even Grant Hill made it through a whole season.

If that's not an act of God, I don't know what is.

It would seem as though the dove above had returned with an olive branch.

The flood was over.

Ah, but alas, not to be outdone.

Axis armies amassed in New York, Miami,

And other major metropolitan areas just out of Superman's jurisdiction.

No matter how charming Dwight Howard may be.

Basketball is not about the journey, but the destination.

So began the contemporary testament.

But even that was okay.

The Empire of South Beach crumbled

Leaving a self-proclaimed patriarch crestfallen

With a cracked crown inscribed,

"Chosen One"

There was redemption in Dallas.

An illustration of teamwork unbridled and unrivaled.

This was our rebelion against the imperialism of sports.

This was the consummation of faith punctuated by the cliche,

But no less profound moral:

Good things come to those who wait.

This storybook ending shattered

By the reminder

Basketball is a business.

Small market teams are sinking like the three pointers of Glenn Rice.

Any hero of the hardwood worth his weight in Gatorade wants out to where

The fables have already been etched in the floorboards.

They want no adversity and a shortcut in their perennial pursuit of immortality.

This is the Negro spiritual of the 21st century.

Filtered through auto-tune and pumped inot our living rooms

In the background of sneaker commercials.

These songs are sung while athletes wade in the waters of their luxury swimming pools.

And collect residuals on endorsements.

In the middle, there is me.

Still gripping my leather planet

Reeling with the revelation

That the only thing in the world that's free

Are the verses I share with you now.

The NBA is about reaching the land of milk and honey.

The modern paradigm of rings and money.

Everything else... is a chump.

Don't Believe The Hype

Here we are, flying down the homestretch of a grueling 82-game regular season with the playoffs on the ever nearing horizon. The best of the league jockey for playoff position and claw and scratch for the right to hold a potential game 7 on their home floor. Pretty exciting stuff, right? Not really.

In a sense, we've been deprived of what truly makes the time of the season thrilling. Playoff teams have pretty much been set since mid-March and with the exception of Houston giving futile chase to a Grizzlies squad with a reputation for inconsistency, this last leg of the season hasn't provided much to write a column about, other than the Bulls having all but a choke hold on the top spot in the East, and the Spurs and Celtics looking much more mortal than they've looked earlier in the season.

This sudden sense of mortality has a bit to do with an ill-timed injury bug infestation and likely an even more ill-timed trade in Bean-town, but mostly these teams know that the playoffs await and it's more important to play great basketball in late April than early April. Recall, if you will, last year's Celtic team; a lowly 4-seed written off as an old horse past its prime by most heading into the post-season simply because they appeared to have stumbled their way there. As it turned out, the Cs had plenty of gas left in the tank, treated the playoffs as a starting gate rather than a finish line and one month later, lost in game 7 of the NBA Finals.

The media will try to force the idea that these final games matter down your throat just to keep TV rating from slipping and keep you from getting as bored as the players undoubtedly are at this point. It's not so much that home court advantage doesn't matter, but it's simply a factor in who wins in the playoffs, not the factor. A lot of fuss is being made of the fact that Dallas has only won 8 of their last 17 games. Dallas is just an older team biding their time until the playoffs. With the exception of most likely wanting that game against the Lakers a couple of weeks ago in which they got rocked, the Mavs probably haven't cared about winning a game at all costs since about March. The Mavs are the best road team in the league, had the 2 seed in last year's playoffs and were bounced by the 7-seed Spurs. The only things that do matter in the playoffs are matchups.

During the Dallas-L.A. game, Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, and company kept expounding on the importance of this game in determining second round home court advantage. First of all, they're making a hell of an assumption that these two teams can make it past their 6 and 7 seed opponents respectively. (I'm saddened to admit that it's a much bigger question mark for the Mavs than for the Lakers.) Second of all, while not the case anymore, the Blazers were sitting in the 7 spot at the time, while the David West-less Hornets were number 6. I promise you, each team would rather play the Hornets, even at the expense of sacrificing home court in the second round. Even if the 2 seed were to beat Portland, it is most likely going to take more out of them than a series against the Hornets. This is, of course, speculation, opinion, and not giving a whole lot of respect to Carl Landry and CP3, but even if you disagree, you can see my point. Playoff basketball is about whom you play, how you play, and health. Where you play is a distant fourth, in my opinion. Don't feel guilty for wanting to hibernate until the playoffs start. You are not alone.

The bottom line is this: At the end of the day, these are professionals playing basketball and no amount of fans beating thunder sticks are going to prevent the best team from winning a series. Would it be nice to have a game 7 at home? You bet, but not at the expense of the health of the team. Sleep well, dear readers. I'll wake you when the games matter again.

Beast Of The East Round One, At Least

Bulls/Pacers - Probably the only series I'd be willing to bet my life's savings (meager as it is) on. Frank Vogel gets a lot of credit for sparking this team mid-season, and with Collison and Hibbert having big up sides and Tyler Hansbrough getting some burn during this youth movement in Indiana, the Pacers are a little bit more than Danny Granger and four jerseys. But not much more. The Bulls are just too talented at both ends of the floor; my expounding on the greatness of D. Rose and importance of Boozer and Noah would waste both my time and yours. Bulls in 4.

Heat/Sixers - One thing we've learned about the Sixers this year is that you can turn garbage into gold. The Sixers can compete on any given night with any team in the league. Given my fandom, I might even be inclined to pick them as an upset possibility...if they were playing anyone but the Miami Heat. The Heat simply present too many mismatches, and even i have to admit they've looked pretty primed of late. they haven't worked everything out, but I hate to say that a lot of their demons may be behind them. What's a shame is that this series will totally misrepresent just how wonderful a job Doug Collins did turning this team around. The Sixers do have an advantage at the point which can be an Achilles heel to the Heat. Also, the Sixers have the element of surprise in that the Heat will not be able to plan ahead for who will step up for the Sixers in a given game. The Sixers are a bit more balanced, but it won't be enough to shake a focused Heat team. Heat in 5.

Celtics/Knicks - Boy, did it feel strange typing K-N-I-C-K-S in a playoff article. This is a very compelling series. Boston is clearly not the same team they were prior to the Perkins deal. The Knicks have kind of found a groove, but still give up way too many points to mediocre teams. Allen's slump is reminiscent of last year, and Rondo's been in a heck of a funk while the defensive five spot might as well not exist. However, a lot of the Celtic woes come from not being able to rebound. The Knicks are just as, shall we say, vertically challenged as the C's. To score the ball, you need to have the ball. A change in tempo to get Rondo in the open floor may be just what the Celtics need to jumpstart this team. Also, given the build of the Knicks roster, maybe having Shaq at game speed isn't as important in the first round as it will be later in the playoffs. The Celtics dodged a bullet there. With that said, the Knicks can score, and 'Melo looks great. How Billups is, and whether Toney Douglas will play Rondo, are compelling questions. The Knicks can afford to put Jefferies on KG and rest Amare on Kristic. Pierce vs. 'Melo at the elbow alone will be worth the price of admission. This series has the potential to be a real chess match, but I fear Mike D'Antoni only plays checkers. Celtics in 6.

Magic/Hawks - Puzzlingly, the Hawks won this season series pretty decisively. Al Horford's a monster and Jason Collins plays really well against Dwight Howard, but I don't have high hopes for the one-trick Hawks. they lack a point guard and consequent roundball IQ. The Magic have plenty of issues, but i think they're heading into the post season about as balanced as I've seen them all year. Nelson is active and involved, and Hedo is no longer trying to do too much. As long as the Magic can keep from becoming a one-man show on both sides of the floor eating popcorn while Dwight does work, they should be able to handle whatever the Hawks throw at them. Look for Q. Richard and Chris Duhon to become more important components of what the Magic do on defense going forward. If the dormant and gimpy Gilbert Arenas can shake some cobwebs off his game, the whole conference is in trouble. Magic in 5.

First Round Breakdown Of West's Best

Spurs/Grizzlies- If you would have told me in October that the San Antonio Spurs would be the top seed heading into the playoffs, I likely would have assumed you were under the influence. A completely retooled roster around Manu, Timmy, and Tony, a faster rate of play, and an alert Richard Jefferson have given the old dog Spurs new life. This is a testament to Popovich and the way this organization drafts. What's scary is that the Spurs are the tops without Duncan having exerted himself over the course of the season. His ankle is a question mark, but he and the Spurs should be ready to play come tip-off. With that said, this season series is tied for a reason. Memphis is young and have found a startlingly new commitment to defense since the All-Star break. Offensively, the Grizz have more weapons than a Rambo movie. Memphis is hungry, has a determined and wise coach in Lionel Hollins, a beast in ZBo, defenders in Tony Allen and Shane Battier, and a seemingly healthy OJ Mayo. The Spurs defense has slipped this season as their speed increased. This is not your typical 1/8 match up. Call me crazy, but Spurs in 7... or the other way around.

Lakers/Hornets-Andrew Bynum should reportedly be ready for the playoffs and the Lakers are coming off a hard fought OT victory over the Kings in what may well have been the last NBA game in Sac-town to stop the bleeding of their losing streak. I don't question the Lakers' preparedness as it is, but the Hornets are not really going to test the Lakers anyway. Hornet hopes went down the drain with David West's injury. Landry has done a nice job filling in, but he doesn't offer what West does. Chris Paul hasn't been as consistent since his concussion, though I doubt the two are related at this point. Also, the Hornets have no bench besides Jack and my soft spot for Aaron Gray. A Hornet fan should be pleased to have ball in the bayou next season and you did get a career year out of Okafor. Other than that, see you next season. Lakers in 5.

Mavericks/Blazers- *sigh* Let me cut to the chase. I believe the Blazers will win this series, but not because Dallas is "soft." Tyson Chandler gives that team a ton of heart and toughness. Haywood, Stevenson, and Marion are still on the deepest bench in the league, and Dirk, while not amazing, is more aggresive inside than he's been in his entire career and has proven he can perform in the clutch over the past few years. I mean, with all due respect, we're not talking about Shawn Bradley and LaFrentz anymore. Are they flawed? Yes. Screwed by the chance of seeding? Quite possibly, but you drive down the paint at Chandler and Haywood and tell me they're soft. What they lack is an interior scorer. Chandler and Haywood are bigs who can help clean up messes and throw down lobs, but rarely look for their own shot. If Barea and Jet can give productive minutes off the bench, then it's Portland who's in trouble. However, in an offense based largely on finesse, you have to shoot the lights out consistently to get wins. In the playoffs, that's tough to do without getting to the line. I favor a Portland team as healthy as they've been all year with much chagrin. However, Dallas just might have enough defensive toughness to pleasantly surprise me. Mark my words, I'm not silly enough to guarantee any victories for any team and I am, at heart, a biased Mavs fan, but I believe if they beat Portland, they're favorites in the West and possibly the league. There's something special about this team, believe me. Portland in 6.

Thunder/Nuggets-If I had to pick one series to watch, it would be this one. The Thunder are longer and bigger and have a go-to guy in Durant. The Nuggets are tenacious, fast as all get out, and have nothing to lose. I feel as though the backcourts of Lawson and Felton neutralized Westbrook to a degree and will force him to be a true point-man. Gallo is a nice defender, but no match for KD. A rejuvinated K-Mart against Ibaka and the underrated Nene against Perk... simply, fireworks. I give the Thunder the edge because they have a closer, but this series will be ugly in the best possible way.

Thunder in 6.

Oh, Captain, My Captain

With about six games left in the season, it's still a bit early to reflect on playoff matchups. Try telling that to the Lakers and Mavs. A lot can happen in the standings before season's end, but I do feel that it's safe to pass judgment and praise on the men at the helms of these teams. Below are my Coach of the Year candidates.

Gregg Popovich (San Antonio)/Phil Jackson (Los Angeles)- Is it a crime to post these guys together? Let's be honest, these guys are so great that it's hard not to take them for granted and move on to the coaches who are not given. The "Zen Master" once again has the Lakers looking like a well-oiled machine heading into the playoffs. The banged up Spurs are limping into the playoffs, but until proven otherwise, the Spurs have the best record in the league. "Pop" has worked wonders with a nearly completely retooled roster. Phil Jackson does a great job managing egos and Gregg Popovich does a great job making it seem like egos don't exist in that part of Texas.

George Karl (Denver)- The 'Melo-less Nuggets were supposed to ride of into the sunset like John Wayne and be the poster-team for why the CBA should be passed, right? The Nuggets must be well-versed in their Dylan Thomas because that has yet to be the case. At 13-4 since the trade, the Nuggets are jockeying for playoff position and have completely bought into Karl's new run-like-hell offense and hounding defense. The strengths of Karl's teams ever since his days in Seattle have been a concept of family and deep rotations. Having just signed a three-year extension, it would seem like both Karl and the Nuggets have nothing to lose heading into April.

Tom Thibodeau (Chicago)- While definitely the beneficiary of a Derrick Rose breakout season, Thibodeau also touts the best defense in the league and has traversed a season laden with injuries as well as his ever-talented point guard. The Bulls sit atop the East and with the exception of Carlos Boozer playing like something else that comes from a bull, they're healthy and dangerous and it has everything to do with Thibodeau's basketball knowledge and values.

Doug Collins (Philadelphia)- Here is a man worthy of his own article, but to put it simply, Collins has reenergized this entire fan base and franchise. Collins has showed a young club how to play the right way. As a result, the Sixers compete on a nightly basis with any team in the league. Most importantly, he has every player knowing and playing their role, including doing what no coach has ever done before: Making Iggy a facilitator.

Honorable Mention:

Nate McMillan (Portland)- Once again successfully navigating the injury minefield known as Portland to get his team to the playoffs. If Aldridge can continue to play at a high level, they may get well more than a berth.

Rick Adleman (Houston)/Paul Silas (Charlotte)- If you can name me all ten players that make up the starting lineups of both of these teams without using the Internet, I owe you the beverage of your choice. These teams won't make the playoffs, which makes my argument irrelevant, but the fact that these teams are playing meaningful ball at this point is a testament to the quality of these coaches. Plus, the only team more banged up than the Celts and Spurs this year have been the Cats. Silas taking over mid-season for Larry Brown in such a situation is incredible, to say the least.

Talent vs. Chemistry: David and Goliath Take To The Court

We've all seen the highlights of the ticker tape parade held in Miami when LeBron James and Chris Bosh decided to bring their talents to South Beach and join Dwayne Wade on the Miami Heat. The Heatles went on to spark the "Floridian Invasion" and tell the world that they were going to win not one, not two, not three--you get the idea--championships. Eager to believe anyone with confetti falling on top of them, America almost bought it.

Lo and behold, the Heat have taken their lumps, struggling mightily against the league's upper echelon. Although, to be fair, they still don't have a Ringo. Inspired by the Heatles and the money burning a hole in his pocket, Donnie Walsh and the rest of the Knick organization sought after and got another marquee player to ball alongside Amare Stoudemire, in Carmelo Anthony. For the sake of this questionable classic rock analogy, let's say that the Electric Light Knickerbockers were formed. And, yea, from the deep valleys of Times Square to the high rise apartments of the Upper West Side, there was much rejoicing.

Ah, but alas, despite motivational music videos, passionate 'Melo chants, and Ronny Turiaf's awe inspiring beard, the Knicks have a lowly record of 7-10 since the trade, and have fallen below .500 for the first time since about Christmas. The NBA's new collective bargaining agreement seeks to initiate a sort of franchise tag that will keep superteams like this from forming; however, the play from these supergroups appears to be anything but harmonious.

I happen to be in favor of this aspect of the new CBA, but not necessarily because I'm against big-market superteams. the Celtics and Lakers account for 31 of the 64 NBA titles won, so let's not pretend that the league has always had its talent equally distributed. With dedicated players, the Oklahoma City Thunder are poised for a long stay as one of the Western Conference's elite franchises. i admit the humble, loyal players like Kevin Durant have become more of the exception than the rule; however, the Nuggets are a tremendous 11-4 since losing the almighty 'Melo, and are proving to be The Little Engine that Could for small market teams all over the league. And, of course, how can we overlook the most consistent team of the past ten years, currently with the best record in the NBA? The Spurs have been the epitome of class and success for what seems like forever, but there is a problem.

The Spurs, despite being statistically the best team in the NBA, are losing money. The Hornets, another team in the thick of the playoff hunt, are owned by the NBA itself because potential owners are hesitant to maintain the team in small-market Louisiana. These small-markets are competing with the larger markets of the NBA, but they're bankrupting themselves to do it. The NBA must step in to keep these teams afloat financially, and the on-court game will take care of itself.

An NBA with 30 elite teams may sound ideal, but it's impractical. I'll settle for a league with eight title contenders and 12 more teams that are fun to watch. In this era of homemade All Star teams, it may seem like the very structure of the league is collapsing, but I believe the league will continue growing with teams cyclically falling in and out of contention. So what if the Lakers are never in last place? When has that ever happened anyway? The Heat and Knicks are proving that talent doesn't win titles. Hardworking, unselfish teams like the Nuggets, Blazers,Thunder, Spurs and Rockets are placing the premium on great coaching and attitude, not just great players. These teams are showing that the heart of the small market team in the NBA is arguably stronger than ever. It simply falls on the NBA to ensure that those hearts keep beating.

I leave you with a quote from the Heatles' hit single, "Come Together":

One and one and one is three,

Got to be good lookin' 'cause they'll never win rings.

Come together, right now, in Miami.

When The Music's Over

Interim Utah Jazz head coach Ty Corbin still finds himself winless in his brief and unforeseen head coaching career as of the All-Star break. While the Jazz are still expected to compete as a playoff team in the Western Conference, Corbin has some leeway when it comes to his timetable for making his team a winning one. When your predecessor has been sitting on the same bench, calling the same plays, in the same system for 23 years, there are bound to be some growing pains.

After 23 years on the Jazz sideline, coaching legend Jerry Sloan has suddenly decided to retire and leave the game of basketball behind. While Utah is about as known for jazz as New Orleans is for polygamy, rest assured, Salt Lake City is a city built around this franchise and the humble, fiery coach that represented the Jazz since 1988. Now that Jerry Sloan has gone, the music is over, and the NBA community is left in the wake of the departure of a man who had become a staple of the entire league.

Jerry Sloan's success speaks for itself. Sloan suffered only one losing season since his acquisition of the position in 1988, resulting from and understandable one-season hangover from the end of the Stockton-Malone era. Jerry Sloan led the Jazz to the NBA Finals twice. He might have won them, too, were it not for a guy by the name of Michael Jordan. Since those series in 1997 and 1998, Sloan has kept the Jazz relevant and excelling in the small market of Salt Lake City. The fact that Sloan never won Coach of the Year honors is a testament to his consistency. Jerry Sloan's teams were never to be underestimated or counted out of any contest. Sloan's teams picked up that old-school, hard-nosed toughness and never-say-die attitude from Sloan himself. This attitude, combined with basketball knowledge led to victories on the court.

After some notable offseason acquisitions in Al Jefferson and Raja Bell, the Jazz were a dark horse pick by many to emerge from the Western Conference. However, the Jazz, currently barely hanging on to the eighth seed in the West, have underachieved. This, coupled with a presumably unhappy point guard in Deron Williams, led to the sudden, controversial announcement of Jerry Sloan's decision to resign.

Concerning whether or not Deron Williams and/or management had anything to do with Sloan's departure, I have a few things to say:

1. I sincerely doubt that Williams gave Jazz GM, Kevin O'Connor, an ultimatum between Jerry Sloan and himself. Williams has publicly stated that he would request a trade before requesting Sloan's dismissal. Furthermore, I doubt O'Connor would side with Williams if that was the case.

2. I don't doubt that Williams' halftime argument with Sloan the day before the announcement had a lot to do with Sloan's decision. With that said, don't turn Williams into a monster. Jerry Sloan has had to butt heads with star players before (such as Karl Malone), and Sloan's resolve was never shaken, at least to this degree. What I'm trying to say is, you can't blame the last straw that broke the camel's back. You have to look at the big picture of 23 years of emotional and physical wear and tear that accompanies and NBA season. At some point you have to know when the hard work is not worth the result. As soon as your life's work becomes more of a chore than a passion, it's time to move on.

3. John Stockton was just as old-school as his coach, having the short-shorts to prove it. Sloan may have clashed, at times, with Malone and others, but Stockton (with, I'm sure, a few exceptions I'll never know about) was solid as a rock for Sloan and reciprocated his goals on the basketball court. Williams, clearly, did not. A conflict in basketball ideology with your floor general is a recipe for trouble. Trouble that has all too apparently come to a head.

The Jazz are left with many lingering questions. The most obvious being: Where do we go from here? How do we build upon 22 years of success? It's clear that in order to appease Williams, a free agent in 2012, the style of play in Utah will be shaken up. If the Jazz become more of a running team offensively, do they regret giving up the flourishing Wes Matthews and replacing him with an older, defensive-minded shooting guard in Raja Bell? While certainly better on the defensive end, wouldn't you rather play an up tempo game with the agile Carlos Boozer running the floor rather than the slower, more traditional big in Al Jefferson? The Jazz, though underachieving, are a team tailored entirely to the specific needs of Jerry Sloan's proven successful system. Without Sloan there to be the captain of the ship, we see nothing but a lower-tier playoff team without a true identity. An identity provided by Jerry Sloan for 23 years. Jerry Sloan's retirement signifies a changing of the guard in Utah and the end of an era in the NBA.

A sincere and heartfelt thank you to coach Sloan for giving us Bulls fans something to sweat about and being the epitome of hard-work, class, and professionalism in a way that stretches well beyond the scope of the sports world. As for the Jazz, if I may quote the late Jim Morrison:

"When the music's over, turn out the lights.

Leave 'Melo Alone

Here I sit, channeling my best impression of Chris Crocker, minus the violent screaming, uncontrollable tears, and effeminate make-up. With that said, I may or may not be writing this from the security of a protective fort made up of my own bed sheets. In all seriousness, malice towards Denver Nugget forward Carmelo Anthony is getting out of control and is hardly justified. The "Melo-Drama" that has taken the NBA by storm over the past month has a bit less to do with 'Melo than you think.

I apologize, but before I get into this topic, I have to go on a bit of a tangent. I hate it when the media stumbles upon some sort of play on words pertaining to a situation that is actually pretty darn clever and, as a result, they drive that very saying into the ground until it's no longer clever in the slightest. The term "Melo-Drama" falls under that category. It's funny because his nickname is 'Melo, and the trade "drama" surrounding him is similar to the storyline of a melodrama which, by definition, is a dramatic work which exaggerates plot and characters in order to appeal to the emotions. Get it? I'll pause while you laugh heartily.

Now, as I was saying, Carmelo Anthony is not some sort of selfish monster. Believe me, I'm not all that big a fan of Anthony in the first place. I admit I don't necessarily dislike 'Melo like I do other players such as LeBron, Kevin Garnett, and, of course, Sasha Vujacic; but there are definitely some flaws in his character that I don't appreciate. I think he's always had a bit of a smug air about him that has always prevented him from being considered a true MVP candidate. Let's not forget his little incident at the Garden in 2006 when he autographed Mardy Collins' jaw with his knuckles. (Yes, it is sad that the most notable moment of Mardy Collins' NBA career centers around him getting punched in the face.) Finally, he's also been known to butt heads with Future-Hall-of-Fame Denver head coach, George Karl, over silly issues such as playing time. Bear in mind, it wasn't until that Denver team found a true voice of reason and leadership in Chauncey Billups that they were considered a true force in the dog-eat-dog world that is the Western Conference. With trade rumors running rampant, Carmelo Anthony is starting to catch some flak for being so non-committal to Denver and courting teams--some flak that for once Carmelo Anthony doesn't deserve to bear the brunt of.

Is the Carmelo Anthony situation a distraction and detriment to his teammates, the Nugget organization and fan base? Absolutely, but let's not forget that it's the media that blows every little thing that occurs in this debacle out of proportion. One second he's going to Jersey, then New York, then L.A. and then the moon. Chris Broussard's "sources" I suspect to be none other than Miss Cleo, because her guess as to where Carmelo ends up is as good as anyone's. The media jumps the gun and posts these stories in an effort to promote readership, ratings, and to scoop other media outlets. These trade talks have played out in the public eye and, as a result, the Denver Nuggets have an understandably hard time focusing on basketball.

Understandably, teams are hesitant to trade for Anthony without a guarantee that he will sign an extension. Obviously you don't want to trade away the future of your team for half a year of Carmelo's services, only to lose him to free agency at the end of the season. As far as I know, Dallas is the only team willing to do that. With that said, how can you be made at a man for not wanting to play somewhere?

Not that I'm telling you something you don't already know, but the NBA is a business. Carmelo Anthony has to do what he feels is right for him and his family. LeBron is not a pariah because he left Clevelant; he is a lightning rod for public scrutiny because of how he left Cleveland (among other reasons).

New Jersey was among the teams courting Carmelo, and a three-team deal was all but set to send him to New Jersey. In addition, the deal would save Rip Hamilton's career from the abyss that has become Detroit. All that was needed was a guarantee that Carmelo would sign the extension to stay with the Nets beyond the 2011 season. Carmelo refused, and consequently the Nets walked away. Being upset with 'Melo for not signing the extension goes against one of the cardinal rules of life that's been crammed into our heads ever since we were old enough to under the actual content of the lyrics of the songs we heard on MTV. (I am, of course, making a bold assumption that you can still remember when MTV played music.) The cardinal rule is this: You don't go and do something just because everyone else is doing it.

We've been hearing about the perils of peer pressure ever since our teachers told us not to smoke cigarettes. While I don't mean to imply the Net or Nugget organizations endorse adolescent smoking (although I've heard it's all the rage in Russia), this situation was similar. The Nuggets and Nets had a potential deal in place, and in an effort to resolve this 'Melo matter quickly, pressured Carmelo into signing the extension. Carmelo refused the deal and was ridiculed for it because the deal had unfolded in the public eye. To my memory, this is the only time the public has had such inclusive access into the business aspects of the NBA. Because of such a magnified eye on the off-the-court situation by fans and media alike, both squads were distracted on the court and abandoned trade talks. Carmelo has been noncommittal to the media, not because he's being coy or playing games, but because he is trying to be professional about the situation. If he didn't want to be politically correct, he could easily say that the only time he'll voluntarily go to Brooklyn is to see a Jay-Z concert. However, in an effort to keep what should be said behind closed doors behind closed doors, Carmelo is being as quiet as he can about the situation, and letting his game do the talking.

Cafrmelo is averaging 25 ppg to go along with eight boards a contest. He is coming off a 50-point performance in a losing effort against Houston, and (with a whole lot of help from Arron Afflalo) recently led a momentous fourth quarter comeback against my Mavs. Carmelo may want a change of scenery, and this his prerogative; but until he dons the blue and orange under the bright lights of NYC, it's clear that he wants to do what he can to win basketball all games no matter where he calls home. It's 'Melo's job to play basketball, and it's Denver's job to find a deal that will appease everyone. If you ask me, one of those two is doing their job better than the other.

The Carmelo Anthony trade situation is a distraction for the Nugget organization as a whole, and is becoming a black eye for the NBA. The more time it takes for the Nuggets to make a deal, the worse the organization and league look as a result. The media has helped this "'Melo-Drama" balloon to monumental proportions while the nation sits and watches with restless anticipation and/or varying degrees of annoyance. Time will tell where Carmelo plays ball this March and next season. In the meantime, you can expect Carmelo to compete on the hardwood as he always does, and the media to make mountains out of molehills as it always does. If you're going to get made about it: Don't hate the player, hate the game.

Until next time, say no to cigarettes.

Love In L.A.: An Ode To The Hardwood's Unsung

The unsung hero has been a staple of our culture for generations. For every Paul Simon, there's an Art Garfunkel, a John Oates for Daryl Hall, a Watson for Holmes, a Clark for Lewis, a Kato to the Green Hornet, and, of course, every member of a 90's boy band who didn't totally reinvent his image by starring in Alpha Dog and and isn't crossing his fingers for some sort of reunion tour to reignite their stardom so they don't have to resort to starring in a V-h1 reality dating show. The world of NBA basketball is no different.

Unsung heroes can be found all over the NBA. Examples include Kevin Love in Minnesota, LaMarcus Aldridge in Portland, Zach Randolph in Memphis, and Andrea Bargnani in Toronto. Love is leading the league in double-doubles while his team rests comfortably at the bottom of the Western Conference. Aldridge, a sudden superstar for an injury-riddled Blazers squad, now has a newfound post game to complement his finesse-laden face up game. ZBo is averaging 20 points and 13 boards a game without being the focal point of the Memphis offense. (Yes, they do have an offense this season as opposed to two years ago when their offensive set consisted of Conley, Mayo, and Gay playing one-on-one ball and hoping for the best.) And then there is Bargnani, who has got to be wondering why the only national press the Raptors get involve DeMar DeRozan replacing Brandon Jennings in the dunk contest, and the infamous title of being "Chris Bosh's former team." By the way, for anyone who thought Chris Bosh being soft had to do with the Canadian air, it looks like we see things all too clearly now. Got to protect those legs, Chris. Anyway, I wanted to take the time to applaud whom I consider to be one of the most underrated players in the NBA this season: Eric Gordon.

Now, I know what you're thinking, "This guy's nuts, there's a big reason that the Clip-show is semi-relevant again, and you can find him nightly on Sportscenter's top plays and in the nightmares of Timofey Mozgov." Blake Griffin is a freak of nature and has the skills set, heart, drive, and humility to be one of the NBA's greats. I have nothing but respect for Blake, and will give him due credit for revitalizing a franchise (and making Baron Davis want to play basketball again), but Eric Gordon has been equally important to the Clippers' recent success. Unfortunately, his contributions have been overshadowed by Griffin's breakout rookie season.

Gordon is averaging career highs in points per game (24), assists per game (5), and even rebounds per game at a still modest 3.1. Gordon and the rest of the team have also bought into defense a bit more this season, and improvement I feel can be attributed to the philosophy of new coach, Vinny Del Negro. Gordon's improvement on both sides of the ball can also be attributed to his time spent with Coach K and the rest of the championship FIBA team. It seems as though every player involved is having a terrific season coming off their summer games.

Griffin and Gordon, or as I call them, "G-Unit" (Okay that's lame. Forget I said that), account for just under half of the team's total points per game, and with the exception of both sometimes being turnover prone late in tight games, they usually have their hand in the majority of good play that Clipper-nation has seen of late.

Gordon suffered a wrist injury that will sideline him for 3-4 weeks. The Clippers have not won since his absence. Without Gordon in the lineup, teams can freely double Griffin, and the Clips have no other player who can consistently create their own shot and make teams regret leaving one man open. The Clippers' playoff chances took a big hit this past week with the news of Gordon's absence being more extended than previously thought. In order for the Clips to keep their playoff hopes alive, Gordon will need to come back healthy and stronger than ever to help Paul Simon- I mean, Blake Griffin lead this team into their, dare I say, bright future.