Five and Alive in the City of Roses

It wasn't very long ago that the Portland Trailblazers were labeled the sleeping giant of the Western Conference. One of the deepest and most dynamic teams in the league in spite of yet another draft bust in the  imposing, yet injury riddled form of Greg Oden, lead by the formidable duo of Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge with role players aplenty, including the up-and-coming Nicolas Batum, swingmen Gerald Wallace and Wes Matthews, the fiery yet vexed Rudy Fernandez, apt if underwhelming Steve Blake and the wise vet Andre Miller there to oversee the operation.

Oh, how the almost mighty have fallen. In a stroke of fate that could only happen to Portland, Brandon Roy's knees crumbled beneath him, causing him to hang up his high tops all too soon only to shine them up again to essentially be fitted for a new Wolves jersey and matching knee brace. A Felton/Miller trade flopped, Blake was traded to Los Angeles and technically hasn't left since, Rudy got his wish and is now out of not only Portland, but the NBA entirely, and Wallace now crashes in Brooklyn. A Rose Garden once in full bloom faced dark times. As expected, some weeding took place.

Once prominent head coach, Nate McMillan, was deposed midway through the 2011-12 season and for a while Blazers rode a General Manager carousel, having three in two seasons. At last that carousel appears to have come to a halt as the Blazers appear to be settling into a new era of basketball with a very unlikely, and very small, cast of characters.

The Blazers gambled on unproven (while successful as an assistant in Dallas) head coach Terry Stotts and an equally uncelebrated point guard out of the largely unknown by D-1 standards, Weber State. As of this writing, these gambles appear to be paying dividends. The Blazers have to be cautiously optimistic that they've finally gotten the draft monkey off their back (bear in mind they technically drafted not Aldridge, but Tyrus Thomas) with Lillard's production, and while this will likely do little to ease the pain of knowing both the names of Jordan and Durant will never loom in the rafters of the Rose Garden, the Blazers seem to have laid the groundwork for raising a banner of their own.

Logging career highs in minutes certainly helps, but the Blazer starting five are flourishing with Matthews and Batum reaching their potential and Hickson showing why, at one time, he was expected to be the eventual right-hand man to LeBron in Cleveland. This team of five has, in recent weeks, picked up nice wins against the Knicks, Grizz, and Heat, with narrow loses to the Spurs, Thunder, Warriors, and Nuggets in overtime. They've had a few bad loses thrown in there, too, but given that their roster 6-10 looks more like a D-league squad, I think it's safe to call those losses "encouraging". You know, what they used to call Laker games.


They don't give Coach of the Year honors to those at the helm of teams one game out of the playoffs. Nor should they, but the fact that Terry Stotts has what is, for all intents and purposes the thinnest team in the league competing on a nightly basis with some of the deepest and best teams in the league is, at the very least, respectable and arguably awe-inspiring. Now, in all likelihood, the wheels will indeed fall off this team and their lack of legs will outweigh their abundance of heart as Dallas and Houston continue to figure themselves out and Minnesota gets healthy, but as we approach the All-Star Break, we're past the point of attributing records to short-term chemistry issues and strength of schedule. The Portland Trailblazers are a team that appears to have put their demons behind them and our truly ready to build around Lillard, Hickson, Aldridge, Matthews, Batum... and  a future draft pick to be named later.

Courts By Northwest

Denver Nuggets: There's no denying that the Nuggets will continue to have one of the most dynamic and entertaining offenses in the league and George Karl's teams have always been notorious for their depth and reliance, almost to a fault, on a 12 man rotation. The Nugget's ability to turn the corner will be determined by Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried's continued growth and development, for which both appear to be poised. The heady vet, Andre Miller, and a vet with a rather swollen head, Andre Iguodala in the Rockies. Part of the Nuggets success last season, pushing the Lakers to the the limit in the playoffs, was Danilo Gallinari's ability to step up and make big shots. He was about as close to a superstar as Denver had. Iguodala's addition creates an interesting wrinkle in the Nuggets' potential. Iggy's rise to semi-stardom after years of only talking the talk and not walking the walk had everything to do with Doug Collins' coaching and his time on the national team. Iggy's true niche on the court is that of a playmaker, when he had a proverbial leash on him and was not so dead set on being a shotmaker, both Iggy and the Sixers never looked better. If Iggy can maintain that playmaking mindset, the sky is the limit for both he and the Nuggets, but if he reverts back to old habits in this freer offense, the Nuggets organization my live to regret his acquisition. It should be noted that no matter what, Iggy has the potential to flourish in that fast-paced offense, and with Gallo and Iggy locking down the perimeter, if Javale McGee can play with his head on his shoulders consistently, as he did last post season, the Nuggets may fulfill Mile High expectations.

Minnesota Timberwolves: The Wolves finally appeared to have a team tailored for Rick Adleman's system and interest in Wolves basketball was at its highest since Kevin Garnett and, dare I reference him, Spree, suited up in the Twin Cities, then the injury bug bit and bit hard. Rubio's recovery will be something to monitor going forward, but there's no question that the real blow here concerns the implications Kevin Love's broken hand  The team will once again face an uphill battle until those two are on the court again, but there's a chance that some saving grace can be found in the rest of the roster. Obvious questions linger about how one-time superstar Brandon Roy's knees will hold up to the grind of the NBA season. The Wolves, likely didn't expect to have to lean on him as much as they might have to at the season's begining, but that surgery worked wonders for Kobe, and it should put some tread back on Roy's tires. If he can stay healthy, Kirilenko could flourish outside of Utah coming off a season overseas. Rick Adleman's offense isn't exactly free, but the change of scenery and a lack of other options could revitalize AK 47's once promising career. Love's absence will create ample opportunity for Derrick Williams to prove his mettle, and a banged up Luke Ridnour may well be a blessing in disguise for the the Wolves, as minutes will open up for the dynamic JJ Barea. As encouraging as all of this sounds, there's no replacing a Kevin Love, or even Ricky Rubio and the fact that your two best players otherwise are walking injury risks is beyond disheartening. As a Wolves fan, you have to hope you can tread water in their absence, but regardless, this team only goes as far as a healthy Love and Rubio lead them.

Portland Trail Blazers: To say that last year's season in Rip City was a disappointment is an understatement and this year will likely wind up being more of the same. However, up-and-coming rookie guard, Damian Lillard could go a long way in rewriting that script. Lillard's preseason indicated that he's prepared for the NBA game, and the prospect of him playing alongside the talented LaMarcus Aldridge is enough to have Portland fans salivating for basketball. The Blazers haven't been this excited about a rookie since the ill-fated Greg Oden. The Blazer rotation is rounded out by two versatile swingmen in, Nicolas Batum and Wes Matthews who still have a lot of upside to their game, but even if all three of these players play to their potential Portland's squad is still very young and, until proven otherwise, not very deep. The team will likely struggle and the time of them being perceived as the sleeper team in the West is behind them, but at least it will be good to know that Aldridge will not be out there playing alone, as it looked at times last season.

Oklahoma City Thunder: On paper, the Thunder's chances of repeating a trip to the Finals took a hit when they traded James Harden to Houston, but Jeremy Lamb as a long term investment may prove wise, the Thunder have a knack for making those calls, as Westbrook and Harden both had players projected to go before them when they were drafted by OKC. Also, let's not forget just how skilled a shoot Kevin Martin was outside of the context of last season's apparent rough patch. However, Martin likely won't get the volume of looks he did when he was in Houston as he plays third fiddle to Durant and Westbrook. If Martin gets licence to run the second unit as Harden did, Martin may pleasantly surprise. There's no question Martin doesn't fill the intangibles of defense, passing, and beard-growing that Harden did, but this is far from a one-sided trade. Health concerns circling Perry Jones resulted in him falling to OKC, if he can be healthy, he may prove the steal of the draft. Eric Maynor's return should help that second unit keep the pedal to the medal and leave opposing teams in the dust. The Thunder have one of the deepest front courts in the league with Perk, Ibaka, the under-sung Collison, and even Thabeet, who will likely play well with no offensive expectations on his shoulders. Oh yeah, then there's Durant and Westbrook who, already at the top of their profession, seem to improve every year. Bear in mind, a lot of the Thunder errors in the Finals were mental. Another year of maturity could do wonders for this squad as they undoubtedly march towards title contention.

Utah Jazz: This team looked pretty woeful by last season's end, but that had as much to do with San Antonio hitting its stride as it did the Jazz struggling. Mo Williams at point is an improvement over Devin Harris who appeared to lose all confidence in his game last season. The Jazz have one of the best starting front courts in the league in Jefferson and Milsap. Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors' continued development will shape this season's depth and perhaps, if Marvin Williams can finally meet his potential halfway, the Jazz could turn some heads. Odds are this team will again be in the awkward middleground of too good to break up, but not enough there to really compete. New found guard depth and Marvin Williams' promise at least keeps that glass half full in Salt Lake City.

Middle of the Road: Central Division Preview

The Central Division finds even its top teams in a state of transition.

Chicago Bulls: The championship hopes this team had last season were shattered in an instant when Derrick Rose drove to the basket during what some would consider garbage time of a first round victory over the Sixers and tore his ACL. While perhaps unjustly considered the underdogs in the East behind the eventual champion Miami Heat, this team was poised to make a title run of its own before Rose's untimely injury. This season, as with last season, the Bulls will only go so far as Derrick Rose can take them. Expect some ugly basketball until Rose returns, but the hard nosed attitude of head coach Tom Thibodeau should keep this team in the playoff hunt until that time. Should Rose return healthy, odds are the Bulls will be poised to make a similar run to last year, where they're overshadowed by the three kings of South Beach and itching to prove their worth come playoff time.

Last season, Luol Deng truly stepped up as a defensive force on the perimeter and second scoring option to D. Rose. Deng continuing to cement his role as the unsung Robin to Rose's Batman while Carlos Boozer does dirty work as an underrated third option could really help this team going forward. An out of shape Boozer two seasons ago combined with trying to force feed him the ball to be a part of the offense made for some rough seas in Chicago, but a more featured Luol Deng and a three point shot developed by Rose have helped the Chicago offense flow a bit more naturally and effectively.

The Bulls lost a lot of familiar faces which made up their defensively dominant bench mob. With Korver, Watson, Asik, and Brewer gone, this bench will have a whole new look to it, but the organization did a decent job filling in those holes and again, you've got to figure that the bench will take to Thibs' defensive approach quickly, as he seems to have a knack for making that attitude contagious. The increasingly integral sixth man, Taj Gibson, seems due for a breakout year to follow up his breakout year (if that makes any sense). This is a man, while not inked for the long term, who would start on many other teams and seems to be a big part of Chi-town's future. His continued growth should prove vital to the team's success as he is to the bench what Joakim Noah is to the starting lineup, an intense intangibles player who, love him or hate him, is arguably the heart and soul of that squad.

While C.J. Watson's play in Rose's stead and shadow was intensely underrated, replacing he and Mike James with Nate Robinson and the returning Kirk Hinrich is arguably an improvement. The firey Nate Robinson has a history of shooting you out of as many games as he shoots you into, but he perhaps has found the one team where that heart on your sleeve attitude is embraced and encouraged and if any coach can manage that while keeping him team oriented, it's Thibodeau. Robinson may have found the first place where he actually fits in. The loss of Brewer to the Knicks hurts, for sure, as he was one of the better bench perimeter defenders in the league, but Hinrich should fill that void to an extent and Marco Bellinelli's acquisition should not go unnoticed, as he was a nice playmaker for some pretty awful teams. His contribution in a diminished role could be just the X-factor Chicago needs, especially while Rose is out and if an aged and injury prone Rip Hamilton is underwhelming. Mohammed and the under-utilized Fesenko (formerly of Utah) will clog the middle with Noah on the bench. Vlad Radmanovic is a B-list version of Kyle Korver that could prove valuable in certain situations.

This new Chicago bench has more offensive pop than its predecessor, pop the true litmus test of the lower end of the depth chart will be how well they play defense and maintain leads. With Thibodeau at the helm that glass is likely half full.

Again, this team's success will depend on bench play and how well Derrick Rose rebounds from his ACL tear, but one thing is certain. With these new acquisitions, no longer can this team be considered the Baby Bulls. This team faces an uphill battle, but is built to win now. With perhaps an asterisk next to this season considering Rose's health, anything less than at least a Finals appearance would have to be considered a disappointment.

Cleveland Cavaliers: The rebuilding in Cleveland continues as for the foreseeable future they'll still be the team picking up the pieces after LeBron's sudden exit. An impressive rookie year by Kyrie Irving certainly expedites that process, but with that said, not much to see here. Any semblance of the team that was built for LeBron (namely Jamison) is now gone, leaving room for true rebuilding. Former Utah Jazz swingman, CJ Miles should see a more prominent role and be a nice surprise (mostly in fantasy league) and Alonzo Gee and Omri Casspi have put up some nice numbers here and there, though those numbers are likely inflated due to just how bad this team really was/is. Tristan Thompson's ability to grow with Irving could be something worth monitoring down the line, but this season will be nothing more than taking stock of young talent and a trip to the lottery in Cleveland.

Detroit Pistons: Greg Monroe alone makes this team worth watching. Easily Monroe is the future of that squad and likely the most underrated big in the league. Austin Daye, and Jason Maxiell's development appears to have stalled and Charlie V's signing appears to be the definition of a bust. Hopefully Detroit embraces this changing of the guard and stops trying to make Prince the center of that offense. The Pistons may be wise to scrap Villanueva's role and diminish Prince's and hand the keys to Mo-town over to Brandon Knight, Monroe, and Jerebko. Magette's signing may not prove so bad, should he stay healthy, but a youth movement may be more worthwhile to the franchise in the long run. This team is a while away from any sort of contention for even the playoffs, but with a new engine, they may get there sooner rather than later.

Indiana Pacers: The secret is out. The Pacers are no longer the underdog squad of the East laying in wait behind Miami and Chicago, the Pacers will now be competing at the same level as the East's elite, or at least have those expectations. Besides swapping Darren Collison for DJ Augustin, a move which will likely be a wash unless Augustin really rises to the occasion of being out of Charlotte, which is entirely possible, the Pacers haven't tinkered with much. With re-inked free agents Roy Hibbert and George Hill, the Pacers have decided to stand pat with a roster which breathed new life into an area once considered basketball's mecca. Some might say that this team may have hit their ceiling last year and are essentially the Grizzlies of the Eastern Conference as they're fun to watch and talk about, but not quite legitamate. However, last year's Pacers let their exuberance get the better of them and tried to run and gun with Miami. Would Indiana have had the veteran leadership (Danny Granger, while not a poor influence, is definitely not that leader) to pound the ball into Hibbert and West a few more times, it's a very real possibility that LeBron would still be ringless.

If the Pacers matured collectively as a result of that first real taste of playoff buzz and make the effort to be an inside out, gritty team, the sky is the limit for this bunch. Hibbert, George, Hill, and Augustin provide this team with a young core and West and Granger still in their relative primes. In addition this team is one of the more deceptively deep teams in the league.

Milwaukee Bucks: Perhaps it's time to throw in the towel on this team. For years I've tried to will this team into turning the corner, getting past being the best of the worst/worst of the best; always assuming that they're one move away from being last year's Pacers. Maybe it's just not meant to be. The fact is, the basketball that Drew Gooden is playing at this point in his career is one of the most underrated happenings in professional basketball. The fact is, Beno Udrih has a world of potential that he's yet to consistently tap. The fact is, since leaving Philly Sammy has had moments where he actually seems cognizant of what's going on on the basketball court. The fact is Mike Dunleavy impressive, but streaky, resurgence from a injury riddled career is admirable. But the real fact is, potential doesn't win basketball games and this team is as streaky and offensively challanged as they come at times.

One other giant fact is that Ersan Ilyasova is playing absolute Ilya-silly basketball can do a lot of everything on the basketball court. This man is a big market away from being a household name that your grandfather constantly mispronounces. Monta Ellis worked will with Steph Curry in a two guard system at Golden State, but much of that had to do with Curry's pass first mentality. Ellis is far from selfish, but Brandon Jennings is a player who needs the ball in his hands to have an impact (positive or negative). As a result Ellis seemed to have disappeared down the stretch of last season. Maybe Scott Skiles deserves the benefit of the doubt, as this will be his first full season with the potentially dynamic duo, but Skiles isn't exactly known for offensive creativity and things looked so bad last season, it's hard to envision and improvement. This team will have it's moments where they look like a rag tag group of untouchalbes, but they likely won't be able to string together those winning ways and will disappoint again. It's deer season, alright, and this team is going down.

Free Agency Retrospective: Atlantic Division

With the dust finally settling after Dwight Howard's monumental and long drawn out move to Los Angeles, it is at last safe to look back on the madness that was this summer's free agency period and speculate how teams will stack up this coming season. Being that I'm likely as biased as the rest of you Philly readers, I'll be starting with the Atlantic Division.

Boston Celtics: Here is a team that in my opinion really exemplified the phrase "addition by subtraction". I mean, it's hard to be thrilled that a class act and first ballot Hall of Famer, Ray Allen, has decided to join forces with Boston's equivalent of the Legion of Doom, but bear in mind the Celtics have filled that void nicely with Jason Terry, a man with his own championship credentials. Is Jason Terry really comparable to Ray Allen? Arguably, at this point this point in their careers I think a case can be made. Even if you find that hard to believe, there's no denying that Terry in tandem with a healthy Avery Bradley and even Courtney Lee certainly softens the blow of losing a member of Boston's once mighty Big Three. Paul Pierce still has some game left in him for sure. He's never been an incredibly explosive player and provided he can keep his aches and pains under control, I see no reason why he can't continue to play at a high level for the next season or two. Kevin Garnett is a much bigger question mark. It's almost a shame to see a once so dynamic player become a glorified pick and pop player, but his basketball IQ is almost as big as his mouth and he should still be able to be a defensive factor in spurts. The good news for the Cs is that finally they have some size that will take some pressure off of KG at both ends of the floor. Fab and Sully are raw talents, but they quite simply have the size to plug up the paint that the Celtics haven't had since the hobbled and aged bodies of the not-quite-brothers O'Neal (who played about 10 games a piece). Jeff Green's underrated return and another year in green for LSU's Brandon Bass should give the Celtic frontcourt a nice boost. The bottom line is that the Celtics will have a formidable bench for the first time since their title run in 2008, Doc Rivers' coaching speaks for itself, and defying all rational thought, Rajon Rondo seems to improve every season. We're referring to a Boston team that was as banged up of a playoff team I've ever seen and pushed the eventual champion Heat to 7 games. There's something to be said for Boston's success and the absence of Chris Bosh not being coincidental, but nonetheless the Celtics are an old automobile looking as shiny and new as they have in years. Rest assured, they're going to be deep in the hunt for at least one more title with Pierce and Garnett at the helm.

Toronto Raptors: Dwayne Casey's ability to somewhat implement Dallas' championship defense in a place where defense was once considered a lost cause is proof enough that the Raptors are headed in the right direction. However, even though the direction is a solid one, it's still going to be slow going and an uphill battle in Canada to see this team have any real success. Kyle Lowry's signing is a bit overlooked coming off his breakout season with Houston despite butting heads with Kevin McHale and/or management. Every other acquisition is likely a little overrated. Better to have Jonas Valanciunas cutting his teeth in NBA arenas rather than overseas, but you likely won't see a true return on that for another couple years. Landry Fields is a player who busts his butt and can contribute some intangables, but he had a habit of disappearing or forcing plays in New York. Odds are the Raptors over paid for him when they tried to make New York decide between keeping him and pursuing Nash, but Landry has the upside to make me eat crow and I wouldn't mind if it means his continued success. The lone bright spot in Toronto has been the subtle blossoming of DeMar DeRozan, who has carved out a solid little niche for himself there. Hopefully the injection of new talent doesn't hinder that growth. Andrea Bargnani's health is, of course, always of great concern and question as well. At the very least, we should begin to see flashes of what the big picture looks like in Toronto and those growing pains have the potential to be painful, but fun to watch.

New York Knicks: The Knicks have raided the near-retirement ward of the NBA and carved out a decent bench for themselves. Camby, Thomas and Kidd and reduced roles should flourish and round out the bench nicely; giving the Knicks a paint presence they haven't had since, well... Marcus Camby and Kurt Thomas. Obviously, they have should-be Defensive Player of the Year, Tyson Chandler, but I couldn't resist the nod to those centers' younger days in blue and orange. For the first time in some time, the Knicks have not overpaid for players, wisely letting Lin and Fields walk and replacing them with Felton (we'll see) and Ronnie Brewer (brilliant signing for the price). All is not blue skies in New York, however. Felton is coming off a woeful season in Portland, perhaps proving once and for all that Mike D'Antoni's run and gun system will embellish any point guard's skill set. Regardless, you couldn't justify giving Lin that kind of money and/or expect Jason Kidd to log heavy minutes. Felton appears to be saying the right things and is poised for a "comeback" of sorts. Time will tell, but the Knicks made the move they had to make regardless. The jury is still out as to whether Carmelo can mold his game to blend with... anybody, but his performance in the Olympics was almost poetic and he's shown that he can play and win with pieces around him. I feel pretty safe in saying that Amare is somewhat of a bust with no knees or basketball skills to speak of as a result, but bear in mind that if the Knicks wound up with no prize free agent two summers ago, Donnie Walsh would have made Isiah Thomas and Eddy Curry look beloved in the Big Apple. Stoudemire's days of bulldozing through and over people appear to be more or less behind him and while his jumper has improved, it doesn't justify his paycheck. He did train with Hakeem this offseason, and the last person who did that won a title. The Knicks almost certainly won't, but maybe Amare has learned some tricks that will prove to make himself and his team better this season. The bottom line is that the Knicks have both improved and been wise with money this offseason. Their improvement likely won't translate to more than yet another first round bounce, but I respect the Knicks for making the best of the bed they've made. My one true gripe is why the heck was J.R. Smith re-signed and why did he bring his brother with him?

Brooklyn Nets: Simply put, a team lined up to be the most improved team in the league. The Joe Johnson acquisition is a bit overrated, especially with a budding MarShon Brooks still on the roster, but the fact that they didn't have to give up much to get him may make his signing the biggest steal of the season. Deron Williams is more than appeased and has some real tools to work with this season, including the re-signed Gerald Wallace and bounding machine Kris Humphries. Joe Johnson resurrects an almost lost mid-range game in the NBA, Brook Lopez, once arguably the second best center in the Eastern Conference, will be healthy and has promised to be more active on the glass, and again, the aforementioned Brooks has no ceiling in sight. Bogans will be a great perimeter defender for the squad. CJ Watson was more than an adequate backup for the injury riddled Derrick Rose in Chicago last season and should do more of the same filling the sneakers of Williams. This is indeed and whole new squad and the impetus is on Avery Johnson now to be up to the task for what will now be championship aspirations. I don't know about you, but I think this squad looks a lot better to me than a gutted roster resulting in Williams, Dwight Howard, and a bunch of miscellaneous players. The power may have shifted in New York before a game has even been played in the lavish Barclay Center.

Philadelphia Sixers: The Kwame Brown Era was over before it even had the chance to begin, as there's a new big man in town. Andrew Bynum's arrival comes at the expense of the departure of often criticized swingman, Andre Iguodala. I gather that the mood in Philly is mostly that of great merriment, and I share their levity. It's refreshing to have a true new day in Sixer basketball and have Iggy's huge ego replaced with huge expectations. Iggy's departure is somewhat bittersweet, considering he was coming off two of his best seasons under Doug Collins, but largely the team was going to be stuck in limbo until a change of this magnitude occurred. The Sixers inherit a seven footer who has nothing but upside and seems to be thrilled to be embraced by the "brotherly love". Bynum has had his own maturity issues, most notably and recently with Laker coach, Mike Brown, but the way I see it, a change in scenery can be the best medicine for an unhappy player and if Doug Collins can turn Iggy from a shot taker into a playmaker, I don't doubt he can continue his horse whispering ways with the young Bynum. Collins really does seem to have an intangible ability to get through to young players and I couldn't be more excited to see where he can lead this team this coming season. Holiday continues to blossom, seemingly by the game, and I think Turner's solid performance in last year's playoffs is telling of a breakout year to come. With Iggy gone and a  more defined role with the team, he'll likely finally have the room to grow into a player worthy of being the second pick of the draft. The Sixers seem to molded in the image of the former Finals contending Magic squad, with shooters (Young, Richardson, Holiday) surrounding the dominant center piece. The Sixers have more talent on paper than that team ever did, with the versatile Spencer Hawes and Thad Young rounding out the rotation. Lavoy Allen was a stud as far as rookies go last season and he should continue to grow under Collins' wing. Quite simply this team has a whole new look that should translate to much improvement and debatable contention in the coming years, should Andrew Bynum's health hold up and, of course, he re-signs. You have every reason to be excited and the conference and league should be on the lookout for the young and growing Sixers.

Game of Thrones

Before you get too excited by the title of this article, I feel obliged to let you know that I've only seen the show once and was pretty darn confused by what was going on. I do know that in the middle of the episode a midget was walloped in the head with a mallet of some kind and wound up dozing through an entire battle. A bit sophomoric, I admit, but I'd be lying if said I didn't think it was really a very humorous moment. Anyway, from what I gathered, the show is all about four or five kingdoms fighting over control of the world, or at least a good chunk of it's land. While I suppose the concept of this show can serve as an allegory for not only the NBA, but professional sports as a whole, I'm going to zoom in my lens of a analysis a bit and focus on the in flux basketball hierarchy in the state of California.

California is no stranger to tectonic shifts of both the literal and metaphorical kind, and already I'm sure you've been preached to ad nauseum about the positives of Chris Paul's addition to the Clip-show and what it means in relation to the transitioning Lakers, who in the wake of the acquisition of CP3 have lost some of their luster and look a bit more like slowtime than showtime by comparison. And while an article focusing on a "Battle of Los Angeles" is about as catchy as can be and lends itself to the rarely used "Rage Against The Machine Pun Collection" (it exists), I urge you, in this shortened season, to take a closer look at L.A.'s California counterparts in Golden State and Sacramento, whose franchises may also be on the rise.

As if on cue, the hands of fate have seen fit to grant this article the backdrop of back to back overtime loses for the Heat to two of the very teams I'm to discuss. I'm not a fan of admitting this, but a team's performance against a complete Heat squad is about as good of a litmus test for success and heart as there is at this point in the season and thus far, California has yet to disappoint.

I'll start with the Clippers. Honestly, there's not much to tell you that you probably don't already know. Chris Paul, as he would anywhere in the league, makes all the difference in the world. The man is responsible for the birth of LOB City. (Worse nicknames have stuck, but let's see them in the playoffs before we start doing backflips of exuberance.) A war-tested floor general with some of the best vision the league has to offer, arguably second only to Kobe Bryant and maybe Wade in his ability to take over a game on both ends of the floor at the drop of a hat without becoming reckless. (Before I get arguing tweets, Durant is right there when Westbrook gives him a chance, Dwight's just barely not on that level, and Dirk and 'Melo don't do it on defense.)

Paul's Punnett square has long proven to bear this trait that appears, in time, to have become recessive (science metaphor created with the indirect assistance of LeBron James) and he demonstrated biology at work most recently against the Heat as he willed his team to victory despite a pretty poor showing by Blake Griffin.

Let's be honest, though, a poor showing by Griffin is better than the best game of some players' lives. Griffin is still a phenom, so take this opinion with a grain of salt, but he's had a really hard time this year handling latent double teams in the post. Unless shots have been created for him on the break or in the half-court, he has been struggling with his decision making in the post, forcing shots, turning the ball over, settling for jumpers and not kicking the ball out when he should. The presence of Paul and the sudden presence of a supporting cast long since absent have prevented this squad from taking a very minute, yet important, step back in my opinion.

Caron Butler seems healthy this season and is flourishing as the third option on that team. His All-Star abilities are often overshadowed by the success of his own teamates, but the importance of Butler's injection of "Tuff Juice" into this franchise cannot be overstated. Mo Williams has acclimated nicely to his bench role, and Billups fills the multi-purpose 2 position well, so far. The Clippers suddenly find themselves very deep at the guard position. Bear in mind that young upstart, Eric Bledsoe, has yet to play a second this year. The Clippers have some pieces that can maybe be used to pick up a back up big man for DeAndre Jordan, but even if they don't, having so many heady guards on the same squad can only be an asset.

The Lakers are different. I suppose the jury is still out regarding how positive these changes are, but you can't help but be intrigued by the new style and glimpses of greatness that this team displays more often then not. I feel like I've mentioned Mike Brown's attention to defense often enough in these articles to skip mentioning it, so take that for granted. As a result of swapping the power of zen for the power of meticulous hard work, we see a Laker team that is grittier than any Laker squad I've ever seen. Barnes, Murphy, World Peace (*sigh*), and McRoberts are players whose blue collars at one time seemed to clash with the purple and gold, but now these players provide a hard-nosed toughness under Mike Brown not apparent in past incarnations of perhaps the most decorated franchise in league history. Just to be clear, I'm not saying the Lakers weren't tough, I'm just saying they resemble the bad boy Pistons of lore more so than the smooth, flashy game commonly associated with Laker-ball.

Offensively, Kobe's getting 30 points per game and recently wound back the clock for 48 against the Suns, whose defense is not as poor as it used to be. Maybe the amount of shots he's hoisting to get these numbers is a little disconcerting. And news of pain killing injections constantly being pumped into his wrist has to be a bit of a red flag and make you wonder just how long he can keep up his level of play, but Kobe is Kobe. He'll go until they drag him off the court and the system appears to get him the ball in the post easier than the triangle did, so until proven otherwise, I consider Kobe's 32-year-old glass of Gatorade half full.

Bynum has been an absolute monster since his return from suspension and he appears to be raising his already solid game to another level under this more traditional offense. Pau Gasol's versatility as a big now becomes a nice change of pace for the otherwise unrefined Lakers and he continues to be an integral cog in the the Laker machine. Steve Blake's minutes compared to Fisher's will be interesting to monitor as the season unfolds.

The Lakers have a new chip on their shoulder and it will be interesting to see if the new blend of glitz and muscle will pay dividends come playoff time. If World Peace resolves to stop shooting threes entirely, I'd say they have a shot.

The Warriors appear to have fully recovered from the hangover of Nellie-ball and have a new attention to defense under first-time head coach, Mark Jackson. The Warriors have had their share of growing pains, but players seemed to have committed fully to Mark Jackson's vision and have shown flashes of true promise.

The pieces there are strong. Ellis and Lee are two of the most underrated at their respective positions and, more importantly, these players seem to be fully invested in Mark Jackson and vice versa. Jackson's deep rotation reminds of how Rick Adleman gets the most out of what's put in front of him. This team has no quit and Jackson wants to give everyone on his bench a role. He just may have the skills to do it. As a former player, Jackson seems to have a horse whisperer type of presence in the locker room and some real camaraderie appears to be forming in Oakland. If Jackson can get this squad running on all cylinders consistently and injuries under control, look out league.

My only issue with Jackson is that he's been quoted several times as saying the Warriors are a "random" offensive team. While having that kind of trust in your players to "just play" is admirable, I wouldn't mind, as a fan, a bit more of a formal system. With that said, a "random" offense is the kind of set in which Nate Robinson can thrive, which may prove important if Curry shuts down his ailing ankles for any extended period of time, and they seem to know to run through Monta through crunch time. The Warriors are a gang of lost boys who appear to have found their Peter Pan (without the tights) and in the long term have a chance to spoil the dreams of some contenders this season.

The Kings have cut ties with unpopular Paul Westphal and his crazy rotations and seemingly appeased a frustrated Cousins. Keith Smart is not a long term answer to coaching woes, and no one on this team passes the rock. But on paper, the talent and potential of this team can't be denied, from Evans and Thornton all the way down to the young rookie, Isiah Thomas. Fixing this team's woes may be as simple as teaching the players to share. That won't happen overnight, but winning their first game under Smart in dramatic fashion with an excited bench and fans alike has to be a good sign. Look for subtle improvements for the Kings this year. Perhaps the return of the master of the little things, Chuck Hayes, will spark a change in Sac-town's mindset. Whether it was his fault or not, Westphal screwed up the King's book. Keith Smart brings about a new chapter and a chance for these young princes to get on the same page and live up to their "Kings" moniker.

In California, we're witnessing a game of thrones, indeed. Perhaps the path to ascension is more up for grabs than it appears.

Traveling Violation: The Implications of a Darwinian NBA

Back in 2008, I had the amazing opportunity to make the trip to the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts and watch the Celtics and Lakers renew their rivalry (then for the first time in decades) on the grand stage of the NBA Finals. I have a lot of memories from that day that I’m sure I’ll never forget:

1. Having a legitimate conversation with Magic Johnson and lying by saying I played high school ball because I sincerely doubted he’d care to hear about the fact that I chose musical theatre instead and my reasons for doing so.

2. Sitting behind Trevor Ariza on the team bus and wanting nothing more than to say I wish
he was still a Knick. Present company made that statement a little inappropriate.

3. DJ Mbenga… Enough said.

4. Donovan McNabb’s atrocious-looking red sweater vest.

5. The awesome Laker-Celtic highlight reel accompanied by Phil Collins’ “In The Air Tonight.”

And plenty of other little moments that would be worth an article in itself and, of course, the actual game.

Something else occurred to me that night and I admit it didn’t feel as profound to me back then as it does now, but as Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant acknowledged each other at center court it dawned on me that both Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant had been on the Celtics and Lakers,
respectively, for their entire careers and, incidentally, my whole life.

Despite the similarity of playing their entire careers for one team, Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant’s individual back stories heading into that series could not be more different. Kobe’s character
was often questioned in the sense that he was, at times, viewed as a self-centered hot dog, whose ability to emotionally and mentally lead a team and raise others to his level of, let's face it, greatness was in doubt. Kobe was a proven winner who, while yet to win a title without Shaq, never had his heart, guts, and individual abilities questioned.

Paul Pierce had very good years with the Celtics and had nice run of playoff pushes with Antoine Walker throughout the early 2000s. The Celtics never quite got over the hump and as the once proud Boston franchise tried and failed to rebuild around him, the team’s winning percentage suffered and Pierce bore the brunt of that burden as some of the Celtic faithful unfairly doubted his heart and desire to win and, in some cases, called for his release via trade or head via guillotine.

However, in the summer of 2008, none of that seemed to matter. For both men that season was a journey towards vindication as each player picked up some All-Star (Pau; Allen, KG) help and were rewriting their legacies as I sat there counting the banners in rafters; nearly all of them from the old Boston Garden.

Such a revelation was worth note back then and in my mind its significance has only been magnified since. As I look at the league today, I see Darwin’s “Survival of the Fittest” theory come to the wide world of sports. With the advent of these new Super Teams in Miami and New York, it seems to be the new fad amongst the NBA's elite to unite in your favorite metropolitan area and gang up on everybody else. Now, this really is not the end of the world. I wrote an article last year about how the small market “little engine that could” teams will always find ways to be relevant and a thorn in the side in these luxury tax welcoming Goliaths and I definitely stick by that statement, but a couple of things have changed since I wrote that article that may change the game forever.

While I’m not 100 percent sure, I feel pretty confident in saying that no longer are current teams with free agents able to offer their current players more money than their other suitors. That is to say that (hypothetically) no longer can the Mavs offer Caron Butler more than any other team in the league. The cap on what amount suitors can offer Caron no longer exists. Therefore it’s a free-for-all as to who can offer Caron the best deal and from Caron’s perspective there is no longer a monetary incentive for Caron to sign an extension, mid-season or otherwise, so it’s in his best interest as a professional and businessman to wait until his contract expires to hear multiple offers from whatever teams are interested in him.

Now, Dallas is arguably a championship contender, so maybe Caron is inclined to stay there anyway and he may not be the best example. But apply that same situation to Brandon Jennings and Kevin Martin and you can see why and how many players would wind up changing their scenery and joining and/or forming and makeshift All-Star team and instant title contender.

League owners are wise to this and don’t want to end up hanging in the breeze waiting for their particular superstar to decide to stick with, or ditch them. Owners are now being proactive and seeking to eliminate the possibility of winding up with nothing by trading these stars to other teams to ensure at least some sort of return on their investment, even if it’s not the All-Star himself. Hence, all this madness (compelling, but madness) regarding the future homes for 2012 free agents Dwight Howard and Chris Paul. Even if a player is leaning towards staying with one franchise, there’s a chance that the team’s owner ship won’t take the risk and ship him out, just to be safe. These factors are creating a future NBA with players more mobile than at any other point in league history.

Simply put, get used to the Super Team trend and be careful whose jersey you buy as a result. The league is evolving and while I’m not ruling quality basketball coming from small market teams, franchise players may indeed be even more of an endangered species than they were before. Players will graze where grass is greener and so as not to be left with no lawn at all, NBA owners will help them slide under the fence.

With all that said, I’m sure there will be exceptions to this rule throughout history and already I find it hard to believe that Dwayne Wade or Dirk Nowitzki will ever leave Dallas and Miami,
but nonetheless the game is changing and both the mindsets of the players and owners are adjusting, potentially at the expense of career franchise players.

In hindsight, Bryant and Pierce’s nod at center court ran deeper than Paul acknowledging Kobe and vice versa. These future Hall of Famers seemed to be paying an homage not only to each other, but to their franchises they represented which after 19 long years had finally come
full circle to revitalize something that albeit unspoken, was perennial in the first place. In that moment Paul and Kobe embodied the NBA’s fabled past not only through the jersey’s they wore that night, but the route which they took to get to get there. It was "The Truth" versus "The Show". The same as it ever was. The same as it always will be.

The CBA makes me wonder if such a moment will ever happen again.

I'm So Happy, I'm Gonna Join The Band

My use of Led Zeppelin quotes to title these pieces will not be deterred by the sudden prevalence of optimism in the NBA world. That's right, ladies and gents, the season is officially back on and barring some unforeseen catastrophe, will begin on Christmas Day and drastically outshine anything I find under the Christmas tree. (Seriously, it's usually just socks and various holiday themed retail gift cards.) Here are a few things to note now that the lockout is behind us.

1. I had a feeling a deal was coming, honestly. I know that would be something any young, arguably quite good-looking, reporter would say to make them sound smarter and borderline clairvoyant, but at the risk of over-quoting in this article, I'd like to pull a line from 'The Dark Knight' and say "the night is darkest just before the dawn." The desertification of the NBA Players union essentially showed the owners the players' metaphorical hand regarding labor negotiations. With talks not to resume and lawsuits taken to court, there would be no other moves for the players to make. Essentially, in my non-expert opinion, following the desertification we were either on the verge of talks resuming or the fabled "nuclear winter" eluded to by Commissioner Stern. When faced with that kind of ultimatum of extremes, I guess you're forced to either be an optimist or pessimist as a fan, and once Billy Hunter said talks would resume, I had a feeling the sun was finally rising.

2. Keep your criticism of David Stern in perspective. I can't say that I've always been an advocate for him throughout this situation, but the man fought for the owners and then the players to improve the league and keep it intact. This lockout, while maybe uglier (I'm a little young to compare the two, but I know the 1998 NBAPA never disbanded.) was resolved quicker than the lockout of 1998. Like I said, I can't say I've been this supportive all along, but the man got the job done, and albeit cliche, all's well that ends well.

3. For a while, much like Adam Morrison, these games are only going to look good on paper. Temper your expectations for a stretch this season. We won't be sure who'll be coming back in shape and who won't. The increased limelight given to overseas play likely motivated many players to maintain game legs, but that won't apply to all players, and no matter how in shape an athlete is, playing three games in three nights to make up for lost time is going to hinder their performance. It won't be pretty for a while, but it's still NBA ball, and by the the post-season it should be running smoothly.

4. Absolute only upside of the lockout is Dirk and the Mavs getting their rings on opening night while LeBron, Wade, and Bosh have to watch from courtside. Merry Christmas, indeed. I'm hoping Cuban will spring for some coal for the Heat, so they don't feel left out of the holiday spirit of giving. Though, I would mind their chestnuts roasting on an open fire.

5. My analysis of team previews won't mean much until the closing of the free agency period. For that reason, I'm going to abandon my cumulative season previews. Expect an article on a few sleeper teams next week as I continue to provide filler until Christmas tip-off.

Be well, my friends.

Twitter: @Poliwastaken

What Is And What Should Never Be

Confession #1- I had a wide variety of Led Zeppelin songs to choose from regarding this title.

Confession #2- I’m a little embarrassed to be scribing these bad boys at this point with the league in such disrepair. It feels a little bit like reporting on professional wrestling in the sense that I’m micro-analyzing something that isn’t real in the first place. Bear with me and with the power of positive thinking and an inkling of denial, these statements may have relevance in the near future.

With that said, let’s get down to business and preview the coming season for the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.

Boston Celtics (56-26, 3 seed, lost in Eastern Conference semis)- As much as these cats are old dogs at this point, it’s hard to over look the core of Pierce, Allen, and Garnett in the context of a shortened season. However, it’s equally hard to ignore the complete and utter flop that was the Kristic/Green trade last season. The squad looked out of sync on offense and seemed to lose at least a good bit of their collective backbone on the defensive end without the ever-scowling Perkins holding the physical bigs of the league in check. It’s not hard to imagine an adapted Celtic offense that can utilize the perimeter game of Kristic and the mid-range skills set of Green, who may well replace Pierce in the starting lineup sooner than we think. With the still maturing
Rondo who’s already capable of breaking down most any opponent and/or finding his teammates, the sky is still the limit for that offense, barring an injury. But that Celtic team has built this era of their championship mentality on suffocating defense that with the absence of Perkins has involuntarily disappeared entirely. Garnett is still there and no one I’d like to tango with on the blocks (lest I take a shot to my basketballs) but he’s more bark than bite at this point anyway. A shortened seasoned favors this merry band of savvy vets, but I think they may well have lost too much too late to be a title threat barring the acquisition of a true back up point guard or a true emergence of Green or the injury riddled Daniels.

New York Knicks (42-40, 6 seed, lost in First Round)- Yes, my friends and those wary of me calling them that without meeting them first, the Knicks are indeed relevant. I’m writing this article from Long Island, so don’t for a second believe that I’m not just as excited as you are, but let’s temper our zeal, shall we? The Knicks are improved, but are a squad more built on market-value than potential production. Amare’s knees are time bombs which depreciate in value with every stroke of this keyboard. Chauncey Billups is arguably Springfield bound, but Mr. Big Shot looked far from healthy towards the close of the season and will likely end his career in the Empire State without much fanfare. The Knicks are not a very deep team that traded two of their best defenders in Gallo and Ill Will last season only to look rather impish against the already less-than-imposing Celtic team. If someone were to make the argument that Douglas in the point of the future, I’d certainly hear them out. It’s not too absurd of a feeling, but as relevant as the Knicks suddenly are, they’re that far away from contention. Let’s not forget whom the Knicks
acquired last season. If there’s one x-factor that can cause me to put my size 12 Nike in my mouth, it’s Carmelo Anthony. The Knicks will certainly be fun to watch (except when Jeffries touches the ball) and I look forward to getting the chance to tune in.

Philadelphia Sixers (41-41, 7 seed, lost in First Round) Just so you understand that I’m not
a total pessimist, I want to say that the stock of Sixers, in my opinion, has never been higher. Running into a Heat team that simply had them outmatched on every level was the only reason that the tremendous job done by Doug Collins was overlooked on a national scale. Collins made Iggy realize that his superstar potential rested in becoming a playmaker and not a scorer. That alone is worth a Nobel Peace Prize as far as I’m concerned. The growth of this team is worthy of a separate article that I’ll likely resort to writing before the year is out, but for the sake of summarization this team is young, has Elton Brand to anchor that offense, and has everyone on that squad knowing their role and filling it well. Young players are growing and eager to learn. I know that analysis is painfully brief, but like I said, if I got started, I’d type your eyes off. (The print journalism equivalent of “talk your ear off”… I’m not sure if that worked.)

New Jersey Nets (Not Good)- How is it possible that a team can have Deron Williams and Brook Lopez and still be the least interesting team to watch? I want to believe in this squad. I was a big supporter of Outlaw in his Portland days and Kris Humphries is one of the most gifted rebounders in the game today. Williams is a great player, to be sure, but I think we’re kind of seeing the magic of Jerry Sloan’s Utah system as he looks much more human than he has in recent years. Let’s not forget, however, Williams’ lack of weapons to give the ball to. Lopez
has flashes of true brilliance, but is still far too easily bossed around on the blocks given his size and his apathy or inability to rebound is puzzling to say the least. Be they in Brooklyn, East Rutherford, or my backyard, this team is regrettably nothing to get excited about.

Toronto Raptors (Even Worse)- Who? I’m sorry, I know that’s insensitive, but other than
Bargniani and Amir Johnson not being awful and DeRozan being guaranteed a slot on Sportscenter once a week, there’s nothing here to muse about. Even their draft picks will be marinating overseas for some time before the Maple Leaf nation sees a return on their investment. No offense intended, but hopefully next year there will be something more to write about. (Note that the squad has a new coach in Dwayne Casey. See my previous article for further, albeit brief, thoughts on that.)

Wanted: Leader of the Pack

At last, the NBA team that has drafted point guards more often than Eddy Curry has attempted to diet in recent years may have given the Twin Cities reason to view their metaphorical glass as half full. While the job done by projected reserve Luke Ridinour of filling in for the fumbling and injury-riddled Johnny Flynn this past season is one of the more underrated bright spots of yet another disappointing season in Minnesota, the Timberwolves are finally due to see a return on a 2005 investment. Armed with awe-inspiring court-vision, a very amenable Spanish accent, and quite masculine eyeliner (draft night reference), Ricky Rubio prepares to burst onto the NBA basketball scene, and hopefully usher in a whole new era of Wolves basketball. But he won't do it alone.

The Wolves have a variety of weapons, at least on the offensive side of the court. Kevin Love is almost unarguably the most gifted rebounder in the league. Which is saying something, given the stagnation of the franchise since he began his pro-career out of UCLA. Love boasts a gifted passing game for any position, no less for his size, and can score from nearly anywhere on the court, even stretching his perimeter game beyond the three point line this past season. The fact that he performed so consistently exceptionally on such a less than exceptional team speaks volumes about his character as a player. Pardon the pun, but what's not to love?

His supporting cast is nothing to scoff at either. Michael Beasley is coming of a smoking season... wait, let me rephrase...a piping hot season...darn, nevermind, I'll just be blunt... *sigh* He had a great season and was an offensive explosion and after struggling in the shadow of Dwayne Wade in Miami, it seems he may well have bloomed enveloped in the winter winds of Middle America. Shooting guard in training, Wes Johnson, has acclimated to the game faster than I would have expected and can be a gunner for the squad going forward. Arizona's Williams is a proven two with an NBA body who should be able to contribute to the cause sooner rather than later. Martel Webster, whom I've always been partial to, should have a healthy season and may be one of the NBA's sleepers should the rate of play increase at the Target Center. Which brings me to my next point.

The makeshift triangle offense of the Kurt Rambis-era is officially extinct. This coaching vacancy has to be a welcome sight to fans. Rambis wanted his team to play a very paced and structured game and essential placed chains on his point guard, confining him to a half-court game. I would go so far as to say Rambis is in large part to blame for Flynn's slow start in the league. Also, let's not forget the huge issue he had with Big Al Jefferson and Kevin Love being on the floor at the same time; something I never understood, especially in the triangle. I feel like it's sometimes a scapegoat for analysts to say a team should run more as a panacea to their team's woes, but this team is certainly a bit more built to run, or at least be a bit more versatile than they have been in the past. With Rubio making the jump overseas, the timing could be just right.

Speculation has it that the Wolves are eying Adleman, a pick I adore. Here's a man who arguably did just as good of a job containing Ron Artest as Phil Jackson. A man who pushed the title bound Lakers to 7 games with Aaron Brooks, Scola, and a Yao and T-Mac-less Rocket squad; a man who at the peak of the one-on-one era, stared into the abyss and developed a team in Sacramento built around ball movement; a man who is a maestro of getting the most out of his talent who always been just barely overshadowed by men like Jackson and Popovich.

The bottom line is this: The Wolves have too much talent at this point be the bottom feeders of the league. While not always the case, in this instance, a coaching change may be just what's needed to give the Wolves and their fans something to howl about.

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.

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.