Day 1: Lesson Learned

Not only were the three games that aired last night entertaining to watch, it also gave us, as viewers, and the rest of the basketball world a valuable lesson in any team-based concept: the identity of a team is crucial. Whether it be in sports, business, or politics, to be successful in a team, everyone needs to be on the same page; everyone needs to wholeheartedly understand the game plan, which comes from fully grasping the identity of your team. The 1997 Utah Jazz were going to send its opponents on a dizzying but dazzling John Stockton-Karl Malone Pick n' Roll Express. The 2001 Los Angeles Lakers were going to torch you from three point range and punish you down low with Shaquille O'Neal. The 2004 Detroit Pistons were going to wear you down defensively. A team with its identity in tact is the victor, the one without one or still struggling to find one, the loser.

Phoenix Suns: With the departure of Amare Stoudemire, the patented pick and roll game of point guard Steve Nash and now-New York Knick forward Amare Stoudemire is nonexistent. Too many players play the same position and Nash looked as if he was passing the ball to strangers (9 turnovers), given the numerous acquisitions and departures Phoenix went through during the offseason. As long as they have Steve Nash, they'll always run their opponents off the court, tiring them out. But if Hedo Turkoglu and an aging Grant Hill are able to cooperate in such an exhausting game plan is still a question that remains unanswered.

Portland Trailblazers: I'm not saying that they have their identity figured out because of a victory over a clueless Suns team. They are still riddled with injuries and do not have the time to discover a game plan that they can count on every single night because simply put, not everyone on their roster is guaranteed to play because of injury after injury that keeps key players, like Greg Oden, Joel Pryzbilla, and Marcus Camby sidelined. But against the Phoenix Suns, who have an obvious hole in the center of their offense, Portland looks like they know what they're doing.

Houston Rockets: Thanks to extremely hot shooting from guards Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin, Houston jumped out to an early lead against the Lakers. But the limited 24 minutes that center Yao Ming is monitored to play creates instability for Houston's offense during any given game. When Yao's in, they become a half-court team that punishes teams down low. When Yao's out, they all of a sudden become a running team that looks for transition 3's. Houston can't rely on switching up game plans based on Yao; they need to choose one identity so that rhythm and momentum can be built.

Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers showed that when the triangle offense isn't as crisp as it should be (which happens sometimes because opponents watch film of the triangle being executed to perfection), they can always rely on guard Kobe Bryant to take over. But with Bryant recovering from knee surgery, they know they have another constant force in forward Pau Gasol. And if last night's game is any indication of anything, the Lakers can assume that their bench is reliable enough so that their aging stars can play limited minutes, as they look towards March, April, the playoffs, and beyond.

Miami Heat: They look great on paper, but they don't look like a unit yet. They didn't have an offense. Period. Or, at least a professional one. Theirs consisted of a guard passing to another guard or forward to shoot a contested 15 to 17 foot jumper. There were no cuts to the basket, backdoor lobs, pick and rolls; therefore, no rhythm was established. And with two players (Dwayne Wade and LeBron James) who are used to demanding the ball having to now share it - it's easy to say during the offseason that it won't be a problem, but it was crystal clear that that's going to be a recurring problem for Miami as the season progresses.

Boston Celtics: Their game plan has been in tact since 2008. Wear their teams down defensively, rebound the basketball, and let Rondo run and make a play. And with really no defense to be played against a struggling Miami offense, Rondo capitalized with 17 assists. Boston's been together for too long and know each other too well to have any newly-assembled team push them around.

An identity gets a 12-man roster all on the same page. It builds rhythm as the season progresses. It builds repetitiveness to become perfect, which is recipe for success.


- Leather Head

Tough Luck for the 2007 Draft Class

 The 2007 draft class was not a particularly spectacular one. The only name that truly sticks out is Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, who is quickly becoming one of the best players in the league. But that doesn't warrant only two players from this draft class receiving contract extensions - Durant and Chicago center Joakim Noah. Well, unless general managers have no idea as to how much money they'll have at their disposal when the next season rolls around because of the unknown specifics of the collective bargaining agreement. This fact provides fans to see the best basketball from the 07 Draft Class not named Durant or Noah, since they will all be on their contract years, meaning they'll play at their highest potential to make themselves marketable when they hit the free agent market next summer. However, these young players - who probably have no money saved up from their rookie year contracts because of amateur spending and poor investing - are scared shitless because as of now, they will have no cash inflow into their debt-ridden bank accounts starting next year and may be looking at unemployment if things in the collective bargaining agreement don't work out between the league and its players.

General managers have until November 1 (5 days from today) to lock up their 07 draftees. If they decide not to, then all of them will be on the unrestricted free agent market next year, meaning any team can snag the free agent's talents for a lot less money if influential marketing strategies are utilized. And when I say "influential marketing strategies", I mean what Pat Riley did this summer to secure Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh to the Miami Heat for a lot less money than other teams were offering. Aaron Philips of NBA Dime has already pointed out certain players who will probably be receiving contract extensions in the next six days or will be hitting the unrestricted free agent market next summer and will get the most bang for their buck - meaning they'll be receiving the amount of money that their talents deserve. The following is my list of players that have not yet proven much and need to this season to prove to their respective organizations and other NBA teams, who may be their potential suitors next summer, that their talents warrant a contract extension or offer:

1). Rodney Stuckey: Detroit Pistons general manager, Joe Dumars took quite a leap of faith two years ago by thinking that young point guard Rodney Stuckey would be a serviceable replacement for veteran and 2004 Finals MVP, Chauncey Billups. As of now, Dumars failed miserably. He should have never thought that. Billups was everything you needed in a point guard - pass first mentality, three point reliable, and lockdown defense. Stuckey's perimeter defense is the only asset of his that shines, as his shoot-first mentality (at a very low efficiency rate I should add) and horrendous three-point percentage (23%) have been widely exposed since his takeover of Detroit's starting point guard spot.

2). Nick Young: My fellow Trojan doesn't have a very bright future ahead of him in Washington. He should have taken full advantage last season with the guard vacancy left open by Gilbert Arenas' absence, but he didn't. He shot from the field at a very low percentage (41%) and only averaged 8 points a game. And the organization has already looked past Young as a key role in Washington's future, as they significantly improved their backcourt with number one draft pick in John Wall and the addition of ex-Bull, Kirk Hinrich. And with Arenas back as well, Young finds himself battling for minutes behind three legitimate guards. Next season, Young's minutes will decline the most its ever in his career, and somehow he needs to find a way to create his best season.

3). Mike Conley Jr.: Conley's been Memphis' starting point guard since his arrival to the NBA, and he hasn't provided much. He should be a much better on-ball defender given his lightning speed and quickness. And in my opinion, his passing and scoring have not been very impressive at all. But since his defense, scoring, and passing were solid at Ohio State University and he had so much potential coming in as a rookie, Memphis has stayed patient. This is Conley's last season to prove something, or he'll probably be shipped to another team for a lot less money, as Memphis will take its chances on a veteran point guard to run the show or recent pickup, Texas A&M star Acie Law (who was also in the 2007 draft).

4). Greg Oden: It's surprising to see the #1 pick be on this list, but if you're as unlucky as Oden to be riddled with injuries, then there is no escaping it. Since being drafted in 2007, he's only played a single season's worth of games (82), while his other draft mates have played three season's worth (246). Portland's patience with Oden is getting thinner and thinner; the defensive anchor that they thought they drafted is sadly turning into a injury-prone bust. If Oden doesn't turn some heads in Portland, he's on his way out, and for a lot less than what many would have prospected in 2007.

Larger than life expectations and unfortunate circumstances have placed these four players in their current state. This next season will ultimately decide the next five to seven years of their careers. I can safely say that they won't take this lightly. Let the "biggest shocks of the NBA season" begin.

- Leather Head

Observe, Remember, Respond, Celebrate

LeBron James' greatest attribute isn't his ultra-athleticism. It isn't his 6'8", 250 pound body that can truck through any NBA defense. And it isn't his all-around patented game, which includes not only scoring, but also passing, rebounding, and defending. His greatest attribute is his awareness.

At 6'8", he notices passing lanes that open up for a split second for a cutting teammate. In a matter of seconds, he figures out angles for top-ten highlight chase-down blocks. He reads the opposing team's passing lanes and is able to disrupt it. When the opposing team's coach motions a hand signal to his point guard, James informs his teammates that they're changing to a zone defense or they're running a backdoor lob pass to Dwight Howard. This skillset that James possesses not only comes from hours of film sessions and constant absorption of the game, but it also simply stems from his natural keen awareness.

And his ability to notice things that others are limited to noticing does not begin and end with only basketball. He's aware of the hundred and thousands of negative tweets that he receives on a daily basis, since moving to Miami. In fact, he reads every one. He was aware of all of the negative backlash that he was receiving from the nation by his decision to move to Miami. He's aware that he's one of the most hated athletes in all of sports, and he'll probably lose a significant portion of his sponsors. He's aware that though his team is star-studded with All-Stars in Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, many experts doubt they'll win as many championships as they've promised the city of Miami.

"Don't think for one min that I haven't been taking mental notes of everyone taking shots at me this summer. And I mean everyone!"

Just a week before the regular season tips off, James sends this tweet to his followers, reminding them that he's read, taken in, and absorbed all of the backlash from this summer. He's reminding his haters that he's a freak of nature when it comes to observing, remembering, responding, and celebrating. He observes that Suns guard Jason Richardson has a breakaway lane for a dunk. He remembers all of the lanes that he's noticed in the past that have helped him prevent other players from enjoying a free ride to the hoop. He responds by tailgating Richardson and just as he begins to spin for a 360 dunk, LeBron smacks it away from his fans. Finally, he celebrates with a smug smirk on his face. The situation he's in now is no different. Observe the hate. Remember each one and use it as fuel for this coming season. Respond by playing better basketball than his previous MVP seasons. Celebrate by hoisting up a trophy in June.

Sure, LeBron seems laid-back on the outside with his dancing and goofing off. But inside, we forget what kind of perfectionist freak he really is.



- Leather Head

Will David Stern be the Doom of the League?

In an effort to give NBA fans "what we want", NBA commissioner David Stern is tightening up the referees' calling of the game, especially in their distribution of technical fouls. First, it was two technical fouls result in an automatic ejection. That was a reasonable implementation. 16 technical fouls in total result in a one-game suspension and every technical foul after that results in another suspension without pay. Some argue that this went a bit overboard, but I think that this punishment is well-warranted to keep some of the more emotional players like Rasheed Wallace and Kevin Garnett in their place. But now, the commissioner has introduced to this new NBA season that any reaction towards a referee's call is subject to a technical foul. And when I say reaction, I don't mean an overreaction, I really mean any kind of reaction - staring, talking, looking away, looking confused, walking away, etc. And this preseason has been the league's test of Stern's new rule. It's been awful to say the least.

I could pile this post with a number of YouTube videos from absurd technical fouls given to Jermaine O'Neal, Grant Hill, and Kevin Garnett. But I think one of the most ridiculous ones comes from a recent Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors exhibition game. Take a look at what warrants a technical foul in our league now:

Stern justifies his new rule by saying he's aiding the desires of the fans, assuming we want faster and more controlled games. Not only is this wrong, but this just shows how detached Stern is from the players and fans that make up the NBA. As a fan, I don't necessarily enjoy it when players argue with a referee's decision, but I understand why players do it. The game gets intense and frustrating, and some players let their emotions run amuck at times (check 3:00 mark). But I will certainly begin to have some problems with Stern's new rule if the Kobe Bryants, LeBron James's, and Dwayne Wades (who happen to be the more emotional ones because as the star, you tend to be more invested in the game) get ejected or suspended for racking up inexcusable technical fouls. And I'm sure I'm not alone - Adrian Wojnarowski, of Yahoo! Sports, writes that "on a list of 100 desires of the NBA fan, enacting this edict probably falls somewhere in the top 150."

But I wonder if Stern is having this rule implemented just for the preseason, where games don't matter as much. Is he just setting a precedent for this upcoming NBA season that is in for many emotional games that will produce many Rasheed Wallace-like moments? Imagine when the ultra-physical Eastern Conference champion, Boston Celtics face a new-look Miami Heat that has come into championship contention since this offseason. It's going to be a bloodbath, and players will be T'd up. But what happens when emotional players like LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo begin to get ejected because of these new stringent rules?

Will the rules get more lax as the season progresses, but this preseason is just setting the bar high so players learn early to tone down the arguing, the overreacting, etc.? If it is, Stern just may be a genius because according to Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who's been in the league longer than anyone can remember, players learn and will adjust. I'm not sure what Stern's motives are. I'm not sure if he thought all of this through, but if games continue to be called like how these preseason games are being called, the NBA will lose fans and money, during a time when the league desperately cannot. The 2011-2012 season is not guaranteed, and if the league starts losing money now, a lockout is dangerously close, as the league and its players will be fighting harder than ever for a larger portion of the league's revenue.

David Stern, it's very risky to make such a radical change at such a sensitive point in the league's history. He better to learn to adjust if his new rules don't follow through as planned.


- Leather Head

Greatness Comes in Pairs

Recently, NBA.com columnists have been writing about their favorite NBA teams ever. Why not join the fun? But I'm not going to immediately choose one team and claim it to be my favorite. I'm going to list and discuss the greatest teams that the league has seen throughout its illustrious 64 NBA seasons. And we'll come to notice that great teams showcase two out-of-this-world performers - almost always.

1960s Boston Celtics: The green dominated this decade, earning 9 of the 10 championships from the Sixties. Point guard Bob Cousy decorated this era with his unique blend of ball-handling abilities and passing skills, earning him the nickname "Mr. Basketball" or my personal favorite, the "Houdini of Hardwood." Center Bill Russell  imprinted the culture of the Celtics with defense. His man-to-man defense against Philadelphia's Wilt Chamberlain kept the most dominant big man this game has ever seen from capturing only one title in the Sixties. And if shot blocking was counted during Russell's era, that record would be untouchable.

Early 1970 Los Angeles Lakers: You know you're good when you're the logo of a multi-billion dollar franchise, and Jerry West was that good. "Mr. Clutch" had the sweetest jumper this game has ever seen, and he led his team to nine NBA Finals appearances. But it's not until he had a running mate by the name of Wilt Chamberlain, where he captured his first NBA championship in 1972. And to call Chamberlain a "running mate" is a huge understatement. A man who averaged 30 points and 23 rebounds per game for his career and who once scored 100 points in a single game is light years more than a running mate.

1980s Los Angeles Lakers: Magic Johnson's smile describes how his team won five championships during this decade. His flair, no-look passes, ultimate competitiveness, and sheer unselfishness gave birth to "Showtime" in Los Angeles. And the recipients of this point guard's dazzle were "The Captain" Kareem Abdul Jabbar, who is the league's all-time scoring leader, and his untouchable "Sky Hook." Kareem may have been lean for a center, but that sky hook would bury his opponents nine times out of ten. This dynamic duo not only won five championships during a decade where Boston was just as impressive, but they gave rise to other Lakers to make a name for themselves, such as "Big Game" James Worthy, Byron Scott, and Michael Cooper.

1980s Boston Celtics: This team is different in that during its great run of winning three championships during the 1980s, greatness came in threes for this team. But to continue the argument of greatness coming in pairs, I'm going to have to drop Robert Parish just because in my opinion, most of "The Chief"'s fame comes from his elongated 22-season NBA career more than anything else, whereas Kevin McHale is widely considered one of the most skilled big men of all time. Whether he out-leaped, out-maneuvered, or out-spinned away from his defenders, his defenders were helpless in McHale's "Torture Chamber." And Larry Bird is simply considered one of the greatest of all time with one of the best shooting touches this game has ever seen. And though listed as a small forward, 6'9" Larry "Legend" used his height to see over the defense to deliver gorgeous passes to a cutting Dennis Johnson or to the twin towers in McHale and Parish.

1990s Chicago Bulls: His Airness, Air Jordan, the greatest athlete of all time. Whenever you have this kind of Alpha-male on your team, it's hard not to win, and the Chicago Bulls did exactly that in the Nineties - win. They completed two sets of "three-peats" for a total of six championships during a decade that kept a number of Hall of Famers, such as Karl Malone, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, and Patrick Ewing, from ever winning a championship. But every Batman needs a Robin, and Scottie Pippen proved to be the best running-mate of all time. Timely jumpers, tough-nosed defense, and an all-around game helped Pippen raise Jordan's game just as much as Jordan helped raise Pippen's game. And this deadly tandem convinced the city of Chicago that Pippen needs a statue just as much as Jordan needed a statue.

2000 Los Angeles Lakers: It was almost unfair watching Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2001 NBA playoffs. The 2001 team went 15-1 in the playoffs, the greatest single-season postseason record of all time. And they weren't just barely passing by other great teams, but they were pummeling a very talented Sacramento Kings team and a San Antonio Spurs team that featured two Hall of Famers in the Big Fundamental Tim Duncan and the Admiral David Robinson. But O'Neal and Bryant's inside-out game worked to perfection, as Bryant would penetrate and dish to O'Neal for thunderous dunks. This tandem brought a three-peat to Los Angeles in majestic fashion.

Current Los Angeles Lakers: As Bryant eyes another three-peat this upcoming season, he can't help but to smile after suffering an enormous amount of negative publicity and early playoff exits during his post-O'Neal career. Bryant has cemented his name as one of the greatest players of all time because of his intense competitiveness, offensive prowess, and swarming individual defense. And now along with Pau Gasol, who is considered the best big man in the world, it's tough not to imagine this team hoisting up another trophy in June 2011.

Future Miami Heat: Let's face it, this team is structured for success. And when Bryant and Gasol's Lakers take a backseat from winning title after title, this team will take the championship reins. LeBron James will utilize his unbelievable athleticism and Magic Johnson-esque passing abilities, and Dwayne Wade will utilize his quickness and flash to produce many championships for South Beach.

Future Future Oklahoma City Thunder: If Kevin Durant doesn't let success and fame get to his head and if Oklahoma can keep its superstar happy with a championship-contending roster and if point guard Russell Westbrook continues to improve his game exponentially, and if Oklahoma produces or trades for a big man that can anchor an already-polished defense, I predict the Thunder to be the next big thing after the Lakers and Heat. That's four if's that can go either way for this Thunders ball club, but shoot me for thinking optimistically for a team that only brings good to the NBA.

- Leather Head

The Dream Imparts Wisdom on Superman

Dwight Howard is widely-considered the best center in the game today. On the defensive end, he's a beast. He's a monster on the boards (13.2 rebounds per game), and he has the best timing when it comes to blocking shots (2.8 blocks per game). He has extremely broad shoulders so it looks almost comical when another center tries to post him up. Howard's an icebox - no one is going to outmuscle him in the post.

But all of his athleticism is exhausted on the defensive end. And yes, defense does win championships, but juding from the results of the playoffs, Orlando needs Howard to be more than a defensive presence. They need him to utilize the combination of brute strength and unmatched quickness that is rarely ever possessed by a man of his size on the offensive end. He averages just about 18 points a game, which is well over the league average among centers. But almost all of his points come from alley-oop passes from Jameer Nelson and putback dunks from a Rashard Lewis or Vince Carter missed shot (there are a lot of those).

Because of his shortcomings, he turned to Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon for help. "The Dream" was just as much of a force as Dwight Howard is now on the defensive end, holding the league's record for most blocks. However, Olajuwon had every post move that comes to mind down pat - hook shot, drop step, up and unders, you name it. His well-roundedness on the offensive and defensive end led his Houston Rockets to two NBA championships.

It's definitely going to take Howard years and many more practices with The Dream and on his own to be as fluid as Olajuwon was in the post. And after watching this video, I've decided that it's going to take a very long time. In the video, it just doesn't seem right for Howard. Comparing Howard's hook shot from Olajuwon's is strikingly different. The results are the same, but Olajuwon just looks more comfortable doing it. Howard seems stiff - why can't he extend his arms all the way out like Olajuwon? And if Howard seems uncomfortable with no one on him, imagine how much more awkward and unconventional it will be for Howard during an actual game. But who knows, LeBron's jumper isn't all that pretty, but he worked on it, and it goes in the majority of the time now. Maybe it will be the same for Howard.

Don't get me wrong, I completely agree that Howard is the best center in the game today. But let me just say this. If Yao was healthy, Howard would be sharing "best center in the league" honors with him, without a doubt.

And I consider Pau Gasol a power forward, so if we're debating best big man in the game today, Dwight Howard wouldn't be standing so pretty.












- Leather Head

Not One to Change

Throughout his 14-year career, Allen Iverson was absolutely, no doubt about it, the man on the court. 26.7 career average points per game - 5th behind names like Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. 1997 NBA Rookie of the Year - rookies in that draft class featured names like Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, and Steve Nash. 2001 NBA MVP - he carried a very mediocre Philadelphia 76er team all the way to The Finals. 11-time NBA All-Star. 4-time NBA scoring champion. That's an impressive resume. This kind of resume gets you to the Hall of Fame, this kind of reputation earns you respect from the league. But there's always been a large footnote that came with Iverson's talent, and that footnote reads "badass". He rarely ever went to practice. He condemned the importance of practice. He skipped corporate events, such as media or press day. He publicly criticized referees. He wore gang-affiliated apparel to and from sports arenas. He represented everything bad in the "thug-life, shorts down to my ankles" phase in the late 90s/early 2000s.

And as he gets older, Iverson has to realize that these "footnotes" become a lot more magnified than his skills on the court because though he revolutionized the game with his unmatched speed, drive, and scoring abilities, his body is wearing down. A 6'0", 165 pound body that's been taking a beating since 1996 is definitely wearing down. But Iverson is not one to change. When David Stern, commissioner of the NBA, asked him to change his pre-game and postgame apparel, Iverson refused to submit to authority and threatened that he would fight to wear comfortable clothes. When Larry Brown, coach of the Philadelphia Sixers during Iverson's time with the team, criticized Iverson for missing practice, Iverson went on an infamous public rant about the insignificance of practice. During the latter part of his career, when Detroit and Memphis asked Iverson to play a reserve bench role on their respective teams, he couldn't stoop to such a level, so he left. In his eyes, he is always right, as his thuggish antics off the court, though condemnable, gained him a huge fan base that sold out arenas. In his eyes, he is always the star on the team, as seen after his time in Philadelphia, where he couldn't adapt to any team's system - they had to adapt to his system where he was the star.

30 out of 30 NBA teams know that Iverson is a distraction waiting to happen. Therefore, no NBA team offered him an invitation to this year's training camp. Rookies who hadn't proved anything in the pros were getting the nod over Iverson. So now, Iverson is looking at other countries that have teams that will play his system. Adrian Wojnarowski and Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports write that Iverson is extremely close to signing a one-year, $1.5 million deal with Turkish team, Besiktas. Well, the only thing in the contract that is making the contract extremely close is Iverson himself - he's not willing to let Besiktas fine him beyond 1% of his base salary. This tells me and the whole world that Iverson knows he's going to get in trouble, and he knows he's going to get fined somewhere along the line. And as a precautionary method, Iverson won't sign with the only team in the world that will give him a shot because he doesn't want his own salary to pay for his fines; he wants his team to pay for them.

As disheartening as that sounds, it's true, and it's the only stumbling block that's preventing Iverson from signing the papers. Iverson has to come to this simple reality: the NBA, the game of basketball, the world
has changed since his glory days in Philadelphia, which were about a decade ago. Iverson can't get away with being a rebel anymore. Iverson can't be the star of his team anymore. Iverson can't be the face of a franchise anymore. And until he realizes that, he won't be playing for any basketball team.

But Iverson is lucky in that he has many players to look to that have adapted to their surroundings. Antonio McDyess realized that if he ever wanted to compete for a championship after multiple surgeries that kept him away from the game for multiple seasons, he would have to play behind Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace as a bench player in Detroit. LeBron James realized that if he ever wanted to become an all-around player, he couldn't rely on his athleticism every night, but he would have to develop a jumper and a three-point shot that would make his game more versatile. Kobe Bryant realized that if he ever wanted to win without Shaquille O'Neal, he couldn't go one on five every night, but he would have to defer to his teammates at times.

Everyone submitted to Iverson during his prime - opposing teams, the commissioner, his team, and his coaches. Now that those days are gone, it's time for him to do the same, or give up the only thing he has that makes him spectacular.

- Leather Head

Golden State Warriors: Underdogs

Not to be rude or a hater of any sort, but the Golden State Warriors do not have much going for them entering the 2010-2011 NBA season. They haven't made the playoffs since their magical run in 2007, and since then they've lost high-performing swingman, Jason Richardson, and explosive point guard, Baron Davis to trades and free agency. And the divorce between Golden State and head coach Don Nelson doesn't make their future any brighter, so much so that NBA.com has the Warriors ranked 24th out of a possible 30 NBA teams entering the 2010 NBA season.

There is not much going for this franchise. "Nellieball" is on its way out, and these Warriors will have to play under an actual offensive system under newly hired head coach, Keith Smart. Players like Monte Ellis, Andres Biedrins, and Anthony Morrow who "grew" under Coach Nelson's unique style of basketball, where a fast break offense is more heavily stressed than tough-nosed defense, will definitely have a difficult time adjusting. Though it seems the power of the NBA has shifted to the East, the Warriors still have to do something about their 26-56 record from last season. And implementing a coaching change, going through a major roster shuffle during the offseason, and being in the same conference as the two-time champion Los Angeles Lakers do not help their situation one bit. 

But their fans still remain extremely loyal to their team. Even during difficult and losing seasons, the fans sell out the Oakland Arena. Even when the Lakers bandwagon seems so tempting, Warriors fan remain loyal to their team. Even when a Warriors fan attends the University of Southern California, he still firmly believes and will argue 'til the death of him that the Warriors are a better ball club than the Lakers. This loyalty and absolute support for one's home team should not go unnoticed; these fans like being the underdog. They like facing teams that are expected to win because a victory for Golden State is that much sweeter. And what's interesting is that amidst all of the changes that is happening to the Golden State Warriors, its fans and its team are one in the same: underdogs with a purpose and a dream to prove everyone wrong.

1). David Lee: Undersized to play center at 6'9''. Not quick and adept like most of the power forwards these days to play that position. He doesn't really have any offensive moves off the dribble or in the post that is reliable. But he still averages double-figures in points and rebounds through tough-nosed defense, hard work, and an unmatched effort that is almost nonexistent from any NBA player for 48 minutes in a game; however, these averages haven't earned him any All-Star selections. 

2). Stephen Curry: The lingering question that's been with him since his collegiate days at Davidson still haunt him to this day: Is he a point guard or a shooting guard? He's too much of a pure shooter to be an actual point guard. A shooter of his abilities should have a point guard assisting him, or his strengths as a shooter won't be utilized fully. And his 6'3", 185 pound stature cannot compete with shooting guards today who are at least 6'6", 210 pounds.

3). Keith Smart: He is taking the reins of Don Nelson, who is the all-time winningest coach in NBA history. If those aren't big shoes to fill, I don't know what is. 

4). Jeremy Lin: The first Asian-American to play in the NBA. That simple statement is enough to make him an underdog, but let's delve through other factors. He took Palo Alto High School to the CIF Division II State title but didn't receive a single Division I scholarship. Cal, Stanford, and UCLA wanted him to walk-on to their teams but none of them guaranteed him a spot. He played basketball at Harvard for four years but his basketball career stops there. He's not the flashiest, quickest, or most athletic basketball player, but his total understanding of the game of basketball gets him by even some of his draft class' best.

These individuals have proved everything, but in the eyes of their critics, have proved nothing. Golden State fans have proved that they will support their team no matter what, but their undying loyalty hasn't gotten their team anywhere. This is what the term "underdog" means at its finest - you have nothing more to prove, but all the world to gain. 

- Leather Head

NBA: African-Americans in a White Man's World

Race is always a sensitive subject. But it's apparent in almost everything that consumes modern-day. And the realm of basketball is no exception. As an avid fan and follower of the sport for more than ten years, I'm amazed at how I didn't understand the existence of racial issues in the NBA until recently. It came to my attention when NBA forward LeBron James suddenly welcomed the issue of race into his life and his professional basketball career after receiving significant negative backlash from his decision to air "The Decision" on ESPN that would reveal to the world where he would be "taking his talents to" for the upcoming 2010-2011 NBA season.

Upon hearing this charge, I, at first, could not understand how race had anything to do with the negative publicity that "The Decision" was receiving from the nation. My personal reason for disliking LeBron and his decision to air "The Decision" on ESPN Prime Time was that it showed that he was pompous, arrogant, and overly indulged with himself. And I'm sure everyone else thought along the same lines as I did. But when James accused race as even "a little bit" of the reason during a CNN interview with Soledad Sanchez, I thought to myself, "Is he really trying to dodge this bullet? He's clearly in the wrong, and instead of blaming himself for making an uninformed decision, he's going to accuse race - a very touchy subject to say the least." And many others shared my same initial reaction. Sports Illustrated's Peter King called James' remarks "garbage" on Twitter. Jason Whitlock, a columnist for Fox Sports who even admits that he "pulls out the race card" a number of times to escape predicaments, calls James' remarks shit. Shaun Powell of NBA's HangTime Blog states that LeBron's remarks of race were "stretching it." Even NBA Legend Charles Barkley claimed that James made him and his situtation a lot "stupider."

The point is that a lot of people, including me, dismissed LeBron's accusation of race being the reason for "The Decision"'s negative publicity. But as I questioned why LeBron would be shooting himself in the foot again by claiming something so out of the ordinary and something that only gives more ammunition to his already new-found enemies, I tried to see if there was something truly genuine that James may have been getting at. David Zirin of NPR sheds some light on this topic, stating that we are lying to ourselves if we dismiss race as a primary driver in how we view our "controversial, narcisstic, and outspoken athletes." Zirin takes the Q Score Company's rating of the six most unpopular athletes today: Michael Vick, Tiger Woods, Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. I agree that these individuals have done certain things and made certain decisions that rightfully put them in their place in the public's perception. However, this rating is based on the majority sports viewers, and as mentioned previously, most of them are white. And though it's difficult to bring up, we can't run away from the fact that the white audience is not going to rate Eli Manning, a white NFL quarterback, as more unpopular than Chad Ochocinco, a black NFL running back, or Hedo Turkoglu, a European NBA forward, more unpopular than Kobe Bryant, a black NBA guard. It's all because of what Vincent Thomas of ESPN calls "tribalism" - a tendency for people of the same race to band together against another. For the African-American community, Thomas calls it "black protectionism." I'm not saying that I wholeheartedly agree with this notion of "tribalism" or "black protectionism", but it would be very short-sighted of me to not take them into consideration.

And to illustrate this notion a bit further and to strengthen Thomas and Zirin's arguments, I'm going to revert to an essay that I wrote during my freshman year at NYU. And it had nothing to deal with basketball. It had nothing to deal with sports. The prompt for my writing class was to select a controversial topic and delve into it - the nature, the reason, the opposing viewpoints. Many of my classmates chose the conventional topics, like abortion, legalization of marijuana, and same-sex marriage. I wrote about Detroit rapper, Eminem. Not only is he one of the most successful musicians of all time, winning multi-plantinum awards and Grammy's, but he is also one of the most landmark musicians of our era. The problem the media and almost everyone has with Eminem is his offensive lyrics. And because of this, many critics want to strip Eminem of his awards and ban him from mainstream radio stations. Although his lyrics are harmful, I asked, what about those of Jay-Z, Soulja Boy, Nelly, and other African-American rappers out there today? They utilize the same homophobic, racist, and sexist lyrics that Eminem utilizes to become successful. Is Eminem's being white in a music industry where the majority listeners are African-American a racial issue that may be going unnoticed? Why aren't the black rappers being put to blame by the majority black listeners? The same situation may be going on in the NBA.

I'm not saying NBA viewers are racist. I'm an NBA viewer myself. But it would be very ignorant of us to not take the racial issues that affect the NBA into consideration. I'm shocked how I never found it interesting (or maybe even "odd" is the correct word) that almost all NBA athletes were African-American. And more importantly, these athletes were showcasing their talents in front a majority white audience and an NBA front office that was predominantly white. In fact, Wayne Hodges Examiner Article notes that 80% of the athletes in the "big" revenue sports (NBA & NFL) are African-American and only one African-American is a majority owner, Michael Jordan of the Charlotte Bobcats. The data and numbers are right in front of us, screaming to us that something peculiar is happening. But is the negative publicity received from "The Decision" really and wholly because of the racial issue brought up by James? Absolutely not. But "a little bit" of it may be, and it's something worth pondering over and questioning.

My posts have generally been harmless, comedic attacks at NBA athletes. But let's be level-headed, we have to flip the script at times - we, as viewers and critics of the sport, don't have much to be proud of as well.



- Leather Head

Nine Reasons to Smile

As individual players are struggling to maintain a somewhat positive reputation, as teams are making last-minute adjustments to their rosters, and as players are stressing whether they'll make a team's roster by the time the season tips off, Joakim Noah has just become worry-free as of today. He is floating on cloud-nine for nine reasons:

1). During the first-round NBA playoffs last year, Noah made derogatory comments to the city of Cleveland. Not that he cares much for the city or anything that may hamper his reputation in general, but he has to be slightly relieved that LeBron James did such a horrible thing to that city this offseason that no one will remember Noah's comments. That was a close one.

2). Aside from the Miami Heat who had an incomparable offseason of any team in NBA history, Chicago made the best moves this offseason. Chicago is on its way up!

3). Last season, Chicago was a mediocre team at best, and in the NBA, mediocre teams don't rely too much on defense. It's the upper echelon teams, like the Lakers, Celtics, and Magic, that rely heavily on defense. As Chicago becomes one of the elite teams in the league, they'll have to focus more on their defense. In this way, more people will be taking notice of Noah, the anchor of Chicago's defense.

4). Similarly to number 3, as Noah's strengths in defense and rebounding shine, many people will forget his offensive inabilities because of newly acquired Carlos Boozer who will do most of the scoring in the paint. We'll soon forget that Noah can't hit a jumper to save his life or that he doesn't really have a post-move that he can recall, ever.

5). Kelly Dwyer of Yahoo Sports has Noah, who is entering only his fourth season in the NBA, as the 7th best center in the league. Quite an accomplishment for him who has been counted out as soon as he entered the league. According to this ranking, he's better than the top of his draft class, Greg Oden. I know that may not be much of an accomplishment given Oden hasn't done much with his short-lived career riddled with injuries, but still - that's something to tell your grandkids.

6). It's probably a good feeling when your team doesn't want to give you up, even for an All-Star caliber player in Carmelo Anthony.

7). This is a stretch. As Chicago starts to raise some eyebrows in the league this year, people will start to take a look at Chicago's 2010 team with Chicago's 1997 team. Of course 97 wins this match in a heartbeat. But just because they're all part of the same franchise, don't think the comparison position by position won't happen. And I can safely bet that Noah has the edge over Luc Longley.

8). The Bulls have lost Boozer for about two months with a broken hand from an at-home injury. More time for Noah to shine before having to share the low-post spotlight with Boozer come December.

9). He just signed a 5-year, $60 million contract with Chicago. I probably could have just written this as evidence that Noah was floating on cloud-9. But I just wanted to see if I could find nine points that were going Noah's way. I guess somehow I found a way.


- Leather Head