Early Christmas Present

Just this morning, Kelly Dwyer of Yahoo! Sports wrote in his daily, ongoing blog "Ball Don't Lie" about the upcoming return of Lakers center Andrew Bynum and what this will mean to a Lakers club that started out as hot as ever, but a weak front line that features PAU GASOL, LAMAR ODOM, and Derek Caracter brings them to the fourth-seeded team in the West. Dwyer notes the improvement of defense. Agreed. Though Pau Gasol's finesse and court awareness ranks him as one of the best big men today, his defense does not shine as bright, especially if he's ask asked to anchor the Lakers defense as the starting center. And with Bynum back as a weak-side shot blocker, Lakers' defensive efficiency will rise to the top five it should be at. Dwyer notes the consistency of Pau Gasol will come back. After an MVP-caliber first eight games that helped boast a team record of 8-0, Gasol has come back to Earth - maybe even a bit fatigued. And who can blame him? He's asked to play almost 40 minutes a game, since the Lakers bench includes many guards and small forwards, but absolutely no big men. Well, except rookie Derek Caracter who is receiving big-time minutes (with the absence of both Bynum and center Theo Ratliff) but not producing as well as a professional should (even though he's a rookie). With Bynum back, Gasol will go back to playing 30 minutes and producing the efficiency he should be.

And then Dwyer includes in his post that with Bynum back, this 2010-2011 Lakers team will be the best since the 1980s Showtime Lakers. This bold statement challenges the authority that the 2000 Lakers commanded, headlined with a dominant Shaquille O'Neal and rising star Kobe Bryant. To me, the argument comes down like this:

Superstars: 2000 edges 2010. Whenever you have the best player in the league (O'Neal) and another top 5 player in the league (Bryant), you're going to have a high chance of being great. Unless, of course, you're the Miami Heat.

Supporting Cast: Aside from O'Neal and Bryant, the 2000 Lakers did not have much else. Though forward Robert Horry provided some heroic moments in the playoffs and forward Rick Fox did all that he could on the defensive end, 2010's supporting cast is headlined with a dominant Andrew Bynum, a versatile Lamar Odom, and a rugged Ron Artest.

The two teams are probably similar in everything else, when it comes to offense, defense, rebounding, etc. It's a toss up, so I'm not going to pick one or the other. I need to see if 2010 has what it takes to three-peat; if they do, let the talks begin.


- Leather Head

Boozer's Back, Who Cares?

 

When the Chicago Bulls announced that they would sign All-Star forward Carlos Boozer this past summer, everyone assumed Chicago would be the dark-horse team in the top-heavy Eastern Conference, which includes a championship-tested Boston Celtics, star-studded Miami Heat, and defensive-minded Orlando Magic. However, just before the start of preseason, Boozer announced that he would miss the first two months of the regular season with a hand injury. With Boozer out, Chicago would return to the mediocre lineup that only brought them the last playoff seed in the East before being knocked out of the first round of the playoffs.

Before the start of the regular season, before the start of the preseason, before even the Boozer trade, guard Derrick Rose was mentally focused to becoming the best player in the NBA. He even went on ESPN to challenge the idea that there should be no reason he shouldn't be named the 2010-2011 Most Valuable Player Award. No one considered it cocky, but no one considered it true either. For me, I took it as a very talented player who will improve but will still show the NBA that he is still only 22-years old.

Rose has taken stock of his bold commitment and is seeing it through to its fullest. Not only is he averaging a career-best 26 points and 8 assists, but he's also conducting himself as the best player on the floor every night, even against the dominant teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. A quarter into the season, he's led this same Boozer-less Chicago roster that he's had for his two years in the league to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. And that's after a treacherous 7-game road trip, where they came atop over 500. And with Boozer back in the lineup, there's no question that he'll make an impact. But let's make one thing clear: Boozer is not going to take this team to the next level, like we all were quick to assume before the season began. Derrick Rose will be, and quite frankly, he already has.


- Leather Head

Louisiana Purchase

The New Orleans Hornets long-time owner George Shinn has owned the franchise since its move from Charlotte in 2002. Shinn, at age 69, is diagnosed with cancer and reports claim that he is looking to move on from NBA ownership and focus on his faith, health, and the fight against cancer. No one can really get angry with him after those three reasons.

Since last spring, Shinn has been in talks with minority owner Gary Chouset, who owns 35% of the team already. However, the talks have since stalled, as Chouset is questioning his ability to manage an NBA franchise, while maintaining his oil business near the Gulf.

To make matters worse for the Hornets franchise, attendance for Hornets games at the New Orleans Arena has dipped to an all-time low with an average of 13,865 out of a possible 19,000. Although their contract lease extends until 2014, the Hornets and the Arena have the right to break the lease if attendance doesn't pick up.

Will the Hornets be relocating due to poor attendance? Will the Hornets have an owner at the end of the season or will they be owned by the NBA (for the first time in league history)? It is all very vague and uncertain, but one thing is clear: though guard Chris Paul is playing at an MVP-caliber level this year, catapulting his team as an elite team in the West, he certainly is not happy. Is his future in New Orleans still uncertain? Like every other question that surrounds the Hornets franchise, the answer is uncertain but situation is extremely frustrating.


- Leather Head

The Forgotten Team in the East

After Hall of Famer Reggie Miller's retirement in 2004, rugged forward Ron Artest (now a member of the Lakers) and young talent Jermaine O'Neal (now a member of the Celtics) were supposed to revitalize the Indiana Pacers franchise. Artest had his rugged defense and O'Neal was definitely a force to be reckoned with in the post. Indiana was on its way to taking the Eastern Conference crown from the Detroit Pistons in 2005. And then the "Malice at the Palace" happened. Artest ran into the stands, O'Neal threw punches, and guard Stephen Jackson turned into a eight-year old bully. Indiana, with all its pieces in place, lost it all that night, as its three best players were suspended for the majority of the season. The franchise hasn't been able to come back since. No one remembers Indiana anymore. No one remembers Reggie Miller's clutch threes against the Knicks. No one remembers Ron Artest winning Defensive Player of the Year. No one remembers Jermaine O'Neal's All-Star appearances. All anyone remembers is the Brawl. Indiana became a joke of a team, a forgotten franchise.

However, after five years of despair and throught all that's happened in the NBA recently, the Indiana Pacers are quietly shaping into the most improved team in the league. Not Miami. Not New York. Not any of the teams that made this past offseason a rollercoaster ride. Indiana has all the pieces in place to become a dark-horse in the east.

1). Third-year center Roy Hibbert is turning into a sensational big man. And with the pool of talent becoming thinner and thinner for big men, Hibbert's value is that much more accentuated. Primarily a shot blocker during his years in Georgetown, it was amazing to see Hibbert, during the waning minutes of the last night's game, yell for the ball in the post against Lakers center Pau Gasol. His confidence has skyrocketed - and for good reason.

2). Everyone has forgotten that in the early 2000s, his Boston Celtics were one of the front-runners to becoming Eastern Conference champions. His defensive mindset made his offensive-minded, three-point loving superstars, Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker, commit on the defensive end. He's translated this defensive mindset to a young group of Pacers, who held one of the best offensive teams in the NBA under 100 points last night.

3). Forward Danny Granger was an All-Star in 2008. He was what forward Kevin Durant is today: a long body that stretched the defense with his sharp shooting abilities. And then he went down with an injury in 2009, and everyone's forgotten about Granger. Even though he's not up to 100% yet, he's definitely getting there, and when he does, he's an easy top 5 small forward in the league.

4). This past offseason, the New Orleans Hornets were almost fine with trading away its superstar, Chris Paul, because of the amazing replacement job that point guard Darren Collison was able to fulfill last season. Now as the floor leader of his own team (and not Chris Paul's), Collison is ready for another breakout year. And veteran point guard T.J. Ford has handled a demotion to the bench like a pro, and he often finishes games when the young Collison struggles.

5). Josh McRoberts: a forgotten talent from Duke that rebounds with a passion (outrebounding Lakers forward Lamar Odom); Tyler Hansborough: a forgotten talent from North Carolina that plays with great energy and grit (an unbelievable asset to have coming off the bench); Mike Dunleavy: a forgotten third overall draft pick from the Golden State Warriors who is getting himself back into shape after countless injuries. Coming off the bench, these forgotten talents have something prove, and they'll definitely show up when called upon.

We forget teams like Indiana because of the superstars that headline certain teams like Miami, Los Angeles, and Boston. But at the end of the day, the Indiana Pacers have grouped together a bunch of forgotten talents that are hungry for another shot at stardom. My prediction: Indiana places fifth in the Eastern Conference and gives the fourth-seeded Eastern Conference team a run for their money in a Game 7 showdown.

- Leather Head

NBA Salary Cap Determines the Future

A dark cloud hung over the NBA on September 23, 2010, when that post was created. The league and the player union knew that they needed to come to an agreement on the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement), or there would be a potential 2011-2012 NBA lockout. But the tone of the conversation and the intensity of coming to a conclusion was very mild, to say the least. It seemed like both sides knew something would get hammered out. Unfortunately, over the past two months, both sides have continued to go back and forth, yet still making no progress. For instance, the most hotly debated issue on the table, the "hard" or "soft" salary cap, cannot seem to come to any reasonable conclusion. Commissioner David Stern and the league want a "hard" salary cap that would disallow players to receive multi-year contracts that exceed a certain salary cap (for 2010-2011, the salary cap was $58 million). Billy Hunter, the executive director of the National Basketball Players' Association, and the players are fighting for a "soft" salary cap that defines a particular cap on salaries but one that is also open to exceptions, like the Bird and Early-Bird Exceptions.

And now two months into one of the most anticipated NBA seasons, the two parties have reached a virtual stalemate. No forward steps have been taken. When talking about the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the only thing that is different from September and November is the intensity of the talks. And this new-found intensity is partly pulling from the first deadline that faces both parties: December 15. On this date, the talks will be forced to go somewhere because both parties could agree to extend the CBA for another year, but Stern and the league aren't looking to sign on for another year of "out-of-control" salaries and "soft" salary caps. Personally and I'm sure many others agree, the league will not agree to extend the CBA on December 15. If it does, it's almost a guarantee that elite players who have expressed interest in trades, like Denver's Carmelo Anthony and New Orleans' Chris Paul, will be offered ridiculous contracts, especially after this offseason that saw teams become championship-contenders at the expense of creating more lottery-bound teams. In laymen terms, big market cities, like New York, that have no shot at winning a championship with their current roster, could exceed their salary cap and offer players like Anthony and Paul a huge sum of money that simply can't be refused. On the other hand, small-market cities don't have that kind of money at their disposal. And Stern knows of this competitive advantage that big market cities, like New York, have over smaller-market cities, like Denver and New Orleans, and to keep player-signings civil and not solely based on which city has the most money to offer, Stern is going to go to great lengths to keep a "hard" salary cap.


I'm not one to agree with many of Commissioner Stern's decisions that have shaped the NBA. I think his harsh policy on technical fouls must be diminished. I think his strict dress code is something that must be seriously reconsidered. I think the fines that he issues to some players and coaches are more biased than "situational-based". I'm not the biggest fan of Commissioner Stern; in fact, I enjoy it when he steps up to the podium for Draft Night every June in Madison Square Garden and gets boo'ed by the rugged New York faithful. But in regards to Stern's stance on "hard" salary caps, I wholeheartedly agree.

A "soft" and poorly regulated salary cap certainly gives big-market cities, like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago a competitive advantage over the smaller-market cities. Bigger city means more money, more money means better players, better players means better team, better team means better ticket sales. Keeping a "hard" salary cap is an effort to stabilize the 30 teams in the league. Stern is aware of this, and he is adamant in his position to keep it at that. There's no reason these athletes desperately need $20 million a year. A salary cap won't keep these players struggling by the penny to maintain their already luxurious lives for themselves and their families. And if Billy Hunter really cares about the basketball players, shouldn't he advocate a salary cap that, more than anything, forces his players learn how to save and invest their money instead of allowing them to garner a ridiculous amount of cash that can be mindlessly spent? Don't feed the problem, fix it!

President of the Players' Union, Derek Fisher, has already gone to certain lengths to help the players, by sending them e-mail podcasts and instruction manuals on tips to saving and investing money. New Jersey Nets guard Jordan Farmar, previous a Los Angeles Laker and a teammate of Fisher's for four years, heeds Fisher's advice and spends every penny he earns in part of a long-term budget that he's mapped out for himself. If more athletes acted like Farmar instead of Antoine Walker, who, as of November 1, is bankrupt due to gambling and ill-advised spending, a decision between a "hard" or "soft" salary cap wouldn't even be a debate.

The players have been looking out for themselves for quite some time. They want their contracts to continue to be heavily backed with millions and millions of dollars in order to maintain their lifestyles. For the majority of time since its inception, the NBA has supported the desires of these athletes, who continue to fill up stadiums and improve ratings. But the economy has dropped recently, and it's time that these players ask for less for the benefit and survival of the league. Furthermore, it's time these players, who have been regarded as spoiled and overpaid, take stock of their bank accounts and act like the adults that their birth certificates prove that they are. A couple million less won't hurt a player; a season without pay (due to a lockout) will.


- Leather Head

LeBron's New Logo

During his first seven years in Cleveland, LeBron James made a fortune with his Nike brand logo "L23."

And despite his Miami Heat's early season woes, James still finds the time to earn that extra cash alongside his 6-year, $110 million contract. Recently, he's come up with a new Nike logo that coincides with his new Miami Heat #6 jersey. How successful this logo will be in comparison to his old one has still yet to be seen. But anyone can guess that the new "LJ" logo will not come close to the success "L23" had for several reasons. One, everyone hates him. Two, no one really wants to feed his ego anymore.

But through all this, a question that comes to my mind is: is LeBron James a basketball player or a business man? Please don't tell me that his decision to move to Miami was really to win a championship, and not for some other marketing or business purpose. And shouldn't his eyes be set on improving a horrendous 8-7 start, instead of creating new logos and new marketing strategies?

At least he doesn't think he's Michael Jordan (#23) anymore. He's doing that right, at least.

FYI: LeBron James makes his first visit to Cleveland since his decision as the Miami Heat visit James' former Cleveland Cavaliers this Thursday on TNT. This is the one of most highly anticipated sports games from this decade alone. Don't miss it. I can only imagine how epic the player introductions will be.


- Leather Head

Phil the Jokester

Pat Riley is President, and he's assembled a star-filled roster. And yet, the Miami Heat is struggling, and it's very likely that the blame game will commence soon.

Doesn't this remind you of something?

2006: Pat Riley, who was still President of the Miami Heat, assembled a group of wily veterans, like Gary Payton and Antoine Walker, to team with young star (at the time), Dwayne Wade and Shaquille O'Neal to make a run at a championship. Based on their roster, the Heat were the favorites. But their record under coach Stan Van Gundy didn't show that. And so midway into the season, Riley fired Van Gundy and took over as coach.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson recently went on a talk show and stated if the Miami Heat don't start winning, then the "Van Gundy situation" will happen all over again and current Miami coach Erik Spoelstra will be out of the job. Van Gundy quickly responded back saying that Jackson's comments were "inappropriate" and "ignorant."

And though I am a huge fan of Jackson's unique sense of humor and his sly comments at his players and TNT commentator, Craig Sager, Jackson certainly didn't think before speaking this time around. It's no secret that Van Gundy was probably crushed at Riley's decision, and the virtue of a great joker is to poke fun at an appropriate subject matter, and Van Gundy's firing definitely does not fit that mold. But we can't come down at Jackson too hard because he's a coach first and foremost. And a really good one at that.

- Leather Head

Tragedy Strikes Staples Center

 Minutes after an impressive Los Angeles Lakers victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night (11/21/2010), a 2-year old boy falls 50 feet from a suite box at the Staples Center.

Michael Roth, a spokesman for the Staples Center, issues in a statement Monday morning that the Tang family were taking a picture with their toddler after the game in their suite box. In general, the barriers that surround a general suite box vary, but the lowest point stops at an average adult's waist. After the picture was taken, Mr. and Mrs. Tang were shuffling through their digital photographs before losing sight of their 2-year old son. Paramedics rushed the boy to the hospital, but after hitting his head on a row of seats after falling 50 feet, the boy died quickly after.

It's unclear as to who owned that specific luxury box and what Staples Center or the Lakers organization will do in memorial of the young boy. But what is certain is that an accident like that has never occurred. It's interesting to see what Staples Center will do to prevent a freak accident like that from occurring again.

- Leather Head

Portland's Knees

Portland Trailblazers center Greg Oden will need microfracture surgery on his left knee and will miss the remainder of the 2010-2011 NBA season. He missed his rookie season after surgery on his right knee; he played a total of only 82 games the following two seasons before breaking his left kneecap last December that has sidelined him since then. This was a crucial year for Oden, as his will become a restricted free agent next summer. If Portland will extend his contract is not even a question anymore, but if any team will sign him with those untrustworthy knees is the real question.

And this situation seems all too familiar to what makes Portland one of the laughingstock organizations of the league. In 1983, Portland selected Sam Bowie with its second overall draft pick before Michael Jordan, who was selected third by the Chicago Bulls. Jordan went on to become the greatest athlete of all time, whereas Bowie's career was plagued and marred with injuries. In 2007, Portland selected Oden with the number one overall draft pick over forward Kevin Durant, who is quickly blossoming into one of the greatest players we have today.

And to make matter worse, Portland's all-star guard Brandon Roy will miss the next two games with a sore left knee that has gotten worse and worse. During the first couple games of the season, we've seen Roy limp to the locker room during games, have his minutes severely limited, and be noticeably slower in his movement. It seems that Roy, who was arguably the third best shooting guard in the league today behind Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade, will never play at that all-star level, as sources directly related to his medical examinations say, "There's no real hope of improving [his knee]."

With Portland's cornerstone franchise player and future sensational talent both riddled with nagging injuries, their future doesn't look too bright.


- Leather Head

NBA Legend Bill Russell to Receive Medal of Freedom Award

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor bestowed upon by the current U.S. President, given to individuals who:

“have lived extraordinary lives that have inspired us, enriched our culture, and made our country and our world a better place. I look forward to awarding them this honor.” - President Obama, Nov. 2010

And as a basketball fan, it's exciting to see one of our legends receive the award, and with some great company: Dr. Maya Angelou, Warren Buffett, and George H.W. Bush. Although he's not the first athlete to receive this prestigious honor (Hank Aaron and Muhammed Ali), he is the first professional basketball player to receive it.

ESPN.com notes that it's a bit "funny" to have an NBA player be commended so highly by a US President, since the White House has been, by in large, a place of baseball and maybe some football. However, President Obama is a huge fan of the NBA and the game of basketball, so it's obvious that he would have chosen at least one NBA player out of the 15 recepients. Not saying Russell doesn't deserve it, however. He led his Boston Celtics to an unparalleled eleven championships in thirteen years and single-handedly redefined the game of basketball. Not only was he the first African-American NBA coach, but he was the first African-American to coach any professional sport. He utilized his immense popularity to mobilize and support human rights during the sixties and seventies.

So Mr. Russell is definitely worthy of this award. And it's great to see an individual that represents the NBA be so highly commended for something he truly deserves. Can't say the same about something else that's happened recently.


- Leather Head

Is the Refereeing Going to Ease Up?

This year's preseason games were almost a joke because of all of the technical fouls being handed out. But everyone suspected that commissioner David Stern's new, stringent rules about not reacting at all towards a referee's call would ease up. Who wants to watch such an unemotional game? Aren't people going to want to see high intense basketball that comes from individual emotions, especially if it might be our last season of NBA watching? But if players are "T'ed" at such a frequent pace for showing rather mild emotions, how is the league going to achieve all of this?

And Sunday night's match between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers was no sign of fortunes to come.

In such a tight game against division rivals, you'd think the refs would let emotions run a bit. I mean, the adrenaline is already flowing - why kill the intensity? That's exactly what Lakers forward Lamar Odom thought, before being T'd up by referee Tony Brown for flailing his hands up in the air looking for a foul call. Even if the game was in the third quarter of an uncompetitive, blow-out game, Odom's reaction, in my opinion, doesn't warrant a technical foul. Odom called it the "weirdest technical foul" he's ever received, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant called it a "bad call and a bad, bad rule," and even Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Genry disagreed with the call.

More importantly, the game changed the complexion of the game, according to Lakers coach Phil Jackson. After winning over the momentum of the game, the Lakers pace slowed down after the technical foul shots by Phoenix guard Steve Nash that extended his team's lead to six, and Phoenix forward Hedo Turkoglu nailed a three in the ensuing possession to make the lead insurmountable.

Emotions need to be kept in check, but Stern should really look to amend this rule, unless he wants a league full of zombies come March and April, the most emotional months of the NBA. If games continue to be altered by questionable technical fouls towards the end of a high-intense ball game when in previous seasons, no technical would have been given, the quality of games will continue to head south - like it already hasn't been in question already.

- Leather Head

LeBron James Influential in NBA, but the World?

LeBron James has just been selected as one of Time Magazine's 25 nominees for the Person of the Year Award. And during a time where his popularity rating, according to Q Scores, dropped from one of the most popular athletes to the sixth most hated athlete in a matter of weeks, I can only expect the hailmary that's coming his way.

The world has been holding a magnifying glass on James' every move since this summer, hoping to find any kind of dirt that could his name even more. A no-show in the second round of the 2010 playoffs against the Celtics, sending his top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers to an early playoff exit: disappointing. Flirting with a number of NBA teams around the country, giving many of them false hope: classless. Of course the self-indulged one-hour ESPN special, The Decision, that would publicize to the world where he'd be taking his talents to: arrogant. A commercial that tries to better his image, by playfully taking shots at his critics, himself, and all of the events that took place this summer: desperate. His star-studded Miami Heat team is, to say the least, average at 5-4 after nine regular season games: overrated.

With all these bold-faced words labeled on him these past couple of months, I can only imagine what everyone's going to say about his Time's Magazine selection. He's an athlete who altered the course of the NBA, not the world. His name is on a list that includes Barack Obama, the Chilean miners, Mark Zuckerberg, and Steve Jobs. And James agrees, calling his nomination "crazy" and "too much." This is a perfect chance for LeBron-haters to add more fuel to their already filled-up "hate-orade." This is also a perfect chance for LeBron-supporters (Miami Heat fans and whoever else dares to join this group) protect their poster boy, claiming the negative backlash that James is receiving stems more from the media's overanalysis of James over the past couple of months, rather than James' actions themselves.

There's no point to argue who's right. One thing's for sure: James does not deserve to be on this list, and he certainly does not deserve to win. It should really challenge where people's attentions lie these days - more in the fascinations of entertainment than in the real-life crises, landmark events, and historic people that are altering the world with incredible perseverance (Chilean miners), brilliant entrepreneurial ideas (Mark Zuckerberg), and a powerful auroa that mobilizes a mass of people (Barack Obama). I would love to see James object to being put on this list, if that's even possible. Not just say it ("I'm extremely humbled"), but actually file a legitimate objection just out of respect for the other individuals on the list who have influenced the complexion of our world in more ways than James could even think possible.


- Leather Head

Heavy Expectations

The majority of my earlier posts were focused on the immense expectations that the media, the fans, and the league were placing on some teams and individual players before the 2010-2011 season went underway. And one player and one team that has felt the burden of these heavy expectations is forward Kevin Durant.

Durant was coming off a season that saw him become the youngest scoring champion (30.1 ppg) in NBA history at 21 years of age. In the 2010 playoffs, he matched superstar Kobe Bryant in an exciting duel between present star versus future star. He led the USA team in the summer FIBA tournament to its first gold medal since 1994 and was named Most Valuable Player of the whole tournament. He has no nagging injury, tremendous upside from an already spectacular 2009-2010 season. More than half of NBA experts (67%) picked him to be league MVP this year, surpassing the likes of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Dwayne Wade.

But after nine games, his team has won five, whereas other teams, such as the New Orleans Hornets and the Los Angeles Lakers have remained undefeated or suffered but a single loss. He's shooting a horrendous 41% from the field. He seems to be forcing the issue, compiling at least four turnovers a game. It's been a nightmare first couple of weeks for Durant.

Or is it? Or are we aligning his performance too closely with the ridiculously high expectations we had of this young 22-year old? Sure he's not playing like the MVP we thought he was going to play like. Defenses are stricter on him and his team. Double teams come more frequently. Other teams corral him anytime they find the opportunity, so he's forced to pass the ball to his teammates, but whoever said he was an amazing passer? All of us should really take a step back and let the young man develop a little bit, and not preordain him with accomplishments after one season of play. Had he not been expected to accomplish so much, he would be having an awesome couple of weeks, instead of this "nightmare" one that some are labeling it.


- Leather Head

The Gem is in India

If you are 7 foot, you will make the NBA. So stop studying for SATs, MCATs, GMATs, and LSATs - your life is set. What in the world am I talking about? Let me explain.

Out of all the places in the world, God chose India to nurture a 14-year old beast, Satnam Singh Bhamara. Yes, this is not a typo - 14-years old! NBA scouts are already drooling over this "future NBA prospect." Now in this business, we call Harrison Barnes of the University of North Carolina and Kyrie Irving of Duke University NBA prospects - players with some level of credibility and old enough to drive! However, the mere fact of being 7'0", although only being 14-years old, has numerous scouts traveling to India to get a glimpse of this phenom. The NBA has yet to feature a native of India, so this is great for this country and the continuing globalization of basketball. When was the last time you heard about India in the FIBA Summer Games or the Basketball Olympic Games? When was the last time you heard about India in any sport - even soccer, the world's most beloved sport?

This could be the start of something great for India. Who knows - the NBA world might have been missing some extraordinary talent because no one ever thought to look for NBA talent in India. But Satnam is getting the ball rolling, by giving his nation some recognition. And imagine if he does well in the NBA: Scouts will be flooding India, looking for more talent that may have been overlooked. And more importantly, more Indian players will pick up the game of basketball, further diversifying the game. Great for the NBA. Great for basketball. Great for India. Satnam has the potential to do great things five years from now.

But, I think it's a little premature to label him the next Yao Ming. I think we should let him finish up junior high before we jump the gun here.


- Leather Head

One of a Kind

Phoenix, Arizona is probably one of the most conservative states in the US. But Phoenix Sun's Steve Nash is a proud Canadian. He's most noted and highly praised for his exquisite and extremely accurate passing. But his shooting percentages would say otherwise. It seems like he was born to play basketball, being the recepient of two back-to-back league MVPs (2006, 2007). But his true passion as a young Canadian boy and even today is soccer. Steve Nash is just different - in every sense of the word.

And this point guard is getting older by the day (37 years of age). His window to make Phoenix a title contender has officially closed with the departure of forward Amare Stoudemire (New York Knicks), and other key role players like Shawn Marion (Dallas Mavericks), Leandro Barbosa (Toronto Raptors), and Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks). And many old-timers in his position in the past have gone to championship-contending teams to make their last few years in the league a memorable one. We've seen recently Boston's Shaquille O'Neal become the embodiment of that fact. But we also saw Gary Payton, Karl Malone, and Alonzo Mourning make that same move during the latter part of their careers. But Nash different. He's not demanding a trade. He seems peculiarly fine exactly where he's at - on a Suns roster that doesn't seem talented to even make the postseason.

Nash revolutionized this franchise with an exciting brand of basketball. He made them legitimate contenders for a good three years, and his point guard abilities have helped develop All-Stars in Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion, and Joe Johnson. But the sad reality is that Phoenix is in its rebuilding stage and having an aged 37-year old, who is still remarkably talented, run a rebuilding squad just doesn't seem right. You need youthful talent to develop, not an old-timer who's seen and done it all, except win a championship.

It's not in Nash's nature to demand a trade. He's different from the rest. So maybe it's Phoenix's duty to trade Nash to a title-contending team, for the good of themselves and Nash. According to NBA columnist Shaun Powell, the possibilites may be a long shot, but they're certainly out there. Phoenix needs to start new, with reserve guard Gorgan Dragic at point. And hopefully Nash will be the missing piece to that championship puzzle for Atlanta, Orlando, or New York, just to name a few teams.


- Leather Head

Week 1 & 2 in a Nutshell

The most anticipated season in NBA history is two weeks old. Certain players and events stick out more than others, such as Boston's Rajon Rondo's fantasy value, Washington's John Wall's early emergence as a star, Oklahoma City's unfulfilled expectations, New Orleans' 6-0 start, and Los Angeles' Baron Davis' weight. Wait, that's not anything new, but it is if this is supposed to be the Clippers' year to shine with young sensation Blake Griffin in the lineup but can't seem to get it together because their point guard has a bigger doughnut addiction than Charles Barkley does. But passed all of that, I've noted three takeaways in this very early but still very exciting NBA season.

1). Eric Gordon is an emerging star. And his breakthrough performance was this past Saturday against the Utah Jazz. As point guard Baron Davis is out with a sore knee, the Clippers turned to their young guard for leadership in the waning moments of the game. And "EJ" learned a thing or two from his USA Basketball experience this past summer, as he was able to take the game into overtime with this ridiculous play.


In the following possession, he blocks All-Star Deron Williams' shot to counter any of Utah's hope of ending the game after regulation. During the two overtime periods, Gordon clearly had the upper hand against Williams, who is considered the best point guard today. The Clippers lost by one, but they found something special in Gordon.

2). The formula to beat the Heat is revealed. Who ever thought there would be a way to defeat Miami's star-studded roster that features Wade, James, and Bosh? Who ever thought the New Orleans Hornets would be the team to present the league with this gift? On Friday night, the game plan was simple and extremely effective: attack Chris Bosh. Bosh's union with his two other star companions in Wade and James is exposing more and more of his weaknesses to the public. If you bang down low with him, you will win, and New Orleans center Emeka Okafor and the other bigs took full advantage Friday night. And it's not like Okafor is that much of a "beast" down low. It's just that Bosh is light years away from what people thought he was down low in the paint. Now, imagine when Bosh has to deal with Orlando's Dwight Howard and Boston's Shaquille O'Neal.

3). The Los Angeles Lakers is the model team. If you've been following the NBA season at least up to this point, you'll agree that this is not a biased statement. The Lakers are 7-0, and everything from their core group to their bench to their coaching staff looks top notch. Pau Gasol's versatility is the talk of the town. Lamar Odom's rebounding and overall effort are definitely noticeable. Shannon Brown's improved shooting from this past summer is showing with flying colors. The feistiness and grit of their new additions, Steve Blake and Matt Barnes, give this Lakers team an added dimension that they did not have prior to this season. And all of this is keeping an injured and a bit-aged Kobe Bryant primed for another run at a title come June.

- Leather Head

"Cancer Patient"

A lot of buzz is going around Yahoo! Sports, ESPN, and the general world wide web about what Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva posted on his Twitter account about Celtics forward Kevin Garnett:

"KG called me a cancer patient, I'm pissed because, u know how many people died from cancer, and he's tossing it like it's a joke"

Throughout his 15-year NBA career, Garnett has always been known as one of the game's most vicious trash-talkers. He flaps those gums constantly during any given basketball game, hoping to frustrate or get into the head of his opponents. And most of the time, it works. I mean, he's earned himself a Defensive Player of Year award in 2008 and numerous All-NBA Defensive Team selections. The general public does not have a problem with his trash-talking. In more ways than not, I'll argue that it's healthy for the game, sustaining the competitiveness of the game.

However, Garnett certainly went overboard when he called Villanueva a "cancer patient" last night at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit. On his Twitter account, Villanueva claimed that the remark was offensive because he's had many loved ones die from cancer, but he failed to mention the biggest reason for its offensiveness: he himself is diagnosed with alopecia universalis, which is a condition that results in hair loss. And Garnett is fully aware of this, but the 34-year old didn't control himself, kind of like how an elementary student can't control himself to say a humorous but nasty joke to a classmate. Grow up and have some common sense.

And it's even more disgusting what Garnett does to defend himself:

"My comment to Villanueva was in fact 'You are cancerous to your team and the league.'"

First of all, that doesn't justify anything for Garnett. Secondly, Garnett needs to learn how to own up and just admit that he was in the wrong. Adrian Wojarnowski of Yahoo! Sports writes in his column that Garnett's legacy will probably be forever tainted by the two words "cancer patient." The sad thing is that it probably won't be, in that in a matter of weeks, I'm sure everyone will have forgotten about his cold-heartedness. I hope at least Garnett's conscience eats him up if the public won't.


- Leather Head

Mismanagement of Funds Part II

I'm sorry, Atlanta. Just hours afters my last post, criticizing this franchise for mismanaging their funds by extending hefty contracts to both Al Horford and Joe Johnson during dire economic times for the NBA (due to the undecided collective bargaining agreement), Memphis just barely makes the November 1 deadline and is able to extend a 5-year, $40 million contract to underperforming guard, Mike Conley Jr. Whew! Memphis should be happy that they just barely made the deadline!

Wrong! Unbelievably wrong! Memphis has never really shuffled their roster correctly, and it seems like it's going to continue to head south, as long as Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace is in charge. Wallace defends his young point guard, stating that since the start of the season, he is attacking the paint more, finishing strong, and shooting the ball at an incredible rate. He's averaging 15 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 steals per game. News flash, Mr. Wallace! The Grizzlies have only played three games! Players' averages are obviously extremely inflated or deflated during this early part of the NBA. If you're going to judge a player's value over the span of five years in three games, then you might as well do all that you can to pick up Raptors center Reggie Evans who is grabbing 16 rebounds per game over three games.

Conley has been a disappointment his whole career: never really meeting the potential that the Grizzlies had in their third overall draft pick from 2007. Based on this extension, I don't think Wallace has a grasp of the kind of uncertainty that surrounds the NBA after this season. Although the players don't want salary cuts in the collective bargaining agreements (that must come to some conclusion by July 1, 2011 or there won't be a 2011-2012 NBA season), NBA commissioner David Stern certainly does, and there is a extremely high chance that Stern will get what he wants. I mean, he is the boss. With this in mind, many general managers have been hesitant in extending new contracts to their 2007 draftees, even the top-notch performers, like Aaron Brooks of Houston (who is coming off winning the Most Improved Player Award), Jeff Green of Oklahoma City (who is projected to become an integral part of the Thunders' success), and Greg Oden of Portland (who, when healthy, could be considered the best center in the game today).

I certainly don't understand Wallace's move here. He's taking a risk on Conley. A chunk of their pool of money that could have gone to some of best 2007 draftees who are entering free agency next summer has gone to Conley, who after three games, looks like the best point guard in the game today. Three games out of a possible 82 games, that is.


- Leather Head

Mismanagement of Funds

Center Al Horford just joined Kevin Durant and Joakim Noah because now all three are 2007 draftees that have safely secured a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract. That should be a huge sigh of relief for the young center out of the University of Florida. It should also bring a huge smile to Hawks general manager, Rick Sund and the rest of Atlanta's front office. Horford is a talented All-Star center, probably the second most talented behind Orlando's Dwight Howard. And though he is a natural power forward at 6'10", 245 pounds, he is able to establish an inside presence and has the ability to defend the elite big men in the game today.

But this brilliant move to safeguard Atlanta's franchise for at least five more years, given a healthy Al Horford, also brings back chilling memories of this past offseason when these same Atlanta Hawks resigned guard Joe Johnson to a 6-year, $124 million deal. Horford is worth every $12 million a year that he will be receiving. Joe Johnson is light years away from being worth the $20 million a year that he will be receiving. First of all, Horford is just as important to Atlanta as Johnson is. Why the $8 million a year discrepany? Secondly, that contract is usually reserved for top five players, such as LeBron James (6-year, $110 million) and Dwayne Wade (6-year, $108 million). Altanta didn't even make an effort to chase after James this past offseason; in fact, Atlanta seemed to be in a unusual rush when free agency began on July 1, 2010 by quickly signing Johnson to that ridiculous deal, which makes him probably the most overpaid athlete in the NBA, instead of exploring their options further with the funds that they had.

The implications of these two contract extensions are simple. For as long as Johnson and Horford remain the faces of this franchise, Atlanta will never be a contender. You'd think after three years of postseason disappointment, Atlanta would look to revamp their roster in some way. Instead, Atlanta stayed away from sign-and-trades and free agent shopping and fell in love with contract extensions. And as a potent free agent class coming the league's way this summer, headlined by Blazers center, Greg Oden (who just may be 100% healthy by then), Atlanta is going to wish it had some money left in its salary cap. Imagine a front court that featured Al Horford and a healthy Greg Oden. Atlanta would turn into a contender. That'd definitely cause problems for a Miami Heat team that lacks a front court. That'd definitely force Orlando to switch its "dominate-the-ball-inside-with-Dwight-Howard" game plan. And not even Boston's physicality would be able to match up.

But let's stop dreaming. According to Atlanta's management of its salary cap, they're looking to maybe advance through the second round of the playoffs and call it a season.



- Leather Head

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