NBA Players Who Deserve More Playing Time

Some of these guys are in the opening stage of their careers, so more playing time will come. Others are just flat out not used enough by their coaches. Below are the players who should be on the hardwood more and the pine less.

1) Andre Drummond, C, Detroit Pistons

Since being selected ninth overall in this past year's draft, Drummond has flown under the radar, mainly because Lawrence Frank has only allowed him twenty minutes of floor time a night. With that time, he's averaging 7.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg, and 1.6 bpg. He's shooting 61% from the field, leading to an astronomical 22.78 PER, which is higher than that of Dwight Howard and about the same as Dwyane Wade's. So what, or who, is holding Drummond off of the court? Greg Monroe, the Pistons' starting center, is establishing himself as one of the best big men in the league. Playing him along with Drummond doesn't work very well, as both are true centers. Until they are no longer on the same team, Drummond will be limited.


2) MarShon Brooks, SG, Brooklyn Nets

I haven't watched a ton of Nets games this year so maybe some of their fans would disagree with me that he's worthy of some more time. While there's a lot to be desired from Brooks as a defender, at times he could flat out score as a rookie. He showed potential to be able to develop into a key player, though of course Joe Johnson's acquisition would take some of his playing time. But I still thought he'd see more than the 11.6 minutes he's getting. The real surprise is he's losing them to not just Johnson, but Jerry Stackhouse's corpse (14.4 mpg) and Keith Bogans (17.8 mpg).


3) Marcus Thornton, SG, Sacramento Kings

It's a difficult situation in Sacramento, where Thornton is backing up Tyreke Evans at shooting guard. To get starter's minutes, Thornton would need to switch to forward; he is 6'4". But being undersized may well be worth it for a struggling Kings team; John Salmons is no longer worthy of being an NBA starter, and as it stands the team is 17-32. Thornton is a guy who two years ago averaged 21.3 ppg with starter's minutes. The Kings, soon to be Sonics, could use that boost.


4) Eric Bledsoe, PG, Los Angeles Clippers

Obviously he's not going to play much because he's behind Chris Paul, but this 23-year-old out of Kentucky is ready to start in the NBA. His stats aren't quite there yet due to just twenty minutes a night, but he has an impressive 18.29 PER. He's averaging 1.6 spg in the limited time. With Paul injured, as week speak he has twenty and ten assists against the Celtics on eight of twelve shooting. Perhaps staying at Kentucky another year could have helped him arrive with more of a bang, but now he's ready.

NBA All-Breakout Team

These are the players that either are finally living up to their potential, having career seasons, or simply overachieving.

PG: Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers

After a regression last season, Holiday is finally taking the next step Philadelphia fans hoped for after his sophomore campaign. After averaging 14.0 ppg and 6.5 apg in his second year, his line fell to 13.5 ppg and 4.5 apg in the season he was supposed to break out. His shot selection was routinely questionable. With added responsibility now from head coach Doug Collins, he's playing at an All-Star level, averaging 18.4 ppg and 8.9 apg, complete with improved play on the defensive end. And the last three games while he's been injured, the team has shown they can't win without him.


SG: O.J. Mayo, Dallas Mavericks

The born scorer had fallen out of favor in Memphis, coming off the bench in every game last season and desperately needing a change of scenery. Signing with Dallas was a blessing for him, as his scoring is up eight points from last season, and his field goal percentage from .408 to .482. He's shooting an incredible .512 from beyond the arc, proving he spent long hours in the gym in anticipation of this rejuvenated stretch.


SF: James Harden, Houston Rockets

I know he's actually a shooting guard, but he's more fit for this than anyone at the SF position. He's gone from sixth man to superstar in just an offseason, and his scoring is up over eight points to 25.0 ppg, good for fifth in the Association. He's answering the questions of whether he can be a first option in an absolute manner, and he's managed to steal all of Jeremy Lin's unnecessary attention in Houston.


PF: Glen Davis, Orlando Magic

In a team stripped of talent, someone had to replace at least some of Dwight Howard's production. Becoming a nightly starter has yielded terrific results for Big Baby, and he's proven to be one of the few Magic players actually worthy of a starting role on an NBA team. He's averaging 15.7 ppg and 7.9 rpg, but he'll need to improve his shooting percentage (.439) if he wants to be big time.


C: Anderson Varejao, Cleveland Cavaliers

He's always been known as an energy guy, but its taken him until his ninth season to be mentioned for All-Star consideration. He's been a solid rebounder for the bulk of his career, but he's taken that skill to new levels this season, leading the league at 14.6 a night to go along with a career high 13.8 points. All that's left for him to do is stay healthy, as he's played in just 56 games the previous two seasons.

Bench:

Omer Asik, C, Houston Rockets

I was among the many that were stunned Rockets GM Daryl Morey offered a three-year, $25.1 million deal to a guy that looked like all he could accomplish on an NBA court was awkwardness. Turns out, for the most part, Asik can play. He's averaging a double-double after posting just 3.1 ppg and 5.3 rpg as a backup big in Chicago last year.


Kemba Walker, PG, Charlotte Bobcats

The closest thing the Bobcats have to an All-Star, Walker has taken a giant leap forward from his rookie campaign. His scoring is up six points to 18.1 a night, and he's averaging over six assists as well. Perhaps the most improvement has come on the defensive end, where's he's disrupting passing lanes, accounting for two steals a game, sixth in the league, whereas he only averaged 0.9 last year. His abysmal field goal percentage last year, .366, is up to a respectable .428 for a point guard. He's starting to make the fans in Charlotte, which have suffered through quite a bit the past few seasons, have glimmers of hope.


Goran Dragic, PG, Phoenix Suns

Taking over for Steve Nash is no small order, but Dragic has done it admirably. He's averaging 15.0 points and 6.4 assists a night, and has compiled a 20.04 player efficiency rating. On defense, while not the greatest on-ball defender, he's seventh in the NBA in steals with just under two a night.

Just Like Old Times

Let me start off by saying I couldn't be happier for Andre Iguodala. For those of you outside of the Philadelphia area, Andre has been one of the most underappreciated athletes I have ever seen. I've written a post in the past explaining the situation. For Dre to sink two clutch free throws after struggling all season from the line to cap off a productive series, one in which he led his team past the Bulls (and completely neutralized down Luol Deng), just makes me so proud of him as one of his biggest fans.

Enough with the gushing for Andre, though. The Sixers have moved on to Boston, and split a pair at the Boston Garden. The series is now headed to Philly, and the Celtics are considerably weaker on the road.

I am a diehard Sixers fan, but that does not factor into my picking them to win in six (I am willing to face the music if they run into a full strength Miami). Here's why:

Iguodala has been able to take Paul Pierce completely out of his rhythm, and Boston needs him if they want to win the series. Having the Paul Pierce of five years ago might have made the difference in the series, because right now, he simply can't get by the more athletic Iguodala.

Spencer Hawes is not enough of an athlete to handle a rejuvenated Kevin Garnett down low. That's what makes Lavoy Allen's emergence so crucial. He's given KG all he can handle down the paint, and is averaging 11 points and 7 boards through the first two games. In last night's one point Philadelphia win, he posted a +21 +/- rating in 30 minutes (meaning when he was in the game, the Sixers outscored the Celtics by 21 points). A rookie who was ranked the worst player in the NBA by ESPN before the season, Allen is showing signs he can have a productive career. His coach believes it too, comparing him to Indiana's David West...

This has been repeated time and time again, but Philly's ability to run against Boston's age has really worked to their advantage. A lousy half court-team, the 76ers must hit the jets off of steals and defensive boards, because Boston's defense can stifle them in the slower-paced game.

Evan Turner is doing more than making the occasional spectacular play. During these playoffs, he's shown he can be a 16-8-5 type guy for a long time. Much improvement from the bust status he had begun to acquire during his rookie season.

Even if my Sixers fail to win this series, though, it's still reassuring to see these two feisty old rivals get back at it like they've done throughout their storied histories. Knowing my team is on the upswing will suffice for now, but this 76er team certainly has aspirations of ousting their northern foe, and whoever comes next.

Prima Donna Battle

The NBA is turning itself into a joke.

The "superstars" are the main cause. And the fact that the league's paid officials treat some of them like their long-lost children.

The latest episode includes the air-headed DeMarcus Cousins, and a guy shoved down our throats: Blake Griffin.

See, basketball is supposed to be a physical game. In the days of Bill Russell and others, it was, to an extent. Nowadays, not so much. Some contact to role players goes unnoticed, but so much as blink an eyelash at a superstar; a foul is called.

Couple that with the fact that many players, particularly Griffin, routinely fake being fouled (number 2 in the video) to get calls. Now we have a problem. There's the saying, "If you don't cheat, you ain't trying," but NBA players take this to a whole new level.

Now, part of the reason that DeMarcus Cousins yesterday fouled out in eighteen minutes is because of his own play. But he was matched up with Griffin, a circumstance the NBA ensures will get you into foul trouble. After all, this is a league that rigged its dunk contest for him to win...

Following the game in which the two engaged in occasional pushing and shoving, Griffin, when asked about it by the media, said he would leave it all on the court. Probably because he got all the calls.

When Cousins was informed of Griffin's comments, he said what many other of the league's big men have probably wanted to all season: "Of course that's what Blake is going to say because he's in L.A., where actors belong."

Then, later, Cousins to Sports Illustrated: "He's babied. He's the poster child of the league. He sells tickets, but he's babied. Bottom line. The refs, the league -- period. He gets away with (everything). He taunts players. Nothing is done. He's babied."

Now, a lot of idiotic things have come out of Cousins' mouth. But his evaluation of Griffin is spot on.

And how are the rest of the league's superstars doing? I'm sure you remember: Deron Williams getting his Hall of Fame coach, Jerry Sloan, fired, only to leave the team anyway. Carmelo Anthony, after forcing his way out of Denver, coming into the season overweight and quitting on the team in New York to get the coach ousted. Dwight Howard and his ridiculous ongoing escapade...

The league is a mess.

How to Fix the Dunk Contest

DeMar DeRozan stated it best a year ago, when he campaigned against props that have taken over the dunk contest. The best pure dunker in the field of Serge Ibaka, Blake Griffin, JaVale McGee and himself, DeRozan was eliminated after the first round, probably because he didn't use any props: gospel choruses, Kias, teddy bears...

"There's no telling what might happen next year," DeRozan said. "Someone might use a trampoline."

Well, that didn't happen, but there was a motorcycle to jump over, a camera attached to eventual winner Jeremy Evans' ear, and a glow-in-the dark jersey (the only one that was actually kind of cool). Also included in this year's contest, rated an "F" by over 35% of SportsNation, was corny dialogue prior to practically every dunk.

There was also P Diddy proclaiming "black power" after stating his favorite sports movie was White Men Can't Jump before Chase Budinger's first attempt. I'll let you be the judge.

Honestly, I wouldn't care about all this garbage, if the dunks were actually impressive. This year, only one really stood out: Evans' two-ball alley-oop slam. Budinger, Paul George and Derrick Williams were all disappointments.

Oh, and Blake Griffin jumping over the car last year wasn't any good either.

It's just frustrating as a fan when TeamFlightBrothers on YouTube feature hundreds of slams that completely blow the NBA dunk contest away.  

Another problem: the contestants. It pains me to hate on these role guys, but when there was a graphic saying Chase Budinger had registered six dunks all season, well, yeah.

As Charles Barkley stated, LeBron and those other superstars need to "get off their butts" and get into the dunk contest.

I hate LeBron. And I don't like most of the other NBA superstars either. But their participation would make for a better contest from a fan's perspective. I don't need to explain why. Or at least get legitimate dunkers back out there, such as DeRozan, Andre Iguodala, maybe a John Wall.

And get rid of those stupid props.

Heart, Hustle, and Muscle

This past Friday I watched in person as my beloved 76ers fell in a 78-77 heartbreaker to the Los Angeles Clippers. The reasons for the loss on the Sixers' end were glaringly obvious: missed free throws, too many forced jump shots early in the shot clock, and lousy final play execution.

And former Sixer Reggie Evans.

The old-school, grind-it-out vet came in and simply out-hustled every other player on the floor. He sprinted the floor like a six-year-old would, and dove for loose balls like they were hundred dollar bills about to fall down a storm drain. He made Elton Brand appear as a ghost on the glass, at one point giving L.A. an opportunity for 5th-chance points.

Reggie Evans has made a career out of this type of work. In a league where being lackadaisical is the norm, the 31-year-old plays every possession as if his life rides on its outcome. No, he isn't even close to being the most skilled guy out there. Scoring is an unknown to him, and he is a career 52% free throw shooter. His skill set on another guy may have him fighting for a D-League spot.

He's simply in the league because of his blue-collar, never-say-die attitude every minute he's on the floor. It's why he's started 289 of 592 career games despite never having a scoring average of six points or more. The effect he is capable of having on a basketball game isn't seen in the stat sheet, but unbeknownst to all, it does in the final score.

When leaving the Wells Fargo Center, I heard plenty of mutterings asking why the Sixers' organization let him walk in free agency. Come playoff time, a guy like Reggie Evans can certainly be missed, because when the time comes to man up, he's always there.

What's Not to Love?

Since the day Allen Iverson was traded to the Denver Nuggets, Andre Iguodala hasn't been looked upon fondly by most Philadelphia basketball fans. As a diehard Sixer fan in my own right, the answer why still eludes me.

Okay, so he has a fat contract. Even if you don't think he's earning it (which he is), what is he supposed to do? Decline the Sixers' offer? Say, nahh, I think I'm worth 30 million less? Didn't think so.

So what's not to love (or rather, to hate him for)?

Is it his league-best perimeter defense, his ability to force superstars to a 30% shooting nights game after game, and be among the league leaders averaging 2.2 steals a game?

Is it his passing skills, where last season he averaged over six assists a game from the forward position?

Is it his willingness to improve aspects of his game, such as morphing himself into a 43% shooter from beyond the arc this year? Or his overall work ethic, something you can notice just by looking at him?

Is it his ballhandling and ability to play point forward, where he only turns the ball over two times a night?

More importantly, is it his unselfishness? His willingness to buy into the team aspect Doug Collins has implemented, rather than try to be the star of the team?

Maybe you find fault with his leadership ability, where he's led his Sixers to a 10-3 record, without any ego whatsoever.

Oh, wait, I know what the problem is. Sixers fans wanted another Allen Iverson, another superstar, another 30-a-night scorer, immediately coining Dre "The Next A.I." when he came out of Arizona.

But I'll tell you what. That's not Andre's game. He's not here to get into all-star games and win individual accolades (though he did play on last year's U.S. National Team, and is a finalist to make the Olympic squad), but rather to win basketball games through team play. The entire 76ers ballclub has bought into that, and Andre is no exception.

So do fans have a problem with Andre's scoring (14.8 ppg)? It doesn't matter, because Philly averages 100 points a game by getting contributions from every guy.

Do they see him as a failed attempt at trying to become a superstar? He's deferred final shot duties to Lou Williams, which is probably Doug Collins' decision. But has Andre complained at all? No.

Has he ever had any trouble with the media? Has he ever been a distraction in the locker room? Just the opposite. He's as humble as it gets, and a true professional.

So then what's the problem? Maybe as this Sixers group keeps winning games, he'll get the recognition from Philadelphia he deserves. Not that he wants it anyway.

2011-2012 NBA Preview (Part 4)

Continued from Part 3, which was written on December 22.

9) Houston Rockets

David Stern stalled their rebuilding process by vetoing the Chris Paul trade. Now the Rockets will settle for a season with a similar winning percentage as last year, and probably narrowly missing the postseason. Houston has a pair of all-star caliber talents in Luis Scola and Kevin Martin, but will need continued development from Kyle Lowry and improved team defense if it is serious about playing past the regular season.


10) New Orleans Hornets

The Hornets got plenty of compensation for having to cut ties with Chris Paul. With Eric Gordon and additional first round picks, this team has an extremely bright future. Success might even come in the short term; Chris Kaman's arrival means a solid, rebounding frontcourt with Emeka Okafor. Trevor Ariza is an excellent defender, and I can see Gordon can putting up in the area of 25 a night. They'll probably take their point guard of the future in this year's draft, and be on their way.


11) Minnesota Timberwolves

This team is built for success in two or three years. If they can come together as a team, they can possibly push for the eighth spot in this competitive West, but I don't see that happening. They are set for the next decade with Kevin Love and Michael Beasley, Beasley being a guy who could morph into a superstar. Ricky Rubio, in my mind, is overhyped: he will likely not be the all-star many predict him to be, but more like a Jose Calderon. The center position is what needs fixing: while Darko Milicic is improving gradually, he is still not an NBA starter.


12) Golden State Warriors

This is an interesting group. For their diehard fans, probably a very frustrating one. They have the talent on one end of the floor to win a championship, but don't even show up on the other one. Simply playing defense is all this team needs. Easier said than done, but the effort is just not there. An upgrade at center would do wonders as well. Stephen Curry may develop into Derrick Rose in a season or two, but it won't matter if the Warriors don't play on both sides of the floor.


 13) Utah Jazz

It seems so odd to be putting the Utah Jazz, a model of consistency for all these years, down so low in the rankings. Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson and Devin Harris give this team a solid core, but the team's overall talent isn't quite there. A few minor personnel tweaks could return this team to the postseason after missing out a year ago. Derrick Favors' development would be huge, as it would allow the team to trade Millsap, a guy with high value Utah could get a lot for.


14) Phoenix Suns

Phoenix would probably be better off trading Steve Nash to a contender that needs a point guard (Heat or Lakers, maybe) than keeping him. Salary cap implications and what not could prevent this from happening. But the Suns know they need to build for the future, and Nash won't be in the league for it, so they might as well try to get something for him while he's still valuable. They wouldn't mind Shannon Brown developing into a twenty point scorer; outside of Nash, he's the only guy capable of creating his own shot.


15) Sacramento Kings

Let the NBA edition of the Jimmer show begin. I'm not on his bandwagon however: in the NBA he won't have the same permission to fire away, and he can't play defense to save his life. He might become decent, but his best days will be his college ones. DeMarcus Cousins, if he can keep his personality in check, can be something special. Tyreke Evans and J.J. Hickson bring potential as well. As for this season? Expect it to be a long one.

2011-2012 NBA Preview (Part 3)

Continued from Part 2, which was posted December 20.

This year's Western Conference will play out almost nothing like last season's. The fairly large gap in talent between the elite teams and the good ones a season ago will be thrown out the window this coming year. Roughly twelve teams have their hopes set on the postseason. Don't be surprised if the one and six seeds finish five games apart, and enjoy viewing some of the most competitive competition the NBA has fielded in quite some time.


1) Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City may have a Big Three of its own this season, and unlike the Celtics and Heat who bought theirs through free agency, OKC's would be entirely home grown. Wondering who the third guy is after Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant? James Harden, a 22-year-old who has only started five games in his NBA career. Harden has still gotten plenty of playing time behind defensive specialist Thabo Sefolosha, and is considered by many to be a candidate for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award. That being said, he may end up playing too well for head coach Scott Brooks to resist starting. As for the Thunder's championship aspirations? They say only the veteran teams come out on top (and if you take a look at the last decade of NBA championship teams, this is essentially true), but with the Thunder's talent? This group certainly has a chance.


2) Portland Trail Blazers

This seems way too high. The Portland Trail Blazers are the second best team in the West? They lack a true superstar, but have all the components you would look for in a winning basketball team. Raymond Felton has turned himself into one of the better floor generals in the league, Gerald Wallace's defense and all-around play help anchor the team.... every player on this ballclub brings together what appears to be one of the league's most all-around teams heading into this season. Having seven (eight if you consider Oden's talent) NBA-calibur starters is a problem every team would yearn to have, and Portland possesses it. And they may not have to search far and wide for a superstar anyway, as LaMarcus Alridge is right on the cusp of an MVP-type season. This team has been entirely overlooked going in, but it's not so far-fetched to say they could be the last team standing.


3)  Los Angeles Clippers

When purchasing single-game Sixers tickets the other night, I chose the Clippers game, something I never would have considered last year even. David Stern's gift to this franchise (Chris Paul) isn't the only reason the longtime Staples Center's secondary attraction is turning heads. Completely disregarding Paul and Blake Griffin, this group is loaded with talent (Caron Butler, DeAndre Jordan, Mo Williams...). The key to this team's success is whether Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups can learn to play with each other; Paul is the true point guard, while Billups has played the position for the bulk of his career. Mr. Big Shot will probably gladly play the two if it means contending for a title.

As of right now, though, if the Clippers could create a banner for two preseason wins, they'd gladly hang it in the rafters.


4) Dallas Mavericks

They're the defending champions but it seems as if not a single person outside of Dallas gives them any fighting chance to repeat. They probably won't, but they weren't supposed to win it all last year, were they? Their offseason essentially involved swapping Tyson Chandler and Caron Butler for Lamar Odom and an aging Vince Carter. How this turns out is obviously yet to be seen. What it does mean is that this team still hasn't gotten any younger, and that Brendan Haywood is now the starting center. Talent remains plentiful on this roster though, and Dallas comes out of the gates a dark horse yet again.


5) Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizz are here to show that knocking off the Spurs last year wasn't a fluke, and look to keep the show going. They will. The fifth seed might even be a understatement for a roster that is simply loaded. They have two twenty-a-night guys in Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph who give far more than just the scoring, and another guy, O.J. Mayo, who's talented enough to do the same. Marc Gasol is learning to hold down the defensive fort down low. The bench is filled with young guns that could make up a solid starting unit in a few years. There is a lot to like about the 2012 Memphis Grizzlies.


6) Los Angeles Lakers

Don't really hate to say this at all, but the end of the current Lakers dynasty is unfurling before our eyes. Aging bodies, the playoff drubbing at the hands of the Mavs, and the Zen Master's departure got the demise going. David Stern played a massive part as well as you know. The formerly well-rounded Lakers are now just a three-man show (Kobe, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum), and if one of those guys go down, this could get ugly, fast.


7) Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets were the definition of team basketball following the Carmelo Anthony swap that so far has ended up favoring Mile High. In this previous blog post I explain their transformation that resulted in fewer points allowed and soaring assist totals. They've lost a few pieces, but Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari's development should keep this team playing well above .500 basketball.


8) San Antonio Spurs

The eighth seed in this year's West doesn't constitute a lousy season. Considering the Spurs won this conference's regular season crown a year ago would not be comforting, however. Nonetheless they could finish here and still go 40-26. Fending off talented Houston and New Orleans squads should be quite a challenge. That's if San Anton finishes down here, that is. They could be anywhere from the second seed to the eleventh, exhibiting how deep this year's West is. They're simply far too old at this point, though, and Tim Duncan just isn't a force anymore.

In this year's West it seems as if there aren't enough wins to go around. Ten teams are talented enough to finish with 40 wins, but not many will be elite. One thing is for sure, though. The Lakers-Spurs reign is a thing of the past.

Part 4 will be written soon, and will be the last part of this NBA preview.

2011-2012 NBA Preview (Part 2)

Continued from Part 1, which was posted on December 18.

10) Washington Wizards

This team is still developing and loaded with potential, but the playoffs probably aren't realistic for this coming season. Except for the veteran Rashard Lewis, every starter on this team has room to grow. If Jordan Crawford is able to break out beside John Wall, the Wiz could have a top backcourt for years to come. Wall's development is key: he needs to play better on-ball defense, decrease his alarmingly high turnover rate, and move better without the ball. All of this comes with experience, and he has superstar potential. Washington also has a two big men capable of averaging a double-double in Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee, as well as rookies looking to make an impact in Jan Vesely and Shelvin Mack. While the future does look bright for this organization, it should be a few years before this team makes any noise.


11) Toronto Raptors

DeMar DeRozan is the future of this team. He has the superstar potential, and Toronto should really try to keep him there for the long term. Andrea Bargnani is a potent scorer but also one of the worst rebounding centers in the league. Look for Ed Davis to take the starting power forward job from Amir Johnson in the near future; both of these guys are young, but Davis should be able to make more of an impact on both sides of the ball. Toronto hopes 23-year-old Jerryd Bayless is the heir apparent to Jose Calderon for the starting point guard job, something only time will tell.


12) Detroit Pistons

The Pistons invested $25 million in Rodney Stuckey, which is odd considering it may be Brandon Knight who becomes the point guard of the future for this team. They also brought back Tayshaun Prince, who will give them about thirteen points and four boards a game for the next few years. Much of the success of this team hinges on the development of Greg Monroe, who goes into the season as the starting center. Far from a sure thing, though, is the power forward position, which is currently held by Jason Maxiell. Behind him is a big waste of money in Charlie Villanueva. The team's 2011 2nd-round pick, Vernon Macklin out of Florida, may be the eventual replacement for Maxiell.


13) New Jersey Nets

The ultimate goal here is still to bring in Dwight Howard. Until then, even with Deron Williams on their side, the Nets will continue to be basement-dwellers. Brook Lopez scored well but only recorded what is an embarrassing six boards per game considering the guy is seven feet tall. I don't see any more 25-game losing streaks for this team, but success is still a long way off.


14) Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland actually started winning quite a few games by the end of the season, finishing at 5-5 in their last ten. The city would love to see Omri Casspi develop into a viable NBA starter in LeBron's former position, and Kyrie Irving to start off strong. It's almost a given Kyrie will commit way too many turnovers in his rookie campaign, but become a force to be reckoned with right out of the get-go.


15) Charlotte Bobcats

This roster is full of holes the management has created. DeSagana Diop, a vet who averaged 1.3 ppg last year, goes into the season starting in the middle. Next to him is Boris Diaw, a man with a monstrous contract who has underachieved tremendously. At least their backcourt isn't too shabby, where D.J. Augustin can score fifteen a night from the point guard slot. Gerald Henderson can score alongside him as well, and of course, Kemba Walker looms from the bench.

Western Conference will be written soon. 

2011-2012 NBA Preview (Part 1)

Let there be basketball after all. The lockout has actually hyped up this season more than ever, and 66 games actually seems to be a pleasant alternative to the 82-game never-ending schedule. A shortened preseason (two games as opposed to eight) and training camp have allowed the season to launch Christmas day. 

The Chris Paul trade controversy overshadowed what otherwise would have been a smooth transition from the lockout to the regular season, and the league's credibility took a major hit. If you've been living under a rock the past few weeks, searching "Chris Paul trade" on Google should get you back up to date.

Now I'll do my best to predict this season's fate for Paul's Clippers and every other NBA team for this season. Don't agree (which you probably won't in many places)? Feel free to comment.

Eastern Conference:


1) Miami Heat

There's no doubt this team will win a bunch of games. That's not what they are looking to do, obviously. Finishing with the best record in the conference is likely, but a championship trophy is far from guaranteed. If LeBron doesn't develop a killer instinct in the postseason, rings will elude Miami again, something I see happening.


2) Chicago Bulls

They will challenge the Heat for the best record in the conference after winning the regular season last year. Joakim Noah is the x-factor for this team: with Carlos Boozer aging, Noah will need to establish himself as more of a post presence, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.


3) Boston Celtics

The core players of this team, save Rajon Rondo, are dinosaurs. Yes, the Big Three are old. But the lockout helped these guys as much as anyone. They are already experienced playing with each other, so the shortened training camp doesn't hurt them much.  A shorter season is also a friend to Allen, Pierce and Garnett's aging bodies. Jeff Green's absence (heart surgery) will hurt them, and could be what keeps this group from a final run at a championship.


4) Philadelphia 76ers

Many of you will stop reading here. They're my hometown and beloved team, I know. But hear me out. After starting 3-13 last year, this ballclub went 38-28 while still developing. The chemistry is only increasing, and all the young players are only getting better. Evan Turner, Thaddeus Young, Lou Williams, and Jrue Holiday all have breakout potential this year. Turner's jump shot looks eons better after training with Philadelphia shot doctor Herb Magee, and if he gets playing time ahead of Jodie Meeks could still be something special. The entire core of this team returns, so the lack of training camp doesn't hurt as much. I'll be writing a post on them soon.


5) Indiana Pacers

There's a lot of hype surrounding this club going into the season, to the extent of a high conference playoff seed. And why shouldn't there be? One of the top defensive teams in the league brings in David West, a guy who can score almost twenty a game. Couple that with the breakout potential of Darren Collison, Paul George, and Roy Hibbert, and this is suddenly a perennial playoff team. Danny Granger will continue to be the star, but it will be harder to tell when his supporting cast gets going.


6) New York Knicks

We'll see if Tyson Chandler somehow teaches Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire how to play defense, but you can't count on it. We already know Mike D'Antoni won't. This team looks scary on the offensive side of the ball, but teams don't win championships giving up 105 points per game.


7) Orlando Magic

Trading for Hedo Turkouglu last year turned out not to be the move this team needed. That being said, they still managed to finish with the conference's 4th-best record, something they are capable of repeating. Obviously, the key for this team is whether or not they can retain Dwight Howard, something becoming more and more likely, at least for this season, as the days go by. Ryan Anderson is a name to look out for; if he gets playing time ahead of Glen Davis, he could become a serious scoring threat beside Howard. The Jason Richardson signing was questionable from a fan's perspective, but he still provides production. Placing this team 7th seems odd after their past few seasons of success, but they're not the team they once were.


8) Atlanta Hawks

Pretty much all this team did this past offseason is lose Jamal Crawford, a tremendous scoring option. Considering this crew finished 44-38 this past season, the Hawks should scale back their championship aspirations. That being said, if Jeff Teague is able to break out in his first year as starting point guard (if he takes the job from Kirk Hinrich, a guy who we've seen his plateau), then this team could go somewhere.

If you hadn't noticed, these projected playoff teams are the same eight teams that were there last season, just in a totally jumbled up order. As of right now, outside of the Milwaukee Bucks, the remaining conference teams simply don't look good enough to compete, and most of them are rebuilding.  This is the first year in awhile that the East could sport eight teams with winning records in the playoffs, and maybe even have a team miss the postseason playing ball above .500. Try to remember the last time that happened.

9) Milwaukee Bucks

They play tantalizing defense. Problem is, they are so bad on the other end of the ball that the stifling D can't make up for it. Bringing in Stephen Jackson could be the few extra points they need to reach the postseason, and he adds to the core of Andrew Bogut and Brandon Jennings. Rookie Tobias Harris could make an immediate impact off the bench. If Bogut or Jennings can't make offensive strides, though, come playoff time the Bucks could be on the outside looking in.

Part 2, the rest of the Eastern Conference, will be posted in a few days.

NBA Lockout: Both Sides Are Wrong

A NBA lockout is absurd to everyone in the country except the people involved. It's like my friend and I disputing how to split a 1,000 piece pizza, and taking so long to argue about it that it gets cold and no one has any (Great analogy, I know. But it does make sense). Allow me to explain.

Basically, what is holding everyone in the lockout back is how to split the league's ten billion dollars, or however much it really makes annually. The owners want a 50-50 split of the revenue, and the players want 52.5% of it. If they ever come to a decision, then they go to the salary cap issue... And if everything gets settled everyone can go back to choosing another diamond-studded anchor for their yachts.

Both the players and owners have a ridiculous excess of money, as you might just possibly be aware. The fact that they can't decide on how to split it up has every single working class American who has, or had an interest in the league shaking their head in disgust. Not just because of the loss of basketball (if you haven't tried it, college ball starts up real soon, and sure, the skill level isn't there, but they play a heck of a lot harder than NBA players. Tune in sometime), but because they are both so ridiculously greedy and have such a great amount of self-entitlement and, in the players case, didn't work nearly as hard in school as you did but just happen to have a natural ability that propels them to play professionally where their work is a game, that just so happens to have a salary equaling the total net worth of half the African countries in the world combined.

And you want to know stupidest thing about this whole lockout? Something so obvious staring both the players and owners in the face that they don't seem to notice? The longer this lockout goes on, the more money they lose. So they both want their 2.5% extra of the revenue, but if they miss a whole season bickering about it, they are just going to lose a ton of money in the long run anyway. Idiocy on the parts of all of them.

NBA players are even overpaid compared to the other major sports leagues. The average salary of an NBA player in 2010-11 was 5.8 million; in the NFL a season ago it was 1.9. And sure, you can say there's more NFL players, whatever, but NFL MVP candidate Arian Foster made $390,000 a year ago while NBA role player Rashard Lewis eats up 20-something million annually, or Darius Songaila, who saw the court for like a minute and a half this past season, made 4.5. There's countless other, better examples, but you get the point.

Part of the reason the players are so overpaid in the first place is because of the lousy, reckless spending on the owners part.

Brian Cardinal was never more than a big man who wasn't very good. Yet for the 2005 season, the Grizzlies decided to sign him to a six year, 34.6 million dollar deal. In the four years he played with Memphis, he averaged less than six points a game. An even more costly decision was the contract Rashard Lewis signed, that he even had to clarify himself, where he basically said, hey, talk to the owner about why I'm getting paid so much.

Whenever the NBA resumes, all of its fans will return, whether they say they will or won't now, and everything will be back to normal. But if things keep going the way they are going, there will be a ton of lost revenue that no deal can make up for (hence there being no pizza left, brilliant, I'm aware). What the guys in suits and players alike need to realize is that they are just digging their own graves right now, and would be much better off just taking a pay cut.

The owners have the upper hand; if there continues to be no progression and games until Christmas are canceled, they will just draw a hard line at a 50-50 split. The players will be forced to accept it, and will have lost out on all the money they could have made up until then. Meanwhile the fans at home just say suck it up.

Minus Melo, Nuggets Still Find a Way to Win

Recently I was reading the article in the latest edition of Sports Illustrated on the Denver Nuggets, titled Defiant in Denver. The author, Lee Jenkins, spoke about how the Nuggets have come together more as a team following Carmelo Anthony's departure, playing significantly better defense and passing the ball more often. This simple observation brought a few questions to mind: Isn't this how college teams play? Isn't this how basketball is supposed to be played? Did Carmelo actually make the Nuggets worse? This also reminded me of my hometown (and currently winning) team, the 76ers.

Many cynics of the NBA who prefer the college game have a justified argument. Criticism of the NBA is that many of the players don't hustle enough and lag back to play halfhearted defense. Watch a team like the Golden State Warriors and you'll see defense at its worst. It's not just them though, but much of the league. In college, while the players certainly don't possess the skills of those in the NBA, they actually look like they're playing for something. They routinely sprint back to find their man and dive for loose balls. In the NBA, whenever a player does this they are applauded; in college, it's expected. As Jenkins explains in the article, when Carmelo was on the Nuggets, coach George Karl couldn't bench him for jogging back on D because of his superstar status. Now he is able to have a guy ride the pine if he isn't winding himself (like college coaches do to their players), and as a result, the new-look Nuggets are allowing eleven fewer points a game.

Jenkins also mentioned a play in a 40-point Nuggets win over the Charlotte Bobcats in which numerous players passed up open shots in order to find a better one. That's one of the first things young kids learn when starting basketball, to find the best shot. Now that Anthony isn't there to clog up ball movement, this seems to be newly discovered for a team of professionals. Basketball was intended to be a team sport, not a two-man game like what the Nuggets had with Chauncey Billups and Melo. Since Anthony has left, the star-less Nuggets are averaging three more dimes a night.

So are the new-look Nuggets in fact a better team minus Anthony? It's too soon to tell whether they are better, but they are certainly more of a team then when he was there. Carmelo Anthony is an outstanding individual player, but his at times lackluster defense hurt the club. He does some amazing things on the court few others can do offensively, but is it simply at the expense of other players? We'll know this based on how the Nuggets and Anthony's New York Knicks perform in the long run.

The rosters of the Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers are uncharacteristically common, as both lack a superstar. The Nuggets currently have eight scorers averaging double figures, and the Sixers have six. Neither has a player averaging more than sixteen a night. (Danilo Gallinari leads the Nuggets in scoring with 16 ppg, while Elton Brand for the 76ers averages 15.2, and is not even in the top 50 in the league in scoring.) And both of these teams are winning games at an unexpected pace. The team aspect prevails for these two clubs, and there are a number of different guys who could come up big every night. Both play tough D and hustle more than the average pro team. While neither are contenders just yet, the future is bright for both.

Is a superstar needed in order to win an NBA championship, as the past has suggested? Possibly. But to win games? A team can most definitely do that without one. Can the Nuggets take the next step, which is becoming a contender? Only time will tell.

Christmas Showdowns

On the day I'm going to be eating Chinese for dinner, the NBA has its annual Christmas marquee matchups planned. Tomorrow's slate includes the Bulls at the Knicks, Boston at Orlando, Miami at the Lakers, the Nuggets at the Thunder, and Portland playing in Golden State. But the one everyone is really looking at is the Heat going to LA. The Big 3 of LeBron, D-Wade and Bosh going up against Kobe and his boys.

Phil Jackson and LeBron have already complained about the games on Christmas, saying how it should be a day they get to be their families, but they will be played nonetheless. Lakers point guard and vet Derek Fisher has downplayed the significance of the game, how it is still a great matchup, but doesn't determine anything in June, or whenever the NBA season finally ends.

My prediction is that tomorrow the Heat will get the best of the Lakers, 96-92. Down to the wire. The Big 3 will do most of the scoring for Miami as always, but expect either LeBron or Wade to struggle from the field. Defensive specialist Ron Artest will most likely be glued to the former King of Cleveland. But Kobe, Pau Gasol and the Lakers will be able to pull one out.

My other predictions include, Chicago slaying the Knicks, the new-look Magic taking down the Celtics and ending their 14-game win streak (gasp), Durant's boys beating Melo and the Nuggets, and who cares about the last game. Blazers will win, though. Have a Merry Christmas, 99% of the country. I'll enjoy my Chinese chicken.

Celts and Knicks "Rivalry"

With the Knicks improved play, has the rivalry between the Boston Celtics and New York Knickerbockers returned? Paul Pierce declined the claim it was renewed, before his team's close two point win over New York, the Celts' 11th straight win.

Honestly, whether it's currently a rivalry or not doesn't really matter, because it will be, since the Knicks are back. Amare Stoudemire has led the Knicks back into Eastern Conference relevancy, where the franchise should be. And his supporting cast, guys like PG Raymond Felton, are overachieving.

Let's face it. The Celtics Big Three is old, and everyone knows their best player isn't part of it, Rajon Rondo, who will be out for two weeks. Although currently they're playing well, and have a Finals shot for this year, as of right now their future is foggy.

I'm not going out and saying the Knicks will win the Finals, because they won't; however, they are playing better than they have all decade, which isn't saying much but it's something. The NBA isn't right with the Knicks in the basement, and those days seem to have ended.

Oh, and Paul Pierce, after last night's dogfight, claimed that "the Knicks have arrived."

Kevin Love is a Beast

Is Kevin Love the next Kevin Garnett? Or better? Love has emerged this year as an early-season MVP candidate, a 22-year-old who is one of the few bright spots on a struggling Timberwolves roster.

Love's rebounding this year, over 15 and a half a night, is better than Garnett's career high of 13.9 back in his 04-05 MVP year. And in December, Love is scoring 24 per game while pulling down an astronomical 17 boards. He put up a 30-30 game against Amare Stoudemire and the Knicks November 12.

Right now, the only thing separating Love from being the best big man in the game is the fact that he plays for the lowly T'Wolves. He isn't yet at the level of Dwight Howard quite yet because Howard leads the now perennial contender Orlando, as well as the fact this is Love's breakout year, so he isn't established yet like Howard.

Will Love play the role Garnett did for the main part of his career as the standout PF for the Timberwolves, the face of a basement team? Their paths could end up being virtually the same if in the later part of his career leaves for a contender and gets a ring.  It doesn't look like he'll get one in Minnesota anytime soon, but what the young rising star guarantees every night is a 20-15 performance.

Why the MLB Postseason is Perfect Right Now

Think of the NBA playoffs. More than half of the league makes it; and the last few teams in the east are usually below .500. For the decent teams, all the regular season is is a matter of seeding. That isn't the way a pro sport should be.
  
Baseball, on the other hand, is quite the contrary. Making the playoffs is much more difficult, as only 8 teams of 30 do so. It causes annual division and wild-card races, fights to the very end. Remember 2009's Game 163 between the Twins and Tigers? The intensity? That doesn't exist in basketball. Oh, look, the Bobcats are 6 games below .500 and the Pacers are 5 games below, this will be a good race! No. The postseason should be a reward for the league's premier teams, not for everyone who isn't terrible.
   
This is why Bud Selig should leave the MLB playoffs just as they are and not add more wild-card teams. There's no need. A longer postseason would just have it drag on and have fans lose interest, like I do with basketball. By the time the finals roll around, fans have shifted to baseball. Like they should.