NBA Basketball Sports Fan Blog

Despite the Lakers outscoring the Nuggets by eight in the fourth quarter and despite 43 points from Kobe Bryant, the Nuggets found a way to stay alive in L.A. But was this loss actually a good thing for the Lakers?

On April 2, Metta World Peace’s elbow connected with James Harden’s beard in a move that would have made Hulk Hogan proud. He was suspended seven games by David Stern meaning he would miss the last regular season game along with six playoff games. Tonight will mark the last game of his suspension.

Once the Lakers win this series they’ll move on to play the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team the Lakers match up terribly with. The Thunder are one of the few teams that can deal with the size of the Lakers and no one on the Lakers can match up with Russell Westbrook. The Thunder also have Kevin Durant, the NBA’s three time scoring leader. Metta is the only Laker who has a chance of containing Durant.

Whether or not the Lakers win tonight, Metta will be back next game. Whether or not he can stay on the court is up to him.

The 2010-2011 NBA season is finally upon us. After what seemed like the longest summer in recent memory with “The Decision” and everything else that transpired, it’s time to kick this thing off and see what’s what. There are three good games on the slate tonight. And yes, there is more than one game on tonight.

Let’s start with the highly anticipated regular season debut of the revamped Miami Heat facing off against the reigning Eastern Conference Champion Boston Celtics. Frankly, I’m tired of hearing about LeBron James and the Heat in general. It sickens me that ESPN has dedicated an entire section of their site to this team called the Heat Index. Oh well. The media is the media.

Heat vs. Celtics
I like the Celtics to win at home tonight. Dwyane Wade hasn’t played with this team yet. Plus Mike Miller’s absence will be evident. It will definitely be tough for the Celtics to contain the Big Three, but no one else on the team is a major threat. The Celtics look even better than last year with the additions of Shaquille and Jermaine O’Neal as well as the return of Delonte West. Word is Shaq will be getting the start with Kendrick Perkins likely to be out until the All-Star break. Kevin Garnett and the crew are looking to stay healthy this year, something they struggled with last year at the tail end of the season.

Suns vs. Blazers
Aside from the two games on TNT tonight, we have Steve Nash and his crew against Brandon Roy and his medical staff. I felt bad for the Blazers last year with all of the injuries they had to endure. They can be a legitimate contender in the West this year IF they can stay healthy. Suspect number is and has been one Greg Oden. He’s played 82 total games in three years. When healthy, he can contribute significantly to this team. They put up a fight in the playoffs last year against the team they are facing tonight. The Suns Western Conference playoff days are certainly behind them with the departure of Amare Stoudemire. They will need Nash to play out of his mind and beyond his age (again) as well as a career resurrection out of Hedo Turkoglu to compete again in the cluttered West. I like the Blazers to win this one at home. Their size (assuming nobody gets hurt in the game) will be too much for the undersized run and gun Suns.

Rockets vs. Lakers
Opening night closes with the champion Lakers hosting the Houston Rockets. The Lakers will get their rings (well, except for Ron Artest) and banner to start the night, then will take the court to begin their title defense against a Rockets squad that is getting back a healthy Yao Ming. I haven’t seen Yao play in so long, I kind of forget his playing style. It will be fun to see him back on the hardwood once more. I’m also interested in seeing how new pieces Matt Barnes, Steve Blake, Theo Ratliff, and even Derrick Caracter fair in their first game as a Laker. I’m also looking forward to seeing how Kobe Bryant plays on achy knees. He said he’s only at about 60-70 percent to start the year. Tonight will be a hard fought, close game in which I think the Lakers win by one to three points. The Rockets have a chance to make noise in the West as well with a healthy squad.

The season is finally upon us. I’m excited to get it going. I’m excited to hear more words of wisdom from Charles Barkley. He’s such a nut-job. My Spurs don’t play until tomorrow, so tonight’s games will have to suffice for now. Who do you think wins tonight? What are you excited for the most this season? And please, keep the Heat and Laker championship comments to a minimum please!

Posted by Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

Look at everybody’s NBA season forecast and you will be hit with a barrage of repetition. The Finals match-up is widely projected to be a two-team race, despite a number of teams making improvements. I don’t have to say the two squads, because you all more than likely know who they are. I’m here to provide an alternative opinion, and it’s an opinion I feel confident in. Here it is: neither the Heat nor the Lakers will make the NBA Finals this season.

Due to that last sentence, I imagine I have lost all of the Heat and Laker fan readers. Call me delirious, delusional, demented, I don’t care. It’s what I sincerely believe. Let me tell you why before I delve into the teams I expect to play for the title.

Why the Heat won’t play for Larry O’Brien Trophy
Ever since Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, and Chris Bosh have joined forces, people have been saying they are winning the championship. This was being said even when the Heat had four players under contract, including Mario Chalmers.

Outside of the big three, this team is unproven and inexperienced. Wade, Udonis Haslem, and Eddie House are the lone players on this team with rings. James, Big Z, and Mike Miller have playoff experience. That’s about it. Bosh hasn’t gotten out of the first round of the playoffs.

This team has yet to play together at full strength. The pre-season is a time where teams are fine-tuning their roster to figure out what pieces fit and how the team’s chemistry is coming along. That is being halted by James and Wade’s leg problems. And don’t forget about Wade’s injury-proneness. Who knows if he could miss significant time during the season? Nonetheless, this is playing time that is valuable to the future success of this team.

Basketball is a team sport. A lot of people seem to forget this. The bottom line remains for this squad: how far can the big three take us? That is what they have to fall back on. There is very little talent that will make a large impact outside of the big three. They are slow and undersized down low. That will be a problem against the Celtics and Magic. People seem to brush that aside. Mike Miller will get some open shots as a result of defenses collapsing on the big three, but that’s the limit of his effectiveness. And what about their point guard play? Neither Mario Chalmers or Carlos Arroyo are starting point guards in this league. In the end, will it matter with a team that has James and Wade?

I’m not discounting the possibility of the Heat making the Finals, I just don’t think they will. You can call me a hater if you want, but I’m voicing my honest and educated opinion. The East has improved. Don’t expect these other teams to lie down.

Why the Lakers won’t play for the Larry O’Brien Trophy
The Lakers are looking to three-peat for the second time in just over a decade. The fact that they are this position is a testament to the ownership and tough-mindedness of its players. So those of you thinking I’m a Laker hater, you could not be farther from the truth. I have nothing but respect for the organization.

Many believe a three-peat is inevitable. The same roster is returning sans Jordan Farmar. They have picked up Steve Blake to back up an aging Derek Fisher, Matt Barnes to aid in perimeter shooting and defense, and Theo Ratliff to contribute interior defense while Andrew Bynum misses more time. Those additions are all well and good, but are they enough to keep up with the ever changing landscape of the West?

The Lakers have a much better shot than the Heat do at making the Finals, simply because they are proven winners. However, things often do and can go wrong during the course of a season. Let’s look at a couple of things that could alter the Lakers trajectory.

First and foremost is injuries. Bynum will be out until December yet again and Kobe Bryant’s knees are not getting any better. Kobe is still a top-tier talent in this league, there’s no doubt about it. However, I think this is the year where his injuries finally catch up to him. He most likely won’t miss many games, but it could show in his performance.

Another factor that needs to be considered is the rest of the West. Many teams can and will challenge the Lakers for the West crown. Last year they got some balls to bounce their way. This year, those could easily bounce in the other direction.

Their once intimidating frontcourt will be less of a threat this year with so many teams stacking up in that regard. Bynum won’t be around most of the time to deal with them as well. The Spurs added Tiago Splitter for interior defense. The Blazers are hoping Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla can stay healthy to pair with Marcus Camby and LeMarcus Aldridge. The Rockets are getting Yao Ming back, for the moment anyway. The Mavericks have Tyson Chandler and Brendan Haywood. The chips are still stacked in the Lakers’ favor, but they might not get as lucky this time around.

As much as I don’t want to believe it, the Lakers are the favorites to represent the West for the fourth straight year, but anything is possible. I’m just not ready to hand it to them right now given their current state. I think the Lakers are in for a rude awakening.

My 2010-2011 NBA Finals Match-Up
Brace yourselves, because what you are about to read is considered outlandish and boneheaded by many. I believe the NBA Finals will be a between the Boston Celtics and the San Antonio Spurs.

Now I know what you are thinking: “How could you possibly pick two of the oldest teams in the game to go all the way?” Simple! Because both of these teams are given no respect and love being in the positions they find themselves in.

Honestly, who in their right mind picked the Celtics to go to the Finals last year, especially after the train wreck that was their 54-game ending to their season. But sure enough, they made a run with their gritty defense and multiple weapons on offense. After all, this was supposed to be the year we get to see Kobe vs. Lebron! (Phooey!!!)

This year, they have added some big bodies to the frontcourt. And when I say big, I mean Shaquille O’Neal and Jermaine O’Neal. I know, they’re old. But you give these guys spot minutes to spell Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, and Glen Davis and you’ve got a pretty formidable bench. You can also throw them at the Dwight Howard’s of the league. Their size advantage trumps any other team in the league. You better believe it will be an advantage against the undermanned Heat. As far as defending the Heat, they can play their normal tenacious team defense to try and limit at least one or two of the big three’s effectiveness.

Another underrated addition is the Delonte West signing. He will provide some great backup minutes to Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. And don’t forget about Nate Robinson, who had a tremendous impact in the playoffs last year.

The Spurs are no strangers to proving everybody wrong. They are never the favorites to win. They have been dubbed as a boring team. They have had one of the best defenses in league history, let alone the last decade. They are too old to go far… On and on it goes.

Unlike their previous years after winning the 2007 title, the Spurs’ “old” big three have some much needed help. The Spanish League MVP Tiago Splitter has finally arrived to help Duncan down low with pick and roll defense, something that killed them against the Suns in last year’s sweep. Judging from his pre-season performances, DeJaun Blair has lived up to his nickname of the beast. He could win the most improved award. George Hill is another year wiser and has the opportunity to learn from Tony Parker. Richard Jefferson is poised to improve after last year’s dud. And, might I reiterate, nobody expects this team to be a player come May and June.

I expect a career year from Tony Parker. He spent most of last year hobbled by injuries. The previous year he averaged 22 points per game, the highest of his career. I believe he can supplant that number in a year where he is playing for a contract. He will surprise many.

The Spurs can be last year’s Celtics. A team no one expected to be relevant, but then, out of nowhere, they make a run and are playing for the championship. Who’s to say that can’t happen again with this improved team?

By now every reader probably thinks I’m an idiot. That’s okay. Maybe by June I will be proven wrong, or maybe even proven right! But for now, I like my picks, believe it or not. And believe it or not, the expected norm just might be thwarted by a bunch of grandpas with their leather belts bending over the kids to teach them a lesson.

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

The East is more lopsided than ever this year as the fringe contenders in the Hawks have been brushed aside for the Bulls. The primary contenders are said to be the Celtics, Magic, and Heat. In the West, seeds one through eight are much closer. Every Western Conference playoff team last year won at least 50 games. The Thunder, who were the eighth seed, provided a scare to the first-seeded Lakers, but the Lakers ultimately emerged victorious in the end, as we all know.

This year looks to be more of the same. However, some of the teams have dropped off a bit. It’s impossible to predict the seeding, especially if the race is as tight as it was last year. Let’s see how the West shapes up this year.

#8 New Orleans Hornets
I like this bunch. A lot of people don’t think this team as currently constructed and with the recent moves ownership has made can make the postseason, but I think they can sneak in. They are on of my three surprise teams to watch for this year. They’ve got a new coach in Monty Williams, who has served under Nate McMillan in Portland. They’ve added a couple of new pieces in attempts to entice Chris Paul to stay. Trevor Ariza, Marco Belinelli, Willie Green, and Jason Smith are all newcomers that figure to contribute. Washington rookie Quincy Pondexter might get some significant minutes as well. Marcus Thornton will continue to flourish with an outstanding floor general in Chris Paul leading the way. I just hope trading away Darren Collison was the right move. If Paul misses some significant time again, these guys are in trouble. The frontcourt tandem of David West and Emeka Okafor are solid. Look for Ariza to have a quality year now that he is in a familiar spot that he was in with the Lakers. The Rockets were asking him to create and score more than what was his comfort level. Paul is determined to succeed this year. This bunch sneaks in the playoffs with 46-48 wins.

#7 Denver Nuggets
This will be a tough year for this years’ Nuggets. They’ve had to deal with the constant barrage of Carmelo Anthony trade talks, not to mention the displeasure of J.R. Smith. Who knows if Melo will still be a Nugget past this year’s trade deadline, but as of now, it doesn’t seem like he wants to stick around for long. They could have made a move to improve their roster, but the only addition they added was Al Harrington. He’s fine and all, but he’s basically a Kenyon Martin clone, who has been battling injuries recently. Martin hasn’t been the same player of late. Chris Anderson will miss early time this season as well. The Nuggets look a little thin in the frontcourt, as Martin is scheduled to be out until December and Anderson will miss a couple of games to start the season. Nene and Harrington will have to step up this season and perform. This Nuggets team, as currently put together, doesn’t look like they can compete with the best of the West. Add to that Melo’s status in limbo and it results in a shaky season for this Nuggets team. Hey, at least they still have Chauncey Billups. They’ll stumble into the postseason with 48-50 wins.

#6 Utah Jazz
The Bulls practically gutted the Jazz roster. Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, and Carlos Boozer have all been transferred to the Windy City. Not to worry, though. They picked up Timberwolves big man Al Jefferson to fill the void. The Jazz have a pretty favorable frontcourt lineup in Jefferson, Paul Millsap, and Mehmet Okur. Millsap will have his time to shine at power forward now that Boozer is gone. Okur will be a nice bench piece to provide a spark. The Jazz stayed busy this offseason. They picked up Raja Bell, athletic swingman C.J. Watson from Golden State, and the ninth overall draft pick in Gordon Hayward. Jerry Sloan is one of the best coaches in basketball and he is the man to mesh these new pieces with the mainstays. I’m sure Deron Williams won’t miss a beat with the absence of Boozer by feeding two big bodies in Jefferson and Millsap. Hopefully Andrei Kirilenko can stay healthy as well. There’s now doubt the injuries to him and Okur hurt this team in the playoffs last year. The Jazz look strong again this year, and could finished higher in the West. I’ll give them 50-53 wins.

#5 Portland Trail Blazers
This squad is full of ifs. They have been for as long as they’ve had Greg Oden. He has been the butt of many injury jokes that also have people labeling him as a bust. While it’s too early to say that, he needs to start showing that he can play something close to a full season. He has played 82 games in the three seasons. Not good. On top of Oden’s injury woes, Brandon Roy had problems staying healthy when it mattered most during the playoffs last year. Joel Przybilla was also hurt, leaving them thin at center until they picked up Marcus Camby in a trade. Now, barring injury, the Blazers are in a position to compete with the Lakers. The only lingering problem is Rudy Fernandez. He wants out, and the Blazers have been moving sluggishly in trading him. His situation, among other things, has been a little confusing in the way they have been handled. Wesley Matthews was signed to a five-year $32 million deal. Nobody knows exactly how that happened. All in all, these guys should be pretty darn good IF they can stay healthy. They’ll win 50-54 games.

#4 Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs are masters of the regular season. They seem to be in the top echelon every year, then they flop in the playoffs. They got a couple of newcomers that could make an impact, but not a big enough one. New additions to the team include Tyson Chandler. I could see Kidd and Chandler hooking up on a couple of nice lob plays, similar to Chandler’s stint with Chris Paul and the Hornets. They also signed Ian Mahinmi away from the Spurs. The Mavs have the same core returning. They have their rock in Dirk Nowitzki, an aging yet still capable Jason Kidd, the sharpshooting ace in Jason Terry, the defensively minded Shawn Marion, and tough-minded scorer in Caron Butler. I’m afraid they are headed for similar results unless Dirk shows us all something we’ve never seen out of him, or if Mark Cuban can land Carmelo Anthony (ha, long shot). Dirk just hasn’t shown that he can be a featured player on a championship team. I really don’t see that changing this year. They’ll win 52-55 games, but after that, they’ve got some proving to do.

#3 San Antonio Spurs
The old guys from the Alamo City never seem to go away. This year, like many years, they are flying under the radar. Only this year I think they have the potential to dethrone the mighty Lakers. They just don’t want anybody to know about it. That’s right, I said it. Tim Duncan is still the core of the team. Tony Parker is playing with a chip on his shoulder in a contract year after a year in which he missed significant playing time due to injury. Manu Ginobili is still Manu. It’s the young core that I believe will propel these guys. An improving DeJaun Blair, who has been working on his all-around game, looks to contribute greatly this year. George Hill is coming off a year in which he finished second in the most improved player voting. He will only get better as time goes on and he gets more playing time. The arrival of the Brazilian big man in Tiago Splitter is the guy who will make the most difference. He is also the guy that Ron Artest knows nothing about. He will provide some much needed help on the defensive end in defending pick-and-rolls. Oklahoma State standout James Anderson looks to be a key contributor as well. I like the Spurs winning 52-56 games this year.

#2 Oklahoma City Thunder
I almost put the Spurs in this spot, but in the West, anything can happen. The Thunder have been raved throughout this offseason as the team to challenge the Lakers out West. I’m not sure they are at that level yet. Yes, they did scare the champs last year in the opening round. One thing is certain, Kevin Durant is ridiculously talented. Not one person can deny him that. His range is unbelievable for a player of his size. Th Thunder return was largely the same roster, and for good reason. Both Durant and Russell Westbrook are better for their time in the FIBA games this summer. Look for Westbrook to have a breakout type of year. I like this young group. I’m looking to see the improvement from James Harden and Jeff Green as well. They are going to need those two, among others, to step up and support Durant and Westbrook. I like the Thunder this year, but I’m not sold that they can beat the Lakers. They will win 52-56 games this year.

#1 Los Angeles Lakers
You can pretty much pencil the Lakers as the first seed in the West. That is, unless Kobe Bryant’s body finally collapses and he has to sit out some games. The same core is returning with the addition of Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, and Theo Ratliff. Andrew Bynum still can’t get healthy. He’ll sit out until at least November, according to him. What else is there to say? The Lakers are the champs until someone knocks them off. The West is not as one-sided as people have been pegging it to be though. There are other teams that can defeat them in a seven game series, now let’s see if they can. The Lakers roll into the playoffs with 56-60 wins.

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

The 2010-11 NBA Finals matchup will be the Miami Heat against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. What’s this you tell me? It’s only September? That doesn’t matter, these teams are locks to face each other. Just cut the regular season short and get to the inevitable. Kobe vs. Lebron will finally happen this year!

This is what the consensus seems to be from experts and fans alike for the upcoming NBA season. The super trio of James, Wade, and Bosh will face off against Kobe and the defending champs. Put it in the books. Let’s take a step back and consider the alternatives.

Despite the assumption of there being two teams in this league (Lakers and Heat), there are 28 others. There will be 14 other playoff teams that will be vying for a chance to represent their conference. Although there will be 16 teams in the playoffs, only a handful are considered of championship caliber, or in many people’s opinions, there are only two. I know it sounds like I’m beating a dead horse, but every year there are knuckleheads who pronounce a team the champs only to fall flat on their face once the time comes to prove themselves. Let’s take a look at some specific instances:

The 2004 Los Angeles Lakers had added two hall of famers in Karl Malone and Gary Payton to an already formidable squad with two surefire future hall of famers in Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. Four straight titles was surely in the cards. The rest is history. The Lakers made the finals, but were absolutely overpowered and demolished by a more cohesive, focused team in the Pistons. The Lakers were embarrassed, losing in five games.

The 2007 Dallas Mavericks were coming off of an NBA Finals defeat against the Miami Heat in which they lost four straight games after winning the first two. They started out the season 0-4. People were wondering what was wrong with them. Suddenly, they finished the season with 67 wins, losing only 11 more times. The Mavs were poised to make a run for another Finals appearance, then the Warriors happened. Baron Davis led an inspired, young bunch to upset the Mavs in the first round 4-2. To this day I have a hard time believing the Warriors actually pulled it off. I liken it to seeing Superman flying in the sky as I walk down the street. I asked myself: “Did that just happen?” Sure enough, it did.

The 2009 Cleveland Cavaliers breezed through the regular season with the best record in the league at 66-16. Lebron James had won his first MVP award. The Cavs had a second All-Star in Mo Williams because the team had played so well (How else did Mo make the roster?). Everyone was certain Lebron vs. Kobe would happen. The Magic had other ideas. Dwight Howard and Co. taught Lebron and Co. a thing or two about teamwork. They simply outplayed the Cavs, winning the series 4-2, which set up a Lakers vs. Magic Finals matchup.

The 2010 Cleveland Cavaliers zipped through the regular season with the best record in the NBA once more, finishing 61-21. Lebron had won his second consecutive MVP, putting him in elite company. The Cavs looked poised to atone for their shortcomings a year prior. People were saying that Lebron would not let last year happen again. But it did. The upstart Boston Celtics, a team everyone left for dead, took them out in six games in the second round.

These are just some of the modern examples of teams expected to win it all but failed miserably. Let’s flip it now. There have been countless examples of teams that were dead in the water rise up and annihilate everyone around them. Let me point out a few examples:

The 1999 New York Knicks finished a lockout shortened year as the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference. The NBA’s first and only eighth seed to reach the Finals knocked off two rivals and favorites to win the East in the Heat and Pacers.

The 2007 Cleveland Cavaliers, with a young and still developing Lebron James, defeated Eastern Conference Finals mainstays in the Pistons and Nets to reach the NBA Finals. The Pistons were believed to make the Finals as they had in two straight seasons (04-05). They returned with the same roster in tact, but the Cavaliers upended them.

The 2010 Boston Celtics started the regular season at a blazing 23-5. They were considered by many to be back among the East elites with a relatively healthy Kevin Garnett back in the lineup. Then they finished the last 54 games at an utterly mediocre 27-27. People were wondering what they had left. Then came the playoffs. They defeated the top 2 teams in the Cavaliers and Magic successively and came within a second half spurt in Game 7 of the Finals of nabbing their second title in three years.

Of course, the team worth mentioning, and the reason I am writing this article, is the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs were considered to be too old in 2007 to make another run at their fourth title. Lo and behold, number four came to fruition to everyone’s disbelief, including mine. Don’t forget about 2008 when the Spurs upended their rival Suns, followed by a gritty seven game series against the Hornets to get to the Western Conference Finals. No one thought they had it in them.

In short, what I am trying to prove in all of this is that nothing is set in stone. I’ll throw a cliche in as well: That’s why they play the game. In a league that is considered rather top heavy, there is still parity. I’m looking forward to the parity that will occur this year. So go ahead and put the Lakers and Heat in the Finals in September, but make sure that’s written in pencil and not pen. Just saying…

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

I read a satirically written article on Bleacher Report the other day about Kobe Bryant that pointed to all of the reasons people hated on Kobe Bryant. One of the many insults the author runs through includes the fact that if Kobe didn’t have Pau Gasol or Shaquille O’Neal, he would not have had five rings right now. His inability to coexist with Shaq led to the team’s separation and the end of something that could have been much bigger.

Kobe Bryant is the poster boy for the “alpha dog” moniker in the NBA. At least, he was. With time, he has learned that success in basketball cannot be had by an individual player. It takes a TEAM effort to win, a theory some people don’t seem to subscribe to with all of this “who’s the best player” talk.

Kobe’s worst years in the league came after Shaq left the Lakers. Kobe was a mess. Yes, he was the proverbial alpha dog during that period. But what happened? He had no supporting cast. A guy as proud and talented as Kobe wasn’t very accepting of the team because they weren’t clicking and they weren’t winning. He didn’t think his team could win. Those are the ingredients of an 81-point game. Those are also the ingredients of ill-advised and hasty trade demands. He almost became a Bull for those of you who forgot.

Once the Lakers were gift-wrapped Paul Gasol from the Grizzlies, they were considered instant championship contenders. Why? One, because they have Kobe, and two because they received a second top-tier talent to HELP the TEAM win. And the rest is history. Kobe will be the first one to point to the reason why he has had recent success.

As everyone is well aware, Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh are all on the same team now after being the number one option on their previous teams. One of the many questions that they have received is “who will get the ball in crunch time” or “how will your egos coexist with each other?” Look, these guys are buddies. They will have no problem stepping aside and letting the other have the limelight. In the end, who cares if James, Wade, Bosh, or even Mike Miller gets the ball in crunch time? As Coach Herm Edwards uttered the infamous phrase: “You play to win the game.” It’s as simple as that. If you don’t go into it with that kind of mindset, then you won’t get much accomplished. These guys joined forces to win. That’s what they care about most. I’m pretty sure they aren’t that torn apart about leaving their teams for greener pastures. Did James and Bosh give up and bail on their teams? Yes. Do they have a greater opportunity to win now as opposed to where they were? Absolutely. And it’s all because they want to win and they went after the greatest chance to do so. James had a great team in Cleveland. By all accounts, he could have won there had he stuck around in my opinion. Bosh had a mediocre team in Toronto. He couldn’t have won there, so he left.

Amare Stoudemire was in a great situation with a Hall of Fame point guard in Steve Nash, but he fled to the Knicks, partly because he wanted to be the alpha dog. There’s that pesky phrase again. When three guys forfeit their position as the featured guy on a team and join together (i.e. James, Wade, and Bosh), they form a force to be reckoned with. When one guy leaves a successful team to join another not so successful one to get more money and to be a go-to guy (i.e. Stoudemire), then you get a team in flux that won’t win many games. I applaud James and Bosh’s decision to play with one another. They will be sacrificing point production, but they will be gaining so much more. It’s a no-brainer.

I struggle to understand the people who criticize Bosh and especially James for not staying loyal to their teams and trying to win a title by themselves. I’m all for the loyalty part, but these guys aren’t trying to “win one by themselves.” It’s a team game!

How many elite talents in the NBA have won a title without another elite talent? None! Not one! Let’s look at the past champions: the Lakers (Bryant and Gasol; Bryant and Shaq), Celtics (Garnett, Pierce, and Allen), Heat (Wade and Shaq), Spurs (Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker), Pistons (…their whole starting lineup!), Bulls (Jordan and Pippen), Rockets (Olajuwon, Smith, and Drexler). Do you see what I’m getting at? Not only do you need more than one elite athlete, but you need a cohesive unit that complements each other’s game. That’s one of the main reasons why “Miami Thrice” came to fruition. Shortly after Lebron made is ill-conceived “Decision,” people were already asking if the Heat were now favorites to win it all. Well, at that point there were only four guys committed and under contract for the team (James, Wade, Bosh, and Mario Chalmers)! I don’t think they had much of a shot with players on the roster, but that’s just me.

Next time you question Lebron’s or Kobe’s motives, understand what they are striving towards. Understand their competitive drive. Understand their hunger for success. Understand, ultimately, their desire to put to death the “alpha dog.”

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

Tuesday night, the Boston Celtics come into Los Angeles, looking to capture the NBA Championship. Just two years ago, Boston was able to do it against the Lakers. And last year, the Lakers reigned supreme over the Magic to become NBA Champions. But this year, Los Angeles finds themselves in a 2-0 hole.

If the Lakers lose, it has other consequences. After the game five loss, Kobe Bryant looked like the old Kobe Bryant. The one who was very selfish and looked like he was unhappy with his teammates. While he played great and nobody else did, when has LeBron James vocally been displeased with his teammates?

The Lakers need to win tonight to stay alive. But they also need to win if they want to avoid an off-season of misery.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network

Thanks to Ray Allen and late magic from Rajon Rondo, The Boston Celtics have tied up the NBA Finals at one game a piece.
Ray Allen owned the first half getting 27 out of his team leading 32 points for the game. Out of Allen’s 32 points were eight three-pointers, he was 8-11 on three point attempts. Allen’s eight three-pointers in the game was a NBA record for most three’s in a game.
The big story of the game was Rondo. Rondo only scored six points in the first half, but he did rack up eight assists. In the second half Rondo scored 13 points, and four more assists which gave him his second triple-double of the post-season. He finished the night with 19 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds, and two steals.
With the performance by Allen and Rondo combined with poor shooting from Kobe Bryant who was only 8-20 shooting, The Celtics who commanded most of the game (except for a rough patch in the end of the 3rd quarter when the Lakers tied the game up), should look for more of the same to win the series. (NBA.com)
By Eric Heyer of Sports Fan Blog Network

Losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals was the worst nightmare for Phoenix Suns fans. It added another playoff series lost to the last ten years or so. And more importantly, this could have been their last chance.

Many looked disappointed that the Suns fell short yet again. But, Amare Stoudemire looked more relieved than disappointed. Like many others in the upcoming free agent class, Stoudemire is looking forward to cashing in and making millions of dollars, while choosing a destination. If he leaves, there goes any glimpse of hope of Steve Nash winning a title for the Suns.

Without Amare, it would not leave the Suns with too much. Aside from Nash, they would still have many solid, nice, complimentary players. But they could kiss any hope of coming close to the NBA Finals goodbye.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network

In the 2010 NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics will take on the Los Angeles Lakers. Yawn. This series will be big, but only for fans of these two teams. It is a historic rivalry, and both are top teams. However, for those who are not fans of these two teams, it is not exactly the world’s most fresh and exciting finals. The Lakers have been in the NBA Championship the past two years, and Boston won it in 2008.

Outside of actual fans of these two teams, these two teams are generally hated. Kevin Garnett is known for his corny “anything is possible!” quote, as well as his arrogant antics. Pau Gasol is someone who finds something to complain about every call made. Paul Pierce did the worst acting job in the 2008 Finals, actually leading people to believe that he was able to miraculously overcome a wheelchair to return to the game. Kobe Bryant is popular, but many envy him. Rajon Rondo is the flavor of the year to ESPN, and it gets on people’s nerves. Let’s not even get into Ron Artest.

The bottom line is that those in the NBA are probably happy with the fact that these two teams will duel it out for the Championship. But the average basketball fan simply does not want to see it happen.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network