The Houston Rockets sure know how to market their product.
When newcomer Ron Artest was introduced on Monday at the Toyota Center, long-time Rocket play-by-play man Bill Worrell kept talking about how the Rockets would compete for the NBA Championship in 2008-'09.
Id' be optimistic too if my team had Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, and Artest. But championship material? I wouldn't be too quick to call them title contenders just yet, Bill.
It's okay though. I know what you guys are doing. You're trying to sell some tickets. But please don't think you've got us all fooled and schooled.
Houston (and Worrell), you have a problem.
According to the Houston Chronicle, "Worrell mentioned that Kobe Bryant does not like to face Artest." Then Artest himself went on to add that Paul Pierce "doesn't want to see me either."
Notice how Ron Ron didn't expound on Worrell's comment about Bryant and instead deflected it by talking about Pierce. That's because Ron Ron knows his play-by-play man is wrong about his success, or lack thereof, against the Los Angeles Lakers star. Ron Ron was merely playing along.
Bill, I know you're trying to pump up the crowd, but please dude, for the sake of your rep and street cred, do your homework first. Where have you ever got an inkling that Kobe didn't like facing Artest? When did Kobe ever say that he was afraid to play against Ron Ron?
Allow me to shed some light since you obviously have never watched Kobe vs. Artest throughout the years. Kobe, in fact, loves and relishes his matchup with Artest.
From the time Artest was traded to Sacramento in 2006 to the present day, the two friends have faced each other 10 times. Here are the head-to-head numbers...
Thanks to Nique's All-NBA All-Blog Team idea and Bleed's suggestions of other bloggers who are worthy of being NBA All-Blogger, I came up with my own version based on the seasonal awards given to NBA players and coaches.
MVP: Hoffman. Not only does Hoffy represent the Lakers well on these blogs, he's also one of the best objective thinkers of the game when it comes to intelligent debate. He started ballerblogger.com and has had a tremendous following, mostly due to his fantastic reputation. He knows his stuff, his blogs are among the best, and he's on almost everybody's "favorites" list. He scores when he needs to (his blogs always get a ton of hits and his blogs are always among the most popular), passes the rock when appropriate (thanks for making me moderator of the Lakers Fan Group), and is always clutch (rarely, if at all, does he ever gets his facts wrong).
Defensive Player of the Year: Nique. No brainer here folks. This one's a unanimous winner for one simple reason - No blogger in FoxSports is on the defensive as much as Nique is. Attacked from all angles by haters, criticized at every opportunity by LeBronists, and scrutinized even by Lakers fans for not appreciating Lamar Odom, Nique will defend her turf to the fullest extent and call you a "creepazoid" while you're at it. She'll block your shot, er blog (delete, delete, delete) and most importantly, she'll play lockdown defense, get up in your face, and let you know about it even if she has to send you a separate comment on your personal inbox.
Sixth Man Award: JoshQ.Public. A sixth man provides a spark for his team. A sixth man brings the intangibles to the table. A sixth man can do it all - score, assist, and rebound. A sixth man can have flair yet can be fundamentally sound at the same time. Without the guy off the bench to bring the energy and enthusiasm, the game becomes boring and predictable. With his unique ability to mix entertaining prose with rap lyrics, symbols, pictures, humor, knowledge, and Boston homerism all into one article, JoshQ. is your Sixth Man of the Year for he brings his all around game every time he steps on the court. If he were putting up blogs every week, he'd be a starter on any team in the league.
Most Improved Player: Underage. The young one went from barely learning how to put up a graphic to being a regular contributor to these blogs. Underage comes to play every single day and is always appreciative of everyone's support. When it comes to class, underage has got it locked down pat. Never one to get into a skirmish, Underage is 100% positive about sports and life, and is getting better and better by the nanosecond. By the time Underage is all grown up, he'll probably be MVP.
Rookie of the Year: Orman1006. Just like that, in 1006 words, the Portland resident seized the trophy in convincing fashion. Despite his endearing devotion and homerism to the Jailblazers, I mean Trailblazers, Orman has proven in just a short time that the man knows his basketball. Seemingly out of nowhere, he entered the dungeon that is FoxSports and took the blogosphere by storm with an array of creative and insightful blogs. He'll respect you if you talk intelligently. He'll entertain you if you talk common sense. And above all, he'll blast you if you talk nonsense. Just think of it as being Ormanized.
Coach of the Year: Tom7. He speaks like a coach. He talks like a coach. He analyzes like a coach. He teaches like a coach. And I'm sure he coaches like a coach. That's because he is a coach. And a winning one at that. This guy knows his stuff like the back of his hand. I'm not kidding, he's like the ZenMaster of the blogs. Right when you think you know it all, he'll pull something out of the bag to make you realize you've got to do more homework. Just check out his blogs and you'll know what I'm talking about.
Executive of the Year:Ubershorty. Uber, as we like to call him, thinks of so many trade scenarios he probably spends his weekends adjusting rosters on his XBOX 360. Move over ESPN, this guy is the real deal Trade Machine. Whether it's a one-player deal or a Mega blockbuster, Uber will have a scenario specifically tailored to your team. The only problem is getting some of these moves to go down. Because at the end of the day, we all know the best moves are the moves you don' t make. Nonetheless if you have questions about your roster, this is the man you want to consult with because he's got the latest scoop (still waiting on that Lamar Odom trade on Tuesday).
First Team All-NBA (Offense)
G: BleedPRPL&GLD. A guy that bleeds his team's colors deserves to run the point on my team any day 24-7-365. Including Christmas Day. Quick as a cat, strong as a T-Rex, and better looking than a Cro-Magnon, Bleed can do it all, from superior knowledge of the game to witty and clever humor.
G: TcbDog. The way he fires back with precision, tcbdog definitely brings it. He's a big-time Kobe loyalist and he'll back him up full throttle the way Kobe sinks daggers with three defenders draped all over him. The thing about it is, this dawg doesn't back down. Kinda like Kobe.
G: Reverend Rhythm (late addition). Simply put, when the Reverend speaks, everyone listens. I've always like his blog. His unique perspective is often punctuated by his matter-of-fact, straight-to-the-point take on sports. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Guys like the Reverend, who are aggressive on offense and aren't afraid to take the big shot, are legitimate first-teamers in my mind.
C: Alaskanballa: Anytime a guy will write a blog simply to try and stump me on some sports trivia, I have no choice but to annoint him the center on my team. And anytime a guy "just loves a good debate with an intelligent fan", it tells me the guy knows what he's talking about. And at the center position, you need a player who knows what he's doing. Plus, the guy is a baller in real life.
F: Ricko. The veteran FoxSports blogger receives this award because of his consistency. Don't get me wrong, this is not a Lifetime Achievement Award, but from time to time Ricko still makes an appearance and continues to prove he hasn't lost his wit. He's the most knowledgeable Suns fan out there, and his ability to provide us with a tremendous amount of insight and combine it with entertaining sarcasm has truly earned my utmost respect despite our heated battles from the past. For those of you who don't know our history, let's just say it was like Magic vs. Bird.
F: Lisa Horne. Indeed, her talk is "straight talk from the left coast" to the nth degree. Lisa knows her s-h-!-t blindfolded. Whether it's college football, major league baseball, pro hoops, politics, or other stuff, Lisa H is a contributing writer for FoxSports by no mistake. I thought I couldn't be beat when we did our "He Said, She Said" blogs during this year's NBA Finals, and lo and behold, I was humbly defeated by this die-hard Celtic.
First Team All-NBA (Defense)
G: The Sizzel. Always defending LeBron. Always stealing the spotlight away from KOBE!!. Always all over these blogs with his unrelenting sarcasm, wit, and humor. Always getting into it with Nique. Always sizzling with hot topics. Always reminding us of Donaghe. My point is, the guy is all over the place. He's relentless, especially with those damn archives. You've got to respect that and that's why he's on my all-defensive squad. Fo' Shizzle Sizzel.
G: Gambitxxx. Aside from the fact he's another one of those bloggers who really know what they're talking about and have proven it, there's only one other reason why Gambit makes the all-defense team. He hails from Louisiana and roots for his hometown Hornets, yet he occasionally defends his first love Lakers when the situation calls for it. That's what I call a true defender right there.
C: Tsunami. Any blogger who has a name that could wreak havoc on Planet Blog is automatically on the first team. No questions asked. My recent debate with him on his Manu-Kobe blog gave me a newfound sense of respect for the guy. Although I already knew he knew his basketball, he defended his position with knowledge and class as opposed to spitting out nonsense like a lot of other bloggers do. If he weren't a tsunami, he'd probably be called Apocalypto.
F: DownsA529. He's a Detroit fan but stresses that he's not a homer. He will vent on topics that irritate him yet he shows his respect for people who debate intelligently even if they don't share his same views. He ain't no pushover despite the looks of his jolly smile. And anytime someone calls himself a "sports nut", you know he'd go into battle with you any day. He gives you "random sports thoughts" and lists his All-Time NBA teams with striking accuracy. He'll even give you his sports trivia quiz on occasion just to make sure your offensive game is in check.
F: NBA is the Worst. With him in the frontcourt and Sizz in the backcourt, no blogger is going to get by with a clean pass. You will be scrutinized, you will be searched, you will be drug tested, you will be criticized, and you may have to sample a hair follicle. Don't let that picture of David Stern fool you. Worst is no softie. One moment you think he's all sarcasm, next time around he spits knowledge to your dome that will paralyze you like a set of Stern's rules and regulations. Worst can be accommodating and cool, but don't get on his bad side because he'll d you up like Rodman. NBA is the Worm.
Thanks, bloggers, for making my time here on FoxSports totally worthwhile. I know I get into it with some of you, but know that despite my occasional temper flares, I have a tremendous amount of respect for everyone here.
The combined knowledge that is being circulated among everyone here makes this forum the best in the business and because of you I am able to learn more about the world of sports. With basketball being my favorite sports subject, this is my way of paying tribute to some of my favorite writers here.
The exchange of opinions and information that goes on totally beats reading the sports page every morning while sitting on the s-h-!-t-t-e-r.
And oh, before I forget. The Lakers' Assault Continues...
The Red and Gold are back and better than ever, football fans.
It won't be long until we start to get familiar with QB J.T. O'Sullivan (#14) and WR Josh Morgan (#84). In fact, they're already making headlines.
After watching these two studs perform in the preseason, I'm beginning to get an eerily familiar feeling. Butterflies are in my stomach with pins and needles simultaneously perforating my sensory organs.
It's the same feeling I had during Terrell Owens' first training camp with the Niners. The same feeling I developed during Jeff Garcia's inaugural year as a pro. It's been a long time.
Start getting used to it, folks. Things are looking up for the San Francisco 49ers. And it's all because of two unheralded players who are rising faster than anyone could have expected.
O'Sullivan, a six-year veteran bench warmer who came out of UC Davis, is quickly becoming a household name in the Bay Area with his stellar performances so far in the preseason. He had a perfect passer rating of 158.3 against the Chicago Bears, going 7-for-8 while passing for 126 yards with one touchdown in limited playing time and engineered three scoring drives en route to the Niners' 37-30 victory. Against Green Bay, he went 8-for-17 for 154 yards and one TD, leading the way to two scoring drives en route to a 34-6 Niner win.
It seems like a hundred years ago since the 49ers last posted two consecutive 30+ point outings, and although it's only the preseason, much progress has already been made.
O'Sullivan looks a lot more patient in the pocket than Alex Smith, and he is a hundred times more precise and accurate on his passes. Maybe it's because J.T. learned under new offensive coordinator Mike Martz while they were both in Detroit, and maybe it's because O'Sullivan had a chance to be tutored by the great Brett Favre.
Whatever the case, J.T. has earned the right to start, and Shaun Hill has proven to be good enough to be his backup. Meanwhile, the much maligned Smith has come to the reality that he is now considered the biggest quarterback bust in the NFL since Ryan Leaf. Too bad they don't give cash refunds in the NFL because I'm sure Niner management kept its receipt.
The 49ers have traditionally been known for developing wide receivers into stars after selecting them late in drafts. We all know about Jerry Rice and T.O. Now we're about to find out about Morgan, who was drafted in the sixth round out of Virginia Tech, and has so far produced nine catches for 182 yards and an impressive 59-yd TD in about four quarters of play through two games.
The unheralded Morgan has shown the ability to catch the short slant and turn it into a long gain. He's gone deep and scored, showcasing his 4.47 speed. And above all, he's proven that he can quickly grasp Martz's complicated offensive playbook, run routes with precision, and possess tremendous hands. I don't want to jump the gun too soon, but if everything falls into place and if Morgan continues to improve, we might end up getting another dose of that familiar San Francisco treat.
And I haven't even mentioned the rest of the 49ers' talented and well-balanced receiving corps that includes future Hall-of-Famer Isaac Bruce, future All-Pro TE Vernon Davis, Bryant Johnson,Arnaz Battle, Ashley Lelie, Jason Hill, and the surprisingly solid rookie out of Baylor, Dominique Zeigler. San Francisco is stacked in this position and with Martz Madness invading the Bay Area, there is reason to be optimistic about a playoff berth in 2008-'09.
O'Sullivan and Morgan are already getting rave reviews from experts and analysts around the league. The Niners offense seems revived, and All-Pro RB Frank Gore should benefit tremendously from the all-around balance.
With a young and improved defense that's getting more and more time playing together in order to generate some cohesion, I wouldn't count out the 49ers to win the NFC West. They picked up highly regarded DE Justin Smith to anchor the frontline on Mike Nolan's 3-4 scheme. And with All-Pro LB Patrick Willis only getting better, the Niners are definitely on the upswing. The defense garnered six sacks against Green Bay last week, the first time in a long time I've seen the pass rush this intense. It will only make Nate Clements' and Walt Harris' job that much easier on the corners, which will in turn allow hard-hitting safety Michael Lewis to roam free and deliver punishing hits a la former Niner greats Ronnie Lott and Tim McDonald.
And did I forget to mention return specialist and former Pro Bowler Allen Rossum, who's already returned a punt for a touchdown this season? Right away, the 49ers' special teams unit is already looking spectacularly special.
Indeed there is reason to be excited, for this could be the year the 49ers shock and rock the National Football Conference.
Recently, The King they call James made a comment about the greatest basketball player on the planet today.
He stated, "He's the one guy on our team that's not afraid to take the final shot or guard anyone. Kobe is the No. 1 athlete out here. Beyond basketball, I think people are starting to see his personality." Told you so.
It's the medal round, folks, which means... playoff time and Kobe time. Turns out, the veteran LEADER Bryant was just warming up and pacing himself, which is what veteran greats do. Everyone criticized his shot selection. Everyone said he was no longer as explosive as D-Wade. Everyone said he was slow and worn out. Turns out the haters have once again been proven stupid. These people know exactly who they are.
And then after the quarterfinal game against Australia, the only team to have given the Americans anything remotely close to a challenge, the legend comes out and scores 25 points, which is the most by any American player in Olympics thus far. From day one, he's been spearheading the attack by setting the tone, setting the example, and being there for his teammates on defense.
We all know he's the best scorer in the world. But does he have to prove it every game? Ask yourself that question 24 times. If I were Kobe, I'd do exactly what he's been doing, which is allow Lebron, Dwyane, Carmelo, and Dwight steal the spotlight. And then when it's time to take it up a notch, go ahead and release the venomous Mamba. It's killer instinct. It's Kobe. It's limited edition, baby.
Overrated and overhyped? More like overwhelming.
Go ahead haters, and keep adding fuel to the fire. The more you do, the more crow that will be shoved down all your throats. Courtesty of myself and Mamba.
"Ever dance with the devil under the pale moonlight?" That's what Kobe says to all of his harshest critics. And he's not being a joker either.
"the point is you KOBE!!ists would have us all believe that mamba is infallable. when the facts are KOBE!! has been coming up very small in the biggest games, on the biggest stage. for 2 years i've heard if this, if that, every imaginable scenerio. and in every hypothetical scenerio KOBE!! comes out as the greatest thing since sliced bread."
Guess the author folks. Hint: his name rhymes with mine and let's just say he's my evil twin.
Since people want the "facts", why don't I just go ahead and lay it out there for all of you haters since all of you have extremely short memories and allow your emotions to get the best of you when it comes to the MVP and the "best player in the league for the last five years" according to Lebron James. And then you guys can ask yourselves why it is you're always having a hard time accepting Kobe for what he is and why you keep talking about him like he's the kid who stole the cookie from the cookie jar. Nobody ever said he was perfect. But he's as close as they get on the basketball court. On the basketball court (notice I repeat this twice; intelligent people will figure out why).
Kobe was drafted 13th in 1996. Other players drafted 13th in the last 12 years include Thabo Sefalosha, Sean May, Sebastian Telfair, Marcus Banks, Marcus Haislip, Richard Jefferson, Courtney Alexander, Corey Maggette, Keon Clark, and Derek Anderson. And these players really come up big in the biggest of games.
I repeat. Most people around the planet say Kobe is the number one player in the world and he was drafted 13th!! Infallible? Damn close. Surefire? Damn right he is.
Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Marcus Camby, Sharif Abdur-Rahim, Starbury, Jamal Crawford, Mike Miller, Darius Miles, Kenyon Martin, Stromile Swift, Joe Johnson, Jason Richardson, Shane Battier, Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler, Mike Dunleavy, Drew Gooden, Chris Wilcox, Amare Stoudemire, Caron Butler, Kirk Hinrich, T.J. Ford, Carmelo Anthony, Lebron James, Dwight Howard, Ben Gordon, Emeka Okafor, Shaun Livingston, Josh Childress, Andre Igoudala, Luol Deng, Andrew Bogut, Martell Webster, Raymond Felton, Ike Diogu, Adam Morrison, J.J. Redick, Rudy Gaay, Randy Foye, Brandon Roy, Shelden Williams, Tyrus Thomas - all of them drafted ahead of Kobe and all of them with all the hype in the world but a total of zero championships.
Most of these players are top five picks and only a handful of them are considered comparable to Bryant. From this list, only James, Iverson, Howard, and maybe T-Mac are worthy of being mentioned in the same sentence as Mamba. And three out of the four were number one picks. Kobe was 13th. Flawless on the court? No one is, not even Michael Jordan. Dependable and reliable all season long? You betcha. Because he works harder than anybody else at improving his craft. This is what separates him from the rest.
It is so silly, outlandish, absurd, and unreasonable for haters to fixate on Kobe like they do and look for the most minute things to accuse him for whatever reason and make him appear undeserving of all the attention that it borderlines on pure obsessive compulsion. Look, Kobe is neither God nor Zeus but he's certainly done a lot more right than wrong in this league over his entire career. If he hadn't done so, he wouldn't be a Laker right now. Period.
He's got three rings and five Finals appearances folks, and he plays hurt. All the time. Lebron hurts that hand of his and next thing you know he's on the sidelines in his three-piece suit. Kobe is the player 95% of NBA General Managers would take if given the number one pick. He's led the Lakers to elite status in a span of only three years, this after the team made numerous personnel moves, a coaching change, and suffered through countless injuries while being nothing more than mediocre. So tell me if Lebron and Iverson have improved their respective teams the way Kobe has done with his, shorthanded and all.
When Shaq was in foul trouble and eventually fouled out in Game Four of the 2000 NBA Finals, it was Kobe who saved the Lakers in the fourth quarter and OT. It was Kobe who stifled the great Scottie Pippen in that memorable matchup with Portland in the WCF. The same Pippen who had 6 rings and was the leader of that squad. It was Kobe who was the main playmaker and creator on the three championship teams. It was Kobe who manhandled the Spurs in during the 2001 playoffs, prompting even The Big Aristotle to bow down. It was Kobe who sacrificed his budding offensive game and emerging greatness in order to do what was best for the Lakers and instead focus on becoming a defensive stalwart and playmaker so that Shaq could do his thing in order for the Lakers to capture titles. And it was Kobe who scored 33 points and matched MJ shot for shot against the Bulls in '98, only his second year in the league.
It was this 13th pick who was the youngest player ever to start in an All-Star Game. And it was this 13th pick who scored 81 points in a regulation win after his team fell behind by 17 points in the third quarter. And then two years later, he followed it up by leading his shorthanded Lakers to the NBA Finals against a team that won 66 games and had the largest one-season turnaround ever, dethroning a dynasty along the way.
Is he perfect? No. If he were, he wouldn't be human.
Is he the greatest thing since sliced bread? For the thirteenth pick, he probably is.
#32 Magic Johnson, 6-9, 225, greatest Laker of all time... Member Basketball Hall of Fame... dominated 1980s with 5 championships and 9 NBA Finals appearances... 3-time regular season MVP... 3-time Finals MVP... 2-time All-Star Game MVP... 12-time NBA All-Star... 10-time All-NBA... #1 all-time career assist per game average... led NBA in assists per game 4 times... led league in steals 2 times... career averages of 20 ppg, 11 apg, 7 rpg, 2 spg, 52% FGs and 85% FTs... one of a handful of players to win a NCAA championship, NBA championship, and Olympic Gold Medal... triple-double machine who can play all five positions... played with arguably the greatest center of all-time... only Lakers player with a statue outside Staples Center.
#23 Michael Jordan, 6-6, 210, greatest Bull of all time... Hall-of Famer... dominated 1990s with 6 NBA titles in 6 Finals appearances... 5-time regular season MVP... 6-time Finals MVP... 3-time All-Star Game MVP... 14-time NBA All-Star... 11-time All-NBA... #1 all-time career points per game average... led NBA in scoring avg 10 times... led league in steals 3 times... career averages of 30 ppg, 5 apg, 6 rpg, 2 spg, 50% FGs, 83% FTs... one of a handful of players to win a NCAA championship, NBA championship, and Olympic Gold Medal... scoring and dunking machine deluxe who can play three positions... played with arguably the greatest lockdown defender of all time... only Bulls player with a statue outside United Center.
Forget Kobe vs. Michael guys. If you want to compare another legend to Jordan, the great Earvin Johnson is the player we need to be talking about.
Although their primary positions were different, both made other teams adjust their strategies in order to counter the impact they made on the game which was tremendous.
Both players could score and get to the foul line at will. Both were as clutch as they get. Both were great defenders (Magic was a tremendous defender early on in his career, leading the NBA in steals at 3.4 per game and 2.7 per game in '81 and '82). Both were leaders who made their teammates better players. Both were marketing icons - Magic with Converse and Jordan with Nike. And above all, both players defeated the best teams and the best players in their respective eras convincingly and resoundingly.
But I'll tell you why Magic Johnson, as an overall player and team leader, makes a bigger impact on the game and on his team than His Airness.
Jordan accounted for 30 points per game and 5 assists per game during his entire career, which amounts to roughly 40 points of production for his team (for these purposes we will only equate his 5 apg as two-point field goals, giving him ten points of production for his team). His career average in steals was a little over two per game, so if we were to say one of those two steals led to a bucket, we can stretch it a little bit and say Jordan's overall impact on each game accounted for 42 Bulls points.
Magic, on the other hand, accounted for 20 points per game and 11 assists per game over his career, amounting to 42 points of production for the Lakers. He also averaged two steals a game, so if we were to take one steal that led to a bucket we're looking at 44 points that Magic was accountable for. In addition, Magic's career FG% was 52% to Jordan's 50% and his FT% was 85% to Jordan's 83%.
It's not much of a difference by the numbers, but Magic's overall career averages are still better when it comes to overall influence on a game. If we were to compare career playoff averages, it's about a tie (Jordan's 46 to Magic's 45).
Of course, many will undoubtedly say Michael Jordan is greater because many grew up in the Jordan era and witnessed the legend that was Air Jordan. And many will say Magic had Kareem and Worthy without taking into account that Jordan had Pippen and Rodman. But for those who were around to enjoy the Lakers-Celtics and Lakers-76ers rivalries of the eighties, you may be apt in siding with Johnson because he actually made us believe in magic.
I witnessed both dynasties up close and personal and I watched thousands of Bulls and Lakers games - preseason, regular season, and playoffs. I've seen both players play in their primes, live. Jordan was an amazing and unbelievable offensive weapon who didn't come around to be an all-out team player until his fifth year in the league, while Magic led his team to a title his rookie year. And throughout his career, Magic won five championships and went to the Finals a ridiculous 9 times in a 10-year span with three drastically different Laker teams with two different coaches. Not even the ringmaster Bill Russell could have done that.
Magic Johnson is the ultimate NBA legend because he dominated all categories and was the ultimate winner at the same time. His triple-doubles are living proof of this. The artistic and graceful Air Jordan is close behind, but not even His Airness could play all five positions in the grandest stage and win a championship doing so. Magic was so great and influential that Michael wanted to be like him - he took Magic's number 32, reversed it, and decided to go with 23.
What makes a champonship team? What ingredients are needed in order for a team to win it all? What factors allow a team to achieve ultimate greatness?
Through the years, the two constants that form the makeup of a championship team have always been great players and great coaching staffs. But what is it that truly makes up a title winning squad and what types of players are contenders trying to create in order to establish the character of a championship team?
I believe I've got the answer (Because there are so many great teams of all time that all possess pretty much the same characteristics, I will only talk about teams of the last 20 years in order to keep you from having to read a novel. But please feel free to comment about past players on pre-1980 teams).
1. Two Superstars/All-Stars. This is the first obvious element in the make-up of a champion. Great teams of the past such as the Showtime Lakers, Larry's Celtics, The Bad Boy Pistons, Jordan's Bulls, the Dr. J and Moses Malone Sixers, the Shaq-Kobe Lakers, and Duncan's Spurs all had two superstar players who could easily be number one options on other teams. These players were go-to guys and at least one of them was a superior clutch player. No team in the history of this league has ever won a championship without having an All-Star caliber player. It just doesn't work that way.
2. Two role players who are consistently solid through a seven-game Finals series. We can start with Rajon Rondo and James Posey of the Boston Celtics since the memory is fresh in our minds. Brent Barry and Michael Finley excelled in their roles for the 2007 Spurs, as did Stephen Jackson and Malik Rose for the 2003 championship version. The 2003-04 Pistons that manhandled the Lakers had a couple of consistent role players by the name of Mehmet Okur and Tayshaun Prince who were extremely pivotal in the Finals that year. Hakeem Olajuwon had a couple of teammates named Robert Horry and Sam Cassell, who not only were clutch but brought a ton of energy to a veteran team, helping the Rockets win back-to-back titles in the mid-nineties. If it weren't for Ron Harper, John Paxson, B.J. Armstrong, Horace Grant, and Luc Longley, would the Bulls have been able to secure two three-peats despite the greatness of Jordan and Pippen? And we can't ever forget the huge contributions of Mo Cheeks, Andrew Toney, A.C. Green, Kurt Rambis, Byron Scott, Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson, John Salley, and Bill Laimbeer to their respective championship teams. Perhaps the most important ingredient to the recipe, role players who are toughminded, reliable, and steady are perhaps overlooked at times by fans, but they are certainly never undervalued by coaches who've been there done that.
3. Two "specialty" players who can provide instant offense or suffocating defense and take over for spurts during a seven-game Finals series. This is a different breed of role player, simply because there are stretches in games when the superstars get cold and teams desperately need a sniper or an energizer to ignite a spark. At times, these players are the ones who contribute largely to forming the identity of their team. Late in Game Six of the 1992 NBA Finals, Jordan was on the bench while guys like Bobby Hansen and Craig Hodges shot the Bulls back in the game just in time for M.J. to do his thing late in the fourth. Celtics fans surely won't forget Eddie House, and that's why Ainge decided to extend the outside shooting specialist to a new contract. Leon Powe came in and also gave the Lakers fits with his tenacity, thoroughly outplaying even the Lakers starters. Because of these two players, the Celtics stole all momentum in Game Two and the results speak for themselves. The Spurs always had Steve Kerr and Steve Smith to keep them in games with their outside shooting, and Rose and Horry to keep them in series with their ability to hustle, bring energy on defense, and willingness to guard just about anybody. Kerr and Horry, the NBA's version of the good luck charm, brought their specialty to the 1996-'98 Bulls, 1994-'95 Rockets, and the 2000-'02 Lakers as well. And what about the Bad Boys and Celtics? I'll never forget The Microwave Vinnie Johnson and his instant offense, The Worm's defensive energy against Magic and the Lakers, Jerry Sichting's outside touch for the Celtics, Cedric Maxwell's offensive expertise and creativity, and Gerald Henderson's defensive savvy. Last but not least, if it weren't for Brian Shaw there would be no such thing as the Shaw-Shaq Redemption, and if it weren't for Derek Fisher the Lakers of 2000-'02 lose any semblance of true grit and toughness.
4. The Enforcer. This list is easy. Every team in every sport needs one, even Team USA. You see them in hockey and football. You'll need them in basketball if you want to win it all. The original Dream Team had Charles Barkley. The current one has Kobe Bryant and Carlos Boozer. This year's Celtics had a couple of bruising tough guys, one a kid and the other a veteran - Kendrick Perkins and P.J. Brown. The Spurs have always had Bruce Bowen there to pick on another team's best scorer, using his reputation to intimidate and his scissor-like hands to tie up foes. The Rockets had their own version of Bowen, a toughminded veteran by the name of Mario Elie who did just about everything his team needed, including blowing kisses to opponents' benches in order to rub it in. And who'll ever forget Rick Fox, who's as tough as nails and who's charmingly good looks can easily fool anyone. His victims include Peja Stojakovic (an All-Star), Scottie Pippen (a Legend), and Doug Christie (a has-been). Before Fox, there was Michael Cooper, whom Larry Bird said was the player that gave him the most fits during all those battles with the Lakers. Of course, the Bad Boys wouldn't be the Bad Boys if it weren't for Rick Mahorn, who's still an active enforcer to this day. Just ask Lisa Leslie. The Pistons' championship formula continued years later with defensive enforcer Ben Wallace manning the frontline. And the Bulls were so impressed with the Pistons that they had to hire one (Dennis Rodman), so that they'd have someone to frustrate the great Karl Malone in the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals. Sure enough, The Mailman uncharacteristically failed to deliver.
5. The Great Leader who knows how to make in-game and in-series adjustments. It's plainly obvious that 2008 was the year of surprises in the world of sports. One of the biggest ones was the emergence of Doc Rivers as a highly regarded championship coach. His ability to keep a brand new team on the same page for an entire year and conclude it with a rousing title run and embarrassing arguably the greatest coach of all time in the NBA Finals, speaks volumes worthy of the utmost respect. His tactfulness and motivation style kept his team mindful, prepared, and ready to play the best series of their lives. The bottom line is that his team played with a purpose, and Phil Jackson's team did not. Speaking of the Zenmaster, one only has to look at his treasure chest filled with nine championship rings as a coach to know that he belongs on this list. His ability to use the force and the mind as weapons still baffles onlookers to this day. It's almost as if he's Yoda incarnated.
It is no mistake that teams who win titles have great coaches who are great strategists and masters of their craft. Not only are they magnificent at utilizing the talents of their players to fit a particular system, they are also second to none in coordinating game situations. Chuck Daly always had great timing with his substitution patterns. Gregg Popovich's philosophy and coaching style have made his team the winningest NBA team since the new millenium. He learned his craft from Larry Brown, who not coincidentally has also won an NBA title. Pat Riley's excellent combination of tenacity and brains allowed him to turn the Showtime Lakers into the most balanced team of all time, able to run-n-gun for a full 48 minutes and wear down the opposing team or slow it down when the situation calls for it in order to physically beat down an opponent.
So who's the next championship team? You already know my answer. Using this formula, why don't we all argue back and forth as to why your favorite team has it and why mine doesn't.
It's Friday night, you were just bickering and squabbling with your girlfriend, her presence is completely annoying you, and you've had enough. So you head towards the fridge to grab a beer.
Once you open the refrigerator, you think to yourself, "What the hell am I doing? I'm gonna sit here, start drinking this brewski, and hear more of her jibberish which, in turn, will ruin my night of watching SportsCenter, when all I expected getting home from work was to have a night of peace and tranquility. Instead, we're gonna have make-up sex in a couple of hours and act like nothing happened tomorrow morning. F-this." And so you slam the refrigerator door without grabbing a single thing.
You then walk back to the living room, see her watching a rerun of I Love Lucy and within seconds you pick up your cell phone and call Steve. "Yo dude, I need to vent."
Steve responds, "Let's vent. Come through."
You grab your keys, walk out the front door, and tell your woman, "Babe, there's a big game on and I see you're watching your favorite show so instead of pissing you off some more I'm gonna head over to Steve's. I'll be back in a few."
Her attitude comes out once again and she says, "I'll be up so you better not come home late."
Within minutes, you and two of your buddies drive over to the local sports bar already knowing what beer you're going to drink and how many you're going to pound within the first 30 minutes.
Upon entering the scene, you can't help but notice the jam-packed crowd. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, is talkin' sports while 25 52" LCDs are gracing the walls with sports coverage so comprehensive you'd think you were inside the ESPN headquarters in Bristol. There's even a bouncer who looks like Stu Scott on 'roids.
From boxing to football to equestrian, discussions can be heard from every angle. Debates are heated. Dudes are drunk. A couple guys are already passed out. Someone to your right is throwing a football across the room to someone who's holding a Newcastle. Women are looking sexy, wearing their favorite football team's jersies. Other women are showing cleavage. Hotties everywhere. The smell of buffalo wings and alcohol fills the air.
All three of you then look at each other and say, "Beer Heaven, baby."
As Melissa walks you to your table, you can't help but overhear the numerous debating and discussing that is going on. Your guys feel like eavesdropping on every single one of them just so you can give your two cents. You wait patiently, as all three of you order your first round of drinks.
The theme of the night will be, what sports discussion do you want to partake in? How many arguments will you get into? What kind of debating will you be doing? This is live blogging folks. The only difference is there's a chance you may wind up in a hospital before the night is through.
To your right are the POOL TABLES. Everyone here is talkin' Brett Favre. One guys says he thinks Brett's going to a city with a cold climate. The other guys responds by saying Brett has no choice and that the Packers will trade him to whatever team gives the best deal. While a third guy wearing a Favre jersey chimes in and stubbornly keeps saying that Brett ain't goin' nowhere. What do you think fellas? Grab a beer. Let's talk about it.
Up ahead past the billiards section is the MAIN BAR. Men and women all over the place. Nobody here is sober. Not even the bartenders. It seems like everyone wants to talk about the Beijing Olympics since they're showing highlights of Team USA's 55-point laugher over Canada in their tuneup for the Games. Will the Dream Team capture gold? It seems like everyone has the U.S. as the solid favorites so the conversation moves forward to whom the Americans will play in the gold medal game. Spain? Defending champs Argentina? Russia? Host city China? Germany? You make the call.
What's up with all the cheating swimmers? Who'll be the most likely cheater in the Olympics? How many records and gold medals will Michael Phelps achieve? Is Phelps a cheater? What about those new suits the swimmers are wearing? Is that considered cheating? A former Stanford swimmer happens to be sitting at the bar and seems to be the focus of everyone's attention. He tells them what he thinks and the only thing you can hear is, "Gimme another one," as he clumsily hands his empty glass over to the bartender. Nevertheless, the guy's a stud. Four women are draped all over him while eight haters gaze intently with their mouths wide open.
Across to the left near the WALL-OF-FAME, there's a huge group of about 20 people having a party within the party. Empty shot glasses everywhere. All over the table, including a hottie laying on her back with some drunk taking a shot at the expense of her belly. Nice.
As the waitress approaches the table with another full round of 20 shots, you can't help but hear one dude who kept saying how the New York Yankees will eventually overtake the Boston Red Sox and capture the AL Pennant. "Yeah right, " one guy says.
"Only in your wet dreams," replies a hot blonde wearing a Red Sox halter top.
All three of you approach the group, and they're so drunk they offer to not only buy each of you a shot but a sampler tray as well. "This is the year of the Angels," your buddy says. The crowd starts cheering. Of course, you're an A's fan so you order another beer and start flirting with the waitress instead.
Meanwhile, Dodgers fans at the pool table across from you are running their mouths about how the Dodgers will win the NL West without realizing that division leaders with a record below .500 probably won't get out of the first round. Your Angels buddy says, "Andruw Jones. That's all I gotta say."
It's a half-an-hour past midnight and suddenly you receive a text. "I'm going to bed... come home early... love u." You look over to your buddies and tell them it's on and crackin.' Curfew's been released. You order another round before you even get the other one you previously ordered, thinking that the night is still young. After three seconds, you realize that you were the one who drove and both of your friends were already drunk and stoned when you picked them up. Damn.
At 1:15 you make your final stop of the night and you're holding a Guinness on tap in one hand and a Sam Adams on the other. On to THE PATIO you knuckleheads go.
First thing you notice is a 15-foot dust cloud as soon as you walk outside. Then you realize it's cigarette smoke coming from about 30 addicts who've probably been outside chainsmoking since eight o'clock. A wise man once told you that if you're going to inhale second hand, you might as well smoke them yourself. All three of you decide to walk over to a dude standing by himself and ask him if you could bum a smoke.
As you look at him and wonder why he seems all sad and lonely puffing on a Camel Ultra Light all by himself, you notice that he's patio security. He's there til 2:00am, been there since 2:00pm. $9 an hour. Part time. Probably doesn't know sports. But more importantly, the dude's only a flashlight cop. You gratefully say thanks and head over to the crowd.
Varied conversations fill the patio as quickly as the smoke emanating through the air with no regard for human life.
"Who's the best pound-for-pound boxer today?" someone asks.
You hear all sorts of names being thrown out. Floyd Mayweather. Manny Pacquiao. Miguel Cotto. Kelly Pavlik. Joe Calzaghe. The Russian dude. The Mexican dude.
"Forrest Griffin!" one guy shouted.
"Dude, he ain't a boxer he's MMA," you say.
"Oh yeah, you're right dude," responded the white guy as he took another sip of his Jack and Coke. "I was going to say Rocky but he's not even real, like D-Wade said in that commercial."
Then from nowhere, like a UFO suddenly appearing out of the night sky, a scuffle broke out. A big 6-4, 250 lb black dude wearing a Philadelphia Eagles jersey began duking it out with a 5-11, 300 lb Samoan dude wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey. What the heck is going on, you thought to yourself. The 5-foot-5 flashlight cop runs to the scene as if he were about to do something to stop the fight and then he immediately stops and calls for backup. Bouncers #1 and #2 arrive at the scene quickly, and after breaking it up they tell everyone to clear out. The party is over, so you order one more beer and smoke one more cigarette.
You think to yourself, "Man, there's no better feeling than this." A dude passes by and you hear him ask his girlfriend, "So what fight did you like better, that one or the one between the Sparks and Shock?"
"This one," she answers. It figures. There's no hope for the WNBA. Even mediocre bar squabbles have more entertainment value.
Your buddy then walks over to the Samoan dude and asks him what that was all about. He said the guy was talking smack about Troy Polamalu, who happened to be the Samoan guy's cousin. So you asked him if he thinks the Steelers are going to win the Super Bowl this year. He says, "Hell mutha-f'n yeah! What you think?"
You say, "No way. Niners. And by the way, Polamalu's aight. Let's see if he recovers from his injury and becomes the player he used to be." Samoan dude laughs and tells me to take a hike like Todd Donohoe.
Since the shop was closin' down, it was time to take the traditional trip to the can. You just paid the tab, your single buddy hooked up and got a number, you guys talked about different sports all night at different spots in the bar, and you got to enjoy plenty of eye candy. You even got a high from smoking cigarettes. Not bad for a Friday night that started out so badly you'd think the Lakers were about to lose Kobe Bryant to the Phoenix Suns.
And the best thing about it is... when you get home, it'll be perfect timing for a little make-up sex.
The Sports Bar. Where the life happens. Grab a brewski and let's talk the talk.
""He's absolutely fine, he's going to come in as a beast," agent David Lee said. "He's got no atrophy anywhere. The kid's in great shape."
I don't believe we've heard anything like that come out of the Blazers' camp with regards to Greg Oden's questionable and unproven status.
Prepare yourselves Laker Haters, skeptics, critics, cynics, disbelievers, detractors, and Oden Lovers. The invasion is coming. And his name is Andrew Bynum.
Last year, you caught a glimpse. A tease. A sneak preview of what's coming to an HDTV near you. Even KOBE himself tried hard not to get too excited but wound up slipping, "With Andrew, we're a championship team."
Yes, we all know there is Dwight Howard and his ability to jump over buildings and Yao Ming and his 7 foot 5 inch stature. But trust me folks, The Big Drewski is the real deal. He'll be better than both of these centers in exactly.... one year.
He's being trained by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was trained by the legendary Bruce Lee, which pretty much guarantees Bynum will not only have the balance, discipline, footwork, and the strength, but also a good head on his shoulders. In the month of January 2008, he dominated the NBA averaging just under 18 points per game, about 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks playing less than 30 minutes, all this while playing with a guy by the name of KOBE, who accounts for over 50% of the team's offensive production. Not to mention the fact that Bynum was leading the league in FG percentage before he got injured!!
Producing 28 points on .847% shooting, grabbing 12 rebounds, and blocking a couple of shots, he singlehandedly crushed Amare Stoudemire and archrival Phoenix Suns on Christmas Day, making Coach Mike D'Antoni realize that his glory days in Phoenix were all but over and that's why he left his team for New York and got out of the conference altogether. That in itself should tell you what's coming.
Never mind the injury. His agent and his doctors just went out and said he's good to go. I kept saying during the playoffs that the Lakers should bring Bynum back and now I'm glad they didn't. The Lakers were smart for resting him and seeing what they could accomplish without their second best player, affording them the opportunity to gauge their roster a lot better.
Bynum's agent recently proclaimed, "I know what the rest of the league thinks of Andrew." The rest of the fans are about to find out what he means.
It's not only a Lakers' assault, but an invasion at the same time. And no, Chuck Norris isn't starring in this one.
E) ask myself 54 times "What can Brown do for you?"
F) reassure myself that he does, in fact, know the triangle.
G) host the first annual "Kwame Brown Bake-A-Cake-And-Throw-It Event" at Hermosa Beach every January 13th of every year until he gets traded again.
H) name the basketball court down the street "Brickhouse" in honor of Kwame.
I) give him a standing ovation every time he enters the game.
J) create a custom T-Shirt that has a photo of Kwame on the front and his famous quote on the back: "But this is America. You shouldn't be arguing about cake."
and
K) call my peeps at Nickelodeon and tell them to create a new sports-themed animated series called SpongeBrown NoHands (I'm sure you can visualize it). And then contact Motorola so they can have Kwame be the new spokesperson for their "Hands-Free" campaign.
Raise both hands if you want to welcome Brown back in town for a mil and a half.
Don't ask me where my sources come from. I have telepathy, thought transference, E.S.P., a sixth sense. Just kidding. I simply like starting rumors because I believe I should be a GM in this league. Just kidding again. But I'm sure the Clippers could use me.
With Donnie Walsh all but promising that Zach Randolph will be moved, it makes logical sense to think that the new Knicks GM will send him to his former team, the Indiana Pacers.
Especially with Jermaine O'Neal being traded to Toronto, it makes even more sense for the Pacers to go after a decent power forward.
Meanwhile the New York Knicks, who decided to go with Danilo Gallinari in the draft, never got the point guard they were seeking although they still have Stephon Marbury and recently added Chris Duhon. Marbury isn't going anywhere because of his contract and diminishing skills. Duhon can play both guard spots, which means Nate Robinson is major trade bait.
Therefore, I wouldn't be surprised to see the following trade happen:
New York receives: F Troy Murphy, PG Jamaal Tinsley
There have been headlines coming out of Atlanta reporting that SF Josh Smith and the team are far from agreeing on a long term contract. Smith, who had a breakout year both on offense and defense, was heavily coveted by Philadelphia and the L.A. Clippers, among others, but we all know what happened with those two teams.
With Mike Bibby's ridiculous $15 million contract due to come off the books after next season, Hawks management is taking their time and completely weighing their options. Are they going to resign both Bibby and Smith to lucrative long term deals or do they believe that the future of their franchise is better off heading in another direction? Atlanta's recent history suggests the latter.
This is the same team that failed to keep Dominique Wilkins, Kevin Willis, and Doc Rivers together for many years and the same team that broke up Dikembe Mutombo, Steve Smith, and Mookie Blaylock after they couldn't get past Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the nineties.
So what's the deal in Atlanta? Here's a potential sign-and-trade deal that can be consummated in the next couple of months if the Hawks are indeed only looking to build for the short term.
Atlanta gets: F Lamar Odom
Lakers get: F Josh Smith
For several years now, the Chicago Bulls' roster has been out of balance. And that's why the Bulls never seem to make any progress. By picking up Derrick Rose in the draft, they basically sent the message that they were no longer happy with Kirk Hinrich and the $10 million they owe him each year for the next five years. Moreover, with Duhon bolting for The Big Apple, the Bulls no longer have a reliable back up point guard. And best believe Ben Gordon is not going to be playing the point guard position either.
By trading away Ben Wallace for Drew Gooden (and his expiring contract) last season, they made it known they weren't satisfied with the progress of Tyrus Thomas and his lack of low post offensive production. It was clear they needed a player who could operate down low and make plays. Chicago is definitely going in another direction and most importantly, they want to go young and rebuild all over again.
For several months now, the L.A. Lakers have made it clear they no longer believe Lamar Odom is their man at the small forward position. Though he shows flashes of brilliance, his lack of consistency in playing at a high level just doesn't cut it for a championship contender like the Lakers. In fact, they even offered Odom to the Bulls last year in an attempt to acquire the relentless Argentinian Andres Nocioni. It might happen now.
Lakers receive: F Andres Nocioni and PG Kirk Hinrich
Bulls receive: F Lamar Odom and PG Jordan Farmar
And finally, wouldn't it be nice if the Sacramento Kings could get a former player back? The Kings' freewheeling offense, led by Kevin Martin and Beno Udrih, seems to be the perfect fit for outside shooter deluxe Hedo Turkoglu. Hedo would return to his former team, but this time around he's a better and more complete player.
The much talked about Ron Artest, therefore, moves east to Orlando to play alongside Dwight Howard to form one of the most imposing defensive tandems in the NBA. On paper, this looks like a quality and reasonable trade for both teams. Artest is given the chance to show his worth by playing for a legitimate playoff contender in Orlando. Meanwhile the Maloofs get a low-risk player in Hedo at slightly under $7 million per year for only two more years, and most importantly they are familiar with him.
Kings get: F Hedo Turkoglu
Magic get: F Ron Artest
Other significant players who could quite possibly change zip codes before next season are the Hawks' Josh Childress, the Pistons' Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince, the Mavericks' Josh Howard, Utah's Andrei Kirilenko, and Miami's Shawn Marion.
The wheeling and dealing isn't done, folks. In fact it's only just begun.
... the Dallas Cowboys are the team to beat in the NFC. 1) Their defense is only going to get better after their letdown against the Super Bowl champs at home in the playoffs, and 2) it will be T2: Judgment Day for Terrell and Tony, two Pro Bowlers who are on a major mission.
... the New York Giants will not repeat as champions. 1) the impact of Michael Strahan's absence both on the field and in the locker room is already being felt, and 2) another one of their long time leaders, Jeremy Shockey, is uninspired and unhappy being a Giant.
... the NFC EAST is the best division in pro football. 1) Washington and Philadelphia are playoff caliber teams with playoff style defenses, and 2) the Redskins and Eagles, who finished #3 and #4 in the division last season respectively, gave up less total points than the two teams who finished ahead of them in the division.
... the San Francisco 49ers are wild card bound. 1) Quarterback Alex Smith, who has already gone through three offensive coordinators in his brief career, will finally have two leaders that are a perfect fit for his style of ball - offensive genius Mike Martz and future Hall-of-Famer Isaac Bruce - and 2) future Hall-of-Fame Linebacker Patrick Willis (you heard it here first), who possesses the intensity of Mike Singletary and the field awareness of Ken Norton Jr., anchors an up-and-coming defense built to fit the mold of the Baltimore Ravens that won the Super Bowl a few years ago.
... the Arizona Cardinals could potentially be the most exciting team to watch in football. 1) Cornerbacks Roderick Hood and Antrel Rolle, who combined for 10 INTs and 5 TDs last year, have a knack for big plays, and 2) there's nothing better than watching Matt Leinart throw to two big, strong receivers like Anquan Boldin, who could easily turn a 10-yard slant into a 75-yard TD and Larry Fitzgerald, who seamlessly jumps over defenders to catch deep touchdown passes, not to mention the revival of aging running back Edgerrin James, who rushed for over 1,200 yards last year after most people said he was done.
... the NFC West will be the most interesting division in football this season. 1) No one knows what to expect from the Seattle Seahawks, who no longer have their former MVP Shaun Alexander, and 2) no one knows what to expect from the St. Louis Rams, who won only three games last year, but this time around are expecting the services of QB Marc Bulger, RB Steven Jackson, and WR Torry Holt for a full season.
... the Green Bay Packers will be the most interesting team to keep tabs on the entire season. 1) Brett Favre, and 2) Aaron Rodgers.
... the Minnesota Vikings are my favorites to win their division. 1) Adrian Peterson and the Vikings' ever improving defense, which added All-Pro DE Jared Allen, and 2) Brett Favre?
... we shouldn't expect much from the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears. 1) the Lions have no defense, and 2) the Bears have no offense.
... the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will make the playoffs and lose in their first game. 1) As long as Jeff Garcia remains the starting quarterback, you'll know what to expect, and 2) Mike Alstott is not what he used to be.
... the rest of the NFC South does not interest me at all. 1) The only things worth watching are Steve Smith scoring touchdowns, and 2) waiting to see if Reggie Bush finally happens.
... the New England Patriots will lose their dominant form for good. 1) Tom Brady realized he wasn't Joe Montana, and 2) Randy Moss realized he wasn't Jerry Rice.
... the Miami Dolphins will win two games this year. 1) Bill Parcells is good for one win, and 2) Ricky Williams is good for the other.
... the rest of the AFC East is uninteresting to me. 1) The New York Jets have Chad Pennington, and 2) the Buffalo Bills have been in rebuilding mode for the last decade.
... the San Diego Chargers will keep trying to reach the Super Bowl but never get there. 1) When Norv Turner is your coach I wouldn't count on it, and 2) I believe we've already seen the best of LaDanian Tomlinson.
... the Oakland Raiders will contend for the AFC West division. 1) Jamarcus Russell and Darren McFadden are as good as advertised, and 2) the additions of CB DeAngelo Hall and S Gibril Wilson coupled by emerging safety Michael Huff gives the silver-and-black attack arguably the best defensive backfield in the NFL, and the addition of WR Javon Walker immediately makes Jerry Porter a better receiving threat on offense.
... the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos will be two of the worst defensive teams. 1) Although the Chiefs were 5th in the league in passing yards per game last year, the absence of pass rush specialist Allen will open things up for opposing teams against the Chiefs' defensive backs this time around, 2) although nobody in Denver wants to admit it, the Broncos have been in rebuilding mode for quite some time now.
... I still believe the Indianapolis Colts are the team to beat in the AFC. 1) They did a great job of grooming WR Marvin Harrison's replacement, Anthony Gonzalez, by giving him valuable experience last year and he didn't fail to impress, and 2) as long as Peyton Manning continues to do commercials, it means he's still sharp and on his game.
... the AFC South is the second best division in pro football. 1) Vince Young is a true leader, a true franchise player, and his Tennessee Titans are a true playoff contender. 2) JAX, TEN, IND, and HOU were a combined 29-19 against the conference last year and I have no reason to believe anything will change this year.
... the Cleveland Browns are the best football team in the state of Ohio. 1) Derek Anderson, Jamaal Lewis, Braylon Edwards, and Kellen Winslow are rising fast, and 2) the Bengals' Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson are sinking faster than the Titanic.
... the Baltimore Ravens may wind up being the worst team in the conference. 1) No more Steve McNair, and 2) no more Air McNair.
... it looks like the Pittsburgh Steelers are the best team in the conference. 1) Defense (#1 in yards given up per game), defense (#2 in points given up per game), and more defense (#3 in pass yds and rush yds given up per game), 2) being balanced out by offense (Ben Roethlisberger), offense (Willie Parker), and more offense (Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward, and Heath Miller).
... Brett Favre wants to come out of retirement. 1) It's boring in Wisconsin, and 2) it's even more boring in Mississippi.
Joe Dumars said the other day that he is doing his best to improve his aging team and there's "a 50-50 chance" something might happen in the coming months.
Aside from the Tracy McGrady rumor, nothine else significant has surfaced.
Personally, I don't believe T-Mac would be a wise long term investment for the Detroit Pistons because if you look at the Pistons' magic formula over the years, it has never been about a one-man show. And T-Mac is certainly a one-man show.
He averages about 25 per game while the Pistons' current leading scorer doesn't even top 20 per. Deeeetroit Basketball is all about spreading the wealth and team ball, and I'm not so sure T-Mac has the type of personality to stand up to guys like the vocal and enigmatic Rasheed Wallace and Rip Hamilton because throughout his career McGrady has always been the number one option.
In addition, the Detroit organization prides itself on having players that play excellent team defense and nowhere in McGrady's resume does it state that he's a superb defender. He's an average defender, but certainly not one to lock anyone down. And with T-Mac's propensity to go one-on-one and score in bunches, I don't think Wallace and Hamilton would be too happy. Considering Detroit's system on offense, wherein they set constant picks to free up Hamilton and allow Rasheed to operate in the low post as well as the top of the key, McGrady would only be frustrated by the lack of touches and isolations he would get as a Piston. Therefore, I don't see this trade happening unless a third team is involved.
If the Pistons are going to ship some players, they will want a reliable scorer, a top rebounder, and a big man in return who is adequate on defense and is a team player who fits the Detroit mold. One of the main reasons they lost to Boston in the ECF is because the aging Antonio McDyess was simply too inconsistent and he was often beat on the boards by Kendrick Perkins. And although Jason Maxiell was game, he just didn't have enough big game experience to make a resounding impact. Finally, Theo Ratliff is a free agent so there's no telling who the Pistons' backup center will be next year. It's plainly obvious Dumars needs some ammunition inside.
Detroit would probably also want a back up point guard since Lindsey Hunter is thiscloser to receiving AARP benefits. With Rodney Stuckey ready to blossom and Juan Dixon continuing to possess a shooting guard mentality, nothing is clear at point gua
