For the first week of the NBA season, it will look really dull. I mean , watching Lebron playing without Kobe on the other wing, or J-Kidd not having D12 to throw the ball to above everyone else, and watching D-Wade play with a load lifted off his shoulders , it will be boring watching everyone playing with "normal" teams and not superstars.

Nontheless, there a lot to look for so far. I'd love to see what the Rockets are going to do with Ron Artest as a starter, how will this affect T-Mac (one of the greatest players in the game that never got his chance by the way) . I would also love to see how Baron does in LA, Brand is gone, Magette is gone, but you have a whoe different ball game with BD running the show and Dunleavy on the sideline. A lot of people forget this, but Damon Stoudamire played his best under Dunleavy in Portland, Dunleavy also coached Magic for sometime.

There's also the new look Warriors, Pacers and how things are going to be now that JO has gone up north to Toronto. Brand with Iggy in Philly can just be the best talented duo in the whole league, it is just plain solid. But there's no team I'd love to watch more that the Blazers.

Greg Oden is back for his "rookie" year. Brandon Roy, LeMarcus both gained more experience. You got Rudy Fernandez who just runs the show, in Europe Rudy is the guy who everyone goes to when the game is on the line. This team will be scary, the good thing is they never really imported any all stars who will cost them half their cap room, and with Nate Mcmillian as coach this team will be tough to beat.

I think once we progress into mid November the season will be interesting to watch

 

Dream Team 4 or 5 or 6 or whatever number we at now, is doing a great job. Although  Argentina will be the real test, plus I won't count out Spain as I think they have gained momentum. But basketball wise, this team is as good as the first one. Scary thing is, it could have been better have everyone that was called had joined the team.

Imagine adding KG , Duncan and Amare to this team?

This team is playing great basketball, the 92 team could just have fun while cruising past teams, internationl basketball was awful back then. This team is beating down team, imagine watching WWE as you see Andre the Giant or The Rock grabbing to their oppents head and just smashing it against the corner of the ring. That's what team USA has been doing.

My hat's off to the players who kept their egos in check, to the coaches, this has proved that D'Antoni is an offensive genius, the Nate Mac is a very good defensive coach and that coach K is worthy of the hype. I mean to manage college athletes is something, but to coach a buncha millionaires with that diva treatment they get everywhere, it's just ..priceless.

Free throws and inside presence on offense is what this team needs to improve upon, and you know that Spain is going to let us beat them from outside so we don't want to die by the three point shot. Nonthless, D'Antoni's offense has made for all the problems on offense because the greatness of players like Kobe, LBJ, Wade, Anthony, CP3... lies in the open court, and boy can they run, this team must have more highlights than any other team in sports history (minus the Harlem Globetrotters), the strong layups, the high flying dunks the ally-oops, the flashy blocks , everything has been exceptional.

I hope they crush Argentina (which I will be surprised if they do) and go on more focused to the finals.

Is it just me or is the trade season going slow? I know that Brand to 76ers and the Clippers have been really big moves. But a lot of things we have been waiting for are yet to happen.

The Knicks were supposed to be having a new roster by now, still they haven't made any moves, it's been a bunch of rumors so far, I know it is still early, but when you have as much work to do as the Knicks you better start very early. The Bulls have been quiet too, They have a complete roster of guards with no interior scoring threat! Artest is still in Sacramento, the Lakers lost a bench player and didn\t add anyone. Rockets signed Barry but still relatively quiet. Orlando still hibernating and Shawn Maion had more trade rumors to his name while in Miami than in Phoenix, but no action.

I really do think that the trading season should start later in the off season, at least teams will have their mind set and negotiations done. It will create a more exciting trade season.

Now the USA basketball drubbing of Canada last night was nice to watch, the team comes together really well and we  are starting to see the result of putting players together for a long enough time. Still if this team routs China in the first match people are going to start comparing this to the original Dream Team of '92.

What people don't get is that this team will never be as good as that team. I know a lot of people agree with me, but I bet it's for the wrong reasons. No it's not talent, '92 had Jordan this team has Kobe and LeBron, D-Howard is younger and stronger than Patrik Ewing and David Robinson combined, This team doesn't have Magic and Stockton, but they have depth, a vet PG in Kidd and two young eager backups that can log heavy minutes. And there it goes for every position.

It's also not the winning margin, the winning margin will be less only because the international players got so much better. In 92, we only had one or two European players in the NBA, today any good international team has its complete starting lineup playing in the NBA. Hell, some teams have backup players who start for their teams in the NBA, such as Spain or France.

The Dream Team '92 is simply better by commitment. It really bothers me that we are missing size while Tim Duncan and Amare Stoudamire are watching the games on their big screen TV's. I know Shaq couldn't make the team if he wanted today, but he was the one to decline 2 years ago. How about KG? The NBA Defensive player of the year, can he help defend the infamous pick and roll? Maybe Pierce couldn't make it because the USA team is already deep in 2 and 3 positions. In the past all the team had to do is pickup someone and they will be there. Now you have to wait for players to consider and think if it is "worth it".

Do you know that soccer players in Europe make more than NBA players today? Still everytime there is a major competition all the players that are called up show up after a VERY long season. And in soccer, usually clubs have the options to deny their players to participate with their national teams if there's a schedule conflict, but usually they ask the player if he wants to go represent his team, usually players say yes and they take a break and travel in mid season.

I would like to blame the money, but I think I'd rather blame the selfish mentality that the league has put the players in, NBA is a business and that's about it.

The draft was weak, but draft day always rocks. I think the Bulls went with the "Sexy" pick in Rose, someone who will make John Paxon loveable but might cut Vinnie Del #### first coaching gig short. Bulls should have went for B-Easy. When you almost traded all your young starting lineup for Pau Gasol, and got denied!! you don't give up an inside scorer so talanted and young when he's being handed to you by the ping pong balls.

Gallinari will be a star, he's ten times better than all those thug, streetballers they call "combo guards" nowadays. Combo Guard is basically a point guard who can't run the team!!! Sure he can beat anyone one on one, but if Kobe or Lebron James can't win games on their own, why think OJ Mayo can?!! Allen Iverson must be turning in his grave as we speak. The smart choice is to take the smart player who can shoot and has size, in2 years time he'll be compared to Toni Kukoc .

Now Agent 0 is free, Elton Brand and Corey Magette too. And today BD decided to go Hollywood, I mean if you're freinds with most celebs why not just move to LA. If Brand and Magette come back, Clippers will be SCARY. Better than any team BD every played on. And with Al Thorton waiting to break through into the unbeliveable player he can be (Clyde Drexler caliber I think) in a couple of years, this team is as cool as the other side of the pillow.

If Corey dosen't come back I think Suns should sign him. Blow money on him the guy has potential but needs a role model.

The other major news was that the Portland Trail Blazers (or masters of draft day)  will have Rudy Fernandez at their disposal. Maybe in the states we haven't seen Rudy this much, but in Europe he's a household name, he is basically a bigger Chris Paul with a better shot. If Oden and Roy play to their potential, while adding Bayless, I don't think a team like that was ever assembled.

I was watching the Euro2008 last month, props to Spain. Anyhow, one thing that really got me interested, don't you think we need fans like european football fans?! why not? I'd love to hear them chanting during games, love to see face paint and outfits in the stands. And although you never wanna see people sad, but the way those fans cry after their team loses just shows loyalty and love for their team and the game.

Two things on my mind this morning. One thing is a current event, the other is just something about the draft. I will start with the latter.

I've made up my mind, it's Beasley over Rose. Beasley got a little "Hawk" in him. He's dominant on the inside, a player like him just don't come around everyday. Rose, although a great talent, will struggle to live to the potential, he has to be within the right system to produce well. Put him in Mike D'antoni's team and you'll have another Deron Williams, put him on a Larry Brown team and you'll merely have a Chris Duhon. The thing that Rose got for him is that he is really smart for his age, expect him to reach his peak around 24-25 and last for 5 or 6 years if he stays healthy. Well worthy of number 2 spot.

The other issue is the Shaq freestyle in NY. Although it is silly and meaningless. I do like it. I like it because people are stupid enough to talk about it so much (INCLUDING ME) and hype up the Suns-Lakers games. Although Shaq and Kobe might be on good terms, people will be waiting for the next Shaq-Kobe matchup. Now conisder this, though they didn't play the Lakers, Suns have elminated the Lakers 3 years in a row. Although Lakers won the west they're still to beat the Suns in the playoffs. Suns were eliminated in the first round in last year's playoffs, now Shaq has made it a rivaly to , expect Shaq to heat it up if Kobe answers. It's risky because people might see Shaq as immature and silly, but if the Suns turn out to be a good team next year, this can catch steam and become more meaningful, plus he said it's just silly to make everyone who makes a big deal sound like an #### if the Suns turn out to be a bad team, which makes me wonder if Shaq heard something, maybe he's expecting a big trade inside the Suns or expecting to be traded to a good team. Nevertheless, this was totally uncalled for but will things more exciting somehow.

 

Ok now that the season is over. Can I please talk some Suns again. The team has changed the Head Coach and assitants, looking for trades and draft picks. Change of direction all around with staying with the same core. This might be going on in Every team in the NBA right now, but when it is your team it's different.

I like Porter. He's tough and stable and balanced. He can tame power and wildness. Although I was bummed that he didn't choose Paul Silas on his staff, "Thunder Dan" makes up for it somehow, Also Cartwright is a good choice. Alvin Gentry is good to be a head coach on any NBA team so I'm not going to diss that. So good choices all around. You need that because the Suns need their chemisty. Marion was sent out to improve the chemisty, but now you have Shaq, Nash and a young Amare in the mix. Managing egos comes into play now. Plus managing minutes of aging stars. D'Antoni never let his bench grow, this means with time you only get older. 

As for the roster. I like to see the Suns go 8-9 deep. I'd like to see them keep Barbosa. If they're going to trade anyone, get draft picks. Get another one in the first round of this year, get one in the first round of next year (Sonics own ours). Also we need a free agent parameter player who we can develop in a year or two to take over Grant Hill's or Raja Bell's spot. We also need a young center, a prospect, let him develop under Shaq and play him at Center when Shaq retires so you can keep Amare at PF. Most of All get a backup point guard,  TJ Ford sounds great. So to sum up: Get Draft picks, get a young parameter player with one of them, get a prospect center with the other, find a backup young point guard for Nash. Suns have experience now, they need someone to pass it on to.

Also Suns should continue to run. But now they have to create more turnovers to catch people off guard like they did when they started running. To do that you we need to trap ball handlers, I never understood why Suns never did that when they had Marion, could've earned him a Scottie Pipen comparison. Now we got to do it with Nash, Raja, Hill and Barbosa, any two of them, the 2-1-2 half court zone D will take some burden off Shaq and Amare and eleminate pick and roll plays. Do you think the Jordan Bulls beat the Jazz twice in the finals by depending on Luc Longely and Bill Winnigton as inside defender?! You got to use your strong points to take away the other teams strong points, protecting your weakest link is a part of team D.

I know that the odds of all the above happening together is slim , so I bet we will talking about this a lot during the season. All starting on draft day

 

Game 6 was purely magical. 39 point margin!!! This hasn't happened much during regular season, in fact throughout the past 8 years we had a margin higher than this one no more than twice a season !! this really shows will power. Those are NBA players they're playing against. Better than that, this is the team who won the west. The west which had teams like the Spurs, Suns, Mavs, Hornets, Jazz, Rockets, Nuggets..

This was the best team all around. I always thought it was one of the great teams like the good teams of the eighties and nineties. They relied on balance, never on one thing only. They had good offense combined with great D. If T-Mac says the D is the best he played against then you know it means something , after all T-Mac scored 13 pts in 35 secs against the Spurs with Bruce Bowen guarding him.

Now the Celtics need a younger bench, and it is hard to imagine the firepower and desire lingering after getting a ring, but who is going to stop them out east next year? Pistons are rebuilding, Bulls need a year, Knicks need two, Cavs need 11 players, Magic still missing a piece or two, Hawks have the habbit of shooting themselves in the foot or act to their young age. I think it is still too early for that, the important thing is, the Celtics are champions again and it is annoying as ever. And we all love it. (except for Laker fans maybe)

I know this might not be a good time to talk about things other than the Finals, or the game fixing scandal, but I think enough has been wrote about that already. My entry today suggests that the SuperSonics  (wherever they may be next year) are the team of the future.

Forget the bad management, once ever 4-5 years they get things together. They were trying when they signed Rashard Lewis and traded Payton for Ray Allen and change. They were trying to get somewhere. Nate Macmillian showed that this team can be very good. People were saying that the Sonics are better than the Suns in 2005 because the Sonics had more D. Then they late Nate walk and slumped into the worst team ever.

Now Sonics have a chance to start fresh in a new city. They have on hell of a player in Durant and one good sidekick in Green. They need some changes and twists still, but this team will be good to win it all in 2-3 years. Look for Durant to develop after a rough transition year where he wasn't at his best but won rookie of the year. Look for Green to step up and play great D and great team offense. Look for Nick Collison and Robert Swift to do something and look for a new PG in town. Sonics still have a great chance to add someone in this years draft, plus some cap space to come next year. Sonics have all the right elements to build a dynasty. If it was my team I'd hire a young rising coach (like Avery Johnson ) move the team to OKC, get shooters and an inside scorer to pair him with all the 7-foot prospects that they drafted in recent years and develop bench players and 2nd round picks that can become very good bench players. The result: Starting five of Durant, Green, Ridnour, Collison and "scoring big man". Bench of Swift, Sene, Wilcox, Watson and the drft picks. In two years, this will become the team that comes out of the west.

If you read my blog more than once in the past you would've noticed that I hate "experts". Now for a fairweather fan who has nothing else to do in his life, I understand that serious general knowledge in basketball is not his main goal in life. Although it's not okay to hate your team when they lose, I'd understand where you coming from.

But for someone who is paid to write about basketball, it's a shame when they jump on the bandwagon. The talk before the series was all about the Lakers excellence and the flaws in Celtics' game. Then C's come up strong, catch everyone by surprise and you have everyone tryint to analyze what happened, after all most "experts" picked the Lakers to win. Now Lakers pull one out. Everyone is back to talking about how they were right in the first place and the Lakers should win three in LA. Ain't that amazing!!

Celtics played good in Boston, Lakers did the necessary things to win in LA. Simple as that. I can't see the Lakers wining all three games in LA. But it might just happen. The thing is, it is never what it is on the paper. It''s not a video game, you got factors like frustration, willpower, stamina, the who wants it more factor... All that and more, No one thought the Pistons will beat the Lakers in 2004, on the paper at least, but it happened. I am someone who always thought that if you wanna play (or coach) in the NBA, you have to be someone who played the game and was deeply involved with the team chemistry and rivalies. It is a business now, but you have to have fun while doing it.  

How many 6'6" shooting guards with athletic ability and 0.380 3 pt% did we have in the past 30 years? about a 100? maybe 200... How come only one player with those kinda stats was the greatest player ever ?! As I said, some factors can't be measured.

 

Game 1 of the finals ressembled Game 1 of the finals , finally. Last 4-5 years there was nothing to it, game 1 was always so tense, stupid mistakes were committed usually, superstars faded, role players choked... But in this one, everyone played like they wanted it, Celtics wanted it more, I hope this one goes 7.

Another big issue in June is the Draft. Sadly I don't think it should be that big, not this one anyway. As the annual "deepest draft in years" echos from the so called experts, you can see that this draft is weak. Beasly and Rose will be all stars, Mayo, Bayless, Gordon got potential but it's nothing that Allen Iverson hasn't done before. Listen to Donnie Walsh talking about the draft, he's not keen on it either. I do like the fact that the Bulls and Heat are talking D-Wade for number one pick and change, this is good for the sake of the league.

Yesterday Suns announced Terry Porter as their new coach. The guy has personality and he's been in the Finals before. And you have to like the idea of a tough minded point guard guiding Steve Nash. I'd like to see the Suns use the bench, use their size and quickness and use their shooters better. When you have scorers like the Suns have, you don't need very good defense, just something that will get you by.

 

 

 I know that it's not the "dream" Lakers-Celtics finals yet. But watching the playoffs this year, these twp teams deserve to be in the Finals.

Lakers are diverse, they seem to do it with ease, everything is clicking, they're getting contributions from everyone. Steady play all around is what got the Lakers this far, we always knew that Kobe could've shouldered the load to get his team into the finals, he would've picked up the slack whee\never his team couldn't do. Although the Lakers are not depending on their role players, everyone is delivering.

As for the Celtics, it's a whole different game, they got 3 experienced, talented, tough, players running things. I've always wanted to see a Kobe/ PP matchup in the playoffs. I think these two were always undermatched and PP has been always underrated. Plus, will KG's hunger for a ring ever translate into big performances when it matters? he's capable of doing that, he's still trying to prove it and it's mainly because he didn't get many chances to prove it yet.

All said and done, although their success is still young, these two teams deserve respect, they're very good teams and it can be an interesting final once again.

- Congrats to the Bulls for winning the lottery, also for Heat for having the easiest pick in the draft at number two. Now the Bulls and Heat were pretty good teams before this, if the draft makes them better then the East will be WILD. Remember we already have quality teams in Orlando, Detroit, Boston and Cleveland, now with Chicago and Miami coming in, and the Nets are considering major changes, something will be up out east next season.

- Am I the only one disgusted by the Atlanta Hawks management??!! Now Josh Smith and Josh Childress have contract issues that need to be addressed immediately. Weird enough, Hawks don't have GM yet!! I think this is the only franchise where you can't blame the players for bad results. I was so looking up to Atlanta's future after the first round showing but it'll be a disaster if Josh S leaves.

- Another issue that needs more attention is the Elton Brand situation. I cannot believe that someone like him always went under the radar.  I mean he's from NY, played at Duke, drafted first overall by Chicago, and playing in LA. Does it get more mainstream than that? Anyway, I'd take EB over Amare, David West, Chandler, Al Jefferson, Pau Gasol ... to name a few, anyday of the week

- Imagine if LeBron had ONE more good player on his team, if I was the Cavs I'd ship the whole team out for 'Melo, now that should boost the ratings and probably get two of finest players some rings. 'Bron can win the East with someone less effective though, someone like Gasol or Rudy ####.

- Speaking of Rudy ####,  now that Jerry West is gone, do you think the Grizzlies ever gonna surround him with enough talent to be a winner?? This heading into trade request land fast.

- I never thought of Larry Brown as a good coach, I never thought of Michael Jordan as a good basketball exec. either. Anyway I wish this doesn't affect the Bobcats this year beause they have good young talent and can have enough cap space soon to become a winner.

- If you thought the Spurs - Pistons final was boring. Wait till you watch the Spurs - Celtics final this year. With even more defense than ever. Oh, this is probably the last year we gonna watch the Spurs play this late in the season.

- I think the Suns need a break. Last year they lost one of the top picks because Hawks got to pick third! This year the Hawks made the playoffs for the first time since the 1800's , which means the pick is not in the lottery anymore. Between then and now, Shawn Marion whined, got traded, Diaw lost his game, they got the Spurs in round one, Tim Duncan hit a 3 pointer in over time and it all went downhill, oh and they lost their coach after that too. They need a break but they also need to pick up a backup for Nash (I'd draft Ty Lawson at 15) and need a perimeter defender who can shoot a la Bruce Bowen. Won't mind Ron Artest, you know he won't rebel under Shaq anyway.

 

It's interesting how one small transaction can change the skin of two NBA teams, each of whom is worth millions. Today Mike D'Antoni accepted the $24m offer from the NY Knicks leaving his job as a head coach of the Phoenix Suns.  This means that both teams will go drastic changes in style, mentality and expectations.

The Knicks seem to have things more sorted out, never thought I'd say this sentence. They have the owner who's willing to spend, th experienced manager in Walsh, they have the tested coach and they know what they're going to get out of him. The Knicks will run more, score higher and they will trade away whoever is standing in the way of that, and they will bring on whoever will help them do that. Knicks got some defenders who can play enough defense to allow the offense to outscore other teams. It might not be this year, but probably next year people will start talking about how the Knicks are a piece or two away from a championship.

The Suns are lost right now, they need someone who would give them identity.A major concern is the incoming coach's experience. His ability to deal with egos and personalities, .  You have to get a coach who can use Phoenix newly found "size.This team thas Shaq, Amare, Skinner, Marks, Diaw and Hill all 6'7" or more. But at the same time someone who would know that the Suns play better in open court, to be able to use Steve Nash and the Suns shooters to the max. This team is a very very very good team, but it needs to be used right.

If I had a say in this, I'd go with one of the follownig: Paul Silas, John Thompson,  Rudy T, Lenny Wilkins or as a last resort Jeff Van Gundy. You need someone who gives this team confidence and HEART without pushing them too much.After all They were playing under a laid back system that allowed them to do what they want for four years.

 

I just read something I posted 8 months ago, on August 03, 2007 to be exact. It is called Ticket's Chance. I like how most of this has come true, so I'd like to say "Told Ya" hahaha, I think the world would be a better place if more people listened to me,.