All-Star Games: The Legitimacy of Fan Voting and the Game Itself

Have you ever enjoyed watching a professional sports event that has no real meaning? You probably have seen the occasional preseason game by accident while flipping through the television channels and thought nothing of it. You could be a season ticket holder who gets tickets for the preseason games and felt like attending because you had nothing better to do. I am personally not a big fan of preseason since it does not really serve any purpose from a fan’s perspective. Naturally, preseason lets players who normally never play get a chance to shine, like wide receiver Victor Cruz of the New York Giants, or a critical player gets injured and misses the rest of the season, like kicker Shaun Suisham of the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, there is a glorified preseason game that stands out above the rest, one that strides itself on getting the fans to play Fantasy General Manager to field a team. I am referring to the All-Star Game. Fan voting in All-Star Games have always been mired in some kinds of controversy and every time people call the fan vote into serious question.

The National Basketball Association ige, like DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings, Andre Drummond of the Detroit Pistons, and Isaiah Thomas of the Boston Celtics, who must rely on the coaches giving them a spot on the bench to show their skills.

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game is the most intriguing of the four for the fact that former commissioner Bud Selig made two critical decisions that altered the way the game is played. The 2002 All-Star Game ended in a 7-7 tie after both teams used up all their available pitchers, a decision that caused controversy for Selig. The next season featured an interesting way to prevent ties from occurring: the winner of the All-Star Game gets home-field advantage for the World Series. That call has made the All-Star Game worth watching, but it comes as a double-edged sword. Remember Derek Jeter’s final season as a New York Yankee? He was elected to be the starting shortstop of the American League and Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals admitted in postgame interviews that he threw soft pitches so Jeter could get at least one hit in his final All-Star Game. Jeter helped lead the American League to victory, which gave the Kansas City Royals home-field advantage in the 2014 World Series against the San Francisco Giants. Despite Wainwright’s admitted actions, San Francisco won in seven games. The idea of fans voting in the starters for the All-Star Game is nothing new, and usually baseball fans are not easily swayed by name recognition, but they are not perfect and have been prone to controversy.

The ballot to send members of the 1957 Cincinnati Redlegs to the All-Star Game (Source: Cincinnati Times-Star)

Have you ever cared about the 1957 Cincinnati Redlegs? I highly doubt it, but the Cincinnati fans sure did and they wanted to recognize their team in the 1957 All-Star Game held at the old Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis. Now, either the Cincinnati faithful wanted to ruffle the feathers of the hometown Cardinals by voting for players from a divisional rival or they wanted to mess with the system, but when the fan voting was all said and done, seven Cincinnati position players, catcher Ed Bailey, second baseman Johnny Temple, third baseman Don Hoak, shortstop Roy McMillan, and outfielders Frank Robinson, Gus Bell, and Wally Post, were all voted to start the game, the lone non-Cincinnati starter being Cardinals legend Stan Musial. Robinson is the only Cincinnati player that most fans were recognize due to his status as a member of the Hall of Fame, but the rest of the Redlegs are not household names. Baseball commissioner Ford Frick questioned the authenticity of the voting process, so an investigation was launched to determine why the Cincinnati players were voted in. It turns out that the Cincinnati Inquirer made pre-printed ballots and distributed them to fans so they could easily vote in the Redlegs. Frick stripped the fan vote system away and it did not return until 1970. Post was injured at the time of the All-Star Game, so he could not play regardless, but Bell was kept on the team as a reserve while Frick named their replacements in the starting lineup. His choices? Willie Mays of the New York Giants and Hank Aaron of the Milwaukee Braves.

The National Hockey League All-Star Game has been all over the place when it comes to their format. 1947 to 1968 saw the defending Stanley Cup champions play the All-Star Game against players from the rest of the league. 1969 to 1974 eliminated the Champs vs. Everybody Else format in favor of East Division vs. West Division. NHL expansion led to the traditional conference versus conference format as the Wales Conference faced off against the Campbell Conference from 1975 to 1993. The conferences officially adopted the usual Eastern Conference and Western Conference names in 1994 and that style of All-Star Game lasted until 1997. 1998 saw the North America versus the World last until 2002. 2003 to 2010 featured the return of the East vs. West format. 2011 to 2015 featured the Fantasy Draft style of selecting rosters, with two teams led by a captain who selects players. Finally, this year will feature three actual games, with two divisions facing off in a 3-on-3 20 minute game while the other two divisions do the same thing, with the winners facing off in the third and final game. Got all that? Fans do get to vote for players like every other league, but sometimes fans like to mix up the usual star power featured in the game, a prime example being defenseman Rory Fitzpatrick of the Vancouver Canucks, who was voted in to the 2007 All-Star Game despite playing in a mere 18 games and contributing virtually nothing.

John Scott went from an Internet joke to one of the most unlikely All-Star participants ever (Source: Gabe Souza/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)

The 2016 NHL All-Star Game has four captains for each of the divisions. Jaromir Jagr of the Florida Panthers captains the Atlantic Division, Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals captains the Metropolitan Division, and Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks captains the Central Division. All three of those players are staples of the NHL and are deserved All-Star selections. The Pacific Division captain is John Scott of the Arizona Coyotes, which makes sense since the Coyotes are in the Pacific Division, except Scott is not only not on the team, he is not even in the NHL at the moment. Scott was traded to the Montreal Canadiens, who promptly sent him to the St. John’s IceCaps of the American Hockey League. An All-Star Game, especially for a league that has been dogged by lack of national enthusiasm over the years, should be embracing this idea that a journeyman left wing who has scored only five goals his entire NHL career can stand with the very best of the NHL. The fact that the NHL apparently tried guilting Scott into skipping the All-Star Game altogether puts a black eye on what may be the greatest hockey moment of this man’s life. The game may be pointless to some, but fans love to see the guy who does not belong with the rest to be at center stage. Scott is just living out his dream of playing professional hockey and fans wanted to give him a moment he would never forget. The fact that the NHL tried to ruin that moment shows they truly do not understand the meaning behind the event.

The National Football League has the Pro Bowl, but I honestly have never cared about it and neither do the players involved. The selection process of who goes to the Pro Bowl is probably the best format of the four major pro sports leagues, as the selection of players is spilt in three halves. One half is for the fans, one half is for the coaches, and the last half is for the players themselves. While you have the usual name recognition voting, namely the quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, players who have come out of nowhere, like running back Devonta Freeman of the Atlanta Falcons, get the recognition and credit that they deserve. Of course with fan voting also comes team favoritism, like in 2008 where a record 13 Dallas Cowboys were chosen to the Pro Bowl. Smaller market teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans tend to not have national coverage, while teams Dallas and the Pittsburgh Steelers get coverage consistently, so fans know those teams. The player vote is also debatable since players can hold grudges against certain teams, so players on that team suffer as a result.

The only real issue with the Pro Bowl is simple: no one wants to actually play the game. Since the Pro Bowl was moved to the week prior to the Super Bowl, the two Super Bowl participants will not participate due to the significant risk of injury. Star players also tend to avoid the game either due to injury or the fact that the pay for participating is dramatically lower than their salaries. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has made it known that if the Pro Bowl does not become a better product, then it will be eliminated entirely. Frankly, I think everyone would not mind if that became a reality.

So what have we learned from all this? Fan voting will constantly be called into question due to whether the starters they select are qualified or not. Sometimes it is a legitimate question in cases like Yao Ming’s, while other times it is meant in good fun in cases like John Scott’s. The game itself may be completely pointless and a waste of time for some, but the fans love to see the best athletes in their respective sports perform with no worries at all. If the fans abandoned the sports they love, the leagues will suffer. So, give some love to the John Scotts of the world because they love being recognized like this, whether they show it or not.

The NBA’s Birds of Prey

The hottest team in the NBA has a logo that looks like Pac-Man. I dig it.

Tired of hearing about the Cleveland Cavaliers after every single game they play? Yeah, me too. Tired of hearing about the Chicago Bulls and how Derrick Rose managed to play the whole game without breaking his leg again? Yeah, me too. Tired of hearing about the lowly Los Angeles Lakers and the constant struggles they have had? Yeah, me too. As a fan of the NBA, it gets pretty annoying having to always hear about the same teams constantly whenever I turn on the television. It is a bigger concern that there is a team that is putting every fan on notice with their play, yet they are buried underneath the flashy teams that television networks love to talk about. No, I am not talking about the Golden State Warriors, but they are a welcoming sight to see. I am referring to the Beasts of the East: the Atlanta Hawks.

Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer (Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America)

Go back to November 26, 2014. Atlanta has lost to the Toronto Raptors 125-116, falling to 7-6. The Hawks were in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, which was a surprising start for a team that finished 38-44 last season. The fact that they were ahead of veteran teams like the Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, and the Cavaliers was another surprising fact. Then, something must have kicked in and now the Hawks have been playing a crisper style of basketball since that loss. Now, that probably has something to do with head coach Mike Budenholzer. Atlanta has had some success recently under Mike Woodson and Larry Drew, but it feels different with Budenholzer at the helm. That probably has to do with his role as an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs. Being a student under one of the greatest NBA coaches of our time has its benefits and seeing a brand of basketball that is a welcome sight in the Eastern Conference. Remember the NBA Finals last year when everyone was in awe of San Antonio and the basketball clinic they put on Miami? Well, you are seeing something like that again in Atlanta.

While Popovich made a dynasty with players like Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard, and countless others, Budenholzer has made the San Antonio system work with players that the casual NBA fan may not be aware of. Sure, the biggest star they have is center Al Horford, who has had bounced back nicely from a torn right pectoral muscle, but nowhere near the star power of Duncan or Robinson. That is what makes this Hawks team special. It reminds me a lot of the 2003-04 Detroit Pistons, as both squads are comprised of good players but do not have that one superstar that everybody instantly recognizes. The NBA is a league that relies on star power, as evidenced by the constant presence of the Cavaliers, Lakers, and New York Knicks on national television. The Hawks are an anomaly to the sport, and it is a welcoming sight for me, as there is another team to flip the script when it comes to the top teams. In a season where Atlanta, Toronto, Memphis, Golden State, and Portland, teams that have either not won a championship or are in the middle of a championship drought, are leading their respective divisions, it kind of makes sense for the Hawks to stand out above the rest.

Hawks sharpshooter Kyle Korver is having a season no NBA player has ever had before. (Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America)

While Horford is the biggest name of all of Atlanta’s players, Kyle Korver is the biggest story of the team. This is a guy who, with the exception of his second and third seasons, has been a bench player throughout his career. After stints as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz, and Chicago Bulls, Korver has revitalized his career by being one of the focal points in Atlanta’s offense. He has been known as a three-point specialist, especially as a Hawk, but this season has been different. As of yesterday, Korver is shooting 52% from the field, 53% from the three-point line, and 92% from the free throw line. If Korver continues his torrid pace, he has a chance to become the first player in NBA history to have those kinds of numbers. Not bad for the 51st overall pick from the legendary 2003 NBA Draft class.

Another guy who has become a critical part of the offense that has come essentially from nowhere is forward DeMarre Carroll. He made a name for himself at the University of Missouri, where he led the Tigers to the Elite Eight in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, but his NBA career has not been filled with the same kinds of success. He spent time with the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, as well as the Dakota Wizards of the NBA Developmental League, before landing in Atlanta. Despite his career mostly being a bench player, Carroll was given a chance to start and make an impact, just like his teammate Korver. Carroll is definitely not a flashy player nor is he a shooting specialist, but he is the defensive stopper of the Hawks. Basketball is not all about scoring, and Carroll is an example of an under-appreciated aspect of basketball.

The man who orchestrates the offense is a guy who, last year, the Hawks were going all out to get rid of. Jeff Teague was the subject of intense trade talks last season, despite having a career year last year. The decision to not trade Teague has paid major dividends, as Teague is playing at a higher level this season. He has become the Tony Parker of this Atlanta squad, and it is clearly evident when you see how he has control over the offense. One minute he is driving to the basket, and the next he is dishing it off to his teammates. Whether he wants to admit it or not, Mike Budenholzer has another point guard who has the raw talent and is finally getting a chance to show what he can do.

Forward Paul Millsap, one of the league’s underrated big men (Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America)

There is a player on this Atlanta squad that made the All-Star Game last year, but is not Horford. It is Paul Millsap, who came over to Atlanta after spending the first seven seasons of his career as a member of the Jazz. It seemed almost as if the basketball gods were smiling on Utah, who drafted Millsap out of Louisiana Tech with the 47th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. While I am not saying that Millsap is going to end up like Karl Malone, The Mailman did play college ball at Louisiana Tech before spending 18 seasons in Utah. The similarities were there, especially on the defensive end of the court, due to Millsap being the first NCAA basketball player to ever lead the country in rebounding for three straight seasons. However, his playing time was sporadic when he was in Utah, coming off the bench his first four seasons, then starting the last three seasons. It is refreshing to see Millsap become a leader for this Hawks team; his All-Star selection strengthened his case for being one of the NBA’s most underrated big men playing.

It is pretty crazy to think that an NBA team has only lost twice since Thanksgiving. We have seen stretches of basketball where a team seems simply unbeatable; with the 27-game winning streak of the 2012-13 Miami Heat coming to mind. That stretch was primarily fueled by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, three players who are in the upper echelon of basketball players. The stretch of winning basketball that the Atlanta Hawks are on right now is something that should be appreciated by any fan of basketball. There are no superstar talents who demand the ball on every possession, but rather a group of guys who want to win games and play their best basketball. Teague, Korver, Millsap, and Carroll all have their roles in Coach Budenholzer’s system, and bench players like Mike Scott, Thabo Sefolosha, Pero Antic, and Dennis Schroder provide the spark that is needed from the bench. This team is on an 18-game winning streak and have won 32 of 34 games. The All-Star Game will feature Teague, Millsap, and Horford as members of the Eastern Conference All-Stars, the first time three Hawks have made the Game in 35 years. Can they keep this up and make some noise in the NBA Playoffs? I surely hope so, because they are playing some beautiful basketball and deserve all the credit that comes their way.

Detroit Basketball: No Joshing Around

The missing piece to the puzzle for the Houston Rockets is… Josh Smith? (Source: Brandon Dill / Associated Press)

Did you ever stop and wonder whether you made a horrible mistake? I bet that is what Joe Dumars must do on a daily basis when it comes to his tenure as President of Basketball Operations with the Detroit Pistons. Sure, the Pistons had great success early on in his tenure, reaching six straight Eastern Conference Finals, going to back-to-back NBA Finals in 2004 and 2005, and becoming one of the most unlikely NBA champions ever back in 2004, beating the juggernaut Los Angeles Lakers in five games. That was then, and Dumars’ successes slowly began to fade from the minds of fans as losing season after losing season started to pile on, signing players like Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to absurd contracts, and doing everything wrong that could ever be done wrong. It makes the drafting of Darko Milicic over Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh look like nothing. The one moment that cemented Dumars’ downfall was July 6, 2013. The moment when Josh Smith agreed to come to the Motor City.

Sure, it was kind of exciting, as I had seen the explosiveness that Smith was known for while he was a member of the Atlanta Hawks. I thought that, combined with young big men Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond, the Pistons could have a front-court to be reckoned with for the next few years. Then again, when that agreement was announced, I was at a friend’s house in Delaware during July 4th weekend where there was no air conditioning unit and it smelt like sweat, shame, and alcohol.  So maybe my thought process was not 100% at the time. Either way, my excitement spiraled out of control when Maurice Cheeks and John Loyer could not handle the mess that Dumars called a roster. Starting Smith, Monroe, and Drummond together proved to be a disaster and, another losing season later, my mind started reminiscing about the Chauncey Billups Era.

Dumars resigned, and Stan Van Gundy entered the picture. Now, I had been wondering why Stan Van waited so long to get back into the head coaching game, so this was a wonderful sign. Of course, the whole problem of Smith, Monroe, and Drummond still persisted. Another pitiful start to the season, and Van Gundy made a bold move that symbolized that he wanted to make his mark in the organization: he waived Smith on December 22. The race for Smith’s services did not last too long, as Smith signed with the Houston Rockets. Signs pointed to Smith helping the Rockets in some capacity, since the Rockets have a core nucleus of players, highlighted by the duo of Dwight Howard and James Harden. However, that signing may have done more harm than good if you really think about it.

Consider where the Rockets were when they made the Smith signing official. They were 20-7, good for fourth place in the nightmare that is the Western Conference. Since Josh Smith came into the picture, the Rockets have played eight games, going 4-4 in those games. They are currently sitting in 5th place, a half game ahead of the 6th place Los Angeles Clippers. While such a minor dip in the standings may not be seen as the worst thing ever in the Western Conference, it is a slightly troubling sight. The West is loaded with teams that can easily get on a hot streak at any moment in time and skyrocket into the upper echelon of the Conference. Houston has the talent to stay within the top eight spots, but with the struggles that Smith has had since leaving Atlanta, that may not be enough to stay afloat.

Point guard Brandon Jennings has stepped up his game since the waiving of Smith (Source: Reuters)

The Pistons have gone in the completely opposite direction. At 5-23, any hopes of a decent season were already eviscerated at that point in time.  So the news of Josh Smith’s waiving was surprising, but something that did not really seem like it would make a massive difference. Turns out, that move may have been the necessary kick in the pants the Pistons needed. It showed that no one was safe and that 100% effort had to given at any given moment during games. It also lit a fire underneath the other high-profile Piston acquired around the time Smith signed, Brandon Jennings.  When it comes to Jennings, consistent shooting has not been one of his strong suits, as his career 39% field goal shooting proves. However, in the eight games Jennings has played since Smith was waived, he has been shooting quite decently. Four games, at Orlando, at San Antonio, at Dallas, and versus Atlanta, featured dismal shooting performances, but the other four have seen Jennings shoot 50% or better. The San Antonio game also provided one of the highlights of Jennings’s Detroit tenure, as he made a jumper with 0.1 seconds left to guide the Pistons to as 105-104 win, their sixth in a row.

Stan Van Gundy has finally got the team he wants and is making the most of it (Source: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America)

The other catalyst behind this winning streak is Stan Van Gundy himself. Rather than unload the blame on someone else, he took full responsibility for the horrific play of the team. This was a guy who made Dwight Howard into the monster that he is when the two were in Orlando, so having a trio of Josh Smith, Greg Monroe, and Andre Drummond and not fully maximizing their potential was a sign of something troubling. In order to remedy the problem, Stan Van Gundy the President of Basketball Operations stepped up to the plate and made a business decision that would help out Stan Van Gundy the Head Coach. Paying a guy $26 million to get out of town seemed like a disaster waiting to happen, but since that decision, that exciting style of play Van Gundy utilized in Orlando has been in full force. The focus on big men has been fully prevalent, as Monroe and Drummond have excelled, namely at the defensive end of the floor. Drummond, in particular, has been Dwight Howard-like during the seven game win streak, posting double digit rebounds in six of seven games. Sure, double digit rebound games have been pretty common for Drummond this season, but there is just something different about this stretch of games. Drummond is being used to his full potential with a head coach who has had great success with a dominant big man. Monroe has been in a limbo due to the uncertainty of whether he will return to Detroit next season, but with the waiving of Smith, the faith that the Detroit front office has in Monroe should be a major confidence booster.

I feel that the Pistons could seriously make the run to the playoffs that some people predicted would happen. The players are finally playing some exciting basketball, and it is actually pretty entertaining to watch. Every game does not feel like an automatic loss right now, so the morale of the fan base is easily the highest it has been in quite some time. The Eastern Conference is notorious for being filled to the brim with more mediocre teams than the Western Conference, so Detroit could have an easier time getting in the playoff picture. The Celtics, Hornets, Pacers, and Heat are all in a logjam ahead of the Pistons, but this is the Eastern Conference. That could change in an instant. The Celtics traded Rajon Rondo to Dallas and may not be done making deals, the Hornets have seriously underperformed so far this season, the effect of not having Paul George is evident for Indiana, and Miami is not the same Miami anymore. It is only January, but if Detroit keeps up the intensity and plays with the same passion like they are now, then the playoffs could be calling.

Andrew’s Awesome 2014-2015 NBA Predictions

The 2014-15 NBA season is upon us, which means it is time for the obligatory NBA preview. Since I am not as well-versed in the NBA compared to the NFL or MLB, that could have been a major problem. Luckily, I made (forced?) Andrew do a preview as well. it won’t nearly be as good or in depth as Conor’s, because we all know Andrew is a lazy bum. So sit back, relax, and read his dreadfully wrong picks.

It seems that all I ever type these days are predictions, and they always seem to be wrong. So to counteract that, I’m going to….type up another prediction! Because, umm, yeah. So here is my 2014-15 NBA season prediction, the abridged and easy to read version.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Division Winners: Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards

Other playoff teams: Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, New York Knicks

Eastern Conference Championship: Cleveland Cavaliers OVER Washington Wizards.

The Eastern Conference is clearly the weaker conference again this year. There are two levels of teams: the Cavs and the Bulls are on one level, and just about every other team is on the other level. An argument can be made for every team that isn’t the Bucks or 76ers to make the playoffs in the seed 3-8.

The members of Cleveland’s “Big Three” pose for a photo. L-R: Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Kevin Love (Jason Miller/Getty Images).

On paper, the Cavs are clearly the best team in the East. A Big Three of LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving is arguably better than the Heat Big Three of King James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. They are still lacking a solid big man, but that’s something most teams can say. They have got some nice depth with the additions of Shawn Marion, James Jones, and Mike Miller. They obviously are going to be the most talked about team in the NBA, and for good reason. The lack of playoff experience for Love and Irving could prove costly, but I’m not going to bet against LeBron. He has lost a lot of weight, and is coming into this season in his best shape in years. He’s going to be rejuvenated playing back home in Cleveland, no longer the villain of the NBA. Couple that with an embarrassingly pathetic performance by his team in the Finals last year, and I think his hunger will ultimately lead an inexperienced Cavalier team to the Finals this year. LeBron is just too good not make the Finals again.

I would like to be like almost every prognosticator out there and go with the Bulls in the Conference Finals; however, I don’t trust Derrick Rose’s knees just yet. He is arguably the second best player in the Eastern Conference (next to King James), but he has not really played professional basketball since 2012. He tore his left ACL in the 2012 playoffs, missed all of 2013, and most recently tore the meniscus in his right knee and missed 72 games in 2014.  I know he played in the FIBA tournament this past summer, but that’s not the rigors of a nine-month NBA season. IF Rose is healthy, this team can compete toe-to-toe with the Cavs. Their team defense and their coach are both the best in the East, but without Rose this teams joins the mediocrity of the rest of the East. Rose is the game-changer, but I can’t trust him yet. I see them as the 2nd seed in the East, but unable to make it out the 2nd round of the playoffs.

The dynamic duo of John Wall (right) and Bradley Beal could surely see the Eastern Conference Finals (Chuck Myers/MCT).

It’s shocking to say that the Wizards and the Hornets will both be in the playoffs for consecutive years, but it’s almost a given in a weak Eastern Conference. The Wizards and the Hornets (the team formerly known as the Bobcats) made some solid acquisitions this offseason, signing Paul Pierce and Lance Stephenson, respectively. John Wall and Bradley Beal of the Wizards may be the best backcourt in basketball right now, and Al Jefferson, of the Hornets, may be the most underrated big-man in the game. I am fully on the Washington bandwagon this season. This team has solid size in Marcin Gortat and Nene, and a solid bench with Martell Webster and Andre Miller. I think the acquisition of the ageless Paul Pierce leads the best young back-court in the NBA (Beal and Wall) into the Conference Finals.

Will Lionel Hollins provide the leadership the Nets need? I sure hope so (USATSI).

The Nets and the Knicks, after disappointing seasons last year, will fight for the seventh and eighth seed in the East. Both teams will make the playoffs, mainly due to a weak Eastern Conference. The Nets are on their fifth coach in six years, and are coming off an offseason that witnessed the whole Jason Kidd debacle that led him to Milwaukee. The Nets ended up with the coach they should have signed the previous year in Lionel Hollins, and Hollins will give this team leadership and experience it was desperately lacking in its five-game loss to the Heat in last year’s playoffs. Looking at the team from Manhattan, the Knicks kept their roster mainly the same, with the biggest acquisition being José Calderón. Anyone would have been an update over Raymond Felton, but Calderón is a great PG for the Phil Jackson-inspired triangle offense. Of course, this team still won’t play any defense, but Carmelo Anthony, a (hopefully) healthy Amar’e Stoudemire, and young guns in Tim Hardaway Jr. and Iman Shumpert should get the Knicks into the playoffs. The Knicks will win 45 games, led by Iso Melo, a reinvigorated Stoudemire, and a big year from crazy ass JR Smith. The Nets will also win 45 games, led by Iso Joe, a healthy Deron Williams, and a big year from Mirza Teletović. I think the Knicks will lose to the Cavs in the first round, and the Nets will lose to the Bulls in the first round (what else is new).

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Division Winners: Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs

Other playoff teams: Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers

Western Conference Championship: San Antonio Spurs OVER Los Angeles Clippers.

The Western Conference is by far the superb conference. Remember: the Suns won almost 50 games last year, and didn’t even make the playoffs! The West is not as top-heavy as the East, in that really any top-nine team can make a run to the Western Conference Finals. Would anyone really be shocked with a Warriors-Trail Blazers Conference final? How about a Grizzlies-Rockets matchup? The complete dominance of the West should lead to more discussion about getting rid of the Conference system all-together, but that is a topic for another day.

A timeless Big Three in Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker (AP).

I, like many people, still see the Spurs as the best team in the Western Conference. The Spurs brought back almost everyone from their championship roster, Tim Duncan looks like he’s immortal, and Kawhi Leonard is on the verge of a breakout, superstar season. They have a lot of depth, and they are coached by the best in the NBA. Every season, Gregg Popovich’s Spurs are always in the race for the top of the West. He masterfully manages the minutes of his aging stars (Duncan in particular), and knows how to win big games. He dismantled the Heat last season, having made the best player in the NBA look completely outmatched. I thought the Spurs were old and done two years ago, and they continue to prove me, and every naysayer, wrong. I’m not betting against them until I see a team in the West actually stand up and dethrone them.

Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and the Clippers have the potential to be worthy adversaries against the Spurs (Getty Images).

The Clippers are entering a new-era, a post-Donald Sterling era, with the best point guard in basketball. Chris Paul is an outstanding player that has come up very short in the playoffs. He, like Tracy McGrady, seems to have huge problems advancing deep into the playoffs, despite the abundance of talent that he and his teams have had. I think this could be the season where they make a deep run. Doc Rivers is an excellent coach, Blake Griffin looks like he’s ready to take the next step in becoming a superstar, and Jamal Crawford is a lethal sixth man off the bench. They are a deep team, and have the size to compete with the Spurs. With the Lakers on their way to an abysmal season, the Clippers are primed to take over L.A. I see them in a Conference Final match-up against the aforementioned Spurs.

Every season the Thunder come in with Championship aspirations. Every season they disappoint. They have the 2nd best player in the basketball (Kevin Durant), and a top-3 point guard (Russell Westbrook). Still, they seem to struggle to make meaningful playoff runs. I’m worried about Durant’s foot problems, as those injuries could derail entire seasons for players. Westbrook can fill some of the scoring void in Durant’s predicted 2 month absence, but the team needs another option. They got bounced from the playoffs because their offense was too dependent on Durant or Westbrook to score the ball. Unlike the Spurs, none of their role players stepped up. Serge Ibaka and Reggie Jackson are emerging stars, but I still think they need one more scorer. Remember that the one time they were in the Finals (2012) was when they still had James Harden. Since the Harden trade, the Thunder have yet to fill his void. Because of that, I can’t see the Thunder making a deep playoff run.

The Warriors are the most interesting team to me. They can score, and score, and score. But their defense was suspect last season, and they are coached by a rookie in Steve Kerr. It was a risky move to replace Mark Jackson, especially with such a gamble. They are a really deep team, with Leandro Barbosa, Shaun Livingston, and Harrison Barnes coming off the bench, and their starting-5 is exceptional. The one problem is that they lack size. David Lee and Andrew Bogurt are both injury prone big men. Harrison Barnes plays more like a SF than a PF, and Festus Ezeli is really their only backup big. That could be a huge problem in a conference that has Duncan, LaMarcus Aldridge, Griffin, Dirk Nowitzki, and others. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if they make a Western Conference Finals run.

2015 NBA FINALS

Spurs over Cavaliers in a six-game series

In an epic rematch from last year, LeBron’s new big three will again be stifled by the best coach in the NBA. Inexperience will hurt the Cavs, as Irving and Love have never had to play a game in May or June in their career. Couple that with no big man to compete against Duncan in the 25 minutes a game he will play, and the Spurs will, for the first time ever, repeat as champions. It’s crazy to think a team that’s been good since 2000 has never won back-to-back titles. I see this trend ending this year, and Duncan can retire on top after an exceptional and Hall-of-Fame career. Finals MVP will be Tony Parker, as he’ll completely outplay Kyrie Irving.

AWARDS

Regular Season MVP: John Wall, Washington Wizards (LeBron can arguably get it every year, I’d rather go out on a limb)

Scoring Champ: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (ain’t nobody else on that team is scoring)

Coach of the Year: Doc Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers

Rookie of the Year: Nerlens Noel, Philadelphia 76ers

Defensive Player of the Year: Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder

Conor’s Super 2014-15 NBA Preview

The 2014-15 NBA season is upon us, which means it is time for the obligatory NBA preview. Since I am not as well-versed in the NBA compared to the NFL or MLB, that could have been a major problem. Luckily, I have a brother who is basically a walking NBA encyclopedia, so I asked (forced?) him to join the team and be our head NBA guy. So, kick back and enjoy my brother’s season preview for the upcoming NBA season.

TEAM-BY-TEAM ANALYSIS

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division

• Boston Celtics: The Boston Celtics have a lot of questions to answer this year: What is the direction of our franchise? When will our next championship come? Will Rajon Rondo be a part of either of these scenarios? Rondo has previously voiced his frustration from playing on a rebuilding team and it will only be a matter of time before a move is made. General manager Danny Ainge has an interesting decision to make considering the team just drafted Oklahoma State PG Marcus Smart. Ainge could opt to trade Rondo for draft picks, or he could try his best to convince Rondo that he can pull together a free agency class that could intrigue Rondo enough to stay.
• Brooklyn Nets: Without Paul Pierce, the Nets are bound to see a huge change in their game plan. Paul Pierce is about as clutch as they come and without him, expect the Nets to blow some games down the stretch. Without Pierce, new coach Lionel Hollins will probably give Joe Johnson the ball in those do-or-die situations but that’s about it. D-Will and Brook Lopez are either hurt or sporadic with their play so I don’t expect the Nets to make serious noise, at least this year.

Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (Source: Alex Goodlett/Getty Images North America)

• New York Knicks: I have probably discussed the Knicks more than any other team, not even because of recent hype but simply because my buddy is the most diehard, thick-headed Knicks fan you would ever meet—a man whom when he met John Starks did not even shake his hand but told him that his 4-27 performance in Game 7 of the 1994 Finals was the reason the Knicks lost the championship, (yes, he’s ruthless). I digress; the Knicks have reunited with their old buddy, Phil Jackson, and, like my buddy, New York has been buzzing with championship talk. Reality check: this team has pieces to be a contender, but the Knicks have a long way to go before I can call them title contenders. With Derek Fisher at the helm, the Knicks will be incorporating the Triangle Offense, a system that Fish and Jackson used to win several championships. Anyone who may think the Triangle Offense translates to an automatic NBA championship, for lack of a better word, is an idiot. This team’s defense, albeit better than last year’s, will need to really bucket down in order for them to win it all. When it comes to defense, I am pointing my finger at Carmelo. Melo is obviously an established scorer, everybody and their grandmother knows that; but similarly know that he is woeful on defense. If he can pull together a good defensive season, I see the Knicks making a playoff push and maybe making some noise. Until then, enjoy those wine baths Amar’e.
• Philadelphia 76ers: The 76ers are your prime example of rebuilding. Ten years ago this team had superstar Allen Iverson leading the show and the team was not only prospering, but actually relevant; now the team has maybe two or three players that your average NBA fan will know. Another key thing to know about the Sixers this season: they are incredibly young. After losing Jason Richardson for the year, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is the oldest player on the team at 28 years old. I don’t expect much from the Sixers this year but I expect a highlight or two from former lottery picks Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel plus some funny social media blunders courtesy of Joel Embiid.

Raptors rookie center Lucas Nogueira – How about that ‘fro? (Source: Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America)

• Toronto Raptors: I think the Raptors will continue to make consistent strides towards being a contender. Fresh off a new contract, expect Kyle Lowry to be the guy in Toronto. DeMar DeRozan and Terrence Ross may have made claims that they are the number-one option but realistically Lowry will have his hands on the ball in late game situations. I am especially intrigued as to how projects Bruno Caboclo and Lucas Nogueira develop and adjust to the NBA; Caboclo apparently was an nobody before he was drafted, so I am sure that he is using that as motivation and Nogueira… well, his afro is awesome so hopefully he plays well so the afro can see game time.

Central Division

• Chicago Bulls: As always, the Chicago Bulls’ season and championship hopes depends on one thing and one thing only: Derrick Rose’s knees. If Rose’s knees can hold, I expect the Bulls to make serious noise. With a healthy Rose, newly acquired big man Pau Gasol (who absolutely exploded in the FIBA games), new draft picks, and finally dumping the waste of space that was Carlos Boozer, the Bulls are scary….really, really scary.
• Cleveland Cavaliers: Here we go again, another Big 3. LeBron continues to assert his dominance over the NBA by changing its’ landscape once again by making his return to his hometown team in hopes of bringing that elusive championship to the dreadful city of Cleveland. With the new and improved Cavaliers roster, that championship may come sooner than expected. The Cavaliers have all the right pieces to make a serious playoff push. Coach David Blatt is interesting, seeing how he goes from European League glory to being the luckiest man in the world, coaching the best player in the world in his epic return home. Unfortunately that comes with a lot of pressure as well. We all know that wherever LeBron goes, his first Decision to leave Cleveland left a black cloud over his career. The only way to clear the skies and bring sunny days would to bring those championships he stupidly guaranteed. The championship may come Cleveland eventually, maybe not this year, but it will only be a matter of time.

Pistons center Andre Drummond (Source: Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America)

• Detroit Pistons: Much to my brother’s chagrin, the Pistons are bound for mediocrity this season. After giving Jodie Meeks the biggest contract he will probably ever get, the Pistons are not really loaded with talent outside their starting five; that is, if they start Josh Smith at the 3. Hopefully Stan Van Gundy, in his return to the sidelines, does not make that dumb mistake. Smith is not a SF at all; the man simply cannot shoot, he needs to play his game and that game is inside the paint. Hopefully said paint is not clogged, seeing how the Pistons have an abundance of big men with Smith, Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond. If it was up to me, I would be running around trying to get rid of Smith quicker than if someone threw me a hot potato; the Pistons are trying to get rid of Monroe so Smith can thrive but I think that is the worst decision. I would rather have Monroe and Drummond on the high/low post, seeing how their games complement one another nicely. The Josh Smith signing is still a head scratcher to me, but then again it’s not the first front office blunder (cough Darko cough). If the Pistons can get their big men situation figured out, they will have a decent season.
• Indiana Pacers: Poor Larry Bird. First you lose Lance Stephenson to former rival Michael Jordan and his Charlotte Hornets, but then you get a knife right to the heart of the team with the Paul George injury. Losing their two best players in one offseason leaves a lot of questions unanswered for Frank Vogel and the woeful Pacers. It looks like Roy Hibbert will be the main focus on offense and hopefully he actually has his head in the game and plays like the cornerstone franchise center he could be. If not, expect the Pacers to be in the lottery. Yes, I said the lottery. This team simply will not win with backups. You don’t believe me? Ask the Lakers.
• Milwaukee Bucks: Jason Kidd flexed his front office muscles and got what he wanted: to be the Milwaukee Bucks coach. Please allow a minute for that to sink in. Someone actually wanted to come to Milwaukee? Milwaukee has not been the same, in my opinion, since Michael Redd left for greener pastures leaving for the Suns back in the day. Since then, they’ve had mediocre season after mediocre season. Don’t expect them to have anything more than a mediocre season with 2nd year coach J-Kidd coaching Rookie of the Year candidate Jabari Parker, as well as the “Greek Freak”, Giannis Antetokounmpo. I expect the Bucks to be somewhat fun to watch, but other than that, the Bucks will be in the lottery once again at the end of the season.

Southeast Division

• Atlanta Hawks: The Atlanta Hawks continue to bore me to sleep. After signing Paul Millsap last season, who is about as fun to watch as paint dry, the Hawks sign Kent Bazemore and Thabo Sefolosha. These are obviously desperate moves from a desperate team. Bazemore made a name for himself in Los Angeles when running the point for the worst Lakers team in who knows how long, so I am happy he found another NBA team to continue developing on but his presence on the team does not make a huge difference. The same can be said for Sefolosha, who had a falling out with former coach Scott Brooks, ultimately leading to the team going in another direction by signing Anthony Morrow. I expect the Hawks to hover around the seventh or eighth seed this year, but it is not like anyone will serious care. The Hawks haven’t been the same since they changed their jerseys from the red and yellow Hawks of the earlier 2000’s. The only positive in Atlanta is that the Pac-Man Hawk is back, both on the uniform shorts and the center of their home court. Oh, and expect Kyle Korver to make threes….a lot of them.

Hornets center Al “I Don’t Know How to Smile” Jefferson (Source: Grant Halverson/Getty Images North America)

• Charlotte Hornets: Michael Jordan knows what it takes to win. After a few early blunders, (Tyrus Thomas, Adam Morrison, Kwame Brown), I think MJ might have finally hit the lottery (no pun intended). Drafting Noah Vonleh and P.J. Hairston brings another post presence and a deadeye shooter to the already stacked roster. With newly acquired “Born Ready” Lance Stephenson, “Cardiac” Kemba Walker and “I Don’t Know How to Smile” Al Jefferson, the Charlotte Hornets will be serious contenders in the Eastern Conference. Side-note: I know I am not the only one jumping for joy to see that the Charlotte Hornets are actually back, right?! Those teal and purple jerseys are just too sexy to not notice.
• Miami Heat: Life without LeBron was first looking like the Heat will immediately be in the lottery, seeing how the Heat almost lost Chris Bosh to the Houston Rockets as well. Lucky for Miami Heat fans, or what’s left from the Big 3 bandwagon fans, Pat Riley proves himself to be the Godfather and brought together a solid roster, signing veterans Luol Deng, Danny Granger, and Josh McRoberts along with drafting the “best point guard in the draft” according to LeBron, Shabazz Napier. With the new acquisitions, along with D-Wade’s weight loss and rest on his knees, expect the Heat to still contend in the East.

Magic rookie guard Elfrid Payton, interesting hairstyle and all (Source: Nick Laham/Getty Images North America)

• Orlando Magic: I honestly have no idea what the Orlando Magic are doing. Drafting Aaron Gordon was a head scratcher to me, seeing how he is so incredibly raw talent wise, as well as drafting Elfrid Payton and his interesting hair style. The Magic also pulled off the biggest “What?” moment of this offseason, signing Channing Frye to a 4 year $32 million contract. Channing Frye is not worth that money, I don’t care what the analysts say. He is a 6’11” big man who only shoots three pointers; this may be the new trend in the NBA, having big men who can shoot, but this is the definition of a role player being overpaid to do nothing. The Magic will be in the NBA cellar for a while at this rate. At least the weather there is nice.
• Washington Wizards: After LeBron coming home to the Cavs, Paul Pierce to the Wizards was the most shocking move of free agency. If he wasn’t going to resign with the Nets, I thought for sure he was going back to greener pastures (literally) and resigning with the team that drafted him and he spent most of his illustrious career with, that team being the Celtics. Nope. He bolted for D.C. Now this puts the Wizards in a great position. After having a stellar postseason run this past season, the Wizards can only set their standards higher after bringing in Pierce. The Wizards can now depend on the Truth in winning time, seeing how young their roster still is. Also, Otto Porter is healthy too and was doing pretty well in the preseason so this only adds to the depth on their bench. John Wall must feel like a kid in a candy store. Now all they have to do is make enough of an impression on a certain NBA superstar so he can maybe come home in 2016.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Southwest Division

• Dallas Mavericks: Mark Cuban is a genius. Offering Chandler Parsons a three-year, $46 million contract…while in a nightclub. Pure genius. That move, plus the huge trading bringing back Tyson Chandler, as well as signing guards Jameer Nelson and J.J. Barea, the Mavericks are going to be beyond scary. The Mavericks, on paper, are almost too good. I am hesitant to say that this team will go all the way, but my gut is telling me that they will be in the conversation of NBA title contender sooner rather than later. If the Mavericks don’t do well, they will have no one to blame but themselves.

Rockets guard James Harden and center Dwight Howard (Source: Scott Halleran/Getty Images North America)

• Houston Rockets: No LeBron. No Carmelo. No Bosh. No Parsons. Who are the Rockets left with? They’re left with the bearded assassin with the stellar defense, James Harden, and world-renowned bonehead, Dwight Howard. To many, the two of these could potentially lead a team on a serious playoff run, but to me, I see a one and done in the playoffs, if that. Sure, stealing Trevor Ariza back from the Wizards was a good move, but the Rockets took a huge shot to the stomach after missing out on the before mentioned names. Their bench just isn’t deep enough to make noise; expect a good season but don’t expect much in the playoffs.
• Memphis Grizzlies: The Grizzlies continue to remain relevant without making a lot of media noise. Retaining the backcourt duo of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol was key to making sure the Grizzlies could sustain balance to their roster. Also, adding former high-flyer now three point shot chucker, Vince Carter, to the fray will help bring veteran leadership to an already veteran team will only help the locker room all the more. I expect the Grizzlies to continue their excellence as they always do, under the radar and under estimated.
• New Orleans Pelicans: Anthony Davis is the future of the NBA. Chisel it in stone. This guy is flat out incredible, and he has barely tapped his full potential. The 21 year old center had quite an offseason, stemming from his performance in the FIBA games, so I only expect him to carry that play over into the regular season. Adding the former playing time crybaby, Omer Asik, to the bunch helps solidify the Pelicans’ front court as one of the best defensively. If Tyreke Evans can find himself a good shtick as the sixth man, expect to hear more from the Pelicans as the season carries on.
• San Antonio Spurs: After winning another ring, many expected the Spurs dynasty to ride off into the sunset. Wrong. Dead wrong. The Spurs have come back stronger than ever, keeping every integral part of their roster together, including bringing in Jersey native, Kyle Anderson, from UCLA. Anderson may not see the floor early, but I expect him to be the modern day Boris Diaw (a claim I made way before the NBA draft people did). As long as the Spurs have their Big 4, (I include Coach Pop because he is as every bit as important to the team as Timmy, Manu, or Tony are), the Spurs are title favorites and will be until they retire, whenever that may be.

Northwest Division

• Denver Nuggets: The Denver Nuggets continue to be my dark horse pick for playoff contender. I love the run-and-gun style that Denver fans are so used to, but I love Coach Brian Shaw’s focus on defensive intensity and I believe that their defense could carry them right into the playoffs. Jersey native, Kenneth Faried, celebrated knucklehead (said in my best Shaquille O’Neal voice) JaVale McGee, and the strong, endless motor of J.J. Hickson create an incredibly athletic defensive front-court. Plus, the addition of Aaron Afflalo only increases their defensive credibility. I expect a lot from the Nuggets; I also expect a lot of heat to be worn on Lil’ Nate’s feet. Not only is Nate Robinson one of the most exciting players to watch, he also has the best sneaker collection (a hobby of mine). I know, sneakers don’t make the player better or worse, but it’s a fun little side story to follow. I can be a fan boy. Sue me.
• Minnesota Timberwolves: What could have been an awful summer for the Minnesota Timberwolves turned out to be relatively positive. The Timberwolves knew Kevin Love was going to leave; the question was: Will he walk next summer or would the T’wolves be able to get a deal done beforehand? Well the answer to that question is Andrew Wiggins. After the Cavs shipped over Wiggins, along with former #1 overall pick, Anthony Bennett, along with Thaddeus Young from the Sixers, Kevin Love left town. Now the T’Wolves are left rebuilding, but they have solid franchise pieces in Wiggins, Young, and Ricky Rubio. Rubio may not have been what he was hyped up to be, but he is still a stable point guard who can lob it up to Wiggins, Young, high flying Zach LaVine from UCLA, or anybody else. I feel like Rubio may be the make-or-break piece in this franchise, but only time will tell. Until then, enjoy mediocrity boys.

Thunder forward and reigning MVP Kevin Durant (Source: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America)

• Oklahoma City Thunder: Following an MVP season, Kevin Durant will be looking to lead his team to the upper echelon of the league’s team; unfortunately, that’s if he can get the ball out of Russell Westbrook’s hands. Don’t get me wrong, Westbrook is a full-fledged superstar, no question about that, but this is KD’s team not his and I personally think KD needs the ball in winning time. If KD can get through Westbrook’s skull and let him know that he’s the man, this team could potentially be unstoppable. The Thunder have one of the most physical front-courts in the NBA with the shot blocking Serge Ibaka and the New Zealand bruiser Steven Adams. I think a key aspect of the team to follow this season will be how Jeremy Lamb does now that Sefolosha is gone. Anthony Morrow and Lamb may interchange starting 2-guard duties, but if Lamb is to live up to his full potential, he needs to take charge and make that starting job his. Meanwhile, the Thunder’s solid bench remains the same and with the addition of pot smoking big man Mitch McGary, the Thunder don’t have to rely on Kendrick Perkins for backup—Did you hear that? I think all of Oklahoma just let a sigh of relief.
• Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard’s breakout season last year made him a household name. Unfortunately, the Blazers didn’t really make any efforts to sign more players so it looks like the Blazers will remain in the same place they did last year. Now, having had an exciting playoff series against the Rockets last year and losing in the Western Conference Semifinals is not horrible, but this team could have progressed so much farther had they have signed another veteran or two; the addition of Steve Blake brings a lot of experience to the table and will without a doubt help Lillard all the more, but I just don’t see much more progression happening. Hopefully LaMarcus Aldridge does what he does best and prove everyone wrong, myself included.
• Utah Jazz: After almost losing their best player Gordon Hayward to the Charlotte Hornets, the Jazz were set to be in conversation for the #1 or #2 draft pick. Since they were able to match Hayward’s offer sheet, they will only be fighting for spots 3-6 in the draft. Don’t get me wrong, Hayward is the best player on this team, but that isn’t saying much. Trey Burke needs to step up and be the franchise point guard they thought he would be when the Jazz snatched him in the draft and so far it has been subpar at best. I’m sitting here trying to imagine this team if Burke and the Australian mystery that is Dante Exum mesh together well; they’re both incredibly young (Burke 21, Exum 19) so they will have to develop and adjust to the NBA game, but I fear what could happen if they stay together and develop together to their utmost potentials. In a guard dominant league, this backcourt could be one of the best to see the court. Until then, the Jazz will remain on no one’s radar outside of Utah.

Pacific Division

Warriors guard Stephen Curry (Source: Jeff Gross/Getty Images North America)

• Golden State Warriors: I have one question for the Golden State front office: Why the coaching change? I get it, Mark Jackson and some of the front office may have not seen eye-to-eye, but it’s obvious that he still got results. I am in no way, shape, or form, trying to say Steve Kerr is incapable of coaching this team; I just feel the move was unnecessary. That was my least favorite move that the Warriors made. On the opposite end, my favorite move was the Warriors signing the Brazilian Blur, Leandro Barbosa. A true journeyman, now playing for his eighth professional team, Barbosa comes back to the NBA after absolutely exploding in the FIBA games. I think this is a power move because it brings a complete change of pace to the game. Steph Curry is a half court point guard who obviously has a love for the 3-ball, but take him out and put Barbosa in and he will run up and down the floor at 100% and not only can he shoot but he can slash the paint. Now, don’t misinterpret this as me trying to make Barbosa sound better than Curry; Curry is a unanimous All-Star and this is his team, but putting Barbosa into the game and sitting Curry keeps opponents on their toes on how to defend the Warriors. All I can say is, Warriors…come out and play…because this is a team I will definitely have my eyes on throughout the season.
• Los Angeles Clippers: Finally, the Donald Sterling era is over. Ding dong, the witch is dead. Now let’s get back to basketball. The Clippers have quietly built one of the strongest rosters in basketball, having depth at every position. The addition of Jordan Farmar is a big deal to me because I feel that he knows how to play within himself and the offense, something previous Chris Paul backups couldn’t understand and ultimately were forced out of town. Also, the additions of Spencer Hawes and Ekpe Udoh give this team immediate backup front-court help seeing how Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan can’t carry the bulk of the minutes every night. The Clippers are Los Angeles’ team right now and it’s still a feel good story for me that a team that was once a laughingstock of the league is now a title contender. Hopefully no more internal affairs distract this great team from doing its job again.
• Los Angeles Lakers: This is going to be an interesting year for the Lakers. No Steve Nash, no Paul Gasol, a middle-aged Kobe Bryant, and a lot of youth; this Lakers team is lottery bound once again. I am excited to see this team though, surprisingly, because I want to see how Kobe reacts to not being on a contender anymore. Recently, I have heard that he is being a great mentor and teammate, but I still want to see if it will translate over onto the court during the season. I hope the Lakers’ lottery pick, Julius Randle, can adjust to the NBA game well because he is one of the rookies from this past year’s draft I have had my eye on for a while. He has a lot of tools that could translate into being a solid NBA player, but I want to see how hard he works at it. Hopefully the Lakers just don’t embarrass themselves again this year; last year was horrible but I would hate for it to get worse.
• Phoenix Suns: The Phoenix Suns could have had Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James on the same team. That would have been a gruesome twosome if I do say so myself. Unfortunately, the Suns front office were the only people who thought this could happen and LeBron and Melo subsequently went elsewhere but this does not mean that the Phoenix are free agent losers. The Suns may have cashed out this summer when it comes to bringing in talent. They brought in former Sacramento Kings breakout guard, Isaiah Thomas as well as starting point guard, Goran Dragic’s, brother Zoran, (his parents obviously had no imagination when it came to boys names). The Suns also ended their long, bumpy negotiations with star guard, Eric Bledsoe, to the tune of $70 million over 5 years. The Suns still need big men, Miles Plumlee and the Morris twins aren’t going to cut it. Without upgrades at the big men positions, I don’t know if the Suns can generate another run in them considering what most front-courts in the Western Conference look like.
• Sacramento Kings: The Sacramento Kings could potentially be this year’s Cinderella team and make it to the playoffs IF things going according to plan. The plan is that DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay use their FIBA performances as boosts towards All-Star seasons, Ray McCallum excels in his new starting role and hopefully Ben McLemore as well as Derrick Williams actually show up to play. That is the ultimate best case scenario for the Kings. Realistically, I feel the Kings will compose a decent season and work towards signing more veteran leadership in the offseason instead giving roster spots to the likes of Ryan Hollins or Ramon Sessions, players whom will contribute some but not a lot.

NBA SEASONAL AWARDS

Cavaliers forward LeBron James – MVP again? (Source: Jamie Sabau/Getty Images North America)

MVP – SF LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers – LeBron is the best player in the game right now. I know, I know…Kevin Durant is the reigning MVP but I, personally, believe the MVP should go to the most valuable player, not the player who scores the most. KD may have carried his team when Russell Westbrook was hurt last year, stringing together a crazy amount of games with an abundance of scoring outbursts, but I still question his defensive intensity. When it comes to LeBron, he is the most valuable player because he does everything for his team. Whether it is pass, shoot, rebound, whatever it may be, LeBron will do it. This Cleveland team is obviously built around James and in order for them to succeed, James will have to be their unquestioned leader. LeBron may say the team “isn’t ready” to win titles, but if the King brings his same mindset from Miami to the Land, it will only be a matter of time.

Pelicans big man Anthony “The Unibrow” Davis – future Defensive Player of the Year? (Source: Chris Graythen/Getty Images North America)

Defensive Player of the Year – PF/C Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans – Anthony Davis is scary. He is 6’10”, 21 years old, with a 7.75in. Wingspan, and entering his third NBA season. He averaged 2.8 blocks last year and that number is only bound to increase following his FIBA performance. The man is quite a physical specimen and his defensive prowess is only getting better and better. Despite having another defensive big man, Omer Asik, added to the Pelicans roster, Davis will have a breakout season ending with receiving this award.

Bucks rookie forward Jabari Parker – maybe the Rookie of the Year? (Source: Nick Laham/Getty Images North America)

Rookie of the Year – SF Jabari Parker, Milwaukee Bucks – The most NBA ready prospect will end the season with the crown as Rookie of the Year. Parker already has all the tools needed to excel at the NBA level and with a dismal roster in Milwaukee, Parker will be the guy for a while.

Clippers guard Jamal Crawford – a repeat Sixth Man of the Year winner? – (Source: Ethan Miller/Getty Images North America)

Sixth Man of the Year – Jamal Crawford, SG Los Angeles Clippers – Originally, my pick for Sixth Man of the Year was going to be Dion Waiters but that changed once David Blatt announced he would be the starter. Oh well, as we move on; Jamal Crawford is the reigning Sixth Man of the Year and now it is his award to lose. He is a starter on ANY other team, but yet he stays in LA for a chance at glory, and thrives in his role. Crawford could come in with the starting lineup and score off CP3 or Blake or he could lead the second team and light up the scoreboard. Crawford, whom is always fun to watch, should repeat as Sixth Man.

Kings center DeMarcus Cousins – Most Improved Player this season? (Source: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images North America)

Most Improved Player – C DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings – No, that is not a mistake. I think DeMarcus Cousins will finally have the breakout year we have been waiting for him to have since he came into the league from Kentucky. Like Anthony Davis, his FIBA experience will translate over into the NBA season; I personally feel that Cousins even being on the roster was the beginning of something special. Cousins finally got his shot to prove himself and Coach K gave him his shot. With a revitalized fan based in Sacramento (not Seattle), a new owner, and additions to the roster, Cousins should average around 20 PPG, 11 RPG, and 2 BPG. Also, with Cousins getting tutelage from the Big Aristotle, “Shaqcramento” should be very excited.

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich – the happiest Coach of the Year ever? – (Source: Chris Covatta/Getty Images North America)

Coach of the Year – Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs – Coach Pop is a magician and will find a way to be a top 3 seed in the Western conference come playoff time. Barring any serious injuries or setbacks, the Spurs should continue their excellence and make a concerted effort to repeat as NBA Champions.

Executive of the Year – GM David Griffin, Cleveland Cavaliers – David Griffin did the impossible and lured the King away from his throne atop the NBA and brought him back to his royal roots back in Cleveland. He didn’t just leave LeBron to play with jesters as in years past; drafting Andrew Wiggins and flipping him to Minnesota for Kevin Love was impressive. I will admit, I thought the Cavalier team with LeBron-Wiggins would have been scary but this new team is championship or bust.

BREAKOUT PLAYERS

• Kenneth Faried – His nickname is “The Manimal” for a reason; following his monstrous FIBA showing and fat contract extension, Faried will be playing like a man possessed this year. I’ve always appreciated his defensive ferocity and high flying put-backs, but it looks like with the addition of a mid-range jumper, the Nuggets could be a threat in the Western conference.  Watch out for this Jersey native (973 Stand up!).

Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving, a guy raised in the town I am from (Source: Jason Miller/Getty Images North America)

• Kyrie Irving – Kyrie feels like he found Willy Wonka’s golden ticket. After being in the NBA cellar and fighting for position in the lottery for the past couple of years, the Cavaliers have become championship favorites, literally, overnight. Kyrie may be known as a scoring point guard, but that will definitely change now that King James is back in town. Kyrie will be forced to become an all-around point guard, a challenge he is ready to accept. If he can succeed being the third star on the team, Kyrie could soon be on the NBA’s MVP radar. Not too shabby for another Jersey native (once again, 973 stand up!).
• Giannis Antetokounmpo – After developing a cult following his rookie campaign, I will admit I have sipped the proverbial Kool-Aid. I am very impressed with Antetokounmpo’s skill set and physical attributes which could launch him into being a house hold name; I doubt people will ever be able to spell his name right, I still have to Google how to spell that Coach K guy from Duke’s last name. With new head coach, Jason Kidd, experimenting with playing Antetokounmpo at the point, I would be pretty scared seeing this 6’10” player with his 7’4” wingspan in the backcourt.

PLAYERS ON THE DECLINE

• Steve Nash – Former back-to-back MVP Steve Nash has been reduced to nothing more than a sideline mentor for the Lakers’ youth movement. After missing most of last season with back problems, the 40-year-old guard received the news that he would miss the season due to nerve damage. Seeing how he is one of the NBA’s oldest players, it’s hard to see him play again let alone decline. It’s a shame to see one the most respected players in the league deal with this type of injury, but hopefully he prospers in his current mentor role so next year a front office will give him a call; point guards seem to be the go-to move for front offices in need of a head coach. (see Jason Kidd, Derek Fisher)

Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire – Wine baths cannot save you now (Source: Alex Goodlett/Getty Images North America)

• Amar’e Stoudemire – Wine bath or not, Amar’e Stoudemire is 31 years old with 61 year old knees. I just don’t see him ever playing at the elite level we saw in his Phoenix years, with Nash, whom is mentioned above (ironically), and early New York years. I question his explosiveness and whether he can handle the wear and tear of another season; plus, this is his contract year so unless Phil Jackson and Amar’e become the best of friends, I suggest you say your goodbyes sooner than later.
• Kobe Bryant – Yes, Kobe is on this list. Kobe is 36 years old and is coming back from major surgeries to his knee and Achilles; I know everyone views Kobe as this mythical creature of folklore but I am trying to be realistic: unless Kobe found the fountain of youth, his bound for a decline. Kobe, along with Nash, is serving as a mentor for the new look Lakers but he still has some left in tank as seen by his play during the preseason. Unfortunately, I hate to say that Kobe is not the same player he was when he was winning rings with Pau Gasol or getting into altercations with Ron Artest…I mean Metta World Peace…oops, I mean “The Panda’s Friend” and NBA goon Matt Barnes (both of them eventually teamed up with Kobe; funny how that works), Kobe is still one of the top 5 players to ever dribble an NBA basketball, but hopefully his decline isn’t as painful as it will be to watch the Lakers’ miserable concept of a team.

FINAl STANDINGS

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1.  Cleveland Cavaliers
2.  Chicago Bulls
3.  Washington Wizards
4.  Miami Heat
5.  Charlotte Hornets
6.  Toronto Raptors
7.  Brooklyn Nets
8.  Indiana Pacers
9.  New York Knicks
10.  Atlanta Hawks
11.  Detroit Pistons
12.  Milwaukee Bucks
13.  Boston Celtics
14.  Philadelphia 76ers
15.  Orlando Magic

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Dallas Mavericks
4. Los Angeles Clippers
5. Memphis Grizzlies
6. Golden State Warriors
7. Houston Rockets
8. Denver Nuggets
9. New Orleans Pelicans
10. Portland Trail Blazers
11. Phoenix Suns
12. Sacramento Kings
13. Los Angeles Lakers
14. Minnesota Timberwolves
15. Utah Jazz

PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS

First Round

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #8 Indiana Pacers – Cavs in 5

#2 Chicago Bulls vs. #7 Brooklyn Nets – Bulls in 6

#3 Washington Wizards vs. #6 Toronto Raptors – Wizards in 6

#4 Miami Heat vs. #5 Charlotte Hornets – Heat in 7

Conference Semis

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Miami Heat – Cavs in 7

#2 Chicago Bulls vs. #3 Washington Wizards – Wizards in 7

Conference Finals

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #3 Washington Wizards – Cavs in 6

WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS

First Round

#1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #8 Denver Nuggets – OKC in 6

#2 San Antonio Spurs – #7 Houston Rockets – Spurs in 6

#3 Dallas Mavericks – #6 Golden State Warriors – Dallas in 7

#4 Los Angeles Clippers – #5 Memphis Grizzlies – Clips in 7

Conference Semis

#1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #4 Los Angeles Clippers – Clips in 6

#2 San Antonio Spurs vs. #3 Dallas Mavericks – Spurs in 6

Conference Finals

#2 San Antonio Spurs vs. #4 Los Angeles Clippers – Clips in 7

2015 NBA FINALS

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Los Angeles Clippers – Cavs win in 6

Hope everybody enjoys the upcoming NBA season!

A Retrospective on the Career of Chauncey Billups

Chauncey Billups (Source: Wikimedia Commons and Dave Hogg)

I have not been able to really write anything about basketball because, in case you have not noticed, there really is nothing going on right now. Sure, the FIBA World Championships are about to finish, but the interest just is not there for me. Granted, I did write something basketball related about a month ago, but that was Paul George’s injury. There has not been anything that really stood out to me that already was not discussed, namely this new problem regarding the Atlanta Hawks. However, Andrew already went over that at length, so there is no need to delve into that issue again. Then, there was news that I half expected and half did not want to see happened. Chauncey Billups retired from the NBA after a 17-year career. Now, a question that may arise is – who exactly is Chauncey Billups? Well, I am glad you asked (whether you know who he is or not), because I got the facts to inform you. Oh, so many facts!

Chauncey Billups was a point guard who played for the University of Colorado Buffaloes from 1995 to 1997. His freshman year featured an Big 8 All-Freshman Team and All-Big 8 Conference Second Team. The Buffs moved to the Big 12 Conference during Billups’ sophomore season and featured Billups named to the All-Big 12 Conference first team selection his sophomore year and an NCAA Tournament appearance. That appearance also featured the first Tournament victory for Colorado since 1969 when the Buffaloes defeated the Indiana Hoosiers before losing to eventual Final Four participant North Carolina in the following round. At the conclusion of the 1996-97 season, Billups decided to forgo his final two years of college eligibility and declared for the 1997 NBA Draft (aka the Tim Duncan Draft). After Duncan went #1 to the San Antonio Spurs and Keith Van Horn was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers, Billups was chosen with the third pick by the Boston Celtics.

The start of his NBA career with the Boston Celtics did not go the way Chauncey would have wanted, as the Celtics staff frequently had difficulty determining whether Billups was better suited as a point guard or a shooting guard. Billups ended up not being used efficiently, and he got traded 51 games into the 1997-98 season to the Toronto Raptors. His Raptors stint lasted a whopping total of 29 games. The following two seasons saw Chauncey return to the state of Colorado and play for the Denver Nuggets, before he was traded again to the Orlando Magic. Not many people remember his Magic days because he never played a game for the Magic due to injury. Billups’ luck began to change a bit when he joined the Minnesota Timberwolves and was mentored by point guard Terrell Brandon. Brandon’s tutelage paid off in 2001-02 as Billups filled in when Brandon went down due to a knee injury. His performance in the playoffs, where Billups averaged 22 points per game loss to the Dallas Mavericks, proved that he had the talent to succeed in the NBA. Billups became a free agent that summer and made the move that cemented his legacy: he signed a six- year, $35 million contract with the Detroit Pistons.

Chauncey Billups playing against the Wizards (Source: Wikimedia Commons and Keith Allison)

Now, in case you checked out the “About Us” tab in the upper right hand corner of this site, you might have noticed that page describe me as a “geographically disloyal Pistons fan.” The reason behind that is the arrival of Chauncey Billups to Detroit. However, he is not the only reason why I chose the Pistons to be my NBA team. It is more due to the entire 2003-04 Detroit Pistons squad. I truly believe that that group of players is the greatest constructed roster of all time. I know it sounds like an outlandish statement, as you might be saying; “whoa, whoa, whoa! What about all the other teams in NBA history? Russell’s Celtics, Chamberlain’s Lakers, Bird’s Celtics, the Showtime Lakers, Jordan’s Bulls, and Duncan’s Spurs. What about them?” That thought might be going through your head right now, but let me explain why I believe that I’m right. All of those aforementioned teams had at least two or more superstars on the rosters. Whether through the Draft, free agency, or trades, they got star talent. The entire notion of the NBA is that teams have to have more than one superstar on their team to win the  Championship. I only found one team that won the whole thing with having one bonafide star – 1974-75 Golden State Warriors, led by Hall of Famer Rick Barry. While that team only had one star, the 2003-04 Detroit Pistons were devoid of any.

Alongside Billups, there was Richard Hamilton, a former Connecticut Husky who was acquired from the Washington Wizards the previous season. Hamilton had experience playing high octane basketball, due to his role in guiding UConn to their first men’s basketball championship and playing alongside Michael Jordan in Washington. There was Tayshaun Prince, the lanky small forward that had a freakish wingspan and made an impression in the 2003 playoffs. Manning the middle was Ben Wallace, an undrafted player out of Division II Virginia Union. Wallace, like Hamilton, started his career in Washington before spending a year with Orlando. Wallace’s minutes immediately went up upon arriving in Detroit and so did his blocks, averaging more than two blocks a game every season he was a Piston. However, the X-factor was Rasheed Wallace, who was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks in the middle of the season. Rasheed was best known as the guy who always was yelling on the court and receiving technical fouls as a result of said out bursts. Despite that, he was extremely efficient with the Portland Trail Blazers before they traded him to the Hawks, where he played a grand total of one game. Atlanta then flipped Rasheed to the Pistons and he became the final cog in the machine.

The bench players are not as celebrated these days as the starting five, but they each contributed to the Pistons, one way or another. Lindsey Hunter was Billups’ main backup while Mike James, the other player acquired alongside Rasheed, was a reserve. The small forward backups featured former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Corliss Williamson and journeyman Darvin Ham. Rasheed’s backup was Mehmut Okur, the Pistons’ second round draft pick from the legendary 2003 NBA Draft Class. Okur had the best career of all the backups on the squad, mostly playing for the Utah Jazz. Ben Wallace’s backups have the most intriguing stories, starting with Elden Campbell. Campbell was drafted waaaaay back in 1990 by the Los Angeles Lakers and played for 13 seasons before arriving in Detroit. Campbell was notable for his defensive capabilities (whichI will touch on late)r. Finally, there was Darko Miličić, the most infamous player of the bunch. Darko was selected #2 overall in that 2003 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, he was selected before stars Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade. Needless to say, it was not a wise decision to select Darko. It still stings. Really badly.

Anyway, that was the starting five and bench players, but who would lead this group of outcasts? Well, none other than legendary head coach Larry Brown. Brown took the reins from the fired Rick Carlisle and led this team to a 54-28 record, good for third in the Eastern Conference. After dealing with the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, the Pistons faced their old foes in the New Jersey Nets. New Jersey swept the Pistons the previous season en route to the Nets’ second straight NBA Finals appearance. Billups was the leader of the team and earned the nickname “Mr. Big Shot” due to his clutch shooting late in games. Game 5 in Detroit featured one of the biggest moments of Billups’ Pistons career, as he hit a half-court shot to beat the buzzer and force overtime. That proved little, as the Nets prevailed in triple overtime 127-120. That game was also notable for one other reason – that was the only game in the Pistons’ run that their opponent scored in the triple digits. The Pistons ended up prevailing and took down the Carlisle-led Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals for a berth in the 2004 NBA Finals, where the Lakers awaited.

The NBA Champs of 2003-04 (Source: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Remember the whole notion regarding superstars? The 2003-04 Lakers were the definition of a superstar-laden roster. The triumvirate of Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Derek Fisher helped propel the Lakers into the Finals. Also, the Lakers pulled Gary Payton and Karl Malone, two Hall of Famers who had yet to win an NBA championship (thanks to the efforts of Michael Jordan’s Bulls in the 1990s). Many thought that the Lakers had this series in the bag, but Billups and company proved that defense truly wins championships. Bryant and O’Neal were stifled by the Piston defense and Billups averaged 21 points and 5.2 assists during the series. The Pistons stunned the Lakers and won the Finals four games to one, with Billups winning the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award. The 2003-04 Pistons broke the rules and won an NBA championship without a bonafide star on their roster. It was just a bunch of players who had their roles and did them to the best of their abilities.

The next few years featured success, but did not have the same level of satisfaction that the championship year had. There was the return to the NBA Finals in 2005, but Detroit lost to San Antonio in seven grueling games. In 2006, they saw the Miami Heat exact revenge on Detroit in the Eastern Conference Finals, en route to Miami’s first championship in team history. Then, the two most stinging seasons occurred, first in the 2007 season, which ended in the Conference Finals again. This time, against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The moment where I knew it was over was Game 5, which featured James scoring Cleveland’s final 25 points and Detroit looking helpless against him. The year 2008 signaled the end of the road, again concluding in the Conference Finals. This time, it was against the Big Three of the Celtics. Longtime Celtic Paul Pierce got the help he needed in Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen and won the title, beating Detroit along the way. Then came the moment that signified the end of the Detroit “dynasty.”

November 3, 2008 was an ordinary day and I remember what I was doing when the news broke that Chauncey Billups got traded to the Denver Nuggets, along with Antonio McDyess and Chiekh Samb, in exchange for Allen Iverson. I was in high school, in a computer class when I decided the surf the net before we began the lesson. I went onto SportingNews.com and saw the headline that said Billups was traded. I felt sad, because I knew that the Pistons would not achieve the same success again with Iverson. The feeling of sadness and disappointment was made even worse when Iverson chose to wear #1, which was the number Billups wore throughout his tenure with Detroit. It felt like a slap in the face and I just did not feel comfortable with someone else wearing #1, especially the guy they just acquired in exchange for Billups. Iverson’s Detroit tenure went the way I anticipated – terrible. Billups, meanwhile helped guide the Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1985. That was also Billups’ seventh straight Conference Finals appearance, which made him the first player not on the Showtime Lakers or the Russell Celtics to do so.

That was the last time Billups would smell the Conference Finals, as he and the Nuggets were eliminated in the first round in 2010. Next, Billups experienced a kick in the gut as he was part of the Carmelo Anthony trade to the New York Knicks. Billups had said he wanted to retire a Nugget, but was a pawn in Carmelo’s game in forcing his way to New York. After his New York half season, Billups spent two years with the Los Angeles Clippers, becoming a mentor to Chris Paul. This went full circle, considering Billups was the one back in the day that was mentored and now he could do the same for Paul. Detroit signed Billups to a two-year deal in the 2013 off-season, five years after the trade that sent him away. I was ecstatic to see Chauncey return to Detroit and my excitement intensified when Andre Drummond, the up-and-coming big man who wore #1 since he was drafted by Detroit, gave the number back to Billups. It felt right seeing him wearing the #1 again, but this was not the same Chauncey Billups. He played a meager 19 games and had the worst season of his career. Finally, this Tuesday saw Chauncey Billups make the decision to retire.

I am forever grateful for Chauncey Billups, for he got me interested in the sport of basketball. He made the Detroit Pistons fun to watch and, upon seeing them play and examining how smoothly they made the game look, I was hooked. I still root for the Pistons and will not look back and it is all because of him. Is Chauncey Billups a Hall of Fame-caliber player? Honestly, I do not think so, but he made his mark in the NBA. For that, I will forever be thankful.

Racism in the NBA: Round 2

Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson (Source: NY Post and Dave Tulis/AP)

In the immortal words of Yogi Berra, is it “Deja vu all over again?”  Are we really about to talk about another NBA owner entangled in a racism controversy? Months ago, the talk throughout the country was the racist remarks from noted curmudgeon (and probably founding member of the I hate Magic Johnson club) Donald Sterling, who at the time was the owner of the LA Clippers. This time, there is not as much fanfare or outcry over the recently surfaced remarks of Atlanta Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson (probably because of someone called Ray Rice who has grabbed all the headlines). Just in case you missed the story, Adrian Wojnarowski explains the situation very well. To recap quickly; Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson self-reported an email he sent in 2012 to the NBA league offices. The email, which I talk about more later, was loaded with racially insensitive remarks about African Americans coming to Atlanta Hawks’ home games. A main reason that Levenson self-reported his email was after another member of the ownership group launched his own internal investigation into how the Hawks were being run, in regards to race. The reason one of the other owners launched the investigation was after Hawks GM Danny Ferry said, in regards to free-agent Luol Deng, that “he’s a good guy overall. But he’s not perfect. He’s got some African in him. And I don’t say that in a bad way.” Okay, that last part is a little bit funny. Apparently according to Ferry, Deng is the good kind of African, whatever the hell that means. Anyway, Ferry said this on a conference call with other Hawks executive, and that’s what started the ball rolling on this entire odd ordeal.

So now Bruce Levenson has agreed to sell his share in the Hawks. Ironic that a man, who was a vocal opponent of Donald Sterling during that fiasco this summer, is now stepping down because of his own racial insensitivity. It’s starting to seem like a prerequisite for owning an NBA team is intolerance and narrow-mindedness. It’s also ironic that a sport that is dominated by minorities has so many racially insensitive owners. A 2013 report estimates that “African-Americans compromised 76.3 percent of all NBA players” and “African-American head coaches represented 43.3 percent of NBA coaches” The NBA is largely built upon the work and labor of minorities, and these men seem to have a problem with them.  On the surface, it seems easy to put Sterling and Levenson in the same grouping of racially tone-deaf NBA owners, as both men reek of bigotry. But their bigotry seems to be a bit different. Their hatred seems pretty simple to comprehend: they both view minorities (particularly blacks) as second-class citizens.

Former Clippers owner Donald Sterling (Source: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports)

I will not delve too deeply into the Donald Sterling situation, as it has been written about extensively over the last five months. Sterling’s racism stems from him seemingly being uncomfortable around the general presence of minority intermingling: “it bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people.” He goes one further to say “you can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that … and not to bring them to my games.” Seems like a reasonable request: hang out with black people, but don’t do it anywhere anyone could possibly have a chance of seeing it. Sterling must have been a fan of the days when restrooms and drinking fountains were segregated. Sterling’s racism seems pretty simple; just an old man with some antiquated thoughts about society.

Levenson’s racism, however, is not as clear cut. While he also seems to look at blacks as second-class citizens, his motives are mainly economic. He doesn’t have a problem with black people, just the poor ones: “My theory is that the black crowd scared away the whites and there are simply not enough affluent black fans to build a signficant season ticket base.” Levenson would seem to be fine with his arena “70 percent black”, as he estimated the crowds to be, if there were wealthy blacks in the crowd. His problem is that the fans going were lower income fans, fans that didn’t buy a lot of merchandise or concessions, and that angered him. In his defense (okay not really, but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt here), he bases his “whites being afraid of blacks” theory after reading comments of fans complaining on blog posts and fan sites. And because of this, he doesn’t like black fans being promoted and publicized inside the arena. I mean he even complains about the kiss cam. The freaking kiss cam? Really? Now, that is some high-quality nitpicking.

As I have previously mentioned, Levenson’s intentions seem to be mainly economic. Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, in an op-ed to Time magazine, agrees with this sentiment: “Levenson is a businessman asking reasonable questions about how to put customers in seats . . . He wasn’t valuing white fans over blacks; he was trying to figure out a way to change what he thought was the white perception in Atlanta so he could sell more tickets.” I agree with Abdul-Jabbar in this sentiment. If the Atlanta Hawks were having sellouts, and the fan-base was 70% black, he wouldn’t care at all. The whole point of his email rant was trying to increase ticket sales, which he linked to increasing the attendance of white males to regular season games. He is targeting a coveted demographic, similar to how ad agencies target their messages for specific viewers. He thinks the best way to increase white attendance, is to in turn decrease the black over-representation throughout all facets of the stadium, even on the kiss cam.

NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Source: Wikimedia Commons and US Dept. of State)

What I think Abdul-Jabbar misses is the overall main problem that is raised from Levenson’s tone-deaf email. Levenson is speaking to a much larger issue, one that has been brought back into the spotlight following the situation in Ferguson, Missouri. The issue is structural racism. Minorities feel that they are second class citizens, and reading into the comments of Mr. Levenson and Mr. Sterling, they think blacks are second-class citizens. It’s this distinction that leads to the reluctance of having the two groups intermingle with each other. Levenson is worried that more whites, especially white men, don’t come to the games because they do not like feeling like they are in the minority at the arena. It’s a sort of southern mindset that makes them more reluctant to go to Atlanta Hawks games; because of this, Levenson is trying to appease, instead of trying to go against this societal, overt racism. Levenson doesn’t view the problem as the societal structure that leads the whites to feel uncomfortable with large numbers of blacks, no, the problem is the blacks. The blacks are the ones, doing nothing on their part, that make the whites feel uncomfortable, and thus Levenson wants to target them. Levenson’s approach is to not attack the bigger issue here, but rather just skim off the low-hanging fruit. It would be much more difficult for Levenson to try to promote racial diversity and incorporation. It is much easier to just target blacks, and try to find ways to dissuade them from coming to the game. Levenson sees the bigger societal issue, and instead of trying to address it, he goes along with the racially biased status quo.

In Levenson’s apology letter, he notes that “we all may have subtle biases and preconceptions when it comes to race, but my role as a leader is to challenge them, not to validate or accommodate those who might hold them.” Very good point Mr. Levenson, but that still doesn’t make you right that you are trying to exploit these biases for your own economical gain. Subtle racism and biases are still as fucked up as overt racism, and you’re still in the wrong over the email. I given you credit for acknowledging that you should be a proponent of change and a champion for what is right, but when it boils down to it, economic profits tend to always outweigh everything else. And let’s be honest, if this was 20 years ago, and instead of an email, you sent a letter or had a face-to-face conversation with the management of the Hawks, you would admit to nothing and still hold your ownership.

Give him credit for this, he knows he’s at least somewhat in the wrong, and is proactively selling his shares, as opposed to what Donald Sterling did, which was claw and fight his way to the bitter end. Levenson will get paid handsomely for his shares, and he gets to go on his merry way, while the bigger societal problem is still ever present. Remember, Steve Ballmer just bought the Clippers from Sterling for $2 billion dollars, so Levenson is in for his own windfall.  I don’t believe Levenson is a bad guy (whereas Donald Sterling just seems like an ass). He’s just one of what unfortunately is a large number of individuals that share prejudicial thoughts. He isn’t the first, but I can guarantee you he won’t be the last. New York Times columnist William Rhoden put it perfectly in his article on the subject: “the deeply rooted problem of racism will persist and again rear its ugly head somewhere down the line.”  I wish I could say that this is the end of a sad chapter of horrid race relations in America. I wish.

The Future of the U.S. National Team

Paul George being carried off the court after his injury during a Team USA scrimmage on August 1; courtesy of rollingout.com

By now, everyone should  have heard the news regarding the Indiana Pacers’ Paul George. George, one of the brightest young talents in the NBA today, was a shoe-in to make the national team—until his participation in an intra-squad scrimmage on August 1. George went to contest a layup by Houston Rocket James Harden, but came down awkwardly and suffered a devastating leg injury. He suffered an open tibia-fibula fracture and is now expected to miss the entire 2014-15 NBA season. This injury now has the entire NBA thrown into a loop as now the safety of the superstars of the league is immediately thrown into the public eye.

The most vocal owner on this matter is (surprise, surprise) Mark Cuban of the Dallas Mavericks. He has attacked the International Olympic Committee for focusing more on the financial aspects of international competition instead of the national pride that the athletes should be feeling when representing their respective countries. Cuban also pointed out that players typically decline the offer to play in the Olympics out of the fear that an injury could hamper their NBA careers. Now, due to George getting injured, the fear of injury during international play has become a horrific reality for NBA players. The key difference between other players and George in Cuban’s hypothetical is the latter’s financial stability. While Cuban states that players close to free agency say no to the idea of playing in international play, George already signed a long-term extension with Indiana last year and is currently has the 16^th highest salary of all NBA players going into 2014-15.

The bigger issue that arises from this injury is one that many people are thinking about. Should the United States stop being represented by NBA talent and instead have college athletes take their place? Now, that could be a very risky decision in the competitive department and, as shocking as this is to say, but the United States could actually suffer a loss here or there. While some do not like this idea, I actually would be open to seeing something like this occur. Now, while I did enjoy the United States teams in the past two Olympics winning gold medals—as any normal American should—seeing constant beating after beating of the opposition got to be slightly… well, boring after a while. It is nice to a slaughter every once in a while, sure, but having it happen every single time the USA takes the court? Not my cup of tea.

One of the best benefits of all with regards to college athletes representing the USA rather than NBA talent would be the potential of causing “super teams” to stop forming. For the uninitiated, the 2010 off-season was highly publicized with a multitude of NBA superstars available on the free agent market, the cream of the crop being LeBron James. As history told us, he decided to “take his talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat.” The prospect of James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, all selected within the top five selections of the fabled 2003 NBA Draft, seemed like a breakthrough and, naturally, everyone in America hated the Miami Heat with an intense passion. However, that idea stemmed from one crucial point in time: the 2008 Redeem Team, which flattened nearly every opponent in their path en route to the gold medal in men’s basketball. The Heat Big Three were members of that team and all three have stated that playing together in the Olympics helped fuel the concept of playing together in the first place. People hate the idea of superstars leaving their teams to play together somewhere else, so having college athletes take their place could end this concept once and for all.

College athletes could use international play as a means of strengthening their game more than any non-conference schedule could ever give. Playing Duke, Kansas, and Kentucky in the same season is one thing, but going up against some of the best basketball players in the world, most of them older and more experienced than any collegian, would do wonders for any participant. It would make every win feel that much more important and every loss would not come as a complete and utter shocker. Maybe having one or two NBA players on the roster to be a mentor to the collegians would work too, but having the entire roster laden with NBA talent and only one college athlete would hinder the experience. Sure, Christian Laettner was a member of the 1992 Dream Team, but did the knowledge that Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan gave to him really improve his game a ton? Seeing as how he is always remembered for his career as a Duke Blue Devil rather than as an NBA player should answer that question.

Basketball, and sports as a whole, is a risky endeavor where one bad slip could result in the end of your playing career in the blink of an eye. Paul George suffered a freak injury and may never be the same player ever again. However, he should not view this as the worst thing to ever happen. Everyone has been comparing this injury to the likes of former Louisville Cardinal Kevin Ware, who suffered a compound fracture in his leg during the NCAA Tournament. I like to compare George to current Golden State Warrior Shaun Livingston. Livingston, then with the Los Angeles Clippers, landing awkwardly after a layup and his left leg snapped. He ended with a torn ACL, torn PCL, torn lateral meniscus, sprained MCL, dislocated patella, and dislocated tibia-fibular joint. His leg was so badly injured, doctors told Livingston that the leg might have had to be amputated. Luckily, Livingston made it back to the league and most recently played for the Brooklyn Nets, where he put together arguably his best season as a professional.

The road to recovery is going to be a long one for Paul George, but it is not an impossible situation that he is currently in.  Time will tell if George can regain the ability that made him one of the brightest young guns in the NBA today.