The Luck Of The Irish

            The Celtics this season, as similar to last season when they tried to defend their title, have been hit by a rash of injuries.  Except this time the injury bug knows no age limitations.  Hitting the usual suspects (the elders) although Ray Allen hasn't missed a game yet this season; also joining the party this year is Rondo and new addition Marquis Daniels.  As bad as this look on the forefront, this is a blessing in disguise.

            First, this gives much needed rest to the older joints of the elder three.  Enabling them to be fresher for the playoffs where their presences is more important.  Truthfully this is something Doc Rivers should be doing even before injuries occured.  Resting the Elder three at different times during the season.  A classic example of this would be mastermind coach Greg Poppavich's  approach.  Knowing how many games his stars have logged over the years and being in their 30's (Duncan, Ginobli), he sporadically throughout the season sits them out.  This allows for a fresher Duncan or Ginobli, which is part of the reason they are able to log more minutes and put up bigger numbers in the playoffs, even the young Tony Parker sit out a couple games also.  So while luckily the injuries sustained by Celtics were for the most part minor injuries, Doc Rivers needs to change his flawed ways and rest his stars from time to time especially KG because we know big men wear out faster in the NBA.

            Another blessing from the injuries has been the development of the Celtic bench which had significant additions and subtractions in the offseason.  They lost a critical part of their bench in Leon Powe who was instant offense and energy off the bench but they got Rasheed Wallace as a replacement, which I would say is definitely an upgrade.  However, Rasheed in the Celtics system is just a spot-up 3pt shooter but with KG out especially or one of the other Elder three this allows Rasheed to get into the post where he has always been and still is unstoppable.  Basically, when one of the Elder Three sits out it allows Boston to hone and sharpen their bench for the playoffs where they will be facing quite a few deep teams in the East (Orlando, Atlanta, Toronto just to name a few).

            Hopefully the Celtics capitalize on the lesson they were forced to learn and take advantage of their depth and rest the Elder Three.   So the chances for everyone to be healthy and clicking increase dramatically.

Guru

I Pledge My Allegiance

     With Free Agency 2010 approaching with each passing minute, and my Miami Heat mired in mediocrity, I can’t help but ask something that no Miami fan wants to admit to themselves.  Could Dwyane Wade actually leave the Heat?(Shudder)  Beyond that, I’m wondering what happens in the event of D-Wade’s departure.  Not to the Heat, but to me. 

     I’m a Miami Heat fan but and a Wade fan.  I’ve been a Heat fan since 2003, Wade’s rookie season.  Like Mya said in Best of Me “Should I stay?  Should I go? I don’t know.”  If the Heat and Wade divorce, then I’d be a child of that marriage forced to choose which parent to stay with.  In leaving, Wade would strip Miami of its identity.  I don’t care what anyone says, since hitting that game winning shot over Baron Davis in Game 1 of the 2004 first round playoff series against the Hornets, the Heat has been Wade’s team.  Even during the Shaq years, Wade never relinquished his ownership.  Wade brought the Heat our only championship in heroic and dominating fashion.  Time and time again Wade has taken over in games and closed them out while making the declaration that “This Is My House.”  So what happens when the owner decides to sell and move on?

     Does it make me less of a fan if I make that move along with Wade?  Within reason of course.  I draw the line with the Lakers.  I don’t care if Wade moves to LA and averages a triple double while winning six championship rings, I cannot and will not root for the Los Angeles Lakers.  Apart from the Lakers, pretty much any other team is fair game.  Actually almost any team, while it is the Lakers that I despise, I have aversions towards the Bulls, and I wouldn’t be too happy about a Cleveland marriage(no way that happens though, thank God for small miracles). 

     Some might say that I was never truly a Heat fan if Wade’s departure causes me to jump ship.  I say that’s bull****, I stuck with the Heat through a 15-67 season and the pain I feel after every Heat loss is plenty real.  By no means am I a front runner, but if I change teams I would have to deal with the questions and the accusations.  Plus I’m getting a little too old to start a new relationship. 

     Someone needs to set the protocols and parameters by which one can change teams.  I propose that the NBA create a Diehard Fan Department(DFD).  One of the DFD’s tasks would be to handle change of team claims.  The DFD would receive my claim, hear my reasons, and decide on where my allegiance should go.  Alas the DFD had yet to be formed, leaving me, if the situation arises, to handle this matter on my own.

     Peradventure a divorce does occur, do I root for Wade most of the time and the Heat every other weekend?  That’s the predicament I would find myself in the event of a divorce.  Do I pledge my allegiance to Dwyane Wade, in my mind the embodiment of all that is the Heat, or a Miami team that would then be without an identity?  I really don’t want to choose.  Actually there is always option C.  Go THUNDER!!!

Tega

MVP Talks: The MVP Debate or Non-debate

            This season unlike the last few seasons doesn't seem to have any who just stands out as the leaders.  It seems that its the other way around where those normally in MVP talks have taken themselves out.  Take for example last year's reigning MVP LeBron James; while his numbers have been consistent and MVP-caliber, his Cavs are playing very rocky basketball.  Looking like title contenders at times and like playoff contenders at other times.

            Steve Nash, whose Suns started the season on a tear with a 14-3 record but have since cooled off considerably to a 18-11 record, was definitely leading MVP talks but has fallen out since the Suns struggles.  Whether the Suns are really as good as they played in the beginning of the season or were simply playing out of their minds, remains to be seen.  Nash's numbers have been good throughout, but, if the Suns don’t recapture their ball of fire then Nash wouldn’t even qualify.

            Another leader of MVP talks is NBA leading scorer Carmelo Anthony who already has 17 games of 30 plus in addition to posting solid numbers in rebounds and assists.  But his demise came when Billups got a groin injury.  With Billups out of the lineup and in addition to the one game he came back and played only twenty minutes the Nuggets posted a 3-6 record.  With Billups out Melo improved upon his scoring and other numbers but his team posted a losing record.  This leads one to question how Melo can be MVP without being the MVP of his own team.  This

            Now this leaves Kobe Bryant, his numbers have definitely been MVP-caliber like the others.  But what separates him from the rest is the fact that when the Lakers started the first 19 games without Gasol he led the Lakers to a 16-3 record.  He picked up his numbers all around especially in points and became a monster in the post, leading the league in points in the paint at 14 pts per game.  And since Gasol has come back the Lakers for the most part have been rolling.

So here is my the MVP ranking mid-way through the season.

1. Kobe Bryant
2. LeBron James
3. Steve Nash
4. Carmelo Anthony
5. Joe Johnson

Guru

How The Knicks Can Take-Off

            The Houston Rockets have a problem (or appear to have a problem) that the Knicks could solve.  As weird as this may sound it seems as if Tracy McGrady is the Rockets' problem.   (See Houston; We Have A Problem).  And the Knicks can and should gladly take this problem off the Rockets' hands.  (You know the saying "one man's trash is another man treasure")

            The Knicks have the young players and expiring contracts to offer for Tracy.  I know alot of people are thinking why should the Knicks get Tracy.  Well first and foremost what do the Knicks have to lose; they're near the bottom of the Eastern Conference in terms of wins and everyday their Lebron 2010 bonanza looks less and less likely.  Now if the Knicks take a risk and trade for Tracy they not only inherit an all-star player, who if he can get back to his level would easily lead the Knicks back into relevancy and the playoffs.

            And here is the spoiler, if Tracy actually returns to form then the Knicks would be able to draw a 2010 top tier free agent to play alongside Tracy and still be able to retain Tracy with Bird rights (a team can re-sign its own free agent even if pushing itself into or further into luxury tax).  Now the Knicks would be in luxury tax, but with great cause.  Now let’s say the Tracy experiment doesn't work out; the Knicks would be in a better position financially to possible sign two top tier free agents or one top tier and one second tier.  So either way it would be a win-win for the Knicks.

            The trade that would make this happen would probably involve the Knicks giving up some of their young talent, but the cost is well worth the potential outcome.  One such possible trade would involve the Knicks giving up Cuttino Mobley's $9.5 million expiring contract (insurance paid also) with Wilson Chandler ($1.2 million) and Larry Hughes's $13.6 million contract for Tracy and Joey Dorsey.  This trade would benefit both because the Rockets would get a player in Chandler would could easily fit into their system, possibly become an understudy of Shane Battier defensively and get an extra defender off the bench in Hughes that could also provide a scoring boost to the bench.  Moving Tracy without affecting the current team they have now. 

            Meanwhile, the Knicks get the scorer they desperately need that could possibly get them to the playoffs and the draw they need to get a top tier free agent to sign on in 2010.  I also included Joey Dorsey for the Knicks because first it would be the tough defensive minded player who the Knicks can use in the middle and slide David Lee to his natural position at the 4 when he is in the game.  Plus the Rockets have such a glut of bigs that Dorsey was sent to the D-League so Houston wouldn't have a problem parting with Dorsey.  In addition, his $880,000 would barely affect the numbers of the trade.

            I read a while back on TrueHoop that the Knicks are actually in full pursuit of Tracy McGrady, however their insistence on including Jared Jeffries in the trade is killing the deal.  The Knicks need to realize that they have an opportunity to have what could potentially turn out to be one of the top tier free agents of 2010; and they would be in prime position to sign two max contracts regardless of their cap.  And even give Tracy a less than a max deal and still have a max-type production. 

            Now picture Tracy back at 80% to 90% ( which is still 25 pt, 5ast, 5rbs) with a top tier free agent like a Lebron, Dwayne Wade or Chris Bosh.  It’s a pretty good picture no matter how you look at it.  The best thing about it is Tracy has shown that he can play second fiddle and still be productive as in Toronto (with Vince Carter) and in Houston (with Yao Ming).  He has a passe game that can easily allow for someone (who is better) to step in. 

            The Knicks better make this trade quickly before another team like Portland (who is very desperate for players), or Miami trade for him.  Or even worse the Rockets might buy out Tracy and if Tracy chooses who to sign with I don't think the Knicks would be on top of his list at this point in his career.  So, the wise move would be to get Tracy. 

Guru

Knicks Plagued By Bad Decision-Making

             I don't know if you remember about two years ago when the Knicks hired Donnie Walsh, who in turn hired Mike D'Antoni.  Many people viewed this as the point of turnaround for the Knicks, where everything started to change for the better.  However, the beginning of this tandem lead to probably some of the worst basketball or financal decisions that the Knicks could make. 

            There are three critical errors that this decision-making tandem made that has led the Knicks down the wrong path in their rebuilding process.  First, how D'Antoni and Walsh chose to handle Stephon Marbury.  The summer of D'Antoni's signing all the players were getting themselves in condition to play in the up-tempo system and that included Marbury too.  As a matter a fact, he came back fit and in shape and played excelllent basketball in the preseason showing great promise of what was to come during the season.  Also, this being his second go-around with D'Antoni he appeared determined to excel and flourish within the system.  However, after a beautiful preseason and a summer of hard work and dedication; the tag team decided that Marbury wouldn't start nor would he play.  Now from a basketball personnel prospective this makes no sense.  Marbury had shown his effectiveness in the system throughout the preseason when given playing time.  Beyond that the player the Knicks had in the pipeline, Chris Duhon, definitely did not make the decision seem any wiser.  Marbury definitely would've made the Knicks more competetive that year.  And they even took it a step further by banishing Marbury from the organization further alienating him.  Now beyond basketball lets take a look at the financials behind the Marbury decision.  At the time Marbury had a contract worth $21 million, which was an expiring contract.  If the Knicks' tag team were wise they would taken advantage of Marbury's new found enthusiam and commitment and showcased him with the intentions of trading him for either young talent, veteran talent or for a contract set to expire this (2010) summer.  They would been in a much better position whether in terms of young talent (that would been in development during this and last season) or possessed the star player(s) (still not too late see How The Knicks Could Blast-Off) to draw a top tier free agent or finally had enough money coming off their cap to sign almost three max contracts.

            The second mistake the tag team made was their draft choice in 2008.  Danilo Gallinari is coming around this season after spending most of last season shelved because of injuries.  However, one has to wonder whether Gallinari was chosen because of his ties with D'Antoni then him being the best player available.  The Knicks passed on Brook Lopez who is solid big man, Eric Gordon a very good shooting guard and even DJ Augustin, an undersized point guard with exceptional shooting skill.  Gallinari is a good player but seems to be too one dimensional, to the point where even offensively he is only a 3pt shooter and seemingly lacks any other skill.  His defense is non-existent (as is with most of the Knicks).  If the Knicks had chosen a big man where they really had a need because of Eddy Curry’s current limitations.  There were plenty of bigs on the board such as Brook Lopez and Roy Hibbert who now would've solidified the middle for the Knicks.  Or they could addressed backcourt needs in picking Eric Gordon or Augustin and had better shooting in the backcourt, especially at the point guard position.

            As if making the mistake in the 2008 NBA Draft wasn't enough they followed it with a sequel drafting Jordan Hill with the #8 pick in the draft.  I am not saying the Knicks should've known that Brandon Jennings was as capable as he's shown but with their familiarity with the European game they should've been able to see some of these things.  Also with the Knicks current point guard situation (or better said lack of point guard), how high is the risk drafting a quick point guard with penetrating and passing ability, even if he can't shoot.  His ability to penetrate and pass would allow him to flourish in a pick roll offense predicated on setting up the 3pt shot and transition offense.  This is all based on the scouting report, not hindsight.

             So as bad as Isaiah left the Knicks, especially in regards to the contracts he handed out, there was still wiggle room to turn it around but the tag team didn't capitalize on opportunities presented, putting the Knicks in a more volatile position this season.


Guru

The Sad Truth

            For Christmas my girlfriend gave me tickets to the February 10 Hawks vs. Heat game in Atlanta.  Its cliché, but words can’t express the joy I felt upon receiving those tickets.  And the seats…the seats, courtside!  I literally broke out into my very own happy dance.  If my brother had had his camera, no doubt I would be a youtube sensation(more likely, obscure youtube fool).  Needless to say, I’ve got to step my game up for Valentine’s Day when it comes to the gift giving.  However, that’s not what this article is about. What you’re reading is focused on the upcoming game itself and what just became clear to me, it’s sad but predictable result.

            It hasn’t been easy being a Heat fan this season.  Halfway through the NBA season Miami has experienced its highs and lows, unfortunately, recently it’s been more of the latter.  Last night I had the misfortune of tuning into the 39 pt drubbing put on the Heat by the Bobcats.  After watching Nazr Mohammed give Jermaine O’Neal WORK, and concluding that Dorell Wright was the best Heat player on the floor last night I had an epiphany.  My epiphany was that come February 10 my beloved Heat are going to get wrecked(my initial thought was a bit more graphic in nature, but I decided to clean it up a bit). 

            Now I’m a diehard Heat fan, really I am, so believe me when I say it hurts me to admit to myself that Miami is most likely going to take a loss to the Hawks in February.  I envy Lakers and Cavs fans for their belief that their team has a very good chance to win every game as long as they play well or in more cases just playing decently usually suffices.  Not so for the Heat.  When the Heat play a contender, I have to hope not only for my team to play well but also for the opposing team to play down to the competition.  It’s sad, but true. 

            If anyone would have received this memo, you would think it would be the Heat players themselves.  But after the kind of game they had yesterday it doesn’t look like that point has sank home.  Miami is a mediocre team.  Miami’s offense is not only limited but it’s predictable.  Predictably bad.  They have 2.5 offensive weapons, Dwyane Wade, Micheal Beasley, and O’Neal.  Wait, have you seen O’Neal this season?  I take it back, Miami has two offensive weapons.  Wade, when not being double or triple-teamed has to face a congested paint.  Beasley, as any true Heat fan will tell you, is totally underutilized.  His touches are limited and when he does get the ball you can see that he’s over thinking things, worrying about making a mistake and getting taken out of the game.  If Pat Riley doesn’t want to have to fire Eric Spoelstra, he better get him an offensive minded assistant-coach sometime before next season.

            Defense was an area that the Heat were supposed to be able to hang their hat on, but even that has been abysmal at times this season.  The Heat’s defensive system is based on solid principles, the problem is with personnel and effort.  The Heat’s limitations crossover to the defensive end also, neither Mario Chalmers or Carlos Arroyo can stay in front of anyone and O’Neal this season has been all talk and no results.  There was no effort in last night’s loss to the Bobcats and that pissed me off more than anything.  After a nightmarish first quarter, the team waved a white flag and rolled over for the Charlotte.  I can accept the Heat not having much in the way of talent, but there is no excuse for their lack of effort. 

            Barring a major trade it will be the same Heat personnel from last night that face the Hawks in February.  The last time these two teams faced each other the Hawks couldn’t make a shot in the ocean.  I would like to think they have forgotten about that game, but something tells me that they’ll be reminded of it before that game and come out with a vengeance.  I’d like to think the Heat will be ready of that first wave.  I’d like to think that the Heat will play with effort.  I’d like to think that it will be a competitive game that will go down to the wire and end with Dwyane Wade heroics.  I’d like to think that my positive thinking will lead to Heat victory. Sigh.  I just remembered, how much my positive thinking helped in the 07-08 season.  15 wins, ouch.

            Oh well.  Come the night of February 10, I’ll be in Philips Arena sharing my Heat on.  If it just so happens that Jamal Crawford is capping a 15-0 run with another three to put the game away in fourth quarter.  I’ll console myself with these two facts, I got to see Dwyane Wade play live and we’ll be much better next year.  I know, I know, to have conceded defeat before battle is sad.  All I can do now though is accept the sad truth.


Tega