This article is written for the basketball fan who would like some insight on training camps, but most importantly I think it will make current NBA players recognize how good they have it compared to camps years ago.
Every year I attend one, I am amazed at how something I despised as a player has now become so comfortable. You have a conversation with anybody that played until the mid 90’s and they will tell you some horror stories about those 28 days.
“No pain no gain” has always been a favorite quote of a majority of committed athletes. Well, the pain part in reference to an NBA training camp in that era was a combination of mental and physical pain that no one looked forward to. Some guys would purposely delay signing a contract to avoid it.
Today, NBA teams will only go on average through three days of two-a-day practices and one of them is deemed “No contact.” Back then, we virtually went two-a –days for 28 straight days and if you had an old-school coach like Cotton Fitzsimmons, you might get a three-a-day practice.
I know you are thinking, what about exhibition game days? Didn’t matter. Our shootaround practices were taped and lasted two hours.
Today’s NBA players are housed in five-star hotels during camp.
We usually were isolated in dorm rooms with a roommate. Or we stayed at three-star hotels with not so good room service. If you were a rookie, it was extremely tough because you had to wash all the uniforms between practices and provide newspapers and donuts on a consistent basis.
I really do envy today’s players and I applaud them for getting these rules established during collective bargaining. To me, training camp brings memories of the horror movie “28 Days Later”.
I was asked in an interview the other day if I thought the Suns would be tired because of their travel schedule during training camp. I responded, “Are you serious?”
OK, let’s look at it!
The Suns are staying at a five-star resort in San Diego. They will have only three two-a-day practices. They fly charter. And you are asking me that question? What is so tiring about that?
I immediately started re-hashing old experiences in my mind and sweating. It was like going through those nightmarish camps with Cotton Fitzsimmons all over again. Two instances came to mind!
My rookie year in Kansas City was a book in itself. I had-old school veterans like Sam Lacy, Phil Ford, Ernie Grunfeld, Joe C. Meriweather, Leon Douglas and Reggie King. We were into our first week of training camp and already had gone through 13 practices. My legs were like rubber, my quads and hamstrings felt like they were holding on by a string. We traveled to Memphis to play the Utah Jazz on back-to-back games. The shootaround before the games was basically practices and back then we would scrimmage against the team we were playing. The scrimmages were actually more competitive than the games because we were not bonded by rules. Fights were normal and trash talking was out of control. Those game-day scrimmages would last two hours and after five hours of sleep, we were at it again later that night. We happened to play extremely poorly that night and the next. This leads to the most tortuous day of basketball I have ever experienced in my life.
After the second game, for some reason, a few of our veterans decided to break curfew. And boy, did we pay a price none of us will ever forget. Cotton was so livid we had three taped practices the next day.
The first practice lasted two hours. The middle practice was actually another scrimmage against Utah and not surprisingly they kicked our behinds again. The last practice consisted of a mile run for time and about 30 suicides. Players were falling like flies. After it was over, you could not help but laugh at how teammates were actually falling to the floor with cramps or just exhausted. Never again did any of us think about breaking a Cotton Fitzsimmons curfew.
Exhibition games meant nothing. Practices were more valuable and players understood that to be the case as well. But my next story gives you more insight into the insane competitive nature of Michael Jordan.
Entering the 1988-89 season, I was a Phoenix Sun with the same coach – Cotton Fitzsimmons. We had a young and up-and-coming team led by Kevin Johnson and Tom Chambers. We happened to be on another two-city tour with the Chicago Bulls. We had gone through a grueling training camp and again my body felt like someone just beat me with a bat for five hours. The first night we embarrassed the Bulls and blew them out. We see Michael and his teammates out at a local club after the game and the obvious trash talking occurs. Both teams have to catch a 6 am commercial flight the next day headed to Louisville for a rematch, but unbeknownst to me Michael had other plans. When both teams checked into the hotel and were having breakfast, Michael suggested we come and play a popular card game amongst athletes called “tonk”.
Tom Chambers, Tyrone Corbin and I entered Jordan’s room around 10:30 am. Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant and Jack Haley are waiting to play cards. At about 3:30 pm I am ready to go get a quick nap, but Jordan refuses to quit. I decide to call Cotton and make up an excuse about why I can’t play that night and he says no problem. At 5:30 pm, we have no choice but to quit because the bus leaves for the game at 6:15 pm. When I stood up after seven hours of playing cards, I could barely walk. Tom Chambers immediately called Cotton and said he couldn’t play. He said OK, but by then Cotton was getting suspicious.
Before we left the room, Jordan looked at us and said, “I am going to give your boy Dan Majerle 40 tonight.” Now understand he was sitting for seven hours just like us and yet he was determined to give Majerle 40 points in an exhibition game. We asked why he was so determined to attack Majerle. He said Dan guarded him when he was playing with a select team against the 1988 Olympic squad and everyone bragged about how Dan shut him down. I was like, “No way you get 25.” That was based on how my legs were feeling at the moment.
Meanwhile, Cotton was extremely suspicious about why all of sudden all three of us were asking for the game off. Well, Jordan gave Majerle 40 that night and I watched in amazement how he was flying around the court and we three were on the bench stiff and fatigued.
On one of his last plays of the night, Jordan caught the ball by our bench with Majerle guarding him. He looked at Cotton and said, “I took your boys’ money today at cards and I am getting ready to take him baseline and dunk on him.”
He did exactly that, Cotton called timeout and asked Dan why he was so mad at him. Majerle was flustered and said, “I didn’t do anything.”
True story!
Also Cotton realized why we three could not play that night and we paid a serious price the next day at practice. A scheduled single practice immediately was changed to a double session and our teammates were not too happy about it.
Training Camp brings back those kinds of memories for me. It is a necessary evil. In order to deal with the 82-game seasons, you have to experience it. I just wish I could experience the training camps of today.
So a message to current players: Don’t complain about how long and tough the current training camps are because players you idolized are saying, “Only if you knew!”
Training camps for the 2009-10 NBA season are about to begin. As we enter a new season, I would like to get the ball rolling with my Top 25 player prediction for this year. I computed last season’s accomplishments along with my thoughts on how they will perform this time. I already know a list like this one will have its disputes, but I assume that’s why we do lists. I must admit that LeBron and Kobe are apples and oranges, but in my opinion one of them is ahead by a millimeter. We have a couple of new players in the ranking and another player that fell out (Manu Ginobili). I did not rank Yao Ming because we don’t know if he will be playing this season, so with him I omitted a player that would be in the Top 10.
This will definitely be a competitive year and I expect this list to change come mid-season…
25. Ray Allen (24)
Ray had a very good year. He struggled at times in the playoffs, but in his defense he is better running off screens than spotting up. He had to stand a lot during the playoffs and he struggled at times because of it. Allen shot 4 percentage points above his career field-goal average last year. He averaged 18 points, shot 40 percent from behind the arc and nailed 92 percent of his free throws. Allen should flourish even more with Kevin Garnett back and the equally unselfish Rasheed Wallace on board.
24. Devin Harris
Speed kills and Harris has it. He jumps in at 24 and should be here to stay. Harris can get to the basket with the best of them and make his free throws at an 82 percent clip. Played only 69 games and shot a dismal 43 percent from the field, but I love his upside and I think he will flourish on a Nets team that will struggle all season. If Harris is not a Top 20 player this season, I will be disappointed.
23. Shaquille O’Neal (18)
Shaq had a great season last year in Phoenix although the Suns failed to advance to the playoffs. He was in tremendous shape and proved he can still flourish when in that condition. It will be interesting to see if he can duplicate it knowing the offense will not run through him like it did last year. I know he has his limitations on defense, but the Cavaliers have excellent perimeter defenders and his job will be much simpler than it was last year. LeBron will get him easy baskets, but the prevailing question is… Can he deal with getting out of King James’ way a majority of the time? That will be an issue on the court and in the locker room.
22. Danny Granger (23)
Granger has an old-school game in a new-school body. Takes what the defense gives him and makes you pay. 25 points per game and 87 from the line will give the Pacers a chance every night. Only played in 67 games last year and still put up crazy numbers. I would like to see his passing and defense improve before he moves into consistent All-Star category, but the Pacers have a player that will remind them of the scoring Reggie Miller left with.
21. Al Jefferson (25)
The best low-post ability in the game, when he is rolling he is virtually unguardable. The injury slowed him up, but it will not affect him because he plays below the rim. I believe he will become a better player because he will need to be more cerebral coming back from a season-ending injury. The Wolves unfortunately will still be bad for the next few years, but if Jefferson continues to grow as a player they will indeed have their cornerstone.
20. Kevin Durant
All I can say is, “League, watch out.” This young man can play and got better at a rapid pace with every game last year. George Gervin reincarnated with crazy range. At 20 years old, he poured in 25 points a game, shot 48 percent and grabbed almost 7 rebounds. He will be an All-Star the rest of his career and will flirt with the All-NBA team at season’s end. The one surprising aspect of his game that also has gotten much better is his defense. He should study film of ex NBA player Derrick McKey because he could become that type of defender before it’s over. The one area he needs to continue to grow in is leadership. He has a tendency to wander into his own world and forget about his teammates. He will move up on this list by mid-season and that’s a guarantee.
19. Steve Nash (22)
I have no idea why Nash has moved up three spots, but I suspect with the way the Suns will play again this year he will be higher come mid-season. For the third straight year he shot 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 90 percent from the free-throw line (a record). All due respect to Ray Allen, but Steve Nash is by far the best shooter in the game and has been for the last six years. Nash also still found time to average 9.7 assists a game. He is the consummate professional and a teammate’s dream because he has no prejudice when he steps on the court. If you get open, you get the ball.
18. Joe Johnson (16)
Johnson, a personal favorite of mine, has probably the best handle for his size next to LeBron and Kobe. I would definitely like to see him improve his low-post game because with his passing ability he would destroy opposing defenses with the shooters he has at his disposal. Numbers tend to go down in the playoffs, which has to concern both Joe and Mike Woodson. He averaged 5 fewer points in the playoffs and if the Hawks are to get to the semifinals again this year, he has to be dynamic in the second season. Six assists a game will go up with the addition of Jamal Crawford and Joe Smith.
17. Chauncey Billups (13)
The Denver Nuggets should have given him a huge bonus, because he made them a ton of extra money that they would not have seen had they stayed put. He automatically settled them down and made them think about Team instead of I. Billups is one of the best leaders in the game and definitely one of its best clutch players. He averaged 20 points in the postseason, but ended with a whimper against the Lakers – which probably had him working out extra hard this offseason. He needs to improve his shooting when they run him off the three-point line. He shot a dismal 41 percent from the field. I expect Billups numbers to continue to go down, thus allowing players like JR Smith to take more of the load along with Carmelo Anthony.
16. Paul Pierce (11)
They call him The Truth and he has proven up to the label for 11 seasons. Pierce is definitely the go-to scorer on the Celtics and one of the best clutch players in the league, especially in the playoffs. He has been the rock for this organization and I expect him to become one of the few players to start and finish his career with the same team. The one thing I would love to see is better conditioning. There is a part of me that always feels like Pierce has never been in the type of shape that could make him have a super season instead of the ho-hum normal 20 points per game. I guess that’s just a part of me that wants to see more because he is one of my favorite people and players in the league. Dropping him to 16th was more an age thing than production, but I expect him to explode again this season with the addition of Rasheed Wallace.
15. Brandon Roy (21)
Roy is a taller version Tony Parker. He has an uncanny ability to get to the basket despite defenses gearing up against him. He has very good all-around ability, but I cringe at how he squeezes the ball for much of the shot clock. It will be interesting to see if Andre Miller can keep the ball long enough to at least run the offense before Roy runs to it and goes one-on-one. I think that selfish part of his skills needs to change early in the game to allow teammates to gain a flow. He will find out that he would become much more potent, like Kobe has found out, when he plays more of a decoy early and becomes the assassin later. I anticipate Miller having a calming influence, allowing him to flow to a much better season. That’s why I moved him up six spots. He should improve on that 48 percent percentage and score in the 23-24 range, but be fresh in the fourth quarter.
14. Chris Bosh (10)
It’s time for Chris Bosh to show that he can put a team on his back or ask management to bring in a veteran star to help him along. Bosh averaged 22 points, but shot a disappointing 48 percent. He has to develop a better low-post game and help his team get better high-percentage shots. Every year he seems to be floating further and further away from the basket. He took 49 three-point shots last year and made 12. Bosh is more of a finesse player, but the idea of improving his three-point game is the wrong road to travel. Let’s hope he has beefed up somewhat and is willing to allow his teammates to take care of the outside game. His role is to be dominant in the paint. Most importantly, I want Bosh to make Shaq change the statement he made about him last year. He called Bosh the RuPaul of big men. Bosh did not deserve that description. Let’s see if he can make Shaq look like the old man of centers.
13. Deron Williams (19)
When healthy Williams, Chris Paul and Tony Parker are the best all-around point guards at this juncture. I expect Williams to move into the Top 10 after this season if he puts in a full healthy year. He is the strongest point guard in the league and one of the best at the pick-and-roll. He will never show his true offensive skills because the Jerry Sloan system will not allow it, but his all-around abilities will propel the Jazz towards another solid season. His numbers normally escalate during the playoffs, which tells us about the toughness and confidence he possesses.
12. Amare Stoudemire (17)
How can you go from 17 to 12 after missing the last 29 games with a dangerous eye injury? Two reasons come to mind… 1. When he came back from a micro fracture surgery, we wrote him off and he became All-NBA. 2. The Suns are going back to their 7 Seconds or Less offense and Amare will be playing center. Those two reasons along with the tremendous shape he has kept his body in will propel him back up the ladder. There is no player in the NBA at Amare’s size with the quickness and explosiveness that he possesses. I expect him to average 27 to 30 points a game and help Phoenix secure a bottom playoff position this season. Also remember this is his free agent year, so expect him to be highly motivated.
11. Carmelo Anthony (14)
Anthony is the most versatile offensive forward in the game. He is listed at 230 pounds, but don’t believe that number. Anthony is packing on 240-plus and still moves like a gazelle. He can score anywhere on the floor. I don’t like his shot selection and that is why he shot 44 percent last year, but don’t get it twisted because he is a matchup nightmare. He is the best offensive rebounder in the league playing small forward when he commits himself. His post-up ability brings double teams and when he is focused, he is a pretty good defender. The Nuggets just need more leadership from him and more consistency on the offensive end every night. He is their most talented player, but he is not their best player because of these inefficiencies. I am looking for Carmelo to put it all together this season and elevate his game all-around, which would mean the Nuggets could have a return engagement with the Lakers in the Western Conference finals.
10. Pau Gasol (15)
Ok, I was wrong! I was not a big fan of the player I called the Poodle during the Celtic-Lakers Finals last year. He moves up five spots because he is the best fundamentally sound seven-footer in the league next to Tim Duncan. Gasol’s footwork is textbook and he has a great left hand that makes him virtually impossible to guard one-on-one. He showed me everything he had to in last year’s playoffs. He showed toughness, savvy, leadership and offensive consistency even when he did not touch the ball for minutes at a time. Kobe won without Shaq, but he would not have sniffed the Finals without Gasol. So I will retire the Poodle nickname and name him The Machine. The Lakers team already had that nickname for a player, but Sasha Vujacic doesn’t deserve it.
9. Tony Parker (9)
How can you be ranked number 9 and still be underrated? Will someone show me a player that can keep Parker out of the paint? Can anyone show me who finishes in traffic over bigger players more consistently at his size? I simply marvel at how good he has become in the pick-and-roll offense. There was once a time when teams would go under and dare him to shoot, but he has become a 50 percent shooter with an improved mid-range game. That improved skill will allow him to score 22 ppg consistently against anyone. Parker never gets the credit he deserves because of the greatness of Duncan, but he is the toughest player on the Spurs pound for pound without a doubt. This season might become his best because it seems as if Duncan has taken a back seat to the offensive prowess of Parker and seems content to let him shine. And shine he will.
8. Kevin Garnett (6)
When I first met Kevin Garnett, he took off his hat and said, “It’s an honor to meet you.” When I saw Garnett last year, he repeated that. Garnett is one the best leaders in sports and surprisingly always has been. I have even been guilty of being critical of his unselfishness. We will never be able to change that and I am so glad we as fans were not successful in doing so. He has been pass-first since he came into the league. He has at times deferred to players who were simple role players and at the same time ignored our bantering to shoot more. We watched him last year sit next to sweaty players in a custom-made suit on the Boston bench while he was injured. He did not isolate himself at the end of the bench. He was in the game even though he could not play and I noticed and respected him immensely for that. Who would not want to play with a superstar like him? He made Glen Davis cry last year during a game, but people don’t get fooled on why Davis was crying? I bet he cried because he was dressed down by a player that he respects to the highest level and he did not want to disappoint him. Garnett will come back with a vengeance and I expect the Celtics to return to championship form playing with the Big Ticket.
7. Dirk Nowitzki (12)
I made a mistake last season and left him off my Top 25. I corrected it right away and I think I made another mistake putting Dirk at number 12. Which brings me to the present. I am wondering if he can eventually move into the top 5. There will never be another Larry Bird. But if he isn’t close, who will? Dirk can flat out play and he works on his game. People are quick to label him soft, but tell me who gets beat up more than him and he still lights you up. I have always stood by the simple fact that great individual defense will never stop great individual offense consistently. I think Dirk proved that last year against Denver when Kenyon Martin got toasted all series long trying to guard him. The one area he needs to improve in, and it has gotten better, is his leadership. He has the talent around him to win the West, but it’s going to take a more rounded effort from him this season. I think he can pull it off. Watch out for the improved Mavericks and the best jump-shooting seven-footer in NBA history.
6. Chris Paul (3)
I love Paul. He is one of my favorite players to watch and for one reason. His leadership is off the charts and I enjoy how he directs and takes over a game with a scowl that has much bigger players paying attention. When he retires, he will have a pick of any coaching job available because of his ability to communicate and keep players in line. It was just too bad he really could not keep a healthy team on the floor last year. Losing Janero Pargo to a Greek team did not help. Paul did not fare well in the Hornets playoff loss to Denver and was embarrassed and shut down in their last two losses. I expect him to come back with a vengeance and play like a potential MVP candidate this season. His numbers offensively will probably go up unless Peja Stojakovic and David West stay healthy and perform up to expectations. If they don’t, Paul might do a Nate Archibald offensive impersonation this season and score over 25 ppg.
5. Tim Duncan (5)
Duncan is the best leader in the game and its best power forward. I can’t say enough about what a consummate professional Timmy is. Have you ever seen him take a night off? Have you ever seen him take bad shots? Have you ever seen him not be excited for his teammates? I watched David Robinson’s induction the other night and when they put the camera on Duncan, it was obvious where he got the immediate knowledge and unselfish nature from. Robinson stepped aside for Duncan and Duncan has been allowing his teammates to succeed as well with his unselfish nature. I expect Duncan to bounce back from the nagging injuries he experienced last year and help San Antonio challenge the Lakers for the Western Conference crown this year. His all-around numbers will go up, but the one category that could get them back to the Finals will be in the assists column. He averaged 3.5 last year and with the offense flowing through him that will get better.
4. Dwyane Wade (7)
Wade moves up three spots and I am sure in some fan’s eyes it was not enough. I can’t argue with that complaint. Wade is a scoring marvel. When he came into the league, he was all about getting to the basket and flying over the rim. But now he can score from anywhere with regularity. He shot almost 50 percent last year while leading the league in scoring at 30 ppg. He also impressed me by playing in 79 games, which were about 12 games over his average. The obvious reason was that Wade came into the season in great shape and he parlayed it into a career year. The Heat would have won 25 games without him and that’s why he was considered highly for MVP. Leadership will be tested this year again with so many young players and no significant additions. But one thing is for sure: South Beach belongs to Flash!
3. Dwight Howard (4)
I have Howard above Dwyane Wade for one simple reason: He changes the way teams have to defend in the paint. The second chance factor in the NBA is huge. If you give teams second and third chances to score on a consistent basis, your team will lose. Especially if it is Orlando with its plethora of scorers. Howard is so good on the offensive glass that teams don’t expect the player that’s guarding him to garner many rebounds because he has to almost face guard him. Then you put him on the defensive end and he changes the game with blocked shots and an intimidating presence. His offense will get better with improved footwork and patience and his free-throw percentage needs to move up as well. He grabs this spot because he took his team to the Finals last year. If Vince Carter fits in like he should, they might make another appearance with Superman carrying them.
2. Kobe Bryant (2)
The Black Mamba has finally did what many thought he would not be able to do… And that is winning a championship without Shaquille. He is the best offensive player and on-the-ball defender in the league. If Kobe wanted to score 40 a game, he could. But Phil Jackson has finally convinced him to share the ball and save that bottomless energy for the playoffs. Kobe is the most dedicated and smartest player I have ever seen and I wish every aspiring young basketball player could spend a day with him.
1. LeBron James (1)
I expect LeBron to continue to ascend to levels only reserved for the greats of the game. He continues to flourish every year. His shooting percentages across the board continue to grow with his all-around game. He shot 50 percent and elevated his free-throw percentage to 78 percent last season. The 35 points per game he scored in last year’s playoffs are just a sign of things to come for King James. We need to sit back and enjoy the sick individual numbers he will continue to post as his career moves along. There is no doubt he will win a championship before his career is over. Will that happen with Shaq?
Allen Iverson was humbled Wednesday having to sign with a team that will struggle to win 30 games next season. Iverson signed a one-year deal for 3.5 million with the Memphis Grizzlies and what we should take from this is a resounding yell. No one is bigger than the NBA and this league can humble you quickly if you’re perceived as a potential problem.
When Iverson finally retires from the NBA, he will go down as the toughest and most durable player for his size in the history of the game. I honestly thought that Iverson would last less than 10 years because of the way he threw his body around. He will make this upcoming year his 14th and at 34 years old, he is still one of the best conditioned players in the league. The 27 points he has averaged in those 13 seasons are as gaudy as it gets for a big-time scorer, but you also can’t ignore the fact he has averaged 2.2 steals and 6 assists. Those numbers will definitely put him in the Hall of Fame when he decides to leave the game.
There is one stat attributed to Iverson that quite honestly cost him an opportunity to sign with a contending team and most likely will cause head coach Lionel Hollins some migraines during the course of this upcoming season… That statistic is under the minutes column. Iverson has averaged an insane 41 minutes a game through his career. He has only averaged less than 40 minutes per game twice. Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest ever, averaged over 40 minutes only three times and that was early in his career.
This stat is mindboggling. Iverson has probably run the longest distance of any NBA player over the last 13 seasons. Now I assume readers are wondering, why this stat is the cause of Iverson not getting a better opportunity? Well, I can pretty much surmise that if we polled every coach that Iverson has played for, they would say they’d rather have played AI 35 to 37 minutes instead of 41.
Playing Iverson 36 minutes a game would have given a role player a chance to prolong his career, given a coach a chance to share the ball and satisfy some of Iverson’s teammates. But most importantly, it would have saved some miles on a guy that plays at 100 miles per hour. Sitting Iverson just five extra minutes would have shaved off 4,430 minutes, which is basically a year and half.
Here is the easy question… Why did they play him that many minutes? The obvious reason is that Iverson refused to come out of ball games without a fight. He imposed his will and desire to play each and every minute on every coach that he has had and now that has stopped him from being courted by the contending teams.
I wish that at least one coach had dared to stand up to him and gotten him use to playing less minutes, because there are numerous teams that could use Iverson in a sixth man role. I understand the mentality and I definitely fought off the decision of Utah assistant coach Phil Johnson to move me to the bench a quarter of a way through my career when I was a member of the Sacramento Kings. I was playing 36 minutes and all of sudden it was cut to 30. I thank Phil to this day because it allowed me to play 17 years and still have solid production, but most importantly it taught me the importance of understanding what it took to play a role and not have to be the star.
Playing a role is foreign to Iverson. He has always taken all the shots and secured almost every minute at his position. Contending teams like Boston, Orlando, Cleveland, Lakers, Spurs and Dallas could all use a player the caliber of Iverson in a 20-minute-take-plenty-of-shots role. That way they could control his off nights by just sitting him down. What scared most of these top teams is that Iverson would pout and become a serious problem on and off the floor if they sat him for a prolonged period during game.
Iverson should use this year to prove to all the contenders that he will be willing to back up OJ Mayo and Mike Conley. That he would be willing to mentor and show leadership and become a top sixth man candidate if given the chance next year in his 15th season.
The Lakers officially became the best team again with the re-signing of Lamar Odom. I give Odom more credit than the Lakers in the decision to continue this relationship. L.A. gave him every chance to leave, but Odom – unlike Trevor Ariza– understands that chasing the pot of gold can lead you to oblivion and despair. So he made the correct decision and stayed.
I like Miami, but quite honestly the only team Odom should have been looking at was Portland. I am extremely surprised the Blazers did not chase Odom more aggressively and offered him more money instead of committing to Andre Miller. Miller has never played without the ball and I can’t see Brandon Roy being effective without it. The jury will be out for a while on this decision by Portland.
Odom would have given them a devastating frontline. A rotation of LaMarcus Aldridge, Travis Outlaw, Rudy Fernandez and Odom to surround Greg Oden would have been unbelievable. Well, it did not happen and the Lakers along with San Antonio are now the class of the Western Conference. Can I say Groundhog Day? Haven’t we been here before? Only a few years ago did we foresee both of these teams going downhill. Now not only are they back in command, but they are deep.
Odom was the last piece of the free agent period and he solidified what most teams were hoping would not happen. He re-signed with the NBA champions and now the repeat has become extremely attainable in 2010.
Dark horses that could spoil the Spurs-Lakers party in the West…
Denver
No significant moves that make a huge difference from an extremely talented and versatile team. They will have a great record at home because teams struggle in that altitude.
Dallas
The Mavericks will be deeply improved with the addition of Shawn Marion, Drew Gooden and Tim Thomas. Marion will reach usual heights playing with Jason Kidd.
Portland
A very talented team, but they did not add more veterans to the young mix – which will hurt them again come playoff time. They still remain extremely dangerous.
Utah
They always have a chance in the playoffs with the best home-court advantage in the league.
Teams that could spoil the spoilers…
LA Clippers
Please find me a more talented team in the NBA? If Baron Davis returns in great shape, he will have an abundance of big bodies – Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman, DeAndre Jordan– and versatile players – Eric Gordon, Al Thornton and super rookie Blake Griffin – to pass the ball to.
Phoenix
A return to Seven Seconds or Less might not secure an NBA title, but it will surely force teams to adjust to the fast-break style that made the Suns one of the most popular and consistent winning teams prior to last season. Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Jason Richardson and Amare Stoudemire will be asked to carry a heavy load.
The Lakers have been one of the most dominant forces in the Western Conference for decades and the last few days tell you why. When it looks like this franchise might be on an elevator going down, they find a way to re-direct it back up again.
A few years ago the Lakers were fighting to make the playoffs and in one big swoop Pau Gasol falls in their laps. And then they come upon a major find in Trevor Ariza that leds to another title this year.
Faced with another problem having to sign Lamar Odom and Ariza this offseason, the Lakers have come up smelling like roses once again. How can you go from losing one of your key components and actually get better in the process?
Well, the Lakers just did that by signing Ron Artest. Yes, he will be a problem at times, but the Lakers arguably have the two best all-around defenders and scorers in basketball with Kobe and Artest in the lineup. Artest made one of the best free agent decisions I have seen in a while not based on salary.
I am laughing at the fact most people think Artest is on the edge. To me he looks like the smartest free agent in the pool.
I have always said if he ever made it to a team with a winning culture he would explode and become an All-Star every year. I know Lakers fans are a little down about losing Ariza and I can relate to their disappointment, but don’t think Ariza is anywhere near the talent of Artest.
I will go on board right now and say this: Trevor Ariza will struggle on the island he is going to in Houston. Role players need stars to enhance their game. Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady might not even play next year and that will force Ariza to be the player he is not.
Ariza will pay the price for thinking he was worth more than the Lakers offered him and he will suffer while Ron-Ron will make less and be extremely happy for the next three years. Ariza did not think about why he excelled. Making a decision based on dollars might not ever get him to the Finals again, which might be OK with him.
Artest should fit right into the triangle offense because he is an excellent ballhandler and passer. Kobe will be able to get more rest during the regular season because of Artest’s ability to score when the shot clock is expiring. This is something the Lakers could not get out of Odom, but Artest will bring that ability every night which is huge for the defending champs.
Also don’t forget that Phil Jackson loves the bad boy mix on his teams. He turned Dennis Rodman into a cult hero and if Artest plays as expected he too will reach that level of stardom with the Lakers.
The season is over and if you are a Magic fan, the offseason will provide sleepless nights playing the “what if” game. If you are a Laker fan, you are ecstatic and saying this is about redemption, experience and us having one of the best players in the history of the game in Kobe Bryant and the best coach ever in Phil Jackson.
The Lakers proved that, despite many opportunities given to the opposition, they are indeed the best team this year. I disagree with Stan Van Gundy on the experience factor. Van Gundy said experience meant nothing and that it’s just basketball. Experience played a huge factor in this series. Had it been a non-factor, Orlando would be headed back to Los Angeles with a 3-2 lead in the series.
Let’s play the “what if” game…
Game 2
- The Magic do not miss five out of six free throws in the third and fourth quarter when they had the lead.
- The Magic do not turn the ball over three times with a two-point lead late in the game.
- Courtney Lee makes one of his two blown layups in Game 2.
Game 4
- Hedo Turkoglu makes one of his four missed free throws in the 4th Quarter
- Dwight Howard makes one of his two free throws with 11 seconds left, giving the Magic a four-point lead.
- Jameer Nelson is not in the game in favor of Courtney Lee to defend Derek Fisher on his game-tying shot.
I look at those mistakes and say it is all about experience and that is why the Lakers in my estimation beat a more talented team.
Game 5 was the perfect example of lack of experience. A veteran team would not quit fighting because they were down 3-1 in a series like Orlando did last night.
So if I am Van Gundy, I would eat those words and preach this whole offseason about the experience of getting so far and losing against a team that lost in the same fashion the previous year and beat us the next year based on experience.
The Lakers, on the other hand, showed the experience, confidence and leadership needed to finally win their 15th title. Kobe Bryant can finally kick that elephant off his back. The one thing I love about Kobe is that he can never say he did not try hard at anything. I heard stories about how he never went out on the road as a young player and watched hours of video tape. I heard during the Olympics that he flew to Vegas around 6 am one morning and asked Blazers head coach Nate McMillan to work him out at 9 am. Nate had to stop the workout and inform Kobe they had 30 minutes to get to a meeting. It was 1:30 pm. That’s the beauty of being great and only experience teaches you that. Remember, Kobe was working out this hard after just finishing a grueling series against the Boston Celtics.
I will admit that I am not a Laker fan, but I am a Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson fan. When I look at those two individuals, I marvel about how focused, determined and smart they are. Kobe probably is the most committed and intelligent athlete ever. We sometimes get too caught up in his basketball genius, but is there a more informative and thought-provoking interviewee in sports?
He has just done something in my mind that only Hakeem Olajuwon has done and that is put a team on his back throughout the playoffs and win a championship. I have always been a Kobe fan, but now I definitely believe he will go down as one of the Top 5 players ever.
I have repeatedly said over the last five years that Phil Jackson is the best coach of all time. He handles players better than any coach I have ever seen. I get tired of pundits who say he had Jordan, Shaq and Kobe. Well, you must remember there were coaches who also had those three and did not win. The man is a brilliant coach and in my estimation his 10 NBA titles will stand forever as a record.
I can honestly say that if he were coaching the Orlando Magic, they would be celebrating today and that’s just how good he is.
I will not finish this article without giving props to Pau Gasol and Trevor Ariza. They were tremendous when needed. Gasol was physical defensively and productive on the offensive end. Ariza won the series with his 13-point outburst in the third quarter of Game 4 and his defense on Hedo Turkoglu was impressive.
So although I picked the Magic in six games, I have to admit the Lakers showed toughness, commitment and, most importantly, a desire to win despite of the roadblocks in their way.
This will go down as one of the best playoffs ever. The Bulls-Celtics series was a classic. The Rockets showed how good they could be despite not having Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming.
The Magic win in Boston Garden over the Celtics and the close games in the Cavalier series were must-see TV. I will miss the debates and tension I have experienced the last two months, but I look forward to going through it all over again in 2009-10.
One thing is for certain… The Los Angeles Lakers are NBA champions for the 15th time in franchise history and this one will be remembered as the best because Kobe Bryant proved once and for all that he can put a team on his back and reach the promise land only reserved for the greatest players ever.
The Orlando Magic finally arrived in Los Angeles Sunday night and although they accounted for themselves much better than in Game 1. They still are headed back to Orlando searching for answers and down 0-2 in the series. They say the playoffs don’t start until someone wins on the others floor. Well, if the Magic do not find a way to recover the shooting magic among their guards, the Lakers will end these Finals rather quickly.
Game 1 was all about defense and Kobe catching fire in the third quarter. The Magic could not stay in the game because they shot a dismal 23 of 77 from the floor. Kobe Bryant had 16 field goals all by himself.
Game 2 was much better, but the Lakers’ ability to close down the stretch with flawless play and active defense is what secured the victory.
KEYS
Interior defense
The Lakers are one the best teams at rotating out of double-teams and in the first two games they have caused Dwight Howard to turn the ball over nine times. Usually, when the center turns it over it leads to fast-break points and the Lakers have capitalized consistently. Although Andrew Bynum has been a non-factor, their defense inside has been great.
Leaving Rafer Alston and Courtney Lee alone
I knew coming into the series that this would happen and it always does. Great teams will roll the dice on a mediocre shooter and take their medicine and double-team a great player like Dwight Howard. That’s what Cleveland did in the Conference finals, but those two burned them all series long and Mike Brown was criticized for doing the obvious. Rafer Alston is a career 39 percent shooter from the field and the Lakers will leave him alone all series even if he hits five in a row. They cannot afford to leave anyone else and after two games Alston and Lee are a combined 7 of 30 from the field and 0 of 9 from behind the arc.
Crunch time
The Lakers just got it done Game 2. They took care of the basketball and made their free throws. That is always a way to find success down the stretch in games. Defensively they forced untimely turnovers when the Magic had the lead and the ball. The experience of losing to Boston last year has the Lakers playing at a frenetic confident pace, which has secured two victories and a controlling lead in the series.
Ariza the unsung hero
Trevor Ariza did not allow Hedo Turkoglu to walk the ball up the floor when Stan Van Gundy was forced to play him at point guard. He pressured him constantly and wore him down and that’s why we saw CourtneyLee and JJ Redick handling the ball too much late in Game 2. That shot taken by Lee with about 9 seconds to go is normally for Turkoglu, but he was tired and Lee was forced to take a shot.
Orlando melts down
The plane ride home could not have been pleasant with Orlando knowing they had Game 2 locked up. They missed five straight free throws during a stretch in the third quarter and early fourth that could have had them ahead by six points. They also threw the ball away three times when they had a two-point lead in the middle of the fourth quarter. Lewis and Redick, probably their two best shooters, missed wide open three-point shots when the Magic where already ahead by one point. Finally, Lee missed two layups at the end of regulation that could have given the Magic the lead and won the game.
MVP Odom
Although Kobe has been his normal self, Lamar Odom has been the most important player on the floor after two games. He made some huge shots in the fourth quarter of Game 2. His length and smarts have stabilized the Lakers’ bench. He has done what Mickael Pietrus did in the Cleveland series and that is virtually dominating the production from the bench. He has scored 27 of the Lakers’ 43 bench points and has grabbed 22 rebounds.
WHO NEEDS TO STEP UP?
Los Angeles LakersAndrew Bynum has got to give the Lakers something on the road. Kobe, Pau Gasol and Odom have scored 139 of the Lakers’ 202 points. If this trend continues with Bynum, L.A. could find this series tied up after four games. It is one thing to win with virtually only three players at home, but doing it on the road offers a different scenario and I expect the Orlando role players to shoot the ball much better in Game 3.
The Lakers’ bench has not offered much, but until now they have not had to. The test will be in Orlando and Phil Jackson will need some production from someone other than Odom.
Orlando Magic
The guards have been just plain bad. Where is the swagger that we saw in the Cleveland series? Alston, Lee, Pietrus, Reddick and Jameer Nelson have all been bad (20-59) and what’s sad is that they will have to continue to shoot the ball. Pietrus is the obvious choice, but history is starting to catch up with him and his shot seems to have taken a nose dive at the sight of Kobe. I am not in the locker room, but I have been in 17 others during my NBA career and I see fear in the eyes of Lee and Pietrus when they face Kobe. They need to call Bruce Bowen and Raja Bell to get advice on how to guard and not back down to the Black Mamba.
Dwight Howard had a great Game 2, but he must do two things for the Magic to have a chance in this series.
1. Stop thinking he can make a two-dribble move in the post against the scrappy Lakers’ help defense.
2. Stop turning the ball over making passes out to the perimeter. Those are precious possessions and because of the double team most of his passes should find a player with an open shot.
GAME 3 STRATEGY
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers will continue to double Howard and leave Alston and Lee alone. They lost sight of Rashard Lewis and he almost beat them by himself.
They will also focus extra on getting Bynum involved early offensively, because they need a fourth player to score double-figures against Orlando on their home floor.
I would watch for Kobe to be ultra-aggressive at the slightest thought of his team being satisfied with getting the first two games at home. He knows that the Lakers will need to offset the tremendous emotional frenzy at the beginning of Game 3.
Orlando Magic
If the guards do not make shots early in Game 3, look for Van Gundy to have a quick trigger finger, put in JJ Redick and move Turkoglu to point guard. This lineup forces the Lakers to rotate off of a shooter, which is not what they want. If Orlando starts draining three-point shots, this will allow Howard to maneuver more inside. That would pay huge dividends for the Magic.
Attack the rim. They had numerous lanes to the basket because of the Lakers being stretched defensively, but they looked to pass instead of shoot. Look for a much more aggressive team in Game 3.
Anthony Johnson might get the call at some point in Game 3 if Nelson does not produce with his backup minutes.
PREDICTION FOR GAME 3
The Lakers will say that they will stay focused, but it does not matter. This is the biggest game of the year for the Magic and I expect them to be energized by their home crowd. Although they lost Game 2, I saw some confidence emerge from their locker room. I expect the role players to step up because, quite frankly, they can’t fall any further than they already have. I also expect Howard to have his best scoring game.
Orlando will win Game 3 and keep the series alive.
I have finally gotten over my disappointment in the Cavaliers lost to Orlando. It took a few days, but it is time for me to eat a little crow. Yes, I picked the Cavaliers to win it all this year. I can’t believe I did not see through the fog. Why did I believe the Cavaliers would finally win a championship? Well, they did win 66 games and they only lost two games at home?. I really got pulled in when they swept Detroit and Atlanta. On second thought, I had every conceivable right to believe in my prediction.
That is until Orlando came along and smacked them upside the head. I was so enamored with the King James locomotive that I ignored what the Magic was doing to get rid of a stubborn Philadelphia team and then go into Boston Garden and defeat the Celtics in a Game 7.
The Magic put on a devastating show with ball movement and stellar shooting. Their ability to make big shots from long range and feed Dwight Howard, the most dominant interior performer during these playoffs, has me wondering if this journey can continue against the deep Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers, unlike Cleveland, struggled at times in the early rounds and I surmise that is why they are still around. I for one believe adversity in the early rounds bring focus and desperation, which when you are as talented as the Lakers becomes a good thing.
The Rockets and the Nuggets were definitely capable of beating the Lakers, but injuries to Yao Ming and mental meltdowns by Denver allowed the Lakers to seize the opportunity like a shark.
Now we are here. This is what we have waited for, well halfway at least… But let me tell you something you might already know: This will be a great series and I am sure most of the fans who watched the Magic win the East might tend to agree that the right team will face the Lakers in the 2009 NBA Finals.
The Lakers and the Magic are extremely versatile and can summon some good players off the bench, but five things must happen for either team to win this series.
KEYS FOR THE LAKERS
Keep Dwight Howard in foul trouble
The Lakers understand that Howard will challenge any foray to the basket. They have the master at that in Kobe Bryant. Watch Bryant, Derek Fisher and Trevor Ariza go at the body of Howard early in games to force the officials to make a call.
Defend Howard in single coverage with Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol
If the Lakers pull this off and Howard does not go for 30 and get every player in a Lakers jersey in foul trouble, L.A. will win this series in quick fashion. The Magic either need the Lakers to double to free up shooters or Howard has huge games to offset the lack of consistent three-point opportunities.
Have great offensive efficiency and wear down the Magic’s defense
The Lakers spread the ball around and so the Magic are hoping the Lakers force-feed Kobe so they can load up defensively. If the Lakers stay away from just relying on Kobe and use their great ball cuts and screens within the triangle offense, it will be difficult for Orlando to defend consistently.
Hope Kobe will seize the opportunity he missed last year
How many more times can Kobe get to the Finals and not get that elusive championship without Shaquille O’Neal? He will be focused and relentless and if the Magic fail to control him, especially in the fourth quarter, just forget about it.
Dominate the sidelines with Phil Jackson
Stan Van Gundy was huge with his coaching decisions during the Cavaliers series. Recognizing Ben Wallace was guarding Rashard Lewis was huge in Game 4 and basically won the series, but he better come with everything in this series against Jackson and that veteran coaching staff. Jackson is just as hungry as Kobe. This could be his 10th championship and it will if Van Gundy falls prey to his mental messages during this series.
KEYS FOR THE MAGIC
Force the Lakers to double-team Howard
This will be the big question all series long. Can Dwight Howard dominate consistently if the Lakers elect to stay at home on the Magic shooters? If the Lakers are forced to double they will be in serious trouble if the Magic shoot the ball like they did in the Cavalier series.
Keep Andrew Bynum on the bench
Rashard Lewis will be the key because Pau Gasol has no choice but to guard him. This will be the focal point early in most games running Gasol off screens and involving him in pick-and-pop plays. If he can’t guard Lewis, then he will be forced to defend Howard and keep Bynum on the bench, thus unleashing a possible double-team and freeing up the Magic three-point shooters.
Mickael Pietrus and Courtney Lee defend Kobe and still are offensively productive
This is what Van Gundy is praying for. He knows they will exert great effort on defense, but he also needs them to score consistently to have a chance to win this series. If both players can stay within 15 total points of Kobe combined, this series will become very interesting.
Jameer Nelson adds to a confident backcourt
This is a long shot, but we can’t ignore it. Nelson had tremendous success against the Lakers this season so although tired and not in game shape, he will be extremely confident and just him dressing and sitting on the bench could be a huge psychological boost for the Magic.
Maintain confidence they have had in the last few rounds
The Magic are soaring and have a swagger that is rightly deserved. Confidence can carry a team in games where they don’t play particularly well. The Magic are that team. They have beaten the defending champion and the team with the best record.
PREDICTION:
My prediction is Orlando in six. I have gone against them in every round. I will not do it again. I believe they are playing the best basketball of the two teams and if Dwight Howard continues to dominate and stay out of foul trouble, I don’t see the Lakers having enough to withstand his dominance in the paint.
As Gary Payton would say, the Cavaliers are flowing. They are in a world by themselves right now. Life is good and waking up in the morning is sunny even when it is raining. Athletes live for this feeling, they crave for it and the LeBron-led Cavs are living the dream at the moment. They have eight straight playoff wins by double figures, leading to first and second round sweeps – which have put the them in elite company among great teams like the Lakers, Celtics and Sixers of past seasons.
But the question remains… Can they continue to dominate and win their first NBA championship? I think they have all the major ingredients, but I will put my support, beliefs and emotions aside for the sake of my article… And probably bring out the emotions of Cavalier fans.
I can make the statement that no team has performed with the machine-like structure of the Cavaliers in putting away Detroit and Atlanta, but I can also say Detroit had a down year and was in total disarray coming into the postseason. I can add that the Atlanta Hawks were a banged up team, especially after Game 2 when Joe Johnson suffered a severe ankle sprain.
I then can check myself and say they dominated both teams and put them away quickly like a great team would under those circumstances, so you can’t fault them for who they play and the breaks they have gotten. Why? Because they earned it with the best record in the league and a 39-2 record at home.
You see, that’s what great sports fans do… They second guess and try to justify why an individual or team is so good.
What we should do is not try to find reasons to say a team is overrated, but research and figure out why a team has played so well.
So I will just come out and say it. And then tell you why I feel this way.
My take: The Cavaliers are indeed the best team in the playoffs and will win their first title. Here’s why…
They have the best all-around player in the game in Lebron James. I wrote an article a few years ago talking about his inability to shoot the ball from the perimeter and that it would keep him from becoming quite possibly the greatest player ever. Well, he answered that argument because he has become a very good shooter with endless range, thus making him virtually un guardable anywhere on the court. Also, he has become the game’s best leader. Do you see how his teammates jump up and down with excitement every time he shows them something special. That tells me they genuinely adore him and that is huge in professional sports.
Danny Ferry has surrounded him with catch-and-shoot players. I wrote an open letter article to Ferry also a few years ago telling him to stop trying to put clones like Larry Hughes around LeBron and go get him some shooters. Well, he has so many good shooters now (like Mo Williams, Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak) that Sasha Pavlovic and Daniel Gibson, two mainstays from the Finals run a few years ago, struggle to get prime time minutes.
They are extremely physical, which allows head coach Mike Brown to play two ways if he wants. He can go small and speed up the game or he can go big with Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Anderson Varejao, Joe Smith or Ben Wallace. This allows Brown to be prepared for a small Celtic team or a big Orlando frontline in the conference finals, and then adjusting to the size of a Laker big frontline or the ultra-physical Denver Nuggets.
Versatility is the key and that is why the Cavaliers have proven all year that they are the team to beat. Boston Celtic fans might ask, if Kevin Garnett was still in the lineup would I be making this statement? I would say yes without hesitation. Why? I think the Celtics are out of gas and I felt this way before Garnett got injured.
The Lakers have beaten the Cavaliers twice this season and should have the mental edge, but I believe that is fool’s gold. If you remember, the Cavaliers beat San Antonio twice a few years ago and got swept in the Finals against them. The Cavaliers have the bodies to fight Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol and the Cavaliers I believe have a better advantage in the role-player department, especially off the bench.
In my opinion, the Denver Nuggets present the toughest challenge to the Cavaliers because they are the most physical team left in the playoffs and they can score. The challenge for them is… Can they emotionally stabilize themselves in a series against the Lakers? I say they will not and that will cost them a perfect opportunity to pull a major upset.
Let’s hail to the King. He has made us pause on how good it was back when Magic, Bird and Michael made us stand up and cheer, but we can’t anoint him yet because he has not accomplished the ultimate prize like those three did.
The Rockets entrance into the second round of the playoffs will probably end the Tracy McGrady era in Houston. The Rockets could never get out of the first round with McGrady and now with him sidelined for the season, they are headed to Los Angeles to face the Lakers. I am a huge McGrady fan and personally feel he is one of the top 20 players in the NBA when healthy, but the problem for the Rockets is that he has not accomplished what they just achieved against a very good Portland team.
McGrady put up great numbers in last year’s playoff series against Utah (27ppg, 8.2 rpg and almost 7 apg), but they still lost and in Houston they want wins. This year’s version without McGrady produced all-around contributions and created more weapons to solidify a first-round win. It probably will force the Rockets to shop their star next year.
There are four areas the Rockets improved in without McGrady.
Better cohesion
McGrady dominated on the court, but off the court as well. Although the Rockets have Yao Ming, McGrady still had the spotlight on him 24/7 and I felt because of it, he tried to do too much – thus diminishing the skills of his teammates and especially Yao Ming. The Rockets now seem to co-exist with one another. They seem to relish in the sight of not having to expect one player to produce huge numbers for them to win big games, which becomes a devastating weapon to have moving into the second round against the mighty Lakers.
Better defense
Ron Artest has been one of the best defenders in the league for a reason. He does not need help to guard his man. This alone takes a lot of pressure off the rest of the team, knowing that Artest is self sufficient. This allows Rick Adelman to gamble and double other players like Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum and he will be doing it with more aggressive/physical players like Shane Battier and Luis Scola. What does this have to do with McGrady? Well, because of Artest’s ability to defend and score, Adelman can keep the diminutive Aaron Brooks on the floor and surround him with players that are very good defenders and can score in double figures as well.
Better ball movement
This might be the most important reason why McGrady might not return. The Rockets seem more fluid on offense now that McGrady is on the sidelines. The ball moves and does not stick, which used to force teammates to stop and stare instead of moving. Adelman would rather have the ball stick in Yao Ming’s hands on the post than McGrady’s on the perimeter. He would rather have a high-percentage missed field goal in the post with Ming (54 percent shooting) than a well-guarded perimeter shot by McGrady (41 percent last year and 38 percent this season).
Better offensive structure
Balanced scoring has allowed the Rockets to concentrate more on defense and not depend on one player to score in order to win. This in itself will cause the Lakers problems in the second round. Who would have thought Scola would be the Rockets’ top scorer in the first round at 17 ppg. The best part is the Rockets had six players scoring in double figures against Portland and Ron Artest was taking only 15 shots per game compared with the 24 shots per game McGrady took last year in the first-round loss to Utah. The beauty of this is that there are three players taking more shots than Yao Ming. But it’s all based on the fact that Yao Ming was the big worry defensively for Portland… And will be also for the Lakers, which will allow Scola, Brooks, Von Wafer and Shane Battier to become threats.
This article was not written to diminish the McGrady era in Houston or blaming him for the Rockets’ faults in past years. He was giving them what they expected and it did not work in Houston like it is in Cleveland with LeBron James. The greatest players in history have been humbled for dominating the ball and critics have pointed the finger at them. Michael Jordan was called selfish and a ballhog until Phil Jackson convinced him the triangle offense was better suited to win a championship.
Rudy Tomjanovich convinced Hakeem Olajuwon to trust his teammates and pass it out of double teams instead of turning it over trying to beat it. When his teammates started knocking down three-point shots with regularity, it gave him more one-on-one matchups in the post and earned the Rockets back-to-back championships.
Shaquille O’Neal allowed Kobe Bryant to take on a bigger role, especially in crunch time, during the Lakers’ three straight championships.
The problem for McGrady is that all the good things have happened for the Rockets without him on the floor and he never got the chance to be the one who made the adjustment. Now the question is… Do the Rockets want to see if he understands the adjustment he would have to make next year and do they want to deal with it?
This article is written for the basketball fan who would like some insight on training camps, but most importantly I think it will make current NBA players recognize how good they have it compared to camps years ago.
The Lakers have been one of the most dominant forces in the Western Conference for decades and the last few days tell you why. When it looks like this franchise might be on an elevator going down, they find a way to re-direct it back up again.
The season is over and if you are a Magic fan, the offseason will provide sleepless nights playing the “what if” game. If you are a Laker fan, you are ecstatic and saying this is about redemption, experience and us having one of the best players in the history of the game in Kobe Bryant and the best coach ever in Phil Jackson.
The Orlando Magic finally arrived in Los Angeles Sunday night and although they accounted for themselves much better than in Game 1. They still are headed back to Orlando searching for answers and down 0-2 in the series. They say the playoffs don’t start until someone wins on the others floor. Well, if the Magic do not find a way to recover the shooting magic among their guards, the Lakers will end these Finals rather quickly.
As Gary Payton would say, the Cavaliers are flowing. They are in a world by themselves right now. Life is good and waking up in the morning is sunny even when it is raining. Athletes live for this feeling, they crave for it and the LeBron-led Cavs are living the dream at the moment. They have eight straight playoff wins by double figures, leading to first and second round sweeps 
The Rockets entrance into the second round of the playoffs will probably end the Tracy McGrady era in Houston. The Rockets could never get out of the first round with McGrady and now with him sidelined for the season, they are headed to Los Angeles to face the Lakers. I am a huge McGrady fan and personally feel he is one of the top 20 players in the NBA when healthy, but the problem for the Rockets is that he has not accomplished what they just achieved against a very good Portland team.