HoopsHype.com NBA Blogs - Eddie Johnson

The trade deadline cracks me up. I am amazed at how many players worry about getting traded. I literally want to shout as loud as I can and say, “Who cares?“ The question I want to ask every player that seems to worry about this deadline is this… When you were dreaming as a young man about playing at the professional level, did you worry about which team you would play for? Heck no. All you worried about was getting a scholarship and improving enough to be considered to advance to the next level. I understand the emotion after you find out a trade has happened, but it should be short-lived and here is why…

Playing in the NBA is a privilege and no one owes you anything. I want all NBA players to investigate how many hard-working Americans in this country lost jobs these past few years. So now think about how silly it sounds when you are worried about moving from one job to the next, but still receiving the same check. You are worried about a truck moving your furniture from one mansion to the next. Yes, I understand the anxiety of leaving your family midstream. I got traded twice in the same scenario to Seattle from Phoenix and from Indiana to Houston via Denver.

Not one time did my wife say stay home and forget basketball. She packed my bags and said, Go prove them wrong and, most importantly, keep making that money. If Cleveland was to cut LeBron James and no team picked him up, the league would still go on. This is the nature of sports. And when you start to believe you are being done wrong… Well, that’s when you become short-lived.

Every player that was traded this deadline and still can put on a uniform should be extremely thankful they still have a job and every player that had his name tossed about in many rumors should not be offended if they are still playing with the same team.

The one player I was extremely impressed with during this trading period was Amare Stoudemire. He never lashed out or said, I want out. He said one simple statement which rings true and I wish every player when mentioned in rumors will express.

He said, If I end up in Cleveland or Miami that will be fine or if I stay in Phoenix that will be OK as well.

I could care less if he meant it or not. It let me know that he has now come to grips that whatever happens when you are under contract is out of your control. So deal with it and adjust.

Here are my thoughts on the deals that were done…

- The Cavaliers just peeked through the door and said “boo“ to the Celtics, Magic, Hawks and Lakers. I believe that these are the top teams in the NBA and the Cavaliers just pulled off a coup. Antawn Jamison gives the Cavaliers a player who can score 30 with zero plays ran for him. Jamison has the best array of shots from any position on the floor of any player in the league. Would Amare have been huge for them? Yes, but Jamison is a constant mover and because of that strength he will get high-percentage shots in the Cavalier offense. He is also a very good rebounder on both glasses. The major attribute is his tremendous leadership skills and desire to finally go deep into the playoffs. I picked the Cavaliers last year to win it all and I assume I have just jumped back on their wagon with the addition of Jamison.

- I am so glad Tracy McGrady is back in a uniform. The problem is… Do the Knicks really intend on giving him a chance to show he is still the same player? We all know this was about salary cap, but if Tracy is willing to take a paycut next year, the Knicks could still add two top-notch players not named Lebron and Dwyane Wade and become a playoff contender in 2011. The Knicks have stayed with the plan of freeing up a ton of money and now we can sit back and watch how everything plays out without draft picks. The addition of Eddie House will help stabilize a locker room that could fracture mentally as the season winds down.

- I like Kevin Martin, but I don’t understand the Rockets giving up their best interior scorer. Carl Landry will become an All- Star with the Kings and that’s a guarantee. Landry is a horse and Paul Westphal will love him. Martin will have to share shots with Aaron Brooks, which means the frontcourt for the Rockets better get on the glass to get looks. I hope Rick Adelman can find a way to keep those big guys happy when his guards are taking 70 percent of the shots.

- When I first saw Marquis Daniels and Josh Howard as rookies playing for Dallas, I thought those two could become stars. They should be a great example for young players like OJ Mayo, Russell Westbrook, Brook Lopez, etcetera. You can never rest on your laurels. Even if you get a head start in the league, that does not mean you win the race. The race is about how many years you can perform at a consistent pace and reach the level we expected. Howard is off to one of the loneliest islands in the NBA, the Washington Wizards. I understand he was hurt consistently over the last few years, but Kobe Bryant put up numbers with a broken finger and bad ankle.

With the addition of Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood, the Mavericks are definitely one of the top teams in the West. But they will only go deep in the playoffs if Haywood and Erick Dampier provide great interior defense. Butler is a very gifted player and I am extremely excited he has a chance to redeem himself and get back to the player I really enjoyed watching.

- When Marcus Camby got traded to Portland from the Clippers, they said he was so upset that he ran out of the team dinner. I really find that hard to believe. I believe this is what really happened… Camby, not wanting to seem too enthusiastic, used the acting classes he was secretly taking during off days in Los Angeles. He turned his head and threw some water in his eyes, slammed his fist down on the dinner table and for good measure uttered a few obscenities. He then raced out the restaurant, ran around the corner and started doing cartwheels and screaming with joy.

The Blazers have put themselves in a tremendous position to make a serious run come playoffs. The key is obviously Brandon Roy getting healthy and quite possibly Greg Oden coming back for the playoffs. I think Camby deserves to be on a team that is primed to win now and I am glad the Clippers made him use his acting lessons.

I do like Travis Outlaw a lot. I think he and Blake Griffin will cause a ton of matchup problems next year. I am still one of those superstitious people that believe the Clippers are cursed until they move out of L.A. and create their own identity. They were a more competitive team when they played in San Diego and I would love to see them in Anaheim one of these years.

- Darko Milicic is off to Minnesota for one of my favorite players – Brian Cardinal. Brian is the son of one of my favorite trainers when I was at Illinois – Rob Cardinal. Joe Dumars‘ nightmare refuses to go away. Joe, please admit this guy haunts you. I think it is pretty obvious he can’t play and wants to go home. Kurt Rambis, do him a favor and let Darko go home. We really need to stop punishing this guy.

- The Bulls give up Tyrus Thomas to the Bobcats and get a steal in Hakim Warrick for John Salmons. I really like Warrick because he is not just athletic, but he can actually put that orange ball in the basket. Also, Flip Murray from Charlotte will carry the Bulls offensively on nights when they need him. Thomas, welcome to the world of getting the ultimate teacher in Larry Brown.

Tyrus, here is some advice from a former player of Coach Brown. Listen and listen well. Because if you do, you might become a pretty good basketball player and not just an athlete. There is a reason why you have not progressed, so get ready to make your mouth small and ears big or you will be out the league and a European star in a few years.

- Lionel Hollins just got more energy to throw on the floor with Ronnie Brewer. I can’t see him playing a ton of minutes, but he will play a very good defensive role in the fourth quarter when the Grizzlies can rotate OJ Mayo and Sam Young out for Brewer.

- I mention Theo Ratliff because he might become a starter for the Bobcats. Brown loves defensive-minded big men who do not crave the ball. Ratliff also brings a good spirit to a team that has some characters.

The landscape is similar. The Lakers, Cavaliers Magic, Celtics and Hawks are still the teams to beat, but the most fun will be the competitive teams at the bottom of the Western Conference fighting for playoff spots. The best month of basketball (March) is almost here and I can’t wait.

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As I continue to watch the great improvement of players like Kevin Durant, Monta Ellis and Brandon Roy, my eyes tend to focus on the players that – although maybe putting up numbers – are still playing below the standards they should be setting. That’s why they have made my Top 10 disappointments list for the first half of the season. I am becoming increasingly disturbed with all the excuses that come from players’ mouths about why they are struggling.

I will admit that the athletes that grace our NBA courts today are better overall athletes compared to players 15 years ago, but in the same sense they are probably the softest and most mentally timid I have ever seen.

The league has relaxed the rules to a point that if you can actually put the ball on the floor two times, an average player becomes pretty good offensively. Still they complain when a player makes contact. Don’t they realize we had to play through hand checking from end to end? Don’t they realize there was a time a defender could put two hands in your back on the post? Don’t they realize when you drove the lane players would take you out without the threat of a flagrant foul or ejection?

If Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Larry Bird, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley played in today’s game with these rules, only two current players would be still getting superstar attention: Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Why? Because they are physically and mentally tougher than anyone in the game.

Young players like Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Amare Stoudemire, Dwight Howard, etcetera, would be very good players… But would trail behind the players I listed. My word to players in today’s game is to toughen up both mentally and physically. And, most importantly, stop complaining.

If I hear one more coach or announcer complain about a team playing back-to-back games or four times in five nights, I am going to scream. If those great players listed above did not have to play three games in three nights or six games in seven days back then, what kind of numbers would they have had? I sometimes think the players today think NBA players have always flown charters, had equipment managers to wash their uniforms and carry them. Most importantly, I assume they think teams provided meals before and after games.

What David Stern should do every year for two months is take away the charters and make them fly commercial, force players to wash their own uniforms and play three games in three nights in three different time zones. I would bet that the appreciation would return immediately for how good this league has become and the part they play in it.

I picked these players as my mid-season disappointing Top 10 for various reasons. Most of them have very good stats, but could be playing much better and hopefully they will turn it around for the sake of their teams in the second half of the season.

10. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio

I know he has been injured over the last few years, but so have Kobe Bryant and Amare Stoudemire. He seems to have aged five years since last season. He went 0-10 against OKC the other day and I would not have ever imagined a player that gets to the basket like Ginobili would have that kind of night. 40 percent from the field is horrible for a scorer like Ginobili, so you would hope he improves dramatically in the second half and gets back in rhythm.

9. Mehmet Okur, Utah

This guy is a classic underachiever. Okur has everything a complete player needs except the toughness to top it off. He can post up, shoot from anywhere on the court and pass the ball, but yet Jerry Sloan never knows what he’s going to get from Okur. No way should he be shooting 42 percent from the field with his all-around game. I know they are trying to trade Carlos Boozer and that could be the wrong move if Okur does not become a more consistent player.

8. Vince Carter, Orlando

This is not all Vince Carter’s fault. Why would a team that made the Finals a year ago allow a player to come in and take a team-leading 15 shots per game while he is shooting a terrible 39 percent from the field? Carter is doing what he has always done. He should have been instructed by the most dominant player on the team, Dwight Howard, that he wants the ball and Carter could have made it happen. Carter is streaky and when healthy will explode, but the Magic will not repeat as Eastern champs if Carter is taking most of the shots.

7. Dwight Howard, Orlando

He’ the only superstar on this list. And that’s because he’s too nice. Howard is averaging 10 free-throw attempts a game while attempting 9 shots. Yes, I know that equates to more attempts than it really shows. But here is the problem… Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter and Jameer Nelson are shooting terrible from the field. Howard has to demand the ball more and convince those three that their percentage and confidence will rise accordingly. He will get them to the bonus early in quarters and thus soften the defensive pressure on his jump shooters. Every scorer knows the way to consistent shooting is getting to the line and Howard is the highway to getting them there.

6. Derrick Rose, Chicago

The last Rookie of the Year has not excelled in terms of leadership in the fashion I expected. He should be averaging much more than 6 assists a game even if running mate Ben Gordon is not there. Defensively, he has not improved either. Just one steal per game. I admit the Bulls are in a little turmoil lately, but this should not be affecting Rose, who has the ability to become one of the top point guards in the league for many years to come. I expect Rose to take off in the second half and one signal is his ability to score consistently in the fourth quarter when his team needs him most.

5. Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee

The Australian center is putting up very good numbers, but a No. 1 pick should be a star. He has excellent footwork and a high IQ on the court, but it seems like he is satisfied with just being OK. I saw him miss a game-tying layup from point-blank range against the Suns last week. He tried a finger roll instead of emphatically tearing the rim down. I like Brandon Jennings, but do you think Hakeem Olajuwon or Shaquille O’Neal in their prime would allow a rookie to jack up three-point shots with 15 seconds on the shot clock.

4. Elton Brand, Philadelphia

I honestly thought Brand would make an easy adjustment from Achilles surgery because he plays well below the rim, but he looks slow and mechanical. He has had some solid games and has sent messages that he can get it done on some nights, but not at the consistent level coach Eddie Jordan would like. I think we should wait a while before we solidify that Brand will not get back to an All-Star level, but the window is slowly closing.

3. Ben Gordon, Detroit

Detroit has not had a good run when it comes to acquiring players lately. Gordon is a fabulous offensive talent, but I just questioned where he would fit on a team with a plethora of swingmen. He needs to be the center of attention in a halfcourt game, but they have Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey and a fireball in Will Bynum. I would not be surprised to see Gordon somewhere else next season.

2. Caron Butler, Washington

A few years ago this was one of my favorite players, but something has happened and I don’t like it. I see a player that had a good body looking overweight and out of shape. He is not as explosive as he once was and most importantly I don’t see the hungry and dirty approach to the game in terms of a physical presence. He is shooting 42 percent from the field and that has to come up, but only if he loses a few pounds and works on his conditioning.

1. LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland

He is No. 1 because I think he should be an All-Star every year if he wanted to. He plays the game too soft and seems to back further and further away from the basket the more physical it gets. He has a decent post game and excellent mid-range shot, but does not know how to mix it up. This will be a major problem as we enter the second half of the season. Juwan Howard will not be able to continue to log big-time minutes as the season winds towards the playoffs. Aldridge should be a better field-goal percentage shooter – similar to Amare Stoudemire. But the most surprising stat is he is a terrible shot blocker. The Blazers have lost two centers and now it’s time for Aldridge to get tougher and play like he is capable of or they will struggle to make the playoffs.

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A new NBA season is upon us and we have no idea who will win the championship. There’s a reason why… We have an abundance of teams that are more than qualified – like the Lakers, Hornets, Spurs, Jazz, Rockets, Mavericks and Suns in the Western Conference. The Eastern Conference might not have as many powerhouses as the West, but there still are plenty of qualified teams. Cleveland, Detroit, Orlando, Philadelphia, Toronto and Atlanta all proved last year they can be tough opposition come playoff time to try to dethrone Boston.

Boston is the favorite until someone beats them and the Lakers are the favorite in the West, especially with Andrew Bynum back in the lineup, but I don’t want to focus on teams this early. I am targeting players and where they rank coming into this season.

Here are my Top 25 players in the league and my reasons for ranking them.

25. Shawn Marion

The most versatile forward in the game. Shawn gives a team a little of everything and a lot of solid defense. Underappreciated for what he brings, he will command a ton of attention at the trade deadline if the Heat can’t reach a contract agreement with him.

24. Manu Ginobli

The guy is a winner and a competitor. Definitely the best foreign player in the league when it comes to effectiveness in clutch situations. Led the Spurs in scoring and carried them in crunch time. The most disliked player in the league on the road due to his playing style… But every team would love to have him.

23. Tracy McGrady

The key for Tracy is to stay healthy. I wonder how committed he is in the weight room. Body has not changed much during his career, which is a negative. Definitely one the best scorers in the league, but on-the-ball defense will be huge for Houston this year. He needs to back off on deferring to the three-point shot. I always felt he is a mid-range shooter and that’s what the Rockets need him to be.

22. Chauncey Billups

He has great leadership abilities, but I think he has to step it up even more. He seemed to get along with ex coach Flip Saunders, but allowed his teammates to step out of line too often last year. I think at times he’s a little too unselfish because he is the best scorer on the team with his ability to get a jump shot or drive to the basket at will. I expect more this year to validate being 21 on my list.

21.  Caron Butler

Gilbert Arenas will have to take a back seat to Butler when he gets healthy. He has become the heart and soul of the Wizards. He has an ability to create shots when none seem available and his jumpshot has improved every season. A true warrior who has battled injuries the last few years.

20. Elton Brand

When healthy, he’s one the best power forwards in the game. The Sixers now have one of the best post players and screeners in the game. Brand has a lot to prove this year and eyes will be on him all season long, but he will prevail with consistent offense and sneaky shot blocking ability.

19. Baron Davis

I will not believe Davis leaving Golden State was on his own accord. The Warriors are going to suffer without Davis and the Clippers will be rewarded. He has the most underrated on-the-ball hands in the league defensively. And we all know of his ability to change the opponent’s defense when he has the ball on the perimeter or the post.

18. Shaquille O’Neal

Quite honestly, in my opinion he is still the most dominating presence in the game today. He changes the game when he is on the floor and that makes him still one of the best players in basketball. People tend to talk about his commitment to staying in shape, but look at it this way… How many big men like Shaq have lasted this long? Zero. Give him credit for maintaining what he has with that massive body. Stanley Roberts, Benoit Benjamin, Oliver Miller… No, not great players like Shaq, but they could not stay in shape because of the bodies they had. He will produce some big numbers at times this year with the Suns slowed offense.

17. Carmelo Anthony

A combination of finesse and power. A tremendous offensive rebounder and finisher around the basket. Anthony would be higher if he developed better leadership abilities and trusted his teammates more often on the court. He will definitely wind up in the top twenty in scoring when his career is done, but championships will elude him if he does not continue to improve his overall package.

16. Tony Parker

Please find me someone who can stop him from getting to the basket?  You will not find that person. Speed and underrated strength allows Parker to get in the paint and complete shots. Parker is a true winner and is the most dangerous penetrator in league history.  His jump shot in the two-man game with Duncan has made him a true force.

15. Paul Pierce

His nickname is The Truth. Well, true it is. He has an uncanny ability to score on anyone off the dribble or in the post. He loves contact and is definitely one of the best go-to clutch players in the league. His leadership qualities really came to light during the championship run. That has elevated Pierce among the greats in Celtic history.

14. Allen Iverson

The toughest player pound for pound in the history of the league. A medical marvel that never runs out of energy. I often wondered if Iverson would last five years in the league, but I understand now why he has endured. He was one of the best quarterbacks in the country when he decided to focus on basketball and now we understand the ignorance to pain when it comes to him. He is downright relentless and a joy to watch.

13. Steve Nash

Every time I see Steve Nash I ask God why couldn’t I have been born 10 years later. Nash is the most unselfish player in the league. He honestly dislikes taking a bunch of shots. His enjoyment comes in the form of an Amare Stoudemire or Shaq dunk or a Raja Bell three-pointer than actually scoring 20 points a night. That’s why he won back to back MVPs  and that is why he is still one of the best players in the league. Nash will be counted on to use that stroke more this year because he will play off the ball more than usual. That’s a great move because he is the best shooter in the league.

12. Dirk Nowitzki

He is the best shooting big man in the league, but needs to improve individual leadership on a team in need of it. He also has to stop deferring to the three-pointer and become more assertive around the basket, which he can do with ease. (I apologize to Dirk and all Maverick fans for the oversight. He clearly belongs on the Top 25).

11. Deron Williams

Williams will do something unheard of in Utah if he continues to improve every year. Yes, I will say it… Make people stop thinking about John Stockton. The Jazz are right back at the level Stockton left when it comes to a point guard that leads and produces victories on a consistent basis. Williams is definitely the strongest point guard in the league and equally as smart when it comes to making decisions in a Jerry Sloan offensive system.

10. Dwyane Wade

Would be higher if he could just stay healthy. I mentioned a few years ago that he would not last long in the league if he continued to hit the floor 50 times a game. Wade was fantastic this summer in the Olympics and showed me that he could possibly lead the league in steals. He has really gotten himself into great shape so I expect him to get back on track to becoming the great player we all expected him to be when he led Miami to a title.

9. Chris Bosh

Reminds me of Bill Cartwright, but athletic. I would be terrified to guard him because his body seems to be going in twenty different directions when he attacks, but it works and gets him to the free-throw line consistently. Now with Jermaine O’Neal beside him, he should take off even more. He really needs to develop a go-to move inside and stop trying to incorporate a thousand moves, which I think gets him in trouble at times.

8. Dwight Howard

Can be as good as he wants to. He has the body to maneuver anywhere he wants to on the court and that is huge at this level. His rebounding ability and presence on the court alone warrant Howard this spot. Must improve free-throw shooting if he plans on moving up any further.

7. Amare Stoudemire

The most feared power forward in the game because of the embarrassment factor. He is what I call “dirt strong” and it’s deceiving because of his slender build. His shooting stroke is picture perfect and consistent.  Terry Porter’s new offensive system will allow Amare to get more post-up opportunities, thus improving his trips to the charity stripe, where he hovered around 80 percent all year. He should average 25-plus points again this year and improve defensively.

6. Yao Ming

Injuries cost Yao last year, but before he left for the season he was playing like the best center in the league statistically and one must wonder if Houston would have broken the Lakers’ 33-game winning streak if he did not go down at the beginning of it. He is difficult to guard when in top shape. I expect him to have a great year leading the Rockets deep in the playoffs. Ron Artest will keep him from picking up cheap fouls with his great one-on-one defense.

5. Kevin Garnett

Kevin is the here because he finally got a chance to combine his talents and leadership with All-Stars Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. He is the most persistent player I have ever seen. I have never seen Garnett take a night off emotionally. If you have watched Garnett over his career, he is in constant dialogue with himself for 48 minutes and 82 games. That, my friends, is special in itself and now he is a champion.

4. Tim Duncan

This guy is pure professionalism. I would love my son to live with him for a summer. His demeanor and unselfishness with his teammates is pure gold. He could average huge numbers every year, but understands winning championships is more important. No way does Ginobili lead the team in scoring without Duncan allowing him to. Give credit to David Robinson for instilling that in Duncan.

3. Chris Paul

He is here because I personally think he is the best leader right now in the NBA. He has admitted studying Steve Nash and it is obvious when you watch his interaction with his teammates. Paul is a clone of Isiah Thomas and he showed it last year. The best pick-and-roll guard in the league.

2. Kobe Bryant

The closest in talent to Michael Jordan and in a lot of ways better than MJ. Dislike him if you want, but he is the perfect example of preparation when it comes to basketball. He is the smartest player in the league and makes the game look easy.

1. LeBron James

The best physical tools in the history of the game. He has the smarts of Magic Johnson, the brute strength and athleticism of George McGinnis and the speed of Ricky Green rolled into one massive body. I have said this since he has been in the league… If he continues to improve his jump shot, he will become the best ever.

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