The Sports Fan

The NBA Draft in One Word - Anticlimactic

My first complaint was that ESPN's coverage was god-awful. I won't beat up on the 'analysis' (others have done that better), but the layout and presentation where horrible. If I stepped away for a fresh Jameson or to tinkle, I had no idea what happened in my absence. I couldn't tell who was picking, who was just picked, the past few picks. And, they kept throwing up past trades and picks, which confused the hell out of me. When they put up the Denver / Philly trade that brought AI to the Nuggets, there were about 3 seconds where I thought it was a current trade, not some review.

My draft analysis:

• Portland Trailblazers: obviously had a plan going in. They knew they were going to take Oden, and got a fair trade for Randolph, getting cap relief and Channing Frye back.
• Seattle Supersonics: Got to love Killer Durant! I can't bring myself to cheer for Seattle, but they'll be in the hunt for 10 years. Trading Ray Allen for the rights to pick Jeff Green is great, also. Allen has 1 or 2 years left in him, and this gives Seattle a core to grow together without having to rebuild half-way through Durant's career.
• Boston Celtics: As many others have said – this makes no sense. The #5 pick was valuable (Jeff Green), why give that up for a guy whose got 1 or 2 years left, coming off double ankle surgery, who plays the same position as Paul Pierce? What are they going to do, back each other up?
• Chicago Bulls: Love the suit, hated the pick. Just what they need, another long, athletic, energy guy with very few basketball skills. At some point, they need someone who can score, right?
• Phoenix Suns: As Chad Ford said, Phoenix should just shut down its scouting department. Fourth year and a row they've traded or sold their draft picks. There was value on the board that they wouldn't have had to pay right away. I don't get what the team is doing right now.

 

The real news for me, though, was what didn't happen. Zach Randolph and Ray Allen were the two biggest moves of the draft, and they weren't really a surprise. For all the noise, I was surprised to see KG not going somewhere. They still don't have anything that can help them win this year or next, and then KG's career is over. Why not take what you can and start the rebuilding sooner? Alternatively, you can wait until the trade deadline and get $.50 on the dollar instead of $.75. Also, someone needs to fold the Atlanta Hawks. Their ownership debacle has made doing business in the NBA difficult for 2 years now. I thought the Commish had some sort of power or something?

Lakers Desperate, Timberwolves Foolish

I haven't posted in a week or so. Partly because I'm still in mourning because of the debacle the NBA put in front of us for the Finals, and partly because all these trade rumors are driving me crazy. As soon as I get an opinion formulated on a complicated 4-way deal that sends KG to the Lakers and Jermaine O'Neal to the Celtics, it falls off the table (justifiably so – that one was a dog). We're now a few days from the Draft, and things are settling enough to make a post that's not outdated in 8 hours.

For all the weird talk, there are just a few teams actively discussing trades. The Celtics want veterans, the Timberwolves are kind-of interested in trading KG, the Lakers are not-very-interested in trading Kobe, and the Suns are in the middle of every trade rumor. Between Marion, KG, Kobe and several lottery picks in the deepest draft in a decade, this is a fascinating offseason – much more so than the Finals even (you listening David Stern?)

• The Lakers are desperate, but about 2 years too late. As so many others have pointed out already, they have the greatest player in his generation in his prime, and their following a youth movement. This makes absolutely no sense. You either add veterans who can help win today, or rebuild and plan for the future. The Lakers are trying to do both at the same time. Kobe is right to be bitching, and the Lakers look stupid. You don't build around Jordan Farmour, Odom, Andrew Bynum and Kobe. You add pieces to Odom and Kobe (i.e., Jason Kidd / Ron Artest), or you trade the veterans and build youth around Bynum / Farmour. GM 101, assholes. So the Lakers are desperate. They can't trade Kobe, or they lose their panache and season ticket revenue. At the same time, the young pieces and contracts they have don't interest anyone. Any move they make is a step down, period. It doesn't help when Mitch Kupchak is saying publicly that the team underachieved last season. They're desperate to appease Kobe and improve, but what options do they have?  Who can they add at this point?  Bottom line, nothing happens. They don't trade Kobe and they can't make a significant move to help the franchise. Status quo until training camp and Kobe holds out, then all bets are off.
• The Timberwolves are delusional. They should have started looking at trades for Garnett a year ago. Now, there are lots of scenarios but few of them are along the lines of what Minnesota wants. They want 90 cents on the dollar, when they should be looking at 75 cents. They're not getting Al Jefferson and the Celts #5, and they're not getting Amare Stoudemire. Of course, they could do nothing and lose Garnett next year with no compensation. Better to get some cap relief and a few draft picks. I see Garnett moving, but if it drags on after the draft then it could easily drag on until the trade deadline. At which point, they get 50 cents on the dollar, and future draft picks in a weaker draft.
• The Suns don't have to do shit. They all-but-won it all last year, and look to be even better this coming year with Amare another year removed from micro-fracture knee surgery. They would like to move Marion because of salary cap and chemistry issues, but don't necessarily have to. I think they'll move him, likely for a high draft pick, and not for KG.
• The Celtics – good god, what are they thinking. That they let themselves be mentioned in a trade that had them giving up Jefferson and the #5 for Jermaine O'Neal is sinful. They're in the same boat as the Lakers, though. A bunch of youth and one great veteran. You can't win with that, and you can't build around the youth because the vet commands so much attention and cap space. Honestly, I'm surprised their trading the pick by itself, and not with Paul Pierce. Looks to me that Ainge thinks he's closer to a title run than he really is.

The bottom line to me, is that none of the trade scenarios look viable, mostly because NBA GMs are stupid and ball-less. I doubt anything big will happen before the draft.

If Game 3 Where a Dog, I'd Shave It's Butt...

...and make it walk backwards.

That was an absolute abortion of a basketball game.  Did someone have to win?  Couldn't BOTH teams lose?  Neither deserved it.  I've seen pre-season games that were more entertaining.  I've seen Summer League games more exciting.  This is the NBA Freaking Finals!  Don't we deserve a better game than THIS?  A few tid bits:

• Neither team shot over 42%, Cleveland a stunning 37%
• A combined 26 turnovers
• Ginobili without a field goal, and 3 points all from the stripe in the last few minutes
• So much for Boobie - 1 / 10, 2 points and 1 assist
• San Antonio shoots a stellar 56% from the free-throw line.
• The officiating was attrocious on both ends.  Inconsistent fouls, missed calls, and the attrocious missed call on the final play.

I know Lebron was fouled on the last play, no question.  But so what.  Any playoff team from the West would have jumped all over a game when San Antonio plays so poorly, especially with Tim Duncan in foul trouble.  If they're playing Phoenix, Denver, Los Angeles, Utah or Dallas, and San Antonio loses by 20.

The problem is really glaring, if your David Stern.  The difference in conferences is so glaring, Hollinger and others are suggesting ways to mix the conferences as part of a playoff seeding.  And it's not going to get any better.  In the next 2 or 3 years, Carmelo will get better, Dallas will improve, Kobe will get help, Utah will learn from their Conference Finals run, Nash won't retire, and San Antonio isn't going anywhere.  In the next 4 or 5 years, Durant will be unstoppable, and Oden will be a man, not a man-child.  There's no parity in the NBA like there is in the NFL. 

I can't believe I watched the whole thing.

More Suns Trade Rumors (Boston and Detroit)

This is getting tiresome, but the blog-world is overflowing with trade rumors regarding the Suns.  Over the past few days, my google-alert for the Phoenix Suns has had 7 or 8 links a day talking about this trade or that.  A few points to bring these rumors into context:

• It's true, Robert Sarver (Suns owner) has said a few things in the past about not wanting any part of the luxury tax.  However, those comments were prior to the bitter end of their playoffs.  At the press conference introducing Steve Kerr, a few local radio folks talked with him and he seems to have softened on that stance.  Phoenix (the team) has made a ton of money, and even if he's not a Walton (like the friggin Nuggets owner), he can afford to go over the cap.  The key is, you only get so many chances to win a championship in a given generation.  The Suns are RIGHT THERE with the current team.  I don't think Sarver wants to look back in a couple of years or decades and wonder what would have happened if he'd spent a few million bucks.  So, I don't think there's a great deal of pressure from ownership to cut payroll.  In fact, I think there's more interest in winning.
• All these rumors are coming from blogs / newspapers of teams wanting to acquire Shawn Marion.  None of them are originating in Phoenix.  That's important, because I don't think Phoenix is shopping anyone right now.  Kerr has been on the job for all of a week, and I don't think he's trading a franchise cornerstone in his first 30 days on the job.  I'm sure he's answering the phone when teams call with offers, but I don't see any indication Phoenix is making the calls right now.
• Steve Kerr, in his introductory press conference, said flat out that he's not looking to make big changes to the team.  He likes the coach, the team, the style of play, and is only looking to tweak things.  Trading Marion does not sound like a 'tweak'.

I talked already about the Wallace for Marion (plus a few pieces) trade, it's not in Phoenix's best interest.  It makes them worse defensively, and may or may not make them better offensively.  At the same time, it's a massive risk in terms of locker room chemistry.  Frankly, I don't want a 24-year old Stoudemire learning at the knee of Rasheed Wallace.

The newest wrinkle is a trade with Boston for the #5 pick and a few pieces (Delonte West and others).  This is a re-building move, acquiring youth as opposed to adding pieces to win now.  Boston would LOVE this trade, mostly because they're afraid of Ainge making the pick, but it makes no sense for Phoenix.  Phoenix is equiped to win next year and the year after.  Sacrificing that for some unknown (especially at #5) is, well, stupid.  The only way I can see Phoenix making this move, is if they package the pick and use it as a stepping stone to something that makes more sense.  Not likely at all.

I've said before that the only way you move a core piece of the team, is if your getting a Kobe or KG in return.  I'll ammend that to include Kevin Durant.  Reality is, neither Portland nor Seattle would make that move.

Busy Offseason For Denver Nuggets

Of course, not the kind of activity one hopes for in a team fighting for another round or two in the playoffs.  In the past 24 hours the Nuggets have made quite a bit of news.  Nope.  No trades, no bold offseason moves.  No news of someone's offseason workout plan, or the team coming together in the offseason a la Orlando Majic last year.

Sigh

• J R Smith was apparently in a car accident in New Jersey.  Allegedly, he drove through a stop sign and got his car ran into.  The first reports said it was no big deal, and that he left with just bumps and bruises.  More recently, reports are that passengers were air lifted to the hostpital and that Smith was thrown from the vehicle.
• More fun, with Demarr Johnson, as he was tasered outside a nightclub.  He was arrested for inteferring with police, but his lawyer is saying he was just trying to break up a fight between a couple of women.

Oh, and I've read a couple of articles now that say a man married to a Walton (as in Walmart) is worried about luxury tax.  Great time to be Nuggets fan

Phoenix Suns and Camby / Sheed

There's nothing at all to substantiate either of these, but there's a been a lot of discussion lately on local radio on the Suns trading for either Camby or Sheed.  I realize radio is just trying to drum up discussion, and it's not the real world, but...

The case for Camby, is that you get someone with a stronger inside presence who can run the floor and shoot a high percentage mid-range set shot.  I'm a lilfe-long Nuggets fan, so I see Camby a lot.  He's not a 'strong' inside presence.  He's a very good help defender with great insticts and longer arms.  But he's not physical at all.  Come playoff time, pending some beautiful intervention by Stern / Stu, physicality will still rule the playoffs.  Anyone notice what the Spurs did to the Nuggets this year, when the Nugs had their own version of Kurt Thomas in Nene?  The trade scenarios also involve either Marion or Thomas.  I've said it before - unless your getting KG , Jason Kidd or Kobe, don't do get rid of anyone that plays more than 10 minutes a game, ESPECIALLY Kurt Thomas.  Also, Camby is injury prone and I'm not sure how he'd stay healthy in the Suns system playing meaningful minutes.

Sheed?  No no no no no.   He's one of the top 5 headcases in the league, god only knows what he'd do in our locker room.  How much drama, ego and emotion can they reasonably expect Nash to manage?  Yes, he shoots the 3 well, is reasonably good defensively - it makes sense for all those reasons.  I guess he'd take some pressure of Stoudemire in the most-T's race.  But again, you do this only if you don't move a core player, and there's no minutes for anyone else.  Anyone think Sheed would do well with 10 - 15 minutes a game?  Me neither.

So far, I've seen no rumor that makes sense for the Suns.  Of these two scenarios, I'll take Camby, but only if it costs the Suns no more than Diaw.

Now....wouldn't Jason Kidd be an interesting acquisition...anyone want to see Kidd coming off the bench to spell Nash?  He's not getting younger, and I think that's a great scenario, but it's as likely as any of these other 'rumor's.  Which is to say, not likely at all.

Maybe Henry Abbot Can Fix LeBron?

I watched the game last night from my favorite pub, and read all the relevant stuff this morning.  It seems no one can figure out what happened.  My thoughts:

• The only thing everyone seems to agree on, is that Mike Brown should be fired for playing a limping Hughes so much when he has a healthy Boobie on the bench.
• Yes, Parker did whatever he wanted to do, but then again he was being gaurded by Hughes a lot of the time.
• Why the fuck would Brown put LeBron on Parker??  LeBron is struggling offensively already, Cleveland has very few offensive options, why wear out your primary threat defending a guy as quick as Parker??
• I cannot for the life of me understand where LeBron goes for the first 3 quarters of playoff games.  I understand that Cleveland was close most of the game, but there's no excuse for him to be that passive offensively.  Why not attack early and make San Antonio adjust or get back on their heels?  It's Game 1 on the road -- what's so wrong with getting a big lead???  Jesus, this drives me crazy.  It's like LeBron has to be the come-from-behind hero in every game, like it validates his godliness or something.
• This game was not nearly as close as the score indicated, but LeBron sat on his hands most of the game.  It'll be interesting to see what San Antonio does if he starts to take over a game.  THAT'S the game I want to see.  Anyone think we'll see it?
• Loved Simmons comment on what would happen if Verajao and Manu ran into each other...Can't have too many Ghostbusters references, can we?  I disagree with Simmons on the announcers though...I can't stand Mark Jackson or Van Gundy.

So, as many of you know, I'm no fan of Henry Abbot.  Mostly becuase I think he's too old-school and well, not very smart.  But now the prick is stealing my stuff.  The day after I posted this blog entry on the correlation between Duncan's foul trouble and a San Antonio win, he starts mentioning it in every blog, including 2 or 3 times last night, as he keeps a running fould count.  Maybe I should figure out what's wrong with LeBron so he can announce it to the world and claim it as his...Also, his analysis was not very good, and not very entertaining.  Reading his running blog was like watching a game with Wise LeBron, who won't shut up.

I Know Why Barry Sucks Now

Last night, I had the privelege of watching the Diamondbacks / Giants game from a wonderful seat 4 rows up from 1st base, right behind the Giants dugout.

I was there on business, and despite the fact that there were 23,000 people there, I never had to break off a sentence or raise my voice.  It was dead quiet.  Yes, it was 1-0 game, but still, the crowd was really, really quiet.

Until Barry came in to pinch hit in the 9th inning.  Then, the entire place let loose - booing, pointing, yelling at him.  Honestly, it seemed a little ugly.  Barry worked the count full, then walked to 1st base.  Then the crowd REALLY let him have it.  "Swing the bat, you pussy!" etc.  He stood on 1st base for a few seconds waiting for the pinch runner, then walked back to the dugout.  He was walking directly into a mass of people who really didn't like him - I mean, they HATED him.  You could just feel the negativity, all directed at Barry Bonds. 

So, me thinks that with that much antagonism directed at him game-in and game-out, no wonder he's struggling.  Just the negative energy alone would make it hard.  How can you approach the plate with any enthusiasm or concentration when every single person is rooting HARD for you to fail every single night?

Oh yeah, one other thing, he walks like my 80 year old grandpa.  I mean seriously, I was worried he wasn't going to make it to 1st base.  It's not just shin-splints folks...Just painful watching him try to move.  I have another blog on this later, some serious irony is coming.

Phoenix Suns Offseason Plan

Well the draft lottery sure changed things.  Instead of getting a stud #4 pick in a loaded draft, Phoenix will have to wait until next year to get anything meaningful.  This changes everything with regards to the Suns offseason plan.

• I start this with the premise that Phoenix isn't far away from a championship.  In fact, they had the pieces to win it this year, if not the luck.  Make a few tweaks, but leave the team in tact.
• Kurt Thomas.  It appears more than ever, that all roads go through San Antonio not Dallas.  (Last year was an abberation, Duncan and Manu were hurt all year...if they're healthy Dallas loses in 6).  This means you have to keep Kurt.  Very few people can play Duncan as well as Thomas, which means he's not expendible.  Clearly, the Suns were a better team against San Antonion when he was on the floor.
• Banks and Diaw.  I sincerely doubt anyone will take Banks or Diaw, but both have major cap numbers and add very little value.  Although, I have to say I thought Banks could have had a big time defensive presence against Tony Parker and his shooting seems good when he gets minutes.  I honestly don't know why he's been buried, but if your not going to play him, then trade him rather than pay him to sit on the bench.  I have no idea what's up with Boris.  When he's motivated or angry, he's a friggin' beast and all-but-ungaurdable.  The problem is, that almost never happened this year.  The coaches know best, but from my couch, I'd say move him if you can.
• Stoudemire / Marion.  Honestly, I don't think they can coexist, and I think it's 75% Stoudemire.  But, without the #4 pick, I'm not sure how you move him.  I see rumors of a 3-way deal with Chicago that ends up swapping him for KG, but that adds a HUGE luxury tax hit, and I don't hear Sarver signing up for that.  Frankly, I think they are both ego-driven head cases that are a ton of troulble in the locker room.  But, how can you move them without seriously downgrading the team?  A moody Marion is still giving you 15 / 15 and defending all 5 positions.  As I said, I don't think they can co-exist, but I also don't see what the alternative is.  Unless you can get KG, they're untradeable, and I'd move Stoudemire before I'd move Marion.  He's just a mess in the locker room.
• Draft.  Knowing the Suns, they'll dump these picks unless Acie Law is still around (highly unlikely).  What I don't understand is, why not take a flyer on some foreign dude, or some high flying, athletic wing?  Manu and Parker were both low draft picks...

Final comment on KG.  I would beware getting a superstar whose been in the league for 10+ years.  The problem is that they've been playing the game a certain way their entire career.  Asking them to adjust to a new system, new team mates, new passing angles etc. is a lot to ask.  I see what AI isn't doing in Denver - adapting to his team.  He still dribbles too much, and shoots a poor percentage without involving his teammates.  In a system catered to that style, he can be successful, i.e, surround him with rebounders and pick-setters.  But in a system where he has to adapt to Melo, not-so-much.  Same with KG.  I think his game is uniquely suited to Nash and Marion, and he'd make the locker room a much better place...but it'd take some time to make it work.  Anyone but Nash, and it's a lost cause.  WITH Nash, anything is possible.

Suns Have to Make Changes, But It's Not What You Think

Events over the weekend confirm one of my biggest concerns about these Suns.  Team Chemistry.  Too many fragile egos, insecurities, and guys wanting to be Alpha Dog.  That type of team mojo isn't going to win shit.  Suns just got beat by a team whose coach praises 'Corporate Knowledge' as a key assett of his players.  Yeah, probably not a coincidence.

There were rumblings all year about how Shawn Marion didn't feel adequately appreciated, by the fans, his team mates, his coaches, advertisers or the league as a whole.  When you play with Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire, that's probably going to happen.  Both of them put up a dozen plays a game that could and should make SportsCenter, where as Marion's 'D' and rebounding doesn't generate that same level of excitement.  The fact that he makes more than anyone else on the team, went to the All Star Game, and gets praised by Nash / D'Antoni more often than anyone else doesn't make him feel better apparently.  Witness the cover story on The Magazine.

Then there's Amare.  He desperately wants to be 'the man', and there are books full of urban legends about him blowing off team mates.  My personal favorite is when he showed up for the private plane taking he, Nash and Marion to film that Nike Commercial...well, he shows up an hour late with an ice cream cone, and said he was late 'cause he got a hair cut.  There's also all kinds of rumblings in the McCallum book about him blowing off rehab, and not telling the team about his knee before it got to the point where it needed microfracture surgery.

All of that culminated in Amare blowing off the final team meeting of the year.  His excuse is as lame as his 'going to check in' excuse during the 'altercation'.  I know what those meetings are, and they have nothing to do with the coach.  It's just the players, and it's mandatory, and every playoff team holds them after the last game (win or lose).  Him not showing up is a large, large sign to the team.

I don't care how good a leader Nash is, you can't keep a team together when your two best players are so insecure and ego-centric.  If nothing else, it's a huge distraction to Nash, worrying about their shots and feelings.

So, the team has to be reconstituted.  Where they better than the Spurs this year?  Yeah, I think they were.  But for Czar Stern and Cheap Shot Bob, they could have won it all, even against Dallas, with the players they have right now.  The problem is, their problems will fester and get worse.  Hurt feelings don't get better with time, and bad chemistry doesn't either.  This was the high-water mark for these Suns, just because of Marion and Stoudemire's egos.

After the draft lottery, I'll tell you what they should do in the off season.