This Day in Black Sports History: February 23, 1986

Throughout his 20-year career in the National Basketball Association, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s trademark sky hook was virtually untouchable, much like the records he held upon his retirement in 1989.

But since his early years growing up in New York City, Abdul-Jabbar was destined to secure his place among basketball royalty.

In high school, Abdul-Jabbar, known as Lew Alcindor, Jr. before converting to Sunni Islam, led Power Memorial Academy, to a 71-game winning streak, a 79-2 overall record and three consecutive New York City Catholic championships.

At UCLA, under the tutelage of head coach John Wooden, Alcindor would be equally dominant, twice winning the College Player of the Year Award (1967, 1969), earning three First Team All-American honors (1967-1969) and becoming the first Naismith College Player of the Year (1969).

With Alcindor anchoring the middle, the Bruins’ three-year record was an astounding 88-2, and the team would win three straight NCAA Championships with Alcindor as the Most Outstanding Player in each Tournament.

During his sophomore season at UCLA, Alcindor boycotted the 1968 Summer Olympics, deciding not to join the Men’s Basketball Team to protest the unequal treatment of African-Americans in the United States.

When Alcindor’s college basketball days were over, he owned a number of records at UCLA that have stood the test of time, including highest season scoring average (29.0), highest career scoring average (26.4) and most points in a single game (61).

Not surprisingly, Alcindor was the first overall pick of the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1969 NBA Draft and the first overall pick of the New York Nets in the American Basketball Association (ABA) Draft. In addition, Alcindor was offered $1 million to play for the Harlem Globetrotters.

Ultimately though, Alcindor chose to play for the Bucks, who outbid the Nets for his services after coming off a season in which they finished an abysmal 27-55.

The addition of Alcindor would pay immediate dividends for Milwaukee as the team won 29 more games to lay claim to second place in the league’s Eastern Division. Alcindor was the overwhelming choice for Rookie of the Year, averaging 28.8 points and 14.5 rebounds per game.

The following season, Milwaukee added Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson to the roster, which propelled the talent-laden Bucks to 66 victories during the 1970-71 season and their first, and only, NBA Championship. The season would also turn out to be one of individual dominance for Alcindor, winning the scoring title (31.7 ppg), his first of six Most Valuable Player Awards and the NBA Finals MVP Award.

On May 1, 1971, the day after the Bucks won the NBA championship, Alcindor adopted the Muslim name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, its Arabic translation roughly meaning "generous/noble (Kareem), servant of (Abdul) the mighty/stern one (Jabbar) [i.e., of God]."

Over the next three seasons, Abdul-Jabbar continued to be the main reason why Milwaukee remained a perennial NBA powerhouse, all while capturing two more MVP Awards.

However, at his request, the Bucks traded Abdul-Jabbar to the Los Angeles Lakers because, culturally and socially, Milwaukee was no longer a good fit for the generation’s next legendary center.

"Live in Milwaukee? No, I guess you could say I exist in Milwaukee," Abdul-Jabbar said in a early magazine interview.

"I am a soldier hired for service and I will perform that service well. Basketball has given me a good life, but this town has nothing to do with my roots. There's no common ground."

In two out of his first three seasons with the Lakers, Abdul-Jabbar would win his fourth and record-tying fifth MVP Awards, but when the team selected Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson with the first overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft, a dynasty began taking shape with Abdul-Jabbar as its centerpiece.

With the tandem of Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson, the Lakers would go on to become the most dominant team of the 80’s, appearing in eight NBA Finals and winning five NBA championships.

Individually, although past his prime, Abdul-Jabbar continued his assault on the league record books, winning his sixth MVP Award in 1980, replacing Elvin Hayes as the all-time leader in games played on Feb. 23, 1986 and surpassing Wilt Chamberlain as the NBA’s all-time scoring leader in 1984.

When he officially retired in 1989 after 20 seasons, Abdul-Jabbar had 19 All-Star Game appearances, 10 All-NBA First Team selections, six NBA championships, six MVP Awards and two Finals MVP Awards under his belt, to go along with career averages of 24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.

During his final season, Abdul-Jabbar was given standing ovations in every single game he played, and was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.

Click here to read the original article at Examiner.com.

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Three Words Can Fix The Los Angeles Lakers Problem: Car…Mel…O…

With nearly three-fourths of the regular season in completion, there appears to be a new look for a team known for success in the last few seasons. Inconsistency is now more of the theme for the 2010-11 Los Angeles Lakers, no longer surrounded with the invisible aura that put fear in their opposition.

Their recent road trip started off with a bang with four straight wins, three against quality teams (New Orleans, Boston, New York). They followed that play up with a despicable loss to Orlando by thirteen, which was then supplanted by an even more disgraceful beat down at the hands of Charlotte by 20.

Despite having nearly the same roster since their first recent championship in 2009, the disparity of their play throughout the season is now starting to cost them in the standings. San Antonio is the clear favorite of the West and will most likely enter the post season at number one. Dallas is now holding the second spot and Oklahoma City is nipping at the heels of the Lakers in fourth place.

Why is seeding important for the Western Conference? The fourth place team will most likely go up against the New Orleans Hornets in the first round. While the Lakers have beaten the Hornets twice on the road this season, New Orleans currently hold the second best home record in the Western Conference and remain a dangerous first round opponent thanks to PG Chris Paul.

Regardless of how this season plays out, it’s obvious that the team needs to make a change to a roster that is using their previous credentials to intimidate opponents. That may work on feeble teams with no hope, but it will become their own demise when the rest of the best come to play the Lakers.

There is only one solution to this problem: get Carmelo Anthony.

Acquiring the superstar forward would come at a hefty price for the Lakers, but it’s a cost that can bring back some pretty big dividends. ESPN’s the Magazine’s Chris Broussard reported that there were rumors of Los Angeles sending Andrew Bynum to Denver for the former Syracuse star.

It’s easy to understand why the Lakers are timid on giving up their promising center; he’s still learning how to play the position and has a high ceiling of potential. At the young age of 23, Bynum will most likely have more years in the league in comparison to Anthony (who is 26).

Size is also key when it comes to success in the NBA. The big man is seven feet tall, 285 pounds with an affinity for swatting shots out of the paint and deceptively, overpowering post moves that leads to points. Those talents are hard to come by for a player of his stature.

That’s where the positives end for reasons why Los Angeles should keep Bynum over Anthony.

A big reason the team needs his services so bad is due to their shaky play. Aside from Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, the other parts just aren’t cutting it. That reason can be mostly attributed to Ron Artest, who’s poor play and lack of care or urgency to improve has been like a knife going into the team’s back. Acquiring the six foot eight inch, combo forward would help to give the team another scoring punch that they desperately need.

Imagine being an opposing coach and having to decide whether to live or die by Bryant, Gasol or Anthony.

It’s a scary thought.

Another reason to pull the trade centers on who would be next in line to become the team’s icon. The team historically has always had another face waiting in the shadow of their current team leader. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar passed the baton onto Magic Johnson, who in turned handed it to Shaquille O’Neal. The big aristotle handed it off to Bryant, but there is no one waiting in the wings as Bryant begins to enter his mid 30s.

Anthony could be that next person to take over.

The final reason stems on the idea of value. Is Bynum that much more valuable than Anthony? While number fifteen is older than the baby-faced center, he is only three years apart in age. That discrepancy isn’t a big difference from one another. Also, Bynum plays a demanding position that will take a toll on his body down the line. He is already beginning to show stages of that; in his six NBA seasons, he’s only had one full campaign and participated in 50 or more games in three of those years.

Along with health and difference in age, the idea of value continues when comparing Bynum to other big men in the league. Currently, J.J. Hickson and Glen Davis average more points per game than the Lakers’ center. His rebounds per game would not even qualify him for the top ten among all big men in the league. During his NBA tenure, the highest he’s averaged scoring-wise in a year is fifteen per game. He’s only averaged more than 30 minutes a game and double-digit rebounds once in his career.

Those totals don’t sound very elite for a big man.

With Gasol and Odom around to play big, Bynum is expendable in a trade for one of the Western Conference’s starting forwards in the All-Star game. Yes, they will lose presence in the paint on both the offense and defense, but gain so much more in a player who can alter the game just like Bryant does.

Pulling together a package along with Bynum would be the best way to fix the Lakers current problem. The acquisition of Anthony would be a great way to redirect the team towards success.

Not just for this season, but for years to come.

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This Day in Black Sports History: February 9, 1992

Figuratively speaking, November 7, 1991 was the day the magic died in the National Basketball Association.

Named by ESPN as the seventh most memorable moment in the past 25 years, Earvin Johnson, Jr., more affectionately known as "Magic,” held a press conference to announce his retirement after testing positive for HIV.

The announcement devastated not only the Los Angeles Lakers franchise, who Johnson guided to five NBA Championships in the 1980’s, but the national and international basketball community, where he had become a beloved figure.

Prior to his announcement, the AIDS virus was associated with drug addicts and homosexuals, but Johnson acknowledged that he was infected through having multiple sexual partners during his playing career.

The virus was also widely viewed as an impending death knell to those with the misfortune of being infected, instantly turning them into social pariahs.

But it was only fitting that “Magic” began the process of destroying these stereotypes with a virtuoso performance that transcended the game.

Even with one of its brightest stars permanently on the shelf, the 1991-92 NBA season commenced according to schedule. Nevertheless, Johnson’s on-court brilliance and magnetic personality remained firmly implanted in the hearts and minds of basketball fans worldwide.

Despite not playing in a single regular season game, Johnson was voted on to the Western Conference starting lineup for the 1992 All-Star Game on February 9, 1992, his 12th selection, and the former three-time Most Valuable Player humbly elected to participate.

Former teammates and opponents weren’t reluctant to voice concerns and objections about Johnson’s presence, but most relented with assurances that it didn’t present a risk and, by the end of the game, no one was upset that he was on the roster.

And how could they be?

By keeping in shape with a daily physical regimen that frequently included full-court, contact basketball, Johnson proved he was more than capable of keeping up with his All-Star teammates and counterparts.

The game ended in a 153-113 Western Conference blowout, but it was the end of the game that provided some of the most memorable moments in NBA history.

After being held scoreless since the end of the second quarter, Johnson went on a scoring spree in the game’s final minutes by making three consecutive three-pointers, tossing in one of his trademark no-look passes to Dan Majerle to add some flair to his run.

On the defensive end, the rest of the players on the floor allowed Johnson to go one-on-one with Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan, to the delight of the capacity crowd.

Johnson capped the game by taking and making an off-balance three-point shot to put the finishing touches on a stat line highlighted by 25 points, nine assists and five rebounds.

Players from both teams ran on to the court to congratulate Johnson and no one had any objections to him winning the second All-Star Game MVP Award of his career.

"When Magic announced that he was going to play, I was skeptical like everyone else, at first," said Portland Trail Blazers All-Star Clyde Drexler, who finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

"But once it was confirmed that everything was safe and he was going to play, everyone in the United States who knows anything about basketball was extremely happy with today. I would much rather have Magic as MVP than myself. It's the best way to honor him and he deserves it."

Johnson provided more in-depth perspective on the message he wanted to convey at the Orlando Arena.

"People with this virus can live on -- that's the message," Johnson said.

"They can run, they can jump. Second of all, you don't have to worry about me playing. You can't get it from hugging, kissing, elbows, and high fives. Life doesn't stop because something happens to you."

And fortunately, 19 years later, life still hasn’t stopped for Earvin “Magic” Johnson.

Click here to read the original article at Examiner.com.

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Los Angeles Lakers Get All Fightey With Los Angeles Clippers

Last night, the battle for NBA supremacy in Los Angeles was waged between the Clippers and the Lakers.

The Clippers got the victory but nearing the end of the game, Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, Baron Davis and Blake Griffin got into a little scuffle:

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Sports In 2011 – A New Year With New Possibilities

2010 was a big year in sports.

It was a year in which many teams and athletes had the greatest moments in their lifetime or history. The fans of the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco Giants finally got to celebrate a title after decades of disappointing seasons and sad endings. Michael Vick had one of the best comeback seasons ever for an athlete after spending nearly two years in jail.

Yet, 2010 also marked a time of others who would drop into the doldrums of obscurity. There was Gilbert Arenas and his playful, gun-slinger antics that got him suspended for most of the 2009-10 NBA season. Ben Roethlisberger dealing with another sexual assault investigation that got him suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season.

Although both players hit the lowest points in their careers, neither one of them fell further from the cliff than Tiger Woods. 2010 was a year of saving and reshaping his image, dodging questions of his personal life and his wife divorcing him. What makes matters worse is that he couldn’t even manage a win in an event during the season.

Despite the down points for those athletes, they can luckily look forward to making 2011 a year of moving forward and descending back to greatness. Arenas gets a new start on one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference with the Orlando Magic. Roethlisberger will be leading his Pittsburg Steelers into the post season once again. Now that his personal life appears stable, Woods appears on par for a Vick-like bounce back year.

Aside from those intriguing 2011 storylines, this year looks to be a step up from 2010 due to its brimming potential. With so many possibilities already developing and new legends to be made at anytime, the public will have to remain on its toes for what the year has in store.

Here are some stories that have promise to shine brightly in 2011:

1) Can Tiger Woods Really Turn Things Around?

As discussed before, Woods had one of the biggest falls ever in the history of sports. Known for his ability to harness pressure and attention into a ball of fire that he unleashes on the courses for eagles and birdies, the legendary golfer finally illustrated one characteristic that we never seen before: he’s human.

The former number one ranked golfer can be optimistic about one thought though; while he did drop tremendously during the 2010 season, he really has no where to go but up in 2011. One win at an event will stamp 2011 as a more successful year than the previous one. Yet, in order to return back to having that invincible aura that he once carried around for years, he’ll have to win numerous events and majors this season.

With his personal life calming down, if he can regain his focus and ability on his game, Woods should be able to get back on course to make a run at Nicklaus’s major record.

2) Can The 2011 Atlanta Falcons Be The 2010 New Orleans Saints?

When “Who Dat” nation celebrated their Super Bowl title in 2010, it allowed a ray of hope for other franchises that have never been able to hoist the championship trophy.

This year could mark the birth of another first time winner.

If there was any team that could pull of a 2010 New Orleans Saints-type run in 2011, it would be the Atlanta Falcons. A team that has never won a Super Bowl since joining the NFL in 1966, this year’s team will have the number one seed in the NFC and have a team prime to end their Super Bowl-less drought.

Of course, to get there, they will need to get through the usual suspects who have reached the promise land lately. Recent champions, such as the New England Patriots, Pittsburg Steelers, Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints, are all back to make another go of it. Not to mention the usual playoff attendees, like the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers and New York Jets, are all hoping to reclaim riches that were synonymous with their franchise’s past.

Potential is in the corner for the Falcons; the only question will be if they can take the punches, and still be the last man standing.

3) Will We See A Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers Final?

If there was a Christmas wish list of what each person in the world wanted, everyo e will most likely list seeing a match up between the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA finals.

There is absolutely no doubt that this would be the hottest ticket in years to acquire, even hotter than any of the recent finals with the Lakers and Celtics. According to an article by Sports Illustrated, the Christmas day matchup between both franchises got the highest rated NBA regular season game since 2004.

What does this mean? The public wants more of this rivalry.

Not only would the public want it, but the NBA is holding their breath until their face turns blue in hopes of getting such a fairy tale matchup. A Lebron James vs Kobe Bryant matchup for the title would have the greatest storyline in the league’s history. Can James finally reach historical significance that he so desperately needs with an NBA championship on his resume? Or, will Bryant stop him to reach his second three peat to even himself with the god of basketball Michael Jordan?

4) Does Four Dominant Starting Pitchers Equal A World Series Title?

Already sporting a formidable trio with Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels, the Philadelphia Phillies felt this was the year they would bounce back from a 2009 World Series loss to win the title in 2010.

Too bad the San Francisco Giants had to go and play the spoiler role in the 2010 NLCS.

Despite the loss, the Phillies appeared to be early contenders for the 2011 season after the loss because of their powerful lineup and the trio kept intact. So it came with an even bigger shock when the Phillies snuck up behind the Yankees and Rangers to snag one of the most coveted free agent pitchers this off-season: Cliff Lee.

Now with the big lefty atop the rotation next to Halladay, Oswalt, and Hamels, Philadelphia looks stronger than ever and have a rotation that’s quietly gaining the reputation as one of the greatest starting pitching rotations in history. They will have challenges before them with the likes of the improved Boston Red Sox, the always pricey roster of the New York Yankees, and the San Francisco Giants going for a repeat.

Even with all those teams ready to take them on, the Phillies new addition could be the final part of the equation that equals a title.

It’s hard to say what exactly will be the biggest story of 2011. It could be any one of the four possibilities in the discussion, or even the proverbial story-out-of-nowhere that always erupts in sports each year. With so many options and opportunities for major headlines, the only way to be aware of what’s to come is to watch and observe the new year.

No matter what, 2011 will undoubtedly follow 2010 in one distinct fashion; it will be a year in which anything can happen in sports.

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Sporadic Era-tic: The Death of the Superfriends

Blowing in the Wind, originally uploaded by awonderfulsplash.

Worry not, dear friends! The Superfriends meme is not dead. It just falls to this lonely spore to wind the clock of change and paradigm. Someone has to declare something dead after all this talk of viral this video and viral that, hashtag trending moments in the blistering web-spun online sun. Our eyes can only be hosts to these ghosts of existence for so long.

So, existence versus non-existence tonight. I declare death to the Superfriends not because they do not exist and/or will not soon come to proliferate. I only offer that such a means to overcoming the mean streets of mediocrity must at some point come to be judged as either viable or f(l)ailing. I recognize it's early in the NBA season, but a verdict must be passed such that all other verdicts may be measured, consciously or collective-subconsciously, upon its wavily inconsistent metaphorical shores.

Sorry, a little rusty here. I offer, in return for your patience and persistence and co-pre-cognizance with me, an alternative.

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh: These are the new figureheads of the Superfriends mold. Amar'e, CP3, 'Melo: These are the leaders of the new, if new be someday told. Right now, the verdict is out on the ledge like hot pie charts waiting for sticky fingered nerds to reach out and grasp at the pretense of truth. And who's the early boy playing Worms: Battle Islands? I'll give you a hint: it's not the eight-and-six Heat. Rather, I suggest you take a look at the twelve-and-eleven Spurs.

That's right, the wily vets, the geriatric section, divorcee's row, the leaders of the old, the Spurs currently hold the best win percentage in the league. How are they doing it? Not with an injection of new legs, because Tiago Splitter ain't doing diddly past six points and three pulls, and DaJuan Blair is the opposite of new legs. They're doing it with the same old system based around Tim Duncan and trickling down to the aforementioned soon-to-be divorcee Tony Parker, the finally healthy Manu Ginobli, and the revitalized Richard Jefferson.

So the Spurs are twelve-and-one. What's new, Nagamatsu? Why write about the difference in paradigms now? Because LeBron James affords us a unique perspective on the efficacy of Superfriends vs. San Antonio as models for building successful basketball teams. In Cleveland, King James was privy to a build similar to that of the Spurs, as was much bruited about when the two teams faced in the finals of '07. Under the careful build of Popovich acolytes Danny Ferry and Mike Brown, LeBron James saw a solid string of successful seasons. Now, having left the patronage of such system, he enters into something more akin to the 80's Laker Showtime teams under Pat Riley's baleful, pomaded watch.

Obviously, the Showtime teams weren't quite a Superfriends model. Perhaps I'm just saying that because they were successful and such a model would ruin my paradigm study. Still, those squads lacked the mercenary feel of such teams as the post-championship Rockets featuring Olajuwon, Drexler, and Barkley and/or Pippen, as I mentioned in my last epocrypha. What other unsuccessful Superfriends squads can we point to? Barkley's 76ers with Dr. J and Moses Malone, as well as Pippen's stint with the Jail Blazers both fit the bill. Dallas' multiple attempts at paving their way to super teams with the Mark Cuban's Benjamins failed, as did the '04 Lakers. (And I'm sure I'm forgetting a whole host of 'em)

Batmanuel, Captain Liberty, The Tick and Arthur, originally uploaded by Walkabout Wolf.

Which brings us to the anomalies, the outliers as Malcolm Gladwell would put it. Sure, the '04 Lakers failed with Gary Payton and Karl Malone in tow, but realistically they should have won. Statistically, they should have won. Only Malone's injury kept them from dominating that series. And then Shaq left, and who knows. But what about the current, contemporary version of the Lakers? Isn't that a four-headed beast with Kobe, Pau, Lamar, and Artest? In short, yes. This current iteration is what one might term a "Superfriends" squad. However, what separates them is the system. Phil Jackson's "trust your players to fall or fly when they most need your trust" system is one of a kind. As a Lakers fan, I am petrified at the thought of trying to get that seventh in my watching career without the Zen Master. Here's the other thing: Until recently, this system was not one that played nice with the Superfriends mold. In the first three-peat, the team swallowed stars whole and left them barely shells of role players. Glen Rice, Mitch Richmond, Isaiah Rider. All three were eaten up and spit out by the '00-'02 Lakers.

The other outlier? The '08 Boston Celtics. There's a team that fit the Superfriends mold to a T. What sets them apart is Ubuntu. They had an identity from the start. Furthermore, the team's looking more and more like a Spurs team built around Rondo. But that's a side note. San Antonio is not the only team prospering under the Popovich Spurs paradigm. The 10-2 New Orleans Hornets (3rd highest win percentage in the league right now) are newly adapting themselves to the model under Popovich pupil Monty Williams. Similarly, the 10-4 Oklahoma City Thunder have followed Sam Presti in making Durant their Duncan and building down from there.

Pencil Vs Camera - 19, originally uploaded by Ben Heine.

What tic should you take away from all this? What should you allow to syphon blood from your Superfriend-like excessive thoughts? Let's just say the Lakers have Zen, the Celts have Ubuntu, what do the Heat have?

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NBA Out In Front Over The MLB And NFL

It’s a good time to be a sports fan.

Baseball is in its final week and while a few teams have solidified their spot in the playoffs, others are in an all out battle for the last few.

Football is going at full blast into the 2010 season with the fourth week upcoming and surprises galore all around the league.

While both of the sports are currently active and playing meaningful games, they cannot compare to the anticipation of one sport that is almost ready to tip off: basketball.

This NBA off-season has been one of the most important and influential ever in the history of the NBA. Here are the top five reasons why the sport of basketball is at the forefront of everyone’s attention.

1) The Heat Is On

If there was a vote to determine the biggest sports moment of the year, the highest percentage of votes would go to the spectacle of the Lebron James’ decision. In a close second would be watching he, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh put on the Heat jerseys and getting on the court against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, October 26th.

Heat tickets at home or on the road will be the hottest commodity anytime they are in town. Miami will have a giant target on its back and be hated by all crowds they face when going on the road. Despite that, checking in on them will be fun to watch all season long to see how the big three handle the heat.

2) Carmelo Anthony Will End Up…?

The James situation has had a reverberating effect on the NBA world. Other free agents waited anxiously like domino tiles to see where the first piece would fall. Despite training camp beginning and the free agency period come and gone, the James effect is still being felt.

The one person who has felt it lately has been Carmelo Anthony. The smooth-shooting small forward has been trying meticulously to get out of Denver.

Various articles have been published about possible locations where Melo may end up. With no deal set in stone and questions running rampant about a trade for the former Syracuse star, the team Anthony ends up with will be the second most intriguing squad to watch this season.

3) Lakers Lost In Translation

With all the hoopla over the new Heat team, Amar’e Stoudemire leaving Phoenix for the big apple and Anthony’s drama in Denver, there has been one team that remained steady and submarine-like by staying below the radar: the reigning back-to-back champs Los Angeles Lakers.

The team was stealthy in keeping the nucleus intact (only losing Jordan Farmar and Josh Powell) and upgrading with new acquisitions (signed Matt Barnes and Steve Blake). Although the NBA is topsy-turvy after the off-season, it is the Lakers that are the quiet and safe pick for a three-peat.

4) What’s Eating Gilbert’s Grape?

If there is one person who can hope to feed off the attention Michael Vick is now receiving after his miraculous comeback, that man is Gilbert Arenas. He returns back to the Washington Wizards after being suspended for most of the 2009-10 season after a gun altercation occurred in the locker room.

It will be interesting to see how Arenas will bounce back after a tumultuous year. The point guard witnessed his power over the squad become diminished with the addition of number one pick John Wall. The biggest question facing him: will he remain a Wizard and if he does, can he find a way to co-exist with the rookie from Kentucky?

5) New Changing Of The Guard In The NBA

This season more so than any will feature a new dynamic, teams that were on top dropping down and teams on the bottom moving up. While most sports feature a cyclical power change for teams year in and year out, basketball is one sport where teams remain on top for years.

Of course, there are teams that will remain at a high pedestal (such as the Lakers, Celtics and the Magic), but many top teams will drop this season. In the East, the Cavaliers were the top team last year but that was with James as the leader. They will most likely drop out of the playoff picture.

The West is where the change will be noticed the most. San Antonio is no longer the fearful team of years past with age creeping upon them. Denver is influx with front office and coaching turmoil to go with the Anthony issue. Phoenix lost a big piece of their puzzle when Stoudemire headed to New York.

Other teams will hopefully be able to move up the power ranking depth chart this season. The Bulls, Knicks, Heat and Wizards should be much improved in the East, while the Thunder, Blazers, Clippers and Kings appear to be contenders in the West.

With more stories and scenarios to go along with the ones described above, this season will prove to be the beginning of a brand new road never traveled in the NBA.

Good thing for them, the season hasn’t even started and they have everyone’s utmost attention.

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Can There Be Any Doubt that Pat Riley is the 2010-11 NBA Executive of the Year?

Although being courted by the Miami Heat, which included an airport greeting by LeBron James prior to his meeting with Heat president Pat Riley and team owner Mickey Arison, Los Angeles Lakers free agent point guard Derek Fisher has decided to re-sign with the two-time defending NBA Champions.

In a statement released on his website, Fisher summarized the reasons why Los Angeles will remain his home for the immediate future.

“My free agency was a time for me to reevaluate my position in the league, reflect on my accomplishments individually and as a teammate, and determine what new goals I want to achieve in the future. Many reports were completely false. Numbers reported were guesses and true "sources" were few and far between.

I took time to consider all my options, many not reported in the media. I listened to every coach, every general manager, even potential teammates in order to make the right decision and I thank every one of them. At the end of the day, there's one person I could not turn away from. Kobe Bryant asked me to stay but supported whatever decision I made. He and I have played together for 11 seasons, came into the league together as kids, and has been loyal to me even when others had doubts. We have won five championships together.

I have decided to continue with Kobe, continue with our teammates and the fans of Los Angeles. While this may not be the most lucrative contract I've been offered this off season, it is the most valuable.

I am confident I will continue to lead this team on and off the court. Let the hunt for six begin...”

Score one for Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers, and Derek Fisher for electing to continue being a leader in Los Angeles rather than become a follower in Miami.

However, the Heat quickly rebounded from Fisher’s rejection with two crucial signings to provide support for the trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

According to ESPN.com, free agent power forward Udonis Haslem signed a five-year deal with Miami Monday worth around $20 million; more than $10 million less than he could have gotten had he accepted offers from the Dallas Mavericks or the Denver Nuggets.

"I would be changing my DNA if I left just for money," Haslem said.

Haslem averaged 9.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game for the Heat last season and in his seven-year career, all spent in South Beach, the 6’8” Florida product has posted 10.0 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest.

In addition, the Heat also signed Washington Wizards free agent swingman Mike Miller, who averaged 10.9 points per game in 54 games last season while shooting 50.1% from the field and a blistering 48.0% from three-point range.

Now that Miami is set at the wing positions, Pat Riley will now focus on signing players that will help beef up the Heat’s front court, anchored by Haslem and Chris Bosh, as well as bringing in a veteran point guard as he attempted to do with Derek Fisher.

In any case, it can never be understated how important it was to re-sign a banger like Haslem and a shooter like Miller, which should only further confirm that Riley is the early favorite, by far, for next season’s NBA Executive of the Year Award because like it or not, thus far, he’s done a masterful job assembling the new look Miami Heat.

Click here for additional evidence.

Click here to read more about 2010 NBA Free Agency on Examiner.com, which includes all the relevant links and special video presentations that you can handle and then some.

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LeBron James Serves as Airport Greeter for Derek Fisher’s Meeting with Heat

As reported here, Los Angeles Lakers free agent point guard Derek Fisher met with Miami Heat president Pat Riley Saturday afternoon.

Fisher's preference remains to re-sign with the Lakers, but he felt the need to explore his options and listened to Riley's pitch as Los Angeles general manager Mitch Kupchak continues to work on an offer that is satisfactory to the five-time NBA Champion.

Prior to his meeting with Riley and Heat owner Mickey Arison though, Fisher received a warm welcome at the airport from a team representative that could heavily influence his decision to relocate from Hollywood, California to ‘Hollywood East’.

According to ESPNLA.com, newly signed Heat small forward LeBron James met Fisher at the airport and gave his own pitch as to why the 14-year veteran should join forces with ‘Miami Thrice’.

It was a short meeting as James was at the airport to board a flight to New York to attend the wedding of Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony, but James clearly went out of his way to wait for Fisher to arrive and meet with him for a few minutes.

Guess Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh weren’t available, huh?

In any case, Fisher reportedly received a $2.5 million offer for next season from Los Angeles. Miami could likely offer Fisher up to $4.5 million, based on its available cap space even after signing James, Bosh and Wade.

Kobe Bryant, a 1996 NBA Draft classmate, has publicly stated, in no uncertain terms, that the Lakers need to re-sign Fisher, who is a locker room leader and an emotional metronome for the passionate two-time reigning NBA Finals MVP.

"We need to have him back, it's as simple as that," Bryant told ESPNLA.com’s Dave McMenamin at his Kobe Bryant Skills Academy on the UC Santa Barbara campus. "It's not a question of if he will be back; it's a matter of when.

"I don't care what [the cost] is. ... They need to work that out and get him back because his significance to our ballclub and to me cannot be understated."

All signs point to Fisher re-signing with the team where he has won every single one of his championships; however, there is no question that Pat Riley will pull out all the stops to acquire a player who will provide stability and tremendous veteran leadership to the most hyped collection of talent in league history.

So the rivalry has begun without a single second of basketball played; with Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers on one side and Pat Riley & ‘Miami Thrice’ on the other, ‘Hollywood West’ versus ‘Hollywood East’.

Derek Fisher is the ultimate prize this time around. Will the NBA Championship be soon to follow?

Click here to read more about 2010 NBA free agency on Examiner.com.

Credit ESPNLA.com

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Derek Fisher to meet with the Miami Heat

With South Beach becoming the center of the basketball universe after LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh agreed to sign with the Miami Heat, the curiosity has been piqued of the remaining free agents about the potential dynasty being put together in the ‘Sunshine State’.

In fact, the interest is at such a high level that even a member of the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers can’t resist taking a peek.

According to ESPNLA.com, Lakers free agent point guard Derek Fisher is scheduled to meet with Heat president Pat Riley on Saturday.

Fisher's preference remains to re-sign with the Lakers, but he feels the need to explore his options and listen to Riley's pitch as Los Angeles general manager Mitch Kupchak continues to work on an offer that is satisfactory to the five-time NBA Champion.

If it were up to Kobe Bryant though, Fisher would have been locked up by the Lakers well before any meetings were scheduled with other organizations.

"We need to have him back, it's as simple as that," Bryant told ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin at his Kobe Bryant Skills Academy on the UC Santa Barbara campus. "It's not a question of if he will be back; it's a matter of when.

"I don't care what [the cost] is. ... They need to work that out and get him back because his significance to our ballclub and to me cannot be understated."

Although Fisher will listen to what Riley and the Heat have to offer, the Lakers are confident the 14-year veteran will eventually re-sign with the organization.

However, Mitch Kupchak would be best served not to allow this situation to linger because Riley has proven to be extremely persuasive when push comes to shove. Just ask Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James.

Click here to read more about 2010 NBA free agency on Examiner.com.

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Ron Artest Redeems Kobe Bryant in the Most Important Game of his Career

In the milieu of professional sports, winning has been, and always will be, the best elixir for washing away the sins of an athlete.

And for the better part of six years, Los Angeles Lakers small forward Ron Artest has been thirsting for a sip from that cup since he was the center of an altercation among fans and players during a game between the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers.

The infamous brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit, Michigan cost Artest the remainder of the 2004-05 NBA season, which totaled 73 games and the playoffs, and became the signature moment in the career of the eccentric and enigmatic Queens native.

So when the Lakers allowed Trevor Ariza, a key contributor in the team’s 2009 championship run, to depart via free agency, many pundits questioned the decision to acquire Artest to fill the void; particularly after Los Angeles finished almost ten victories short of their win total in the 2008-09 season.

The 2010 NBA Finals raised additional questions when, in Games 4 and 5, Artest averaged 8.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, while shooting a dismal 31.6% from the field, in losses that pushed the Lakers to the brink of falling to the Boston Celtics in the Finals for the second time in three years.

However, in performances that belied his virtual non-existence in the previous two games as well as his volatile past, Artest played the two best games of his career to lift Los Angeles to its 16th NBA Championship and help Kobe Bryant enhance his legacy in the process.

In a defensive performance for the ages, the Lakers held Boston to only 67 points in Game 6 to force a deciding Game 7 at the STAPLES Center.

Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 26 points and Pau Gasol finished one assist shy of a triple-double (17 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists), but it was Queensbridge’s own Ron Artest who was the difference maker on both ends of the floor.

Artest scored 15 points and snared 6 rebounds while holding Celtics captain Paul Pierce to only 13 points, on 6 for 14 shooting, in a game that certainly reminded his hometown why he earned the nickname ‘Tru Warier’ in his youth. But Artest would save his best for last in the final game of the season.

With Los Angeles struggling on offense in the first half, it was Artest, not Kobe Bryant, who carried the team, scoring 12 points, all in the second quarter, to keep the Lakers within striking distance of Boston, who controlled play for the first 24 minutes.

The second half saw Artest score 8 points but none bigger than a three-point shot with one minute left to give Los Angeles a six-point cushion on their way to holding on to the slimmest of margins for their second consecutive NBA Title.

More importantly, in the most committed effort to defense and rebounding that has ever been displayed by the Lakers, Artest led the charge once again by limiting Paul Pierce, Boston’s best and most versatile offensive weapon, to only 7 second half points.

‘Ron-Ron’ would finish the game with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals while exhibiting championship poise and tenacity on defense whose true value can’t be measured with words alone.

After the game, Kobe Bryant, who shot a horrific 6 for 24 from the field and was admittedly “out of gas”, sang the praises of the man he has dubbed “The Spaniard”; and deservedly so because Pau Gasol came up huge with 19 points and 18 rebounds.

But it was Ron Artest who scored 35% of Los Angeles’ points in the first half, it was Artest who held Paul Pierce to 33% shooting for the game, and it was the ‘Tru Warier’ who hit the three-point shot that gave the Lakers the separation they needed to secure the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

On a final note, it was Artest who saved Kobe Bryant from having to answer a multitude of questions about a sub-par performance, for his standards, in the most significant game of his career and from having the growth of Bryant’s legacy stunted by the team that dealt him the most embarrassing loss of his NBA tenure.

At the same time, Artest established a legacy of his own, for his stellar play on the court this time, and is now a media darling after thanking everybody in his hood and his psychiatrist in a post-game interview.

Bottom line, by being an integral factor in a championship-clinching game, Artest has finally taken a sip of the elixir that is a morality cleansing for professional athletes.

And the 2004 brawl in Detroit will merely be a footnote in Artest’s rise from selfish thug to selfless champion.

Click here to read the rest of this article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a pleothra of videos.

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Lamar Odom & Ron Artest are jeopardizing Kobe Bryant's legacy

After the first five games of the 2010 NBA Finals and with the Boston Celtics one victory away from their second championship in three years, several observations should be firmly embedded in the minds of analyst and fan alike going into Game 6.

From the Celtics reaffirming they have the most complete team in the league to the Los Angeles Lakers being exposed for their lack of depth, it has become crystal clear that Boston’s mastery of the Lakers has not been limited by roster changes and modifications to the game since this rivalry began to simmer in 1959.

Now, over five decades later, the Celtics are on the cusp of defeating Los Angeles for the 10th time in 12 Finals match-ups between the two most successful franchises in league history.

On the two occasions that the Lakers did defeat Boston in the NBA Finals, Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson led the charge, first in 1985 and again in 1987.

These historic triumphs would be redemption for Johnson and Los Angeles after suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of Larry Bird and the Celtics in the 1984 Finals, in which ‘Magic’ inexplicably dribbled out the clock in regulation time of Game 2 to force an overtime that saw the Lakers fail to grab a 2-0 series lead going back to the Great Western Forum.

Subsequently, in Game 4, with Los Angeles leading the series 2-1, Johnson would be given the new nickname of ‘Tragic’ for throwing an errant pass to Celtics center Robert Parish late in the fourth quarter and missing two crucial free throws in overtime as Boston would go on to even the series and eventually win the NBA Championship in seven games.

However, as previously mentioned, Johnson would erase the memory of 1984 and cement his place among the greats of Lakers lore by ending the Boston hex in two out of the next three years.

And although the faces and names have changed, Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant found himself in a similar predicament entering this year’s reboot of the hotly contested rivalry as he attempted to help Los Angeles exorcise the demons of a loss to the Celtics in the 2008 Finals, which included a humiliating 39-point defeat in the decisive Game 6 at the TD Garden.

A series victory for the Lakers would mean a second consecutive championship for the organization and it would give Bryant his fifth championship, tying him with ‘Magic’ Johnson, his second championship ring without Shaquille O’Neal, who many view as primarily responsible for getting Bryant his first three, a Finals victory over a heated rival and, most importantly, a legitimate right to be mentioned in the same breath as Michael Jordan.

But a legacy-enhancing series for Bryant could become another in a long line of post-season disappointments since Shaquille O’Neal was shipped to the Miami Heat in 2004; and if this does come to fruition, the finger of blame can be first pointed at Lamar Odom and Ron Artest.

Entering this year’s Finals, LA’s Queens, New York connection of Artest and Odom had to place their unique imprints on the series in order for Los Angeles to overcome the tremendous depth of the Celtics; however, in the last two games especially, the former AAU teammates have been unable to find their respective games.

In Game 4 and Game 5, Artest, born and raised in Queensbridge Projects, has averaged 8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting 31.6% from the field. Meanwhile, Odom, a native of South Jamaica, Queens, has averaged 9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

In addition, the Lakers, as a team, have played what Kobe Bryant has dubbed 'milk-carton' defense; particularly when it comes Artest's match-up with Paul Pierce. Matter of fact, Pierce was torching Artest so frequently in Game 5 that Bryant went so far as to ask Los Angeles head coach Phil Jackson to be matched up with the Celtic captain.

These performances aren’t going to cut it when Lakers center Andrew Bynum is hobbled by a torn meniscus in his right knee and when Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are all playing at high level at the offensive and defensive side of the floor.

And if Artest and Odom don’t begin exhibiting the intensity and toughness that made them hard court legends in Queens then Kobe Bryant will be left wondering whether they can ever compete on his level when it counts the most.

According to YahooSports.com, Bryant was heard screaming in the locker room after Game 5 that he needed some-bleeping-one to make a stand with him and, in his post-game interview, Kobe, as if talking to the rest of his team again, said, “Just man up and play”, when asked about the enormity of the Lakers facing elimination in Game 6.

Artest and Odom need to take Bryant's statements to heart because if they can’t produce, besides Bryant, Pau Gasol, and to some extent Derek Fisher, the Lakers don’t have anyone else that can consistently compete on Boston’s level.

Bottom line, Artest and Odom need to bring Queens back into their respective games in order for Kobe Bryant’s legacy to get bumped up another notch because Bryant isn’t in the same conversation with ‘Magic Johnson’ or Michael Jordan unless he wins one for the thumb and defeats the Boston Celtics in the process.

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a special video presentation featuring Kobe Bryant.

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Daily Douche: John Cena

First off, I was going to assume John Cena was a Celtics fan until I hit up my friend Mr. Google.  For some reason my eye caught a glimpse as Cena during the Celt's/Magic game tonight, sitting next to some slam pig a few rows back.  Regardless, I did some research and found out Cena is not only a Celtics fan, but also a Magic and Lakers fan.  Reward: Instant delegation to Daily Douche.  

Second off, is John Cena really that huge or is that mini-me usher standing/sitting in the isle really that small?

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You're kidding, Maria.

TMZ: Tennis babe Maria Sharapova and her Lakers boyfriend Sasha Vujacic like making things difficult for themselves. While in Palm Springs on Wednesday, the athletic couple played a bizarro game of tennis and used the racket's handle to hit the ball.

They're a perfect match.

How the fuck has this gone unnoticed? Did anyone know that the blonde bombshell, Maria Sharapova, is dating that douchebag Sasha Vujacic. You've got to be kidding me. Why why why why why would she ever date that pussy. Is there a more hated basketball player than Sasha Vujacic on the planet? I mean, he fucking sucks at the sport he plays, no one likes him, and all he does it bitch. I guess that's how you scoop a girl like Maria. All you've got to do is be a pussy. Chicks apparently dig that these days, especially hot ones.

Best part of this whole story is now we know why Sasha cut his hair. Not because he realized guys shouldn't have long hair like their female counterparts, but because Maria most likely told him too.

We also now have the answer why Sharapova can't play tennis anymore. Because she's with Sasha, what a joke.

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Relax Ron, You Are Not & Never Will Be Rodman

 

"Lakers F Ron Artest channeled his inner Dennis Rodman. His hair was dyed blonde with letters in three different languages in Lakers purple. He didn't want to talk about his hair, but he posted on his Twitter page that the letters spelled "Defense" in Hebrew, Hindi and Japanese."

 

Today's Stats vs. Magic:

• 38 minutes
• 8 points on 2-10 shooting, 1-5 3pt FG's
• 6 boards
• 1 assist
• 2 turnovers

Solid performance from Ron Ron today as the Lakers drop their 3rd straight to Orlando. Here's a lesson Ron; you are not Dennis Rodman and you never will be Dennis Rodman. You cannot pull it off. You cannot rap (although this may be the most entertaining tribute in the history of music). Play defense, thats all you can do and that's all you should do.

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Kobe Bryant does it again, Game Winner vs. Kings

Poor Sacramento Kings fans, just when you though that your team scored an important victory on the road against the hated Los Angeles Lakers; Kobe Bryant decides to go all Kobe Bryant and hit the game winning three.

Yep, "Same Kobe Time, Different Kobe Channel".

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I Fought "Lawson" and the "Lawson Won"

During last night's blow-out by the Denver Nuggets of the Los Angeles Lakers, rookie guard Ty Lawson decided to shine in garbage time by throwing down a nasty dunk against Lakers reserve center, DJ Mbenga.

That was pretty nasty, I think the scream at the end made it more epic.

(Courtesy of Writing the Pine)

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Sleeping with the Sleepers: Baron Davis

Above is your first NBA sponsored Youtube video of the season. Anyway, on to the new feature: Sleeping with the Sleepers!

Anyone can read a boxscore and anyone can live blog a game, but not everyone can combine the two (or weave one of the two, or neither) into something vaguely or falsely or, I don't know, prophetically resembling a narrative. The NBA season kicked off today, and OtB just looked at the top 50 NBA players in the NBA. Many of them populate the contenders and perennial playoff participants. This doesn't mean the NBA's basement doesn't contain personalities and perspectives worth covering. Far from it. Towards the point, OtB will be taking the opportunity this season to look at some of the sleepers in the league. We'll be looking at teams that look like they might be on the outside of the playoffs looking in. This will come in the form of the good and bad, the pros and cons, the Nocturnal Daydreams (as most NBA games are played at night) and the Nightmares. With that said, our first edition gives the sleep study to the LA Clippers' Baron Davis during the first game of the season. We pick up the frequency from Boom Dizzle as the third quarter gets under way...

Nocturnal Daydreams:

• The Beard is back! (It itches like hell.)
• I wonder if I can grow birds.
• Opening night! And we're on national TV!
• Chris Kaman is a beast! No, really. I saw him eat half a baby once at a Pizza Hut.
• I wonder why Sheamus was wrestling last night and tonight?
• Maybe they'll let me host Raw. Y'know, like Shaq.
  
• Unfortunately, you can see me tonight, which is like likening me to DeShawn Stevenson. Shudder.
  
• Eric Gordon looks great. But because of him, I have to guard Kobe. Y'know, cuz Gordy's the same height as me, and I'm "stocky."

Baron Von Davis, originally uploaded by casbah42.

Nightmares:

• I have to guard Kobe?!?!?!
• Pau Gasol's out? I thought I wouldn't be the most grungy looking guy on the court tonight.
• My foot hurts...
  
• Is Craig Sager making fun of my bow tie?
• I can't believe I have to wait a whole month to see New Moon. OMG! I can't believe Bella and Edward aren't like bf/gf forevs!
  
• Marcus Camby LMFAO! Opportunist is not generally a good thing to be. I know you liked it when they called you that in New York, but that was 12 years ago!
• Oh no he didn't! Reggie called me Kimbo Slice!?! Actually, I"m okay with that...
• Hmm...am I more like my new, unfortunately sidelined because Stern made us play too many preseason games team mate Blake Griffin or beard buddy Pau Gasol? Maybe I should reconsider this beard thing.
• Oh noes! Bassy's making me look bad, and he's making Camby look good!
• I don't care if he can make those, Tsar, Marcus shouldn't be taking threes! He did it in Denver. Why do you think we got him so cheap? Fire Mike Dunleavy dot come, anyone?

Nocturnal Daydreams:

• I gotta get tickets to see that Michael Jackson movie tomorrow. Maybe J-Alba will go with me. I could be a third wheel! I'll get a Snickers...
  
• Maybe I'll sit out the 4th. Yeah. Oooh, look at Shannon Brown go!
• I look better than Kobe. And I'm bigger on Youtube than him, amn't I?
• Eric Gordon kind of reminds me of Monta Ellis. Maybe it's time to force a trade. Maybe Stephen Jackson will switch with me.
• I missed another three! It's okay, though. I put money on us to lose. The whole season! Just kidding.
• Artest hasn't made a three tonight either. Well, he's missed more than me anyway.
  
• Oh look! Machine! I have more hits on Youtube than him too, right? Wanna play the staring...wait. He cut his hair! I thought this was going to be a shaggy year. Someone forget to send me the memo? Hey, Sasha! We can see your face and it needs an oil change!

Nightmares:

• I can't believe I'm a Clipper. In another city, this roster could've stolen this game.
• Lamar Odom. He gets Khloe and he makes a three.
• I'm going to dream about Ron Artest's hair tonight. So sad when a basketball soldier is lost.
  
• Argh! The lead's back up to 15. This low calorie diet is really making me grumpy.
• Oh my goodness! Replay? We forfeit already. We forfeit!
• The Lakers are 20-1?!? On opening night!?! Oh, wait, that's just your daily Reggie Miller nonsense.

Nocturnal Daydreams:

• Inside the NBA! It's about time!
• Look! It's me! Highlights of the game we just lost!
• Haha! Charles missed the reason for the Cavs stagnancy and I caught it! It's because they lost they're offensive genius from last season John Kuester. They haven't been terrible on offense for years. They had been 'til last year, and it looks like they're going to be again.
• Chuck wants the Cavs to run. He's brought up both bets from previous seasons, the one where he raced Dick Bevetta and the one where he had to kiss a donkey. Think he wants to race LeBron? Or how 'bout Shaq? Shaq vs. Charles. Yeah.
• Rockets-Blazers highlights! Portland gets revenge. You can bet this won't be a bad match-up for the Blazers this year like it was last year. Outlaw for 6th man of the year?
  
• Gil is back! If he looks that good, I must be looking real pretty.
• I should move to Portland. They're kinda like the Bay Area up there, hippies and all. Hey, Dunleavy, trade me for Andre Miller! Nah, not now, when he gets tired of not being needed up there.
• Charles says the Rockets will have the worst record in the West! Not us! Yay!
  

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NBA Off Season Rankings (1-10)

P A T I E N C E, originally uploaded by TheProgrammerAnalyst.

I've been waiting for the last domino to fall. Ramon Sessions was that last domino, and he fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the wake of Ricky Rubio signing with Real Barcelona. So much for New York's summer. Anyway, I'd been writing pretty regularly about the off season for the first few weeks, but then it started to leave a bad taste in my mouth. Thus, the last domino approach. I know Nate Robinson and David Lee are still up in the air, but I've written anything having to do with the Knickerbockers off for the next 14-ish months. 'Kay? M'kay.

That said, I wanted to give you a last look at the off season as we move steadily closer to some real games. Following is a run down of how well each NBA team fared this off season, starting with the very best and ending with the abysmal. Questions? Okay, good, let's get right to it.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers: The sneaky harboring of Leon Powe from the Celtics unsavorily cold shoulder pushed Lebron and Co. over the top. Just a strong, strong off season. They got Shaq, okay. That was the big splash. The rest of their moves were down right heady, and for the most part unsung. I’m singing. Here’s to you, Cleveland. Jamario Moon can play, and Anthony Parker has been a quiet stalwart for Toronto. They retained Varejao (no pouting off to Brazil in the near future for the Big Flopper) and did not retain Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic. Good stuff, Danny Ferry. To top it all off, sounds like Lebron might be talked into signing with the Cavs for a shorter contract than most superstars are after. Anything to keep him in wine and gold, yes?

John makes a big splash, originally uploaded by Iversonic.

2. Orlando Magic: Yes, the acquisition of Vince Carter might be a wash with the loss of Hedo Turkoglu, but the Magic made so many strong moves this summer to say, “We’re here. You will reckon with us.” Maybe it’s too much. It’s like (to steal a played out Bill Simmons gimmick) when a decent looking girl gets really hot and tries to flaunt it but by doing so just reminds us how she wasn’t as hot before and is actually kind of indelicate and gaffe-prone. It could be that, or it could be like the beautiful girl donning the evening wear and solidifying her rep as bangin’ hottie. Either way, the Magic growed up this off season. Carter is the obvious push-up bra in this sordid metaphor, but Ryan Anderson is something more subtle…like the perfect set of garter belts. Brandon Bass was the acquisition that cemented their off season in my mind as one to remember, and Matt Barnes is certainly a contributor. However, retaining a barely used Gortat seemed a bit much (though I kind of dug that strong arm message it sent), and Jason Williams could just be the one step too much that they took (though by all accounts he was a team player in Miami and shouldn’t mess with the dynamic Jameer needs to get settled into right away). Time will be the fingers that undress this off-season, and a title will be the only way this ends well.

3. Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks didn’t make any huge waves this summer, but that’s not a bad thing when you’re emerging from a decade of mismanagement and instability. Atlanta was fourth in the East last year, and they look to remain so. It wasn’t like they didn’t do work this off season. They re-signed Mike Bibby, Zaza Pachulia, and Marvin Williams. Then they acquired Jamal Crawford for garbage time guys and Joe Smith via free agency. Not bad. Sure, they likely won’t get past the big three in the East, but at least they’re not bottoming out to “wait for 2010 free agents” (that won’t come; thus the quotes). The fans of Hot-lanta should be excited about this team, as a core of Joe Johnson and the still developing Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Marvin Williams is very, very solid.

4. Dallas Mavericks: Gortat would’ve been nice, but the Mavs didn’t waste time crying in their spilled (un-spilled?) milk. They re-signed Jason Kidd, who was solid last season at least on offense, and they traded for Shawn Marion. Sure, in this off-season’s trend of stacking up on past-their-prime players, Dallas didn’t really one up any of their competitors, but at least they broke even. Drew Gooden? Good. Tim Thomas? Bad. Losing Devean George and Jerry Stackhouse? Finally! Losing Brandon Bass? Sigh. Angling for a 7th seed to match up with the Spurs in the playoffs? Bring it on!

Ron Artest Los Angeles Lakers Signature, originally uploaded by wiley09.

5. Los Angeles Lakers: They added Ron Artest after losing Trevor Ariza, and they re-signed Shannon Brown and Lamar Odom. The Lakeshow did what they needed to do this summer and then some. Let’s just hope the and-then-some doesn’t come back to bite them in the behind. If the Candyman can go the entire season without worrying about being traded, then Ron Artest can be as crazy as he wants. Getting that contract could ease Odom’s troubled mind some, and that could be big. He’s always picked up his play after the trade deadline, when he didn’t have anything to worry about. This off season had the potential to make those concerns go away forever, but the way negotiations played out, it’s just one of at least two big questions the Lakers have to answer this year.

6. LA Clippers: The Clips lost a player to Armani Jeans Milano. Remind me to write about that someday. Sorry, on to things that “matter.” The Clippers have positioned themselves to look like a playoff team this year. They picked up Blake Griffin and got rid of Z-Bo. They even picked up internet mogul Mark Madsen. By all standards, a good off season. Maybe having “names” like Baron Davis, Marcus Camby and, yes, Chris Kaman will mean something this season. Eric Gordon hopes so. But maybe they’re still the Clippers. Yeah, that sounds right.

Watching the 2008 NBA Eastern Conference finals between Detroit and Boston at Mike's in Somerville, MA: Battle of the Jerseys (Phone photo), originally uploaded by Wayne Flower.

7. Detroit Pistons: Are they going to be a good team this year? Probably not. Did they have a good off season? Well, they needed to in order to even be in the playoff hunt. Time will tell, but at least they did something, and at least they got younger. Ben Gordon, Charlie V, Ben Wallace (with a new number), and Chris Wilcox. They lost more than they gained, but that was the point. Good bye Rasheed, Allen, Antonio, and the odd pair of Walters. Why didn’t you take Rip with you?

8. San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs, by all accounts, had a good off season. They shed some veteran detritus and picked up Dejuan Blair in the draft. Then they went out and got Richard Jefferson, Antonio McDyess, and Theo Ratliff. In my opinion, the McDyess and Ratliff acquisitions show that San Antonio is still valuing vets way, way too much. Roger Mason was a good pick up last off season, and Jefferson will be a help as well, but are they still starting Michael Finley? Can Manu Ginobli stay healthy? They’re saying out of the Alamo that RJ is the most athletic wing they’ve had since Shawn Elliot, but regardless of whether that’s true or not, it doesn’t bring David Robinson back. I mean, are the Spurs really going to continue starting Matt Bonner? This team lacks size, not athletic wingmen for crying out loud, and McDyess is just not the answer.

9. Toronto Raptors: Picking up Hedo Turkoglu will hamstring the Raps financially a few years down the road, and I don’t know how much it’ll help keep Bosh north of the border, but it should certainly help them for at least this coming season. The Raptors picked up a lot of bit players this summer, and frankly I’m not sure I see how it all fits together. See if any of this makes sense to you: Marco Bellinelli, Devean George, Antoine Wright, Rasho Nesterovic. Huh? I could see what they were going for with Jarrett Jack, but they should’ve seen if they could’ve gotten a renege on T.J. Ford. Jack is not the tempo change from Jose Calderon that made the pairing with Ford so potent. Amir Johnson and Reggie Evans (acquired just before the draft) look like difference makers on paper, but how will they help with Bosh and the showing-signs Andrea Bargnani taking most of the PT?

Hornswoggle!, originally uploaded by Sir Awesome.

10. Boston Celtics: Don’t get me wrong. This is a good, good team, but I just can’t see them improving on a year where they looked to have one foot in the re-tooling mode that should see Rajon Rondo lead the team into the 2010s. I still have questions about Garnett, and some of them tell me his injury last season won’t be an isolated incident. I also wonder what Rondo’s mind set will be this season after Ainge wasn’t exactly delicate with him. Marquis Daniels and Shelden Williams are nice pick-ups, and keeping Glen Davis was important. The big move, though, of picking up Rasheed Wallace? I just don’t see it working out. The Celts are going to regret losing Powe right around the All-Star break.

Y'know what, this is getting a little long. Why don't I give you a break, come back tomorrow with the ten middle teams, and then hit you with the worst of the worst on Thursday. Cool? Cool.

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