It’s Not Their Fault

I’m sitting at home watching the TNT Playoff broadcast with a few friends when Chris Webber pops on the screen as a broadcaster. That’s when all hell broke loose. One of my friends, a die-hard Sixers’ fan, begins to curse C Webb like he stole something. He vows to never forgive Webber for his dismal performance during his two years with the Sixers. He argued that the Sixers paid him to be the Chris Webber from Sacramento and he simply didn’t come to play. To make matters worse, the team was forced to pay him a $25 million dollar buyout after he competed in just 18 of 35 games in the 2006-2007 season. What makes my friend even more upset is that his squad is experiencing the same trouble with Elton Brand, who has missed most of this season after signing an $80 million contract with the Sixers.

As a Sixers’ fan myself, I would have been on his side except for one thing. It’s not these guys’ fault! They were each up there in age, recovering from major injuries that forced them to miss a substantial amount of time, yet the Sixers decide to pay them like they are 24 year old.

The Sixers paid for the Sacramento Chris Webber, knowing that the player no longer existed. He had microfracture surgery on his knee in 2003 and struggled with it ever since. Even in his last season with the Kings it was evident that he was no longer the explosive player who would fill the lanes on a fast break. Honestly, I don’t know what more they could have possibly wanted from the guy then what he did when he got here. He was the second leading scorer on the playoff bound team his first year in Philly. In his second season on the squad, he hobbled his way to 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. The last Sixer to do it before him was Armen Gilliam in 1992 and don’t hold your breath waiting for Sam Dalembert to give you similar numbers.


Elton Brand is an even better story. Yes Elton Brand is one of only four active players to average 20 and 10 for his career, but he is the only one without a championship ring. In fact, he only made the playoffs once in his career. That being said, it is easy to put up numbers when you are on a bad team. Guys do not waste their time guarding you closely because they know their team is going to come away with the W. (Just ask Kevin Durant) How can you spend $80 million on a veteran who has never lead his team anywhere? How can you spend $80 million on a guy who played just 8 games in the previous season?

I don’t blame Chris Webber, Elton Brand, or any other run down vet who doesn’t perform for their newly acquired team. I blame the coaching staff, the owners, and the scouts. It’s the job of these individuals to analyze players and determine whether or not they are worth the money.

It seems to me like fans expect these players to turn down the cash because they know they are hurt. That’s just insane to me. If you deliver mail for a law firm at $10.00 an hour and the boss of the company says I want to promote you to firm partner at $200,000 a year are you going to say, “Sorry sir. I am not qualified for this position. Perhaps you should choose Tom from accounting. I’ll just keep pushing this mail cart.” Of course not! You are going to take the money and do the best that you can do, despite the fact that your best is far below the boss’s expectations. Why do we expect anything different when it comes to athletes getting paid?

The next time one of your friends goes off on a player, who was a bust for your hometown team, you should set him straight. Don’t blame the seven footer who can’t dunk. Blame the guy who scouted him for a year and watched him jump like his feet was stuck in cement. Then blame the owner that signed the $80 million contract. Then give a piece of your mind to the coach that made him a starter.

Granger Grabs ‘Most Improved’

The lone bright spot for the Indiana Pacers this season was the play of Danny Granger. In his third year in the NBA out of the University of New Mexico, Granger won the league’s Most Improved Player award.

He was on vacation in Italy when he was made aware of the news. During a press conference after receiving the award Granger stated, “I can honestly say it really did come as a surprise.”

Other top candidates for the award were Devin Harris of the New Jersey Nets and Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Despite missing the playoffs again this year, Granger was able to compete at a high level. He averaged 25.8 points a game, fifth highest in the NBA, and five rebounds. Granger was also invited to participate in his first All-Star game this season. Team president Larry Bird spoke very highly of Granger. According to an Associated Press article he was quoted saying, “He is the face of our franchise, and he handles himself well on the court and off.”

Granger began to show his ability to lead the Pacers in late game situations with clutch shooting this year. In a January 7th game against the Suns, Granger nailed a game-winning jumper over Steve Nash. He also turned in clutch performances against the Pistons and the Hornets that same month.

Many people around the league are beginning to recognize Granger’s talent. He was recently invited to the USA Basketball training camp which takes place this summer. Being invited to the camp is one of the first steps in being considered eligible to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Granger recognizes that it will take more to elevate his game to the next level. He spoke about the importance of defense during the press conference. "I don't just want to be a better defender, I want to be an elite defender. I really modeled my defensive game after [Houston forward] Ron Artest when he was here. He was a phenomenal defensive player when he was here. I probably got away from that the past two years. Next year, that will be my big focus."

Granger is the third Indiana Pacer to receive the Most Improved Player award since its introduction into the NBA in 1985. The first two were Jalen Rose in 1999 and Jermaine O’Neal in 2001.

Hawks Game Anyone?

So I am in Atlanta for the weekend, and found out last night that I may have tickets to Game 3 of the Hawks Cavs series. I was ecstatic to say the least. NBA playoff game, four rows from the court, and I get to see LeBron! Then I found out that the Hawks got spanked for the second game in a row. Suddenly my response turned into, “I guess I’ll go if I’m not doing anything.” It’s not that the Cavs are just that good, but the Hawks didn’t show up for this series.

Sure the Hawks are playing with a depleted roster. Al Horfrod and Marvin Williams were forced to watch the game from the bench due to injury. That still leaves Atlanta with their top scorer in Joe Johnson, big man Josh Smith, and a talented veteran point guard n Mike Bibby. That leaves them with the three guys who were I instrumental in pushing last year’s series against the Celtics to a Game 7. I’m starting to believe that this group of guys is going to be one of those teams that continuously crack under pressure. No expectations and they can win you a bunch of ball games during the regular season like the ’98 Bulls; when playoff time hits they compete like the Clippers.

Every player needs to step his game up this time of year, particularly the star. For the Hawks that would have to be Joe Johnson. Just one problem…Joe can not be located for this series. There is a guy playing each game that looks like him, has his name on the back of the jersey, but surely isn’t performing like the All-Star. The team’s anchor who averages 21.4 points during the regular season, has contributed just 10.5 points per game this series. If he keeps this up I am officially going to name him Joe McNabb.(sorry Donovan but you deserve that jab)

Hopefully the Hawks are just homesick and can make this a series when they return to Atlanta on Saturday. The numbers are not on their side to win this thing however. Teams down 0-2 in the playoffs have only won 13/204 series. If the Hawks are going to add one to that number, they are going to have to start playing seriously.

Nuggets Take 2-0 Lead

It appeared as though the Dallas Mavericks were going to have an opportunity to even the series at one game apiece last night, but the Nuggets defensive intensity down the stretch was just too much to overcome.

Denver won the game by a score of 117-105 to take a two game lead. Carmelo Anthony was the driving force behind the win as he scored 15 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter. Despite his play, he was willing pass the praise to the team’s most recent addition Chauncey Billups. In the fourth quarter, Billups dove to save a loose ball that would eventually lead to a layup by J.R. Smith. In a post game interview, Anthony was quoted saying, “That play right there was the biggest play of the game.”

Dirk Norwitzki’s 35 points was not enough to get the Mavs over the hump. As he did after game one, he conceded to the defensive efforts of the Denver Nuggets. He received a lot of heat for his statement that forward Chris Andersen has what it takes to shut him down. Analysts Chris Webber and Charles Barkley felt as though a player of his caliber should never show that much respect to their opponent.

Norwitzki received very little help from his teammates on the offensive end of the floor. Josh Howard was not a factor at all. He was sent to the bench after just six minutes of action with two sprained ankles. Antoine Wright was the only other starter to score in double digits with just ten points and Jason Kidd provided a mere four points to go along with seven assists.

The series will move to Dallas on Saturday where the Mavs are 17-1 since the All-Star break. The Nuggets have been on a tear since the start of the playoffs. They have lost only one game with their margin of victory at 24.8. This includes a 58 point win over the Hornets in round one.

A Budding Rose

A year ago this time I was a nervous wreck trying to write my very first piece on the emergence of Chris Paul. A year later, the play of the Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is giving me déjà vu. With a first year campaign that proved him worthy of the Rookie of the Year Award, Rose is shaking up the playoff picture.

By the end of the regular season, many fans were not sold on this young kid’s game. Sure his 16 ppg and 6 assists looked pretty on paper, but was he ready to lead his seventh seeded Bulls against the defending champion Celtics in round one? Fifty three minutes after the start of his first playoff game, there was no denying his abilities. He tied Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record for points in a playoff debut with 36. Add eleven assist to that number and you have a point guard who is wise beyond his years. No one could stop Rose as he slashed to the basket with ease. He even helped me win over a few hearts in my “Rondo is Garbage” campaign the way he embarrassed him that Saturday afternoon.

All of his teammates shout his praises. Guard Ben Gordon went as far as to say that he plays like a veteran. I most certainly agree. It’s difficult to believe that a year ago Derrick Rose was playing for a National Championship with the Memphis Tigers. At Memphis things were a lot easier. He was on a college team that was stacked with talent, being defended by guys who may not get picked in a playground game. Now he is in a position where the entire Bulls organization is depending on him to navigate them back to NBA supremacy. The legend of Michael Jordan stares him dead in the eye every time he enters the building. What better player to take the challenge than the Chicago native. The Jordan-esque demands do not phase this budding star. He never shows a bit of nervousness. Rose plays with a sense of confidence that many veterans do not posses as throughout their career. (Eddie House looks like he’s wishing the ball in the basket every time) He plays floor general without making the slightest facial expressions, remaining calm no matter how tight the game is.

Perhaps it is growing up as a Bulls fan that make him so anxious to get the team back to its glory days win Jordan was “pushing off” Byron Russel for Championships. In a Sports Illustrated article he was quoted saying, “I want the pressure on me. I would be more worried if it wasn't there." A statement like that should have guards around the league on their toes. Come clutch time, we all know who is going to have the ball in their hands.

A sign that he is a great point guard in the works is the fact that he keeps every one happy. As a point guard, you have four other guys on the court who feel as though they are open every offensive possession. Last season was a soap opera for the Bulls. Ben Gordon wasn’t sure if he wanted to be back. In reference to a big loss late last season Kirk Heinrich said, “We weren’t really ready to play.” Heck, Joaqim Noah got benched by his own teammates! One season later, Derrick Rose makes this squad look more content than elderly people at a time share. He dishes to Gordon for any open shot he pleases, Heinrich gives %110 every night on the defensive end and Noah has settled down and understands that he is no longer the go to man that he was with the University of Florida.

Currently the Celtics are leading the series 3-2, with a Thursday night game scheduled in the Windy City. The pressure is on Derrick Rose to will his team to victory in the next two games in order to advance to the next round. As I prepare to watch this “back against the wall” scenario unfold, I can’t help but to think about the 1980 NBA Finals in which Magic Johnson lead the Lakers to a championship in his rookie year. Can Derrick Rose have a story book season as thrilling as Magic’s? Upsetting the defending champs in the first round would be a start. Only time will tell if Rose is ready to rise to the occasion.

Time for Bosh to Say Adieu to Canada

It’s very rare that I feel sorry for someone who makes $15 million a year. I make an exception for All-Star power forward Chris Bosh. Not only does his team not perform, but he’s stuck in Canada for crying out loud. With all of the talk about the big name free agents in 2010, he seems to be the only superstar guaranteed to be on the move.

Bosh has proven himself to be one of the elite power forwards in this league. He averages 22 point a game and just over 10 rebounds. He would be a great addition to any team that has three point shooting due to the fact that he commands a double team on most nights. The problem is, I feel as though many general managers are looking past Bosh is hopes of nabbing Dwyane Wade or LeBron James in free agency. Newsflash… Neither of those guys are heading anywhere. Wade already has a championship ring. Yes his team is a bit weak right now, but they are young. Give them a year or two and they will be sitting right back on top of the Eastern Conference where they belong. As for James, he is playing on arguably the best team in the NBA right now. Why would he leave to go through the rebuilding process all over again? Teams need to start looking at the big man with the dreadlocks to not only fill the paint, but put butts in the stands.

The argument is always made that perhaps he loves the freezing cold temperatures of Toronto’s winters that he will stay put. Ha! There’s a better shot of seeing Charles Barkley turn down a burger. In addition to that, the Raptors have failed to put a winning team around him. They brought in shooters, defenders, veterans, and still can’t manage to win. This season alone the team was unsuccessful with stints with Shawn Marion and Jermaine O’Neal. More importantly, Bosh has superstar appeal. He is a character who comes up with creative YouTube videos and backs up his antics with his play on the floor. He has commercial appeal that will never fully be reached in Toronto. That’s the reason why both Tracey McGrady and Vince Carter left the team in years past.

So the question is: Where To? Tons of cellar dwelling teams are clearing cap space in order to land a big name. I highly doubt that Chris Bosh would want to leave one bad team for another. As I look to the top of the NBA and the teams who have the cap space and could utilize a player of his talent, I find the answer to my question.

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons are having a terrible season. They lost their point guard Chauncey Billups and got nothing in return from Allen Iverson. Rasheed Wallace is showing that he has very little interest in playing for the organization anymore. The teams’ president Joe Dumars, who is known for making big moves, will more than likely not resign Wallace or Iverson. That’s over $33 million coming off the books next year. With the remaining pieces of the team left intact (Prince, Hamilton, Stucky, etc.), that’s enough cash to sign Bosh and then some. A potential move like this one must have Dumars salivating at the ability to win another NBA title.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Who wouldn’t want to play with LeBron James? When the Cavs choose to cut ties with Big Z and Ben Wallace in 2010, Chris Bosh may have the luxury of playing alongside one of the game’s best. Bosh and James have been tied to one another since coming into the league as members of the 2003 NBA draft class. They are also very familiar with one another’s playing style after winning a gold medal together in the 2008 Summer Olympics. This move is the only opportunity available for Bosh to go to a team that is already competing for an NBA title on a regular basis. The Cavs would have a third All-Star, and let LeBron know that the organization is committed to winning for a very long time.

So for all of the GMs who are so amped to sign a big star and live happily ever after, your options are very limited if your stationary does not say Cavs or Pistons on it. Your time will be better spent attempting to find the next big thing from Europe or the kid stuck in a Division II college program that can really ball. As for Chris Bosh, you have one more year of me feeling sorry for you. After that, you get the same boos and heckles as any other highly paid athlete who graces the hardwood.

Celtics Even the Score

Twenty three years to the date when Michael Jordan scored 63 points against the Celtics in a playoff loss, Chicago’s Ben Gordon would turn in a stellar performance in a losing effort. Gordon finished the game with 42 points. His bucket with 12 seconds left was almost enough to lift the Bulls to victory, but Ray Allen’s jumper gave the Celtics the win.

Ray Allen provided the Celtics with a game winning shot with two seconds left to even the series with the Chicago Bulls at one win a piece.

Bulls point guard Derrick Rose did not have quite as strong of a game as he had in Game 1. He was held to just 10 points and seven assists. Rondo on the other hand, abused the Bulls defense and was able to amass a triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 16 assists.

With the game completed and the Celtics in celebratory mode, injured power forward Kevin Garnett could be seen jawing expletives at the Bulls bench.

The Celtics continue to be hampered by the injury bug. Rajon Rondo missed some significant time in the second quarter due to a rolled ankle on a fast break. Leon Powe missed the second half of the game due to an unknown injury. He made his way to the locker room in the second quarter and never returned to the action. There is no word as to whether or not he will be forced to miss any games.

With the series tied 1-1, the action will continue Thursday night in Chicago. The Bulls are 28-13 at home this season.