New LeBron James Commercial

With all the criticism LeBron has been getting during the off-season for his move to South Beach, many are wondering how he is going to respond. Well it looks like LeBron has some questions for the fans as well in his new Nike commercial.

The NBA Is Back

Finally I can stop watching the vintage Temple University basketball games, kids playing basketball on milk crates and Hawks Training Camp on NBA TV because the 2010-2011 NBA basketball season is here. There is so much to discuss, but hey we have got the entire season. Here are a few stories to get you caught up on what has been going on around the league…

The Heat is On

In case you have been living under a rock or in solitary confinement at Rikers Island, LeBron James and Chris Bosh have joined Dwyane Wade in Miami. LeBron caught a ton of criticism for making his decision in a live hour-long telecast on ESPN. Despite the team being a five seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs last year, the Heat has become the squad to beat this upcoming year. Look to see trio just about every night on TNT.

Melo on the Move?

In July Carmelo Anthony was rumored to be going to the Nets. In August it was the Knicks. But for now he’s staying put in Denver. If Carmelo gets traded during the season, it could really shake things up for the rest of the league. Will Melo look to back his bags this year or will he ride the season out? Only time will tell.

Shaq Heads to a Contender…Again

Shaq plays fantasy draft with his NBA legacy once again by signing a two year, $3 million dollar deal with the Boston Celtics. Some people are joking that he needs the money to pay child support. Others are swearing that he will do anything in his power to win another championship. I’m convinced he just wanted to join all of the other old guys on the Celtics.

Here are some of my predictions for the 2010-2011 season…

MVP: Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant is all but a lock for this year’s MVP award. Last year he finished second in MVP voting to LeBron whose numbers will surely be down due to the array of talent he will be sharing the court with. Durant’s stellar performance with Team USA in the World Games this summer shows that he’s made the transition from a scorer to a superstar who can lead his team to victory down the stretch. Look for his numbers to mirror that of last season’s with a league leading 30.1 points per game while shooting almost 50% from the field.

Rookie of the Year: John Wall

John Wall has quite the advantage to run away with this award. He has proven to be the most NBA-ready rookie thus far, averaging 17.3 points per game in seven preseason contests. The key for Wall will be efficiency. His quickness and ability to get to the basket won’t mean much if he can’t protect the ball. Many are arguing that Clippers forward Blake Griffin will put up some serious competition for this award after rebounding from a 2009 season-ending knee injury . Sure he is a talented player that can be one of the top power forwards in the NBA if he remains healthy; however, he has yet to prove that he can go up against KG, Amare’, and Gasol on a nightly basis. My vote goes to John Wall.

Western Conference Champions: Lakers

The Lakers are my favorite to return to the NBA Finals. This team has done nothing but gotten better during the off season. They added to their defensive presence with Matt Barnes and alleviated the strain an NBA season may have on 14 year vet Derek Fisher by signing Steve Blake. The only hiccup in the Lakers plans to three-peat is Kobe Bryant’s knee. Kobe had his right knee surgically repaired during in July and all signs point to it being an issue as the regular season comes to fruition. If Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Ron Artest can carry the load until the All-Star break the Lakers should be able to cruise back to the Finals

Eastern Conference Champions: Magic

It would be too easy to go with the Miami Heat so I will take the underdog in the Orlando Magic and here’s why...
The Heat are handing the responsibility of point guard to Mario Chalmers who despite flashes of solid play has yet to prove himself in the NBA. If the pre-season and training camp is a prelude of thing to come most of the ball handling responsibility will be delegated to D Wade and LeBron to make up for Chalmers lack of decision making ability. Sure this gives the team a better ball handler, but I feel like we all saw the “LeBron the point-guard” experiment go terribly wrong in Cleveland.

Not to mention Miami does not have a big man who can stop Dwight Howard in the paint. I’m not calling Dwight the next Bill Russell but there is no way that Haslem, Ilgauskas and Magloire will be able to contain him in the paint.

Orlando on the other hand has it all. A seasoned point guard in Jameer Nelson, sharp shooting in Rashard Lewis and rebounding in Brandon Bass and Dwight Howard. It may not look pretty, but Orlando has the edge if these two meet up in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Last But Not Least…

Be sure to check out NBA Spark Notes for news and insight as this year’s NBA season is sure to be an exciting one.

Toni Braxton Running the Triangle Offense in L.A.?

In the mid 90’s Toni Braxton was rumored to have dismantled the Dallas Mavericks franchise. How you ask? She allegedly went to a hotel to pick up guard Jason Kidd, only to leave with his teammate Jim Jackson. The team was on the road to destruction immediately following the event.

Fifteen years later she is at it again. Check out Toni Braxton’s latest video as she runs the triangle with Lakers Shannon Brown and Ron Artest better than Phil Jackson could ever imagine.

Quick Side Note

The 2009 NBA Playoffs have been great. We have seen a ton of buzzer beaters and stars emerging from the woodworks. As the Conference Finals unfold, the first two games in each series were decided by three points or less. This is one of the best playoffs I have seen in a while. I just have one problem…What’s with all the tick-tack fouls and crying?

A guy gets called for a foul and he’s whining like someone broke his Ninja Turtles action figure. Someone tosses a ball or swings an elbow, and the opposing team is jumping around pointing the finger as if they are second graders snitching on the kid that stole the animal crackers. Come on guys! I’m going to need the NBA players to grow up. This is basketball, and despite what your entourage tells you, you are supposed to get bumped and bruised. I’ve watched Nene bear hug Pau Gasol and then look bewildered when he was whistled for a foul. Kobe Bryant has five technical fouls in this year’s playoffs and they are all for running his mouth. Simply Unacceptable.

It’s not just the players fault though. The disposition that they are taking is nurtured by the referees. Everything is a foul, a technical, a flagrant. Players have become so dependent in these freebies, that they feel slighted when things do not go their way. Official Joey Crawford leads the way when it comes to being quick to blow the whistle. Don’t believe me? In 2007 he tossed Tim Duncan from a game for laughing on the bench. He’s getting even worse with time.

What really puzzles me is the over usage of the flagrant foul. Just because a guys falls hard to the ground, does not mean that a flagrant foul should be issued. This is playoff basketball. No shot should go uncontested, even if that means having to knock someone on their bottom.
I remember the first playoff series I ever saw. It was the early 90’s and my Dad was a huge Pistons fan. At the age of five I don’t remember much about the game, but I do remember Chuck Daily calling a timeout and every member of the Pistons team was bleeding. These guys were going hard and doing whatever it took to win a championship. They were not complaining when they got beat up under the basket because they were returning the favor. More importantly, the refs were letting the guys play.

I’m not asking for much. All I want the refs and remaining teams competing for an NBA title to do is watch the 1989-1990 Eastern Conference Championship between the Bulls and the Pistons. Watch how those guys play hard. Look at the lack of complaining. Look at how no one calls a tech when Dennis Rodman elbows Stacey King in the chest. That’s how I want you to conduct yourselves during the remainder of the post season.

Lakers Fight to Win Game 1

The Lakers trailed for three straight quarters before managing to defeat the Nuggets behind a 40 point performance by Kobe Bryant. The Lakers took Game 1of the Western Conference Finals by a score of 105-103.

Everything appeared to be going the Nuggets way early in the contest. The Nuggets had a 31 to 23 lead by the end of the first quarter. Carmelo Anthony had the hot hand throughout the contest and finished with 39 points. The defensive effort from the team as a whole was evident throughout the contest. A frustrated Kobe Bryant picked up a technical foul in the third quarter, his fifth of the post season.

Turnovers and missed free throws were key in the Nuggets loss. The team went just 23-35 from the line while the Lakers shot 20-24. The Nuggets also did not benefit from the poor shooting night of J.R. Smith who finished with just eight points.

Kobe Bryant took over the game late in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 points in the final seven minutes of the contest. Lamar Odom spoke about the play of Bryant in a post game interview. According to the Associated Press he stated, ''He was amazing. He wanted the ball. Kobe is always going to help you or bail you out more than he hurts you.'' Coach Phil Jackson shared these sentiments in his post game interview.

Nuggets coach George Karl was not as satisfied after the two point loss. He lamented that Game 1 was an opportunity that his team had squandered. He was quoted by the Associated Press stating, ''There's no moral victories in playoff basketball.''

Game 2 of the series will take place in Los Angeles on Thursday night.

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.

LBJ for MVP

Many of you are going to say that I have a bias when it comes to LeBron James as my choice for MVP this year. Sure I have two pairs of every shoe he wore since coming to the league. Yes I DVR the Cavs whenever they are on. And sure I make an effort to get to the games when they come to town to take on my Sixers. But no man crush will stop me from thinking rationally, and there is no other rational choice for MVP but LeBron James.

People have been throwing a lot of names into the hat for MVP candidates. Chris Paul made NBA history by leading the league in assist, steals, and being a top ten scorer. Dwyane Wade has single-handedly made the Miami Heat a playoff contender by dropping fifty whenever he pleases. Brandon Roy has not only put the Blazers back into the playoffs after a five year hiatus, he even managed to land home court advantage despite a disappointing rookie season by Greg “Bowie Bound” Oden. There is just one problem for these guys…there are only on average playoff teams. Since the inception of the MVP Award in 1955, no one has ever won the award without being one of the top three seeds in their conference. That leaves just a few worthy candidates left to battle it out: LeBron, Dwight Howard, and Kobe Bryant to be exact.

Dwight Howard is having a superb season. Averaging 20 points and nearly 14 rebounds he has Magic fans saying “Shaquille who?” He will be responsible for the resurgence of big men in the NBA, and perhaps he should get an award for that; however, their will be no MVP trophy going on his mantelpiece this summer. Howard was too inconsistent to achieve such a high accolade this year. He will have 32 and 21 against the lowly Pacers, then turn around and be a no-show against the Rockets with just 13 points and 9 boards. Inconsistency put a red “X” right over his name.

It all comes down to a two-man battle to etch their name in NBA history. Kobe could take home the hardware of the second consecutive year. LeBron could join Bill Russell as the only player to win the award at age 24.

Numbers wise, both of these individuals are well deserving of the award. LeBron averages just two more points than Kobe per game. Both players have their teams sitting atop their respective conference. The Cavs have a better home record, although the Lakers are one of only two teams to beat them at home this year. I can’t possibly chose between the two based on the criteria listed. I am forced to bring in the tie breaker…Which player is more “Valuable” to their team. The answer is clearly LeBron.

If you take Kobe and his contribution off of the Lakers’ roster you still have a solid team. You have two unstoppable big men in Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Combined they average 33 points a game and 17 rebounds. Derek Fisher is a veteran point guard who rarely makes a mistake. Lamar Odom, the team’s sixth man, would be a starter on any other team in the NBA. Not to mention that Kobe has the luxury of playing under the Zen master Phil Jackson and his six NBA rings. Looks like Kobe is playing with a full deck plus the Jokers.

With that being said, it makes perfect sense why LeBron James is worthy of the award. Minus ‘Bron, the Cavs struggle to make it into the playoffs as an eight-seed. Sure Mo Williams has turned out to be a great addition to the team, but no one knew who he was during those four seasons with Milwaukee. If it wasn’t for James’ performance this year, we wouldn’t even mention Mike Brown’s name for Coach of the Year. Not enough to change your mind? How about LeBron leads the Cavs in points, rebounds, assists, blocked, shots, and steals?

I know hardcore Kobe fans are probably think I’m an idiot. Despite being wrong, they are entitled to their opinion. One thing is for sure. Kobe will be looking to prove that he should have one MVP if these two meet in the NBA Finals.

Sixers Seal Their Fate?

With last nights’ loss to the Boston Celtics, the Sixers may have ended their hopes of advancing to a six-seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The Celtics were able to edge the Sixers by a score of 100-98 without the help of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Allen was serving a one game suspension for a hard foul against the Cavs, and Garnett has been sidelined with a strained knee since March 25^th. Paul Pierce carried his team to victory with 31 points. The Celtics received major contributions from reserves Tony Allen and Leon Powe who combined for 28 points.

As for the Sixers, Andre Iguodala led the team with 25 points. Second-year forward Thaddues Young returned from injury to contribute 18 points. A win would have allowed to Sixers to take the sixth seed from the Chicago Bulls and put them in a position to play the Orlando Magic in the first round. In order to advance in seeding, Philadelphia must defeat the Cavs tonight and the Bulls have to fall to the Raptors.

The Sixers had several opportunities to seal the deal in this game. They executed a 22-5 run early in the game, but the Celtics were able to close the gap to a 58-50 game by the half. The team responded well to a verbal lashing by Paul Pierce during a timeout in the second half. Down 11 in the fourth quarter Boston went on a rally that included a clutch three-pointer by Stephon Marbury that pulled the team to within three. Marbury would again get into the mix by coming up with a lose ball and dishing it to Mikki Moore for the lead. Boston would never look back. With seconds left on the clock, Philadelphia had one last chance to take the lead. Iguodala unsuccessfully went one-on-one against Paul Pierce as his off balanced floater fell short.

If the Sixers fail to move to the sixth-seed, they will be suiting up against the Boston Celtics once again for the first round of the playoffs. Philadelphia is 0-4 against Boston during the regular season. Boston expects to have Kevin Garnett back for the playoffs, although it is uncertain whether or not he is in game-shape due to having not played in almost a month.

Bobcats’ Playoff Hopes Grim

Heading into the season, very few people thought that the Charlotte Bobcats would have a shot at clinching an Eastern conference playoff spot. Apparently, the team’s owner Bob Johnson was on that list of naysayers. Prior to the start of the season, Johnson scheduled the team’s last four games to be played on the road in order for a horse jumping competition to take place at the team’s arena. Three games behind the Detroit Pistons for the eight seed and just four road games to go, the Bobcats’ playoff hopes are slim to none.

Their head coach Larry Brown was quoted by the Associated Press stating, “I knew the end would be difficult.” I’m not sure if he was ready to embark on such an arduous task.

According to STATS LLC, the Bobcats are the first team in twelve years to complete the season with a four-game road trip. The team’s slim chances are not helped by their dismal 12-25 road record. The only opportunity for the them to make the playoff would occur if they win their remaining games and the Chicago Bulls finish 1-3, or the Pistons blow all four remaining games.

The team’s playoff push was spurred by a slew of trades in December and January that brought the likes of Boris Diaw, Raja Bell and DeSagana Diop to the roster.

The Charlotte Bobcats are an expansion team that came into the league in 2004. Notable owners of the franchise include BET founder Bob Johnson and former NBA star Michael Jordan. The team has yet to make the playoffs since its existence in the NBA.

What Is NBA Spark Notes?

Sports' writing has played a vital role in keeping fans interested in the game of basketball over the years. In the 60's and 70's, when games were not broadcast on TV, fans could read in great detail what happened in an overtime game between the Lakers and the Pistons. When the news broke that Michael Jordan had retired to pursue a career in baseball, there was an article available in every paper that covered the story in depth. Most importantly, the art of sports’ writing offers commentary and analysis that fans can openly discuss. It’s always interesting to read the argument of Bill Russell vs. Wilt Chamberlain as the greatest big man of all time.

Just as the NBA game itself has changed with the relocation of teams and new superstars gracing the hardwood, so has the media’s coverage. Detailed accounts of games are often swept under the rug for highlights and off-the-court issues, and the days of true commentary are being pushed to the side. With ESPN and Sports Illustrated beat reporters becoming well known these days, their opinions often become law in the eyes of many fans as opposed to a starting point for debate. NBA Spark Notes seeks to bring NBA reporting back to what it once was. Readers will have the opportunity to read quality sports’ critiques and develop an opinion based on their findings.