Game Analysis: Suns @ Lakers

Key Laker players:

Andrew Bynum. He posted a career-high of 28 points on 11/13 shooting, with 12 rebounds. Don't forget that he's only 20 years old. Can anybody recollect the last time, a 20 year old center was this dominant? Obviously he still needs improvement on defense, but his offensive abilities are way beyond his years. Going toe-to-toe with Amare Stoudamire is no easy task. He catches impossible alley-oops with his tremendous wingspan, is one of the leading offensive rebounders in the game (he had 8 this game), and passes excellent through a double team. Another notable stat is that he's second in total dunks, and gets 98% of his points in the paint.

Derek Fisher. He's playing arguably some of his best basketball. He finished with 19 points on 7/15 shooting. He has one of the most reliable jump shots in the league. People forget he was the third leading scorer during LA's championship run. He is a stabilizing force both on and off the court. One can make the case that he has lead by example for this young Lakers squad. The confidence and poise of this veteran is seemingly rubbing off.

Kobe Bryant. He forced the Lakers' front office to make personnel changes. When it counts, he does it. He had a monster game with 38 points on 12/20 shooting and 7 assists in this game. With the opposition now having to worry about the other Laker players on the court, his game is more potent than ever. His elevation is the best it's been in years, making people forget that he completed knee surgery before this season. The difference between this season and previous ones is that his teammates are now making their shots, which means he'll be more generous about passing the ball. He had 7 assists in the game.

Trevor Ariza. The undoubted catalyst of this revived Laker team. Started this game. Attacks the rim with reckless abandon. He put a monster dunk over Grant Hill in transition that rocked the crowd. His individual defense and anticipation is excellent. Jackson is so confident in his defensive abilities that during this game, he was seen guarding several bigs, including Shawn Marion, Brian Skinner, and Amare Stoudamire. I wouldn't be surprised if he makes an all-NBA defensive team in the coming years with increased minutes.

Lamar Odom. Unselfish as ever. He didn't have his best shooting night in this game only converting 6/18, but he still has the ability to create his own shots when the Laker offense gets stagnant. A reliable defensive rebounder, and definitely not afraid to dive for loose balls. He can fill the lanes as well as shoot the three ball.

Team Breakdown: Dallas Mavericks

Observations from the December 18 ESPN broadcast of Phoenix Suns @ Dallas Mavericks.






















Offense

Talent: Same personnel. Same offensive firepower. Individually, still one of the most talented squads in the league. Josh Howard and Jason Terry are off to good starts, averaging 21.9 and 16.4 ppg, with both stars shooting close to 50% from the field. Dirk is making a conscious effort to post up more. Devin Harris is lightning quick to the rack, but still needs a more reliable jumper.

Quality of Shots: Not so good. A lot of shots are forced. They still don't have a consistent low-post threat. Dirk is drifting in and out of the low block, and the other players are just standing around, waiting for him to be the man. During most of the game, the Mavs were dominating individually, but in the closing minutes of the game, their lack of a fluid offense was exposed, as the Suns stormed back from a 14 point deficit to close to one. The quality of shots seemed to drop significantly, especially without a go-to guy.

Defense

Individual: Not as menacing as in the prior season. Terry, Howard, and Harris were swarming opponents on the perimeter - making it difficult to get open looks or to make the entry pass into the post. So far this season, that same intensity is lacking. Phoenix's high-throttled offense got to the cup way too easily in this game.

Team: The reason the Mavs were so good last year was because their defensive rotation was outstanding. Along with applying pressure on the perimeter, they would converge in the paint when necessary. This year, they're giving up 98 points on average to the opposition. Consequently, this leads to closer games (point differential is 9th, at +3.53).

Prognosis

To say that they were humbled in their 1st round elimination to the Warriors last season would be an understatement. If Dallas can figure out the right balance of including more of Dirk in the post, without making the offense stagnant (like they did in this game), they should be able to execute better. Most importantly, the collaborative and fiery spirit that characterized last season's 67 regular season wins, is still lacking at both ends of the court. If Avery can get his mojo back, and get the players to understand the team game more, they'll be back in full force. Until then, one can only hope that they'll gain steam as the season progresses just like last year.

Young Ones continue Laker Heritage

Los Angeles - On Sunday, just like how the storm clouds dispersed after several days of rain- the retro unis of the Los Angeles Lakers suddenly seemed as bright as the Southern California sunshine.

The forecast was warm with patches of clouds. The outcome - sunshine with clear blue skies.

In a Heritage Week match-up, the Lakers hosted the Golden State Warriors in front of a packed Staples Center crowd. The Lakers had beat the Warriors in its past 8 meetings. The result of this game was to continue that trend of purple and gold dominance.

The home team pulled out all stops as 7 Lakers scored in double digits and beat the Warriors, 123-113. They extended their win streak against Golden State to 9.

In the first quarter, Baron Davis did what Baron Davis does best - pushing the tempo and unloading from distance. He along with Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis put the Warriors in a good position, scoring 59 at the half and putting them well on track for their league-best of 110 points per game.

But the Lakers seemed content with playing along at this breakneck speed. They would score 60 points by halftime, with a dazzling array of plays from Andrew Bynum and Jordan Farmar, the core players part of the second youngest team in the league.

The story of the game was Bynum, who established his presence in the paint early on - overpowering the Warriors, and scoring 20 points which tied his career best. He also finished with 11 boards and 5 blocks.

The Warriors proved once again their knack for the fast break and the three point shot, but only converted 8 of 33 taken from beyond the arc. They seemed to lose steam in the second half, as the Lakers' defense applied pressure on the perimeter, forcing the Warriors into tough shots.

Another bright spot for the Lakers was the impressive play from newly acquired small forward, Trevor Ariza. He got significant minutes as Luke Walton did not play due to his recovering injury. He showed flashes of brilliance at both ends, wowing the crowd with his tremendous leaping ability and almost completing a monster dunk on the baseline.

In the fourth, the Warriors were still unrelenting in their offense, but were over-matched on this particular night, as Kobe Bryant's clutch jumpers, Lamar Odom's passing, Derek Fisher's timely three pointers, and Ronny Turiaf's strong post moves, opened up the lead for good.

After the next couple days of rest, the Lakers will be put to the test, as they go to San Antonio to play the defending champion Spurs who own the league's second best record and are 12-0 at home thus far in the season.

Rockets run out of fuel in final minutes

Houston- Two Texas powers clashed in Houston. One churned out a win in an evenly-matched game with playoff intensity.

After an 0-4 skid by the Rockets in the absence of their star player, Tracy McGrady came back from his hyper-extended elbow and sparked a stagnant Houston offense with his confident play-making.

Although Houston led for much of the game, the fourth quarter was highlighted by Brandon Bass's inside play against a slower Yao Ming; propelling the Mavericks to a 9-2 record with a 100-94 road win.

A physical and heated game from the onset, Josh Howard came out strong with 15 points in the first half, displaying his versatility with a smooth outside stroke and speed rare at his height.

The Mavericks, who finished last year's regular season with an NBA best of 67 wins, had trouble getting past the swarming defense of the Rockets. With an enthusiastic Houston home-crowd behind them, the Rocket's defense shined in the half-court as well as in transition, as Dallas players resorted to one-man offensive tactics, with Devin Harris pushing the ball up court and often times forced into a difficult shot. He finished with 22 points.

The score at half-time was 48-47, with the Rockets ahead in a tightly contested first half.

In the 3rd quarter, the Rockets moved the ball efficiently, which lead to wide-open perimeter shots. Shane Battier and Rafter Alston went a combined 6 of 13 from distance, and finished with 12 and 18 points respectively.

At the 5 minute mark in the 3rd, with several sharp passes from McGrady to Yao, the lead was spread to 15, and it looked as though the Rockets had it wrapped up. Yao would end the night with 30 points and 15 rebounds.

But the Mavericks would find their way back into the game, with Brandon Bass's soft touch around the paint, and utilizing his quickness on the slower Yao. Bass had a prolific game with 17 points on 6 of 12 shooting.

In the fourth, Devin Harris's relentless attacks to the basket, combined with several of Dirk's post-up plays, put the Mavericks in a position to strike.

The Rockets' lead in the waning moments of the fourth were wiped out with Jerry Stackhouse's corner three and clutch free throws. This put the Mavericks up and would seal the deal for a Mavs victory.

Until proven otherwise, the Mavericks will be the ones to beat, at least in the regular season.

The Dawn of a New Season

Los Angeles - Summertime is like winter for the NBA season. Those tiny seeds buried in the off-season begin to surface as snow-capped buds at the end of October, and continue their growth until full bloom in June.

Granted, teams will not be in mid-season form until presumably mid-season--the start of the 2007-2008 NBA games are just 4 days away and that gives us enough reason to start celebrating.

Let's briefly take a look at things to look out for.

-Kobe Bryant. He's a man on a mission, but will his venture ultimately be a round-trip to anywhere but a championship contender? If he does leave Los Angeles, he's jetting away on coach, courtesy of Jerry Buss.

- The Boston Big Three. What it do, you may ask? Kevin Garnett is playing in the pre-season like he would be playing for the O'Brien trophy in June. That should be enough to vault them into the East elite.

- Dallas resurgence? I think so. Last year they had the luck of facing the only team that could have possibly knocked them out in the first round. Up until then, they were the ones knocking opponents down like bowling pins, and switching styles up like a cross-dressing hipster.

-Phoenix rising? Boom or bust year for the NBA's sweethearts. A lot of speculation on Grant Hill's impact on this team. I say it's marginal, if they still think they can outrun opponents come playoff time.

-Enough fight in the Bull? Heralded rookie, Joakim Noah makes his debut. Ben Wallace gets his head-band back. Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich will be running the show. And Luol Deng is the heart and soul of this team. Chi-town has something (not named Air) to root for again. They are certainly wild cards in the East.

- Motor (City) running again? Yes. The usual ballers (Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince) will be hungrier after being embarrassed by Lebron James in the East Finals last year. One look at their roster tells you they're still in serious contention for a Finals berth, with big bodies like Nazr Mohammed, Jason Maxiell, and Amir Johnson doing the dirty work. I'm looking forward to their comeback this year.

- Sleeper Picks? The Toronto Raptors showed some promise with their late-season run last year. They are still relatively young, but they can be a legitimate force in the East if they continue building on last year's effort.

-The Rest? The defending champs, San Antonio Spurs will be in the thick of things when it matters. They should cruise their way into the playoffs with a #3 seeding. The Jazz, led by Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer will have plenty to prove this year amongst the stacked West powers. The Cavs made their fluke Finals appearance last year by taking down the Detroit behemoth, but they'll need more than just fireworks from Lebron James to take it to the next level.


So that about wraps it up for my pre-season discussion. Questions and comments are always appreciated. Hope you'll enjoy this upcoming season as much as I will! And don't forget, offense starts on defense.

More Mid-summer Chatter

Best Coach of All-Time?
I may sound a bit biased but Phil Jackson. His accomplishments speak for themselves and his coaching philosophy is admirable. He doesn't take the cookie-cutter approach like many others, instead he's one of the best at tapping into the true potential of almost every player and team he's coached. Not to mention, they always come back to him.

Jason Kidd, Derron Williams, or Chris Paul?
Kidd can push the ball, thread the needle, and throw oops upside your head. D. Williams has good D, and plays the half-court set better than most PGs in the league right now. Chris Paul is one of the poster childs of the rising young NBA stars, but he has a lot more to prove if he wants
to be considered part of the elite. I give the nod to Derron Williams.

Kobe vs Lebron, who would win right now mano-a-mano?
My buddy asked me this. This is a tough one. Kobe's lost some weight, which makes him quicker and more capable of penetration. He has a better J than Lebron. Lebron can overpower him, but his passing skills won't do him much good in a one-on-one.

Winner: Kobe

Kevin Durant or Greg Oden, who will win a title?
I'll be honest, I haven't seen either of them play much. But I know that Durant is a natural
and Oden is a throwback center with great agility. It all depends on whether Durant ever develops other parts of his game besides scoring. There's a lot of players that can score, only few that are successful within the framework of a team to win consistently. I got a gut feeling, Oden is going to be part of something big.

Molten Lava

Puerto Rico entered the first quarter playing with the passion and urgency needed for an underdog to pull off a miracle. The score was 33-27 at the end of the first.

But then, the inevitable happened.

Just like you can't expect Vegas summers to remain cool.

There was plenty of heat inside the gym as well.

It was like Tiger Woods on the final day of a major. Nobody was stopping them.

Through the first half of the game, Puerto Rico led by Carlos Arroyo and Larry Ayuso were playing an uptempo game reminiscent of last year's Golden State Warriors. Hardly any structure, but an excellent way to keep the opponents guessing.

But the U.S. kept adding to their point total, and Puerto Rican players were harassed on all angles from a swarming defense led by Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd. And after a series of plays involving Melo crushing an alley-oop and Lebron James orchestrating a magnificent concert in the form of crisp passing and in-the-paint drop-offs, the game was over.

I'm pretty sure, Puerto Rico got the memo.

"Mamba, Melo, and the King are in town."

But there was no stopping the three greatest scoring threats on planet Earth.

The plays were different, but the story remained the same. Carmelo scorched Puerto Rico from the perimeter. Lebron showed the world, an uncanny completeness and hunger in his game. And of course the now 30 year old, and veteran of the team, Kobe, who can and will score from anywhere on the hardwood.

The total points scored read like a runningback's rushing yards:

68% shooting, good for 130 points in 8 less minutes than in an NBA game.

Even the Phoenix Suns couldn't do that.

They went 23-36 from three point land. Lithuania-esque numbers.

It all adds up to a huge W, an Olympic berth, and a renewed confidence in international play.

The drama continues....I mean, the routs continue.




















(Good vibes on Dream Team 2007)

U.S. cruises past Argentina

Kobe Bryant came out swinging--17 points on 6 of 8 shooting, 3 for 4 from distance, in his first 10 minutes of play to be exact.

As did Carmelo Anthony--demoralizing Argentina with his brand of offensive versatility which has characterized his play in this tournament. He made the play of the game with a monster finish over a hesitant Argentinian help defender.

With both teams boasting 6-0 records heading into this quarter-final round, ESPN and other media outlets made it sound like this was going to be a game. It didn't take long to realize, this wasn't.

With many of the original players from the 2004 Argentinian national squad including Manu Ginobili and Fabricio Oberto missing from action, the U.S. once again displayed the kind of individual and collective dominance that has placed them comfortably for an Olympic berth.

Make no mistake, Argentina is no slouch. These guys can flat out play. And they certainly posted (at least on paper), a respectable final score of 91-76, which is closer than the U.S. blowouts in the tournament thus far.

It's just that when you're going up against behemoths like Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, and Amare Stoudamire with Jason Kidd running the show with a dazzling array of half-court tosses and back-door dimes, it puts the opposition on tilt. And when teams become hesitant, they create turnovers, much like Argentina did in this game, due to their reduced scoring options and consequent turnovers.

In contrast, the U.S. creates match-up nightmares for the defense, because they can attack in unlimited ways. On one play where Lebron James took a loose-ball and was fouled for a basket-count, the Argentinian center, Scola was the one on the floor, seemingly hurt for a second. It was evident that on an individual basis, these guys will overpower and outrun 90% of international competition. They train harder and are pulled from the deepest talent pool in the world.



























(Josh Howard with the two-hand flush)

This is a different brand of basketball than that of the '92 Dream Team, but it's just as fun to watch. School was in session any time any one of the U.S. players took the ball in their hands tonight. I'm no longer questioning the talent that this roster consists of, and these games can only get better as the U.S. faces stiffer competition against Spain and Greece in the Olympics.

For Team U.S.A., the first 4 games were a warm-up. The last 3 a reminder that they can take on better competition. But if there's one thing missing from this team, it's a consistent and fluid offensive execution. Their defense has been amazing, with Kobe Bryant putting heavy pressure on guards, and Lebron and others waiting to make steals, but their offensive execution leaves much to be desired.

The pros and cons of assembling an All-star team is that the subtle nuances of playing championship basketball are seemingly lost. Most of these guys are franchise players on their respective NBA teams, and each have their unique ways which make them great. So in this sort of assembly of All-star talent, the fundamentals to a great team operation like ball movement and help defense take a back seat to sensational plays like guards tossing half-court alley-oops and power forwards bulldozing their way through 2 opponents.

So what are the true prospects of Olympic Gold? They certainly have a great opportunity in their hands, but you and I both know those hopes can be squandered rather quickly when matched up against a superior team. In order for U.S.A. basketball to regain glory, they'll have to realize that it will take substantially more than dunks and 20fters.

No Carnival for Brazilians in Vegas

"U.S.A. basketball is not a tropical storm, it is now a full-fledged hurricane."

At the end of the 1st quarter of U.S.A./Brazil, I was planning on writing up an article on how the two South American soccer powers were now part of world basketball elite.

That statement most certainly would have been premature, as the U.S. cruised to another easy victory over Brazil, 113-76.

Against a confident and physically capable Brazilian team, led by current NBA players like Leandro Barbosa, Nene Hilario, and soon to be NBA player, Tiago Splitter, Team U.S.A. seemed disoriented matched up against a substantially better international team.

But those first quarter uncertainties didn't linger for long, as Lebron James' playmaking in the 2nd quarter, opened up the floor for Michael Redd and Kobe Bryant to hit open threes. Carmelo Anthony was off to another fast start as he was the beneficiary of many easy buckets.

In the 3rd quarter, a series of spectacular plays courtesy of the NBA's best, sealed the deal for the U.S. Back to back threes by Kobe Bryant, followed by a Lebron- Carmelo alley-oop connect, and seconds later, a stolen inbounds pass led to a basket-count for Lebron James. They were up by 26 at this point.

The team would go on to stretch the lead at one point to nearly 50, with a combination of individual domination, and with less frequency, a seamless team operation.

But the story of the game was Kobe Bryant's lock-down defense on the leading scorer in the tournament, Leandro Barbosa, who entered this game with 27 points per. For much of the first 3 quarters, Bryant would play air-tight defense on Barbosa, as soon as he got the ball. This proved to be the key to setting the tone for Team U.S.A. Barbosa would finish with 4 points.

The first three games of the tournament for the U.S. were characterized by a high-octane offense that was largely led by Jason Kidd, Carmelo Anthony, and Lebron James in the open floor. I'm sure Mike D'Antoni has a hand in much of the fast-breaking inclinations of the team.

But tonight's game required team U.S.A. to play in more half-court sets due to the Brazilians' excellent help defense. This is where veteran players like Kobe Bryant excel. With a player like him in the mix, there are no wasted movements; everything is under control. And this is just the sort of subtle leadership that the previous teams were lacking.

In an example of veteran leadership and control, Coach K can watch with confidence as Chauncey Billups drains a pull-up three in transition. In past outings for the Bronze medal teams, these sort of shots would have been all too frequent and without promise. But the new additions to this team include some tough competitors that have endured 82 seasons in the premier league, and for those like Chauncey, have once or twice reached the pinnacle of basketball. In every definition of the word, these are veterans.

On another sequence, Lebron James threw a perfect pass to a cutting Kobe Bryant.

This is showtime.

There are resemblances of the former greats, like Magic and Michael.

Lebron to Kobe.

This is their generation. They are showing the world why America is still home to the best basketball players in the world.

If it's any indication after the first 4 preliminary games, the European powers like Greece and Spain better brace themselves. The former glory of the U.S.A. is returning, and although too early to call, this team is well on its way to shining brighter than those Las Vegas lights on the horizon.

Old NBA clips

Just found these awesome clips of NBA All-Access from the 2006 NBA Allstar game.

Some behind the scenes footage and humorous moments from the game's best.

Enjoy! (I sure did).

Mid-Summer Chatter

What's good my peoples?

Sorry for the neglect, this past week. There hasn't been much to write about in mid-summer.

I'm gonna switch it up a bit and get to some relevant hoop topics, not worrying so much about my writing style.

First topic of the day: Tim Donaghy. Stern's worst nightmare seems to have come true. He's apparently gonna rat out the other officials who may have been involved in gambling at one time or another. ESPN reported that there may be up to 20 league officials that may have been involved in gambling, which is against the collective bargaining agreement between the league and its officials.

There can't possibly be a worse look for the NBA than this. It takes away from the integrity of the game, and that's a problem. We'll just have to listen to the developments as they come.

Second topic: Team USA heading into the FIBA Olympic qualifying matches. A top 2 finish will secure a spot in the '08 Olympics. They should be able to easily finish on top with the amount of proven talent and competitive spirit that this team has, something that was lacking in recent outings for the US of A. You can bet I'll be watching. Full report to come!

Third topic: A more equal balance of powers in the league? To some degree, with Boston's pickups. But let's be real. The Spurs, Mavericks, and Suns are still the West's top dogs, and are still the teams to beat in the league.

Fourth topic: Former And1 players become part owners in new Streetball organization, Ball 4 Real. Many of the original ballers that paved the way for streetball popularity, such as A.O, Main Event, 1/2 Man, 50, Mr. 720 (formerly Air up There), and others have jumped ship from AND1. From what I've read and watched on old ESPN Streetball episodes, there's been numerous times when players were expressing their discontent with management, pay, and overall climate of basketball. I wouldn't blame them. The OGs were being dismissed while the new cats were turning AND1 as the authority on street ball to more of a circus act. AND1 has taken their game outdoors once again, (as a move to re-establish street credibility?) and this was essentially the straw that broke the camel's back for the real ballers, who were confused and disgruntled as to a seemingly regressive move.

Ball4Real is having a nationwide tour in arenas. This is basically in line with what AND1 was doing until this year. As far as popularity goes, AND1 may still be popular, and the one with their ESPN documentary show, but Ball 4 Real definitely has the potential to overtake them in the long-run. As far as street credibility, those cats have more of, than the new breed AND1 players who are mostly about show. And that's ultimately what will reel in exciting talent.


Alright, so that was a brief rundown of hoops-related topics. What yall think about this format of writing? Leave me some comments if you wish.

756

Bonds hits 756.

Why am I talking about baseball on a basketball blog?

Because this story draws parallels to a superstar basketball player.

Follow along.


Fireworks lit up AT&T Park as Bonds trotted around the bases in an almost nonchalant manner. Only there was nothing nonchalant about this record. The frenzy of the Giant diehards and the unity of the Bonds family was evidence enough that this was truly a great milestone.

From the beginning of the season to now, Hank Aron stayed solid in his stance that he would not be able to make it the game to watch Bond's surpass his home run record. Many speculate that he wanted to keep his distance and uphold his dignity as the natural slugger and one of the all-time greats of baseball.

But when all was said and done, Aron appeared on the ballpark big screen, acknowledging Bonds' achievement. It almost seemed as though he were some divine figure, accepting and understanding all of the son's challenges, faults, and ultimate perseverance.

Amidst the clouds of speculation surrounding his use of steroids for several years now, one can only begin to imagine a day walking in the shoes of Barry Bonds. His case for innocence seems even more hard to prove, with the chemist at Balco claiming Bonds knowingly took the performance-enhancer. His slugging numbers in the eyes of baseball experts prove to be an anomaly as some of his most prolific seasons as a power hitter came after the age of 35; around the time Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa shattered Roger Maris' single season home run record.

As one of the most polarizing and controversial baseball players of our time, he's been labeled a fraud by opposing fans, bashed by media analysts, and heckled by throngs of fans holding up asterisks at every stadium he entered this season.

And then, at the other end of the spectrum, the forever loyal San Francisco fans. A city, much like other big sports-crazed cities. A city of different people embracing all of a professional athlete's tribulations and triumph.

So by the time, Bonds had smacked his 765th into the right field stands and the noise started to settle, I began thinking.

This is all too familiar sounding. A story about how the city's love and acceptance of a player spreads to the entire nation. A story about an isolated and misunderstood athlete displaying a vulnerability and humility seldom seen in them. A story about one man's displays of fault and ultimate redemption.

The name is Kobe Bryant. The city is Los Angeles. The year was 2004. His dilemma was different from Bonds' in that it was an off-court incident, but everything else was the same. A media blitz covered the Bryant sexual assault scandal and sponsors retracted their endorsement deals with the once clean-cut wholesome role model of a figure. He admitted to the wrongdoings of adultery, but in the public eye, he was a sexual predator, and at the time a seemingly hopeless example of an athlete's image going down the drain.

Just like Bonds, he endured countless road games where opposing fans would boo him whenever he touched the basketball and presumably spent just as many nights in agony, self-remorse, and self-reflection. Where would he to go after this? His championship glory days seemed a fond and distant memory.

But the player chooses to continue striving to be the greatest player that ever played, baseball or basketball. Same hall-of-fame material, same work ethic. This is where the story begins to change.

Fans understand with time that athletes are humans, just as vulnerable to their greed or deceit or wrong-doing as any other human being. An off-court incident of mistakes could take its toll on a player's image, but not forever.

After all, whether it's the home runs or the three pointers, an athlete's reputation and image is still largely decided upon by a player's on-court performance. It's amazing how a single play can sway the undercurrents of an otherwise nightmarish season.

Following the dropped sexual assault allegations, Kobe Bryant went on to accomplish tremendous feats, including the 2006 season culminating with an 81 point outburst; turning the harshest critics into believers overnight. But his ultimate form of redemption would come in Game 4 of the 1st round slug fest with the Phoenix Suns. In front of a packed and nervous Staples Center crowd, Bryant, along with his young Laker teammates, staged one of the most miraculous comeback victories in Lakers history. Bryant would tie the game with a rainbow floater at the end of regulation, and sink the buzzer beater in overtime to put the max capacity Laker crowd into complete mayhem.

The sexual assault case was behind him. The team that had been completely clueless, scared, and disoriented in Bryant's presence were now jumping onto their leader and surrounding him with a sea of emotions; of jubilance, pandemonium and relief. For the team, and for Kobe Bryant, it was redemption of the sweetest kind.


















Their individual stories have yet to conclude though.

Bonds will no doubt face an uphill battle with a pending court case for allegations of steroid use, but for one night....just one night, the clouds seemed to disperse and Bonds seemed to be engulfed with a sense of resolution.

The game is what mattered to them the most, and it's only fitting that two stars would find their ultimate solace in the game itself.

KG arrives in Boston

As if those winters in Minnesota weren't cold enough. Kevin Garnett's career with the Timberwolves spanned 12 years, in which he averaged 20.5 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 4.5 apg, and 1.7 bpg. Incredible stats by any one's measure.

But his tenure with the Wolves has been characterized by dismal results; having the notorious reputation of being perennial 1st round losers. Although there was one bright season in which he was joined by allstars Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell to claim the West's best record of 58-24 heading into the playoffs. Garnett finished with MVP honors posting impressive numbers yet again. But his team would go on to lose in the Conference Finals against the Lakers.

This was his city, his fans, and his mentor Kevin McHale.

Loyalty meant as much to him as winning.

Any other player would have bailed out long ago, but he stayed committed to a team that he felt responsible for. He was the franchise player. He never once doubted his abilities, nor did any one else for that matter. But he never won. Simple as that.

If there's anything harder for a professional athlete to do, it's to lose. Lose consistently enough and one begins to question their abilities to lead a team.

He saw Shaquille O'neal and Tim Duncan, arguably two of the greatest centers to play both get titles with their respective teams. But they were under much favorable circumstances; playing alongside great role players, a great coaching staff, and other great superstars.

After much speculation at the end of the 06-07 NBA season, the time finally came. It was time for KG to leave for greener pastures. The Wolves agreed to the biggest trade for a single player in NBA history, trading away Garnett for nearly half of the Celtics' roster along with two future 1st round picks.

He's got some help now. One is a veteran sharpshooter by way of the Seattle Supersonics, Ray Allen. And the other, a veteran scorer with the Celtics, Paul Pierce, who I'm sure is just as ecstatic to run with a veteran big man.

So the question is this. Will this work out for Kevin Garnett and the rest of the Celtics organization? It's really any one's guess at this point, but this team is in the East, and KG will likely be a dominant force in the middle. His turnaround 10 footers are still as good as any, and with Ray Allen opening up the floor, it'll be interesting to see how they turn out by mid-season.

One thing is for sure. From the Midwest to the Northeast, in KG's mind, green is as good as gold.

Summer Runs @ The Point

I made my way through the pitch black doors located on Cahuenga Blvd, and almost tip-toed my way into the building not knowing what to expect. The first doors revealed displays of various exclusive Nike shoes and a retail store located adjacent to the gymnasium.

Out into the sunlight, another pair of doors lead to the gym, aka "The Point". I sat myself on the small bleachers, and immediately noticed the stark white and black contrast of the ceiling and hardwood floor.

It's reminiscent of Nike's "The Second Coming" commercial shot at the Air Force base. It's also the site where Kobe held the release of his second signature shoe, the Zoom Air Kobe 2.

Maybe it's the distinct color scheme of the gym or the fact that there are familiar-looking old-timers in the stands, cheering and jarring at the younguns that gives the venue a serious tone about it. Either way, there is some serious ball being played here.

The Say No Classic attracts some of the best college players in California every year. And this year is no different, as hungry players are out to prove themselves among like-minded athletes. Players are vying for perhaps a starting position on their respective team next year, or just out there to prove to themselves that they belong. With the exception of a few chuckles here and there, the players, coaches, and spectators are very much focused on the game. A loose ball or an alley-oop seemingly get just as much rise out of this educated crowd.

Don't blink because you'll probably miss a beautiful assist or quick low-post move.

In attendance to watch are former UCLA alums like Jordan Farmar and Arron Afflalo.

Next week, word is that Nick Collison will be playing on the 4th and 5th. I'll report back on his play following the games.



















Brief Player Analysis: Lorenzo Mata

UCLA senior listed at 6'9" 240lbs.

Strengths: His defense and rebounding are what stands out. He has great length and agility for his size. A very capable rebounder. Good recognition of the open man and has great passing skills out of the low block. Has great intensity, and will dive for loose balls. A decent finisher when he's close to the rim, and could be a great role player like Marcus Camby if he develops a better offensive game.

Weaknesses: He has yet to show much on the offensive end. He seems uncomfortable with the ball. He needs to develop a better low-post game and learn how to move off of screens. His ball-handling can also improve. Since his offensive skills are limited, this will ultimately decide whether he is NBA quality or not.





















Point guard, Jordan Farmar of the Los Angeles Lakers. Word.

Return and Regression

Derek Fisher's return to Los Angeles is like welcoming home a battle-worn sergeant. Fisher has as many stripes on his chest as he does last second heroics in the form an effortless three point stroke. When all seemed lost in the Shaq-Kobe media fiasco, he was the voice of reason. If the days in the Hollywood limelight and garnered accolades weren't enough, he took his game to Salt Lake City where he became the heart and soul of a rejuvenated and inspired Jazz team; sinking huge jumpers in an eventual win over the red-hot Warriors.

His story was the high point in the NBA season filled with yet another round of on-court violence and the introduction and disposal of a wacky regulation ball.

Los Angeles was the right destination for Fish, who was seeking the best possible treatment for his daughter's medical condition above all else. He agreed to a 3-year, $14 million deal with the Lakers.

So there isn't much else to say, besides the fact that he is an asset to any team trying to become a contender. Laker fans are going to embrace his return. And you can bet Staples Center will be rocking when you see him take that charge in the fourth quarter.

With Fisher, what you see is what you get.


Which brings us to the second topic of the day.

Apparently, what we saw, wasn't what we (as NBA fans) got. Just when I thought sports scandals couldn't get any worse with the Michael Vick dog fighting accusation, we hear about an NBA referee fixing games to his liking to swing the gambling odds in his favor.

David Stern didn't look too happy in his press conference, that's for sure.

ESPN is all over this. And why wouldn't they be? This is another major U.S. sport making a major misstep. Calling this "isolated case" of game-fixing a misstep would be an understatement though.

This has everything to do with the image and credibility of the game, and nothing to do with an individual inclination for sports betting. But we're talking about an NBA official, who's duty as a professional referee is to uphold a certain integrity and objectivity to the games on display.

We're not watching WWF here. We're talking about the fans, franchises, and players generating hundreds of millions of dollars every year based on real unscripted basketball games.

I really do hope this case is as isolated as Stern wants us to believe. Otherwise, we're headed for a long hot summer. And you thought your neighborhood was scorching? Try sitting in David Stern or Mitch Kupchak's seat right about now.

Bryant = Gold (well not yet)

Alright so it's officially on. Kobe Bryant began training for the Team USA squad to play in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. We all remember what happened several years back when Team USA got Bronze in the '04 Olympics, with Manu and his Argentinian teammates playing a beautiful and composed brand of basketball which blew the US squad out of the water.

In the '06 World Championships, Team USA again failed to win Gold, settling for yet another 3rd place finish. And this "team" composed of star athletes like Chris Paul, D. Wade, Lebron, and Carmelo, headed by none other than legendary Duke Coach, Mike Kryzewski was supposed to be the team that got the US back at the top of the basketball world. Instead, it displayed once again, a lack of experience, cohesiveness, and ultimately a lack of synergy. All of which proved insufficient against the highest international play. Times have changed since the days when star-struck international players were flattered just to play against the likes of Magic, Jordan, and Bird. The international level of play has undoubtedly risen within the past decade, and the world can now more than hold their own against what the US has to offer.

Enter Kobe Bryant.

Arguably the game's #1 player had yet to lace up his kicks for any international play, due to his microscopic knee surgery last summer. He's looking to more than make up for it as Team USA starts its Tournament of Americas games, which is a qualifying event for the '08 Olympics in Beijing.

Haters and lovers alike, have waited for #8, err, #24 to don a Team USA jersey forever. If there's one thing most NBA fans can agree on, it's that TEAM USA needed savvy veterans to give this team a backbone. And most will agree that Bryant is the player's player.

If Lebron James is the King, Kobe Bryant is the Emperor. His versatile game combined with his intense determination is exactly what this team was missing. So what does he exactly bring to the table? Well, for starters, he's a one-man army; possibly the greatest offensive player in the history of the game. He plays with an intense desire to win, and that means getting it done on both ends of the court. Whether it's a timely defensive stop or his game-ending heroics, he's proved himself in these last few years that he is basically, the man. The best player in the premier basketball league in the world.

And it looks like the committee responsible for assembling the initial 17 players was smart enough this time around to include proven winners like Tayshaun Prince, Chauncey Billups, Deron Williams, and Amare Stoudamire. Assuming most of these players will stay for the final 12 man roster to compete in the Tournmant of Americas starting late August, it should give Team USA plenty of firepower to push for basketball supremacy once again.

If the below pictures are any indication, it looks like the US has finally got around to gathering the pieces for what may possibly be, a modern day Dream Team.

And at the time of this editorial, KB hit the game-winner in an all-Team USA exhibition match. I believe he means business.

In the NBA off-season

This is my first post in this basketball-related blog that I'm about to start. Hopefully this will be a platform of sorts to improve my writing skills. I'm gonna try to keep it as business-casual as possible, and refrain from using words like "that dope shit" because after all, the intent of this blog is to improve my writing skills.

But what's a blog without a little street swagger ya dig?

So it's been too long since the NBA entered its off-season. We've already seen big player movement with teams like Portland and New York, swapping marquee names like Zack Randolph and Steve Francis. We've seen both the Lakers and Pistons resign their solid pieces to the puzzle in Luke Walton and Chauncey Billups.

But of course, the blockbuster deals have yet to happen. I'm talking of course about any notable Laker acquisitions at the power forward/center position. From what I've read, I get the impression that there's a greater likelihood that Kevin Garnett will be heading out of Minnesota than Kobe Bryant leaving LA. And KB is running out of excuses, as the Lakers just signed Derek Fisher.

So there's quite a few questions to be answered within the next several months.

Is Kobe staying?

Where will KG land?

Which teams will position themselves at a title run?

How will the incoming rookies fair in the upcoming season?


All of these questions I'd like to discuss, as the days go by,
and the regular season gets closer. I can't wait.