Conspiracy Theory: NBA Finals

The four remaining teams in the 2013 NBA Playoffs are not who I selected at the beginning of the year.  In fact, of the four remaining teams, I think I only chose one-The Miami Heat.  Memphis, San Antonio and Indiana are all dark horse selections.  The star power between the remaining teams is relatively low.  Last year, when Miami faced OKC, the star power was really high.  Lebron, Wade, Bosh, Durant, Westbrook and Harden.  This year, Z-Bo, Gasol,Paul George, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and the Miami Heat trio remain.  

I spoke with one of my good friends the other day and he believes that "the powers-that-be" will dictate the teams advancing to the NBA Finals.  I agree with his assessment.  If Indiana plays Memphis in the NBA Finals, I think the ratings would be the lowest in quite some time.  Both teams play a brand of basketball that is not appealing.  Both teams hang their hats on defense and do not score a lot of points.  Neither team is known for highlight plays by superstars either.  Zach Randolph might score 20 points, but you can be sure he won't make one amazing athletic play. The teams are just boring and I would not be excited to watch either team play.

Now, the more likely and more profitable matchup would pit Miami against San Antonio.  There are quite a few story lines that would make that matchup worth watching.  It would mark the second time that two hall of famers, Duncan and Lebron, meet in the NBA Finals.  It would pit one storied franchise with a historic "big three" against an up-and-coming "big three."  It would also symbolize San Antonio's likely last hurrah with their current core of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili.  Let's face it, but for injuries to Westbrook and Kobe, the Spurs probably would not be in their current position.  Next year, these players, along with other upstart teams and players, will make the Western Conference even more competitive.

Some may say that David Stern does not possess the power to dictate the teams in the NBA Finals.  I would caution against that kind of thinking.  David Stern is powerful.  I believe he orchestrated the NBA Draft Lottery in 2003, which allowed Cleveland to draft Lebron James, who just happened to be from nearby Akron, Ohio.  Make no mistake, David Stern has been an ambassador for the NBA and has made many moves in his efforts to grow the brand of the NBA.  Having a NBA Finals that features the Grizzlies and Pacers simply would not advance his objectives.  Therefore, David Stern won't allow it to happen.

Peace

Kevin Durant and the Lebron James Rules

Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder recently lost a series against the Memphis Grizzlies.  Prior to Russell Westbrook's injury, OKC was widely considered to be the favorite to win the Western Conference.  After his injury, many people still believed  OKC could be successful in the playoffs.  They believed that Kevin Durant would be able to carry his team.  Those people were wrong.  A team with one superstar player and a bunch of decent players, who may or may not produce at a high level during the playoffs, is doomed.  That scenario sounds eerily similar to Lebron James' Cleveland Cavaliers team from a few years ago.

Lebron lead his Cavaliers team deep into the Eastern Conference playoffs multiple times and he also guided his team to the NBA Finals as well, despite not having a legitimate secondary star.  I think Lebron had the foresight, even as a Cavalier, to know that he would need high level talent, who also had the ability to produce during the playoffs, if he had any chance of winning the big games.  The playoffs are a different ball game and the magnitude of the games sometimes reduces average players to mediocre players.  Do you recall how poorly Mo Williams played in the playoffs during Lebron's last year in Cleveland?  Do you also recall that he was an "all-star" that year?  One great player is not enough to compete in today's talent laden NBA. 

Kevin Durant is the second best player in the NBA.  He is probably the best scorer in the NBA and is also one of the most likeable super star athletes in the history of the game.  Despite the great things many people say about Durant, he, alone, was not able to will his team to victory against the Grizzlies.  I am well aware that Russell Westbrook's injury and James' Harden's departure played major roles in OKC's ultimate outcome.  However, I remember people saying that Lebron was a failure or incapable of winning the big games when he carried below average teammates to the NBA Finals.  In short, the standard applied to Lebron and KD is not the same. 

Durant played relatively well against the Grizzlies, but he began to wear down in the 4th quarter of games.  In game three, he was 1-5 from the field and finished with only 2 points in the fourth quarter.  During game four, he was 2-13 from the field and finished with only 5 points in the 4th quarter.  In game five, he was 1-4 from the field and finished with only two points in the fourth quarter.  I have not heard one member of the media say that Durant choked or that he is incapable of leading a team.  The main reason is that Durant is not considered to be the best player.  He is not Lebron James, so he does not carry the burden.  He is not judged by the Lebron James Rules. 


Peace

Los Angeles Clippers: What Does the Future Hold?

The 2011-12 season ended in a second round loss to the San Antonio Spurs.  For Clippers fans, that marked a decided improvement from years past.  It also marked the beginning of a young team being led by the best floor general.  Fast forward one year and the picture is quite different.  The L.A. Clippers, fresh off a Pacific Division championship, lost to a hungrier, grittier and more well coached Memphis Grizzlies team.  For the Clips, the once bright future is suddenly in a state of disarray.  Their franchise player will become a free agent on July 1, 2013.  And, it is obvious that Blake Griffin is not a super star.  What next?

The first move the Clips must make is re-signing Chris Paul.  Chris is the best point guard in the NBA and the only legitimate star on that team.  They can pay Chris more money than any other team.  But, Chris is likely thinking about his legacy.  Thus far, he has been unable to get past the second round of the playoffs.  For a player of his stature, the critics are going to start questioning his abilities, much like they did with Lebron if he does not start winning the big games.  He has certainly done his part, but Griffin is not the player people thought he would be.  Ultimately, because Los Angeles is a great market and they can pay him about $30 million more than any other team, I think they have a good chance of re-signing him.

The supporting cast of the Clippers is not bad.  But, they need to make some moves.  Blake Griffin is a very athletic post player, but he does not have any offensive moves.  When the game slows down, as it always does in the playoffs, he is a fish out of water.  He is simply incapable of scoring in a half court set against good defense.  He is not a good mid-range shooter and he is a liability at the free throw line. His defensive and rebounding abilities are not what they should be.  If he can develop a consistent go-to move in the post and a steady mid-range shot, he will be very effective.  Until then, he is only a highlight reel player, who is very ineffective when it really matters.

Deandre Jordan is terrible.  This guy cannot make a free-throw and he has not developed a consistent offensive game.  He should average 12 rebounds per game because of his sheer athletic ability. The other players on the team are close to being over the hill.  Jamal Crawford, Grant Hill, Lamar Doom, Caron Butler, Chauncey Billups,and Matt Barnes are all in their 30s.  Those players are effective in their own right, but none of them are go-to guys and none of them really help a team in a half court set.  The Clippers need a player in the mode of Zach Randolph.  

Vinny Del Negro has a winning record as the Clippers coach.  But, it still seems that he should be released.  He does not do a good job of making adjustments.  His offensive schemes are predictable and Lionel Hollins out coached him in the series against the Grizzlies.  If they hire a new coach and make a few trades, CP3 may re-sign a max deal with them.  If they do not make any significant moves, CP3 may decide to try his hand at free agency.  Without him on board, the Clippers will lose the momentum they have gained over the past two seasons.


Peace

Mos Def & Slick Rick: The Show

Mos Def a.k.a. Yasiin Bey (hereinafter "Mos Def") and Slick Rick are hip hop legends.  Slick Rick "the Ruler" is a pioneer of hip hop and the original story teller.  Mos Def emerged from the underground hip hop scene in the mid-1990s and is widely considered one of the best lyricists of all time.  I attended the concert on a whim; that is, I had no plans to attend until the last possible moment. I made the decision to attend the concert slated to begin at 8:00 p.m. at 4:00 p.m. Usually, when I make such decisions, my results have been positive.  So, did my quick decision pay dividends this time? Please continue reading.

SLICK RICK

Slick Rick came to the stage first.  He was draped in at least five pounds of jewelry (maybe I am exaggerating a little).  He is probably the first, or one of the first, flashy, braggadocios rappers.  Despite being 48 years old, Ricky D was sharp, for the most part.  He performed some of his classic hits including Mona Lisa, Children's Story, and La Di Da Di.  His voice was clear and did not sound much different than listening to his old records.  That said, it was clear that he does not perform as much as he did when he was actively on tour.  He stumbled through a few parts of some of his biggest songs.  I was very surprised, but some of these songs were written over 25 years ago.  Overall, I think Slick Rick did a good job and I am very thankful I was able to see his performance.

MOS DEF

Mos Def has been one of my favorite artists since the mid-1990s.  His album Black on Both Sides is a certified classic and still remains one of my favorite hip hop albums.  When he came to the stage, the atmosphere in the building changed.  His stage presence and rapport with the audience was immediately apparent.  

His set up was a little different than Slick Rick because he utilized two DJs.  His approach to his performance was laid back, yet very energetic.  He alluded to not having a set lineup of songs to perform from show to show.  He said his DJs randomly play songs and he kind of goes with the flow.  That is particularly impressive because he said his DJs often play songs he has not performed in years.  He also noted that he has never forgotten a single lyric, ever.  

His performance was true hip hop.  The words that come to mind are: passion, sincerity, lyrics, social consciousness, awareness, and energy.  Between songs, he engaged the crowd in dialogue about various topics.  He discussed Assata Shakur and her recent classification as a terrorist by the United States government.  He expressed that he knows her family and that people need to investigate, and be skeptical of accusatory reports because "today it is Assata, but it can be you or me tomorrow."    

As with any concert I attend, I always have a list of songs I want to hear performed.  My list for Mos included: Ms. Fat Booty, Umi Says, and Auditorium featuring Slick Rick.  He did not disappoint, as he performed each of these songs.  One of the best moments of the night occurred when Slick Rick came to the stage to perform his verse on Auditorium.  It was definitely a good night for hip hop.  

Peace

The Announcement

I have been watching NBA basketball for as long as I can remember.  During those years, I can scarcely remember a non-basketball related announcement from an NBA player that received the level of press coverage that Mr. Collins has received.  One announcement comes to mind, and that is Magic Johnson's announcement that he had contracted the HIV virus in the early 1990s.  Besides the obvious substantive differences in their announcements, there is another glaring difference.  Magic Johnson was a legitimate super star at or near the top of his superstardom.  Jason Collins, on the other hand, is a 12-year NBA veteran who has never been an all-star, or led the league in any statistical category.  In fact, if you are not an avid NBA fan, you probably had never heard his name mentioned before April 29, 2013.

On Monday, April 29, 2013, he became the first active male in major team sports to come out as openly gay.  He made the announcement in an article published in Sport Illustrated.  The article is well written and reveals that Mr. Collins is a pragmatic, articulate, and intelligent person.    

I am not surprised Collins decided to make this announcement.  The world we live in today is much more accepting of differences in opinion, religion, and sexual orientation than it was 20 years ago.  As a result, I think, people are becoming more and more comfortable with expressing their lifestyles to the public-at-large.  Former professional basketball player, Cheryl Swoopes, and most recently, collegiate star, Britney Griner, have revealed their sexual orientation.  I do not recall the media covering either announcement with the interest that Mr. Collins' announcement has received.  

The truth is, there are many other people in professional sports that will make similar announcements in the near future.  The public reaction from Mr. Collins' fellow NBA players has been positive and supportive.  Honestly, it is difficult to discern whether these remarks are made out of respect for Mr. Collins' announcement, or for some other disingenuous reason.  Only time will tell.

Peace

Derrick Rose: Mental Injury

When you hear the word "injury," what comes to mind?  For most people, images of some sort of physical harm probably comes to mind.  Injury is defined as damage or harm done to or suffered by a person or thing.  Does that include mental harm or damage?  I would argue that it does. In my profession, I analyze mental injuries to claimants all the time.  Psychological injuries can have a significant impact on a person's physical and mental well being. 
  
Derrick Rose was cleared by the Chicago Bulls in March to participate in NBA games. Yet, despite this clearance, he has not played a single minute for the Chicago Bulls.  Some argue that he has a duty to the organization, and his fans to play because he has been "cleared" to do so.  I disagree.  Derrick Rose is not a regular player; he is a franchise player.  He is the youngest player to win the NBA Most Valuable Player Award.  He is different.  He suffered a gruesome knee injury about one year ago.  If he comes back too quickly and suffers another injury, his career could be derailed permanently.  It is just not worth it.

Psychological injuries must be understood and respected.  People too often disregard the importance of a person's psyche.  I would argue that a person's mental health is just as important as their physical health in certain circumstances.  Sure, Derrick Rose has the physical abilities to dominate at the highest level of basketball.  But, attributing his success solely to physical talent and ignoring the obvious psychological component results in misguided rationale.  

Let's take a quick look at Derrick Rose's game.  His game is predicated on speed, power, and explosiveness.  Without those components of his game, he would not be the player he is today.  An athlete like Rose has complete trust in his body and his ability to do certain things.  For instance, he knows he can drive hard to the left, then stop abruptly, and change directions.  He knows he can plant his right leg into the ground, then pivot and explode for a dunk.  The fact that he does not have to think about these things happening means everything.  Now, insert an injury and he has to think about so many different things.  Can I do dunk without pain?  Can I take a charge?  Am I capable of doing the things I did before my injury?  Although some may argue that thinking is an important part of the game, I would argue that for a player like Rose, his natural instincts are probably more important.  Therefore, if he is forced to overanalyze his moves because of injury, his effectiveness will decrease exponentially.   


Peace

College Basketball: Are the Eligibility Rules Harming the Game?

April usually means two things for me: (1) my sinus related allergies will make it difficult for me to enjoy outdoor activities; and (2) I will spend inordinate amounts of time watching NBA playoff basketball.  These two things have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.  When I get married, I will have a serious discussion with my wife about my need to watch playoff basketball during the months of April-June.  

This blogpost is inspired by a recent documentary I stumbled across while watching basketball highlight videos on www.youtube.com.  The documentary chronicled Tracy McGrady's high school senior year and ultimately the pros and cons of him skipping college and going directly to the pros.  The rules governing this kind of move are a bit different now than they were in the 1990s.

The Rules:

1) All players drafted must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the NBA draft.
2) Any player who is not defined as an "international" player must be at least one year removed from the graduation of his high school class.

*These rules are not all inclusive; rather, they are just the rules pertinent to our limited discussion.

Arguments for the rules

First, requiring students to be one year removed from high school will, at least in theory, facilitate students being more physically developed.  It will also force students to receive one more year of formal education before making the leap to the professional ranks.  However, whenever there is a rule, there is usually a loophole or two.  Brandon Jennings was one of the first high school players to find a major loophole in the rules.  He graduated high school and then played professionally overseas for one year.  His case was a little different because he did not academically qualify for college athletics.  Either way, he was able to meet both eligibility requirements by playing one year over seas.  He certainly did not further his education, but, he did develop physically, and he made some nice pocket change along the way.

Those in favor of the rule also claim that it will help the college game.  In theory, it will force the greatest high school players to play at least one year of college basketball.  This will increase the talent pool in college and make for more interesting, talent filled games.  Has it had that impact?  I would say no.  It has hurt the college game in a number of ways.  These "one-and-done" players usually play one year of college basketball.  Their presence makes it difficult for teams to build continuity.  Gone are the days of the 1990s Big East battles with Allen Iverson, Ray Allen and Kerry Kittles.  Teams are just not as good and I believe the new rules are at least a part of the problem.

Arguments against the rules

I disagree with the rules.  Financially, the rule does not benefit the extremely talented high school athlete.  I think a player who has the talent to become a professional athlete as a 17 or 18 year old should be able to do so.  You do not see any rules in place forbidding tennis or golf players from becoming professional athletes as teenagers.  For those people who enroll in college, I think most go to increase their chances of landing a good job.  I would be willing to bet that most people would gladly skip college if it meant that they could become instant millionaires.  When you have that kind of money, you can always go back to college and obtain a degree.  

I just do not see the difference between 18 years old and 19 years old.  The difference between an 18 year old and a 19 year old athlete is negligible, at best.  At 18 years old, a student can join the United States Armed Forces.  He can legally enter into a contract.  He can be married and is subject to the criminal justice rules that govern adults.  He can vote for elected officials.  In other words, he is an adult.  It makes no sense to me to say that a person is an adult for the sake of serving in the United States Armed Forces, but not an adult as it relates to supporting himself and his family.  

There are many more arguments to be made on either side.  However, in the interest of time, I will refrain at this time.  I may revisit this discussion again at a later date.

Peace