The Washington Wizards may be the most surprising team thus far in the NBA Playoffs. Coming into their first-round series with the Chicago Bulls, the Wizards lacked playoff experience. The Bulls boasted a roster full of players who have been through the grind over the years.
John Wall and Bradley Beal were arguably the best back-court in the NBA this season. The rest of the Eastern Conference better be on notice. Wall turns 24 years old this fall. Beal is still unable to enter a bar legally. The under 21 will be removed from his state id this June. The scary thing about these two is the poise they both possess this early in their careers. The Wizards beat the Bulls at their own game.
No team in the NBA has any reason to fear the Indiana Pacers right now. Even if the Pacers rally to knock off the Atlanta Hawks, Washington should be a confident bunch in the second-round.
Tom Thibodeau did another wonderful job with the Bulls this year. After beginning the season 12-18, Chicago rallied to finish with an impressive 48-34 record. After Derrick Rose went down for the year with a torn meniscus much wasn't expected of this Bulls team. D.J Augustine provided a much needed late season spark. However, the Bulls Achilles heel down the stretch was once again an inability to produce points.
The Bulls roster will be different come next season. The team is expected to throw a hefty contract offer at Carmelo Anthony. The future of Rose is also in question. Can the former MVP regain all-star form after missing most of the last two years? The Bulls will be aiming to get back to an elite level come next season. This may not be the last time we see these two teams compete in a playoff series.
Congratulations to the Washington Wizards. This is the teams first playoff series victory in nine years.
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The Los Angeles Clippers players have had their lives turned upside down since the release of Donald Sterling's racist comments on DeadSpin.com.
The Clippers roster is predominantly black, as is every other team in the NBA. Many outsiders believe the team should boycott the NBA Playoffs in its entirety. This is a difficult situation for anyone to deal with, much less having to do so with millions of people waiting for some sort of reaction.
The individuals who feel Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and company should walk out on the season pose a valid point. Why play for a racist, disgusting bigot that is upset and jealous over his younger girlfriend associating with black people? Walking out on the season comes off as a great solution, but in the long haul that would only be playing into the negativity.
During the 1950's and 60's the majority of NBA rosters were made up of Caucasians. For a black man to make an NBA team that individual had to be extremely talented. No black man was the last guy on the bench when Jim Crow laws were around. Black people have made gigantic strides in professional sports over the last 60 years. Jackie Robinson stood in at home-plate amongst a league full of bigotry and players that despised him. This is 2014, the days of walking away are no more. Society has come too far to allow one ignorant individual to disrupt our way of life.
A stand certainly must be taken. The Clippers players made their first stand by leaving their warm ups at half-court in game four of their Western Conference first-round playoff series. This likely will not be the last. Numerous companies have begun to cut ties with the Clippers organization, including Mercedes-Benz and State Farm Insurance.
Each member of the Clippers basketball team has put in numerous hours of preparation to get to this point in their lives. The team has a great shot at winning an NBA Championship this season. Los Angeles set a franchise record with 57 wins this this year. The players deserve the opportunity to go out there and win it all for no one but themselves.
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The NBA lost a legendary coach with the recent passing of Dr. Jack Ramsey. Ramsey coached the Portland Trailblazers to the 1977 NBA Championship, the only in franchise history. That year the Blazers pulled off one of the most surprising upsets in NBA history. Portland fell behind 2-0 to the talent laden Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers were led by Julius Erving, the most exciting player in the NBA at the time. Julius had recently joined the NBA following the league merger.
Philadelphia was considered the most talented team in the league at the time. However, the team lacked continuity. Portland was led by Bill Walton. Bill is one of the most unselfish players to ever participate in the NBA. He and Dr. Ramsey schemed up a brilliant game plan that resulted in the Blazers winning four consecutive games and closing out the 76ers in six games.
Dr. Ramsey was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992. He retired in 1988 as the second winningest coach in NBA history. Dr. Ramsey is often forgotten in terms of the greatest coaches since the leagues inception.
Pat Riley and Red Holzman both accredit much of their success in the NBA to Dr. Ramsey. He was one of the first coaches to implement physical fitness drills during practice sessions. The show time Lakers were a better basketball team because of what Riley learned from Dr. Ramsey. If he had coached in today's NBA Dr. Ramsey would likely have had even more success on the sideline. His style was tailor made for today's athletes.
Dr. Ramsey coached St Joseph's to their only Final Four appearance in school history in 1961. During his later years his basketball expertise was on full display on NBA TV. He never lost his zest for the game in his old age.
The NBA is a better league because of the contributions of Dr. Jack Ramsey.
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Jerry Jones is high on Johnny Manziel as an NFL Quarterback. So high that he raved about the possibility of Manziel becoming a member of the Dallas Cowboys in the Presence of his beloved starting Quarterback Tony Romo.
Romo is coming off back surgery this winter. The 34 year old veteran QB is coming off yet another disappointing season. The Cowboys missed out on the playoffs on the final game of the regular season for the third consecutive year. Each loss was to one of their three division rivals. Some of the blame has to be pointed towards Romo.
The Knock on Manziel on the field is his size. He is barely 6'0 tall entering a league full of athletic defensive line-man. Russell Wilson has recently challenged the notion that a QB below 6'0 could not be successful in today's NFL. However, Wilson has been known as a high character guy since his days as a starter at N.C State. Manziel, as we all know has had numerous run ins that have put his character into question.
Manziel's rock star swagger cannot be denied. He was the first freshman to win the Heisman trophy in NCAA history for a reason. He ripped up SEC defenses including B.C.S Champion Alabama in his first year in the league. That year he played against NFL caliber talent on a regular basis.
Manziel has been projected going first overall to the Houston Texans. He has also been projected to fall out of the first-round entirely. General Managers appear to be miles apart on what type of career they predict Manziel will have. If Manziel is available at number 16 the Cowboys will select him.
Jerry Jones is a business man at heart. Manziel is a Texas native. If Manziel were to become the starting QB of the Dallas Cowboys he would be the biggest name in the state of Texas.
Using pine tar is one of those unwritten rules in baseball. Using pine tar against a team you obviously cheated against a few weeks ago is another story. Michael Pineda should have known better than to try and dupe MLB umpires by having an obvious portion of the illegal substance scraped across the right side of his neck.
If you were to poll around MLB the results would probably vary in terms of how affective pine tar actually is. Pitchers seem to agree that it helps with control to some extent especially on those cold spring nights early in the season.
The Boston Red Sox (10-12) will be known as pine tar snitches for the rest of the season. John Farrell felt it was worth it to get Pineda out the game. The Red Sox have some guys in their bullpen that practice the same tactics. Follow Me on Instagram: NYsteve8
Pine tar came on the national scene in 1983 in the famous Pine Tar game between the Yankees and Royals. George Brett was called out for allegedly having portions of the substance on his bat. The call subsequently ended the game. Brett famously charged home-plate in one of baseball's most historic altercations.
Umpires should be able to identify pine tar with relative ease. It even has a distinctive smell. However, it goes undetected in the sport on a regular basis.
The Yankees expect the 25 year old right-hander will face some sort of suspension. Pineda is an important part of the Yankees pitching staff this season. The team has taken responsibility for not properly educating Pineda about the substance. That comes off as an obvious ploy by the organization to protect the young pitcher. The A.L East will be a tough division from top to bottom this season. Pineda has to make better decisions going forward. Your in the big leagues now kid.
LaMarcus Aldridge is carving his name in NBA history. He followed up his game one performance with 43 points on 18-for-28 shooting, eight rebounds and three blocks to give Portland a 112-105 win in game two of their first-round series at Toyota Center.
Aldridge joins Michael Jordan and Tracy McGrady as the only players in NBA history to begin a playoff series with consecutive 40 point performances on the road. The Rockets have had no answer for the all-star forward. The most impressive part of Aldridge's tear is that it has come against one of the best centers of this era in Dwight Howard. Howard played well in game two, finishing with 32 points on 13-for-22 shooting, 14 rebounds and four blocks in 35 minutes. Howard phased out in the second half after a hot start scoring 19 points in the first quarter. His inability to create on the offensive end is becoming more and more apparent in late game situations.
Aldridge is now the only player in Blazers history to score 40 points in multiple playoff games. Prior to Aldridge, Clyde Drexler was the only Blazer to score at least 30 points in multiple playoff games. Aldridge is in some pretty elite company.
In previous years Aldridge has been forced to deal with multiple nagging injuries. Last summer was the first time in years in which he was healthy enough to focus on basketball. His perimeter game has improved drastically since entering the league in 2006. This year he averaged 23.2 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.6 assist. The work he puts in during the summer is paying off.
Due to playing in the Pacific Northwest, many of Aldridge's accomplishments often go unnoticed. Right now there is no clear cut "best big man" in todays NBA. After this series people may be forced to change their perception of LaMarcus Aldridge.
The Blazers are now in position to win their first playoff series since 2000. Rasheed Wallace, Arvydas Sabonis and Terry Porter should be proud.
Albert Pujols is no longer the best player in baseball. He may not even be the best player on his own team. Fact is, when your as good as Pujols has been over an extended period of time eventually someone will come along and take the crown. Now all he has to do is hit somewhere around 30 home runs, knock in 100 RBI and the records will come toppling down one by one.
Pujols hit his 499th and 500th career home runs last night at Nationals Park, becoming the 26th player in MLB history to accomplish the milestone. He is now the third youngest player in MLB history to hit his 500th home run. Pujols is only the ninth member of this prestigious club to boast a 300 career average.
Pujols is the only player to begin his career with ten consecutive 30 home run, 100 RBI seasons. He missed out on the 11th year by only one RBI. Since joining the Los Angeles Angels in 2012 Pujols hasn't looked invincible for the first time in his career. He experienced the worst stretch of his career to begin his tenure in Los Angeles. It wasn't until mid-season that he began to return to MVP form, finishing the year with 30 home runs and eclipsing the 100 RBI plateau once again.
2013 was the first injury riddled season of Pujols career. He suited up for only 99 games. His previous career low was 143 back in 2006. He finished last season with a career low 17 home runs and 64 RBI.
This year Pujols is off to a sizzling start. He has hit 8 home runs and knocked in 19 RBI during the first 20 games of the season. This is the type of production Angels management envisioned when they signed Pujols to a lucrative contract almost three years ago.
If Pujols can stay healthy he has a realistic shot at surpassing Barry Bonds as the home run king. He has an outside shot at becoming the first player in MLB history to hit 800 career home runs. As Pujols continues to devour the record books PED allegations will be thrown around more and more. In this day and age that comes with the territory. For Pujols sake I hope his career doesn't end up resembling Alex Rodriguez's.
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Greg Popovich is now the third coach in NBA history to win coach of the year honors for a third time. Pop is one of the few coaches that is in the running for the award on a yearly basis. He has coached the San Antonio Spurs to 15 consecutive 50 win seasons. The Spurs even won 50 games during the lock out shortened 66 game season in 2012.
Pop has won four NBA Championships in his time as coach of the Spurs. If not for Ray Allen's miracle three pointer at the end of game six last June, Pop would be defending yet another NBA Championship as we speak.
Pop is already one of the best coaches in NBA history. This NBA Coach of The Year award only adds to a long list of accomplishments. Tim Duncan is going to be retiring in the near future. It is unclear how long Pop will remain with the Spurs after Duncan is gone. The Spurs are in the midst of one of the most successful runs in NBA history. Basketball fans enjoy this run, it's going to be a while before you see a team win 50 games for 15 straight years again.
The Phoenix Suns missed the NBA Playoffs with a 48-34 regular season record. If nothing else this was an indication of how competitive the playoffs were going to be out west.
The action is barely underway, yet we've already seen historic playoff performances. LaMarcus Aldridge had his coming out party in game one of the Portland Trailblazers Houston Rockets series. Aldridge scored 46 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in the Blazers 122-120 overtime victory in Houston. At 28 years of age, Aldridge is certainly in the conversation as the best big man in the NBA.
Damian Lillard was an excellent compliment to Aldridge in his first career playoff game. Lillard scored 31 points and added nine rebounds in the overtime win. Lillard reminds me of a young Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.
There is something special about the way Lillard and Aldridge feed off of one another. The two always seem to be on the same page. For such a young team, the Blazers have great comradery. Wesley Matthews, C.J McCollum and Nicolas Batum compliment their superstar teammates well. Houston may very well win this series, but Portland has a great young nucleus.
The first round match-up between the number four and number five seed is always the most difficult to pick. The four and five seed usually have similar regular season records. If these two teams are familiar with one another a good series is usually on the horizon.
Houston and Portland combined for 30 points in one overtime period. This was one of the greatest first round games in NBA history. Both teams won 54 games during the regular season. It is a rare occurrence for teams of this magnitude to face off in the first round. If the east doesn't catch up the NBA may have to consider one super conference in years to come.
Joakim Noah had a great college career while playing for Billy Donovan at the University of Florida. Noah won back to back NCAA Championships as a collegiate before being selected with the ninth pick of the 2007 NBA Draft. Although Noah was a great college player there were many doubts surrounding the 6'10 big man entering the draft. His frame is slim by NBA standards, he didn't have any great offensive skills and his shooting motion was not a pretty sight.
At the time the thought was the Chicago Bulls had wasted a lottery selection on a player that benefited by playing in a great system with very good teammates. Seven years later Joakim Noah is Chicago's heart and soul. Due to Derrick Rose's ongoing knee issues, Noah has developed into the Bulls best player this season.
Noah is a throw back player at heart. He's accomplished a great deal during his career through hard work. He has been the anchor on the stingiest defensive team in the NBA for years now.
You could make the argument that Noah deserves some MVP votes this season. He is obviously no LeBron James or Kevin Durant, but he has been extremely important for the Bulls this season. Keep in mind the MVP award is to recognize the player whose contributions were most important towards his teams success. Many times the MVP winner is looked at as the best player in the league. The meaning of this award is often misconstrued.
Noah, along with Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond are the only players in the NBA to average 10rpg, 1.5bpg and 1.2spg this season. He is also an underrated passer. Joakim Noah may have been the best center in the NBA this season!
The Brooklyn Nets initiated their first round match-up with the Toronto Raptors. The Nets gave less than 100% effort in their final two games of the regular season. Brooklyn's veteran roster gelled down the stretch after a miserable start to the season. The Nets have playoff experience at every position on the court, something the Raptors lack.
Toronto's Atlantic Division title was one of the big surprises in the NBA this season. However, Toronto is the weakest team in the NBA hosting a playoff series. The Nets definitely drew a favorable first round series.
Be careful what you ask for in the NBA Playoffs, you may get more than you bargained for. The Nets and Raptors split their four games series this season 2-2. Three of the four games were decided by four points or less. Neither team has been able to establish a sense of domination against the other thus far this season.
The Nets 94-87 game one victory in Toronto is exactly the kind of start to the playoffs the Nets needed. Brooklyn is a veteran team with numerous aging players on the roster. Blowing teams out and resting players may not be the best thing for the Nets right now. If Brooklyn plans on going on a long playoff run keeping those aging bodies fresh and fluid is crucial. The Nets needed a mental challenge as well. Stealing home-court-advantage in game one of a playoff series is always a confidence builder.
Deron Williams performance in game one was a great sign for the Nets. Deron scored 24 points, on 8-20 from the field in 38 minutes of action. Deron's play usually dictates how the Nets are playing. If he can keep up this production the Nets will be a tough out going forward.
Paul Pierce scored 15 points and added four assist in 35 minutes of action. Paul is known as "The Truth" because of his prowess this time of year. His basket in the waning minutes put the Raptors out of their misery.
Brooklyn has a chance to put a strangle hold on this series if they can duplicate Saturdays performance in game 2. Toronto has already lost home-court and needs to get at least one win at the Barclays Center.
Going 109-79 during his three seasons as head coach of the New York Knicks couldn't save Mike Woodson's job. His 580 winning percentage is good enough for third in team history. The Knicks won their first playoff series in 13 years under Woodson's tutelage. The Knicks 54 wins last year was the teams highest total since the 1996-97 season. Despite all these accomplishments Woodson was doomed after a disappointing 37-45 season.
Phil Jackson's health appears to have improved since retiring from coaching in 2011. At 68 years of age, he appears to be content in his role as President of Basketball Operations. Steve Kerr is the front runner to become the Knicks next head coach. He is rumored to have already spoken to his bosses at TNT about the possibility of he and Phil reuniting in the big apple. Brian Shaw and Mark Jackson are also considered to be high on Phil Jackson's list of potential replacements. These three men all experienced a great deal of success during their playing days.
The Knicks need to hire a big fish as their next head coach. If Kerr is indeed their next hire as head coach Carmelo Anthony may be on his way out the door. If Carmelo is leaning towards leaving this hire would probably aid in his decision to find another ballclub.
In all likelihood Mike Woodson has coached his last game with the New York Knicks. Woodson began his tenure in New York with a 50-22 record, the best of any Knick coach after 72 games. Since replacing Mike D' Antoni, Woodson has brought back a blue collar attitude to the Knicks sideline.
Woodson led the Knicks to their first division title since the 1993-1994 season. Not even the great Jeff Van Gundy led the Knicks to an Atlantic Division crown. Prior to Mike Woodson the Knicks were an unprofessional, low character basketball team. Woodson gave us a reminder of what it meant to put on that blue and orange Jersey in the 90's and early 2000's.
It used to mean something to play for the Knicks. After so many years of Howard Eisley, Shandon Andersen and the Stephon Marbury fiasco that mystique had begun to fade away.
Woodson helped make J.R Smith and Carmelo Anthony better players on the court and better men in their personal lives. For the first time in Carmelo's career he has truly embraced the role as leader.
Last year the Knicks expectations were Eastern Conference Finals or bust. Woodson took a great deal of criticism for his lack of adjustments in the Knicks second round loss to the Indiana Pacers. His future has been in limbo since that disappointing six game playoff exit. These days in the NBA teams are given no more than 3 years to get it done. Then its back to the drawing board.
The best thing about Woodson is he lets his players be themselves. Last season the Knicks bombed the entire league from three point range. Woodson has always been known as a great defensive mind. He certainly learned about offense while a member of D'Antoni's staff.
Mike Woodson has been one of the best head coaches in Knick history. The Knicks should offer Woodson some sort of front office position to thank him for his contributions.
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ESPN did a great job with its latest 30 for 30 documentary on the Detroit Pistons "Bad Boys" era. Over the years the Pistons accomplishments have not been recognized in the same manner as the Chicago Bulls, the Los Angeles Lakers or the Boston Celtics. Detroit played a nasty brand of basketball at a time when the NBA didn't even have flagrant foul rules. In those days you got fined for fighting and that was pretty much it.
What made the Pistons back to back championship teams so special was their sacrifice. When the "Bad Boys" are mentioned their reputation as dirty bullies often supersedes what made them true champions. Vinnie Johnson could have been a perennial all-star on another team. His performance during game 5 of the 1990 NBA Finals is indicative of his entire career. Known as "The Microwave", Johnson would go on memorable scoring binges when the Pistons needed a spark off the bench. Johnson along with Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumars hounded opposing teams. The trio is arguably the greatest three guard rotation in league history. John Sally and James Edwards could of demanded starters minutes and shot attempts on another team.
Isaiah was the team leader on the court as well as behind closed doors. The reason why "The Bad Boys" don't get the credit they deserve can be attributed to Isaiah's antics during his career. Isaiah led and the troops followed. He was the ring leader of the Michael Jordan all -star freeze out conspiracy, an accusation Isaiah Vehemently denies. The entire Larry Bird just being another guy if he was black fiasco hurt Isaiah's shot at being named to the Dream Team. The stigma of that statement follows Isaiah to this day. Isaiah to this day still has not taken full responsibility for his words. He instead attempts to divert the attention to Dennis Rodman. Isaiah at times comes off as being someone who high tails it when the going gets tough off the court.
Isaiah Thomas is the greatest small guard to step foot on the NBA's hardwood. Its a shame so much of his accomplishments are skewed due to a myriad of issues. Don't waste your time trying to argue that statement. Isaiah led his team to back to back titles in a big mans league, during the golden era of the NBA.
Joe Dumars is the only member of "The Bad Boys" that Michael Jordan respected during the teams heated rivalry during the late 80's and early 90's. Dumars was different from his teammates. He was a quiet, reserved individual. He didn't get into the verbal disputes that signified his team. However, Dumars was a pit bull of a defender. He fit in perfectly with Chuck Daly's defensive system after being drafted out of McNeese State University in 1985. Dumars is probably the most important player on this team outside of Isaiah. Rodman was their most talented defender, but lacked the intuition to become a true leader.
The construction of "The Bad Boys" began in 1981 with Isaiah being taken with the second overall pick. Over the next seven years Detroit constructed one of the best teams in league history by drafting and developing players. The team became complete when the front office pulled off a block buster deal to bring in Mark Aguirre during the 1989 season. Aguirre was the first pick in the 1981 NBA Draft. In today's NBA championship teams aren't molded to perfection anymore. The latest Boston Celtics championship and the Miami Heat's recent run have changed the way General Managers think. Get me three core guys and they'll find a way to get it done is the route teams are taking more often than not. How can your argue with this method when it actually works.
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I would like to take a moment to shout out a very close friend of mine that recently passed away.
I first became involved with Billy Daniels during the summer of 2004. Big Bill as he was known by many, sponsored a tournament my friends and I were participating in. People who knew Big Bill are well aware of the fact that he loved to win. Trash talking with rival teams was fun to Bill. My team advanced to the championship with an undefeated record in that particular tourney. The championship game ended up being a debacle. My team fell apart down the stretch, ultimately losing the final game which happened to be our only loss.
After suffering such a disappointing loss all I could think about was the fact that I let Big Bill down. As the team leader I took the responsibility to apologize to Bill after the game. His reaction sent waves through my soul. I learned a lesson that day I will take with me for the rest of my life. He told me the only thing he was upset about was the fact that I was sulking. That there would be other tournaments and that he was proud of us for representing his team with pride and respect. At that moment my perception of Big Bill had changed forever. Although Bill desperately craved barber shop bragging rights, he cared more about me as a person that day.
Spike Lee's 1998 film " He Got Game" was a great depiction of what rising basketball stars go through on a daily basis. When an individuals stardom becomes apparent people will try to get everything they can out of you. The snakes and leaches will try to suck the life out of your dreams. Big Bill was the complete opposite. Its individuals like Bill that keep the playing field level.
Many Sundays Bill would see us playing full court games from sun up to sun down at 121 park. Bill would load up his blue minivan will his BBQ grill, a few dozen Poland Spring bottles and Gatorade to keep us replenished. We never asked Bill for much. Most of his contributions came from the heart. Whether it was referee fees or the entire tournament fee, Bill would help out whenever he could.
Basketball is a game of rhythm. Repetition is a key factor if your going to be a successful baller. Coaches often tell players to think before you make your move. However, too much thinking can take away from a player performing with natural fluidity. Bill would often pull me aside and tell me to just play my game. Don't think just react. His advice didn't always work but it felt damn good knowing I had someone in my corner.
Bill passed away without knowing what he had done for me. I'm pretty sure I am not the only person that Bill affected in this manner. As people we should practice telling others how we feel on a regular basis.
RIP BIG BILL, You went too soon but I know your shining down on us.
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At one point this season the number one seed in the Eastern Conference was of great significance to the Indiana Pacers (55-26). David West is Indiana's emotional leader. Larry Bird signed West with the intentions of him becoming the Pacers emotional leader. West has repeatedly stated how important getting home-court advantage would be for the Pacers Psyche. When a player like David West speaks, he represents himself as well as the rest of his team. Indiana has made the mistake of letting locker room talk become public.
The Pacers set the bar too high coming into the season. Much can happen over the course of 82 games. Injuries, family concerns and fatigue alone can cost a team seven to 10 games a year. Its one thing to personally think about the number on seed. But to broadcast such a difficult task is almost asking for trouble.
Miami (54-26) and Indiana's struggles down the stretch are a bit confusing. It doesn't seem as if either team really wants that top spot now. The Chicago Bulls (47-33) and the Brooklyn Nets (44-36)will meet in first round for the second consecutive year. In the Nets first season in Brooklyn these two teams played one of the best first round series in recent memory. It seems like Chicago is always involved in good first round series.
Chicago and Brooklyn are the two hottest teams in the Eastern Conference headed into the playoffs. Right now the number one seed doesn't seem like a good proposition. The Toronto Raptors (47-33) have come on strong of late. If Toronto defends home-court in the first round, they'll be a tough out with growing confidence moving forward. However, Toronto is a young, inexperienced team. Neither team is going to admit it, but Miami and Indiana will both be comfortable playing the Raptors in the second round. I cant say the same about The Bulls or the Nets.
This season tanking has been rampant in the NBA. I wouldn't be surprised if the same is on the minds of Erik Spoelstra and Frank Vogel.
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This time of year I am usually more excited than a kid in a candy store. The NBA, college basketball and high school are all exciting genres of basketball to follow. However, street ball in New York takes the cake this time of year.
Dyckman is where you want to be during the week after dark. Dominican Power represents upper Manhattan with pride and respect. Don't let the name fool you, these guys come to play. Luis Flores and Charlie Villanueva are two notable former stars that played for Dominican Power.
Hoops in the Sun is a great way to enjoy family, Orchard Beach and competitive semi-pro basketball simultaneously. The games out here take place only on weekends. In some ways this is like the working mans tournament due to lenient scheduling.
Gun Hill Classic has improved drastically over the last ten years. Gun Hill has one of the most competitive 19 and under age groups in the city. The unlimited age group isn't too shabby either. Due to Nike becoming involved in Gun Hill the scenery has caught up with some of the other respectable tourneys.
Watson classic has emerged as a flag ship tournament. Corey Fisher shocked the city by scoring 105 points in the Sound view based tournament back in 2010. I don't care if he was playing against fifth grade girls, 105 is an impressive accomplishment.
On another note the NBA has had some odd performances this week. Timofey Mozgov grabbed 29 rebounds in the Denver Nuggets (35-44) wild victory over the Golden State Warriors( 49-30) Thursday night. Just when you count out Mozgov he puts up a performance like this.
Corey Brewer scored 51 points in the Minnesota Timberwolves (40-39) win over the Houston Rockets (52-27) Friday night. Corey Brewer? How does a guy who is considered to be the quintessential team player score 51. keep in mind Brewer played on one of the best college basketball teams ever. The team is all Corey Brewer thinks about. This is similar to when Andre Miller scored 50 points a few years back.
I guess when your on your on.
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The wrestling world has suffered a great loss with the recent passing of the Ultimate Warrior. Warrior was without a doubt one of the most popular superstars in WWF/WWE history. Kids who grew up during wrestling's attitude era don't know how charismatic the Warrior truly was.
Hulk Hogan is the most influential wrestler to ever step foot in the ring. The Ultimate Warrior is the only superstar to get a bigger reaction from the crowd than Hogan during his WWF days.
Hogan took on Warrior at Wrestle Mania six in arguably the biggest match in WWE history. Hogan entered the match WWF Champion. Warrior entered as the reigning Intercontinental Champion. Something had to give. The two put on a show for the ages in front a sell out crowd at the Sky dome in Toronto. The match ushered in the 90's for the WWF. Warrior bested Hogan that night winning the WWF Championship along with his Intercontinental belt.
Warrior would inevitably become a victim of his own success. Vince McMahon was forced to fire Warrior due to irreconcilable differences. In some ways Warriors career can be viewed upon as a tragedy. Few professional wrestlers have ever been able to get fans riled up as the Warrior did.
Some of his biggest rivals were The Honkey Tonk Man, Macho Man Randy Savage, Jake the Snake and Ric Flair. He also had classic bouts against Ravishing Rick Rude and The Undertaker.
One thing that is certain, fans always left the arena pleased when the Ultimate Warrior came to perform. I wish I could hear Howard Finkle introduce his name just one more time. That's not too much to ask, is it?
RIP THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR.
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The most important factor that will determine how far the Miami Heat (53-25) will go in the playoffs this year is health.
With the manner in which Miami's roster is constructed, the front office doesn't have the necessary funds to put talent around the big three. When Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James are all healthy and playing well Miami can put any team in the NBA through the meat grinder. However, when one of these players are forced to miss time due to injury the Heat become a completely different team.
Wade has missed the last nine games due to a hamstring issue. Due to an an offseason knee procedure, Wade's minutes have been monitored all season. He's missed a total of 28 games this season. Greg Oden and Chris Andersen are also banged up. Miami is undersized even when these two are healthy. Their ability to stay on the court will be crucial down the stretch.
The Indiana Pacers (54-25) recent struggles have been well publicized. Miami hasn't been that good over the same time span. This Miami team reminds me of the 1993 Chicago Bulls in multiple ways. That team only won 57 games, compared to 67 in 1992. The Heat are 10-11 in their last 21 games. LeBron's legacy will be affected by how Miami finishes this year. Ray Allen saved the day last year after LeBron threw up a brick in the waning moments of game 6.
This year its all on you LeBron, show us what you got!
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Tonight I am speaking for myself as well as the entire New York Knicks ( 33-45) fan base. The Knicks lost to the San Antonio Spurs (61-18) 4-1 in the 1999 NBA Finals. The Spurs dominating the Knicks on the games biggest stage came as no surprise. The Knicks entered that series at a great disadvantage. Larry Johnson attempting to guard a young Tim Duncan was the writing on the wall.
During the 90's New York and San Antonio were two of the most successful franchises in the NBA. The Knicks are the only Eastern Conference ball club to qualify for the playoffs every year during the 90's. Although the Knicks failed to win a ring, the 90's was a glorious time in Knick history.
Since 1999 the Knicks have won at least 50 games in a season only twice. During that same time span the Spurs have won 50 games on 15 different occasions. The Spurs have become the cream of the crop. The Knicks are arguably the worst franchise in the NBA since the turn of the century. Sorry Knick fans, but facts are facts.
Roughly 20 years have passed since the Knicks were favorites to advance to the NBA Finals. Mikhail Prokhorov moved the Nets across the Hudson River with the intentions of winning on the games grandest stage. There is a basketball team residing in the state of New York headed to the playoffs. From now on the Knicks short comings will be amplified due to Brooklyn being in the picture.
Does Phil Jackson have the answers? Better yet, is Carmelo Anthony going to sign an extension this summer with the Knicks? New York can pay Carmelo more than any other team but money may not be the solution. New York has been the most disappointing team in the NBA this season. 20 years after pushing the Houston Rockets to seven games in the NBA Finals the Knicks in all likelihood will be watching the playoffs from home. Sad, but this is the life of a Knick fan.
Last year the University of Louisville had a chance to win both the NCAA Men's and Women's Championships. The men took care of business, knocking off a talented Michigan team 61-56 in the NCAA title game. Louisville's women's basketball team could not finish the deal to complete the sweep. Geno Auriemma and the UConn Huskies were not about to let that happen. UConn demolished Louisville in last years championship game 93-60, giving Auriemma that all illusive eighth National Championship.
This year it was UConn (40-0) with the opportunity to follow up their male counterparts with an NCAA Women's Championship. UConn accomplished the feat 10 years ago when Diana Taurasi, Ben Gordon and Emeka Okafor led the school to National Championships. Geno came into the game a perfect 8-0 in the title game. History was definitely on the Huskies side entering this match-up.
Muffet McGraw must have really provided UConn with additional motivation by not applauding Breanna Stewart winning NCAA Women's Player of the Year honors. Stewart backed up her trophy with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assist. Stephanie Dolson was unstoppable on the block. She dominated Notre Dames (37-1) front court with 17 points, 16 rebounds and seven assist.
Tonight's game was not reminiscent of two undefeated teams. UConn was unstoppable in the second half in route to a relatively easy 79- 58 victory.
This was Notre Dames fourth Final Four loss in as many years. They are certainly amongst the elite programs in NCAA Women's basketball. However, UConn currently stands alone atop the women's game.
Geno is now 9-0 in National Championship games. He now trails John Wooden by one for the most tournament trophies in history. Geno my friend, you are now in some truly elite company.
UConn has now won 46 consecutive games, the third longest streak in school history.
Tom Izzo and John Calipari are once again rumored to be moving on to the NBA!
Calipari is the hottest coach in college basketball. He's turned Kentucky into a breathing ground for NBA players. His last stop in the NBA didn't turn out too good. Calipari went 72-122 during his time as head coach of the New Jersey Nets. If he decides to take this challenge he will be leaving behind one of the top five programs in the country.
The Los Angeles Lakers (25-52) are reportedly interested in hiring Calipari as their next head coach. Kobe Bryant is signed through the 2016 season, which by all indications is expected to be his last. Kobe is obviously disgusted by the Lakers abysmal season. He also still feels slighted about being ranked the 25th best player in the NBA by ESPN.com. Redemption is on Kobe's mind. Los Angeles may not be the ideal place for Calipari right now. If the Lakers get off to a slow start next year, whoever the head coach is may be gone by all-star break.
Tom Izzo reportedly is in the running to become the next head coach of the Detroit Pistons(28-49). Since winning the NCAA Championship in 2000, Izzo has been rumored to become head coach of at least a dozen NBA franchises. Izzo is a mythical figure in the state of Michigan. He is revered at Michigan State in a similar manner to Mike Krzyzewski at Duke.
Is Tom Izzo ready for a new challenge?
This is the first group of seniors that failed to reach the Final Four under Izzo at Michigan State. Michigan State captured their fourth Big Ten regular season title this year under Izzo. Since 1999 State has made the Final Four six times.
Izzo is 59 years old. Coaching in the NBA is a exhausting task. Detroit may not be the best job for Izzo, but at this point if he plans to coach in the NBA he may not have a choice. Tom Izzo is great for the college game. However, the NBA is once again calling. My gut feeling tells me at some point Izzo is going to answer that call.
Shabazz Napier and the Connecticut Huskies (32-8) have pulled off one the most improbable NCAA Tournament runs in history. Napier led the Huskies with 22pts, six rebounds and three steals in his last game as a collegiate. The win gives Connecticut its fourth National Championship since 1999. Kevin Ollie is the 12th head coach to win a National Championship at his alma mater. With the win UConn also became the second lowest seed to win an NCAA title.
Connecticut is coming off a season in which they were ineligible to compete in postseason play due to poor academics. Jim Calhoun was forced to retire after the 2012 season due to health concerns. Ollie is now the first head coach to win a National Championship in his first NCAA Tournament since Steve Fisher in 1989.
Ollie was a journeyman during his NBA career. UConn embodied their head coaches toughness on the way to another National Championship. DeAndre Daniels got himself into early foul trouble. His thunderous dunk got things going early for UConn. He finished the game with a modest eight points and six rebounds. Kentucky(29-11) became the first team to play seven freshman in a National Championship game. The Huskies experience prevailed tonight.
Julius Randle appeared hobbled the entire game. He injured his foot in Kentucky's Final Four match-up with Wisconsin. Randle finished with only 10 Points, six rebounds and four assist. This may have been Randle's last game at Kentucky. Not to worry Kentucky fans, John Calipari has another blue-chip recruiting class set to arrive in the fall.
The American Athletic Conference was disrespected by the selection committee. UConn sent a clear message with this historic run. Although perennial powers of the old Big East Such as Syracuse, Pittsburgh and West Virginia have defected to football oriented conferences, elite basketball is still being played on the east coast.
Manhattan College has decided to retain Steve Masiello as head coach of their men's basketball team. Masiello has taken the term March Madness to another level. Apparently the 36 year old coach has never heard of George O'Leary. In 2001 O'Leary was slated to become head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football program, arguably the most prestigious job in the country. Around the same time Masiello was supposed to be finishing his degree at Kentucky. A few days after university officials discovered O'Leary had falsified information on his resume. Although O'Leary had only made minor changes to enhance his chances of being hired, Notre Dame was forced to let him go.
Many people feel Masiello truly did nothing wrong. Why does a basketball coach need to earn a degree? Shooting hoops has nothing to do with the Pythagorean theorem or 16th century European history, right!
Wither or not an individual should be required to own a degree to be hired as a coach is up to that particular institution to decide. The best way to lead young men is by setting the proper example. Parents send kids cross country to attend college for a better life. How can a parent trust a coach with their child's best interest if that individual hasn't upheld their end of the bargain?
Masiello is lucky Manhattan decided to allow him to return under conditions that he completes his degree. After taking Louisville down to the wire in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Masiello seemingly jumped on the first opportunity thrown at him. There's nothing wrong with chasing a dream job. This is America, opportunities are plentiful. However, note to Masiello and all aspiring coaches, don't falsify information on your resume. The dream job that you have been waiting for can come and go over night.
Shabazz Napier and Scott Wilbekin are two of the best guards in college basketball. Their match-up may very well determine the winner of Florida and Connecticut's Final Four meeting.
Senior leadership is an important quality in the college game. Napier and Wilbekin alike have been intricate parts of their respective programs for four years. Billy Donovan and Kevin Ollie both played the Point-Guard position in the NBA. Neither team is coming into this game short on experience.
Napier was a freshman on UConn's last NCAA Championship team. Kemba Walker was the heart and soul of that team during their improbable run. Napier has done the same for his team in route to the Final Four.
Wilbekin is the better defender of the two. Expect him to guard Napier when the two are on the floor together. Napier may guard Wilbekin in spurts, but UConn will probably be better suited letting him preserve his energy.
Napier has the advantage on the offensive end. He has the potential to go on quick scoring binges. The good thing about Napier is the fact that he never strays too far away from his duties as a floor general.
Wilbekin and Napier both have had excellent college careers. This will be the last time one of these competitors will suit up as an amateur. All good things must come to an end. In this case a trip to the NCAA title game is at stake.
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Desean Jackson's world has been turned upside down this offseason. A few days before being released by the Philadelphia Eagles, Jackson posted a tweet of himself along with Chip Kelly. Jackson was apparently under the impression that all was good in Eagles nation.
Jackson is coming off his best season as a professional. Kelly's fast pace offense enhanced his big play ability. Jackson had career highs of 82 catches and 1,382receiving yards in 2013. The Eagles are sadly mistaken if they believe replacing Jackson is going to be easy.
Jackson signing with Philadelphia doesn't bode well for the NFC East. Robert Griffin ran all over the New York Giants when he was healthy during his rookie campaign. Jackson has been a Giant killer since entering the league in 2008. The Pro Bowl receiver is still only 27 years old. The two have the potential to become one of the most explosive Quarterback, Wide - receiver tandems in NFL history.
Jackson recorded 356 passes, 6,117 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns in his career as an Eagle. The team had to be alarmed to instantly release a player of Jackson's magnitude. Michael Vick became a mentor and friend to Jackson during their time together in Philadelphia. Vick knows first hand how it feels to be released due to destructive behavior. Jackson needs to take a page out of the Mike Vick book of image repairing.
The Tennessee Titans officially released Chris Johnson today. Johnson has rushed for 7,965 yards during his six year career in Tennessee. He compiled a franchise record 2,006 yards on the ground in only his second NFL season.
For some reason Johnson has not been able to regain MVP form since topping the 2,000 yard mark in 2009. His production has remained consistent, rushing for at least 1,000 yards in each of his six years in the league. In his prime Johnson was one of the most illusive, open field players in the NFL.
Johnson is set to turn 29 this year. 30 is usually the cut off age for a running backs career. However, over the last three seasons Tennessee has cut back his number of touches compared to his first three seasons.
Johnson can be a huge asset catching passes out of the back field. He would be a nice addition to a veteran ball club with a running back that isn't discouraged by sharing carries.
Apparently the New York Jets have finally realized offense is equally as important as a stingy defense. The Jets need to explore this option. The last thing John Idzik can afford is for the New England Patriots to swoop in and pick up another gem in free agency.
Despite all the hoopla the New York Knicks (33-43) have been involved in this season, Mike Woodson never seems to lose his cool. At one point it seemed as if Woodson had lost his team. Woodson preaches hard work and defense, two compartments the Knicks have struggled in mightily this season. However, with tonight's win the Knicks improve to 12-3 over their last 15 games.
Tonight the Knicks jumped on the Brooklyn Nets (40-34) early. Brooklyn is the type of ball club that can pound you into submission if you allow it. The Knicks are a faster team than the Nets, although they have not had much success playing transition basketball this season.
The Knicks lead by 25 points at the half. The Knicks stuck true to their identity, allowing Brooklyn to creep back into the game in the third period. At one point Brooklyn cut the Knicks lead to 13. J.R Smith knocked down two of his six three point shots to extend the Knicks lead to 83-61 heading into the fourth quarter. The Nets roster is full of players who take pride in basketball. Them putting together a run came as no surprise. The manner in which the Knicks responded is what they have been lacking all season.
Tim Hardaway Jr. played an excellent ballgame. He scored 17 points, on 7-10 shooting from the field in 28 minutes of action. Hardaway Jr. was +33 in a game he almost didn't suit up for. He appears to be healthy after taking an odd fall the other night in Utah. His health is a great sign for the Knicks moving forward.
The best part of tonight's win is the fact that the team didn't have to depend on Carmelo Anthony. Tonight's win was a collective effort.
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The Portland Trailblazers (49-27) franchise is headed in the right direction. They may be the most surprising playoff team in the NBA. With 49 wins, the Blazers have already exceeded last years win total by 16 games. What Portland has been able to accomplish this season is amazing considering the debilitating injuries they've suffered in recent years. Brandon Roy and Greg Oden were once considered the future of the organization. Oklahoma City (54-19) now has a team to reckon with in the division for years to come. LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard are as good as any tandem in the league on any given night.
The Washington Wizards (38-36) are a team to watch in the Eastern Conference. The Wizards winning a playoff series this year isn't out of the realm of possibilities. If Toronto holds on to the number three position, the Wizards just may have enough explosiveness at the guard position to upset the Raptors. Washington has a 19-19 road record this season. Indiana is 19-18 on the road this season. If the Wizards can learn to play with more consistency at home they may be a 50 win team next season. John Wall has increased his scoring average every year he's been in the NBA. A year ago, the Wizards were ridiculed for giving Wall a hefty contract extension. That decision has panned out short term. The pieces are in place for the Wizards. Washington may be a few additions away from competing in the east.
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The thought of the New York Knicks (32-43) and the Brooklyn Nets (40-33) playing a meaningful basketball game this late in the season seemed ludicrous two months ago. Thanks to a weak Eastern Conference, both teams have the opportunity to alter playoff positioning with a win tonight.
Brooklyn has been the most surprising team in the league the second half of the season. At one point the Nets were a struggling 10-21 basketball team. Jason Kidd's first head coaching job appeared to be on the path to destruction. Not only were the Nets losing basketball games, but the team was getting blown out on a nightly basis. The season seemed over when Brook Lopez was sidelined with a broken foot. The Nets are a 30-12 since the terrible start. The most alarming thing about the Nets is the potential for them to get even better.
The Knicks still have a glimmer of hope thanks to the Atlanta Hawks (32-41) sputtering down the stretch. Atlanta is 1-6 over their last seven games. This is definitely a bad time to start a six game losing skid. Atlanta hosts the Chicago Bulls (42-32) tonight. This game is of great significance to the Bulls. They are currently tied with the Toronto Raptors (42-32) for the number three seed in the Eastern Conference. Toronto currently holds the tie-breaker between the two. The outcome of these two ballgames will cause some juggling in the standings.
The Nets didn't move across the Hudson River with the intentions of playing second fiddle to the Knicks. To say this is a statement game is the least. The Knicks do not own a first round selection in what is believed to be a special draft class. If they fail to make the playoffs this is going to be a bleak summer. Brooklyn would love nothing better than to put the Knicks out of their misery. Kevin Garnett and Paul Peirce have no love lost for their cross borough rivals.
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