Happy Birthday Mike

Happy belated birthday to the greatest basketball player to ever live thus far.  Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born on February 17, 1963 in Brooklyn New York.  So there you have it, the best player in NBA history is a New York native.  New York is to basketball what Mecca is to Islam... six NBA Championships to go along with six NBA Finals MVP awards.

Goodbye STAT...

The New York Knicks have reached a buyout agreement with former all-star forward Amare Stoudamire.  Amare was New York's prime free agency acquisition in 2010.  That year NBA free agents included Dirk Nowitzski, Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Joe Johnson.

The Knicks entered that summer with hopes of landing a big fish.  The possibility of Amare joining the Knicks seemed like a great plan B if LeBron would decide to play elsewhere. New York wined and dined LeBron to no avail as the King would opt to form a super team in Miami with Wade and Bosh.  New York received heavy criticism for signing a player with a history of major injuries to a five -year max deal.

Amare started his tenure in Gotham in MVP form.  He and Raymond Felton developed great chemistry in training camp.  Midway through the 2010 season the two were one of the best guard - forward combo ' s in the NBA.  Amare was a great fit in Mike D'Antoni 's explosive offense.  Amare looked worth every dollar the Knicks shelled his way.

Amare's game was altered drastically due to the addition of Carmelo Anthony.  Combine that with lingering injuries and now you have a damaged star looking to recapture his glory. After a promising beginning the Amare deal hurt the Knicks on the court and financially.  A player receiving 20$ Million dollars per year needs to be available more often than not. Amare has never been that type of player.

Signing Amare was an experiment.  At 28 it was difficult to predict what type of player he would be five years down the road.  The manner of his departure from a city that truly embraces him is a tad bit disappointing.  Fans should thank Amare for being the first player to give New York a shot following years of futility.  Without Amare maybe the Knicks don't go out and acquire Carmelo Anthony  If he manages to stay healthy, Amare will be a decent late season acquisition for the Dallas Mavericks.

REST IN PEACE DEAN SMITH

The basketball world lost an extremely important person with the passing of legendary UNC Tar Heels basketball coach Dean Smith.  Smith was 83 years old at the time of his death.

I for one have certainly been enlightened these past few days about who Coach Smith actually was as a person.  Everyone is well aware of the immense talent Smith molded during his 36 years as head coach at UNC.  11 Final Four appearances,  two NCAA Championships and 25 first-round NBA selections are some of the things Smith accomplished on the sideline. However, to understand this legends accomplishments you must look beyond the hardwood.

Adolf Rupp is widely considered one of the greatest coaches in the history of NCAA Basketball.  He retired the winningest coach in NCAA men's history with 876 victories. Rupp was an imposing figure to say the least.  His players revered him and opposing coaches respected him.  Frankly, NCAA Basketball nor the NBA would have developed into what we see today without Rupp ' s contributions.

Despite the greatness Rupp accomplished during his coaching career, he is also remembered as an outspoken racist.  Rupp would have likely gotten along with Donald Sterling.  Smith, on the other hand advocated for change.  He became head coach at UNC in 1961, two years prior to Martin Luther King Jr's historic speech in Washington D.C.  During this time America needed more Caucasian individuals in respectable positions of authority to take a stand.  Not only for the advancement of blacks, but for the overall development of our country.

In 1966 Smith recruited Charlie Scott to North Carolina.  Scott was the first black scholarship athlete In North Carolina history.  During the 60's the state of North Carolina was still racially divided.  Recruiting a black athlete to one of the leading institutions in the state was making a statement.

In 1982 Smith guided his UNC Tar Heels to the first of his two NCAA Championships. Michael Jordan was a freshman on that team.  Michael hit a two-point basket in the final minute to secure the 63-62 victory for UNC.  Smith's reaction to reaching the highest point of his profession was classy.  He immediately ran over to console Georgetown coach John Thompson after one of the greatest championship games played to date.

Smith was class personified.  He was an innovator in his own regard.  North Carolina tried things in the late 60's and early 70's that other head coaches had never thought of.  North Carolina was one of the first schools to utilize the point guard position to its full potential. Smith liked to run the four corners offense.

During his 36 years at UNC Smith's players maintained a 96% graduation rate.  His teams were never placed on probation for NCAA violations.  Smith ran a clean program for almost four decades.

Dean Smith was one of the elite basketball coaches in the games history.  His contributions to the sport will be felt for years to come.

The development of Teague

Jeff Teague  has taken his game to another level this season.  He's averaged 19.5 points, 8.7 assist and 1.9 steals per game  as the Atlanta Hawks starting point guard.  Point guard is the best position in the NBA today.  Teague is poised to cement his name as one of the best at his position in the league.  If Teague is to be mentioned with players such as Damian Lillard, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook, he'ill have to come with the same intensity every night.

So far this season Teague has been up for the challenge.  Atlanta has a win against each of the Western Conferences top eight teams.  Teague's leadership is one of the reasons the Hawks have been unbeatable in 2015.

Atlanta put a great deal of emphasis on keeping Teague around.  That decision has turned out well for the organization.  Having a quality starting point guard in today's NBA is crucial. The Hawks have found that guy in Teague.

Hawks streak halted.

The Atlanta Hawks are the first team in NBA history to complete an entire month undefeated.  Atlanta finished the month of January with a 17-0 record. Coming into the season the Hawks were not expected to be one of the elite teams in the NBA.  Right now it's fair to say the Hawks are the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.

Atlanta isn't a traditional championship team.  A number of players can beat you on any given night.  Despite their lack of a superstar, the Hawks boast arguably the best starting five in the NBA.  This team won't be a pushover come postseason play.  At this point the elite teams around the league may still be skeptical about Atlanta.  Rightfully so, Atlanta hasn't been a playoff hotbed to say the least.

The city of Atlanta is yearning for a winning sports franchise.  Atlanta is the flagship city of the south.  If the city is ever going to stand hand-in-hand with the likes of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, a team from Atlanta has to get it done.  The Atlanta Falcons came one win shy of the Super Bowl a few years back.  The Hawks are the latest team to captivate the city.

Atlanta lost their first game of 2015 to the New Orleans Pelicans bringing their season long winning streak to a halt at 19.  The streak is the longest by any team since the Miami Heat won 27 consecutive games in 2013.  Miami validated their 27 game winning streak by beating the San Antonio Spurs to win their second consecutive NBA Championship.

Atlanta must keep up the intensity during the second half of the season.  Right now a dominant team does not exist in the Eastern Conference.  If the Hawks get a few favorable opponents they could find themselves in the NBA Finals come June.

Lillard snubbed

Adam Silver should exercise his rights as the NBA'S commissioner and get Damian Lillard a slot in the 2015 NBA All-Star game.  Lillard has been one of the most electrifying players in the NBA this season.  He shows up every night with the intentions of destroying the oppositions lead guard.  Other than Russell Westbrook Lillard could be the most intense point guard in the NBA.

A year ago Lillard became the first player to compete in all five skills competitions during all-star break.  While most of the league treats all-star break like a mini vacation until the big game Sunday, Lillard chose to give the fans a show to remember.  The entire world is still waiting for LeBron James to enter his first dunk competition.  Maybe LeBron has been reluctant due to a fear of losing.

Winning is believed to play a key role in the coaches decision of what players make up the reserves.  Portland currently has a record of 33-16.  Lillard has been great for the Blazers like always. He's averaged 21.7 points, 6.3 assist, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 49 games. Frankly, Lillard has dominated while the Blazers have picked up from their success last postseason.  What more should Lillard have to do to make the all-star team?

Every time Lillard gets disrespected he returns a better player.  This latest snub could spurn him to take his game to another level.  A few more game winning baskets could be included in Portland's second-half package.

All-star or no?

Dwayne Wade is one of the surprise selections for the 2015 NBA All-Star Game.  This is the 11th time Wade has been selected to be an all-star during his career.  Wade is one of the leagues best spokesman.  His wholesome style has been great for the NBA'S image since he entered the league in 2003.

Wade ' s selection as a reserve could be based more on career accomplishments than his overall performance this season.  Miami currently has a record of 20-25.  The Heat have taken a step back since LeBron James' s departure.  Miami will probably be an easy first-round out come playoff time.

Wade is likely a first ballot Hall-of-Fame selection once his playing days are officially over. One more all-star selection isn't necessary to bolster his Hall-of-Fame resume.  Three NBA Championships, an NBA Finals MVP award and one of the greatest performances in NBA Finals history is saying enough.

Wade was nearly selected as a starter by the fans.  Fan voting has never been a great indicator of whose playing well in the league.  Fan voting is more like a popularity contest by one sided voters.  The league still hasn't gotten the memo on that topic.

Wade will probably use the all-star break to rest his aging body.  At this stage of his career, Wade needs all the rest he can get heading into the stretch run.  Despite having a losing record, Miami still has a great shot at returning to the playoffs due to a weak Eastern Conference.

Brandin knight and Kyle Korver have a legitimate beef over this selection.  Milwaukee is right above 500. despite losing rookie sensation Jabari Parker for the season.  Atlanta is the hottest team in the league and Korver has been shooting lights out this season.

Knicks sign Galloway

Since six weeks ago the world knew little to nothing about Langston Galloway.  The undrafted guard out of St Joseph's was waiting on his opportunity to showcase his talent on the highest level.

Galloway has made the most of two 10-day contracts with the New York Knicks.  He's averaged 12.1 points, 3.0 assist and 1.1 steals in eight games this season.  Galloway has been one of the only bright spots for New York this season.  Galloway may not be apart of the Knicks future, however, the remainder of this season could lead to him finding a permanent home in the NBA.

Galloway ' s success is a testament to New York's new D-League affiliate the Westchester Knicks.  The Knick's have lacked success in developing talent during the franchises long and storied history.  Having a minor league team this close to the city should benefit the organization tremendously moving forward.

Salute to Dr. King

MLK Day games have become a huge part of the NBA'S tradition.  The league does a great job honoring a man that devoted his life to the advancement of his race, country and people in general.

MLK Day means more to the NBA in comparison to the other three major professional sports leagues in America.  The league is predominantly black.  Without Dr. King's tireless hours or marching, preaching and spreading the word of equality, the NBA as we know it would not exist.  There was a time when teams would make three or four stops before finding a place that would feed the black players.  The early days of the NBA were grim.

During the leagues early years, black players were few and far in between.  For a black player to make a roster during the 1950's he'd have to outshine white players to the point of no denial.  Today players such as LeBron James and Dwayne Wade have become acute businessmen off the court.  Shaquille O'Neal has become an entrepreneur in the business world.  Even Kobe Bryant has started the process of transitioning into his own corporate entity once retirement becomes a reality.

Frankly, the NBA has benefited from Martin Luther King's contributions tremendously.  Dr. King isn't the only person that deserves credit for their efforts during that time period.  Any person that ever joined a picket line, marched in unison, joined in on the Montgomery boycott or simply wrote a letter advocating for change deserves credit.

Dr. King and others sacrificed their lives so days like today could be possible.  The NBA would not be the same if not for the tireless efforts of Dr. King.

Mike Conley Jr. alert

Mike Conley Jr. could be the most underrated player in the NBA.  His name is rarely mentioned amongst the elite lead guards in the game.  Conley Jr. has improved steadily every year since entering the league.  This season he's taken his game to new heights.  The patience the Memphis Grizzlies have shown in Conley Jr. Is paying off in a significant manner.

Conley Jr. is averaging 18.3 points, 6.2 assist, 1.3 steals and 3.6 rebounds per game this season.  He has developed into the Grizzlies best scoring option, as well as an elite defender.  Conley Jr. Is a key reason why the Grizzlies are a threat to win the Western Conference.  The Grizzlies hard nosed style makes them a tough out come playoff time. This year Conley Jr. and company are looking to get over the hump and advance to the first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history.  Conley Jr. Is the one that can get Memphis to the promise land.  The young guard needs to be up for the challenge.

Conley Jr. was an inconsistent shooter when he entered the league.  Today the three-point basket is one of his greatest assets.  He is one of the hardest working guards in the NBA.

Conley Jr. Probably won't get too much consideration in the race for league MVP.  Those that keep close tabs on the Grizzlies are aware of just how valuable Conley Jr. truly is. Some players don't need recognition to prove their worth.  Conley Jr. is a throwback player in so many ways!

Surprise Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are currently the hottest team in the NBA.  The Hawks have collected a victory in 20 of their last 22 games. Atlanta sits atop the Eastern Conference with a 27-8 record.  This is the Hawks best start since the 1993-1994 season.  The Hawks have replaced the Cleveland Cavaliers as one of the elite teams in the Eastern Conference.

Jeff Teague has been one of the driving forces of Atlanta success.  The young guard is averaging 17.7 points, 7 assist and 1.8 steals per contest.  Teague has a chance to make his first All-Star game this season.  Atlanta ' s overall success could help Teague make the squad as a reserve.

Paul Milsap has been a force to reckon with this season.  Millsap ' s versatility has been on display.  He's averaged 17 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.1 assist and 1.9 steals per night.  Milsap deserves to be on the Eastern Conference All-Star squad.  Without him the Hawks would likely be somewhere around the 500 mark.

The Hawks have been one of the most surprising teams in the NBA during the first half of the season.

knicks roster shake up

The New York Knicks have decided to cut ties with two players that were once believed to be key components of the teams future.

New Jersey native J.R Smith and Iman Shumpert were both traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade that included the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Following the worst start in franchise history, New York is officially in rebuild mode.

At this point starting from scratch with a center piece such as Carmelo Anthony is definitely New York's best option.  The Knicks are currently in the midst of a 13 game losing streak, the longest in franchise history.

The Detroit Pistons recently released veteran forward Josh Smith.  Since Smith's departure Detroit has collected seven consecutive victories.  By All-Star Weekend the Pistons could be competing for a playoff position.  The Knicks are not equipped to pull off a mid season turnaround of this magnitude.  The roster is sullied with players that will be playing elsewhere next season.  At this point players on the Knicks roster are auditioning for 2016.

Carmelo will turn 31 years old this spring.  Paul Pierce was the same age when the Boston Celtics acquired Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to form one of the most Infamous trios in NBA history.

The clock is ticking on Carmelo Anthony and the New York knicks.

RIP Stuart Scott

Legendary ESPN Anchor Stuart Scott lost his seven year battle with cancer today.  Scott is survived by a girlfriend and two daughters.

Scott changed the world of broadcast journalism as we know it.  His catch phrases helped SportsCenter become one of the most popular shows on television.  Scott was one of the most recognizable black men on television.

Scott's authentic delivery captivated an entire generation of sports fans.  Scott made sports journalism look like a cool profession to be apart of.  Scott, along with Rich Eisen, Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick produced memorable television on a nightly basis.

Stuart Scott will never be forgotten. "BOOYAH"

The real king is 30

LeBron James turns 30 years old today.  To anyone born prior to January 1st, 1995 the fact that LeBron is 30 is an eye opener.  Arguably the most intriguing player to enter the NBA to date is likely past his prime.  LeBron is a physical specimen not rivaled by many.  Despite his age LeBron could be the best player in the NBA for years to come.  LeBron has made four appearances in the NBA Finals, winning two championships in the process.  LeBron is already one of the greatest forwards in NBA history.

King James ??

Is James Harden the best shooting guard in the NBA today?

Thus far this season James has been a menace to opposing guards around the league.  His 27.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 6.9 assist per game are all career highs.  James has developed into the Houston Rockets main option.  Two years ago James was a reserve for the Oklahoma City Thunder.  He has gone from sixth man to MVP candidate seemingly overnight.

Team success is important in this league.  Houston lost a disappointing first - round series to the Portland Trailblazers one year ago.  If James wants to be mentioned with players such as LeBron James or Kevin Durant, the Rockets will need to come up with a better performance come postseason.  Houston is 21-9 through 30 games.  The Front office has added depth and much needed toughness with the addition of Corey Brewer.  Trevor Ariza brings championship experience to the Rockets lineup.  James and Dwight Howard could have the weapons around them to get the Rockets back to the NBA Finals.

James still must improve in certain areas.  His effort on defense has improved, however, he still has to prove he can contain the other teams best player.

At times shot selection is still an issue for the two-time NBA All-Star.  James can create his own shot at any given time.  The problem is James has never seen a shot he didn't like.  He must keep his teammates involved.  Winning an NBA Championship is a team effort.  All great guards must learn to put smaller guards in the post.  James is 6'5" tall.  Posting up could take his game to a new level.

James has been nothing short of spectacular since joining the Rockets.  In Oklahoma City Harden played in the shadows of Durant and Russell Westbrook.  Houston gives James the opportunity to be the star he was destined to become.

If James maintains this fast start he'ill certainly be apart of the MVP conversation at the conclusion of the season.  Houston's success going forward will also factor into his chances of becoming the first Rocket to win the award since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1994. That year the Rockets won their first of back-to-back NBA Championships.

Josh Smith!

Josh Smith is one of the most talented forwards in the NBA.  He is also one of the most disappointing forwards in the league.  Smith has yet to truly fulfill the high expectations placed upon him as a first-round selection by his hometown Atlanta Hawks in 2004. Smith was a member of the 2004 NBA Draft class that featured the likes of Dwight Howard, Sebastian Telfair, Ben Gordon and J.R Smith.

One of Smith's issues is his shot selection.  He is one of the best leaping forwards the league has ever seen.  If Smith were to visit  Hakeem Olajuwon similar to numerous players around the league, he could finally begin to tap into the limitless Potential he possesses.

Smith recently signed with the Houston Rockets after being released by the Detroit Pistons. Smith never truly seemed comfortable in Detroit.  His relationship with Stan Van Gundy got off to a rocky star.  Van Gundy has a history of rubbing players the wrong way.  That Could be the reason he was fired from his two most recent coaching jobs.  Either way Smith definitely wanted out of the Motor City.

Smith seems to be the type of player that needs his buttons pushed by a respected head coach.  Kevin McHale doesn't have much of a track record coaching.  However, he was a member of the 1981, 1984 and 1986 NBA Champion Boston Celtics.  I'd say McHale knows a thing or two about winning in this league.  The atmosphere around the Rockets seems cool.  Watching this team gives you the feeling the players enjoy being amongst one another.  Relationships between teammates can translate on and off the court.

Josh Smith's career has been revived.  Hopefully Smith can take advantage of this opportunity.

Rondo to Dallas.

The Dallas Mavericks are officially back!

For two years the Boston Celtics have been secretly shopping All-Star guard Rajon Rondo. Rondo, a starter from the Celtics 2008 championship team has been the key component in trade discussions with multiple teams.  Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge wanted a deal that could help the Celtics improve without dealing Rondo to an Eastern Conference team.

The Dallas Mavericks played the role of sleeper team out West prior to acquiring Rondo. With the addition of Rondo, Dallas may have added enough juice to compete with the best teams out West.  The Mavericks took the San Antonio Spurs to a seventh game in last year's Western Conference First-Round Playoff Series.  Dallas was the only team to force the Spurs to a seventh game during their playoff run.  Dallas isn't as far away from being a championship team as some would think.

Dirk Nowitzki remains one of the elite big forwards in the NBA.  Dirk is averaging 18.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.4 assist per night.  At 36 years of age Dirk is still shooting 47% from the field.  Another title run could be in the works for the greatest European player in NBA history.  Rondo could be the best passer Dirk's ever played with.   No disrespect to two-time MVP Steve Nash.

The NBA is stacked with elite players at the point guard position. Rondo sits atop that list. The veteran guard is one of the only pass first guards in the league today.  Rondo leads the NBA with 10.8 assist per game.  His 1.68 steals per game is good enough for 11th in the league.  Monte Ellis and Chandler Parsons will have run filling the lane on a team that's accustomed to scoring points.

Dallas has remained one of the most consistent teams in the league due to good personnel decisions.  Dirk is one of the best building blocks in the league.  The trade should assure the Mavericks another 50 win season.

EMMETT TILLTrayvon Martin

Mike BrownERIC GARNER

RODNEY KINGRamarley Graham

Columbia scares Kentucky!

The University of Kentucky Men's Basketball team is one of the most storied division one programs in the nation.  Kentucky has been a national power for decades.  The school located in Lexington has been a fixture on the National Championship scene for years. A regular season contest with Columbia University should be a cake walk for Kentucky.  Last years national runner-up boasts one of the best recruiting classes in America.  Kentucky's roster has at least five future NBA players.  Columbia, on the other hand boasts a roster full of young men eager to head into the work field post graduation.

Columbia and Kentucky are the complete opposite of one another.  Kentucky prides itself in dominating it's opposition.  Excellence has long been the standard for Kentucky Athletics. Basketball happens to head that list in the Blue Grass State.  Since taking over the program in 2009, John Calipari has returned the program to prominence.  Kentucky won their first NCAA Championship sine 1998 in 2012.

Columbia shocked Kentucky by scoring the first 11 points of the game.  The Lions executed their game plan well early.  Kentucky had a hard time getting their transition game going in the first half.  The Wildcats are NCAA Basketball's version of "lob city".  However, Columbia's stingy defense and disciplined game plan caught Calipari off guard. Columbia took a surprising 25-23 advantage into intermission.

Kentucky eventually overwhelmed Columbia as expected.  The Wildcats took their first lead of the game at the 13 minute mark of the second half.  Considering the discrepancy in talent, the notion of Kentucky being tied or trailing an IVY League school for the first 27 minutes of a game is an amazing feat.  Kentucky held off Columbia in the waning moments of the match, preserving a 56-46 victory.

Despite falling short in the end, the Columbia Lions should be commended for an amazing effort.  Columbia is a program on the rise.  This effort could serve as a spring board moving forward for the program.  This could be the year Columbia makes their long awaited return to the NCAA Tournament.  The Lions have only qualified for the big dance on three occasions in school history.  Columbia is the fifth oldest institution in the country.

Phil ?

The New York Knicks are currently a team in a great deal of turmoil.  Phil Jackson was supposed to be the man to head the Knicks franchise back on the winning track.  Instead the changes Phil made last summer have resulted in the worst start in franchise history.

Phil inherited the remnants of a poorly run franchise.  The disdain of the Isaiah Thomas era continues to loom over the entire organization.  Not even a magician could turn the train wreck the knicks were in 2013-14 into a championship contender overnight.  However, Phil had a say in Chicago in terms of personnel decisions.  Despite this being Phil's first front office position, he's still been a respectable talent evaluator during his years in the NBA.

Phil has not lived up to expectations as President of Basketball Operations for the New York Knicks.