Yes it could happen.Three of the NBA's fivebest players could be teammates as soon as 2011.How?It's simple.Unless you live under a rock, you probably know by now that Dwyane Wade and LeBron James are free agents this summer.Unless you've been in a coma the last two years, you probably know by now that the New York Knicks would give anything to get them.When I say everything, I mean Zach Randolph, Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Jared Jeffries, Jordan Hill, Tracy McGrady, Cuttino Mobley, Al Harrington, and David Washington Redskins jersey
Lee, among others.Let's face it, the Knicks will not offer the most talented team at the beginning of the summer, but what they will offer is the life.The ability to cruise through Times Square and past Broadway knowing you are the man.You hear me Dwyane Wade?It's no secret that Wade is by far the NBA's most stylish player. As you can tell by his multiple ATT commercials where he is billed as, well, the man.Chicago is the clear favorites to acquire Wade's services, but if he wants to truly be the man, and everybody knows he does, then what would be a better match for Wade than The City That Never Sleeps?I don't think Wade himself understands exactly how perfect a match he and New York would be.If Dwyane Wade came to New York he would love every minute of it.Wade throws his body on the line every day, kind of like Paul O'Neill, whom New Yorkers fell for like a teenage girl for her boyfriend. If Wade came to New York he would become an idol quickly, and then comes the endorsements.Hint: Dwyane Wade + attention = Happy Dwyane Wade.Is New York the front runners for Wade?No.Could it happen?Absolutely.LeBron James would be the next acquisition to this unstoppable threesome.How would the Knicks bring him in?Well in case you haven't heard by now (if you haven't you need to get in touch with the outside world) LeBron James is a free agent this summer.It has become quite obvious that the Knicks and Cavs are the two front-runners to sign him.The Knicks would be a perfect fit for LeBron, they just need to let him know.They offer him the city, lifestyle, and ability to become New York royalty.Who wouldn't want to be mentioned in the same sentence as Messier, Reed, and Jeter?New York gives LeBron the chance to become more than legendary; New York offers LeBron the chance to become immortal.Coming to New York gives LeBron the chance to become the all time greatest.It also gives him the chance to play in The Worlds MostReebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
Famous Arena, and have his name chanted, which he has already made known is a lifelong dream of his.Much like Wade, bringing LeBron to New York will be no easy task, but it can most certainly be done.Then comes Carmelo Anthony.You're probably scratching your head right now and wondering how the Knicks expect to dethrone the King of Denver.With the legendary 2010 free agent class on the horizon people often fail to realize the strong 2011 free agent class headlined by Carmelo Anthony.There's no way the Knicks would be able to afford Carmelo Anthony with LeBron and D-Wade already on the roster, right?Wrong.This is where the stupidity of Isiah Thomas might pay off.Remember when Isiah traded two players and four draft picks for Eddy Curry?Well the man who was at the time dubbed "Baby Shaq" carried a long, HUGE contract with him to New York. That contract expires in 2011, the same season that Carmelo Anthony will be able to test the free agency waters.When the Knicks can finally ditch Eddy Curry and all the bad memories he brings, the Knicks can give Carmelo Anthony 11 million reasons to come to New York.In fact lets make that 11,000,001 reasons to come to New York, because Melo attended Syracuse Universitydo you know what state Syracuse is in?New York.Add in the chance of playing with The King and Flash, and the Knicks signing Melo would be a foregone conclusion.Much like signing Wade and LeBron it will not be easy, but it most certainly could happen.The chances of the Knicks inking all three would be unlikely, but just one three-way phone call between Wade, LeBron, and Donnie Walsh could make it all the more likely.Everybody wants to be a champion, and if these three guys can't team up to win one than nobody can.Donnie Walsh learned how to write a persuasive essay in the fourth grade much like the rest of us, but if he wants all three of these guys than he better get his notes out.Where would this team rank amongst the greatest of all time?Well why don't we compare it to the Bulls of the 1990s.Michael Jordan was on his own planet, Scottie Pippen was great, and Horace Grant was good.LeBron James is on his own planet, Dwyane Wade is punching Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
his ticket to that planet, and Carmelo Anthony is great.Combine those three with the sharpshooting Danilo Gallinari, the soon-to-be court general point guard in Toney Douglas, the up and coming swingman in Wilson Chandler, and you have maybe the greatest team in NBA History.Now lets not get ahead of ourselves because this team will probably never play a game together, but if they do, boy will they be fun to watch.Let's just hope there are enough basketballs to go around.
2010年12月29日星期三
29 Dec 10 Washington Wizards Season Wrap-Up: Here's Looking at Next Year
Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesThe 2010 season is finally over for the Washington Wizards and with it goes a number of difficulties they'd rather forget. Their 26-56 record gives them the fifth-worst record to close out the season.This day couldn't come fast enough for the Wizards.It is difficult to compare the way the season started with the way it ended because the cast is completely different, despite opening and closing with wins. I know the stories have been told before, but it bears repeating in the spirit of this retrospective. Chicago Bears jersey
Gilbert Arenas was suspended for the season following a December 2009 locker room incident involving multiple firearms as part of a joke. Not long after that scenario played out, the Wizards' front office orchestrated deals that sent Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson to Dallas and Antawn Jamison to Cleveland.That equates to 80 percent of the starting line-up, with only Mike Miller remaining active with the team.All the familiar names and faces the Wizards had were gone, leaving a collection of youth and relative unknowns to soldier on through the rest of the season. Meet Andray Blatche, the consummate "potential" player who finally got his chance to shine in the changing of times.He made the most of his opportunity, proving once and for all that he was worth all the fuss made over his star potential.After opening the season as the starter for the injured Jamison, he averaged 14 points over the first nine games. He returned to his off-the-bench role once Jamison returned, and his performance was generally written off as a fluke. There was no way he could be THE guy for the Wizards.The very night Jamison was traded, Blatche scored 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.Blatche has averaged 23 points and eight rebounds in 31 games since becoming a starter. He did have a brief run-in with head coach Flip Saunders after he was particularly lazy on defense. It looked like there might be a rift developing, but since that night, Blatche has been playing hard.Another player who benefited from the trade deadline roster purge is JaVale McGee.He logged minimal minutes through the first half of the season, but when Haywood was traded, McGee became the starter. He had an up and down season thereafter, but recorded 25 points and 15 rebounds against in an 18-point win over Golden State on Apr. 9 and logged six blocks in a single game against the Knicks on Apr. 12.But as I said earlier, the Wizards became a tryout team over the last 30 games or so, giving relatively unknown players a shot to make a name for themselves.Cartier Martin, an undrafted D-League player, was signed on March 30 and contributed to wins over Indiana and New Jersey. Alonzo Gee, another D-League signing, scored in double-figures three times before his 10-day contract expired. He has since been signed by the Spurs and may be valuable for their playoff run.The most intriguing player to don the blue and gold has to be Shaun Livingston.If you don't know Livingston, and aren't faint of heart, look up the video of his injury from 2007. He was a top five draft choice and missed substantial chunks of time due to various injuries before this season. After a stint in the D-League, Livingston caught on with the Bobcats, but was waived late last year.He was signed to a pair of ten day contracts before the Wizards signed him for the rest of the season, and showing he still has something to give the NBA.In the beginning of his time with Washington, Livingston didn't quite have the flow of the game yet. Eight games in, he scored 18 points with eight assists against Orlando. Over the last 11 games, he averaged 14 points and five assists in 35 minutes of Cincinnati Bengals jersey
play per night.If nothing else, the last handful of games served as a great platform for players who won't be around Washington next season.With the team's plans for resigning players unknown, it is safe to assume that most of the players the fans had grown familiar with down the stretch will be gone come next season. There are of course exceptions, but even that isn't completely certain.James Singleton showed a Marcus Camby-like ability to rebound on certain nights and a nose for the basket on others. Josh Howard looked like a decent second scoring option before his season-ending injury. Randy Foye ended his season with an injury, Quinton Ross gave good depth and Earl Boykins gave the Wizards a spark in some games.No matter who returns next season, and no matter how bad this season was, there was clearly a difference in the effort given over the first half of the season and the second half of the season.And as part of this season wrap-up, and keeping things positive, how about some unofficial awards?Best Moment of the SeasonApr. 9, 2010, vs. Boston Celtics, W: 106-96The Wizards pulled out a ten point win against the playoff bound Celtics, giving them their third win in four games and showing they can compete with the so-called great teams in the NBA. It showcased Blatche against Kevin Garnett, a resurgent Livingston, and a 42-point fourth quarter by Boston that wasn't enough to win the game.Blatche scored 31 points with 11 rebounds, complimented by Livingston's 25 points, Nick Young's 19 points and McGee's 19 points and 11 rebounds. (Honorable Mention: Blatche's near triple-double).Best Story of the SeasonShaun LivingstonSeriously, watch the video of his injury and tell me he didn't look great on the floor for the Wizards. If I wanted to be corny, he would win the "Give That Man a Contract" award for the performance he put on over the last several games.It is impossible not to like Livingston and hope his career can continue somewhere in the NBA, even if not in Washington. (Honorable Mention: Anything not related to Gilbert Arenas).Sixth Man AwardGiven that the entire roster became a sixth man towards the end of the season, this award is difficult to give to just one guy. I would have to split it between Boykins and Young. Between the two of them there is an entire season's worth of production. Boykins was good early for the Wizards and Young was good late. (Honorable Mention: Al Thornton).Most Improved Player Andray BlatcheHands down, Blatche wins this award. He started the season showing his abilities and got the chance to finish the season cementing himself as a real NBA player on the verge of stardom. (Honorable Mention: JaVale McGee).Most Cleveland Browns jersey
Valuable PlayerMike MillerEven though he missed all of December and most of January with an injury, it is impossible to deny that Miller helped the Wizards whenever he was on the floor. He was up and down for most of the season, but what he lacked in consistency he made up for in effort every night. He finished second in the league at 48-percent from beyond the arc and did all the little things when he couldn't scored. He rebounded, he defended, he got his teammates involved. (Honorable Mention: Blatche).
Gilbert Arenas was suspended for the season following a December 2009 locker room incident involving multiple firearms as part of a joke. Not long after that scenario played out, the Wizards' front office orchestrated deals that sent Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson to Dallas and Antawn Jamison to Cleveland.That equates to 80 percent of the starting line-up, with only Mike Miller remaining active with the team.All the familiar names and faces the Wizards had were gone, leaving a collection of youth and relative unknowns to soldier on through the rest of the season. Meet Andray Blatche, the consummate "potential" player who finally got his chance to shine in the changing of times.He made the most of his opportunity, proving once and for all that he was worth all the fuss made over his star potential.After opening the season as the starter for the injured Jamison, he averaged 14 points over the first nine games. He returned to his off-the-bench role once Jamison returned, and his performance was generally written off as a fluke. There was no way he could be THE guy for the Wizards.The very night Jamison was traded, Blatche scored 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.Blatche has averaged 23 points and eight rebounds in 31 games since becoming a starter. He did have a brief run-in with head coach Flip Saunders after he was particularly lazy on defense. It looked like there might be a rift developing, but since that night, Blatche has been playing hard.Another player who benefited from the trade deadline roster purge is JaVale McGee.He logged minimal minutes through the first half of the season, but when Haywood was traded, McGee became the starter. He had an up and down season thereafter, but recorded 25 points and 15 rebounds against in an 18-point win over Golden State on Apr. 9 and logged six blocks in a single game against the Knicks on Apr. 12.But as I said earlier, the Wizards became a tryout team over the last 30 games or so, giving relatively unknown players a shot to make a name for themselves.Cartier Martin, an undrafted D-League player, was signed on March 30 and contributed to wins over Indiana and New Jersey. Alonzo Gee, another D-League signing, scored in double-figures three times before his 10-day contract expired. He has since been signed by the Spurs and may be valuable for their playoff run.The most intriguing player to don the blue and gold has to be Shaun Livingston.If you don't know Livingston, and aren't faint of heart, look up the video of his injury from 2007. He was a top five draft choice and missed substantial chunks of time due to various injuries before this season. After a stint in the D-League, Livingston caught on with the Bobcats, but was waived late last year.He was signed to a pair of ten day contracts before the Wizards signed him for the rest of the season, and showing he still has something to give the NBA.In the beginning of his time with Washington, Livingston didn't quite have the flow of the game yet. Eight games in, he scored 18 points with eight assists against Orlando. Over the last 11 games, he averaged 14 points and five assists in 35 minutes of Cincinnati Bengals jersey
play per night.If nothing else, the last handful of games served as a great platform for players who won't be around Washington next season.With the team's plans for resigning players unknown, it is safe to assume that most of the players the fans had grown familiar with down the stretch will be gone come next season. There are of course exceptions, but even that isn't completely certain.James Singleton showed a Marcus Camby-like ability to rebound on certain nights and a nose for the basket on others. Josh Howard looked like a decent second scoring option before his season-ending injury. Randy Foye ended his season with an injury, Quinton Ross gave good depth and Earl Boykins gave the Wizards a spark in some games.No matter who returns next season, and no matter how bad this season was, there was clearly a difference in the effort given over the first half of the season and the second half of the season.And as part of this season wrap-up, and keeping things positive, how about some unofficial awards?Best Moment of the SeasonApr. 9, 2010, vs. Boston Celtics, W: 106-96The Wizards pulled out a ten point win against the playoff bound Celtics, giving them their third win in four games and showing they can compete with the so-called great teams in the NBA. It showcased Blatche against Kevin Garnett, a resurgent Livingston, and a 42-point fourth quarter by Boston that wasn't enough to win the game.Blatche scored 31 points with 11 rebounds, complimented by Livingston's 25 points, Nick Young's 19 points and McGee's 19 points and 11 rebounds. (Honorable Mention: Blatche's near triple-double).Best Story of the SeasonShaun LivingstonSeriously, watch the video of his injury and tell me he didn't look great on the floor for the Wizards. If I wanted to be corny, he would win the "Give That Man a Contract" award for the performance he put on over the last several games.It is impossible not to like Livingston and hope his career can continue somewhere in the NBA, even if not in Washington. (Honorable Mention: Anything not related to Gilbert Arenas).Sixth Man AwardGiven that the entire roster became a sixth man towards the end of the season, this award is difficult to give to just one guy. I would have to split it between Boykins and Young. Between the two of them there is an entire season's worth of production. Boykins was good early for the Wizards and Young was good late. (Honorable Mention: Al Thornton).Most Improved Player Andray BlatcheHands down, Blatche wins this award. He started the season showing his abilities and got the chance to finish the season cementing himself as a real NBA player on the verge of stardom. (Honorable Mention: JaVale McGee).Most Cleveland Browns jersey
Valuable PlayerMike MillerEven though he missed all of December and most of January with an injury, it is impossible to deny that Miller helped the Wizards whenever he was on the floor. He was up and down for most of the season, but what he lacked in consistency he made up for in effort every night. He finished second in the league at 48-percent from beyond the arc and did all the little things when he couldn't scored. He rebounded, he defended, he got his teammates involved. (Honorable Mention: Blatche).
29 Dec 10 Washington Wizards Season Wrap-Up: Here's Looking at Next Year
Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesThe 2010 season is finally over for the Washington Wizards and with it goes a number of difficulties they'd rather forget. Their 26-56 record gives them the fifth-worst record to close out the season.This day couldn't come fast enough for the Wizards.It is difficult to compare the way the season started with the way it ended because the cast is completely different, despite opening and closing with wins. I know the stories have been told before, but it bears repeating in the spirit of this retrospective. Chicago Bears jersey
Gilbert Arenas was suspended for the season following a December 2009 locker room incident involving multiple firearms as part of a joke. Not long after that scenario played out, the Wizards' front office orchestrated deals that sent Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson to Dallas and Antawn Jamison to Cleveland.That equates to 80 percent of the starting line-up, with only Mike Miller remaining active with the team.All the familiar names and faces the Wizards had were gone, leaving a collection of youth and relative unknowns to soldier on through the rest of the season. Meet Andray Blatche, the consummate "potential" player who finally got his chance to shine in the changing of times.He made the most of his opportunity, proving once and for all that he was worth all the fuss made over his star potential.After opening the season as the starter for the injured Jamison, he averaged 14 points over the first nine games. He returned to his off-the-bench role once Jamison returned, and his performance was generally written off as a fluke. There was no way he could be THE guy for the Wizards.The very night Jamison was traded, Blatche scored 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.Blatche has averaged 23 points and eight rebounds in 31 games since becoming a starter. He did have a brief run-in with head coach Flip Saunders after he was particularly lazy on defense. It looked like there might be a rift developing, but since that night, Blatche has been playing hard.Another player who benefited from the trade deadline roster purge is JaVale McGee.He logged minimal minutes through the first half of the season, but when Haywood was traded, McGee became the starter. He had an up and down season thereafter, but recorded 25 points and 15 rebounds against in an 18-point win over Golden State on Apr. 9 and logged six blocks in a single game against the Knicks on Apr. 12.But as I said earlier, the Wizards became a tryout team over the last 30 games or so, giving relatively unknown players a shot to make a name for themselves.Cartier Martin, an undrafted D-League player, was signed on March 30 and contributed to wins over Indiana and New Jersey. Alonzo Gee, another D-League signing, scored in double-figures three times before his 10-day contract expired. He has since been signed by the Spurs and may be valuable for their playoff run.The most intriguing player to don the blue and gold has to be Shaun Livingston.If you don't know Livingston, and aren't faint of heart, look up the video of his injury from 2007. He was a top five draft choice and missed substantial chunks of time due to various injuries before this season. After a stint in the D-League, Livingston caught on with the Bobcats, but was waived late last year.He was signed to a pair of ten day contracts before the Wizards signed him for the rest of the season, and showing he still has something to give the NBA.In the beginning of his time with Washington, Livingston didn't quite have the flow of the game yet. Eight games in, he scored 18 points with eight assists against Orlando. Over the last 11 games, he averaged 14 points and five assists in 35 minutes of Cincinnati Bengals jersey
play per night.If nothing else, the last handful of games served as a great platform for players who won't be around Washington next season.With the team's plans for resigning players unknown, it is safe to assume that most of the players the fans had grown familiar with down the stretch will be gone come next season. There are of course exceptions, but even that isn't completely certain.James Singleton showed a Marcus Camby-like ability to rebound on certain nights and a nose for the basket on others. Josh Howard looked like a decent second scoring option before his season-ending injury. Randy Foye ended his season with an injury, Quinton Ross gave good depth and Earl Boykins gave the Wizards a spark in some games.No matter who returns next season, and no matter how bad this season was, there was clearly a difference in the effort given over the first half of the season and the second half of the season.And as part of this season wrap-up, and keeping things positive, how about some unofficial awards?Best Moment of the SeasonApr. 9, 2010, vs. Boston Celtics, W: 106-96The Wizards pulled out a ten point win against the playoff bound Celtics, giving them their third win in four games and showing they can compete with the so-called great teams in the NBA. It showcased Blatche against Kevin Garnett, a resurgent Livingston, and a 42-point fourth quarter by Boston that wasn't enough to win the game.Blatche scored 31 points with 11 rebounds, complimented by Livingston's 25 points, Nick Young's 19 points and McGee's 19 points and 11 rebounds. (Honorable Mention: Blatche's near triple-double).Best Story of the SeasonShaun LivingstonSeriously, watch the video of his injury and tell me he didn't look great on the floor for the Wizards. If I wanted to be corny, he would win the "Give That Man a Contract" award for the performance he put on over the last several games.It is impossible not to like Livingston and hope his career can continue somewhere in the NBA, even if not in Washington. (Honorable Mention: Anything not related to Gilbert Arenas).Sixth Man AwardGiven that the entire roster became a sixth man towards the end of the season, this award is difficult to give to just one guy. I would have to split it between Boykins and Young. Between the two of them there is an entire season's worth of production. Boykins was good early for the Wizards and Young was good late. (Honorable Mention: Al Thornton).Most Improved Player Andray BlatcheHands down, Blatche wins this award. He started the season showing his abilities and got the chance to finish the season cementing himself as a real NBA player on the verge of stardom. (Honorable Mention: JaVale McGee).Most Cleveland Browns jersey
Valuable PlayerMike MillerEven though he missed all of December and most of January with an injury, it is impossible to deny that Miller helped the Wizards whenever he was on the floor. He was up and down for most of the season, but what he lacked in consistency he made up for in effort every night. He finished second in the league at 48-percent from beyond the arc and did all the little things when he couldn't scored. He rebounded, he defended, he got his teammates involved. (Honorable Mention: Blatche).
Gilbert Arenas was suspended for the season following a December 2009 locker room incident involving multiple firearms as part of a joke. Not long after that scenario played out, the Wizards' front office orchestrated deals that sent Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson to Dallas and Antawn Jamison to Cleveland.That equates to 80 percent of the starting line-up, with only Mike Miller remaining active with the team.All the familiar names and faces the Wizards had were gone, leaving a collection of youth and relative unknowns to soldier on through the rest of the season. Meet Andray Blatche, the consummate "potential" player who finally got his chance to shine in the changing of times.He made the most of his opportunity, proving once and for all that he was worth all the fuss made over his star potential.After opening the season as the starter for the injured Jamison, he averaged 14 points over the first nine games. He returned to his off-the-bench role once Jamison returned, and his performance was generally written off as a fluke. There was no way he could be THE guy for the Wizards.The very night Jamison was traded, Blatche scored 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.Blatche has averaged 23 points and eight rebounds in 31 games since becoming a starter. He did have a brief run-in with head coach Flip Saunders after he was particularly lazy on defense. It looked like there might be a rift developing, but since that night, Blatche has been playing hard.Another player who benefited from the trade deadline roster purge is JaVale McGee.He logged minimal minutes through the first half of the season, but when Haywood was traded, McGee became the starter. He had an up and down season thereafter, but recorded 25 points and 15 rebounds against in an 18-point win over Golden State on Apr. 9 and logged six blocks in a single game against the Knicks on Apr. 12.But as I said earlier, the Wizards became a tryout team over the last 30 games or so, giving relatively unknown players a shot to make a name for themselves.Cartier Martin, an undrafted D-League player, was signed on March 30 and contributed to wins over Indiana and New Jersey. Alonzo Gee, another D-League signing, scored in double-figures three times before his 10-day contract expired. He has since been signed by the Spurs and may be valuable for their playoff run.The most intriguing player to don the blue and gold has to be Shaun Livingston.If you don't know Livingston, and aren't faint of heart, look up the video of his injury from 2007. He was a top five draft choice and missed substantial chunks of time due to various injuries before this season. After a stint in the D-League, Livingston caught on with the Bobcats, but was waived late last year.He was signed to a pair of ten day contracts before the Wizards signed him for the rest of the season, and showing he still has something to give the NBA.In the beginning of his time with Washington, Livingston didn't quite have the flow of the game yet. Eight games in, he scored 18 points with eight assists against Orlando. Over the last 11 games, he averaged 14 points and five assists in 35 minutes of Cincinnati Bengals jersey
play per night.If nothing else, the last handful of games served as a great platform for players who won't be around Washington next season.With the team's plans for resigning players unknown, it is safe to assume that most of the players the fans had grown familiar with down the stretch will be gone come next season. There are of course exceptions, but even that isn't completely certain.James Singleton showed a Marcus Camby-like ability to rebound on certain nights and a nose for the basket on others. Josh Howard looked like a decent second scoring option before his season-ending injury. Randy Foye ended his season with an injury, Quinton Ross gave good depth and Earl Boykins gave the Wizards a spark in some games.No matter who returns next season, and no matter how bad this season was, there was clearly a difference in the effort given over the first half of the season and the second half of the season.And as part of this season wrap-up, and keeping things positive, how about some unofficial awards?Best Moment of the SeasonApr. 9, 2010, vs. Boston Celtics, W: 106-96The Wizards pulled out a ten point win against the playoff bound Celtics, giving them their third win in four games and showing they can compete with the so-called great teams in the NBA. It showcased Blatche against Kevin Garnett, a resurgent Livingston, and a 42-point fourth quarter by Boston that wasn't enough to win the game.Blatche scored 31 points with 11 rebounds, complimented by Livingston's 25 points, Nick Young's 19 points and McGee's 19 points and 11 rebounds. (Honorable Mention: Blatche's near triple-double).Best Story of the SeasonShaun LivingstonSeriously, watch the video of his injury and tell me he didn't look great on the floor for the Wizards. If I wanted to be corny, he would win the "Give That Man a Contract" award for the performance he put on over the last several games.It is impossible not to like Livingston and hope his career can continue somewhere in the NBA, even if not in Washington. (Honorable Mention: Anything not related to Gilbert Arenas).Sixth Man AwardGiven that the entire roster became a sixth man towards the end of the season, this award is difficult to give to just one guy. I would have to split it between Boykins and Young. Between the two of them there is an entire season's worth of production. Boykins was good early for the Wizards and Young was good late. (Honorable Mention: Al Thornton).Most Improved Player Andray BlatcheHands down, Blatche wins this award. He started the season showing his abilities and got the chance to finish the season cementing himself as a real NBA player on the verge of stardom. (Honorable Mention: JaVale McGee).Most Cleveland Browns jersey
Valuable PlayerMike MillerEven though he missed all of December and most of January with an injury, it is impossible to deny that Miller helped the Wizards whenever he was on the floor. He was up and down for most of the season, but what he lacked in consistency he made up for in effort every night. He finished second in the league at 48-percent from beyond the arc and did all the little things when he couldn't scored. He rebounded, he defended, he got his teammates involved. (Honorable Mention: Blatche).
2010年12月28日星期二
28 Dec 10 The Case for Amir Johnson: Toronto Raptors Offseason Decisions
Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesAfter resolving the Chris Bosh situation, Bryan Colangelo offseason work may have just begun.Leaving aside the numerous trade scenarios that must be under consideration, the Toronto Raptors have five free agents to make decisions about, and only Sonny Weems is under the team control.At the top of this second list of priorities appears to be the Raptors' athletic big man, Amir Johnson.Johnson became a favorite of many Raptors followers this season because of his hustle and ability to run the floor. A cast-off from theBaltimore Ravens jersey
Detroit Pistons, Joe Dumars finally gave up on the kid after four seasons, much to the delight of fans at the ACC.But Johnson run in Toronto has hardly been without its ups and downs. Like the team, he was a model of inconsistency, and after five seasons in the NBA, shouldn Johnson obvious potential have been realized to a greater extent by now?This past season Johnson averaged 6.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 0.5 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 3.1 fouls in 17.7 minutes. Johnson played in all 82 games and saw reasonably consistent minutes all season for the first time in his NBA career.But in all honesty, those aren even particularly impressive statistics for a decent rookie.And in a contract year, one would have expected this to be the best NBA season of Johnson young career. Arguably, this wasn the case.Ignoring the 11 NBA games Johnson played during his first two seasons, when he spent time in the D-league, this season Johnson had more fouls and fewer blocks than he did in Detroit. Plus, his free throw shooting plummeted to under 63 percent.And during those first two NBA seasons, Johnson looked like a better scorer from the field.But it wasn all downhill statistically for Johnson this past season. His rebounding bounced up to 4.8 per game from 3.7 the year before, and he shot 62 percent from the field.Plus Johnson sure is pretty to watch when he runs the floor. Johnson did add something the Raptors haven had in recent yearsa big man who can play like an athletic wing.And Johnson numbers didn move much when the Raptors played the better teams in the league.Against playoff-bound teams, Johnson averaged 5.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks.His numbers were only slightly worse against the league top eight teams with 5.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks.But against the big three in the East, Johnson looked over-matched, and it showed in his statistics. In 12 games against Cleveland, Boston, and Orlando, Johnson only managed 4.4 points, Buffalo Bills jersey
3.6 boards, and 0.4 blocks.Johnson's Best Games Portland, two games at 11.5 points and seven boardsNew York, four games at 11.5 points and 6.5 boardsGolden State, two games at 11.0 points and six boardsDetroit, four games at 10.8 points and four boards Atlanta, four games at 10.2 points and 7.5 boards. Johnson's Worst GamesUtah, two games at one point and three boardsHouston, two games at 1.5 points and 3.5 boardsSacramento, two games at two points and 1.5 boardsMinnesota, two games at two points and 5.5 boards Boston, four games at three points and 3.2 boardsSome might have noticed Johnson tendency to disappear at times in games in which the other team has effective big men.With Bosh late season injury, Johnson was afforded an opportunity to play more minutes and started four games. From a scoring perspective, he responded.Over the last six games of the season, Johnson averaged 15.8 points and 5.7 rebounds in 30.7 minutes. The only slight against his late season work was the three games with just two rebounds. But surpassing his career high in scoring twice in the last two games was impressive.However, late season success against teams out of the playoffs is not what a GM should be basing a new contract on.And there should be little doubt that Johnson was overpaid on his last deal. It was the $10 million contract from Joe Dumars that got Johnson shipped out of Detroit for virtually nothing.It has been suggested by some that Johnson is in line for a new contract for the mid-level exception. That would look like a mistake.There have been numerous unproven big men signed to deals like that in the past, and far too many of them resulted in salary cap hardship for the signing team. Carolina Panthers jersey
And there is a good argument that Johnson didn produce to the level of the contract that he was on this past season.Colangelo has stated that he intends to bring Johnson back to the Raptors for next season, and without much doubt, that would be a popular move with the fans.But Colangelo can afford to make the same mistake Dumars made three seasons ago and overpay for potential that may never be realized.Here hoping the young gun returns to Toronto anyway.
Detroit Pistons, Joe Dumars finally gave up on the kid after four seasons, much to the delight of fans at the ACC.But Johnson run in Toronto has hardly been without its ups and downs. Like the team, he was a model of inconsistency, and after five seasons in the NBA, shouldn Johnson obvious potential have been realized to a greater extent by now?This past season Johnson averaged 6.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 0.5 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 3.1 fouls in 17.7 minutes. Johnson played in all 82 games and saw reasonably consistent minutes all season for the first time in his NBA career.But in all honesty, those aren even particularly impressive statistics for a decent rookie.And in a contract year, one would have expected this to be the best NBA season of Johnson young career. Arguably, this wasn the case.Ignoring the 11 NBA games Johnson played during his first two seasons, when he spent time in the D-league, this season Johnson had more fouls and fewer blocks than he did in Detroit. Plus, his free throw shooting plummeted to under 63 percent.And during those first two NBA seasons, Johnson looked like a better scorer from the field.But it wasn all downhill statistically for Johnson this past season. His rebounding bounced up to 4.8 per game from 3.7 the year before, and he shot 62 percent from the field.Plus Johnson sure is pretty to watch when he runs the floor. Johnson did add something the Raptors haven had in recent yearsa big man who can play like an athletic wing.And Johnson numbers didn move much when the Raptors played the better teams in the league.Against playoff-bound teams, Johnson averaged 5.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks.His numbers were only slightly worse against the league top eight teams with 5.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks.But against the big three in the East, Johnson looked over-matched, and it showed in his statistics. In 12 games against Cleveland, Boston, and Orlando, Johnson only managed 4.4 points, Buffalo Bills jersey
3.6 boards, and 0.4 blocks.Johnson's Best Games Portland, two games at 11.5 points and seven boardsNew York, four games at 11.5 points and 6.5 boardsGolden State, two games at 11.0 points and six boardsDetroit, four games at 10.8 points and four boards Atlanta, four games at 10.2 points and 7.5 boards. Johnson's Worst GamesUtah, two games at one point and three boardsHouston, two games at 1.5 points and 3.5 boardsSacramento, two games at two points and 1.5 boardsMinnesota, two games at two points and 5.5 boards Boston, four games at three points and 3.2 boardsSome might have noticed Johnson tendency to disappear at times in games in which the other team has effective big men.With Bosh late season injury, Johnson was afforded an opportunity to play more minutes and started four games. From a scoring perspective, he responded.Over the last six games of the season, Johnson averaged 15.8 points and 5.7 rebounds in 30.7 minutes. The only slight against his late season work was the three games with just two rebounds. But surpassing his career high in scoring twice in the last two games was impressive.However, late season success against teams out of the playoffs is not what a GM should be basing a new contract on.And there should be little doubt that Johnson was overpaid on his last deal. It was the $10 million contract from Joe Dumars that got Johnson shipped out of Detroit for virtually nothing.It has been suggested by some that Johnson is in line for a new contract for the mid-level exception. That would look like a mistake.There have been numerous unproven big men signed to deals like that in the past, and far too many of them resulted in salary cap hardship for the signing team. Carolina Panthers jersey
And there is a good argument that Johnson didn produce to the level of the contract that he was on this past season.Colangelo has stated that he intends to bring Johnson back to the Raptors for next season, and without much doubt, that would be a popular move with the fans.But Colangelo can afford to make the same mistake Dumars made three seasons ago and overpay for potential that may never be realized.Here hoping the young gun returns to Toronto anyway.
2010年12月27日星期一
27 Dec 10 Stuck on Cloud No. 9: Utah Jazz Forced To Take a Shot in the Dark at NBA Draft
Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesSo after all these years, this is it?After all these years of holding out hope that a monumental bonehead move by Isiah Thomas would prove to be another franchise savior, this is it.No. 9.Not even a team with a rotting Tracy McGrady and a bunch of "who's that?" question marks could help out the Utah Jazz.This shouldn't come at much of a surprise, though.Utah General Manager/Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin O'Connor held this pick so close to his heart, one could have confused it for a newborn grandchild.The chip that could have helped bring a proven veteran on board over the past few years proved to be the ninth-best pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.For those who were watching the NBA draft lottery on Tuesday, you saw the face ofReebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
what looked to be a downtrodden, scowling old man that didn't get the ball to bounce his way.That's not a bingo, Mr. O'Connor.Now what?With the future of the franchise as shaky as the earth's crust lately, this is the ultimate sink-or-swim moment for the Jazz and, more importantly, their front office.The second-highest pick in the last 27 years has to be a hit.It just has to.After watching O'Connor and his cronies flunk more tests than Floyd Landis and Jose Canseco combined, the time is now. If not, something's got to give.Desperately needing size to compete with the top-flight teams in the league, there's no doubt the Jazz will look to add size and length at the No. 9 spot.Who will be there? Who will they covet?Your run-of-the-mill NBA insiders have singled out Georgetown big man Greg Monroe as a "perfect fit" for Jerry Sloan's offense. A 6'11" big player who can make passes as well as spot up and hit the 15-foot jumper.Monroe is no doubt skilled and could be a good piece on a good team, but if it's defense and shot-blocking ability Utah is looking for, it wouldn't matter if Monroe was the second-coming. A softer, less-athletic Lamar Odom with less rangethat's Monroe.There's Cole Aldrich out of Kansas, who most Jazz fans view as a potential Greg Ostertag 2.0 disaster. Aldrich really bears no similarity to Ostertag, aside from the body type and hairdo.Standing at 6'11" and sporting a 7'4" wingspan, O'Connor would undoubtedly be tempted to nab the former Jayhawk and try and morph him into a two-way impact player.Rounding out the rest of the possibilities are Baylor's Ekpe Udoh, North Carolina's Ed Davis, and Marshall's raw youngster Hassan Whiteside.The dish on Udoh is that his athletic ability could help him be a lively defender at the next level, and his offensive game could morph and develop into something impressive over time.Davis has always been a lock to be a top-10 pick, but, for the life of me, I couldn't see why. Watching Davis for two seasons, there wasn't much to Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
gawk over. He wasn't the best player on the floor for a horrible Tar Heel team in 2009, and one can only wonder if he just benefited from being a cog on the 2008 national champion UNC squad.As for Whiteside, he's the guy with "character issues," as they so often say these days leading up to professional drafts. Scouts have compared his potential to a more athletic Marcus Camby, with a deft ability on the defensive end.Basically, all the guy needs is a swift kick in the ass and a good coach.Utah, you have something along those lines, right?The Jazz would unquestionably drool at the off-chance of a DeMarcus Cousins or Wesley Johnson falling into their laps at No. 9.That won't be happening.If you're looking for a dark horse, look to Butler's gangly star Gordon Hayward. A versatile 6'9" small forward with range and athleticism, coupled with a tireless work ethic. Not to mention he's an Indiana kid. I wouldn't be surprised to see his name at the top of Sloan's favorite-player list of this draft.Gun to my head, I'd say the Jazz will force their own hand and take Monroe. While the pick could turn out to be a decent addition for the team for years to come, Utah needs to take a long look at these big men and ask themselves, "Who can guard Pau Gasol, or attempt to pester him?"Seems silly to single out one player, but at this rate, the Lakers are going nowhere but up, up, up, and Utah has done nothing to show it can handle LA's size or even guard the post and contest shots at the rim in regard to playing any teamregular Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
season or postseason.I see Aldrich and Whiteside as ultimate boom-or-bust shots, but at this point it's time for the experts and fans to step back and allow O'Connor, Greg Miller, and the Jazz brass to make their move and take a necessary step forward in exorcising the demons of past first-round disasters.They have no other choice.Who'll be donning the new Utah digs come opening night of the 2010 NBA season?The jury is still out.But you can count on one thingO'Connor's trigger finger will be tentative. And for good reason.
what looked to be a downtrodden, scowling old man that didn't get the ball to bounce his way.That's not a bingo, Mr. O'Connor.Now what?With the future of the franchise as shaky as the earth's crust lately, this is the ultimate sink-or-swim moment for the Jazz and, more importantly, their front office.The second-highest pick in the last 27 years has to be a hit.It just has to.After watching O'Connor and his cronies flunk more tests than Floyd Landis and Jose Canseco combined, the time is now. If not, something's got to give.Desperately needing size to compete with the top-flight teams in the league, there's no doubt the Jazz will look to add size and length at the No. 9 spot.Who will be there? Who will they covet?Your run-of-the-mill NBA insiders have singled out Georgetown big man Greg Monroe as a "perfect fit" for Jerry Sloan's offense. A 6'11" big player who can make passes as well as spot up and hit the 15-foot jumper.Monroe is no doubt skilled and could be a good piece on a good team, but if it's defense and shot-blocking ability Utah is looking for, it wouldn't matter if Monroe was the second-coming. A softer, less-athletic Lamar Odom with less rangethat's Monroe.There's Cole Aldrich out of Kansas, who most Jazz fans view as a potential Greg Ostertag 2.0 disaster. Aldrich really bears no similarity to Ostertag, aside from the body type and hairdo.Standing at 6'11" and sporting a 7'4" wingspan, O'Connor would undoubtedly be tempted to nab the former Jayhawk and try and morph him into a two-way impact player.Rounding out the rest of the possibilities are Baylor's Ekpe Udoh, North Carolina's Ed Davis, and Marshall's raw youngster Hassan Whiteside.The dish on Udoh is that his athletic ability could help him be a lively defender at the next level, and his offensive game could morph and develop into something impressive over time.Davis has always been a lock to be a top-10 pick, but, for the life of me, I couldn't see why. Watching Davis for two seasons, there wasn't much to Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
gawk over. He wasn't the best player on the floor for a horrible Tar Heel team in 2009, and one can only wonder if he just benefited from being a cog on the 2008 national champion UNC squad.As for Whiteside, he's the guy with "character issues," as they so often say these days leading up to professional drafts. Scouts have compared his potential to a more athletic Marcus Camby, with a deft ability on the defensive end.Basically, all the guy needs is a swift kick in the ass and a good coach.Utah, you have something along those lines, right?The Jazz would unquestionably drool at the off-chance of a DeMarcus Cousins or Wesley Johnson falling into their laps at No. 9.That won't be happening.If you're looking for a dark horse, look to Butler's gangly star Gordon Hayward. A versatile 6'9" small forward with range and athleticism, coupled with a tireless work ethic. Not to mention he's an Indiana kid. I wouldn't be surprised to see his name at the top of Sloan's favorite-player list of this draft.Gun to my head, I'd say the Jazz will force their own hand and take Monroe. While the pick could turn out to be a decent addition for the team for years to come, Utah needs to take a long look at these big men and ask themselves, "Who can guard Pau Gasol, or attempt to pester him?"Seems silly to single out one player, but at this rate, the Lakers are going nowhere but up, up, up, and Utah has done nothing to show it can handle LA's size or even guard the post and contest shots at the rim in regard to playing any teamregular Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
season or postseason.I see Aldrich and Whiteside as ultimate boom-or-bust shots, but at this point it's time for the experts and fans to step back and allow O'Connor, Greg Miller, and the Jazz brass to make their move and take a necessary step forward in exorcising the demons of past first-round disasters.They have no other choice.Who'll be donning the new Utah digs come opening night of the 2010 NBA season?The jury is still out.But you can count on one thingO'Connor's trigger finger will be tentative. And for good reason.
2010年12月26日星期日
26 Dec 10 NBA Draft: John Wall to Set Gilbert Arenas Free
Jeff Gentner/Getty ImagesWith a brilliant stroke of luck, the Washington Wizards came behind from a 10% chance of landing the top pick in the 2010 draft to grabbing the top spot in the upcoming draft's lottery. With the first pick, they are set to take Kentucky freshman PG John Wall.No surprises Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
here.For the Wiz, the pick comes as a breath of fresh air after a tumultuous season in which superstar Gilbert Arenas was arrested on gun charges. To make things worse, the team decided to blow it up and trade away veterans Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, and Brendan Haywood.Selecting John Wall is going to help out the Wiz tremendously, especially if they opt to keep Arenas. With Wall in the lineup, Arenas can move to the shooting guard position. This move will give Arenas a license to shoot at will.Arenas will be able to readjust to his position as one of Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
the NBA's elite scorers and lead a young Wizard team as Wall matures into one of the NBA's best point guards.For the Wizards and Gilbert Arenas, John Wall could just be the change they need in Washington.This article is also featured onMockDraftHQ.com Draft Blog
here.For the Wiz, the pick comes as a breath of fresh air after a tumultuous season in which superstar Gilbert Arenas was arrested on gun charges. To make things worse, the team decided to blow it up and trade away veterans Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, and Brendan Haywood.Selecting John Wall is going to help out the Wiz tremendously, especially if they opt to keep Arenas. With Wall in the lineup, Arenas can move to the shooting guard position. This move will give Arenas a license to shoot at will.Arenas will be able to readjust to his position as one of Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
the NBA's elite scorers and lead a young Wizard team as Wall matures into one of the NBA's best point guards.For the Wizards and Gilbert Arenas, John Wall could just be the change they need in Washington.This article is also featured onMockDraftHQ.com Draft Blog
2010年12月25日星期六
25 Dec 10 Derrick Rose: Destined To Be Best Player in NBA
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesForget about all the MVP talk surrounding Derrick Rose; in two or three years,he willbe the best player in the NBA. This may sound crazy, but it is just a matter of time. Kobe is getting old, and LeBron squandered his top dog status by fleeing to Miami.Thunder fans areNew York Jets jersey
probably pulling their hair out right now, but Kevin Durant is less dimensional and athletic than Derrick Rose. In fact, Durant will be the second best player on the Thunder in a few years. Russell Westbrook is the only rising star who poses a legitimate threat to Rose becoming the best player in the NBA, and he is lagging way behind Rose emerging perimeter game.Derrick Rose contributions cannot be measured by stats alone, however impressive they may be. Derrick Rose is a field general who can lead the Bulls to a 130-128 overtime victory one night, and allow the Bulls to squeak by in a low scoring gamethe next. The only real knock on Rose is his lack of defense; however, if his perimeter shooting continues to improve, he could go for 35 points per game. That's right, Derrick Rose could flirt with statistics only Kobe and Michael have achieved recently.Rose has the potential to play defense as well as anybody. Up until this point, he has never needed to. On the defensive end, Derrick sometimes looks like he is out of position, but when he does get burned, he tends to burn several defenders on the next play. Rose just needs to recognize that he cannot take plays off on defense if he wants to be recognized as the NBA top player.Rose potential was never more visible than in a loss to the Lakers at the Staples Center. After a game in which Rose was unstoppable, an upset Rose was taken aside by Kobe Bryant. Bryant whispered something into Derrick Rose ear, and one can only speculate that he was saying, Oakland Raiders jersey
Derrick, don worry. In two years, this is your league.Of course, it's stillKobe, andhe probably added, But for now it still my league.Even though Durant has been anointed the successor to Kobe and LeBron, there is no set line of succession to determine who the NBA best player is. Kevin Durant lacks the explosiveness that will be needed more and more in the coming years of the NBA. Derrick Rose isjust as explosive as LeBron James, just in a smaller package. While James can lay out defenders on the way to the rim thanks to a six foot eight frame, Derrick Rose can maneuver between three players mid-air while taking the ball to the basket.Durant relies too much on the line. His most explosive move is hooking his elbow under a defender outstretched arm and going up with the ball to draw a foul even though he has created no shot. That is the key difference between Durant and Rose;Durant cannot create shots likeRose. His deadly aim creates shots thanks to the dynamic qualities of Westbrook, but Rose currently averages higher field goal percentages from the floor, and the three point line,than Durant this year. If Durant wants any hope of being as good as Rose, he will need to get strong like Rose. Once Rose starts getting superstar calls, his lack of talent at drawing fouls will be marginalized. Rose is so athletic that he completes drives that he is fouled on, while making it look like he has not been touched.Based on the improvement Derrick Rose has shown in his game this year, it is safe to assume he is one of the hardest working players in the NBA. If he continues to uphold that work ethic, he will become the best player in the league. Derrick Rose is developing a dependable three, and opponents should be wary of the day he becomes deadly from beyond the arc. Once this happens, we will no longer judge him based on his peers, but instead by how many rings he has won.Of course, Rose best characteristic has not even been mentioned yet. He is a born winner. He won Philadelphia Eagles jersey
two state championships in high school,and he was robbed of the NCAA Championship in his lone collegiate year by a coaching blunder that allowed Kansas to shoot a three, when they should have simply been fouled. In two NBA seasons, Rose has piloted a mediocre Bulls teams to the playoffs. Now they are good, and if Omer Asik can become a reliable member of the rotation in crunch time, the Bulls could win the NBA Finals this year. Crazier things have happened.
probably pulling their hair out right now, but Kevin Durant is less dimensional and athletic than Derrick Rose. In fact, Durant will be the second best player on the Thunder in a few years. Russell Westbrook is the only rising star who poses a legitimate threat to Rose becoming the best player in the NBA, and he is lagging way behind Rose emerging perimeter game.Derrick Rose contributions cannot be measured by stats alone, however impressive they may be. Derrick Rose is a field general who can lead the Bulls to a 130-128 overtime victory one night, and allow the Bulls to squeak by in a low scoring gamethe next. The only real knock on Rose is his lack of defense; however, if his perimeter shooting continues to improve, he could go for 35 points per game. That's right, Derrick Rose could flirt with statistics only Kobe and Michael have achieved recently.Rose has the potential to play defense as well as anybody. Up until this point, he has never needed to. On the defensive end, Derrick sometimes looks like he is out of position, but when he does get burned, he tends to burn several defenders on the next play. Rose just needs to recognize that he cannot take plays off on defense if he wants to be recognized as the NBA top player.Rose potential was never more visible than in a loss to the Lakers at the Staples Center. After a game in which Rose was unstoppable, an upset Rose was taken aside by Kobe Bryant. Bryant whispered something into Derrick Rose ear, and one can only speculate that he was saying, Oakland Raiders jersey
Derrick, don worry. In two years, this is your league.Of course, it's stillKobe, andhe probably added, But for now it still my league.Even though Durant has been anointed the successor to Kobe and LeBron, there is no set line of succession to determine who the NBA best player is. Kevin Durant lacks the explosiveness that will be needed more and more in the coming years of the NBA. Derrick Rose isjust as explosive as LeBron James, just in a smaller package. While James can lay out defenders on the way to the rim thanks to a six foot eight frame, Derrick Rose can maneuver between three players mid-air while taking the ball to the basket.Durant relies too much on the line. His most explosive move is hooking his elbow under a defender outstretched arm and going up with the ball to draw a foul even though he has created no shot. That is the key difference between Durant and Rose;Durant cannot create shots likeRose. His deadly aim creates shots thanks to the dynamic qualities of Westbrook, but Rose currently averages higher field goal percentages from the floor, and the three point line,than Durant this year. If Durant wants any hope of being as good as Rose, he will need to get strong like Rose. Once Rose starts getting superstar calls, his lack of talent at drawing fouls will be marginalized. Rose is so athletic that he completes drives that he is fouled on, while making it look like he has not been touched.Based on the improvement Derrick Rose has shown in his game this year, it is safe to assume he is one of the hardest working players in the NBA. If he continues to uphold that work ethic, he will become the best player in the league. Derrick Rose is developing a dependable three, and opponents should be wary of the day he becomes deadly from beyond the arc. Once this happens, we will no longer judge him based on his peers, but instead by how many rings he has won.Of course, Rose best characteristic has not even been mentioned yet. He is a born winner. He won Philadelphia Eagles jersey
two state championships in high school,and he was robbed of the NCAA Championship in his lone collegiate year by a coaching blunder that allowed Kansas to shoot a three, when they should have simply been fouled. In two NBA seasons, Rose has piloted a mediocre Bulls teams to the playoffs. Now they are good, and if Omer Asik can become a reliable member of the rotation in crunch time, the Bulls could win the NBA Finals this year. Crazier things have happened.
订阅：
博文 (Atom)