khandor’s sports blog

Cut off at every turn, union has one choice: Take the deal

But this isn’t about fair. This is about the NBA putting its house back in order — naked, real-world realpolitik. If you understand nothing else about these negotitations, understand this: this isn’t just about money, at least not totally; this is about re-establishing who’s in charge.

For three years, starting in 2008, NBA teams twisted themselves into pretzels to clear cap space for the free-agent class of 2010. No single group of players ever wielded more brute force than that one, headlined by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Amar’e Stoudemire. On the mere hope of getting James, the Knicks basically went into receivership for 36 months. The Bulls similarly cleared the decks; having lucked into Derrick Rose via the 2007 Draft, Chicago dumped the likes of John Salmons and Kirk Hinrich for almost nothing while it waited. Miami became a JUCO team for two seasons, while Riles and Andy Elisburg — the smartest cap guy in the league — bided their time and worked their spreadsheets.

And James lorded it over them, making them come to him in Ohio those first two weeks in July last year, then making the whole league watch his Decision on the Four-Letter Network, reality TV writ large, making all these billionaires and multi-millionaires nothing more than pawns, waiting for LeBron Trump to tell them who was fired and who was hired. Dan Gilbert went Comic Sans Crazy as his franchise lost $100 million in worth in the blink of an eye, and it scared the other owners out of their minds. It ticked them off, too.

Carmelo Anthony — also, like James, Wade and Bosh a member of the Draft class of 2003 — would wield his cudgel a year later, holding the Nuggets hostage for more than six months before he got traded to the team he wanted to be traded to all along, the Knicks (who, coincidentally, signed Stoudemire after missing out on Bosh, Wade and James). And the owners in small markets, already mad at the Commish for not having more “robust” (the league’s favorite word on this topic) revenue sharing, already feeling like they were falling further behind, got their backs up. The Jazz didn’t even wait for Deron Williams to humiliate them, sending him on his way to the Nets a year before they had to.

But the Players’ Spring has ended, cracked down with brute force, and now their options are bad or worse, and bad is on the 3:30 train out of town.

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It will certainly be interesting to see if the NBAPA is willing to die on principle … and, what eventually comes about if it, indeed, chooses to go this route.

The RESPECT this corner has for Mike Krzyzewski just went up immeasurably.

Dispelling two myths on eve of US-Argentina semifinal

“The thing that our American fans don’t understand is that we’ve learned from other international coaches, from the way they conceive their systems, from individual players. We’ve always looked at it from an American basketball culture that we’re always giving knowledge to the world. And that has changed. They’re giving knowledge, and we’re sharing knowledge of the game. To me, that’s the one of best things about this whole experience, and I think the world sees that in us. They know we’re not kidding when we say that, and that’s something we have to take forward.

“Basketball is played at a high level all over the world; that’s why a third of the NBA is international. I mean, why don’t we come to the full realization that there are a lot of really good players and a lot of good systems all over the world?”

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In this instance, the stark reality is exactly as Coach K. has outlined in this article … and every hoops aficionado around the world today needs to understand fully the ramifications of his words:

1. Just because the highest paid basketball coaches in the world currently reside and are employed in the USA, either in the NBA or the NCAA … Does NOT mean that there is some sort of monopoly on coaching excellence which exists today in America.

2. Just because the VERY BEST basketball players in the world today reside and ply their trade in the USA does not mean that OUTSTANDING players cannot be trained/developed in other countries around the world … using a system which is different to the one in place today in America … or that the US model is somehow shattered or deficient.

Basketball is an international game today … without room for parochial notions of what constitutes an outstanding coach or player AND where such individuals are IN FACT concentrated around the world.

Kudos to a good coach and an examplary LEADER who emphasizes straight talk, at all times.

Whaddayouthink: the NBA’s best point guard?

Here’s what I wrote a month-and-half ago, on this topic …

The Best Point Guards in the NBA (Dec 19 2007)

and, here’s exactly where I’m at today … with a slightly different slant on the question asked (above) by Kelly Dwyer:

Conventional Be Damned 

If you could put any 4 other players you wanted to with the Point Guard (PG) of your choice, right now, in the NBA, completely healthy, to play and win only 1 game, on which your own life depended … this is how I would rank the following list of individuals playing in the league today:

1. Jason Kidd
2. Steve Nash
3. Chauncey Billups
4. Tony Parker
5. Baron Davis
6. Deron Williams
7. Chris Paul
8. Brandon Roy (climbing with a bullet)
9. Jose Calderon
10. Devin Harris

but … if I am putting together my own “5-man team” of players … regardless of which positions they play, at the moment, in the NBA … to take on all-comers, this is who I would choose to use at the PG spot on my current-day “Dream Team”:

PG – Lebron James
OG – Dwyane Wade
SF – Kobe Bryant
PF – Kevin Garnett
C – Tim Duncan

and, then, you could take any of those 10 “other” players you wanted to and it wouldn’t matter one bit to me … my “Group of 5″ is going to kick your team’s a$$, in an NBA game, played under NBA rules.

That’s my answer to Kelly Dwyer’s question.

In the midst of their most important stretch of games this season, this week’s back-to-back encounters with the Wizards (23-19, Souteast Division, 2nd, #5) loom large on the horizon for Toronto (24-19, Atlantic Division, 2nd, #4), and the eventual Playoff Seeds in the Eastern Conference, re: the #4 and the #5 positions.

A sweep by either team puts it in the driver’s seat, as far as securing the Home Court Advantage, down-the-road, should these two adversaries meet one another in the 1st Round of the Playoffs; while a split, sets the tone early for what shapes up as a season-long tug-0-war between these two teams for the #4 spot in the Conference Standings.

On the personnel front, both teams match-up very well with one another:

Was vs Tor

STARTERS:
1. Calderon vs Daniels
2. Parker vs Stevenson
3. Moon vs Butler
4. Bosh vs Jamison
5. Bargnani vs Heywood

KEY SUBS:
6. Dixon vs Mason, Jr.
7. Delfino vs Young
8. Humphries vs Blatche
9. Kapono vs Songaila
10. Nesterovic vs Pecherov

Coach:
Mitchell vs Jordan

If Toronto can hold its own on the glass, turn the ball over less than Washington, get to the FT Line more than the Wizards and score more points from Behind The Arc, the Raptors are poised to sweep these two games. If, however, the Wizards can dominate the glass, turn Toronto over, stop Bosh from getting to the FT Line for double-digit attempts, and hold their own in terms of 3-pointers made, then the Wizards are going to (at least) split these two games. And, considering that both teams are playing, right now, without a key player in their usual rotation – i.e. TJ Ford (a good player) for Toronto and Gilbert Arenas (an NBA All-Star) for Washington – this should bode well for the Wizards come playoff time. 

Winners of 47 games last year and an inaugural Atlantic Division title, the Toronto Raptors have now reached a critical point in the 2007-2008 NBA Regular Season.

Currently, in 2^nd place in the Atlantic, behind the juggernaut Boston Celtics (31-6), Toronto (21-18 ) is 5^th (overall) in the Eastern Conference and, if the Playoffs were to start today, slated for a 1^st Round match-up with the Washington Wizards (20-17, 4^th place, with Home-court).

Since New Year’s Eve, and prior to last night’s home-court victory against the Kings (15-22), the Raptors had been playing .500 basketball (3-3), losing to the Pistons (29-10, home and away) and the Cavaliers (20-18, home); while winning versus the 76ers (15-24, home), Knicks (12-26, away), and Trail Blazers (23-15, home, Double OT).

But, with this schedule, for the next 6 weeks:

Week 1
Jan 17 vs Sacramento/15-21
Jan 18 vs Atlanta/17-18 
Jan 19 at Philadelphia/15-24 (back-to-back)
Jan 23 at Boston/31-6
Week 2
Jan 25 vs Milwaukee/16-23
Jan 29 at Washington/20-17
Jan 30 vs Washington/20-17 (back-to-back)
Week 3
Feb 1 vs LA Lakers/26-11
Feb 4 at Miami/8-29
Feb 8 vs LA Clippers/11-23
Week 4
Feb 10 at Minnesota/5-32
Feb 11 vs San Antonio/25-11 (back-to-back)
Feb 13 vs New Jersey/18-20
Week 5
ALL-STAR BREAK
Feb 20 vs Orlando/24-17
Feb 22 at New York/12-26
Week 6
Feb 24 vs New York/12-26
Feb 25 at Indiana/18-22 (back-to-back)
Feb 27 vs Minnesota/5-32
Feb 29 vs Indiana/18-22

- Only 6 of 19 games against teams with .500+ W-L records
- Only 2 of these 6 games on the road

Toronto now has the chance to separate itself from the other “quasi-contenders” in the Eastern Conference, and solidify its position as a top team (#3 or 4), in this half of the NBA, entering the final third of the Regular Season and driving for Home-court Advantage in the Playoffs.

Overall, the Raptors two most recent games (versus Sacramento and Detroit) are indicative of the way Toronto has performed this season.

In a TYPE 1 GAME … against a lesser team, like Sacramento (15-22)

Toronto dominated several different phases of the game (i.e. FGM, FG%, FTM, FT%, TOT REB, AST, TO and STL).

SAC/TOR Boxscore (Wed Jan 16/08 )

In a TYPE 2 GAME … against a quality team, like Detroit (29-10)

Although Toronto did a solid job on the boards (TOT REB: TOR/47, DET/41) the Raptors were dominated by the Pistons in almost every other phase of the game (i.e FGM, FG%, 3FGM, 3FG%, FTM, AST, TO, STL, BS and PF).

TOR/DET Boxscore (Tue Jan 15/08 )

If the Raptors are going to re-establish themselves this season, as a top team in the East … it will happen during this stretch of 19 games, in conjunction with their commitment to: (i) TEAM REBOUNDING (#23), (ii) SHOOTING HIGH PERCENTAGE SHOTS (#14), (iii) MINIMIZING TURNOVERS (#2), and (iv) GETTING TO THE FREE THROW LINE (#30).

Should the Raptors emerge with a 13-6 (or better) W-L record from these games, they will once again find themselves ensconced in the Top 4 of the Eastern Conference Standings, with a 34-24 W-L record (.586) and be well-equipped to gain home-court advantage for the 1^st Round of the Playoffs (at least), with the opportunity to amass a Wins Total (e.g. 48, should they finish 14-10, .583) which exceeds last year’s final number (47).

ANSWER: The number of consecutive missed Field Goal Attempts needed for the LA Lakers to squander a 16 point lead during the final 4 minutes of the game to lose to the Cavaliers, 90-94 … and make a mockery of a certain blogger’s bold-faced prediction.

QUESTION: What is *&^%$#@! … 0 for 8?

The passion and day-to-day attitude  of this ↓ young man is outstanding …

but there’s a good reason his teams have yet to reach the NBA Finals.

In the final 2 minutes of the Celtics’ home defeat last night, versus the Detroit Pistons … Kevin Garnett, the early leader in this year’s race for the league MVP Award, touched the ball on several different occasions - with Boston down by 6 points or less - and never ever looked to score himself.

Despite his 26 points (9-15 FG’s, 8-10 FT’s) and 12 rebounds, during 39:56 of playing time … the incomparable Big Ticket, in general, does not want to shoot the ball himself (from the floor) with the game on the line.

Last night, Boston’s final 6 shot attempts were … 

Full-Play-by-Play 

02:06 Kendrick Perkins’ missed 2 (blocked by Rasheed Wallace)
01:37 Paul Pierce’s missed 2 (defended by Rasheed Wallace)
01:05 Eddie House’s missed 3
01:01 Eddie House’s made 3
00:18 Ray Allen’s made 3, and
00:02 Paul Pierce’s missed 2

When your team’s best player … its HEART & SOUL … leading scorer, rebounder, and interior defender, is also someone who doesn’t trust himself to make Big Shot after Big Shot, coming down-the-stretch of a close playoff (type) game … then you’re going to have a problem advancing to the NBA Finals.

Thus far, when the Celtics have really been challenged this year … it’s only been Ray Allen who has stepped up and hit a game Changing/Winning shot at Toronto … not a good sign for KG and his legion of supporters.

10. Points Per Game Differential: LAL = +5.41 OVER CLE = -4.69
9. Rebounds Per Game Differential: LAL = +2.79 OVER CLE = +0.57 
8. Composite FG% Differential: LAL = 0.467 OVER CLE = 0.398
7. LAL bench scoring OVER bench scoring from CLE 
6. LAL rested OVER back-to-back for CLE
5. Fisher/Farmar OVER Gibson & Co.
3. Lamar Odom OVER any Cav … not named LBJ
3. Phil Jackson OVER Mike Brown
2. Kobe OVER Lebron
1. Purple OVER Burgundy

Kenny (the “Jet”) Smith ranks his Top 10 PG’s in the NBA today, Floor Leaders in High Demand, and nowhere does he mention the words “Defense” & “Rebounding”.

There are 3 broad phases to a basketball game:

Offense, Defense and Rebounding.

Neglect any two of these, at the PG position, and what you’re left with is a very talented player, who is incapable of leading his team (just yet) to an NBA championship. 

TOP 5 PG’s in the NBA 

#1 Chauncey Billups … has the ability to: i) Defend the opponent’s PG, in a 1-on-1 defensive match-up, regardless of his check’s size, strength or quickness level; ii) Defend multiple positions on the floor, in defensive “switches” or “rotations”; iii) take the ball with the Dribble where it needs to go, in order to run effective half-court and transition offenses; iv) Shoot & Make a solid percentage on perimeter jumpshots, including 3-pt shots; v) penetrate with the dribble and Finish at the rim; vi) Drive & Dish to open teammates; vii) make a high percentage of his Free Throws; viii) Rebound his position; ix) maintain his “poise” during times of stress; and, x) “control & lead” a group of 12 men. Been there and done that.

#2 Jason Kidd … a poor % perimeter jumpshooter; a former #1.

#3 Steve Nash … struggles with his “individual” Defense and Rebounding.

#4 Tony Parker … needs to improve his perimeter jumpshot; struggles to maintain his poise at stressful times.

#5 Deron Williams … the next Great, young, PG. 

Honorable Mention (in order): Baron Davis, Chris Paul and Jose Calderon.  

UPDATE:
re: #1 … see this, then ↓