Just two years ago, the New Orleans Hornets were one game away from advancing to the Western Conference Finals. Led by spectacular G Chris Paul and F David West, the Hornets won the Southwest Division with a 56-26 record and a #2 seed in the Western Conference. They easily dispatched the Dallas Mavericks in the first round, and almost beat the defending champion San Antonio Spurs before succumbing to them in seven games.
That now seems a like a real distant memory, as it now has been reported that Paul wants a trade, particularly to the New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, or the Mavericks. Paul has seen a lot of teams around the NBA get better, while the Hornets have failed to make any significant moves to keep up. F Lebron James' decision to join G Dwyane Wade and F Chris Bosh in Miami has headlined the summer of free agency. Paul is looking to make a move similar to the one James made.
Paul still has two years remaining on his deal. His desire to join the Knicks deals with the fact that they acquired F Amare Stoudemire via free agency and may acquire F Carmelo Anthony during next year's free agency period. Paul is looking to form another "Big Three" that can compete with the one in Miami, as well as compete for a championship.
This shouldn't be news to anyone because Paul announced at Anthony's wedding that himself, Anthony and Stoudemire will be the next "Big Three" in the NBA. Once he announced that, his days in New Orleans were automatically numbered. Unlike James, Paul isn't in control of his fate. The Hornets don't have to trade him, and it's hard to imagine a scenario where they do. Paul is among the top 3 point guards in the NBA, and one of the few players in the league who's very valuable to his team's success.
If Paul were to be traded to the Knicks, it would bring the Knicks back to the success they saw during the 1990s, when they were regulars in the playoffs. However, if Paul were to leave New Orleans, they would probably hate him the same way Cleveland hates James. Paul actually wouldn't be seen as a dark cloud in New Orleans, since their attention is to the Saints and how they'll follow up their championship. The only thing the city of Cleveland had was James, which is why he is hated.
The direction the NBA is headed in right now is not good. All of a sudden, there are stars thinking about joining other major stars to win championships at such a young age. When the Boston Celtics traded for G Ray Allen and F Kevin Garnett, both of those guys, along with F Paul Pierce, were veterans who have experienced failure many times. James is only 25 years old, and Paul is only 25 years old as well. He should be thinking about giving the Hornets a chance to surround themselves with pieces to contend for a championship. However, that may not be the case and the Hornets wouldn't be so bright if they get rid of Paul.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Ravens Success Dependent On Reed
If the Baltimore Ravens expect to get to the Dallas on February 6, 2011, they'll most likely have to do it without the services of S Ed Reed, their playmaker and perhaps their best defensive player. Reed is recovering from offseason hip surgery, and he has stated that he is nowhere close to being ready to start the season. Reed is expected to be placed on the physically unable to perform list, and if he is still on that list when the regular season starts, he has to miss the first six games. Reed told reporters he won't rush coming back, choosing to be 100% healthy.
LB Ray Lewis and WR Anquan Boldin have both talked about getting to the Super Bowl, and many analysts agree with the notion that they will be Super Bowl contenders. That is doomed is Reed isn't playing the entire season healthy. Lewis simply isn't enough to get the job done defensively. Reed is the defensive player who does the most, catching interceptions and always looking to make a play once the ball is in his hands. The Ravens have been known for their stout defense since winning Super Bowl XXXV back in 2001.
The Ravens have offensive weapons with Boldin, QB Joe Flacco, and RB Ray Rice. However, Flacco is still learning the ropes of the position at the NFL level. Also, Boldin is now on a team who likes to run the ball more than throw. In other words, this team has more question marks on offense than most teams. This is the primary reason why their defense needs to be reliable. With Reed out, everyone will have to step up their production. The play from the corners the past couple of seasons haven't been so stellar, which is why Reed's speed from the safety position is very important.
The Ravens can still get this done without Reed. However, I cannot foresee that happening because of Reed's impact on that defensive unit. Reed has to get healthy before the regular season starts. If not, the Ravens will be in trouble. In their first six games, they have to see teams like the New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Cincinnati Bengals, who all made the playoffs last season. That is in addition to playing division rivals Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers. A promising start to the season can easily turn into a 2-4 start, which will leave the Ravens in a bunch of trouble.
LB Ray Lewis and WR Anquan Boldin have both talked about getting to the Super Bowl, and many analysts agree with the notion that they will be Super Bowl contenders. That is doomed is Reed isn't playing the entire season healthy. Lewis simply isn't enough to get the job done defensively. Reed is the defensive player who does the most, catching interceptions and always looking to make a play once the ball is in his hands. The Ravens have been known for their stout defense since winning Super Bowl XXXV back in 2001.
The Ravens have offensive weapons with Boldin, QB Joe Flacco, and RB Ray Rice. However, Flacco is still learning the ropes of the position at the NFL level. Also, Boldin is now on a team who likes to run the ball more than throw. In other words, this team has more question marks on offense than most teams. This is the primary reason why their defense needs to be reliable. With Reed out, everyone will have to step up their production. The play from the corners the past couple of seasons haven't been so stellar, which is why Reed's speed from the safety position is very important.
The Ravens can still get this done without Reed. However, I cannot foresee that happening because of Reed's impact on that defensive unit. Reed has to get healthy before the regular season starts. If not, the Ravens will be in trouble. In their first six games, they have to see teams like the New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Cincinnati Bengals, who all made the playoffs last season. That is in addition to playing division rivals Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers. A promising start to the season can easily turn into a 2-4 start, which will leave the Ravens in a bunch of trouble.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Heat Sign Ilgauskas, Rockets Sign Miller
The Miami Heat have continued on their expedition to fill their roster, signing C Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Ilgauskas has been the fourth center this week to sign with the Heat. C Jamaal Magloire, C Joel Anthony, and rookie C Dexter Pittman all signed deals with the Heat earlier in the week. Ilgauskas spent the past 12 seasons of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers. After superstar F Lebron James bolted the Cavaliers for the Heat, the unsigned Ilgauskas saw it as a logical fit to join James in Miami.
The Houston Rockets also finalized a deal with C Brad Miller. The deal is reportedly worth $15 million over three years. Miller had numerous teams who were interested in his services. However, he was lured by the fact the Rockets have his former coach Rick Adelman and his former teammate G Kevin Martin on the team. That was enough to entice Miller to choose the Rockets. Miller spent the past season and a half with the Chicago Bulls, which was his second stint with the team after spending two seasons with them from 2000-2002.
The Rockets have acquired a great veteran center who will fit in well because of his knowledge of Adelman's style of play. The Rockets played decent basketball this past season, despite losing C Yao Ming for the season, having an unhealthy G Tracy McGrady, and losing F Ron Artest to free agency. They finished the season with a winning record, and with Ming coming back healthy, along with the addition of Miller, this Rockets team could cause problems in the Western Conference. This all depends on if Ming can stay healthy, something he has not been able to do in the past couple of seasons.
I'm not sure the Heat acquisition of Ilgauskas does anything for that team. Their acquisitions of Pittman, Anthony and Magloire doesn't do much either. This team will be similar to what James and Wade had last year. They both were the superstars on their respective teams with not much help. This time around, however, they have joined forces, along with F Chris Bosh, which definitely significantly increases their chances of winning the championship. That trio is all the Heat needs and they know they can fill the roster with a bunch of D-League players and still get the job done.
Ilgauskas will have no impact on that team, as he hasn't had any impact on the Cavaliers in the past couple of seasons. Magloire hasn't been that good in his NBA career, and Anthony is a young center with limited offensive moves. Wade, James, and Bosh will combine for about three-quarters of the team's total offensive output next season, which is why the other players aren't needed. They are merely taking up space on the team to fill out the roster.
The Houston Rockets also finalized a deal with C Brad Miller. The deal is reportedly worth $15 million over three years. Miller had numerous teams who were interested in his services. However, he was lured by the fact the Rockets have his former coach Rick Adelman and his former teammate G Kevin Martin on the team. That was enough to entice Miller to choose the Rockets. Miller spent the past season and a half with the Chicago Bulls, which was his second stint with the team after spending two seasons with them from 2000-2002.
The Rockets have acquired a great veteran center who will fit in well because of his knowledge of Adelman's style of play. The Rockets played decent basketball this past season, despite losing C Yao Ming for the season, having an unhealthy G Tracy McGrady, and losing F Ron Artest to free agency. They finished the season with a winning record, and with Ming coming back healthy, along with the addition of Miller, this Rockets team could cause problems in the Western Conference. This all depends on if Ming can stay healthy, something he has not been able to do in the past couple of seasons.
I'm not sure the Heat acquisition of Ilgauskas does anything for that team. Their acquisitions of Pittman, Anthony and Magloire doesn't do much either. This team will be similar to what James and Wade had last year. They both were the superstars on their respective teams with not much help. This time around, however, they have joined forces, along with F Chris Bosh, which definitely significantly increases their chances of winning the championship. That trio is all the Heat needs and they know they can fill the roster with a bunch of D-League players and still get the job done.
Ilgauskas will have no impact on that team, as he hasn't had any impact on the Cavaliers in the past couple of seasons. Magloire hasn't been that good in his NBA career, and Anthony is a young center with limited offensive moves. Wade, James, and Bosh will combine for about three-quarters of the team's total offensive output next season, which is why the other players aren't needed. They are merely taking up space on the team to fill out the roster.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Steinbrenner Greatest Owner In Sports
George Steinbrenner passed away on Tuesday, nine days following his 80th birthday. He died of a massive heart attack on that Tuesday morning, and was pronounced dead shortly after. Steinbrenner was the owner of the New York Yankees, the greatest franchise in North American sports. Steinbrenner has been in declining health recently, which is the reason he turned over full control to his sons Hank and Hal.
Steinbrenner purchased the Yankees with a group of investors from CBS in 1973. At that time, the Yankees were long gone from their glory days of the 1950s and early 1960s. They weren't a good franchise at that time, with the Baltimore Orioles and the Oakland Athletics being the dominant franchise in the American League. That soon changed once Steinbrenner took control. He didn't waste time turning the Yankees into contenders.
He signed Catfish Hunter and Reggie Jackson away from the Athletics to huge contracts, and in 1976, the Yankees won the pennant but lost the World Series. However, they went on to win the next two World Series championships, and made another appearance in 1981. The Yankees had gotten their winning ways back, but after 1981, that would change.
Hunter retired in 1979, and Jackson left the Yankees after that 1981 season. The Yankees saw the dark days again, with the historic Yankee Stadium being half empty on many nights. Their lone bright spot, Don Mattingly, started his career in 1982. He retired after the 1995 season, in which the Yankees made the postseason for the first time since that 1981 World Series appearance. Steinbrenner was also banned for life from baseball in 1990 for paying someone $40,000 to find "dirt" on Dave Winfield, who had a tumultuous nine seasons with the Yankees.
When Steinbrenner came back in 1993, the Yankees showed promise because Steinbrenner let the brain trust do their work. The Yankees contended in 1993, and were dominating baseball in 1994 before the baseball strike. After being eliminated in the divisional round in 1995 to the Seattle Mariners, the Yankees went on to win four World Series championships in the next five seasons. The Yankees also got another championship last season, giving Steinbrenner seven in his years as the Yankee owner.
Steinbrenner was not afraid to outspend the competition, which forced other teams to pay their great players. Steinbrenner should be thanked by players for having high salaries today. Before the 2009 season, the Yankees signed P A.J. Burnett, P C.C. Sabathia, and 1B Mark Teixeira to over $400 million in contracts. Steinbrenner was all about winning, and bolstered the team's value as well. The Yankees are now worth over a billion dollars, which is a far cry from the $10 million him and his investors spent on the team over 35 years ago. He will be missed, not only by New York fans, but by everyone in the business. It's hard to tell whether his absence will impact baseball now, but if he wasn't involved in baseball, it wouldn't be the sport that it is today.
Steinbrenner purchased the Yankees with a group of investors from CBS in 1973. At that time, the Yankees were long gone from their glory days of the 1950s and early 1960s. They weren't a good franchise at that time, with the Baltimore Orioles and the Oakland Athletics being the dominant franchise in the American League. That soon changed once Steinbrenner took control. He didn't waste time turning the Yankees into contenders.
He signed Catfish Hunter and Reggie Jackson away from the Athletics to huge contracts, and in 1976, the Yankees won the pennant but lost the World Series. However, they went on to win the next two World Series championships, and made another appearance in 1981. The Yankees had gotten their winning ways back, but after 1981, that would change.
Hunter retired in 1979, and Jackson left the Yankees after that 1981 season. The Yankees saw the dark days again, with the historic Yankee Stadium being half empty on many nights. Their lone bright spot, Don Mattingly, started his career in 1982. He retired after the 1995 season, in which the Yankees made the postseason for the first time since that 1981 World Series appearance. Steinbrenner was also banned for life from baseball in 1990 for paying someone $40,000 to find "dirt" on Dave Winfield, who had a tumultuous nine seasons with the Yankees.
When Steinbrenner came back in 1993, the Yankees showed promise because Steinbrenner let the brain trust do their work. The Yankees contended in 1993, and were dominating baseball in 1994 before the baseball strike. After being eliminated in the divisional round in 1995 to the Seattle Mariners, the Yankees went on to win four World Series championships in the next five seasons. The Yankees also got another championship last season, giving Steinbrenner seven in his years as the Yankee owner.
Steinbrenner was not afraid to outspend the competition, which forced other teams to pay their great players. Steinbrenner should be thanked by players for having high salaries today. Before the 2009 season, the Yankees signed P A.J. Burnett, P C.C. Sabathia, and 1B Mark Teixeira to over $400 million in contracts. Steinbrenner was all about winning, and bolstered the team's value as well. The Yankees are now worth over a billion dollars, which is a far cry from the $10 million him and his investors spent on the team over 35 years ago. He will be missed, not only by New York fans, but by everyone in the business. It's hard to tell whether his absence will impact baseball now, but if he wasn't involved in baseball, it wouldn't be the sport that it is today.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Lee Traded To Rangers
P Cliff Lee, who has been among the best pitchers in the American League this year with the lowly Seattle Mariners, has been traded to the first place Texas Rangers for 1B Justin Smoak and three minor leaguers. The Mariners also sent P Mark Lowe to the Rangers in the deal. It was looking inevitable that the Mariners were going to deal Lee before the trade deadline. It was just a matter of where. Other teams currently involved in playoff races have inquired about acquiring Lee.
It was reported earlier that the New York Yankees had a deal in place to get Lee. However, that deal fell through when the Mariners weren't so sure about the health about one of the prospects the Yankees were sending them in the deal. Lee was traded last season from the Cleveland Indians to the Philadelphia Phillies before the trade deadline. Lee helped the Phillies make an appearance in the World Series for the second consecutive season, but the Phillies lost to the Yankees. The Phillies won two games in that series, both with Lee starting.
Lee leads the American League in ERA with a 2.34 ERA. The Mariners were expected to be contenders coming into the season with the acquisitions of Lee, 2B Chone Figgins, and LF Milton Bradley. However, Figgins and Bradley have not contributed at all, and Lee has been the only bright spot. The Mariners now stand in last place in the AL West, behind the Rangers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Oakland Athletics.
Lee can definitely be the pitching the Rangers need to make the playoffs. It has been more than ten years since the Rangers last appeared in the playoffs, and their offense hasn't been the reason. They have always been productive offensively, but has suffered from a lack of quality pitching. Lee instantly becomes their #1 starter and a pitcher capable of taking them deep into the playoffs. The Rangers are currently being owned by Major League Baseball and are in bankruptcy court, so this deal isn't finalized. Hopefully, it will be worked out and Lee can pitch for the Rangers down the stretch.
It was reported earlier that the New York Yankees had a deal in place to get Lee. However, that deal fell through when the Mariners weren't so sure about the health about one of the prospects the Yankees were sending them in the deal. Lee was traded last season from the Cleveland Indians to the Philadelphia Phillies before the trade deadline. Lee helped the Phillies make an appearance in the World Series for the second consecutive season, but the Phillies lost to the Yankees. The Phillies won two games in that series, both with Lee starting.
Lee leads the American League in ERA with a 2.34 ERA. The Mariners were expected to be contenders coming into the season with the acquisitions of Lee, 2B Chone Figgins, and LF Milton Bradley. However, Figgins and Bradley have not contributed at all, and Lee has been the only bright spot. The Mariners now stand in last place in the AL West, behind the Rangers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Oakland Athletics.
Lee can definitely be the pitching the Rangers need to make the playoffs. It has been more than ten years since the Rangers last appeared in the playoffs, and their offense hasn't been the reason. They have always been productive offensively, but has suffered from a lack of quality pitching. Lee instantly becomes their #1 starter and a pitcher capable of taking them deep into the playoffs. The Rangers are currently being owned by Major League Baseball and are in bankruptcy court, so this deal isn't finalized. Hopefully, it will be worked out and Lee can pitch for the Rangers down the stretch.
Lebron Chooses Heat
F Lebron James has decided to join forces with G Dwyane Wade and F Chris Bosh with the Miami Heat, apparently taking less money to win a championship. James had an hour special on ESPN where he announced his decision to join the Heat, over the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and Chicago Bulls, among others. It was reported all day that James would be joining the Heat, leaving the Cavaliers hanging dry. However, the Heat's work is just beginning, as they only have four total players on the roster.
The Heat also traded F Michael Beasley to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 2011 NBA Draft pick. All of the other eight players the Heat sign will have to be at minimum contracts, which could be very difficult. This now shifts the balance of power over to Miami, as they instantly have become the team to beat, even if the Los Angeles Lakers have won two straight championships.
There has been criticism from many about how James decided to reveal his decision to sign with the Heat. Many other players, such as G Kobe Bryant, got new contracts or contract extensions the traditional way, with a press conference. James decided to go out of his way to travel to Connecticut and reveal his decision to leave the Cavaliers, which didn't sit well in Cleveland. Everytime the Heat plays the Cavaliers in Cleveland, there will definitely be added security and extra police officers for the protection of James. James now has six years to get as many championships as possible under his new deal.More Than a Game
The Heat also traded F Michael Beasley to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 2011 NBA Draft pick. All of the other eight players the Heat sign will have to be at minimum contracts, which could be very difficult. This now shifts the balance of power over to Miami, as they instantly have become the team to beat, even if the Los Angeles Lakers have won two straight championships.
There has been criticism from many about how James decided to reveal his decision to sign with the Heat. Many other players, such as G Kobe Bryant, got new contracts or contract extensions the traditional way, with a press conference. James decided to go out of his way to travel to Connecticut and reveal his decision to leave the Cavaliers, which didn't sit well in Cleveland. Everytime the Heat plays the Cavaliers in Cleveland, there will definitely be added security and extra police officers for the protection of James. James now has six years to get as many championships as possible under his new deal.More Than a Game
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Russell Arrested
Former Oakland Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell has been arrested and released from jail after being caught with codeine syrup in his home in Alabama. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance, in an offseason which has been horrible for Russell. In May, Russell was released by the Raiders, after a couple seasons of erratic play and a non-chalant work ethic. Russell was drafted with the first overall pick by the Raiders in the 2007 NFL Draft, and has not lived up to his contract.
Russell even held out of training camp his rookie season to get the contract he wanted. That makes it even worse for him, as he failed miserably to live up to the contract. Russell was so terrible that he couldn't even last the duration of his rookie contract. Only one other top pick has been released that quickly, and that was QB Steve Emtman, when the Indianapolis Colts released him three seasons after he was drafted first overall.
Russell has also played so terribly that there probably isn't a team that's interested in signing him as a backup. Former overall top pick QB David Carr was released by the Houston Texans after several unproductive years with them, but he has been able to latch on to other teams as a backup quarterback. Russell may never get the chance to play in the NFL again. Even QB Ryan Leaf was able to go to a second team before his career was over. Russell will have to prove that he is willing to condition and work hard to get his body right. Also, more importantly, Russell has to work on his accuracy, which was a major problem.
Russell even held out of training camp his rookie season to get the contract he wanted. That makes it even worse for him, as he failed miserably to live up to the contract. Russell was so terrible that he couldn't even last the duration of his rookie contract. Only one other top pick has been released that quickly, and that was QB Steve Emtman, when the Indianapolis Colts released him three seasons after he was drafted first overall.
Russell has also played so terribly that there probably isn't a team that's interested in signing him as a backup. Former overall top pick QB David Carr was released by the Houston Texans after several unproductive years with them, but he has been able to latch on to other teams as a backup quarterback. Russell may never get the chance to play in the NFL again. Even QB Ryan Leaf was able to go to a second team before his career was over. Russell will have to prove that he is willing to condition and work hard to get his body right. Also, more importantly, Russell has to work on his accuracy, which was a major problem.
Knicks, Stoudemire Agree On Terms
F Amare Stoudemire has agreed to a five-year contract worth $100 million to join the New York Knicks yesterday. It was clear that the Knicks were Stoudemire's first choice, as he really only met and talked with the Knicks. The Knicks weren't really courting Stoudemire initially, but his interest in the Knicks was something the Knicks could not turn down. Stoudemire also made headlining comments a couple of days ago when he said Denver Nuggets F Carmelo Anthony and San Antonio Spurs G Tony Parker are ready to join him in New York when they become free agents next year. Stoudemire spent the first eight years of his career with the Phoenix Suns, averaging 21.4 points per game during his time there.
In addition to his personal success, the Suns have been as far as the Western Conference Finals three times in his eight seasons there. However, he has not been able to get them to the NBA Finals, and he'll try to start anew with the Knicks and his old coach Mike D'Antoni. D'Antoni led the Suns to two of the three Western Conference Finals appearances Stoudemire has been involved in. The Knicks signing of Stoudemire could lure another top class free agent over to the Knicks. F Lebron James and G Dwyane Wade are still available on the free agent market.
The Knicks have only made the playoffs once since 2001, and they failed to get a win in that lone playoff appearance. The Knicks have been set back by failed free agent signings, and bad trades. The Knicks had a bunch of overpaid players who didn't contribute much or nothing at all. When Donnie Walsh left the Indiana Pacers to join the Knicks, he made it a goal to get rid of all the bad contracts to have financial flexibility for the 2010 free agency period. He blew up the team during the 2008-2009 season, when the Knicks were playing decent basketball with G Jamal Crawford and F Zach Randolph. He traded both of them in the same week in separate deals, freeing up cap space. It may now pay off for the Knicks and the fans, who haven't seen a championship since 1973.
In addition to his personal success, the Suns have been as far as the Western Conference Finals three times in his eight seasons there. However, he has not been able to get them to the NBA Finals, and he'll try to start anew with the Knicks and his old coach Mike D'Antoni. D'Antoni led the Suns to two of the three Western Conference Finals appearances Stoudemire has been involved in. The Knicks signing of Stoudemire could lure another top class free agent over to the Knicks. F Lebron James and G Dwyane Wade are still available on the free agent market.
The Knicks have only made the playoffs once since 2001, and they failed to get a win in that lone playoff appearance. The Knicks have been set back by failed free agent signings, and bad trades. The Knicks had a bunch of overpaid players who didn't contribute much or nothing at all. When Donnie Walsh left the Indiana Pacers to join the Knicks, he made it a goal to get rid of all the bad contracts to have financial flexibility for the 2010 free agency period. He blew up the team during the 2008-2009 season, when the Knicks were playing decent basketball with G Jamal Crawford and F Zach Randolph. He traded both of them in the same week in separate deals, freeing up cap space. It may now pay off for the Knicks and the fans, who haven't seen a championship since 1973.
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