Bleacher Report - Articles by Jason O

All Blacks: Desperate, Dominant, Victorious

Jason O — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:32:11 -0400

The All Blacks bounced back after last week’s dismal performance to smash Australia 39-10. Looking more like the All Blacks we are used to seeing, they scored some superb tries and defended exceptionally well.

Desperate for a win, the All Blacks came out fired up. To fire up the home crowd, the All Blacks performed the rare Haka which has only been done a handful of times.

The lineout has always been a worry for the All Blacks, but they were even dominating that, grabbing an impressive eight against the throw when Australia didn’t get one.

The All Blacks' first try, by North Harbour prop Tony Woodcock, came from a New Zealand lineout five meters from the line. Ali Williams took the ball cleanly and passed it down to a running Woodcock who barged over the line for the try.

Woodcock ended up with two tries when he bowled his way over the live from about two meters out.

Having two open side flankers, George Smith and Phil Waugh, didn’t work out for the Australians, who were outmuscled in the rucks and scrums. The return of Richie McCaw may have had something to do with that.

Richie got straight into business in his comeback game after a lengthy ankle injury. He had a quiet game by his standards but led the team well and was always close to the action, getting stuck in and causing the Australians grief.

Any talk about Giteau possibly being up to Dan Carter's level can now be silenced. Carter dominated and controlled the game with his kicking and effective runs at the line.

The All Blacks took a completely different approach to last week’s game when returning the ball from deep. Last week they were running it back and getting isolated, which gave Australia the chance to force a turnover.

This week they were kicking into space and putting pressure on the player catching the ball. They played at the right end of the field and gave Australia very few chances in their 22.

Despite the All Blacks thumping Australia this week, Coach Graham Henry doesn’t get the praise he deserves. Last week people were out for his head after the loss, blaming him for everything that went wrong.

This week, he doesn’t even get a mention.

The New Zealand media only mention Henry when the All Blacks lose but rarely give him credit for a win.

Australia was brought back to earth on Saturday and I don’t see them winning the next two games, which would mean the All Blacks retain the Bledisloe Cup.

The next game in three weeks' time in Brisbane will be a close encounter, but the All Blacks will likely come out victorious.

New Zealand Rugby: Blame Needs to be Put on Players Not Henry

Jason O — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:45:54 -0400

People all over New Zealand are already ripping in Graham Henry for losing two games in a row and saying the NZRFU should have selected Robbie Deans as coach of the All Blacks.

First of all, it was mainly people in Robbie Deans' town of Christchurch where he was regarded as the king of rugby. Now as the All Blacks lose a few games, people are popping up all over the country trying to find someone to blame.

And that man is Graham Henry.

Nothing annoys me more when the public continue to always blame the coach for the All Blacks' losses.

Obviously, Henry plays a big part in the All Blacks, but he was not the one out on the field dropping the ball and turning it over in the ruck.

Sione Lauaki dropped the ball or turned it over seven times in a row. Is Henry to blame for Lauaki’s terrible ball handling and security skills?

Or could he have made Lauaki actually make an attempt at tackling Rocky Elsom when he jogged over the line for his try?

The simple answer is no.

When I asked a few people, they disagreed. They said, “He shouldn’t have selected him.”

I went on to ask, “Who would you have there instead?”

They had no answer.

The only other player available was Adam Thompson, who has only played two tests. You have Lauaki with 16 caps under his belt and Thompson with two, playing in a Bledisloe Cup game, experience is crucial.

It's not Henry's fault that half of his team has gone overseas. He selects the best team available and does the best he can.

It's time for the New Zealand public to stop blaming the coach and to start blaming the players for the change.

It’s all good for Henry to set up the drill to improve their skills at practice, but it’s the players who have to put in the work. Based on last week's performance they have not.

If the All Blacks lose tonight, which is unlikely but you can’t write off the Australians, talkback radio will be going mental tomorrow morning. All of the Deans' supporters will come out and be going for Henry's head, which just isn’t right.

It's up to the players to get the result, and if they don’t, it’s the players who should be taking the blame, not Graham Henry.

Rugby: All Blacks Shouldn't Be Worried By Loss To Australia

Jason O — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:52:14 -0400

For the game on Saturday, my prediction was almost pinpoint.

Except that Australia won, not New Zealand.

Now All Blacks fans have nothing to be worried about. Australia has to win three of the four games to win the Bledisloe Cup.

Australia was the better team on Saturday, but the All Blacks played one of their worst games in years. Never have I seen so many balls dropped at any level of rugby, let alone International.

To win two of the next three games, Australia is going to have to play some superb rugby, and, even after seeing them beat NZ of Saturday I don’t think they can do it.

First of all, they will have to play the All Blacks at home, where they haven’t won since Aug. 11, 2001. If they lose that, they can still win the cup by winning in Brisbane on Sept. 13 and in Hong Kong on Nov. 1.

But can anyone see the All Blacks playing that bad again in the near future?

Yes, Australia won, but they didn’t do anything special.

When a team beats the All Blacks when they are playing well, the opposition really has to produce something brilliant to win.

The home advantage could play a part when they play in Brisbane, and we could be in for a thriller for the game in Hong Kong.

The All Blacks have lost a massive amount of players to overseas clubs, something that doesn’t affect other countries half as much. But with the likes of Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Ali Williams in the side, most New Zealanders would expect this All Black’s team to win more than it loses.

To most New Zealanders, the Tri Nations isn’t that big of a deal. They can forgive the team for not winning that; the trophy that means the most apart from the World Cup is the Bledisloe.

That should be enough motivation to see the All Blacks past the line, and win two of the last three games against Australia. Barring another horrendous game like the one witnessed on Saturday, the Bledisloe Cup should still be in the All Blacks' trophy cabinet this time next season.

All Blacks Must Show Wallabies for the Chumps They Are

Jason O — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:45:56 -0400

In typical Australian fashion, the Wallabies have gotten all excited over one win against South Africa.

Whenever the Wallabies win a game, they think they are world beaters and start talking as if they are actually a good rugby side. But let's face it, this Australian side is useless and should have been playing in the Pacific Nations cup with the New Zealand Maori, Japan, Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji.

Berrick Barnes? Stephen Moore? Who are these guys?

Yes, these bunch of no names just beat South Africa. But don't forget that the South Africans were playing their third week in a row, having played the All Blacks in the two weeks before.

That had an effect on the game against Australia and it showed. They were lethargic, didn't show the urgency or aggression like they did against the All Blacks, and didn't really look like they wanted to be there.

People who know little about rugby will be thinking, "Hang on, Super 14 etc go on for 14-15 weeks in a row—you can't blame that." But three weeks of playing Super 14 rugby has nowhere near the physical effects of playing even one week of International rugby.

In tonight's game expect to see the Wallabies' front row get absolutely punished at scrum time. Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, and Benn Robinson have got nothing over Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, and Tony Woodcock.

In the backs the All Blacks have the best player in the world in Dan Carer. And some would consider Mills Muliaina to be the best full back in the world. On the wings there is Sitiveni Sivivatu who always looks dangerous, and the underrated Anthony Tuitavake.

In the mid-field we have the fearless Richard Kahui who will single handedly stop Ryan Cross from gaining any meters, and Ma'a Nonu who will spend the night running over Berrick Barnes.

The only area in which the Wallabies could dominate the All Blacks is at the line out. The All Blacks line out was inconsistent and well below what the coaches want to see in the two tests vs. South Africa.

Tonight, the All Blacks will bring the Wallabies back to earth with a thump.

Score around 32-10 to the All Blacks.

Sasha Vujacic Could Soon Head to Europe, Along with Lakers' Championship Hopes

Jason O — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:08:26 -0400

Sasha Vujacic, along with Delonte West and Andris Biedrins, may be heading to europe next season.

For the Lakers, the departure of Sasha "the Machine" Vujacic, would be a big blow to their title hopes next season.

Vujacic had his best season in the NBA last year, averaging 8.8 points in 17.8 minutes in the regular season, shooting 45.4 percent from the field, including 43.7 percent from three-point range.

In the postseason, Vujacic averaged 21.7 minutes, 8.1 points and shot 39.9 percent from the floor, including 39.2 percent on three-pointers.

After loosing forward Ronny Turiaf to the Warriors, the Lakers can't afford to lose Vujacic, who was one of the main reasons the Lakers' bench was so good this season.

Vujacic and Jordan Farmar are a more-than-capable backup option for Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant. They showed that numerous times during the season, when they didn't only keep the score line the same when the bench was on, but often decreased a deficit or increased a lead.

Vujacic isn't only a shooter. He is underrated on defence and can really bug opposing players. Manu Ginobili was frustrated with the way Vujacic was pestering him whenever he was on the court—and subsequently, Ginobili had a below-average series.

Vujacic earned every dollar of his $1.76 million last year, and was rewarded when the Lakers offered him a one-year $2.6 million qualifying offer.

Because most people think the Lakers would match any offer sheet on Vujacic, teams haven't bothered going after him.

Many think the $2.6 million offer is fair, but Vujacic is looking for a long-term deal in which he would make more money towards the end of the contract.

He is hoping for a six-year deal in which he averages $5 million a season.

If the Lakers lose Vujacic, the Lakers will really struggle to get a bench like the one they had last season. Options two and three were to sign either James Posey or Brent Barry—which obviously can't happen, as Posey has signed with the Hornets and Barry is now with the Rockets.

So if the Lakers can't keep Vujacic, who would be left to fill the massive gap?

People may not realise how big of a part Vujacic is for this team right now—but if he goes to Europe, it will be made clear fairly quickly.

2008 All Blacks Team Named

Jason O — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:14:44 -0400

The All Blacks squad for the 2008 season was recently named, and because of all the top players leaving and playing overseas, there are a few new and unexpected faces.

First, I was surprised with the selection of North Harbour lock Anthony Boric. He is a talented player and would make many international teams around the world, but he's not yet good enough to be an All Black.

Surly Jason Eaton of Wellington is a better lock than Boric. He has the experience at international level, and despite not being noticed a lot on the field, Eaton has a huge work rate and rarely does anything wrong.

Now to another North Harbour player, Rudi Wolf. Wolf has made one of the biggest rugby comebacks imaginable. When he severely broke his neck, it looked like his rugby career and All Black dream was over. However, he has come back and is playing some of the best rugby he has ever played.

Doug Howlett would have taken that spot on the wing had he not gone overseas.

I am thankful to see Anthony Tuitavake has finally made it into the All Blacks. If I had the choice I would have definitely had him at the World Cup and left the injured and overrated Conrad Smith at home.

Ma'a Nonu is another overrated Wellington player. He has his good games where he makes a huge impact, but more often than not, he's weak defensively and struggles to catch the ball. He wouldn't make my All Black team unless we were playing Japan or Portugal.

Dan Carter is in the team, but for how long?

He is constantly getting offers from overseas clubs, who are desperate to have the best rugby player in the world playing for them. The All Blacks need Carter, without him they would struggle against Australia and South Africa in the tri-nations. Its only a matter of time until Carter receives an offer he just can't refuse.

This 2008 All Black team is nothing to write home about, and other teams won't fear them as much as previous years.

2008 All Blacks squad:

Forwards
Adam Thompson	Ali Williams
Andrew Hore	Anthony Boric
Brad Thorn	Greg Somerville
Jerome Kaino	John Afoa
John Schwalger	Keven Mealamu
Neemia Tialata	Richie McCaw
Rodney So'oialo	Sione Lauaki
Tony Woodcock
Backs
Andrew Ellis	Anthony Tuitavake
Brendon Leonard	Conrad Smith
Dan Carter	Jimmy Cowan
Leon MacDonald	Ma'a Nonu
Malili Muliaina	Richard Kahui
Rudi Wulf	Sitiveni Sivivatu
Stephen Donald

NBA: Are Fines For Flopping a Good Thing?

Jason O — Wed, 28 May 2008 23:13:56 -0400

The NBA has said that starting next season, fines will be handed out for flopping.

No set amount has been announced, nor has the punishment for repeat offenders.

There will be in-game arena observers and video reviewers, who will be instructed to report instances of flopping for potential punishment.

Flopping has become an art in the NBA over the years, and some players use it more often and effectively than others.

Take San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, for example. He has mastered the art of flopping, and has built up a reputation as a flopper all around the league.

But are there so many flops that there is the need to have video officials and fines?

If they do enforce it, this will just unearth more controversy.

Players will be accused of flopping and be forced to pay a fine. I assure you that there will be a lot of players saying it wasn't a flop, and the league will eventually scrap the idea.

I personally don't think that this sort of action is needed. Others will disagree, but until next season starts and we see how the game changes, we won't know.

San Antonio Spurs Can't Win Without Brent Barry and Bruce Bowen

Jason O — Wed, 28 May 2008 22:56:05 -0400

Game 4 showed that Brent Barry is a crucial part of the Spurs team.

Bruce Bowen has defended Kobe Bryant as well as anyone ever has throughout the series. Without him, I think the series may have been over by now.

The Spurs have the best ever power forward in Tim Duncan. The electrifying Manu Ginobili comes of the bench and almost always makes an impact. Then, there’s one of the top young point guards in Tony Parker.

They are the Spurs' Big Three, but there is also the Little Two that they couldn’t do without.

This series in particular has been a good one on the offensive end for Bruce Bowen. Not known for his scoring, Bowen has been shooting 54 percent from beyond the arc, making the majority of the open shots he’s given in the corner when Duncan is double-teamed.

But his defense on Kobe Bryant has been amazing. Bryant is still averaging 26.8 points per game this series and shooting 53 percent, but Bowen is doing exactly what Coach Gregg Popovich has asked of him.

Keep Kobe Bryant off the free-throw line.

Bowen has done just that, with Bryant taking just six free throws the whole series. Compare this to the 96 free throws he took against the Jazz in six games, and it shows how well Bowen has defended him this series.

The Spurs would struggle to contain Bryant without Bowen. Who else in the Spurs lineup could defend Bryant half as well as Bowen has?

Then there is Brent Barry. With Robert Horry playing so poorly this series, Barry has had to pick up his slack, and so far has done a good job. He has played exceptionally well against the Lakers in the playoffs, averaging nine points and two assists per game. He is known around the league as good three point shooter, and has lived up to his reputation by shooting 44 percent from three.

His best game this postseason, and perhaps his best-ever playoff performance was his 23-point effort in Game 4. He also grabbed five rebounds and two steals.

Barry doesn’t produce these numbers often, but the Spurs can always depend on him to make a big play.

Take late in Game 3, for example. Jordan Farmar sank a three to get the Lakers back within nine and give them some hope of mounting a late comeback. Barry got rid of that thought and drained a three on the next play to push the lead back to 12. The Lakers never got back within nine and seemingly gave up after Barry’s three-pointer.

Everyone talks about Duncan, Ginobili and Parker, but the rest of the team barely gets a mention. Barry and Bowen are getting old and won’t be around much longer. I think people will notice how much they impacted the game when they have gone.

Manu Ginobili on Fire: Spurs Blitz Lakers in Game 3

Jason O — Sun, 25 May 2008 16:32:13 -0400

Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Derek Fisher contributed almost nothing in the Lakers' loss to the Spurs on Sunday, 103-84.

The Spurs' "Big Three" were the force behind the Spurs' offense, scoring 72 points between them. Duncan had 22 points and 21 rebounds, Parker had 20 points and five assists, and Ginobili had 30 points hitting five to seven beyond the arc.

Manu Ginobili came out firing off the bench, scoring 19 points in his first 10 minutes. At half time, the Spurs were up 49-39 and Ginobili had 22.

Kobe was the only Laker to provide any sort of offense, scoring 14 in the first half on seven from 11 shooting.

As a team, LA was shooting 45 percent, not far from San Antonio’s 46 percent. But the Lakers had only three assists compared to the Spurs' nine.

Free throws were a problem for the Lakers. First off all, they only rarely got to the foul line. And when they did, they only made 35 percent. The Lakers took their first free throw of the second half with 8:19 to go in the fourth quarter.

Towards the end of the game, Bryant had a burst of brilliance, scoring nine points in a minute and a half. With 6:12 to go in the game, Bryant put up a three and was fouled by Bowen, the ball swished through the net but he was unable to complete the four-point play.

The bench was yet again absent, apart from Jordan Farmar. He had 10 points, and joined Bryant and Gasol as the only Laker players to reach double figures.

An unusual decision saw Derek Fisher handed the only technical foul of the game.

With 4:43 to go in the third quarter, Fisher pumped his fist as Radmanovic grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back in. The referee interpreted the fist pump incorrectly and hit Fisher with a technical, which saw Ginobili add one more to his point tally.

This was the worst loss of the playoffs for the Lakers, who have one day to practice and get things right for Game 4 on Tuesday.

Joakim Noah Arrested: a Sign of Things to Come for Chicago's Rookie Center?

Jason O — Sun, 25 May 2008 13:16:36 -0400

Chicago Bulls rookie center Joakim Noah, was charged with possession of marijuana and having an open container of alcohol on Sunday morning.

Noah was first spotted by an officer at 1:50 a.m. holding and open container of alcohol, which is a violation of city law. This led to him being searched at a police station, which resulted him being arrested for possession of marijuana.

John Paxson, general manager of the Bulls, said he "expressed to Joakim his disappointment in his actions this weekend" and went on to say, "Until we gather further information on this situation, we won't be making any further comment."

After signing a notice agreeing to appear before a judge, Noah was released.

He could face up to six months in jail and a $500 fine for this offense.

In only his first year in the NBA, is this a sign of things to come from the young rookie?

Is he going to be one of those players that can do so much good on the court, yet so many bad things off the court?

I hope for the Bulls franchise, its fans, and Noah himself, that this is a one-time thing that he learns from.

Hopefully, he learns that he is in the public eye and that everything he does is seen by others. People are caught with marijuana every day, but not all people are NBA stars.

Spurs-Lakers: It's Do or Die for San Antonio in Game 3

Jason O — Sun, 25 May 2008 13:00:49 -0400

With the Lakers leaving LA up 2-0, the pressure is now on the San Antonio Spurs to play well at home and square up the series 2-2.

The Spurs snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in Game 1, blowing a 20-point lead.

In Game 2, however, they never even had a lead, let alone a 20-point one. They were outplayed in Game 2 and need to improve a lot if they are to get back in this series.

Despite winning by 30 points in Game 2, tonight's game is not going to be a walk in the park. The Spurs will be more determined than ever to get a win, especially in front of their home crowd.

Tim Duncan has been doing what he does best against the Lakers, and that's get the ball down low and school the Lakers defenders, grabbing rebound after rebound.

The same can't be said for Manu Ginobili who has had a terrible series against the Lakers.

He didn't play well when starting in Game 1. He was then put on the bench to start Game 2, but that didn't change anything.

Ginobili is averaging just 8.5 points against the Lakers this series, compared to his 18.2 against Phoenix, and 21.3 against New Orleans.

He has been shooting at 23 percent, which is very uncharacteristic of Ginobili who shot 46 percent in the regular season.

Tonight must be the night Ginobili finds his shooting touch, because the Spurs are desperate for it.

The Lakers bench has gone back to playing how they were during the regular season, and it is a large reason why the Lakers are up 2-0.

Like Ginobili, former Laker Robert Horry has also been having troubles finding his rhythm. Horry has yet to sink a shot in five attempts, and some of the shots he has put up haven't looked close to going in.

Trevor Ariza's return from a broken foot makes things more difficult for the Spurs.

If Ariza feels up to it, he could see a lot of court time if Ginobili gets on a role. He is an exceptional defender who has the size and speed to take care of Ginobili and cause him some problems.

The Lakers have shown they can win on the road this season, and could quite possibly win one or even both games in San Antonio.

That being said, the Spurs aren't going to let them win easily. They know, after their seven-game series with the Hornets which saw them 2-0 down, they can still win this series and go to the NBA Finals.

Lakers-Spurs: Trevor Ariza's Return Makes San Antonio's Job Harder

Jason O — Fri, 23 May 2008 19:23:53 -0400

Trevor Ariza made his return on Friday night, in the Lakers' 101-71 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.

He broke his foot on Jan. 20, and the healing process has taken longer then expected.

He played six minutes in his comeback game, hitting his only shot and bringing down two rebounds.

Since being traded from Orlando for Maurice Evans and Brian Cook, Ariza had played in 24 games, averaged 6.5 points, 1.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals.

The Spurs are already having trouble scoring against the Lakers, and the return of the defense-minded Ariza will make the job even tougher.

He is really going to strengthen the Lakers defense and will most likely take on the responsibility of guarding Manu Ginobili, although there has been talk of him guarding Tony Parker.

His size will be an advantage if he was to guard Parker, and Ariza's quickness could help him keep up with Parker on drives to the rim.

The Lakers already had a bench that was capable of scoring consistently. With Ariza's six points per game, the Spurs bench is going to have to step up.

Robert Horry, Ime Udoka and Brent Barry need at least one of them to score 10-15 points every game to go along with Ginobili's 19.

Ginobili has been struggling against the Lakers, and if Ariza is fit enough to play more minutes, Ginobili's job will be even tougher.

Ariza's return could be that extra bit off the bench to propel the Lakers into the NBA finals.

Kobe Bryant Is the One Who Will Beat the San Antonio Spurs

Jason O — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:52:03 -0400

Los Angeles Lakers’ coach Phil Jackson is 40-0 in his coaching career when his team wins game one of a playoff series.

The Lakers have yet to lose at Staples Center.

These would make a lot people think that the Lakers have got game two and perhaps the series in the bag. These people know nothing about basketball.

When you are playing the defending champs, the series is never in the bag, and you have to play very good basketball to win four games.

The Spurs showed in their series against the New Orleans Hornets that you can never count them out, and they can come back from almost any position.

No one can write of a team with the best ever power forward to ever play the game, the best sixth man, and one of the top point guards in the league.

The 20-point lead they blew will hurt them, but if anything, it's motivation to play even harder than they did in game one, get that 20-point lead, and hold it.

The Lakers looked down and out with five minutes to go in the third quarter, and then the amazing happened. The man most capable of changing a game did just that.

Kobe Bryant started to shoot rather than pass, and scored 25 points in the second half.

If the Spurs had won game one, I would have expected them to take the series. Now, I think the Lakers will do it.

I don't see them losing at Staples Center, and I don't see Kobe scoring just two points in a half for a long time. When Bryant started to get going, the Spurs’ defense didn't have an answer, which will bother them going into game two.

But in saying that, Pau Gasol really struggled to guard Tim Duncan who scored 30 in game one.

If the Lakers can find away to stop the ball getting to Tim Duncan down low, the Spurs will really struggle.

Kobe Bryant will always find a way to get the ball. Teams have been trying for years to find the best way to guard him, and so far, no one has.

Bryant holds the key to the Lakers’ success. If he plays well, the rest of the team plays well. And if he keeps going how he is, the Lakers will win game two and probably the series.

Miami Heat: Karma Is The Reason Heat Didn't Get No. 1 Pick

Jason O — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:54:12 -0400

I am very happy the Miami Heat didn't get the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft.

They didn't deserve it. Karma has set in and given them No. 2.

The Heat were dreadful this season and were one of the worst teams ever.

First, the Heat lost 15 games in a row. In one game, Miami scored just 54 points in a loss to the Toronto Raptors, which is the third lowest point total in the shot clock era. Only the 1998-99 Bulls (49 points against Miami) and the 2002-03 Nuggets (53 points against Detroit) have scored fewer points in a game.

The Heat broke their own record, by making just 17 of 59 field goal attempts in their loss to Boston, which is the lowest of all time in the shot clock era.

Injuries to Dorell Wright, Udonis Haslem, Alonzo Mourning, Shaq (earlier) and Jason Williams have been one of the main reasons the Heat played so poorly.

The reason I didn't want the Heat to get the No. 1 pick is because they gave up. Towards the end of the season, all they were thinking was the lottery.

The Heat played no-name players like Blake Ahearn and Kasib Powell towards the end of the season.

Pride means nothing to this Heat team.

Other teams like New York and Minnesota were still playing as hard as they could the whole season and trying to improve, yet Heat coach Pat Riley went on a three-day trip to evaluate top college players.

He left his struggling team when they needed him most. I don't agree with this.

When a team has no hope of making the playoffs, you would think it would motivate them to finish the season well and try to improve as much as possible before next season.

Not the Miami Heat.

I feel sorry for the public who went to watch the Heat play, only to see them lose again and again.

They gave up and thankfully didn't get what they wanted. They are going to get an exceptional rookie in either Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose, but they won't get to choose which one.

San Antonio Spurs: What's With The Hating On Robert Horry?

Jason O — Sun, 18 May 2008 19:15:46 -0400

Recently, I have read articles that have disturbed me.

Articles that have been showing an NBA legend in a bad light.

Robert Horry doesn't deserve the bad press he is getting.

After reading these articles, I felt compelled to tell the good side of Robert Horry, the side everyone should know.

Robert Horry was bought up in Andalusia, AL. He attended Andalusia High School, where he received the Naismith Alabama Player of the Year Award.

In 1992, he was drafted 11th overall by the Houston Rockets, where he won two of his seven NBA titles. During his time in the playoffs with Houston, Horry set records for most steals in a game with seven, and also hit five 3-pointers in a quarter.

In 1996, Horry was traded to the Phoenix Suns. This is where Horry first got the reputation as a bad boy. Horry had an on-court argument with coach Danny Ainge, which ended with Horry throwing a towel in Ainge's face.

This led to his trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he really earned his reputation and nickname of 'Big Shot Rob'. He was a key part of the Lakers' three consecutive titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

During those three years, Horry made a game-clinching three-pointer in at least one playoff game a year.

After the 2002-2003 season, Horry became a free agent, and signed with the San Antonio Spurs. While in San Antonio, Horry picked up NBA championship ring numbers six and seven.

While ring number six will be remembered for his heroics, ring seven is a different story. Horry hip-checked Steve Nash, which resulted in a flagrant foul and his ejection. During the commotion, Raja Bell was handed a technical for charging at Horry. He was then suspended for Games 5 and 6.

These are the stories being publicized at the moment.

No one is recalling the game winning shots he has sunk.

What about 2002 Western Conference First round, Game 3 vs. Portland? Lakers down by two with 10 seconds left, Kobe Bryant kicks it out to Horry who hits the game-winning three.

The same year in the Conference Finals? Shaq missed the lay up, the ball flies out to Horry, who knocks down the shot to give the Lakers the 100-99 victory.

Facts like these are the things people should know about Robert Horry, not his so called 'cheating tactics' and 'foul play,' but the game-winning shots.

Hey Lakers Fans: Spurs or Hornets in the Western Conference Finals?

Jason O — Sat, 17 May 2008 21:47:11 -0400

The Lakers are through to the Western Conference finals, but who would they rather play?

The New Orleans Hornets and San Antonio Spurs will square off on Monday in Game 7 of the series. The winner will go on to play the Lakers in the conference finals.

Both teams are worthy of being in the finals, but there can only be one.

Personally, I don't mind who the Lakers play, because either way it's going to be a tough match up.

The Spurs have, in my opinion, the best power forward to ever play the game in Tim Duncan. His numbers have been down this season compared to last, but regular-season numbers mean nothing when its playoff time.

Defensively, he has been outstanding during the playoffs, averaging 13.3 rebounds and 2.27 blocks per game. Even with his increased effort on the defensive end, he has still played his part on offense, scoring 19.5 points per game.

The Spurs also have one of the top point guards in the league, last year's finals MVP. Tony Parker has increased his points per game by six to 24.3 points per game.

During the playoffs, Parker has been shooting an amazing 51 percent. Despite not being known for his three-point shooting, he has still managed to shoot at 46 percent from beyond the arc.

Even though he's taking more responsibility scoring, Parker still finds time to get his teammates involved, dishing 6.4 assists.

Mr. Sixth Man of the year, Manu Ginobili, has taken up the starting role during the playoffs. This has not affected his numbers in the slightest.

Scoring 19.5 points per game, Ginobili is one of the league's most consistent scorers. He's carried that on through the playoffs, and like Parker, he is getting his teammates involved as well as scoring. He's averaging 4.3 assists per game.

New Orleans wasn't expected to do this well. I know no one who predicted they would win the championship, which is now a real possibility.

Led by this season's MVP runner-up, Chris Paul, the Hornets are team that nobody wants to face during the playoffs.

Chris Paul has had a standout season, and was unlucky not to get the MVP award this season. He's being doing it all in the playoffs: scoring, passing, defending and grabbing the odd rebound. Paul is shooting a remarkable 50 percent from the field and averaging 24.6 points in the process.

While he finds ways to score, he finds the rest of his team ways to score, and puts out 11 assists a game. He has also been solid on defense, grabbing 2.07 steals and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Whenever they need a three, the Hornets throw it to Peja Stojakovic. He's put up 46 threes so far in the playoffs, netting 58 percent of them. His field goal percentage is higher than usual, but he is averaging fewer points. He makes up for this by doing a bit extra on the glass, and getting 5.5 rebounds.

Everyone in New Orleans will be hoping David West will be able to get over his bad back to go out there and score 21 points, pull down 8.5 rebounds, dish three assists, block two shots and get that steal. Those are the numbers that are needed from David West for the Hornets to win Game Seven, and I wouldn't bet against him.

Tyson Chandler's numbers have dropped, but his impact on a game certainly has not. He's not expected to go out on the court and score 20 points, but he is expected to go out and get every rebound offered to him. Averaging just under 10 rebounds in 33 minutes, Chandler has not disappointed.

Both of these teams would take some beating in the Western Conference finals, but the Lakers will be up for the challenge. They have the MVP, one of the best benches in the league, Gasol and Odom playing very well and Fisher doing what he always does during the playoffs, but who's it going to be?

Hornets or Spurs?

Lakers-Jazz: Lamar Odom's Performace Will Be Crucial in Game Six

Jason O — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:07:35 -0400

The Los Angeles Lakers have the chance to win the series against the Utah Jazz on Friday in Utah.

Lamar Odom, I believe, is the key to the Lakers' success.

Most of the time you can count on Kobe Bryant to score 25+ points, and take a lot of pressure of his teammates.

You can almost guarantee that Pau Gasol will have a solid game down low, score about 18 points, grab eight rebounds, and on some occasions dish three or four assists.

Odom, though, is unpredictable. There is no doubt that he is a talented player, still has yet to play to his full potential. Some nights, Odom will come out aggressively, driving in or grabbing the offensive rebound and dunking it in. Other nights, he comes out slowly and tentatively, trying to avoid contact and lay it in close to the basket, rather than dunking it in.

That is just one thing.

Odom is an underrated shooter, and should be taking more shots. He shoots consistently at 50 percent, but only averages ten shots a game. Some nights he will take the jump shot when the defender sags off, other nights he pushes that extra pass.

Sometimes the pass is the right option if the teammate is in a better position to score—but often that player is not.

If Odom comes out strong and plays aggressively on Friday the Lakers will wrap up the series. If he doesn't the Jazz are in with a real chance to send the series back to LA tied 3-3.

Especially now with Kobe Bryant's back injury, Odom should take more responsibility on the offensive end. He is the key to the Lakers success.

Oh Where, Oh Where Has The Lakers Bench Gone?

Jason O — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:15:45 -0400

During the regular season, the Los Angeles Lakers had the best and most effective bench in the league. They could come out with the Lakers up by 5, and have them up by 12 when they went off.

Before this season, teams would try to capitalize when Kobe Bryant was off the court, but teams have had just as much trouble winning with him off the court than they have with him on. But since the playoffs began, the Lakers bench has largely disappeared.

Ronny Turiaf

Ronny gave the Lakers an energy boost while he was on the bench and while on the court. Known for his blocking, Turiaf averaged 1.4 blocks per game in his 18 minutes on the court. He is still averaging one block per game in the playoffs, but his scoring and shooting percentage have taken a dive.

While not known for his scoring, Turiaf still averaged a handy 6.6 points per game on 47% during the regular season and had a few games of 15+. Since the playoffs began, Turiaf's shooting percentage has dropped to 33% and as a result, is only scoring 2.3 points per game.

Jordan Farmar

Jordan Farmar was being recognized around the league as a promising young point guard, destined to be starting when Derek Fisher departs. Based on his performance so far in the playoffs, Lakers management might once again be thinking about drafting yet another point guard.

Farmar has been the most disappointing player on the Laker bench during the playoffs. In 20 minutes, Farmar averaged 9.1 points on 46%, 2.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in the regular season. He has been playing 5 less minutes, but all his statistics have dropped dramatically, particularly his shooting percentage. He has shot 26%, scored 3.6 points, grabbed 1.4 rebounds and only handed out 1.6 assists per game so far.

He is the one the Lakers rely on and needs to practice hard between games and get out of the shooting slump as soon as possible.

Sacha Vujacic

Sacha has perhaps been the only bench player to rise up to the occasion and play better and have an effect on the game. He has had an amazing year shooting beyond the arc, and has shot even better in the playoffs.

He averaged 8.8 points, one assist and 2.1 rebounds of the bench in the regular season. Unlike his other teammates of the bench, Vujacic hasn't faded away. He is averaging the same amount of points but he is shooting at 51%, and more impressively, 53% from three-point land.

He has improved greatly over the season and is being rewarded with increased minutes, and is being trusted and relied upon to his crucial shots down the stretch.

Luke Walton

Luke Walton is also anther player on the Lakers bench to thrive in the playoffs. Walton, like Vujacic is also shooting the ball superbly. It wasn't too long ago when Walton was really struggling to shoot the ball well, and was consistently missing open jumpers.

He averaged 7.2 points per game on 45%. Now he is shooting at 58% and hitting 60% of his three pointers. He is passing the ball well and averaging the same amount of assists as during the regular season, 2.9 per game.

During the regular season the Lakers bench was one of the main reasons they ended up the top seed in the west. Averaging 32 points, they would dominate the opposition's second unit.

Their performance in the playoffs hasn't been quite as good.

The Lakers bench has only averaged 25 points compared to the opposition’s bench who are scoring 31. The bench is a key part to the Lakers squad, and really has to play how they did in the regular season.

They might be doing just enough to beat the Jazz, but come Western Conference finals and NBA finals, they performances they are putting up at the moment would not be good enough to win the championship.

Overall

The Lakers bench will need to play better on the road for this team to win a NBA Championship. They must come out with the same energy and passion as they do when they are at home. If not, the Lakers' magical season will come to an end before they and their fans expect it to be.

Lakers, Jazz Tied 2-2: Are You Worried, L.A. Fans?

Jason O — Sun, 11 May 2008 17:42:29 -0400

In all honesty, I was very confident in my prediction that the Los Angeles Lakers would beat the Utah Jazz in five games. I was adamant the Jazz would win one game at home, but never did it go through my mind that they might win both games.

People will now be saying, "The Jazz could easily win both, they have the best home record," or "The Jazz are capable of not only winning these two games but the whole series." But being the one-eyed Lakers fan I am, these thoughts never crossed my mind.

This Laker team is the best in years and next year they will be better. Despite not having Andrew Bynum to help Pau Gasol down low, the Lakers could still win the NBA title this season and be the favorites to win it next season as well.

With the good news coming out regarding Trevor Ariza's injury, the Laker faithful know if they can win this series, Ariza could be the spark to help them win the Western Conference finals. If Ariza is back for game six or seven, if there is one, I feel he will certainly have an impact, especially on defense.

There have been very few problems with the Laker's staring five. Kobe is scoring, Odom is rebounding and Gasol is doing a bit of both.

It's the bench that has me worried.

During the regular season this Laker bench, made up of Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujcic, Ronny Turiaf, and Ariza was feared around the league. Without these five, I don't think the Lakers would have finished the season as the Western Conference's top seed.

But since the playoffs began, they have barely had an impact at all.

Vujacic and Walton have had a few games in double figures, Turiaf has occasionally inserted that bit of energy we were used to seeing, but there just isn't the consistency we saw in the regular season.

Farmar has been the most disappointing. He was shooting 46% and averaging 9.1 points in the regular season; in this series against the Jazz, he has shot 6% and scored just three points. If he can get back to normal, the Lakers will take the series in six.

I still don't think the Jazz will win the series, but they are capable. I am a bit worried it might go to seven games. If it does, I would still pick the Lakers to win game seven, but fatigue will be a factor.

LA-Utah: Lakers' Bench Absent Again in Game Four Loss to Jazz

Jason O — Sun, 11 May 2008 17:13:39 -0400

Once again, the best bench of the regular season produced very little on offense, which resulted in the Jazz drawing level in the series 2-2.

For me, Jordan Farmar has been the biggest disappointment during the playoffs. In this series against the Jazz, Farmar his made just one shot from 16 attempts. This kid was shooting 46 percent during the regular season and averaging a helpful 9.1 points per game. Now he is averaging 1.4 points per game against the Jazz.

With news that Trevor Ariza could be back playing as early as Game Six, Lakers fans will be hoping he can be the one to spark the Laker bench and make it the force it was just a month ago.

The Lakers bench was outscored 29-15, and Sacha Vujacic was the only standout scoring 11 points, with 3-5 beyond the arc.

Free throws were also a problem for the Lakers, making just 14 of 25 compared to Utah's 37-45.

The Jazz got ahead early, leading 31-21 at the end of the first quarter. Deron Williams was the star for the Jazz and ended the game with 29 points and 14 assists. The Lakers fought back in the second and it was all tied up at 55-55 at half time.

From then on it was all Jazz until there were four minutes to go in the fourth quarter. With the Jazz up by 10, Mehmet Okur committed a foul then proceeded to argue with the call resulting in a technical, and this is where the game changed.

The Lakers carved away at the lead with Lamar Odom cleaning up a Bryant miss to tie it up with 4.6 seconds remaining.

The Lakers struggled in overtime, not sinking a bucket until there was just over a minute remaining. The Jazz just kept making their free throws and the game ended 123-115. Game Five will be in LA on Wednesday.

Breaking News: Mike D'Antoni Accepts Offer From New York Knicks

Jason O — Sat, 10 May 2008 10:48:45 -0400

The New York Knicks have appointed their sixth different coach since the start of the 2002-2003 season.

Donnie Walsh has been patient in finding a new coach after the departure of Isiah Thomas on April 18. His patience has paid off, as the Knicks have landed Mike D'Antoni from the Phoenix Suns and signed him to a four-year, $24 million contract.

D'Antoni also had the Chicago Bulls chasing him. After a conference call with Bulls team officials on Friday, it appeared that the Knicks would struggle to get D'Antoni.

D'Antoni is definitely going to have his work cut out for him. The Knicks have gone 33-49 in 2006-07 and 23-59 last season, which tied the franchise record for losses in a season.

His superb coaching record of 267-172 with the Suns and Denver Nuggets might not look so good four years from now.

The Knicks are desperate to get to the playoffs and win a game there, something they haven't done since 2001. But D'Antoni has plenty of experience in the playoffs, having coached in the Western Conference finals twice in the last five seasons. He has a record of 26-25 in the playoffs.

Is Mike D'Antoni the answer to the problems surrounding one of the league's most high-profile franchises? There is a lot more work to be done in New York, but the signing of a coach like Mike D'Antoni is a very good place to start.

Which NBA Player Had it Worst as a Child?

Jason O — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:10:59 -0400

It seems that not all players in the NBA had stress-free childhoods, nor did they have the option of walking into the NBA by just being a former great player's son.

I've spent a lot of time researching and writing about players who had nothing as a child, and now earn millions of dollars playing the game they love.

I'm curious to know, which player has had the toughest childhood?

There are some amazing, and often hard to find stories out there. Reading them is inspiring, it proves that no matter how bad life is, there is always hope.

Caron Butler is a player who was in prison just five years before he declared himself for the draft.

Butler was recognised as a talented player and future NBA prospect, but problems at home and at school made it look as though he would never make it. He had been arrested 15 times for minor offenses before his 15th birthday. As he got older he commited more crimes and was sentenced to one year in prison for firearms and cocaine possession. Now he has made a name for himself and is only getting better.

Allen Iverson, is known for his killer cross-overs and his ability to get to the rim. But the thing a lot of people don't know is his lack of a father figure and the poor living conditons in which he grew up in. Iverson's house would sometimes be engulfed in sewage after the sewage line blew under his house. His mother couldn't always work and the family would go without water, heating and lighting for days. When asked what he wanted to do after he left school, Iverson often referred to “the Plan”. The plan was to make it through high school, go to college and earn a place in the NBA. He stuck to the plan and become one of the best basketball players ever.

Dj Mbenga lived in the Congo and had what I think to be the most difficult road to the NBA. He was on death row as a teenager, but managed to escape and flee overseas. Most of his family was killed, but he and his mother found a home in Belgium. He had never seen a basketball until he was 19, now he is a reliable back-up center for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Its never easy to make it to the NBA, but these three in particular had a road rougher than most players out there.

NBA Playoffs: Kobe Bryant and Lakers Set the Standard in Game One

Jason O — Mon, 05 May 2008 15:12:59 -0400

Kobe Bryant scored 38 points in the Lakers' 109-98 win over Utah, in Game One of the NBA Western Conference semifinals.

Bryant was successful eight of 16 times from the field, made 21 of 23 free throws, six rebounds, and seven assists

Along with his amazing scoring performance, Kobe managed to get his teammates involved as well, particularly Sasha Vujacic. Vujacic continued to shoot out the lights like he did all season. He scored 15 points in 16 minutes, with two from beyond the arc.

Mr. Consistent (Pau Gasol) had another impressive game scoring 18 points with 10 rebounds and five assists.

With the Lakers up by one at the end of the first quarter, it seemed the game would be a close one. But the Lakers took control in the second, outscoring the Jazz 29-17 to open up a 13-point lead at half time.

The gap was closed to seven going into the final quarter, but fatigue kicked in and the Lakers took control with a strong finish.

Deron Williams had nine rebounds and nine assists for the Jazz, but shot a dismal five of 18 from the floor. Mehmet Okur cleaned up, grabbing 19 rebounds to go along with 21 points, but it wasn’t enough for the Jazz to stay close for the whole game.

Shooting 37 percent as a team will be the main focus for the Jazz going into Game Two in LA.

Utah was patient and waited for good shots, however they just weren’t falling for the Jazz.

Looking ahead to Game Two, Utah must find a way to contain both Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol—the only way to maintain a chance of winning.

Even if the Jazz manage to do that, they still have to deal with the best bench in the league—a difficult task in itself.

Lakers-Nuggets: Lakers Will Take It in Four

Jason O — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:18:30 -0400

The Los Angeles Lakers are going into this series against Denver with momentum, having one four in a row and eight of their last nine.

The first thing the Lakers have that will be crucial in their 4-0 sweep of Denver is the bench. With Sacha Vujacic , Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton and Ronny Turiaf improving every game, they can punch well above their weight even with Kobe and Gasol on the bench.

The Lakers bench is being recognized and feared around the league, "One through one, they are the deepest team in basketball," said ABC-ESPN commentator Mark Jackson.

If Trevor Ariza can some how get healthy in time for the second round, the Lakers will be even harder to beat than they are now.

Denver on the other hand, really only have J.R Smith that can come of the bench and have an impact on the game. Smith has blossomed since the All-Star break averaging 16 points and making 41 percent of his three-pointers.

Along with the Lakers having an impressive bench, they also will go into the series knowing they swept the Nuggets in the season series 3-0, and winning by an average of 16.3 points. The three wins the Lakers had over Denver during the season were all without Pau Gasol, and one was also without the much improved Andrew Bynum.

As far as match-ups go, the Bryant-Iverson matchup will be key to who wins the series. Denver desperately need Iverson to score consistently and find a way to stop Bryant despite being six inches shorter. Kobe Bryant hasn't been the offensive force against Denver like he is against other teams. He is averaging just 22 points, while only taking 15 shots per game at 57 percent against Denver this year.

Marcus Camby will be another player who will have to dominate defensively against his opposing player Pau Gasol. Camby is the league's reigning defensive player of the year, and has been able to stop Gasol in their 13-career match ups so far.

Gasol, who normally averages 18.8 points and 8.6 rebounds, is only averaging 16.2 points and 7.3 rebounds against Camby. Compare this to Camby, who has been able to stay close to his career averages of 10.7 points and 9.7 rebounds, is averaging better in both, with 11.3 points and 10.9 rebounds when playing against Gasol.

One more thing in favor of the Lakers, Denver has used a ton of energy just trying to make the playoffs in the last couple of weeks. This will surely affect their performance even with all the hype of being in the playoffs. Having tough, must win games for the last two weeks of the season takes its toll. The Lakers have known for along time now that they would be in the playoffs, and haven't had the pressure of having to win every game they play.

I wouldn't be surprised if Denver managed to win a game, but if I was a betting man I would definitely have my money on the Lakers to win this series in four games.

Are Dan Carter and Nick Evans Ditching the All Blacks?

Jason O — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 11:46:58 -0400

The newest rumour out of the all-black camp is that along with Nick Evans, Dan Carter could also be taking up a contract in Europe.

Auckland Blues first-five Nick Evans is almost certain to be playing his rugby in England or Japan at the end of the year, and not playing for the All Blacks in their end of year grand-slam tour.

Losing Luke McAlister after the World Cup was bad enough, but if Carter and Evans leave, that's New Zealands top three first-fives gone. We could see someone like Waikato's Steven Donald in the AB's number 10 jersey.

No disrespect to Donald who is a sound footballer and can run a back line, but he is nowhere near players like Carter, Evans and McAlister.

It is yet to be confirmed, but Carter could be leaving at the end of this season's Super-14. The 26-year-old Cantabrian was seen as the future of All Black rugby and the team was going to be based around him, at least till the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Losing Carter would be a big blow for not only the All Blacks, but to every rugby fan in New Zealand. Competitions like the Air New Zealand Cup and Super 14 are already struggling to get fans to the games, and losing someone like Carter wont help the cause.

New Zealand already lost world-class players like McAlister, Carl Hayman and Doug Howlett this year and there could still be more to follow.

New Zealand rugby is in trouble and something needs to be done. There isn't the money to offer, but there is the pride of the black jersey. To some, that's just not enough.

Caron Butler: From Jail to the NBA in Five Years

Jason O — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:16:36 -0400

I recently wrote an article about the rough childhood of DJ Mbenga. Afterwards, I was curious to know about other players who have come from bad backgrounds who,made it to the NBA.

Washington Wizard Caron Butler is one such player.

Caron Butler was born and raised in Racine, Wisconsin, where he suffered a tough childhood.

When Caron Butler was 16, it looked as though he would live his life mainly in prison. He had been arrested 15 times for minor offenses before his 15th birthday. Then Butler was sentenced to one year in prison for firearms and cocaine possession.

In most cases, youths that start their lives this way would end up living most of their life in prison or worse, dead. But not Caron Butler.

It was obvious from an early age that Butler had promise as a person and as a basketball player. But even though Butler was an impressive basketball player, like many kids in his neighborhood, he couldn’t make a name for himself except amongst the local police officers.

Once out of prison, Butler had a brief career at Washington Park High School. He then enrolled at Maine Central Institute, where Jim Calhoun offered him a scholarship to play at UConn. Butler played two seasons at UConn before declaring himself for the 2002 NBA Draft.

In his freshman season, he lead the Huskies in both scoring and rebounding, with 15.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.

In his sophomore season, he was named co-Big East Player of the Year with Pittsburgh’s Brandin Knight and was a second-team All American after a season averaging 20.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Eight years after being released from prison, Caron Butler was picked 10^th overall by the Miami Heat.

In 2004, Butler was part of the package that sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers for Shaquille O’Neal. After one season in LA, he was traded again to Washington for Kwame Brown and LaRon Profit.

He has played his best basketball since arriving in Washington. He is averaging a career best 19.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, and he made the 2007 All-Star team as a reserve.

He is another one of many players that has had a rough road to the NBA, but has managed to make it despite his tough childhood.

Tyler Hansbrough: Best Player Ever at UNC

Jason O — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 21:49:11 -0400

While watching the Final Four today, the commentators mentioned the debate over the best player ever at UNC. Obviously, I thought of Michael Jordan straight away. But my research surprised me.

It turns out that statistically Hansbrough's career at UNC exceeds Jordan's.

In three seasons at UNC, Hansbrough has averaged 20 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists on 54 percent shooting. He led his team to the Final Four and was named National Player of the Year in 2008.

Plus, he was also the first freshman in NCAA history to earn first-team All-American. Hansbrough will most likely be a top pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Jordan, on the other hand, averaged only 17.7 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.79 assists, shooting 54 percent in his three seasons.

One of the more memorable moments in Jordan’s college career was his championship winning shot in 1982 against Georgetown. After winning the Naismith and the Wooden College Player of the Year Awards in 1984, Jordan left North Carolina one year before his scheduled graduation to enter the NBA Draft.

Despite these stats, Jordan then went on to average 28.2 points in his rookie year, which I don’t see Hansbrough doing.

Hansbrough will never reach the heights Jordan reached in his career, but one thing we do know is that he works tremendously hard and will maximize any potential he has.

He could have a good effect on the league and be a good player to come off the bench in his rookie year. Depending on the team that drafts him, he could even find himself starting, though it would be best for him to start his career coming off the bench and gain some confidence rather than throwing him straight into a starting role

Hansbrough's jersey will hang alongside other UNC greats, Michael Jordan and James Worthy.

Lakers News: Coby Karl Sent to D-League

Jason O — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 11:54:59 -0400

Coby Karl is the 51st NBA player to be sent to his D-league affiliate this season.

Coby Karl, son of Denver Nuggets coach George Karl, has played in 17 games for the Lakers, averaging 1.8 points in 4.2 minutes since his signing in July 2007.

This will be the third time Coby has had a stint with the D-Fenders. In his previous two, he has averaged 17.3 points 5.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 13 games.

Karl will join the playoff-bound D-fenders, who boast a 32-14 record tonight and will travel to Anaheim to play the Arsenal.

With Ira Newble signed until the end of the season, it's difficult to give Coby Karl any minutes. Even though Coby is an energetic and confident young rookie, the Lakers would rather have the experience and defensive presence of Ira Newble come playoff time.

He has no problem putting up threes when he get on the court. He left Boise State as the all-time leader in three pointers made with 266.

Playing for the D-Fenders will give Coby some good minutes and he will have the chance to score a lot of points. If he stays with the D-Fenders, they will have a good chance at taking the championship.

Los Angeles Lakers: How Much is Sasha Vujacic Worth?

Jason O — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:21:14 -0400

With Sasha Vujacic becoming and restricted free agent at the end of the year, a thought came into my mind, how much will he be resigned for?

The 6’7” shooting guard from Yugoslavia, has shown enough of an improvement to make the Lakers want to sign him on for next season. He’s earning just under $2 million this season but would be expecting more if the Lakers made an offer.

Vujacic is averaging 8.7 points in 17 minutes of play, and is shooting an impressive 43 percent from beyond the arc. He has hit a lot of crucial three pointers down the stretch this season and has been used effectively in the fourth quarter.

At the beginning of the season, Lakers coach Phil Jackson labeled him an 11 o'clock shooter—he could shoot the lights out at the pre-game shoot-around, but come game time he wasn't hitting half as much.

Vujacic has kicked this tag, and has developed throughout the year to become a very capable backup guard to compliment Kobe Bryant.

I'm undecided as to whether Vujacic can get any better, and if it’s worth signing him on a long term contract or a one or two-year contract and see how he develops.

Miami Heat Should Be Punished for Giving Up on Season

Jason O — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:03:30 -0400

Should the Miami Heat be punished for the garbage they are producing this season?

They have set records for all of the wrong reasons, and appear to have completely given up on this season and looking ahead to the draft.

First, the Heat lost 15 games in a row, and more recently Miami scored just 54 points in their loss to the Toronto Raptors 96-54, which is the 3rd lowest point total in the shot clock era, only the 1998-99 Bulls (49 points against Miami) and the 2002-03 Nuggets (53 points against Detroit) have scored fewer points in a game.

But on Sunday the Miami Heat set their own record by making just 17 of their 59 field goal attempts in their loss to Boston, which is the lowest all time in the shot clock era.

For the third time in franchise history the Miami Heat have lost 60 games in a season. With nine games remaining, its all-time record of futility could be eclipsed.

Dwyane Wade has a legitimate reason to not be playing with all the problems he has had with his shoulder in the last two seasons, but the Marion injury is suspicious.

The Heat want to guarantee that number one pick in the draft this year, to most likely add Michael Beasley to their line up. Marion will most definitely opt out of his contract at the end of the season and search for a new team, so are the heat allowing him to fake an injury so they don’t have to play him?

They now have a good excuse to play these no name players like Blake Ahearn and Kasib Powell which has resulted in them losing 60 games this season already.

The Heat should be given a lower pick in the draft because they have given up on the season, and if given the choice wouldn’t bother turning up on game day.

Pride means nothing to this Heat team.

Other teams like New York and Minnesota are still playing as hard as they can and trying to improve, yet the Miami Heat coach Pat Riley, went on a three-day trip to evaluate top college players.

When a team has no hope of making the play-offs, you would think it would motivate them to finish the season well and try to improve as much as possible before next season. Not the Miami Heat.

What will they be like this time next season?

One draft pick wont change a team straight away. They could yet again be throwing games and faking injuries to get two number one picks in consecutive years.