Bleacher Report - Articles by Ralph Sarkis

The Rise and Fall of the Greatest NBA Dynasties of the Past Decade

Ralph Sarkis — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:22:25 -0400

Over the past decade we have seen many great dynasties rise to make their team the best in the NBA for many years.

Unfortunately a few great ones have fallen back down, replaced by younger, more energetic teams.

One of the best must be the San Antonio Spurs. Led by first David Robinson, aka “The Admiral”, and then by “Mr. Fundamentals” Tim Duncan, they grabbed three NBA titles in the span of four years (2003-2007).

Those three titles could have maybe been four or five, if not for mistakes such as Derek Fisher’s game-winning shot with one quarter of a second left in Game Five of the Western Conference.

Another small mistake that had a huge effect was Manu Ginobili’s foul on Dirk Nowitski, sending a crucial game that they had almost closed into an unneeded overtime period where the Spurs fell short in Game Seven of the Western Conference semifinals.

This year, the Spurs were blessed with promising careers from young players such as Roger Mason Jr. and George Hill. Unfortunately they were also cursed with the big disappointment of Manu Ginobili’s injury, causing him to sit out most of the season.

Many people may think that this is the only reason the Spurs had such little success this playoffs, but I think that there is another very important factor. Bruce Bowen is simply not the clutch three-point shooter or defender he once was.

The days where they would count on him to take care of people like LeBron and Kobe are long gone. Speaking of clutch, does anyone remember how clutch Robert Horry and Brent Barry were? Those two experienced veterans have hit huge shots for the Spurs over the years.

Their numbers may have not been the best, but they always left a mark on Spurs’ games with their deadly three-point shots or just by using their great basketball IQ.

Another great team that has had a lot of success, drama, failure and success again during the past decade has been the LA Lakers. This team won three consecutive NBA titles (2000-02) with the dominance of Shaq in the paint and the outstanding scoring ability of Kobe.

Then the unfixable problems between those two stars resulted with Shaquille O'Neal being traded to the Miami Heat, where he went on to win an NBA title with Dwayne Wade.

Kobe, on the other hand, was left with a series of disappointing seasons, leaving the once-dominant Lakers unable to compete in the Western Conference.

We then witnessed more drama for diva Kobe when he started last season with demanding a trade—and ironically enough it ended with him being voted the NBA’s MVP. He also received great assistance from his old teammate in Derek Fisher and the newly acquired Pau Gasol. This trio led the Lakes all the way to the NBA finals.

One tale that saddens me the most is without a doubt, the horrific story of the Detroit Pistons. This team was dominant to say the least, defeating one of the most dominant one-two-punch duos in recent history.

One of the greatest underdog stories of the last ten years was that of the new-cat-on-the-block Detroit Pistons defeating the then-three-time reigning champions LA Lakers. This team featured Chauncey Billups running the point, Rip Hamilton, one of the best scorers in the league, and two big men that specialized in defense Tayshaun Prince—and Big Ben Wallace.

Rasheed Wallace played the four position. He was one of their most threatening scoring options with incredible range and great post moves and an ability to finish in the paint. Similar to the San Antonio Spurs, this team’s focus was the defensive end—and they showed it.

One memory that will stick with many NBA fans is the great rejection Tayshaun Prince had on Reggie Miller in the closing seconds of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals in 2004. One other thing NBA fans will not forget is the dominance of Big Ben Wallace.

A short player for his position Wallace sure showed that he was up to it. He covered Shaquille O'Neal in the 2004 Finals and then again got the best of O'Neal with Miami in the 2005 Eastern Conference Finals, rejecting the big man with a block that made picture of the year.

Much like the Lakers, the Pistons traded one of their biggest stars in Billups, who has now made the Denver Nuggets a serious threat in this year’s playoffs, beating the New Orleans Hornets by 58 points in Game Four.

This left them with Allen Iverson, who refuses to play Piston basketball, and the team that once made the Eastern conference finals for six straight seasons has been swept in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

What does this tell us? It’s quite simple actually—the NBA is now open for any new dynasty willing to take the place of those dynasties. Possible teams to do so are the Celtics, Lakers, Cavaliers, Nuggets, and even teams like the Hawks, Heat, and Bulls.

Those are the teams of the future so don’t be surprised when one day you see teams like the Spurs and Pistons not even in the playoffs. And do me a favor and remember you heard it here first.

Lebron James: Nothing to Be Surprised About

Ralph Sarkis — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:22:24 -0400

Lebron James has gotten, I believe, almost enough recognition as the greatest player today, yet I think that the guy they call the king and the chosen one deserves even more respect from the league.

This monster of a player hit the league by storm with a huge rookie season averaging 20 points, five rebounds, and just under six assists with 5.9. A start like that left everyone not only in Cleveland but all over the NBA wondering how high this kid from high school can fly.

Since then the “Chosen One” never landed. He has done things like lead a talent-lacking Cavs team to the NBA finals. He has also celebrated two NBA All-Star game MVP titles.

He has been named to the all NBA team twice and is now setting the tone for his Cavs to win a title by being a great court general with 38 points, seven assists, and eight rebounds. He has made all NBA fans, regardless of their favorite teams, nothing but witnesses to what he can do.

He has graced the court with performances that no one may have expected this early in his NBA career. One that many will never forget is when he single-handedly defeated the then "top-dog" Detroit Pistons, headlined with an outstanding game five performance scoring Cleveland’s last 25 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.

In contrast to what many people may think, Lebron James is not a scorer. Scorers are people like Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, and even Paul Pierce, last year’s finals MVP. No no no, James is much more valuable than your everyday scorer, he is the team. He is the rebounder, defender, passer, and scorer that everyone is scared to face.

With all this said, many people compare Kobe to Lebron, and I think there shouldn’t be a doubt that Lebron is the better player because 10 out of 10 times in a tied game with seconds left, Kobe will be taking the shot.

On the other hand being a great floor general Lebron will probably take it eight out of those times, simply because he makes everyone around him better, and he gives them confidence. He’s given people like Delonte West and Damon Jones a chance to win the game for the Cavs.

Lebron has many of the same qualities today's NBA greats have. He has Kevin Garnett’s leadership and way of teaching through being an example. He also has Nash’s great talent of taking on the passing role for the Cavs.

Lebron also expresses a Jordan like mentality where he thrives in big games and has no trouble taking the scoring load for the team. With all of this, Lebron James expresses great respect to all people around him.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a player, coach, or referee, Lebron James gives everyone their respect. And if you still didn’t understand the message Lebron is sending, it's plain and simple.

He is the future of the league, and no one is going to top him for years to come. Lebron James is having one of his best season, so please don’t be surprised when he is named, and rightfully so, this season’s MVP.

Phoenix Suns: Something Has To Change

Ralph Sarkis — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:26:00 -0400

When you hear the name "Phoenix Suns" you may still think of the run and gun style that was once perfected under the system of the offensive mastermind that is Mike D’Antoni. Unfortunately, those days are long gone, and now we have a team full of old vets, facing a major identity crisis.

That is something the Phoenix Suns will have to fix before the start of next season, if they want to have the slightest chance in the tough Western conference full of young guns that make Phoenix look...well...plain old. We now see names like Paul, Williams, and Parker as the best point guards in the West and no longer see the back-to-back MVP Steve Nash that we once had in Phoenix.

On the other hand, it is hard not to be impressed by the great effort put forth by Shaquille O’Neal this year. Shaq has had an absolutely rejuvenating season and has gotten back to putting up the huge numbers that he’s been known for his entire career.

Another veteran that has not gotten half of the credit he deserves is Grant Hill. He has been the go-to-guy in the closing seconds of close games for Phoenix and he has impressed many fans. We’ve seen him use his athleticism and court savvy this season which we have not seen from him in some time.

The Suns have learned, though, that to be in the playoffs next season they will need much more than that. One thing they realized throughout the season is that it all starts and ends with defense. Although they have tried to ignore that fact for many years, they now have no choice but to face it and improve their effort on the defensive end.

Another important thing for the Suns is staying healthy. Stoudemire is their All-Star and their most valuable weapon. When he’s not on the court the Suns suffer, both offensively and defensively.

So, Amare, do us all a favor and stick with the goggles for now. The Suns will also have to make a few roster changes, because despite great efforts from many players, the team is not getting any younger.

By roster changes I do not mean moving the future of the franchise, which is Amare Stoudemire. That catastrophe was close to becoming a reality this season right after the All-Star Break. Of course, Amare stayed put in Phoenix and even with his injury I think that keeping him was the best move the Suns made.

Much like last season, the Suns are yet to find a quality point guard off the bench to take some minutes from Nash. Deals involving Nash and/or Shaq, I think, make the most sense, simply due to the fact that no one knows when their stock will drop and they will become devalued.

For example if the Suns were to give Nash to a young team that lacks experience, such as Portland for Jared Bayless and maybe even Rudy Fernandez, then that is something Kerr would have to pull the trigger on because it will make Phoenix a better team in the long run.

O’Neal could also provide leadership and give a young team such as New York a solid center. If New York was to offer David Lee or Al Harrington, the Suns should take such an offer into strong consideration because once again it gives the Suns more than just two seasons as a contender. Nate Robinson is a great player that Phoenix could grab in a trade with New York, and many of us have seen how effective he can be off the bench.

As for the coaching staff, I think Alvin Gentry has not disappointed fans or players. To really see what he has to offer we have no other choice but to wait for an injury-free roster to hit the court for Phoenix.

One more thing: If the Suns don't make any of these improvements by next season then we will be witnessing the end of an era in Phoenix, leaving only the thought of what could have been.

What to Look for in the 2008-2009 NBA Season

Ralph Sarkis — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:19:57 -0400

Last season was memorable to say the absolute least. We witnessed great things such as the Lakers and Celtics becoming the two greatest teams in the league, which was something that no one saw coming.

We also witnessed a huge level of competitiveness among point guards in the league. Many huge trades went down, making the second half of the season that much better.

But yet again, even though it will go down as one of the greatest seasons in NBA history, it is now part of the past. Not to worry NBA fans, next season also promises to be one that will be outstanding.

Why? That’s pretty darn easy to answer. First off, so much speculation is going on to this whole Elton Brand Baron Davis duo. This duo may simply be one of the best the NBA has ever seen.

Elton Brand and Baron Davis duo:

Davis leaving Golden State may be the result of coach Nelson sitting him out the second half of the must win game they had at the end of the season. Nelson then said that was because "He was having a bad game. He was terrible."

Nelson also said that "he was the worst player on the floor, and I told him to take the second half off. He was 2-for-13, we were down 14 points. So I said, 'Hey, let's relax and play some young guys.'"

Nellie old boy, let’s just say that didn’t help you keep your best player and one of the league's best player. Next time when you have no chance of winning the game anyway then JUST LEAVE HIM IN!

That duo may result in a Laker-like turn around season for the Clippers and will also make a huge rivalry between the two LA franchises by finally marking the Clippers as contenders.

Greg Oden’s Arrival:

The Western Conference holds many other mysteries such as the much anticipated arrival of Greg Oden to the NBA. This season, the Blazers were impressive and did shock the whole league by winning a dozen games straight.

This league is now rich with great big men and to be a contender in the tough Western Conference, Oden will need to be dominant on both ends of the floor and he is going to have to match all star performers such as Amare Stoudemire and Pau Gasol.

Bynum and Pau’s future:

Oden isn’t the only big man that will be coming back from injury. Andrew Bynum had a breakthrough season before it unfortunately ended in injury and surgery.

How will he and Pau work together, and could they really be one of the greatest big men duos in the league? Or will this all go south forcing Laker management to trade one of their giants.

If these two full of talent big men can learn how to share the paint and build some chemistry then the Lakers will without a doubt be the greatest NBA team that season and I do believe that they will become world champions, which is something they were so close to this season.

The New York Knicks:

Donnie Walsh is now in charge of the Knicks and he promised so much to the fans and has begun positive moves by firing Isiah Thomas and by hiring D’Antoni as new head coach.

During the draft the Knicks did a move that seemed to be highly disappointing for the fans and those fans are hoping to be proven wrong. Donnie also promised many other moves that will help the team become contenders and that is also something that will be highly anticipated by New York fans.

Will the Sun be Shining?:

I have heard so much about the future of the great Phoenix Suns; some say they're done while others beg to differ. Will Shaq be able to step up to the plate and produce positives for the Suns? Will Amare be able to play a full season at the high level he has gotten us used too?

Will Nash prove to us all that he is still “Two Time League MVP Steve Nash?” How will Porter effect the team’s playing style? And most important of all, will they be able to compete in the tough Western Conference?

The Rookies:

Rose is a Bull, Beasley is part of the Heat, and after a huge trade, OJ Mayo is a Wolf. Will Rose be able to live up to the hype of the first draft pick? How will that change the formation of the Bulls?

Beasley is now part of the Miami Heat that is now packed with Marion, Wade, and Beasley. Is he what they were missing and will he helps put them back at the top notch level they were in 2006?

OJ is another great player in this class of rookies and he may be part of an unexpected turn around season for the Timberwolves that now have Al, Miller, and Mayo which is what a team needs to compete in such a tough conference.

Obviously there are also many other things that the NBA fan will have to look out for such as the Washington Wizards, New Jersey Nets, and Dallas Mavericks, and Yao’s recovery. Yet these stories are ones that deserve special attention and that I believe will have the biggest impact on the league.

NBA Playoffs: Top 10 Leaders

Ralph Sarkis — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 06:40:07 -0400

This season's playoffs have been full of success stories and were full of great teams and performances. In this year's playoffs, we witnessed great trades make a final series no one would have expected at the end of last season.

The Big Three were even bigger then we thought and the Pau steal is something the Lakers should be arrested for. We also saw the Hornets go a long way in the playoffs, while the Spurs were more impressive than anyone expected.

Why was all this? That's easy; it was due to the fact that great leaders have been being there for their team whenever needed. With that said, I believe it's time for another top 10 list, this time ranking the best leaders so far in the playoffs.

10. Joe Johnson:

The Atlanta Hawks this year were the most shocking of all. They pushed a series with the best team in the league to game seven. How could such a thing happen? Two words: Joe Johnson. He was the reason Atlanta was so close to eliminating the C's in what was an exciting to say the least seven game series. Joe is a young leader that will be leading the Hawks for many years to come.

9. Tracy McGrady:

T-Mac was the slim hope in the Houston Rockets; it was his solid play that kept his team in the series for six games. He was the only good player on the Rockets and he managed to survive a sweep and reach a game six against the Jazz, who have more than one great player. His game proved to everyone in the league that next year with a healthy Yao, who knows how big of a contender they will be?

8. Dwight Howard:

The man-child was dominant to say the least in the series against the Raptors by recording two 20-20 games and proving to everyone that he's the most dominant C in the league. It was because of his play that the Magic passed the first round for the first time since the days of Shaq and Penny.

The Pistons, on the other hand were too much for one leader to manage and they fell short simply because they were facing a team full of leaders.

7. Richard Hamilton:

Chauncey Billups has been leading Detroit for many years in the playoffs, but this year he was faced with injury. Someone had to step up for the club and Hamilton answered the called and stepped up big time.

During the playoffs, Hamilton was 47 percent from the field, averaging over 20 points per game. He also shot 91 percent from the line and over 30 percent from the arch. His game was elevated to an even higher level and his performance kept Detroit from almost getting eliminated by the Orlando Magic.

6. Deron Williams:

Deron Williams has evolved into one of the greatest point guards in the league. That was obvious during the playoffs. He was the reason the Rockets were never able to build on their momentum. Every time they started heating up, Derron would come back down the floor and burry a triple. Derron is a young leader that will only get better by time and I do believe he will bring a title to Utah.

5. Lebron James:

LBJ has been drafted as a leader of the Cavs and does so in a great way, game in and game out. Lebron had a series full of beating against the Wiz and he was still able to be a great solid player that made good moves and decisions when it counted most.

For example, the pass to Delonte West for the three in game four with 5.4 seconds left gave them that series and that showed us just how mature Lebron is.

The series against the C’s started slow for James but even when his shots weren't falling he was able to get to the line and make his shots. Game seven of that series was Lebron at his absolute best! He went for 45 points and showed us how much he really wants to win. With Lebron, the Cavs are set for a long time and if I were them I would do all I could to keep such a great leader.

4. Tim Duncan:

You can make a strong case that Duncan is the best PF of all time, but there is absolutely no question about him being a great leader. Duncan showed us that he still is great in game one of the Phoenix series where he had 36 points and scored a clutch three pointer to send the game to double overtime.

Duncan also reflected his leadership skills in the series versus New Orleans when the Spurs closed out the series in game seven in New Orleans. Tim Duncan may be getting older but he has proven to us that he's still got the heart of a champion and that he will always be known for his great performances and leadership he has shown with the Spurs.

3. Chris Paul:

CP3 was a strong candidate for being named MVP this season, and he showed us why in the playoffs. He played solid against the veteran J-Kidd and showed us all that he wasn't going to let Parker get an edge this season just because he was last season's Finals MVP.

He was extraordinary in that series and was just short from sending his team to the conference finals. CP3 exploited Kidd's age in the first round and taught us that he really is one of the best point guard's in the league when he faced with Tony Parker. With CP3, the Hornets I believe will be contenders for a long time coming.

2. Paul Pierce:

The truth has always played at a high level and has been leading the C's for a long time. This season I think that many believed with KG and Ray coming to Boston that that could change. They were wrong.

Pierce has boldly told everyone this season that the Celtics are his team and he always puts the ball in the hole when needed. In game seven of the Cavaliers series, Paul went one on one with Lebron James, who is by far the best SF in the league. He matched Lebron's 45 with a 41 of own and that was his night and it was because of the way he elevated his game to match Lebron that they won that series.

Even though the C's have a Big Three, the fact that they have Paul Pierce as a leader is that much bigger, and it will be his leadership that will decide if they win the title or not.

1. Kobe Bryant:

KB24 is this season's MVP and it is so not because he is a great player. If that was the case, this would be his third or fourth MVP award. This season Kobe became a true leader and remained so during the course of the post season.

Kobe was why the Nuggets got swept and even AI said: “we could have had 10 people and we still couldn’t have stopped him” after his 50 point game. He also proved to us all once again that he doesn’t let injury get in the way when his team needs him, by playing through back problems against the Jazz and ending the series in Utah.

He single handedly brought back his team from first a 20 point deficit and then a 17 point deficit. Those comebacks are something that a leader inspires and expresses on the court whenever his team needs him. Kobe will be the Celtic’s main problem come Finals and Paul will have to match his game or someone will have to step up and stop him which is a job that is virtually impossible.

Kobe has shown us all that he is the best leader in this game because he leads by example and has the greatest passion for the game.

So there it is. When it comes down to it, the playoffs are a war and every good army needs a leader, and today’s NBA is not short of leaders as this post season has taught us.

Phoenix Suns: What Needs To Change?

Ralph Sarkis — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 06:30:50 -0400

All right, so this season may have left the Suns and their fans feeling disappointed. Even with such a blockbuster trade for Shaq, I think it’s safe to say more things should be fixed and changed.

First off, since this league is equipped with so many young point guards, Steve Nash is at a disadvantage.

Also, there are many great point guards who I believe could be traded to the Suns simply because of the minutes they are getting.

For example, Marcus Williams has the ability to become just like Deron Williams. I doubt he will get enough minutes when the Nets have Devin Harris.

If the Suns were to acquire him in some sort of trade, then he would really give the Suns great energy off the bench in the PG position.

Daniel Gibson is also another great PG, as we discovered in last years’ playoffs. He also does not get enough minutes to show us all his abilities.

Also, the league is full of young and athletic point guards who just don’t get time to impress. With an aging Steve Nash, a Phoenix trade for Utah’s Ronnie Price wouldn’t be a bad idea.

During their series with the Spurs, Boris Diaw and Raja Bell showed us something we never knew they could do. In Game 4, I doubt I was the only one impressed by the two young stars.

Bell was explosive for the Suns from absolutely anywhere from the floor, while Boris scored and passed like a veteran. Consistent play from those two players is vital for the Suns' success next season.

Boris Diaw, Barbosa, and of course Amare are the future of the franchise by all means. Barbosa off the bench has always been impressive for the Suns, whether he replaces Nash or Bell. He would always give the opposing team something to worry about.

Diaw, I believe, will shock all of us next season with post play that we have never seen from him before. He will also pass the ball in a way that would make Amare that much better.

As for Amare, he has the biggest responsibility of them all; he was the one that said that the Suns need an offensive leader, and we all know he’s the best one for the job.

Over the summer, Amare will have to improve defensively and will have to keep his shot as great as it was this season. If he does that, he could be a great franchise player and a serious MVP contender for next season.

This all doesn’t mean that those are the only guys that have to step up next season. Many others are of great importance for the team; Steve Nash will have to come back strong and must be ready to make everyone around him great offensive threats.

The improvement of Diaw must be something that Nash should be a part of. Also, I do believe Nash will still be able to perform on a high level. Nash, as I mentioned above, will need strong support off the bench for his position and that will make a world of difference.

Shaquille O'Neal and Grant Hill find themselves in similar positions. They will both need to elevate their game to as far as it could go. Whoever would coach the Suns next year must use Hill and Shaq in the smartest way possible. They are both good enough for around 30-35 minutes per game.

That means that Diaw should start. When Shaq is on the bench, Diaw plays PF and Amare C while Bell steps up for the SF position. Barbosa or Giricek should be ready to play SG.

This all depends on who ends up coaching the Phoenix Suns, Amare’s D and how players are rotated all goes down to him. One thing I would expect is Diaw starting at SF instead of Hill.

The Suns do still have chances for a great season, only if there will be more changes in the roster and in the team defense.

But for the time being, the Phoenix Suns are still a coachless team and that coach will make all the difference. So Steve Kerr, you better get ready to make some positive moves, starting with that position and then hopefully some roster changes for younger stars full of potential.