Bleacher Report - Articles by eric schembri

Celtic Prideless: Rondo Should Miss Game Seven

eric schembri — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:06:58 -0400

Everyone saw the forearm shiver that the Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard laid on the Philadelphia 76ers' Samuel Dalembert the other night, and everyone could assume he was going to get that one-game suspension. But why does he face such a penalty when something just as bad happened that same night and went unreprimanded?

Yes, Howard's elbow was a blatant cheap shot, and he later apologized for it and accepted the game off as his punishment.

But what about the cheap shot that Rajon Rondo delivered to Brad Miller with on the last play of Game Five of the Bulls-Cetlics series?

Rondo, a 6-foot guard with long arms, was trailing the near-7 footer Miller as the newly-acquired Bull drove the lane and with a good two steps on his Celtic defender. Miller extended the ball for the lay-up, putting the rock two or three feet from Rondo's reach.

So Rajon struck Brad clearly in the face, yet was assessed only a normal foul. Had the refs done their job correctly they would have given him a flagrant-1 foul, which is two shots and the ball.

With a better call, I think the outcome of that game could have gone in Chicago's favor.

Then, the very next night in the Miami-Atlanta game, Dwyane Wade was assessed a flagrant-1 for an attempted block on Maurice Evans' fast break.

It might well have been the worst call of thses Playoffs; the refs were just obviously wrong. Wade, who led the league in blocks for players under 6'5", showed no malicious intent on this play. In the replay, he clearly did not push Evans from behind; he simply went for a block and kept his other hand off to avoid the foul.

If that was deemed a flagrant-1, then how could the refs not give Rondo a flagrant-2 when he threw Kirk Hinrich into the scorers' table last night? Apparently, the Celtic point guard simply could not take being boxed out and decided to grab his opponent by the forearm and throw him into a courtside table.

Hinrich took offense, as he should have, and went after Rondo, who was backing up in fear. When the refs went to look at it on the replay, how could they not see malicious intent to injure? He took a crow-hop step and threw someone into the stands!

If Rondo had have received a flagrant-2 (which is what he deserved), there would have been no way for the Celtics to come back and force overtime. Rajon should be suspended for Game Seven if the league wants to be fair about the situation.

Hey, if they can suspend the Defensive Player of the Year for an elbow, then they should suspend the most overrated guard in the NBA for a red-rover-like cheap shot.

It will not surprise me if the league looks the other way on this, though, because of the type of series that it has been. The association wants people to watch, and people will be watching Game Seven after the antics of the last two games.

What should happen is a suspension of Rondo and a blowout win for the Bulls, but what I think will happen is Garnett will suit up and come into the game right after halftime if the Celtics are losing to get the fans into the game.

He will play a few minutes and scream to make the crowd go crazy, but it will do absolutely nothing.

Prediction is the Bulls win by 5 and Heinrich has 17 in the win while Rondo finished with 35 in a losing effort.

Watch game 6 cheap shot-> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NlaJ4Ot-VY

Stephen Curry or Patty Mills: Who Is the Better NBA Prospect after the Showdown?

eric schembri — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:36:29 -0400

After watching the second round game of the Men’s NIT last night, it was clear that the game was exclusively about two people, Stephen Curry and Patty Mills. The game had so much hype about two of the most talked about guards in college basketball and it lived up to it...or did it?

Stephen Curry

When people hear or think of the name Davidson, they think of two things: the team that went far in March last year and Stephen Curry. One of the most touted prospects in the college game today proved he is a tremendous college player.

A "College Player"

The college game is filled with supreme talent and superior athletes, most of whom are not suited to continue at the next level. Stephen Curry is a 6'3" guard who weighs 185 pounds, not the typical build for an NBA guard. Yes, he has one of the quickest, maybe the quickest release in all of college basketball, but does that carry on to the next level?

Compare him to arguably one of the best college players ever in JJ Redick, who was 6'4" and 190. Both players have endless range, but JJ has not been the best pro. It has taken him three years to even see the floor on a consistent basis.

Adam Morrison was the most like Curry, in the fact that both players were on mid-major teams and were the stars of their teams. Both players were the center of attention at every away venue, but Morrison has been traded and does not even sniff the court in LA.

So looking at the game last night, where Curry faced an "average" St. Mary’s team, he did not look so good. Yes, if you look at how many points he scored he did have a good game with 26 points.

If you look closer at the game, he took 27 shots to get those 26 points. That is not evidence of great shooting numbers. Yes, he is the best player on the team, but he has to be: He takes every shot. The next highest shot total on his team was Lovedale who took only nine.

When Curry gets drafted, he will be at most an off shooting guard, but his only chance is on a team without a star on it. On no NBA team will they let any player, let alone a rookie, take around 20 shots. This season he has taken over 20 shots 15 times, and six of the 15 came in a losing effort. He has also taken 30 or more shots twice this season.

He can't be a point guard because he is too turnover-prone, ending last night with six to only five assists. In the season, in 35 games he has only recorded 10 or more assists three times, while in nine games he has recorded five or more turnovers.

In his three seasons at Davidson, he has not shown he can take care of the ball with any consistency. In his freshman year he had 95 assists to 95 turnovers. In his sophomore year, the year he made the NCAA run, he finished the season with 104 assists to 93 turnovers.

Both seasons he was playing as the shooting guard, and this season after losing his point guard he had to take it over. He finished this season with 189 assists and 126 turnovers.

All these numbers, remember, were done mostly against weaker competition in the southern conference. Does he have the potential to become a shooter off the bench, possibly? He is a tremendous talent, but I think his game would be better suited internationally rather than in the NBA.

Patty Mills

No one player has gotten as much attention this last year as Patty Mills. He is the only college player to participate in the Olympics. Yes, he torched the United States when they met in the summer and yes he is from Australia.

Maybe no player in college basketball is as fast as Patty Mills on the open floor and it was evident last night when, after a Davidson basket, he raced from end to end splashing through two Davidson players in the air to finish with a wild reverse layup.

The most well recognized person in Australia, he transformed the campus of St. Mary's in Moraga into an Aussie friendly zone. Chants of "Aussie...Aussie....Aussie" run through the arena when he scores, his passion for the game evident on every fist pump and chest bump. Does all this emotion and love for the game translate into a solid NBA prospect?

Mills, a 6'0", 180-pound guard from Australia, does not have the ideal build for a prototypical NBA point guard, but that will have to be his position at the next level. He showed the world he could compete with the best of the NBA this summer in the Olympics, but that was only in one game. Could he sustain that type of effort and domination over an 82-game schedule?

Had it not been for his wrist injury on Jan. 29, his team would still be playing in the NCAA tournament. He would be this year's Stephen Curry as he dazzled the nation with his crafty moves and quick jumpshot.

Playing in what some call a weak league, the West Coast Conference, Mills does not get the spotlight on ESPN like other big-time schools. The only games that the nation gets to see are the games in which they play inter-conference rival Gonzaga.

Mills most resembles AJ Abrams from Texas in his size and quick release, but with more athleticism and ability to drive the lane and finish with contact. Finishing in the lane might come as a problem in the NBA, with taller and stronger shot blockers who will not just bump you for the foul, but make sure they don’t let you get the shot off.

After the Olympics, Duke coach Mike Kryzyzewski said he was glad St. Mary's is not on their schedule because he did not want to face Mills. Mills provides an extra speed burst that most teams do not have and are not capable of guarding, thus making him un-guardable at the college level. In the NBA, he may be challenged with guards like Chris Paul, Monta Ellis, and Derrick Rose.

Something that stood out last night as a very clear reason why Mills is not ready to jump to the NBA is that he had his career high in assists with 10. As a point guard, your career high should be more than 10 assists.

Mills is a shoot first, shoot second, pass third point guard. However, with the talent level around him at St. Mary's it will be hard to get that assist total higher. Mills is good at getting his shot off quickly, but is sometimes not as accurate. Mills had five games in which he took more than 20 shots, and in every game but three, he took more than 10.

He does take more threes than he should as a point guard, considering he is not the best three-point shooter. In his return from injury in the WCC tournament, he took nine of his 12 shots from three-point range. Returning from a shooting hand injury, it would have been smart to start from the inside and work his way out to get the shooting touch back, but he just kept on shooting.

He will need to work on getting his teammates more involved than he has so far this season, he only has 96 assists and 70 turnovers. As a point guard, especially at the next level, he will need to distribute the ball more and not be a shoot first point guard.

Comparison

Looking at the two mid-major phenoms, even though Mills is a year younger, I feel he will be more effective at the next level, based on his quickness. Curry will have a harder time getting his shot off with a taller defender on him night after night.

Expectation

Both players will leave for the NBA draft because of lack of talent remaining at their schools and both will be late first-round draft picks, with the possibility of Mills going shortly after the lottery.

NCAA Tourney Predictions: LSU Upsets UNC, Tenn Stuns Pitt, and Zags Take Title

eric schembri — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:20:31 -0400

College basketball was at its finest today when the madness of March kicked off at 12 pm Eastern time. There were no surprises on the first day of the NCAA tournament. However, there were a few close calls.

The best days of the tourney are always the first four days, and today was no exception. Nova had the biggest scare of the day when American opened a 14-point lead late in the second half. Memphis was down by six with four minutes left, and Gonzaga was down by 11. However, the better team won all three games.

The most anticipated game for me was UCLA vs. VCU. I have personally seen VCU play this year and was very aware of how they play and what they do. I picked them to beat Duke a few years ago, and I watched in joy as Eric Maynor singlehandedly beat J.J. Redick's team. I picked them to beat UCLA this year, and had they made a few free throws down at the end of the game, they would have won.

The game that might have surprised people today is the Western Kentucky vs. Illinois game. However, it was no surprise to me because I picked them last year and I picked them this year. Illinois was one of the most overrated teams in this tourney, along with Duke and UNC.

As Friday's games are hours away from starting, here are a few predictions. I think tomorrow will go as planned with only a few major upsets. I think Utah St. will stun a lot of people when they edge out Marquette behind their three-point shooting and post presence.

Look for Wisconsin to upset Florida St. However, that should not be considered an upset because Wisconsin is the better team. The only other upset of the day will be Temple over a highly overrated Arizona St. team.

Looking further in the Tourney, look for West Virginia to storm through the West Region into the Final Four, going through Wake to make it. Look for Utah St. to move into the Sweet 16, beating Mizzou to get there.

In a huge stunner, look for an underrated Tennessee team to stun the nation when they beat Pitt in the second round and then Xavier. Maybe the biggest stunner of them all will be when LSU beats UNC in the second round, only to get blown out by Gonzaga.

Look for Syracuse to beat Oklahoma and face Gonzaga to go to the Final Four, where Gonzaga's length will prove too much for the Orange.

Final four: Gonzaga, UConn, West Virginia, and Nova, where UConn and Gonzaga will face off in the finals as a rematch of the overtime thriller a few months ago!

Let's not be so fast to hand UNC the title. With Ty Lawson's toe injury, his coming back to the lineup will cost them a shot at the title, while Psycho T will have nothing to combat LSU's length inside. So when only two No. 1s remain on Monday (UConn and Louisville), don't be shocked!

Why Not Add The "Sheed" Factor?

eric schembri — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:24:21 -0400

Give me a reason why the Warriors should not add Rasheed Wallace to the line-up this off season? I know, I know the main reason is because of his temper. We took a chance on Steven Jackson and hes been okay.

What we need on this team is more toughness! More people like Steven Jackson who thinks he is the best, that swagger he has and not being afraid to take the game winning shot. The confidence to embrace the captain role of the team and go with it and make others believe.

Most important we need a center who can score points! It has been too long since we had a center who produced game in and game out and its about time we focus on offense and not defense. I know this team needs defensive help, probably the most in the league, but one block and five fouls a game is not getting it done anymore.

If you were to ask any NBA fan what do the Warriors do best, they would say shoot the three. So tell me why it doesn't make sense to add a center who can do that? We don't even need to play him at the center position keep him at the power forward.

Rasheed is a tough player who loves the game, he loves to make that shot in your grill and then let you know about it. Imagine Rasheed and Jackson in the line up together, both have three point range and both have tremendous post up games.

Potential line up next yea: Crawford at the point, Ellis at the shooting guard (who needs to work on his shot), Jackson at the small forward, Rasheed at the power forward and either Andris (who should be traded for anything) Turiaf. Coming off the bench you have Maggette, Randolph and Wright (one of the two should be packaged with Andris in a trade).

Just think about that projected lineup, who in the west has the lineup to guard Sheed and Turiaf together? Lakers with a healthy Gasol and Bynum that's about it.

Who Will Stop Don Nelson from Destroying the Golden State Warriors?

eric schembri — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 13:40:08 -0500

Days after news hitting the media about Monta Ellis wanting out in Golden State, the starting point guard spot is now in question. Reports say that Don Nelson has informed Jamal Crawford that if he does not opt out of his remaining two year contract this offseason, he will be traded.

Lets just recap the last few weeks of what Nelson has done to this team. He has ticked off Ellis, the starting shooting guard, and has him missing team photos. Then, he manages to anger the only player who has been consistent for the Warriors this year in Jamal Crawford.

I am a die hard Warriors fan and this to me just pisses me off. Tell me why Warriors management is putting up with this?

In the Contra Costa Times, the same article that reported Nelson giving the ultimatum to Crawford, says that management does not feel the same way as Nelson does about Crawford.

This is perfect. We have the coach and management not on the same page. We have the coach who does not want to be here, who is only here to make money and try and get the all-time wins record.

So how long will management put up with Nelson's antics and destroying the team? How many players will the Warriors lose because Nelson simply does not like young talent?

With the most different starting lineups in the NBA this season, Don Nelson has managed to take a team with the most potential in the NBA to a laughing stock. I wonder if he flips coins to see who is going to start each game because he will go five to seven games without playing Marco or Anthony and then all the sudden start them for three games.

With this season already gone by, the Warriors have BIG decisions to make this offseason. The first thing that needs to be done is fire Don Nelson, or else, say goodbye to all the talent on the roster.

Secondly, Biedrins needs to be traded to the East because he does not have the talent to compete in the West.

If the Warriors continue on this pace this season, they are in for another lottery pick who will ride the bench for a few seasons before ever seeing the floor under Nelson.

Bulldogs-Huskies: Who Has the More Dominant Dog?

eric schembri — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:24:46 -0500

With the recent loss to Arizona, will the Zags rebound and remain confident to defend a neutral court against the No. 2 team in the nation in the UConn Huskies?

The question of the night will be at the center position as the Gonzaga Bulldogs go where Josh Heytvelt takes them. Averaging just around 15 points a game, if he can win the battle with Thabeet, the Zags will be victorious. Last game, Heytvelt struggled and had only six points in the loss to Arizona.

On the other hand, if Thabeet gets Heytvelt into early foul trouble, look for UConn to take advantage and pound the ball inside, racking up fouls on the frontcourt players for the Zags.

Another question will be the point guard matchup with Jeremy Pargo and Jerome Dyson. Whoever can manage there team to play the game they want to play will be victorious. Both point guards will look to take over the game if it becomes a foul shooting contest in the second half.

Wild card: for UConn—A.J Price. For Gonzaga—Austin Daye.

In the end, if Heytvelt has 15 or more points, the Zags will win. On the other hand, if Thabeet has 15 or more rebounds, UConn will be victorious.

Final score: Look for the Zags to win a high pace, high scoring game 67-61.

Time To Part Ways With Nellie

eric schembri — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:05:56 -0500

It is time to make changes in Oakland! How much longer will the front office sit back and watch Don Nelson destroy this team. A team that upset the No. 1 seed only a few years ago. He has taken a team that was finally used to winning and destroyed it from the ground up.

It started during the off season when he was not sure if he was going to come back as head coach. Him taking the time to ponder his decision left Chris Mullin's hands tied as he had to sit back and wait for Nellie to make a decision. He could not fire the coach he hired and who had made playoff history. Well Mullin the time is here and the clock is ticking.

It seems as if the Warriors are on the edge of utter disaster. The longer Chris Mullin holds on to Nellie the more jeopardy his job gets. Already with what has happened this season Mullin sure is on the hot seat, especially with the recent departure of Al Harrington. If we turn the clock back a bit, I wonder if Al would have been willing to stay in Oakland and play as hard as he is with the Knicks had we just made a coaching change?

Time after time the warriors react to a situation only after they are 10 steps behind the game. I am tired of watching this team self-destruct, especially with the talent level we have here.

How many different starting line-ups will Nelson go through before he finds ones? With the youngest team in the NBA I dont think it is a good thing that he jumble the starting line-ups with young players who already have confidence problems.

If Nelson does not start changing his style very soon he will be enjoying life on a beach in Hawaii, or maybe he wants that? Could it be that Nelson is simply trying to destroy the Warriors? I have asked myself that many times over the last few years and I am beginning to believe I am right.

It hit the climax last season in the last game of the season where Nellie refused to put Baron Davis in the game in the second half in a must win game. How many people were shouting at the TV to put him back in, and nothing happened. Then the off season hit and with Baron already pissed off at Nelson it was an easy choice for him to opt to go to LA and give Nellie the back of his head on the way out.

Then this year with his substitution patterns, my gosh, it's killing me to watch. I wonder if he flips a coin on players minutes or forgets his own personnel. It seems as if a player is rewarded with a great performance the game before with a two week stint on the pine.

I do not see this current Warriors team being successful with the pieces we have. With the trade deadline coming fast we need to consider getting rid of garbage. Send Corey 'i cant play through any pain' Maggette to Miami for Shawn Marion. His contract expires at the end of the season and who know what can happen. Chicago wants to part ways with Kirk Heinrick, although he is hurt he could be a better point guard injured then CJ 'can only hit a mid range' Watson.

Denver has made a move to make itself the new power in the West behind the Lakers, again the Warriors are 10 steps behind the curve and struggling to stay above water. When Ellis comes back there will be no reason to rush to to play or even play him because by then we will be 30 games out of the playoff picture!

As a member of Warriors faithful it is killing me to watch Nelson run this team back to the years where a 20-win season was considered a decent year. We need to start top to bottom with this team and eliminate the bad seeds.

If Mullin wants to keep his job and he wants to be responsible for the personnel he has brought in then let him take over the team for the remainder of the season. If he can't win with the players "he" has picked then he should no longer be with the organization.

Golden State Warriors: The Missing Golden Link

eric schembri — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:25:52 -0500

Every year it seems the Warriors are a single piece away from winning it all.

Not always a big piece, but a unique piece seems to elude them every season. The missing piece is always evident to spectators and fans, but seems to go unnoticed in the front office.

The Warriors are only 17 games into the season, and it is already clearly evident as to what it is that they need: Physical "toughness." The Warriors are a team built of youth, a roster of 10 players who have “potential” down the road. That "P" word should not be allowed when mentioned in the same sentence as a team.

How many years will the Warriors draft on "potential" and the fact a player has a "great upside?" Besides the Knicks, it seems like the Warriors are the only team in rebuilding mode year after year.

Get out of rebuilding mode and make a move to win a championship. Stop paying under valued players who contribute "potential upside and growth."

We have all seen what happens in a single season when a team goes for the "win it all" mentality. The Boston Celtics went from a team struggling to make the playoffs to NBA champions and one of the most dominant teams since Michael and Bulls.

This season is already close to being over for the Warriors, being without their best player (Ellis) for 30 games, and starting 5-11. The Warriors are a team of 6'6" forwards who all do the same thing.

Letting Baron Davis go, who was a beast of a guard, to get a forward of the same size and build, Corey Maggette, they spent more money than would have been necessary to keep the heart and soul of their current team.

Let’s look at there draft picks recently. Patrick O’Bryant: What in the heck were they thinking? He has a semi good game for a decent team who made a run in the NCAA tourney.

Every year, a team goes on a run in the NCAA tourney and makes the whole world know about a player nobody had ever heard of. Last year it was Stephen Curry and how great he is, and blah, blah, blah.

He is a pretty good college player on a bad team which made a run when they needed it. Put any player on a team and let him take as many shots as he does, and tell me he won’t put up the same numbers.

After the horrendous pick of O’Bryant, there was the trade of Jason Richardson for another player of the same build, 19-year-old Brandon Wright, who has limited offensive game, but infinite "P" word.

I almost understood what Mullin was thinking when he made the trade.

1. Younger, more athletic, and bigger then Richardson.

2. Less money.

Then I think about it even more: Why trade our go-to guy for an unproven rookie with infinite potential? If we had a defensive-minded coach like a Larry Brown, I might see where this was going, but not with Nelson, who sits on the bench with the same stoic look from start to finish.

Then I think about it even more. OK. So you traded for a younger talent, and you praise him so much, he must be ready to start playing substantial minutes.

Nope.

He rides the bench like every other rookie selection under Nelson.

If you think Wright is the worst of it you are mistaken.

A year later, you draft another 19-year-old who had a decent year on a decent team. He is an exact replica of the year before.

Brandon Wright and Anthony Randolph are two players who do the exact same on the court.

Why waste a draft pick on what you already have? Again, he rides the bench. Why select him in the first place?

Just because you have a draft pick does not mean that you have to keep the draft pick and pick a player just for the heck of it. Trade the draft picks and get a proven veteran player to play with the best young talent you already have.

Back to what the Warriors are missing to contend for this year is toughness. Chris Mullin and the front office need to show some effort, like they actually care that their jobs are on the line.

They need to trade for Rasheed Wallace. Now you might think it is a crazy move, however look at what he does best. He shoots 3-pointers and defends the paint. Tell me that does not fit into what the Warriors do and lack.

Pair him with Stephen Jackson on the court and we have the toughest front line in basketball. Two players who won’t back down from anyone and who HATE to lose or let someone get the better of them.

Why Detroit would not want to do this is beyond me. If you look at the pieces on its roster, with the addition of Iverson, they want to run the court more and fast break.

That’s perfect; we have 10 players who run the floor. We could simply give them Wright or Randolph. To make things wild, we could package Belinelli, who doesn’t play, along with Wright and Randolph for Wallace and Prince.

Adding those two players to our lineup would make us contenders the moment they touch the floor. Ellis and Jackson in the backcourt, along with Prince, Wallace, and Biedrins in the frontcourt, then with Maggette coming off the bench.

Golden State Warriors Display Worst Effort in Team History

eric schembri — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:57:50 -0500

It’s about time, that’s all I have to say.

If you are a Warriors fan like me, you have experienced two consistent things over the last 10 years.

First, you have a horrific start to the season which puts the Warriors in a hole for the rest of the season.

Second, the part that eats away at me the most, are the great endings to the season.

Year after year, the Warriors continue to end the season on a high note—making Warriors fans feel like next year is the year, and that this team is actually coming together. They always end the last 20 games of the season on a run like 15-5 or something around there.

Looking back at last year, when the season was on the line we once again floundered the situation. We put our best player on the bench for the whole second half.

One player who single handily won games for us when the game was on the line. So what concluded from this scenario? The trading of our best player.

For the time being, it looks like the trade was good because the Clippers are one of the worst teams in the NBA. However Baron would have stayed and produced on a team HE built, a team without a point guard.

Let’s get back to the first part of what kills Warriors fan year after year—the start of the season. After watching the pathetic display again New York the other day, I feel like the season is already over, and it kills me. How do you let David Lee score at will?

I'll repeat his name, because I know many people have no idea who he is because he is an average player at best playing on a bad team—David Lee. Not to mention former teammate Al Harrington looking like an All-Star every time he touched the ball.

I have witnessed over the years many games where I have seen lack of effort or willingness to try and get better throughout the game, but what I saw against New York has set a new standard.

How many times will they shoot an air ball before they realize they need to drive to the basket? How many times in a row will someone have to run a pick n role on you before you learn how to defend it? How many points did JUAN DIXON have in the game? (It was under 10 because he can’t score, all he can do is pass.)

I was sitting at home in a lazy boy recliner and I could see the play coming time after time. At what point do the players on the court learn that the same play is coming again and maybe—just maybe—try defending it a different way then the 20 times before.

I'll move on, because I could talk about the pick-n-roll all day, but where is the effort and passion when someone scores on you or embarrasses you?

Let's go back a week. Al Harrington wants out of Oakland because he is not scoring enough or playing enough. He is sent home and the media is told he has a bad back, then he is traded and the back is fine. Okay, I can deal with that.

Saturday comes along and what do you know? We're playing New York—the team he was sent to. Already before the game, the Warriors players should be pissed off and ready to come out and embarrass him for quitting on their team.

If this was a college team, the crowd would have signs and the players would come out in the media and say they were going to get him and make him realize what he left. But because this is an NBA team, all the players feel entitlement to being on the team, and don’t care about winning or losing as long as they are getting paid.

I was expecting someone to take it personally that Harrington left the team high and dry and maybe try to go out and play a physical game with maybe—I don’t know—some defense?

I was waiting for someone to get angry when they were dunked on or blown by on a drive.

Not one person on the court showed any emotion or willingness to compete against a worthless team. With the exception of Stephan Jackson, no one gets pumped up after making a few shots in a row and wants to go for the throat.

When the Warriors made the trade for Jackson I was worried that he would not fit in, that he would try to just complain about every call and attack anyone fan or player who disagreed.

I was wrong. He is the best player on this team and he is the ONLY one who cares out on the court. He needs to yell at his teammates and get them to play with the same passion he plays with every game.

Until he becomes the leader he could be and lights a fire under this team, when Monte comes back 30 games into the season, they will be 10-20.

Manny Goes West to Join Dodgers

eric schembri — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:53:55 -0400

Manny Ramirez has been traded to the Dodgers in a three-team trade that has now sent Jason Bay to replace him in the outfield in Boston. In return for Bay, the Pirates have received four minor leaguers.

Manny, who has said he loves the fans, touched a nerve with the Boston front office and forced their hand into a trade. A trade that may soon come to bite them in the playoffs if the Dodgers breeze through the NL West like expected.

Ramirez joins an already dangerous L.A. team who now have the fire power to pull away from the other pathetic NL West teams.

This move now puts the Dodgers as a contender in the NL behind the Brewers and Cubs.

Golden State Warriors vs. L.A. Clippers: Drama Between the Teams Hits New Level

eric schembri — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:15:46 -0400

From the second Kevin Garnett held the NBA Championship trophy in his hands at center court in Boston, the Clippers have been a pain in the Warriors side. Today, the LA Clippers offered Kelenna Azubuike a three-year deal, giving the Warriors seven days to match it.

If NBA fans are like me, they are tired of the cat and mouse games being played by these two Western Conference teams. Someone needs to tell them that there are more than two teams in the NBA with free agents.

Since the Clippers acquired Warriors leader Baron Davis, it has been nothing but a personal battle between GM Chris Mullin and the Clippers management.

So, Davis turned his back on the city that gave him a shot and resurrected his career. Get over it Mullin! No, Mullin could not walk away from letting Davis get the best of him. What does Mullin do? He offers max deals to Elton Brand and former Warrior Gilbert Arenas.

Now ask yourself—why would Mullin do that?

Simply put, to piss off Baron Davis. Mullin knew that offering a max deal to Gilbert Arenas would strike a nerve with Davis. Arenas, who only played in 13 games last season because he underwent knee surgery, was given a five-year $101 million contract.

That was a "take that" memo to Davis, and the message was piercingly clear. Then it became personal when Mullin offered Davis's good friend and would-have-been-teammate Elton Brand a max deal.

Brand, who was contemplating the deal worth up to $90 million, decided to stray away from the money and the Bay Area, and go east, leaving his good friend Davis on an inferior team then when he arrived.

Brand's bolt from L.A. and Davis' departing the Bay Area were a good ending to a peculiar tale of events. It didn’t end there; in fact, it was simply beginning.

Hours later, the Warriors turned their attention to fellow Clipper Corey Maggette, offering him a deal that would surely cripple the Clippers chances this season. Then it was completed—Maggette was now a Warrior and Davis was left on a team by himself.

This moment must have felt astonishing to Mullin, knowing he got the better of Davis in the end. Then on July 17, 2008, the Clippers—Warriors saga entered a new stage.

The L.A. Clippers offered prominent Warriors D-Leaguer Kelenna Azubuike a three-year deal worth up to $9 million. After losing Pietrus to the Magic, the Warriors would lose another guard after refusing to match the offer. This was the final stage in the drama between the two teams—last year's first round pick Marco Belinelli replaced Buike.

However, with all additions and subtractions between the Clippers and the Warriors this off-season, all would not be complete without the Lakers entering the equation.

July 18 marks the seventh, and last, day for the Lakers to match the Warriors offer to Ronny Turiaf. The Lakers, who have not said anything about matching, will have to pay the luxury tax on Turiaf if they choose to re-sign him. The tax for the Lakers on the $17 million deal is $17 million, which means the Lakers would have to pay double for him.

The madness in the Warriors organization this summer is building up for a blockbuster ending. With top returnees Ellis and Biedrins not signed yet, one wonders if the Clippers would taunt the Warriors again and offer both of them a deal?

Either way, it plays out, because Oracle Arena will be buzzing when the Clippers come to visit next season. As for Davis, he will return to the Bay Area for a villain-type welcoming.

Golden State Warriors: Lakers' Turiaf Offered Multi-Year Deal From Warriors

eric schembri — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:54:05 -0400

The Golden State Warriors and Chris Mullin are again in the news. Ronny Turiaf has now been offered a four year contract from the Warriors—the Lakers have seven days do match the offer.

Unless Chris Mullin is signing Turiaf to a multi-year deal as a bench player, he is not giving Biedrins confidence in staying a Warrior. With both Ellis and Biedrins not being signed yet, every move Chris Mullin does will be closely watched by these two players.

Turiaf, who was a star at Gonzaga University, will thrive in this fast break system, but is he going to make the difference to make the Warriors a contender?

Not likely.

Mullin needs to focus this summer and shock the world with a trade—maybe Harrington and Biedrins for a Rasheed Wallace or Tayshaun Prince.

The Warriors need to make a splash like Boston did last year to be successful this year.

Golden State Warriors: Chris Mullin, What Are You Doing to The Warriors?

eric schembri — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:54:49 -0400

I am going to keep this short and sweet, because I am embarrassed to be a Warriors fan at the moment. I have been and will always be a Warriors fan, but right now what the **** is Chris Mullin and the front office doing!?

First, you piss Baron off and he leaves for LA. Okay, reasonable but stupid on our (Chris Mullin) part.

Then, you have yet to give Ellis a contract, what can possibly be the hold up?

Then, you let Pietrus sign with the Magic. WHY? He was our best on-ball defender, and was the most athletic person on the team.

Then, the worst news of the off season, signing Corey Maggette from the Clippers. What is Chris Mullin thinking? Maggette does not fit in our system. He takes 10 free throws a game, and likes a half court set.

After missing out on Garnett last summer, it seems that Chris Mullin has lost his mind and is in a state of panic. Now, look for Ellis to hit the road, because unless the Warriors sign a big name who can actually help us next season, Ellis will be gone.

Finally, every team in the West has gotten better this off season, either in the trade or in free agency. But who is the only team that has gone backwards? Yup, your Golden State Warriors.

With the current roster and the difficulty in the West this year I expect the Warriors to finish 12th or 13th in the West, and not even sniff the playoffs, and that KILLS me to say.

CHRIS MULLIN! WAKE UP AND SMELL THE DIRTY AIR IN CALIFORNIA, AND MAKE A MOVE. SHOW SOME B*LLS AND GET JACKSON SOME PEOPLE TO PLAY WITH!!!!

Golden State Warriors: Baron Davis Opts Out Of Contract

eric schembri — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:06:39 -0400

Baron Davis opts out of his contract forgoing 17.8 million next season. Davis arguably the best Warrior all last season, has now stabbed Warrior fans in the back with this decision.

There are two possibilities.....

He signs with the NY Knicks making a solid point guard and bait for Lebron in 2010.

The more likely possibility is that Davis will sign with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, making the best backcourt in the NBA. Davis an LA native who would love to play in his home town, and with the MVP Kobe Bryant.

The last possibility is very unlikely, and that would be re-signing with the Warriors for less money so they can land a high profile free agent.

Either way, with this decision leaves Bay Area fans are in a state of panic!

NBA Finals: Who Really Lost Game Four, Kobe Bryant Or Phil Jackson?

eric schembri — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:13:13 -0400

There have been some memorable collapses in the NBA—the most recent being the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors dismantling of the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks. However, last night's debacle of the Lakers might just top the charts.

The Lakers ended the first quarter up by 21 points over the Celtics—something the Celtics had over the Lakers in the fourth quarter of Game Two. The Celtics have received much criticism in these playoffs because of their letting up and allowing teams back in the game. But last night proved Boston is not alone in that reagrd.

In the first quarter, not only were the Lakers were up by 21 points—Lamar Odom was untouchable. The Lakers offense seemed to be running on all cylinders. while the Celtics defense was non-existent. Boston missed layup after layup and countless open jump shots.

The Lakers stayed with the game plan from Game Three, and decided that putting Kobe on Rondo was the best option on defense. Kobe simply played off Rondo, daring him to shoot jump shots—which he took only once.

The onslaught continued in the second quarter, even after a push by the Celtics to cut the lead to 12. The foul trouble for Kevin Garnett limited his minutes in the first half‚which allowed Lamar Odom to have his way.

A last minute decision by Phil Jackson to insert Jordan Farmar seemed to pay off when Farmar connected on a last-second three-point attempt to end the half. It seemed everything was going in favor of the Lakers, and Phil was making all the right moves.

In the third quarter, the Lakers pushed the lead to 24 before the unthinkable happened. Celtics coach Doc Rivers made a move that may have won him a championship—he inserted Eddie House in place of Rondo. Rivers also decided to go small, and spread the floor with Posey and House on the floor together.

Now with three Boston shooters on the court (Posey, House, and Allen) the lane became open for Pierce to drive and Garnett to impose his will on the low block.

With the Celtics defense picking up and the Lakers offense beginning to struggle, the 'black hole' effect began to take place. Kobe Bryant found out that his teammates were not carrying the slack, and felt the need to take over. With Vujacic forcing shot after shot and Kobe driving one-on-five, the Celtics ended the third on a 21-3 run cuttin the 24-point deficit to only two.

The fourth quarter was where Phil, a nine-time NBA champion, lost the game for his team. He limited Lamar Odom's minutes, who was the spark that ignited the first-half beating.

Instead, Phil went to 'The Machine' Sasha Vujacic off the bench in place of veteran and three0time NBA champion Derek Fisher. Fisher, who was 4-5 on the night with 13 points, should have been on the floor as Kobe's wing man instead of the Slovenian three-point launcher.

With the Celtics keeping pace, and eventually taking the lead in the middle of the fourth quarter, Kobe felt the need to start taking over. But in this game, Boston's defense was just too much for Kobe to overcome.

The hidden truth to the Lakers collapse—besides Odom and Fisher riding the pine in the second half—was the poor bench production of the Lakers. While Eddie House dropped in 11 points and Posey 18, no Laker bench player had more then six. Sasha Vujacic the so called 'hero' of Game Three, going 1-9 on the night. Jordan Farmar was the only spark off the bench—aside from limited minutes by Trevor Ariza, who finished with six points.

With the lacklustre bench production of the Lakers and superb production of the Celtics, the show was stolen by Ray Allen. Soon to be the Finals MVP, Allen has been the most consistent Celtic player in the finals. His Jordan-esque reverse layup was the shot that propelled the Celtics comeback.

With the game on the line and 20 seconds to go, it was the Celtics' ball. Who takes the shot? Ray Allen, who he dribbled the ball up top waiting for his teammates to space the floor.

Allen was one on one with Vujacic. With a hesitation dribble that wouldn't have faked out a fifth grader, Allen simply blew by Vujacic, and layed it up with absolutely no resistance from the help-side defense.

The game's final memory was the temper tantrum on the bench displayed by Sasha Vujacic. His teary-eyes and punching of the chair sums up the frustration build up inside of Bryant all season, which will take shape in Game Five.

The question is which Kobe will show up in game 5? The gunner who can score 45, or the passer we saw a few years ago against Phoenix?

Either way, look for the Celtics to sustain their defense all game—and for a last-minute series winner by Allen.

NBA Finals: Why Game 3 Was Sasha Vujacic's Last Dance

eric schembri — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:10:03 -0400

If you have watched a Lakers game this year, then you already know who runs that team: Kobe Bryant.

To the common viewer, the game seems normal. However, a closer look exemplifies the spectacular moves made by the best player the game has ever seen: Kobe Bryant.

Hidden behind all the spectacular moves made by Bryant is the armature play of small forward Sasha Vujacic.

His game is the most predictable of any in the NBA. His game is simple: shoot the three. Everyone seems to know that except for the Celtics. They seemed to forget that he loves to shoot from behind the three-point line and will do anything to remain there.

If for some reason he catches the ball and does not jack it the second it touches his hands, then he will take his usual one dribble to the left and hop back to shoot the three.

As shown in Game 3, his first touch of the game was a forced brick off the backboard because of quick pressure in his face. He then went on to set a playoff career high because the Celtics decided to leave him open and not make him drive to the rim.

Show me one time where he took it to the rim hard. You won't find any.

In his three previous seasons, he was known as a "10:30 player," meaning he made his shots in the shootaround and not in the game. Now he seems to change his tune and give himself a nickname. He now would like to be known as 'The Machine'. Are you kidding me?

If you are like me, you laughed and rewound the tivo at the end of the third quarter when Eddie House set a pick on Sasha and Sasha flipped out.

He not only flew 10 feet like he got hit by a truck, but he then got in the face of House as if he was going to do something. Sasha, shut your mouth and continue jacking threes.

If you think Kobe is going to pass you the ball with the game on the line, your nuts. So I hope you have plenty of extra parts to "The Machine," because Game 4 is going to break you.

NBA: Western Conference Supremacy Up For Grabs in 2009

eric schembri — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:00:59 -0400

What a year this past season was in the Western Conference, with nine teams fighting for eight spots. Nine games separated the best record in the West (Lakers) from the first team left out of the playoffs (Warriors).

Coming off a year where competition fierce every night, it makes for an outstanding season next year. Looking team by team, the Lakers are poised to top the West again in 2009.

1. L.A. Lakers

Kobe Bryant...Kobe Bryant...Kobe Bryant...Enough said. Arguably the best player in NBA history carried his team to the finals this year without injured center Andrew Bynum.

With the addition of Pau Gasol in February, the Lakers on paper have quite the starting five next season: Derrick Fisher at the point (who will soon be replaced by Jordan Farmar), Kobe (33 shots a game) at the off guard, then LA could get tricky by playing Odom at the small forward and moving Gasol to the forward/center role.

This would leave one spot open. Should the Lakers use Bynum as trade bait to bring in another experienced player, someone like a Tayshaun Prince from Detroit would move Gasol to the center position.

However, if Kobe Bryant decides his team is better suited with Bynum on the team, we could be looking at Gasol and Bynum on the floor together. In the meantime expect the same team next season with the Lakers only have a second round pick in this year's draft.

2. Utah Jazz

Coming off a disappointing playoff series in which Carlos Boozer was nonexistent, the Jazz are in prime position to steal second place in the Western Conference next season.

A team that lost only 4 games at home all regular season last year will be back with a more experienced group lead by Deron Williams. With Jerry Sloan's hard nosed, defensive, slow-paced game, it could cause problems for most teams in the West who want to get out and run.

The key addition of sharp shooting Kyle Korver will complement starters Deron Williams, Ronnie Brewer, Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur. Keep your eyes open for hard nose players like Ronnie Price, Paul Millsap and veteran Matt Harpring. With a solid bench, tough experienced starting five, and an outstanding home record, watch out for the guys from Utah.

3. Golden State Warriors

I did it, I fell for the Warriors again, but next season they are on a mission. Starting the season 1-6 without Captain Stephen Jackson in the line-up put Golden State in a situation that they could not recover from.

Say Jackson played in those games and the Warriors went oh say, 3-4. They are in the playoffs as a No. 7 seed. Coming off a disappointing season winning 48 games and missing the playoffs, the Warriors look primed to make the big dance.

However, key offseason moves must be made. Coach Nelson has been signed but the key to next season rests with the starting backcourt. Should Baron Davis opt out and Monte Ellis not re-sign, the Warriors could be in trouble.

On the other hand, if Davis does come back and Ellis re-signs, you are looking at the highest trio of points per game average alongside Steven Jackson. With Davis getting older, the Warriors need to look to find a backup point guard to take minutes away from him.

A good fit might be to make a deal that would acquire Kirk Hinrich from Chicago for bench players Matt Barnes and a second round pick.

With Andris Biedrins a free agent, look for the Warriors to draft a mobile center who can run the floor and play defense. With the 14^th overall pick, look for the Warriors to take JaVale McGee from Nevada.

However, should the Warriors resign Biedrins don't count out the possibility of a sign-and-trade to get the backup point guard.

Bench inconsistency was the Warriors' downfall this season; however, look for Marco Belinelli to get more minutes this season in place of Matt Barnes.

Also with D-League sensation Kelenna Azubuike, Mickael Pietrus and last year's first-round pick Brandon Wright, look for the Warriors to thrive in a fast paced Western Conference.

4. New Orleans Hornets

No longer underwater, Chris Paul and the Hornets had a magical run this season to finish second in the Western Conference behind the Lakers.

Next year however, things will be a lot different in the West. Chris Paul will no longer dominate the pick-and-roll, because teams will no longer leave Tyson Chandler uncovered for the easy alley-oop.

Teams will realize that David West had a fluke season and will no longer allow him an open 15-foot jumper. The defending NBA champs realized that, allowing Chris Paul to get his points while face-guarding Peja on the three-point line disrupted the team's flow.

With veteran Bonzi Wells and Jannero Pargo coming off the bench, getting any Hornet starter in foul trouble is a plan for success. With the Hornets having a late first round pick, it will enable them to strengthen an already weak bench.

A player like Ryan Anderson from California would fit the methodical half court game, as well as the fast break style that has been the norm in the West.

With no second round picks in this year's draft, look for the Hornets to acquire a veteran player or a young up-and-coming player from possibly from an already overtalented team like Chicago.

5. San Antonio Spurs

The defending NBA champs from last year are one of the oldest teams in the league, and it showed in the playoffs this year. Veterans like Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan are not enough to keep pace in the West. A lineup with only three scorers will not get it done in a highly contested Western Conference.

Bruce Bowen, a lockdown defender, is not a scoring threat along side Frabricio Oberto who simply gets garbage points around the basket. Look for the Spurs to make drastic changes this off-season by dumping veteran players like Robert Horry, Michael Finley, Damon Stoudamire, and Jacque Vaughn to get younger more talented players.

They will start the youth movement in San Antonio in the draft with late first- and second-round picks. Look for the Spurs to look for lock down defensive players with scoring capabilities, like Brandon Rush from Kansas in the first round.

With the second-round pick, look for Gregg Popovich to look for a backup point guard with the release of Stoudamire and Vaughn. A solid choice would be Drew Neitzel from Michigan State. With the Spurs in a transition year, don’t expect them to miss the playoffs, but count them in the middle of the West come May.

6. Phoenix Suns

With the Big Cactus being acquired late in the season, Phoenix tried to match the deal made by Lakers with Pau Gasol. However, a 7-footer running the break with Steve Nash isn’t exactly what Suns fans want to see.

A presence in the paint, O’Neal anchors the defense from the lane out to the 3-point line. However, Steve Nash and Shaquille O’Neal are one year older than last season, and hobbled Grant Hill just has not been the same since his knee injury.

The Suns will need a deep bench to compete up and down the court each night. With a solid starting five beginning with Amare Stoudemire and O’Neal down low with Nash, Raja Bell and Diaw up front, the bench and style of play leave some wondering if the Suns belong in the playoff race.

With an untested bench led by Leandro Barbosa, the Suns will look for last year's picks, D.J. Strawberry and Alando Tucker, to get significant playing time behind Nash and Bell.

With the Suns holding the 15^th pick in this year draft, look for the Suns to do most of their off season work in the draft, going after a backup for Nash like D.J. Augustin from Texas. With their second-round pick, look for the Suns to go after a defensive-minded center to back up O’Neal, like a DeVon Hardin from California.

Any team with Shaquille O’Neal on it cannot be counted out of the playoffs, but with a new coach and older players, it should be interesting to see if they can all stay healthy.

7. Portland Trail Blazers

That’s right, I said it: the Portland Trail Blazers in the seventh spot in the West. They were a depleted team this season, finishing at .500 without last year's No. 1 pick, Greg Oden.

One of the youngest teams in the league centered on point guard Brandon Roy and forward LaMarcus Aldridge, and Oden will step in the middle comfortably between the two stars.

With last season's addition of Steve Blake, the Blazers have a firm backcourt of Blake and Roy, with the front court including Aldridge and Martell Webster standing next to Oden.

One thing young teams worry about is bench productivity. Before the draft, the bench includes Channing Frye, Jarrett Jack, and last year's second-round pick Josh McRoberts, who flourished in the D-League last season.

Already one of the youngest teams in the NBA, look for Portland to again bulk up that bench with one lottery pick and three second-round picks. Oden secured the center position for years to come, so don’t be surprised if Portland decides to go after an agile forward who can score like Chase Budinger or Joe Alexander if available at No. 13.

With two early picks in the second round, look for an addition of a quick athletic center like Joey Dorsey from Memphis and then a defensive stopper such as Kyle Weaver from Washington State. Key additions in the draft make Portland a very dangerous team to be reckoned with come March.

8. Denver Nuggets

This is the best-looking team on paper and the only team in the NBA besides the Boston Celtics who have three superstars on the same roster in Iverson, Anthony and Kenyon Martin.

Season after season, it seems the Nuggets just forget how to play as a unit and collapse for a stretch, getting themselves further from a championship.

With a starting line up of AI, Anthony, Martin, Camby and Nene, the Nuggets should be a team atop the West, however with two guys taking 60 percent of the shots, the ball movement is not there and bench players cannot feel comfortable.

With a somewhat talented bench, led by J.R. Smith and Eduardo Najera, the main focus for the Nuggets this off season should be strengthening the bench. Everyone besides Smith, Najera and underrated Linas Kleiza should be dumped, and free agents such as Robert Horry or Michael Finley should be added to provide leadership and proven scoring.

With only one pick in the draft at No. 20, look for the Nuggets to go after a scoring-minded point guard to play alongside Iverson. Ty Lawson from UNC would be a perfect fit for the up tempo offense.

With all this said don’t be surprised for some chemistry problems over leadership between Anthony and Iverson, so finishing eighth or 12^th is very possible.

The teams left on the outside looking in are Dallas, Houston, the L.A. Clippers and Seattle.

Dallas, with former Most Valuable Player Dirk Nowitzki and slowed, aging Jason Kidd, will not fit in with the up-tempo Western Conference. Drastic changes will be made to the line up with players getting up there in age and a point guard who can’t shoot.

With one pick coming late in the second round, look for Dallas to pull of yet another trade to an Eastern Conference team to try and get younger, more talented players from possibly Chicago or New York.

Houston’s success this year was a fluke for the ages, a winning streak with a point guard who is known more for his And1 game than his NBA. Led by Tracy McGrady, who is injury-prone, and Yao Ming, who is recovering from a foot injury, the Rockets will look to its old bench of Bobby Jackson and Dikembe Mutombo to keep them in the race. Not a chance.

With late first- and second-round picks, Houston’s path will be to get a backup center to take Mutombo’s spot, such as raw center Robin Lopez from Stanford.

L.A. Clippers are the one team in the West that should be feared by everyone, simply because there best player missed the whole season due to injury. With maybe the best frontcourt players in Elton Brand, Chris Kaman, and rookie Al Thorton, look for the Clippers to pound people on the glass and hold teams to a low field goal percentage. With the backcourt of Corey Maggette and Cuttino Mobley, the only thing they are missing a true point guard. Well here is the scary part, the Clippers hold the seventh overall pick in the draft, and somehow should Eric Gordon fall to them, we are looking at a very complete team to be reckoned with.

With an early second-round pick, the Clippers could get another forward to crash the boards and play hard-nosed defense. Look for Devon Jefferson from USC. If Gordon becomes a Clipper and Kaman and Brand stay healthy all year, don’t be surprised to see two L.A. teams in the playoffs.

Seattle, a team two years away from contending for the eighth spot in the West, is a team in shambles. With relocation constantly over their heads the young players are having trouble adapting to the speed of the league.

Durant, alongside Green, provides a young core to go with inside presence of Collison and Wilcox. However, missing out on the first or second pick this year was a major disappointment. Getting Michael Beasley would have added a dominant right and left handed scorer to the team, but the fourth pick isn’t so bad, either.

Look for Seattle to go after Jerryd Bayless from Arizona to solidify the point guard position previously held by UCLA’s Earl Watson. However with Watson running the point this year and averaging 13 a game, don’t consider it a long shot for Seattle to go after Brook Lopez from Stanford to provide a scoring-minded center with defensive skills.

This complete all the contenders in the Western Conference. For a look at the Eastern Conference contenders, go no further then the Boston Celtics and the new-looking Detroit Pistons.

Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant's Stranglehold on the Team

eric schembri — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:40:47 -0400

What an offseason it was for the Lakers, It started with Kobe Bryant demanding to be traded, throwing his teammates under the bus, trying to make a mess of the team "he" created.

“I want to see us get to a contending level,” he told The Los Angeles Times. “I want to see us become a championship contender. It’s been a frustrating process for me and I’m sure it’s been a frustrating process for all Laker fans. I’m just hoping we can get to that level. I’m still frustrated. I’m waiting for them to make some changes."

What changes does he want the team to make that owner Mitch Kupchak has not already made for him? Ousting the most dominant player in NBA history with the departure of Shaquille O'Neal a few years ago, Kobe is left with his team.

Kobe is a player who past and present coach Phil Jackson stated in his last book as "uncoachable." It's fitting that Phil is back in control of that so-called uncoachable players team.

Those changes were made for Kobe on Feb. 1, when the Lakers acquired Spaniard powerhouse Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies. Gasol was traded for Kwame Brown, guard Javaris Crittenton, guard Aaron McKie (who the Lakers signed earlier today), the draft rights to Marc Gasol and first round picks in 2008 and 2010.

Any NBA viewer knew the Lakers got the better end of the deal. Some would raise the question what Memphis was thinking. With the acquisition of Pau, the Lakers ended up with the No. 1 seed in the West. It was a team with Kobe Bryant starting at guard, and "who else" at the other four positions.

It was a team filled with role players that with the exception of Lamar Odom would not start on any other team in the NBA. It was very clear that Kobe was going to take it upon himself to win a championship with a group of guys that stands back and watches Kobe toss up 30 night after night.

It was the same group of guys Kobe thanked so much during his MVP speech, the same group of guys that he again thanked when being awarded the Western Conference Championship, the same group of guys who in the offseason he threw under the bus, demanding to be traded or to have big changes made. They all stood along side of him and slapped hands, riding his coattails all the way there.

Lost in the picture is Andrew Bynum, the player Kobe felt was expendable in the offseason. Kobe says there is no issue between the two, but if a player is called out by his own teammate as not good enough to play on his team, that is not something you just forget.

With the dominant performance of Pau Gasol this postseason is there a need for Kobe to keep Bynum on the roster? Since what Kobe wants, Kobe gets, Bynum better be sucking up to Kobe. Otherwise, he will find himself in the Eastern Conference like ex-teammate Shaquille O'Neal.

So excuse me, Mr. Kobe (MVP) Bryant, if the rest of the world does not bow down to the ground you walk on, but there is a reason you have not been an MVP before and that reason will be displayed in the NBA finals with a Boston Celtics championship.

'Team' is defined as a collective group working towards a common goal. So when you stand at midcourt shaking hands with Boston players before Game 1, you will find the real answer to team basketball, and that is in the eyes of Kevin Garnett.