Bleacher Report - Articles by Hugh Jass

D.U.I.: Denver’s Underachieving Idol

Hugh Jass — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:02:30 -0400

Things just keep getting worse and worse for the Denver Nuggets.

After four straight years of being eliminated in the first round, losing 4-1 each series, the Denver Nuggets were swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 NBA Playoffs.

After a disappointing career encompassing five straight first-round exits and numerous off-court issues including nightclub scuffles, a charge of marijuana possession, a 15-game suspension and a DUI, Carmelo Anthony still appears to be Denver’s man.

Soon after the trade rumors circulating Carmelo Anthony aroused, Anthony asks for Denver’s commitment and loyalty regarding his future with the Nuggets.

"He's not going to be moved," Calvin Andrews, Anthony’s agent, said in a telephone interview. "It's not happening. We've been given assurances from the owner on down."

After deciding not to trade Anthony, the Denver Nuggets decide to get “better” by trading Marcus Camby, the 2006-07 defensive player of the year, to the Los Angeles Clippers for nothing.

Subsequent to the trade, Denver now has a front-line consisting of Nene, Linas Kleiza, and Kenyon Martin.

While several decent forwards and centers were available at No. 20 in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Denver Nuggets traded away their No. 20 overall pick to the Charlotte Bobcats one day prior to the draft.

Things just keep going downhill for the Nuggets, day after day.

With that in mind, I’m going to make a bold prediction for the 2008-09 NBA season:

I predict that the Denver Nuggets don’t make the playoffs in 2009.

Even with a winning record, which I think the Nuggets can salvage next season, they won’t be able to make the playoffs in the Western Conference.

With proven elite teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Hornets, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, and Houston Rockets, the Nuggets will have a hard time making it into the playoffs.

Unlike last season, Denver won’t make it to the playoffs easy as the eighth seed. Last season, Denver competed with Golden State, Dallas, and Phoenix for a six, seven, or eight seed in the conference. They ended up with the eighth.

Not only will Denver be competing with the teams mentioned above, but this season, Denver will also be competing with teams such as the Portland Trailblazers and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Now, even if the Nuggets make it to the playoffs, would you expect them to win the championship?

Not with Carmelo. He’s led them to five straight first-round exits.

Even if he has averaged 21.1 PPG throughout his playoff career, he has only shot 38.9 percent from the field. And let’s not forget that he has led his team to a 4-20 record throughout the playoffs in the last five years.

So why commit to keep him now when teams like the Detroit Pistons are interested in him?

I can’t tell you the answer to that, because honestly, I have no idea.

It’s just another proof that the Denver Nuggets reached the pinnacle of the franchise's career with Carmelo Anthony when they lost to the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the 2007 NBA Playoffs.

As long as Carmelo Anthony remains a Nugget, Denver will never reach the second round of the playoffs, if they reach the playoffs ever again.

Carmelo is just another player in the NBA playing for the money. He doesn’t believe in hard work, concentration, or a team effort. He believes in publicity, money, and his statistics.

And with that attitude, it’s safe to say he won’t win a championship.

My Fave Five

Hugh Jass — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:31:17 -0400

The 2007-08 NBA season is over.

The NBA Playoffs are finished and the Boston Celtics are the NBA champions.

Derek Rose is the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and the 12-man United States men’s national basketball team has been announced.

With some unexpected twists and turns, rosters have been changed.

With that said, here are my five favorite players in the NBA and why I like them:

5. Dwight Howard (ORL)

Perhaps the biggest reason I put Howard in my fave five is because of his amazing performance in the Slam Dunk Contest during the NBA’s All-Star weekend. After putting on his superman cape, Dwight Howard soared past Gerald Green to win the 2008 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest.

The current slam-dunk champion averaged 18.9 PPG and 15.8 RPG throughout the 2008 NBA Playoffs.

For Dwight Howard, the future holds a substantially successful career.

4. Kevin Garnett (BOS)

Kevin Garnett belongs in my fave five because of his triumphant performance in the Boston Celtics victorious 2007-08 season.

Throughout his career, Garnett has been a very consistent player. He has career averages of 20.4 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.6 BPG, and 1.4 SPG while shooting 49.4 percent from the field.

Garnett has always been a favorite of mine. He is a class act and a winner. Unlike many of the players in the NBA, Kevin Garnett lets his game speak for himself. He is a true champion and even more importantly a team player.

3. Mario Chalmers (MIA)

Remember the game where Chalmers hit the game tying 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left on the clock in the NCAA tournament championship against Memphis? What a historic moment that was.

I like Mario Chalmers because he hustles and plays defense. The 6-1 point guard averaged 12.8 PPG, 4.3 APG, and 2.5 SPG, while shooting 3-pointers at 46.8 percent in his junior year for the Kansas Jayhawks.

He even led the Jayhawks to the NCAA championship title. Soon after, in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Miami Heat picked up Chalmers. I would expect to see big things out of him next season.

2. Deron Williams (UTA)

In 2005, as a junior starting point guard, Williams led the Fighting Illini to the NCAA championship game where they lost to the University of North Carolina. That season we saw the Illini go undefeated until the final game of the season, where they lost to Ohio State by one point.

Illinois' road to the Final Four was marked by a staggering comeback win over the Arizona Wildcats, where the Illini, led by Williams, came back from 15 points down in the final minutes to win the game. Deron made the game tying 3-point shot with just 38.5 seconds left in regulation. He then hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime, and the Illini never looked back.

Williams declared for the NBA Draft after the 2005 season, forgoing his final year of collegiate eligibility. In the 2005 NBA Draft, the Utah Jazz drafted him with the No. 3 overall pick. Since then, Williams has led the Jazz to two playoff appearances, including one to the Western Conference Finals in 2006-07.

1. Dwyane Wade (MIA)

Selected fifth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, Wade quickly emerged as a solid player on a relatively young Miami Heat team and averaged 16.2 points on 46.5 percent shooting to go along with averages of 4.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists each game in his rookie season.

In his first trip to the NBA Finals, in which Miami faced the Dallas Mavericks, Wade had some especially memorable moments. His performance in Games Three, Four, and Five, in which he scored 42, 36, and 43 points, respectively, helped bring the Heat back from an 0–2 deficit to lead the series at three games to two.

Wade's Game Three performance was especially memorable as he finished with 42 points (tying his career playoff high) and 13 rebounds (career high). Fifteen of his 42 points came in the fourth quarter, a quarter in which the Heat erased a 13-point deficit over the final 6:34.

With a 22–7 run which included a go-ahead jumper by NBA veteran Gary Payton, the win was sealed. The Heat went on to win Game Six, taking the series 4–2, and Wade was presented with the Finals MVP trophy.

He became the fifth youngest player in NBA history to capture NBA Finals MVP honors and recorded the third highest scoring average by a player in his first NBA Finals with 34.7 points per game. Wade’s PER (player efficiency rating) in the 2006 NBA finals was ranked by ESPN's John Hollinger as the greatest performance in NBA Finals history.

Not only is Wade a superstar, but he has also shown his greatness through his quality sportsmanship. Wade was named the 2006 Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated.

Deron Williams or Chris Paul?

Hugh Jass — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 11:32:15 -0400

In the 2005 NBA draft, the Utah Jazz selected Deron Williams with the No. 3 overall pick. One selection later, the New Orleans Hornets drafted Chris Paul with the No. 4 overall pick. Both players have had stellar careers thus far in the NBA. Because of the link in the 2005 draft, these two players will be compared throughout the rest of their careers.

Up until this point, both players have played exceptionally well in the NBA and either competitor is an excellent player to build a franchise around. If it were me though, I would choose Deron Williams as my point guard any day of the week.

While the stats might suggest that Paul is a better point guard than Williams, I have to disagree. Here’s why:

Deron Williams dominates Chris Paul head-to-head.

In the four games that the Jazz met the Hornets last season, Deron Williams led the Jazz to a 3-1 record. In the eight games that the two teams have met up since acquiring Williams and Paul, the Jazz have won seven of eight.

On February 4, the Jazz defeated the Hornets 110-88. While Deron Williams had a dominating 29 points and 11 assists on 11-13 shooting, Chris Paul mustered six points, six assists, and five turnovers on 3-11 shooting.

On February 16, Deron Williams won the PlayStation Skills Challenge in the 2008 NBA All-Star weekend. Once advancing into the final round, Williams faced his perennial rival Chris Paul. In the final round, Williams defeated Paul, while nearly setting the all-time record with 25.5 seconds. Chris Paul managed a fairly strong final-round with 31.2 seconds.

Deron Williams has had the greater impact on his team in the NBA.

Deron Williams has led the Jazz to two playoff runs in his three-year career, including a run to the conference championship in 2006-07.

Chris Paul has led his team to the second round in the playoffs in only one year of his three-year career.

You might say that the Jazz have had a better team. Well, three years ago, the Jazz ended up with a 26-56 record compared to the Hornets 18-64 record. Three years ago both teams were two of the worst teams in the NBA. It isn’t a stretch to say that both teams were equally as bad.

Despite all of the injuries that have plagued the Jazz the past three seasons, Deron Williams has led the Jazz to a 41-41, 51-31, and 54-28 season, respectively. Paul has led his team to a 38-44, 39-43, and 56-26 season, respectively. Obviously, Williams has had the greater impact on the team.

The two superstars have nearly identical stats.

While Chris Paul has averaged slightly more points than Williams, Williams has shot the basketball slightly better than Paul. The rest of the stats are nearly identical.

Paul averages 21.1 PPG compared to Williams’ 18.8 PPG. Williams shoots field goals at 50.7 percent, compared to Paul’s 48.8 percent. Williams shoots threes at 39.5 percent, compared to Paul’s 36.9 percent. Paul averaged 11.6 APG, while Williams averaged 10.5 APG.

The bottom line is that these players are relatively equal. Paul scores slightly more points and averages slightly more assists, while Williams shoots slightly better from the field and three-point line.

No longer can Chris Paul be called the better player. The two have nearly identical stats. Each player went to the playoffs last season. Each player led their team to a winning season; each team with 50+ wins.

Chris Paul and Deron Williams will be the top point guards in the NBA for the next decade. Each will be successful. It just depends on whom you prefer. In my opinion, I would choose Deron Williams to lead my team to an NBA championship.

The Future of the Miami Heat

Hugh Jass — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:32:35 -0400

It's going to be a busy off-season for the Miami Heat, particularly this week with the upcoming draft.

Fans are beginning to ask questions. Are the Miami Heat going to build around Dwyane Wade or not? Which players are compatible with Wade? Can the Heat turn a league-low 15-67 record into a playoff run next season? Is a championship completely out of the question?

Yes. Read more. Yes. Yes. Here's why:

Are the Miami Heat going to build around Dwyane Wade or not?

Yes. Well, we have seen that Wade cannot carry the team on his shoulders. However, we have also learned that with the right pieces, Dwyane Wade can bring an NBA championship to your doorstep.

It’s been two years since the 2006 Finals MVP brought Miami a championship. Now the Heat have an off-season to look back at their embarrassing 2007-08 season. The Heat need to make a move now, or in two years, Wade could be gone for good—leaving the Heat right where they started but without his reassuring presence.

“The trade rumors circulating are simply rumors,” Wade said in a statement released by his publicist. “My focus this summer has been to rehab and train for the Olympics and the upcoming season,” said Wade. “Coach Riley and I spoke earlier this week to address the media reports and we are on the same page—rebuilding this team to once again become contenders.”

Which players are compatible with Dwyane Wade?

Starting this off-season, there are many free agents available for the Heat to choose from. They even have the No. 2 pick in the draft to help them rebuild.

There are many players in the NBA that would fit well with Wade. That’s not the problem. The problem is how to bring them into Miami.

The big-name free agent pool consists of Baron Davis, Corey Maggette, Elton Brand, Ron Artest, Gilbert Arenas, and Antawn Jamison. To bring in any one of these players would be an excellent choice. The best choices for the Heat are Corey Maggette, Elton Brand, or Gilbert Arenas.

Pat Riley doesn’t want attitude, so Ron Artest is out of the picture. Baron Davis, along with Antawn Jamison, will ask too much money for too little performance. So that leaves Maggette, Brand, or Arenas.

Because of Wade, the Heat will look for a PF/C. Brand fills this position perfectly. A healthy Brand brings roughly 20 PPG, 10 RPG, and 2 BPG to the table.

While taking some of the load off of Dwyane Wade, Brand also brings defense, something the Heat were lacking last season. The only problem with Brand is his health. Can he stay healthy? If he can, he could be a major contributor to the Heat next season.

Maggette would also be a good fit with Wade. He is a versatile SF that puts up 22 PPG and 5 RPG, while shooting 38.4 percent from three-point range and 81.2 percent from the free-throw line.

Gilbert Arenas would be a popular choice to play in Miami. A guard combo of Arenas and Wade would be fatal for opposing teams—but would there be enough shots to go around?

Could Wade average 25 PPG with Arenas also averaging 25 PPG? Well, it seemed to work in Denver with Iverson and Anthony. But then again, the Nuggets were swept in the first round of the playoffs.

Another option is drafting either Mayo at the PG/SG position or Beasley at the SF/PF position. It seems like the Bulls will take Rose, so the Heat have a decision to make.

Can the Heat turn a league-low 15-67 record into a playoff run next season?

Yes. Three reasons why:

1. The Miami Heat have the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft. The question is if they are going to keep the pick, or trade it for a veteran and a slightly lower pick. Either is a good option for a team looking to rebuild.

A possible trade with Memphis is believable. The Grizzlies send either Kyle Lowry or Mike Miller, along with the No. 5 overall pick to the Heat for the No. 2 pick.

2. The Heat look great in terms of the salary cap, especially if Shawn Marion decides to opt out of his contract. As mentioned above, there are plenty of free agents to choose from this off-season. It should be a good off-season for the Miami Heat—if they make the right moves.

3. The Heat have Dwyane Wade. Yes, Wade has battled a laundry list of injuries the past two seasons, only playing in 51 games each season. Well, he hasn’t had much help from the rest of the team, and has averaged more than a quarter of the Heat's points per game.

However, by the time the 2008-09 NBA season begins, he should be ready to go. With a somewhat healthy Dwyane Wade, a No. 2 pick in the draft, and an off-season move, the Heat are only a season away from the playoffs.

Is a championship completely out of the question?

Yes. Well, it sure is a ways away for a team that was 15-67 last season. It is highly unlikely that the Heat will win the NBA championship next season. However, the Boston Celtics did turn around their franchise, so we know it can be done. With some luck, a good draft, and a blockbuster move, it wouldn’t be crazy to say that the Heat could win it all next year.

But I’m pretty sure they won’t. Maybe if the Heat traded Marcus Banks, Shawn Marion, Udonis Haslem, and Mark Blount for Steve Nash, LeBron James, Tim Duncan, and Dwight Howard—that would be a championship team.

But we know that won't happen, so for the next year or so, keep dreaming.