Bleacher Report - Articles by Byron Parker

Boston Celtics: Another Busy Offseason Coming Up for Danny Ainge

Byron Parker — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:21:37 -0400

While the Boston Celtics are still basking in the glory of their NBA title, the offseason is basically here, and Danny Ainge will have a few things to sort out.

A successful offseason from last year brought home a title, and even though Ainge probably won't be looking to make any drastic changes like he did last year, he will still be looking to keep his team well-structured.

Now that they are considered a championship-caliber team, they must remain that way and depending on how the team looks at the beginning of next season, that will determine whether they still have what it takes to remain the caliber team that they are now.

With many key Celtics becoming potential free-agents in the off-season, will be the Celtics only challenge going into next season?

A repeat isn't out of the question for this franchise. The Big Three are all signed up until 2010, and players like Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo aren't going anywhere anytime soon. The core of this team won't be affected next season.

But there are six players who become potential free agents over the off-season—Sam Cassell, P.J. Brown, James Posey, Scot Pollard, Tony Allen, and Eddie House. All of these players have played a crucial role in the Celtics being able to bring a title back to Boston; whether it was in the regular season or the postseason.

The only name that really doesn't really stick out at you in terms of importance to Boston's run at the title would most likely be Scot Pollard—no disrespect to Scot.

The chances of him remaining in a Celtics uniform are very slim. He can be effectively used to take up space in the paint for another team, but the Celtics really don't show any need for him, so he'll most likely be gone next season. Hell, retirement could be the next step for him if you consider his career not having an upside whatsoever.

If you look at P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell, their age is catching up to them as well, and they may be pondering retirement. P.J. Brown was called out of retirement, and his presence helped the Celtics in many ways, but he has his ring now and retiring may be his next option.

It is tough to see Brown coming back, especially considering the talent that's on the bench with players like Leon Powe, Glen Davis, etc. He's 38-years old and winning the NBA title may be the icing on the cake for his career.

The same standards apply for Cassell. He's also 38 and he was basically called in to bring his veteran presence to the team, and guide Rajon Rondo in the postseason. That he did, and now it may be a wrap for his career. The Celtics will probably look to get younger rather than older, and Cassell wouldn't help out that case.

The most important name of the bunch is James Posey.

Posey showed off his importance to this team by playing solid basketball throughout the season, and turning it up a notch in the playoffs.

He was a constant threat on the floor for Boston as he was able to lock-down the offensive threats on the opposing teams, while he came up big offensively himself. He scored about nine points a game in the Finals while playing about 25 minutes.

He's a gamer, and after helping teams like the Miami Heat and the Celtics win NBA Titles, he would be hot in the free-agent market if he were to opt-out of his two-year contract with Boston.

With this said, he most likely do just that. After teams see a guy like that come up big in his years of playing in the playoffs, they wouldn't mind having a piece like that on their team. He's not just a veteran presence—he contributes to his team by scoring, playing defense, and is sometimes reliable in crunch time.

If he is open in the corner for a three and your team is in need of a big basket, Posey can hit it for you. He is important to the Celtics, but if he gets another offer from another playoff contending team that's hard to refuse, then I see him out of Boston next season.

It's no secret that the Celtics would love to keep him on the roster, but his list of suitors may be pretty long.

Tony Allen and Eddie House are also two names among the ones mentioned in the list of potential free-agents coming out of Boston.

House has hopped from team to team throughout his NBA career, and there is question as to whether or not he will be a Celtic next year or not. He is a solid guard who is always prepared to play, and can come in at any time to put up some quick points if you catch him on the right night.

When Cassell injured his wrist and Rondo struggled in the playoffs, House came right in and made his presence felt. During the Finals, House saw 19 minutes a game and used them to his advantage by putting up eight points a night.

With his ability to quickly pull the the trigger from the perimeter, he can definitely help a team out with offense off of the bench.

If I were Danny Ainge, that would be a guy that I would look to bring back, for the fact that he brings so much more energy off of the bench than people think. He isn't a bad guy to have sitting on your bench.

But with his history in not really having a home, he may not be back. Ainge may feel better knowing that he can do better than House with him earning about $1.5 million. And I feel that teams may be looking at him to lock him up for a couple years longer than the Celtics held onto him.

In Allen's case, Gabe Pruitt may be ready to step in to take over the back up point guard position behind Rondo. That leaves Allen in a tough situation.

But it's not like Allen didn't have any sort of presence on the court. He played his role as a reserve and though he made mistakes, those were only mental blunders that can only be fixed with experience.

With only three years in the league and knee injuries that forced him to miss time in his career, he can only get better as a player. But the decision to bring him back sits on Ainge's shoulders.

It's no secret that Ainge would like to see more out of Allen, but how patient will he be with him? He is a restricted free-agent and there is no telling how his situation will fair out. It's really a toss-up for him.

For some reason, I believe that the Celtics will keep him for his consistent defense and his energy. But if a team offers him a deal that the Celtics are unwilling to match, then say bye-bye to him.

If/when the Celtics organization figures out what is going to happen with these potential free-agents, then there will be a lot of shoes to fill on the bench. They will have the last pick in the NBA Draft, and whoever they choose will most likely be the next step in rebuilding the bench. Some minor off-season signings may help that out as well.

But Ainge will have another busy offseason this year. He doesn't have to bring in any more big names in order to win another NBA title, but pending the decisions made by those in the front office regarding the potential pool of free-agents coming out of Boston, there will be a search for role players who can come in and do what they are called upon to do.

After all the celebrating is completed, Ainge will have to go right back to work and decisions by himself and the players will have to be made. It'll be an interesting offseason for the NBA champs.

Beijing Olympics: Team USA Can Win Despite Lack of Frontcourt Depth

Byron Parker — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:02:11 -0400

Also posted at FlyGuySports

The 2008 Men's Olympic Basketball team was announced on Monday, and the team looks pretty damn good. Led by NBA MVP Kobe Bryant, this team looks to make a run at the gold medal, especially since they've struggled to do so in the most recent tournaments. Here are the players and coaches of the 2008 Olympic team, followed by my analysis.

Players

*Projected starter

Kobe Bryant (SG, Los Angeles Lakers)*

Dwayne Wade (SG, Miami Heat)

Carmelo Anthony (SF, PF, Denver Nuggets)*

Chris Paul (PG, New Orleans Hornets)

Carlos Boozer (PF, C, Utah Jazz)

Deron Williams (PG, Utah Jazz)

Tayshaun Prince (SF, Detroit Pistons)

LeBron James (SF, PF, Cleveland Cavaliers)*

Dwight Howard (C, Orlando Magic)*

Chris Bosh (C, PF, Toronto Raptors)

Michael Redd (SG, Milwaukee Bucks)

Jason Kidd (PG, Dallas Mavericks)*

The positions aren't the primary positions of the players, but they are the projected positions for that player for the Olympics...

Coaches

Mike Krzyzewski (Head Coach; Head Coach of Duke University)

Jim Boeheim (Assistant Coach; Head Coach of Syracuse University)

Mike D'Antoni (Assistant Coach; Head Coach of New York Knicks)

Nate McMillan (Assistant Coach; Head Coach of Portland Trail Blazers)

It may not be the Dream Team, but it has the potential to be something close to it. It is a team full of high scorers, playmakers, veterans, and maturing youngsters.

Out of the 12 players who were selected to this year's Olympic team, six of them were part of the 2006 USA Men's World Championship team, and eight of them participated on the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship team that qualified for these Olympics.

With most of them already having to work together on previous teams, this will give them an advantage in team chemistry and team cooperation. The most intriguing aspect of this year's Olympic team is the three point guards that were selected to the team.

Of the three, Jason Kidd will bring the veteran presence to the team; especially to the other two point guards who were selected: Deron Williams and Chris Paul. The 35-year-old Kidd was part of the 2000 USA Olympic team that went 8-0 and won the gold medal in Sydney.

Also, he has played on eight USA Men's basketball teams with a record of 44-0. That brings a lot to the team, and even though he may not have the speed or outside shot that a typical point guard should have, Kidd is completely unselfish and that may be a reason why he could be the starting PG for a team full of superstars.

With players like Chris Paul and Deron Williams sitting under him, the offense from the starting PG position won't be a concern for Krzyzewski, because he has already made the decision to have scorers like Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, and LeBron James in the starting lineup.

Coach K will be looking for more breaking down of the defense and passing from the starting point guard, and that is something that Kidd is capable of doing.

Williams and Paul are both similar to each other in their style of play because they both know how to break down the defense like Kidd, but they are quicker and they can score easier. But when they are needed for scoring out of that PG position, then that's when they'll be used.

The addition of Michael Redd is key for this team, because the past U.S. teams have lacked the outside game and a reliable scorer off of the bench.

Redd is capable of doing both of those things. He was a member of last summer's FIBA Americas Championship team and he put up 14.4 points a game off the bench, shooting 45 percent from beyond the arc.

Redd's long range jumper will be a key component for this year's Olympic team, and and his bench scoring will definitely be needed. Redd isn't a superstar, but he is close to one.

With him sitting behind Kobe and company, I'm pretty sure he'll be the next 2-guard for Coach K to go to. This decent speed matches the speed of the second team.

Whether it is Williams or CP3 being the first resort coming off of the bench, they both can run up and down the floor along with Redd.

That's not to say the starters aren't as quick as the bench (because that's not even close to the case), but it is always good to have speed on the bench. That way, they don't come in and slow things down.

The speed on this team will give them success, because they must run in order to wear down the opposition.

Even though the team looks good in almost all aspects on the floor, there are a few flaws that could lead to trouble for this team. I feel that with them taking three point guards, they lack depth in the frontcourt.

There really aren't enough big men who can really stop the opposition from driving the ball to the basket on them. With Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard being the only two players who can truly play the 5-spot, that may be a problem.

Of course Carlos Boozer will see time at the center position, but he is not a TRUE center. If they are playing a team that can run through the defense, there will be trouble. The Americans may have taken a risk by bringing opting to play more "small ball."

Defense will also be a problem for this team. Chris Paul is a guy who can force turnovers here and then, but he sometimes makes risky decisions by attempting to swipe the ball, and that may be his downfall.

If he doesn't come up with the steal, he gives the opposition an advantage on the floor when he's briefly out of the picture. I feel that the only players on the team who can play consistent defense are Bryant, Tayshaun Prince and
LeBron.

But other than Prince, there isn't really a true reliable defensive player that can come off of the bench and shut somebody down.

I do fear that even though Coach K says that this team won't be taking a lot of jump shots, the shortened three-point line will be a Christmas present for these guys. It's understandable that if you're open for the three, take it and make it.

But some of the players on this team have a knack for taking unnecessary shots. That may not be the type of problem that could cause this team to fall off, but it is one thing that Coach K will have to limit.

When you don't have a team full of spot up shooters, then they all shouldn't be spotting up and shooting. But when they were in Athens and were hit with that zone, they didn't have the shooters to break that down. But with most international teams playing zone on a team of stars, the addition of the shooters this year can kill that off.

Despite the flaws that this team may have, they have too many strengths this year to blow this thing. This year's team consists of smart and determined players with some of them looking to get revenge for their previous failures.

There may be a few close games that could scare the US team, but I don't see them allowing teams to run them over. There is a lot of pressure on them and they will be tested in these Olympics, but they have too many weapons to lose this thing.

NBA Playoff Preview: Western Conference

Byron Parker — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:26:02 -0400

The Eastern Conference Playoff Preview may have been boring because…well, it’s the Eastern Conference. But the West is looking very strong and a lot of great match ups look to make this year’s playoffs very interesting. So with that said, here is a look at the match ups in the West.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets

Both of these teams have two things in common…they both consist of stars. The team that has proven that they can use them right is the Lakers. Lakers coach, Phil Jackson has had star powered teams like the Lakers, so he knows how to coach them. On the other hand, Denver coach, George Karl just doesn’t have the same resume as Jackson does. He may have made a lot of playoff appearances with some really good teams, but his coaching criteria don’t stand up to what Jackson has done. Let’s take a look at the teams. The Lakers has really made an unexpected run into the No.1 seed in the West. The Kobe Bryant drama was the main focus going into this season, but all that has been buried and they’ve made a tremendous run. The explosion of Andrew Bynum has probably been a tremendous amount in Kobe urging to stay put in L.A. and try to succeed there. When he went down, Pau Gasolbecame a Laker and it seems like all they’ve done is just win. Gasol was the best thing to happen to this team since Kobe, and the two together just make opponents look weak in every aspect of the floor. They can dominate inside with Gasol who is putting up almost 19 points a game and shooting 58% from the floor since he became a Laker. They have a terrific outside game as they ranks amongst the top 10 in three point shooting with 37%. And who else but Kobe would you love to have on your playoff roster. The way Bryant has played this season, it’s not hard to tell that he is hungry for that championship ring. He is in the running for the MVP award and has put up staggering numbers this season. He is well deserving of the award. Denver has not showed the consistency that you’re typically looking for in a championship caliber team. Their losses that they suffer are sometimes questionable and it’s hard to tell if this team deserved a playoff spot over the high energy Golden State Warriors. But that won’t stop them from competing. Denver is a high scoring team with superstars like Carmelo Anthonyand Allen Iverson. They are second in the league in overall scoring with 111 points a game, and they will be going against a team that gives up a significant 101.3 points a game. The problem is that Denver is ranked at the bottom of the list when it comes to the opposition scoring…2nd to last to be exact. And the Lakers rank among the top of the NBA in scoring. It is obvious that defense has been an issue for the Nuggets, and it would be hard to pick them over the Lakers. Denver does have the potential to give Los Angeles a fight but their season play has yet to prove that they are a legitimate playoff contender, rather than a playoff appearance. L.A. is just too powerful for Denver; from the starters to the bench. It will take defense for Denver to pull off an upset but that is not their game. Locking down the big man Gasol can give them a chance. A potential Defensive Player of the Year winner, Marcus Camby may have to complete that task. We’ve seen Kobe by himself and that makes the Lakers nothing but an average (Western) team. If you shut down one of the weapons like Gasol, that’s what they’ll become. One problem is that the Nuggets are just an average Western team. So that still wouldn’t give them an automatic series win. The Lakers look to take this one.

New Orleans Hornets vs. Dallas Mavericks

The Hornets have made an improbable run to become one of the elite teams out in the West, thanks to MVP candidate Chris Paul. What he has done for this franchise is give it hope for years to come. The Hornets are really a good team when you compare them to other teams out in the West. They pretty much have all of the weapons to be an all around good team. Paul is just the dream point guard to have. He is able to do so many things with his skills; drive the ball to the basket, shoot the three pointer, set up and create plays, distribute the ball and play superb defense. Tyson Chandler is Paul’s right hand man. Chandler lurks in the paint, waiting for somebody to drive the ball in on him as he has the ability to intimidate people. He is the go-to guy in the paint who really helps Paul’s assist total by being able to score easy baskets. Peja Stojakovicis one of the best three point shooters in the NBA, shooting a stellar 44% from outside. With Paul creating open looks on a nightly basis, Stojakovic can sit all day from beyond the arch and knock down the three. And David West is sort of like the professional version of Michael Beasley (note: I said “sort of”). He really is an underrated player and he has all type of skills that is significant to the Hornets success this year. His 20 points and 9 rebounds a game really goes under the radar. This is almost like an all fantasy team. You won’t be finding it difficult to lose your weekly match ups with this squad. The Dallas Mavericks have struggled with the addition of Jason Kidd, but they seemed to have turned it around towards the end of the season. It all looked bad when Dirk Nowitzkiwent down and they were in danger of missing the playoffs. Dallas went 5-3 in his return and it helped them motor themselves to a 7th seed. Only to face the Hornets really look like they have the better team. The experience is one thing that will DEFINITELY play a role in this one. The Mavs really have the edge in that category, and so does Dallas coach, Avery Johnson. This may not have been the type of season that he pictured, but it still is a respectable one. But the Mavs are itching to make it deep into the playoffs this year, especially after and early exit last season in favor of the Golden State Warriors. The Hornets are a way better team than last years Golden State team. But Johnson has a nag in turning up the intensity level in the playoffs. So when it comes down to it, the Mavs have the mental edge over New Orleans. That is not a reason that they will win though. This series will go tight and both teams will play hard. Even though Jason Kiddhasn’t looked is sharpest in a Dallas uniform, he is eager to get to the championship this year. The match up between both teams may delay Kidd and co. eagerness until next year. This will be a great match up that could possibly go all seven games, but New Orleans is physically too strong on the floor. Maybe the story would be different if the Mavs still had Devon Harris.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Phoenix Suns

This is one of the greater match ups in the Western Conference playoffs. Both teams went strong to finish the season and strengthened their seeding. San Antonio ended the season winning 12 of their last 14 games. Phoenix turned around their dreadful slump winning 5 of their last 8. After making the trade which brought Shaquille O’Neal to Phoenix, the Suns looked pretty good. The problem was that they played pretty weak. But Phoenix coach, Mike D’Antoniolooks like a genius because he was able to take the slow moving Shaq, and incorporate him into a fast, running team. How he was able to do it is beyond many, but he did it. But instead of making Shaq play with the type of offense that he isn’t really used to running with, D’Antonio has basically turned him into a role player to play in the paint. He is now relied upon for defense, rebounding and easy baskets. He has been shooting better from the floor at 61% and has become a better rebounder with 10.6 a game. Despite the record with Shaq in the lineup, they’ve really become better than what the numbers say. They now look like a team that can contend with all of the other Western Conference teams again. But the San Antonio Spurs are coming off of a championship and they still have the mindset in getting another one. As much as it has been said, we all know that experience plays a humongous role in a team’s ability to perform come playoff time. That’s why the Spurs are heavily favored in this first round match up. They have the most experience in winning which is something that they can take into this series against Phoenix. But what does Phoenix have that San Antonio doesn’t? They have experience in losing. Unlike the Spurs, the Suns have yet to exceed their expectations in the playoffs. And unlike the Suns, the Spurs have exceeded people expectations. This seems to be the year where nobody is expecting the Suns to make a run deep into these playoffs. With the tough playoff losses that they’ve suffered over the past couple of years, D’Antonio should have finally learned the thing he needs to do in order to accomplish what he needs done. And the magic piece is really Shaq. He has the most playoff experience and he can really get this team mentally prepared for this match up against San Antonio. With him finally able to play better with his new team, their new look can get them past the Spurs this year. Let’s not call it an upset though. These two teams are basically evenly matched. If anything, Phoenix has the better all around performers. Experience plays a role on San Antonio’s side. But the experience from losing with the same team (in Phoenix’ case) has enabled them to learn from their mistakes in the past couple of years, and this is the time that they can capitalize on them. The Suns should be able to knock off the defending champs. (BTW: Suns took season series 3-1)

Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets

With all the hype surrounding the Western Conference playoffs, this will probably be the one that goes under the radar. It’s hard to tell if this will end up being a boring series, or an intriguing one. Houston really has the storyline in this one due to all of the ups and downs to their season. The bad start, the Yao Ming injury, the 2nd longest winning streak in NBA history, the struggles after that, then the clinching of the 5th seed. Then you have the Utah Jazz who started off the season hot, then played mediocre ball, then got hot again…so on and so forth. So both teams tended to show inconsistency this season, more from the Rockets. Houston really hasn’t been shown any respect from their great season, but that gives reason why they can be make their opponents eat it in the playoffs. When it comes to Tracy McGrady, he has yet to win a playoff series in his NBA career. As much as it would be a sight to see him cry again, he won’t allow that to happen again. The Rockets proved that they didn’t need Yao Ming to compete in the West. When everybody wrote them off after the injury to Ming, they decided to not let that bother them and they wound up becoming playoff contenders. They were able to knock off tough opponents during their improbable 22 game win streak. They now have that on their resume but the Jazz have gone under the radar in the several weeks. They are one of the best home teams in the NBA (37-4), but their road record is pitiful (17-24). So that goes to show that home-court advantage will play a part in this series. Luckily for the Jazz, they have home court advantage in this one. As much as the Houston story may touch a lot of people, the Jazz really have a terrific team; they just tend to underachieve at some times. That is no reason to count them out of this one because if you look at all of the match ups in this series from position to position, Houston really can’t touch Utah. Utah is sort of like New Orleans when it comes to depth and weapons. They have the watered down version of Chris Paul in Deron Williams, their outside game constantly remains a threat with shooters like Okur, Kirilenko, Williams and Korver, and their inside man Carlos Boozer just knows how to dominate as an undersized power forward. Will Houston make this one close though? Most definitely. Houston has the mental game down pact, but Utah coach Jerry Sloan is the veteran in this one. Going up against the first year coach, Rick Adelman of the Rockets gives the Jazz an advantage going into this series. We might be blessed to see another emotional press conference from T-Mac this year.

Michigan State Basketball: What Can the Spartans Do in the Tourney?

Byron Parker — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:09:53 -0400

It's no secret that the Michigan State basketball squad have underachieved this season. Don't confuse that statement with me saying that they're not a good team because that would be false.

The Spartans are equipped with talent at all positions but their young minds aren't capable of using all of that talent when it is needed the most. This is a team that started off the season strong and showing that they had a chance to bring home a NCAA Title back to East Lansing.

But some minor slip-ups around midseason may have caused others to give MSU a second look and ask, "Is this team really championship bound?" It's not like they were automatically picked to have a big season but with only little competition surrounding them, it's kind of hard not to give them the title as "favorites."

The Spartans showed some of their bad habits and their inconsistency by losing to teams that should've been easy wins. Teams like Iowa, Northwestern, and even Ohio State. It kind of reminded me of some of the bad habits that the Michigan Wolverines football team had. I don't know if it was cockiness or just a sign of mental flaws. Whatever it was, it showed the weaknesses of the Michigan State Spartans.

This really was the year that State should've won the Big Ten, and if not that, they had a great shot at winning the Big Ten Tournament. They only came minutes...seconds from pulling off a close game against the Wisconsin Badgers, but costly fouls and immature play led them to basically blow that game.

The Spartans had four key players foul out within a span of two and a half minutes and that led to a 65-63 loss in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament. Not to mention, they had a fourteen point lead with about 8 minutes to go in that game. With that, Wisconsin was able to take the title home after an easy win against the Illinois Fighting Illini; a team that I'm sure the Spartans would've been able to beat.

Don't get it twisted though because I'm not ripping the Spartans. This is a talented team with mental flukes in the regular season. They are capable of knocking off tough opponents, but losing at the wrong times. One of the wrong times was in the Big Ten Tourney.

Despite that, the Spartans still have a number five seed in the NCAA Tourney and they have to face off against Temple. As much as people want to yell out "Upset Alert, Upset Alert!", I highly doubt that it'll happen.

Why is this? Tom Izzo is one of the smartest coaches in the NCAA and he knows how to prepare his team for a run in the tournament. It may seem like the Spartans haven't gone deep in the tourney in the past couple of years, but that is only because they've ran into tougher opponents. For instance, last season they were knocked out by a pretty good North Carolina team. They did make it a close game, but the youth couldn't find a way to get past them. And since 1999, they've made the Final Four four times.

So State has shown that they know what it takes to make it to the Final Four. One of those players who has experienced the thrills of going deep into the tourney is star senior, Drew Neitzel.

Neitzel was on the team that made the Final Four in his freshman year along with stars like Maurice Ager, Paul Davis, and Shannon Brown. This year is different because there aren't any stars like that on this years team. And as much as college basketball analysts like to be superstitious about seedings and little things like that, the last time Sparty made the Final Four was when they were a five seed and they are a five seed in this years tourney.

State plays team basketball and Izzo is good at talking players into what roles they will play in each game. The closest Spartans to stars are Neitzel and Raymar Morgan. Morgan is probably one of the most underrated players in the NCAA. He's played solid all season long and hasn't gotten the recognition that he deserves. But this is his time to shine.

Neitzel has already done his shining in the green and white, and this will be his last season. Morgan however may have another year left and this gives him the chance to show teams who he is. Neitzel may be capable of putting up 20+ points in a game, but he's not even the leading scorer on this team; Morgan is with 14.5 a game. Morgan plays consistent basketball, and Sparty will need consistency throughout the tournament. Neitzel is the go to guy during clutch time, so that is what Izzo will rely on him for.

The region that they are in gives them a better chance of going deep into this tournament as well. Notable teams include Texas, Pittsburgh, Kentucky, and Memphis. Kentucky and Pitt has shown inconsistency throughout the season and even though Texas is a good team, State has already beaten them once this season when the Longhorns were ranked number six in the country. So MSU most likely has the edge over them mentally. Memphis...we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Right now, their main focus is on Temple. State needs to take it one round at a time and not look ahead because there is no need to believe that the first round will be given. It's win or go home right now and anything can happen in this tournament.

Also posted at flyguysports.blogspot.com

New Orleans Hornets: The 2008 NBA All-Underrated Team

Byron Parker — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 05:05:31 -0500

The halfway point of the '07-'08 NBA season is coming up, and there are lots of players that have impressed me thus far this year. Most have gone unnoticed, giving them the title of being an underrated player.

That is a good thing for those players because that gives them the edge over better teams, because other teams will sleep on that specific player. And before you know it, that player could g

o off on them in a game. Whether it’s putting up 25 points with 15 assists, or putting up 30 points with 20 rebounds.

Those are numbers that you could see from players like Chris Paul and Tyson Chandler, who both play for the New Orleans Hornets. Their statistics have really gone unnoticed. As a matter of fact, the Hornets have a lot of players that have been under the radar this season. Peja Stojakovic, David West, hell even Morris Peterson. The whole team has gone unnoticed if you ask me.

Don't look now, but the New Orleans Hornets own the best record in the Western Conference.

Yes, that means that they even have a better record than the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, whom they dominated on Saturday night, 102-78.

They are in the middle of an eight game winning streak at the moment. When you think about surprising teams this season, you'll most likely think about Portland, Boston and Orlando.

Not the 31-12 Hornets.

Going unnoticed has actually been a good thing for this team because they've been able to rise to the top of the NBA, quietly. All this time when you didn't hear a thing about them, look where they're at now. New Orleans is a very young team who doesn't have the same cockiness that other NBA teams have. I've loved watching New Orleans play this season, and their success this season has impressed me this season--more than teams like Boston.

The Hornets are equipped with sharpshooters like Peja Stojakovic, playmakers like Chris Paul, big, post threats like Tyson Chandler and multi-weapon players like David West.

With players like these, I feel that this team has the chance to win an NBA Championship, THIS YEAR!

They are better equipped than Western teams like San Antonio, Dallas, Portland and Utah. Everybody on the New Orleans team has made some sort of contribution to the team’s success. There isn’t a lot of “star-power” which gives them an advantage over other great teams.

Why does this matter?

Well, this gives them the mental edge over teams who do have “star-power”. No specific player on this team gets all of the attention. Of course if you think about the New Orleans Hornets, the first player you’re most likely to think of is Chris Paul. But he doesn’t get much attention in the NBA, most likely because he’s still young. The whole team doesn’t receive much attention because they’re all young.

So as I name the 2008 NBA Underrated Team, realize that this isn't your average team where I pick players from all over the league. This is a whole NBA Underrated Team. An underrated team that consists of underrated players.

Chris Paul- Paul is a very dangerous player in this league and will be for years to come. His statistics this season are similar to those of Suns point guard Steve Nash.

Only Paul’s statistics are looking to get better over the next several years.

He has turned into the go-to guy on this team, and they look towards him to come up big at the end of games. Chris averages 20.6 points a game along with 10.5 assists and 2.6 steals a game.

He is without a doubt the centerpiece to this organization. This is a guy who sets up plays for his team, and he can spread the ball around to his teammates to get them open shots.

Paul also has an array of weapons. He has no problem shooting the three pointers, he has the ability to take the ball to the basket, and if he’s needed for him to come through in crunch time, he does. The plays that he makes are tremendous, and he is very underrated when it comes to being a team player.

David West- Who is David West you ask? At 6'9" and 240 lbs, David West is a natural power forward. West is known for his explosive scoring capabilities with his strong midrange game and inside presence.

This season, West has been putting up 19.7 points and 9.3 rebounds a game. He’s probably one of the most underrated power forwards in the NBA, along with Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge.

He is consistent on the defensive end, an above average ball handler for his size, he has shown clutch capabilities and he is also known for his posting ability, his ability to score off the pass and off the dribble, and convert with either hand. This is the total weapon for someone like Chris Paul to get the ball to.

Tyson Chandler- Chandler has found a home in New Orleans since coming from Chicago last season. He is a dominant rebounder, averaging 12.3 rebounds a game.

Chandler struggled throughout his career with the Chicago Bulls, but he is having his best statistical season so far this year. He has progressed in his sixth year in the NBA and he’s a quiet threat in this league.

Chandler is exactly what the Hornets needed to become a dominant team. He is a terrific big man that many forget about when it comes to the paint. His 7’1 figure gives him the ability to out-rebound others, and he is a big target in the post, shooting at a 62% clip from the floor.

Chandler brings an intimidation factor on the defensive end of the floor. Many players have trouble taking the ball to the basket on Chandler due to his size and length.

Peja Stojakovic- Stojakovic is the veteran on this young team, while he’s in his ninth season. There is nothing like having a threat that can shoot 45% from behind the arch.

He is the sharpshooter on this team, and that is what he’s been known for throughout his whole career. Peja has thrived to his full potential in New Orleans, and he gives this team another great aspect.

The three-ball is his specialty, and that is also a quality that the Hornets organization needed to become a great team. Give Stojakovic a lot of credit because he has endured a lot in his career.

But in New Orleans, he has the opportunity to get the recognition that he deserves and the fresh start he needed.

He’s played consistent basketball this season, and he really helps out the Hornets with his experience. This season, Peja has been putting up 15.1 points a game. That’s less than his career, 18.2 points a game.

But it doesn’t make a difference because he’s been doing his part without having the pressure to put up more points.

Morris Peterson- Mo Pete hasn’t been having his best season, but he still is a major contributor to what this team has done so far.

He only puts up 8.6 points a game, but he still fulfills his role. He has had games this season when he’s been forced to take over as a leader because his team was struggling. Peterson has had four 20+ point games.

He’s still adjusting to New Orleans after coming from Toronto, but he has helped the young Chris Paul develop this season. Peterson will definitely turn it up come playoff time like always, but head coach Byron Scott just needs him to do his part on the team

That is, by not doing too much.

Look at the numbers. They prove that the New Orleans Hornets are serious contenders. They have the depth to go far this year, and they’ve shown so far. With a bench equipped with Melvin Ely, Rasual Butler, Ryan Bowen and Bobby Jackson, this team has undeniable potential for playoff success.

If there are flaws in this team, there are very few. I feel that this team has the potential to develop into NBA Champions, if not this year, then it will be in the next couple of years.

Don’t think of it as a fluke, either, because this team has had to wait its turn.

Getting Into Shape with Miguel Cabrera

Byron Parker — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 06:06:16 -0500

The Tigers' pickup of Miguel Cabrera gave some Detroit fans worries about his shape.

Sure, he's a big guy—but that didn't stop him from hitting .320 and jacking 34 homers.

His defensive stats weren't all that impressive, but he still did his thing at the plate. However, a big flaw in his defensive game was his weight.

Cabrera committed 23 errors in the 2007 season. He had very little range, and his weight was mainly the cause of that.

There are many Detroit fans that feel that Brandon Inge, the previous third baseman, was a better defender than Cabrera. That may be true, but Inge's 18 errors aren’t far off of Cabrera's pace. Many people will make excuses for Inge saying that his zone rating and range factor are the only reasons why he had so many errors (Zone rating and range factor are statistis that show a players ability to get to more balls than others).

Inge isn't anywhere near the same size as Cabrera, so he does have the athletic ability to get to more balls quicker than Cabrera would.

But in my recent trip to Tigerfest ’08, I was able to see that Miguel Cabrera has been losing a respectable amount of weight.

Cabrera would be a great player anywhere, but he is exceptional at third base. With Cabrera playing third, the Tigers can leave Carlos Guillen at first base and Gary Sheffield at designated hitter and still have the only lineup in baseball that might make the Yankees jealous. So his weight loss is giving the Tigers more and more comfort at the third base position.

Cabrera could possibly cut down his amount of errors with his new weight. This is a guy who has already been an all-star third baseman with a lot of talent. But getting him even more comfortable could make him even more dangerous than he already is.

He’s still so young, and yet so good. Cabrera is a talent that you may come across rarely, and his “new” level of comfort is putting smiles all over the Tigers faces. It is also boosting the young mans confidence level, and given that fact that he’s played in the league for just a few years, where do you think his confidence level is at now?

The question isn’t coming from Cabrera’s ability to hit, because he is one of the purest hitters out there. The question is whether or not the weight loss will affect him on the defensive side of his game.

I know that’s the last thing that the Tigers are worried about, but you can’t just ignore it. Twenty-three errors are a lot—and when it comes to close games, those plays have to be made.

Other than that, Cabrera looks like he’s in his best shape since he’s came into the MLB. So I look forward to seeing what he may do as a Tiger.

Bo Schembechler vs. Tom Izzo: Who's More Successful?

Byron Parker — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 04:58:46 -0500

So I'm driving through the city of Detroit browsing through the radio, and I turn to 1270 WXYZ, "The Sports Station." I hear an interesting argument about some of the best head coaches in Michigan sports.

The candidates ranged from Mike Babcock to Scotty Bowman, from Chuck Daly to Jim Leyland. Basically, it was a question of who has done more for which Michigan franchise/program.

Two significant and important names came up in this conversation. Tom Izzo, the head coach for the Michigan State Spartans' men's basketball squad, and Bo Schembechler, who was the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines' football team for 20 years (1969-1989).

These are two head coaches who've had tons of success in their positions. The question is, which coach has done more for their program?

Many will say Bo Schembechler automatically, but that is because he is one of the most popular head coaches in one of the most popular sports. People won't think about what Izzo has done for the Michigan State program.

Bo's 10 Rose Bowl appearances are similar to Izzo's four Final Four appearances and four Big Ten Tournament championship appearances. But that's all.

Izzo has so much more on his resume.

Bo's seventeen bowl game appearances may a long way, but his 5-12 record can't go far when compared to Izzo's 24-9 record in the NCAA Tournament.

And Bo has never won a national championship. Izzo won it all in 2000, and he is still looking to win another one. Bo was the head coach of Michigan for twenty years, and Izzo has been coaching State for 10. So that means that Izzo has more time to add more success to his resume.

Personally, I feel that Izzo has matched what Bo has done for his program. Only time will tell if Izzo can go further.

In the grand scheme of things, Izzo will have a higher chance of being a more successful coach than Bo.

I'm not saying that he's a better coach, but the things that Izzo has done for the program has been the same to what Bo has done, maybe even more. Izzo may end up being the best coach in Michigan sports history.

But is this a lopsided argument?

Not really. Let's take a look at what Bo Schembechler has done for the University of Michigan program.

Schembechler may be forever known as one of the best college football coaches ever.

He turned the Michigan program into what it is today. In his coaching career, he won 234 games; only two other college football coaches have won 200 games in fewer tries.

As the head coach of Michigan, he went 194-48-5 with a winning percentage of .796. Not one season did Bo post a losing record. He won 13 Big Ten titles with a conference record of 143-24-3.

He made 17 bowl game appearances along with 10 Rose Bowl appearances. Even though his bowl record wasn't outstanding, he is still ninth in all-time bowl appearances as a head coach.

Bo basically turned the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry into what it is now. He holds a 5-4-1 record against his rival, Woody Hayes, but an overall record of 11-9-1 against Ohio State.

Bo Schembechler's success can be compared to what George Steinbrenner has done for the New York Yankees, or what Jerry Jones has done for the Dallas Cowboys. He's turned the program into a powerhouse in college football, year in and year out.

Sure, Michigan was successful before Bo came to town, but Bo popularized Michigan football worldwide. He is possibly one of the most successful head coaches in college football history.

But that is only when it came to the regular season. Bowl games weren't Bo's thing. He's always been great in the regular season, but his bowl record is abysmal, including a 2-8 record in the Rose Bowl.

Bo always said that his goal every year was to win the Big Ten Conference and go to the Rose Bowl.

One statistic that sticks out is that Bo Schembechler never won a national championship. It's shocking to see that gap in his laundry list of achievements.

This is possibly a strong reason why Bo's success can be compared to Tom Izzo's success at Michigan State.

Unlike Bo Schembechler, Tom Izzo has won a national title in his coaching tenure with the Michigan State Spartans. Just like Bo, Izzo is running one of the most successful programs in NCAA history; the Spartans just happen to play basketball.

He has taken the Spartans to four Final Fours in the past nine seasons, which is more than any program in that time span. This includes three straight Final Four appearances from 1999 to 2001.

He has been coaching the Spartans for 10 years, and has posted 233 wins as the head coach there; that ranks him seventh all time in NCAA college basketball history. Izzo also has gone to the NCAA Tournament ten straight years.

Other notable stats on Izzo's resume include five National Coach of the Year awards, four Big Ten Championship appearances, and two Big Ten Tournament titles. He is successful when it comes to the NCAA Tournament, with a .727 winning percentage.

Not only is he a great coach, Izzo is a firm believer in the value of an education. 82% of his players have left Michigan State with a degree.

And every MSU player who has stayed all four years with Izzo has made it to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.

Since 2000, ten of Izzo's players have made it to the NBA, six of them being selected into the first round.

He loves his team and always wants them to have success in their career, no matter what field they go into.

Izzo has received love from all over the state of Michigan. His style of coaching is unique, and his teams renowned for their toughness. Every season, his team is among the top of the country in most defensive statistics, especially rebounding.

Izzo has been responsible for bringing the Michigan State basketball program to where it is today. Similar to Bo, Michigan State basketball was popular before Izzo's coaching tenure, but Izzo has brought this program to an all-time high. They play consistent basketball year in and year out, and are unquestionably one of the top basketball programs in the past ten years.

It's very hard to compare success in basketball to success in football. That's why it is difficult to compare these two, great coaches. But no matter what, they've both had tremendous success in their program. Determining who's better is hard, but there are comparisons that can be made.

Winning the national championship in either basketball or football is very difficult.

But if you think about it, getting to the National Championship in basketball is tougher. How's this? In the NCAA Tournament, a team has to play 5 games in the span of a week and a half in order to find their way into the National Championship.

There is no telling who you're going to face, or how tough your schedule will be. Regular season play and the conference tournament determines the seeding in NCAA Tournament. You could either get lucky by facing weak teams or unlucky by having to play higher seeded teams on the quest for the championship.

When it comes to football, there are plenty of teams who find themselves in the national championship game after playing a weak schedule. Maybe two or three games throughout the regular season will give a team trouble.

If a team anointed as a contender finished off the season with a good record, they're liable to find themselves in the national championship game. It's very different from basketball.