Bleacher Report - Articles by Yama Hazheer

Memo to Golden State Warriors: Corey Maggette Must Go

Yama Hazheer — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:41:40 -0500

It's no secret that the Golden State Warriors have been a much better team without their former captain, Stephen Jackson. Not only has the ball movement improved, but the overall chemistry has gotten higher and defense has been more efficient.

Now that one of the bums is gone, it's time for the Warriors to trade a player that they should have never signed in the first place: Corey Maggette.

Maggette's contract could be the worst in the league, he puts his stats before winning, and is injury prone. Well maybe the injury prone part is not that bad, since the Warriors are a better team when he does not play.

The Warriors went into Dallas, and beat the Mavericks. One of the reasons for the win was because Don Nelson did not coach, but we'll leave that for another article.

The main reason the Warriors won was because the youth played unselfishly, played defense, and played with heart. Those are some traits that the overpaid sixth man does not comprehend.

While Maggette may provide scoring, that is not what Golden State needs right now. If you want an example that stats are misleading, look at Maggette.

He averages 17 points per game and numerous free throw attempts, but what you do not see in the box score is the number of times he has killed the Warriors' momentum.

When the Warriors are down by a big margin, they usually put up a fight and make little runs to comeback near the end of the game. The young guys put up quality scoring streaks and display acts of teamwork.

But what could be their only mistake during the runs? Passing the ball to Maggette.

The lazy Maggette gets to the free throw line, but countless times during the game he chucks up random jump shots. Most of the jumps shots are bricks that do not even come close to going in.

The jump shots and ball-hogging are just a part of the problem Maggette causes. His defense is below average. He may draw a few charges once in a while, but he is a great flopper, something you should not be proud of.

Corey also turns the ball over more than you would expect. Some turnovers are because he lowers his shoulder while attacking the rim, but most of them are because of lazy passes and low-IQ plays.

Maggette has also averaged 1.8 assists per game since wearing a Golden State jersey. That is not a number you want from your veteran guard.

This is a memo to the Golden State Warriors, Corey Maggette needs to be traded because he is not a player the Warriors need, especially with his horrendous contract.

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Player Profile: Golden State Warriors' Kelenna Azubuike

Yama Hazheer — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:17:55 -0500

Coming from the D-League into the NBA, Kelenna Azubuike was a good fit for the Warriors, a team known for giving D-Leaguers a chance to prove themselves. Azubuike seems to be one of the better players to come out of the developmental organization.

He is one of the strongest guards in the league, much like his teammate Corey Maggette. The two are very similar players in many aspects. Both are very athletic, can attack the basket, and love to have the ball in their hands. Azubuike, however, is a better team player than Maggette.

Azubuike is one of the better three-point shooters in the league, as well. He was the best long-range man on the Warriors until Anthony Morrow joined the team. Azubuike shot 45 percent from beyond the arc, ranking fourth in the league.

Unlike many Warriors of past and present, Azubuike is a good free-throw shooter. He shot 80 percent from the line last season. He is also a strong rebounder, grabbing five per game.

Azubuike started a lot of games for the Warriors last season. At times, he tries to do too much, which leads to turnovers. When committed, Azubuike is a good defender. He has even held his own against Kobe Bryant a few times.

Special K is still 25 years old, which many people seem to forget. He is one of the quietest players in the league. He could have 30 points in a game and you wouldn't even know it.

Buike' is a key player for the Warriors and could be a great role player for a championship-caliber team.

2009-10 PROJECTED STATS

PPG: 15.2

RPG: 5.4

APG: 2.7

BPG: 0.8

SPG: 0.8

FG: 45 percent

FT: 82 percent

3PT: .432

MPG: 30.9

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Once Upon a Dime: The NBA's Top 10 Storylines for the 2009-10 Season

Yama Hazheer — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:21:30 -0400

This past offseason has been an enormous one for the top teams in the National Basketball Association. Big name players were acquired in trades or free agent signings. Each team aiming for the NBA Championship and that actually has a shot, has gotten better.

In some cases, close friends of teammates were lost, but new doors opened as they welcomed in other players that will be key to the run at the Finals.

Last season was like a dramatic first part of a movie, this season will be the sequel.

So many storylines will be a part of this second showing that will keep fans on the edge of their seats.

These are the ten worthy stories that you should keep on eye on for the second showing of what looks like one of the best seasons ever...

Honorable Mention: How will Andre Miller change the Blazers?

10. Wizards: a top team in East

This Washington team has always had talent, but lingering injures held them back from their full potential. If they remain healthy this season, which I think they actually will, they could easily be the fourth best team in the East.

Gilbert Arenas is a top player in the league when he is 100 percent healthy. Caron Butler is one of the more underrated players in the league and has improved drastically from his earlier years.

Antwan Jamison is always capable of a big night. Not to mention, they have playoff experience and have added some nice young guards in the offseason. The Wizards will be a force this year.

9. Sophomore class rising

The top players from this draft class is Derrick Rose and OJ Mayo. Both of them will elevate their statuses even higher this season. Rose went nuts in the playoffs and will carry his momentum into this season. With the loss of Ben Gordon, he will also be relied on more to score.

Mayo will become a scoring machine while working on other aspects of his game such as defense. He will establish himself as the face of the Grizzlies franchise. The two surprises of this class are Brook Lopez and Anthony Randolph.

Lopez will be the second option on the team without Vince Carter. Randolph will emerge as a star himself and as the third best player from this class, ahead of Lopez and Michael Beasley.

8. Rookies not as bad as advertised

This year, people were hating on the draft class. They said no one will be an all-star besides Blake Griffin which is false. This class has many other studs such as Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, James Harden, and more.

Evans could be as good as Griffin and could possibly go down as the best player in this draft class once his shot improves. Curry will be good depending on how much Don Nelson plays him. James Harden will be a key factor to the young Oklahoma City Thunder who will make noise in the future.

7. Finally All-Stars

There's been a few players in this league that have never been named an all-star, and it's unbelievable when you watch them play.

Some of those players are Kevin Durant, Deron Williams, and Al Jefferson. All three of these players will be all-stars this upcoming season. They are all young and have improved every year they have been in the league.

Unless someone emerges out of nowhere, it's safe to say that these three guys will all be all-stars for the first time in their careers this season.

6. Spurs are not done, yet

It looked like the San Antonio Spurs were done being a top team in the league. Injures and age were starting to take over. The lack of depth hurt as well. When people were starting to give up on them, they made a great move to get Richard Jefferson from the Bucks.

Not only did they keep Roger Mason Jr., but they added a legit scoring option and capable defender in Jefferson. He also has lots of playoff experience with the Nets.

5. KG guarantees the title

Maybe the injury got to Garnett's head, but he guaranteed back-to-back championships for the next two seasons.

"I talked to [Garnett] and he guaranteed the championship in 2010 and in 2011," Wyc Grousbeck said. "He was as fired up as he's ever been." [quote from the Boston Globe]

Last offseason, Paul Pierce claimed he was the best player in the league. This offseason, Garnett guaranteed back-to-back championships. What's next, Rajon Rondo calling himself the best point guard in the league?

4. Vinsanity will help Magic more than Hedo

One of the more controversial moves of this past offseason was the Magic trading for Vince Carter. Because of this and money, Hedo Turkoglu left the team for the Raptors. Experts are saying that this deal was bad for Orlando. They are wrong.

Carter is a better passer than Turkoglu and at times played point guard for the Nets when Devin Harris was on the bench. Carter is motivated right now and will play at the top of his game. He has also never played with a big man of Dwight Howard's caliber. It will benefit both of them greatly.

3. Finals: Shaq and LeBron vs. Kobe?

This seems like the Finals that every NBA fan would want. Not only is it the two best players in the league against each other, but another rivalry is in it as well.

Most fans seem to not care about Shaq vs. Kobe as much anymore, but it will certainly make things much more intriguing seeing O'Neal and Bryant facing off on the grand stage of the basketball world. Not only that, but the two best players in the league will collide too.

This could go down as the greatest Finals of all-time if it actually went down.

2. Will the Lakers repeat?

Most teams in the Championship hunt got better, including the champions themselves. They lost a vital part of their team in Trevor Ariza, but gained arguably the best defender and toughest player in the league in Ron Artest.

Not only that, but the Lakers were able to re-sign Lamar Odom who was causing some drama during the contract negotiations. Andrew Bynum should be 100 percent healthy this season and continue to improve. Pau Gasol showed that is isn't soft anymore during the Finals against Dwight and the Magic.

Kobe is still the best player in the game and Fisher will be clutch as usual. The question is, will they have the same fire that they had last season, this season?

1. Is the King going to remain a Cavalier? Who else will leave?

The big talk of the league has been whether or not LeBron James will remain with Cleveland or will he sign with New York, New Jersey, or perhaps another team. The Knicks have been doing everything so they could build their roster in a way where they can acquire the Chosen One.

James has said he wants to stay in Cleveland, but he also said he wants to explore his options. We will have to keep a close eye on this situation.

Dwyane Wade is also a free agent. He already said he will leave the Heat if they don't build a championship contender. Chris Bosh has been rumored to want to leave Toronto for a while now. With the Heat and Raptors just mediocre teams, it seems likely that Wade and Bosh would leave.

If they do leave, will they sign with the same team and make that team a powerhouse? Stay tuned for my article next offseason and you could possibly see these three players in different jerseys and even more excitement in the best professional sports league, the NBA: “Where Amazing Happens.”

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Building an NBA Franchise: Is Going Big Still the Way to Go?

Yama Hazheer — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:11:53 -0400

Look at some of the greatest players to ever play in the National Basketball Association. Most of them are big men. They range from the power of Shaquille O'Neal, the finesse of Tim Duncan, and the physical play of Karl Malone.

In today's NBA, it seems less and less likely to build your team around a dominant big man.

You have players such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Paul. None of them play power forward or center, but they are the franchise players for their respective teams.

When you look into it, there are not as many teams building around a big man or looking for one in the NBA Draft. The last great franchise big man drafted was Dwight Howard.

People like Greg Oden and Yao Ming were both drafted because the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets were looking for these centers to be the cornerstones of their team, unfortunately, both have had injury plagued careers thus far.

Kevin Durant was picked right after Oden in the 2007 NBA Draft. He is currently one of the better young players in the league. He plays shooting guard and small forward. So far, he has proven that the Blazers made the wrong pick.

The point guards are starting to rule the courts more and more.

There are terrific young studs in the league such as Paul, Deron Williams, Derrick Rose, and countless others.

You can't say the same about centers.

The only center currently in the NBA that can be a franchise player is Dwight Howard. End of story. You can't build your NBA franchise around any other center today, with the exception of Oden if he ever gets past those injuries.

Andrew Bynum is not a franchise player and Al Jefferson is naturally a power forward. There is really, not much sense in arguing that Bynum or Jefferson are centers you can build a championship team around.

Look at the 2008 NBA Draft. A center was not selected until the 10th pick. What about the 2009 NBA Draft, the most recent one.

There were only two centers picked in the first round, alone. Only two!

One of them was the second overall selection and people are calling him a bust before he has even stepped onto an NBA court.

The top pick for the 2010 NBA draft is slated to be a point guard named John Wall.

See for yourself, there are only two teams in the whole league building around a center. Only one of them seems to be on the right path as of now.

There are about six to eight teams building around a power forward, though.

Everyone else in the league is either building around a point guard, shooting guard, or a small forward.

The game that we all know, is now being overrun by the smaller men on the court.

Let's see how successful each top team in the league has been:

Franchise Players

Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant
Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce
Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James
San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan
Orlando Magic: Dwight Howard
Denver Nuggets: Carmelo Anthony

Only two of the top six teams in the league are building around a big man.

Are power forwards and centers the right way to build your team around now?

Should you have a point guard that can pass the ball phenomenally, that makes his teammates better, a slashing wingman that can score 40 plus on any given night, or a big man that anchors the paint and can score with his back to the basket.

A lot of things have changed since the 90's in the NBA, and it looks like the trend of building around guards and small forwards is becoming one of them.

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Battle of the Bigs: The NBA's Top Frontcourts

Yama Hazheer — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:58:36 -0400

The frontcourt in the game of basketball revolves around two primary positions: power forward and center. Alongside each other, these two players anchor the painted area.

Whether they rebound, block shots, or just throw down massive dunks, they are usually the players built around championship teams.

I have narrowed the list down to six of the best frontcourts in the league, three from each conference to form the elite frontcourts in the NBA.

**Yao Ming and Luis Scola not on list due to Yao being injured and not being able to play next season**

Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins/Rasheed Wallace (whoever starts)

Garnett will be healthy next season, but his sidekick in the frontcourt has yet to be decided. Perkins and Wallace are both great post defenders.

We already know that Perkins can work well with Garnett. He is tough, a good rebounder, and one of the better post defenders in the league. Wallace is a good post defender as well and has the ability to spread the floor with his three-point shooting.

Garnett is one of the best power forwards of all-time. He was injured for a large chunk of last season and the Celtics could have used him in the playoffs. He is the leader of this team and has emphasized defense to the point where it got them the championship.

Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard

This frontcout might be undecided as well. Lewis might move down to play small forward while either Marcin Gortat or Brandon Bass will play power forward alongside Howard.

Despite that, I'm going to use Lewis until we see who actually starts at the power forward spot. Lewis is among the top of the league when it comes to shooting, and he is 6'10". His shooting skills help Howard do the damage in the paint.

Howard's offensive game might be limited for now, but he has been working with Patrick Ewing this offseason to improve. His defense hasn't even reached its full potential which should be scary for the rest of the league.

Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani

The sleeper of this list, Bosh and Bargnani are poised to be one of the better frontcourts in the whole league this season.

This is the final year of Bosh's contract, so we'll see him play like he did at the start of last season. You know, the Bosh that people were calling an MVP candidate. We don't know if he will stay in Toronto, but he has improved every year since he has been in the league.

Bargnani is due to have his breakout season this year. With Hedo Turkoglu and Jose Calderon and their playmaking skills, it should be easier for Bargnani to cash in on his three point shooting talent.

Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum

The best frontcourt of the Western Conference belongs to last season's champion, the Los Angeles Lakers.

Gasol has established himself as a top three power forward on any given night. He has a nice touch around the rim and can shoot from mid-range. Critics call him soft, but he proved in the Finals that he is not by playing great defense on Lewis and Howard when called upon.

If he can stay healthy this season, Bynum can be an all-star. Without Shaq or Yao, the only real competition Bynum will have will be against Al Jefferson, Andris Biedrins, and Memhet Okur. He has some low post moves on the offensive end, but needs to improve his defense.

Carlos Boozer and Memhet Okur

Rumors are that Boozer will be traded, if so, the Jazz would still be on this list due the talent and skill that Paul Milsap possesses.

Boozer is a tough post player and can stroke it from mid-range with his smooth jumper. He is a beast on the boards and can hold his man down low in the key.

The high arching shot of Okur is one of the most deadly in the NBA. He is arguably the best shooting big man in the game today. He can play the post on offense, but needs to improve on his post defense.

David West and Tyson Chandler

This previous season, this frontcourt was not as great as they were in the year before. Nonetheless, they still have what it takes to be at the top.

West has nights where he can expolde for 40 plus. His defense is questionable, but he makes up for it with his soft jumper and ability to own defenders in the paint.

With the help of Chris Paul, Chandler and Paul have the best pick 'n roll in the game. They lost it last season when Chandler had an off year especially with injures, but he is still ferocious around the rim and is an amazing shot-blocker.

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Battle Of The Guards: The Top Backcourts in the NBA

Yama Hazheer — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:51:15 -0400

Backcourts make the game move. The point guard is finding the player with the best shot, and that usually is the shooting guard. Together, they might be two of the most important positions in the game of basketball.

There are many great backcourts in the league, but I have narrowed it down. 12 players, six backcourts, here is the list in no particular order.

Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen

While Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce get most of the credit for Boston, the duo of Rondo and Allen have been crucial to the success of the Boston Celtics.

Rondo is a good defender, can rebound, pass, and score when needed upon. The main flaw of the speedy guard is his shooting. Rondo is a horrid perimeter shooter, but it can be made up for with the shot of Ray Allen.

Allen is the best shooter in the league and has been for many years. His defense has improved since becoming a member of the Celtics. Allen may not be the star he once was, but he was the catalyst for the Celtics last season when Garnett was injured.

Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter

This tandem have yet to play a game alongside each other, but on paper they're one of the best backcourt teams in the league.

When Nelson was healthy, he was an all-star. He was one of the best scoring point guards in the league and could still get at least five assists a game. Like half of the team, Nelson has unlimited range.

Carter is happy to be playing in his hometown and on a team that has a legitimate chance to win the championship. Look for him to be rejuvenated and have one of his best seasons ever this year with the Magic.

Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson

Bibby and Johnson are the most underrated in these group of guys. Both are quietly carrying the Hawks to the high tier of the Eastern Conference.

You have a veteran leader in Bibby. He has tons of playoff experience and is very clutch. He may be getting older, but he is still a quality scorer and good shooter.

Johnson might be the best shooting guard in the league not named Kobe or Dwyane. He is clutch, one of the better scorers in the league, and a good passing two guard.

Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili

This duo has proven that they can win many rings together, and oh yeah, factor in the greatest power forward of all time and a great coach into it as well.

Parker is the best point guard in the league at attacking the rim and either finishing or getting to the free throw line. The three point shot has been taken out of his arsenal, but his mid-range game is deadly.

Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Ginobili is an amazing player. He can shoot, score, and pass. The injury last season has made people forget him, but he is still one of the best two guard and will show it this upcoming season.

Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant

This could be the most controversial pick, but Fisher has shown that he can be a great role player alongside the best player in the league.

Fisher is the locker room guy and veteran presence for the Lakers. He is one of the best role players of all-time and is extremely clutch—just ask the Spurs.

The best player in the league, Kobe Bryant has got to be on this list, unless if it was him and the infamous Smush Parker. No explanation needed for the Black Mamba.

Monta Ellis and Stephen Jackson

Don Nelson said that he plans on starting Ellis as the point guard and Jackson as the shooting guard this season, if that is the plan, then these two definitely belong in here.

After a horrendous season with the moped accident, Ellis will come out strong this season and go back to the form he once was before the injury. He showed glimpses of that at the end of last season. He isn't a traditional point guard, but his mid range shot in unmissable.

Jackson is becoming one of the most underrated players in the league. Although his turnovers are high, Jackson is the best passing forward behind LeBron James. He can do it all from defending to taking the last shot, Captain Jack is an all-around player.

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Out Of The Shell: NBA's 09-10 Starting Line-Up Of Breakout Players

Yama Hazheer — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:36:40 -0400

What makes the National Basketball Association so exciting is not only the amazing star players, but the players that are on their path to becoming the best. These players have worked their tails off ever since the season has ended to put their name at the high tier of the league.

Every season there is a select group of players that become even better than they previously were and have breakout seasons. Most of these players go on to win the NBA's most improved player award.

This upcoming season should be nothing short of fascinating when it comes to these players that will have tremendous seasons.

It was hard just to pick the five players, but I believe these players will make big names of themselves this season and prove that they should be household names.

PG: Aaron Brooks

The little man from Oregon, Aaron Brooks made a name for himself during the 2008-09 playoffs. Brooks played magnificently against the Portland Trail Blazers and the champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Earlier in the season, Rafer Alston was traded and the Rockets had no choice but to put the quick Brooks in the starting rotation. The Rockets soon found out that it was a good move.

Brooks is not the traditional pass-first point guard and has a scorers mentality. Throughout the playoffs he averaged 17 points and shot 42 percent from beyond the arc for Houston.

Other than Yao Ming and possibly Shane Battier, Brooks was the most important player for the Rockets during their playoff run, not Ron Artest who was a chucking machine.

Look for Brooks to be one of the higher scoring point guards this season especially with Yao and Tracy McGrady out.

SG: Courtney Lee

Many experts did not like the Vince Carter deal to the Orland Magic for one reason, Courtney Lee. They said why would you give up a young stud in Lee.

Some of them have some points and Lee will be an amazing player for the New Jersey Nets, a team that will need an extra 25 points a game without Carter.

Lee did not do too well in guarding Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals, but what can you expect? Bryant is the best player in the league and Lee should great effort in defending him.

Playing alongside four scorers in Hedo Turkoglu, Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis, and Dwight Howard won't get you many touches, but Lee still managed to put up eight points a game in 25 minutes.

He claims that he can be a great scorer for the Nets and even Shaquille O'Neal said that Lee will be one hell of a player.

SF: Wilson Chandler

It's looking more and more unlikely that the New York Knicks will keep David Lee and/or Nate Robinson. This leaves it for Wilson Chandler to put the Knicks on his back.

Chandler is a long, versatile defender and is good at blocking shots and playing the passing lane. He is also a solid rebounder.

What has surprised people the most is his ability to score. He has nights were he can score 20 plus, mostly when Lee or Robinson or struggling, he steps up and takes the game under his wing.

Al Harrington and Chandler will be the main players for the team next year. Even if Lee and Robinson re-sign, Chandler is poised to have a breakout year.

Rumors are that Chandler has worked hard in the off-season along side Danillo Gallinari and is ready for a chance to get the Knicks into the playoffs.

PF: Anthony Randolph

Anthony Randolph is the player in the group of guys that will have the best season. In little glimpses of action Randolph didn't do much in the early part of the season. Don Nelson didn't like him and he was immature and trade talks rose.

Near the middle of the year, Randolph earned more minutes with his hustle. He played with a positive attitude and always gave it his all on the court. He can play the point and he is just half an inch shy of seven feet. Not only that, but he has gained 20 pounds of muscle this off-season.

Rumors are that Randolph has been working on his shooting with sharp-shooting Anthony Morrow. If Randolph develops a shot, he may be impossible to defend.

Randolph dominated the Summer League and was robbed of the MVP. His impressive performance got him an invite to the Team USA mini-camp.

Nellie has penciled Randolph in as the starter at the power forward position for this season, and numerous experts are predicting a breakout season from this future superstar. Not only does he have the skill, but he has the work ethic and will to become a star in the league.

C: Andrea Bargnani

Cashing in is this off-season, Andrea Bargnani is ready to be the center for the Toronto Raptors. People have compared this guy to Dirk Nowitzki for being a seven-footer with the ability to shoot like a guard.

Bargnani isn't a good rebounder, but his defense has improved in the later course of the season last year.

He averaged 15 points a game last season, scoring five more than he did the previous season. Look for him to average around 15-19 points this season. Him and Chris Bosh will become one of the better, yet softer front courts in the league.

This will be the season where all the years of waiting pays off and Bargnani takes off the bust label as some see him as.

I'm not sure that Bargnani can live up the expectations of a number one pick, but he will show that he can be at least a borderline All-Star.

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A Chance to Get LeBron James: Worth Giving Everything Up?

Yama Hazheer — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:57:19 -0400

It's no secret that LeBron James' contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers expires after this upcoming season, in the offseason of 2010. It's been one of the hottest topics in sports for the past few seasons.

It has been so crucial to many teams that they are giving up for the current time and just constantly putting up losing seasons with no commitment to winning until they get James.

The New York Knicks are the biggest example of this whole fiasco. The Knicks were looking to get LeBron for a while and realized that they can not get James with the so called wits of Isiah Thomas. He was fired and Donnie Walsh took over the New York empire.

The Knicks have made tons of trades this past few seasons to get rid of players with high paying contracts. During the course of losing players, New York has lost Zach Randolph, Stephen Marbury, Jamal Crawford along with numerous others. The Knicks have gotten many players whose contracts end during the offseason of 2010.

The main target of New York has been LeBron James. While they do have a chance to get players such as Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Steve Nash, and others, the rumors are making it look like the Knicks are aiming for the Chosen One. Who can blame them? James has the potential to go down as the greatest player ever.

As for playing with the Knicks, it would help him become an even bigger icon. Most of the big stars in the league have played in big markets.

Michael Jordan played for Chicago and Magic Johnson played for Los Angeles. It's only fitting for a King to play in the most known place in America.

James himself has said that he has no intentions of leaving Cleveland Cavaliers.

"I'm happy in Cleveland. I don't have any plans on going anywhere," James said. "These fans have done everything to support me. I'm excited about being here."

LeBron has been found sporting a New York Yankees hat almost everywhere he is off the court, but half of the country wears these Yankee caps.

These LeBron talks haven't been too nice to the current franchise players for the Knicks: David Lee and Nate Robinson.

Both of these players are unhappy with the Knicks attempts to re-sign them and are both considering leaving.

This brings up the main point of this article, is it worth losing your current best players just so you could have the money to sign an even bigger star the next season. Have the fans had enough suffering with the continuous losing seasons just to wait for the King?

What if James and the rest of the free agents of 2010 sign with other teams because New York has no one left? You could give them tons of money, but what would be the point of signing a big name star when he is the only player on the team that is a good player? You will still be in the same position with the constant losing.

The New York Knicks front office better hope to work their magic during the 2010 off-season. If the Knicks do not get at least one of the big name free agents, get ready to see some heartbroken fans in city that never sleeps.

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Why Vince Carter Will Help Improve The Orlando Magic

Yama Hazheer — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:08:19 -0400

When the Orlando Magic traded for Vince Carter, the eyebrows of many critics rose.

They said with the addition of Carter, the Magic are going to lose Hedo Turkoglu and a rising star in Courtney Lee. They lost both of these players for what, a washed up Carter who will make the Magic worse? That is where the critics are wrong.

Last year, the New Jersey Nets were predicted to be the worst team in the league. Carter led the way for the Nets, and they passed expectations as early as the All-Star break. They were eliminated from playoff contention in the last weeks of the season.

Now people are saying the addition of Carter will stunt Dwight Howard's growth as a player. Those people are ignorant. Has Vince messed up the play of Devin Harris? No, he took the backseat and let Harris do his work while Vince led the team with words.

Everyone on the Nets gave up after a losing streak when it looked like they had no chance at the playoffs, but Carter said that he won't give up on the team. Where were the critics then? When Carter admitted on giving up on the Raptors, he was young, and analysts around the globe started hating on him, but when he made the comments about helping the young Nets team no matter what, the so-called experts ignored it.

Carter has been playing with more effort on the offensive and defensive end of the floor. His passing is extremely underrated, as he is one of the best passing shooting guards in the league, if not the best.

He may not be the human highlight reel anymore, which makes people hate on him, but he is a better basketball player now. He may have bad games every now and then, and that's when the haters are at their peak, which gives Carter a bad rep.

People say Carter is injury prone, but he has played in nearly every game ever since playing for New Jersey. In reality, Vince is a top-five shooting guard in the league for sure, maybe even top-three on his best nights behind only Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, who are the best players in the league along with LeBron James.

Being traded to the Orlando Magic is just a new chapter in the career of "Half-Man, Half-Amazing."

We all know what Carter is capable of when he is rejuvenated, and that is exactly what he will be this upcoming season. He is playing for a team that was just in the NBA Finals, and it's the team he dreamed about playing for ever since he was a little kid.

Vince has also never played with a dominant big man like Howard before, which will benefit both of them.

Carter is unselfish and will help Howard become a better player. While Howard will be the main attraction for the Magic offense, this will be what Vince has always wanted. He never wanted to be the main guy on a team, and now he has the chance to be the second option.

With the pressure off of Carter, he will be a more efficient player.

Turkoglu was clutch for the Magic last season, but Vince was just as clutch if not more, himself. He hit many critical shots that won games for the Nets, and look for him to do the same in Orlando.

The critics may love to hate on Vinsanity, but don't let that get to your head. The Magic made the right move and traded for the underrated Carter.

You will all see that when the season starts, the Magic will show they are still the top team and the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.

For more basketball discussion, join www.otrbasketball.com/forums

Breaking News: Ron Artest To Sign With The Lakers

Yama Hazheer — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:26:35 -0400

Ron Artest may have gotten into an argument and nearly a fight with Kobe Bryant during the playoffs, but it looks like they will be teammates for the 2009-'10 season. The Los Angeles Lakers are in the process of signing the shutdown defender.

"I don't really care about the money," Artest told CBS Sports. "I'll play there for nothing...L.A. was very interested in me, and they got me."

There have been numerous controversies about Artest's Twitter page that said he will leave the Houston Rockets, but those pages were found to be fake.

Artest and Bryant are the only two players in the league that can shut down a player and hold them under 20 points in a game while scoring 20 for themselves.

The Lakers have been called a soft team by fans, experts, and even their own head coach Phil Jackson. Artest should bring some toughness to the squad.

This means that either Lamar Odom or Trevor Ariza will not re-sign with the team. Most likely, it will be Ariza that goes to another team.

The main reason for Artest's departure may be because of a chance at winning the championship, but it also has a lot to do with the condition of Yao Ming, who is rumored to miss all of next season and possibly even further by ending his career.

The Artest signing makes the top of the league even more dangerous now. The Cleveland Cavaliers traded for Shaquille O'Neal, the Orlando Magic traded for Vince Carter, the San Antonio Spurs traded for Richard Jefferson, and now the Lakers have added Artest.

The Boston Celtics remain the only championship contender acquiring a top name player, but it looks like they have been in deep talks with Rasheed Wallace.

For more NBA discussion, please join www.otrbasketball.com/forums

Anthony Randolph: Superstar In The Making

Yama Hazheer — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:55:28 -0400

Usually when a player is the last pick in the lottery, they have a chip on their shoulder when being compared to the rest of the lottery. They are considered the underdog on the top picks, and are forgotten about while discussing the best players of the draft.

They are not as valued and go on to be role players.

Golden State Warriors forward Anthony Randolph is a different story.

The lanky point forward will go down as one of the best players of the 2008 NBA Draft Class.

When Randolph first joined the team, coach Don Nelson saw a lot of potential in the young stud, but later on they started having problems and chemistry issues with one another.

Nelson said that he wanted Randolph gone from the Warriors, and that he needs to mature. During this period, Randolph was barely getting playing time, that is if he even was allowed to get into the game.

Randolph showed frustration, and he took it out on teammate Rob Kurz. During an altercation between the two during practice, Randolph elbowed Kurz during a play.Captain Stephen Jackson called him out for that during practice and this made Nellie's impression of Randolph even worse.

The first quarter of the season was difficult for the rookie. He was even becoming to be called a bust by analysts because of his poor attitude. This was the fuel to Randolph's fire.

He started to practice harder.

Teammates and coaches started noticing this and he was reward with more playing time. Forward Brandan Wright got injured during this time, so it was Randolph's time to shine.

The youngest player in the league rose to the occasion and even became a starter at one point for a coach who rarely plays rookies!

This was the turning point of Randolph's rookie season where he was getting more noticed by Warriors' fans as a player that could be built around.

Randolph ended the season closer to Coach Nelson. He is currently penciled in as the starting power forward for next season instead of Brandan Wright.

At the end of his rookie campaign and the off-season, Randolph has been working harder then ever. He is in the gym constantly and has gained 20 pounds of muscle since he has been drafted and is just one inch shy of seven feet.

Anthony has even been working on his shooting with the other Anthony of the team, Anthony Morrow who is arguably the best shooter in the league.

"He understands how to work now," Morrow said. "I think it was just the way he was approaching it (early last season). He was young, and a lot of young guys don't understand how to work hard. He picked it up quick. Once he learned how to work, he started getting more comfortable because he started seeing his hard work paying off." [Quote from Contra Costa Times]

What separates Randolph from Michael Beasley is their work ethic and attitude.

Randolph wants to be a superstar and is working to become one, while Beasley seems more content with what he already has. Randolph better at everything besides scoring, while will come to him naturally especially playing for the Warriors.

Randolph is young and has the tools and work ethic to become a superstar in this league. You know that you're good when you are a big man that can't shoot, a rookie, and you get to become the starter for a coach that barely ever plays rookies or big men that are not perimeter oriented.

Before you call me crazy for saying Randolph will be a superstar, give him a few years and you can see for yourself that Randolph will be at least a top five player from this draft class. O.J. Mayo and Derrick Rose will be better, but then it's just between Brook Lopez and Anthony Randolph.

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The NBA's King Is Kobe Bryant, Not LeBron James

Yama Hazheer — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 23:44:19 -0400

The number of hours he has put in alone at the gym. The countless number of shots he takes before he leaves the gym. He is the first one to arrive, last one to leave. He may not be as flashy as LeBron James is, but he is the better player. His name is Kobe Bryant.

The 6'6, 205 pound guard might not have the unique frame that James possess, but he knows how to use his hard work and talent in an unbelievable manner, which is what makes The Black Mamba the best player in the National Basketball Association today.

James' stats may outshine Bryant's, but if stats make players seem as good as the numbers say, players like Jamal Crawford and Josh Smith could be some of the elite players in the league.

Critics say that James is a better leader than Bryant is. They are wrong. Bryant may have dissed teammate Andrew Bynum before, but look at what that has done to the kid. Bynum has become a much better player since Bryant called him out.

What LeBron has said to the press before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals has yet to be seen as in insult to his teammates, which it actually is.

“There’s only one of me,” James said. “… If I could clone myself, we’d be all right.”

That did not help the confidence of his teammates as the Cleveland Cavaliers did not win a game for the rest of the series.

What about talking to the press or shaking hands with opponents after losing games in the playoffs? When or if Bryant does it, it gets blown out of proportion. When James did it, no one seemed to care until David Stern actually fined the so called face of the league.

The King finished second in defense player of the year voting and people are now saying that he is a better defender than Bryant. Those claims are laughable. Bryant is a better defender either at being a roamer or a lock down defender.

You know he is a better lock down defender, remember the Olympics last season? Yeah, I'm sure you do now. Bryant was an amazing defender when Coach K told him to be a shut down defender as opposed to Phil Jackson telling Kobe to be a roamer.

Scoring wise it's not even close. Kobe is a better scorer than LeBron and is possibly the greatest scorer of all-time.

I'll give LeBron the edge in passing. He has great court vision and really makes his teammates look good at times. He could also be considered an overrated passer due to most of his teammates being catch and shoot players. It makes it easy for LeBron to just penetrate, and since he gets so much attention, it leaves a shooter wide open.

Despite James' size being much larger than Bryant's, Kobe is a warrior. He is a tough player who has been playing on a torn ligament in his finger for a year and a half now while James sat out a few games because of a sprained finger.

This article was not written to bash LeBron, he is a phenomenal player, don't get me wrong. He may go down as the greatest ever, but today, Kobe is clearly the better player.

Don't get brainwashed in all the LeBron hype by the media when they proclaim him as the best player, because in reality, the real king of the NBA is Kobe a.k.a. the best player in the league.

For more NBA discussion, please join the OTR Basketball Forums.

Oakland Raiders Theme Songs

Yama Hazheer — Mon, 25 May 2009 01:16:05 -0400

The Oakland Raiders have interesting personalities on the team. Whether they are on or off the field, they mostly face criticism. The media attempts to expose the negative aspects of the players.

The Raiders won more games than the winless Detroit Lions this past season, yet people bashed Oakland more.

Each player on this team is different, and some of them deserve their own theme songs. I have listened to a number of songs and will match a few of the players on this team with a song and a valid reason to why the song is their theme song.

JaMarcus Russell: "Numb" - Linkin Park

"I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless, lost under the surface
I don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes"

Russell has arguably been the most criticized player in the NFL ever since he's been drafted. Everyone wants him to live up to his potential, but he hasn't been surrounded with help. He had a weak offensive line, receivers who didn't step up, and coaching changes.

The unfair criticism of Russell should be put to an end. If he under-performs this season, maybe you can pick on him, but for now, give the man a chance.

Darrius Heyward-Bey: "Hate Me Now" - Nas

"You can hate me now.. but I won't stop now..
Cause I can't stop now.. you can hate me now..
But I won't stop now.. cause I can't stop now..
You can hate me now.. you can hate me NOWWWW..
Don't hate me, hate the money I see, clothes that I buy
Ice that I wear, clothes that I try, close your eyes"

From DHB to Mel Kiper Jr. and the rest of those ESPN clowns that were hating on him. Heyward-Bey will show that you can hate on him all you want but he will prove to be one of the best wide receivers in this draft. He also doesn't have a "me over the team" attitude like others. *cough* Crabtree *cough*

Nnamdi Asomugha: "Wouldn't Get Far" - The Game

This is for all the receivers that go against the best corner in the game. The lyrics don't match his play, but the title is for the poor guys that have to face Asomugha.

Darren McFadden: "I'm Coming" - Silkk The Shocker

"Nobody could stop me, nobody could hold me, ain't nobody control me.
I'm coming!
I'm here to do my thing, I'm here to bring the pain, I'm never ever gonna change!
I'm coming!"

McFadden is going to be a beast, and no one will be able to contain him. He has untapped potential and will be one of the better running backs in the league when his time comes.

Tom Cable: "Lost" - Gorilla Zoe

"I think I'm losin it
I might be losin it
I just might lose
Am I losin my mind?
And I'm so confused I don't know what to do
And I need a clue before I run out of time
Am I losin it?
Am I losin it?
I think I'm losin
I'm losin my mind
Am I losin it?
Am I losin it?
I think I'm losin
I'm losin my mind"

Is he going to coach the Raiders or be fired? Knowing Al Davis, if Cable does not have the Raiders start the season off well, he might be out of the job soon. That is why "Lost" is his theme song. He's paranoid about his job, and it's making him lose his mind.

Oakland Raiders Fanbase: "Swagga Like Us" - T.I. feat. Kanye West, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne

"No one on the corner have swagga like us
Swagga like us, swagga swagga like us
No one on the corner have swagga like us
Swagga like us, swagga swagga like us"

Despite the Raiders records these previous seasons, the fanbase has remained loyal and strong. No other fanbase supports a team as much through the rough times like the Oakland fans. We are the best fans in the whole league, and no one on the corner has swagga like us.

Oakland Raiders: Changes In Offense Make Team Speedy

Yama Hazheer — Mon, 18 May 2009 20:28:28 -0400

Last season the Oakland Raiders' offense was horrible. You cannot deny it whether you are an analyst or the biggest Raiders homer there is.

The passing was simply not happening. Basically it amounted to JaMarcus Russell's first complete season. The left tackle spot was clearly not producing, the receivers were not stepping up, and there was a coaching change in the middle of the season.

This year looks different. There is a new left tackle in town. The receivers are a young, developing, healthy, and talented unit. And Tom Cable remains the head coach in Oakland.

The play calling will be different this year. Michael Bush showed the world in the last game of the 2009 season, breaking out and having a career game. Look for the Raiders to utilize him more in their offensive plans.

The depth of the running backs continues. With potential starter Darren McFadden at 100 percent health-wise, he should live up to expectations. The heart of the running back spot is clearly with Justin Fargas. He always gives it his all when the ball is handed to him.

Whether it is a counter or a dive, look for the running backs to be used a lot this season. Maybe, they could even be used in the passing game if the receivers do not produce. Bush, McFadden, and Fargas can all catch the ball well off screen plays.

Speaking of the passing, the new rookie getting all the attention is Darrius Heyward-Bey. You all know the story on him. He was picked too early according to nearly everyone that follows the NFL. He is simply fast, he will work well with Russell.

No other quarterback can throw the ball as far as Russell and DHB's speed can barely be matched. Practicing against the best corner in the game, Nnamdi Asomugha, should also make Heyward-Bey an improved receiver.

Johnnie Lee Higgins stood out last season, particularly at the end of the year. He led the team in receptions and became fairly consistent in the offense. Look for him to come out as the top receiver on the team. Chaz Schilens is also becoming better and some are even penciling him in as the starting, first string receiver.

The tight end spot has gotten better with Zach Miller. He will have a breakout year, and if the Raiders offense is decent, he may get selected into the Pro Bowl. He has speed for a tight end and the way he moves down the field so swiftly usually confuses defenders.

Even with all these options, don't forget that JaMarcus himself can be one of the fastest quarterbacks in the league. It may be a stretch to call him a stronger Michael Vick, but he could turn into a player of Vick's caliber in the near future, except without the off field issues.

Oakland's offense is looking fast, but as usual, the Raiders look great on paper. Let's see if they can convert and show that they are a much improved offensive team in September.

Coaching Profiles: Tom Cable and John Marshall

Yama Hazheer — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:10:49 -0400

Head Coach: Tom Cable

The recent history of the Oakland Raiders head coaching job has not been pretty. Numerous names come up on the list of coaches fired due to the Raiders having bad records.

The last head coach for Oakland was Lane Kiffin. By many, he was unfairly fired. During his first venture, the Raiders record was 4-12. That lead to Kiffin's departure.

Unexpectedly, offensive line coach Tom Cable was picked as the interim head coach. He became coach four games into the season and lead the Raiders to a 5-11 record and loads of momentum to end the season. The games he coached, the Raiders went 4-8.

He helped JaMarcus Russell by moving Kwame Harris out of the starting left tackle spot. Harris struggled throughout the course of the year and Russell took a lot of hits due to that.

Cable has over 20 years of coaching experience. He's worked for many colleges, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Oakland Raiders.

On February 3, the Raiders named Cable as the official coach. Others were interviewed, but in the end, Cable earned the spot and respect of the Raiders.

Defensive Coordinator: John Marshall

John Marshall was just signed as the defensive coordinator for the Raiders. Rob Ryan was the former defensive coordinator. Marshall has been coaching as twice as long as Tom Cable has (over 40 years).

Marshall has been the defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, and the Oakland Raiders. He won two Super Bowl rings in San Francisco.

With Marshall aboard, the Raiders will still play some cover three defense. Marshall will want more pressure on the offense. He is currently teaching the defense the fundamentals and stressing it to the team.

The Raiders were second to last in defensive rushing yards last season, Marshall will look to turn this defense around. He will make them more fundamentally sound and discipline.

One On One With JaMarcus Russell

Yama Hazheer — Sun, 10 May 2009 03:28:35 -0400

One of Al Davis' most notorious moves by critics was the selection of LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell as the first overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft.

Russell is regarded as a busy by many analysts and fans of any team except for the Oakland Raiders. They still have faith in him and don't read into all the controversy surrounding him.

As a guy that has actually watched Russell play, he is impressive and has potential to be a great quarterback.

I would love to talk to JaMarcus one on one and see how he feels about the situation and some more key facts about him.

Here are some questions that I would ask him:

Many experts are labeling you as a bust. What is your response to the criticism you have faced so far in your career?
They are also doing the same to your new teammate, rookie wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey. He is a speedy guy. What are your thoughts on being able to throw the ball to him?
For the most part during your rookie season, you sat on the bench. What was that experience like?
What quarterbacks did you look up to as a kid?
During practice, do you avoid throwing the ball in Nnamdi Asomugha's direction like every other quarterback in the league?
With your large frame have you ever considered playing a different position?
What about a different sport? Do you have any basketball background?
How tough has it been to go through and deal with the changes in the front office with coaches?
What have you learned from Lane Kiffin?
How will the addition of veteran Jeff Garcia help you?
When can we see the Raiders back in the playoffs?

Forget the Past, Look into the Future: The Oakland Raiders Have Improved

Yama Hazheer — Sat, 09 May 2009 18:30:32 -0400

This upcoming season will be one to remember for the Oakland Raiders. With the offseason moves and acquisitions they have done, this team is now built for a no excuse season. The Raiders have always had the talent, but lacked discipline and focus.

For example, they have been at the top of the league at penalties for years.

Under Tom Cable and hopefully under him only, the Raiders will look to succeed.

As said by a fellow Raider fan, it is time for JaMarcus Russell to finally break out of his shell. He does not have the deadbeat Kwame Harris playing left tackle anymore so he won't get sacked from that side as much anymore. Look for Mario Henderson or free-agent Khalif Barnes to fill up that spot.

To help Russell mature and learn the game gradually, the Raiders signed veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia. He will help Russell's confidence grow and can make him into a better quarterback to reach his full potential.

The depth of the running backs is just unbelievable. A young stud in Darren McFadden, a hard working Justin Fargas, and a man who could start for some teams around the league in Michael Bush.

Each of them are unique in there own way and could help make the Raiders running game terrific. Three running backs that each can be quality starters is going to take the load of Russell's arm during short yard gain times.

At fullback, the Raiders just signed Lorenzo Neal. Neal helped take the pressure off pro-bowl running back LaDainian Tomlinson and helped him became the player he is today. Without Neal by his side, LT is going through the downfall of his career.

Eyes of many draft experts rolled when Oakland selected Darrius Heyward-Bey with the seventh pick in the draft. He is the fastest rookie wide receiver. He ran his 40-yard dash in the best time at the NFL combine with 4.27 seconds.

He fast and Russell can throw harder than anyone in the league today, there is a connection already. Look for them to have huge plays together.

Johnnie Lee Higgins who became notorious for his punt returns was the Raiders number one receiving option when Javon Walker went down with an injury. With Ronald Curry struggling, Higgins came up big time.

He will be one of the top receivers once again this year and will have more opportunities to prove himself with Curry being departed from the team.

Zach Miller has improved every year since he has been in the league and could have been in the pro bowl last season if it weren't for playing in a low scoring offense. This season could be his breakout year as one of the league's best tight ends.

The defense of the Raiders has potential.

In his sophomore season, Thomas Howard led the league in interceptions for a linebacker last season with six. On the other side of the linebacker spot, the mean Kirk Morrison led the team in tackles with 135.

Nnamdi Asomugha is still the best defensive back in the NFL. He shut down notable wide receivers last season such as Andre Johnson. He is easily the most feared defensive back in the league. This puts pressure on the other side of the field.

Hiram Eugene and Chris Johnson played solid. They actually played better when pro bowl DB DeAngelo Hall was released.

Safety Gibril Wilson was also added to the list of released players this offseason which opens the door for Michael Huff who found himself in the doghouse this season.

Mike Mitchell who was drafted in the second round received a large amount of heat. He was not invited to the combine and was projected by many to go in the seventh round or possibly end up undrafted. He vowed to keep a picture of Mel Kiper Jr. in his locker for the rest of his career to motivate him.

Oakland's special teams is crazy with Sebastian Janikowski, Shane Lechler, and Johnnie Lee Higgins leading the way.

Janikowski has the strongest leg in the league and can kick the ball out of the stadium as can Lechler with his amazing punting abilities.

Higgins went on a run returning punts last season. He had three touchdowns, had a 13-yard average, and returned for a total of 570 yards.

In conclusion, the Raiders should surprise many of the experts. This team has been through hell since their Super Bowl loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Numerous coaching changes should end here if Tom Cable is truly the right man for this job.

I expect the Raiders to have a record of 7-9 or better. They have improved and their focus should be on winning football. They will slowly turn it around and we could possibly even see a run for the playoffs.

Enjoy the season Raider fans, we've been through a roller coster these past few seasons. Just believe in the silver and black and they should hopefully be back.

FML: The Bleacher Report Edition

Yama Hazheer — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:17:55 -0400

Parody of fmylife.com

My articles have gotten less and less views since I joined the site unlike others who have gotten more since they joined. FML.

I have been writing for a year and have yet to have a pick of the day article. FML.

When people edit my articles, they say great work, yet I receive limited comments. FML.

I write as much Golden State Warriors articles as I can in my free time and yet to be a community leader or the number one ranked writer for them. FML.

I have been here for a year and remain with only 14 fans. FML.

I have been a scribe forever now, I have yet to be a analyst or above. FML.

People that have been here for a shorter time than me have the syndicated writer badge in their profile, I have yet to get that. FML.

My article has appeared on Fox Sports, and I still did not win pick of the day. FML.

When I first registered, Zander did not even add me as a fan till I commented his page to let him know I exist. FML.

I once worked on an article for a whole day and only received three comments for it. Two of them were the ones I posted. FML.

I once worked on an article for a whole month and only received one comment, one of them being from myself. FML.

I have posted more comments on articles than I have actually received on my own. FML.

I actually love this site despite it not loving me back. Maybe I need to brush up on my writing skills and keep the readers more entertaining, but I am making a commitment from here on out to try and write more articles not only for Bleacher Report, but to help myself as well.

Justin Fargas vs. Darren McFadden: Who Gets the Starting Spot in Oakland?

Yama Hazheer — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:03:10 -0400

Note: This is my first NFL article.

The Oakland Raiders have been the joke of the NFL for the past few seasons. With horrid records and Al Davis running the show, what can you expect?

This season the Raiders have a chance to be better than they were in previous years on the offensive side of the field. They drafted speedy receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, who many so called experts are saying was picked way too early, tight end Zach Miller who has improved in each year he has played in, the infamous JaMarcus Russell who has heard some unneeded criticism for a while now, and they got two studs at the running back spot: Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden.

Fargas and McFadden play one of the most important positions on offense: running back.

But which of these players will start for Oakland in the 2009 NFL season?

Fargas has started for the Raiders the past few seasons, but speculation was that his starting spot would belong to McFadden after he was drafted last season. Fargas started for the most part during the season with McFadden also coming in numerous times during the game, most notably for his presence in the wildcat formation.

Despite being the starter for most of the season, Fargas only had one rushing touchdown. He struggled in the goal line when the Raiders chose to run the ball in those situations. On the other hand, McFadden had four rushing touchdowns last season.

McFadden also beats Fargas in catching. He had 29 receptions compared to Fargas' ten receptions.

Neither of them great blockers for Russell when they are in that spot.

Both McFadden and Fargas each had three fumbles in the season. McFadden seemed to be a little injury prone during the season. He had toe problems during the course of the season which he never seemed to get over. It should be fine though during this upcoming season.

McFadden is more of a speedy back while Fargas is a scrambler who will attempt to get as much yards as he can and work hard.

While Fargas may have been the better player, McFadden will clearly be the better player and the face of this franchise along with Russell if he ever comes along. He needs to start to get a chance to develop.

We might see a switch this season with McFadden starting and Fargas coming off the bench, but we will not know until coach Tom Cable makes his decision.

Who would you want as the starter?

The NBA Playoffs: Not The Same Without Your Favorite Team

Yama Hazheer — Tue, 05 May 2009 23:40:39 -0400

Normally around this time of the NBA season, I would be more excited than usual. I would watch the NBA playoff games with my friends, be active in game threads on the forums I visit, and just produce more and more articles. This time around, I have not had the same feel as I have in the previous years.

Maybe it's because my Golden State Warriors left a sour taste in my mouth after going through such a horrendous season. Or maybe it's because my second favorite team, the New Jersey Nets, actually had a decent shot at the playoffs, but injures and poor play from my favorite player, Vince Carter, was the shot in the leg for them.

Right now I am interested in a draft class many are calling "weak." I am hoping dearly for the Warriors to draft Tyreke Evans, but knowing the past few moves of our front office, I know they will do something to make the organization look hideous and an embarrassment to fans across the globe.

The first round series with the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls was great, maybe even the best off all time, but it still did not give me the same enjoyment as watching the underdog Warriors knock off the No. 1 seeded Dallas Mavericks. Ah, those were the days of being the NBA's favorite underdogs and the story of the year.

Back to the playoffs, I think the reason I don't find the playoffs as exciting is because I don't have a team that I could really root for. Last season, I hated the Boston Celtics and still do, and the Los Angeles Lakers were the team I was supporting, just because I wanted to see Kobe Bryant win a ring without Shaq, so the media would get off his jock about it. It did not happen.

This season, I am not supporting the Lakers as much. I do not care who wins the title this year, but I do want to see one matchup that almost any fan of the NBA or just a casul viewer would want to see; Lebron James' Cleveland Cavaliers versus Kobe Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers.

The two best players in the world going at it would make ratings go so high that even David Stern would crack a smile.

This year, I do not care who wins the championship. I just want to see fun, exciting games throughout the rest of the post-season, not one sided blowouts. We have seen too many of those so far in these playoffs.

To people who have their teams out of the playoffs, don't get too down. Enjoy these games, stay true to your team no matter what, and always believe in your team, whether it's a chance at the No. 1 pick or the NBA championship.

Register over at www.otrbasketball.com/forums for NBA discussion.

Rajon Rondo or Derrick Rose: Who's the Better Player?

Yama Hazheer — Sun, 03 May 2009 00:20:39 -0400

The Boston Celtics have just disposed of the Chicago Bulls in a series many fans and experts are calling the best playoff series ever.

What made the series so entertaining? The rise of the baby Bulls? The chance of a possible upset? Or are there just too many Celtic haters now?

It was a mix of those reasons, but the biggest factor that made this series thrilling was the fantastic play of the two young point guards: Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose.

Looking to the future, which of these floor generals will be better?

Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo is a prototypical pass first point guard. He attempts to make the players around him better and more involved in the game before he takes a shot.

Sure, he gets help from three future hall of famers, but he's made players like Glen Davis, Kendrick Perkins, and Eddie House all better with his penetration.

Rondo does well using picks to his advantage and is always in control when he has the rock in his hands. He went 89 minutes in the final few games of the series with no turnovers at all. With the pace these games have been played at, it is impressive.

What's more astonishing is that Rondo had 19 assists in the triple overtime game, and six where he had no turnovers. His passing is smooth and he knows where to put the ball. He nearly averaged a triple double in the first round series.

Rondo has long arms and is a versatile defender who gambles for steals, putting him at the top of the league in that category.

Despite being only 6'0" and 170 pounds, he is a great rebounder. His hustle and hard work earn him rebounds in a game which makes him one of the better rebounding guards in the league.

Rajon's main weakness is his lack of shooting. He shoots 50 percent from the field, but don't let that number fool you. The majority of his shots are points in the paint or fastbreak points. He shoots 64 percent from the free throw line.

Without much of a perimeter game, teams are able to double team Paul Pierce and Ray Allen on the wing. That is a weakness affecting the whole team. It puts more pressure on Pierce and Allen to potentially force up bad shots or make costly turnovers. Teams give Rondo open jump shots numerous times throughout games.

Rondo has learned well from former point guard and coach Doc Rivers. If he develops an outside shot, he can be one of the harder players to defend in the league.

Derrick Rose

Unlike Rondo, you can build your team around Derrick Rose. He is a franchise player and has phenomenal talent. Rose doesn't have the court vision Rondo has yet, but he could get to his level soon.

Rose is arguably the most athletic point guard in the league and one of the most athletic players there is. He uses this to his advantage by driving to the rack fearlessly. He does well finishing around the basket too.

Like Rondo, Rose doesn't have a great outside shooting game. He only shot 22 percent from beyond the arc in the season. However, his mid-range game is nice and so is his free throw shooting.

Rose needs to work on his defense, especially his pick and roll defense which he has struggled to defend. Turnovers are a concern too. There were plenty of times in the series where he forced passes and was careless.

Even with his rookie faults, Derrick is looking like he will be the best player in his draft class and could go down as one of the greats to play the point guard position.

Under Vinny Del Negro and Derrick Rose, the Bulls look like they will be one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference in the future.

Rose didn't have the talent and experience around him that Rondo did during the series, and was still able to lead the Bulls to a game seven against the defending world champions.

Rondo will play an impact role for a championship team many times in his career, but Rose will be the one leading championship teams.

Verdict

Rajon Rondo narrowly got the better of the rookie Derrick Rose in the playoffs. But while Rondo may be the better player right now, at the start of the 2009-2010 season Rose will come out as the better player and will continue to be the better of the two well into the future.

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Boston Celtics Becoming One of the Most Hated Teams in the NBA

Yama Hazheer — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:31:09 -0400

As you may have seen, the Boston Celtics are turning into today's Detroit Pistons "Bad Boy"-era type team.

They have players on the bench screaming obscene profanities to opposing players, acting like thugs, and committing unnecessarily hard fouls.

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were never winners and were very likable players—until they joined up together on the Celtics.

Pierce has become cockier. He claims that he is the best player in the league. It's good to have confidence, but you have to have a point where you should not get cocky.

Being the self-proclaimed "best player in the league" is not confidence, it's cockiness. You never see LeBron James or Kobe Bryant going out and calling themselves the best player in the league—they give each other the title instead.

The Big Ticket has turned into the Big Jerk by many former fans. He has been obnoxious and rude ever since he joined the Celtics. He has made an even bigger case for it thus far in the playoffs.

He can not play due to injury, so he screams and yells at opposing players while sitting on the bench in his suit. He was notably shown yelling at Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon and center Brad Miller.

Garnett has been picking on smaller guards this past season and the NBA has yet to do anything about it but "keeping an eye on the situation." That hasn't done anything, since Garnett still harasses players.

Rajon Rondo has become a part of the act ever since the playoffs have started. He has played feisty and has gotten tangle up with players on many occasions.

The referees were criticized for not calling a flagrant foul on Rondo in the closing seconds of Game Five because he slapped across Brad Miller's face which later resulted in Miller getting stitches.

In Game Six, Rondo attacked guard Kirk Hinrich. He pulled him down, and Hinrcich hit the scorers' table while they were running back on the other side of the court.

A flagrant one foul was called this time—but this should have been a flagrant two, which results in an ejection.

The Celtics may be the best basketball franchise ever, but their actions on the court these past few seasons are making them one of the most-hated teams as well.

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Top Five Storylines For The NBA Playoffs

Yama Hazheer — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 22:17:52 -0400

5. Rose emerging as a top point guard

As you may have seen in the first game between the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls, rookie Derrick Rose went insane. Not only did he lead the Bulls to an upset of the Celtics, but he tied for the highest point total for a rookie in his first-ever playoff game with 36 points. Not even Michael Jordan had a performance quite like Rose did.

Just like during the playoffs from two years ago when Deron Williams emerged as a top point guard in the league, expect Rose to do that at an even earlier age this season, as he continues to tear it up and emerge as one of the better point guards in the NBA.

4. Pistons collapse marks the end of their era

The Detroit Pistons era is officially over. Well, maybe it was over when they traded for a cancer in Allen Iverson. The Pistons have not been the same since they traded away Chauncey Billups for Iverson, and it looks like their time as one of the best Eastern Conference teams is over.

Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, and Richard Hamilton are all getting older and will start to decline soon. They have young talent in Rodney Stuckey, but that will not be enough. Detroit has lost depth and their team chemistry is at a low. They might be back if they land a big star player with Iverson's expiring contract, but don't count on it.

3. Portland going from pretender to contender

The Portland Trail Blazers are the second-youngest team in the league and are already a top five team in the Western Conference. Brandon Roy is becoming an amazing player, LaMarcus Aldridge is a great second option, the bench is deep, and they are difficult to beat at the Rose Garden.

Look for the Blazers to defeat the Houston Rockets and give the Los Angeles Lakers a tough time in the second round of the playoffs, possibly a seven-game series between the two. After this season, you'll be able to believe that the Blazers can become a powerhouse and a dangerous team to face for years to come.

2. Celtics without The Big Ticket
It looks like the Boston Celtics will have to settle for the "Ticket Stub" (Glen Davis) instead of the "Big Ticket" in Kevin Garnett, who is doubtful to play in the postseason. Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, and Ray Allen will have have to pick up the slack for the missing All-Star forward.

But who will bring the defensive intensity that Garnett brought to the club? It'll be interesting to see how far the Celtics can make it without the player many call their MVP.

1. The King vs. Black Mamba
What you were all waiting for since the start of the season? An NBA Finals matchup between the two best players in the league: LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. The two best players in the world along with their teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers, should be one hell of a series.

The two best players in the league along with the two best teams in the league. I called this finals match-up before the start of the season and I'm sticking with it. LeBron versus Kobe has all the makings of a classic NBA Finals.

Expect the loser of this series to come out next season on a roll. I'm predicting the Lakers win in six games, but you never know when you have the King on the other side.

Yama Hazheer's 2008-09 NBA Player Season Awards

Yama Hazheer — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:08:03 -0400

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MVP: Dwyane Wade

Dwyane's situation is similar to that of Kobe in the '05-'06 season, and that year, I would have given the award to Bryant instead of Steve Nash.

The association gives this usually to the best player on a team with a top-three record, but as for me, I would give this award to the player who did the most for his team with barely any help.

Take Wade off the Miami Heat, and they are the worst team in the league. Take LeBron James or Kobe off their respective teams, and the Cavs and Lakers would either be high lottery teams or postseason bottom-feeders.

Without the Flash last season, the Heat had the league's worst record. This year, with him, they are top-five in their conference. It's clear to me that Dwyane Wade is the most valuable player to his team.

COY: Rick Adelman

This season, Adelman developed Von Wafer, was able to control Ron Artest, and kept the Houston Rockets at the top of the Western Conference without Tracy McGrady. He has made this club one of the better defensive teams in the league.

ROY: Derrick Rose

The Chicago Bulls had no chance of making the Playoffs according to many experts at the beginning of the season, but Derrick Rose has proved them wrong. He stole the starting point guard spot from Kirk Hinrich and has made the Bulls relevant again.

He has become a great leader for a team that had chemistry issues last season, and he's teamed up well with new coach Vinny Del Negro. He could go down as one of the better point guards to play the game if he continues to get better.

MIP: Devin Harris

Mark Cuban must be kicking himself right now, considering the results of the Jason Kidd/Devin Harris swap. While Kidd is in Dallas getting older, declining, and wanting more money, Harris is in New Jersey, leading the team alongside Vince Carter.

He has become the primary offensive option for the Nets, though his defense is shaky despite playing the passing lanes well. Harris has been a good leader, scorer, passer, and clutch this season.

Danny Granger is close to winning this award, too. It'll likely be a coin toss between Harris and Granger for most improved.

Sixth Man: Jason Terry

Jason Terry would be a starter on 90 percent of NBA teams, but the Dallas Mavericks already have enough offense in their starting lineup, so they put Terry on the bench.

When "Jet" comes into the game, he averages 20 points on 46 percent field goal shooting. He's also one of the better three-point shooters in the game.

When it comes down to the final minutes of the game, Dirk Nowitzki and Terry are the players that will finish out games for Dallas.

DPOY: Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard has been a monster on the defensive end this season. He averaged 14 rebounds, three blocks, and one steal through the campaign, and he has shut down most opposing centers and functioned as the anchored the defense of Magic's defense.

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NBA MVP Between Kobe, D-Wade, and LBJ: It's Mamba v. Flash v. King

Yama Hazheer — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 22:38:23 -0400

The Most Valuable Player award usually goes to the best player on the best team in the league. That's how the award has always been described, and it's most likely going to stay that way.

But that should not be the way the award is. A true MVP is a player whose team would be nothing without them.

If you took Kevin Garnett off the Boston Celtics, they would still be a Playoff team. On the other hand, if you took Chris Paul off the New Orleans Hornets, they wouldn't come close to the postseason.

To me, the MVP award should be given to one the top three players in the league in a particular season. To determine which, take each player off his respective team, and ask yourself whose team would be the worst.

Whoever's team is the worst without the player, it's that team's guy who is truly "Most Valuable."

This season, the award is up for grabs among Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade. In this article, I will make a case for each player to win the award, and in the end, I will choose my MVP.

Kobe Bryant

Last season's MVP is having another spectacular season. He is the oldest of the three candidates, but in my opinion, he's the best player of the three.

Bryant possesses a killer attitude on the court and has matured from his earlier seasons.

During the 2005-06 season, Bryant took the Los Angeles Lakers to the Playoffs with Smush Parker, Luke Walton, Lamar Odom, and Kwame Brown rounding out the starting five. Parker, Walton, and Brown would have all been back-ups on other teams.

As for Odom, he was a bad player when he was the second option.

Kobe went off that year, scoring 81 in a game and 62 in three quarters. That season, Kobe would have been a no-brainer for the award.

This season, though, Odom has been playing great as a third option, Pau Gasol is becoming a solid player in the triangle offense, and the team has many shooters capable of spacing the floor. Without Bryant, the Lakers would be an average team; not in the Playoffs, but a high lottery team.

Sorry, Laker fans, but I do not believe Bryant deserves the award this season.

LeBron James

LeBron James is 24 years old and is already arguably the greatest basketball player in the world. Last season, I thought Kobe was easily better than James, but now it's way closer.

James' defense and jump-shooting have both improved tremendously. He has surprised many critics by becoming one of the most intimidating one-on-one defenders in the league, and though his shooting remains inconsistent from beyond the arc, he can now hit the mid-range jumper regularly.

He still needs to work on his free-throw shooting, considering how much he gets fouled on his attacks on the basket with the game on the line. We've seen him miss clutch foul shots before; with his work ethic, I see him improving soon.

As for James being the MVP, he makes his teammates better, his court vision is amazing, and he can play any position on the floor. He has the speed of a point guard with the strength of a center.

And without LeBron, the Cleveland Cavaliers would be worse than the Lakers. They have a bunch of shooters that space the floor and some nice offensive rebounders., but Mo Williams isn't capable of leading a team, and the Cavs would struggle without LBJ emphasizing defense.

And the Lakers still have Phil Jackson on the sidelines. Mike Brown is no Phil Jackson.

Still, though he may go down as the greatest to ever play the game, James is not going to win MVP in my book this season.

Dwyane Wade

Many forgot about Dwyane Wade last season. He was injured, the Miami Heat were the laughingstock of the Association, and LeBron, Kobe, and Chris Paul were tearing up the league.

This season, it's been a whole different story.

Wade is back at the top of the NBA alongside James and Bryant, and he has been an unbelievable player at times this year. Wade has been one of the "clutchest" players, if not the most clutch player, in the league this year.

His on-ball defense isn't great, but he is the best shot-blocking guard in the league and plays the passing lanes well.

Wade may not be as rawly talented as a LeBron or a Kobe, but he isn't too far behind. He's my MVP for the 2008-09 NBA season.

Without him, the Heat would be at the bottom of the league, just like they were last season. The team has no other player to step up.

Kobe has Pau Gasol and LeBron has Mo Williams. Dwyane has a washed-up, injury-prone Jermaine O'Neal and rookie Michael Beasley.

If the Heat are able to win 46 or mroe games, Dwyane Wade has to be considered the most valuable to his team, which is why I think he is the true MVP.

Monta Ellis Upset In Golden State

Yama Hazheer — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:00:33 -0500

January 14, 2009 (via San Franciso Chronicle)

Monta Ellis on his future:

"Listen, whatever it is about me leaving, wanting to go, I don't want to play for Nellie—that never came from my mouth," Ellis said Tuesday.

"I don't know where they got that from, but I'm here for the next six years. I'm a Warrior. I'm going to always be a Warrior. Whoever put that out there did it because they wanted a story.

"I'm making it known right now that I'm a Warrior," Ellis added. "I love playing for Nellie, and I never said (otherwise), not one time. So you don't have to worry about that. [...] only thing I'm worried about is getting back on the basketball court."

March 6, 2009

Golden State Warriors' guard Monta Ellis has missed the past few games because of ankle stiffness and family issues, or say he says. Reports on Friday are that Ellis is unhappy with the team and is seeking to find a way out of the Bay Area.

Ellis signed a six-year contract during the offseason which will earn him up to 66 million dollars.

After he signed the contract, he went against it and rode a moped in which he crashed and suffered an ankle injury. He was suspened for 30 games and lost three million dollars off his contract.

Not only did that injury and suspension cost him over half of the season, but it cost the Warriors a chance at qualifying for the playoffs.

Ellis returned about two months ago, but has not been with the team for the past week. He is supposedly taking the time to rest his ankle and stay with his family because of an emergency.

Supposedly, Ellis is unhappy with Robert Rowell and Don Nelson.

During huddles, Ellis is mumbling to himself that he wants to be traded. He makes it loud enough, though, for the team to hear his comments and attempt to do something about it soon. Ellis also arrives late to team pracitices and shootarounds.

Not only did Ellis do that to show his anger, but he did more. He skipped a team photo shoot which usually dooesn't make the front office happy.

This all may because of the possiblity of a contract termination. But who knows?

If Monta really wants to be the face of this franchise and a superstar, he needs to mature and move on from what he did.

If the Warriors decide to trade Ellis, who would you like in return?

LeBron James in the Dunk Contest Next Year?

Yama Hazheer — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 17:31:25 -0500

Michael Jordan won a slam dunk contest. LeBron James has yet to enter one; that is, until the news the world heard on Feb. 14, 2009. James told TNT sideline reporter Cheryl Miller that he will put his name in the 2010 NBA Slam Dunk contest.

But will "The King" really be in the contest? He said it with a pumped-up look on his face and was enthusiastic about it.

The Jordan/James comparisons were through the roof when James entered the league. Those comparisons have died down as of late as he is being compared more to Magic Johnson than Jordan.

During the TNT broadcast, they were discussing James and Jordan. Saying how Jordan was in a dunk contest and electrified the world with his outstanding dunks, and if LeBron really is going to be the next Jordan he has to be in the dunk contest.

Jordan wanted to be the best at everything. He won the dunk contest. He won six NBA titles. When people said he couldn’t pass and was a ball-hog, he had a career high in assists.

If James wants to go down as the greatest player of all time, he needs to have the Jordan mindset. He has to think that he will be the best in every aspect of the game. Dunking happens to be a part of the game.

Is this a bluff? LeBron might have said it in the heat of the moment, but now the NBA world thinks that the almighty LeBron James will be competing next season in the slam dunk competition. He also claims that he can dunk on a 13-foot rim compared to Dwight Howard’s 12-foot rim.

King James will be the headline for All-Star Saturday night next season in the contest in which fans have been waiting for him to be a part since his rookie season. Even though he says he will be in the dunk contest, don’t be surprised if this is just all an act.

Golden State Warriors Mid-Season Grades

Yama Hazheer — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 14:41:09 -0500

It seems ages ago that the Golden State Warriors made their miraculous Playoff run of 2007. They continued to look promising last season, but the offseason afterwards was full of bizarre occurrences, and things took a turn for the worse in the Bay Area.

They lost their best player, Baron Davis, to free agency, and then his successor, Monta Ellis, went down with an injury. It all adds up to this season being nothing short of horrible.

As of late, the Warriors have actually played well. Since Ellis returned from his injury, the team has showed more effort, which has translated to more victories. They are currently on a three-game win streak heading into the All-Star break. But can we quantify the Dubs' quality?

Here are their individual mid-season grades.

The Starters

PG Monta Ellis

Monta’s grade will be lowered because of his stupid offseason decisions: riding a moped, getting injured while doing it, and then lying to the front office about it.

Other than that, he has been fine. He has yet to play at the level he once did, but he is slowly getting there with each game; his just being on the court makes everyone around him play with more effort. His mid-range game and explosiveness aren’t what they used to be, but by the end of the season, he should be back to where he once was.

Grade: C-

SG Jamal Crawford

After hearing that Al Harrington was traded to the New York Knicks for Jamal Crawford, Warrior fans went nuts. Unfortunately for Golden State, the trade has worked more in favor of the Knicks.

Crawford needs the ball in his hands to succeed, like the two other veterans on this team. He already got into an argument with a teammate about selfishness, and Jamal can get stubborn at times and force ill-advised shots. He may be the streakiest player on the team.

Grade: C+

SF Stephen Jackson

At times, he looks like "Captain Jack". At other times, he looks lazy.

It’s frustrating to see him not get back on defense and argue with the officials about blown calls, leaving his teammates to play undermanned.

Jackson has played selfishly sometimes, but at the same time, has also matured a lot this season. His all-around game is much better today than in any of his previous seasons. He isn’t the ideal leader for a young squad like the Warriors, but he's done an average job.

Grade: B-

PF Kelenna Azubuike

He began the season by struggling but caught fire later on. He is one of the best three-point shooters in the league and a good finisher around the rim. But like most of the team, he is streaky.

He'll sometimes force up bad shots instead of passing the ball, but he's been a good rebounder and average defender to make up for it.

Grade: B

C Andris Biedrins

He's the most valuable player of this team, despite the fact that they are on a win streak without him. Biedrins cuts to the basket well, is a great finisher around the basket, and rebounds with the best of the league.

He usually has to clean up the mess Maggette, Crawford, and Jackson make as he hustles down rebounds so they can throw up another one.

Big men who can’t shoot don’t play too well under Don Nelson because they get nothing in the offense, but he still averages double-figures. An All-Star in the future for sure; that is, once a new coach arrives.

Grade: A

The Bench

G/F Corey Maggette

An overpaid, injury-prone ballhog that doesn’t play defense. Maggette played horribly to begin the season, though he's improved since becoming the sixth man.

Still looks for his shot over everything else, but he gets to the rim well and gets fouled often.

Grade: D

F/C Ronny Turiaf

He's at the top of the league in blocks despite playing relatively few minutes. Turiaf gets a lot of his swats when Warriors guards can’t keep their man in front of them.

He has an inconsistent jumper, rebounds only averagely, and fouls way too much, but he’s a great energy player.

Grade: C

G C.J. Watson

Plays well when he gets time, though he's had a torn ligament in his shooting arm all season. Watson gambles for steals on defense.

He has a nice jumper and can find open players at times.

Grade: C-

G/F Marco Belinelli

Warriors fans had been waiting for Marco to finally get some burn, and this has been the season for it. Since he cracked Nelson’s rotation, he has played tremendously.

He has even improved on his weakest area, defense. He’s a good passer and shooter. He chucks up random shots at times, but that’s just what he's learned from the “leaders,”I guess.

Grade: B-

F Anthony Randolph

Plays excellently in limited minutes.

Randolph rebounds the ball well and is great at running the break. His jumpshot isn’t great, but he is capable of hitting it when needed. He has great hustle and has a nack for blocking shots.

Grade: C+

F Anthony Morrow

This undrafted rookie scored 37 points in his first start. Morrow is an amazing shooter, and it's a crim he's not in the three-point shootout. If Nelson played him more, he would be a great weapon.

Started the season as just a shooter, but has become a great rebounder and more than just a catch-and-shoot player.

Grade: C

Incomplete Grades

F Brandan Wright

Wright developed a bit of an offensive post game and became a better rebounder when he got some minutes. Unfortunately, he has been injured for a long time and hasn’t lived up to fan expectations

F Rob Kurz

He has a nice jumper and is willing to give up his body. Kurz is a decent player that can be a great ninth or tenth man off the bench.

G Marcus Williams

He should be playing more minutes. Willliams may be the best playmaker on this team. He didn't even touch the floor in a triple-overtime game where three players fouled out and a few were injured.

F/C Jermareo Davidson

He still has not played enough minutes to be evaluated.

Ten NBA Questions and Answers on Hot Topics

Yama Hazheer — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:59:17 -0500

Questions by Erick Blasco.

1) The Boston Celtics have lost seven of nine, including to their top competitors (the Cavs and Lakers), to solid, but crippled opponents (the Blazers without Brandon Roy, and the Rockets without Shane Battier and Tracy McGrady) and to the league’s bottom feeders (the Bobcats and Warriors). What’s gone wrong with Boston?

Without P.J. Brown and James Posey, the Boston Celtics' bench is now thin. It was deep last season with experience of Brown and Posey, without them there really isn't anyone on the bench that can out and give them that boost off of the bench other than Leon Powe and an inconsistent Eddie House. Their intensity is gone.

2) The defending Western Conference Champion Los Angeles Lakers have cruised to the top spot in the West, while the Cleveland Cavaliers have been exceptional for the better part of two months. Which of those teams is the best in the league right now, or is it someone else?

I think both teams are great, the top two in the league. But in the end, I still think the Lakers are a better team. They have more depth, and when Jordan Farmar comes back their recent struggles will come to an end.

Point guard position isn't looking great for them, but they have Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol who are both players that can help each other when one is having a bad game. LeBron doesn't really have the sidekick right now that Kobe does. But it might change depending on what I see from these two teams on Martin Luther King Jr. game day.

3) Conversely, which team is the very worst in the NBA?

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the worst team in the league. They will be a good team in the future, but as of right now they are pretty bad. They have their nights where the upset their opponents, but in the end, they only really have Durant and Green for now.

4) Which team has been the most disappointing team?

Phoenix Suns. Shaq is the only player on the team right now that is playing well, but he sits out for some games just because he isn't the same young Shaq he once was. Nash and Amare are both struggling without the run-n-gun tempo of Mike D'Antoni.

5) The Spurs, Rockets, Mavs, and Hornets all boast winning percentages above 60 percent. Which of them is the best in the Southwest, either now or come playoff time?

Spurs. They have the experience, a point guard that can take over games and make everyone around him better. A perimeter threat that either starts or comes off of the bench. The best power forward of all time, and possibly even in the league right now. And they have one of the best coaches in the league.

All they need is the fourth player to step up, and Roger Mason Jr. is doing a great job with his clutch shooting. He and Matt Bonner spread out the floor nicely.

6) How good are the Orlando Magic?

Overrated by fans, underrated by the media. They will be a threat in the playoffs, but being a three-point shooting team may hurt them if they aren't hitting their shots. They are a top three team in the East for sure, and top five in the league as a whole.

7) Mike D’Antoni, Michael Curry, Scott Skiles, Vinny Del Negro, Eric Spolestra, Larry Brown, Rick Carlisle, and Terry Porter. Which of those coaches has done the best job with their new teams?

Mike D'Antoni. Who would have expected the Knicks to not be at the bottom of the league this season? They are playing good basketball considering all the off court troubles they have with Stephon Marbury. Chandler, Robinson, and Lee are three players that this team needs to keep.

8) What’s been the difference in Miami’s turnaround from last year's disaster?

Dwyane Wade. He is a top three player in the league and can take over games like only a few other people in the NBA. He is making players around him better, and the additions of Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers are turning the team around.

Health in general is the key. They won't be anything special in the playoffs though, if they make it, unless Beasley or Marion steps up.

9) Assuming Cleveland, Boston, Orlando, Detroit, Atlanta, and Miami are good enough to make the playoffs, which other two Eastern Conference teams fill out the postseason bracket?

New Jersey Nets. Brook Lopez is playing amazing these past few games, Yi was looking good until the injury, Devin Harris is playing like a star, and Vince Carter is playing like the type of Vince we have never seen before. He is showing great playmaking skills, effort on defense, and leadership.

Philadelphia 76ers. Too much talent on this team to not make the playoffs. Elton Brand will have to step up though when he comes back from injury and Andre Iguodala will have to play like he has been doing since Brand has been injured.

10) List your top three Most Improved Player candidates and why you chose them.

1. Devin Harris—No. 1 for sure. Isn't letting Mark Cuban get any sleep.
2. Danny Granger—Improved in every aspect of his game this season.
3. Marco Belinelli—Has played great defense and great in general since Don Nelson has given him minutes.

Random NBA Thoughts (January 17, 2009)

Yama Hazheer — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 19:15:56 -0500

The National Basketball Association has seen a lot occur in the season thus far.

Allen Iverson has been traded to the Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups, a trade in which people were saying the Pistons got the better end of the deal had shown why Billups has more championship rings than Iverson will ever have.

He isn't selfish, he doesn't need to take 20 shots a game, he is a good defender, and a better leader than Iverson. The Nuggets have played much better than the Pistons have since the trade.

While Carmelo Anthony is benefiting from his new teammate, Richard Hamilton is struggling with his. This shows that you can just be an underrated star in this league and be a championship-type player rather than a superstar with an ego and bad leadership qualities and never win a ring.

We have seen Dwyane Wade come back to the Wade we all loved. He showed in the Olympics that he is going to come back strong and has proved to us that he is still in the top three players in the league, right below the King and the Black Mamba.

Speaking of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, this season James is showing that he is a better player than Bryant. I've said it before, all LeBron needed was great defense the ability to shoot from the perimeter before he can be considered as good as Bryant, and he has worked on those aspects. I didn't think I would say it this early in the year, but LeBron is a better player than Kobe this season.

Bryant and the Lakers are playing well, but they are struggling on the defensive end, the end where LeBron and his Cavs have vastly improved on which is one reason why they are a perfect 20-0 at home this season.

Last team to start off this well at home? The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls who went on to win the championship led by whom else but Michael Jordan.

The Orlando Magic are proving their critics and doubters wrong this season by becoming a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference.

They are currently second place in the East and are playing great basketball. With Dwight Howard in the middle, Jameer Nelson showing how good he has become, Hedo Turkoglu showing he can become a clutch option, Rashard Lewis playing up to his contract, and all the outside shooters on the team, the Magic will be a tough team come playoff time.

Going from teams that are doing well to teams that aren't doing so hot, let's move on to the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks.

The Suns are struggling under new coach Terry Porter. Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire aren't getting to run as much as they have under Mike D'Antoni and the record is showing that they aren't too happy about it. Everyone on the squad except for Shaquille O'Neal who is playing terrific so far.

Dallas is becoming the Sacramento Kings of a few seasons ago. They do well in the season, but can't win the championship in the post-season. Right now, they aren't even playing well in the regular season. While Mark Cuban is regretting the Jason Kidd/Devin Harris swap, the team continues to struggle.

Danny Granger deserves some props right now. People didn't know if he had the ability to be a franchise player, but this season is showing that he is a candidate for the most improved player award. The Pacers are still young, but are getting better. Granger is averaging 26 points, five rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block per contest.

That's what the NBA is looking like right now in my eyes. Hopefully, the entertainment of the league continues because this season is loaded with potential.