Does This Guy Know More About the NBA Than I Do?

I remember how I first got interested in the NBA. It was the trades that sucked me in.

In hindsight, I attribute it to my age. When you are young, you want it all, kind of like Tony Montana, which is why every man loves Scarface if they watched it in their teens. Except you can't have it all. So, in a dreamy, compensating sort of way, I loved the concept of trading for what you don't have with something you don't need. For example, I didn't need school work and would have gladly traded it for a middle-school crush.

Heck, even a middle-school crush's best friend would do! Anyway, you get my drift.

There was once a time I actually respected the opinions of so-called "experts." Now I'm always tempted to send them emails with the subject: "Do you know Jack?" and the message reading, "Nope" over and over again like the Bart Simpson-chalkboard scene in the opening song of the show.

Bill Simmons, aka The Sports Guy, is the only exception. Everyone else sucks but Simmons, because he's at least funny, and does provide insight and a good story now and again.

If there were any real writers on the NBA, I would hope they would address some actual pertinent information that could be useful to fans. After all, they get to speak with the GMs. They get to speak with the players. And yet, all the writers do at the end of the day is echo each other.

Last year in the NBA finals, every one of them wrote that the Lakers would beat the Celtics. Meanwhile, everyone at my former job told me the Celtics were going to take it without a doubt. My co-workers were right and yet again, I was reminded who the experts really weren't.

These guys never look at intangibles. And that’s a real shame because intangibles are what makes champions. Intangibles are what make perennial lottery teams (can I get a what, what for those Clippers!) Intangibles are what the NBA media has lacked for a long time.

For all these guys that try to mesmerize us with their self-proclaimed knowledge (Stephen A. Smith, for example) or their knowledge of trades (Chad Ford), or their power rankings (Marc Stein), the only thing they could really provide us with is insight as to the kind of players or team personnel that us fans have from the teams we follow through a first hand journalistic perspective.

For instance, have you ever wondered why Shaquille O'Neal always lashes out at his most recent former team when he gets traded? How about what separates franchise players such as LeBron James, Chris Paul, and Dwyane Wade from imposters like Deron Williams, Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, and Gilbert Arenas?

The truth is if you follow the NBA regularly, any opinion these so-called experts fill your ears and eyes with is totally irrelevant and expressed just so they can keep getting a check.

Here is what I have to say: Do you know why Shaq always lashes out at the teams who trade him? His father abandoned him when he was young and he has abandonment issues. That is why he goes out of his way to make the people around him laugh and smile. He always wants to give and give so that he can feel loved and not worry about being abandoned again. And when he is abandoned, he gets harsh.

Do you know what separates those franchise players I listed above from the other guys? They all clearly have the talent, but the franchise players can be secure enough in who they are and what they bring to the table not to alpha-reek the room up and make their teammates feel unappreciated and insignificant.

The only four letters in a franchise player's mind is "team," and I guarantee you that every imposter I listed simply lacks the formation of those four letters in their vocabulary.

So, do I know Jack? Probably not. But I will provide insight in my articles and I won't just shploof my opinions without giving you reasons and logic behind it.

My name is David, and my articles are, "Where amazing happens!"

Sincerely,

Mr. NBA

PS: Relax and take notes, J.A. Adande!