2011 NBA Finals: The Big Three vs. the Big German

May 31, 2011 4 Comments

Out of all the possibilities for the NBA Finals, the Miami Heat will face the Dallas Mavericks in what looks to be one of the greatest Finals rematches of all time. Much has changed since these two teams last met. For starters, the Miami Heat turned from a slightly above average team to a multi-year dynasty in waiting. Nearly every sports writer and media outlet has taken the easy way out, criticizing Lebron and the Heat for pursuing help to win championships. In fact, I think the only positive Heat articles came from yours truly…Stick’s Picks. Believe it or not, but this Heat team has actually been underrated all season long. In an era where social media dominates the sports industry, it is remarkable how the Heat managed to win 58 games and lock up the two seed in the East. Not to mention their dismantling of the Celtics and Bulls, where the Heat held a huge talent disparity in each series. And people thought Derrick Rose was the MVP!

The Heat’s Finals opponent…my Dallas Mavericks. In contrast to the Heat’s wide media coverage, the Mavericks seemed to fly under the radar the entire season. I’ll be the first to admit, this Maverick playoff run has caught me way off guard. First the Texas Rangers, now the Mavericks. Dallas sports are running at an all time high. What’s next, the Cowboys in the Super Bowl?

As mentioned in my midseason article (link), this is the best Mavericks team of all time. The 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks have finally put the “D” back in the Big D. Adding defensive centerpiece Tyson Chandler has done wonders for this Dallas team. What’s not to love about this Dallas team? A veteran-ridden lineup with two strong defensive presences down low, an array of elite perimeter defenders, a deep bench, plenty of sharpshooters, and quite possibly one of the best shooting big men of all time. Could this finally be the year Dirk and the Mavs breakthrough? I know Mark Cuban sure thinks so.

In what is the one-year anniversary of Stick’s Picks, there is not a more exciting story for me to cover. Having been driving the Heat bandwagon all season, I have finally met my match. If you haven’t figured out by now, I am very biased towards the Mavericks and would love nothing more than to see Dirk and Dallas finally win a title. As much as I would love to see Dallas win a title, the Lebron has been on a mission even since “The Decision.” With Game 1 beginning tonight, here is my preview and analysis in what looks to be an excellent Finals matchup.

First things first, the Miami Heat are the heavy favorite to win this series (as they should be, they only have two of the best players in the NBA). Dallas has won both season meetings between the two teams, but is this as relevant as it sounds? Both of these teams have vastly improved from their midseason form, and have fittingly been the two hottest playoff teams. This Maverick team has won 10 of their past 11 games including, embarrassing the two-time defending champs in four, and beating the younger, more athletic Thunder in only five games. Funny to think how after their massive collapse in Game 4 in the Portland series, that they would win 10 of their 11. The Miami Heat run has been no different, winning 9 of the past 11 games, it is tough to imagine a team that can hang with the “Big three” for a best-of-seven series. This looks like a well-matched series to me. Here is my complete position breakdown.

Point Guard: Interesting matchup. On one hand you have Mike Bibby who is years past his Sacramento days, but can still hit the three ball and is a playoff veteran. However, Jason Kidd has rejuvenated himself in his second stint in Dallas, and is sometimes the 2nd-best player on the team. If you are going into a playoff series, Kidd would be a unanimous pick to run point over Bibby. One of the greatest point guards to ever play the game gives Dallas the point guard edge. Edge: Dallas

Shooting guard: Dwyane Wade vs. Deshawn Stevenson? As much as I admire Stevenson’s tenacity and confidence (primarily on defense), Wade is the 2nd-best player in the NBA and don’t think I have forgotten about what he did in the 2006 Finals vs. Dallas. Edge: Miami

Small Forward: Don’t get me wrong, Marion has surprised me with his elite level of defense in both the Lakers and Thunder series. But (and this is a big BUT), Lebron James is the best talent this league has seen since Michael Jordan. Or in Scottie Pippen’s words, “Lebron may be better than Jordan.” Edge: Miami

Power Forward: Chris Bosh has had a great season. However, Bosh hasn’t really lived up to expectations ever since he threw his name into the formation of the Miami Big Three (It really should be the Big Two but that’s just me). As for Dirk’s playoff run thus far: 28.4 PPG, 51.7 FG%, 51.6 3-pt FG%, and 92.9 FT%. And the more amazing thing… those percentages are slightly down from last year’s playoffs. Edge: Dallas

Center: My how things have changed since Dallas has had the better Center, Tyson Chandler, in all three of their playoff series (and this series is no different). Miami Heat’s Joel Anthony has been a significant asset to this Heat team, but Dallas’ Tyson Chandler not only has improved the Mavs’ defense but has also given this team a new defensive identity. If you give Tyson a scoring power forward and great passing point guard…then watch him flourish (see 2008 New Orleans Hornets). The funny part about this is Dallas paid Brendan Haywood $55 million just last summer. I’d like to thank MJ for giving Chandler to Dallas in exchange for the Erick Dampier’s lazy carcass (If only he would have done it before Haywood’s massive contract). Edge: Dallas

Bench: Lets see: does the Miami Heat have a bench? Answer: No. And, other than Udonis Haslem, I can’t name one other decent player on the Heat bench. The Mavericks have stacked themselves with scorers, rebounders, and defenders to have arguably the deepest bench in the league. Jason Terry and JJ. Barea are two guards capable of scoring 20+ any given night. Corey Brewer hasn’t been getting much playing time, but I expect that to change this series given his great defensive skill set. Last year’s Mavs starting center, Brendan Haywood, has provided great relief for Chandler and is still an above-average rebounder and shot-blocker. Last but not least, the Serbian Sharpshooter, Peja Stojakovic, was an absolute steal for the Mavericks. No wonder this Maverick’s bench tied the Lakers’ ENTIRE TEAM in the series-clinching game 4 (86 Mavs bench pts vs. Lakers 86 total pts). Edge: Dallas

Coach: As great of a job Eric Spoelstra has done this season in managing the Miami circus, Rick Carlisle has been slightly better. I’m not sure if you were watching the Lakers series, but Carlisle SEVERELY outcoached the great Zenmaster Phil Jackson (the same Phil Jackson who has 11 rings)! And was anyone more outcoached than Scotty Brooks in the Mavs-Thunder series? Edge: Dallas

Stick’s Pick: Part of me wishes it wasn’t these two teams squaring off because I would love for each team to win a title. But let’s be honest, Dallas and its fans deserve a title (Homer Alert)! However, the Miami Heat has the X-factor. Imagine if the Mavericks had another player the caliber of Dirk Nowitzki. The Miami Heat have two players of that caliber. I would love to see Dallas take home the trophy but Lebron and Wade just seem too talented for this Dallas team. Hopefully Dallas can prove me wrong once again, but until then… Stick’s Pick: Miami in seven

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The Best NBA Playoffs…EVER?

April 16, 2011 2 Comments

One of my favorite times of the year: baseball is underway and its playoff time in the NBA. Forgive me for taking a hiatus the past few weeks; I’ve been working with NBA Futurecast and the Austin Toros. My NBA playoff picks article has been a personal favorite of mine, so without further adieu…my picks:

First Round

Chicago vs. Indiana- Starting off with the best record vs. the worst record; I’m sure the windy city loves the fact that the Bulls once again have the best record in the NBA. D-Rose continues his MVP campaign peaking at the right time. This team has all the tools to succeed come playoff time: a plethora of rebounders and shot-blockers, low post scoring, and of course that one superstar capable of taking a game over. As for Indiana, NO TEAM should be allowed to make the playoffs with a sub .500 record (Indiana is eight games under .500 in fact.) When Chicago has four of the best five guys in a series, the result shouldn’t be close. Unlike the great 1990’s rivalry between these two teams (MJ vs. Reggie), Derrick Rose should have no problem taking care of this awful Pacers team.
Stick’s Pick: Chicago in four

Miami vs. Philadelphia- The quest for eight titles begins here. After all the publicity, all the expectations, all the criticisms…it is all erased come playoff time. Given how much I’ve heard about the Heat’s disappointing regular season, it is amazing that they still achieved 58 wins and a two seed in the East. Not to mention, there are no hotter teams right now than Miami and Chicago (more on this later.) Their opponent, Philadelphia, has been flying under the radar all season. Andre Iguodala has emerged as quite possibly the league’s best perimeter defender (which will come in very handy this series), and Doug Collins has rebuilt this team for the future. Despite this, Miami should be on cruise control throughout this series. Lebron and Wade both had remarkable regular seasons as usual, but these players enter another gear come playoff time.
Stick’s Pick: Miami in four

Boston vs. New York- From the 1990’s Bulls-Pacers rivalry to an even more storied matchup; whenever these two cities matchup in a sporting event, there is no love lost. Dating back to the Bill Russell-Willis Reed days, it is nice to once again have relevant basketball being played between these two teams. Boston surprised most last year, making yet another Finals run and coming within minutes of another NBA championship. And yet another season…players get older, the Eastern Conference gets better, and of course your GM trades away your starting center. It is unreal how unpopular this Perkins trade has been. From nearly every sportswriter, NBA analyst to even the Celtics players, I haven’t come across one person who truly believes this was a good deal for the Celtics (except Danny Ainge of course.) Sadly, I think this trade may have all but squandered this year’s title hopes for the Celtics. This series will be no cakewalk for Boston either. When the Knicks have arguably the two best players in the series, anything’s possible. However, in the playoffs, you MUST play defense. And as we all know, that concept doesn’t appear in Mike D’Antoni’s scheme. Boston might have a scare, but experience should pull through in the end.
Stick’s Pick: Boston in six

Orlando vs. Atlanta- A rematch of last year’s playoff beat down: in case you missed it, last year Atlanta was bounced out of the playoffs by none other than Orlando, losing in a sweep by an average of 25 POINTS PER GAME. So what’s changed? Not much. If anything, Orlando cut dead weight with Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis, and added Agent Zero (or agent nine in this case). Dwight Howard is having his best statistical season ever (some stat geeks believe he is this year’s true MVP, most notably ESPN’s own John Hollinger). What is stopping me from picking yet another sweep? That’s right, nothing.
Stick’s Pick: Orlando in four

San Antonio vs. Memphis- Wait, what? The Memphis Grizzlies tanked on purpose so they could be able to matchup with the playoff-veteran San Antonio Spurs? You can’t make this up. As if Gregg Poppovich and his four NBA championships needed any extra motivation come playoff time. As long as Tim Duncan is healthy and anchoring the offense and defense, pencil this Spurs into at least the second round. There is no better team than San Antonio at taking away what the other team does best, and quite frankly I’m not sure what Memphis does best. I guess double team Zach Randolph? Maybe this series would last longer if Rudy Gay wasn’t out, maybe not?
Stick’s Pick: Spurs in five

LA Lakers vs. New Orleans- Do I need to say anything here? The Los Angeles Lakers are two-time defending NBA champions, and are on pace to make their fourth-consecutive trip to the NBA Finals (something two teams have done EVER). Unless Chris Paul channels his inner Isaiah for a majority of this series, it’s tough not picking a sweep here. Even with a healthy Davis West (currently out for the season), LA won all four meetings in the regular season. I don’t see much else to say here…moving on.
Stick’s Pick: Lakers in four

Dallas vs. Portland- I’ve done my research, listened to all the expert’s picks… and everybody is picking Portland. So how is Dallas favored to win this series? I haven’t come across one person who has picked the Mavericks to get past Portland (but Vegas still has Dallas as the odds-on favorite). I think there is something to be said when the media and everybody you know are calling an upset. I’m going to stray away from the norm and pick my Mavs to somehow get past Portland. As great as Portland’s frontcourt may be, I’m sure Coach Carlisle will have something planned. And last but not least, Dirk Nowitzki is one of the top ten basketball players ever in the playoffs. Don’t believe me? Look it up (top 10 in PPG, top 8 in PER). My first upset pick of the first round, if you can call it that.
Stick’s Pick: Dallas in seven

OKC vs. Denver- This series may turn out to be the most entertaining of the first round. The Nuggets sure look good for having lost their best player (tie it to the Ewing theory). This team finally has an identity with its run and gun style. Who would have thought losing Carmelo would make this team better? However, playoff basketball slows the game down and relies on superstars to carry teams through. This high-paced Denver team isn’t made for the playoffs. And of course, I love the Thunder as always. More on this later.
Stick’s Pick: Thunder in five

Second Round

Quick question, has the second round NBA playoffs ever set up to be this good? I don’t think so. D-rose’s Bulls vs. Howard’s Magic, the hated rivals Heat vs. Celtics, the up-and-coming Thunder vs. the grizzly veteran Spurs, and the first ever Dirk vs. Kobe in the playoffs. Sounds pretty intriguing to me.

Chicago vs. Orlando- As great of a season as Dwight Howard has had (23 PPG, 14 RPG, 2.4 BPG), I believe it ends here. The Bulls are one of the few teams who have enough big bodies to throw at Dwight, and there is no guard capable of slowing Derrick Rose. Orlando is going to need a strong series from their guards J-Rich and Jameer to have any hope in this series. I’m aware of the Magic’s strong playoff experience, but something doesn’t seem right about this year’s team. I can’t put my finger on it; I just know the Bulls will be too much for the Magic to overcome.
Stick’s Pick: Bulls in six

Miami vs. Boston- SPOILER ALERT: You heard it hear first, the winner of this series will not only go to the Finals; they will win the Finals. The Celtics have been the Heat’s Kryptonite all season long. That is, until recently. The Heat are heading into the playoffs having won 15 of the final 18 games. Most notably, an April 10th beat down of this Boston team 100-77. Yes, Boston had their way with Miami in the beginning of the season, but as we all know it takes time for a team to gel (especially a team with an entirely new roster like Miami). As much as the media has been criticizing Danny Ainge for trading Perkins for Jeff Green, this series is the reason. Ainge desperately needed a swingman to relieve Ray Allen and Paul Pierce from logging big minutes in a playoff series, and also adding another body to throw on Lebron or Wade (not like it would matter). This will be the first true test for the Super-team Miami Heat. If they pass it, LOOK OUT! It’s going to be close, but I love my chances with the two best players in the Eastern Conference on the SAME TEAM. At least this time, Lebron will finish the series (see 2010 Cavs-Celtics playoff series for more).
Stick’s Pick: Heat in seven

San Antonio vs. OKC- The cliché matchup of the young vs. the old. The Spurs shocked the world, nearly dominating the regular season. And, the young Thunder were many expert’s dark horse pick to represent the West in the NBA finals. So something’s gotta give. As I mentioned earlier, the Spurs and Poppovich have a knack for shutting down what their opponent does best. And simply put, if the Spurs shut down/contain Kevin Durant, the Thunder have no hope in this series. As surprising as it sounds, I think the Thunder matchup better vs. the Lakers than the Spurs. It is no coincidence that the Spurs swept the season series between these two teams. The Thunder are getting there, but I like the Spurs to make another run. Call me crazy, but until the Thunder can win a road playoff game, I’ll take 4-time champion Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs.
Stick’s Pick: Spurs in six

Dallas vs. Los Angeles- Interesting stat I heard on Bill Simmons BS Report the other day: never has there been a playoff series between Dirk’s Mavs and Kobe’s Lakers. No time better than the present. I would love to see the Lakers get knocked out here, but I see no possible scenario for this to happen. No disrespect to my Mavs, but the Lakers have four of the best five players in this series (including the best player). In their most recent March 31st matchup, the Lakers manhandled the Mavs 110-82 despite Dirk notching one of his best all-around games of the season. That’s the 2010-11 Mavs in a nutshell: excellent effort by Dirk only resulting in a loss. I made the mistake by picking Dallas to beat LA last year, and this year I’m not nearly as confident. Ask me a few months ago and I would have Dallas in the NBA Finals. Now? Not so much.
Stick’s Pick: Lakers in six

Conference Finals

Not many upsets up to this point. Actually no upsets! In the NBA, picking chalk (all favorites) is always a safe bet. Two great matchups highlight the NBA Conference Finals.

Chicago vs. Miami- Great matchup on paper! Miami’s big three (Lebron, Wade, Bosh) vs. Chicago’s big four (Rose, Boozer, Noah, Deng). Chicago has won all season meetings, but I like Miami in this series. I know Derrick Rose is having a fantastic season, but by the numbers, Lebron is more valuable to his team. Whenever Lebron can silently put up numbers like 27 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 7 APG, and 51% shooting, something’s wrong. Are these the stats we have come to expect from the great King James? Quite frankly, yes! So why all the hoopla about Derrick Rose being a near consensus MVP pick? I guess the media is tired of Lebron after spending all summer analyzing and breaking down “The Decision.” Don’t think for one second, Lebron wasn’t playing for another MVP trophy, and he is going to take out his frustrations on this inexperienced Bulls team. Can you sense my Lebron bias yet?
Stick’s Pick: Heat in seven

San Antonio vs. Los Angeles- This matchup never seems to get old. Let me put this into perspective, nine of the past twelve seasons, one of these teams has won the NBA Finals. That’s absolutely remarkable! These teams split the season series, and this matchup is as close as they come. This Lakers team has become rejuvenated since the All Star Break, notching a 19-6 record. And five of those losses came in a recent losing streak, where Phil was resting his team for the playoffs. It’s not going to be easy for either team, but the way the Spurs have been coasting down the stretch, I have my doubts they can beat the two-time defending champion Lakers. I had the fortunate opportunity to speak with Tony Parker Sr. (Tony Parker’s dad) in my Sports Law class, and I asked him one question: Who do you have? Spurs or Lakers in the Finals? Of course he was for Tony and the Spurs but I think there is merit in Kobe Bryant (and the refs) being too much to overcome.
Stick’s Pick: Lakers in six

NBA Finals

Miami vs. Los Angeles- Finally! The matchup we have all been waiting for! In one corner, the two-time defending champion Lakers, and in the other corner, the NBA’s villains…the Miami Heat. In order for the Lakers to continue their quest for a three-peat, they must get past Miami’s big three. Both of these teams are heavy Vegas favorites to reach the NBA finals (Miami at 8 to 5, and Los Angeles as 1 to 1). Here’s a stat nugget for you: the Lakers fourth straight trip to the NBA finals would put them in elite company. Only Russell’s Celtics and Magic’s Lakers are the only two teams to accomplish the feat (something not even Jordan’s Bulls or Shaq’s Lakers accomplished). As I mentioned earlier, Lakers came out of the All Star break winning 16 of their next 17 games. And that one loss was to… that’s right, you guessed it, the Miami Heat. In fact, Miami has emerged victorious in both of these team meetings this year. David Stern and the NBA would absolutely love this Finals matchup .This is a tough one so lets break down the matchups:
Point Guard: Bibby vs. Fisher               Edge: even
Shooting Guard: Kobe vs.Wade           Edge: even (YES, I said it!)
Small forward: Lebron vs. Artest         Edge: Heat
Power Forward: Bosh vs. Gasol           Edge: slightly Lakers
Center: Bynum vs. some Heat center  Edge: Lakers
I believe the Heat’s time is now, and honestly nobody wants to see the Lakers win again.
Stick’s Picks: Heat in seven

If my instincts are correct, then this could be one of the best NBA postseasons ever. Until then!

Let me hear your feedback and/or comments.

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Bring on the Madness

March 16, 2011 5 Comments

Its back. Finally, March Madness is upon us. It’s the only event where the predictions are wrong every year and nothing could be more enjoyable for a sports fan. Quite perplexing, but we can’t all be winners like Charlie Sheen.

After 30,213 hours of studying trends and pulling up as much research as possible, I think it’s safe to say… my Bracket is set. Like any ordinary human being, I like to think that practice makes perfect. Going on roughly my eighth year of bracketology, it’s only natural that I improve with age. (This isn’t college or grad school where after a couple years, you graduate. In bracketology, there is no graduation. With every year comes something new.) As I graduate from college this May, I continue my degree in bracketology.

For those having Stick’s Picks withdrawals over the past few weeks, I’d like to welcome myself back as I analyze everything of note in this upcoming NCAA tournament. Beginning with the toughest region to the easiest, here are my picks and some last minute bracket advice.

East Region

Elite Eight: Kentucky over North Carolina
Sweet 16: Kentucky over Ohio State, North Carolina over Syracuse

Some quick things to note: Ohio State is the top overall seed in the bracket and has been blessed with the toughest path to the final four. Gotta love the selection committee! Other teams to keep an eye on in the East are Kentucky, North Carolina and Syracuse. Unlike the media, I do not see Ohio State cruising through this region. Honestly, I can’t love any Big Ten team that much. Most notably, I love this Kentucky team. They seemed to go unnoticed this year without the overwhelming talents and personalities of John Wall and Demarcus Cousins. No problem, just add a few more freshmen all-Americans, and do it again… the patented John Calipari motto. However, I have them falling short to the Tar Heels of North Carolina. Hey, if Calipari couldn’t get the job done with John Wall and Demarcus, I’d be shocked if Brandon Knight and Terrance Jones were the answer. This North Carolina team has won 14 of its past 16 games, with its only losses coming to defending champion Duke. They lead the nation in rebounds, and what’s not to love about freshman sensation Harrison Barnes. North Carolina returns to familiar territory in the final four.

West Region

Elite Eight: Duke over San Diego State
Sweet 16: Duke over Texas, San Diego State over UConn

First things first, How did TEXAS get a #4 seed? I understand we stumbled down the stretch, but sticking us with a sweet 16 matchup vs. the defending champions? Ouch! Come March, things never get easier for Rick Barnes and the Longhorns. Having obtained a number one ranking early last year, it seems like every season, Texas gets sent home early. This Texas Longhorn team has failed to make the sweet 16 four times out of the last six years. And that’s with Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, DJ Augustin, and much more NBA-caliber talent. Maybe this could be the year Texas breaks through. Let’s hope so!

In terms of this region, I have mostly chalk (to the rookies, chalk means no upsets). I spent hours debating whether or not I should pick the monumental upset of Bucknell over UConn but couldn’t pull the trigger. Expect UConn to lose much earlier than expected. If you’ve watched any bracket coverage lately, I’m sure you are aware UConn won the Big East tournament by winning five games in five nights. And I hear NBA players complaining about back-to-backs! Kemba and the Huskies will fall short this year despite their remarkable Big East run. The two seed, San Diego State Aztecs, is the two seed in this region, and this team looks solid. Led by former Fab Five coach, Steve Fisher, this team has shocked the nation with an astounding 32-2 record (with only losses coming to Jimmer Fredette’s BYU). But hey, if Steve Fisher couldn’t get the job done with Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, and Jalen Rose while at Michigan, expect nothing different.

In the end, I chose the defending champions, Duke, to move onto Houston for the final four. You have no idea how hard this was for me. Up until a few weeks ago, I debated on purchasing a ticket to this year’s Final Four only to witness the typical Texas late-season collapse. If Texas were in the Southeast, or even Southwest region, I wouldn’t have hesitated to place them in the Final Four. Texas falls to Duke once again. And y’all thought I was a homer.

Southwest Region

Elite Eight: Kansas over Purdue
Sweet 16: Kansas over Louisville, Purdue over Notre Dame

This Kansas Jayhawk team fits every formula of a winning NCAA tournament team. Solid guard shooting, solid post play with the help of the Morris brothers, and a coach whose been there before (Bill Self won the 2008 championship with Kansas.) Out of all my final four picks, Kansas is by far my most confident choice. It might be my Big 12 bias, but this team has what it takes to cut down the nets in Houston.

As for the others in the San Antonio region, only the Purdue Boilermakers can match up with the depth of Kansas. Four seed Louisville doesn’t have near the talent of years past, and two seed Notre Dame relies too much on the three ball. I’m going to have to see it to believe it before I pick the Fighting Irish to advance far in the tournament. But who knows? After all, tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day.

I’ve witnessed Kansas dismantling of the Longhorns last Saturday and this team has all the pieces. After watching more and more Kansas games, it still amazes me how Texas beat them earlier in the season.

Southeast Region

Elite Eight: St. Johns over Pittsburgh
Sweet 16: Pittsburgh over Kansas St., St. Johns over Florida

By far the weakest region of the bracket. In fact, I have the two, three, and four seeds falling out rather early. Let me begin my rant on the Southeast region. As I mentioned, TEXAS got a #4 seed with BYU and Florida receiving a three and two seed respectively. You can’t advance far in the tourney with only a one man team…sorry BYU. I’m not going to trust a team (Wisconsin) who lost to 10 seed Penn State 36-33 in BASKETBALL! And, I honestly forgot Florida basketball even existed (not a good sign). I’ve never been sold on Pittsburgh and from the looks of it neither is Las Vegas (Pittsburgh has by far the worst odds of any one seed to win the NCAA championship, nearly double that of the other three one seeds).

BUT, I love the five and six seeds in this region to make a big splash. The five seed, Kansas State, led by veteran guard Jacob Pullen is a dangerous team as evident in their elite eight run last season. With all this said, here is my upset special. Give me six seed St. Johns to win this region and head to the Final Four! Not convinced? Everybody knows in order to advance in the tournament, you must be able play defense and beat the big dogs. Let’s take a quick a glance at St. John’s tournament resume: wins over UConn, Pitt, Notre Dame, and Duke just to list a few. That’s two tournament one seeds, a two seed, and a three seed. Not bad for Steve Lavin’s St John’s Red Storm (sweet mascot name).

Notable Upsets

March Madness wouldn’t be madness without a few upsets. Before I get to my final four and championship picks, here a few possible upsets to keep an eye on.

East- #4 Kentucky over #1 Ohio State, #12 Clemson over #5 West Virginia
West- What! I have no upsets. Let’s play hopscotch, we have too much chalk!
Southwest- #11 VCU over #6 Georgetown, #10 Florida State over #7 Texas A&M, and I guess #3 Purdue over # 2 Notre Dame if you call it an upset
Southeast- #13 Belmont over #4 Wisconsin, #7 UCLA over #2 Florida, and of course #6 St Johns over #3 BYU and into the Final Four.

I would be deemed insane if I said I had any great confidence in any of these upset picks, but that’s March madness for you. Proceed with caution!

Final Four

Regional Semifinal: Duke over UNC, Kansas over St. Johns
National Championship: Duke over Kansas

Yes, give me Duke to win again. Picking the defending Duke Blue Devils to repeat as national champions was too tough to pass up. I said before selection Sunday that Duke and Kansas were the only two teams I would be confident putting into the final four, and I’m sticking with my gut. Now that Duke’s freshman point guard, Kyrie Irving, is returning to the lineup, this team looks better than ever. Kyrie Irving resembles a poor man’s Chris Paul, and that’s good enough for me. The first advice any experienced bracketologist will tell you: guard play wins tournament games. With the combo of Irving and Smith, and Coach K calling the shots, I like my chances. If these picks hold true, that would mean storied rivals UNC and Duke would match up for the fourth time this season (this time in the Final Four). What a story that would be!

There you have it, Stick’s Picks first annual bracket. Stick with it and you just may be a winner, or in the words of the great Charlie Sheen, “WINNING!”

Let me hear your thoughts.

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It’s Maverick Season

December 23, 2010 7 Comments

If you haven’t figured it out by now, I am a big Dallas sports fan. I’ve spent 13 years of my life growing up in Dallas, and have always been there to support and argue for my teams. Could this be the year a Dallas team wins a title? I think so. The Rangers were close, how about the Mavericks? The 23-5 Mavericks have been on cruise control this season knocking off team after team, and may have their most talented roster to date.

Growing up in Dallas, I have been accustomed to the Cowboys controlling the media spotlight with the Rangers and Mavericks playing second fiddle. Recently, Dallas sports have undergone a significant power shift. The Rangers were American League Champions this year, and the Mavericks may well be on their way to become Western Conference champions. The Cowboys…not so much (cut to Jerry Jones shaking his head). The Dallas Mavericks have come back from the league’s doormat in the 1990′s to one of the most successful sports franchises in the past decade. (Thank you, Mark Cuban).

However, when it comes to the Mavericks, a great regular season comes as no surprise to me, because lets face it, I have been spoiled over the years. I am not an NBA fan who is simply satisfied by making the playoffs every year (more than half the league does anyway). The Dallas Mavericks have accomplished the remarkable feat of making the playoffs ten straight seasons with at least 50 plus wins each year. The only downfall: no titles to show for it. Maybe after the first two or three playoff seasons, I might be satisfied… but 10 IN A ROW? At this point, I need to see rings (Yes, I’m spoiled).

I remember vividly where I was when the 67-win Mavericks suffered their monumental upset to Golden State in 2007 and dropped four games in a row the previous season to the Heat in the 2006 NBA Finals. Subsequently the same years, I saw the Cowboys also make two quick first round playoff exits. These years were quite possibly the biggest letdowns in Dallas’ professional sports. So you can understand why I might be skeptical of a great Maverick’s regular season.

With all this said, I’m forced to admit that this 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks team could be the best Mavericks team EVER! This accolade is still pending, but I have an unusually good feeling about this NBA season. With Miami showing signs of weakness, the Lakers getting blown out by Milwaukee, and Boston aging another year, this may just be the Mavericks year.

Ever since Don Nelson became the coach of the Mavericks in the late 90’s, Dallas’ defense was a joke. Insert Popovich-protégé Avery Johnson and Dallas’ defense had gone from allowing 100.8 PPG (in 2003) to 92.8 PPG (in 2006). After two of the most disappointing playoff exits in NBA history, Dallas got tired of Avery’s squeaky voice and sought a new leader for this veteran team. In 2008, Dallas hired former Pacers and Pistons coach Rick Carlisle to propel this team back to the NBA Finals.

Then last year, Dallas found something it had been missing since it’s inception in 1980… a strong defensive center. Last February, the Mavericks acquired center Brendan Haywood (along with Caron Butler and Deshawn Stevenson) for a banged up Josh Howard and aging Drew Gooden. This past offseason, Dallas then sent Erick Dampier’s corpse to Charlotte for the rebounding-and-block machine Tyson Chandler. (Quick side note: Dampier was immediately waived by Charlotte only to fail workouts with Miami and Houston. He eventually signed with Miami after the Heat lost their 97th big man to injury. Desperate sign? I think so.)

Adding two physical, interior 7-footers may not guarantee a title but it will at least improve Dallas’ chances against the Lakers for the Western Conference crown. Let’s be honest, you can’t win titles if you don’t have size (and LOTS of it). When you can rotate Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum at the forward and center spots, it is only logical that opposing players would struggle in the paint. So if you are going to knock the Lakers off the pedestal, you are going to have to slow down their big men. Insert Haywood, Chandler, and Nowitzki and you just may have a chance. Why else would Boston have added a 38-yr old Shaq, and an injury-prone Jermaine O’Neal?

Mark my words: The 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks can eliminate the Los Angeles Lakers in a seven-game playoff series. Still don’t believe me? Some quick stats on the 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks:

Offense: Top 7 in rebounds, Top 3 in FG%, Top 5 in assists
Defense: Top 6 in Def PPG, Top 3 in Def FG%, and a Top 5 winning point differential.

As I mentioned, Dallas is 5th in the NBA in assists/per game and it shows. Dirk Nowitzki is averaging his lowest shot total in nine years, Jason Kidd’s lowest shot total of his career, and nearly every other Maverick has seen their shots decrease in 2010. As mentioned in Bill Simmons’ “The Book of Basketball” (recommended read), an NBA team must adopt “the secret” (sacrificing stats for wins) in order to succeed in the NBA. Dallas is doing just that. Dallas has four players averaging double-figures in points, with seven players averaging better than 7.4 PPG.

But like every team, you can share the ball all you want but in the end, somebody has to pay the check. Dirk Nowitzki is more than happy to oblige. Arguably the best European-born NBA player ever, the Big German is having one of the most efficient seasons of his brilliant career. His consistent 25 pts and 8 rebounds per game might seem human, but the key stat here is Dirk’s shooting percentages. Twenty-eight games into this NBA season, Dirk is shooting a career high 55% from the field (not to mention 40% from three, and 88% free throw shooting). This may come as no shock to some, but we all know Dirk is a six-footer stuck in a seven footer’s body. He doesn’t post up often, he doesn’t drive often. In fact he takes some of the toughest shots in the NBA (link). According to 82games.com, Dirk’s shots have been jumpers 87% of the time. Still believe he plays like a seven footer? In a league where shooting 50% is considered MVP- worthy, 55% is just inhuman. It is tough to compare this jaw-dropping statistic, but any time a jump shooter can hit 55% of his shots, (and stands 84 inches tall), that makes him nearly un-guardable.

Dallas isn’t just beating up on the weaker teams either. In this short season, Dallas has already beaten the likes of Miami (twice), Boston, San Antonio, Orlando, Utah (twice), Denver, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta. Just the other night, Dallas completed the season sweep of the Miami Heat, while in the process ending the Heat’s 12-game winning streak. The Dallas “Streak-Killer” Mavericks strike again! In addition to snapping Miami’s streak, Dallas has ended New Orleans season-starting win streak of eight, Utah’s seven-game win streak, and San Antonio and Boston’s five game winning streaks.

No matter how hot a team may be, when they face Dallas, they better bring it! This Mavericks team will force you to play a tough, physical game. Yes, I mentioned tough and physical in the same sentence as the Dallas Mavericks. I WANT MY MAVS BACK! Ok, maybe not, I guess I’ll settle for a defensive-minded team (now I know how Spurs fans felt all these years.) Dallas is holding their opponents to an astounding 93.7 PPG this season (99.3 PPG in 2009) and are a whopping 18-0 when scoring 100 points or more. In fact, the Mavericks have lost all five of their games by a TOTAL of 23 points (losing by an average of only 4.6 pts if you are keeping score). Additionally, the Dallas Mavericks are in the midst of having won 16 of their past 17 games, and are showing no signs of fatigue. The D is back in Dallas! Wish I could say the same about my Cowboys.

I said it before and I’ll say it again: This is the best Dallas Mavericks team EVER!

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A Heated season: Stick’s NBA Preview

October 26, 2010 3 Comments

We are entering the week that all sports fanatics have marked on their calendar. This “sports week” takes place in the heart of the NFL football season, the beginning of the World Series (Go Rangers!), and the start of the NBA later today. So whether you are a die-hard football fan, baseball fan, or basketball fan, there will be something to watch. And for those true sports fans that admire all of these sports, I would recommend clearing your schedule (I know I have). Not to mention we are rapidly approaching Halloween weekend and I have still yet to decide on a costume (suggestions?).

Did I mention the NBA starts tonight? It feels like just yesterday when Kobe shot 6-24 in the clinching win of the NBA Finals. With the addition of the two-month playoff period, the NBA now barely has an off-season. It sure feels like the NBA was a year round sport with all the crazy off-season moves and media coverage. Did you know that Lebron James now plays in Miami? Ever since “The Decision” (here), Lebron hasn’t caught a break. Cleveland this, Cleveland that. In the words of PTI co-host Michael Wilbon, “Get over it Cleveland. Its over.”

The formation of the Three Kings in Miami has led to the year of the Super Team, and quite possibly the most anticipated and best NBA season ever. I could take the simple route and preview every NBA team and make my playoff predictions but that’s rather…boring. Right? I can write forever about all 16 potential playoff teams, but at what point is it too much? 16 playoff teams out of 30 teams total? Reminds me of little league baseball, when no matter how bad or good your team was, you always received a trophy. Rather than discussing every single team, I’ve decided to give an NBA preview unlike the traditional.

The Rematch- Beginning with the Finals teams from last season, Lakers and Celtics. Dating back to the Magic-Bird days in the 80′s, Boston or LA won the title eight times in a nine-year span. Pretty ridiculous! Like any other sport, teams are like a roller coaster. They will have their ups and downs throughout the years. The question is: For how long? The Lakers are coming off their second consecutive championship, but the question remains, “Has Kobe and Artest lost a step?” I wasn’t impressed with their performance in the Finals and would be relatively shocked if they three-peat. As for the Celtics, Boston has all the pieces set to make another title run. But at what cost? I remember saying back in 2007, “This team is too old, I guess they just want to win now.” Well folks, that was three years ago. Do you think they have aged since then? Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are simply spot up shooters now, KG can score occasionally and play good post defense, but he still wasn’t half the KG of 2007. Do I need to mention the signing of the two O’Neal’s? A question I have for Jermaine O’Neal, “Haven’t you retired yet?” I’m not going to comment on the acquisition of Shaq Diesel (the man can do what he wants). This is the ABSOLUTE last year for this Boston lineup. I guess it’s up to Rondo to run this nursing home.

The Perennials- Every season, there are always those teams that fly under the radar and make the playoffs every year. For example, the two Texas teams, Dallas and San Antonio. STAT ALERT: The Mavericks and Spurs have made the playoffs 10 straight years while having 50+ wins each year. The Spurs remind me of the Indianapolis Colts. Battling injuries every year, Tim Duncan (like Peyton Manning) always keeps them in the hunt. As for the Mavericks (homer alert), this team seems to slightly improve each year, but no matter what, they somehow fail to pull through in the playoffs. Playing in the same conference as the Lakers, Dallas has a tough road to the Finals every year, but it’s still possible. The Texas Rangers beat the Yankees, did they not?

Other perennial playoff teams include the Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks, and the Orlando Magic. The Jazz let Carlos Boozer go for Al Jefferson (love this move) as the Hawks and Magic seemed to stand their ground. Adding big-bodied Al Jefferson, Utah should improve upon their 53-win season last year. 6’9 Carlos Boozer just wasn’t cutting it in the “Big Man” western conference. The Hawks will do what they always do… have a decent season and choke in the playoffs. Message to Hawks fans: Mike Woodson isn’t the problem; Joe Johnson’s 6 year/$125 million contract is the problem (can’t help but think of a potential Gilbert Arenas bust.) And finally, Dwight Howard’s Orlando Magic. A lot was made about Hakeem mentoring Howard over the summer (maybe he can finally develop a low post game). But as the East Elite got stronger, the Magic stayed put. Orlando is built to be a top seed every year (great defensive team that shoots threes well) but they are still unable to matchup with the elites of the NBA.

The Up-and-Comers- Starting with the obvious, the Oklahoma City Thunder. I don’t know if many of you watched the 2010 FIBA World Championships this summer, but it might as well have been the Thunder starting lineup. Westbrook emerged as one of the best guards in the game (and he’s only 21) and teammate Jeff Green made great strides as well. But we all know the story of the summer (other than Lebron) was Kevin Durant’s transformation into a NBA superstar. Not just any superstar, a top three player in the NBA. When we got word that Lebron, Howard, Kobe, Wade, Melo, and Paul weren’t participating on the USA World team, my expectations for gold were out the window. Kevin Durant (also only 21) proved me wrong. He took it upon himself to become the “Michael Jordan” of this team and lift them to gold once again. This put a smile on my face. It seems like just yesterday, I was moving into San Jacinto dorm my freshmen summer only to be a few doors down from the “Durantula.” Little did I know, in only four years he would be drawing comparisons to Kobe Bryant and Lebron James.

The Thunder isn’t the only team with young explosive talent. To all NBA fans: Derrick Rose is here and he’s here to stay. I’ve always been quick to write off the Bulls (simply because they have never been the same without Jordan). This past off-season (adding Boozer, Brewer, and Korver) they seem determined to challenge the powers of the East (maybe even finish as high as 2nd seed, who knows?)

One more team to watch: the Portland Trailblazers. I can sum up this team in only one sentence: Portland won 50 games last year having lost both starting centers (Pryzbilla and Oden) for the year, while their two best players (Roy and Aldridge) played through injury the entire season. Needless to say, this team is good and if healthy could be a top four seed in the West.

The Wild Cards- The Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, the New Orleans Hornets, and the Denver Nuggets. These teams have the ability to finish as high as a top four seed in the West or miss the playoffs altogether. Beginning with the Rockets and the Hornets. Both of these teams had their best player injured for the season (Chris Paul and Yao Ming), and both have acquired new talent. The past few seasons, the Rockets have shown that with a healthy Yao Ming, they are a shoe-in for a 50-win season. Disclaimer: that is a 100% healthy Yao Ming. I’m not even sure Yao himself knows if he is fully recovered. Just another reason to watch the upcoming NBA season. Across the gulf, New Orleans welcomes the return of NBA first-teamer Chris Paul to the roster. Like Yao, the Hornets with a healthy Chris Paul are a 50+-win team and a force to be reckoned with in the West (just ask Jason Kidd).

Two other wild cards are the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets. Yes, Phoenix lost All-star forward Amare Stoudemire to the Empire State, but they retained their true captain… Steve Nash. Those who know me are aware that I am a huge Nash fan ever since his days as a Maverick in the early 2000s. I believe that Nash can carry any team to the playoffs no matter the supporting cast… he is that good. So when the Suns signed Turkoglu, Warrick, and Josh Childress, this told me one thing: the Suns are sticking to their guns. This team doesn’t need a low post scorer to slow the game down. They were three seed in the West last year without any defense whatsoever. Head coach Alvin Gentry has not been shy about the Sun’s fast break lifestyle, and with the acquisition of 50 small forwards, it just might be crazy enough to work. The Nuggets however, don’t have near the upside as any of the previous playoff teams in the West. This team is great on paper and all, but they are one incident away from blowing up like Wylie Coyote. If you have been living under a rock this summer, let me refresh your memory. Carmelo Anthony recently married MTV host LaLa Vasquez and has requested a trade to a more prominent media market (given LaLa’s entertainment career). Watching the Heat form a super team didn’t help Denver’s chances either. This story has become so out of control, that Vegas now has odds on Carmelo Anthony’s chances to land as a Knick by the end of the season (2.5 to 1 to be exact). If Denver is somehow able to hold onto Carmelo for one more season, they will be a playoff team; if not… the wheels will begin to fall off.

“Really, this is your team?” I’m not going to waste my time breaking down the NBA lottery teams but here’s a list of teams that could lose 60 games this year without blinking twice: Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers. The Nets and 76ers are on the rise so I will give them a pass for now. The Minnesota Timberwolves are Vegas’ prediction to finish dead last in the NBA. David Kahn’s decision to give $20 million to Darko Milicic can’t be helping either. To quote Bill Simmons, “KAHNNNNNNN!” The most pathetic team award might have to go to the team across the border, the Toronto Raptors. As of now, here is their likely starting lineup: Jose Calderon, Demar DeRozan, Linas Kleiza, Reggie Evans, and Andrea Bargnani. Wow, that’s awful. Chris Bosh owes Toronto fans a nice care package to make up for this garbage. Cleveland can empathize with Toronto, being publicly humiliated in a one-hour special on ESPN. Much like the Raptors, I wouldn’t take my chances with Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison as the go-to scorers. But hey, (like 2003) at least you can get another high draft pick. I love my statistics so I could only imagine how the loss of Lebron James could leave the Cavs struggling to win 30 games. Speaking of Lebron…

The Chosen Team- The team you either love or hate: the Miami Heat. Starting with “The Decision” (here) Pat Riley pulled off the impossible. Despite all odds again, Miami managed to fill out their roster with decent role players to surround the big three of Lebron, Wade, and Bosh. Lebron sacrificed his beloved role of media darling in choosing winning over all else. On Lebron’s twitter he exclaimed, “Don’t think for one minute that I haven’t been taking mental notes of everyone taking shots at me this summer. And I mean everyone!” This is a new Lebron. This isn’t the Lebron who is going to go up by 20 points and then just mess around. Lebron is all business this year. He is going to beat teams and beat teams down. Expect upwards of 27 ppg, 9.2 rpg, and 9.5 apg from Lebron this season. Not quite a triple double, but can you argue with those stats? If Lebron has any Jordan like-DNA then he will embrace this challenge and emerge better than ever before. ESPN has already began comparisons between the 2010 Miami Heat and the 1996 Chicago Bulls. Like Jordan did in 1996, 72-10 isn’t going to be easy. On that note, never have I seen a Vegas over/under of wins any higher that Miami’s 64.5. But make no mistake about it; I will be taking the over. Unlike other athletes with media disasters, Lebron lost none of his endorsements. In fact, Lebron may have increased his sponsors, given his great sudden awareness among the American public. Nike saw something in this kid at the tender age of 18, offering Lebron a $100 million contract and having never played an NBA game. Nike has marketed Lebron James better than any other, and like most big companies, they love a challenge. I will conclude with Nike’s new commercial I stumbled upon yesterday. Nike continues to do it well.

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“The Decision”

July 9, 2010 2 Comments

Let me start out by saying I’m glad it is finally over. And what an ending it was. Since 2008, the sports media has been waiting for “The Decision”, and it didn’t disappoint. Arguably, one of the best-kept secrets in sports (until a few hours prior at least). I do believe it was only fitting to conclude this circus with a hour long ESPN special 10 times more hyped than the Super Bowl. I heard theories that Lebron was purchasing villas in Miami to him sending his taxes to Chicago. Trust No one. But the most relevant information was Jay-Z buying courtside Heat season tickets for next season prior to “The Decision.” So did Jay know beforehand?

In fact, the only one who seemed surprised by all this was Dan Gilbert. With the Bulls, Knicks, Heat, and Celtics improving, Gilbert believed that Lebron would stay on a mediocre team. I don’t even have such high hopes for my fantasy team. However, I will admit there was a point last week where I was positive he would stay in Cleveland. But then I thought, why have a one-hour special to announce that you’re staying. That’s like inviting 100 people to your house for a party, and when they arrive announcing there is no party. In the words of the great wise man, Chad Ochocinco, “When a free agent leaves he is a traitor, but when a team cuts you it is part of the business.” Doesn’t seem fair. Could you really blame Lebron for leaving an owner like this? Does Dan Gilbert really believe that his angry tirade will attract future potential free agents? Even my boy Kevin Durant said that was very unprofessional. Come on Dan, you should have sold the team while your stock was high.

You are going to have parts of the media saying how Jordan and Kobe never left, but then again their supporting casts were heads and shoulders above Cleveland. They might fail to realize that Kobe had Shaq and Gasol, and Jordan was Michael “Air” Jordan. Enough with the Jordan comparisons, the man played in six NBA finals, won MVP in all of them while averaging 34 PPG in his playoff career. My best example would be Shaq, who changed teams from Orlando to LA to Miami, nobody questioned his move… four rings later. So if Lebron truly meant that he cares about winning above all else, he made the right decision. What’s an extra $20 million when you are leaving multiple rings on the table.

There will also be the bandwagon critics who urged Lebron to leave Cleveland, and then bash him right after leaving. Think about it, would you rather be a perennial 2nd-3rd round playoff exit, or part of something great. Not to mention, the quality of life in Cleveland is far different than that of Miami. As I think about it more and more, it starts to become clear. Lebron never went to college, he was never recruited by college coaches; he wanted that sense of belonging. He wanted to see how much all the teams truly wanted him, he wanted to get away from home. And I imagine nobody could be more persuasive than Pat Riley.

With that in mind, I would like to take a minute to praise Pat Riley, and his hall-of-fame recruiting skills. How he convinced one of the biggest stars in the game to leave his hometown and take less money is beyond me. It might be his classic slicked back hair or his Al Pacino resemblance, but something worked. On that note I love making “Godfather” comparisons. In the Godfather Part 2 this situation is very much like when Michael gave his brother Fredo control of the family casino business. It wasn’t until Fredo messed up, where he had to pay the consequences. If I was Erik Spoelstra, I wouldn’t go on fishing trips with Pat Riley anytime soon. Because believe me, if the Heat don’t win now, expect to see Riley take over as coach ASAP. Stay tuned, Pat Riley has a couple more roster spots to fill. On that note, I’d like to go on the record and say that Pat will bring back Shaq for another Miami homecoming.

After “The Decision”, this is unlike anything I’ve seen in sports. When have three of the top 10 players in the game played on the same team. If I could compare this to anything, the 2009 Yankees come to mind. Dwyane Wade is the Derek Jeter of Miami, Chris Bosh is the Mark Teixeira, and Lebron is the Alex Rodriguez. Two players coming from being the King of their respective cities to become second or third fiddle. Its unreal.

And for those critics who said this trio can’t play together, I have a one question: Did you watch the 2008 Olympics? These guys have been friends since their draft day in 2003, they aligned their contracts so they could all be free agents at the same time, and this was meant to be. As for who takes the last shot, I’m still saying Dwyane Wade. Wade has a better career resume in the final minutes of a game. Trust me I know, I’m a Mavericks fan. So when you are trying to convince yourself of the lack of role players on the Miami Heat, remember the 2008 Boston Celtics. I’m sure not many were aware of the potential of Rondo and Perkins, so lets wait to see what the Heat have to offer.

The NBA is entering a different era. Since the Celtics title in 2008, it has become the year of the super team. Whether it is trades for veterans like Boston or acquiring elite players in one-sided trades like LA, something drastic must be done to win championships. This is no longer the league where one person can carry a team to the Promised Land. Ask Kobe post Shaq and pre Gasol. They were struggling to get out of the first round.

As for Kobe, this should open up a whole new rivalry in the NBA. Since the times of Shaq vs. the Lakers, the Heat-Lakers rivalry has been renewed. This might prove to be a 2011 NBA Finals preview, after all Las Vegas sure thinks so. After hearing “The Decision”, Vegas now has the Heat as the favorite to win the NBA title at 4-5. Before the Wade and Bosh decision, they were 25-1 long shots and afterwards were 6-1 odds. The Lakers are now 5-1 odds to win it all, and the stage is set for a West Bay East Bay showdown. On a more humorous note, the Cleveland Cavaliers odds fell from 12-1 to 75-1 after “The Decision.”

So as I prepare for a shift of power in the NBA, I will remain a “Witness.” Not a witness of Lebron, but I am curious to see how all this plays out. This is unfortunate for most teams in the NBA who don’t currently have a “Super Team”, but to the die-hard sports fan, it is always a pleasure witnessing sports history.

I have one more thing for Lebron James and Chris Bosh…in the words of Will Smith, Welcome to Miami.

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And then there were Ten…

May 31, 2010 10 Comments

To kick off my inaugural web site, what better way to start than with a Lebron article? I know everyone and their mother has been writing a Lebron article ever since his lackluster playoff exit, why not another? For those who know me, I am not shy to admit I am  a big Lebron fan, so I am a little more intrigued to see where he goes next year than the average fan.

Never have I seen this much hype for a sports off season…  ever. It is ridiculous. Ever since Lebron was learning to drive a car, he was on the cover of ESPN, and had nationally televised high school games. I for one thought there was no way some kid could live up to that kind of hype. But seven years later, he is already regarded as one of the best players to play the game and still has a solid 10 years left. Lebron’s decision, at age 25, could shape up the entire NBA for the next decade. Steve Nash is 36 and looking better than ever, leading the Suns to two games from their first NBA Finals appearance in 17 years. (Who knows what Lebron is capable of?) David Stern is fully aware of the magnitude of Lebron’s decision and is trying to profit any way possible. To list a few examples of Lebron-related fines within the past few weeks: Mark Cuban for mentioning a sign and trade deal for Lebron ($100K later), The Hawks owner for commenting his disregard for the luxury tax to getLebron ($25K later), and even Steve Kerr for joking about signing Lebron to the mid-level exception ($10K later). It is clear, Stern doesn’t want anyone to influence this HUGE decision Lebron has on his hands. These fines make it all the more humorous when I hear that Lebron, Wade, Bosh, and Joe Johnson are all meeting up to discuss their future plans. Are they meeting to discuss their living situations in New York or what? To put myself in David Stern’s shoes, I am trying to find any loophole that permits me to fine players from discussing offseason moves. Who knows? Maybe they just wanted to get other player’s opinions on the various teams before making any real, definite decision (But you never know). Maybe it wasn’t just the players meeting but somehow Prokhorov (Nets Billionaire owner) organizing a secret meeting to entice free agents to come to New Jersey. We will never know, but it is always fun to speculate. The other day I stumbled upon a site with betting odds on where Lebron will end up next season. That is how major this story has become. But if all Lebron cares about is money, he can put some money on whichever team he plans on joining and reap the rewards. Bodog’s odds consisted of Miami (15-1 odds), Cleveland (5 to 4 odds), Chicago (3-2 odds), New York (5 to 2 odds), New Jersey (4 to 1 odds), and a long shot Dallas at 25 to 1 odds. With this in mind, I find it fun to give my take on the top 10 teams Lebron is most likely to sign with for the start of the 2011 season.

10. Greece Olympiacos- I had to start out with this possibility. As many may not remember, Lebron mentioned playing overseas as a long shot possibility. In fact, Bodog has Lebron heading to Greece at a 150 to 1 long shot. This idea is too ridiculous for me to explain, but this is the ULTIMATE money move. Lebron doesn’t seem like a player who would throw away his NBA legacy to make $100 million+ overseas. However, $100 million, last I checked is still $100 million. So you never know.

9. Los Angeles Clippers- I’m surprised how many people actually believe Lebron would consider risking the peak of his career with the CLIPPERS. For those of you who don’t know who the Clippers are, it is the Los Angeles minor league  basketball team who happens to share an arena with the Lakers. The other day, I caught some of the Clipper parade outside of Staples before Game 5 of the Lakers-Suns. To be more specific, it was a Lebron parade where disgruntled Clippers fans marched around the arena begging and pleading for Lebron to sign in LA. Although LA is the 2nd biggest market, and the Clippers could offer a max contract, but I’d give the Lakers a better shot at signing Lebron (and that is saying something).

8. Los Angeles Lakers- That being said, I have the Lakers ahead of the Clippers on my list. Before you doubt this pick, the Lakers have more than enough tools to put together a great sign-and-trade deal if Danny Ferry would so choose. The reason I don’t have the Lakers higher on this list is the Kobe factor. I just can’t see Kobe relinquishing part of his “top dog” status in LA to Lebron (Even if it meant having a better duo than Jordan-Pippen). Yep, I said it. If Cleveland were dumb enough to pull a sign and trade deal, the Lakers would be one of the better options. You could throw in a deal for Lebron for Bynum, Odom, Artest and that could work just fine. I think this team would fit perfectly, because we all know he loves to pass, and who better to pass to, than one of the best players ever, Kobe Bryant.

7. Boston Celtics- If you can’t beat them, join them. The Celtics with KG have been Lebron’s Kryptonite for the past few seasons, and if Lebron truly wanted to win, he would join the other side. This might come as somewhat of a stretch but the Celtics are losing Ray Allen’s $20 million contract as well as Paul Pierce’s $21 million contract (Player Option) to free agency. Assuming the Celtics will only resign one of these players, that leaves plenty of room for Lebron. Even though the Celtics are primed for another championship, Danny Ainge knows that this aging team is on a short clock. Adding Lebron would only extend this a few more years. With pieces like Rondo and Garnett, Lebron would make this team another Celtics dynasty.

6. Dallas Mavericks- If this happened, I would be ecstatic. I have already made several promises, that if by some off chance Cuban were able to snag Lebron, I would immediately buy a jersey and season tickets. The early postseason exit by the Mavs only helps their chances at the Lebron sweepstakes. This is the kind of impetus Cuban needs. Mark Cuban’s determination, clout and deep pockets make me proud (and give me hope) that he is our owner. I have full confidence that Cuban will do everything in his power to sign one of these marquee free agents. Cuban gave me a preview that he is willing to work out a sign-and-trade with Cleveland. To add to it, Dallas is a top five media market, and home to Lebron’s favorite NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys. If Dirk doesn’t resign with Dallas (100 to 1 odds), then I am certain one of the four  free agents from the free agent draft class will be a Maverick next season. In Cuban I trust.

5. New York Knicks- This is the casual fan’s favorite. The bright lights of New York would make Lebron an instant Icon.  If Lebron were to even get the Knicks to playoff caliber, Lebron would rise to immediate immortality. Although, the Knicks have literally no one on salary for next season, they need to make TONS of moves prior to signing Lebron James. I just can’t see Lebron caring that much about money to go to a lesser team than Cleveland. Yes, if the Knicks sign 2 big free agents or even one major free agent plus a Hall of Fame coach, then the Knicks are definitely the favorites to capture Lebron. Unless Walsh and D’Antoni can pull some magic out of their sleeve, I see disappointment in the future for Knicks fans. If the Knicks don’t land a Lebron, Bosh, Wade, then the past two years have been for nothing. To the Knicks front office: if you don’t happen to sign one of these big three talents, Please (PLEASE) don’t give CarlosBoozer and Joe Johnson max contracts. That still wouldn’t even guarantee you eight seed (Plus Carmelo and Durant are possible free agents next year). Remember, patience is a virtue.

4. New Jersey Nets-The Nets are my humorous pick. With an owner like Prokhorov, there is no telling what the team can do. Having just bought a team that managed to win only 12 games last season, Prokhorov said he will bring a title to New Jersey/Brooklyn within five years. So needless to say, there is work to be done. In Interviews he has mentioned bringing in a coach with great NBA experience. This simply means ANY coach in the NBA is fair game (Remember there is no coaching salary cap). And don’t you think Prokhorov’s suave personality and his many of luxuries could persuade players to come to Brooklyn. I recently read an article on the brainstorming of the Nets’ new nickname, and I came across the Brooklyn Ballers. I don’t know what self-respecting player wouldn’t want to be a “Baller”, with quite possibly the greatest team amenities in the league. Trust me, if this is truly the new name for the team, then you will see me wearinga jersey the next day. I can go on forever; speculating about all the crazy things the Russian Mark Cuban is capable of, but on with the countdown.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers- If Lebron picks Cleveland, than this whole offseason will be considered a failure. Thankfully, the Cavs decomposed toward the end of the Celtics series, and Lebron didn’t end on good terms. There have been multiple theories on why Lebron mentally left the series 3 games early. From playing on medication to tanking games in request of the Prokhorov-controlled Russian Mafia, nobody will know the true story. And I am not even going to get into the possible Delonte West. What can be concluded from this: Lebron may find it easier to leave Cleveland after such a disaster opposed to winning a championship. I will give credit to Danny Ferry for desperately trying every move to keep Lebron in town, but in the end, Cleveland is still Cleveland. However, there also is a positive side. If Lebron stayed, he would pass Jim Brown as the Best Ohio Athlete EVER, as well as being a hometown hero too. As Bill Simmons’s best put it“choosing Cleveland would represent loyalty, New York- immortality, and Chicago- winning. I would have the Cavaliers at number one on my list, but I have never seen a player end a season on worse terms with the city in sometime.  (Reminds me what Griffey did…he had such great potential and then went to Cincinnati and did nothing…then back to Mariners…he did not live up to his potential…doubt/hope that Lebron does not do go this route.)

2. Miami Heat- Miami has been rising fast on my Lebron big board. Mainly, because of Pat Riley and Dwyane Wade. Wade has made it very clear; he is leaving Miami unless the Heat could snag one of the few elite free agents. The Heat have plenty of room for one max contract player plus a few more good role players. To add to that, I promised if the Heat signed a Lebron or one of the other elite players, Pat Riley would return to the bench. This is something most other teams can’t offer. How many other teams can offer you a top 3 player in the league with a top 3 coach in the league (Plus $25 Million+). Not to mention, living in South Beach sure beats living in the dump  that is Cleveland. If Miami was located in one of the major media markets, they would be number 1 on my list.

1. Chicago Bulls- This is the smart bet. To anyone with a brain, this is the place you go. If Lebron truly cared about winning and forming a dynasty similar to Michael Jordan’s, then this is the place. Chicago is the biggest sports town in the country (only rivaled by New York) and is home to his Airness. When the President of the United States recommends the Bulls to you, you listen.  Who knows, maybe Lebron can ask for presidential immunity if he chose the Bulls. With a young cast of Derrick Rose, and Joakim Noah, they would get constant comparisons to a young Pippen and Rodman. The Bulls would have to hire a big name coach to entice Lebron to the windy city (I want to say Phil Jackson, but that would just be too much).  The only downside I found in Chicago was Dwyane Wade’s recent comments on their lack of loyalty. It is no coincidence, the Bulls have lacked a competitive team since 1998. Whether it be the 48 head coaches they had in the past few seasons, or their shaky front office, the Bulls are a high-risk high reward team. Despite this, I have a feeling after these comments the Bulls will go out of their way to make Lebron feel loyal. Plus with the signing of Lebron, they could make a sign and trade with Luol Deng for a an above average free agent. In this case, the editor’s pick (or Stick’s Pick) would be Lebron to Chicago. If Lebron truly were honoring Jordan by changing his number from 23 to 6, then he would want to try to live up to his legacy in Chi town.

Okay, so there you have it, my Lebron Big Board. A little longer than I expected, but this is the BIGGEST Sports Story of the summer (I’m sorry World Cup fans but it is true). This should give most a general idea of the Lebron mega sweepstakes.

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