tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13047200432363668452024-03-13T05:51:09.411-07:00JoshFarc's Archive Pre-HoopsPedia<center>The infamous, unknown by all Joshua E. Farcone, aka JoshFarc, gives observations & analysis about the NBA and basketball around the world.</center>Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-34774086074702782452014-07-21T11:32:00.000-07:002014-07-21T11:32:29.563-07:00Newer Blog Switch for My NBA Analysis and Observations, aka RamblingsThis is my original blog that got me writing about the NBA in every aspect of the game and business, from player to coach to GM, from overpaid contracts to draft picks, from regular season analysis to post-season predictions, JoshFarc (aka myself), moved to a different blog a long time ago, registering a domain and trying to create something that was beyond my ability. As a result, I forgot I had this blog and started another blog under the same account. This was about 2 years ago, so please click and follow if you like what you read or enjoy the other stuff on the site along with it's links:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ocdhoops.blogspot.com/" style="font-size: xx-large; font-weight: bold;">www.OCDhoops.blogspot.com</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
OCD about the NBA and Laker Hoops...</div>
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JoshFarchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981165421291258542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-51072568068884936522013-09-02T20:08:00.001-07:002013-09-02T22:36:48.056-07:00Lakers actual odds and scenarios... Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OJVeG-Mly94/UiVfOnw4l0I/AAAAAAAAAWE/bLPde07ACWU/s640/blogger-image-194074159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OJVeG-Mly94/UiVfOnw4l0I/AAAAAAAAAWE/bLPde07ACWU/s640/blogger-image-194074159.jpg"></a></div><br></div> The LA Lakers have been a great Franchise for many years, but with the Kobe era looking like an ending sooner than later... This upcoming seasons roster looks like a Mavericks Franchise team snagging individual talent and prospects from everywhere. <b>Chris Kaman</b> (Mavericks) here. <b>Nick Young</b> (76ers) there. <b>Jordan Farmar</b> (Euroleague stud) back here in purple and gold, and <b>Wes</b> <b>Johnson</b> (Suns). there. With <b>Elias</b> <b>Harris</b> and <b>Marcus Landry</b> (Summer League and D-League) also being signed as decent young players who could possibly learn to contribute. <div><br></div><div> So Young, Hill, Farmar, Harris, Blake, Sacre, and Meeks looking like the bench once Kobe is back, which is soon in terms of the NBA schedule. I consider Nick Young, Jordan Hill, and Jordan Farmar pluses off the bench with their last NBA seasons being each of their best... Except Nick Young who scored 10.6ppg for Philly off the bench mostly in 23.7 minutes of action). He averaged over 18ppg for the Wizards one year and maybe being around Kobe and Pau and Nash will rub off on his shot selection and open looks. <br><div><br></div><div> I recently saw the Lakers bench rated 27th, out of 30 teams of course. You mean the 4th worse bench in the NBA? That was last season. With a whole different roster. I think there are at least 7-8 teams with less talent off their bench... Detroits a great starting five with Drummond and Monroe and Josh Smith with Jennings and likely Billups at SG. What's that bench.... Let alone looking at the Bobcats, Nets, Magic, Hawks, Jazz, Suns, and Raptors weak benches this upcoming year. Much different than last year. </div><div><br></div><div> Isn't Kobe looking healthy and on pace for a October-November comeback? If he can bring a roster of Odom, Smush Parker, Kwame Brown, and Luke Walton team to a playoff team, then he can get a decent to legit roster there again, even at this age. He hasn't failed us yet in terms of competing. That in itself, along with future Hall Of Famer Pau Gasol logging a large portion of his minutes back at Center where he belongs should improve his production as well. Though 14 Ppg, 8 RPG, 3.5 assists a game and a block aren't shabby. I think he'll improve or put up the same but in about 4-6 mpg less. Exactly as Duncan did sliding over from PF to C. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BYVx3hx9wT8/UiVey_Wuv0I/AAAAAAAAAV8/l4VvreOQKmE/s640/blogger-image--968088393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BYVx3hx9wT8/UiVey_Wuv0I/AAAAAAAAAV8/l4VvreOQKmE/s640/blogger-image--968088393.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div> But with Kobe starting sooner than later, I have a feeling Wes Johnson will fit that SF spot well with Nash, Kobe, Gasol, and Kaman (all-star level Center, offensive guy, brings a nice starting five. And if Kobe misses 10-15 games, Nick Young is a very capable scorer and back home in LA. That would deplete the bench, and it's possible he starts with Kobe playing Small Forward. All are possible. Gasol could end up the starting Center bringing Kaman off the Bench and Hill starting at Power Forward, strengthening the bench. </div><div> </div><div><b>BENCH UNIT</b>(w/Last years numbers and role or skills):</div><div><br></div><div><b>Jordan</b> Hill, (6.7ppg, 5.6rpg, 15.8mpg)</div><div><b>Nick Young</b> (10.1ppg, create own shot))</div><div><b>Jordan</b> <b>Farmar</b> (17, 4 and 6 in Europe)</div><div><b>Steve Blake</b> (3pt specialist)</div><div><b>Jodie Meeks</b> (3pt specialist)</div><div><b>Robert Sacre</b> (High iQ backup Center)</div><div><b>Elias Harris</b> (Stretch four... tBD)</div><div><b>Marcus Landry</b> (3 and D and hustle)</div><div><br></div><div>Compared to last years Jamison, Clark, Marcus Morris, That Goudelock guy that shoots every time and rookie Sacre, with Meeks and Blake. Id definitely say they've improved a step, maybe even two. </div><div><br></div><div>Why? Well, Young is a legit Sixth Man of The Year type player in that role if he's happy and has a green light from D'Antoni. He fits very well. Wes Johnson could really fit well too as a more traditional small forward. Jordan Hill was great before his injury (now healthy) and Farmar who I truly believe will surprise many fans and that has me sold. Add in Meeks, Blake, Harris, Sacre, and they are looking like more of a middle of the pack type team... Like 15-20 bench production. Add Kobe will have minute restraints possibly and the bench gets more minutes. We all know Kaman and Gasol will start, but likely will pull Kaman and roll Gasol to Center at the. 6 minute mark to insert a Hill or Young or Farmar (who can guard two guards alright; D'Antoni ran Blake and Nash together a ton. Two guards on the floor has sorta become the norm lately in the NBA.</div><div><br></div><div>I think the Lakers are almost getting truly Hated on now for thinking they can make the playoffs. Nobody is saying they are winning the NBA title from the smart Laker fans.</div><div><br></div><div>And to World Peace getting amnestied, his 12.5 low PER speaks for itself. His defense was legit but his offense is so bad and out of synch it doesn't outweigh the good on defense. He's not Shane Batter. </div><div><br></div><div><b><i>Who thinks the Lakers have slander articles written about them just out of Kobe and Laker hate? Who thinks we aren't being objective? Nobody said we are gonna win the ship. </i></b></div><div><br></div></div>JoshFarchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981165421291258542noreply@blogger.com1Rancho Santa Margarita Rancho Santa Margarita33.620252 -117.617888tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-83001808791067458492013-08-26T12:24:00.001-07:002013-08-26T13:42:49.109-07:00Tracy McGrady Retires<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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It's true. T-Mac, Tracy McGrady, is done with the NBA officially retiring today. The 6'8'' probable future First Ballot Hall Of Famer, phenomenal career as an individual goes down as one of the best Shooting-Guards and scorers to play the game... period. I just hope his lack of post-season success will always haunt him and give the fans a reason to not vote him into the HOF. But we forget, T-Mac is a now 34 year old man with no legs, knees, or ankles, and 16 NBA seasons under his belt to boot. Sure, he still was efficient the last 2 years in limited minutes. We also forget how amazing he was as a player; in Toronto, scoring 32.1 points a game in Orlando, and teaming with Yao in Houston to consistent 50+win teams and playoff births, consecutive years running in the mid 2000-2010 decade. One problem was McGrady always put it on himself, especially in Houston with a superstar, Yao Ming, complementing him down low, (along with solid teammates like Scola and Battier), but no matter what it was "all T-Mac's fault" when they failed to win in the first round each year, and he let the press put it on him. That takes heart.<br />
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The NBA will truly miss T-Mac, whom I consider a very underrated player overall. People seem to forget just how damn good he was in his 20's. People also forget he's had a big, long career playing for the Raptors at age 18, coming out of high school to be a lottery pick. By age 20 he was a solid starter, and at 21 he won most improved player in his first year at Orlando putting up 26+ppg and all around great play, even on the defensive end. </div>
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He's led the NBA twice in scoring, two consecutive years, with 32.1ppg in 2003 and 28+ in 2004. How many players have won the scoring title 2 years in a row? Well you can count them on one hand. Blessed as an amazing scorer with boosting athleticism and talent, but he also had a very high basketball IQ and could play both ends of the court. Not only was he counted on to lead your team consistently every single night, but he could be penciled in for 20+points, 5+assists, 1-2 steals, 1 block, lot's of free throws, 1 or 2 "wow plays", and a chance to win. James Harden would love to have a career that resembles Tracy's, aside from not winning an NBA Championship that is...</div>
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Seven time All-Star, two time All-NBA 1st Team, three time All-NBA 2nd team, and two time All-NBA 3rd team, and 2001 Most Improved Player of the Year Award. Throw in 2 time NBA Scoring Champion, and we have ourselves a First Ballot Hall of Famer in our hands. But he never "carried a team to the 2nd round", and I wonder how much that will affect things.</div>
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But T-Mac speaks for himself. Just take a look at his career numbers: </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.9 blocks -44%FG, 34%3FG (32.7 minutes)</span></div>
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Not many players have "Career Numbers" like that, and had he gone to college for a year the numbers would be even better. There's not many players that are 6'8'' agile, athletic, high IQ Shooting Guards that can do a bit of everything, including run the point and defend multiple positions as well as play 1, 2 or 3. <br />
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For Iphone/SmartPhone's that don't Show the video of T-Mac's career MIX:<br />
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Tracy McGrady should go down as one of the best shooting guards to play the game, a first ballot HOF'er, and should be remembered lastly as a Rocket. I will miss the years of him lighting up my lLakers for 40 points on opening night! Good look in China T-Mac!<br />
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His 16 seasons of All-Star level basketball (well maybe 12 seasons) make you a top 50 player of All-Time possibly, it's all up to the fans now. I hope others agree with me. I know there wasn't the "team success" even though there was (just not in getting a ring, but winning consistently he did). <br />
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That winning and getting to the playoffs consistently, along with his career stats and obvious skill and flare watching him the past 16 years we have been spoiled. The last 16 seasons an influx of amazing shooting-guards like Kobe Bryant; Grant Hill, Jerry Stackhouse, Michael Finley, Ray Allen, Vince Carter, Joe Johnson, Steve Smith, and many others I excluded spoiled us all. <br />
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But if I had to rank their careers, Kobe is first and then T-Mac or RayRay are next on my list as whole careers.<br />
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<b>What do you all think? First Ballot Hall of Famer or not? Speak your mind...</b>.</div>
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JoshFarchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981165421291258542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-19056704740741952552013-06-03T17:09:00.004-07:002013-08-26T12:32:42.033-07:00Jason Kidd Retires...<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12px;">Jason Kidd with Dallas as a champion in the NBA and in the Olympics....</span></h1>
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The one we call Kidd has officially retired. Yes, another great pass first, all around point guard chose to retire after a beautiful 16+year career and playing a solid final season with the Knicks at the age of 40. Who would of thought (not really) over the hill and playing in the NBA (especially as a guard) is nearly impossible and rarely ever accomplished, ever. The triple double machine has been gone since he was 37 or so, but his ability to help teams win has shown obvious winning with Dallas and taking the Knicks farther than they have gone in years.</div>
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Jason Kidd came out of California and the Pac 10 to only be co Rookie Of The Year with some scrub named Grant Hill, while both were superstars, it’s quite a coincidence they both have just retired. I smell assistant coaching for both, though Grant Hill is more of the TV broadcasting type, Kidd more the coach. Kidd was a one of a kind Point Guard when he came in the NBA as those Magic Johnson triple doubles were years gone. But Kidd, a taller, 6’5” PG with a extremely high basketball IQ and great court vision passed the ball like a mini-Magic.</div>
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Drafted to Phoenix he was already a 15 point, 10+assist, 5 rebound, 2 steals per game kind of stud. He’d turned into the best PG in the NBA at the time. Then he was traded to New Jersey, a great place to be in 2001-2002. In Jersey he had Vince Carter playing next to him in his prime as well as Richard Jefferson the solid athletic forward and Kenyon Martin at his best (post surgery still), but Kidd took this team to the NBA Finals and ECF’s a few times with limited resources in a 5-6 year span. Never to win it. His last season in New Jersey, a PG at age 33/34 (considered quite old in NBA years) was playing better ball than ever…. many wondered how he could do it much longer, many thought he just needed to be in the right place surrounded by more talent.</div>
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Final year in Jersey: -14 points, 10.5 assists, 1.8 steals, with a much improving 3pt shot</div>
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Finally, Mark Cuban of the Mavericks decided to make a bold move trading a young, promising Point-Guard in Devin Harris (who did go to Jersey and become a 22ppg guy for a season only to fall off) along with a ton of other players to trade for Kidd and his massive salary. The Dallas Mavericks have often been known as the city and team where stars go to die (and age)… but Cuban had a nice plan and built a great team. Kidd’s 3pt shot somehow became far improved, a top 20 3pt shooter in the NBA by percentage, knowing when and what to do. Kidd kept up his passing and team play, only scored 9 or 10 a game, but with Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler, and great shooters to surround them all they were able to go all the way, beating the first year of Miami’s “Big 3 Lebron saga” in the finals with ease.</div>
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They were a true team, every player deserved it, especially Kidd and Dirk. Kidd will be in the HOF soon, but likely coaching on the sidelines in his career. </div>
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<strong>12.6 points, 8.7 assists, 6.3 rebounds, 1.9 steals</strong> </div>
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Those are career numbers over a 16(17?) year career. Had he retired 3 years ago after his title win those numbers would be more like 14ppg and 10apg, but pay no mind to that. Possibly the best rebounding PG ever (well 2nd to Magic) and simply one of the best pure PG’s to ever play the game. And while I love and respect Nash, Kidd’s always been a great defender as well, making him a superior player to me (not the same shooter obviously). Jason Kidd might go down underrated if we think about his numbers from the Dallas title team and his 36 year old frame; or even this season at age 40 playing with the Knicks in the playoffs for 15 minutes a game.</div>
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If we remember the Kidd that played in Phoenix and showed how great he could become, and then took New Jersey to the finals on his back… to only fail multiple times. Then adapting his game and style in Dallas knowing he’s not the same specimen physically and can’t put up 20 points when he wants to, but ran the offense and improved that ugly jumper out of college into a 40% 3pt shooter. Winning the finals was past his prime but he still was the major key, just his IQ and presence. RIP to the Kidd… see you coaching on the sidelines soon.</div>
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JoshFarchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10981165421291258542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-47458721460008760202011-11-26T11:55:00.000-08:002011-11-26T11:55:51.315-08:00NBA's CBA Settled - What To Expect Now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NZVZUYsqzK8/TZxeY3JcexI/AAAAAAAAAI4/vEdyPSClDPs/s1600/nba-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NZVZUYsqzK8/TZxeY3JcexI/AAAAAAAAAI4/vEdyPSClDPs/s320/nba-logo.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>Only a few days after petitioning "to avoid the NBA entirely" if they don't start playing by the New Year, I boringly awoke this morning to see the NBA and NBPA(Players Union) reaching a tentative settlement on the CBA. I don't know what else to say other than... "giggidy gig!". It looks like I was wrong about the season being an epic failure, let's just hope things don't freakishly break down since it's not set in stone yet.<div><br />
</div><div>We get to watch children open their presents in the corner of our eyes while a great NBA triple header starts off the season: the Celtics at Knicks, the Bulls at Lakers, and of course the epic rematch of Miami at Dallas. While it will be opening day and the play won't be at the level of the finals, I'm thinking these teams and players will all surprise us with some solid play and extremely competitive games. I mean most the players were so angry they're losing games, especially the veterans and younger stars in the leauge. Kobe is a great example: an aging superstar that will continue to climb the ranks in all-time NBA stats, not just scoring either. While I'm sure it helped getting some much needed rest, him and the Lakers are going to have to adapt to an entire new style of play under coach Mike Brown, and with a one week training camp most players will be coming out of that camp confused and frustrated (it's going to take a month or so for them to adapt, let alone get back that chemistry they lost entirely last playoffs). </div><div><br />
</div><div>Overall I'd put my money on it that a 3-4 week span following the tipoff night will prove to be a little up and down in terms of play for the entire league as young and old teams just didn't have the time to prepare. Veteran teams would have the advantage with nearly identical rosters returning as well as coaches, like Doc Rivers and the Celtics, but with a 66 game schedule they are older and definitely going to have to go 10 deep, maybe more, to win their games as they get back into game shape.<div><br />
</div><div>This Christmas we are going to get our NBA basketball. It's the opening day of the 2011-2012 NBA season, a season in which is trying to not be that of the 1999 post lockout season *(the sloppy and out of shape season that was only 50 games). Instead we have a what appears to be a 66 game season, I like this idea much more, and we will likely see the playoffs pushed a 3-4 weeks back so teams aren't playing 4-5 games a week like that horrific 50 game season. This should ultimately allow it to feel like a real NBA season, because we all know that 1999 season will always have an asterisk by it and ultimately be dismissed by many of the true fans of the game.</div></div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E1udeEeowgY/TtE_EkwG1cI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/Jjx-zmugm6w/s1600/chandlersniff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E1udeEeowgY/TtE_EkwG1cI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/Jjx-zmugm6w/s320/chandlersniff.jpg" width="309" /></a>The training camps will start on December 9th, and are only going to be one week (good luck getting in shape Eddy Curry). The Free Agency will also begin on the same day, something that will be quite interesting considering it's a solid FA class. While there's no true great players, there's plenty of good players, like (SG/PG) Jamal Crawford, (PF) David West, and of course (C) Tyson Chandler, all good/great players that can truly impact a game in their own respective ways if they choose to sign with a a new team that fits them perfectly, or in Chandler's case remain with the Mavericks assuming Cuban continues to spend like he's always done. </div><div><br />
I'll be writing about the Free Agents in my next post. As for now, what exactly is different in terms of the NBA's system and rules that the NBA and Players Union were working on reaching an agreement on. This is all from NBA TV and ESPN.com meaning it's as official as it gets until they actually start to build and write the new CBA and sign it.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The main points that make up the new agreement and CBA:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">-Owners dropped their insistence on what would have been known as the Carmelo Anthony rule, preventing teams from executing extend-and-trade deals similar to the one that sent Anthony from the Denver Nuggets to the New York Knicks last season. This means that if Dwight Howard, Deron Williams and Chris Paul want to leverage their way out of Orlando, New Jersey and New Orleans, they will still be eligible to sign four-year extensions with their current teams before being immediately traded elsewhere.</span><br style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">-Teams above the salary cap will be able to offer four-year mid-level exception contracts to free agents each season. Previously, owners were asking that teams be limited to offering a four-year deal one year, a three-year deal the next, then four, then three, etc.</span><br style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">-The rookie salary scale and veteran minimum salaries will stay the same as they were last season. Owners had been seeking 12 percent cuts.</span><br style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">-Qualifying offers to restricted free agents will become “significantly” improved. The sides had already agreed to reduce the time for a team to match an offer to a restricted free agent from 7 days to 3.</span><br style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">-A new $2.5 million exception will be available to teams that go below the salary cap, then use all of their cap room to sign free agents. Once they are back above the cap, they will be able to use the new exception instead of being limited to filling out their rosters with players on minimum contracts.</span><br style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">-The prohibition on luxury tax-paying teams from executing sign-and-trade deals was loosened, although the freedom to execute those types of deals will still be limited.</span><br style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">-Revenue sharing will be more robust than ever before. Big-market teams like the Knicks and Lakers will be expected to give more to smaller-market teams.</span><br style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">-Also, teams that dip into luxury-tax territory will face much harsher penalties. Instead of paying a dollar-for-dollar tax, penalties may go as high as three or four times that much. The James Dolans and Jim Busses of the world will certainly think twice before reaching into their pocketbooks.</span><br style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">-As a result of these changes, the spending gap should, in theory, shrink with owners also being forced to eventually spend 85-plus percent of the salary cap.</span><br style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">-The agreement on the table is supposed to last a decade, but both sides can opt out after six years. While we may very well go through this whole charade again in 2018, we at least have NBA games on the horizon.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d7daec; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div>I really love the newly implemented "owners forced to eventually spend 85+ percent of the salary cap" rule. What will cheapass Clippers owner Sterling do now? </div><div><br />
</div><div>Some Clipper speculation: I don't think he's ever spent more than 70% of the cap in any given season, and that's being generous. It's a great rule for them though, as they have a franchise player and reigning Rookie Of The Year and highlight sensation Blake Griffin, as well as a legit second option in young shooting-guard Eric Gordon who is an underrated star; most don't see him as a star... it's the "Clipper Curse". I have a feeling Kaman will be their starting center to begin the season, possibly to showcase him as a great trade piece if they don't sign a free agent to fill the SF spot. Their future starting five, which small-forward fits the best? Their starting 4, with Kaman and DeAndre likely splitting minutes at Center, plus Kaman can actually play some PF next to DeAndre while Griffin get's his rest.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PG:<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1G--L_fc60U/TtE_vP7Mb_I/AAAAAAAAAaY/utec9zsZ-HM/s1600/mowilliams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1G--L_fc60U/TtE_vP7Mb_I/AAAAAAAAAaY/utec9zsZ-HM/s1600/mowilliams.jpg" /></a>SG:<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CAlvRl3-zo0/TtE_z8p6oYI/AAAAAAAAAag/76Q2LkHmyaM/s1600/ericgordon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CAlvRl3-zo0/TtE_z8p6oYI/AAAAAAAAAag/76Q2LkHmyaM/s1600/ericgordon.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span">PF:</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p4xWio_UIaA/TtE_62lVNRI/AAAAAAAAAao/XsKqHdg1ycI/s1600/blakegriffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p4xWio_UIaA/TtE_62lVNRI/AAAAAAAAAao/XsKqHdg1ycI/s1600/blakegriffin.jpg" /></a>C:<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o6Aa0-dn4cE/TtE_9_M5_aI/AAAAAAAAAaw/eBvakMJkb7k/s1600/chriskaman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o6Aa0-dn4cE/TtE_9_M5_aI/AAAAAAAAAaw/eBvakMJkb7k/s1600/chriskaman.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Future SF:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UKH97mOLzcQ/TtFBYGHGqiI/AAAAAAAAAa4/jM8osF72ejM/s1600/shanebattier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UKH97mOLzcQ/TtFBYGHGqiI/AAAAAAAAAa4/jM8osF72ejM/s1600/shanebattier.jpg" /></a> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">?</span></b><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bld30jDdOPE/TtFB4uZL65I/AAAAAAAAAbA/7EiOElB-X3Y/s1600/tayshaunprince.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bld30jDdOPE/TtFB4uZL65I/AAAAAAAAAbA/7EiOElB-X3Y/s1600/tayshaunprince.jpg" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>When you have a franchise stud, a legit second scoring option, as well as a one-time All-Star 20/10 center in Chris Kaman healthy now, as well as likely re-signing the young and upcoming center DeAndre Jordan, who's defensive mindset, great shot-blocking skills as well as amazing athletic ability for a 7 footer (was 3rd in the NBA in dunks behind his front-court mate Griffin who was just behind Dwight Howard). You have a great core, and a nice point-guard that is used to playing next to and off of a star in Mo Williams. It's time for them to sign a Small Forward and they should be playoff team for sure: with Grant Hill, Tayshaun Prince, and Shane Battier looking like plausible and unrestricted free-agents, Sterling not only should do this, he almost has to since he's not near the 85%+ cap space mark. Sterling would usually just stick with the roster, and while there's nothing wrong with that, Aminu, the young SF that shows great potential appears to be a couple years away from being that SF that makes the Clipps the best they can be, needing a great defender to complement Griffin defensive weaknesses while also a guy (like Battier) that can shoot 3's at SF efficiently, especially catch-n-shoot 3's that will always be there because of Griffin's ability to draw doubles and kick it out to the open guy.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Alright, I'll stop for now. I guess I'm actually excited for this upcoming season, it's starting to sink in they actually made an agreement. I hope all you fans are willing to forgive them for taking so long to get this deal done, but they did it and salvaged themselves in my mind. Thank God almighty! AMEN!</div><div><br />
</div><div>I'd like to say a sincere farewell to Mr. Yao Ming. He deserves a full article to discuss what he's done for the game on a global scale. Free Agent lists and discussion will soon be posted as I can finally start to ponder realistically on where some of the free-agents, restricted and unrestricted, end up signing. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I'm back in my comfort zone. So for you 5 avid readers, please feel free to comment and discuss what you think about the new rules and CBA; is it a step forward for parity in the league or does it seem like not much has changed?</div><div><br />
</div><div>-One Love</div>Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-88562682838956784542011-10-29T13:38:00.000-07:002011-10-31T13:00:25.253-07:00NBA's Blake Griffin a lot like Dwight Howard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DZGJ_lZgxX8/TqxhXud1-GI/AAAAAAAAAYw/52tvq20exA0/s1600/dwighthoward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DZGJ_lZgxX8/TqxhXud1-GI/AAAAAAAAAYw/52tvq20exA0/s1600/dwighthoward.jpg" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-38qGSgj_I4U/TqxhbeE4MnI/AAAAAAAAAY4/TWfLMeR3gy4/s1600/blakegriffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-38qGSgj_I4U/TqxhbeE4MnI/AAAAAAAAAY4/TWfLMeR3gy4/s1600/blakegriffin.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">No not their faces. For their eerily similar physical builds and freakish athleticism.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> Why don't we hear "All Dwight Howard does is dunk"? Well, in that defense, (no pun intended) Howard is the best defensive "big-man" in the game, period. Dwight is one of the top 2 rebounders in the league (Kevin Love competition) averaging 14.0 boards per game (compared to Griffin's 12.1 per game). This is what Howard can do and does best in the entire league: anchor's the defense and blocks/alters shots better than anyone in the entire NBA, thus his current third consecutive Defensive Player of the Year Award a portrait of his impact on the game defensively. Offensively speaking, in his 7th, hopefully (this year) to be 8th season in the NBA at age 26 he is far behind Griffin even in many aspects overall. Both players, though, are Franchise Tag players, and will be leading teams to the Playoffs and more depending on whatever happens with the team that's put around them.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://media.soletron.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/DwightHowardSupermanDunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://media.soletron.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/DwightHowardSupermanDunk.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I am just curious why the internet's sports population aren't claiming "Howard only dunks"? Especially after 7 seasons averaging a consistently poor 60% or lower percentage from the free throw line, which ultimately allows the "hack a Shaq" style defense go to work. Griffin also shot a poor 64% from line, though he slowly improved his percentage (gradually and minimally) as the season progressed. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">This is a large reason why Dwight and Griffin average a high amount of free throw attempts each game (14.0 Rpg Howard / 12.1 Rpg Griffin). Though offensively Griffin is much more versatile and explosive offensively all around ( 3.9 assists per game for Griffin compared to Howard's 1.9 assists), Griffin is able to quickly make a move and finish while drawing the foul, leading to as many "and 1's" as anyone in the league, including Mr. Howard, who is one of the best big-men at doing this. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Am I the only one that finds it eerily similar, no, not just their physical greatness with a mature outlook at young ages, just slightly eerie both guys are in the mid to lower 60 percentile from the line (64% Griffin / 59% Howard last season), and both guys shot some of the most free-throw attempts per game. After only his rookie campaign, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I project Griffin becomes a 70 percentile shooter at the line next season. It only seems the trent with the way his numbers, along with his work ethic, improved and increased each month during the season. But all around physically these guys are very similar (6'10" 251lb Griffin / 6'11'' 250lb Howard). It's amazing how identical they are physically and yet the very different style of play each play has on the court. Both in their efficient and impacting manner. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://i.usatoday.net/sports/_photos/2011/02/19/griffinx-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.usatoday.net/sports/_photos/2011/02/19/griffinx-large.jpg" width="272" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Without a doubt, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Blake Griffin and Dwight Howard could be twins physically, yet are polar opposites on the court, and while Howard has the definite edge right now Griffin has become a "Franchise Player", we just can't be sure exactly what Griffin becomes, or if he hovers around the same numbers, or even fluctuates in certain stats is very possibly. Howard has for 4 seasons straight been a legit 20 Ppg and 13+Rpg with 2.5 blocks a game Center, carrying his team to the playoffs, and in 2009 they went to the NBA Finals, though the Lakers pretty much ate them up. Howard has carried his teams for a few years now, with Gilbert Arenas being traded for Rashard Lewis and then Hedo Turkoglu coming back after his stint with the Magic and a big part of their 2009 Finals run. Personally, I feel that they could have done better with their roster, considering their payrolls, though Shard's $20 million a year deal is tough to trade when he hasn't been the same player since his days with the Sonics. The Magic will continue Playoff dominance as long as Dwight is there, but if they can add a piece, via trade or free-agency, they could make an impact. Dwight, compared to say Shaq, has never had a Dwayne Wade or Kobe Bryant playing alongside himself. Of course recent rumor of Dwight leaving stay possible, understanding he wants to have that "great scorer" next to him.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">For now, Blake Griffin has Eric Gordon as his "Dwayne or Kobe". Gordon is coming off a career year, though it was an injury riddle season, he managed to play 55 games and average 22.3 points (Averaged 25 Ppg before injury), and they did manage to finish the season at 31-36 (nearly .500) after starting the season 1-14 without All-Star Center Chris Kaman and while Clippers Point-Guard, Baron Davis, ended up being traded for Cleveland's Mo Williams. I'd love to note that with "clipper'esque karma" the Clippers ended up trading their first round pick in the deal that got them a younger Point-Guard (much cheaper too ultimately) who fit's in pretty well. But hey, as I like to say: "THEY GOT CLIPPED". That 9th pick ended up being the 1st pick in the lottery. They could of kept Baron, along with his gigantic contract, and drafted Kyrie Irving to be their starting Point-Guard... right? But would "the NBA Lottery" have ended up the same had that trade never happened? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Ironic? Or simply "clipper'esque karma". As for Dwight Howard and Blake Griffin, I wouldn't be surprised if they met in the NBA finals sometime in the next 10 years. Both will be top 5 type of players (assuming no major injuries occur), and both will be so similar, yet different, in their domination during games.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">-<b>Los Angeles Clippers:</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> Their future looks bright. With DeAndre Jordan also coming along just great playing at Center next to Blake Griffin (Power Forward) adds to what looks like a NBA Playoff bound team, possibly more considering Chris Kaman is back, a proven 18 Ppg/ 10 Rpg / 2 Bpg Center with the Clippers when healthy. In 2009-2010 he was an All-Star who averaged 19+Ppg, 9+Rpg, 1.5 Bpg for the Clippers, and showed he complemented Blake Griffin well, along with DeAndre Jordan playing legit minutes at Center for them. Kaman can play the 11+Mpg next to Jordan as a Power Forward, seeing that Griffin plays the usual 37 minutes per game. Next season, whenever that is, Kaman could play a great starting Center for the Clippers, playing around 30 minutes a game allowing DeAndre Jordan to still play his impactful 24-30 minutes a game (it all works with Griffin's 37 minutes a game). If Eric Gordon can stay healthy and continue doing what he did last season, they have a great chance... and who knows, Aminu could become a solid Small Forward (I'm thinking Trevor Ariza but more explosive), or Kaman could become a great trade piece for them to get that gaping hole at the SF spot.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><i>LA Clipper Future Rotation:</i></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">PG: Mo Williams / Drew Bledsoe / Willie Warren</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">SG: Eric Gordon / Randy Foye<br />
SF: Al-Farouq Aminu / Jamario Moon / Ryan Gomes<br />
PF: Blake Griffin / Ike Diogu / Craig Smith / Brian Cook</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">C : Chris Kaman / DeAndre Jordan</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><i>LA Clipper Future season:</i></b> I'd say they're Playoff Bound as long as they stay healthy, and Kaman looks like a great complement C playing next to Griffin; though DeAndre Jordan does fit the bill and will also play great again this season leading the league in blocks and dunks (he's a great and explosive athlete and future great anchor to a team's defense) he does his thing in 24-30 minutes a game, allowing for a great big-man rotation with one Franchise player in Griffin and another All-Star Center in Kaman, and a growing defensive Center Jordan. It also gives the Clipper's a great chance to use Kaman as a trade chip to get that much needed Small Forward (gaping hole at that position). Imagine, he's actually an Unrestricted Free Agent: Shane Battier. While he may have aged, he's that perfect savvy veteran Small Forward that fits the spot perfectly: he's still one of the top 5-10 perimeter defenders in the NBA, and he's a consistent 40%3ptFG, the perfect type of player that would make this Clipper team a serious player.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">-<b>Orlando Magic: </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">They have a solid roster (and a very high roster payroll, thanks in part to Gilbert Arenas), and Dwight will continue getting them to the Playoffs, but he need's a sidekick come playoff time, unless he can increase his scoring output another 4+Ppg like he did last season. Jameer Nelson is what I call a "Great 2nd Tier PG" as in he is a good 3pt shooter, a legit mid-range and layup/floater threat, but lacks the ability to see the court like the best Point-Guards in the NBA. Gilbert Arenas was one of those Point-Guards that lead his team to the playoffs on 29+Ppg scoring (that was his prime of course, and now he's 30 years with the injuries that plagued him the past few years hopefully behind him). Hedo provides a veteran presence that can do a little of everything and help initiate the offense (I do mean "little"), though he is a great clutch time performer as well. They have nice pieces, but Dwight definitely wants that "scorer" on his team soon, thus all the trade rumors (and possibility he leaves for the Knicks or Nets or Lakers, etc). </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><b><i>Orlando Magic future Rotation:</i></b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">PG: Jameer Nelson / Gilbert Arenas / Chris Duhon</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">SG: Jason Richardson / J.J. Reddick<br />
SF: Hedo Turkoglu / Quentin Richardson / Earl Clark (China?)<br />
PF: Brandon Bass / </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Ryan Anderson / </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Malik Allen</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">C : Dwight Howard / Daniel Orton</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><i>Orlando Magic Future Season:</i></b> Definitely another Playoff Bound season... anymore will depend on likely trades or vast improvement by an individual player like Arenas.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> If they end up making a move and somehow getting that scorer I can see them easily becoming a "Contender". Otherwise, I see another great season by Howard and company, a DPOY/MVP nominee at the least, and a playoff season where they go 1 or 2 series. There's also that off chance Howard is traded, as speculated, as the Magic will want to get something in return for him, rather than lose him to the 2012 Free Agency, assuming a new CBA is met and a season goes on. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">Here's a nice mix of the two players done my someone on YouTube.... players are identical physically...</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">-----------------------------------------------------------------</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">I just want to say this to all the Twitter fans and ESPN.com fans:</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b><i>"All Blake Griffin does is dunk". </i></b> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I've heard and read that statement nearly every other post sometimes. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">It's such a misinformed statement, and while it initially causes me to giggle at the stupidity of the poster, after seeing so many different people say the same basic thing, well, I realized that maybe people are just misinformed. Many seem to be making judgments on Griffin simply by the youtube mixes and Sportscenter highlights he was steadily on during the season. ESPN and Sportscenter have the top 10 plays daily, so of course Griffin's amazingly spectacular dunks that seemed so new and unique each time were consistently on the highlights.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b>If you say "Blake Griffin only dunks" you're simply proving a couple things: </b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">1- You are a homer that only watched highlights on sportscenter and youtube</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">2- You don't appreciate or understand that IN-GAME DUNKS are the highest percentage shots in the game. </span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">3- I wish you'd say "he sucks because all he does is not settle for bad, quick shots and instead he attacks the rim with his insane ability to do so, for easier, high percentage dunks and layups". </span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span></span></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eceff5; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">-Josh Farcone (aka JoshFarc)</span></span>Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-72987909908318760992011-10-20T11:14:00.000-07:002011-10-20T11:17:54.595-07:00I'm Back! Too bad the NBA isn't...Goodbye HoopsHardcore.com. You were a truly EPIC FAIL...<br />
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Trying to launch a basketball related site while the NBA goes into a lockout was the end of that. Maybe I'll give it another shot, but for now I still feel the need to write, blog, rant, and have my voice heard by the 3 readers of this site! As the NBA lockout continues I'll be writing about everything there is related to basketball. This won't be a source for the constant "updates on the CBA talks and lockout updates", though I might have the occasional blog discussing it.<br />
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Instead, as of now, I'll be writing about things of the past related to the NBA, things of the future, as well as how players are doing over in Europe (like American born Deron Williams playing in Turkey for team/franchise Besiktas as well as Russian born, previous Euroleague stud as a young-man turned NBA star Andrei Kirilenko playing back in the league he came from). Watching NBA players try to adapt to the Euroleague, as well as the other leagues around the world, is quite an interesting concept most of us hardcore NBA fans never really imagined happening. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xIA1ySSFMCo/TqBjLw3wrTI/AAAAAAAAAYY/vY8I39v3X9M/s1600/bushstoned.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xIA1ySSFMCo/TqBjLw3wrTI/AAAAAAAAAYY/vY8I39v3X9M/s320/bushstoned.jpg" width="286" /></a> Watching a top 5 NBA Point-Guard like Deron Williams put up 11 points and 5 assists in 23 minutes while he lead his team to a huge 30+point win seemed fitting considering the other team couldn't match the talent level of D-Will, let alone guard the gigantic PG (especially for Europe) at 6'4''+ in shoes as well as his big frame of 215 pounds. Combine that with his deceiving athleticism and speed, his ability to shoot the ball consistently well out to 23-24 feet, but also his high IQ for the game, and I don't think Besiktas should lose a single game with him there. (I'll be writing about him more).<br />
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Now that we know the first 2 weeks of the season have already been cancelled many of the "common fans" of the NBA are already so disinterested they no longer have the NBA in their thoughts. Damn, I wish I didn't have this obsession for the game, but the CBA and lockout does have some interesting components. <br />
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I mean come on, who doesn't love watching millionaire players/reps argue with the billionaire NBA owners and commissioner? That damn Stern wanting "parity" in the NBA. Damn him for wanting the league to be more fair in terms of giving the small market teams a better chance to compete in terms of signing Free Agents and trying to keep the NBA from turning into the MLB (with no hard cap or even luxury tax), allowing the NY Yankees to have a $160 billion dollar payroll these days and consistently signing most of the big-time free agents. On the other side, of course, are the players who are the ones that truly "run the league". They are the ones we go and watch, and they are sticking with that fact to an extreme it seems, barely budging in negotiations (though they have agreed to take a hit already and I'm not saying they are wrong or right in what they're doing).<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DBoPlhXSSSo/TqBjSfkRu6I/AAAAAAAAAYg/5ZxgL-GkcmQ/s1600/shannonbrownkick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DBoPlhXSSSo/TqBjSfkRu6I/AAAAAAAAAYg/5ZxgL-GkcmQ/s320/shannonbrownkick.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
To be honest, none of us truly know what's happening in the lockout negotiations. All we do is form our opinions about it based on what the owners and NBA upper's, along with Stern, say and what the players and player reps say. All fed through media outlets. Seeing that we aren't stupid, it's easy to see that both sides are very extreme in what they say about the other side, and surprisingly (not at all actually) both sides are lying to the news and fans about what is actually going on.<br />
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If you aren't in the meetings you won't have an actual basis to discuss what's going on. This is why I will not be blogging updates on the negotiations daily, nor will I be calling either the owners or players greedy or power hungry. Wait a sec, strike that, right now I will call both the players and the owners power hungry... hah. <br />
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But in good faith let's just hope there is a season; even if it's 50 games. For the sake of the fans and all the people losing jobs/money (talking to the lower/middle class citizens that work at arenas and restaurants and other businesses located closely to or around the 30 NBA team's arenas; businesses that depend on 41 home games a season for a partial (or even majority) part of their profits. Then of course for the sake of the players and the league in general. <br />
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<b>Let us hope for an NBA season this year!</b><br />
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For now, favorite this amazing blog so you can visit it daily and witness the miraculous phenomena known as "JoshFarc's Genius Blog". And while I hope you realize I'm being extremely sarcastic (about the genius, not about bookmarking this site as a favorite...), if my writing doesn't make you want to come back, maybe this awesome video will...<br />
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One love my people. Bookmark this site damnit! Also, I do all my forum discussion at HoopsHype Forum. So if you want to talk hoops in a pretty active forum (considering there is an NBA lockout and all basketball sites are taking a big hit), make your voice heard! There's a link to the forum at the top of the page. I am also "JoshFarc" on the forum. <br />
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See all 3 of my loyal readers tomorrow!Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-49028123799298718432010-10-20T16:36:00.000-07:002010-10-20T16:36:30.015-07:00HoopsHardcore.com - Joshua E. Farcone is Officially Writing for HoopsHardcore Now<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">This is my archive from the past 3 years or so.... the time in which I became a hardcore fan of the NBA (though I've always been a fan; I just didn't watch over 1,000 regular season games each year while I was in school, and not many people do), The NBA has changed tremendously since I started watching Magic's "Showtime" Lakers battle the Celtics as a child. The 90's brought an era of tough, rough basketball where any teen that wasn't a Bulls fan just wasn't "cool" like I was, wearing my number 33 Bulls pinstripe jersey (that's right, a Scottie fan). Then the 2000's came along.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TL9y0zl1CKI/AAAAAAAAAYE/_MqgkuOLY14/s1600/me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TL9y0zl1CKI/AAAAAAAAAYE/_MqgkuOLY14/s320/me.jpg" width="240" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">The NBA is first off a business let's not forget, so obviously they need to make some profit to stay alive. But Stern and company have kept this league afloat for years, and are actually bringing this league more views and fans. While many rule changes have been applied the past decade, the now plays as exciting as ever. While MJ talks about the leagues rules changing and how he "could score 100 points in a game" is probably true (if he was in Kobe's spot that year w/Smush + Kwame + Walton against the Raptors), I happen to think this style of play is better suited for the game, overall.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">While FIBA is adapting to some of the NBA's rules (changing their angled free-throw/paint/box to the NBA's normal one), the NBA seems like it has taken some of the rules overseas and brought them over here. Especially after Mike D'Antoni brought his "7 seconds or less" offense to the America's and NBA. With no hand-checking on the perimeter when the offensive player is faced up is post MJ era, as well as the obvious "defensive 3 seconds".</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">While defensive 3 seconds is obviously a way to allow guards and other slashers to get to the rim easier, the players have mastered "team defense" so well that they often never miss a rotation and have shown you can really force teams into jumpers with great defense, while defensive 3 seconds still exists (ex: Boston 2007-08). The rule does also appear to help prolong the lifespan of the NBA career of many guards and wings it seems. While at heart I wish they would follow FIBA and delete the defensive 3 rule, overall it's not doing that much damage. We want to see star guards and forwards, like Kevin Durant for example, stay healthy the next 10+ years. We don't want him getting hacked and beat up every single time he drives to the hoop..... or do we? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Anyway, as I have written, on and off, off and on, like a streaky shooter, some of the articles here are intriguing, others actually quite funny. Here are some of my favorites from the past:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><b>"Free Agent BonAnZa (2010 Summer)" -2010</b></span></b></span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://fullcourt-press.blogspot.com/2010/07/2010-free-agency-bonanza.html">http://fullcourt-press.blogspot.com/2010/07/2010-free-agency-bonanza.html</a></span></span></li>
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</span></div><div><b>"Lakers Vs Celtics (Finals 2010) - Articles (4)" -2010</b></div><div><ul><li><a href="http://fullcourt-press.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html">http://fullcourt-press.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html</a></li>
</ul><b>"Lakers Vs Suns (WCF 2010)</b><b> - Are We Looking Over Something?"-2010</b></div><div><ul><li><b><a href="http://fullcourt-press.blogspot.com/2010/05/lakers1-vs-suns3-are-we-overlooking.html">http://fullcourt-press.blogspot.com/2010/05/lakers1-vs-suns3-are-we-overlooking.html</a></b></li>
<li>(Analysis of the surprise Suns sweeping the Spurs and playing the Lakers for the WCF)</li>
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</div><div><b>"Blast from the past - ZBO to Memphis" -2010</b></div><div><ul><li><b><a href="http://fullcourt-press.blogspot.com/2010/04/blast-from-past-zach-randolph-memphis.html">http://fullcourt-press.blogspot.com/2010/04/blast-from-past-zach-randolph-memphis.html</a></b></li>
<li>(I predicted in a much earlier post ZBO would help Memphis, so this article rubs it in, haha)</li>
</ul><div><br />
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</div><b>"Contract INCENTIVES: The Secret" -2009</b></div><div><ul><li><a href="http://fullcourt-press.blogspot.com/2009/10/contract-incentives-real-truth.html">http://fullcourt-press.blogspot.com/2009/10/contract-incentives-real-truth.html</a></li>
<li>(Explains contracts signed and how incentives can be a huge part of it)</li>
</ul><br />
</div><div><b>"Ramon Sessions: The Session's Finally Over, Right?" -2009</b></div><div><ul><li><a href="http://fullcourt-press.blogspot.com/2009/09/session-is-finally-overright.html">http://fullcourt-press.blogspot.com/2009/09/session-is-finally-overright.html</a></li>
<li>(I still believe MoWill is traded soon and Ramon takes over Cavs PG spot)</li>
</ul></div><div><br />
</div><div><b>"Brandon Roy On The Rise" -2008</b></div><div><ul><li><a href="http://fullcourt-press.blogspot.com/2008/12/roy-on-rise.html">http://fullcourt-press.blogspot.com/2008/12/roy-on-rise.html</a></li>
<li>(I definitely know my Seattle players, and West-Coast)</li>
</ul></div><div><br />
</div><div><b>"Utah's Future: Boozer or Millsap" -2008</b></div><div><ul><li><a href="http://fullcourt-press.blogspot.com/2008/12/utahs-futuremillsap-or-boozer.html">http://fullcourt-press.blogspot.com/2008/12/utahs-futuremillsap-or-boozer.html</a></li>
<li>(I love when the future is close to the prediction... or exact)</li>
</ul></div><div><br />
</div><div><b>"The Ref That Hid His Whistle" -2008</b></div><div><ul><li><a href="http://fullcourt-press.blogspot.com/2008/12/ref-that-hid-his-whistle.html">http://fullcourt-press.blogspot.com/2008/12/ref-that-hid-his-whistle.html</a></li>
<li>(seems the NBA might finally answer my cries)</li>
</ul><div><br />
</div></div><div>There are plenty of other great articles here! Remember this place! </div>Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-33329371756608025402010-10-15T21:00:00.000-07:002010-10-15T21:00:06.043-07:00Miami Heat - Lebron James Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and Perfect role players? - Part 1/2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drfunkenberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/kobe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://www.drfunkenberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/kobe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;">While it’s obvious that <b>Lebron, Wade, and Bosh</b> will carry the load for this team, they won’t be the one’s in the end really deciding how good their team is. You can’t just isolate Lebron and Wade all day, it’s not healthy and will get the other players out of it and lazy on defense.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;">This team’s success is gonna come down to the role players in my opinion…..</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"></div><ul><li>-<b>Mike Miller</b> (career 41% 3pt SF/SG)</li>
<li>-<b>Mario Chalmers</b> (defensive young guard; lack of improvement)</li>
<li>-<b>Joel Anthony</b> (the garbage man from Canada; rebounds and defends well; Starting Center)</li>
<li>-<b>Udonis Haslem</b> (entire career with the Heat; savvy veteran PF/C w/range to 18 feet; backup PF/C)</li>
<li>-<b>Zydrunas Ilgauskas</b> (7’4” beast with range to 18′/corner three; offensive backup center)</li>
<li>-<b>Eddie House</b></li>
<li><b>-Carlos Arroyo</b></li>
<li><b>-James Jones</b></li>
<li><b>-Juwan Howard</b></li>
<li><b>-Dexter Pittman</b></li>
<li><b>-etc</b></li>
</ul><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TLki2OVadlI/AAAAAAAAAXs/abEuwpc6Owo/s1600/lebronFTW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TLki2OVadlI/AAAAAAAAAXs/abEuwpc6Owo/s200/lebronFTW.jpg" width="191" /></a>Notice that there are some really solid role player’s in the mix; Pat Riley deserves all the praise in the world for accomplishing his task. Not only did he free up basically his entire team’s cap-space to sign Lebron, Bosh, and Wade (all premiere Max UFA’s), bringing “the big 3″ to Miami it seems. But then you look at how amazing Riley was with Wade and getting them all to take a slight paycut (slight), but it allowed them to sign ($5.0 million a year) Mike Miller (SG/SF deadly 3pt shooter that is also a great all-around player; passing, rebounding, etc), a huge pickup and career 41% 3pt shooter, something Wade and Lebron desperately needed along side them. They were also able to re-sign Udonis Haslem ($3.5 million a year) as well, a career Heat player, double/double pF/C that is a savvy veteran and quality backup PF/C for Bosh and Joel Anthony who re-signed making $3.3 million this season. Also include Mario Chalmers, still on his tiny rookie contract ($855,000) in the cap as well.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;">So after Lebron, Wade, Bosh, Miller, Haslem, Chalmers and J.Anthony, the Heat and Pat Riley were over the cap and it appeared impossible that they could end up having a legit 12 man roster. Little did we know how much some great role players decided that Miami was now the team to go to (as Miami overtook all the headlines during the summer). I remember when they only had those 7 players and all I could think was “how in the hell is he going to add some more legit pieces to this team?”, I mean when 7 players put you over the cap you have no trade exceptions now, so you have to have respect from players to get them attracted. And attracted they were.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;">Miami Heat’s “key veteran minimum free agents” analysis:</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"><strong>-Zydrunas Ilguaskas:</strong> To get this 7’4” beast of a Center for the veterans minimum ($1.35 mil). What a steal. While he has aged and is sometimes a liability defensively, he’s still that 7’4” beast that can shoot from 18 feet (even corner threes) as well as post up and pass well. Simply put, the Heat have him on their roster because of Lebron. Big-Z will prove to be a great backup Center for them that can help open up and spread the floor.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"><strong>Eddie House:</strong> After the Celtics dealt him to the Knicks for Nate Robinson, Eddie probably figured it was time to move on to a contender again. Seeing how Eddie plays the PG position, but is more like a SG and amazingly clutch 3pt shooter, one can only imagine how well he would fit at PG with Wade at SG and Lebron at SF. Eddie House will have tons of open catch and shoot 3′s created by one of the big-3 this season, and I expect him to be a surprise main backup PG/SG.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;">Then you have the PG situation: Mario Chalmers, Carlos Arroyo, Eddie House, and rookie Kenny Hasbrouck. Sure, Wade and Lebron can player PG, but I don’t think the team is headed in that direction, as there is no need to (Lebron and Wade already play part PG anyway at their respective positions, as the offense will revolve around them bringing it up as SG and SF likely). Sure, they might get some PG minutes here and there against certain teams, but overall from what I’ve seen they are trying out the PG spot right now.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"><strong>Now in all honesty I see this as the "best chemistry" lineup offensively:</strong></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"></div><ol><li><b>PG: Eddie House</b></li>
<li><b>SG: Dwayne Wade</b></li>
<li><b>SF: Mike Miller</b></li>
<li><b>PF: Lebron James</b></li>
<li><b>C: Chris Bosh</b></li>
</ol><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;">Defensively they are still solid too. We all know “Bosh wants to play PF”. But unless the Heat are matched up with Dwight Howard or Shaq… I think Bosh will end up seeing quite a few more Center minutes. Take a look at the last 2 years for Bosh playing next to Bargnani. While Barg’s was labeled the “center” and Bosh labeled “power-forward”, they seemed to be a bit interchangeable. It seemed like Barg’s was playing PF in vain of Dirk Nowitzki (but at a Barg’s level). Bosh was even a Center when he made the All-Star team 2 years ago. Bosh is decent defensively at center, and also causes offensive matchup issues allowing him to use his quickness and speed.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;">Now Lebron at Power-Forward is something I’ve always loved (he can play PG, SG, SF, PF in the NBA), and I would imagine he would play like Lamar Odom a bit (but obviously more skilled) and play the Point-PF at times to initiate their offense. With the players surrounding him, all he has to do is drive and dish to any great shooter. I also think Lebron will maybe add some post-game and mid-post moves as well, as they are really the only key elements missing from his game. With his 6’8”/6’9” frame and 260+pound body he is still strong as a bull against many PF’s in this league. If he can learn to take his time on the low-block and apply an up-an-under or step-through or drop-step…. or just a nice, quick baby hook. He could draw doubles all day, leaving Bosh at the FT line (his hot spot shooting), Mike Miller and Eddie House at the 3pt line (40%+ 3pt shooters), or pass to a Dwayne Wade cutting to the basket.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;">Sure it’s posible Lebron only play’s SF and some PG, but I really think Cleveland really hurt themselves at times by not playing Lebron at PF… let alone at SG or PG. This is just my favorite lineup because:</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"></div><ul><li>-Wade would bring the ball down the court about 40% of the time</li>
<li>-Lebron would bring it up about 40% of the time</li>
<li>-House would bring it up 10% of the time</li>
<li>-Miller would bring it up 10% of the time</li>
</ul><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;">-Mike Miller is a vastly underrated player because of his drop in scoring the past 2-3 years. I guess people don’t actually watch the games and realize he was starting for a hurt Wizards team, and he was supposed to play point-forward at times, and just be a smart decision maker and leader.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TLkjLlqzGtI/AAAAAAAAAXw/7gFftaBnrZU/s1600/mikemiller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TLkjLlqzGtI/AAAAAAAAAXw/7gFftaBnrZU/s1600/mikemiller.jpg" /></a>-2009-2010 averages: 10.9 Ppg, 6.2 Rpg, 3.9 Apg, 0.7 Spg, 48%3ptFG, and 50%FG</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;">-So starting and playing SF and SG for the Wizards he played 33 minutes a game, but he only took 8.0 Field-Goal Attempts per game. That’s because teams had to guard him, as the Wizards do not have anyone like Bosh or Wade or Bron. If Miller can shoot 48% from 3pt land playing with Foye and Arenas and Blatche and McGee I think he will be a perfect fit next to the Miami Big-3. And let’s not forget that he is 6’8″ with the skillset of a guard; as a result he actually does make players around him better. While everyone labels Mikey a “3pt specialist” I happen to think he’s a bit more. Take a look at his 2008-09 campaign with the Timberwolves. They asked him to become the 6th man and play SF (and a lot of point-forward to allow Foye to play off-ball) and be a leader and key decision maker.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px;"><b>To be continued in Part 2.................</b></div>Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-41935762731627713632010-10-15T20:15:00.000-07:002010-10-15T20:15:13.531-07:00The NBA pre-season started? MJ says he could score 100? Team USA wins gold? NBA 2K11 the "best sports game ever"? I've got tickets going to Lakers opening night against Rockets? - JOSHFARC Is BACK!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TLkX8dzROMI/AAAAAAAAAXo/gok0mJFr3IY/s1600/me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TLkX8dzROMI/AAAAAAAAAXo/gok0mJFr3IY/s200/me.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>After trying to teach myself loads of new web design languages and tricks, I realized that I have spent months wasting time and money, and realized I have a good friend who likes the site idea and is a code-master, and I just know he will create something great! So HoopsHardcore is still going to be launched, though I'm not positive we will hit the target date of October 26th, but what's more important is that the site has a chance to succeed on the Web, and maybe make a little name for itself, so without a 2nd thought I felt having the site done by someone who knows what they are doing and is also a great guy, make the site actually work the way we envisioned it. It's worth the Delay. So..........<br />
<br />
I'm back for now! I need to start writing again, about players developing, teams improving, the FIBA champs Team USA, Michael Jordan stating he could score 100 with the current NBA rules, NBA 2K11 released worldwide and has been touted "not just the best NBA basketball game made, but the best SPORTS game made this generation".<br />
<br />
Oh yea.... the pre-season started over a week ago and the regular season starts on October 26th (and I have tickets the next night to the Lakers regular season opening night: Lakers vs Rockets). So between the thousands of possible things I should and will be writing about here (until Hoopshardcore is setup), so don't forget that JoshFarc.com is back with daily articles relating to the NBA and the world basketball scene.Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-82698144615389124392010-10-08T06:37:00.000-07:002010-10-08T06:37:44.536-07:00NBA2k11 My Player Trailer<center><br /><br /><br />NBA 2K11 was released globally on October 5th (while EA Sports has their new project NBA Elite already delayed because of an awful demo), giving 2K as a company a huge advantage in terms of the basketball game wars. I personally will say that 2k11 is already the most realistic, polished basketball game known to date. No longer can you just run the court w/turbo and dunk baseline every time. Finally the team aspect and team defense as well as other improvements.<br /><br /><br /><br />My good buddy Ash has made a great intro video for 2K11, with his voice-over helping explain a great detail of things very clearly. While this is the main into video (he has made quite a few video's covering his My Player's progress.<br /><br /><br /><br />I'd definitely check the video out and subscribe to the creator... and not because he's my online buddy, but so far his 2K11 video's are more informative (and 720p High Definiion)...<br /><br /><br /><object style="background-image:url(http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/7Y3iMP_ffLw/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7Y3iMP_ffLw?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7Y3iMP_ffLw?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></center>Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-27840207204769266842010-10-08T04:52:00.000-07:002010-10-08T04:52:48.075-07:00"OMG FC Barcelona beat the NBA Champs!"I really don't even want to waste a lot of time on this topic. Anyone making a deal out of this win doesn't have the ability to see exactly how the NBA works... especially the pre-season and player's mentalities. Sure they lost to Rubio (who went 0-5 with 3 assists and 4 turnovers again showing that against the NBA speed and athleticism, at 6'4'' Rubio needs to keep the ball closer to his body and maybe dribble a little lower, because he was picked "super-clean" by 2 or 3 different players, including Fisher and Artest. But I know Rubio will be a great NBA player; Phil probably figured if he could shut down Rubio he would win or something...<br />
<br />
But the game itself wasn't even fun to watch. From the get go it was like watching the Harlem Globetrotters against the "other team"..... I won't bother looking them up (the General's?). The Lakers came out with the pre-season attitude most veteran teams do, ready to run the offense, play competitively, implement the new uys, and not get hurt all at the same time. That last part about "not getting hurt" is really important. <br />
<br />
I mean go ask the Bulls if they maybe regret playing Boozer a certain amount of minutes. Obviously injuries will and do happen all the time, but pre-season is a time that you play with structure, a huge rotation, and a lot of learning and gelling going on. That's why I had to comment on this game.<br />
<br />
I couldn't do much but laugh at the difference in mentalities the teams took. The Lakers really didn't care if they won or lost this pre-season game in Barcelona (obviously they prefer to win), but they wanted to just work on their offense with new pieces and try some things for the season.......<br />
<br />
FC Barcelona would have NONE of that. They came out of the locker room with adrenaline pumping like it was Game 7 of the finals and they were about to become the NBA Champs by beating the Lakers, LOL. I'm not saying anything against them; FC Barcelona is an amazing team with loads of talent from 1 to 12, but just remember this;<br />
<br />
The Lakers were jogging and talking while FC Barcelona were sprinting full speed. That is all I want to say.<br />
<br />
After watching so many years of teams like the Wolves and Pacers have "great" or "solid" pre-seasons the past few years might give one a clue that it's the young teams playing their best players a ton of minutes while the veteran teams with everything set use this time to play all their bench, as well as newcomers and rookies and integrate them into the system.<br />
<br />
So FC Barcelona, I really enjoyed watching you become the Euroleague Champions, but this win over the Lakers proves very little. But congrats! I do think Barcelona is easily a top 20 NBA team (well not the worse if they were in the NBA).Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-42480420875407489502010-08-01T18:11:00.000-07:002010-08-01T18:11:50.031-07:00www.HoopsHardcore.comIn the midst of all my past blogging, I have decided to put together a group of genius basketball minds, or so we think, and launch a site, here, called HoopsHardcore.com . The launch date is set for September 1st, so only a month away. <br />
<br />
This isn't just another basketball rumor site, though we will report all important, and valid, rumors, trades, and signings that are official. But www.hoopshardcore.com plans on adding a new element to it all.... you might have to wait and see:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TFYbRa9PixI/AAAAAAAAAWM/Pruvvl3pAA0/s1600/hoopshardcorelogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TFYbRa9PixI/AAAAAAAAAWM/Pruvvl3pAA0/s320/hoopshardcorelogo.jpg" /></a></div><ul><li>Updated Transactions</li>
<li>Updated Free Agent signings</li>
<li>Updated Rumors (with valid, legit sources)</li>
<li>Blog's from myself and other basketball minds.... who knows who else might blog....</li>
<li>Forum: a full fledged forum to discuss general NBA topics as well as some other topics</li>
<li>Rosters / Players / Teams</li>
<li>Radio Broadcasts / Shoutcasts</li>
<li>And more to leave to your imagination</li>
</ul><div><br />
</div><div>So give it some time, and come September 1st I would personally check out www.hoopshardcore.com and see how I like it. ;)</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-43407503281904607452010-07-12T16:49:00.000-07:002010-07-12T16:50:35.172-07:00"Miami, Why?"<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kTdnF2chzg&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kTdnF2chzg&feature=related</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
COME ON............ ARE THEY SERIOUS??????????? WIN A RING FIRST... THEN ACT LIKE THE BLUE MAN CREW AND HAVE YOUR VERSION OF "THE VIEW". I GUESS BOSH FITS ON THE SHOW WITH HIS FREAKISH LOOKING WAYS........Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-90732631994785459962010-07-06T10:39:00.000-07:002010-07-06T10:43:47.788-07:00"Chris Duhon signs with Orlando Magic"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TDNquYGza-I/AAAAAAAAAV4/FawSovfkEfY/s1600/DUHON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TDNquYGza-I/AAAAAAAAAV4/FawSovfkEfY/s320/DUHON.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">No. This is not "breaking" news to everyone out there. He's a solid point-guard in the NBA that has proven he can be a viable veteran backup PG on a winning team for sure. Orlando decided to cash in on his improved 3pt shot and ability to run an offense. He would help Dwight get the ball as well as Jameer. Jameer is still the better scorer, but as a backup it's a great pickup. Thought I would post this real quick.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">SOURCE: NBA TV ANNOUNCERS + NBA NEWS HEADLINES TICKER</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Contract: $15 million over 4 years reportedly</div>Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-82638771660590425602010-07-06T09:59:00.000-07:002010-07-07T14:38:43.101-07:00"The 2010 Free Agency BoNaNzA - July 6th"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TDNYGEYplMI/AAAAAAAAAVo/TkZgcMVJ_4Y/s1600/Bosh_James_Wade+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TDNYGEYplMI/AAAAAAAAAVo/TkZgcMVJ_4Y/s400/Bosh_James_Wade+(1).jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The big 3 right... </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So we are experiencing this 2010 Free Agency people have talked about for literally not just 1 year, but teams that have almost planned for this time beginning 2 years ago. Lebron is still doing his thang', I mean he is Lebron and would never just sign right away without letting the public waste their time trying to figure out exactly where he ends up... Cleveland maybe, but this big3 not signing yet is interesting....</span></div></span><br />
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</span> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Joe Johnson is no longer a candidate when talking about those elite wing players, as he has signed the MAX deal with his beloved "good but not great" Atlanta Hawks for a reportedly $119 million over 6 years. His commitment to Atlanta seems to be a good thing, as it has stirred up some rumblings of Shaq possibly intrigued of going to Atlanta... this could result in Horford sliding to PF where he belongs, and Josh Smith out of place unless he can become a 6th man which is unlikely (personally I'd trade him) though they will likely start him at PF if they don't trade him. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TDNZsIZwMtI/AAAAAAAAAVw/JWdfJ0efNNY/s1600/Amare+Stoudemire+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TDNZsIZwMtI/AAAAAAAAAVw/JWdfJ0efNNY/s320/Amare+Stoudemire+02.jpg" width="256" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Amare Stoudemire has just signed a huge deal with the Knicks, assumed to be $100 million over 5 years, coming out to that beautiful, yet disgustingly overpaid sound of $20 million per year. It's almost ironic: he's so one dimensional in scoring and rebounding, it was exposed in the playoffs, but teams don't care and D'Antoni and Amare are back together, hopefully luring Lebron or Wade or hell, even Bosh over....</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When it comes to great wing players, the Kobes, the Lebrons, the Dwayne Wades, they are a rare commodity. Even that next tier of guard or forward that is not quite their level but still a near or a all-star caliber player that is worth that $10 million a year (still a buttload) but that's not quite max-level money....</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">John Salmons is a great example. Traded to Milwaukee last season he scored 20ppg for them and helped lead them to the playoffs and a solid 7 game series against the Atlanta Hawks. He used his Player Option (PO) to Opt Out of his $5.8 million final year of his old deal and re-signed with the Bucks for an extremely respectable 5 years $39 million. The Bucks weren't done, and likely are not done, as they </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">signed Drew Gooden a 5 year, $32 million deal. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That's roughly $8 million a year and what I call that "2nd tier wing-man". There are not a ton of them either, and that is why they can make this much money. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rudy Gay signed an extension with the Memphis Grizzlies (who traded for him on draft night 4 years ago) and is going to make a weak </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">$81.6 million over </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5 years contract. Not bad for a 24 year old signing his first big contract... (or way too extreme, but I think everyone in the NBA is on a scale making way to much.... greedy, but I'll get over myself). Rudy is happy with his setting with young OJ Mayo balling along with Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol and Mike Conley Jr. They were a borderline playoff team till the last 10 games or so.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; float: left; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Those were the solid young player signings that have been huge so far, with far more to come. Many other veteran extensions and the likes have been confirmed, but I'll give my info on them as I go. I can't forget to bring up the EXTREMELY solid signing of Steve Blake to the Los Angeles Lakers for 4 years and 16 million. Talk about that one PG that always plays on winning teams... Denver, to Portland, to LA.... Lakers! The guy is the definition of professional veteran and the guy is a perfect fit for the triangle. He shoots the 3 at an incredible rate, while also still has ingrained those PG skills and is always on the Top 10 of assists:turnover ratio (that's a good thing, hah). It shows he's smart, he'll shoot the right shots and pass when needed. Solid pick LA. And remember, these are all just amounts, assuming the Lakers FUll MLE is most likely what the souce will be. But, it is possible the Clippers sign Blake to the same contract with their space and trade him to the Lakers for Shannon Brown, and this would then FREE UP THE FULL MLE for the Lakers to use. That would be a HUGE piece right there, and is roughly 5 years and 34 million dollars or somewhere in that ballpark.</span> </span><br />
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</span> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With big-men, sometimes they get paid just for being big. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Speaking of overpaid big-men: Samuel Dalembert(also has a trade kicker that turns his $11 million this year into like $13 mil) was traded to the Kings for Spencer Hawes (the young UW product and face-up big, with some post-game) along with veteran (and contract) Andres Nocioni, who can only bring positive energy to the locker room. With Drue Holiday and Evan Turner playing solid in summer league action, this Philly franchise could pull another trade off that really puts them in a good position to be a playoff contender and legit matchup with such quick young guards in Drue Holiday, Lou Williams, and Evan Turner, and then the amazing forwards in Andre Igguodala and Thaddeus Young, and of course PF/C Elton Brand is still not done people... he's still a solid player when healthy. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now let me remember the veterans that cashed in huuuuuuge. Cuban</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> signed Dirk Nowitzki to a 4 year deal worth at least $80 million. Can't say that's bad for a 31 year old? And of course the player that I like lease most on this planet, Paul Pierce s</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">igns a 4 year, $61 million deal. I'm sure he's worth that $15 million in years 3 and 4 of the contract.... as long as he isn't in a wheelchair I'm good. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That keeps up pretty up to date on the huge signings that have happened so far. Here are the few others and my quick response:</span></span><br />
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<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16px;">-Phoenix Suns sign Hakim Warrick to a 4 year deal worth $18 million.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16px;">-Phoenix suns sign Channing Frye to a 5 year, $30 million deal.</span></li>
</ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">*(Why is it that I feel like Frye is barely worth more than Warrick? I guess if your tall and shoot 3's you can make $6 million a year. Smart by Frye, to sign a PO contract last year and leave to Phoenix. Good fit too. They overpaid him by $2 million a year in my opinion. Hakim Warrick on the other hand I would say is a fair deal... he doesn't bring a ton, always flashes of skillful play but in reality is just a backup PF for them to come in and play 20mpg probably. I would pay the guy $15 mil for 4 years, but that's why he's not on my team.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16px;">-Minnesota Timberwolves sign Darko Milicic a 4 year, $20 million deal.</span></li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Almost the worse signing, except he's proven to us he can play at the NBA level. He's not by any means going to be a great center, but he is a 7' footer that has some touch at the rim and has learned to block shots recently. I laughed at first, but Darko at a $5 mil a year price tag isn't that bad, not when you see the next one....<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><ul><li>-Toronto Raptors sign Amir Johnson a 5 year, $34 million deal.</li>
</ul></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This, to me, is possibly the WORST SIGNING of the free agency so far. Amir Johnson has not proven to be a good serviceable backup PF/C yet, and he is now making $7 million dollars a year. To be BIG and improve hopefully. Toronto, you wasted your MLE. He's an average player. What's wrong with you guys.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TDNX5RtqAHI/AAAAAAAAAVg/UK1IUP-qGmc/s1600/1lebronpowder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TDNX5RtqAHI/AAAAAAAAAVg/UK1IUP-qGmc/s400/1lebronpowder.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">LEBRON? WADE? BOSH? The big 3 are still weighing their options. Remember that these guys are apart of each others networks and even had a meeting to discuss their futures in the NBA. Maybe they don't want to go stack one team... it will hurt their stats, and possibly legacy as a player. People might say "Lebron couldn't win a championship without 2 marquee superstuds" if he were to say sign in Miami after they somehow could get Bosh then him then re-sign Wade and veterans. Dangerous.</span> </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What will come? I could make predictions so I look stupid... of course I want to do them now! Let's see. Here are a couple situations that I think could arise....</span></span></span><br />
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<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Joshfarc's thoughts: It will be a slow process for the Big 3. Some teams will get sketchy and sign other players to contracts out of angst possibly. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lebron I think will ultimately end up as a Cav... though I do wish he would just go to the CLIPPERS (the ultimate WCF would be LA vs LA, haha). </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bosh I know will leave, likely sign-n-trade, and I see him landing with Chicago Bulls.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wade... could sign with the Bulls if they can make some trades for Bosh work and have 20mil left (very possibly for them). Ultimately I see Wade possibly going to New York... the guy models all the time, he likes the limelight, he would be perfect their with Stat at Center. Wade's 3 pointer will only improve from it's mediocrity, but he would love D'Antoni I bet. Or the Heat just sign a few of those 2nd tier guys, and then re-sign Wade.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mike Miller is considered a legit SG/SF for a good reason, he can put up 18ppg, 4apg, 7rpg, and shoot lights out. He will sign a bigger than MLE contract for the Knicks possibly, though other teams may be after him if its just the MLE level.</span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That's it for now. Hope you guys enjoyed the week in review. Soon we will have to just break down team's and see what it looks like they are trying to do. I mean last I read the Hawks had Shaq very interested, and with brand new GM and Coach you have a new system, one that might think some size would help JJ and Crawford out. Maybe Josh Smith's athleticism is overrated and they need to pound the boards at PF and C, and go more traditional post-up game with a Horford / Shaq front-court, Marvin Williams at SF, and Bibby, JJohnson, and Crawford rotating the guard spots. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Till next time, joshfarc out!<br />
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</span></span></span></div>Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-68489327515419907892010-06-20T12:09:00.000-07:002010-06-20T12:16:16.185-07:00"Game 7 Goes To JoshFarc!"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Lakers WIN Game 7 over the Boston Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><br />
</span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TB5kO7xm8HI/AAAAAAAAAU4/GqF7OJhV6h8/s1600/NBA-Finals-Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TB5kO7xm8HI/AAAAAAAAAU4/GqF7OJhV6h8/s200/NBA-Finals-Logo.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've wanted to say this........... well..... ALL MY LIFE! Plus that picture is priceless. The true transformation of "Pau 'mushy' Gasol" into "Pau 'The Rock' Gasol". That's like going from a Zach Randolph 20/10 to a KG in his prime 20/10. Woooohoooo! And back to the game. This is sort of like our blog(2 brains); this is half-blog/article and half rant. Enjoy....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TB5kJFqxL8I/AAAAAAAAAUw/D8Ei6DfAN2U/s1600/LosAngelesLakersEveryoneelsesucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TB5kJFqxL8I/AAAAAAAAAUw/D8Ei6DfAN2U/s200/LosAngelesLakersEveryoneelsesucks.jpg" width="156" /></a>My God, what a HORRIBLE game of offensive basketball we were blessed with. Was that Game 1 of the Pistons Finals from 1989? These refs are so ridiculous from game to game it makes me crazy... and happy. I love when refs let the damn players decide the outcome of the game and battle it out. Sure, it was an ugly game, but we got to see blood before fouls, and of course saw Pau Gasol finally adapt to KG's taunting and make a clutch post-up hook, followed by Pau running back with that KG look and evil stare full of not just competition, but "I OWN YOU" eyes. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">There's not a whole lot to say that I'm sure you haven't read. The objective articles will discuss how Sheed starting and Perkins out was an offensive blessing in disguise, and it actually could of been... though we did spot Scalabrine. I'm sure Perkins would of helped on the rebounding aspect of things, but Sheed also had a good offensive night in his spot. Now I am still not sure who's the "better team" but when you have the Black Mamba and Pau in the last 2 minutes of the game, well, it can make you the better team. End result: theory holds strong still. Pau and Kobe for a three-peat next year, but against the Bron. You'll see. That Orlando team last season wasn't a bad team, just not a contender. This Boston team was as good as the Lakers, and that's what makes an NBA Finals.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thank you to the Los Angeles Lakers for making my viewing season a blast, and for every game at Staples I attended being a hard fought battle (*Minus Game 2 of Finals). I love the NBA and will watch it no matter what, so having my favorite team (Lakers.. till the Sonics are resurrected) take the ship in 7 against the Celtics, a team I don't dislike, but a team that represents many things that I dislike, including it's go-to guy. You guys know who I am talking about. The one that game back in a wheelchair after spraining his ankle a bit. :D Leading to my last rant:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">RONRON! I also thank your doctors and psychiatrist. You were clutch in game 7 with those 20 points, but even more importantly you held Pierce to 18.0 ppg, 3.0 apg, and 5.3 rpg on 43% shooting in 40mpg for Pierce. Easily Pierce's worse series in years...... and to think, I was wondering if having Ariza instead of Ronny would of been better. Shame on me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>By the way, that guy on the Lakers who won his second NBA Finals MVP trophy, your nearly 30ppg this series were hard to get, though truly show that you are one of the top dawgs. Now people are already saying this makes him a top Laker, or people can now compare him to Jordan, but I still don't know. Nobody does. It's all subjective thinking. While I'd still take Magic as my Laker, i think the Kobe/Jordan comparisons have been there for a year now. As long as people remember that Scottie Pippen was a 21ppg, 7apg, 8rpg, 2spg, 2bpg guy that lead the Bulls to the finals that first year Jordan 1st retired. Scottie Pippen was basically a Lebron James... but version one. Lebron is version 2, so he scores a little bit more efficiently and has a bit more strength.... or a lot more strength. MJ always had nice pieces around him too. Horace Grant never became an All-Star or anything...... Bill Cartwright was never a solid center or anything...... and so it goes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">LA Lakers: You guys are amazing. I no longer want to trade Sasha this off-season, haha, but you never know. Our Starting 5 has been amazing, along with 6th man Lamar Odom and then Farmar, and sometimes Brown off the bench. Had a damn blast this season. I'm expecting another!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">AND ONCE AND FOR ALL I CAN SIT, CONTENT, KNOWING THE LAKERS ARE THE BEST NBA TEAM. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now.... if only Phil can grow one more finger... on each side... then he can retire happily.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TB5oiuQnQWI/AAAAAAAAAVY/HNQSZ7u4eHM/s1600/10_finals_wallpaper_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TB5oiuQnQWI/AAAAAAAAAVY/HNQSZ7u4eHM/s320/10_finals_wallpaper_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">pS: Happy Fathers Day. I had fun watching the games with you old man! That DVD will be a part of your collection soon.</span></i></b></div>Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-46793979394116048552010-06-15T21:53:00.000-07:002010-06-15T22:37:07.152-07:00Game 6 Recap<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DO4RaFKz0A8/TBhZS9YA4KI/AAAAAAAAAAM/e-YcJEoR1Ug/s1600/Artest+Nate+Robinson.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 396px; height: 261px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DO4RaFKz0A8/TBhZS9YA4KI/AAAAAAAAAAM/e-YcJEoR1Ug/s400/Artest+Nate+Robinson.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483230728571379874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Slovenians like to watch</span><br /><br /></div>All series the problem for the Lakers was that no one besides Kobe Bryant was stepping up. Lamar Odom still hasn't scored above 12 points this series. Andrew Bynum looked alright in games 1 and 2, but since then he hasn't done anything Darko Milicic couldn't have done (it might be the injury, hard to say, but 6 points and 1 rebound in 32 minutes on Game 5... ugh... why is he on the court?). Ron Artest looked like he was point shaving out there, the guy is below 50% from the free throw line this series. Finally, tonight, the whole Laker team stepped up and delivered a beating to the Celtics.<br /><br />The Celtics came out, it appeared, to try to run the Lakers. It worked alright for Oklahoma City... when they were in Oklahoma City (hence the 4-2 Laker win). I don't know why the Celtics thought they could do it. Not in Los Angeles. Not Game 6 of the Finals. Boston is not a running team. I know I heard Mark Jackson saying this at some point this series "you are what you are at this point in the year, it's not time to try anything new." And dammit Mark Jackson, you were right. The plan backfired on the Celtics as the Lakers took a 28-18 lead by the end of the 1st quarter.<br /><br />And the Lakers never looked back.<br /><br />Jumping ahead, what does Boston have to do to win Game 7? For one, keep the game at their pace. Clearly they were playing the speed the Lakers wanted to play. Controlling the tempo is huge. Second, they need to hit some 3's. Ray Allen had that amazing game of 7 3's in the 1st half, 8 3's total. Then he missed 18 straight. He hit 2/5 tonight, but no one else did any damage from there. The Celtics were 5/23, that's 21.7% from deep. Rasheed's 0/6 didn't help. When you shoot that poorly from 3 it allows the Lakers to clog the lane and make shots at the rim much more difficult. That's why the Celtics shot 33.3% from the floor. You won't win a lot of games attacking the hoop on every play. And finally, bench Rasheed if he's having a bad game. Rasheed is completely washed up and in love with 3's. 0/7 shooting. As a fan from Portland, Rasheed, I know you have a good back to the basket game. I haven't seen you use it since about 2005. What is up with that? You're not a good 3 point shooter, you never were. You shot 28% this year! The Lakers LIKE it when you shoot 3's.<br /><br />My prediction: Lakers take Game 7. I definitely see it as a closer game. Probably within 10 points the whole way. In the end the home court will win it for the Lakers. Bryant gets MVP. I know a lot of you think Artest deserves it, but no, I'm going to take the gutsy choice here.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-10134656277070972392010-06-14T05:02:00.000-07:002010-06-14T05:02:03.537-07:00"Brand Spanking New - Lakers/Celtics Gm.5"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TBYZwYwrrCI/AAAAAAAAAUA/YrgyDjrHhyc/s1600/ZANDER.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TBYZwYwrrCI/AAAAAAAAAUA/YrgyDjrHhyc/s320/ZANDER.png" /></a></div><br />
That's right! The day has finally come where I have decided to upgrade my amateurish blog to something a little more polished, and a little more substantial. Not only will you be hearing my crazy thoughts of the conspiracy theory going on with the referees right now (yea, that's right, I said it!), but my pal Zander (who refs, plays ball, watches it and analyzes it as frenetically and accurately/objective as myself) will be lending part of his brain to us here. Thanks Zander. Now remember guys... he's from Portland. Just because I happen to love Brandon Roy doesn't mean the next article on him will be done by me! <br />
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I'm putting money on it that he's got more voice, humor, and wit in his writing, and this should result in a nice flowing blog all about the NBA. He's the only one I respect enough to have write on my blog (and yes, he likes to make stupid/funny posts like me as well), but trust me when I say "Zander knows his ****".<br />
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Speaking of the devil, I had bet him smaller amounts of money on many of the series. I thought I was on a roll, calling Boston over Cleveland when it was a 2-1 series... Cleveland winning, only to have Boston win 3 straight and take it; then add the next round and I won again with my Lakers vs Boston prediction. Problem is, I became stupid. "Double or nothing Zan". That's all it takes. Well that and Kobe playing in a game in which he looks like the only Laker. I guess I should of just stayed betting on the Celtics, but as a Laker citizen I had to take objective analysis away and use my completely irrational mind saying "Kobe will kill them all". Thanks irrational mind. Can I have my $20 back??<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TBYaJbfR_FI/AAAAAAAAAUI/bAiFCVrFo4s/s1600/p1.kobe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TBYaJbfR_FI/AAAAAAAAAUI/bAiFCVrFo4s/s320/p1.kobe.jpg" width="262" /></a>Game 5 was just atrocious. From start to finish. Take away Kobe and you seriously have a soft, jumpshooting, under 40%FG team. That's not gonna get it done. Pau had a bad game finally, while Odom played great while he was in... all 25 minutes. The guy was feeling it and you have your starting PF and C both with shaky games. PLAY LAMAR 36+ MINUTES WHEN HE'S FEELING IT PHIL! TRUST ME!<br />
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The referees in this league all belong in jail! I swear on my grandfathers fresh grave, that either the refs, Kobe, Artest, Phil-Jax, or could it possibly be the NBA higher ups that lead to Stern. Nothing can hurt a company in debt(NBA) more than a 7 game, epic series between the biggest sports rivalry known to man: Lakers vs. Celtics. It doesn't get much better than that. Too bad the refs are the most inconsistent refs we've ever seen. At one point you think they are calling it really loose as guys bang inside and get knocked around with no fouls called. A second later you get a touch foul call off the ball for "sort of...almost touching your opponent". Hah. <br />
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I'm not sitting here saying the refs lost the game, because the Lakers lost this game badly all by themselves. I'm saying the reffing has been trash BOTH ways, for both teams, and it can be really hard to play the game, especially defensively, when the refs are literally bi-polar.<br />
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Game 6: Please, Oh Please, Wherever You Are, RonRon Is Coming To Save The Day In LA!Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-9018093109357159872010-06-04T06:33:00.000-07:002010-06-04T06:33:00.656-07:00"Lakers VS Celtics: Quick Briefing"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TAkAQzIpILI/AAAAAAAAATU/m5osLp-zogM/s1600/gemma-atkinson-1920x1200-37733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/TAkAQzIpILI/AAAAAAAAATU/m5osLp-zogM/s320/gemma-atkinson-1920x1200-37733.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Game one says everything. The Lakers are going to be that 2010 NBA finals champions... I really want to stay six games, but I have this inkling that it could take seven. But let's remember, the sixth and seventh games are in Los Angeles. Kobe and Gasol proved to be a lethal duo in game one of this NBA finals series. Before the game, I swear I could hear all the color commentators and the other basketball analyst'S, and many of them chose Boston to win this series, dismissing the entire Lakers roster. Shame on you if you were that oblivious to think the Celtics were the dominant team that would come into Staples and sweep the first 2 games in LA. <br />
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Lakers in six, maybe seven........ Look for me at game2 on TV.<br />
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PS: I was sick of putting pictures relevant to the topic. I'm sure you don't mind....Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-12665879526408778572010-05-17T14:42:00.000-07:002010-05-17T14:42:36.602-07:00"Lakers(1) VS Suns(3) - Are We Overlooking Something?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S_Gyh-VpexI/AAAAAAAAASs/3oQHwe6xxnY/s1600/sumsvslakrs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S_Gyh-VpexI/AAAAAAAAASs/3oQHwe6xxnY/s320/sumsvslakrs.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"> I wanted to write this before I left for the beautiful 2 hour drive (full of great downtown LA traffic) to Staples to watch Game 1 live! My old man still get's some great hook-ups. Anyways, back to my point: Are we overlooking something to do with the Suns? Every single show I've watched on ESPN or NBATV of professional sports analysis, just like the radio stations, and everyone believe the Lakers will win it in "5 probably" or even "it could go 7, but that's only a great game 6 Suns win at home then the Lakers close them out". "The Lakers size will just be too much for the Suns in the end". How many times have we heard this stupid, simple half-observation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Why not: "The Lakers will win the series just because they have more talent overall. Period." But that could be an argument I guess (Kobe, Gasol, Odom, Artest, Bynum, Fisher, Brown to Nash, Amare, J-Rich, Grant Hill, Frye, Dragic).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S_Gx-a-9xNI/AAAAAAAAASk/fWycmdttbHY/s1600/bynumgasol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S_Gx-a-9xNI/AAAAAAAAASk/fWycmdttbHY/s320/bynumgasol.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> I still think the Lakers have this series (because Odom is going to show up and play a great all-around, consistent series not only scoring more but rebounding harder; Ron Artest will do a fine job guarding Jason Richardson who's been putting up All NBA Numbers for the playoffs... we'll see him revert to his 16ppg self; Gasol and Bynum will also be likely getting plenty of touches early in game and early each quarter). But I am a natural skeptic, and with this confidence that the Suns have no chance winning a 7 game series with the Lakers and, well, I don't like it, haha, I must say... Not that they believe this, but that they are so damn confident. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> The Suns SWEPT the HEALTHY San Antonio Spurs with a 30ppg Manu Ginobli; 20/10 rock Duncan; stud PG Tony Parker; and even guys like Richard Jefferson and George Hill and Antonio McDyess. Personally, I thought the Spurs posed a much bigger threat to the Lakers, but obviously for the Suns to run over them so badly we need to see why and how they are playing so damn efficient. I mean it's just Nash running with the ball and the wings breaking half the time; the other half is a pick and roll literally.... they run it from so many spots on the court though, and it can end up in an Amare dunk or a Frye 3pter. They'll set a pick n roll just to through a corner pass for 3. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> That's right. The 3pt line. The Suns shot the best 3pt% out of ALL 30 teams this season. With guys like Nash, Dudley, Frye, Dragic, Barbosa, Richardson, all 40%ISH 3pt shooters... your team is never dead. Never. They can still score 10 points in a heartbeat. But what's the counter? The Lakers had the best defensive 3pt% in ALL the NBA? Well that is a HUGE little tid-bit of information. The Lakers need to stay with the shooters, like they're used to, and contest those 3's. Let the Suns jackup 3's at a 25% clip.... works for us right?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> There is also the fact the the Suns bench is better than the Lakers overall; it's an objective fact. They provide more points, rebounding, assists, etc. Of course we have to mention the breakout little 2nd year Goran Dragic who literally took over Game 3 I believe with the Spurs; he scored like 30 in the game, mostly the 2nd half, and literally controlled the game, his team, and the win. I'm not sure we'll see that again either. Has Popovich heard of hard fouls? You can foul the kid... just so you know next time Popo.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S_G3vteC0JI/AAAAAAAAAS0/aok5ejsb_TU/s1600/pho.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S_G3vteC0JI/AAAAAAAAAS0/aok5ejsb_TU/s320/pho.gif" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Suns Bench</b>: Goran Dragic, Channing Frye, Jared Dudley, Leandro Barbosa, Louis Amundson</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <i> note: the thing is these players each know their exact role and they execute it to plan; Also </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i> assuming </i><i>Robin Lopez return means he starts against the Gasol / Bynum duo.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S_G3-oihOCI/AAAAAAAAAS8/feHD_FjKF6M/s1600/lal.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S_G3-oihOCI/AAAAAAAAAS8/feHD_FjKF6M/s320/lal.gif" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Lakers Bench:</b> Lamar Odom, Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton, Josh Powell</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <i>note: Lamar and Shannon have been good(with some bad), while overall as a whole the bench has been </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i> no force or comfort for Kobe sitting on the bench.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> It's clear that the Suns have the superior bench when you go 5 deep. It's really much more simple than we think: If Odom doesn't show up (and Bynum is still slowed up), while maybe Frye and Dudley do show up, this is going to be one damn close game. I mean who's to say the Suns don't run that big-ole Laker starting lineup into the ground. If Bynum is really having issues, he needs to take care of it. Let Odom just start at PF... it's almost a better matchup. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> You know who I think is going to have a decent series for us Lakers off the bench? Well yes Odom, I said that. But I think Luke Walton will get some time (especially matched up with Dudley I bet) and Luke is a very heady player which is key in playoff situations. He's a great passer, can hit the open mid-range and 3-pointer; he even has a mini-post game. With the Suns always so small, I think the Lakers and Phil can and will try some unique options with his rotation, rosters, lineups, etc. Put Odom at Center for heaven's sake; he can guard Frye, not Lopez though (that's where Bynum OR Gasol needs to step in). If Bynum is really hurting and ends up out, Gasol, when he moves to center, needs to be much more aggressive on both ends of the floor. We should be seeing some blocked shots in this series.... because you know the Lakers will fall into the "fast-paced Suns style" at times and then snap out of it.... how quickly they can adjust or execute their plan and control the better.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> But the benches overall give the Suns an edge. Lately when Nash has had to go get his rest, Goran Dragic has stepped in and done a really fantastic job playing 100% speed, Nash's style a little, but with his own flare. The kid has a bright future if he continues to be mentored by Nash. Then Dudley is one of those pretty damn consistent shooters, while Frye can be streaky, just like Barbosa who might play 10 minutes one night with 6 points and 20 minutes the next night with 20 points, haha. Between Dragic's and Barbosa's explosiveness and Dudley and Frye's shooting..... you've got a legit 2nd unit. Keep 1 starter in there, like Grant Hill, and your good..Then Amundson just does his thing: comes in and riles things up, blocks a shot, not a whole lot else.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> The Lakers on the other hand have had a struggling time with the bench. For now Odom is the 6th man so he's a bench guy, and the best one at that (also the huge x-factor in this game/series). If Odom wants to get angry and play some ball, he can literally almost match Stoudemires efficiency. May not score as much, but he can be a triple double threat any game. Then Shannon Brown has been decent, though streaky. Farmar even worse, but OK. Walton does alright I guess.... he's just not getting much of a chance. Powell and Mbenga rarely see the court in real close games too. So its like a 7 man rotation, 8 if Farmar can get his head out of his ass and grow some balls. He's so much better than he's playing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S_G4Lj_X29I/AAAAAAAAATE/pp29pRw6oMM/s1600/nashkobe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S_G4Lj_X29I/AAAAAAAAATE/pp29pRw6oMM/s320/nashkobe.jpg" width="320" /></a> The thing is Steve Nash is possible the best PG in the NBA (I know there are 6 or so PG's you can see this about; but look where Nash has his team... Rondo too, hah). Fish will do his best on Nash, but I guarantee you Phil is thinking "let Nash score to beat us; why put pressure or doubles that result in Nash assists and Suns treys". Exactly. Let Nash be Lebron. Artest and Kobe can take J-Rich out of the game (who's averaged over 25ppg in the playoffs.... +10 regular season numbers).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> But really, a bench is a bench. In these playoffs Kobe, Artest, Gasol, Amare, Nash, all these great players will play a 40+ minute game if necessary. So really... a huge bench is not as important as some might try to point out (unless you are often in foul trouble or something similar). The Suns bench won't be "their special answer to winning the series". The Suns need to run their offense as efficient as they have been, but also keep their defense up so Gasol, Bynum, Odom can't get tons of points in the paint. And I guess J-Rich is the new Raja Bell? I think Kobe likes that.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> SO yes, I do think the Lakers win this in 5, if not then 6. But I do have a bit more skepticism in my gut. This Suns team is doing something right... playing as a team. Let's hope the Lakers do so. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">WELL I AM OUT TO GO TO GAME 1. I PREDICT THE LAKERS +12, give or take 4 either way, hahha. A semi-comfortable win,</div>Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-87125022529301877492010-05-03T08:56:00.000-07:002010-05-03T09:01:35.307-07:00"I Can Sense The Spurs Next!"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S97v5n6cOmI/AAAAAAAAASM/2ozCPCyYfeg/s1600/odom0522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S97v5n6cOmI/AAAAAAAAASM/2ozCPCyYfeg/s320/odom0522.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px;">Currently, in this Utah/Laker series it's pretty much known the Lakers will win this series in what is most likely 6 games; 25% chance it goes either 5 games or 7; 10% chance it goes 4. The Jazz are nothing without Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur... that's their 3rd and 4th best player after Deron and Boozer. But what comes AFTER the Jazz series is what scares me....</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">The Spurs are a legit contender this year. Not only did they add Antonio McDyess (solid veteran savvy) to put next to Duncan, they also have rookie surprise Dejuan Blair who is nuts and brings it every day; speaking of bringing it, this kid named George Hill is no force to be forgotten. Their best lineups are when they have Tony Parker at PG, Hill at SG, Manu at SF, Duncan at PF, and then McDyess or Blair or even Bonner at Center. </span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">Good thing I didn't forget about Richard Jefferson, their nice little pickup that allows them to play in many different ways; I've even seen them go with him at PF essentially with Duncan at center and Parker, Hill, Ginobli on the court too. It worked a bit against the Mavericks as they matched RJ up with Dirk; knowing smaller/longer players with speed cause Dirk the most problems on offense. That entire schematic was done well most the games and went unnoticed to most.</span></span></div></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S97wRe7PceI/AAAAAAAAASU/mEzBauYlksc/s1600/tony-parker-1-lrg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="128" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S97wRe7PceI/AAAAAAAAASU/mEzBauYlksc/s200/tony-parker-1-lrg.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">They had a very unique rotation last series and to end the season: George hill starts at PG while Bogans starts at SG I believe and Tony Parker comes in off the bench AS WELL AS Manu Ginobli; dual 6th man of the year? Hah. That's some serious firepower considering you already have Duncan's 20 points, Hill's 15, RJ's 12, and McDyess' 8-10 points in that starting lineup (Bogans around 5ppg now).</div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">But then look at what you are bringing off the bench: Tony Parker (All-Star Caliber top5 PG) and Manu Ginobli (a top5 SG when healthy and best 6th man in the league). </div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">Look at how the Spurs so EASILY managed to knock off the Mavericks (yes, the stacked/expensive Mavs with Caron Butler and Brandon Haywood to clone Dampier... and oh yea they had Kidd and Marion too, while of course Dirk did his own thing. The Spurs treated that like the regular season and the players didn't even get and "wear and tear". </div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">-Check these out:</div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Spurs Round 1 (6 games) Player Stat's (Complete Playoff Stats to date)</span></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div></div><div><ul><li style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Manu Ginobli: 19.0 Ppg, 5.0 Apg, 3.7 Rpg. 2.3 Spg, 10 Treys; </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>33.2 Mpg</b></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Tim Duncan: 18.2 Ppg, 9.5 Rpg, 2.7 Apg, 1.0 Bpg, 50% Fg; </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>37.2 Mpg</b></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Tony Parker: 15.8 Ppg, 5.7 Apg, 3.7 Rpg, 1.0 Spg, 47% Fg; 31.5 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Mpg</span></b></span></li>
</ul></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's your Big 3 getting legit "rest" for it being playoff time. Duncan did somewhat carry that series while Ginobli and Parker helped close it, with help. But just you can look and see how important those 3 are. Manu is playing like the second best SG in the NBA, jsut behind Kobe, and he's still fresh. Those Big3 are used to playing 40-44 minutes in playoff games, so this is legit. </span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And as you can see, if the series gets close and the 3 players have to log 40 minutes a game they will be scoring 70+ points combined possibly. </span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div><div><ul><li style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>George Hill: 14.3 Ppg, 3.8 Rpg, 1.2 Spg, 50% FG & 50%-3pt; </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>34.8 Mpg</b></span></span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's the surprising 4th productive player. Richard Jefferson is starting and averaging 9.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg in 32.7 minutes a game; not exactly productive you'd think. But RJ has really turned into this intangible type of player, sort of like Battier. </span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a Laker fan, I just think this to myself... "What Spurs players will likely have at least one 20+ppg in the series....</span></div></div><div><ul><li style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ginobli, Duncan, Parker, Jefferson, Hill, and then McDyess could go 20/10 one night and Roger Mason could be hitting his shots and put up 20 on any given night. While only the Big 3 average near 20 Ppg, their are plenty of others that can have one. Even Dejuan Blair and Matt Boner have had 20+point games.</span></li>
</ul></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S97yy4GwjnI/AAAAAAAAASc/fcbiw2IX6dk/s1600/tp6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S97yy4GwjnI/AAAAAAAAASc/fcbiw2IX6dk/s200/tp6.jpg" width="121" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So why am I praising this Spurs team? I'm not quite sure, but I have this feeling they take the Suns, AGAIN, in 6, and then the Lakers and Spurs go 7 baby. I said at the start of the season "If the spurs were Healthy come playoff time, and the McDyess + RJ thing worked out and gels, they will be at the top".</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here we are Laker fans. Playing Utah.... who has little chance... and then taking on this crazy San Antonio Spurs team (likely). Can anyone really stop Duncan's 20/10's? And I don't want to bring up the PG matchup where Tony Parker will eat us up for lunch at times; this is where Farmar and Brown need to come in and step it up some more: Brown will have to guard Hill a lot I bet, with Fisher and Farmar on Parker the most (but maybe even Kobe or Artest).</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check back later for my analysis on what the match-ups would/will be and what the Lakers need to do to win a 7 game series with a healthy Spurs roster.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">( Yes, I did write this like it was fact that the Suns had zero chance to win )</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PS: The Spurs won a title in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2010 seems like a way to cap the decade eh.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PSS: Remember what Duncan did the last time the Suns tried to test them?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/trdsKp94Io0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/trdsKp94Io0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></span></div>Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-22249093717876576202010-04-19T14:20:00.000-07:002010-04-19T17:34:33.446-07:00"Blast from the Past-Randolph to Memphis"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S8zMteGh8kI/AAAAAAAAARk/a2NO6kkDzoM/s1600/zboMEMPHIS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S8zMteGh8kI/AAAAAAAAARk/a2NO6kkDzoM/s320/zboMEMPHIS.jpg" /></a></div> This is a "Blast From the Past" blog. I am back to blogging a bit more full-time, and I was going through my blog's directory noticing many times I start a solid blog/article, only to get sidetracked too never finish that original blog. This one stood out to me a bit, as the date I had started writing it was 8/30/09, (AUGUST of 2009) when Zach Randolph was traded to the Grizzlies (for Q-Richardson's $10 million expiring contract) and everyone said he would "destroy their team chemistry" and that "there weren't enough shots to go around with Zach, Gay, and Mayo.<br />
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The onslaught of hate on Randolph lasted months, along with the bashing of Grizzly management, ownership, etc. 90% of the online community was pissed for some reason; I guess they simmede to think<br />
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Of course, I spent wasted time in forum trying to explain to "noobs" that an NBA team like the Grizzlies would play a faster pace and shoot 80+ Shots Per Game... and very few people listened. I tried to explain that Mayo, Gay, and Z-Bo combined to make a solid SG/SF/PF scoring combo and little-BIG3(aka Celtics SG/SF/PF = Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett). I tried to explain that while yes, the Celtics Big-3 were a bit more mature (well, a lot more mature), that the Griz plan was great.<br />
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Just in case, for those who might not waste as much time watching/living the NBA like me Zach Randolph's nickname is Z-Bo. Don't ask me why, but it works for me.<br />
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I even added up the FGA's from the PREVIOUs year of OJ Mayo, Rudy Gay, and Zach Randolph, and it was like 50 Field Goal Attempts between the 3. Let's also note that each of these players logs anywhere from 36 to 39 minutes a game, meaning their backups at SG, SF, and PF are limited to 10 minutes on the court to relieve the little'BiG-3. 50 FGA? Throughout the game they are going to shoot over 80 shots as a team. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S8zOPrxUh2I/AAAAAAAAARs/FLoGKEqv5hA/s1600/zbosmile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S8zOPrxUh2I/AAAAAAAAARs/FLoGKEqv5hA/s320/zbosmile.jpg" width="212" /></a> So rationally and logically, how could that be "not enough shots to go around"? That's 30+ FGA's for the 2 other starters (Conley, a 12ppg pass first PG; Marc Gasol, a near 60%FG Center that anchors the D), and a bench that really has nobody to come in and shoot 10 FGA's a game or anything. To me the trade made 100% sense; yes they did have to believe in the trade since Zach's contract went one extra year over Quentin Richardson's(who they traded him for), but I believed they were correct as well.<br />
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These were all points I wrote down in AUGUST of 2010 right when the trade happened. Now I want to fast-forward to REAL-TIME ANALYSIS of what I was thinking. Remember, I was in the minority while everyone else was screaming "Zach will DESTROY the chemistry of the amazing young players in Memphis: OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay". So..........<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">-</span></b></span>Memphis Grizzlies-</span></b></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">2008-2009 Season (without Z-Bo)</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Record: 24 wins, 58 losses (Lottery Draft, 2nd Overall Pick on Thabeet)</b></div></span><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">PG: Mike Conley:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> 10.9ppg, 5.3apg, 2.4rpg, 1.4spg, 44%FG, 40%3FG, 30.6mpg, 10.4 FGA's</span></span></li><br />
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">SG:</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">OJ Mayo</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: 18.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.11 spg, 44%FG, 38%3FG, 38.0mpg, 15.6 FGA's</span></span></span></b></span></li><br />
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">SF:</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Rudy Gay: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> 18.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.24 spg, 45%FG, 35%3FG, 37.3mpg, 16.0 FGA's</span></span></b></span></li><br />
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">PF:</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Hakim Warrick:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> 11.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 0.8 apg, 49%FG, 24.7 mpg, 8.5 FGA's</span></span></b></span></li><br />
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">C: </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Marc Gasol:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> 11.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.1 bpg, 53%FG, 30.7mpg 8.1 FGA's</span></span></b></span></li><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>STARTERS: 58.6 FGA's per game, 161.3 minutes per game</b></span></b></span></li><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">* Rookie Darrell Arthur started a majority of the games (63) at Power-Forward & 19 mpg. Warrick was just a more productive PF when he came off the bench, and was their "main" PF.</span></span><br />
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(So in the 2008-09 season Gay and Mayo combined for 31.6 of the teams 77.0 Field Goal Attempts per game. Maybe the Bobcats shouldn't of traded for Stephen Jackson this season... I mean he takes close to 20 FGA's while the BobCats already had Wallace, Diaw, Felton, who totaled much more than 31.6 FGA's. But adding a 20 FGA per game scorer like S-Jax made them a playoff team, and adding Z-Bo nearly did the same thing for the Grizzlies.)<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">2009-2010 Season (with Z-Bo starting PF 38 minutes / game)</span></span></b><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Record: 40 wins, 42 losses (almost made the playoffs in the West)</b></div></span><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>PG: Mike Conley:</b> 12.0ppg, 5.3apg, 2.4rpg, 1.4spg, 32.1mpg, 45%FG, 39%3FG, 10.4 FGA's </span></li><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>SG:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> <b>OJ Mayo:</b> 17.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.2 spg, 46%FG, 38%3FG, 38.0 mpg, 14.4 FGA's</span></span></b></span></li><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>SF:</b></span> Rudy Gay:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> 19.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.5 spg, 47%FG, 33%3FG, 39.7 mpg, 16.1 FGA's</span></b></span></li><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>PF:</b></span> Zach Randolph:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> 20.8 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.0 spg, 49%FG, 37.7 mpg, 16.5 FGA's</span></b></span></li><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>C: </b></span>Marc Gasol:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> 14.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.0 spg, 1.6 bpg, 58%FG, 35.8 mpg, 9.4 FGA's</span></b></span></li><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>STARTERS: 183.3 minutes per game, 46.8 FGA's per game</b></span></b></span></li><br />
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<div> (My point is I would hope my 2 best pure scorers would shoot 16 shots a game, but it's never a problem to have 3 players that are 16 FG Attempt scorers as long as you have the right pieces around them. The Grizzlies happened to have PERFECT pieces around them; their main problem and reason they didn't make the playoffs was the fact that they literally have NO BENCH. I liked their late pickup of Ronnie Brewer, though he's an RFA and not quit the scoring SF/SG they need off the bench. If they can sign a SG and SF, or just a solid swingman capable of playing both SG/SF, they will be competing for the playoffs. Especially with Thabeet developing into an NBA capable backup Center that should contribute quite a bit more this upcoming season for 2010-2011.)</div><div><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"> *( pg = Per Game )</span></b></span></b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">2008-09 TEAM</span></b></span></b></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>77.0 FGA's pg, 93.9 points pg, FG%45, 3ptFG%36</b></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>83.8 FGA's pg, 102.5 points pg, FG%47, 3ptFG%34</b></span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">2009-10 TEAM</span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></div></div></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">_______________________________<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">____________________</span></span></b></span></span></b></span></b></span></span></span></b></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">-CONCLUSION-</span></b></div> I wanted to rub it in my own face that I was right about the Z-Bo trade being a smart move by Grizzly management and it made the team turn from a young, lottery team into a playoff contender. Not bad for ONE trade and taking on 6 million extra for this previous season and 16 million more next year (yes $16 million is overpaying Z-Bo, but it's perfect for the Griz current financial / player / salary situation).<br />
<br />
Simply put, Z-Bo was worth 16 wins (in a sense; the other players adapting to the new lineup helped). 16 wins! That's more than Pau Gasol did for the Lakers when he came there....<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S8zKrZ4XP1I/AAAAAAAAARU/O8bmCwliBck/s1600/mayo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S8zKrZ4XP1I/AAAAAAAAARU/O8bmCwliBck/s200/mayo3.jpg" width="200" /></a> But please, all you NBA forum talkers and bloggers, keep calling Zach Randolph "a cancer to any team" and "the worse 20/10 player ever" among other things. Sure his defense isn't good, but go look at his production at www.82games.com. He's simply put a +7 points per game player at PF, meaning his efficient and skillful offense and rebounding are outweigh his poor/mediocre defense by quite a bit. That's pretty damn solid.<br />
<br />
The Grizzlies have another draft pick and money to spend this summer if they choose to use it. If they can pickup a solid swingman to play 20 minutes off the bench and provide 10+points a game and Thabeet can really backup Gasol at center, this team is will stare at 45-50 wins, and the playoffs, all season assuming they suffer no major injuries (knock on wood).<br />
<br />
<br />
(PS: Did I mention that Zach Randolph was voted an ALL-STAR, for the first time, by the COACHES AND MANGERS of the NBA? We aren't talking the starting 5 All-Stars voted by fans, which is a joke always, but the actual All-Star backup's voted in by smart Coaches, Owners, and Managers.)</div></div>Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-80345445201606172382010-04-05T17:12:00.000-07:002010-04-05T17:12:25.314-07:00" Final Four- Finals: Duke or Butler? "<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S7p7VmaZFNI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/WwBD0rJm6bs/s1600/scheyerblood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S7p7VmaZFNI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/WwBD0rJm6bs/s320/scheyerblood.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><br />
So the final four is over. It's now down to duke and the Butler university. I swear to god, I don't think I've ever seen so many white guys in the finals. This year's brackets had me really guessing. It's just really ironic, I mean I've been a duke said for years… Basically sense I was five years old. But I guess I've given up on them, let me rephrase that, I had almost given up on them.<br />
<br />
So Duke and Coach K are headed for the big show, and personally I think they've got an easy win ahead of them. Butler, a mid-major college from Indiana; straight from the cornfields of where basketball was created. I really would love to say Butler has a good chance to win... But that's simply not the case.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> Butler just does not have enough offense, it's really that simple. Duke, on the other hand, has one of the best offenses in the nation. Now butler is known for their tedious game plan in trying to limit the game to as little possessions's as possible. If each team gets 50 shots, the butler coaches happy. Too bad!<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> Coach K and his fellow players are the real Duke this year. They have of all the pieces they need. Now while Butler is trying to slow the game down and keep the possessions clean, duke is going to do the exact opposite. I am officially predicting a 20 point win by the duke blue devils and grant hill will be smiling tonight.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S7p7lqP4YCI/AAAAAAAAARE/QD6zIhSgPZs/s1600/butlercoach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S7p7lqP4YCI/AAAAAAAAARE/QD6zIhSgPZs/s320/butlercoach.jpg" width="320" /></a> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I would go more in depth, but this game just seems too obvious; you've got duke, a huge school with many juniors and seniors who have experience, while butler is still that second tier mid-major college. Butler wants to keep the game total near 100 points while duke wants to score 100 points by themselves.<br />
<br />
I would start going off about the fact the Butler head coach presents himself in the essence of John Schyer; are the mormon brothers? Anything is possible. But back to the subject....... So...<br />
<br />
Yes. Defense wins championships. But, if your not be able to score 70 points in 40 minutes of gametime, well, your defense better be friggin a life changing experience, haha, because you still need to put the basketball in the hoop.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> I will keep this clean. Duke wins by 17 with the second half running away. Butler and their schematics will work for probably 10 minutes, maybe 20, but I'm taking once that second half starts and Coach K and crew counter with a European style basketball lineup… Just like he did with the Olympics last summer winning gold.<br />
<br />
JoshFarc's OFFICIAL Prediction:<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><b>-Duke 74</b></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">-Butler 57</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S7p6hyvHOmI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/r8_B-N6Nqic/s1600/coachKwins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S7p6hyvHOmI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/r8_B-N6Nqic/s320/coachKwins.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div><br />
</div><div> </div><div> Butler keeps the pace semi-slow in the first 10-20 minutes, maybe the whole 1st half, and it's an ugly game like 30 to 30. But Duke will go on a crazy run sometime with Scheyer, Schindler, Nolan, and all the others (Zoubek and other KEY role players). I predict a 13 to 0 run by Duke to help them get that lift. Then it's smooth sailing and I hope you got someone to bet against you and Duke. It's really not that hard as people seem to really hate Duke, unless the love them; very unipolar style.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DUUUUUUUUUKKIIIIEEES!</div></div>Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1304720043236366845.post-32441426165403341932010-03-07T02:43:00.000-08:002010-03-07T05:46:09.015-08:00"Clipps send Camby for Blake & Outlaw"<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S5OQwwj-67I/AAAAAAAAAPU/TaajijkHBzw/s1600-h/steveblaketravisoutlaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S5OQwwj-67I/AAAAAAAAAPU/TaajijkHBzw/s320/steveblaketravisoutlaw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S5Ok6W74VVI/AAAAAAAAAQE/QlofrefNT2A/s1600-h/lac.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S5Ok6W74VVI/AAAAAAAAAQE/QlofrefNT2A/s320/lac.gif" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">LA Clippers trade:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span></b></span></b></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d;"><b>Marcus Camby --6'10''-- C/PF ( $7,650,000 / 1year )</b></span></li>
</ul><ul></ul><ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S5OlCbaW7QI/AAAAAAAAAQM/vcItAgTYso4/s1600-h/por.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S5OlCbaW7QI/AAAAAAAAAQM/vcItAgTYso4/s320/por.gif" /></a></div> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">Portland Trailblazers trade:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"> </span></span></b></span></b><br />
<ul><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d;">Steve Blake --6'3''--</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d;"> PG ( $4,000,000 / 1 year )</span></b></span></b></span></b></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d;">Travis Outlaw --6'9''-- SF/PF ( $3,600,000 / 1 year )</span></b></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d;">$3,000,000 cash </span></b></span></b></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-weight: normal;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Total Traded Salaries Confirmed: </span></i></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></i></b></span></b></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-weight: normal;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Clippers Send: $7,650,000 | Blazers send $7,600,000</span></i></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></i></b></span></b></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">______________________</span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Clippers and Blazers </i></span></span></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>winners in trade...</i> </span></span></span></span></b></span></i></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></i></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></i></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></i></span></span></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></b></span></i></span></span></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"> I obviously love this trade to be typing about it now, weeks after the actual trade happened. And it's not to say that "Player A is putting up MONSTER numbers" or anything of that sort. It's just about how trading role players (or glorified role players), who are also all expiring's can really make a team better, and not just for the short term and just this season, but for the future and next summer as well. I really like where both these teams are at, and feel the management and GM really have a brain-trust that is working well. So the Blazers FINALLY made a trade that I had been expecting a month prior, similar to this trade ( I also thought it possible to get Okafor for Blake, Outlaw, and a 1st rounder and New Orleans clears mad cap-space, but that probably wouldn't of happened, and is probably why this did. So let's take a look overall starting with the LA Clippers and see what is going on with them after the trade...</div><div style="text-align: left;"> Getting Steve Blake is a starting caliber PG, low turnovers, top 3pt% shooter, decent defender, and all-around good, smart player. I think Blake is quite consistently underrated. He is a great backup PG to have for the Clippers, and not only that but he could play next to a big guard in Baron Davis or Eric Gordon and that would be a solid back-court combo. Blake has played 61 games in 2009-2010, and is very consistent, though his minutes have been down due to young, second year player Jerryd Bayless who has become a player this year and plays PG and SG. His numbers are still legit though:<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;">Steve Blake - 2009-20010 Averages:</span></span></span></b></span></div><ul><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;">7.1 ppg, 4.3 apg, 1.3 to, 0.7 spg, 3ptFG: 38%</span></span></b></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"> Per</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"> </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;">26,9 mpg </span></span></b></li>
</ul><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Now that we see he plays about 26-27 minutes a game this season, and he is likely to remain in that range with the Clippers, as the main backup PG that is guaranteed 12+ minutes per game, along with minutes next to B-Diddy and Gordon that will probably range around another 8-12 more minutes or so, but he really helps them in the things you can't see on paper; his veteran leadership and poise and amazing assist : TO ratio is the tops in the league and should help the Clippers keep their poise when Baron is out or having a bad game.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;">Steve Blake - 2009-2010 Per36 Averages:</span></span></span></b></span></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;">9. 6ppg, 5.7 apg, 1.0 spg, 1.8to, 3ptFG: 38%</span></b></span></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"> Per 36.0 mpg </span></span></b></li>
</ul><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S5OVTZOH9TI/AAAAAAAAAPs/5HgS0ayjJ4I/s1600-h/steveblake1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S5OVTZOH9TI/AAAAAAAAAPs/5HgS0ayjJ4I/s320/steveblake1.jpg" /></a></div> Then the other main piece, along with over $3 million in cash from Portland, is another future Unrestricted Free Agent, but if he fits in well the Clippers could have an advantage in signing him. Now overall Outlaw's basketball IQ and awareness on the court really need improvement, but his raw athleticism is still amazing and he's proven that he can score the ball in the 4th quarter; he's a very clutch player offensively. The problem can be he plays every minute like it's the last possession, and that can result in brain-dead errors or bad shots.<br />
Travis Outlaw comes in to basically replace Al Thornton's role who was traded to the Wizards in another deal for the Clippers. That pretty much gives him the same role that he had in Portland: he's a 6th man scorer pretty much that is good to come in off the bench and score 10-20 points on any given night in 26 or so minutes. Now Outlaw has tried starting at SF, and PF, but he really is the definition of a "tweener" forward. I personally think he's at his best playing with the 2nd unit and getting time at both forward spots depending on match-ups. But overall he's a solid 6th man'ish type of player to have and come in at either forward spot and give your team much more offense, especially when he plays PF and the team goes small with Travis playing next to Kaman.<br />
Outlaw has had a tough year this year, especially when you consider that it is a contract year for him and this summer is all about the "stars" in Free Agency. He only played 11 games with the Blazers before being traded, and his minutes were quite limited to get him back into game shape. He's been playing games since the 22nd of February since going down on November 14th in 2009. That means he's only played 8 games this year, 2010, so he's still getting a feel for the game, especially with this new Clippers team. While he hasn't had the best shot selection, he's still a pretty efficient player:<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"><b>Travis Outlaw</b></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"> - 2009-20010 Averages:</span></span></b><br />
<ul><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;">9.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 38%3PT, 80%FT</span></span></b></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"> Per</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"> <b>20.0</b></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"> mpg </span></span></b></li>
</ul><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Now that we see he plays about 26-27 minutes a game this season, and he is likely to remain in that range with the Clippers, as the main backup PG that is guaranteed 12+ minutes per game, along with minutes next to B-Diddy and Gordon that will probably range around another 8-12 more minutes or so, but he really helps them in the things you can't see on paper; his veteran leadership and poise and amazing assist : TO ratio is the tops in the league and should help the Clippers keep their poise when Baron is out or having a bad game.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Travis Outlaw</b></span> - 2009-2010 Per36 Averages:</span></span></span></b></span></div></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;">16.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg apg, 1.2 spg, 1.0 bpg, 3ptFG: 38%,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"> 80%FT</span></span></b></span></span></b></span></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"> Per 36.0 mpg </span></span></b></li>
</ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S5OU5-SjLSI/AAAAAAAAAPk/NzYgA0-tPtE/s1600-h/travisoutlaw2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S5OU5-SjLSI/AAAAAAAAAPk/NzYgA0-tPtE/s320/travisoutlaw2.jpg" /></a> This season Chris Kaman made it obvious he is the Center/PF for the Clippers putting up great numbers ( 21.1 ppg, 9.2 rpg, and 2+bpg; not too shabby... I mean he was only a 2010 All-Star reserve. Then you have youngin' Deandre Jordan who has really picked up his game and is a competent back up for now. He is not exactly consistent, but that will come with age. Then of course, I couldn't end this analysis without mentioning that Blake Griffin will be a "rookie" in essence next year, but he will get worked in slowly next year, and I really like this idea, though he might get into the full rotation quicker than I think ( mostly because the Clippers played it VERY safe shutting him down for the year; so he should be good to go come training camp, or summer league. The Clippers are a good team without him, with a lot baring on B-Diddy, and Griffin will determine their improvement.</div></div><br />
<div class="conversation-item-body"> I forgot to say that Camby will be a Laker after this season. Seems like a good idea. Partial - MLE or even bi-annual style. Lakers can have Odom behind Gasol at PF and Artest at SF and Camby behind Bynum. Talk about a legit front-court rotation.<br />
Anyway, I love it for Portland right now. It gives them a much improved approach to the playoffs now, and if Camby is healthy for them come playoff time, they are going to be a threat for sure; they do need to make up the scoring from Outlaw at SF/PF and that PG/SG combo guard spot Blake played. That's gotta be something like 25 points together? 30 maybe?<br />
Camby's defense is gonna be so welcomed in Portland. While they do still have Joel Przybilla nad young, yet still a prospect Greg Oden who seems injury prone, sort of like Andrew Bynum was/is. But Camby still brings them a shot-blocking element they have never had. I really hope he likes it there and is a good, calm veteran presence that decides to re-sign with the team for an obvious reduction in pay, but still a solid contract... let's say $5,000,000'ish a year or so for 3 years guaranteed; I'm sure that's his range, and at his age 3 guaranteed years is tough to come on (he's like 35/36); that's far older than Turkolgu when he signed his contract last summer; like 6 years difference, haha. But Camby brings his element to any team and is worth a decent amount of money until he shows he can't still do it. This season Camby seems to be doing pretty solid as usual, and he's played 58 total games which shows his body is holding up well.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;">Marcus Camby in 2009-20010 has averaged</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;">:</span></b></span><br />
<ul><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;">7.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.0 bpg</span></span></span></b></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"> Per</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"> </span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;">30.8 mpg </span></span></span></b></li>
</ul> Now that we see he was playing 30 minutes a game this season, let's see what his production will likely be come playoff time when he starts and plays big minutes, at least 36 a game, if not more; here's his Per36:<br />
<ul><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;">8.4+ ppg, 13.9 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.3+ bpg</span></span></span></b></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #0c343d;"> Per 36.0 mpg </span></span></span></b></li>
</ul><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S5OSG6gUlAI/AAAAAAAAAPc/NEGrl6yt1Hk/s1600-h/c32b19427d9bdd1302453389cbed7a15-getty-90043724jd001_il_portland_t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S5OSG6gUlAI/AAAAAAAAAPc/NEGrl6yt1Hk/s320/c32b19427d9bdd1302453389cbed7a15-getty-90043724jd001_il_portland_t.jpg" width="251" /></a> Then Oden and Przybilla both coming back to Portland next season most likely (they could be traded to re-sign Camby, you never know). Camby can play both Center and Power-Forward like he did next to Kaman with the Clippers, as well as earlier in his career. It would be nice for them to be able to sit both Aldridge AND Oden (to work him back in VERY slowly) while Camby and big Przybilla hold down the fort at PF and C. Now that's now a great scoring duo up front, but for 5 minutes rest you have 2 players who block shots and play defense; their defensive tendencies complement each other greatly. Camby loves blocking shots off the ball while Przybilla(or Oden) both play great on-the-ball defense down low in the post, making it tough to get a good shot off. Imagine having Oden guard your center while Camby was playing weakside help and you tried to go up for a layup or shot; Camby would be all over that... and in opponents heads. <br />
<br />
So yes, I obviously love this trade for the Blazers. They lose two solid role players, one expiring (Blake) and the other expiring / Restricted Free Agent (Outlaw), and gain a top 15 C/PF in the NBA who is also expiring with his $7,650,000 contract this season. The move keeps both the Blazers and Clippers the same financially with the nearly $8 million in expiring contracts still in hand but just different pieces. These are the pieces that fill the wholes each team has ( especially the Blazers, but Clippers too ). The Blazers had ZERO interior defensive presence with Aldridge at PF and Juwan Howard (really a PF) playing Center. They had no shot in the playoffs with that lineup. They simply saw that Jerryd Bayless had stepped up his game tremendously, not only with his scoring and efficiency with free-throws, but his overall game at PG. This allowed Blake to be put on the block. Martell Webster back playing healthy, and now Nicolas Batum back from injury they have plenty of players capable of playing both SF and PF, which allowed Outlaw to become expendable. Their new rotation is very solid, and I have to say that I really think the Blazers could be a scare in the playoffs if they are close to 100% healthy ( especially Roy and Camby ).<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">________________________<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">________________________</span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">-------------------------</span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></span></b></span></b></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">- Trade </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Evaluation -</span></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #444444;">Portland</span></span></b></span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S5OWz9b-BDI/AAAAAAAAAP0/Q2lYYIx9JRE/s1600-h/camby3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O6yH3hILXtQ/S5OWz9b-BDI/AAAAAAAAAP0/Q2lYYIx9JRE/s400/camby3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> Blazers's rotation</span></b><i><b> (done my way):</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>-PG-<i> Andre Miller</i></b> - <i>( 36 minutes ) | </i><b><i>Jerryd Bayless</i></b> - <i>( 12 mins )</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>-SG- <i>Brandon Roy -</i></b> <i>( 38 minutes ) | <b>Jerryd Bayless</b> - ( 12 mins )</i></div></div><b>-SF-<i> Nicolas Batum -</i></b> <i>( 24 minutes) | <b>Martell Webster</b> (24 mins )</i><br />
<b>-PF-</b> <b><i>LaMarcus Aldridge</i></b><i> - ( 36 minutes) | <b>D. Cummingham</b> ( 12 mins)</i><br />
<b>-C-</b> <b><i>Marcus Camby </i></b>- <i>( 34 minutes) | <b>Juwan Howard </b>- ( 14 mins)</i><br />
<i>------------------------------------</i><br />
<b>-6th Man-</b> Martell Webster<br />
<i>------------------------------------</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i> </i>All around this is a very complementary lineup, and when Brandon Roy is at full health and playing at his best, this team is still straight up going to compete with any team in the NBA. When I look at how they match-up with certain teams now, I think they could even, at least, "scare" a team like the Lakers in the Playoffs if Camby is healthy and out of foul trouble while Roy leads the charge and Aldridge plays second fiddle. It's weird to say with Oden AND Przybilla out, but the Blazers are still one of the strongest rotations with Bayless, Batum, Howard, and Cummingham ( a surprise rookie ) all off the bench. Of course, this team comes down to Brandon Roy in the end, and if he's doing his thing efficiently, and LMA can shoot over 50% and stay consistent as the 2nd option, this team is dangerous. Dre at PG adds another dimension and guy that can put up 30 on any given night as well, while both Batum and Webster can go for 20+ any game. Then of course Camby will block 5 shots on a great night, grab 15 rebounds, and hopefully keep the opposing Center around 10 points if possible.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d;">- Portland TrailBlazers -</span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d;"></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8.5 / 10.0</span></span></span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> <b>-trade note</b>: I love the trade for Portland and think it's close to a 9.5, but when I heard they had to also pay over $3,000,000 in cash to get it done I was thinking that was a little unnecessary, but I still think they could of bumped that to like $1,000,000 or just no cash at all. Anyway, Camby is the perfect fit, and they have the same $8,000,000 in expiring contracts too, so they did get better and their cap is identical... that's usually the sign of a good move. </span></i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">______________________</span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Clippers's rotation</span></span></b><i><b>(done my way):</b></i></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>-PG-<i> Baron Davis</i></b> - <i>( 36 minutes ) | <b>Steve Blake</b></i> - <i>( 12 mins )</i></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>-SG- <i>Eric Gordon -</i></b> <i>( 38 minutes ) | <b>Steve Blake</b> - ( 12 mins )</i></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>-SF-<i> Rasual Butler -</i></b> <i>( 32 minutes) | <b>Travis Outlaw</b> (16 mins )</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>-PF-</b><i> </i><b><i>Drew Gooden</i></b><i> - ( 32 minutes) | <b>Travis Outlaw</b> ( 16 mins)</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>-C-</b> <b><i>Chris Kaman </i></b>- <i>( 36 minutes) | <b>Deandre Jordan </b>- ( 12 mins)</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>---------------------------------</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>-6th Man-</b> Travis Outlaw</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>---------------------------------</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i> </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> I have really started to grow fond of the Clippers this past season ( and a little bit last season ). They've made some very smart moves, and I swear on something sacred that I couldn't of been happier when I found out that not only did this trade go down but Mike Dunleavy Sr. was no longer the head coach of the Clippers organization; though he's still GM and apart of the organization. This team looks like it's ready to go on a run and get to the playoffs or it's about to die a painful end of season death streak... it all depends on how their chemistry forms. So far they've played 11 games and only had 4 wins. That's not going to cut it... but I am giving them another week or two to get their chemistry together to see what happens.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> But then again, they only have $33,000,000 committed in cap for this upcoming 2010-2011 summer. That's looking like $25+million in available money to use on the Free Agency this year... one that includes all these huge names yet the Clippers are never mentioned. Why wouldn't someone like Joe Johnson or Rudy Gay want to go to LA and play on the Clippers. Sure, it is LA's "other" team, but that could evolve any time the Clippers become a consistent playoff threat in the future. Either way, this team is built solid, with B-Diddy and Kaman taking up $25,000,000 in cap, this team will definitely be doing some work in the off-season. They lose tons of players, but their best players: Chris Kaman, Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, young DeAndre Jordan, and of course the "rookie" Blake Griffin are all still Clippers next season with that money. Where does that leave them? Can Griffin play small-forward next year? Can Jordan play Center next to Kaman at PF successfully? Will they re-sign Blake or Outlaw or Gooden with their extra cash? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">- Los Angeles Clippers -</span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8.0 / 10.0</span></span></span></span></b></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> <b>-trade note</b>: I love the Clippers more After this trade, but I can't help but feel like they basically made a lateral move somehow, even though they traded a C/PF for a solid PG and a solid combo forward. The Clips did trade with the Wizards too, getting Drew Gooden's expiring among other things, and sending away Al Thornton and Sebastian Telfair, who I felt was doing alright at backup point; but I could not stand Thornton one bit... his game is more one dimensional than Corey Maggette's. Now Outlaw is similar in the way they play, but he can shoot and is proven to be clutch.</span></i></span></div></span></i></span></div>Joshua E. Farconehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03839677109763635940noreply@blogger.com0