Three Quick Thoughts on the Lebron Signing

So. Lebron James has signed a 4 year, 154 million dollar deal with the LA Lakers.

Here are three quick thoughts about it.

Thought #1 Happiest about it:Sixers and the Celtics.
You'd think that the Raptors would be the happiest about it because they'll think they may now actually have a chance of making the NBA Finals. But the Sixers and the Celtics would be happier because now, they KNOW that one of them will go to the Finals.

Thought #2 Saddest about it: Kevin Love.
He left Minnesota because he wanted to be in a team good enough to not only go to the playoffs but also have a realitic chance of winning a title. Now, he's on a team that's even worse than the team he left behind. Seriously, would you rather be on a team with Tristan Thompson, Larry Nance Jr, Jordan Clarkson, Rodney Hood, and George Hill than a team with Ricky Rubio, JJ Barea, Corey Brewer, Gorgui Dieng, and Nikola Pekovic?

Thought #3 Basketball is a Business.
And business is good. Until Jordan came along, basketball was a passion and a profession. Michael Jordan turned it into an enterprise. And now, Lebron James has elevated it into a global conglomerate. James has approached everything from the business standpoint and he has done it tremendously well. The era of the sportsman-magnate is firmly in place.

The NBA Awards: Three Thoughts

Early this week, the NBA revealed their awardees for the 2017-2018. Here's an abbreviated list featuring several high profile categories:

Most Valuable Player: James Harden
Rookie of the Year: Ben Simmons
Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert
Most Improved Player: Victor Oladipo
Sixth Man of the Year: Lou Williams
Coach of the Year: Dwayne Casey

Here are my three thoughts to ponder on:

Thought #1 There were no surprises.
Everyone who won were the same players whom most people thought would win. Case in point: James Harden. Everyone was of the opinion at the beginning of this year that he would be the 2018 MVP. And he won despite the fact that Russell Westbrook made history again by being the ONLY player to average a triple-double (25.4pts, 10.1 reb, 10.3 assists) for two seasons (and back-to-back seasons too!). Lebron James also had better overall stats than James Harden but still, being the favorite for most of the year seemed to work  out for James Harden.

The Significance Of Game Three

Game Three is going to be very important. So important that it will dictate whether Lebron James leaves the Cavs this summer or not.

Don't get me wrong. I don't think the Cavs will win the series. The Warriors are just too darned good. But if the Cavs can win Game 3, then they make the series respectable. Win Game Four and we'll have a proper series.

Cavs Vs. Warriors: Predicting the Sorta Predictable

So, here we are, exactly where we thought we'd be at the start of the season.

Here are some of my predictions for the series.

Game 1 Winner: Like Lebron said, Game 1 is about feeling things out. He's going to use Game 1 to try to gauge just how high he needs to go for them to win the series. Does he need to go Boston series-mode? Or just Raptors series-mode? Either way, don't expect 48minutes of hell from Lebron just yet.

I'm Not Going To Say I Told You So...

But I told you so.

Game 7 Lebron James is real...and he's unreal. And the best way to avoid that juggernaut is to not let the Cavs get to Game 7.

Tonight, Lebron's numbers may not be as gaudy compared to other games (35 points on 50% shooting, 15 rebounds, 9 assists) but he was definitely everything the Cavs needed him to be.

Three Thoughts Midway Through The First Round

We’re halfway through the first round of the NBA Playoffs and some things aren’t exactly what we thought they would be while some were exactly what we thought they’d be.

That being said, here are three thoughts as we go into the backend of the first round:

THOUGHT #1: Can anyone beat the Cavs?

Right now, it’s looking like no one can. Lebron James and his cohorts have been able to find ways to win, even though it hasn’t been pretty. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love have their moments but the Cavs are fueled by the will of King James and right now, no one can match him.

Extra thought: Kyle Korver was supposed to be the piece that would make the Cavs near invincible. So far, he’s been outplayed by the likes of Richard Jefferson and Iman Shumpert.

Why Stephen Curry Won the MVP Award In a Landslide.

We’re one month into the new season and some people are still talking about whether Stephen Curry or James Harden was last year’s most valuable player. Add the fact that James Harden won the MVP award from the NBPA Awards and you’ve got a controversy that just refuses to die.

Now, whenever people talk about MVP candidates, the conversation inevitably turns into personal production. And why shouldn’t it? After all, the Most Valuable Player Award of the NBA is defined as the award that goes to the “best performing player of the regular season”. So, simplistically, the player with the best stat line should win the Most Valuable Player Award. 

The problem starts when you have to evaluate what seem to be equally sterling regular season performances against each other. Take, for example, the top three vote getters for the NBA MVP in 2014-2015.

PLAYER	PPG	APG	RPG	STEALS	THREES	3P%	FT%
Stephen Curry	23.8	7.7	4.3	2.4	286 (NBA record)	44.3	91.4
James Harden	27.4	7	5.7	1.9	208	37.5	87
Lebron James	25.3	7.4	6	1.6	120	35.4	71

Now, while eventual MVP winner Stephen Curry has a distinct edge in three pointers made, three-point percentage and free throw percentage and a slight edge in assists per game and steals per game, are those really enough to say that he was the clear cut most valuable player among the three?

NBA FREE AGENCY: Let The Frenzy Begin

It's almost time for the madness called the NBA free agency period. This year's edition promises to be an exciting one, as several marquee players are set to hit free agency. That being said, here are some things to keep in mind over the next couple of days.

THE SURPRISES
LaMarcus Aldridge being so determined to leave the Blazers - One of the truly surprising developments leading up to the free agency period was the decision of Aldridge to leave the Blazers, no matter what. He isn't even  giving them a chance to make an offer first. He just moved on to setting up talks with new teams. My guess is Aldridge did not like the perception that the Blazers are  Lillard's team, so he's out there looking for a team to be "his". And this is a team that made strong playoff runs the last two years, with Aldridge loggin in back to back 40 point games last year against a strong Rockets team.

Greg Monroe unwanted by the Pistons - Really? A young, strong, skilled center who averaged 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds is someone the Pistons doesn't want? Either they know something I don't (which is extremely possible) or Stan Van Gundy has lost his mind. If he really is a misfit int he system Van Gundy wants to install, then do a sign and trade, get a good stretch four like Ryan Anderson for him. If they just let Monroe walk away and sign with (heaven forbid) the New York Knicks, the Pistons will be kicking themselves all season long, especially after Melo and Monroe kick the Pistons' butts over and over again.

NBA FINALS: Predictions for Game 3

Yes, it's 1-1. The Cavs stole homecourt advantage from the Warriors with a pulsating win in overtime (again) 95-93.

This time, Lebron James notched a triple double, with a god-like stat line of 39 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists. Matthew Dellavedova delivered on some key free throws and spot on defense, forcing Steph Curry into an airball with 4.4 seconds left in overtime.

So does this spell the end for the Warriors?
A championship (finally) for the Cavs?
The start of a Cavaliers dynasty?

Lebron Steals Melo's Thunder...Again.

So who's talking about Melo now? Right, nobody.

And all it took was for Lebron James to do the exact same thing Carmelo Anthony did, which is to opt out of his contract and start a recruiting frenzy.

That means Melo will have to do something extraordinary just to get the attention he craves. Changing teams would do it, especially if Lebron James stays in Miami.

Of course, if Lebron James goes to another team, then whatever Carmelo Anthony is relegated to a side story...again.

Olympic Basketball: A Preview Part I

So here we are at the quarterfinal round of the Basketball Tournament of the London Olympics. This is the start of the knock out phase so it's "loser-foes-home" time.

The matchups have been finalized so let's take a quick look at what we can expect tonight.

Oh-lympics: Basketball

Highlights of the exhibition match between Argentina and Team USA.

Greatest Sports Commercials: Dwight Howard vs Lebron James For a Big Mac

I was wrong. This remake of the Larry Bird/Michael Jordan classic was just as amazing.
And I love the ending.

DHoward: Who's that?
LJames: I have no idea.

Heat Beats Celtics Again!

In the first half of Game 2, the Heat were Dwayne Wade's team.
In the second half, it became Lebron James' team.

James scored 24 of his 35points in the second half, including an 8 point flurry in the third quarter built around 2 consecutive threepointers and a breakaway dunk to leade Miami past Boston 102-91.

Crygate: A New Chapter in the Miami Heat Saga!

And when it rains, it pours.

The Miami Heat find themselves in another kind of scandal when Heat coach Erik Spoelstra remarked the some Heat players were crying in the locker room.

This, of course, touched off a chain reaction of snide remarks from people within the league.

Here are some excerpts from Michael Wallace's ESPN article (after the jump).

Miami Heat Are Falling Apart?

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports writes about the debacle in Miami. Here are some choice excerpts!

James has used the words “fail” and “blame” a lot of times, but seldom in context of his own performances. His idea of accountability has always been his cronies and him nudging you in the direction of the guilty parties – his coach, GM, teammates – but never the global icon in the mirror.


The Heat have two of the best five players in the world, and they still can’t play together when it matters most. Derrick Rose never wanted to play with James, but he welcomed the idea of Wade as his shooting guard.
Four straight losses, and the gulf between James and Wade widens with every embarrassment.


Yes, you live with the consequences. Wade has started to say publicly what he’s been saying privately for a long time: Why don’t I get the ball when it matters? Miami’s no longer his town, and the Heat no longer his team. Didn’t you hear James? It isn’t our team. It isn’t D-Wade’s team.


For the complete article, click the title and follow the link! 

Don't Hate LBJ. Love To Root Against Him.

Great article by Joe Posnanski. Gives us a new perspective on the LeBron James saga.

Click on the title and follow the link!

Is LBJ Anti-Clutch?

Could have won it. Instead, Bulls sweep heat in regular season match ups.

RETRO LBJ!

This is your Celeveland Cavaliers...circa 1975!

LEBRON MISSES WIDE OPEN DUNK!

And it's not like it was in traffic, with a shot blocker in his way or one of those 360, between-the-legs tomahawk types. It's a pretty regular dunk on a fastbreak that LBJ just clanked.