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Joining us this month are Dionne Miller of ABC7 Chicago, just back from Arizona, to talk Spring Training and a some Bears football. Jeff Rich chimes in on NBA hoops, and Adam Lucas, UNC beat writer from GoHeels.com previews the Duke-Carolina game and the ACC Tournament for us.
Don’t miss cameos from Pat Hughes and Bill Raftery.
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The Sports Report with Packer Davealong with Steve Leventhal, Jeff Rich, and John Poulter. Our guest Ryan Leong, who covers sports for AP in the Bay Area joins us to preview the 2018 NBA Finals. Steve and Dave discuss the Bears offseason training camp. Cleveland native Jeff also chimes in on the NBA Finals. Lastly, John covers the NHL Stanley Cup Finals as well as updates us on Major League Baseball and European soccer.
Hear audio from Bears coaches Matt Nagy and Vic Fangio, plus Lars Eller of the Washington Capitals. Don’t miss a cameo from Packers broadcaster Wayne Larrivee.
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To understand a Cleveland fan, or just the sports landscape of the city itself, out-of-town and national writers must feel obligated to offer up the preamble. Before any success can be achieved or any praise be given, we must be reminded of the failure, or is it failures? It seems like either could work, and we’ve reached the point where we’ve got a preamble to the preamble.
It starts along the lines of, “Cleveland fans don’t want to see this, but…” Then, we’re reminded of our history. It’s just the bad stuff, but that’s really only because all of the bad stuff prevented any of the good stuff from happening. Such is life, with the 2015 NBA Finals, or so it would seem, but first, let’s get everyone caught up on what we’re talking about.
Sometimes, it starts in 1954, in Game 1 of the World Series, and sometimes they don’t go further back than 1980, when Brian Sipe called the dreaded Red Right 88 play in the huddle. There are some legitimate takedowns, by legends of the game, and there are some really messed up things mixed in, the type of messed up things that only happen to Cleveland.
Vic Wertz batted .500 in the 1954 World Series, and went 4-for-5 in Game 1, a home run shy of the cycle. His first inning triple plated the only two runs the Tribe would score against the New York Giants, but the focus is always more about the one time he was retired in the game. In the top of the eighth with runners on first and second in a tie game, he belted one to the deepest part of the Polo Grounds, high over the head of Willie Mays.
Of course, Mays made a historical defensive play. Nobody scored in the inning, and Dusty Rhodes knocked a Bob Lemon pitch over the right field wall for a 5-2 Giants win. They went on to get swept in the best-of-seven series, and the franchise would not make another postseason appearance for 41 years.
That was “The Catch”.
I can’t really tell you the story of the 1980 Cleveland Browns, champions of the AFC Central Division. Their quarterback, Brian Sipe, was the league MVP, and the team’s insistence of playing (and winning) close games earned them the nickname “The Kardiac Kids”. In the coldest game ever played at Cleveland Stadium, the Browns trailed the Oakland Raiders 14-12 in the divisional round of the playoffs with under a minute remaining.
“Kick the field goal,” the hindsight advice of fans old enough to have lived it, for Sam Rutligliano, the Browns head coach at the time. It wasn’t quite that simple though. The Browns were a mess kicking the football; they’d left as many as ten points off the scoreboard that day, between missed kicks, a block, and a botched snap. On the 13 yard-line they had time. Legend has it the play, Red Right 88, was called with a specific stipulation that if Ozzie Newsome was not wide open, Sipe was to throw the ball into Lake Erie.
He didn’t throw it into the lake. He threw it to Mike Davis, who unfortunately played for the Raiders. Game over, and the Raiders went on to win the Super Bowl
I’ll be brief. John Elway versus the Browns, with a trip to the Super Bowl hanging in the balance. The first one was in Cleveland, in January 1987. Bernie Kosar hit Brian Brennan for six, and the Browns led 20-13 with less than six minutes to play. The Broncos fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Elway had to operate, starting at his own 2. It took them 15 plays, and there were 39 seconds on the clock when he hit Mark Jackson from 5 yards out to set up the inevitable game-tying extra point. They faced third down just three times, Elway scrambled twice for 20 of the 98 yards they had to cover, and though he was actually sacked by Dave Puzzuoli on the drive, he hit Jackson for 20 yards on the next play. It was 3rd and 18 at that point, it was that kind of drive.
We know the pill as “the pill”. This was “The Drive”.
A year later, the venue changed. The Browns were in Denver with the same stakes, one year later. The Broncos seemed well in control of this one, through the first 30 minutes of play, leading 21-3. It didn’t look as though this game was destined for the type of dramatic finish we’d seen the year before. However, Bernie Kosar, Earnest Byner, and the Browns came to life in the second half. Byner accounted for 187 yards of total offense, and scored two of the team’s four second half touchdowns.
Near the end of regulation, Byner’s 15th carry of the day was a draw play from the Denver 8 yard-line. He went left, where Webster Slaughter should have paved the path for Byner to get his third score of the day, but Slaughter decided to be an observer, instead of a blocker, giving Jeremiah Castille the chance to make a great play. He stripped the ball, and if you weren’t pulling for the Browns, there was probably something poetic about Elway and the Broncos at their own 2, the spot on the field where history began the year prior.
So, that’s “The Fumble”, but maybe not the ultimate fumble. People in Philly might recall a game involving Herm Edwards at The Meadowlands. The Browns and Broncos also met in the 1990 AFC Championship, but that particular Browns season-ending disappointment didn’t have a defining moment, not one worthy of a well-known nickname anyway.
In most of these cases, the blame falls on a player that Cleveland wouldn’t have been there without. Okay, nobody is blaming Vic Wertz for Mays making that miraculous catch, but that was the only time the Giants kept him off base all day. He even hit a leadoff double in the top of the tenth, but they couldn’t get him home. The Browns’ Dawg Pound defense had held Elway and Company to 216 yards, a number matching Cleveland’s primary area code, before yielding 158 yards between “The Drive” and overtime. We’ve detailed Byner’s great game; it’s a shame that it’s always forgotten.
File this one under “Made out to be a bigger deal than it actually is”. The year was 1989; the Cavs were the 3 seed in the East, facing 6th-seeded Chicago. Craig Ehlo had 24 points, but his final points came on a lay-up with 3 seconds left, which put the Cavs on top of the Bulls 100-99 in a decisive Game 5 (of the opening round).
Michael Jordan split through Larry Nance and Ehlo to receive the inbound pass from Brad Sellers on the right wing. Ron Harper gave chase, but his momentum carried him towards the sideline, so it was up to Ehlo to stay with Jordan. Jordan dribbles twice to his left, double-clutches, and hits from the top of the key. Bulls win, 101-100.
Now, Jordan absolutely terrorized the Cavaliers his entire career, and I’ve seen enough Nike and Gatorade commercials to understand that was a defining moment for Mike, but for the Cavs? Not really. Chicago would defeat New York in the conference semifinals, but couldn’t get past Detroit.
Now, I’m one to get upset at anyone that automatically dismissed any chance the Browns would have been able to beat Parcells and the Giants in Super Bowl XXI, if not for the drive, but those Cavs weren’t beating the Knicks or Pistons. No way. That was “The Shot”, positively devastating in the moment, and obviously a great moment in Jordan’s career, but some perspective should remind us, this was an opening round loss. It would be many years in the future before the Cavs would directly or indirectly stick the dagger in the heart of the Cleveland fan.
In Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, Indians manager Mike Hargrove needed Jose Mesa to get three outs, to protect a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the ninth in Miami. The Marlins plated the tying run, before Mesa could get the third out. He got the hook in the tenth, and then Edgar Renteria singled off Charles Nagy in the 11th, scoring Craig Counsell, and giving Florida their first World Championship in baseball.
For four years, Cleveland connected Art Modell and Lebron James, as the names sat as 1 and 1a on the list of public enemies on the North Coast. Modell took the one thing that Cleveland has always loved the most, their beloved Browns, to Baltimore in 1996, after a struggle with the city of Cleveland over stadium renovations. James left the Cavs in Cleveland, but took his talents to South Beach, and he did it in a tasteless matter on ESPN.
Modell passed a few years ago, with a Super Bowl ring, but the clock ran out on any thought of redemption from the city where he spent 35 years of his life. He was exiled from the area, when rumors of “The Move” began in November of 1995.
On July 11, 2014, in a very classy manner, Lebron told the world he was returning to Cleveland. He didn’t promise a championship, something he did in first go-round with the team, and didn’t deliver. When he left for Miami, he was called a quitter, both for his performance in Game 5 of the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals and for leaving before making good on his stated goal. When he announced his return, he charmed even the cynics who didn’t claimed they didn’t want him back.
So, he’s back, back in the good graces of the fans and back in the NBA Finals. This is his fifth straight year in the Association’s championship series. He didn’t do it alone, something that can certainly be said about the island he was on in his first seven years with the Cavs. He replaced, perhaps even upgraded, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade with Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving. Of course, David Griffin should earn some credit for convincing James that a team could be built for him, but it’s very likely that nothing, except maybe the Irving extension, happens without Lebron coming home.
They had their rough patches, but were able to recover and land the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Then, it began in Game 4, with a tug on Kevin Love’s left arm. Love, out for the remainder of the playoffs. He was big in that Boston series; they might not have swept that series, against a really dismal Celtics team, if not for his contribution.
As the playoffs went on, a lot of the regulars got banged up. Iman Shumpert’s shoulder was a problem. James hurt just about everywhere, but promised there was no chance of him missing time in this postseason. Kyrie Irving had a foot injury, then a knew injury. He was able to sit for a few games in the Eastern Conference Finals, as Atlanta posed no threat to beat Cleveland, even without Irving on the floor.
Head coach David Blatt gave Irving some minutes in Game 4 of the Conference Finals, where he logged 22 points in a 118-88 series clinching win over the Hawks, before an 8-day layoff, leading up to Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
In an Opening Night loss to the Knicks, the Cavs started James, Anderson Varejao, Love, Irving, and Dion Waiters. James will play in Game 2 of the Finals. Dion Waiters was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the middle of the season, and the other three will likely be in street clothes due to injury for the remainder of the series.
In Kevin Smith’s clerks, our main character tells anyone that will listen that he’s not even supposed to be here to day, and that’s how Cleveland has to feel after what went down in Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors. It was a game of runs, pretty much what you’ve come to expect from a couple of championship-caliber teams, but the Cavs had a golden opportunity with 24 seconds left and the game tied at 98. With Lebron James on your side and an opportunity to score as time ran out, you had to like Cleveland’s chances. Lebron had 42 at that point.
It was a bad possession. James found himself pinned against the sidelines on the left wing, and took an ill-advised jumper with 3 seconds left. Shumpert grabbed the rebound and heaved the rock at the rim, and we’ll tell you, it almost went in! In reality, it missed and we got 5 minutes of bonus basketball in Oakland.
The extra period belonged to the home team. They outscored the Cavs 12-2, basically shutting them out until a meaningless lay-up from James in the final minute. Yes, Cleveland played a poor five minutes of basketball, but losing the game may not have been the top story, and that’s saying a lot for a championship series. For a while now, Irving has been playing bent, but not broken. Maybe he was broken, but just not broken enough to be a spectator, this deep into the playoffs. Early in the overtime period on Thursday, he left the floor, in what can only be described as visually unbearable pain. On Friday, it was announced that Irving was not only out for the series, that he’ll require surgery, and will be out for four months.
Down 1-0 in this series, a lot of people are looking at Game 1 as a blown opportunity, and without Kyrie Irving, many are ready to hand Golden State the Larry O’Brien Trophy already. Man, if only that Shumpert heave would have found the bottom of the net! In Cleveland, they’re already trying to figure what to call this episode of the Cleveland Sports Misery tale.
Done in by unworldly performances on the other side of the field, made to regret some gaffes that professional athletes just shouldn’t make, and slighted by damning personal and business decisions, that’s what fills up the misery montage in the present tense. This is different, this is new. You’d almost think it was funny, if it wasn’t so damn sad.
Never have I seen injuries derail a Cleveland team quite like this, and I can’t recall a contending team in any sport lose two of their three best players in a single postseason. Vince Coleman’s tarp accident during the 1985 National League Championship Series comes to mind, but that comparison might be a stretch. There might even be others, but we cannot recall anything as bad as whatever you might label the unfortunate events that have plagued these 2014-2015 Cleveland Cavaliers during these playoffs.
There are a lot of reasons for Cleveland to very pessimistic about all of this, but they should remember #23 is still going to fight. They should remember those years of rooting against him in Miami, and how upset we were when he inevitably got it done for the Heat. He’s still the best, and might be able to will this squad to four wins. To definitively say that will or won’t happen would be a mistake, but it’s hard to bet against Lebron.
It would be foolish to say it isn’t a possibility. He lost twice in Miami, and he’s lost plenty in Cleveland. We’ll tell you something else that is inevitable, we’re going to see a wincing Kevin Love and a limping Kyrie Irving in that montage, if Cleveland and Lebron can’t find a way.
If not, that montage is getting longer, and we already feel it’s too long. Then, you know someone is going to name this latest fiasco. Of course, the alternative is winning, and then we probably won’t see the Cleveland Sports Misery montage at all. That’s a dream 51 years in the making.
on the Weekend Sports Report with Packer Dave and Steve Leventhal…. Steve Kohn, an original cast member of the Bears-Packers Showdown, and former editor of “The Blue Line” joins us along with John Poulter for a discussion of the Stanley Cup Final game one between Chicago and Tampa. Our show includes audio from both team’s head coaches.
Jeff Rich is here to discuss Cleveland’s overtime loss in the first contest of the NBA Finals.
Don’t miss a cameo from Dan Patrick.
on the Weekend Sports Report with Packer Dave and Steve Leventhal…Jeff Rich joins us to break down how the Cleveland Cavs were able to eliminate the Chicago Bulls in game 6 at the United Center. John Poulter previews the Blackhawks – Ducks and Rangers-Tampa Bay NHL conference finals. He also offers his thoughts on the American League East and NL Central races at this time.
Hear post game comments from Dave Blatt of Cleveland, and Tom Thibodeau, who may have coached his last game for the Bulls. Plus thoughts on Tom Brady’s suspension, and the last two weeks of the English soccer season.
Don’t miss a cameo from sportscaster Brent Musburger.
Headline: Cavs eliminate Bulls
From the Chicago Bulls and news wires….
NEW YORK, June 4, 2014 – The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant, the 2013-14 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player and winner of four scoring titles in five seasons, highlights the 2013-14 All-NBA First Team. Durant was the lone unanimous selection, appearing on all 125 ballots as a First-Team pick while LeBron James of the Miami Heat garnered 124 First-Team votes.
Joining Durant and James on the First Team are Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers, James Harden of the Houston Rockets and Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls. Harden and Noah captured First Team honors for the first time in their careers. Paul is an All-NBA First Team selection for the fourth time. Durant makes his fifth appearance on the First Team, while James earned his eighth All-NBA First Team nod.
Durant averaged a career-best 32.0 points to go with 7.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists, also a career high. In capturing his fourth scoring title, he joined Jordan (10), Chamberlain (seven), Gervin (four), and Allen Iverson (four) as the only players in league annals to win at least four scoring titles. He shot .503 from the field, .391 from three-point range, and .873 from the free throw line, leading all players in free throws made (703) and attempted (805). Durant authored two 50-point games, topped the 40-point mark on 14 occasions, and turned in 17 games with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds.
James shot a career-high 56.7 percent from the field this season, marking the seventh consecutive season he has improved his field goal percentage. He connected on 116 three-point field goals, the second straight season he has made over 100 three-point field goals while shooting at least 55 percent from the field. He posted his ninth 2000-point season, becoming only the fourth player in NBA history to accomplish this feat, joining Karl Malone (12), Michael Jordan (11) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9).
Noah, who appeared in 80 of Chicago’s 82 games, ranked sixth in the NBA in rebounding (11.3 rpg), 12th in blocks (1.51 bpg) and added 1.24 steals. He was one of just three players (Detroit’s Andre Drummond and New Orleans’ Anthony Davis) to average at least 10.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals. Behind Noah, the Bulls held opponents to a .430 field goal percentage, second-stingiest in the league.
Paul led the NBA in assists (10.7 apg) and steals (2.48 spg), while averaging 19.1 points and 4.3 rebounds as the Clippers won a franchise-record 57 games. Paul became the seventh player in NBA history to top the 6,000-assist plateau before the end of his ninth season. He’s only the fourth player in NBA history to reach 6,000 assists before his 29th birthday, joining Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas and John Stockton.
Harden finished fifth in the NBA in scoring (25.4 ppg), and added 6.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds. He was one of only two players (LeBron James) to average at least 25.0 points, 6.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds. He finished second in the NBA in free throws made (576), topped the 30-point mark in 24 games and registered two 40-plus outings. Harden also ranked fifth in the NBA in minutes (38.0 mpg).
The All-NBA Second Team consists of guards Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, forwards Blake Griffin of the Clippers and Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves and center Dwight Howard of the Rockets.
The All-NBA Third Team includes the Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard and the Phoenix Suns’ Goran Dragic at guard, the Indiana Pacers’ Paul George and the Trail Blazers’ LaMarcus Aldridge at forward and the Charlotte Hornets’ Al Jefferson at center.
For the first time this season, complete media voting results for each NBA annual award will be posted on nba.com/official following the announcement of each winner. The All-NBA Teams were chosen by a panel of 125 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis. Below are the results of the voting for the 2013-14 All-NBA Teams, with First Team votes in parentheses. The balloting was tabulated by the independent accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP.
2013-14 ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM
Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes) Points
Forward Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City (125) 625
Forward LeBron James, Miami (124) 623
CENTER JOAKIM NOAH, CHICAGO (101) 551
Guard James Harden, Houston (73) 502
Guard Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers (86) 540
2013-14 ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM
Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes) Points
Forward Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers (5) 350
Forward Kevin Love, Minnesota (2) 237
Center Dwight Howard, Houston (9) 226
Guard Stephen Curry, Golden State (65) 489
Guard Tony Parker, San Antonio (14) 210
2013-14 ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM
Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes) Points
Forward Paul George, Indiana (4) 171
Forward LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland (2) 159
Center Al Jefferson, Charlotte (4) 191
Guard Goran Dragic, Phoenix (1) 115
Guard Damian Lillard, Portland (2) 115
Other players receiving votes, with point totals: Carmelo Anthony, New York,86 (1 First Team vote); John Wall, Washington, 70; Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 63 (1); DeMar DeRozan, Toronto, 56; Anthony Davis, New Orleans, 40 (1); Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas, 37 (1); Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 32 (1); Kyle Lowry, Toronto, 29; DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers, 21; Roy Hibbert, Indiana, 17; Marc Gasol, Memphis, 16 (2); DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento, 14 (1); Kyrie Irving, Cleveland, 7; Dwyane Wade, Miami, 6; Mike Conley, Memphis, 4; Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City, 4; Zach Randolph, Memphis, 4; Joe Johnson, Brooklyn, 4; Lance Stephenson, Indiana, 3; Ty Lawson, Denver, 2; Paul Millsap, Atlanta, 2; Chris Bosh, Miami, 1; Andre Drummond, Detroit, 1; Monta Ellis, Dallas, 1; Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio, 1.
We are in the midst of one of the best NBA MVP races in recent history. Kevin Durant and LeBron James are engaged in an epic fight for supremacy. Unfortunately for the rest of the league, it appears both players are going all-in on earning the award. Thus, we are likely going to see more see situations like the one in Charlotte where LeBron personally destroyed the Bobcats franchise. While it is a two-man competition for MVP, it is still important to note the performance of a handful of other players that have had fantastic seasons. So I have decided to formulate my list for the top five MVP candidates this season, including my opinion on who leads the Durant/LeBron debate.
Before we start, here are a few players who are putting together great season but did not crack the top five. I have also included some short notes as to why they did not make my list.
Dirk Nowitzki- Another fantastic year, but his numbers aren’t quite there.
Kevin Love- Crazy-good numbers, bad team.
Carmelo Anthony- Crazy-good numbers, horrendous team.
Dwight Howard- Putting together a great two-way season, but hasn’t been dominant.
As for the Top Five:
5. Stephen Curry
The Numbers:
The Impact:
During his 2010-11 MVP season, Derrick Rose averaged 27.1 points and 7.7 assists per game. Curry has put up very similar numbers this season, carrying the Warriors to a 36-24 record. Curry’s MVP case is aided by the inconsistent play of his supporting cast this season. Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes have failed to make “The Jump” like many expected, leaving Steph to shoulder more of the offensive load for Golden State. In addition to his strong numbers, Curry is one of the most exciting players to watch in the game. Few players around the NBA cause Twitter eruptions like Steph does. Probably because few players can do things like this.
4. Joakim Noah
The Numbers:
The Impact:
Noah’s numbers are solid, but they only tell a fraction of his impact on the Bulls this season. Noah has helped write one of the most unexpected storylines of the year. After losing Derrick Rose and trading Luol Deng, the Bulls appeared destined for the lottery. However, Noah and Head Coach Tom Thibodeau would not let it happen. The Bulls are now 33-27 on the year and have won eight of their last ten games. They will likely end up as the three seed in the Eastern Conference and will be a pain in the ass for the Pacers or Heat to play in the second round. Chicago can thank Joakim Noah for staying relevant in what looked like a lost season.
3. Blake Griffin
The Numbers:
The Impact:
Chris Paul’s injury on January 3 produced a fork-in-the-road moment for the Clippers. Would they hold their ground in his absence and maintain a top seed in the West or would they slip in the standings and end up with an unfavorable playoff matchup? The Clippers needed Blake Griffin to step up in Paul’s absence and lead the team. He produced with flying colors and the Clippers went 13-5 with CP3 out of the lineup. Not only was a Clippers collapse diverted, but Blake established himself as a top MVP candidate. His play has drastically improved from past seasons. Griffin has developed a solid low-post game with multiple moves on the block. He has become a reasonably dependable shooter from mid-range and the foul line, forcing defenders to respect those facets of his game. Finally, while he has always been an above-average passer, the Clippers are allowing him to make plays with the ball in his hands. This is especially evident on the fast-break, as you can see in the following clip.
As for numbers one and two on my list, let us compare the following players:
Player A- 37.3 mpg, 27.5 ppg, 58.3% FG, 38.4% 3FG, 7.0 rpg, 6.4 apg
Player B- 38.4 mpg, 31.6 ppg, 50.7% FG, 39.6% 3FG, 7.7 rpg, 5.6 apg
How the hell do you choose one?
What if we compare memorable moments?
Player A is LeBron James and B is Kevin Durant. The race for MVP, like their numbers, is incredibly close. Durant appeared to have the early lead, putting up video game numbers with Russell Westbrook out of the lineup. However, LeBron has roared back in the last four weeks, including a career-high 61-point face-melter against Charlotte. They are the two best players in the world, playing arguably the best basketball of their respective careers, and doing so on two of the top teams in the NBA.
What makes this race even more enjoyable is the competition level between LeBron and Durant. It seems as if they are fueled by media discussions about who is the MVP. When one player seems to gain an edge, the other responds with a huge game. It’s as if their box scores are battling one another from across the country. As fans, we are the beneficiary of this fantastic theater. It is important that during all of the debating about who is the MVP, we take a step back and enjoy these two players playing the game at unbelievable levels.
Let’s get to it. The MVP standings at this point in the season are…..
2. LeBron James
The Impact:
LeBron is having another phenomenal year. His efficiency has been particularly impressive this season. He is the only non-center with a top five field goal percentage and his 66.2% true shooting mark is second best in the league, per NBA.com. Amid frequent lineup shuffling and injuries, LeBron has been the sole point of consistency for Miami. Now, the Heat are surging, having won nine of their last ten games, and they have the look of a team hunting for the one seed in the East. Thanks to LeBron, they will probably capture it.
1. Kevin Durant
The Impact:
Durant is putting together the strongest all-around season of his career. As I have outlined already this season, Durant’s playmaking and defense have improved drastically. Like Griffin, Durant was put in a position where he had to carry his squad without a key teammate. It was during this period when Russell Westbrook was injured that Durant solidified his MVP case. Despite Westbrook rejoining the lineup in recent weeks, Durant is still putting up monster numbers, averaging 32.6 points per game in the five games since Westbrook has returned. As long as Durant continues to get his 20 field goal attempts per game, he will keep putting up dominant numbers.
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The NBA All-Star Game is supposed to showcase the best talent in the league and reward players who are putting together exceptional seasons. Unfortunately, the 12 most deserving players from each conference are rarely selected to the team, thanks in large part to fan-voting. Before voting concludes on Tuesday, I have put together a roster of the players who should find themselves in New Orleans. The roster I have assembled is based on quality of play rather than a popularity contest. I followed the same selection parameters as the NBA has established. 12 players will be named to each team and I will separate them by frontcourt and backcourt. Here are the players who deserve to wear these god-awful t-shirt jerseys come February 16.
Eastern Conference Starters
Frontcourt: Joakim Noah, LeBron James, Paul George
Backcourt: Dwyane Wade, John Wall
Eastern Conference Reserves
Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Paul Millsap, Roy Hibbert, DeMar DeRozan, Kyrie Irving, Lance Stephenson
Eastern Conference Snubs
Andre Drummond, Kemba Walker, Luol Deng, Brandon Jennings, Arron Afflalo, Jeff Teague
Tough Decisions
1. Noah starting over Hibbert
One may be surprised to find that Roy Hibbert is averaging just 7.8 rebounds per game, more than three less than Joakim Noah. Noah is having another great year, averaging 11.7 points and 11 rebound per game. While he isn’t as good of a low post defender as Hibbert, Noah’s tenacity and athleticism has helped the Bulls stay relevant despite losing Derrick Rose and trading Luol Deng.
2. Bosh being selected over Drummond
Andre Drummond is an absolute beast and his development this season should certainly be recognized. However, his play has been inconsistent at times and his team has struggled throughout the year. On the other hand, Bosh is putting up his typical numbers while shouldering more of the load with Wade frequently out of the lineup in Miami. Moreover, Bosh has hit several game winning shots for the Heat this season. Bosh gets the nod this year.
3. John Wall starting over Kyrie Irving
Both players are phenomenal young talents and their numbers are very similar. Irving does average more points per game, but Wall averages more assists and steals. The decision to start Wall over Irving came down to the success of their respective teams to this point in the season. The Wizards are holding on to the fifth seed while Cleveland is struggling to stay relevant in a depressingly inept Eastern Conference.
Western Conference Starters
Frontcourt: LaMarcus Aldridge, Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant
Backcourt: James Harden, Steph Curry
Western Conference Reserves
Kevin Love, Dwight Howard, Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Damian Lillard, Mike Conley, Goran Dragic
Western Conference Snubs
Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, David Lee, Serge Ibaka, Monta Ellis, Ty Lawson, Tony Parker, Russell Westbrook (Injured), Chris Paul (Injured)
Tough Decisions
1. Blake starting over Kevin Love
Love’s numbers are plain stupid. He is averaging 25 points and 13 rebounds while shooting nearly 40% from three. Griffin’s numbers are not quite as staggering, but they are in the same ballpark. Blake is averaging 22.5 points and 10 rebounds while singlehandedly keeping the poster industry afloat with dunks like this one.
I give Blake the start because he has shown the ability to carry the Clips with CP3 sidelined.
2. Anthony Davis being selected over David Lee
Yes, The Brow missed a few weeks in December due to a broken hand. Still, when on the court, Davis has been fantastic. His numbers are slightly better than David Lee in terms of scoring and rebounding, but the two are truly separated on defense. Davis is becoming a solid all-around defender and is already an exceptional shot blocker. This will be the first of many All-Star Games for The Brow.
3. Mike Conley over Ty Lawson and Tony Parker
The West is flooded with quality point guards. The decision to select Conley over players like Lawson and Parker was based on the success Conley has been able to have despite missing Marc Gasol (Big Spanish) for much of the year. The statistics for many of the “snubbed” guards are similar, but Conley has had to do more with less. Now that they are healthy, I think Conley and the Grizz could go on a big second half run this season.
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This week, I am unveiling the eleven questions whose answers will shape the upcoming NBA season. Here are questions 6-11.
Click here to view part one of this article.
Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov wants a championship and is willing to dip deep into his own pockets to get one. The Nets are reportedly around $30 million over the salary cap and will pay nearly $90 million in luxury tax penalties this season. The Nets tax is astronomically high due in part to several roster moves they made this summer, including a trade with the Celtics that brought back Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry. In addition, the Nets signed Andrei Kirilenko to a mini mid-level exception deal. The Nets veteran roster is loaded with talent, but it also features a handful of players who like to have the ball in their hands at the end of close games. Last season, Joe Johnson and Deron Williams both liked to isolate in these scenarios. Paul Pierce is another player who likes to take the last shot, often pulling up for a jumper from the right elbow in the closing moments. It will be up to first year Coach Jason Kidd to diagram late game offensive sets that take advantage of his roster”s propensity to make clutch shots. Look for Kidd to put the ball in Williams” hands while utilizing Garnett”s ability to set effective (and often illegal) screens off the ball to free up Johnson and Pierce for open shots.
7. Can the Clippers win a title with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan as their starting frontcourt?The addition of Doc Rivers as Head Coach has brought a sense of legitimacy to the Clippers title chances. While Rivers is certainly an upgrade over Vinny Del Negro, the Clippers face glaring problems in their frontcourt that could keep the team from advancing deep in the playoffs. The Clippers frontcourt of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan will certainly produce a number of highlight dunks this season due to their freakish athleticism. However, the two have not utilized their athleticism to become dominant all-around players. Both Griffin and Jordan average under 8.5 rebounds per game, with Griffin”s rebounding totals having dropped each of his three seasons in the NBA. Defensively, Jordan struggles on pick-and-rolls while Griffin has failed to average a single block per game in any season.
On the offensive end, Griffin and Jordan are limited outside of plays at the rim. Jordan”s offensive game is non-existent, as he attempts under 1.5 shots per game outside of three feet. Griffin”s lack of offensive growth is especially frustrating. Teams consistently sag off defensively and allow Griffin to shoot from mid-range. To this point, Griffin has been unable to develop a consistent shot, shooting just 34% on shots further than fifteen feet, . Finally, both Griffin and Jordan struggle mightily from the foul line, shooting 66% and 38.6% respectively. These frighteningly low numbers make playing the two in close games difficult as opposing teams are comfortable fouling either one. Griffin and Jordan will have to make major strides in every facet of the game in order for the Clippers to compete for the title.
One could argue that the 76ers have already sealed up this contest. Philadelphia traded away its best player in Jrue Holiday, and decided to wait until August to hire its head coach. However, teams like the Jazz and Suns have refused to make it easy for the Sixers, constructing teams that will battle for the league”s worst record. These teams are looking to be bad, really bad, in order to lockup a top pick in next year”s draft. The talent in the upcoming draft has been well documented, with potential stars such as Andrew Wiggins, Julius Randle, Dante Exum, and Jabari Parker likely to enter the NBA. Wiggins is considered the number one player and has been discussed as the best prospect since LeBron James. Watching YouTube videos of the Canadian prodigy reveals why. The worst place to be as an NBA franchise is consistently hovering around .500. Tanking a season to land a top pick, especially in the upcoming draft, is the best way to turn around a franchise. Consequently, we could see plenty of random “injuries” for players on struggling teams this season. It will be enjoyable to check the standings each week to see which team is winning the battle for inferiority.
9. How will injured stars look in their return?
Injuries are a part of every season. However, there seemed to be more injuries to star players last season than in recent years. The list of injured players reads like an All-NBA Team: Bryant, Rondo, Love, Westbrook, Rose (technically injured two seasons ago, but missed all of last year), Granger, and Bynum just to name a few. All of these injuries had a significant effect on their respective teams, but Rose and Westbrook appeared to be the biggest losses. Both the Bulls and Thunder were positioned to compete for an NBA championship. While both teams battled, they were each unable to overcome the absence of their star point guards. Rose has had the longest recovery period out of the players mentioned above and is seemingly back and better than ever. On the other hand, Westbrook will likely miss the first six weeks of the season as he recovers from knee surgery. How these fallen stars return from injury will have a definite impact on the NBA landscape.
LeBron James is the best basketball player in the world. Over the last two years, James has won two NBA championships, two Finals MVPs, two regular season MVPs and a Gold Medal. There is no room for argument on the issue. What can be argued is how big the gap is between James and the league”s second best player, Kevin Durant. While LeBron dominated the NBA last season, Durant became just the sixth player in league history to post a 50-40-90 season (shooting 50% from the field, 40% from three, and 90% from the foul line). In addition, Durant made significant strides as a distributer, increasing his assist totals from 3.5 in 2011-12 to 4.7 in 2013-14, . Durant also developed defensively, using his increased strength and supernatural length to improve as both a one-on-one and help defender. James is four years Durant”s senior and is considered at the peak of his powers. However, if Durant continues to add to his game offensively and defensively, the gap between the two may begin to narrow. While Durant may not surpass James as the NBA”s best player this upcoming season, he may very well take that moniker within the next few years. Not only will the battle between the two for league dominance be a treat for basketball fans, but it will also likely shape the future of the NBA.
Over the past three seasons, the Heat have lost one playoff series. That series loss resulted from LeBron James shrinking in big moments. That problem appears to be a thing of the past and the Miami Heat come into this season as overwhelming favorites to three-peat as NBA champions. The biggest question facing the Heat is health. Their rotation is made up of veteran players who have logged some serious mileage including Ray Allen, Shane Battier, and Chris Andersen. Moreover, Dwyane Wade”s knee issues seem to be a problem that will plague him the rest of his career. In the offseason, the Heat made some minor adjustments to their roster. The additions of Michael Beasley and Greg Oden are low-risk, high-reward signings that could provide a spark to this Heat team. If healthy, Oden adds size that Miami will use to match up against teams like Indiana and Chicago.
The Heat will likely coast through the regular season, limiting the Big Three’s minutes and resting older players like Allen and Battier. Miami has nothing to prove in the regular season and the thought of a 27-game win streak seems farfetched. The East will be a top heavy conference this year, with Indiana, Chicago and Brooklyn likely to emerge as legitimate threats to the Heat”s reign. These teams will each have to prove that they have overcome issues that have prevented them from beating Miami in the past. The Bulls will need a consistent secondary offensive option outside of Derrick Rose to emerge. The Pacers will need improved bench play and continued growth from Paul George. The Nets, while showcasing a new look roster, will need to remain healthy and learn to play with one another. If these teams can do this, they have a chance. Still, it remains difficult to imagine a team beating Miami four times in seven games. Not with their experience, not with their defense, and not with LeBron James leading the way.
With the help of John Lucas III and his team high 24 points, the Chicago Bulls overcame the absence of Derrick Rose and 71 combined points from Dwyane Waade and LeBron James to defeat the visiting Miami Heat 106-102.
Lucas made 9-12 shots, including 3 three-pointers as Chicago held off a late Miami rally, which included two clutch treys from the Heat’s James Jones.
Six Bulls players scored in double figures, and two others finished with eight points each. Chicago’s rebounding advantage of 50-34 helped the Bulls build a lead the grew to as much as 17 points.
After the game, both Wade and James answered questions from the media.
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Starting the week of March 23rd, we are going retro – no voice tracks, no safety net – and will be live in the Acid Flashback studios from 10 AM until 2 PM Central Time (11ET, 8 PT). So for folks who have to stay at home during the Covid-19 crisis, you can turn the […]
