Lakers Now Running on Gas-ol

Lakers Now Running on Gas-ol

 

            With two games under their belt with a healthy starting line-up, the Lakers have looked nothing short of impressive with the return of Pau Gasol. After sitting the Lakers first 11 games due to a sore hamstring, the 7 foot Spaniard Gasol had a very impressive season debut against Chicago posting 24 points, 13 boards (7 on the offensive glass), 3 assists, and a block in 35 minutes of play.  The following game against Oklahoma City, Gasol posted 15 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, while playing only 28 minutes due to the Lakers early lead over the Thunder. Averaging 19.5 points, 10 rebounds, 4.5 assists with a block and only one turnover in his two games back doesn’t begin to show Gasol’s major importance to the success of this team.

            Before the start of the season, the Lakers were one of the teams that were predicted to challenge the Bulls league record of 72-10, but their first 11 games, the chemistry wasn’t there. Kobe was averaging nearly 25 shots per game, and carrying the Lakers on his back, posting three 41-point outings in the span of four games. Ron Artest was looking passive; while Trevor Ariza was averaging career high’s across the board, wondering whether the Lakers front office had made the right decision to let the younger Ariza go.  Artest momentarily hushed critics when he posted his first double digit back to back games in two overtime victories against Oklahoma City and, ironically, Houston, with a clutch three pointer in the closing seconds of regulation followed by who else, but Trevor Ariza. Yet, something was still wrong. Posting an unimpressive record of 8-3 before Gasol, this team just didn’t seem as dominant as it was predicted to be. What’s even worse, in the three loses following Gasol’s return, Kobe averaged only 19 points a game, a clear message that if Kobe isn’t aiming for 40, the whole team maybe in trouble. In the eight victories, Kobe had to average 35.5 points a game, ironically extremely close to his season average of the 2005-06 season where Kobe saw no help. Enter, Gasol

            Gasol impact on this team is irreplaceable. A savvy Spaniard that can practically do anything with the basketball, literally! Since I’ve seen him on the team, I’ve seen him hit a three pointer before the end of the half (off an assist from Kobe), I’ve seen him run the fastbreak, and do practically anything else asked from him in a dominant fashion. It’s safe to say the last two games, and Gasol’s first two, have been extremely dominant from the get go, beating the Thunder and the Bulls by an average of 15.5 points. The same Thunder team that fought for 53 minutes before the Lakers finally wiggled free for a victory in overtime.

            The ironic thing about those two victories isn’t the end score, or even Gasol’s impressive numbers, but once again, Kobe’s numbers. In the last two blowouts, Kobe’s averaged only 23.5 points a game, but it’s increase in numbers across the stat sheet that has been impressive. Since Pau’s return, Kobe has shared the rock on his way to averaging 7.5 assists and rebounds a game. Prior to Gasol, Kobe’s highest assists game was 5. In the two games with Gasol, Kobe equaled his rebounds and assists if you add up his 5 games before Gasol’s return. That shows once again, how rare of a basketball player Pau Gasol is.

What Gasol brings to the team cannot be described by just the stats under his own name.  His ability to raise his teammates to such great heights has been remarkable. In his first season with the Lakers, he led them to the Finals, and in his first full season with the Lakers, he led them to the ultimate prize. Fortunately for Laker fans, the dominant big is back in the pain. The three-peat years saw the Lakers run on the Diesel, but since then the Lakers have been more energy efficient. The Lakers train will go, as far as Gas-ol takes them. 

Young Money Cash Money

Young Money

 

Brandon Jennings has made 8 teams look real bad for not drafting the “risky” lefty straight out of Italy, but has sparked hope in the depleted city of Milwaukee after just 7 games. Self-proclaimed “Young Money,” which is tattooed on Brandon’s back, has been nothing BUT money since his debut about two weeks ago. Drafted 10^th overall to the Milwaukee Bucks, Jennings stock dropped from the number 1 ranked prospective college freshman, to a very risky 10^th pick. The flat-topped Compton bred rookie was notorious even before his first NBA practice, showing up late on draft day, and his controversial conversation with grade-B rapper Joe Budden, sparking even more skepticism from the critics.

            Jennings so far has looked like a man on a mission. After “franchise” player Michael Redd went down with an injury, Jennings has carried the whole city of Milwaukee on his back.  After 7 games into the season, the Bucks boast a very impressive record of 5-2. Sure, the competition has been weak, but this IS the Bucks we are talking about, who had a record of 33-47 last season. This time last year, they had a record of 3-4, with a healthy Michael Redd and Richard Jefferson. Jennings’s debut into the NBA was a special one, one rebound and one assist shy of hitting the record books joining a little someone known as Oscar Robinson, as the only two players to record triple doubles in their debut games. Six games later, Jennings rewrites the record books himself, fewest games into an NBA season with a 50 point game. It seemed the previous 50 year old record help by Wilt Chamberlain would be untouched, till the lefty from Compton “Young Money” swished seven 3 pointers to go along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists while shooting a blistering 62 percent from the field. The other four rookies to score at least 55 in one game went on to win Rookie of the Year honors, as well as being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. On top of that, Jennings is only the second player in NBA history to score at least 50 before his 21^st birthday, joining The King himself Lebron James.

            That’s all good company to be in, ESPECIALLY when your talking basketball. Brandon Jennings’s has slowly transformed from controversial teenager, to taking his place among NBA royalty. Leading all rookies in points (25.6), assists (5.1), three-point field goal percentage (.567), as well as minutes (33.9), it’s hard to believe any other rookie really has a chance to win Rookie of the Year. It seemed like a close race with Jennings’s and Tyreke Evans of the Sacramento Kings, but all everyone seems to be saying nowadays is “Tyreke who?”

            It’s also nice to see how mature and NBA ready Brandon really was, despite well-deserved criticism. Following his historic night, Jennings’s said, “I guess I was in that zone, you know? But that doesn’t happen without (Andrew) Bogut down low, scoring in the post and opening things up for me. I’m not doing this alone here.” The kid is a natural born leader, quickly praising his teammates for his own success. The selfless Jennings’s is single handedly resurrected Milwaukie as a basketball city. Rather than declaring himself Rookie of the Year, as Stephen Curry of the Warriors did, or be given Rookie of the Year without playing one NBA game, as Blake Griffen was, Jennings simply brushed it off. “Really, I’m not thinking about that at all. What I want is to keep this team winning, and get the Bucks to the playoffs. That’s what everyone wants here.” Born for superstardom, I have a feeling this won’t be the last time Young Money Brandon Jennings’s name will appear in the record books.

            

What if...

What if…

            So my buddy and I were talking a little while ago about the past few championships and the argument over the last two specifically came up. He’s a hardcore Celtics fan (I say he’s a bandwagonner, he says he’s loved them since the Paul Peirce/Antoine Walker days of jacking up three pointers) and I’m a hardcore Lakers fan (he says I’M the bandwaggonner, when I’m just supporting my home team since the day I’ve been born.)

            Anyway, he goes on to say that the only reason the Celtics didn’t win last year was because the usually durable Garnett had a serious knee injury and couldn’t play. My argument was Celtics shouldn’t have even won 2 years ago cause if Bynum was healthy my Lakers would have taken it all. The Lakers were two games away from winning the title, WITHOUT Bynum, I think my argument made more sense.

            Regardless, it got me thinking. Yeah yeah I understand that injury is an every day thing in life, specifically in a pro athletes life. But hypothetically, how different would the NBA be today had their been absolutely no injuries. The line of championships would definitely be different, leaders would be different, and players would be different…

            The obvious one is the last two championships. Boston lost to the eventual Eastern Conference Champs Orland Magic without their undeniable intense leader Kevin Garnett in 7 games. 7 games! Chances are they would have made the finals and given the Lakers a run for their money had Garnett been healthy.

            Same goes for the Lakers of two years ago. They coasted their way to the Finals. Losing a game or two on the way. They went to the Finals with no Ariza and no Bynum. Ariza isn’t brought up to be much of a difference maker then, but we all know we couldn’t have done it the 2009 season without the energetic sparkplug. Through it all, Bynum was definitely missed. Garnett and Kendrick Perkins had their ways with Pau Gasol, throwing “Ga-soft” around like it was Glen “Big Baby” Davis’ ego. Who knows how it would have turned out with a healthy Lakers line-up…

            Now is where it gets more interesting. It’s a shame to even think what the league would be like if Grant Hill had never hit the injury bug. Here is a guy who was at one point in his career considered “the next Michael Jordan.” Chosen third overall in the 1994 NBA draft after leading Duke to the championship game, Hill went on to average staggering numbers of 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1.77 steals a game his rookie year. Let me say that again, his ROOKIE YEAR! His first two years he led the All-Star Fan balloting, becoming the first rookie in sports history to do so, and even edging out unretired Michael Jordan in his second year.  Also in his second year, he led the league in triple doubles (10), and won an Olympic gold medal, leading the team in steals. His 1996-97 season was when Hill really began to tap into his potential. Averaging 21.4 points a game, 9 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.8 steals a game. Joining Larry Bird as the only two players to ever average 20, 9 and 7 in one season, and leading the league in triple doubles again with 13. In 1999-2000, Hill showed he is also a prolific scorer, averaging 25.8 points a game while shooting 49 percent from the field. The 2000 playoffs were the begin of an end to Hill’s dominance. After being traded to Orlando, Hill averaged a little less than 16 games over the next three seasons, and even sitting out the entire fourth season. Since then, Hill has fought his way back into the league, despite his overwhelming number of injuries stunting his potential growth as one of the greatest to ever play the game. It’s scary to think what Hill could have become considering in his first 6 seasons in the league, Grant had totaled 9,393 points, 3,417 rebounds, and 2,720 assists. An elite club that only Oscar Robertson and Larry Bird join Hill in.

            This would all be a dream, it’s just an interesting thought to keep you thinking. What if Tracy McGrady had a healthy career, teaming up with a healthy Yao Ming and the young core the Rockets have. Would Karl Malone ever have won his ring that he deserved had he stayed healthy his last season with the Lakers? Was Greg Oden’s career over before it even started due to his microfracture surgery before his traditional rookie season?

            Injuries are inevitable sometimes, and don’t wish injury upon any athlete, but they are apart of the risk of any sport you participate in, especially against the best  athletes in the world. For my sake and all Laker fans, we have not gotten to the best start regarding injuries (Pau, Bynum…) and the Celtics have been fairly healthy (not counting Big Baby), but as history has shown us time and time again, it’s going to be a long season.

The Big Clog

The Big Clog

            Shaquille O’Neal is set in stone for the hall of fame. There is no denying that. The 15 time All Star’s resume consists of 1 MVP award, Rookie of the Year, 3 All-Star Game MVP’s, 3 finals MVP’s (6 finals appearances), 2 scoring titles, while ranking 5^th all time in points, 15th in rebounds, and 7^th in blocks. Roll that up into one of the most entertaining basketball players of all time and you got yourself the Big Diesel.

            Unfortunately, after a nasty divorce with the Lakers (lets not get into that right now) Shaq went on to win another title in Miami. The following year though, was an injury plagued one for O’Neal, and was eventually traded again to the Phoenix Suns. After two consecutive visits to the Western Conference finals and a second round exit, the Suns believed that swapping Shawn Marion for O’Neal was their missing piece to an NBA championship. Only, their whole identity for which they were known for had become somewhat ambiguous.  Rather then have O’Neal integrate himself into the system, the Sun’s system had to integrate itself into Shaq’s liking. Were they still the run-and-gun team that helped them in their deep playoff runs? Not really, not with Shaq. Where they a half court team that would run plays? Not very well. After a full year with “The Big Cactus,” Phoenix missed the playoffs for the first time in 5 years.

            The Shaquille O’Neal experiment in Phoenix was definitely a failure. Shaq continued to reach his individual accolades, slowly climbing his way on the all time scoring list, and sharing MVP honors at the All-Star game, ironically, with Kobe Bryant, but couldn’t lead Phoenix to even an 8^th seed. Now here comes the interesting part. After little success in Phoenix, O’Neal is dealt to Cleveland.

            A ring for the king has been Shaq’s motto since becoming “the new 7 foot kid in town,” but at this rate, Lebron James has got a better chance winning a ring elsewhere, which is good news for the hungry teams with cap space in 2010. It’s ironic how Phoenix has done so well before Shaq arrived, terribly with his presence, and now, is thriving with him out of the line-up. Now lets move over to the Cavs, a team that boasted a 67 win record last year while only losing 2 home games all year. Their current record is 4-3, with two of those losses already being at home.

            Shaq was brought over for the main purpose to clog the lane when defending big centers such as Dwight Howard, whom the Cavs lost to on their way to the NBA finals last year; that is exactly what he’s doing, clogging the lane. Lebron and Shaq have two of the most magnetic personalities in the NBA off the court, yet on the court, I don’t see their chemistry evolving into wins. Shaq takes away from Lebron anytime he scores. The middle is clogged by an overage, overweight center way past his prime. Just like the Suns, Cleveland was one step away from the NBA finals, and unfortunately for Lebron and the whole city of Cleveland, it’s going to learn the hard way that the Big Clog, Shaquille O’Neal, is not the answer.

The Scorching Suns

The Scorching Suns

            “In this offense every night it’s going to be someone different.” Phoenix Suns guard Jason Richardson, who bounced back from a scoreless game to score a season high 34 points and ten rebounds. That’s the way it has been for this refreshed and rejuvenated Sun’s team, who not too long ago flirted year after year with the idea of a run at the NBA title. Thing’s went downhill with the acquisition of Shaq and the departure of Shawn ”The Matrix” Marion and run and gun head coach Mike D’Antoni. After a turbulent year under succeeding head coach Terry Porter, the Sun’s reverted back to their old style. Firing Porter and replacing him with Alvin Gentry and shipping Shaq out to Cleveland, the Sun’s extended Steve Nash’s contract in hopes he still had some gas left in the tank.

            Nash is really aging like fine wine. The 35 year old is averaging 19 points and a league leading 11 assists a game. Not including his recent 17-assist game against the Wizards. He also contributed 20 assists in a recent rout over the Warriors. The Sun’s are going back to their old run-and-gun style but it’s too early to give that to be their identity just yet. Joining two time MVP Nash is micro fracture survivor Amar’e Stoudamire, Grant Hill, Jason Richardson, and Leandro Barbosa.

            The blazing hot Sun’s are off to their best start, 6-1, in franchise history. Their only loss comes at the hands of the defending Eastern Conference Champions Orlando Magic, but their impressive record already include victories over the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. All players are contributed in every category for the wins. In their most recent victory over the Wizards, four of the five starters finished with double doubles, and the one that didn’t, J-Rich, led the scoring with 22 points.

            It’s much too early to give this team consideration for the title, despite the fact that their first place in the Western Conference standings. But it may be time to consider them in the NBA’s elite. You have the stereotypical 5 of Boston, Orlando, San Antonio, Cleveland, and Los Angeles, but the Nuggets and Suns seem to be right their, with Cleveland and San Antonio not living up to the preseason standard that was set for them.

            Quality old wine can really separate a good gathering and a bad gathering, and with Nash aging like wine, the pass first point guard is proving, that age ain’t nothing but a number.

No Answer in Memphis

No Answer in Memphis

            A legacy is being destroyed in Memphis, as Allen Iverson has asked for a leave of absence from the Memphis Grizzlies, the only team that took a chance on the fiery guard. After missing all of preaseaon and the first couple of games, Iverson returns from a hamstring injury only to complain after the game because of how long “his butt” sat on the bench. 1 game?! Really A.I.? This is the same Iverson that was my favorite player growing up, because you knew he was a warrior. Usuallly one of the smallest players on the court, yet he weaved his way in and out which led to his career scoring average of 27.1, most among active players.

            Allen’s resume speaks for itself. A.I started his career in Philadelphia, drafted number 1 overall after spending a year in Georgetown. After winning Rookie of the Year honors and leading his team in minutes, points, and assists, Iverson would go on to make 10 straight All-Star appearances, winning numerous scoring titles and multiple All-Star MVP’s and even a league MVP, while leading his team to the NBA Finals.  Iverson was eventually delt to the Denver Nuggets, where him and Carmelo were the first two players on the same team to average over 25 a game since Pippen and Jordan. Unfortuanatly, after that experiment couldn’t pull Denver out of the first round, Iverson was sent over to the Pistons in exchange for Chauncy Billups. Which eventually led to a tumultuous year in Detroit which Iverson would go on to name, “the worst of his career.” Little did he know how much more rainy it is in Memphis.

            Iverson, even after the infamous “practice rant”, the number of controversial incidents, was always a fan favorite, proving to us its not about the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog. Iverson bled basketball, and dedicated himself towards winning. Through all of this, Iverson is tarnishing his NBA legacy. It hurts me to see a future hall of famer, in my opinion, go out like this.

            In my eyes, Iverson definitely is slower, but has not lost his step. In only 22 minutes off the bench, he’s shooting near 58% while averaging 12.3 points and 3.7 assists a game. That’s a very good percentage for a shooting guard that is shooting a career percentage of 42 percent, but also a league leading average of 41 minutes per game is what’s killing Iverson inside. That soldiers still got game, theirs no denying that, but at this point, will any team take a risk on him? The Lakers could really use a boost in the point guard position but already having the combustible Artest on the team just may be enough. And as we saw last year with Stephon Marbury, Boston is will to take the chance to get better, but it doesn’t look like they really need much help after Rasheed Wallace came in. Regardless, would Iverson ever accept a bench role, even for the greater good of winning? Something Gary Payton did in the last year of his career with Miami to finally get that ring he deserves, and theirs no denying it, Iverson deserves a ring.

            Ego can really ruin a career. Rumor has it Iverson is gone for good from Memphis, and it would be terrible to miss out on some of the spectacular plays  Iverson does night in and night out that brings the crowd to their feet. Iverson has always been in the center of controversy, but has always had basketball to turn to. What happens now that basketball is the controversy?

NBA Thus Far

NBA Thus Far

            With only three or so games gone so far in this young but exciting NBA season, already many things have come as a surprise. The Lakers aren’t going 82-0, but the Magic, Celtics, Heat, Nuggets, and Suns (seriously) still have a chance, all boasting undefeated records. Blake Griffin got injured…but he’s a Clipper and a first round pick, so that doesn’t come as much of a surprise, and much more, in this editions: Around the NBA…

            I recently read a stat that blew my mind, Carmelo Anthony, has played 114 minutes this season, and has scored 111 points. Now I understand, it’s not all about points to be considered an MVP candidate, (ie: Kobe averaging a near 36 a game a few seasons back) but ‘Melo is averaging 37.7 points, to go along with 4.3 assists, 7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals a game, while shooting a sizzling 54 percent from the field and has looked close to unstoppable in the Nuggets three victories, especially down the stretch. If the season were to end today, ‘Melo would walk away with the league’s MVP…

            All this talk about Blake Griffin has really been unfair to other rookies who are making a name for themselves in the NBA. One that has made sure to be included in the Rookie of the Year conversation is Brandon Jennings. In his debut NBA game, Jennings put up numbers of 17, 9 & 9. The only player to averages numbers even close to that in their debut NBA game was Oscar Robinson.  Jennings is averaging 20.5, 5.5 boards and 6 dimes with 1.5 steals and an efficient 52 percent from the field. Don’t be surprised to see Jennings, the Bucks leading assist and scorer, carry a majority of the load throughout the season, especially now with Michael Redd out at least two weeks nursing that injured knee.

            Rajon Rondo and the Celtics agreed in principle to a deal worth an estimated 55 million for 5 years. That’s better news for the Celtics than it is for Rondo, having locked up their triple threat point guard who definitely would have made big money in the 2010 free agency sweepstakes. Speaking of the 2010 free agency market…

            The Cavaliers have started out the season in a weak fashion, which is bad news for the city of Cleveland, and good news for the rest of the league. Lebron is the leading point, assist, and rebound man on his team, proving that any offseason acquisitions by the Cavs are not helping lessen the load on Lebron’s shoulders for an NBA titles. The Cav’s are definitely sweating about losing their superstar, who will be joining the likes of Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming, and many other superstarts. The teams fighting for the most salary cap room are the Knicks, Grizzlies, and the team that Cleveland should be most afraid of…

            The New Jersey Nets are flying under the radar until the 2010 market, where they are guaranteed to land at least one big name. Recently purchased by Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, money is not going to be much of an issue for this team, who already has young building blocks in Brook Lopez and Devin Harris. Not only is this team planning on moving to Brooklyn, New York, the big market that Lebron has been asking for, but rapper Jay-Z is also part time owner of the Nets. The same Jay-Z that has a developed friendship with Lebron, even going as far to record a rap song defending James in his feud with Washington’s DeShawn Stevenson. I still have my money on Lebron staying in Cleveland, but the Nets are definitely going to be one of the first to be knocking on Lebron’s door come 2010.