No. This is not an attempt to compare any of these guys to Michael Jordan. Nope. That has been beaten, raped, and pillaged to hell and back. This is more of an examination of the talent today that might have a chance to reach Jordan’s status. They are obviously not him and will not surpass him either. The goal is ridiculous anyway. However, getting close to Jordan is possible. It’s not out of the question.
There is a possibility that this might happen. Right now, things look grim. People are trying to remain hopeful. This is not a doom piece, but I usually go about expecting the worst out of everything. That’s life because when things go right, there is nothing to complain about. With that in mind, let’s pretend that the season is done. It’s over. Now what? The last lockout back in 1998 had the NBA miss 32 games. The league lost a lot of fans.
We are back to what the NBA was when Michael Jordan retired for the first time in 1993. There is no true ultimate dominator in this league who is head and shoulders above everyone. Remember that time? Malone, Stockton, Olajuwon, Shaq, Kidd, Miller, Barkley, Richmond, Pippen, Payton, and more became prominent when Jordan left. As of 2011, there is no one head and shoulders above anyone. We can make arguments for a few select, but they each have flaws whether it’s getting old, shrinking up, or whatever.
Do not blow up the Miami Heat. I repeat – do not blow the team up. That’s a stupid idea because they just made the NBA Finals. Yes, they actually reached the NBA Finals. It’s tough just to get there. I do not comprehend a complete blow up of the team by any stretch of the imagination. Pat Riley is not going to do that. It’s just dumb. However, they should break up the tandem of Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. I am serious and will explain why.
Hey. Who is tired of this? People want us to feel sorry for a guy who is making $90+ million, Nike cash, and other endorsement money? Say what? Why do they have to resort writing pieces basically implying “Hey he is not that bad.” Wow. Now people are defending him – the same people who were bashing him prior to the 2010-2011 season. It’s too bad. So we’re just going to sweep the one hour Decision extravaganza complete with jersey photo shops under the rug?
What is going on with the Miami Heat? I thought these guys were unstoppable. What the hell happened? That game 2 of the NBA Finals is what happened. Wow. What a choke job, man. Damn. LeBron and Wade all celebrating when they were up by 15 points. Someone should have told them that there was still a lot of time left to play; about 7 minutes right? That is a lifetime in the NBA. No matter how big the lead, it can evaporate quickly as proven in game 2. Wow.
It’s been a tough ride for Kobe Bryant and Laker Nation in 2011. They were dominated in the 2nd round of the playoffs against the Mavericks, Phil Jackson retired, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar disrespected, and Kobe looked old. Just going by numbers, the Black Mamba is not a top 5 fantasy player. Take notice that he is not being picked number one overall in many drafts. The trend picked up beginning in 2008 when Chris Paul and LeBron James started to take over.
Derrick Rose’s Chicago Bulls have been eliminated from the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals at the hands of the Wade/LeBron-Bosh Miami Heat, 4-1. Chi-Town is fighting through some pain right now, but there shouldn’t be any. At the beginning of the season, there were not many people on the Bulls’ bandwagon. The hype grew as the wins piled up. The bandwagon grew yet many were not convinced. Rose won MVP and that’s when all hell broke loose. Tom Thibodeau received Coach of the Year. Beating Indiana and Atlanta were good. However, facing Miami caused the bandwagon to break. People keep saying that getting an upgrade at the shooting guard position over Keith Bogans is all that is needed to get the Bulls over the top to win it all.
Game 1 is in the books. The Chicago Bulls woke up a lot of critics, 103-82. Led by Derrick Rose's 28 points and 6 assists, his performance was fine considering that he out dueled Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Both men did not even dial in 20 points, but Chris Bosh poured in 30 points. Miami's supporting cast could not get anything going as usual. However, the talk of the night belongs to Taj Gibson's dunks. One was on Dwyane Wade. The other one, which was a nasty put back, probably destroyed a planet somewhere. Lawd have mercy, things got nasty. Heat fans and critics were shocked. Don't be. They have been doing the business all season.
Everything is set up perfectly for the Heatles to win it all. They made quick work of the Philadelphia Sixers. The Boston Celtics are falling down all over the place trying to guard LeBron and Wade. Their opponent in the Eastern Conference Finals will probably be quick work, too. This is what LeBron, Wade, and Bosh wanted. This is reality. They are making the 2011 playoffs look like an exhibition. It’s like that?
"They're (the Minnesota Timberwolves) going to be a really good team," James said. "If it's not this year, soon."
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: There's good news. And there's bad news.
The good: LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are right that the Minnesota Timberwolves absolutely have the talent to compete in the Western Conference.
After all, JJ Barea, Mike Beasley, Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, and Derrick Williams are young, skilled, and dynamic.
Now the bad: good organizations have direction from the top creating a trickle down effect. To contend, not just compete, the Timberwolves need direction from ownership and the front office.
Unfortunately, the Minnesota franchise is owned by Glen Taylor, who is one of the worst owners in sports.
For instance, Taylor couldn’t provide Hall of Fame post Kevin Garnett with a supporting cast, chased The Big Ticket out of town, empowered Kevin McHale who fired defensive guru Dwyane Casey after forty games, and, worst of all, hired David Kahn as GM.
Speaking of Kahn, he has yet to prove he can manage. Sure, he has drafted well, but the former reporter looked unprofessional when he let former coach Kurt Rambis languish for months.
James and Wade are correct -the Wolves have talent. Sadly, talent isn't enough.
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Derrick Rose is officially the youngest NBA MVP for anyone living in a cave kicking it with John Rambo. He earned it at 22 years old. Leading the team to the number one record is a tall order for anyone. The 2010-2011 season is historic mainly because of this. Basketball fans witnessed something amazing that we will not see again from any 22 year old NBA player. It was fun to see all of the games on DirecTV. Chicago’s offense and the opposing team’s defensive game plans truly revolved around the Poohdini of the Hardwood.
The Chicago Bulls becoming the number one team, record wise, reveals a quantum leap this season and ramifications for the future. Not many people are examining the Bulls massive improvements – they practically flew over the Atlantic Ocean without breaking a sweat. Imagine predicting that the Bulls would be the number one team with the best defense before the season started. Imagine that. People laugh, mock, wants some weed that you smoked, and then label you a Bulls homer. That is why some of us should say, “We’ll see.”
Fans chanted “MVP!” as Cole went to the free-throw line with 9.3 seconds left and the game already won. He swished both attempts to cement his storybook home debut. Cole scored 20 points, shooting 8 of 16 from the field, to go along with four rebounds and four assists. “I guess that’s some hard work paying off,” Cole said. “It was one of those nights where LeBron [James] and Dwyane [Wade] kept finding me and just kept knocking it down.”
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Heat fans, slow your roll.
Norris Cole will make a very nice player, however, he’s only had one strong game in the NBA and it’s premature to declare him a star.
If the rookie can solidify the point guard spot, the Miami Heat will be even stronger then thought.
Consider that Cole will provide Erik Spoelstra with options if Mario Chalmers struggles, which would allow LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to play off the ball. Of course, Cole has also shown he’s capable of playing off the ball with James and Wade.
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Dwyane Wade to Amarè Stoudemire: I got those "hunting" tips for you. Hit me on the cell L2MS.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It’s on.
Commissioner David Stern can say what he likes about achieving NFL-style parity between small and large markets.
Bottom line: he’s lying.
The NBA thrives when superstars are in major markets. And the NBA is at its best when superstars in major markets develop rivalries with other superstars in major markets.
So Amar’e Stoudemire and Dwyane Wade exchanging ‘hunting tips’ via twitter is great for the NBA, as it’s further proof the Knicks are once again relevant.
Will the Knicks challenge the Heat for supremacy in the Eastern Conference?
Probably not.
The Knicks are talented, and can score in bunches. However, I don’t think they’ll defend on a night-in, night-out basis to overtake the Heat. Not with offensive guru Mike D’Antoni on the sideline.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
I come in peace, but I’ll talk about this. This has to be addressed. Welcome to LeBron’s new nightmare. The Miami Heat is getting $hi#$ed on by the full media blitz. It’s not over. It’s never going to be over with the public onslaught. There is more to come, but no one has mentioned this particular item. I write this with full sincerity - LBJ will not win MVP ever again. This is a bold claim, but there are many reasons to see why.
Chris Bosh: I want to be the best player in the NBA. Maybe not this year or the year after next, but one day…’”
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Well, it’s good to have a goal, I suppose.
Chris Bosh isn’t even the best or second best player on his Miami Heat, as that distinction belongs to superstars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
Bosh is a very good player, a perennial All-Star, a third option on a great team, but I don’t ever see him being 'The Guy' in the NBA.
However, he played his best basketball with the Toronto Raptors at a bulked up weight, after spending a few months in the gym on conditioning.
His game went to another level. He could still use his skill at the high post or mix it up in the paint on both ends of the floor.
Last year, Bosh arrived at Heat camp out of shape. Instead of lifting weights, he got caught enjoying the hoopla of The Great Free Agent Chase of 2010.
It’s worth noting that Bosh has arrived in superb condition. And perhaps he returns to his top form like when with the Raptors.
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Both are having historic meltdowns in grand fashion. Remember how Bosh treated the free agency in summer 2010 as some joke? Yeah, joke's on him. The Toronto fan base wasn’t even trying. During the final two years in Toronto, Bosh should have said, “No comment.” That would have shut up any worries because there was nothing to talk about. Instead, he kept the question lingering because he did not really answer the question. His play left more questions, too.
That’s all I’ve been hearing lately. Blah, blah, blah, weak sauce, blah, blah. Why you mad, though? The major complaint is that no one really stands out from the pack. My thinking is “How the eff does that make the race weak?” My dude, you serious? Go watch Tommy Wiseau’s The Room if you think the race is the weakest then hit me back up or get slapped with a notice out of nowhere to give up the kids like Charlie Sheen. If you don’t like this season’s MVP race, you don’t like NBA basketball.
Many people are claiming that this is LeBron’s MVP to lose especially the LeBron James Defense Force. Where do we start? I cannot think where to begin. I don’t even know where the middle lays. Where does it end? Is the based god real? Is this a slippery slope? Only time will tell. Why are we even arguing semantics? Whose side are you on? Many questions. Not many answers. LeBron James versus The World is shaping up to be better than Scott Pilgrim versus The World.
The newly minted 2011 All Star game MVP worked his way to be the star of stars. 37 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 steals are great numbers. Props to Kobe. It is back to business since All Star weekend is over. Where is Kobe in the league MVP race? Remember, this isn’t the legacy award like the All Star spots. Everyone has to put in serious work. That includes Bryant who is usually penciled in before the season started. Every great player's time fades away, too. It sucks, but that's life.
What is the business in Miami? They’re winning. What is the problem? LeBron James recently put in some serious work against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic with 51 points, 11 boards, 8 assists, and 17-25 from the field. There was nothing quiet about that. Bron dominated that ish. People were writing Wade off. Then Dwyane goes for a triple double against Charlotte (22 points, 10 assists, 12 boards). 28 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 blocks, and a steal against the Clippers. MVP candidates do not take a back seat to anyone, but Wade did?
Dwyane and his wife Siohvaughn welcomed the latest addition to the Wade family. Zion Malachi Airamis Wade was born on Tuesday, May 29,2007 at 8:45 p.m. CT in Chicago.
Lately, I’ve been hearing that the “Franchise Player” concept is dead in the NBA. There is no such thing as a franchise player. There are super teams instead. I’m here to tell all of you that you’re wrong – dead wrong. The way teams are built in this league calls for a franchise player. The player is usually extremely talented and skilled with an ability to get numbers.There are only 12 or so players on team. One player can make a huge difference. I’ll explain why this concept will not die.
2006 NBA Finals MVP Dwyane Wade was named AskMen.com "Man of the Week".
The men's portal explained that "despite his formidable talents and impressive list of achievements as a basketball player, NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade remains a down-to-earth and approachable guy."
Have you ever gotten to your birthday only to realize that you really do not want to make a big fuss out of it? We get all this attention, or lack thereof for some people, and begin to ponder about our current situations. What have we accomplished? How did we get better? How did we get worse? In the end, who gives a damn? Get out there. Beat your feet. Do it. Get it done. Just ask yourself one thing every birthday from now on, “What have I done lately?” That’s how one should approach this list with the top shooting guards. For the stat whores. Notables missing – Brandon Roy, Tyreke Evans, Ray Allen. I know. I’m shocked about those guys, too.
"They will break the single-season win record [of 72],'' Jeff Van Gundy said. "And I think they have a legit shot at the Lakers' 33-game [winning] streak [in 1971-72], as well. And only the Lakers have even a remote shot at beating them in a playoff series. They will never lose two games in a row this year.” A long time friend brought to my attention regarding this comment about Dwyane Wade’s Miami Heat. I’ve caught this awhile back and needed time to ponder about such a notion. You guys do realize that in order to break the record, the team can only lose nine games, right? Count that again – 9 games. Seriously.
Battier has been a primary target in free agency for the Heat, and sources say the pitch of Riley, coach Erik Spoelstra and key Heat players could ultimately confirm Battier’s strong feelings about chasing a championship in Miami.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Talent matters but so does chemistry.
If the Miami Heat subscribe to the above theory then they’ll have to pull out all the stops to sign free agent utility swing Shane Battier.
The former Memphis Grizzly and Houston Rocket does all the little things necessary to win. He defends multiple positions and stretches opposing defenses with his range.
He just hasn’t had superstar talent to complement in the NBA. With LeBron, CB4, and D-Wade, talent won’t be an issue in South Beach.
Of course, Battier’s professionalism and likeability will go a long way in helping heal the Heat‘s tattered reputation. The Eastern Conference champions spent 2011 with a bulls eye on their back, facing the wrath of media and fans alike.
So Battier would get a chance at a championship. The Heat get a quality role player and person. Sounds like a mutually beneficial arrangement.
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The sales pitch has got to be one of the toughest things to put together for any marketing team. It is one of those things that science alone cannot help them. The only way science can help is in producing the right numbers – the sweet science of money. There’s another science as well and that is the science of reproduction. Sex parties are the cure, but then again who wants herpes? That doesn’t cope well with these big name free agents doing public appearances. Even Delonte West gets clowned on and supposedly it’s just a birth mark.
Shortly after being featured in People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People", Miami Heat All-Star Dwyane Wade became Sean John's clothing line's new ambassador.
Wade will be representing the brand starting with the next fall advertising campaign.
"Dwayne Wade is the Sean John man," said Sean John owner, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. "At such a young age, he has become one of the best players in the NBA. We're going to make Dwayne Wade the first NBA male supermodel!"
People involved with the NBA and sports media are really sticking their necks and reputations on the line. I love it! Their true colors are shown. We have never witnessed anything like this before. The entire free agency arms race is 10x more explosive than the Big Network’s extravaganza about Brett Favre and his jeans. Everyone has a hard on for LeBron. Analysts on television, print, and radio are arguing against each other over speculations. Speculations? That’s another word for opinion. Get your popcorn and enjoy the freak show! I have!
'This is quite an honor to be named cover athlete of NBA LIVE in just my second year as a professional," Wade said. "When you look back at some of the great players who have had this opportunity, it's exciting to be a part of the EA SPORTS family and contribute to a game I've been playing for more than 10 years.'
Electronic Arts announced today that NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade will serve as cover athlete and spokesman for NBA LIVE 06, scheduled for release this fall under the EA SPORTS™ brand. Wade is in his second season with the Miami HEAT, where he set single-season franchise records for points per game (24.1) and total points scored (1,854) in helping to lead the HEAT to the top seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
NBA LIVE 06 builds upon the depth and authenticity that the NBA LIVE franchise has delivered for more than a decade and that made last year the best-selling version in the history of the series. With advancements in gameplay and enhanced player graphics, the sport of basketball is elevated to a whole new level in NBA LIVE 06 with the superstars of the game looking and playing more like their real-life counterparts than ever before. Players can feel the emotion and intensity of the complete basketball experience with an up-tempo, fast-break, and physical brand of basketball that yields improved play in the transition game and real-life collisions in the paint.
Wade has emerged quickly as one of the most explosive players in the NBA in just his second season, a year that saw him become just the 10th player since 1979 to finish in the NBA's top 10 in both scoring (24.1) and assists (6.8) per game. A unanimous NBA All-Rookie First-Team selection a year ago, Wade was a member of the U.S. National Senior Men's Basketball Team last summer before returning to have an All-Star season for the HEAT this year. Wade, who was selected to the NBA All-Star Game in February, became one of just seven NBA players in history to average at least 25 points, eight assists and six rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the floor in a playoff series as he helped lead the HEAT to a recent four-game sweep of the New Jersey Nets in the first round of the 2005 NBA Playoffs. Wade was recently selected as one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in an issue that hit newsstands at the end of April.
Developed in Vancouver, B.C., by EA Canada, the studio which is also home to the popular NBA STREET and NCAA® March Madness® franchises, NBA LIVE 06 will be available on the PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system, Xbox® video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube™, and PC. The game also will be available for the first time on the PSP™ handheld entertainment system.
EA SPORTS is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world. Its top-selling titles and franchises include Madden NFL Football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, MVP Baseball™, NCAA® Football, NASCAR Thunder™, and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR®. The EA SPORTS home page is www.easports.com.
Joining the Heat "would be fantastic," Dalembert said Sunday night from Haiti in an interview with FOX Sports Florida. Miami is where more than 50 of his relatives live and is about one hour south of his home in Boca Raton. As for the volunteering part, Dalembert likely would require a big pay cut to join the Heat, which will be over the salary cap. Dalembert, who made $13.43 million last season for Sacramento, might have to sign for the $5 million mid-level exception.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The Miami Heat nearly won a championship in 2011 with an ozone-sized hole at center.
Free agent center Samuel Dalembert wants to sign with the Miami Heat, plug that hole, and help Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade take the final step in 2012.
Dalembert, who spent last year in Sacramento, has a considerable size advantage over Joel Anthony and Udonis Haslem, the posts currently on the Heat’s roster.
On some level, Dalembert could fit. However, it’s worth noting that the lanky five was kicked off the Canadian national team and criticized for his work ethic and attitude in Philadelphia.
So the Heat may look elsewhere for reinforcements down-low.
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Michael Jordan officially retired back in 1998. The Washington Wizards comeback does not count because there was a ghost in the shell controlling his aging body during the time. With the nth epic battle between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers in the 2010 NBA Finals and the mega 2010 Free Agent class signings shortly thereafter, one has to wonder how the MJ shadow became grand and legendary. It’s just frightening how massive this shadow has grown in the shape of a Jump Man.
Considering O'Neal previously had compared Bosh to a drag queen, as "the RuPaul of big men," Bosh hardly finds himself compelled to respond to the rehash. "I know the thing is entertainment," Bosh told the Sun Sentinel. "How are you going to get people to buy your book? "So I don't care about stuff that is said in the media or in books or pointed or directed toward somebody, because it's really just a tactic and nothing else. He's an author. He can write whatever he wants. If he sells a bunch, then congrats to him."
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Chris Bosh is right. This is about Shaquille O'Neal selling books.
Nothing more; nothing less.
After all, Shaq has a legacy of attacking coaches, teammates, and even friends when it suits him.
Consider some of his foes: Penny Hardaway, Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson (at times), Dwyane Wade (at times), Pat Riley, Terry Porter and Robin Lopez.
The ultimate was the television Shaq Vs. Well, the future member of the Hall of Fame overheard Steve Nash discussing the concept with his people.
And he liked it. So The Big Fella stole it. A flat-out robbery.
A few days later, after working out the details with ABC, O'Neal casually announced he had a new reality show and Nash rightfully responded with anger.
So Bosh is happy to let O'Neal talk. That's all The Big Broadcaster will be doing from now on.
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So where do these two guys measure up against Kobe? Kobe is a scientific dawg. He works out every day, practices every day. Most of the other stars are just dawgs, not scientific dawgs. Me, I’m a freak-of-nature dawg because of my size. LeBron could be a scientific dawg like Kobe, but he’s got a lot going on like I did, so that’s preventing him from being one.”
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Shaquille O’Neal thinks Kobe Bryant is a ‘scientific dawg’, which apparently makes him better in the clutch than LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
For the record, I don’t know what a ‘scientific dawg’ is. I do think Shaq is saying Bryant is a superior fourth quarter player because of his focus and commitment to his craft.
Perhaps.
At this stage in their careers, James and Wade are better athletes - and maybe better players - than Bryant. But Bryant always possessed an intangible that more often than not propelled him to greatness when it mattered most.
This was evident from his early days sitting on the Lakers' bench as a 17-year old rookie under Coach Del Harris.
He is indeed the closest thing to Michael Jordan that the NBA has ever had. Shaq, his former nemesis, has to show respect by dubbing him a scientific dawg’.
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The mythical biggest collection of free agents is coming. Neither of these guys is worried about what teams are doing to set themselves up financially to obtain any one of them. They’re too worried about erupting over their team to the press, wondering if the team is good enough to move forward with, or taking suggestions from fans if he should wear eye goggles. What kind of sales pitch would you come up with to seduce any of these guys to join the dark side? Get him an expensive sports car? No. They get them for free. Get them girls? No. They get them for free at the clubs. They’re called “Jump offs.” Clothes? Movies? Videogames? Jobs? Houses? A soul? What? What can possibly be a great selling point to get them to sign with your team?
Ray Allen told the Globe last night that teammate Paul Pierce organized the call of dozens of players to discuss the possibility of breaking up the union if a deal is not reached soon. According to Allen, there were in fact two conference calls, the other on Thursday, in which Allen did not participate.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Are they prepared for the fallout?
Dwight Howard, Paul Pierce, and Dwyane Wade will be blamed if they lead 50 NBA players to decertify the union and take the owners to court in search of a new collective bargaining agreement.
Such a move would be messy. Such a move would be complicated. And such a move would have consequences like the league cancelling the entire 2011-12 season.
It wouldn’t matter that the owners negotiated in poor faith. It wouldn’t matter that the leader of the players union have squabbled like children. It wouldn’t matter that the NBA’s well-to-do business model is out of touch with the current global economy.
The only thing that would matter is that there’s no basketball. After all, decertification means a cancelled season. And a cancelled season means angry fans.
Howard’s good guy days would end. For Pierce, a lifelong Celtic, everyday would be like playing the Lakers. And Wade better expect The ’Heattles’ treatment to continue.
Hopefully, it doesn’t come to this. Hopefully, they find a solution.
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1 hour ago: Would love to see @JCrossover in a Heat uni! What you guys say? 1 hour ago: Maybe @SteveNash in a Heat uni! So we can help each other get our 1st ring
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Lockout or not, LeBron James is recruiting.
'The King' recently tweeted that he’d like Jamal Crawford and Steve Nash to sign with the Miami Heat when the labour impasse is solved.
Crawford, a perennial Sixth Man of the Year candidate, would punish opposing defences for double-teaming James and fellow Heat superstars Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade.
He’d have the same role as Mike Miller. Except Crawford can create off the dribble and has had better luck staying healthy.
The former Bull, Hawk, and Knick is a free agent. Nash, however, is not.
The two-time MVP still has a year remaining on his contract with the Phoenix Suns, so he’d need spend-thrift owner Robert Sarver to buy him out.
Then there are concerns about Nash’s mediocre defense. His teammates and basketball IQ should make up for his tiny stature, though.
We just need a new collective bargaining agreement to see if James’ tweets become reality.
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A random NBA fan wrote on Twitter a message directed at Heat owner Micky Arison. "Fans provide all the money you're fighting over," wrote the fan."Honestly u r barking at the wrong owner," replied Arison on his Twitter feed. Arison has been categorized by NBPA Executive Director Billy Hunter as part of a group of owners eager to reach a deal with the players.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The players union may be splitting, but so are the owners.
Case in point: Micky Arison, the owner of the star-studded Miami Heat, who tweeted his frustration over the two sides not finding common ground on a new collective bargaining agreement.
Arison wants to settle on a new CBA, so his Big Three can win a championship and he can maximize his investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade.
Clearly, Arison isn’t alone in wanting to settle. Other big-market, ‘have’ owners are comfortable in winning these negotiations with players and do not wish to extract blood.
Unfortunately, the Bulls, Celtics, Heat, Lakers, and Knicks are in the minority. The Blazers, Bobcats, Bucks, Suns, and eighteen other owners are determined to have total victory.
And so we continue to wait for basketball.
--Sandor.
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In addition to (LeBron) James, (Dwyane) Wade and (Chris) Bosh, the Heat were represented at Saturday’s game by free-agent point guard Mario Chalmers, with former Heat player Dorell Wright also among those participating. Heat forward Udonis Haslem, still working his way back from last season’s foot injury, coached James’ team.
Center Eddy Curry, a Heat free-agent target, was a no-show, leaving unanswered questions about his conditioning. Wesley Matthews and Lou Williams also were removed from the rosters, with Harden and Tristan Thompson added.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: This wasn’t supposed to happen.
The media had been reporting on the new and improved Eddy Curry, who had lost one hundred pounds to specifically earn a contract with the star-studded Miami Heat when the lockout ends.
Curry’s body wasn’t the only thing that had supposedly changed. His supporters claimed he had matured and wouldn’t be a distraction.
Saturday’s friendly at Florida International University was key. Curry had a chance to suit up with or against potential teammates, while developing a relationship with the Heat’s rabid fans.
That opportunity is gone.
Fans aren’t talking about Curry’s skill or fitness. Instead they’re wondering why a player who wants to join the Heat couldn't bother to turn up.
If he wasn't healthy, why not attend and earn some goodwill?
It’s not a great first impression. The more things supposedly change with Curry, the more they seem to stay the same.
O.Sandor.
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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The South Florida Classic was exciting, but everyone wanted to know when the NBA games would happen.
Yesterday Dwyane Wade led Team Wade to a 141-140 win over LeBron James’ Team James in a charity match at Florida International University.
A game with several All-Stars is worth watching, however, fans and media were focused on the three month old NBA lockout.
Click the video below, watch Carmelo Anthony discuss his love for the Heat’s Big Three, and Wade, and consider his thoughts on the NBA’s labour impasse.
-O.Sandor.
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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: NBA players have handled the lockout in different ways.
Heat superstar Dwyane Wade got into a shouting match with Commissioner David Stern at a bargaining session; Nets table-setter Deron Williams is playing in Turkey; Laker great Kobe Bryant has spread his brand and may sign in Italy.
Then there’s Stephen Jackson. The newest edition to the Milwaukee Bucks has released a lockout inspired rap song.
Click the video below, give Captain Jack’s work in the booth a listen, and get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
(By the way, listener discretion is advised.)
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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Despite the on-going labour strife, two of the game`s biggest stars, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, are continuing with workouts.
What does it mean?
Well, nothing if owners and players fail to find common ground on a new collective bargaining agreement and financial framework.
Nevertheless, click the video below, watch ‘The Big Two’ train in Miami, and get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
--O. Sandor.
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