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Could Iverson be ’The Answer’ for Cleveland, Boston, San Antonio, Charlotte, or Los Angeles?November 12 09  Unlike the Michael Jackson bio flick, This isn’t it for Allen Iverson. "He needs a team where his ability to create his own shot will help a superstar, where he can also work the end of the game as a closer, a team where his reckless abandon and pedal-to-the-medal aggression in smaller doses will be an asset, not a liability. I’m talking about the Cleveland Cavaliers." (Wilbon, Washington Post)Why not: Only so many shots are available in Coach Mike Brown’s scheme. After all, LeBron James and Shaq have to get theirs, so where would Iverson fit? Boston Celtics ... Why: This summer, several publications thought the green-and-white might sign Iverson – if, and it’s a big if, he agreed to come off the bench. They reasoned Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce could get Iverson to agree to a supporting role. Why not: All risk, little reward. After reloading this summer, the Celtics have depth and bench scoring, so there is little, if any, upside signing Iverson. San Antonio ... Why: Their coach, Gregg Popovich, is friends with Larry Brown, Iverson’s biggest supporter and former coach with the Philadelphia 76ers. If injuries become an issue for the Spurs, Popovich could conceivably roll the dice and consider the tiny combo guard as a stop-gap fill-in. Why not: Ginobili is healthy and seems intent on reestablishing himself as the NBA’s best tempo-changer off-the-bench, which wouldn’t leave anything for Iverson to do except pout. Best of the rest: Charlotte Bobcats ... Why: Coach Brown (Charlotte’s sideline boss) and Iverson have a history. And even though their relationship had more ups and downs than a roller coaster at Six Flags, they still respect each other. On-court, the Bobcats are in desperate need of a perimeter scorer. Off-court, they are in desperate need of a gate draw and Iverson, love him or hate him, sells tickets and generates headlines. Why not: Bob Johnson, Charlotte’s owner, is looking to sell the team and may have reservations about adding the controversial Iverson while seeking a buyer. Los Angeles Clippers ... Why: The Don, Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling, and The Answer, Iverson, nearly had a deal this off-season. If L.A.’s other team continues to struggle, Sterling may try to steal a little of the Lakers’ thunder by acquiring Iverson. Why not: On paper, the Clippers look good. And they might not need or want the distractions that come with Iverson. Where do you think Iverson will land if he leaves Memphis? Get at us in the comment box below and follow Oly’s work at HoopsVibe The Blog and Twitter. Photo courtesy of thedanger23.
Byron Scott a sacrificial lamb for troubled New Orleans HornetsNovember 12 09  Breaking NBA news mixed with my analysis ... Their News: "The New Orleans Hornets have responded to their 3-6 start by making the first coaching change of the young NBA season, firing Byron Scott on Thursday, according to NBA coaching sources." (Marc Stein, ESPN News services)
Portland’s Travis Outlaw turns the tables on Memphis’ Rudy GayNovember 11 09  The ‘posterizer’ got posterized. Simply put, Memphis Grizzly Rudy Gay is known for dunking on folks. Since entering the league, the high-flying Gay has victimized both perimeter players and stocky posts with aerial antics. Of course, the same can be said for Portland Trail Blazer Travis Outlaw. The versatile swing is no stranger to the youtube crowd, who have become quite familiar with Outlaw’s highlight reel jams. Yesterday, the two met when Memphis played Portland. Gay, for once, got posterized, while Outlaw was the posterizer. Check out the clip and get at us with thoughts in the comment box below. Follow Oly’s work at HoopsVibe The Blog on Twitter. Photo courtesy of Sean Davis.
Odd couple: Why Elton Brand and Philadelphia 76ers will stay an awkward matchNovember 11 09  I always saw it as odd. Only now it’s awkward.Two summers ago, I, like many NBA heads, was taken aback when the Philadelphia 76ers signed post Elton Brand to a multi-year contract for ‘max’ money. I had concerns with Brand overcoming an Achilles injury and clashing with Andre Iguodala for first-option status on offense. However, style was my biggest worry. Brand - a methodical and back-to-the-basket post - was at his best in the Los Angeles Clippers’ half-court set, while the 76ers were at their best when they used their athleticism to run. Half-court versus fast-break. Something would eventually give. And it has - just a year later than expected because Brand sustained a serious injury that sidelined him for most of 2009. Currently, Philadelphia has a disappointing 3-4 record. And Brand’s numbers - he’s averaging 10 points in 26 minutes per game -are also disappointing. Unfortunately, I don’t see the situation improving for the former All-Star. I call them track stars. They’re the type of players who are most comfortable when things become uncontrolled and spontaneous. And they force the coach to toss his playbook and try to goad opposing coaches into matching their breakneck pace. The 76ers are track stars. Unlike the Phoenix Suns, they’re young track stars. Iguodala, even with his improved range, feasts off the open-court. Same for Rodney Carney, Willie Green, and Thaddeus Young. They all love to run. Brand isn’t a track star. Never will be, either. The veteran has made his living off getting the ball on the block and putting in work. And, to be fair, it has paid off, with Brand regularly dropping 20 point, 10 rebound seasons. So style will always be an issue. Other complications have made things tough on Brand:
(Why Jordan is intrigued with Speights.) Like I said, the awkwardness will continue in Philly. I only hope a solution can be found for Brand and Philadelphia before thing go from awkward to nasty. Got thoughts on Brand’s future in Philadelphia? Get at us in the comment box below and follow Oly’s work at HoopsVibe The Blog and Twitter. Photo courtesy of Philadelphia 76ers.
Allen Iverson needs another epiphany in MemphisNovember 09 09  Breaking NBA news mixed with analysis …Their News: “Iverson is telling close associates that he might retire instead of returning to the Grizzlies. Not shocking since he said he’d rather retire than come off the bench while in Detroit.” (Memphis Commercial Appeal) My Quick Analysis: I remember thinking this would be Allen Iverson’s epiphany. It was game five of the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers. Iverson, unable to sink a shot from the floor, became a distributor, handing out eight crucial assists in a tight 89-88 victory. After the game, the television cameras showed the 76ers celebrating. Former Philadelphia owner Pat Croce was hugging Iverson and proudly yelling into the camera “you (Iverson) handed out eight assists tonight. Eight.” Croce’s point was simple: Iverson was a team player. When necessary he’d gladly defer to others. Critics be damned. I wonder if Iverson remembers that moment or season. Sure, the tiny combo guard treated coach Larry Brown’s offense like an all you can shoot smorgasbord. And sure, the 76ers succeeded -with Iverson, of course, being the featured player. But Iverson also sacrificed. He bought into Brown’s play-the-right-way mantra, defended like a madman, played hurt, and challenged bigger, tougher opponents. And it paid off with a 56 win season and a trip to the NBA Finals. Over the past nine years, there have been ups-and-downs. At times, Iverson put others first. Other times, he put himself first. Even during the lowest of lows, I’d never have imagined he’d quit on the Memphis Grizzlies two weeks into the regular season because of playing time. No way. Whatever your opinion on Iverson, he isn’t a quitter. That’s the last thing he is. For now, he must remember his time with Croce and play a role for the Grizzlies. Any role, for that matter. His career depends on it. Hopefully, this epiphany the future Hall of Famer gets. Got thoughts on Allen Iverson possibly retiring? Get at us with thoughts in the comment box below and follow Oly on HoopsVibe The Blog and Twitter. Photo courtesy of Pencil King.
Shannon Brown dunks on Laker teammate Josh PowellNovember 01 09  Two nights ago, he hit us with another one.Los Angeles Lakers guard Shannon Brown took his highlight reel jams to another level when he ’posterized’ Josh Powell in a recent game verses the Dallas Mavericks. Of course, Powell also dons the purple-and-gold of the Lakers. Even teammates can’t avoid Brown’s aerial antics, so the back-up center became an unintentional victim - or collateral damage, if you’re a Schwarzenegger fan - on a play millions have already seen and will continue to marvel over. Watch the clip below and get us with comments on Brown’s ups and Powell being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Follow Oly on HoopsVibe and Twitter. Photo courtesy of dmvcomics.
Best new back-up PG: Toronto’s Jarrett Jack, Portland’s Andre Miller, Minnesota’s Ramon Sessions, or Orlando’s Jason Williams?October 31 09  In Head-to-Head, we compare players. You tell us who you like best … In the win-now world of the NBA, All-Star point guards are valuable. Teams rarely give top table-setters the chance to leave, especially during their prime -for instance, small market clubs like the New Orleans Hornets and Utah Jazz pulled out all the stops to keep superstars Chris Paul and Deron Williams For those that don’t have a Paul or Williams, the two-headed monster is in. Over the summer, several teams went the platoon route, signing strong back-up point guards to split time with their starters. In this edition of Head-to Head, HoopsVibe The Blog asks readers which second-string point guard will have the biggest impact in their new home: Jarrett Jack with the Toronto Raptors, Andre Miller with the Portland Trail Blazers, Ramon Sessions with the Minnesota Timberwolves, or Jason Williams with the Orlando Magic? The case for Jack … He’s key to their make-over. After a disappointing 2009 season, Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo set off on an ambitious summer rebuild project that would make Home and Garden Television jealous. And Jack -a desirable free agent- was inked to a four year, $20 million contract. In 2010, the Georgia Teach alum’ will have a big role for the Raptors. With a fragile starter in Jose Calderon, Jack will see major minutes at the one-spot. And Calderon and Jack could also play significant stretches together in the backcourt. Bottom line: adding the versatile guard makes Toronto a more talented and tougher squad. The Case for Miller … Some saw it as desperation. Portland’s front office, specifically General Manager Kevin Pritchard, wanted to make headlines by using the available salary cap space, while Miller, a free agent and respected veteran, was having trouble landing an offer in the summer’s bear market. So they hooked up. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, not exactly. There has been confusion over his role. Miller claimed the club told him he would be the starter during contract negotiations; coach Nate McMillan said no promises were made. For now, Steve Blake is in the first-unit, with Miller serving as the $8 million per season back-up. This arrangement should eventually work. All parties just need time to adjust. The Case for Sessions … What a fallback. After failing to agree on a buyout with Spanish sensation Ricky Rubio, the Timberwolves’ front office quickly rebounded by inking restricted free agent Sessions to a four-year, $16 million contract. Sessions, fresh off a breakout season with the Milwaukee Bucks, could fill-in as the interim starter if rookie Jonny Flynn falters. Like Calderon and Jack in Toronto, expect Flynn and Sessions to often play next to each other in the backcourt. The Case for Williams … Williams, who took 2009 off to rest and spend time with family, inked a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum with Orlando in the off-season. So, yes, ‘White Chocolate’ is back in the building. Williams will add two things to the Eastern Conference champions. First, his amazing dimes - especially those alley-oops to center Dwight Howard - will become highlight reel fixtures on ESPN. Second, Williams’ intelligence and experience will help. In Memphis and Miami, old school sideline bosses like Hubie Brown and Pat Riley saw him as an on-court coach. In both stops, he posted great assist-to-turnover ratios and started for the 2006 world champion Heat. Simply put, this is tremendous pick up for the Magic. Our Call: All four seem poised to have terrific seasons. Jack will likely average the best numbers because he’s entering his prime and Toronto wants to limit Calderon’s playing time. However, keep an eye on Williams, who will have a role on a very competitive Orlando side. Agree or disagree with ’Our Call’ in this edition of Head-to-Head? Get at us with thoughts in the comment box on your top back-up: Jack, Miller, Sessions, Williams, or someone else? Follow Oly on HoopsVibe and Twitter. Image courtesy of Scott Ableman.
Breaking down LeBron James and Cleveland’s early stumbles with ShaqOctober 28 09  There is no reason to panic, but there is reason for concern.After getting upset by the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers opted against tweaking the chemistry of a squad that won a league-best 66 games in 2009. Instead, they went for The ‘Big Change’. Literally. During the summer, Cleveland GM Danny Ferry called former teammate Steve Kerr, who happens to be the head suit in Phoenix. These old friends finalized a deal that had been rumoured for months -Shaquille O’Neal would leave the Suns for the Cavaliers. O’Neal, in theory, still had the skill to help LeBron James win an NBA Title. Gambling on O’Neal was Cleveland’s way of passing James’ commitment test -like nomadic tribesmen, Ferry and owner Dan Gilbert had to essentially walk The King’s hot coals in the middle of the desert. This move was part substance, a lot of style, and, in turn, created huge expectations for all involved. Fast forward to late October. While an 0-2 record isn’t enough to draw conclusions about the Shaq experiment, there are discomforting signs in Cavalier-nation. The bigs lack athleticism. With O’Neal starting at center, Anderson Varejao has been playing power forward. Against Boston and Toronto, the lumbering O’Neal and Varejao have been exposed by quicker four-five combos like Rasheed Wallace, Kevin Garnett, Andrea Bargnani, and Chris Bosh. Unlike pick-and-pop center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, O’Neal must gain deep position to be effective on offense. And with his size, he clogs the middle, which unfortunately makes James and Cleveland more of a perimeter, jump-shooting team. Not surprisingly, he’s 0-for-5 from the free-throw line. It’s early, but O’Neal needs to become active and get to the charity stripe. Once there, he must make his free-throws to play during crunch time, or Coach Mike Brown will have to pull his second best player to prevent Hack-A-Shaq defenses. Cleveland shouldn’t sound the alarm. However, they must immediately improve because nothing other than an NBA Title will satisfy James, their free agent to be in July of 2010. Got thoughts on the Cavaliers’ 0-2 record? Get at us in the comment box below and follow Oly’s work on HoopsVibe The Blog and Twitter. Photo courtesy of cynthia 1091.
The Boston Celtics need Glen Davis, not Big BabyOctober 27 09  Breaking news mixed with analysis … A police report identified Davis as the victim and said his friend, Shawn Bridgewater, appeared to be intoxicated". (ESPN.com news services) My Quick Analysis: Perhaps, there were other reasons Kevin Garnett lashed out at Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis during a blow-out victory last season. (Remember, Garnett and Davis getting into it last season?) Yes, alcohol was involved. And yes, surgery was required, which will keep the third-year man out a minimum of six weeks. Now the Celtics must determine what to do with Davis. In the short-term, Coach Doc Rivers has to replace Davis, a valuable reserve. Unlike last year, superstar Kevin Garnett is healthy, while Kendrick Perkins will continue developing into a solid five-man. Of course, Rasheed Wallace and Sheldon Williams were signed this summer to add depth and play additional minutes if an emergency occurred. The on-court stuff is covered. What about Davis’ relationship with the club? In the off-season, GM Danny Ainge and Rivers re-signed the puffy post to a two-year, $6.0 million contract on the strength of his fine playoff. The plan was for Davis to add depth and assume a larger role in the future. Well, that could be in jeopardy. The injury will delay Davis’ progress as a player, but the bigger issue is his judgment -or lack of it. Pro athletes, at least the ones serious about improving their craft, aren’t out drinking until four am and scrapping ‘friends’ with the season approaching. Now the Celtics are left to question Davis’ commitment. Maybe that’s why Garnett got so frustrated last season. What should Boston do with Davis? Get at us in the comment box below with thoughts. Follow Oly’s work on HoopsVibe The Blog and Twitter. Photo courtesy of juanc.paulino.
David Stern ’Protesting Too Much’ on LeBron James’ future with Cleveland CavaliersOctober 26 09  Breaking news mixed with analysis …Their News: “None whatsoever, although I hope it is in Cleveland” (Commissioner David Stern’s thoughts on where LeBron James will finish his career). My Quick Analysis: David, ‘thou protest too much’. Forgive me for referencing William Shakespeare, but the ‘good’ commissioner has a credibility issue. There have always been rumors the NBA ‘tilts’ things in the direction of large markets -like the New York Knicks. After all, the NBA is big business. And it’s good for big business to have their flagship franchises flourishing. Don’t kid yourself: the league wants its biggest name, James, in its biggest market, New York. This sentiment isn’t new. Conspiracy theorists still think Stern and his cronies at league head office had a hand in the Knicks winning the 1985 NBA Draft Lottery, and the rights to super-center Patrick Ewing. And the same crowd has always been skeptical about the success of the Los Angeles Lakers. They’ll swear the fix was in for Kobe, Phil, and Shaq to get past the Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings en route to three consecutive championships. I used to ignore these allegations, shrugging it off as hot noise from a bunch of die-hard Oliver Stone fans. After watching Sonicsgate, I’m not sure. Sonicsgate claims Clay Bennett and Stern conspired - or at a minimum, worked together - to move basketball out of Seattle and into Oklahoma City. Bottom line, I wouldn’t put anything past the NBA. Stern also made a mistake saying he wishes James stays in Cleveland. Commissioners must remain impartial at all times, which means Stern shouldn’t publicly hope for anything other than the Collective Bargaining Agreement working fairly for all 30 owners that pay his salary. If the free agent market decides that James re-signs with the Cavaliers, so be it. Conversely, if the free agent market decides that he leaves, so be it. The key word is ’free’, as in the process must be (wait for it) ’free’ of outside influence and intereference. Owners, who invest hundreds of millions of dollars in their teams, deserve fairness and clarity. Most importantly, fans, who make an emotional investment in their team often beyond a quantifiable dollar value, also deserve fairness and clarity. Instead of protesting and hoping, Commissioner Stern should make sure James’ future and ‘The Great Free Agent Chase of 2010’ is transparent and just. Sound off: What do you think of Stern’s comments about James staying in Cleveland? Get at us in the comment box below and follow Oly on HoopsVibe and Twitter. Photo courtesy of firebrandal.
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