What Direction Are The Charlotte Bobcats Heading In?

    The Charlotte Bobcats who hold the 2nd overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, just recently traded Corey Maggette to the Detroit Pistons for Ben Gordan and 2013 lottery-protected pick.
    This move can have some pros as well as cons, let’s start with the cons. The Bobcats are picking up a 29-year old player who has been on the decline since being traded to the Pistons in 2009, battled with injuries, along with having to pay him 25 million dollars over the next two years. For the pros, you get a guy who can flat out shoot the ball. Ben Gordon can average 20 points for the Bobcats easy, this past season there wasn't a guy on the team that averaged 20 points. With Coach Mike Dunlap wanting to run a more up tempo offense, Gordon can flourish in this system.
    With the move being made, this must mean the Bobcats will be parting ways with Gerald Henderson. You don't necessarily have to part ways with Henderson, you can move him to the sixth man position having a guy that can come off the bench, and give you 15 points which was something the Bobcats didn't have last year.
    Now as far as the draft, the Bobcats must be leaning towards taking Thomas Robinson with the 2nd overall pick. It really wouldn't make sense to draft Beal seeing the Bobcats already guard heavy, but I wouldn't be shocked if the Bobcats took Barnes over Beal. Both Beal and Barnes are terrific shooters, but it wouldn't make sense to draft a shooting guard when you just brought one in. Barnes would come in right away and start at the small forward position, already being familiar with the system coming from Carolina where all they did was push the ball. So now your looking at Augustin, Gordon, Barnes, Thomas and Biyombo as your starting lineup for the 2012-2013 season.
    There are only two things that can come from this move, success or fans will be left scratching their heads asking "Why can't Michael Jordan and Rich Cho just commit to getting young?"

LeBron James Going Forward ...

    In the 2012 NBA Finals LeBron James didn't run and ride like he did in last years finals against the Dallas Mavericks, but  he showed the world why he was the reigning three time league most valuable player. Here's a stat line for you LeBron averaged 28.6 points per game, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists, ands almost a triple double on the biggest stage in basketball the NBA Finals. It felt good to see a guy he has worked so hard plant, cultivate, and finally being able to harvest.

    Going forward the sky is the limit for LeBron no doubt about it, with his skill set and the core pieces he has around him in Wade, Bosh, Chalmers, and let me not forget the guy who goes unsung in Erik Spoelstra. LeBron has evolved, and when I say that I mean the guy has matured. LeBron is a new man, it showed in his actions on the floor, none of the premature celebrations or dancing on the sidelines, this year it was all business. The turning point for me was when LeBron put a halt to Mario Chalmers premature celebration in the third quarter letting Chalmers know there was still another quarter left to play. The knock on LeBron was that he didn't have the mental stability that was needed to win a championship, well I have news for you he has it leading the Miami Heat to their second NBA Championship. That is scary for the rest of league, because getting the first one is the hardest, and now that the monkey is off his back there is a strongly possibility that Miami can real off four of five titles maybe even more.
    Its still disappointing that so many people still hate a player who plays the right away, and is a good example for kids to look up to on and off the floor. I've heard all of the nonsense about LeBron being called "King James" fresh out of high school. People fail to realize that LeBron didn't get himself that nickname the media did. I also hear the "He'll never be Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant", he'll never be those two guys because he isn't that type of player. My favorite is that he isn't "Clutch" in the Finals LeBron came up big throughout the NBA Playoffs as well as being the closer. Outside of "The Decision" that was two years ago coming up, its time for people to let that go and embrace the greatness of LeBron, and what he brings to the game. Its insane to believe that people bash "The Decision" claiming that none of the previous greats would do such a thing, Jordan and Kobe didn't have to do that because their respective front offices surrounded them with premier talent. In Cleveland Dan Gilbert didn't surround LeBron with the proper talent he had no choice, it was a superstar surrounded by a bunch of role players and nothing more.
    Players like LeBron James don't come around too often. Appreciate the talent that the guy has before its too late. As far as ranking him as one of the best he still has a long way to go before its all said and done.

LeBron's Big Time Performance In Boston

    Many journalists and commentators are talking as if they are shocked by LeBron's performance, but this was something that was expected of him.
    Going into last night LeBron was averaging 32.1 points over the previous eight games. What I was pleased to see was how efficient LeBron was shooting the ball going 19 of 26, taking high quality shots as well as making some very difficult ones. LeBron picked his spots on floor where he felt comfortable, and made Boston pay big time. With LeBron not being a great shooter, that 15 foot jumper is his sweet spot scoring in a variety of ways from having his back to the basket to fading away. I saw the LeBron of old, being an aggressive scorer not settling, but getting the shots he wanted. More importantly I saw LeBron James the man, meaning seriousness none of that joking an premature celebrations, it was all business. Sad to say, I didn't believe LeBron needed a performance of this magnitude, but seeing Dwayne Wade is still on vacation LeBron had too.
    Will this same LeBron show up tomorrow night in Miami? I believe, I have no reason to think otherwise, the guy has been consistent throughout the playoffs up to this point. The Celtics that showed up in Boston will not be the same team that shows up tomorrow night. With that being said LeBron will do his usual 30 points 10 rebounds, but in order for Miami to win this game Dwayne Wade MUST show up and perform. But at the same time, LeBron has continued to carry this team, despite Wade being missing in action.
    I'm not going to make any predictions, but I will say this if you miss out on this game, you'll be sorry.

Tiger Tiger Woods Yall !

    Tiger Woods winning the Memorial for the fifth time lands him his second tournament win on the season, as well as tieing Jack Nicklaus for second on the all-time tournament wins list with 73 wins.
    The significance of the win is excellent for Tiger moving forward on his quest of getting that 18th major. The fact that Tiger was down four shots entering Sunday to end up winning by closing strong with a birdie on three of his final four holes. Many believed that Tiger wouldn't be able to rallie, showing in the past that when the pressure was on. Not only did he win, he did in spectacular fashion putting together a final round of 67.
    Not only was Tiger happy with his performance, but the rest of the country were as well with rankings skyrocketing up of 138 percent. Whether you like the guy or not Tiger doesn't need golf, golf needs Tiger. The PGA Tour just isn't as exciting without Tiger for the causal golf fan. Tiger brings in millions of viewers from many different backgrounds and nationalities, and that's what golf needs.
    Now am I going to say Tiger is going to win in every tournament he plays in? Not at all. I'm just happy to see the guy put it all together, and show many he still has the game to conquer that 18th major. Will he do so? That's a question we don't know, all we can do is sit and watch.

Will The Real Dwayne Please Stand Up

I never thought it would come to this, but its time for the real Dwayne Wade to please stand up.
In order for Miami to have any chance of winning this Game 5 tonight, Wade must play well. What disappoints me the most is that you use to be able to say that Wade was the most consistent of the Big 3, but that has not been the case. He has played poorly this playoff season, it shouldn't take for the Heat to be in a make or break game for the guy to show up and most importantly come to play. I only want to see one thing from Wade and that's consistentcy.
The Boston Celtics have taken the strategy of making Wade a nonfactor along with making Lebron James and the supporting cast beat them. In the combined two losses in Boston, Wade has gone 16 of 44 from the field shooting 36% isn't going to cut it. I'm going on record to say it right now, if the Heat lose tonight I don't see them going back to Boston and pulling one out.
Which leads to the scenario of IF Miami does lose, many believe you have to break up the Big 3, and if that is the case Dwayne Wade will be the one that gets the boot. Before I get into to why, remember if The Indianapolis Colts will get rid of Peyton Manning Pat Riley would part ways with Wade. I say that because, Wade is the older of the three, injury prone, and he's making 15.6 million per year. With Wade being a slasher and not a jump shooter those injuries he's indured will make him an aging 30 years old going into next season. You can see it for yourself Boston is making Wade shoot jumpers, and the result of that has taking Wade out of the picture. Wade's game hasn't evolved the way Kobe's did going from being a slasher to being able to score outside of getting to the rim. You can add another piece to take the place of Wade, you'd still have Lebron, Bosh, and a Chalmers who's growing right before our eyes. Even if Miami does lose you don't have to blow up the team, despite what many may say.
Hopefully we won't be having this conversation come June, because I have faith the Miami Heat will preveal to the NBA Finals.