Wednesday, May 30, 2012

When Will Durant Become Assertive?

    Yesterday's Game 2 went exactly the way I knew it would go with Westbrook shooting an array of shots, and Durant giving a solid performance of 31 points still losing to the better team in the San Antonio Spurs.
    The problem with this performance is that Durant still isn't assertive enough to go get the ball from his point guard Russell Westbrook. Many are quick to criticize LeBron when he has bad 4th quarters, but Durant is doing the exact same thing falling back into the shadows as Westbrook does his thing. Its easy to step-up and be the man in a series that your predicted to win, but its not the same when your going up against a better team. Durant is an all-star all world type of superstar player, that has to DEMAND the ball.
    Whether its the best friend type relationship that he has with Westbrook that is stopping him, but when the ball is tipped its time to put friendships to the side. It's Durant's responsibility to go to Westbrook and tell him get me the ball, or better yet go get it from him. Yesterday, I touched on Westbrook doing too much shooting and he did just that. That has been the knock on Durant that many critics have brought up that he isn't vocal enough.
    You can say what you want about Kobe Bryant, but one thing you can't say is that the guy doesn't go get the ball when it matters. Durant is a three time NBA Scoring Champion, go get the ball when it matters, become assertive. The difference between good and great are the decisions you make, not the amount of hours you put in the gym - Kenny Smith.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

The Thunder Go As Westbrook Goes

Tonight's Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals will be critical for a young Thunder team who does not want to go back to Oklahoma City down 0-2 to a very good San Antonio Spurs team.
The key for the Thunder tonight be will to see how well their young all-star point guard in Russell Westbrook performs. The Thunder go as Westbrook goes, meaning if he plays well they will have a chance, and if he doesn't perform they won't stand a chance. At 6 foot 3 191 pounds Westbrook is a nightmare match-up for 90% of the point guards in the NBA, due to his explosiveness and freakish athleticism. These are all attributes that any player would want, but with all of the good comes the bad. Westbrook is always able to create his own shot and get anywhere on the floor, which leads to him taking an array of shots.
Westbrook being the point guard is the facilitator, and responsible for getting the rest of his teammates involved. In an odd way Westbrook making his shots creates opportunities for the rest of his teammates, because he draws so much attention. When his shot isn't falling he fails to get others involved, and the Thunder's half-court offense gets very predictable turning into a one man show whether it’s Westbrook, Durant, or Harden. For example Game 1 he went 7-21 scoring 21 points, with only five assists that tells the story that other than Durant and Harden nobody else really was a factor. Now in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against Los Angeles Westbrook had 37 points which led to Durant dropping 31 points and Harden having 14 points all contributing into a win. In order for the Thunder to even have a chance against the Spurs Westbrook must play better, like he did against Dallas and Los Angeles.
Tonight's Game 2 will be a very important game for the Thunder which Westbrook will show up? The 7-21 or 15-26? Who knows? But that's why we watch the game.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

What Will The Los Angeles Lakers Do?

    With 57.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter Kobe Bryant headed to the bench leaving the game scoring 42 points and his team being down 15, its safe to say, the torch has been pasted.
   There is a major problem when Kobe Bryant scored 42 and you still get hammered. Many disagree with what I'm about to say, but I hope Bryant considers retirement despite having one year left on his contract. Bryant had a phenomenal 16th season averaging 27.9 points along with averaging 30.0 points in the playoffs. Bryant plays to win rings not games, and with the roster he'll be going to battle with season as of right now games will be all he wins. It hurts me to say this, but unless the Lakers make some drastic changes I don't see them making it out of the second round of the playoffs likely seeing Oklahoma City or San Antonio.
    With Dallas more than likely going to land Deron Williams they'll be strong, Oklahoma City will be strong likely resigning Harden, as well as San Antonio with the way they have been playing this year. Those two teams alone are better than Los Angeles with Dallas up in the air depending on if that land Williams. Say what you want, but the Lakers struggled going seven games with a young Denver Nuggets team, with all of that youth and speed. The Lakers are an older team that needs youthful as well as quality talent.
    Andrew Bynum, the kid who has so much potential without the mental stability has some definite value that the Lakers can shop. With his comments of "I'll play anywhere" shows that he doesn't care about the history and pride that goes into wearing the colors of purple and gold. With sources saying Dwight wants out of Orlando more than ever before, that might mean he could possibly land in LA for a year despite him saying he doesn't want to play there. Or you can try to steal Deron Williams from Dallas who are the odds on favorites seeing Williams is from Dallas. Whatever the Lakers decide to do they must make a splash whether its Dwight Howard, Deron Williams, or even James Harden.
    GM Mitch Kupchak must makes some moves if Kobe wants to have any chance of winning a title in the last season of his contract. The Lakers also have to thank David Stern for setting them back three to five years on blocking the Chris Paul trade. I don't understand the moves of letting Shannon Brown walk, along with letting Lamar Odom go without getting anything in return. Those moves really hurt your team, as much as I like Steve Blake and Matt Barnes, their productivity was nowhere near what Brown and Odom brought coming off the bench. Pau Gasol is likely done with the Lakers after this season, leaving a void to fill which may become Jordan Hill's spot. Ray Allen would be an excellent choice, providing instant offense which is something the Lakers didn't have this year. As for Roman Sessions he must improve going forward, because he play this post season was not something that was impressive.
    The Lakers have some serious moves to make this off season whether to keep Bynum or Gasol? Or maybe they'll make an attempt for Dwight Howard? What we do know is improving a bench that was awful to watch at times must be atop their list of concerns, along with bringing in some youthful quality talent going forward as well as for Kobe who will likely be playing his last season in a Laker uniform.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Lakers OKC Preview

    While most predict that OKC will runaway with this series against the Lakers, but I'm not too quick to rule out a team that has a guy by the name of Kobe Bryant.
    With that being said OKC is a tough match-up for any team with the three-headed attack of Durant, Westbrook, and Harden. You also can say the same thing about the Lakers with Bryant, Gasol, and Bynum. You would think that OKC would have the advantage having a week off to rest, over an older Laker team who just went seven games with the Denver Nuggets. I know OKC will show up and play hard, but I can't say the same about the Lakers will their lack of consistency. If which is the key world, the Lakers show up and play to their potential this series can possibly be the most exciting series we've seen in the playoffs so far.
    As for OKC I don't think they are going to change up their style of play at all. With that atmosphere and the excitement of getting to face the Lakers again after being eliminated by them 4-2 in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs in 2010. If you haven't noticed that team in 2010 is nowhere near the team that will take the floor Monday night. I do believe OKC has the advantage at the point guard position, Westbrook will be able to get anywhere on the floor with Sessions guarding him. I do believe Durant will struggle, having World Peace on him for the majority of the game.
    To win this series the Lakers must be on-top of their game for 40 minutes each time they take the floor. There are two major concerns that the Lakers will have to address, effort, and toughness. If the Lakers effort isn't high from the tip of the games, they will mess around and get ran off the court. When the Lakers play tough primarily Gasol and Bynum, they are one of the best teams in the NBA if not the best. The problem is you don't know which team is going to show up, and that lack of consistency is what hurts them. You know Bryant is going to give his all as well as World Peace on both ends of the world, as for the rest of the supporting cast who knows.
    What I do know is that this series can either go seven games or it can end in four. Favorites don't mean a thing when the ball is tipped, that's why we play the game.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

The Greatness Of Mayweather

    Despite how you feel about Floyd "Money" Mayweather when it comes to boxing the man is one of the best fighters of all-time with some believing that he will go down the best ever with the undefeated record of 43 victories and zero losses.
    It bothers me that people don't appreciate how great of a boxer Mayweather really is. The things that he does in the ring amazes me everything I'm done watching a fight. The guy never gets hits to a point of making his opponents look foolish throwing all kinds of punches, while Floyd just rolls his shoulder often smiling in the process. If your a fan of numbers I have one for you, Mayweather is the best defensive boxer ever with his opponents only landing 16% of their punches thrown that statistic alone speaks for itself. Last time I checked one of the main objectives in boxing is to not get hit if I'm correct.
     I strongly believe and know that Floyd "Money" Mayweather is the best boxer to ever step foot in the ring, statistics wise. I understand people like to throw names out like Ali, Hearns, and Sugar Ray are better, but the numbers say different. Mayweather has the highest plus/minus in boxing history with a plus/minus of 30, higher than all of the greatest that I just named, know to mention 43 have tried and 43 have failed.
     Now for the Pacquiao situation I do believe if he and Mayweather were to ever fight, that Mayweather would win. Along with Mayweather being the best defensive fighter to ever box, he is also the more accurate landing 41.6% of his jabs to Pacquiao's 12.6%. That's not the only thing that Mayweather does better than Pacquiao, Mayweather also lands a higher percentage of his power punches at 47.8% to Pacquiao's 45.3%. The numbers show not only is Mayweather is the best boxer, be is also is the more accurate than Pacquiao.
    I don't believe the two will fight despite what many say, whether its Mayweather not wanting to split the revenue to 50/50 or Pacquiao not wanting to take the urine and blood sample tests. Its shame the two probably won't fight it really is, but don't let your personal opinions get in the way of how great of a fighter Mayweather really is.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

What Lakers Team Will Show Up In Denver?


The Los Angeles Lakers showed many why they are considered to be the third best team in the Eastern Conference.
The performance of the Lakers last night, was a performance of a non championship contender, despite the late heroics of Kobe Bryant. Knowing that Denver would come out aggressive in a must win game facing elimination, the Lakers never matched the energy of the Nuggets. Everyone knows that the Lakers are a better team than the Nuggets, but that doesn’t mean a thing you still have to step on the court and play the game. The duo of McGee and Faried combining for 31 played a big role, because of their effort outplaying both Gasol and Bynum.
As for the Lakers there are some major questions that need to be addressed. You know what to expect from Kobe which doesn’t need to be questioned, his teammates are where the serious concerns lie. In order for the Lakers to win they need to feed their two seven footers’ in Gasol and Bynum once they get involved and are active then you work the ball back out. Often the two big guys had position on the block, but didn’t receive the ball I blame Mike Brown as well as your coach on the floor in Roman Sessions. I understand the absence of World Peace hurts, but in order to be a serious threat you need to have your bench step-up. The Lakers never look good when Kobe takes 32 shot attempts.
I don’t know what to expect in this Game 6 in Denver, but Mike Brown has to rally his troops and get his players to respond in a very hostile environment in the Pepsi Center. After Bynum’s weak performance in Game 5 I would like the team the Lakers will get him the ball early, but who knows the Lakers lack consistency and that will work them if they plan to win a championship let along make it out of the first round of the playoffs. 

Friday, May 4, 2012

LeBron Closes Out The Knicks

    In a big fourth quarter LeBron James put the pedal to the medal scoring 17 of Miami's final 32 points to close out the Knicks 87-70 taking a commanding 3-0 series lead. When LeBron plays like with confidence, and not fading away from the moment its a scary sight for the opposing team. This is what bothers people about LeBron's game, because you've seen it for yourself when the guy plays with confidence getting after it on the defensive end, taking it to the rim, and knocking down jumpers it frustrates you when he doesn't play this way all the time, because when he does the guy is unstoppable. He must continue this high level of play throughout the FINALS, because this year with Rose going down the pressure for LeBron and the Heat to win is through the rough. Here's what's funny the Knicks played well the first quarters, but when the Heat turned it up on the defensive end in the fourth, the Knicks team that played with energy and effort in the first half laid down like dogs. When the pressure is on, the Knicks disappear its just that simple. As much as I wanted to see the Knicks make a run I knew it wouldn't happen, because once the Heat matched the intensity of the Knicks on both ends of the floor the game was over.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Clippers Grizzles Game 2

I definitely will give Memphis credit, for keeping their foot on the gas and not letting the Clippers get too close making big shot after big shot putting the Clippers out of striking distance.Now for the Clippers, I still don't understand how the Grizzles kept getting open looks for behind the three as well as getting inside the paint. On top of that the Grizzles owned the board getting rebounds as well as second chance points. With Griffin and Jordan not the largest front court, but very athletic this shouldn't be happening. On the offensive end, outside of Chris Paul none of the Clippers can create on their own. With all the attention being paid to Paul he still found a way to get others good looks, but the key is you have to knock em down, and they couldn't do it. Blake Griffin did have 20 plus, but the guy needs to put in some serious work in during the off season, because his skill set is very limited. At full strength I do believe the Clippers would easily handle the Grizzles, but that's not the case and no matter who's on the roster you have to go to battle. The series is tied 1-1 going to Los Angeles and the Clippers are going to need to win both games, they don't want to have to go seven games with Memphis win, then face the read hot Spurs who will be well rested. With that being said I do expect the Clippers to perform a lot better I'm not going to say they will win the series, but remember anything is possible with Chris Paul on the floor.