Cho Goes Cody Zeller

Thursday night the Charlotte Bobcats selected Cody Zeller with the fourth overall pick.

Before you start to point the finger at Michael Jordan, remember Rich Cho drafted Zeller, not Jordan.

With a draft party filled with Ben McLemore supporters, the reaction from the fans during the selection inside Time Warner Cable Arena was not a pleasant one to say the least.

Rich Cho did say earlier in the week that the Bobcats would draft the best available player, rather than the team’s need.

Zeller being the best available player on the board can be argued.

Say what you want, but Zeller is a complete player, despite his struggles during the NCAA tournament.

Zeller’s sophomore season complied of averaging 16.5 points and 8.1 rebounds, both down from his freshmen season, but made up for it with an above-average performance during the NBA Combine, slating Zeller as a top-10, but going fourth was a shock.

I can’t say I’m completely shocked by the pick, during the week I heard from a couple sources that the Bobcats were high on Zeller. I just didn’t see them drafting him at four knowing the talent that would be available of Nerlens Noel and Ben McLemore.

There are two things that people can expect from Zeller: he’ll start the first game of the season, and now Steve Clifford has the option of running the pick and roll with Kemba Walker and Zeller. Zeller at 7’0 can stretch the floor knocking down the 18-foot jumper, along with having a solid back to the basket game.

The Bobcats have been missing a low-post presence, Zeller may be able to fill that void, having Patrick Ewing on the coaching staff can not do anything but help Zeller rather than hurt him.

Popular opinion is not in favor of the pick, CBSSports gave the Bobcats a grade of D+, but don’t be surprised with Zeller has a solid rookie season.

Zeller must improve his aggressiveness to be successful, if not it will be a nightmare of a rookie season dating back to his last game at Indiana when he was bullied by the Syracuse big men.

One thing Charlotte should know is that it looks as if Gerald Henderson will be the Bobcats starting shooting guard in the upcoming 2013-14 NBA season, with the Bobcats passing on McLemore.

             With Zeller coming in that means somebody will be on the way out.

As of today the Bobcats starting lineup will consist of Kemba Walker, Gerald Henderson Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo.

Do the Bobcats match Byron Mullens qualifying offer? Or do the Bobcats decide to let Mullens walk and resign Josh McRoberts? McRoberts played well for the Bobcats down the back stretch of the season.

 Justin Tyree

ESPN 730 Charlotte Bobcats Insider and Blogger

Twitter:  @JTyree704

Facebook:  http://www.Facebook.com/SportsFromMyEyes

 

Game 2 Must Win For Heat

    LeBron James in the game one defeat led the way for Miami with a triple-double of 18 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists, usually that's enough for a win in, but unfortunately in game one of the NBA Finals that wasn't enough for the Heat to beat the San Antonio Spurs.

    For a game that was well played, going down to the wire, I was not a fan of the mood following the game.

    For LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Erik Spoelstra to bring up a fatigue is something that doesn't sit well with me.

    If Miami would have won, fatigue wouldn't have been brought up.

    When you reach the NBA Finals everybody is tired, but that's an invalid excuse to bring up after such a well played game.

    Yes, the Spurs took game one, but don't be a prisoner of the moment fan and rule out the Heat.

    I have the series going seven games.

    Sunday night's game two match-up I do believe is a must win for the Miami Heat.

    I say that because you have to protect your home court, and the way Gregg Popovich coaches, there will not be a lack of intensity just because they won game one, San Antonio is fully aware of what the Heat are capable of.

    The x-factor for game two will be which ball club can connect from three point land. San Antonio shot 30 percent connecting on 7-23 with Miami at 32 percent connecting on 8-25, whoever can get the three ball going will have the end going into crunch time, that being the final three minutes of the regulation.

    One thing that won't change is Chris Bosh's style of play. Bosh has been taking some criticism as of late, and rightfully so he hasn't played well. Bosh is a finesse jump shooting power forward who just happened to be 6'11, he's not going to bang in the post that's not his game, Heat fans can only hope he starts shooting better from the field.

    Knowing the hole that Miami can fall into losing game two, I fully expect for the Heat to come out and take care of business on their home floor traveling to San Antonio with series split at 1-1.



Justin Tyree

ESPN 730 Charlotte Bobcats Insider and Blogger

Twitter:  @JTyree704

Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/SportsFromMyEyes
   

The Battle Of The Big 3's

    Tonight the NBA Finals will begin with the San Antonio Spurs traveling to South Beach to take on the Miami Heat.

    The battle of the Big 3's, Gregg Popovich's three stars versus Erik Spoelstra's three stars.

    Tony Parker versus LeBron James Manu Ginobili, versus Dwayne Wade and Tim Duncan versus Chris Bosh.

    This is an interesting match-up, because both teams play similar styles of basketball.

    Going into the season I believe the unanimous pick for the team that would end up winning the NBA Championship went to the Miami Heat, but the tides have turned.

    LeBron James is the best player in the NBA, but the team he plays on doesn't always end up performing like the best team in the NBA.

    Do I believe the San Antonio Spurs are the best team in the NBA? No.

    Do I believe the San Antonio have played the best basketball throughout the NBA Playoff's? Yes.

    The Spurs have had some help getting to the NBA Finals, sweeping a Los Angeles Lakers team without Kobe Bryant, a young Golden State ball club that just is not ready and a Memphis Grizzles team that simply wasn't a better ball club.

    The Miami Heat sweep the Milwaukee Bucks, made it interesting against the Chicago Bulls and beat the Indiana Pacers in game 7 playing their best basketball of the series.

    Miami's pressure defense versus Tony Parker will be the match-up that I believe will determine the series, with LeBron James ultimately guarding Tony Parker when it matters.

    Gregg Popovich is the Bill Belichick of the NFL in the sense of a master mind when given time to prepare for his opponents.

    I do believe the San Antonio Spurs are the better team right now, but when you have LeBron James anything is possible.

    Who are you taking? Greg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs? or LeBron James and the Miami Heat?

    The winner of game one of the NBA Finals has gone on to win the series 71 percent of the time.

    Game one of the NBA Finals, tip-off is at 9:00 p.m.


Justin Tyree

ESPN 730 Charlotte Bobcats Insider and Blogger

Twitter:  @JTyree704

Facebook:  https://www.Facebook.com/SportsFromMyEyes

What If The King Comes Up Short?

    Monday night I expect for the Miami Heat to take care of business in the form of the Indiana Pacers, and advance to the NBA Finals to face the San Antonio Spurs, who have been patiently waiting.

    Just for good conversation sake, what if the LeBron James and the Miami Heat come up short?

    Following the Indiana Pacers victory in game six, Charles Barkley said that he feels both teams have pressure to win game seven, but I disagree.

    The Pacers have been playing with house money, outside of the organization and their fans, many did not have the Pacers making it to the NBA Finals.

    The pressure is paramount for the Miami Heat, this is the same team that's suppose to win "Not one, not two, not three, not four...not five...not six...not seven" NBA championships, according to LeBron James.

    The hatred for this team is rampant outside of the state of Florida, but when you make a statement of that stature you have to back it up with the performance on the floor.

    In the words of former President Theodore Roosevelt "Speak softly, and carry a big stick."

    Rightfully so James has been backing his statement with his performances throughout this post season, but the two other members of the "Big 3" Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh have not.

    If your on the court then you can play. Dwayne Wade does not get a pass for his poor performance tonight and throughout this series, despite not being 100 percent.

    As for Chris Bosh he just has not shown up to play, no excuse.

    Basketball is a team sport, it takes a good team to get the job done, but when you are a superstar sometimes you have to elevate your game if the supporting case is not getting the job done.

    James who is 1-2 in game seven's, must elevate his game tonight, putting his team on his back and getting the job done. James is fully capable of doing so, just ask the Boston Celtics about his 45 points 15 rebounds last season in a must win game six performance on the road.

    James has has his moment of shine throughout this series from hitting the game-winning layup to dropping 16 of his 30 points in the third quarter, but he has also come up short with two costly turnovers that resulted in a defeat.

    Which LeBron James will show up tonight? King James the four-time MVP, or the guy that struggles to close out games?



Justin Tyree

ESPN 730 Charlotte Bobcats Insider and Blogger

Twitter: @JTyree704

Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/SportsFromMyEyes

The Best Of Three, Who Are You Taking?

    Miami took games one and three, while the Pacers took claim to games two and four, the question is simple with three games remaining in the series.

    Who are you taking?

    With Miami being the higher seed of the two, the Heat will get two of the three games played on their home-court of American Airlines Arena.

    Both teams have won a game on the others respective home floor, so the home-court advantage arguement can be thrown out the window.

    You can make a case for both teams on who should and will win the series, now the series has officially begun.

    LeBron James has been the most consistent player on the floor, but James alone will not be enough to win the series, that means Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh must come to play, or there's a good chance they can go home.

    Indiana has one thing going for them and that's "belief", they believe they can beat the Miami Heat.

    They have found a formula they believe that can lead them to the NBA Finals, when Hibbert can remain out of foul trouble, Indiana can keep James out of the paint.

    In Miami's wins James made a living in the paint, getting the higher percentage shot attempts he wanted, but in game four when Hibbert remained in the game, that kept James out of the paint.

    Indiana can live with James taking long contested jump shots, thats exactly want they want for him to do.

    This can work because with Wade and Bosh have been playing mediocre basketball at best, and the supporting cast of the Heat has not been performing as expected.

    At the same time I can make an arguement for Miami, in a sense that Indiana struggles at times to score baskets with Miami's pressure defense.

    In a best of three series LeBron James has enough talent and skill to win one if not two of the three, but he shouldn't have to, thats why he has two other teammates that makes up the "Big 3".

    Indiana has a team that can dethrown the defending champs, but will Paul George and Roy Hibbert be enough to get it done?

    Something has to give and we'll know by the end of the day, tip-off for tonight's game is scheduled for 8:30.

    Who are you taking?


Justin Tyree

ESPN 730 Charlotte Bobcats Insider and Blogger

Twitter: @JTyree704

Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/SportsFromMyEyes

   

LeBron James Comes Up BIG

As I wake up on this Thursday morning, I reflect on the amazing basketball game that took place last night in American Airlines Arena.

Paul George had his official coming out party, with David West and Roy Hibbert playing the role of supporting cast.

Coming into the series I picked Miami to win in five, and I stand by my decision.

When the game was on the line, the superstars of Miami showed up and closed the deal.

"Superstars make players."

The "Big 3" of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh scored the last four buckets for Miami, with James hitting the game-winning layup.

Yes, Frank Vogel made a coaching mistake of removing Hibbert from the last two possessions of the game, but Miami doesn't win if James doesn't recognized the move and makes the heady decision to take the ball to the rim.

Let me not forget about George overplaying James and letting him go right by him to hit the game-winning layup.

Indiana played the game they wanted to play, forcing Miami to play Pacers style of basketball out rebounding Miami along with forcing turnovers, but that wasn't enough.

Paul George did make an amazing three 32 feet away from the basketball to force the game into overtime, then had Wade make the mental mistake of fouling George on a three point attempt in overtime to tie the game going into the final possession.

These things aren't going to occur on a nightly basis in this series, but what I do know is when the game enters "crunch time" the Miami Heat have three players they can go to when they need a basket.

These games are going to come down to wire, but what separates the two, is one team doesn't really have a go to player when they need a bucket, when the other team has three options.

George finished with 27 points, West contributed 26 points, and Hibbert ended the game with 19 points.

James led Miami with a triple-double of 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, with Wade having 19 points and Bosh with 17 points of his own.

Game one was amazing, I expect nothing less from game two on Friday night.

Has Carmelo Anthony Reached His Ceiling?

        Carmelo Anthony through three quarters of game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals had 35 points, but came up short when his team needed him the most.

        Anthony finished with 39 points, going 2-7 from the field with two crucial turnovers in the fourth quarter that gave the Pacers the extra push they needed to win the game advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.

        Has Carmelo Anthony reached his ceiling?

        Many have defended Anthony claiming he needs a better number two, he receives the praise when he plays well, and he's going to receive the criticism for coming up short, again.

        When facing elimination games, Anthony is 3-9 that is not a stat that validates him as a superstar in this league.

        Anthony is big time, and its time he silent the critics as myself.

        I'm not going to give him a pass, through three quarters of play he was the best player on the floor, but when it mattered in the fourth quarter he went missing in action.

        At the 3:57 mark in the fourth quarter, with the game tied at 92, Anthony turned the ball over on a bad pass, which was taken the other way with Lance Stephenson converting on a three point play.

        The following possession at the 3:28 mark, Anthony doesn't take the best of shots, the Pacers get the rebound take it the other way and score two points, Pacers lead 97-92 at the 3:12 mark.

        Now the crowd is into it, this is the time when your superstar comes up big three minutes to go in a must when game on the road.

        Anthony turns the ball over on another bad pass that goes the other way for the Pacers with David West scoring increasing the Pacers lead 99-92 at the 2:34 mark.

        By this time down seven on the road in a hostile environment, the Pacers go ahead and close the deal, defeating the New York Knicks 106-99.

        Anthony had his best chance of his career to advance to the conference finals, and when it mattered he came up short.

        Talent is not the issue, I do recall LeBron James leading the Cavaliers to victory in 2006-07 Eastern Conference Finals, James put the Cleveland Cavaliers on his back against the Detroit Pistons scoring 29 of the Cavaliers' last 30 points, finishing with 48 points.

        James did not have much help if he had any, Anthony could have done the same, but he didn't.

        Carmelo Anthony is a superstar in this league, but until he proves otherwise, he's reached his ceiling.


Justin Tyree

ESPN 730 Charlotte Bobcats Insider and Blogger

Twitter:  @JTyree704

Facebook:  www.Facebook.com/SportsFromMyEyes