The Magazine
MAY2012
The Magazine
ADDICTED2THEGAME
Los Angeles based monthly NBA magazine. Non-biased real opinion about the NBA and it's players.
Jordan Rules Need no longer apply
Photo by Associated Press
By Daniel Brewster
Charlotte Bobcats since March 2010-becoming the first former NBA player to best basketball player who has ever lived. If gain majority ownership of a league you disagree, take into account his franchise. With all of Jordan’s success as a accomplishments: 6x NBA champion, 6x player you would think that owning a team NBA Finals MVP, 10x scoring champion, would be a breeze, right? Well, at the end of 3x steals champion, 10x All-NBA First the 2011-12 season, Jordan added another Team, 9x NBA All-Defensive Team, NBA record to his storied career--this time it Rookie of the Year, 3x NBA All-Star Game would not be one that he would brag to his MVP, 2x Slam Dunk Champion, NBA 50th friends about. Jordan and his Charlotte Anniversary All-Time Team, and NCAA Bobcats set the NBA record for the worst Champion. winning percentage in league history. One There is one thing, however, that would ask how someone of Jordan’s Michael Jordan has not yet conquered, and basketball pedigree could be at the head of that is owning a successful NBA team. the worst team in NBA history. Well here’s Jordan has been the majority owner of the how...
Michael Jordan, according to many, is the
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Photo by Chuck Burton
The Bobcats current struggles can be traced back to the 2010-11 season, when two of their best players, Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton, were not brought back after successful seasons. Still, the Bobcats began the season with aspirations of making the playoffs. Reality soon hit Jordan and his Cats as they began the season 9-19, resulting in Jordan firing Hall of Fame coach, Larry Brown. Jordan would hire Paul Silas and trade veterans Gerald Wallace and Nazr Mohammed away for practically nothing. The Bobcats would eventually end the 2010-11 season with a 34-48 record overall--going 25-29 under Silas. Before the 2011-12 season began, the Bobcats made some more moves, sending Stephen Jackson, Shaun Livingston, and their #19 pick to the Milwaukee Bucks for Corey Maggette. With Jackson gone, so was the last piece of the only Charlotte Bobcats team to make the playoffs. At this point it was clear that Jordan was going with a youth movement and with the #7 pick the Cats selected unproven Bismack Biyombo from the Congo. The Bobcats also had the #9 pick and with it selected Kemba Walker out of UConn, who was the NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player. The Bobcats began the 2011-12 campaign with a win in their first game of the season, and everything seemed fine. Little did Jordan and the Bobcats know, that win would be one of seven on the year. The team would finish the abbreviated 2011-12 season with 59 losses and a .106 winning percentage, the worst in the NBA. Let’s look at the personnel moves that Jordan has made. His
basketball decisions. He already earned a reputation as a bad evaluator of talent when he endorsed the Washington Wizards drafting Kwame Brown in 2001. Now making those decisions for the Bobcats, in 2006 Jordan drafted Adam Morrison instead of Brandon Roy, in 2007 Jordan drafted Brandan Wright instead of Joakim Noah, 2008 D.J. Augustin over Courtney Lee, 2009 Gerald Henderson over Jrue Holiday and Ty Lawson, and in 2011 Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo over Klay Thompson and Kawhi Leonard. DJ Augustin, Gerald Henderson, and Kemba Walker are all mediocre high draft picks who all seem to be lost on a team first poor decision was allowing that lacks size--with Tyrus Raymond Felton, who at the time Thomas as the starting power was still a decent point guard, to forward and DeSagana Diop as leave via free agency to the New the center. York Knicks. He then traded Jordan added to his already Tyson Chandler to the Dallas poor resume as an NBA owner Mavericks for Eric Dampier, during the NBA lockout when he Eduardo Najera, and Matt publicly took a stand against the Carroll. As we all know, Tyson players. Time Warner Cable Chandler was an integral part of Arena, the home of the Bobcats, the Dallas Mavericks can seat up to 19,000 and the championship run last year and Bobcats currently sit 16 in the was probably their most important NBA in attendance. Expect this player after Dirk Nowitzki. By figure to drop even more if Jordan trading Gerald Wallace to the doesn’t get it together and start Trailblazers for Dante drafting players who can make an Cunningham, Joel Przybilla, and immediate impact--which doesn’t Sean Marks, he allowed Portland seem likely considering Jordan to be a playoff contending team gave the Chicago Bulls a future despite injuries to Brandon Roy lottery pick and has not shown the and Greg Oden. Portland would ability to draft a franchise player. eventually trade Gerald Wallace to Honestly, Jordan needs to step New Jersey. aside from running a team. He The big question is why trade should focus on the business side established players for draft picks of his franchise--a world where he when you do so poorly in drafting has been largely successful. players. Before Jordan became the Without a doubt, he is the greatest owner of the Bobcats he was the player of all time, however, managing member of basketball Michael Jordan just might be the operations and handled all NBA's worst owner ever■
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Southeast Division Charlotte Bobcats (7-59)
F
It’s one thing to be bad, but it’s a completely different story to not even care. I am convinced that Tyrus Thomas will never do anything positive on a basketball court or in a locker room, and by Paul Silas’ attempt fashion him a new face with his fist, I take it so was his former coach. I don’t want to come down too hard on Michael Jordan because there is some talent on this team--Kemba Walker, Gerald Henderson, Byron Mullens, Bismack Biyombo--but egads, man! Boris Diaw won more games in two weeks with San Antonio than he did in three months with Charlotte. The Bobcats finished with an NBA record low .106 winning percentage and the 23 consecutive losses to end the season were only 3 shy of tying a record--and if you would have let them play more, they would have reached it. Even though Michael Jordan is the Michael Jordan of bad owners, how do you think Bob Johnson feels right now for naming this franchise after himself ? OUCH!
Washington Wizards (20-46)
D
John Wall will be a great point guard in this league, but it s hard to watch him play for this team. The Wizards are full of guys that are satisfied with losing. The trade for Nene, a true professional, may help in the future, but Wall and Nene can’t do it alone. Kevin Seraphin has a bright future in this league, but unless the Wizards make changes to the roster, the team will be bad for a long time. I wouldn’t want Andray Blatche on the same coast as John Wall, much less the same team. At least Michael Jordan isn’t running the Wizards.
Orlando Magic (37-29)
C
Orlando’s season was more drama than basketball. Dwight Howard was the only thing to talk about. Prior to opening night, the story was a failed trade to New Jersey. During the season, the story became Howard’s preferred teams list. After the trade deadline, the story was Howard demanding Stan Van Gundy’s head on a stick. On the court, Howard was having another stellar year. Along with Ryan Anderson and Glen Davis’ improved play, Howard led the Magic to the top half of the standings. Howard’s back injury caused Orlando to slide in April and will leave the team without its star player until next season.
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Southeast Division
Atlanta Hawks (40-26)
B
The Hawks had another successful year, but once again finished in the 4-5 slot in the East. However, this season, that had more to do with the top 3 in the conference than anything the Hawks did or did not do. Winning 60% of your games is always impressive, and Josh Smith was the biggest catalyst for that. Smith had his best season as a pro, with numbers nearing 19 points and 10 rebounds per game. Jeff Teague also posted career numbers in his first season as the starting point guard, and Joe Johnson played as consistent as you would expect him to. You would hope that career years from two starters would amount to more than the fourth best record in the conference, though.
Miami Heat (46-20)
A
South Beach was chomping at the bit to have the NBA lockout end and get the season going so that the Miami Heat could avenge their disastrous loss in the 2011 NBA Finals. The Heat took the court and looked focused on just that. They finished the regular season with the best home record in the league and the #2 seed in the East. The overall talent of the Big 3 made it possible for new roster additions like Shane Battier and Norris Cole to learn the offense, and players like Mike Miller to get healthy, without the Heat dropping many games. Improvements from Mario Chalmers and a healthy Udonis Haslem made life easier, but the Heat season started and ended with #6. LeBron James enjoyed what I believe was the best season of is career. His 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists per game were jaw dropping. James attempted less 3-pointers than he ever has in his career, and his field goal percentage was higher than it ever had been. By the end of the season, the 2-time NBA MVP was now the 3-time NBA MVP. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were consistent throughout the year and even with the Heat only amounting to the #2 seed, they are the favorites to win the East and challenge for an NBA title once again.
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ROOKIE OF THE YEAR KYRIE IRVING Photo by David Liam Kyle
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Central Division Cleveland Cavaliers (21-45) The Cavaliers only won two more games than they won last year, but there is a lot to be happy about in Cleveland. First and foremost, Kyrie Irving is a stud. The kid put up 18.5 points in only 30 minutes per game en route to Rookie of the Year honors. The other top 5 pick on the roster, Tristan Thompson, struggled at times, but it is evident that he has a world of talent. Antawn Jamison had another good season late in his career, and is on board with providing veteran leadership to this extremely young team. As long as Cavs management puts weapons around Irving, this team will not be in the cellar for too long.
C
Detroit Pistons (25-41)
D
The Pistons didn’t have much success this season, but the future looks promising. Greg Monroe became the team’s leading scorer and rookie Brandon Knight had a good first year. It will be interesting to see what happens with Rodney Stuckey going forward, but the Pistons should build around Knight and Monroe. Stuckey, Ben Gordon, and Tayshaun Prince are very good trade pieces if the Pistons go that route, but either way, this team is still a few years away from a return to the playoffs.
Milwaukee Bucks (31-35) Another year with Andrew Bogut getting injured, but this time the season concluded without the former #1 pick on the roster. The biggest story of the Bucks season was the trade that sent Bogut and journeyman Stephen Jackson to Golden State for Monta Ellis. Bogut had always been a borderline All-Star caliber player when healthy, but he was never healthy for too long. With Ellis, the Bucks protected themselves in case Brandon Jennings decides to leave Milwaukee, while it also provided a boost this year. Milwaukee made a strong push for a playoff spot after the deadline, but fell just short.
C-
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Central Division Indiana Pacers (42-24)
A
In life, and in the NBA, the expression, “Youth must be served” is almost always true. In the case of the Indiana Pacers, that certainly seems to be accurate. The Pacers, led by Danny Granger, took a core of 20-somethings that got a taste of their potential last year, and turned it into Results City in 2011-12. A few new faces--David West, George Hill, and Leandro Barbosa--provided the kick needed for the Pacers to make a splash in the NBA. Granger, already an All-Star caliber player, began taking the next step in what separates the good from the elite, he made his teammates better. Roy Hibbert, Paul George, Darren Collison, and Tyler Hansbrough all adjusted to slightly different roles now that Indiana had new faces, but behind Granger’s leadership, were efficient and brought home victories. Indiana finished behind only Chicago and Miami in the standings. Their 42-24 mark was the Pacers’ first winning season since 2004-05 and the .636 winning percentage was the best since the 2003-04 campaign. Although the Pacers may not have a single player the level of Derrick Rose or LeBron James, they are as deep as any team in the NBA and will have much time to grow together. Indiana will be atop the Eastern conference for a long
Chicago Bulls (50-16)
A
Winning 50 games in a 66 game season is astonishing in itself, but when you take into account that the Bulls had to go nearly half the year without their star player and NBA MVP Derrick Rose, the feat becomes even more impressive. Chicago was able to win games because players like C.J. Watson and John Lucas stepped up when they were called upon. Add to that the defense that Tom Thibodeau has etched into the DNA of this team and it becomes easier to see why the Bulls remained successful sans Rose. With Rose, Chicago was 32-7, but it wasn’t all his doing. With or without Rose in the lineup, any number of Bulls supporting characters would show up in the clutch. One day it would be Ronnie Brewer, the next Taj Gibson or Joakim Noah. Many nights it would be Luol Deng, who reached his first All-Star game in 2012. Chicago hoped to get an added boost from Richard Hamilton, but he too missed the majority of the season due to injury. Take a step back and think about how impressive the 2011-12 Chicago Bulls season was.
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The Zen Master in the Big Apple Why the Knicks need Phil Jackson By Preston Newsom
year’s Cinderella story Jeremy Lin. So with all this, what's the problem? offensively have been due to lack of spacing. We could point to leadership, maybe So far, it is clear that Carmelo Anthony and even a lack of chemistry, but the real Amar’e Stoudemire cannot play together problem is lack of spacing on offense. At because they occupy the same spots on the times, the team is just watching Carmelo or floor. With both stars on the court, the Amar’e sit on the ball and it leads to spells Knicks are only a .500 team. This is a of droughts only seen in the Sahara. It also major problem seeing how both are max leads to games where Amar’e has only salary players and New York is unlikely to taken 8 or 9 shots, which is unacceptable find a trade partner for Amar’e in the for a max player. Anyone who has ever offseason. played basketball will tell you that it’s much On top of that, the players have openly easier to play hard and get back on the admitted to lacking in effort on the defensive end if you know you'll get a touch defensive end under head coach Mike on the offensive end, and right now that's D'Antoni, who is not known for his genius not happening. on that end. While the players have played The Answer? Phil Jackson. Asides from better defensively under Mike Woodson, the obvious connection to the Knicks they still have problems on the offensive (former player), he hasn't ruled out ever end. coaching again. Jackson is known for Let's be honest, this team has no bringing teams together, and his 11 rings shortness of talent with big time players demand respect from even the most wild of Carmelo and Amar’e, followed by proven players--Earl Smith III. scorer J.R smith, Steve Novak, who might Jackson’s Triangle Offensive, created by be the best shooter in the league behind the great Tex Winter, is built on spacing. It Ray Allen, Defensive Player of the Year would allow both Carmelo and Amar’e to Tyson Chandler, glue guy Landry Fields, play in the post. It also allows for Carmelo impressive rookie Iman Shumpert, and this to isolate on the high, mid and low post, like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. The Triangle would allow long range shooters J.R Smith and Steve Novak to give the offense the spacing the two main pieces need to operate, and it allows for Lin or Shumpert to run a 2-man game with the bigs. While it would take a season to a season and a half to completely learn all the ins and outs of the Triangle--as well as the reads--it would greatly benefit the Knicks in every possible way. My suggestion to the Knicks would be to begin making calls and roll out the red carpet for Coach Jackson as soon as the season ends. You never know, it may result in the first championship for the Knicks in decades■
Many of the New York Knicks’ problems
“[Phil] Jackson’s Triangle Offense, created by the great Tex Winter, is built on spacing.”
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Swan Song The Last Hurrah for the Boston Celtics By Daniel Brewster
You might have to go back to 2008--the year the Boston Celtics' Big Three were assembled--to recall a time when they went into the playoffs and there wasn't any talk about this being their last goround together. While all that talk seems just as prevalent today, it has a much more realistic feel about it now. Kevin Garnett will be a free agent in July and there is no guarantee that Boston GM Danny Ainge will bring him back. The C’s must decide whether to pony up the kind of money it will take to keep him in the fold despite having significant cap space. Paul Pierce has two more years on his contract but he has seriously considered retirement because of the constant abuse his body has taken after 14 years in the NBA. And there is Ray Allen, who doesn’t start for the Celtics any longer and is currently nursing a right ankle injury that has taken longer to heal that he anticipated. "I hope their fans really appreciate what they're about to do in the playoffs," said one NBA
Photos by Ronald Martinez & Walter Iooss
front-office official. "Because they're not going to see them, not this Big Three, do it again. No one expects all three of them back in Boston next season. The Celtics are clearly building for the future. As much as those guys have meant, I think all of them know that the time to move on, is probably now." Danny Ainge, Boston’s president of basketball operations, has made no secrets about his desire to get younger and begin rebuilding in Boston while remaining competitive. Unfortunately for Celtics fans, that might mean parting ways with one or two members of the Big Three. Ray Allen, more than anybody else, was subject to trade rumors throughout the season and was almost dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies for O.J. Mayo moments before the trade deadline passed. In what would have been a shocking move, Ainge nearly dealt Mr. Celtic Paul Pierce to the Nets for Mehmet Okur and a lottery pick, but the deal never reached completion.
Being a former Celtics player, Ainge saw firsthand the demise of the previous Celtics Big Three-Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parrish. Ainge often talks about how then Celtics GM Red Auerbach refused to trade any of them because he felt that doing so just wouldn’t feel right. Ainge said that he would not have been so hesitant if he were in Auerbach’s shoes. Ainge has made multiple efforts in recent years to move members of the big three but has never found a deal that made sense for them now and moving forward. And so the Big Three carry on towards another playoff run. With the slew of injuries to teams across the Eastern Conference, the C’s have an opportunity to get to the Eastern Conference Finals, where anything is possible. Kevin Garnett, the impromptu leader of the team who unconventionally moved to center this season, has talked openly about all the criticism and how it has fueled him throughout the season,
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"I hear y'all calling me old. I hear y'all calling me older, weathered," said Garnett, who will be 36 next month. "It don't really take much to motivate me. I'm older in basketball years, but in life I'm 30something. Some of y'all, I'm looking at your grey hairs, no hair, half hair, beautiful hair, wet hair, no comment … I'm just motivated." It is that desire to always improve, more than anything else, that has been why all the trade talk and past-your-prime talk has never really stuck with this group. "I don't think they've been distracted,” Ainge said, “that's just who they are. I don't think they've done anything different this year than they've done in years past. That's just who they always are and have always been. Maybe they get distracted for a moment here or there, but that's just the signature and legacy of their Hall of Fame careers. They play, and they have this resolve and they have this determination to be good." As we watched the Celtics' progression this season, it was evident that those very qualities slowly but surely trickled down to their teammates, young and old. Keyon Dooling is in his 12th NBA season, but when you listen to him talk about what playing with the Big Three has meant to him, you'd think he was still on his rookie contract. "It's been life-changing for me to “We still have a lot to accomplish this year”
be around Hall of Famers, see what they do on a daily basis that makes them great," Dooling told CSNNE.com. "To get the basketball insight from them, how they see the game, the stuff that you can't get from a playbook or from a coach … it's been a phenomenal experience and it'll be something that I'll be able to keep with me my whole life." When the season started, it seemed farfetched to view the Celtics as contenders, but they have made many into believers-including myself--based on their performance since the All-Star break. "I continue to be impressed with who they are," Ainge said. "They're not perfect. They don't have great weeks, every week. But just to see how they dealt with their careers. They're impressive people. It's been a joy for me to be around. I've been around a lot of great players in my life. I said it in 2008, I've never seen the Hall of Fame type players, at their age, prepare and approach the game the way they approach it; with the determination and work ethic. They never miss practice. They're there everyday. That was a joy to watch. And that's continued. It's 2012. They've taken more time off as their bodies have needed it, but usually it's because Doc's giving them the time off. Because Doc knows they'll practice; they'll be out there on the court. That's just who they are. They don't know any other way." With Rajon Rondo emerging as the best player on the team, the Celtics are not done yet. With Rondo, the Celtics have taken on the persona of the Big Four, who I think can really put a scare into Miami. Who knows how the Celtics will finish this season; one thing that is for certain is that after this year the Celtics will look like a completely different team. Pierce, Rondo, and Allen may be gone and Jeff Green, who the C’s traded Kendrick Perkins away for, should be back and healthy. All that said, the Celtics remain one of the most feared teams in the playoffs right now and Danny Ainge is not complaining. "We still have a lot to accomplish this year," Ainge said. "We're not done. We're not done."■
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Atlantic Division New Jersey Brooklyn Nets (22-44) The Nets season went from bad to ugly when part-owner, Jay-Z unveiled the unsightly new logo for the now Brooklyn Nets. And though it is hard to look at the new paraphernalia for too long, it’s even harder to look back at the Nets last season in New Jersey.
D
The Nets attempted to pair Deron Williams with Dwight Howard before the season began, but once Brooke Lopez went down with injury that deal had no chance. Injuries hurt the Nets a great deal, but through it all, Deron Williams persisted at an All-Star level of play. On a few positive notes, rookie Marshon Brooks had a promising season, the Nets may have discovered a gem off the Lakers D-League squad in Gerald Green, and Kris Humphries still doesn’t relent. On a negative note, they are all still on the Nets. Though the Governor of New Jersey couldn’t get rid of the Nets soon enough, we wish them the best of luck in Brooklyn. Toronto Raptors (23-43) The franchise player, Andrea Bargnani, missed more than half of the season, but he was impressive when he returned. DeMar DeRozan had a very good third season, and Jose Calderon was as steady as ever. The problem with Toronto is that there isn’t enough talent on the roster to help the top 3 guys out. The Raptors will look towards a very deep draft to provide some help. They are in desperate need of size, as their starting lineup probably combines to weigh as much as Charles Barkley post-Weight Watchers.
D+
Philadelphia 76ers (35-31) The Sixers had a roller coaster of a season. They spent the first half of the season battling for the top spot in the East and the second half fighting to stay in the playoff picture; Philly averted disaster and snagged the last playoff spot. The Sixers’ team leader, Andre Igoudala, had a great year in a new role. The onus of scoring fell to Lou Williams and Jrue Holiday, while Igoudala took care of everything else. Philadelphia benefited from a deep roster that included veterans Elton Brand and Thaddeus Young and youngsters Evan Turner and Jodie Meeks. Not much was expected from this team at the beginning of the season, but after the great start, it was disappointing that the kids couldn’t finish the year off strong.
C+
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Atlantic Division New York Knicks (36-30) The Knicks made it to playoffs, yes, but as the seventh seed. It’s hard to imagine that a team with two legitimate All-Stars can underachieve so often. Despite the fact that Carmelo Anthony has put up numbers that exceed most of those from his fellow 03 draft peers, it’s hard to even put him in the same sentence as LeBron James today. What does it say about these stars that the New York Knicks played their best with Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire out and Jeremy Lin in?
C
The Knicks did show signs of great potential to end the season, but when Anthony admits to not playing as hard under Mike D’Antoni as he is for Mike Woodson, how much can you trust him? It is hard for me to look at the Knicks and think that they will ever perform to the best of their abilities. However, I am sold on Jeremy Lin and think he can be an essential piece to the puzzle. Something has to spark the Knickerbockers as the New York media will continue to eat the team alive until they return to the top of the Eastern Conference.
Boston Celtics (39-27)
B
Rumors of the Boston Celtics demise have been greatly exaggerated. Amidst fear that the condensed NBA schedule would be too difficult for the Celtics to get through, many had written Boston off before the calendar turned to 2012. Although the Celtics started the season off rough, going 15-17, while battling through Ray Allen health issues, Rajon Rondo would eventually put the illustrious franchise on his back. Rondo recorded six triple-doubles, including a historic 18-point, 17-rebound, 20-assist monster against the New York Knicks. To end the season, Rondo recorded double-digit assists in 23 consecutive games, sat out the next three, and then dished out 15 in 25 minutes in the season finale. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett also picked up the slack while Allen was out. Both Pierce and Garnett enjoyed their best seasons since the 2007-08 championship year, and in his first season averaging over 30 minutes per game, Brandon Bass put up career numbers. The most significant contribution came from Avery Bradley, who was anything but a household name prior to this season. Bradley filled in for Ray Allen at the 2 and even took over the starting point guard role when Rondo sat out. There is no doubt that the short season wore the Celtics down a bit, but with this cast of proven veterans, including the best point guard in basketball, it is hard to bet against them in the playoffs.
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San Antonio Spurs 4 - 0 Utah Jazz
The 1-8 matchup in Western Conference pitted two of the NBA’s hottest teams against each other. The Utah Jazz battled throughout the season to make it into the playoffs. When the calendar turned to April, the Jazz played their best ball of the season. Utah finished the year winning its final 5 games in a row, and 7 of its last 10. San Antonio, likewise, ended the regular season on a winning streak as well; the Spurs won their last 10 games, their third 10+ game winning streak in three months. Although the Spurs had a huge advantage on the experience front, it was difficult to forget San Antonio’s playoff debacle last season, becoming the third #1 seed ever to fall in the first round. Much like the Memphis Grizzlies of last year, these Jazz would hope to ride their interior size and power to a first round upset over the smaller Spurs. The Spurs, however, were not interested in repeating history. Utah was able to compete on the interior as Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors, and Enes Kanter won the battle on the glass and disrupted most attempts in the paint in each game. Offensively, Millsap and Jefferson had spurts of dominance, just not often enough. The book on the Spurs, at least for the last two seasons, has been that size bothers them--and for the most part, that had been true. It seems as though San Antonio has been able to adjust there offense to operate against bigger teams, however (see the last two Spurs v. Lakers games of 2012). Not that size doesn’t bother the Spurs--it bothers every team--but they impose tempo on size, rather than having it go the other way around. Let me not get too caught up in one particular facet of the game, San Antonio dominated most in this series. Maybe Utah was just too young, their coach still learning the ropes, or maybe it was just the Spurs being out on a mission. Tony Parker and Tim Duncan controlled games 1 and 3, everyone else controlled games 2 and 4. Gregg Popovich chose to stick to his 10-12 man rotations of the regular season rather than shortening them for the playoffs--good move. The Spurs shot the ball extremely well, and the series was only close for minutes. San Antonio lost only two quarters the entire series and never ended a quarter on the short end of the score. Even more impressive than San Antonio’s offense was their defensive effort, as Utah struggled to make jumpers throughout. The most impressive team of the 2011-12 regular season was also the most impressive team of the 2012 Playoffs.
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COACH OF THE YEAR GREGG POPOVICH Photo by Darren Abate
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Oklahoma City Thunder 4 - 0 Dallas Mavericks This looked to be the marquee match-up of the entire first round. Even though the series ended in four, it was as close as a sweep could be--if a sweep could be close. This was more than the usual 2-7 match-up, this was the reigning NBA Champions against the team already christened as the next. There was fear that the topsy turvy regular season that the Mavericks endured weighed too heavy on the hopes of a successful title return. The addition--and subsequent subtraction--of Lamar Odom made it difficult for Dallas to build any team chemistry, and the loss of Tyson Chandler and J.J. Barea in free agency altered the identity and attitude of the hard-nosed, defensively dominant Mavericks that blitzed the Heat en route to the 2011 NBA Championship. But through it all the Mavericks persevered. They ended the regular season third in the West in defense and Dirk Nowitzki overcame a slow start and finished at his usual high level of play. Along with the ever-ready Jason Terry, the world knew that the Mavericks would start the playoffs ready to play. The Thunder, however, are truly exceptional. Dallas’ championship mettle showed early in game 1. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden came primed to play, and with 22 from Serge Ibaka, it would seem that OKC should have run away with the game--Terry and Dirk had other plans. The two Maverick leaders kept their team not only in, but ahead through most of the game. The game came down to the final shot. With the Thunder down 1, Kevin Durant was forced to take an off-balance, one-handed 15-footer that bounced from the front of the rim, off the backboard, and in. The champs didn’t sulk, they came back ready to steal game 2. Dallas held a lead in the final minute of the game, but this time the Thunder would trade last second heroics for clutch free throws as Kevin Durant knocked down two at the strike to put OKC ahead and James Harden put the game away with four more. Jason Terry missed two 3-point attempts and the Mavs headed home down 0-2. In game 3, the Thunder clamped down on defense, held the Mavs to 34% shooting and rode a 31point game from Durant for an easy win. Game 4 saw the Thunder stars continue their excellent play, and the Mavericks continue to fight and claw until they had no more life. Nowitzki’s 34 weren’t enough to get Dallas a victory and the champions were dethroned in 8 days.
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SIXTH MAN JAMES HARDEN Photo by Glenn James
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Manimal By Kryston Tillett
regular season he averaged 26.8 minutes per game. His production has been opened up playing time for a guy who tremendous given those limited minutes. appears to be a big part of the Nuggets’ On the season, Faried totaled 10.2 future, Kenneth Faried. Known as a points, 7.7 rebounds, and a block in 22.5 rebounding machine at Moorhead State, minutes per game. His player efficiency Faried was drafted 22 overall by the rating for the season is 21.94, leading all Nuggets in the 2011 NBA draft. rookies--including Kyrie Irving. Not bad for Most draft analysts agreed Faried was a a player who didn’t really play the first two player ready to contribute right away, but months of the season and who only had with Nene re-signed, and Danilo Gallinari, spot minutes in 7 of the 46 games he Al Harrington, Birdman Anderson, and appeared in. Timofey Mozgov all considered rotation Imagine if the Nuggets didn’t re-sign players, Faried only appeared in 1 of 4 Nene and gave Faried minutes from the December games and only 2 of 17 January beginning of the season. Judging by his games. In February, his hard work paid off improvement month to month as he and he appeared in all but 2 games, received more playing time, and the fact averaging 8.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per that his body is built to withstand the length game for the month. of the NBA season, it can be assumed he Then on March 15, the Nuggets would have had a larger impact than Kyrie decided to open the window all the way for Irving. Now Irving is amazing and Faried, trading Nene to the Washington propelled the Cavs back to relevance-Wizards. Faried went on to average 11.7ppg somewhat--but Faried would have been and 7.8rpg in March, and 11.6ppg and seen as a rookie greatly contributing to a 9.1rpg in April. While in January he only playoff team as a starter (he started 39 of got ten minutes of playing time per game, 46 games he played). Faried no doubt his minutes increased by eight minutes in would have been deeper in the Rookie of February, another six in March, and two the Year conversation. more in April. The last month of the Lets say Faried had averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds and displayed the doubledouble machine he was in college while appearing in 60 games (Irving played in only 51), he would have been the Rookie of the Year. Even with his current averages, the only reason I don’t consider him Rookie of the Year is because he wasn’t given minutes early in the season. Watching him now, I definitely think about what could have been had Faried been given more opportunity. Can’t wait until he has an NBA offseason to work on his game and come back better next year. I see a guy who can challenge Kevin Love as NBA leading rebounder. So this article is to acknowledge you, Kenneth Faried, because your team may have very well robbed you of the ROY award. I see you, big man■
By trading Nene, the Denver Nuggets
“I see a guy who can challenge Kevin Love as NBA leading rebounder.”
Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood
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Los Angeles Lakers 4 - 3 Denver Nuggets
The Lakers sure do have a flare for theatrics. Los Angeles matched up with the Denver Nuggets, and together, the two teams played one of the most competitive and entertaining series in recent memory. Denver entered the playoffs on a roll that saw them go from competing for the eighth seed to winning the sixth by two games over Dallas. Still, not many folks--outside of Charles Barkley--thought the Nuggets had a chance in the series. But numbers don’t lie. Denver led the NBA in scoring in the regular season, were one of only seven teams in the league with a winning road record, have size and speed, and most importantly, play hard for 48 minutes. Add to that the common lapses in the Lakers’ effort and the loss of Metta World Peace for 6 games and what you get is one helluva series. The story of game 1 was the dominance of Andrew Bynum. The 24-year old center recorded a 10point, 13-rebound, 10-block triple-double and led the team to an easy win. After the game, Bynum concluded that he serves the team better when he applies himself on defense--a fact seemingly foreign to him up to then. Led by Ty Lawson--who would suddenly turn Super Saiyan for the duration of the series--Denver would be much more competitive in game 2, but 38 points from Kobe Bryant and 27 from Bynum secured a 2-0 series lead for Los Angeles. Inspired by the home crowd and one of those Laker lapses, Lawson and the combined efforts of Kenneth Faried and JaVale McGee brought Denver its first win in the series in game 3. Even with the Lakers’ road woes and the dominance of L.A.’s bigs nothing but a memory, Denver dropped game 4 at home and was now looking at an elimination game in Los Angeles. But closeout games are actually kind of easy. At least Andrew Bynum thought so. Armed with some bulletin board material, the Nuggets were able to steal a game in L.A. even with Kobe Bryant scoring 43 points. Game 6 in Denver was hardly competitive, and another lack luster performance from Kobe’s Lakers had the future Hall of Famer calling out his teammates in the post game press conference. A team in control was now looking at a game 7, and even with the return of Metta World Peace to the lineup, the Lakers were so outplayed in the last two games that it was hard to imagine this game wouldn’t be highly contested. Game 7 was a classic. After a close first half, the Lakers built and then squandered a 16-point lead in the third quarter, but clutch shooting from Steve Blake and an impressive showing from Pau Gasol were enough to counter great games by Ty Lawson and Al Harrington and gave the Lakers the game and the series. Lakers move on. More drama to come.
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ADDICTED2THEGAME Photo by Joe Murphy
When the Stars Cant Get It Done Send in the other guys By Kryston Tillett
The Clippers’ Kenyon Martin and Reggie Evans both come off the bench and back up two key members of the Lob City phenomenon. Playing behind DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin may not seem rather ink worthy, but these guys play a tremendous X-factor role for the Los Angeles Clippers. K-Mart and Evans are often in the game for the Clippers down the stretch, providing a presence that Griffin and Jordan often times cannot. K-Mart is a power forward who has the ability to guard most wings in the NBA, as well as power forwards and most centers. Evans is a fierce post defender despite being undersized; when given minutes, he seems to have a knack for grabbing every rebound. Evans ranks third in the entire NBA in rebound rate (the percentage of missed shots a player rebounds). Griffin and Jordan are not very good post defenders, so the Clippers turn to their back up bigs to hold down the paint when games are close. Martin is also a much better foul shooter than both starting big men, while Evans hardly ever possesses the ball aside from rebounding and easy finishes at the basket. Evans and Martin both possess higher basketball IQ’s on the defensive end while in addition, both set very good screens, and KMart always knows how to put himself in positions that help his team score. The Clippers definitely have a lot of talent with guys like Chris Paul, Griffin, Jordan, Caron Butler, and Mo Williams. Most of the point scoring has little to do with Martin and Evans, but if the Clippers are to enjoy any playoff success, these two back up big men will have to keep making the key contributions they’ve been making■
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Memphis Grizzlies 3 - 4 Los Angeles Clippers The nature of the 4-5 match up is to be competitive. So is the nature of the Memphis Grizzlies. So is the nature of Chris Paul. This one had “Seven” written all over it. The Grizzlies finished the year winning six in a row and sixteen of nineteen overall--taking over the #4 seed and home-court advantage in the process. The Clippers, led by Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, enjoyed the franchise’s best season ever. Game 1 gave us one of the most unbelievable results ever. The Grizzlies were in complete control throughout. A team not known for scoring, the Grizzlies had 85 points and a lead of 21 after three quarters; with nine minutes left in the game, the lead was 24. Then the Grizzlies were introduced to Reggie Evans and Nick Young. Though Evans is not a scorer, his energy and toughness induced not only a sense of urgency in the Clippers, but a shock through the Grizzlies roster. Nick Young, well, he is very adept at putting the ball in the basket, and he did just that. Chris Paul & Co. stormed back, took the lead, and after Rudy Gay missed a buzzer beater, escaped Memphis with the least likeliest of wins. With both teams in shock, it was hard to tell how either team would come back in game 2. The Grizzlies and Clippers, running on adrenaline, played a fast-paced second game but it was Memphis that came out on top. As the series made its way to Hollywood, Chris Paul took it upon himself to put the Clippers on top. The games in L.A. couldn’t have been any closer. Game 3 saw the Clippers eek out a 1-point win after Rudy Gay missed another last second shot. Game 4 went into overtime after the Grizzlies made up a 10-point deficit late in the fourth quarter, but in OT, Paul would lead the Clippers past the Grizz and send Memphis to the brink of elimination. Down 3-1, the Grizzlies used a dominant showing from their front court to bring the series a bit closer. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol took control of the paint and made the Clippers a jump shooting team. Still, the Grizzlies needed to do it again in Los Angeles. The Grizzlies did just that. Game 6 saw Gasol and Z-Bo combine for 41 points and 25 rebounds, and this time Memphis showed true grit and ended the game strong. Game 7 saw both teams struggle to put the ball in the hoop. In the end, it was the Clippers’ role players, Young, Evans, Kenyon Martin, and Mo Williams, that finished the game alongside Chris Paul and sent the Clippers into the second round. Continuing their best season ever.
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Chicago Bulls 2 - 4 Philadelphia 76ers The Chicago Bulls spent most of the 2011-12 season learning to win without Derrick Rose. Rose played in only 39 of the team’s 66 games due to injury--turf toe, back spasms, pulled groin, and foot injuries. Chicago was 18-9 without the 2011 MVP and finished 50-16 overall, once again capturing the top seed in the East. The Philadelphia 76ers, using hard nosed defense and a deep rotation, spent most of the year around the third spot in the East. With just over a month left in the season, however, Philly collapsed and nearly missed the playoffs. A team that looked to have a stranglehold on the Atlantic Division, the Sixers wound up losing the division to Boston and finished behind the Knicks in playoff seeding. The series began with a clean bill of health for the Bulls, unfortunately, that would only last a few hours. With just over a minute to go in a 10-point game 1, Rose drove to the basket, left his feet, and when he came down he would not get back up. The MVP had torn his ACL and though the Bulls took game 1, they faced an uphill struggle the rest of the series. With Chicago missing their star player, Philadelphia took full advantage. The Sixers, behind stellar performances from Lou Williams, Evan Turner, and Jrue Holiday, captured game 2 and headed home nodded at 1. In game 3, the Bulls looked to do what they had done all year--win without Derrick Rose. After a close first half, Chicago went to its signature lock-down defense and was able to put some space between themselves and Philadelphia. In the fourth quarter, Joakin Noah went down with a sprained ankle and the Sixers roared back to take the series lead. Chicago was now down its top two players. Game 4 would see Chicago rely on Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng to make up for the losses of Rose and Noah. Boozer and Deng had done little to make their mark on the series thus far, and their efforts would fall short once again as Philly took a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. Deng and Boozer would finally show up in game 5 in Chicago. The de facto stars carried the team on offense and used a poor shooting day from the Sixers to bring the series closer. Chicago looked primed to tie the series in game 6 as they held a lead late. However, Philly turned the match into a free throw contest and after a poor decision by replacement point guard C.J. Watson to pass the ball to Omer Asik, who would miss the two ensuing free throws, Andre Igoudala put the Sixers on top after hitting his free throws with 2 seconds left. Just like that, the fourth eighth seed in NBA history had taken down a #1.
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Every Rose Has Its Thorn What to expect from D. Rose By Preston Newsom
"The key to success is often the ability to adapt" - Anthony Brandt. People must adapt every day to survive in this world. They must learn what they can and can't do to be successful in their environment. While Chicago is no third world country, I wouldn't exactly consider it a walk in the park either, and Derrick Rose has been adapting and surviving since his boyhood in the Windy City. So why should I expect anything else but a brilliant career from Derrick Rose coming off his ACL injury? After a shortened season where he's seen everything from facial lacerations to foot injuries to an ACL tear in the first game of the playoffs, why shouldn't I expect a full recovery? This is a guy who came from a single parent household in Chicago, won NBA MVP and signed a max deal with the Bulls to become the face of the franchise. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect the same high flying, 100% all out for 48 minutes Derrick Rose, but I do expect a new refined Rose-almost like food that already tasted great, with another dash of seasoning.
Tearing his ACL will force Rose to continue to improve on his already growing game. He will no longer be able to rely on his freakish jumping ability to bail him out of the bad situations he can sometimes put himself in. He may lose some jumping ability, lateral quickness, and speed, but for a guy who was head and shoulders above everyone else, maybe that'll even the playing field a bit. His jump shot must continue to improve, he must continue to grow as a play-maker while getting his teammates easy shots, and he must learn the game better--which I wouldn't expect a 23-year old to fully understand anyway. The timetable on his injury is 8-12 months, but they say it usually takes a full basketball year to start to feel comfortable again. His biggest obstacle will be regaining confidence in his knee. So we may not see the high flying dunks or the twisting between three defenders to lay the ball in the hoop, but he will regain his form and become an MVP candidate for years to come■
“Derrick Rose has been adapting and surviving since his boyhood in the Windy City.”
Photo by Jonathan
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Miami Heat 4 - 1 New York Knicks
The 2-7 match-up in the East pitted the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat against the New York Knicks. This was the series everyone wanted to see. Miami played consistent ball throughout the regular season, and even though they missed out on the top seed, we all knew what Miami would bring to the table. With the Big 3 in tact and Derrick Rose out in Chi-town, the Heat were now the favorites in the East--if they weren’t already. Over in the Big Apple, the Knicks ended the regular season on a roll. After early success on the shoulders of Jeremy Lin, New York found the going a bit tougher after Lin went down with injury. Yet the Knicks found a spark in a couple of veterans further down the roster, Baron Davis and J.R. Smith. So with the Knicks on a tear, finishing 18-6, folks in Manhattan began talks of a run similar to that of the strike-shortened 1999 season that saw the Knicks reach the NBA Finals as an eight seed. Those smiles quickly turned frowns. Miami thumped the Knicks, taking game 1, 100-67 and deflating all hope the Knick faithful had of pulling off the upset. Adding injury to insult, the Knicks would lose rookie Iman Shumpert to a torn ACL. In game 2, Carmelo Anthony took it upon himself to keep his team competitive, yet his 30 points and 9 rebounds weren’t enough to offset Miami’s Big 3 and the Heat took the 2-0 lead. The story of this game, however, would be Amar’e Stoudemire lacerating his hand after punching through the glass case of a fire extinguisher following the game. With Amar’e out for game 3, the Heat held New York to 32% shooting and LeBron James and Dwyane Wade combined for 52 points as the Heat went up 3-0. Stoudemire would return to the court for game 4. With his hand stitched and looking like a catcher’s mitt, he provided the Knicks with a boost that helped them capture a game. With only Chris Bosh, James, Wade, Anthony, and Stoudemire scoring double digits for either team, the 41 from Anthony and 20 from Stoudemire were enough to give New York the 2-point win. With this, the Knicks won their first playoff game since 2001 and broke an NBA record 13-game playoff losing streak. The news wasn’t all good though, as the Knicks lost Baron Davis to a knee injury that not only ended his season, but will also put in jeopardy his career. Carmelo Anthony gave it his best shot in game 5, but the Heat stayed in control throughout. LeBron James flirted with a triple double and sent the Miami crowd home with a 106-94 seriesclinching win.
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DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
TYSON CHANDLER Photo by Issac Baldizon
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Indiana Pacers 4 - 1 Orlando Magic
The Indiana-Orlando series had all he making of sweep, which was unfortunate. Had it not been for a back injury that sidelined Dwight Howard for the rest of the year, this could have been an epic contest. Even through the Dwight trade saga, the Magic were playing great basketball in the regular season. So much so, in fact, that even though Howard missed 12 of the last 14 games of the year, Orlando only slid a few spots to the sixth seed in the East. The Pacers, on the other hand, began flourishing later on in the season. Indiana, having so much talent ad youth, went 12-3 in the April and topped of the year with the team’s best playoff seeding in a long time. So with a hungry, young team, clicking on all cylinders, set to face a star-less older team, the series was bound to be one-sided. The Orlando Magic, however, had no plans of keeling over for the Pacers. Behind an inspired Glen Davis, the Magic walked into Indianapolis and stole game 1, leaving the Pacer-loving crowd in a shock. Big Baby looked to do the same for game 2, and although he dominated the much taller Roy Hibbert on both ends of the court, the rest of the Pacers cast found their shooting touch and sent the series to Orlando tied at 1. Orlando hoped to take the lead in the series on their home court, but only one player showed up. Another outstanding game from Big Baby Glen Davis wasn’t enough as Danny Granger and Hibbert led the Pacers to an easy victory. In game 4, the rest of the Magic squad finally decided to help Davis out. Big Baby had another magnificent performance on both ends of the floor against Hibbert and this time Jason Richardson pitched in 25 to help the Magic overcome a 12-point deficit entering the fourth to send the game into overtime. But in the extra period, Granger and David West proved to be too much and the Indiana Pacers, with Roy Hibbert still playing sub-par, went back home up 3-1. Game 5 was an up and down game, as each team went on frequent runs. In the end the Pacers used a 36-16 fourth quarter to pull away and capture the series. Once again, it was Granger that led the way with Hibbert providing little help. With much to improve upon, the Pacers became the first team in the Eastern Conference to advance to the second round.
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MOST IMPROVED RYAN ANDERSON Photo by Fernando Medina
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Boston Celtics 4 - 2 Atlanta Hawks
The 4-5 match-up in the East would see the #4 seed Boston Celtics on the road against the #5 seed Atlanta Hawks. Boston won their division to earn the higher seed, but because Atlanta finished with a better record, they would have home court advantage. The series began with fireworks. With Ray Allen out for Boston, the Hawks built up a healthy lead going in to the fourth, but Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett slowly began to chip away at it. As the game grew closer, and subsequently rougher, a loose ball would change the outcome. With every available player diving for the ball, a foul called against Boston would set Rondo off. Rondo, who had been visibly upset with the refereeing throughout the game, was given a technical foul after shouting at the official. After the T, Rondo approached referee Marc Davis. As he did, Rondo stumbled on a teammates foot and made contact with the referee. That contact, which on replay looked to be less incidental than at first glance, sent Rondo to the locker room and would leave him suspended for game 2. No Ray Allen, no Rajon Rondo, no problem for Boston. The Hawks, like so many years prior, folded. With a 2-0 lead practically gift wrapped, the home team put up the most Atlanta-Hawkian of performances--meaning mediocre. With 36 points and 14 rebounds, Paul Pierce led his Celtics to a win, holding the Hawks to 80 points. Unlike last year, it took only 2 games to realize this wasn’t going to be the Hawk’s year either. Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen returned for Boston in game 3, while Josh Smith sat for Atlanta. The Hawks competed, however. Jeff Teague and Joe Johnson played hard and were able to get the game into overtime. Still, Boston overcame the Hawks and took the 2-1 series lead. Not only did Josh Smith return for game 4, but he brought help in the form of Al Horford who had been sidelined with injury. At the end of the game, the entire Hawks roster was sidelined with a broken spirit. The 22-point blowout in game 4 wasn’t even indicative of the lob-sided affair. Once again, the Hawks declined to show up for a big game and the Celtics needed to do nothing but suit up to take this one. With their backs to the wall, the Hawks took the floor in game 5 with the starting lineup they had hoped to have throughout the year. Every starter played well and the Hawks earned a 1-point win, only delaying the inevitable. The Hawks battled in game 6, showing an urgency you could only wish had been there early in the series. It wasn’t enough, however, as the Celtics closed out the series with a 4-point win. With Derrick Rose out, the Celtics look to be the only team standing between the Miami and the NBA Finals.
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NBA MVP LeBRON JAMES Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler
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Southwest Division New Orleans Hornets (21-45)
C-
Nine teams in the NBA finished with 20-25 wins, and none of them should feel better about how they fared than the Hornets. Chris Paul was traded after declaring he wouldn't extend his contract in New Orleans, with commissioner David Stern having final say over the deal as the Hornets' “owner.” Eric Gordon, the biggest acquisition in the Paul trade, hurt his knee and played only two of the team's first 52 games. Midway through the season, former All-Star center Chris Kaman was told to stay home while the team tried to trade him and his $14 million expiring contract. He was later invited back because the Hornets suffered so many injuries that they needed him in uniform. But through it all, coach Monty Williams kept the team competitive by stressing defense and playing at the league's slowest pace. The team will have two lottery picks in the June draft, a hopefully healthy Gordon joining quality veterans like Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza, and a nice contingent of role players cultivated by Williams this season.
Houston Rockets (34-32)
C C
The Houston Rockets narrowly missed the playoffs for the third straight year and the 6game losing streak in the last week of the season was the reason. Kyle Lowry’s injury ended up being a blessing in disguise as Goran Dragic emerged as a starting point guard in this league. Kevin Martin’s injury opened the door for Courtney Lee, who has the ability to be a shut down defender. However, the team’s future is questionable at best. Expect general manager Daryl Morey to be active this offseason, perhaps building around Lowry, who played at a near All-Star level when healthy, and rookie swingman Chandler Parsons, who rewarded coach Kevin McHale's faith by becoming an effective glue guy-which are important on any team. Dallas Mavericks (36-30) The defending champions got off to a rough start this season when the Miami Heat clobbered them in the season opener. That blowout pretty much sums up the type of season the Mavs had this year. Dirk Nowitzki took a small hiatus due to conditioning issues, Jason Kidd and Vince Carter got older, and Lamar Odom came and went, infuriating Mavs fans along the way. In retrospect, it is easy to see that they celebrated their long-awaited Finals triumph for too long, and were caught unprepared by how little time they had between the sudden end of the lockout and the onset of a brutally compressed season. The average age of the team's top six in minutes played is 34.2; by contrast, the two rotation players under 25, Roddy Beaubois and Brandan Wright, don't seem like budding stars. Any team with Carlisle on the bench and Nowitzki and Jason Terry on the court in crunch time commands respect, but it is time to break up the old gang in Dallas.
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Southwest Division Memphis Grizzlies (41-25) The Grizzlies finally made it over hump of being a potential playoff team to being a championship contender. Last year’s playoff run gave the Grizz the experience and confidence they needed to play with the big boys in the league. Marc Gasol emerged as an All-Star this year and despite an early injury to Zach Randolph, the Grizzlies still won games and established a reputation as one of the best teams in the league.
B
Rudy Gay, coming off a shoulder injury, also emerged this season and looks primed to be an All-Star for years to come. Mike Conley is slowly becoming one of the better guards in the league, evident by his average of 7 assists per game. Lionel Hollins has the Grizz playing exciting basketball and they will be a major player in the Western Conference for years to come.
San Antonio Spurs (50-16)
A
The Spurs had arguably the best season of any team in the NBA. Gregg Popovich continues to prove why he is the best coach in the game, as the Spurs easily made the transition from Tim Duncan being the focal point to now Tony Parker running the show. The Spurs are the only team in the league this year to have three separate 10-game winning streaks--only to have two end because Pops decided to rest his big 3 during the season. There is something different about this team more than any of the Spurs teams before. They are young, athletic, and score a lot of points--evident by the second highest point total in the league behind Denver. Not your typical Spurs huh? There is something about the culture in San Antonio that allows players to come there and play the best basketball of their careers. The Spurs are one of the few teams who I think actually have a system in place that allows them to replace the players who have left over the years. A short 10 years ago it was Bruce Bowen, Steve Kerr, Steve Smith, and Stephen Jackson who were the glue guys for the Spurs; fast forward to now and you have guys like Danny Green, Gary Neal, Kawhi Leonard, and ironically, Stephen Jackson doing damage all over again. Just like 10 years ago, the Spurs have their sights set on another championship.
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R.C. Buford The way a team should be run By Preston Newsom
For every bad team, every financially strapped franchise, every overpaid player, and every lockout, do you know who I blame? NBA general managers. Seventy-five percent of them completely lack the ability to gauge talent. Most of all, their egos and pride make me sick. Everyone makes mistakes, but the real measure of a person is to admit your mistake, learn from it, and not make the same mistake in the future. Seems most GMs lack that quality. Do you know who the winningest franchise in sports over the last 10-15 years is? The San Antonio Spurs. Would you like to know why? Well, aside from the fact they've had the greatest power forward to ever lace up a pair of shoes, all the credit should go to their general manager and owner--who has allowed the GM to do his job. R.C Buford has made the correct draft choices, the correct signings, and allowed certain players to walk because he refused to overpay. The result? A winning culture. In a world where glitz and glamor have taken over, Buford is old school and goes with substance over flash, every time. While San Antonio may not be the place for the high flying, big name, flashy guys, it is the place for hard working, skilled, team-first players. Every year during the draft, scouts measure everything from
Photo by Edward A. Ornelas
height, weight, arm length, vertical leap, and age, and draft kids on what they could become instead of what they are at the moment. In a game where most top prospects don't pan out anyway, why gamble it all on a hit or miss freshman? It’s almost like college experience, is looked down on. They've forgotten the most important aspects of a player: skill, a strong motor, being a good teammate when things are good or bad, and most importantly, heart. GMs must look at all these factors when incorporating players onto their team. They must put their ego aside and admit when they’re wrong and have made a mistake, and part ways with players they may have drafted instead of overpaying them a second time around, hoping they eventually turn the corner. They have to swallow their pride and allow players to walk that have had flashes in the past or during their contract year, and take grief from the fans because they know
they can find better out there for cheaper. They must allow the coaches they hire to be in absolute control of the team and back them up when things get rocky--instead of siding with the 19- or 20-year old players who throw fits. R.C. Buford has done all of this. He has even allowed players he drafted to go to other teams, such as Luis Scola, or players to leave after winning a championship, such as Stephen Jackson. Buford should be the example for every general manager in every league. I expect nothing different from Buford in this year’s draft, which is filled with players that will test well but wont pan out for where they get drafted. If there were more GMs like R.C. Buford, teams wouldn't be strapped for cash, wouldn't go through 10 years stretches of losing, and we wouldn't have teams not profiting--leading to lockouts■
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Northwest Division Minnesota Timberwolves (26-40)
C
Even with a horrible finish and a season shortened to 66 games, the Wolves have registered their highest win total in five years and given long-suffering fans genuine reason for optimism. Rookie Ricky Rubio proved he was an elite passer and, more surprising, an above-average defender at point guard. His value was apparent when the Wolves collapsed after his knee injury in February. Prior to Rubio’s injury, the Wolves were a serious threat to makes the playoffs. Power forward Kevin Love shed 25 pounds, posted crazy rebounding and point totals, and even generated some MVP talk despite his team's not so good record. The emergence of center Nikola Pekovic, who curbed his fouling and somehow softened his hands to convert Rubio feeds, provides the Wolves with strong performers at arguably the three most important positions. Portland Trailblazers (28-38) In previous years the Blazers were able to overcome injuries and make the playoffs. The same cannot be said this year as the Blazers simply fell apart. Portland suffered from a point guard swap that sent Andre Miller to Denver for Raymond Felton, who lacked Miller's thick skin in dealing with taskmaster coach Nate McMillan. The constant conflict between Felton and McMillan, in addition to the retirement of Brandon Roy, was too much to overcome. A slew of close losses sapped team confidence, and by the trade deadline, Portland cleaned house, firing McMillan and dealing Marcus Camby and Gerald Wallace--with Wallace fetching a top-three-protected first-round pick from Brooklyn.
C-
The Blazers also cut ties with 2007 No. 1 pick Greg Oden, who along with Roy, epitomized how much Portland was shortchanged by medical misfortune. With a wealthy owner, a loyal fan base, the lottery pick from Brooklyn, and All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge, the circumstances exist for a rapid rebuilding. Utah Jazz: 36-30 You have to give it to Utah head coach Tyrone Corbin for the coaching job he did in Salt Lake City. He figured out a way to win games in addition to developing all of the young talent that is budding in Utah. Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors made huge strides in their second seasons, and Enes Kanter and Alec Burks looks like they can actually play in the NBA. After the way Jerry Sloan left last year, Jazz fans probably thought that this season would be a disaster, but to everyone’s surprise the Jazz actually made the playoffs.
B+
Paul Millsap has emerged as the team leader and his versatility allowed Corbin to play him at small forward sometimes--forming one of bigger front courts in the league. Devin Harris finally woke up from his slumber and began to make folks remember that he was an All-Star once. Al Jefferson’s play was stellar as always and the future is looking bright for him and the rest of the Jazz. The Jazz exceeded everybody’s expectations.
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Northwest Division Denver Nuggets (38-28)
B
In the Nuggets first full season post-Carmelo Anthony, they have established themselves as one of the deepest teams in the league. Ty Lawson and Andre Miller have spearheaded the Nuggets into the most efficient offensive team in the league. Simply put, all the Nuggets do is run. Danilo Gallinari continues to make strides into a complete player and Arron Afflalo is one of the best defenders in the league. It is no secret that coach George Karl prefers an athletic rotation, and that’s exactly what he has in guys like Wilson Chandler, Corey Brewer, and Kenneth Faried. The biggest surprise of the season was the acquisition of JaVale McGee, who just oozes with potential. Under Karl’s tutelage, McGee may finally take the steps towards being one of the best centers in the game.
Oklahoma City Thunder (47-19)
A
The young Thunder have their sights set on an NBA championship this year. The boys from OKC had the best record in the Western Conference for the majority of the season--only to have a rough stretch during the last few weeks of the season. Regardless, the Thunder have dominated with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant taking turns in looking utterly unstoppable. In addition to the Thunder’s dynamic duo, James Harden has emerged as the third piece and will be the spark they need to compete for a championship this year. It is Harden who takes on the ball handling responsibilities late in the game and his Manu Ginobili-esque game is a thing of beauty. If there is a knock on the Thunder it is what happens when their shots aren’t falling. Can they play smart half court offense in the playoffs? We shall see...
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“He’s like an offensive lineman, holding a ton of value to his team and the star players he protects.”
Photos by Noah Graham
Nick the Not-So Quick How to impact a team without the flash By Kryston Tillett
whatever the Thunder need from him to win. He’s much more than his pedestrian stats, Collison always even below. 4.5 points and 4.3 rebounds a game. seems to be taking a timely charge or guarding a key Add in the fact this is a 6’10 center who doesn’t big man on the opposing team. He’s like an offensive block shots either. The player described definitely lineman, holding a ton of value to his team and the sounds like a scrub, and you would be hard pressed star players he protects. to find many teams who want a player of this limited Collison is also the only Thunder player who was production. Yet and still, he’s given more than just on the last Seattle Supersonics team to make the spot minutes, at about 20 per game. playoffs, adding not only a veteran presence, but also Now that I tell you this player is Nick Collison, a more playoff experience than most of his 7-year NBA veteran out of Kansas, your opinion teammates. surely changes. He’s never blown anyone away with This is a guy any team would love to have and I stats but he plays the game the right way, always guarantee he will have played for a championship being in the right place on defense and doing club when his career comes to an end■
His athleticism would be considered par--maybe
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Pacific Division Sacramento Kings (22-44)
D D
The Kings have found a notable rookie again, though it is point guard Isaiah Thomas, the last player taken in the 2011 draft,, rather than Jimmer Fredette, the 10th pick. Thomas extends the streak that started with 2010 Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans and continued with freakishly skilled center DeMarcus Cousins. But where are the wins that should come with this talent? Evans, who is 6’6 and can get to the rim in a blur, seems increasingly lacking in the offense after being moved to small forward, only occasionally flashing that rookie-year magic. Cousins has taken another significant step forward this season, but that volatile temperament still prevents him from being a lock for stardom just yet. Last but hardly least, a deal for a new arena that was celebrated by the NBA, team ownership, and the city of Sacramento last month has fallen apart, creating uncertainty about the franchise's future. For now what is certain is another lottery pick for the Kings. GoldenState Warriors (23-43) In a nutshell, the Warriors reprised their usual combination of crowd-pleasing offense and lackluster defense in the first half of the season, made some significant big-name trades in the middle, and finished out the year trying to lose enough games to improve their chances of keeping their first-round pick, which goes to Utah if it is not among the first seven selections. Gone are Monta Ellis, the skillful but redundant back court mate for Stephen Curry, and Ekpe Udoh, the team's best low-post defender. New to the team are center Andrew Bogut, who, when healthy, is the sort of two-way player who has been all too rare on the roster, and forward Richard Jefferson, who has two years and $21.2 million left on his contract after this season. Bogut and Curry could be a dynamic pair, but both have been injury-plagued these last two seasons, and both are having ankle surgery in the offseason. Losing Ellis paved the way for Klay Thompson, a lights-out shooter as a rookie, who in some ways is the same player as Curry--just a little taller. After another losing season, Golden State is selling hope and promise, which isn't so different from last year. Phoenix Suns (33-33)
C
After a slow start to the season, the Phoenix Suns made a hard push for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference in what was probably Steve Nash’s final year in Phoenix. It's not too hard to believe that Nash's faith and loyalty inspired key contributors such as Marcin Gortat and Jared Dudley (career years for both), Michael Redd (who found some of his old scoring form after three years of knee injuries), and coach Alvin Gentry. One thing for sure, is that when Steve Nash leaves (because he will), this team will be a disaster. However, this year the Suns fought and clawed as much as they could, it just wasn’t good enough for a playoffs birth.
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Pacific Division Los Angeles Clippers (40-26) After the NBA gods (or god) said that Chris Paul could not go to the Lakers, the Clippers came a knocking and got their man. Chris Paul brought instant credibility to the Clips and the results were amazing. In addition to trading for Paul, the Clippers signed veterans Caron Butler and Chauncey Billups adding them to a front line that included Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. All of a sudden these were not your typical Clippers. Despite a devastating injury to Billups, the Clippers were still able to win games and had a stranglehold on the Pacific Division for much of the season. A mid-season acquisition of Nick Young gave the Clips a spark heading into the playoffs, in addition to another shooter to add to a list that included Randy Foye, Butler, and Mo Williams. With Paul and Griffin at the helm, the Clippers’ future is bright and the days of mediocrity in Lob Angeles are over.
B+
Los Angeles Lakers (41-25)
B
The Los Angeles Lakers began the season with more question marks than any other team in the league. With Phil Jackson retiring and Mike Brown taking over, the Lakers did not have any time to get acclimated with their new coach due to the lockout. The Lakers had a deal in place to land all world guard Chris Paul, but the NBA gods (or god) decided against it. However, the Lakers were able to acquire Ramon Sessions, who gets the job done regardless. Andre Bynum has emerged as an All-Star center this year and has also shown signs of defensive prowess. Bynum, however, still has his inconsistent and immature moments which can be to the Lakers’ detriment. Pau Gasol has settled in nicely to his third fiddle role and simply seems at peace knowing that he still plays for the Lakers. Despite everything, the Lakers still finished 41-25, which is spectacular considering the drama they endured this season. The Lakers are always a threat to win a championship, but it will be much harder than they think it will, especially with OKC and San Antonio lurking.
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InTransition By Eric Lemus
Awards season in the NBA is now over, and I feel we should take the time to honor the winners. Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs is no stranger to winning trophies, but 2012 marked only the second time in the future Hall of Fame coach’s career that he (reluctantly) raised the Coach of the Year Award. It is difficult for many coaches in today’s NBA to take control of their team without fear of losing their job, yet I think Spurs higher-ups would rather let the entire roster walk than lose Pops. It took a while for Tyson Chandler to make a positive impact in the NBA, but the former #2 overall pick is now certainly the best interior defender in the league. With most thin centers, good on-ball defense is sacrificed for great help-side defense. With Chandler, there is no let down in either aspect. Chandler was the most important factor in the Dallas Mavericks 2011 title run, and his departure changed the entire culture of the Mavs. In New York, Chandler is a one man wrecking crew,. Thankfully, his teammates’ lack of effort on the defensive has not rubbed off on him. Ryan Anderson isn’t your typical power forward, but his ability to shoot the deep ball is an asset to any team with an interior post presence. In an era of zone defense and kids that love to come help-side and swat the ball 12 rows up, Anderson’s marksmanship is an equalizer against any defense. Anderson improved all three shooting percentages, rebounding numbers, and points in 2011-12. He is a fun player to watch and we hope he continues his upward trend. On a team with one of the three best basketball players on Earth, and one of the top five point guards in the NBA, it is amazing that James Harden has been able to stand out. It doesn’t matter who starts the game, it only matters who finishes, and if the Oklahoma City Thunder plan on winning games, they know they have to have Harden on the floor at the end. His impact off of the bench is comparable to Jason Terry and Manu Ginobili, both of which led teams to championships. As heartbreaking as LeBron James’ departure was to the city of Cleveland, the basketball gods ended up smiling down on the Cavaliers franchise. After Kyrie Irving missed most of his freshman year at Duke, it was hard to gauge how long it would take him to have an effect on the pro level. How’s “immediately” work for you? Irving’s numbers were on par with NBA All-Stars in his first year despite the Cavs keeping his minutes down. His passing and rebounding numbers will improve and he will stand out in a league filled with great talent at the point guard position. Speaking of LeBron James... It is hard to contemplate the numbers he will have at the end of his career. James’ impact on the game is resounding. He isn’t Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson, but how many players get thrown in that conversation? LeBron is teetering with Oscar Robertson-type numbers. Although that first championship still eludes him, his trophy case is overflowing. Now in rare space, James has won his third MVP in the last four years, and he is STILL improving! -Stay Addicted2TheGame, Daniel Brewster - Founder, Co-Editor Preston Newsom - Writer Kryston Tillett - Writer Eric Lemus - Co- Editor
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Addicted2TheGame Staff Daniel Brewster (@Addicted2ThGme): Founder/Co-‐Editor Eric Lemus (@Eric_Lemus): Co-‐Editor/Contributor Kryston Tillett (@Tillgetsbucketz): Contributor Preston Newsom: Contributor Webpage: http://www.Addicted2TheGame.com Tumblr: http://www.Addicted2TheGame.tumblr.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Addicted2TheGame Email: A2TGMagazine@gmail.com
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