Halfway There

Let’s check in with each team briefly as we approach the all-star game

By Doug Knopf

AP Photo/ Michael Conroy

Indiana Pacers: (31-20) I hate to say I told you so, but I told you they would be good. Even with the absence of Danny Granger, the Pacers hold the lead in the Central. It’s a slim lead, but a lead nonetheless. Indiana gets contributions from different players every night. Players are assigned a job and they do it. They are not flashy. These blue color players should not be taken lightly and are going to be dangerous threats in the second half of the season.

Chicago Bulls: (30-20) It has been a season of ups and downs for the Bulls, mostly ups though. Thibodeau has his team playing well as most expected, but they did not expect pressure from an Indiana team. There is no question whether or not Chicago will make the playoffs. The question is in what way will they make the playoffs. This team could easily flow into the playoffs and most likely lose in the first round to another team. The other option is, the Bulls get Derrick Rose back, get new energy and fly into the playoffs making a true run at the conference title.

Milwaukee Bucks: (25-24) Holding down the eight seed, the Bulks are clinging on to life. In reality, I do not see the skies falling. They have two premier talents to form a franchise off of and compete strongly with many teams. The issue for the Bulks is whether or not they can become elite. Right now they are not.

Detroit Pistons: (20-32) I really hoped the Pistons were going to do better this year. They were my sleeper pick to make the playoffs. But they just have not groomed their young talent into a formidable force. Brandon Knight is going to all-star weekend in the skills challenge… but not the all-star game. On the bright side for Detroit, there is still Calvin Johnson.

Cleveland Cavaliers: (16-35) Kyrie Irving is great, but he is on a terrible team. There is nothing to talk about with the Cavs besides him. I can only name one other player on their team off the top of my head (Omri Casspi). C’mon give it a try… give up? Yea me too, and the Cavs should probably give up on this season as well.

Verejao's Injury a Positive for the Cavs

With Anderson Varejao out for the season Cavs look for #1 pick

By Doug Knopf

Everyone knew that the Cleveland Cavaliers’ (10-32) season was over before it started. Let’s all just be honest here, did anyone actually think they were going to make the playoffs? With 10 wins this season, I’m sure the Syracuse Orange could put up a better fight against an NBA team.  

AP Photo/ Mark Duncan

It is basically a one-man show out on the court. Kyrie Irving leads the team in almost every category except for rebounds and blocks. Dion Waiters has been no help and I’m not even sure who the other players on the court are. Alonzo Gee and Tristin Thompson are the only players who have played all 42 games for the Cavs. The only player who has had any form of success this season besides Irving was Varejao. Now that he is injured, there is no one to turn to.

Do the Cavs even want someone to turn to? Currently they have the second worst record in the league only in front of Washington (8-30).  With the number one pick in the draft, Cleveland could have the opportunity of a lifetime to either stack up their back court or add depth to their front court. They could trade it for a series of picks and a top player. The situations are endless and will only be better if they lose.

I see the injury to Varejao as a blessing in disguise. Now the Cavs do not need an excuse to lose and should only worry about those pesky Wizards stealing their top pick away from them.

Pacers Beat Up On Weak Teams; Gain Share of First Place

By Douglas Knopf

Doing exactly what they should be doing, the Indiana Pacers beat three teams on the decline, the Cavs, Hornets, and Jazz. This past week, the Pacers saw three different top scorers, proving their versatility and depth.

AP Photo/ Michael Conroy

Their first victory of their three game win streak was led by Gerald Green, their sixth man, who scored 21 points off the bench in 23 minutes. Green kept the game alive against the Jazz when the second unit went in providing 7 of 12 shooting with 4 of 6 from beyond the arc. Being a non-factor most of the season, it was nice to see Green fill some shoes for once.

The Pacers game against the Cavs showed what the team was really about. Six players scored in double figures with Roy Hibbert leading the way with 18 points. Hibbert played less than 25 minutes in the game, but still managed to assert his dominance in the post. While still being seen as one of the league best centers, Hibbert has also been insignificant in the Pacers’ offense.

David West had the most points in Saturday night’s game against the Hornets. His 25 point performance capped off the Pacers’ three game win streak in style. The team kept the Hornets to an impressive 75 points showing why they are the NBA’s best defense. Indiana gives up less than 90 points per game. This victory puts the Pacers at 16-12 for season and tied for first place in the division.

The significance of these three victories is that it shows that the Pacers can win in many different fashions. They can beat teams with their post game or with their shooting. Indiana is a dangerous team and no one should want the Pacers to get going and be at the pace they were last year.

NBA Central: Worst Division in the NBA

With only one team over .500, the Central is clearly the worst division in the NBA

By: Doug Knopf

The Bulls, Pacers, Bulks, Cavaliers, and Pistons share two things in common, they are all in the Central Division and they all, to be frank, suck. Combined, these teams are 24-40 and no team has over six wins to date. Averaging less than 5 wins per team, it is clear that something is wrong with the division.

AP Photo/ Paul Sancya

Looking backwards, records aside, the Bulls and the Pacers were seeded No. 1 and No. 3 respectively, but both lost in the playoffs without making a huge run. The Cavs, Pistons, and Bulks were all in rebuilding phases and are still continuing that process.

Now, the Bulls and Pacers have lost their best players and their records clearly show it. From the way things look, these two teams are just trying to remain relevant so that they can make their run when they get their prime performers back on the court.

The Bucks do not have a well-rounded enough team to keep winning streaks alive. When their guards are neutralized, they do not have a dominant big man, or even a third person to give the ball to.

There is not much to say about the Cavs and the Pistons. They are waiting for their young talent to gain… talent.

But if you think that this division is headed down the drain, you are wrong.

When the Bulls get Derrick Rose back, they will become one of the best teams in the league again and be significant. There is no need to worry about them.

The Indiana Pacers are one of the youngest teams in the league and recently have turned to David West for big points. It is only a matter of time before head coach Frank Vogel finds a way to win big games.

Once the Bulks draft a person to put in the paint instead of Samuel Dalembert, they will be a good team.

The Cavaliers are building their team around superstar Kyrie Irving who is probably one of the most dynamic playmakers in the game.

The Pistons… are trying.

Strengths of divisions tend to fluctuate from year to year and only a month into the season, it is hard to pinpoint which division is truly the worst. Pinpointing the “worst” teams is always fun, especially when these teams prove their naysayers wrong.   

And So It Begins...

With the NBA season just beginning, it’s time to take a look at the NBA Southeast

By Kyle Basedow

Tuesday night’s NBA season opener kicked off with two teams in the Southeast playing. In the season opener, the Washington Wizards visited the Cleveland Cavaliers. The second was a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, with the Boston Celtics paying a visit to the Miami Heat.

The remaining teams kickoff on Friday, all at home. The Atlanta Hawks host the Houston Rockets, the Charlotte Bobcats host the Indiana Pacers and the Orlando Magic host the Denver Nuggets.

Last night, the games went pretty much as expected. The Heat dominated the Celtics and the Wizards put on a sad performance against the Cavaliers. Here are a few things to take note of…

Miami Heat: 120, Boston Celtics: 107

AP Photo/ J Pat Carter

1. Super Mario 2K13: Mario Chalmers decided to show up and put on his big boy pants last night. He posted a team high of 11 assists and added three steals along with 8 points. If he continues to post these numbers (though 11 assists a night is highly unlikely), he could be worthy of an All-NBA Second Team mention.

2. The Big Four?: Ray Allen, a former member of the Boston Celtics’ Big Three,  played his first game for the Miami Heat last night and made quite the lasting impression on his former team. He logged a solid 31 minutes and had an impressive19 points with 2 rebounds and 2 assists. He could be of great help to the Heat this season, who are already the top team in the NBA.

3. Celtics versus Father Time: The Celtics have very few players that can log consistent minutes, proven by the fact that Rajon Rondo and Paul Piece both logged 40 plus minutes.  Kevin Garnett was the only other player to log more than 30 minutes, and he can’t be expected to do that every game. Doc Rivers needs to find a way to speed up the development of their younger players or they could be in big trouble in the Eastern Conference.

Washington Wizards: 84, Cleveland Cavaliers: 94

AP Photo/ Tony Dejak

1. NBA D-League: This matchup wasn’t highly anticipated; watching the game could most certainly have put a few people to sleep. With both John Wall and Nene missing in action for sometime, the Wizards could be in for a rough ride these first few weeks. The Cavs, on the other hand looked better than last year and could be progressing towards the mid tier of NBA teams.

2. Anderson VareWOW: Who would have thought that one game into the NBA season you could compare Anderson Varejao to Wilt Chamberlain? Varejao had 9 points, 9 assists, and 23 rebounds in an absolutely monster game. It seems that Varejao doesn’t intend to go quietly in the NBA center discussion.

3. A New King?: Kyrie Irving dropped 29 points in last night’s season opener, with 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Irving’s 29 was 9 points less than the entire Wizards starting five. I know it’s too soon to crown him, but Kyrie Irving is certainly helping the Cleveland fans forget about LeBron James.

Overall, the performances yesterday were average, only because the Heat played so well and the Wizards played so badly. This Friday will be the true test to see how strong the NBA Southeast will be this year.

On another note, I bet the Magic are happy that they gave away Dwight Howard now, after that dismal performance yesterday. The owner and GM may have jumped for joy while they watched Howard shoot 3-14 from the free throw line.

July 8th, 2010: A Day To Remember

A reflection of “The Decision” two years later and why LeBron leaving Cleveland was better than him staying

By Kyle Basedow

I remember where I was when I heard about it.

At 9:28PM on July 8^th, 2010, I was just coming off the field after playing in the first half of one of my summer lacrosse games in Montville, New Jersey. My friend’s dad was following “The Decision” on his phone. As we all attempted to catch our breath and get ready for the second half, he announced, “LeBron James has decided to play for the Miami Heat next year.”

Soon after, a teammate took his lacrosse stick and broke it over his knee. Snapped it clean in half. It was just another notable struggle from a Cleveland fan.

AP Photo/ Alan Diaz

Then, my friend’s dad said something that I’ll never forget. “Michael Jordan didn’t need to go play with other superstars. He made everyone around him better. Remember that gentlemen, LeBron will never be as good as Michael.”

My initial knee-jerk reaction was, “Man, LeBron just permanently placed himself as the second best basketball player of all time. Michael Jordan never would have done that.”

Eventually however, my reaction settled to a state of disappointment. I was right, Michael Jordan would never have done that. He never would have teamed up with his rivals in order to win a championship but that’s because Michael Jordan was one of the greatest competitors of all time. LeBron James is not.

Both are the rare combination of basketball player and god and deserve to be placed at the top of the best players to ever play the game, but James will never be the competitor that Jordan was.

Cleveland was doing nothing for LeBron, though. He had to go out everyday and do it all, with no real help. They repeatedly tried to bring in young talent, none of whom really panned out. The same was the case with some of the older veteran players who were brought in at the twilights of their careers. 

When Miami lost in the NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks, everyone criticized James for leaving Cleveland, arguing that James would have achieved the same thing had he stayed.

Cleveland, however, was nowhere near being able to compete for a shot at the NBA Championship. Just because LeBron left doesn’t mean that there should be a negative 40 game swing in wins. Sure, having James on your team would help but he can’t do it all by himself, as he proved in his years with the team.

When James left, he exposed every hole in the Cavaliers organization that his stellar play had covered up for so long. This allowed the Cavaliers to understand that they needed to rebuild. They now have reigning Rookie of the Year in Kyrie Irving. In addition, they have their 2012 first round pick and former Syracuse University guard, Dion Waiters, to lead the team.

It’s no question that LeBron got the better end of the deal (seeing as he has already won an NBA Championship), but Cleveland is better off now as well. It’s better to have an assortment of solid players than one exceptional player.

James’ decision to leave Cleveland and to team up with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh was the wise choice, even though he got ridiculed for it. He deserved everything he got, however, because if he had simply left Cleveland for Miami without going on national television, he could have saved himself a lot of criticism.

In the end, James put himself in a better position to win and improve his legacy, while also letting Cleveland out of a huge money obligation so that they could start over. LeBron may never be the competitor that Michael Jordan was but he’s already done something Michael never did. He won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award in two different cities. Now that’s something special.