Saturday, July 26, 2008

Can US Bring the Gold Medal Come Back Home?


Since the 2000 Summer Olympics held in Sydney, Australia the United States has struggled in International basketball. In 2002 they did not medal in the World Championships, in the 2004 Athens Olympics they struggled their way to a bronze medal, and in 2006 World Championships they once again gathered bronze. This has been a far cry from what we have come to expect from the sport that the United States has dominated since it's inclusion in International events. After the 4 years of embarrassment, the USA Basketball Association decided to implement a program that the ultimate goal was to inspire a patriotic spirit, continuity, and s sense of pride back to the United States Basketball program.

Talent has not been an issue as the US has used NBA players since the 1988 Olympics. But as the results have shown it has not been about talent, but more about playing as a team, and the overall improvement of the world in basketball. Unlike the original Dream team in 1992, other international teams are no longer in awe of the United States. So the days of just rolling the ball out to some stars and letting them go man-handle the competition is long gone. International payers are coming over in record numbers to play in the NBA, so when they go back and play for their countries, they have a comfort level that they can compete on a nightly basis with these players.

So the US team consists of some stars, and some role-players, and as past years have shown they have a couple of consistent outside shooters on the roster. After watching the United States play their first exhibition game versus Canada last night, there were things to be optimistic about, and others that were a little troubling.

On the positive side of things, from the second quarter on, the United States played with a focus, and an intensity that the Canadians could not match as they cruised to a 120-65 win. Although the Canadians had many players that had played Division-I basketball, and in the pro ranks in overseas, the talent differential was apparent to even the most pedestrian of basketball fans. The team defense was impressive as the Americans forced team Canada into 24 turnovers, that led to many fast break points. They also looked to play unselfishly, and players on the bench cheered their teammates on after big plays.

The only problem I saw with the USA basketball team was the continuity in the half-court offense. Sometimes early on in the game, the ball would seem to come to a stand still. The playmakers for the US are supremely talented, and most are the best player on their respective team, so they are use to isolations and taking the big shots. So the bal movement suffered. I am assuming that the coaching staff mentioned something about this, so then the US started "over passing." And by over passing I mean that good, open shots were being passed on by capable scorers. Hopefully a balance can be struck during the exhibition schedule before the 2008 Beijing Olympics start.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

2008 Free Agency, Hornets/Celtics/Clippers/Nuggets


New Orleans Hornets

I saw the news yesterday that the New Orleans Hornets, and James Posey had agreed to a potential 4 year/$25 million dollar deal, and I couldn't be more excited. I was not excited because I like James Posey, or am a hard-core fan of the New Orleans Hornets, I just like NBA teams that give stars like Chris Paul the chance to succeed. The addition of Posey does just that for the Hornets. I have been saying since the Hornets let the series go against the San Antonio Spurs in this year's playoffs that they needed to add a playoff tested veteran to get over the hump.

James Posey is coming off a season in which he helped the Boston Celtics win the 2008 NBA Finals, and did the same in 2006 with the Miami Heat. He is the most sought after 7 points a game, come off the bench free agent ever, and is every bit worth it. He provides a tough nosed veteran presence that the Hornets have lacked, as they struggled with their second unit play last season. This move makes them a contender in the Western Conference for the next few years as long as they keep the current nucleus together.

I do wonder however how much of a pitch the Boston Celtics made to keep James Posey? Losing Posey changes the dynamic for the Celtics dramatically for next season as he made big play after big play for them during their Finals run this past season. When a team has the consistency of 3 big stars like Boston did, it is role players like James Posey that make a difference between early playoff exits, and Finals runs. So hats of to the Hornets Personnel Department for stepping up and targeting Posey and paying him above market value to get what is best for the team.

Los Angeles Clippers/Denver Nuggets

The Los Angeles Clippers have finally started to make moves to save their summer from being an absolute disaster. After Elton Brand signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, and Corey Maggette agreed to play for the Golden State Warriors, the prognosis looked bleak. They gained Baron Davis, but lost 2 of their best players from the past few years. It seemed as if they were headed back to the 2009 NBA Draft Lottery, and I am still not sure that they are out of hot water yet.

On July 16th the Clippers picked up veteran PF/C Marcus Camby for almost nothing in return. Although Camby has been a solid player in this league for many years, he is going to be 35 next year. Camby is most definitely not the long-term solution for the Clips, but he does provide a nice little band-aid to cover up their wounds for a couple of years. If the Clippers want to be competitive in this league then they must plan further ahead than they need to plan better than it appears they did this year.

With this deal it showed that the Denver Nuggets are in a mindset of rebuilding. by trading Marcus Camby for basically nothing in return, they cleared salary to begin reworking the framework of the team. After several embarrassing first round exits, or missing the playoffs all together, it looks as if the leadership with the Nuggets has said enough is enough, and I can't blame them. I agree with rebuilding except for the fact that they should have looked to pick up a pure shooter and try that for a year, but I digress, and I hope they get to fielding a competitive PLAYOFF team soon.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

He Said/He Said


The Los Angeles Clippers, most notably coach Mike Dunleavy will not let the Elton Brand saga go. It is being reported by ESPN that Dunleavy is very upset with David Falk, Brand's agent for influencing him to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. And he is also upset with Elton as he feels he was betrayed, and that they had a verbal agreement that Brand would be back with the Clippers next year to team with Baron Davis. Let it be a side note that if in fact Dunleavy was talking to Brand about contract terms while he had a registered representative that he was violating the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement.

But to have an NBA team call out a player for disloyalty is in fact a joke in itself. Although Elton Brand is the exception to your typical go broke after his career , as he has many business ventures outside of basketball, the peak period of a pro athletes earning potential is limited to a short window. Professional sports teams will cut, and release a player with no afterthought as to where the players will end up next. The Clippers just renounced their rights to 5 of their players to create cap space. There is big chance that 1 or more of these players will NOT catch on elsewhere and have to find other means of making a living. So Mike Dunleavy and the Clippers can spare us all the boo-hooing about how Elton Brand misled them.

Due to the Los Angeles Clippers poor track record of low-balling players on contracts, it is not out of the realm of possibility that when David Falk says that the Clippers came to the table with their lowest offer, then I am more apt to believe what he says as opposed to a team that has let star player after star player go because they did not want to pony up the funds. It also comes down to having a better chance to succeed, and if the team you are playing for has a game plan. I am sure the years of losing has affected the psyche of Brand over the years. He is a competitive player who shows he wants to win when he gets on the court. He has proven himself to be a valuable commodity, and anyone who is on the business of producing results wants to be compensated properly for their contributions. The Philadelphia 76ers are a team on the rise, and are looking to build a franchise, and put a competitive product on the court.

So as Baron Davis stated in his press conference yesterday as he was announced as the newest LA Clipper, he had no hard feelings against Brand, and that the will remain friends. Because ultimately he wanted to play with the Brand than without him, but in the end it is all about business, and he understands that. The simple human nature is this when it comes to money-The more you have the more you want of it, so I give kudos to Brand, and Davis for going and getting their paychecks, because at the end of the day that is what 95% of the people in their situations would have done, and if you say no you wouldn't, then you have never had $79.8 million dangled in your face. And to those who would say it was ALL about the money with Brand, he did not sign with the Golden State Warriors who offered him $90 million reasons to sign with them.

J.A. Adande's Take

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

The Real Los Angeles Clippers Return

It was only a matter of time before the real Los Angeles Clippers showed up to the NBA party. For the past few years, they have tried to fool the masses by acquiring better players than years past, and have even spending a little money. Just as with new experiences, you might not know how to work all the angles and gadgets. The Clippers have just shown they were unprepared to move up in the NBA, and they can say hello to the 2009 NBA Draft Lottery.

The downfall started a few days ago when it was reported that the Philadelphia 76ers were making a strong push for Elton Brand , and it was confirmed today that the he had signed with Philadelphia. Brand was the consummate Clipper, but I think he finally realized that the team would never be as committed as he would like to putting a winning team on the floor, and losing takes it toll on anyone. The 76ers present a young athletic team that plays hard, and are showing the willingness to put out a good product. They have one of the most tenacious fan bases that loves its athletes, and there will be no more 2nd banana to the other basketball team in town

The true losers here are the fans, and Baron Davis. The fans of the Clippers had hopes that after getting a verbal agreement from Baron Davis, that he would team with Elton Brand to contend in the competitive Western Conference. So much for trying to step out of the shadow of the Los Angeles Lakers. Another snag may appear in their plans as Davis has yet sign his contract, and it could be a possibility as the plans crumble in front of him. I am sure there are some serious doubts going on in the mind of Davis at this point, especially as he enters into the last half of his NBA career, and that money is not the only thing happening.

The Clippers are also going to lose their leading scorer from last year, Corey Maggette. This, plus the loss of Brand leave the cupboard bare for next year even if Davis signs. The next best player on the Clips is center Chris Kaman. Although Kaman is an up-and-coming player, he is only a center, and not necessarily a play maker. So I anticipate an even farther fall next season than the 12th place Western Conference finish they experienced in 07-08, even if Baron Davis signs. As a basketball fan, it is hard to witness such a fall, and public missteps that the Clippers are making. I never want to see a team crumble, especially when all it would have taken was careful planning. The Clippers were unprepared, and did not posture themselves to keep Maggette, and Brand, and free up cap space to sign Davis, or one of the few other quality free agents.

The lone bright spot of hope for the Clippers is that restricted free agent Josh Smith is wooed by what they are offering, and the Atlanta Hawks do not match. Good Luck.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Baron Davis is a Damn Fool

*Update for July 8, 2008- It looks as if the Philadelphia 76ers have jumped in the Elton Brand sweepstakes. It is not looking so great for the Los Angeles Clippers. If they gain Baron Davis, but lose Elton Brand, it is another case of one step forward, and 2 steps back*



B-Diddy, B-Dizzle, aka Baron Davis made the biggest mistake of his life by moving down the coast of California from Oakland to Los Angeles. I ask why? Of course this move has not been confirmed because NBA moves cannot be officially announced until July 9, 2008. But it is pretty much set in stone, and I am puzzled by it. I anxiously await his comments when they announce his signing, and why he made the move.

Why would a person go from a team that could be on the cusp of doing big things, and go a perennial "Loser." The Los Angeles Clippers have been irrelevant in the NBA as long as I have been alive. Owner Donald Sterling is one of the cheapest owners in the NBA and has been for decades, but has improved his reputation over recent years. Sometimes it is not about how much money you spend, but yet when you spend it. It is about getting players to stay with your team before they become free agents, and making your team attractive for potential free agents.

So why is Baron Davis such a damn fool? Because at this point in his career, it shouldn't be about the money anymore, and should be about winning. I am no fool to the machine that is professional sports, but I sometimes, just sometimes would like to see some loyalty. It is under Don Nelson that Baron Davis has had some of his most successful seasons, and growth as a player. Shouldn't that count for something? I am sure Golden State would have paid Davis his fair share.

Another factor that makes the Baron Davis situation a foolish move is the fact that the team that he is leaving is trying to sign free agent from the Los Angeles Clippers Elton Brand. The Clippers will most likely lose Corey Maggette as well. Now what sense does it make to go join a team that has been struggling, and is about to lose 2 of it's most reliable players. Next years Clippers may be highlighted by Davis, and Chris Kaman, and not much else.

I would not put it past today's professional athlete to complain about a situation that he or his agent placed himself in. So I look forward to hearing grumblings out of Los Angeles in the next couple of years that Baron Davis is unhappy and wants out. So although I like Davis, and what he brings to the table as a player, I question his career path and what he plans to achieve with this move.