About This Blog
- Mike Masaya
- NBA, WNBA, NCAA, FIBA, D-League makes no difference, its all ball!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Top 10 NBA teams to watch in 2012
10. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Last
season the Spurs did what they always do, play great text book
basketball and showed that of the 3 veteran filled teams with a chance
at winning it all, they seemed to of had it figured out. Duncan,
Ginobili and Parker had the best record in the Western Conference and
2nd best record in the league at 61-21, earning them a 1st place seed in
the playoffs. Their opponent would be the Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph
lead 8th seeded Memphis Grizzlies, a team that most people put little
thought into when it came to the regular season much less the playoffs.
However, everyone was in for a surprise, Memphis would go on to beat
San Antonio 4-2 in the series leaving everyone scratching their heads.
This year we will see if the Spurs can still play at high a level,
possibly with a chip on their shoulder saddled with a closing window of
opportunity for a championship as their star players continue to get
older. It's also important to note that their slow paced style is
probably best suited for aging players, and their defense remains top
notch, which I’m sure will continue to frustrate young gunners as it
always has.
9. BOSTON CELTICS
Another
“big 3” core of aging star players did their best last year to stock
pile veterans (or if you prefer, “ring chasers”) to the roster in hopes
making it a “big 4”. Honestly, they were not fooling or scaring anyone
by adding an oft injured Jermain O’neal and a soon to be retired
Shaquile O’neal to a team with likely the oldest roster in the NBA. Two
Centers who’s prime years had been long gone for some time were in no
way going to replace Perkins, who they traded to Oklahoma. Garnett can
continue to yell, Allen can continue shooting the lights out and Pierce
can keep playing his hear out, but with Miami, Chicago and New York all
getting better, their time is likely up. The Celtics veterans
wherewithal will continue to serve them well against lower caliber
teams, but they no longer intimidate the younger sharks in the water,
and they smell blood. I do expect them to do well as always, but
watching them this season may result in the same feeling you had when
you watched the Titanic.
8. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Blake
Griffin, Blake Griffin, Blake Griffin. That is all you need to know
about the Clippers. One of the most fan friendly faces of last season
and responsible for the best regular season highlights, last years
rookie of the year will once again have all eyes on him. As great as
the dunks were, the Clippers had a terrible 32-50 record, which might
surprise you considering all the attention the Clippers got last year.
Now that the dunks are all out of his system, it’s time to play
basketball. The fun part will be seeing if they can turn those
highlights into wins through an offensive scheme that will accommodate
the whole team and not just Griffin.
7. ORLANDO MAGIC
On
paper, Orlando has one of the best well rounded teams. A mix of
capable veterans and younger players spear headed by back to back
defensive player of the year Dwight Howard, had a record of 52-30 last
year and made the playoffs. Why outside of their Finals appearance
against the Lakers in 2009, the Magic have failed to live up to
expectations. As the season gets underway, news of Dwight Howard’s
desire to be traded is causing a uproar of joy and criticism, depending
on what side of the Magic your on. Howard’s name has been attached to
Chris Paul’s in a trade that could land them both in L.A. or New York,
both scenarios I feel is unlikely, however Dwight Howard to New Jersey
is a bit more believable when considering the Derron Williams, Prokov,
Jay-Z and Brooklyn situation up there. Maybe #7 should read, Dwight
Howard and not Orlando Magic, but watching how they play with such a
huge distraction should be interesting and be very similar to the
Carmelo Anthony situation last year in Denver.
6. NEW YORK KNICKS
No
where is hypocrisy more rampant than in sports. The Miami “big 3” were
publicly crucified last season, although partially deserved, for taking
part in what was seen as a conspiracy to create an All-Star team. The
Knicks are essentially trying to do the exact same thing and no one, not
Jordan, Barkley or Bird, who were quick to shake their finger at Miami,
has come out to criticize them. True, Lebron’s TV special and the
preseason celebratory concert painted a target on Miami’s back, but
there seems to be no resentment towards Carmelo who left his Denver
Nuggets high and dry late in the season. And now with Chris Paul
publicly demanding a trade to New York, the New Orleans are likely to
share the same fate. James and Bosh at least kept quiet throughout the
season, where as Carmelo and Paul have been vocal. Point is, Carmelo
and Stoudamire will once again not be able to play a full season
together, but should have enough time together to put on some great
basketball and make it to the playoffs. If Chris Paul joins the team,
Miami have might have another “big 3” in the East to deal with.
5. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
A
lot can happen in one season. From being favored to win a championship
to being swept 4-0 in the 2nd round by the Dallas Mavericks, the Lakers
are a perfect example of how easy it is to fall from the top. Kobe’s
injuries and age are no doubt getting to him, and besides Pau Gasol, I
have a hard time believing Bynum or Odom are capable of carrying the
load. Phil Jackson has retired and former Cavaliers coach Mike Brown
will try to earn the respect of one of the leagues elite team who are
used to being coached by arguably the greatest coach in NBA history.
The Lakers, much like the Celtics, will be the team to watch, not
because of how well they will do, but because we will all be able to see
the slow decline of one of the best dynasties of the last decade. I do
not say that with spite in my heart, but it is the reality of sports,
and the changing of the guards will take place over the next few
seasons, and as a fan of the NBA, it is bitter sweet.
4. CHICAGO BULLS
Home
of the best record in the league, 62-20, and home to the NBA MVP
Derrick Rose and Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau, passing on watching
this team play would be crazy. The uphill journey the Bulls have taken
was phenomenal. From 8th seed in 2010 to Eastern Conference finals in
2011, what is there not to love. Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer
and Taj Gibson have helped in making this once iconic team relevant
again and a legitimate contender. Coming up short against the Miami
Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals no doubt left the Bulls with a lot
to think about over the summer, and with New York maybe forming their
own “big 3”, the road to a championship could get a lot bumpier. If you
haven’t seen Derrick Rose play, you owe it to yourself to do so, when
in rhythm, it is something you will not soon forget. Now that this team
has shown so much success with a great leader and a solid supporting
cast, more players might start asking to be traded to Chicago, and not
just New York, Miami and L.A.
3. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
Much
like Chicago, Oklahoma went from zeros to heroes in literally identical
fashion. In 2010 the Thunder were an 8th seed and gave the 1st seeded
Lakers a scare in a playoff series they would go on to lose 4-2. One
year later the Thunder had a 57-25 record, earned a 4th seed in the
playoffs and made it to the Western Conference Finals losing to the
Dallas Mavericks 4-1. All this success would not be possible without
their leader Kevin Durant and his floor general Russell Westbrook.
These 2 All-Stars have the pleasure of being surrounded by an entire
roster of players who know their roles and play them extremely well.
Sharing the court with Ibaka, Perkins, Sefolosha and with Harden and
Maynor coming off the bench, I don’t shy away from saying this is the
most well rounded team in the West if not the entire NBA. Last years
Coach of the Year Scott Brooks has the Thunder playing outstanding
defense which causes turnover after turnover resulting in fast breaks
and a high scoring style of basketball.
2. MIAMI HEAT
What
more can anyone say about the Heat that already hasn’t been said.
Wade, James and Bosh had a 58-24 record, they earned a 2nd seed in the
playoffs, they beat Chicago and Boston on their way to the NBA finals
where they lost 4-2 to the Dallas Mavericks. As long as this “big 3”
stay together they will always be contenders for the title and the love /
hate team of the NBA. Expectations will always be high and the
pressure to win only grow every season, something they seemed to handle
well mid-season last year. They will continue to be the travelling
circus that fans come to cheer or jeer, but either way, everyone will be
watching.
1. DALLAS MAVERICKS
The
Mavericks 57-25 record and 3rd place playoff seed was in no way the
story of the NBA last year. After getting through Portland in the 1st
round, the match-up versus the Lakers is what had everyone tuned in.
However, after the Maverick swept the Lakers 4-0 by playing team
basketball where at least 4 players scored in double digits every night,
and with San Antonio already eliminated from the playoffs, all eyes
were on Dallas. Constantly labelled as soft, Dirk Nowitzki played at an
unbelievably high level with help from veterans Jason Kidd and Shawn
Marion, making it to the Finals to face the Miami Heat. With no one
giving the Mavericks a chance in hell, they convincingly beat the Heat
4-2 by sharing the ball and proving that no 3 players can ever beat an
entire team. Now that the Dallas Mavericks have won the franchise’s
first ever Larry O’Brien trophy, they now have a giant target on their
back, something they are not used to, and I along with a lot of NBA fans
can’t wait to see how they handle it.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
The NBA is back in time for Christmas!
As
I’m sure anyone who follows basketball, or sports in general, knows
there was an NBA lockout which resulted in a loss of regular season
games and a handful of players signing overseas. The lockout started on
July 1st and began a war of words between owners, players and fans which
lasted a full 5 months, finally ending on November 26. During that
time there could be no free agency or trades, no training camps, no
preseason games and most importantly, a number of canceled regular
season games. There are many complex reasons why the NBPA (players
union) and owners were not able to reach an agreement and start the
season on time, but as far as I’m concerned, there were only a few
issues that really mattered.
The BRI (basketball related income), salary cap, contract lengths, team revenue sharing and age restrictions on players entering the NBA draft, to me are the key factors.
The BRI split was probably the most publicized and garnered a lot of media attention due to its driving force behind the lockout. The owners not wanting to budge from a 50/50 split with the players resulted in some nasty quotes coming from both sides, and forced the fans to choose who they felt was greedier, the employers or the employees. The negotiations eventually ended with a 51/49 split in favor of the players, which I figure would have been the split regardless of who it benefited.
The other issues such as salary cap, contract length and team revenue sharing needs to be adjusted to make sure owners don’t waste money, players don’t request to leave and join teams as they please and franchises that make the most money share with those that make the least. All of this is needed in order to keep the NBA competitive, balanced and entertaining.
My biggest hope is that the the age restriction goes from 1 to 2 when dealing with how many years a player has to be out of high school before entering the draft. Too many college Freshman are entering the NBA before they are ready because they see the success stories of players like Kevin Durant and John Wall to name a few. However, if there is an influx of unprepared players, physically and mentally coming into the NBA, the league will soon suffer from poor play and fewer stars. The NCAA will also suffers because it does not get a chance to develop future talent while providing quality basketball at the collegiate level.
With all that said, I’m just happy basketball is back, and I would be more than willing to never talk, read or hear about another bargaining agreement for as long as I live.
This will however be a shortened 66 game season with compressed weeks filled with back to back games, and with not all players hitting the gym this summer, it could lead to some ugly basketball. The NBA will release a revised regular season schedule on Tuesday which will be very interesting based on the fact that not every team will face each other.
The league is in some way trying to make it up to the fans by scheduling opening night on Christmas day with 5 games consisting of the 10 most popular teams. Loyal fans will jump right back onto the bandwagon while most casual fans debate with themselves about whether or not they really care about the NBA.
Either way, the bottom line is BASKETBALL IS BACK!
Here is the season layout for the 2011-12 NBA season:
2011-12 NBA Schedule Breakdown
Regular Season Start Date: December 25, 2011
Regular Season End Date: April 26, 2012
Playoffs Start Date: April 28, 2012
Last Possible Finals Date: June 26, 2012
2011 Christmas Day Games
Boston Celtics at New York Knicks, 12 p.m. ET | TNT
Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks, 2:30 p.m. ET | ABC
Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Lakers, 5 p.m. ET | ABC
Orlando Magic at Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN
Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
Individual Team Schedule Breakdown
Conference Games: 48
• Play 6 teams 4 times (2 home, 2 away)
• Play 4 teams 3 times (2 home, 1 away)
• Play 4 teams 3 times (1 home, 2 away)
Non-Conference Games: 18
• Play 3 teams 2 times (1 home, 1 away)
• Play 6 teams 1 time at home
• Play 6 teams 1 time away
Back to Back to Backs: All teams with at least 1; no more than 3
Playoff Back to Backs: Possible in second round
The BRI (basketball related income), salary cap, contract lengths, team revenue sharing and age restrictions on players entering the NBA draft, to me are the key factors.
The BRI split was probably the most publicized and garnered a lot of media attention due to its driving force behind the lockout. The owners not wanting to budge from a 50/50 split with the players resulted in some nasty quotes coming from both sides, and forced the fans to choose who they felt was greedier, the employers or the employees. The negotiations eventually ended with a 51/49 split in favor of the players, which I figure would have been the split regardless of who it benefited.
The other issues such as salary cap, contract length and team revenue sharing needs to be adjusted to make sure owners don’t waste money, players don’t request to leave and join teams as they please and franchises that make the most money share with those that make the least. All of this is needed in order to keep the NBA competitive, balanced and entertaining.
My biggest hope is that the the age restriction goes from 1 to 2 when dealing with how many years a player has to be out of high school before entering the draft. Too many college Freshman are entering the NBA before they are ready because they see the success stories of players like Kevin Durant and John Wall to name a few. However, if there is an influx of unprepared players, physically and mentally coming into the NBA, the league will soon suffer from poor play and fewer stars. The NCAA will also suffers because it does not get a chance to develop future talent while providing quality basketball at the collegiate level.
With all that said, I’m just happy basketball is back, and I would be more than willing to never talk, read or hear about another bargaining agreement for as long as I live.
This will however be a shortened 66 game season with compressed weeks filled with back to back games, and with not all players hitting the gym this summer, it could lead to some ugly basketball. The NBA will release a revised regular season schedule on Tuesday which will be very interesting based on the fact that not every team will face each other.
The league is in some way trying to make it up to the fans by scheduling opening night on Christmas day with 5 games consisting of the 10 most popular teams. Loyal fans will jump right back onto the bandwagon while most casual fans debate with themselves about whether or not they really care about the NBA.
Either way, the bottom line is BASKETBALL IS BACK!
Here is the season layout for the 2011-12 NBA season:
2011-12 NBA Schedule Breakdown
Regular Season Start Date: December 25, 2011
Regular Season End Date: April 26, 2012
Playoffs Start Date: April 28, 2012
Last Possible Finals Date: June 26, 2012
2011 Christmas Day Games
Boston Celtics at New York Knicks, 12 p.m. ET | TNT
Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks, 2:30 p.m. ET | ABC
Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Lakers, 5 p.m. ET | ABC
Orlando Magic at Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN
Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors, 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
Individual Team Schedule Breakdown
Conference Games: 48
• Play 6 teams 4 times (2 home, 2 away)
• Play 4 teams 3 times (2 home, 1 away)
• Play 4 teams 3 times (1 home, 2 away)
Non-Conference Games: 18
• Play 3 teams 2 times (1 home, 1 away)
• Play 6 teams 1 time at home
• Play 6 teams 1 time away
Back to Back to Backs: All teams with at least 1; no more than 3
Playoff Back to Backs: Possible in second round
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