NBA: 10 Things To Look Forward To

Finally basketball fans, the NBA season has started! On the first day, the Lakers looked dominant, Celtics won at home, Lebron lost again, and Derrick Rose is starting at point for the Bulls. Here is my list of things to look forward to this 2008-09 season:

1. The Lakers have two 7-footers in their starting lineup, Lamar leading the second squad, the deepest bench in the league, and Kobe Bryant. If they can stay healthy, I predict a 64-win season and the title.

2. Beantown just hung another banner in their historic stadium. Are the Celtics still hungry? And how will they deal with the loss of their best perimeter defender (how are they going to slow down Kobe?)?

3. Baron Davis is back in his hometown and playing for another historically bad team. Will he and Camby miraculously lead the Clippers to the playoffs?

4. The 76ers solidified their lineup with the addition of a healthy Elton Brand. Will the 76ers live up to their hype and challenge Boston for the Eastern crown?

5. There's was a reason to be excited in Portland, but he has the durability (and face) of a 55 year old man. After being manhandled in the opener versus the Lakers and losing Oden to injury, can Portland live up to the hype?

6. The Chicago Bulls looked like a huge mess during the offseason but everything came together in their first game with Derrick Rose at the helm. Can this rookie finally lead the Bulls to their full potential?

7. New York Knicks are still recovering from Isiah Thomas's past decisions. With Marbury remaining relatively quiet and Mike D'antoni as the coach, I believe we'll be pleasantly surprised this season.

8. Seattle, the most depressing city in America, no longer has an NBA franchise of their own. How will Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder fare in the Western division. (I'm not going to be optimistic here, 16 wins.)

9. Let's face it, LeBron James does not like the Cleveland Cavaliers or the city of Cleveland. He likes Jay-Z, he likes New York and it is a contract year. How is this season going to play out in Ohio?

10. Derrick Rose, OJ Mayo, Michael Beasley, and Kevin Love are expected to make huge contributions to their respective teams. Can these NBA neophytes really make a huge difference and who will make the biggest impact and win the ROY trophy? (I still say OJ Mayo)

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Look Who Just Released Their Inner Rockstar

Of course they get the black guy to sing. The top athletes gotta relax too I guess.

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Kobe Bryant Better Get That Pinky Fixed

Through an update on his website, Kobe Bryant has announced that he will not be getting surgery on his pinky any time in the near future.

"I have always felt that I can still focus and play at a high level even through various injuries. That's really just part of the game. When the doctors told me recovery from a procedure could be 12 weeks, I just decided now was not the time to have surgery. What it really came down to for me is that I just didn't want to miss any time 'punching the clock' for the Lakers, given all we are trying to accomplish as a team this NBA season. I am just really excited and looking forward to being there with the guys when camp opens in a few weeks. That is a real bonding process and if I can avoid being on the sidelines for that, God willing, I will," said Bryant.

Many will discuss how honorable this is. Kobe Bryant is the ultimate trooper, sacrificing for the good of his team. He wants to "bond" his team, rather than heal himself. The ultimate altruist. He is a changed man!

Are you sick of my sarcasm yet?

I'll be honest in saying that I have absolutely no idea what the real condition is with Kobe's pinky. I also don't know what kind of pain he is in, nor do I know what the doctors said regarding the matter.

But this is getting silly.The media has been making a big deal out of this since March (or earlier). If this is as big of an issue as it was then, then Kobe needs to get his finger fixed so that he can be 100%.

If it really doesn't hurt that much, and he is basically 99% then I think he should let us know, otherwise the media will continually excuse lapses in his performance.

Scratch that. I just came across an article from February saying Kobe wanted to sit-out the All-Star game due to his injured pinky. If it was so bad that he needed to sit out a game in which he would play 15 minutes, I fail to believe it has gotten any better.

The smartest thing for Kobe to have done was to get surgery immediately following the olympics. A 12-week recovery time would mean he would return for the middle of November. He would have only missed 3 weeks of the season!

The Lakers have gotten to the point where they are perennial Championship contenders. Come June they need every last facet of their team firing on all cylinders. Kobe isn't fooling me when he says he wants to forego surgery to bond with the guys. I'm rather certain Kobe could come still come to all the practices he wants even with a cast on his hand.

This all just seems so very illogical to me.

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Lamar Odom: Our Generation's Most Talented Cripple

21 is a mature age. In my years, I have experienced and dealt with things that have helped me grow immensely as an adult, including pregnancy scares and deaths in the family.

21 is also a tender age. I have never seen my father cry, I have never had my stomach pumped due to alcohol consumption, and I have never once seen Lamar Odom finish with his right hand...

The Lakers are an interesting team, led by two completely opposite players. When I say two opposite players, I am referring to Kobe Bryant, arguably the best finisher in the league, and Lamar Odom, arguably the worst. I pride myself in having a fairly strong stomach, meaning not very many things make me cringe. However, when I see Odom facing up his defender on the right wing behind the three-point line, preparing to penetrate, it’s a completely different story. I get goosebumps as I see Odom dribble around his man and extend his abnormally long arm over a help defender the way nobody else in the league can only to blow another left-handed layup. This makes the Odom mystery a little easier to explain: when you’re THAT terrible at finishing with your dominant hand, why even bother trying to shoot with your off hand?

Lamar Joseph Odom was born on November 6, 1979, in Queens, New York. From an early age, Lamar fell in love with the game of basketball. In fact, Lamar was so talented at the sport, that he invented his own version of it: one-handed basketball. Nearly identical to normal basketball, there are fouls, free throws, dribbling, 3-pointers, and out of bounds in one-handed basketball. However, in Lamar’s version of the game, the player is only allowed to shoot with his dominant hand. Any attempt to shoot with one’s off hand will result in a punishment, the severity of which is known only to the game’s founder, Lamar Odom.

There have been speculations about said punishments. It has been said that in grade school, Lamar’s father desperately pushed Lamar to become the greatest one-handed basketball player of all time. Some say that whenever Lamar would unwittingly attempt a shot with his right hand, his father would refuse to feed him for the day. Others claim that anyone who is THAT averse and terrified of using his right-hand must have a history of physical abuse. Supporters of this theory believe that Lamar’s father would dole out lashings to Lamar each time he would use his right-hand. Of course, these speculations are exactly that: speculative.

As Lamar grew into a man, he would go on to attend the University of Rhode Island. Unfortunately, the game of one-handed basketball had not caught on as quickly as Lamar had hoped, as the University of Rhode Island did not have a one-handed basketball team. Instead, Lamar was forced to join the normal basketball team, and play amongst lesser-skilled, ambidextrous athletes. It was difficult for Lamar to respect even his own teammates at Rhode Island, as he saw them as cheaters for using both hands. In his first and only year at Rhode Island, Lamar put up monstrous numbers. Using only his left hand, Lamar averaged 17.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. Convinced that the college game would never embrace the glorious game of one-handed basketball, Lamar decided to turn pro after just one year at Rhode Island. To his dismay and disappointment yet again, the professional basketball world didn’t offer a league for one-handed specialists either. Lamar was again forced to play amongst two-handed cheaters, this time for good.

Unfortunately for Lamar, his right hand had by now atrophied and deteriorated into a completely useless limb from years of lack of use. Playing at a natural disadvantage of one useful hand against his opponents’ two useful hands, Lamar has been made a fool of time and time again. My heart bleeds for poor Lamar each time he drives to the hoop and blows another lay-up, his right arm flailing helplessly at his side. It’s a shame that David Stern hasn’t made the effort to honor Lamar Odom for being quite possibly the most productive handicapped basketball player the NBA has ever seen.

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The All-NBA Gridiron Team

Even though ESPN’s Sports Center is overrun by the upcoming NFL season, I really want the NBA season to hurry up and start. In my attempt to celebrate the massive anticipation of both leagues, I’ve decided to create my own football dream team, composed of NBA players.

Offense:

Quarterback: Allen Iverson. (pictured right) Considering his toughness, speed, and dominance as a high school quarterback, he is arguably the most qualified quarterback in the NBA. He’s the NFL’s Michael Vick… pre-dog-fighting.
Back-up: Kevin Love. First of all, good luck trying to sack a 6’10” 270 pound beast. And secondly, no one throws a quicker and more accurate deep ball than Kevin Love.

Running-back: Lebron James. You cannot bring down Lebron James. He’s too big, too strong, too athletic, too quick, and too fast for you and anyone else. I think every NFL team should try to convert 6’8” 240 pounders into running backs; championships guaranteed.
Back-ups: Baron Davis. Played high-school ball. Has an awesome beard.
Chris Paul: He’s quick, crafty, and has amazing vision. No one else works better in traffic than the elusive CP3.

Full-back: Derek Fisher. With his muscular lower body and dedication to getting low on defense, D-Fish will clear out some major space for the running backs. He is freaking buff.
Back-up: Tyrus Thomas. There’s nothing quite like brute strength to get rid of defenders. He also attended LSU where all students are required to understand the ins and outs of football, so he should know a thing or two about the sport.

Wide-receivers: Kevin Garnett. At 6’11”, very few people are better than him at catching lobs and alley-oops. His speed, athleticism, and focus should make every bomb and fade seem like a walk in the park. And if you do manage to get in the way, he will scream at you.
Dwyane Wade: Probably the best route runner in the NBA. His explosiveness and ability to change directions make him the most difficult player to defend without the ball. Unfortunately, the expiration date on his ankles is rapidly approaching.
Back-ups: Jamario Moon and Rudy Gay. The concept of football is simple. Throw the ball high in the air and Moon or Gay will jump and come down with it.

Tight end: Dwight Howard. If you’re the quarterback and Dwight Howard is your 6th blocker, you’re going to feel safe. Also reassuring is how well the 6’11” monster catches.
Back-up: Andrew Bynum. Not as intimidating as Dwight, but he’s a bigger body with softer hands.

O-line: I wanted to take the most physically gifted players with mass and put them on my offensive line. I highly doubt that you would feel confident in your pass rushing abilities when my seven guys averaging 6’10” 270 pounds know a thing or two about holding their ground.
LT: Jason Maxiell. Frightening powerhouse with sufficient speed to pick up blitzes and protect my potential quarterbacks’ blind sides.
LG: Kendrick Perkins. Big body and a filthy face.
C: Shaq O’Neal. Playground football; put the fattest kid as the snapper. Plus, he loves being the center of attention.
RG: Glen Davis. The last person who tried spent 3 months trying to get around “Big Baby.” Good luck getting to the QB.
RT: Matt Harping. WTF Matt Harping? He’s probably the most physical player on my line and he plays with a chip on his shoulder. His intimidation alone earns him a starting gig.
Back-ups: Jason and Jarron Collins. These big seven-foot brothers are terrible basketball players and most likely terrible football linemen; but 260 pounds should be somewhat effective.

Kicker: Steve Nash. Canadian.
Back-up: Kobe Bryant. His ability to speak Italian comes with soccer talent.


Defense:

D-line: Ben Wallace. Something about his mental capacity seems to match perfectly with football.
Marc Gasol. Seven feet tall and he reminds me of a hardcore outdoorsman. In my head he should be wielding an axe in a red flannel and Wrangler jeans when he’s not playing football.
Elton Brand. I see him as a brute force type of guy.
Mark Madsen. Every coach loves a Mark Madsen type player, even if he does lack athleticism, skill, speed…. But somehow he’ll make the play.

Linebackers: Ron Artest. He will probably win a fistfight versus anybody in the league, and that is because he probably hits really hard. Receivers and backs would most likely do "the quarterback slide" to avoid getting toppled by Artest.
Corey Maggette. Corey is the most chiseled man in the NBA and he wants to hit you hard.
Lamar Odom. LO is a notorious for his lack of inspired play, but when he is inspired, WATCH OUT.
Back-up: Maurice Evans. Think Corey Maggette, but not as buff. Mo Evans understands this and will take out his frustrations on the opposing team.

Cornerbacks: Kobe Bryant. There’s a reason he was called the Doberman during the Olympics, football shall not be any different.
Bruce Bowen. He does have the quickness and footwork to stay in front of any player, but really, the dirtiest player in the NBA should fit right at home in a full-contact game.
Back-up: Raja Bell.

Strong safety: James Posey. He’s quick and strong. But the deciding factor was his mouth-piece, which demonstrates that he’s prepared for violence of the gridiron.
Back-up: Kenyon Martin. Similar to Ben Wallace, he’s not very bright, but he is damn strong and athletic. I wouldn’t mind having a blue-collar guy like him knocking some sense into unsuspecting ball-carriers.

Free Safety: Nate Robinson. You should first be recapped on the NYK vs. Denver scrap a couple years back. You should notice how at 5’7” he is right in the middle of the squabble, not backing down to anyone. And even after his mini-altercation with JR Smith, he’s still punking Carmelo for sucker punching his teammate. Nate Robinson, you are the man.

Punter: Steve Nash. Canadian.

I just created an NFL dynasty team, now only if salaries were not an issue...

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G'Day and G'Bye Mate, Aussies Fry On the Barbie

One down, two more to go.

A rematch of what had been the Americans' most challenging game so far amounted to about 19 minutes of slight tension, followed by 21 minutes of what turned out to be a Dream-like romp. The USA Men's Basketball team skewered the Aussies 116-85 in a second half performance reminiscent of the old days.

The game started off tight, the lead only at one after the first quarter. The Aussies looked competitive, as they came out fast, strong, and accurate; Patrick Mills was a blur tearing around the court while Saville and Newley were consistent and active. The US were goaded into taking bad shots, trying to answer back every shot the Australians made with something more impressive, making it seem like a giant game of "Top That". They shot free throws poorly and had to use too much of their athleticism and strength instead of their skill and accuracy. The second quarter started slowly but ended with a bang, honors going to Mr. Deron Williams and his ridiculous aptitude for clutch shooting. Other writers are saying that this shot was the turn around of the game, but what really hurt the Aussies was the American intensity and the relentless pressure. And I also have to add that the small speed team where Lebron was at center was great. But still, the game was close, and the twelve point half time lead wasn't nearly as large as it seemed.

The later quarters showed more efficient and even outstanding scoring by the Americans. The threes started to fall, the fast break was running, and the wrecking balls also known as Kobe and Lebron were tearing through the Australian defense with ease.

Frustration lined the faces of the men from down under, as they looked more lost than Nemo during the American flurry that was the third quarter. When Andrew Bogut "left due to injury" around halfway through that period, it signaled the waving of the white flag, as the only green jerseys left fighting were the frisky little gnats Nielson and Worthington. Though James Ingles and Patrick Mills could be seen as silver lining, the game overall was not only a storm cloud, but a full blown hurricane. The depth of the US bench was too overwhelming, the constant pressure waterfalling onto the Aussies uncontrollably.

Up next for the Redeem Team is Argentina, who snuck past Greece to set up a full top-seeded final four. The door to the gold is still through the Argentinians, and no matter how banged up their stars may be, they have the personnel and intangibles to repeat. If the Americans can't impose their style from the get go, there's going to be some high drama come Friday.

If Manu, Delfino, and Luis Scola are on, Kobe, Lebron, Wade, Melo, CP3.... ok nevermind. The only fear for the US is their own inconsistency. As long as these NBA All-Stars have enough left in their tanks, they are both more beautiful and more terrifying than any other opponent in any other sport EVER. The battle between Manu and Kobe will be the key, a miniature of the Lakers/Spurs rivalry packed into a single sitcom-sized time period.

Oh, I almost forgot.

PRACTICE YOUR FREAKING FREETHROWS. 58%? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

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Random Ramblings: USA vs. Angola Men's Basketball

It's 5 AM here in California, and here I am, excited and up for Team USA's second game. I fully expect the game to actually be broadcasted live this time, and hope for the sakes of NBC's executive cabinet that the event actually is on. After cruising through the first fifty channels on my television (anger slightly boiling over after the absence of any Olympic coverage over the first two known Olympic channels) I was relieved to see that the game was actually playing on USA. NBC, thank you for granting my request (threat, request, tomato, tomatoe). So here goes:

• I turned on the television to see an athletic breakaway dunk and felt quite happy with myself. Turns out it was an Angolan by the name of Morais, not an American. Wow. Great way to start the day.
• Angola actually looks pretty athletic and shoots well. For a team supposed to be losing big, they aren't doing too badly through the first quarter so far.
  
• Wow, the Angolan coach just admitted that his goal for the game was to not lose by forty. Modest, mocking, or serious? Who knows, but I am sure that we better win by forty.
  
• OK, I have seen the woman referee call at least five travels within eight minutes. She has made no other call so far, so I guess that's her mission. Keep the world travel-free. Good job lady, just miss all the shoves and flops going on. Female Donaghy, I swear.
  
• They just played a flashback of the original Dream Team's first meeting with Angola. Sir Charles has been officially documented as a global-grade jackass. Man, what a bully. It's turrible.
• Kobe's really not shooting too well. I hope this not taking over too much thing doesn't carry over into the NBA season, because if I see Kobe dishing consistently to Mr. Machine and Sun Yue instead of going Black Mamba, I'll have an aneurysm.
• Look for this around the 5 minute mark of the 2nd quarter. Lebron just turned on his inner Kerri Walsh and tried to permanently implant an opponent's shot into the Beijing basketball gym floor.
  
• DWade was just called for a foul while jumping in the air on an alley oop. I don't think I've ever seen someone on the receiving end of an alley oop get called for anything before. I must admit, that was strange.
• I don't want to say it again, but COME ON NOW, PRACTICE YOUR FREE THROWS.
• At the half, they lead by 18. Not horrible, but could be a lot better. It is about half way to 40 though, so sucks for the Angolan coach.
  
• After watching a recap of the Spain vs. China game (which looked like a great game and should be watched on all accounts), I'm really starting to hope that the Lakers team doesn't get too tired out over the course of this summer. Pau and Kobe should both travel deep into this tournament, and I really hope fatigue doesn't play too much of a factor.
• I'm happy to see that the NBA on NBC theme song is still being played. John Tesh's best work, no question.
  
• I think Jason Kidd should be played alongside either Chris Paul or Deron Williams more often. Having two amazing passers on the court works wonders for the fastbreak and the overall ball movement.
• Start of the second half, and Kobe misses another three. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU DOBERMAN? Just as I've said that, I realize that the nickname Doberman sucks. Why Doberman? What's with Kobe and Animal Planet references?
  
• I'm not sexist, I swear. BUT I HATE THAT WOMAN REF. SHE IS RIDICULOUS.
• The US has come out very, very flat in the second half. And Kidd's refusal to shoot the ball is getting annoying... maybe he is getting old. Just kidding, just kidding.
  
• Kobe Bryant on fast breaks is just so beautiful. Too bad he's missed like five threes. I really don't understand where his shot is right now. Animorph into Black Mamba, Doberman isn't needed this game.
  
• It doesn't look like the USA was properly prepared for this game. The matchups that they're creating don't favor them whatsoever. Why not put in a team of Boozer, Howard, Lebron, Wade, and Paul? They would dominate rebounding while still being quick enough to run. This Angolan team is fairly physical, so push back.
• With 3:30 left in the 3rd, it looks like the USA has woken up, and Angola is finally falling apart.
• Oh man, Chris Bosh being the regular old American tourist is great. That giant man getting so excited with his camera and snapping picture after picture along the Great Wall reminds you that these guys are just normal people. Well, really talented, really rich, and really famous "normal people".
• I love the two-man game of Deron Williams and Chris Paul. There are no words for how well they seem to mesh. Either that, or they're both just so baller that its beautiful.
• The lead has ballooned to 28 after three. This game is on it's way to being what I expect from the Redeem Team.
  
• Dwayne Wade just saved the ball off of an Angolan player, and the player jumped up immediately to protest, only to be stared down by Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. The Angolan stopped mid sentence and proceeded to run away. He looked like a chihuahua cowering away from a pair of rottweilers. Too bad the Doberman was on the other side of the court.
• As soon as I started being proud of them, The US team started getting sloppy. They no longer impress me.
• Morais of Angola is really impressive. Yeah, he has double digit turnovers, but that's because he has it in his hands almost 80% of the time while being hounded by Kobe and DWade.
• With a final score of 97-76, the Americans cruised to victory, albeit not up to my personal expectations. Wade was perfect in Beijing for 6 quarters still having missed only 2 shots total and Lebron has been overpowering anyone that dares come close to him. The US team is winning easily, but the blowouts just aren't what they used to be.

To conclude this game, it must be stated that the US team shot ridiculously poorly. 24% from the three and 64% from the line is horrible. Had they shot a more reasonable 43% from the arc (which is more or less a twenty foot jumper) and 80% from the line, they would have won by thirty-seven instead. And that's being generous. Kobe and Redd need to start hitting their threes with more consistency and Lebron really needs to learn how to make a freethrow. So far, Dwayne Wade has been the star of these 2008 Olympics. By far.

PRACTICE YOUR FREAKING FREETHROWS

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USA Roundball Woes

The 1992 Olympic Dream Team was the most dominant team in USA's history. The team featured 10 hall of famers(to-be) and won the Olympic tournament by an average margin of 43.8 points per game. That is what you call pure domination.

The current 2008 Olympic team has been tabbed as America's Redeem Team, the collective group that will bring back the gold after three consecutive tournament failures ('02 FIBA: 6th; '04 Olympics: 4th; '06 FIBA: 3rd). This team features Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Chris Paul, and Dwyane Wade, the best players in the NBA, yet they can barely squeak by teams like a Bogut-less Australian team. This team is arguably the most athletically gifted team ever to be assembled, but why is winning still so hard?

Let's break it down.

The Dream Team featured 10 of the greatest players to ever play the game, and the other two were Chris Mullin (25ppg) and Duke-sensation Christain Laettner. The team had two 7 footers and no one shorter than 6'6" Jordan outside former all-time assist leader, Stockton, and former MVP Charles Barkley. Everyone but Clyde Drexler and Scottie Pippen averaged 50% field-goals for their career, and these guys only shot a marginal 47%, which actually would be amazing in today's league. Bird, Ewing, Jordan, Pippen, Malone, D.Robinson, and Stockton were featured on All-Defensive teams. And they were all capable of hitting their free throws.

The Redeem Team on the other hand has no 7 footers, 6 players 6'6" or shorter, and a serious shortage in the big-man position. Only Boozer and Howard average over 50% field goals, and outside of Michael Redd, the only two players who have ever shot over 40% 3-pointers in a season are Bosh and Prince, and in those years they shot 72 3-pointers combined. And of the 12 players on the roster, only 5 have ever graced the NBA All-Defensive team.

What does this all mean?

The United States will be pushed to the edge by strong international teams. Characteristic of all gold-medal and championship winning teams is defense. USA has excellent individual defenders in Kidd, Paul, Kobe, and Prince and an excellent defensive anchor in Dwight Howard, unfortunately, Prince offers little outside of defense (and should not get much PT) while Kidd and Paul play the same position. So at any one time, team USA will only have 3 of their top defenders on the court. Team USA is also terrible at defending the pick and roll, continues to get beat backdoor, gives up the 3-ball, and lacks the experience and communication to work together as one cohesive defensive unit. And to further the issue, defense does not end until the team seizes the defensive rebound, but the US team lacks the size and length to accomplish this.

Strangely enough, America gains a heap of its point from turnovers, resulting in fast-break highlight reels. However, when the US plays capable teams like Lithuania and Spain, those easy points will be greatly reduced and America will have to rely on its half-court offense (sh*t...).

We have the best players in the world and we're still not confident. Why? We could give Wade the ball and have him penetrate for an easy deuce, have Lebron power his way through for two, alley-oop dunk for Dwight, impossible fade-aways for Kobe, but the problem is, they're all twos. When your team scores two points, and the other team makes a three, you are losing (especially when your team can't defend the three). In the past two games, the US is 12-45, 27% from the shorter 3-point line, thanks much in part to Kobe (1-15). To make matters worse, the Redeem Team cannot make a free-throw. 34-50 at the charity stripe is an abysmal 68%, led by Lebron's team worst, 3-8.

When you add everything together, you still have the best team in the world; they just happen to be a small team that can't defend, rebound, or score enough. Thank goodness for double elimination.

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Why doesn't the Redeem Team stay in the Olympic Village?

This is why.

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Debate 1 - Team USA: Will The Dream Be Redeemed?

As another new installment here at After The Anthem, we will be conducting weekly interviews and debates, discussing the most current and pressing sports news. The debates will be conducted with a mediator who regulates the discussion, and will be recorded here on ATA for your reading pleasure. Also, debaters will NOT be restricted to only staff members, and is open to anyone who has something substantial to say about a given week's topic of discussion. If you are interested in participating in a weekly debate or interview, please contact Brian Pham.

For our first debate, our very own Brian Pham (Olympics editor) and Adriel Carolino (miscellaneous sports editor) discuss various aspects of Team USA basketball. I served as the mediator. Here's what they had to say:


Brian Chen: Today's topic of discussion, Olympic Team USA. Pham, what do you think about our Redeem Team?

Brian Pham: I believe the Redeem Team is, hands down, one of the greatest teams ever assembled.

Brian Chen: Really, even better than the Dream Team that featured Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird?

Brian Pham: I don't think they're at that level yet, because they're all young. But Chris Paul is going to be one of the greatest point guards of all time, and people forget what Dwyane Wade is truly capable of because he hasn't been completely healthy since the '04 finals. And as hard as it is for me to admit, Lebron is already one of the greatest players of all time. Nobody can guard him now, nobody could've guarded him then.

Brian Chen: Adriel, what do you think about Pham's opinion?

Adriel Carolino: ...about what?

Brian Pham: YOU DOUCHEBAG, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A DEBATE, AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN F*ING LISTENING TO ME.

Adriel Carolino: Well if I actually respected your opinion, maybe I would have paid attention. I'm just kidding Pham. So what were we talking about again?

Brian Chen: Pham believes the '08 Redeem Team is one of the greatest teams ever assembled. What do you think?

Adriel Carolino: Based on talent alone, they are one of the strongest teams of all time, especially defensively.

Brian Pham: I think the Reddem Team's defense is pretty good, but we sputter on offense. Especially when it comes to shooting free throws. It's outrageous, when you consider that this is supposed to be the best assembled team from America. But if there's one person holding back the Redeem Team, it's Tayshaun Prince. They need to kick him off the team. He's useless.

Adriel Carolino: Honestly, I think the player holding the Redeem Team back is Kobe Bryant. At his best, he's the greatest player on the planet. But recently, he's been missing all his 3's, and has been trying to do way too much on offense. I feel like he's trying to win All-Star games instead of trying to win Olympic gold. And against Angola, our entire team was sloppy as hell.

Brian Pham: I really don't see Kobe trying to be too flashy so far in the Olympics. And that's not even to say that flashiness is a bad thing. Dwade is pretty damn flashy, but I think it actually helps our team. And the best teams in basketball usually adjust their play to the competition. You think that Team USA was sloppy against Angola, but that's because Angola was a weak team. If tehy were to play against Argentina, they would for sure step up their game.

Adriel Carolino: But if you think about it, Team USA isn't even a real team, but a collection of the best ballers in the league. So they pretty much run street ball. And if you look at where their offense comes from, most of it comes from breakaways. If you look at their offensive sets, most of it is from isolation through Kobe, Lebron, and Dwade.

Brian Pham: But that's what the Hornets do, that's what the Spurs do, and that's what the Lakers do. The triangle offense simply opens up space and that's where Kobe Bryant is able to flourish.

Adriel Carolino: What the hell are we even arguing about anymore?

Brian Chen: Ok, let's just discuss Team USA in general.

Brian Pham: I think their style of play resembles that of the Phoenix Suns. They like to play fast.

Adriel Carolino: They try to play fast, but they're not that successful because international games are so much slower. If you watch the games, Team USA plays hard and runs hard. At this rate, they will get tired. If they revolve their offense around fast breaks, fatigue will be inevitable.

Brian Chen: What do you guys think about Jason Kidd and his starting role?

Adriel Carolino: Chris Paul and Deron Williams are way better shooters, and they can facilitate the offense just as efficiently, if not more efficiently. It seems like Jason Kidd is only concerned with padding his assist numbers, regardless of whether or not it's helping or hurting his team. And he doesn't shoot anymore. In fact, he's scored just two points the entire Olympic games. He doesn't try to shoot, and that impedes the offense because if you have an open shot, you should take it. Otherwise, you're hurting your team.

Brian Pham: I agree. Team USA can easily bench Jason Kidd, and be better for it.

Brian Chen: So my question is, why does Coach K still start Jason Kidd when either Chris Paul or Deron Williams is clearly a better option?

Brian Pham: It's completely out of respect. Jason Kidd was the original point guard that was invited to join Team USA.

Brian Chen: Ok, so they faced a relatively strong team in China, and Coach K still opted to start Jason Kidd. Do you think he will still start Kidd against even stronger teams such as Lithuania and Argentina?

Brian Pham: Jason Kidd will start, but I still think Chris Paul is the best point guard on the team.

Adriel Carolino: I honestly think Jason Kidd is only here because of his experience and his leadership. He serves as a role model to the younger point guards.

Brian Chen: But do you honestly think Chris Paul and Deron Williams need a role model, especially one in Jason Kidd? Quite frankly, I think Chris Paul is already better than Jason Kidd ever was.

Brian Pham: I don't think Paul has surpassed what Jason Kidd was in his prime just yet, but he'll get there.

Brian Chen: Ok, next topic. Who should be here who isn't, and who shouldn't be here who is?

Brian Pham: I'd rather have Shane Battier than Tayshaun Prince.

Adriel Carolino: I'd rather have Prince. Shane Battier brings absolutely no offense.

Brian Pham: But when you put Prince in the game, you're not putting him in there for his offense.

Adriel Carolino: But he gives you the possibility of offensive production, and that's where he's better than Battier.

Brian Pham: But Battier gives you the same spot up shooting ability as Prince, and in my opinion is an even better shooter than Prince.

Adriel Carolino: Also, I think Tyson Chandler would have been a better choice than Carlos Boozer.

Brian Pham: Ok, NOW let's talk about offense. Boozer has infinitely more offensive skill than Chandler has. And putting aside his offensive ineptitude, I even think Chandler's defense is overrated.

Adriel Carolino: But one of Team USA's greatest weaknesses is our lack of size. I think we should have invited David West to join.

Brian Pham: Isn't David West even smaller than Boozer? I'd rather have Andrew Bynum than David West. I don't think David West knows how to play defense. I think West and Boozer are both weak on defense, but Boozer gives you a lot more variety on offense. In fact, I think Boozer is one of the most underrated passing big men in the league. He averages what, 3 or 4 assists as a power forward? That's pretty solid.

Adriel Carolino: That's because Boozer has more chances than David West to facilitate the ball because Chris Paul dominates ball facilitating more than Deron Williams does.

Brian Pham: You can blame whoever you want for not giving certain players the opportunity to facilitate the ball, but if a player has a skill, the coach will use them. Take Brad Miller for example. It's not a coincidence that he averages 3 to 5 assists WHEREVER he goes.

Adriel Carolino: I'm not listening to you anymore. I'm going to watch women's Olympic volleyball.

Brian Chen: Tune in next week as we include David Park and Robert Z. Lee in our debate.

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I Support Kobe's Move to Europe, Anyone Else??

Please Kobe fans around America, do not hate me when I say that I would fully support Kobe's move to a European League. Let me explain first--at least.

Recently, Kobe Bryant made public that he would definitely consider a European team's offer for him.

“As players, the business of the game (is) evolving,” Bryant said before a Team USA practice at Beijing Normal University. “I think free agency now is becoming a global thing …. When players become free agents, the team they’re currently with – their competition is no longer the rest of the teams in the NBA. But it’s global. So, the market’s opened up. So we’ll just have to see how the league responds to it.”

It doesn't make sense for me to support Kobe's move. Most critics concur that he is the greatest basketball player on the planet right now. Shouldn't he play with the best of the best and stay with the NBA? It almost feels like it is his responsibility to do that. How else can all of his supporters truly say he is the greatest, when he isn't competing against them day in and day out?

What I see in Kobe if he does decide to leave the NBA is that he is finally becoming his own person. He is finally developing and understanding who he wants to be, as opposed to what the press tells him he needs to be, or what Michael Jordan was.

I truly believe that for a good portion of his basketball career, Kobe was constrained by the aura of Jordan. It wasn't even Michael Jordan himself, but the aura, and the legend that Nike created. If MJ was Kobe's father, it would be a classic psychological syndrome of trying to be that "spitting image" of your pa.

Early on in his career you could see that every detail of his game was a mimicry of Jordan. The hanging fadeaway, the tongue-wagging and the defensive intensity. No one reminded us of "the great one" like Kobe did, simply because no one really tried to be Michael as much as Kobe did.

The Shaq-Kobe feud? Part of it can defintely be blamed on this compulsiveness to be Michael's equal or greater. Kobe realized that his career would never be comparable unless he was the undisputed leader of a championship team (x6). He needed to demonstrate that he could do it. Or at least, he needed the chance.

But, in recent years we have seen progression by digression. Kobe has inched his way away from MJ, developing a better long distance jump shot (indisputable) and ball handling skills (arguably).

If Kobe were to leave for Europe, he would finally be on the path to creating his own basketball legend. Kobe is definitely a macro thinker. Kobe isn't just playing basketball, he's creating a story. If there was one thing that you could say Kobe is better at then MJ, it'd be speaking Italian--and English for that matter. Kobe should be using his international personality to his advantage.

I never believed Jordan had an international personality. Jordan had an international brand, and an international image. But he lacked the eloquence to blur borders. Ronaldinho is a magnificently gifted futbol player, but he will never be David Beckham. Kobe is lucky because he was raised in Italy. He already has international roots and influences. Jordan and Lebron will always be thought of as American. Kobe almost feels above that silly distinction.

I support Kobe leaving because I don't want another MJ, I don't even just want someone better than MJ. Just like Jordan made Kareem Abdul Jabbar an after thought, in 10 years I want to forget about MJ altogether. There is so much more about basketball that can evolve.

There is so much more about Kobe that can evolve. But really, he doesn't need to move to Europe at all. The mere fact that he's open to the possibility signifies to me, that Kobe has finally started writing his own life.

I like how he talks about gold medals being bigger than NBA Titles. I like how he brushed aside the failure in the NBA Finals as if it wasn't a big deal. I think basketball is going to get to that point sometime, a la soccer, and have global championships show who really is the best. But most of all, I like how since Kobe added an MVP to his titles and first team All-NBA and all defense awards, he has set his eyes on something bigger.

I'm excited because we are finally seeing the birth of Kobe Bryant. Now we can finally stop with the Jordan comparisons, because both Kobe and I are sick of them.

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Kobe Ain't A Kidder

"He's Old."

Jason Kidd is 35 years old. This age is honestly older and in comparison to the rest of the Olympic Team, he is the elder statesman, accentuated by the grizzly beard he sports. His skills have been on the decline, and though no one doubts what he's done in the past, he honestly just isn't what he used to be.

Last year Kidd shot a horrible 38.5% from the field and has a career percentage of 40.1. The Russians were playing zone and against this defense Kidd can't compare to CP3 or D-Will. Kidd is the leader of this group and is perfect in their running up tempo game, but it just wasn't working in Shanghai.

Now this doesn't justify Kobe's rudeness, even though he was completely joking. If his statement honestly offended Jason Kidd, I'm sure Mr. Bryant apologized.

Kobe sees himself as a jokester, but his image just isn't blithe enough yet to be accepted in the same light as the more accomplished pranksters like Shaq and or even Lebron. But its improving and this light jest will just be forgotten about, just as Shaq's ridiculous Kobe rap was. So if Shaq isn't seen as an a**hole now, this shouldn't cause any tension within the Redeem Team nor should it mean anything whatsoever to the rest of the world. Thanks sports media for spinning a ridiculous statement into something much bigger than it actually is.

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Kobe Bryant Can't Count

When asked why Jason Kidd was benched for the second half of the game against Russia, Coach Mike Krzyewski was about to wax poetic on how Russia's use of zone defense was better handled by young athletes with nicknames resembling robots from Star Wars. However, Kobe Bryant, ever the model of modesty and class jumped in with a definitive two word explanation.

"He's old."

Never mind the fact that Kidd is only four years senior to Bryant in age, and only has two years on him in the league.

Never mind the fact that Kidd is the third leading scorer in the league for triple-doubles, while Bryant is still struggling with the mastery of basic ball passing.

But it's no surprise that counting isn't Bryan't strong point - after all, can you really compare Kidd's Berkeley education to Bryant's Lower Merion training? Sorry Kobe.

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Paul Pierce is a donut

In a recent basketball camp in Madrid, Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics had a few words I'd like to share with the world.

"Q: Is Kobe really the best player in the world?

Pierce: I don't think Kobe is the best player. I'm the best player. There's a line that separates having confidence and being conceited. I don't cross that line but I have a lot of confidence in myself."

Pierce, congratulations on your championship, but I'm about 200% sure that it's gone straight to your head. The correct answer was, "Yes."

Let's break it down, Kobe Bryant is the best player in the world, hands down (not yet Lebron). The MVP has more weapons than all of Al-Qaeda. He'll score in your face, beat you off the drive, fade-away, fade-further away, lean-in, hang and make an impossible lay-up, or a reverse, he'll shoot from 40 feet out, float it, shoot it left handed, dunk in your face, dunk on your mom, dunk your donut, use the glass, and shoot a 720 pivot fade-away in the corner, behind the glass, against 3 defenders, and make it. And of course he's NBA Defensive First team.

Paul Pierce you are one chubby jelly donut. I'm glad you are confident about your sweet strawberry center, but you could not have made a more pompous, bombastic statement. What kind of donut outright states he is the best player in the world and also mentions that he is not conceited? Only a soft delicious pastry like you. Soft. Like in game one of the finals; you crumbled to the floor and had be carried (like a newb) into the locker room. You undoubtedly ate a donut in the locker room, you chubby cake.

In layman terms...
Kobe Bryant = Best
Paul Pierce = Not

Pierce, baby, whatever line you were talking about in your quote, you crossed it. Kobe never did. He's just straight blood, sweat, and tears. You are a soft sweet succulent strawberry donut. So no more talking, Winchells, just watch.

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I Wish the Lakers Were Still in it.... So I Could Watch More of the Machine.

Lakers? Celtics? Some could care less. Some just want to see basketball. Some don't like watching blowouts. Some just hate it when superstars sulk on the bench and give up. Some also hate it when regular stars act like they're 2 years old and pretend to be injured so they can get their diapers chagned in the locker room. Some just want to see Sasha Vujacic because they are girls and they think he looks so adorable. And then some just think that the Machine is AWESOME.

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The Day After Yesterday

So, the NBA season is at long last at its conclusion - with the Boston Celtics crowned champions. As a lifelong Laker fan, the fact that the Lakers unexpectedly reached the Finals serves as no consolation to the agony of watching the Celtics (THE CELTICS!) take the trophy. But now, 24 hours later, I've been able to digest the season as a whole a bit better.

Us Laker fans started the season scared out of our minds that for the first time in eleven years, we would be without the one constant that kept us hoping and believing - from Kobe's rookie season and his audacious airballs against the Utah Jazz, to his improbable buzzer beaters against the Portland Trailblazers to clinch the #1 seed, from his off court troubles in Eagle, Colorado, to his 81 point game against the Rapters - Kobe Bryant's excellence between the lines was never, ever in doubt. And yet, the threat was very real. We were about to enter a period of extreme unknown, a period when Kobe Bryant would be wearing a Chicago Bulls jersey. To deny that every Laker fan had already resigned themselves to the fact that Kobe was going to be traded would be dishonest. Even if most of us said, "No, it'll never happen!", deep down inside we knew that the trade demands were very, very real.

So now, sitting here a year and change later, to be disappointed in losing the NBA Finals...it's a good place to be, all things considered. Now don't get me wrong, once I realized that we had a shot, I was all in and fully engaged in winning a championship, and anyone who was with me watching these playoffs knows full well how pained I was when we first blew game 4, and then failed to show up in game 6. But I also know that to be a Laker fan means to be constantly spoiled by greatness. The pieces are there, but like MJ's young Bulls who couldn't get past the Pistons, like the Shaq era Lakers under Del Harris, it takes a few years of adversity and growth to find the fire that we so sorely lacked in Game 6. It hasn't been that long since our last championship, we just made the finals, and with a few new pieces, a little improvement over the summer from our youngsters - we are looking at a new Laker dynasty. 

Fret not, Laker Nation. The Purple and Gold is back.

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My Emotional Plea

Kobe Bryant, you said in the post game interview you had some very good shots that didn't go down for you. But c'mon Kobe, we all know you're the only person in the NBA who thinks those shots are easy, but you can easily get those shots any time you want. You looked like Kobe of old, forcing shots, not passing, not running the offense. Your teammates were completely out of sync, they need you to get them involved. And not just by piling up your own assist numbers, but by giving them the simple pass and giving them the confidence that you trust them.

Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, Vladimir Radmonovich, please, defense does not end until you secure the rebound. Please, you forced plenty of poor shots and showed solid defense... until you let Boston grab 10 offensive rebounds including the exclamation put back jam by KG in the closing minutes.

Lakers, please calm down and show some poise. The entire game you guys looked confused, rushed, puzzled, and completely out of sync. The Boston crowd and team energy totally disoriented everyone on the court leading to poor passes, rushed shots, and a serious lack of focus (I'm talking to you space cadet).

Please! Please! PLEASE! Run your offense and focus on how you can improve. You guys were ALL one step behind Boston in game 1, it's obvious who actually did their homework. Regroup and steal one on Sunday. And Phil, please play Trevor Ariza.

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Lakers vs Celtics: Keys to Win

TYPICALLY, there are specific game plans that can be devised to shut down any team in the NBA. So I had all intention of explaining what the game plan would be for each team in the finals. Unfortunately, I'm drawing a blank. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics both have so many weapons and so many different response tactics, you shut down one aspect and they'll fire back with a different weapon-- this is why these two teams are in the championship series. So though there aren't any sure fire ways to truly shut the other team down, as always, I will try (and most likely be right).

For BOSTON CELTICS to win:

Exploit and attack Derek Fisher. Yes, Derek Fisher has been reputed as a solid offensive and defensive presence, however, he has definitely lost a step or two. Deron Williams and Tony Parker ripped Derek Fisher apart on the offensive end using their quickness and an endless series of pick and rolls. Lakers have placed a lot of trust in Derek Fisher's able hands, but unfortunately, many times this trust is misplaced due to Fisher's age. And from a defensive point of view, force Fish to create on the offensive end. When Fisher sets his feet he is one of the best shooters in the game, but when he's forced to create on his own, he will undoubtedly take off-balance shots (that won't go in) and force layups into the opposing teams shot blockers.


Boston by far has the physical edge when being compared to the lanky frontline of the Lakers, but I don't find this to be too much of an advantage in the game of basketball. The Lakers will respond to Boston's strength so forcing the ball to the post will not win the series; don't force it down low.

Boston needs to exploit their three point shooters. James Posey, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce. They are big time three point shooters and if they can find their shot, the Lakers are in trouble. The Lakers have already had a lot of practice versus the pick and rolls by playing against Tony Parker, so it will ultimately come down to a three point contest against themselves.

Kevin Garnett always plays with heart, emotion and intensity, it's the only way he plays. But that's not going to win the basketball game. KG needs to take the scoring load on himself, plug the lane defensively, and forcible take games away from Los Angeles. Deferring to Pierce and his teammates will not win the series.


Keys for LOS ANGELES LAKERS to win:

Do not be intimidated by Boston's arena, the historic rivalry, their big three, or their record. The last two times these teams played, Boston destroyed Los Angeles not only on the scoreboard, but also in poise and energy. Lamar Odom, Ronny Turiaf, Sasha Vujacic, and Jordan Farmar need to play tough, physical, in-your-face defense and aggressive offensive for the Lakers to overcome Boston.

Kobe Bryant. With a defense as tough Boston, the only real answer is Kobe Bryant, a man no defense can stop. And if reports are correct regarding Boston's decision not to double-team Kobe, he should have a field day tearing up the defense. I also believe that the Kobe-Pau lob connection will be completely obliterated by Kevin Garnett, so I see Kobe looking for Lamar more often this series.

Lakers bench need to do what they've been doing all season. Entering the game and shooting the lights out, many times extending the lead. This will be extremely tough to do due to Boston's physicality in their starting lineup and their bench, but when did physicality affect three point shooting?

Double team Kevin Garnett, suffocate Paul Pierce individually, and force Ray Allen to be the man. If there was one star in the NBA who was never going to win a championship, it's Ray Allen. When you're slumping for two and a half series, you're not answering the call to be a champion. He did manage to find a few shots in Detroit but I can confidently state that he does not have the IT factor to lead Boston. Look to see him riding the bench for long periods of time.



Lakers in 6. I was going to say 5 but Luke Walton is going to screw up a game.

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I just realized

Kobe Bryant is 29. Michael Jordan won his first NBA title when he was 28. Could we be entering the golden age of Kobe Bryant, GOAT?

If the Purple and Gold go on a run of championships (which they very well may do), you have to at least consider Kobe dethroning MJ...right?

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From Goliath to David

In the past two decades, a change can be seen in the NBA landscape. The old blueprint for teams consisted of building around a big man and allowing him to anchor both offense and defense. Names like Mikan, Russell, Chamberlain, and Kareem come to mind when one pictures the champions of old. Even the 90s were filled with the likes of Shaq, Hakeem, Robinson, Ewing, Malone, and (though he wasn't as big, he played just as big) Barkley. To this day, the only player successfully built upon that wasn't primarily in the post was MJ.

Since the Mid-90s to the early 2000s however, the game started getting smaller, faster, and more guard oriented. The big names that began to appear were slashers with the names of Kobe, AI, and Lebron, as well as a little guy named Steve. More perimeter oriented than the superstars of old, a new brand of basketball emerged in the NBA. The post fundamentals became a thing of the past, proven by the fact that no matter how much he won, Tim Duncan has been branded as slow, methodical, and even boring.


Even with this faster pace, the big man is still regarded with the utmost importance; but to look at the big man of today is to understand that the definition has almost completely changed. The skill sets that made Wilt, Kareem, and Olajuwon who they were are completely different from what is seen in the play of Amare Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, and Rasheed Wallace. Though the defensive assignments are still similar to a point, that power and authority that came with the post of a true BIG MAN is gone.The low post bangers are now labeled "old school", as the NBA has even changed the rules in favor of the more fleet-footed ballers.

Why the change from what had been so effective for so long? Where have all the giants gone?

Well, the culprit in charge of the revolution is no other than Michael Jordan himself. Ever since His Airness sported those Nike's and did his thing, everyone has tried to emulate him. Look at KG and Amare with their crossover-into-fadeaway moves; had they followed the road paved by what now seems to be mythical NBA bigmen, they would be backing in for furious dunks or short hooks.

Of all the kids coming out in the 2008 NBA draft, how many top 15 prospects can you define as "true" bigmen? In regards to their styles of play, only Kevin Love, Brook Lopez, and possibly DeAndre Jordan come anywhere close. Even they, at best, are hybrids. The rest, regardless of size, play like guards; from Michael Beasley and Anthony Randolph to Donte Greene and Kosta Koufos, none are true bigs. Yea, they can rebound and maybe block a couple of shots, but their style? Nowhere near.

So no matter who turns out to be the top pick of the 2008 draft (no matter what team picks, it has to be Derrick Rose), the dying breed known as NBA Big Men are not to be resurrected.

R.I.P.

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