You Haven't Won Yet, Lebron

Ok I know you're about to sweep a battered Detroit squad that shouldn't even be in the playoffs. But come on, aren't we getting a little cocky?



Oh and, nice try, but the Heineken version was funnier.

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Lebron calls Barkley stupid. It's about time!

Lebron James recently responded to Charles Barkley's criticism by saying (and I quote, hence the little indentation that means a quote):

He’s stupid. That’s all I’ve got to say about that

This is a really big deal for me. Why? It's not because I think Sir Charles was out of line in telling Lebron James to "shut the hell up". On the contrary, I agree with super blogger David P. that LBJ needs to tone down his sexual yearning for NY. It's just too much right now. It's too much, and too early (have you seen the Cav's record this year?).

It's a big deal because doggone-it Charles Barkley is stupid. I've been wanting to preach this to the whole world for so long. Now at least we have all the Lebron fans on our side. The only time I like Charles is in those t-mobile commercials. He's not bad when he has a script and gets multiple takes. But, on TNT he's just incomprehensible. I'm sick of trying so hard to understand what he's trying to say. And then once I do get what he said, I realize it wasn't worth the effort!

Also, does anyone get the feeling that this year's Lebron is a completely different Lebron. There's this swagger about him now. I feel as though this is what the real Lebron has been like for years, but his publicist kept him under wraps. I really appreciate the fact that he's showing us his true character. But, now that we really know him, isn't he sort of lame? Take Barkley's advice to heart Lebron, knowing that non-stupid people feel the exact same way.

"..shut the hell up"

Here are some interesting Charles Barkley quotes I found from this site.

“We don't need refs, but I guess white guys need something to do.”

“My initial response was to sue her for defamation of character, but then I realized that I had no character.”

“If somebody hits you with an object you should beat the hell out of them.”

“The main thing to do is relax and let your talent do the work.”

Update (courtesy of reader H.R.): Charles Barkley reminds us that he is a dumbass

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New York, New York, All About New York

Lebron James heads into Madison Garden today to play the New York Knicks. Before moving on, let’s get one issue straightened out: Lebron James still plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The former #1 pick is arguably the most dominant force in basketball, both on and off the court, but he is clearly lacking in the professionalism department. Lebron James was born in Akron, Ohio, played high-school basketball in Akron, Ohio, and now plays professional basketball in Cleveland, Ohio. His entire life was spent in Ohio and yet, the only time he ever dawns a piece of Ohio gear is on the court. I understand that Ohio is not the greatest place to be a professional sports fan (Browns, Cavs, Indians), but to go out to various professional venues wearing New York hats is just a slap to the face for the people of Ohio. Sure, Lebron has maintained professionalism throughout his career by being an effective role model for the league and maintaining an immaculate track record off the court, but he is displaying complete and utter disrespect for the team and city that is paying him.

Basketball is a business and James is merely a part of their short-term business models. With Lebron on the roster, the Cleveland Cavaliers receive significant sales in jerseys and other merchandise, a superstar who is capable of winning games and national television time, and ticket sales from fans that want to see their hometown team win.

Unfortunately for the Cavaliers franchise, Lebron James attends Cleveland Brown games on the opposition’s side wearing a NY hat, goes to Cleveland Indian games wearing NY hat, and hangs out with Jay-Z, part owner of the New Jersey Nets, religiously. And today, after previously wearing NY Yankee inspired shoes against the Knicks, Lebron wore his new kicks, the Nike Zoom Lebron VI "Big Apple" edition, directly inspired by his love and adoration for New York.

I am not trying to say that Lebron owes any of his success to the people of Ohio, but he definitely needs to show Ohio some respect. He can say what he wants about winning and how he loves his hometown, but if he’s continuously dissing his state on nationally televised games by wearing NY apparel, it shows where his current and future priorities lie.

Lebron, you’re a great player, but come on. This is way too much. You are a superstar and everyone expects you to have superstar friends, but the hats have got to go. Show some class and love for your hometown.

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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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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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NBA Update

There exists a small community on this expansive planet called the NBA. This small collection of ~450 people has typically been characterized as the home of the greatest basketball players in the world. However, this community is at a serious risk of being completely forgotten by an attention-whoring organization known as the IOC; led by none-other than the attention tyrant, Michael Phelps.

Phelps utilizes the destructive forces of 8 gold medals to brain-wash every employee of the NBC media company, resulting in a sweeping mania over swimming and all else related to the Olympics.

However, as the basketball-preservationist leader of the local ATA sports foundation, I took up on a journey to determine how this community was progressing (/deteriorating).

Here are the key findings from my recent journey:

• In a recent 6-player trade involving three teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers gave Joe Smith to Oklahoma City and Damon Jones to the Milwaukee Bucks to acquire Mo Williams. Oklahoma City also received city-favored Desmond Mason while the Bucks gained Luke Ridnour and Adrian Griffin. Williams, after averaging 17 points and 6 assists a game, is expected to significantly relieve some of Lebron's offensive burden; a task Larry Hughes previously failed to do.

• The front office of the Philadelphia 76ers have been particularly busy. They recently re-signed a budding Louis Williams (11.5 ppg) and also we're able to lock down their incumbent star, Andre Iggy Iguodala to a 6-yr $80 million extension. They also offered the shot-blocking guru, Theo Ratliff, a one year veteran minimum's salary.

• Michael Finley re-signed with the San Antonio Spurs after being courted by a number of teams such as Boston.

• The Atlanta Hawks immediately matched the Memphis Grizzlies' 5-year $58 million offer to restricted free agent, Josh Smith, showing the world that they failed in their attempts to low-ball the high-flyer. However, they also made a key acquisition in signing the talented NBA nomad, Ronald Murray.

• Brandon Roy of the Portland Trailblazers recently had successful knee surgery to repair a tear on his left meniscus. The third year star should recover in 4-6 weeks from his minor surgery, in time for the season opener.

• Josh Childress's move to Greece has truly impacted the NBA, inspiring mid-level players to also make the jump to Europe. The most recent athletes to cross are Carlos Arroyo (Israel - $2.5 million), Earl Boykins (Italy - $3.5 million), and Jannero Pargo (Russia - $3.5 million). They will be joining Childress, Jorge Garbajosa, Primoz Brezec, Juan Carlos Navarro, Carlos Delfino, Dan Dickau, and Bostjan Nachbar as NBA defectors.

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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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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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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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Lebron should go to college to learn manners

If anyone else was like me, you thought Lebron James was about to get into a fight with Paul Pierce and KG the moment Pierce took him down. Now replay?? Turns out he wanted to discipline his mom for trying to protect him! Now, I am no mother. And the closest I plan on being one is taking a number two later tonight if you know what I mean. But if I were, I would have slapped both Pierce and LBJ upside the head. Even though Lebron ended up winning the game, he gets no forgiveness!!

On a similar note, Cleveland in 7. And I've been saying this since they made the trade, thank you very much. More on why later.

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