Monday, May 30, 2011

The end of the Spurs as we know it.


The ship might have sailed on this topic, but my interest was sparked a little when I was browsing through ESPN and read an article quoting Spurs point guard Tony Parker, saying that his team were "no longer title contenders".

San Antonio had a flying start to the season, and by the turn of the new year, their record stood at 28-4.  At one point, it seemed like they would challenge the 72-win mark set by the 1995/96 Chicago Bulls.  They were balling hard on offense and defense, and no team could quite figure them out.  For a team that was often described as "aging", their game belied the description.

After the All-Star break, they stumbled through the remainder of the regular season, finishing with a 15-11 record; highlighted by a 6 game losing streak through March, in which they gave up an average of 108 points per game.  Somehow, they still managed to cling on to the #1 seed in the Western Conference.

In the first round of the playoffs, San Antonio were stunned by the Memphis Grizzlies; a team that had yet to win a playoff game, let alone an entire series.  Back in 2004, San Antonio (then defending champions) swept a Memphis team that was making its first playoff appearance.  Memphis came full circle, making the Spurs the 3rd top-seeded team to be eliminated in the 1st round of the playoffs (1995 Seattle Supersonics and 2007 Dallas Mavericks are the other two).

Just going by what Tony Parker said, it seems like it will be a while before we can pair the words "San Antonio" and "Title Contender" in the same sentence.  They seemed to be on a tear before the age and injuries caught up with them.  This is now the third straight season since 2008 (when they were the defending champions) that San Antonio has failed to advance past the 2nd round of the playoffs.

Since the end of the "Jordan Era", San Antonio and Los Angeles have dominated the Western Conference, combining to win 9 of the last 12 NBA titles; with either team featuring in 11 of the last 12 NBA finals, including 7 straight appearance from 1999 to 2005.  During this period, the Spurs and Lakers squared off 6 times, including 4 straight meetings between 2001-2004, with the Lakers holding a 4-2 advantage.

In the same period that San Antonio and Los Angeles emerged as the superpowers in the Western Conference, 9 different teams have represented the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.  Out of the 9 teams, only 4 - New Jersey, Detroit, Miami and Boston - were able to make a second trip to the finals.

Will the Spurs still be a contender without Duncan (c)?
San Antonio's success has been a combination of stability at the head coaching position (Greg Popovich has been at the helm since 1996), and the presence of core players like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Bruce Bowen and Manu Ginobili.  This has helped them out in free agency, attracting key veterans looking for one at least one last shot at a championship before calling it a career.

Players signing with title contenders is nothing new in the league.  With the Western conference dominating the scene in the last decade, San Antonio has proven to be one of two popular destinations (the other being Los Angeles) for veteran players willing to accept a lesser role on a team just to get a piece of the pie.

Steve Smith, Kevin Willis, Michael Finley and Brent Barry are just a few of the names that come to mind.  Smith and Willis were teammates in Atlanta, but were in their prime at a time when the Jordan-led Bulls were running the scene.  Finley starred in Dallas for several years, while Brent Barry bounced around with a few teams before landing in San Antonio.

Will McDyess & Jefferson be part of a rebuilding process?
In 2009, Antonio McDyess and Richard Jefferson (even though Jefferson was acquired via a trade) became just the latest wave of players to join the trend.  McDyess has re-invented himself as a dependable role player after injuries robbed of him of explosive ability.  Jefferson was a key player for the Nets during their successful years before being traded to Milwaukee and eventually to San Antonio.  Ironically, both McDyess (with Detroit, in 2005) and Jefferson (with New Jersey, in 2003) would have had a championship by now had it not been for the Spurs.  If you can't beat them, join them?

Tim Duncan, whose production has steadily been in decline, hasn't had a player that could complement him they way he complemented David Robinson.  To be fair, there haven't been that many "elite" big men in the mold of Duncan or "The Admiral" in recent drafts.  The lack of a dominant presence in the paint is one the main reasons the Memphis duo of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol were able to impose their will on the Spurs in the playoffs.

For the Spurs to become a title contender again, they'll need to make major moves either through trades or free agency, as Parker and Ginobili will only be able to carry them so far.  All good things come to an end eventually, and if this is it for the Spurs, it's been one great ride.

The team was never known for its flash, but rather for its fundamentally sound style of play.  At the end of the day, they got the job done and that is all that matters.









Saturday, May 28, 2011

LeBron better than Jordan? Pippen might be trippen!!

Earlier Friday on the ESPN radio's "Mike & Mike In The Morning", Former Chicago Bulls star and NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen said as follows:

"Michael Jordan is probably the greatest scorer to play the game,...... but I may go as far as to say LeBron James may be the greatest player to ever play the game because he is so potent offensively that not only can he score at will but he keeps everybody involved."

As you can imagine, those are words that could pretty much start a riot just about anywhere.  I mean, we're talking about Scottie Pippen a man who played alongside Michael Jordan, and played a key role on ALL six of Chicago's NBA titles.  One of the greatest sidekicks to ever grace the hardwood.  He was the "Robin" to Jordan's "Batman".  And at times, I'm sure Batman probably wishes he had Scottie Pippen.

Later on via his twitter account, Pippen clarified his comments saying:

"Don't get me wrong, MJ was and is the greatest. But LeBron could by all means get to his level someday."

You're right!!  It's gotta be the shoes!
Okay, so maybe in hindsight, that's what he should have said to begin with.  We all know how good LeBron James is, and there's been some comparisons as to who was better at a certain age.  Unfortunately, that's the only "Jordan vs LeBron" debate you can have at this point in LeBron's career.  LeBron may have what it takes to either match or surpass the bar that Jordan set.  As with everything else, only time will tell.

The only thing I see is that even if LeBron goes on to win multiple championships, and set all sort of records in the NBA, his legacy will always be tied to one date in history; July 8, 2010.  For the record, that was the day of "The Decision", when LeBron announced to the world that he would be "taking his talents to South Beach".  A day that will live in infamy, especially if you're a Cleveland Cavaliers fan.

Before Jordan finally won a championship, he had to get past the one team that always got the better of him; the "Bad Boy" Pistons.  Jordan could have demanded a trade to Boston (hook up with Larry Bird), New York (hook up with Patrick Ewing) or even LA; where he would have hooked up with Magic, but also Sam Perkins and James Worthy (his teammates at North Carolina).  

I'm sure none of them would have really had a problem with Jordan on their team.  The Pistons had dethroned Boston, and taken over as THE team in the East.  I'm sure Madison Square Garden would have been big enough for both Ewing and MJ.  The Lakers had a few more title runs in them before Magic's sudden retirement.

Rather than take an "out route", Jordan worked harder and harder until he overcame the Pistons, then proceeded to beat everyone else.  As Michael Jordan said, he wasn't trying to hook up with Magic Johnson or Larry Bird; he was trying to beat those guys.  In his prime, he beat the best in the league.  Patrick Ewing, Isiah Thomas, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Shaq & Hardaway, Reggie Miller, Stockton & Malone, Payton & Kemp, and even Alonzo Mourning.  Save for Isiah Thomas (and Shaq to an extent), Jordan was responsible for most of these guys going "ringless" during their primes.

If there's one thing that we can agree on, the NBA isn't stacked with as much talent now as it was then.  Therefore, LeBron kind of stands in "rare air", with only a handful of players to match him.  LeBron admitted that he couldn't beat Boston while still playing for Cleveland, leading him to join forces with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.  I'm sure their celebration after eliminating the Celtics in the 2nd round of the playoffs didn't quite give it away.

Most analysts have said that until LeBron wins his first championship, only then can the debates and comparisons begin.  I say that even if he wins more rings that Jordan, you still can't compare the two.  LeBron may have helped change the fortunes of Cleveland just like Jordan did for Chicago, but he didn't really make anyone better.  Look at Chicago in the first season during Jordan's brief "retirement"; they weren't only a playoff contender but a title contender as well.  Look at Cleveland immediately after LeBron's exit.  Is there anybody in the Cavaliers that can say they are better for having played with LeBron?

Scottie Pippen has the right to voice his opinion, and I'm sure he was in awe of LeBron's performance in Game 5 as Miami rallied to beat Chicago in the last 3 minutes.  He was seated courtside after all.  Maybe he was just caught up in the moment, or maybe he's still bitter that he could never prove his doubters wrong; that he could never win without Jordan.

Look ma, no MJ!!
In the 1993/94 season, Pippen's audition to prove that he could be The Man was going rather well.  Had the Bulls got past New York in the 2nd round, they would have most likely gone on to win the NBA title.   I'm sure Pippen wouldn't have had it any other way.

After the end of the Bulls dynasty, Pippen was traded to Houston where he teamed up with Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley for the lockout-shortened season in 1999.  This was widely seen as attempt to help Barkley win a championship.  That didn't work out, and Pippen joined a star-studded Portland team shortly thereafter.

In Portland, he featured on a team that included veterans such as Greg Anthony, Detlef Schrempf, Damon Stoudamire, Rasheed Wallace and an up-and-coming Jermaine O'Neal.  Portland, who seemed destined for their first championship since 1977, fell to LA (ironically, coached by Phil Jackson), courtesy of 4th quarter collapse in Game 7 of the conference final.  That loss firmly shut the door for Pippen and saw the re-birth of another Laker Dynasty.

MJ knew he could lean on Pippen if needed.
Jordan valued Pippen so much that he (Jordan) threatened to retire had Pippen been traded to Toronto on draft-day in exchange for Tracy McGrady.  Jordan knew that he couldn't get to the summit without Pippen, and I'm sure he's said that himself a few times.  It's really hard to imagine what Jordan's career would have been like, had Jerry Krause (then Bulls GM) not traded Olden Polynice to Seattle in exchange for Scottie Pippen.

There's no doubt that Pippen would have had himself a good NBA career.  The one thing that he can't escape, is that his legacy will always be tied to the hip with that of Michael Jordan.  He benefited the most from playing alongside Jordan; who else had 6 championships during the Bulls' dynasty?  Rather than embrace it, I'm sure he's fighting it with every inch of his body.

Just about everyone knows of Pippen's invaluable contributions to the Bulls' dynasty.  He works for the organization in an ambassadorial capacity, and they just recently unveiled his statue.  I think it's high time that Pippen just sat back, chilled and let bygones be bygones.  Leave Mike alone.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Mavericks weather late Thunder rally.


After a hard fought win in Game 2, the Thunder were slow to get off the blocks in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final, managing only 12 points in the first quarter.  By the time they had found some form of stability, Dallas had their lead padded up to 23 points.

Despite an "off-night" Durant still managed 24 pts
True to character, the Thunder rolled up their sleeves and went to work, outscoring Dallas 75-68 in the remainder of the game.  It may have been too little too late, but it was still a positive sign for the both the team and the fans, that you can never really count this group out.

Dallas was able to overcome a slow start from Dirk Nowitzki, with fellow starters Shawn Marion, DeShawn Stevenson, Tyson Chandler and Jason Kidd all chipping in on offense.  Their execution on defense was also key; taking Durant out of the game early, leaving his teammates to do the heavy lifting.

Durant somehow managed to score 24 points, and Russell Westbrook led all scorers with 30 points.  After riding the bench for the entire 4th quarter in the previous game, Westbrook was the spark behind the Thunder's late rally, playing the only way he knows how; "full-tilt/ 0-100 in-the-blink-of-an-eye".  He continually attacked the basket, bringing the kind of aggression that had eluded the Thunder all game long.

Terry 13 pts & a late steal helped clinch the game.
They managed to cut the deficit to 8 points with just under 7 minutes left, but their poor shooting from beyond the arc (they shot 1-17) proved a hurdle too high to overcome.  Even when the game was within reach, they opted to attempt 3-pointers rather than continue to attack the basket; the approach that helped get them back in the game.

Another difference between these two teams was that Dallas kept going back to Nowitzki in crunch time, while OKC seemed to go away from Durant.  The Mavericks' persistence paid off, with Nowitzki making key jumpers down stretch helping buffer the lead.  Durant hardly touched the ball, save for a few throws and a basket.

In my opinion, I see Jason Terry as Dallas' unsung hero in their two wins so far.  After going crazy from the 3-point in a series clinching win that saw Dallas wreck Los Angeles, Terry continued from where he left off, sinking a dagger 3-pointer that all but ended OKC's spirited comeback in Game 1.  After going AWOL in Game 2, Terry was back to making plays; none bigger than a late steal off Westbrook that saw Dallas run out the clock.  There is no doubt that his involvement has and will be the key to success for the Mavericks.

In my previous article regarding this series, I stated that the less shots Nowitzki takes, the better for OKC.  Even though I was kind of wrong in Game 3, I still think that the Thunder should take the same approach on defense.  A much better start to the game won't hurt either.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Thunderous response!!

In the opening game of the Western Conference Finals, Dirk Nowitzki used the baseline to spin past Serge Ibaka and completed the move with an uncontested dunk; just the beginning of an "other-worldly" performance that saw him score 48 points on 12-15 shooting.  The eye-popping stat is that he did this without a single 3 point attempt, while also going 24-24 from the free-throw line; an NBA record for most free-throws attempted without a miss.

Kevin Durant saw Nowitzki's effort and raised him one, going for a power jam over Mavericks' center, Brendan Haywood (who just happens to stand 7 feet tall).  KD drew a foul on Haywood, and unfortunately a technical for "demonstration" or "taunting' or whatever they felt like calling.  Not that it mattered because the message was clear, the Thunder won't back down; not even to a team that put the hurt on the 2-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

OKC's bench, which has been the backbone of their impressive playoff run this year, appeared on the scene just in time to help the Thunder steal home-court, and ride the wave of momentum into their next two meetings back in Oklahoma City.  In Monday's game, Dallas' bench, led by Jason Terry and J.J. Barea (24 & 21 points respectively), outscored their counterparts 53-22; including a late 3 pointer by Jason Terry to effectively end the game.  

Harden and his beard finished with 23 points
Led by the steady hand of Eric Maynor and mercurial James Harden, OKC returned the favor with a 50-29 advantage over Dallas' bench.  Barea and Terry combined for 19 points, with Terry going scoreless in the 4th quarter.  Harden, who starred in the 4th quarter, finished with 23 points (3rd among all scorers).  As always, it was up to Nick Collison to do the dirty work on the inside.  His superb defensive effort helped slow down Nowitzki, who finished with 29 points.  By the time Collison fouled out, the outcome of the game was no longer in doubt.

With the game still competitive in the 4th quarter, it was hard to ignore the sight of Russell Westbrook sitting on the bench as his teammates kept on trucking.  Westbrook, who has often drawn the wrath of fans, seemed content with his "odd" situation; hi-fiving and chest bumping teammates during timeouts.  To coach Scott Brooks' credit, the players in the game were doing just fine; "if the car ain't broke, why fix it?"

After Westbrook went 3-15 from the field in game, Kevin Durant said he would be willing to bet his house that his teammate wouldn't have a similar effort.  Westbrook backed him up with an 18 point effort, going 7-15 from the field.  Looks like Durant will get to keep his house after all.

The Thunder's key to success in this series will be to try and get Nowitzki to involve the rest of his teammates.  The less shots Nowitzki takes, the better for everyone else.  They also have to make sure to match Dallas' bench, pound for pound; especially after seeing what they are capable of doing.

The first team to take a 3-1 lead will be the once advancing to the final, but that's easier said in a series that is capable of going the full 7 games.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Thunder (tied) up!!


Last Sunday, Zach Randolph & Marc Gasol walked into a Burger King.  Whatever combo they had, they must have been enjoying themselves.  Okay, so they weren't exactly in a Burger King, but considering how they played (they combined for 54 points and 23 rebounds), they might have as well been in one; they had it their way.


Combined with an outstanding defensive effort and a +11 margin in turnovers, the Memphis Grizzlies went on to stun an impressive Thunder team and silenced an thunderous crowd at the Oklahoma City Arena.  This is of course the first time that either franchise has advanced this far in the playoffs.  Okay, not quite the case for OKC, who did advance to the 2nd round back in 2005 when the franchise was located in Seattle.


After a 5 year hiatus, Memphis are back in the playoffs for just the 4th time in franchise history.  In 2004, the Grizzlies posted their first ever winning season and qualified for the playoffs, only to be swept 4-0 by the defending champion San Antonio Spurs.  The Grizzlies have come full circle, dismissing the Spurs in the first round and shaking up the second round.


Not trying to be outdone, the Thunder rebounded to even the series in the 2nd game.  The biggest difference of course came from the bench who scored 48 points, compared to 16 in their previous outing.  Other factors came into play; such as Memphis committing 16 turnovers (7 more than their first game) and the Thunder big men - Ibaka, Collison & Perkins - working tirelessly, limiting Randolph & Gasol to a combined 28 points and 19 rebounds.


Regardless of the team you support, it's always a worrying trend whenever your point guard takes the most shots in the team.  Westbrook, who is a viable scoring option besides Durant, has done just that.  While he's 2nd on the team in points scored, it's his shot selection that sometimes leaves a lot to be desired.  More often than not, he'll always take that hurried shot; damned if it goes in, damned if it doesn't.


He has the full-tilt, gunslinger approach and I can't tell you enough times just how glad I am that Eric Maynor is on the team.  Maynor's job of course is to "right the ship" whenever things seem to be getting out of hand.  He plays more like a traditional point guard; create plays for your teammates, take the shots when things break down.  It's always nice to have a good point guard, but a good back up point guard is an invaluable resource.


As the series switches to Memphis, the Thunder need to take the same approach as they did in game two.  Force turnovers, limit the points and paint.  Memphis isn't know for it's perimeter play and making them to have to step up will be the key to the Thunder not only winning the next game, but the entire series.