Leave it to Kobe Bryant to make things interesting.
After capturing his fifth NBA Championship against his team’s most hated rivals, the 2010 NBA Finals MVP has pushed a debate further into the forefront of NBA fans' minds and Lakers fans' minds alike: Who is the greatest Laker of all-time?
Now, there is a long and talented list to observe here. The Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers have had so many different dynasties, and this may seem like quite the arduous and difficult task. However, yours truly will iron out the wrinkles as it pertains to the top of the heap in Lakers’ lore.
The Lakers have obviously had many greats don the purple and gold over the years. Some have been there since day one; players such as Bryant, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, James Worthy, and Magic Johnson come to mind in that category.
Others were acquired in the prime of their careers, most notably Wilt Chamberlin, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, and Pau Gasol.
A few were also with the franchise for the majority of their careers, making major contributions to the richness and tradition of the team. That list includes Derek Fisher, Byron Scott, Gail Goodrich, and Robert Horry.
Now, my sincerest apologies to any Lakers omitted from the mentions, but these are just a few examples of some of the greatest Lakers in history.
Now, in narrowing this down to one, eliminations need to be made. The third set of Lakers in this piece can all be set aside, although none of their accomplishments as Lakers can ever be taken for granted.
That leaves us nine incredible talents: Bryant, West, Baylor, Worthy, Johnson, Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar, O’Neal, and Gasol.
Despite his solid career numbers, Gasol hasn’t been a Laker long enough to be considered in this list. He may after his career is over, but for now, he doesn’t have that purple-and-gold tenure.
Down to eight, and now for the hard part. We can take Baylor off the list. His career highlights of 27.4 career points per game, 10-time All-NBA First Teamer, 11 All-Star appearances (and one All-Star MVP in 1959), Rookie of the Year honors in 1959, and has a 71-point game and a 61-point Finals game to his name. He also has an NBA Executive of the Year on his resume, winning it in 2006. Nevertheless, having his career cut short due to injuries along with the fact that he did not win a championship knocks him off the list.
Seven to go. Not too shabby. The only player left on the list who wasn’t the top one or two members of his respective squad was James Worthy. This is a case of right place, wrong time for “Big Game James.” With three championships, seven All-Star appearances, and a 21.1 career playoff scoring average to his name, not to mention the 1988 Finals MVP Award, Worthy is certainly worthy to be mentioned in this conversation, especially due to his clutch play in the postseason, but with teammates Magic and Kareem overshadowing his accolades, he drops from the list at this point.
With six to go, this is where things get a bit dicey. Three hall-of-fame guards and three top-of-the-line centers remain. Who gets eliminated next?
Well, the next to go would be Wilt Chamberlain. In terms of thinking specifically on the Lakers, the others on the list have accomplished more with Los Angeles than Chamberlain did in his six years with the club. Wilt had one of the best careers anyone could ever dream of. He averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 boards per contest in the 1961-62 season. He won two NBA titles, was awarded four MVP awards, made it to 14 All-Star games, was selected to seven All-NBA First Teams, won the scoring title seven times and the rebounding title eleven times. He also has an NBA Finals MVP and a Rookie of the Year award to his credit.
However, with most of those achievements coming as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, it doesn’t help his case as the greatest Laker. If Wilt “The Stilt” would have spent his entire career in L.A., he may have very well topped this list. Nevertheless, Wilt is now officially eliminated.
Now, just five remain. The biggest man left happens to be the next one to be taken away. That man is Shaquille O’Neal. He falls victim, like Wilt, to being in L.A. for only so many years (although to a lesser extent). Shaq ushered in another “Showtime” era in Hollywood, leading the Lakers to three finals in three years. In that span, he won three Finals MVP awards along with the regular season’s Most Valuable Player achievement in 2000. He was also the scoring champ that year as well. Being a 15-time All-Star (winning the game’s MVP honors three times) and an eight-time All-NBA First Teamer has to count for something, doesn’t it? It sure does, and Laker fans will not forget his on-the-court achievements along with his off-the-court charisma that made him a perennial favorite in Lakers history.
One who does not fall victim to tenure despite spending much of his career somewhere else is Mr. Skyhook himself, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The former Lew Alcindor, who was seemingly unguardable at times, may have given the most to Lakers fans over the years. His five titles in the 80s, including wins over the Celtics for the first time in Finals history adorned Kareem to the Laker faithful. He also won two championships as an assistant to Phil Jackson, mentoring Andrew Bynum into a vital piece to the Lakers’ most recent championship puzzle.
Six times the NBA MVP, 19 times an All-Star and 10 times an NBA First Team member, Kareem is arguably the most decorated player in basketball history. Not to mention, his all-time NBA scoring record doesn’t hurt either. Kareem’s contributions on and off the court endear him to Laker fans and basketball fans alike, and his overall kind and gentle demeanor make him and all-time fan favorite. Yes, you can’t do much better than Kareem, but a few surpassed him on this list…
Kareem’s exit leads us to the final three. This was as tough of a decision as it was lengthy, but the reasoning behind will certainly do it justice. Clocking in at third-best Laker of all time is none other than the logo, Jerry West.
West has the resume to make him the best of all-time. He has All-Star appearances (14 with one MVP in 1972) and the NBA All-First Team slots (10). He’s the Lakers second all-time leading scorer, and he won his lone championship in 1972. However, West may be defined by his NBA Finals MVP award in 1969. West is the only player in NBA history to win the honor while being on the losing side. Yeah, he was that good.
Like Kareem, West also has had success with the Lakers after his playing career ended. He may have created another dynasty in Lakerland in 1996 when he signed Shaquille O’Neal and traded Vlade Divac for the 13th overall draft pick of the Charlotte Hornets, a guy by the name of Kobe Bryant. Good moves, huh?
Yes, West has done it all, and with that single championship hurting his stock, he defines what the Lakers are all about, and he defines basketball by being one of the best ambassadors of the game ever.
With two Lakers remaining, it’s easy to tell who’s left to name. However, who’s taking number one?
Lastly being taken off the list is arguably the best player in the game today, Kobe Bryant. This runner-up spot for Bryant is placed with an asterisk, as “Black Mamba” still has a few years left in the 31-year-old frame to add to his already Hall-of-Fame legacy.
Bryant has the distinction of being part of two separate dynasties. With his instrumental involvement in the Lakers’ “Three-peat” from 2000-02 and his leadership in the team’s back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010, Bryant has proven that he can be a spark plug, a sidekick, and the best player on the planet. He’s arguably the best defensive player of the last decade (He’s been on the NBA All-defensive First-Team eight times). His five rings (including two Finals MVPs), his regular season MVP award in 2008, his 12 All-Star Game appearances (with three MVP awards in those contests), and his two scoring titles, it may appear to the Laker faithful that Bryant has nothing left to prove. But Kobe would disagree.
Kobe wants to be not only the best Laker in history, but the best basketball player ever. That’s what drives him, and that is why he has matured into the player he is today. If he hadn’t matured from the days after Shaq’s departure, who knows what would have happened to his career.
Nevertheless, Bryant has done it in every way imaginable, and if this still hungry legend continues to play at this high of a level, we may be calling him the greatest ever. Period.
Which brings us to number one: Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Simply put, Magic is the best Laker of all-time because is defines everything the Lakers are all about. He’s flashy yet he’s efficient. He’s charismatic yet he’s serious. Magic was always having fun during his tenure in L.A., and when it came down to business, he delivered tenfold.
Magic, like Kobe, has five rings. Magic has three Finals MVP awards. Magic has 12 All-Star games to his name, and Magic has three regular-season MVP awards.
But the Michigan State product was more than that. He was fun to watch. You never knew was he was going to do next. He was creative with his style of play, and he made you love watching the game. He was not only the main usher of the era known as “Showtime”: Magic was “Showtime.” More aptly put: Magic was “magic.”
We’ve never seen anyone like Magic Johnson before, and we’ll be hard pressed to see anyone like him again.
Well, there you have it. Magic is No. 1 in Lakerland, with Kobe looking to overtake him in the next few years. Will he do it? Only time will tell, but in getting back to the opening line of this piece: Yes, Bryant has certainly made it interesting, and I’m enjoying every minute of it.
Let the debate continue!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
The 2010 Stanley Cup: The True Resurgence of the NHL
Ever since the lockout of the 2004-05 season, the popularity of the NHL had drastically decreased. Once known as one of the four major pro sports in the country, hockey was become an afterthought to the average sports fan. I can't tell you how many times I've talked about hockey over the past few years, only to hear the response of "Who cares?" or "No one likes hockey." That almost seemed tragic.
Oh, what an impact two starving teams can have on a struggling league.
The Chicago Blackhawks and the Philadelphia Flyers had long since been craving the taste of the Cup. The Hawks, the team with the longest current championship drought in the NHL, have endured years of failure and futility. But, with good drafting, solid free agent signings, and a little bit of patience, Chicago is a powerhouse in the NHL (and a young one at that), and will remain one for years to come. They were the two seed in the Western Conference, but played like they were number one, knocking out the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks each in six games. In the Western Conference Finals, the Blackhawks handed a lopsided sweep to the top-seeded and hard-luck San Jose Sharks, securing a trip to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since being swept by Mario Lemeuix and the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992.
The Flyers are just happy to be there. On the brink of missing the playoffs, the Flyers squeaked their way in over the rival New York Rangers, but no one expected them to advance past the heavily favored two-seed, the New Jersey Devils. But just as quickly as they entered, the Flyers entered round two. This is where they made their history, coming back from down three games to none to defeat the Boston Bruins in seven games. Now entering the conference finals against the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens, they were the favorites, and they took care of their business in five games, and were headed to the Stanley Cup, looking for their first championship since 1975. Not since the days of Eric Lindros has the Philly faithful been as excited for a team as they were for this incarnation of the "Broad Street Bullies," and their arrival to the NHL's final series.
With two historically downtrodden teams at the top of their game and currently at the top of the league in the Stanley Cup, this might just be what the doctor ordered to bring the league back to prominence.
Think about it: Would it be more compelling to see the third straight Stanley Cup Finals between the Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings. Hardly. Despite the possibility of having yet another great series between these two occur, the casual fan would have been bored by this rehashed matchup.
This 2010 final is different. It's fresh. It's different. It's emotionally-driven and it's storyline driven. It's two starving teams playing very physical hockey to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup. It's the team with the longest drought versus the team who's fans make it seem they have the longest title drought.
Gary Bettman must be salivating over this matchup. The NHL Commissioner (for my money, one of the worst commissioner in the history of professional sports) has to be happy with not only the quality of the four games thus far, but also the ratings. Just two nights ago, Game Three produced the highest rating for a Stanley Cup Finals game on cable in eight years. The initial game of the series also proved historic, as it produced the best rating by any Stanley Cup game in eleven years.
It is more than apparent than the NHL is on the upswing. People are watching...watching and enjoying. Ratings are up. Revenue is increasing. Everything seems to be going well and going back to the way it once was.
These two teams are perfect. The timing of both being on the grandest stage of them all is spot on. The backdrop of each team and their respective journey to the Cup is storybook, and the actual play of the series has been nothing short of exciting.
Good enough for ya, hockey haters?
For someone that truly didn't start following the sport until four years ago - after the lockout - I'm enjoying hockey more than ever.
Oh, what an impact two starving teams can have on a struggling league.
The Chicago Blackhawks and the Philadelphia Flyers had long since been craving the taste of the Cup. The Hawks, the team with the longest current championship drought in the NHL, have endured years of failure and futility. But, with good drafting, solid free agent signings, and a little bit of patience, Chicago is a powerhouse in the NHL (and a young one at that), and will remain one for years to come. They were the two seed in the Western Conference, but played like they were number one, knocking out the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks each in six games. In the Western Conference Finals, the Blackhawks handed a lopsided sweep to the top-seeded and hard-luck San Jose Sharks, securing a trip to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since being swept by Mario Lemeuix and the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992.
The Flyers are just happy to be there. On the brink of missing the playoffs, the Flyers squeaked their way in over the rival New York Rangers, but no one expected them to advance past the heavily favored two-seed, the New Jersey Devils. But just as quickly as they entered, the Flyers entered round two. This is where they made their history, coming back from down three games to none to defeat the Boston Bruins in seven games. Now entering the conference finals against the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens, they were the favorites, and they took care of their business in five games, and were headed to the Stanley Cup, looking for their first championship since 1975. Not since the days of Eric Lindros has the Philly faithful been as excited for a team as they were for this incarnation of the "Broad Street Bullies," and their arrival to the NHL's final series.
With two historically downtrodden teams at the top of their game and currently at the top of the league in the Stanley Cup, this might just be what the doctor ordered to bring the league back to prominence.
Think about it: Would it be more compelling to see the third straight Stanley Cup Finals between the Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings. Hardly. Despite the possibility of having yet another great series between these two occur, the casual fan would have been bored by this rehashed matchup.
This 2010 final is different. It's fresh. It's different. It's emotionally-driven and it's storyline driven. It's two starving teams playing very physical hockey to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup. It's the team with the longest drought versus the team who's fans make it seem they have the longest title drought.
Gary Bettman must be salivating over this matchup. The NHL Commissioner (for my money, one of the worst commissioner in the history of professional sports) has to be happy with not only the quality of the four games thus far, but also the ratings. Just two nights ago, Game Three produced the highest rating for a Stanley Cup Finals game on cable in eight years. The initial game of the series also proved historic, as it produced the best rating by any Stanley Cup game in eleven years.
It is more than apparent than the NHL is on the upswing. People are watching...watching and enjoying. Ratings are up. Revenue is increasing. Everything seems to be going well and going back to the way it once was.
These two teams are perfect. The timing of both being on the grandest stage of them all is spot on. The backdrop of each team and their respective journey to the Cup is storybook, and the actual play of the series has been nothing short of exciting.
Good enough for ya, hockey haters?
For someone that truly didn't start following the sport until four years ago - after the lockout - I'm enjoying hockey more than ever.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Brett Favre: The Worst Drama On Television
It's a shame when someone just doesn't know when to hang 'em up.
No, I'm not referring to the John Daly's choice of wardrobe for tee time. I'm talking about Brett Favre. The all-time leader in touchdown passes is in the news again, allegedly deliberating a second return to the NFL. Only this time, he would be a Minnesota Viking. Boy, things with No. 4 have certainly gotten way too drama-laden.
With all the logistics aside, it's really irrelevant if he decides to play again or not. Of course, he would be a big difference maker for the quarterback-challenger Vikings. However, Favre has nothing left to prove. His legacy is cemented as arguably the most prolific passer in NFL history. His record 464 touchdown passes, not to mention his 310 interceptions, are his marks on the sport. Why would he put his legacy in jeopardy and stay too long?
I had written a column for a newspaper in praising Favre for making a comeback. Not many people get to play the great sport of professional football, and I'm sure letting go of the game was not easy. Heck, letting go of Babe Ruth baseball wasn't easy for me in my teenage years, but that's another story. Favre had a decent year with the New York Jets, almost leading them back to the playoffs for the first time in three years with an 9-7 record. Statistically, it was the same thing, as he threw 22 TDs to his team, and 22 passes to the other team. Not bad, and overall it wasn't bad, because all Favre showed us was that he could still do it, and he simply was a man who made a mistake in retiring too early. There's nothing wrong with that.
But here's where the tables turn. If Favre wants to still play despite his biceps injury, then he should still stay with the Jets, and come back ready for next season. All this indecision is getting to be frustrating to onlooking fans, not to mention a haven of gold for the media outlets. With all the coverage Favre has received thus far in his courtship with the Minnesota Vikings (as well as the similar coverage before his trade to the Jets), fans are becoming sick and tired of seeing Favre for all the wrong reasons.
As negative as it may seem, when I hear the name Brett Favre, I no longer think of him as "The greatest quarterback of all-time." I think of Brett Favre as a prima donna, and a man who craves attention like Regina George from Mean Girls (yes, I saw Mean Girls, and it was actually pretty good). And despite the moniker of a "private family man" that Favre has attained, he sure seems to love being on television due to all this hoopla and speculation.
Now, don't get me wrong. The coverage Favre has received is well-deserved. He will be a Hall-of-Famer some day, and his career resume is one for which we must stand up and take note of. Along with those stats mentioned above, he also has thrown 5,720 completions for 65,127 yards and a 85.4 quarterback rating. He has 3 MVP awards, and has a Super Bowl ring. He is a folk hero in Green Bay (or was before his flirtation with the arch rival Vikes). However, the media coverage is like a terrible reality show.
They have updated when the Vikings received Favre's shoulder X-rays, and they also reported when Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress supposedly travelled down to Mississippi to meet with Favre. They also reported when there was a deadline set for whether Favre would report to the team's mini-camp, (which to me was a huge relief when I thought this whole ordeal would end), only to find out this was not true according to Childress. Is any of this information have anything remotely to do with football? In the grand scheme of things, the answer is simply "no."
The bottom line is this: If Favre is or isn't coming back, why doesn't he just come out and say so? The reason is simply that he loves the attention paid to him. Maybe he isn't as physically sharp as he used to be, maybe he isn't as mentally sharp as he used to be, and maybe he simply isn't as good as he used to be. But Brett Favre does not want to let go. He craves that spotlight so much, and he does not want to let go of what he has worked so hard for. With his decision to not come out once publicly in discussing his future, he not only keeps the focus on him until he has to make a decision, and he also keeps his reputation intact as a private person.
Brett, please let this be your last comeback story. Quite frankly, I don't know how many summers I can take with "As Brett Favre Turns" as the primary story on my television. You still have what it takes to make it in the NFL, and if you want to come back, just do it already. But the next time you retire, make sure it's your last time, so people don't truly regard you as the man who didn't know when to hang 'em up.
No, I'm not referring to the John Daly's choice of wardrobe for tee time. I'm talking about Brett Favre. The all-time leader in touchdown passes is in the news again, allegedly deliberating a second return to the NFL. Only this time, he would be a Minnesota Viking. Boy, things with No. 4 have certainly gotten way too drama-laden.
With all the logistics aside, it's really irrelevant if he decides to play again or not. Of course, he would be a big difference maker for the quarterback-challenger Vikings. However, Favre has nothing left to prove. His legacy is cemented as arguably the most prolific passer in NFL history. His record 464 touchdown passes, not to mention his 310 interceptions, are his marks on the sport. Why would he put his legacy in jeopardy and stay too long?
I had written a column for a newspaper in praising Favre for making a comeback. Not many people get to play the great sport of professional football, and I'm sure letting go of the game was not easy. Heck, letting go of Babe Ruth baseball wasn't easy for me in my teenage years, but that's another story. Favre had a decent year with the New York Jets, almost leading them back to the playoffs for the first time in three years with an 9-7 record. Statistically, it was the same thing, as he threw 22 TDs to his team, and 22 passes to the other team. Not bad, and overall it wasn't bad, because all Favre showed us was that he could still do it, and he simply was a man who made a mistake in retiring too early. There's nothing wrong with that.
But here's where the tables turn. If Favre wants to still play despite his biceps injury, then he should still stay with the Jets, and come back ready for next season. All this indecision is getting to be frustrating to onlooking fans, not to mention a haven of gold for the media outlets. With all the coverage Favre has received thus far in his courtship with the Minnesota Vikings (as well as the similar coverage before his trade to the Jets), fans are becoming sick and tired of seeing Favre for all the wrong reasons.
As negative as it may seem, when I hear the name Brett Favre, I no longer think of him as "The greatest quarterback of all-time." I think of Brett Favre as a prima donna, and a man who craves attention like Regina George from Mean Girls (yes, I saw Mean Girls, and it was actually pretty good). And despite the moniker of a "private family man" that Favre has attained, he sure seems to love being on television due to all this hoopla and speculation.
Now, don't get me wrong. The coverage Favre has received is well-deserved. He will be a Hall-of-Famer some day, and his career resume is one for which we must stand up and take note of. Along with those stats mentioned above, he also has thrown 5,720 completions for 65,127 yards and a 85.4 quarterback rating. He has 3 MVP awards, and has a Super Bowl ring. He is a folk hero in Green Bay (or was before his flirtation with the arch rival Vikes). However, the media coverage is like a terrible reality show.
They have updated when the Vikings received Favre's shoulder X-rays, and they also reported when Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress supposedly travelled down to Mississippi to meet with Favre. They also reported when there was a deadline set for whether Favre would report to the team's mini-camp, (which to me was a huge relief when I thought this whole ordeal would end), only to find out this was not true according to Childress. Is any of this information have anything remotely to do with football? In the grand scheme of things, the answer is simply "no."
The bottom line is this: If Favre is or isn't coming back, why doesn't he just come out and say so? The reason is simply that he loves the attention paid to him. Maybe he isn't as physically sharp as he used to be, maybe he isn't as mentally sharp as he used to be, and maybe he simply isn't as good as he used to be. But Brett Favre does not want to let go. He craves that spotlight so much, and he does not want to let go of what he has worked so hard for. With his decision to not come out once publicly in discussing his future, he not only keeps the focus on him until he has to make a decision, and he also keeps his reputation intact as a private person.
Brett, please let this be your last comeback story. Quite frankly, I don't know how many summers I can take with "As Brett Favre Turns" as the primary story on my television. You still have what it takes to make it in the NFL, and if you want to come back, just do it already. But the next time you retire, make sure it's your last time, so people don't truly regard you as the man who didn't know when to hang 'em up.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
An Interesting Take On LeBron James
Another year, another NBA Finals is upon us. As expected, Kobe Bryant's Lakers will take on...the Orlando Magic?! That wasn't in the script...
Indeed it was not, as the Cleveland Cavaliers could not make the dream series happen. After the Magic soundly defeated the Cavs 4-2 in their best-of-seven series, many discussed which players (namely not LeBron James) cost the Cavs the series with their sub par performances, and looking even further, how the team could appease King James with vast improvements in the offseason. He, of course, had one of the best statistical series in recent memory. Averaging nearly a triple-double in the series, with 38.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 8.o assists per game, respectively, LeBron carried the team on his back through each and every game this season.
But this may be more than an issue of statistical dominance. This may delve deeper inoto how LeBron handles himself as the leader of his teammates, and how he handles being a leader in general. It may not be the popular thing to point the finger at LeBron, but it would not hurt to analyze his skills as a leader. As absurd as it may sound to the common fan, King James may not yet be ready for the throne he has been so hastily placed upon.
Now, this is not a LeBron-bashing piece. This is simply a different perspective on the man, the myth, and the legend-in-the-making that is LeBron James.
James' biggest rival in today is arguably Kobe Bryant. With that being said, the similarities between them are much more resounding than at first glance. James is leading a team of role players and, despite the argument for Mo Williams, does not really have a viable sidekick, nor has he ever. This is Kobe Bryant circa 2004-05, when he began leading the Lakers as the top player on that squad. No matter how hard "The Black Mamba" tried, he could not get the Lakers over the hump by himself, and although James has had more success as the sole superstar on his team, he has suffered from the same issue. Their penchant for taking over a game is also something to debate and compare.
In the series against the Magic just days ago, James had to score 35+ points every single night just to keep his team in the game. Ditto for Bryant in the years before the heist known as the Pau Gasol trade. James even had to knock down one of the most amazing shots in Game 2 of the series to keep his team in the driver's seat. Sounds like Kobe's shot in overtime against the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 of the first round of the 2006 playoffs, doesn't it? Both the 2006 Lakers and this year's Cavaliers were subsequently dominated and bounces from their respective playoffs.
It took three years after the departure of Shaq for things to gel, but with the same core, the Lakers did just that, and now they're a title favorite every single year. This may be the only problem for the Cavs, despite the fact experts peg this team as one that cannot bring James to a title. That chatter sounds awfully like the talk Bryant heard during his post-Diesel days.
With this being said, it is unfair not to make this comparison. This is so because there is only one major glaring difference in these two players: assists. While Bryant does not and did not record as many dimes as James does currently, this leads onlookers to think James is not a "ball hog," and therefore is a completely unselfish player. Quite frankly, both are selfish players, and most to all players are selfish, as all they want is to win a championship to further cement their legacy as greats in the annals of NBA lore.
Now, you may ask, "What about the 2007 playoffs? LeBron took his team past the Pistons and onto the NBA Finals!" Very true, but this is nothing more than a freak accident and a fluke. A freak accident because James is a physical basketball freak. An accident because the Cavaliers were a decent team, but they were not great. James completely carried that team in those very playoffs, and he has never carried a team more than when he took them past Detroit and onto the Finals. The King's first taste of professional achievement was due to himself completely and single-handedly, and the fact that they were demolished by the San Antonio Spurs shows that it was just James being himself, and also that maybe it was too much too soon for "Bron Bron," but not in the traditional sense. He may just achieved more than many would have expected in that early stage of his career, his fourth season, and due to this, the fans may be expecting too much from the supposed savior of Cleveland sports.
Will this ruin James? No. He still is the heir to the throne left by Michael Jordan as the NBA's best. But, just like Jordan, he needed a sidekick, and he needed time to evolve. He won his first title in his seventh season (James will be in his seventh next season). The man will win titles, but he needs patience, and so do his fans. Not shaking hands after a Conference Finals loss is not how he should be remembered. Moreover, "The Chosen One" should and will be regarded as one of the best of all-time. Just ask the man whose career his parallels: Kobe Bryant.
That's all for now, and catch a new post each and every week, starting next Friday.
Enjoy,
MOD
Indeed it was not, as the Cleveland Cavaliers could not make the dream series happen. After the Magic soundly defeated the Cavs 4-2 in their best-of-seven series, many discussed which players (namely not LeBron James) cost the Cavs the series with their sub par performances, and looking even further, how the team could appease King James with vast improvements in the offseason. He, of course, had one of the best statistical series in recent memory. Averaging nearly a triple-double in the series, with 38.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 8.o assists per game, respectively, LeBron carried the team on his back through each and every game this season.
But this may be more than an issue of statistical dominance. This may delve deeper inoto how LeBron handles himself as the leader of his teammates, and how he handles being a leader in general. It may not be the popular thing to point the finger at LeBron, but it would not hurt to analyze his skills as a leader. As absurd as it may sound to the common fan, King James may not yet be ready for the throne he has been so hastily placed upon.
Now, this is not a LeBron-bashing piece. This is simply a different perspective on the man, the myth, and the legend-in-the-making that is LeBron James.
James' biggest rival in today is arguably Kobe Bryant. With that being said, the similarities between them are much more resounding than at first glance. James is leading a team of role players and, despite the argument for Mo Williams, does not really have a viable sidekick, nor has he ever. This is Kobe Bryant circa 2004-05, when he began leading the Lakers as the top player on that squad. No matter how hard "The Black Mamba" tried, he could not get the Lakers over the hump by himself, and although James has had more success as the sole superstar on his team, he has suffered from the same issue. Their penchant for taking over a game is also something to debate and compare.
In the series against the Magic just days ago, James had to score 35+ points every single night just to keep his team in the game. Ditto for Bryant in the years before the heist known as the Pau Gasol trade. James even had to knock down one of the most amazing shots in Game 2 of the series to keep his team in the driver's seat. Sounds like Kobe's shot in overtime against the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 of the first round of the 2006 playoffs, doesn't it? Both the 2006 Lakers and this year's Cavaliers were subsequently dominated and bounces from their respective playoffs.
It took three years after the departure of Shaq for things to gel, but with the same core, the Lakers did just that, and now they're a title favorite every single year. This may be the only problem for the Cavs, despite the fact experts peg this team as one that cannot bring James to a title. That chatter sounds awfully like the talk Bryant heard during his post-Diesel days.
With this being said, it is unfair not to make this comparison. This is so because there is only one major glaring difference in these two players: assists. While Bryant does not and did not record as many dimes as James does currently, this leads onlookers to think James is not a "ball hog," and therefore is a completely unselfish player. Quite frankly, both are selfish players, and most to all players are selfish, as all they want is to win a championship to further cement their legacy as greats in the annals of NBA lore.
Now, you may ask, "What about the 2007 playoffs? LeBron took his team past the Pistons and onto the NBA Finals!" Very true, but this is nothing more than a freak accident and a fluke. A freak accident because James is a physical basketball freak. An accident because the Cavaliers were a decent team, but they were not great. James completely carried that team in those very playoffs, and he has never carried a team more than when he took them past Detroit and onto the Finals. The King's first taste of professional achievement was due to himself completely and single-handedly, and the fact that they were demolished by the San Antonio Spurs shows that it was just James being himself, and also that maybe it was too much too soon for "Bron Bron," but not in the traditional sense. He may just achieved more than many would have expected in that early stage of his career, his fourth season, and due to this, the fans may be expecting too much from the supposed savior of Cleveland sports.
Will this ruin James? No. He still is the heir to the throne left by Michael Jordan as the NBA's best. But, just like Jordan, he needed a sidekick, and he needed time to evolve. He won his first title in his seventh season (James will be in his seventh next season). The man will win titles, but he needs patience, and so do his fans. Not shaking hands after a Conference Finals loss is not how he should be remembered. Moreover, "The Chosen One" should and will be regarded as one of the best of all-time. Just ask the man whose career his parallels: Kobe Bryant.
That's all for now, and catch a new post each and every week, starting next Friday.
Enjoy,
MOD
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Opening Night in Major League Baseball
Ah, it's finally here. Nobody loves opening night of the baseball season more than me, and this season is shaping up to be something very special. So many storylines have filled the headlines:
"Will the Yankees live up to expectations?"
"Can the Phillies repeat?"
"Is this the year the Cubs finally do it?"
"Can the Rays do it again?"
"Will the Mets finally get over the hump?"
Many have also gone under the radar as well:
"Are the Reds for real with all that young talent?"
"Can the A's unseat the Angels?"
"Who's going to win an even AL Central?"
"Can the Braves and Marlins really compete in the NL East?"
"Are the Giants really going to win the NL West?"
These are just a few of the headlines that are making the rounds in the MLB community. This should be one heck of a year for all those reasons listed above and more.
Also, keep an eye on the youngsters this season, as several youthful players look to make a huge splash this season. Keep an eye on current minor leaguers Matt Wieters of the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays' hurler David Price. Also, enjoy the stylings of Jonathan Sanchez and Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giants. All four should have breakout years. Oh yeah, there's also a power guy named Nelson Cruz playing down in Texas. He's good, too.
Now, everyone loves predictions as much as I do, so here are my predictions for this year, which includes division and wild card winners, playoff results, and end of season awards. So with any further delay, here are my rock-solid picks:
NL East: Philadelphia Phillies
NL Central: Chicago Cubs
NL West: Arizona Diamondbacks
NL Wild Card: New York Mets
AL East: Boston Red Sox
AL Central: Detroit Tigers
AL West: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
AL Wild Card: New York Yankees
NL Divisional Playoffs: Cubs over Mets, Phillies over Diamondbacks
NL Championship: Cubs over Phillies
AL Divisional Playoffs: Red Sox over Tigers, Yankees over Angels
AL Championship: Red Sox over Yankees
World Series: Cubs over Red Sox
NL MVP: Chase Utley
AL MVP: Josh Hamilton
NL Cy Young: Johan Santana
AL Cy Young: Josh Beckett
NL Rookie of the Year: Pablo Sandoval
AL Rookie of the Year: Nelson Cruz
NL Manager of the Year: Lou Piniella
AL Manager of the Year: Jim Leyland
Yes sir, it is going to happen this year. The Cubs have made the proper adjustments in their overly right-handed lineup to compete against all pitching, and their starting staff is second to none in the National League. Some like to pick the North Siders to seem like a genius months later if it does turn out to finally be "Next Year."
The Red Sox have the overall best pitching staff in the American League, and their hitting is still the same from last season. All the stars seemed to be aligned for this one: One of the most hard luck franchises to go head-to-head with the downtrodden-turned-powerhouse team from Beantown. These two will collide in October. Oh, and by the way, I don't believe in curses.
Also, expect the Mets to collapse yet again, just a little later this season. The money-wielding Yankees will do the same, as the playoffs have not been their forte over the last eight years. We all know how a Yankees team without a World Series Championship is considered a failure. Sorry New York, this isn't your year again.
That's was just a smidgen of what's in store for this wonderful literature. Expect better things in the weeks to come.
Enjoy,
MOD
"Will the Yankees live up to expectations?"
"Can the Phillies repeat?"
"Is this the year the Cubs finally do it?"
"Can the Rays do it again?"
"Will the Mets finally get over the hump?"
Many have also gone under the radar as well:
"Are the Reds for real with all that young talent?"
"Can the A's unseat the Angels?"
"Who's going to win an even AL Central?"
"Can the Braves and Marlins really compete in the NL East?"
"Are the Giants really going to win the NL West?"
These are just a few of the headlines that are making the rounds in the MLB community. This should be one heck of a year for all those reasons listed above and more.
Also, keep an eye on the youngsters this season, as several youthful players look to make a huge splash this season. Keep an eye on current minor leaguers Matt Wieters of the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays' hurler David Price. Also, enjoy the stylings of Jonathan Sanchez and Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giants. All four should have breakout years. Oh yeah, there's also a power guy named Nelson Cruz playing down in Texas. He's good, too.
Now, everyone loves predictions as much as I do, so here are my predictions for this year, which includes division and wild card winners, playoff results, and end of season awards. So with any further delay, here are my rock-solid picks:
NL East: Philadelphia Phillies
NL Central: Chicago Cubs
NL West: Arizona Diamondbacks
NL Wild Card: New York Mets
AL East: Boston Red Sox
AL Central: Detroit Tigers
AL West: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
AL Wild Card: New York Yankees
NL Divisional Playoffs: Cubs over Mets, Phillies over Diamondbacks
NL Championship: Cubs over Phillies
AL Divisional Playoffs: Red Sox over Tigers, Yankees over Angels
AL Championship: Red Sox over Yankees
World Series: Cubs over Red Sox
NL MVP: Chase Utley
AL MVP: Josh Hamilton
NL Cy Young: Johan Santana
AL Cy Young: Josh Beckett
NL Rookie of the Year: Pablo Sandoval
AL Rookie of the Year: Nelson Cruz
NL Manager of the Year: Lou Piniella
AL Manager of the Year: Jim Leyland
Yes sir, it is going to happen this year. The Cubs have made the proper adjustments in their overly right-handed lineup to compete against all pitching, and their starting staff is second to none in the National League. Some like to pick the North Siders to seem like a genius months later if it does turn out to finally be "Next Year."
The Red Sox have the overall best pitching staff in the American League, and their hitting is still the same from last season. All the stars seemed to be aligned for this one: One of the most hard luck franchises to go head-to-head with the downtrodden-turned-powerhouse team from Beantown. These two will collide in October. Oh, and by the way, I don't believe in curses.
Also, expect the Mets to collapse yet again, just a little later this season. The money-wielding Yankees will do the same, as the playoffs have not been their forte over the last eight years. We all know how a Yankees team without a World Series Championship is considered a failure. Sorry New York, this isn't your year again.
That's was just a smidgen of what's in store for this wonderful literature. Expect better things in the weeks to come.
Enjoy,
MOD
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