Sunday, June 29, 2014

Mavs: Cuban learning from past mistakes

When you think about this year's NBA playoffs, you think of the San Antonio Spurs...and their dismantling of LeBron James and his Miami Heat. A close second would be cramp gate, then Donald Sterling. What should come second is game 7 between the Spurs and the Mavericks in this year's first round.

It seems like eons ago now, but Dallas...for the most part...outplayed San Antonio in that series. And if not for the Mavs 4th quarter shooting slump in game 1, then who knows how these playoffs would have turned out. One thing's for sure, we'd have to scrap that list I just mentioned and start from scratch.

Yep, Dallas was just that close.

While scrolling through twitter the other day, I came across a quote from Mavs owner Mark Cuban that froze my thumb in it's tracks. His comments regarding Dallas' approach to this year's free agent feeding frenzy...

"I think some of these guys are opting out just to create leverage, and they'll go back. Then there's some that really want to go to different teams. We'll try to put ourselves in position to get them."

Translation...."I'm not blowing up a good thing again."

In the aftermath of the Mavericks first world title, Cuban essentially threw a hand grenade into the locker room....jettisoning off player after player in an attempt to clear up cap space. His goal was to land one of the many prized free agents that hit the market the past few summers.

Well...those prized free agents chose other destinations, and Cuban was forced to build his roster from the clearance rack. Memo to head coach Rick Carlisle, with what you've done with those last few rosters, it's time to talk highest paid coach in the league money my brotha....

But I digress.

It's hard to fault Mark Cuban for his approach. Free agency is like the lottery, you have to be in it to win it. And he did it to make his team better in the long run, a lot more than most fans can say about their owner. Looking back, I'm sure the only thing he wishes he would have done different was to have a plan B.

Which brings me back to his comments.

This time Cuban went out and got some insurance first, bringing back center and fan favorite Tyson Chandler last week in exchange for some role players. This immediately upgrades them on the defensive side of the ball, where they need help the most.

It sounds like Cuban isn't falling for the old LeBron banana in the tailpipe trick again. Instead, he's turning his focus to building on the pieces he has in place. Cuban has a playoff roster, a state tax free location, and 26 million dollars in monopoly money (cap space).

Curious to see how he plays his hand this time around. Let the free agent games begin!  follow @plcolter





Monday, June 23, 2014

Heat fans hope karma isn't a....

There is an old saying, the way you get them...is the way you'll lose them. If you meet a person as the result of them cheating on someone, then it's highly likely they'll cheat on you too. At least that's the way the saying goes. And it's hard to sympathize with someone when their mate....who has a history of cheating...cheats on them. As we say back home...

Charge it to the game.

Miami Heat president Pat Riley must not be aware of this, because he sounded like a jilted lover in his post Finals beat down press conference.

His quote regarding the Big 3...aka Lebron James...

"You gotta stay together, if you've got the guts. You don't find the first door and run out of it".

Oh really Pat Riley? Was that your recruiting pitch to LeBron when he opted out of his contract with Cleveland?

Of course not, but Riley is not alone. I scoured through several South Florida sports talk radio stations the past few days, and Heat fans seem to share his sentiment. King James needs to show some loyalty.

You can't have it both ways.

In the aftermath of LeBron's decision...I saw a lot of jerseys being burned...and none of those people were in Miami. Heat fans could care less about the Cavaliers fans who had their hearts ripped out by their hometown hero. In fact, what we saw from Miami, was what amounted to an opening act at the Grammy Awards. There was music, smoke, lighting, and LeBron (I mean the Big 3) standing on stage.

Miami's new trophy piece.

Fast forward to today, and things have changed....just like all relationships change over time. Wade looks done, the team looks old, and Miami is starting to resemble the last team that LeBron left. Savannah James, LeBron's wife, stirred the pot yesterday by posting an Instagram picture that suggested the family may be returning home to Akron Ohio soon. She later went on to clarify that she was simply talking about a return home for the summer.

Like Heat fans believe that.....

What fuels the paranoia for Heat fans is the fact that..they know LeBron is capable of jumping ship...because he jumped to them. "It will never happen to me"...has turned into..."You gotta stay together...you don't find the..."

OK...I'll digress.

No one knows what LeBron will ultimately do, but if he does jump ship then Heat fans should expect zero sympathy. Like the old saying goes...


"You knew who LeBron was before you signed him...charge it to the game."

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Sunday, June 22, 2014

Grizzlies can't afford to mess this up

The Finals are officially in the books, and so is the 2013-14 season. But if you thought the NBA would quietly fade away into the summer night, think again. Their highly anticipated off season is rapidly approaching, and the "who's going where" rumors are flying around like mosquitoes at a barbecue.

The Heat's Big 3, New York's Carmelo Anthony, and Minnesota's Kevin Love have dominated the headlines the past week. But down in Bluff City, another decision has to be made...and the Grizzlies can't afford to mess this up.

Because if they do...all hell is gonna break out in Memphis.

Zach "Z-Bo" Randolph can opt out of the final year of his deal (worth 16.5 mil) on June 30th, and it would behoove the Grizzlies organization to make sure that he not only stays in Memphis...but finishes his career there.

For several reasons....

For starters, the obvious on court production. Z-Bo is one of the best power forwards in the league today, and still has two to three highly productive years left in him. If you throw out the 2012 season where he missed 54 games with a knee injury, Randolph has averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies. He also shows up in the post season, averaging 19 and 10 in all of the franchise's playoff victories. Other teams know this as well...so there will be no shortage of pursuers if he decides to test the free agent market. A player of Randolph's skill and experience could put a potential contender over the top.

Off the court, failing to secure Z-Bo's services beyond this season would be a public relations nightmare in Memphis...and the fallout could reach catastrophic proportions.

Prior to Randolph's arrival in 2009, the city of Memphis had....well let's just they didn't have the best image....as a team or a city. Often characterized by their flaws, the most a non Tennessean could say about Memphis was...

"Oh yea...that dangerous blues city that's always on First 48".

But Z-Bo didn't see it that way. As soon as he touched down in the Bluff City there was a connection....a love at first sight if you will. Randolph embraced the beauty and charm of the blue collar town...and would publicly praise the "tough image" the city was known for. He saw a lot of himself in Memphis...as his professional reputation was in need of it's own makeover.

Randolph, through his actions on and off the court, told the world that..."We are Memphis...We don't Bluff...and if you play us...be prepared for a fight!" He literally flipped the city's perception of the team, and to a larger degree, of themselves. Grit & Grind is now the first thing casual fans think about when they think of Memphis. Locals love the new identity, and they wear it with pride. National television is not just chronicling murder mysteries there anymore, they're broadcasting live from the Western Conference Finals...and they have Z-Bo to thank. That's why he's the face of the franchise. This isn't just some free agent....there is a bigger picture at play.

Randolph himself has stated from the start that he loves the city, and would love to retire in Memphis. I genuinely believe him. So if this thing goes awry, then the Grizzlies have no one to blame but themselves when fans stay away in droves. Current owner Robert Pera was not there when Grizzlies home games looked like a scene out of the movie Semi Pro. You could literally hear sneakers squeaking from the upper level prior to Randolph's arrival in 09.

Also at steak is the ability to attract quality free agents. If a small market team wishes to stay competitive in the NBA, then they must retain their star players. San Antonio and OKC have done a great job of that, and are reaping success. Minnesota, for whatever reason, can't. (Stephon Marbury, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Love). They also haven't made the playoffs since....since....

You get my point.

Free agents will stay away from teams that seem unwilling to retain it's stars. In today's NBA, the best players are all taking less in an attempt to latch on with a winner. A Z-Bo-less Memphis makes for an unattractive destination. And you (Pera) still have Marc Gasol's contract to address at some point this season. Gasol and Randolph are not only the best power forward / center combo in the league, they are also close friends. Good luck with your sales pitch to Gasol if Z-Bo walks.

Randolph wants to stay, and Memphis has the wherewithal to make it happen while staying competitive. A no brainier right?

Then again...we are talking about the Grizzlies front office.          follow @plcolter




Sunday, June 15, 2014

From Pauley Boy to P.L. Colter...a father's influence

When I think about my dad, I think about sports. When I think about sports....I think of my dad...and all of the awesome quality time we shared when I was growing up. And sports was front and center.

My dad was a great high school running back, and a great athlete overall. His first two children were boys...me being the second...and you could tell right away that his Dami Boy and Pauley Boy were going to be mini mi's. He loved talking sports...all things sports....all the time. He was so passionate and enthusiastic about it, it couldn't help but rub off. He particularly loved the college and NFL pre game shows....especially the segment where they picked the week's winners. He'd have me and my brother play along, and he would record our standings...just like on tv. But we couldn't just "guess" a team, we had to say why...just like the on air analyst.

Now, my brother and I are competitive about everything. Always have been, are still today, and always will be. What brothers aren't though right? As the younger brother, nothing made my Monday morning better than winning the predictions that week. As the older brother, there was no way he was going to lose to me. To encourage our new found enthusiasm, my dad would bring home the NFL weekly magazine, and that was our study guide. We had to do our own research.

The seeds of P.L. Colter were officially planted.

My brother and I would read those magazines front to back, and back again. We'd keep our notes in a secret place and be ready to rumble come game time. Before long, we had our own little pre game show in the living room every Sunday...and we loved every minute of it.

My dad turned the field next to our house into a home football stadium. We (cousins included) hosted "home games" against kids from other neighborhoods. We had our plays and everything! lol. My parents put a basketball goal up in our back yard. My dad taught me and my brother the game back there. And there was no pavement...it was a dirt yard! Can you imaging how the three of us looked when we came back into the house after kicking up dust for hours?

And we did that every day in the summer time. He never got tired of playing....dirty or not.

Over the years my brother and I continued to talk sports with ole pops, and it was literally the glue that held us together through the various ups and downs of life. Still to this day, when I sit down to write a blog, I can hear pops say...

"So who you got this week Pauley Boy?" lol  Happy Fathers Day Leon Colter

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Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Now hiring...no experience required

The readers of my generation have more than likely had one...two...five...six jobs in their lifetime. Throughout your resume building journey, you also have more than likely encountered a company with a high turnover rate. A high turnover rate means that a company can't seem to retain it's employees, whether through termination or resignation. The cause is usually the pay (or lack of), the working environment, or a combination of the two.

Either way...it's a bad stigma to have. Serious candidates with aspirations to land somewhere and grow are typically scared off by the reputation. And it's ten times worse at the management level. Those companies are often forced to hire the lower echelon outside candidates, or hire from within...and pray that the lack of management experience doesn't come back to bite them.

Welcome to the NBA.

It's no coincidence that three of the four longest tenured NBA head coaches have championships (Gregg Popovich SA, Rick Carlisle DAL, Erik Spoelstra MIA). The fourth has Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook (Scott Brooks OKC).

The other 26 coaches should keep a packed suitcase by the bed. It's not a matter of if...it's when. Losing coach...and yes you too winning coach...don't forget to pack your phone charger.

Thirteen teams hired new coaches last off season. Thirteen!....and nine of them had no prior experience at the position. This off season, three more first time head coaches were hired...and we've yet to see what the Lakers and Cavaliers do. That's 12 first time head coaches and counting in a calendar year.

So what gives? Why the high turnover rate? Is it the money?...is it the conditions?

Well, we know that NBA head coaches have guaranteed salaries. So if they get fired, they still get paid (except for rare exceptions). Plus, they can still go out and find another paying gig. These coaches are cashing out...and staying out.

So it has to be the conditions.

We've previously discussed how free agency has turned the NBA into a player's league. To win you need players, and to get them, you have to acquiesce to their demands. Even if it conflicts with the coach. And speaking of player coach riffs, when's the last time it resulted in the player leaving...and not the coach?

While I wait...

I just looked up a list of current NBA coaches to date...and I didn't recognize 13 of the names. I didn't know who coached 13 NBA teams, and I watch religiously. But I could probably rattle off 13 former coaches that appear on tv and radio every day. And not just scrub coaches, I'm talking about winners. Any one of them could probably coach the Bucks, Raptors, or any of the other 26 teams if they wanted to.

They just don't want to.

The word is out now..."Nah man...you don't want to work for them..." College coaches must have heard the whispers, they're saying no left and right now. And like any company with a high turnover rate, the NBA is now forced to hire the lower echelon coaching candidates with little to no experience...which is good for the candidates.

So if you're looking for a job, the NBA is accepting applications.   follow @plcolter




Monday, June 9, 2014

Spurs: Another 48 hours in South Beach

San Antonio's Manu Ginobli sank a three at the buzzer, but it wasn't enough. The Miami Heat tied the series at a game a piece, and we now have an NBA Finals on our hand. All of the talk leading up to game 2 was about LeBron...and his now infamous leg cramp. Whether you are a fan of James or hate his guts you have to admit....

Those memes were pretty funny. Especially the one where....um...maybe I should digress.

Moving on....

The point is, Miami...and LeBron specifically, handled the adversity well. As a result, the Heat now have home court advantage in a best of five series. Now it's San Antonio's time to show how they handle adversity. I mean...it's not like they shouldn't be kicking themselves for missing 4 crucial free throws late in the game. They had Miami on the ropes, and let one slip away. So yeah, the Spurs have some adversity to face. And there's no better place to redeem themselves than the scene of the crime.....

South Beach.

As the series now shifts to Miami for games 3 and 4, San Antonio must return to the site of their two most excruciating losses. Games 6 and 7 of last year's NBA Finals. Images from game six: Ginobli's missed free throw...Bosh's offensive rebound and subsequent assist to Ray Allen. All of the missed opportunities in game 7...highlighted by Duncan's rare missed tip in late in the game. Walking off the court, knowing in your heart that the better team is not popping champagne. A nightmare 48 hours in South Beach.

Well San Antonio, to put it bluntly, if you have another nightmarish 48 hours in South Beach this week, then the series is over. The Heat, in the Big 3 era, have gone 47 straight playoff games without losing back to back games. You cannot afford to leave Miami down 3 games to 1. It's time to forget about Allen's 3, Bosh's rebound, last year period. This is no longer about revenge.

This is now about survival.      follow @plcolter

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Why the NBA cant lure elite college coaches

Kansas head coach Bill Self and Kentucky head coach John Calipari told ESPN on Monday that they are happy with their current situations at their respective programs. That I believe. They also stated that neither have been contacted regarding the numerous NBA head coaching vacancies.

That I do not believe.

It's likely that Self and Calipari told their NBA pursuers thanks...but no thanks. It's even more likely that the trend will continue....at least for the elite college coaches. Tom Izzo (Michigan State) and Kevin Ollie (UConn)  have also recently shunned the NBA to remain at their schools.

And I can't blame them one bit. When you compare the two gigs, is there really a comparison?

The NBA is run by it's players, they call the shots. Their contracts are also guaranteed. That not only makes their head coach powerless, it makes them expendable. Don't believe me? Then just ask Lionel Hollins (Memphis), Vinny DelNegro (Clippers), and George Karl (Denver), who were all fired after leading their teams to 50 win seasons in 2012.

None of the three are coaching today.

Things get even sketchier for coaches of NBA superstars. If said superstar is unhappy for any reason, he could literally hold the team...and the coach's future...up for ransom. Minnesota had a tough time hiring a head coach because their star player...Kevin Love...stated that he will opt out of the final year of his contract to test the free agency market. The search got so bad that team president Flip Saunders decided to un-retire and coach the team himself.

Love's reaction? Um...yea that's great coach...but I'm still opting out.

Ouch.

And who can forget the bizarre chain of events between the Cleveland Cavaliers and their head coach Mike Brown.

Try to follow me here...

Cleveland fired Mike Brown just prior to LeBron's decision....presumably in an attempt to keep him. We all know how that worked out. After a brief (and I do mean brief) stint with the Lakers, Brown was rehired by Cleveland. The owner of the team welcomed Brown back by saying that his previous dismissal was a mistake. 82 games later, Brown was fired again, presumably in an attempt to lure LeBron James back to Cleveland?

I can't make this stuff up.

Meanwhile, in the land of college basketball...

Head coaches of winning programs are living the good life. They are scoring record salaries. They have the ultimate say over their roster, and do not have to work within the limitations of a salary cap. They can just stock pile talent. They have authority over their players, and can get their message across through the power of playing time and scholarships. It's a dream gig if you ask me.

Florida head basketball coach Billy Donovan is openly keeping his options open with regard to the leap.

Proceed with caution.      follow @plcolter


Sunday, June 1, 2014

KD: Time to make your decision

As Russell Westbrook's three point attempt bounced off a fan in the mezzanine late in game six of the Western Conference Finals, TNT cameras quickly turned to Kevin Durant. His shoulders slumped, eyes pointed to the sky, letting out an exhaustive sigh. His season, as great as it was, was over.

As a Grizzlies fan it pains me to say this, but I actually felt sorry for him...if only for a brief moment. Because my inner cynical fan quickly slapped me and pointed out that, overall, KD came up pretty small in these playoffs. In fact...Durant has come up small the last two years.

And the pass stops here.

For whatever reason, Kevin Durant is afforded the luxury of receiving all of the praise, while never having to accept responsibility for the Thunder not getting it done. And I get it, he's a likable star and it's hard not to root for him. And yes, he deserved the MVP this year. But when it comes to crunch time let's be honest.

Durant disappears.

Last year Durant was given a pass for getting bounced out of the second round by the Grizzlies because Russell Westbroook was out with a knee injury. I can accept that at face value when looking on the surface. But if you recall, all five of those games with Memphis were decided by six points or less...and the Grizzlies closed out the last four. Often overlooked is the fact that Durant had his Thunder in a position to win all four of those games, but caved late with missed shots and costly turnovers.

Mostly by Durant.

Judging by the reaction on Twitter immediately following last night's game, it appears that this year's scapegoat will once again be Russell Westbrook....this time for being on the court. Durant saw little action offensively in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime because Westbrook was once again dominating the ball. But from my view, he seemed to be the only one hell bent on not being eliminated last night. Showing the kind of heart that should come from your mvp.

And speaking of the Durant / Westbrook dynamic, what other championship caliber league mvp would allow himself to be frozen out of the game by a teammate...regardless of his ability? Do you think that Jordan, or Kobe would allow themselves to not touch the ball in the final minutes of a closeout game?

Highly unlikely.

Even Dwyane Wade will concede the ball to LeBron James to run the offense in crunch time. It's what the championship caliber stars do. They make it happen. If you do not think that Durant shrunk in these playoffs...then tell me a memorable play / shot / defensive stop that he made to win the game? Any game?

While I wait....

When the Spurs had a chance to win the game in regulation, it was Westbrook that was caught on camera saying..."I got [Manu] Ginobli". He accepted the challenge, and forced Ginobli into a tough fade away jumper that clinked off the rim. Westbrook came up with the series clinching game 7 triple double vs the Grizzlies. A series in which Durant struggled. I'm still waiting on the answer to my previous question by the way......

OK, I'll digress.

This is not to bash KD, he's still the second best player in the world. This is, however, a clear sign that he has a decision to make. It's either time to change personalities...or locations. If there is truly a chemistry problem between him and Westbrook, then it's time for KD to start making some noise. It's time to go to the front office and demand that someone has to go. Kobe and Shaq had chemistry issues during their championship run, and ultimately someone had to go.

They both went on to capture a title without the other.

It can be done...but the clock is officially ticking for you KD. Another mvp without a title would be meaningless now. It's time to get it done...even if you have to start stepping on some toes.

Or you can go down as the lovable loser, and refocus your sights on Kareem's all time scoring record.

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