Grizzlies to nab Ja Morant while trying not to tank - basketball gods are happy

To tank, or not to tank? 

That has been the hot-button issue for NBA Commissioner Adam Silver the last two seasons. Last year a sternly written letter was sent to the Dallas Mavericks after reports leaked that owner Mark Cuban advised his team of their tanking intentions.

But all of that is thrown out of the window when generational talents like Zion Williamson and Ja Morant are in the draft pool.

Several teams showed no shame in their hopes of landing Williamson this NBA season, and as Morant's stock continued to rise, so did team's desire to nab him as well. Even if it meant blatantly throwing in the towel without even attempting to compete for a playoff spot.

In an ironic twist of fate, the Memphis Grizzlies defied the odds and secured the second overall pick of this year's draft, thus securing the services of Morant....who has been viewed by most as a can't-miss face of a franchise.

And they did so without tanking. In fact, they tried to do the exact opposite.

The Memphis Grizzlies actually started the season on fire. After the first month they owned the best record in the west with a 12-5 record.

Then an epic free fall ensued shortly after as the Grizzlies lost 28 of their next 36 games. 

Now looking up from the bottom of the western conference, and at a crossroads, the Grizzlies chose to play out the string and win as many games as possible in hopes of fulfilling their final trade obligation and convey their draft pick to the Boston Celtics.

The pick was protected if the Grizzlies chose outside of the top 8.

So while teams were trading assets and sitting healthy players in a desperate attempt to improve their lottery chances, the Grizzlies were desperately trying to jump those teams.

Yes, Memphis traded franchise cornerstone Marc Gasol at the deadline, but held on to their star point guard Mike Conley.

And he didn't just stay in Memphis, he suited up and played...and performed to his All Star caliber level.

The nightmare scenario for Memphis was to fall out of the top 5, but not out of the top 8 in what is considered a draft class of two or three impact players. The last thing on their minds was securing Ja Morant of all people.

So as the cards continued to be flipped, a franchise that has been devoid of lucky breaks the last few seasons sat in anticipation of landing the 6th, 7th, or lord forbid....8th spot and have to keep that pick.

Landing the number two overall pick was not only mathematically improbable, but the timing was perfect. 

Memphis is still looking to move off Conley's massive contract, and Conley is still looking to finish his career on a championship ready team....something he deserves considering how he handled the aftermath of dismantling the Grit and Grind squad that made Memphis a playoff regular for seven straight seasons.

Morant steps right in to fill that role. And he's younger. And he will be paid pennies to Conley's dollars.

And he will be paired with last year's fourth overall pick, forward Jaren Jackson Jr, giving the Grizzlies their Conley/Gasol combo for the future.

As it relates to the lottery being rigged, as people say every year, what would be the league's incentive in this case?

Memphis is the smallest media market in the entire league...in a lottery that featured heavyweight cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Memphis' lottery draw was a gift from the basketball gods that were sick and tired of the tanking. And why not? The city of Memphis has always been known as a basketball town.

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Pressure mounts for Kyle Lowry with Toronto's title hopes and future looking bleak

Much has been made about Toronto Raptors' All Star point guard Kyle Lowry, and his ineffectiveness in this year's playoffs.

After a posting zero points in the first round opener, a home game loss to the underdog Orlando Magic, Lowry's erratic play has been under a microscope....and deservedly so.

The intensity magnified after Toronto's latest loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, a game in which Lowry himself acknowledged that he needs to play better.

Down 2-1 and without home court advantage, Toronto received more bad news. Potential Most Improved Player, Pascal Siakham, is doubtful for game 4 with a calf injury. He is the only consistent offensive contributor besides Kawhi Leonard, a free agent at the end of the season.

With no Siakham, and a potential 3-1 deficit awaiting them tomorrow afternoon, there is more pressure than ever for Lowry to step up and play to his All Star level. 

If not, then the Raptors would not only face the fact that they failed to reach the finals after firing their coach last season (who won Coach of the Year), and traded away a franchise favorite in return for Leonard...who has no obligation to stay beyond this season.

Translation....Toronto could be left with just Lowry this summer, the one who could be potentially responsible for running Leonard back to the US.

The irony, huh?

The time is now for Lowry....no more excuses.

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Tiger's feat was bigger than golf - bigger than sports

Tiger Woods stood before his peers, colleagues, and family today donning one of the most recognized symbols in all of sports....the green jacket awarded for winning the Masters.

Social media sites were flooded with congratulations from some of the biggest names in sports, politics, and entertainment. And for good reason, everyone loves a comeback story.

And while most pointed to the multiple surgeries that seemingly deteriorated Tiger's body over the past several years, I want to address the elephant in the room so that it can be eradicated once and for all....

Yes, Tiger overcame an aging body, but more importantly, he overcame the demons in his mind to once again stand tall as a winner....in life.

This is so much bigger than golf.

For those of us that are old enough to have watched Tiger's last win at the Masters, most if not all of us share a common bond.

We've messed up in life at one point or another.

Or worse yet, having our own bad decisions negatively impact someone else's life. The proverbial stray bullet hitting the innocent bystander.

To those of us that can relate, there is a tremendous amount of shame, guilt, and self-loathing that accompanies a fall from grace.

To those of us that subject ourselves to a higher power, it can be exponentially excruciating. There's no worse feeling than the feeling that we disappointed God, and to think that He wants nothing to do with us anymore.

That in itself can cause competent, confident, intelligent people to shrink into a funk, to believe that we blew our shot and the rest of our life is reserved for the never-ending hard hitting hand of Karma. Especially when those around us refuse to define us by our countless victories, but instead they focus on the few negative traits that make us all inherently human.

The feeling of going into a room of friends and loved ones, wondering if the two in the corner are gossiping about your situation. The empty feeling that know one knows or cares what you're going through.

So we self-medicate....with alcohol, work, drugs, sex, ect. A never-ending spiral into the abyss of what we once were or hoped to be.

Now take your problem and magnify it a million times over. I mean, after all, we're just subjected to the small group of people that know us.

Imagine being Tiger Woods, one of the most recognizable names and faces on the entire planet. Where can he go to find solace and solitude?

Nowhere but inside himself, but when you're broken, that in itself could be solitary confinement.

But even in that, to dust yourself off and try again when the masses say you're finished. Then to endure the jeers and criticisms of people who are rooting for you to lose.

People that once rooted for you.

Then to guard against the realization that your time may be over after numerous failed comeback attempts.

To standing on top of the mountain again as the winner of the biggest golf tournament in the world.

Do you realize how much self-belief and intestinal fortitude it takes to endure and withstand for that long before you reap your harvest again?

Those of us that have fallen and gotten back up do.

So we congratulate you, Tiger. But not for overcoming numerous back and knee surgeries. We tip our caps to you for standing toe to toe with a troublesome pothole in life and maneuvering your way to the finish line.

Something people from all professions can take with them forever.

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NBA: Five point guards facing the most playoff pressure

The NBA playoffs are officially underway. A time when no-names become household ones, stars become superstars, and superstars become legends.

The playoffs can also be a detriment if said star or superstar fails to deliver, so today we highlight five All Star point guards facing the biggest pressure to deliver this year.

5. Damian Lillard - Portland

The perennial All Star has not only been the face of the Portland Trailblazers since being drafted in 2012, but he is also the face of the entire northwestern region of the country.

With Lillard at the helm, the Portland Trailblazers have enjoyed plenty of regular season success, reaching the playoffs in each of the past five seasons. But not only have they failed to reach the Conference Finals, but they have been swept out of the first round the last two seasons.

This season the Trailblazers draw a tough first round match up with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and a third straight first round exit could spell the end for Portland as we know it. Seeing the window closing with Lillard, and their inability to attract a top-notch free agent during his tenure there, Portland could be forced to rebuild with Lillard being the bargaining chip.

4. Ben Simmons - Philadelphia

Simmons entered the league with as much fanfare as one could hope for, drawing early comparisons to Magic Johnson with his size and ability to distribute the basketball. His propensity for triple doubles has even drawn comparisons to LeBron James.

Last year's Rookie of the Year and current All Star, Simmons has been a key cog in the Sixers' turnaround from process to playoffs.

But in last year's playoffs, Simmons' Achilles Heel, his ineffectiveness shooting from long range, was exposed by the Boston Celtics. Teams are now daring Simmons to shoot from deep, and remarkably enough, he is not making them pay to the tune of zero three point makes in his career.

That's ZERO, y'all.

Even with the addition of sharp shooters Tabias Harris and Jimmy Butler, it will still be imperative for Simmons to make teams play him honest, or the Sixers' quest for a spot in the NBA Finals will come up short, again.

In today's opening round match up against the underdog Brooklyn Nets, Simmons was dreadful. So much so that Philly had to move him to the post, just so Brooklyn would have to guard him. That, in turn, moved big Joel Embiid to the perimiter, where he was 0-for from behind the arc. Butler dropped a playoff career-high 36 points, and the Sixers still lost.

3. Kyrie Irving - Boston

Irving forced his way out of Cleveland last season to be the main guy on a young Celtics team last season, but an injury late in the regular season caused him to miss the entire postseason.

Irving sat idly by and watched his young and inexperienced team reach game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals without him.

Boston was predicted to run through the Eastern Conference this season with Kyrie back in the fold, but the team actually had a better record when he didn't play this season.

Couple that with Irving's icy relationship with his teammates throughout the season, and you have a pressure-packed road ahead for Uncle Drew and Company.

2. James Harden - Houston

The Beard has been the league's most unstoppable offensive force the last three NBA seasons, but the postseason has been a different story.

Last year's MVP and current front runner for this year's coveted award, Harden has dazzled NBA fans with his eye-popping shooting, averaging 36 points per game in this year's regular season.

But after a couple of high-profile meltdown the last few postseasons, none of that matters when his playoff push starts Sunday.

Behind Harden, CP3, and a scrappy group of wing defenders, the Rockets had Golden State on the ropes last season before squandering a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference Finals. Chris Paul's absence in game 7 gave The Beard a mulligan.

But in order to have his name mentioned with the pantheon greats of this game, Harden MUST get to the Finals this season, with or without Chris Paul.

1. Russell Westbrook - OKC

You know you have something to prove when you averaged a triple double the last three seasons, earned league MVP honors, and was still voted the most overrated player by your peers this season.

Such is the life of Russell Westbrook.

While his mannerisms and style of play may be a turnoff to his colleagues and casual fans, there's no denying the elephant in the room....his lack of playoff success post Kevin Durant.

Last season the OKC Thunder were eliminated in the first round by a less-talented Utah Jazz team, leaving many of his detractors with plenty of ammo that you can not win with Westbrook's stat-padding style of play.

And if the Thunder fail to advance past the first round with a favorable match up with the Portland Trailblazers this season, then you can expect more of the same criticism of Russ's game next year....fourth straight triple double season or not.

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