Heat, Spurs, and casual fans alike have been treated to a wild and wacky NBA Finals. Both teams continue to trade blow out victories, and each game has produced a new hero.
Game 1: Tony Parker: Parker hit three crucial jumpers in the fourth quarter of game one, the last being a circus shot over the reigning MVP as the shot clock literally expired. The bank shot seen round the world secured a Spurs victory. Parker finished with a game high 21 points.
Game 2: Mario Chalmers: "Rio"...as he's called by his Miami comrades, found his shot in the second half of game 2...making a series of three point plays on his way to a team high 19 points. Miami went on a 33-5 run to seal the deal.
Game 3: Danny Green and Gary Neal: Green and Neal combined for 51 points on...get this...thirteen three pointers. No need to tell you the Heat caught two black eyes in that one.
Game 4: Dwayne Wade: Facing local and national scrutiny for his pedestrian finals efforts, Dwayne Wade exploded for a fantasy owner's dream stat line: 32 points, six rebounds, six steals, and four assists. Wade's "06" effort tied the series at 2-2.
Game 5: Manu Ginobli: Also facing local and national scrutiny for his pedestrian finals efforts, Manu Ginobli rebounded nicely with 24 points, and more importantly, ten assists. Ginobli's passing lead to several three point plays, and the Spurs are now a win away from another world title.
There are some notable names missing from this list....who will be the hero of game 6? follow @plcolter
Monday, June 17, 2013
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Trade makes sense for Celtics, not Clippers
If you're Boston Celtics President Danny Ainge, you must be chomping at the bit to unload head coach Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett to the Los Angeles Clippers for DeAndre Jordan and possibly Eric Bledsoe. The Celtics would surround returning all NBA point guard Rajon Rondo with some young, athletic talent. Rondo is a walking triple double, and just as good a passer as Chris Paul in LA.
Lob City...east coast style.
More importantly, allowing head coach Doc Rivers out of his contract to coach the Clippers would net huge returns, as you would likely receive multiple draft pics. That's exactly what a rebuilding team in search of a new coach would need. You could sit on the picks and stockpile talent through the draft, or you could package them in a deal to add another piece.
Brilliant proposal on the part of Boston. That's why they win championships.
If you're the Clippers, you're trading in a weekly paycheck for a lottery ticket. You just won the division with a young and talented roster, and would immediately become an old team with this move.
Did anybody watch Boston and New York in the first round of the playoffs? Kevin Garnett showed flashes, but can he sustain the rugged western conference over 82 games...again...at dang near 40?
And don't even get me started on Paul Pierce.
So I digress.
The Clippers have a talented roster as is with CP3 back at the helm. Garnett is a first ballot Hall of Famer, but is clearly at the end of his career. The Clippers would shorten their championship window of opportunity, with no guarantee that it will work.
The Clippers would've also given away future draft pics to acquire coach Rivers, so there's no plan B. Garnett would have virtually no trade value should the west coast experiment not work.
I'm sure Danny Ainge is not sending any calls to voice mail any time soon. follow @plcolter
Lob City...east coast style.
More importantly, allowing head coach Doc Rivers out of his contract to coach the Clippers would net huge returns, as you would likely receive multiple draft pics. That's exactly what a rebuilding team in search of a new coach would need. You could sit on the picks and stockpile talent through the draft, or you could package them in a deal to add another piece.
Brilliant proposal on the part of Boston. That's why they win championships.
If you're the Clippers, you're trading in a weekly paycheck for a lottery ticket. You just won the division with a young and talented roster, and would immediately become an old team with this move.
Did anybody watch Boston and New York in the first round of the playoffs? Kevin Garnett showed flashes, but can he sustain the rugged western conference over 82 games...again...at dang near 40?
And don't even get me started on Paul Pierce.
So I digress.
The Clippers have a talented roster as is with CP3 back at the helm. Garnett is a first ballot Hall of Famer, but is clearly at the end of his career. The Clippers would shorten their championship window of opportunity, with no guarantee that it will work.
The Clippers would've also given away future draft pics to acquire coach Rivers, so there's no plan B. Garnett would have virtually no trade value should the west coast experiment not work.
I'm sure Danny Ainge is not sending any calls to voice mail any time soon. follow @plcolter
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
New coach should be Grizzlies second concern
The Memphis Grizzlies, coming off their most exciting and successful season ever, decided to part ways with head coach Lionel Hollins. That's three head coaches that finished 3,4,and 5 in the competitive Western Conference this year.
Oh yeah...and one coach of the year...gone.
Conventional wisdom would suggest the Grizzlies' next move should be to replace the head coach. But in fact, the Grizzlies' most pressing issue is re-signing free agent to be Tony Allen.
Allen...aka..."The Grind Father"...did not just coin the phrase "Grit and Grind"...he embodies it. A world champion himself, Allen turned a fledgeling small market NBA team into a tough nosed slug it out band of brothers. He did it with effort....and he did it with consistency.
Not Rudy Gay...not Zach Randolph.
Since coming to Memphis as a free agent, Tony Allen has been the premier on ball defender in the league. His passion is contagious..and his presence carries a big stick in the locker room.
Don't believe me...then ask O.J. Mayo, who received a Tony "two piece" on a plane ride a few years back.
That's a beat down for those who thought I was talking about chicken....
But I digress.
Keeping Tony Allen on the roster should be the top priority for the Memphis Grizzlies. With Tony re-signed and on board, the Grizzlies keep their identity...as well as the best defender in the league. And that's regardless of who the new head coach is.
Without Allen, it may be hard for any coach to demand or replicate the energy that Allen brought to not just the team, but the entire city. You saw it, people of all ages and races chanting "whoop dat trick" in unison.
In Memphis Tennessee of all places.
Only Tony Allen.
Now is the time to build on the momentum...to increase season ticket sales. Good luck with that...in Memphis...with no Grind Father. follow @plcolter
Oh yeah...and one coach of the year...gone.
Conventional wisdom would suggest the Grizzlies' next move should be to replace the head coach. But in fact, the Grizzlies' most pressing issue is re-signing free agent to be Tony Allen.
Allen...aka..."The Grind Father"...did not just coin the phrase "Grit and Grind"...he embodies it. A world champion himself, Allen turned a fledgeling small market NBA team into a tough nosed slug it out band of brothers. He did it with effort....and he did it with consistency.
Not Rudy Gay...not Zach Randolph.
Since coming to Memphis as a free agent, Tony Allen has been the premier on ball defender in the league. His passion is contagious..and his presence carries a big stick in the locker room.
Don't believe me...then ask O.J. Mayo, who received a Tony "two piece" on a plane ride a few years back.
That's a beat down for those who thought I was talking about chicken....
But I digress.
Keeping Tony Allen on the roster should be the top priority for the Memphis Grizzlies. With Tony re-signed and on board, the Grizzlies keep their identity...as well as the best defender in the league. And that's regardless of who the new head coach is.
Without Allen, it may be hard for any coach to demand or replicate the energy that Allen brought to not just the team, but the entire city. You saw it, people of all ages and races chanting "whoop dat trick" in unison.
In Memphis Tennessee of all places.
Only Tony Allen.
Now is the time to build on the momentum...to increase season ticket sales. Good luck with that...in Memphis...with no Grind Father. follow @plcolter
Monday, June 10, 2013
Chad Johnson...just stop
Sean "Puffy Daddy" Combs once coined the phrase..."I thought I told you that we won't stop".
It was meant as a motivational slogan for people with a tremendous work ethic. But it seems that Chad Johnson...aka...Chad Ochocinco has taken that phrase literally....about everything.
And Chad...my man...it's time to stop.
Chad Johnson is on the fringe of becoming one of those athletes that's known more for foolishness than their on field performance. And when looking at Johnson's career numbers to date, that would be a shame.
Johnson has 766 career catches and 67 touchdowns...most of them memorable. He also racked up over 11,000 yards against defenses designed to take him out of the game plan.
'
Today, if you bring up the name Chad Johnson you think of twitter, and "ain't that the dude that head butted that girl? Or..."ain't that the dude that got fired on HBO"? You'll come up with a few more "incidents" before getting to his dominate on field performance. And that was just a few short years ago.
And that's no one's fault but Johnson's.
After receiving a fresh start in Miami, Johnson quickly fell out of favor after being arrested, and was let go from the Dolphins in front of millions of viewers on cable television. You would think that would be enough to humble someone eh?
"I thought I told you that we won't stop"
Today, Johnson reached a plea agreement for said arrest, and celebrates his "victory" by giving his lawyer a football style pat on the back side...drawing laughter from those in the court room. His lawyer even chuckled.
The judge didn't.
In a shocking reversal of fortune, the judge rejected the plea and ordered Johnson to 30 days in jail. That is beyond unfortunate. That is down right foolish. What in the world what make you think that it would be ok to....?......hmm...
But I digress.
The sad thing is, we'll never know if Johnson had anything left in the tank. At this point, who would dare sign him? The end zone celebrations and all the antics were funny at first...it was fresh and new. Now it's like.."Ok Chad...we get it..it's not funny any more....jail is not funny"
Even if Chad remains unemployed by the NFL, something tells me we haven't seen or heard the last of him. follow @plcolter
It was meant as a motivational slogan for people with a tremendous work ethic. But it seems that Chad Johnson...aka...Chad Ochocinco has taken that phrase literally....about everything.
And Chad...my man...it's time to stop.
Chad Johnson is on the fringe of becoming one of those athletes that's known more for foolishness than their on field performance. And when looking at Johnson's career numbers to date, that would be a shame.
Johnson has 766 career catches and 67 touchdowns...most of them memorable. He also racked up over 11,000 yards against defenses designed to take him out of the game plan.
'
Today, if you bring up the name Chad Johnson you think of twitter, and "ain't that the dude that head butted that girl? Or..."ain't that the dude that got fired on HBO"? You'll come up with a few more "incidents" before getting to his dominate on field performance. And that was just a few short years ago.
And that's no one's fault but Johnson's.
After receiving a fresh start in Miami, Johnson quickly fell out of favor after being arrested, and was let go from the Dolphins in front of millions of viewers on cable television. You would think that would be enough to humble someone eh?
"I thought I told you that we won't stop"
Today, Johnson reached a plea agreement for said arrest, and celebrates his "victory" by giving his lawyer a football style pat on the back side...drawing laughter from those in the court room. His lawyer even chuckled.
The judge didn't.
In a shocking reversal of fortune, the judge rejected the plea and ordered Johnson to 30 days in jail. That is beyond unfortunate. That is down right foolish. What in the world what make you think that it would be ok to....?......hmm...
But I digress.
The sad thing is, we'll never know if Johnson had anything left in the tank. At this point, who would dare sign him? The end zone celebrations and all the antics were funny at first...it was fresh and new. Now it's like.."Ok Chad...we get it..it's not funny any more....jail is not funny"
Even if Chad remains unemployed by the NFL, something tells me we haven't seen or heard the last of him. follow @plcolter
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Heat, Spurs fans finally rewarded
Congrats to the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs for reaching the NBA Finals. I'm happy for their fans. After all, they were robbed of this match up...three times the past twelve months.
The Spurs blew a two game lead and lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in last year's Western Conference Finals. OKC went on to get pimp slapped by the Heat in a non competitive championship round. Earlier this season, Heat fans were eagerly awaiting Tim Duncan and Company. Both teams were playing well and the game was nationally televised. Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich elected to send four of his best players home, leaving fans watching what amounts to a scrimmage game.
Popovich was fined by the league. The NBA should've taken that fine money and refunded those in attendance that night.
But I digress.
Not to be outdone, Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra sat a healthy LeBron James and Dwayne Wade when the Heat made their annual return visit to San Antonio. Coincidence? Hmm.
That certainly won't be the case on Thursday, both teams will be star studded up and ready to rumble. This will be the last time we'll see these two teams as constructed, and playing this good. Both teams will get at least two home games, and barring injury...every superstar hand will be on deck.
Checkmate fans. follow @plcolter
The Spurs blew a two game lead and lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in last year's Western Conference Finals. OKC went on to get pimp slapped by the Heat in a non competitive championship round. Earlier this season, Heat fans were eagerly awaiting Tim Duncan and Company. Both teams were playing well and the game was nationally televised. Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich elected to send four of his best players home, leaving fans watching what amounts to a scrimmage game.
Popovich was fined by the league. The NBA should've taken that fine money and refunded those in attendance that night.
But I digress.
Not to be outdone, Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra sat a healthy LeBron James and Dwayne Wade when the Heat made their annual return visit to San Antonio. Coincidence? Hmm.
That certainly won't be the case on Thursday, both teams will be star studded up and ready to rumble. This will be the last time we'll see these two teams as constructed, and playing this good. Both teams will get at least two home games, and barring injury...every superstar hand will be on deck.
Checkmate fans. follow @plcolter
Monday, June 3, 2013
Clippers, Grizzlies, should learn from Dallas Cowboys
My 95 year old great uncle asked me a life changing question fifteen years ago. He asked..."Baby Brother?...do you want to be right?...or do you want to be happy?
Yes...Baby Brother was my child hood nickname but I quickly digress. lol
In relation to Uncle Ursery's question, I...like many, replied..."both". Uncle Ursery flashed a quick smirk, wished me a good day at work, and returned to his morning paper. It took me years (and several disappointments) to figure out what Uncle Ursery was saying. "Baby Brother...do not live your life by cutting off your nose to spite your face".
Someone should relay that message to the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies.
Both teams are coming off a franchise best 56 wins. The Clippers won their first division title this year. The Grizzlies reached their first Western Conference Finals. And both teams will likely have new head coaches next year.
Huh?
Clippers head coach Vinnie Del Negro was fired shortly after being eliminated from the playoffs this year. The owner blamed Chris Paul, CP3 fired back, and the truth is being held secret by that fly on the wall.
The Memphis Grizzlies just announced that, after their most successful season ever, they are granting head coach Lionel Hollins permission to look for employment elsewhere. Hollins' contract is set to expire at the end of the month. Coach Hollins improved the team each of the past four years, and his grit and grind mentality was immediately adopted by his team...and a City (Memphis) that shares the same blue collar mentality. Now the story is "philosophical differences". The owner feels that Hollins doesn't respect him, as Hollins publicly undermines upper management at times. Hollins feels that basketball related matters should be deferred to his better judgement, not theirs.
Yada yada ya.
I live in Dallas, does this story sound familiar to Cowboys fans? The Cowboys put themselves in a similar predicament with the public, and ugly break up between owner Jerry Jones and head coach Jimmy Johnson. The Cowboys were a shell of the group that used to be called America's team when Jerry Jones took over. He hired Jimmy Jonson, who steadily improved the team until their back to back championship breakthrough in 1992 and 1993.
Egos, who said what, and who did what ultimately derailed Jones and Johnson's relationship. The result was an abrupt "mutual agreement to part ways". Sure, the franchise squeezed out one more Super Bowl victory in 1995, but have not been anywhere close to a Super Bowl contender since. In Jerry's defense, Jimmy Johnson fared no better without Jones and the Cowboys roster, retiring from coaching without making even a futile attempt at another title.
Both men were right in their own mind...both men stubbornly stood their ground...and both men lost as a result.
The Grizzlies and Clippers have enjoyed unprecedented success this season. But y'all ain't won enough to start playing the ego game. Do not take winning for granted. If it ain't broke, why break it?
I know why...to be right. follow @plcolter
Yes...Baby Brother was my child hood nickname but I quickly digress. lol
In relation to Uncle Ursery's question, I...like many, replied..."both". Uncle Ursery flashed a quick smirk, wished me a good day at work, and returned to his morning paper. It took me years (and several disappointments) to figure out what Uncle Ursery was saying. "Baby Brother...do not live your life by cutting off your nose to spite your face".
Someone should relay that message to the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies.
Both teams are coming off a franchise best 56 wins. The Clippers won their first division title this year. The Grizzlies reached their first Western Conference Finals. And both teams will likely have new head coaches next year.
Huh?
Clippers head coach Vinnie Del Negro was fired shortly after being eliminated from the playoffs this year. The owner blamed Chris Paul, CP3 fired back, and the truth is being held secret by that fly on the wall.
The Memphis Grizzlies just announced that, after their most successful season ever, they are granting head coach Lionel Hollins permission to look for employment elsewhere. Hollins' contract is set to expire at the end of the month. Coach Hollins improved the team each of the past four years, and his grit and grind mentality was immediately adopted by his team...and a City (Memphis) that shares the same blue collar mentality. Now the story is "philosophical differences". The owner feels that Hollins doesn't respect him, as Hollins publicly undermines upper management at times. Hollins feels that basketball related matters should be deferred to his better judgement, not theirs.
Yada yada ya.
I live in Dallas, does this story sound familiar to Cowboys fans? The Cowboys put themselves in a similar predicament with the public, and ugly break up between owner Jerry Jones and head coach Jimmy Johnson. The Cowboys were a shell of the group that used to be called America's team when Jerry Jones took over. He hired Jimmy Jonson, who steadily improved the team until their back to back championship breakthrough in 1992 and 1993.
Egos, who said what, and who did what ultimately derailed Jones and Johnson's relationship. The result was an abrupt "mutual agreement to part ways". Sure, the franchise squeezed out one more Super Bowl victory in 1995, but have not been anywhere close to a Super Bowl contender since. In Jerry's defense, Jimmy Johnson fared no better without Jones and the Cowboys roster, retiring from coaching without making even a futile attempt at another title.
Both men were right in their own mind...both men stubbornly stood their ground...and both men lost as a result.
The Grizzlies and Clippers have enjoyed unprecedented success this season. But y'all ain't won enough to start playing the ego game. Do not take winning for granted. If it ain't broke, why break it?
I know why...to be right. follow @plcolter
Sunday, June 2, 2013
"Cleveland LeBron"...a recipe for disaster
If you are unable to view a Miami Heat playoff game, just check your social media method of choice later that night...you will get the answers you seek. If Miami won and LeBron James played lights out, then things are relatively quiet. If LeBron struggles and the Heat lose, there will be postings, pictures, and confetti. lol
And no...this is not a tale of why you should love LeBron...so I digress.
After his Herculean third quarter effort in game five of the Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron James made a statement that raised the "uh-oh" antenna.
"I just kinda went back to my Cleveland days at that point".....
Um LeBron...you do realize why you left Cleveland right? Because if I remember correctly, you lead the league in scoring but lost to better teams in the playoffs. Key word being team. And that's nothing to be ashamed of.
It's also nothing new.
The Celtics, Lakers, and Pistons dominated the 80's with their respective dynasties. All three teams had multiple Hall of Famers. Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon were both Hall of Fame solo acts, but were a combined 0-3 in the Finals before joining forces in the mid 90's. Kobe had Shaq, Shaq had Kobe...and the Spurs will undoubtedly have multiple Hall of Famers as well. And yes, even the great Michael Jordan would be title-less without the Hall of Fame efforts of Scottie Pippen. Before you respond in haste, please check Pippen's playoff box scores.
This year's playoffs were no different. Dwight Howard was no match for the Spurs without Kobe. Kevin Durant's numbers went up in Russel Westbrooks' absence, and he was still no match for the Memphis Grizzlies. The old song lyrics were spot on..."It takes two to make a thing go right."
LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen got the message. Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, and Allen Iverson obviously did not.
My point?
"Cleveland days" ball may win a quarter, a game, and maybe even this series. But it definitely will not beat the Spurs. San Antonio is the epitome of team. Bottom line...Miami needs "triple double" LeBron more than it needs 50 points a game LeBron. His passing skills for a man that size is what sets him apart from any other athlete in the world.
If LeBron can't trust his teammates...then "not 4, not 5, not 6" will count toward playoff failures...not championship titles. follow @plcolter
And no...this is not a tale of why you should love LeBron...so I digress.
After his Herculean third quarter effort in game five of the Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron James made a statement that raised the "uh-oh" antenna.
"I just kinda went back to my Cleveland days at that point".....
Um LeBron...you do realize why you left Cleveland right? Because if I remember correctly, you lead the league in scoring but lost to better teams in the playoffs. Key word being team. And that's nothing to be ashamed of.
It's also nothing new.
The Celtics, Lakers, and Pistons dominated the 80's with their respective dynasties. All three teams had multiple Hall of Famers. Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon were both Hall of Fame solo acts, but were a combined 0-3 in the Finals before joining forces in the mid 90's. Kobe had Shaq, Shaq had Kobe...and the Spurs will undoubtedly have multiple Hall of Famers as well. And yes, even the great Michael Jordan would be title-less without the Hall of Fame efforts of Scottie Pippen. Before you respond in haste, please check Pippen's playoff box scores.
This year's playoffs were no different. Dwight Howard was no match for the Spurs without Kobe. Kevin Durant's numbers went up in Russel Westbrooks' absence, and he was still no match for the Memphis Grizzlies. The old song lyrics were spot on..."It takes two to make a thing go right."
LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen got the message. Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, and Allen Iverson obviously did not.
My point?
"Cleveland days" ball may win a quarter, a game, and maybe even this series. But it definitely will not beat the Spurs. San Antonio is the epitome of team. Bottom line...Miami needs "triple double" LeBron more than it needs 50 points a game LeBron. His passing skills for a man that size is what sets him apart from any other athlete in the world.
If LeBron can't trust his teammates...then "not 4, not 5, not 6" will count toward playoff failures...not championship titles. follow @plcolter
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