LeBron is Back

Cleveland is back in the NBA Finals. The team, and especially the city, have struggled for so many years, and now here is another shot. The Cavaliers are four wins away from a championship trophy for the city. It is all thanks to LeBron James. He has once again carried a team to the finals. Each of the past three seasons LeBron has been on teams that on paper seem to be elite. However, by the end of the season it ends up being LeBron against the world.
It is true that the eastern conference is weak, and that the run has been not the most difficult, but the two teams the Cavs just beat were no jokes. Both Chicago and Atlanta were very good teams, who I believe under performed. Everyone is saying Cleveland had it easy, but I think Chicago should have beat them. I also believe Atlanta should have won at least two games in this series. That being said Cleveland may not be ready for whats up next. Not the Rockets. The Golden State Warriors will provide a different challenge. Both an offense and a defense that Cleveland has not yet seen, and an individual that no one in the east can compare to: Stephen Curry.
Cleveland has great reason to be excited about the finals, but they should not be too optimistic. The Cavaliers will need an all-time great performance from LeBron James. He will be required to not only put up the same statistics he put up against Atlanta, but also do it more efficiently, and start hitting some jump shots. This next finals will be similar to last years. LeBron will need to be all-worldly for the team to have a shot. He was not last year and the Spurs crushed him. If I'm a Cavs fan I'm worried about the upcoming series.

Game Two

Well I was way off on last nights game. Golden State got off to the start I expected, but like the Rockets did in game one, the Warriors gave up the lead and the game was tied at the half. It went down to the wire and the ball was in James Harden's hands. Unfortunately that's how it ended, with Harden ultimately fumbling the basketball as time expired. It was a great back and forth battle between Harden and Stephen Curry. The two went for 38 and 33 respectively, and hit countless big shots during the forth quarter. Again, I still believe this series is over in five, but I still haven't seen the blowout I thought was coming. Houston and Golden State are making up for my complete lack of interest in the Hawks-Cavs series.
I know the Hawks are supposed to be the Spurs of the east, which is somewhat true. They are the Spurs of the EAST. A much weaker conference with less competition. The Hawks are much less fun to watch in stretches, as their bench can struggle a lot at times. The offense as a whole goes through rough patches where they can seem to buy a basket, which never seems to be a problem in San Antonio.
LeBron James will always be enough to grab my attention, but only for stretches as his club has not been that great to watch either. With no Kevin Love and an injured Kyrie Irving, the Cavs are not as exciting as they were game one of the playoffs. I have a feeling tonight the Hawks show up and go for over 100. JR Smith does not hit every shot he takes tonight, but maybe Kyrie will hit a few. Hawks will barely win tonight by a slim margin. 105-100.

Is Memphis Already Done?

Golden State did what I thought they would, and won by double digits in game four. The Warriors are now tied up in this series, with a game on their home court tonight. Memphis played so well in their back to back wins in this series, but I have a lot of doubt going forward for them. Like many of these second round series, it seems the Grizzlies blew their chance at the series as the underdog. Both Chicago, Memphis and Washington all hosted game fours on their home court. All were up two games to one, and all lost. Most now believe that Cleveland, Golden State and Atlanta respectively, will go on to win the series'. Cleveland took a big step with a game five win at home last night, and Golden State will look to do the same tonight.
On of the main reasons the Warriors were able to pick up the play on Monday night, was the improved play of Stephen Curry. Everyone knew he was not going to go 2-10 or 2-11 from three again, but he also stepped up his leadership. Curry did not attempt a shot in the first eight minutes of game four. He let the game come to him and then proceeded to tear apart the Grizzlies defense scoring 33 points. Curry did it all. He played his game. In game five he must do exactly the same. Not necessarily score 33 points again, but have that same bounce to his step and confident play that has made him so good all season. The energy he has is infectious for this Warriors team, and with the home crowd there to support tonight, Memphis could be in for a long one.
Now, I don't exactly agree with the notion that Memphis is done for good after game four, but its close. If the Grizzlies want a shot they better show up tonight. The team will need something to take back home with them even if they lose this game. I can see Memphis forcing a game seven, and everyone always says anything can happen in a game seven, but come on. More often than not the home team wins a game seven, even if the game is competitive. Especially with the home crowd the bay area has been able to produce all year, I'm picking them in seven.
The Grizzlies could still win this series, but it will have to start tonight. I'm afraid I just can't see them winning these next two games.

Celtics Formula Smarter than 76ers

I think what the Boston Celtics are doing is admirable. Instead of tanking every year as a form of "rebuilding", they have decided to obtain assets. The Celtics have acquired many draft picks over the past couple years, and now are set up to do great things in the future. This team could very well make the playoffs, and maybe even give a team like the Atlanta Hawks a run for their money in the first round. The team is getting better, the coach is showing signs of improvement and the team will have many opportunities in the near future to improve through the draft and free agency. The chances of landing a franchise player in the draft are slim, we have seen many times teams like the Bulls and Cavaliers receive the number one overall pick and were no where near the worst team in the league. There is no point in tanking if the team is good enough to make the playoffs, even in the weak eastern conference. Go for it now, and continue to improve, make your team a more attractive spot for free agents, that's what the Celtics are doing.

NBA Predictions Part II

Executive of the year I believe should be awarded to the Atlanta Hawks front office. I do not believe Danny Ferry should directly receive credit after the infamous email that leaked this past summer. However, the Atlanta Hawks have done an exceptional job putting together a team that holds the best record in the Eastern conference. Much of the team is the same as last year, but there were key acquisitions made to help boost the supporting cast. Players like Kent Bazemore, and the injured Thabo Sefolosha have been instrumental in creating the team atmosphere and chemistry. Credit is due for a team that was just an eight seed last year and considerably below .500.

Predictions for NBA Regular Season Awards

We have about a quarter of the regular season to go, and the battle for title favorite has really heated up. The Golden State Warriors still hold the leagues best record, but the Atlanta Hawks are hanging around along with the Memphis Grizzlies. Teams like Houston and Cleveland are really starting to catch a lot of peoples eyes because of the teams success, along with the elevated superstar play of MVP candidates James Harden and LeBron James. While the recipients of home court advantage are yet to be determined, individual awards are what is the focus today. I will predict, at this point in the season, who I believe will win the individual awards for the NBA regular season.

Kobe's Empty Season

The Lakers picked up just their second win of the early season tonight, defeating the Atlanta Hawks 114-109. Kobe Bryant scored 28 points to lead Los Angeles, maintaining his league leading average of 27.4 points per game. Bryant has been scoring plenty, but has been taking his fair share of shots. With his field goal percentage sitting at a mere 38.9%, Bryant has not been as efficient as one might hope. Being the only offensive threat has something to do with that, and so does the direction of the franchise.

At this point the Lakers are simply coasting through this season knowing they will not win many games, and Kobe is the only attraction. Bryant will fill seats so that fans can watch one of the greatest players of all-time try to put up 60 every night. However, even as he approaches more records in terms of scoring, and climbing the all-time scoring list, something is missing.

Watching the Lakers perform so terribly night in and night out is leaving myself and many others with a sick feeling. The second best shooting guard of all-time should not be going out like this. A man who has always been so driven and so competitive, should not be finishing his career scoring such meaningless baskets.

Kobe scored 44 points the other night in just three quarters. He took 34 shots. Not one of those shots felt at all significant. Bryant for the first time in his career had a completely empty 40 point game. It left me feeling nothing. As a fan of Kobe, and a fan of great basketball, it is truly a shame to have to watch one of the best player of the past 15 plus years fade away into an eventual retirement.

Who knows? Maybe Julius Randle comes back from injury and becomes the next great power forward in this game, and the Lakers draft the next Magic Johnson this summer. But for now I'm afraid the competitive Kobe Bryant teams are behind us, and these empty seasons are whats left for his final years.