73 is Possible

Now that the dust (I mean hate) has mostly settled on the Heat getting LeBron James people in the media are realizing how sick this team is gonna be. A lot has been said about egos, low post defense, final shot and other possible downfalls of this team. So I'm here to dispel or debate (which is what this blog is all about) how the 2010-2011 Miami Heat will overcome it all.

vs. EGO

I'm sorry but very few people seem to realize that these guys are actually friends and are really cool with each other. I think they'd know better than anyone how they will interact with each other having played with each other on All-Star and Olympic teams. Even though LeBron's "Decision" made him look like an ego-maniac I think he'll be cool with sharing the spotlight, he is a very team oriented guy (why else would he let the Big Z puppet in on his commercial, joke) he had to know that some of his teammates in the past were just not as talented as he was but he still made the right basketball play (this will be a theme) and actually passed them the ball, something guys like Kobe Bryant just aren't crazy about. Dwyane Wade is also a willing passer and he already took a back seat to Shaq with no fuss, something that Penny Hardaway and Kobe couldn't do. The only question mark would be Chris Bosh but he seems like a guy that is just happy to be out of the T Dot.

vs. Interior Defense/Teams with Size

This seems to be what a lot of pundits keep harping on, I don't think it'll be that much of a problem. Bosh isn't known for his D but if he's giving up 20 and 10, he's giving 20 and 10 right back so that's a wash against other top power forwards in the league. Udonis Haslem on the other hand is a very good defender even though he's undersized, so guys like Carlos Boozer for example won't be getting off when he goes up against the Heat. If the Heat put out a line-up of say Bosh, Haslem, Miller, Wade and James that's a lot of length (pause), and will give any team trouble with all those guys being good on the boards, thus making second chance points for the opposition almost non-existent. If this were the mid 90's and David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing and a young Shaquille O'Neal were around it might be an issue but no centers in today's league demand a double-team. Dwight Howard should be that guy but his best post move is a running hook, which is effective but if you make him shoot that, it's a win for your defense he's not prolific with it like Kareem yet. Yao Ming is the only center that would torch them but he'll only play like 40 games this season so it's not an issue.

vs. 4th Quarter/Final Shot

This issue pisses me off the most, how many of you out there really think this team is gonna have any close games? Really?!?!?! These guys won't be logging heavy minutes and most of these games will be done by the end of the 3rd quarter. LeBron was dancing on the sidelines in the 4th with the Cavs for crying out loud. If and when the final shot ever becomes an issue I think the Reilly puppet/lottery winner/luckiest coach ever, I mean Eric Spoelstra will put the ball in James or Wade's hand and they will make the right basketball play. Whether that be driving and kicking it to the open man or finishing it solo. Some players are glory hogs and would love to take a step back with 2 defenders in their face (e.g. Jamal Crawford, Kobe, etc.) but I think these guys have been there, done that, and are really focused.

vs. Injury

This is a very real possibility, especially with Wade on the team, but he's been pretty durable these past 2 seasons. Having said that he won't feel the need to attack the basket as much on the offensive end and won't be logging as many minutes. Freak injuries do happen so you can't rule this out, and I do expect some thuggery/hate so these guys might take some hard falls. So barring injury this team should be just fine.

This Miami Heat team will be on a mission from day 1 of training camp. They hear all the hate and want to prove a point especially LeBron, who still does want to be considered the G.O.A.T. despite people saying he doesn't have the heart for it. When Michael Jordan's Bulls got 72 the league was much weaker than it is now, but I think this team can at least flirt with 73.

Whatup Cuz

Thank the heavens (or just whoever's idea it was in the league office) for the NBA Summer League being on NBATV. These are definitely the dog days of summer and we are lucky to get our hoops fix with what's going on in Vegas.

As I watched the game tonight I saw a future star, maybe even a transcendent player in DeMarcus Cousins. The media would have you believe he's crazy and undisiplined, which he very well might be but he is a hell of a player. He's like Chris Webber 2.0. He can handle, shoot with range, board at a high rate and the best thing about his game is his court vision/passing ability. In other words he's a franchise player. I don't see what there is not to like, and he may well be considered the BEST player from the 2010 Draft when it's all said and done (mainly because he's a big). I was unsure at first, I just thought he was beating up on mediocre competition in the SEC, but I always did see the talent.

He should for all intents and purposes be the best Center in the league in 5 years, maybe sooner. I hope to spark discussion with that last statement from the Dwight Howard fans out there. Cousins is WAY more skillful than Dwight was at the same age, so natural progression and hard work (which is the only unknown about Cousins), should put him as the premier center in the L very soon. Howard only trumps Cousins on the defensive end, and in rebounding acumen slightly (I know I'm getting ahead of myself seeing as Cousins has yet to play a meaningful NBA game).

This Kings team will be fun to watch for the next few years until Tyreke and DeMarcus do their Kobe/ Shaq thing which is inevitable.

"Allow me to re-introduce myself..."

Actually I'm introducing myself.

In lue of all the the nonsense I've been hearing lately I have decided to create something for people of my ilk. My ilk being die-hard knowledgeable basketball fans. I ain't die-hard for a team (not that there is anything wrong with that e.g. Cavs fans), I'm die-hard for the beautiful game of basketball. I played, I coached, I watch. Having said that, some of these so-called experts we listen to on the radio and watch on TV don't know shit or they just have an agenda when it comes to certain players and/or teams. The purpose of this blog will be to have open discussion and just rant about basketball (mainly NBA, but some international, collegiate, and high school will be thrown in as well, sorry no WNBA).

I love this game and don't like seeing it misrepresented to the public in a dumbed down fashion. So if you like hoops read my shit, leave comments, start a debate, argue, hate on me (or players or teams), whatever let's just talk hoops.