Bulls Trade Former MVP Derrick Rose to New York

Trade rumors aren't always true, but in the case of Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks the rumors became fact Wednesday afternoon shortly before 3 p.m. CT. The youngest MVP and hometown hero won't be back in a Bulls uniform and it's no surprise to many as Rose's large contract handicapped the Chicago front office during an unexpected time of mediocrity. It was a deal that had to be done as the Bulls look to rebuild after a disastrous season that left them on the couch during the playoffs, despite playing in the woeful Eastern Conference.

It's 2016 and Derrick Rose is leaving Chicago without a ring and zero trips to the Finals. Who could have ever guessed that five years after becoming the youngest MVP in the history of the Association that this would be the case? Who would have thought back in 2011 that Rose would have more torn ACLs than Finals appearances? You would have been a fool to think Rose wouldn't retire as a Bull back then.

The story had all the makings of a fairytale. Rose dominated for four seasons at Simeon Career Academy in Chicago before playing a year of college basketball at Memphis. He helped carry the Tigers to the NCAA championship game, before entering the NBA Draft. The Bulls had a 1.7% chance of landing the number one pick in the lottery, but the ping pong balls were in Chicago's favor and Derrick Rose was coming home to play pro ball.

Rose averaged 17 points, four rebounds and six assists en route to being named the Rookie of the Year for the 2008-09 season. Two years later, he posted 25 points, four rebounds and eight assists per game to become the youngest MVP in the league. The Bulls, winners of 60 games that season, entered the playoffs as the number one seed in the East. That year marked the start of one of the great rivalries in recent sports history as Chicago battled Miami and its Big 3 of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. In the Eastern Conference Finals, Miami dispatched Chicago in five games and thus began the downward spiral of Rose's career.

Sure, he followed up his MVP campaign with another solid season in 2011-12, but he tore his ACL in the first round of the playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers and the Bulls would go on to lose the series to the eighth seed. With a serious knee injury, many speculated Rose would miss much of the 2012-13 season, but fans and the league were excited for The Return.

Only problem: The Return never happened. Rose didn't suit up despite being cleared by doctors, and it only aggravated the fan base more when the wounded Bulls left it all the floor to defeat the Brooklyn Nets in seven games in the first round of the playoffs. While his teammates limped through a taxing series, Rose watched in his suit from the bench.

Finally, he returned for the 2013-14 season. 10 games into the season it was clear there was some rust to knock off, but Rose put up respectable numbers of 16/3/4 per game. And then it happened again. Rose went down with another torn meniscus against the Portland Trail Blazers, required surgery and missed the remainder of the season.

He came back in 2014-15 and played in 51 games, missing 20 due to another knee surgery for a torn meniscus. Still, he returned in time for the playoffs and buried a game-winning three at the buzzer in the Eastern Conference semifinals to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3. However, the Cavs won the next three games and took the series, as LeBron James slammed the door shut once and for all on the Bulls' championship window. 

Rose played in 66 games this season, but the Bulls looked nothing like they once were under Tom Thibodeau. Chicago limped through the regular season and missed the playoffs, despite a roster with Rose, Jimmy Butler and Pau Gasol. Wednesday marked the end of Rose's run in Chicago.

What a cruel story it seems to be. What had all the makings of a fairytale turned into a nightmare for Rose and Chicago fans as silly remarks were made in the media, tension with the front office mounted and rumors of incoherency in the locker room became weekly fodder for the media. Rose, a hometown hero, was supposed to bring a championship to Chicago. He drew the praise of LeBron James, Scottie Pippen and even Michael Jordan. But his knees failed him, his game changed and the hype faded. 

He is now a 27-year-old former MVP who seems to be past his prime when he should be in the thick of it. He's a point guard that relies on explosive drives to the hoop who has been forced to try and fix a broken jumper to no avail. He's a Chicago kid who no longer plays in Chicago.

It goes to show that not all fairytales have happy endings.

Melo in Chicago? Thanks But No Thanks

The summer of 2014 is going to be one of the best summers maybe in NBA history. Arguably the best draft class (assuming the star-studded freshman class goes "one and done") since 2003 will join the NBA in late June and the free agency market is as star-studded as anyone can remember. Hall of Famers highlight the free agency such as Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade. Yet the one free agent who has drawn just as much intrigue as anyone is current New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony. In the midst of an absolutely awful season, Anthony has been given advice by players who have known what testing the free agency waters is all about. Both Kobe Bryant and LeBron James have offered Melo advice on how to handle the pressure yet neither has made any attempt to recruit the Knicks forward, nor will they.


However, Melo is at the point where he can pick where he wants to go and just about anyone would take him. Yet as the season reaches the midway point and rumors begin to leak more and more, the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls have emerged as the top options for Carmelo with the Bulls seemingly having the edge. When you first hear "Carmelo Anthony" and "Chicago Bulls", the majority of Bulls fans would get excited and hope, wish, and pray that Melo would don the red, white, and black next year. My question to those people would be, quite simply, why?

Melo's need to have the ball in his hands could hurt Chicago

Why would you want Carmelo Anthony in Chicago? Can he score? Absolutely. Can he score efficiently? More often than not he can't. Melo is as one-dimensional as they come and a player like him would never last under Tom Thibodeau. Thibs' expectations and culture are virtually impossible for a lazy and selfish player like Carmelo Anthony to accept and play under. The Bulls play a team game on both sides of the ball and the offensive scheme requires plenty of ball movement with a high-low post game and ball screens. Melo is not a good or willing passer (averaging a mere 3.1 assists per game for his career) and continually slows down the offense in order to play one on one. Again, is he good at it? Yes, arguably the best half-court offensive player in the league. But does that fit the Bulls' game plan? No, and it never will.

Why would you want a guy that's going to take away from a high-powered attack with numerous weapons? Assuming Derrick Rose comes back at full strength and with the incredible development of Jimmy Butler and Joakim Noah, the Bulls have plenty of guys that can be built around and offer great upside on both sides of the ball. What good is all of Jimmy Butler's improvement if he's forced to stand and spectate while Melo does eight jab steps towards his defender only to pull up from 25 feet out? What good is Joakim Noah's ability to get to the hoop from the elbow and finish with both hands if he's stuck watching Carmelo dribble out 16 seconds of the shot clock so he can shoot a contested step-back? Carmelo Anthony would give the offense no sense of flow whatsoever because he has to have the ball in his hands and he fails to make other players around him better.

Thibs' intensity may not sit well with Melo

With Melo's game now being set aside, why would you want a guy with the attitude he has ruining the great chemistry the Bulls have? He didn't have a great relationship with George Karl in Denver, he ran Mike D'Antoni out of New York, and told the Knicks front office not to re-sign Jeremy Lin. The bottom line is, Carmelo Anthony is the epitome of a spoiled and selfish player. He's under the assumption that the front office should cater to him which, to a degree, is not totally wrong because he's the guy that's selling the tickets. But other than that, his relationship with his past coaching staffs and teammates has not been good and if you think he could handle Tom Thibodeau you're out of your mind. Tom Thibodeau is flat out tough. He expects the best every single second of every single practice or game and presents an intensity that few coaches in the NBA can match. You have to be tough to play in Chicago, mentally and physically. Carmelo Anthony has enjoyed playing in New York where it's clear that he is "the guy" and the fans are just happy to have him there because he's entertaining to watch. But if Melo were to come to Chicago could he handle being in the shadows of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah when it comes to leadership? Denver and New York were Melo's teams and it was obvious. Chicago would never be his team to lead and that's not something I imagine Anthony would like to be a part of.

Am I saying Carmelo Anthony is a bad player? No. Am I saying Carmelo Anthony is a bad player for the Bulls to pick up? Yes. The Bulls need to focus their efforts on bringing Nikola Mirotic over from Spain and focusing on the payroll as a whole. They don't have the money for a superstar like Melo nor would he fit with the system. Maybe I could be wrong. Maybe Carmelo Anthony has only been selfish all his career because he's had to be in order for his team to succeed. Maybe he's capable of playing with the concept of a team offense. The only way to tell would be to give him a number seven jersey with "Bulls" across the chest. But as for now, the Bulls have other options they need to explore, options that would better their chances to improve as a team.

10 Worst NBA Postgame Outfits

A few years ago David Stern implemented a dress code for NBA players and the players have run away with it. Let's be real, crazy fashion, if you want to call it that, is nothing new in the NBA. Take a walk down Memory Lane and check out some of Walt Frazier's outfits or even Magic Johnson's. These crazy styles have been around for awhile, but it seems like the past few years it has really taken off. Russell Westbrook has become the poster boy for eccentric outfits, but Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and James Harden never cease to amaze with their get-ups. Here's a look at 10 fashion nightmares from the NBA's stars.

10. Russell Westbrook
Russ rocks a white polo in this picture, but it's not just any white polo. This one has fishing hooks on it. Where you purchase something like this I'm not sure and he might be the only man on the planet with one of these. Not pictured are the bright red pants and, obviously, he has the matching red glasses without any lenses. The fake glasses will be a common theme as we move down the list. Russell Westbrook will also be a common theme.

9. Nick Young
Nick Young may be unknown to just about everyone, but the hardcore NBA fans, but on this night in 2012 he turned heads with this shirt. It looks like the design was inspired from some art down in South America and Young elected to go BeeGees-style on us and leave a few of the buttons undone. To top it all off, he's rocking the sunglasses indoors. I know the lights are bright in a postgame press conference, but apparently they are bright enough to require shades.


8. Kevin Durant
KD patented the backpack in the postgame press conference, but on All-Star weekend he was in rare form. He pulled out the denim vest which is always a risky move and then for an undershirt he wore a black tee with stars on the chest. It kind of looks like the stars were Bedazzled on there and he also has buttons on his vest to spice it up a little bit. Throw in the fake specs and the fedora and it's quite the sight from the Durantula.






7. Amare Stoudemire
What's better than one denim vest? TWO denim vests! Here's Amare Stoudemire modeling one and I'm not sure when this picture was taken, but there's a lot going on here. Not only does he have the vest on, but he's wearing another sleeveless shirt underneath. It's hard to see in the photo, but he has some seriously long beads around his neck. Amare, like Young, also chose to wear sunglasses inside and I don't know if he can see the game that well with them on. The hat tops it all off, but it's not the yarmulke that he wore during the playoffs this season. He also is big on scarves and a Google search will show you those various looks.




6. Tyson Chandler
This wasn't before or after a game, but it cannot be ignored. I don't have a lot to say here except that it's just plain wrong. There's nothing here that says "good fashion" and there's nothing here that makes Chandler look classy. This is a nightmare.







5. Dwyane Wade
I'll admit that D.Wade has pulled off some pretty classy looking outfits, but not this one. This photo is just a few weeks old and it's a suit with polka dots on it. What I can't figure out is whether Wade grabbed his son's pants or if he really meant to have them that short. It's my personal opinion, but I'm not big on guys wearing capris and that's especially true if it's a suit. Wade has experimented with quite a few different fashions such as the fake glasses, suits with basketball shoes, and themed band-aids, but I think it's safe to say that this was a failed experiment right here.


4. Russell Westbrook...again
In this one Russ looks somewhat normal until you get to his pants that barely make it past his knees. And then you see his man-purse thing that he's carrying with him. After that you notice that he's wearing his shades inside and then on top of all that you notice that his shirt and pants are so tight that they might be tattooed on to his body. I have a lot of questions about this outfit, but if I ever got to ask him one I think it would be, what's in the bag??




3. Paul George
Paul George had never made headlines for anything but his play on the court until this year's Eastern Conference Finals. It all changed when he decided to go green. George is rocking the green pants with all-white kicks and the shirt is something else. It has green-paisley design all over it that kind of looks like throw up and  it doesn't quite match the green on George's pants. However, are we really going to tell the guy to stop wearing what he wants when he is putting on a show against LeBron & Company? I don't think so.




2. LeBron James
Bron keeps it pretty classy most of the time, but this sweater is too loud to ignore. The red is extra bright so that's already enough to turn heads, but then you notice the design on it and then you're puzzled. Again, not sure where he got this one, but it's wild. It's kind of got a beach-feel to it and I suppose that's appropriate since he's down in Miami, but I would hope he doesn't pull this one out of the closet again.


1. Russell Westbrook...one more time
Russ out-did himself with this outfit from earlier this season. The skin-tight capris were one thing. The fishing shirt was a little crazy. However, this outfit tops them all. Westbrook looks like a girl with this cutoff sweater on and those glasses. The chain around his neck is large and if the medallion part was any bigger then Flavor Flav would accuse him of theft. The glasses are clear and that doesn't help the feminine-look of this outfit. So in short, what did we learn from all this? Russell Westbrook has the wildest style when it comes to NBA ballers in the game today. There's not a whole lot of competition either.

BONUS: Anything worn by Craig Sager

ESPN's Reporting Continues to Falter

As an aspiring sports journalist/broadcaster it once was my dream to work at ESPN. While I still watch the various ESPN stations and enjoy some of the programming, it is my view that the business has gone downhill. No longer is ESPN an unbiased sports news station. Instead it centers around it's favorite teams and leagues. Rather than reporting on stories and issues, the various shows that ESPN airs would rather debate about the topic in an almost-uncivilized manner. It's all too much. It's not good reporting or journalism and it has brought ESPN's credibility down. Below are my observations.

There's an ESPN favorites club
If you're in the ESPN favorites club then life is sweet. If you're not then forget about being covered. For example, if LeBron James changes his shoes at halftime of tonight's game then I'm sure even that will be covered by Sportscenter tomorrow morning. However, if Indiana's Paul George records a double-double in the series clincher against the Knicks then it will register as just a blip on the radar. Why is that? Well it's obvious. Carmelo Anthony is a member of the Knicks and a member of the ESPN favorites club. When the Pacers defeat the Knicks that is not a story. The story is that Carmelo didn't get it done for the Knicks. Same story with the Heat. Instead of asking, how did the Bulls win, they ask, how did LeBron let the Heat lose?

Brett Favre might be the president of the ESPN favorites club. Remember his multiple retirement saga? ESPN followed him around like it was some kind of reality show. If Favre was caught throwing passes at a local high school then it was the top story. Meanwhile, the quarterbacks who were actually on teams at the time were getting zero press.

ESPN has there favorite teams too. The Cowboys and the Jets are always going to be top stories when it comes to the NFL. If it's the NBA then it's the Heat or the Lakers. Never mind that LA was ousted by the Spurs almost two weeks ago; ESPN still discusses the future of the Lakers despite all the other playoff series still going on. The Yankees are always going to be covered when talking MLB and the NHL hardly exists to ESPN. They have their favorite teams and players and those are the ones that will receive the coverage.

The sports world revolves around the NFL
ESPN has plenty of different shows that air on a daily basis, but there is an obvious favorite among the major pro sports. The NFL has almost five shows that air during a week and all of them cover the same topics. In contrast, the MLB has Baseball Tonight, the NBA has Fastbreak and the NHL has nothing. It is the middle of May and there is still NFL Live, NFL 32 and NFL Insiders airing on a daily basis. Why do we need that much NFL coverage? I couldn't tell you because Sportscenter also feels the need to use much of their program to cover pro football.

It's not fair at all because the reality is that most fans' only avenue to sports news on television is ESPN. That means that all they hear about is football. But you know what ESPN can't figure out? They will be the ones to comment on how hockey seems to be lacking attention, lacking fans and lacking interest in the United States. They fail to realize that their lack of coverage on the sport is part of the problem.

Right now I should turn on ESPN and see plenty of coverage on the NBA and NHL playoffs to lead off. Following that there should be coverage of last night's MLB games and then lastly there should be news from the NFL. The NFL is irrelevant right now because it's out of season, but someone forgot to inform ESPN about that.

A story isn't worth reporting if ESPN can't argue and debate it
Here's the perfect example on this new-found phenomenon at ESPN of always debating stories. When Jason Collins came out as the first openly gay athlete in American pro sports, it was a huge day for the LGBT community. It was a monumental moment and no one can argue that fact. Whether you support gay rights or not, this was a story worth reporting because it signals a change that is imminent in our professional leagues. Sports Illustrated reported on the story and did a magnificent job of letting Collins tell his story. That's it. Just tell his story.

Smith has become the poster child for the Debate Era

ESPN couldn't merely tell his story. Instead, the found a way to twist what should have been an informative story into a raging debate. LZ Granderson, an openly gay journalist for ESPN, and Chris Broussard, a Christian reporter on the NBA for ESPN, both appeared on ESPN's Outside the Lines just hours after Collins' announcement. What happened on the show was disgraceful and should not have happened. Broussard was asked several questions and basically baited into sharing his personal views on homosexuality. I'm fine with Broussard's opinion and I'm fine with Granderson's, but I have a problem with debating whether homosexuality is okay or not on a show that shouldn't be used as a platform for that.

I used to like watching ESPN First Take, but I no longer watch it because I cannot stand to listen to Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless yell at each other about every topic put in front of them. There is room for debate in sports journalism, there is no doubt about that. Pardon the Interruption has found the happy medium between debating and discussing. First Take would rather yell their way through the show and that is not enjoyable at all. Sometimes a story is just made to to be reported, not to be debated.

These are three of the biggest faults ESPN commits and it has hurt the television shows, their reporting and their entire programming in general. I sometimes wonder what direction ESPN is headed in because, in the day and age of reality television, it really seems like that's the direction that ESPN wants to go. They are not worried about giving equal coverage to all leagues and teams, but they would rather focus on the teams and leagues that they find most exciting. That's not good reporting.

ESPN is highly-regarded as the best option for sports reporting. If we really do consider them the best then it's time they be held accountable.

2013 Eastern Conference Playoff Preview

Out West there is some argument as to who will emerge the victor. In the East it's quite a different story. The New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony have been a great story this season. The Indiana Pacers seem to have returned to the success of the '90's. The Brooklyn Nets went through a re-branding process and then turned in a top four finish in the conference. The Chicago Bulls played admirably all season long with their MVP sitting on the sidelines. Obviously, there are plenty of great story lines in the East, but those will be put to bed in due time. It's the Miami Heat's world when it comes to the NBA and LeBron, DWade and the Gang only reinforced that thinking with a 66-16 record. Any man with a brain would have to consider the Heat the favorite to win the title again, but these playoffs should give fans some great series. Let's take a look at the Eastern Conference first round match ups.

1. Miami Heat vs. 8. Milwaukee Bucks
Saying Heat vs. Bucks is synonymous with saying David vs. Goliath. Unlike the original story though, Goliath will win this series with ease. The Heat are better than the Bucks in every way and this should be a sweep if Miami means business from the opening tip. Miami was 2-1 versus Milwaukee in the regular season and the Bucks may steal a game at home. However, Miami was built for the playoffs and they have looked brilliant this season and have shown no signs of weakness. LeBron James is an MVP and Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have done their jobs as well. For Bucks fans, enjoy watching Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis because it is likely the last time they will suit up together in Milwaukee. Prediction: Miami in 4
How They Stack Up
                  Points                          Rebounds                            Assists                              Points Allowed
Miami            102.9                              38.6                                    23.0                                     95.0
Milwaukee      98.9                               44.0                                   22.9                                    100.4

2. New York Knicks vs. 7. Boston Celtics
Is this an exciting series or what? New York is led by Carmelo Anthony who captured his first scoring title this season while Boston is led by veterans, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. When Rajon Rondo injured his knee midway through the season many thought the Celtics were done, but here they are. They may be the seven seed, but they are dangerous. The question is, can the older players endure a long, tough series and stay healthy? Garnett, Pierce and Jason Terry have all been banged up, but when healthy Boston is a title contender. The other key to the series for the C's is Jeff Green. They will need his offense, but more importantly his defense on Anthony. New York is hoping to get past the first round and anything less will make the season failure. That's something the Knicks don't need, nor does Carmelo. However, count on the experience of Boston if they are healthy. The championship window isn't closed just yet. Prediction: Boston in 7 
How They Stack Up

                  Points                          Rebounds                              Assists                            Points Allowed
New York       100.0                              40.6                                    19.3                                     95.7
Boston            96.5                              39.3                                    22.8                                     96.7

3. Indiana Pacers vs. 6. Atlanta Hawks
Pacers fans endured some hard years after the Malice in the Palace, but Indiana is back and they look very good. Full of budding stars, the Pacers have to be breathing a sigh of relief for not drawing the Bulls or the Celtics in the first round. Both teams would be a harder match up than Atlanta because, if history tells us anything, the Hawks are the kings of mediocrity. Count on them to be in the playoffs, but count on them to not win anything. This year should be no different. Indiana is far too difficult of a match up because of their size and athleticism. Jeff Teague versus George Hill should be a phenomenal point guard duel between two rising stars, but the key is Indiana's Paul George. The All-Star will probably be guarded by several different Hawks, but he should be able to score on anybody. Even if ATL decided to put Josh Smith on him that will give David West a mismatch. Bottom line: match ups aren't in the Hawks favor. Prediction: Indiana in 5
How They Stack Up

                  Points                          Rebounds                              Assists                            Points Allowed
Indiana            94.7                              45.9                                    20.3                                     90.7
Atlanta            98.0                              40.9                                    24.5                                     97.5

4. Brooklyn Nets vs. 5. Chicago Bulls
This could be a great series, but as with most of the Bulls' season it will be about who isn't on the floor rather than who is. Derrick Rose most likely isn't going to suit for Chicago and so the Bulls will have to get the job done without him like they have all year long. They have to be healthy though if they are to win. Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson have been banged up lately, and both players' status is uncertain. Luol Deng has shouldered the load for Chicago this season, but will he run out of gas? He averaged 38 minutes per contest this season and that could catch up to him. For Brooklyn, they have enjoyed a healthy Deron Williams this season and he is playing great basketball. If Noah is out then look for Brook Lopez to dominate. However, if Chicago is healthy then they get the slight edge in this series. Prediction: Chicago in 6
How They Stack Up

                  Points                          Rebounds                              Assists                            Points Allowed
Brooklyn         96.9                              42.8                                    20.3                                     95.1
Chicago          93.2                              43.2                                    23.0                                     92.9
   

Scoring Title First of Few Individual Awards for Melo

Before I get into this topic, I would like to yet again say that my thoughts and prayers are still with those in Boston and those who were affected by the life-changing incident this past Monday. My last blog covered a little bit about how the marathon affected the nation and the sports we all love and in no way, shape, or form are we all ready to return to normalcy. The images we saw on the news still stick in our minds and we grieve for those who are hurt. With that being said, I wish to discuss the latest news that Carmelo Anthony has won his first scoring title.

Melo has been all smiles all season, and deservedly so.

It was announced this morning that Kevin Durant would not play in the Thunder's final game, leaving him what would have had to have been a 70-point performance away from his fourth straight scoring title. Carmelo Anthony absolutely dominated the month of April and averaged 36 points per game since the first of the month, and that's no April Fool's joke. In a word, Melo was absolutely dominant this year. It didn't matter how you guarded him, who guarded him, or where you guarded him. The bottom line was that Melo had a Hall of Fame season and will gladly accept the first scoring title to be presented to a New York Knick since Bernard King in the 1984-1985 season.While shooting his way to the league's best 29 points per game accompanied by an impressive 45% field goal percentage, Carmelo Anthony will make his way into Knicks history with this incredible season.

But what about Melo's career as a whole? Is it really that admirable? Sure he's a six-time All-Star and Olympic Gold Medalist, but has Carmelo Anthony's career really been that extraordinary? If you look at the statistics, his career is definitely above average, but he hasn't done anything that will make future generations remember him for.

The road to Melo's first Finals appearance runs through Miami.

So what makes Melo worth remembering? It certainly won't be his 33% three point percentage, nor is it his three assists per game. Melo's teams have also been a non-factor in the playoffs with Melo only seeing second round play once in ten years. While with the Nuggets, Melo only won the Northwestern Division three times out of his eight seasons in the Mile High City. Needless to say he never won the conference championship and never even sniffed the Finals.

That carries right over to the City that Never Sleeps when he joined the Knicks in 2011. This year was the first year Melo's team won a division title and they boast the two seed in the East. With the playoffs looming, this brings us to Carmelo's playoff statistics. Essentially, Melo's statistics don't differ from his regular season averages which you could say is good because that means he doesn't disappear. On the other side of that, however, it doesn't appear that he elevates his game either. Players like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Derrick Rose all have seen an increase in the point production when it comes time to chase a title, Melo has not.

With the postseason comes postseason awards which Melo has basically been nonexistent, he has been named to the All-NBA team five times: once to the second team and four times to the third team. He has never been an MVP finalist until possibly this year and as a whole his name just simply hasn't been in discussion for postseason awards. We won't even get into defensive awards because Melo doesn't exactly overexert himself on the defensive end. All in all, Melo will be a player people look back on and remember but my guess is very few people will say "Man I wish I could go back and watch Carmelo Anthony play." He's a top ten player of the generation but not one that will be as big of a name down the road if his career continues down the road it's going. No disrespect to the phenomenal half-court offensive player that Carmelo Anthony clearly and honestly is, but the hype is backed up by very, very few accolades.

Carmelo Finally Cracks Under Garnett's Pressure

Carmelo Anthony has erupted this season and is playing his best ball yet. The man is a serious MVP candidate averaging 29 points per game to go along with 6 rebounds and 2 assists. His play this year has been nothing short of extraordinary. Lately in the media, though, Melo has been drawing attention for negative reasons.

It started with Kevin Garnett trash-talking Melo into oblivion last week when the Celtics visited the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. KG, as only KG could, finally said the magic words to Anthony and the two had to be seperated not only on the court, but after the game as well. Melo took it upon himself to go to where the Celtics would be loading the bus and wait for Garnett. Are you serious? Every sports analyst I listened to after that incident reiterated the point that "it stays on the court". I believe those analysts are right. Why on earth would you think it a good idea to try to confront a guy outside of the basketball court, especially Kevin Garnett who you know his only goal is to get you to lose focus on the game. That's absolutely childish.

So we discovered that Melo can't handle trash talk. Then why after the Knicks third loss to the Chicago Bulls was he running his mouth about Luol Deng and the Bulls in general? Luol Deng had one of his best games of the season and dropped 33 points on Carmelo Anthony. Yet after the game Melo said he "didn't think Deng did anything". Excuse me? He also said that he wasn't worried about the Bulls at all. I would be worried, they clearly had your number the three times they played you. Why after you just threw a fit about being trash talked would you go do something silly like talk down an athlete that has done nothing personal to you?

I'd like to think that the bad week for Melo stopped after those comments but I would be incorrect. News came out today that the Knicks organization placed microphones at either end of the court in order to listen in on the talk that went on between the players during the game. The decision to do so was in order to "protect Anthony". Now we're going to babysit a 28 year old man? What happens if the Knicks find out that in some way Carmelo is instigating the trash talk. How do you plan to protect him then? This whole situation has gone much too far all because Melo let Garnett get in his head. I'm sure Garnett was being nasty with his talk, that's how he is. But Carmelo should know that and have thick skin. He's one of the best players in the league, his play should do enough talking for him, especially this year.

This past week has really shown Melo in a negative light. Everybody already knew he couldn't be tough on defense, but his mental toughness had never really been challenged. Garnett took it upon himself to see just how mentally tough Melo is and well, we know how that worked out. Melo's a great offensive player and a guy that kids look up to. I'd like to see him stop and think before he acts or speaks because he doesn't need to miss any more games to suspension with the Knicks looking like title-contenders. Just shut your mouth and play, Melo.

Injuries Highlighting NBA Playoffs

A year that definitely had its fair share of action has suddenly turned into a contest. Not a contest to see who hoists the Larry O’Brien trophy, but a contest to see who can be the last man standing…literally. Injuries have plagued quite a few, if not every team that is in the playoffs. Some players have been able to come back, while others have sadly exited the season for good and will most likely not be back next season either. There have been freak accidents, as there always are, but you also have to wonder if the condensed schedule doesn’t somehow contribute to all these casualties. Playing five games in one week (with every team having to fight through a stretch of three games in three nights) can definitely take a toll on anybody regardless of age or stamina. The playoffs were looking bright at the beginning, but here’s a look at the injuries that have slowly brought down the teams that have a goal to win it all.


Derrick Rose: Easily the biggest story of the playoffs so far. The 23 year-old phenom suffered a torn ACL in the first game against the Sixers and is expected to be out at least six to nine months. Rose’s left knee buckled awkwardly on a jump stop late in the fourth quarter, sending the point guard to the ground, grimacing in pain. Some say that the Bulls will lose in the first round without Rose, others say they’ll advance to the second round only to fall to either the Hawks or Celtics. If you ask me, the Bulls have every bit of a chance to make it back to the Eastern Conference Finals. They have proved time and time again that they can win without Derrick Rose and, with the depth they have, they have more than enough players that can step up. Don’t count the Bulls out yet.

Iman Shumpert: A kid that was only really a name because of his withdrawal from the dunk contest has suddenly become a big part of the Knicks late-season run. Yet all of that came crashing down when Shumpert crumpled to the floor with, you guessed it, a torn ACL. One of the best perimeter defenders in the league will not be making an appearance for the rest of the playoffs and will be confined to the seat next to the Knicks other injured point guard Jeremy Lin. The Knicks are in deep trouble being down 0-2 and will miss Shumpert’s ability to defend. Yet with the perk of heading back to the Garden for the next three games, hopes can be high for New York fans seeing as the Heat are not a very good team on the road. None the less, it does nothing but dampen the spirit in the locker room to see two promising young players who can do nothing but watch.

Caron Butler: He’s been around the league for quite some time, but has never been a big-time name. Yet the loss of Caron Butler is one that stings just as much as any other injury. With a broken hand, the Clippers lose a reliable shooting guard who contributed twelve points a game. And with the young talent they have, Butler was able to play a leadership role on the floor. He’s not the first Clipper to be sidelined since Chauncey Billups is battling an achilles injury, but with two of the most experienced players unavailable, it’s up to Chris Paul to really take the weight on his shoulders and lead this team.

Amar’e Stoudemire: Now you can call the previous injuries freak accidents and strokes of bad luck, but Amar’e Stoudemire’s actions last night prove to be that of ignorance and instinct. After losing another battle to the Heat, Stoudemire took his anger out on the glass fire extinguisher case in the locker room. Giving the glass window a solid punch, the 29 year-old power forward lacerated his hand, resulting in a call to the paramedics as well as a hefty amount of stitches. I can understand the anger he was feeling, I’ve been there myself so I would not be justified to rip the guy for what he did. All I will say is that, when the frustration is at its peak, that’s the time to be a leader. Don’t allow your teammates to see you act in that manner. Again, I’m not saying it’s bad to be that upset because I think it shows how much he wants to win and how much he cares. But all the same, stop and think about the repercussions.

The lockout made the summer very tough on everyone involved with the NBA. Players came back out of shape, coaches couldn’t stay in contact with players, and fans were continually kept waiting to see the next “Breaking News” on SportsCenter. Yet here we are, on the first of May, and the playoffs are well underway. It’s sad to see how the fatigue has begun to catch up with some of the players, especially with the four listed above. But let’s not forget some of the injuries that I didn’t go into detail on such as LaMarcus Aldridge, Ray Allen, Brandon Roy, Al Horford, Dwight Howard, Manu Ginobli, Kobe Bryant, Rip Hamilton, Carmelo Anthony, Ricky Rubio, Stephen Curry, and so on. I know that I left out some names, but you understand the wear and tear these athletes have suffered. It’s been a rough season for everybody, but we can now appreciate in depth just how tough these teams have to be mentally and physically.

NBA Eastern Conference Preview

There was a period of time when the Eastern Conference was an afterthought in the NBA and perhaps that period isn't over quite yet. Since the Chicago Bulls dynasty ended the East has only won three of the 13 Finals and has lost the last three. However, the conference keeps getting stronger and 2011-12 will be the second year Miami's Big 3 are together, Derrick Rose and the Bulls have playoff experience and the Knicks are hoping Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire can stay healthy the entire year. Questions are all around in the East though, as many are wondering if this is the last year we will see Deron Williams in a Nets uniform and everyone wants to know where Dwight Howard will be playing by the time the season ends. Los Angeles? New Jersey? Chicago? Dallas? The possibilities seem endless but for now it appears he will don a Magic jersey this season. Here is a quick look around the East with teams and players to watch along with predicted order of finish:



Rip Hamilton and Derrick Rose



Predicted Order of Finish

1. Miami Heat  

2. Chicago Bulls

3. Boston Celtics

4. Orlando Magic

5. New York Knicks

6. Atlanta Hawks

7. Indiana Pacers

8. Milwaukee Bucks
9. Philadelphia 76ers
10. Charlotte Bobcats
11. Washington Wizards
12. Toronto Raptors
13. Detroit Pistons
14. Cleveland Cavaliers
15. New Jersey Nets

Teams to Watch


The Big 3 in South Beach



Miami Heat: Everyone knows of the Big 3 and last year they certainly needed time to adjust to each other. Their slow start along with their inability to defeat Chicago prevented them from finishing first in the regular season. However, Miami looked unbeatable in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Bulls yet couldn't figure out how to win against Dallas in the Finals. LeBron's fourth quarter woes have been talked about over and over, but some of the blame rests on Dwyane Wade's shoulders. Going into Year Two of this experiment, Miami has to figure out whose team this is. Who gets the ball in late game situations? In the Finals Wade and James passed the ball back and forth like a hot potato, neither of them taking the big shot. Once that problem is solved, watch out. Chris Bosh should be more comfortable in his role this season and the Heat also added a defensive stopper/3-point threat in Shane Battier. He and a healthy Mike Miller will stretch opposing defenses.

Chicago Bulls: Last year's 62-20 record may have been a surprise to some, especially when we look at how much Derrick Rose had to do for the team to succeed. This year the Bulls could be even better due to the signing of Richard Hamilton. Although Rip is older, he is still a knockdown shooter who moves well without the ball. He will attract a defender on every play, sometimes two. That will give Rose more freedom with another scorer on the floor. So, while Rose's scoring may dip, expect his assists to be on the rise. Ronnie Brewer is another Bull whose production should increase. Brewer's mid-range jumper looked solid in two preseason games and coaches have lauded his play in the shortened training camp. Essential to Chicago's success will be a healthy Carlos Boozer. The big-name signing from a year ago will have to give the Bulls more over the course of the season.



Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony



New York Knicks: The Knickerbockers are an interesting team from the standpoint that they have two superstars but not a great supporting cast. The signing of Tyson Chandler was huge because he will run the floor and play defense, but doesn't need to score to be happy. Amare Stoudemire will handle most of the post scoring and Carmelo Anthony will complete a frontline that is one of the better ones in the league. If Stoudemire and Melo stay healthy then the Knicks can make some noise, but as we saw in the playoffs last season, when one goes down the Knicks are going no where. The backcourt is a question mark for New York. The signings of Baron Davis and Mike Bibby would have been great if this was 2002 but it's 2011 and those two are old and their stars don't shine as bright anymore.

Indiana Pacers: This is my number one team to keep an eye on. The young Pacers finished 8th in the East last season and were highly-competitive with the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. They had a great offseason, signing David West and trading for George Hill and they have a big lineup with West, Danny Granger, Paul George, Tyler Hansbrough and Roy Hibbert. For the Pacers to become successful they need Granger to become their go-to-guy. He has to become and all-around player and be the star this team needs. Indiana has the point guards in Darren Collison and Hill to get him the ball. Inside, the Pacers depth is key and this young team may be ready to reestablish itself as a perennail playoff team like they were in the 1990's.

Players to Watch
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls: Obviously all eyes will be on Rose after his magnificent MVP season last year. As stated above, Rose's scoring may not be as high this year, but hopefully that's because it doesn't need to be. The addition of Rip Hamilton and a healthy Carlos Boozer will mean DRose can be more of a point guard and facilitate for his teammates. Defenses will be aimed at stopping Rose, but so far not many have been successful.

Dwight Howard

Chris Bosh, Miami Heat: The forgotten man of Miami's Big 3, Chris Bosh should have a great year in South Beach. Last year was an adjustment for him as he wasn't the featured player any more and he didn't know what his role was on the team. All of that is figured out now and Bosh can go back to being the 20 and 10 guy that he is. While LeBron and DWade steal all the spotlight, it's hard to deny that Bosh's performance is the key to a Miami title run.

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic: With so many distractions how will Dwight Howard play this season? They can say they aren't going to talk about where he will end up playing, but the reality is that it will come up everyday. Fans of other teams will try to woo Howard to their team and the media will constantly be debating whether he will wind up in LA or stay in Orlando. This could have an effect on his play, as well as his team's.

Eastern Conference Rookies to Watch
Kyrie Irving, point guard, Cleveland Cavaliers (1st pick)
Tristan Thompson, power forward, Cleveland Cavaliers (4th pick)
Kemba Walker, point guard, Charlotte Bobcats (9th pick)

The East is very top heavy with the top four teams head and shoulders above the rest. However, many teams are trying to become contenders and in a shortened season like this, depth on the roster will help a lot. Expect the Bulls and the Heat to square off for the Eastern Conference title again and don't be surprised if the Boston Celtics go through a rough stretch due to age. Their championship window is closing and this may be one of the last years they have a legitimate shot with this group of players. Please comment with your opinions! Western Conference Preview coming soon!

NBA Eastern Conference Playoff Preview

Well, it appeared the Boston Celtics threw in the white towel last night and gave the Big 4 the night off and the subs promptly lost in overtime to the lowly Washington Wizards. With that loss, and Miami's win over the Atlanta Hawks, the playoffs are now set in the Eastern Conference. Like I said yesterday, this year's playoffs are going to very hyped up and rightfully so. There are four or five contenders in the East and many questions that will be answered in the coming weeks. The Chicago Bulls have won 60 games to date and are the top seed while the Heat are second and Boston is third. Many would say one of those three teams will represent the East in the Finals but watch out for the Orlando Magic and maybe even the New York Knicks. I've broken down each first round matchup and predicted the winners starting with the Bulls vs. Pacers so let's take a look...

1. Chicago Bulls vs. 8. Indiana Pacers

Could this be the start of another Chicago Bulls dynasty? It very well could be with the defense the Bulls have under rookie head coach, Tom Thibodeau. There's also that fella named Derrick Rose who has become one of the game's best players and should receive the MVP honors this year. Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah are a great tandem in the post with Boozer providing the scoring and Noah grabbing boards and bringing energy. Luol Deng is not talked about much but he has had a great season and will be counted on this postseason to take the pressure off Rose. The Bulls bench has also been very effective this season and they will need to be ready in the first round because the Pacers are always putting fresh bodies out on the floor. As many as 12 players see good time game in-game out for Indiana but they need Darren Collison and Roy Hibbert to come up huge if they hope for a first round upset. Locking down Rose is impossible but slowing him up would be huge for this young Pacers bunch. Don't expect an upset but don't be surprised if the Pacers steal one from the Bulls in Indianapolis. Prediction: Bulls in 5

4. Orlando Magic vs. 5. Atlanta Hawks

If big, bad Dwight Howard can keep himself from getting suspended because of technical fouls then the Magic should win this series for the second year in a row. However, the Hawks did win three out of four in the regular season so maybe there is some substance to that. Atlanta has five players who average double figures with Joe Johnson leading the way at 18.5 per game. What the Hawks need is for Al Horford to play great and Zaza Pachulia to be the irritant he is and get inside Howard's head. Jameer Nelson is always steady at point guard and Atlanta's Jeff Teague is faced with the task of stopping him. Teague has started a handful of games since Mike Bibby's departure and the playoffs could be a something of a coming out party for him. Kirk Hinrich has playoff experience with the Bulls and is reliable. This series is hard to predict but I'm going to guess that Dwight Howard can go seven games without being a cry baby and take the Magic to the second round. Prediction: Magic in 7

3. Boston Celtics vs. 6. New York Knicks

This so called "rivalry" has supposedly heated up this year but until now that was a lie. Now that the two teams are meeting in the playoffs things probably will heat up and we should be treated to a great series. If the Celtics hadn't made the idiotic move of trading Kendrick Perkins then I would say Boston would win easy but that's not the case anymore. If you're looking for an upset special this could be it. The Knicks can score in bunches and the Celtics seem very vulnerable right now. They haven't been the same team since the trade and they seem to have lost their edge. By no means am I saying the Knicks are a great team, but they are capable of winning this series. Carmelo Anthony is the best closer in the game right now and that means better than Kobe for all you Laker fans. He and Amare came to New York for a reason and, while they are a few years away from the ultimate destination, they can take the first step this season. For the Celtics it's championship or bust. Prediction: Knicks in 7

2. Miami Heat vs. 7. Philadelphia 76ers

We all remember that little pow-wow the Heat had at the beginning of the season when LeBron made the claim that they would win something like 11 NBA championships together. It seemed silly then and it seems silly now. Miami won't win more than four championships and they won't win this season. That said, they won't have a problem in the first round against the 76ers. With LeBron and Dwyane Wade, the Heat have two of the best finishers in the game and that's what a team needs to advance in the playoffs. Message to Erik Spoelstra: give Wade the ball for the last shot if it's needed!!! LeBron has been awful and lost his chance!! Okay, back on topic, Chris Bosh needs to play like an All-Star in the postseason for the Heat to advance far. For the Sixers, they are a young team with a veteran coach and they have a nice story this year but they don't have a chance to beat the Heat. Kudos to Doug Collins and staff but Miami will be moving on easily in this series. Prediction: Heat in 4

If those predictions hold true I would then pick the Bulls and the Heat to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals and the Bulls would win to advance to the Finals. With a potential lockout looming, make sure to watch as much playoff basketball as possible because who knows when we will see it again. The East has made a comeback and now has several solid teams and is filled with superstars. That's a change from the past and these playoffs are where the conference can really showcase that. Four of the top candidates for MVP will be playing in the East and should all advance to the second round. Stay tuned in the coming days for the Western Conference preview once that bracket is set.