Rose Continues to Sit as Bulls Struggle

While his teammates struggle, Rose continues to watch at the end of the bench

The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Chicago Bulls last night to make the series 3-3 with Game 7 due up Saturday night. The Bulls are battered and bruised, sick and hurt, but that didn't mean they went down without a fight. It was a valiant effort from a team without All-Star Luol Deng, steady guard Kirk Hinrich. On top of that, Joakim Noah, Nate Robinson and Taj Gibson were all sick yet fought through that to contribute mightily. At the end of the game, TNT's crew acknowledged the Nets won the game, but the focus was on how tough the Bulls were.

Chicago did fight to the end and it was fun to watch, however, I was more annoyed and angry after the game than I have been in awhile. As not just a Bulls fan, but a sports fan in general, Derrick Rose drew my ire as I watched him sit there in a suit and watch as his sick and hurt teammates failed to close out the series on their home court. I've gone back and forth on the Rose issue and whether or not he should be on the court. I was angry last night so I decided to sleep on it rather than spilling my emotions on this blog post. However, my feelings haven't changed about the matter.

Rose sitting on the bench at this point is a mockery. It's a joke. It's been a full calendar year almost. He's been cleared by doctors, he's practiced, he's warmed up before games, he's got his lateral movement back, he's fine. Do I personally know he's fine? No I don't, but I haven't heard one source say he's not ready to play. Yet there he is at the end of the bench acting as another coach, jumping around in celebration and distracting TNT and ESPN cameras at every dead ball.

Prior to Game 1 of the series Joakim Noah was questionable due to injury, but he still played and said in an interview that he wouldn't miss the game for anything. Last night Nate Robinson was throwing up in a trash can during timeouts, but he said that you have to do what you have to do to win the game sometimes. Both Noah and Hinrich have been playing on one leg basically, but have given the Bulls quality minutes. Robinson was good again last night despite feeling ill. But where's Rose?

Listen, I understand the severity of Rose's injury. I really do. I have friends who have suffered that injury and I know the mental struggle that comes with the rehab process. Here's what I'm saying though: this is Rose's job and this is his obligation. Sometimes you have to go to work when you aren't feeling 100 percent. That's just the way life is. If my parents didn't go to work every day they woke up and weren't quite feeling it then they would be fired.

To make it even more of a joke David Lee played last night. In case you didn't know, Lee tore his hip flexor in Game 1 of the Warriors-Nuggets series and was supposed to be done for the playoffs. He made a surprise comeback last night and helped Golden State close out the series. So let me get this straight. A guy who just tore his hip flexor went out there and played, but Rose can't get out there after almost a calendar year?

Let's stop making excuses for the guy too. The idea that he shouldn't play because this team isn't "built for a championship" is stupid. So what if it's not? It's still his job to be out there on the floor. If this team isn't built for a championship then do we just tell Noah to shut it down and rest up for next year? Should Deng just forget about it and stay in bed? I don't get it.

I know there is a chance that he could re-injure himself, but there will be a chance of that next year as well. Rose owes it to his teammates to get out there and give them 15-25 minutes. As a former athlete I'm not sure how you sit there in a suit and watch your teammate throw up in a trash can during timeouts and not feel guilty. I'm not sure how you watch Noah and Hinrich play through pain and not feel guilty. You have guys leaving it all out there on the floor and you have the star player scared to step foot in between the lines.

Rose's injury was severe and he only 24 years old. It's a risk to play, but it's always going to be a risk to play. Again, that excuse has gotten old. The doctors have cleared him, he's been practicing and his team needs him. That sounds like all the ingredients for a comeback. 

The Bulls backcourt last night was a sick Nate Robinson and rookie Marquis Teague. That sure doesn't sound like playoff material to me. Rose could have helped and he would have helped. It's time to stop talking around this subject. Is he going to play or not? Well I'll tell you what will really set me off. If Rose plays against Miami in the second round (assuming the Bulls win Game 7) I will lose it. There is no difference from last night to next week and he could have helped Chicago end the series quicker.

If I was a teammate of Rose's it would be hard for me to speak with him right now. He doesn't know the struggle and he shouldn't act like he does. At this point it looks like Rose isn't truly invested like we thought. He's never been mentally tough and he's clearly cementing that thought right now. His team needs him, but he isn't going to answer the call. He says he would die for the game and he can't wait to get back out there. Does he really? I'm not seeing it.

The playoffs are winning time. A team needs a full arsenal and the Bulls don't have that right now. Almost the entire roster is doing whatever they can to be on the floor and to help this team win. Then there is one guy who appears to be doing whatever he can to NOT be on the floor. I never thought I would question the MVP Derrick Rose, but I am now. Your team needs you D.Rose. Time to recognize that.

Injury-ridden Postseason Calls for Shorter Schedule

Derrick Rose. Rajon Rondo. Danny Granger. Kobe Bryant. David Lee. Russell Westbrook. What do all of these players have in common? Answer: All of them are sitting out injured while their teams compete in the NBA Playoffs. Yes, the playoffs are definitely in full swing, but something just doesn't seem right. So many of the game's brightest stars are sidelined with injuries that fans have had to watch the likes of Andrew Goudelock and Nazr Mohammed play key roles for their teams. While those stories are nice, the game is not putting the best product on the floor in the most competitive time of the season.

With the news that Russell Westbrook would miss the remainder of the season, the West suddenly became a little bit more open. Now, rather than an obvious Heat-Thunder rematch, the Spurs, Nuggets or Clippers may emerge. That is, if the Nuggets can first get past the Warriors who have injury troubles of their own. David Lee tore his hip flexor after Game 1, but Golden State has bounced back nicely. Still, can they maintain their play without one of the most productive big men on the court?

In the East, two of the game's best point guards are absent from the postseason. Rose has missed the entire season while Rondo has been out since late-January. While the Bulls look like they will defeat the Brooklyn Nets in the first round, there is no doubt a healthy Rose would help this team tremendously. For the Celtics, a first round exit seems imminent and, while Rondo may not have been able to prevent that, he would have helped the C's cause greatly because of his quickness and the Knicks' point guards' age.

And then there's Kobe Bryant. Why I must see ESPN debate his tweets is beyond me and it definitely doesn't seem right. The fact that the playoffs are on and the Lakers should be in an enticing series with San Antonio, but don't have Kobe is just plain wrong. One of the league's best players is sidelined in one of his final seasons. That's a major blow to the game and it's been a major blow to that series as the Spurs have mopped the floor with the battered Lakers.

On top of all that, players like Joakim Noah, Dwyane Wade, Joe Johnson and Steve Nash have battled injuries that have kept them off the court or limited their minutes in the first round. Far too many stars are dealing with injuries for this playoffs to be as great as it's potential.

But how to prevent something like this? In reality, this can't be prevented. Injuries happen all the time and for whatever reason the stars are falling like dominoes. That said, the NBA could shorten their regular season schedule and that may help. During the lockout-shortened season the schedule was just 66 games long compared to the normal 82. Adapting the 66-game schedule would benefit the competition, the health and the players.

82 games is a lot and it means that not every game means something. There are plenty of throwaway games and that's why teams rest their better players often. David Stern has said he would like to limit this somehow and the simple solution would be to shorten the schedule. By doing so, the regular season would be more competitive and teams would not have the luxury of so many throwaway games.

The shorter schedule would also help the health of players as the wear-and-tear on their bodies would not be as great. This could potentially mean that less stars are injured and the playoffs would have the best players on the floor. It's a move that the league should look in to because it helps them out in multiple ways.

The NBA is entertainment and the best entertainment is when the best players are out there. This playoffs may still be good, but it won't contain the brightest stars. That's something that the league can't have and it's something the fans don't want. If the NBA wants to improve their product then my advice is to shorten the schedule.

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
   

Top 5 Dunks of the 2012-13 NBA Season

There is perhaps no play in the game of basketball that can get a reaction out of the crowd like a dunk. The sheer power and force alone is incredible, but then factor in the did-he-just-do-that?! element of them and that's enough to bring anybody out of their seat. What makes a dunk so special? Jason Terry is half the size of LeBron James. Brandon Knight is half the size of DeAndre Jordan. They aren't supposed to stop those two from putting down the hammer and they didn't. Still, fans went bananas and rightfully so. It's an amazing sight to see.

There have been some jaw-dropping dunks of late and it got us thinking: we need to rank these throwdowns. So that's exactly what we did. Here are the top five dunks of this season so far and there are some great ones. Obviously, only five made the list so there are some certain snubs. That's where you come in. Reply with your comment and a link to the video of the dunk you think was top-five-worthy. Until then though, check out who made our list...

5. Kobe Bryant dunks on Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace
You have to show love to Kobe Bryant this season. The Lakers obviously aren't having the kind of season that everyone thought they would, but we can always count on Kobe. He has done everything he can to try and get his team to the playoffs and that certainly looks like the direction they are headed in. Check out this play by Bryant in a game against the Brooklyn Nets. For an "old man" he showed he can still get up and he dunked on not one, but two guys. This is vintage Kobe Bryant and it's also one of the best posters of the season.

4. Blake Griffin windmills off Jamal Crawford through-the-legs alley-oop
Lob City never ceases to amaze the masses and this may be their most creative act yet. Jamal Crawford, who has never been known for his passing, is on the fast break and has a clear path to the hoop. However, rather than just doing the simple layup or dunk, Crawford gets a little fancy and goes through his legs before leaving it for Blake Griffin. Griffin has been on the receiving end of several alley-oops and he knows how to finish a dunk. On this particular play he puts the exclamation point down with an impressive windmill.

3. Harrison Barnes dunks on Nikola Pekovic
This is a dunk that has been forgotten about a little bit, but make no mistake, this is nasty. Harrison Barnes comes down the middle of the lane and gets a nice feed before dunking all over Nikola Pekovic. What makes the play even better is the reaction from the Warriors bench following the jam. Barnes goes up and Pekovic stops his momentum, but it doesn't matter...Barnes still puts Pekovic on a poster and I'm not so sure this dunk isn't worthy of the two spot for that reason. This is no Jason Terry or Brandon Knight. This is one of the strongest guys in the league and Barnes still managed to throw it down on him. Impressive.

2. LeBron James dunks on Jason Terry
Jason Terry got what was coming to him. He mouthed off before the game and then happened to be the one guy back while three Miami Heat players spun him around like a top before LeBron James destroyed him. Terry doesn't stand a chance on this play, but I will give him credit for trying to stop the play. However, when he went up in the air you just knew this wasn't going to end up well for him. Sometimes people complain that LeBron doesn't have enough "signature" plays, but to those people I say here you go. This one will be shown for a long time.

1. DeAndre Jordan catches alley-oop from Chris Paul and dunks on Brandon Knight
We already wrote about this dunk once and there is no doubt that this is the number one dunk of the season and it will take something unbelievable to top it. Near the end of the first half Jordan streaked down the middle of the lane and caught an alley-oop from Chris Paul. What happened after that was an annihilation of Brandon Knight. For whatever reason, Knight jumped and attempted to block the pass, but Jordan would have none of it. With thunderous power Jordan slammed the ball home, sending Knight crashing to the floor and sending the arena into a frenzy. It blew up social media sites and it's going to be shown for quite some time.

Evans Mouths Off; Eats Words After Beatdown

Plenty of athletes have made a name for themselves after mouthing off to the media about their peers. Some of them, such as Joe Namath, have made bold predictions and backed up their words by winning the game. Others, such as the Brooklyn Nets' Reggie Evans, have made bold comments only to look like a fool after not living up to the previous words. In Evans' case, the bruiser of a center told the New York Daily News that the Miami Heat's championship, "doesn't prove nothing. It was a lockout shortened season." If that wasn't enough, he went on to say that guarding LeBron James is no different than guarding Joe Johnson or Andray Blatche.

Well, there are a lot of things I could say about Reggie Evans, but I'm sure he feels dumb enough already. After all, King James heard his comments then proceeded to put up 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in a 105-85 thrashing over the Nets. Evans, a role player who prides himself on doing the dirty work, scored zero points and grabbed six rebounds, none of them on the offensive end. Following the game, LeBron ripped Evans for his comments and Evans left the Barclays Center without speaking to the media.

Today, Evans did the typical move that athletes pull after putting their foot in their mouth by saying his quotes were misinterpreted. Seriously? It's pretty hard to misinterpret what Evans said and there's no way he would have claimed that he was misinterpreted had the Nets won. However, he successfully angered the greatest player in the NBA and fueled the defending champs' fire which led to his Nets getting royally spanked in their brand-new arena.

I could respect Evans if he would have stuck to his comments and said that was actually what he thought. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I could respect Evans if he gave credit to James and the Heat following the game and said they were simply better than he anticipated. However, he tried to backpedal and say that he never really meant those words he said. I cannot respect him for that at all. For a guy who acts tough on the court, he has never been more of a coward. I'm all for speaking your mind, but at least stand by your comments.

Take Randy Moss for example. There's no way in the world that Moss is the greatest receiver to ever play, but those were the comments he made and he stood by them. No matter how dumb you think he is for saying it, you have to respect him for standing next to what he said. That's at least the sign of a man. A man wouldn't try and pin his errors on someone else.

Reggie Evans is a role player. He is a guy that comes off the bench and rebounds, sets good screens and plays solid defense. He is not a game-changer, a star or a player that draws a double team. Chances are, unless you are an avid NBA fan, you probably hadn't even heard of him. That didn't stop him from attacking the best player in the league and making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Hopefully it's a lesson learned that if you are going to open your mouth then you better be ready to back up the talk. Evans looked like a fool after the loss and looked even more foolish today for trying to pin it on the media.

So while you may not have heard of Reggie Evans at the beginning of the week, chances are you will hear about him for the next few days. He can thank himself and the King for that.

Dwight Howard: The Biggest Baby in Sports

To date, I have hesitated to post anything on the Dwight Howard drama simply because I was tired of hearing about it. Nate had one post about the situation, but we both have grown tired of turning on Sportscenter and seeing Howard's name plastered all over the sidebar and bottom line. Yet, this has gone on too long and my frustration has reached its peak. Howard continues to demand a trade from the Orlando Magic and the situation has dominated NBA headlines for months upon months. First it was the Nets, then the Lakers, then the Rockets almost gave up their entire roster for the big man. The Hawks have been thrown out there as well, and so now what we have is a bunch of teams that are frustrated and about to give up on Howard.

We also have a man without a job in Stan Van Gundy. SVG was a solid head coach for Orlando and took them to the Finals in 2009. Still, he became the next coach in a long line to be fired so that the superstar on the team could be happy. There's one problem though, Dwight Howard still isn't happy and he doesn't want to be in Orlando.

But where does he want to be? He desired a trade to Brooklyn, but his back-and-forth indecision turned the Nets away. Brooklyn decided they had to move on and they have a formidable team with Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace and Brooke Lopez. The Lakers have always been a team mentioned, but Howard has always seemed to turn up his nose at the idea of going West. Now it seems that LA is moving on and will go with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. The Rockets almost went all-in for Howard, but they couldn't get a package together. So now the Magic are stuck with the disgruntled big man for at least another few days/weeks/months.

I have never disliked a player as much as I dislike Dwight Howard right now. The way he has handled this situation and the way he has treated the Magic and the teams courting him is awful. He is a prima donna who can't make up his mind. How many times have we heard him say he wants to be traded, only to switch his demand a week later. Everyone is tired of it. If I was one of the teams who wanted him I would back off immediately. Why would you want this guy on your team?? Sure, he is the best center in the game today and he can dominate a game inside like few others. But how long will he be happy? He has shown a different side of himself these past several months and he is no longer the fun-loving kid from Atlanta with the electric smile.

I hate to do this to LeBron James after the phenomenal season he had, but Dwight Howard has somehow surpassed James as the superstar to handle his departure the worst. Few thought anybody could screw up a departure like LeBron did when he held the Decision, but it is Howard's Indecision that has made him the biggest villain in the league. What does it mean for his future? Currently it means more complaining and demanding. It also means he will dominate Sportscenter until America literally can't take it anymore. I honestly don't care about Dwight Howard anymore. Let me know when he signs with a team because I shut off the television when his name comes up.

As Howard continues to make a fool of himself, he will lose popularity among fans and will no doubt be booed in multiple cities across America. One city will for sure boo him and that will be Orlando. Ironic thing is: that's most likely where he will be playing.

Jersey Gets Their Superstar

More trade news from the NBA and I'm not a fan of this move at all. Deron Williams, star point guard of the Utah Jazz, was sent to the New Jersey Nets and, in return, the Jazz received point guard, Devin Harris and a promising rookie in Derrick Favors. Williams is clearly one of the best point guards in the NBA today (see past post on NBA point guards) and many teams have coveted his services. The Nets pulled off the move less than 24 hours after Carmelo Anthony was traded to the New York Knicks and it almost seems that the Nets wanted a superstar on their roster so badly that they didn't think through this deal very hard before executing it.

It's no secret that New Jersey wanted LeBron James in the summer and that they desperately tried to make a trade with Denver to land Carmelo. Now they have Williams, but the problem is that they gave away two young players that had loads of potential. Harris and Favors along with center, Brook Lopez, made up a pretty good, young core that could have led the Nets back to the glory days of the early 2000s. Without a doubt, Williams is an improvement from Harris but he really has no one to pass to. He and Lopez could have the same success that Williams had with Carlos Boozer in Utah but there is no supporting cast. At first glance it appears that the Nets have a pretty solid roster of young talent but it really isn't. At 17-40 they are 4th in the Atlantic Division and have no shot at the playoffs this season. After Williams and Lopez the Nets have an overrated, overpaid and injured player in Troy Murphy. Sasha Vujacic has a decent jumpshot but other than that all he has going for him is Maria Sharapova. Damion James's best basketball days were in Austin, Texas as a Longhorn and Travis Outlaw got a hefty contract in the offseason and has produced very little. Williams is stuck with a bunch of players that will not win.

On top of all that, Williams is a free agent at the end of this season and I would be surprised if he stays in New Jersey. Unless they can pull together some pieces and convince him that they have a shot at being a contender he will most likely leave for a better team. I have thought that he may want to go to Los Angeles to play with Kobe. Yes, Phil Jackson is leaving and there certainly will be some changes to the Lakers but Williams could run the point and have Kobe, Gasol and Odom to pass to. Derek Fisher is on the way out and LA will need somebody to run the Lake Show. It's definitley a place where he can win a championship or two and cement his legacy as an elite point guard. A friend of mine also brought up the idea of Dallas. Jason Kidd, like Fisher, is almost done and the mavs will need a point guard. Williams is from Dallas and could play in his hometown with Dirk Nowitzki and work for Mark Cuban. What player doesn't want to play for Cuban? Point is, there are going to be many destinations more popular than New Jersey at the end of the season. The Nets could only have him for half of a season and then he will be gone, but Utah has Harris and Favors for a long time.

Another thing that bugs me about this trade is Utah's timing. A few weeks ago williams and former Utah head coach, Jerry Sloan, reportedly got in an argument and when all was said and done, Sloan resigned. He was one of the NBA's best coaches and had been with the Jazz for 20 years. However, Williams got the best of him or the franchise picked their point guard over their coach and told Sloan to resign. What ever it was, Jerry Sloan is now at home. Williams is no longer in Utah either. Why didn't the Jazz tell Coach Sloan that if he waited just two more weeks Williams would be gone? That's no loyalty to a man who has been around for a long time. Jerry Sloan deserved better than that.

With this trade it is obvious that the power of the NBA has shifted to the East. For years the West has won all the championships and had most of the star players but with Carlos Boozer going to the Bulls, Amare and Carmelo to the Knicks and now Deron Williams to the Nets the East should be dominant. The Celtics, Heat, Bulls, Magic and maybe even the Knicks could take on the top teams in the West and beat them any night and I will say right now the champion will come out of the East this season. No one knows yet how long Deron Williams will be in New Jersey but, for now, the Nets have their superstar and they are hoping it means a few more "W's" in the win column.

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