Unpredictable Bulls May Have Saved Best Act For Last

Forgive these Chicago Bulls if they are are disrupting what was expected in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Forgive them if they've put Boston in a sour mood after a stellar regular season, and certainly forgive a few Chicago players for quizzically playing their best ball of the season here in the last two games. Forgive them because this Bulls team can't figure out who they are. They weren't able to do so through an 82-game regular season, but perhaps now they have and it couldn't have come at a better time.

The Bulls, an eight seed, went into Boston and didn't just beat the top-seeded Celtics - they whooped them. Twice. It's only the second time ever that an eight seed has won the first two games of a series against a one seed on the road and now Chicago gets to go back to the United Center for two games.

What a surprise it was to see Bobby Portis play like an animal in game one. Or to see Robin Lopez act like Brook Lopez in game two. Rajon Rondo? He's looked like the 2008 version of himself. Jimmy Butler has continued to play like a superstar and Dwyane Wade bounced back to have a quality game two after a poor game one, which featured a missed dunk on a breakaway.

Chicago earned the eight seed after a rollercoaster season in which they went 22-24 against teams .500 or better, but 19-17 versus teams that were below .500. They were mediocre in every sense of the word and finished 41-41.

For all the unpredictable play in the regular season though, Chicago has looked like anything but an eight seed through two games. The Bulls have been locked in and have hardly suffered any lapses, something that plagued them throughout the regular season. In game two, Boston made several runs at the Bulls, but every time Chicago responded and fended off the Celtics' charges. Simply put, they looked like a team ready to make a run in the postseason.

This looks like a different team and it's all thanks to the role players. Butler, Wade and Rondo are clicking, but it takes guys like Lopez and Portis to make a run in the playoffs. So far those guys have stepped up. It's given the Bulls a real chance to pull off the upset and move to the ECF semifinals. But to accomplish that it will take sustained focus. Inconsistent play doesn't work in the playoffs and the Bulls had 82 games to prove they could play consistent basketball and they couldn't do that.

The time is now for Chicago. They have been the better team to this point and the belief that Jimmy Butler with two seasoned veterans like Wade and Rondo could thrive looks justified. It may not have been pretty during the regular season, but the Bulls are staying true to form. The up-and-down team is trending up.

They couldn't have picked a better time.

Carmelo Anthony Should Be Commended For Using His Voice

Anthony marches in Baltimore during Freddie Gray protests

You can say what you want about Carmelo Anthony as a basketball player. He is a ball hog, he won't ever lead a team to a title, he took too much money to stay in New York, he acted like a baby when he demanded a trade from Denver, etc. However, whatever your opinions are of Anthony the player, his words this past week deserve respect for Anthony the man.

After a tumultuous week in America, marred by violence between African American men and white police officers in three different cities, Anthony took to Instagram to make sure his voice was heard.

“The system is Broken. Point blank period. It has been this way forever. Martin Luther King marched. Malcolm X rebelled. Muhammad Ali literally fought of US. Our anger should be towards the system. If the system doesn’t change we will continue to turn on the TVs and see the same thing. We have to put the pressure on the people in charge in order to get this thing we call JUSTICE right. A march doesn’t work. We tried that. I’ve tried that. A couple social media post/tweet doesn’t work. We’ve all tried that. That didn’t work. Shooting 11 cops and killing 5 WILL NOT work. While I don’t have a solution, and I’m pretty sure a lot of people don’t have a solution, we need to come together more than anything at this time. We need each other. These politicians have to step up and fight for change. Go to your local officials, leaders, congressman, assemblymen/assemblywoman and demand change. There’s NO more sitting back and being afraid of tackling and addressing political issues anymore. Those days are long gone. We have to step up and take charge. We can’t worry about what endorsements we gonna lose or whose going to look at us crazy. I need your voices to be heard. We can demand change. We just have to be willing to. THE TIME IS NOW. I’M all in. Take Charge. Take Action. DEMAND CHANGE. Carmelo Anthony.”

Anthony is not obligated to speak up and as Charles Barkley so eloquently put it years ago: athletes don't have to be role models. Barkley was right that they don't have to act like it, but the reality is that athletes are. Anthony's voice will be heard by many and, regardless of whether or not his play is well-liked, it will be respected by many. There's a certain section of society that Anthony's voice can go where President Obama's and other suited political figures just won't. Quite frankly, the world needs everyone to step up at a time like this because everybody could be better and do better.

Anthony's post is just words, but he is a man who has shown he's more than that in the past. He marched in Baltimore with protesters after Freddie Gray's death. And his post this time asks those who have remained silent to step up to the plate. Speaking up is not for every athlete, but we do live in a generation where some of the biggest names (Anthony, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul) are not afraid to go beyond the court. Just because they can drop 25 points whenever they want does not mean they have to step out in times of tragedy, but it is refreshing to me that they do. It shows they understand that they can make a positive difference.

A positive change is needed in this country and any athlete who will have the ears of millions, and wants to use their voice in a positive manner, will earn my respect. Anthony, despite his flaws on the court, is a role model for everyone, including his peers in the NBA. His platform can be used for good and that's exactly what he's doing. Bravo.

Bulls Sign Rondo, Wade In Bizarre Free Agency Moves

At some point in this millennium, signing Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade would have been any team's dream and perhaps put them as a frontrunner for best backcourt in the league. That would have been in 2008 or so, but it's 2016 and the Chicago Bulls just signed both players to sizable contracts. This comes on the heels of Gar Forman and John Paxson's stated goals of "getting younger and more athletic" moving forward.

How does a team get younger and more athletic you ask? I don't have all the answers, but probably not by signing 30-year-old Rondo and 34-year-old Wade. The main qualm from many is that the Bulls just signed up to get older, slower and lock themselves into more years of mediocrity, which is the worst place to be in basketball. Forman was reluctant to rebuild the Bulls, opting instead for a retool, which began with the Derrick Rose-to-New York trade. 

Bleacher Report

So the plan was a retool, but then on Draft night word was going around that the Bulls were also looking at trading Jimmy Butler, the other cornerstone of the Bulls who had assumed the face of the franchise role just a day before. Which was it? Retool or rebuild? It seemed a bit unclear. However, the Bulls hung on to Butler and drafted Denzel Valentine, returning a few good vibes to the team after trading Rose.

All signs pointed to the Bulls taking a pass on free agency this season and instead waiting for 2017 to (try) and woo some free agents to Chicago. And then news broke that Rondo was coming to Chicago and fans started scratching their heads. Sure, the guy could be blindfolded in the dark and still find the open man, but he could also tear a locker room apart, fight with his coach, refuse to play and demand a trade. Am I right, Dallas?

Rondo is not young and he's not necessarily athletic. He's joining a group of athletic freaks like Niko Mirotic and Doug McDermott. How does this fit in with GarPax's plan other than the fact that it doesn't?

A few days go by and Dwyane Wade signs with Chicago. If it was 2010 Bulls fans might be ecstatic, but again, it's 2016. Personally, I don't think it's a horrible move. Sure, Wade is older than the Bulls would like, but he averaged 19/4/4 last season and could potentially lure other free agents next season. As for right now, it at least shows the Bulls can sign a big name in free agency after years of failure to do so (James, Wade, Bosh, Anthony).

My take: neither signing is awful for the Bulls who have shown they do not want to rebuild. However, fans in Chicago have grown tired of Forman and Paxson and their poor track record in the front office. Perhaps if they had not stated that they wanted the Bulls to "get younger and more athletic" fans would be a bit more perceptive to the pair of signings. But "trust" and "GarPax" don't go together for Bulls fans unless they are saying they don't trust them.

Only time will tell whether or not the signings pay off, but even if the Bulls wallow in mediocrity for another season there will be no shortage of interesting headlines around this team. GarPax may not know what direction they want this team to go, but the direction is now clear: the Bulls have retooled the roster and may get the exact same results.

That's not something that will sit well with Chicago fans. 

Opposites Battle in 2013 Finals

They say that opposites attract and the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs are exact opposites. With the Heat's dismantling of the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals Monday night, they set up a date with the decade's best team. The Heat are everything the Spurs are not. Miami's Big Three paraded around on stage declaring how many championships they would win before they every set foot on the court. Can you imagine Tim Duncan doing such a thing? The Heat play fast-paced, lobbing alley-oops to the rafters and let their freak athletes go chase them down. San Antonio methodically tears apart defenses with ball movement and precise screening. Miami is surrounded by drama throughout the year by the media. San Antonio is forgotten all year long until the playoffs. They certainly are opposites in many regards, but they do have one thing in common: winning.

Because they are both winners, they now meet in the Finals. We've seen LeBron James go toe-to-toe with the Spurs in the Finals before and it wasn't pretty. In 2007 the Spurs mopped the floor with James' Cavaliers team, sweeping them for their fourth franchise title. Much has changed since that series and there will be no such sweep this season. LeBron is older, better and surrounded by far greater players. The Spurs are still the Spurs. They have maintained a consistency that is rarely seen in professional sports.

Some things get better with age and the Spurs belong in that category. Tony Parker is having arguably the best year of his career at the age of 30 and Manu Ginobili has struggled with his health yet the crafty veteran is still a force when on the court. And then there is Duncan. The 37-year-old recently said he's not worried about how old he is and you can tell because his play does not reflect that of an "old man." Duncan still puts up double-double numbers and this may be his swan song. Players can fight off age for a while, but eventually the body can't do it anymore. This may the Spurs swan song with Ginobili and Duncan.

It would be some swan song if they could defeat the Miami Heat, but the task will be difficult. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh disappeared in the back half of the ECF, but in Game 7 they proved that Miami is far too good when all three are clicking. Can San Antonio guard Miami? Kawhi Leonard is going to be a focal point in this series because his defense will have to be extraordinary against James and Wade. No one can stop both James and Wade, but the key is to limit one of them. Indiana held Bosh to almost nothing and Wade to a few bad games and they nearly stole the series.

To the general public this is a series of good vs. evil. The Spurs are the classy, take care of business franchise to most NBA fans while the Heat represent all that is wrong with professional sports. They flop, they whine, they loaded up their roster. Say what you want, but you can't ignore the results and Miami may be hoisting the trophy for the second time in as many years. That's how good they are despite all the negative opinions about them.

Still, going back to 2003 the Spurs have been the most successful franchise in the NBA. Why not close out the decade with another title? San Antonio wins it in six games.

As Game 7 Looms, Don't Blame LeBron

The blame game is the number one thing to do in the sports media after a loss. We're always searching for someone to pin the fault to and we need a scapegoat. If a team lost then it had to be somebody's fault right? Sure, but sometimes the other team was just flat out better. Don't look now, but the Indiana Pacers are one game away from sending the Miami Heat home in the Eastern Conference Finals. The winner-take-all Game 7 will tip off tonight in Miami and the pressure is all on the Heat. In the Big Three era they have set the bar high and failure comes with enormous backlash (think 2011 Finals loss). So if the Heat do lose tonight then who gets the blame? That's an easy question to answer.

If you think LeBron then you're dead wrong. LeBron James, for all the foolish looking flopping and technical fouls he's racked up in this series, is not to blame at all if the Heat lose. The MVP has done all that he can and has had to shoulder the load because the other two musketeers couldn't carry their own weight. James has averaged 28.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks in the first six games of the series. Oh by the way, he's also shot 51.6 percent from the field, 43.8 percent from three and 71 percent from the charity stripe. Those all look like MVP-numbers to me.

Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade deserve the blame for this series and the Heat won't win the Finals if they perform like this again. Wade has averaged 14 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists through the first six games and, while those numbers aren't awful, they are fit for a player of Mario Chalmers' caliber. Wade has scored just 10 points in each of the last two games and he has yet to score 20 points in a game during this series. The expectations are high for Wade and that's why his performance the past two games is unacceptable. It's also why the Heat won't win this series. If Wade is bad again tonight then Paul George and Co. will be Finals-bound.

Wade's taken on the role of Robin to LeBron's Batman, but the sidekick has left his partner out in the cold when he needed him most. He is shooting just 6-19 (32 percent) in the last two games and he has looked uncomfortable on the court. He has deferred when he was open and he hasn't looked like a man who wanted to takeover a game and win it for his team.

In Bosh's case, we all knew this series would be a struggle for him due to Indiana's size. The Pacers are bigger and stronger and Bosh's rebounding numbers have taken a hit. However, no one expected the poor offensive performances that Bosh is putting out. How about a combined 19 points, 12 rebounds and two assists the past three games? His shooting percentage in those three games is so low that it wouldn't even be a decent batting average. He's been awful and it's come to the point that he had to apologize his teammates prior to tonight's game.

Bosh and Wade will be doing a lot of apologizing and perhaps packing their bags if the Heat lose tonight. They are the ones to blame for the Heat's performance. Now, if they win tonight, turn it around in the Finals and win, then all of this will be forgotten. However, if they lose then expect some serious criticism to come their way. Not LeBron though. He's put the team on his back and has done all he can. It's two bad the other All-Stars on roster haven't held up their end of the deal.

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

3 Reasons Why the Pacers Could Beat the Heat

Could. That's the key word in that headline. Three reasons why the Pacers could beat the Heat. Let's face it: the Miami Heat are the best team in the NBA. They are the defending champions and they have marched right through the postseason, defeating the Bucks in four games and the Bulls in five. They won 27 games in a row and 45 of their last 48. Yet, Indiana went 2-1 against them in the the regular season and the Pacers did take them six games in the playoffs last season. So why not the Pacers? Indiana plays a style that the Heat don't like and they trot out an enormous lineup that Miami will find difficult to match up with. Although it may still be considered a David vs. Goliath matchup by nearly everyone outside of the state of Indiana, here's why the Pacers may move on to the Finals.

1. Physical style of play
The Pacers are a tough, grind-it-out team. They don't win flashy and they don't lose flashy. Sometimes it can be a grind just to watch them for 48 minutes, but that doesn't matter because it's translated over to wins. Indiana employs a physical style of play and that's not something that Miami enjoys. It's been well-documented that the Heat have raised complaints when teams like the Pacers and the Bulls get physical with them. However, the Bulls physicality didn't matter in the semi-finals as Miami brushed the battered and bruised Bulls aside.

Here's the difference between the Bulls and Pacers: the Pacers are healthy and the Bulls weren't. Chicago played physical, but they didn't have their best out on the floor. Indiana will play physical and they will have their best players out on the floor. Guys like Tyler Hansbrough, Lance Stephenson and David West don't mind banging and that will be something the Heat will have to adjust to. The two teams are polar opposites. Indiana is made up of big, tough players while Miami has built their team with knock down perimeter shooters.

2. Size
Miami has an interesting roster when it comes to size. They don't have a true center and, at times, have to play LeBron James at the power forward position. Chris Andersen has given the Heat a boost and Chris Bosh has rebounded well in the postseason, but the Pacers have size in four different positions. Indiana starts three players that are 6'8" or taller and Lance Stephenson is 6'5" at the shooting guard position. While some of the Heat's wings have the height, they don't bring the physical presence that the Pacers will.

Indiana also brings Ian Mahinmi off the bench and he has provided a great rebounding presence and also stands just shy of 7'0". All that said, size alone will not beat the Heat. The Pacers must use it to their advantage and that means winning the battle of the boards and making shot opportunities for Dwyane Wade and James difficult. The Pacers led the NBA with 45.9 rebounds per game while the Heat were 30th in the league at 38.6. It's a mismatch that Indiana must exploit.

Stephenson, George and West will also be matched up against James and Wade for much of the series. They must use their size to alter shots and make it difficult to get off clean looks. However, this doesn't mean bodying them up on the perimeter because James and Wade are both quick enough to drive around all three.

3. Roy Hibbert and George Hill
Hill suffered a concussion in during the semi-finals series, but he was able to start in the decisive Game 6 and had a nice game of 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and a block in 42 minutes. He will have time off to continue his recovery and the Pacers need him at full strength. Obviously it's difficult to beat the Heat, but the way to do it is by winning the point guard battle and winning in the post. You can't beat them on the wings because there is no one as good as James or Wade. Hill is better than Mario Chalmers or Norris Cole and he must play like it. If Indiana does not take advantage of the positional matchups that they are better at then they have no chance.

That is precisely why Hibbert could be a difference-maker. The 7'2" center is going to be the biggest player on the floor all series long, but will he play like a man or a mouse. There are times he is dominant and there are times where he disappears. Indiana can't afford to have him disappear, whether that be foul trouble or poor play. The Pacers need him active and aggressive and they should feed him the ball repeatedly. Miami lacks depth inside so why not let the big man go to work?

Again, beating the Heat four times is a tall task, but the Pacers have the set of tools to get the job done. They were close last season and the stage is even bigger in 2013. Miami has hardly been tested in the postseason and they have, once again, had plenty of rest heading into this series. If they are rusty at all then the Pacers must jump on them in Game 1 like the Bulls did in the semi-finals. If they steal a game in Miami then they have a legitimate shot to win the series, but if not then expect a re-run of last year.

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
   

"Business Look" is Long Gone, All About Show

It doesn't take a whole lot to notice that with each generation the choice of clothing changes. 30 years ago, "skinny" jeans and "booty shorts" were deemed unacceptable and were, in a word, offensive. Fashion will always change, it's part of the way society works. But in today's world, in this day and age where fashion is not so fashionable, if you're a professional athlete chances are you, stereotypically speaking, have dressed like a clown at least once.

Westbrook and KD displaying their "fashion"

A few years back, the NBA established a dress code for the players' pregame and post game outfits. It's silly to think that grown men would have to be told what to wear and yet we continue to see certain players try to draw attention to themselves through their choice of attire. The different colored skinny jeans, the off-colored sport coats, and the glasses without lenses need to go and go now.

What happened to professionalism? When I played high school ball, every game day the required outfit consisted of dress shoes, dress pants, dress shirt, and team sweater vest. Even if our record wasn't impressive, we never walked into a gym and looked like bums. We looked classy and we looked like a team. You rarely see that in the NBA today. Guys like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and LeBron James litter the internet with their choice of clothing and there cannot be any other explanation for their choice of clothing than for the added attention. It's a shame that the professional athletes kids look up to can't dress professionally and business-like to go to work. Every doctor I've seen has on dress pants and a dress shirt. All of my teachers and professors come to class every day in that very same attire. Why do athletes need to try to stand out so much?

Glasses without lenses are "in"

It's not just about the individual either. It will always be about representing your organization or ball club. To me that means that handling yourself with class should be implied. Why make a spectacle of yourself and pass yourself off as someone who either A.) loves attention or B.) doesn't care about honoring a league rule? You leave your house, you drive however far to the arena, you walk in a back door to the locker room. Is wearing a suit and tie so taxing that it can't be done for no more than 45 minutes? Not to mention if you play like a dog and have a bad performance, it will be even harder to take you seriously in the post game press conference if you're sitting there with 3D movie glasses on and a shirt you bought from the Baby Gap.

All I'm saying is that we hold these professional athletes to a standard unlike any other profession. Sports drive society and these athletes have more responsibilities than just playing ball. If they're supposed to set good examples for younger kids and represent an organization then look the part. Put on a shirt and tie and look presentable before and after the game. It's just as much of a responsibility to dress appropriately as it is to play hard. Each generation has a different taste in fashion, yes, but what certain players are wearing is hardly fashionable. It needs to stop. 

Chicago Bulls Winning With Team Basketball

Watson and Deng celebrate after Watson's three in the 4th

At 46-15 the Chicago Bulls own the best record in the NBA for the second consecutive year and have run away with the Central Division yet again. The Bulls have their star in Derrick Rose, but what has made them so special this year and what has separated them from other top competition such as Miami is the fact that they play some of the best team basketball in the league. Coach Tom Thibodeau is more than willing to use his bench, which has taken on the nickname "The Benchmob" and a different guy steps up big for Chicago every single game. While Rose is the centerpiece to the team, they do not rely on him too heavily like other teams do with their stars. Chicago is 17-7 without Rose in the lineup and have beaten the Miami Heat twice without him. In March Rose sat out with an injury and last Thursday Rose played, but had the worst game of his career. He was non-factor, scoring only two points in a Bulls victory at the United Center.
In the game versus the Heat in March the Bulls played one of their better games of the season, winning 106-102 in a high-intensity game with a playoff feel. Third string point guard John Lucas III stepped up that night, scoring 24 points and continually bringing the United Center crowd to its feet. In the first half Lucas drained three threes in a row and in the second half found himself being guarded by LeBron James. Lucas calmly dribbled out toward halfcourt and took James one-on-one, burying a fadeaway jumper in his face and sending Bulls fans everywhere into pandemonium. Not only were the Bulls without Rose, but Carlos Boozer only scored two points. However, six different Bulls scored in double figures and the entire Chicago bench finished the game +6 or higher. No Rose, no problem.

Fast forward to last Thursday night when the Bulls defeated the Heat yet again 96-86 in an overtime thriller. Rose played 25 minutes, shot 1-13 from the field and scored just two points. This time it was C.J. Watson's turn to be big. Down three with seven seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Watson drilled a step back three in Dwyane Wade's face to send the game to overtime. Watson finished with 16 points and nine assists for the game while four other Bulls finished with double figures. The two games against the Heat have come to define this Bulls team. Is Rose the best player on the floor for Chicago when he plays? Certainly, but the Bulls have a team and there is a confidence that no matter what five are on the floor they will get the job done.

And despite Rose's performance, this post is not meant to criticize the superstar or question his worth to the team. He is still having an incredible year stat wise with 22.5 points, 7.9 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game, but what is perhaps the most impressive thing about Rose is the way he handled himself last Thursday. In a time he would usually find himself taking the big shot, Rose sat on the bench and watched as his teammates battled the Heat in the fourth quarter and, when it came time for the last second shot, he watched as Watson sank the three.

"I'm fine, man," Rose said of coach Tom Thibodeau's decision to sit him down the stretch. "Anything to win. Where he felt that lineup was going to win the game, it won the game, and I can't complain about anything."

The fact that a superstar, much less an MVP, would say that after being benched against the second best team in the conference is remarkable. It speaks to Rose's character that he sees the bigger picture and didn't whine or complain when things didn't go his way. It's no wonder why the Bulls operate the way they do when their superstar carries himself that way. As the locker room leader that attitude will only influence his teammates in a positive manner.

Chicago's suffocating D is second best in the NBA

Much of the credit must also go to Thibodeau. He has the best bench in the NBA and he is willing to go to those players in any situation. Many times Omer Asik and Taj Gibson will be on the floor in the fourth quarter instead of starters Boozer and Joakim Noah. Other coaches do not use their bench to their full advantage and pay the price. For example, the Heat have used James Jones in just 45 games this season, but he is a more than capable player. Granted, some of those DNP's have been due to injury but Jones is one of the best three point shooters in the league and he is the perfect complement to Wade and James because he stretches the floor. Yet he sees only 11.4 minutes a game in the 45 games he has played in.

Thibodeau also has found a way to make his team play hard every night and be committed to team defense. The Bulls rank first in rebounding and second in points allowed at just 88.9. It's a common sight to see Chicago players diving on the floor for loose balls and sliding over in help side defense, a lost art in the NBA. The Bulls commitment to defense has covered up for their lack of another go-to perimeter scorer and could carry them deep into the playoffs again.

Winning the East will be tough because the Bulls will have to get through the Heat and teams like the Celtics and Pacers are formidable threats. However, a healthy Rose, Rip Hamilton and Luol Deng will work wonders for Chicago as the three have rarely been on the floor at the same time due to injuries. The passion and energy that the Bulls play with is an intangible quality that cannot be measured, yet means so much to their success. With one of the best frontlines in the game, a stingy defense and the best bench in the league the Chicago Bulls are poised to make run for title number seven.

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!

35 Random Sports Thoughts

I sit through quite a few college classes everyday and I'll admit that my mind sometimes drifts from the class subject. Usually it ends up on sports and I decided to write down the thoughts I have about sports. Here are the last 35 I've had. It's a random list and I just thought it would be a fun post and a good conversation starter. Feel free to comment!

1. There won't be another team win 72 games in the NBA. That Bulls team was incredible.

2. Nelson Cruz will be postseason MVP if he keeps this up and the Rangers win the Series.
3. The hiring of Theo Epstein means Cubs fans have a new savior. I remember the "In Dusty We Trusty" slogans and all that. We will see if Epstein and his new manager can do the job.
4. HOW DO YOU GO 100+ YEARS WITHOUT WINNING A WORLD SERIES?!?!
5. I think I'm starting to like Jay Cutler a little bit more...but I still hate his attitude.
6. The Cardinals look good and the bullpen is actually doing a great job.
7. Pujols will stay in St. Louis but Fielder is going to leave Milwaukee.
8. Nyjer Morgan is an idiot and is playing to his actual skill level this postseason. A.k.a not well.
9. The NBA is committing one of the biggest blunders ever with this lockout.
10. Can there be a charity game with NBA players at the Wigwam in Anderson, IN? (2nd largest high school gym in the nation)
11. Baylor may have the most athletic front line ever assembled this year.

12. The Packers are going to repeat as Super Bowl champs...hate to say it, but it's true.

13. Moneyball was a great movie. Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill both did a phenomenal job.

14. How much of the new Walter Payton book is true? It's one of the saddest things I've ever read.

15. Catching Hell was the best ESPN film to date.
16. There will never be a player more competitive than Michael Jordan. Kobe has the same mentality but LeBron is so far off from those two.
17. I believe in the Detroit Lions but they will lose some games soon. Tough schedule coming up.
18. The Yankees and Red Sox panic too much. They are both fine...not too much work needs to be done with the rosters.
19. Thank the Lord the Marlins have a new stadium! Now the A's need to get their own and I'll feel better about MLB ballparks.

20. North Carolina is going to win the national championship in college basketball. Such a complete team.

21. Aaron Craft is a stud. Expect big things this year from the sophomore.
22. Tom Brady is in the top 5 quarterbacks of all-time.

23. U.S. Soccer may never reach the pinnacle fans are hoping for.

24. Mark Sanchez is overrated and so are the Jets.

25. The media loves certain teams and they get more coverage than they should (Jets, Cowboys, Heat)
26. Cardinals will win the World Series but no team will ever catch the Yankees in WS wins.
27. If Dwyane Wade had come to the Bulls then they would easily have won the title last year.
28. The Bulls are still in store for 2-3 more championships before Rose and Noah are done.

29. The Brooklyn Nets just sounds cool. Hopefully they can be competitive.

30. Alabama and LSU is going to be a must-see game for college football. It's the national championship game basically.

31. Boise State will probably never get their chance. If they do it will be this year. Alabama and LSU will beat each other and Oklahoma could lose in Big 12 play.

32. College conferences suck now. I hate it.

33. Hardly anybody can tackle in the NFL.

34. I wish basketball players had to stay in school for two years. Imagine Eddy Curry at DePaul or LeBron James at Ohio State...

35. Where the heck are guys like Eric Crouch, Jason White and Major Applewhite???

Maybe LeBron's Not Who We Thought He Was

Who could forget Arizona Cardinals' coach Dennis Green yelling at the media that the Chicago Bears "are who we thought they were!!" That line has become quite popular but in this case it must be changed around a bit because could it be that LeBron James isn't who we thought he was? It sure seems that way after watching his disastrous fourth quarter performances and his ill-advised comments in the postgame press conference. The pressure that James has been under this year is unlike any other that we have seen. Tiger Woods, Michael Vick and Kobe Bryant were all under the microscope, but that stems from off-the-field problems. In LBJ's case he technically did nothing off the court to keep people from liking him, but he has taken a series of actions that have greatly affected his reputation to the fans and media. After another failed attempt at an NBA title it is time to re-evaluate how we perceive LeBron and what we think he will become.

There has been much discussion, and it's pointless arguing, about whether James is already better than Michael Jordan or if he will ever be considered better. Scottie Pippen offered his opinion and was blasted for saying such blasphemy. However, then we took a step back and thought maybe Scottie knows what he's talking about. After all, the guy played with Jordan every day and knows him very well. On top of that, LeBron was a monster in the Eastern Conference Finals against Chicago. He looked so dominant and was on top of the basketball world for the time being. And then the Finals came...and we immediately knew that James will probably never reach the heights of His Airness. The great ones bring it in the fourth quarter. That's when it's Winning Time and the best players know how to close a game out. Sure, MJ or Kobe can't be a hero every game (see Game 4 of the 1996 Finals or Game 7 of the 2010 Finals) but nearly every game they TAKE and MAKE the big shots. With James we were left scratching our heads because, at times, it appeared he didn't even want the ball late in the game. If you go by the name of King you should never defer to somebody else. Jordan never deferred and Kobe never deferred. Neither LeBron nor Wade wanted to take the big shot and, as a result, the ball looked like a hot potato in the fourth quarter of Game 7.

I'll say this, LeBron James is a great athlete and he can be a great player. However, he doesn't have some of the skills, such as a reliable shot, nor does he have the intangibles. By intangibles I'm talking about that assassin mentality. When it's the fourth quarter you would like to see the fire in his eyes that says, "I'm going to make sure we win this game." In the series against Chicago that's exactly what he did and he routinely buried the Bulls late in the game. In the Finals Miami would have been better off with him on the bench for the final period. LeBron averaged only 2.2 points in the fourth quarter of the Finals and most of his buckets came when the game didn't matter because Dallas had sealed the deal. That simply cannot happen from James. For a man who is supposed to be the best player that we have today, he has routinely disappointed us with his disappearance in playoff games. This is the second time it has happened along with the Boston series last year and it begs the question: What is wrong with him?

There has to be some psychological problem with him and sports psychologists will try to figure it out this summer. It's something that we haven't seen before. We are so used to seeing the greatest athletes hit the big shot, make the perfect pass, blast the game winning homer or sink the tough putt under the highest pressure situations. For so long the media has put LeBron in that group but it is clear he is not on that level. His poor performances have hurt his image on the court but his off the court, yet still basketball related, antics will ultimately be his biggest downfall.

No one will ever forget last summer when they think about LeBron James or the Miami Heat franchise.It was two moments of selfishness and ego that brought about the strong backlash against James and the Heat. Kevin Durant went on Twitter to announce he was staying in OKC and others called a simple press conference to announce their decisions. That's all fine and good, but to take an hour television spot on ESPN and dub the event The Decision is way over the top. That right there lost him thousands of fans and that was before the South Beach party with James, Wade and Chris Bosh. The three stomped around stage, shirt-popping and screaming before sitting down to discuss the future. That was when James predicted not 5...not 6....not 7 championships!! And not only would they win, but it was going to be easy! Why would somebody say that?? I still can't figure out why he would say that. He couldn't have been thinking when the words left his mouth. Talk about putting a target on your back.

It's fitting that he closed the season with another soundbyte that left people scratching their heads. LeBron basically said that his life was better than all of ours so he was just going to be happy and live how he wants while we had to go back to our daily problems. He has since apologized, and I commend him for that, but he still said it. Whoever is advising LeBron is doing a terrible job. He needs a PR person because he isn't good around a microphone and he is constantly digging himself a deeper hole.

Is LeBron a bad player? Not by any means. He is still a dominant player but the knock on him is that he is a different kind of player in crunch time. He isn't the closer we expected him to be and he has behaved very childish off the court, perhaps a testament to the company he keeps that advises him. LeBron is still young and he is on a very good team. They will win a championship soon but LeBron must figure out his fourth quarter failures and he must work to improve his image as a selfish guy. When he does that maybe then we can finally open our arms and accept him as one of the greats.

Read Tom Haberstroh's article on LeBron's fourth quarter performances by clicking the link below:
http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/8778/the-lebron-james-4th-quarter-experience

Dirk Leads Dallas to First NBA Championship

One player left the floor a few seconds early to escape the crowd because he was overcome with the emotion of victory. The other player left the floor immediately after the buzzer, head down and the look of defeat spread across his forlorn face. It was polar opposites between the two biggest stars of the NBA Finals as Dirk Nowitzki needed a moment after his Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in Game 6, 105-95. On the other bench, LeBron James was foiled again and took the long, quiet walk back to the locker room knowing that he once again was second place. Where did it go wrong for the Heat? That's debatable but one thing that isn't is Dirk's greatness. With a championship under his belt he has cemented his status as one of the best players to ever play the game while LeBron continues to struggle under the microscope he has put himself under.

Dirk Nowitzki put on a clinic the entire playoffs and when he came under the weather during the Finals he still performed well. In Game 6 he was 1-12 shooting for the first half which was so un-Dirk-like that it seemed there was no way the Mavs could win. However, Jason Terry brought his jumper and kept Dallas in the game and in the second half we saw the Dirk we all know and love. It was clear that Terry and Nowitzki were on a mission to get their rings and not have a repeat of the 2006 collapse in which they lost four straight to Miami after going up 2-0. This was a totally different Mavs team and three key pieces that weren't there in '06 helped win the title. First, Jason Kidd has showed that he still can play as he climbs up in years. While he isn't as quick anymore and the dazzling plays become less and less, Kidd is a steady point guard and one of the greatest point guards ever. He will someday be in the Hall of Fame and he can now add a ring to his resume after two failed attempts with the New Jersey Nets. The experienced floor general found the open man and came up with timely steals throughout the playoffs. His backup, J.J. Barea, was also a big factor for Dallas with his quickness and his shooting. The undersized Barea averaged nine points and three assists in the postseason and irritated teams with his drives to the hoop. Tyson Chandler was perhaps the most important piece to the puzzle as he supplied muscle, athleticism and size in the post. He grabbed boards and blocked shots, but maybe the best thing he did was keep possessions alive with his tip outs off of misses.

For the Heat, they will have to go back to the drawing board and figure out what went wrong. They should take a piece out of Dallas' book and try to find a veteran point guard who doesn't need to score and they need a more reliable center. Joel Anthony did nice things but at the end of the day he is an energy guy who comes off the bench. Chris Bosh stepped up his game in the postseason and, for the most part, quieted his critics but he will need to find consistency in the offense next season. The point guard position is the main problem for Miami as they recycled players through that position. Sometimes it was Carlos Arroyo, other times it was Mike Bibby and then other times it was Mario Chalmers. Somebody has to be brought in or a current Heat player needs to step up and accept the role if Miami is to win as many championships as they have promised to their fans. Lastly, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have to figure out how to play together. At times they look fabulous sharing the ball and feeding off of each other but other times they are too unselfish. A prime example would be the fourth quarter of Game 6 when the ball was passed around like a hot potato because nobody wanted to take the shot. That problem has to be solved or one of them will have to hit the road.

Dwyane Wade

Obviously criticism has already come the Heat's way as it should. There are no excuses for the way they performed, especially late in games. LeBron was particularly awful with an average of only 2.2 points in the fourth quarter of the Finals. That simply can not happen when he is supposed to be the closer. However, if he is not getting the job done then Erik Spoelstra needs to bench him. Last night he came out of the game and the Heat took the lead midway through the 2nd quarter. It was the perfect scenario for them because it looked as if they would open up a big lead before the half. And then....LeBron came in and the Mavs regained the lead before the half. The stats don't lie from last night: the Miami Heat played better when LeBron James wasn't on the floor. Something had to be wrong with him in the series because he wasn't the same player. In the Chicago series he was the closer and took the big shots but he was M.I.A. in the fourth quarter of the Finals. Rarely was LeBron good at the end of games and next year the ball needs to be in DWade's hands come crunch time.

Was the season a total failure for the Heat? I don't think so but I do think it was a partial failure. They may not have had the right pieces but they were certainly good enough to win the title. But give Dallas credit, they played phenomenal basketball and it's nice to see them win after so many years of heartbreak. Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Jason Kidd can now put a ring on it after all these years and the Mavs have a great team that works together and plays hard. Those are qualities of a team that can be a dynasty if they perform how they are capable.