Money or Rings

The Raptors are back at square one...again! This is pretty pathetic and should never have happened. Chris Bosh is almost officially gone and the Raptors are going to get basically nothing in return. What do we have on our team? Seriously, what the hell happened to this organization. I was very optimistic after the hiring of Colangelo but since then, I have seen nothing. Hindsight is 20/20 and everyone seems to be a thousand times smarter after the fact but couldn't anyone see that our team was doomed when we went out and signed Hedo? Come on, guy is not worth 5 years. Did Colangelo sign him to try and entice Bosh to sign because if he did, he better share whatever he was smoking with me.

Miami, enjoy Bosh. Enjoy Wade. Oh yeah, come Thursday, you may even enjoy LeBron too. If all this talk coming from all the free agents about winning first is legitimate, then we will see LeBron go to Miami. Salary cap issues and of course position flexibility put a downer on the chances of a Wade/Bosh/James combo but it would be pretty sick to see these guys play together.

How about Amare signing with the Knicks. Pretty sad. Should have tried to team up with one of the big free agents. Amare, enjoy losing. Without Nash you are basically another ballplayer who plays with goggles.

Boozer must be pretty lucky because he just signed a pretty big and fat contract with the Bulls. Did the Raptors even have a chance to sign this guy? Another few seasons of losing and just maybe a lottery pick will turn out to be a future LeBron.

McGrady and Co.

T-Mac has a new home and it happens to be a place where the impending free agent class will, apparently, gravitate to come the summer.

This move is a pretty bold statement to the fans of New York and the NBA that the Knicks are going to be a big player in the 2010 free agent frenzy. Just think about the possibilities that McGrady will be shown in the off season. If the Knicks sign two players to max deals and T-Mac takes a massive pay cut, the Knicks will have a pretty formidable team come 2010-11 season.

Throw T-Mac in the SF position, use him more as a role player, while Wade slots in as the SG, and Bosh/Stoudamire fill in as the PF. That would be a trio that could contend for multiple rings. Sorry goes out to the Suns, Heat, and Raptors. Life is tough.

See how I didn't mention LeBron James, the big prize in the potential free agent class. I'm starting to think that James is going to stay in Cleveland because of the love he is receiving from the fans and management. The true X-factor is Wade/Bosh/Stoudamire. If one of these guys gives James a call during the off season and wants to team up, I would assume that James would willfully comply. But with the PR mess that would ensue, it would make sense for him to stay.

James is the type of man who wants everything. He wants to be the leader, the man, and most importantly, the king of basketball when the dust settles on his career. Teaming up with one of the big free agents and winning multiple NBA championships would only solidify his reputation and legacy.

On the other hand, if James left the Cavs and, after teaming up with one of the big free agents, won multiple rings would anyone stand out and criticize James for not being the true NBA god he wants to be. He would be winning rings because he has the true supporting cast that All-star teams or Dream teams are made of. If he does choose to stay in Cleveland, it would show the world how great of a basketball player he really is. Taking a low-tier team and taking them to the promised land.

Only time will tell what the Knicks, with all their salary space, will do in the off season.

Now, just have to find a way to grab myself a T-Mac Knicks jersey.

Come Together

Can you believe that Wade and James will be free agents after this season. It is incredible how time flies when it comes to contracts and superstars that reside in the NBA.

Remember a few years back when the Celtics were a pathetic team and all of a sudden KG and Ray Allen appeared beside Pierce. That trio seemed to have worked out. All three players are great but we all know and will agree that they are not in the prime of their respective careers. That isn't saying they aren't great players, just not what they were at their peak.

People around the sports worlds have talked about uniting another "big three" somewhere else in the NBA especially with the free agents searching for some love after 2010. There are plenty of combination's that could change the landscape and power of the NBA but what interests me the most is a James/Wade union. What if these two guys got together in the off-season and came to an agreement to join forces and take the NBA trophy like the Celtics did in the 60's (actually, starting from 1957 to 1969, the Celtics won 11 championships).

Let's push this a little further. What if James/Wade persuaded a third big time free agent to join the team, say Bosh or Stoudamire. Wow, wouldn't that be absolutely insane to see these three guys, who are in their primes, come together and play on a nightly basis?

If these guys are telling the truth about only wanting to win and secure as many Larry O'Brien trophy's as they can, they would take the pay cut and come together and dominate the NBA. What they lose in salary they will easily make it up in endorsements.

To the reader, it may seem that I am dying for this to happen, I'm not going to lie it would be nice to see this happen, but what would happen to the NBA. Think about what would happen to the markets in Cleveland, Miami, and my hometown Toronto if these players all left and signed with a new team. All three cities were just starting to rebuild through these players and would have nothing if they leave.

Making the NBA a less competitive and even more predictable league is not something I would enjoy on a nightly basis. Yes, it would be nice to see the guys dominate the league for a year but taking 6 championships in a row kind of destroys the game of basketball and the enjoyment it gives me everyday.

Wouldn't it be nice for big time NBA players to turn down a max contract and go for what they, as kids, dreamed of doing every time they touched the hardwood, to win the Larry O'Brien trophy.

Serving

Steve Nash and his Suns took down the Warriors in their home opener but what stood out was Nash's usual unselfish play. When the final buzzer went off, Nash recorded 20 assists for the 6th time in his career. At 35 years of age, Nash seems to still go about his game with nothing holding him back.

I am worried though. With his history of injuries with his back and the enormous amount of minutes he plays, it is hard for me to think he can hold up through the entire season. This year the Suns aren't going to have a complete package around him that can take some pressure off him. Even in years past when they had Stoudamire, Marion, Barbosa, and Q. Richardson, to name a few, he still had to really work on the floor.

With the heavy minutes and the heavy amount of workload that the Suns place on his shoulders, I see him wearing a suit on the bench for a few games. With Goran Dragic handling the ball when Nash is resting, the Suns need him to step-up and provide 15-18 quality minutes on the floor. Playing in the low 30minute range is what I would like to see on a nightly basis.

Keep him healthy so he can come play for the Raps one day.

Sunny Skies for the Raptors?

With the bottom-feeding Raptors taking a step back in there pursuit of a playoff position by losing game after game, this is news I welcome. Chris Bosh made an appearance on CTV as a weatherman and I thought it was kind of funny to see. We all know the story about how there is going to be "the free agent class" coming up in 2010 and Bosh is going to a part of it. GM Colangelo and the people of Toronto need to do everything in the world to try and sign this guy because if he leaves, the organization might as well get use to the bottomfeeder status because it will take a long time until we see a true playoff contending team at the ACC.

Or does our GM see something else in his crystal ball. Is he going to let Bosh sign somewhere else and try to build a team around another high prize player. Maybe with the likes of Wade, Stoudamire, or even, I know I shouldn't say his name, LeBron. Just wait and let me explain. We all know that LeBron is looking for world exposure and of course the championship rings. Exposing yourself to Canada, check. Winning championships and bringing it to a team outside the US would classify LeBron as the king of a franchise and he wouldn't have share it would the likes of former greats who played for the Knicks (assuming he signs with the Knicks). Taking and giving the Raptors 3-5 Larry O'Brien Trophies would classify him as a saviour, king, and what LeBron is searching for, arguably the greastest player ever to step foot on an NBA court.

Okay, I just woke up and I am back in the real world. Enjoy the video and the pictures of Bosh.

Poor Performance

As I skimmed through the box scores of tonight's games I bumped into a stat I usually don't see sitting beside Steve Nash. In a game that brought together former teammate, Boris Diaw, Steve Nash found a way to finish with 4pts, 6to's, and only 5asts. Right after seeing his stats I started to wonder where Nash will sign when his contract is finished with the Suns. He still has a team option for the 09/10 season.

Going into free agency, Nash has the right to choose any team he wants to sign with. As a veteran who is in search of a NBA championship and having the one true equalizer, age, creeping up on him, I do wonder where he will land.

Of course, the only team in Canada, the Toronto Raptors, would be a plausible choice. This season isn't going well for the Raptors but if GM Colangelo can turn things around with a few trades and FA acquisitions you never know. Nash is there last priority right now since Bosh's free agency is looming and Colangelo needs to make him happy before doing anything else.

How about the Big Apple. Listen to this scenario. Former coach D'Antoni is there. They are clearing cap space for the huge free agent period of 2010. Imgaine the Knicks pulling off a Celtics kind of big three. Bring in Bosh/LeBron/Nash. You could also think about Nash bringing his current teammate, Stoudamire, along as well.

What about New Jersey. Jay-Z and his friendship could bring in LeBron and his favourite players of choice. They have to either find a bidder for VC try and build with VC there. You know how I feel about VC, former post.

Or even the Cavs. LeBron could sign with his current team and have management bring in players like Bosh and Nash.

So many scenarios that could play out. With a free agent class that boasts Bosh, LeBron, and Wade most forget about the "smaller" players out there.

LBJ...again

Well it seems the talk of LeBron James leaving the Cavs when he becomes a Free Agent comes up everyday or at the very least every other day.

ESPN's Daily Dime kind of puts a little finishing touch on the topic until the actual time comes around when teams will be legally able to open negotiations with LeBron without having any tampering charges laid.

What the Daily Dime is saying is there are way too many variables that are in play and with, not only the fast pace of NBA play, the fast pace of transactions, events, unhappy then turning happy superstars, and the ultimate factor an NBA ring. Just think about last year before the Gasol deal was made and the Lakers were not only riding the typical temper tantrum being thrown by Kobe. The Lakers were in a midst of a falling out with the superstar until winning cured everything, which it usually does. Now, the Lakers are winners and contenders for the NBA title for the foreseeable future. Therefore, Kobe is happy.

So, if LeBron wins a championship with the Cavs and ownership is reasonable and responsible and maintains a core group of guys that will surround and be a supporting cast for LBJ, you might see the exact same thing happen with the Lakers and Kobe...absolutely nothing. LBJ will be happy and content with his situation in Cleveland.

My point is, lets try and stay away from the talk about James moving towns because so many things can change from now until the Free Agency period begins for 2010. Even though it is, as a fan, very fun to talk about where King James might land.

Oh by the way, did anyone think about the other 2010 free agents? Think Bosh, Dirk, Amare, and Joe Johnson.


Photo Courtesy of ESPN.com

Flop or No Flop?

Check it out for yourself.



Funny to see this guy throw it down on someone and then just drop to the ground like that.

Big Time Scoring

There were some big time scorers in the NBA last night. I was a little shocked to see who ended up scoring the highest total especially when Melo (Carmelo Anthony) said he would score 44 because Obama is the 44th president of the USA.

Last nights high scorers.

T. Parker - 55
A. Stoudemire - 49
L. James - 41
K. Martin - 33
R. Jefferson - 32



Picture Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports.

Slowing Steve Nash and The Suns

Last year the Phoenix Suns made a trade for the Big Diesel after watching the Lakers grab Gasol for basically nothing and I still stand on the fact that it was a good deal. It wasn't a great deal but the Suns had to do something to respond plus the Suns needed an inside presence to compete against Duncan and of course the newly acquired Gasol.

The problem that is at hand now is the Suns have a new coach, Terry Porter who replaced Mike D'Antoni, who doesn't preach the "Shoot in 7 seconds" philosophy that D'Antoni imposed. (**Side note: I love the run and gun offense.**) Terry Porter is forcing the Suns to slow down and this makes no sense to me because this is ripping the skill right out of 2-time League MVP Steve Nash. Nash won those two MVP awards because he was running and dishing off to his teammates. Without the running and assists Nash is just another mediocre PG that is sort of replaceable.

Porter is trying to get the Suns to "get the best shot available" through moving the ball and not shooting recklessly. The more I hear and watch the Suns the more I see a group of guys who are just lost on the court. Let the Suns run!

Terry should bring down the tempo just a little but should not let the Steve Nash and his court vision go to waste. I propose the following.

1 - Let 2-time MVP run and use his vision
2 - Allow Shaq to throw his weight down low in the post on a few "off plays".
3 - Make sure Shaq realizes that he needs to be a defensive force and to take plays off when the Suns are running. Just chill big man!
4 - With Amare there in the mix the Suns should run and use his athletic ability.

Terry Porter, don't let Steve Nash and his vision go to waste. We all know that the Suns aren't true contenders for the Larry O'Brien Trophy but don't waste the talent that you have.


Picture Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports.