NBA Off-Season: Five Storylines to Follow
July 7, 2008
Stephon Marbury would be better suited playing for another team next season.
[PHOTO BY ICON SMI]
BY MICHAEL GANCI
UPDATE! Writer
1. Teams Preparing for 2010
COMMENT: Many teams are already working diligently to get under the salary cap in anticipation of 2010, which is when LeBron James will be an unrestricted free agent, which the Cavaliers will have to work very hard to avoid. Rumor has it that LeBron will not resign with the Cavaliers, and his top two choices may be the Knicks and Nets. He loves the idea of playing in the big apple in the world’s most famous arena, but New Jersey is not too far out. Although it is very early, I would say the Nets are the favorites due to the close relationship between James and Nets shareholder Jay-Z.
2. Will Kobe Demand a Trade?
COMMENT: Last summer, Kobe expressed a desire to be traded and nothing came of it. Instead of being a cry baby about it, Kobe showcased himself to the best of his abilities, and he was awarded with the MVP honor for his efforts. He wouldn’t say he was satisfied, because his Lakers fell short in the NBA Finals to the Celtics. Kobe is said to be sick and tired of running the show by himself, and would prefer to be somewhere else, but my money is on him remaining a Laker through next season.
3. Will the Celtics Repeat?
COMMENT: There has been a lot of talk about whether or not the Celtics will be able to repeat next season. They are looking to add more depth to their bench, and have been in talks with Corey Maggette. They had only one pick in the draft and didn’t make much of it. I think the Spurs would be my early favorite to win it all due to their experience and sound fundamentals. They just have to make sure that they do not shut down on offense like they did in against the Lakers. Other teams that will surely be in contention are the Hornets, Suns, Cavaliers, and Magic.
4. How do the Knicks Fix Their Problems?
COMMENT: The Knicks were nothing short of a disaster last season, and they decided to change direction. The first act of duty was to get rid of Isiah Thomas. Then, the Knicks replaced Thomas with former Phoenix Suns head coach Mike D’Antoni. They drafted Danilo Gallinari with the sixth overall pick, although that was much chagrin to the New York fans. The latest move was the Knicks’ signing of free agent point guard Chris Duhon. That may signify the end of the line for Stephon Marbury, which would be the best course of action for both parties. Other Knicks that need to go are Jerome James, Eddy Curry and/or Zach Randolph. The Knicks need to have a better attitude in the locker room. The process will take a couple of years.
5. Who Will Win Rookie of the Year?
COMMENT: I think the man who will be pronounced 2008/09 rookie of the year this season will be Michael Beasley of the Miami Heat. Beasley has a huge upside for the Heat, and also may have the opportunity to post big fantasy numbers. He should go as a fourth or fifth round pick in most fantasy drafts. Other guys who have a shot at Rookie of the Year are Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo and Danilo Gallinari. Who knows? Maybe someone no one is thinking of will become the NBA’s new phenom. It could happen.
CELTICS: Garnett Leads to Promise Land
June 18, 2008
Boston Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett scored 26 points and had 14 rebounds as the Celtics embarrassed Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in game six of the NBA finals to win the championship.
BOTTOM LINE: The Lakers just didn’t come to play in game six. Gasol and Odom disappeared again, and their inconsistent play is the reason that the Lakers were eliminated.
It’s Not All About Kobe
June 16, 2008
Kendrick Perkins had overmatched Gasol physically for the whole series thus far, but thankfully for Gasol, Perkins was out of the lineup. He was able to get position, and create plays for his teammates.
Odom needs to keep on driving the lane. When he takes too many jumpers, he is not successful. His game thrives on movement into the paint to he can either take the shot, or pass the ball off to a teammate.
The bottom line is this. These guys need to be atop their game if they want to win the whole thing, because if they’e not, the Lakers will be eliminated in game six.
–MICHAEL GANCI
Underestimating Greatness
June 5, 2008
Bryant has been everything the Lakers could have dreamed for over his tenure, but many critics don’t think he can hold up against the “big three.” I don’t understand these naysayers. Kevin Garnett has been true to form this post season, and Paul Pierce has beens treaky. He scored 41 and 27 in two separate games, but he scored 11 once, and has been up and down for most of the post season. Ray Allen has not held up his end at all. In 12 different games this post season, Allen has failed to eclipse 15 points. Kobe, on the other hand, does it every single night.
When going down to the wire, who do you trust in the big spot? Is it Paul Pierce who has a history of not being a consistent playoff player? No. Is it Ray Allen whose best days are definitely behind him? Not a chance. The guy who shines when it counts is Kobe Bryant, and with Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom at his side, he is going to lead the Lakers to yet another NBA Championship.
–MICHAEL GANCI
Best of the Best
March 7, 2008
Ask your casual NBA fan who this season’s MVP is and you will probably spark a heated debate. I’m sure there are at least four or five other guys whose names you could throw into the mix (i.e. Kevin Garnett, Chris Paul), but media and fans alike have zeroed in on Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Is the MVP Bryant, whose unselfish play has led the Los Angeles Lakers to the top of the Western Conference? Or James, who leads the league in scoring while nearly averaging a triple-double on an sub-standard Cleveland Cavaliers team? Is the MVP a reflection of the best overall statistics, or should the award be handed to the player who most improves his teammates level of play? Kobe critics will say that King James has better numbers across the board. Why should Bryant get the award when LeBron bests him in nearly every category? Those hating on the King will point out that James is young and will have at least 10 more MVP-worthy campaigns, whereas Bryant has been snubbed repeatedly. Plus, Bryant has finally developed into the consummate superstar — one who shares the ball and makes his team better while still putting up monster numbers. Kobe Bryant dropped 50 on the Dallas Mavericks; LeBron James dropped 50 on the New York Knicks the next night. Both players elicited chants of “M-V-P” from the crowd. So who will take home the award? I’d put good money on Bryant, even if James does have him beat numbers-wise. Voters usually take into account a team’s performance when casting their ballots, and the Lakers are just too good to ignore. But perhaps the tipping point will be Bryant’s gutsy decision to postpone surgery on a torn pink ligament until after the season despite doctor’s recommendations otherwise. Bryant has a level of determination not seen since Michael Jordan. Ultimately, it’s this type of intangible commitment to winning that sets Bryant apart from the pack .
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