CAVLIERS: LeBron Returns
July 31, 2008
Clevaland Cavaliers forward LeBron James scored 20 points and played solid defense to lead the U.S. Team to a 114-82 win over Turkey, and proved that his injured ankle is fine.
BOTTOM LINE: The Olympic team and the Cavaliers are probably letting out a sigh of relief. LeBron will continue to play and should play a huge role in the summer olympics.
CAVALIERS: LeBron Sprains Ankle
July 23, 2008
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James sprained his right ankle while practicing with Team USA for the Summer Olympics, according to the Associated Press.
BOTTOM LINE: Right now, the injury is being viewed as a minor sprain, but James will be reevaluated on Wednesday. Stay tuned.
LeBron Injures Ankle
July 23, 2008
We all woke up this morning to find out that LeBron James injured his ankle in practice for Team USA yesterday, and he is going to be reevaluated today. It’s believed that it is just a slight sprain, but they are smartly taking the necessary precautions.
Team USA hasn’t won a gold medal for basketball in eight years, and the loss of LeBron would definitely siminish their chances drastically. LeBron may be the best overall player on the team, and the other members of the team are going to need LeBron as a distraction, and then they will be able to get open and contribute offensively.
We will have to keep a close eye on this injury situation. I know they are expecting it to be a minor injury, but we should all be a little worried that it is something else. More as it comes. USA! USA! USA!
–MICHAEL GANCI
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.
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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