Superteam or Superthrees???

So, for the past three years, we have watched the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. However, this past year, was the first time in a long time, I barely watched it past halftime. It just wasn't exciting as it had been in the past and I am huge basketball fan. I couldn't quite put my finger on my disinterest. I am not a die hard fan of either team, so watching the Finals should've been easy breezy. But at the core of who I am as a fan, is someone that just likes to watch good hard-nosed fundamental basketball. Quite often throughout the playoffs, what was on display was a three-point shootout.

Ever since Kevin Durant went running into his mother's arms crying, every basketball analyst has been analyzing the idea of super teams. Some writers have claimed that super teams have always existed. Boston in the 60's, the Lakers in the 80's, Chicago in the 90's. But I tend to disagree just a little bit. Maybe this current Warriors team can be compared to the Celtics of the sixties, but both those Lakers and Bulls teams had a LOT of competition in the league during their eras, and there was a LOT of drama in the Finals. Things did not play out the way they are today. I wasn't alone in my disinterest. One night on Twitter, during a Finals game, #BlackTwitter was having a debate about cultural appropriation and it was so heated, many people forgot the game was on.

Plain and simple, this model that the Warriors have created isn't just about bringing 3-4 stars together on one team, this is about how they have changed the way the game is played. Golden State plays small, sometimes having three guards on the floor with two forwards. The pace is fast, and in the midst of their transitions, you will see three after three shot. Their is very little ball movement, and interestingly enough, the shooter is often pretty predictable. Teams are getting blown out by these guys because they can't keep up with the pace. By the time a lot of opponents make it to the other end of the court, the shot has already been thrown and made. Due to this, games turn around for them very quickly. They could be down 12 points, and within six minutes, have a ten point lead. Steph, Klay and now KD all can make quick shots from beyond three point range. They place guys like Igoudala out there to defend and block, and then have Draymond Green out there to agitate and steal the ball. Green's role on the team is amusing to me. He is the hired bully, and it is quite effective against less experienced teams, whose stars get upset at his antics. Once he feels he has the other team mentally and emotionally, Golden State is making their run.

So how do you guard that? What is the defensive game plan to keep them from going. Just from my own observation, you have to pick who you want to shut out. Your best bet is going to be Steph and Draymond. If you can agitate Draymond first, get him into foul trouble, after all he is an over-reactor, then you've got him. If Steph isn't playing well, that takes a huge piece away from the team considering he is the leader. Yes, Klay Thompson is very effective and quite frankly is the reason why the Warriors won a decisive game three in the finals. But, Steph is a terrible defender and once you make him work on the defensive end, you can pull him out of his game. Kyrie Irving can be very good at this when he is consistent. But even then, your team has to be above average offensively, otherwise, you still don't stand a chance to beat them.

Defense, fundamentals, ball movement have all fallen by the wayside in this Warriors era. While efficient, it can be a bit boring, which means the league could suffer financially. All of these college players pulling a one and done makes the draft a non-issue. Most of these guys don't even make it through their rookie season healthy. A lot of them end up on teams with no future, so free agency becomes where all of the drama is, and this year is no different. Paul George, Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porzingis have all been named as players multiple teams have a solid interest in obtaining. Cleveland, already over the luxury tax is looking to build a super team to try and get a chip. I will give them the 2017-2018 season to get it done. After that when LeBron opts out, he's gone. I can absolutely see Jerry West luring him to L.A. the following year. My Bulls look like they aren't even trying to rebuild until the Warriors cool off in about 4-5 years. So, is this what we, as fans, have to look forward to the next few years? A shootout throughout the playoffs, and the best shooters get the chip? I'm good.

Rose Gloom

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I was busy on Saturday. As usual, it is my only day to get everything done, and this Saturday was no different. I was however happy about two things. One, I was able to watch the first half of the Bulls opening playoff game, and two, it wasn't raining. Local weatherman, Stever Baskerville warned that Saturday was going to be a rainy and gloomy day. Little did Chicagoans know, the gloom was going to come on West Madison Street at the United Center around 3:00 p.m. Throughout the afternoon, I checked my tweets for scores and updates, then I saw fellow friend and tweeter, Taylor, who has dubbed herself "The Duchess of Deerfield" due to her undying love and affection for starting Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, tweet that he was hurt. I felt uneasy for a moment. Honestly, knowing Derrick wasn't 100%, I wasn't against the staff holding him in this series. While the 76'ers are a formidable team, the Bulls could beat them without Derrick. Save him for Boston or Atlanta I thought. God, how I wish that is what they decided. When word got out that Derrick suffered a season-ending torn ACL, I felt absolutely putrid. To say I was sick is an understatement. The melancholy really sat in on Sunday as I made my way to church and listened to the ESPN-1000 crew talk about the injury. It got real. I pondered over it, wondering why this affected me so. For some reason, Derrick has just affected people. I honestly expected no one outside of Chicago to even care. I saw a few Miami fans tweeting their laughs and crass remarks about how they were glad that he got hurt, which I think is reprehensible. You don't celebrate someone else's pain, but then again, I'm still trying to figure out how one becomes a Miami Heat fan. But I also saw numerous tweets from people all over, including celebrities, who were in shock and disbelief. My sickness over it centered around Derrick moreso than the team. It was like, how can something like this happen to someone like him? Rose, who represents what's right in the league and now this. This season has left quite a few teams battered and bruised, due to the condensed schedule. And to say the schedule has nothing to do with it, would just be an outright lie. Up unil this season, Rose played 280/286 games. Numbers don't lie. Stern's reluctance to acknowledge that is reason number 3, 456,799 why he should step down as the commissioner. The owner's bottom line took precedence over the health and well-being of the players. This was a mistake and should not be repeated. Now there are 3 players who won't be playing for the U.S. this summer, and how heartbreaking Rose is one of them. No, it's not the end of the world. After at least 6-9 months of rehabilitation, Rose will probably be driving the basket for the amazing circus shot and the And-1, but for right now, my emotions are as dreary as the spring weather outside

A&M Sports Talk - Episode 1.1

This is just a quick post about my new sports blog, "A&M Sports Talk" that I do with my friend Andrea. We recorded 2 parts for the first podcast, and I do hope that you enjoy. We're just two homegrown Chicago girls giving in depth discussion about sports.

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David Stern: Modern Day Plantation Owner?

It is no secret that I am no big fan of David Stern. A New Yorker, raised in a Jewish family in Teaneck, who went on to Rutgers, then law school at Columbia. He became a legal counsel for the NBA in the 70's and by February 1, 1984, he became the Commissioner of the league.

I give this abbreviated resume of Stern's to show that there is a disconnect here. A man, who has never even played basketball should not be running the professional league of basketball! Not for almost 30 years!!!

I have seen the tell-tale signs that the league has outgrown him through the years. During the Jordan era, I remember it was a bit of a controversy at first when the Bulls began wearing their shorts a little longer. Now it's standard around the league. Then the issue was braids, then tattooes, then jeans, and so on. Times have changed. The NBA is no longer an all-white, boring organization of pickup players. The NBA boasts some of the most freakishly athletic players in the world. The games are often tantalizing and sometimes jaw dropping. And here you have this "old guy" running it, who can't even relate to them on a basic level because he's never even been an athlete.

Now the lockout looms. Preseason is gone. We're moving into the first month of the season being lost, and he is working against the players he is supposed to lead, more than ever. Playing off of public scrutiny and prejudices to victimize himself, then hoping to rebuild that taint if an agreement is reached. This is clearly not someone who should be over a league of professional basketball players.

So, on his HBO show, Bryant Gumbel decided to point that out. He referred to Stern as a "...modern plantation owner...." The words were harsh, shocking even, to some. But, was Gumbel right?

The Decision!

So, we are 24 hours away from the biggest free agent signing in the history of the NBA! Actually, in the history of sports, and I feel as if the only thing I have become a witness to is a CIRCUS!

It is no secret that I am NOT LeBron James' biggest fan. I don't dislike him per se, I just don't care for what he represents, and I particularly don't like his team. His high school/neighborhood friends who have placed their entire livelihoods on his shoulders, all in the name of having his back. However, their laissez-faire way of managing basketball's biggest talent has become detrimental to his future as a legend in this game. Whether it is his refusal to shake the hand of his opponent after suffering a conference finals loss, or dodging the media while he pouts about it, there have definitely been some snafus in the professionalism of LeBron James.

Professionalism aside, he is an explosive and freakishly athletic talent. However, to be a legend or to be the best, you have to be professional and likable! One thing for certain, some of James' antics have landed him as the subject of the most scathing articles in sports.

Tomorrow, James and his team promise to reveal where he will play next season, and most likely the next six seasons. Will he stay in Cleveland, move to Chicago, NY, Miami, or New Jersey? These are the million dollar questions that ESPN has asked verbatim for the last month. Quite frankly, I will be glad when he does say where he's going so we can all move on. After all, our country is still at war, we have the largest oil spill in history and unemployment is still stifling the economy. I am beginning to feel like a schmuck for constantly turning to ESPN, checking the Internet and my sports alerts for news. Here is my breakdown of his possible choices.

Cleveland: If LeBron stays in Cleveland, he pretty much will be in the same position he was in last season, except for the fact that instead of Mike "Mr. Potato Head" Brown, the new coach is Byron Scott. This is an obvious upgrade, which will help, but the biggest issue LeBron had was a lackluster supporting cast. Ilgauskas had pinches of good games, but his basketball I.Q. is low, and at times he was downright goofy. Mo Williams had spurts of shooting greatness, but he also had long stretches of shooting droughts, and unfortunately it was usually when his team needed him. Shaq is done. Delonte West could be considered arguably better than Williams, but due to his romp with Momma James, it's safe to say if LeBron stays, he's outta there. This team would make the playoffs, maybe after a few tries even, the Finals, but no ring here!

New York: Considered to be the holy grail of professional sports, the big apple is known for buying their way into professional titles. However, this feat has failed time and time again for the Knicks. In fact, they have become synonymous with overpaying the wrong players (i.e., Allan Houston, Stephon Marbury). They have not disappointed this year. They signed Amar'e Stoudamire to a 5 year/$100M deal! I am just going to let that lie for a moment. Yes you read that right, $100 Million dollars to Amar'e Stoudamire! You would think they would've learned their lesson by now, clearly they haven't. While AS is athletic, a consistent scorer and is known to have breakout games. He is also a bad defender, sometimes selfish with the ball, and a cancer to some locker rooms. It is no secret that there are former teammates in the league that literally loathe him. With that said, it will be very interesting to see how AS will play with another star, especially someone bigger than Nash. It will also be interesting to see him play in a defense-oriented conference and on a team with no real point guard. If LeBron lands in New York, he and Stoudamire will be the team. That is NOT enough. Under the scrutiny of New York media, this situation can quickly become impossible.

Miami: So we now know that D. Wade lured Chris Bosh to join him in South Beach. On paper, this looks great. Two bonafide stars playing together in the land of the beautiful, however, like NY, the Heat lack a sufficient supporting cast. Mario Chalmers - pass. Quentin Richardson - pass. DaSean Butler - not nearly developed yet. Jermaine O'Neal - he's done. Michael Beasley - a wild card with emotional problems. This organization has the most work to do to their roster to put themselves in contention. That was painfully obvious when they were ousted by Cleveland in the semifinals last season. If Wade thought he was frustrated before...but that's right, if LeBron joins them - there will be a little confusion. Sometimes you can have too many stars. This isn't the Olympics, this is an 82-game season. Wade and James' games are very similar and Coach Spoelstra isn't experienced enough to balance all of those egos. Doesn't matter because Riley is coming for his job now anyway. Not sure about rings here. Maybe, but definitely NOT a dynasty.

Chicago: This is the most likely pairing. Has been from the start, much to my chagrin. Due to my issues with LeBron's professional development, I didn't want him to come to the Bulls. However, looking at where he is likely to have the quickest success to a championship, it's definitely the Bulls. Rose, Noah, Deng, now Boozer and James is definitely a championship caliber team. But, there are some ifs that all hinge on chemistry. While Rose and Noah are young players, they are very mature, focused and passionate about the game. They check their egos at the door and do whatever it takes as a team to win. LeBron hasn't grasped this yet, and I fear his penchant for things always being about him and surrounding him would throw off the chemistry of the team. Tom Thibedeau is also a no-nonsense defensive minded coach who will not allow LeBron to play three positions every time he walks the ball down the court. This would force Bron to make adjustments to his game, which I know he doesn't like to make. Finally, the Bulls organization is about business. Contrary to the DelNegro/Paxson scuffle last season, they are a take-care-of-business organization. Old players are dispersed throughout as assistants, scouts, commentators, etc. So Bron's team would NOT have free-reign, nor would they be calling the shots. Titles could come to Bron here, but he would have to be open to change.

New Jersey: Honestly, and I know Jay-Z is a 1% owner and the team is moving to Brooklyn, but right now, they are in New Jersey. That would be like LeBron coming here to play for a Joliet team. Out of all the teams, New Jersey has the least chance of landing him for obvious reasons. Even in Brooklyn, it will give them an expansion team feel and missing will be the rich histories of a New York, Chicago or Los Angeles franchise. Even with the Russian owners billions, it is too much of a volatile situation for Bron Bron. No rings here.

In all, LeBron is making a "Decision" at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time tomorrow night. He is getting a whole hour on ESPN to seal his fate for the next six years. The choice he makes will decide whether he wants to win championships or is he after more fame and money and more expansion of his brand. I can already see the direction his team is going, but only tomorrow will tell whether my hunch is right. Stay tuned!