Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Dethroning the Champs: Miami Heat "Rules"

The NBA season has been great so far watching players, coaches and ultimately NBA franchises get ready for what we call the stretch run of the NBA season. As teams fight for a spot in the NBA playoffs there is one common denominator, one purpose and that is winning the NBA Championship. The trade deadline has passed and the blockbuster trades never materialized. Therefore the DNA of your favorite team is already set; remember the phrase "They are who we Thought they were". Well its true barring major injuries or dramatic increase in player level the type of dramatic increase that turns Joe Johnson into Reggie Miller  NBA teams are set.

Like the great Ric Flair once said "In order to be the man you have to be the man" and the 2011-2012 NBA Champion Miami Heat are currently storming the NBA on a 12 game winning streak. Dwayne Wade "W.O.W" or Way Of Wade is taking over 4th quarters and the Miami Heat look primed to defend their NBA Championship. So it’s not a matter of who will make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, it’s who has the better shot of defeating the Miami Heat in the postseason. In the end it comes down to matching strengths versus weaknesses.

Deep analysis of the Miami Heat shows glaring holes in several categories 46.6 is the number of rebounds the Heat average per game ranking 30th in the NBA. Miami's Offensive rebounding percentage 22.5% allows opposing NBA teams to grab at least 77.5% of Miami's missed shots on the boards. Heat average a total of 8.5 offensive rebounds tied 28th with the Boston Celtics in the NBA worst in the Eastern Conference. Miami is able to combat these stats with an Effective 54.9% FG best in the NBA and low turnover rate of 12.9%. Miami's perfect storm would be a team that can apply pressure on defense forcing turnovers while controlling the glass. Perimeter and Paint defensive oriented teams with an effective offensive system. Reasons why the Boston Celtics with Rajon Rondo normally give the Miami Heat great intense battles.

Contrary to belief the Miami Heat only excel greatly in three out of eighteen major/sub stat categories Points per Game 103.9, Turnover % 12.9 and Steals 8.7. Heats moderately perform in two major stat categories Point Differential +7.1 and Effective FG% 54.9. Miami is great at making up their flaws in the post offensively with great perimeter play as well last season the Heat shot 35.9% from three point range this number drastically increased in the NBA playoffs against the OKC Thunder when Mike Miller and Shane Battier got "White Heat Hot" from downtown. During the 2012-2013 NBA season the additions of Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen has increased the Heat's three point percentage to a scorching 39.1%

While the Miami Heat has several flaws mostly in the post/ paint it would take a multi-faceted team in order to dethrone the NBA Champions. List of Eastern Conference playoff teams with the ability to create havoc in the playoffs and strip the Heat of another NBA Finals appearance is slim. Here's a list of playoff teams with the ability to control the post defensively and offensively Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks fit the bill here. Defensively the Heat could struggle against a defensive and aggressive Indiana team Pacers lead the NBA in PPG Allowed 89.6 other notable Eastern Conference playoff teams include Chicago  Bulls 91.6, Brooklyn Nets 94.8, Boston Celtics 96.1 and Atlanta Hawks 96.2. Only three playoff bound teams hold opponents to a worst FG% Indiana Pacers 41.3%, Chicago Bulls 43.4% and Boston Celtics 44.1%.  Once we look at the overall Adjusted FG% which shows the effectiveness of the opponents offense versus the defense only the Pacers 44.5%, Bulls 46.7%, Bucks (8th seed) 48.2%, Celtics 48.2%, Hawks 49.2% are same or better than Miami Heat.  Once again the Heat combats these issues with effective offense and unmatched intangibles in LeBron James and Dwayne Wade.

Eastern Conference playoff teams prove that defense is the call Miami Heat’s offense sets them apart and beyond the rest of the pack. Heat average 103.9 ppg , 49.7 fg% and effective 54.9% fg rate. New York Knicks average 100.1 ppg but the offensive system is only generating a 44.3 fg% and Miami's defense is more effective due to lack of perimeter pressure. Atlanta Hawks DNA proves they have a good offensive system with Jeff Teague at the point and Josh Smith and Al Horford controlling the post generating a 46.3 fg% and Effective/ Adjusted 51.9 fg%. Issue for Hawks terrible home court more Heat fans in Philips Arena than Hawks fans you can actually hear the "Let's Go Heat Chants" drain out the announcer saying "Defense" when Heat have the ball, secondly Josh Smith and Al Horford always look overwhelmed by James and Wade being on the same basketball court. Injuries to Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose eliminates the Celtics and Bulls, I wonder what the Bulls offense would look like versus the Heat with a healthy Rose in uniform.  Brooklyn Nets offense despite Deron Williams at point guard are terrible 95.2 ppg, 44.1 fg% and 49.1 effective fg%. Brook Lopez and Reggie Evans undoubtedly have the ability to control the post offensive/ defensive but where is Williams and Johnson?

 Indiana Pacers represent the Miami Heat’s greatest defensive threat but lag far behind in all offensive categories 94.0 ppg, 43.4 fg% and 47.6 Adjusted/ Effective fg%. Middle to end of the pack NBA free throw and three point team. Since the All-Star break the Indiana has outpaced their offensive season averages posting 125pts v. Knicks, 114pts v. Pistons, 90pts v. Pistons and 108pts v. Warriors opening up to a 4-0 start after the break. Former All-Star Danny Granger is back from injury and the Pacers seemed posed with all the potential to threaten the Miami Heat if the offensive explosion continues. Most of all the Pacers don't seem fazed by the intangibles LeBron James and Dwayne Wade.

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Saturday, February 23, 2013

Los Angeles Lakers Guarantee 2013 NBA Playoffs


Los Angeles Lakers one of the most storied franchises in American sports history are currently on the outside looking in when it comes to the NBA playoff picture. Despite one of the best rosters in the NBA the Lakers are fighting to sniff the NBA playoffs. As NBA fans and media question the Lakers ability to turn things around over the later portion of the season Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash remain confident of a NBA playoff appearance. When discussing the issue in a recent Sports Illustrated interview Kobe Bryant said "It's not a question of if we make the playoffs. We will,” Bold statement by the NBA's worldwide spokesperson as #24 has never been a individual short on confidence or will. Seeing the glass more than half-full is the way Bryant has always viewed life in the NBA.  After Bryant's playoff guarantee fellow teammates Nash and Howard were asked about the statement and responded "Yeah, I guarantee it, too," Nash said and Howard responded with "I'm not going to sit up here and say, 'No, we're not going to make it,' " Howard said. "We got to have faith, and if we don't, we're not going to make it, but I believe that we're going to turn this around and we're going to be great."

The Lakers currently sit 3 1/2 games behind the James Harden led Houston Rockets and sit 4 1/2 games outside of 7th place Utah Jazz. Los Angeles Lakers 27-29 are 7-3 over their last 10 games and starting to click on the court. Howard seems to have his explosive bounce and first step back after a nagging shoulder and back injuries. While a lot of media focus surrounding the NBA's best big man remains on what he will do during the upcoming off season. General Manager Mitch Kupchak is confident that Howard is the center piece and future of the Los Angeles Lakers. With the NBA trade deadline passed and gone Howard seems more inclined to stay in Los Angeles. The relationship between Howard and Kupchak is based on trust "He just told me to trust him, so I’m going to trust him and go out there every night, play as hard as I can" Howard said.
 
Now with chemistry starting to mesh and injuries to Nash and Howard on the mends the focus for the Lakers is making the playoffs. Trust is no longer a issue as the Lakers stars are starting to align, the only issue is timing. Do the Lakers have enough time to make a true run at the NBA playoffs, with 26 games remaining in the 2012-2013 season? The passing of Owner Dr. Jerry Buss gives the Lakers a sense of urgency to live up to the legacy and tradition started by the late owner who quoted the reason he bought the Lakers was to surpass the Boston Celtics. The day after his passing the Lakers dismantled the Celtics in his honor and a NBA Championship in 2013 places the franchise at 17 Championships tying the Celtics.  Dr. Buss will be truly missed.....

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Wednesday, February 13, 2013

The Broken Insignia

Clenaure Carter Iraq
  Before I point to the issues of the Dorner and LAPD tragedies. Let me share a personal story one that I rarely share with others outside of my immediate family. I was once a victim of police brutality, never committed a crime a simple case of wrong place, wrong time. In 2004 I was in the United States Air Force and working a late shift at America’s favorite wing spot Buffalo Wild Wings located on Craig Rd in North Las Vegas Nevada. It was midnight the desert air giving way to a beautiful cloudless sky eight miles north of the Las Vegas strip. I arrived home and a close friend of mine asked if he could borrow my keys to take a simple drive to a local corner store. As I looked into his eyes I decided to do the right thing and take him to a store located on Craig Rd. As we arrived to the store we noticed a few friends and we chopped it up for a while. As we walked back to the vehicle, Police Officers arrived and immediately ordered the group of young African Americans to place our hands on the hood of the officers vehicle. What happened over the course of the next 5-10 minutes changed my life forever. 

               A Sergeant for the North Las Vegas Police Department directed me to come over to his side of the vehicle. As I walked over I showed the officer the tall Anglo-Saxon police officer my military issued United States Air Force ID Card and let him know I was unaware of any issues. The officer proceeded to choke me, as I started to gag and blackout from the choking I immediately fought the officer off of my neck. After fighting the officer off he reached for his weapon. Instantly I warned the officer of the grave mistake he was going to make shooting an innocent African American male (Yes I did).  I caught myself realizing the situation and immediately turned around placing my hands on the side of the officer’s vehicle. While facing the vehicle, I noticed the officer from my peripheral preparing to squirt me with mace and moved out of the way at that moment backup officers jumped my back. Beating me to the ground with Batons and Tasers, I was arrested and spent several days in jail awaiting my bail hearing (it was Friday night). Bail was set that Monday morning and by Wednesday night around 11:50 I was released.

Following my release I called internal affairs the charges were bogus and made up. I needed answers like why was the officer there at the scene and treating us like criminals, thugs, pieces of dirt, human scrape meat, dogs without training. I was told officers were responding to an armed robbery. There was no robbery; there were no weapons, no stolen items, there was nothing. Several months later with accommodating letters from my military commander and the help of an excellent supervisor who never once questioned my innocence. Charges were dropped from the case and records sealed.

Christopher Dorner Navy Officer
That day left me with severe back issues that would later lead to a medical retirement from the United States Air Force. After 11yrs of military service tours in Iraq and a Humanitarian Award from Hurricane Katrina I was released into a strange world. With nowhere to turn I enrolled into the Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science program at Herzing University in Atlanta GA. No I didn't want to be a cop or county sheriff. I attended college so I could learn the mind of those officers that beat me that night some six years ago.  Why? Because those officers left me disabled and the beatings left me with Degenerative Disc Disease.

So when Christopher Dorner a Navy military service officer says he was dismissed from the LAPD and the United States military because he reported officer brutality. It strikes memories of that dark Las Vegas night when innocent servicemen and veterans were simply having a conversation at a Shell gas station. This is my story but there are many like it, many that have been mistreated by the local police department. Mistreated by those whose duty is to protect and serve the community. No I don't condone the killings of innocent officers or the hostage taking of women in a cabin. I simply write this because the justice system needs to change. As we discuss gun violence in America lets also discuss the gun violence and brutality of those whose duty is to protect and serve our community. All I wanted to do that night was shake some Buffalo Wings and assist a friend at a local store. All Dorner wanted to do was set the record straight on police brutality in America. Yet Tuesday night February 12th 2013 those same officers who were to protect and serve set fire to a cabin where Dorner was located roasting him to a charred crisp on World Wide television as CNN, FOX, ABC, MSNBC and other media outlets watched and Americans citizens stood in silence.
Baton Welts on Lower Back

My hearts goes out to every family member affected by the tragedy and pray for all the victims of the mindless acts. At the same time let’s not be fooled by the prejudice displayed by those behind the badge in order to eradicate an issue you must first look at the root of the problem. The American Justice system must be fixed, as these incidents of police brutality continue to mount. It's time for a systematic and progressive change in America to fix the broken insignia.





P.S. You can take my back but you can't take my voice.... 

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NBA Mid-Season Report: Wild Roller Coaster Full of Injuries

     If you been following the NBA this season it has been a roller coaster of high-fives and disappointments . Golden State Warriors have been a great example of the NBA ride I am determined to point out. Riddled with injuries (Andrew Bogut) Mark Jackson's club has been to the top of the mountain and now heading into the All-Star break losing five games in a row the Warriors have essentially turned back into pumpkins at the stroke of midnight. Los Angeles Lakers front office has been horrible, terrible, implorable down right ugly. First the disrespectful firing of Mike Brown, the shady under cut move to dismiss the great Phil Jackson to hire the Big Apple destroyer in Mike D'Antoni. Then the injury bug started spreading around like the plague in the Lakers locker room down goes Nash, then D. Howard and now Gasol ouch! Karma from the Zen Master?

     In the Eastern Conference Brooklyn Nets started off hot in their new surroundings appearing to emerge as early  NBA Finals contenders and are now looking like a simple NBA playoff team. While making the playoffs is a great stride for the Nets franchise Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace weren't assembled to be a mere Eastern Conference playoff team they were meshed together to challenge the Miami Heat. Boston Celtics bit the injury bug hard Rondo partially torn right knee ACL out for the season, then the "Brazilian blur" Rondo's point guard replacement Leandro Barbosa goes out with a torn left ACL. This after the Celtics proved they had enough heart to survive without Rondo on the court winning seven contest in a row.

     Take a sharp look at this seasons NBA injury laundry  list and it reads like a who's who of the NBA or an All Star lineup. Derrick Rose*, Danny Granger, Anderson Varejao, Joakim Noah, Rajon Rondo, Pau Gasol, Mo Williams, Chris Kaman, Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups, Andrei Kirilenko, Andrew Bynum, Andrea Bargnani, Amare' Stoudemire, Kevin Love and more. All NBA players listed have missed significant time with injuries this season.

Hopefully the injury plague will come to an end after the All Star break. Unfortunately the roller coaster of rising and falling NBA teams will undoubtedly continue as playoff teams in both the Western and Eastern Conference are not etched in stone. I still believe Toronto and Philadelphia have an opportunity to slide into the 8th spot with Milwaukee Bucks currently on a down slide. While Kobe and the Lakers will not go quietly....


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Saturday, February 9, 2013

Greg Oden "The BIG Anemic" Returning to NBA...

Greg Oden the "BIG Anemic" is returning to the NBA. According to news sources around Cleveland Ohio the anemic one is close to a two year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Akron Beacon Journal reported Oden signing with the Cavaliers after the February 21st trade deadline. Oden has been working out and a third year team option is attached to the deal.
(Sam Forencich/Getty Images)

Cavaliers are currently $4 million under the cap and exploring several different trades to revamp a roster around young NBA superstar Kyrie Irving. Last week Oden's agent Mike Conley Sr. confirmed to the press that Oden had been working out/ meeting with the Cavaliers. While several other teams including the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics have been very interested in signing Oden. The Big Anemic is ready to stay home in his native Ohio and play for the Cavaliers. 

Minus injury concerns Oden and Anderson Varejao could form a great one-two punch in the post with Marreese Speights coming off the bench. If Cavaliers find success between now and the off season of 2014 LeBron James could have a lot to think about before resigning with the Miami Heat. 

Oden's last appearance in a NBA uniform was during the 2009 NBA season. Drafted in 2007 his career has been plagued with multiple severe and serious knee injuries. According to Sports Illustrated " Prior to that round of surgeries, Oden also had left knee surgery in 2009 after fracturing his patella, microfracture surgery on his left knee in 2010 to address a “defect” that occurred during non-contact rehabilitation work, and a microfracture surgery on his right knee in 2007." Since rehabbing Oden has moved back to Columbus and attended Ohio State finishing his degree. 

FYI:
1.) Greg Oden is 25 years old
2.) Agent Mike Conley Sr. is father of Memphis Grizzlies PG Mike Conley

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Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Mother confiscates Arkansas National Letter of Intent

For High School football athletes February 6th was designated as the day young teenagers take their first step into adulthood. The day athletes decide between Iowa Community College and Alabama, these are the most important decisions of their lives. Several athletes will leave the confines of their small community and venture into the world of the unknown to attend colleges 3,000 miles away from home. That's what happened when Defensive End Titus Failauga of Hawaii committed to Oregon State. Today is the day young teens take the opportunity to lay the first conditional foot stones of their professional and educational lives. 

So what happens when a parent (mom) wants to keep her cub close to home? Alex Collins a four star running back prospect out of Plantation FL received a National Letter of Intent from Arkansas. Collins had every intention on signing the letter until the paperwork ended up missing. According to several sources Collins mother is disturbed by the prospect of her son leaving home and attending Arkansas. Collins has already pledged a verbal commitment but without the NLI the situation is voided. According to South Florida Sun-Sentinel Collins mother would like him to stay home and possibly attend Miami University. 


Unfortunately Ms. Collins is still missing and until she is found Alex Collins will not be signing any type of letter to play at Arkansas, Miami, Florida or any other program until she is found. The story brings us to this question. Should parents have a say in where they allow their teenage athletes to attend college? 


Remember when Texas A&M commit Floyd Ravens mother forged his signature and sent his 2011 letter of intent to Mississippi?  How much should parents influence their children's decision when it comes to athletic commitments? 




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