The New "King" Of New York?

When I think about the NBA for the year 2010, there is one question that continues to pop-up in my mind:

Will LeBron James leave Cleveland for New York?

This is a question that even LeBron James doesn't know the answer to. James has started a media frenzy in the NBA regarding his loyalty to the Cleveland Cavaliers. We all know that Cleveland had it's share of heart breaks throughout the years. From Michael Jordan's game winning fade away jumpers to the awful Cleveland Browns, Cleveland desperately needed LeBron James to save their city.

Not only did LeBron save the city of Cleveland, he resurrected a throne in the Eastern Conference. With three Eastern Conference Finals appearances, one NBA Finals appearance, countless awards and broken records, James became a dominant force.

After all the accomplishments in Cleveland, the "King" may be looking to resurrect another throne in New York City. LeBron couldn't dodge the temptation to leave Cleveland and his teammates for the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. In an interview with ESPN's NBA analyst Stephan A. Smith, James didn't rule out leaving the Cavs for New York city. James's words struck a chord with Hall of Famer Charles Barkley.

In an interview on "Dan Patrick Radio" Barkley said "If I was LeBron James, I would shut the hell up." Barkley also went on to say "I'm a big LeBron fan. He's a stud. You gotta give him his props. I'm getting so annoyed he's talking about what he's going to do in two years. I think it's disrespectful to the game. I think it's disrespectful to the Cavaliers."

Hearing Barkley's comments, James called Barkley stupid.

Even with Barkley's comments James still has his eyes fixated in New York. Every basketball player dreams of playing in Madison Square Garden because of it's rich tradition of champions. Players like Walt "Clyde" Frazier, Willis Reed, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, etc. These players have blessed the Garden with memorable games and championships that will leave you drooling.

Let's be honest, who would turn down playing basketball in Madison Square Garden in New York City for the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio?.. That's what I thought, no one.

The New York market is a place where LeBron can thrive in. Knowing that he won't be able to throw down thunderous dunks forever, LeBron has utilized his personality through endorsements. Watching how Michael Jordan took over endorsements deals for athletes, LeBron has become the face of Nike, Coca-Cola, Upper Deck and State Farm.

According to Fortune magazine, in 2007 LeBron took in $25 million in endorsements making him the #1 marketable player in the NBA. Imagine if James was playing in New York where there are more avenues in terms of endorsements. He would set a new standard for players being marketed in the NBA.

Having endorsements is good, but James is a big competitor and winning tops his lists when it comes to basketball. If the Knicks aren't prepared to lure LeBron away from Cleveland, then Knicks fans might as well bring out the tissue box.

But Knicks team president Donnie Walsh understands the significance of the 2010 free agency period. To have a chance to sign one of the best players in the NBA doesn't come around too often these days. Walsh erased $27.5 million from New York's salary cap for the 2010-2011 NBA season by trading away guard Jamal Crawford to the Golden State Warriors and forward Zach Randolph to the Los Angeles Clippers. In return Walsh brought in former Clippers Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas. Both of these players contracts expires in the 2009-2010 season.

According to ESPN.com writer Chris Sheridan Walsh was quoted saying "We're getting ourselves in position, and now we have a year and a half to get the team in shape to get where we want to be, and the object is to put together a title-winning team here."

Clearing that $27.5 million from their salary cap will allow the Knicks freedom to offer maximum contracts to two of the elite free agents in 2010. Everyone knows that LeBron will be the first priority for the Knicks organization, but surrounding James with a supporting cast is key when it comes to winning NBA championships. The Celtics were fortunate enough to have three leaders in Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. The Spurs were also fortunate with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

The Knicks have a chance to bring in another elite player from that 2010 free agency period. Players like Amare Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Bosh, Steve Nash and Dwayne Wade will be great additions to join forces with LeBron. Its just a matter of how Donnie Walsh wants his Knick team assembled.

Many feel that Chris Bosh is the likely candidate to join LeBron in New York. Bosh would be a great sidekick for LeBron because of his ability to face-up and knock down jumpers in the post. The two also won gold medals together this past summer in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Through all of the media attention, James has continued to say that his focus as of right now is his teammates in Cleveland. But two years from now his main concern may be his teammates in New York. Only time will tell.


Be Peaceful

• Sadly, 11 year NBA veteran Cuttino Mobley was forced to retire because of a heart disease. Mobley, who is 33 years old, had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This was the same disease that lead to the deaths of former Boston Celtics star Reggie Lewis and Loyola Marymount legend Hank Gathers. Through his 11 year NBA career, Mobley averaged 16ppg with the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers.
  
• Christmas is right around the corner and the NBA has a huge present for you basketball fans! Christmas day the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers will face each other for the first time since last years NBA Finals. The Celtics beat the Lakers 4-2 making them the 2008 NBA champions. Gather the family around the television because this game will be interesting!

The Rotten Apple In The Garden

The very first time I heard the name Stephon Marbury, I was looking at a Slam Magazine in a local grocery store. Marbury was a phenom from Brooklyn, New York that was getting ready for his freshman year at Georgia Tech. Watching highlight tapes and hearing stories from players that played with Marbury while at summer camps made me fall in love with his game. He easily became one of my favorite players(the other is Isaiah Thomas) and I continued to follow his career.

Since that time, it has been an up and down basketball career for Marbury. Although he's averaged 19.7 ppg and 7.8 apg for his career, Marbury has a cloud hanging over his head. The word has always been that he's a distracting selfish ball player who cannot run a team.

The latest on "Starbury" is his on-going battle with his teammates of the New York Knicks and head coach Mike D'Antoni. Last summer Donnie Walsh brought in the former Suns head coach to revive the Knicks team and bring life back into Madison Square Garden. It was supposed to be a great union between D'Antoni and the New York Knick organization. Marbury would be able to flourish within D'Antoni's run-and-gun offense because of his scoring and play making ability.

But this isn't the first time that Marbury has played in D'Antoni's run-and-gun offense. Back in the 2003-2004 season, Marbury and D'Antoni had a brief stint together in Phoenix. The coach and player didn't have the best relationship out in the desert and things wouldn't change in the Big Apple.

Intent on having a well run basketball team, D'Antoni brought in former Chicago Bull Chris Duhon to be the starting point guard for the Knicks.

When the NBA preseason got underway, Marbury was in an unfamiliar role that he's never faced in his basketball career. He came off the bench. Accepting his new role and playing spot minutes, Marbury knew that his days in New York were numbered.

As the NBA season started Marbury took on another new role, not playing...at all. You could see Marbury sitting at the end of the bench with his warmup on looking aimlessly at the crowd. There was no laughter or interaction with his teammates, just a "i don't care" expression that occasionally yawns because of boredom. His off the court incidents with teammates and coaches throughout his stay in New York left a bad taste in the Knicks front office and they had enough.

D'Antoni made it clear to everyone that there weren't going to be any minutes for Marbury in New York. But things would change when the Knicks traded guards Jamal Crawford, Mardy Collins and forward Zach Randolph. The Knicks were on the road in Milwaukee and short handed because players they traded for were not available. D'Antoni needed bodies, especially at the guard position. Mike D'Antoni came to Marbury and told him that there were 30-35 minutes of playing time available. According to D'Antoni, Marbury said that he "wasn't comfortable with the situation, and he did not want to play."

When asked about the meeting with D'Antoni, Marbury had different views. Marbury said that D'Antoni never told him that there were going to be minutes for him against the Bucks.

Marbury told the New York Post he taped his ankles in case he was needed. Marbury said "Refusing to play is when the coach tries to put you in the game and you say you're not going in." Marbury also told the New York Post "If he asked me to go into the game, I was going into the game. That's why I taped my ankles."

Marbury again refused to play in Detroit, leaving his Knicks teammates short handed. The level of frustration was at an all time high within the New York Knicks locker room and players started to speak out.

Quentin Richardson, who has been in altercations before with Marbury, voiced his frustration towards Marbury's refusal to play. According to ESPN.com, Richardson said "This is directed at us regardless if you're trying to stick it to whoever you're trying to stick it to." Richardson also said "At the end of the day we're shorthanded, people are hurt."

The Knicks lost both games that Marbury refused to play in.

Observing everything from his front office chair, Donnie Walsh had to make a decision. His entire organization became a circus as reporters swarmed the Garden with questions about the back and forth confrontation with Stephon Marbury. Walsh met with Marbury in hopes of reaching a buyout. After no deal could be reached, Walsh released a statement saying "After meeting with Stephon and his representative this afternoon, we have directed Stephon not to participate in practice or attend games until further notice. We want to continue to meet with him to discuss a long-term resolution."

Walsh also suspended Marbury for one game without pay and took away an additional game's salary for Marbury's refusal to play in a loss at Detroit.

After Marbury's meeting with Walsh, his built-in anger spilled over. According to ESPN.com writer Chris Sheridan, Marbury said "When things got bad and then worse, guys like Quentin Richardson say, 'I don't consider him a teammate. He let his teammates out to dry.' He didn't care I was his teammate when I was banished. They left me out for dead. It's like we're in a foxhole and I'm facing the other way. If I got shot in the head, at least you want to get shot by the enemy. I got shot in the head by my own guys in my foxhole. And they didn't even give me an honorable death."

Honorable death or not, Marbury did not help his situation in New York. He had run-ins long before D'Antoni became the Knicks head coach and its pains me to say that Marbury is a cancer on any team he's apart of. Donnie Walsh is still working on a buyout plan for Marbury and the Knicks are moving forward with their season. Currently the Knicks are coming off of a loss to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, placing their record at 8-10.

No one knows where Stephon Marbury will end up next. What we do know, is that Marbury is a consistent guard with very good numbers on the court, but he is plagued by his negative attitude. Maybe Marbury can one day change from being selfish to selfless, but until that day day comes, he will always be a distraction.

Be Peaceful

• Have you read my story "Showing "Flashes" Of Elite Status"? If you haven't I suggest you do. Dwayne Wade is back healthy and tearing up NBA opponents! The Robbins, IL native is averaging 28.4 ppg, 7.7 apg and he's shooting 50% from the field! Please re-read my story because I told you was back to an elite status.


• Please go to ESPN.com and read about or watch Wayman Tisdale's survival against cancer. Tisdale was a 12 year NBA player that averaged 15 points and 6 rebounds for his career. He is now a very successful smooth jazz bass guitarist, that was awarded the Legacy Tribute Award by the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.

Wishful Thinking

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to announce that the Chicago Bulls are 2-1 at the beginning stages of the NBA season!

Why am I so excited? Call me crazy, but I have this strange feeling that the Chicago Bulls (yes the same Bulls who are always rebuilding) have a chance to become a contender in the Eastern Conference. Now hold on for a second, I know what your thinking! I haven't fallen down and bumped my head nor been released from a mental institution. First year NBA coach Vinny Del Negro might have something up his sleeve after all.

In the season opener which took place at the United Center, the Bulls faced a decent Milwaukee Bucks team that can contend for an 8th seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Chicago looked poised to win the game, Derrick Rose dominated the point guard play with 11 points, 9 assists and 3 steals. Though at times Rose showed his immaturity with four turnovers, he got his teammates involved by distributing them the ball in positions where they could score.

Luol Deng finished the game with 21 points on 8 of 13 shooting from the floor, while Ben Gordon poured in 18 points. Both players made keys plays to secure 108 to 95 win for the Bulls. Tyrus Thomas, who at times can make viewers want to jump off the Sears Tower building, finished with a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds). Thomas once again provided a look into what he can do for this Bulls franchise if he plays smart and under control.

The Bulls as a team shot the basketball well (50.7 %) and they won the rebound battle 40 to 32. It wasn't a bad showing from a team that is flooded with guards and finished the preseason with a 4-4 record.

The second game was a measuring stick for the Bulls. They would face the Boston Celtics, who are the defending NBA champions. Chicago got a defensive clinic put on them as Boston held the Bulls to a frightening 29.8% shooting from the field. The only bright spot for Chicago was Derrick Rose. The young general gutted out an 18 point effort, but lacked any support from first game stars Luol Deng, Ben Gordon and Tyrus Thomas. Deng, Gordon and Thomas shot a combined 7 of 37 from the field.

The Celtics cruised to a 96 to 80 win, exposing Chicago's poor shooting and defensive. You have to pat the Bulls on their backs though. They went into a hostile Boston environment and didn't back down from the NBA champs. Coach Del Negro is still tweaking the line-ups inorder to find one that will stick. Veteran guard Larry Hughes, who played well in the preseason, was out with a dislocated shoulder he suffered in a preseason win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

This past Saturday night back at the United Center, the Bulls needed to re-group. Awaiting Chicago was an athletic Memphis Grizzlies ball club that featured Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo.
Still riding his offensive high, Derrick Rose showed why he is considered to be a great point guard. The Southside phenom electrified the home crowd with 26 points and 6 rebounds. Rose took charge scoring 4 points during a 9-1 run midway through the fourth quarter. Chicago never looked back, beating the Grizzlies 96 to 86 and shooting 42.1% for the game from three.

Through three games the Bulls have shown improvements with their offensive attack (Derrick Rose). If injured guard Larry Hughes can come back and play the same way he did in preseason, the Bulls will have no problem scoring the ball from the perimeter. The achilles heel for Chicago is lack of post scoring. Drew Gooden is a decent post player, but he needs more contribution from teammate Tyrus Thomas.

Athletically Thomas is off the charts, but he has to make better decisions when he is out on the floor. In the preseason Thomas averaged a double-double in points and rebounds. If that player can show up night in and night out, the Bulls well be better off as a team.

Balanced perimeter and post play can turn Bulls fan's dreams into reality. Even though its still very early in the NBA season, Chicago has a chance to make a strong run for the playoffs and surprise some Eastern Conference teams. I hope that dream isn't too far fetched Chicago.


Be Peaceful

• Keep an eye out for Terry Porter. Porter who played 17 years in the NBA, became the new head coach of the Phoenix Suns this past June. The Suns are in second place in the Pacific Divison and Porter has slowed down the fast paced Phoenix offense to toughen up their defense. It's a new look out there in the dessert!
• Watching Greg Oden on NBA's opening night was great!..even though it only last one quarter. Oden injured his foot in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers. He will be sidelined for 2-4 weeks

Strength Of The Euro

Many people believe that money makes the world go round. For many NBA players, money has focused their attention elsewhere---Europe. A growing trend has occurred this past summer for some established NBA players and it involves that All Mighty Dollar.

Josh Childress, Janero Pargo, Carlos Delfino, Carlos Arroyo, Earl Boykins, Gordon Giricek and other NBA players have left their respective NBA franchises to join teams overseas in Europe. The most shocking story would have to be Josh Childress. Childress played a significant role for the Atlanta Hawks last season as they took the Boston Celtics seven games in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Averaging 11.8 points and 4.9 rebounds last season as the sixth man for the Hawks, Childress was not pleased with the way the Atlanta franchise took their time with negotiating his contract. That molasses approach by the Hawks forced Childress to sign with Greek club Olympiacos.

According to ESPN.com , the ex-Hawk signed the most lucrative current contract in European basketball and the biggest in Euroleague history. It was a three year deal worth $20 million after taxes. The money is guaranteed for Childress, he can also opt of his contract after every year and return to the NBA.

The deal stunned the NBA world as they now realize that competing with European franchises is now a reality. Childress has pioneered a movement from the NBA to Europe and fellow players have joined in this movement.

Ex-New Orleans Hornet Janero Pargo became another player to make the movement to Europe. A vital part to the New Orleans guard attack in last year's NBA playoffs, Pargo left the Hornets to sign a one year deal with Russian club Dynamo Moscow. He will make $3.5 million after taxes next year for just one season of basketball.

Everyone knows (hopefully everyone knows) that the Euro has more value and strength compared to the American dollar. In this era of sports, its all about money and how to get more money. I know that its very sad to see sports come to this, but its a reality and professional athletes want their piece of that billion dollar pie. European franchises don't have a salary cap for their basketball teams, therefore they are able to lure NBA players onto their teams and sign them to better contracts. Put yourself in the shoes of 5-foot-5 guard Earl Boykins. Boykins is a 10 year NBA veteran that has made numerous stops on NBA teams. The way the free agent market is in the NBA, it's very tough to secure a comfortable contract. The 32 year old Boykins avoided the frustration of free agent NBA contracts and signed a one-year deal with Italy's Virtus Bologna. Boykins will earn $3.5 million for just a one season of basketball in Italy. Keep in mind that the $3.5 million is tax free and Boykins will be spending at least 6 months in Italy.

Elite NBA players like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant both have expressed that they would think about playing overseas, if the money was right. According to ESPN senior writer Chris Broussard, a person close to James said that the Cavalier's superstar would strongly consider playing overseas if he was offered a salary of "around $50 million a year." If you thought about the magnitude of a LeBron James or Kobe Bryant leaving their NBA teams to go overseas, it would be mind blowing. But honestly, that is very unlikely to happen if David Stern has anything to do with it.

NBA commissioner David Stern has done a fantastic job by opening the NBA game to the world. Stern realizes that he may have to compete with European franchises or globalize the NBA. And in 10 or 15 years there might be NBA teams overseas. If you don't believe that, then look at the growth of the NBA in the past 15 to 20 years.

Broadening the NBA game overseas has been a goal for Stern and he has succeeded. In fact, he has succeeded so much that the rest of the world has as much skill as American born players.

It will be very interesting to see what will happen if an NBA superstar bolts the NBA and heads to a European team. If that does happen, just remeber the person that started it all....Josh Childress.

Be Peaceful

• Liar liar, pants on fire! After lieing to the Golden State Warriors about his ankle injury, Monta Ellis has been suspended 30 regular season games without pay. Ellis first told the Warriors that he injured his ankle playing basketball, but in actuality he injured it in a moped accident. Ellis is appealing the 30 game suspension.


• The NBA season will be kicking off in less than two weeks. Teams are winding down training camps and finalizing their rosters.

New Faces In New Places

Some NBA teams have made some noise during the off-season. Teams like the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors all have re-constructed their rosters to better their championship chances.

One of the biggest stories of the summer has been All-Star point guard Baron Davis. Davis, who opted out of his last year with the Golden State Warriors, signed a five year, $65 million dollar contract with the struggling Los Angeles Clippers. Davis left a reported $17.8 million dollars on the table from the Warriors to join the Clippers in hopes of teaming up with Elton Brand. Clipper nation drooled over the combination of a power guard in Davis and a very consistent low post scorer and rebounder in Brand. But Brand shocked everyone when he signed a five year contract worth $79.795 million with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Even though the loss of Brand hurt the Clippers, the signings of Marcus Camby, Ricky Davis and Jason Williams eased the pain of Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor. Add in rookie Eric Gordon with this group of new faces and the Clip show has an opportunity to turn some heads in the city of angels.

Back in Oakland, the Golden State Warriors were still in disbelief that leader Baron Davis opted out of his final year of his contract. Searching for a replacement for Davis, the Warriors simply looked at one of their top scorers from last season -- Monta Ellis. Ellis signed a six year, $66 million contract to stay put in the Bay Area with the Warriors. Ellis was a second rounder in the 2005 NBA draft that made $770,610 last season. Ellis will now earn $11 million during the 2008-2009 season, this is one of the highest raises in NBA history. Filling Baron Davis's shoes in Oakland will take some time for Ellis. In August, Ellis tore a deltoid ligament in his ankle in an unclear accident in Mississippi. He will be out for three months, missing the first half of the NBA season.

The Warriors also signed ex-Clipper Corey Maggette and ex-New Jersey Net Marcus Williams to their roster. Maggette will move to the small forward spot and Williams will become the starting point guard due to the Monta Ellis injury. The Warriors also re-signed center Andris Beidrins to a six-year contract.

In Philly, the 76ers were jumping out of their seats when low post presence Elton Brand was added to their roster. Brand has averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds since his arrival into the NBA in 1999. In that draft, Brand was the number 1 pick by the Chicago Bulls. The move to the East Coast has bolted Philadelphia's position in the Eastern Conference race. According to ESPN.com Brand said "I'm prepared to do some big things this year". You can't doubt Brand because he will be teaming up with emerging star Andre Igoudala and shot swatter Samuel Dalembert. These three players form a tough and efficient front court in the Eastern Conference.

With veteran point guard Andre Miller at the healms, the 76ers have closed the gap between themselves and the top tier Eastern Conference teams. Philadelphia will battle for a good playoff spot this upcoming season.

Also in the east, the Toronto Raptors added faded star Jermaine O'Neal to their frontcourt. O'Neal will patrol the paint with gold medalist Chris Bosh as they deepen their Raptor team. O'Neal was traded from the Indiana Pacers for guard T.J. Ford, forward Maceo Baston and center Rasho Nesterovic. O'Neal will be playing with a chip on his shoulder this upcoming season because of people saying that he cannot return to his All-Star form. The re-signing of point guard Jose Calderon, who sustained an injury during this past summer's Olympic games, will boost a Raptor team looking for respect in the Eastern Conference.


Be Peaceful

• Congratulations to Pat Riley, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon and Dick Vitale on being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Difference Maker?

With the NBA training camp weeks away, the time has come to see if the Chicago Bulls investment in Derrick Rose will pay off.

Rose was the number 1 pick this past June in the NBA Draft. Some say that Rose is the point guard of the future because of his quickness, strength, and mature point guard IQ. Others say that his jump shot needs a lot of work and that he will not be able to flourish in a Chicago Bulls uniform. What I say is that Rose is a huge step into bringing the Chicago Bulls back to a respectable franchise. Everyone knows about Rose. Everyone knows about the back to back high school state championships and his mature leadership at the point guard position while he was at the University of Memphis. Rose has always proven his game, whether it was at Murray Park on Chicago's Southside or in front of thousands of screaming fans in the NCAA Championship game, Rose has lived up to the hype.

Now is the opportunity to show the basketball nation again that he can continue his dominant abilities. The Bulls were in desperate need of a lot of tools in order to rebuild their team. Inconsistent guard play by Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon and Chris Duhon led to the decision by general manager John Paxson to draft Rose. With the signing of Luol Deng , who agreed to a multi-year deal worth around 70 million dollars, the Bulls made the decision not to bring guard Ben Gordon back. With Gordon's contract negotiations going nowhere during the summer months, Gordon simply said in a quote to ESPN Magazine "I guess it's safe to say I've played my last game in a Bulls uniform". Gordon, who lead the Bulls in scoring in the last three seasons, was unable to bring any defensive presence on the court. So out with the old and in with new is the attitude that embodies the Bulls franchise.

As a point guard, Rose possesses the rare ability to combine speed and power with the basketball. He will have low post veteran Drew Gooden and wingmen Larry Hughes and Luol Deng to ease the transition into the NBA. Head coach Vinny Del Negro, who still is a unknown person in Chicago, will be patient with his young phenom. Del Negro should have many ways to implement Rose into his new offense .

The point guard is the catalyst for many NBA teams. The game of basketball has become very reliant on floor generals and quick guards . Drafting a Derrick Rose puts the Bulls into the category of a New Orleans Hornets and Utah Jazz. These franchises have great point guards on their teams that make them better. These guards also attract a huge fan base within their city and throughout the NBA. Rose is backed by an eager city that has watched him blossom since high school. Being in the public eye doesn't affect Rose because of his strength and guidance of his family. Having three older brothers helped Rose distance himself from the evils of Chicago's Southside streets.

As each day passes by, training camps will be close to opening and the excitement is growing for the Chicago Bulls. Everyone is on edge to see the stoic phenom take the floor and return glory to this city. But be patient, inorder for a Rose to be beautiful, it needs to grow.



Be Peaceful

• Congratulations to team USA! They defeated Spain in the gold medal game of the 2008 Beijing Olympic games. This huge accomplishment returns America to the top of the basketball world.
  
  
  

Australia..........No Match!

Team USA went on to improve their undefeated record to 6-0 as they flattened Australia earlier this morning. Led by Kobe Bryant's 25 points on 10 of 16 shooting, the US never looked back beating Australia 116 to 85. As the game got under way, it was evident what the US wanted to establish. Throwing the ball to the inside presence of Dwight Howard provided early foul trouble for Australia and the former number 1 NBA draft pick Andrew Bogut. Bogut picked up two early fouls as he tried to defend Howard deep in the paint. Being physical with the US players was something that Australia had circled in their game plan. The Aussies wanted to let team USA know that this was going to be a physical game and that they were not going to back down.

The young, yet fearless Aussie point guard Patrick Mills entered late in the first quarter and provided a spark for Australia. Mills, who will be a sophomore next year at Saint Mary's University in California, showed his ability to run his ball club finishing the game with 20 points. Australia shot well from the three point arc in the first quarter. At the end of the first quarter the Aussies trailed only by a point 25 to 24.

As the second quarter opened, the unheralded Dwayne Wade opened with a knifing drive to the basket, converting a three point play. The US started to break away from Australia, who used a Princeton style offense to keep the US on their heels in the first quarter. This offense causes a lot of defensive attention because of the constant movements by the Australian players. The US adjusted by switching to a smaller line-up that was able to keep up with Australia. Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Deron Williams, and LeBron James all were able to disrupt Australia's offensive attack with aggressive defense. The line-up also provided fast break points that increased team USA' s lead. Deron Williams hit a buzzer beating three to send the US into halftime up 55 -43. The three that Williams hit was only the second three point field goal the US connected on in the first half. The US shot 2 of 12 from the three point arc and 10 of 20 from the free throw line in the first half.

Opening up the second half, the US knew about their shooting woes from three. Kobe Bryant fixed the shooting problems with a dead eye three point field goal and Carmelo Anthony followed with another three pointer the very next play. The back to back threes put the US up by 18 points and started a 14 to 0 run early in the second half. The better shooting made Australia come out and guard the US from the perimeter. Opening up the once packed in lane allowed penetration by US guards and set up thunderous crowded cheering dunks by Chris Bosh and other US players. Team USA kicked up their feet and relaxed as they outscored Australia 34 to 18 at the end of the third quarter. Much of the same continued as the fourth quarter got underway. The reserves for team USA played the majority of the 4th and didn't drop in energy on the offensive end. Michael Redd and sparingly used forward Carlos Boozer were able to get some playing time and make the most of it.

Australia saw a different team USA from the last time they played them in Shanghai, China. In that exhibition game on August 5th, team USA won by 11 points, but Australia never went away as they fought the US for every basket. Many felt that the Aussies could upset the US in this re-match, but they never came close. Next up for team USA is a semifinal match up between the winner of Argentina and Greece. The game will be played this Friday.

• LeBron James! Not only is he the vocal leader for team USA, he displays his defensive efforts every game for 40 minutes. Add that with a forceful aggression towards the rim on offense and you have a Gorilla of a player. James is the showing his leadership ability at the tender age of twenty-three.



• Keep in mind the US free throw shooting. As a team they are shooting 65% and that has to be improved immediately. Better concentration and efficiency will turn this negative into a positive for team USA.



• Kobe Bryant is starting to get more comfortable shooting the basketball in these Olympic games. Look for Bryant to assert himself more in the upcoming semifinal game on Friday.

Be Peaceful

Showing "Flashes" Of Elite Status

To say that Dwayne Wade has recovered from his frightening shoulder injury is an understatement. Wade has not only recovered, he is returning back to the player that dominated the 2006 NBA Finals.

The freakish shoulder injury occurred 2 seasons ago against the Houston Rockets late in the fourth quarter. Wade locked arms with Houston Rocket's Shane Battier and Wade's shoulder popped out of place. The pain was so gruesome, Wade left the court in a wheelchair and was taken to a nearby Houston hospital. This was just one of the many injuries that lowered Wade's superstar ability in the NBA. Many started to doubt that Wade could return to his elite status because of the wear and tear on his body.

"Flash" forward to team U.S.A.'s exhibition game against Canada. There is a player in a white number 9 jersey that has a bald head, striking above the rim ability, and throat clinching defense. Could it be the basketball legend Michael Jordan? Well probably not, but as the camera zooms in, you see a familiar face..... It's Dwayne Wade! Flying up and down the court as if his pants were on fire. Wade was back and he wanted the whole basketball world to know. Driving to the basket and finishing strong , Wade seemed to be playing with a chip on his shoulder. Since that game against Canada, in which Wade finished with 20 points, nothing has changed. His drives and finishing abilities at the rim are the same as they were when he was drafted into the NBA.

With a team full of NBA superstars, you would assume that LeBron James or Kobe Bryant leads the team in scoring, but its neither one. Wade is the leading scorer averaging 17.8 points per Olympic contest. When Wade enters the game off the bench, he immediately makes an impact on both offensive and defensive ends of the floor. Whether its shooting the gaps for his team high 11 steals or shooting 73% from the field, Wade is leading by example.

An untamed defensive monster, Wade plays a huge part into why U.S.A. opponents average 23.8 turnovers per game. If you watch the previous Beijing games, you will see Wade create turnovers and turn them into break away dunks for himself and his teammates. Just head to the popular website YouTube and in the search box type, "Dwayne Wade Alley Oop". There you will view Wade forcing a steal from a Lithuanian player, passing the ball ahead to Chris Paul, and Paul rewarding Wade with a perfect alley oop, which Wade windmills while airborne . Wade is one of the twelve anchors that this "Redeem Team" possesses. Coming into training camp for team U.S.A., Wade was in tremendous shape and brought his aggressive game with him.

You cannot ask for much more from a player that had his share of disappointments in the past two NBA seasons. His Miami Heat team finished with the worst record in the NBA this past season. But with a rebuilt Dwayne Wade and talented Michael Beasley, Miami is very capable of making some heads turn in the Eastern Conference this season. But before that season starts Wade wants to bring a gold medal back to his neighborhood in Robbins, IL. Welcome back Dwayne Wade

• The U.S. blew Spain out of the gym this past Saturday with a 119 - 82 win. The U.S. now clinches the top spot in Group B in these Olympic games.
• Team U.S.A. will play Monday August 18th against Dirk Nowitzki his German team. The game starts at 7 am CT.

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Cruise Control

When the Dream Team geared up to play against Angola back in 1992, Charles Barkley was asked what he knew about Angola. Sir Charles simply said "They are in trouble. They are in serious trouble".

Sixteen years later nothing much has really changed about Barkley's comment, as team U.S.A. defeated Angola 97 - 76 in a dominate, yet nonchalant game in Beijing. Led by Dwayne Wade's 19 point effort and stingy U.S. defense, the N.B.A. superstars imposed their will early and often in the game. Angola came into the contest completely undersized with their center Eduardo Mingas standing just a mere six foot five. The U.S. took advantage of Angola by going inside to Dwight Howard who finished the contest with 14 points on 6 of 6 shooting from the field. The team made it a point not only to run against Angola, but to throw the ball inside to Howard who tries to always finish his post moves with a ground shattering dunk. Howard's presence inside the paint will be key against powers Spain and Argentina.
What took the game by surprise was the second unit of team U.S.A. Active hands and player communication on the defensive end forced frustration by Angola. The chemistry of Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Chris Bosh, and Tayshaun Prince energized a tough U.S. defense. Tayshaun Prince made an immediate impact with the second unit by knocking down a three and shooting the passing lane for a steal and dunk. Prince finished with 7 points and quietly asserted himself in the game. Team U.S.A. shot a very comfortable 69% from the field and led 55 - 37 at halftime.

The U.S. didn't miss a beat as the second half got underway. The consistent ingredients of defensive pressure and pure athleticism anchored a commanding lead from team U.S.A. With the game already decided in the 3rd quarter, the second unit of team U.S.A. got some more polish on their games by frustrating Angola defensively. Some things are clear about the U.S. They want to run on any opportunity and they want to set the tone defensively. Angola shot 38% from the floor and 29 % from three, resulting in a frustrating evening in Beijing. Team U.S.A. went on to defeat Angola 97 to 76 in a lopsided game.

Next up for the U.S. is a match up against Greece. The last time the U.S. played Greece was in the 2004 Olympics in Athens. In that game, Greece defeated the U.S., leaving a very sour taste in the mouth of the U.S. players. Look for vengeful energy and aggressive play by team U.S.A. The game will be Thursday at 7 am CT.

• Is anyone else noticing how bad team U.S.A. is shooting from the three in international play? In today's game against Angola, the U.S. shot a horrible 23% from three. Look for teams to start zoning team U.S.A. and forcing them to shoot from the three point arc. The zone will stop the transition baskets from the U.S. and make them play a half court game.


• Speaking of horrible three point shooting. Kobe Bryant is 1 for 15 from three in these Beijing Olympics. It's great that he has stepped up defensively, but Bryant has to bring his brilliant offense with him.


• Every game another player on team U.S.A. jumps out at you. Today it was Chris Bosh. The Dallas native is equipped with strong post defense and quick rebounding skills. Bosh's play, along with Dwight Howard, will be even more important in upcoming games against Spain and Argentina .


• Players to watch out for in the next game: Chris Paul, Chris Paul...and how about ummm....Chris Paul. The "Point God", is displaying a great basketball IQ and leadership at his position.

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One Step Closer To Gold

As team U.S.A. ran onto the court to warm up for their game against China, the crowd's energy was immense. It seemed that the overwhelming Chinese crowd was more excited to watch team U.S.A., than their own Chinese national team. When the game began Yao Ming knocked down a three pointer, at that point you could only think back three years ago when team U.S.A. opened against feisty Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico handed the US a 19 point embarrassing defeat in the opening game in Athens. But this is a totally different team, a different chemistry, and a different caliber of players. Like many teams that play against the US, China didn't show any signs of backing down in the first quarter of play. Their crowd provided them with a hometown energy to compete with the Americans. As the first quarter continued, the US stretched out their legs and began to run like gazelles as their defensive pressure forced turnover after turnover by China. That defense ignited team U.S.A. into fast break dunks that wowed the Chinese crowd.

It was as if team U.S.A. wanted to send a message to the rest of the world. Any dunk opportunity the US had, they attack it. The attack was with power, attitude, and sort of a built up frustration from the Athens Olympics. Even though the US came out strong, China never backed down and shot 8 of 11 from the three point arc. Open looks for China from three was a result of defensive breakdowns by team U.S.A. Going for that highlight steal sometimes resulted in a wide open three for China.

LeBron James was phenomenal in the first half of play. The King's strength is one of his best superhuman gifts that he possesses. James was on a fast break heading towards the rim when Yi Jianlian attempted to grab James's arms. Not only was Jianlian unable to slow down LeBron, James was fouled and finished the lay in resulting in a three point play. Late in the first half, you could see the US extended their defense to full court. Quick ball traps and doberman like aggressiveness left China sucking wind. The first half ended with team U.S.A. leading China 49 to 37.

When the second half opened the US exposed China's guards. The US started to separate even more from China because of defensive pressure and intensity. China knew that they could only play at a certain level and that level was nowhere near team U.S.A. Getting a huge and expected spark from Dwyane Wade, who finished the game with perfect shooting from the floor. Wade was 7 of 7 from the field and 5 of 5 from the free throw line, giving him 19 points for the game. Also LeBron James continued his beast like ability by overpowering opponents with thunderous dunks. The US led by 17 points and the second half was nowhere near over.

Reserves played much of the second half for team U.S.A. Michael Redd and Deron Williams carried the rest of the load for the team, as they proved their worth. Redd was once again on fire from three finishing with 9 points. Williams conducted a fast break, pick you apart style of play that he possesses. Any chance that Williams got, he was pushing the tempo and running up China's back with the basketball. Williams finished with 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist. The final score was a overwhelming 101 to 70 victory for the US. Team U.S.A. will play again Tuesday against Angola at 7 a.m. CT.

• On Tuesday's game watch out for the fierce combination of backup point guards Deron Williams and Chris Paul. In the second half against China, these two gifted guards played off each others energy and allowed team U.S.A.'s offense to flow smooth like your favorite summer breeze. Williams brings an offensive game that is very suitable for international play, while Paul brings a competitive attitude on defensive, harassing opposing guards.


• Also look out for team US.A.'s three point shooting. This can be a problem in the later rounds against powers like Argentina and Spain. The US shot just 29 % from three against China. Michael Redd cannot be the only three point threat that the US has. The team as a whole needs to shoot better from three in order to reach the gold medal.

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Time To Put Up Or Shut Up

With one "warm up" game left against Australia, team U.S.A.'s quest for that elusive gold medal will begin. Team U.S.A. will play one last game on Tuesday against Andrew Bogut and his Australian national team. The Australians shouldn't pose any threat to the Americans, allowing team U.S.A. to work out any last minute kinks before play begins in Beijing. That game will be shown Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. CT on ESPN 2 and it will re-air later on that night at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN.

The past two games against Lithuania and Russia were no match for team U.S.A. In the game against Lithuania, Kobe Bryant took the challenge of shutting down Lithuania's cocky scorer Sarunas Jasikevicious, who four years ago torched the Americans for 28 points in Athens. Bryant displayed a fiery attitude on the defensive end by forcing Jasikevicious to shoot poorly from the floor. "He had a great game against us a few years ago, and he was real brash about it, trash talking and things of that nature. So it's my responsibility to bring it to him," Bryant said. "He reminded me of it, so we sicked The Doberman on him."
That "Doberman" Bryant has inside of him is unlike any species known to mankind. In Olympic play and during the NBA season Bryant guards the opposing teams best player, no matter who it is. This is unheard of during this era of basketball. Arguably the best player in the world wants to go out and play hard nose defense against the best. Team U.S.A. beat Lithuania 120-84, displaying more of a defensive presence throughout the whole game.

Russia put up more of a fight against team U.S.A., but it wasn't enough as the US won 89-68. In the game there was a decision made by head coach Mike Krzyzewski to start the second half with back up point guard Chris Paul. Many people wondered why team leader Jason Kidd didn't play at all during the second half against Russia. Chris Paul still provided stability to the point guard position in Kidd's absence, Paul also maintained the flow of the team and showed some improvement of his strength as a point guard. Paul displayed his upper body strength by penetrating to the basket and absorbing contact as he went up for his shot.

By resting veteran Jason Kidd, Coach K allowed Paul to be more comfortable with running the team. Kidd doesn't need to be playing whole games, especially when the US is dismantling opponents like Russia. Coach K is studying what chemistry Paul has with the team when he is in the driver seat on the floor. Coaches know and understand strategy, sometimes you need different plans for your team if injury, foul trouble, or poor play occurs. I expect to see more line-up changes with team U.S.A. when they go up against Australia this Tuesday.

Keep these players in mind when you watch Tuesday's game. Dwayne Wade, Michael Redd, and LeBron James. Wade aka "Flash" has re-emerged like Thomas Shepard from the movie "Above The Rim". Carmelo Anthony put it best when he said that Dwayne Wade is back. Michael Redd displayed his lights out shooting in the game against Russia. Redd will be team U.S.A.'s secret shooting assassin because of his quick and accurate shooting touch. Lebron James is showing no ill effects from the ankle injury he suffered last week in practice. The King is soaring even higher to the rim, displaying an agility never seen before from a 6'8 , 260 pound force. James is emerging as a third leader, along with Jason Kidd and Kobe Bryant.

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U.S.A. GOLD OR U.S.A. FOLD?

The 2008 Beijing Olympics are around the corner and every American wants to see if the USA men's basketball team can bring back the gold medal. Let me rewind you back to a time in 1992 where the greatest collection of basketball players were assembled to represent the United States of America. Everyone knows this team as the Dream Team and they displayed an art form of basketball that will never be duplicated ever again. A few players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Charles Barkley accomplished their goal by putting their egos to the side for the betterment of the team. The Dream Team didn't want to just win, they wanted to embarrass anyone that stepped on the court with them. It didn't matter if you were from Mars, this team was going to beat you by fifty maybe sixty points, and after the game was over they would smile and take pictures with you.

The Dream Team is just a distant memory of when the United States dominated Olympic basketball. Now the world has caught up with the game of basketball and they are not only competing with America. This summer its up to Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Carmelo Anthony to help bring the gold back to it's rightful owner the U.S.A. If last Friday is any indication to how the U.S. team will play in Beijing, then you might as well crown them now. The team displayed a mirror image of the Dream Team as they whopped on Canada for a ridiculous margin of victory. The team gave America a look into what they have been working on in their practice sessions and what their chemistry is like as a team. Unselfishness, determination, and heart are three of the many things the team needs to bring with them over to Beijing.

The biggest thing that stood out to me as the game went on was the defense pressure the U.S.A. team put on Canada. The guards dominated the flow of the entire game defensively which lead to easier opportunities on the offensive end of the court. Defense will be a huge key if the U.S. wants to return home with the gold medal. The makeup of this team is heavy placed on the guard position. Leading the guards is future hall of fame point guard Jason Kidd, whose presence along with Kobe Bryant, has changed the mentality and work ethic of team U.S.A. Jason Kidd will provide a certain skill that only he can give at the point guard position. His under studies Chris Paul and Deron Williams will back him up with a youthful energy that pumps the heart of the team U.S.A.

Key players like Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwayne Wade all have a responsibility to make sure that the perimeter is owned by team U.S.A. This team will have all the tools that they need to win the gold medal, but it's up to them to determine what level they will play at. My vote is for team U.S.A. to bring back the gold from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and once again set the bar to how the game of basketball shall be played. Next up for team U.S.A. is a match up on Thursday July 31st. One player that everyone should keep a watchful eye on is CARMELO ANTHONY!

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