The Miami Heat’s failure to capitalize on its first shot at an NBA Championship, with their “Big 3,” in place, will undoubtedly go down as one of the biggest disappointments in Sports History.  It’s not the fact that a team so top-heavy in talent can lose a series; it’s what happened prior to this point, that’s the problem.  This series wasn’t about what Dallas Accomplished, but more about what Miami failed to Accomplish.  The series wasn’t about the dynamic leadership displayed by Dirk Nowitzki, but the lack of leadership by LeBron James.  All of these things are magnified due to the brash and very bold statements made by James, starting with “The Decision.”

The Decision

James’ announcement of his choice of team via Television Special, followed by a proclamation of at least 7 Championships, ultimately set the Heat up for failure.  James was so confident in the team’s ability to succeed, that he hinted at victories even if Pat Riley was the team’s starting Point Guard.  With a team this talented, who’s going to argue LeBron’s statements?  I for one saw the Heat as a dead-lock for the Finals, which was correct.  I initially picked them to lose the Finals versus the Lakers, but uhh…We saw how that turned out for “Showtime!”  Once the Lakers were ousted, I didn’t see anyone standing in the way of Miami’s Destiny.  As a team, they entered the playoffs clicking on all cylinders, and even watched LeBron mature as a player through the first 3 series.  But then came the Big Stage…*Here’s where you insert for favorite sad face : ( perplexed style : / or the highly emotional crying face (,-__-,)

James basically disappeared in the Finals, averaging 18pts, 7ast, & 7reb!!! LeBron is a former NBA Scoring Champ, and averaged 18 ppg!  Let’s also note that James averaged 21ppg as a ROOKIE!  Now, not taking anything away from his overall playoff performance, because he is the reason Miami got to the Finals.  James was playing like a man possessed in the first 3 rounds, and hit some huge shots in both the Boston and Chicago Series’.  You can argue that it’s a team game, and all of the blame can’t be placed on James, which is correct.  However, LeBron’s actions coinciding with his talents are what create the enormous bulls-eye on his back.   He also doesn’t help the scrutiny by his comments, and almost nonchalant attitude at press conferences.  Again this is a team game, but the team itself doesn’t share in the talking aspect, which James excels in.  If you go back to the introduction of “The Heatles,” it was LeBron who did the most talking, and predicting on behalf of the Heat.  Look at it like this…Muhammad Ali was known for his trash talk before, and during, some of the biggest fights of his life.  While Ali didn’t have an unblemished record, he always came back to avenge a loss, thus backing his proclamations.  LeBron doesn’t have a history of closing games, playing to his full potential, nor being the leader that the “Face of the NBA,” should; but talks as if this isn’t the case.  If LeBron showed a little more humility, I don’t believe the backlash would be to this unbelievable level.

So What Exactly Happened?

Aside from LeBron’s shortcomings in the Finals, what else seemed to go wrong for Miami, that didn’t for Dallas?  Let’s start with Miami’s consistency outside of its core.  The bench play was much uninspired throughout the series, while Dallas had its role players contribute on a nightly basis.  But despite the poor role playing on behalf of the Heat, they controlled this entire series.  Splitting the first 4 games, could have easily been a 4-0 Miami Sweep.  Dallas turned the Heat into a jump shooting team, and prevented them from attacking the paint, which is their strong suit.  Along with Dallas’ defensive adjustment, was Dirk’s relentlessness as a leader.  There wasn’t a moment in this series that Dirk wasn’t in attack mode.  This same thing can be said about Dwayne Wade, who played his heart out throughout the series, and if not for injury, wouldn’t have let up.  If you take each team at 100% attack mode, the Heat should win out every time.  My reasoning is simple; Dwayne Wade and LeBron James excel on BOTH sides of the court, which is a headache for every team in the league.  I fully believe that if LeBron guarded Nowitzki for the entire series, and Wade on either Terry or Barrea (depending on who’s in the game), I don’t see Miami losing this series at all.  This tactic then forces other players to beat you, who aren’t as offensively gifted as the aforementioned Nowitzki, Terry or Barrea.

I also believe that the Heat lost some faith in the process at some point.  Squandering big leads in games they controlled from the beginning, is inexcusable.  The team got extremely passive during the final moments of Game 6, and the stars of the team almost seemed to defer to its role players.  A play that replay’s endlessly in my mind, is the Chalmers turnover under the basket.  With 3 players making over 100 million dollars each, and have the ball in Mario Chalmers’ hands in crucial parts of the game in ridiculous!  I just don’t see the team letting up if Pat Riley is who you have to face when you come off the floor, versus Erik Spolestra.  While Spolestra did improve as the season went on, I think his lack of big game experience is what ultimately did him in.  But again, the coaches aren’t the ones who perform on the floor…it’s the players!

The Fallout

While the Heat are the early favorite to win next year’s Title, something has to change.  With 7 players as unrestricted free agents, 3 will likely return with their player options (House, Jones & Illgauskas).  Mario Chalmers is the team’s lone restricted free agent, and has already been rumored to be receiving a qualifying offer from Miami.  Two things that need to change are the team’s ability to score off the bench, along with the team’s interior defense.  When your Shooting Guard is blocking as many, or more, shots than your big’s…There’s a problem!  But not only does the interior defense need to improve, but the overall toughness of the team.  As it stands, it seems as though when Wade isn’t at 100%, the team loses its heart and backbone.  If Miami is lucky enough, there are a few players that I feel could be added at a bargain price to aid in the team’s improvement.  Perimeter Players – Tracey McGrady, Tayshaun Prince, Al Thornton, Michael Redd, T.J. Ford, Shane Battier, Andrei Kirilenko, and Josh Howard.  Interior Players– Kenyon Martin, Samuel Dalembert, Chuck Hayes, Craig Smith, Chris Wilcox, Boris Diaw, Troy Murphy, and Etan Thomas.  While these are all unrestricted free agents that are all possibilities for the Heat, bigger players like Jason Richardson, Jamal Crawford, Nene, and J.R. Smith, are all likely to command too high of a price tag on the market.  Players like Redd, Prince, Ford, Battier, Kirilenko, Martin and Dalembert, would dramatically improve the Heat’s overall roster.  Dalembert provides added shot blocking, along with Martin, who also would be an enforcer that the Heat desperately need.  Battier, Prince and Kirilenko provide length, and solid perimeter defense, as they can defend several positions on the court.  TJ Ford would be a tremendous upgrade at the Point Guard position, while Redd provides more scoring ability off the bench to go along with Mike Miller & James Jones.  Players like McGrady, Josh Howard and Michael Redd are all very injury prone players, but can be very serviceable if their health/minutes are preserved for a playoff run.

Along with these changes, I have a strong feeling that Pat Riley will step in as the new coach.  Riley worked too hard to put this team together, to see them fail.  Riley is often linked with the great Phil Jackson, as they not only were great coaches, but managed some of the game’s biggest personalities.  Riley has the pedigree to get the most out of this Heat team, and surely would not have allowed them to relinquish those late game leads.  Look for major changes in South Beach, which will result in Miami’s hoisting of the Championship Trophy.  The only thing that could prevent a title run from happening, are another implosion by the team itself, but if Pat is patrolling the sideline, I wouldn’t bet on it!

The 2011 are right around the corner, and are sure to be the most competitive NBA Playoffs we’ve seen in years.  While the 2nd round and beyond, are the rounds everyone’s anticipating, there are a few things we need to be on the look-out for.  Here are 10 of them…

1st Round Upsets

1.  The New York Knicks vs. The Boston Celtics

How can this happen, you ask?  Simply put, Youth and Hunger.  The Knicks are considerably younger, and faster than their Boston Counterparts.  The running style that they live by, is the exact opposite type of game that the C’s want to get in to.  Yes the Knicks have had their struggles versus the Celtics this season, but have also had their moments.  When their backs were against the wall, their closer showed up. Carmelo Anthony put the team on his back on multiple occasions, and performed like the star that he is.  These are the leadership qualities that I spoke of before, that are there, just inconsistent.  If Melo can maintain that drive, and killer instinct throughout the series; The Celtics are in Trouble.  Now the likelihood of an upset isn’t in the Knicks’ favor.  However, the Celtics haven’t been the same team since the Perkins trade, and are injured across the board.  The funny thing about this series is that the Knicks lack that “Inside Toughness,” but then again, so do the Celtics.  Yes of course KG is still the backbone of the team, but then what?  You have an old and injured Shaq, who’s paired with another old and injured Jermaine O’neal.  Either way, the Knicks will make a series vs. ANYONE they play this year; you can put money on that!

2.   The Orlando Magic vs. The Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks owned the Orlando Magic this year.  Taking 3 games out of 4, the Hawks are going into this series with a huge amount of confidence.  Another plus on the side of Atlanta, is the fact that Dwight Howard has already exceeded his allotted amount of Technical Fouls.  With each two techs that Howard receives, he’ll now miss a game.  A Howard-less Magic Team, is a major positive for Atlanta.  Both teams are loaded with talent, and can each operate well in a run-and-gun style of play.  However, if the game slows down at all, this favors Orlando.  Atlanta has yet to take that next step as a team, so this season is the perfect opportunity to make that come to fruition.

3.  The Dallas Mavericks vs. The Memphis Grizzlies or The Portland Trail Blazers

This Just In…The Grizzlies are in the Playoffs, oh and uhh, they’re 3-1 vs. The Mavericks.  With all the hype surrounding the Eastern Conference, San Antonio, OKC, and uh yeah, that team in L.A., no one’s paid any attention to the Grizzlies.  Granted two of the wins by the Grizz were only by a combined two points, they aren’t lacking for confidence versus the Mavs.  Out of all of the match-ups in the playoffs, this upset isn’t very likely, but will make for a great story if it does happen.  The loss of Rudy Gay will be what is likely to destroy the hopes of Memphis in this series.

The series between the Blazers and Mavs was split at 2 games apiece.  The Blazers are very equipped to win this series, which would no doubt, send Mark Cuban into a tailspin.  The loss of Caron Butler is a major setback for Dallas, as he is their best perimeter defender, and resident “Tough Guy.”  This series could come down to Brandon Roy’s availability, and performance throughout.  Roy was held out of several games, and monitored closely in others, in preparation for the playoffs.  In other words, the Mavs better hope they’re able to hold onto that #2 seed.

The Emergence Of…

4.  Derrick Rose!

The Chicago Bulls are for real ladies and gentlemen!  Derrick Rose exemplifies all that is right about sports.  Rose was criticized for not having a jump-shot…well you can now check that off.  Rose has carried the Bulls all the way to the #1 seed in the East, and just shy of the overall #1 seed in the entire playoffs.  The Bulls will make quick work of the Pacers, and will likely get some rest, as the Hawks vs. Magic is sure to go 5 to 7 games.  I don’t expect the Bulls to have any major drop-off from the regular season, so a birth in the Eastern Conference Finals looks very likely.  If the Bulls do reach the ECF, Rose would have elevated himself to possibly the best Point Guard in the NBA, if he hasn’t done that already.  But a birth in the Finals, to go with an expected MVP Trophy…Wow!

5.  The Heatles!

All the nay-sayers, all the critics, all the rumors will be put to bed sooner than we thought.  I knew the Heat had the talent to make it to the Finals this season, but all the ups and downs, and lack of cohesion throughout the season, I didn’t expect it to happen.  However, the Heat are clicking on all cylinders right now, and are poised to make a strong push throughout the playoffs.  With a tough challenge in the second round awaiting them, home-court advantage may be exactly what they need.  The Heat also have their own closer, in Dwayne Wade, whose play always elevates in the playoffs.  Given Boston’s rash of injuries, and the Knicks’ inability to play consistent defense, I fully expect to see the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, with a very strong chance to go further.

6.  The Oklahoma City Thunder

The trade for Kendrick Perkins sealed the deal for the Thunder.  They now have the size, athleticism, and toughness down low, to match up well versus both San Antonio, and the defending champion Lakers.  The Thunder is looking like a very complete team, and are my pick to upset the San Antonio Spurs in this year’s playoffs.  Russell Westbrook is another Point Guard that’s elevated his play, and will put himself into the best Point Guard Convo, if the Thunder can go far in the playoffs.  It’s also on record, that the Thunder were the team that played the Lakers, the toughest in the Western Conference last season.  With that experience under their belt, a new team structure, and the electrifying tandem of Westbrook and Durant, I expect a lot from OKC.  While I don’t expect them to unseat the Lakers in the WCF, This Season, I do expect it to happen Next Year!

What Happens If…

7.  The Orlando Magic loses to the Hawks in the 1st Round?

This will have a huge effect on the future of the franchise.  Heading into Free Agency the following summer, Dwight Howard will be hit with a bevyof rumors.  He’s stated that winning is his most important goal.  However, Howard’s also rumored to be interested in playing for the Lakers one day.  It should also be noted that the Lakers have a young big man in Andrew Bynum, which would surely be an acceptable component to a Howard deal next season.  Also not to be forgotten, are the New Jersey soon-to-be, Brooklyn Nets.  Deron Williams has said that he’d like to play alongside Howard, and Howard shares the same affliction with the possibility of playing with Williams.  One thing’s for sure; if the Magic are out in the 1st round…Look for Melo-Drama Part Two, Starring Dwight Howard, Next Season!

8.  The Hornets lose to the Spurs in the 1st Round?

This isn’t a matter of IF, but When, the Hornets lose.  Yeah the series was tied 2-2, but let’s be honest here…The Hornets just don’t have the personnel to upset the Spurs.  Chris Paul is arguably the best Point Guard in the League, but he can’t do it by himself.  The Spurs have a list of injuries, but also the playoff experience to make quick work of New Orleans.  So if the Hornets are expected to lose, what’s the discussion about?  The hot topic then shifts to where will Chris Paul be playing in the near future.  Similar to Howard, Paul is set to hit the Free Agent Market next summer, and will be the most sought after Point Guard in the league.  Deron Williams will also be in that Free Agent class, but seems likely to resign in New Jersey, pending their future additions.  Paul will play the good guy, and claim he wants to remain in New Orleans…Uhh, yeah right!  Does anyone recall that toast that Paul made at Carmelo Anthony’s Wedding?  Here’s a hint…Big 3, Orange & Blue, Madison Square Garden!

Backpedaling Into The Tournament

9.  What happens to the defending Conference Champions?

The Lakers and Celtics are stumbling into the playoffs this season…but then again, what’s new?  Aren’t these the same two teams that everyone said the same things about, last season?  The bottom line is that these are two teams that have won the last 3 NBA Titles, and they know what’s at stake.  Does this mean both are guaranteed to meet again…No!  But, I do expect the Lakers to make a run at a third NBA Title in a row.  Had this been the same Celtics team that began the season, I’d say the C’s would be right there.  However, the trade, injuries, and overall team age, may have caught up to Boston.  The 1st round matchup versus a very dangerous Knickerbockers team doesn’t help either.

NBA Finals Prediction

10.  When it’s all said and done…Who gets the W?

When it’s all over, I expect the Lakers to defend their title against…The Miami Heat.  A series that is sure to go 7 games, it’s very difficult to pick a winner.  My instinct is to go with the Heat.  But, a Heat victory depends on a few things.  If there are several close games between the two teams, and anyone other than Dwayne Wade takes the last second shots…the Lakers Win.  Also, the Heat will need to trust the game that got them there, if not…the Lakers Win.  The Finals aren’t the time for a team to implode, and if there’s a team in this series that it happens to, it’s the Heat.  The Lakers are not only the defending champions, but they are a complete team.  Outside of “The Heatles,” Miami’s a lottery team.  I expect the experience factor to be the deciding edge in this series, and the Lakers send Phil Jackson off into the sunset, with his 3rd 3-Peat.

Losers of 6 straight, and 9 of their last 10 games, the New York Knicks are in a bit of a, “funk,” so to speak.  Acquiring a major talent in one, Carmelo Anthony, just before the NBA Trade Deadline, seemed to be the next big step, in “Righting the Ship.”  However, the Knicks have found themselves in a worse predicament than they were before the deal.  A lot of people, namely “fans,” are suggesting that maybe that was the wrong move to make, in acquiring Anthony.  They feel that blowing up the team, and trading away its young talent, was a mistake.  A record of 7-9, and falling to the 7^th seed in the Eastern Conference, would also back those claims.  With the Knicks currently facing a potential playoff match-up with the Celtics, whom the Knicks are 0-3 against; the future doesn’t seem much brighter.

So who gets the blame in this situation?  We could point the finger at the Star Players, Melo & Amare, but they’ve performed consistently.  What about the bench…Or lack thereof?  Naaah, that’d just be a cop out of sorts and besides that only, consists of 3-4 players at max.  The finger can be pointed at the Front Office for making the deal, right?  Let’s face it; the Knicks weren’t exactly playing elite basketball prior to the trade.  Their record only stood, 2 games above .500, which isn’t saying much compared to where they are now.  There isn’t one specific, “Answer,” to the Knicks’ problems.  There are several things wrong with this team.

Let’s start with the coaching staff.  Mike D’Antoni has always been seen as an offensive genius, in the game of basketball.  However, there is that other side of the game that he’s not so famous for, and that’s Defense.  Now granted, D’Antoni’s scheme has some level of success in the past with the Phoenix Suns.  The Suns were always amongst the elite in the Western Conference as far as regular season record.  However, they always seemed to fall short in the playoffs.  Personally, I don’t believe this system can win, as do many people.  If you look at many of the great teams that have won championships, they all stood very strongly on the defensive end of the court.  Unfortunately D’Antoni doesn’t seem to preach Defense as strongly as he does Offense, which reflects in the Knicks’ play.  Then we move onto the personnel.  In all fairness, Chauncey Billups
has been in and out of the lineup with nagging injuries, which breeds for instability at the Point Guard Position.  Billups is the veteran leader that can keep the team grounded, but isn’t the All-Star PG, he once was either.  Billups does take on the role of a leader, and is a well respected and strong voice amongst his teammates.  Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire are the stars of the team, but neither has a track record of being a great, “Leader,” for his team.  Great Scorers, very competitive, all-stars, yes the accolades are there.  However, as far as a leader goes, I’m not quite sure that can be said for either.  They’ll both give their all on the court, but are they the voice that can command the team?  While I don’t doubt that either has the ability to do so, I’m not quite sure that it’s happened yet.

All in all, everyone should have known that this was going to take time.  Acquiring two superstars takes a while for them to gel, and get accustomed to playing with one another.  The funny thing is, that if things go the way the Knicks plan, they’ll be welcoming a 3^rd Superstar to the mix in the near future…Then What?  However, a player like Chris Paul, whom they covet, canstep in and be that leader and voice that the team
needs.  Paul’s also as committed on the defensive end, as he is on the offensive, which will surely rub off on the others.  But the remaining question is whether or not; Coach D’Antoni is the man for the job.  Some are calling for his head, and hoping that Jeff Van Gundy is brought back to coach the team.  A lasting impression of JVG comes in the form of the old Knicks vs. HeatRivalry, where he’s seen in the middle of a fight between the teams.  While that is very comedic imagery, it represents the fire and relentlessness that this team needs in their coach.  JVG wasn’t afraid to mix it up with his players, and get them to play to their best ability.  But ultimately this is a work in progress, and will have several kinks to work out.  These issues, and the teams’ current record, are no reason fans should abandon their team.  I’m sure the days of prominence are ahead for this franchise, but patience will be greatly tested throughout this process.

The NBA Trade Deadline is almost as exciting as the All Star Weekend and NBA Finals in one.  This year’s deadline was no different, and possibly the most impactful we’ve seen in recent years.  Here is a breakdown of the most significant deals, and what they mean for the present and near futures.

Knicks Get: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Renaldo Balkman, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, and Corey Brewer

Nuggets Get: Danillo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov, Kosta Koufos, Knicks’ 2014 (or later) 1^st Rd Pick, Warriors’ 2012 & 2013 2^nd Rd Picks, and $3 Million Cash

Timberwolves Get: Eddy Curry, Anthony Randolph

What The Deal Means For…

Knicks – The Knicks manage to bring in the marquee talent that they aimed to do during last summer’s free agent frenzy, pairing Melo & Amare together.  Had this deal not happened, it would’ve looked extremely bad on the Knicks’ front office, which had Melo gift-wrapping himself to them.  Anytime you have the ability to gain the services of an elite talent, You Do What You Must To Make It Happen!  What the Knicks gave up, were role players who made them a decent, mildly-competitive, franchise.  However, as they stood pre-Melo, how many games would they honestly win in a playoff series vs. The Heat, Celtics, Magic, Bulls, or Hawks…Probably not more than one.  Also, with the acquisition of Amare Stoudemire, there was some buzz back in the Garden for the 2011 season.  Bringing in Melo creates a Frenzy!  Ask yourself this…If you’re on the opposing team, “Are you afraid of Timofey Mozgov?” “Does the threat of Wilson Chandler giving you endless buckets all night, make your stomach turn?” No? Oh ok…This is why you go and get Carmelo Anthony!  The Knicks now have two legit threats that you are FORCED to game plan for.  Let’s not act like Billups is some throw in player either.  Billups’ deal expires at the end of the 2012 season, which makes him a very attractive commodity next season.  Billups is also a player that you use in a potential Chris Paul deal, who’s already been rumored to want to align himself with Stoudemire and Anthony.  Chauncey is also a former Finals MVP, and a veteran leader at PG, that the Knicks will need to keep them grounded during their playoff run.

Nuggets – Denver had to make a move, and seeing as how New Jersey presented the best overall deal, they had to stretch the Knicks for all they could.  The Nuggets got quality youth in return, and a player in Gallinari with a huge upside.  Gallo can be the league’s next Dirk Nowitzki, or of course, he could be the next Peja Stojakovic.  For Denver’s sake, let’s hope he’s more of the Dirk mold.

T-Wolves – Eddy Curry was the steal of this trade!  Curry’s still young and very promising, and has…ok obviously I’m joking.  Curry’s deal is a huge expiring contract that will give the rebuilding T-Wolves, some necessary cap space, so they can re-sign their own rising star, Kevin Love.  The jury is still out on what Anthony Randolph can do, so this was done more on potential.

Overview: The Knicks gave up players, whose talents can all be replaced.  I don’t see Chandler getting much better than he already is, and Billups is an upgrade at the Point over Felton.  The Knicks had to do something to remain competitive in the very loaded Eastern Conference.  A future addition of Chris Paul would put them where they’d need to be.  However, the person that holds to the key to that acquisition is Landry Fields.  Fields would need to continue his development, to make him an appealing young prospect to add to a team, along with Billups.  Either way this deal works for all parties, as the Nuggets also have several trading chips for the future.

Nets Get: Deron Williams

Jazz Get: Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, 2 1^st Rd Picks, & $3 Million Cash

Nets – Swinging for the fence and missing on Melo has its rewards.  Simply put, the Nets are moving to a new location, and needed a Fan Draw…Enter Deron Williams.  Williams is seen as the best PG in the league by many, and will surely attract other star players to NJ soon-to-be Brooklyn Nets.  Williams was set to hit free agency next summer, in a class that featured Chris Paul and Dwight Howard.  After the fallout with Jerry Sloan, Williams was sure to explore his options, and align himself with other potential stars.  Dwight Howard is almost certain to have some interest in playing with Deron in Brooklyn, for the 2012 Season.

Jazz – Utah gets a fairly young, and very solid PG replacement in Devin Harris, and a future star PF in Derrick Favors.  Favors would surely be the #1 pick overall had he stayed in college for another season, and will be a major building block for the Jazz.  In addition, the two 1^st round picks will be huge in future trade talks, or in rebuilding a Jazz team, that’s headed for a youth movement.

Overview: Rather than be the Denver Nuggets of 2011-12, the Jazz dealt Williams while the market was hot.  The Nets needed a player to attract the fans, and they were willing to give up a very solid package in order to do so.  The Nets also hold a huge trump card in the Dwight Howard sweepstakes, in the form of more draft picks, and big man Brook Lopez.  Don’t be surprised if the opening night lineup of the Brooklyn Nets features both Deron Williams & Dwight Howard.  Utah on the other hand, will have to deal Al Jefferson or Paul Millsap at some point, so Favors can get his necessary room to grow.

Celtics Get: Jeff Green & Nenad Krstic

Thunder Get: Kendrick Perkins & Nate Robinson

Celtics – After failing to resign Perkins last year, the C’s were almost left with their hands tied.  While they sacrifice their size advantage in the East, they get younger, which was inevitable.  The front office didn’t feel they’d be able to resign Perkins in the off season, once he hits Free Agency, so they had to make a move.  Green provides help along the perimeter, backing up Paul Pierce, and can provide some help at the 4 position as well.  The Celtics are expected to sign Troy Murphy (dealt to Golden State), after his contract is bought out, which will help them get back some of what they lost.  This deal does however; make the C’s much more vulnerable for teams like the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls.

Thunder – HUGE Trade for OKC!  This deal gives the Thunder an almost flawless lineup.  They now have the size to match up with the Lakers and Spurs.  Nate Robinson gives them the spark off the bench that they desperately needed, to go along with James Harden.  The athleticism throughout the Thunder’s lineup will be very difficult to deal with in the West, and now make the Thunder a very likely candidate to unseat the Lakers or Spurs in the Western Conference.

Overview: The Thunder was going to have to deal Jeff Green eventually.  Green was an undersized PF, on a team with a dominant SF.  There was no way they’d make it passed the Lakers or Spurs with the same lineup as last season.  Perkins was also seen as the reason that the Celtics lost that playoff series against the Lakers last year.  Which leads us to the C’s who have to be confident that Shaq and Jermaine O’Neal will be healthy enough to help them in the playoffs.  Krstic and possibly Murphy, will help them as well, but don’t take up the space, or play defense like Perkins.  The major gain for the Thunder is an equally huge loss for the Celtics.

Blazers Get: Gerald Wallace

Bobcats Get: Joel Pryzbilla, Dante Cunningham, Sean Marks, 2 1^st Rd Picks, & Cash

Blazers – Another huge deal for a Western Conference Contender.  The Blazers were almost an afterthought in the Western Conference Pecking Order…Not Now!  Wallace adds athleticism, defense, and a hole in the Blazers lineup that could’ve been fixed thru the draft a few years ago…Kevin Durant Anyone?  Instead, the Blazers dump several benchwarmers and Pryzbilla for a player that can help the Blazers immediately!  Wallace literally does everything on the court, and with Rookie Wesley Matthews lighting it up, it makes the load lighter on Brandon Roy.

Bobcats – Cap relief, and possibly Kemba Walker!

Overview: The Bobcats clear up some cap space, and look to rebuild through the draft.  Although, we do remember how well Michael Jordan was at drafting…let’s see how this works out.  The Blazers created a situation where they can get out of the first round of the playoffs, and give the Spurs and Lakers a major run for their money.  Wallace allows the team to rest Brandon Roy a little more, which will preserve him for the playoffs.  This deal makes the Blazers a very dangerous team down the road.

Other Notable Deals

Clippers send Baron Davis & 2011 1^st rd. pick to the Cavs for Mo Williams & Jamario Moon

Davis has to be the sickest man in the country right now!  It’s not looking like he’ll play much for the Cavs down the line, and has even chosen to wear the number 85, Weird.  The Clippers unload a huge contract in Davis, but get another smallish combo guard in Williams, to go with Bledsoe and Gordon.  Williams’ contract runs through the 2011-12 season, with an ETO for 2012-2013, so let’s see what happens down the line.

Wizards send Kirk Hinrich & Hilton Armstrong to the Hawks for Mike Bibby, Jordan Crawford, Maurice Evans, & 2011 1^st rd. pick

Hinrich provides immediate help at the point, which had an inconsistent Jeff Teague, and aging Mike Bibby.  Teague is the PG of the future of Atlanta, but Hinrich provides major help going into the playoffs.  The Wizards get cap relief after Bibby’s deal expires after this season, as they look towards the future of their very young team.

Rockets send Aaron Brooks to the Suns for Goran Dragic & 2011 1^st rd. pick

Personally, I liked the heir apparent that Dragic was for the Suns, after the Nash era ended.  Dragic is a very athletic PG, with a game similar to Manu Ginobilli’s.  Brooks fell out of favor in Houston, and has seen his role diminish greatly this season.  In all, this was a solid deal for both teams, and Brooks will be a nice replacement for Nash once he moves on.

Overall this Trade Deadline might have had the most impact in recent years.  Both conferences got extremely competitive, which make for an exciting playoff season in the NBA.  Immediate Winners – OKC Thunder and the Portland Trailblazers.  Future Winners – New York Knicks, and the NJ/BK Nets.  Biggest Losers – Boston Celtics, and Baron Davis!

Fans across the globe have just witnessed the biggest following of one professional athlete, in any sport.  Former Cavaliers Star, LeBron James’ journey through NBA Free Agency will undoubtedly go down, as one of the most chronicled events in Sports History.  James ended a following, which lasted close to two years, on July 8^th, with an announcement to join the Miami Heat.  The same Heat team that is already home to Dwayne Wade…The same Heat team that resides in what was officially dubbed, “Wade County,” from July 1^st-8^th…The same Heat team who is also now home to Chris Bosh…Yes, That Miami Heat!  This team will join the forces of arguably two of the league’s best 3 players, or 3 of its top 10, however you choose to look at it.  A star of James’ caliber, leaving his team has an effect throughout the league, which will now be felt for the next 5 seasons!  LeBron’s reasoning was based on winning, and the fact that he didn’t want to turn 31, with no titles, and bad knees…which you have to respect.  But, let’s look at this signing from every angle…

The Suitors…

The New York Knicks (29-53)

The Knicks have been more infatuated with the idea of LeBron joining the team, than the Secretary was with Idris Elba joining her in bed, “Obsessed” –Movie. The Knicks had been on a cap clearing mission, since Donnie Walsh took office.  N.Y. did all they possibly could to get LeBron, including Nike releasing a New York City version of his signature shoe, that debuted during his annual visit to The Garden.   Amar’e Stoudemire agreed to join the team, and immediately spoke on Carmelo Anthony & Chris Paul joining him in the future.  All of these things were supposed to get James in Orange and Blue…right?  The Knicks messed up in a couple areas…First, their approach centered around James’ ability to make money off the court, ranging around 2 Billion Dollars.  Second, they ultimately didn’t have the pieces in place to win, NOW!  Amar’e is a nice piece to build around, and undoubtedly, would’ve made the Knicks a much better team with James.  But, there were no concrete plans in place to win, which seemed to come secondary in the Knicks’ plan to land James.  Through it all, the Knicks did deserve James, seeing as how they’ve done all they could to make James love them.  Another factor working against the Knicks was their lack of commitment on defense!  We all know that defense wins championships, and the D in Coach D’Antoni’s name is as close as the Knickerbockers get.  Amar’e has been criticized for lacking in that area, which was a major strong point in James’ previous Cleveland teams.   While becoming a billionaire was supposedly important to James, so was winning.  While the Knicks would have been a better team with LeBron, and would have landed them another star, it just wasn’t enough to get him to New York.

The New Jersey Nets (12-70)

A brand new billionaire owner in place in Mikhail Prokhorov, sidekick and minority owner Jay-Z, and a move to Brooklyn in two years, seemingly had it sewn up for New Jersey…Nope!  The Nets approached James with a “New Attitude, New Nets,” pitch.  Now this pitch was only fitting, seeing as how the Nets won an outstanding 12 games last season, and at times looked no better than a High School AAU Team.  With the idea that James could be the catalyst in New Jersey’s resurrection, as well as creating a brand new legacy in Brooklyn, the Nets seemed like a favorite to land James’ services.  They even went out and found a former player to coach the team, which was also on this King James wish list, in Avery Johnson.  With all these factors piling up, and the help of minority owner and close friend of James, the Nets seemed Golden!  But, what seemed like a great idea in the beginning quickly lost its zest, when seemingly no other Free Agents wanted to be a Net.  There are nice pieces in place, with Devin Harris, Brook Lopez, Terrance Williams, and recently drafted, Derrick Favors.  The problem with these pieces, mostly lies around a lack of experience, and ultimately, this probably didn’t seem like too much better than what was in Cleveland.   While Prokhorov promised to go after Chris Paul, and Carlos Boozer, it just didn’t seem realistic.  But, it also seemed as though NJ got a little lazy in its pursuit of LeBron.  It seemed like after the initial pitch to LeBron, they felt as though they had done enough.  Other teams that were after James, seemed hell-bent on clearing up more cap space, signifying that they were willing to do whatever it took to land LeBron.

The Los Angeles Clippers (29-53)

We’ll keep this one short and sweet…The Owner himself didn’t even attend the meeting to speak with LeBron, which is an immediate reflection of how terrible this franchise is.  The Clippers will honestly never be successful, under Donald Sterling.  This is a team that needs an entire revamping, from the ownership, to the logo and colors.  There has been nothing but a loser’s mentality within the Clipper franchise, which won’t go away until all of those things happen.  On paper, the Clippers are a rising team, but in reality, are a team with a defeatist mentality.  In short, The Clippers NEVER had a real chance!

The Chicago Bulls (41-41)

Now out of every team in the running for LeBron’s services, this was the team I fully believed he’d land with.  The format was set up beautifully…A Star Point Guard in Derrick Rose, a Promising Defensive Big Man in Joakim Noah, a Historic Franchise, and the Cap Room to land 2 Stars!  Chicago was the team I wanted to see LeBron join, simply off of the fact that playing alongside Derrick Rose, would have been a sight to see!  The combinations were endless…Joe Johnson, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer, along with LeBron James, would have been an Instant Contender!  However, there were two big problems looming when it came to James joining the Bulls…First, Jerry Reinsdorf is known to avoid paying the luxury tax at all costs.  After all, Reinsdorf is the man who broke up the Michael Jordan Bulls Dynasty in the late 90’s.  The second factor, and possibly the most intimidating factor of all: Playing in Michael Jordan’s shadow.  There is no doubt that LeBron James would have been playing every game of his entire Bulls career, in comparison to Michael’s.  He’d have to walk passed that statue of Jordan, each and every time he entered the arena.  James has been criticized for, not having enough Killer Instinct, to close out games…so playing behind the game’s greatest closer, probably not a good idea.  At the end of the day, something was going to have to give in order for this to work.  Reinsdorf would’ve had to decide what mattered more…A Dynasty, or his wallet.

The Cleveland Cavaliers (61-21)

The team LeBron has pledged his first 7 years of NBA Existence to, found themselves in competition for its homegrown superstar.  The Cavs were the favorite to retain LeBron’s services coming into free agency.  They were in the position to offer him the most money, and were essentially where he’s been able to build his legacy.  Add to the fact that, Cleveland was also home of the NBA’s Best Record the previous 2 seasons…2 seasons that saw James take home the NBA MVP Trophy as well.  However, Cleveland was also home of Playoff shortcomings as well.  LeBron had been pleading for help, since their fluke run to the NBA Finals in 2007.  But with little cap space and no real plan to make the team better…Cleveland was at a loss.  The Cavs still remained a strong candidate to retain LeBron, until Chris Bosh completely scoffed at the idea of playing in Cleveland.  LeBron didn’t want to leave, but no one seemed too enthused to join him in a Cavaliers uniform either.

The Miami Heat (47-35)

With all the teams looking to, “Court the King,” the Heat seemed like the longest shot of all…besides the Clippers of course.  Despite having the most cap room of any team in the league, they were already the home to one of the league’s best players, in Dwayne Wade.  There was no way; anyone could really see LeBron playing alongside, much less, behind Wade.  However, the Heat has a proven winner as their General Manager (Pat Riley), and had 44+ million dollars in cap space, which was enough for 3 max contract players.  This luxury was something that no other team could afford, which began to make them an intriguing suitor.  But honestly, Miami loves Wade like Precious does a buffet, and just didn’t seem like the team that could embrace someone of even greater star power.  A major factor that played in the Heat’s favor was the fact that they did have a star in place, which signified a guaranteed positive outcome playing alongside him.  Wade not only pledged his want to return to Miami, but he went out recruiting players to come play with him, which was something no other free agent was doing.  But the outcome that I expected was more so, seeing Bosh or Boozer join Wade, along with Rudy Gay and Raymond Felton, which would have made them a major title contender as well.  However, after Chris Bosh joined the Heat, the possibility of winning multiple championships ultimately won out in LeBron’s mind.  Not to mention…It’s South Beach!

The Fallout…

Many people will say LeBron is hurting his legacy by teaming up with such elite talent, as well as, leaving HIS team, to join someone else’s.  While LeBron may have taken himself out of a Greatest Player Ever, conversation, he put himself in a Greatest Team Ever, conversation.  In the end, sports are about teamwork, and winning.  These three very elite players are displaying the ultimate in personal sacrifice in order to attain dominance.  While it remains to be seen as to whom the players alongside them will be, this team has already put itself in immediate contention.  Monetarily it may be difficult to fill out the Heat roster, but anyone that wants to win, will line up willingly to join.  While the Heat remains Dwayne Wade’s team, it allows them to just put the proper pieces in place, now that the stars have been aligned.  These three stars have set a huge example for children that look up to them, about the importance of teamwork, and sacrificing to achieve a common goal…Winning.

For the flipside of it all…LeBron seemed to handle all of this on a level that was seen as very, “Extra.”  Granted he is arguably the most talented player in the league, a one hour special to announce which team you’re going to, is a bit much.  While he ended up doing it for charity, it just seemed like he was making a mockery of the process.  Many people saw this show as a slap in the face of the Cleveland Cavaliers organization, and its fans.  It goes without saying that he’s adored in Cleveland, but to make this out to be LeBron disrespecting Cleveland thing is taking it a bit far.  Especially after seeing how the fans reacted, by burning his jersey, cursing his name, and most of all, having Dan Gilbert release a tasteless letter completely bashing LeBron and everything he stands for.  Let us all not forget, that the Cavs drafted LeBron with the #1 pick in the draft, which means they had to be a pretty bad team to deserve such an honor.  While the Cavs brass did all they could to surround LeBron with talent, it just didn’t seem like it was enough.  The losing shouldn’t be based on a, “Lack of help,” as much as it should LeBron’s inability to trust his teammates, his teammates disappearing during games, as well as, poor coaching down the stretch.  The downside to LeBron joining such a powerful team is that if they don’t win a championship each year they’re together, it will be seen as a failed mission.  The Cavs also won 67 games a season ago, so this team should honestly have no problem challenging the ’96 Chicago Bulls 72 win record.  It’s actually stacked to an unfair advantage to me, being that each of these players is arguably the best at their natural positions.  But, teams like this are bad for the league, in that the element of competition is virtually lost, when facing them.  There will be teams that say, the Heat aren’t unbeatable.  There were also teams that thought the same thing about the ’96 Bulls, and they only lost 10 games total!  Bosh and Wade in Miami, LeBron and Boozer in Chicago, and Joe Johnson and Stoudemire in New York, would have brought balance to the entire league.  Instead, the East is left with 4 really good teams (Orlando, Miami, Boston, Chicago), and outside of Atlanta, are all potential lottery teams.

Ultimately, LeBron wanted to win, period.  The Cavs were great regular season teams, but a totally different team in the playoffs.  LeBron James gave Cleveland 7 long hard years of his NBA Career…making the Cavs relevant each of those 7 years.  LeBron’s tenure with the Cavs will be seen as a failure to some, which is very far from the truth.  He gave a struggling franchise life, credibility, hope, motivation, and financial success throughout the community.  For the fans and ownership to act in the manner that they did, is completely ridiculous, and only lessens the sympathy that many had for them, in losing LeBron.  Keep in mind, that had LeBron returned to the Cavs, he’d have been the great guy returning home to, “Finish what he started.”  But, he also would’ve have been seen as a foolish person that squandered an opportunity to become a champion…essentially making it a lose-lose situation.  Instead of being grateful for what LeBron did for the city of Cleveland, and its franchise, they displayed their true colors.  While some of the behavior displayed wasn’t indicative of everyone’s, it did reflect negatively on the city, and its ownership.  The thing that Dan Gilbert may not have taken into account was the fact that everyone in the league saw that letter.  How does this resonate amongst other players?  Players have seen how you’ve lambasted your, “Prodigal Son,” so what would that mean for them?  While James’ departure will set the franchises progression back a few years, I believe management has managed to set them back even further.  Keep in mind, that the NBA is a business, and in Corporate America, a layoff or firing can come without warning.  The Cavs could have traded or released LeBron at any point, with little to no remorse about it.  LeBron did nothing short of what happens everyday, when someone acts on their ambition.  Everyone has dreams they wish to attain at some point…LeBron’s departure was him acting on that dream.

She? Well in this particular case, she represents the game of professional football. The culprit…Oakland Raiders Owner, Al Davis! Once a proud organization with tremendous history, has now turned into the NFL Version of The Has Been Clinic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_epC3Zevc8).  Aside from young stars, Kirk Morrison, Zach Miller and Nnmandi Asomugha, the Raiders have very few bright spots. But what exactly is the problem? You have a “franchise,” quarterback in JaMarcus Russell, a future star running back in Darren McFadden, a deep threat in Darius Heyward-Bey, and cornerstones on defense…right? The problem is that Al Davis continues to make terrible money decisions. The choices that Davis has made, are to the point that stars seem to immediately fade once they join Raider Nation. Randy Moss is a future Hall of Fame Wide Receiver, and did virtually NOTHING during his tenure in Oakland. Moss’s value was so low, that he was dealt to New England for a 4th Round Pick! Yes, the same Randy Moss who torched NFL Defenses as soon as he stepped on the field as a Rookie. The same Randy Moss who went to New England and immediately broke the NFL Single Season TD Receiving Record, and helped the Pats go undefeated. DeAngelo Hall became a Raider, and a former Raider in the SAME SEASON!!! Hall, never short on confidence, looked like an excellent fit in Oakland. Asomugha locked down his entire side of the field, and with Hall alongside him, they formed the most talented young defending duo in years…Right? Hall was Deep-Fried in his first game as a Raider, by then rookie, Eddie Royal, of the Denver Broncos. Royal made Hall look like the rookie, forcing him to commit personal fouls, and got him completely out of his game mentally. The funny thing about Hall, was that he was developing into a very elite Corner, while in Atlanta. Once the Silver and Black graced Hall’s back, he became Fillet Mignon to opposing NFL Offenses, and was often the preferred special on the menu!  Javon Walker is another prime example of Al Davis’s wizardry.  Walker was an elite wideout during his time in Green Bay, and even had his run in Denver. However, once those knees seemed to age in dog years, instead of people…Denver cut him loose. Walker worked out, and apparently became an incredible salesman, because no one saw any reflection of the old Javon, except Davis. Davis signed Walker to a 6 year, $55 Million Dollar Deal!!! This signing was easily, one for the Ridiculous List! Javon turned that $55 Million into a brilliant, 15 catch, 196 yard, and 1 Touchdown Performance…in 8 GAMES!!! Walker remains a Raider, and a bonafide bench riding specialist! These are just some flashes of the most recent past, which may help us understand the present a little better.

As we speed up to the present day, we have a Raider team that looked to be headed in a positive direction. Head Coach Tom Cable seemed to light some fire into the team towards the end of last season, and showed promise entering this year. But, I don’t think he factored in possible Assault Charges into the offensive scheme. Cable is on the verge of being arrested, for punching former assistant, Randy Hanson in the face. Looks like Cable was the perfect man for the job! Sitting at 1-3, a seemingly lost franchise, and a quarterback that looks more and more like a bust with each outing…what’s the solution? JaMarcus Russell can throw a football 70 yards, from one knee! How is he so bad? The argument was made that Russell didn’t have the weapons around him that he needed to be successful. However, I believe that Davis is the only real problem. Russell gets the blame for not taking the game serious enough, to where he shows up to camp out of shape, and plays terribly with each game that approaches. I think the reason behind his performance, is the fact that he’s not held accountable for it at all, and he has little to no fear in the organization. The 49ers are atop of their division, and have a new attitude, and motivation, because of Mike Singletary. He’s changed the entire culture in that locker room, and it has shown on the field. The culture and overall mentality speaks volumes, when it comes to on the field production. Shaun Hill doesn’t have an eighth of the talent that Russell has, and manages the offense extremely well. McFadden could easily develop into a player like Frank Gore, and could even exceed Gore’s ability. However, the team as a whole is without direction, and leadership.

Week 4 told this lack of leadership very clearly. The Raiders faced a Houston team, that is at the bottom of the league in overall defense, and they couldn’t produce more than 6 points??? Every running back that has faced Houston has excelled, except for McFadden. Houston stacked the box against Oakland, and showed no respect for the pass at all, which left McFadden with the stat line of a toddler (-3 Rushing Yards, and 5 Rec. Yards). How is it that there is no offensive production coming out of Oakland? Russell has a cannon for an arm, and could easily throw for 4,000+ Yards every season. I’d almost guarantee, that if Rex Ryan, or Mike Singletary was the coach in Oakland, we’d see a very different product on the field. But, Al Davis continues his stronghold over the organization, and we are left to watch them crumble each week. Fantasy Owners of McFadden were probably hoping for a major breakout game, and were left in virtual tears! The funny thing about all of this, is that it’s taken years for people to see that Davis has lost his marbles. I mean, this is the same Al Davis that drafted a trouble making KICKER, in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft! Am I the only person who finds that both weird, and hilarious at the same time? I mean I can understand your need for a kicker…but the first round? 2000 is the exact same draft that Tom Brady was drafted in the 6th round! The Patriots really blew that draft opportunity…just think where they’d be right now had they drafted Janikowski!

ESPN Rise and Boost Mobile came together for it’s fourth annual Elite 24 High School Basketball game, back in August.  The game features some of the top talent in High School Basketball, across the country!  This event saw NBA youngsters Tyreke Evans and Rajon Rondo coaching Skip to my Lou (White Team), who defeated the Brandon Jennings and Kevin Love coached The Goat (Orange Team).  A high fly-er by the name, Josh Selby, is going to be someone we’re sure to see in an NBA Dunk contest in the future.  Selby came up short in regards to a victory, but gave the fans all the excitement they could handle, taking home Co-MVP honors.  Also on hand was Boston Celtics Coach, Doc Rivers, who was there to watch his son Austin, a sharp-shooting point guard out of Florida.  I got a chance to speak with a couple of the coaches of the teams, as well as Doc, and also find out Bobbito Garcia’s take on the event.  With this being my first Elite 24, I’d have to say, I am eagerly anticipating next year’s event.