Are The Magic Back?

Yesterday the Orlando Magic made a blockbuster trade landing them Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson and Hedo Turkoglu in separate deals.  They gave up on the struggling Rashard Lewis shipping him to DC and moved Vince Carter to Phoenix; who struggled mightily in the playoffs last year. 

Do these trades really help?

I have to admit that when I first heard about the trade I reacted like most fans and said "Oh, its a wrap for the Eastern Conference." 

Now that I have taken a closer look, I raise the question.  Does this really help Orlando?  The answer is maybe.  But maybe not...with a strong emphasis on not.  The NBA is all about match ups and I'm not sure how much good Orlando did in creating match up problems for others, but they did raise some concerns for themselves.  Someone forgot to tell GM Otis Smith that he is in a division with the Miami Heat; you know winners of 12 straight, the team with the Big 3 in Bosh, Wade, and LeBron.  Who is going to guard those guys?  Maybe the plan is to let it fly and try and outscore everyone, because they sure wont be playing any sort of defense with that roster. 

It will be interesting to see them in action next game.  I believe Rashard will gain some confidence back now that he is out of Orlando, and VC should benefit with playing Steve Nash ( I can see the oops flying already). 

Oh and I hope Agent Zero finally reappears, that #9 guy was not as fun...

Peace,
Agent 34

2010-2011 NBA Power Rankings (Pre-Season)

1.)  Who else deserves the #1 Ranking?  Phil Jackson looks to go for a record 3rd 3 peat, and Kobe should primed to match MJ's ring count at 6.  New additions of Steve Blake and Matt Barnes wont hurt but Bynum must be healthy.

2.) The C's are loaded!  How many teams have a second unit that can possibly beat your 1st team?  Shaq is in Gang Green and should be a force in a limited role.  They figured it out late last year, I wouldn't be surprised if they make a deep playoff run again.

3.) The new big 3 have only logged in 3 minutes of action this pre-season.  With Wade sidelined until the opener, they are not deserving of a #1 or #2 spot.  However, once we get to see 3 future Hall of Farmer's on the court at the same time, all in their prime..well then we will
                    reevaluate. 

4.) Compared to other teams Disneyland had a pretty quiet offseason.  Duhon is the new backup point guard and JJ Reddick will push Vince Carter for minutes but everything else is the same. 

5.) I don't know why but I like the Mavs.  They made some positive pickups in the offseason in Chandler, and Beaubois should provide a spark each night. Dirk has to be Dirk almost every night though, but they have the pieces.

6.) Kevin Durant is the trendy pick this year to win the MVP.  Is he ready?  He looked ready in the summer helping the USA to a gold in the Worlds.  His teammates outside of Westbrook and Harden look shaky.  The Lakers wont take them lightly again -- see Denver 2 seasons ago.

7.) Chicago missed out on the Big free agents but they settled for Carlos Boozer.  He is a double double waiting to happen and should pair up good with Noah on the boards.  Just cant help but think about Boozer, Melo and Rose on the same team.  Hmm...

8.) The Jazz acquired Al Jefferson who was a beast in Minnesota to replace Carlos Boozer.  Can he do that on a winning team?  I think he can, and the Jazz should hover around the 5th seed in the West.  They will be no easy pushover come playoff time.

9.) The Spurs are missing something, and that something may be the talented center Splitter who they selected to pair up with Duncan.  Coach Pop vows to insert the running game this year, makes since to get some easy buckets. 

10.) Jennings and company put a 1st round scare in the Hawks without center Andrew Bogut.  That was a favorable match up for them, and I don't expect them to win a series this year or their division.  Teams will be ready for the Deer. 

11.) Is this the year that Greg Oden stays healthy the entire season?  If Oden can stay on the court then they will be trouble.  Rudy Fernandez wants out, but you cant tell when hes on the floor, as he looks like a 6th man of the year shoe-in so far this preseason.  Oh yeah and Brandon Roy is still there. 

12.)  They played so hard down the stretch last year without Yao, imagine how dangerous they will be with him.  They lack perimeter defense with Kevin Martin at the 2, but Courtney Lee and rookie Patrick Patterson should make immediate impacts. 

13.) The Suns will take a step back this year in my opinion.  Sure they have Nash and a happy go lucky offense but Hakim Warrick is no Amare.  Good to see Hedo back on a team with a shot, but they will fall short of the playoffs in the competitive Western Conference.

14.) If Mel were actually going to be in Denver the whole season then they would be ranked higher.  C'mon he is in a NY state of mind and they need to pull the trigger on this trade sooner than later if they want to have a chance at the post season.

15.) Amare looks like the man for the Knicks and rightfully so..but I want Melo in NY!  Nuff said..

16.) The Hawks have made no significant upgrades this offseason so they should be satisfied with making the playoffs and bowing out in the second round...again.  (Yes I'm upset and I live in ATL)

17.) I really like their young nucleus of talent in Mayo, Gay and Thabeet.  Z-Bo is a monster and if Thabeet can figure it out on the fly this year then they will be a threat out West.  I like them to make an OKC type run this year.

18.) The Elton Brand signing 2 summers ago never made any sense, and it still doesn't today.  Too many athletes built around and old classic .  This team lack identity but they do have some talent in AI2, Holiday and Turner.

 

19.) The Bobcats signed Shaun Livingston and Kwame Brown and lost their starting point guard in Raymond Felton.  They will not make the playoffs and Brown will likely ride into the sunset either mid-season or at the end. 

20.) Can you blame CP3 for wanting to leave N.O?  They brought in Ariza but I'm not sure that will be enough.  After Melo jumps to NY then New Orleans will have a troubled star on their hands. 

21.) They have loads of young talent in Wall, Blatche and McGee.  Once you factor in the unknowns of Josh Howard, and of course Gilbert Arenas you have either a sleeper team or a combustible one. 

22.) The Clippers should be ready to make a run at the playoffs with Blake Griffin looking every bit like the ROY.  I expect them to lose a lot of close games, but they will play hard each night.

23.) Golden State has a solid nucleus of talent in Curry, Lee, and Ellis.  However, gone are the other good talents such as Randolph, and Morrow.  They wont make the playoffs but will be fun to watch.

24.)  I really like this team, and I will be personally pulling for them all season.  Tyreke Evans is a stud (Charles Barkley voice) and Cousins will be a force down low..add in their other reserves and you have a decent bunch that will compete every night.

25.) The Pacers are still in my opinion 1 year away from breaking through.  There are only 8 playoff spots (Technically only 4-Mia/Bos/Orl/Chi) and I don't see the Pacers grabbing any of those.

26.) Who is more dissapointed the players or the fans?  Byron Scott will make them competitive but thats about it. 

27.) Michael Beasley gets a fresh start in Minnesota and he looked sharp in the pre-season.  Sadly, the Wolves lost 20/10 Al Jefferson and that is a tough void to fill. 

28.)  Canada, Oh Canada!  No Bosh = No playoffs! 

 

 

 

29.)  They have no true identity..think about it?  A handful of players with no legitimate go to guy in the clutch.  Trade assets galore though, Joey D has got to make a splash in the Big D.

30.) The Nets have got to prove to the world that they are better.  If you think about it they have only added a 19 yr old unproven rookie -- Derrick Favors.  Lottery bound.

You will forgive LeBron by Game #...?

After the fallout of the "Decision" a lot of people jumped off the LeBron Express and felt betrayed by his actions to bolt for South Beach. 

We as students of the game always can find some way to move past the personal decisions of players and just focus on the game while other fans can not.  So, how long before people jump back on the Heat bandwagon and start claiming LeBron the best ever..again? 

Lets take a look at some of the upcoming games that the Heat have and see the timeline for LeBrons return to Worldwide Fame. 

1.) Heat -vs- Pistons Tues Oct 5th
This is the first glimpse of the new look Heat with LeBron, Wade, and Bosh all on center court in exhibition   After a no look alley oop from Wade to LeBron could the masses truly forgive him on Day 1?  Too soon?  Ok lets move forward.

2.) Heat-vs- Celtics Tues Oct 26
In the first regular season game the new Big 3 takes on the old Big 3 (literally) plus some new additions in former teammate of Wade and Lebron; Shaquille Oneal.  After the Heat dismantle the Celtics in the first game of the regular season ESPN will praise the Heat as Championship Contenders.  Will people love him now?

3.) Heat -vs- Magic Fri Oct 29
Superman and company will welcome the Heat to Orlando in this division showdown.  Will Dwight have a field day on the opposing Heat big men, or will LeBron be motivated to go for 50 since Dwight Howard thinks Kevin Durant is a better player than him?  After only a week into the season most fans should be getting the itch to root for King James again. 

4.) Heat -vs- Cavaliers Thurs Dec 2nd
Hopefully LeBron takes out an ad in the Cleveland Plain Dealer personally thanking the fans for their support over his 7 yr career with the Cavs.  If not LeBron could lose some ground as he takes on his old team that he left behind for South Beach.  He will want to play good, but not too good to embarrass the franchise that he was supposed to lead to a title. 

5.) Heat -vs- Lakers Sat Dec 25th
The match up that we will have all been waiting to see thus far is here.  Heat/Lakers on Christmas Day!  If King James and company can dismantle the Lakers (like his Cavs did last year) then EVERYONE (and I mean everyone outside of La La Land) will crown the Heat.  If the Lakers lose they will bounce back, but from a PR standpoint this is a must win for LeBron James and the Heat. 

Peace,
Agent34

Decisions, Decisions!

Every decision in life comes with some sort of consequence, some good and some bad. 
In the case of LeBron Jame's decision to bolt rainy Cleveland for the Miami sun we will have to wait and see. 

One thing I do know is that this team is going to be GOOD!  I mean really GOOD!  Think about how you are going to try and stop 3 All-Stars on the same..in their prime.  Did you see what the Boston 3 Party did in only one year, heck they could have potentially won 2 in 3 years.  People will say the emergence of Rondo helped them, but Rondo is not Rondo without the big 3.  The 3 Amigos (my nickname for them) will draw so much attention that a new star will be born in Miami.  It could be 3rd year guard Mario Chalmers who is certainly capable of knocking down open shots if left open. 

All in all I believe Bron made the best decision for himself.  We are all selfish by nature, and if you weren't then you would not truly be alive.  Lebron has been a machine since he was in the 9th grade, said all the right things, played for the home team and never really got in trouble.  If he is shunned for wanting to win championships in his own right then so be it.  Jordan would have left Chicago if Pippen did not come along, you know why?  Because they would not have won a single title without him.  True, LeBron had the team to do it last year but fell short; now he has a new lease on life and should be a force for the Heat.  This Heat team has 3 of the 5 starters from the USA Basketball team that won gold.  Not sure how much stock goes into that but I do know that the Lakers could not beat Cleveland last year, and they struggled against a scrappy Heat team only to be bailed out by a Kobe 3.  Depending on the way the seeding ends up in the East I am picking them to go to the Finals. 

I am a fan of Basketball first, teams second, and players last.  Most people root for individuals and not the team, but in the case of Cleveland LeBron is a wanted man.  I cant wait to see the new Miami Heat take the floor against the Lakers on Christmas and LeBrons homecoming in October.  This has never been done, so of course some people want truly understand.  The 3 amigos are trendsetters and I look forward to seeing how this decision turns out for the King. 

4 Ways the Suns can Rise Again.

The Phoenix Suns have been on quite the journey the last 5 years.  Once 2 Time MVP Steve Nash arrived the team instantly tasted success, flirting with the NBA Finals but they could never get over  the hump.

Unfortunately, they have ran up against a pretty potent LA Lakers attack in the Western Conference Finals and are in a 2-0 hole.  Sunday's game in the desert is a must win for the Suns and here are 5 ways they can get back in the series. 

1.) Let Nash..Be Nash

Steve Nash is not having the same affect on the Lakers as he did in the series against San Antonio.  While his assists are up considerably (14apg) in the first 2 games his scoring is down 10 points (12ppg). 

Its true the Lakers are a great defensive team but the 2-Time MVP winner has got to score some points if his team expects to even win a game in this series.  He is shooting 50% from the field but that means nothing when you have only taken 18 shots in 2 games.  Is he not getting good looks? Or is he over passing?  The later sounds humorous when describing the pure pg but the Suns rely on his scoring too. 

2.) Earth to Amare..Play some D!

The 3 Time All-Star has not been playing defense his entire career.  I mean he only averages around 1.2 blocks per game even though he can touch the top of the backboard and has the same athletic powers as a certain Superman that resides in Orlando. 

Although the Lakers are keeping a close eye on the Suns star, he has to be able to guard someone...anyone on the block.  Not to mention he only has pulled down 9 rebounds in  games against the Lakers.  Los Suns need Amare to step up on the other side of the ball if they want a W.

3.) Run Baby Run

The Suns have been outscored by the Lakers 252-219 over two games and that is surprising seeing how much the Suns like to run.  I picked the Suns in this series due to the fact that I believed they could convince the Lakers to play a track meet type game in which they could not keep up for 48 Min's.  Wrong!  The Lakers are moving the ball so crisp and precise the Suns are now the team slowing down.

In order to win they must push the pace and go small and connect on those 3 point attempts that have been alluding them thus far in the series. 

4.) Bench Play

Channing Frye has moved back to the bench and his production has declined worse than a bad stock option.  1.5 points per game so you can guess how bad his 3 point attempts have been.  A 1-9 mark in 2 games including that dreaded 1-7 outing the last game.  They need him to stretch the floor and give Amare room to dance with the rim. 

Dragic made a name for himself in Game 3 against San Antonio and he too has been a non factor off the bench.  Hopefully Dudley can continue to knock down open 3's as he is proving to be the only consistent scorer on the Suns bench.

Peace,

Agent34

Say It Aint So Joe!

"We could care less if [the fans] showed up or not."

Atlanta Hawks Guard-Joe Johnson

Those were the words spoken after a disappointing home loss to the Orlando Magic in Game 3. Superstar guard Joe Johnson struggled mightily during the series vs the Magic shooting 29% and only avg 12 pts a game. He was also booed on Monday night in their season ending game against the Magic. This is my plea to the fans of Atlanta

Dear ATL Fans,

Please swallow your pride and forgive Joe Johnson for his remarks. He is one of the hardest working and most talented players in the league. I know his lack of emotion at times gives off the perception of not trying hard, but everyone is wired differently. Atlanta has the pleasure of being his first choice this summer (unrestricted free agent), but booing the only star player since Dominique Wilkins is not exactly rolling out the red carpet for him to re-sign. Did you see Cleveland booing LeBron when he went 2-11 in a pivotal Game 5 loss? No! Athletes today have the disadvantage of facing the scrutiny of the media immediately after a game. Sometimes players do not express their views in the most politically correct way, but Joe is a good guy. No late night partying, No Arrests, No domestic abuse...all he needs is a fan base that will back him through the good and the bad. The Hawks won 53 games this year, how many do you see them winning with him gone? Winning and losing is a team effort , and although I do understand that the burden usually rests solely on the shoulders of the star, there will be learning curves for every team. Sure the Hawks have been swept out of the semi-finals the last two seasons but they are still a legit center away from being great. Some of the key ingredients may be changed this summer but if the main dish is not served then the entree will not taste right. Think about it.

Peace ,
Agent 34

NBA Playoffs..So Far Part 1.

Guess Who's Back?

As Kanye West said "Hi Haters I'm back off Hiatus." Kanye

Oook, so since I last left you the NBA Playoffs have started and we learned a lot about some teams during that time. Such as the Dallas Mavericks; who spent a lot of money only to lose in the 1st round, no excuses for the Nuggets the Thunder Kids are growing up quicker than expected, and hopefully time will heal all wounds for the Blazers..literally. In the East a young Buck shined bright, while the Bulls took a step back, the Bobcats are still kittens and D-Wade needs help bad.

Here are my Round 2 Predictions:

Suns-Spurs

This series looks like the changing of the guard so far, with Duncan looking like a shell of his former self (before the 29 point game 2) Amare and Nash have a connection that looks to be unstoppable! Jason Richardson is more than a dunker and his hot shooting has helped propel Phoenix to a 3-0 series lead. Now I believe people are starting to understand why Amare and the Suns stayed put at the deadline. This team is dangerous and should handle the aging Spurs in 6 games.









Lakers-Jazz

Laker fans got more than they expected from the youthful Thunder, but it seems to have lit a fire in the Champs. Utah thus far are without supporting stars Okur and Kirelinko (Kobe Stopper?) and are down 0-3 against the Lakers with only 1 more game in Utah. Expect the Jazz to at least get 1 but I don't think they will win any in LA. Bynum and Gasol have dominated the inside, while Kobe and a rejuvenated Artest have been shooting lights out. The Champs are right where they are supposed to be 1 games away from the Western Finals.










Cavs-Celtics

I want to pick the Celtics to beat the Cavs in 6 and this was before the smashing in Game 2. With that being said I almost find it sacrilegious to go against King James. The C's are finally allowing Rondo to shine (the aging big 3 helps) and are reaping the rewards as he has been scorching the Cavs. Ultimately I do believe the Cavs will win the series but it will definitely go 7 games. The NBA wants the Lakers/Cavs in the finals but they forgot to tell Boston. This series will be a close one.








MAGIC-HAWKS

The Magic look like they are on a mission, and getting back to the Eastern Finals will be the easy part. With a 3-0 lead on the Hawks only 1 win separates them from going back to the East Finals. As for the Hawks there is nothing that needs to be said..they are not ready for Prime Time yet. Crawford was a huge pick up but their need for a big man of any kind is holding them back from taking the next step in their team maturation. Hopefully, they will go after a big man this off season to battle Dwight but it may be too little too late.

2010 NBA AllStar Uniforms

Whar do you think about the new uniforms for the All Star Game?  They remind me of the commercial with "All-Day" Adrian Peterson wearing the Nike Armour.  Here aer some pics of both the East and Western Conference Uni's. 

SIXERS-ALLEN IVERSON

MAGIC'S-DWIGHT HOWARD

LAKERS-KOBE BRYANT

NUGGETS-CARMELO ANTHONY











Both jerseys are nice, but I still miss the days when each player wore their own jersey and you couldn't tell who was on what team at times.  Can't wait to see how it goes in Dallas.

Peace,
Agent34

LeBron..Just Dunk Already!

Flashback to a little over one year ago at the NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix, what memory sticks out the most? Was it Kobe and Shaq as Co-MVP's? Nah. What about Nate Robinson dunking over Dwight Howard to win the Slam Dunk Title? Still no. How about THIS, the comments from the King himself as he declared his early candidacy into the 2010 NBA Slam Dunk Competition. I thought you would remember that one. So why wont LeBron Dunk?

He is currently the front runner to win his 2nd MVP.

Arguably the best basketball player on the planet.

The Cavs are on pace to win 60+ games, and have beaten the Lakers twice (convincingly)

Most importantly, LeBron is not hurt..

Still he declined to dunk in this years tournament on Feb 13th. Here is my argument for and against King James joining the dunk contest.

PRO'S

-He's never competed and it would silence all of his critics

-His fans would love to see him enter

-The NBA spotlight would shine on him the brightest for 1 night.

CONS

-What does he have to prove?

-Name another potential 2-Time MVP who competed in the dunk contest

-Why risk the injury

-LeBron wants to be seen as more than a great dunker

-WHAT IF HE LOSES????

The last Con is what I believe has and will forever keep LeBron out of the Dunk Contest. Do you remember the last time he was in a dunk contest? He did not exactly blow the field away when he went up against the likes of Shannon Brown, Von Wafer and JR Giddens. LeBron is an amazing athlete and his leaping ability is legendary, but how many trick dunks have you seen him do? Between the legs, off the backboard, anything else? How about a 360? No. Or better yet a 720? I have always stated that LeBron is a game time dunker. His speed is his greatest weapon not his hops. Once his adrenaline gets going and he gets a running start how do you stop him? You cant, and he attacks the basket as viciously in the air as he does on the ground. He flies through the air like a jet, and nobody wants to get in the way. In my opinion he knows that he has a chance of losing the contest, and that would be an embarrassment. If he were to ever enter, anything short of winning would be a failure, you cant say that about too many other players.

Peace,

Agent34

NBA 2K10 Tournament

Some of my closest friends and I held a NBA 2K10 Basketball Tournament on the Playstation 3 console. I warned them that any such tournament would end with me being victorious. Check out the pictures and see who won.

PLAYERS/TEAMS

1. Sly-Up tempo player that loves to go one-on-one with Carmelo Anthony, loves to block shots with Birdman and will nail the walk up 3 with Billups.

2. Justin (Me) -Run and Gun is the name of my game, I believe in the Suns philosophy of 7 seconds or less. Love the 3 Ball, and will lock up on the wing.

3. Marc -This guy plays just like Tim Duncan! He slows the game down and takes high percentage shots with Duncan, and goes in for dunks with Jefferson.

4. DC-He will either blow you out, or get blown out. The C's will trap you to death and he makes sure to turn those turnovers into points.

5. Mike -Emotional player that relies heavily on Rudy Gay. As Rudy goes so does Mike, which wasn't that far.

6. Ewane-Not the most skilled player but he uses the Hawks well and can get more out of Joe Johnson than Coach Mike Woodson can.

TOURNAMENT RECAP

The tournament consisted of a round robin in which each player played everyone once and then the top 4 seeds were placed into a Final Four...

Marc and Sly competing to get into the Final Four...

Final Four is set

Sly and I duke it out for the Championship...


If there was any doubt about my skills on the sticks, I put them to rest...

The evidence of the Blowout

"If you think you're nice Challenge Him!" -Charlie Murphy (Chappelle Show)

I think he was talking about me. Lol

Peace,

Agent 34