Mook vs the Miami crybabies

"The Miami Heat are exactly what everyone wanted, losing games," ... "The world is better now because the Heat is losing." ~ Dwyane Wade

After their loss to the Bulls (Which was followed by a loss to the Blazers, giving them 5 straight losses before beating the Lakers last night), Coach Eric Spolestra admitted players were in the locker room crying.

Why he would say that I don’t know.

But Dwyane Wade’s quote confirms it anyway.

Hey look, you guys may not be the biggest jerks in the world. You were just three friends who wanted to play together and work together – and who could blame you for that?

But fans don’t like you.

You egged the nation against you afterwards.

And if you don’t like it now- too bad.

I feel bad for you… but I don’t.

The thing is, if you would have come out right away and said you wanted to play together, people would have loved it. They would have appreciated friends wanting to be together. Instead, you made the free agency period a circus. You led teams & fans on. And took video cameras with you.

You didn’t care about the fan. You showed no humility. You brought these things upon yourself.

If you lose this season, then everyone will forget. And then, after you win next season, everyone will love you again.

As for your team…

·      Who really cares about the regular season

·      3 players don’t make a team, and it is showing

·      Losing so many close games, can’t be a good sign

·      Maybe LeBron really can’t close games and is not a winner

As for crying…

·      Be a man

·      Cry in the playoffs, not the regular season

·      Cry because you win, not because you lose.

·      Is this really the worst thing in the world?

As Tom Hanks is infamously known for saying in "A League of their own" 

"Are you crying?... There's no crying in baseball!"

And it should be that in every sport

Do any of you wish you were playing in Chicago with D Rose & Jokiam Noah? Young, talented, winners… they look tough.

Knicks still need another player or two

Celtics still have to be the favorites

Orlando has the best big man, so they can’t be counted out.

And why does everyone forget about Atlanta? 3 on 3 they’d be about as tough to beat as the Heat. I’d take Joe Johnson, Josh Smith & Al Hoford

Man, why do I even care about the NBA?

Mook vs Derron Williams

It has been 2 weeks since the big trade and I haven’t had a chance to write about it.

When I saw the trade I couldn’t believe it.

It just came out of nowhere.

It was a big-time player… and it was the same package almost given up for Carmelo…

Smart move by Utah or crazy move

·      They jumped on the opportunity to build their future, they saw what ew Jersey was offering and seized it - SMART

·      They get 2 and maybe 3 lottery picks + a former all-star. That’s how you rebuild a team - SMART

·      I’m not too sold on Favors, and people are saying this next draft is weak… so it could be risky - CRAZY

·      They were still in the play-off hunt… and Derron Williams is a superstar who could take them pretty far – CRAZY

·      The current roster was good, really good even- but were they good enough to win it all? That’s the whole point isn’t it? Good enough to make the playoffs isn’t the goal - GOOD

·      They should have unloaded Kirlienko in the deal… Provako may have taken on the Russian, they need to unload his contract… and it could have been a good move for him too – Un Smart

Derron Williams is better than Carmelo

For New Jersey, they wanted a superstar and they got him.

But what now?

They gave up their future for one player. Who will they get for Derron Williams to pass to? He needs another player. Brook Lopez is a good center, but not the type of scorer/force you need to win.

Still, the NBA is a super-star league and Derron Williams is a superstar.

Now, that he is out of Utah, the world will see it

In my mind, it now goes

1.     Kevin Durrant

2.     LeBron

3.     Dwight Howard

4.     Derron Williams (tie)

5.     Chris Paul (tie)

6.     Derrick Rose (though he is this season’s MVP)

7.     Kobe

Followed by in some order…

Dwyane Wade a pretty good talent if he stays healthy

Blake Griffin amazing, but young

A’mare & Dirk are big guys who can score

Russel Westbrook & Rajon Rondo… young PG’s

Paul Pierce & KG… old vets in Boston

Steve Nash… 2-time mvp

Joe Johnsno & Josh Smith… underappreciated in Atlanta

K Love… double-double machine

Duncan & Ginobli… winners in San Antonio

Gasol & Oden… would be superstars anywhere else...

In other trades, i was surprised the Clippers would trade Baron Davis for Mo Williams... + they gave them a draft pick. Davis has had his problems, but he's great when he wants to be, and he seemed to be clicking with Blake... couldn't they get more from a high draft pick?

Mook vs the Melodrama

The trade finally happened.
In the end

The Nicks get
1. Melo
2. Chauncy Billups
3. Corey Brewer
& 3 scrubs

with the Nuggets getting
1. Wilson Chandler
2. Danillo Galinari
3. Raymond Felton
4. draft picks


That's not a bad deal for the Nuggets - considering how much they save financially, and the youth they get.
It's nothing like New Jersey was reportedly offering- but that was ridiculous. It would have gone down as the worst trade ever. Remember the HErshel Walker trade, that gave the Cowboys all those draft picks that made them a dynasty, that's what that trade would have done.

i don't really know if any of those players are really that good outside of D'Antoni's system, but we'll see.

If the Nicks were smart, they would have just waited and got him next year as a FA. They should have traded Felton Anthony Randolph & draft picks for Steve Nash.


Now, some may say all the stars are in the East on 4,5,6 teams. And though a couple super-stars are important, it doesn't make a team, especially, if they don't play defense.

If the NBA was NBA Jam, it may be different

Top NBA duos

1.     Kobe & Pau Gasol

2.     A’mare & Anthony

3.     LeBron & Dwyane Wade

4.     Chris Paul & David West

5.     KG & Paul Pierce

6.     D Rose & Boozer

7.     Joe Johnson & Josh Smith/Al Hoford

8.     Blake Griffin & Baron Davis/Eric Gordan

9.     Duncan & Ginobli

10. Derron Williams & Milsap

11. Dwight Howard & Jameer Nelson

12. Durant & Westbrook

13. Dirk & Kidd

14. Monta ellis & Steph Curry

15. Kevin Martin & Luis Scolia

3 on 3

1.     Kobe, Gasol & Oden/Artest

2.     LeBron, Wade, Bosh

3.     Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Hoford

4.     Paul Pierce, KG, Rondo/Allen

5.     Duncan, Ginobli, Tony Parker

6.     Blake, Gordan, Baron Davis

7.     D rose, Boozer, Jokiam Noah

The Knicks had to make this trade though. Trading some good role players for a super-star is a no-brainer. But not sure if they'll be able to make the other moves to make them a winner.

Mook vs NBA All-stars

i don't know how Kevin Love was left off the initial all-star game. The guy is a double-double machine. He leads the league in Rebounds.

In the end, i think they got it right. Sure, there were a few guys who are having great seasons, but there are only so many players who can play for the West.

It got me thinking... what if the nba did the all-star game like the NHL...

LeBron & Kobe pick

Kobe picks: Dwight Howard (best available big man)

LeBron picks 2: Dwyane Wade (his good buddy) & A’mare Stoudamire (should be mvp this year)

Kobe gets 2: Chris Paul (who’s been amazing) and Durant

LeBron: D Rose ( no hard feelings) & Blake Griffen (want to see him dunk for me)

Kobe’s 2: Kevin Love (he’ll rebound and won’t get in the way of our scoring) and Dirk (let’s get the big men)

LeBron: Derron Williams (he’ll nail the open 3) and Kevin Garnett to stop the big men

So far

Team Kobe                                      Team LeBron

PG    Chris Paul                               D Rose                        Derron Williams

G       Kobe                                      D Wade

SF     Durant                                    LeBron

PF     Dirk                                        Blake Griffin            KG

C       D Howard            K Love      A’mare

Kobe: Russel Westbrook & Pau Gasol

LeBron: Tim Duncan & C Bosh (his friend)

Kobe: Rajon Rondo & Manu ginobli

LeBron: Melo & LaMarcus Aldridge

Kobe: Nash & Paul Pierce

LeBron: Monta Ellis

Now

Team Kobe                                                             Team LeBron

PG  Chris Paul    Rondo            Nash                     D Rose             Derron Williams

G     Kobe           Westbrook                                   D Wade            Monta Ellis

SF   Durant         Ginobli          Paul Pierce            LeBron             Melo

PF   Dirk             Pau Gasol                                    Blake Griffin   KG                    Bosh

C     D Howard   K Love                                         A’mare            Duncan             Aldridge

Top 25 players this season

1.     A’mare                       

2.     Chris Paul                

3.     Durant            

4.     D Rose                

5.     Derron Williams       

6.     LeBron                   

7.     Dwight Howard       

8.     Blake Griffin            

9.     Dwyane Wade        

10. K Love                   

11. Russel Westbrook  

12. Kobe                     

13. Dirk              

14. Ginobli      

15. Duncan      

16. Rajon Rondo       

17. KG       

18. Paul Pierce     

19. Steve Nash       

20. LaMarcus Aldridge     

21. David West        

22. Monta Ellis      

23. Pau Gasol      

24. Kevin Martin    

25. Melo     

with apologies to Luis Scolia and Paul Milsap... sorry i can't get myself to apologize to Zach Randolph

 

Mook vs Melo

Rumors are abounding that Carmelo Anthony could be traded to the New Jersey Nets- who would give up Derrick Favors (The #3 pick in the last draft) and Devin Haris (starting PG, once traded for Jason Kidd), with the Nuggets getting Favors & ANdre Kirlinko + some future #1 draft picks.

Denver is nuts if they don't make this trade.

1. Melo is not coming back.
He may be sayign he never asked for a trade, but he is not willing to sign an extension. He wants to play in New York. He's from there, so it makes sense, even if that team is not that good. If he's not coming back, then you might as well get something for him and build for the future.

2. If you're gonna build for the future, you might as well start now. Favors could be a good building block & w/o Melo, you're probably getting a lottery pick now and may get another one in the trade. Reality is, the Nuggets probably aren't going to win a championship anyway. They could, there is some talent there, but not enough

3. This trade is pretty good. Even with Anthony, the Nets won't be great. The Nuggets will get a high draft pick and a young player. Kirlienko could play well this season to give Nuggets fans something to cheer for, but comes off the books soon.

4. You can make sure he doesn't play for the Nicks. By making this trade at least Carmelo doesn't get to play for the team he really wants to play for. The Nets will be ok for Anthony, since they're going to be in Brooklyn, but he really wants to be a Nick.

5. You haven't won anything with Carmelo yet, why do you think that is going to change soon?

Carmelo was great in college (one year) and led his team to a title. But he hasn't done anything in the pros. He can score. But can he play defense? Does he rebound? In fact, does he even pass that well? He's not the most fit guy in the world either.

He would help the Bulls a lot more. But, i still don't think i'd trade Noah for Carmelo if i'm them, unless they don't give up much or anything else...

Guys i'd take above Carmelo Anthony?
1. Kobe
2. Bron
3. Dwight Howard
4. Derron Williams
5. Kevin Durant
6. Tim Duncan
7. Paul Pierce
8. Steve Nash
9. Dirk
10. Dwyane Wade
11. Chris Paul
12. A'mare Stoudamire
13. Ron Artest
14. Pau Gasol
15. Josh Smith
16. Joe Johnson
17. Stephen Curry
18. Rajon Rondo
19. Kevin Garnett
20. D Rose

Mook vs the Miami Heat

The best FA NBA signings? Not LeBron or Bosh... not Boozer or Stoudamire either...

When the Heat signed Lebron and Bosh to go with Dwyane Wade- I honestly wasn’t that impressed. Big name players and big spending doesn’t guarantee championships.


But when they were able to get Mike Miller and Udolis Haslem? Now I think they are a championship team- and I’m not sure if anyone can beat them. Those were the best signings of the off-season.

Miller is perfect compliment for LeBron- or Wade. He will get a lot of open jumpers, 3pointers, and can play.
Haslem was desperately needed: a worker, a big guy, a goon.

Your really only need 7 or 8 players to win. They have 5… + 2 decent guys. Another Center- maybe Shaq (See previous post) and I don’t see anyone stopping them.
Wade or Bron can handle the point, that Chalmers won’t have to play that much (don’t go comparing him to Rondo- he’s not Rajon Rondo).

They could go ahead and get Penny… and while they’re at it bring back Barkley- we know he is one of Wade’s top five friends… I read somewhere else someone suggesting Reggie Miller- why not? He could hit an open 3…. They don’t need youth… Wade, Bosh & Bron are in this league for a long time!

Barkley & Miller are certainly jokes, and even Hardaway(though he might be in decent shape), but they don’t need much.

They have good offense, and Bron can play defense. Wade is the competitor and I think- like Paul Pierce did- will become a better defensive player now. And Haslem will be the low-post defense guy.
More defense will be better. But they have added some nice pieces to this team.

And that’s what you need: A TEAM!

The Lakers still have the best team – they have 5 guys who could be all-stars. The Celtics have a big 4 now, and a veteran team hungry to win. And the Bulls still have one of the most promising young teams in the league… and never count out Nash & the Suns or Duncan & the Spurs… plus I really like Portland… and Orlando has Dwight… Dallas, Houston, Utah, Denver, OKC and even ATL, will be tough… the NBA is still wide open… of course I hate the nba and I don’t know why I write about it so much…

I don’t think Chris Paul winds up going anywhere, no other team has what N.O. needs… and if the trade was going to happen it would happened before LeBron signed…

Just got off the phone with another Cleveland friend… my apologies go out to you all still…

Mook vs LeBron

i've been wanting to start a sports blog for a while now, and what better way to start than in the midst of the LeBron media frenzy?

This year's NBA free agency has been similar to an election year - without the mudslinging and SNL sketches. And it was needed for the NBA after a LAME draft.

The Major League Baseball off-season - referred to as the Hot Stove- produces drama and excitement, but other leagues rarely do. In most cases, i enjoy the baseball offseason more than the regular season. The anticipation, the possibilities- everyone has a chance... and the rumors are more fun than the results.

It's pretty crazy how much we pay attention to the rumors. People even pay extra money just so they can see the rumors, a few days before the actual truth will come out...

And often the results are disappointing, this NBA off-season perhaps more than others. Paul Piece & Ray Allen both re-upped with the C's, Dirk with the Mavs (Which everyone knew) and Rudy Gay with Memphis.

Dwyane Wade tried to create suspense, but we all knew he was going to Miami. There was no doubt. i thought Chicago made more sense for him - his hometown and all... but he ripped on ownership from the beginning and was recruiting Bosh & Bron heavily...
and is anyone surprised Bosh is going to Miami too?

The only major moves look like bad ones... but that is for another post...

Where will LeBron go?

He should stay in Cleveland
1. It is hometown. He is a superstar everywhere, but he means more to Cleveland than any other place.
2. He likes it in Cleveland. His friends are there, his family there...
3. He would be loved country-wide is he stays. Sure, everyone wants him to come to their team & their city- but no one will say anything bad about him if he stays in Cleveland. If he goes to NY, he only cares about the money. If he goes to Miami, he's 1. copping out 2. creating a target. If he goes to Chicago, he's going to the rival of his team and state. IF he stays in Cleveland- he's loyal. He's loyal to the fans and his heart. He's also being a hero- or aiming for it. He's a hero to the city just by staying, he doesn't have to win at all. If he does win, he's a hero the little guy everywhere.
which bring us to...
4. There's less pressure in Cleveland.
5. They still have a good chance to win, perhaps better than Miami.
6. A good chance to play with Chris Paul in the future.

Most reports having him going to Miami.
i guess i don't know how good of friends he is with Wade and Bosh, but i wouldn't want to do it. It will always be Wade's team. He won't be the superstar legend. Sure Kobe won with Shaq, but he wasn't considered great until he won with out him. Only Jordan won without any other good players (i still think Pippen would have been a joke w/o him). He'll need other good players, but it doesn't have to be Wade.

And are they guaranteed to win? 2 great players and one good player does not guarantee a championship.
The Celtics won, but they all had different roles. The man-child Garnet brought energy and amazing defense. Ray Allen was a sharp-shooter, one of the best in the league. Pierce was the scorer, who became their best all-around player. And then they had a great young point in Rondo, and some good vets like Posey... who will the Heat get?

The best pieces for LeBron would be a sharp-shooter like Mike Miller and a slashing PF... then maybe a pass first PG.

At the beginning i thought it would be New Jersey- with his connections to Jay Z, a big market, a lot of money and a situation that wouldn't like betrayal so much.
If the Nets had got that first pick with John Wall, this could be a different story... they could have kept Wall (similar to Derrick Rose) or made a package deal to acquire Chris Paul...they could have got Chris Bosh, esp since they could have made a good sign & trade deal with Devin Haris involved... too bad Nets fans, i think Bron would have looked good in their colors...

i guess we'll all find out in a hour... maybe closer to two... how are they making this an hour long program? i guess we'll have to tune in to find out

Meanwhile read this article from Bill Simmons http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100708
or watch this link he provided on twitter to portray the LeBron thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H76DwHgOwpA