Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie, much to ownership’s surprise, stepped down from his position yesterday. Hinkie leaves the team with a slew of draft picks, an extremely high chance that two will be in the top five this year, a trio of talented big men and a potentially arriving european star in Dario Saric. Hinkie also exits as the organizational steward of one of the most unsuccessful teams of all time. Philadelphia currently posts a meager ten wins, a total which is unlikely to change before season’s end. It is often said the least desirable location in the NBA standings is middle of the pack, contend or lose and hope for fortuitous lottery balls and high draft pick riches. For three years the 76ers have embodied the latter philosophy. For three years at no point in time have the 76ers, as an organization, attempted to win any game. Their personnel decisions reflect a franchise with eyes firmly affixed to future horizons with little concern for present impressions and fan loyalty. Disappointing and tough to watch though it has been, at least there was a wholehearted commitment to failure, the Sixers never wavered in their unending quest for defeat.

Hinkie seemingly compounded the teams drive for futility by holding fast to the theory of always drafting the best player available, regardless of positional need or redundancy. This process has resulted in three centers drafted in three consecutive years. The thinking being that with so many young players and picks, the roster would eventually be sorted out via trade. Unquestionably Joel Embiid’s two season long absence, while dealing with injury, has derailed Philadelphia’s development. He may end up being the best of their big men in the long run.

With no end in sight, in December the 76ers hired stellar basketball executive Jerry Colangelo as Chairman of Basketball Operations. This was widely viewed as an undercutting of Hinkie’s power. Imagine being a starting two guard with James Harden coming off the bench, the writing is on the wall, your days are numbered. Best case scenario Hinkie would remain in a semi neutered capacity, running all decisions by his newly appointed senior advisor, not the most desirable of situations. Which brings us to today.

The Philadelphia 76ers now sit last in the standings, exactly where ownership wanted to be. There is no way the team would be in their current standing without them signing off. Which is why the Colangelo hiring, imminent hiring of Colangelo’s son (To replace Hinkie), and relative feeling of exclusion by Sam Hinkie, resulted in his resignation, smacks of so much hypocrisy. This was the offseason when they would change gears. With extremely high odds of landing a young star or two in the draft, a boatload of cap space, Embiid returning and Dario Saric’s arrival, wins would soon become a coveted commodity. Hinkie got the 76ers where they wanted to be, he and ownership committed to tanking and are about to begin the youth development process. Why now squeeze him out? Unless, ownership expressed their desire to shift interest towards winning and Hinkie balked at the notion, he deserved the opportunity to pilot the ascending plane.

Should all pan out for Philadelphia and they rise to basketball relevance, make no mistake, the structure the Colangelo’s manage is placed squarely upon a Sam Hunkie built foundation.

Humankind has irreversibly embarked on a quest for improvement, the supporting evidence surrounds everyone of it’s inhabitants. In all endeavors, there are few words more fatal to progress than “good enough” or “it’s perfect.” Our cup runneth over with innocent ignorance which only becomes apparent when viewed from a lofty, future perspective. Indeed, it is this very circumstance that insists head not be laid to pillow and midnight oil be burnt. The necessity for advancement is an undeniable truth which must be faced with persistent aggression. Yet, this responsibility falls not solely upon the waning shoulders of the elite, powerful or brilliant, it is a load that must be bared by all who lay witness to the possibility of greatness. Progress is ripe for the picking and we must all focus our efforts on our own valid opportunities. It is high time to affix the shining light of progress on perhaps the most noble of concerns, how can we make the NBA better?

1. Flopping must be stopped no matter the cost

Flopping is the mutant offspring of progress. It is a vermin, a bacteria, a virus that has permeated the NBA and infected it at it’s root. Can you blame soccer’s mindset and the influx of foreign players for it’s current prevalence? Possibly, but just like life on Isla Nublar, gamesmanship finds a way. Nevertheless, the time for finger pointing has long since passed, yet the question remains, how do we stop it? Akin to any infestation, a zero tolerance policy is the only viable option. Flopping undermines the game, the refs and the fans, it is cheating. However, the fact that it is so infrequently addressed leaves it, more often, rewarded as opposed to punished. Those factors render a solution leaning towards the extreme more palatable. Do away with fines, abandon attempting mid game calls and immediate suspensions are a step too far.

The solution, teams can file a request for a potential flop investigation after every game. There will be an independent, central flopping bureau with a head investigator (I’m available btw, bye bye Lebron) that will, using every piece of film available, render a judgement. Rest assured, the NBA can afford to add a few bells and whistles like this one. If found guilty the offender will begin their subsequent game with one foul per indictment. That’s right, flop once, start the game with one foul already called on you, flop three times and you’re half way out. In addition, for every six flops you will be… That’s right, you guessed it, suspended for a game.

Think about it, it’s a plan just crazy enough to work. Overall quality of officiating aside (although there have been some steps in the right direction), there is no greater threat to the NBA than flopping, it’s eradication is a matter of dire consequence. The effectives of this penalty resides in it’s extremity, the shame associated with a flopping judgement handed down, will be enough for most players to abandon the vile technique. It is a penalty that will become so dreaded, it’s appearance will likely fade away with the flop itself, yet it will remain, ever dormant, awaiting any who dare challenge it.

2. Move the fans back

The intimacy of the NBA experience is a valued part of it’s magnificence. Whereas spectators of other sports are located behind walls, fences and plexiglass, the NBA places them front and center, atop the very surface the game is to be played upon. It’s a wonderful thing, it’s unfortunate it needs to go. Too often players are forced to dive over rows of fans in an attempt to maintain the flow of the game and retain possession. It’s a significant part of the game which should not contain risk of bodily harm. Name another sport that has furniture lining it’s boundaries?

Look no further than the recent Paul George injury as an obvious warning to be heeded. Yes he injured himself on the stanchion, but if the fans were moved back, the door for the necessary stanchion redesign would be wide open, thus moving it back as well.

To argue the movement of the fans back is to align with the courtside spectator, the particular group that makes up less than 1% of the fans in attendance. The sight of fans on their respective mobile devices as they sit on the same bench as the team they came to see, never fails to fill the avid NBA fan with a Bieber fueled murderous rage. I don’t know about you but I’ve never sat courtside. Screw those guys.

3. No more NBA hype men

Deeeetroit Baaaasketball!!!! Just call the game. You have a very simple job, announce who just scored for the six people in the stands who couldn’t figure it out on their own. Forced excitement is to a truly electric event as the lay up is to the dunk. Their both there, but one is clearly better than the other. Allow the game to drive the crowd, to dictate the environment, allow memorable moments to play out, don’t be the unwanted soundtrack to their impedance.

This is the rare occasion where baseball leads the way. Let the spirit and traditionalism of the game hold weight over the social media inspired, organized confusion that the modern NBA arena sojourn has become. If we can stomach the corporate sponsorship and audial onslaught most arenas now feature, at the very least allow us to watch the actual game uninterrupted. Small children beware though, if that t-shirt comes flying in to my zone, you know who’s coming down with it. Man does not fly in the house of Offcourtissues.

4. Raise our expectations

Make your free throws. Shall we all agree to stop affording exceptions for certain individual’s glaring weaknesses? You’re a professional basketball player, you are paid well to play the game, that’s all aspects of it. Dwight you are going to have to make free throws and none of us want to hear the old, “hands are too big to shoot consistently” argument. James Harden and Carmelo you are going to have to play defense. Rondo, you are going to have to develop some semblance of a shot. DeMarcus Cousins, stop crying, you’re like a season away from being the best center in the league (if not already) and receiving the notoriety you deserve.

This one’s more of a rule for us fans and franchise decision makers, who do need to stop handing out max contracts like their candy. Chandler Parsons is the highest paid player on the Mavericks, very good player, but is he better than Dirk and Monte? No. Overspending on players because “it’s the only way to get them” is a dangerous game, which is rarely regarding as fiscally sound.

5. Just make the calls

Traveling, double dribble, fouls, palming, just call them. Do away with star calls and break this down to it’s most fundamental root. Call the game the way it was meant to be played, a foul in the first quarter should be same as in the fourth. It’s what most core NBA fans want more than anything and it’s ridiculous that the fact that the actual rules of the game are not called, is widely recognized and acknowledged. Via casual glance or microscopic view, this flaw is visible and the easiest to rectify.

DO IT ALREADY!

The reflected sunlight flickers from the hewn blades of grass as they fly aimlessly through the air like a luminescence drunk moth. The momentum is unavoidable. A goal driven marauder tears through the perfectly manicured lawn, targeting the majestic sphere that will perpetually giveth and taketh away. Foot is placed to ball, voices lower, stillness overcomes and anticipation rises, hope springs eternal. Is this the ball, the moment? The rubber composite meteor enters the goalkeepers atmosphere, is it to be absorbed by the dominant planet, or will the secondary or tertiary satellites deflect the sphere’s orbit glory-ward? The crowd stands perched, as the state of happiness for the upcoming weekend is to be decided. The perfect orb floats into enemy territory only to be guided, cranially, by the invading mercenary. Elation strikes, misery sets in. Upon which battle line you stand is determined by location of origin, however, one thing is certain… Blake Griffin has received Russell Westbrook’s flawless cross and the first blow has been struck for his side.

A few weeks ago a small, global tournament concluded, no I’m not talking about the last Kansas City Royals vs. Arizona Diamondbacks series, rather that one a little further south. Yes the largest competition in all of sports, the World Cup, has ended with our ever industrious and more than willing to imbibe, European friends departing ladened by an extra 8.4 pounds of golden trophy.

But this is a basketball blog you cry! Stop crying, your too old for it and it’s embarrassing. There are more than a few similarities between modern day, competitive “soccer” and basketball than are apparent at first glance.

Worldwide Popularity
Easily the most recognizable for all to see. The fact that soccer retains the number one spot for all the world’s attention is undoubtable. In the United States soccer’s popularity is rising, but the NFL is king. However, leave the friendly confines of your neighborhood Waffle House and you’ll quickly see that beyond our fruited plains, there is little concern for our brand of football. Baseball is continuing it’s slow death here, it’s a sport that simply is not viable worldwide and with younger generations. Hockey is hockey and NASCAR is dumb. Our number one global sporting export is our national basketball association.

Marketable Stars
Soccer and basketball both possess stars unencumbered by face shielding equipment. We so readily recognize NBA players simply because we see their faces all the time, the same can be said with soccer. Be honest, Mike Trout (one of the best players in baseball) could probably walk down most American streets unbeknownst to his fellow pedestrians.

A Free Flowing Game
Nothing will ever be as open as a soccer match, but basketball is probably as close as you’ll find in a major sport. When the world watches their favorite sport, which doesn’t break for commercials until 45 minutes has expired, the advertising onslaught that is the NFL is an impossible sell. Imagine trying to convince billions, that converting a game with roughly ten minutes of action into a 3-4 hour spectacle is the road best taken. The NBA does currently allow too many timeouts. Their current employment, typically hoarding them all until the end of a game, serves only to exacerbate the situation. Nevertheless, the NBA’s frequence of action and possibility of continuous play, is a far more familiar, welcoming sight to any soccer-loving interloper.

A Flopping/Diving Problem
This one’s not so much to brag about, but a topic unavoidable, nonetheless. There really is nothing like watching one of the greatest games of your life, coming down to the wire, only to see a dominant player take the game into his own hands, grit his teeth, pin his ears back and falling to the ground like a toddler taking their first steps. It’s no coincidence that the prevalence of flopping in the NBA directly coincides with emergence of European players. This one’s on you soccer.

Culturally Diverse Rosters
When the Spurs were winning a championship a few months ago, there were times when they ran a lineup with zero American born players on the court. You’d be lucky to find two players from the same country on most European soccer clubs. When selecting from the global talent pool, the quality of game expands, as does the interest.

Two All Time Greats That Everyone Wants To See Go Head To Head
These stars always sparkle on their own, but when juxtaposed directly against their rival, their brilliance can be blinding. There’s just something amazing about watching two players, who appear to possess once-in-a-lifetime talent, attempt to best each other on the largest stage. The similarities do not end there, Lebron is to Durant as Ronaldo is to Messi, meaning our perception of each is somewhat similar. Lebron/Ronaldo is the player more athletically gifted, the freaks of nature that have no weakness, Messi/Durant is the player with the magic touch, the one who time and time again mystifies you with their skill in the most high pressure of moment. Also, Messi/Durant = likable, Lebron/Ronaldo = insufferable.

There are more, oh yes there are more, but these are the strongest comparisons to draw. Whether you consider yourself an NBA fan, a soccer fan or both*(best option), you are a fan of the beautiful games and either is a slam dunk.

Board up the Alamo, rope off the river walk, put that horizontal wooden beam down on the farm door, there’s a bunch of San Antonians ready to party. The Spurs accomplished what few believed possible, to defeat the mighty Heat in a seven game series, just one year after losing to them in devastating fashion. For many a basketball purist, vindication is the feeling du jour. The presumably unbeatable Heat featured an offense comprised primarily of one Lebron James, two fading stars and reasonable role players (All of whom have been relegated to “scrub” status now that Lebron has been defeated and, “He’s still waiting for his Scottie Pippen” to ride or die with. He’s got enough, we can only take so many “The Decisions.”). Nonetheless the Heat have an aura about them, an aura that says we know you’re a better team, but we have Lebron and we’ll show up in the clutch. Not in 2014. This year, a team made of multiple international players, an extremely aged star, a young up-and-comer and the best coach in all of the sport, struck back and landed a blow for fans of team basketball everywhere.

There’s nothing like a dunk in traffic, a broken ankle off the dribble, an ill advised shot sent into the stands to make the crowd go bananas. The Spurs are the only team capable of eliciting such a reaction by the crispness of their passing and the sheer magnitude of their ball movement. There is nothing like seeing an offensive set where the ball never touches the ground. It’s an old adage that you can’t move faster than the ball, witnessing a defender hopelessly chasing an ever redirecting target, is easily recognizable as basketball perfection. Perhaps the greatest respect inducing attribute of the Spurs, is the fine wine like aging of their perennially stoic talisman and coach.

An absolute match made in heaven. Duncan proved once again that if you can control the post, you can control the game. Every year more and more big men decide to take the leap and become the “point-forward,” or “three point shooting center.” Look no further than the team with five championships in fifteen years for the true, big man prototype. It’s the little things, the way Duncan never gathers after a rebound and simply goes right back up, never allowing smaller defenders to strip him, the way he outlet passes, his defensive positioning, the way he always squares his shoulders on his shot. There are few more efficient basketball weapons ever in the history of the NBA.

We’ve all heard the saying, “So-and-so is playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers.” Well if Gregg Popovich is  playing Chess, the rest of the coaches in the league are struggling with tic-tac-toe. In every game, the wizardry employed by Pop is absolutely astounding. The lineup adjustments, the management of older players’ minutes, the schemes run out of timeouts, all the work of a roundball virtuoso. To get so many players from oppising team’s scrap heaps, build them back up, and reutilize them as effective members of San Antonio’s basketball society, is a talent possessed by few in the NBA. Pop’s insertion and reliance on Kawhi Leonard into his championship squad is a site rarely seen. Far too often coaches wait too long for their future star to ripen, Kawhi was ready and Pop saw it and drew it out.

Parker, Ginobili, Diaw, Mills, Green, Splitter, some of those are names more commonly recognizable than others, but each player contributed at key points in the series. Thus we have unfurled the wondrous tapestry that is the San Antonio Spurs. They are the deepest team in basketball and they all play with an identical goal and mindset. They are a basketball machine. When asked why the Spurs are so hard to defend against, Lebron James himself said, “Because everyone is live.” No one could have said it better, the Spurs are game-plan-proof, if you manage to nullify one player or strategy, another will surely take it’s place.

Speaking of the “Chosen One,” seems like there may be a bit of turmoil brewing down in South Beach.

I’m sure we’re in for a summer chock full of speculation and conjecture, posturing and rumoring, tampering and eventually decisioning. For now though, let’s all just enjoy the peaceful, calm, drama free nature of our NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs. You simply will not see better basketball played anywhere on Earth.

Here we are, smack dab in the middle of the conference finals with a little break. It’s only two days but take advantage of it while you can. After what was unquestionably the greatest first round in the history of the Playoffs, we had a less than stellar second round. Now, once more into the breach. The Spurs look unstoppable and the Pacers and Heat appear poised to take their series to the full, seven game limit. What better a time to reflect and fully absorb the broadcasting techniques, employed by seemingly all of the television personalities we view on a nightly basis. You can’t watch the Playoffs without hearing the opinions, which run the gamut of validity, of many a retired player and Connecticut School of Broadcasting graduate. Allow me to decipher many of the common phrases we are inundated with, throughout your common game.

Quick side note, in case you’re wondering why there has been a precipitous drop in the volume of posting, having a baby will do that to you. I promise to do better.

Back to the task at hand:

1. “Tough Call” – This is a ridiculously bad call that most second graders and advanced senior citizens know is the wrong decision.

2. “Tough Shot” – (1) You’d have to be drunk, high, armless or partially blind to have taken that shot. (2) Lance Stephenson probably just shot the ball.

3. “He’s So Long” – A player is tall. Yes, many tall people have long arms, but when did we start referring to tall people as long? Do we call fat people wide? At least not to their face. Let’s show basketball players the same common courtesy, besides referring to a grown man as “so long,” just sounds all kinds of wrong.

4. “This Game Is So Hard To Officiate” – (1) Anyone who has ever seen a basketball could have made the call that, for some unknown reason, the referee didn’t make. Yet, the speaker of this sentence is pretending we all didn’t just see, what we just saw. (2) It’s the early 2000s and Shaq is elbowing everyone in the face as he travels, knocks all opponents down, steps on them and then miraculously dunks. BARBECUE CHICKEN!!!

5. “He Might Have Gotten Away With A Travel” – A player just took a bare minimum of five steps.

6. “He’s Got A Really High Basketball IQ” – A white guy just completed a bounce pass.

7. “That’s Been Called A Flagrant Foul” – A defensive play, that in the 80’s, was considered a borderline foul, is now deemed a despicable action that will be viewed as flagrant and could possibly result in a suspension.

8. “The Big Fundamental” – The speaker of this phrase stopped watching the NBA ten years ago and doesn’t realize the Spurs play flawless team basketball.

9. “Might Have Been A Cheap Shot” – Dwyane Wade just pulled out a gun and executed every member of the opposing team gangland style, including the entire coaching staff. He didn’t stop at that, you can’t just cut the head off the snake, you have to send a message, destroy all offspring that could potentially rise up and try to score on or defend you. Today, Dwyane settles all family business, if you’ve ever played basketball, you are on his list. No one is safe, not the Diaz brothers, not Moe Greene, not Edward Longshanks (cool last name), not even the bees in the hive that took out Thomas in “My Girl.” When Dwyane gets that look in his eyes, protect your ligaments!!!!!!

10. “Here’s Russell Westbrook Arriving At The Arena” – Here comes a grown man dressed in an outfit that a couch from your aunt’s house wouldn’t be caught dead upholstered in… 35 years ago.

11. “Lebron Called For The Foul” – Make peace with your loved ones, pray to whichever God you believe in, prepare yourself, for the end of humanity is upon you.

12. “Dick Bavetta Is Tonight’s Head Referee” – A man, whose driver’s license has most likely been confiscated by his great, great grandchildren, is about to be the man responsible for an enormous sporting event that is being watched by millions, with small fortunes having been invested in it’s outcome. Retire him already.

13. “Erik Spoelstra Is One Of The NBA’s Top Coaches “ – A man, who was handed a team made up of superstars, has somehow fooled everyone into believing that their success has something to do with the play he just drew up. Give me Lebron and four surprisingly coordinated goats and I’ll win you a chip.

14. “Welcome To The NBA On TNT” – YAAHHH!! It’s the good broadcast!

15. “Welcome To The NBA On ESPN/ABC” – Why can’t all the games be on TNT? Pony up the dough Ted Turner, save us all from a Doug Collins analysis. Come on Disney (ABC/ESPN is owned by Mickey), how can you possibly come with Doug Collins? Simmons is cool, and Jalen gives one hell of a podcast, but in the race that is NBA broadcasting, TNT is Usain Bolt and ESPN/ABC is a toaster.

BONUS: “Lebron James With No Regard For Human Life” – The speaker of this sentence is an idiot.

Approximately a third of the 2013-2014 NBA season has transpired and it’s time for many of professional basketball’s teams to do a little mirror checking. Take a good long look at that roster you’ve got there and decide if it’s time to go all in or hang em up and start looking towards next year. Many a general manager should be looking at their current lineup and feeling a bit like one of Dennis Rodman’s teammates in North Korea, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. A league were there are 3-4 main contenders and a laundry list of pretenders is not atypical in any season, however, this season is simply four contenders and a slew of teams destined to be playoff fodder. Mix in the potential featured in this coming draft and to make a one-and-done run in the playoffs would be a worse decision than signing Rudy Gay to a max contract.

Tanking has become such a polarizing topic, some believe to want your team to tank is to remove yourself from fandom all together, if you root for your team to lose you were never a fan to begin with. While others believe in playing the odds, if you’re not going to win a championship, well then it’s time to start “Missin’ for Wiggins” or “Mishandle for Randle.” In today’s NBA the disparity between the contenders and the rest of the bunch is a divide more massive than the regret felt by an authentic Andrew Bynum Cavaliers jersey purchaser. There are a few exceptions to the rule (2004 Pistons, 2008 Celtics) but for the most part the only way to become a championship caliber team is to possess a transcendent player, typically acquired in the draft. Couple that with most free agent’s desire to play in a large, mostly warm markets, and much of the NBA is left high and dry, replaying the cycle over and over. Unless you’re LA, New York or Miami you have to be bad to get good.

Just take a quick look at the Eastern conference, there are currently three teams with winning records, and one of them is a Horford-less Atlanta Hawks that have no chance of winning a ring. The two best teams in the league are clearly the Pacers and the Heat, if you are not one of those two teams, get out of the Playoffs as quickly as you can. The result may be a watered down league with fewer competitive teams/games, but realistically that is already the case. The Bobcats aren’t poised for a deep Playoff push, the Magic don’t have a good core nucleus of young players that just need to wet their delicate feet into Playoff waters. The teams are just straight up bad, wether they compete or tank you’d probably never notice. Even if you do have a good group of young players, if you’re lucky enough to draft one of the potential stars of this draft, you’re looking at 5 plus years before said player has developed an NBA body and game. That previous core is now gone, save for but a few players.

In the West there’s two teams, the Thunder and the Spurs. I’d love to sit here and believe that the Trailblazers are a legitimate title contender, but the obviousness of the fact that they aren’t prevents me from doing so. There are definitely more competitive teams out West than East, you have the Clippers, Rockets and Warriors, all cool teams… None of which will be winning a championship as presently constituted. Aside from the Clippers (They’re really just not as good as many think they are) the Warriors and Rockets have been fairly disappointing. These may be the only two teams in the non-contender bracket that should just roll the dice and see what happens. As previously stated the two best teams in the NBA play in the East, the West is mostly a two team race, but Portland, Houston and Golden State could play the role of upsetter if given the opportunity.

All that’s well and good but in all truthfulness, there is one simple notion that must ring through the ears of every fan and GM league-wide. A thought so dark and depressing, yet so possible that it must be considered…

The Pacers are the best team in the NBA and they are going to lose to Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals. We all know it’s going to happen. If you don’t, you’re probably a fan of a “competitive” franchise, deluding yourself into believing that your plucky underdog team is going to shock the world. It isn’t. Whichever team possesses the player known as Lebron James has a distinct advantage in any series. The Miami Heat have a Lebron James, the 29 other teams in the NBA do not have a Lebron James. Does this mean everyone should give up and wait until Lebron retires before daring to compete? Of course not. What it means is that the level of celebration the transpires once the Heat are dethroned should rival Mardi Gras, Carnival and that weird color festival in India combined. They will be beat, but until it happens they’re the benchmark the rest of the NBA hopes to achieve.

So ask yourself NBA teams, am I the one? Are we the team that will end Miami’s reign of terror and strike back for the good people of basketball land? Help us Indiana Pacers, you’re our only hope! If you’re not, look no further than one of the Lottery’s own slogans, “You gotta play to win.” Get in that lottery and let lady luck determine wether you’re about to be a dynasty or repeat the cycle for years to come! Let’s just all agree that after we root for our own teams to win the lottery, we secondarily root for the Bucks. In your heart of hearts you know they deserve the next NBA superstar. Sure whoever it is will leave after their rookie contract is up, but let’s give the good people of Milwaukee something to believe in, at least for a little while. Both of their season ticket holders have paid their dues and suffered long enough.

Tank you and good night.

Ask any layperson the number one characteristic of a great basketball player and in all likelihood they will say height. It’s a common theme, professional basketball players are frequently tall. A player under six feet tall in the NBA is as rare as a Heat fan in 2009 Miami. However, it’s high time we as NBA fans stand up and state the obvious, a lot of these giant humans are not great basketball players. Of course within the confines of the NBA, height is relative, in everyday life a six foot seven person is considered well beyond average height, yet for the NBA this is right around the middle. Once the microscope is affixed squarely onto the seven foot and near seven foot targets is when the image begins to gain focus. These freaks of nature walk and run (slowly, usually) up and down the court, flaunting their genetic lottery winnings, as if they are God’s gift to basketball. When all along they have and continue to make a mockery of the great game we all hold so dear.

The game of Basketball was invented in Springfield MA, in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, whom for the remainder of this article, for the sake of clarity, shall be referred to as Dr. J… Nevermind, we’ll stick with Dr. Naismith. Among many of Dr. Naismith’s requirements for his new game, he longed to create a level playing field which would remove excess physical contact by placing the “basket” high among the player’s heads. This was not what he had in mind.

Dr. Naismith couldn’t imagine a day when players would be jumping from free throw lines and hop stepping into two handed, rim shattering dunks. Basketball was sport for every man, woman and child to play without prejudice or self consciousness due to a lack of preposterous height. If you think about it, a dunk is the ultimate, tell tale sign of futility in a basketball game. You mean to tell me this guy is so inept at shooting the ball that he has to stuff it directly into the basket? Hahaha, what a baby! When you’re seven feet tall dunking probably isn’t even that enjoyable. You ever walk through a doorway and touch the frame as you walk through? Yeah, that’s probably about how exciting it is.

Of course there are exceptions to the rule, players like Hakeem Olajuwon, Bill Russell, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, etc. are legitimately fantastic basketball players. They, and players like them are NBA greats regardless of their height. Then there’s the other side of the coin, the Dwight Howards and Blake Griffins of the world, can you shoot? No, but I can dunk! Can you pass? No, but I can dunk! Can you dribble? No, but I can dunk! This isn’t to say that the Goliaths of the NBA don’t have their value, but let’s start regarding them as what they really are. Role players. If you’re only going to possess 50% or less of the skills involved in basketball, you simply can not be considered a good basketball player. Is this splitting hairs? YES INDEED! But hey, there hasn’t been an NBA game for months now and something’s gotta be written.

Every time I hear about baby hooks and great-passing big men I just see an analyst patronizing an oversized human. Way to be somewhat coordinated despite your hilariously oversized body. The fact of the matter is that the level of basketball skill required to make the NBA with a height of 6 feet is so far beyond the seven footer’s ability it’s laughable. If you tested every player in the NBA’s prowess on a skill by skill basis, the larger players of the NBA would be laughed off the court. It’s not that they don’t help win games and contribute to their teams, it’s just that the bar is set so ridiculously low for them.

Imagine a 6 foot 3 inch player with Shawn Bradley’s skill set, how long would he last in the NBA? I rest my case. Keep in mind, this is not limited to the NBA. Next time you’re walking by your local playground, take a look at who’s playing and what they’re doing. Usually the tall guy at the court is taking it easy, resting on his skyscraping laurels, all while the working-class-height of the sport of basketball give it their all. Unfortunately we are unable to assign height to players based upon skill and merit, the fact of the matter is most big men, were it not for their size, would be seen as the poor excuses for basketball players that they are.

It’s time to appreciate the undersized players of the NBA and basketball abound! These lilliputian wonders have swam up stream and made it the highest of levels. Their knee cap high hearts pump the blood of true warriors. Show me a 5 foot 2 player rising to the top of the basketball ladder and I’ll show you one of the greatest basketball players of all time!

There isn’t a great deal of good news coming out of the Motor City these days. A horrendous level of criminal activity, large portions of the city completely abandoned, employment levels lower than Muggsy Bogues’ kneecaps, are all things commonly associated with the once great, unofficial Michigan capital. Perhaps Pistons general manager Joe Dumars, disgusted by his city’s downfall, chose to give his people something to believe in, to construct a beacon of hope that would shine down upon the weathered brows of Detroit’s weary inhabitants. Dumars would… No, must, put together a Pistons team that could serve as the magnificent ship for which their fans, like the mighty barnacle, could latch onto and set course for a new beginning.

More likely, he was just trying to save his job.

Joe Dumars traded for Ben Wallace, Rip Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace, signed Chauncey Billups, drafted Tayshaun Prince and won an NBA Championship. That year was 2004, almost ten years ago. The Pistons remained competitive for a few more years, they returned to the Finals and lost to the Spurs the following year, but were largely disappointing from that point on. Dumars bucked the trend of tanking and drafting and built a championship team through trades and free agency which never possessed a true star player. The Pistons were the epitome of the old adage that the sum was greater than it’s parts. To say that Dumars has made his share of puzzling moves since those days of greatness would be an understatement. After showing the correct restraint by choosing not to match Chicago’s gigantic 4 year, 60 million dollar contract offer for Ben wallace, Dumars years later opened the checkbook for two players not deserving of the contracts he would give them.

Before the 2009-2010 season Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon agreed to head to Detroit, and why wouldn’t they with the money being waved in their faces? Dumars spent almost 20 million dollars on two players who would become little more than rotation players. But who could have possibly seen it coming? Hmmm… Every other GM in the league maybe? More shocking than the actual players involved in the transaction, was the timing of the deal itself. Villanueva and Gordon were signed in the summer of 2009, that’s right, one year prior to the legendary 2010 free agency, you know the one that saw a couple of guys taking their talents down to South Beach. The Pistons had the salary cap space to hold off a season and roll the dice on a chance of signing a true franchise player, Dumars would be no fun in Vegas. Perhaps Dumars still undervalued players like Wade, Bosh and Anthony (requiring they wait a bit longer), since he chose Darko Milicic over all of them in 2003!

After years of obscurity and laying wait, the Pistons had developed a nice pair of big men in Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond, the pair coupled with his most recent transactions bring us to the team as presently constituted.

The Pistons were unwilling to part with either of their big men, as they should be for now, but made themselves players in the Eastern Conference by once again building a team via trades and free agency that still possesses no true star. The difference is this time they’re not contenders. In a relatively unexpected move, the Pistons dove headfirst into free agency and signed a player around whom there was much speculation as to where he would end up.

Josh Smith is an enigma. He averaged 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last season, yet is either loved or hated by NBA fans with equal conviction. The Pistons signed Josh Smith to a four year 48 million dollar contract, it sounds like a lot of money for a player who will not be a go-to-guy in the clutch or an exemplary Playoff performer. Such is the NBA these days folks. Josh smith can not create his own shot, in fact if you’re a Pistons fan, pray that he doesn’t even attempt to, and his love of the three point shot is most assuredly one sided, however, if Smith is able to do what he does best, he will flourish in Motown. Let Smith crash the boards and go for put backs, feed him the ball on the fast break and he’ll be fine. Honestly the best way for Smith to succeed is to never give him the ball when he isn’t in motion, the moment he thinks about how he is going to score is the moment he should already be passing the ball, this responsibility relies on the point guard. Josh Smith is a good defender and if he is to play the bulk of his minutes at the small forward position (he should), Tylenol should then be handed out to the opposing teams small forwards approximately thirty minutes prior to tip off. Do these characteristics describe a player worthy of 14 million dollars a year, no, but again, such is the NBA these days, if you’re tall, you get paid.

Next they chose to bring back a familiar face. One can presume that Chauncey Billups will slide into the shooting guard position, a position it must be noted that he did not prefer playing with his most recent team, the Clippers. Never fear Pistons Fans, you won’t have to worry about Billups struggling with the off guard position this year because he’ll probably miss a large portion of the season with some sort of injury. The question is who will play the shooting guard for Detroit? Even if Billups is healthy, as a 16 year vet with a depleted skill set, he is not a viable option in a Playoff Rotation. Dumars has shown a propensity to bring back former Pistons, perhaps the Billups signing will at least garner some fan interest by harkening back to Detroit’s former glory days. Chauncey was at his best when playing point guard, so why wouldn’t he be the logical choice to handle the ball for the Pistons? Because Joe Dumars had a surprise up his sleeve.

Dumars made no secret of his desire to trade for Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics, but Rondo was never to be available unless Drummond or Monroe were in return. What were the Pistons to do? Should they hand over the reigns to Brandon Knight, give him the keys to the new car and see how the whole thing played out? Obviously Joe Dumars didn’t think so when he traded a package based around Knight for Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings in a sign and trade. Jennings should fit in just fine in Detroit.

Jennings averaged 17.5 points, 6.5 assists and 3 rebounds per game last season. Expect his assist totals to go up now that he has three finishers comprising his front court. Jennings is just on the cusp of breaking into the top ten point guards in the NBA, the most stacked position around the league. This should be a breakout year for him, the simple fact that he finally got out of Milwaukee should boost his efficiency rating at least 5 points a game. Despite their record or any Playoff appearances, the Bucks are the NBA’s least desirable destination. Now Jennings can call 8 mile home as he attempts to hoist another banner to the rafters, joining the Bad Boys of the 80s and the Not As Bad Boys of the 2004s. “Attempts” is the operative word here. The Pistons will be a significantly better team this season and will be a participant in the Playoffs. Unfortunately for Detroit, another NBA Championship, even a deep Playoff run, is not in their near future. The Heat, Pacers, Bulls and Nets will all still be better than the Pistons, and the Cavs and Knicks (get ready for that drop off) most likely will be too, and that’s just the East. So why do the deals, why make yourself good but not wait and hope to be great? This next draft is supposed to rival 2003’s, offering numerous franchise players that multiple teams are clamoring for. Why’d you do it to Auburn Hills Joe?

He wanted to keep his job.

Detroit, like much of the NBA’s cities not named Los Angeles, New York or Miami, is not a desirable free agent destination, therefore Dumars has shown for a second time that he prefers to better his team on the fly. In a time when it is widely agreed that if you aren’t a contender your best option is to tank, taking actions into your own hands could be viewed as a refreshing approach. However, barring a few occasions, the widely agreed upon approach is the correct one. Other than the 2004 Pistons and the 2008 Celtics (Garnett and Pierce are debatable), every recent team that has won an NBA title has had a top 5 player on it’s roster. Of course in order to draft a top prospect, you must first be a very bad team, a bad team with a bad record with a general manager who has captained the ship for multiple bad seasons in succession, usually ends in a former general manager looking for a job. The Pistons will be better, but at what cost? Most fans would trade a few years of relevance for a shot at a title, of course nothing is guaranteed with the draft lottery, but some times you just have to go with the odds.

The Pistons may not be done, Dumars has said he may at some point inquire about Rondo’s availability (must have been music to Brandon Jennings’ ears as he prepares to run the point for his new team). Detroit still has a few trade pieces that could be moved to bring in a true scorer, this is after all what the Pistons lack the most. They have defense for days, bring in a Jamal Crawford/JR Smith type player, a guy that turns his brain off, scores and does nothing else, and the Pistons become a very interesting team. Drummond and Monroe could continue to develop and become even better, thus changing the scope of the franchise. These are all intangibles and risks that Dumars has chosen to undertake, he has decided to gamble, he’s just playing a different game than most of his NBA peers. Who’s playing the right one, only time will tell, but when the NBA season begins in late October, the chips are down. Theres only one winner a year, it’s a high stakes game with no reward for mediocrity and certainly not for merely sitting at the big boy’s table.

A message comes across the television screen, perspiration clouds your thoughts as you endeavor to obtain the pertinent information as it is distributed county wide. A local newsperson pleads for the citizens of their great town to limit their air conditioning use, the local circuits just can not withstand such bloated use. It has to be hotter this year than last. What’s the record high for this time of year anyways? Will this oppressive, overwhelming, smoldering heat ever subside. These are the dog days of summer. Around the NBA, much like your living room, activity is kept to a minimum, it’s simply not the right time. There is the summer league, should you need your basketball fix, but in all likelihood that will satiate you as much as a can of Coke and a cigarette would Lindsay Lohan at the 40/40 Club. The bulk of the major moves have been made, and teams are in a holding pattern, no more perfect a time to analyze the personnel changes thus far.

*Quick note: There have been many player moves so far, here we’ll focus on the major ones that will alter an individual franchise’s winning potential.

Dwight Howard is taking his talents down to South Padre Island. With the addition of the most unlikable player in the NBA, the Rockets are an immediate impact team in the Western Conference. For once, at long last, Dwight Howard has made the correct decision. Let’s all stand up and applaud him, that is after all what he’s expecting and no player in the league is more aware of himself and how he is viewed than Dwight Howard. Yep, Dwight’s gonna take the old SS Jackass out and set sail for southern shores, where he’ll probably play a few seasons before requesting a trade. Now that that little bit of vitriol has been exercised from the old system, let’s get down to brass tacks, the Rockets are going to be very good. One thing must be as clear as the lane when Mike D’Antoni’s Suns were on defense, Dwight will be deferring to James Harden on offense. Dwight Howard has been in the NBA for nine seasons now and contrary to what you may have heard, he has absolutely zero offensive game. He can dunk… That’s it. “Oh but he has a baby hook,” you may be saying, guess what? So do I. So does every single player in the NBA. Why? Other than a dunk or a lay up it’s the easiest shot you could possibly ever take on the court of basketball. Harden has the ability to create his own shot, he can drive the lane and he is fully capable of bringing the ball up court. Houston’s offense will run through him, Dwight will get his fair share of post up opportunities, but don’t be surprised if the bulk of his points come off of rebounds. Oh yeah, and that Parsons guys pretty good too, don’t leave him open.

In the battle of the boroughs a winner can already be declared. With the addition of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, the Brooklyn Nets are hands down the best team in New York City. The Nets will be trotting out a starting five that few teams will be prepared to deal with, they have size, defense and scoring ability in droves. Couple that with the jewel in the crown of Tsar Prokhorov, Andrei Kirilenko as a rock solid sixth man, and the Russian has acquired the services of another Russian who can make your problems disappear. Expect the Nets to win the division and to be major players in the Eastern Conference come Playoff time. Of course much of the Nets success hinges upon the aging legs of Pierce and Garnett, but should their minutes be managed there will be no reason to worry, as being the star of the show should no longer be a requirement. The one lingering threat to Brooklyn is no opponent on the court but rather a question mark that sits on their bench. Jason Kidd has never coached a game in the NBA. Will he step back, be a figurehead while Lawrence Frank carries the bulk of the game planning load, barring an unexpected explosion of basketball brilliance by Brooklyn’s biggest bet, it may be their only hope of winning it all.

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are one year older, should they continue to progress as expected, the Warriors have quite the one-two punch at guard. David Lee should be coming back healthy to start the season, and Andrew Bogut is a pretty solid, legit seven foot NBA center. Hey, how about we throw Andre Iguodala in there just for good measure? A high octane team, just became higher octane. In Iguodala, the Warriors have added a player that can do just about everything on the court, he can score, he can rebound and most importantly he can defend the opposing team’s best swingman. Iguodala is not a player to be relied upon to score enough to keep you in a game, but in Golden State, he won’t have to. With another year of experience and the addition of a veteran player, the Warriors are poised to make a deep Playoff run.

The Dallas Mavericks days of competing for an NBA championship are over, to be honest they were over the second they let Tyson Chandler leave town. However, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban doesn’t do rebuild, even though it’s probably time to. Dirk Nowitzki is a marvelous player and an all time great, but methinks he perhaps may be upon the last of his legs. At this stage of his career is adding “b” level stars to Dirk’s supporting cast the prudent thing to do? No, but here comes Monta Ellis. Ellis is a high level scorer in the NBA, but that’s it. He will give you absolutely nothing else. Monta will win you that odd game against the Suns or the Hawks where 30 points from him is needed, but he’s not a guy that’s going to take you back to the promised land. In signing Ellis the Mavericks are back to being just good/bad enough to barely make or miss the Playoffs, at least they managed to sign him to a very team friendly deal.

Ever since the NBA’s best player headed South the Cavaliers have been regrouping. They’ve managed to develop a player who is looking more and more like a franchise maker and premiere player in Kyrie Irving. They’ve got decent role players but aren’t at the point of truly turning the franchise around. Free agents are hard to come by, unfortunately for them, Cleveland just isn’t that desirable of a destination. This is why taking a risk and signing Andrew Bynum is a great idea. Before being traded to Philadelphia, where he didn’t play a single game it must be noted, Bynum was widely considered the second best center in the NBA, first by some. Due to his vast injury concerns, Bynum was forced to sign a short term deal for less money than he would have liked, but the onus is on him to perform and prove that he is once again a max contract player, and as we all know that is what is most important to Andrew Bynum.

Greg Monroe, Andre Drummond and Josh Smith, that’s a pretty formidable front line you’ve got their Detroit, now how about working on that economy of yours. Apparently Joe Dumars has grown weary of watching the Playoffs from home and has chosen to watch the first round in person and then watch the remaining rounds from the comfort of his home. The mist has passed and it has become clear that the Pistons that where built for their 2004 NBA championship run were indeed a fluke as Dumars somehow remains a general manage in the National Basketball Association. Is Josh Smith a bad player, not at all, is he supremely overrated, bingo! Let’s just hope for Detroit’s sake that Josh doesn’t fall in love with the three point line the way he did in Atlanta, the motor city has suffered enough.

That one year window is closing… oh and it’s shut. Sorry New York, the Knicks are going to take a step back this season. They are without a doubt still a Playoff team, but much like the recently transpired season, despite the delusions of Spike Lee, the Knicks are by no means a championship contender. Ron “Metta Worldpeace” Artest is a terrific acquisition by the Knicks, for a team that likes to think they have a gritty edge, he will finally give them a gritty edge. He won’t give you much on the offensive end any more, but c’mon, he’s here for his “D” and if he isn’t, well then Mike Woodson isn’t the coach we all thought he was. As good a move as Artest is, that’s how bad of a move the Andrea Bargnani trade is. We all know he’s played his entire career North of the border, but I’m pretty sure Canadian basketball is televised in the United States, someone in the Knick’s organization should have watched him play basketball before trading for him.

BOOM! LIGHTNING ROUND! RAPID FIRE ANALYSIS ENGAGED! READ THESE AS FAST AS YOU CAN BECAUSE THAT’S HOW IT IS BEING WRITTEN!!!!!

The Charlotte Bobcats signed power forward Al Jefferson, proving that Al Jefferson is okay with potentially never winning another basketball game agin and that for the head of basketball operations, Michael Jordan was one hell of a basketball player. At least they’ll be the hornets again, that should create some buzz (Get it? Get it? Get it?).

The Atlanta Hawks have signed power forward Paul Millsap, a player that averages three points and one rebound per game less than Josh smith who he is replacing. This means that the Hawks should be almost exactly as good as they were this past season, seriously Atlanta, blow it up already, it ain’t gonna happen, this is a signing made for signing’s sake, it makes no basketball sense.

The New Orleans Pelicans… Come on the Pelicans? You’re seriously going to put a basketball team on an NBA court called the Pelicans? Fine, whatever, the Pelicans have traded for Jrue Holiday and they’ve signed Tyreke Evans, meaning they are really interested in having a very crowded backcourt with a logjam at the guard position. Just think of all the guards in New Orleans as small fish, smelts perhaps, gently nestled into the beak of the MIGHTY PELICAN!

The Los Angeles Clippers wanted to trade for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, in order to pair them with newly acquired, familiar coach Glen “Doc “Turncoat”” Rivers. They signed JJ Redick. The former Blue Devil may not be the player(s) that Garnett or Pierce is, but he’s no chopped liver either, I guess since it’s LA it would be pâté not chopped liver, then again it’s the Clippers not the Lakers, let’s stick with chopped liver. Redick will be solid for the Clippers, but a championship contender they are not. Hey Blake and Deandre, dunks are awesome, but if you’d like a deep playoff run how about some defense and I don’t know some low post scoring?

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed OJ Mayo and the entire Mayo family is ecstatic, the citizen’s of Milwaukee on the other hand are blissfully unaware of the existence of their professional basketball team. It’s not their fault, even when the Bucks make the Playoffs they are the league’s second most irrelevant team, they have Charlotte to thank for that. Watch out though Bucks, once those Hornets don the teal jerseys a resurgence in popularity is-a-coming. If you’re Milwaukee, what can you do? Bucks gonna buck, amiright? Even Brandon Jennings desperately wants to leave town and there are almost no rumors of any team going after him. I’m pretty sure I heard a rumor the other day that Jennings was angling for a trade to Denver, at a Home Depot, anything to get out of Wisconsin.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed shooting guard Kevin Martin, he’s OK, decent player, but this one’s more about…

The Oklahoma City Thunder have officially given James Harden away for nothing! It was evident in the Playoffs just how much the Thunder missed the offensive potency that Harden provides, but at least Martin was able to chip in a few double digit scoring games here and there. That’s all out the window now. Of course the Thunder missed Westbrook dearly, and he will be back, but as presently constituted they are no longer the favorite to come out of the West. This is not how championship rosters are formed, by allowing integral players (Harden not Martin) to depart all because of fear of paying a luxury tax. What happens when they can’t compete and Russell Westbrook wants out, you can’t tell me he doesn’t have the personality for it, Durant won’t want to stick around. Sure it’s a worse case scenario, but you heard it here first! Then, maybe then, the Sonics can finally head back to Seattle.

There’s definitely more to come this offseason and at least one more block-splintering trade to appear. Much like a blossoming teenager at their first sleepaway camp, the teams of the NBA are still figuring themselves out. This will be a summer of new developments for them and of growth into their new rosters, the next season is just around the corner, but for now let’s all just enjoy the figuring out period.

You’ve probably heard by now that on the night of the draft the Celtics traded Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Nets for bad contracts and draft picks, essentially slamming shut the door on the Celtics as a competitive franchise for the time being. There isn’t much merit in discussing the trade ad nauseum because the teams approached one another from diametrically opposed perspectives, the Nets want to win games, the Celtics don’t. In a way both teams got what they wanted, the Nets formed a killer starting five, the Celtics pushed the button on the rebuild bomb and received three first round draft picks (more than any other team was offering). The Nets will be a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference and should the team mesh, a championship contender. Their bench is stripped down to the barest of bones, they’ll need a few veterans minimum contracts to round out the roster and offer any help for the starting unit. In Pierce the Nets received a proven scorer who does not shy away from high pressure situations, he is a year older, but Pierce has rarely missed significant time throughout his career. In Garnett the Nets gained a defensive stalwart who will get his fare share of open jumpers with Brook Lopez playing closer to the basket. Lopez is the Net with the most to gain from the trade, he needs to shadow KG’s every move and mannerism, learn from his competitiveness and replicate it as best he can. Every young player in the league should have a Garnett to play with, to realize just what it takes to be successful in the NBA for a very long time.

The Celtics took back Kris Kardashian (deal with it Humphries, you’re riding this one out as long you plan on setting foot on NBA courts worldwide), who is in reality simply an expiring contract needed to make the salaries match tradewise. Gerald “Worst Contract in the NBA” Wallace will also be shippin’ up to Boston, this piece of the trade is most perplexing. It’s likely the only way the Celtics were going to get three first round picks was if they were willing to take on Wallace’s contract, but that doesn’t make his inclusion any better. Brooks and Bogans are also headed North on I-95, but again, this was all about the picks for Boston. In all likelihood, Humphries, Wallace and Bogans are all available to any team in the NBA for a slightly used Spaulding basketball, new or “like new” gym socks, or even a high five and a head nod. The Celtics are no longer in the winning games business and would prefer to pay as little as possible to do so.

For the Celtics the future is a mystery but the path is defined, they’ll do their best to lose games and hope for a great pick next season, always a risky premise for Boston (see Duncan, Oden/Durant). For now the Celtics will be irrelevant, the bandwagon is emptying out faster than a Milwaukee Bucks game at the end of the third quarter when down by 20 (trust me they’ll be down by 20), no better time to look back at the events that took place which lead to their reemergence as one of the premiere franchises in sports. It all started on July 31st of 2007.

After months of conjecture it finally happened, Kevin Garnett agreed to a contract extension and the deal was in place. KG was sent to a Celtics team featuring stars Paul Pierce and the recently acquired Ray Allen, essentially forming the new “Big 3” the former being Bird, Mchale and Parish. This union ended a miserable period for Celtics fans, ushering in a new era and never looking back to the failures of the previous season. In the 2006-07 season the Celtics won a mere 24 games, a pathetic number for a franchise accustomed to winning, but the numbers do not tell the entire tale. Off in the distance  loomed two draftable figures that were unanimously believed to be franchise builders, Greg Oden and Kevin Durant. We know now that only one of them would, to this point, experience success in the NBA, but at the time it was believed that a first or second pick was striking oil. The Celtics received the fifth pick in the draft lottery. This is when GM Danny Ainge got creative, first dealing the fifth pick, Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak for Ray Allen on draft night, and later sending a package centered around Al Jefferson for Kevin Garnett. Paul Pierce was ready and waiting and the trio, paired with an emerging Rajon Rondo and a solid Kendrick Perkins created the best starting five in the NBA.

Then coach, Doc Rivers, finally had a team he could run with, but many questions remained, could the egos of three NBA stars possibly coexist on one team? Doc’s first move, get the team out of the country and as far away from media pressure as he could.

The Celtics trained for their upcoming season in Rome, a stroke of genius. Strangers in a strange land the Celtics were forced to establish relationships and rely upon one another, truly creating the team dynamic. The bond developed overseas held as strong as Karl Malone’s camel clutch. The Celtics were a wrecking crew, no team was safe in their path. In an age when no team could win without a superstar it was refreshing to see a team of aging stars put egos aside and commit to a team attitude, they were a throwback to the NBA of old. Their opponents wore their frustration on their faces, when it wasn’t Pierce it was Garnett and Allen, when it wasn’t Garnett it was Pierce and Allen, when it wasn’t Allen it was Pierce and Garnett, and when it wasn’t Pierce, Garnett or Allen, who’s this Rondo kid? Danny Ainge had built a flawless lineup and anything other than a championship would have been deemed a failure. They finished the regular season 66-16, an astounding record for a team built less than a calendar year prior to the beginning of the Playoffs. They opened with a seven game series against the Hawks, followed by an epic seven game series with the Cavs, culminating in one of the best battles in Playoff history put on by Pierce and Lebron. Next, down went the Pistons in six games, placing the Celtics in the NBA Finals against their bitter rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers. The stars had aligned and it was time for the NBA’s most storied franchises to do battle one more time. The Celtics defeated the Lakers in six games, featuring a 24 point comeback in game four and a 39 point smashing in game seven to win the Celtic’s record 17th championship.

The Cetlics “big 3” formation set the blueprint for the NBA which still persists today. The Lakers and Heat’s championships are in many ways a reaction to what Boston had done, adapt or die. Had it not been for the Celtics it is likely the Lakers never trade for Gasol, and it is definitely for sure that James, Wade and Bosh never have that slumber party were they talk about how cool it would be to play together. After all, the Celtics did made it look pretty cool.

It’s unfortunate that the Celtics were only able to win one championship during the Pierce-Garnett-Allen era, the numbers do not do them justice. The season after the Celtics won their championship, believe it or not, they were actually a better team. They started the season 27-2, let that soak in, that’s a ridiculous record after more than a third of a season, but it was one night in Utah that ended it all. Garnett suffered a knee injury that would see him miss 25 games and the entire post season. Without Garnett the Celtics still managed to win 62 games and take an Orlando Magic team, that would later appear in the Finals, to seven games. It is easy to assume that if healthy, the Celtics would have been back in the Finals in 2009. In 2010 the Celtics won 50 games and marched right back to the NBA Finals where they lost to the Lakers in seven games. The Lakers finally got their rematch, but a key injury to Kendrick Perkins left him out of the pivotal seventh game in Los Angeles. Despite his absence the Celtics still lead the Lakers with little time to go. Alas it was the Lakers night, the 20 free throw advantage they had in the fourth quarter didn’t hurt either, but sometimes (every time) that’s just how things go in LA in the Finals. In 2011 the Celtics won 56 games but were eliminated from the Playoffs by the Heat when the NBA’s dirtiest player, Dwyane Wade, purposely took down Rajon Rondo and dislocated his elbow. In 2012 the Celtics won 39 games in a lockout shortened season but found themselves matched up again against the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Suspect officiating in the first game of the series saw the Celtics lose a game that was clearly officiated in Miami’s favor (another common occurrence in the Playoffs). In the end the Heat won in seven games, but Celtics fans were left feeling as though the series had been mishandled.

I say all this to tell you that had it not been for the Celtics string of bad luck, they likely would have won another one or two championships. The toughest of outs in any Playoff series and a perennial contender, this Celtics team was one for the ages. A “grit and balls” team in an age of teams and stars that many considered soft. The Celtics quickly became one of the most hated teams around the NBA, mostly due to Garnett’s bullying techniques, but is there any greater mark of a terrific team than unanimous hatred? Whether you continue to hate the Celtics or not matters little, but know that in hating the Celtics you hated a team that turned the clock back and fought fights they had no business partaking in, let alone winning. They just finished year five of what was believed to be a three year window, the Celtics were a team that any fan base would have been proud to call their own. They’ve traded away the man that turned the franchise around in Garnett, and also the man who will retire a true Celtics legend in Pierce, no small task, look at the retired numbers. One player is all that remains with the Celtics from their 2007-2008 championship team.

Rondo has said that he is on board with a rebuild and will not seek to be traded, he will also sit out some portion of the season as he rehabs his torn ACL ( a rehab that may take longer than necessary, there’s ping pong balls on the line here folks). Hopefully Rondo is not the next piece to go, he has a great contract and at times appears to be a marquis player. If Rondo is ever able to perform at his highest level night in and night out, there is no player better to bridge the gap between the Celtics eras of past and future.

As previously stated the future for the Celtics is indeed a mystery, but the history of the team is as clear as day. Despite their lone championship they are a team that defined an era and whose characteristics will seemingly not be soon seen again. Look forward to seeing what Pierce and KG bring to Brooklyn, there will be more than one game when you see their age show, but there will also be those nights when they look like they’re 25 again. The only negative in the Cetlics “new big 3” era is that we didn’t get enough of it, how could you not root for the aging pugilist stepping in for just one more round. For the former Celtics the next game will always be the last game.

“Doc wants to be here. It’s not all because he thinks that over the next five years we will have the best team in the NBA, he’s part of this franchise. He wants to do what it takes for us to be successful.” – Danny Ainge, 2011.

These were the words spoken by the Celtics GM just after signing Doc Rivers to a 5 year extension, making him the highest paid coach in the NBA. Things were indeed better for the Celtics back then, they’d just come off a second round Playoff exit, but Doc’s players were in place and memories of 2008 were still lingering.

Just five years ago all was right with the Celtics. That five years seems like a century ago right now. Never before had a team turned around so fast, the second worst team in the NBA one season, NBA champion the next. The trades for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen added two top tier players, when paired with Paul Pierce, the Celtics became unstoppable. Running the point was a young up-and-coming Rajon Rondo, a mercurial player capable of truly amazing things on any given night. Reigning him in and controlling the egos of a team of stars was the Celtic’s rock, their coach Doc Rivers. Doc has always been known as a player’s coach, he’s never going to go on a tirade, smash furniture, pound his chest and assert dominance over his players. Doc also flawlessly navigates the shark infested waters within which he swims laps, every time he speaks with the media. Widely considered the second best coach in the NBA (behind Popovich), despite the Celtics aging and decreasing reliability, Doc was always there front and center, making no excuses. The writing was on the wall, the Celtics were getting old, they were in year five of their three year window, yet Doc appeared to be on board with a rebuilding effort. He was to be a true Celtic, a part of the NBA’s most storied franchise.

Now, he’s the coach of the Clippers.

The going got tough and Doc got going. Once reality stared Rivers in the face in the form of Danny Ainge potentially trading away his entire team, he realized he never did want to be a part of the rebuild. Despite initially rejecting the Clippers request to speak with Doc about a coaching change, the Celtics later chose to allow Rivers to inquire about the position. There were supposed blockbuster trades suggested, involving multiple interchangeable parts. None of them really made sense, after all you can’t trade a coach, something everyone except David Stern remembered. Originally it was to be Doc and KG going to the Clippers for Deandre Jordan, Eric Bledsoe and picks, a hefty price tag. Is it though, if this entire procedure is taking place all to appease Chris Paul, hopefully prompting him to resign with the Clippers, in actuality you could include Paul as a theoretical piece in the trade. The Celtics in the end received LA’s unprotected 2015 first round draft pick, in 2015 the Clippers will still be a Playoff team, just like Shaq shuffling his feet at the top of the key, this will not be a good pick.

In a day and age when players are subjected to limitless scrutiny for every misdeed they undertake, it is important, for lack of a better term, to trash Doc Rivers. If he weren’t such a nice guy, he’d be getting killed by the media. His job, which he was paid extremely well to do, was going to get harder and he wanted an easier one. The Celtics are rumored to have been willing to ship Doc out since they were less than enthralled with the idea of paying a coach seven million dollars a year to essentially tank and rebuild, but it was Rivers that first initiated the departure process. Rumors also persist of a rift between Doc and Rondo, their relationship has always appeared to be a little on the prickly side. Rondo is an extreme competitor, it is more than likely that his personality could be capable of rubbing those around him the wrong way. However, when healthy, Rondo is a top five point guard, who at times looks like he could be the best point guard in the NBA should he maintain a higher level of consistency. There are better scoring point guards out there, but when you look at the traditional characteristics of a point guard, scoring, assists, court vision, Rondo is as good as it gets, not to mention his ability to take over a Playoff series. If rumors are true and Rondo’s personality is difficult one to cope with, well sorry Doc, he fits into the “deal with it” category. Kobe, Jordan, even Chris Paul, are or were players that have been supposedly difficult to deal with, sometimes you just have to suck it up and focus on the wins. Besides, who says you have to get along with everyone you work with? If everyone refused to work with people they didn’t like, nothing in the world would ever be accomplished, ever. Sure, sports and the real world are two very different places, but you can’t exploit that divide and still be the “good guy.”

Doc Rivers is the first domino to drop, there are changes ahead for the Celtics. How soon they will take place is anyone’s guess, but one would think that given Danny Ainge’s desire to rebuild his team, changes have to be looming.

It is probable that Paul Pierce will be traded sooner rather than later. Waiving Pierce would be a mistake, Boston would get nothing in return for him, and since they are over the cap waiving his 15 million dollar deal does not result in 15 million to spend, rather only the mid level exception, around 5.8 million. If the Celtics do choose to waive Pierce it is the most clear of indications that they are truly in tank mode and have no interest in wins this season. Rajon Rondo has a terrific contract, he’s young and talented, he’s not going anywhere. Kevin Garnett has one of the few no-trade clauses in the NBA, meaning perhaps the most loyal player in the league has the ability to veto any and all of his potential transactions. David Stern has said that he would likely reject any trade between the Clippers and the Celtics this season, fearing collusion and back end deals already being put in place. Have no fear David Stern, it happened, and if you don’t veto the trades, they’re all ready to go. KG stayed with the Timberwolves longer than any sane human being would have, all because they drafted him and invested in him, now it seems like he is prepared to go down with the sinking Celtics ship. This should be applauded, a player retaining his dignity, not throwing away years of tradition, all for a change of scenery and hopefully a fancy new championship ring (I’m looking at you Ray Allen.). Nevertheless, if Garnett does waive his no-trade clause and move on, the Celtics are no longer in the winning games business.

Did Doc’s departure determine the destiny of a dynastic franchise? Did I just try to use as many words that start with “d”? Maybe and Definitely! Doc isn’t on the court, but he’s a mainstay and once those guys start disappearing, change is a comin’. In taking his talents over to Venice Beach, Rivers changed the picture of the Eastern Conference, the Celtics were no longer contenders, but they were a team capable of victory in any one series. Had Rondo been healthy this season, do you really think the Celtics would have lost to the Knicks? If you do, you probably would have drafted Sam Bowie with the first pick in 1984. Teams like the Bulls and Pacers were already moving ahead of Boston, but now the shift just happened that much quicker. The question is how much of an impact Doc will have in Los Angeles, a city where no matter how good the Clippers are, they will always play in the shadow of Kobe and the Lakers.

The Clippers should be the best team in LA next season and it shouldn’t even be close. Kobe will spend most if not all of the season rehabbing his torn achilles, if Dwight Howard leaves town, you can pretty much throw away those Playoff tickets Mr. Nicholson. There are rumors that the Clippers will attempt to pry Howard away from the Lakers themselves, Howard and Paul have announced their mutual interest in playing together. Good for them. Go play golf, skee ball, candy land, do all kinds of things together, the Lakers won’t make that deal. Sorry to shatter your dreams, Chris and Dwight, much like Romeo and Juliet, you must suffer a forbidden love. Since the Garnett trade is blocked, there’s not a ton of obvious options for the Clippers, they’ll win a few more games with Doc at the helm, but a championship contender they are not. Blake Griffin and Deandre Jordan are great at dunking, that’s about it, Chris Paul is a great player, but I’m not sure he’s that much of an upgrade over Rondo. With Doc moving west, the basketball might not get much better, but at least the scenery’s nice.

The NBA Finals and season are over and the Miami Heat are the World Champions. Despite the series going seven it’s up for debate whether it was a great series or not, there were multiple blowouts, meaning less than competitive games. However, the last two games were indeed ones to remember, considering this anything less than a great series is holding these Finals to the same standards Lebron is held to, and when Lebron isn’t involved in the discussion it’s just not fair. The discussion of legacy at this point has become old and pointless. Once Lebron, Wade and Bosh colluded in the offseason of 2010 and chose to join up, James removed himself from all comparisons to Jordan. This does not disqualify him from being one of the greatest players to ever play in the NBA though. In game seven, Lebron was on fire, and one thing became very clear, James stands high above every other player currently in the NBA.

Lebron’s game seven performance was legendary, scoring 37 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and dealing out 4 assists, insane numbers for a championship clinching game. Lebron also hit five three pointers on 5-10 shooting from behind the arc. All game the Spurs played off Lebron on defense, daring him to shoot, and shoot he did. Do not be fooled by Lebron’s magnificent output, the Spurs defensive scheme was the right thing to do. You can not allow Lebron into the paint with a full head of steam, there is no one in the league that can prevent him from scoring in that scenario. When defending Lebron you have to force him to shoot from distance, it’s really your only chance, last night Lebron just couldn’t miss. Not only was Lebron effective on offense, but also on the defensive end of the court as he defended Tony Parker for key stretches late in the fourth quarter. The Spurs offense is at it’s best when it is initiated with ball penetration by Parker, he doesn’t have to score every time, but it is his first push that gets San Antonio in to their offensive rhythm. Frequently the Spurs begin their half court offense with Parker penetrating, or attempting to do so, then either scoring or retreating and reengaging the offense with around 14 seconds on the clock, a typical starting time for many teams. Lebron nullified this process. At no point in time was Parker comfortable or effective with Lebron guarding him, it threw off Parker and in turn the Spurs late game offense. Lebron took over game seven and claimed it for his own, the magnitude of the situation was not lost on him, he saw what he wanted and he took it.

Miami was also the beneficiary of the key play of their former superstar Dwyane Wade. Wade scored 23 points and had an exemplary 10 rebounds, a huge number for him. It’s a long night for the opposing team when your shooting guard is crashing the boards like that. Lebron was the difference maker in game seven, but Wade was right there, he wasn’t the game changer but he was solid, something he has not been for much of the Playoffs.

Wade has had to step back and take the back seat to Lebron ever since the big 1.75  joined forces in 2010 (Wade is the .75, if he returns to his former ability next season he can be a full 1, Bosh is 0.). Last night Wade set the tone early, his jumper was something the Heat were able to rely upon, he rocked the defense to sleep fearing his head fakes, setting up numerous rhythm jumpers that he sunk routinely. When at his best Wade can be one of the most difficult defensive assignments in the league, he has not been consistent this season, but he showed up when his team needed him the most. When Lebron plays this well and Wade’s jumper is falling more than Shane Battier flopping in the lane, the Heat are near impossible to beat. Speaking of Shane…

Nice to see you actually playing basketball and not being a pathetic excuse of a man flopping like a schoolgirl in the paint. Had it not been for Battier’s shooting it is unlikely that the Heat would have won the Larry O’brien trophy last night. Battier had 18 points off the bench, shooting 6-8 on three pointers. It seemed as if every one of Battier’s threes came at a point when the Heat were on the verge of being overtaken by San Antonio. Battier was crucial in the Heat’s victory, he even played terrific defense on Duncan on a point blank post up and subsequent put back that would have tied the game late.

Mario Chalmers added 14 points on a bad shooting night, going 6-15, but he was there for his team. Chalmers at times has been Miami’s second best player, in game seven he was their fourth best. So let’s count that down, we have Lebron, Wade, Battier, and Chalmers, hmmm, who’s missing?

Bosh did nothing in game seven. Chris “seven foot tall, 17.5 million a year” Bosh had 7 rebounds, 2 assists and ZERO points in game seven of a championship series. Bosh only played 28 minutes, a bit down from his 33 minutes per game season average, so of course you have to expect if you cut his minutes by five he will be so thrown off that it’s foolish to anticipate any scoring output from him, right? How does Bosh celebrate this championship? If the Miami Heat were a runner who won the Boston Marathon, Bosh would be the laces on the left shoe. I’m sure Miami is going to analyze and adjust their lineup this offseason, every team does, how does Bosh figure into their future plans? No one is going to trade for him, he might have the worst contract in the NBA. However, despite his horrendous play last night, Miami won it all, so there should be no rushing into quick personnel decisions. Maybe he played great defense on Duncan you may ask. Nope. Duncan had 24 points and 12 rebounds, proving one final time this season that he is indeed timeless.

It can’t be lost in the discussion of Lebron’s greatness and the Heat’s second championship in a row and third all time, just how amazing Duncan has been this season and all Playoffs long, all at the age of 37. Duncan looks like he is fully capable of playing another 3 years at a high level, he never looked old or slow and always looked unguardable in the post. Duncan’s status as an all time NBA great and potentially best power forward of all time, was never in question, but was anyone expecting Duncan to be this good? Every player in the NBA should look up to Duncan as an example of how to act, and how to play. The Spurs currently have a player on their roster that appears as if he has adopted the Duncan persona. The future is bright for Kawhi Leaonard.

Kawhi Leonard is only 21 years old and had the Spurs won the Finals, he just may have been the Finals MVP. Leonard didn’t have a single bad game in the Finals. In game seven Leonard had 19 points and 16 key rebounds and it didn’t feel like anything special, all because Kawhi has been as steady as can be throughout the Finals. Will he be a superstar, not likely, will he be a terrific NBA player for years to come, count on it. Leonard has it all, size, strength, speed, rebounding and a soft touch, with Popovich as his coach, the sky is the limit. As previously mentioned Kawhi Leonard is 21, the Spurs are made of a couple of older centerpieces and surrounded by a group of emerging young players. One of those older centerpieces is the one and only Manu Ginobili.

Manu had 18 points and 5 assists in game seven, he played well, but he never had that moment in the final game, that we have become so accustomed to seeing from him, where he struck the dagger blow and put the Spurs on top. Unlike Duncan, Ginobili’s age is starting to show, and oh the turnovers! Ginobili has always had what could be deemed a sloppy handle, he always walks the fine line between controlled chaos and just plain old chaos. Ginobili wasn’t the reason the Spurs lost, he was a solid contributor, you just have to wonder how this series would have gone had he not waited until game six to start playing well. Moving forward it’s looking more and more likely that the Spurs will soon be in the market for a scoring-first sixth man to replace Manu.

Tony Parker had 10 points and 4 assists, that’s not gonna get it done. When a championship is on the line you would hope to get at least an above average performance from your all star, MVP candidate point guard. Parker is only 30, take this off season and get healthy, come back strong and still be one of the best point guards in the NBA. In any game, a good team can absorb one bad performance by a teammate, two players is asking too much. Having a key role player and member of your starting five provide absolutely nothing can be a back breaker.

After so much discussion of Danny Green Potentially being the Finals MVP should the Spurs win it all, he came up with a mere 5 points and 5 rebounds when all the chips were down. It became clear in game six that the Heat were no longer allowing Green any space on the perimeter to shoot his lethal three point ball. He never adjusted. In game seven, whenever the Heat closed out on Green and he put the ball on the floor, bad things happened. Green was the weak link of the Spurs, when a team takes something away from you, you have to do something else. If Miami takes away your shooting, you have to focus on quickly swinging the ball and getting your teammates good looks. The Heat were waiting for Green to possess the ball, that was the moment their defense swarmed him, knowing they had forced San Antonio into a bad possession. Popovich had little choice but to leave Green in though, sometimes you have to roll the dice and hope your player plays as he is capable of. Danny Green could have gotten hot at the drop of a hat and turned the game on it’s head, unfortunately for Spurs fans, Green simply had two terrible games in a row, at the worst time.

So what can we take from these Finals?

First a cheap shot, it’s unfortunate that the league’s best team plays in Miami, a cheap shot yes but nonetheless true. The Heat have the worst fans in the NBA. They should have a series of photographs of Tim Hardaway, Rony Seikaly and Eddie Jones at every entrance, if a “fan” can not properly identify 2 out of three, they are denied access. No arena poses the suggestion of a cel phone ban quite like the American Airlines Center. If it were a true and just world, Miami would have the Bobcats as their team, who knows one day Lebron may take his talents to the Tar Heel State. Don’t hold your breath.

The Spurs are far from done and so is Tim Duncan. Whether they will be back in the Finals next year is another story. A series of events took place that lined up perfectly for San Antonio to compete for a championship this season, they have the pieces to return, but injuries to your players and other team’s players will always have an impact. Any time a Finals series goes to a game seven and is decided by just seven points, it’s safe to say that the two combatants were evenly matched and either team could have one. Let’s be honest the Spurs gave away a championship in game six, they had a title in their hands and didn’t seal the deal. You simply can not give away championship games. So rarely is it true to say the better team lost, this is one of those rare cases. The Spurs have hands down the better pieces, coach and balance, when considering the true definition of a team, they are hands down better.

But Miami has Lebron James. Miami has a transcendent player, a player who is going to go down as one of the best players to ever play basketball. The most obvious takeaway from the Finals is just how far beyond his piers Lebron is. Look around the league, who is even close to Lebron’s level? We used to think Durant was nipping at his heels, after seeing Lebron’s skills on display as he won his second championship, doesn’t that seem silly now? Doesn’t it seem like ages ago that the Pacers were so close to ending the Heat’s season? Remember when Chicago was giving Miami a “run for their money?” Sure there are teams with young, talented cores, that in the coming years will have a ton of money to spend, Golden State and Cleveland come to mind, but isn’t it becoming quite obvious that the team without Lebron has little to no chance? The Spurs represented the NBA’s best team, a true cohesive unit, and they came oh so close, but Lebron won. With Bosh’s decline, and Wade’s inconsistency are these Miami teams that much better than the Cavs were? They are, those Cavaliers teams were not good teams, they just had Lebron, but the point is even this Miami team is not a great team. When Bosh, Wade and Lebron all perform they are, but that so rarely happens. On any given night it is most likely that Lebron will excel and a few role players will step up. Shane Battier, Ray Allen, Chris Andersen, Mario Chalmers, Udonis Haslem, all are decent players, however, were these guys on the Bucks or the Bobcats, they’d be just another benchwarmer. Lebron makes everyone better, next season some of the role players will change, but the results will not, with Lebron Miami is a champion, without they may not make the Playoffs. Lebron is the best player in the NBA, there’s no mystery involved with that statement, how far behind him is the rest of the league is an inquiry with shocking, disturbing, legacy defining results.

The Miami Heat, 2013 NBA Champions.

We knew it was going to happen. Game six was an absolutely crazy contest with gigantic momentum swings, legacies written and unwritten with the speed of a Heat “fan” fleeing the American Airlines Arena, overtimes, flops, fouls and non-fouls, Matt Bonner dunking from the free throw line, it had it all. OK, one of those things may not have actually happened, but it was an exciting game and it’s only a matter of time before Bonner takes flight. The Heat and the Spurs are now staring down the barrel of game seven, will either team have anything left after Tuesday’s game? Yes they will, both teams know they can win this series, both teams will come out swinging and it will be an epic affair. All that being said, in breaking down game six, we must admit one thing first and foremost… The Spurs missed the boat.

San Antonio had this one in the bag, they were 20 seconds away from winning their fifth NBA championship but a few key mistakes let it all slip away. Miami came out in full attack mode, they had their “fans” behind them, and the Spurs withstood the early push. This is no easy task, on the road, facing Lebron, the Spurs still managed to hang tough and absorb Miami’s initial attack. How was it done? Consistent defense and composure on the offensive end. San Antonio, at no point in time, forced their game, they played within themselves and ran the streamlined game plan they are so known for. Not to mention a purely vintage performance by Tim Duncan.

In the first half Duncan was as good as he has ever been. Duncan finished with 30 points and 17 rebounds, but it was his 25 first half points that set the tone for the game. Duncan was unguardable, Miami has no one that can defend him, but last night Duncan took his post game back to his 2003 days. By the look in his eyes, it was clear to see that Duncan wanted this game, he knew from the opening tip just how large a moment it was. Duncan played with an urgency Miami was unprepared for, can the Spurs get this production from Duncan again in game seven? Most likely no, but they shouldn’t need it, however, it is still a shame that Duncan’s performance was squandered.

Tony Parker was guarded by Lebron for much of the game, this clearly rattled him. Lebron is fully capable of defending Parker and proved as much, preventing the Spurs star point guard from achieving any penetration and preventing him from ever approaching any form of a rhythm. Parker scored 19 points and dealt out 8 assists, but Lebron squashed him in the fourth, Parker did hit a huge three late in regulation time, but it really was a bit of a lucky shot. Parker is going to have to attack early and often in game seven, if he is unable to penetrate the paint the Spurs have little hope of victory.

Mr. consistency Kawhi Leonard had 22 points and 11 rebounds as he continued to be San Antonio’s most reliable player. Leonard has been an absolute rock for the Spurs, there is nothing wrong with anything he is doing, he just needs to keep it up, maybe take a few extra practice free throws though. Leonard’s defense remains at a superlative level. Speaking of defense, the Spurs received a key boost from role player Boris Diaw. Diaw did little that appears in a stat line, but his defense on Lebron was beyond clutch, the spacing he utilizes when defending Lebron is flawless. Unfortunately for San Antonio, not everyone stepped it up last night.

What is wrong with Manu Ginobili? His shot is failing him, his dribble is as suspect as ever and he has become a walking turnover. Ginobili played a lot of minutes at point guard in game six, a position that almost always results in a higher turnover ratio, but 8 turnovers is not an acceptable number. Ginobili was terrible and at times a liability for the Spurs, there were large stretches when Manu had no business being on the court. The Spurs will need Manu to play better in game seven, and he will, I mean let’s be honest, he can’t play much worse. A performance more similar to game five would not be a surprise to see from Ginobili, he won’t put up those numbers exactly, but the player he truly is should show himself one more time.

It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that San Antonio inexplicably threw the game away. Gregg Popovich is the best coach in the NBA by a lot, his personnel decisions are typically executed with surgical precision, trusting in his role players, yet never letting a game get out of hand. In game six, Popovich over thought the game. The Spurs started the fourth quarter with Parker and Duncan on the bench, and with a dreadful starting five, devoid of any scoring ability. Pop did manage to leave Ginobili out there though! The start of the fourth was the Spurs opportunity to step on the throats of the Miami Heat, instead they came out with no offensive execution with a lineup incapable of scoring. This was also the moment they chose to mistakenly switch their defensive scheme. For the first three quarters, the Spurs played magnificent defense, playing off Lebron with picture perfect spacing, preventing him from penetrating and ever possessing enough room to comfortably shoot from distance. The Heat started the fourth with a lineup featuring Lebron and four shooters, something that obviously caught Popovich’s attention. Fearing a downpour of three pointers, the Spurs then opened up the paint, defenders stayed on the perimeter defending the shooters, never helping on Lebron. A fatal flaw. Once the lane became as open as a coaching position in Denver, Lebron went to work.

Lebron was twelve minutes away from hearing innumerable questions regarding his lack of “clutchness” and countless comparison to MJ himself (hint, hint, they wouldn’t have been favorable). Lebron had maybe the quietest Finals triple double ever, he put up 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, but it was his fourth quarter play that sealed the deal for Miami. Headbandless, Lebron drove the lane with the reckless abandon of an inebriated Jason Kidd. Once San Antonio decided to defend Lebron one on one, with a clear lane, James was unstoppable.

For yet another game, Wade and Bosh did little to earn another championship, were the terrible? No. Were they difference makers? No. This championship begins and ends with Lebron James, his teammates have proven that they will not be there for him consistently. Mario Chalmers chipped in 20 points, while shooting 4-5 from three point land. Much is made of Chalmers being the Heat’s “whipping boy,” constantly being on the receiving end of barks and orders from Miami’s Big 1 and Wade and Bosh. At what point does Chalmers step back and tell the Little 2 to stuff it, he has become Miami’s second best player.

Even with San Antonio’s defensive lapses and Lebron’s fourth quarter performance, game six still came right down to the wire. The Spurs had the game in hand, once they started missing free throws, the game switched hands. Those hands were rebounding on the offensive end and kicking out to a certain three point shooting specialist, who proved once again that he can be relied upon to hit the shot despite the situation.

Clutch shooting, don’t mind if I do. Once the ball left Ray Allen’s hands, it was never in doubt. The shot seemed to take about 10 seconds to transfer from Allen’s shooting hand into the basket, but it was always going in. Ray Allen is the type of player that can miss fifty shots in a row, but will hit the game winner. He saved Miami’s season and proved himself to be worthy of the Heat’s pursuit prior to this NBA season. Would he have been the recipient of a kick out by way of an offensive rebound had Tim Duncan been in the game crashing the boards? We’ll never know, but next time Pop, put Timmy out there.

That’s it no more analysis of game six. The Spurs blew it, the Heat took it, but one side note from the game mustn’t be left unsaid! Shane Battier has become an excruciatingly pathetic sight on an NBA court. Battier is capable of hitting a spot up three and occasionally playing good defense. None of that matters. When your main focus on the court is to flop, your entire game is wiped away. Flopping is cheating and seeing it on display in the NBA Finals, so blatantly, is unacceptable. Man up and play defense, or simply get off the court. If your primary objective is to flop, you need to retire, or a flopping suspension needs to be implemented and you should be retired. Pathetic.

Now where do we stand? Right in front of game seven, duh. One game, in Miami, for all the marbles. The Spurs are capable of rebounding from mental mistakes and playing the game of their lives, the have the better all around team and more players capable of contributing. The Spurs have more moving parts, the better bench, the better coach and the depth to offensively attack Miami from all angles. The Spurs have figured out how to defend Miami, if they had chosen not to deviate from it, they would be champions today. Go back to it Spurs, do what works. Miami has Lebron though, a basketball player with his legacy on the proverbial line. Game seven’s result comes down to one thing, will Lebron take over? If Miami get’s a dominant performance from Lebron they will be tough to beat. If the Spurs play their game and defend the way they are capable of, they will be tough to beat. Game seven could go either way, you never know who could step up on the biggest stage and win it for their team. A buzzer-beating dunk from the free throw line by Matt Bonner anyone?

One game is now all that separates the San Antonio Spurs from winning a championship and the Miami Heat from a brutal off season. Don’t get too excited just yet, in all likelihood, Miami is going to win game six, forcing a crucial game seven at the American Airlines Arena in South Beach. That being said, they are staring off the proverbial elimination cliff, don’t jump Chris Andersen, Birdman is just a nickname! These Finals have now featured five games that have all been polar opposites of one another, there is little to no carry over from  the prior clash in every game. Of the numerous game-to-game changes, game five saw perhaps the most major. We finally had a Manu Ginobili sighting.

Not only was Manu seen, but his presence, much unlike the fouls that typically send Shane Battier to the floor, was felt. Ginobili scored 24 points, grabbed 2 rebounds and dished out 10 assists while playing point guard for long stretches at a time. Manu’s performance was the difference maker the Spurs needed. Miami had adjusted to not concerning themselves with the often high level Playoff performer, in game five it cost them. If Manu starts and plays big minutes all while continuing this production, the Spurs are about to win it all. Moving Tiago Splitter out of the starting lineup was a stroke of brilliance by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, Splitter has been dreadful in the Finals. Then  we have the other Spur who must have od’d on sleeping pills before the Finals, because Danny Green is unconscious.

If Danny Green is going to continue shooting threes at his current clip, another reason why the Spurs are going to win their fourth championship has just presented itself. Green grabbed 6 rebounds and scored 24 points all while continuing his blistering three point shooting, going 6-10 from behind the arc. The fact that Green set the Finals record for three’s made in a series in just five games is a testament to just how hot his shooting hand is right now. If Danny Green offers you a handshake, high five, pound, let this be your warning, he will turn your hand in to a mound of melted flesh and bone.

Duncan was solid with 17  points and 12 rebounds, and he continues to prove that there is no member of the Miami Heat that can come close to defending him in the post. I’m looking at you Chris Flop, get up and take your in-the-paint beating like a grown dinosaur. Tony Parker seemed to be feeling little pain from his pulled hamstring as he scored 26 points and dished 5 assists. Parker rediscovered his love of penetrating the lane, using his superlative dribbling prowess to carve up the Heat defense, creating layup chances and wide open jumpers by way of the kick out. Parker had no rival at point guard last night, Miami possesses no viable option at point guard when Parker is on the court and playing his game.

The Spurs also have one player that has been consistently solid in all aspects of the game, he has played excellent defense, rebounded and scored in every game he has played. Kawhi Leonard continues to impress. It would be premature to say that he has figured out how to defend Lebron James, but he’s pretty close. Leonard has simply played mistake free basketball, he isn’t going to break down on defense, if the ball is within his range, the rebound is his and he does not force his offense. Demonstrative though he may not be, Kawhi Leonard is a major reason why the Spurs are where they are.

San Antonio’s starting five did it all Sunday night, every one of them scored in double figures, executed their individual games, but also excelled together as a cohesive unit. Add in Boris Diaw’s step up defense and the Spurs played perfect team basketball in game five. Good things happen when you play as a team.

Conversely the Miami Heat played as individual pieces, never flowing all at the same time. Lebron had 25 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists, awesome stats for any other player in the league. If Miami is to win, Lebron must score in the mid thirties, the stakes are up and the defenses are tightening, this championship all falls on the shoulders of mister James. Far too often Lebron has waited to get into his attacking rhythm, requiring a punch before he punches back. Miami is a front running team, they clearly are the best one there is, but they are one none the less. When faced with adversity the Heat appear to require a brief period of time to soak in what is happening to them before they respond. Lebron should be excluded from this adjustment period, there is no player in the league that can prevent him from attacking the basket. San Antonio has played as perfect defense on him as is possible, but it is still up to him to force the issue and do what only he is capable of. If Lebron does not come out in attack mode for game six, the Heat could be playing their last game Tuesday night.

Dwayne Wade did the impossible, he played two great back to back games. Wade had 25 points, 4 rebounds and 10 assists, this is good production from Wade. Wade continues to be a nuisance to the Spurs in the paint utilizing his ability to get to the rim and finish in traffic. Dwyane Wade is doing his job to extend the Heat’s Playoff lives. Chris Bosh had 16 points, but just 6 rebounds, not nearly enough for a seven footer who is essentially Miami’s center. Since Bosh is now little more than a perimeter shooter it will obviously be difficult for him to crash the boards when he’s hanging out 20 feet from the basket. Keep shooting your shot Chris, but feel free to switch it up once in a while and actually play like a giant human being, it is what you are after all.

Ray Allen was Miami’s only real bench contributor, putting up 21 points while shooting 3-3 from behind the three point line. Were it not for Allen’s scoring, particularly in the fourth quarter, Miami never would have made their late run and we’d be discussing another huge blowout victory for the Spurs. The Boston betrayer made his presence felt, but will he be able to do it in back to back games? Probably not. The Spurs play perfect team basketball, while the Heat rely too frequently on the actions of individuals.

Miami is not as deep as San Antonio. Not that profound of a declaration. However, this is what’s giving Lebron and the other guys such fits. From game to game, at no point in time, can any member of the Miami Heat be counted on to consistently proved support to Lebron. Miami’s biggest problem is that Gregg Popovich knows this. Popovich knows that he has the better all around team, he shows this with his confidence to allow his bench to play while his stars rest, never fearing the inability to get back into any game. Where is Chris Andersen, where was Mario Chalmers, where were Shane Battier and Mike Miller? Why are any of these players being asked to realistically, consistently contribute to an NBA Finals? Not since his Cleveland days has Lebron’s teams destiny been tied so firmly to his personal performance. The ball is in your court Lebron, play the best you can, or watch the Spurs celebrate on your home court.

The pivotal pivot has been pivoted and the Finals are dead locked at two games a piece. It was a close one up until the fourth quarter, that’s when Miami’s trio finally showed up all at the same time and place. The fourth game of a series is traditionally the key point of any contest, it presents the unique opportunity to either grip a stranglehold, tie it all up, relinquish a commonly insurmountable lead, or in some cases, finish the opponent. Here they stand, two teams, facing down what is now a three game series, all to decide who is a champion and who will be facing innumerable off season questions.

Tony Parker played a great first half, as for the second half… Tony Parker played a great first half! It was clearly disclosed prior to tip off that Parker was suffering a pulled hamstring, yet he managed to grit through the pain and put up 15 points and 6 assists in just one half. After that he had just 3 more assists and zero points. A pulled hamstring is no small matter, lesser players would have sat from such an injury, but Parker played and played well initially. The problem for Parker is you can’t be fine in the first half and injured in the second. In the second half Tony Parker vanished faster than a “Witness” billboard in Cleveland circa 2010. Parker will play better in game five, he has to.

Tim Duncan showed up and did his job, putting up 20 points but just 5 rebounds, Timmy needs to crash the glass a bit more moving forward. Duncan was San Antonio’s only real contributor last night. After game three where there was such a role player explosion, we saw just how vulnerable either team can be if all things aren’t clicking. Duncan has been solid, but he desperately needs consistant help from his teammates. Despite the crab dribbler’s scoring line, Kawhi Leonard played very good defense, his job in this series is not to score, he is there to rebound and play D, thus far he has done just that. The Spurs are missing one player who has historically been instrumental in swinging momentum and providing that so dearly needed bench scoring punch.

If you see Manu Ginobili could you please return him to the Spurs ASAP. Five points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists isn’t nearly enough from Manu, he’s going to have to show up and show up soon, if not the Spurs are in big trouble. Ginobili doesn’t need to be the Spurs leading scorer, in fact they’re probably best off if he is their third leading scorer, but he has to chip in with at least double digits in points every night.

The largest, pun intended, disappointment for the Spurs has to be “Mr. Big For No Reason” himself… Tiago Splitter. You are seven feet tall Tiago. Do something. Splitter has become a walking turnover, nothing good happens when he has the ball. You can count the seconds until Splitter does something negative with the ball, and much like Kobe chasing MJ’s rings, you won’t get to six. How many times was Splitter blocked in game four? Seriously, I want to know. The NBA doesn’t keep this statistic, so based purely upon my memory I am estimating it was at least 43. It’s tough to blame Tiago though, he has long had an affinity for all things block related.

Enough Spurs talk. Game four game down to one thing, or rather three things.

Lebron James: 33 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists
Dwyane Wade: 32 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
Chris Bosh: 20 points, 13 rebounds

When Miami gets this level of production from their three best players, which they rarely do, any team has little chance of defeating them. Ray Allen chipped in with 14 points, but other than that this was a win placed squarely on the shoulders of Miami’s Medium Three. Wade was in attack mode from the opening tip, makes you wonder where he’s been the past, I don’t know 20 games? Bosh still took his jumpers, but we actually did have a number of interior Boshasaurus sightings. Lebron finally decided to stop trying to be a playmaker and get his teammates involved and simply attacked the basket at will. When Miami get’s this performance from these three players, they are unbeatable.

It’s safe to say at this point this Finals series is going seven, it’s in the air, you can just taste it (It tastes like orange Spaulding.). San Antonio is going to hold court at home in game five, Miami rarely loses back to back games, meaning they will win game six, culminating in an epic game seven in Miami. Can San Antonio win a game seven in Miami? Am I getting ahead of myself? The answer to at least one of these questions is yes. Will I be breaking down game five? The answer is a resounding yes! See you in a few days.