There is a lot of talk and most of it is hoping that this years draft will change our beloved franchise, the Phoenix Suns. Sorry but we are going to have to look further down the road (like when Carter's deal is off the books after the '11 season and when Nash retires after the '12 season)
I've heard of a few main possibilities for this draft that are actually realistic to HELP us move forward; not revitalize a concussed franchise. I'll put them in order of most possible to least possible:
Markieff Morris PF (who I think we will take, should be a solid PF in the league with great rebounding and above average D and mid-range)
Iman Shumpert PG (not very good offensively from passing to outside shooting, amazing athlete and really good D, plus a 6-6 guard)
Alec Burks (could be a great slasher for the future, decent D and mediocre shooting/ball handling)
Jordan Hamilton (think T-Mac, lots of offensive ability, bad shot selection, worse D)
Chris Singleton SF (opposite of Hamilton, amazing D but questionable offensive skills)
Jimmer Fredette (not enough lateral movement to be effective defensively at all in NBA, AMAZING shooter/shot creater)
Marcus Morris (thinks he's a SF but he plays like a PF, TWEENER, aka not good)
Kemba Walker (not going to be available, if he is available he is then a no brainer for us to draft)
Tristan Thompson (same thing as Kemba, definitely a great pick for us but won't be available at 13)
Trade Up (Suns don't have much to offer teams except some crapy contracts but even the one that makes the most "sense", Carter's doesn't make sense for us because we would have to extend him for 1 more year to make it a 1 yr $18mil contract, and take on 18 million from another team in order to move up. The Suns are looking to shed cap, which they already are doing with Carter by buying him out for $4 mil straight up, and are not looking to add cap for an extended period of time to move up in the draft; which is the only reason a team would trade us their pick...to free up cap)
REMINDER: that is an order that I alone have come up with by doing what research I can online from chats with various Arizona Professional sports writers to national Mock Drafts and my favorite; my knowledge gained from actually watching a ton of college basketball. Ultimately I came to that order through need, talent, and who will be available around our pick. Also this probably means they will take somebody who isn't even on this list and that statement just comes from my experience of knowing how utterly unpredictable the draft really is.
Ok now that I got the part that I dislike out of the way for YOU (predictions in the draft); I want to do something for both of us, get real.
If you're a Suns fan you want them to be competitive as badly as I do. If that's going to happen we probably need to be bad for another 2 years, get a couple more solid lottery picks, make some good draft choices and use our cap space wisely in free agency (thank god Sarver and Gentry are not in charge of this anymore, no more Childress/Warrick signings sightings). Blanks and Babby have created a salary that will be flexible in the 2011 season losing Carter's 18 mil/yr and VERY flexible in the '12 season when Nash's 12 mil/yr, Pietrus' $5 mil/yr, and Hill's $3 mil/yr contracts expire = a minimum of $38 million opened up between '11-'12 seasons, and you can probably tack on another $3 mil/yr by Brooks' contract expiring; but for arguments sake lets make things "difficult" on ourselves and say we "only" have $35 mil/yr to spend because Sarver is "cheap".
We have our SF position for now in guys like Childress and Dudley, and even SF/PF combo guys Frye and Warrick through '12. We also have Gortat locked up past the '12 season. I believe that SF's and SG's are the easiest position to draft/sign in free agency so come the '12 season (the year Nash's deal is done and in my opinion will retire) we will have two main focuses that will be tough to address, PF and PG.
In order to address those needs the easiest most reliable way is to sign free agents. I believe we will figure out better options at SG/SF through the draft.
PF's that are either Unrestricted (can come and go as they please) or restricted (team they were with in '10 has option to match any deal offered to that player) that are available in '11, when we will have a lot of money to spend from dropping Carter's deal. (I only put down ones that I would WANT on the team and I think are good options, not Hilton Armstrong types)
'11 U = Unrestricted R = Restricted
Glen Davis (U)
Jeff Green (R) (I know hardly a PF, very good defensively, if he can add some weight, no prob)
Nene (Player Option to terminate contract in '11)
Chuck Hayes (U)
Marc Gasol (R) (more of a Center but I like him so much I put him on here)
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (R)
Carl Landry (U)
David West (Player Option to terminate contract in '11)
Spencer Hawes (R)
Greg Oden (R, tell me he isn't worth a really cheap and I mean CHEAP contract?)
Yi Jianlia (U)
There is some good talent there, my favorites, that would also be affordable ($3-$9 mil/per of our $35 mil/per) would be Hayes, Mbah a Moute, and Landry. They all have proven they can play D, rebound, and finish around the rim (a Moute not so much but is the best defender on that list). If you want to go out and spend some money for this position, say around $10 mil/per, Green and David West would be in that territory in my opinion. Green gives you youth but is a little undersized and West is just gettin old and has had some injuries recently so is probably higher risk higher reward.
Nene would be the guy I would want us to go out and get, he is a BEAST in the paint and is very aggressive going to the rack and on the glass; great compliment to Gortat. The only thing is that Nene has proven this to the rest of the league and will probably run you from $15-$18 mil/per depending on the market he could even get around $20 if somebody is crazy enough.
So lets just be optimistic and say we get Nene in '11, still don't make the playoffs and get another option at either SF/SG to test for the future. Then we move into the '12 season NEEDING a PG to take over for Nashty (damn that will be a sad day of great memories).
'12 PG's that are either R or U free agents.
Derrick Rose (R) (not gonna happen, he ain't leavin chicago unless the team is blown up, literally EXPLODED by a BOMB)
Raymond Felton (U)
Randy Foye (U)
Deron Williams (Player option in '12)
Chris Paul (Player Option in '12)
Chauncey Billups (U)
So at this point the Suns would be, hopefully, looking at a line-up of Nash (gone at this point), a SG of either Dudley or the Draft, young player from the Draft, PF Nene, C Gortat. You add in D-Will or Chris Paul, you're talking about a pretty solid damn restart to this franchise in 3 players, one of those two PG's, Nene, and Gortat. Then if you happen to stumble across a STUD at either SG or SF, you can go less expensive and more realistic in Felton, Foye, or Billups to come in and run the offense and play D. Just like writing this article it's not going to be easy, but, it is possible. Look for the Suns to be back in the top 4 spots in the West come the 2013 season due to solid drafts by Babby and Banks, and quality guys picked up in free agency at the PF and PG positions. In wrap up we could give $15 mil/yr to Nene give or take a few mil and then sign D-Will or CP3 for around $20 mil/yr give or take a few mil depending on the Nene deal in '11; and that would be the best way to transform this franchise into one of the best teams in the NBA by the end of the 2013 season. We could also sing somebody like Chuck Hayes for a few mil a yr and if the draft hasn't been kind to us figure out a deal for a very good SG/SF for around $10-$15 mil/yr to make up for bad draft selections and still role with a team that has either D-Will or CP3, a very solid SG or SF, Dudley, Hayes, Gortat with Childress and Warrick coming off the bench.
Theres a lot of what ifs in here, but ultimately we can be a very competitive team again...but it's not going to be within the next couple years. If I'm wrong GREAT! That means we are better that I expected, quicker than I expected.
6/23/2011
2/21/2011
Carmelo Deal = Suns Make the Playoffs
The Phoenix Suns are battling to make the playoffs again. Last year it took an incredible second half of the season in order to get in. It's time to turn it on again...this year though, we are getting some help. Utah is playing poor basketball since before Sloan retired. I'm not sure how this whole Tyron Corbin thing will work out; but I don't like a veteran, system oriented coach like Sloan leaving mid-season (3-7 L10, Lost last 4).
New Orleans is also struggling. Their struggles, as crazy as this may seem, are due to the absence of Emekah Okafor. They are 2-7 in the games he has missed. N.O. just doesn't have a lot of presence inside with Tyson Chandler's services over in Dallas. Without Okafor they have been trying to work with guys like Aaron Gray out of Pitt. or Perennial new Teamer Joe Smith...so basically nothing.
Now...the Denver Nuggets ship off their favorite two players for...well the future. I'm not going to bash you over the head with Melo speculation, but I might with SUNS SPECULATION! Ok I already have been. Denver is already 4-6 with Melo...I believe they will be worse after this trade for the remainder of the season, I know, shocking! I'm telling you what you already know in order to make my point the more obvious. The Suns are MAKING THE PLAYOFFS! If not because they have started to become a better defensive and rebounding team (referenced after the Gortat Trade on this blog); well then because the other teams are heading the wrong direction.
New Orleans is also struggling. Their struggles, as crazy as this may seem, are due to the absence of Emekah Okafor. They are 2-7 in the games he has missed. N.O. just doesn't have a lot of presence inside with Tyson Chandler's services over in Dallas. Without Okafor they have been trying to work with guys like Aaron Gray out of Pitt. or Perennial new Teamer Joe Smith...so basically nothing.
Now...the Denver Nuggets ship off their favorite two players for...well the future. I'm not going to bash you over the head with Melo speculation, but I might with SUNS SPECULATION! Ok I already have been. Denver is already 4-6 with Melo...I believe they will be worse after this trade for the remainder of the season, I know, shocking! I'm telling you what you already know in order to make my point the more obvious. The Suns are MAKING THE PLAYOFFS! If not because they have started to become a better defensive and rebounding team (referenced after the Gortat Trade on this blog); well then because the other teams are heading the wrong direction.
2/13/2011
Carmelo Anthony Rant: Strength...or Weakness...
Check out the new podcast, its a short but sweet rant on the Carmelo Anthony rumblings. http://neilruby1.podbean.com
1/08/2011
NFL Playoff Overtime Rule Changes
There is an opportunity to do something crazy...insane even, in this years playoffs. The NFL has instituted a new playoff overtime rule change this year. (A copy of the 2010 NFL Rule Book is linked in the title) If a game goes into OT and...
1. Team A receives the ball and scores a TD, the game is over.
2. Team A receives the ball and gives up a safety, Team B wins.
3. Team A gets the ball and scores a FG, Team B has a chance to obtain possession. If they score a FG, they kick off to Team A, and it's sudden death from there on out. If they score a TD they win outright. If they don't score for whatever reason...it's game over; and this is where we might see something crazy happen. It would take the Sean Payton Effect to the next level. Here's the rule, let's see if you can figure out what I'm hinting at here.
[Page 113, Rule 16, Section 1, Article 4-g) "The opportunity to possess applies only during kicking plays. A kickoff is the opportunity to possess for the receiving team. If the kicking team legally recovers the kick, the receiving team is considered to have had its opportunity..."
I know it's a bunch of freakin jargon but I kinda like this crap. SO, finally, what I'm getting at here is that if Team A kicks that field goal and comes out, kicks an onside kick and recovers...the game is over! Team B can't do jack because that was their chance at a possession and they screwed it up. So you could see somebody come out and kick an onside in order to win a playoff game in OT; I'm not saying I'm for that, quite the opposite...but I was reading up on the new rule change and this stumbled in my brain so I figured I'd drop some knowledge on ya!
I'd like to end this post by saying, NFL, just admit it, NCAAF is doing it better. Give each team the ball at the 40 instead of the 25 and let it ride baby! College OT scoring rules straight up from there on out! Who wouldn't want to see Brady vs. Manning go into 6 OT's with 100 td's!?!
1. Team A receives the ball and scores a TD, the game is over.
2. Team A receives the ball and gives up a safety, Team B wins.
3. Team A gets the ball and scores a FG, Team B has a chance to obtain possession. If they score a FG, they kick off to Team A, and it's sudden death from there on out. If they score a TD they win outright. If they don't score for whatever reason...it's game over; and this is where we might see something crazy happen. It would take the Sean Payton Effect to the next level. Here's the rule, let's see if you can figure out what I'm hinting at here.
[Page 113, Rule 16, Section 1, Article 4-g) "The opportunity to possess applies only during kicking plays. A kickoff is the opportunity to possess for the receiving team. If the kicking team legally recovers the kick, the receiving team is considered to have had its opportunity..."
I know it's a bunch of freakin jargon but I kinda like this crap. SO, finally, what I'm getting at here is that if Team A kicks that field goal and comes out, kicks an onside kick and recovers...the game is over! Team B can't do jack because that was their chance at a possession and they screwed it up. So you could see somebody come out and kick an onside in order to win a playoff game in OT; I'm not saying I'm for that, quite the opposite...but I was reading up on the new rule change and this stumbled in my brain so I figured I'd drop some knowledge on ya!
I'd like to end this post by saying, NFL, just admit it, NCAAF is doing it better. Give each team the ball at the 40 instead of the 25 and let it ride baby! College OT scoring rules straight up from there on out! Who wouldn't want to see Brady vs. Manning go into 6 OT's with 100 td's!?!
1/04/2011
You Have to Be Down By A lot to Make a Great Comeback!
Me- So i just got home from softball.
Lauren Picicci- How was it?
Me- We played this team we HATE the last game. We were down 15-1 after the 2nd inning (16-1 is getting skunked)
Lauren Picicci- Wow. Thats no bueno!
Me- So we were 1 run away from being skunked in the 2nd inning which is embarrassing.
Our only run, ironically, was a homerun hit DEEP to center.
Two innings went by and we were down by about 12
We started to rally...
We went into the bottom of the last inning down by 8
First 5 guys score
Lauren Picicci- And???
Me- Down 3...single, single.
Lauren Picicci- Shit!!!
Me- 2 men on
nobody out
down 3
Ruby J at the plate
Lauren Picicci- OMG!!
Me- I'm 1-6 on the night
Lauren Picicci- Ruby J!
Me- Worst offensive night of the year.
Lauren Picicci- Dont tell me...
Me- First pitch...SMACK!!! To the left field gap...two run triple hit off the fence in left center.
Then my buddy Nile smacked a shot deep to center and there was going to be a play at the plate. I scored as I watched Niles race around the track; I yelled, "GET DOWN!" Tonight get down meant jam your leg into the clay like surface we were playing on. He did, and awkwardly as it was, he crossed that damn plate right before he got tagged, the Ump called him safe...and we went crazy!
Lauren Picicci- Omg u guys are the fucking comeback kings!
Me- best comeback Ive ever seen in softball.
Lauren Picicci- I wish I was there!
Me- That team HATES us!
Lauren Picicci- I would have been yelling my face off
Me- and we HATE them!
Lauren Picicci- And they hate u even more now!
Me- Hell yea!
Lauren Picicci- How was it?
Me- We played this team we HATE the last game. We were down 15-1 after the 2nd inning (16-1 is getting skunked)
Lauren Picicci- Wow. Thats no bueno!
Me- So we were 1 run away from being skunked in the 2nd inning which is embarrassing.
Our only run, ironically, was a homerun hit DEEP to center.
Two innings went by and we were down by about 12
We started to rally...
We went into the bottom of the last inning down by 8
First 5 guys score
Lauren Picicci- And???
Me- Down 3...single, single.
Lauren Picicci- Shit!!!
Me- 2 men on
nobody out
down 3
Ruby J at the plate
Lauren Picicci- OMG!!
Me- I'm 1-6 on the night
Lauren Picicci- Ruby J!
Me- Worst offensive night of the year.
Lauren Picicci- Dont tell me...
Me- First pitch...SMACK!!! To the left field gap...two run triple hit off the fence in left center.
Then my buddy Nile smacked a shot deep to center and there was going to be a play at the plate. I scored as I watched Niles race around the track; I yelled, "GET DOWN!" Tonight get down meant jam your leg into the clay like surface we were playing on. He did, and awkwardly as it was, he crossed that damn plate right before he got tagged, the Ump called him safe...and we went crazy!
Lauren Picicci- Omg u guys are the fucking comeback kings!
Me- best comeback Ive ever seen in softball.
Lauren Picicci- I wish I was there!
Me- That team HATES us!
Lauren Picicci- I would have been yelling my face off
Me- and we HATE them!
Lauren Picicci- And they hate u even more now!
Me- Hell yea!
12/19/2010
One More Step Forward: The Phoenix Suns Trade
Whenever a trade goes down I always try to think of what the teams are trying to do; and more importantly, who is better off in the future. One of the main things that helps me decide what's best for the future, is the contracts. So, here is a breakdown of contract information for the teams. Orlando sends: Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat, Mickael Pietrus, this years first round pick, and cash to Phoenix for Turkadon't, J-Rich (great guy, gonna be missed), and Earl Clark. All the contract information that is provided in here is located at hoopshype.com. Vince Carter is getting paid almost the same as Jason Richardson ($14 mil. expiring this year) at $17 mil. this year. The Suns have a team option for next year with Carter where only $4 or $5 mil. is guaranteed. Gortat is making about $7 mil. through the year 2013. Pietrus is making $5.3 mil. for this year and has a player option for the same amount next year. The Suns got rid of Turkoglu's terrible contract making about $11 mil. with a player option for $12.5 mil. in the 2013 season. Earl Clark is a team option after this year and a likely cut, and J-Rich's $14 mil.
I'm gonna try something new and go over the press conference with Lon Babby and Lance Blanks while you listen to it (or you can just use it as a summary) to break down the implications from the recent Suns Trade. You can just click the name of this blog at the top of this post, and that will take you to the press conference with GM Lance Blanks and Lon Babby President of Basketball Operations.
It is a beautiful day in the Valley of the Suns for more than just the weather, but the climate too. The climate of a team that has changed dramatically with a series of solid moves. It started by brining these guys in, Babby and Blanks to take control away from Sarver and Gentry (mostly); you guys own and coach the team...let them run it.
Babby seems to see something in Vince Carter's perimeter D that I've never really seen saying he and Pietrus will, "give us great defense on the perimeter."
I like that Babby isn't shy to say, "I think we all recognize we had a need here for an increased interior presence in size and rebounding; and Gortat is someone we have had our eye on since we got here. I know (he) is well sought after by many teams in the league." AMEN! When Orlando, who has the most valuable Center in the League, matches a $7 mil/yr deal to keep you as a backup instead of starting in Dallas (who has to be pissed right now) you must be something special. Babby and Blanks are on the same page, that's why they came together, they wanted to work together on deals like this.
The Suns haven't been great in the first 20 games of the year, but these two know that and are working in order to move forward efficiently. They said they were going to be patient in evaluating talent and they echoed those sentiments in this press conference. The question was asked, "Have you sacrificed some offense here?" Babby started by saying, "It's hard to say you won't miss Jason Richardson." Blanks jumps in, to answer the question a little more precisely, "Offensively what we've found here in the 20+ games (that) we've evaluated the roster. Steve does a great job, still, of penetrating and drawing in defense's, creating lanes, and opportunities scoring wise. We feel like Marcin (Mar-seen) has great hands and will be able to finish around the rim and that's something that we've been challenged (in). Offensively we think we will be able to get easier baskets, Steve will have a big he can dump the ball off to...it doesn't look like we will be giving up a lot offensively."
Wow, Babby is being NICE to Sarver calling Turkoglu a, "nobel experiment!" I guess I agree though, it just was way off; keep in mind that Sarver and Gentry made that move...not these guys.He continues to talk about adjusting and changing the mold of the team on a continuous basis in order to improve.
Blanks, "We owe it to the fans...to do the best we can the be the best we can at every opportunity." Ok, you guys definitely know how to control the soft AZ media...I'm digging this press conference almost as much as the trade. "We evaluate this team in the short term and long term."
Lance was asked to talk about Gortat's role on the team. He talks about the, "double edge sword," this can be because he is in the front office and those decisions are made by the coaching staff. "He has been competing against Dwight Howard...wants more responsibility...has been competing for a world championship." Ok, that's a good start...tell me more about this big dude (6-11 240) from Poland. "He can run...pick and roll...he's not shy...he likes doing the dirty work...he is ECSTATIC to be here and we are as-well." OK. The Magic and the whole league seem to like this guy, I'm really happy because it looks like Ro-Lo is an ok back-up at this point in his career. Babby, "the first good sign this was a good trade is that our phone hasn't stopped ringing with people trying to get Gortat from us. That's always a good sign."
"They probably won't play until Thursday due to physicals," said Babby. Apparently VC and G-Hill get together really well; that's nice because VC can be a head-case but Grant will be there to ease any pains.
I hate dumb questions that provoke cliche answers, this is a great example of how Babby will challenge our media. When asked if this trade has any implications as to wether or not Steve Nash will get traded this season, Babby responds, "You know. That's an impossible question to answer, because no matter what I say it's going to interpreted in a fashion that is going to be misunderstood. So I'm going to answer that by saying Steve Nash is the Sun and the Moon and the Stars of this franchise and we appreciate that and we understand that. And if that doesn't convey the message then I have failed to convey the message of his importance to this franchise." TAKE THAT! I also like that he didn't say no...you notice that? Good Job, that's all we really needed to know...anything is possible but he is the franchise right now.
Babby, "I'm happy to say publicly with all these cameras here that I've got a great partner; and it's a joy to work with the group we've put together here." It's nice to have two guys running the front office that are completely on the same page and enjoying their jobs.
Alright boys. Sounds like a PLAN! Let's go forward.
This trade satisfies both elements of future and present. We have the opportunity to be much better this year with the addition of Pietrus' defense, he and Carter should fit in great on offense, and having Gortat as a legitimate starting Center should really help out Nash. It also helps our team be more flexible in the future, we dump a long contract for Turkoglu to take on Carter's deal next year ($4-5 mil guaranteed) and depending on how Pietrus plays here, he will take his $5 mil option next year if he plays poorly (doubtful), or he will seek an extension or look for a new long-term deal. The only thing we are committing money to is Gortat, and he is at a great rate for the role he is expected to come here and play. So in a few years we will have freed up around $35 million between Amare's contract, Turkoglu's contract, and (now) Carter's contract. That also includes the deals we have given to other players to stay on the team. This to me is the best thing to come out from this deal. Even if Blanks and Babby are wrong (and a lost of the NBA) and Gortat sucks and the other guys end up leaving, we will have nothing but cap space to work with in order to rebuild our loved team for another great decade.
All information and quotes/press conference thanks to:
www.nba.com/suns
www.nba.com/magic
www.hoopshype.com
I'm gonna try something new and go over the press conference with Lon Babby and Lance Blanks while you listen to it (or you can just use it as a summary) to break down the implications from the recent Suns Trade. You can just click the name of this blog at the top of this post, and that will take you to the press conference with GM Lance Blanks and Lon Babby President of Basketball Operations.
It is a beautiful day in the Valley of the Suns for more than just the weather, but the climate too. The climate of a team that has changed dramatically with a series of solid moves. It started by brining these guys in, Babby and Blanks to take control away from Sarver and Gentry (mostly); you guys own and coach the team...let them run it.
Babby seems to see something in Vince Carter's perimeter D that I've never really seen saying he and Pietrus will, "give us great defense on the perimeter."
I like that Babby isn't shy to say, "I think we all recognize we had a need here for an increased interior presence in size and rebounding; and Gortat is someone we have had our eye on since we got here. I know (he) is well sought after by many teams in the league." AMEN! When Orlando, who has the most valuable Center in the League, matches a $7 mil/yr deal to keep you as a backup instead of starting in Dallas (who has to be pissed right now) you must be something special. Babby and Blanks are on the same page, that's why they came together, they wanted to work together on deals like this.
The Suns haven't been great in the first 20 games of the year, but these two know that and are working in order to move forward efficiently. They said they were going to be patient in evaluating talent and they echoed those sentiments in this press conference. The question was asked, "Have you sacrificed some offense here?" Babby started by saying, "It's hard to say you won't miss Jason Richardson." Blanks jumps in, to answer the question a little more precisely, "Offensively what we've found here in the 20+ games (that) we've evaluated the roster. Steve does a great job, still, of penetrating and drawing in defense's, creating lanes, and opportunities scoring wise. We feel like Marcin (Mar-seen) has great hands and will be able to finish around the rim and that's something that we've been challenged (in). Offensively we think we will be able to get easier baskets, Steve will have a big he can dump the ball off to...it doesn't look like we will be giving up a lot offensively."
Wow, Babby is being NICE to Sarver calling Turkoglu a, "nobel experiment!" I guess I agree though, it just was way off; keep in mind that Sarver and Gentry made that move...not these guys.He continues to talk about adjusting and changing the mold of the team on a continuous basis in order to improve.
Blanks, "We owe it to the fans...to do the best we can the be the best we can at every opportunity." Ok, you guys definitely know how to control the soft AZ media...I'm digging this press conference almost as much as the trade. "We evaluate this team in the short term and long term."
Lance was asked to talk about Gortat's role on the team. He talks about the, "double edge sword," this can be because he is in the front office and those decisions are made by the coaching staff. "He has been competing against Dwight Howard...wants more responsibility...has been competing for a world championship." Ok, that's a good start...tell me more about this big dude (6-11 240) from Poland. "He can run...pick and roll...he's not shy...he likes doing the dirty work...he is ECSTATIC to be here and we are as-well." OK. The Magic and the whole league seem to like this guy, I'm really happy because it looks like Ro-Lo is an ok back-up at this point in his career. Babby, "the first good sign this was a good trade is that our phone hasn't stopped ringing with people trying to get Gortat from us. That's always a good sign."
"They probably won't play until Thursday due to physicals," said Babby. Apparently VC and G-Hill get together really well; that's nice because VC can be a head-case but Grant will be there to ease any pains.
I hate dumb questions that provoke cliche answers, this is a great example of how Babby will challenge our media. When asked if this trade has any implications as to wether or not Steve Nash will get traded this season, Babby responds, "You know. That's an impossible question to answer, because no matter what I say it's going to interpreted in a fashion that is going to be misunderstood. So I'm going to answer that by saying Steve Nash is the Sun and the Moon and the Stars of this franchise and we appreciate that and we understand that. And if that doesn't convey the message then I have failed to convey the message of his importance to this franchise." TAKE THAT! I also like that he didn't say no...you notice that? Good Job, that's all we really needed to know...anything is possible but he is the franchise right now.
Babby, "I'm happy to say publicly with all these cameras here that I've got a great partner; and it's a joy to work with the group we've put together here." It's nice to have two guys running the front office that are completely on the same page and enjoying their jobs.
Alright boys. Sounds like a PLAN! Let's go forward.
This trade satisfies both elements of future and present. We have the opportunity to be much better this year with the addition of Pietrus' defense, he and Carter should fit in great on offense, and having Gortat as a legitimate starting Center should really help out Nash. It also helps our team be more flexible in the future, we dump a long contract for Turkoglu to take on Carter's deal next year ($4-5 mil guaranteed) and depending on how Pietrus plays here, he will take his $5 mil option next year if he plays poorly (doubtful), or he will seek an extension or look for a new long-term deal. The only thing we are committing money to is Gortat, and he is at a great rate for the role he is expected to come here and play. So in a few years we will have freed up around $35 million between Amare's contract, Turkoglu's contract, and (now) Carter's contract. That also includes the deals we have given to other players to stay on the team. This to me is the best thing to come out from this deal. Even if Blanks and Babby are wrong (and a lost of the NBA) and Gortat sucks and the other guys end up leaving, we will have nothing but cap space to work with in order to rebuild our loved team for another great decade.
All information and quotes/press conference thanks to:
www.nba.com/suns
www.nba.com/magic
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12/14/2010
The Breaking of an Old Strategy
You just punted and you're down 8 with 3:41 to go. The opponent is at mid-field and you have 3 timeout's left. Do you call them before the 2 minute warning, or do you let 'em ride until after the 2 minute warning is over? That's the question I was asking myself all day long, for no good reason. That scenario is what happened in Houston last night vs. Baltimore, but they only had 1 timeout left. As I was watching the game, I started up the conversation with a couple of buddies and this is what we got out of it. Traditionally, teams use their TO's after the 2 minute warning so you basically lineup 4 straight TO opportunities (2 in Houston's case) if need be. I kept asking myself why a team would do that, instead of using them before the 2 minute warning. My friend Jeff said, "It's because if you don't stop them after the 2 minute warning, and you used your timeouts, the game is over," and that's the truth, the team could just take Victory Formation, and walk off the field. But, as we all know, sports are crazy, they aren't perfect, things DONT WORK OUT! It's a game mostly decided by humans = error. Teams make mistakes every second of every game, I wanna bank on that. This why in the next few years we are going to see teams shift to this outlook on the TO scenario, just like Houston did this Monday Night.
You call the TO's before the 2 minute warning because that gives you the most possible clock time with the ball in your hands; which in turn gives you control of the clock (killing it with passing plays/spikes). When you're on D, the other team is controlling what is going on with the clock (running the ball to burn it up), and you don't want that to be within 2 minutes. So if you call the TO's before the 2 minute warning, and you stop them before the 2 minute warning, you basically give yourself a free offensive TO, instead of watching the other team run down the clock to 1:58.
Houston only had 1 TO but it is still a great example of how much game time you can create for yourself by this different strategy (with 3 TO's you could create even more game time). It was 2-6 with 3:03 left, Houston only has 1 TO left, Baltimore ball, 4 yd run, 3-2 2:58, TO Houston. So, what does Baltimore do? Run the ball so that way they can kill most of the clock and possibly burn up the 2 minute warning on the punt? NOPE! They throw it trying to win the game right there, and Houston gets the stop! So now instead of being to within 2 minutes with no TO's left, they have the ball with 2:42 seconds on their own 5, good thing they saved those :42 seconds because they scored with only :21 left, and got the 2pt conversion to tie it. Houston had great clock management, and once they got the ball in their hands; they ran off 12 plays out of Shotgun with Schaub in 2:21 and even got an extra TO from Baltimore!
Like most things in life, it's still a contextual answer, it depends on what's going on in the moment. If the opponent you're facing is running the ball really well on you late, you probably want to wait until after the 2 minute warning...assuming your team won't get the stop like Houston; and you will need those TO's to try to get the ball back after the 2 minute warning. Right now, the status quo is to call your TO's after the 2 minute warning. Games like this will prove that calling your TO's before the 2 minute warning is your best bet.
You call the TO's before the 2 minute warning because that gives you the most possible clock time with the ball in your hands; which in turn gives you control of the clock (killing it with passing plays/spikes). When you're on D, the other team is controlling what is going on with the clock (running the ball to burn it up), and you don't want that to be within 2 minutes. So if you call the TO's before the 2 minute warning, and you stop them before the 2 minute warning, you basically give yourself a free offensive TO, instead of watching the other team run down the clock to 1:58.
Houston only had 1 TO but it is still a great example of how much game time you can create for yourself by this different strategy (with 3 TO's you could create even more game time). It was 2-6 with 3:03 left, Houston only has 1 TO left, Baltimore ball, 4 yd run, 3-2 2:58, TO Houston. So, what does Baltimore do? Run the ball so that way they can kill most of the clock and possibly burn up the 2 minute warning on the punt? NOPE! They throw it trying to win the game right there, and Houston gets the stop! So now instead of being to within 2 minutes with no TO's left, they have the ball with 2:42 seconds on their own 5, good thing they saved those :42 seconds because they scored with only :21 left, and got the 2pt conversion to tie it. Houston had great clock management, and once they got the ball in their hands; they ran off 12 plays out of Shotgun with Schaub in 2:21 and even got an extra TO from Baltimore!
Like most things in life, it's still a contextual answer, it depends on what's going on in the moment. If the opponent you're facing is running the ball really well on you late, you probably want to wait until after the 2 minute warning...assuming your team won't get the stop like Houston; and you will need those TO's to try to get the ball back after the 2 minute warning. Right now, the status quo is to call your TO's after the 2 minute warning. Games like this will prove that calling your TO's before the 2 minute warning is your best bet.
10/26/2010
Phoenix Suns Season Preview
Transactions- Players (that matter)
Grant Hill- accepts his one-year player option worth about $3 mil.
Amar’e Stoudemire- opts out of final year, signs $100 mil / 5yrs. for the Knicks.
Channing Frye- signs $30 mil / 5 yrs.
Hakim Warrick- signs $18 mil / 4yrs.
Josh Childress- Acquired for a ’12 2nd round pick. Signed 5yr / $35 mil.
Hedo Turkoglu- Acquired from Toronto for Barbosa and Dwayne Jones
Dwayne Jones- Tried out for team during training camp and was cut.
Gani Lawal- Drafted 46th overall
Matt Janning- signed muli-year deal (details not yet released)
Garret Siler- Signs contract (details not yet released)
Robin Lopez- Team exercised option for 4th season (next year).
Front Office Moves
Named former Cavs. Ast. GM Lance Blanks General Manager.
Named former Agent Lon Babby President of Basketball Operations
What do these transactions mean in the Big Picture?
The biggest problem the Phoenix Suns have had over the last few years has been poor contract decisions by the front office (Diaw, Barbosa, Bell, Frye?). Babby doesn’t have any experience as a President of Basketball Operations; but what he lacks in experience in that field he makes up for with his experience as a long-time multi-sport agent. The guy should undoubtedly give us the upper hand in any future negotiations (too bad he got here after Sarver and Gentry blew all the money we saved with Amar’e leaving on Warrick, Frye, Turkoglu, and Childress). Did he bring on a friend of his to work with him as the GM, yes he did, is that a little bit nerve racking as a fan? Oh yea. But, the fact of the matter is that nowadays GM’s and team Presidents need to work so closely together, this might actually end up benefiting us. We know we won’t see any big time disagreement from the get go, and we know they are both on the same page as to the future of the franchise. I’ll take that certainty over the uncertainty of whether they will hold each other accountable when mistakes are made.
The roster moves made in the off-season were a lot of sweet, and of course, a little bit of sour. But you know what they say, “the sweet ain’t so sweet without the sour!” (Right Clippers Fans!?!) Let’s get the elephant right on out of the room and talk Amar’e. The guy is a physical freak of nature, he’s the best scoring big man in the game, he has an amazing outside J for a guy who’s 6’11”; and I’m glad he’s not coming back. The guy just doesn’t understand the subtleties of the game, like defense. I see Amar’e get more fouls by slapping at the ball because he didn’t move his feet more than any other big man in the league. His rebounding “efforts” are nothing more than he gets the ones that are right to him, and his adversary gets the rest. He has no clue how to clog the lane on defense. The thing that worried me the most though, is that he had been bad at all those things from DAY ONE! He has shown MARGINAL improvement in these areas and has shown a minimal decline in his offensive prowess since his last eye surgery. Is Amar’e a very good PF in the NBA, yes, is he worth $20 mil. a year? No. You have to play both sides of the ball to be worth that much…oh yea, and to win a title! I don’t know about you, but with Amar’e playing D and boxing out the West’s big men, I don’t see us ever winning a title.
On to the NEXT ONE! Now unfortunately all that $20 mil. we saved…we went and spent $6 mil of it on Channing Frye. I like Channing’s shooting ability and how it will create mis-matches; but I feel he is only a slight improvement over Amar’e when it comes to his defense and boxing out. I was hoping we would resign him to a deal worth about half as much per year and I thought that would be pretty solid (it’s how much we are paying Grant!). I think this one could come back to hurt us, and hopefully will have been Sarver’s LAST roster decision for this team (let’s all say a prayer real quick).
It’s really nice to have G-Hill back on the squad for his all around solid play and more importantly he is a leader of men; both on and off the court. He conducts himself in a way that if you had 12 G-Hill’s on your side, you’re doing BIG things just on pure chemistry. He is a epitome of this idea, “If I can have a team of all guys that have a 10 in physical skills and a 6 in character, or a team of all guys that have a 6 in physical skills and a 10 in character…I’ll take the character guys everytime.” Let’s all say another little prayer here that Hill stays as healthy as he has been. (Our trainers kick some serious butt! Nice job Aaron Nelson!)
Hakim Warrick seemed to be another desperation move by Sarver and Gentry in the wake of Stoudemire leaving. I like Warrick, but I don’t think we should have given him 4 yrs. on his deal. If we are still relying on Warrick as a role player 4 yrs. down the road, I’m gonna be worried. I think he will fit in well here because he is a good slasher and plays similar to Marion on offense; but again he doesn’t really help us guard the Western Conferences big men.
We brought Josh Childress back over from the Euro Leagues and were required to compensate Atlanta with a 2nd round pick and gave him a deal worth about $7 mil. yr. This might end up being a little bit steep for a player like Childress but we will look back on this and be happy about it. The guy knows how to play efficiently, with Childress, Hill, and Dudley we have by far the smartest group of swingmen in the NBA. They all score and play efficiently. Childress will play exactly like Grant and Dudley did last year but will add a little more athleticism and potential into the equation. He can knock down the corner three with his weird release, and he knows how to finish both in the half-court and in transition.
The Big ? = Hedo, What Hedo, When Hedo it. This guys a classic freakin head case. You make him happy, he’ll play well, you piss him off, he won’t. When he was in Orlando and he was the man on campus (offensively); he puts his best foot forward and was up for East Conference MVP. He leaves and enters a situation where he is more of a role player in Toronto and he checks out. He had his worst season out of the last 5 last year with Toronto and he just seemed pissed off the entire time. Well Phoenix is a pretty damn fun team to play for, and we definitely need him to be the man on offense with Nashty. So we will see the Hedo more from Orlando than from Toronto. I’m really excited to see him and Nash run the pick n’ pop because Turkoglu has great ball handling skills and knows how to create his own shot, a nice little pick play with Nash will just make it all the easier for him to get into the lane or to settle for an open outside J.
Well this is already it for Lopez, right here, right now. Yes we already guaranteed we will keep him till next season but this is the year where we see who he is really going to be in the NBA. Will he be a role-playing big man like Varejao or will he be a big time big man asset like Noah? I’m saying the second option. The guy has a desire and grit about him that really surprised me right out of Stanford in his rookie season. Last year we saw how well he played at the end of the season and in the playoffs. He knows how to do all the things a big man should know how to do (didn’t learn it from Amar’e!). He boxes out very well, he gets boards he had no right getting at, he fills up the lane very well with long arms and quick footwork. He plays DEFENSE! He plays like a traditional big man with offensive moves that might not be fancy but should net him a +60% FG. If he doesn’t average 17-10-2, I’ll be disappointed.
We won’t see much of Lawal or Janning but I have a sneaking suspicion that we will see Siller. While both Lawal and Janning are works in progress, Siller seems ready to play a small role for the Suns immediately. The guy is 6’10” 300 lbs. C from a small division 2 college. I didn’t think he would make it on the roster but the fact that he did over Dwayne Jones who had a serious leg up on him going into camp, speaks volumes about how the coaching staff feels about him. He could definitely play a more limited Lou Almundson role from the last couple years. Come on in when the team is plagued by injury or in foul trouble and play D, get boards, and clean up around the rim.
Prediction
The Suns are going to miss Amar’e on offense without a doubt. What they need to do is to make up for it by doing the other things Amar’e was bad at, much more efficiently. We need the guys to rally on the boards and play the stellar defense they are capable of. We will have a lot of trouble guarding teams with two solid big men (LA) since we will have Frye/Turkoglu/Warrick/Siller guarding one of those guys (big liability). If these guys can fill in and play D in that role well, we could be looking at a Suns team that is greatly improved on defense while taking a small step back on offense. The other big if is whether or not Turkoglu shows up to play. If we get the Orlando Turkoglu, the sky is the limit with this team; if we get Toronto Turkoglu, Suns easily miss the playoffs and we are all calling for Sarver’s head. Overall I do believe the Suns will be improved on an already solid defensive team with really only one weakness in the paint; we will miss Amare’s offense but Lopez and Turkoglu will help us forget. The Suns should be behind LA, Utah, and Oklahoma City, fighting for the 4th spot in the West with Dallas, San Antonio, and Portland and Houston slipping in at the 8 spot.
Grant Hill- accepts his one-year player option worth about $3 mil.
Amar’e Stoudemire- opts out of final year, signs $100 mil / 5yrs. for the Knicks.
Channing Frye- signs $30 mil / 5 yrs.
Hakim Warrick- signs $18 mil / 4yrs.
Josh Childress- Acquired for a ’12 2nd round pick. Signed 5yr / $35 mil.
Hedo Turkoglu- Acquired from Toronto for Barbosa and Dwayne Jones
Dwayne Jones- Tried out for team during training camp and was cut.
Gani Lawal- Drafted 46th overall
Matt Janning- signed muli-year deal (details not yet released)
Garret Siler- Signs contract (details not yet released)
Robin Lopez- Team exercised option for 4th season (next year).
Front Office Moves
Named former Cavs. Ast. GM Lance Blanks General Manager.
Named former Agent Lon Babby President of Basketball Operations
What do these transactions mean in the Big Picture?
The biggest problem the Phoenix Suns have had over the last few years has been poor contract decisions by the front office (Diaw, Barbosa, Bell, Frye?). Babby doesn’t have any experience as a President of Basketball Operations; but what he lacks in experience in that field he makes up for with his experience as a long-time multi-sport agent. The guy should undoubtedly give us the upper hand in any future negotiations (too bad he got here after Sarver and Gentry blew all the money we saved with Amar’e leaving on Warrick, Frye, Turkoglu, and Childress). Did he bring on a friend of his to work with him as the GM, yes he did, is that a little bit nerve racking as a fan? Oh yea. But, the fact of the matter is that nowadays GM’s and team Presidents need to work so closely together, this might actually end up benefiting us. We know we won’t see any big time disagreement from the get go, and we know they are both on the same page as to the future of the franchise. I’ll take that certainty over the uncertainty of whether they will hold each other accountable when mistakes are made.
The roster moves made in the off-season were a lot of sweet, and of course, a little bit of sour. But you know what they say, “the sweet ain’t so sweet without the sour!” (Right Clippers Fans!?!) Let’s get the elephant right on out of the room and talk Amar’e. The guy is a physical freak of nature, he’s the best scoring big man in the game, he has an amazing outside J for a guy who’s 6’11”; and I’m glad he’s not coming back. The guy just doesn’t understand the subtleties of the game, like defense. I see Amar’e get more fouls by slapping at the ball because he didn’t move his feet more than any other big man in the league. His rebounding “efforts” are nothing more than he gets the ones that are right to him, and his adversary gets the rest. He has no clue how to clog the lane on defense. The thing that worried me the most though, is that he had been bad at all those things from DAY ONE! He has shown MARGINAL improvement in these areas and has shown a minimal decline in his offensive prowess since his last eye surgery. Is Amar’e a very good PF in the NBA, yes, is he worth $20 mil. a year? No. You have to play both sides of the ball to be worth that much…oh yea, and to win a title! I don’t know about you, but with Amar’e playing D and boxing out the West’s big men, I don’t see us ever winning a title.
On to the NEXT ONE! Now unfortunately all that $20 mil. we saved…we went and spent $6 mil of it on Channing Frye. I like Channing’s shooting ability and how it will create mis-matches; but I feel he is only a slight improvement over Amar’e when it comes to his defense and boxing out. I was hoping we would resign him to a deal worth about half as much per year and I thought that would be pretty solid (it’s how much we are paying Grant!). I think this one could come back to hurt us, and hopefully will have been Sarver’s LAST roster decision for this team (let’s all say a prayer real quick).
It’s really nice to have G-Hill back on the squad for his all around solid play and more importantly he is a leader of men; both on and off the court. He conducts himself in a way that if you had 12 G-Hill’s on your side, you’re doing BIG things just on pure chemistry. He is a epitome of this idea, “If I can have a team of all guys that have a 10 in physical skills and a 6 in character, or a team of all guys that have a 6 in physical skills and a 10 in character…I’ll take the character guys everytime.” Let’s all say another little prayer here that Hill stays as healthy as he has been. (Our trainers kick some serious butt! Nice job Aaron Nelson!)
Hakim Warrick seemed to be another desperation move by Sarver and Gentry in the wake of Stoudemire leaving. I like Warrick, but I don’t think we should have given him 4 yrs. on his deal. If we are still relying on Warrick as a role player 4 yrs. down the road, I’m gonna be worried. I think he will fit in well here because he is a good slasher and plays similar to Marion on offense; but again he doesn’t really help us guard the Western Conferences big men.
We brought Josh Childress back over from the Euro Leagues and were required to compensate Atlanta with a 2nd round pick and gave him a deal worth about $7 mil. yr. This might end up being a little bit steep for a player like Childress but we will look back on this and be happy about it. The guy knows how to play efficiently, with Childress, Hill, and Dudley we have by far the smartest group of swingmen in the NBA. They all score and play efficiently. Childress will play exactly like Grant and Dudley did last year but will add a little more athleticism and potential into the equation. He can knock down the corner three with his weird release, and he knows how to finish both in the half-court and in transition.
The Big ? = Hedo, What Hedo, When Hedo it. This guys a classic freakin head case. You make him happy, he’ll play well, you piss him off, he won’t. When he was in Orlando and he was the man on campus (offensively); he puts his best foot forward and was up for East Conference MVP. He leaves and enters a situation where he is more of a role player in Toronto and he checks out. He had his worst season out of the last 5 last year with Toronto and he just seemed pissed off the entire time. Well Phoenix is a pretty damn fun team to play for, and we definitely need him to be the man on offense with Nashty. So we will see the Hedo more from Orlando than from Toronto. I’m really excited to see him and Nash run the pick n’ pop because Turkoglu has great ball handling skills and knows how to create his own shot, a nice little pick play with Nash will just make it all the easier for him to get into the lane or to settle for an open outside J.
Well this is already it for Lopez, right here, right now. Yes we already guaranteed we will keep him till next season but this is the year where we see who he is really going to be in the NBA. Will he be a role-playing big man like Varejao or will he be a big time big man asset like Noah? I’m saying the second option. The guy has a desire and grit about him that really surprised me right out of Stanford in his rookie season. Last year we saw how well he played at the end of the season and in the playoffs. He knows how to do all the things a big man should know how to do (didn’t learn it from Amar’e!). He boxes out very well, he gets boards he had no right getting at, he fills up the lane very well with long arms and quick footwork. He plays DEFENSE! He plays like a traditional big man with offensive moves that might not be fancy but should net him a +60% FG. If he doesn’t average 17-10-2, I’ll be disappointed.
We won’t see much of Lawal or Janning but I have a sneaking suspicion that we will see Siller. While both Lawal and Janning are works in progress, Siller seems ready to play a small role for the Suns immediately. The guy is 6’10” 300 lbs. C from a small division 2 college. I didn’t think he would make it on the roster but the fact that he did over Dwayne Jones who had a serious leg up on him going into camp, speaks volumes about how the coaching staff feels about him. He could definitely play a more limited Lou Almundson role from the last couple years. Come on in when the team is plagued by injury or in foul trouble and play D, get boards, and clean up around the rim.
Prediction
The Suns are going to miss Amar’e on offense without a doubt. What they need to do is to make up for it by doing the other things Amar’e was bad at, much more efficiently. We need the guys to rally on the boards and play the stellar defense they are capable of. We will have a lot of trouble guarding teams with two solid big men (LA) since we will have Frye/Turkoglu/Warrick/Siller guarding one of those guys (big liability). If these guys can fill in and play D in that role well, we could be looking at a Suns team that is greatly improved on defense while taking a small step back on offense. The other big if is whether or not Turkoglu shows up to play. If we get the Orlando Turkoglu, the sky is the limit with this team; if we get Toronto Turkoglu, Suns easily miss the playoffs and we are all calling for Sarver’s head. Overall I do believe the Suns will be improved on an already solid defensive team with really only one weakness in the paint; we will miss Amare’s offense but Lopez and Turkoglu will help us forget. The Suns should be behind LA, Utah, and Oklahoma City, fighting for the 4th spot in the West with Dallas, San Antonio, and Portland and Houston slipping in at the 8 spot.
10/19/2010
The South Beach Experience
The NBA salary cap is amazing. I like the way it makes rookies come in and prove themselves before they can make big money (TAKE A PAGE NFL!). Even more, I love the way it supports stars staying with teams that they are playing for (The Larry Bird Rule). This rule definitely helped Pat Riley sweeten the deal by getting sign and trade deals done for Bosh/James. For specifics on their salary sacrifices go here. These guys sacrificed not just the salary they were capable of making (approx. $15 million ea.), but now they all are going to have to compete for the major local endorsement deals. Do you know what kind of money any of these guys would have made from local endorsements in NYC!?! Lebron made $28 mil. in total endorsements in 2009 (almost double his salary). I guess we will find out with Amare just how much they missed out on. It is not often that players are critisized for sacrificing all this money. Often, almost ALWAYS, I get upset because I know a player has made a decision for more money. There is a long list, every year, of examples like Darrell Revis or Antonio McDyess circa '98 going from a young up and coming Suns team to sign with Denver for more money and play for a terrible team. This is the norm, this is the business that we all want to deny. The NBA doesn't have a business side, it is a business. It's all about the money, it always has been, and it always will be.
If we want to believe that there are still players and owners who only care about winning and will do so at their own financial cost; Miami is our Jesus. They are trying to guide the NBA to a future where the business side can be downplayed...slightly. I'm not saying we are going to have players sign for half their value in order to play with 5 all-stars on the court together, but this is as close as I have ever seen to some idea like that.
This offseason all we wanted to talk about was the ability for these guys to make a ton of money. The question was more about how much money would they make in a certain city than what type of players they had on that team and their ability to compete. I thought Lebron would sign in Cleveland or NYC and it's because in my experience players go where the money is.
He didn't, he signed for less in order to win! They sacrificed money...to win. God that is a beautiful thing. "These guys sacrificed money and potentially statistics; in order to be a part of something special." (Eric Spoelstra, Heat Head Coach) I think we are on the verge of seeing one of the most beautiful on-court examples of basketball we will ever see in our lives.
If we want to believe that there are still players and owners who only care about winning and will do so at their own financial cost; Miami is our Jesus. They are trying to guide the NBA to a future where the business side can be downplayed...slightly. I'm not saying we are going to have players sign for half their value in order to play with 5 all-stars on the court together, but this is as close as I have ever seen to some idea like that.
This offseason all we wanted to talk about was the ability for these guys to make a ton of money. The question was more about how much money would they make in a certain city than what type of players they had on that team and their ability to compete. I thought Lebron would sign in Cleveland or NYC and it's because in my experience players go where the money is.
He didn't, he signed for less in order to win! They sacrificed money...to win. God that is a beautiful thing. "These guys sacrificed money and potentially statistics; in order to be a part of something special." (Eric Spoelstra, Heat Head Coach) I think we are on the verge of seeing one of the most beautiful on-court examples of basketball we will ever see in our lives.
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