The first domino falls and a bunch of others fall with it.
Several prominent NBA players made their attentions clear after LeBron chose to go back home to Cleveland. First, LeBron's now ex-teammate Chris Bosh has decided to stay with the Miami Heat favoring a 5 year $118 million contract over going to Rockets. He will presumably now represent the Dynamic Duo of Bosh and Dwayne Wade in Miami providing that Wade chooses to stay.
Another player also decided to stay where he is for the time being. Reports have begun circulating that Carmelo Anthony's representatives are talking to the Knicks about a new contract after informing the Bulls that they are out of the Melo sweepstakes. Melo will stay in the Big Apple.
There is one player that is on the move and it's Pau Gasol. He's agreed to go to Chicago to become part of the Bulls. Not official yet as the Bulls still have make cap space in order to get Pau.
A lot to talk about with these moves and decisions. First, Bosh in Miami (presumably with Wade) keeps the Heat in the playoff picture but little else. LeBron was the driving force of that team and without him pulling them along in the playoffs and actually going against them, they won't get far.
As for Melo, most likely staying in New York for the money. Sure, he might want to win titles and maybe he believes that Phil Jackson will get the right people around him but for the time being, no one around the league will believe he wants championships over money. Now take significantly less money in order to get some decent players...
With Pau going to Chicago, he's better than Carlos Boozer and is certainly an upgrade but won't likely get them any closer to winning a championship. A healthy non-injury prone Derrick Rose is the only one that can do that for them.
More moves are certainly to come with one of them being the Lakers still searching for a head coach. Hopefully whoever the team wants to lead them can pass the most important test of all: Kobe's approval.
Showing posts with label Melo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Melo. Show all posts
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Knicks Survive and Win 1st Playoff Series Since 2000
Sorry, Jets. You're the only embarrassing sports franchise left in New York City. Well, at least AROUND New York City.
The New York Knicks decided not to dress in black this time as they went into Boston to face the Celtics in game 6 of their series. New York started strong by actually moving the ball around to score 24 points in the first quarter compared to the Celtics 10. The Knicks actually played a great game for the most part. They were up by as much as 26 points in the 4th quarter.
Then the Celtics caught fire. Boston went on a 20-0 run in the 4th quarter which would cut the lead down to 6. They would later cut the lead down to 4 with 3:31 to go.
The Knicks and Carmelo Anthony, however, would be able to refocus. Melo then made a couple of jumpers with one of them being a 3 pointer to get the lead back up to 9. The J.R. Smith then made a lay up and one at the free throw line to make it a 12 point game with 1:21 left. Finals score was 88-80 with the Knicks winning the series 4-2.
New York manages to stave off 0-3 series comeback attempt from the Celtics and win their first playoff series since the 2000 Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. the Pacers which, ironically, who they will play next. Indiana just put away Atlanta last night 81-73 to win their series 4-2.
As for the Celtics, they go home with questions surrounding them. It's the first time since Kevin Garnett arrived in Boston that the Celtics have been eliminated in the 1st round of the postseason.
It's not likely that things will get better in Boston for next season. Rajon Rondo will be back but KG and Paul Pierce will be another year older. Heck, Pierce and Garnett may not be back next year depending on how they feel and how the team feels.
Meanwhile, the Knicks move on trying to establish a notable era themselves. However, they've had trouble with Indiana this season splitting the season series with them 2-2. If they do get past them, then they will face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.
P.S. I would say 'likely face Miami' but seriously, Come On....
The New York Knicks decided not to dress in black this time as they went into Boston to face the Celtics in game 6 of their series. New York started strong by actually moving the ball around to score 24 points in the first quarter compared to the Celtics 10. The Knicks actually played a great game for the most part. They were up by as much as 26 points in the 4th quarter.
Then the Celtics caught fire. Boston went on a 20-0 run in the 4th quarter which would cut the lead down to 6. They would later cut the lead down to 4 with 3:31 to go.
The Knicks and Carmelo Anthony, however, would be able to refocus. Melo then made a couple of jumpers with one of them being a 3 pointer to get the lead back up to 9. The J.R. Smith then made a lay up and one at the free throw line to make it a 12 point game with 1:21 left. Finals score was 88-80 with the Knicks winning the series 4-2.
New York manages to stave off 0-3 series comeback attempt from the Celtics and win their first playoff series since the 2000 Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. the Pacers which, ironically, who they will play next. Indiana just put away Atlanta last night 81-73 to win their series 4-2.
As for the Celtics, they go home with questions surrounding them. It's the first time since Kevin Garnett arrived in Boston that the Celtics have been eliminated in the 1st round of the postseason.
It's not likely that things will get better in Boston for next season. Rajon Rondo will be back but KG and Paul Pierce will be another year older. Heck, Pierce and Garnett may not be back next year depending on how they feel and how the team feels.
Meanwhile, the Knicks move on trying to establish a notable era themselves. However, they've had trouble with Indiana this season splitting the season series with them 2-2. If they do get past them, then they will face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.
P.S. I would say 'likely face Miami' but seriously, Come On....
Friday, April 12, 2013
Bulls End Knicks 13 Game Winning Streak
The Bulls end another significant winning streak in the NBA.
Last night, the Bulls beat the Knicks 118-111 in overtime. Nate Robinson scored 35 points off the bench while Jimmy Butler put up 22 points and 14 rebounds. Caremlo Anthony of the Knicks does get 36 points and 19 rebounds in the loss.
Chicago ended Miami's 27 game winning streak and now stops New York at 13. It's pretty impressive considering they did both of these things without Joakim Noah or Derrick Rose. Rose, of course, has been out all season because of an ACL tear and he simply doesn't want to come back. I mean, he has shaken confidence.
Chicago may not have the best chance of knocking off Miami but they still have to taken seriously in the postseason.
Last night, the Bulls beat the Knicks 118-111 in overtime. Nate Robinson scored 35 points off the bench while Jimmy Butler put up 22 points and 14 rebounds. Caremlo Anthony of the Knicks does get 36 points and 19 rebounds in the loss.
Chicago ended Miami's 27 game winning streak and now stops New York at 13. It's pretty impressive considering they did both of these things without Joakim Noah or Derrick Rose. Rose, of course, has been out all season because of an ACL tear and he simply doesn't want to come back. I mean, he has shaken confidence.
Chicago may not have the best chance of knocking off Miami but they still have to taken seriously in the postseason.
Monday, November 12, 2012
D'ANTONI? REALLY?!?!?!
When you thought the next coach was going to be Phil again, some other guy comes out of the nosebleeds to shock the team.
When the Lakers fired Mike Brown for starting off the season 1-4, the thought was that the team would go to Phil Jackson (again) to be the head coach. After several days of rumors (and I'm sure discussions) Phil Jackson will not be coming out of retirement to coach the Lakers. The reason not to hire Phil back wasn't because they didn't want him or beg him to come back, it's because they would kiss his a** long enough (or to the equivalent of kissing his a** by giving in to contract demands of $10-15 million annually and the options to skip certain road trips).
Instead the Lakers decide to go with Bachelor #doesn'tbelieveindefense. Mike D'Antoni will be the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Mike and the team agreed to a 4 year deal as head coach with the 4th year being a club option. D'Antoni was the former head coach of the Phoenix Suns which included Steve Nash who is now a Laker. After that, D'Antoni was head coach of the New York Knicks from 2008-2012 until he resigned in March earlier this year due to the teams performance.
New York worked so well with Melo and Amare so there is no reason why D'Antoni shouldn't work out in LA, right?
The thing about Mike D'Antoni is that he is an offensive coach and that's pretty much it. While that formula has shown to work well enough to get to the playoffs and a bit further, it has not won him a championship. Defense is needed to win titles. Plus, we don't know how his system will work with people not named Steve Nash, particularly Dwight Howard who could become a free agent at the end of this season.
It's definitely a risk hiring Mike D'Antoni as head coach but a glamorous looking one if the offense can perform at a high rate. Now I might be wrong about D'Antoni but so far his system hasn't won a title or gotten him to the NBA Finals. It might be put to the test for the last time in LA.
When the Lakers fired Mike Brown for starting off the season 1-4, the thought was that the team would go to Phil Jackson (again) to be the head coach. After several days of rumors (and I'm sure discussions) Phil Jackson will not be coming out of retirement to coach the Lakers. The reason not to hire Phil back wasn't because they didn't want him or beg him to come back, it's because they would kiss his a** long enough (or to the equivalent of kissing his a** by giving in to contract demands of $10-15 million annually and the options to skip certain road trips).
Instead the Lakers decide to go with Bachelor #doesn'tbelieveindefense. Mike D'Antoni will be the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Mike and the team agreed to a 4 year deal as head coach with the 4th year being a club option. D'Antoni was the former head coach of the Phoenix Suns which included Steve Nash who is now a Laker. After that, D'Antoni was head coach of the New York Knicks from 2008-2012 until he resigned in March earlier this year due to the teams performance.
New York worked so well with Melo and Amare so there is no reason why D'Antoni shouldn't work out in LA, right?
The thing about Mike D'Antoni is that he is an offensive coach and that's pretty much it. While that formula has shown to work well enough to get to the playoffs and a bit further, it has not won him a championship. Defense is needed to win titles. Plus, we don't know how his system will work with people not named Steve Nash, particularly Dwight Howard who could become a free agent at the end of this season.
It's definitely a risk hiring Mike D'Antoni as head coach but a glamorous looking one if the offense can perform at a high rate. Now I might be wrong about D'Antoni but so far his system hasn't won a title or gotten him to the NBA Finals. It might be put to the test for the last time in LA.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Jeremy Lin Not Going to the Knicks?
The most fascinating and perhaps most captivating player of the year has been Jeremy Lin. He lit up the court for a brief period of time around February and caught all of our eyes. He quickly became the most talked about player around the country. Then he came down to earth a little, got hurt, and the Knicks got booted from the playoffs yet again.
So far this off season for the Knicks has been moves centered around the PG position. Now heading into the off season, you would assume that the team was going to keep Jeremy Lin and see what they could with him next year. The Jason Kidd move seemed to support that as he might've been coming in as a mentor. Then the Knicks traded for PG Raymond Felton, a guy who was seemingly on the Knicks a couple of seasons ago. With that move completed, it seems that the team is going to move on from Jeremy Lin. Sources are saying that the Knicks will not match the offer from the Rockets and let Lin go to Houston for 3 years and $25 million.
So much for Linsanity in New York. Also, when did $15 million (3rd year of the deal in Houston) become worth more than a billion dollars? I need to retake math class. I think it's a shame that Lin, Melo, and the Knicks weren't given a real chance to see if they could work. They had rough games but they didn't have an off season to practice together and to see if they could become more. As for Lin in Houston, another move to try and get Dwight Howard or simply to try and get someone to build a team around (Lin or someone else).
Lin ironically goes back to the team that he had started with for the 2011-12 season. Lin never played a regular season game for the Rockets but it's presumed that he will play quite a few for them now.
So far this off season for the Knicks has been moves centered around the PG position. Now heading into the off season, you would assume that the team was going to keep Jeremy Lin and see what they could with him next year. The Jason Kidd move seemed to support that as he might've been coming in as a mentor. Then the Knicks traded for PG Raymond Felton, a guy who was seemingly on the Knicks a couple of seasons ago. With that move completed, it seems that the team is going to move on from Jeremy Lin. Sources are saying that the Knicks will not match the offer from the Rockets and let Lin go to Houston for 3 years and $25 million.
So much for Linsanity in New York. Also, when did $15 million (3rd year of the deal in Houston) become worth more than a billion dollars? I need to retake math class. I think it's a shame that Lin, Melo, and the Knicks weren't given a real chance to see if they could work. They had rough games but they didn't have an off season to practice together and to see if they could become more. As for Lin in Houston, another move to try and get Dwight Howard or simply to try and get someone to build a team around (Lin or someone else).
Lin ironically goes back to the team that he had started with for the 2011-12 season. Lin never played a regular season game for the Rockets but it's presumed that he will play quite a few for them now.
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