Category — Derrick Rose

The fact that Andrew Bynum is getting the “Matt Kemp treatment” from the former world champion tells me he’s probably headed for a big year.
It’s early, but Bynum is proving again he can be just as much a force in the middle as Dwight Howard. Bynum recorded his third consecutive double-double last night, scoring 21 points and grabbing 22 rebounds in the Lakers’ victory over the Rockets. He also had 3 blocks.
Bynum has better offensive skills than Howard though you can give an assist to Stan Van Gundy for Howard’s sometimes low output, but Bynum’s injury history makes fans and hoop experts leery of his long-term production. However, if he stays healthy, he will 1 day become the best center in the NBA.
Unfortunately, health is the big if.

Some 2012 predictions, including Phil Jackson returning to coaching just in the Knick of time.
Grantland.com

There also is a tale about Super Bowl Sunday in Dallas last February, but that’s a story best told on a rainy day.
Nothing could have been sweeter for the Dallas Mavericks than capturing their 1st NBA title, particularly by beating the Miami Heat, but a close second was Dirk and his mates wiping out the Lakers in a sweep that still resonates in L.A.
For me though, nothing in 2011 compares to Game 6 of the World Series in St. Louis, where the Rangers were a strike away from claiming their 1st championship before David Freese drilled a fastball to right over the head of Nelson Cruz and the Cardinals, who were on life support just to make the playoffs a month before (not everyone thought such though), began a seemingly impossible rally in extra innings that resulted in the club winning its 11th banner.
Hours before Game 7, which was practically an afterthought as far as Cards fans were concerned, I strolled up to a betting window in 1 of my favorite sportsbooks (Santa Fe Station in Vegas) like the cocky young fella I used to be, decked out in a classic power blue Cards’ jersey (think the ’80s and the “White Rat”) with the Wizard’s name and number in red letters on the back and flashing the biggest and shittiest grin 1 could imagine. Even the betting clerk couldn’t resist smirking.
“You know why I’m here,” I said sarcastically, confident as I’ve ever been before wagering a bet.
“Good luck,” he said.
I didn’t need it. I knew my money was as good as gold.

Even noted ladies man Luke Walton couldn’t resist an upclose look at that hand job.
Line of the week: “Is it a coincidence that Kobe’s wrist injury coincided with the release date of Lindsay Lohan’s nude Playboy pictorial?”
Grantland.com

Do the Clippers vote David Stern a share of playoff coin if they win it all?
In a poll of 30 ESPN writers and personalities, 25 of them picked the Heat to win this season’s NBA title. Three of them picked the Bulls and 2 predicted the Thunder would win it all.
Us? As much as Miami is the safe pick, we’re rolling with our homies (Thunder). Now beam us up Scottie.
ESPN.com

It’s a Heat-Thunder NBA final waiting to happen. Can’t argue with that.
Fox Sports

Forget the Lakers getting the shaft in the Chris Paul deal. The Rockets are reeling too. And the reputation of Hornets’ GM Dell Demps. Can you spell s-l-a-n-d-e-r?
Adrian Wojnarowski pens 1 of the best pieces I’ve read so far regarding this hijacking by David Stern and the NBA.
Yahoo Sports

After being a long-time subscriber to Direct TV’s NBA package, which broadcasts the majority of league contests almost every night, I refuse to pay the $159 fee (down from the $189 from last season) this season. Just couldn’t contribute to this farce David Stern and owners such as Michael Jordan and Dan Gilbert are selling.
If it were smart, the league could have performed a PR stroke of genius by giving the package away free, but that isn’t in the DNA of people like Jordan or Gilbert.

At least the Clip Joint seems to have a plan instead of the Lakers, who apparently can’t see straight and got nothing for dealing Lamar Odom to the Mavericks.
And now that the Clippers have Chauncey Billups in the mix, they would be foolish to trade for Chris Paul. The NBA and its gang of colluding owners want too much for him. Why give away the farm for a 1-year rental?
ESPN LA

For the record, the writer is a white guy.
So much for labor peace.
With 1 mighty veto, David Stern turned the 1st day of training camp into a public relations nightmare for the NBA.
The league commissioner and thus the final voice in the workings of the NBA-owned New Orleans Hornets, Stern proved he was really not in charge. We knew that though from the lockout.
The true men behind the curtain are those small-market owners who want what’s best for them and not the league.
Some only signed the new labor deal with their eyes shut and while holding their noses.
They wanted more, though missing the entire season would have been OK for them.
They were back at it again Thursday.
When the Hornets made what looked like a good trade to send free-agent-to-be guard Chris Paul to the Lakers, it seemed New Orleans was on its way back.
The Hornets, who will get nothing for Paul when he leaves at the end of this season — and he will leave — were going to get 3 likely starters and some help for the future. Even the Rockets were getting better.
Now the Hornets get nothing. The deal may not be dead but it is clearly on life support.
All this to keep a group of owners unable or unwilling to pay top dollar happy.
This was exactly what the NBA lockout was all about.
Forget losing money and fans. This still is about power. Power to the unfortunate people such as Dan Gilbert and Michael Jordan. Mark Cuban even singing the NBA’s praises for shooting down this deal. And why not? All the clubs are in the Western Conference and in Mark’s vicinity. And damn the Lakers and the horses they’re riding now.
NBA owners saw players gaining power through free-agent moves and forced trades and they didn’t like it.

How dare they decide where they want to live and raise their families. What, they think this is a free county?
They argue about competitive balance, about the little guys having a fighting chance. The NBA has never been about small guys. Nope, it’s all about power. Owners make sure they keep it that way.
Even more so, this might be a little title envy.
If the Lakers get Paul and then Dwight Howard, they would again be a title contender.
The Lakers have fleeced sad franchises for their talents in the past and won, which hardly makes them evil or unique, just the Yankees and Red Sox of the NBA. Or the Celtics.
The league backed itself into a corner. Will the Association now try to run all 30 teams when it comes to trades so Orlando can’t deal Howard to the New Jersey-Brooklyn Nets?
But those owners are missing the bigger picture.
By keeping Paul away from the Lakers and telling players to watch their steps, they are doing their own product an injustice.
History has shown that the NBA is good when the big markets are winning. Ratings and sales are up and so is the value of franchises.
By keeping Paul away from L.A., at least for the moment, the owners are hurting their own product.
It is a selfish move which seems to mirror that of the players who are creating these mega teams.
Let it go. It is the only way to really begin a healing process that will need a long time to sort out.
However, for now, this is just another indication of how divided and messed up the NBA really is.
Just ask Chris Paul.