Houston, Do We Have Liftoff or A Problem?

Did the Houston Rockets' just make the biggest mistake of the NBA season? Two weeks ago, they traded Clint Capela in a 4 team trade for Robert Covington. Yes, Clint Capela was the only active big that they used this season (Tyson Chandler is on the roster this year). Yes, Robert Covington is a wing that is known for his defense and shooting threes. We all know that Mike D'Antoni loves to put up a lot of shots while sacrificing defense, but to play at a disadvantage without a big every night is INSANE. Or is it? We all know Mike D'Antoni doesn't mind sacrificing size for speed (just take a look at his Phoenix Suns' teams). Now he has two all world guards in James Harden and Russell Westbrook who are impossible to guard one on one, and have nothing but space to get to the basket because of the shooters surrounding the perimeter. The question is how long will this style of play really last. Can PJ Tucker, the new 6'6 center on the team, be able to bang down low with the likes of Anthony Davis and Nikola Jokic for 48 minutes a night while fighting for rebounds? Is depending on the guards to rebound more going to slow down the pace at which D'Antoni wants to play? We have seen both Russell Westbrook and James Harden both run out of gas in the postseason while carrying their team during the regular season. We have also seen Mike D'Antoni try this experiment and fail. Now that the league is more guard oriented, will he finally be able to reach the NBA Finals? You rarely see teams who do not prioritize defense make it far in the postseason, and we all know D'Antoni does not care anything about slowing the other team down. Houston will either soar high or remain grounded. This is a move that can save your job or lose your job. Only time will tell.


-CG

Tiger Madness

The Memphis Tigers' survive a scare at the FedEx Forum and hold on for a hard fought win against the East Carolina Pirates. Is this win going to calm the nerves of tiger nation? I highly doubt it. Before the season started, there was so much optimism for this team. Number 1 recruiting class in the nation, national title hopes, Penny and crew wanted "all the smoke". Well the Tigers' are getting more smoke than a barbecue grill on the fourth of July, and it has been showing these past 4 games. With their win tonight, the Tigers move to 7-6 in conference play and increase their chances just a little bit to get a invite to the dance in March without winning the conference championship. But before we look ahead to the big dance, lets take a look at what has them in this predicament in the first place. We had the James Wiseman vs NCAA debacle, which led to Wiseman leaving the team and preparing for the draft (feel free to play the blame game in Wiseman's decision, I'm not). Next, the injury bug has taken over this team all season long and it has hurt the chemistry. The one thing that tiger nation needs to remember when it comes to this team is that they are young. We were all excited listening to those soundbites during the offseason about this team making a national title run that we forgot that there have not been many teams this young who actually win the tournament. A team that has mostly freshmen and sophomores are prone to having ups and downs throughout a season. Transitioning from high school to college is not easy for everyone, especially the Tigers' guards who all are mostly undersized. Even in the beginning of the season there were times when Precious and James both struggled playing together on the floor at the same time. Young teams tend to turn the ball over a lot and struggle closing out games. It's what these Tigers' are doing. Let's calm down and breathe a little bit. Let's be honest with ourselves, this current team is not a national championship team. Do they have the talent to make the NCAA tournament? I believe so. But let's not be so quick to judge them. I know there are many people who are not happy with the offense that this team runs. Be patient. Young teams usually turn it on the closer it gets to tournament time. There are still a couple of weeks left.

-CG

Chess Not Checkers?

The John Beilein experiment with the Cleveland Cavaliers' is over, and it didn't last for one entire season. Beilein could only handle being in charge of an NBA team for one half of the season (and I don't think anyone is surprised). The decisions that the Cleveland Cavaliers' have made since LeBron James has left have been head scratchers, and this one was no different.  Out of all of the possible candidates that were available for them to sign as their head coach, they decided to go with a 67 year old life long college coach. Now don't get me wrong, John Beilein's resume as a college coach is not bad at all (coached 4 different teams to the NCAA tournament with 2 championship game appearances) but coaching kids and grown men are totally different. He had a "mishap" earlier in the season when he called his players "thugs" and said he meant to use the word "slugs". Players were complaining about how he dealt with them. He never understood that the kids who he was used to yelling at were grown men with families and egos. Hard to yell at people that make more money than you (if you don't believe me, go to work tomorrow and yell at your boss). The problem is not that they gave Beilein a chance, the problem is that we have seen this story far too many times. Everyone is not going to be able to make the transition as smooth as Billy Donovan did. More likely than not, most people will end up flaming out like John Calipari or Rick Pitinio. But enough about John Beilein, lets focus on the Cavaliers' organizational choices over the past 2 seasons. As times goes on, we see why LeBron chose to leave them again. They seem to always make a difficult situation even worse. Why would you decide to experiment with a team that was mixed with veterans and rookies? Why would you draft another point guard (Darius Garland) after you drafted one the previous year (Colin Sexton)? Most importantly, why would you not choose a younger coach who could grow and learn with this team? Be honest with yourself, no one thought that a 67 year old coach would finish out a 5 year deal. It just seems like Cleveland is playing chess while the rest of the league (minus the Hornets and Suns) are playing checkers.

-CG

The Perspective of the Mamba Through My Eyes

This was a guy I hated as a child. He always found a way to crush my hopes and dreams with who I wanted to win the championship. I know he made me cry during the ENTIRE 2000-2002 3peat. I hated his cockiness, his will to win, his KILLER INSTINCT. When the Lakers' lost the championship in 2004, I thought his reign of terror on the NBA was over. Boy, was I wrong. He became a MONSTER. 30, 40, 50, 60, 81 points in a game! He became the villain of the league, and he loved it! It became scary to watch him dominate the league the way he did. I was happy because he wasn't winning though. He makes the playoffs as a #7 seed and plays against the Suns. I can still remember the play like it was yesterday. Jump ball goes to the Lakers, and who else but Kobe gets it. "Don't let him get to the elbow! Make him shoot the 3!". I'm sure Raja Bell and Boris Diaw knew this, just like the entire world did, but it did not matter. 3,2,1, Kobe gets to the elbow and shoots the shot. I know once it leaves his hands that it's good, I just pray that God can finally not show Kobe mercy and let him make the shot (Yes, I know it was childish to pray to God for Kobe to fail sometimes, but he ignored my cries anyways). I fall to the floor in disbelief just like I had for many years previous to this moment because of Kobe's greatness. I can't believe he did it again. I have to go to school and hear it from all of my friends how great Kobe is. The Lakers' lose that series, but somehow make it to the finals in 2008 against the Celtics. I never liked the Celtics, but I rooting like crazy for Kobe to lose. He does, and I am ecstatic again! But little did I know that he would come back and win the championship in 2009. He breaks my heart again, punishing the inexperienced Orlando Magic. Kobe was a man on a mission, and no one would stop him from achieving his ultimate goal. He now has 4 rings, I can't continue to discount his greatness. I finally have to give Kobe his well-earned credit. "Kobe is great, but he's no Jordan", I would say. The 2010 season comes around, and once again the Lakers' are in the finals against the Celtics. The Celtics win game 5, and I am preparing my "Kobe lost yet again in the finals" speech for all of the fans that I know, but yet again he proves me wrong. They win game 6 and now it's on to game 7. I almost lost my job trying to pay attention to the game. I have to know exactly when the game is over so that I can send out my "Kobe sucks" texts. I was never able to send them out. Greatness prevails YET AGAIN. I'm sick! He has 5 rings now. He's as close to MJ as anyone will ever be. He's the greatest of my generation now. I couldn't deny it any longer, and that is when I finally accepted it. 2011 is the year of the 3-peat, but they lose to the Thunder in the playoffs. For the first time in my life, I wasn't happy about Kobe losing. Over the next couple of years, between bad management deals and injuries, we were robbed of Kobe's final years being great. He passes his way into the playoffs in 2012 (the year he tears his Achilles carrying the weight of that bad team. He was averaging 10 assists for a couple of games if I'm not mistaken). He then passes MJ for 3rd on the all-time scoring list a couple of years later in Minnesota. His final act was April 13, 2016. A 60-point masterpiece! And this was the day that it all finally hit me. No more would number 24 be able to break my heart with clutch basket after clutch basket. No more would I have to pray to God that he would make Kobe miss a shot. No more would I have to watch the camera zoom in to the eyes of the mamba with that killer look in his eye. Kobe was the greatness of my generation, but he worked his butt off to become great. After he retired, I started to hear him talk on podcasts about his work ethic and his mindset. It intrigued me to know that he was always working harder than the next person, that he was known to not only try to get a physical advantage on an opponent, he also wanted a mental advantage as well. As I sit here today writing this, I can only think of one thing to say to Kobe, and that is thank-you. Thank- you for breaking my heart time and time again. Thank-you for making the NBA a better place than it was when you first entered the league in 1996. Thank-you for showing us what hard work looks like and the rewards that it can bring. Last but not least, thank-you for showing us the #MambaMantality. 

-Conspiracy God

“Maybe It Ain’t RACISM Maybe It’s PLACISM”

The NCAA recently implemented a new surprise stipulation placed upon agents seeking to represent college athletes. Before last week amateur athletes were allowed to retain the services of agents to gauge their professional potential without garnishing that amateur eligibility. The NCAA has now instituted a new rule with additional criteria for agents to posses before representing these future pro athletes. The original rule covered all NBPA certified agents but with the recent changes to the criteria it seems a SELECT few guys are being targeted in particular RICH PAUL. Rich Paul is super agent and close confidant of one Lebron James. Some may ask why is the new changes made by the NCAA being dubbed the “Rich Paul Rule” or why do you say it’s Rich Paul being targeted. I say maybe it’s not all about one Rich Paul maybe it’s about Rich Paul and the younger Rich Paul’s of the world. Added to the list of requirements a agent now needs: a Bachelors Degree, Certified by the NBPA for a minimum of 3 years, and now has to take a IN-PERSON exam at theNCAA office in Indianapolis. Now we can dive into the TARGETING aspect of this rule change. As stated before Rich Paul started in this game because he was a close friend to Lebron James. To many people who have access to the internet and a TV we all have a overwhelming sense that Lebron James has the most power ever as a athlete since one Michael Jordan. Rich Paul met Lebron James at Akron-Canton Airport where the two met and sparked a conversation based upon throwback football jersey of Warren Moon that Paul was wearing. Soon after the two did a small business transaction involving a Magic Johnson and Joe Namath throwback jersey (yes this was back when women was wearing jersey dresses and doing the chicken head to Chingy in their mirrors to Right Thurr). Like a REAL man with morals once Lebron James was drafted by the hometown Cleveland Cavaliers he put his mans on. He asked Paul to be apart of his inner circle which included Maverick Carter and Randy Mims and got to the business. Paul worked closely with Leon Rose Lebron agent at the time. After soaking up the game Paul set out on his own adventure in 2012 he stepped out and created his own agency “Kluth Sports” and his first client was none other than Lebron James. Paul didn’t attend Harvard law school or Yale or Princeton or even Morehouse like majority of the great entrepreneurs and business owners Rich received his higher learning through life lessons and hustling. Like they say the best lesson is often times one experienced not one that was taught. Paul May have started a trend which is why I say theNCAA is targeting he and other entrepreneurs like himself. In 2018 Paul advised a high school graduate and future NCAA athlete to try a non traditional route to the NBA. Instead of matriculating to Syracuse where he signed a letter of intent prospect Darius Bazley decided with the help of Paul to forgo his freshman season and to accept a internship with shoe company New Balance which offered him 1million dollars with no strings attached thus taking him and his family out of poverty. Before bazley Brandon Jennings took a similar route he by passed a year USC to play basketball overseas for a year before declaring fr the NBA draft the only difference here is a player was able to by pass the NCAA make money in the business world gain affordable knowledge in the corporate world all by skipping college staying debt free and not allowing the NCAA to make more money off of his name. Since this has happened many athletes have voiced their displeasure with the NCAA calling the corporation corrupt and a money pit that doesn’t have the amateur athletes best interest at heart. The biggest of those out spoken athletes is the biggest figure head in the sports world today Lebron James who is represented by Rich Paul. Also represented by Rich is Anthony Davis who caused headlines and friction when he demanded a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans in hopes to land in LA with fellow Klutch sports client Lebron James. Hence the title “Maybe it ain’t racism maybe it’s placism”. Like Jamie Foxx said in the movie maybe a brother just needs to know his place. Paul has not taken money away from the NCAA as of yet, especially not a amount to cause a depletion in funds. So why target him? In my opinion the NCAA is targeting Paul in hopes to keep the next rich Paul from coming up with a bigger better idea that could possibly take down their entire operation.

Are You Joining the Hype Train?

For the first time in my lifetime, The University of Memphis athletic department has a basketball and football program that are both prospering at the same time. Mike Norvell took over a football program that was already heading in the right direction (thanks Justin Fuente) and is trying to take it to another level. Penny, in one year, has turned the NCAA upside down with his recruiting prowess. Even once beloved coach John Calipari has thrown a fit or two towards Penny stealing a couple of his prized recruits. Now that we have made it through the honeymoon phase with Penny and with Mike Norvell putting together 3 consecutive seasons with bowl game berths, here come the expectations. Memphis football has been picked by many to go undefeated this year and basketball is expected to compete for a national title with the number 1 recruiting class on campus. Personally, I would love to see both teams competing for championships, but at some point reality has to set in.

We all know that on any given Saturday a team predicted to win can lose. Also, if you aren't Alabama or Clemson, which are the 2 powerhouses of college football right now, you probably won't stand a chance of going undefeated (I know UCF went undefeated and created false news talking about they were the real national champs a couple of years ago). The AAC has very decent offensive teams, and if Memphis hopes to compete this season that defense has to grow up fast. To Memphis' credit, their offense usually keeps them in most games. Norvell and his staff does a great job with keeping their cupboard of skill players full each year. He can also spot a good quarterback from a mile away. To begin a streak that leads to perfection, the Tigers must first beat an under the radar Ole Miss team who are already disrespecting Memphis calling them "the little brother". Will the Tigers crack the top 25, better yet the top 10-15? Stay tuned to find out.

Penny Hardaway has always been known as a trendsetter. He did it in high school, college, the NBA (How many people can say MJ wore a pair of your shoes during his career in a game?), and now he's doing it as a coach. His recruiting tactics have created a firestorm of news articles and outburst throughout the nation (Especially Dan Dakich, the biggest Penny hater). Call it what you want, but Penny, not Coach Cal, Coach K, Coach Roy Williams, or Coach Bill Self, has the best class of recruits coming into the next season. Now the question becomes whether or not Penny, Mike and the crew can get those freshman on one accord to compete for a national championship. It doesn't happen often (I believe Cal did it in 2012 with Anthony Davis and cast) and it's a reason why. Experience does matter when you make it to the tournament. Sometimes the spotlight shines a little too bright for some. How will the upperclassmen react to their playing time? Will Penny start them? Will he cut into their minutes? You have to remember that most of these kids have a personal brand they are trying to build. How would it look to their fans if they are not getting the playing team they feel they need to be productive according to their standards? What the Tigers do have in their corner are 3 coaches with NBA experience, so if they don't make it to the title game, they will at least have more knowledge about how the NBA works before they actually get there. It's gonna be worth watching every game this season!

I believe the hype train just may be worth jumping on this year. Both teams have potential and that is all that you can ask for (Remember the crowd during the Tubby Smith era? Also, remember the Larry West days where you would walk past the Liberty Bowl for exercise before walking in to watch them play). I don't think either will win the championship, but they will both be a force in both sports this season. This might be the most exciting 7 months in Tigers' athletics history coming up! It's still time to jump on the bandwagon if you haven't yet!!

Give Melo Another Chance

For the past 5-7 years, I have been defending Carmelo Anthony's legacy in the league. He has been one of the greatest scorers in our generation (basically since his rookie year). How is it that he cannot find a spot on one of the 30 teams in the NBA? The man is no scrub, he can score in his sleep. Does he lack on the defensive side? Yes. Is he selfish at times? Yes. Does he want to come off the bench? No, but I think his pride and ego have taken such a big hit that at this point he has no choice but to accept it. I, like Melo, do not believe that there are 15 players ON ANYBODY'S CURRENT ROSTER that are all better than him. He can at least make a 10 man roster ( I believe he would be the perfect 6th man! Yes, I also know I'm delusional and think irrationally when it comes to Melo). The level of disrespect that is being shown to him around the league is sickening! Respect this man! He's been to the conference finals before! (The only year he had a team, I might add). Who is the only guy to win a playoff series with terrible, awful, no good, very bad New York Knicks since 2000? Carmelo Anthony. Who was the guy who actually wanted to go there to play in the Garden? For some reason, it was Carmelo Anthony (And before all you Amare' fans come storming into the comments, just remember that no one wanted him because of his knees). Carmelo went over and beyond for a franchise who only cares about selling tickets. He should've left in 2015 when he had the chance, but he explained on First Take that he heard many rumors about what was going on with the Bulls (And would you believe that the Bulls traded Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler while letting Joakim Noah leave in free agency in a span of 2 years?). My man can't find good fortune in the league, but don't send him out this way. Give him the opportunity that you refused to give Allen Iverson, give Carmelo Anthony a third second chance!!