Category: Fantasy Basketball (Page 97 of 274)

      Should the Lakers trade Bynum for Bosh?

      June 11, 2010 /

      To me, the first question is…can they?

      Honestly, I thought this trade rumor was well behind us after Andrew Bynum suffered yet another knee injury. Yet, here are two Los Angeles Times writers arguing about whether or not the Lakers should trade him for Chris Bosh.

      T.J. Simers takes a few shots at Bill Plaschke…

      It’s been several days since I have had the chance to remind everyone how clueless Plaschke can be, and since this was a wasted game, I certainly don’t want to waste such an opportunity.

      Plaschke continues to make the case that the Lakers have to unload Andrew Bynum, insisting they replace him with free agent Chris Bosh. And by Sunday, I believe.

      Plaschke maintains that the Lakers will never be able to depend on Bynum’s body, and while he’s presently got that right, it doesn’t speak to what we’ve learned about the young man.

      The kid has been determined, tough and tough-minded as he has pushed himself, obviously the kind of competitor a team needs to win a championship.

      That last sentence summarizes Simers’ argument — since Bynum has played through a knee injury, and since he has potential, the Lakers should forgo Chris Bosh in order to keep him.

      I don’t think that the ball is in the Lakers’ court. While the Bynum-for-Bosh swap made a lot of sense earlier in the season, it doesn’t make much sense for the Raptors now, unless they are willing to risk the two years and $28.6 million remaining on Bynum’s contract even though he has missed an average of 32 games over the last three seasons. A team option for the third year does make the trade a bit more palatable, but it all depends on what other sign-and-trade deals are out there for Bosh. In other words, is a gimpy Bynum the best Toronto can do?

      He is just 22 years old and could very well bounce back from the knee problems that have plagued him over the past three years. But how common is it for a seven footer to suffer major injuries in his first few years and then suddenly become durable? While it’s true that he’d be a good fit alongside Andrea Bargnani, who is more of a power forward than a center, it’s not going to do the Raptors much good to trade for a guy who can’t seem to stay healthy.

      As for the Lakers, of course they should do this deal. Chris Bosh is a 26-year-old who will be a top 15 player in the league for the next five to six years. This coincides nicely with the remainder of Kobe’s prime, and he’d give the Lakers a fighting chance when Kobe finally hangs ’em up. He’d be a better fit than Bynum alongside Pau Gasol, who is arguably the league’s best post player, at least offensively. Bosh’s ability to hit long jumpers would create more space for Gasol and Kobe to do their thing.

      I just don’t think the Lakers are going to be the ones that have to make the decision. That’s Bryan Colangelo’s call now.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      What is Tom Izzo thinking?

      June 11, 2010 /

      Tom Izzo is still considering the Cavs job, per ESPN…

      Izzo told reporters late Thursday night that “it won’t go on forever, I can tell you that.”

      The coach had just arrived back in East Lansing, Mich., after traveling to Cleveland on Thursday afternoon with his wife, daughter and son.

      Izzo said: “I feel bad that I can’t talk. I feel good that I did what I had to do.”

      Izzo is apparently closer to saying yes to the Cavaliers than previously thought, a source told ESPN.com’s Andy Katz on Thursday.

      That source discussed Izzo’s future with a close confidant of Izzo’s who is coaching in the NBA. The source told Katz that Izzo, who talked to his team earlier this week about his interest in the Cavaliers, is leaning toward taking the job if it is offered.

      Byron Scott appears to be Izzo’s main competition (or the Cavs’ backup plan?)…

      Wednesday night, an NBA Eastern Conference executive with knowledge of the Cavaliers’ thinking told ESPN The Magazine’s Chris Broussard that Byron Scott is a strong candidate to be offered the job.

      The executive told Broussard that Scott is on equal footing with Izzo.

      Scott, a former Los Angeles Lakers guard who has coached the New Jersey Nets and the New Orleans Hornets, has spoken with members of the Cavaliers’ front office the past few days. Late Wednesday night the talks took on a more serious nature, the source told Broussard.

      Izzo is 55 years old and is making $3 million a year coaching 30-35 games at Michigan State. He is basically untouchable in East Lansing, but if he goes to the NBA, he becomes just another head coach. Like Dick Vitale said earlier in the week, he’s eventually going to get fired. Seemingly everyone gets fired in the NBA, no matter how good you are. Hell, Mike Brown just got fired in Cleveland after the Cavs had the most wins during the NBA’s regular season.

      I understand that Izzo’s ego (or any top college coach’s ego, for that matter) might convince him that this is a challenge that he should undertake, to succeed where so many others have failed, but in the NBA, head coaches just don’t have as big of an impact on the game as they do in college.

      The players are far more stubborn and are often paid more, and it’s difficult to steer the ship when there are that many egos on board. Izzo’s fiery nature works well with unpaid college kids who are only in school for 3-4 years, but when you’re talking about $17 million-a-year prima donnas, that in-your-face bit isn’t going to fly.

      I presume Izzo knows this, and will attempt to adjust his style, but that aggressive approach is what makes his style so effective. The best NBA coaches — Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich — are successful because of their ability to manage their roster, specifically their stars. Izzo knows the X’s and O’s, but can he talk to LeBron in the same way that Jackson talks to Kobe or that Pop talks to Tim Duncan?

      Speaking of LeBron, if Izzo signs on, it’s a clear indication — to me, at least — that he has assurances from the Cavs’ camp (presumably with confirmation from LeBron’s camp) that LeBron will re-sign if Izzo is named the coach. Otherwise, why would he agree to take over a roster that might be mediocre at best? Would he really leave a cush job at Michigan State to coach a team whose two best players are Antawn Jamison and Mo Williams?


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      College Basketball, External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA

      The Finals, Game 4: The C’s bounce back

      June 10, 2010 /

      Celtics 96, Lakers 89

      I have to hand it to Doc Rivers. How many coaches would have had the balls to play a lineup that included Nate Robinson, Tony Allen, Rasheed Wallace and Glen Davis deep into the fourth quarter of a tight, must-win game against the Lakers? Ray Allen was the fifth Celtic on the floor, and at times he looked a little like Kelly Leak playing with the Bad News Bears.

      That group started the fourth quarter, trailing 62-60, and slowly but surely built an 85-74 lead with 3:57 to play. There were points that Rivers sent Garnett/Pierce/Rondo to the scorer’s table only to pull them back to the bench after the aforementioned fivesome made a nice play to continue its run. This is not something we see often in the NBA because most coaches are afraid of their stars, but these Celtics don’t mind riding the wave with the bench when they are outplaying the other team’s starters. Ubuntu.

      When Garnett/Pierce/Rondo did re-enter the game, Mark Jackson was concerned about their readiness to shoot when open, but these guys are pros (not to mention champions), and they answered the call. Well, Paul Pierce (19-6-5) answered the call. He scored five quick points, including a very suspect three-point play where he drew a block on Kobe. It looked as if Kobe got his feet set outside of the circle before Pierce left his feet, but the call went Pierce’s way. That’s why there’s such a thing as home court advantage.

      With their backs to the wall, the C’s did what they needed to do in Game 4. Now they have to prevail in another must-win game to put the pressure back on the Lakers as the series heads back to L.A.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, NBA Finals, News

      2010 NBA Free Agency: What are they worth? (#6-#10)

      June 10, 2010 /

      In the first installment of this series, I covered the biggest names in this summer’s free agency bonanza, and it wasn’t too tough to try to peg down each player’s value. Now I’ll move onto #6 to #10 in my free agency rankings, and things get a little tougher.

      Keep in mind that the “value” below each player’s blurb represents my prediction of what they’ll eventually sign for, not what I think they’re actually worth. But there’s a saying — something’s only worth what someone will pay for it — so there’s that.

      Anyway, let’s jump right in:

      6. Joe Johnson, SG
      Age: 29
      PER: 19.33
      Comparables: Brandon Roy ($13.5 M), Andre Iguodala ($12.3 M), Kevin Martin ($10.6 M)
      Johnson didn’t help himself much with a pretty miserable series against the Magic in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. I’m sure he’s looking for a max deal, and whatever team gives him one may regret it in a year or two. He’s already 29, and while he’d definitely be a good #2 for the next 2-3 years, he’s not a “max” player. He’s definitely going to benefit from all the cap space that’s available. Remember, my estimated value is what someone is willing to pay him, not necessarily what he’s worth.
      Value: $17.0-$17.5 M per year (over five years)

      7. Carlos Boozer, PF
      Age: 28
      PER: 21.42
      Comparables: Amare Stoudemire ($17.7 M), Zach Randolph ($17.3 M), Josh Smith ($11.6 M), David West ($9.0 M), LaMarcus Aldridge ($10.7 M)
      I have Boozer ranked ahead of Lee because he’s a slightly better player…when he’s healthy. He missed 45 games during the 2008-07 season and another 80 games from 2004-2006, so clearly he’s an injury risk. He is no doubt looking for a max or near-max deal, but with his durability issues and his reputation for being a less than stellar defender, he may find the going a bit tough in free agency. Still, there is sooooo much cap space out there that it’s hard to see him signing a deal for much less than the max.
      Value: $14.0-$15.0 M per year (over five years)

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA

      The Celtics’ missed opportunity [video]

      June 10, 2010 /

      I remember this play when it happened, and I’m glad “BasketballBreakdowns” posted the clip on YouTube.

      Fourth quarter, Celtics trailing by two, 72-70, with seven minutes left in the game. Boston had come back from a 17-point deficit, but hadn’t yet been able to tie the game or take the lead. They were on a 9-5 run in the quarter, and had a chance to tie the game with a bucket on this possession.

      Rondo missed Pierce on what would have been a pretty easy bucket, and the Lakers scored on Derek Fisher jumpers on the next two possessions to push the lead to six. Had the Celtics scored here and tied the game, the Garden would have gone nuts and it might have changed the outcome.

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, NBA Finals, Video

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