This is the second part of this post, this one is meant for the casual fan. This is the first one
Here we go
1. MJ is gone. Do the league need somebody to take his place?
Basketball Gods: Yes MJ is gone. The league has spent more than 8 years recovering from that. Once the league hit the "mainstream" - popularity wise - in the 80's they haven't face a challengue like that. When Bird and Magic retired there was MJ. When MJ went to swing bad pitches the league had Penny and Shaq, Malone and Stockton and the Knicks. They hold the fort for those couple of years. When he left in 1998 (he wasn't the same when he played for the Wizards) all those personalities and high profile players felt short of taking MJ's torch and the league suddenly didnt't know how to sell itself and everybody had this "I miss the 90's" type of feeling.
In some way the league is still looking for MJ's replacemente but in a diferent way: no more it's waiting for the next high scoring charismatic shooting guard, now we are just waiting for the next dominant force.
2. Is Tim Duncan overrated?
Basketball Gods: You know last year I was asking myselft that very same question. There are several factors going agains Tim Duncan: First, he plays in San Antonio, Texas. Second, Tim Duncan is a quiet and introvert individual. Third, his game is no flashy, is fundamental as hell. Add all those things together and it's pretty hard to sell the guy to the average fan. Another factor is that he's not a clutch player, he's a post up player. Is quiet difficult to have a post player taking the last shot of the game.
Taking all that in considerations, the guy is as good as they come. His defense one on one, his team defense, his rebouding, he demands a double team every time he touches the ball because of his array of post up moves makes him a 30 point game waiting to happen if single coveraged. His game make the game of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobilig happen. He makes the Spurs happen.
So, no he's not overrated. His game isn't easy to the eye,that's it.
3. Why there are a more good teams in the West than in the East?
Basketball Gods: Again, there's a bunch of factors. Luck, good management and CAP management are the main reasons. Luck because the have won the lottery or they have high draft picks and they have been able to select the right players. They have scouted and found hidden gems with low draft picks or in the second round. Let me explained you with examples:
I'm not saying all East teams draft bad and all the West teams are genius, that's why I say there's a little of luck involve. Good CAPmanagement also comes to the table. Take Phoenix as an example, they traded Mardbury and Penny Hardaway to the Knicks (East) to have enough money to offer to Steve Nash. With Nash the Suns have won an average of 59 games per season. The Spurs have signed Parker, Ginobili and Duncan for long terms contracts but still have room to make key adquisitions like Michael Finley year in and year out and make trades without going over the CAP
Smart people are sucessful no matter what business are they in.
4. The Knicks have sucked for awhile now. What's the deal?
Basketball Gods: Isiah Thomas. Worst GM in the history of that franchise ...by a long shot. They also have an owner, James Dolan, that doesn't really care about the basketball side of the franchise. According to Forbes the Knicks are still the most valuable NBA franchise despite that they haven't won a playoff series in 9 years and they haven't even qualified to the last four years.
5. I heard the Bulls were winning again. Can they win it all?
Basketball Gods: Three years ago a young and scrappy Bulls team took everybody by surprise and won 47 games (out of 82) . They did it with defense and outworking pretty much everybody night in a night out. They have a couple of good years after that even going to the second round of the playoffs last year. But this team lacks 2 major components necessary for winning in these league: a post up player and a superstar that takes control when game is on the line.
The Bulls are fill with young talented players. Their names pop up almost every year in trade rumors in exchange for a big name post up player (Garnett, Gasol, Jermaine O'neal) but management had never pull the trigger. Now this team looks tired and frustrated despite being the younger team in the league and their record is showing it (25-38 as this morning). There's still a chance of salvating this Bulls but if history have taught us something this management group, lead by ex player John Paxson, won't be capable of doing it.
6. Vince Carter. He looked as the next big thing! Why I haven't heard anything from him?
Basketball Gods: Carter is probably one of the most talented and gifted athletes in the league. His problem: work ethic. Plain and simple. Vince has never been the hard working type of guy it shows in his game , it shows in his body and his teammates know this. He could be as good as Kobe if he had that same work ethic. As a fan, I think we could had something special.
7. Is the Chinese giant that good?
Basketball Gods: I guess you are talking about Yao Ming. Yes, he's that good. For the last two or three years he's been a top three center in the league.
8. Which foreign players are better between latin americans or europeans?
Basketball Gods: In general terms: europeans. They have more fundamentals, better shooters and have shown a lot more discipline that latins. If you change that question and ask me how's better between argentinians and europeans, I'll have to say argentinians. I just feel they are smarter, more blue collar and most important they are way more team oriented.
9. Give me a reason to go back
Basketball Gods: You'll be a little harder to convince that the Ex NBA fan becuase you have an idea of what's happening. What I can say is that there is more real talent right now that in recent years. There are more competitive teams. The competition is harder.
But my strongest allegation here has a name: Lebron James. This guy is too damn good. You can look in this blog for information about him or the web ( there's a google box on your right :) ) or whatever. This guy is 23 years old, has been in the league since age 17. He's 6'9 , 260 (something like Karl Malone) , he's fast, strong, excellent court vision and can fly with the best of them. Has a career average of 27.3. Lead a crappy Cleveland team to the NBA Finals las June. Just look him up.
Remember how MJ surpassed Magic, Bird. This guy will surpass MJ. I think you might wanna be witness of that.
In some way the league is still looking for MJ's replacemente but in a diferent way: no more it's waiting for the next high scoring charismatic shooting guard, now we are just waiting for the next dominant force.
2. Is Tim Duncan overrated?
Basketball Gods: You know last year I was asking myselft that very same question. There are several factors going agains Tim Duncan: First, he plays in San Antonio, Texas. Second, Tim Duncan is a quiet and introvert individual. Third, his game is no flashy, is fundamental as hell. Add all those things together and it's pretty hard to sell the guy to the average fan. Another factor is that he's not a clutch player, he's a post up player. Is quiet difficult to have a post player taking the last shot of the game.
Taking all that in considerations, the guy is as good as they come. His defense one on one, his team defense, his rebouding, he demands a double team every time he touches the ball because of his array of post up moves makes him a 30 point game waiting to happen if single coveraged. His game make the game of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobilig happen. He makes the Spurs happen.
So, no he's not overrated. His game isn't easy to the eye,that's it.
3. Why there are a more good teams in the West than in the East?
Basketball Gods: Again, there's a bunch of factors. Luck, good management and CAP management are the main reasons. Luck because the have won the lottery or they have high draft picks and they have been able to select the right players. They have scouted and found hidden gems with low draft picks or in the second round. Let me explained you with examples:
- Duncan was the first pick in 1997. Philly (East) took Keith Van Horn with the 2nd pick while Tracy McGrady and Chauncey Billups were available.
- In1998 Dallas picked Dirk Nowitzki with the 9th pick. Same spot that Phoenix found Shawn Marion the next year.
- In 1999 Ginobili was drafted with 57th pick..that's in the second round!
- In 2001 Washington (East) won the lottery and select Kwame Brown (and total bust so far). Memphis traded for Pau Gasol, selected 3rd and Portland grabbed Zach Randolph with the 19th pick.
- In 2002 Yao was the first pick. Chicago (East) selected Jay Williams with the next pick. Amare Stoudemire and Tayshaun Prince were available
I'm not saying all East teams draft bad and all the West teams are genius, that's why I say there's a little of luck involve. Good CAPmanagement also comes to the table. Take Phoenix as an example, they traded Mardbury and Penny Hardaway to the Knicks (East) to have enough money to offer to Steve Nash. With Nash the Suns have won an average of 59 games per season. The Spurs have signed Parker, Ginobili and Duncan for long terms contracts but still have room to make key adquisitions like Michael Finley year in and year out and make trades without going over the CAP
Smart people are sucessful no matter what business are they in.
4. The Knicks have sucked for awhile now. What's the deal?
Basketball Gods: Isiah Thomas. Worst GM in the history of that franchise ...by a long shot. They also have an owner, James Dolan, that doesn't really care about the basketball side of the franchise. According to Forbes the Knicks are still the most valuable NBA franchise despite that they haven't won a playoff series in 9 years and they haven't even qualified to the last four years.
5. I heard the Bulls were winning again. Can they win it all?
Basketball Gods: Three years ago a young and scrappy Bulls team took everybody by surprise and won 47 games (out of 82) . They did it with defense and outworking pretty much everybody night in a night out. They have a couple of good years after that even going to the second round of the playoffs last year. But this team lacks 2 major components necessary for winning in these league: a post up player and a superstar that takes control when game is on the line.
The Bulls are fill with young talented players. Their names pop up almost every year in trade rumors in exchange for a big name post up player (Garnett, Gasol, Jermaine O'neal) but management had never pull the trigger. Now this team looks tired and frustrated despite being the younger team in the league and their record is showing it (25-38 as this morning). There's still a chance of salvating this Bulls but if history have taught us something this management group, lead by ex player John Paxson, won't be capable of doing it.
6. Vince Carter. He looked as the next big thing! Why I haven't heard anything from him?
Basketball Gods: Carter is probably one of the most talented and gifted athletes in the league. His problem: work ethic. Plain and simple. Vince has never been the hard working type of guy it shows in his game , it shows in his body and his teammates know this. He could be as good as Kobe if he had that same work ethic. As a fan, I think we could had something special.
7. Is the Chinese giant that good?
Basketball Gods: I guess you are talking about Yao Ming. Yes, he's that good. For the last two or three years he's been a top three center in the league.
8. Which foreign players are better between latin americans or europeans?
Basketball Gods: In general terms: europeans. They have more fundamentals, better shooters and have shown a lot more discipline that latins. If you change that question and ask me how's better between argentinians and europeans, I'll have to say argentinians. I just feel they are smarter, more blue collar and most important they are way more team oriented.
9. Give me a reason to go back
Basketball Gods: You'll be a little harder to convince that the Ex NBA fan becuase you have an idea of what's happening. What I can say is that there is more real talent right now that in recent years. There are more competitive teams. The competition is harder.
But my strongest allegation here has a name: Lebron James. This guy is too damn good. You can look in this blog for information about him or the web ( there's a google box on your right :) ) or whatever. This guy is 23 years old, has been in the league since age 17. He's 6'9 , 260 (something like Karl Malone) , he's fast, strong, excellent court vision and can fly with the best of them. Has a career average of 27.3. Lead a crappy Cleveland team to the NBA Finals las June. Just look him up.
Remember how MJ surpassed Magic, Bird. This guy will surpass MJ. I think you might wanna be witness of that.
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