NBA Opening Night and 5 Story Lines Tonight

Finally! After all of the waiting it is here. It has seemed like last season was ages ago....

     Opening night is one of the most anticipated in any sport, mainly because we wait... and wait... and wait. We then begin to make up strange theories about potential sleepers, and just believe things that are really not rational. Especially in the NBA, where front runners have the biggest advantage over gutsy underdogs. Honestly, in the NBA, we are use to the fact that some teams even just play in coast mode during the regular season (cough... cough... Miami... cough... cough...) because they know they are going to just turn it on in the post season. It is okay though, it doesn't take that much away from the quality of the sport.
     The best part of this season is the fact we got the entire season back. Players had the chance to prepare in the off season with training camp and preseason, and we get a full 82 game schedule. The schedule isn't condensed either, so expect for some fresher legs from game to game. Newly acquired players have a better opportunity to mesh with their teams, so expect the big acquisition guys to be better off than players who were acquired a year ago. Quite frankly, this season is just that much more exciting because it will feel more like a full NBA season.

So I am excited, and here are some things you might want to look forward to tonight.

1) The NUMBER ONE thing to look forward to tonight, is the difference the Celtics have made with their off season moves. Jason Terry and Jeff Green headline a group of basically moderate moves the Celtics have made. Terry will look to fulfill Ray Allen's previous role in the Celtics offense; and while Terry is not quite the spot up shooter as Allen, Terry had a 1.18 Spot Up PPP versus Ray Allen having a 1.23 Spot Up PPP, he really isn't that far off. What I really like what Terry can bring to Boston is another guy who can be a pick and role ball handler. Terry uses this role in the offense 14.7% more of the time than Allen does. Also Terry was 50th in the NBA in this role, which isn't a bad mark. I think having a guy who can roll off the pick and take the jumpshot right away could be very good for Boston. Terry shot 45.4% out of this set and 44.4% from deep, while Allen shot only 27.4% and 20% from three. I think Terry, and also Allen for that matter, could be better fits with their new teams.
     As for Jeff Green, we have already seen what he brings to Boston as a combo forward coming off the bench. I think in an NBA world where Miami now sets the pace, Green could be more valuable this time around than his first stint with the team. Quite frankly, in the small ball sets the Heat run, Green is a perfect candidate to play the 4. He is of similar stature to Battier, or a more human version of LeBron's size. A Rondo, Terry/Bradley/Lee, Pierce, Green, and Garnett line-up can be Boston's best bet for small ball. Thus, Green may be most valuable if the time comes to play the Heat in the playoffs again. I mean, personally, I would much rather see Green on Battier or LeBron than Brandon Bass. As for other games, Green will make a Boston team much more deep, which they ran into issues with depth last year.
     Courtney Lee could be a sneaky good pick up for the Celtics too. At first he will try to be an Avery Bradley fill in, even though he ranks 280th in defensive PPP giving up 0.88. This isn't really a bad mark for a non big-man player, but when compared to Avery Bradley being 29th and giving up 0.72 PPP, there is a decent gap between the two. As for Lee on the offensive side of the floor, he is a decent spot up shooter (1.06 PPP, 65th) and a good cutter when he uses it (4.9% of offensive attacks, 1.45 PPP, 15th). Lee could be a very good bottom of the rotation guy and should be used most while Bradley is gone. As for the other additions (Sullinger, Darko, Melo, and Barbosa) you should expect some contribution from Sullinger, but otherwise it isn't going to be major contribution from the others. Also expect Sullinger to be less effective in a game like tonight, against the Heat, than a slower paced one.

2) Are the Lakers the new evil empire? It was a little bit irritating when I found out Nash was going to be a Laker. Nash seems like the typical good guy player without a championship, so it is hard to fault him, but at the same time I (like many people) don't like the Lakers. Then all of the sudden, boom, Dwight Howard is now a Laker. Many people are frustrated at the team, but also question their possible struggles right away. It will be interesting to see if the Lakers are immediately as successful as the Heat, and if they become as loathed as them too.

3) How much will Miami coast? Miami the last two years have coasted to the two seed in the East behind the Chicago Bulls. No one can really imagine a Rose-less Bulls team to be a legitimate contender for the one seed again. So how much are the Heat going to coast now? Also, how much can they really afford to coast? Personally, I want them to take the regular season as serious as possible, but I can see them losing games they shouldn't like always. Possibly, starting tonight against Boston.

4) Can the new look Dallas Mavericks be successful? It will be interesting to see this team mesh, but they are not healthy day one. Kaman is out, so it looks like Eddy Curry has the task of guarding Dwight Howard on opening night (good luck with that one). Dirk is also missing a considerable amount of time, so what is going to become of the Mavs. Along to Kaman, the Mavericks added Elton Brand, O.J. Mayo, Dahntay Jones, and Darren Collison (And I guess Eddy Curry... Wow...).  Jared Cunningham, Jae Crowder, and Bernard James were also added to the draft, and I guess they really like Crowder. It is hard to imagine any of these guys become immediate impact players though. So how good are the Mavs? Well they are probably a borderline playoff, that potentially might not make the playoffs. Can Dallas not become a lottery team? Well it might be on Mayo's shoulders, and well, once again good luck with that one...

5) Washington-Cleveland rivalry renewed. When it was the LeBron Cavaliers verses the Gilbert Arenas Wizards, there was a bit of a rivalry. That one was more one sided, but it can be reborn in the team's new eras. Both teams feature former number one pick Point Guard's Kyrie Irving and John Wall. Now both feature top 5 draft pick Shooting Guards in Bradley Beal (3rd) and Dion Waiters (4th). Throw in the fact that both teams want to fight for the 8th seed this year, and quite frankly I find it tonight's most intriguing game.

NBA Season Preview Part 1

     With only less than 2 weeks to the beginning of the NBA season, thoughts of the upcoming year has been clogging up my pipes. So much could happen this season not so much on the top end of the league, but in the bottom half of the league. The 7 an 8 seeds in both conferences are really wide open, and there are so many candidates that can take up the spot. Really there are only a handful of teams that shouldn't have a chance to make the playoffs, so we start in the Eastern Conference with the teams that will more than likely be left out.

15th:

The Charlotte Bobcats are an improved team, the fact they are still this bad is a testament to how good they were at being bad last year.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is hoping to be the key to turning it around

Projected Starting Lineup: Ramon Sessions, PG; Ben Gordon, SG; Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF; Bismack Biyombo, PF; and Brenden Haywood, C

Reserves: Kemba Walker, PG; Gerald Henderson, SG; Tyrus Thomas, PF; Jeff Taylor, SF; and Byron Mullins, C

Best Possible Finish: 13th

Worst Possible Finish: 15th

Season Outlook: For being the worst team in the East, the Bobcats really are not all  that bad. They made a couple of off season moves that can be looked at as good. It starts with the number 2 draft pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. We hear over and over again about how this guy works hard. It can't be is a value that can't be overstated when it comes to turning around a losing team. Kidd-Gilchrist should never put up 20 a game, but he's great to have on your team because he can make an impact even if he only scores 8-12. Ramon Sessions was added to actually start over Kemba Walker, which is a better idea than it seems. Kemba proved last season that he will need to work on his game before he could be a quality starter. Sessions is a good ying to Kemba's yang. As Sessions is a big point guard, that is a jack of all trades for the position. Walker, at this point of his career, will be most effectively used as someone who can score buckets coming off the bench.
         The Bobcats then traded Corey Maggette for Ben Gordon, while picking up a first round pick. I think this was a very smart move for Charlotte; they picked up a shooter, which is something they lacked last year. They also picked up a first round pick for someone who wouldn't of fit this years squad. Without this deal Charlotte might of had to draft Beal instead of Kidd-Gilchrist, something I don't think they wanted to do. Lastly, picking up Jeff Taylor in the second round isn't going to get headlines. I feel though he can bring a defensive punch, while being able to hit threes on offense. This kind of Bruce Bowen type role (there is no way he is Bruce Bowen, don't confuse that) can be valuable to any team.
       Charlotte is pretty solid in the back court, Gerald Henderson who wasn't talked about was one of Charlotte's best players last season. One of the best things about the back court is the fact everyone has a role they fit. This could allow each player to play the kind of game that they want to, which can be beneficial to the team. As for the big men on the roster, there is much to be had. Haywood never panned out to the player he could of been. Tyrus Thomas was an other worldly talent, that just has never put it together in a season. Byron Mullins is the 4th big man, and he is someone who might not be able to make a lot of NBA rosters. There is improvement here, but they are still the Charlotte Bobcats.

Key Player: When Bismack Biyombo entered the league, Zach Harper wrote that the Bobcats even had to teach him how to catch a basketball. Biyombo has a bit more polish to his game this season, but is still a raw player. In Charlotte, he is easily the one big man that has the most potential on the roster. Last season, he was a defensive specialist (and a very underrated one). When I watched him play the Magic, I saw a guy who was sort of effective playing defense on Dwight Howard. If Biyombo can become a good rebounder, and a guy that isn't completely lost on offense, Charlotte becomes a much better team. It also will look much better that they drafted him 7th last year.

14th:

The Orlando Magic are in their first year without Dwight, and like most teams that lost their superstar they are hurting.

Is Arron Afflalo ready for his new role on his new team?

Projected Starting Lineup: Jameer Nelson, PG; Arron Afflalo, SG; Hedo Turkoglu, SF; Glen Davis, PF; and Gustavo Ayon, C

Reserves: Quentin Richardson, SF;  J.J. Redick, SG; Al Harrington, PF; Ishmael Smith, PG; Maurice Harkless, SF; Andrew Nicholson, PF; and Nikola Vucevic, C

Best Possible Finish: 12th

Worst Possible Finish: 15th

Season Outlook: The Magic finally lost Dwight, and we finally all can move on from that lingering story line. The strangest move in the Magic's off season is after they traded Dwight they followed it up with resigning Jameer Nelson. Maybe this was more of a stop the bleeding effort, but it seems weird for a team to resign its 30 year old point guard. Especially for 4 years. Either way though the Magic are definitely in a rebuild, with only a handful of players that remaining from the Dwight era. Orlando may have an interesting position battle at Center, even if Vucevic has a chance to show no development and be glued to the bench. If he can improve in some assets of his game, he will have an opportunity to take the spot over from Ayon. The Magic drafted Andrew Nicholson to provide some depth in the front court  and they also got a raw but high potential wing when they got Harkless in the trade. Al Harrington could either keep his career afloat this year with them, or he could just fade off into the distance with whatever could remain of his career.

      Glen Davis could have a breakout year for the Magic. Once Dwight was ruled out for the rest of the year Davis played fairly well. The Magic hopes he keeps the same momentum he had at the end of last season. It will be interesting also to see if the team deals out any of their players before the trade deadline. I could easily see Turkoglu or Glen Davis wearing a different uniform if the first half of the season doesn't go well. Only question will be if anyone decides if they would want one of them. Overall, this season will be very different for Orlando. Including when they are scouting lottery picks, instead of looking forward to the playoffs.

Key Player: Arron Afflalo is a guy that is looked at as good, but a little over paid. He may be the best player wearing a Magic uniform this season though. If he can be the best player the Magic have, and maybe even worth his contract, Afflalo could be the start of the rebuilding for the Magic. Instead of being someone who stifles the new era in Orlando.

13th:

Cleveland is a trendy pick to make a rise into being a playoff team this year, it isn't that it couldn't happen, it just may be more difficult than it may seem for supporters.

One of Cleveland's 2011 top 5 picks was a stud in 2011-12, can the other be a solid starter in 2012?

Projected Starting Lineup: Kyrie Irving, PG; C.J. Miles, SG; Alonzo Gee, SF; Tristan Thompson, PF; and Anderson Varejao, C

Reserves: Dion Waiters, SG; Tyler Zeller, C; Daniel Gibson, PG/SG; Omri Casspi, SF; Jon Leuer, PF; Samardo Samuels, PF; and Donald Sloan, PG

Best Possible Finish: 8th seed in the playoffs

Worst Possible Finish: 14th

Season Outlook: The way it looks at this point going into the season, from here until 7 or 8 is a potential log jam. Cleveland is a trendy pick to be on the top of the heap when the season is over. This is definitely not out of the question, as they arguably have the best player out of all of the teams. The talent around Kyrie could be very hit or miss though. Varejao is the only real known commodity that is pretty high value. Varejao honestly put together a very underrated 2011-12 campaign. As overlooked as is was, he really played one of the top 3 or 4 seasons at the Center last year in the East. To say Kyrie had no help is very wrong, because you could argue Varejao was as much of an All-Star as Hibbert.

     The rest of the roster is definitely a different story. The most upside comes in the two first rounders, more specifically Waiters. If Waiters can be a solid wing option on offense, this team can really show their upside this year. If Waiters is a flop for this season, the roster virtually may have made no steps forward. As for Tyler Zeller, he will most likely be cast as the third big man on this team. A role that isn't the most exciting sounding, but he can potentially fill it well. C.J Miles is looking for a fresh start in Cleveland. He is very talented as a high flyer who can shoot the three. Miles could put together a solid year in Cleveland and make a little leap as a player in this league. If Donald Sloan gets on the floor this year he can be a good story, being an undrafted free agent who worked his way onto the roster through the Summer League.

Key Player: Tristan Thompson was the 4th pick in 2011 NBA Draft, and didn't see the minutes some Cavs fans would have hoped for. After spending a year as Antoine Jamison's back up, it looks like Thompson will be thrown into the starting lineup. Thompson really wasn't ready for big minutes last season, as he seemed for the role he had. This year though, Thompson is going to be pretty heavily relied on. If he can rise up to the challenge, the Cavs could prove why people believe in them. Combine that a season where Dion Waiters is solid, and Cleveland could be playing in late May. If Thompson flops though, the Cavs may be looking to get a new Power Forward.

12th

The Detroit Pistons were an interesting team last season; as they started out 4-20, and then went 21 wins and 21 loses to end the season. This year they are probably closer to the .500 team, but more than likely will be slightly under that mark.

Greg Monroe improved last season, can he make another jump?

Projected Starting Lineup: Brandon Knight, PG; Rodney Stuckey, SG; Tayshaun Prince, SF; Jonas Jerebko, PF; and Greg Monroe, C

Reserves: Andre Drummond, C; Corey Maggette, SF; Jason Maxiell, PF; Will Bynum, PG; Terrance Williams, SG/SF; Austin Daye, SF/PF; Kim English, SG; Khris Middleton, SF; Jonny Flynn, PG; Viacheslav Kravtov, C; Kyle Singler, SF; and maybe Charlie Villanueva, PF

Best Possible Finish: 8th

Worst Possible Finish: 13th

Season Outlook: The Pistons are another interesting log jam candidate, seeing how good they did the last 42 games. If you can win half your games in the NBA you are a borderline playoff team, and that is exactly what the Pistons did for a 42 game stretch. We will have to find out whether that was just a good 42 game stretch, or if they have more of that in store.

     The roster is not too much different with all 5 starters being on the roster last year. If Andre Drummond plays anywhere near his potential, he could be entering the starting line up before too long though. Corey Maggette is also a new addition to the team, being swapped for Ben Gordon. This deal also was good for the Pistons as Maggette fits the roster better than Gordon. That, however, is more of the fact Gordon, Knight, and Stuckey all were fighting for similar roles than Maggette being a perfect fit. Terrance Williams and Jonny Flynn are both former talented, high draft picks that have bounced around the league. If they both get their act together it will help the roster vastly. The top end of the rotation is solid, but there is a lack of depth towards the bottom. That is the reason why so many reserves on the list because anyone one of those guys could crack the rotation. The bigs rotation is also slightly thin, which could cause some issues with the Pistons. After Greg Monroe, there is a lack of guys to fit a large role for an NBA team. Unless Drummond comes on faster than we expect, look to see Jerebko outmatched on a lot of match ups against opposing bigs.

     Another guy who could be interesting is Kim English, the teams second round pick, could crack the wing rotation for the team. I personally like his odds to get on the floor better than Khris Middleton, the other second round pick. Viacheslav Kravtov could have a bigger role on this team if Drummond and Monroe start, but don't expect that to happen right away. Kyle Singler was a guy who made the roster after looking good during the Summer League, but I don't think he will be in the rotation unless the guys ahead of him play bad. Charlie Villanueva looked to be in better shape this year, but hopefully the Pistons don't try to put him in the rotation. I really don't see him making any news of playing better this year.

Key Player: Greg Monroe will need to make another jump to solidify the Pistons playoff chances. Monroe was another guy who could have had a solid argument to be the second All-Star Center instead of Roy Hibbert. Monroe is an underrated big man with an excellent set of tools, especially excellent passing vision. Monroe is such a good teammate that sometimes he needs to take more command of the game. If Monroe can be more of a 20 points and 12 rebound guy instead of 15 and 9, the team would benefit greatly.

11th

With a little bit of a roster makeover, the Washington Wizards are set to be better winners now. The problem is that it is questionable if they did enough.

Bradley Beal is hoping both he and the Wizards are good in his first year

Projected Starting Lineup: John Wall, PG (Injured: will miss first month); Bradley Beal, SG; Trevor Ariza, SF; Nene, PF (Injured: could miss some early time); and Emeka Okafor, C

Reserves: Jordan Crawford, SG; Trevor Booker, PF; Kevin Seraphin, C; Shelvin Mack, PG; Jan Vesely, SF; Martell Webster, SG/SF; and Chris Singleton, SF/PF

Best Possible Finish: 7th

Worst Possible Finish: 14th

Season Outlook: The Washington Wizards roster is surprisingly solid for this year, well, it was before John Wall went down. Now the Wizards are going to start the season without maybe their two best players in Wall and Nene. I would like their odds to make the playoffs much more if I wasn't uncertain on if they are going to lose a lot of momentum early in the season. The moves the Wizards made in the off season was a counter measure against their older issues. Getting experienced players in Ariza and Okafor to start at the Small Forward and Center positions. This will make for a more stable team around John Wall, which I feel the Wizards are going to make these moves because they believe in Wall. If they didn't feel Wall could become a bigger star in this league, I don't feel they would of taken on the contracts if they didn't think Wall could be their superstar. The Wizards are going to be all in on Wall, for better or worse.

        The only other off season move is the fact that they drafted Bradley Beal with the third pick of the draft. Beal is a short but strong 2 guard with a solid shooting stroke, and has potential to be a good backcourt combo with Wall. If Beal can be as good as his potential, the Wizards could have a really high ceiling. Another player that will be interesting to see if he earns a higher role from improvement is Jan Vesely. The 6th pick of the 2011 draft will be looking to have a bigger spot in the rotation. If he can be a solid option off of the bench this year it will make up for some lack of solid wing depth for Washington. This team being better this is year is more about the new additions to the starting lineup however

Key Player: John Wall needs to become a superstar if the Wizards want to win games with this roster. He was a former number one pick, so this is suppose to be an achievable goal for Wall. These next two or three years are going to be crucial for Wall and Washington.

10th

The Milwaukee Bucks didn't make a ton of roster change after Monta Ellis, so they could either be in the same spot or they left the door open for other teams to compete.

Can Milwaukee's electric back court make a playoff push?

Projected Starting Lineups: Brandon Jennings, PG; Monta Ellis, SG; Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, SF; Ersan Ilyasova, PF; and Samuel Dalembert, C

Reserves: Mike Dunleavy, SG/SF; Drew Gooden, PF; Ekpe Udoh, C; Larry Sanders, PF; Tobais Harris, SF; Beno Udrih, PG; John Henson, PF; and Doron Lamb, SG

Best Possible Finish: 7th

Worst Possible Finish: 11th

Season Outlook: The Bucks are a pretty well known team compared to these others, their additions are only Dalembert, Henson, and Lamb. Last season this roster made out to be the 9th best team in the East, and went 13-11 after acquiring Monta Ellis. If no other team in the East made a roster change, the Bucks would be slotted 7th or 8th. On top of Monta Ellis, Ersan Ilyasova is hoping to keep up his higher level of play. Ersan saw his PER jump from 14.4 to 20.5, which is a very large leap in overall performance. Ersan was actually the team leader in this category, and saw easily his best season for Offensive Rating and Offensive Win Shares. He has established himself as the third option in the Milwaukee offense. The only question with Ersan going forward is that maybe he only just shot the ball well last season. His True Shooting and Effective Field Goal Percentages deviate from the standard quite a bit. So was he improved, or did he only enjoy a season of good shooting.

       The Milwaukee Bucks did something they hadn't done before this year, play fast. Last year the Bucks were 3rd in the league in pace, while the two years before they were 19th and 25th. Having Monta Ellis on the roster is a fuel injection to the speed of the offense, and it seems Ersan likes the pace better. The Bucks were 13th in Offensive Rating and 16th in Defensive Rating. Something that I think Scott Skiles will approach in the off season. A player that might see some time in fact of this is Larry Sanders. Sanders is a long, lanky, defense oriented player. Sanders put up a Block % of 8.9, a high number considering that Serge Ibaka put up a 9.8%. On offense Sanders leaves a lot to be desired, but this can be covered up by pairing him with Jennings, Ellis, and Ersan. Don't expect a lot of time for Henson or Lamb, as Skiles doesn't like to play rookies a whole lot. As for Samuel Dalembert, he is actually a great fit for Milwaukee. He led his team in Defensive Win Shares, and had a higher number than any Buck. Dalembert is also a true Center, something that may be a little overrated but the Bucks still lacked. Dalembert also put up a higher Total Rebound Percentage than any Milwaukee Buck, proving he fills a big hole regardless of talent level.

Key Player: Brandon Jennings is no longer the lone sheriff in town and is no more of a 2nd option or 1B with Monta Ellis on the team. So now Jennings needs to work on being more effective without scoring the basketball. Jennings is a career 27.5% on Assist Percentage. Now sure he will never be a Rondo at the point (who posted a 52.5% last season), but Jennings can certaintly raise his 5.5 Assists Per Game. Jennings also saw his lowest total on Defensive Win Shares in his career last season, but this could be a number of things. Honestly, I think Jennings was broken down more on the defensive end last year because he was attacked more than previous seasons. Jennings doesn't have to be great, but if he can return to the form he had the other two seasons and be better at setting up teammates. Milwaukee can certainty be a better basketball squad.

9th:

It really is hard to see the Chicago Bulls getting in the playoffs without Derrick Rose, especially after their offseason additions. Which is really a sad scenario quite frankly

Derrick Rose leaves behind a big void in Chicago

Projected Starting Lineup: Kirk Hinrich, PG; Richard Hamilton, SG; Luol Deng, SF; Carlos Boozer, PF; and Joakim Noah, C

Reserves: Derrick Rose, PG (Injured: projected to be out at least half the season); Taj Gibson, PF; Jimmy Butler, SF; Marco Belenelli, SG; Nazr Mohammed, C; Nate Robinson, PG/SG; Valdimir Radmanovic, PF; and Marquis Teague, PG

Best Possible Finish: 3rd

Worst Possible Finish: 12th

Season Outlook: Boy, it sure is hard to look at Chicago's upcoming season and be happy about it. Derrick Rose is about to miss half the season, at least, and the bench mob is gone. What has replaced the bench mob, is quite frankly not on par with the missing pieces. Asik is probably the biggest void, as it is hard to see Nazr Mohammed bringing the same caliber of defense. A lot of the season hinges on Rose's return, there is no doubt about that. I personally see them being more cautious than anything about bringing Rose back this year. He just is so young, and has so many years in front of him, that they need to keep the long term value of having the league's youngest MVP. Chicago's season, good or bad, will have some simple answers on why it went that way.

Key Player: Carlos Boozer wasn't paid this kind of money to be disappointing in Chicago, and the Bulls need him now more than ever. If Boozer can be an effective first option on offense, the Bulls will have a much easier time keeping the ship afloat. If Boozer plays like he has been, it could be tough sailing on the Bulls ship.

(stats courtesy of BasketballReference.com and images courtesy of Google Images) 

The Return of a Cult Icon: Rasheed Wallace

As the Jay-Z song in NBA 2K13 perfectly puts it: "Allow me to reintroduce myself."

   
        It's been two years, twoooo looooonnggg Sheedless years. The wait however is over, Rasheed Wallace has officially signed a contract with the Knicks for $1.7 million dollars (insert fist pump). One of the main icons of the early 2000's NBA bad boy, hip-hop era is back. Out of all of them, he was definitely the most quotable. Just look at this:

And feel free to look at this:

Not only was Ball Don't Lie quotable, it has quite frankly become a figure of speech many people watching any sport now uses. There are definitely people out there who didn't know who Rasheed Wallace was that quoted this. Rasheed was also really good at getting ejected, so good he didn't even have to say a word:

But when Rasheed opens his mouth it is just as fun:

Including opening his mouth to spit some hot-fire freestyle raps:

So a very exciting welcome back to the NBA for Rasheed Wallace, can't wait to see what you get into this year.

Stern's New Rule May Be A Flop (Puns!)

     David Stern today instituted the flopping penalty in the NBA, after a season where flopping was definitely gaining more and more criticism by the day. It's intentions are definitely not something to be questioned, getting rid of a popular play in the NBA that is based on fooling a referee. Player's have used flopping as one of their main skills to stop the opponent from scoring, which in no way anyone can say is the way the game should be played. The way the penalties are set up, a player will get a warning the first offense. Then will have a fines of $5,000, $10,000, $15,000, and $30,000 in order on the next 4 offenses. On the 6th offense going forward, a player can be up for suspension (which no where I have seen is specific on if it carries over to the playoff or not). Now there is no doubt that this rule institution has the right mind set, but in order for this to have the positive impact on the game it will be need to govern correctly.
      The issue is going to be what the interpretation of what is a flop, and the consistency of what makes a flop. The rule is going to have to be consistently governed, because if not things could get messy really fast. Can you imagine if LeBron James gets suspended from a flop on a prime time game in May that is very similar to one Kent Bazemore gets away with on a random Wednesday in January. The fans won't react to the gray area of the calls very well, and I can see SportsCenter running a "plays that weren't called flops" segment if a star finds himself punished unfairly. The issue isn't the intentions of this rule, because as already said the intentions are golden. There just may be more problems created from the rule being implemented than problems removed by the rule.
      The next issue, is that quite frankly that the NBA world may of been better off by keeping flopping involved in the game. NBA player's are hyper competitive people that will use any means necessary to win basketball games. Tricking referees into calls has been something that is been a part of the game for years, and flopping was just a newer means to do so. Reggie Miller is someone every Pacers fan loves and greatly respects, and yet Reggie would always use methods to trick the refs and get fouls called on his opponent that aren't fair. Watching Reggie antagonize John Starks in 1994 is a clear example of this. It was in a way fun to see Reggie get Starks all riled up by pushing him around, to finally get Starks to push back leading to a foul on Starks. This is just another way to mislead refs into the wrong call, and Reggie would never get fined. Sure, last season we saw flopping probably reach an all time high in the NBA. This is something that during a game to watch can be disappointing, and something that really couldn't be ignored. The only thing is if the NBA's office doesn't take care of this in the right manner, however, it really can be more detrimental to the league than helpful.

The Impact of John Wall's Injury

       It was learned today that John Wall is going to be out for 8 weeks with a stress injury to his right knee, injecting a little bit of disappointment in the beginning of the Wizards' season. The 2012-13 Wizards were coming into the season with a little bit more hope than the previous year. With as revamped of a roster you can say you have by adding some players who may have had their best years behind them in Emeka Okafor, Trevor Ariza, and more time with Nene (don't forget Martell Webster!). This year however, has more about what Washington has gotten rid of their very poor team chemistry around Wall. 

       In essence this planned to be a key season in both the career of John Wall and the Wizards organization, as both were looking to make the leap to the next level. Not insinuating that the Wizards were on the brink of being a successful playoff team, but being on the 11-14 end of the lottery wasn't that crazy of an idea. As for Wall, there was talk of him regressing in his second year or that he didn't improve enough. Yes, the numbers don't lie, Wall did not do the things like work on his jump shot (down from 29.6% to a 7.1% where he completely aborted it) and yes Wall did turn the ball over more instead of showing more experience. How can you blame him though when he had to deal with JaVale McGee making Not Top 10 every night, Andray Blatche who's name is synonymous with wasted potential, and Nick "Swaggy P" Young who is known for his ridiculous clothes and being unwilling to pass. Really you stare at Wall's stats per 40 minutes and really, other than the 3 point shooting, it is sort of hard to distinguish his two years. With the lineups the Wizards were putting out there, staying the same isn't a glaring red flag in my opinion.

       Wall's third year, which may deem to be crucial, now though will be delayed. The good news is that the first 31 days of this injury will be before the season start. The bad news is getting off on the right step, plus putting in some work on the jumper, may have been exactly what Wall and Washington would have needed.With all the moves on the roster (didn't mention that Bradley Beal is now in the backcourt), the team chemistry is much needed. Especially with the man who leads the offense, getting off to a good start as the new look team could be the difference in squeaking in the playoffs, and watching the ping pong balls like the last two years. Wall's talent is there, and the roster is now much more tooled so this number one pick is closer to the same level as other number one picks Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin. The only question now is will a loss of momentum lead to both the player and team being stuck in the same rut. The talent is there though, and I am definitely rooting for Wall to elevate himself from a great talent to the class of elite point guards. If the Wizards futility leaves you confused on what kind of ability he has there is always this:

John Wall Top 10 2011-2012 Video