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State of the Organization: Memphis Grizzlies

Aug 022012

Players Lost: Gilbert Arenas (Free Agent), Dante Cunningham (Signed with Minn. Wolves for 3 yrs/7mil.), O.J. Mayo (Signed with Mavs for 2 years/8.5 mil.), Jeremy Pargo (Traded to Cavs),

The only story here is the not surprising decision to decline a qualifying offer to O.J. Mayo as he enters into his fifth NBA season. After his first two years where he averaged 18 PPG, 3 APG, 1 SPG, 38% 3P, and 44% FG, things began to fall apart for O.J. Character issues such as fighting with veteran teammate Tony Allen, being late for practices, and failing a drug test for illegal substances have correlated with a significant decrease in playing time and reduced productivity (12PPG, 2 APG, 1 SGP, 36% 3P, 40 FG%). After starting the first 164 games of his career, Mayo didn’t start a single game this past season and saw his minutes drop from 38 MPG to 26 MPG. With that said, it was time for a change of scenery for both player and team alike. Mayo’s productivity his first two seasons was no fluke, and with a shortage of Two Guards in the league who can shoot and pass with decent size (6’4”, 210LB) Mayo is a valuable commodity that no longer fit on a talented Memphis roster.

However, in an NBA where teams are strapped for cap room and always looking for picks, letting a valuable commodity like Mayo go for nothing can never be applauded (ahem Knicks). It is unclear what due diligence the Grizzlies did to find a sign and trade option for Mayo.
1-10 Players Lost Score: 7

Players Obtained: Jerryd Bayless (FA, 2 yrs, 6 mil.), Wayne Ellington (Traded for D.Cunningham)

With the Grizzlies looking like they were going to boast a backup backcourt consisting of Josh Selby and Tony Wroten, they needed to make a move; that move turned out to be Bayless and Wayne Ellington. Now Bayless may have some talent, but he can hardly be considered as good as Mayo, even with Mayo’s reduced productivity. Even on a team desperate for talent like the Raptors, Bayless was unable to impress—evidenced by the fact they declined his rather affordable option but didn’t hesitate to commit 19 million to the loveable but limited Landry Fields.

Their acquisition of Wayne Ellington for the very expendable and non-descript Dante Cunningham (and a 2^nd rounder) doesn’t really do much for their backcourt either. While a talented three point shooter, Ellington is unlikely to develop much more in his fourth season having barely scored above 40% from the field and only 32% on three pointers last season.
1-10 Players Obtained Score: 5

Short Term Outlook: The Grizzlies go into the 2012-13 campaign boasting the same talented roster they had last year with a legitimate shot at beating out the aging Spurs and Mavericks for the best record in the Southwest. Much will hinge on whether Randolph has fully recovered from his knee injury and will be able to return to 2010-11 form. Regardless of Randolph’s injury, the Grizzlies will feature newly minted All-Star Marc Gasol—who looks to be one of the top 5 centers in the NBA. Rudy Gay appears to have hit his ceiling in his NBA career, but that ceiling is plenty high, as long as Gay is healthy, he is an effective wing man that provides an excellent outlet to his big men down below. While winning the division is one thing, Mike Conley must improve upon his mediocre numbers for this team to excel in the playoffs. In a league filled with PG talent, Conley’s acceptable play is not enough—particularly when considering his heavy contract. 2011-12 may come down to the Grizzlies upgrading at the PG position, whether it is bringing in a veteran backup or reshaping their backcourt entirely.
1-10 Short Term Outlook Score: 8

Long Term Outlook: In the movie Sandlot, the Beast supposedly ate 173 guys, meanwhile, neophyte Grizzlies owner Robert Pera Jr. will eat 173 million dollars over the next three seasons as that is what he owes the core of Gasol, Randolph, Gay and Conley. While the young owner may be able to do his best Cuban impression and provide the money to bring a championship team out of his corner stone players, there is also the possibility he will tire of a team without a featured scorer, an overpaid point guard, and a mercurial PF who is turning 32 and coming back from a serious injury.

The talent is there, the team chemistry continues to build, and a cornerstone, young center like Gasol is hard to come by. Despite arguably getting worse this off-season, this Grizzlies team needs to win now, but with proper guidance should be able to transition into a post Randolph team built around Gay and Gasol.
1-10 Long Term Outlook Score: 9

State of the Organization Index: 29 out of 40

Courtesy of bleacherreport.net

NBA Free Agents 2012: Courtney Lee is the Perfect SG for the Boston Celtics

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Jul 132012

The Boston Celtics should aggressively pursue young shooting guard Courtney Lee because he is a player who can add athleticism and spectacular defense to the roster.

However, the Celtics aren’t the only team that view Lee as an option in free agency, according to Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe.

Just spoke with Courtney Lee, who said he’s interested in the #celtics but the money has to be right. Said more than 8 teams interested

— gary washburn (@GwashNBAGlobe) July 9, 2012

The Celtics’ lack of salary cap space has forced them to attempt to acquire Lee via a sign-and-trade only.

With the Celtics drafting three quality players in the 2012 NBA draft—including two first-round picks—general manager Danny Ainge can afford to part ways with a draft pick in a possible sign-and-trade for Lee.

Lee, 26, has good size for a shooting guard at 6’5,” 200 pounds. He has plenty of experience as a bench player, but has also started 135 games during his four-year career.

Here are some notable stats for Lee from the 2011-12 season.

GP	PPG	APG	RPG	FG%	FT%
58	11.4	1.5	2.7	.433	.826

Adding Lee would give the Celtics a better roster than they had last year. He could be the final piece to a roster that Ainge has carefully crafted following the team’s heartbreaking loss to the Miami Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Ainge could always bring back veteran Mickael Pietrus if he can’t sign Lee, but the former Western Kentucky guard should be his first choice.

Follow @NicholasGoss35

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Jeremy Lamb to Rockets: Scouting Report, Video Highlights and Analysis

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Jun 282012

After two years at UConn, Jeremy Lamb is ready to take the NBA by storm.

Lamb enters the NBA after a strong sophomore campaign that saw him average 17.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. After a freshman year in the shadow of Kemba Walker, Lamb emerged as UConn’s top scorer last season.

He joins UConn center Andre Drummond as underclassmen prospects selected in this year’s first round. And as one of the top shooting guards entering this year’s draft, Lamb should be able to make an instant impact this season.

Let’s get to know the high-scoring Husky a little better.

What Lamb Brings to the Team

In some ways, Lamb failed to live up to expectations in 2011-12. While he led UConn in scoring, he was also prone to disappearing for stretches and didn’t dominate as some projected he would.

Year	MPG	FG%	3P%	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG
2010-11	27.8	.487	.368	11.1	4.5	1.6	0.9
2011-12	37.2	.478	.336	17.2	4.9	1.7	1.2

On the other hand, Lamb’s game is clearly still developing and his potential is huge. The fact that he moves well without the ball and is such a smooth shooter means he won’t need to have great ball-handling skills to be a solid offensive player at the next level.

He looks like he can fill a similar role to a player like Richard Hamilton, giving defenders headaches with his constant motion and ability to catch and shoot effectively. And with good size and wingspan for the shooting guard position, he’ll be an effective defender as well.

He’ll never be the primary scoring option for a team—I don’t think he has the mentality for that—but if he reaches his upside, he should be an excellent complementary piece and a No. 2 or No. 3 scoring option.

What Experts Are Saying

Chad Ford of ESPN (Insider) offered the following scouting report on Lamb:

He looks the part of a lottery pick and has one of the craziest wingspans of anyone in the draft for his size. He’s added some muscle to his frame—especially in the shoulder area. He shot the ball terrifically from everywhere on the floor. He’s very quick for a guard his size and has a smooth athleticism that allows him to glide around the floor.

Adding muscle to that frame will be key for Lamb in the NBA. If he doesn’t he’ll get beat up, plain and simple.

Rookie Impact

I don’t think Lamb will win Rookie of the Year, but I think he is perfectly capable of pitching in 10-12 points and 25 minutes a game next season.

Two years of play in the tough Big East should help his learning curve, and the fact that he is such a good shooter makes him more likely to have an impact early. He’ll get pushed around a little and he may even seem tentative at times, but he’ll impress with his movement off the ball and silky jumper.

Pick Analysis

Jeremy Lamb is a smooth guard who can score with ease. At 6’7”, Lamb has the length to shoot over most guards and put up points from the perimeter. Lamb’s slender frame could be an issue, as he will likely have trouble attacking the rim and fighting off bigger, stronger defenders.

Hit me up on Twitter—my tweets have a huge ceiling.

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Jeremy Lin: New York Knicks Cannot Topple Miami Heat Without Star PG

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Jun 262012

The New York Knicks need Jeremy Lin if they are going to unseat the defending champion Miami Heat. At this point, the defending champions don’t look beatable.

How did the Knicks fare without Lin in Round 1 of the 2012 NBA playoffs?

Wisely, the Knicks are putting the heat on the free agent to re-sign as quickly as possible. Reports from multiple outlets have detailed the Knicks’ management are putting on a “full-court press” in order to retain the star point guard.

For a team that is full of distractions, ranging from Amar’e Stoudemire’s fire extinguisher accident and recent Twitter infraction to Carmelo Anthony’s “ball-hog” problems, the last thing it needs is a drawn-out courtship of Lin this offseason.

Lin was a level-headed and role model-type player amid the heat of the Big Apple. It never got to Lin.

One thing became very clear over the past week: The Miami Heat are the gold standard in the NBA. If the Knicks have any prayer of toppling that team, it is going to need the explosive and dynamic element that Lin brings to their team.

But is Lin enough?

Lin brings a unique skill set to the floor that the Knicks just don’t have without him out there. He’s a “creator.” His excellent perimeter game opens up lanes that he exploits in order to find open teammates.

An impressive stat line of 14.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG and three APG in only 25 starts helped coin the phrase “Linsanity” last season. While he may have flamed out after an impressive start, he has shown that he has the ability to play at a high level in the NBA.

Don’t forget his late-game heroics. Lin has the “it” factor that coaches look for in every NBA-caliber player. Some never reach that point—they don’t have to worry about that with Lin. He’s already there and will only continue to get better with time.

The point guard position is one of the perceived “weaknesses” of the Heat’s otherwise impressive lineup. With Lin in the game, the Heat will likely be forced to rotate LeBron James to defend him on defense (as they did in the regular season). This will free up Carmelo Anthony to do to what he does best: score buckets.

Hopefully, the Knicks’ front office sees the importance of Lin as they attempt to build a team capable of beating the “Dream Team” down in South Beach.

Follow Mike on Twitter @BigHoagowski

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Andrew Nicholson: Highlights, Analysis and Pro Projections

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Jun 202012

Andrew Nicholson is the most skilled post player in this draft, but hailing from St. Bonaventure and possessing less-than freakish athleticism will keep him out of the lottery. Nicholson led the Bonnies to an NCAA tournament appearance.

He is the rare four-year player projected for the first round of the NBA draft. In his senior season Nicholson averaged 18.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and two blocks per game. His game is not flashy, but it’s effective.

Nicholson is already a legend on the St. Bonaventure campus. His arrival and presence has meant so much to the program. Pete Thamel of the NY Times speaks to Nicholson’s impact on the Bonnies:

If that confluence of events appears improbable, consider the results that Nicholson produced since arriving four years ago. He is poised to become the rare physics major to be picked in the first round of the N.B.A. draft. He has emerged as the face of the university in the wake of a searing scandal nine years ago and has carried a program with the smallest budget in the Atlantic 10 to the N.C.A.A. tournament.

Nicholson has been called the eighth-best PF prospect in this draft, and compared to David West by ESPN’s Chad Ford. But I think he is better than eighth and a different player than West.

He possesses advanced post skills, and he is longer and leaner than West. They both have simplistic but effective games, but I believe there is a better comparison.

Here is a scouting report on Nicholson, highlighting his strengths and weaknesses.

(Height, weight and stats per statsheet.com)

Profile

Height: 6’9″

Weight: 240 pounds

School: St. Bonaventure

Date of Birth: December 8, 1989

Best NBA Position: Power Forward

College Stats: 18.7 PPG, 30.1 MPG, 57.1 FG%, 43.4 3FG%, 77.6 FT%, 1 APG, 8.4 RPG, 2 BPG, 0.7 SPG

Skill Grades

Athleticism: B+

Size: A-

Intangibles: A+

Rebounding: B-

Ball Handling: B+

Defense: B+

Shooting: A+

Passing: B-

Post Game: A+

Basketball IQ: A

Upside: A

Strengths

Nicholson has decent height that is augmented by his formidable wingspan. He has decent mass, and the frame to add needed strength. Maturity shouldn’t be an issue for Nicholson. He is a four-year college player, and he’ll turn 23 during his rookie season. He is very coachable and a leader by example.

He has the most developed set of post moves in the draft. His footwork is extremely advanced, and he loves the drop step. He can finish with either hand, face-up and knock down the jump shot or take the ball to the rim.

He shows a very good understanding of the game, especially offensively, and an overall high basketball IQ. Because of his scoring ability he has a lot to offer a team looking for a young post scorer.

Take a look at the footwork and touch from Nicholson:

Weaknesses

Nicholson is just an average athlete. He doesn’t have an explosive first step. What he does on offense is more about technique than it is about athleticism.

This is good and bad.

If you combine great technique with great athleticism you have a special player. Nicholson only has one of the two things. He is a decent rebounder, but sometimes he tends to fall asleep in this area, especially on defense.

As a ballhandler he doesn’t have advanced dribble-drive moves. Though this isn’t a huge issue, it would make his already solid offensive game even better. Nicholson could also stand to improve his passing out of double teams.

Sometimes he forces things, and this could be due to playing with talent that wasn’t on his level, but he must be a more willing passer out of the post.

NBA Player Comparison

Slightly More Athletic Zach Randolph (Right-Handed Of Course)

Charles Barkley once said that Randolph had an “effective ugly game.” It’s true there is nothing flashy about what Randolph does, but when you look at the box score he has often tallied 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Randolph has great footwork, long arms and a great shooting touch around the basket. He can also step out to 17 feet and knock down jump shots. At 6’9″, 253 pounds Randolph and Nicholson are nearly the same size, but Randolph is a little bulkier.

Nicholson can easily add the bulk, but the skill set is similar and Nicholson won’t take as long to mature mentally. Z-Bo has averaged 17 points and nine rebounds in his 11-year career.

His lack of athleticism and possibly some questions about his attitude had him drafted 19th overall in 2001.

Despite averaging 20-and-10 six times in his career, he has only made one All-Star appearance and one All-NBA team (2010). This may seem like a lofty comparison, but Nicholson is a player, and he will surprise people if he’s given the opportunity.

Draft Projection

Late First Round

Follow Brian Mazique and Franchiseplay.net for reactions, analysis and news from the world of sports and sports video games.

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Miami Heat: Game 6 Against Boston Celtics Is Biggest Game of LeBron James Career

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Jun 062012

If you haven’t heard, the Miami Heat are on the brink of elimination from the 2012 NBA playoffs, courtesy of the Boston Celtics.

With the last two games being decided by an average of just three points, it’s clear that while the Celtics are up three games to two on the Heat, both teams are equally alive in this series.

On Thursday night the Eastern Conference finals will head to Boston for an absolutely epic Game 6 showdown, and that game will not only impact who reaches the NBA finals, it will also impact the way that LeBron James is revered for the rest of his career.

There’s no doubt that LeBron has been an absolute beast during the 2012 playoffs. Just take a look at his playoff averages so far.

LeBron James (Playoffs)—29.9 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.1 STLPG, 49.6 FG%

Out of any player left in the playoffs this year, LeBron is averaging the most points per game, and he’s doing so with the second-highest field goal percentage for players averaging more than 25 points per game—behind only Kevin Durant, who’s shooting 50.4 percent with 27.4 points per game.

None of that will matter though if LeBron doesn’t will the Heat out of the Eastern Conference finals.

The fact that LeBron won his third MVP award in nine years and that he averaged the highest combination of points/assists/rebounds this past season, with averages of 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game, all won’t matter if his historical 2011-12 season ends on Thursday night.

I’ve written articles about games that would impact LeBron’s legacy and alter the way the public views him, but there has never been a game as important to LeBron’s legacy than Thursday night’s game against the Celtics.

Against the Celtics, nearly the same team that was the bane of LeBron’s existence in Cleveland, LeBron has certainly thrived. Just check out his stats through five games against the Celtics in the playoffs.

LeBron vs. Celtics (5 games)—31.8 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 4.0. APG, 50.0 FG%

Not only is LeBron averaging a double-double against the Celtics, he’s doing so while also managing to shoot 50 percent from the field.

Shockingly enough, that’s not the kind of LeBron James the Heat need to help them beat the Celtics. Sure, LeBron’s 30-plus point performances have helped the Heat win two games in the series, but that’s not enough moving forward.

The Heat need the LeBron that dropped 40 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists on 51.9-percent shooting against the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. That’s also the LeBron that LeBron himself needs when it comes to the development of a lasting legacy in the ranks of the NBA elite.

The next two games in the Eastern Conference finals will absolutely define the legacy LeBron leaves once he leaves the NBA.

There won’t be two games though if LeBron fails to have an absolutely epic Game 6 performance on Thursday night.

The kind of opportunity that lies before LeBron heading into Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals is one that comes by once in a lifetime.

Thursday night’s matchup with the Celtics is LeBron’s final chance to prove that he’s the player we all know he can be. It’s his chance to prove that he’s truly the most valuable player in the ranks of the NBA.

LeBron already knows what it feels like to walk out of TD Garden on the losing end of the Eastern Conference finals—it happened during 2009-10 season in Game 6.

The ball is in your court LeBron. What are you going to do with it?

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Harrison Barnes: Comparing UNC Star to Indiana Pacers’ Danny Granger

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May 212012

Let’s get one thing clear here—Harrison Barnes will never be a player like LeBron James, Kevin Durant or Paul Pierce in the NBA. He doesn’t have that sort of ability.

But he can, and I believe will, be a very good NBA player. If I were projecting his upside, I’d ask you to look no further than the man currently doing battle with King James in the NBA playoffs, Danny Granger of the Indiana Pacers.

Both players are long wings who are at their best catching and shooting, boasting excellent mid-range jumpers and the ability to hit three-point shots. Each rebounds fairly well for their position and plays solid if not excellent defense.

Barnes struggles more trying to create his own shot than Granger does, who is far better at getting to the bucket than the North Carolina prospect. In general, Barnes is not very good off the dribble, rarely getting to the rim and struggling to find open teammates.

There is the danger that he’ll never develop past a one-trick pony in the NBA.

Let’s compare the two in college for a moment. Since Granger stayed in school for four years but only played 14 games in his sophomore campaign, we’ll compare his junior numbers at New Mexico in 2003-04 to Barnes’ sophomore numbers this season at North Carolina.

Keep in mind, Barnes compiled his marks in the superior ACC.

Player	PPG	RPG	APG	FG%	3FG%
Danny Granger	19.5	9.0	2.1	.491	.333
Harrison Barnes	17.1	5.2	1.1	.440	.358

Barnes is going to score in the NBA, I don’t doubt that. He has a good feel for the game, and frankly, he’s been a consistent scorer on every level.

His ability to catch and shoot with ease and precision makes him a valuable commodity, namely for a team with a strong point guard who will find Barnes in open spots on the court.

But he’ll need to get stronger, improve his handle and work on his burst, or defenders will simply pressure him and stay in his face. If teams don’t respect his ability to beat anyone off the drive, he’ll be smothered defensively and will have problems getting that silky jumper off.

If he improves that aspect of his game, he’ll be a similar player to Granger, a guy most teams would love to have manning the 3 and certainly worth a top-five or top-10 pick. I don’t know if he’ll be as fiery as Granger has proven to be in his current series against the Heat, but he should be as effective.

If not, Barnes will never be anything more than a decent player who shoots well but only scores if the offense is run his way. And that most certainly is not worth such a high selection in the draft.

Hit me up on Twitter—my tweets will gladly have another as well.

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Ranking Ramon Sessions and Kobe Bryant’s Best Point Guards

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Apr 132012

Since being acquired by the Los Angeles Lakers on the March 15th deadline, Ramon Sessions has been outstanding.

He shoots over 50 percent from the field, scores 13 PPG and dishes out seven APG—great numbers.

Sessions hasn’t been the only productive point guard in the Bryant era—there are actually quite a few.

And by a few, I really mean just a few.

Since entering the NBA, Kobe Bryant has played alongside 18 point guards, some starters and some bench players.

While some have been really good, some have been rather unproductive, to put it nicely.

So, without further ado, here’s a ranking of the best point guards that Bryant has played with.

Note: For each point guard, I evaluated how they produced while they played with the Lakers during the Bryant era—I didn’t consider their entire career.

Begin Slideshow

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New York Knicks Fans to Mike D’Antoni: Put J.R. Smith in the Starting Lineup

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Mar 072012

I would like to start this article off by saying I am a believer in Mike D’Antoni, I am a believer in Jeremy Lin, I am a believer in Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, and I believe in this New York Knicks team.

As I sat with my friends watching the Knicks face the Mavericks, pining for the days of Linsanity and hoping upon hope they wouldn’t break my heart as they have done so many times before, it struck me as to what ails the Knicks.

The three ball.

As a young coach myself using the modern marvel of YouTube, I looked at the evolution of Linsanity Knicks to the new-look Knicks with fresh eyes and dissected what has become of them. Let me take you back.

Stoudemire is out, Melo is hurt, and this young kid has just willed his way to a win against the Nets, yet the season outlook still seems bleak. Then something happens—D’Antoni’s vaunted offense appears, the Knicks are beating teams they have no business beating, hope is restored to a once failed season, and a new craze is born.

Now Melo and Stoudemire return to the starting lineup and suddenly the offense isn’t quite so crisp, the front line seems stagnant, and the second team is outplaying the first on their way to a 2-3 record since.

The gut reaction is simple and predictable:

Trade Melo.

Trade Stoudemire.

Bench Lin.

Deal for Dwight Howard.

Stoudemire’s surgery has finally caught up with him.

I want to put you minds at ease, NY: Melo and Amar’e are not the problem. And I promise you this team has the pieces to win the NBA title. As much as it pains me to say it, Landry Fields is what’s standing between the Knicks and dominance.

Now, I am not saying Landry should be buried on the bench—he has earned his PT and is a vital piece of this team’s championship dreams. What I am saying is that his role should be captain of the Legion of Boom (the Knicks’ second unit).

The Knicks starting five currently is as follows: Jeremy Lin, Landry Fields, Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler.

This is an energetic, talented and dangerous group, but they have one glaring issue: the three ball. As a unit, this group is shooting less than 35 percent. To most teams this is irrelevant, but for the Knicks, it’s their Achilles’ heel.

Anybody who watched the NBA Finals last year has a newfound respect for the 2-3 zone, as it relegated the Miami Heat to a jump-shooting team—not exactly their forte—and caused a stunning upset by the upstart Mavericks.

What I saw against the elite defenses of the Celtics and Mavericks, and even the bad defenses of the Bobcats and Nets, is that to beat the Knicks’ starting five, teams have switched to the 2-3 zone. By virtue of shooting so poorly from three, no defense has any respect for the arc.

This does three major things against New York: layers can leave Landry on the arc to trap Lin coming around the pick; when Stoudemire or Lin drive the lane, the bigs can now collapse in on the basket and shut down the paint; and it is very easy to bring the double against Melo in the mid-range—all of this stems from knowing that the Knicks cannot kick out to the arc and drain an easy three.

Here is the Legion of Boom: Baron Davis, J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, Steve Novak, Jared Jeffries.

A lot has been said how this group has been beating the starters in practice and saving the Knicks in games. I will tell you right now, it is not because they are better. They are better suited for D’Antoni’s offense.

It is no secret that when Steve Novakaine is on the floor, the Knicks seem to do way better. I will tell you why: When Novak is hanging around the arc, that 2-3 zone suddenly becomes very dicey as it is designed to protect the paint, not the arc. Having that stretch three-point shooter is key to D’Antoni’s offense.

What this second unit has is a excellent mix of snipers (Smith and Novak), driving (Baron and Shumpert) and a solid pick man in Jeffries. When they are on the floor, the vaunted D’Antoni offense takes shape and it is some of the most exciting basketball I have ever seen.

And finally, why is J.R. Smith the answer to the Knicks’ problems?

Smith has matured as a player, as a man and finally as a role player—he’s just playing the wrong role. While in China, his not speaking the language allowed him to focus on one thing and one thing only: playing basketball. His energy, defense and sniping are assets that the starting five desperately misses. The results speak for themselves.

Year	FIBA	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	PPG	APG	SPG	RPG	BPG
2011-12	CBA	Zhejiang Golden Bulls	32	8	36.4	.517	.478	.758	34.4	4.1	2.5	7.4	0.1

By moving Smith to the starting lineup, by moving that stretch shooting guard to a unit that desperately needs help beyond the arc, this Knicks team becomes the deadliest team in the league.

The Knicks’ new starting five: Jeremy Lin, J.R. Smith, Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler.

Legion of Boom: Baron Davis, Iman Shumpert, Landry Fields, Steve Novak, Jared Jeffries.

When the threes, or even the threat of threes, are on the floor, all kinds of space opens up on the inside. With a three-point threat like Smith and Novak constantly lurking beyond the arc, the 2-3 zone will disappear, allowing Lin the space required to work his magic. The second unit will still be dangerous as Novak is not moving to the starting lineup any time soon and Baron constitutes the greatest backup point guard in the league.

The Knicks don’t need any more pieces, and they don’t need to make an unnecessary trade. The keys to their success are right in front of them.

Take me to the Garden—I still believe!

What are your thoughts?

Hit me up here or on Twitter @PhilRusso55.

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LeBron James: Why the King Is the NBA’s MVP so Far This Season

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Feb 022012

Coming off of a season filled with animosity and disappointment, LeBron James is arguably playing the best basketball of his career.

James’ 2011-2012 season has seen him post the highest field goal percentage of his career so far, shooting .551 percent from the floor. Combine that with 29.1 PPG, 8.3 RPG and 7 APG, and you have your future 2011-2012 MVP.

James, who trails only Kobe Bryant for the lead in points per game by 0.8, has the Miami Heat (16-5) sitting atop the Southeast Division and only one game out of first place in the entire Eastern Conference, as the Chicago Bulls currently hold that position.

While Bryant edges James in scoring, he doesn’t have the rebound, assist or field goal percentage numbers that James possesses and his Los Angeles Lakers currently sit at No. 6 in the Western Conference standings at 13-9.

Aside from that, Bryant’s FG percentage ranks only eighth-best among all shooting guards, while James leads all small forwards in that category.

Last season’s MVP Derrick Rose has his Bulls in prime position if the playoffs were to begin tomorrow, but again, his numbers aren’t as impressive as No. 6′s.

Rose is averaging 23.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 7.8 APG and a .458 FG percentage. While James and Rose play two different positions and are expected to post different types of numbers, let’s put Rose’s numbers in perspective with other point guards.

There are seven PGs who are currently averaging more APG than Rose, including Steve Nash, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo and Ricky Rubio.

There are 10 PGs who are averaging more RPG than Rose, including John Wall, Ricky Rubio, Russell Westbrook, Andre Miller and Deron Williams.

James, on the other hand, leads all SFs in PPG, RPG, APG and FG percentage. That means he tops last season’s NBA Scoring Champion Kevin Durant in essentially every statistical category.

James also boasts the most double-doubles this season among all SFs with nine.

If James continues putting up massive numbers like this throughout the remainder of the season, he’ll undoubtedly be hoisting his third MVP trophy as the 2011-2012 MVP.

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