Lebron James: Now I Do What I Want

LeBron James: Now I Do What I Want

This blog is coming from the heart of a die-hard Lakers fan.   I wonder how many of us in the world are actually shocked he made this move?  I also wonder how many think this is well . . .random? 

One can argue that maybe since decision 1.0, but definitely since decision 2.0, LeBron James has been considering, and plotting for the perfect time in his career to join the Los Angeles Lakers.  That one is me.  I’ve sat back and watch this for so long, and pretty much wiping my brow each free agency as LeBron signed basically 1-year contracts with Cleveland, for the past 3 years.  After watching Kobe Bryant shoot two free throws after tearing his Achilles back in 2012 against the Golden State Warriors, my heart dropped because I knew we were definitely not going to get another ring anytime soon.  As a fan I can always hope, but with the talent spread across the league, and Kobe nowhere near his same self, I’m just being honest.  In 2013, Stephen A. Smith reported early on that either Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James were definitely going to sign in LA during their free agency in two years. 

 “The Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers (and of course, the Miami Heat) are the likely front-runners for James. The Lakers should have all of their contracts coming off the books in 2015, while the Cavs appear to be assembling a roster that James could compete with back in his hometown.” 

While neither LeBron James nor Carmelo Anthony actually signed there, it may have just been not the right timing. 

Ben Simmons is a long time Lakers and Magic Johnson fan.  In fact, some have said he committed to LSU because his heart towards the legendary purple and gold.  On March 14, 2016 ESPN reported that at the said time LSU freshman Ben Simmons snap chatted that he was going to be a Laker in the upcoming season.  When he got word that the Lakers got the number 2 pick of the 2016 draft lottery, he proclaimed that he was fine going number 2, and that he would force his way to LA if he had to.  In 2014 Klutch Sports hired Ben Simmons older sister paving the way to also sign him in 2016.  After holding out and not working out for any team, Ben Simmons made a decision to workout for the Sixers who held the number 1 draft pick days before the draft.  His ultimate plan to hold out and not work out for any team and force his way to the Lakers did not play out.  And of course days later, the Sixes obviously took him with their number one draft pick. 

What does Ben Simmons have anything to do with this?  Well many have said that his game is extremely similar to LeBron James as he is an unselfish pass first playmaker.  His court vision is way above average and his ceiling is so high it cannot be measured.  If Simmons had actually held out and not work out with the Sixers, could they have taken Ingram over him?  While Ingram impressed, how could the Sixers pass him up for a guy who doesn’t want to play with them anyway?  And so the Lakers draft Simmons instead . . . what room is there for LeBron James in LA?  I mean you’d have to make room for him, but being under Klutch Sports himself don’t you think they’d want to spread the market?   Was it possibly the intent all along of Klutch Sports was to manipulate Ben Simmons to shying away from forcing his way to the Lakers?  Ben Simmons has had a camera on him since he was 14 years old.  Anyone who watches for upcoming talent knew to watch for him at least five years before he was drafted.  They hired his sister two years prior to signing him to their agency and persuaded him from his dream organization.  This is chess not checkers, and the king was using rooks, not pawns to checkmate the entire NBA.  He wasn’t going to allow anyone to take that away.  Not Carmelo Anthony, not Kevin Durant, and no one else.  He had done his homework since before he decided to sign with Cleveland in his Decision 2.0.  He understood that although the numbers could never lie, how would anyone respect him as the best player if his hometown hated him and booed him every time he played in their arena?  He knew he had to go back and make things right with Cleveland before actually doing what he wanted. And what he wanted was to play for purple and gold all along, which is why he even signed with Pat Riley in Miami back in 2010.  But since he couldn’t do it and get away with it then, he knew he’d have to wait for the perfect moment in his legacy and also in the Lakers legacy. 

Kawhi Leonard Skynard: A Simple Man

July 31, 2018

Kawhi Leonard Skynard: A Simple Man

On July 18, 2018 analysts around the NBA reported Spurs’ forward, Kawhi Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors for Demar DeRozan.  Of course the NBA world wasn’t too shocked since it had been reported since the beginning of June that Leonard wanted out of San Antonio. 

For so long this had been a mystery around the league, well the question why that is.  Kawhi Leonard was the Spurs’ Super-Star forward and the NBA’s best two-way player when healthy.  And it didn’t look like either of those two things was going to change anytime soon.  During the 2017-2018 season Kawhi Leonard only played nine games.  When questions were raised as to why Leonard was not made available, the Spurs responded that he had been cleared for all basketball activity, and did not know why he was not playing.  Kawhi sought the front office and asked for a second opinion on his quad injury, which he had gotten from a collision with ZaZa Pachulia. —Resulting in Pachulia reinjuring his ankle, which he had acquired from a previous playoff game against the Rockets in game five, in the last minutes of the fourth quarter.  Leonard’s then ankle injury extended to his quad, which kept him out the remainder of the playoffs and also the first part of the 2017-2018 season.  During his nine game stint with the team he felt as though his injury was still lingering.

What’s really going on?

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:

After spending 10 days before the All-Star break in New York consulting with a specialist to gather a second opinion on his right quad injury, All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard bears the burden of determining when he’s prepared to play again, sources told ESPN.

Leonard has been medically cleared to return from the right quad tendinopathy injury, but since shutting down a nine-game return to the Spurs that ended Jan. 13, he has elected against returning to the active roster, sources said.

The uncertainty surrounding this season — and Leonard’s future which could include free agency in the summer of 2019 — has inspired a palpable stress around the organization, league sources said.

 On January 23, 2018 Jalen Rose said on First Take that Leonard wants to leave San Antonio.

“ . . . And also the way his injury situation was handled. You see him in the lineup, you see him out of the lineup. Is it his quad? What’s going on with his history? Was he misdiagnosed?

Will we look back on at this situation with his injury kind of like we’re doing with the Boston Celtics? Remember, the Celtics fired their entire staff as it related to how Isaiah Thomas’ injury was being handled because his hip was misdiagnosed.”

Seems Kawhi Leonard took the misdiagnosis quite seriously.  As should any player of his skill and caliber.  As reported by Jalen Rose, when you look back on Isaiah Thomas ‘injury, maybe had it been handled differently he would not have had to sign for the veteran’s minimum with the Denver Nuggets and would have instead been able to cash in on his $20 million pay day.  That tragedy has it’s own storyline. 

Jabari Young of MySA also reported that this was not the first misdiagnosis.

And According to ESPN‘s Michael C. Wright, an earlier misdiagnosis from 2014 may have been where this all started.

“Despite being eligible to receive a five-year super max extension this summer worth $221 million from the Spurs, Leonard wanted out of San Antonio for myriad reasons. He felt betrayed by the team for the handling of the quadriceps injury that kept him out of all but nine games last season — plus, Leonard’s camp believes the Spurs misdiagnosed a 2014 wrist injury as well — and also for the resistance encountered from the franchise when seeking outside opinions. Not to mention what seemed to be public questioning of the situation by members of the organization, with sources saying the forward had been medically cleared to play since December.”

Kawhi Leonard is a Super-Star on any team.  The Spur’s felt it more to save the face of their organization and medical staff rather than back their star-forward.  They conveyed to Kawhi how they truly valued him in comparison to the overall whole of the Spurs.  While other super-stars are, well at least given the best medical treatment, Kawhi Leonard found his accommodations landing short of this, and felt like he could not put his complete trust in them.  He wanted out and had every reason to.  But he never spoke out against the Spurs and never complained about the simplicity San Antonio had to offer him.  He even once said he’d like to stay with the Spurs forever.  Truthfully he handled the situation quite well and in the best interest of his health and body, especially if he has to retain his crown, as the best two-way player in the league.  Kawhi simply wanted better medical treatment, and no more misdiagnoses.

Trade Talk!

Soo it's the offseason for the NBA and many teams are looking to create a dynamic force like the looks of Miama with their big three leading them to a well deserved NBA title.  I do go hard for Kobe Bryant and the LA Lakers, but you gotta give credit where credit is due.. . . so now since our 2011-2012 shortened basketball season is over, I'm sure everyone is looking forward to a full 82 game 2012-2013 season!  And with that its going to be much harder and much tougher. . . some teams looking to upgrade their roster are as follows. . .

With the emergence of the newly coveted Brooklyn Nets, the have already acquired Joe Johnson and are looking to re-sign Deron Williams to star alongside with, as well as a supporting cast of Gerald Wallace and Brook Lopez. . .BUT their has been some trade talks involving Lopez and Kris Humphries going over to Orlando for arguably the best center in the league right now, Dwight Howard.  This trade will not only solidify the return of Deron Williams--who is also involved in talks with the Dallas Mavericks--but will also give them a starting line up that will eve make the defending Miami Heat shudder. . .

Steve Nash is looking to go EAST baby!  He has already met with the Toronto Raptors, and the New York Knicks. . . which will have him either playing alongside longtime teammate Amar'e Stoudemire, or back home in Canada mate lol. Either team will be more than happy with Nash.  But if he signs with the Knicks, where does that leave Jeremy Lin and other point guards traded to the team last year, to name a couple, Baron Davis and Mike Bibby??? Which is why just to be safe Jeremy Lin will be shopping around. . .

Lin actually had a meeting with the Houston Rockets today 07/03/2012.  No news yet. . . but it looks like he's trying to see how much the rest of the NBA is interested in his bursting personality and energy he brings to the game and on the court. Talks that the Lakers are interested in him have emerged and this will be my dream come true!  Linsanity in LA yay yayy!

The Lakers are also looking to trade Bynum for Howard. . . and their are plenty of teams looking for Pau Gasol to join their roster. . . looks like the Lakers are all ears.  There is more to come with the Lakers and other teams during the off-season. . . we'll just have to wait and see what actually goes through :).

Back to the topic at hand. . .Lakers

Okay so where was I. . . oh yeah. . . the Lakers shot over 60% in the first half and 47 % for the entire game.  Andrew Bynum dominated the boards with 17 rebounds, out rebounding everyone, and Kobe did Kobe :). 

Shannon Brown can fly yes. . . it is definitely been proven.

Artest had an impressive block on George Hill, afterwards flaunting a little bit, flexing lol.  If the Lakers ever looked like a team ready for a third ring, it's now.  They snapped the Spurs 22 home game winning streak in which the last time they lost was in November, and gave the Spurs one of only twelve loses for the season, which is still very impressive.  But they did it in such a way that well if you were watching the game it made a statement.  Being a huge Lakers fan I must say, it is a joy to see them play at such a level of high intensity. 
Anyways the Lakers have a tough road trip ahead this week,  Tuesday they'll be in Atlanta facing Al Horford and the rest of the Hawks, followed by their game at Miami on Thursday which is definitely a game you don't wanna miss.  The Heat have only won to the Lakers of the top 5 teams this season, and are currently on somewhat of a losing streak. . . they don't wanna lose, and neither do the Lakers.  This is definitely a game to watch on Thursday on ESPN at 7PM ET.  You do not wanna miss.  After that, the Lakers head back to the southwest on Saturday, to go up against the Dallas Mavericks, who currently hold the number two record in the league. Then they start their week off with a game on Monday at Orlando. . .I'm hoping for a sweep in those upcoming games, which will put the Lakers on a 10 game winning streak and a number two seed in the western conference.  I'm def getting ahead of myself but with the way they've been playing there is much to be expected.  But, we shall see, go Lakers :). 

Videos

Bulls vs. Heat
Lakers vs. Spurs

Sunday Games!!!!

So many games on this Sunday to recap. . . but I just got a few games highlighted in this blog.  First off let's talk about the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls game.  I'm pretty much non-bias in this match-up but because of my competitiveness it would have been nice to see the Miami Heat take this, being down 0-2 in this match-up at the start of the game.  Unlike some other games on today (Lakers vs. Spurs) this game was one that had you on the edge of your seat.  They went out fighting and this game literally came down to the last seconds!  But, if you were watching like me, you would have noticed a generous foul call given by the refs to the Chicago Bulls.  Yes I said it! Let's be forreal any real basketball fan or player, very much so knows you DO NOT make a miscall like such in the last few seconds of the game! And they did giving the Bulls two more foul shots in which they only made one of those two.  However, the Miami Heat had a couple of more opportunities to win the game but unfortunately could not pull it off.  15.9 seconds is definitely enough time to make a shot. . . . any shot at that.  I mean at least draw the foul you know? But, neither James nor Wade could make their shots fall. . . .which resulted to a Bulls sweep in this season's match-up.  It was a good game nonetheless, but let's be forreal. . . the Miami Heat have got to do better.  Since the all-star break they have lost four of their last five games, three of them in a row.  You def expect better from this potential play-off team.  But moving on to. . .

The Lakers vs. Spurs game. . . yes yes yes, this was the most dominating game on tv today.  The Lakers held the Spurs to 34-13 in the first quarter and a 28 point lead at the half with the score being 65-37.  The Spurs never had a chance, the Lakers' defense was outstanding this game.  Not to mention they only had 2 turnovers in the first half.  They are now on a 6 game winning streak with a tough match-up ahead. . .


To be continued. . . .

Recap of Heat and Magic game

99-96. . . Magic. Yesterday's game was definitely summarized in my previous post!  The Heat came out strong, they lead by as many as 24 points by the half. . . .however. . . The Magic came out with something to prove the 2nd half.  All the defensive mistakes that were made and turnovers committed in the 1st half. . . yeah not so much the 2nd half. . . . Just like I thought. . . . Jameer Nelson had an outstanding performance but can you say Jason Richadson??? This guy had 6 out of 8 three-pointers!  It was the defensive effort put forth by the Magic, combined with some amazing offense, and capitalizing on the careless mistakes made by the Miami Heat.

The Heat haven't much to worry about in this lost though.  They have a 2-2 record vs. the Magic, and still have a    43-18 record the 2nd best on the east and let's be forreal one of the best records in the league.  If the playoffs started tomorrow, they'd still be in a better position than the Magic, and pretty good squad to go along with. Not taking anything from the Magic, who have the number 4 spot, and are finally playing back on the caliber as they were in 2009 when they went to the Finals.  But much is left in this season, about a month and half and a little less than 20 games. . . .much to be determined.

Many good games on tonight including the Lakers who must redeem themselves vs. the Charlotte Bobcats at 10:30 PM NBA LP.  But first the Bulls take on the Magic in Orlando tonight at 7PM ET on ESPN followed by the Heat at the Spurs at 9:30 PM ET on ESPN!  LET'S GO LAKERS!  
Check out this video from NBA.com  of a recap of last night's game :).

http://www.nba.com/video/games/heat/2011/03/03/0021000912_orl_mia_recap.nba/index.html


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Miami Heat vs. Orlando Magic 8PM ET TNT

Tonight the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic will be playing for the fourth and final time this season.  The Miami Heat lead this season's match up with two wins over the Magic 96-70 and 104-100.  They recently acquired Mike Bibby from the Washington Wizards who was waived after being traded for Devon Harris from the New Jersey Nets.  Carlos Arroyo was released from his contract on Tuesday which cleared a spot  on the bench for this trade.  Bibby might be exactly what the Heat need.  They recently lost to the New York Knicks which made their record 13-14 with teams above .500.  His intensity on the court might be the perfect match with the rest of the Heat. . .


On the other end of the spectrum the Orlando Magic's win of 104-95 was highlighted with many Miami Heat mistakes. . . careless turnovers, and not playing the game all the way out.  And with Jameer Nelson's recent breakout games it might be just what they need.  This game is going to be the game to watch tonight! 




The best in Florida is yet to be determined. . . .