The Truth in sports covers all things sports: NFL, NBA,NHL,WNBA,MLB,Tennis,Golf. Giving you the real truth on some of your favorite athletes like Lebron James, Tiger Woods, Peyton Manning, Kobe Bryant, Shaq, Alex Rodriguez and many more.
So I am giving you the rest of the story and my take is not colored by a cultural bias.
The lost to Orlando at home is one of the worst loses I have seen in
basketball in a long time. I have to admit I am a Lebron fan and Miami Heat supporter because of Lebron. This was a terrible lost. I put this on the coach I think the evidence is overwhelming that he is in over his head. I think he was preaching the trust stuff to Wade and Lebron in the fourth quarter trying to keep everyone else involved.
Lebron shot 73% from the field and Wade was right at 60%. Lebron was 11-15 and Wade was 10-18. How can a team with two of the top five scores in the league go 5 plus minutes and not score in the third quarter? How can you have two players of this magnitude only have 2 points in the fourth quarter? If they keep this guy as their coach they will be an early exit in the playoffs unless Wade and James decide to take matter into their own hands. Spolestra is in over his head. This task is too big for him he needs help.
Miami had this game completely under control up by 24 points and they just casually let the Magic back in the game. This was a game that told everyone a lot about this team, the coaching and their chances in the playoffs. I would be shocked if they get out of the second round with spolestra as their coach. The Heat have the talent to win it all but their coaching is terrible. This guy makes Mike Brown look like Phil Jackson.
The truth about Lebron doesn't set well with a lot of NBA people. He is being criticized for excercising his right as a free agent. I, like some people wanted him to go to Chicago but what is he doing that has not already been done?
Jordan played with two hall of famers Pippin and Rodman. Magic played with two hall of famers Kareem and Worthy. Birds played with a bunch of hall of famers Johnson, Parrish, and McHale. Kobe played with a hall of famer Shaq in his prime and Gasol who will be a hall of famer and should have been MVP of the 2010 finals.
So what's the big deal with Lebron playing with one hall of famer and an all star? Lebron is held to a higher standard because he is truly something different. In the playoffs this year he lead the team in points, assist, rebounds, block shots and steals. He has decided to go to a team where he doesn't have to do all of these things for his team to have a chance to win.
The easy cop out for Lebron would have been to stay in Cleveland where he could always have an excuse if the team didn't make it all the way and still he would be worshipped. Instead he made the hard decision to go a lead a team with two all stars and one superstar to a championship. Now he's the most hated player in Cleveland and many other people have lost respect because he is going to where he has the best chance to win.
When do you get criticized for going to the place where you have the best opportunity to win? A Rod, Sabattha, Brett Favre, Shaq to the Lakers, the big three in Boston, Randy Moss to New England. This happens all the time in sports but why is Lebron Villified when he excercises that same right? The truth, Lebron is maybe better than any of the others we have seen so we want more from him than any other player in sports history.
He will probably win 7 or 8 championships before it's all said and done. Then the argument can be had for who is the greatest of all time. He will be in that conversation. For all of those who said it's Wade's team they are right until Lebron leads them in points, assists, and blocks and win a finals MVP. He will still be the best player in the league no matter who is on his team. Shaq went to LA and won three finals MVP's with Kobe Bryant already on the Lakers. Lebron will still be the King even with Dwayne Wade on his team.
Remember Lebron didn't just join a team that was in the finals last year. This same Dwayne Wade team has not been out of the first round since they won a title with Shaq averaging 18 and 10. Remember Lebron has never lost a playoff series in the first round. Lebron's rookie year is the last year of a Lebron James team having a losing record. Wade can't say that and neither can Kobe. The rest of my take is in the Video.
The Bobcats are looking more and more like the playoff team that the fans in Carolina have been hoping for. There is a method to the Bobcats madness. How can a team that had only won one game on the road come up with back to back victories against winning teams on the road?
The second of those back to back road wins was against a Cavaliers team that had only lost 4 games at home out of about 60 home games over the past year and a half. These wins on the road are the type of wins that will give the Bobcats what Stephen Jackson said they have been missing and that's swagger on the road. A change of mindset where they expect to win on the road and expect things to go well when they travel.
That confidence also spilled over into a win against Chicago who have been playing well and had an opportunity to win a close game but the Bobcats closed the game out. It was good to see the Bobcats score the way they did but they gave up way too many points for a team that plays superior defence. With all that being said they came away with the win and are now on a three game winning streak.
If the Bobcats can go .500 on the road the rest of the season and continue to win about 70-75% of their home games they will be a lock for the 6th or 7th spot in the East. The Bobcats are starting to understand what it takes to win night in and night out and will be rewarded with their first playoff appearence at the end of this season.
Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson are the perfect one two punch. If Felton can continue to give them 10-15 a night and if the center and power forward position can give them 15-20 points a game combined this team will be a tough out even for some of the higher ranked teams in the playoffs.
Larry Brown's hand print is on this team and they are looking like a Larry Brown coached team.
This could seem like a dumb question to ask. But who is the Lakers MVP? That's actually a good question even tough it seems like the answer is an obvious one.
Well let's examine this closely. If we look at the Lakers prior to Gasol arriving they were a very average team that could not get out of the first round of the playoffs. They were hanging around the eighth spot in the west. Kobe was demanding to be traded with basically the same players other than Gasol.
Now let's take a look at the Memphis Grizzlies. This was a franchise that had done absolutely nothing since coming into the league. They moved from Vancover to get a new identity but it didn't work. The team was still losing and not competing.
Then they draft a kid from Spain a legit 7 footer in 2001 with a polished European game. Gasol goes on to win rookie of the year and establishes himself as a 20-10 guy. It doesn't matter what team you play on it's not easy being a 20-10 guy in the NBA and if you don't believe me make a list of the ones playing now.
After only 2 years after being one of the worst teams in the league their franchise player leads them to the playoffs in the western conference. The Grizzlies reached the playoffs 3 consecutive years under the leadership of Pau and then he was traded to the LA Lakers.
If Pau could lead the Grizzlies to the playoffs 3 years in a row what could he do for the Lakers? Pau's first year with the Lakers he puts up his allstar like numbers close to 20-10 and leads the Lakers to the NBA finals. This is the same Lakers team that couldn't get out of the first round after Shaq's departure.
The first full year with the Lakers Gasol goes on to lead them to a championship. The season starts with Pau out of the lineup with a badly strained hamstring and the Lakers struggle. Pau comes back and they win 10 in a row.
I am starting to get the picture the real MVP of the Lakers is Pau Gasol. Truth be told Kobe Bryant gets way too much credit Gasol is the engine that drives this championship train.
People love Kobe and he is a great one on one player but he couldn't get them out of the first round. It's no difference from Billups going to the Nuggets and providing leadership that helped Carmelo become a better team player. Why will no one admit that Gasol has done the same thing for the Lakers? It's like the elephant in the room.
If you put Kevin Durant on this Lakers team and take Kobe off they still compete for a championship. I could fill in the blank with about 10 different players. Now you tell me who is that teams MVP. There is a reason why Kobe has only won one MVP and it came at Pau's expense.
Remember folks Pau was Pau before he got to the Lakers.
I know people will say Rashard Lewis did not play and also talk about the other guy that came from the Nets who has never been a superstar. None of that matters because the truth of the matter is Shaq nuetralized Dwight Howard. If Cleveland doesn't have to double team Howard and they can hold him to less than 20 points a game they will win every time they play them. Shaq's size bothers Howard and I don't see him going for 30 in a game against Shaq. So that means no open three's for the wing players. If Shaq plays in all four games against the Magic this year I predict Cleveland will win every game.
The other thing about Cleveland that's different from Boston and Orlando they will get better up until the playoffs. Think about this Delonte West would have served his suspension or whatever, Leon Powe will see minutes, Hickson will be comfortable because of the increased minutes, and Big Z would have settled into his new role. By the allstar break this team will be recognized as the team to beat. Right now it's Boston. The Lakers they haven't beaten a contender yet.
The team that beat the Magic by 20 even though the score said 9 will only get bettter and will easily win the East and I predict win the title as well.
Lebron is the best player in the league and he makes the game look so easy when he's running and making passes and being set up for dunks and lay ups. If Williams continue to run the offense in a way that gets Lebron loose on the wing and he can get 10 easy points a game they will not lose many.
Mo Williams has a major chip on his shoulders and something to prove. He feels he let the team down in the playoffs and he is looking for redemption. If this guy averages 20 a game this year they will win 70 games.
You just got the rest of the story on the Cavs. The truth will make you free!
Allen Iverson my man, my guy, what in the world were you thinking? I wrote a column and did a you tube post begging him not to go the the Grizzlies. He is much better than this organization deserves. So why did he not go to a contender and take less money for one year. He would have been much better off with the Bobcats they need fourth quarter scoring. Just look at the game against Orlando where they were in the game but they only could score 10 points in the fourth quarter.
I blame Iverson not for wanting to start because he is 10 times better the Mike Conley Jr no disrespect but that is true. In Memphis he should be starting. I don't blame him for being upset but I blame him for going to Memphis in the first place. Even if he had to play for free I would have gone to Miami or lobbied to play with the Cavs or with the Bobcats who will make the playoffs this year. He never should have considered the Clippers or Memphis.
I really don't know how Iverson will reverse this situation maybe he can be traded to another team. Maybe the Bobcats or Cleveland but this is a mess. I blame Iverson only for his decission to play for Memphis this was a big mistake. Now teams will be leary of taking Iverson next year.
I love the way Iverson plays ball. He comes to play every night and there are teams out there that can use that example like the Bobcats. I am a Bobcats fan living in Carolina and I think both missed an opportunity to help each other. Forget all of the selfish garbage the man has average 27 points and 6 assist a game for his career. There are teams out there right now who need his ability to score the ball in key situations. The Cavs need someone else who can create and my Bobcats. Iverson find a way to play for one of these teams.
Revisit my you tube post before the season started.
The Charlotte Bobcats are the team that no one expects much from except for the fans here in the Carolinas. I have watched most of the Bobcats games and I was at the game live against the Hawks. The same Hawks team that beat Dallas by about 30 and the Dallas team that went into LA and beat them by about 20. So what does this say about the Charlotte Bobcats?
The Cats can be a dangerous team this year but they have to get off to a good start. Right now as of this writing they are 3-3 and need to run off about 3 straight wins to give themselves some room above 500. Larry Brown in my opinion is the best coach in the league and he will get these guys to play the right way. That's the moto play the right way and so far outside of the sleep walking they did in Boston they have played well.
Before the season I was all for bringing in Allen Iverson because the Bobcats were one of the worst scoring teams in the league last year. After the Celtics game I was sure the Bobcats were in deep trouble. The game against the Hawks help me to see something in a different light. Larry Brown won a championship with Ben Wallace at center and he probaly average no more than 7 points a game. There was no super star end of game closer so to speak but Billups, Hamilton, Prince and Rasheed got it done. The thing Larry Brown got them to do was play defense every night and that's what I see with these Bobcats.
Boris Diaw, Raja Bell, DJ Augustine, and Felton are all going to have to average at least 15 points per game and Wallace is going to need 20 and 10 from Chandler. If they can score 95 points a game they will make the playoffs.
Detroit bought into the team concept and they were able to take down the mighty Lakers with Shaq and Kobe. This team if they come out early and push their record to about 5-10 games above 500 before the New Year they will make the playoffs.
I like what I saw from these Cats against Atlanta at home. The other point I missed was the bench production. They will get points off the bench because Flip Murray has never seen a jump shot he didn't like. I am predicting right here, right now that the Cats will make the playoffs.
I will bring you more on the Bobcats every week so check back often and tell somebody about The Truth in Sports by MRJ.
. The season when Ben Wallace, Delonte, and Joe Smith came over it took a while for them to gel but when they did they came within a basket of upsetting the mighty Celtics in game seven of the playoffs. Shaq did what you want Shaq to do at this stage. Get 10 rebounds and 10-15 points most nights you will want 15. If this continues to happen the Cavs will win it all.
Magic and Isaiah where did things go wrong? This pair seemed inseperable just a few years back, ok maybe twenty but they were the best of friends and two of the best players in the NBA. So how can you go from two of the best of friends to a pretty vicious attack in a tell all book?
I don't know what caused the rift between Isaiah and Magic but please let's no take this any further. This is really ugly folks and it seems a little out of place for both of them. You have two hall of famers, two of the top 10 NBA talents of all time if you ask me having a fued like this or a potential fued.
I have heard the accusations that were made by Magic about what Isaiah had done back in the earlyh 90's but Magic that was 1992 are you telling me you have not had the opportunity to address this with him before now? If you have had a beef all this time what has stopped you from addressing these issues in private with your former best friend? Folks I don't like this at all and I hope they both will meet somewhere and make a public appearence and say all is forgiven and they have resumed a friendship.
Nobody wins in this drama. If anything it actually makes people question Magic in all of this. Like what does he want from this? And why now? This is not the time or place and Magic definitely doesn't need the money. So what's behind this 20 year old blow up?
People have made Isaiah the center of a lot of negative energy here lately and he doesn't need this or deserve it at this point. I just hope Isaiah takes the high road and just let's it go. Magic, whatever you needed to get from this I hope it's done and you move on and continue to be a positive influence in the community.
This thing is so strange it's hard to even talk about two grown men or one grow man inviting a cat fight. I don't get it folks and that's the truth!
Check back for my post on where Isaiah ranks all time as an NBA player you maybe surprised to see that he ranks above Kobe Bryant.
I pray Delonte is ok on a serious note and I will give you my picks from this week as well. Remember anyone who finish the week with a better picks record than me will be put in a drawing for a $25 gift card.
L-Det vs Chi, W-Cin Vs Clev,L-Oak Vs Hou,L-Sea Vs Ind,W-Ten Vs Jac,W-NYG vs KC,W-Bal vs NE,L-Tb vs Was,W-Buf vs Mia,W-NYJ vs NO,L-Dal vs Den,L-STL vs SF,L-SD vs Pit,L-GB vs Min
There you have it. If you can't go at least 12-4 then don't even bother.
What can I tell you about Michael Jordan? There is always going to be the question of who will or can be better than Jordan but the answer is in the question. The man redefined the game of basketball. Wilt was a monster and did things that no one will ever do but Jordan took the game global
Will there ever really be someone like Mike? I watched the hall of fame speech and it was fitting. Jordan paying Homage to David Thompson. David Thompson inspired a lot of young people to aim higher as in verticle leap. I am about one and half years older than Jordan and growing up in eastern North Carolina and playing sports David Thompson was the man.
I have seen Jordan plenty of times off the court. I saw him play at Laney High when I was at Jacksonville High school and would check out the Achievement Unlimited camp that he would come to in Greensboro when he was with the Bulls. Fred Whitfield started the camp and Jordan would come every year with other pros and it was called the greatest pick up game. For all of the accolades and high praise somehow Jordan is amazingly humble. Don't get me wrong he believes he is the best on the court no matter who is one the court but he has not put himself above the journey. I think that was also revealed in his Hall of Fame speech.
My only regret about Jordan's career is that being from North Carolina and our High Schools playing in the same conference I never saw Jordan play professionally live. It's hard to believe I never saw him play live. So now any time any of the great ones come to North Carolina I try to have my 8 year old son there. He has seen almost all of the modern day great ones with the exception of Allen Iverson. I was hoping Iverson would be playing in Charlotte this year but I digress.
My son loves Michael Jordan even though he has never seen him play which is amazing to me how Jordan has transended several generations. He did get to see Jordan up close at a Bobcats game. We happen to have seats on the founders level and Jordan and Fred Whitfield came with in two feet of my little boy. He didn't get an autograph or anything because we didn't notice Jordan was beside us until he was walking off. Oh well.
Michael Jordan will always have a place in every native North Carolinians heart and he is certainly one of our most favorite sons. In my opinion there will never be anyone who will do what Michael Jordan has done for and to basketball.
Thanks again Michael Jeffrey Jordan you will be forever the jump man and your message of being your best and not giving up will ring true in a lot of young and old people hearts.
