On Sunday, Clippers fans saw something they haven’t ever seen: a division title. Since the Clippers were created back in 1970 they have been known mainly as the laughing stock of the league. After a few years of bouncing around to Buffalo and then San Diego, they made Los Angeles their home.

Unfortunately for them, they had to take the backseat to Laker nation and watch as they won multiple championships. However, the tides have greatly changed in the past year in L.A. On Sunday the two L.A. teams faced off against each other in a game with huge playoff implications for both.

The Clippers handled the Lakers with ease, finishing off their season sweep of Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, winning the game 109-95. This marked the first time the Clippers swept the Lakers in the regular season since 1974 when they were then known as the Buffalo Braves. Chris Paul, who will surely be up for MVP consideration this year, controlled the flow and tempo of the game as he filled up the stat sheet with 24 points, 12 assists, five rebounds, and three steals.

Paul has undoubtedly played a huge role in the Clippers turn around; since he joined the team in 2011 they have had 40 back-to-back win seasons for the first time since 1992 and now have their first 50-win season in franchise history. Despite the team’s first division title there was no celebration in Staples Center on Sunday. “It just feels like something we were supposed to do” Paul noted, “It means we’re headed in the right direction. We’re not satisfied. We understand this is something small compared to the big picture.” Winning the division guarantees a top-four seed in the playoffs for the Clips, another achievement never done before in franchise history.

On the other hand, the loss for the Lakers was a huge blow as they have now moved out of the 8th seed into 9th and as of now out of the playoffs. With the Clippers winning the division and the Lakers still fighting to just reach the playoffs it seems as if the new favorite in L.A. is the young and highflying Clippers.

Photo credit: NBA.com

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The two championship rings on the hand of Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol has garnered him as a ‘winning player’ since L.A.’s banner-raising seasons of 2009 and 2010.

New York Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire, in stark contrast, is almost never pegged with such a label, and given the fact that he’s only made it as far as the wrong end of multiple Western Conference Finals outcomes during the course of his 11 year career, that isn’t some sort of outrageous injustice.

But upon hearing Gasol’s recent cries of reluctance to come off the bench for Mike D’Antoni’s free-falling Lakers (18-25), and comparing them with Stoudemire’s inelastic willingness to do just that for the Eastern Conference powerhouse that Mike Woodson has suddenly transformed the Knicks (26-14) into in 2012-2013, it’s about time we re-evaluate – and partially re-define – the term ‘winning player.’

Rewind back to the 2010-2011 regular season. The Knicks, for the first time in a long, long time, actually had realistic hopes of breaking their recent stretch of suffering and mediocrity, all thanks to the summer signing of Stoudemire to a five year, $99.7 million contract.

That year Stoudemire became the first Knick named to the Eastern Conference All Star team since franchise legend Patrick Ewing.

Yes, the same Patrick Ewing that led New York to the Finals all the way back in 1999, right before the pandemonium of Y2K. It had been a while, to say the least.

Stoudemire’s profound impact during the first half of that season provided the Knicks with an unfamiliar relevance, and he was thusly thrust into the top of the MVP conversation.

Then came the blockbuster trade that brought former Denver Nuggets All Star forward Carmelo Anthony to Madison Square Garden. From that moment on, Anthony has assumed the roles of New York’s number one scoring option. He became the overall leader and biggest credit to both the franchise’s return to the postseason over the last two seasons and its newfound perch directly below the defending champion Miami Heat as the East’s second seed just around the halfway mark of the season.

And here is Stoudemire, all but forgotten and even the subject of trade rumors as his return to the surging Knicks lineup following knee surgery became more and more imminent.

The proposal of an almost $100 million player coming off the bench initially seemed about as nonsensical and absurd as when his punching of a fire extinguisher box (following a first found Game 2 playoff loss in Miami the previous year) required several stitches and sidelined him for Game 3 back home.

Yet, when asked if he would accept that lesser role in advance of the emotional standing ovation he received from the Knicks’ faithful on his New Year’s Day comeback, Stoudemire didn’t echo the sentiments of a fading star with a boisterous ego.

Whatever the team needed of him, Stoudemire obliged. At 11.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in an average of just over a mere 21 minutes in his first 10 games back on the floor, he’s certainly had a beneficial impact.

That’s what winning players are all about. The team comes first and foremost, and their heads quietly shrink.

Gasol, meanwhile, is on the completely opposite end of the spectrum.

The acquisitions of All Stars Dwight Howard and Steve Nash by Los Angeles this past summer had most Lakers fans ready to ask off work almost a year in advance so they could attend the championship parade that seemed like more of a sure thing than the Harlem Globetrotters against the Washington Generals.

Needless to say, things haven’t exactly gone the way they, the Lakers themselves and the front office, planned. Despite the abundance of talent in the starting lineup with Nash and Howard joining forces with Kobe Bryant and Gasol – a duo that had won their second of back-to-back titles only two calendar years prior – the Lakers would kill for any kind of win, and sit on the outside of the postseason picture wondering how they could’ve possibly ended up just hoping to sneak in at this point.

As one of the proudest franchises in the history of sports, they’ve been as disgraceful this year as their always entertaining small forward Metta World Peace was last year when he inexplicably concussed then Oklahoma City Thunder forward James Harden with a crushing elbow to the side of the head.

D’Antoni’s had a handful of games where the players executed his run and gun system to a tee, but overall it’s clearly been an atrocious marriage. He’s made a number of lineup adjustments throughout the year, including bringing Gasol off the bench after coming across a stat that Los Angeles offensively ranks in the bottom five in the league when he and Howard share the floor, and that when they don’t, they sit in the top five.

However, the significance of this stat means about as much to Gasol as the celebrities that attend the games at Staples Center mean to him. He’s openly acknowledged that he’s never been a role player coming off the bench, and that he’s always been a starter.

That’s about as selfish as it gets.

On a team that continues to plummet, the shine of the diamonds of championship rings past doesn’t make Gasol a real winning player now. The way Stoudemire’s team-first mentality in pursuit of his first ring truly does.

Image Courtesy : Keith Allison

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It is only two weeks into the NBA season, meaning that it’s definitely way too early to be discussing potential MVP candidates. Right?

Of course it isn’t. In fact, no one would blame you for pondering who has a chance at taking home the league’s most prestigious individual award in the upcoming season as soon as the winner of the current one is handed that unmatched piece of hardware.

That is just the nature of the ever – and sometimes overly – analytical fan; they have no problem moving onto the next one before the dust of what’s just occurred has even any resemblance of a chance to settle.

There are always the obvious choices, which include the likes of Kobe Bryant, who has one MVP to his name as he begins his 17th season; Kevin Durant, who is still seeking his first despite winning the last three regular season scoring titles; and LeBron James, who is the reigning MVP, has won three out of the last four, and even added a Finals MVP trophy to his collection in June when he silenced all his critics with one of the more dazzling championship performances ever witnessed.

Then there are also the likes of Chris Paul, and Carmelo Anthony - you get the point.

These are the types of players that everyone expects to be in that conversation towards the end of the season. They are the superstars that at times make the game look easier than opening a door.

But there is someone else out there who has a very solid chance of not only finding himself right in the middle of the discussion, but also of going home with the award if he does.

His name is James Harden.

Essentially a household name after last year, a year in which he won the Kia Sixth Man of the Year award, Harden was traded before the season opener to the Houston Rockets after three seasons complementing Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant in Oklahoma City as both an early backup and deadly threat late in games with the Thunder.

Harden, only 23, has shown gradual improvement with each passing season, and proved during 2011-2012 while averaging 16.8 points per game that he could be flat-out unstoppable whenever he desires to be.

He did have monumental struggles in The Finals against James’ Miami Heat, but it’s easy to remember that that was the same exact case with James himself in the previous Finals. And as we can easily remember once again, James was just fine the next time around.

While Harden may not be James, A.K.A. the best basketball player on the face of the Earth, that doesn’t mean that he does not possess the skill necessary to be the league’s Most Valuable Player. In Houston he is finally part of a team where his experience, combined with an abundance of youth around him ill allow him to be the go-to guy every time out, as opposed to being a third option if Durant or Westbrook are being hugged like boxers that are pummeling their opponents.

The Rockets also expressed this same superstar faith in Harden, immediately locking him up and making him the franchise player with the max five year, $80 million contract that he was eligible coming out of his original rookie deal.

He did not give anyone a chance to question whether or not he was worth those kinds of figures, dropping 37 points in his Rockets debut and setting a new career high with a 45 point encore two nights later. Obviously he won’t average those types of numbers throughout the season, but anywhere between the 25 and 28 point per game mark, along with leading a young Rockets squad to their first postseason appearance since the 2008-2009 campaign, could be enough for Harden to be awarded the honor of MVP.

Having a point guard with the vision and keen passing ability of the also newly acquired Jeremy Lin will add some more edge to Harden’s game as well. Westbrook, as was a huge topic of discussion throughout last year’s Finals, was not and is not the prototypical point guard whose first option is to set up his teammates. Lin has made it clear that he’s the night to Westbrook’s day in that regard.

Keep an eye on James Harden. The sun may only still be rising on the 2012-2013 season, but the MVP discussion is just too fun to wait around for.

Image Courtesy : James Harden

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“My Life as an NBA Rookie,” a special that gives audiences an inside look at some of today’s biggest NBA stars in their first year in the league, premieres Monday, October 29 (7:00-7:30 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney XD as part of “Nothing But Net Marathon,” a sports-themed marathon featuring episodes of “Kickin’ It,” “Lab Rats” and “Crash & Bernstein” beginning at 5:00 p.m., ET/PT.

Hosted by Billy Unger, star of Disney XD’s “Lab Rats,” the special features exclusive footage of New Orleans Hornets’ power forward Anthony Davis practicing with the 2012 USA Basketball Men’s National Team; takes fans behind the scenes at the NBA Draft Combine and NBA Draft; looks at how players mentally and physically prepare for training camp and opening night; and reveals entertaining rookie duties.

“My Life as an NBA Rookie” includes Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard of the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James of the Miami Heat, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks, Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Deron Williams of the Brooklyn Nets, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder, among others.

About Disney XD

Disney XD is a basic cable channel and multi-platform brand showcasing a compelling mix of live-action and animated programming for Kids 6-14, hyper-targeting boys and their quest for discovery, accomplishment, sports, adventure and humor. Disney XD branded content spans television, online, mobile and VOD platforms and includes series, movies and short-form, as well as sports-themed programming developed with ESPN. In the US, Disney XD is seen on a 24-hour, advertiser supported network that reaches over 78 million households via basic cable and satellite affiliates.

Image Courtesy of  Keith Allison

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Even the defending world champion, Miami Heat, cannot comprehend what the Los Angeles Lakers’ front office has been able to accomplish this offseason with their acquisitions of All Stars, Steve Nash and Dwight Howard. This is the same team that became the league’s ultimate villain after adding LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to their roster only two summers ago.

That’s just how the Lakers are. One would have a significantly better chance of convincing a child that Santa Claus and the Easter bunny really don’t exist than somehow persuading Lakers general manager, Mitch Kupchak, that patience is a virtue.

If there were any fans out there who actually had some outrageous fantasy that the Lakers weren’t going to land Howard for at least half of a season – which may be the case if they’re unable to sway him into signing a long-term extension before this upcoming season’s trade deadline – shame on them.

His acquisition is a complete leap of faith by the Lakers, considering that he can book a flight to Brooklyn or Dallas as soon as next season ends and there’s literally nothing they can do about it. Usually, that would seem like an unwise move on their part, but in reality, it actually warrants the utmost amount of respect.

Here were the Lakers, inexplicably bounced prematurely in the semifinals for the second straight year after having just won back-to-back NBA titles. Their response? Go out and get Steve Nash, who, at 38 years of age, was still able to lead the league in total assists yet again last season.

That wasn’t enough, though. Even with a core of Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace and Andrew Bynum they still felt the need to make one last splash – a splash that would set off an unstoppable tidal wave that could actually give problems to teams stacked with star power like Miami and Oklahoma City. That splash came in the form of Howard.

In professional sports, teams often tend to invest an excessive amount of concern into their long-term futures, and don’t grab the bull by the horns with what they currently have to compete with. As Bryant approached the end of one of the greatest careers of all time, the Lakers refused to take this route. Using that same savvy that has won them 16 titles – only one behind the Boston Celtics for the most in league history – they gave up essentially nothing in the process of snagging the guaranteed number one center in the league.

By doing so, and also adding quality veteran reserves such as forward Antawn Jamison, guard Chris Duhon, forward Earl Clark and guard Jodie Meeks as well, they’ve assured themselves of the best possible opportunity to win it all right now.

It’s common knowledge that championships have never been won on paper; however, if this grouping of superstars, consistent All Stars, and reserves can live up to their potential on both ends of the floor and remain relatively healthy, you can comfortably presume that a 17^th Larry O’Brien trophy is headed to Los Angeles by next June.

As far as the starting unit is concerned, Nash, despite being the oldest of the five, is the most important component. He’ll be the type of floor general that the Lakers haven’t had the privilege of calling one of their own since the greatness that was Magic Johnson back in the good old Showtime days. When you combine his uncanny vision, ability to pass the ball with either hand, having excellent scorers like Bryant, Gasol, and Howard and the new Princeton offense that Los Angeles is implementing, scoring will not be much of a concern.

Bryant, who recruited Nash this summer, will be the biggest beneficiary of the transaction, as he will no longer have to constantly isolate and take a beating in order to create his own shot. A Lakers team where Kobe doesn’t have to always have the ball in his hands? Watch out.

Former Lakers center Andrew Bynum was beginning to blossom into an outstanding young player, and even made his first All Star team last season, but he’s still no Dwight Howard.

Howard’s physique and athleticism was something that Bynum would never be able to match because of his dauntingly wide seven-foot frame. While Bynum was one of the most ineffective pick-and-roll centers in the league during his seven years in Los Angeles, Howard has always been regarded as one of the best in that set since he broke into the league in 2004.

With Nash being the master of the pick-and-roll, Howard’s going to be in heaven.

That athletic ability also makes Howard a significantly better defender than Bynum. Unless Bynum also has three Defensive Player of the Year awards just lying around somewhere, but hasn’t told anyone.

Passion is the one trait that might’ve been the difference between the Lakers having a very good chance with Bynum to becoming the overall favorite with Howard. Bynum’s immaturity on the court occasionally cost the Lakers games, and off the court it continuously left people scratching their heads. Howard may have earned a reputation as being an indecisive brat off the court over the last couple of years, but on the court he’s always given his last ounce of energy.

The Lakers have rolled the dice, now expect them to hit the jackpot.

Image Courtesy of   Ira Bostic / Shutterstock.com

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The U.S. basketball team had fun playing on Tuesdays night against Tunisia, who was destroyed by the Americans mightiness. The U.S. tried to have fun with this game and did not give it their all. If this happened we would probably be talking about the biggest win difference in the Olympics Games.

Things did not start well for Krzyzewski’s men though. They started in a sleepy mood, so the coach decided to change the 5 initial players when the first quarter was about to end. Until that moment the Africans dreamed during the first eight minutes of the game, when they were winning 15-12. But with the five new players on the pitch (Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, Andre Iguodala and Kevin Love,) the score moved to 15-26 in just three minutes. Tunisians were back to reality. Especially in the second half.

The second half started with a still close 33-46, and with the U.S. alternates at the pitch. They were the ones that killed Tunisia. Westbrook, Harden and Iguodala opened the scoring gap, ending any chance for Tunisia by the end of the third quarter (47-85).

Last quarter (63-110) was a mere formality for the enjoyment of the viewer and the United States, which keeps on making its way to gold.

It was a game to give the most important men of the team some rest and relaxation. Kobe Bryant just played 8 minutes, while Lebron James and Kevin Durant played 18 and 22 respectively.

Carmelo Anthony led the American scorers with 16 points, while Kevin Durant had 13 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. However, the man of the match was Tunisian Makram Ben Romdhane who scored 22 points and had 11 rebounds.

Nineteen year old Davis, who will debut in the NBA during next season after he was picked in the draft by the New Orleans Hornets, scored 12 points in 12 minutes, and showed his happiness in the after match declarations: “It was real fun just playing with these guys.”

Coach Krzyzewski was also appreciative with his men’s performances: “It’s not going to be a perfect thing, you know?” he said. “But, overall, tonight was good. I mean, come on, it was 110-63.”

Image Courtesy of  Oleksiy Naumov / Shutterstock.com

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The US basketball team will play on Tuesday, July 31 against Tunisia in a game that is considered purely procedural. The NBA starts showed their authority and superiority against France (98-71) and now they will play against weak Tunisia that lost in the first game against Nigeria (60-56).

US is the favorite to win the gold and in this game they can ratify the image showed in the first Olympic games. Today’s game will be a good opportunity to correct some of the mistakes made against France, such as the series of triples that were missed at the beginning of the game (first six were failed). LeBron James was one the players that showed his nonconformist face and showed his wanting to improve: “It wasn’t perfect. We’ve still got room for improvement. We had too many turnovers, too many fouls and we had a couple of defensive rebounds we could have come up with.”

This game will also bring the opportunity to adapt to the meticulous referees. US players complained about how the ref whistled during the meeting with France. “There were calls being called that didn’t seem right,” said the NBA star Carmelo Anthony.

On the other side of the field will be Tunisia, which will aim to lose the less amount of points. They might make the surprise of the Olympics, but it will be tight, especially taking into account that from the 12 teams in the Olympic basketball tournament, they are the only country that that does not have at least one current NBA player.

Although winning it is important, the US also has the obligation to play like any team could ever do. Coach Mike Krzyzewski said that playing well creates good habits: “It’s about our performance,” he said. “We should beat Tunisia, but we want to play well against Tunisia. When you play games in your pool and you’re a significant favorite, you don’t want to just win, you want to maintain and build good habits. We don’t want to overlook anybody because then we overlook ourselves. And in short period of time you can fall into a bad habit that will have its impact on a game where you’re not a significant favorite.”

The US and Tunisia have only played each other once in their histories. It was in the 2010 World Championships in Turkey and the US won by a clear 92-57.

Kobe Bryant said that this US team could beat the Dream Team from 1992. Today’s game could be a great chance to play like angels and show that this team has nothing to envy from the team from ’92.

Image Courtesy of  Oleksiy Naumov / Shutterstock.com

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The extremely competitive Western Conference has been busy this off-season, with players finding new homes, and other players resigning with their current teams.

The biggest move thus far in the West belongs to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers acquired veteran guard Steve Nash in exchange for two first-round picks, two-second round picks, and cash. The addition of Nash helps the Lakers continue to be dominant in the West. Kobe Bryant no longer needs constant control of the ball; Nash will help get whoever is on the court involved, especially young center Andrew Bynum. Bynum is coming off his best year of his career. The addition of Nash will help the powerful center improve even more. A healthy Lakers team could possibly make a run to the finals next season.

The Phoenix Suns took a significant step back with the loss of Nash. They did however rebounded with the signing of Goran Dragic.  Dragic signed a four-year $30 million deal that could increase to $34 million due to player option as well as bonus options. Dragic will have serious shoes to fill but will start for the Sun next season. The Yugoslavian-born point guard is coming off his best career season, averaging 11.7 points per game, and 5.3 assists per game while only starting 28 games for Houston. The Suns also picked up Luis Scola, which definitely improves their front court.

The Houston Rockets have welcomed back point guard Jeremy Lin to a three-year $25 million deal. Lin officially became a member of the Rockets after the Knicks did not match Houston’s offer. Lin will start in Houston and have a huge impact, especially after the departure of both Goran Dragic and Kyle Lowry

Los Angeles Clippers were able to re-sign guard Chauncey Billups. The five-time All-Star was off to a good start, until his season was cut short after tearing his left Achilles tendon. They also signed guard Jamal Crawford, who will have an impact, especially with the departure of Nick Young and Mo Williams. In a multi-team deal, the Clippers also landed Lamar Odom. Odom is coming from Dallas, off the worst season of his career.

Minnesota Timberwolves have made some moves that will help improve their young talented squad. They signed guard Brandon Roy to a two-year $10.4 million deal. Roy, who retired earlier in December due to knee problems, is attempting a comeback. Although Roy may not be explosive or effective right away, the youngster could potentially restore his career. In addition, the Wolves acquired Chase Budinger from Houston in exchange for the #18th pick of the draft.

The Sacramento Kings have added guard Aaron Brooks to a two year deal, approximately worth $6.6 million. Brooks will have to work for his playing time, especially after the great play of Isaiah Thomas. Also the addition of Brooks has guard Jimmer Fredette’s playing time up in the air. The kings have tons of options to choose from to run the court next season.

After being knocked out in the first round of the playoffs, the Dallas Mavericks have attempted to piece some players together, which  they hope will help in getting back atop the Western Conference. Dallas signed, center Chris Kaman to a one year $8 million deal. Kaman will start in Dallas and will likely improve being next to Dirk Nowitzki. Dallas also signed forward Elton Brand as a back-up for both Dirk and Kaman. Dallas was also able to replace Jason Kidd with Darren Collison,  who joined the Mavs via trade along with Dahntay Jones. The Mavs also picked up guard O.J. Mayo, who will be an important young asset after the departure of Jason Terry.

One of the more exciting young teams to watch next season in the West will be the New Orleans Hornets. The Hornets were able to re-sign young guard Eric Gordon. The Hornets matched the Suns’ four-year $58 million offer in order to retain the essential playmaker. The Hornets were also able to acquire forward Ryan Anderson from Orlando via trade, as well as center Brad Miller via trade from Minnesota. Although these signings may not make people say whoa, let’s not forget the Hornets drafted Anthony Davis, as well as Austin Rivers, and could be a team of the future.

As for the San Antonio Spurs, who finished with the first seed in the Western Conference, they were able to re-sign Boris Diaw, Tim Duncan, Danny Green, and Patrick Mills.

Although the Western Conference did not have as many moves as the East, essential changes have been made for several teams in their efforts to improve.

Click here,for more free agents deals and signings.

Image Courtesy of  Domenic Gareri / Shutterstock.com

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News flash: LeBron James is undoubtedly the most vilified athlete on the face of the Earth. Alright, that isn’t exactly breaking news, but it still holds 100% true, regardless. And now that he and his Miami Heat are back in the NBA Finals for a second consecutive year, his army of haters will be in full force.

But what makes the NBA’s greatest player the most despicable sports superstar out there? Well, many people who loathe him in this manner will point at “The Decision” of Summer 2010 as the moment they decided to scrutinize essentially every single move that he makes.

To those fans, here’s the message: Re-evaluate it and realize that you need to let it go.

When James left the Cleveland Cavaliers and his home state of Ohio, he did it in what was perceived as such an egotistical and selfish fashion that it was simply unforgivable. He did not inform even a single soul within the Cavs organization of his final decision to leave and take his “talents to South Beach,” where he would form a super alliance with fellow All Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on the Miami Heat.

He did not owe the city of Cleveland and its fans that had suffered for so long before his arrival in 2003 anything more than the classy farewell they deserved. An hour-long special aired live on ESPN certainly didn’t qualify as classy to them or anyone else watching.

However, other than that, he didn’t owe them a new contract, a championship, or to finish what he started straight out of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.

He gave them everything he had in those seven years and exercised his free agent right to pursue a new opportunity elsewhere. How is it any different from a person who isn’t an entertainer, who decides to leave the job they’ve worked for years for an even better one?

Don’t kid yourself, you know it isn’t. Plus, when regular people announce leaving their jobs that usually doesn’t bring in a boatload of money in donations to the the local Boys and Girls Clubs.

So if you think about that twice, declaring your intentions to start a new job in front of your entire family at Thanksgiving dinner might seem a little more self-centered than what James did.

Of course there are people out there who don’t really care about any of that stuff. Instead, there are those who will claim, ‘I hate him because he went and joined two other great players. One is also a top five superstar player in this league (Wade), and the other has been one of the more underrated All Stars pretty much his entire career. Jordan wouldn’t have done that.’

Alright, all of that is true. Jordan wouldn’t have left the Bulls to assemble some crazy squad alongside guys with the caliber of a Wade and Bosh. But that was then and this is now. If you live in the past and fail noticed that the league has been heading in this direction since the “Big Three” of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett joined forces in 2007, you probably should pay a little more attention to players and teams other than your own and James.

James needed the help and the Cavs were incapable of surrounding him with enough of it because they play in Cleveland! The majority of people, especially young professional basketball players, don’t want to live in Cleveland during a long season! Jordan had Scottie Pippen, Steve Kerr and the rest of the crew to help him finish off the job; James just knew he had to make a drastic move in order to get his help, because Cleveland itself was repelling free agents like a great college in the middle of nowhere.

And for those who argue that he could’ve gone to a place like New York or New Jersey – where he could have been ‘the man’ and eventually gotten the aid he needed because that’s what Jordan would have done – you need to come to terms with the fact that there’s only one player remaining that still has that kind of old school mentality, and his name is Kobe Bryant.

Bryant’s admitted that he always wanted to be Jordan. That is why he has only one less ring than him. James just wants to be himself. That’s something that should be admired, not detested.

In the end, if this isn’t enough, the fact that it’s been two years should be. Unless you are that immature, you really don’t have an excuse to hold a grudge for this long.

LeBron James has moved on with his life, it would be best if the haters followed suit.

Image Courtesy of  Keith Allison

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It’s no secret that the Los Angeles Lakers have had their eye on Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard for quite a while now. But according to multiple sources, Howard’s agent, Donald Fegan, has told the Lakers organization this week that his client would not sign a contract extension with them if they were to land him in a deal before the March 15^th trade deadline.

No specific reason has been given regarding this, but the overwhelming consensus is that Howard has no desire to play second-fiddle to Kobe Bryant out in L.A. Howard has established himself as the league’s best center for several years now, and has always been the number one offensive option in Orlando.

Howard’s unwillingness to sign an extension with Los Angeles might have knocked the wheels right off a rumored trade between the Lakers and Magic, that John Cherwa of the L.A. Times reported earlier this week. In the article, Cherwa states that the Lakers, Magic, and Toronto Raptors were constructing a three-way deal, which would ship Howard to the Lakers on March 1^st.

In return, the Magic would receive the two Laker All Star big men, center Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, along with point guard Jose Calderon from the Raptors. In addition to Howard, the Lakers would also get Magic point guard Jameer Nelson and forward Hedo Turkoglu. It had not been determined what the Raptors would get out of the deal.

Howard’s indecisiveness concerning the idea of either leaving or staying in Orlando before 2013 arrives has been one of the major storylines throughout this shortened NBA season.

If he were to leave central Florida, it is well-known that the teams appearing to be contenders for his services are the Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and soon-to-be Brooklyn Nets.

Upon hearing the latest from Howard’s agent, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak is now left with one of the most difficult decisions that he will ever have to make if Howard and the Magic ultimately decide to split ways before the deadline.

He will have to decide – if the Magic and Howard do decide to go in different directions – whether or not he is willing to risk giving up excellent assets such as Bynum and Gasol, in hopes that the front office could convince Howard to change his mind once again and sign a long-term deal with the Lakers.

The reward, if the Lakers are able to acquire Howard and successfully lock him up, could be the presence of a similar matchup problem that teams faced against Los Angeles during the Kobe-Shaq days of the early 2000’s. O’Neal was also the league’s dominant center during that era, and alongside Bryant the two were able to win three consecutive titles from 2000-2002, establishing a powerful dynasty.

Laker fans could certainly envision their team making this type of run with Howard at center.

But the risk might be far too great. Kupchak’s biggest fear is putting his team in the same position that the Nets have now found themselves in, with All Star point guard Deron Williams.

New Jersey gave up a multitude of young pieces and draft picks in order to bring in Williams, despite not receiving confirmation that he would sign a contract extension that would keep him with them past the 2012 season. If Williams chooses to leave the currently non-contending Nets this summer in free agency, the trade would have essentially been for nothing.

That’s exactly the situation that might keep Kupchak from pulling the trigger on a Howard deal.

If Kupchak has an opportunity to get Howard into a Laker uniform, his final decision will either turn him into one of the most loved men in all of southern California, or one of the most hated and unemployed in the area.

Let’s see if Howard and the Magic give him that chance.

Image Courtesy  of    http://www.flickr.com/photos/keithallison/

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The “Linsanity” that has taken the Knicks, New York, and the NBA by storm sounds like something out of a movie. The underdog who no one gave a shot finally gets it and doesn’t disappoint. It is of course normal for people to be skeptical – how many times have we seen someone take everyone by surprise only to plummet back to Earth, never able to recapture the run they had. However, Jeremy Lin is not one of these stories; he is the real deal.

Lin has single handedly saved Mike D’Antoni’s job and the Knicks’ season in a five game span. Add to that, he’s doing it with a roster missing All-Stars Amare Stoudemire (family death) and Carmelo Anthony (injured groin), making things even more amazing.

He’s been doing this all week with a starting lineup that consisted of Landry Fields, Bill Walker, Jared Jeffries, and Tyson Chandler. He’s turned Steve Novak, who has been buried on the Knicks bench all season, into a legitimate bench scoring threat, finding him open for threes multiple times a game.

Lin was exactly what the Knicks needed and hoped Baron Davis could be when he returned. A true point guard. During this five game win streak, Lin has been breaking down defenses with his dribble and quickness, shown a very good ability to run the pick and roll, as well as proven that he can knock down jumpers if left open.

Take a look at his numbers over the Knicks’ longest win streak this season. Lin is averaging 26.8 points on 53% shooting, eight assists, 4.2 rebounds, two steals. Impressive numbers for anyone over a five game stretch, but what’s more impressive is who he has done it against.

Lin has squared off against Deron Williams, Devin Harris, John Wall, Derek Fisher, and Ricky Rubio. We are talking about a bonafide superstar, the prospect traded for that superstar, a number one pick, a good defensive veteran, and this years leading candidate for rookie of the year. While in the case of Wall and Williams, they don’t exactly have the interior that would scare anybody, the other three have extremely formidable front-courts which still couldn’t prevent Lin’s penetration.

Lin has scored more points in his first four starts than anyone else since the merger back in the 70s. That means more than Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and yes, even LeBron James.

While the Knicks won’t need Lin to keep carrying the scoring load once Stoudemire and Anthony return, what they will need is for him to control the offense and continue to find the open man in their spots. What his scoring ability will do is open the offensive end up even more as defenses will have to respect that ability.

It has only been five games and four starts into the “Lincredible” streak, but if you watch the way Lin plays you know that the kid is the real deal. Even against Rubio who gave Lin a hard time defensively all night, he was still able to run the pick and roll and find the open man.

At the end of the game, when it mattered most, Lin was able to find a wide open Novak for the game tying three, and then use his quickness to draw a foul and hit the go-ahead foul shot to seal the game.

A sign of a good player, especially the point guard, is the ability to elevate the play of not only himself, but his teammates as well and Lin has exceeded this on every level imaginable. Lin was said to have been watching video in the locker room at halftime during a game because he was upset with his inability to get as many alley-oops to Chandler. No one could have expected this and no one saw it coming but the Knicks have potentially stumbled onto something great.

They will continue to ride this out for as long as it lasts, which looks like could be quite a long time. One thing definitely is for sure though, things in New York have gotten “Linsane” and this team and fan base have gotten a much need injection of excitement.

It has been quite some time Knicks fans, but it now looks like you have a team that can make some noise in the playoffs, and an underdog rising star whom you can rally around. It’s official New York, you have a true point guard and a basketball team worth watching so enjoy it.

Image Courtesy of    http://www.flickr.com/photos/18246749@N08/

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Since acquiring top-notch point guard, Chris Paul, along with other complementary pieces, several spectators have expressed the belief that the new-look Clippers are now the dominant team in L.A. They are young, fast, and will present one of the most exciting styles of play that the league has to offer. However, those who have jumped on this bandwagon need to slow down – for the Lakers are still the better team in Los Angeles.

When looking at the Clippers’ roster, it is easy to have high expectations for their future. By recently bringing in Paul, new G.M. Neil Olshey has built a team that features one of the game’s top point guards playing alongside rising star, Blake Griffin. Although, the hype is not just about the highlight reel alley-oops that the two will put on display almost every night. Clippers’ management also boosted their roster by bringing in proven veterans, such as guard, Chauncey Billups, and forward, Caron Butler. Young players such as guard, Eric Bledsoe, and center, DeAndre Jordan, make the Clippers a hot topic as well.

Without a doubt, this team appears very complete on paper. With the level of competition in the Western Conference on the decline, they should definitely be able to clinch one of the eight playoff berths available. Nevertheless, their overwhelming youth and lack of experience playing together will not allow them to supersede the Lakers this season. Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace, Andrew Bynum, and Derek Fisher have played side by side for multiple years now. Their cohesiveness as a unit is unparalleled in comparison to the Clippers. The Lakers will also not be hurt by an extremely shortened training camp and preseason caused by the lockout.

Directly related to that notion would be the Lakers’ comprehension of what it takes to win games in this league. The Clippers have too much youth to immediately understand how to consistently win. Couple that with the fact that the Lakers also have more proven talent on both ends of the floor. Another advantage that the Lakers have over the Clippers comes from their new motivation. While the Clippers are definitely motivated to finally be relevant and have a winning season, the Lakers’ incentive is much more powerful.

Kobe and the Lakers were flat-out embarrassed by the Mavs at the end of last season. No one’s worst nightmare could imagine a back-to-back champion being swept out of the second round following three consecutive Finals appearances. The Lakers have had to live with that shame since May. They had to sit at home and watch that same Dallas team win the world championship that would have given Phil Jackson his fourth three-peat as a head coach.

If anyone could have a larger chip on their shoulder, it would be the Miami Heat, not the Clippers. Expect a newly re-energized Laker team that does not show stretches of sheer laziness as they did last year. An argument to dispute these claims would be linked to the compacted 66 game schedule. Many people believe that this will be a hindrance to the Lakers, considering their lack of youth, while it can be a blessing for the Clippers due to their abundance of it. Do not buy into that philosophy too quickly.

The lockout and the Lakers’ early exit last season have given them the opportunity to rest much more in the offseason in preparation for this year. The Lakers also have only one stretch where they play games on three consecutive nights, and that is to open the season. Still, will their age catch up to them in the long run?

They are one of the older teams in the league, but players like Bryant and Gasol are still two of the more elite talents in the game, even if they are no longer in their primes. A great young player like Bynum will also be able to lighten the load for the veterans. Overall, age is not as big of an issue for this team as it is for the Spurs and Celtics. They should be able to overcome it in the long run. By season’s end, the world will see that the Lakers are still the kings of Tinseltown.

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After yet another futile attempt by both the owners and players unions to come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement, the remainder of the NBA Preseason has been canceled, and, barring any miraculous agreement on Monday, the first two weeks of the regular season are next in line.

Following a four-hour meeting between the players and owners on Tuesday, commissioner David Stern and deputy commissioner Adam Silver took the stand to announce the bad news to the press.

“The formal position of the parties was the players at 53 [percent], us at 47,” said commissioner Stern in a televised press conference. “We asked the question of the players, ‘would each side entertain the notion of a 50-50 deal?’… While we were in the process of doing that [discussing] with our owners, we were asked to step out and we were advised by the players that that would not be acceptable to them; that they were at a higher number.”

“Today we’ll be announcing the cancellation of the rest of the exhibition season, and by Monday, we will have no choice but to cancel the first two weeks of the season.”

For those of you who don’t know the formalities of the ongoing NBA Lockout, the owners and players are waging war over who receives more of all basketball related income, as well as other minor issues. The players, who were once at a whopping 57 percent, came down to 53 percent, but refused to split the pot in half with the owners.

“We’re continuing to be open-minded about what a final deal will look like, but today was not the day to try and continue to close that type of gap,” said Derek Fisher, the president of the NBA player’s union. “It’s just not a place we feel we can go, but that doesn’t mean we’re not willing to negotiate. We’re not saying that negotiations are over, but in the forseeable future, obviously until another meeting is possibly canceled, we’re just not sure at this point.”

With the 2011-2012 NBA season looking more indefinite than ever, players are in a frenzy to head overseas and make money while staying in shape by playing basketball for foreign teams.

“The biggest thing is that I didn’t know how the lockout was going to turn out,” said Nuggets’ Forward Wilson Chandler, who recently signed a contract to play in China. “I just wanted to play so I can get a better game shape, a better game rhythm.”

And the list goes on and on, with players like Deron Williams, J.R. Smith, Kenyon Martin and Andrei Kirilenko, to name a few, heading overseas as well. There are even talks of the Black Mamba himself, Kobe Bryant, possibly entertaining a 10-game/$3 million contract from an unspecified Italian team.

The NBA is quickly losing its talent—the one thing that puts it a single notch over the increasingly convalescent international teams. With many players signing contracts without opt-out clauses, returning to the NBA won’t even be an option until they play their agreed amount of games overseas.

Commissioner Stern alluded to the fact that the owners had already lost $200 million in revenue by canceling preseason games. Unless the owners want to continue losing egregious amounts of money, an agreement in the very near future is imminent.

 
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Clutch is a word that gets thrown around in sports at every level and that word can make a player, or in some cases destroy that player.

That word is nothing new in sports and I’ve often wondered if that level or lack thereof for some players really explain their behavior in pressure situations or is it just a cop out for us fans who don’t exactly know the mind set of these athletes…then again, we always hear athletes describe themselves and other players in these terms as well.

I have never been the type to throw that word around because there are so many factors that contribute to the success rate of any athlete, but I’ve come to realize that there is a certain pattern that goes with being the definition of the word clutch itself instead of crumbling under the weight of the moment.

Before I get into my view on this word, it is important to explain why it took me to this point to fully appreciated its meaning and to notice when a player lacks the mental make up to be clutch. It happened during the NBA finals several weeks ago…no, this is not another article bashing Lebron James or any other athlete who is perceived to be weak mentally.  Instead it taught me that some players, aside from lacking a certain clutch gene do not possess the will to win…maybe they are one in the same but I don’t think so; especially in the case of Lebron James.

I describe Lebron who is still the most talented  and physically gifted player in the league as a front runner and one thing we know about front runners is that when it comes down to bitting down, fighting back and willing a victory, they disappear.

The great ones are both…they find a way to win by being clutch and willing their team to victory.

A player like Gilbert Arenas for example is clutch but in the form of a role player, not as a player you can build a team around… but being clutch is nothing more than taking the shot.  Yes Lebron has been clutch at times, we were witnesses to that during the Celtic series and the Bulls series… also back during his time in Cleveland facing the pistons where he scored 29 straight points; the man is talented, but as a great player you must be all things at all times.  We must see the clutch gene accompanied by the will to win.

No one hits every shot on the basketball court, Kobe doesn’t hit every shot and Jordan the definition of will and clutch never hit every shot, but he took those shots.

Basketball ball is a sport where you can hide behind teammates; you appear to be a great team player by making a great pass to an open shooter who hits the game winning shot, which we have seen Lebron do many times.

What is in the mental makeup of these players who seem to lose confidence in the same things which got them to the heights of their respected sports?

A player that has been compared to Lebron is Alex Rodriguez and the comparisons are pretty fair when you consider what the Yankee 3^rd basemen went through early in his Yankee career.  He was known as a regular season player who seemed to shrink on the big stage.  The difference with Arod and Lebron is the stage itself; in baseball, a player stands alone in front of thousands, there are no teammates in the batting cage with you.

What Arod went through is tougher only because baseball is tougher as a sport; there are no passes to be made to open teammates to pick you up…those flashing lights of stardom blind the weak ones and they never recover.  But he did.

Did his mind set change, becoming more comfortable in the big stage, maybe he did.  Or maybe he started out well and the confidence that goes with getting one hits snowballed forming a different man with less to prove.

Will the same happen for Lebron, no I don’t see it…not until he gets better as a player.

Sports Psychologist are becoming the new performance enhancers of the sports world and that becomes the next step for a player like Lebron, but as I just stated he needs to improve his game first before he improves himself mentally.  His game didn’t allow him to will his team to a victory in the process showcasing the “clutchness” which he is capable of.

Every team will need a sports psychologist at some point.  It was surprising to find out that the Mavericks had a sports psychologist on staff over the last couple years.  Is that the reason Dirk shed his soft not clutch label and has become the player we see today.  Will that be the fate of a player like Lebron on whom the pressure will increase until he wins a championship?

Tennis great Jimmy Connors once said that winning is 90% mental and we have seen examples of this in all sports from Skiing to boxing and most obvious sports like football and soccer.

Competitive Anxiety is what they call what I witnessed from the best athlete in basketball…let’s just hope he is not too proud to admit he needs help and decides to live in a gym this summer.

For the NBA’s sake and for the sake of this hopeful global icon.

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As NBA teams finish their final jockeying for seeding position, the ongoing race for league MVP has reached its crescendo. Several players have put forth worthy efforts this season, but only a handful will be legitimate contenders come voting time. Here is a breakdown of the likely candidates:

1. Derrick Rose: This point guard for the Bulls is averaging 25.1 points in just his third year as a pro. He has the Bulls in the East’s top spot, and the team has already clinched their conference. Rose has done it all this year, scoring, passing, and putting the Bulls on his back. He averages just under eight assists per game, and he has kept the Bulls on top even though big men Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah have missed a combined 57 games. The Bulls have really caught fire as of late. Rose won Player of the Month, after leading the Bulls to a 13-3 record. Some statisticians have been critical of Rose, citing his low shooting percentage, and measuring his stats against past MVP winners. According to their numbers, he would be the worst MVP winner of all time. But that hasn’t stopped big names like Michael Jordan to give Rose his endorsement.

2. Dwight Howard: Averaging 23.2 points, Howard has taken his game to another level this season. Howard has been the league’s Defensive Player of the Year twice, and leads the league in double-doubles. He is clearly the league’s best player down low, and with his improved scoring he has become even more dangerous. He is second in the league in rebounding, third in field goal percentage, and fifth in blocks. Howard has the Magic poised for the playoffs sitting as the four seed in the East. Howard has been the only constant on this suddenly revamped team, giving them a shot to go deeper into the playoffs. At the age of 25, Howard is soaring past all-time greats in all sorts of categories. This season he became the youngest player to reach 7,000 career rebounds, the fifth youngest player to reach 10,000 career points, and he had a season high eight blocks in a game against the Timberwolves. To add to these numbers he has recorded 64 double-doubles earning himself the endorsement and a legitimate shot at the MVP.

3. Dirk Nowitzki: After Rose and Howard there is some controversy as to who comes next. It seems a lock that one of the top two will win the MVP but there is not a huge disparity in numbers or significance between some of the other candidates. Nowitzki is seeking his second MVP and has had another solid year leading the Mavericks to the three seed in the West. He averages around 23 points, and seven boards, while shooting over 52 percent from the field. Nowitzki has also shot over 41 percent from behind the three-point line. Nowitzki is invaluable to his team, and without him the Mavericks would find it difficult to even make the playoffs in the competitive West.

4. Amare Stoudemire: Stoudemire has the Knicks back in the playoffs for the first time since 2004. For most of the season, Stoudemire did it himself, only surrounded by good role players to stay competitive in the East. The Knicks added Carmelo Anthony late in the year, cementing the team’s spot in the playoffs. Stoudemire is averaging more than 25 points, over eight boards, and is shooting just over 50 percent from the field. His numbers have vaulted him into the MVP race, but putting the Knicks, one of the most storied NBA franchises, back on the map makes him that much more of a candidate.

5. LeBron James: The reigning NBA MVP winner has continued to put up numbers even after being surrounded by two other stars. Averaging more than 26 points, 7.5 rebounds, and almost seven assists, he is still the favorite of many experts even if he has thrown his own support behind leading candidate Rose. James has also shot well, shooting just over 50 percent from the field and 33 percent from three-point land. With All-stars, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on his team, his numbers have not dipped significantly, but having this many stars on one team has taken a hit on his MVP candidacy.

6. Kobe Bryant: Kobe will always be in the discussion for MVP, and as the No. 2 seed in the West, the Lakers are poised to win another championship. This is one area where Bryant trails LeBron James, and he would love to even the score at two each, but it will be difficult for him to win this year. He averages just more than 25 points, more than 5 boards and just under 5 assists, but is shooting only 45 percent from the field for the season. The Lakers have a legitimate shot at a three-peat, but Kobe’s chances as the MVP winner leading them there are slim.

7. Kevin Durant: Leading the Thunder to the four seed in the West, Durant is averaging more than 27 points, and nearly seven boards. His teammate, Russell Westbrook is also having a fantastic year, detracting somewhat from Durant’s candidacy. Other knocks on Durant have been his struggles on defense, and against the top teams in the West. The Thunder are 0-2 vs. the Lakers, 0-3 vs. San Antonio, 1-2 vs. Dallas, 1-1 vs. Bulls, 1-1 vs. Boston, and 1-1 vs. Miami. To be the best in the NBA you have to beat the best, and Durant simply hasn’t proven he can do that yet.

League MVP voters are instructed to make their decision before the start of the postseason. The likelihood of this plan is doubtful, so the bottom line is that the team’s performance in the playoffs may ultimately determine the outcome. At this point, though, the MVP trophy looks headed to Chicago.

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