NBA Playoffs 2012: Updated Championship Rankings After Derrick Rose Injury
In the closing minutes of Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers, Derrick Rose landed awkwardly on his left knee and was helped off the court by his Bulls teammates. It was later revealed that Rose had suffered a torn ACL and was out of the 2012 NBA playoffs.
Rose’s injury changes the playoff picture dramatically. His Bulls own the best regular-season record in the NBA, but how will the fare without him? Can they still win the championship?
Here are the top five contenders for the Larry O’Brien Trophy following Derrick Rose’s season-ending injury.
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Is the season a failure for Heat without a championship?
This is the second year of the experiment of The Big Three – Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh, and it’s the second chance at an NBA title.
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NBA Playoffs 2012: Thunder and Teams Who Aren’t Ready for a Championship
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the feel-good story of 2012, featuring three potential perennial All-Stars in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. However, as the 2012 NBA Playoffs open on Saturday, the Thunder find themselves in the unfamiliar position of being a favorite.
In their two previous playoff runs, a conference semifinals loss to the L.A. Lakers in 2010 and the Western Conference Finals loss to Dallas last year, they weren’t expected to win as they are now.
They’ve been the darlings of the West for most of the season. Aside from a late push by the San Antonio Spurs, the Thunder have been the best team in the West.
Now, as they enter the postseason, questions of their ability to close games late and run the “playoff” offense surmount. They aren’t the only team that isn’t ready to win a championship in 2012, though.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Can Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook co-exist? It’s been the question all season, and they’ll set out to prove in the postseason that they’re better together than apart.
Elsewhere, questions of Scott Brooks’ ability to call offenses and defenses is also in limbo, partially due to the poor late-game execution just a year ago against Dallas.
They’ll have a chance to bury those concerns in the first round against the Mavericks, but can they do so against the likes of the Lakers and Spurs when the game is on the line? History says no.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers are a young team with a bright future. Paul George is one of the rising stars in this league, and Danny Granger has been quietly good for about five years. Throw in youngsters Roy Hibbert and Darren Collison, and this team is one or two solid veterans away from perennial contending.
However, right now they don’t play staunch enough defense, and likely won’t have the mental toughness needed to tackle the best in the East for three rounds. They’ll get a beat-up, drama-charged Orlando team, but that confidence will be wiped clean when either Miami or New York comes rolling in for Round 2.
Denver Nuggets
Top to bottom, the Nuggets have a dangerous team. They have no major stars, no major offensive leaders, but they play as a team, and have some of the greatest depth in the league.
Ty Lawson is as quick as they come. Danilo Gallinari, when healthy, has proven to be more than just a shooter. If they can retain JaVale McGee in free agency, their youth and depth going forward should scare the rest of West.
It won’t scare the Lakers in Round 1, though, and they’ll need an additional year to make the big step.
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Reds honor Kentucky’s basketball championship (Yahoo! Sports)
CINCINNATI (AP) Coach John Calipari threw a ceremonial pitch – a strike to infielder Todd Frazier – as the Cincinnati Reds honored Kentucky’s eighth national basketball championship.
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College Basketball: The 25 Greatest Teams Not to Win the National Championship
The six-round, single-elimination marathon that is the NCAA college basketball tournament offers special significance for a list of the best teams not to win the national championship. Many of these teams were led by some of the game’s greatest players and coaches, and many of them make legitimate claims to have been the best team in a particular year. In several cases, those claims are unambiguous.
The majority of the teams on this list represent the sport’s traditional powerhouse programs, for whom appearances on this list are a mark of their consistently high level of success. Continually building great teams year to year, in addition to winning national titles, is a part of what creates their identity as blue bloods.
Yet every appearance is also a lingering symbol of disappointment. Each of the teams on this list could have dramatically improved the stature of its program with a title it had the talent to achieve.
For this reason, writers and fans could spin their perspective a variety of ways for each team to answer the simple question of whether it is good or bad to hold a spot on this list.
More than anything, this list evokes thoughts of what could have been. It’s a reminder of how a couple of missed shots, a couple of close calls, and in some cases, injuries can dramatically alter the trajectory of college basketball. This list illustrates that decades of history are decided in short spans of 40 minutes.
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Kentucky Basketball: How Loss of Starting 5 Will Impact 2013 Championship Odds
The defending champion Kentucky Wildcats took a major setback yesterday in their quest for back-to-back titles, but the possibility of winning it all once again is still there.
Head Coach John Calipari does a superb job in recruiting, and Kentucky will have little to no trouble tearing through its schedule this upcoming season.
Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marquis Teague, Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb all declared for the 2012 NBA draft on Tuesday night in a press conference that aired on ESPN. If you missed it, check out the video below.
It’s a shame we won’t get to see how many national titles these guys would have won together, but that’s the nature of the college game these days. One-and-done players will continue to surface in the sport, especially with Calipari having immense success with the players he brings to Kentucky.
With that said, Big Blue Nation must now get acquainted with new faces, but it won’t take very long because these guys will be stars next year.
Luckily for the Wildcats, SEC basketball isn’t overpowering, which means they can definitely rebound from losing their starting five. Since other strong SEC basketball programs lost key players as well, Kentucky will be just fine in conference play.
That will lead to a great seed in the NCAA tournament, and then it’s up to Calipari to prepare his new young guns for another title run.
Headlining the recruiting class for Kentucky this year is ESPN’s No. 1 overall player, Nerlens Noel. He’s a 6’10″, 215-pound center that will soon make everyone forget how dominant Anthony Davis was.
Noel has big shoes to fill, but there’s a chance he ends up being better than Davis. Joining Noel are other prized recruits in small forward Alex Poythress and shooting guard Archie Goodwin.
Kentucky will also look for help from Kyle Wiltjer, an elite recruit from last year’s class that took a back seat to the bigger stars this year. He’s a 6’9″, 239-pound power forward that will only continue to get better over the summer.
The Wildcats will have the size and strength in Noel and Wiltjer, as well as the great shooting and scoring ability of Poythress and Goodwin.
They may not be the overwhelming favorites like they were this past season, but there is no denying that the Wildcats will still be strong contenders for another national title run. Their progress over the course of the season will determine a great deal, but Calipari should easily have them ready to go when the madness of March rolls around in 2013.
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Jordan Brand Classic 2012 Proves UCLA Will Be Championship Contenders Next Year
Go ahead and get out your 2013 NCAA brackets and pencil in UCLA into the Final Four. The Bruins are about to be loaded with young talent.
The two highlights of the Bruins’ 2012 recruiting class were busy dominating the 2012 Jordan Brand Classic, and proving that they will make sure the Bruins are a force next season.
UCLA-bound Shabazz Muhammad and Kyle Anderson participated in this elite high school event. The Jordan Brand Classic is a premier event for the best high school players in the country.
It offers everyone a glimpse of what highly-touted recruits are capable of against elite competition. And in the case of Muhammad and Anderson, they are capable of a lot.
Muhammad has turned All-Star competitions like this into his personal playgrounds. The 6’6″ and 225-pound wing player has been a man among boys out on the court. His size, speed and strength have been unmatched, and he has been able to get to the rack at will.
In the Classic, he was named co-MVP on the strength of 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting, and he did that in just 22 minutes. He also added four rebounds and a steal.
And while Anderson wasn’t honored with the MVP, his performance was just as promising.
Anderson is a matchup nightmare. He is 6’8″ and has the skill to play point guard. In this game, he had 14 points on 7-of-16 shooting. His stat line also reflects his versatility. He had nine rebounds, two assists and one block. He also had just two turnovers.
These are clearly going to be two of the premier freshmen in the nation next year, and even more exciting for UCLA is that they are going to fit so well together—they were on opposite sides for this game.
Muhammad will be able to play and defend either the shooting guard or small forward positions. Anderson can play either of those and point guard. They both can score, but they score in different ways.
Shabazz explodes to the hole, while Anderson uses smooth moves and height. They both have a solid mid-range game, and Anderson has the passing.
That kind of length and talent in the backcourt is going to be nearly impossible for any team to match up with.
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Tom Benson Will Make the New Orleans Hornets into Championship Contenders
Tom Benson is a better owner than David Stern.
I just told you something you already knew. But his business acumen and his track record with other sports franchises (most notably a Super Bowl XLIV Championship with the New Orleans Saints) is only part of the reason that the city of New Orleans is rejoicing that Benson has acquired the Hornets.
The most important thing about Benson, as far as New Orleans is concerned, is that he is a New Orleans guy.
He stepped in to buy the Saints in 1985 when he got word that the potential new owners were planning on moving the team.
He did so again when he heard the Hornets would be on the move, if sold to a group that included his brother.
With Benson on board, everyone can rest assured that the New Orleans Hornets are going nowhere, and now not just in terms of their playoff chances.
Benson brings stability to a franchise that has had nothing but question marks hanging over it ever since the NBA took over in December of 2010.
That stability will help make the Hornets a more attractive destination for players, including ones currently on their roster.
As a restricted free agent this off-season, the Hornets could choose to match any offer that another team might sign Eric Gordon to. Now, Benson and his his general manager, Dell Demps, should make signing him their first priority.
Since returning from injury, Gordon has shown why he can be a franchise player. His competitive spirit will draw both fans to the arena and potential free agent signees to the team.
If they retain Gordon with a multi-year contract, he will be able to look at his teammates next year and see two lottery picks, eager to help him return the Hornets to respectability.
The first pick could be as good as No. 1 overall, and everybody sees that being Kentucky’s Anthony Davis. At worst, given the Hornets’ third-worst record, that pick will be the No. 6 overall pick.
The second of their picks is the one they received from the Minnesota Timberwolves via the trade with the LA Clippers. The T-Wolves currently hold the 10th-worst record so that pick will fall between No. 10 and No. 13.
No matter what the actual lottery order ends up being, both picks should get plenty of playing time for a rebuilding team. That may well result in yet another lottery pick the following season, thus adding to the young core of the Hornets.
Naturally, some of today’s players will end up being traded or not resigned based on what needs the Hornets fill through the draft; regardless of who stays or goes, the team will have four young players to form the team’s foundation for the next three to four years.
And while Tom Benson himself knows little about basketball, as Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune writes, Benson does know enough to let people who do know to plan the team’s strategy.
He has a good GM in Dell Demps in place, and a promising young head coach in Monty Williams as well.
If his basketball people can make the right player personnel decisions (signing Gordon and making wise, non-”Greg Oden” type draft choices being chief among those), the Hornets will be on the rise.
Two to three years from now, this team could find itself playing in its first-ever Conference Championship. A changing of the guard in the Western Conference is bound to happen as stars like Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, and Tim Duncan fade.
Could they be replaced by Eric Gordon and his yet-to-be-named draft lottery teammates?
Could they bring a championship home for the yet-to-be-renamed Hornets?
Possibly.
And that possibility is more than the city of New Orleans could have ever hoped for before Benson bought in.
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Boston Celtics: Their Road Back to Championship Contention
We all thought they were done. This year was supposed to be a farewell tour and nothing more. The window for championship contention had slammed shut and after a first-round playoff exit, the rebuilding process would begin.
Kevin Garnett was an over-the-hill big man who had lost his physical skills. Paul Pierce aged overnight. Ray Allen was a three-point specialist and nothing else, and Rajon Rondo no longer felt needed after being mentioned in trade rumors for the past few months.
To make matters worse, the team’s bench was quickly disappearing due to injury. Chris Wilcox, a big man who provided size and the ability to run the floor, became the team’s second player to be sidelined for the season with a heart ailment. Mickael Pietrus suffered a concussion and a return seemed unrealistic. Finally, Ray Allen was forced to miss multiple games with an ankle injury.
Fans came to the realization that the Celtics tank had emptied. The local media treated them as second class citizens and even after a victory, brushed it off as nothing of significance.
Just when it was time for their toughest stretch of the season, things changed.
KG regained that hop to his step that made him a Hall of Famer. He was tired of the media constantly calling him old and past his prime, and he started playing angry again. Garnett started putting up 20 and 10 nights like he use to during his days in Minnesota.
2010 first-round draft pick Avery Bradley came out of nowhere and became one of the league’s best defenders. On national television he held his own against Dwyane Wade, even recording an acrobatic highlight reel block on the star guard in a crucial Celtics victory.
Greg Stiemsma splashed onto the scene and has added much needed depth to the team’s front court. His defense and blocking ability has been pivotal for a team that desperately needed help off the bench.
The team’s defense began to play as good as they had in years. With Bradley now in the starting lineup, they had an elite perimeter defender matched with the defensive smarts of veterans Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Brandon Bass even began to step up his game on the defensive end as KG’s intensity had seemed to rub off on him.
They had their confidence back. The Celtics have defeated Miami twice in the past month, showing the league that they fear no team. During a stretch that was supposed to end their season, Boston has played their best basketball.
It may seem impossible to believe, but the Celtics have morphed into a feared team in the Eastern Conference. Their defense and efficient shooting makes them a threat to any opponent.
The now big four of the Celtics has been together for five years now. They know each other so well and have taught the players around them how to play Celtics basketball. With the confidence Boston has in their ability and their experience as a team, they have the intangibles needed to go deep into the playoffs.
The way the Celtics are playing basketball right now makes them a team no one wants to face. If the team continues their resurgence, they have an opportunity to make a deep playoff run.
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Miami Heat 2012: Is This the Year LeBron James Finally Gets His Championship?
LeBron James will lead Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat to the 2012 NBA Championship.
Spare me. I know LeBron choked against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals.
And there’s no need to re-litigate his Cavaliers‘ collapses in the playoffs.
LeBron has come up short before. That doesn’t mean it will happen this season.
He Took His Talents to South Beach
Nearly two years ago, LeBron informed the world that he’d be taking his “talents to South Beach.” Pat Riley’s ability to unite Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and LeBron altered the NBA’s balance of power.
The summer of 2010 was dominated by foolish championship predictions. Jeff van Gundy even suggested that we’d witness record-breaking performances.
NBA fans across the country were furious at the spectacle.
To top it off, the Heat got off to a poor start, going 9-8. Suddenly, Miami’s world seemed to be crashing.
NBA fans reveled in it.
LeBron stirred the pot when he infamously bumped into Coach Erik Spoelstra. The team appeared to be in a death spiral.
Some even called for the coach’s head.
But from that trouble emerged a Heat team that fully dominated the NBA. Miami would go on to win 21 of their next 22 games.
As the season progressed, the Heat came back down to earth. Miami struggled to win close games. They failed to secure wins against the other leading contenders in the Eastern Conference: the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls. They went on an ugly 5-0 losing streak after the All-Star break.
Basketball pundits and fans alike boldly declared that Miami couldn’t make it out of the East. The Heat looked to be floundering, and everyone loved it.
To the surprise of their critics, James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh took Miami to another level in the playoffs. They easily beat the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round.
After dominating the Heat in the regular season, Boston and Chicago were not up to the challenge when it really mattered. They mustered only two wins between them.
And for the first time, many began to acknowledge that Derrick Rose was not the true MVP. Many began to point out that writers’ disdain for LeBron’s decision handed the award to a less-qualified choice.
When Miami went on to the finals, LeBron promptly made them all look silly.
The King, who closed out the Bulls and Celtics with an assortment of clutch shots, now looked inept—even in first quarters.
To some, it was a shocking and appalling performance.
Regardless of your view, Miami ultimately fell to Dallas, 4-2.
LeBron heard the talk. He knew that many would say that his terrible performance in the 2011 NBA Finals shows that he crumbles under pressure.
But he didn’t sit around and sulk. He went to work on his game.
A New Season, A New King
LeBron James has always worked efficiently in the post. But to take his game to another level, he made the pilgrimage to Texas.
He spent some time with Hakeem Olajuwon in the summer. Olajuwon helped LeBron improve his low-post game. And it’s showing this season.
James looks much more fluid and comfortable when operating in the post, and that added comfort has James playing at near-historic levels.
It’s clear that King James came into this season to prove his critics wrong.
So far, he’s made a convincing argument.
LeBron is averaging 26.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists and nearly two steals. He’s shooting 53 percent from the field and 36 percent from behind the arc—both career highs. His player efficiency rating is an astounding 30.6, a number within striking distance of the single-season record.
In short, LeBron is playing at an MVP level. And if the voters are honest, they’ll give him the hardware.
LeBron’s summer workout with the Thunder’s Kevin Durant is also paying dividends. Battling against a great one-on-one player like Durant has helped LeBron hone his defensive skills.
It’s showing this season.
James is also a strong contender for the Defensive Player of The Year award.
But, the reason LeBron James will lead the Heat to the title this season has at least as much to do with his teammates as it does his own brilliant play.
Yes, Miami’s bench is deeper this season. Yes, the Heat are healthier.
What’s most important, however, is that his teammates now recognize that LeBron, not Wade, will need to be the best player on the floor if they’re to win the Championship.
Wade said, “I realize and understand where [LeBron] is at this point in his career,” according to Ethan J. Skolnick.
Wade continued, “I understood that, at certain times in this league, Coach Riley has felt I was the best player. But it don’t change the way I approach the game and what I think of myself at all, by saying [LeBron] is the best player in the world right now. No, it’s not a sensitive subject with me.
“I get it.”
Spoelstra said, “Without even being biased I think he’s the best two-way player in the league,” according to Ira Winderman. “The fact is he must play on an MVP level, on both ends of the court for us.”
This is good.
LeBron sometimes cruises through games as if he’s on autopilot. That’s a big reason the Heat fell to Dallas last year; we watched as LeBron left Wade to lead the fight.
For the Heat to win it all, James has to be wholly engaged in the moment. When he is locked in, the Heat are nearly unstoppable. Knowing that he’s expected to carry such a heavy burden will only serve to motivate him.
Yes, I know that the Heat haven’t looked great since the break, but they’re still in contention for the league’s best record. And the Heat’s struggles this season pale in comparison to their struggles last year.
In addition, LeBron is playing what is easily the best basketball of his career.
He’s motivated. He’s determined. He has his team playing better basketball.
He’s going to win the 2012 Finals MVP.
Disagree? Share why in the comments.
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