Oscar Robertson Wrong to Blame Miami Heat Problems on Big Men, Not LeBron James
Oscar Robertson is taking it far too easy on LeBron James and his role in the Miami Heat’s failure to win important games—a problem dating back to the 2010 season when LBJ first signed.
“(James is) a great basketball player and he’s played great since he’s been in the league,” Robertson said. “But you can’t win a championship by yourself… (The Heat) need somebody in the middle. You don’t win championships without having a decent center.”
Can’t win championships by himself?
Oscar, the man has Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on his team. He certainly isn’t alone.
LeBron is just one of the “three kings” of South Beach, and the team was designed by NBA super genius and five-time champion coach Pat Riley.
“I think it will be difficult for them to win,” Robertson said. “With Oklahoma City being tough and Chicago‘s got a tough basketball team, and (Miami) not having a center who can compete with those teams.”
Having a center can be in important…if the team in question is average. But a roster with Wade, James and Bosh (a big man!) should not be blaming their problems on Ronny Turiaf or Joel Anthony.
The aging Boston Celtics are finding success with Greg Stiemsma (who!?!) playing significant minutes at the 5 for crying out loud.
It’s becoming obvious that LeBron is lacking the drive to like be Michael Jordan or even Kobe Bryant—players whose one goal in life is to win.
However, that absence of passion will not excuse the 6’8″, 250-pound small forward from the all-time greats discussion, largely of his potential.
James is supposed to be the best basketball player in the world. He’s got the height, the muscular frame, the speed, the athleticism, the jump shot, the ball handling and anything else you could ask for from a superstar in the NBA; except for one critical flaw.
He does not have the heart.
Instead of going for the jugular, the King mostly decides to defer or comes up short (in a game against Chicago on Friday night, LeBron could have iced the game with a free throw that he missed).
The South Beach team is consistently putting the Heat in position to win a game late. It’s up to LeBron to decide if he wants to develop that killer instinct and put opponents away on a regular basis.
LeBron and the Heat will never reach their true potential and can never be considered NBA legends without that happening.
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Nerlens Noel to Kentucky: Why It’s the Wrong Move for Nation’s Top Recruit
In front of a national audience Wednesday, prized college basketball recruit Nerlens Noel announced that he’ll be playing for the Kentucky Wildcats next year.
This might be exciting news for the Big Blue Nation, but is it the best move for Noel?
He’s diving headfirst into a program with high expectations and his own expectation that he’ll be a prime NBA prospect in an instant.
On the surface, it seems logical. John Calipari is looking for someone to replace All-American Anthony Davis, whose shot-blocking prowess and intangibles led the Wildcats to the NCAA title.
Calipari will just plug Noel in with the rest of the top-tier talent and Kentucky will make another championship run, right?
It’s not that easy.
Big Blue’s fantastic 2011-12 season was a product of hard work, excellent coaching and an unselfish group that complemented each other extremely well.
It’s highly unlikely that they’ll be able to put together that kind of run after potentially losing six key pieces. A big part of Kentucky’s 2012 title was the stability provided by returning stars Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones. It’s like that the Wildcats won’t have that next year.
Noel will struggle to make the kind of impact that Anthony Davis had, and it’s partially because he’s a different player. Davis is noticeably more skilled offensively.
Instead of choosing Kentucky along with its unfair pressures and inevitable one-and-done result, Noel would have been better suited to go to Syracuse or Georgetown.
There are several advantages to attending either school.
Playing for the Orange would have afforded him the opportunity to dominate defensively in Jim Boeheim’s 2-3 zone. He also would have been surrounded by a more mature, cohesive group with some veteran leadership.
It would also be a place where he could be his own star, without comparisons to a recent national champion and No. 1 draft pick. Lastly, as Bleacher Report’s Jimmy Kelley noted, Noel would see greater competition every week in the Big East as opposed to the top-heavy SEC.
Georgetown would have been a great choice for many of the same reasons as Syracuse, and also because of its proven track record of developing post players.
At either of these schools, Noel would end up being much more inclined to possibly stay more than one year, which would allow him to develop his offensive game. This would turn him into the ultimate draft prospect and prepare him to make a more substantial impact in the NBA.
Noel will probably have a solid year with Kentucky, win an SEC title and even get picked first in the draft. But it will be tough for him to meet expectations, and he won’t be as successful or prepared as he would be if he played up north.
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Nerlens Noel to Kentucky: Why It’s the Wrong Move for Nation’s Top Recruit
In front of a national audience Wednesday, prized college basketball recruit Nerlens Noel announced that he’ll be playing for the Kentucky Wildcats next year.
This might be exciting news for the Big Blue Nation, but is it the best move for Noel?
He’s diving headfirst into a program with high expectations and his own expectation that he’ll be a prime NBA prospect in an instant.
On the surface, it seems logical. John Calipari is looking for someone to replace All-American Anthony Davis, whose shot-blocking prowess and intangibles led the Wildcats to the NCAA title.
Calipari will just plug Noel in with the rest of the top-tier talent and Kentucky will make another championship run, right?
It’s not that easy.
Big Blue’s fantastic 2011-12 season was a product of hard work, excellent coaching and an unselfish group that complemented each other extremely well.
It’s highly unlikely that they’ll be able to put together that kind of run after potentially losing six key pieces. A big part of Kentucky’s 2012 title was the stability provided by returning stars Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones. It’s like that the Wildcats won’t have that next year.
Noel will struggle to make the kind of impact that Anthony Davis had, and it’s partially because he’s a different player. Davis is noticeably more skilled offensively.
Instead of choosing Kentucky along with its unfair pressures and inevitable one-and-done result, Noel would have been better suited to go to Syracuse or Georgetown.
There are several advantages to attending either school.
Playing for the Orange would have afforded him the opportunity to dominate defensively in Jim Boeheim’s 2-3 zone. He also would have been surrounded by a more mature, cohesive group with some veteran leadership.
It would also be a place where he could be his own star, without comparisons to a recent national champion and No. 1 draft pick. Lastly, as Bleacher Report’s Jimmy Kelley noted, Noel would see greater competition every week in the Big East as opposed to the top-heavy SEC.
Georgetown would have been a great choice for many of the same reasons as Syracuse, and also because of its proven track record of developing post players.
At either of these schools, Noel would end up being much more inclined to possibly stay more than one year, which would allow him to develop his offensive game. This would turn him into the ultimate draft prospect and prepare him to make a more substantial impact in the NBA.
Noel will probably have a solid year with Kentucky, win an SEC title and even get picked first in the draft. But it will be tough for him to meet expectations, and he won’t be as successful or prepared as he would be if he played up north.
Read more College Basketball news on BleacherReport.com
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Nerlens Noel to Kentucky: Why It’s the Wrong Move for Nation’s Top Recruit
In front of a national audience Wednesday, prized college basketball recruit Nerlens Noel announced that he’ll be playing for the Kentucky Wildcats next year.
This might be exciting news for the Big Blue Nation, but is it the best move for Noel?
He’s diving headfirst into a program with high expectations and his own expectation that he’ll be a prime NBA prospect in an instant.
On the surface, it seems logical. John Calipari is looking for someone to replace All-American Anthony Davis, whose shot-blocking prowess and intangibles led the Wildcats to the NCAA title.
Calipari will just plug Noel in with the rest of the top-tier talent and Kentucky will make another championship run, right?
It’s not that easy.
Big Blue’s fantastic 2011-12 season was a product of hard work, excellent coaching and an unselfish group that complemented each other extremely well.
It’s highly unlikely that they’ll be able to put together that kind of run after potentially losing six key pieces. A big part of Kentucky’s 2012 title was the stability provided by returning stars Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones. It’s like that the Wildcats won’t have that next year.
Noel will struggle to make the kind of impact that Anthony Davis had, and it’s partially because he’s a different player. Davis is noticeably more skilled offensively.
Instead of choosing Kentucky along with its unfair pressures and inevitable one-and-done result, Noel would have been better suited to go to Syracuse or Georgetown.
There are several advantages to attending either school.
Playing for the Orange would have afforded him the opportunity to dominate defensively in Jim Boeheim’s 2-3 zone. He also would have been surrounded by a more mature, cohesive group with some veteran leadership.
It would also be a place where he could be his own star, without comparisons to a recent national champion and No. 1 draft pick. Lastly, as Bleacher Report’s Jimmy Kelley noted, Noel would see greater competition every week in the Big East as opposed to the top-heavy SEC.
Georgetown would have been a great choice for many of the same reasons as Syracuse, and also because of its proven track record of developing post players.
At either of these schools, Noel would end up being much more inclined to possibly stay more than one year, which would allow him to develop his offensive game. This would turn him into the ultimate draft prospect and prepare him to make a more substantial impact in the NBA.
Noel will probably have a solid year with Kentucky, win an SEC title and even get picked first in the draft. But it will be tough for him to meet expectations, and he won’t be as successful or prepared as he would be if he played up north.
Read more College Basketball news on BleacherReport.com
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College Basketball Recruiting: 7 Players Who Signed with the Wrong Teams
Deciding what college to attend is one of the hardest and most important decisions a young basketball player will ever have to make.
If a player chooses a school that doesn’t fit his style or talent level, it can be a major setback in his attempt to reach the NBA.
On the other hand, selecting the right school that allows the player to shine can skyrocket him up the draft board in no time.
Here are seven players who I believe will be playing ball at the wrong schools next season, and where they should have taken their talents instead.
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Nerlens Noel: Top Prep Basketball Player Can’t Go Wrong with Any of His Choices
If you’re Nerlens Noel, the No. 1 high school prospect in the class of 2012 according to Scout.com, and you have your pick of scholarship offers from the top programs in college basketball, then, really, there is no “wrong” choice.
Especially when your final list of destinations consists of Georgetown, Syracuse and Kentucky. All three programs boast decorated records of success on the national level, along with top-notch coaches who’ve prepared more than their fair share of stars for NBA success.
Which, for the big kid from Massachusetts with the flat-top fade, comes first and foremost.
At Georgetown, Noel would have the opportunity to be next in a long line of great big men to rock with the Hoyas, joining the likes of Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo, Roy Hibbert and Greg Monroe, the latter two of whom are currently shining in the NBA after developing under the tutelage of John Thompson III.
JT3 may not be the “sexiest” name in college coaching, but the guy is certainly no slouch, especially after guiding a depleted Hoyas squad to a fourth-place finish in the Big East this season, and he would likely work wonders with a star like Noel at his disposal.
Not that Jim Boeheim would let Noel’s considerable talents go to waste at Syracuse. The Orange may well have hoisted the NCAA Tournament title on Monday night had star center Fab Melo not been ruled academically ineligible prior to the start of March Madness. After all, the ‘Cuse claimed the top spot in the Big East during the regular season, spent significant time at No. 1 in both polls and nearly cracked the Final Four even without their big man in the middle.
Plug Noel into the middle, and the Orange would find themselves right back in the national title hunt.
Of course, Boeheim won’t necessarily be left high and dry if Noel opts to go elsewhere, not with another five-star center (the 6’9″, 275-pound DaJuan Coleman) already committed to the ‘Cuse.
And, surely, John Calipari wouldn’t mind picking up Noel if the Big East proves to be a little too close to home for him. He could certainly use another superstar in the middle after likely losing All-Everything big man Anthony Davis to the NBA Draft.
That is, if Cal is keen to defend his and Kentucky’s national championship.
Noel is no Davis clone (who is?), but he’s not all that far off. Like Davis, Noel is a long, athletic shot-blocker with a surprisingly deft passing touch and a unique ‘do who still has some work to do in the weight room. Noel isn’t quite as well-versed at scoring the ball as Davis is, but he wouldn’t have to be at UK, not alongside fellow five-stars Alex Poythress and Archie Goodwin (not to mention potential returnees Marquis Teague and Doron Lamb).
With the Wildcats, Noel would have the opportunity to compete for an NCAA title while putting himself in position to be the fourth out of six No. 1 picks in the NBA Draft to have been tutored by Calipari.
So, really, whichever way you slice it, Noel’s got some excellent options on the table, the sort of options that should put him in fine position to strike it rich in 2013.
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Andrew Bynum Epitomizes What’s Wrong with Professional Athletes
Take a bow, Andrew Bynum, you’ve officially become a member of the selfish professional athletes club. Of course, you’ve been working on this for a few years now.
Reports circulated today stating Bynum has been fined by the Los Angeles Lakers for numerous infractions.
Being disrespectful is nothing new for Bynum.
In 2009, Bynum essentially shunned Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during the offseason. Instead of picking Kareem’s brain and trying to learn as much as possible, Bynum decided to go on a European vacation. One would think a promising young player would put vacation plans on hold to take advantage of having somebody of Kareem’s stature at his disposal.
In fairness to Drew, he did utilize Kareem’s services for a period of time before 2009, although you’d be hard-pressed to find any genuine praise from the student (Bynum) towards the mentor in this case.
The lasting image we have of Bynum last year was of him ripping off his shirt and walking off the court after a flagrant foul in last year’s Western Conference Finals. Personally, I’ve never felt more disdain for one of my beloved Laker players than I did at the moment I saw the selfish Bynum knock Barea to the ground.
The roller coaster has continued this year. Not only has Bynum become one of the three best centers in the NBA, but he has also become the prototypical example as to why the casual fan (and perhaps even you, the diehard) is turned off by most professional athletes.
The Laker center has adopted a drama-queen attitude that is going to continue to cause unneeded chatter about the security of Coach Mike Brown’s job.
It’s unfortunate that whenever Bynum throws a fit or Kobe makes a tongue in cheek comment about Coach Brown people start to blame the coach.
Mike Brown, in my opinion, has done a great job in his first year as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. As of this writing, the Lakers are 33-20 and sitting in third place in the Western Conference. Does the NBA community forget where they thought the Lakers would be at the end of this season?
Most publications, and you can check them for yourself, have the Lakers finishing third or fourth in the Western Conference. It looks like Coach Brown is right within the realm of expectations.
Unfortunately, he now has a problem child on his hands in Andrew Bynum. Hoisting up a three-pointer is the least of Brown’s worries. He has to deal with a selfish individual who doesn’t participate in team huddles, misses meetings, and will continue to grow into the most cancerous individual on the team.
His entrance into the NBA straight from high school has had the most negative impact on his maturity. It’s time to get fed up with people giving him a free pass for being “young”. Drew is a 24-year-old man who conducts himself on a daily basis like people owe him something.
Whatever happened to the coach being respected? I guess that idea got lost somewhere around the early 90′s when players started to routinely sign multi-million dollar contracts.
The Lakers would have been better off with Dwight Howard at center. Perhaps Orlando knew that not only was Bynum injury-prone, but also a player who doesn’t give a complete effort on a daily basis.
I hope Drew comes around and molds into a professional athlete that shows appreciation for what he does. I hope he learns how to respect his coach, and I hope he doesn’t continue down this path of becoming a bad boy for the sport.
It’s not looking good though.
Follow Joe Chacon on Twitter.
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Final Four: Can 4 billion simulations be wrong?
From Vegas oddsmakers to ESPN analysts to office pools, the Wildcats are expected to finally give Kentucky its first national title since 19 …
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Can 4 billion computer simulations be wrong?
From Vegas oddsmakers to ESPN analysts to office pools, the Wildcats are expected to finally give Kentucky its first national title since 19 …
View full post on USATODAY.com Feed
J’Covan Brown: Texas Guard Makes Wrong Decision to Enter NBA Draft
Texas Longhorns guard J’Covan Brown, a junior, will skip his senior season and enter the 2012 NBA Draft, according to the American-Statesman.
Brown led the Longhorns in scoring this season with 20.1 points per game, almost two times the amount of the team’s second leading scorer, Sheldon McClellan.
Even though Brown is coming off his best season at Texas and is a quality player, the decision to turn pro is the wrong one.
As a point guard, he’s not much of a playmaker and doesn’t have the passing skills needed to run an offense efficiently at the NBA level.
Point guards do score in the NBA, but the position doesn’t carry the same offensive responsibility in the pros as it does in college.
Brown is probably better suited to play the shooting guard position in the NBA with his score-first style of play, but at 6’1″, he doesn’t have the size needed to play shooting guard well at either end of the floor in the pros.
With few skills other than scoring, it’s likely that Brown could be a late second-round pick. Is it worth it to enter the draft and be selected in the late second round, and not receive a guaranteed contract or a place on the roster?
No, it’s not worth it at all.
Brown is a good player, but he could really use the experience of playing another year at Texas and further developing his game.
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