Czar Asks You: The People’s Team?

January 20 by 2 Comments

The NBA All-Star starting lineups will soon be revealed and where you stand on the selection process probably depends on what you think the All-Star Game itself is all about.

I believe the All-Star game is supposed to be a contest among the best players in the NBA. And by best players I mean those performing at the top of their games and profoundly contributing to their teams’ success up to this point in the season – apart from how any particular player performed in seasons past.

For some players achieving this caliber of play may come around only once in a career. And I think it’s a shame when those deserving of this opportunity miss out. It’s also a shame when fans have to endure a lopsided competition, such as last year’s in which the West far outsized the East and outscored them by 27 points.

Yes, this event is supposed to be fun and entertaining. And as the world spotlight continues to grow so does the spectacle – evidenced by the fact that this year’s will be held at Cowboys Stadium.  But part of what makes any game entertaining is a high level of competition.

I had the privilege of coaching the East back in 1988 and believe me, at the end of the day whether you’re a coach or a player you want to win this game just as badly as any regular season or playoff game.

In light of recent All-Star Ballot updates producing some questionable candidates for the 2010 starting lineup, Ray Allen proposed that the voting system be amended so that the Fan Vote counts for 50 percent with the other 50 percent split between the players and the media. He believes this would ultimately make the All-Star Game more competitive and exciting – less “watered down.”

On the other hand the Fan Vote does engage the fans and generate excitement. And at the end of the day, it’s their league. Maybe if we need to make a change, we should expand the teams from 12 to 15 players – and let the three additional players be selected from any position. Or perhaps eligibility requirements should be modified.

I’m not sure there’s a perfect solution. After all, there’s a tremendous amount of talent in the NBA vying for a handful of coveted positions. What do you think? How should the All-Star starting lineups be selected?

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Around the League

January 19 by Leave a Comment

Big Returns

It seems a lot of key players have missed time this season but last week there were a few notable returns. In their third game back in the Pacers lineup Danny Granger and Troy Murphy joined forces to take last  Monday’s game over the Raptors.

In his fifth year Danny Granger is developing into a franchise player.  He opens the court up with his athleticism and ability to stretch the floor. With these two playing well the Pacers are a totally different team. And with the bar set somewhat low in the East, Indiana could conceivably have a shot at the playoffs.

There’s been some speculation that with the emergence of Tyreke Evans Sacramento will look to trade Kevin Martin. Kevin’s been off his first few games back from injury but I don’t think it’s a given the two can’t play with each other and I’d be careful not to give up a proven player like Martin without a good look at him and Evans playing together. Too often when we see teams trade players like Martin we see them receiving 70 cents on the dollar.

Nuggets on the Rise

The Denver Nuggets, perhaps the Lakers’ toughest challenge in the West, got NBA leading scorer Carmelo Anthony back. They played .500 ball without Chauncey and Carmelo but are on the start of a little run. I think this team has a legitimate chance to come out of the West.

The leadership of Billups and the tremendous offense of Anthony surrounded by energetic, tough players will make the Nuggets very dangerous in the post-season. Last year’s playoff series was a great learning experience for the guys. Anthony looks like he’s taken the next step this year and it will be interesting to see if the team can fight their way to the next level in the postseason.

Some rest for the weary

Laker Pau Gasol was back in action Friday in a 40-point win over the Clippers. The Lakers need Gasol to stay on the court and to be the focal point of the offense during the next few in order to take the load off Kobe because there’s no way to convince #8 to sit and rest his injuries. I know it’s said over and over again but his competitive drive and will to win are unmatched.

I think Pop giving Duncan the night off this past week on the tail end of a back-to-back was a good move. Duncan’s played a lot of tough minutes with Ginobli and Parker injured this year and he’s logged a lot of minutes over hiscareer. He goes deep into the playoffs every year and played summer ball for five USA Basketball teams including the 2004 Olympic team. The Spurs are in tow for the Championship run and a healthy Duncan in the playoffs is well worth a couple of regular season losses.

Another big guy who’s logged a lot of minutes over his career is still out for Boston – Garnett is itching to get back in there but I think Doc and the team are taking the right approach being extremely cautious with Garnett’s return.  Boston is a veteran team whose season will be a success only if they win a championship. Having Garnett as healthy as possible for the post-season will be a key to meeting their goal.

The East bounces back

It was a bounce back week for the Hawks. It looks like they’ve snapped out of their lull with victories over Phoenix, Washington and Boston and remain in control of first place in the Southeast. They are 3-0 against Boston this year and won’t be afraid to see the Celtics again in the playoffs. The NBA season is a marathon and inevitably there are slumps; for young teams making their way up the ladder it’s crucial to find a way to remain confident and fight through the dips and not allow them to extend into a prolonged rut.

Chicago also looks to be turning around their season. They picked up their fourth straight game and have moved into playoff position in the forgiving East. Derrick Rose is becoming that relentless force that had Chicago near the top of the East in many pre-season predictions. Against the Wizards Friday he led his team with 37 points, six assists and nine rebounds and hit the game winner with five seconds left. It always takes a few years for point guards to develop a consistency but there’s no denying this guy has what it takes to be one of the top three points in the league. Unfortunately they can’t get too comfortable as the win comes at the juncture of a treacherous seven-game road stretch.

The Cavs had a solid road trip going 2 of 3 last week with their only loss coming at the end of a heroic shot by Jazz call-up Gaines. I don’t know what to say about LeBron. When the bell rings for the 4th quarter he is becoming Super LeBron. He went for 41/10/8 in Portland.

Then in the Golden State showed off his post game against Corey Maggette dominating down low and scoring 15 of the Cavs last 18 points to finish the Warriors 117-114. I had the chance to call LeBron’s next game in Utah and with less than 5 minutes left and the Jazz up 13 it looked like the Cavs were done. But LeBron led his team by scoring 18 points in a furious 20-2 run that put the Cavs up 6 with 32 seconds left. They would ultimately lose on a buzzer beater but LeBron brought an energy and presence that is unmatched in the League.

He continued to make his case for the MVP against the Clippers leading his team back from a double digit deficit and scoring 22 of his 32 points in the second half. The MVP award is really subjective but I look at it this way: If we took LeBron, Kobe or Dirk and subbed them with the next best players at those positions where would their teams stand? I’ll let you guys answer the question.

Charlotte Bobcats won their seventh straight at home against the Suns on Saturday. Steven Jackson was a great pick up for them – he brings leadership and a dynamic element to the floor. He can put the ball on the floor, post up and is a solid jump-shooter. His offense is important but his confidence and tenacity will be invaluable as Larry Brown tries to lead his team into the playoffs.

Hold on LeBron . . .

. . . Says Mr. Gaines of the Utah Jazz. I was at that game and what a wonderful moment for Sundiata Gaines. It’s why we love sports. Gaines a rookie from the D-League on a 10-day contract thwarted LeBron James’s comeback effort as time ran out hitting his first career 3-pointer in front of a thrilled Utah crowd. With Deron Williams out and the game looking like it had swung Cleveland’s way due to a tremendous effort by the King, Jerry Sloan played out the last 32 seconds masterfully. Kyle Korver hit an incredible trick shot from behind the backboard; Cleveland broke down at the foul line; and Sundiata Gaines took advantage hitting a shot he’ll remember for the rest of his life. And so will a lot of people in the building. It’s a lesson to all the players in the D-League: keep working hard and your time can come.

In other buzzer beater news, Jamal Crawford buried a 28-footer over Jared Dudley as the clock expired to give the Hawks a 102-101 victory over the Suns. Jamal has hit some big shots in the past. But now he’s making them for a playoff bound team. It’ll be fun watching Carl Landry of Houston and Crawford battle it out for the Sixth Man award.

Filed Under: Around the League

Fratello’s Fantasy Pick: Martell Webster

January 18 by Leave a Comment


The Trail Blazers keep on ticking. They refuse to let injuries be an excuse and are right in the middle of the Western conference race. Fifth-year forward Martell Webster has increasingly become an important contributor to the team’s success.

With so many players out Webster’s minutes have increased and so has his production. After sitting out the 2008-09 season with a stress fracture in his left foot, Webster got off to a slow start but is now pulling his weight in the starting lineup.

So far this month Webster is shooting 43% from the 3-point line and averaging 18 ppg and seven rebounds in 39 minutes. In Friday’s emphatic win over the Magic he grabbed 9 rebounds and led his team in scoring with 24 points.

Sometimes it takes a while for players straight out of high school to develop and I think we’re seeing Martell come into his own this season. His confidence is up  –  he knows what he’s doing on the court and how to perform. I look for him to deliver a solid second half.

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Mike Looks Back: Still waiting for my invitation ‘Nique

January 16 by 1 Comment

This week my former player Dominique Wilkins celebrated his 50th birthday. We had a chance to catch up at the Nets game in Atlanta and had a laugh about one of Dominique’s birthdays that I remember very well. It was my second year with the Hawks and we were going into a game at home against the Celtics. Much like now, Boston was the team to beat in the East. It was a sell-out crowd but the stands would be full of Celtics fans wearing green jerseys.

At the morning shootaround I gave an impassioned pep talk about how this was our opportunity to win back the fans. I felt going into the game our team’s best effort could get us a win over the Celtics and start turning those green jerseys into red jerseys.

That night when I was in the locker room writing the notes for the game on the board, I happened to notice that each of the players walked in carrying garment bags to their lockers. I didn’t know why because we weren’t going on a road trip or anything but I didn’t pay much attention to it. Anyhow we went out, delivered a poor effort and were beaten resoundingly. So much for my pep talk.

I was so mad because the momentum and credibility we had worked really hard to gain over the last couple of weeks were conceded without much of a fight. Let me put it this way, after the loss I called for an 8 a.m. practice the next morning. Well, I don’t think any of the players had their eyes open when they arrived at practice on Sunday. I called the morning practice because I wanted the players to see the construction workers outside of the Omni Center parking garage with jackhammers repairing holes in the street.  And as they came into to the arena there were people upstairs cleaning and picking up the mess from the night before.

I asked the players, “How many of you people saw the guys out there repairing the streets on the way in? How many of you saw the people cleaning up the arena at 7:45 a.m.? That’s what life is about. That’s the real world. That’s when you’ve got to work to survive – when you’ve got to go out and earn a living to support a family. And we need to have a better effort. We can’t come out and perform like we did last night because that’s not what we’re about.”

We were a very young team and I wanted them to understand you can’t cheat our fans and cheat our team with that kind of performance. We were blessed to have the privilege of making a living in sports and getting paid to play the game we love and there was no excuse for mailing a game in, especially when we had the opportunity to prove ourselves against one of the best teams in the NBA. It should have been a “war.”

I quickly realized it wasn’t going to be a very productive practice. Once I made my point there was no reason to keep the guys there so I told them to go home. I wasn’t trying to punish them. I just wanted to turn a negative into a positive learning experience. That was it. What I found out later was that the day before was Dominique’s birthday. After the game the players all went to an elaborate private party – the reason for the garment bags. If I were a betting man I’d say that most of them came straight from ‘Nique’s birthday celebration right to practice.  And my speech was probably not the way they wanted to cap the evening.

Watch Dominique and Devyne discuss the Human Highlight’s NBA career and the events planned for his 50th birthday week in Atlanta.

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In Union There Is Strength

January 15 by Leave a Comment

In coaching we’re always preaching the theme of team. We try to get our players to come together as a team and play as one because in union there is strength. When a player is injured or in a time of need we ask his teammates to pick him up. There is power in team. There is hope in team. There is action in team.

Right now we need to come together as a team and help the people of Haiti. We’ve all seen reports on the tremendous tragedy they are enduring right now, only 600 miles off our shore. This tragedy is a challenge to us all. It affects us all. It has taken far too many of our teammates already and it’s threatening to take more.

The Haitian flag bears the inscription: “L’Union Fait la Force” which means “in union there is strength.”  Let’s pull together and help our teammates on the frontlines. Together we can make a difference. In union there is the strength to overcome.

In Philly tonight, Haitian born 76er Samuel Dalembert will present a check for $100,000 to the Haiti Earthquake Relief and has pledged to match any donations made by fans during the game. Both Dalembert and NBA Cares have partnered with Unicef to provide immediate aid to the estimated three million victims of the unfolding humanitarian crisis.

Alonzo Mourning traveled to the devastated capital of Port-au-Prince with Project Medishare to assist rescue workers and first responders. He and former teammate Dwyane Wade established the Athletes Relief Fund for Haiti. The White House Blog supports online contributions to the Red Cross – a quick $10 donation can also be made by texting “HAITI” to 90999. George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are heading up a new Haiti fundraising project as well.

Please give what you can to ensure that priority needs such as food, water, shelter and medical help arrive in time to save lives.

The Dalembert Foundation

The NBA Supports Unicef

Athletes Relief Fund for Haiti

  

Dalembert joined Game Time to talk about the situation back home and the work of the Samuel Dalembert Foundation. You can watch the interview here.
Filed Under: Czar's Got Heart Tagged With: , , ,
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