Fans chose a classic look for my All-Star Saturday broadcast.
Looking forward to a great show. Thanks for voting.
Fan Vote: Which tie should Mike wear?
February 8 by 1 Comment
All-Star Weekend is a major showcase for NBA basketball so I need to look sharp for the Taco Bell Skills Challenge and Haier Shooting Stars competition on Saturday night. Which tie should I sport during the TNT broadcast?
(L-R: purple stripes, paisley stripes, pink & gold stripes)
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?
Czar Asks You
January 12 by 1 Comment
Kobe Bryant pays fellow four-time NBA champion Tim Duncan a visit tonight. Both teams need the game: San Antonio has moved up in the standings the last two weeks, but they are just 3-11 against teams with a winning record. The Spurs need to prove they can beat the best teams in the league — perhaps Finley and Bonner will return to lend a timely hand.
The Lakers have hit a little rough patch and could use a big win to get moving in the right direction again. However Artest isn’t one hundred percent yet and Gasol remains day-to-day with the hamstring injury — which means that Kobe and his sore finger will have to shoulder more of the load. Kobe is never going to shy away from responsibility — that’s what makes him so great — but I wonder if not having the chance to give his finger some rest will haunt the Lakers come playoff time.
Needless to say, it should be a good one down in the Alamo City. These two teams dominated the past decade in the NBA. Between Bryant and Duncan they’ve won seven rings in ten years. But these guys aren’t finished yet. Who will be the first to win a championship in the next decade?
Czar Asks You
January 7 by 25 Comments
A lot of people thought after Blake Griffin that last year’s was a shallow draft class. But the freshman pool has proven deep and 40 games in, it looks like this may go down as one of the top drafts for guards in NBA history.
We have Tyreke Evans in Sacramento threatening to work his way into the 20/5/5 club — the current three members of that club: the Big O, Jordan and LeBron — doesn’t get any more exclusive than that.
Last night I had the chance to see Evans’ fellow Rookie of the Month Brandon Jennings in action against the Nets and a couple of things come to mind: incredible speed and quite a haircut. Back in the eighties I managed to grow a couple inches thanks to my ‘do as well. Jennings went for 55 points earlier in the season usurping LeBron as the youngest player ever to do so. A lot of teams will be kicking themselves for years for letting this guy slip. He has the quickness and vision to break down a defense along with a surprising jump shot.
When the Wolves took Jonny Flynn sixth in last year’s draft it raised a few eyebrows after taking Ricky Rubio the pick before. Well that selection is looking pretty good now with Flynn averaging 14 ppg and 4 assists — and along with Jefferson, Love and Brewer forming a promising core in Minnesota. Now they have to figure out what to do with Rubio and all the cap room next year.
On draft night Stephen Curry thought he was going to join Rubio in Minnesota, but ended up going one pick later to Golden State. He’s shooting 46 percent from the field and 42 percent from the arc this season. In Tuesday’s game against Denver, he hit six consecutive 3-pointers en route to 26 points. I like Curry’s game and his demeanor on the court; he’s going to do his dad proud in this league.
And finally don’t overlook hard working, hard playing Taj Gibson. Back in the Bull’s starting lineup, he’s improving day by day and could be a sleeper in the Rookie of the Year race.
I anticipate a photo finish. Who do you like for Rookie of the Year?
