Andrew Kasmarek, Mitch Pratt and Charlie Tritschler are getting you ready for the NBA season. The previews feature all sorts of information to get you ready for the start of the season. Yes, we will be a little late, but they will all be done by November 1st.
What I know…
- Miami is trying to go all Tom Emanski on us and win “back-to-back-to-back NBA Finals Championships”! Miami somewhat glided to their first ring, but faced a series of challenges in repeating last year. To win again this year would mean the Heat would put themselves in an elite category of franchises that have achieved three-peats; joining Chicago, Los Angeles, and of course Boston.
- To squash the rumors before they start, although LeBron will opt-out, he will not be leaving South Beach. One does not simply leave Miami. Not to mention Miami is equipped (basketball-wise) with everything LeBron needs. They have a cool ass owner named Mickey Arison. Just how cool is he? This is a guy whom has multiple yachts in the Greece area just in case one is in the shop for maintenance when he happens to be there. Arison has no boundaries. They have Pat Riley. They have Erik Spoelstra who like him or not, has found a way to get LeBron to play a smarter brand of basketball. Mike Brown never got him to go down low and rebound. He never had a post game until Miami, and Spo has definitely put LeBron in positions to succeed and shake his always-alarming lapses in confidence[1]. Add all those things plus weather and Miami’s cap space next year… It will be LeBron recruiting players to come play with him, while Dwyane Wade slips away to…Chicago.
- I once asked my friend Sofi who her least favorite NBA player. Much to my surprise, her response was, “Mario Chalmers because he is bitch made” That is a direct quote. I am quickly going to tell you why I know Mario Chalmers is in fact not bitch made, but is actually quite gangster[2]; first, he hits as big ofshots as he does bongs, ask DRose. Second, he actually does smoke big bongs ask Darrell Arthur and Michael Beasley[3]. Third, The kid exposes thirsty groupies like its nuthin’. I’m rooting for you ‘Rio. Keep doing your thing.
Additions/Subtractions…
They lost Mike Miller. To most this might not seem like much, but if the Heat are to win the their third championship, it will be a bummer that Mike and his creeky back/ankle/ear/wrist/calf/fingernail will not be out there canning back breaking threes while simultaneously needing immediate help off the floor. Also his dream catcher tattoo is a thing a beauty and needs the proper amount of exposure it was getting while being a member of the Heat. This is something I cannot guarantee in Memphis.
Although a lot of fun was lost with the Miller departure, they did bring in Michael Beasley and Greg Oden, and who is not ready to cheer for this? I know people are quick to hate the Heat, but c'mon, Oden and Beasley??? Together with a redemption[4]chance on the line?? How can you not be pumped? They are both playing on incentive-based deals, so the Heat lose essentially nothing except needed playoff depth if they both flop which is totally plausible. But if (and this is a big if), somehow Beasley learns to crash the boards, plays good defense and scores within the offense, all while finding a way not to punch himself in the head, AND not be completely cheddered-out[5]all the time. While, Oden FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, just stays healthy, the Heat front office may have pulled off the most best under the radar move of the offseason.
What I have been pondering…I was very excited when ESPN debuted their LeBron issue. It added to my excitement when I saw they might be able to achieve this season. included one of my favorite pastimes last year the, “Add LeBron to any NBA roster and talk about how good do they become” game. ESPN’s version of the game, showed things like the Heat being worth 37 wins without LeBron, The Spurs being projected to win 74 games with him, and even the lowly Bobcats becoming a 53-win juggernaut. So with this game finally being on paper, I created a new game called, “Outrageous Ceilings”, where I sit around and think about all the things LeBron
(Here was my list; I would be interested to hear what others could come up with...)
1.) LeBron James will get his headband caught on the rim during an alley-oop attempt, slice his head open[6]enough that it requires stitches, and then Twitter will explode.
2.) LeBron will shoot over 60% for the year. I really actually do believe this one. He said he has added “counters” to all his post moves, which to me should translate to more time around the basket. Thus, a higher shooting percentage. Keeping in mind, he shot 56% last season, I really do not see this one being out of the realm of possibility.
3.) 2013-14 will be the year LeBron adds his name to the short list of MVP’s that have also won Defensive Player of the Year. The list, as of now includes, Michael Jordan, David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwan, and Kevin Garnett. Of those, only The Dream won the award during the same season he won the MVP. If LeBron knows the history of the game as well as he says he does, then should we not expect him to try and put something on his resume that neither Kobe Bryant nor Jordan can claim? I say yes, and that is why LeBron will MV-3Peat, win his first defensive POY and for good measure, another NBA Finals MVP.
4.) This one is probably the most far-fetched but there is a oft-chance he scores 35+ points per game this season. I thought about this, and lets say, even though all signs are showing that D-Wade is healthy and kicking, that he ends up having knee problems and has to sit out a number of games. Then Chris Bosh gets tangled in his bra, and Beasley gets suspended. Would LeBron not go from hucking 17 shots a game to nearly 30? And at that point, if he is scoring 26.5 points per game on 17 shots, what does 30 shots translate too? Especially if his high shooting percentages somewhat maintain. I am starting to think that this is not actually unrealistic, but what we might get to see this season. Time will tell. For the sake of the Heat's record however, I hope not.
Prediction…
We are in the thick of the LeBron era. The GM poll showed everyone’s collective agreement that the Heat were the favorite, and that LeBron was in line to win another MVP. I love this thinking. I second this thinking. If this happens, we are looking at a six year run that would include five MVP’s, three championships, three Finals MVP’s, four Finals appearances, six first team All-NBA selections, six All-Star games, and twoOlympic Gold Medals, just to name a few of his accolades during the run.
Do not get me wrong, I love what Chicago has. I love what Indiana is doing. I think Doc and Chris are going to be a couple of dogs in LA, and that is before I even speak of Houston or Brooklyn or Oklahoma City. There is parity in this league, and a lot of it. But this is LeBron’s league, and his title will not be taken from him in 2014.
Not One. Not two. Not three…
~ Andrew
[1]These lapses in confidence are the only things that separate LeBron from Jordan and Kobe in basically all of his naysayer’s minds. Kobe and Jordan, never shied away from the moment win or (statistically in most cases) lose. LeBron has backed away from said moments at times, but statistically is no difference, if anything, LeBron might be better then both.
[2]Despite being from Alaska.
[3] I was going to make a they clearly brought Beasley back to give Chalmers a smoking buddy joke, but I ruined the opportunity by giving ‘Rio a mini-feature so it got resorted to a footnote. Arthur and Chalmers obviously got kicked out of the rookie symposium for smoking back in ’08. Beasley WAS part of the incident, despite initially saying he was not there. You have to love Mike Beasley.
[4]What’s the over/under on joints Beasley has smoked to Bob Marley’s Redemption Song? I’m putting the line at 103.
[5]Slang term for really high on Marijuana.
[6]I’m assuming you all were not hardcore Streetball Fans, but remember when Robert “50” Martin slices his head open on the rim? One of my favorite moments of the show, plus in a player profile “50” lets us know that Janet Jackson is the hottest female alive. I loved that show.
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