The Golden Nugget

So...there's a lot of talk out there right about now about Carmelo, and how he wants out of Denver and all these teams are looking to get in line to win the 'Melo sweepstakes. The feeling (as he has not/cannot come out and say "I want a trade") is that he's feeling New York/Chicago the most, and into the mix have inserted themselves the groups from New Jersey and Houston, at last count. New York eyes the new Bernard King, and wants to pair his act with Amar'e (aka STAT) and bring the Big Apple back to hoops relevance.

After a summer of Cleveland and Toronto watching their super stars walk for nothing at contracts end, many are (rightly) saying that the Nugs need to get what they can for 'Melo before he bolts for greener pastures leaving them with nothing to show for his years in the L. And I think that may be the point. What HAS Carmelo really left or is leaving Denver with? Some great play his rookie season? Sure. A few exciting playoff appearances? Check. An exciting series against the Lake Show that really showcased the boneheaded nature of the team assembled in the Mile High? Pretty much. The point here is that (much like LeBron and Bosh before him) 'Melo is pretty much feeling like Denver hasn't done enough to get him to the promised land of a championship, and he wants to walk to a team that gives him a better shot at making it to the Finals (a place he's never been).

But his preferred destinations, and one of his aggressive pursuers, are in the East. Wouldn't the recent shift of power towards Miami seem to make the East a (somewhat) less desirable destination? In the West, there's LA....and then everyone else. OKC has Durant/Westbrook and put the Lakers through a hell of a test last season. But then LA pounded their next two opponents in two series that shouldn't have even been as close as they appeared to be. But other than maybe OKC, there's a huge disparity between the 2-8 teams in the West. Isn't it conceivable that with a little luck, and an injury or two, that if the Lakers aren't there, the West is wide open for anyone to win? Look at the East by comparison. Okay, we all know about Miami and the SuperHeat. Then you still got Boston, who've been to 2 out of the last 3 Finals (with one of those ending in a 'chip). Then there's Orlando, the other Finals candidate, who pummeled everyone on their way to the Finals 2 years ago and were close this year. Then you've got about 2-3 other teams in Chicago/Milwaukee/Atlanta who either got better over the summer, or took the year to season their talented squad and could jump up and surprise some folks. THIS is the conference 'Melo wants to defect to? Would you (if your stated goal was to try to win it all) head out of the conference where there's 1 team to beat, to the conference where there's at least 3, with maybe a total of 5 squads with a reasonable chance to advance to the Finals? Is this really about 'chips, because its not about money (Denver can max him, and has offered the extension even before knowing where the next CBA will take us) or is it maybe something else entirely? Some have floated the idea that its more about family issues (wife related or going home to the Baltimore area) and if that is the case, then good on 'Melo for deciding that some things are more important that winning the title. Because I'm thinking if this was all about basketball and winning, then the surest destination would be to stay in Denver and hope his GM can add a piece or two to help them get over the hump against LA and stay as close as the Western Conference Finals. Rather than moving east and finding out the grass maybe was greener on the side of the fence that he just left before its too late to do anything more than have regrets about it.

-Shawn

In case you missed it...

...the USA FIBA team took home the gold! Kevin Durant (KD) was voted MVP of the tournament, with several eye-popping performances, including dropping 28 on the team from Turkey in the gold medal match. Along the way, KD set or tied several tournament records...truly an inspired performance. Along the way, Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose and Lamar Odom impressed with their performances as well. The team's performances against Team Russia and Team Turkey (a surprise finalist) were especially noteworthy. And while some might say we (the US team) is "expected" to win pretty much every international basketball competition we enter (the Olympics included), I'd say that if you are still thinking that international cats can't ball, you got another thing coming. Considering the US team hadn't won gold in the international FIBA tournament since 1994, you gotta show respect to the international game, and the players that run it.

Though this squad was dubbed "The B-Team" I think we left the championship game knowing the future of the L is in good, no, GREAT hands. Our FIBA squad:

Kevin Durant
Derrick Rose
Danny Granger
Chancey Billups
Eric Gordon
Rudy Gay
Stephen Curry
Russell Westbrook
Andre Iguodala
Kevin Love
Tyson Chandler

Congrats the the gold medal squad from the good old US of A!

(photo from usabasketball.com)

Welcome...once again.

So...the first experiment was a hit or miss one with my blog about the TV show LOST...seems like the year I started the blog, Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof decided to end the show. Wow, bummer. Even more of a bummer since I was just getting started...but I digress. So I'm choosing to move on to something I know just about as much about as LOST, and I'm pretty sure won't get flat out cancelled...the NBA (aka the L aka the Association). Since I've got them Hoop Dreams, you'll find here (among other things):

1. General NBA notes and updates
2. Specific notes and updates on those NBA teams I regularly follow (Thunder, Lakers)
3. Updates about my personal rec league team (the Free Ballers, booyah!)
4. Related NBA updates on shoes, apparel, and other merchandise

So if you like hoops, like the Thunder or Lakers, or hell, even if you just like me, go ahead and become a fan/follower of my blog and let's make this like Dashboard says "the best one...of the best ones."

-Shawn