Basketball Reasons: What we have yet to Understand

BASKETBALL REASONS!

That was the reasoning for David Stern's infamous trade veto regarding Chris Paul going to the Lakers, basketball reasons. Well Mr. Stern lets revisit this debacle shall we.

Forced with the unbearable task of moving its Superstar PG, New Orleans actually put together a respectable package for itself. They managed to acquire two adequate scorers in Kevin Martin (17 ppg) & Luis Scola (15 ppg), Mr. Versatility in Lamar Odom, and the serviceable Goran Dragic. Now while this appears to be a lost season for Odom (career lows across the board), Martin and Scola would both be welcome additions on a team that struggles to score points (88.5 ppg) & Dragic would be a competent backup for PG Jarrett Jack...But Stern cancelled that trade for again "basketball reasons"...so he says.

So now lets analyze the deal Stern approved for the Hornets. Chris Kaman, Eric Gordon, Al Farooq-Aminu, and Minnesota's first round pick. Now on paper that seems like a pretty good haul, Kaman's a former All-Star, Gordon's a future one, Aminu is a decent prospect, and Minnesota pick was expected to be a high one. Yet for reasons unknown, Chris Kaman is being ostracized, Eric Gordon has only played 2 games, Aminu has been atrociously inconsistent, and Minnesota may actually sneak into the playoffs. To compound all this, Kaman will likely leave at seasons end, Gordon hasn't signed an extension which means he'll likely leave this summer as well, and that high value pick wont be nearly as high barring a significant shift in the play of Minnesota.

So to recap Mr. Stern, you denied the Hornets two quality starters, a versatile big man, and a backup PG for a Center who barely plays, a SG who never plays (both of whom likely will be in different uniforms next year) an underachieving SF, and an iffy draft pick. How exactly does this benefit New Orleans in the short or long term in regard to its ability to play quality basketball. After all, isn't that why you approved the deal in the first place?

SportsSpeak73: AJ Smith: Incompetent by Way of Ego

SportsSpeak73: AJ Smith: Incompetent by Way of Ego: It appears that yet again AJ Smith has allowed his ego to interfere with his job and legacy. Recent reports indicate that AJ Smith was unwi...

AJ Smith: Incompetent by Way of Ego

It appears that yet again AJ Smith has allowed his ego to interfere with his job and legacy. Recent reports indicate that AJ Smith was unwilling to give WR Vincent Jackson more than $11 million/year to keep him in San Diego, yet the Buccaneers signed Jackson for $11.11/year. How do you lose your Number 1 receiver over $110K a year...REALLY?

Lets put this in perspective...in 2010 the San Diego Chargers had the #1 offense in the National Football League. Since then, the teams GM AJ Smith has allowed several key players walk out the door to other teams with essentially no resistance whatsoever. Darren Sproles was allowed to leave & went on to lead the league in all purpose yards this season for New Orleans. Patrick Crayton has been released, Legedu Naanee is now a Carolina Panther, and now Vincent Jackson is a Tampa Bay Buc. How exactly are you going to move the ball Mr. Smith? Not only have you deprived Philip Rivers, your franchise player, of any & all quality weapons, but you've done so at a time when his protection is breaking down. You've lost 2 former Pro Bowl O-Lineman (1 retired, 1 you released) & I dont quite see how you'll replace them.

Cries to see you relieved of duty were loud at the end of last years debacle of a season. If you have another bad season, after letting ANOTHER star of your offense walk out out the door unchallenged...those cries will be absolutely deafening.

Legacy of the Unheralded: The Lost Secret of Duke Basketball

Legacy of the Unheralded: The Lost Secret of Duke Basketball

Of late, there has been a sense of apprehension within the family known as Cameron Crazies, and that apprehension is mostly tied to Duke’s recent struggles to measure up to the legacy of success that is Duke Basketball.

From 1986 to 2004, the Duke Blue Devils appeared in 10 of 18 possible Final Fours while winning 3 National Championships. In the 7 years since its 2004 Final Four, while Duke has managed to win another National Championship (2010), it has also managed to lose in the Round of 16 four times while failing to make it past the tournament’s first weekend in both 2007 & 2008. Such a span has been practically unheard of at Duke since emergence as a National contender in 1984.

Opinions vary as to why Duke has seemingly hit a wall of tournament mediocrity. Some cite the Devils lack of a true post presence, yet Duke only tallied 1 Final Four against 2 Sweet Sixteen appearances while Shelden Williams was on campus. Others cite recruiting troubles, but Coach K has reeled in a 5 star recruit each of the past 7 years (totaling 11 in that span). The fact of the matter is that recently Duke has failed to land the athletic glue guys that resided on its roster during its most successful times. During Duke’s reign of dominance, the roster was peppered with talented, but unheralded (role player) wings who could defend multiple positions and score when prompted. Early in their prevailing years, Duke had Brian Davis, Antonio Lang, & Thomas Hill. Those players beget Nate James & Chris Carrawell, who gave way to well…No One.

Since the departure of Nate James, Duke has failed to land a role player with the versatility to defend three or more positions while scoring opportunistically. David McClure is the closest to that model of player of any recent Blue Devil, but he not only provided no ammunition offensively, but also lacked the quickness to defend elite guards & was mostly limited to matching up with Small & Power Forwards.

Duke remains one of the top programs in college basketball, as well as continuing to produce the games legitimate stars, but to return to its status as the truly elite, it must first return to the formula that made it so 24 years ago.

*I was recently reminded of Lance Thomas, who also fits the profile, but as Thomas did win a National Championship on the 2010 team I didnt mention him.