Free Steve Nash

By Migs

Steve Nash winning his 2 MVP awards seems like an eternity ago.

The Phoenix Suns are 8-9, and ninth in the Western Conference. On a team with guys like Hakim Warrick, Josh Childress, a deceptively aged Grant Hill, and a declining Hedo Turkoglu, one would expect that the Suns would be on the same footing with the Clippers at this point.

The fact that they are still knocking on the door of the 8th spot in the West can be attributed to a little Canadian weaving his magic as if he were the Stevie Nash of 5 years ago. At age 37, Nash is still ridiculously well-conditioned, and because he's still one of the best play makers in the NBA, I can't help but feel sorry for the guy at this stage in his career.

Let's face it- without Amare Stoudemire, the Suns are destined to miss the postseason, or at least, get knocked off in the first round. They still don't play defense, and because they've fallen back on offense in that they rely on the 3-ball now more than ever, they stand to last shorter than a hiccup in the grueling Western Conference.

Rumor wires have said that Nash does not wish to be traded. Whatever is keeping Stevie in Phoenix, it must be good, because all the Ben Gay in the world from the Suns' reknowned training staff (they've helped the likes of Shaquille O'Neal and Grant Hill go from arthritis to awesome) can bring the 2 time MVP a ring in the Valley of the Sun at this point.

If the Suns do end up trading him, where would he go? Given his salary, age, skill level, and desire to win a championship? A return trip to Dallas would be out of the question despite his friendship with Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki given how he made his exit as a free agent in 2004. Going to Knicks would be intriguing in that it would allow him to mentor Raymond Felton, and would reunite him with Mike D'Antoni and Amare Stoudemire, but then, he'd probably still miss the postseason, or get knocked off early, given how good we know New York can be (sarcasm; go Toney Douglas!). A possible destination would be Orlando, assuming they can get Phoenix to take on the lofty contracts of Vince Carter or Rashard Lewis. Dwight Howard's game would skyrocket with Nash as his running mate, even if the partnership only lasts a year or two. Nash would probably be able to come at a reasonable price now, too, so Otis Smith won't have to lose sleep like he did when he declared Rashard Lewis the next coming of Larry Bird. I can't see Nash wanting to possibly go anywhere else, unless he wants to go to a young team like Atlanta and take a pay cut.

Don't worry- Steve isn't going to LA because Phil isn't handing the keys to someone who will bring the triangle offense in half, nor is he going to Boston because everything happens in slow motion in Beantown nowadays (it works, though).

Whatever does go down, I hope it happens with the best interests of the greatest uptempo point guard since Magic Johnson, in mind.

Free Steve Nash- now. Or at least, give him a 3rd MVP award, or at least a nomination. With the crew he's got, and at the decent rate they're going, to not include him in the conversation would be a cardinal sin.

-MC-

King Nothing.

By Migs Cortez

We have all been witnesses, yes, to a drama that isn't worth our while.

First, we had Lebron's decision to "take his talents to South Beach". Then, we had the party that made it seem like the Heat had been transported back to 2006. After that, we had the highly anticipated opening night game against the Celtics, which Miami lost. Then, we've had to sit through Lebron and Coach Erik Spoelstra downplaying what can be obviously characterized as palpable tension on the Heat bench.

Lebron James is slowly showing that he isn't in the same league as the Jordans, Kobes, Birds, and Magics of the hoops universe because of the fact that he seems to be out for one person and one person alone- himself. 'Bron has said that he wanted to be a "facilitator" in Miami, but what's happened is that he's inevitably become the ballhog he was in Cleveland. That's part of the reason Dwyane Wade has looked so out of sync, because D-Wade is the sort of baller, who while he can be effective off the ball, is primarily an on-ball type scorer. Chris Bosh is sort of the same, and it doesn't help that he hasn't exactly been getting enough help in the banging department from the creaky knees of Ilgauskas, Magloire, and Howard. There's a story behind King James having been criticized for supposedly "coasting" through certain games in the Cavaliers playoff tiff against Boston last year. Lebron is human, yes, and he is entitled to the injury alibi as much as the next player, but then, it was what it was. He settled for long twenty footers instead of going to the hole, and on defense, he sometimes lacked interest, and only looked pumped with chances at highlight reel type blocks on breakaway layups. Apart from that, he didn't look to much like an on-court monarch to me.

Pundits have mentioned that this Heat team should be given time to mesh. Yes, I do expect the chemistry to improve, but so long as the poison from Akron dons a jersey for Riley's squad, 2006 may not come again for a very long time.

Maybe the Heat not winning a title would add more drama before a denouement which would only bring vindication for Lebron James through absolute, unadulterated, victory. Who knows? Maybe the denouement would simply be written out as, "One of the best never to win a ring".

Right now, both sides would probably call an odds on 50-50.

-MC-

The Next Big Thing

By Migs Cortez

A year removed from suffering a stress fracture in his left knee, Blake Griffin has broken through with a vengeance.

The former Oklahoma Sooner is averaging 20.2 points and 11.6 rebounds per game this year for the woebegone 3 and 15 Clippers. After watching him for a couple of games, I can't help but liken him to a young Charles Barkley, sans the off-court craziness. Blake's got range to go along with his ridiculous athleticism and impressive footwork which he has used to frazzle opponents. A 52% field goal clip for a 6,10" rookie who plays inside and outside is ridiculous, and, while his team is stuck in the doldrums (and looks to be stuck there for a while longer, so long as they have Baron Davis' contract on the books), at least he, and guard Eric Gordon, have blossomed into major bright spots for a franchise that is starved for success.

Being the top overall pick in the NBA draft has its fair share of pressure tied into it. Just ask guys like Kwame Brown and gasp, Michael Olowokandi. Most times, the number one overall selection finds his way to stardom ala Dwight Howard, Shaquille O'Neal, Lebron James, and Yao Ming. There too are number one overall picks who remain on the undercard, like Andrew Bogut and Andrea Bargnani. Griffin, I believe, has staked his claim as a member of the "destined for stardom" group. Give this fellow a decent playmaking point guard and in a few years, he could be the best power forward in the game.

Vinny Del Negro isn't exactly the most flexible coach in the basketball, therefore, he should be considered lucky to have Blake. This is similar to Paul Silas having Lebron those first few years. Once Elgin Baylor and the other members of the Clippers brass get tired of losing and playing second fiddle to the Lakers (and pretty much everybody else), then maybe they'll go on and find a more seasoned mentor to hone Griffin, along with cap friendly pieces to help lead him to the promised land. Then again, we've been praying for rain in the Clipper desert forever, and images of players like Loy Vaught and Matt Fish come to mind alongside their seemingly unending mediocrity.

That mediocrity COULD vanish if Griffin is left to be the beast he can be, while still holding the reins tightly enough to help him through the NBA's growing pains.

-MC-

Miami Mice

By Migs Cortez

This was taken last July.

What a difference a couple of months makes.

The Miami Heat currently have a record of 9-8, with their most recent loss coming at the hands of the surging Dallas Mavericks. After the game, Dwyane Wade and company held a players-only meeting.

In my opinion, neither that, nor Erick Dampier, can save them now.

It's early in the season, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that this Heat team is one that is discombobulated, teeming with talented pieces which don't fit together well. For the year, Lebron James has averaged 23.4 points per outing, Dwyane Wade has netted a 21.3 ppg clip, and Chris Bosh has averaged 17.9. For all the talent that those three possess, and for all of the veteran smarts than guys like Jerry Stackhouse, Carlos Arroyo, and the crafty Juwan Howard bring, the Heat have been beaten at one aspect of the game that requires the most moxy- defense.

While Miami averages 100.4 points a night and is 6th in points allowed at 94.5 per game, they can't seem to find ways to protect them rim. Zydrunas Ilgauskas' age is showing, and Juwan Howard and Jamal Magloire aren't exactly whippersnappers. Miami is only 22nd in rebounding at 40.7 per game, with 30.9 being defensive. It is often said that defense wins championships, and right now, the Heat's interior D isn't enough to win them a game of HORSE.

Injuries to co-captain Udonis Haslem and shooter Mike Miller have not helped, either, with their losses being tremendous blows to an already shaky team chemistry. Pat Riley's trigger finger must be getting itchy, and young Erik Spoelstra must be peeing in his pants. Lebron is chucking up bricks and being a primadonna, Wade is beginning to force the issue on offense, and Chris Bosh is averaging career low numbers.

The difference between Miami and teams like the Lakers and Celtics is the fact that, on top of the players from the latter teams having more experience playing together, they too have learned to tag their troops with certain roles and stick to those roles no matter what. Knowing your roles means placing egos on the shelf. Personally, I don't think that Bosh, Wade, and especially Lebron are adept at making ego management a primary concern.

And goodness gracious, for all his skill, Lebron doesn't seem to have Jordan or Kobe-esque drive to improve at every facet of the game. After years in the league, you would surmise that maybe this man who has been dubbed as the second coming of Basketball Jesus might just get a better looking jump shot.

King James' field goal percentage to this point is a measly 43.6, which, for a guy as athletic and as large as he (6,8", 250 lbs), is insanely low. He's been settling for outside shots, and such is a shame, not only because he hasn't improved his perimeter game, but also because you'd expect that he'd have a take-no-prisoners attitude and barrel his way to the hole more.

I guess that the King has been iffy about getting his hands dirty. All he's seemingly brought to South Beach is trouble.

What started as the infamous "Decision" has ballooned into something much more worrisome- the clashing of styles and egos, and the impending demise of a team that seems to be melting under the klieg lights.

When the cat is away, the mice play, but then, once the cat comes back, the mice might as well go home- lest they be eaten alive.

The clock is ticking for the boys from South Beach, and as the biggest villains the NBA has seen since the 80's Bad Boy Detroit Pistons, the entire world is raring to see them fall, and fall hard.

-MC-