Thoughts about the NBA???

Really, why? Well it was on my mind! I also typed it on my new iPad with a Journal App that I fell in love with, so there. By the way, yes, still on blogspot with every good intention of moving to WordPress. I am thinking next weekend, its a long Holiday one and I don't have my kids, I'll be in New York, alone and mostly bored, not that anyone pays attention...

I am really disappointed in the NBA. I used to be a very big fan as a kid. I look back at the early 80's and I wonder if I am just being nostalgic or is there something to it. The night before last I was watching the Flyers hockey game and in-between periods I switched over and the NBA Draft Lottery was on, that's what initially got me thinking about the topic...

Anyway, I watched and sat there comparing it to the NFL which seems to do everything right when it comes to drafts and dealing with college players. On the flip side you have the NBA; their silly one and done college rule and this 'lottery' that is staged to determine who gets the first pick through the 14th, I think. This should be exciting stuff!!!! It's what can shape a future franchise right? Not so fast my friends --- not only is drafting NBA talent a hit and miss, moving target but thanks to stupid contracts and salary restrictions it is downright convoluted. On top of that, I really no longer understand what it takes to be an NBA player and I have to tell you, I love the college game and think I am fairly knowledgeable, but I look at the mock drafts put up by experts and I scratch my head...I know maybe 10 names from the college game and I really wonder what their impact is going to be. The overall #1 seems to be John Wall, a skinny 19 year old kid that played one year at Kentucky, because quite frankly, he had too. Now I am not knocking the kids' talent but I don't think he is NBA ready and I don't necessarily mean from a skills standpoint, though I think the top 10 point guards in the game will eat him for lunch for the next two years. What I see is an immature, self absorbed, talent laden kid that will never reach his max potential because he will no longer be 'taught' the game of basketball. All of that is sort of off topic but because year after year this same thing happens, it has made the NBA an inferior product. David Stern, the NBA Commissioner, can stick his head in the sand and point to TV ratings all day long but I see empty buildings and complete apathy about the future. You, Mr. Stern, got very lucky with an influx of talent in the Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul class. Enjoy it now because I don't see the future staying 'rosy'.

Watch your older brother, the NFL, and learn; you can market the player but at the end of the day it is the team that matters. Fans will always appreciate great talent but we fall in love with teams, winning and enthusiasm. When you hand 19 year olds $40 million without any track record of success you are creating an atmosphere of individualship and greed. Coaches are not respected in the same way as they were before and veterans are seen as has beens that should just go away. And fans? Do they even know we are there? Just ask Joe Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks, but that is a whole different rant!

I am glad my 76ers are no longer relevant or this would all frustrate me so much more and there is an indictment in itself. I look longingly at my Dr. J jersey, the 1983 championship banner and my Moses Malone '4,4,4 Sixers' shirt with longing and passion, for another time and another era, but no longer for basketball...

Atlanta's Best kept secret - sports related

Believe it or not it's the HAWKS! yes, the Hawks people.

Last night the Hawks beat the Phoenix Suns 105-96 and they looked GOOD doing it. They are now 2 and 2 on the young season but they are showing real signs of maturity. They have beaten 2 of the best teams (Dallas & Phoenix) and have played very tough in their 2 losses, both on the road.

What has looked like an Organization in complete drift has all of the sudden become something. Let's see why:

1. The young nucleus - Joe Johnson, Josh Childress and Josh Smith are becoming bonafied stars in their own right and the oldest of them (Johnson) has been in the league 6 years.
2. Marvin Williams - this guy looked like another 'dud' pick but all of the sudden he has exploded and is playing with confidence.
3. The rookies - both Acie Law and Al Horford (my man from the University of Florida) are already playing HUGE minutes and contributing (Acie distributing the ball and Al is a MONSTER on the glass)

What might be the best part of this whole thing is that these guys are DYNAMIC and fun to watch. They could easily fit in the West Coast style of basketball as they like to run up and down the court.
There is still room for improvement as these guys will only get better.

Now it is up to you though!

The crowd, while a pretty good size because Phoenix was here, needs to get louder and more supportive in crunch time. The Hawks were up 3 to 7 points late in the 4th Quarter and you could feel the crowd just waiting for the Suns run to put the Hawks away. It never came and now is the time for us to help the boys out!

The Eastern Conference is VERY mediocre. If this team can stay healthy and keep growing they will make the playoffs this year...the future is in sight!

Get to Phillips now while you can get good seats!