2012 In Review: THANK YOU All SO Much For Reading!
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 14,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 3 Film Festivals
Should The Lakers Bench Dwight In Hack-A-Dwight Situations? | Lakers Nation
Should The Lakers Bench Dwight In Hack-A-Dwight Situations? | Lakers Nation.
Analysts/experts have weighed in, and now I’d like to get YOUR opinion? Your response could end up in another article.
Week 1 NBA Power Rankings
So listen, don’t get worked into a frenzy over you team being out of the power rankings. You hear me, Lakers Nation? Don’t overreact, as I’m not saying the Lakers will end the season where I have them ranked. At 1-3, even the most ardent of fans would acknowledge the issues…if they’re being honest with themselves. Put simply, this will be a progressive list that will likely have major changes to reflect uncertainty of the first few weeks of the season. Once teams settle in, the Top-10 will likely be filled with more familiar organizations…but in the meantime, here are the current Top-10:
#1 San Antonio Spurs (4-0): What can you say? The Spurs remain a dominant force, and are the first team to reach 4-0. The next seven days have the Kings and Blazers sandwiched by both Los Angeles teams. let’s see where they are at that point.
#2 Miami Heat (3-1): Got smacked by the Knicks on the road, but responded well by winning a tough one vs the Nuggets, and destroying the Suns. One last home game vs. the new-look Brooklyn Nets before heading out for the next six on the road.
#3 New York Knicks (3-0): No, you haven’t come across as error. The Knicks, to this point, have come to play. They may be sans Amar’e, but Melo has this group clicking on all cylinders. Doesn’t hurt to catch a Bynum-less Philly squad on back-to-back nights, but we’ll see where they are in a few weeks. As for now, your New York Knicks are in the mix. Spike Lee must be in a state of euphoria. Somewhere, Reggie Miller just gave a hopeful “choke symbol” out of habit.
4# Dallas Mavericks (3-1): No Dirk, no problem…for now. Free agent pick-up O.J. Mayo has put up back-to-back 30 point (30, 32) games. Will be interesting to see how long this group can keep things up in Nowitzki’s absence. Friday, Jason Kidd and his new team (Knicks) host the Mavs for the first time since Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban blasted Kidd publicly.
#5 Oklahoma City Thunder (1-2): Yes, they are 1-2. Yes, they are without the services of James Harden. No, they are not in danger of falling out of contention. They’ll have to develop chemistry (again), but the team is far too talented to keep out of these rankings. Four very winnable games on this week’s schedule, and it ends with Kyrie Irving’s Cleveland Cavaliers. What type of leader is Kevin Durant? I guess, we’ll see.
#6 Los Angeles Clippers (2-2): Lob City started the year with impressive wins with a win over their 2012 playoff foes (Memphis) and their building-mate Los Angeles Lakers. On the flipside, they allowed a hobbled Golden State team and a Dion Waiters-led (28 points) Cavalier team beat them over the next two. The next 12 days have San Antonio (twice), Miami and OKC on the agenda. We will see where we truly stand.
#7 Memphis Grizzlies (2-1): Started off with a loss to the Clippers, but Zach Randolph’s 16 rebounds per game are tough to deny. The Bucks, Rockets, and Heat are coming up this week. Not to beat a dead horse, but Rudy Gay’s 19 ppg on 19 shots per game may prove to be an issue moving forward. Will be interesting to see if he and Randolph go on co-existing throughout the season.
#8 Milwaukee Bucks (2-0): Very early, but an impressive start shouldn’t go unnoticed. Any time you can get a road victory in Boston to start your season, you’ve got my attention. Will be interesting to see how Jennings and Ellis work throughout the season. After Memphis and Washington, Boston gets another shot in Milwaukee on Saturday.
#9 Minnesota Timberwolves (2-1): Without Ricky Rubio (knee), and Kevin Love (hand) the Wolves have still managed to beat the Kings and Nets by double digits. Not sure how long it will last, but Orlando, Indiana, and Chicago should be good tests this week.
#10 Los Angeles Lakers (1-3): As stated earlier, Lakers fans need not overreact. Truth is, you are fortunate to be in these rankings as of now. The manner by which they destroyed Detroit was far more significant/relevant than anything else. Initially, Nash was expected to be out for about 7 days. Now, the rumor is potentially 3-4 weeks. Can Steve Blake pick up the slack, or does GM Mitch Kupchak have to pull off some additional magic?
NBA Weekly Top-10 Ranking
This may be the most anticipated NBA season over the last 12-15 years. Let’s get a few things established from the start: The march to the Finals are anything but guaranteed for the restocked Los Angeles Lakers. The 0-8 preseason could ultimately be seen as a positive thing, as it quieted some of the unrealistic expectations and relieved a bit of the immediate pressure such a talented roster will undoubtedly feel. The Miami Heat, while almost ignored by defending Champion status, are going to see if they can recapture the magic of their Finals run with the larger bulls-eye on their collective backs?
The Boston Celtics were able to offset the loss of Ray Allen by bringing in Jason Terry, Courtney Lee, and most recently Leandro Barbosa. With Jeff Green returning from heart surgery and Avery Bradley eventually coming back from his ankle injury, GM Danny Ainge has done a good job of retooling the roster around Rondo and the vets. Just last night, Oklahoma City sent Twitter into a frenzy by shipping all-world 6th man James Harden to Houston (essentially) for rookie small forward Jeremy Lamb and Kevin Martin. While I agree with proponents of the trade from the OKC side of things, I still wonder if it will create match-up issues for them in a postseason series with the Lakers. Ultimately, if GM Sam Presti deemed Harden simply not worth the money, I definitely respect his ability to “re-stock the cupboards” with young and somewhat comparable talent.
Minnesota and Dallas each brought in multiple free agents with hopes of bolstering their rosters, and will need strong contributions from each with the news of Kevin Love and Dirk Nowitzki’s recent injuries. Without further ado, here are the initial 2012-2013 rankings:
#1 Miami Heat: Respect the ring. After falling just short 2 years ago, Miami was able to climb to the mountaintop. Not sold on the Rashard Lewis pick-up, but if Ray Allen can remain somewhat healthy, the bench is definitely improved. LeBron James plans to do his damage in the paint, Bosh is playing C, and Coach Spoelstra has every player learning all positions. How does Miami respond?
#2 Oklahoma City Thunder: A knee-jerk reaction would have been to move them from this spot simply because of the adjustments the trade will cause. Jeremy Lamb could be a steal in a few years, and don’t forget about Kevin Martin being an expiring contract. Time for KD to take even another step forward, as Harden’s absence will place even more play-making responsibilities on he and Westbrook.
#3 Los Angeles Lakers: Laker fans may be surprised by the ranking, but quite frankly nothing is etched in stone. While they arguably have their best lineup in 12-15 years, the questions on their bench still remain. The additions of Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks should help, but that unit will need a leader. Coach Brown will have to avoid the temptation of leaning too heavily on his starters. Bryant, Nash, and Howard must remain healthy. Annoyingly repetitive cliche you should expect to hear all season: Marathon, not a sprint.
#4 Boston Celtics: KG may not be talking to Ray Allen or even mentioning him by name, but he doesn’t need to worry about his ex running-mate as the Celtics are definitely loaded for a deep run into the playoffs. Courtney Lee, Jason Terry, a returning Jeff Green and the rookies (Sullinger/Melo) are nice upgrades for a team that pushed the defending champion Miami Heat to a Game 7 of the ECF. Will be interested to see how the parts fit as Avery Bradley returns from surgery (Dec/Jan).
#5 San Antonio Spurs: While Duncan is still very effective, Parker emerged as the “guy” over the course of last season. The Spurs have done a good job of re-stocking the roster around the core (Parker/Duncan/Ginobili). Diaw’s in shape, Steven Jackson has been re-signed, and the team has high hopes for rookie G Nano de Colo (France). They open the season with a back-to-back @ New Orleans (Anthony Davis vs. Duncan) and home for Oklahoma City.
#6 Los Angeles Clippers: The Clippers are another team that did a good job of stocking the cupboards. Lamar Odom gets his shot at redemption, but health has prevented he and fellow free agent F Grant Hill from playing in the preseason. It will be interesting to see how Jamal Crawford fits into that mix, but if won’t be at the expense of up and coming G Eric Bledsoe. Alongside Golden State’s Klay Thompson, Bledsoe should be in the running for this year’s Most Improved Player award.
#7 Denver Nuggets: If their 7 game series with the Lakers in 2012 wasn’t enough to get your attention, this year’s version of the Nuggets will definitely make you turn and look. Andre Igoudala was the perfect edition to this roster. Coach Karl has a plethora of versatile forwards to throw at the opponent, as Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari also return to the roster fully healthy.
#8 Memphis Grizzlies: The Grizzlies remain one of the scrappiest teams in the league. They grabbed our attention with their opening round upset of the top-seeded Spurs a couple years back, but that was actually without the services of Rudy Gay. Trouble is, when Gay and Zach Randolph are both available it leaves them in a bit of an offensive quandary. Each player tends to like the ball in their hands in iso sets. Similar to one of the issues teams like New York experiences (Melo/Stoudamire), offensive redundancy is tough to overcome.
#9 NY Knicks: Out walks Linsanity, but the rumors of a potential Isiah Thomas revival return. Stoudemire is out for (potentially) the first month with another issue with his troublesome knee(s), but is it possible that may be a blessing in disguise? It could permit Melo to get himself going while Felton and Kidd get adjusted. Knicks fans are hoping Kidd can provide some veteran leadership once Stoudemire returns.
#10 Brooklyn Nets: The Barclay Center is ready, Brooklyn is set, and the Nets are talking about making deep playoff runs. Full disclosure, unlike Shaq, I’ve never been much of a believer in Brooke Lopez as a dominant center. He’s a scorer, but lacks a bit of toughness and tends to be as injury prone as his front court mate Gerald Wallace. That said, I’ve very intrigued by the amount of pressure a back court of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson could put on opposing teams. Bench is still a major concern. Would like to see them upgrade the second unit before I consider them legit contenders.
Others receiving consideration:
Chicago Bulls- Still respect what Coach Thibodeau can get out of his team whether Rose is available or not.
Philadelphia 76ers- If Bynum can manage to play 80% of the games, I think Philly can be a top-4 seed in the EC.
Utah Jazz- Don’t be shocked, but Coach Corbin had these guys playing some good ball last year. Would like to see Favors take that next step.
Nucky Thompson: Full Time Gangster
As you can see, last we saw of Enoch ‘Nucky’ Thompson (played by Steve Buscemi), he was being forced to fully accept his role as a “gangster” at the very end of Season Two of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. To say I’ve been eagerly anticipating the arrival of Season Three would be an understatement, as I’ve literally been screaming this show’s praises from the rooftops. Set in the Prohibition-era (1920’s) of Atlantic City, Empire pulls absolutely no punches as it offers a fictional portrayal of the life and crimes of real life figures such as Charlie ‘Lucky’ Luciano, Al Capone, and even the real Nucky (Johnson).
At the end of Season Two, we saw Special Agent Van Alden (played by Michael Shannon) on the lamb with his house keeper and his illegitimate child. I’m definitely intrigued to see where that story goes, as he was essentially caught for the murder/drowning of his ex-partner (Agent Sebso) during Season One. For the record, I’d offer you the consideration of *Spoiler Alert*…but then again, you are reading a preview for Season Three, so you should be well aware of these things by now. 🙂 That said, I’m also very intrigued to see what comes of Nucky’s marriage to Margaret Shroeder (played by Kelly MacDonald). At the very end of Season Two, we witnessed her sign away the rights (to the church) to a massive quantity of land that would have eventually made Thompson richer than he could have ever imagined.
As a huge fan of HBO’s The Wire, I couldn’t possibly escape mentioning Michael Kenneth Williams‘ character (Chalky White). I was grateful Terrence Winter (Empire Creator) took the time to really develop his character during Season Two. We got an in-depth look into White’s family dynamics, the burdens of being the proverbial spokesperson of the Atlantic City Black Community, and we were even privy to seeing White flex his ever-growing ‘muscle’ as a rising figure in the gangster life as well.
As you can see, the timeline has been pushed forward about two years, and Thompson has a new figure to contend with, Gyp Rotseti (played by Bobby Cannavale). If the end of Season Two and trailers for Season Three are any indication, this should be breath-taking season. The premiere is tomorrow (Sunday, Sept. 16th) at 9pm EST.
Numbers Game: Let’s Play The Percentages
Let’s take a quick break from the constant Dwight Howard speculation in order to examine a few facts and numbers we don’t have to hypothetically imagine. It goes without saying, the 2011-12 Los Angeles Lakers had a talented, but severly flawed and imbalanced roster. Quite frankly, there were stretches where they simply couldn’t shoot the ball well enough to be considered anywhere near an elite level team, let alone one with championship aspirations. Regardless of the excuse or reason you want to attribute to it, the fact remains that the Lakers only averaged 97.3 points per game. By 
comparison, they averaged a full 10 points more (106.9 ppg) during the 2008-2009 championship season. In fact, the team led by Smush Parker (2006-07) even managed to produce 103.3 PPG. Smush Parker.
The point is, the point guard, was the most glaring weakness with a team chock-full of issues. Not only were the Lakers (PG‘s) unable to defend the opposition or provide offensive relief by simply being able to score, but their inability to consistently create/generate offense for the rest of the team was actually the greatest indictment of last year’s squad. There’s been plenty of talk about how much of a positive impact the addition of Steve Nash will have upon Pau Gasol, which is definitely true, but let’s not forget about the rest of the team.
*Percentages from the 2011-12 Season * Phoenix Suns 2011-12
Metta World Peace: 29 percent 3ptrs Jared Dudley: 38 percent 3ptrs
Derek Fisher & Steve Blake: 33 percent 3ptrs Channing Frye: 35 percent 3ptrs
Ramon Sessions: 16 percent 3ptrs (post-season) Steve Nash: 39 percent 3ptrs
Kobe Bryant: 30 percent 3ptrs Shannon Brown: 36 percent 3ptrs
Conventional wisdom would tell us the addition of Nash should have, at the very least, a (significant) positive impact upon all of those figures. MWP was (admittedly) out of shape at the start of the season and oft-injured, so his career-low numbers were skewed even further toward the negative. Once fully healthy, the added mobility/agility increased his percentages to respectable levels. It isn’t beyond the realm of imagination to figure the ability to simply catch-and-shoot in full rhythm and in the perfect spot will lead to even more efficiency on the offensive end.
Bryant’s three-point field goal attempts have gone from 4.1 (per game), to 4.3 to 4.9 over the last three seasons. Unfortunately, over that same stretch, his percentage has gone in the opposite direction (33, 32, 20). His turnovers per game (3.5) were his highest average since the 2004-05 season, where he averaged 4.1 per game. None of this is intended as a direct knock against Bryant, rather it is merely highlighting just how much is asked of him. After 16 years in the league, being the main scoring option, sole shot-creator, and only play-maker is a ludicrous expectation. Contrary to some of the naysayers that question Bryant’s ability to acquiesce to playing with a traditional point guard, I expect Bryant to absolutely flourish in his role. In fact, I’m willing to go out on a limb (barring injury) and predict a shooting year closer to the 46.7 percent he shot during the 2008-2009 season.
It was referenced earlier, but the fact that Nash is a career 40-plus percent shooter from beyond the arc will only mean teams can no longer completely ignore the position. That not only clears the lane for Bynum and Pau to operate, but it also permits Bryant/MWP to operate off the ball with more freedom. Essentially, a true case of “pick your poison.” After the nearly unwatchable offensive display of 2011-12, did you ever think we’d be able to say that so quickly?
Jabari A. Davis
@RealTalkOnSprts on Twitter
NBA Real Talk on Facebook
**Reproduced with the permission of LakersNation.com**
http://www.lakersnation.com/numbers-game-percentages-and-predictions-for-2012-lakers/2012/07/18/
What Can Laker Fans Expect From Nash?
Leadership.
Remember that feeling of utter agony and pain you had while watching Kobe and Co. stumble and fumble around at the end of games, and in key stretches over the last couple seasons? No need to reply, as I already know the answer. Of course you do, just as I remember each maddening misstep, and every last-second bailout where Bryant was forced into a leaning (double, triple, quadruple pump-fake) “Kobe-shot” with 2 guys literally hanging on him. Folks, rightfully, complained of the anemic offense in crunch-time. Disgusted by indecision, frustrated by predictability, and upset over the reality of Bryant no longer being able to simply “create” or impose his ‘will’ at any given time. No, that is not a knock against Bryant, rather it is simply an unfortunate reality of playing 16+ years in this league.
In steps a 38-year-old Steve Nash. I acknowledge his age, as a courtesy to everyone mentioning his inability to defend. Don’t worry, we’ll get to that later. On offense, there may not have been a better fit (of players actually available) in terms of skill-set and timing.
The Lakers look COMPLETELY lost in the half-court set!!!
Nash is the best point guard (over the last 20 years) at probing through traffic, maintaining the dribble, and finding an open man. Dude made Marcin Gortat an All Star-level player. I mean no disrespect to Gortat…wait, yes I do, he’s MARCIN Gortat, for goodness sakes! Gortat was a guy that averaged eight points, 6 rebounds on his career, and was best known for his God-awful Jordan/Jumpman tattoo, but Nash utilized him as the main and only option on a depleted Suns roster this season.
The Lakers don’t use the big men enough…
Refer to previous answer.
Mike Brown‘s offense is HORRIBLE!!!
That’s debatable, but I would also remind you of the fact that the Lakers played a majority of the season with a small forward that couldn’t hit a shot to save his life, and point guards that as 710ESPNLA’s Max Kellerman often pointed out didn’t deserve to be called “point guards” since they “couldn’t score/generate points, and couldn’t actually guard anyone.” Again, I’m certainly not going completely excuse Coach Brown, as the team was totally lost while out on the court, at times. I’m just not willing to fully blame the man for not being able to back me a cake without the flour and eggs.
Nash can’t defend ANYONE!!!
First of all, there are only about five point guards that actually (consistently) play defense at a high level. Yes, at 38, Nash is going to have nights where his man takes him to lunch on defensive end. Difference is, Laker point guards have been trashed for years, only, Nash has the ability to actually throw a counter-punch of his own. He’s the best pure shooter I’ve seen at that position. Yes, better than Mark Price. Definitely, better than the artist formerly known as Ason Kidd, the all-time leader in 3-pointers made as a point guard. For those unaware, the guy shoots nearly 50% from the field (career), 43% from the 3-point line, and over 90% from the free throw line.
How is Kobe going to mesh with Nash? I heard on ESPN First Take that…
Excuse me, but you can go ahead and stop right there. That show is all about drama, hyperbole, hype, and ratings. They are not a viable news source in the slightest. Much like this article, First Take is merely based on opinion. Unlike this article, or anything you will see on this website, we are not bound by friendships, nor relationships with these professional athletes. We have no hidden agenda, for that matter, either. All of that said, look at things logically. If Kobe were not willing to make necessary adjustments to his game, would he have called/recruited Nash in the first place? Of course, Bryant wants to win, and look good while doing it. Unfortunately, the “Kobe Show” hasn’t been successful in several years. As intelligent as Bryant is, he realized this even before you had the time to think, tweet, or cry about it to a friend, or even radio talk show host. If Bryant were not fully on-board, then this wouldn’t have been an option. Plus, let’s face it, Kobe can always refer to this moment…if so inclined:
With the rumors of Dwight Howard (potentially) on the horizon, I will wait in order to make any predictions or assessments on this roster. Whether a deal is made for Howard, or Pau is involved in a transaction, regardless of the front office saying “not much is coming”, I do not believe this roster will look anywhere near the same as it did last season. One thing is certain, the addition of Nash was a positive move, and one that places the Lakers in the right direction.
Be sure to vote on the poll:
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Jabari A. Davis
@RealTalkOnSprts on Twitter
NBA Draft Diary: Bradley Beal, Will Barton, Royce White Profiles
Bradley Beal 6’4″ Shooting Guard – Florida
Strengths: Bradley Beal has a great feel for the game. He does not force plays, he plays within his game and gets teammates involved. He is a little undersized at 6’4 for a shooting guard but his 200 lb muscular frame makes up for his lack in height. Beal has the ability to penetrate the lane and finish with either hand. He is often compared to Eric Gordon, but he is not quite as explosive as Gordon is around the rim. He is best known for his jump shot. Although he only shot 33% from 3-point range, he has picture perfect form, causing many scouts to say his freshmen shooting numbers were a fluke. The most likeable thing about Bradley Beal is his character and attitude. He is a great teammate and a strong leader. He is the type of player other players want to play with.
Weaknesses: At 6’4″, it wouldn’t hurt for Beal to be a little taller. Players such as Dwyane Wade and Eric Gordon have been very successful at shooting guard even though they are undersized but ideally you want someone in the 6’5 to 6’6 range. Although he has perfect form, Beal needs to become a more consistent shooter from outside. He often settles for 3-pointers instead of using his quickness and strength to attack the paint. He also needs to become a much better player in pick and roll situations. He only shot 35% in screen and roll situations last year. On the defensive end, Beal needs to become more of a team defender. Being a strong defender does not just revolve around man defense. Overall, Beal has the shot and strength to be a dynamic scorer in the NBA. Now he needs to become more of a complete player.
2011-2012 Statistics: 14.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.2 apg
NBA Comparison: Eric Gordon
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Will Barton 6’6″ Shooting Guard – Memphis
Strengths: Will Barton is a slasher that possesses a nice mid range jump shot. This season he really improved on his playmaking ability and his 3-point shot. For Memphis Barton excelled in most of the statistical categories and in comparison to the other shooting guards in this class Barton’s number are equal if not better than his opposition. He has a very thin frame, but can attack the paint and does not shy away from contact. He plays with a ton of passion and emotion. The effort will always be there for Barton, which is why he averaged eight rebounds per game even though he is only 6’6″.
Weaknesses: Barton really needs to add weight to his frame. At only 175 lbs, his body may not be made for the physicality of the NBA game. He also needs to improve his decision making. Often times he forces a play when he does not need to. As a role player at the next level, his opportunities to make an impact will be limited compared to his role at Memphis, so he needs to improve his basketball IQ to get the most out of his opportunities.
2011-2012 Statistics: 18 ppg, 8 rpg, 2.9 apg
NBA Comparison: Manny Harris/Corey Crewer
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Royce White 6’8″: Forward – Iowa State
Strengths: Royce White is the most unique player in this year’s draft. On talent alone, he should be ranked a top-8 pick. At 6’8″ with a 260 lb frame, he has drawn comparisons to Lebron James physically. He has the power to bang in the paint but also the quickness to blow by slower defenders. At Iowa State, he was asked to do a little bit of everything, which is what he did. In fact, he was the only player in Division I basketball to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game. He has a lot Michael Beasley to his game. He likes to pull defenders out in space and then attack the rim, using his huge frame to shield defenders from the ball. He has a decent mid range jump shot that forces defenders to play him tight. White also fared well against most of Iowa State’s toughest opponents, including 23 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals, on 9-12 shooting in his final game against Kentucky.
Weaknesses: Royce White comes with a little bit of baggage. He has a diagnosed anxiety disorder that concerns many teams and has likely hurt his stock. He suffers from a fear of flying, which is definitely a red flag considering all of the traveling NBA teams do. White’s biggest concern on the court is his sub par free throw shooting. He actually shoots betters from the field (53%), than he does from the line (49%). A player of his stature will likely get fouled a lot at the next level, so he needs to work on making the “freebies” count.
2011-2012 Statistics: 13.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 5 apg
NBA Comparison: Boris Diaw/Michael Beasley
Justin Lovett
@J_Lovett26
Real Talk On Sports 