Saturday Slam: Should the Brooklyn Nets blow up?

                                              (Credit: Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports) 

The Brooklyn Nets were a team that had so much hype and promise at the start of the season. They had James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant. They were looking like a team that should come out of the East or at least reach the conference finals. Instead, they finished 7th in the conference and got swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics. While a lot of people are talking about blowing up the Utah Jazz after the way their post-season ended (I'll share my thoughts on that in an upcoming post), I think it's perhaps even more fair to ask the same question about the Nets.

For starters, Harden is gone. He's now with the Philadelphia 76ers and still in the playoffs, advancing to the second round where they'll face the Heat. By trading him before the deadline, that was already a step towards blowing up the team. 

Secondly, Irving refused to get vaccinated, making it so he couldn't play every night while also creating an unnecessary distraction. It's hard to develop a rhythm and team chemistry when one of your key players is in and out of the lineup. While the vaccine mandate was eventually lifted and Irving was able to play in home games towards the end of the season, it's clear that his inability to play really inhibited them. And while Irving's refusal to get vaccinated was about personal freedom, the fact that he was willing to put his team through all that has to make one wonder how committed he really is to building a championship team in Brooklyn. 

Third, Durant is getting up there in age. He'll be turning 34 in September and while he did average 29.9 points per game this season, one can't help but wonder how much more gas he has left in the tank considering the Achilles injury he had and everything. Father time catches up with everyone and he could be soon to catch up with Durant as well. 

Last and most importantly, they got swept in the first round. That's bad. Any time you get swept in the playoffs, that has to lead to some soul searching and introspection. Especially if you are a more veteran team. It's one thing to get swept and be young with a promising future. The future is supposed to be now for the Nets and if now isn't panning out, it's hard to see it ever panning out. 

The bottom line is the Nets have a lot of questions to ask themselves after this season and the first one is whether or not they keep Durant and Irving together or if they begin the process of blowing up the team and starting over. It's not a fun conversation to have, but when you exit the playoffs like they did, it's a conversation that needs to be had. 

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Saturday Slam: Where things sit at the 2021 NBA All-Star Break

 

2021 NBA All-Star Weekend is here, which means we are at the unofficial halfway mark of the 2020-21 NBA season. I have never done this particular blog post before, but here's to new beginnings! In case you have been out of the loop up until this point, below is a quick breakdown of where things sit in the NBA at the All-Star break. 

Out East, the Philadelphia 76ers are the top ranked team with an impressive 24-12 record. Joel Embiid is getting MVP consideration for the way he's guiding the Sixers and deservedly so. The Brooklyn Nets led by Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving are in the #2 spot at 24-13, just a half game back. The #3 Milwaukee Bucks led by Giannis Antetokounmpo are at 22-14, just 1.5 games back of the Nets and 2.0 games back of the Sixers. Those three teams are leading the charge out East and honestly, it is anyone's guess of as to which of those three teams will get the top seed in the conference. 

Seeds #4-10 are really close: Boston Celtics (19-17), New York Knicks (19-18), Miami Heat (18-18), Charlotte Hornets (17-18), Toronto Raptors (17-19), Chicago Bulls (16-18), and Indiana Pacers (16-19). This grouping is key because the top six seeds overall in each conference will clinch an automatic berth to the playoffs while seeds 7-10 will play in a wildcard tournament of sorts to determine the final two seeds. 

The rest of the East #11-15 goes as follows: Atlanta Hawks (16-20), Washington Wizards (14-20), Cleveland Cavaliers (14-22), Orlando Magic (13-23), and Detroit Pistons (10-26). Honestly, all of those teams still have a pulse to perhaps get the #10 spot. So, it's going to be interesting to see who out East gets that #10 spot and gives themselves a shot at making the playoffs. 

Out West, it's also looking pretty interesting. The Utah Jazz occupy the top seed and best record in the NBA at 27-9. Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, and Mike Conley are the three All-Stars from that team. Conley being an injury replacement for Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker. There was a bit of a controversy this week with Mitchell and Gobert being the last two picks of the All-Star draft despite being on the best team in the league. Personally, I think this will just give those guys more of a reason to be motivated in the second half of the season. 

The #2 seed belongs to the Phoenix Suns at 24-11. I wrote about the Suns earlier this year on here and felt they could be serious contenders, so I'm not at all surprised about them being this high. In addition to Devin Booker, Chris Paul has been a major part of their success. 

The #3 team is the Los Angeles Lakers at 24-13. Many have them as the favorites to come out of the West because of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. If those two guys stay healthy, it's tough to pick against them. 

Seeds #4-6 aren't far behind: Los Angeles Clippers (24-14), Portland Trail Blazers (21-14), and Denver Nuggets (21-15). Honestly, I feel a little bad putting them in a different group. They're right there and certainly could come out of the West. Once again, as a I said above, seeds 7-10 are battling for those two wild card spots if you will. So being #6 is key as it guarantees a playoff spot. 

Seeds #7-10 seem to be in a pretty comfortable spot in terms of at least securing a spot in that wild card tournament: San Antonio Spurs (18-14), Dallas Mavericks (18-16), Golden State Warriors (19-18), and Memphis Grizzlies (16-16). It's even possible one of them or two of them jumps up to the #5/6 spot and avoids the play-in tournament. 

Seeds #11-15 are a bit removed from the rest: New Orleans Pelicans (15-21), Oklahoma City Thunder (15-21), Sacramento Kings (14-22), Houston Rockets (11-23), and Minnesota Timberwolves (7-29). 

In terms of what to watch for and how to make sense of all of this, I think with the East, it's going to be really interesting to see who gets that top seed in the conference. The 76ers, Nets, and Bucks could all get it and whichever team secures that spot will have the inside track to reaching the NBA Finals. 

Many people are picking the Nets to go the distance, but I have some reservations based on the fact that it's tough to elevate yourself into contender status in one season. Let alone win the whole thing. A team that has been gelling more over the last couple of seasons like the Bucks or 76ers is probably a more safe bet at this point, but hey, maybe the Nets will surprise me and get it done. 

Out West, it's all about the Jazz right now and whether or not they can hang onto that top seed and go the distance. A lot of people see them as a great regular season team but are skeptical of their chances to win it all. For the Jazz, it's paramount that they finish with the best record in the league if they want to win the championship. Just because of how tough of a place Salt Lake City is to play in. 

If the Jazz can lock up that home court advantage, they're going to be a really tough out. On top of that, they wouldn't have to see the Lakers until the conference finals in all likelihood. So that's another benefit. Perhaps the Suns knock out the Lakers and they don't see them at all? A lot of what happens out West hinges on whether or not the Jazz can hang onto that top spot. If they do, look out. If not, they're still dangerous, but I wouldn't call them the favorites. 

The wildcard in all this is the Clippers. We know the Lakers are going to be right there and I think the Suns are showing what they can do and are playing up to their max potential. But the Clippers are kinda flying under the radar and not playing as well as they could. If they get their act together, maybe they're a team that can go the distance. 

One other thing to keep an eye on is where Blake Griffin ends up now that the Pistons have released him and bought out his contract. If he indeed ends up with the Nets, that could shake things up even further. You know I'll do a blog post about that if that indeed comes to fruition. 

On that note, enjoy NBA All-Star Weekend and enjoy the second half of the season. It's shaping up to be a wild ride! Lots to look for and get excited about! 

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Saturday Slam: Will James Harden push the Brooklyn Nets over the top?

                                              (Credit: Nick Friar-USA TODAY Sports) 

The big news from this week is the trade that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets (click here for the details of the trade). As a result, the Nets now have a "Big Three" consisting of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in addition to Harden. Before they got Harden, the Nets were already considered by many to be contenders, but now that they have Harden, it's fair to wonder whether or not they're the favorites to come out of the East. 

In my opinion, the real key to the Nets having success will be how well the egos of Durant, Harden, and Irving are managed. If they can put their egos aside, play unselfish basketball, and put the team first, they'll be dangerous. If not, there could be trouble in paradise.

 All three of them are among the most gifted offensive players in the game. Irving has fantastic ball handling that can create space as well as anyone in the league. He knows how to get to the rim, shoot it from deep, and also create plays for others. Durant, he's a 7'0" freak with shoes that can make it rain from deep, attack the rim, and just get buckets. That's what he does. Harden, he's one of the craftiest scorers the NBA has ever seen. He's got an array of moves, can shoot it from deep, and also get to the rim while creating contact. The bottom line is it's going to be tough for teams to figure out how to defend all three of them when they're together. 

This isn't to say that from a pure basketball standpoint, they're a lock to win the East. The biggest issue that these three guys have is they're not great defenders. Especially Irving and Harden. For as great as they are on offense, their defense is just so-so. One could of course argue that with those three guys, who needs defense, but in truth, you can't win by just playing really good offense. You need to play defense as well. Just ask Don Nelson. If the Nets are going to accomplish their championship goals, they're going to have to figure out how to improve on defense. Having DeAndre Jordan in the middle certainly helps as he knows how to block shots and get rebounds. But I'm not sure he's enough. 

Ultimately, I like this Nets team a lot. There's talk about the three of them not getting along and things blowing up, but Durant and Harden know each other from their days in OKC and as for Irving, he's a smart enough guy to get in line as well. When looking ahead to the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Nets should absolutely be a factor now that they have Harden aboard. 

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Wednesday Windmill: Do the Brooklyn Nets have a Kyrie Irving problem?

                                            (Credit: Getty Images) 

Kyrie Irving has played just 11 games in a Brooklyn Nets uniform and it is unclear when he'll return from his shoulder injury. He might go the route of surgery, he might not. It's anybody's guess how this will end and the longer things remain murky, the more one has to wonder whether or not Irving is being entirely truthful about his injury and his sincerity to get back on the court.

If Irving didn't have a history of being a head case, I wouldn't be writing this blog post. I might instead be writing about how terrible the Atlanta Hawks have been this season. But I'm not writing about the Hawks. I'm writing about Irving and the Nets. Precisely because he's the kind of guy to pull off a stunt like not being honest with the Nets about the severity or lack of severity of his shoulder injury.

As for how the Nets can proceed, I'm not sure there's a whole lot they can do. Irving when healthy has been balling out this year, averaging 28.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game. Those are really good numbers. On top of that, they're still waiting for the return of Kevin Durant, who is missing the entire season due to a ruptured right Achilles tendon that he suffered in the NBA Finals last year with the Warriors. Irving and Durant were a packaged deal to Brooklyn, so they really can't trade Irving if they want any hope of keeping Durant for the future.

The long and short of it is the Nets do have a Kyrie Irving problem and what's worse is that he seems to hold all the cards. They just have to hope that he's being truthful about his injury and that he does actually want to get back on the court as soon as possible. Otherwise, this whole Irving/Durant experiment could blow up in their face before it even really got started.

As Hunter S. Thompson once wrote: Buy the ticket, take the ride. The Nets bought their ticket and now they have to take the ride.

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Saturday Slam: Can Kyrie Irving lead a renaissance in Brooklyn?

                                         (Credit: AP Photo) 

Kyrie Irving is starting a new chapter of his career with the Brooklyn Nets and so far, it's going pretty well for him. In his opening game with his new team, he put up 50 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists in a 127-126 overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In his second game, he put up 26 points and 5 assists in a 113-109 win over the New York Knicks. With Kevin Durant out for the entire season, the Nets will be relying heavily on Irving to carry the load and so far, he appears to be up to the challenge.

Since moving to Brooklyn, the Nets have struggled to find an identity, which is somewhat ironic given that the very reason they moved to Brooklyn was to find one. After going through several different possible faces of the franchise (E.g. Deron Williams and D'Angelo Russell), the Nets are hopeful that they finally have the right pieces to have a championship contending team.

While this year will not yield championship fruit due to Durant's absence, it is possible that Irving will be able to lead a renaissance of sorts in Brooklyn, giving the Nets a new lease on life. He's always wanted to be the face of a prominent franchise and this is his chance to be one. In Boston, he had to share the spotlight with Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown, and others, but this time it really is his team.

If he can't get it done in Brooklyn, he might as well pack it up and call it a career. Or move to China and lead the Beijing Ducks to another championship. Both options will be on the table.

When talking about stories to follow in the 2019-20 NBA season, how this new look Nets team does will be something to monitor. Especially with Irving as their new face. The NBA desperately wants competitive basketball back in the Big Apple and with the New York Knicks remaining a giant question mark, the Nets are their best bet to bring some real buzz back to the region. At least in the near future.

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Wednesday Windmill: Taking a quick look at the Eastern Conference playoff picture

With the NBA regular season wrapping up on April 10th, I thought it would also be a good idea to take a quick look at where things sit in the Eastern Conference playoff picture as we head into the final week of the regular season. Things are a bit more settled in the Eastern Conference, but teams are still battling for position and seeding with the 8th seed still up for grabs.

Who's clinched 

At the moment, seven teams have clinched a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference: Toronto Raptors (55-22), Boston Celtics (53-24), Cleveland Cavaliers (48-30), Philadelphia 76ers (47-30), Indiana Pacers (46-31), Miami Heat (42-36), and Washington Wizards (42-36).

As you can see, it is a bit tiered among the teams who have cliched. The Raptors and Celtics are in a battle for first place while the Cavaliers, 76ers, and Pacers are battling to get home court advantage in the first round. As for the Heat and Wizards, their primary focus is to avoid the 8th seed. If they can get the 6th seed, they'll put themselves in a position to possibly pull off a first round upset. Especially if they're not having to face the Cavaliers, who despite a rocky regular season are still the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference.

The most interesting race is who gets home court advantage between the Cavaliers, 76ers, and Pacers. While the Cavaliers are favored to come out of the East, that could change if they don't get home court advantage in the first round. Even with LeBron James, they'll still be putting themselves behind the eight ball if they have to go on the road in their first series.

As for the race for the top seed, with Kyrie Irving out for the rest of the regular season, it's unlikely that the Celtics catch the Raptors for the top seed. At this point, the main focus for the Celtics is to make sure everyone else on their team stays healthy and doesn't get hurt before the playoffs start. Even without home court advantage, the Celtics should like their chances against the Raptors in a series, assuming Kyrie Irving is healthy.

Who's expected to clinch 

The Milwaukee Bucks sit in the 8th spot with a 42-36 record, the same record as the 7th seeded Wizards. For whatever reason, the Bucks haven't yet mathematically clinched, but all signs point to them doing so. The Bucks are more in the mode of improving their seed and trying to avoid the 8th seed. That said, the Raptors are as vulnerable of a top seed as you'll see in the NBA playoffs. Maybe the Bucks like where they sit and have no issue with going into Toronto to start the playoffs.

Who's mathematically alive 

Despite being 37-40, the Detroit Pistons are still mathematically alive. They obviously need the Bucks to totally collapse and on top of that they need to win out. The Pistons' remaining schedule is as follows: vs. Philadelphia, vs. Dallas, @Memphis, vs. Toronto, and @Chicago. Given that they need to win all of these games and do so without Blake Griffin (right ankle contusion), I think this is as good of a schedule as they could really ask for. I don't see the Pistons making the playoffs, but if they can win all of their remaining games, you never know.

What hurts is that the Bucks' schedule isn't  too bad: vs. Brooklyn, @New York, vs. Orlando, and @Philadelphia. It's really hard to envision Giannis Antetokounmpo letting his team down during this final week. If he has a big game even once, the Bucks will find themselves in the playoffs.

Predictions

In regards to how this all shakes out, I think the Bucks will clinch the 8th seed. The Pistons just have too much ground to cover. I think the Raptors will get the top seed and I think it'll be the Cavaliers and 76ers who have home court advantage in the first round. The Cavaliers do not want to go on the road to start the playoffs and understand that doing so would put them in a really difficult spot.

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Saturday Slam: What does the future hold for Isaiah Thomas?

                                          (Credit: ESPN.com) 

Earlier this month, Los Angeles Lakers point guard Isaiah Thomas underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right hip and is expected to need four months to recover. While the Lakers are reportedly open to re-signing the two-time All-Star, the future for Thomas remains uncertain. Since being drafted by the Sacramento Kings with the 60th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Thomas has proven his worth, averaging 18.9 points, 5.1 assists, and nearly 1 steal per game during his time in the league.  However, he is yet to find a permanent home, playing for five teams in a span of seven seasons.

Thomas has had a really good career. The numbers and All-Star appearances back it up. Yet for whatever reason no team has been willing to commit to him for the long term. He's considered to be a very valuable trade chip but not a guy who you can really build a team around. His value seems to lie in being a guy who you can trade to get other good assets. It's a very weird role to play in the basketball world because you are both desired and unwanted at the same time.

Personally, I think Isaiah Thomas deserves a shot to stay in a place for at least three seasons. Having to constantly be on the go like he has been is very challenging. He has to get used to new systems, new teammates, and new cultures all at the same time. Everyone, regardless of what profession they are in, wants to find some sort of consistency in their lives and it's impossible to do that if you are constantly getting traded from one team to the next.

As for whether or not the Lakers can be that permanent home for Thomas, I don't see why not. They're in desperate need of some sort of veteran presence and Thomas can provide that for them. Assuming he is able to get back to full strength, he'll be able to give them a reliable All-Star to build around for the coming seasons. While he isn't perhaps as good as Kyrie Irving or some of the other superstars in the NBA, he's still a really good player who can make your team more competitive. You can't constantly be looking for "assets" at the expense of a finished product like Thomas who can help you right away.

If Thomas doesn't stay in Los Angeles, he is certain to have several teams interested in his services during free agency. I think where he's best served is in a sixth-man type of role on a championship contending team. He's a guy who can come off the bench and give you points while also providing veteran leadership. He's also someone you can trust in clutch situations as is evident by the fact that he led the league in fourth quarter points just one season ago.

Regardless of where Isaiah Thomas ends up after this season, I just hope it's a place where he can stay for the long term. He's a good enough player to stick around in the same spot and has done all he can to prove his value in the NBA. While the NBA is a business, that can't be used an excuse for why a good player like Thomas can't find a permanent home. Out of 30 teams in the NBA, there has to be at least one place where he can finally build a legacy for his own. He just needs to find where that place is.

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NBALord.com Podcast: Kyrie Irving lands in Boston; Rodney Hood discussing extension with Utah Jazz

(Boston Celtics on Twitter)

On this week's episode of the NBALord.com podcast, Brian Kaiserman joins me to discuss the Kyrie Irving-Isaiah Thomas trade, Rodney Hood possibly getting a contract extension with the Utah Jazz, and the future of Carmelo Anthony. Click here to listen to the podcast.





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Wednesday Windmill: The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics complete their trade

I just wanted to provide a quick update on here about the Kyrie Irving/Isaiah Thomas trade. As I'm sure many of you heard, the trade got stalled due to Isaiah Thomas' hip still being injured. In order for trades to process, players have to pass a physical or else the deal can be nullified. In order to push this through, the Boston Celtics agreed to sweeten the deal by attaching their 2020 second round pick via Miami to the originally proposed trade.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN revealed the details earlier today. If you missed my take on the trade and why the Celtics should now be favorites to come out of the East, click here.

Story on ESPN: Boston adds a 2020 second-round pick, finally acquires Kyrie Irving in trade with Cleveland. https://t.co/KD2VGLWxkw

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 31, 2017

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Wednesday Windmill: After landing Kyrie Irving, the Boston Celtics are the clear favorites to come out of the East

(Ron Schwane/AP)

On Tuesday, the Cleveland Cavaliers traded Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and a 2018 first-round draft pick. This move appears to be good for both sides involved. The Celtics add a superstar point guard with championship experience while the Cavaliers free up some cap space and land an elite level point guard of their own in Isaiah Thomas.

While this move does make sense for both sides, the surprising part of this deal is the fact that the Cavaliers were willing to make such a move with their biggest threat in the East. Typically, you want to do all you can to not help your enemies, but in this case, the Cavaliers felt like they couldn't pass up what the Celtics had to offer.

While I do like what the Cavaliers got back in this trade, the Celtics are the clear winners. By getting both Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving this summer, the Celtics have greatly upgraded their roster and positioned themselves to reach the NBA Finals.

What the Celtics have needed is a true go-to option that can lead them to a title. As good as Isaiah Thomas has been, I was never convinced that he was that type of guy. As for Al Horford, he's not even remotely close to being such a guy. While he is a very good big man that borders on all-star level, you are not going to win a title with him as your best player.

While Irving gets criticized for not playing defense and being too much of a one-way player, there's no denying his ability to take over games in crunch time. He's one of the most electric offensive players in the league and has proven himself to be more than capable on the game's biggest stage.

As for Hayward, while not possessing the same resume as Irving, he appears to have the tools to be a really good number two option on this Celtics team. He plays well on both ends of the floor and is capable of doing a lot of different things on offense, whether its shooting, attacking the rim, or creating for others.

The Boston Celtics have to feel really good about where they are right now. They landed the biggest prize in free agency and also the star point guard of the team that took them out in the Eastern Conference Finals. If the Celtics do not find themselves playing into June next season, it will be a major disappointment.

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Saturday Slam: The Cleveland Cavaliers are falling apart

The Cleveland Cavaliers appear to be falling apart at the seams. During the past couple of weeks, reports have surfaced that Kyrie Irving wants to be traded and LeBron James will exercise his player option to leave Cleveland in the summer of 2018.

NBA source said today: "This will be LeBron's final season in Cleveland. He is 100 percent leaving. Relationship with owners beyond repair."

— Chris Sheridan (@sheridanhoops) August 16, 2017

With both reports coming from credible reporters, it's safe to say that the Cleveland Cavaliers are on the verge of collapsing. The only thing that can save them now is an NBA championship in 2018 and the chances of that happening look very bleak. As crazy as it sounds, the Cavaliers are on track to be without both LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in 12-18 months.

What you might be wondering is how did this happen? Weren't these guys building a dynasty in Cleveland? The answer appears to lie in the fact that neither James nor Irving have much faith in the front office. While he should certainly be credited for helping the team win their first NBA title, owner Dan Gilbert needs to take a lot of heat for this happening. For Gilbert to have his two superstars both wanting out reflects very poorly on how he has ran the organization during the last couple of years.

Part of it might stem from the way in which Gilbert handled James' initial departure from Cleveland. Rather than taking the high road and wishing him good luck in Miami, Gilbert cried like a spoiled brat and threw one of the biggest hissy fits ever seen by a professional sports owner.

When James did return, Gilbert failed to bring in a competent head coach. Both David Blatt and Tyronn Lue have been nothing more than figure heads on the bench. Their job has been to open up the gym before practice, close the gym after practice, and talk to the media. That's pretty much it. Not once have I or anyone else who follows the NBA viewed them as legitimate coaches.

In addition to failing to hire a good head coach, Gilbert also made the fatal mistake of allowing Andrew Wiggins to be traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Love. To be fair, LeBron James was the one who pushed for this trade so he deserves a lot of the blame for that happening. All the same, Gilbert could have still done more to keep Wiggins and try to explain to James why Wiggins was actually the better player to have on the team both in the present and in the future.

The only thing the Cavaliers have going for them right now is that it's 2017 and not 2018. Both James and Irving want to win more than anything. If Dan Gilbert and his chums in the front office can pull a rabbit out of their hat and make some amazing trades before the trade deadline, maybe things will be different in a year. I highly doubt it, though. With the way things are going, this team will be lottery bound heading into the 2019 NBA Draft and they'll be back to square one, hoping to land another #1 draft pick.

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NBALord.com Podcast: Kyrie Irving is still in Cleveland; Paul Millsap is a great fit in Denver

On this week's episode of the NBALord.com Podcast, I address the very latest in the Kyrie Irving saga, Paul Millsap's future with the Nuggets, and more. Click here to listen to the podcast.





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NBALord.com Podcast: Kyrie Irving requests a trade; John Wall extends with the Wizards

                                          (Akron Beacon Journal) 

On this week's episode of the NBALord.com Podcast, Brian Kaiserman joins me to discuss Kyrie Irving's trade request and also John Wall's 4 year, $170M extension with the Wizards. Click here to listen to the podcast.



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Saturday Slam: Making sense of Kyrie Irving's request for a trade

                                                   (Akron Beacon Journal) 


The big story of the week is the report that Kyrie Irving wants out of Cleveland and is pushing for a trade. The New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Miami Heat are said to be the teams that he is most interested in joining, though the Cleveland Cavaliers ultimately control his fate.

When I first heard the news I was surprised given the sheer magnitude of the story and what it could mean for the NBA, but upon further reflection, I'm not surprised at all. Irving has always wanted to be the number one option on a team and so long as he played alongside LeBron James, he wasn't going to get his wish. He's won a championship with the Cavaliers and has been to the NBA Finals three straight years. He rightfully feels like now is a good time for him to move on to a new city and forge his own path separate from LeBron.

Whether you feel like this is the right move for Irving or not, one cannot deny that the Cavaliers were never his team with LeBron around. While there's no shame in being second fiddle to a guy of LeBron's magnitude, one can certainly understand why Irving would ultimately want to spread his wings and fly away. He's proven himself as one of the top players in the NBA and as such is deserving of having a franchise built around him.

As far as where he might land, I don't see the Cavaliers trading him to another Eastern Conference team. It just wouldn't make sense for them to help out a team that competes in the same conference as them. Rather, it would make more sense for them to ship him out West and allow him to make the Western Conference even more of a logjam than it already is.

Out of all the teams in the West that he could go to, the Spurs seem to make the most sense. They could use another superstar to go alongside Kawhi Leonard and they also have an attractive trade chip in LaMarcus Aldridge who has been rumored to want out of his situation as well. A trade sending Aldridge to the Cavaliers and Irving to the Spurs would make sense for both sides. Aldridge would be a very nice number two option for LeBron to play with while Irving would be a nice upgrade over Aldridge, giving the Spurs more versatility in the backcourt.

During the coming weeks, it will certainly be interesting to see how this all plays out. I expect Irving to be traded relatively soon since the Cavaliers won't want to have to deal with him as a distraction come training camp. At the same time, the Cavaliers shouldn't rush to make a move, either. Irving is a very valuable piece and if you are going to trade him, you better make sure you get back something really good.

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NBALord.com Podcast: Recapping Games 1 & 2 of the NBA Finals

On this week's episode of the NBALord.com Podcast, I recap Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals, I discuss what a lopsided playoffs means for the NBA, and why the Golden State Warriors are built, not bought. Click here to listen to the podcast. 

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Eastern Conference Finals Preview: Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

On Wednesday at 8:30 PM EST on TNT, the Eastern Conference Finals will tip off in Boston as the Celtics host the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Celtics come into this series having taken out the Washington Wizards in seven games while the Cavaliers come in having swept the Toronto Raptors. Given how easily the Cavaliers dispatched of the Raptors and how much the Celtics struggled to get past the Wizards, many people are predicting this to be an easy series for the Cavaliers.

While the Cavaliers should be favored to win this series, that doesn't mean it will be easy for them to advance. The Cavaliers may have the advantage of rest, but the Celtics still have home court advantage, which is no small thing in the NBA playoffs. If the Celtics can find a way to get up for Game 1 on their home floor and simply hold serve, they'll put themselves in a great position to win this series and at the very least make this series go much longer than the Cavaliers would like.

If the Celtics want to give themselves any chance at winning this series, it all starts with Isaiah Thomas. Thomas has been phenomenal all season long and has really carried the load for this Celtics team, scoring 29 points and dishing out 12 assists in Game 7 against the Wizards. In the NBA playoffs, it's star time, which means this is when Isaiah Thomas needs to deliver the goods.

At the same time, Isaiah Thomas can't be the only one who steps up for the Celtics. We saw Kelly Olynyk have a big game in Game 7 against the Wizards, scoring 26 points, many of which came in the 4th quarter. Without Olynyk and his man bun coming up big, it would be the Wizards in the Eastern Conference Finals and not the Celtics. So, it really is important that the Celtics find ways to get Isaiah Thomas the help that he needs. If a guy like Jaylen Brown can get rolling a bit, that would be huge and really give the Celtics much better odds of winning this series.

For the Cavaliers, their key to winning this series is stealing Game 1 in Boston. They are coming into this game as the more well rested team and they need to take advantage of this. There will be no easier game to win in Boston than Game 1 and so if the Cavaliers don't win this game, they could be in big trouble.

In order for the Cavaliers to win Game 1 and set the tone for the rest of the series, much like the Celtics, they need their own star, LeBron James, to have a big night while also getting others involved. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, the two guys who round out Cleveland's "Big Three" are the main guys who LeBron James needs to rely on for support. If those guys get in a groove and get hot, it could be a long night for the Celtics. If on the other hand, they struggle and aren't in a good rhythm, the Celtics will likely be the team with the upper hand.

One thing that could play a weird role in all of this is the Celtics landing the #1 pick in the NBA Draft after Tuesday's Lottery. The Celtics have to feel like karma is on their side right now and so that could give them a little bit of a boost going into this game.

As far as a prediction for this series is concerned, I do have the Cavaliers winning this series in six games. I think the Celtics have the pieces to win this series and I certainly would not be surprised to see them reach the NBA Finals. That said, I have to put my money on the two-time defending Eastern Conference champions, who are led by LeBron James, the best player in the world. The Cavaliers have earned the right to be considered favorites based on how they've played in the playoffs up until this point and I see no reason to pick against them now.

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Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors

The #2 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers and #3 seeded Toronto Raptors will face off in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Game 1 will be held tonight (Monday) at 7:00 PM EST on TNT. The Cavaliers swept the Pacers in the first round while the Raptors took out the Bucks in six games.

Given how easily the Cavaliers took out the Pacers and how the Raptors struggled to take out the Bucks, the Cavaliers come into this series as the heavy favorites. They are at full strength and appear to be on a mission to get through the Eastern Conference playoffs as swiftly as possible. LeBron James is playing elite basketball right now, averaging 32.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game while Kyrie Irving is averaging 25.3 points per game. The James/Irving one-two punch will likely be too much for the Raptors to handle, especially considering how much they struggled in the first round against the Bucks.

If there is any reason to give the Raptors some hope, it's that they found a way to close out the Bucks in six games and stepped up under serious pressure. They could have folded or let the Bucks take them to a Game 7. Instead, they turned up the heat and didn't let the Bucks get back in the series after it was tied 2-2.

A big reason for that is the play of DeMar DeRozan, who averaged 23.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game against the Bucks. DeRozan is turning into an elite swingman in the NBA and he isn't afraid of anybody. He definitely has the mindset and instincts of a superstar and his play reflects that.

If the Raptors want any chance at winning this series or making it interesting, they need a big series from DeMar DeRozan and they also need other guys to step up, namely Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka, and Jonas Valanciunas. If DeRozan has a big series and he gets enough help from Lowry, Ibaka, and Valanciunas, the Raptors could give the Cavaliers a bit of a scare.

The problem is I don't see those guys giving DeRozan the help that he needs. While there was some growth that we saw from the Raptors by closing out the Bucks in six games, I just don't see them having what it takes to contain LeBron James and win this series.  I see the Cavaliers winning this series in five games. LeBron James will be too much for the Raptors to handle as the Cavaliers waltz into the Eastern Conference Finals.

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Skyhook Sunday: Can anyone in the East stop the Cleveland Cavaliers?

The Cleveland Cavaliers made quick work of the Indiana Pacers, completing their four-game sweep on Sunday by a final score of 106-102. LeBron James had another fabulous game, finishing with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists while Kyrie Irving finished with 28 points. The Pacers gave the Cavaliers a good scare in Game 1, losing 109-108 after C.J. Miles missed what would have been the game-winning shot from the elbow. After that game, the Cavaliers took firm control of the series and never looked back.

Going into the playoffs, the one team who we all thought had a chance at dethroning the Cavaliers in the East was the Boston Celtics and after the way we've seen them struggle with the Chicago Bulls (2-2 series at the moment), it's hard to see them finding a way to take out the Cavaliers even with home court advantage.

Earlier in the week on TNT, Charles Barkley made a great point, stating that the Cavaliers don't respect anybody in the East. He's right. The Cavaliers' sole mission is to make sure they are healthy and in a good groove come the NBA Finals. They respect whoever the Western Conference produces as their champion, but there isn't one team in the Eastern Conference who they respect.

That isn't to say there aren't players in their conference who they respect. I'm sure LeBron James has a lot of respect for Paul George, Isaiah Thomas, DeMar DeRozan, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and others, but that's different than respecting the teams that they play on. The bottom line is that the Cavaliers more or less believe it is a foregone conclusion that they'll be playing in the NBA Finals and as such treat the rest of the Eastern Conference as a mere afterthought. The Eastern Conference playoffs are merely hoops to jump through en route to the NBA Finals.

While the Cavaliers believe that they are virtually invincible in the Eastern Conference, is that really the case? Is there any team that has the ability to upset them? As much as I want to say that there is, it's pretty tough to think of any team who has a real shot at doing so. The Celtics as I've already mentioned are struggling to get out of the first round, the Raptors are likewise having a difficult time with the Bucks, and the Wizards I don't quite feel are ready to advance to the NBA Finals, though they are certainly putting together a championship caliber team.

As of right now, there really doesn't appear to be a team in the Eastern Conference capable of knocking off the Cavaliers. That isn't to say there aren't other good teams worth watching. The Bucks are developing into a serious contender as are the Wizards and Celtics. It's just that none of those teams are there yet. Give them a couple more years and it very well might be a different story. But as of right now, expect it to be smooth sailing for the Cavaliers all the way until the NBA Finals.

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5 things to look for in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals

                                         (Credit: Jesse Garrabrant/ NBAE via Getty Images) 

     Tonight is Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. The game will tip off at 8:00 PM EST on ABC in Oakland, California. After trailing 1-3, the Cleveland Cavaliers have found a way to win two straight games thanks to Draymond Green getting suspended for Game 5 and also thanks to LeBron James' back-to-back 40+ point games, a feat only done in the NBA Finals by Shaquille O'Neal and Michael Jordan. This series has gone from being one-way traffic for the Warriors to a fierce duel between two of the best teams in the NBA.

     If you read my NBA Finals preview on here, you already know that I picked the Warriors to win this series in seven games and I won't change my pick going into tonight's game. I still have the Warriors winning, but I do believe that the Cleveland Cavaliers have what it takes to become the first team to win a Game 7 on the road in the NBA Finals since the Washington Bullets back in 1978. The Bullets won Game 7 in Seattle by a final score of 105-99.

     Given the fact that tonight's game is just the fifth Game 7 in the NBA Finals since 1990, I thought it would be appropriate for me to do a quick preview of it by listing five things to look for. This series has had so many twists and turns such that it wouldn't be right of me to leave my initial series preview as the preview for tonight's game, even though a lot of what I said in that preview still applies to tonight's game. The five things to look for are largely predicated on what has happened since I wrote my initial preview.

#1. Look for Cleveland to pound it inside: Andrew Bogut is out for the rest of the series due to a sprained left knee that he sustained in Game 5 on Monday night. Without the big Aussie on the floor for Golden State, Cleveland would be smart to pound it inside and try to win by controlling the boards. Tristan Thompson had 9 rebounds after the first quarter of Game 6 and finished with 16 rebounds to go along with 15 points. If Tristan Thompson has another monstrous performance on the glass tonight, the Warriors will be in trouble.

#2. The first quarter will be huge: What lost the Warriors Game 6 wasn't the officiating or Ayesha Curry's father getting mistaken for a guy who sneaks into major sporting events. What lost the Warriors Game 6 was putting up only 11 points in the first quarter while allowing the Cavaliers to score 31. If the Warriors come out hot and in control to start the game, that will be a very good sign for them. If on the other hand, they come out cold and Cleveland is controlling the boards and getting easy buckets in transition, things will definitely be in favor of the Cavaliers.

#3. Draymond Green has to play big: 8 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists isn't exactly the type of performance the Warriors needed out of Draymond Green in Game 6. A big reason for why we are at a Game 7 is because Draymond Green was stupid enough to commit a flagrant 1 foul which triggered his suspension. Because Draymond Green contributed to getting the Warriors in this position, it is his responsibility to do whatever he can get them out of it. If Draymond Green plays big and the Warriors win, he'll have saved his skin from a ton of criticism. If on the other hand he lets his emotions derail his performance and the Warriors lose, he'll be the one who takes most of the blame for the Warriors losing this series.

#4. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving have to deliver: With Kevin Love not showing up, the Cavaliers need LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to deliver the goods tonight. LeBron James needs to put up around 40 points and Kyrie Irving has to be in that same neighborhood. LeBron has to take it upon himself to will his team to victory and Kyrie Irving has to take it upon himself to be the one to help LeBron James out in terms of scoring. Tristan Thompson will do his thing on defense and on the boards, but he can't be relied upon to get points. That has to be up to Kyrie Irving.

#5. Role players need to step up on both sides: For the Cleveland Cavaliers, they need guys like Kevin Love (Yes, he has become more of a role player), J.R. Smith, Channing Frye, and Matthew Dellavedova to step up and give LeBron James whatever help they can. As for the Warriors the main role player they need to step up his Harrison Barnes. He has made 2 of his last 12 uncontested shots and he scored 0 points in Game 6. If Harrison Barnes and Andre Iguodala aren't able to give the Warriors much, then it will be up to Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green to have sensational performances.

Conclusion: I think what will decide tonight's game is which team is able to dictate the tempo and  play the style of basketball that they want to play. If the Warriors come out splashing threes from beyond the arc and are playing relaxed and loose, they'll be in great shape. If on the other hand, the Warriors are clanging threes and LeBron James is scoring at will while getting the help he needs from Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson, the Cavaliers will win instead. Like I said earlier, I still have the Warriors winning tonight's game by a final score of 104-100. I think it will be a close game, but the Warriors will find a way to come up big at home. I have a hard time believing that the Warriors will drop three straight games with two of those games being on their home floor.

As far as what's at stake tonight, the Warriors are playing to be considered the greatest team ever. If they win 73 games en route to an NBA title, it'll be hard to say that they're not the greatest team ever. If they lose, they'll go down as perhaps the biggest disappointment in NBA history. Coming back from 1-3 to win the Western Conference crown to only blow a 3-1 lead in the finals would be beyond disappointing.

In regards to the Cavaliers, LeBron James is once again playing to silence his haters, which for no good reason still exist. If  the Cleveland Cavaliers become the first team since 1978 to win a Game 7 on the road in the NBA Finals and the first team to ever come back from a 1-3 hole in the NBA Finals, LeBron James will truly elevate himself into the same class as Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,  Oscar Robertson, and even Michael Jordan. If on the other hand, the Cavaliers lose, there will once again be questions about LeBron James' ability to lead a team to a title without having Dwyane Wade by his side. It's tough, but that's how it goes when you get to this level.

2016 NBA Finals Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

       On Thursday, June 2 at 9:00 PM EST on ABC, the 2016 NBA Finals will tipoff in Oakland, California. The Golden State Warriors will begin their quest to defend their title and the Cleveland Cavaliers will begin their quest for revenge after falling to the Warriors in the NBA Finals a year ago. This should shape up to be a very competitive series that could go either way.

     For the Golden State Warriors, the key to winning this series is getting into a rhythm offensively and keeping LeBron James and Kyrie Irving contained to the best of their ability. As for the Cavaliers, the key to this series will be to get LeBron James the help he needs and also disrupt the Warriors' offensive flow. I will expand on all four of these keys to the series.

     In regards to the Warriors getting into a rhythm offensively, they thrive when everyone is sharing the basketball and getting open looks. Everybody needs to get rolling: Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, etc. While it is true that Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are the guys who need to put up most of the points, they won't be able to score in the way that they need to if nobody else is able to get into a rhythm. When guys like Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green, and Shaun Livingston are finding ways to score, suddenly the defense can't guard Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry in the way that they want to and that is when those two guys are able to do their thing.

     As far as keeping LeBron James and Kyrie Irving contained, this won't be easy, but the Warriors definitely have the pieces to accomplish this task. Andre Iguodala and Draymond Green are elite defenders while Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are excellent defenders who don't get the credit that they deserve in this aspect of their game. It will definitely be a team effort to keep LeBron and Kyrie contained, but the Warriors do a great job at playing team defense, getting stops, and creating opportunities to score in transition.

     As for the Cavaliers, the biggest key for them is getting LeBron James the help that he needs. If LeBron James has to be superman again, they won't win this series. Kyrie Irving needs to produce at an elite level and Kevin Love, who I am yet to mention, has to play consistent. He doesn't need to put up 30 points or anything like that, but he does need to score at least 20 points a night and provide the Cavaliers with some sort of offensive post presence.

     Plus, guys like J.R. Smith, Matthew Dellavedova, Channing Frye, and Tristan Thompson all have to play their roles to a T. Smith and Frye have to knock down threes and stretch the defense, Thompson has to crash the glass and play good defense inside, and Dellavedova has to play good defense on the perimeter while also knocking down open shots. If those guys are able to do what they are supposed to do and if Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are able to come up big, LeBron James will have all the help he needs to lead the Cavaliers to their first ever NBA championship.

     As for preventing the Warriors from getting into a flow, the biggest thing the Cavaliers need to do is make shots and control the glass. Doing these two things will prevent the Warriors from getting out in transition, which is where they thrive. The Cavaliers have to be as efficient as possible offensively and do whatever they can to get rebounds. If they don't do these things, they they'll be in serious trouble.

     In terms of predicting an outcome, I got the Warriors winning this series in 7 games. I cannot pick against a defending championship team that won 73 games and won 3 straight games against the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the Western Conference title. The way the Warriors battled to win that series was incredible and certainly should make them the favorites to win this series. The Cavaliers were impressive against the Raptors as well, but the Warriors were even more impressive against a much more difficult opponent.

     I certainly believe the Cavaliers can win this series since I picked them to win the title last year and unlike last year, they are healthy this time. It's just that the Warriors have this aura of invincibility about them and they also have the home court advantage. When the going gets tough, the Warriors keep finding ways to rise to the occasion and I trust that should the going get tough for them against the Cavaliers, they will find a way to pull through once more.

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