Offense Don't Win Rings, Right Mike?

Defense. That's the name of the game. Great players and great teams play defense. In my time I witnessed the Detroit Bad Boys win series of championship not with firepower but brute and rugged defense. And it is often times up to a point of illegality and fighting.

The Chicago Bulls too play defense. Michael Jordan, the greatest player this planet has ever witnessed, is a great defensive player, as well as Scottie Pippen with his long arms is a terror among opposing guards. Yes he is a point guard stopper.

I am not an anti-Lakers but Mike D'Antoni is not the answer for another world championship for the purple and blue. Mike knows that well. During his tenure with the Suns, Mike has the most amazing scoring team thanks to his coaching system. But did they win the finals? No. Though they always come up with the best record of the regular season but the playoffs is a very different thing.

Unless Mike and Kobe makes adjustments and brings new dimension to the Lakers team then the light at the end of the tunnel is much closer now. The LA Lakers still is a fun to watch. It is still showtime in Tinseltown.

FLCeltsFan's Celtic Thunder: Today's Boston Celtics Links 11/29

FLCeltsFan's Celtic Thunder: Today's Boston Celtics Links 11/29

2013 TOP NBA DRAFT PROSPECTS

If the 2013 NBA Draft will be held today these are the top 10 :

1. Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA (6'6" shooting guard)

2. James Michael McAdoo, North Carolina (6'9" power forward)

3. Nerlens Noel, Kentucky (6'10" center)

4. Cody Zeller, Indiana (6'11" power forward)

5. Marcus Smart, Oklahoma (6'3" point guard)

6. Isaiah Austin, Baylor (7'0" center)

7. Alex Poythress, Kentucky (6'8" power forward)

8. Ben McLemore, Kansas (6'5" shooting guard)

9. Mason Plumlee, Duke (6'11" power forward)

10. Tony Mitchell, North Texas (6'7" power forward)

November Power Ranking

Though it's early to tell but this can be the trend. These are the teams power ranking position after 2 weeks of play:

30. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS - very YOUNG.

29. WASHINGTON WIZARDS - J-Wall is injured.

28. SACRAMENTO KINGS - this team needs an INSPIRATION.

27. DETROIT PISTONS - no CHEMISTRY.

26. PHOENIX SUNS - needs a SUPERSTAR.

25. ORLANDO MAGIC - HOWARDLESS period.

24. TORONTO RAPTORS - losing TRADITION.

23. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS - going UP.

22. INDIANA PACERS- UNINSPIRED basketball.

21. LA LAKERS- needs a new COACH.

20. NEW ORLEANS HORNETS- ANTHONY DAVIS who else.

19. UTAH JAZZ- needs more CEILING.

18. BROOKLYN NETS- Brooks is too SOFT.

17. HOUSTON ROCKETS- the BEARD + LINSANITY.

16.MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES- they are winning even if they are LOVELESS.

15. MILWAUKEE BUCKS- deadly BACKCOURT.

14. PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS- RUGGED.

13. DENVER NUGGETS- no legitimate superstar and DEEP which makes them UNPREDICTABLE.

12. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS- complete in every position but still NEEDS TO BE PROVEN.

11. BOSTON CELTICS- although Allenless and old but they had a CELTIC PRIDE.

10. PHILADELPHIA 76ers- the team has a lot of YOUNG SUPERSTARS.

9. LA CLIPPERS- one reason CP3.

8. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES- always a contender but ERRATIC.

7. CHICAGO BULLS- the team is still HURTING after last years devastating playoff exit.

6. DALLAS MAVERICKS- it seems that everything is lost in Dallas but the team surprisingly survived and INSPIRED.

5. ATLANTA HAWKS- no too much big names but the team is capable of winning BIG GAMES.

4. NEW YORK KNICKS- the big names has so far live to their billings thanks to the NY FANS.

3. SAN ANTONIO SPURS- the team is still DEADLY and experienced.

2. MIAMI HEAT- they are the WORLD CHAMPIONS.

1. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDERS- KEVIN MARTIN is a more perfect fit to the Thunders than James Harden

Hope you enjoy this post. Feel free to comment.

Will Harden Fuel the Rockets?!

Certainly. The BEARD can inspire the Houston Rockets but the scenarios are uncertain and the question is HOW. The Rockets has been unlucky with their recent build up surrounding Yao Ming post Olajuwon era. And to rebuild a team takes luck and science and to say the average rebuilding of a team towards contention may take 8-10 years the average. Exceptions is the LA Lakers where superstars without rings queue in Hollywood to have a ring and to have a share of the limelight.

Back to James Harden. As we know James is a hell of a reserve. He is in fact a SUPER-RESERVE, Sixth Man winner of last season. But being a super sub is different from a franchise player.

That is my point. Harden can not be the franchise player Houston is looking for. He is a Scottie Pippen waiting for his Jordan. Harden has not been tested of being the go to guy all for 48 minutes day in and day out. Unless Kevin McHale will force the issue then we can see a Yao Ming deja vu

That is what happens or can happen in Houston right now. They already have the young legs, willing role players, a good coach, a management who cares and not to mention the Linsanity. Maybe they can draft  a caliber rookie in the future to carry the already ready team or lure young rising superstar into the team.

More Meme From Last Season...

Photos courtesy of  basketball-memes.com

Best Meme From Last Season

Photos courtesy of  basketball-memes.com

NBA 13 FIRST TEAM NOW !

This is a fearless forecast of who will be the NBA's finest after the 2012-2013 season. This is not based on the players past performance but this is based on a players future potential and value. Here is the list:

PG- RAJON RONDO
       -this will be a toss up between Rajon and Chris Paul. Whose team will perform well will get the slot.           And I am confident that the Boston Celtics is still the top dark horse in the East.

SG- KOBE BRYANT
       -there is no argue that Kobe is still the top man in this position unless you are an anti-Lakers. Even Lebron is still a close second to the Black Mamba.

SF- KEVIN DURANT
     -just like Kobe, KD is the ultimate at small forward. And KD is still maturing.

PF- DIRK NOWITZKI
     -todays lack of agile big men who can shoot and low post retains the aging Dirk in this position. I still prefer the old school power forward to fill in this spot.

C- ANDREW BYNUM
   -move over Superman but Andrew is my man. This selection will surely raise a lot of eyebrows. But I am confident that Bynum's time has come. He is a perfect T to the young Sixers and this time he is not playing second fiddle to superstars. He is now the teams superstar.

Latest from Nike

2012-2013 NBA Player Movement 4 (...cont.)

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

PLAYERS ADDED

VIA DRAFT
John Henson (No. 14)
Doron Lamb (No. 42)

VIA FREE AGENCY
Ersan Ilyasove (re-signed)
Joel Pryzbilla (from Blazers)

VIA TRADE
Samuel Dalembert (from Rockets)


PLAYERS TRANSFERRED

VIA FREE AGENCY
Kwame Brown (to Sixers)
Carlos Delfino (to Rockets)

VIA TRADE
Jon Brockman (to Rockets)
Jon Leuer (to Rockets)
Shaun Livingston (to Rockets)



MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

PLAYERS ADDED

VIA DRAFT
Robbie Hummel (No. 58) 

VIA TRADE
Chase Budinger (from Rockets)
Dante Cunningham (from Grizzlies)

VIA FREE AGENCY
Will Conroy
Andrei Kirilinko (from CSKA Moscow)
Brandon Roy 
Alexey Shved (from CSKA Moscow) 
Greg Stiemsma (from Celtics)

PLAYERS TRANSFERRED

VIA FREE AGENCY
Michael Beasley (to Suns) 

VIA TRADE
Wayne Ellington (to Grizzlies)
Wesley Johnson (to Suns)
Brad Miller (to Hornets)

WAIVED
Martell Webster (to Wizards)
Darko Milicic


NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

PLAYERS ADDED

VIA DRAFT
Anthony Davis (No. 1)
Austin Rivers (No. 10)
Darius Miller (No. 46)

VIA FREE AGENCYEric Gordon (re-signed)
Roger Mason
Brian Roberts

VIA TRADERyan Anderson (from Magic)
Edin Bavcic (from Sixers)
Robin Lopez (from Suns)
Hakim Warrick (from Suns)

PLAYERS TRANSFERRED

VIA TRADE
Trevor Ariza (to Wizards)
Gustavo Ayon (to Magic)
Jerome Dyson (to Suns)
Jarret Jack (to Warriors)
Brad Miller (to Suns)
Emeka Okafor (to Wizards)
Darryl Watkins (to Sixers)

VIA FREE AGENCY
Marco Belinelli (to Bulls)
Carl Landry (to Warriors)
Chris Kaman (to Mavs)

WAIVED
Rashard Lewis (to Heat) 


NEW YORK KNICKS

PLAYERS ADDED

VIA FREE AGENCY
Ronnie Brewer (from Bulls)
Chris Copeland
Jason Kidd (from Mavs)
Steve Novak (re-signed)
Pablo Prigioni (from Caja Laboral)
John Shurna
Henry Sims
Chris Smith
Mychel Thompson
J.R. Smith (re-signed)
James White

VIA TRADEMarcus Camby (from Rockets )
Raymond Felton (from Blazers)
Kurt Thomas (from Blazers)

PLAYERS TRANSFERRED

VIA FREE AGENCY
Landry Fields (to Raptors)
Jeremy Lin (to Rockets)

VIA TRADE
Toney Douglas (to Rockets)
Jerome Jordan (to Rockets) 
Dan Gadzuric (to Blazers)
Josh Harrelson (to Rockets)
Jared Jeffries (to Blazers)
Kostas Papanikolaou (to Blazers)
Giorgos Printezis (to Blazers)


OKC THUNDER

PLAYERS ADDED

VIA DRAFT
Perry Jones (No. 28)

VIA FREE AGENCYDeAndre Liggins (from Magic) 
Daniel Orton (from Magic)
Andy Rautins
Hasheem Thabeet
Hollis Thompson

PLAYERS TRANSFERRED

VIA FREE AGENCYRoyal Ivey (to Sixers)
Nazr Mohammed (to Bulls)


ORLANDO MAGIC

PLAYERS ADDED

VIA DRAFT
Andrew Nicholson (No. 19)
Kyle O'Quinn (49) 

VIA FREE AGENCY
E'Twaun Moore (from Houston)
Jameer Nelson (re-signed)
Ishmael Smith (re-signed)

VIA TRADEArron Afflalo (from Nuggets)
Gustavo Ayon (from Hornets)
Christian Eyenga (from Lakers)
Moe Harkless (from Sixers)
Al Harrington (from Nuggets)
Josh McRoberts (from Lakers)
Nikola Vucevic (from Sixers)

PLAYERS TRANSFERRED

VIA FREE AGENCY
DeAndre Liggins (to Thunder) 
Daniel Orton (to Thunder)

VIA TRADE
Ryan Anderson (to Hornets)
Earl Clark (to Lakers)
Chris Duhon (to Lakers)
Dwight Howard (to Lakers)
Jason Richardson (to Sixers) 

WAIVED
Von Wafer

Coach J's Advice: Atlanta Hawks

After losing the overpriced Joe Johnson the Hawks left with only Anthony  Morrow as the only pure shooter of the squad. But that is before the draft. Atlanta drafted John Jenkins, a proven shooter in college. And the way he is performing at the summer camp he can compete with Morrow at the shooting guard position.

My idea is to make John Jenkins as the starter early in the regular season. But if he does not live to expectations then bring back the erratic Morrow. Jenkins starting at the 2 won't hurt the Hawks. What if this rookie can prove himself? Which is I am very positive. Then it will be a big bonus to Larry Drew.

John Jenkins is one of the rookies to watch if he starts. And if he delivers Atlanta can still return to the play-offs.  Maybe they can make it as far as the second round.

2012-2013 NBA Player Movement 3 (...cont.)

HOUSTON ROCKETS


PLAYERS ADDED

VIA DRAFT
Jeremy Lamb (No. 12)
Royce White (No. 16)
Terrence Jones (No. 18)
Furkan Aldemir (No. 53)*
Donatas Motiejunas (No. 20, 2011)

VIA FREE AGENCYOmer Asik (from Bulls)
Carlos Delfino (from Bucks)
Jeremy Lin (from Knicks) 

VIA TRADE
Jon Brockman (from Bucks)
Jon Diebler (from Blazers)
Toney Douglas (from Knicks)
Gary Forbes (from Raptors)
JaJuan Johnson (from Celtics)
Shaun Livingston (from Bucks)


PLAYERS TRANSFERRED

VIA FREE AGENCYGoran Dragic (to Suns)

VIA TRADE
Chase Budinger (to Wolves)
Marcus Camby (to Knicks)
Samuel Dalembert (to Bucks)
Courtney Lee (to Celtics) 
Kyle Lowry (to Raptors) 

WAIVEDJosh Harrellson
Jerome Jordan
Jon Leuer (to Cavs)
E'Twaun Moore (to Magic)
Luis Scola (to Suns) 
Sean Williams


INDIANA PACERS

PLAYERS ADDED

VIA DRAFT
Miles Plumlee (No. 26)
Orlando Johnson (No. 36)

VIA FREE AGENCY
Blake Ahearn (from Jazz)
D.J. Augustin (from Bobcats)
Sundiata Gaines (from Nets) 
Gerald Green (from Nets) 
Roy Hibbert (re-signed) 
George Hill (re-signed)
Sam Young (from Sixers)

VIA TRADEIan Mahinmi (from Mavs)


PLAYERS TRANSFERRED

VIA FREE AGENCY
A.J. Price (to Wizards)

VIA TRADEDarren Collison (to Mavericks)
Dahntay Jones (to Mavericks)



LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS


PLAYERS ADDED

VIA TRADE
Willie Green (from Hawks)
Lamar Odom (from Mavs)

VIA FREE AGENCY
Chauncey Billups (re-signed)
Jamal Crawford (from Blazers)
Grant Hill (from Suns) 
Ryan Hollins (from Celtics)
Ronny Turiaf (from Heat)


PLAYERS TRANSFERRED

VIA FREE AGENCYRandy Foye (to Jazz)
Nick Young (to Sixers)

VIA TRADE
Reggie Evans (to Nets)
Sofoklis Schortsanitis (to Hawks)
Mo Williams (to Jazz)

WAIVED
Ryan Gomes


LOS ANGELES LAKERS

PLAYERS ADDED

VIA DRAFT
Darius Johnson-Odom (No. 55)
Robert Sacre (No. 60)

VIA FREE AGENCY
Devin Ebanks (re-signed)
Jordan Hill (re-signed) 
Antawn Jamison (from Cavs)
Jodie Meeks (from Sixers)
Darius Morris (re-signed)
Reeves Nelson 
Greg Somogyi

VIA TRADE
Earl Clark (from Magic)
Chris Duhon (from Magic)
Dwight Howard (from Magic)
Steve Nash (from Suns) 


PLAYERS TRANSFERRED

VIA FREE AGENCY
Ramon Sessions (to Bobcats)

VIA TRADE
Andrew Bynum (to Sixers)
Christian Eyenga (to Magic)
Josh McRoberts (to Magic)


MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES


PLAYERS ADDED

VIA DRAFT
Tony Wroten (No. 25)

VIA TRADE
Wayne Ellington (from Wolves)
D.J. Kennedy (from Cavs)

VIA FREE AGENCYDarrel Arthur (re-signed) 
Jerryd Bayless (from Raptors)
Hamed Haddadi (re-signed)
Marreese Speights (re-signed)


PLAYERS TRANSFERRED

VIA FREE AGENCY
O.J. Mayo (to Mavs)

VIA TRADE
Dante Cunningham (to Wolves)
Jeremy Pargo (to Cavs)



MIAMI HEAT


PLAYERS ADDED

VIA DRAFT
Justin Hamilton (No. 45) 

VIA FREE AGENCY
Ray Allen (from Celtics)
Rashard Lewis (from Hornets)


PLAYERS TRANSFERRED

VIA FREE AGENCYRonny Turiaf (to Clippers)

2012-2013 NBA Player Movement 2 (...cont.)

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS


PLAYERS ADDED


VIA DRAFT
Dion Waiters (No. 4)
Tyler Zeller(No. 17)

VIA FREE AGENCY
Michael Eric
Luke Harangody (re-signed)
C.J. Miles (from Jazz) 

VIA TRADE
Kelenna Azubuike(from Mavs)
Jeremy Pargo(from Grizzlies)

WAIVER CLAIM
Jon Leuer (from Rockets)


PLAYERS TRANSFERRED

VIA FREE AGENCY
Semih Erdems (Anadolu Efes, Turkey)
Antawn Jamison (to Lakers)

VIA TRADED.J. Kennedy (to Grizzlies)

RETIRED
Anthony Parker

WAIVED
Manny Harris


DALLAS MAVERICKS

PLAYERS ADDED

VIA DRAFT
Jarred Cunningham (No. 24)
Bernard James (No. 33)
Jae Crowder (No. 34)

VIA FREE AGENCY
Chris Kaman (from Hornets)
O.J. Mayo (from Grizzlies)
Delonte West (re-signed)

VIA TRADEDarren Collison (from Pacers)
Dahntay Jones (from Pacers)

VIA AMNESTY CLAIM
Elton Brand (from Sixers)


PLAYERS TRANSFERRED

VIA FREE AGENCY
Jason Kidd (to Knicks)
Jason Terry (to Celtics)

VIA TRADE
Kelenna Azubuike (to Cavs)
Shan Foster (to Jazz) 
Ian Mahinmi (to Pacers)
Lamar Odom (to Clippers)

WAIVED
Brendan Haywood (to Bobcats)



DENVER NUGGETS


PLAYERS ADDED

VIA DRAFT
Evan Fournier (No. 20)
Quincy Miller (No. 38)
Izzet Turkyilmaz (No. 50)

VIA FREE AGENCY
JaValee McGee  (re-signed)
Andre Miller (re-signed)
Anthony Randolph (from Wolves) 

VIA TRADE
Andre Iguodala (from Sixers)


PLAYERS TRANSFERRED

VIA FREE AGENCY
Rudy Fernandez (to Real Madrid, Spain)

VIA TRADE
Arron Afflalo (to Magic)
Al Harrington (to Magic)

WAIVEDChris Andersen


DETROIT PISTONS

PLAYERS ADDED

VIA DRAFT
Andre Drummond (No. 9)
Khris Middleton (No. 39)
Kim English (No. 44) 
Kyle Singler (No. 33, 2011 draft)

VIA FREE AGENCY
Vyacheslav Kravtsov (from BC Kyiv, Ukraine)

VIA TRADE
Corey Maggette (from Bobcats)


PLAYERS TRANSFERRED

VIA TRADE
Ben Gordon (to Bobcats)

VIA FREE AGENCY
Vernon Macklin (to Gaziantep, Turkey)



GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS


PLAYERS ADDED

VIA DRAFT
Harrison Barnes (No. 7)
Festus Ezelie (No. 30)
Draymond Green (No. 35)
Ognjen Kuzmic (No. 52)

VIA FREE AGENCY
Kent Bazemore
Carl Landry (from Hornets)
Brandon Rush (re-signed)

VIA TRADE
Jarret Jack (from Hornets)

PLAYERS TRANSFERRED

VIA TRADE
Dorrel Wright (to Sixers)

VIA FREE AGENCY
Nate Robinson (to Bulls)