So after a brief hiatus, I'm back writing about the NBA. This season has gone by so fast, with games just about every minute, it was hard to keep track with all the comings and goings, storylines and mishaps. But I'm going to try and update the season so far with some observations. Also, there will be some thoughts about Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Bobcats.
1. First thing first: The Miami Heat will not win an NBA title as they are currently constructed. Let me first say I like the Heat. They have star power as players and in the stand, however their team is not constructed correctly to win a championship. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade essentially play the same position and neither knows how to play with each other when they are on the floor together. Chris Bosh doesn't rebound effectively and is almost clueless in the post. Recently they have had awful defense lapses where they aren't guard the point guard, nor are they defending the the post. Ultimately, I see Erik Spoelstra being fired and this team dismantled if they don't win a championship this year.
2. I finally figured out why the majority of sports fans are turned off by the NBA. The players have way too much control over teams and the perfect example of that is Derek Fisher. Fisher, who was with the Lakers, is also head over the players union. It used to be when a player was traded, and he didn't like the team he was traded to, he wouldn't report to that team, force a buyout and rejoin his old team, basically dictating his trade. However, they changed the rule, well sort of. Fisher was traded to the Rockets, who were in desperate need of point guard and leadership, while fighting for a playoff spot. But Fisher didn't like that and forced his way out of Houston and ended up on the OKC Thunder. If the players union head manipulates the rules to his advantage, then the rest of the players will follow. Where's the integrity in the NBA?
3. Speaking of integrity, Carmelo Anthony, who forced his way out of Denver to New York, decided that Mike D'antonio and his scoring offense just didn't fit him. So what did Melo do? Talk to the coach, or try to find out how he could better fit with his teammates? Nope, he just quit playing for D'antonio and got him fired. Then amazingly when Mike Woodson is named coach, Melo inexplicably said he now feels energized and is ready to play. Doesn't he owe the Knick fans and his former coach an apology for being lazy? Not in his mind. The one team that is happy to see his spoil ways gone is the Nuggets. In the long run they are better off without the wanna be superstar.
4. It's not just those two guys who have had a bad PR year. Dwight Howard alienated his teammates, coaches and fans in general with his waffling back and forth about being traded or staying in Orlando. Andrew Bynum openly defied his coach by taking a 3 point shot and then laughed about getting pulled from the game after it. This is what happens when you have a league that is devoid of veteran leadership from all its top players and the players see themselves as bigger than the team.
5. My favorite player all-time is Michael Jordan. The way he played the game of basketball play transcended anything I had ever seen. He was so dominant on the court and the Nike empire he built off the court, just captivated me. Now I see some flaws in him. Not in his personal life but in a business sense, especially when it comes to his life as an NBA owner. The Charlotte Bobcats are just awful. They are absolutely the worst team in the league. The problem I believe Michael has is relating his dominating and hard working style that he had as a player and moving that into the boardroom. Conversely, everything that Magic Johnson has done away from the game has turned to gold. Magic has clearly figured out a way to be dominant in business as well as on the floor. This is a discussion me and kdc had about Michael and Magic:
kdc: I wonder if - post retirement - Michael wishes he were Magic & not Michael? Seems like he hasn't figured out how to be a civilian & being much more than "Michael Jordan, the best player of his generation" (but that was a long time ago in the internet age).
Momo: Michael has not shown a personality that makes him likable off the court plus poor business decisions have made it worse. Think about the success Magic has had in boardroom and in TV, his presence on TV but overall his personality is magnetic and Magic lets it show. Conversely, Michael, poor decision with Wizards and in Charlotte and a messy divorce, makes Michael alot more vulnerable. Even Bird has had more success off the court than Michael.
kdc: It's like he's still the Michael on the court & that doesn't work in the real world. He can't not be that Michael - & that Michael isn't all that appealing to civilians (vs. fans). He's rich but not too savvy basketball wise (off the court) nor business-wise.
Momo: Agreed. His biggest issue is that he has not allowed fans to get to know him.For instance, all books that have been written about him have not been authorized by him. Reporters who covered him have written about the Michael Jordan on and off the court and have received quotes from people who are supposedly close to him. Michael has not figured out how to make the media and today's social media to his advantage. Unlike Magic and Bird, he's has stayed far away from the press instead of showcasing some of his personality. Magic is competitive and loves to win at business, however he has taken to a platform and shown people his effervescent personality and it works. It's like Michael doesn't know how to communicate with others off the court.
kdc: In fairness, almost no one can compete w/Magic's outgoing personality, but that doesn't make him a shoe-in business wise & he's done a great job there.
To the side, I also think it's interesting Bird (while hardly brilliant as a GM, but incredibly successful w/coaching), is the only one that's made basketball work post-playing career. So few do competently.
Michael Jordan has always had people around him that catered to his needs and never challenged him. The people who challenged him and told him no were his father and Phil Jackson. In the boardroom, MJ is now surrounded by "Yes Men", men who never disagree and only agree with all the decisions he makes. Until he puts someone in place that will challenge all decisions that his franchise makes, the Bobcats will never prosper and MJ will fail again in life after basketball.
Up next: 5 overrated player and 5 underrated players....
