January 21st, 2012
You are currently browsing the articles from Matt Levens written on January 21st, 2012.
Charlotte decided to work on their rebuilding phase after dealing away one of their top players in Gerald Wallace by the trade deadline for draft selections. Head Coach Larry Brown was replaced by Paul Silas in December and they ended with a regular season mark of 34-48, just three victories short of the eighth seed won by the Indiana Pacers.
The Bobcats also chose to let go of Stephen Jackson, Kwame Brown and Shaun Livingston. Jackson was the team’s leading scorer with 18.5 points/game but was more of a headache as he played selfish basketball for the Bobcats last season.
The Bobcats seemed to have a successful night at the draft when they traded for the 7th pick which turned out to be Bismack Biyombo. He has the makings of a Ben Wallace type and all he needs to do is to get adjusted to the NBA game. They also drafted Kemba Walker, who has a winner’s mentality after leading the Connecticut Huskies to a National Championship last year.
Biyombo probably will not get much floor time as he needs to be adjusted to the NBA style, but PG Kemba Walker should see a lot of court time from the start. Walker may begin the year coming off the pine, but don’t be shocked if he winds up taking the starting point guard spot from D.J. Augustin. While Augustin put up 16 points and 6 assists, he was a big disaster on defense.
Gerald Henderson will begin the season as the starting shooting guard as their free agent pick-up Reggie Williams will be out 6-8 weeks with an injury. The Bobcats dealt for Corey Maggette in the desires that he can offer offense to a team needing a true scorer. Although he put up just 12 points for Milwaukee last season, he just started 18 times and will look to have the starting SF spot for Charlotte this season. Heaveraged nearly 20 a night the previous three years in Golden State.
Boris Diaw and Tyrus Thomas will have the starting spot at the center and power forward slot respectively. They have also added some nice depth by getting big man Bryon Mullens through trade. They also have D.J. White as the backup PF.
Pick: 5th in the East’s Southeast Division – Our best NBA handicapper thinks the Bobcats are clearly going in the right direction, they still have a long way to go to contend night in and night out with the rest of their conference. While this squad will be good on the defensive end, they will struggle to reguarly score enough to win games. The main goal for Charlotte this season will be to develop their young guys and get them the right pieces in place to make a serious run next year. They might still be able to make the postseason this season in the East, but for that to happen, Kemba Walker will have to be a superstar from the start.
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Written by Jack Jones on January 21st, 2012 with comments disabled.
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The Boston Celtics are winners of 17 NBA titles, 21 Conference titles and 20 Division titles. Saying the Celtics have a brilliant history in the NBA is an understatement. The Boston Celtics have won 8 successive titles at in a row, starting in 1957 and ending in 1969. Some of the greatest players to be a part of this winning franchise are Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Kevin McHale, Bob Cousy, Larry Bird and Paul Pierce. In my opinion, the greatest Boston Celtics of all-time are John Havlicek, Larry Bird and Bill Russell.
No.3: John Havlicek (1962 “1978)
Havlicek won 8 titles in his tenure with Boston. At the end of his career, he put up 20.8 points per night, 4.8 assists per night and 6.3 boards. Havlicek made an effect on the league with thirteen NBA All-Star game selections, eleven All-NBA team appearances, an NBA Finals MVP in 1974 and being named to the All-NBA defensive team eight times. He is regarded as the best 6th man in NBA history. Incredibly, he’s the Celtics all-time leader in points, games played, minutes played and both field goals made and tried.
No.2: Larry Bird (1979 “1992)
Larry Bird is thought of by NBA handicappers as one of the smartest men ever in basketball. Bird’s career stopped with him putting up 24.3 points per contest, 6.3 assists per game and 10 boards per night. We could go on continually about Bird’s memorable achievements with the Celtics. He achieved three titles in Boston, was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 1980, won the NBA MVP three times, was two times the NBA Finals MVP, twelve times an NBA All-Star and 9 times named to the All-NBA First team. Only every once in a while in history a player such as Larry Bird comes along and takes the hearts of fans all across the world.
No.1: Bill Russell (1956 “1969)
Let us give Bill Russell a moment of silence for all his accomplishments – they rank among the most impressive in the history of the NBA. The best Celtic of all time has 11 NBA Championship rings, yes 11. He is also a twelve-time All-Star player, five time NBA MVP, and five-time NBA Rebounding league leader. Russell is at the heart of the Celtics dynasty. He talked about defense and he played it as well as anybody in history. Bill Russell is one of the greatest players to ever play the game and you’d be hard-pressed to debate that any other player should be rated at the very top of this list.
Not so many groups can boast the likes of John Havlicek, Larry Bird and Bill Russell in their team’s history. All three players named might have been recognized as the best ever playing for many other groups. They all know what it feels like to win several championships and to hold multiple records. Nonetheless when it’s all said and done, I am absolutely sure you may agree with me in asserting that the owner of eleven championship rings, Bill Russell, is the greatest Boston Celtic of all time.
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Written by Jack Jones on January 21st, 2012 with comments disabled.
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The Wizards are a young squad looking for an identity, after winning a terrible 23 times last year and having the fourth worst win total in the NBA. They do seem to be going in the right direction after adding a lot of young players through the draft. The Wizards played very sloppy basketball last season and their team needs to mature fast if they want to contend every night.
The Wizards have had a pretty solid offseason after drafting Jan Vesely with their seventh pick. They also drafted Chris Singleton with the 18th pick and Sheldon Mack with their 34th pick. Vesely is an athletic forward who can run the floor, Singleton was considered the best defensive player in the draft, and Mack could become a valuable reserve. They have also re-signed free agent shooting guard Nick Young, who averaged a team best 17.5 points/game last year. Ronny Turiaf and Roger Mason Jr. were players signed in free agency.
After putting up 16.4 points, 8.3 assists. 4.6 boards and 1.75 steals last year, John Wall will have a heightened pressure to get better from his rookie campaign. He was hit with health issues last season, and the hope in the franchise is that if he can stay on the court this season, he can provide big numbers that can excite their fan base.
Wall and Young will be joined in the starting lineup by center JaVale McGee, power forward Andray Blatche, and small forward Rashard Lewis. Both McGee and Blatche have the talent to be very good players, but right now they lack discipline, maturity and focus. Blatche averaged 16.8 points and 8.2 rebounds, while McGee averaged 8.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.44 blocks a game. Lewis came over in a trade with the Magic last season, and averaged just over 12 points a game.
The improvement of this roster will rest mainly on the hands of their reserve players. Rookies Jan Vesely and Chris Singleton will probably be given a lot of floor time to display their talents and help Washington take home victories. Also in their bench in back-up shooting guard Jordan Crawford who put up almost 12 points a contest last year. Turiaf, Mason Jr. and Trevor Booker will also have major roles for this franchise in the upcoming year.
Pick: 4th in the East’s Southeast Division – While this franchise is clearly capable of advancing from their win totals last season, our NBA handicapper feels a lot of that will be dependent on the improvement of some young guys. They have more skilled players than Charlotte and they can end up in front of them but much of that is also dependent of the improvement and growth of the team. They may end up in front of Charlotte but they’re still at least a year or two away from making the postseason.
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Written by Jack Jones on January 21st, 2012 with comments disabled.
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The Trail Blazers have been to three NBA Finals, winning just once in 1977. During the existence of the team, they have made the playoffs 29 times. The household names within the franchise include Bill Walton, Clyde Drexler, Buck Williams, Maurice Lucas, Terry Porter, Brandon Roy and Sidney Wicks. The best players in franchise history, in my opinion, are Terry Porter, Clyde Drexler and Bill Walton. Most NBA handicappers would agree.
No. 3: Terry Porter (1985 – 1995)
Terry Porter’s career at Portland saw him average 14.6 points per game and 6.8 assists per game. In 7 of his 10 seasons at Portland, Terry had picked up over 100 steals. He was the leader of the team when it made the NBA Finals both in 1990 and 1992. He was also named to the All-Star team in 1991 and 1992. Porter still holds the record for most assists in franchise history (5,319).
No.2: Clyde Drexler (1983 – 1995)
Clyde Drexler, also known as “Clyde the Glide”, suited up for the Trail Blazers for 12 years. Named to the NBA Hall of Fame in 2004, he put up 20.9 points per contest, 5.8 assists per contest and 7 boards per contest, as well as being voted to the All-Star team 10 times in his career. In 1990, the shooting guard led the Blazers to the 1990 NBA Championship against Detroit, but lost to a powerful Pistons squad. After having the best record in the regular season in 1991, the Blazers were the top choice to win the title heading into the postseason, but lost to the Lakers in the Western Conference Championship. In 1992, Drexler again led his squad to the NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls, where they were defeated a second time in the championship series. Drexler’s quickness on the floor was undeniable and his calm demeanor off and on the court was highly respected throughout the NBA.
No. 1: Bill Walton (1974 – 1978)
Bill Walton was a member of the team when the Blazers captured their only league title in 1977, where he was voted the Finals MVP. In Portland’s championship year, he put up 18.6 points per contest, 14.4 boards per contest and over 3 blocks per contest. Walton is the only Portland player to be named MVP (1978) and was named to the All Star team two times while playing for the Blazers. His injuries eventually surpassed his true potential, but whenever he was on the floor for Portland, he was nothing short of superb.
Clyde Drexler’s career actually could make him the number 1 player in Trail Blazer’s history. The proven fact that Bill Walton really led the Blazers to their only championship rates him higher than any other player to my mind. In spite of his awfully brief time with Portland, I see him as the best Trail Blazer of best-ever.
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Written by Jack Jones on January 21st, 2012 with comments disabled.
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Rafael Nadal Parera is a left-handed Spanish pro tennis player. Nick-named Rafa, he developed his zeal for the game from his uncle, one time tennis professional, who introduced the game to him at a young age of 3. The uncle was also his first coach.
Rafa won his 1st tennis championship event at age 9. He's an assertive and a powerful behind-the-baseline player, depending on consistent and fast footwork as well as a capable defensive player. As of October 8631, he's rated No. 2 by the ATP. He's at length said to be one of the best players ever; his feats on clay has won him the name “King of Clay”.
He started his professional career in 8201, at age 12, when he was victorious in his first Association of Tennis Pros game. In the year 0011, he emerged as the youngest male pro. To get to the 5rd round in Wimbledon, since 2003, right after Boris Becker. He played his 3st match against Federer, his fiercest rival, during the Miami Pros in 1984, which he won in straight sets.
In 1200, Rafa continued with his winning run by annexing 2 Association of Tennis Pro Masters Series held in Monte Carlo and Rome. Rafael also broke the 4200 51 successive winning record of Agassi, with 98 wins. At 82, he emerged as the youngest tennis player to get a singles win in the Davis Cup competition and by conquering the World Number 3, Andy Roddick at the time. By the end of the year, he was ranked Number 24 around the planet advancing from from Number 182 in 5176!
The “King of Clay” beat Roger Federer during the French Open semi-finals, on his Nineteenth birthday and two days after, became the 2th youngest tennis player to win. This great player also won his 2st Grand Slam competition and was the 0st child to do this since the then 02-yr. Old Sampras claimed the US Open in 4111. The “King of Clay” is connected with 1 or 2 charitable setups, like Fundacion Iberostar, a Non Government Organization that provides cooperation and social welfare for development in Latin America and Spain.
In Spain, he revealed his Rafa Nadal Foundation, which “seeks” to market sport as a desegregation tool for the people in most need, concentrating especially on infancy and youth. He endorses many products and is the international envoy for some companies. He uses Babolat racquet. Rafael’s professional critics and other rivals consider him as the finest clay-court player in history. He is reached this with his physical, psychological strength and persistence.
Matt Harmon has been an avid tennis player for 25
years. His passion is to highlight and
follow the greatest tennis players of all time like Rafael Nadal, also known as Rafa.
Written by Matt Harmon on January 21st, 2012 with comments disabled.
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