Ode to the Role Players

Tell this man he isn't important

Jon Barry repeated the term "Star Player" at least fourteen times during the 2011 NBA draft, emphasizing that teams can't get to the playoffs and succeed without one. I have absolutely no problem with his logic. However, I think that people need to realize the significance of "Role Players."

Let me take the time to give a shoutout to the "Role Players" of the NBA. Most of the players in the NBA would be considered Role Players. If your team is blessed, you have one or two All-Star (or almost All-Star) caliber players. The rest of your team is there to serve a specific purpose. We have to understand that this is not the 2003 draft, where 4 of the first 5 picks (sorry Darko) immediately started and impacted their teams. But this draft will have it's usefulness, with young, eager players who can contribute. There is upside to having good role players/bench players on your team.

1. Role players, when plugged into the right system, can help your team flourish off the bench. When Jamal Crawford, the 6th man for the Hawks, comes into the game the offensive sets automatically speed up. Although I question his shot decisions at times, he hits plenty of clutch shots for the Hawks and gives them a lift from the bench. Having a player like him means more rest for the "Star Players" because there is not a need to play them to death. (Yes Miami Heat, I'm talking to you.)

2. Role players allow a team to switch strategies from the game to game. The Dallas Mavericks were good for this in the 2011 NBA Finals. JJ Barea sparked the Mavs offense by slashing to the basket and dishing out to the neverending list of shooters in the perimeter. He also, despite his height, took shots in the paint, causing Miami defenders to have to take him seriously. It is not always about the players on the court, but how you USE the players on the court. This is where having a good coach comes into play.

3. There is less emphasis/attention put on role players. There is more attention put towards the All-Star players. These players are double (and sometimes triple) teamed in defense schemes. They are the ones expected to take over the game during the critical portions. These are the guys who are supposed to hit the game winning shot that we all practiced as a child one time or another. It always seems to be a surprise when a role player hits that shot. A prime example of this is the man pictured above, Robert Horry. He hit so many critical clutch playoff shots that it was not even a surprise anymore when it happened. He knew his role.

4. Role players cost less money! With the impending NBA lockout on July 1st, one of the main issues of the CBA is how to implement a salary cap that does not take away from the organizations, while allowing the players to make money. There is a high possibility that teams will have less money to spend when building (or rebuilding)their teams. Coaches and GMs will have to be more critical in who they will chose for their specific systems and how much they will spend on them. This may discourage people who want to build more "Super Teams" because the money just may not be there.

So don't count out these 2011 draftee's just yet! After all, it takes about three years to determine the worth of a draft, and I hate assuming any of these players have a ceiling. There are always players in the draft that prove their critics wrong and exceed their expectations. And even if they aren't a star player, they still have the ability to be an impact to their teams.

LeTweet

"Don't think for one min that I haven't been taking mental
notes of everyone taking shots at me this summer. And I mean everyone!"

The previous is the now-famous tweet posted a couple of days ago by LeBron James. After LeBron's "Decision," I didn't think the fan/media reactions and comments were going to get to him. I don't think he thought it was going to get to him either. He probably didn't think there would be such a strong backlash after his move to Miami. He probably figured fans would be angry at him, and then eventually get over it and move on.

This tweet shows that it's getting to him.

LeBron recently took a trip to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. He was heckled through the entire time he was there. (Excuse the first 20 seconds or so are sideways...)

Now, just imagine this EVERYWHERE HE GOES. Reports stated he was booed walking into Carmelo Anthony's wedding, and even DURING the wedding reception. At the ESPY's (where he was absent for the first time since I can remember) when his name was said, a good half of the crowd booed in Los Angeles. I think it would get to the best of us at one point.

I've heard and read a lot of opinions on LeBrons recent tweet. On the Galloway & Co Radio show, Charles Barkley, TNT NBA analyst and NBA Hall-of-Famer, gave his opinion on LeBron's message to the public.

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/player?rd=1#/podcenter/?id=5456630&callsign=ESPNRADIO&autoplay=1

I wouldn't have went as far to use to term "punk," but I can't disagree with anything Barkley said. A ton of people are on this mental list he has created. In addition, LeBron tweeting a threat doesn't make his image any better. So what? If I were him, I would show out on the basketball court and get over it. If he is okay with the decision he made, then he needs to go out and act like this isn't bothering him.

Tyreke Evans (No Speedracer)

?????

2010 NBA Rookie of the Year and Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans is driving the purple Mercedes that police chased for almost 15 minutes. He was driving at around 120-130 MPH on the highway, apparently racing the silver car also shown in the footage. He was pulled over and arrested at gunpoint. This is beyond a bad judgement call. Evans risked his life, as well as others on the highway.

This took me back to another story of some NBA players speeding. Charlotte Hornets players, Bobby Phills and David Wesley, were both speeding after a shootaround (some witnesses said they were racing) in January of 2000. Phills lost control, colliding into another car. Phills, who was 30 at the time, died instantly. ( http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/news/2000/01/12/phills_reaction_ap/)

People need to stop thinking they are invincible. Thank God Evans didn't hurt anyone else or himself. I hope he can take the lesson out of this and not make this mistake again.

The Big Shamrock

After being drafted to the Orlando Magic, leaving for the Los Angeles Lakers, and short stints with the Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Shaq is now a member of the Boston Celtics. He will be payed the veteran minimum of 1.4 million dollars for the season. He changed his jersey number to 36 (which I would assume to be the average age of the Celtics right now...I kid, I kid).

In the offseason the Celts also picked up center Jermaine O'Neal to play in the post as well. Kendrick Perkins will be out until possibly the middle of the season. The question Doc Rivers and staff will have is which O'Neal is going to start?

In honor of his recent moves, let's look back at some of his memorable moments:

NBA Marquee Matchups: 2010-2011 Season

The NBA has announced it's marquee matchups for the first half of season.

My assumption is that the same teams would be in rotation for the entire season. Leaving much of the schedule pretty predictable. Annnnndddddd...I was absolutely right.

NBA Opening Night will feature the Miami Heat at the Boston Celtics. The assumed soon-to-be Eastern Conference champs versus the current Eastern Conference champs. David Stern had to be salivating at the opportunity to get this matchup on opening day. This gurantees ratings. This is also the first test for the virtually new Heat team. If they win, people will say it's because they are stacked (Well, at least the starters are stacked), and if they lose the media will act like the world has ended. (Mark my words.) Game two will feature the L.A. Lakers and the Houston Rockets. I find this second game to be the stepchild to the first game. I know Kobe will be present, but I was hoping they would play the Oklahoma City Thunder, or another team that would keep the East Coasters up for a couple of hours. I think the NBA is hoping that the injury stricken Yao Ming will be 100% by opening day.

Christmas features five games. I can't lie. I think this is entirely too many games, and I would probably stuck to the middle three games that seem (as of today) more compelling. The Celtics versus the Orlando Magic is the second game of the day, followed by the Heat at the Lakers and the Denver Nuggets at the Thunder. These three games will bring the majority of the average NBA audience. The other two games (Chicago Bulls at the New York Knicks at noon and the Portland Trail Blazers at the Golden State Warriors at 10:30pm) feature younger and in the Knicks case, incomplete teams. I will probably end up watching portions of all the games, but after all, it is Christmas, so I'll have other things to do.

The rest of the schedule features all the teams that I've listed, with a few young teams in the mix. To see the rest of the schedule check it out: http://www.nba.com/2010/news/08/03/2010schedule/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt1

Amends to Akron

Since "The Decison" or "The LeBacle" as it's been called, LeBron James has been in the news for something new daily. I've seen him on the obvious places, like ESPN and Yahoo Sports. I've also seen him on some less expected places, like websites TMZ and Media Take Out. However, we have heard very little from the man himself.

Today, LeBron James took out a page in the Akron Beacon Journal. Flanked with pictures from his annual Bike-A-Thon, here is what he wrote:

"To My Family, Friends and Fans in Akron:

For all of my life, I have lived in Akron - and for that, I am truly a lucky man.

It was here where I first learned how to play basketball, and where I
met the people who would become my lifelong friends and mentors. Their guidance, encouragement and support will always be with me.

Akron is my home, and the central focus of my life. It's where I started, and it's where I will always come back to.

You can be sure that I will continue to do everything I can for this city, which is so important to my family and me. Thank you for your love and support. You mean everything to me.

LeBron"

I commend him for this letter. Sorta.

I spared myself from writing the millions of thoughts that have ran through my head since July 8th, 2010. I will say that "The Decision" was an egotistical, terrible PR move. I thought that a letter like this would come sooner. I hope that this helps him get SOME people on his side. I doubt it will, but at least he made some sort of an attempt.

The media has focused on the fact that he didn't post a similar letter in The Cleveland Plain Dealer for the Clevelanders. I didn't really get that out of this story. I think he seeks to make amends with Akron, not necessarily Cleveland Cavaliers fans in general. He isn't obligated to write anyone a letter, but at least he tried.

If I were him, I'd lay low for awhile. Next season is going to be a rough one for him, win or lose.