Iverson Retires...Jason Kidd #2

With all the Thanksgiving Tournaments televised on college basketball, the NBA has grabbed the headlines for this past week. Carmelo Anthony giving the New York Knicks 50 points would have been a huge story this week but two individual topped Melo for newsworthy stories of the week: 

• Jason Kidd: I've seen Hardaway, Thomas, Stockton, Jackson, Strickland, Anderson, Johnson (Magic & Kevin) all play in their prime but what separates Jason Kidd from the rest is that he periodically finishes the game with a triple double. A stat line of 15 points 12 assist and 11 rebounds is normal for Kidd. He's never been the quickest point guard he's the greatest passing point guard I've ever witnessed. Kidd is so good that under his leadership at the point guard slot, the New Jersey Nets had back to back NBA Finals apperences. He's been a winner every where he plays and is a guarntee lock for first ballot 6 years after he retires. 

• Allen Iverson - The Answer has decided he no longer wants to crossover other players after 14 season in the NBA. If Allen Iverson decides to hang turn over his crossover card after 14 seasons in the League then I'm disappointed. All the front office general managers refuse to put up with his late coming to practice, taking all the shots, not making his teammates better, and only concerned about his stats. On the positive side he has played with heart, passion, and talent ever since he stepped into the league 14 years ago. His role in Memphis should have been helping the development of Mike Conley and OJ Mayo become better NBA Guards not worrying about this guys stealing your shine. AI is at the stage in his career where he should help those fairly new to the League and teaching them not to make the same mistakes you made on and off the court. The Grizzlies won't win that many games this year but he had the respect from all the young ball players who honed their game after watching you crossover helpless defenders the past 14 season. AI has influenced this game pretty much the same way the Fab Five did. Multiple tattoos, braided hair, shoot first point guard with crazy hops, arriving to the game iced-out.  If those were the final three games of Allen Iverson's career then good luck with the next phase of your life.

Basketball Version - What are you Thankful For.....

With the holiday season kicking off this Thursday what are you thankful for from a basketball standpoint? With the season still very young here's what I'm thankful for..

• I'm thankful that the rest of the world can finally see the talent of Will Bynum that we have witnessed in Chicago since 1999
• I'm thankful that Earl Boykins is back in the NBA. He should have never been overseas
• I'm thankful that nine teams realized that made a mistake by passing up Brandon Jennings
• I'm thankful for NBA TV. That is the best cable channel and provides scores & highlights 24/7
• I'm thankful Chauncey Billups, Jason Kidd & Steve Nash are still playing. They're up in age but I'd choose them over any new young PG in the L
• I'm thankful for all the upcoming games on all the ESPN Networks. Coaches vs. Cancer, Preseason NIT, Great Alaska Shootout, etc
• I'm thankful that Jokim Noah is playing at a high level and leading the League in rebounding
• And finally....I'm thankful that at 33 I'm still in good health and able to play ball 4 days a week

With the holiday season approaching us please remember to be careful if you're doing Black Friday

Kobe #2 on Lakers Scoring List - Gasol Returns

Congratulations to Kobe Bryant for becoming #2 on the Lakers all-time scoring list passing up Kareem. It was not a great night for Chicago guards on TV last night. Jerome Randle, Evan Turner, and Derrick Rose all suffered defeats last night.

ATTENTION NBA TEAM....THE LAKERS ARE AT FULL STRENGTH

With the return of Gasol, I'm scarred of the Lakers. It doesn't matter that they're weak at the point guard position they have a healthy Bynum, Gasol, Bryant, Odom off the bench, and a bunch of roll players (mostly Shannon Brown) I don't see why Phil Jackson should collect ring #11 come June.

Last week the rich just got richer. When North Carolina loses players, they just reload. Last week they landed the #1 recruiting class in the country by landing Harrison Barnes, Reggie Bullock, and Kendall Marshall. That's the #1 point guard, small forward, and shooting guard for 2010. With the potential departure of Larry Drew II and Ed Davis after this season, John Henson will have the best recruiting class around him which should keep North Carolina Final 4 bound for 2010-2011.

Well there's plenty to watch this weekend, please take my poll and visit my homepage here.

Chicago Guards on TV Tonight

Please tune in to watch Jerome Randle, Evan Turner, and Derrick Rose on TV tonight.

• Jerome Randle (Cal) plays Syracuse on ESPN 5pm central. Without Johnny Flynn I see Jerome having his way with the Syracuse guards.
• Evan Turner (Ohio State) plays North Carolina after the Syracuse/Cal game. Turner has the ball handling ability to play the point and we'll watch him all season long as he plays the 1. Larry Drew II has a tough assignment tonight.
• Derrick Rose - The second game on TNT tonight will feature the 2008 #1 pick as he picks apart Fisher, Brown, Farmer but not Kobe. Pooh refuses to get a haircut until he has a good game. Hopefully he'll be in the barbershop after tonight's game.

Good luck tonight and make our city proud. Congrats to Brandon Jennings for being named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week

Rookie Guards Stepping Up

With Blake Griffin out until his knee heals, the rookie guards have truly stepped up their efforts attempting to make a run for ROY 2009-2010. Several first years guards such as Stephen Curry, Johnny Flynn have done well for Golden State and Minnesota but the three rookie guards that have impressed me during the early season are Tyreke Evans, Ty Lawson, and ROY front runner Brandon Jennings.  Let’s concentrate on those three guards for now and here’s what I’ve scene:

• Ty Lawson - Former Tarheel guard will gain the most experience by learning the game from Chauncey Billups. With the tutelage of Billups, Lawson will learn when to shoot, breakdown the defense, and when to take the big shot which will pay off in the long run when Billups time is up. Two weeks into the season and he’s already developing when to attack the rim…….just ask DJ

• Tyreke Evans - Labeled as one of the “Chosen One” since HS. The Kings had no choice but to stick Evans into the starting lineup and as a result, four straight wins along with a scoring average over 20 ppg. Evans style of play has always been NBA ready and the transition has not been dificult thus far. He’ll take a lot of L’s this year but he’ll score a ton.

• Brandon Jennings - He’s a clone of Kenny Anderson & Nick Van Exel. Expect the Compton PG to lead all rookies in assist and challenge Derrick Rose as the best point guard in the NBA Central. Right now Jennings only knows one speed but once he develops a half court game….scary!!!!! Oh….if you don’t think he’s real just ask the Golden State Warriors.

Best College PGs hail from Da Chi

With College Basketball season getting starting and as a fellow PG with pots-n-pans from Da Chi, the top two PGs in  Division 1 Basketball hail from Chicago and they are Sherron Collins & Jerome Randle. Both Kansas & California are favorite to win there respective conference with Kansas predicted to cut down the nets in Indianapolis in 2010. 


Don't get me wrong, Kemba Walker, Kalin Lucus, and John Wall all have game and have an NBA future but the best point guards for the 2009-2010 are Randle & Collins. 


Sherron Collins possesses a strong handle, long range jumper, leaping ability, ability to take over a game but most importantly heart which is in typical 773 fashion. Expect Collins to shake David Stern's hand during the middle of round one in June 2010. 


Why Jerome Randle? Why not he does care that he's only 5'10 just ask the other Pac-10 guards (right Isiah). The senior returns to lead this Cal team which provides excitements which was last scene when Jason Kidd was running point in Berkley. Jerome also posses a sick handle (thanks Laren Foster) court vision, long range jump shot, and quickness which should make it too easy for other Pac-10 guards to guard him. I don't know if Randle has an NBA future but if he cathces on, Randle has a load of talent. 


Take my poll and let me know what you think?

What I've learned after week one

With the NBA season 7 days old, there are several things that I’ve learned since opening night

1. Cleveland has no chance beating Orlando or Boston for Eastern Conference supremacy
2. In the Western Conference it’s the Lakers, Nuggets, Spurs….then everybody else
3. John Salmon is no Ben Gordon. Salmon is an upgrade on defense but does not have the scoring output as Ben Gordon
4. Ben Gordon will lead the Pistons in scoring
5. Derrick Rose needs to score more with the departure of Ben Gordon
6. Trevor Ariza will average 20 ppg
7. Brandon Jennings has the making of being the next Kenny Anderson
8. Tyreke Evans and the Kings will loose a bunch but Evans will shine
9. Johnny Flynn has the makings of being the next Chris Paul
10. Brook Lopez will be an all-star

What have your learned? Let me know.....