Another week in Hoops

My time in Los Angeles draws to a close but just because I'm on the west coast I've clearly been following what's going on in the basketball world. I finally got a chance to hoop in LA and the game is just as I anticipated. Strictly fast break without the flash-n-flare ball handling skills that's displayed in Chicago as well as the NYC. Overall I stand my claim Chicago truly does have the best ball players my city has the best overall players in the country and have the most heart. Let it be known the NBA MVP does hail from the Windy City.

Speaking of the Windy City, props to Derrick Rose for being pissed of at the Indiana Pacer for celebrating on the United Center floor after defeating the Chicago Bulls earlier this week. The rest of the club should have been just as upset Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen would have not allowed the other team to celebrate on our home court. Once again that just shows the Chicago mentality when it comes to basketball WE DO THIS!!!!!!!!

I have no idea what's going on with my Fighting ILLINI?!?!? It seems once they're ranked, that's when they start losing. This team is young but it starts and ends with Meyers Leonard who needs to become more dominant in the post. The legit 7'0 center has pro potential but is not using his skills at all times. DJ Richardson & Brandon Paul have shown promise but still this teams needs to do better or they'll end up in the NIT like they did two years ago.

The D-League of College Basketball aka the Kentucky Wildcats are once again #1 in the nation. The Cats are clicking and Anthony Davis is playing like 2012 #1 NBA pick that everyone projects. Expect this group to cut down the nets in April.

Kemba Walker - NBA Draft Recap Part 2

Michael Jordan selected Kemba Walker in the 2011 NBA Draft which should be competitive when training camp starts. What Walker did was put his UCONN Huskies on his back from the start of the season and led them to the NCAA Title. That winning attitude and leadership has a Jordan player written all over it. With DJ Augustine currently the starting point guard, the Final Four Most Valuable Player will contend for the starting PG spot.

Kemba Walker is a typical New York City point guard that possesses blazing speed that also comes with a lighting crossover and outstanding court vision. Like his NYC predecessors (Mark Jackson, Stephon Marbury, Rod Strickland, Kenny Anderson) Walker needs to work on his jump-shot. Scoring in college was easy but if he's not consistently hitting the uncontested jumper, he'll find his way to the bench.

Overall in the right system, Kemba will survive the NBA game with his heart to take the big shot (ask PITT Center) and does not lack leadership skills.

Chicago Bulls - Destination Grant Park

Not only did the Chicago Bulls finish with the best record in the Eastern Conference, but they finished with the best record in the NBA this season going 62-20. The last time a Chicago Bulls team won over 60 games, the end result was a city wide championship with a victory rally in Grant Park. Twenty years ago I attended the first celebration at Grant Park and I remember Michael Jordan saying he waited seven long years for this moment and between 1991-1998, going to Grant Park because as common as the Taste of Chicago.

This afternoon at the United Center, the Indiana Pacers did not go down quietly as they led most of the game until Kyle Korver's 3 with 49 seconds left secured the victory for the Bulls who now lead the series 1-0. When it comes to scoring, like the Jordan era Bulls, this current bunch became stagnant and relied on Derrick Rose to carry the scoring load. Not getting any points from our shooting guard (Keith Bogans) is equivalant to have four or five on the floor. I was not thrilled when management signed Bogans this past off-season because he was not contributed anything to this franchise this season. We're not asking for a huge scoring output but at least 10 points from our starting shooting guard is reasonable.

Game 2 is Monday night on TNT and I expect a more more determined Bulls teams that should dominate the Pacers the same way the Bulls dominated the rest of the Central Division.

FIBA Basketball on ESPN 2

USA Basketball vs. Angola 11 AM ET on ESPN2 Labor Day. I will post a recap later.

HOF 2009

With training camp less than 1 month away, these past few weeks have been quite around the basketball world. Nothing has changed much. Stephon Marbury, Allen Iverson are still without jobs, D-Wade, LeBron, Amare Stoudamire have not signed extensions with their ball clubs, and the Chicago Bulls still don't have a low post scorer.

Tyrone Lue had decided not to sign with Greece but instead try to catch on with another NBA team. Sorry but it's been a slow news week. He's has a great career but if I mention Tyrone Lue in my blog, it's a slow news day.

Only a few days away before David Robinson, John Stocktin are elected in the Hall of Fame. Stocktin & Malone ran the same pick-n-roll from 1988 to 2003. The all-time leader in assist & steals is well deserved as well as the 1995/1987 #1 overall pick Mr. Robinson.

The head of the class again is Michael Jordan Out of all the Chicago Bulls or North Carolina Tar Heels that could have introduced Mike, he chose David Thompson. After thinking about it, his choice make sense because MJ admitted that was who he followed as a kid. If I were heading into the basketaball HOF, Kenny Anderson would introduce me. Congrats to the 2009 Class and next year we get Pippen & Malone.

I can't wait for training camp to begin!!!!!!!