Rondo to Kings….C’s Need to Pull Trigger Now!

If the Boston Celtics can move Rajon Rondo to the Sacramento Kings for either or both starting guards, Isaiah Thomas or Ben McLemore, I say they had better pull the trigger faster than Quick Draw McGraw ever did.

First and foremost, Rondo can’t shoot a lick from outside of 15 feet and that, in my estimation, will always be a major hindrance to whichever team does acquire the defensive-minded former all-star.

However, if Boston can get either of Sacramento’s gifted backcourt players, they should not hesitate to pull the trigger on this hypothetical trade. In the case of Thomas, sure, he may be small, but he’s as explosive as it gets offensively and he’s really starting to come into his own even more this season after not having much consistency, minutes-wise from former head coach Paul Westphal.

Now, I’m absolutely shocked that the Kings would even consider trading the clearly talented McLemore, seeing as how the rookie shooting guard was one of the most prized picks in last year’s NBA Draft and has an upside as high as any young guard’s in the league.

The Celtics have been on the better end of many, many trades, but this one is a whopper that make even the most dedicated McDonald’s fan switch to Burger King.

George, Pacers, Take Round One Against LeBron, Heat!

Paul George and the Indiana Pacers took round one of what is expected to be a season-long race for first place in the Eastern Conference.

More importantly, the Pacers put the defensive clamps on James, forcing the reigning MVP into a dismal 6-for-16 shooting performance. Even more telling is they way Miami’s lack of interior size is now starting to hurt them in a big way.

Pacers’ underrated center Roy Hibbert managed to score a game-high 24 points against Miami while making an efficient 10-for-15 from the field by dominating Miami’s uninspiring – and mostly short – front line.

Indiana moved to a perfect 10-0 with the victory and delivered a message to Miami that, come playoff time, they are going to be far more prepared than they were in last     season’s Eastern Conference Finals. 

Knick Knack, Paddy Whack…New York’s State of Mind is Wack!

I’m so-and-so, I’m this, I’m that

Huh, but they all just wick-wick-wack

 - KRS-One

Yup, just when you though things couldn't get any stranger in the Big Apple, you look at the above lyrics and suddenly realize that now, legendary rap artist KRS-One must be some sort of time-traveling musician or something.

What makes me say such a strange thing?

Because the society-conscious rapper sure described the 2013 New York Knicks perfectly with that famous rap stanza, way back in 1988 no less.

You see, on Sunday, the Knicks moved another step closer toward total self-destruction in what can only be described as an implosion against a young, rebuilding Boston Celtics ballclub that was supposed to be one of the worst teams in the league this season.

I don’t know how to describe the Knicks’ play against the C’s because words like, underachieving, selfish and individual just don’t cut it when trying to sum up New York’s lackluster performance against Boston.

Not only could the Knicks not hit a shot against the young C’s but even worse, they seemed totally uninterested in both, playing any sort of defense whatsoever or passing the ball to anyone wearing a jersey with ‘New York’ on the front of it.

Even for a guy that takes pleasure in seeing every New York team (outside of the G-Men) lose on a regular basis, I have to admit that it was brutal watching what the Knicks called professional basketball on Sunday. Unfortunately, the fall guy for all of this mess will be veteran head coach Mike Woodson, though he never dribbles, passes or shoots the ball.

However, as bad as things are with the Knicks, when it comes to dysfunction, the bumbling Knicks still take a back seat to the Brooklyn-based Nets, but hey, that’s a whole different story altogether.

Kobe’s Back but Round One Goes to Achilles

Los Angeles Lakers superstar shooting guard Kobe Bryant made his long-awaited return from his highly-publicized Achilles rupture on Sunday night, but round one of Bryant’s battle clearly went to Achilles. The odds – and history – suggest that Bryant will finish out the remainder of his career as a shell of the high-flying aerial acrobat he’s been throughout his career and walk away from the game as more of a cerebral veteran that will need his mind and experience to win games as much or more than he ever relied on his nearly unmatched athletic ability. Stay tuned Eye on Sports basketball lovers as Bryant’s continuing saga is sure to captivate roundball fans for the remainder of the season. 

Kobe’s Contract to Cripple Lakers Near-Future?

Kobe Bryant may be one of the greatest 

players in NBA history, but the Lakers

overpaid their aging leader in what could 

be a franchise-crippling move.

Don’t get me wrong Eye On Sports hoops fans, I love Kobe Bryant as a player, no matter how the Los Angeles Lakers superstar shooting guard performs in his comeback from a dreaded Achilles tendon tear. However…I’m also a realist and I have to say that I am a bit stunned that the Lakers would commit a whopping $48 million to Bryant over the next two seasons, particularly knowing the precedence that has been set for players that have suffered Achilles ruptures like Bryant’s.

Having said that, let me also throw in the fact that, even without an injury, I’d be unwilling to pay Bryant that astronomical figure as he enters the final twilight of what has been a sure-fire Hall of Fame career.

Why?

It’s simple really. By committing approximately $24 million per year to Bryant over the next two seasons, it’s undoubtedly going to be tough for L.A. to surround Bryant with the type of talent he’ll need in order to overcome the Spurs, Thunder and likely the Clippers as well, over the next two seasons.

Could the Lakers theoretically still find a way to land expected free agent CarmeloAnthony in the near future?

Yes, they very well could. However, L.A. would still find itself in big economical trouble, having to surround Bryant and Anthony with a bunch of mediocre, mid-level talent that would be willing to play for something close to the league minimum. Either way, giving Bryant $24 million a year to finish his career as a Lakers legend wasn't a very bright thing to do if this franchise is serious about getting back into legitimate championship title contention. 

Grizzlies Missed the Train…Simply Stupid!

Former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins.

In June, the Memphis Grizlies made one of the worst mistakes in franchise history by letting outstanding head coach Lionel Hollins walk after seeing the former leader build the Grizzlies into a legitimate NBA title contender the last couple of seasons.

In spite of leading the Grizz to a fine, 56-win season, Hollins was let go because of the ever-popular “philosophical differences”.

Whatever the case was between the two parties, it’s quite evident in the early going of the 2013-14 regular season that the Grizzlies missed the train on the demanding Hollins.

Knicks Are a Complete Mess and...Melo is New A.I.!

Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony is the new 

Allen Iverson.

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times. Carmelo Anthony is a bigger, taller version of former Philadelphia 76ers superstar Allen Iverson in the fact that all he’s really interested in is scoring the ball. Like Iverson before, Melo isn't very much of a team leader and I’m sure his New York Knicks teammates realized this sad fact a long time ago.

If you’re a Knicks fan, you’re likely in agony over the team’s pitifully slow start this season. If you’re a Knicks hater, then you can sit back and enjoy the rest of this season because the Knicks aren't going anywhere with their wealth of on-court faults and health issues among its older veterans.

Doc Rivers is elite, but Glaring Blunders Have Been Costly to Celtics!

Doc Rivers is an elite NBA head coach, 

but his mistakes are costing the Boston Celtics right now.

Having won one NBA title back in 2008 and nearly two others during the last five years, there is now, no doubt that Boston Celtics respected head coach Glen ‘Doc’ Rivers is as elite as any head coach in the game today.

However, Rivers certainly isn’t perfect and to be honest about it, has actually committed a series of glaring blunders that have hurt the Celtics more than most casual observers may realize.

This review of Rivers’ missteps will inform NBA fans and Celtics diehard followers how even a widely respected NBA head coach can make more than his fair share of mistakes.

Back in the Day: The Kendrick Perkins Trade

I know that Doc Rivers is just the head coach and that GM Danny Ainge is the man actually responsible for pulling the trigger on this franchise-altering trade, but I genuinely believe that if Rivers had vehemently vetoed this transaction, then it would have never happened. The bottom line is that the Celtics haven’t been the same team since ‘back in the day’ before Kendrick Perkins was jettisoned to Oklahoma City, causing the team to lose its once unrivaled defensive mindset and toughness within the interior defense.

He’s No Bill Bradley: Avery Bradley over Ray Allen

Avery Bradley is a fine young player that plays absolutely outstanding perimeter defense, almost ensuring that he’ll have an NBA job for years to come. However, he’s certainly no Bill Bradley, if you’re old enough to remember the New York Knicks Hall of Fame guard and that in itself is quite a statement seeing as how Bradley only averaged 12.4 points per game for his career

Still, Doc Rivers was wrong to give Bradley the starting nod late last season after the Hall of Fame-bound Ray Allen went down for a short stretch with an injury and now the move is backfiring on the Celtics as they look towards the near future.

Once a terrific high school scorer, Bradley has shown himself to be nothing more than mediocre offensively at the NBA level, choosing to focus first and foremost on defense. While that’s fine and admirable, the lack of offense from the shooting guard spot has left Boston at a major offensive disadvantage against elite opponents, particularly when the Celtics’ other top offensive options are all getting a bit long in the tooth. Putting Bradley in Allen’s spot a year ago was one of the moves that made Allen feel unwanted and this costly mistake by Rivers is hurting his offensively-challenged ballclub right now.

Petulant Over Professional: Rajon Rondo over Ray Allen

How Rivers – and Ainge for that matter – could ever choose petulant point guard Rajon Rondo over classy veteran professional Ray Allen is beyond me, but this is another costly blunder that Rivers allowed and one that should have never occurred in my estimation.

The enigmatic Rondo has never been able to shoot the ball consistently from the perimeter, not even from as close as 15-feet away and that flaw in the fleet-footed point guard’s arsenal has been a detriment to Boston’s offense that many seem to have overlooked. While Rondo is undoubtedly an excellent defender and passer, many NBA analysts (me included) believe almost any point guard with a heartbeat could consistently average double digits in assists playing alongside three future Hall of Famers as Rondo once did.

Another problem with making Rondo the unquestioned leader of the team moving forward is the fact that he’s still lacing in the maturity department. Rondo was set to assume the mantle of team leadership from aging stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce this season, but prior to tearing his ACL, he showed almost as many flashes of the same petulant me-first attitude as he had in previous seasons.

Putting the ball in Rondo’s hands too much this season also turned the Celtics into an even more stagnant offensive ballclub than they previously had been, with most of the mercurial floor leader’s teammates standing around waiting for him to make a play.

This former notion has now become more of a concrete fact since Rondo went down with his season-ending ACL tear. The Celtics now move the ball more fluidly and willingly than they had all season and the team’s other players like Courtney Lee and Jason Terry, among others, seem to have benefited nicely from the team’s now more cohesive offense.

By basically choosing Rajon Rondo over Ray Allen, Doc Rivers lost not only his best perimeter shooter, but arguably the greatest three-point shooter of all-time and that has to hurt no matter how you look at it. Combine that with the fact that Allen was also one of the teams’ best locker room leaders (mostly by example) and Rondo, the teams’ new ‘leader,’ a mostly immature youngster and it’s easy to see how this move has hurt the Celtics as they move forward into what now looks like a murky postseason awaiting.

Bygone Big Bodies: Ryan Hollins and Greg Stiemsma

Go ahead and laugh all you want. I know Ryan Hollins is a journeyman big man that hasn’t been able to stay on one team for very long and that rookie Greg Stiemsma bolted for the greener financial pastures the Minnesota Timberwolves offered him, but the loss of these two unheralded big men has hurt the C’s in a big way if you ask me and Rivers is partially to blame.

The Celtics don’t have nearly the competent big men they had when they were contending for NBA titles, not just Eastern Conference championships. Now, outside of Kevin Garnett, who has never been what anyone would call an ‘interior’ player, Boston is nearly bereft of big men that can come in off the bench and make a consistent positive contribution while grabbing a few offensive rebounds, but hey that’s a story for a different day. The bottom line is that Rivers should have found a way to keep Hollins on the cheap while giving a bit more money to Stiemsma, like maybe some of the money they overpaid for Jeff Green.

Jeff Green

Speaking of Jeff Green, Boston really overpaid this likable guy by giving him a whopping $36 million over four years. Still, that’s not what is getting him mentioned in this column.

No, it’s the fact that Doc Rivers found little use for him during the early going this season when clearly, he should have been a more featured part of Boston’s offense. Green is as versatile as any forward in the game today and needs to be on the floor…now.

I mean, it’s not everyday a guy scores 43 points on LeBron James and the Miami Heat. Green is averaging 21.5 points in games he has started this season. For Rivers to wait so long in the season to really give Green some burn is a mistake of epic proportions and one that likely cost the Celtics a couple of wins this season.

He’s No Speedy Gonzalez: Pitiful Pace of Play

Another area I believe that Rivers has made errors in is with his style of offense, which, to put it mildly, is akin to watching paint dry. The Celtics continually play a half court style that limits their ability to get easy baskets in transition. Combine this with the fact that the Celtics are an absolutely abysmal offensive (and defensive) rebounding team and now, not nearly the defensive ballclub they once were and it’s easy to see how they lose games because of the pace of play Rivers likes to play at.

Gotta’ Have My Pops: Doc’s No Gregg Popovich

Two things I love about San Antonio Spurs head coach is his ability to make his style of play fit his personnel and the ability to incorporate young players into the team from the moment they’re either drafted or acquired.

While today’s Spurs are still centered around their terrific trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, anyone that knows a thing about basketball knows this perennial title contender plays nothing like they did, let’s say, five years ago.

The Spurs were once a defense-first team that played at a fairly slow pace offensively with the offense running through Tim Duncan. Now, that the Spurs’ trio is getting up there in age, head coach Gregg Popovich has altered his style of play accordingly. San Antonio now plays at a faster pace and run their offense through Parker first and foremost. Popovich has also done an absolutely masterful job of resting his veteran stars when they need it while seamlessly incorporating young contributors like Gary Neal, Tiago Splitter, Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green.

Rivers would do well to take a page out of Pop’s venerable coaching manual and start giving more meaningful minutes to his younger bench players, starting first and foremost with Terrence Williams and Jordan Crawford.

With Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce really nearing the end of the line, the Celtics are in the midst of a huge transition even if they don’t admit it and Doc Rivers had better start making more adjustments in his coaching style and roster management than we’ve seen recently.

If the Celtics respected leader doesn’t, then the NBA’s most storied franchise could be headed back to their ‘pre-Big Three’ days early this millennium when wins were so hard to come by that just competing for a postseason berth meant a good season.

Thunder get steal of draft?

I know my beloved Boston Celtics made out very well in the recently completed 2012 NBA Draft by nabbing lottery-caliber forward Jared Sullinger and 7-foot center Fab Meo out of Syracuse, but I believe that it is the Oklahoma City Thunder that may have gotten the steal of the NBA Draft when they nabbed 6-foot-11 forward Perry Jones III out of Baylor with the 28th pick in the draft.

Jones, was considered a top-five kind of player and possible selection for the first overall pick – until he was red flagged along with Sullinger at the NBA combine by doctors who spotted a potential problem with Jones’ knees.

"Everybody knows that I wasn't supposed to slide as far as I did but, to be honest, I'm happy I did. This is a great organization. I mean, it's the perfect spot," Jones said after holding up his new No. 3 jersey, signifying the suffix on his name.

"I think everything happens for a reason and these guys treat me like family, so I'm more excited to be here than anything."

Call me crazy, but I’m thinking the Oklahoma City Thunder just got another weapon for their already formidable, but still blossoming, assemblage.

C’s Land the Jet!

Veteran shooting guard Jason Terry 

will nullify the loss of Ray Allen.

The Boston Celtics may have lost once beloved shooting guard Ray Allen to their bitter rivals, the Miami Heat, but the good news for Celtics fans that want to see the C’s make another run or two at the title before breaking up their aging core of veterans, is that they landed an equally adept three-point shooter in veteran sniper Jason Terry – and one could very well make the case that Boston won’t miss a beat without the fragile Allen.

Say it ain’t so Ray!

Many Celtics fans view Ray Allen as a
traitor for signing with the Miami Heat.

Is it me Eye On Sports NBA fans, but are you just a tad upset that Ray Allen took half of the money he could have gotten from Boston in order to join the Celtics’ biggest and most bitter rivals, the front-running Miami Heat?

I know Allen mot likely left because he got his little feelings hurt with last season’s news that Boston tried to trade him to Memphis for O.J. Mayo before it was rescinded, but I’m still in shock that a player would join any team that he’s been trying like hell to beat for the last five years.

I know I’m a bit old school, but to me, it just won’t seem right seeing Ray Allen in a Miami Heat jersey, routinely going up against his former Celtics’ teammates. However, I will say that Allen’s move does add some serious drama to what was already a tension-filled battle between two ballclubs that really don’t like each other at all.

Still, I see Allen’s move to Miami as a sad, soul-selling attempt to ride the coattails of Miami’s Big Three and win another championship or two before he rides off into the sunset as the NBA’s most prolific three-point shooter ever.

Even sadder is the fact that Allen must believe that winning another title or two before he’s done is somehow going to add to his reputation as a winner, when in reality, all Allen did was lose a small measure of respect from a nation full of Celtics fans – and Miami Heat haters. 

We ain’t scared!

Kevin Durant and the Thunder showed 

Miami in Game 1 that they were not 

scared of the much ballyhooed Heat.

Okay Eye On Sports hoops heads, after seeing Tuesday night’s Game 1 NBA Finals matchup, it’s easy to see that the Oklahoma City Thunder delivered an unmistakable message to the front-running (and clearly over hyped) Miami Heat.

That’s right roundball lovers, not only did the Thunder beat the Heat 104-95 in Game 1, more importantly, they showed LeBron James and his ballyhooed teammates that they are not scared of their more celebrated counterparts.

As a matter of fact, not only did hey let the Heat know they’re not scared, but I believe Oklahoma City also put a dose of fear into Miami with a dominant second half performance that saw 
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined to outscore James 
and company all by themselves, 41-40.

Oh yeah, Miami Heat fans…a message was delivered to your team on Tuesday night … and that message was simple. ‘We’re not scared of you Miami, but you should be scared of us’!

KG turning back the hands of time too!

Kevin Garnett has turned back the hands of time since 

moving to center a few months back.

Okay Eye On Sports hoops fanatics, I know we just finished talking about the rejuvenation of Boston Celtics’ future Hall of Fsmer Paul Pierce, but what kind of guy would I be to leave out Boston’s even bigger rejuvenation, that of power forward-turned center Kevin Garnett?

KG, ‘The Big Ticket’ or whatever you prefer to call him, has truly turned into a revelation for the C’s and their rabid fans.

Garnett has been transformed from an aging power forward that could barely keep up with today’s younger counterparts, into a suddenly, fleet-footed, sweet-shooting center that has the advantage over almost every 5 in the league not named Andrew Bynum or Dwight Howard.

KG is averaging an impressive 17.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in the postseason while playing at least 40 minutes in each of the last three games.

Clearly, Garnett has turned up the level of his play after averaging 15.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game during the regular season – and now, Boston looks like it has as good a chance of winning the Eastern Conference as any team – even the Miami Heat!

Pierce shows Hawks why he’s ‘The Truth’… twice!

                Paul Pierce gets his 'Tebow' on after sticking a 

dagger in the Atlanta Hawks in Game 2.

The Boston Celtics’ Big Three have routinely been referred to as an ‘aging team’ whose window of opportunity is either now, closed – or as close to closed as it gets.

Apparently, someone forgot to tell that to Paul ‘The Truth’ Pierce.

The Celtics’ sure-fire Hall of Famer has led Boston to a commanding 3-1 lead over the Atlanta Hawks in their first round Eastern Conference playoff matchup by averaging a stellar 23.3 points per game while completely taking over games 2 and 4 to lead Boston to a pair of convincing victories over the underachieving Hawks (what else is new?).

Pierce scored a game-high 36 points to lead Boston to a solid 87-80 win before coming back with 21 points in Game 3 and an even more impressive 24 points on 10 of 13 shooting in Sunday’s 101-79 rut of the Hawks. Most impressively, Pierce did his damage to Atlanta in just 17 minutes of play after injuring his knee in the second half.

After Boston’s Game 2 win last Tuesday, Pierce said "These types of moments are what being a professional is all about."

Call me crazy, but Paul Pierce doesn’t look very old these days – even against his much younger Atlanta Hawks counterparts. 

Gutierrez wins inaugural Eye On Sports E.S.P.N Award

ESPN hoops writer Israel Gutierrez is 

the unanimous winner of the inaugural Eye On Sports 

E.S.P.N. (Especially Stupid Pain in the Neck) award!

During an appearance on ESPN’s “The Sports Reporters,” a couple of weeks ago, Gutierrez basically ripped the San Antonio Spurs a ‘new one’ while completely dismissing their chances of winning this season’s NBA championship.

As a matter of fact, the thing that ticked me off and alerted me to this guy’s total lack of NBA knowledge was the guy’s selection of the Utah Jazz to take the Spurs seven games in their first round Western Conference matchup.

As I told numerous colleagues, friends and family members prior to the start of the postseason, anyone that picked this scenario was an absolute idiot.

Of course, the Spurs are currently leading the Jazz 3-0 and looking to complete their first round sweep on Monday night,

Gutierrez even stated how he understood how his insane views could be viewed as  “a festival of hatred” but said his dissing of the Spurs was in essence, a “dose of reality” for those picking the Spurs to win the title.

“Yes, the Spurs have the top seed and they’ve won 21 of 23, the second-best scoring team, they have depth for days and the best coach in basketball,” Gutierrez said. “But championship material? I hate to say it, but no.”

Gutierrez then got a bit personal with the Spurs’ trio of superstars, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan.

“Titles normally go to superstars, plural,” Gutierrez said. “Tony Parker is a top-five MVP candidate. But he’s arguably the fifth-best point guard in the playoffs. Manu Ginobili remains underrated, but not that underrated. Tim Duncan, well he’s now David Robinson and he needs the next Tim Duncan to get him another ring.”

Gutierrez went on to say that the Spurs don’t deserve to be considered as the favorite at the start of the playoffs.

“The Spurs can break the championship mold, just like Dirk (Nowitzki) and the Mavs did,” Gutierrez said. “But title favorites? It just doesn’t add up.”

Now, maybe it’s me, but clearly this guy is some kind of fool with a grudge. No…really. Anyone that has watched the Spurs this season knows they’re a legitimate title contender in the Western Conference whether they win it all or not.

For Gutierrez to say Tony Parker is a top-five MVP candidate, but yet, the fifth-best point guard in the playoffs, was foolish enough. To say that Tim Duncan is, ‘now David Robinson and he needs the next Tim Duncan to get him another ring’ was even more disrespectful – and absolutely berserk – considering Duncan has won three NBA titles without Robinson.

Yea, ESPN’s Israel Gutierrez is the clear-cut winner of the inaugural Eye On Sports ‘Especially Stupid Pain in the Neck’ award – and this guy will likely challenge for the annual award which will be announced in December.

What are your thoughts on Israel Gutierrez and his comments? Let Eye On Sports know in the comment section.

Here’s a copy of the link to Gutierrez’ foolish rant on YouTube.

San Antonio Spurs title bound?

            San Antonio Spurs' gifted

            rookie forward Kawhi Leonard.

If you know anything about NBA basketball people, then you already know the San Antonio Spurs are looking scary good at this early juncture of the postseason.

Not only did the Spurs tie the Chicago Bulls for the most wins in the league during the regular season (50), but more importantly, San Antonio is undeniably the deepest and most well-coached team in the league right now – and one that features the league’s best mix of youthful exuberance and veteran experience.

While San Antonio only had four double digit scorers during the regular season, ( a fairly low number) the Spurs also had a mind-boggling five players all avera between 9.1 and 9.9 points per game – and that’s not including, starting small forward Kawhi Leonard or veterans, Stephen Jackson and Matt Bonner, two players that can easily put up 10 points per contest themselves.

Shooting guard Danny Green 

apparently wasn't good enough 

for the lowly Cavaliers last season.

So far this postseason, the Spurs have three players averaging double figures in Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Stephen Jackson – while another five players are averaging at least 7.0 points per game – and that doesn’t even include Manu Ginobili who has played sparingly against the overmatched Utah Jazz through three games.

While it’s very possible that the Spurs could get knocked out of the postseason by one of the other elite teams in the conference (most likely Oklahoma City), I’m, not feeling it right now – nor am I feeling any team at all beating San Antonio this postseason.

But Green is good enough to start 

for the title-contending Spurs!

Whether they win it or not, if you like NBA basketball, then you’ve got to love the wide-open, share-the-wealth, style of hoops the Spurs are playing these days. If you’re not old enough to remember, it’s very reminiscent of the free-flowing way the game was played by teams throughout the league in the 70s and 80s.

Seeing guys sacrifice their own personal statistics for the betterment of the entire team has been a real treat if you like to see the game played the way it was meant to be played.

A time to teach… and a time to learn!

This past weekend, I had a chance to 

teach - and learn!

You know Eye On Sports readers; there is always a chance to teach, even when you don’t know it. For example, this past weekend, as I sat down watching the aftermath of Chicago Bulls’ point guard Derrick Rose’s season-ending ACL injury with my nine-year-old son Emmanuel, I got an excellent chance to teach.

After explaining what an ACL injury was and the length of time and rehabilitation it takes to get healthy again, my son (who know I don’t like the Miami Heat very much) says, ‘I wish that would happen to LeBron James”.

As I turned toward my son stunned, I immediately told him, “don’t say that” and then proceeded to explain why, as an athlete, you never wish an injury on an opponent.

Immediately thereafter, I asked my son if he understood, and he replied “yes, I do”. I then asked if he wanted to beat the ‘other team’ when they were at ‘their best’ and I got another “yes”, Finally, I asked my wonderful son if he wanted to see LeBron James injured or any other Miami Heat player and he responded with another “no”.

Last but not least, I also told my son that, while I am certainly not the world’ biggest LeBron James fan, I really, really admired, the still youthful, James and vehemently would to anyone that said otherwise, for the way he has carried himself off the court ever since he came into the NBA.

I explained how James had never been in any trouble with the law whatsoever, how he didn’t ‘hang at the clubs’ until the wee hours of the early mornings, frivolously throw away his vast earnings, or live some wild  and dangerous lifestyle, to which my surprised son shook his head in understanding and agreement.

Oh, and just so you know Eye On Sports fans, I also took the moment as an opportunity to be taught … that I need to be careful with how much I say I ‘dislike’ a certain team or player in the presence of a child, particularly when that individual has been a genuine role model in every facet of their non-athletic life.

Pullin’ for D-Rose

Eye On Sports is hoping for a healthy 

return for Chicago Bulls point guard 

Derrick Rose. 

Love him or loathe him (I don’t know anyone who does) but if you like pro basketball and the NBA, then you’ve got to be pulling for Chicago Bulls’ electrifying point guard Derrick Rose, the league’s reigning MVP, (okay, until further notice).

Rose went down late in Chicago’s Game 1 win over Philadelphia in their first round Eastern Conference playoff matchup on Saturday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and will likely take up to a year to even get close to being the player he was before the now, commonplace ACL injury.

The ‘old-school’ Rose, plays the game ‘the right way’ at both ends of the floor, is a genuine and consummate role model off the floor and one of the most composed young stars of today’s generation – in any sport.

On the court, Rose has been an absolute maestro with the basketball, but one unlike the league has ever seen. With his unparalleled ability to dash, dart – and hop – his way through the teeth of an enemy defense to either score the rock himself or dish a ‘fancy feast’ to one of his thankful teammates, Rose has undoubtedly certified himself as a genuine superstar that is anything but the typical me-first player that rules today’s times.

In short, if you like NBA basketball, then you’ve got to be pulling for Chicago’s Derrick Rose. I know I am.

Bad News Bulls?

Chicago Bulls' head coach Tom Thibodeau 

has been masterful this season, 

but his team just can't catch a break.

As an NBA lifer that has loved the game for more than four decades, I’ve got to say that this season’s Chicago Bulls remind of a basketball version of Disney’s ‘Bad News Bears’.

Despite being one of the best teams in all of basketball the past two seasons and one of the top two title contenders in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls just can’t seem to catch a single break this season as they’ve been beset with one injury after another, mostly to reigning MVP and team leader, Derrick Rose.

Rose had missed nearly 30 regular season games while battling every injury from a strained groin to the ever-dreaded (and really painful … trust me, I know) turf toe, before taking the court against Philadelphia in Game 1 of their first round playoff series. So what happens to the Bulls as they are just getting prepared to make a long postseason run?

Rose promptly tears his ACL late in a game that had already been decided, continuing this season’s terrible string of bad luck. Whether you’re a Chicago Bulls fan or not, no one should ever want – or intentionally wish – any player to get hurt.

Having said that, let me just say that rarely have I seen (ever) the resilience of any team that this year’s Bulls’ squad has shown, ‘Bad News Bulls’ analogy aside. Despite losing Rose for much of the season, the Bulls persevered and even saw some major growth in some players (John Lucas III, C.J. Watson) during their superstar’s absence.

Oh … and lest anyone forget, while Disney’s Bad News Bears began as a mess – and struggled through their trials and tribulations along the way – they also ended up as champions.

I see the light, I see the light! Eating crow on Rajon Rondo!

Rajon Rondo's seriously consistent 

play has made a believer out of me. 

I stand corrected - Rondo is now,

undoubtedly, elite!

It was approximately just one month ago when I continued my career-long bashing of Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo by saying the Boston Celtics should trade their often enigmatic, split-personality floor leader in the hopes of rebuilding a team that is aging faster than Methuselah himself.

However, as I always say, I have to ‘keep it real’ at all times – even when it means eating some humble pie – like I’m about to right now.

Let me begin by saying that I was wrong about Rondo – and can now clearly see that the still-offensively limited point guard – is indeed, elite – even if he doesn’t score the ball the way some of the league’s other ‘elite’ floor leaders do.

Unlike many of today’s shoot-first point guard, Rondo prefers to get his teammates involved first – and that fact has had serious advantages for the Celtics – and Rondo’s mostly veteran teammates.

Rondo’s ability to find an open man and get him the ball in rhythm – is unsurpassed by any point guard in the league right now – and when you combine his often jaw-dropping passing ability with his outstanding on-ball defense and unmatched rebounding – you get an elite point guard.

Better yet for the Celtics is the fact that Rondo appears to have worked really hard on improving his glaring weakness – his inability to connect from the perimeter from beyond approximately 15 feet. Recently, Rondo has displayed a surprising ability to take – and make – several jumpers that have been in the 20-foot-plus range – and that should be a scary thought to point guards around the league.