Hawks Open the Season 3-0

The Atlanta Hawks have yet to lose a game this season. What's so amazing about that, you ask? Joe Johnson is not playing iso for 48 minutes anymore. Whoa! In each game so far, at least four Atlanta players have scored in double digits.

So what's it going to take for the Hawks to advance further in the playoffs this year? Is it more size in the center position? Do they need a true, more creative point guard? Not entirely. The Hawks need FANS. Atlanta is a city infamous for its lack of enthusiasm for its professional sports teams. For example, the Braves are arguably the most successful baseball team of the last 20 years, yet when is the last time Turner Field sold out during the regular season? The Hawks have made it to the playoffs three years in a row now. Last season, they had over 50 wins, but don't expect to see Phillips Arena filled to the brim any time soon.

We all know how competitive the Eastern Conference is going to be this year, but the Hawks need our support. More tickets sold = more $ for team owners = better player contracts = better teams = CHAMPIONSHIPS.

If you need something to do, go to a Hawks game. Please.


http://www.stubhub.com/atlanta-hawks-tickets/

HEAT Blowout the MAGIC!

I only watched this game to see how the Heat were progressing offensively. I had predicted to a number of people that the Magic were going to blowout a still out-of-sync Miami team; in fact, I specifically envisioned an Orlando victory of 25+ points. The outcome could not have been much further from expectations.

The Miami Heat pillaged the game with a final score of 96-70. Damn! The Heat frustrated the Magic throughout the contest with stifling defense. Last year, Orlando made more 3 point shots in a season than any team in the history of professional basketball. Last night, however, the Miami Heat held them to only four shots made from behind the 3-point line.

Let it also be known that Orlando won all of their preseason games by an average of 25 points, and they scored over 100 points in EACH of those games. How on Earth did this brand new, still rocky Miami Heat team hold the Magic to such a low number? Erik Spoelstra spent the entire preseason working almost exclusively on defensive strategy. Last night, the statement was made a number of times, "Defense wins championships." It is no secret that that is exactly what the Miami Heat have in mind.

Their defense held the Magic to only 10 points in the third quarter and only 5 assists for the game, a franchise low. An evidently frustrated Dwight Howard fouled out of the game, and the Miami audience couldn't have been more delighted.

There were several standing ovations for the home team throughout the game. Last night they silenced all doubters with a victory over their division rival and an Eastern Conference goliath. The Miami Heat are improving at an imperceptible rate. Their defense was remarkable last night, and their offensive potential is terrifying. If the Heat continue to improve like they have done so far over the course of the season, this may very well be a championship team.

Will the Cavs Actually Win a Title before the Heat?

Hell no. They did, however, look surprisingly good against the Celtics tonight. If you live in Cleveland, you can believe in Life After LeBron. For now, anyway.

After the Heat lost to the Celtics last night in an embarrassingly sloppy performance, the team that D-Wade and King James cuckolded geared up for what most people predicted to be a blood bath.

Flying at what seemed like a million miles per hour, the Cleveland Cavaliers took the Boston Celtics by complete surprise. The Cavs mounted an unprecedentedly balanced attack; SIX of Cleveland's players scored in double digits! Unbelievable.

I don't think anyone expected Cleveland to win this game, not after the defending Eastern Conference champions cleaned up LeBron's new super team last night. Accolades to the Cavaliers. Well done fellas, but don't expect to catch any more teams sleeping.

wb

Game 1: HEAT @ CELTICS

Last night was the first game of what is arguably the most anticipated NBA season of all time, and what a way to start it off. The eastern conference champions, Boston Celtics defended their home court against the new power trio of the Miami Heat.

No one really expected Miami to come out at maximum potential in their first game together. Many issues are not yet resolved, but after watching the game, I have no doubt that the Heat will be a ferocious contender by January at the latest. Last night, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James alone combined for 14 turnovers. Clearly, the team's offense was totally out of sync. There was hardly any ball movement when they had possession. No one was able to knock down open jump shots, and most players just planted their feet and watched LeBron and D-Wade try to work their way into the paint. Miami really just looked like they'd never seen what an easy shot looks like. In fact, the Miami Heat had the worst first half they have had in years. They went into half-time with a measly 30 points.

In the 3rd quarter it was King James to the rescue. The Celtics started the second half up 45-30, but after LeBron went on a rampage, the lead was cut down to only 6 points. In the second half, LeBron managed to make this new Miami Heat super-team look like the Cleveland Cavaliers of old. Taking over the game, James was clearly the best player on the court. He scored 31 points in the game with 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Once this team really gets going, it is not hard to imagine LeBron averaging a triple-double for the season, which would undoubtedly mean a third consecutive MVP award for the King.

There has been some talk of LeBron taking over as the Miami Heat point guard. I would love it. He says he sees himself playing the game like Magic Johnson, and there is no better way than to fill the PG position with another extremely athletic big man. With Pat Riley managing and LeBron at the point, the Heat are really starting to resemble the Showtime Lakers.

Although, Miami did not look great throughout the game, the Boston Celtics were outstanding. Paul Pierce was his usual self, scoring 19 points with 9 rebounds. My man Ray Allen hit 5 three-pointers and scored 20 points in total, and Rajon Rondo had an amazing performance, making 17 assists! In my opinion, the young point guard was easily the player of the game, and he only managed to score 4 points! There's a bright, bright future for Rondo in this league, and the Celtics looked every bit deserving of the Eastern Conference championship title as they ended up winning the game 88-80.

This season's opening match up was truly electrifying. It had all the intensity of a playoff game, and if you missed it, that makes me sad. Don't fret, however, because I'm sure these two teams will meet quite a few times this year. I foresee and officially predict they will see each other in the Eastern Conference Finals this May. Last night was heated enough, but when they meet again in the playoffs, the competition will be incendiary.

wb

The Crossover

I don't think anything in basketball excites me more than a beautifully executed crossover dribble. Some preach the superiority of the Slam Dunk, others relish degrading Shot Blocks, but The Crossover is a true testament to the finesse sometimes forgotten of basketball. There are many masters of the maneuver, but these three guys always come to mind. 

EXHIBIT A: DERRICK ROSE

EXHIBIT B: ALLEN IVERSON

     

EXHIBIT C: DWYANE WADE

"With My Sidekicks, Rockin' Fly Kicks": What are the greatest Air Jordans ever made?

Audacious as it is for my first ever blog post to be a "Greatest of All Time" list, a precedence must be set. I, like so many basketball fans, am a sneaker enthusiast. I don't claim to possess an unrivaled knowledge of the art form; however, I can still boil with envy from time to time at the sight of a sick pair of sneaks, and my opinions remain strong as oak. That said, let's take a look at the most prolific series of athletic foot wear ever created. 

Air Jordan I (1985)

Setting a precedence of its own, the Air Jordan I was originally banned by the NBA for its use of multiple colors. Arguably the most emulated high-top of all time, this shoe is an automatic favorite.

Air Jordan II (1986)

Perhaps the most underrated kicks in the series, the AJ IIs employ a more square, boating shoe/high-top design. Unfortunately, this particular aesthetic is not evident in many of the shoe's successors. 

They were the only Jordan sneakers to not be issued in a black version, and their stand-alone qualities make them a personal favorite. 

Air Jordan VII (1991)

The seventh design in the series is clearly a descendant of the original Air Jordan I. At this point the shoes began to take on a more futuristic appearance. Sexy and yet still somehow conservative, what really makes this pair of sneaks hot is that they were not originally released with Jordan's jersey number 23 printed on them, but the number 9: his Olympic "Dream" Team number. 

Air Jordans XV, XVI, and XIX (1999-2004)

During the "teen" years of the Air Jordan series, the look of the shoes became extremely futuristic, even to the point of gaudy. These three styles in particular exemplify the presumptuous futurism of Air Jordan during the late 90s and early 2000s. Laces and velcro were dubbed relics, as these shoes took on magnets, metal, and a great deal of patent leather. Ridley Scott's Alien is an excellent movie, but I don't want my kicks looking like they can spit acid. These were the Dark Ages of the Air Jordan series. 

Air Jordan '23' (2008)

Given the significance of the number, these were to be an extremely important pair of kicks in the Air Jordan lineage. By this time, the designers were toning things down a bit, and getting their sneaker imaginations back under control. This edition is still a bit eccentric for my taste; however, given the importance of being #23 in a long line of Jordan footwear, I'll cut them some slack. Bonus points as well for making the "jumpman" logo mimic that of Mercedes-Benz.

Air Jordan 2010

They've still got it going on. The newest Air Jordan issue is easily one of my favorites. Mixing the old with the new, these sneaks have an agile appearance that just emanates increased acceleration and lift. It doesn't hurt that these are the first pair released with my man Dwyane Wade in the Air Jordan family either. This pair is definitely in the conversation for best of all time. 

Which are the best? My apologies for all the nasty sneakers that didn't get any face time. The Air Jordan line is just far too full of prodigious footwear to mention them all. That being said, my favorite Jordans of all time would have to be:

The AIR JORDAN I

Maybe I'm old fashioned. Maybe I'm just a lame conservative lacking in vision, but I think the visual ingenious of these kicks is undeniable. They look good with anything, and damn they're comfortable. Speak your mind, if you got beef. 

Love, 

WB

Check out the entire history of Air Jordan sneakers HERE!