The "Right" Choice

Is the fact that the Sixers have drafted players very similar to Evan Turner three times since 2004 irrelevant? Weirdly yes. Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, and Rodney Carney are former Sixer draftees that have size and skill sets that strongly resemble Evan Turner, the second ranked player in this year's draft. Well lo and behold the Sixers have that second pick. An attraction to players like Turner has become evident, but the Sixers have missed more than once on choosing our team's next star. So here's a news flash Sixers, Turner is your best bet yet, so let's not use the past as an excuse to pass up a player who will begin to mend a broken franchise.

Dear Doug Collins; you weren't around last year but I hope that our number two pick gives you a clear indication of how things went. Need a better idea? Selfish and immature basketball, twelve individuals playing a game with the regard for one thing; the name on the back of their uniform. You are inheriting a team that needs help from you more than anyone who will get minutes this coming season and your first task is the draft. You have expressed your interest in taking 6'10'' power forward Derrick Favors with the second pick in the draft; and in theory your not far off. But for this one, let's stick with reality.

2009's selection Jrue Holiday has checked out as a Point Guard who could lead this team in the future, Andre Iguodala, putting his 80 million dollar contract aside, has shown shades of an above average wing man, and Thaddeus Young has brought energy and a clear knack for scoring in the flex four position. What's missing? A big man. So the plan for the 2010 draft should be to get a big man, right? Wrong. If the Sixers had anything higher than the fourth or fifth pick, it would be an appropriate situation to draft according to your immediate needs. A top three pick only comes around so often and so does the chance to grab one of the draft's best player. At the number two pick it is highly likely that John Wall will go the Wizards and Evan Turner will fall into Philadelphia's lap. A big man can wait. Turner is a stud who rebounded, distributed, and scored regularly and in the clutch for the Ohio State Buckeyes last season. If the Sixers pass up Turner to get Favors, the big man they think is imperative for 2011 playoff run, the future gets a lot less bright. Evan Turner is it, the real deal, so whether or not the Sixers "need" him for next year's game plan, the future is always around the corner.

JD

For Old Time's Sake

The NBA is quickly evolving into a one-on-one playground game; but the Boston Celtics beg to differ. Boston, who's average age of 27 hardly speaks to the age and experience of their core players, is playing more like a forty and over recreation team than today's traditional NBA squad. Old stars like Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, and Michael Finley, humbled and taking pay cuts to get rings that seem elusive as primes come and go. Well these stars are reliving their primes, through each other. Spurred by young faces like Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins and Glen Davis, Boston refuses to compromise as the rest of the league leaves the "old school" tactics of basketball behind. Princeton offense, give and go, pick and roll, mere punch lines amidst offensive schemes that come down to one man up against another; not five on five. That's Boston's niche, their bread and butter; they make you beat all five of them, not just one, which has them riding a lifetime's worth of NBA experience into basketball's June Classic.

So when I say that Boston looks more like a team you could find in a forty and over league at your local park, it is far from an insult. The Celts, who's majority of players cannot run, leap, or virtually stick with their opponents are resorting to playing the game like a team. Isn't it funny how they are "resorting" to a winning formula? Between Finley, Garnett, Pierce, Allen, and Wallace there is 39 All-Star appearances and 66 seasons of NBA basketball. Run down? Absolutely not. Wise? Absolutely. Although their bodies may be far from where they were seven years ago, their basketball minds have only grown stronger which reflects on the young Celtics as well. Rajon Rondo, who broke out in the Division Series against the Cavs, is one of the few things young about the Celtics. However, his hard work ethic, and knack for sharing and selective scoring has him fitting right on in with the rest of the bunch. Rondo is no geezer, but he feeds off the foundation that the veterans in Boston have laid down; they play the game the "right" way.

Boston was demoted to a four seed when a slow season had them placed behind the Cavs, Magic, and Hawks. The beasts of the east? Orlando and Cleveland. Boston was plagued with minor injuries all season, and never really found their rhythm until playoff time. Since, they have not only taken care of Cleveland but Orlando as well. How? A balanced attack. In Cleveland, there was one thing to do, slow down Lebron. When Boston did that, Cavs' fans were forced to watch Lebron take off his number 23 jersey for what could have been the last time. While Orlando provided more than just one threat, there was one above all else; Dwight Howard. Kendrick Perkins, Kevin Garnett, and Rasheed Wallace all teamed up to dog Howard for six straight games, making him work for every point and rebound, and holding him to a miniscule seven points in a 94-71 game three rout. Now as Boston awaits their next opponent, whether it be the rival LA Lakers or the run and gun Phoenix Suns; the game plan remains the same. Shut down their power source and don't let them get to yours. The Celtics never let anyone cut down their source of energy because that would be impossible; there isn't one. The Celtics bounce off each other, passing, dribbling, and shooting as one. To stop their best player would take a psychic; it's different every night. Who will lead the team next? Not even they could tell you, so good luck trying to figure it out.

JD

The King and His Court

Thursday night the Cleveland Cavaliers, excuse me, Lebron James, was knocked out of the NBA playoffs by the Boston Celtics. Any other year the Cavs and Lebron would be in the rearview mirror, and our focus would be adjusted to the teams still breathing. However, this is a Lebron James contact year. So when the final buzzer sounded Thursday Night, and Lebron ripped off his Cavs jersey walking through the locker room tunnel; a story far more important than any Conference final was born.

Lebron James is the biggest star since Jordan, sorry Kobe, so the fact that he is "available" makes headline news just about anywhere. What more is there to say about a guy who rebounds like an All-Star big man, has the court vision of any premier point guard, is on the 2010 NBA 1st Defensive Team, and scores just about when he feels like it. The guy is bigger than basketball. So when the choice is provided to talk NBA Playoffs or Lebron's possible landing strip this summer, I'll talk Lebron over the NBA any day, because frankly, he's the gas that keeps the engine running.

Chicago is ready for Lebron, but is Lebron ready for Chicago? Most rumors have Bron swaying towards the Windy City, but how does he feel about a spotlight that may not always be on him. Derrick Rose is a star, not super, but rising. Is Lebron's off-season decision about winning? Or about image? Rose and King James would seize the NBA as its undisputed "dynamic duo." However, to date Lebron's story is a monologue, not a dialogue, and Derrick Rose is a co-star who could rain on his parade.

The situation is clear in New York. The Knicks have just about licked their salary cap clean over the last few years in anticipation for this class of free agents. Joe Johnson, Wade, Bosh, Dirk, and of course Lebron are the stars in one of the strongest summer menus of all-time; and the Knicks are hoping to help themselves to more than one course. Wade and Lebron in the Big Apple would mean the All-Star game was just a sneak peak of the domination to come. Unlike in Chicago, Lebron aside another super star like D-Wade or Chris Bosh in New York could make him even bigger. The lights of New York are as bright as they come and James could appear on more billboards than any man alive. Not only would Lebron James bring more fans to Madison Square than the last five years combined, but he could be the face of the media capital of the world.

So this one may be far fetched but let me paint this picture for you. Its Christmas Day and warming up on one side of the court is as usual Kobe Bryant with his Lakers. On the other side is Lebron James; in a Los Angeles Clippers jersey. Before writing this off, imagine what Lebron in L.A. would do for NBA Basketball. Lebron has already stolen the "player of the decade" title from Kobe; competition for L.A.'s basketball icon would not only keep both stars honest, but create one of the biggest battles of all time.

What Lebron James is going to need to decide in the coming months is where he wants his career to go. There will be teams that will offer him money and accommodate him with the tools that he needs to win his first title. The team that can do that the best, is in fact the Cavaliers. But is this about a ring? Lebron will be a superstar wherever he goes, but will bringing basketball to a city that has never been a basketball-town make him even bigger? Lebron is on everyone's radar this off-season, and soon he will be able to choose any team that has the necessary cap space. Lebron is young, so building a franchise from scratch like he did in Cleveland is definitely an option. However, Lebron is ring-less, so fitting in as the missing piece in a previously made puzzle could be the best career choice for a star who's legacy is still to come.

JD

The HC: After All These Years

Before I embark on my acknowledgments of the one Jamie Moyer, I would like to make a public service announcement. On Saturday Night Mark Teixeira hit three home runs against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, joining Lou Gehrig as the second Yankee to ever do so. However, with the score at 12-3 in the ninth, Teixeira hit his third and final home run off outfielder Jonathan Van Every, may I repeat, OUTFIELDER Jonathan Van Every. I write this to inform the public that although three home runs is a feat, two "actual" home runs is a common occurrence. So we can all calm down.

On the contrary, tossing a two hit shut out at 47 years old is something that has one, never been done, and two, will never be done again. Each year Jamie Moyer wows baseball fans all across America with his heart, fire, and of course longevity. In 1986 Jamie Moyer was a 24 year old Cub facing Steve Carlton in his Major League debut. In 2010 he is a 47 year old Phillie retiring batters with his "corners" philosophy, that he has held true to as the only pitcher to hurl in 4 different decades. So here's to Moyer. Friday he dazzled the Braves, while the 45,349 fans in attendance at Citizens Bank Park simply wondered how. How does Jamie still do it? How does Jamie, who doesn't throw a pitch over 83, continue to fool batters with his approach that is at this point, evident. Moyer faced 28 batters against the Braves, walking none, and getting one of the his two base runners to ground into a double play. It is hard to get closer to a perfect game without actually throwing one. Watching Moyer is what baseball is all about when youth shines through a jersey that has been worn for 24 seasons. At 4-2 Moyer is in line to give Philadelphia yet another solid year, and when his contract is up at the end of the year we have to think that Moyer will call it quits. Friday night Moyer left behind one of his many lessons and legacies; it's not how old you are, but how much you truly care.

JD