Tag: Kyrie Irving

Don’t be shocked if these three NBA teams fall short of expectations

Hope springs eternal, but reality will set in as the playoffs approach and move on

At the start of any sports season, there’s always hope of having a special year that can lead to a title. Some teams have reason to believe, while others are counting on delusional faith. Such is life in the NBA, and in the case of a few clubs, the hope that’s lost in the shuffle of a underwhelming beginning are rekindled by a trade to acquire said superstar player. Whether it’s a decision to stand pat, or go all-in, the expectations to win (and win big) is the driving force behind them. It’s understood there’s only one that will call themselves champions at the end, and I’m confident these three teams won’t be at the top of the mountain when it’s all over.

Let’s start with the Phoenix Suns. Yes, I know the Suns have forward Kevin Durant, who they received via trade with the Brooklyn Nets. Pairing Durant with the trio of Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton looks scary for opposing defenses in the Western Conference. There’s no doubt Phoenix will score points, but they are left with no depth behind the four stars, and the defense is even more of a mess than it was before the Durant trade. In other words, many fans and media members alike were quick to anoint the Suns as the favorite to be in the NBA Finals after KD was added, which was expected given the environment that favors everything offense. What’s being ignored is it takes more than scoring (because every team can score), and the lack of defense and depth will come back to haunt them in the playoffs. Exactly where is a question, but I can say with confidence an early exit will happen before Phoenix gets too far into a run.

Speaking of no defense, that explains the Dallas Mavericks to a tee. Things looked so promising for the Mavericks coming into the season. Last year, they made it to the conference finals before going out to the Golden State Warriors. Things haven’t gone as well as they thought, and much like the Suns, Dallas became desperate, reaching out to the Nets to acquire guard Kyrie Irving. The move severely depleted the team’s depth, but the chance to pair Irving with Luka Doncic was too much for the Mavs to pass on. Going back to the defensive end, Dallas was already bad in that department, and bringing Irving to the squad is far from the improvement needed to become complete. The results are as of Sunday night, not only are the Mavericks going down in spectacular fashion, they’re in danger of missing the playoffs altogether, and if that happens, expect more changes with the roster (and maybe the front office).

For the third team destined to fall short of expectations, look no further than the Philadelphia 76ers. This choice was actually more difficult than the Suns and Mavericks, partly because the 76ers are in the Eastern Conference. As tough as that East is, it’s probably not as rugged as the West. Having said that, Philly has a few things that tell me I have to see it to believe they make it past the conference semifinals. I know they have center Joel Embiid, who is a favorite to win the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award, but there is a question about Embiid’s durability for a long playoff run. They also have guard James Harden, who notoriously disappears at the crucial moments. Finally, Doc Rivers is the team’s coach, and that’s no longer a good thing like it might have been before. The combination equals more playoff disappointment, most likely going out to either the Milwaukee Bucks or Boston Celtics.

Keep in mind this is merely my opinion on how I feel about the upcoming playoffs, and if I’m proven wrong, I’ll be all too happy (okay…maybe not) to admit as much. Because of the splash moves the Suns and Mavericks made, they became trendy picks, and people have been waiting on the 76ers to breakthrough for at least a few seasons. The problem is sizzle and style doesn’t equal substance, which is the main ingredient for championship teams. None of these three clubs are complete, and it will be exposed before too long. If you’re a fan of Phoenix, Dallas or Philadelphia, I would love to hear why I’m crazy for thinking this way. I just believe crazy isn’t the word to describe my feelings.

It’s past time for the media to stop catching blame

When athletes get frustrated, media members catch the wrath, but they’re the wrong people to direct anger at.

As someone who has spent a portion of life in the journalism industry, I’ll be the first to admit the media is far from perfect. In the age of the 24/7 news cycle, the priority has changed from making sure a story is accurate to being the first to bust out the breaking news label. The change in priorities has led to (at best) sloppy and lazy journalism, and ultimately, distrust towards the media world. Yes, there are people who work in the industry that are about being the headline themselves, but that doesn’t mean there’s a lack of individuals who still understand the foundations of what journalism is about. Therefore, the attacks on media when they are actually doing the job is unwarranted and ridiculous. When athletes in sports have bad games, that’s not the fault of the media. Unfortunately, there are many players who fail to take responsibility for their actions.

Let’s start with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers for the first example. Excuse me if I can’t narrow down the number of flops to a single case when it comes to Rodgers. For starters, he lied about his COVID vaccination stance last season, and when the media remembered what was said, he said they were out to get him. This season, the reigning two-time NFL MVP isn’t playing up to that standard, and not only is it the media’s fault, it’s everyone else around him. Receivers, coaches, the front office, pretty much the whole organization not named Rodgers have passive-aggressively caught some wrath. The bottom line is if A-A-Ron (Google Key and Peele if you don’t understand where I got that from) wants to be snippy, he should look in the mirror for who’s catches the brunt of his frustration. He stunk against the San Francisco 49ers in last year’s divisional playoff loss, and he couldn’t do anything with three second half interceptions from (Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB) Tom Brady in the NFC Championship Game the year before. Those opportunities slipped away, and it looks like a far cry for Rodgers and the Packers to get a chance like that anytime soon. I get the hurt feelings, but the media is the wrong place fight.

For the second example, let’s go to the NBA and discuss Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. This man actually has people in the media afraid to criticize him, and I have no idea why. James may be a once-in-a-generation player, but he, or no other human being, is above criticism or questioning. So when media members ask him questions about the terrible play of guard Russell Westbrook, they’re probably asking because it was James who wanted him on the Lakers in the first place. Keep in mind I’m not the only one who felt bringing Westbrook to the team would be a horrible fit, but LeBron the general manager didn’t listen. Now, Westbrook is doing what he has always done, building whole neighborhoods with bricks from three-point land (along with committing the careless, back-breaking turnovers like he’s still a rookie), and the Lake Show is officially unwatchable. Meanwhile, the leader of the player-empowerment movement lets Westbrook take all of the darts, knowing he was the ring leader for this transaction. Instead of taking responsibility, James acts like he’s just a player, and says the media is trying to “bait” him into saying something messy. No, the press is asking simple questions, and it’s not critical just because people aren’t worshiping the ground he walks on. What’s happening is LeBron can’t overcome deficiencies to flawed rosters anymore, and the realism of that is something he’s having a tough time dealing with.

Finally, let’s come back to the NFL and look at what Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams. This case is particular damning because unlike Rodgers and James, Adams actually put hands on a media member. After the Raiders lost to the Kansas City Chiefs on the road Oct. 10, a pissed off Adams shoved a photographer to the ground, resulting in misdemeanor assault charges. I want someone to explain to me what that photographer did to deserve that treatment. If Adams is going to be upset at anything or anyone, maybe it should be the fact Las Vegas blew a 17-0 lead, or perhaps at fellow receiver Hunter Renfrow for tackling each other on a fourth down pass that sealed the Raiders’ fate on that night. I guess Adams figured pushing on media would be better than injuring himself punching a wall or locker. Needless to say, this is not the way to deal with anger, and no matter how upset a player is, there’s no excuse for coming after press in that manner. Let’s make sure you don’t run into your teammate before acting that way Davante.

Trust me when I say I can understand why there are serious trust issues with the media. The actions of some within the industry can be enough to set off emotions that are better off being left alone. With that said, it’s not the media’s fault if a player is performing below standards. It’s not the media’s fault when said athlete wants to call himself a leader, but deflects and hides when accountability is called for. It’s not the media’s fault when a player and his (or her) teammates let an opportunity for a big win slip away. The actions of Rodgers, James and Adams are just a few of the many cases where public figures want to go after the media when things don’t go their way, or are questioned about their actions (see Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving from the past weekend). If they want all the spoils of success, then they should know criticism comes along with the status from it. The local boxing gym would be the place to find a punching bag, but for the foreseeable future, the media will continue to be a suitable substitute for receiving frustrations…and shoves.

Talent over leadership: Why the latter is often forgotten across the NFL and NBA

When it comes to dealing with a star player, there’s no doubt talent is the first thing front offices look at in trying to determine whether or not to sign a long-term commitment. Coming through high school and college, being the biggest, fastest and/or strongest was enough to get by. In the NFL and NBA, those advantages are gone, because it’s truly the best of the best, and everyone has talent at that level. This means there has to be another factor that separates the great from the good, and if we’re talking about a franchise quarterback in the NFL, or elite player in the NBA, management is expecting them to be a leader and elevate the team around them. Therefore, many teams get blinded by someone’s talent, and find out the hard way they aren’t what they thought they were. Here are a few cases where leadership is lacking, and talent isn’t enough to overcome the headaches and heartbreak that come with it.

As the NFL prepares to start their season in a couple of weeks, there might not be a team with more question marks than the Arizona Cardinals. The offseason for the Cardinals was, to say the least, noisy. Their quarterback, Kyler Murray, went into brat mode and scrubbed his social media accounts of anything associated with the team, setting the stage for a contract dispute. Eventually, the sides got a deal done, but there were stipulations (which were later taken out) that basically said Murray needs to show more leadership and stop acting immature. On the field, it’s true Arizona has shown improvement each year he’s been the starter, but when things go bad, Murray has shown a tendency to quit on his team and throw teammates under the bus. Now the Cardinals are stuck with him for a while, which really says a lot about the league’s quarterback market (way overrated in my humble opinion). It’s time for Murray to grow up, because talent can only be hidden behind for so long.

In the NBA, the obvious example to look at for a lack of leadership is the Brooklyn Nets. During the summer of 2019, the Nets decided to make a splash in free agency by signing forward Kevin Durant and guard Kyrie Irving to huge contracts. Prior to these deals, Brooklyn had a team with a number of good young players, but they decided to mortgage the future for an attempt to win right now. Fast forward to current times, and it’s been nothing but disaster, mainly because Durant and Irving have been either injured, or malcontents, the whole time they’ve been there. The two stars have all-world talent, but if a team is counting on them to lead to the promised land, that’s going to be a long wait. The only times ultimate success occurred for these players are when they were supporting actors. It’s understood Durant was a two-time NBA Finals MVP during his days with the Golden State Warriors, but most know there wasn’t much he had to change in joining a championship-ready team. Irving hasn’t done a whole lot if he doesn’t have a certain king he’s playing with. Bottom line, it’s different when a player has to be the one to lead, and up to this point, Durant and Irving have proven they don’t have that leadership gene. When things get tough, they want to run and make excuses, and lash out at the media (because it’s always the media’s fault of course). Unless things drastically change, the Nets will continue to find out their investment in talent is going to fall flat.

Back in the NFL, let’s take a trip to Wisconsin, where Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers continues to be productive, and a pain in the a**, at the same time. There’s no denying the immense talent Rodgers has, and in my estimation, he might be the most talented player ever to play that position. He has won the regular season MVP award four times, and has a Super Bowl MVP along with it from the 2010 season. Notice there’s a lot mentioned about individual accolades. That’s because team success has been hard to come by. In the last two seasons, the Packers have managed to be the best team in the NFC, which gives them home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Even with that, the team failed to get to the Super Bowl, and it’s because the perennial MVP candidate came up small in the biggest moments. Coming into this season, Rodgers has already criticized the young group of receivers for a lack of production in training camp. I’m not one to talk much about contracts, but Rodgers is the highest paid QB in the history of the league (in terms of annual value). He’s getting that money because the Packers believe he can uplift the team to another Super Bowl title. At the moments of truth, he has failed, and for the amount of drama he has caused, it’s starting not to be worth it. If a player wants all the money, more is going to be on his or her shoulders. When leadership is needed the most, buckling isn’t an option. Someone forgot to tell Rodgers this.

All be told, most teams are willing to get through all of the mess and drama a great player can come with because the talent is so immense. Presidents and general managers everywhere are afraid to pass on them because they don’t want to be known as the person who lets that talent get away. Leadership is hard to evaluate because a player has to be put in that position in order for that to be shown or not shown. The players mentioned above have been anything but leaders, and there’s more than enough evidence to show things won’t be any different moving forward. It’s hot in the kitchen, and these players, along with many others, have displayed they can’t handle the heat. Don’t worry…the media will be ready for the attacks when the frustrations of these players boil over again.

Egos in the way of perceived great players

When a player is going through his or her career, one of the toughest things for them to deal with is the realization they can’t quite do the stuff they could in their younger days. Knowing Father Time is undefeated, a tough decision has to be made. Either said player is going to evolve and make adjustments to prolong their journey, or the ego will stay in the way, leading to a sharp decline in ability and status. The three players discussed in the coming paragraphs are among the best offensive players in recent memory (notice I didn’t say overall, because they’re terrible defensively), but for one reason or another, the impact they once had on the court is becoming more minimal almost by the day. Therefore, it’s probably safe to say a crossroads has been reached, and what happens after this point depends on whether or not growth occurs.

Let’s start with Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving. One thing Irving can say is he has a championship on his resume, and by hitting one of the biggest shots in NBA history in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, he is forever written in Cleveland Cavaliers and NBA history. Outside of that, Irving is known for having special offensive skills, but also for being a player who is not dependable and rots team chemistry. He forced a trade from the Cavaliers to the Boston Celtics, and after two seasons, the Celtics couldn’t wait to get him out the door. The Nets were waiting to take Irving in, but the three seasons that have followed have been uneven at best. The 30-year-old has constantly alienated teammates, and between injuries, going on mysterious vacations during the season and his unwillingness to get the COVID vaccine, nobody can say he’s been the most available player. What’s common with Irving’s behavior is let him tell the story, it’s never his fault, and he always the smartest person in the room. Point blank, all of the drama that comes with Irving off the court is starting to overcome the dazzle his offensive talent provides on it, and if his ego continues to inflate, it would not be a surprise to hear about an early retirement sooner than later.

Next, let’s dive into the story of Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden. The 32-year-old was once mentioned as one of the greatest offensive players in league history during his time with the Houston Rockets, and he even has a regular season MVP under his belt from the 2017-’18 campaign. Now, accumulating with a no-show performance in an elimination game Thursday night against the Miami Heat, Harden has developed a reputation to disappear when his team he’s on needs him the most (playoff time). Another cloud that hangs over his head is the tendency to want to run away from adverse times. When things went south in Houston, Harden threw teammates under the bus, showed up to training camp horribly out of shape, and whined his way to the aforementioned Nets via a trade involving four teams. Stuff went haywire in Brooklyn, and once again, Harden forced a trade, this time to the 76ers. One can only run away from problems for so long, before the problem is staring right back at them through a mirror. This is the reality Harden faces, and that, combined with declining abilities, is all catching up. It’s already proven a team wasn’t going to win a title with a player who has been on three teams in two years being their best, but maybe it can happen with him being a complimentary piece. Can Harden make that adjustment? Anything is possible, but if teams continue to pay him like a max player, there’s no reason to believe that change would happen.

Finally, the story of Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook is on the menu. Like Harden, Westbrook has won an MVP (2016-’17), and he averaged a triple-double in three straight seasons (four total). When the triple-double record was reached in Westbrook’s award-winning journey as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, that marked the first time a player accomplished the feat since Oscar Robertson did it in 1961-’62. The 33-year-old has been widely praised for his ungodly athletic feats, but a game that’s heavily reliant on athleticism never ages well, especially if that player has little to fall back on. Westbrook has never been a good outside shooter, and even with the flashy triple-double numbers, he’s still a turnover machine after all of these years in the NBA. The athleticism goes away with age, and those explosive dunks are now missed layups. All of this equals being on four teams (Thunder, Rockets, Washington Wizards and Lakers) in the same amount of seasons. It’s no secret the Lakers had a disappointing, disastrous season with no games in the playoffs, but there might have been a slight chance if Westbrook put his ego to the side and came off the bench. With a team that has LeBron James on it, the opportunities to handle the ball go down significantly. Anyone who follows basketball knows that, but apparently, Westbrook didn’t get the memo.

To sum everything up, these three players have serious choices to make if they’re going to be the best version of themselves. In saying that, understand it’s not as much about the numbers as it is about the mindset coming onto the court. When a person thinks about Irving, Harden and Westbrook, leadership and unselfishness isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. This could have been the case all along, but it’s to the point the elite offensive glamour can no longer cover the messy truth. Now, the thirty somethings have to reinvent their way of thinking, or those inflated egos might find themselves in the midst of a huge freefall from grace.

Time to catch up in the world of sports, BOFA style

It’s been a crazy last couple of weeks for me (nothing bad), but through it all, I’ve been able to keep up with the happenings in the world of sports. A lot has transpired since the last time I wrote, and to get everything on one article is a daunting task. Luckily, I think I have found a way to do just that, by doing a brief rundown of the events that have been in the forefront of the 24/7 news cycle. So without further or do, let’s discuss these events evoking different emotions, the Breath of Fresh Air way.

Mindset matters, or does it?: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who is widely projected to be the first player taken in the NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, made news when he said he didn’t need football to feel worthy in an interview with Sports Illustrated. Lawrence also said he doesn’t play with a “huge chip” on his shoulders. Of course, leave it up to the Twitter cesspool and hot take media to dissect these comments and try to find where this could be a negative in picking Lawrence as a franchise cornerstone.

This “story” isn’t any different from most of the other ones that come out when NFL Draft time gets close, which are the ones designed to knit-pick and drudge up a perceived issue that can be looked at as some sort of a red flag. First, the hypocrisy of people strikes again, because all I keep hearing is we want people to be honest and authentic about their outlook on life and the sport they play. Here’s a player who is doing that, and look at how he’s being picked apart. It’s totally ridiculous seeing how people change up when they get exactly what they think they’re looking for. Secondly, can someone explain to me what is wrong with Lawrence’s comments? A player can be successful without being maniacal about the work ethic, and not everyone has that type of drive displayed by Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, etc. Lawrence has won at the highest level in both high school and college. It may take a little bit with the Jaguars, but I can definitely see him being a part of something special on a well-rounded team. Remember this. Even though the razor-sharp focus of Jordan, Brady and Bryant are celebrated, they didn’t win their titles alone either.

Buffets served up by Chef Curry: On the NBA front, nothing has captivated the masses as much as the recent hot streak Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry went on. Before cooling off in a 118-114 loss to the Washington Wizards Wednesday night, Curry had scored 30 or more in the 11 games prior. This included four games over 40 points and a 53-point explosion against the Denver Nuggets on April 12. This was a streak that hasn’t really been seen before in league history, and the fact Curry was hovering around 50% from three-point territory during the streak makes it that much more impressive. In fact, the stretch was so impressive, some said the sharpshooter should be right in the middle of MVP talk.

As hot as Curry was, I’m sorry for disappointing everyone (not really), but Curry shouldn’t be in the running for the league-MVP. I admit what he did in that 11-game period is nothing short of phenomenal, but even with this, the Warriors are still tied for ninth in the Western Conference standings. Also, an recent stretch shouldn’t erase what players have done all season on teams that are much more successful than Golden State is. Therefore, if you want to tell me Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid or even Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul are at the front of this list, I’ll definitely listen. Even though Curry has won the award twice, I don’t think this is the year for him to add a third. By the way, all of that MVP talk was mighty quiet the day after losing to the Wizards.

Greed continues to drive motives: While this might not be huge news in America, this sent shockwaves throughout the rest of the world. For context, the world’s most popular sport (by far) is soccer, so that earthquake of emotion we heard in the states was the uproar of fans, players and coaches when it was announced 12 of Europe’s most valuable franchises wanted to start a super league between them. The 12 teams included six from the English Premier League (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur), three from LaLiga (Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid) and three from Serie A (AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus). The proposal from the so-called “rebel teams” was met with disdain at the least, the league died almost as soon as it started.

This is a monumental moment because billionaire owners trying to put more billions in their pocket were taken to task by the remaining teams in their respective leagues and the fans (I think they’re still protesting in England). It’s exactly what needs to happen, because if we’re to listen to these owners, they’re the first ones to say how much they value the fans. This attempted move says money is what they value the most, and that in and of itself isn’t some sort of a secret, but it was the blatant attempt at the money grab that shocked people the most. Now these same owners are apologizing because the fans called them out for their BS, and I’m glad to see this league fall flat. This should serve as a lesson for these leagues over here to not let the money crowd the judgement to the point of fan alienation.

The Nets are going to be the Nets: As the NBA playoffs get closer, one of the looming questions for fans and media concerns how far the Brooklyn Nets can go this year and beyond. Depending on who is asked, that answer goes anywhere between multiple championships to spectacular crash and burn. Ever since guard James Harden was traded to the team to join Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in mid-January, we really don’t have many answers as to how this will work with the Nets. For all but seven games, Durant, Harden and Irving haven’t been available together since that trade, and even when they have, it’s not like they’ve been overly dominant.

Here’s what we do know. The offensive firepower the Nets posses is potentially historic. Anytime three of the most dynamic players in the league get together, there’s no doubt scoring will be the least of their worries. As devastating as they can be offensively, they are just as bad defensively, and it’s safe to say Brooklyn will be in a lot of 130-125 shootouts. History says teams win championships, not individuals, and teams that do multiple things well, not just one, are who come out on top. At some point, the Nets have to stop somebody on defense, because even the most potent scorers go cold every once in a while. Plus, the durability of both Durant and Irving (along with their respective mindsets) are questionable, and Harden’s history of fading away in the playoffs is also in the spotlight. If you ask me, I think this won’t result in multiple titles. In fact, the Nets will be lucky if they get one, and if I’m wrong, best believe I’ll be back to eat my slice of humble pie.

A new best rivalry in Major League Baseball?: There are rivalries between teams and individuals that captivate people going back years, and it’s no different in MLB. When we think about the best rivalries in baseball, the one between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox is the one that sticks out the most. The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs can also strike some emotion between the team’s respective fan bases and cities. As the season gets ready to conclude the first month, a new one might be emerging as the best in the sport today, and it’s on the West Coast. I’m talking about the Los Angeles Dodgers and (wait for it) San Diego Padres.

Normally, it’s the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants who are known in as the best rivalry on the left coast, but the Padres have announced themselves as a player to be taken seriously. We know L.A. won the World Series last year, and they have dominated the National League West division for the last decade (although the Giants won three World Series titles in that span). Don’t tell San Diego that, because they’re coming for the throne. The Dodgers and Padres have played seven times already, and San Diego has won four of them, including three out of four in Dodger Stadium this past weekend. The teams will play 12 more times this season, and I’m trying to make sure I watch all of them. It’s chippy and spirited, and it’s a much-needed shot of adrenaline for a sport that can use a bunch of them.

A little entertainment news to close out: Of course, it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t talk about something outside of sports, and the topic of choice is the split between actress and songwriter Jennifer Lopez and former baseball player Alex Rodriguez. After being engaged to be married, the pair split up because of apparent trust issues J-Lo was having. In other words, there goes another power couple turning out to be not so powerful at the end, even though they are reportedly still friends (that’s a victory considering how most of these things end in a mess of drama).

Two thoughts come to mind in regards to this. One, I was actually surprised J-Lo and A-Rod wasn’t a couple before that time came. For whatever reason, I always felt they would end up together in some capacity. Two, with this breakup, people are acting like A-Rod is going down the drain, like he can’t sustain. Last time I checked, he’s a regular on ESPN and Fox Sports, appears on Shark Tank and just had a hand in purchasing the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves. Simply put, A-Rod will be okay. Don’t get me wrong…J-Lo is a beautiful woman, and I wouldn’t mind dating her, but if anyone can survive that breakup, it’s A-Rod.

Well, that’s what I’m breathing on for this article. I hope you enjoy this rundown of events as in my attempt to catch up with everyone else. I’ll make sure I stay on track better in the future.