Sports, brilliance, and nostalgia
BALLER OF THE NIGHT (Nov 12)
I don’t think I have to clarify this, but the “Baller of the Night” for November 12th is the 3 time former MVP on the recieving end of this alley-oop pass.
LeBron James, despite a mere 6 first half points, poured in 32 in the 2nd half to give King James 38 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists on the night in a 113-110 Miami Heat victory over the Houston Rockets.
That commercial with LeBron James at the barber shop is hilarious…
Why?
Because all basketball enthusiasts such as myself who have been watching Bron Bron ball since he debuted in 03 KNOW that his hairline pushes back just a little bit every year, and his head bands keep going further and further up his head.
It won’t be long before Mr. James makes his last trip to the barber shop….
If I were him, I’d just shave it now.
Why?
Because when you are the best basketball player in the world, nobody gives a fuck if you have hair or not.
Preemptive strike.
NBA AWARDS PREDICTIONS (2012-13):
Coach of the Year: Frank Vogel, Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers have been one of the truly great stories in the NBA over the last couple of seasons. And it all starts with the man calling the plays. The Pacers will finish with one of the top 3 spots in the East, and even though Vogel isn’t the best coach in the league (Popovich, Rivers, Thibodeau are all better) it is often the coaches that manage great records despite the presence of any marquee talent that wins these awards. At the very least, Vogel will be a front runner.
6th Man of the Year: Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are loaded. Every reserve on this team has seemingly been an extremely important starter at one point in time or another. But it is Jamal Crawford, that will have the biggest impact. Crawford can play both guard spots with equal effectiveness, and coming off of the bench will allow Crawford, who is good enough to start on just about every team in this league, look to score first.
Defensive Player of the Year: LeBron James, Miami Heat
LeBron James, amongst all of his other immense talents, is also the best perimeter defender, and the most versatile defender in all of basketball. James has the speed to guard the guard positions, and the size and strength to guard the 4 and the 5 on pretty much any team. James, who already has 3 MVP’s, a Finals MVP, and an NBA Championship will get the kind of hardware any elite athlete should take pride in earning. Serge Ibaka of the Thunder and Dwight Howard of the Lakers, when healthy, will get plenty of votes, but I believe that this is the season that King James finally gets recognition for the most overlooked part of his game. It’s good to be the king.
MVP: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
LeBron James will be most deserving of it, Kevin Durant will win it. And in that ONE sentence, I have already pissed off Thunder fans. KD will win his 4th career scoring title, will average over 30 a night, and the Thunder will be right in the hunt for the top spot in the Western Conference til the very end. Minus the Olympic Gold Medal, Durant could very well be in for the kind of season that LeBron James had in 2011-12.
2012-13 Season Preview and predictions: Miami Heat
2011-12 Record: 46-20
Playoffs: 2012 NBA Champions
Key losses: N/A
Key additions: Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis
It’s simply almost unfair when the defending champions manage to improve themselves in the offseason.
But that is exactly what the defending champion Miami Heat have done.
Following one of the greatest individual seasons in the history of pro sports in which LeBron James won the league MVP, NBA title, NBA Finals MVP, an Olympic gold medal, shook a Miami sized monkey off of his back, and became the best basketball player in the world, many are wondering; how do you follow THAT kind of year?
It will be tough, but I believe that LeBron James is MORE than up to the task.
LeBron, Wade, and Bosh are ALL back. And they are SURROUNDED with knockdown shooters.
Ready to catch and shoot on kickouts from King James at a relentless rate are new addition Ray Allen, Mike Miller, Shane Battier, James Jones, Mario Chalmers, and Norris Cole.
It really just doesn’t seem fair, does it?
The only thing is; those of you that think that the pressure is completely off of LeBron James after his first championship ring are KIDDING yourselves.
Now, all you will here, is can he get to Kobe, can he get to Michael…etc.
But I think that LeBron is ready for the challenge.
It’s championship or bust in Miami this season and every season after that. And unless somebody breaks LeBron James’ god damn legs, I just can’t see the Heat NOT making it to the NBA Finals.
PREDICTION: 63-19. 1st in Eastern Conference.
2brilliant2function has come to save you from ESPN.com’s bogus NBA player rankings…
As they do every year, ESPN.com has posted who they believe to be the top 500 players in the NBA in order. And while I agree with many of the player’s and their spots on the list, some of them are just down right offensive, in my opinion. So I am going to give you ESPN.com and it’s Top 50, right along side the 2brilliant2function Top 50! Bring on the backlash, the hate, and the opinions! Here we go…
ESPN.com 2brilliant2function
1) LeBron James LeBron James
2) Kevin Durant Kobe Bryant
3) Dwight Howard Kevin Durant
4) Chris Paul Chris Paul
5) Derrick Rose Dwight Howard
6) Kobe Bryant Kevin Love
7) Kevin Love Derrick Rose
8) Dwyane Wade Dwyane Wade
9) Russell Westbrook Deron Williams
10) Deron Williams Rajon Rondo
11) Dirk Nowitzki Andrew Bynum
12) Rajon Rondo Dirk Nowitzki
13) Andrew Bynum Tony Parker
14) Blake Griffin Pau Gasol
15) Pau Gasol Russell Westbrook
16) Tony Parker Blake Griffin
17) Carmelo Anthony Carmelo Anthony
18) Chris Bosh Steve Nash
19) Steve Nash Tim Duncan
20) LaMarcus Aldridge Kevin Garnett
21) Kevin Garnett Chris Bosh
22) Kyrie Irving Kyrie Irving
23) Tyson Chandler Tyson Chandler
24) Marc Gasol LaMarcus Aldridge
25) Manu Ginobili James Harden
26) James Harden Paul Pierce
27) Tim Duncan Marc Gasol
28) Andre Iguodala Rudy Gay
29) Paul Pierce Andre Iguodala
30) Al Horford Josh Smith
31) Josh Smith Joe Johnson
32) Rudy Gay Danny Granger
33) Joe Johnson Zach Randolph
34) Zach Randolph Luol Deng
35) Roy Hibbert Joakim Noah
36) Joakim Noah Serge Ibaka
37) Luol Deng Eric Gordon
38) Eric Gordon DeMarcus Cousins
39) Danny Granger Monta Ellis
40) Stephen Curry Stephen Curry
41) Serge Ibaka Al Jefferson
42) DeMarcus Cousins Amare Stoudemire
43) Amare Stoudemire Roy Hibbert
44) Al Jefferson Nene
45) Andrew Bogut John Wall
46) Monta Ellis David Lee
47) Ricky Rubio Andre Bargnani
48) Ty Lawson Ricky Rubio
49) Greg Monroe Ty Lawson
50) Ryan Anderson Paul Milsap
There you have it! ESPN.com’s Top 50 ballers in the NBA vs. my own PERSONAL Top 50 ballers in the league.
ESPN.com and I disagree in many areas, but one in which we clearly agree on is that LeBron James is now the best basketball player in the world beyond the shadow of a doubt.
If you disagree with any of my picks, think I left somebody off, want to compliment me on my list, or want to mercilessly HATE on it without merit, hit me up, http://2brilliant2function.tumblr.com/ask
Anonymous asked: who do you think would win a 1 on 1 game between Kobe and LeBron?
Kobe.
Definitely.
Kobe is a one on one offensive genius that can do whatever he wants on offense.
LeBron’s game is a little different.
He is a passer. A playmaker. A guy that picks his spots on offense. And a guy who still hasn’t mastered his offensive skills set.
Kobe wins.
Anonymous asked: why in your opinion kobe bryant is better then lebron james, and dont bring up chapionship rings, cuz robert horry got like 8 rings and that doesnt mean hes the best power forward ever, he just lucky...
Robert Horry has 7 championship rings, actually…
And don’t take this the wrong way, but you asked me the question. You can’t tell me what I can/can’t use to make my argument.
Championship rings are more important to the legacy of an NBA player than to that of any other player in any other sport.
Kobe Bryant has had the better career than LeBron and has been better than him each and every day of his basketball career until opening night of the 2011-12 season.
I actually think it started the night the Dallas Mavericks defeated LeBron and the Heat for the title in 2011.
It all simply came together this season for LeBron.
He finally figured out what he needs to do to win.
He needs to post, he needs to take it to the basket relentlessly, he needs to get to the foul line, and he needs to let the world know that his time is now and that the torch has finally officially been passed from Kobe to him.
LeBron James is, as of RIGHT NOW, the best player in the league.
I have Kobe listed at number one because I am a Lakers fan, plain and simple.
But if he never wins another title, or only wins one or two more, Kobe Bryant will have had the better career.
Kobe Bryant is 34 years old. He shouldn’t be the top guy in the league anymore, and yet he is STILL in the top 3. And in my opinion, he will be there until he hangs up his purple and gold jersey.
But it is LeBron’s time now. He is THE best.
But that does not mean that Kobe can’t win another title or two. You HAVE been paying attention to the Lakers’ offseason moves, right?
Anonymous asked: I didnt say he wouldn't have a career like Jordans. Im just saying that what Jordan did in all was more than what someone could achieve in a career. Its hard to explain, but whatever. I respect your opinion!
I respect your’s as well.
You are right, actually.
Jordan did achieve all that anyone could EVER hope to achieve in a career.
All I am saying, is how can anyone say that LeBron can’t do that as well?
Now that he knows what he has to do to win, the sky is the limit.
Anonymous asked: I think Lebron nor anyone else for that matter, should ever be compared to Jordan. What Jordan did went way beyond stats and records. He did something unachievable. While Lebrons stats may be very comparable to Jordans, he still will never be him.
I disagree.
You simply cannot speak for what may or may not happen 10 years from now.
Saying that nobody will ever have a career like Jordan’s is simply being narrow minded.
In all honesty, the shoes, Gatorade, and the fact that Jordan was the first athlete to have all of that is what immortalizes him even more than his brilliant career. He paved the way for all. But there wer great players before Jordan, there are great players now, and there will be great players forever. Someday, someone is going to make a run at Jordan.
LeBron has as good a chance as anyone.
I am the biggest Lebron fan but it bothers me too. No one , will be jordan. Hes just untouchable. I dont care if Lebron goes out and gets us 6 , 7 championships. Jordan is just perfection. No one, not even Kobe compares
He is untouchable RIGHT NOW.
Lets just say that 10 years from now, LeBron has 5-7 championships, 5 or 6 MVP awards, 5 or 6 NBA Finals MVP awards and is ahead of him on the all time scoring list.
THEN, I would have to say that it is a valid comparison.
And I do NOT rule out that possibility. LeBron James, RIGHT NOW, is THAT good.
New LeBron shoes could cost up to $300
Honestly, I’ve never really understood why anybody would wanna wear basketball shoes when they are not playing basketball. Especially not damn near $200 basketball shoes. But at the same time, I can appreciate that these pro athletes are role models for many of the people that buy them, and what they do with THEIR OWN money, is really their own business. If they wanna rock basketball kicks to the mall, that’s good for them.
I have always thought that they were too expensive. At $100, I thought they were too expensive. So OBVIOUSLY, i believe they are far too expensive at the damn near $200 price tag they are sitting at right now.
Now, word is, that the next pair of LeBron James’ kicks are going to hit the market at anywhere between $290-315.
The LeBron X shoes, will reportedly hit stores this fall, and will allegedly feature motion sensors in the shoe to track various metrics including how high the player jumps.
But Nike, a little sensitive at the accusations that they will be crossing the $300 plateau despite owning roughly 95% of the US basketball shoe market, insist that there will be several versions of the shoe.
“The LeBron X will be launched in the fall at a suggested retail price of $180,” Nike spokesman Brian Strong, said in a statement. “The initial introduction of the LeBron X will be the red, white and blue Nike+ enabled version and that price is still being set, but will be at a higher price to reflect the Nike+ technology embedded in the shoes.”
Even with all of the info I have given you in this post, we as a sports addicted society are asking all of the wrong questions.
The REAL questions should be:
- Do I REALLY need to spend an additional $100 for my shoes to tell me how high I can jump? Is that really necessary? It isn’t. Call me old school, but I always measured my own personal gains in vertical jump by jumping straight up to touch the backboard and seeing if I could top the spot I got to the last time. Sure it’s a little more effort, but it doesn’t cost a damn dime.
- Aren’t there more important things I could be spending this $300 on? Certainly. If you are rich, and have the dough to throw around, clearly this isn’t directed at you, but you and I BOTH know that it is NOT the rich man that waits outside of a shopping mall for 18 hours to get the first shot at the newest pair of b-ball kicks. It is the 14-18 year old child that has mysteriously convinced their parents in some way shape or form that they need these shoes in order to look cool at school and have more friends. Call me old school, but my dad would’ve told me to get a job. And that is exactly what I plan to tell my kids one day.
Sure, the LeBron shoes will be available at a cheaper, less advanced price. But you and I both know that now that people know that the more advanced and expensive pair is out there, they will spare no expense to be the first at their school to be rocking the $300 LeBron James kicks.
To those of you naively thinking, “$300? Nobody will EVER pay that for a pair of shoes!” You couldn’t possibly be more wrong. They will sell, people will fight over them, people will get robbed over them, and that is all there is to it.
I personall wouldn’t want my 15 year old getting his ass beat over his $300 shoes on the walk home from school, but that is just me.
I could never see paying that much money for hoops shoes coming up, and I HAD a job. I had the money.
I knew that money would cost me a lot of dates with girls, a lot of movies with friends, a lot of CD’s I wanted for my new car, and a lot of books I enjoyed reading in my down time.
I don’t care about how awesome LeBron James January-August was this year. No pair of shoes is worth $300. I assure you they didn’t cost nearly that much to make at some old worn out shoe factory that isn’t even helping our own National economy. It’s like paying $10 for a 24 oz beer at a concert that you could get at any local 7-eleven for under $2.
To me, they simply are not worth it unless you more than have the means.
immaculateswag asked: Yea Carmelo is one of the top 4 clutch players in the past 7 years statistically, and behind kobe is the most offensively skilled player in the game there is a reason why Lebron said Melo would beat him one on one. Lebron is one of the best players we have seen in isolation and his jumper is crazy. Problem is he doesn't play well off the ball, doesn't make his teammates better he will fill up the stat sheet but still result in a loss, and doesn't post up enough which he is deadly when he does!
I actually agree with most of what you just said.
Miami won the title for 3 reasons:
- Dwayne Wade deferred to LeBron, and admitted that the Heat are LeBron’s team
- LeBron posted up
- LeBron took it to the rack at will and didn’t settle for jumpers as the clock was winding down
Carmelo IS the 2nd most offensively skilled player in the league. But the fact that he doesn’t go out of his way to improve his game, really bothers me. Your best player is supposed to set the tone at both ends of the floor. Carmelo couldn’t stop a one legged man from winning an ass kicking contest. Also, the man simply NEVER passes the ball. The Knicks HAVE weapons. If he ever wants to win big, he has to accept that because the ball is going to be in his hands 85% of the time, he HAS to take it upon himself to get the other players involved.
I am a little confused about the last few sentnces though. When you said that “he doesn’t make his teammates better he will fill up the stat sheet but still result in a loss…” who were you talking about? Carmelo or LeBron?
Anonymous asked: who do you think are the top 5 players in the NBA?
- Kobe Bryant
- LeBron James
- Kevin Durant
- Chris Paul
- Dwayne Wade
