Basketball Thoughts #4

I think that Gilbert Arenas and Dwight Howard could clean up their acts a bit. They are now playing on the same team now, the Orlando Magic. It is great that the NBA can use a couple of jokers so we can also make fun of them too. That is how they want to be treated. Like a pair of jokers. Seriously, though, if Gilbert and Dwight can be determined about improving their basketball games, the world will take them seriously. Quite honestly, if Dwight Howard and Gilbert Arenas can learn to be a little bit meaner, the world will understand that they means business and they are earnest about wanting to win that NBA title which has eluded them for quite some time now. Dwight Howard and Gilbert Arenas are two nice guys playing on the same team. Frankly speaking, if Arenas hadn't done what he did in the past and regretted what he did, he wouldn't be making up for his mistakes now. Same for Howard. In the real world, nice guys don't win athletic sporting events. Really mean and vicious people win championships. They do it because they want it that bad. They do it because they want to be the best athletes in the world. Howard and Arenas can take a learning lesson from Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. Those two bad and mean athletes like Bryant and Jordan are the best at their job at playing basketball.

Lebron James rules Madison Square Garden on December 17, 2010

I knew it all along. Lebron James came to the right franchise. You want to be treated like a king, you got the treatment you wanted when you "brought your talents to South Beach." Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra knew what they were doing when they recruited King James to the Miami Heat. They needed a player whom they knew they could surrender their marketing and coaching skills to. The Heat organization gave Lebron James the structure they needed. LBJ was the franchise player Riley and Spoelstra could turn to for helping the Heat back on track. He was going to have things his way, just the way Lebron James wants things to be. He was never meant to be a disciplinarian, never one to take orders or bark orders at teammates. That was not utilizing Lebron James' talents when he was with Cleveland. Under former Cavs coach Mike Brown, James played under control throughout much of Brown's coaching methods. He never broke free of himself when he was a Cavalier. If Lebron James went to New York and play for the Knicks, he would never do the things he is doing now in Miami. New York would be like Cleveland, too controlling of Lebron James' interests and talents. If LBJ played in Chicago with Derrick Rose, he wouldn't like the idea of letting Derrick Rose manning the team. It would be an unlikely tandem with Rose and James. To best utilize a player of Lebron's talents, you need to unleash him and let him roam where he wants to go. Give him Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade room to operate and King James will roam where he will rule the universe. What happened on December 17, 2010 was a day of infamy for the NBA. Lebron James had 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. This is who Lebron James is. This is why he was meant to play basketball. This is what you call utilizing Lebron James' talents. The Miami Heat organization was willing to let King James take reign of the team headquarters along with his teammates like James Jones, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Joel Anthony, Erick Dampier, Jamaal Magloire, and Juwan Howard aside on King James' wings. James will also best operate when Wade and Bosh defer to him. Wade knows his best friend too well that Lebron needs a strong ship to man as long as Dwyane knows what is best for his teammate. This is why Wade needed Bosh and James to join him in Miami in the summer. If anything, James' indication and presence of mind in Madison Square Garden was a foresight that this is Lebron's time to shine. Being a member of the Miami Heat and in control of the game, his talents blending in with the game's biggest stars on the biggest stage of them all, in New York City. His 32 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds says it all.

Wade or James? Who's the leader of the Heat?

At times, I've seen Dwyane Wade lead the Miami Heat to team victories. He has still willed the Heat to wins than I have ever seen him do before. He is the same Wade that knows how to seal wins together for his squad. If I know Lebron James, he will let Dwayne Wade operate with the basketball whenever Wade sees fit. This is how I think Wade and James will best work together on the Heat team. Wade will take the last shot. No questions asked. Lebron reluctantly is unwillingly unavailable to take the last shot as shown from his days being with the Cleveland Cavaliers. When he takes the last shot, he often likes to make the extra pass to an open teammate rather than take the last shot. He will not force the game-winning shot if he does have the chance. This is where Dwyane Wade will excel at. Wade will take the opportunity on his shoulders to hold the Heat onto a victory whenever they can. Lebron James can right the ship with his shooting, passing, rebounding, stealing, and blocking whenever he can. So who's the leader? Wade or James? If it comes down to who takes the last shot, it's Wade. He's the go-to guy and leader of the moment.

Building a Miami Heat team around Wade, Bosh, and James

If I were recruiting the top three free agents of 2010 to join the Miami Heat, like Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, and Chris Bosh, this is who I would pick to be the supporting cast for this team. To pick a flighty point guard who would be happy to shoot three-pointers, play spotty defense, and be able to handle the basketball while passing and shooting the ball at a consistent rate, I would choose Jason Williams, a.k.a. White Chocolate. His game has fallen off dramatic. His game is nowhere as close when he was starting with the Sacramento Kings. Carlos Arroyo would also fit the bill in my Miami Heat offense as long as Dwyane Wade handles the rock when he is in town. His steady ball-handling skills and shooting skills will be valuable assets for the Heat. Mike Miller, James Jones, and Eddie House make good perimeter shooters for this Heat team that has Wade manning the offense, James handling the ball and being a good basketball defender, and Bosh defending the basket. The enforcers of the basketball squad that will help Bosh and James do the dirty work are Zydrunas Ilgaukas, Juwan Howard, Jamaal Magloire, Joel Anthony, Erick Dampier, and Udonis Haslem. This basketball team like the Miami Heat was meant to win big games with Wade, James, and Bosh all on one team.

L.A. Lakers? Title Defense on Hold?

The L.A. Lakers are quickly running into quicksand. They are losing basketball games faster than they can realize that their defense isn't as quick as it seems now. What they need to realize is that all championship contenders go through losing slumps. They have lost four games in a row. All losing slumps are no different from each other. All NBA teams go through losing slumps, especially championship contenders. What the Lakers need to realize now that they can shape up their defense and learn from this experience that this is no different from any of their losing streaks that they have experienced. They need to realize quickly as a team they can learn together from this losing streak or face quickly the long way to their third consecutive NBA title. If they are able to hold down the fort, then I believe the Lakers are in for a long haul if they can figure out why their defense has been slacking off. All teams go through it. This is a test for their adversity, a test of true character, true grit. If possible, the Lakers will be a better and tested playoff basketball team come May, if they can truly learn from this experience, this losing slump, the one slump Kobe Bryant, if Kobe Bryant says, winners take all the glory, then winners take all the glory. It is up to Kobe Bryant to decide what is best for his team to pull out of this losing slump. The Lakers need Kobe Bryant at his best to step up his game. This is what Kobe Bryant does for a living. Kobe, go out there and strut your stuff. Who cares what people think about how you spend your life lavishly in Los Angeles, instead of Philadelphia? You're a winner in your book and that's what you believe.