What We Learned from the First Weekend of the NBA Playoffs

Now that we've seen game one of each playoff series I'm going to analyze the five most important things we can take away from this past weekend:

1. Fitting 66 games in such a condensed period of time was a BAD idea.
The human body is only meant to take so much abuse. This season teams played 66 games over a span of 124 days, which is an average of playing more than every other night. Going into this condensed season everyone thought that older veterans may have trouble making it through the rough schedule, but in reality players of all ages have had a hard time. In the first two games of the postseason we witnessed two players tear their ACLs, ending both of their seasons. Age was not the issue for these two players, seeing as they were the 23 year old reigning  MVP, Derrick Rose, and the 21 year old rookie Iman Shumpert. Rose has been battling various injuries all season resulting in him missing over a third of his team's games. After battling to come back as soon as possible in order to miss the minimum number of games, Rose's body just never had the time to become fully healthy. Shumpert had a relatively healthy season, playing in 59 games this year as a rookie. Yet, on Saturday, his young body finally broke down resulting in this season ending injury while he was simply running down the court. In hindsight it would have been a better idea to either extend the length of the regular season, or cut the number of games down to 48.

2. The Magic have more heart than most of us anticipated.
When it was announced that Dwight Howard would miss the remainder of this season with a herniated disc, the entire basketball world all but wrote off the Magic as destined for an early first round exit from the postseason. However, the Magic came out and made a statement on Saturday, showing a lot of heart in a grind-it-out victory against the Indiana Pacers. The team had stand out performances by Jameer Nelson (17 points and 9 assists) and Jason Richardson (17 points with five 3-pointers). The most impressive performance for them was turned in by Glen 'Big Baby' Davis. Starting for the injured Dwight Howard, Davis logged a team high 40 minutes, scoring 16 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, to go along with 3 blocks. The defensive intensity displayed by the Magic was even more commendable. Despite playing without the three-time Defensive Player of the Year, the Pacers were only able to score 77 points against the stout defense of the Magic. They may have lost their best player but it is clear they will not just roll over.

3. Kevin Durant is ready for the pressure of no longer being an underdog.
The Oklahoma City Thunder spent most of this season as the first seed in the Western Conference only to be passed by the San Antonio Spurs late in the season. Despite being the two seed they are still considered by many to be the favorites to make it out of the West and into the NBA Finals. The first step for the Thunder is to take down the defending NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks, which is no easy task. After Dirk Nowitzki hit two clutch free throws to give the Mavs a 1 point lead with 9 seconds left, the ball was going to Kevin Durant for the last play and everyone knew it. To that point, Durant had been struggling from the field, making only 9 of his first 26 shots. Despite his struggles, he embraced the pressure of taking the last shot and buried it with only 1.5 seconds remaining to give the Thunder the lead and the win. It takes a great player to come up big with the game on the line, and Durant showed the world that he can handle the pressure.

4. Reggie Evans is still in the NBA.
Who knew!? But in all seriousness the Los Angeles Clippers were all but defeated, trailing by 27 points late in the third quarter. Most people probably already had stopped watching this game, and who could blame them. But for those of us who stuck with it, we got to witness one of the greatest comebacks in postseason history as the Clippers won 99-98. Obviously this was a team effort to complete the comeback, but Reggie Evans was the catalyst. He entered the game with a little over a minute left in the third quarter when the team was down by 25 points. He would stay in the remainder of the game, exerting a seemingly infinite amount of energy at both ends of the court. His passion and energy rubbed off on his teammates, affecting the game much farther than his stat line would suggest. The culmination of his effort was a go ahead lay up with under a minute left to take the lead for the first time in the game. The most telling stat was his plus/minus number of +24, showing how his presence on the floor was extremely helpful for his team. Clearly no matter how large the deficit, you can never count out the Clippers.

5. LeBron James is on a mission and will do whatever it takes to win an NBA Championship.
LeBron James sent a message out to the NBA on Saturday that everyone better watch out because he is more focused and determined than he has been his entire career. He played a phenomenal game as the Miami Heat blew out the New York Knicks 100-67. James had 32 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals, while shooting 10 of 14 from the field. The efficiency of his performance was extremely impressive, but it was his defense that truly got his message across. Carmelo Anthony came into the playoffs as one of the league's hottest players, scoring 29.8 points per game while shooting 49.5% from the field during the month of April. LeBron had the job of guarding 'Melo for a large portion of the game and did so with sheer excellence. 'Melo was never able to get going, only scoring 11 points while shooting a mere 20% from the field. Now, as a Heat fan, I understand there is a long way to go for them to win it all, and I'm not going to overreact to just one game. But if LeBron continues to play with that same intensity, then the NBA better watch out.

My NBA Regular Season Awards

Rookie of the Year: Kyrie Irving

Stats: 18.6 ppg, 5.6 apg, 3.9 rpg, 1.0 spg, 46.5 FG%

They might as well have given this award to Irving back in January because the competition hasn't even been close. His efficiency from the field is part of what sets Irving apart from his fellow rookies as he shoots 46.5% from the field and an outstanding 40.1% from three point range. His stats make him deserving enough, but what's even more impressive is the fact that he is already "the guy" on his team. No other rookie this year has had to put a team on his shoulders like Irving has, especially after the Cavs lost Anderson Varejao back in February. Although his play hasn't resulted in a winning record he provides hope for a team that watched their hope leave for Miami less than two years ago.

2nd place: Kenneth Faried

3rd place: Klay Thompson

 Most Improved Player: Andrew Bynum

Stats: 18.9 ppg, 11.9 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 56.2 FG%

Let me start off by saying that I'm not a big fan of Andrew Bynum, due to what I perceive as a major attitude problem. I spent a long time looking for someone else I could give this award to. Unfortunately for me I was unable to find someone more deserving than Bynum. One of his biggest improvements has simply been the fact that he finally stayed healthy for an entire season. But if you actually watch him play you can see that his statistical improvements are the result of much more than simply getting to play more. He has exhibited more skill in the low post as well as a greater defensive prowess, especially on the pick and roll. This improvement has resulted in an increase in rebounds per game and points per game of 2.5 and 7.6 respectively. By transforming himself from a perennially injured non-factor to the second option in the Lakers offense Bynum has earned himself this award.

2nd place: James Harden

3rd place: Greg Monroe

Coach of the Year: Frank Vogel

This was definitely the toughest award to give out simply because there are so many deserving coaches. Gregg Popovich has handled the Spurs lineup masterfully, dealing with the age of Tim Duncan and the injuries to Manu Ginobili. Tom Thibodeau has the Bulls as the number one seed in the East despite missing the defending MVP Derrick Rose for a large portion of the season. However, I have been extremely impressed with the job Vogel has done with the Indiana Pacers, leading them to the fifth best record in the league and the third seed in the Eastern Conference. The most impressive aspect of what Vogel has done is how he has this team playing together as a unit since the team is devoid of a star. The Pacers are the only team in the league that has all five of its starters averaging double-digit points. They also play well as one cohesive unit on defense, resulting in the 9th best scoring defense in the league. In a league where star players are given all the credit and coaches receive all the blame, Vogel has made the case that a star player isn't necessary to win.

2nd place: Gregg Popovich

3rd place: Tom Thibodeau

Sixth Man of the Year: James Harden

Stats: 16.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.7 apg, 48.9 FG% 84.4 FT%

Fear the Beard!!! James Harden is one of the most improved players in the league this year. His scoring has increased 4.7 ppg largely as a result of his increased efficiency from the floor (43.6% last year to 48.9% this year). He has also improved greatly as a play maker, almost doubling his assists per game from 2.1 to 3.7. This improvement has resulted in him being the runaway winner of this award. Harden is the leading scorer among bench players in the NBA and could easily start on at least 25 teams, including his own. However, he not only accepts his role off the bench, but actually embraces it since it is in the best interest of his team. He provides the Oklahoma City Thunder with a scoring punch off the bench and has been a crucial part of the team's success this season.

2nd place: Thaddeus Young

3rd place: Jason Terry

Defensive Player of the Year: Serge Ibaka

This was another tough decision for me. On paper this decision probably makes me look extremely foolish, but hear me out. Yes I acknowledge that Dwight Howard is probably the most dominant defensive force in the league right now and I also concede that he probably will win this award in real life. I have just one problem with that though. If you have watched the Orlando Magic play this year you will notice that in many close games Howard is not on the floor. One must wonder why the best player on the team isn't playing with the game on the line. Unfortunately he is shooting a career low 49.1% from the free throw line which makes him a liability in crunch time. I cannot in good conscience give this award to a player whose defensive skill is often useless when it matters the most. So now on to my recipient of this award, Serge Ibaka or as I like to call him, I-Block-a. This man is a force on the defensive end of the court protecting the rim and blocking shots with reckless abandon. At 3.63 blocks per game he leads the league in blocks by a large margin (JaVale McGee is second with 2.19 per game). Ibaka has the ability to protect the rim like no other player in the league, recording double digit blocks on three separate occasions this season. His defensive intensity and ability to block and alter shots at the rim make him more than deserving of this award.

2nd place: LeBron James

3rd place: Dwight Howard

Most Valuable Player: LeBron James

Stats: 27.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 6.3 apg, 1.9 spg, 53.1 FG%

This has been a two man race almost all year. LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant. Both have had extremely impressive seasons while leading their teams to great records, so there really isn't a wrong choice here. When simply looking at their stats and the records of their teams this is pretty much a wash between the two of them. What gives LeBron the edge in the competition in my eyes is his defensive prowess. Durant has taken great strides on the defensive side of the court this year but there is no competing with arguably the most versatile defender in NBA history. Never before has there been a player who can defend all five positions on the floor as well as LeBron. He often takes on the responsibility of guarding the opposing team's best player in crunch time regardless of his position. Most people complain that LeBron is surrounded by too much talent to win this award but if you have watched the Miami Heat then you know that just isn't true. He leads the team in points, assists, rebounds, and steals, but more importantly he does whatever is required of him on any given night. If the rest of the team is struggling shooting, he'll pour in 40 points. If his teammates are on fire he'll facilitate and pile up the assists. If they're getting torched by an opposing player then he will shut them down on the defensive end. He does whatever it takes to win and that is what makes him the MVP of the league.

2nd place: Kevin Durant

3rd place: Tony Parker



#IDon'tHeartSkipBayless

Those of you who have watched ESPN First Take are quite familiar with Skip Bayless. For those of you who don't know, ESPN First Take is a sports debate show that features Skip Bayless vs. various opponents ranging from reporters/analysts to current athletes. I watch this show on a regular basis and each time I do I find myself more and more frustrated with Bayless, as he seems more and more willing to say just about anything to stir up a response. Now I understand it's part of his job to make the show interesting and entertaining, but as a "journalist" he's just taking it too far.

The biggest problem I have with Skip Bayless is his inconsistency when judging athletes. On what seems to be a daily basis he finds a way to bring Lebron James into the conversation in order to criticize him, primarily focusing on his late game struggles. This is fair criticism seeing as it's no secret that Lebron has had his share of issues dealing with late game pressure. Skip also absolutely loves Tim Tebow, because even though he generally plays quite poorly for three quarters, he then steps up in the fourth to win a lot of games. So based on this criteria it is safe to assume that Skip's criteria for being a great player relies predominantly on their play at the end of games, and on winning, which is fair.

The problem then is that he doesn't always use this aspect of a player's game to evaluate him. Bayless continues to promote Tony Romo as an elite QB, claiming that he does in fact have a "major clutch gene". To see if Romo really is clutch I did a bit of research. Since becoming a starter he has had a problem leading his team to victories late in seasons (or in other words when the pressure is at its highest), resulting in a regular season record of 9-13 in the months of December and January. In addition to this record Romo has amased himself only one playoff win in all these years. So while following the criteria Skip uses when evaluating the likes of Lebron and Tebow, I fail to see how Romo lives up to that "elite" rating. Could it be that he is biased due to his history as a columnist for the Dallas Cowboys? Maybe. But something certainly doesn't add up.

Skip's new favorite victim is Russell Westbrook, point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite having a career year (24.3 ppg, 5.4 apg, 4.5 rpg, 46.6 FG%) and helping to lead the Thunder to the top seed in the Western Conference, Westbrook finds himself being constantly labeled as a problem. Bayless focuses solely on the decreased number of assists Westbrook has this year, ignoring the fact that it is mostly the result of increased playmaking ability of teammates Kevin Durant and James Harden. I don't know about you, but to me it seems ludicrous to ridicule a guy who's playing as well as Westbrook is.

I could put up with all of Skip's nonsense if it stopped at poor evaluation of talent. After all, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The last straw that makes this man completely insufferable as a sports journalist is how often he resorts to personal attacks and other unprofessional behaviors. If he wants to criticize Chris Bosh for not being aggressive enough or Lebron for not being clutch enough, that's perfectly fine. I'm a diehard Heat fan and I acknowledge both of those problems. But he then degrades his own argument by resorting to school yard bullying, often referring to Bosh and James as Bosh Spice (referencing a member of the Spice Girls) and Queen James respectively. He doesn't reserve personal attacks for athletes only, but even goes after fellow members of the media. A stand out example was last summer when Skip claimed that NBA analyst Chris Broussard "sold his journalistic soul" and let his feelings get in the way of his work. This may seem rather mundane but to a journalist that is the highest of insults.

All in all I understand that everyone is entitled to their opinion and that at the end of the day Bayless needs to keep the show entertaining since it is a business after all. But there is a line and Skip Bayless has crossed it far too many times. He criticizes just for the sake of it, and he often resorts to personal attacks that make him seem like a petty child. As I stated before I watch First Take on a regular basis, but I can say with 100% certainty it is not because I enjoy listening to Skip. He is an insult to sports journalism as he often displays his lack of knowledge regarding the topics he is debating. ESPN should be ashamed that they allow someone such as Skip Bayless to have a show on their network and need to seriously consider going in a new direction for that show. #TakeSkipOffTheAir

Age Eligibility for the NBA Draft

NBA Commissioner David Stern has started to discuss the possibility of increasing the minimum eligibility age for the NBA draft, which leads to the question of how long, if at all, a kid should have to stay in college. I never thought that I would utter the following statement, but I agree with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. I too believe that one of the very few things college football has done right is their rule that players must stay in college at least three years.

I could try to make the claim that if players want to be successful in the NBA then it’s better for them to stay in college for longer, but that just isn’t true. There is no way to prove that an extra year or two in college would have made anyone any more successful in the NBA. To be honest, most of the best players in the NBA came out early or skipped college altogether. There have been 38 players drafted since 2000 that went to school in the U.S. and have made it to at least one All-Star game. 29 of them entered the NBA early. Clearly it’s more than just a possibility to enter the league early and go on to success.

Despite the success of a select handful there are many players who do not find success in the NBA, and therein lies the problem. The average NBA career is under 5 years and many players don’t even last that long. So now those who don’t find success in the NBA find themselves out of a job with barely any education. It is these young men that we never hear about and therefore don’t take into consideration.

Not only do these players suffer, but the institution of college basketball suffers as well. It has to deal with losing all of its best players after only one year. This makes it much harder for coaches to build winning programs, because you want to recruit the most talented players, but you don’t want them to leave so quickly.

I may be old fashioned but I still believe that education is the most important thing. Even if a player goes on to have a good NBA career he still has a many years left after he stops playing and should be able to contribute something to society. Some people believe the players need to step up and stay in college despite being allowed to leave early. However, I can’t say I blame anyone for bailing out of college early. When you see the possibility of a multimillion dollar payday, how can you expect someone to pass that up? Especially when you consider that one bad knee injury can end a career before it even begins. So no, I don’t blame players for leaving college early. I believe the NBA needs to require players to stay in college at least three years. This way the young men will only have to make that tough decision once, and get at least three years of legitimate college education. We may never see the rule change, but for the sake of all those players that just don’t cut it in the NBA, I sure hope we do.