Sports Blog

For the first time since Tim Duncan did it in the 2001-02 NBA season, a former rookie of the year took down NBA Most Valuable Players honors. That former ROY is Lebron James and he accepted the award yesterday from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, his alma mater.

Unlike the MVP race of the past few years, this years award went through little scrutiny.  Sure there were a few dissenters who favored Dwayne Wade (who received seven first place votes and finished third in voting) or Kobe Bryant (who finished second in voting and received two first place votes), but the most deserving player was clearly King James.

Here are ten reasons why James deserved to win this years MVP trophy:

1) The Cleveland Cavaliers 66-16 record was good for the number one seed in the east and home court advantage in the NBA finals should they get that far.  MVP voters put a lot of weight into team success and no team had greater regular season success than the Cavs.

2) At 39-2 the Cavs finished just one game short of the ‘86 Celtics all time best home court record (Cavs final lost was in the last game of season and they rested their starters).  Another team accomplishment, but James deserves the lion’s share of the kudos.

3) Unlike other top scorers in the league (Joe Johnson I’m looking at you) James is a two-way player.  While defense is hard to quantify in statistics, James did finish second in defensive player of the year honors.  He can guard nearly any player on the court and frequently slowed down opposing teams best weapons.

4) James finished second in the league in points per game with 28.4 and did it shooting a very respectable .489 from the field.  His mid-range game continues to improve and no one is better at finishing around the basket than Lebron.

5) Any player that knows how to drive is going to get his share of free throws.  James did just that finishing second in the league in free throws made per game with an impressive 7.3.  Add in his improved free throw percentage (78% this year, 71% last year) and James helped his team with a lot of easy points from the charity stripe.

6) James is also very proficient around the glass.  His 7.8 rebounds per game is good for second in the NBA among non power forwards and centers and is yet another testament to his versatility.

7) As if the shooting, rebounding and defense weren’t enough James also finished ninth in the NBA in assists and second among non point guards with 7.2 a game.  While it would be nearly impossible for him to average a triple double for a season, James is definitely the player most capable of accomplishing it.

Although he isn’t among the league leaders in blocks, he is responsible for popularizing the term come from behind blocks.  Anyone who saw him break up Jason Richardson’s 360 dunk attempt can certainly attest to that, and nothing jacks up a team like a monster block.

9) Another aspect of the game that is hard to quantify is team chemistry.  You could argue all day about how important it is to winning (very), but there is no question the Cavs have it in spades.  From their unique hand shakes to scripted celebrations, they genuinely seem to like each other and James is largely responsible.

10) According to stats from 82games.com, James has a better shooting percentage in the clutch (4th quarter or overtime, less than 5 minutes left, neither team ahead by more than 5 points) than either Wade or Bryant, and it’s not even that close: James, .556; Wade, .470; Bryant, .457.

Image Source: edeporte.com

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for Lebron James memorabilia.

If you have been watching the NBA playoffs you probably feel like the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers are destined to meet in the finals.  The reason so many people feel this way is simple — it is the only logical conclusion based on everything that has happened from the beginning of the season to now.  Well, that and the fact that it is David Stern’s dream scenario (kidding … sort of).

One thing that may be less clear, however, is what team is going to prevail.  So for all of you who are unsure about who is going to win it all, here are 10 reasons why the Lakers will be hoisting up another championship banner into the rafters.

1.  Revenge factor:  It is becoming increasingly unlikely that they will see the Boston Celtics should they make the finals, but avenging last years embarrassing game six performance is surely on the mind of everyone in the organization.  There is no way they let what happened then (or 2004 for that matter) happen again.

2.  Kobe Bryant:  Lest we forget amid the flurry of props for Lebron James and Dwayne Wade that Bryant is arguably still the best player in the game and certainly one of its best finishers.  A player of his stature, someone who is already in the top 20 all time and might retire in the top 10, can accomplish a lot on will power alone.

3.  Phil Jackson:  Some people refuse to give Jackson credit because all of his titles have come with either Bryant or Michael Jordan at the helm.  I am not one of those people. Jackson is a calming influence with championship experience and that will come into play during the Lakers run to the finals.

4.  Lock-down defender:  To get through the gantlet of quality players in the playoffs you need someone who can play shut down defense.  The Lakes have Trevor Ariza and he is a flat out beast.  He can guard multiple positions, run the break and knock down the three point shot.

5.  Weaker west:  This is the year the almighty Western Conference finally took a step back.  It still took a better record to get into the playoffs than it did in the east, but no one can argue it is as strong as it was last year.  Even traditional arch nemesis San Antonio is playing with a hurt Tim Duncun and without Manu Ginobli.

6.  Twin towers:  Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum are one of the better front court combinations since Duncan/David Robinson won it all in 1999 (they did again in 2003 but Robinson had declined by then).  Bynum is coming off an injury, but if the two start clicking they can guard any front line in the NBA.

7.  Variety of styles:  The Lakers offense can play in half court sets or push it up-tempo.  Bryant and Derek Fisher execute Jackson’s heralded triangle offense to near perfection, making the Lakers the third highest scoring team in the regular season.  No matter who they play the Lakers will put plenty of points on the board.

8.  Team depth:  Part of what makes the Lakers so tough is the minimal drop off between the first and second units.  Their backup guards (Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic and Shannon Brown) and big men (Lamar Odom, Josh Powell and Luke Walton) are very capable and could start on some teams.

9.  Cavaliers match-up:  Assuming both teams make it the Lakers are best equipped to handle King James.  No one player can guard James, but a combination of Ariza’s quickness, Odom’s length, and Bryant’s all-around defensive efficiency could slow him down better than any other team.

10.  Hunger:  A lot of people in the franchise have something to prove despite the fact that none of them would admit it.  Bryant wants to win a title without Shaq.  Jackson wants to surpass Red Auerbach for all-time championships as a coach.  Gasol needs to prove his toughness.  Odom needs to show he can play a variety of roles in a contract year.  The list goes on and on.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop through a variety of Los Angeles Lakers’ gear.

Image Source: ftaconcept.com

This week in sports blogs and news:

• Plaxico Burress, Chad Johnson and Anquan Boldin want to be traded - SI
• Roberto Alomar’s ex-girlfriend claims he gave her AIDS and is suing him - SportsByBrooks
• 2009 Detroit Lions “Schedule” released - Larry Brown Sports
• Sal Fasano can save baseball - The Sports Hernia
• Ken Griffey Jr. may be going back to Seattle - Seattle Mariners Website
• Mike Tyson to write a book - Contact Music
• FBI to tackle baffling Super Bowl porn case - Deadspin

This week on the Smarter Sports Blog we covered:

• “Knew I Shouldn’t Have Taken That Hit”
• Lawrence Taylor to Start “Dancing”
• Dwayne Wade’s Image Is Not So Clean After All
• Mo Williams Finally Makes the All-Star Team
• Southwest Airlines Loves Bikinis and Bar Refaeli
  

First it was the rumors about him being unfaithful to his wife and now this.

A former business partner of Dwayne Wade, Richard Von Houtman, has said that he has seen the married Wade and his entourage hold sex parties and doing drugs at a Miami Beach apartment rented by the NBA player.

Of course, Wade’s publicist says that these allegations are just “fairy tales” and why shouldn’t they? With the rumors of Wade cheating on his wife, and if these rumors do have any truth to them, the squeaky clean, religious image of Wade would be ruined.

But really though, should this come as any shock? What famous, star athlete hasn’t made some of these mistakes. It’s just like when we found out Michael Jordan was getting a divorce from his wife for infidelity. We were shocked, but at the same time, not so much.

To read more about this, click here.

This week in news and sports blogs around the Net:

• Vince Young parties only one way: Topless and surrounded by dudes - Blogxilla.com
• Top 7: Cards/Cubs Crossovers - Joe Sports Fan
• Charles Barkley owes $400 thousand to Vegas Casino - Fox Sports
• Is Dwayne Wade turning into Britney Spears - Deuce of Davenport
• Lance Briggs is the New Shawn Kemp - Deadspin
• Mike Tyson to fight Kimbo Slice - Sports by Brooks
• Memorable Moments: When Mom is in Attendance - The Sports Hernia
  
• Ken Griffey Jr. repays $1500 debt…in pennies - Larry Brown Sports

And in the Smarter Sports Blog we talked about:

• “I have this weird feeling I’m being watched”
• Kim Kardashian’s Calendar to Reggie Bush Hits the Net
• Basketball Video: Don’t Mess with Lebron James’ Mom
• Funny Soccer Video: Soccer Bloopers
• Funny Video: When Fun on a Pogo Stick Goes Bad
  

This week in news and sports blogs around the Net:

• Dennis Rodman arrested for domestic violence - LA Times
• Book sales not going so well? Jose Canseco’s $2.5 million home foreclosed on - Fox Sports
• Chelsea soccer players celebrate and party with Jenna Jameson - The Sun
• Top 7: Overhyped Pitching Debuts - Joe Sports Fan
• Joe Buck and Tim McCarver got rides at the World Series by U.S. Marshalls - Sports by Brooks
• Karl Malone Impregnated a 13-year-old - Buffalo News
• We Should Be GMs give their April Phillies Rewind - We Should be GMs
  
• Dwayne Wade explains his relationship with Star Jones - Deuce of Davenport

And in the Smarter Sports Blog we talked about:

• “The Rangers will try anything, and anyone, for a win”
• Buffalo Guard Suspended for Term Paper Ad on Facebook
• Show Me the Money! Eagles Sue Terrell Owens for $770,000
• Peyton Manning Loses his Cool on the Sidelines
• Roger Clemens Linked to John Daly’s Ex, Paulette Dean Daly
  

Looks like the Diesel is making a stop in Phoenix.

Shaquille O’Neal was traded yesterday to the Phoenix Suns, for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.

The Suns hope that by bringing Shaq to the desert, it will help them with their undersized, low post presence, while the Miami Heat receive one of the top forwards in the league who’s been wanting out of Phoenix for some time.

I’m not too sure how the deal will help the Suns out the gate, with Shaq still nursing a hip injury and has been having the worst year of his professional career, averaging 14.2 points and 7.8 rebounds. The move would also be able to plant Amare Stoudamire into his more natural power forward position.

The Heat though get a proven scoring threat in Marion and someone who can run alongside Dwayne Wade.

Until Shaq is able to suit up, that big body won’t be filling up the paint down low. But what it will do is fill up a seat on the bench and about $20 million in salary cap space.

Source: Fox Sports

Photo Source.

This week in news and sports blogs around the Net:

• Yankees Chick talks about A-Rod’s likely return to the Yankees - Yankees Chick
  
• The Sports Hernia has a little fun with Phil Jackson’s recent remarks - The Sports Hernia
• The new Fathead commercial is a bit scary - Awful Announcing
• The Lambeau grab? - The Big Lead
• Crappy Cy Young winners of the modern era - Joe Sports Fan

And in Smarter Sports we talked about:

• Come on man, staring is rude
• Check out last weekend’s fantasy football studs
• Yankees keep Jorge Posada with new deal
• Hardest hits of the NFL
• Dwayne Wade to take on Hollywood?
• Ricky Williams is back in the NFL!
• Alex Rodriguez reaches out to the Yankees!
• Barry Bonds indicted!

Photo Source.

Dennis Rodman: Double Team

Shaquille O’Neal: Kazaam!

Michael Jordan: Space Jam

Is Dwayne Wade the next NBA athlete in line to test out his acting chops? Spit out some raps on a hip hop album? It’s starting to look that way. As if South Beach wasn’t enough to handle, Flash is gonna get a bit more flashy in Hollywood after he just signed on with the William Morris Agency.

Guess we can only sit back and see what Wade thinks he’s got other talent in. If history is anything to go by, lets just hope he’s not just another athlete who thinks he can act or rap.

Cough-Kobe-cough.

Source: Sports Business Journal

Photo Source.

Well, it turns out that either the rumor about Dwayne Wade dating Gabrielle Union has either fizzled or this little piece of gossip is false.

But according to The New York Post, it turns out that New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter is now up to bat with the Bad Boys II bombshell.

Photo Source: Derek Jeter, Gabrielle Union.