The Decision - One Month Anniversary

I was in Spain during the historical July 1st free agent frenzy. Even though I caught World Cup fever for the first time in my life, I still could not help it but have my mind on how the NBA will unfold. Where will LeBron go? Where will D-Wade go? How much will Toronto regret not trading Bosh at the trade deadline?

Needless to say, there was zero coverage whatsoever in Europe on what's going on in the NBA. Seriously, I mean zero. Not even a mentioning of LeBron taking his talents to South Beach on the sports ticker. Did anyone around me care? No. Was I surprised? No. Should you be surprised? Well... no. Because in the end, what was supposed to be a historical event of superstars changing addresses, shifting powers, dethroning Kobe and the Lakers, and LeBron saving the Knicks, was nothing more than a facade.

In the NBA, all great things comes in 3s and now you can add another one in Miami with LeBron, Wade and Bosh teaming up for the next 6 years. The parties have already begun in South Beach as the NBA's greatest kept secret has finally been revealed to the masses. Yes, people are bitter (except for the residences of Miami) but the only thing we truly should be upset with is that we were forced to wait until July 8 to verify what we already knew. The ongoing circus of the Miami Thrice meeting teams, "debating" options and televised specials was truly an embarrassment to the NBA and its fans.

And then there was "The Decision." LeBron's one-hour special of ego-stroking was one of the most detrimental moves an athlete has ever done to damage their own personal brand. He was one cellphone and two-blonde bimbos away from pulling a Tiger. Now, does LeBron have a right to leave Cleveland? Yes. Does he have the right to join his two pals in Miami to make long playoff runs every year? Absolutely. Does he have the right to not show the courtesy of informing the Cavs of his decision in advance and making the Cleveland fan base look foolish in the process? No. Would Michael, Magic or Larry have ever done this? No.

We have had a month to digest all that has happened. Like it or not, it is what it is. Three best friends have joined forces, taken less money and sacrifice personal accolades for the chance to play basketball together. LBJ, D-Wade and Bosh are together and everyone is expecting a collision course between the Heat and the Lakers. Las Vegas already has the Heat as the favorites to win the Larry O'Brien trophy but are they better than the Lakers as of right now?

There are several key areas that may be weakspots for the Heat in which the Lakers can expose:

Frontcourt: Yes, the have Bosh. But I can guarantee you that most NBA executives would probably prefer Pau Gasol and his pedigree as of this season. The Heat are extremely weak at the centre position with a committee consisting of Žydrunas Ilgauskas, Joel Anthony, Juwan Howard and Jamaal Magloire. Although there is a sense of veteran savviness, I highly doubt that it strike fear in the eyes of others. The Laker frontcourt trio of Gasol, Bynum and Odom along with newly acquired Theo Ratliff can easily control what Miami has to offer both offensively and defensively.


Depth: Outside of the Miami Thrice and perhaps Mike Miller, I really question the quality of their role players and their impact on a game. The likes of James Jones, Eddie House and Carlos Arroyo may have a difficult time making any contribution on the court with 3 superstars and 1 basketball. On the other side of the ball, the Lakers have established, effective role players. They have added Steve Blake to be a playmaker off the bench who can control the tempo of the game with the Laker's second unit. They have added a tough defensively-minded Matt Barnes who can also hit from long range. And they have brought back high-flying Shannon Brown and Mr. Khloe Kardashian.


Chemistry: There will be a 82 game season to see if the Heat can discover the perfect chemistry to involve all necessary players and they may figure it out. But right now, the Lakerss are seasoned champions who know how to get it done. They have one undisputed leader in Kobe Bryant. The Celtics have admitted to taking nearly 60 games in 2008 before they figured out the perfect chemistry. But keep in mind their Big 3 were 30+ year old veterans who have done-it-all on a personal level, suffered, and would sacrifice anything to win. Can the new Big 3 of superstars entering their prime in their mid-20s do the same? 


Matchups: There is the notion that no team can play man-to-man with the Heat. And I agree, unless you're the Lakers. The frontcourt battle is heavily in the Lakers favor as Gasol had established himself as a low-post force with his performace against Kevin Garnett last spring. Kobe v. Wade is an interesting matchup, they may just cancel each other out in the end. LeBron will have to go up against Ron Artest and Matt Barnes in which he should gain the upper hand, but how much? The Lakers' bench is much deeper and more experienced which may be their competitive advantage. Needless to say, the Lakers do not need to structure their lineups to match the Heat. It may be the other way around. 


As of right now, I would that the Lakers in a 7-game series against the Heat. But we still have a full season to watch to determine how the Heat really are and whether Ron Artest will shotgun a 6-pack before game time while getting "Tru Warrior 2.0" shaved onto his head.


Thoughts on other transactions:

• After striking out on luring a franchise savior, New York Knick owner James Dolan invested $100 million on a PF who has had reconstructive knee surgery and permanent eye problems while bringing back the man responsible for wasting the past decade as a consultant? I can't wait for the 2018 Spike Lee documentary "James Dolan Shits His Pants - How the Knicks Empire Was Destroyed in 2010". 
• It's amazing how, when all things are said and done, Joe Johnson got the richest contract out of all the free agents. 
• Absolutely love the Carlos Boozer move to Chicago. The Bulls finally get a low-post scoring presence they have been looking for the past 5 years. Along with Rose, Noah, a healthy Deng (sounds kinda funny), and a great bench - these Bulls are no push-overs in the East.
• How much does Steve Nash regret signing that two year contract extension last season? You replace Stoudemire as your running-mate with Hakim Warrick. Yikes!
• How much longer before Bryan Colangelo gets fired? Over/Under 1.5 seasons? 
• T-Wolves GM David Kahn replaces an automatic double-double in Al Jefferson with Darko Milicic and an enigmatic Michael Beasley. How did Kahn get his job? I believe his interview process involved a picture of a donkey, a cardboard cutout of its tail and a blindfold.

LeBron in Big D?

Oh where oh where will Lebron go? That is the million dollar question heading into the 2010 free agency period. A period in which the entire landscape of the NBA can be altered by the decisions of Lebron, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and others. But LBJ is the most coveted free agent and coming off another disappointing season of not meeting expectations, will he leave his hometown and head to greener pastures? 


Several rumours are circulating regarding where LBJ may end up. New York, Chicago, Miami, New Jersey, or staying in Cleveland. Each team has its own individual merits for being in the LBJ Sweepstakes conversation. But there is one team that may be able to offer more value to LBJ, from a basketball and economic standpoint, than any other team... the Dallas Mavericks. Laugh it up, snicker if you must but the Mavericks have all the assets that will benefit both Lebron and the Cavaliers and help him reach his goals on and off the court. 


The quality of the Mavericks roster: With the move made at this past trade deadline, the Mavericks have one of the most talented, deepest and versatile rosters in the NBA. They have a Top 10 talent in Dirk Nowitzki, a diversified backcourt in J-Kidd, Jason Terry, Caron Butler, and JJ Barea, defensive toughness in the form of Shawn Marion and Brenden Haywood, up and coming prospect in Roddy Beaubois and on and on. When matched up against the rest of the NBA, Dallas can run with the best of them. 
Much has been said of the Mavs' recent playoff disappointment. Yes, they choked against the Spurs. Yes, they underachieved. Yes, it is very disappointing. Yes, I am still trying to get over it. But in their defence, the management staff made the usual critical error and that is, they make necessary moves 4 months too late. The trade forced the Mavs to turnover 40% of their starting 5 (Butler and Haywood) and leaving only two and half months to incorporated them into the game plan. Fatal mistake. If given a full season, can we all not agree that the Mavs would have advanced further in the playoffs? Throw Lebron into the mix, can we not all agree the Mavs would be title contenders?

Mark Cuban: There is a lot of noise being made about New Jersey's new Russian billionaire owner, Mikhail Prokorov, and his free-spending, bachelor/playboy lifestyle. But let's not forget the original "headline grabbing, free-spending, in-your-face, doesn't give a damn about David Stern" owner... Mark Cuban. Cuban will play a significant part in attracting LBJ to Dallas with his track record and resume. 1) Money is no object for Cuban. The trade with Washington added an additional $15 million to next years salary cap. Cuban will just have to devote a few minutes digging in his sofa cushions to pay this off. 2) Cuban is not afraid to pull the trade trigger. We have seen it over the last few years with the J-Kidd and Butler trade. Whether they were good moves is up for debate. But needless to say, Cuban will make the necessary transactions to give his team the best chance of winning every year. 3) Knowledge of the NBA. Prokorov is a rookie and will be learning on the fly about the ins and outs of the NBA. Cuban is a seasoned veteran. Not only does he understand the economical side of the business (ie. salary cap structure) but also the marketing side and what makes the NBA a global sport. 4) Business Knowledge. Cuban is an internet guru and owns his own HDTV cable network along with several other business ventures. In other words, he is a savvy business man. Can Lebron learn a thing or two from Cuban to help build his own global business empire? (YES!) Perhaps maybe a joint venture? (Okay, no.)


Sign and Trade Partner: Chris Bosh has gone on record to saying he will work out a sign and trade with Toronto if he chooses to leave. What this does is create a win-win situation for both parties - Bosh goes to the team he wants and gets a max deal that will pay him an extra $30mil and Cleveland gets something in return and not lose Bosh for nothing. The same scenario can be applied to LBJ and the other free agents. The questions is which teams have the assets to complete a sign and trade, give the Cavs quality players, and still keep a competitive roster surrounding Lebron? Do you see where I'm going with this?
Dallas can facilitate any sort of trade scenario that Cleveland may want. They have talented wing players that can fill in the vacant spot left by Lebron (Butler, Marion), young players with high potential (Beaubois), role players to fill out the trade (Terry, Barea) and of course cash! But the biggest bargaining chip is Erick Dampier's contract. Dampier has a one year, $13 million non-guaranteed contract that is based on performance measures. How does this benefit Cleveland? A trade scenario involving Dampier allows numbers to match up (in terms of salary cap) but in reality the Cavs do not have to pay his full salary if they choose not to (ie: not play Dampier so he does not meet performance measures). This provides the Cavs with huge financial flexibility to either go after free agents or rebuild and not completely implode as an organization. 

The Jerry-dome: The success of the 2010 Allstar Weekend was largely due to the venue - the brand new $1.3 billion Cowboys Stadium. The House that Jerry Built seated over 108,000 spectators for the event and presented a stage that is unrivaled in the NBA. Needless to say, Lebron was in attendance. Jerry Jones and Mark Cuban have gone on record in saying they would be willing to host a few home games a year at the stadium. Can you imagine the marketing and exposure this presents for Lebron? Let's say they play 4 home games a year at the stadium, can you not target specific dates to increase television ratings... lets say games against Kobe, Wade, Spurs and Raptors (JUST KIDDING, how about Houston?). Also worth noting, Lebron's favorite NFL team is the Dallas Cowboys.


No State Income Tax: Imagine making $130 million and not having to pay a personal income tax on it. You won't have to worry about the IRS knocking on your mansion and harassing your maids and accountants. Out of all the teams in serious contention for Lebron's services, only two teams can offer this - Miami and Dallas.


Television Market: Dallas has the 5th largest US television market in the US which provides huge exposure that Cleveland cannot. The only relevant markets ahead of Dallas are New York and Chicago. 

2010 Playoffs - Final Thoughts

The 2009/2010 sports season has come to an end with championship hardware being handed out. Normally, sports fans are scrambling to pick up new hobbies to fill in the hours devoted to sports (Sorry baseball. You’re like a PB&J sandwich – it solves my hunger but it doesn’t hit the spot like a grilled-cheese), but thankfully this year we have the World Cup.

The young guns of Chicago won the Stanley Cup while the Lakers were able to get the best of their archrivals the Boston Celtics. The 2010 playoffs will go down as one of the most thrilling, climatic, entertaining and memorable post-seasons ever. After spending hours watching, debating and podcasting, I have come to some revelations about the NHL and NBA along with some random observations.

NBA:

The best player in the NBA is Kobe Bryant: And it’s not even a debate. No one is even close. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, to some degree, partially or completely, believed that Lebron has taken the throne as the best player in the league with an astounding statistical season backed by a second consecutive MVP trophy. He outplayed Kobe in two regular season games and helped the Cavs get the best record. Result? Second round exit by the hands of the Celtics. At this moment, Lebron is where Kobe was post-Shaq trade. He fills up the box scores but unable to win when it matters most. Yes, Lebron is less selfish than Kobe was however; he lacks the killer instinct that Kobe has had his whole career. Lebron has not proven to be a clutch performer on the same scale as Kobe nor has he developed an understanding of when to take over games when it matters most. Kobe is now a 5-time champion because he has finally found the balance between being the game-assassin and the superstar that elevates the play of this teammates. Until Lebron can find that balance, he will play second-banana to Kobe. At some point, Lebron will become the undisputed King of the NBA. How fast Lebron discovers that balance will be the deciding factor on whether Lebron takes that crown away from Kobe or whether Kobe hands it to him. Kobe's legacy is unquestionably legendary however...


The Kobe/MJ comparisons are still absurd: Kobe now has 5 championships and is one away from tying MJ. There is a good possibility that Kobe will surpass MJ considering his age (31) and playing level. But regardless if Kobe gets 6, 7 or more rings, he will not dethrone MJ as the Basketball God. If greatness was measured strictly by rings then Bill Russell's 11 rings should end all debate. In the past two seasons, Kobe, without a doubt, has propelled himself up the rankings on the greatest players list. He may have made the "Who is the Greatest Laker ever?" conversation a little more interesting. But when it comes down to how is the greatest, that title will remain with His Airness.

Ron Artest’s post-game interview will become a classic: After the interview happens, I messaged my buddy ASam and asked whether Artest’s interview is better than KG’s 2008 interview. He responds, “It’s not as iconic or as quotable as KG but unintentional comedy is off the charts.” How can you go against that statement when the guy thanks his psychiatrist and bear hugs a middle-aged white reporter? You can’t! It has “Top 10 (fill in the blank)” quality written all over it. FYI, Artest has a new single coming out this summer titled “Champion” that he recorded last June (you see, the comedy is literally of the charts).


Why is Magic Johnson an analyst? Yes, he is one of the greatest of all time and so forth. But Magic has nearly a 5% stake in the Lakers franchise and does that not restrict his analytical range when calling a game like this? How can an owner publicly go against his team? Hypothetically, if Magic felt the Celtics were going to win Game 7 during the pre-game show, would he even be allowed to be standing on the podium during the trophy ceremony? 

NHL:

Championship teams are built around a franchise center: Since the lockout, the 5 Stanley Cup champions had the following centerpieces: Chicago – Toews (C) and Kane (C), Pittsburgh – Crosby (C) and Malkin (C), Detroit – Lidstrom (D), Datsyuk (C), and Zetterberg (C), Anaheim – Neidermeyer (D) and Pronger (D), Carolina – Staal (C) and Brindamour (C). With the exception of Anaheim, all other champs revolved their team around franchise center(s) which may explain why teams with/had franchise wingers failed yearly (ie: Washington (Ovechkin), Columbus (Nash), Atlanta (Kolvachuk), and Calgary (Iginla)). Furthermore, the centre must play a solid two-way game. Each center listed has that attribute with maybe the exception of Kane (covered by Toews). Therefore, I think this argument may shed some light on the Taylor(LW) vs. Tyler(C) debate (although apparently Taylor claims his natural position is center and converted to LW only because they had too many centers on his junior team already… can’t wait till this debate ends).


To touch the conference trophy or not? I find players' superstitions so amusing. Whether it is putting on their left skate first or sleeping in the opponents jersey the night before the game, there is no real justification for these actions. The most interesting superstition of all is, of course, whether teams should touch the Conference Championship trophies upon winning them. This year the Blackhawks decided not to touch the Campbell Trophy while Mike Richards and the Flyers decided to lift the Wales Trophy, following in the footsteps of Sidney Crosby in hopes of breaking the superstition and winning it all. The hysterical part of this year is how the Flyers had an impromptu summit to quickly decide what to do with the trophy. Well, we all know who won this time. In the last two seasons, one team has elected to touch the conference trophy while the other team does not. The score is 1-1. So I must ask, do you touch the conference trophy or not?

NHL’s marketing team finally produced some good commercials: The NHL marketing team has done an atrocious job at developing a compelling advertisement campaign since the lockout. Nothing was worse than their “Is this the year?” campaign which involved players asking hypothetical questions to hype up the potential “unexpectedness” of the 2007 season. The NBA has capitalized on their “Where Amazing Happens” slogan and expanded it to the point where you can replace “Amazing” with any other relevant adjective(s) and corresponding footage to make it a hit. But this year, the NHL’s playoff commercials titled "History Will Be Made" have finally stroked a cord with its audience. They paid homage to the past while being able to exemplify athletic characteristics like inspiration, perseverance and greatness. Therefore, the NHL was able to answer my question: “Is this the year that the NHL actually realize how comical their commercials are and produce something good?”

Break Even Point - Playoff Finals Edition

The Championship Finals have finally arrived and needless to say I am still upset I allowed ASam to convince me to take Montreal in the previous round. That anger fueled the heated debate in our Finals Edition of the Break Even Point.

Both the NHL and NBA Finals will showcase phenomenal matchups. On the ice, we have the race to see who can end their championship drought. The Philadelphia Flyers are enduring a 34 year drought while the Chicago Blackhawks haven't sipped champagne from the Stanley Cup since 1961. Who will win? One thing is for sure, the Maple Leafs will remain losers since 1967.

On the court, we got the storied rivalry of the Boston Celtics and the LA Lakers going at it. Will the Boston playoff moniker of "Beat LA" prevail once again or will the Lakers' "Suck it Boston" reign supreme?

Check out the Break Even Point podcasts as we break down the matchups, predict the winners and ASam makes a bold challenge to one of our listeners!

NHL Playoff FINALS Preview

NBA Playoff FINALS Preview



P.O.T A little inspiration music for all you to get ready for the finals. Check it out here. Why did CBC ever get rid of this classic?

Reflecting on 24

The infamous 24 clock has counted down to zero and Jack Bauer has exited our television lives. After eight miserable days, JB can finally take a breather before continuing his killing spree on the big screen (NOTE: Bauer's kill count after 8 seasons is 266. How far were you off?).

24 was easily one of the best action-dramas on television during its run. Although the flare of the show began to disappear near its end, it's hard to imagine a character of JB's stature entering my life any time soon. When people begin replacing "Chuck Norris Facts" with "Jack Bauer Facts" you know this character is instantly iconic. (Favorite JB Fact: 1.6 billion Chinese are angry with Jack Bauer. Sounds like a fair fight.)

There are many things to miss about JB and 24:

• The ridiculousness of an individual's day (Example: Battling terrorists without food or a bathroom break.)
• The curse of JB on the people around him (how mentally screwed-up Audrey Raines and Renee Walker become, death of sidekicks like Curtis, strained relationships with all immediate and extended family... just to name a few).
• CTU - the employees (R.I.P Edgar Stiles), the technology, and the their ability to dig up dirt on just about anyone on the planet within an hour or less.
• The US Government - You can definitely match up the presidents in 24 with the real-life politicians. Charles Logan = George Bush (obvious reasons), David Palmer = Barrack Obama (obvious reasons), Allison Taylor = TBD (it would be hilarious to see Hilary Clinton replicate some of Taylor's dirty deeds such as sending Chelsie Clinton to jail for conspiracy which results in a nasty divorce from Bill).

BUT the single most missed aspect of 24 will be... INTERROGATION SESSIONS WITH JACK BAUER!

You know how there are some aspects of a person's day that they have to do or else it throws the entire day off? Like going to the gym, talking to a significant other, or watching Sportscenter. Well for JB, he needs to interrogate a rotten traitor a minimum of two times a day. Minimum. To take it a step further, at least one session must consist of extreme tactics that has made JB a legendary badass. His interrogation methods is like a four-course meal with the victim deciding whether or not JB serves them another plate of agony (pun fully intended).

Course 1: Starter. You're starving and cranky. Typically, a meal starts off with some warm bread/buns just to get something in your stomach and get those taste buds going. JB Interrogation: The world is about to end and the victim has info that JB needs. JB is calm, cool and collected and "just wants to know the name of Person X. Let's make this easy. Give me his name and where can I find him." JB may even throw in the "full immunity" card just to persuade the victim to snitch which is equivalent to the butter that comes with the bread.

Course 2: Salad/Soup. Now that you're no longer a starving, miserable wreck you indulge in something hearty with flavor. JB Interrogation: The victim is keeping a tight lip on his info JB has no choice but to use force. He warms up with lots of in-your-face shouting followed up with "light" physical abuse. ie: sucker punch while victim is handcuffed, grabbing victim by the throat and throwing them against the wall, and slamming their head on a table.

Course 3: Entree. The main course. This will determine your dining experience and your overall perception of the menu/restaurant. So what will it be... steak of salmon? JB Interrogation: Okay, now JB is furious. The victim is not only not cooperating, they're also being a smartass. So JB has to dig deep into his bag of tricks to get the victim talking. If he decides to use "salmon" tactics, this would include threatening to kill the victim's significant others or injecting lethal chemicals to cause unbearable pain until they talk. If he goes with "steak" tactics, this would include cutting a finger off or shooting the wife's kneecap to make the victim snitch.

Course 4: Dessert. You're bloated and experiencing a lot of discomfort. Although dessert is tempting, it will take something extraordinary for your stomach to indulge more pain than it already is. JB Interrogation: Time is running out and the victim has officially become the worst part of JB's day. So JB has no choice but to use the ultimate tactic to get what he wants, death. JB may do it in quick fashion (ie. gun shots to Dana Walsh) or in gruesome fashion (ie: cutting out all internal organs to retrieve a data card that the victim swallowed).

9 times out of 10, JB is successful with his interrogations with the odd time of him walking away or being restrained. But a 90% success rate over 8 somewhat miserable days is not too shabby. Hopefully JB has some brighter days ahead of him but until then 24's tenure on television has come to an end. No more Monday nights of JB fighting terrorists plots which endanger thousands of innocent lives. He will take that battle to the big screen. I'll see you at Scotiabank Theatre, Mr. Bauer.

P.O.T: I'm looking at several new shows to replace 24. I have so far dived into How to Make it in America, Breaking Bad and Sons of Anarchy. Make your suggestions on which show is a must-see.

Break Even Point - ROUND 3 Preview

So which bandwagon are you on? Is it the French Express as Montreal has shocked the world once again and advanced to the Conference Finals? Or are you cheering for the Suns and the one-eyed alien Steve Nash?

Now that the "pretenders" are gone, the real competition begins as the final 4 teams in the NHL and NBA battle it out for the Stanley Cup and the Larry O'Brien Trophy respectively. 

To dissect the Conference Finals, ASam and yours truly recruited a special guest to break down the matchups. Evan aka Big EvK joins us to share his insight and his predictions on who will make it to the finals. 

IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: Due to some technical difficulties, the NBA podcast can not be posted for this round. However our predictions are as follows:

KD: Lakers in 5 and Celtics in 7

ASam: Lakers in 6 and Magic in 7

EvK: Suns in 6 and Celtics in 6

Another important prediction from special guest EvK is his inclination that Grant Hill will put on a defensive clinic against Kobe. Please restrict your laughing to under 30 seconds and regain your composure before proceeding to the podcast. Thank you and enjoy the NHL Podcast.

ROUND 3 Podcast

"Break Even Point" - ROUND 2 Playoff Previews

The first round of the 2010 playoffs is in the books and man was it unpredictable. All teams thats were labelled "favorites" in their series were definitely challenged and had to earn their ticket to the second round. So will the next round be as exciting? Will more upsets unfold? ASam and Kevin break down round 2 of the NHL and NBA playoffs.

NHL Playoff ROUND 2 Preview

NBA Playoff ROUND 2 Preview