Where Euro Defections Happen

While Brandon Jennings has gotten most of the attention surrounding his move to Europe this summer (especially on this blog) there's another really interesting story that is emerging out of Atlanta. Josh Childress, former Stanford star, and current average-to-good Hawks forward is seriously considering signing with Olympiakos in Greece. Well known for their soccer prowess, Olympiakos' basketball side is offering Childress a three year twenty million dollar deal. This of course is far more than he could expect to make in the NBA based on his performance to date.

The deal would make sense on both sides as Olympiakos would only actually owe Childress about 12.6 million Euros as the exchange rate currently sits at $1.59 : €1. The possibility exists now for NBA players who are either upset with their contract negotiations or simply past their prime earning years but still want to play at a high level, to opt for European sides and make quite a bit of money. Outside of the world of the NBA salary, a player could earn a good deal of money first in dollars, and eventually, if he stayed on the Continent long enough, could begin to actually earn his pay in Euros.

Former Piston Carlos Delfino also recently signed with Russian side BC Khimki. The argument isn't exactly the same there as rubbles are not a good currency to earn (hopefully he's earning dollars from them) but the idea is the same. Why flounder about in the D-League or fight for 10-day contracts when you could earn millions of dollars playing in Europe?

Who knows if this will become a fad or if it will die down whenever the economy starts to bounce back, but it does make things quite interesting for the league. David Stern has spent two decades trying to expand the NBA across the world and make it as visible as possible. Now, as globalization has taken root across the world, inferior leagues are starting to realize they can increase their exposure by importing an NBA player. This operates much in the same way as MLS does. I'm not sure David Beckham equals Josh Childress, but the goals are much the same.

What if He Stays??

Brandon Jennings, of flat-top fame, has now officially signed with Italian side Pallacanestro Virtus Roma in what is being reported as either a two- or three-year contract. Which begs the question, what if stays? What if, instead of playing out the required one year to qualify for NBA age standards, Jennings sticks around in Rome for a few years?

While the financial aspects of the deal haven't yet been disclosed and Jennings won't even go to Rome until next week for a press conference, we've got to imagine he's going to be compensated pretty well. He's also going to be playing in a very competitive league. Andrea Bargniani and Danilo Gallinari have each been drafted in the NBA's top ten in the past few years coming out of the Italian league and coaches like Mike D'Antoni have spent time there (playing and coaching) learning the European game. Even Joe "Jelly Bean" Bryant spent seven years in Italy, allowing Kobe to grow up around the Italian game.

Virtus Roma currently employs Allan Ray, former Villanova star, and Ibrahim Jaaber, former Ivy League player of the year at Penn. Those guys should help Jennings get a feel for both Rome and the European style of play. Ultimately this experience will depend on what Jennings wants to get out of it. If he sees it simply as a jumping-off point, he will likely end up wasting his time in Italy. There are no provisions that guarantee he'll get to play so he'll have to earn his playing time accordingly. If he really gets into it, who knows, maybe he'll stick around and establish a bit of a career and legacy in Italy, though I'm sure he'll eventually come back to the States for the mega-money of the NBA.

Obviously Jennings can only be praised so much since he's still not going to college and is making this decision based purely on monetary reasons, but this could be a really interesting experiment. If other kids see him do well (and make money immediately) there could be some interest in European leagues as a plausible alternative to college. As a fan of college hoops I can't say I'd love that but it's better than guys screwing schools by showing up for one year and not really doing the whole class thing.

AD Hall in the News

This is from April, but that's ok.

Probably the only time The AD Hall, SI.com fannation, the Mike and Mike radio show and AOL Fanhouse will ever all be mentioned on the same page. Too bad the Save Our Sonics campaigns ultimately weren't successful. I really don't want to see an Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA this year.

Bound for Europe

Los Angeles high schooler, most recently of Oak Hill in Virginia, Brandon Jennings has decided he's not going to go to Arizona to play basketball after all. After his second attempt at the SAT has been questioned by the NCAA and without waiting for the results of his third try, Jennings will be practicing his trade in Europe next year. With the NBA's one-year-out-of-high school rule preventing him from jumping straight to the league, Jennings will spend his one-year purgatory of sorts in Europe.

This is a great revelation. Rather than going to some military academy or post-high school school to pass the time, Jennings will get to earn a paycheck, live within another culture and hopefully be free of the ever-present entourages that so often destroy the credibility and decision making processes of young NBA players. He obviously won't stay for more than the required year, but it seems like a good decision for a kid that doesn't appear to be cut out for college anyway. Let's face it, if the NCAA is questioning your credentials as a minimum qualifier, and you're a huge basketball star, you probably aren't up to the task of completing a year at university.

No word yet on what team he might ultimately play with, but this seems to be a mature and thought out decision on the part of Jennings. It's also a possible plan for future high-profile players who don't really want to go to college and definitely don't want to go into the NBDL. Spending a year (or more) playing in cities like Madrid, Milan and other Euro powerhouses would give these kids experience playing with adults, opportunities to compete in hostile environments and possibly gain valuable minutes in clutch situations on a level much higher than in high school. I'm sure the NBA hates the idea of this as a possible way around the NBA age rule, but for the kids, it makes a lot of sense.

Lay Off Elton Brand

Over the past day I've heard a lot of talk of how Elton Brand is this greedy guy who just took the money from Philadelphia and abandoned all of the fans he should have been loyal to in Los Angeles. With Baron Davis signing, everyone assumed that Brand would resign with the Clippers, making LAC a reasonable team out west. But now that he signed with the Sixers, after opting out of his contract, Clippers fans want his head on a platter.

Give me a break. Who among us wouldn't take a new job in another city if it offered significantly better pay and better opportunities? And what loyalty had Brand previously shown the Clips? In 2003, only two years after being traded to LA, Brand signed with the Heat for $82 million. Because he was a restricted free agent, the Clippers were allowed to match the contract, and did, forcing Brand back to LA. I'm not sure what people mean when they say he loved LA. He opted out of his contract, he'd previously signed with another team before being required to go back, he was hurt for all of last year. Sounds exactly like someone who'd want a change of scenery.

I can't blame Brand for going to Philly. The same way I can't blame Baron Davis for going to LA. The Clippers fans didn't seem to have an issue with Davis jumping ship from Golden State.

Journeyman Gerald Green?

"Mavs Sign Journeyman Green to One-Year Contract"

How can Gerald Green be a journeyman already? Yes, this is his fourth team entering his fourth season in the NBA. But the guy is 22 and as just mentioned, entering his fourth season in the league. A Journeyman is Kurt Thomas (Miami, Dallas, New York, Phoenix, Seattle San Antonio) or Mikki Moore (Detroit, Boston, Atlanta, Utah, LA Clippers, Seattle, New Jersey and Sacramento).

Wizards Cursing Themselves?

Yesterday the Washington Wizards resigned Antawn Jamison to a big contract ($44 million) inching that much closer to resigning opted out Gilbert Arenas (likely in the area of $100 million). Nothing wrong with that kind of money for either guy, they're both great players and both are truly loved in DC, especially Arenas. But let's break down what they're doing for just a second. 

For the last three years, the Wizards have lost in the playoffs to the Cleveland Cavaliers. That's right, the Cavs. It's not like the Cavs are bad, but let's be honest, outside of LeBron, they're pretty average. What Washington has done is locked up two of the three best players (Caron Butler being the third) for a long period of time. How does that make this team any better or different? Especially considering Jamison is now 32 years old. That's right, 32. Even though he has a boyish face, Jamison was the 1998 National Player of the Year at North Carolina. He's a very good player and a great guy, but four more years and he'll be 36.

As for Arenas, they basically had to keep Jamison in order to keep Arenas. At least that's what he told them before negotiations began. And you have to keep Arenas.

But this team is now locked in with tons of money to just three guys - Butler for $50 million starting in 2005 and going through 2010, Jamison for $44 million through 2012 and they'll likely land Arenas for roughly $100 million through 2014. That's a lot of cash. And for what? This will be the exact same team, essentially, that has lost three years in a row to Cleveland. And their first round draft pick this year: JaVale McGee. That's right, who? Apparently his mom, a former WNBA player, knew Wizards coach Eddie Jordan. Great.

All this of course comes with the caveat that I have no suggestions to the contrary. You don't want to break up a team popular with its fans, even if they're not really in actual contention to win a title. But on the other hand, you don't want to throw away money on investments that are safe but won't yield the ultimate results. I guess we'll just have to see what happens.

Return of the Rizz

Despite my best efforts to render the situation otherwise, I, the humble Rizz, am wholeheartedly alive. Since we last corresponded, I've done some questionable things:

• Got my first tattoo(s)
• Tried to bluff this guy out of a $350 pot
• Slept for 20 of the 24 hours between midnight Tuesday and midnight Wednesday

Clearly, the utterly summer-inspired giddiness that can only be understood by teachers has taken hold; and I, my friends, am simply holding on for the ride.

All this being said, I continue to be a rabid sports fan. I do not currently have a TV in my house--but I live in New Orleans, a glorious place in which I can walk two blocks to a bar--at 11AM!!!--to simultaneously watch 2 Euro 2008 games and the US Open.

Because I have so many thoughts swarming, here's a synopsis of my recent opinions:

1. While points 5-2 proved shaky, I'm pretty happy with my assertion that everyone would be ready to hand the Lakers the NBA title were they to be matched up with the Celtics. Boston proved its gravitas, winning the first two games at home and putting LA in a fairly big hole.
   

Despite being happy that the Celtics won, I was left with mixed feelings after the Finals:

• Kevin Garnett, after putting up an MVP-caliber regular season, disappeared in Game 5. How can a superstar miss two clutch free throws and expect not to be crucified? Were it not for superhero Paul Pierce (and, in certain instances, Jesus Shuttlesworth), the Celts were toast.
• As much as I hated the Kobe-Shaq Lakers... I can now see how they might have been endearing to some people. This Laker team, on the other hand, simply came off as soulless and selfish. Phil Jackson is hard to like, with his brooding intellectual elitism; Lamar Odom underachieves so much that you can't really root for him; and Kobe, despite his eye-popping abilities, spends more time bitching and moaning than he does smiling and embracing fans.
• One would think that an LA-Boston match-up would represent the perfect end to such an NBA season. Why, then, did the Finals leave me feeling so... unfulfilled?

2. Watch this. Watch this. Look at her. Now... look at me--with a straight face--and tell me that Tiger Woods is not the single greatest athlete in the history of sports. Period.

3. Kudos to ESPN and its family of networks for airing each contest of the European Championships. Nothing in the world of sport--nothing--brings about the kind of passion that accompanies world-class soccer on an international stage. For those who consider soccer a dull sport... watch the final 15 minutes of the Turkey-Czech Republic game. Who comes from 2 goals down to win a game in the final moments? I mean... the Italians have built their name on going up 1-0 and sitting behind the ball, playing mindnumbingly boring defense. Of all the major sports, soccer's leads are easiest to hold... which makes the Turkish comeback all the more amazing. Who cares if they're pseudo-European and pseudo-Asian? Viva la Turks!

4. Take away the miracle catch that led to the most BS Super Bowl title ever, and Boston would hold title trophies for all 3 major sports.

5. Chipper Jones, one of my favorite baseball players ever, will not hit .400 this year.

6. College football is going to be sick this year. UGA looks loaded, but they have to play at Arizona State (out of conference), at LSU, and against Florida in the WLOCP. The Gators, with Mr. Stud coming back at QB, have to play Hawaii, Miami, and at Florida State, not to mention UGA and LSU. The Tigers have a QB dilemma, as Ryan Perilloux screwed up a dream situation. Per usual, the SEC should have 3 or 4 teams in the national top 10. And again, it looks like a 1-loss season in that conference should be enough for a BCS berth.


Last of all...

Haner Jesus: Poker, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, or Church?

It's All Over

Exactly two months after our first NBA playoff post, the NBA Finals are finished. The Celtics destroyed the Lakers in Boston last night, 131-92. There has never been a championship-deciding game that ended in such a lopsided way in the history of the league. And Boston scored 42 points in the fourth quarter. Forty-two points!

In a conference call last night, the writers of this blog discussed what was happening in the series and the fact that we were drawn away from both teams toward apathy, rather than the usual routine of finding something likable about at least one team and creating a rooting interest, if one did not already exist. This was a very difficult series to watch, we agreed, not least because of the ridiculous late start times for the games in Boston. Huge blowouts and major disasters are not exactly great theater, unless you were a Celtics fan. Mercifully there was no attempt by the referees (read, league) to rig the game so that it could reach some sort of climactic Game 7 in Boston. It's possible they let the game go last night so that there could be no conspiracy theorists claiming a sham (but since that's been brought up, isn't that a bit of a conspiracy theory itself?).

Either way, the first NBA season in more than ten years to be really watched and enjoyed by this blog, is done. It remains to be seen if this year was an aberration or if we will be legitimately interested when next season starts. Of course, that will be in four months, so I guess we'd better get ready.

In the mean time, we're thrilled that Euro 2008 is televised and since the late-night basketball is now over, we can direct our full attention to the much more entertaining tournament in Switzerland and Austria...

This Should Come as No Surprise

Former NBA Ref Tim Donaghy unleashed what have to be considered the most damning accusations the league has ever faced in regard to the conduct of its referees. Referring to 'company men,' Donaghy laid out two scenarios where specific playoff games were officiated differently in order to ensure that one team would beat another. If anyone remembers the 2002 Lakers-Kings Game 6 at all, this should not be shocking. Everyone knew the fix was in on that one. It was in the league's best interest to have the series go to seven games and the league clearly wanted the Lakers back in the Finals.

It is amazing how transparent David Stern is in his denials of these allegations. Obviously he's not going to just accept the statements as fact and move on, but the way in which he is denying makes him look all the more guilty. He has been referring to Donaghy as a felon in nearly every mention and is somehow trying to champion a cause that absolutely no one should buy into. That is that the NBA is totally without blame in incidents that have occurred between its teams and officials. There are a myriad of examples from that Kings-Lakers game, to the suspension of Amare Stoudamire in last year's playoffs, to the obviously incorrect Chauncey Billups three-pointer against the Magic, to the ridiculous swings in free throw attempts by home teams, particularly the Lakers and Celtics, in this year's playoffs. I'm not saying these are all related, but to say that the league has no impact on the outcomes of its playoff series is simply incorrect.

Stern should come out and just admit that there have been transgressions in the past, but that the league has worked hard to weed out those who are intent on changing the outcomes of games, whether for gambling reasons or for league revenue reasons. Even if that's not true, it sounds a lot better than saying a whistle-blower is 'a felon and a singing and cooperative witness.'

The Knee - Why it Doesn't Matter

Everyone outside of Bill Simmons has been questioning the validity of Paul Pierce's injured knee from Game 1 on Thursday night. Phil Jackson has been the most outspoken of public figures in wondering if the whole injury and being carried off the court was simply an act.

But does it really matter? Here are the facts: Pierece went down in the third quarter after having just scored eight points to bring the Celtics back from a halftime deficit. But the Celtics certainly weren't out of the woods yet. Everyone in the arena was scared out of their mind that the team's leading scorer had torn his ACL or any other terrible knee injury. Pierce was carried off the floor by teammates while grimicing and perhaps even crying. Less than ten minutes later, Pierce jogged back out of the tunnel and was immediately inserted back into the game. Shortly thereafter he made back-to-back three pointers in the span of twenty-two seconds, giving the Celtics an extended lead and driving the crowd into a delirious state. The Celtics hold on to win Game 1 and Pierce looks like he's never had any injury to his knee at all. Pierce and the Celtics then refuse to have an MRI done to see if there is any structural damage, opting instead to go with the advice of team doctors who say their exterior examinations suggest there is no major injury.

Interesting. I understand the skepticism on the part of Phil Jackson and fans of the Lakers (or really anyone interested in the games). But I don't think it matters whether or not he was actually hurt. He didn't cheat the Lakers in any way if it was all a ruse. I personally think it wasn't a serious as Pierce made it out to be. But he has played for the Celtics for a long time. He knows the significance of this series to the city and to the fans of the Celtics. I think he realized in the moment that he could turn something that probably hurt a little bit into an heroic-looking act to increase the energy of his teammates and the fans.

And that's just what happened. It doesn't matter if it was real, staged or somewhere in between. The fans bought it, his teammates bought it and the effect was an explosion of excitement and energy that pushed Boston over the top in a prettly closely contested Game 1.

With all the cynicism out there (and it has to have breached the streets of Boston even, by now) it can't really make that much of a difference in Game 2 tonight. But if the Celtics were able to get a victory at home in a game where they otherwise might not have, it can change the tide of the entire series. Instead of facing the possibility of leaving Boston tied 1-1 at best, they can now reasonably expect to be ahead 2-0 before traveling to Los Angeles on Monday. There are only seven possible games in this series, so taking one, regardless of the circumstances, is a huge step in the direction of returning the title back to Boston.

And by the way, what is the deal with having two days off between Games 1 and 2, both in Boston, and only one day off between Games 2 and 3, which includes a transcontinental flight? So far in the playoffs, the series have mostly gone long enough that there haven't been long droughts of no basketball. Until the long wait before the Finals, I've been pretty happy with that. But with a five day layoff between the conference finals and the championship series and now this ridiculous gap between games, the NBA playoff annoyance scale is moving steadily up. Couple that with the really late start times on the east coast, the league is lucky the games are going to be so good and so heavily watched.

NBA Playoffs 2k8 - Yawn

Regional interests aside, the NBA playoffs have been awfully boring so far. The sole exception was the Hawks pushing the Celtics to a seventh game, but sadly that dream was debowed pretty much immediately in that game. But the other series left a lot to be desired. Sure, if you're in New Orleans or LA or Cleveland you can be excited about the playoffs, but on a national stage, is anything interesting happening? The Sixers briefly gave us all hope that the boring-ass Pistons might not make it to yet another Eastern Conference Final (or further) but alas they collapsed under the weight of a simply better team. Even the idea that the Hornets could 'upset' the Spurs isn't that interesting as they're the higher seeded team and they so completely dominated game one.

With the San Antonio-Phoenix and New Orleans-Dallas series being so one-sided, the playoffs have simply lacked that feeling that the games even matter until the conference finals. The 'right' teams are advancing for the league (meaning LA and Boston, of course) so they're probably not worried, but it just isn't doing much for me. I was legitimately excited about these playoffs, figuring they could be some of the most intense and combative in recent years. They certainly still can be, but to hold my interest through this month and into the next, things had better pick up. Because even if it's an LA-Boston final, if I haven't been able to keep interested in it, I don't know how much I'll watch...

Greatest TV Moment Ever

Shaq

D'Antoni

Mike D'Antoni would make a great fit as the coach up in Toronto. Of course, he needs to be fired from Phoenix first and Sam Mitchell needs to be fired by the Raptors first. But think about it, it's a young, athletic team that could use some real philosophy behind their offense. The Colangelos run the team, as they did in Phoenix when D'Antoni was hired. Also, Toronto is a really cosmopolitan and international city, a great place to bring in the kind of guys to run the system that he plugged into Phoenix.

ps - This is our 100th post!

Marquee in the Making

Last night's San Antonio victory honestly left me with mixed emotions. I picked the Suns to win it all, so naturally I'd like to see them manage better than a 1-win effort. Also, this season seemed like a "last hurrah" in many respects, considering the trade of Shawn Marion, the panic-signing of a washed-up Shaquille O'Neal, and the aging of Steve Nash; add the new reports of Mike D's departure, and it appears as though the Suns we've come to admire will be resigned to the history books alongside the turn-of-the-century Kings and Mavs--talented teams that consistently ran into better opposition. (Notice the irony here: It was, for the most part, Shaq who derailed both Sacramento and Dallas's title hopes; now, he's on the losing end of the spectrum.)

Yes, I was sad to see the Suns fall... but...

IS IT POSSIBLE TO OVEREXAGGERATE JUST HOW INSANE A TONY PARKER vs. CHRIS PAUL MATCHUP IS GOING TO BE??!!??!!

First, there's Parker. While his diminutive teammate was receiving 6th-man honors, and his more prominent pal was draining a helluva "first 3 of the year," Tony Parker not-so-quietly tore apart the Suns, averaging 30 points and 7 assists on 52% shooting during the five game series, including a 41-and-12 gem in Game 3.

Then, there's CP3. Although aided by a surprising dunk-a-beast who's finally showing his upside, a guy whose shots never seem to touch the rim, and a sometimes-forgotten former NPOTY, it's Paul who anchors the New Orleans ship. In five games against the overmatched Mavs, Paul averaged 25 points, 12 assists, and 6 rebounds; in game 2 he posted 32 and 17, and in the series clincher he notched a gawky triple-double, just for effect.

I've witnessed lots of series in which great players squared off: like this one, this one, and this one. (RIP, Shaq.)

But in my eyes, it's wholly unique and exciting to be treated to a series in which two point guards, capable of firing off 30 points and 15 assists on any given night, go toe-to-toe.

Will it be CP3 or TP9?

Will they be partying it up in France, or the French Quarter?

I, for one, can't wait to watch.

A Beef with David Stern, Rod Thorn or Whoever

In Monday night's upset win, the Atlanta Hawks got physical with Kevin Garnett, which is a good thing. Zaza Pachulia was giving him a little more than he could handle and Garnett gave him a good solid forearm. Ok, no problem there. Good, hard fought game has both teams kind of feisty, I've got no issues there. What happened next though, really bothers me.

As Pachulia got in Garnett's face, teammates and refs stepped in to break up the potential fight. In the process, referee Ed Rush grabbed Garnett to pull him away from trouble. In response, Garnett clearly shoves Rush and pulls away, heading back toward the tussle. Somehow, the NBA has deemed this action not worthy of a suspension. If there has ever been a sign that the league, and Stern in particular, want to guarantee certain teams move forward in the playoffs, this is it. Boston falling to the lowly (and under .500) Hawks in the first round? Can't happen, the league needs the Celtics in the Finals or at least in an Eastern Conference Final with the Pistons.

The rules clearly dictate that any intentional and aggressive contact with an official is automatic grounds for suspension. How can the league give this leeway but not have been flexible last year with the Suns/Spurs situation? It just seems wrong to be so inconsistent, especially when this case is so cut and dry.

Someone please explain this.

Yet Another Stop

Peter Vecsey has called him "Next Town" Larry Brown which I think is very appropriate as Larry Brown has now taken the Charlotte Bobcats job. To recap:

1972-74 Carolina Cougars
1974-79 Denver Nuggets
1979-81 UCLA
1981-83 New Jersey Nets
1983-88 University of Kansas
1988-92 San Antonio Spurs
1992-93 Los Angeles Clippers
1993-97 Indiana Pacers
1997-2003 Philadelphia 76ers
2003-05 Detroit Pistons
2005-06 New York Knicks
2008-present Charlotte Bobcats

Hyper Dunks - Coming Soon to a Store Near You

Check out the new Kenny Smith shoes!

The Hawks??!!

When did this happen? For most of the season the Hawks wallowed in mediocrity. For the first two games of the series they hung around in the first half and fell apart in the second. Thirty-eight percent shooting and 18 turns a game does not tend to build up a great deal of momentum. I don't know if Mike Woodson suddenly channeled John Wooden or if it was Al Horford's screening of the Rumble in the Jungle. The fans, however, definitely got the message and basketball has suddenly taken center stage in Atlanta. This couldn't have come at a better time. The Falcons just dubiously staked their future to (please don't be the next Trent Dilfer) Matt Ryan, then scrambled through the rest of the draft in an attempt to put pieces around him (Joe Baker even had himself going in the second round. And why address the void at DT when Grady Jackson might be available). The Braves have already been saddled with the dark-horse mantle and are depending on a couple of 40+ pitchers. College football is still a bit far away, not that you would know it from the sports page here. I forgot the hockey team's name. The Hawks, shockingly, have stepped into the void. And I am pleasantly dumbfounded.

With the exception of the thoroughly average Marvin Williams, all the Hawks pieces are suddenly operating as envisioned by basketball's (sport's?) most inept front office. Mike Bibby is guiding the team and hitting some shots. Josh Smith is changing the flow of the game with his athleticism on both ends, not to mention hitting some key outside shots, making clutch free throws, and flashing a bit of a post up game. Al Horford is a beast in the interior, even if the offense still comes and goes. Joe Johnson hit huge shots under pressure tonight and executed the very interesting pick and roll with Bibby as the screener beautifully. Off the bench, Josh Childress grabbed nine boards, was able to bring the ball up against the press at times, and threw down what might have been the nastiest dunk of the post-season were it not for the hammer Smith dropped in game three. Even the underutilized Solomon Jones made a contribution off the bench, pinning a Boston shot against the glass and generally being disruptive on the defensive end. This was fantastic stuff and the fans actually appeared to acknowledge it.

Does all this add up to a potential first round upset? Without a doubt, picking up a win at the Garden will be ferociously difficult. The Hawks, however, finally seem to have an identity. They are an up tempo team, capable of running with anyone in the league. Smith makes moves that are straight out of NBA Jam, Johnson has broken through as a legit late game go to guy in the half court, and Horford has the makings of a stud post player with the requisite mean streak. After games three and four, I can actually say the words "Hawks Highlight Factory" with a straight face, or better yet, an irony-free smile . And, at least for tonight, Atlanta sports fans have something new and promising to cheer about.

The King Stands Alone

It took a while, but the Celtics finally got the memo, masterfully signing KG and Ray Allen to play alongside Paul Pierce.

It took a while, but the Lakers woke up and smelled the coffee, pulling a mindboggling coup to shove Pao Gasol into the lineup with Kobe Bryant.

The Suns juiced up their already-stacked roster with Shaq; the Mavs similarly sought out All-World point guard Jason Kidd; a while back, the Nuggets gave Carmelo Anthony his very own Iverson.

Teams in the NBA, especially those with superstars, seem committed to winning these days, as indicated by their willingness to spend money for quality help. That is--every team except one: Cleveland.

The Cavaliers feature a once-in-a-lifetime star in Lebron James, a 30/8/8 machine who defies all physical laws. Put simply, Lebron is a monster.

How, then, does one explain the Cavs' supporting cast? Consider:

• Big Z makes over $10 million.
• Wally Zurbeeak makes over $12 million.
• Ben Wallace makes over $15 million.

All tolled, that's almost $40 million this year that Cleveland will spend on a 32-year-old lumbering center, a 31-year-old Kyle Korver model, and a 33-year-old has-been. Hmm.

The Lakers nearly lost Kobe Bryant before they realized they needed to surround him with players. The Suns traded one of their cornerstones (Shawn Marion) to acquire Shaq and (hopefully) contend for a title. When will the Cavaliers show some bravado and sign a marquee name to play alongside LBJ?

Think about it:

• Wade had Shaq.
• Chauncey/Rip/'Sheed have each other.
• Paul Pierce now has KG and Ray Ray.
• Kobe has Pao.
• Duncan/Parker/Bowen/Ginobli have each other.
• Yao has T-Mac.
• Dirk has Kidd.

Even Jordan had Scottie.

No matter how great a player is, he can't win an NBA title alone. Sure, Daniel Gibson is a strong player and had a great postseason last year. Otherwise, what're the Cavs to do--hang their hopes on aging, overrated stars? Ride Anderson Varejao to a title?

AI wandered the wilderness in Philly, winning an MVP but being hosed in the Finals. Hosed in the Finals--sound familiar? It happened to Lebron last year.

Until Cleveland commits to winning... the King stands alone.