Shaquille O'Neal: Back where it all Began

I know it has been a long time since I written a piece, I’m a busy guy you know. But let me crack my fingers and get to typing these thoughts that are on my mind. Sometime early in March, The Orlando Magic announced that there would be a third individual that would be inducted into their Hall of Fame. Pat Williams who was there already deserves to be there as he brought Basketball to the Central Florida area and is known as the Orlando Magic “Good Luck charm” winning the draft lotteries in the early 90’s to be 1992 and 1993 to be exact. Nick Anderson deserved his spot for being the first pick in franchise history and being the Ambassador of the team and staying heavily involved in the Central Florida community. Shaquille O’Neal was announced as the third individual to be inducted this past Friday at the Amway Center in front of Magic fans that once adored the big fella down the street at the “O-Rena” in years past.


Listen, I was mad that he was getting recognized for his short stint with the Magic. Shaquille O’Neal put Orlando on the map, more like if you was in another planet with a telescope and zoomed in on the Southeastern part of the U.S.A. you would hear the arena rocking back in the days. This physical specimen teamed with another ultra-star in Penny Hardaway a year later in the 1993 draft after Magic traded away Chris Webber rights to acquire Hardaway.  O'Neal told management that Penny was the guy after being on set with him while filming Blue Chips and they proceeded to get the duo paired with some young talent in Nick Anderson, Dennis Scott and Brian Shaw to name a few. Orlando was the place to be, the team to root for. A Ton of Magic Jerseys were on display in the Tootsie Roll video and a lot people say to this day that those were one of the best jerseys to have. If there was a team that could compete with Jordan and Pippen and the rest of the Talented Bulls squad in the East , Orlando was that team.

Excuse me while I go down memory lane, guess you call that a throwback Thursday nowadays. This Magic team was stacked, fun to watch and literally had Magic fans were thinking of a Dynasty on Horizon. To keep this short, because this is where my memories come back to haunt me, swept by the underdog Houston Rockets in the 1995 NBA Finals. 1996 the Chicago Bulls were near flawless with their 72-10 record swept the Magic who won 60 games themselves. The Chicago Bulls were on a tear.  That summer rumors began flying about O'Neal leaving for Los Angeles.

The Orlando Sentinel, who does a great job of belittling players, conducted a poll to see if O'Neal was worth the money that the Lakers were offering, $121 Million. The rumors continued, this time detailing that before Orlando even drafted O'Neal there was a deal on the table for the Lakers to trade for him. Then another story arose about him having a baby out of wedlock and the Orlando Media criticized him for that. What ever O'Neal's intentions were back in the days he took the offer and as a Magic fan it really hurt to see the most dominant big man leave the team I cheered for as a 11 year old kid.  It didn’t help my father and soon to be baby brother were Lakers fans. The quote I remember until this day: “Orlando is a dried up pond” got my blood boiling and every Shaq item I had as a kid was in the trash as I became infuriated with him. I take a lot of pride in where I grew up and the team I cheered for and the teams that he helped win NBA Championships became my personal rivals. I couldn’t stand the Lakers or the Miami Heat because he help those teams hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy by also playing with some fantastic wing players in Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade.


They always say Jealousy is Love and Hate at the same time. Watching Shaq's success kills me because I knew he would be one of the greatest big men to play this game, He was literally a matchup nightmare. Honestly, He should have more than one MVP award, which is just an injustice after how much of an dominant force this guy was. So yes, seeing him succeed drove me nuts in all forms imaginable. Because who knows what would have happen if he stayed in Orlando? Or If Penny was to stay healthy?  Remember the rumors of Tim Duncan to Orlando? Can you imagine Shaq calling him and say hey Tim, me and you the Twin Towers part two in the southeast? Grant Hill who if was healthy was one hell of a player with the Detroit Pistons.

Don’t even get me drooling of a Tracy McGrady and Shaq pairing, that’s Penny and Shaq part two. Also Dwight Howard is a free agent and he looks at him and say I want you to take over the reigns for me in Orlando, you don’t think that would have set with Dwight some type of way? These are all hypotheticals and it stopped the day that Shaq signed with Lakers taking a risk on a unknown High School player in Kobe Bryant.  Looking at it now after having won three rings....it was a great move for Shaq.

Despite winning 4 championships, O'Neal would go on to throw salt on Dwight when he played for Orlando because it was another big man in town, Orlando was getting buzz again after finally getting out of cubby hole that his departure left, they were also rumors that the Magic would move to Kansas City. Dwight rejuvenated that franchise with a core of Jameer Nelson, Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter and Rafer Alston to name a few. There was a Inside the NBA on TNT broadcast where they showed highlights of a Magic game and Shaq said” That’s the place I built.” I want to say Chuck said no, that’s the Place Dwight Howard built, your place is being demolished a couple of blocks over.” It’s really Ironic that Dwight ended up being traded to the Lakers and hence the Orlando Magic is a farm team for the Lakers, which still irks me.



Recently Shaq stated “Sometimes, I regret leaving the Orlando Magic”, I honestly don’t know how to feel about that. I had friends share the article on my social media feeds which is how I got the news and they know how vocal of my dislike for Shaq. And to my surprise about 80% of the arena cheered for him. But with his recent comments, I am now confused. Was Shaq saying this because he was in the moment or it was the right thing to say? Does Shaq really mean this? He owns a Home in Orlando, He came to a few Magic games under his own power, no PR moves. My Mother who loves Shaq is telling me to let it go with other family and friends. I may be confused for awhile who knows, Because words are words unless I see action into place, so part of me wants me to believe Shaq and a part of me don’t.

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Lakers Top Bulls in Double OT, 123-118 in LA

The Los Angeles Lakers had a 9 game losing streak. A loss would have given them the longest losing streak since 1960. Kobe Bryant, the future Hall of Famer guard, had rotator-cuff surgery the other day and is out for the year. LA had lost its last five home games.

You'd think this would be a gimme, given that the Chicago Bulls had just knocked off Golden State, the NBA's top team but no game is easy in the NBA.  You have to earn the win. And, LA (13-34), playing not to go any more of a free-fall than they've had lately, put an end to it with a 123-118 2OT win.  This was a game the Bulls let get away. Leading by 5 in the first OT, the Bulls couldn't finish the Lakers off.  A timely shot, a measured shot, eluded Chicago, and Jordan Hill made a late basket to tie the game at 106 to give LA a 2nd chance.

They took and wore down the Bulls who clawed their way back into the game on a 9-0 spurt late in the 4th quarter. When Derrick Rose hit a trey to open the OT, things looked good for Chicago fans. But the Bulls misfired on shot after shot, at one point, missing 9 of 10 shots.  LA took the opening and closed the door on the Bulls. Credit the Lakers, they played inspired if erratic basketball without the sidelined Bryant.

Wayne Ellington scored 23 for LA. Jordan Clarkson had 18 points. Carlos Boozer, an ex-Bull, welcomed his old team by chipping in with 16 points. The Lakers were stagnant in the first OT and Chicago had a chance to get some separation but poor shooting did in the Bulls. Chicago hit only 41.3% from the floor and it wasn't enough to overtake the pesky Lakers.

Jimmy Butler, who was selected to his first All-Star game earlier, tied his career high with 35 points and played 49 minutes.  He appeared to tweak his knee and sat out the last few minutes of the game. Pau Gasol came close to making his first game back in LA a good memory, by scoring a late basket in the 4th to tie the game at 98.  He ended up with 20 points and 10 rebounds in 43+ minutes. Derrick Rose had an up and down night, scoring 17 points on 7-16 shooting.  Joakim Noah put out an almost heroic effort making passes, grabbing loose balls, to help Chicago get their lead in the first OT.  His fiery emotions registering on his face.

LA was determined to come out the victor.  Brent Barry, TNT commentator said the Bulls might have taken the Lakers lighly.  He said, they started to play better in the 4th quarter but that was not enough to merit the win.  This was a tough road loss.  Too many missed chances to put it away came up empty.

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Bulls On A Roll, Beat Lakers for 5th Straight Win, 113-93

Now the NBA season starts in earnest. Ten teams played on Christmas Day in five games. The Chicago Bulls hosted the Los Angeles Lakers, who played without Kobe Bryant, who sat out this game. Coach Byran Scott sat Kobe due to "general soreness."  Judging form Byrant's expression on the bench, he would have rather been on the court.

But the Lakers put up a good fight for 3 quarters.  They showed quickness, speed, and worked hard.
LA (9-20), recently defeated the Golden State Warriors and served notice that they can play too. 

Then it was 4th quarter time and the Bulls held LA to 16 points, while scoring 30 and routed the Lakers, 113-93. Five Bulls' players scored in double figures led by Pau Gasol who had 23 points, 13 boards....an outstanding game.  Jimmy Butler added 21 points, and Derrick Rose scored 20, some on nice longer shots.

Chris Webber, TNT analyst at the game, said of Rose, "He's back."

That could be debatable in some circles.  He certainly is playing better. Rose himself said, "Watch me in 2 months."

The Bulls are now 7-5 at home after a slow start. They have a 20-9 record, and are rolling with 5 wins in a row.

Aaron Brooks who had 13 points makes this team more versatile. He is quick, fearless, and can hit the trey. Nikola Mirotic, is also showing his skills. He can move without the ball, and is an excellent passer.  His European game is starting to flourish.

Charles Barkley, former NBA great and now TNT analyst said of Rose, "He doesn't have to do it all."
With the talent on the Bulls, he doesn't. Just stay healthy. 

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Kobe Bryant: Not Enough to Save Los Angeles Lakers' Season

The Los Angeles Lakers’ season is off to a poor start as expected, as after flopping in free agency this offseason the Lakers’ roster is not very talented after missing out on Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh. The loss of Steve Nash for the rest of the season was a tough blow, and that was followed up by the loss of Julius Randle for the season with a broken leg.

Despite the injuries to his teammates, Kobe Bryant is back and doing everything he can to try and keep the Lakers respectable in the Western Conference. The bad thing for the Lakers is that even with Bryant playing quite well right now, they still haven’t won a game this season.

Bryant looks to be pretty healthy right now, and head coach Byron Scott is playing him at about 32 minutes per game, which seems to be a good number for the aging Bryant.

This season, Bryant is averaging 24.8 points per game, which is very impressive for Bryant, who has been hit hard by injuries in the latter part of his career. Bryant’s shooting percentage is a bit low at 41% right now, but a large part of that is due to a rough first game against the Houston Rockets, when he shot 6-17.

So far this season the Lakers have only kept it close in one out of their four games, as against the Los Angeles Clippers they were able to only lose by single-digits, which seems like a victory in itself this season.

Sadly for the Lakers it is looking like they very well be a bottom-feeder in the West, but Bryant playing a high-level still will still draw fans to the Staples Center, but it isn’t enough to help them win games.

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Is a Healthy Kobe Enough to Lead LA Back to the Playoffs?

Last season, the storied Los Angeles franchise had arguably it’s worst season in almost a decade, with an abysmal record of 27-55, only a .329 win percentage. With the deteriorating health and age of superstar Kobe Bryant and the loss of big man Pau Gasol, many fans in purple and gold are left to wonder, “what’s next?”. After a disappointingly mediocre 2012-13 campaign(which ended with a 45-37 record and a quick departure in the first round), no one could have imagined the down fall of arguably the most storied franchise in basketball.

Bryant returned from his devastating Achilles tear on December 8, 2013 against the Toronto Raptors however “The Return” was short-lived, as Kobe broke a bone in his left knee on December 20th against the Memphis Grizzlies. After yet another season sidelined, the 35-year-old Bryant(soon to be 36 on August 23rd) returned to the lab after last year’s campaign and began putting in work. While reports say Kobe has impressed so far, would that really be enough to contend for a playoff spot in a tough, gritty western conference?

LA’s off-season has not exactly been spectacular. While they did manage to get Julius Randle with the 7th overall pick, the loss of star big man Pau Gasol leaves a gaping hole at center. Randle doesn’t have the size to play center, neither does Carlos Boozer, whom the Lakers claimed off waivers. A center rotation of Robert Sacre and Jordan Hill is not daunting, but it might be enough to get the job done. Another void left is the point guard position. It’s yet to be seen if Steve Nash can even play anymore, and Jeremy Lin hasn’t been able to live up to the hype of “Linsanity” nearly three years ago. While it is possible Nick Young could start at the point, his specialty is not distributing the ball. 

Projected Lakers starting lineup: (PG) Jeremy Lin, (SG) Kobe Bryant, (SF) Wesley Johnson, (PF) Carlos Boozer, (C) Jordan Hill.

If this lineup could be inserted into the Eastern Conference, then there could be discussions of a probable playoff spot, but they’re in the west, and will have to battle teams such as San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Houston, Portland, Golden State, Dallas, Memphis, and their friendly neighborhood rival Clippers. With a solid, not great, starting lineup, the return of the Black Mamba, a potential Sixth Man of the Year candidate coming off the bench, along with a potential star in Julius Randle, expect to see the Lakers slugging it out with Phoenix, Memphis, and Dallas for that eighth and final spot in next year’s western conference playoffs.

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Prospect Examination: Marcus Smart

A year makes a huge difference for most people and that has been the case with Marcus Smart. If he had gone to the NBA after the conclusion of his freshmen season then he would've most likely been the No. 1 pick or in big consideration to be drafted No. 1. In his freshmen season Smart was named  Consensus second team All-American (2013), Big 12 Conference Player of the Year (2013), USBWA National Freshman of the Year (2013), 2× first team All-Big 12 (2013–2014), Big 12 Freshman of the Year (2013) and Big 12 Player of the Year (2013).  Smart earned those accomplishments by averaging 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.0 steals with the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The 2013 draft has been known as being lackluster and Smart would easily have been the best player from the draft with having some competition from Michael Carter-Williams.

When Smart announced he was returning to OSU for his sophomore season it was a huge surprise around the basketball community.

"There’s a lot of speculation going. "Smart said when he was defending as to why he returned to school." I’ve been bashed and criticized that I probably made a mistake of coming back here, the NBA will be there, I should have took it, and this year’s draft class is much weaker than next year’s. But I think I made the right decision. All that was telling me, from those people that said that, is they don’t have confidence in my ability and my game to compete with those players next year. You guys have given me that confidence to do that, so I chose to stay here. I’m aware of how much money I am giving up."

Fast forward one year and some are questioning if he hurt or help his draft stock after staying an extra year. There is no definite answer to that because a talent like his is Top-10 material and come June he will become one of the first players to shake the NBA's newly appointed Commissioner Adam Silver's hand.  

Looking at his stats:

Freshmen year: 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 3.0 steals, 40% (FG%), 29% (3P%) and  78% (FT%)

Sophomore year: 18.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.9 steals, 42% (FG%), 30% (3P%) and 73% (FT%)

While looking at Smart's stats one can see that nothing drastic changed about his production and with that he has showed minimal improvement over the course of two seasons and NBA GMs may question his work ethic because for a NBA player those shooting percentages are atrocious and his free-throw percentage shouldn't decrease by 5% but increase by that number.

His sophomore season was filled with lots of twists and turns most notably on February 8th in which he showed an act of immaturity against Texas Tech as he shoved a fan in the stands as the game was coming to conclusion. After the incident Smart told his coach that the fan, Jeff Orr, who is known as a super fan at Texas Tech had called him the N-Word. Orr and many others would go on to deny that happened. Smart would go to serve a 3-game suspension for his actions directed at the fan.

"Unfortunately for Smart, there is going to be a fallout after this," an NBA executive said. "His reputation has taken a hit. That is all people and the media are going to want to talk about with him before and after the draft. Some teams won’t want to deal with that."

As the NCAA Tournament began with the Round of 64 Smart's Cowboys were one of the first teams eliminated as they lost 85-77 to Gonzaga. Smart ended his college career with 23 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 steals. In that game he did become the first player in Tournament history to have 20+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 5+ steals in a game.

Smart was brave enough to stay a extra year and can be commended for that because most players are one-and-done as they go to the NBA for financial stability and to further improve their game. Whichever team drafts Smart they will be receiving a mature young man with leadership skills as well as a versatile combo-guard with a tremendous work ethic and isn't scared of any competition. 

Smart needs to improve his mid-range shot when he enters the league as his FG% on 2-point jumpers decreased by 5.6% from 36.3% to 30.7%. It has become quite obvious that all of Smart's shooting mechanics need to be adjusted.

As noted before, Smart is a combo-guard but mainly played the Point Guard position at OSU. He isn't the best point guard in the nation or draft as he is mainly a score-first guard and his ball-handling skills aren't great or horrible but they are decent as he decreased his turnovers from 3.4-2.5 per game this season.

Smart plays NBA-Ready and with a 6'4", 200-pound frame he clearly has the body to be one of the more physical guards in the league. He's great on offense and very active on defense but will struggle against faster guards due to his lack of speed. His ability to guard both positions well be a reason why he will be in the NBA but his jumpshot will be a reason why he will struggle and hurt him from becoming a future star.

NBA Comparisons: Tyreke Evans and Baron Davis

Best Fits: Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic 

Twitter: @NBAFLASHNEWS

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Prospect Examination: Noah Vonleh

"I’m looking out on the floor," Head Coach of Northwestern Chris Collins said. "and they got a guy who’s going to be a top 10 pick in this year’s draft."

You've heard about the best freshmen in college basketball like Andrew Wiggins, Julius Randle, Tyler Ennis, Jabari Parker and Joel Embiid but I bet you probably haven't heard about Indiana freshmen forward Noah Vonleh. Vonleh is the first freshmen from Indiana to go "one-and-done" since New Orleans Pelicans guard Eric Gordon during the 2007-2008 season. The 18-year old is expected to be a lottery pick with no significant achievements in his freshmen season. When he announced he declaration for the draft he acknowledged how his team didn't make the tournament for the first time since 2011.

"It's going to suck leaving college without an NCAA Tournament," Vonleh said. "But I have to do what's best for me."

Just like any other freshmen that is dominant in college, he was expected to enter the 2014 NBA Draft. The 6'10" 240-pound 2013 McDonald's All-American was hoping to follow the footsteps of last years Indiana alumni Victor Oladipo (No. 2) of the Orlando Magic and Cody Zeller (No. 4) of the Charlotte Bobcats and as recently stated he'll most likely be a lottery selection. 

"I've heard the fourth pick to the 12th pick is wide open," Vonleh said. "[I think I'll be selected] anywhere in that range."

In his only season with the Hoosiers, he averaged 11.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks on 52.3% (FG%), 48.5% (3P%) and 71.6% (FT%). In the final four games of his college career he averaged 15.4 points and 11.8 rebounds which were all against unranked teams. He put up decent stats against ranked teams but failed in comparison to what he did against those without a rank.

The Indiana Hoosiers were 17-15 this season, but a struggling team like that didn't stop Vonleh from his performance and a reason why some scouts are high on him is because he was only part of the teams offensive possessions 22% of the time and put up decent stats. With room to improve into a possible All-Star or good role player with the he was utilized in college he would definitely be a bigger part on a NBA roster.

From his High School senior to the conclusion of his freshmen year his body has shown improvement as he went from about 210-pounds to 240, grew two inches from 6'8" to 6'10" and now has a 7'3" wingspan which makes him a great shot-blocker and will help him with rebounding if he can add to his aggressiveness that'll help him in the long run. With his size and height whomever he is drafted by he will be able to play power forward along with center and be used in small lineups.

Like any other athlete he has his strengths and weaknesses, one of his major weaknesses is his size as he must bulk up, but his main strength is his rebounding ability as he averaged 9.0 per game and had 13 games with 10+ rebounds in 30 games played which also led his conference which was the Big 10. Watching Vonleh play many people have noticed that he is a hustler on the court is willing to dive for extra possessions showing that he is a team player. It's very surprising to see a young stud like him being a team player because typically it's unheard of at that age, he's also known as being a well-coached athlete and that will help coaches and trainers in helping Vonleh reach if full-potential in the NBA.  

Defensively he's pretty good as his defensive win shares were 2.0 which was good enough for second in the Big 10, Defensive rating was 91.7 which ranked I'm 4th in his conference. Vonleh is good enough to get drafted into an exclusive club of 400+ but the question is, Can he stay in the league and improve? Vonleh is for certain a work in project and it should surprise anyone if he spends some time in the D-league. He needs to work on his post game and jump shot since most of his points came around the basket and rarely from outside; he has shown signs of the potential of becoming a good shooter as he was 16-33 this season from the 3-point line and in a game in which more players, teams and big-men are going behind the line, Vonleh will become useful their.

"I think I proved that I’ve got a pretty good skill set," Vonleh said. "I can step out, shoot threes. My post game has gotten a lot better, still a work in progress. I can still improve on it. I can still improve on a lot of things in my shot, getting my release quicker, being able to push the dribble out and do different things like that, just to make myself an overall better player."

There is doubt that Vonleh has the assets to become a solid player in the league and have a defined role, don't expect him to be a difference make until his 3rd or 4th season as I expect he will struggle his first two. What will become interesting is if he's taken before Kentucky freshmen power forward, Julius Randle.

"He'll spend a lot of time in the D-League next year," A NBA general manager said. "He's nowhere near ready to play, but there's no doubt he's got great potential, along with very good character."

NBA Comparisons: Tristan Thompson, Arnett Moultrie & Ed Davis

Best fits: Los Angeles Lakers, Philadplhia 76ers, Orlando Magic & Phoenix Suns

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Due Diligence: The Los Angeles Lakers Coaching Search

On April 30th, 2014, Mike D'Antoni resigned as the Head Coach of one of the most storied franchises in American sports.....the Los Angeles Lakers and the fans of the franchise rejoiced. The reason why D'Antoni resigned was due to Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak opting not to exercise the 2015-2016 season on his contract and D'Antoni was paid a undisclosed amount of money from the $4 million owed to him. In years past only one coach has proven capable of controlling the "Black Mamba" that is Kobe Bryant and now that master of Zen has taken on a greater task in the concrete jungle.  With that being said, whomever coaches the Lakers next must know how to control the venomous Mamba and also embrace the larger task of restoring the franchise to the days of past, the days where the just making the playoffs wasn't the goal....contending for world tiles was the only option.  

After the somewhat surprising departure of D'Antoni, Kobe Bryant subliminally displayed being happy that D'Antoni was gone by saying he "didn't care".  The display showed Bryant didn't have an iota of respect for D'Antoni. Since the resignation of D'Antoni, the Lakers were immediately linked to a multitude of coaches ranking from college, to former coaches and finally current NBA coaches. The men who were associated with the franchise were none other than, Kevin Ollie (UCONN), John Calipari (Kentucky), Roy Williams (UNC), Tom Thibadeau (Bulls) and former coaches Jeff Van Gundy, Mike Dunleavy, Sr., Byron Scott, Lionel Hollins, Kurt Rambis and George Karl. None of the NBA coaches have denied interest in the Lakers but the college coaches have as they are content coaching student-athletes. 

To be brutally honest, I couldn't blame the college coaches ala Kevin Ollie, John Calipari and Roy Williams for staying where they are. The NBA is a business where you are hired to get fired; in college that isn't the case as you are hired there to be viable as long as your team is respectable. Also in college, the fans seem more loyal to their coaches than players and in the NBA it's vice versa.

Kevin Ollie was a 13-year NBA journeymen but didn't gain national attention until he led the UCONN Huskies to a improbable NCAA championship. The 41-year old was linked to "The City of Angels" because of his success in two short years at Connecticut and his league wide reputation as a player which made some believe that he would be a perfect for since LA would be in rebuild soon. But the chances of him becoming the new coach of the Lakers ended when he agreed to a multi-year extension with UCONN which would pay him $3 million annually.

University of Kentucky coach John Calipari was immediately linked to the Lakers job. Calipari has led Kentucky to the NCAA championship game two of the last four years and has produced many NBA players in John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and soon-to-be draftees James Young and Julius Randle. Most of their starters are returning and he has yet again put together another dominant freshmen class. So the question now is, Why would he leave? Calipari quickly put out the flames of the possibility of him becoming the Lakers coach.

"Before it starts," Calipari said as he shutdown the Laker rumors. "I'm totally committed to helping this group of young men reach their dreams," said Calipari. I wouldn't & couldn't leave this group." 

In 2004, one season after leaving the University of Kansas for the University of North Carolina, Roy Williams had declined to speak with the Lakers. The 10 year time period saw Williams have a change of heart. With the Lakers deciding to once again flirt with Williams, this time around he has "friend zoned" them by saying he believes he's solely meant to be a college coach and couldn't make the commitment to being in a relationship with the Lakers or NBA. In the college ranks, Williams has won two national championships at Chapel Hill in 2005 and 2009.

"I've always felt like that I'm a college coach and that's where I belong,” Williams said. “(Lakers general manager) Mitch Kupchak is one of my best friends in the whole wide world, there's no question there, but I'm a college guy and if somebody calls and offers me the greatest job in the world, it better be really good because I feel like I've got about the greatest job in the world."

Tom Thibadeau's relationship with the Chicago Bulls front office is as bad as his team's offense. Thibadeau and the Bulls are a good pair but he and GM Gar Forman reportedly don't see eye-to-eye which could prompt Thibadeau to leave. He has been linked to the Lakers but is under contract in the Windy City through 2017. Despite those rumors, no gas has been added to the fire and the only way Thibadeau is coaching the Lakers is if the Bulls agree to compensate them which is what the Los Angeles Clippers did with the Boston Celtics last season to acquire Doc Rivers. Thibs had also been linked to the Warriors (Steve Kerr is new coach), Memphis Grizzlies and the New York Knicks, which is the only team he has interest in coaching. 

George Karl, Jeff Van Gundy and Kurt Rambis are three coaches that have been linked to the Lakers and that's about it. There have been no reported conversations between the team and any of those former coaches. Two of the three candidates are being linked to other franchises as the Lakers take their time in naming a new coach. Karl has been associated with the Cleveland Cavaliers as he could make a return to the franchise as their coach and possibly their team  president. Karl, 63, has the most wins of any candidate with a 1,131-756 record — 59.9% winning percentage — in 25 NBA seasons. Van Gundy on the other hand, has been linked to the Memphis Grizzlies as possibly becoming their coach and president of basketball operations which would make David Joerger's exit imminent and Rambis is just being linked to the team with no eye popping credentials.  

    

Byron Scott, Lionel Hollins and Mike Dunleavy, Sr. have all been linked to the Lakers recently and are likely to become the new coach of the franchise than the previous candidates, unless new candidates emerge. Mike Dunleavy, Sr. — father of Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy, Jr. — has recently interviewed for the Lakers job as he has 17 years of experience in the league — coaching record is 613-716 (.461) — in which he coached the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers. Dunleavy was recently with the Clippers in 2010 but resigned. He has a history with the Lakers as he coached them from 1990-1992 and made a NBA Finals appearance in 1991.    

Byron Scott probably has the most notoriety of all the candidates since he actually played with the organization from 1983-1993 and 1996-1997 and helped them to three NBA championships when "ShowTime" was must-see-tv in LA. 18 years after being the veteran presence to a young Kobe Bryant, he could now reunite now with him. Scott recently coached the then New Jersey Nets and New Orleans Hornets and also the Cleveland Cavaliers. He led the Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003. Scott hasn't coached a good team since the 2008-2009 season in which the Hornets went 49-33. Since then, Scott has been a aberration of what he once was which was a winner. From 2010-2013 he went 64-166 and has a 416-521 (.444) coaching record all together. As Scott recently interviewed for the Lakers job, he left feeling confident.

"I don't feel I'm a very arrogant guy, but I feel like I am the perfect guy for this job," Scott said to ESPNLA 710 Radio. "I got a great relationship with Kobe. I know the team, know the roster. I watched them all season long and I just think it would be a great fit.

There's one thing we all know about Kobe Bryant, he likes playing the game of basketball the way he wants to and doesn't plan in changing his game for anyone unless your name is Phil Jackson. Byron Scott recently said Kobe needed to change his game if he got the job: "Obviously, if I get the job, the first conversation I have is with Kobe... talk about the type of game that he's going to be playing because he's going to have to change his game a little bit, and I think he knows that." An argument could be made if Scott is the perfect fit for the job, but looking at his recent success and the type of players he's coached, it looks as if he will still be unemployed especially since the chances of Kobe changing the way he plays is like the chance I have to make it in the NBA – zero.

The last candidate but certainly not least is former Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins. Hollins is a former NBA player and champion and is a coach in which perennial All-Star guard Kobe Bryant might enjoy to play under due to his stringency in which the franchise will need as they will enter a youth movement. Hollins also brings a championship swagger due to reaching the NBA Finals as a player (Portland) and assistant coach (Phoenix). Hollins is as close to a perfect fit as one can get as he took a horrific Memphis Grizzlies team into a team to watch and got accustomed to winning. He led Memphis to the 2013 Western Conference Finals and made history in 2011 at they swept the No. 1 seeded San Antonio Spurs. If the Lakers enter win-now mode then Hollins is the perfect choice, if in rebuilding mode then your hire Hollins, it's a win-win situation hypothetically speaking. Coach Hollins has a 214-201 (.516) coaching record and is the guy Mr. Bryant wants to see drawing up playa for him during timeouts. 

The Lakers will do everything they can to hire the right coach and someone who won't extirpate the franchise even more. The question now is, How will Kobe Bryant impact their decision? Bryant wasn't a big fan of the hirings of Mike Brown and Mike D'Antoni and would like the team to not play favorites and wants to have input on their next coach, which would likely be his last. 

"On the last two they didn't," Bryant said. "On the third one, I'm hoping they do... Honestly, it's not really about whether the players like the coach or not, it's really about getting results. Liking somebody and those results don't necessarily go hand-in-hand. Sometimes when a coach is driving you, you don't necessarily like it, but it's a part of the process, and then once you win, everybody is buddy-buddy after that."

The Los Angeles Lakers franchise plans on communicating with Kobe Bryant throughout the coaching search, but it has been made clear that he won't be a part of the process and whatever he says it won't thwart the organization from making a final decision.

"From time to time we ask his advice," Mitch Kupchak told ESPN's Andy Katz at the NBA draft combine in Chicago. "He really won't weigh in on something like this. I'm not even sure that we'll talk to him prior to interviews. But from time to time, he is in our facility, I'll go downstairs and I'll talk to him about a bunch of different things."

LA is trying to return to the glory days, the days which began with George Mikan and evolved to the days of Wilt-West, Magic-Kareem and Kobe-Shaq. Their way back to the top of the totem pole starts with their next coach as the 16-time NBA Champions are in a precarious situation. The ball is in their court, will they go for a coach that is a rough, tough and intimidating like a slam dunk or someone who is soft, finesse and simple like a layup. The Lakers have a bevy of candidates that have congregated to them and it's only a matter of time until they decide who will become the 25th Head coach in franchise history. The new hire can either tame the "Black Mamba" or get struck by its deadly venom which will prompt the search for number 26. Mitch Kupchak and his peers have many options to pick from and it doesn't seem like they will rush the process which is wise. Will the Lakers return to prominence next year or the NBA's Draft Lottery? The next coach will have a abundance of pressure and it will be entertaining to see who is selected. Lionel Hollins, Byron Scott, Mike Dunleavy, Sr., George Karl, Jeff Van Gundy and others are all worthy candidates but there can only be one.

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Knicks Embarrassed by Lakers To Start West Coast Trip

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Tuesday, March 25^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Post Game Recap

If fans of the New York Knicks thought that Sunday was disappointing, it hit a whole different level of low Tuesday night in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Lakers destroyed the listless Knicks 127-96. It was a frighten sight for the Knicks, who gave no effort and did not seem to care about what was happening in the game. It was an embarrassing performance for a team still in the playoff race. The Knicks playoff hopes are on life support and fading fast as the poor performances continue to pile up. The Knicks will have a quick turnaround as they will play the Sacramento Kings tomorrow night in the second night of the back-to-back.

Player of the Game: None

For the second consecutive game the Knicks do not have a player of the game. It was a total team embarrassment from top to bottom, players and coaching staff.

Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY Sports

Match-up of the Game Recap:

J.R. Smith and Nick Young didn’t have the match-up anticipated at the start of the game, partially because the Knicks were blown out after the first quarter. Like all of his teammates, Smith was unable to get anything going consistently in the game. Young on the other hand had to going, pouring in 20 points in only 19 minutes. Young, like the Lakers, ran away with this match-up tonight.

-Positives

After starting the game 0-6, Carmelo Anthony was able to finish stronger, ending the game 10-21 for 29 points. Anthony added nine rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block to round out his stat line for the night.

The first quarter was the only bright spot for the Knicks. Anthony struggled but they were still able to take a 22-14 lead into the second quarter. The 14 points allowed were a season low for the Knicks, as they looked to be well on their way to a much needed victory.

-Negative

The remaining three quarters were a nightmare for the Knicks. After allowing a season-low 14 points, they allowed a franchise-high 51 in the third quarter. That is also a record for points in a quarter for the Lakers, which is shocking because this is quite possibly the worst Laker team in franchise history. The Lakers poured it on after the first quarter, scoring 113 points in quarters 2-4. They really lit the Knicks up from deep, knocking down 18-28 from the three point line.

Harry How/Getty Images

The Knicks bench was pounded tonight. When they were matched up with the Lakers bench to start the second quarter things got out of hand quick and the Lakers started rolling. The Knicks bench scored 21 points combined, 17 from Tim Hardaway Jr. On the contrary, the Lakers bench poured in 82. Xavier Henry scored 22, Young had 20 and Kent Bazemore had 18 to lead the onslaught.

It was scary how poor the Knicks defense was after the first quarter. They showed no heart or effort, leading to a blowout and yet another embarrassing loss. Hardaway Jr. continues to get torched nightly, as he has failed to even pick up the basics of defense in the NBA 60+ games into his rookie season. Tyson Chandler did nothing to protect the paint, as the Lakers scored 40 in there with little to no resistance.  It was an embarrassing performance all-around for the Knicks on the defensive end. They got dominated by essentially a D-League team and players who haven’t played in a very long time. Chris Kaman, who hasn’t even talked to his coach in three weeks, was inserted into the lineup tonight with Pau Gasol out, and scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

The team should have to find their own way to Sacramento for the game tomorrow and some people should be left in California for the remainder of the season. They have had golden opportunities to move up in the standings and close the gap with the Atlanta Hawks but have squandered all of them. The Knicks have played heartless and low IQ basketball for the better part of the six quarters and do not deserve a playoff spot. It is hard to imagine this is the same team that beat the Indiana Pacers last week at Madison Square Garden, creating as positive of vibes the team has had all season, and that is all gone now.

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W2W4: New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers; March 25th, 2014

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Tuesday, March 25^th, 2014

New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Pre-Game News and Notes

espn.go.com

The New York Knicks will look to bounce back from a devastating loss Sunday to the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight. They will be opening up a five-game road trip against the Los Angeles Lakers and will look to get back on track with only 12 games remaining in the regular season. Here are some keys to tonight’s game for the Knicks to pull out a victory.

Match-up of the Game: J.R. Smith vs. Nick Young

The two enigmatic shooting guards have similar styles; they can shoot you into a victory as quickly as they shoot you out of one. This could possibly be the worst team in Lakers franchise history but Young delivers excitement for the fans almost as much as he delivers headaches. It sounds a lot like Smith, who has done the same for Knicks faithful this season. Both players will be matched up against each other through the night, and whoever plays better will give their team an edge. Both Smith and Young can be considered x-factors in the game tonight.

-Player News and Notes

There haven’t been any positive updates on Kenyon Martin or Andrea Bargnani for the Knicks. The only news coming from the Knicks is that neither player is close to retuning. It is safe to say the Knicks should not be counting on Martin or Bargnani for any contributions in the stretch run of the season.

For the Lakers, they will be without Pau Gasol again. Gasol has been in and out of the lineup all season, having one of the more difficult seasons in his career. With Gasol sidelined, Chris Kaman is expected to be inserted into the starting lineup. Xavier Henry should be back in the lineup for the Lakers tonight, giving them a little boost on the perimeter offensively.

-No Time for Letdown

The previous two games for the Knicks have been a microcosm of their season. They failed to put together a full game, resulting in an almost disastrous loss to the Philadelphia 76ers Friday and an embarrassing loss Sunday to the Cavaliers after being up by 15 at halftime. Tonight the Knicks cannot afford another letdown and need to take advantage of the opportunity given to them. The Atlanta Hawks lost again last night, leaving the door open for the Knicks to cut into their lead for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks need to put together a full game on both ends of the court. It is imperative they get off to a good start on this west coast trip.

-Carmelo Getting On Track

The Knicks ultimately will go only as far as Carmelo Anthony can carry them. Unfortunately, Sunday he was unable to bring them to victory. Anthony started the game 6-7 from the field but missed 11 of his next 13 attempts, finishing the game 8-20. Tonight Anthony needs to shoot more efficiently and lead the Knicks offensively. The Lakers have no player capable of slowing down Anthony on paper, so getting off to a fast start would be nice. Anthony had a strong game in the first meeting with the Lakers, pouring in 35 points. An effort, near or matching, tonight from Anthony would go a long way in the Knicks getting a victory.

-Rebounding Battle

With no Gasol, the Lakers will rely on a perimeter attack to take down the Knicks. The Knicks have very little post game even when healthy, and let it fly from the perimeter as much as any team in the NBA. In the first meeting, both teams shot extremely well from the perimeter, combining for 22 three point makes on 49 attempts. Where the game was won was in the paint, where the Knicks outrebounded the Lakers 45-35. Without Gasol the Lakers will be thinner up front, and the Knicks must take advantage of the Lakers being without their best player. 

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NBA Players That Have Revived Or Saved Their Careers

Written By Clevis Murray 

For years the NBA has been filled with great feel good stories which have included comebacks, redemption and sacrifice.  An example of this is a player who hops around from team to team and is eventually out of the league but through dedication and hard work the player makes a grand return and upon that return has a better understanding of the NBA and that the league is simply not for everyone.  More appreciation for the league is born as he now knows that he’s blessed to be a part of it and that millions of men would kill to be in his position.  The Players mentioned below are the perfect example of feel good stories due to having seen their promising careers diminish for a variety of reasons and then finally witnessing their redemption through hard work and in some cases life style changes.

Gerald Green, G/F, Phoenix Suns:

Gerald Green was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 18th pick in the 2005 NBA Draft and became known around the league for his dunking ability. Dunking makes you popular among fans but not among GMs and scouts as they look for more in a player. Green showed signs of becoming a great NBA player since he gained comparisons to then Houston Rockets star G/F Tracy McGrady, but since Boston he would go on to make stops in Minnesota, Dallas, Houston, New Jersey, Indiana, and a few overseas and D-league teams and now has landed in Phoenix. Green has been on 11 teams NBA and overseas combined within a 10 year span. Now with Phoenix the 28-year old is having the best season of his career and might've found a home in the valley of the sun as he is now averaging 15.6 points (career-high), 3.5 rebounds (career-high), 1.6 assists (career-high) and 28.9 minutes (career-high) and recently had 41 points (career-high) and 8 3-pointers (career-high) against OKC. He also has a 16.4 Player Efficiency Rating which is 14th among SGs. The injury to Eric Bledsoe has been a blessing to Green as he seen a opportunity and took and is now part of the rotation and will be a key contributor in the playoffs for Phoenix. 

Danny Green, G/F, San Antonio Spurs:

Danny Green had a pretty good collegiate career at UNC and was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 46th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. During his rookie year with the Cavaliers he was more known for his dancing skills on the bench than his in-game production and saw stints in the D-league. In 2010 he was signed by the Spurs and eventually waived by the team and returned to the D-league. The Spurs would go on to yet again re-sign him and sent him back to the D-league, he also played overseas during the lockout of 2011 before it ended. Green looked like he was heading out the league but when the Spurs gave him a second chance he took it and ran with it as he averaged 10.5 points that season and gained a reputation around the league as one of the best 3-point shooters. Green was a key part for the Spurs in their run to the finals last season and was a killer beyond the arc in the series against Miami as he set a NBA record with 27 made 3s. Green took his play in the finals to inspire him as he said "Great experience, definitely a confidence-booster for sure. It let me know I can play on this level, pretty much on any level."

Michael Beasley, F, Miami Heat:

Coming out of college Michael Beasley was regarded as one of the best freshmen during the 2000s since he averaged 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds during his only season at Kansas State and would go on to be drafted by the Miami Heat with the No.2 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. Beasley was off to a great start to his career in his first two seasons but off the court he was a mess with drug problems, suicidal thoughts and rehab. Back in 2008 during the NBA's Rookie Symposium Beasley was with Darell Arthur and Mario Chalmers in a room full of women and weed, eventually the police appeared to have handled their business but what some might or might now know is the Beasley somehow escaped the room leaving his friends to fend for themselves and after news was reported about the incident ESPN had written up a article about it but for some odd reason withdrew Beasley's name from it which left many people dumbfounded as to why. The NBA would go on to fine Beasley $50K while Arthur and Chalmers were fined $20K. Pat Riley would eventually convince Beasley to admit that he was in the room with the two other players. Beasley would go on to make stops in Minnesota and Phoenix, he said Phoenix would be a new start for him but was waived due to marijuana charges. Each place he had been he had a drug related problem and after being released by the Suns he was at the lowest point of his career until the Miami Heat signed him and since then he has had no problems and is becoming a key contributor to the team in his limited time on the court and will show folks why he was drafted so high back in '08.

Thomas Robinson, F/C, Portland Trail Blazers:

Coming out of Kansas after his junior year he was the 2012 Big 12 Player of the Year and the AP Big 12 Player of the Year. Robinson showed drastic improvement each season in college and exploded as a NBA prospect his junior year and at the conclusion of that season he declared for the draft. He would go on to be drafted by the Sacramento Kings with the 5th pick in 2012 and was thought of as the next big thing and the future of Sacramento and personally I thought he was a future star in the league. In Sacramento he struggled and just a mere 51 games into his career he was traded to the Houston Rockets and played there for 19 games before being traded to Portland in the summer. Robinson was now on his 3rd NBA team in two seasons but has recreated himself with the Blazers and is motivated this season because of what happen his rookie year saying "I never felt this disrespected as a basketball player." He is a key player to the Blazers surprise season coming off the bench and with his 14.29 Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and is also averaging 13.9 points and 12.8 rebounds per 36 minutes with 1 block and with stats like those if he actually played 36 minutes a game, he would easily be mentioned in the same sentence with other Power Forwards but for now in Portland he's like Kenneth Faried and is a very athletic, strong and intense player. Robinson has been a great surprise but those who have followed his story appreciate his success since his mother and grandparents passed away a few years ago.

Greg Oden, C, Miami Heat:

When he was coming out of Ohio State he gained comparisons to Bill Russell and Shaquille O'Neal and was the No.1 pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2007. Before he made his NBA debut Greg Oden needed microfracture surgery on his right knee and was done for the 2007-2008 season. In his NBA debut Oden suffered a foot injury and was out two weeks then he would go on to suffer a left knee injury and miss three weeks. In 2009 he underwent surgery to repair a fractured left patella which required microfracture surgery on his left knee and would miss the remainder of that season. Oden would go on to have two more surgeries, one on each knee and was eventually waived by Portland. When he played he was a very productive but was just injury prone. Oden reached a low point in his life but found motivation and would go on to sign with the Miami Heat and play his first NBA game since 2009. Miami is currently bringing Oden back slowly but steadily as they aren't rushing him back giving him all the time he needs and this season he has been productive in limited minutes and will become a key contributor during the playoffs.

Chris Andersen, C, Miami Heat:

"The Birdman" aka Chris Andersen has become one of the best shot blockers in the NBA but before that he hopped around the league as his professional career started overseas and then to the D-league. Andersen wouldn't actually play a NBA game until 2001. Everything was good for him until 2006 when he was kicked out of the league due to testing positive to a banned substance and the league called it drug abuse. Andersen was reinstated back into the NBA in 2008 and eventually released by New Orleans. "The Birdman" became known during his tenure and second stint with the Denver Nuggets in which he finished second in the league in blocks and also helped the team advance to the Western Conference Finals in 2009. He would eventually be amnestied by Denver in 2012 but in 2013 he was signed by Miami and part of their 27 game win-streak and were 37-3 when he played. He would become a key member to the Heat becoming the 2013 NBA champions and is still a key contributor now and has been out of the media for the wrong reasons until he was wrongly accused of child pornography, personation, extortion which made him the victim of a hoax and was "catfished", he called the case "Manti Te'o on steroids." Besides that he's being himself despite sadly cutting his infamous Mohawk.

P.J. Tucker, F, Phoenix Suns:

You may or may not have heard of P.J. Tucker, but he has become one of the toughest players in the NBA. Tucker was originally drafted by the Toronto Raptors in 2006 with the 35th pick. He only played 83 minutes with Toronto and was eventually waived by the team and would go on to be out the NBA for five years. Tucker made stops in the D-league but most played overseas. Now think about this real quick, Tucker was not given a opportunity in the NBA and was out for five years, not many young men would have the determination and hard work to continue to follow their dreams but he did and in 2012 he was signed by the Phoenix Suns, he had a good first season with Phoenix and unlike many NBA players , Tucker had volunteered to be part of the Suns 2013 summer league team. This season he is averaging 9.3 points (career-high) and 6.5 rebounds (career-high). February 8th, 2014 he had his best game as a pro when he finished the game against GSW with 16 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 steals and would also have another game with 16 rebounds. Tucker has become known around the league for his work ethic and tenacious defense with his built and has also become a great rotation player for Phoenix as they continue to surprise this season.

Andray Blatche, F/C, Brooklyn Nets:

Andray Blatche was drafted by the Washington Wizards in 2005 with the 49th pick and in his tenure with the team was pretty good but in April of 2010 he desperately tried to get a triple-double against the New Jersey Nets. In the closing seconds of the game he fought for his 10th rebound but became mad because a foul was called, became mad at Cartier Martin for not letting him grab the rebound which would've gave him the triple-double, when JaVale McGee went to the free-throw line he asked Yi Jianlian if he could let him get the rebound just incase McGee missed, when McGee made the free-throw Blatche ran down the court hoping that Devin Harris would miss the layup but didn't and lastly with 4.2 second left, Blatche demanded the ball and ran the length of the court to miss a shot and get his 10th rebound but failed. Blatche would go on to receive much criticism for his actions. With the Wizards he was benched due to conditioning and eventually amnestied, he also said the Wizards tried to end his career. Moving forward, Blatche received a chance with the Brooklyn Nets and hasn't been a problem since signing the franchise.

Xavier Henry, G/F, Los Angeles Lakers:

Coming out of Kansas Henry was thought of as being the next Joe Johnson or Paul Pierce but his career and skill set hasn't really sent him in the direction of those All-Star, he was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 12th pick in 2010. Henry had sparse production while with Memphis and with the Hornets along with seeing time in the D-league. While with Memphis Henry gained slight criticism from his father Carl as he said "He’s going to do everything the coach tells him to do. And I think that’s his biggest downfall" and former teammate had some advice for Henry when he said "At that point in your career, people are going to say things about you and you’ve just got to stick to your guns, get better every day, and prove people wrong." Henry's first three seasons in the NBA made him look like a bust but when he signed with the LA Lakers and revived his career, in his debut he had a career-high 22 points and is also averaging a career-high 10 points per game. Right now he's currently in the D-league rehabbing from a nagging knee injury. Not many people know this but Xavier almost played overseas instead of college basketball but he seen the success in which most players that did had in the NBA and detected that idea.

Kendall Marshall, G, Los Angeles Lakers: 

Kendall Marshall was thought of as the next true Point Guard when the Phoenix Suns drafted him with the 13th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft from UNC. Marshall had a tumultuous rookie season with Phoenix in which he only appeared in 48 games while averaging 14.6 minutes per game (MPG) and spent time in the D-league. Phoenix would go on to trade Marshall the next season to Washington but he was immediately waived and left with nowhere to go as his NBA career was on hold. Instead of going overseas, Marshall decided to sign with the D-league but was gaining interest from the Memphis Grizzlies, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers would go on to sign him and that decision has been great as he is now averaging 8.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 9.5 assists. He's had career-highs with 20 points and 16 assists this season and has revived his career in LA when he was doubted. 

D.J. Augustin, G, Chicago Bulls:

D.J. Augustin was off to a great start with the Charlotte Bobcats when he drafted by the organization back in 2008 with the 9th pick. Augustin spent his first four season with Charlotte in which he averaged 10.9 points and 4.6 assists but averaged 12.8 points and 6.3 assists in his final two seasons with the team. When the Bobcats withdrew their qualifying offer from the guard he became a unrestricted free agent (UFA) and decided to sign with the Indiana Pacers in which was a forgettable season for him. Augustin's next stop was a brief stop in Toronto before he was waived and the young guard was running out of options to find a home. The Chicago Bulls picked him up and it turned to become a great decision for them as he is averaging 13.9 points and 5.3 assists this season with Chicago and Joakim Noah believes D.J. has saved the Bulls season. It's worth noting that Tom Thibadeau has a great history with backup Point Guards which includes C.J. Watson, Nate Robinson, Kirk Hinrich, John Lucas lll and now D.J. Augustin. So far in March he is averaging 19.8 points and is a key contributor with the Bulls as he has been the bright spot in what could've been a dim season once Derrick Rose suffered a Torn Meniscus. 

Robin Lopez, C, Portland Trail Blazers:

Robin Lopez was drafted by the Phoenix Suns back in '08 with the 15th pick and was a backup to Shaquille O'Neal and showed some flashes but for the most part his tenure in Phoenix was not what he expected and after four seasons with the Suns he was traded to the New Orleans Hornets in 2012. With NO he was doing well as he was having a career season and showing why he belonged in the league but he was yet again traded in the summer of 2013 to Portland. Lopez being traded was a great move for him career wise and for the Blazers since they were looking for Center and Lopez was looking for a opportunity on a winning team. This season he is averaging 10.8 points, 8.6 rebounds (career-high) and 1.7 blocks. He's been a great defensive presume in rip city as a defensive presence and is currently averaging 12.8 points and 8.8 rebounds in March.

All the players mentioned in this article seen that their careers were declining fast but didn't just stand and watch, instead they did something about it when three received another chance with another NBA team which means a new start and new beginning as all of the players have a good enough work ethic not let the negativity overrule them and push forward to make the best of a career that can't be predicted as to how long it could last. Right now there are players fighting to find a way back into the league one way or another looking for just one more chance.

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Nets Defeat Lakers in Collins Debut

Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

February 23rd, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Post Game Recap

Final Score: Nets 108 Lakers 102

The Brooklyn Nets were able to pickup the victory in Los Angeles on Sunday night, as newly acquired Jason Collins made history becoming the first openly gay player in the four major American sports. The victory moves the Nets to (26-28) on the season, and they are four games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

Player of the Game: Deron Williams

Point Guard Deron Williams had easily one of his best games of the season, and his second straight great game since the All-Star break. Williams had a season-high 30 points on nine for 16 shooting and went 11 for 13 from the free throw line. In addition to his best season performance scoring, Williams dished out seven assists, which moved him into fifth place in franchise history. He also had a career-high six steals in what was an overall great game from Williams.

bleacherreport.com

Positives:

Paul Pierce absolutely lit it up to start the game, as his 14 first quarter points were a big factor to the Nets jumping out to a big lead to start the game. Pierce finished the game with 25 points on nine for 17 shooting, with seven rebounds and four assists. The hot start from Pierce led to a 33-21 score heading into the second quarter, when it looked like the Nets would be cruising to a victory.

Getting his first start of the season, Andrei Kirilenko came up with a good game for Brooklyn. Kirilenko had his first double-double of the season in 35 minutes, and he filled up the stat sheet. His 10 points came on four of eight shooting from the field, and he grabbed 10 rebounds with four steals, three assists, and one block.

Negatives:

The bench has been strength of the Nets most of the season, but with Kirilenko in the starting lineup with Shaun Livingston and Kevin Garnett out, it hurt the Nets bench production. Andray Blatche struggled against the Lakers, as he scored 10 points on a rough two for 10 shooting night. Marquis Teague had to play due to the injury to Livingston, but Teague didn’t impress given the opportunity, as in 12 minutes he didn’t score and only had one assists to two turnovers.

Lakers Center Pau Gasol has battled injuries all season, but on Sunday he was in the lineup, and looked good against the Nets small lineup. Gasol finished with team-high 22 points on eight for 12 shooting with 11 rebounds. A big game from Gasol wasn’t enough for the Lakers to comeback, but in the second half they outscored Brooklyn by 10 points making it a ball game late.

Next up for the Nets will be a few days off before their road-trip continues against All-Star Damian Lillard and the Portland Trailblazers on Wednesday night.

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What's in the future for Rajon Rondo?

With the NBA's Trade Deadline a day away, the rumor mill surely has started spinning, especially over Boston Celtic’s point guard Rajon Rondo. While recently coming back off of his torn ACL Rondo has averaged 9.8 points and 8.7 assists per game so its understandable why he’d be such a sought after acquisition to many teams rosters but the question still remains where could Rondo actually end up? There are a few teams that could definitely benefit from having Rondo but there are also teams that could benefit the Celtics rebuilding process as well.  One of which being their league long rivals; the Los Angeles Lakers.

Hear me out now, it's not as far fetched as it seems. Although Rondo has said multiple times that he would not play for the Lakers in his career the trade could benefit both sides positively. A trade of Rajon for Pau and two unprotected draft picks has been in the talks recently and it's honestly not a bad idea. Pau has an expiring $19+ million dollar contract coming up at the end of the year, as does current Celtics center Kris Humphries (although his contract is $12 million which still ties him as highest paid Celtic with Rajon Rondo). Collecting Pau’s contract along with Humphries' expiring would total almost 30 million dollars in free cap space onto the Celtics roster at the start of next season. That would put the Celtics at 3 first rounds and 2 deep draft picks, and $30 million dollars to use on free agency in the 2014 - 2015 season. That's nothing to turn your nose at, as sucky as it would be to see Rondo in the hated purple and gold.

Another team making a last ditch effort towards acquiring Rondo are the New York Knicks. The Celtics have already declined two previous offers for their point guard but that doesn’t mean the Knicks have quite given up hope yet.  Word from the Knicks camp is that the team's push for Rajon is coming straight from Carmelo Anthony himself. Unfortunately the players, and trade picks that the organization is willing to offer, just aren’t any good for the Celtics in the long run; so the odds of seeing a Rondo - Anthony link aren’t looking to good. Sorry Knicks fans.

And last but not least, The Detroit Pistons. Like the Knicks the Pistons have had a long time interest in Rondo, ever since acquiring Josh Smith to a big money deal in the off season. Its was only natural to assume that the Pistons would try to make a trade work for Rondo using their big man Greg Monroe.  Recently they have offered Greg Monroe, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and a first round draft pick. Words from the Pistons camp is that the asking price for a fresh off injury Rajon Rondo is just to steep for them to even entertain, but you never know. when it comes to a ring, teams have been know to break the bank at an opportunity to see the NBA Finals.

All this talk just leads us to wonder where he will end up, and truth is up until Thursday no one will know until trades have gone through. As a Celtics fan the thought of parting ways with the last piece of the 2008 Championship Team is a sad one, but with eyes on the future; and a rebuilding process in sight that needs to make its way to the present, the right trade may just make it worth while. Currently (in my opinion) Rondo doesn’t seem very interested in who he plays for, as long as the money and the contract is right; which is hard to understand after seeing him under the wings of Celtics greats; Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. That leads myself and a majority of Celtics fans whom bleed green to have the mindset of let him go and bring in a player with pride to play for this city. Someone to take over the reign Paul Pierce left to be filled. Only time will tell, but until then we’re just left with different possibilities that could come to surface. Celtics coach Brad Stevens has said that he doesn’t see a team overhaul coming into play before the trade deadline, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

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