Tale of Two Dunks

Over the course of the last two days, there has been two monstrous dunks in the NBA that made headlines.

First, in Sunday's Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat game:

And then second, in Monday's Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Clippers game:

So what's everyone's vote? Who had the better dunk?

Double-Standard Alert!

I make no secret on where I stand on LeBron James - I feel that he is the best player in the NBA right now. It's simple, look at the numbers 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists per game throughout his career. This season alone, his numbers are 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists per game. He has been criticized for his mentality in late game situations, especially in last year's NBA Finals - and I will be honest, I was yelling at the TV during the Finals waiting for him to make a play. So I understand some of the criticism, but I feel like maybe I am in the minority that want to see him succeed rather than the majority, who (due to "The Decision", the way he left Cleveland, and the Miami pep rally) want to see him fail.

With that being said, there were two moments yesterday that I found to be interesting. Although, they did not have anything to do with LeBron specifically, I found them to be intriguing views that can be attributed to some of the criticism.

Scenario One:  I was listening to the Scott Van Pelt Show on ESPN radio yesterday afternoon. NBA analyst Tim Legler was a guest at one point during the show. Legler was introduced and the host, speaking on Kevin Love's contract extension with the Minnesota Timberwolves, asked Legler if Kevin Love was a max-contract player. Legler started his answer by saying that while many have questioned whether Kevin Love can be counted on to be the go-to person offensively at the end of the game, he does enough in the first 45 (or so) minutes of games to help his team win games. What? So, it's okay that Love is not the go-to player at the end of games but LeBron has to be . . .

Scenario Two:  The Chicago Bulls lost at home last night to the Indiana Pacers. Meaningless regular season game, right? Probably so, in the grand scheme of things. The interesting scenarios for me was that with about 25 seconds to go in the game, with the Bulls down two points (92-90), Derrick Rose drove left into the lane. As he drives, Roy Hibbert of Indiana steps up to contest a potential shot. Rose kicks the ball out to the right corner to Brian Scalabrine for an open three-pointer. Scalabrine, in limited minutes this year, has not made a three pointer (0-4 on the season) and is a career 34% three-point shooter. Scalabrine missed the shot and Indiana eventually won the game.

The play was reminiscent of a play involving LeBron James in Game 1 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons. Cleveland was down by two on the road and the ball was in James' hands in the final seconds of the game. He drove left and was met in the lane by the help defense. He kicked the ball into the right corner, where Donyell Marshall was waiting. Marshall was a career 35% shooter, holds the NBA record with 12 three-pointer made in a game, and made 902 three-pointers over the course of his NBA career. Marshall missed the open three and Detroit won the game. LeBron was criticized for not taking the final shot and whispers began about him not being a closer.

I haven't yet heard any of the analysts criticize Derrick Rose, in fact, on the analyst doing the highlight on NBA TV made the comment that, Rose's decision was the right basketball play. Rose also said that he is not second-guessing the play. What's interesting is that those are the same statements and comments that LeBron made in defending his decision to pass to Marshall in 2007. And for the record, both are right - they both made the right basketball play. The difference is LeBron was criticized and Rose wasn't. Also, for the record, this is no pity party for LeBron - he can shut everybody up by silencing his critics with big fourth quarter plays in the playoffs and Finals. I am just pointing out what appears to me to be a double-standard. You be the judge!

Pacers vs. Bulls - 01/25/12

Cavaliers vs. Pistons - 2007 Eastern Conference Finals

First Show in the Books

On Tuesday evening, we debuted the first show of our new internet podcast. The ShoreBall Podcast Show is a basketball podcast hosted by us here at ShoreBall Enterprises. Tuesday evening marked our first show and after battling through some initial issues, the show was a success. Click here and listen to the first episode. You can also subscribe to follow the show to stay informed of any upcoming shows.

The Myth of the 'Next Jordan'

The search for the 'Next Jordan' started when Jordan left the game and is still going on to this day. Recently, Jordan himself stated that Kobe Bryant is the only player that deserves that comparison. For many Kobe fans who have tried to put Bryant in the same sentence with Michael Jordan, that was the ultimate vindication. But, let's settle down. The comparisons to Michael Jordan and even the 'Next Jordan' label are unfair to place on anyone and I would argue that it has us blinded to just how great Michael Jordan really was.

1. Point totals:  Michael Jordan finished his NBA career with 32,292 career points in 15 NBA seasons (including the two years with the Wizards). Kobe is currently in his 16th season. He finished last year with 27,868 points and after 18 games this year, Kobe's total is 28,417. That total is still 3,875 behind Jordan and at his current rate, Kobe would need another full season to approach passing Jordan's total. Jordan averaged 30.1 points per game throughout his career, while Kobe has averaged 25.3 points per game throughout his. Kobe's best scoring season came in 2005-06 when his averaged 35.4 points per game, while Jordan's best scoring season came in 1986-87 when his averaged 37.1 points per game.

2. Shooting percentage:  This is a common misconception in my book. Many people have said that Kobe was a better shooter than Michael Jordan was, especially from long-range. Take a closer look at the shooting percentages. Michael Jordan finished his career with a 49.7% field goal percentage. He shot over 50% from the field six times in his 15 seasons. Kobe is a career 45.4% shooter and has not shot over 50% at all during his career. Kobe's career-best percentage was 46.9% in 2001-02. Jordan shot a higher percentage than that mark in 10 of his 15 seasons in the NBA. When you look at three-point percentage, Bryant has an edge, shooting 33.7% throughout his career. However, that edge is not by a huge margin - Jordan finished his career at 32.7%.

3. Additional statistics:  I think this is also where you see a difference in the two player's games. Michael Jordan averaged 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game throughout his career. On the defensive end, he averaged 2.35 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. He is better than Bryant in all of those categories. Kobe has averaged 5.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game throughout his career.

4. At their best:  When you look at the two players best statistical seasons, Jordan continues to stand above Kobe. Bryant's best statistical season thus far throughout his career has been the 2005-06 season. During that season he averaged 35.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game. He shot 45.0% from the field, 34.7% from three-point range, and 85.0% from the free throw line. Michael Jordan's best statistical season had to be his 1988-89 season. He averaged 32.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 2.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. He also shot 53.8% from the field, 27.6% from three-point range, and 85.0% from the free throw line. Jordan is one of only three players to have averaged over 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists per game in a season along with Oscar Robertson and LeBron James.

5. In the playoffs:  Throughout his playoff career, Jordan averaged 33.4 points per game, better than his 30.1 regular season average. Bryant's numbers stay relatively the same at 25.4 points per game in the playoffs. Jordan's 33.4 average is the best all-time in the NBA playoffs. Jordan reached the NBA Finals six times with the Chicago Bulls, won six NBA championships, and six NBA Finals MVP awards. His 33.6 points per game average in the Finals is second in NBA history behind only Rick Barry. Bryant has reached the NBA Finals seven times with the Lakers, won five NBA championships, and two NBA Finals MVP awards. Kobe has averaged 25.1 points per game in the Finals also.

6. Other notes:  Over the past three seasons Kobe and the Lakers have lost three playoff games by 30 or more points, including last year's 122-86 loss in Game 4 of a series sweep by the Mavericks. Can you imagine a Jordan-led Bulls' team experiencing the same humiliation? Let's also not forget the 2006 playoffs, when in Game 7 versus the Phoenix Suns.Kobe and the Lakers were down at halftime by 15 points and instead of leading a furious combat, Kobe appeared disinterested and took only three shots in the second half. The Suns won that game 121-90 to advance to the second round of the playoffs. That performance seemed eerily familiar to some fourth quarter performances that many analysts criticized in last year's NBA Finals.

Ultimately, numbers are numbers and opinions are opinions. While Kobe may exhibit some of the same competitiveness and determination of Michael Jordan, he is not Jordan. It is unfair for anyone, even Jordan himself, to place that comparison or the 'Next Jordan' title on Bryant. It would be more worthwhile recognizing that Jordan is probably the greatest to ever play the game and that Bryant is one of the best players during the post-Jordan era.

Let's Not Overreact

Last night the Miami Heat cruised as they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 98-87. The Heat held a substantial double-digit lead for most of the game, leading by 15 points at halftime and by 21 points at the end of the third quarter. The Lakers made a run to cut the lead late, but Miami outlasted them for the victory.

The bigger story, of course, is the matchup between LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Bryant struggled early and for the majority of the game, before going on a tear late in the game. He finished the game with 24 points and shot 8-21 (38.1%) from the field. Kobe has scored a combined 38 points on 15-43 (34.9%) shooting in his last two games, after scoring 40 points or more in four straight games. LeBron finished the game with 31 points and shot 12-27 (44.4%) from the field. In addition, LeBron added 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, and 3 blocks to help Miami win the game.

TNT analyst Kenny Smith, summed up the night perfectly. He said that when looking at the matchup, it is all about who you love. Kobe fans will point to Kobe's flurry in the final minutes of the game and applaud his willingness to fight until the end. LeBron fans will point to his all-around game and his ability to affect the game in a variety of ways. On the flip-side, Kobe detractors will point to how Kobe struggled through the first three quarters of the game and will also point to his subpar field goal percentage. LeBron detractors will say that LeBron still needs to show up in the fourth quarter of games, especially during the playoffs.

So, let's not overreact . . . this game did not do anything to change anyone's opinion of either player.

Lakers vs. Heat, Kobe vs. LeBron

Is this game on anybody's radar? Tonight the LA Lakers travel to Miami to face the Heat. There will be a few storylines in play during tonight's game. LA vs. Miami - this could be an NBA Finals preview. Kobe vs. LeBron - which star shines brightest? Who comes up big for their team if the game is close in the fourth quarter?

The Miami Heat come into this game missing a major piece of their puzzle - Dwyane Wade is out indefinitely due to ankle and foot injuries. The Lakers come into the game also missing a piece of their puzzle, although not one as significant at D-Wade is to Miami - Steve Blake, the Lakers' backup point guard and leading scorer off their bench is out with fractured rib cartilage. At this point of the early season, neither of these teams is the team that they will be if they happen to meet in the NBA Finals. So while it could be an NBA Finals preview, I think this game will actually serve as more "lighter fluid" to throw onto the Kobe vs. LeBron debate.

There has been much conversation recently concerning various NBA analysts' rankings of their best players in the NBA, Kobe vs. LeBron, etc. In those two players, you have two of the most talented, if not, the two most talented players in today's game. These two are the league's leaders in scoring (Kobe at 30.8 ppg and LeBron at 29.8 ppg). And you have two players that will probably be right at the top of the NBA MVP conversation.

At 33 years old, in his 16th NBA season, while also dealing with a torn ligament in his wrist, Kobe Bryant is having one of his best seasons. He is averaging 30.8 points per game, which leads the league and is his highest total since the 2007-08 season. His rebounds (5.7 per game) and assists (5.5 per game) are also the highest they have been in recent years as well. Kobe has also made noise lately with a four game 40+ point scoring streak that came to an end with a 14-point outing in their most recent win over the Dallas Mavericks. Kobe appears to be enjoying new coach, Mike Brown's system, which allows Kobe to dominate the ball and look to score or make a play for his teammates. He is averaging 24.9 shots per game, his highest total since 2005-06, and is shooting 45.6% from the field.

Likewise, LeBron is having a tremendous season as well. He is second in the league in scoring at 29.8 points per game and is fourth in the league in field goal percentage at 57.7%. He is also averaging a career-high 8.0 rebounds per game and his 7.6 assists per game is the second-best total of his career. In addition, he is also shooting a career-best 43.8% from three-point range. LeBron's Player Efficiency Rating of 34.25 is second in the league as well, behind only Manu Ginobili of the Spurs.

But despite the numbers for both players, everyone will have their eye on the fourth quarter. Everyone know the struggles that Miami and especially LeBron has had in the fourth quarter of games. Everyone also knows that, whether Kobe makes his shots or not, he will be aggressively looking to shooting the ball in the fourth quarter. Maybe Kobe has a big fourth quarter and helps lead his Lakers team to a victory. Maybe D-Wade being out of action tonight forces LeBron to take the game over for Miami and exorcise his fourth quarter demons if the game is close late. Who better to do it against than Kobe and the Lakers? In either case, tune in tonight, especially in the fourth quarter.

Video from Trailblazers Game 01/15/12

As mentioned in my last post, I attended a minor league professional game this past Sunday, January 15th. The Portsmouth Cavaliers faced the Tru Hope Trailblazers at Atlantic Shores Christian High School in Chesapeake, VA. The Trailblazers pulled out a five-point victory, outlasting the Cavaliers 116-111. For more information concerning the game, click here. You can also view video from the game below:

Thoughts From the Basketball Action on MLK Day

I just want to take care of a cosmetic issue before I proceed. We have had to postpone the first episode of our podcast, The ShoreBall Podcast Show. We are trying to coordinate everyone's schedule, so as soon as we can do that, we will inform everyone of the show date and time.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to catch a good amount of basketball, both college and professional, on TV throughout the day. ESPN started the day televising an NBA matchup (Chicago vs. Memphis) and then followed that by televising Big Monday which featured four games. Later on in the night, TNT aired a double header featuring OKC vs Boston and Dallas vs. LA (Lakers).

In checking out the majority of these games, these are my thoughts:

The Big East has widely been regarded as the best basketball conference, but the Big 12 may be making a case this year. While the Big East has more teams in the Top 25 (Big East - 5, Big 12 - 4), three of the Big 12 teams are in the Top 10 and all three were in action yesterday (Missouri, Baylor, and Kansas). Missouri looked like a team that could make a long run in the tournament with their guard play. For more information on the Big Monday games, click here.

The Thomas Robinson/Perry Jones III matchup was interesting to watch, at least in the first half of the Baylor/Kansas game. The game was pretty even until Perry Jones III turned his ankle towards the end of the first half. He stayed in the game briefly before leaving the game briefly before the half. Kansas went on a 13-0 run to close the half and never looked back. Thomas Robinson won the matchup (27 points, 14 rebounds) but Perry Jones III (18 points, 5 rebounds) played through the injury and showed glimpses over the talent that many NBA scouts are high on. Both are talented players and look to be high NBA draft picks - Robinson plays with more energy while Jones has more of an all-around skill set.

The Lakers pulled out a three point victory over the Dallas Mavericks, needing a Derek Fisher three-pointer in the closing seconds to give them the win. Lamar Odom returned to LA after the offseason trade that didn't happen and then the one that did happen, which resulted in him being dealt to the Dallas Mavericks. He has been struggling to find his rhythm early on this year, averaging only 7.0 ppg on 31.4% shooting. Prior to the game, he stated that he had contemplated leaving the game for a year after a myriad of off the court events. He played slightly better last night, scoring 10 points in a rough shooting game for both teams. The Mavericks will need him to continue to improve his production in order to make a long run in the playoffs.

Also, this past Sunday I had the opportunity to attend a local minor league professional basketball game featuring the Tru Hope Trailblazers vs. the Portsmouth Cavaliers. The Trailblazers won the game 116-111. For more information concerning the game, click here.

Podcast Rescheduled

The first edition of the ShoreBall Podcast Show has been postponed. The show will not air today - instead it will air next Sunday, January 15th at 5:00 pm. For more information concerning the show, click here, and to listen live next Sunday, dial 347-237-5066. If you have any ideas for upcoming show topics, contact us at shoreball@cox.net.

TNT Doubleheader Recap - 01/05/12

Two entertaining NBA games were showcased last night on TNT - Miami vs. Atlanta and LA (Lakers) vs. Portland. The Miami/Atlanta matchup was intriguing since Atlanta had given the Miami Heat their first loss of the season on Monday, defeating them 100-92. Despite the Heat's new fast-paced offense (leading the league at 109.3 ppg), the Hawks held Miami to only 10 fast break points in route to their victory in Miami. Also, coming into last night's matchup, Dwyane Wade was questionable due to a minor foot injury that caused him to miss Wednesday night's game versus the Indiana Pacers. Also, LeBron James was questionable as well due to a sprained ankle that he suffered in the Indiana game; he played through the injury, finishing with 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 13 assists.

Prior to the game, it was determined that neither Wade or James would play and so, the Miami Heat took the floor featuring only one of the "Big 3". The game proved to be entertaining, helped by three overtimes and the commentary of Charles Barkley. The Heat eventually finished the game with the victory, winning 116-109. The team was led by Chris Bosh (33 points & 14 rebounds), who hit a game-tying three pointer at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime, and Mario Chalmers, who hit big shots all night and finished with 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists. The Heat were up by 13 points at one point in the second half before the Hawks took a 70-68 lead to end the third quarter. Chalmers came up big for the Heat, finishing with 22 of his 29 points in the third quarter and the overtimes.

The game proved to answer many questions about Chris Bosh and his ability to step up big for the Heat and also about the supporting cast for the Heat. The Heat received considerable contributions from their supporting cast, led by Udonis Haslem (14 points, 11 rebounds), Norris Cole (9 points, 5 assists), Terrel Harris (9 points, 14 rebounds from the guard position), and Shane Battier who played solid defense all night and finished with 9 points. Many of the Hawks starters struggled, but the team may have found a solid player to add to their rotation. Ivan Johnson came off the Hawks' bench and provided much needed energy and effort, something that they sorely needed. The journeyman forward finished with 13 points and 4 rebounds, but had a plus/minus ratio of +17. Tracy McGrady also proved his ability to still get it done by having a big fourth quarter for the Hawks and finishing with 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists off the bench.

Highlights:  Miami vs. Atlanta

In the second game, the Trailblazers proved that they are a team to reckon with in the Western Conference, moving to 5-1 with a 107-96 victory over the Lakers. The Lakers got solid games from Kobe (30 points, 8 rebounds), Gasol (19 points, 7 rebounds), and Bynum (21 points, 12 rebounds). Bynum continues to play well for the Lakers, averaging 22.3 points, 15.8 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game since the return from his four-game suspension. However, after those three the Lakers did not get much from any one else on there roster. The Trailblazers finished with four players in double figures, led by Gerald Wallace (31 points) and LaMarcus Aldridge (28 points, 10 rebounds). The Blazers played a fast tempo and made the Lakers look old and slow in the process. However, despite their fast pace, the Trailblazers finished the game with only 4 turnovers. Other interesting notes from the game:

The Blazers hit only five threes in the game, finishing 5-12. However, the Lakers finished the game 0-11 from three-point range.

The Blazers finished the game with 89 field goal attempts - ten more than the Lakers 79 attempts. The Blazers shot 46.1% - so if we do the math, the Blazers had 10 more field gold attempts, outscored the Lakers 15-0 from the three-point line, and only had four turnovers - that would explain the Blazers victory.

Highlights:  LA Lakers vs. Portland

Score Update

We have a score update for a couple of games from the Eastern Shore District tonight.

High School Girls Basketball

Nandua 52, Arcadia 39

The Nandua boy's team also won over Arcadia - I am unsure of the final score, but Nandua took a 56-45 into the fourth quarter. I will provide a final score once I get an update.

Welcome and Happy New Year!

We would like to welcome everyone to our new blog that we have entitled The ShoreBall Chronicles. Here we will provide our thoughts and opinions concerning a variety of topics within the basketball world and concerning our small business, ShoreBall Enterprises. We have been basketball fans for our entire lives and our small business has been in operation since 2008. As a business, we provide a variety of basketball-related services to the Eastern Shore of Virginia and Maryland and beyond.

We have a variety of programs and initiatives that we will be concentrating on in 2012, beginning with our new internet podcast. The ShoreBall Podcast Show will debut on Sunday, January 8th at 5:00 pm. The show will feature a fresh take on the game of basketball, complete with listener and caller interaction, which we highly encourage. Tune in on Sunday and continue to follow and listen as we move forward.

Also, please visit our website at www.shoreball.com for further news and updates. We will also provide updates on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Lastly, there is one thing to keep in mind as we move forward here, on the podcast, and in our other ventures. For us . . .