The NBA trade deadline often times passes with only small moves being made, but yesterday's deadline was far different than that. There were a ton of moves made, and the team that was at the focus of many of those moves were the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland has been to the NBA Finals in three consecutive years, winning the title one of those times. It was widely believed that they would return to the Finals again this year, but the team has not exactly met expectations thus far, as they are currently 7.5 games behind the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference.
While I was beginning to be somewhat skeptical of their chances to reach the NBA Finals, I still did believe that when the playoffs rolled around, they would legitimately be the betting favorite to win the East, despite what seemed like mounting uncertainty. However, I think that no matter who wins the East, that team will still ultimately fall to the Golden State Warriors in the Finals. The only question is how many games it will take the Warriors to win the series.
I have heard some people say that this revamped Cavs roster is improved and has a better chance to compete with Golden State, but in the end, in my opinion, Golden State is just too good. If anyone has a chance to beat them, it is the Houston Rockets, not the winner of the Eastern Conference. So that brings into question this upcoming offseason, and the possibility of the best player in the league, LeBron James, potentially being a free agent again.
When this happened the first time, a whole lot of teams thought they could possibly sign James, and it turned out that many of those potential suitors were delirious. This time around, I think there are going to be just as many teams that are kidding themselves thinking they have a shot at getting James.
To start, I do think that there is surely a possibility that James stays in Cleveland. It is his hometown team, and despite whatever sort of divide there may be between James and the owner of the Cavs, Dan Gilbert, it is a fact that Gilbert has been willing to pay a whole lot of money to players in order to support James. This is a note that can be discussed another time, but Gilbert has been ready to spend money at the drop of a hat for LeBron, and I think that is mostly overlooked.
Following the trades made yesterday, so many people want to point to the Lakers as a leading candidate in being the destination for LeBron. They cleared a ton of cap space, Magic Johnson is in charge, and James has a home in Los Angeles. LeBron James is worth almost $90 million. People with that much money have the ability to own houses in multiple places. And if you could own a second home, Los Angeles would surely be a good place for it to be. I am sure plenty of rich people own second homes in Los Angeles, so I don't know why talking heads think that matters.
Another potential suitor I have heard mentioned is the Philadelphia 76ers. With all of the young talent they have on the roster, LeBron would surely want to join that team. Is that reality though, or is that just wishful thinking?
Is the potential in Philadelphia for success there already? Yes, it is. However, are there any sort of recent results to suggest that success will occur? No. Does Magic Johnson being in control of the Lakers help their case? Yes, it does. But is it going to be the deciding factor? In my opinion, the answer to that question is absolutely not. And I will present my case for that right now, with a little help from the career of Magic Johnson.
In no particular order here, I think that when any basketball fan talks about the best players to ever play the game, they would include the following men: Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Shaquille O'Neal, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan. Not only were all of those men some of the best to ever play, but they all won multiple championships as well. If you look a little closer though, we can find a serious connection between all of those guys and LeBron James.
The last time Kobe Bryant won a championship, he was 32 years old. The last time Chamberlain won, he was 36. The last time Larry Bird won he was 30. At the time of their last championships, Russell was 35. O'Neal was 34. Jordan was 35. What really shocked me was when I looked at how old Magic Johnson was when he won his final championship. He was only 29! Magic Johnson is one of the greatest basketball players to ever play the game, but after he turned 30, he never won another title.
If you take all of those men and their ages at the time of their last title, the average age is 33. Two months ago, LeBron James celebrated his 33rd birthday. For that reason, I think you need to throw the 76ers and the Lakers out of the equation when it comes to trying to decide the next destination for James if he does end up leaving Cleveland.
The "process" is underway in Philadelphia, and they are a borderline playoff team this year. Ben Simmons seems like he will be a very good NBA player. Joel Embiid has been very good when he is on the court, but he has never played more than 50 games as a pro. Markelle Fultz was drafted first overall and has yet to play a game in the NBA. Is there potential for success in Philadelphia? Certainly. However, is there any sort of proof that they can win right now? Absolutely not. So, at this point in his career, why would James want to play with a team full of uncertainties? I highly doubt that he would.
When it comes to the Lakers, I have legitimate reason to be even more skeptical. Who is the best player on the Lakers right now? Brandon Ingram? Kyle Kuzma? Lonzo Ball? I hate to break it to LA fans, but those are not names that I would consider championship caliber. LeBron might own a house near the Staples Center, but in no way does that mean he is going to be playing there any time soon.
Even though I know that LeBron James will never read this, I don't care. Here is my advice to him. If you do not want to re-sign with Cleveland, there is one place you should go where you will have the best chance to win another title. That place is San Antonio.
It has been proven over the past decade that one superstar cannot win a title by himself. You need at least two superstars to win it all. The San Antonio Spurs already have that in place. Kawhi Leonard is in the prime of his career. He has already won one title, and is ready to win another. Gregg Popovich is arguably one of the best coaches in the history of the game. He is the master of taking heat off his players and shutting down the media. LeBron James would be perfect on a Popovich team.
Were James to go to the Spurs, they would have two legitimate superstar players, and they would have a legitimate chance to compete for an NBA title. Do James and Leonard play similar positions? Yes, they do. However, players that good can figure out roles for one another, especially when they are being coached by an all-time great.
As I said before, if LeBron James wants to be considered one of the best players in the history of the game, the window on the prime of his career is closing right now. Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird never won a title after they turned 33, and James is already there. He should not go to a team like the 76ers or the Lakers and bank on a bunch of unproven and "potential" guys. He needs to go to a team that is in a position to win right now. Maybe Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram will hit their peaks a few years from now. When that time comes though, LeBron James will have already passed his peak.
If James is really about winning championships, then I think the best way he can do that is to sign with the San Antonio Spurs. They are already a very good team, and while they may not be able to beat the Warriors as of now, they may just be a LeBron James away from being the best team in the NBA. Not five years from now, but right now. And if I were James, I would not be focused on trying to win a title five years from now, I would be focused on winning a title right now.
Daily Rangers Update: The organization wrote a letter to the fans about how much they cared for the team while at the same time saying they might plan for the future and some of the biggest names on the roster might have to be traded for that to happen. At this point, I am just hoping I can identify whoever is out on the ice for the team for the remainder of the season.
Daily NBA Update: As I just mentioned, the trade deadline was crazy yesterday. However, despite that, the Warriors are still better than everyone else.
Daily Giants Update: Nothing too much new here. I am starting to like the thought of picking Saquon Barkley second overall because he is so talented, but I still think that the team has to take a quarterback here, because picking second overall does not happen very often, and you need to take advantage of it when it does happen.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: As the date for pitchers and catchers reporting is now a week away, this crazy offseason continues and J.D. Martinez still remains unsigned. It seems like he is souring on the offers from Boston, and I think the possibility of him returning to Arizona gets greater and greater by the day.
This will be a subject for another day, but the fact that there is a possibility of a spring training for in-signed free agents is something I have never heard of. I can get into the details of it all at another time, but for right now, maybe we can get the man who helped slug us into the playoffs last season.
Friday, February 9, 2018
Thursday, February 1, 2018
When common sense is more important than the tradition of the game
It was announced yesterday that starting on Opening Day of this season, all Major League Baseball teams will be required to have protective netting at least to the far end of each dugout in order to protect fans from foul balls and/or bats that may be launched into the stands during games. In my opinion, this is something that is long overdue.
Going to see a baseball game is an experience that every fan should be able to enjoy. I still remember the first baseball game I ever witnessed in person at Shea Stadium many years ago. Walking up the stairs and into your seating section for the first time gives you an unbelievable feeling. Seeing the freshly trimmed grass and the carefully maintained infield gives young fans a feeling of awe and amazement. No matter how many games a young kid might watch on television, it in no way comes close to the feeling of seeing a game in person for the first time. Hearing the crack of the bat and the snapping of a catcher's mitt is unlike anything else when you are there for the first time. No matter where your seats are, it is something you will never forget. Being able to witness a game from only a few rows back is even better, and is an even more unforgettable experience. However, with that up close and personal experience comes some dangers that now it seems the league is finally stepping up and trying to legitimately prevent.
Forgive me for not remembering who said this, but I do recall a third base coach in recent years saying that he was more concerned with the safety of fans when it comes to hard hit foul balls than his own safety, despite the fact that he is much closer to the action than any fans are. Coaches and players alike, while on the field, are totally focused on the game. Since that is the case, there are constantly aware of what is going on, and in most cases able to escape any danger caused by line drives outside the field of play. The same cannot be said for all fans though. Once again, I apologize for not remembering who said this, but he said that he would look into the stands and see so many people not completely focused on the game that he feared far more for their safety. Whether it was people with their heads buried in their phones, or younger fans just simply with an attention span not long enough to be aware during every pitch, there are many people in the stands who are very vulnerable when it comes to errant foul balls.
Although it does not happen often, there have been some cases of fans being seriously injured by balls or bats flying into the stands. The most recent example was a young girl hit by a scorching line drive just last season. Even if fans are focused on the game, it is sometimes hard to react in time to avoid balls that can be hit at speeds of over 100 miles per hour. For that reason, I am glad that the league is mandating that all teams be required to have protective netting that extends to the far ends of both dugouts. Opponents of this idea will say that it takes away the ability to have the thrill of catching a foul ball, but I think the positives of doing this far outweigh the negatives. If one had to choose between catching a foul ball or trying to avoid a line drive hit directly at them while they may or may not be paying attention, I think any sensible person would choose the safety that the nets will now provide.
Could having front row seats at a baseball game be the thrill of a lifetime? Yes, it could be. The proximity to the players and the field is understandably exhilarating. Being able to sit that close to the field and maybe even getting the autograph of your favorite player makes the price of admission absolutely worth it. But despite that, I still cannot understand how anyone would be against this happening.
The NFL has netting that they lift up behind the goal posts any time a field goal or extra point is being attempted. When neither of those are happening, the netting is taken down, and I think if baseball could institute something like that, it would be good for everyone. That way, prior to any game, fans would still be able to experience the intimacy of being so close to their favorite players. At the same time, once the game started, they would also be protected from possibly fatal occurrences. In this age where so many people have attention spans that are seemingly infinitesimal, everyone would benefit from protective netting, and I applaud Major League Baseball for making sure that this happens in all 30 parks throughout the league.
The fan experience at a baseball game should provide many things. Entertainment and excitement are two of the most important things it should provide, but the safety of the fans should supersede everything else. Traditionalists might argue that this change is not for the better, but after a short period of time, this is something that everyone will get used to, and in the not too distant future, it will be accepted and be considered both normal and necessary. There are many things in this world that exist now but may not have initially been met with complete approval. However, many of those things are now accepted as normal, and I think this change will surely be one of those things. Soon people will stop complaining about netting causing a view that will hardly be obstructed and while it might not protect every fan during every game, I am sure that it will prevent that obscure case of a foul ball causing serious injury to a fan.
As I said before, going to a game is an experience like no other, especially if you are there for the first time. All fans should be able to be guaranteed that the experience is not only fun, but also totally safe, and I think the institution of this rule by Major League Baseball will assure that happens for every fan in the ballpark.
Daily Rangers Update: A disappointing shutout loss at home to Toronto tonight dropped the Rangers out of a playoff spot, but there are still a lot of games left to play. At this point though, my expectations are not very high for the team, even if they do make the playoffs.
Daily NBA Update: James Harden had yet another big night as the Rockets went into San Antonio and got an impressive win against a very good Spurs team. If anyone can knock off the Warriors, I think Houston might be that team.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: Alex Avila was signed with an invitation to spring training yesterday, and if nothing else he will at least provide depth at catcher, which was one of the weaker parts of the team last year. It will also be very interesting to see who wins the closer job going into the season, as I think the spot is fully up for grabs with a whole lot of potential candidates to do the job.
Daily Giants Update: Nothing too much to update here, as it is pretty much just a countdown to the draft for the team now. I did see an interview with Sam Darnold this morning, and I was impressed with how he answered the questions that were posed to him. I'm not sure if he will end up being the best quarterback in this draft class, but I initially liked Josh Rosen the best. With the second overall selection, the Giants will definitely have a shot at getting at least one of those guys, and maybe be able to choose between both of them. I expect the new front office to make the right choice, and I could see why they might be impressed by either of those kids.
Going to see a baseball game is an experience that every fan should be able to enjoy. I still remember the first baseball game I ever witnessed in person at Shea Stadium many years ago. Walking up the stairs and into your seating section for the first time gives you an unbelievable feeling. Seeing the freshly trimmed grass and the carefully maintained infield gives young fans a feeling of awe and amazement. No matter how many games a young kid might watch on television, it in no way comes close to the feeling of seeing a game in person for the first time. Hearing the crack of the bat and the snapping of a catcher's mitt is unlike anything else when you are there for the first time. No matter where your seats are, it is something you will never forget. Being able to witness a game from only a few rows back is even better, and is an even more unforgettable experience. However, with that up close and personal experience comes some dangers that now it seems the league is finally stepping up and trying to legitimately prevent.
Forgive me for not remembering who said this, but I do recall a third base coach in recent years saying that he was more concerned with the safety of fans when it comes to hard hit foul balls than his own safety, despite the fact that he is much closer to the action than any fans are. Coaches and players alike, while on the field, are totally focused on the game. Since that is the case, there are constantly aware of what is going on, and in most cases able to escape any danger caused by line drives outside the field of play. The same cannot be said for all fans though. Once again, I apologize for not remembering who said this, but he said that he would look into the stands and see so many people not completely focused on the game that he feared far more for their safety. Whether it was people with their heads buried in their phones, or younger fans just simply with an attention span not long enough to be aware during every pitch, there are many people in the stands who are very vulnerable when it comes to errant foul balls.
Although it does not happen often, there have been some cases of fans being seriously injured by balls or bats flying into the stands. The most recent example was a young girl hit by a scorching line drive just last season. Even if fans are focused on the game, it is sometimes hard to react in time to avoid balls that can be hit at speeds of over 100 miles per hour. For that reason, I am glad that the league is mandating that all teams be required to have protective netting that extends to the far ends of both dugouts. Opponents of this idea will say that it takes away the ability to have the thrill of catching a foul ball, but I think the positives of doing this far outweigh the negatives. If one had to choose between catching a foul ball or trying to avoid a line drive hit directly at them while they may or may not be paying attention, I think any sensible person would choose the safety that the nets will now provide.
Could having front row seats at a baseball game be the thrill of a lifetime? Yes, it could be. The proximity to the players and the field is understandably exhilarating. Being able to sit that close to the field and maybe even getting the autograph of your favorite player makes the price of admission absolutely worth it. But despite that, I still cannot understand how anyone would be against this happening.
The NFL has netting that they lift up behind the goal posts any time a field goal or extra point is being attempted. When neither of those are happening, the netting is taken down, and I think if baseball could institute something like that, it would be good for everyone. That way, prior to any game, fans would still be able to experience the intimacy of being so close to their favorite players. At the same time, once the game started, they would also be protected from possibly fatal occurrences. In this age where so many people have attention spans that are seemingly infinitesimal, everyone would benefit from protective netting, and I applaud Major League Baseball for making sure that this happens in all 30 parks throughout the league.
The fan experience at a baseball game should provide many things. Entertainment and excitement are two of the most important things it should provide, but the safety of the fans should supersede everything else. Traditionalists might argue that this change is not for the better, but after a short period of time, this is something that everyone will get used to, and in the not too distant future, it will be accepted and be considered both normal and necessary. There are many things in this world that exist now but may not have initially been met with complete approval. However, many of those things are now accepted as normal, and I think this change will surely be one of those things. Soon people will stop complaining about netting causing a view that will hardly be obstructed and while it might not protect every fan during every game, I am sure that it will prevent that obscure case of a foul ball causing serious injury to a fan.
As I said before, going to a game is an experience like no other, especially if you are there for the first time. All fans should be able to be guaranteed that the experience is not only fun, but also totally safe, and I think the institution of this rule by Major League Baseball will assure that happens for every fan in the ballpark.
Daily Rangers Update: A disappointing shutout loss at home to Toronto tonight dropped the Rangers out of a playoff spot, but there are still a lot of games left to play. At this point though, my expectations are not very high for the team, even if they do make the playoffs.
Daily NBA Update: James Harden had yet another big night as the Rockets went into San Antonio and got an impressive win against a very good Spurs team. If anyone can knock off the Warriors, I think Houston might be that team.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: Alex Avila was signed with an invitation to spring training yesterday, and if nothing else he will at least provide depth at catcher, which was one of the weaker parts of the team last year. It will also be very interesting to see who wins the closer job going into the season, as I think the spot is fully up for grabs with a whole lot of potential candidates to do the job.
Daily Giants Update: Nothing too much to update here, as it is pretty much just a countdown to the draft for the team now. I did see an interview with Sam Darnold this morning, and I was impressed with how he answered the questions that were posed to him. I'm not sure if he will end up being the best quarterback in this draft class, but I initially liked Josh Rosen the best. With the second overall selection, the Giants will definitely have a shot at getting at least one of those guys, and maybe be able to choose between both of them. I expect the new front office to make the right choice, and I could see why they might be impressed by either of those kids.
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