HANDLE IT (The NBAs best dribblers)

Throughout the history of professional sports, there has always been s a signature style of play or tenor that defines that particular era.

Baseball, for example, was dominated in the ‘60s by pitching (Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, etc).  By the late 90s, it was all about the homers.  Greg Maddux afterall did say “Chicks dig the long ball.”

The NFL was once a defensive, vertically-challenged, “3 yards and a cloud of dust” running league until contemporary times led to a bevy of NFL passing records to fall by the wayside.

Now in the NBA, more than any other sport, the players (not schemes or coaches) dictate the style of play.  In the 90’s we withe golden age of Shooting Guards (MJ, Joe Dumars, Clyde Drexler, Mitch Richmond, Reggie Miller, Ron Harper, etc), Point Guards  (Magic, Isiah Thomas, John Stockton, Mark Price, Tim Hardaway) and Centers (Shaq, Hakeem, The Admiral, Pat Ewing, Brad Daugherty).

The 2000s were pretty much owned by the Power Forwards (Tim Duncan, Karl Malone, Chris Webber, Kevin Garnett, Antonio Mc Dyess, Dirk Nowitzki) and now in 2014, it appears that Small Forwards (Lebron, Kevin Durant, Paul George, Carmelo) and Point Guards (Kyrie Irving, CP3, Steph Curry, Damian Lillard, John Wall, Westbrook, Derrick Rose) are running the league.

This wave of point guards is extremely gifted and addictive to watch.  They possess never before seen athleticism (Russ-Rose-Wall), jump-shooting ability (Steph, Lillard, Kyrie) and maybe the most important quality that separates them from other positions: exceptional ball-handling capabilities.

Out of the aforementioned point guards, I depict Irving, Curry, CP3 , John Wall and Jamal Crawford as THEE best dribblers in the league.  While they all showcase amazing talent with the things they can do with the ball, their styles are all different.  If I had a chance to choose which set of handles to infuse in my game, it would be between Kyrie and Steph.  How about you?

MANY STYLES, MANY STYLES!!!!!

CP3: Steadiness; seldom turnovers (ripped, ball falling off foot)… can revert to a flashy “yo yo” when needed but always keeps the dribble.

Crawford:  ultimate yo-yo….can lull you asleep or hit you with the rapid behind the back cross.

Kyrie:  MASTER of the “hezo’s” (hesitation dribble---don’t sleep on Melo’s hezo’s either)…smooth, natural crossovers…. ambidextrous handles, subtle gestures (eye brows, shoulders, picking up hand). Even when he falters, you appreciate it.

Watching K.I. do his thing reminds me of a John Coltrane or Miles Davis jazz impromptu session….

Steph:  similar to kyrie but just technically more proficient, according to the eye ball test.  If Kyrie’s handle is of the Jazz variety-impromptu, reactive and natural-then Steph is the classically trained Mozart.  Every move looks natural from a calculated standpoint, meaning everything he does, he practiced for it 100’s of times and anticipates it…Not fond of the musical analogy? Ok, Steph is like an actor performing on Broadway w/ out slurs or stumbling over words, or re takes.

John Wall:  Is able to do what these point guards, to an extent but the boy does it with lightning speed.

HONORABLE MENTION:

*Jeff Teague                         *D Rose

* Brandon Jennings              *D Will

* Damian Lillard                    *Isiah Thomas

* Ty Lawson

The 4 Best, No Rushmore

“Who’s the best? Pac, Nas and Big? Ain’t no best, East, West, North, South…” in his critically acclaimed opus, “Ether.”

The answer to “Who’s the best (rapper)?” in hip- hop culture usually renders a subjective and divided answer. When it comes to basketball, there’s usually a definitive and consensus answer: Michael Jeffrey Jordan.

In a recent interview with NBA-TV’s Steve Smith that aired following the 2014 All-Star Break, LeBron James made headlines by naming his “Mount Rushmore” of the NBAs all-time greats.  Reaction to his list (Mike/Magic/Bird/Oscar Robertson) immediately ensued.

What everyone needs to realize is that the whole “Mount Rushmore” idea is ultimately a nod to the forefathers that paved the way for the league; it’s not necessarily a compilation of the greatest players in NBA history.

Concocting a list of the leagues forefathers in itself presents a challenge.  Considering big men solely, George Mikan, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain could stand-alone.  Before the Jordan era, big men dominated the league and were instrumental to championship success.

Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, what can you say about them?  They could have their own Mountain, hell, they could have their own state (ahem Maine, R.I.) for their contributions in saving the league and birthing the contemporary NBA as we know it. 

Bottomline:  The accepted idea of this “Mt Rushmore” phenomenon translates into a discussion of a lifetime achievement award and recognition.  To echo Nas’ words, we want to know “Who’s the best?”

Clearly the best 4 players all time in NBA history are Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and Lebron James.

Mike: G.O.A.T Self-explanatory.  As Nas said, “Name a rapper (baller) I ain’t influence.”

Kobe: He was the most influenced and subsequently the most hated, but “How can Kobe be garbage?”  The boy has scored the most points ever televised in NBA history. Yeah Wilt got a 100 (allegedly) but the proof is a black and white pic of him holding a c-note sign and through word of mouth.  Kobe’s film will long outlive a corroding photograph and people’s fading memories.  When Mike was compared to or faced opposing 2-guards in the ‘90s (Drexler, Dumars, Richmond, Miller, Harper ,etc) he would kill them.  Remember when T-Mac, A.I., Vince Carter, Steve Francis were perceived to be in Kobe’s class?  Do you remember Kobe’s “Mike” like resolve and closing ability in a road Finals game vs Indy (2000) when Shaq fouled out and carried the team in OT? Everybody is slurping and smitten with KDs recent scoring binge, well Kobe once averaged 40 ppg for a whole month (wearing Air Jordans coincidentally)!

Magic:  Im not mad at anyone who selects Magic as the GOAT.  If it wasn’t for Mikes individual greatness, a greatness we had never seen before-accompanied by individual dominance-Magic would be the GOAT in my book.  The orchestrator of “ShowTime”, I’ve never seen anyone have such a dominance both statistically and intangibly (leadership, attitude, work ethic, intensity, etc) in the game of basketball.

Lebron: I have a couple of terms for exceptional basketball players: 1-TakeOver & 2-Prototype.  A takeover is someone, usually an athletic perimeter player (SF/SG) , that is between 6’4”-6’9” and can slash to the bucket, handle the rocket, shoot decently, and get his shot off or score at anytime, especially crunch-time.  A prototype is a player that breaks the mold of a certain basketball position and in turn sets the bar for new standards at that position.  Lebron is both a prototype and a take-over. *

Magic:  Greatest leader of men/9 Finals appearances from ’80-91/Career averages:  19.5 ppg/11.2 assists/7.2 reb/52%fg-85% ft/3 MVPs (9 top 3 finishes)/5 Championships/3 Finals MVPs

Best season (imo): ’81-’82: 18.6 ppg/ 9.6 reb/ 9.5 assists

Lebron:  Most versatile and gifted SF all time (only SF to avg 8 assists in a ssn)/4 MVPs/2 championships/Career averages: 27.5 ppg/ 7.2 reb/ 7 assists.

Best season (imo): ’09-’10: 29.7 ppg/ 8.6 assists/7.3 rebounds

Kobe: 2^nd best SG all time/1/12 players with career scoring avg of 25, 1/5 players to score 30k points/5 rings/2 Finals MVPs/1 MVP/career averages: 25.5 ppg/5.5 rebounds/ 4.8 assists

Best season (imo): ’02-’03 30 ppg/6.9 reb/5.9 assists

MJ: GOAT/6 Championships (6-0 Finals Record)/6 Finals MVPs/5 MVPs/Def player of the Year/10 x scoring champ/Career Avgs: 30.1 ppg/6.2 reb/5.3 assists

Best season(imo): He averaged 37.1 in ’87 and won the dunk contest/Def POY and MVP in ’88 but I’ll go with the ’88-’89 season: 32.5 ppg/8 reb/ 8 assists on 53.8 fg % and 85% from the line.

*Click on this link for “TakeOver” blog:

http://thelegendofdice.blogspot.com/2011/05/takeovers.html

*Prototype blog coming soon.

Full Contact: The Professional Sports World Has Been Touched by the "Coming Out" of NFL Prospect Michael San

Michael Sam came out this past weekend and it’s supposed to be a big deal.  Well it is, realistically, but for all the wrong reasons (it’s a reminder of how naïve and prejudice---and in some ways regressive--- our society still is).

And because of those reasons, I’m hesitant to write about Sam’s “coming out” because indirectly it justifies said wrong reasons.

As a black man that’s fairly conscious of the segregated and demonized history of his people, I try to be inclusive of all people in all situations.   Equality and fairness should always transcend gender or race.

We live in a culture today where unfortunately we’re conditioned to accept things that are illusional and phony.  At least Sam is keeping it real and when you consider the plastic nature of modern society, that’s worthy of respect.

And that’s what I’m highlighting: his honesty.  I once asked a black man (who was from the North) why did he move down south and he replied “I’d rather go where they’re calling me nigger to my face opposed to behind my back.”

Transparency is all you can ask from people nowadays.  Lay your game down flat from the start.  People are more willing to cope with your "issues" when you’re authentic.  That was Mantei Te'o's problem.  Not only did critics question his intelligence but they questioned his sincerity after he went back and forth with his catfish story after it was leaked to the press last year.  For the most part Sam has been forthright.

With millions of potential dollars ahead of him in this years NFL draft, Sam risked it all and “kept it 100” from the start.  “Take that wonderlic test! I have nothing to hide. I’ll get ahead of any story or info your team sources render!”  was the non-verbal statement made over the weekend to NFL scouts and organizations.

As a former athlete I never took showers with the team.  I used to think I was homophobic but I’m just a real private and particular person.Besides taking showers, another factor to a team (this case a potential football team) is the climate of the locker room.  We all see what transpired in the Richie Incognito/Jonathan Martin story, so we know things can take a left quickly.

 Again, Im just saluting Sams candor.  Nothing more. Nothing less.  I know there are people out there who feel like they are walking on eggshells and feel if they are critical (without being hateful or unfair) of a certain lifestyle decision then they will inevitably become demonized.   That’s not the case here either.

Last year we saw Jason Collins come out the closet and proclaim his sexual identity.  He was celebrated but that fire went out when it became evident Collins (at the tail end of his career and NOT a household name/star) would not be picked up by another NBA team.  Sam is the polar opposite on the scale.  He made his decision at the beginning of his career.  He has a clean slate for potential and potential superstardom.  That's what makes this whole story intriguing.  The verdict remains to be seen.  We may have to revisit this a couple years down the line if not sooner.

But as long as Michael Sam can help whichever team drafts him make plays and win football games, Im sure Sam won’t have too much trouble finding a way and blossoming in the NFL.