Dear NBA Superstars

What max contracts?

Can you feel it in the air? Can you? It's almost here. Two weeks from now, NBA junkies like myself will finally get their fix. The player's union finally figured out that any games are better than no games, while the owners jumped off their high horses and compromised. Training camps begin in a week or so, but free agency is the talk of the town. Of all Chris Broussard's 'sources', the rumor that Chris Paul wants to join the Lakers is a fun, but sad one. That said, NBA superstars, I implore you to stay where you are!

In 2008, the Boston Celtics shook the SportsCenter-addicted masses when they crafted the inaugural 'Big 3' on draft night. Fast forward to 2011, and the concept of the Big 3 has been played out more than slow-mo club scenes in rap videos. Shout out to LeBron and Chris Bosh for making the idea a mainstay, but with all due respect, NBA superstars, the constant need for 3 superstars to band together is an inefficient, lame cop-out for franchises who don't know how to build teams. Look no further than my own hometown Knicks. Before the Carmelo Anthony trade, we had a legitimate squad from 1 through 9. Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari and Raymond Felton were perfect pieces for a deep Playoff run. Instead we have a decimated roster full of scrubs like Jared Jeffries and Ronny Turiaf... But wait... We have Carmelo and A'Mare!!! That's still not enough.

NBA superstars, look at the 2011 Dallas Mavericks for the blueprint on how to build a team sans mortgaging your. Dirk Nowitzki was maligned, ridiculed, and castigated for his lack of resolve during the Playoffs, yet on the big stage this year, was surrounded by a cast of role players that was unbreakable. If it wasn't Jason Terry hitting a record number of three-pointers, it was Tyson Chandler (happy trails) providing a resolute defensive presence in the paint, or Shawn Marion being the glue guy with rebounds and floor placement, or Jason Kidd playing the consumate veteran role and giving the Mavericks a second voice of leadership. The Mavericks beat everyone's new favorite team with one superstar and a perfect team built to debunk the new trend. Defense, chemistry and basketball IQ trumped athleticism, potential and hype. They proved that you don't need to buy out the bar to still have a good night.

This is to you Chris Paul and Dwight Howard. This letter is in response to the teams that will bluff a trio of 15 point scorers for one 28 point scorer. This is for GM's like Mitch Kupchak, Pat Riley and the like who have no imagination and less patience. This is for bandwagon fans who gravitate to whichever team has more stars. This is for Chris Broussard and his unreliable 'sources' on every movement in the NBA. But most of all, this is for the NBA. NBA superstars, you've forgotten what it means to stand on your own two. You'd rather team up with your friends than compete against them. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were friends off the court, but bitter enemies from wire to wire. The same can be said of any of Jordan's compatriots.

That's not to say that this era of the NBA should be one of big stars in small markets. I can understand how disconcerting playing for a bad team as a good player is. Even so, rather than use your celebrity to request a trade, why not try to bring in players you know will mesh with you. LeBron and Wade were doomed because they essentially play the same position and had no one to fill in, not because of defense or any completely objective criteria. As a student of basketball, I recognize that in this talent-filled era of the NBA, winning with no help is impossible. However, that the prospect of building a team has gone out the window is sad. You all should be looking to carry the load instead of teaming up to lessen it. If I'm wrong, then why is the season starting on Christmas, instead of a month and a half ago?

Dear Mavericks and Heat

Think Dirk wants revenge?

*sings* It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!! ... No seriously, from February until June is my favorite time of the year in sports. It's all basketball, all the time. And aside from the occasional run of baseball highlights that serve to make me pull my hair out, the dunks, crossovers, nail-biting vitories and ridiculous action of the NBA is at a fever pitch. That said, the NBA Finals are here and the storylines couldn't be more ripe for the picking. This year's fight for the Larry O'Brien trophy is much more than your average Finals. Why? Three reasons:

1) You Mavs and Heat players both have had quite different seasons.

On the Heat side, you guys came into the regular season with the entire world watching for you to go 82-0. LeBron's incantation that you guys would win multiple championships placed a high bar on you guys. When you took those nasty losing streaks earlier in the season, were stumbling against the upper echelon teams of the league and were having trouble closing out games, I questioned whether you guys had what it takes. Either way, that was the regular season, and now that you've reached the Finals there's no denying that you guys meant business. After making quick work of the Sixers, defenestrating (look that up) the Celtics and stifling the Bulls, it's clear this is a squad that can compete.

In the case of the Mavs, your team had the same predictions placed on you that you've had for the duration of this decade: ehhh, about 50+ wins, an All-Star Season from Nowitzki and an early 2nd to late 1st round exit. You guys had the reputation around the league of being 'soft', and were pretty much written off coing into the Playoffs. Everyone thought the Blazers would upset you, the Lakers would outclass you and the Thunder would outrun you. But looky here... You guys are in the Finals again, and seem more hungry than ever to shake off the naysayers. You guys didn't have the high standards that the Heat had for their season, and by making it to the Finals are making people reconsider picking against you.

2) This series is going to be not only a grudge match, but also a story of redemption.

We all know why LeBron left Cleveland and why Chrissy Bosh left Toronto: the couldn't do it by themselves. And honestly, who could blame them? After seeing the Cavs and Raptors sleepwalk through the regular season like a confused Resident Evil zombie, I can say that I would've left years ago. That said, I was a stark critic on both of you. I questioned whether having to team up with your friends was for the better or worse, only to realize that no NBA team has ever won the 'ship with just one star on their team. You guys have three, all of whom had somewhat fallen from glory; LeBron with his departure from Cleveland, Bosh with his laconic performance in Toronto and Wade two years removed from having the worst record in the league. For you Heat, this series is about making good on your promises of domination and giving the league a reason to believe the hype.

For you Mavericks, this is like the NBA version of 'The Replacements'. A bunch of rag-tag veterans, cast off from other obscure teams, and Playoff contenders' benches mashed together to make a championship-caliber team. J-Kidd will be the oldest point guard to ever start in the NBA Finals, having been written off as a game-changer after his controversial trade from New Jersey. Shawn Marion and Peja Stojakovic, once perennial All-Stars in Phoenix and Sacramento, have settled into being comfortable role-players who somehow come up with big plays when you need them. Even Jason Terry, once heralded as the next great point guard out of Arizona, has made himself instant offense in Dallas after a disappointing run in Atlanta. Tyson Chandler is the definition of an prep-to-pros bust, but has created a niche for himself as a prime defender. And Finally, Dirk Nowitzki, the 7-footer whose leadership has been questioned constantly since Dallas' Finals collapse in '06 and first round upset in '07, has returned to the promised land. Mavericks, you have been given a second chance at greatness, something that few players are afforded.

3) This is a grudge match.

Never mind that Dallas beat Miami twice this season. This series is a grudge match from 2006 for both of your franchises' faces. Dirk Nowtizki, you know you've got 2006 looming over your head, and Dwyane Wade wants to remind you of it. There won't be any punches pulled here. While this series might not have any of the hatred or genuine dislike for each other that the Heat/Celtics or Spurs/Lakers, make no mistake about it. Both of you are going to come out firing. Neither of you are looking to make friends this Finals, and people are going to be surprised at how physical this series will get from the first tip-off. I wouldn't be surprised if there were mroe than a few technicals, and some extremely chippy play. The American Airlines Arena and Center (you think they planned that?) are going to be madhouses starting Tuesday. I hope you guys are ready. Play on!

2010-2011 NBA Season Preview: Western Conference

Yes, people. It is my favorite time of the year. Football season is in full swing, baseball season is finally coming to a close and yes, the basketball season is upon us. We're well in store for another season of dunks, jumpers and great NBA action, and Dear Whoever is here to sift through the clutter for you.

Our season preview continues in the Western Conference, where the Lakers have reigned supreme, but new teams are beginning to show their worth. Let's check out the 8 best teams in the West, who's up, who's down and who's got the juice. Hit the jump to see them:

MORE -->


Until someone knocks them off, this is Kobe and the Lakers' world... We just live in it.

1. Los Angeles Lakers
I said it in the Eastern Conference post, and I'll say it for the West. To be the best, you've got to beat the best. And quite simply put, they ARE the best. The Los Angeles Lakers have two top-10 players on their roster in Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, different scoring options in Artest, Odom, and Bynum, and tremendous depth coming off the bench. They added Matt Barnes, Theo Ratliff and Steve Blake to solidify their rotation, and essentially have 10 players in that rotation who could start anywhere in the NBA. Not to mention, the guru Phil Jackson is back for another threepeat attempt (this will be his 4th if the Lake show wins the ship this year, which is incredible). The Los Angeles Lakers are the team that everyone is aiming at, whether or not they think they have a chance. The rest of the Western Conference is clearly a few steps behind L.A. in terms of talent and a system that wins championships. If they don't end the season at #1 in the West, it will be because the team collapsed, which is highly unlikely with the cast of characters on that sideline...


What does it take for a team to go from Young Guns to Title Contenders? Ask Durant and the Thunder...

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

You might wonder why I'm placing the Oklahoma City Thunder at the #2 position in the West. If you saw the way Kevin Durant and company played the Lakers last year in the first round of the Playoffs, you'd know why. They came within seconds of forcing a Game 7 against the eventual champs, and had a lot of people shocked with their performance. The Thunder have built a roster the old-fashioned way: through the draft. The organization has built around Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook by adding quality pieces around them, and a coaching staff that stresses discipline for the team. James Harden is looking like another steal in the draft. The Thunder also have two underrated big men in Nick Collison and Serge Ibaka. Obviously, the centerpiece of this team is the phenom, Kevin Durant. If he continues to improve, then the Thunder will be head and shoulders above a lot of teams in the Western Conference, simply because of his MVP-caliber talent. The scoring champ has all the tools and complementary players he needs to knock off any of the West's (former) powers, and make the Thunder legitimate contenders.


Old man jokes aside, is there any squad as consistent as the Spurs? Duncan, Manu, Parker and crew are aging like fine wine, and have some new grapes to add to the fermentation.

3. San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs have been the ideal portrait of consistency over the past decade and frequently the recipients of those 'old guy' jokes because they never seem to die. That said, over the latter half of the decade, the Spurs have actually gotten a lot younger. Guys like George Hill, DeJuan Blair, and 2010 draftee James Anderson all look like they'll be able to contribute to the wiley veteran core of the Spurs. The one caveat for the Spurs is whether they'll be able to fight off the injury bug this year. Both Manu and Tony Parker were out for substantial time with those nagging injuries that seem to always take the offseason to heal. From the lack of noise they made in the preseason it would be easy to count the Spurs out, but when have the Spurs every been about the sizzle more than the steak? Gregg Popovich's teams always seem to be prepared when that 1st out of 82 games start, and Tim Duncan is as efficient as ever, with the once-perrenial MVP candidate gearing down his game and getting more fundamental than ever. Are the Spurs as good as the Lakers? Probably not. But we all know San Antonio's only prerogative is the postseason, where they've been for the entire decade. It's for that reason they're at number 3.


The window is closing quickly for Dirk and the Mavs. Can they capitalize on solid veteran role players or will they crumble in the Playoffs again?

4. Dallas Mavericks

Dallas has been my favorite time for a while now, but has always been the butt of the choke jokes. The Mavs have perfected the art of reloading the same roster by trying to plug different players around their MVP candidate Dir Nowitzki. Dirk is the picture of consistency, and Jason Kidd has aged like a fine wine, with improving 3-point range and his cerebral play-making. That said, it's hard to see Dallas beating the three teams above them consistently. They bring back Caron Butler, Jason Terry, Shawn Marion and Brendan Haywood for another crack at the West title. That team would have been amazing... 4 years ago. I think Mark Cuban has gotten a little too content with scouring the free agent wire and trade circuit, rather than building his team the old fashioned way. While the Mavs have considerable talent in rookie Dominique Jones, and their young point guard Roddy Beabois, they don't have the firepower to contend and their championship window is closing faster than Caron's Mountain Dew addiction. It won't be enough to be just good for Dallas. If they want to beat the Lakers and the other titans of the league, it's going to take great defense and mental fortitude, which the Mavs have lacked every year since Dwyane Wade took it to them in 2006.


Blake Griffin is for real. B-Diddy looks like he's 26 again. Can the other L.A. team turn a decade full of frowns upside down?

5. Los Angeles Clippers

This is my surprise pick in the West. I said it. The Los Angeles Clippers will be a PLAYOFF TEAM in 2011. And that's for one reason only: Blake Griffin. The Oklahoma rookie is back from the knee injury that made him miss his true rookie season and has looked dominant in the preseason. Griffin doesn't look like a man who's had knee surgery, catching alley-oops from a rejuvenated Baron Davis. Speaking of B-Diddy, he always seems to have these two year spurts where he looks like an All-Star, and this year seems like the beginning of another of those spurts. When I look at the Clippers though, I see a deep roster, with Chris Kaman (most underrated player in the league), Eric Gordon, Craig Smith, DeAndre Jordan, and Randy Foye all looking to contribute. Add to that, they've got some serious young talent in rookies Al-Farooq Aminu, Eric Bledsoe and Willie Warren. I think if the Clippers can rally around Griffin, they're going to surprise a lot of teams. If they can get consistent production from the wings, then the Clippers will be very hard to defend and even harder to prepare for. Look out, because Blake Griffin will put you favorite player on a poster by the end of the year, while the Clips make it to the postseason as the 5th best in the West.


Chauncey: I know what you did last summer...
Melo: I know what I'm about to do this summer!

6. Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets are in a serious state of flux. With all of the speculation around Carmelo Anthony and whether he will even be a Nugget, there's a silent anxiety around this organization. Of course, Chauncey Billups, Nene, JR Smith, Kenyon Martin, Ty Lawson and Chris Andersen will do what they've been doing, but it seems like this team was a chicken with its head cut off without George Karl. If his presence is what's holding them together, then I have little faith that the Nuggets will make it out of the first round. They added Al Harrington, who is a more athletic and streakier Linas Kleiza, as well as a rejuvenated Shelden Williams, but neither of those players are true game-changers for a roster set in its ways. The Nuggets will win and lose as Carmelo's success comes, which isn't the way to go, especially in the West. The bottom teams in this conference are too good to take a night off, which Denver does a LOT. Yes, the Nuggets will make the playoffs, but I feel like they're the West's version of the Atlanta Hawks, a team that didn't do much to improve.


The Jazz now belong to Deron Williams (and his beard)... Can the addition of Al Jefferson make a difference in Salt Lake City?

7. Utah Jazz

I've said this for years now, and will stand by it until someone unequivocally proves me wrong: Deron Williams is the best point guard in the league. Chris Paul only gets the nod from the world because Williams plays in one of the smallest markets in the league. The Utah Jazz are his team, now that Carlos 'undersized center' Boozer has moved on to Chicago. That said, his departure opened up a spot for Al Jefferson to make his mark in Salt Lake City. Jefferson has been waiting to break out, and now that he has a proven point man in Williams to deliver the ball to him, his game should jump to a new level. The Jazz retained the services of Mehmet Okur, whose jump shooting as a big man should open up a lot of space for Williams and Jefferson to work. Add to that a healthy Kirilenko as the defensive glue, and you've got a trademark Jerry Sloan squad. Sloan is synonymous with squeezing the most out of his players through disciplined play and clutch defense, so the lack of 'star' players doesn't bother me as much as the lack of depth. The Jazz, while adding promising rookie Gordon Hayward, and veterans Raja Bell and Earl Watson are an injury away from disaster. Any hits they take will hit their wins and losses right in the stomach.


Yao Ming's foot should be the next body part to get the Twitter treatment.. Doesn't mean he'll be able to be the centerpiece that the Rockets need...

8. Houston Rockets

This last spot was a toss-up for me because the bottom half of the West is that muddled. The Rockets are eighth in the West because they have great depth. Yao Ming is far from a sure thing at center because of his nagging injuries, but they've got a solid backup in Brad Miller. Kevin Martin is the same way, but the Rockets have guys like Chase Budinger, Courtney Lee, and Shane Battier, who can provide the same production. In fact, Aaron Brooks is just about the surest thing on this team. Brooks, last year's Most Improved Player, is a poised offensive threat with a deadly stroke from the three, which makes up for his diminutive size. Behind them, Houston has solid role players like Chuck Hayes, Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry. These parts are all good, but not great, which puts them ahead of teams like Sacramento, Phoenix and Golden State, but way behind the other 7 teams on this list. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't make the playoffs, but they're definitely the last good team left. Whether or not they can make noise in the West is dependent on Yao Ming's foot, and nothing more...