Dear Carmelo Anthony

God help the team that gets you...

For the past month, there are a few topics that have been beaten to death and cremated in the sports world. But one stands above them all, Carmelo. The continued drama of where you'll end up is starting to put me to sleep. Every time you turn around, there's a new rumor. 2 weeks ago it was the Nets, this week it could've been the Knicks, and now it's the Lakers. What gives? I feel like you should say something to clear this up, especially since your team isn't really backing you up. I suppose that's what happens when the spotlight is on you... You clam up.

I can't help but be reminded of all of the times you choked under pressure, or failed to show up. Your teams have always been good, and you've been considered a superstar, but this year it seems like you're not even in the game. Earlier in the season, with Chauncey Billups hobbled by a broken wrist, the Nuggets seemed flat. Although you were able to get to a record of 31-25 coming into the All-Star Break, that's only good enough for 4th in the Northwest Division and 8th in the West. Okay, so the West is stacked... So what? Aren't you a superstar?

It pains me to see all of this speculation of you making the move to New York because teaming up with Stoudemire might screw both of you up. It would be the joining of two unstoppable but unimportant forces in the NBA. Both you and A'Mare are defensive liabilities. You never guard the best player on the other team, much less make defensive plays when your team needs it (see: Paul Pierce in NY). When Kobe comes to town, why's Aaron Afflalo guarding him? When you guys take a trip to Miami, should Gary Forbes be tasked with guarding LeBron? These are questions that've plagued you through your career, even with the Playoff runs and your development of a masterful offensive game.

Speaking of offense, you and A'Mare are considered two of the best offensive players in the league, but never seem to score when it matters. A week or so ago, you scored an NBA season high of 50 against the Rockets, which is incredible if you completely ignore the fact that you lost! You managed to drop 50 points and lose, Melo. Come on, son. You didn't even have any assists. That, oh Brooklyn native, is the definition of a meaningless scorer. Yes, you came out and dropped 42 2 games later in a win, but you weren't even in the game to hit the game winner, having fouled out. The superstar doesn't do that. The superstar is the guy everyone is scared of with the game on the line. I certainly wouldn't be afraid of you if I were another NBA defender. It just goes to show you that no matter how good of a player you are, if you don't have that x-factor, that umph, that extra push, it doesn't matter.

Melo, you probably will end up a Knick, if not by the end of the week then by the end of July (*crosses fingers for CBA revision*). While it's exciting from a fantastical standpoint, basketball wise, it will be business as usual for you. Yet no one talks about that. The media is hyped up in the formation of another multiple-headed monster in the league, and rightfully so. It will probably be that same media that crucifies you if and/or when you and A'Mare choke inevitably. It's okay though. You can always take solace that you're from Brooklyn. No one can take where you came from away from you. Only YOU can destroy your own legacy, though. Hopefully you don't bring the Knicks down with you too...

Dear Amar'e Stoudemire

This time last year, the New York Knicks were 8-16, and in the midst of yet another season ready for the toilet. D'Antoni's defensive deficiencies were killing the team and there really didn't seem to be a leader in the locker room. David Lee was having another All-Star season, Al Harrington was still underwhelming and Tracy McGrady was the most expensive bench rider in the league. Needless to say, the Knickerbockers were in dire straits, with their sights focused more on the summer of 2010 and the LeBron-athon more than the Playoffs. We all know what happened. LeBron took his talents to the Miami Wades with Chris Bosh, and your name was next up. I think you always knew you wanted to be in a big market like New York. That LeBron eschewed the opportunity opened the door for you to be the wrecking ball you are right now.

Amar'e, when you announced that the New York Knicks would be signing you, I secretly prayed that it was a 2-for-1 deal and that Steve Nash was coming too. Your talent's always been a bright spot, but your attitude and ability to be 'the Man' have always come into question. The past two games against the Celtics and Heat brought those issues right back to the forefront.

My beef with you, STAT, is that with all of that athletic ability, you've made no strides on the defensive side of the ball since you've gotten to the league. Yes, you block shots and get a steal here and there. But at the end of the game, when the team needs a stop, much like the game with Boston, you can't be counted on. And I'm not talking about the last possession either. There were times that you let Kevin Garnett, and (in the Heat game) Chris Bosh make you look worse than LeBron's hairline. Your footwork sucks, you don't make good rotations and rarely do you crash the boards like you should on defense. It makes your game incomplete. As a matter of fact, I think if we fused you and Dwight Howard (Dragon Ball Z-style) I think we'd have the greatest big man ever on our hands. That just goes to show you how offensively gifted you've gotten.

Defensive mishaps are sooooo much worse in slow motion...


Amar'e, I won't lie, you've injected a hell of a lot of energy in to the Garden this season. For the first time in years, I think people are interested in Knicks basketball without it being a punchline to a joke. Your play is a big part of that, but won't mean anything in the long run if you don't round your game out. Maybe D'antoni is to blame for your lack of defense. Maybe you sincerely have tried to become a better defender. scoring 30 points per game doesn't mean a damn thing if you give up 31 and the game in the process...

2010-2011 NBA Season Preview: Eastern 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 starts in the Eastern Conference, where there's been a huge shift in power since last year. Let's check out the 8 best teams in the East, where they stand and who's got the juice out East Hit the jump to see them:

Next -->>





Don't know what you guys are looking up to... You're the bests of the East until proven otherwise.

1. Boston Celtics
Yes, I said it. The Boston Celtics are the best team in the Eastern Conference at the beginning of the season. To be concise, you're not the man until you beat the man, and no other team in the Eastern Conference could dethrone the Celts last year on another run to the Eastern Conference crown. Yes, the Big 3 is older. Yes, Shaq and Jermaine O'Neal's careers are surviving through a respirator. No, Rajon Rondo will not have a jump shot by season's end. All of those do not matter. The Celtics have one of the best defenses in the league, and have added major depth through free agency, signing Delonte "Yo Mama", the two O'Neals, and scorer Von Wafer. Not to mention, they've still got Kendrick Perkins (underrated defensively; he kept Dwight Howard in check), as well as drafting sharpshooter Luke Harangody, and Doc Rivers on the sidelines. Everyone's waiting for the Celtics to drop off. They shouldn't hold their breath.


It takes more than 3 players to win a championship, but with these three, does it even matter who else is on the roster?

2. Miami Heat
Yes, yes, y'all. The story of the offseason. The Monstarr-esque triumvirate (look it up) put together by Pat Riley in the greatest coup in NBA history, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh will most definitely inspire fear in most teams before they even step onto the court. What makes this squad even scarier though is the role players they've accrued in this same summer. Along with holding onto Udonis 'the Man in Florida' Haslem, the Heat pretty much got Zydrunas Ilgauskus with LeBron, signed veterans Eddie House, Juwan Howard, Jamaal Magloire, and picked up Mike Miller. Miller is definitely the most underrated pickup of the offseason. With the amount of attention the Heat's Big 3 will get, Miller is going to find himself open... A LOT. He should shoot a ridiculous percentage with both James and Wade feeding him the ball. Add two promising rookies in DeSean Butler and Dexter Pittman to that equation and you've got a solid rotation around Wade, Bosh and James. The Heat are going to be scary good. We won't put them ahead of the Celtics yet, for posterity's sake, but I'm sure Boston can feel Miami right behind them.


Can Boozer bring some boom back to the Bulls, or will he just bust?

3. Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls were a major player in the LeBron, Bosh and Wade sweepstakes, but only managed to come up with Carlos Boozer, which isn't a bad consolation prize in the least bit. Carlos Boozer joins a Chicago Bulls team that overachieved simply off grit, hard work and great defense. Bringing Boozer into a frontcourt with Joakim Noah is going to pay dividends immediately for Boozer, who's coming from a Utah team where he usually played the center. Not anymore. Noah's presence allows Boozer to move back to his natural 4 spot, where he will fluorish, even if he'll be out for a little while with a broken hand The Bulls also have this really good guard... I think his name is... Derrick Rose! Rose is already a phenom, and according to NBA reports, has been working on his jumper consistently over the summer, which should only make him more deadly of a scorer. The Bulls also have talented role-players in Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, and free agent signee Kyle Korver. This Bulls team looks really good on paper, and should jump a few spots this season.


LeBron's going to take much more than the basketball away from you if you don't work on those post moves, Dwight...

4. Orlando Magic

That's right. The Orlando Magic are only the 4th-best team in the Eastern Conference simply because they didn't do much to get better over the summer. Don't get me wrong. They're not bad, at all. Yet, Stan Van Gundy's squad looks eerily similar to the teams of the past two years that were trounced in the Playoffs. Of course they've got Dwight Howard, who's spent another summer 'working' on his post moves. Yes they've got Vince Carter, who's another year older and another year weaker. And yes they've got Rashard Lewis, whose game has regressed further and further during his stay in Orlando. Looking at the Magic, the only bright spot I can see is Jameer Nelson getting better. Nelson was unstoppable during the Playoffs last year, lighting up Raymond Felton and Mike Bibby on the way to the Eastern Finals, and will look to take a greater role in Orlando this year. The Magic added Quentin Richardson, whose weight will balloon up again now that he can camp out on the three point line, and Chris Duhon, who will take his inefficacy elsewhere after two terrible years in New York. Will it be that same old Magic that wins in the regular season, but folds in the Playoffs? We will see.



Scary combination when those two are playing at their best in the backcourt, but the front court will be what drives this team to the Playoffs.

5. Washington Wizards
The first true surprise on this list, the Washington Wizards, have put last year's abysmal season behind them and come back with a new face to complement the old face of the franchise. John Wall is the REAL DEAL. Anyone who's watched him play over the summer or in the preseason can see how nasty this man is. Now that he's paired up with a reformed Agent Zero, it will be interesting to see what the ceiling is for Wall's phenomenal talent. That's not even the main reason I have the Wiz up so high. The real reason is their frontcourt. The Wizards' two big men, Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee are STARS in the making. Blatche reminds me of Kevin Garnett with his ability to score and JaVale McGee is simply a freak of nature at 7-1 with guard-like leaping ability. The Wizards also solidified their rotation, bringing in Yi JianLian, Kirk Hinrich and Al Thornton to complement Josh Howard, Nick Young and Hilton Armstrong. When the Wizards do shock the Eastern Conference, don't say I didn't tell you so.


Jennings might not even know how to say Bogut's last name. Their chemistry on the court certainly hasn't taken a hit...

6. Milwaukee Bucks

If there's one team in the NBA that no one is talking about, but really should be talking about, it is the Milwaukee Bucks. After a promising rookie season, the Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings is poised to make more noise, but the centerpiece to this team is their oft-underrated center Andrew Bogut. I will go as far as to say that Bogut is the best center in the Eastern Conference. More skilled and consistent than Dwight Howard, had Bogut not been injured in last year's Playoffs against Atlanta, the Bucks would have a lot more buzz around them. John Salmons is as good as ever, using a very Paul Pierce-esque game to score efficiently, adding to their allure. Those players aren't the only reasons I have the Bucks up here. Scott Skiles brought in a host of solid, wiley veterans to complement those three like Drew Gooden, Corey Maggette and Keyon Dooling. Let's also not forget that the Bucks have a shooter by the name of Michael Redd, who will get some minutes, even as he works with no knees. The Bucks have a team full of understated go-getters and it shows in how well they play under the radar. Hopefully that won't be the case, this year.


Those frowns won't be turning upside down for a while if the Hawks don't get some new blood on that roster...

7. Atlanta Hawks
There is always one team at the beginning of the NBA season scheduled for a huge drop-off from the success of previous seasons. That team is the Atlanta Hawks, simply because they did NOTHING to get better over the offseason. Wait... They actually did make one move: signing Joe Johnson to a 6-year $120 million head-scratcher of a deal. Now, this wouldn't be so bad if Johnson hadn't already reached the ceiling of his potential at age 29. As a Hawk, yes Johnson's been successful, but the Arkansas product has a knack for shrinking in big games that has cost Atlanta dearly. Not to mention, the Hawks have the same undersized frontcourt and lack of playmaking options that have plagued them for years. Al Horford, Marvin Williams and Josh Smith are already what they are going to be in their NBA careers, while Mike Bibby continues to be a liability on defense and little more than a three point-chucking paperweight on offense. Jamal Crawford isn't happy with his contract, and though exciting, won't be the deciding factor for the Hawks. Atlanta is the same team that Boston blew out in Game 7 of 2007 and that Orlando swept last year. A coaching change with no personnel moves will ensure that, and the Hawks have slipped accordingly.


A'Mare can't be the only Knick to show up if Donnie Walsh's exit strategy from Isaiah's debacle is going to work...

8. New York Knicks
Yes, I said it Knick fans. The New York Knicks will make the playoffs in 2011. However, that is not because they are the 8th best team in the Eastern Conference. It is because no other team under them seems to have the potential to vault them into this 8th spot. The Knicks have one of the most exciting, yet risky, rosters on paper. Adding A'Mare Stoudemire this summer was tantamount to a shot of adrenaline to a dead basketball scene in New York. Bringing in Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf and Kelenna Azubuike is the bandaging to a wounded spirit. And signing Raymond Felton... Well, it's a start. The point is, the Knicks are finally building a nucleus of talent that ISN'T the debacle of players that Isaiah Thomas tried to pass off as a team. The Knickerbockers should be exciting to watch under the tutelage of Mike D'Antoni, and have some intriguing pieces in swingman Wilson Chandler, sharpshooter Danilo Gallinari, combo guard Toney Douglass, and the Russian center that came out of nowhere, Timofey Mozgov. Whether or not the team will be able to string together some wins in D'Antoni's high offense, no defense system is still an unknown. They're still better than the Nets, Bobcats, Sixers, Cavs, Pistons, Pacers and Raptors, though.

Whew... There you have it people; a rundown of the potential Playoff-bound teams in the Eastern Conference. I hope there's no love lost for the seven squads that didn't make it. The Eastern Conference is stacking up again, much like the West was doing in the earlier part of the decade. Check back in the next few days for more NBA posts, including the Western Conference preview, my picks for this year's awards and a few more surprises. I LOVE THIS GAME!!!

Dear NBA Owners

I guess owning the Clippers has its perks when you're the one pulling the strings, whether they win or lose...

It's been a long time coming, but slowly and surely, the summer of 2010 will be upon us. A year ago, it seemed like all of the speculation around potential free agents was all sizzle and no steak. Now that it's 2010, and a lockout is becoming more and more imminent by the day, a lot of you are trying to save your asses. You're looking to set yourself up for the summer to get a good pickup, and also trying to make sure your teams will be solvent and your assets players will be safe from the bullshit of arbitration. That said, I can understand the frenzy. At the same time, I think it is detestable how you guys are treating your players, because it's going to affect the game soon.

Whether it's Marcus Camby finding out about his trade (2 days after the fact) from his agent while at dinner with his family, or John Salmons being left at the team's hotel on a gameday upon his trade, it's obvious: you guys have become less and less concerned with the treatment of their players and more with the bottom line. And that bottom line is coming before player morale (the Nets look like they're writing suicide notes), the team winning (Knicks; 'nuff said) and even federal law (coughGilbertcoughcoughArenascough). But seriously, when will it stop guys? When will the cap-clearing and player shuffling stop? When will you guys hold on to your players so that there's some sense of loyalty? I'm not going to lie. Players are spoiled prima donnas sometimes. Sometimes moving players need to be moved for one reason or another. Sometimes the money does override the player's interest. But here's an interesting thought: maybe taking care of your players would lead to better outcomes and less friction between the players and the ownership.


T-Mac probably would have gone right back to this, given the time to rest...

Think about it: Why didn't LeBron participate in the Dunk Contest this year? He didn't want to get injured and have the front office start yanking his money. Look at T-Mac (PRAYING he's back to form for the Knicks). Why was his departure from Houston so hard? The ownership didn't want to lose their asset player, and would rather him rot on the bench. Look at Chris Paul, who's team decided to have surgery on his knee, instead of letting it heal naturally. He could have stayed out and rehabbed the knee correctly, but is probably going to play again this season (another order from the management), and re-aggravate it. And there are historical precedents for this, like A'mare Stoudamire or J-Kidd, who's careers were slowed down by their teams opting for quick returns. You guys really do treat the players like assets. No wonder there's going to be a lockout. Players won't play for you guys unless they know their money is safe, because they know once you're done with them, they get dropped.

I suppose it is just business, and we are in a recession. but at the end of the day, is the NBA doing good business right now? Players against the owners, injuries galore, wack All-Star Games and lack of competition don't sound like a success to me. Then again, most people would rather wack basketball than none. Get it together, owners. This summer will definitely be crazy, but you guys have to do your players right, and I guarantee they'll do right by you...

Dear Laker Fans

A lot worse things could have happened...

I really didn't like the two 'marquee matchups' this Christmas, but was forced to after realizing that every other channel was showing holiday shows (does anyone else get tired of them??). Of the five games, the one was probably hyped the most, and of course, one team dominated. This time it was the Cavs. Along with the L, the Lakers squad had to deal with you guys throwing your foam fingers on the court. What's the problem? One loss (which didn't even shake their hold on the Western standings) and you guys are booing?? I'd hate to see the Staples Center if this happened in the playoffs, or even the Finals. Lakers fans, you don't know how to act. If you win, you riot in the streets and loot sneaker stores. If you lose you're ready to beat your players with foam. Calm down. Be glad you're not Knicks fans, because we've had a team to boo about for years...