Re Defining the D-League

ESPN recently posted their 5 on 5 column  that primarily focused on the aftermath of Spurs "Restgate" scandal(or whatever you want to call it) with David Stern. One the topics they brought up was the length of the NBA season.
Overall I'm fine with an 82 game season. But I'd like them  to use the D-league like MLB uses the minors. One of the more productive things that I thought came out of last years Lockout negotiations was the ability to send players back and forth the D-League and their NBA counterparts. About a third of  NBA teams have taken advantage of this by owning their own D-league teams. Inserting coaching staff, offensive, and defensive systems to replicate those on the NBA level. This is great and I hope that more teams take advantage of this.
So what does this have to with the NBA season and Restgate? MLB has September Call Ups, The NBA should have February call ups. The D-League's season is only 50 games(excluding playoffs), That leaves 32 games left in the NBA season. Coaches can rest players and it gives that D-leaguers something to work towards.

What to do about the New York Jets

I've purposely haven't posted anything on the blog for a while until I could fully flush out my thoughts on the recent happenings within the New York Jets–So here we go...

   The GM selection process was like watching draft night. A lot of speculation, names you weren't thrilled with, then head scratching, ultimately leading to booing from an already frustrated fanbase. John Idzik (even with his impressive credentials) isn't what this team needed.  His handling of Darelle Revis has already made me wary of what the offseason has in store. Reports have come out that Jets are looking at former #1 pick JaMarcus Russell. Seriously!? The Jets are grasping at straws. This throw something at wall and see what sticks approach has not worked out (the greatest example being Tim Tebow).
   I'm probably one of the few people who actually is glad the Rex Ryan is still the Jets coach. His antics aside, he has 34-30 record(which doesn't warrant firing in my mind). 2013 will be the defining year for him. With a huge turnover in coaching staff, anemic offense, and lackluster defense he's got his work cut out for him. One of the bright spots of this overhaul is new offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg . He's probably the best to evaluate whether or not Mark Sachez has a future with the Jets. If anything they try work to his strengths and minimize his mistakes on the field. Mornhinweg's record as an offense guru is jaw dropping. 8 top 10 scoring offenses as coach or coordinator. 9 top 10 passing offenses. 6 top 10 rushing offenses.  Whether or not he'll have similar success with the Jets, will have to wait until July.
     Most of the Jets offseason work will be on the defensive side of the ball. Cap casualties and free agency will drastically change how the defense looks. Jets have a young core of players in Coples, Davis, and Wilkerson. Coples and Wilkerson combined for 10.5 sacks, which amazing considering how bad the Jets pass rush has been over the last 3 seasons. Davis had a quiet rookie year, but many believe he'll grow into more of a bigger contributor going into next season. With a deep deep defensive draft the Rex have has no excuses not to build a better defense.
    As it stands right now, the New York Jets aren't committed to winning anything as much as they much as they are committed to sports entertainment.  The Jets might as well be the WWE, 'The Real Housewives of ___________', or the Kardashian sisters because they seem more concerned with the spectacle and image, than actual football. That is a direct reflection of the owner Woody Johnson. Not to say that he doesn't want to win, but he doesn't seem to want to fully invest in making the Jets successful. That takes a certain level of commitment that the only a handful of owners are willing to do.   Sure they might get lucky and win a Superbowl, but to be in the hunt consistently requires a plan and and framework of a good front office and ownership willing go that extra mile. and right now the Jets don't have that.

Not your Average Victim: The Nets Fire Avery Johnson

News came out yesterday that Brooklyn Nets fired Avery Johnson. Johnson started the season out 11-4 and was named Eastern Conference "Coach of the Month" in November. December wasn't so kind – as the Nets have gone 3-10 so far with some big losses to the Knicks and Celtics.
The Nets made some great moves in the off season, but the results have been mixed on the court. While I laugh maniacally at the Nets sufferings, I am sad to see Johnson go. I've always liked him as a coach and was glad when the then New Jersey Nets signed him.
The Nets expectations this season might be a little overblown considering their recent history. At this point in time last season the Nets were 1-3. In the 2010-11 season the Nets were 9-24. In 09-10 the team was 3-29. 14-14 sounds like progress to me, and it would be if they were still playing in Newark.  But with the move to Brooklyn it was apparent the stakes were much higher. With a bigger market comes bigger pressures. 14-14 might have been good for the New Jersey Nets, but it's not acceptable for the Brooklyn Nets. ESPN, and other media outlets might have been praising Johnson for his work to get the New Jersey Nets to 14-14, but he's getting fired by the Brooklyn Nets because their 14-14.

Foul Play: San Antonio Spurs Edition

Yesterday The NBA levied $250K fine to the San Antonio Spurs for not playing the stars against the Miami Heat during a nationally televised game last Thursday. NBA Commissioner David Stern was quoted saying "The Spurs decided to make four of their top players unavailable for an early season game that was the team's only regular-season visit to Miami. The team also did this without informing the Heat, the media, or the league office in a timely way. Under these circumstances, I have concluded that the Spurs did a disservice to the league and our fans." Apparently the Spurs were in violation of league policy against resting players in a manner "contrary to the best interests of the NBA." Resting players no matter what the sport has always been debatable. But can anyone blame Greg Popovich when Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili  are in their 30's and injury prone. What bugs me though is the wording of the policy– "Contrary to the best interests of the NBA!" That's code for "You're messing with my/our money!" 
Everyone knows that sports is big business. The NBA, NFL, MLB, etc. aren't just selling tickets to games anymore. They are selling a brand, an image, and or a experience that seemingly has nothing to do with actual athletic competition. Fantasy sports, TV, and stadiums/arenas are all meant to keep consumers (not necessarily fans) engaged. You're not watching the San Antonio Spurs play the Miami Heat, your watching LeBron James play Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobilli. But if Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobilli don't play there's still going to be a basketball game. While NBA TV ratings might be little down because of lack of star power (What!? LeBron James wasn't enough!). You can't gloss over the fact that 19,703 people bought tickets for what turned out to be a competitive game.

Seeing Red! Why moving to the Big Ten might not be the best idea for Rutgers

News broke yesterday that Rutgers University is expected to accept an invitation to join the Big Ten Conference. While this sounds like great news, I'm a little hesitant to jump for joy.
   Let me preface this post by saying this... I didn't go to Rutgers (my sister did!), but I have been a long time fan and follower of all things Scarlet Knights since my youth. I remember watching SNY Commentator Ray Lucas when he was QB and when games were on NJN. I remember when Bob Wenzel was coach of the men's basketball team and watching them get trounced by John Calipari and Marcus Camby UMass teams when they played in the A10. I like most New Jeseryans have reveled in the success of women's basketball program the the resurgence of the football program over the last decade.
  Joining the Big Ten would certainly raise the profile of the school and would have a definite financial benefit.  But I think the Big Ten is a bit stretch for Rutgers. The level of competition is much higher than the Big East. The Big East was once a power house in football with teams like Miami, Va Tech, and Boston College. But when they moved onto the greener pastures of the ACC – the steady decline of the Big East football  has allowed RU to look better by comparison. I'm not just talking about on the field. The Big Ten and it schools have made a killing in college sports as a "business". I can't see Rutgers competing with the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State and their billion dollar endowments to update facilities, provide staffing, coaching, recruiting, marketing, etc. in order to run their athletic programs effectively.
 It's also a stretch regionally. The Big Ten is a midwestern conference plain and simple. With Maryland joining the Big Ten as well, Rutgers wouldn't be the only east coast team, but they'd be spending more time traveling with the exception of the occasion trip out State College, PA or College Park, MD.    
Rutgers joining the ACC makes better sense if the option were available. You'd be able to keep traditional rivalries with Pitt and Syracuse going to the ACC and renewal old ones with BC, Miami, Va Tech. Not mention you add Clemson, Florida State, UNC, which provides you with stronger competition and schedule not just in football, but basketball as well with Duke.
 But it always comes down to $$$. The Big Ten provides better security in the long run, and the fact they want expand their brand to the NY market makes them and Rutgers perfect partners.

I didn't forget!

Okay... It's been awhile. It's not like I haven't had anything to say about sports over the last 4 months, It's just that I have a day job, a life, and I'm lazy like the day is long.  But I promise there will be more content coming to the blog soon

Post 2012 NBA Draft thoughts

The 2012 NBA has came and went. 18 out of 30 picks in the 1st round were front court positionsmostly at power forward) It will be interesting to see how how guys like Anthony Davis, Thomas Robinson, Harrison Barnes, Jared Sullinger, Perry Jones III, etc. develop because soon a few of these guys are going to give Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, and Kevin Love a run for their money.
 My biggest winner of the night was the Celtics. They needed a youth movement for their aging front court bad and getting Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo are just what Doc needed.
Perry Jones III falling to the Thunder at 28 cost him $$$ but man did he luck out. Sam Presti continues to do a super job in OKC.
As for Nets... I actually like their pick in Tyshawn Taylor. A local product from Hoboken, who played at St. Anthony's in Jersey City, and helped Kansas make it to the championship game this year – He's certainly got the pedigree that Avery Johnson likes in his point guards. The fact the Nets traded for him tells me that Avery expects him to contribute sooner rather than later. I'm also impressed with the Nets GM Billy King's ability to make draft day trades with Marshon Brooks last year and Taylor this year. If D-Will walks they have pretty good foundation for the future with Brooks and Taylor as back court. However that doesn't change the fact that this the deepest power forward draft class in years and the Nets were in desperate need of some front court help. That asinine trade for Gerald Wallace might be the death of them especially with Kris Humphries not expected to return (Kayne wrote lyrics in a song about having J cutting him from the team because of Kim Kardashian).
Switching gears...
Former NBA player, executive, and current ESPN analyst Steve Kerr wrote a thought provoking article (click here) on why the NBA should increase the draft age to 20. I agree with him. The NBA, out of all sports has the smallest window of opportunity for incoming players to succeed. If players doesn't develop in 2 to 3 years their NBA career is as good as done causing teams to waste millions of dollars every year on players who aren't quite ready for the pros. For every LeBron James theres a  Gerald Green. For every Kevin Durant there's a Greg Oden. Players like Tyshawn Taylor shouldn't be penalized for staying 4 years in school and developing their skills to get better. Not to mention taking advantage of the education that they got for free with athletic scholarships. With cost of college rising every year and people getting more in debt because of loans, it's not fair to that some players take advantage of school just because they have to wait a year to play. Isn't this what the NBADL is for?