So we might get some NBA basketball, huh?

Well it seems like they might get a deal done. The previous post (On the lockout) was posted on my general purpose neurosis, RepublicToday.net, a couple of days ago.

On the lockout

An anecdote Ryen Rusillo may like.

I’m a full grown NBA fan. I’m a proud New Orleans transplant. Four months ago I found the closest public court to my place is a bike ride to a playground in Treme, not far from some projects. I’m not good at basketball, but I enjoy playing. I’ve been getting in games with kids, playing some 21, and an occasional half court game, often 1 on 1. I often spend time shooting around alone. I’ve never seen major pick-up games played, or other white guys on the court. Today when I was chilling on a bench letting some little kids play with my ball, some hipster looking white guys came and started shooting. I asked them if they wanted to get in a game. It turns out they were on vacation from Denmark, and had their converted bus parked at a nearby RV resort. As we were shooting for teams, some neighborhood guys were walking by and joined in. We had a diverse group of adults coming together to enjoy the great sport of basketball. People were playing hard and getting into it. The teams were competitive, and there were scrapes from the concrete. One guy hit four long jumpers down the stretch for the win. At the end we were all smiling and touched hands. It’s important to remember the benefits of sports beyond entertainment. There is a universality that lets you connect with people whom you may not connect with otherwise. Spectator sports serve a purpose. Today it is easy to be in touch with basketball fans all around the world, share ideas, and celebrate things in common. I enjoy going to the Arena to cheer on players wearing “New Orleans” across their chests. Watching athletes excel to so great a degree at something I do poorly for fun inspires me to get outside and put up some shots. My natural enjoyment of a little competition makes me enjoy following the ups and downs of teams populated by very motivated elite athletes. Millions of people from all around the world also enjoy basketball.

I really hope the lockout ends. Soon, not later. I'd like some hot stove pro basketball. I'm not ready for football. David Stern said, "New Orleans will be top 15 grossing franchise."

David West is the most talented free agent this summer in the NBA

It's almost bad luck that David West is so good. Most other players lose enough value when they have ACL surgery. West is so good that he'll be overpaid if he's not picky about where he goes. New Orleans could afford to keep him around for a below average salary, based on his market value. He and Chris Paul share a two piece BFF charm. I do believe that Chris Paul staying would be good for the Hornets, so David West as a sixthman would be my first choice. But if he's going to be paid like a star, it leaves less money for necessary upgrades. Why wouldn't I bet on West being a star? The Hornets are more than a year away from being a championship team, and with his less than stallar NBA quickness, injury, and advanced NBA age, West may have only one more star caliber season left. He'll be a good NBA player for the rest of his career, if for no other reason than his fluffy midrange shot. And I hope he proves me wrong, because he seems to be a nice guy. 

Draft Night

As an NBA nerd, happy draft night, as a New Orleanian and Horns fan, I'm interested in how much cash, what the deal is financially, and if I should get invested in a team that Cowherd, on the radio said is unfixable due to lack of corporate support. If the money isn't here geographically, I might just not follow the Hornets as a fan, but just mainstream association news. I'll have fond memories of rooting for a hometown team. I'm having trouble rooting for a player that is supposed to be so valuable that he, as an individual, has leverage against the team. He can't take over the scoring in crunch time. He may be the hardest worker, and deserves his praise, but he has the ability and authority to work with management on economic matters, and to help build a winner. But winning and losing may not matter in the "New Orleans" part of the Hornets situation.

NBA Players Today

This is a rendition of the Ryen Rusillo best NBA players list. This kind of conversation is enjoyable, especially in the off season. I've made a couple of adjustments, and while there's no exact order, the players are generally grouped in tiers. If you start to form teams, it soon becomes apparent that there's a lack of size in top quality players. Small ball isn't usually successful.


James Bryant Wade Howard Durant Paul DWilliams Rose Novitski Anthony Stoudamire Bosh PGasol Pierce Garnett Rondo Nash Westbrook Ginobili JJohnson Parker Duncan Granger Ellis KvMartin Aldridge Allen Boozer Horford Odom Billups JSmith Kidd Love Griffen Curry Noah Gay ZRandolph DHarris BGordon Nene Deng SJackson GWallace AJefferson Millsap Terry Marion Bogut Okafor Carter Richardson DvWest Roy

Teams would break down something like this:

1.       Rose, Bryant, James, Nowitski, Howard

2.       Paul, Wade, Durant,Stadumire, Gasol

3.       Williams, Ginobili, Anthony, Garnett, Duncan

4.       Nash, Johnson, Pierce, Bosh, Horford

5.       Westbrook, Allen, Granger, Aldridge, Nene’

6.       Parker, Martin, Gay, Odom, Noah

7.       Rondo, Ellis, Deng, Boozer, Jefferson

8.       Billups, Richardson, Wallace, Smith, Okafor

9.       Curry, Terry, Jackson, Griffin, Randolph

10.   Harris, Gordon , Marion, Love, Bogut

11.   Kidd, Carter, Artest, Millsap, Bynum