Pobrecito...
The draft has come and gone. All the hype about potential players has died down and teams are preparing to debut these rookies in hopes that their presence will help the team. Well, all except one. The Timberwolves are still licking their wounds after Ricky Rubio (their 5th pick) decided he needed a couple more years in Spain to prepare for the NBA. Maybe, in this Post-NBA Age Rule Era, Rubio thinks it is too complicated for a 19-year old European to make that big of a transition right now.
This news just adds to the continuing disappointment the NBA has experienced since the anticlimactic, five-game NBA Finals.
Everyone expected or at least hoped for the Lakers and Magic to go seven games especially after both Conference Finals Series went six.
And kudos to Nike (three Kobe-centric commercials featuring an at home Lebron) and Vitamin Water (Dwight Howard debating with himself over who he think is better) for doing a decent job recovering from their botched campaigns.
The ensuing season will give every team a clean slate and I will still be a proud member of the L.A. Haters.
Aside from Derek Fisher - whose faith and strength speaks volumes of his character both on and off the court when his daughter suffered with retinoblastoma, had surgery and he returned to Salt Lake City (from New York) for Game 2 of the 2007 Western Conference Semifinals against the Golden State Warriors - the rest of the team is not on my "A"-list.
Phil Jackson is only guilty by association. My haterism kind of cancels itself out. Had it not been for him, the Bulls and Chicago might be a L.A. Clippers type franchise. Had it not been for Chicago, that Spike Lee’s Joint ‘X’ cap would be nothing but a promotion for the 1992 movie about Detroit Red. So I am still not sure where Phil sits with me. Kobe, on the other hand, is definitely the MVP of my fantasy L.A. Haters team.
I could be a self-righteous hater hating on Kobe for his bad off-the-court decision that almost cost him his family. Or I could be a Chicagoian hater hating on Kobe for being too Jordanesque when there is and will only ever be one Jordan. Instead, I choose to be a hater for hater’s sake.
If this Ricky Rubio Reneging has taught us anything, it is that all the expectations about the draft class is just hype. These "fresh out of college" players go to teams that have slim chances of making the playoffs.
Aside from Derek Fisher - whose faith and strength speaks volumes of his character both on and off the court when his daughter suffered with retinoblastoma, had surgery and he returned to Salt Lake City (from New York) for Game 2 of the 2007 Western Conference Semifinals against the Golden State Warriors - the rest of the team is not on my "A"-list.
Phil Jackson is only guilty by association. My haterism kind of cancels itself out. Had it not been for him, the Bulls and Chicago might be a L.A. Clippers type franchise. Had it not been for Chicago, that Spike Lee’s Joint ‘X’ cap would be nothing but a promotion for the 1992 movie about Detroit Red. So I am still not sure where Phil sits with me. Kobe, on the other hand, is definitely the MVP of my fantasy L.A. Haters team.
I could be a self-righteous hater hating on Kobe for his bad off-the-court decision that almost cost him his family. Or I could be a Chicagoian hater hating on Kobe for being too Jordanesque when there is and will only ever be one Jordan. Instead, I choose to be a hater for hater’s sake.
They’re gonna hate. They’ve got to. They don’t have a choice, they’re gotta hate. Jesus was perfect. He only had twelve friends and one of them was a hater…people are going to hate you regardless. You’ve got to be grateful. You need haters. What are you complaining about? What do you think a hater’s job is? To hate! So let them do their job.Based on The Katt Williams Haters' Theory, I am doing my job. Kobe knows there will never be a hater employee shortage. I will say this, I did get some satisfaction when – after all the hating, criticism and disrespect – Kobe proved every hater wrong and won without Shaq. Being an underdog lover more than an L.A. Hater, I respect that.Katt Williams
If this Ricky Rubio Reneging has taught us anything, it is that all the expectations about the draft class is just hype. These "fresh out of college" players go to teams that have slim chances of making the playoffs.
While those at the bottom of the totem pole were fighting over kiddy table, rookie scraps in June, the big dogs were at the adult table making big moves.
Lakers – In an attempt to keep the same team that won them that 2009 Championship, general manager Mitch Kupchak made the executive decision to pass on his 29th 1st round pick. He agreed, picking up a rookie in the draft is not going to help their quest for another championship. The money he got for the pick will gave him the chance to resign some of those key free agents that were pivotal in their success. Also, Ron Artest - possibly sick of trash talking Kobe and getting schooled by Kobe - signed with the Lakers.
Magic – Where they failed, general manager Otis Smith went after hometown baller Vince Carter hoping he could fill that void. They got rid of Skip to My Lou and lost Hedo Turkoglu to free agency, now Carter is going to have his work cut out for him.
Cavaliers – The goal was simple: make it to the NBA Finals, face the Lakers and hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy. At least that is what Danny Ferry, Mike Brown, Lebron James, Nike and Vitamin Water wanted. They failed and needed a way to get Lebron over the hump before he decides to possibly leave Cleveland. Cue The Diesel or The Big Aristotle or The Big Cactus (he will need a new name for Cleveland). Shaq is hoping his fifth tour of duty, as a dominant center – Penny Hardaway, Kobe, Dwayne Wade, Steve Nash and now Lebron – will earn him his fifth ring.
Nuggets – Mark Warkentien, VP of basketball operation, went a different route deciding to test the draft pool with Ty Lawson and traded for a 2010 draft pick.
Lakers – In an attempt to keep the same team that won them that 2009 Championship, general manager Mitch Kupchak made the executive decision to pass on his 29th 1st round pick. He agreed, picking up a rookie in the draft is not going to help their quest for another championship. The money he got for the pick will gave him the chance to resign some of those key free agents that were pivotal in their success. Also, Ron Artest - possibly sick of trash talking Kobe and getting schooled by Kobe - signed with the Lakers.
Magic – Where they failed, general manager Otis Smith went after hometown baller Vince Carter hoping he could fill that void. They got rid of Skip to My Lou and lost Hedo Turkoglu to free agency, now Carter is going to have his work cut out for him.
Cavaliers – The goal was simple: make it to the NBA Finals, face the Lakers and hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy. At least that is what Danny Ferry, Mike Brown, Lebron James, Nike and Vitamin Water wanted. They failed and needed a way to get Lebron over the hump before he decides to possibly leave Cleveland. Cue The Diesel or The Big Aristotle or The Big Cactus (he will need a new name for Cleveland). Shaq is hoping his fifth tour of duty, as a dominant center – Penny Hardaway, Kobe, Dwayne Wade, Steve Nash and now Lebron – will earn him his fifth ring.
Nuggets – Mark Warkentien, VP of basketball operation, went a different route deciding to test the draft pool with Ty Lawson and traded for a 2010 draft pick.
The other 26 teams will have stiff competition after seeing three of the top four teams make moves outside of the draft pool. Teams will still be frantically regrouping, rearranging and reordering before the October 27 tip-off hoping to be the King of the Hill surviving the grueling regular and post-season climb.
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