RESULTS:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

2. Orlando Magic

3. Washington Wizards

4. Charlotte Bobcats

5. Phoenix Suns

6. New Orleans Pelicans

7. Sacramento Kings

8. Detroit Pistons

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

10. Portland Trail Blazers

11. Philadelphia 76ers

12. Oklahoma City Thunder

13. Dallas Mavericks

14. Utah Jazz

Original Post:

The NBA Draft Lottery is coming right up, and with 14 teams having a chance at winning the number one pick in the impending draft, nerves are certain to be creeping up on planty of the league’s GM’s. Amongst the prospects NBA teams will be vying for are Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel,  Kansas Shooting Guard Ben McLemore and Georgetown Swingman Otto Porter. All are expected to go with high picks. Below are the top 14 teams with the lowest winning records from the past NBA season’s chances (%) of winning the 2013 lottery.

Orlando Magic – 25%

Charlotte Bobcats – 19.9%

Cleveland Cavaliers – 15.6%

Phoenix Suns – 11.9%

New Orleans Pelicans – 8.8%

Sacramento Kings – 6.3%

Detroit Pistons – 3.6%

Washington Wizards – 3.5%

Minnesota Timberwolves – 1.7%

Portland Trail Blazers – 1.1%

Philadelphia 76ers – 0.8%

Toronto Raptors – 0.7%

Dallas Mavericks – 0.6%

Utah Jazz – 0.5%

We’ll post the results at the culmination of the Lottery so stay tuned!

Charlotte Bobcats owner and NBA legend Michael Jordan has today announced that his struggling franchise will be returning to their old moniker the Charlotte Hornets in the 2014/15 season. Jordan advised the team has submitted the name change paperwork which will allow the team to become the Charlotte Hornets once again. This is an exciting prospect for long-time fans of the NBA who all have fond memories of the Charlotte Hornets through the late 80′s to early 2000′s, lead by such greats as Alonzo Mourning, Larry Johnson and Muggsy Bogues before the team migrated south to New Orleans in 2002.

Rumors of the name change began to circulate earlier this season when it was announced that the New Orleans Hornets (the original Charlotte franchise that migrated to Louisiana) would be changing their name to the Pelicans following the league’s sale of the team to New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson. Michael Jordan said at an earlier press conference that the Charlotte franchise, who has made just one playoff appearance in their 9 year existance, wanted to “Bring back the buzz”, and that the outpouring of support for the move has been “overwhelming”.

Kobe Bryant, originally selected by the Hornets at the 13th pick in the ’96 Draft, tweeted a picture of himself from draft day 17 years ago, in honor of the name change.

Nick C.

In news this morning reported by Yahoo! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski, The LA Clippers have informed coach Vinny Del Negro that he will not be returning after 3 seasons with the club. After months of speculation surrounding his job’s stability, the team finally informed Del Negro of their intention to not renew his contract following the team’s disappointing first round exit of the 2013 Playoffs.

Vice President of basketball operations Gary Sacks had this to say of Del Negro:

“We would like to thank Vinny for everything he did during his three years with the organization. Vinny helped this team win a Pacific Division title and we greatly appreciate all that he and his staff helped us accomplish. This was a difficult decision, but we feel this is the best decision for our franchise moving forward.”

Some have questioned the move considering Del Negro guided the Clippers to their most successful season in franchise history including their first 50 win year, a 17 game win streak, a 16-0 line in December, and their first ever Pacific Division title ever. One has to wonder if the playing group had lost their respect and desire to play for Vinny Del Negro with the rise of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin being the team’s main focus moving forward.

There is no word as to what the Clippers have planned in regards to a replacement, but the rumors are sure to escalate as time goes by. Byron Scott has been mentioned as a possible candidate considering his close relationship with Chris Paul. We’ll keep you updated.

Nick C.

1. George Karl was recently announced as 2012/13 coach of the year. Do you agree with the choice to name Karl at number one, and who were the two other front runners for the award that would round out your top 3 coaches?

Jabari Davis: I think it is easy to look back on things, given the disappointing and somewhat surprising way Denver’s season ended, to utilize hindsight in second-guessing that selection. That said, I have absolutely no issue whatsoever with Karl winning the award. We can’t lose sight of the fact that it is a regular season award, so the playoff disappointment without Denver’s leading scorer (Gallinari) should hold no bearing. I may be in the minority (as I often am), but alongside Chicago’s Tom Thibodeau, I feel that Memphis’ Lionel Hollins also deserves a ton of credit. Call me “old”, but I just appreciate the style of play both Thibodeau and Hollins demand from their teams.

Nick Caro: George Karl has been one of the league’s top coaches for years, so it’s a very well-deserved award. In season 2012/13 he took the Nuggets to an incredible 37-3 record and the Pepsi Center, including a 22 home game win streak and 13 overall game win streak making them the undisputed king of home court in the NBA. Of course, winning on the road is the key to success. Karl lead the team to an under .500 19-22 record outside of Denver which isn’t ideal but still succeeded in coaching the team to a 3rd seed in the Western conference. The key to the success of the Denver Nuggets was Karl’s run and gun, up-tempo offense that could completely outrun teams, and the use of a deep bench and wide range of scorers. Since the departure of Carmelo Anthony, the Nugs have been without a franchise star to help guide them, but with a host of fantastic players and a true visionary for a coach they’ve managed to carve themselves a scary little team that is headed in exactly the right direction. As for the other two coaches in line, one has to give mention to Eric Spoelstra for his ability to manage such star talent on his team, and Mike Woodson for steering the Knicks in the right direction post-D’Antoni, but in my eyes Warriors coach Mark Jackson deserves a big nod. I love his philosophy and approach to coaching, as well as his genuine love for his playing group. In his own words “I’m an old school player, I’m an old school coach” and that’s exactly what I admire about him. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Jackson win an NBA championship in the not-too-distant future.

Brent Veale: Yes Karl got a lot out of a very deep roster, especially McGeein bursts and old man Miller. But does a coach of the year get bounced in the 1st round? No! Nuggets had some good runs like a very talented team with an actual physical home court advantage should. Karl deserved coach of the year no more than Popavich(Spurs), Thibodeau (Bulls) and Woodson (Knicks). What Popovich and Thibideau have done while having to look at an injured list of players for most of the season is far more impressive. Mike Woodson deserves a top 3 stop over Karl, not only for what his done to shape those loud personalities and old discarded scraps into a finely tuned machine, but for doing the impossible and coaching Melo to MVP conversation and JR Smith into the 6th man of the year and the player some of us hoped he could be.

Tom Read: The great thing about this years coach of the year race, is there’s probably about 7-8 coaches who you could vote for to take out this award… George Karl was definitely one of them along with Mike Woodson, Erik Spoelstra, Mark Jackson, Frank Vogul, Gregg Popovic, Tom Thobodeau  & Bernie Bickerstaff… Ok maybe not Bernie but he does have the best winning percentage out of any Lakers coach ever… Karl lead the Nuggets to a franchise best 57-25 season including a 15 game win streak. His team doesn’t have a bonefied ‘superstar’ on their roster, relying heavily on working together as a team & anyone on their roster on the night can be the go-to guy. He has maximized the potential out of key guys such as Danilo Gallenari, Ty Lawson, Kosta Kufos, Kenneth Faried & JaVale McGee & has the Nuggets playing a style – high paced, fast break offense that really suits the soldiers that Karl has at his disposal. The only knock that I’d have on him is he doesn’t focus too much on defense, but still his game plan worked. Karl has never won the award before even though he has coached in the NBA for 25 seasons, hasn’t had a below .500 season since 1987/88 & has only missed the Playoffs once since that year. He has coached in 4 NBA All Star Games & has taken a team to the NBA Finals. All of this with a myriad of personal & health issues that he has had to overcome & has successfully pulled through. So, you sort of feel that this is a lifetime achievement award & as there are so many coaches to choose from this year, I’m cool with Karl winning. Rounding out my top 3, I would have Erik Spoelstra & Mike Woodson.

2. The outright favorite for MVP this season was always going to be LeBron James, and the King unsurprisingly took out the award officially last week. Firstly, who in your eyes are the other players that deserved a mention this season and secondly, how do you feel about one voter keeping James from claiming a unanimous victory in the voting.

JD: Well, regardless of how people feel about James as a man, you simply have to acknowledge that he is the most outstanding player the league currently has. While the term “MVP” can be interpreted nearly a half dozen ways, I have no qualms with LeBron James winning his 4th Podoloff (MVP) trophy at just 28 years of age. As I often say, one man’s greatness absolutely should not be held against another, so Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony fans should be able to acknowledge how impressive James’ 2012-2013 season truly was without feeling insecure about their own ‘fandom’. Bryant was absolutely incredible for the injury-riddled Los Angeles Lakers as was Carmelo Anthony for his Knicks, but James was special. Simple as that. I’d like to believe Kevin Durant has the type of ability to one day reach that “special” status, but one thing these playoffs have solidified with many, is just how underrated (if at all possible) the oft-criticized Russell Westbrook truly is.

NC: Yeah, it always was going to be LeBron. No amount of argument will ever suggest otherwise. But, I do have my own perception of what VALUABLE truly means. I’ve long said that yes, LBJ is the best player in the league, however in terms of his overall value to a team? I think that’s different. I won’t delve too deeply into it but I will say that I think Miami would still be a fantastic team without him, whereas certain other teams would not be without their star players (Knicks, Lakers… lookin’ at you), making their inclusion what? More VALUABLE. I know, I’m arguing semantics but it’s a simple concept I believe is worth consideration. Hot on his heels I think that Kevin Durant, Melo and Kobe Bryant are the only ones that are really worth mentioning. Kobe at 5 is a huge slap in the face for an aging superstar who single-handledy pushed his team into the playoffs, and is playing at a career-best level at age 34. I like that Gary Washburn voted for Carmelo Anthony for MVP, honestly. Sure, it comes with criticism and begs the question ‘why not LeBron?’, but Washburn like many others believes that Melo’s overall contribution to his team and the league this season was the most important of all. Nothing wrong with that, and let’s just cut the “unanimous” garbage. LeBron IS the MVP. He doesn’t need to win it unanimously. What’s the difference? Too big of a fuss over nothing at the end of the day.

BV: I don’t think it matters if one voter didn’t vote for LeBron, for the rest of us the 12-13 MVP is King James unanimously. Not many of us had anything to debate about when it came to who is this year’s MVP. The debate would always last 5 seconds when both parties agree LeBron is a freak and hands down the best in the world. But then you have to say, well who could bump him off the top of the mountain? First to mind is Durant of course, no brainer. Kobe lovers throw his name in there as they do. Then one could understandably say that this season Melo had an enormous impact on a sleeping giant of a franchise. He made the Knicks relevant again and had some of the most entertaining performances of the season. Melo evolved into an MVP this year with his increased rebounding, leadership and offensive arsenal. For the most part, became less selfish and better team player which was his biggest flaw. It’s just that LeBron was and is the best and we all know it. The stats know it, even the biggest LBJ hater knows it. That’s how good his been this year! Having said that, James Harden could be seen as the very personification of the term Most Valuable Player. Much the same way Rose was when he won it 2 years ago. To their respective teams they are the most valuable player. When it counts most, they are the team. Harden turned a sub-par team into an offensive juggernaut. Second best SG in the league, there i said it.

TR: I argue about this regularly on #believethehype with my co-host Benyam. I truly don’t believe that any other player in the NBA deserved to be ‘in the conversation’ for the MVP race. LeBron James was a class above every other player in the league for the entire season. Yeah, sure, Kevin Durant, Tony Parker, Carmelo Anthony Kobe Bryant and a number of other guys had great, relatively consistent seasons at a high level, but LeBron was better than them week in week out on both ends of the floor, doing what he needed to do so his Miami Heat would finish with a league best 66-16. I mean, come on! 26.8ppg on 56.5% shooting along with 8 rebounds & 7.3 assists is ridiculous! LeBron had of the most efficient seasons by any player in the history of the NBA. Gary Washburn from the Boston Globe didn’t agree with me & the consensus of the rest of the NBA world when he voted for Carmelo Anthony due to his importance to the New York Knicks becoming relevant again. It all comes down to how you define the award “Most Valuable Player” can be taken many different ways, my way of understanding the award is “Best Player”, however, Washburn’s take on how it’s defined is different. Whilst I don’t agree with Washburn’s vote, I respect it; he made a good & valid case for why he thought Melo should win & he deserved the right to vote for Melo. At the end of the day, If LeBron got 121 first placed votes or 120 first placed votes, he still won the award, he still received the same trophy, he is still the best player in the game.

3. The debate about which free agent is most likely to stay in LA come free agency is raging. Laker Dwight Howard and Clipper Chris Paul will both surely be the talking points throughout the summer. What is your prediction? Who do you believe is most likely to stay at their current home? Will they both stay/leave?

JD: Naturally, I’d like to be 100% confident in Howard’s eventual return to the Los Angeles Lakers, but I simply cannot. While I do believe he eventually returns, I completely understand his hesitance toward dedicating the next five years of his career to LA, given the questions that surround the team. Having spoken to him, I do believe he wants to stay, but I absolutely cannot fault him for wondering about the direction and “philosophy” he’ll be asked to follow. Feel free to insert the exact same analysis towards the Chris Paul question. Like Howard, I would imagine Paul also would like to stick around, but probably needs assurances about the coaching decision. Ultimately, I think they are both given enough of what they want (namely…money and the opportunity to live within 15 minutes of the beach and Hollywood) to stay in LA.

NC: Tough question. There’s a plethora of options out there for both players but in this situation I believe it’s the money that will do the talking. Dwight can take a nifty $30 Million with the Lakers, or a considerable amount less with another team and the stakes are much the same for CP3. The offers will no doubt be there, but at the end of the day I expect both players to stay right where they are. If I had to pick I’d say Chris Paul is more likely to leave, maybe for somewhere like New York, than Dwight Howard is for Houston or Atlanta which will likely be his options if he wants a max deal (remembering that other teams’ versions of ‘max’ are a lot less than the Lakers’ version of ‘max’). I believe Dwight has found what he was looking for in LA, and will not want a repeat of the Orlando Dwightmare that tarnished his reputation. Plus, it’s hard to turn down the kind of money he’ll be offered. For me, Dwight will remain a Laker and forge a very successful career as such. Chris Paul is harder to determine but ultimately I think his decision will be to stay put. He has a leading role with a franchise growing in popularity and competitiveness by the day and I believe he is the backbone of that. Should he leave, it will only be for a rival big market team with a real shot at a title. Chris Paul and Dwight Howard to remain in Los Angeles for mine.

BV: CP3 is the one most likely to stay, but only after Del Negro is shipped out and a coach of his liking is on board. Paul knows he has a shot at a title with Clippers, they’ll continue to attract free agents due to the LA factor and with a smarter coach at the helm, the gold is within reach for CP3 and he knows it. Why i think Dwight isn’t as certain to resign as CP3? He’s unpredictable and to be honest, acts like a petulant child at times. But most of all, and I wouldn’t blame him, he could just walk away from the smouldering wreck that is the Lakers and want a fresh start on his own terms for the first time in his career. There will be some great pitches thrown his way by other teams, but I believe Dwight needs the Lakers as much as the Lakers need him and that’s the crux of the matter.

TR: I’ve got a feeling that both Chris Paul & Dwight Howard will stay in Los Angeles. Both had unceremonious ejections in their final games of this years season which proved to be a major talking point, especially Dwight’s ejection. Dwight has stated publically that he wants to stay in LA & wants to be a part of a winning team here, CP3 has been very professional about his outlook for free agency & hasn’t stated publicly what his views are. Both will probably be able to get big contracts at a number of teams, notably Houston & Dallas, however, they have both begun building something in the city of angels & should look to finish what they’ve started. If Chris Paul does stay though, it wouldn’t surprise me if that spells the end of the Blake Griffin era in Los Angeles, their relationship seems to have splintered over the last year & because of that, Paul’s reported belief that Blake doesn’t have the same mentality as him could see the Clips trade their former #1 Draft Pick & All Star for some pieces that will build a roster of “pro-Paul guys”.

4. Several teams have exceeded expectations in 2012/13, as well as many that have performed well below what many thought they would. In your opinion, who has been the surprise packet of the season so far and more importantly, who will continue to improve next season?

JD: For me, the best development of this season has been the continued emergence of Steph Curry and his Golden State Warriors. I’m certainly not  being a prisoner of the moment, as I’ve been writing about them and discussing their exploits on my podcast throughout the season. Although, as somewhat of an NBA purist, I generally frown upon teams that become overly reliant upon the outside shot…it is tough to deny how exciting it has been to witness the growth and development of this young bunch. Aside from Curry, coach Mark Jackson has done a phenomenal job instilling trust, togetherness and belief within guys like Klay Thompson, Andrew Bogut, and even rookies like Harrson Barnes and Draymond Green. I expect them to continue in their development as they head into next season, but (admittedly) much of their ultimate success (moving forward) may be tied to how healthy Steph Curry can remain.

NC: I would say the Warriors, but honestly I think that had injury not plagued them last season they would have been in a similar situation then. Plus they drafted extremely well, making them a team I honestly felt would compete this season and they did/are. The surprise packet for me has been Houston. The trades for James Harden and Jeremy Lin helped immensely, but it’s the role players who have impressed me the most and turned the Rockets into a team that is truly worthy of the role they played in the post season. Chandler Parsons, Carlos Delfino and center Omer Asik all contributing to a season that will be looked upon favorably by Rockets fans, and should their off season conclude successfully, then I see no reason why they can’t reach even greater heights in 2013/14. Finishing 8th in the west (could have very easily been 6th or 7th) saw the Rockets draw the Thunder in the first round and while next to no one tipped them to win, they did manage to take the series 6 games, eventually losing 4-2. This is a big step forward and one I’m sure Rockets fans are very excited about. Good things come to those who wait. Or those who trade for a superstar. That can help too.

BV: I feel like the most obvious choice is the warriors but they didn’t really surprise me, I was well aware of their scary potential this season and the following seasons to come. That is until they trade away and lose all these fantastic young players. Think back, warriors have always done it, you know it’s true. It’s all Rockets for me. They blew me away with their fast and loose style of play and more talented youngsters than the Xavier institute for higher learning. Asik is an underrated big. Parsons is extremely gifted and arguably the best contract in the league as far as talent to salary goes. Some great rookies on the roster and will no doubt make good use of this years draft picks. It is a bright, bright future in Houston. I just hope we see Royce White’s freakish body and skill set soon…

TR: Most would probably say the Warriors are their surprise packet, but I’d disagree. I’ve been on the Warriors train for most of the season, at the beginning of the year in our Preview podcast I predicted them to be a lock for the Playoffs & said their small-ball lineup with a healthy Bogut would be one of the hardest teams to stop in Basketball… I’m not Nostradamus, but I’m happy with that call! My surprise packet for this season was the Brooklyn Nets. At the start of the season, they had a sexy marketing upgrade & moved cities but the roster had a similar vibe to it from the last few seasons. They completely revamped their bench, replacing a bunch of ‘so-so’ role players with another bunch of ‘so-so’ role players & the only major roster upgrade was Joe Johnson. Looking purely at the roster alone, I couldn’t see a team that finished with a 33% win record in 2011/12  with only 1 major addition to their roster become a 60% win record team only a season later. But they did. The Nets may have been bounced by a undermanned, however defensive orientated Chicago Bulls in the first round, but their season should be seen as a success. They performed one of the greatest turnarounds in recent history. Deron Williams found his groove again, Brook Lopez answered his critics & became the star that so many thought he would become, Joe Johnson was great in the clutch & the Nets got some solid help from their role players including the surprising resurgence of Andray Blatche, someone who was considered one of the laughing stocks of the league only 12 months earlier. If this team can keep their core group around, they will continue to improve. They are still a piece or two away from being a legitimate threat to the Miami Heat though, but they now have the core group & culture to lure players to their team. Three teams that will continue to improve next season will be – Indiana & Golden State. These are two teams with young stars that will grow from their experience learned these Playoffs & become legitimate threats over the next few years.

5. Much has been written and said about Derrick Rose and his impending return to the court for Chicago following a knee reconstruction. Many believe Rose, medically to play cleared 2 months ago, should be suiting up for the Bulls as soon as he’s fit. Others stress the importance of only returning once mentally ready. Where do you stand on Rose’s return?

JD: I’m one of those that remain in the “let that man return on his time” boat. Yes, I realize it must be frustrating for Bulls fans. The reports of him being medically cleared, plus the footage of him warming up and practicing certainly aren’t doing anything to help the matter. I will say, I actually feel as though the Bulls’ organization has done their supposed “star” player a bit of a disservice with the manner by which they’ve permitted and even influenced the story to remain in the forefront of the fan base’s mind. All of that said, I think Rose returns at full strength next season, and erases all of the “bad will” or resentment that has developed over the course of this year. At least, I hope he does.

NC: I am 100% in Rose’s corner here. Yes, he was cleared and yes, his team is in need of his help being in the middle of a playoff battle with Championship favorites Miami, but let’s be real. Derrick Rose was, and will likely be one of the games’ greatest point guards ever to lace ‘em up. So, let’s imagine for a second that he comes back for game 3 or 4 against Miami, plays 10-15 minutes and a) doesn’t play well or b) injures himself again. What then? Or, would you prefer Rose to stay out, have a full, healthy off season and training camp and return next season ready to go? And by return I mean return with confidence and a head full of steam ready to compete for a title. I sure as hell don’t want him back this season. he’s one of my favorite players, but I want to see him back at 100% both physically and mentally. Until then, stay put. The criticism needs to stop now. The memes need to be put to bed and people need to start understanding and appreciating what a serious injury it was, how it differs from person to person and how long it can take to bounce back from. I just feel like we’ve started hating on a superstar when all he really needs is our support.

BV: First of all I agree it’s smart to wait and not jeopardise his longterm career. What does the medical staff know about the structural state of a knee? Probably a lot, Rose has been cleared for 2 months to play but it appears his mind is yet to heal. There’s an old adage ”You have to get back on the horse that threw you.” Meaning you have to attempt the same challenging action after failure. It was a freak injury doing something he does all the time. Rapid acceleration followed by stopping on a dime. He must get back to the court to gain mental confidence in his knee, it’s the only way. We understand he won’t be the blur he was before the injury, but he has to start somewhere and returning sooner would have nipped his unease in the bud. I fear the longer he waits for #TheReturn the weaker he may look. It’s hard to stick up for Rose right now while we’re watching the undermanned Bulls really put the wind up the Heat. Returning now would be the greatest thing in Chicago since MJ’s comeback. Unfortunately it looks like we’ll have to wait a while to see Rose on court again.

TR: This is a really difficult question for me to answer, purely because I believe that the Chicago Bulls aren’t giving us the full story on this situation as to avoid a potential PR disaster. Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf has historically been very tight with his pockets when it comes to the franchise & especially player salaries. By Rose not playing this season, the Bulls received a $6.56m in Insurance on Rose’s contract by him not playing this season. With Rose being injury prone & his particular injury being one that we often see players suffer more than once, there’s a good chance that he may miss significant time again for a repeat injury. If Rose plays 1sec during the Playoffs, he will potentially void the Insurance contract meaning that the Bulls can’t collect on his salary again next season. So basically, Reinsdorf will only want Rose to play IF he believes that Rose will not miss a single game due to injury next season. So by sitting Rose, Reinsdorf was able to save money, by sitting him for the rest of the season, he will potentially save even more. Obviously, the Chicago Bulls aren’t going to necessarily come out in the open & say this as it will put of a number of fans & the city of Chicago so therefore the company line is “Rose can come back when he feels ready” & because of that, we now have this awkward situation that we find ourselves in right now. I believe it’s pretty safe to say that we won’t see him play during this Playoffs, however, it is the NBA, stranger things have happened. I don’t think I answered the question correctly, but at least I was able to give you an insight into what I believe is currently going on behind the closed doors in Chicago.

6. Recently Kobe Bryant has been involved in a law suit against his mother who has attempted to auction off a large amount of Bryant memorabilia including old college jersey’s, game balls and even one of his Championship rings. With the information we have, do you agree with Kobe’s decision to counter-sue the auction house attempting to sell the items?

JD: To be completely honest, this is a subject I’d rather not even touch, because I think it should have remained a personal issue between Bryant and his family. Of course, with the story hitting the news, and Bryant even going as far as to openly tweet about it, it has become fair game. To me, there has to be more to the story than what we’ve been privy to. From the outside looking in, I would think Bryant and his family could have worked this out. Given that it did go this route, there seems to be a much deeper issue that is going on. Again, this is total speculation, but I just find it difficult to believe it was as simple as his parents wanting to rid themselves of the burden of storing those items. Regardless of how it ends, I hope they can keep it within the family, and repair whatever the apparent issues between them in the process.

NC: This is horrible. Not just because it seems as though someone is taking complete advantage of their son’s fame and fortune, but also because it is possibly the ending of a relationship between mother and son being played out in a court for the world to see. Kobe’s mother Pamela has had it anything but tough, having been given everything by her son, so to be selling such precious items without consent seems a little unfair. Kobe has stressed that he placed the items in his mother’s care until a point his two daughters could inherit them, and never once gave them to her. She claims that Kobe gave her the items and instructed her to do with them what she wanted. A little hard to believe that he would say that about a championship ring, the game ball  or his Lower Merion high school jerseys. All items that Kobe has stated hold “incredible sentimental value”. I completely agree with Kobe’s decision to stop the auction. There was never a mention of the profits going to charity (something Kobe strongly believes in), only that Pam Bryant would receive a grant of $450,000 before the sale of the items. Suss. Seems like someone’s spent their son’s hard earned cash, realized they don’t have any left and then remembered they have a box in the attic with some pretty cool stuff in it that might be worth a few bucks. This would be tough for Kobe, as the last thing he would want is for his family to struggle, but he’s entitled to stand up for what is rightfully his.

BV: Well they are his items. The selling of the championship ring could have bee the kicker that provoked the legal action. When you give something to your parents it’s going to find its way back to you in the end. You don’t expect them to sell your memories either, let alone championship rings! Sounds a bit like Kobe just didn’t want to deal with the clutter. Don’t tell me you don’t have at least a few boxes of crap at your parents’ house right now. The only difference is Kobe’s boxes of crap are worth more money than small countries have.

TR: Kobe Bryant, his mother Pam & his father Joe have had a weird relationship over the years… Joe disagreed with Kobe marrying Vanessa & that caused a spat that lasted for the best part of the last decade. Now when we thought that everything was safe around the Bryant family, this situation has popped up. It’s just messy from a very broken family. Kobe’s basketball life has pretty much gone to plan, his personal life hasn’t. Purely because we don’t really know too much about what’s behind closed doors, I guess I’m going to have to agree with the lengths that Kobe’s gone to so that he can prevent his merchandise from being auctioned off without his permission. “Happy Mothers’ Day, see you in court.”

Thanks for joining us for this edition of the NBA Nation Australia Roundtable. Feel free to contact us via the website, Facebook or our Twitter handles below. Special Thanks to Jabari, Brent and Tom for getting involved. We look forward to having you all back soon!

Jabari A. Davis (@JabariDavisNBA/theopnation.com)

Brent Veale (@MrTrain)

Tom Read (@traread/iTunes: BelieveTheHypeNBA)

Nick Caro (@NickCaroNBA/nbanationaustralia.com)

Here it is – A comprehensive video compilation of the 2012/13 season’s heaviest, nastiest and most awe-inspiring throw downs! From DeAndre murdering Brandon Knight, to LeBron baptizing Jason Terry and Harrison Barnes embarrassing Nikola Pekovic, they’re all here in all their posterizing glory! Which dunk is your #1?

1. The New York Knicks have surprised many this season and going into the playoffs should be a force to be reckoned with. Do they have what it takes to beat LeBron and the Heat, or is it still a one horse race?

Tom Read: This is still a one horse race. Not only to win the East, but to win the NBA Championship. The Miami Heat are just a class above everyone else in the NBA right now. Yes, the Knicks did win the season series 3-1 over the Heat, however, I’m not reading into this too much. During the regular season, all 3 games had different circumstances that lead to their results (players out, having uncharacteristic off nights & also hot shooting nights). When it comes down to it, I can’t see the Knicks winning 4 games over a team that has an answer to everything a team can throw at them on both ends of the floor! Also, I’m still not locking in the Knicks to make it through to the Conference Finals… The Indiana Pacers may have something to say if they get past Atlanta. During their 2-2 season series (which Carmelo Anthony sat out one of the games with a suspension), the Pacers found a way to contain Melo who shot 36% against them, well below his 45% season average. Paul George really stood up against the Knicks this year & at the moment, Roy Hibbert’s looking much better than the struggling Tyson Chandler down low. The Pacers gritty, ground it down defensive style could mean that we don’t even see the much hyped & anticipated matchup between New York & Miami. In saying this, I’m really pulling for the Knicks to beat the Heat for a number of reasons… most notably, because actor Michael Rapaport ruthlessly tweeted after the Knicks beat the Heat 104-84 on the 2nd November –  “If the @nyknicks beat the Heat in the playoffs I will run up 7th ave ButtAssNaked in a Bernard King jersey only”… Now that’s something I want to see!

Nick Caro: The Knicks have been a great team to watch this season with Melo, JR, Felton, Kidd and co. really finding their place in the team, and the later addition of Kenyon Martin also helping them to some really prolific wins throughout the course of the season. I think when it comes to the Knicks, the past has really affected the way they have rebuilt the team and they have benefited greatly, now being known as one of the only teams even remotely considered as a challenge for the Miami Heat in the East. With Carmelo Anthony taking out the scoring title having notched big numbers all season long, and JR Smith providing 18.1 points per game off the bench, New York have scoring power they haven’t possessed for a long time. Add to that some deadly long range shooters in Steve Novak and Iman Shumpert… These Knicks know how to score. On the opposite end they have former defensive player of the year Tyson Chandler anchoring down the paint as well as the once unusable Kenyon Martin as the second string center. This combination of big bodies in the paint is going to be hugely important should they meet the Heat in the ECF. The feeling in New York is one of positivity, but also of realism. The team and its fans are fully aware that the biggest hurdle in their quest for a title lies waiting for them before they even get to the finals. The Heat are so far beyond any other team in the NBA in almost every way, and with LeBron playing at such an elite level it will provide the Knicks with plenty of headaches. In closing, I would say that this is still, at the end of the day, a one horse race. New York will be the Heat’s best competition to come out of the East but when all is said and done, LeBron and the Miami Heat will be too good, and advance to the NBA Finals.

Terry Goldfain: The Heat are destined to win the championship again. The only question is, how many games, if any, will they lose along the way? Often, it is the team with the best player that wins the series. Lebron James is far and above the best player, not only in this series against New York, but in the NBA. However, often lost in the shuffle is the fact that Dwayne Wade has had an amazingly efficient season and is still among the top 5 players in the NBA.  The addition of role players like Chris Andersen and Ray Allen has been worth its weight in gold. Their recent 27 game win streak and that they’ve won 40 of their last 42 games speaks for itself. All this, along with a much improved defense, home court advantage and championship experience; will be more than enough for anything Carmelo Anthony and company can throw at them.  Even if the Knicks 3 point shot is falling faster than the waters of Niagara.

Alex Young: The Knicks are certainly on fire at the moment and Carmelo Anthony (33 PPG), Raymond Felton (17.8) and J.R Smith (16.3) are all doing their part leading from the front. As much as I hate to say it, they were simply too good for the struggling Celtics in the first round and if they continue to shoot well and don’t pick up any injuries, they should be strong enough to beat the winner of Pacers/Hawks series and make the playoff finals against the Heat. Miami is very strong defensively having only a 110.5 defensive rating during the regular season and currently sit third in the playoff defensive rankings with 91.5. New York are gutsy though ad they too are showing that they can play both offense and defense and if they are going to knock the reigning champs off the podium, defense is key.  More is needed from guys like Kenyon Martin and Tyson Chandler if they are to have any chance. But with James, Wade, Bosh and Chalmers all seemingly healthy right now, Miami are no doubt the team to beat in the East and would likely take the series against New York in five.

Sam Monaghan: I’m sure my fellow colleagues have no doubt suggested someone can beat the Heat. Lets stop that gibberish right now. The Heat currently hold one ring to rule them all and will continue to do so for another season. Miami could possibly sweep the playoffs and finish with the best playoff winning percentage ever – they would have to surpass the 00-01 Lakers (93.8%). The Heat play better as individuals and as a team better than any squad in the league. Their reserves are becoming their closing unit. In the 2012 playoffs Battier was their key, this season it looks like it could be Chris Anderson bringing the energy and excitement off the bench. I cant see anyone even getting close to this Miami team all playoffs. 

2. The Warriors currently hold a 3-1 lead over the Nuggets in their first round Western Conference matchup. Assuming they advance, do they have the necessary parts to contend with Spurs in the second round?

TR: Yeah they definitely do. I personally trashed the Warriors chances heading into the Playoffs, over the final 40 games of the season, they had the 9th best record in the West (21-19) & for some time, they were a pretty horrible team hidden by the fact that they have a very entertaining team. In that same period, the Nuggets were 33-7 (best in the West) & didn’t really look like they were reeling the loss of Danilo Gallenari too badly so I thought that this series was going to be over in 4-5 games. Boy was I wrong! Steph Curry & Klay Thompson’s shooting hands have been on fire, Andrew Bogut has become the beast down low that only Australians still remembered he could be & the team are getting great production from key role players in Jarrett Jack, Harrison Barnes & Carl Landry. The Warriors have the firepower to hurt the Spurs across the floor… If Bogut can keep up his work on the defensive end, grabbing rebounds, boxing out in a way that allows their guards to grab rebounds that become fast break opportunities & changing shots then Tim Duncan & Tiago Splitter are going to have a long series ahead of them. Plus, Tony Parker’s only playing at about 65% at the moment & still looks to be suffering some injury issues. The last guy he would want to see in a time like this is Steph Curry who can hurt you from anywhere on the floor. It’s tough to say seeing that he was an All Star this year, but the best thing that has happened to this Warriors team is losing David Lee. He was a liability on defense & with how basketball is played during this time of year, the Warriors look much better without him on the floor. What he brought to the offense isn’t being missed too much with the emergence of Bogut’s play lately in this series, Carl Landry’s production & the hot hands of the Warriors back-court. David Lee has become 2013’s answer to Patrick Ewing.

NC: Absolutely. The Warriors have shown that when injury free they are a run and gun, fast paced unit that can contend with almost anyone on their day. Where I’ve been most impressed with the Warriors is their shooting. They just do not miss, and providing that doesn’t stop then teams will struggle to keep up with them. Their current matchup with the Nuggets has been slated as one of the Playoffs most exciting series’, yet GSW have somehow managed to climb into a 3-1 lead over a Denver team that is anything but an easy beat. Assuming they advance, The Warriors and Spurs series should be a primarily offensive affair with both teams shooting high percentages from the field, so if their big men also dominate in the paint it will come down to who can win the war in the post. The match up of Tim Duncan and Andrew Bogut will be huge and the winner of that battle will primarily give their team the best chance of success considering the long-range shootout between Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. I’ll be looking for the Warriors to find open shooters, but also pound the ball inside to Bogut and see how he handles Duncan. The loss of David Lee hurts Golden State, but as we’ve seen with their current series they can adapt to an injury in that spot. So, assuming the Warriors remain largely injury free, I see them taking the Spurs on and giving it a damn good shake. Prediction: Spurs in 7.

TG: Are you kidding? If they make it to the second round, Kawhi Leonard is going to clamp down on Curry so tightly that a death row inmate would see more light. Mark Jackson is a fantastic coach, but does not yet  hold a candle to Popovich when it comes to strategy. Not only will Golden State be playing a superior team, with a superior coach, but a well-rested team too. This point cannot be emphasised greatly enough, considering the age of the Spurs stars, their injuries during the season and the speed at which GSW play. Remember, the Lakers weren’t the only team to have injury problems heading into the first round. Splitter and Diaw missed part, and all, of the 4 game sweep respectively and Ginobili had a huge question mark hanging over his head like a partly formed noose.  He turned it around and the ‘Big 3’ of himself, Parker and Duncan were magnificent. Bonner also has performed far and above his usual playoff standards, while Leonard showed more than glimpses of why he will, in all likelihood, be an All-Star next season.  GSW have been heroic, with the contributions by Bogut and Barnes, in particular, being a welcome surprise. However without Lee, and with the front court of the Spurs being well and truly tested by Gasol and Howard, and found up to the challenge, this mountain seems insurmountable.

AY: The Warriors are one of the most underrated teams in the NBA. They have good young talent and have done phenomenally well to be leading the third seeded Nuggets right now. They have a strong backcourt in Steph Curry and the return of Aussie Andrew Bogut is a huge lift for them. However they’re without their All-Star David Lee at the moment, and they also haven’t made the playoffs since the 06-07 season, and in which only one member from that team, Latvian Andris Biedrins, currently remains. Match that against the creative and experienced Spurs who are a concise, well-oiled machine and it really is a no-brainer. With San Antonio’s ‘big three’; Ginobli, Parker and Duncan all fit, healthy and playing well, like they displayed against the Lakers, plus the fact that they will also be well rested it will be a tough ask for Golden State. However they’re playing some near flawless basketball at the moment so I don’t expect it to be easy. But the familiarity of the playoffs and the consistency of San Antonio will get them over the line in this series.

SM: The Warriors fate rests in the hands of one man – Steph Curry. He needs his team mates around him to be consistent but only his outstanding performance night after night have what it takes to beat any other team. Its the Warriors rocket powered offense which is driving this team. We have seen it stop and start at odd times this season – Coach Jackson needs to find a way to slice through the Spurs defense and maintain momentum if they are to continue winning.

3. It’s been an injury ravaged season for many teams including the Celtics, Lakers and Bulls all being bitten. The latest to fall is Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook. How does this injury affect the Thunder’s chances of taking out the West and ultimately, the NBA title?

TR: It hurts the Thunder immensely. This Thunder team is at their absolute best when Russell Westbrook is the Number 1 option on the court. Although most naively criticize it, it’s the system that they have always played, Scott Brooks initiated it & both Westbrook & Kevin Durant have bought into it & have been successful in it. Westbrook allows Durant to not have to work for his shots & generally makes life easier for the 2nd best player in the world. Plus, when Westbrook is absolutely on fire, with his speed, physicality & movement, there isn’t a harder guy to stop at the point guard position. Without Westbrook, Durant is going to have to do too much work out on the court. He is going to have to take 25-30 shots a game, which is something he can do, but it’s not something that we see from him on a consistent basis. Serge Ibaka who’s offensive capabilities have improved over the last 16 months will also be relied upon more than he’s used to & Kevin Marin’s going to have to play a role that he’s not used to play on a team that isn’t tanking for a lottery pick. Ultimately, they still have the talent to get out of the very tough Western Conference, however, it won’t be as easy as it was a week ago. With a PG crop of Tony Parker, Chris Paul, Ty Lawson, Steph Curry & Mike Conley potentially awaiting them, the mis-match at that position is going to cause some sleepless nights for Scott Brooks, Reggie Jackson & Derek Fisher. I’m not ruling out a return for Westbrook either. Metta World Peace had the same injury earlier on in the season & was only out for 2 weeks. There’s a slim chance that we could potentially see Westbrook back by the Conference Finals if recovery goes well & the Thunder survive.

NC: As a Laker fan I’ve felt the brunt of this year’s injury toll. It basically destroyed LA’s season, and with our starting five only playing 6 games together out of a potential 86 what chance did we have? The Celtics looked good for a period without Rondo, but soon realized that no team is truly better without their core guy. Playoff basketball has revealed Boston as a team without any depth at the point and they really miss Rondo. The Bulls are essentially the same without Rose but have found something in Kirk Heinrik (also injured yesterday) and especially Nate Robinson. The list goes on but the fact remains that injuries suck, and have been a major factor this season. The Thunder have remained injury free for the majority of the season, so losing Westbrook now is huge. Kevin Durant is helped immensely because of Russ’ ability to space the floor and create shots, so it will be interesting to see how KD responds the deeper the Thunder go into the playoffs. It’s likely that the Thunder will make certain adjustments to the overall strategy now that Westbrook is no longer available to them and a matchup with someone like Chris Paul will create huge problems for OKC. It comes down to defense instead of offense now for them I believe. Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins need to be defensive weapons if they want to stem the unrelenting offense teams like the Clippers will no doubt bring. All this said, I do believe that Westbrook’s injury is something that needs time, however with the right treatment he’ll give himself every opportunity of coming back before the Thunder are even done for 2012/13. Just ask Metta!

TR: The Warriors don’t have “one of the deadliest back courts in the NBA” They have THE DEADLIEST BACK COURT IN THE NBA!  Both of these guys have the hot hand at the moment… At time of writing, both Klay Thompson & Steph Curry are both shooting over 50% from the field during the Playoffs & 42% & 47% from beyond the arc respectively. They are dangerous from anywhere on the floor. The only thing that I would say is that I feel that the Warriors get more out of these guys when they are both on the wings & Jarrett Jack is the primary ball handler. It allows the team to exploit both of these guys from spot up situations more easily.

NC: Yep. It’s probably THE most deadly back court in the NBA. I’ve watched Steph turn into the league’s most ruthless assassin this season just knocking down shot after shot. It’s become a surprise when he misses! He and Klay are both knocking down over half their shots and are a touch under that from long range. It’s such a shame to see David Lee injured because his mid range shot was of huge value to the team, leaving Curry and Thompson with the freedom of stalking the perimeter just waiting for shots. Now we’re seeing Curry penetrate more which is great but his specialty is clearly from long range. Will they continue to shoot like this? Who knows but if they can they’ll be well on their way to becoming one of history’s scariest back court combos.

TG: Yes. Oh, you want more? They are not just “one of” the deadliest backcourts in the NBA currently, they are THE deadliest. That is, if you’re defining ‘deadliest’ from the standpoint of shooting prowess. While Mark Jackson is as convincing and motivational a speaker as any coach, I’m not ready to drink the short-sleeve jersey wearing Kool-aid quite yet, and describe them as the “greatest shooting backcourt in the history of the game” It is true, historically their numbers are as good as any. The two combined for 483 made 3-pointers. That is not just amazing, it puts them in the record books. It would be neglectful to view this statistic without also admiring their accuracy, as it wasn’t just a case of them jacking up the shots. A hell of a lot of them went in. Almost 43 percent, in fact. This from a couple of guys who may look only 15 and 23 but are actually only 25 (Curry) and 23 (Thompson) with respective ceilings so high not even Durant at full stretch with his Go-Go Gadget arms, could touch it. However, one season does not make a lifetime worth of achievements. Consistency is the key, and if the tandem can continue this, and better, for years to come, it will be hard to argue with Jackson.

AY: Wow, lots of attention on the Warriors at the moment! Having said that, Steph Curry is an absolute machine right now. Averaging 27.3 PPG against the Nuggets this series and sitting third amongst the playoff leaders in points, he has become such an important asset for this Oakland side. He also broke the record for most 3-point shots in a season (272), which is an incredible achievement and one that cannot be ignored. Would I say the Warriors have one of the deadliest back courts in the league? Yes. But I certainly wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s THE deadliest, not right now anyway. Klay Thompson is showing some good promise as a rookie, and his numbers back it up, but having only played one year of pro basketball, his experience is limited. Having one good season doesn’t define you as a player – just ask Jeremy Lin – and until you gain and earn the respect and credibility like Ginobli and Parker have done in San Antonio, then you can’t really be considered in the same league. But give it time. At only 25 and 23 years of age respectively they have their best years ahead of them, and if they continue down the path they’re going next season and beyond they will certainly be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

SM: Thompson and Curry are two of the NBA’s up and coming stars. Both are filthy good shooter and slippery little defenders but they cant compete with Joe Johnson and Deron Williams of the Nets. Both are NBA All Stars, Curry will no doubt take this leap next year, and are reliable shooters. What separates the two back courts is ball movement and defense. Williams is one of the best point guards in the NBA at the moment, his ball movement is sublime. He is averaging 9 assists per game on his career, this playoffs he is averaging 8.2, all while averaging 20.5 points per game – very very impressive. While Johnson consistently pulls down 3-4 rebounds per game, only gives up 1 turnover and still pours in 16 points a game. As a coach there’s nothing that makes your life easier then consistency.

5. Boston have been struggling to gain any fluidity this season with an aging lineup and an injury to star guard Rajon Rondo. What moves, if any, do the Celtics need to make during the summer if they are to improve their chances next season?

TR: Any move that they can! With their current core they are a mediocre Playoff team at best. Kevin Garnett is their best trade asset on the table, if they can offload him for some younger pieces to add to the core of Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley & Jeff Green, that would be the most desirable option. Names that have been thrown out there to potentially be coming to Boston include DeMarcus Cousins & Josh Smith, who I don’t believe would positively change the outlook of the Celtics moving forward, they aren’t the best guys to have in a locker-room, especially with a team that’s building a young core who could easily be influenced negatively by the implementation of one of these guys. In saying this, there’s also been word that Garnett may be retiring at the end of the season, teams may not be so hot on trying to get their hands on a guy who’s heart may not be in basketball.

NC: I’m lost on Boston. I don’t agree with the moves Danny Ainge made last season when he gave Kevin Garnett a huge re-up, stuck with Paul Pierce and signed a host of old has beens during the regular season (Leandro Barbosa and Courtney Lee anyone?). Given there wasn’t a lot on offer for them at the time, but putting all your faith into guys like Garnett, and sticking with Avery Bradley who was “destined for great things even though he hasn’t done anything yet” isn’t a great philosophy in my eyes. For the record I think Bradley shows signs of brilliance, I just believe too much faith has been placed in a guy you could have used a trade bait with Garnett or Pierce for a quality player to build around. Players such as Jeff Green have helped Boston into the playoffs with consistently impressive efforts throughout the season but has been next to useless in the playoffs so far. In fact, I would struggle to name a Celtics player that has done much in the post season. What they need is someone new and noteworthy to build around. Boston’s defensive style calls for a quality center or power forward to help them grind their way back to supremacy. Talk of trading Rondo is absurd when you think about what he contibutes to the team, so a big man really should be their target. Kevin Love, DeMarcus Cousins and maybe even Josh Smith should all be on Danny Ainge’s radar going into the offseason and I expect the Celts to be very active throughout in an attempt to become truly competitive again. In some ways I feel like the folk who support Boston are too attached to their team members. Yes, they are responsible for a championship in ’08 and have been the nucleus of the team ever since, but this team will continue to struggle if they don’t blow it up and make a move or two that may hurt the old faithful supporters of the Boston Celtics. It’ll be better for them in the long run. But as a member of the purple and gold army, I’m more than OK if they do nothing.

TG: While the optimist in me wants to object and proclaim that the body you’re burying is still kicking and screaming, the realist knows that the Celtics are unlikely to get much further. In fact, by the time you, dear reader, are still chuckling over the absurdity of my previous answers, their season will, in all likelihood, officially be over. This is the part of my answer where I fling around words like “heart”, “pride”, “spirit” and “leadership” when describing Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. These words fit them like a glove, both when recounting the totality of their careers, and their superhuman effort during Game 4 which prevented the Celtics from being swept by New York. Sadly, none of that matters when looking at next season, as there is another word that supersedes the superlatives previously offered: “old”. The future of this team lies in the hands of Jeff Green, Rondo and, to a lesser extent, Sullinger. But what to do with Garnett and Pierce? Is there any way they could be traded, particularly Pierce, without the front office receiving death threats even quicker than an Avery Bradley pickpocketing? Perhaps, more to the points, who wants them and do they retain enough value to make them decent bargaining chips? The only players on the team with expiring contracts are Chris Wilcox and D.J. White, averaging 3 minutes and 0 minutes this post-season respectively . Sadly, for Boston fans, it appears 2013-14 will be similar, if not worse, than the current season, and perhaps it will even take a further year  before salary cap purse strings can be fully unknotted.  However, in a Conference where it took only 38 wins to make the playoffs, and no radical upheaval to the pecking order in sight, the Celtics still have a great chance of staying in contendership for a berth. The key will be not making changes out of panic, taking advantage of whatever ‘big picture’ moves they can make in the meantime,  and waiting it out. They have proven, since the establishment of the ‘big 3’ in ‘07 to be a team that can draw the very best talent to Bean Town.  Patience might not be sexy, but it is a virtue. And while they say that patience is a virtue but time doesn’t wait; I say:  to the virtuous go the spoils of 2014-15 Free Agency (or something like that).

AY: My poor Celtics are struggling in more ways than one. Losing Rondo didn’t help our cause in any way but heading in to this season, it was always going to be a tough ask for the C’s to compete for the top prize in the East. They rely too much on their big guns of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to carry them over the line, but with them both being in the twilight of their career it’s hard to expect them to deliver time and time again, especially against younger and more boisterous and athletic teams. The key to this team lies with Rondo (when he’s fit), Jeff Green and to an extent Bass and Sullinger. Pierce isn’t likely to be traded, not at his age anyway, and his loyalty to Bean Town could also play a factor. Pierce has a team option on his contract from next season at $15.3 million with a $5 million buyout before June 30 and just yesterday the Boston Globe revealed that Pierce had been thinking for the last three years about whether this would be his final postseason as a Celtic. KG too has had retirement rumors circulating him for the past few years but he still has two years remaining on his contract, so he is likely to suit up in green next season. Honestly though, it’s a waiting game. Until both these veterans retire, the C’s don’t have the salary cap expenses to acquire new talent and rebuild their team.  Rondo coming back will be a lift, but who knows when that’ll be. They could trade Bass or Sullinger as many have suggested, but I honestly don’t know what good that would do – they’re key to this team right now. It’s about patience for the next few years, something that I can imagine many Boston fans won’t be too happy about. But whatever they do though, I just hope it doesn’t include the mention of Dwight ‘D12’ Howard!!

SM: The Celtics have to address their big men – Garnett and Green. Will Garnett stay on for another year?  What position do the Celtics play Green ? The Celtics should start reviewing the 2013 draft class for a franchise centre, either way Garnett only has limited time left. Green has spent time playing both SF and PF over the last few years, as a Celtic he has been behind Pierce and played primarily as a SF. If he is to continue in this position he will have to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Lebron, Melo and Paul George in the East – do Celtics fans think he can deal with this kind of pressure? I’m not sure he is capable. Sorting out these issues will give the C’s organization options on and off the court.

6. A lot of conjecture surrounds this week’s hot topic with Wizard’s center Jason Collins announcing himself as gay. While most are supportive of any one person’s sexual preference, there are others who are not. What are your views on the current climate for inwardly, and openly gay athletes?

TR: This story made me really happy. It’s been a long time coming, arguably too long, but a brave & pioneering move by Jason Collins to be the first openly gay male athlete in one of the USA’s major professional sports. By saying a couple of simple words, Collins has made it easier for many other athletes to be true about themselves & no longer as Collins said in his SI article “live a lie”. I’m 100% positive that there are a number of gay athletes currently playing in the NBA & through Collins, they will now be able to realise that they have nothing to worry about, they will be socially accepted for being who they are & ultimately, they are basketballers. I applaud Collins for announcing what he said, just as much as I applaud all the NBA Players, fraternity & fans that threw their support behind him. To me, someone who has a number of gay family members & friends, I find Collins’ statement as an important step in building to a day that I can’t wait to arrive… A day of when sexuality is so widely accepted that people will no longer have to announce if they are straight, gay or bi… It would just be accepted that people are who they are.

NC: In some ways, I’m surprised it took this long. It’s something that we as a human race should be beyond. The coming out of a player (or anyone) as gay, in my eyes, should have become a normality a long time ago. But that’s neither here nor there. The fact is that this is a wonderful thing to happen, and I for one am extremely happy to see someone have the courage to say “this is who I am, and I’m proud of it” in one of the most watched sporting league’s in the world. Hopefully it leads the way for other athletes who feel they have to hide who they are, to open up and let their true selves be known. It’s also fantastic to see his peers, like Kobe Bryant, publicly state how important it is for everyone to be themselves and not feel restrained by who you are. Unfortunately throughout these times there are people who feel that this is not the case. That being gay is not a moral, or acceptable way to be. One example is ESPN analyst Chris Broussard’s public statement that being homosexual is a slap in the face of God and a sin. While Broussard, like many, is entitled to his opinion, the fact is it’s a backwards and archaic point of view that is the reason why this is even a talking point. Broussard has never been someone I like or listen to, but this has tipped me over the edge. I cannot fathom the nerve of someone so unqualified to speak about anything other than sports to say such outrageous things. But, we must move on. We as a human race owe it to our fellow man and woman to accept each other for who they are. I think the climate now is largely supportive, and my hope is that the support continues to grow until a point where any one human being can be accepted for who they truly are. I have gay friends, and would hate for them to be subjected to ridicule or made to feel as if they had done something wrong for simply being themselves. I commend Jason Collins for this incredibly brave act. Well done.

TG (Extended Answer): Collins is the first person (not already retired) in the US; to play a team sport of any significance (on the cultural radar), at a level of any significance; to come out of the closet.  Whatever he does in the future, this has to be seen as a massive achievement in its own right, and a step in the right direction.  This isn’t a topic I ever imagined myself writing about, and all copies of ‘The Idiot’s Guide to Inwardly & Outwardly Gay Athletes’ was sold out, so I’ll stick to a few random observations, rather than trying to be appear as an expert on the subject.  Firstly, it surprised me that his twin brother of 34 years had no clue he was gay. Aren’t twins meant to have some kind of ESP thing happening (or the athlete’s version: ESPN)? That just demonstrates that he was so far inside the closet, he could have discovered Narnia. This is an interesting comparison to Brittney Griner who, rather than waiting until her 11^th season in the league when, like Collins, she may be averaging 1 point and 1.5 rebounds per game,  instead casually outed herself a few days after being drafted into the WNBA with the No.1 pick. On the other hand, perhaps a player with eleven seasons in the league is the perfect person to be the first of this type?  For those who haven’t read the article in SportsIllustrated.com, he looks at the three degrees of Separation from Jason Collins, basically saying that as a result of him being in the league for so long and on so many teams, every other player in the NBA has either played on the same team as him, or is, at most, separated by three teammates. He poses the question “how am I any different now to the guy you showered with and got dressed in the presence of, and considered family in the unique way only elite sport can bond”? Now for some hypotheticals: Collins is reaching the end of his career and is not currently contracted. It isn’t implausible that a team won’t offer him a contract next year, since talented players like Kenyon Martin and Chris Andersen, who are playing vital roles for their respective teams, sat out most of the season. If this happens will people blame the team’s reluctance on his sexuality? Another hypothetical: if he does play next year, chances are he will receive a standing ovation, at least the first time he plays on each court. But there is always that ‘other’ element. All it takes is a quick Google search and you’ll find hundreds of memes proclaiming that [insert star player] is gay. Same goes with twitter and internet forums. If this is the reaction to players who we have no reason to doubt their heterosexuality, what will be the reaction from the lowest common denominator to a player who has revealed himself to be gay? Seemingly, everyone fell into line when they heard Collin’s news, with support coming from all quarters. But they had to, right? Imagine if David Stern had a made a negative remark. It would have overshadowed Collin’s news like a flower growing at the base of Mt Everest. All, that is, except for Larry Johnson, the former Hornets & Knicks All-Star forward, who tweeted, “gay men in the locked room would make me uncomfortable”. So do we despise him for his view, or admire him for his courage to speak his mind? Personally, I feel sorry for him, for being brought up in environment that bred within him such a narrow-minded view. While on the subject of twitter, Jason Kidd, who played with Collins in New Jersey for seven years, hit the nail on the head when he tweeted “Jason’s sexuality doesn’t change the fact that he is a great friend and was a great teammate.” End of.

AY: I have to start off by commending Jason Collins on what he’s done. A lot of men struggle with this issue and for someone who is in the spotlight and watched by millions of people around the world, I can only imagine how much harder it must have been for him. For an athlete of a major American league to come out and say he’s gay is a huge deal. Not because of the announcement itself, but because of the significance it will have on society. Being the first athlete in America to announce such a thing is historic. It not only shows how far society has come but that there is also hope for the future. I’m hopeful Collins’ announcement will encourage other men and women around the world who are struggling with this issue to come out and be who they are. They shouldn’t be afraid to be themselves and Jason has certainly shown this. I’ve particularly been amazed though at the amount of support he’s received since he announced he was gay, especially being from a country that has history of controversial same-sex legislation and opinions. Collins’ coming out is certainly a step in the right direction in trying to move society forward, but I just hope it has a profound effect on other athletes and people around the world who are in similar situations.

SM: To steal a point from the The B.S Report – it couldn’t have happened in a better environment. The NBA its own representation of a family, David Stern is the grumpy but fundamentally right father, while Jason Collins is the cousin you thought might be gay but were never quite sure. Neither situation bothered you – just the dynamics of a family. His announcement has been met with warm applause from the NBA and wider community- as it should have been. This is a huge step forward for professional athletes, but shouldn’t impact upon the way we treat others in our personal or professional lives. I love the reception Collins’ announcement received I hope that we see more athletes express their sexuality and are met with the same reception.
 

That concludes another edition of NBA Nation Australia’s Roundtable!

Thanks again to Tom, Alex and Terry for joining us this week. If you’d like to connect with us you can reach us via the Twitter handles below, or our Facebook page!

Tom Read (#BelieveTheHype) – @TraRead

Alex Young (The Sideline Agenda) – @AlexYoung75

Terry Goldfain (#OzRox) – @TerryGoldfain

Nick Caro (NBA Nation Australia) – @NickoToGo

Sam Monaghan (NBA Nation Australia) – @Mono85x2

NBA Nation Australia – @NBANationOz

Thanks for reading folks. We’ll see you next time!

Portland Trail Blazers rookie, and 6th overall pick in the NBA Draft Damian Lillard has won the 2012/13 Kia Rookie of The Year Award, the NBA announced this morning. 22 year-old Lillard had a phenomenal year and was considered the clear frontrunner for the honor for the better part of the season, averaging 19 points and 6.5 assists per game over an average of 38 minutes (lead NBA). He was voted as the winner unanimously by a panel of sports journalists totaling 605 votes, nearly double that of second placed Hornets/Pelicans center Anthony Davis. It is the first unanimous vote for the award since Blake Griffin in 2011. Congratulations, Damian Lillard.

Read the NBA’s press release HERE.

Nick C.

After yesterday’s embarrassing loss to the San Antonio Spurs, and his untimely ejection from the game early in the third quarter, and what appeared to be a confrontation with GM Mitch Kupchak (later dismissed) Lakers center Dwight Howard finally opened up to the world via Twitter in an attempt to rectify what he felt to be one of the most disappointing seasons of his career. Howard, widely regarded as the league’s best center, was ejected from yesterday’s game following his second technical foul for questioning the officials non-call after what he believed to be a hard foul. In the midst of all this, the Lakers were down by 20 points and Dwight being ejected at this point essentially spelled a loss before the game was even over, and the end of the 2012/13 Lakers season.

It hasn’t been the easiest season for the team and its fans, and to see it end this way was surely a tough pill to swallow, so Howard’s ejection was simply the icing on a cake most Lakers fans will tell you tasted absolutely horrible. With the coaching issues, the injures, the suspensions, the loss of Jerry Buss and the shattered expectations, the season finally came to an end just as it was written. In a drama fueled meltdown and over-reactive social media uproar. Howard’s ejection sent waves of frustration through the Lakers fan base, and even former superstars such as Magic Johnson had words for Howard and attacked his actions on the same platform Howard would later apologize on.

Above: Magic Johnson Confronts Dwight Howard on Twitter

This is where the real fun begins for the Lakers. With Howard heading into free agency, the amnesty clause hanging over Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace’s heads, an injury to Kobe Bryant that is filled with uncertainty and a host of financial challenges it doesn’t look bright for a team that had high championship aspirations only six months ago. All is not lost, and the team and its fans are a tight knit unit that believes wholeheartedly that the ship will be righted, but it will not be without heartache, loss and struggle for the foreseeable future. Injury has played a huge part in the season for LA, with the original starting five of Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, Steve Nash and Metta World Peace playing just six games together out of a possible 86. Six. Not to mention the depleted bench with long-term injuries to Jordan Hill, Steve Blake, Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks. These injuries played a huge part in the downfall of what was expected to be a title year for the Lakers.

Let’s not forget the coaching change, and the firing of Mike Brown after 5 games and a 1-4 start. Brown wasn’t given a fair shake with the team, and was quickly replaced with a coach that has not only little respect for the superstars under his command, but even less of an idea how to coach them. Mike D’Antoni’s introduction to LA came following a very public attempt by the Lakers to lure Phil Jackson, only to push him aside at the final hour and hire the former mentioned coach of no championship note with a proven track record of struggling to manage players. One need not blame D’Antoni for everything that has gone wrong with this Lakers season, but his willingness to push Pau Gasol to the brink of despair, the nerve to call Kobe Bryant, a 5 time Champion, a ‘fan’ after he single handedly pushed the team into the playoffs, the alienating of the bench by constantly using a 7 to 8 man rotation and wearing out his stars to the point of season ending injury….. Mike D’Antoni came into Los Angeles with an idea that he would be able to play 7-seconds or less, run and gun small ball with a team containing Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard and the aging Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash. But I digress, this is simply another fork in the road for the Lakers in the offseason, and one can only hope they make the right decision.

Dwight Howard’s free agency has been a topic of discussion for the entire season, with fans, the media and indeed the Lakers organization themselves waiting with baited breath for a commitment from what they hope to be the future of the franchise. It has been written before. We need not delve into the pit of fire and the debate of whether or not Howard’s signature is a blessing or a curse for the Lakers. The fact is that Lakers Nation, and the franchise itself is behind Dwight Howard and are invested in his future in the purple and gold, no matter what the cost. The city of Los Angeles has come to love Howard. Even through many of his various misdemeanors this season, deep down Lakers fans want him to stay in LA. This is where Howard has been tight lipped about where he’ll go after the season, stating that his only focus was on the now and winning a championship. Now that he can’t use that excuse anymore, Dwight knows it’s getting close to decision time. In his post-game interview yesterday he stated that he’ll step away for a few weeks and clear his head before addressing free agency, but he knows that the time to make up his mind is right around the corner. One thing he’ll want to avoid is an Orlando-like situation, which plays to the Lakers hand, as does their ability to offer him a 4 year (5th optional), $118m contract as opposed to the $88m available to him from other teams. All this considered, it would seem Los Angeles is the place for Howard, but fans need and want to know what he his intentions are even if it means their minds can be at rest.

Late last night, Howard took to Twitter to address his position, mental state and hinted at a future with the club saying he wants another chance to make it up to the team and its fans. This was big for Dwight. The ability to publicly apologize  for an incident he obviously felt terrible about, and an outpouring of emotion to his fans who’ve been waiting so long for just a few words that may indicate he wants to stay a Laker. This felt real, and put a smile on the faces of many who had just been shattered after watching their team swept out of the playoffs in the first round for the first time since 1967. Read the message for yourself, and make up your own mind but for fans of the Lakers this was something they needed last night. It’s pretty heavy stuff from the Lakers’ big man, and a message that anyone can draw any number of conclusions from but it does remain a mystery until Howard signs on officially with the Lakers.

Above: Dwight Howard Tweets Laker Fans

One of the more positive, and inspirational moments in Lakers history also came last night amidst the confusion and frustration surrounding the Howard ejection. Almost immediately after the fact, with the Lakers down 20 and zeroing in on the final minutes of their season, one man emerged from the tunnel to join his teammates on the bench for what would be the final time this season and his first public appearance since an injury that ended his, and effectively the Lakers seasons. I personally have never heard a louder cheer from a crowd than what I did the moment Kobe Bryant hobbled out of that tunnel on crutches to join his team, and it was truly an incredible moment. Kobe is notorious for his never say die attitude, and could be seen cheering and yelling instructions at his guys throughout the rest of the game to the very last second. When Pau was subbed out for what could be his very last time as a Laker, and Staples Center had become almost empty, Kobe grabbed his shoulders in a showing of brotherly solidarity that few duo’s in the NBA can attest to. This moment was, as has been mentioned, something Laker fans needed to see to know that their team is still very much together and no matter what, will bounce back. The future is uncertain, and any number of outcomes are possible, but for this Lakers team, it’s time to put the memory of 2012/13 behind them, and keep fighting for the future.

Above: Bryant and Gasol in the dying moments of 2012/13

Nick C.