Coming Out Party

Welcome
This is my first post, and I would like to let everyone reading this know that this blog is primarily going to be about sports, so if you aren't into that click the "X" on the top right corner. Let me start off by declaring my loyalties so you know where the biases begin.

NBA: New Jersey Nets
NFL: New York Jets
MLB: New York Yankees
College Football: Georgia Bulldogs and Rutgers Scarlet Knights
College Basketball: Pittsburgh Panthers

Let me continue by discussing the draft day that the Nets underwent Thursday. First off Net fans that acted all upset about this trade haven't been notified that the NBA is a business as well as a game. There are plenty of free agents coming up and Vince Carter had a back loaded contract that was going to hold them back from getting too much of anyone. So from a salary point this was a great move. From a talent standpoint, it was not all that bad either. You get Courtney Lee who has the potential to be a great guard in this league for years to come. You put Rafer Alston on the bench, who automatically becomes probably the best back up point guard in the league. And you get Tony Battie, a guy who will come in and knock down 15 foot jumpers and spread the court when Brook Lopez is taking a rest. This puts the Nets starting at Point Guard, Devin Harris, at shooting guard, Courtney Lee and at small forward, Terrence Williams. That is a back court full of aggressive, athletic, scrappy guys that are going to go out and fight every night, and give the defense plenty to worry about. Besides, Brook Lopez is a phenom in the making. When was the last time a center had a rookie year like that? What is the one issue? Power Forward.

What to do at the power forward position?
Carlos Boozer is currently a free agent, but the Nets do not have the cap room to give him a contract that will lure him in. Therefore you help out the Nets, help out Boozer and help out the Jazz all in one move. Boozer said he thinks he is going to either the Nets or Pistons. The Pistons would pick him up without the Jazz getting anything in return, leaving them missing a key piece of their team with nothing to show for it. If he came to the Nets, the Nets would have to give something up in a sign and trade deal. So New Jersey could ship over Yi Jianlian, Bobby Simmons and cash to a team who is not ready to stop competing yet. So you give them some added depth, the Nets clear cash, and the Nets pick up a player who will change the entire dynamic of their team. If New Jersey made this deal, the starting line up would consist of Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, Terrence Williams, Carlos Boozer and Brook Lopez, with the bench providing Rafer Alston, Keyon Dooling, Chris Douglas Roberts, Jarvis Hayes, Sean Williams, Josh Boone and Tony Battie. In my opinion, this situation would be amazing for New Jersey, putting them in a position to at least make it out of the first round next season, and in a position to look decent enough to attract players to the team for the 09-10 Free Agency. With all of the great teams out there, great players are looking to compete, and no matter how much money the Nets offer, if they aren't showing a chance to compete, there is no chance they are getting any player (And P.S Net fans, forget about Lebron, it is not happening.).

Some other situations in the NBA:

Cleveland Cavs: Picking up Shaq looks cute and all but unless they pick up Jason Kidd I do not see them beating the Celtics in a best of 7 next season, or if they somehow do I don't feel they could beat the Lakers either. If you put Kidd on that team they become a force and could possibly come out of next season with 70 wins. Shaq is Shaq, but he is not the same dominant force that he once was and he is not going to make that much of a differnce when it comes to Dwight Howard. Dwight is stilld developing that post up, and with the style he has, it is going to be very easy to pick up fouls on Shaq. It is about time people start realizing that Dwight is now the most dominant big man in the game (although I think Pau is more talented).

San Antonio Spurs: They got the pieces. Straight up there are few teams in the league that can beat this team when they are healthy, and I believe it is the Lakers and Celtics. They have the best power forward to ever play the game. They have a freakishly quick point guard and a bad, bad man at shooting guard who I think is one of the most under rated players in the game. Manu gets credit but I think he is in the top 10 in the game which he doesn't get credit for. He was my MVP pick 2 seasons ago. Adding Richard Jefferson to the mix gives teams too many scoring options to think about. And for anyone who knocks RJ's defense, defense is contageous when you have a chance to win a championship, just look at the defense Eddie House plays on the Celtics now as oppossed to when he was on the Nets or Suns. Plus, DeJuan Blair was the steal of the draft at #37. Players aren't being measured during games. 6 foot 6 or not, DeJuan Blair still straight up man handled #2 pick Hasheem Thabeet in both games against him, both on the offensive and defensive end.

Boston Celtics: Still one of my favorite teams in the league to watch. I've never seen so many veterans go out and leave it all on the court every night like this team does, and apparently they say Kevin Garnett is hungrier now than he has ever been, do not doubt them and do not underestimate them. They have the talent and they have the heart of a champion.

Orlando Magic: Another team that should not be forgotten. They have the most dominant big man in the league, arguably the best back court in the east and some very nice role players. Also, rumors say that they are looking at either Rasheed Wallace or Paul Milsap, either of whom would put them over the edge as a team that has no right to do anything but make the finals again.

Thats all for now, check back later for more thoughts about the postseason, the MLB season, some Hip Hop here and there and you might even get your occasional boxing.