As the NBA season kicks into high gear, two stories surfaced on Tuesday that should come as no surprise. And of course, they are centering around none other than, traditionally, the leagues two most popular teams: the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers.
In just two weeks, both teams who are annually expected to compete for a title, and at the very least, the playoffs, have turned into the leagues biggest trainwrecks.
Sam Amick of USAToday starts with the Lakers, who are now expecting Steve Nash to miss at least two weeks with a continuing nerve injury:
According to the team, Nash is expected to be out for a minimum of two weeks.He will receive an epidural block as part of his treatment, and be re-evaluated in 10 days. Nash was injured in the Lakers 113-90 loss Sunday to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played 13 minutes in the game, totaling two points and three assists.
“I hesitate to even talk about it now because it’s probably not a good time, I’m feeling a little emotional, but it’s hard,” Nash said Sunday night,via the Los Angeles Times. “I really want to play and I really want to play the way I’m accustomed to playing, and to be so limited is frustrating. And also to not know where a clean-ish bill of health is is a little daunting too.”
Since arriving in Los Angeles Nash’s health has deteriorated to an alarming degree. He played just 50 games last season due to a multitude of injuries, but most notably the nerve damage affecting his lower back and legs.
For future reference, if the Phoenix Suns training staff gives up on you it’s not looking good. Ask Shaq, Amar’e and now Nash.
At 40 years old, Nash is the oldest point guard in the NBA, a title many believe he may not hold for much longer.
The Lakers are spiraling out of control and cannot regain direction. They have no plan and more importantly no leadership. It’s only a matter of time before the wheels fall off.
This brings us to the Knicks, who at least entered the season with playoff expectations, and if a few lucky breaks went their way, a title. But according to Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, the Knicks are already setting their sights on 2015, when they will have the opportunity to persuade Kevin Love to join (hopefully) Carmelo Anthony and finally have the second superstar they’ve coveted since Anthony arrived:
New York is back where it started with ‘Melo in 2011, framing a future for him that looks so much better than the present. To re-sign Anthony upon his contract opt-out in July, the Knicks count upon the fact that they can still give him three things no one else can: a five-year, nearly $130 million extension; the bright lights of the Madison Square Garden marquee; and an expedited retooling plan.
Almost assuredly, Love will exercise his early termination option in two years and take a strong look at where the free-agent landscape stands with the T’wolves. He could re-sign a longer, richer deal with Minnesota, or chase big-market platforms in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and perhaps elsewhere.
The Knicks are buried in salary-cap hell through 2014, awaiting Amar’e Stoudemire ($23.4 million), Tyson Chandler ($14.3 million) and Andrea Bargnani ($12 million) to expire. The Knicks are sold on Love in 2015, sources tell Yahoo Sports, and they’ve already begun devising a strategy to lure him when the time comes.
A rocky 2-4 start and a devastating 4-6 week injury to Tyson Chandler will do that to a team like the Knicks. Just two weeks into the season and they are already forecasting for the future.
Some things never change.
Instead of refocus and rededicate themselves to this season, the Knicks look onward to a future they will likely never see. Carmelo Anthony, the teams superstar player whom they hope to resign at seasons end, has unmistakable offensive talent. But where has he gotten them?
He won last years scoring title, but that’s nothing more than a nice accolade to add to his personal trophy case. It won’t have anybody, let alone true stars or legitimate difference makers in this league, clamoring to play with him.
He won a playoff series last year, but at the end of the day, what’s the big deal?
Allen Iverson could score.
Stephon Marbury could score.
Both were supreme talents, beloved around the league. But neither could ever align with other supreme talents.
Why?
Because at the end of the day, it’s simply not in the best interest of any great player to be the sidekick of a selfish player that is not dedicated to the team. To winning. More of this league than we know is controlled by the leagues dealmakers — agents, shoe companies, marketers — and to market their player to the best of their abilities, they need to be playing in May and June, when the NBA actually gets ratings. When their players’ can showcase themselves.
How is a player supposed to maximize their contract when they are watching Anthony hoist 25-plus shots every game?
Nobody steals the show from Carmelo. Just watch the Knicks operate. Anthony surely hasn’t put his staple on an NBA postseason in his 10 years as a professional either. To most, Anthony’s career highlight is winning a National Championship during his freshman year at Syracuse. Wojnarowski notes:
If winning is an obsession to Anthony, let’s be honest: He would’ve stayed in better shape, been a better leader and teammate in his career. Anthony would’ve used his organizational muscle to spare the franchise’s wasting of a roster spot for J.R. Smith’s younger brother as part of a sweetener to re-sign the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year.
Wojnarowski also blasts the Knicks for their lack of leadership at the top, giving Carmelo an excessive amount of authority once had by LeBron James with the Cavaliers. We all know how that turned out.
He also hit on James Dolan’s continued efforts to overspend on the wrong players and chase the big names. That’s harsh after a 54 win season, but the truth hurts. What was expected to be at least a three-year window for the Knicks to compete for a title seems to be in the scrapping process.
The Knicks host the Rockets at MSG Wednesday night. A win could bring the team one game closer to .500, or continue them on their downward spiral.
Onto more news around the NBA
I seldom drop responses, however i did a few searching and wound up here SH Blog: The latest news and rumors.
And I actually do have 2 questions for you if it’s allright.
Could it be only me or does it give the impression
like a few of the remarks come across like written by brain
dead people? 😛 And, if you are writing on other social
sites, I’d like to follow everything new you have to post.
Could you make a list of the complete urls of your public sites like your Facebook page, twitter feed, or
linkedin profile?