On 2014’s Top Teams, Kobe x MJ, Tab Baldwin, and a lot of NBA Basketball!

These past few weeks, I’ve been privileged enough to guest a few times on ABS-CBN Sports + Action’s The Score (hosted by TJ Manotoc) to talk (mostly) about some of the latest and biggest developments in basketball.

Here are a some of these guestings (from most recent to most dated):

The NBA: 2013 Top Free Agents

Dwight Howard is the "biggest fish in the pond" during the summer of 2013.
Will he stay with the Lakers or explore other options?
(Photo from: Getty Images)

The start of Free Agency is upon us. Teams with a lot of salary cap space are posturing to sign the best available free agents (unrestricted and restricted). Nothing will be official until papers are signed after July 10 but there are already multiple stories of teams wooing and dining top players. The biggest (and probably best) player on the market is Dwight Howard. He is undoubtedly the prized unrestricted free agent after Chris Paul tweeted his decision on staying with the Los Angeles Clippers. Here is a short list of the top available free agents.

1. Dwight Howard
D12 had a subpar season with the Lakers as he struggled playing with Kobe while recovering from major back surgery. Howard averaged just 17.1 points and 12.3 rebounds which were his lowest numbers in the past 7 years. Offensively, he was not as dominant like before his injury occurred while his low post skills have not improved. He made only 49% of his FTs which was the 2nd lowest of his career but his FG% still placed him #2 in the NBA while his rebounds per game still led the league. Defensively, Dwight was a tad slow on rotations and help defense. Maybe another summer recovering and resting could help him perform at an elite level for next season. Howard is just 27 so he can still improve and his best years are ahead of him. If healthy, only LeBron James is a better two-way player than Howard.

2. Josh Smith
JSmoove had a solid year for the Hawks last season although his numbers dipped a little in points, rebounds and FT shooting. Smith finished with 29 double-doubles which placed him in the top 20. When focused and motivated, Smith can be a very good two-way player. Josh Smith can impact the game on both sides of the floor with his shot blocking and powerful dunks. He can also hit the occasional perimeter shot but he is far from being an efficient and reliable shot maker. He is an awful three-point shooter so he must eliminate that shot from his arsenal.

3. Al Jefferson
Big Al is among a dying breed in today's NBA. Jefferson is a traditional center who is considered one of the best low post players left in the league. He plays below the rim but has wonderful timing and great positioning when it comes to finishing in the paint and grabbing rebounds. He is a threat to record double-doubles each time he plays. Big Al has finished with at least 30 double-doubles in the past 7 seasons and he achieved 37 this year to finish at #9 while he led the Utah Jazz in points and rebounds. Jefferson also developed a set shot from about 10-12 feet to keep defenders from sagging off him.
 
4. Andre Iguodala
Despite being considered an elite perimeter defender, Andre Iguodala has only made the NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team once in 2011. That does not diminish his reputation as a versatile defender who can guard at least 3 positions effectively (PG, SG & SF). Iggy consistently averages more than 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals while playing exceptional defense against the best perimeter player on the other team. Iguodala has increased his shooting range to beyond the arc and his midrange jumper is reliable. Iggy also has the ability to attack the hoop and finish with a monster dunk.

5. Monta Ellis
Ellis made the mistake of saying that he is similar to Dwyane Wade, just without the rings. That aint true but you can admire his confidence. Monta is a streaky shooter with unlimited range and he can make acrobatic shots near the rim. He is generally an inefficient player who needs the ball in his hands to make a positive impact. Ellis is a below average defender whose slim body and small size prevent him from guarding bigger guards like Wade, Kobe and Harden. Ellis has good hands and great at anticipating passing lanes which landed him in the top 5 in steals.

Bonus: Sleeper Agents  

1. Andrew Bynum
Bynum would be considered among the top free agents only IF he played last season. Bynum missed a whole year with knee problems on both knees and his return for next season is still uncertain. His health has been a major problem in the past while his work ethic and attitude are not among his best traits. During his last healthy year with the Lakers, he averaged 19 and 12. Bynum was a better offensive player than Dwight but Howard had the advantage on the defensive side.

2. David West
West is a very good low post player who can also hit a perimeter shot consistently. One of his post moves includes a slithery fade away jumper that is almost automatic. Although, he is not the same player he was back in New Orleans 5 years ago, West can still record a double-double every now and then.

3. JR Smith
Smith won the Sixth Man of the Year award last season but he can start for every team. He is the epitome of a streaky shooter and a gunslinger. He never met a shot he did not like. When engaged, JR can play superb defense and can rebound like a big man. Sometimes, he spends more time on the bench due to his heat checks and cocky attitude.

4. Jarrett Jack
Jack was essential in the Warriors' playoff success last season. His role allowed the Dubs to run small ball sets with Curry and Thompson. Jack can start for most teams and it's a bonus that he can play both guard spots. His veteran leadership and decision-making skills are topnotch plus Jack can make clutch shots. His addition to a team can be the difference between making the playoffs or advancing another round.

5. Tony Allen  
Allen is arguably the best perimeter defender in the NBA. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive 1st Team twice and once on the 2nd Team. He is quick enough to guard most PGs while also being strong enough to guard bigger SGs and some SFs. He is still a liability on offense but he has gradually improved his shooting over the past couple of years.

The NBA: 2013 Playoffs: Day 7 - Wild Finish in SF

Ty Lawson had a big game with 35 points and 10 assists in Game 3.
But that was not enough for the Nuggets to win as they lost by 2
(Image from: Associated Press)

#BestSeries #WildFinish
The most entertaining and most exciting series did not disappoint for the 3rd straight game. The Nuggets and Warriors went down to the wire with crazy turnovers and impressive shots from everyone on the floor. The game went back and forth and it featured a wild finish. It started with a 5-second in-bounds call against the Warriors. Then Lawson slipped and lost the ball with the Nuggets down by 1. Barnes made 1 of 2 free throws which gave the Nuggets one last chance. Iguodala raced to the half court line and heaved a mid-court shot that almost went in. An overtime period (or 2 or 3) would have been perfect! Ty Lawson had a game-high 35 points but his turnover (could have been a foul on the Dubs) in the dying seconds cost the Nuggets a shot for the win. Meanwhile, Steph Curry continued his hot shooting with 29 and 11 assists. Curry was joined by Harrison Barnes and Jarrett Jack who had big games as well.

#NoMatch #Looking4Sweep
The Spurs walloped the depleted Lakers by 31 points at the Staples Center. The Lakers did not play Nash, Blake and Meeks and that left them with inexperienced players. Their starting back court consisted of Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock. WHO? Actually, Morris and Goudelock had decent scoring games as they combined for 44 points but both of them were -28. The Lakers also literally got nothing from MWP who had ZERO points while their bench produced just 9 points. The Spurs had more firepower and it was simply an impossible game for the Lakers to win especially with Tony Parker and Tim Duncan playing at a high level. The Spurs shot 61% from the field and grabbed 49 rebounds.

#BostonStrong #SwingingElbow
The emotional high and extra motivation from Boston fans could not lift the Celtics past the Knicks. The Celtics struggled early and were down by 16 points at half time. Boston did not really threaten the Knicks in Game 3 and now New York can sweep on Sunday. The Celtics have averaged 75 points in 3 games and they are now 1-6 vs the Knicks including the regular season. The major story in this game was JR Smith's swinging elbow striking Jason Terry's head. Smith was given a flagrant foul 2 and was ejected. IF the NBA decides to suspend Smith for one game, then the Celtics have a chance to avoid the sweep and steal Game 4.

#InjuriesSuck #TornMeniscus
It sucks that Russell Westbrook could potentially miss the rest of the playoffs due to a meniscus injury. There is no timetable for his return and the most probable recovery time is from 4-6 weeks, maybe even longer. Metta World Peace came back from a similar injury after 12 days but his play has suffered and his mobilty has not been the same. The Thunder could lose their series against the Rockets if they are unable to compensate for Westbrook's absence. Kevin Durant, Kevin Martin and Reggie Jackson all need to play more minutes and play better to overcome this setback.

#Stats #News

• Jarrett Jack had 23 points, 7 assists and 7 turnovers including the 5-second count
• Kenneth Faried started and played 30 minutes: 15 points and 7 rebounds
• Andrew Goudeluck was the MVP of the D-League
• Dwight had 25 and 11 and Gasol a triple-double but Lakers lost by 31
• Spurs were +14 on the glass and +11 in assists
• Celtics had 4 fast break points and 17 turnovers
• Carmelo failed to score over 30 for the 2nd time in his last 11 games

#Player of the Night
Steph Curry (Warriors) - 29 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 9-9 FTs

#Highlights of the Night
Iggy with the reverse OOP
JR Smith and his elbow

#Tweet of the Night

Holly MacKenzie ‏@stackmack

seems unfair for one of these teams to lose when we've had some ugly ass basketball in the east in the last 24 hours.

#GameRecaps


Final Score: New York 90, Boston 76
Boston, MA (Sports Network) - The New York Knicks used another dominant half to guide them to victory. This time it was during the opening 24 minutes. Carmelo Anthony netted 26 points and the Knicks took a commanding 3-0 series lead following a 90-76 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of this Eastern Conference first-round series. Raymond Felton added 15 points and 10 assists for New York, which is a win away from advancing past the first round since sweeping the Toronto Raptors during the 1999-2000 season. The Celtics played their first home game since the Boston Marathon bombings 11 days ago, but the raucous Beantown faithful were quickly taken out of the contest. Boston committed to double-teaming Anthony in the first half and the Knicks made the Celts pay from beyond the arc, where they went 7- of-14 from 3-point range. Pablo Prigioni nailed three of those triples. Boston, meanwhile, shot just 35 percent. New York took a 16-point advantage into the break and was never seriously threatened in the second half. The Knicks had excelled during the second half of games during the first two tilts of this set. In Game 1, New York held Boston to just eight points in the fourth, and 25 overall in the final 24 minutes. Boston shot just 25.9 percent in the second half and made just three baskets -- 27.3 percent (3- of-11) -- in the final frame. The Knicks used their stifling defense in the second half of Game 2 as well. Boston recorded just 23 points and shot just 19.4 percent over the last two stanzas. J.R. Smith was tossed out of the contest following a flagrant foul two with 7:06 remaining for throwing an elbow into Jason Terry's face. The league office will look at the replay to determine whether to discipline Smith further. Jeff Green tallied 21 points for the Celtics, who went 27-13 at TD Garden during the regular season. New York will go for the series sweep Sunday in Boston.

Final Score: Golden State 110, Denver 108
Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - It was a lightning fast-paced battle and Stephen Curry's ankle held up just fine. Curry tallied 29 points and 11 assists in the Golden State Warriors' 110-108 triumph over the Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of this Western Conference first- round series. It was a hectic final few moments as Wilson Chandler nailed a left corner three to pull Denver within 109-108 with 16.5 seconds remaining. The Warriors called timeout with 9.4 ticks left, but were called for a five-second violation on the ensuing inbounds. Ty Lawson, who finished with a playoff career-high 35 points, turned the ball over on Denver's next possession with 5.3 seconds to go. Harrison Barnes split a pair of foul shots with 3.7 seconds on the clock and Andre Iguodala's heave from the right side of the midcourt line clanked off the front of the rim as Golden State escaped with the victory to take a 2-1 series lead. Curry rolled his left ankle late in the third quarter of his team's 131-117 Game 2 win, but returned for the start of the fourth and ended with 30 points and 13 assists. Although he gave the ball away seven times, Jarrett Jack added 23 points and seven assists in the triumph. Lawson also dished out 10 assists, while Corey Brewer deposited 16 points off the bench for the Nuggets.

Final Score: San Antonio 120, LA Lakers 89
Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - With four guards sidelined, the Los Angeles Lakers looked to Andrew Goudelock and Darius Morris for a boost against the San Antonio Spurs. What they got was the worst home playoff loss in Lakers history. Now, they're are on the verge of being swept in the first round of a playoff series for the first time. Tim Duncan registered 26 points and nine rebounds and Tony Parker scored 20 in San Antonio's 120-89 rout of the Lakers in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series. The Spurs, who shot 61.2 percent from the field, also got 13 points from DeJuan Blair, 12 from Kawhi Leonard and 11 from Danny Green. Pau Gasol had a triple-double of 11 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for the Lakers, who also received 25 points and 11 boards from Dwight Howard. Morris scored 24 and Goudelock 20. Metta World Peace was held scoreless in 17 minutes. Steve Nash sat out for Los Angeles with a strained right hamstring and Jodie Meeks missed a second game with a sprained left ankle. Steve Blake (strained right hamstring) and Kobe Bryant (torn left Achilles tendon) were already ruled out. San Antonio took command early by hitting 61 percent of its shots in the first quarter, led by eight points from Duncan. Conversely, the Lakers went 8-of-23.

The NBA: April 2013 Position Battle – The Top 5 Shooting Guards Right Now

The #1 guy on this list will no longer see action this season, while #s 2, 3, and 4 will all ply their trade in the postseason. As for #5, well, let’s just say he’ll hit you from your blindside.

Note: All of the following stats are based on the last five games of each player’s team as computed by HoopsStats.com. They were taken on April 16, 2013 (Manila time).

5. Will Barton (POR) - 15.0ppg, 7.2rpg, 3.4apg, 1.4spg, .900 FT%, 18.6 EFF

Who? Yes. Will Barton. Still don’t know? He was a former Memphis Tiger drafted mid-second round by the Blazers in 2012. He hasn’t started an NBA game till last April 10 against Kobe and the Lakers. He has also scored at least 17 points in 3 of his last 4 games.

Ladies and gents, please welcome Mr. Will Barton.
(image by David Zalubowski/AP)

4. James Harden (HOU) - 24.4ppg, 5.0rpg, 5.6apg, 1.8spg, 1.0bpg, 19.0 EFF

The Rockets have gone up-and-down in their last five, and their drive for the 6^th seed has taken a significant hit because of it. Their last game is against a Kobe-less Laker quintet that, if they can win, might just push them ahead of the Warriors. Of course, I’m expecting Harden to hog all the spotlight.

The NBA: March 2013 Position Battle – The Top 5 Shooting Guards Right Now

Everything tapers off after James Harden. He has become the new standard for shooting guards the world over. I mean, what can you expect, especially when guys like Kobe, Wade, and Joe Johnson aren’t on this list?

Note: All of the following stats are based on the last five games of each player’s team as computed by HoopsStats.com. They were taken on March 27, 2013 (Manila time).

5. Tyreke Evans (SAC) - 14.8ppg, 3.6rpg, 5.4apg, 1.4spg, .882 FT%, 16.8 EFF

He doesn’t do anything particularly well, but he’s been good enough to break into the top five. Either that, or the NBA’s off-guards just haven’t been setting high standards this past week or so.

Tyreke Evans is no superstar, but his numbers were
enough to land him in the top five.
(image by Rich Pedroncelli/AP)

  

4. Monta Ellis (MIL) - 21.4ppg, 4.6rpg, 4.8apg, 1.4spg, .565 3pt%, 18.0 EFF

The Bucks are just coasting, content with the eighth seed, but that doesn’t mean Ellis has been “just okay.” He’s turned it up of late, just don't mention anything about his 5-point, 2-of-14 night against ATL a week ago.

3. Gerald Henderson (CHA) - 19.4ppg, 4.4rpg, 3.8apg, 1.0spg, 1.2bpg, 19.6 EFF

Charlotte has actually won 2 of its last 5. For them, that’s already tantamount to barging into the Playoffs. Henderson’s recent best was an impressive 27-point and 8-assist outing against the streaking Wizards. I’m not sure if he’s a great player stuck on a bad team, or if he’s great only because he’s on a bad team.

The NBA Roundup: March 27, 2013

My my my. If there’s anything we can take away from the Mavericks’ OT win over the Clips, it’s the fact that the boys from Dallas are getting sick of their beards. They want to shave, but they may not till they reach .500. In other eclectic news, Nikola Pekovic netted his 23^rd double-double of the season, while JR Smith waxed hot to bury Boston.

Day’s Best:

•        Dirk is playing like the Dirk of early-to-mid 2011. He scored 33 points in the Mavs’ landmark win over the Clippers, including eight straight late to put the outcome beyond doubt. The big Q is this – has Dirk’s renaissance come a little too late?
•        Pekovic’s line against Detroit – 18 points, 11 rebounds, 70% FG shooting, and 4-of-5 from the line. #MarvelousMontenegrin
•        JR Smith was far from shabby tonight. 32 points on 54% FG shooting to go along with 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and, best of all, ZERO TURNOVERS? Let’s go Big Apple! 

Dirk Nowitzki seems to have come alive of late,
but it might not be nearly enough for
the Mavs to enter the postseason.
(image by Glenn James/Getty Images)

Day’s Worst:

•        Avery Bradley was awful. Can’t fault his effort, but we have to fault his shot selection and his inefficiency. 3-of-11 from the field, no steals, and no assists. #SoBad
•        Brandon Knight hasn’t been his best self ever since he got demolished by DeAndre. Heck, he hasn’t been his best self ever since he lost his ankles against Kyrie. Against the T-Wolves, Knight registered just 7 points on 3-of-10 shooting along with 4 turnovers.
•        Matt Barnes’s airball three in OT. You cannot possibly be that open and miss everything. I mean, you’re an NBA player, not a pick-up player in some baranggay covered court.