What Each NBA Team Is Thankful For
In possibly the most cliche column alive, here is what each team should be thanking their lucky stars for.
Atlanta Hawks
No outside noise. From Danny Ferry and the whole Luol Deng racist fiasco to previous owner Bruce Leveson's weird step-down to the search for a new decision-maker and owner, the Hawks, other than the beauty on the court, were in complete disarray. This year though, they have a sturdy ownership that includes Grant Hill and they have promoted Wes Wilcox to general manager, although coach Mike Butenholzer definitely has a say in personnel. The Hawks have been humming along on offense as usual and are right on course for another impressive regular season followed by a lackluster and super-star lacking postseason.
Boston Celtics
Billy King. Boston's general manager Danny Ainge may or may not have a shrine built for King in his office. To backtrack, King, the general manager of the Brooklyn Nets, has gifted Ainge and the Celtics a first round draft pick for the next three years. With the Nets currently off to a blazing hot 3-12 start, the Celtics are in position to have a top three pick in June even though their team might be in the playoffs at that time. I'd be thanking King too.
Brooklyn Nets:
Brook Lopez. Jeez, there isn't much to be thankful for since they are currently a terrible team and have no way to get better because they are bereft of all their future draft picks thanks to the one and only King. Their bright spot is 27-year-old center Brook Lopez, who is on a cheap contract with the cap about to go way up and is a beast on offense and a semi-beast on defense. They can still conceivably build a contender with him as a top two player on the team, but that is all.
Charlotte Hornets:
Steve Clifford. Amid the futility of Michael Jordan as an NBA owner, draft busts sprinkled all over the place along with incompetent general managers and coaches, its nice to see that this moribund franchise has finally found a solid coach. Steve Clifford was recently signed to a three year contract extension and he deserved it, since he has been churning out a respectable product over the past couple years even though the pieces he has had to work with have been meager.
Chicago Bulls:
Derrick Rose. Over the past couple of years, both Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls have been through hell. It was all so promising in 2011, when the Bulls had an MVP in Rose paired with a brilliant defensive mind in Tom Thibodeau. Since that fatal playoff game against Philadelphia, Rose tore three different ligaments in his knees and Thibodeau and management parted ways. Rose is finally back now, carrying a team without Jimmy Butler for a bit. He is not 2011 Rose, but he is around 85% of that. His shooting percentage is a robust 46.5% over the past month. His points are up, as are his assists. He is finally starting to salvage a once-brighter than-bright career. His explosiveness will never reach that of his MVP season, but it will rival it. Still only 27, Rose is leading a Bull's team that is once again decimated by injuries this year. Go
od for him and good for the Bulls.
Cleveland Cavaliers:
LeBron James. This one was just too easy for me. Without James, this team is looking at another trip to the lottery. He is the centerpiece of what they do on offense and defense. But his impact stretches beyond the court, and into the community. Akron, Ohio is not exactly the greatest city in the world. It is a poor city polluted by gangs and lack of funding for worthwhile programs. James not only has stepped in and made the Cavs a championship contender, he has given so much money to organizations in need. Him coming back to this city is a win-win for everyone. The Cavs, but mainly the city of Akron, should be thankful for LeBron James.
Charlotte Hornets:
Steve Clifford. Amid the futility of Michael Jordan as an NBA owner, draft busts sprinkled all over the place along with incompetent general managers and coaches, its nice to see that this moribund franchise has finally found a solid coach. Steve Clifford was recently signed to a three year contract extension and he deserved it, since he has been churning out a respectable product over the past couple years even though the pieces he has had to work with have been meager.
Chicago Bulls:
Derrick Rose. Over the past couple of years, both Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls have been through hell. It was all so promising in 2011, when the Bulls had an MVP in Rose paired with a brilliant defensive mind in Tom Thibodeau. Since that fatal playoff game against Philadelphia, Rose tore three different ligaments in his knees and Thibodeau and management parted ways. Rose is finally back now, carrying a team without Jimmy Butler for a bit. He is not 2011 Rose, but he is around 85% of that. His shooting percentage is a robust 46.5% over the past month. His points are up, as are his assists. He is finally starting to salvage a once-brighter than-bright career. His explosiveness will never reach that of his MVP season, but it will rival it. Still only 27, Rose is leading a Bull's team that is once again decimated by injuries this year. Go
od for him and good for the Bulls.
Cleveland Cavaliers:
LeBron James. This one was just too easy for me. Without James, this team is looking at another trip to the lottery. He is the centerpiece of what they do on offense and defense. But his impact stretches beyond the court, and into the community. Akron, Ohio is not exactly the greatest city in the world. It is a poor city polluted by gangs and lack of funding for worthwhile programs. James not only has stepped in and made the Cavs a championship contender, he has given so much money to organizations in need. Him coming back to this city is a win-win for everyone. The Cavs, but mainly the city of Akron, should be thankful for LeBron James.
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