NBA On The Same Road As The NFL, Just A Different Direction

As the NFL finally takes the final junction off the lockout freeway, it appears that the traffic the NBA is enduring is not letting up anytime soon.

Since the start of July 1st 2011, the NBA has shut down its operation and players cannot have any contact with ownership or coaches. The talks to revive hopes of creating a new collective bargaining agreement have since dissipated into silence as both sides have no interest in resolving their issues in the near future.

On the other side of the spectrum, an agreement was finally reached after over 130 days went by since the NFL locked out its players. Realizing that the 2011 season could be lost if they didn’t work out their differences, both the player’s union and owners decided to bury the hatchet on squabbles and bring the public what they want: playing actual football this season.

Although the NFL was able to work out their differences during the longest lockout in the league’s history, a vision of compromise by both sides to end the lockout for professional basketball in America is much hazier at the moment.

The reasoning behind this issue is more understandable when looking from the perspective of the NBA players; they have multiple outlets to which they can produce an income and play basketball.

When it comes to visibility and popularity in sports on a global level, the guys that run on hardwood courts in shorts are bigger phenomenons than their helmet wearing, pigskin-playing athletic cohorts.

Football, arguably, is the most popular sport in America, but it is practically an unknown in discussions outside of U.S. soil. Americans undoubtedly know who Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Larry Fitzgerald, and Adrian Peterson are; but putting a name to a face would be like playing a game of “Guess Who” for anyone outside of the country.

The NBA, on the other hand, have standouts that are rock stars in other continents around the world. That is evident with the recent tournament held out in the Philippines, with the notable attractions being Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, and Chris Paul. The event was a huge success, with the players bringing out huge crowds in a country they rarely, if ever, play in.

While the NFL has gone overseas (London) and south of the border (Mexico) to play various games during their regular season, the idea of seeing Manning and Peterson heading anywhere outside of the U.S. to play a tournament or a setup game is pointless because the appeal of their sport doesn’t cross over like the NBA’s does. Not only do mass quantities of players head from their native countries to play pro basketball in America, but Americans go to those same countries and play before foreign fans as well.

With this option in their back pocket, NBA players have alternatives that will allow them escape plans if the lockout continues to extend into the coming months. If the fans of the league want to watch their favorite players they are so fond of, they will most likely have to acquire international cable outlets to get a gander.

Deron Williams is already heading out to Turkey to play since the league appears nowhere near coming to a conclusion on their problems. Bryant appears to be pondering the notion of joining the Nets’ point guard and may ultimately sign on in the near future. Carmelo Anthony and Paul are also considering playing in China as their options during the lockout.

Others might even swap sports as a means of dealing with the break they get during this trying time.

Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love will be losing his basketball shoes and running barefoot atop millions of grains of sand. The former UCLA star will be heading to Manhattan for a pro volleyball tournament event in August, which may possibly lead to future events in the sport.

Now that the NFL lockout is over, another star from pro basketball is thinking about trying to see if he can get back into an activity he hasn’t gone through since college. Nate Robinson may be one of the smallest players in the league, but with a five-foot, nine-inch stature and a previous history as a two-sport stud (he played both football and basketball during his time at the University of Washington), the NFL could be his new calling if the shut down of the NBA lingers.

Given what is transpiring for the players in the NBA, they appear to be in a stronger position of shrugging off the ill-effects of not playing in their professional leagues more so than their football cohorts. The NFL and their players may have taken a lengthy period to reach an agreement, but the players understood that no other decent alternatives were available to combat the issue of trying to earn an income in another competitive football league.

All of these issues lead up to one conclusion for where the NBA lockout will be heading in the near future: stuck in neutral with no road leading to an exit.

Derrick Rose Posterizes Joel Anthony - 2011 Eastern Conference Finals Game 4

The Chicago Bulls are now only one game away from being eliminated by the Miami Heat as they fell last night by the score of 101-93.

However for Bulls fans, Derrick Rose had an impressive highlight as Miami Joel Anthony was the victim on a Rose poster dunk:



(Courtesy of The Basketball Jones)

Derrick Rose Follows Own Miss With Tip Dunk

Although the Atlanta Hawks have tied their series with the Chicago Bulls, the story of this series is still the astounding play of Bulls guard Derrick Rose.

In the second quarter, Rose missed a floater which was able to reclaim with an impressive tip slam dunk:

2010-11 NBA MVP Has Been Kissed By A Rose

When looking back on this season in professional basketball, the exemplary play of one special individual stands out from all his other cohorts. The theme that best defines what he has done this year can be best explained through a lyric from the R&B artist Seal.

“Now that your rose is in bloom, a light hits the gloom on the gray.”

While LeBron James and Dwight Howard are bright illuminations this season, the rose that is blooming over those two is none other than the Chicago Bulls’ own Derrick Rose. The former Memphis Tigers star is well on his way to winning his first MVP at the young age of 22.

With his team in cruise control on their way to the top seed in the Eastern Conference, Rose is the driving force at getting them there. The trip upwards has been no easy drive for the point guard and his team. Other opponents were regarded as the favorites at the start of the 2010-11 season.

The defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics have one of the deepest lineups in the league and a roster filled with former (and current) All-Stars and MVP winners. There’s the Miami Heat, who were delegated as the team of the future and favorites in the East this year after the off season. The Orlando Magic have a plethora of shooters surrounding the most dominant big man in the game, who causes havoc in the paint on both ends of the court.

Despite all that stood before them, it is the Bulls that are now the toast of the league and Rose deserves to reap the benefits of their 2010-11 success with the highest personal honor in the NBA: the Most Valuable Player award.

What the young point guard has done this season can be classified as incredible, even possibly unheard of given what he has to work with. Although the Bulls were able to nab one of the top free agents during the off season in Carlos Boozer (who, by the way, is having his worst output statistically since 2005-06), this team didn’t have a huge makeover with their player personnel. Aside from a few minor changes with their role players, this is essentially the same team that was the final seed of the Eastern conference with a 41-41 record a year ago.

Now, they are twenty wins better this season and will go into the playoffs with the best record in the East. Those improvements can be attributed to Rose, who has increased his performance and abilities immensely.

Even though the third year player entered the league as a cornerstone that any general manager can build his team around, his skills were still limited and constricted depending upon his point of attack on the court. A ball of fire that can get to any spot on the court with his deceptive quickness and impressive body control, the book on Rose was to keep him on the perimeter because of his inability to hit from three-point range.

In just this season alone, he has made four times as many treys as he has scored in the first two years combined. Such a vast improvement has allowed his game to expand because defenders must now take his range seriously, which creates more space for him to attack the rim.

Although his shooting from behind the arc is the biggest eye-opener this year, it isn’t the only reason why he is such a better player this season. Aside from field goal percentage, Rose’s statistics are up in every major category (assists, steals, blocks, points, free throw percentage). These increases illustrate his willingness to become a better player and leader for his team, which is evident given what he and his team have achieved in 2010-11.

Those achievements should pay off with the point guard hoisting the MVP award, which would be even more amazing due to the history of past winners at his position. Bob Cousy, Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson, and Steve Nash are the only point guards to ever win this award. With basketball being a pre-dominantly big man sport, it’s mind-boggling to see a player with such a small stature take control of the NBA as Rose has this year.

In the end, seeing anyone other than Rose win the MVP would be a slap in the face to him. The idea that someone else can contend with him for the award is laughable and every ballot will most likely have first place next to his name.

Rose has been blossoming all year long, but he’ll be in full bloom when the lights of the United Center shine down on him and he’s hoisting the MVP trophy in front of his fans.

Derrick Rose Goes Between The Legs For The Assist

During last night's Bulls/Wizards affair, Derrick Rose dished off a rather impressive dime to Joakim Noah on a fast break.

I guess we need to check to see if Rose has eyes in the back of his head:

Derrick Rose Nasty One-Handed Alley Oop Slam Dunk

During last night's game between the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons, Derrick Rose threw down a nasty dunk off of an alley-oop pass from teammate Corey Brewer:

Derrick Rose Two Handed Stuff on Danilo Gallinari

Allegedly, Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose cannot palm a basketball but I find that hard to believe when he throws down highlight reel plays like this.

Watch this rather impressive two-handed stuff he threw down on the Knicks Danilo Galinari: