Tag Archives: Dwight Howard

NBA Basketball

The Cleveland Cavaliers Will Win The 2016 – 17 NBA Championship

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By: Opinionated MJ



I have one question… Who’s stopping the Cleveland Cavaliers? I mean honestly? Who in the Eastern Conference can actually contend for a championship? The team that gave them their toughest on-court opposition isn’t in the picture. That would be my very own hometown Detroit Pistons. They’re still trying to match last year’s mentality. It’s getting late. The Chicago Bulls, the team that I considered one stretch four away from contention, isn’t in the picture. Dwayne Wade and LeBron still may NEVER meet in the playoffs in their ENTIRE career. Let that sink in… Carmelo Anthony isn’t doing enough with the New York Knicks to get them over the top and into playoff seeding. He’s only played LeBron one time as well.

At the top of the eastern mountains are the Cavs, Raptors, Celtics, and Hawks. I personally feel like you need a defensive big man to contend with any LeBron team. Dwight Howard is back out East and he has one big win against the old LeBron led Cavs from the past. He went to the big show that year as well. If any team has a chance, it’s Atlanta… But wait… They gave away Kyle Korver. Someone who actually helps the Hawks create space for Dwight to operate. Oh well.

There’s also the Celtics and Raptors. I’ll bundle them up together cause they’ve done the same thing the last 2 years: crumble when LeBron takes the floor against them. I’ve seen LeBron come in and literally CRUISE through those series without having to break a sweat. The Celtics seem to sadly, fold. The Hawks seem to implode and forget their style of play and their routine. Its very frustrating to watch. It’s like there’s no competition out east. Well, it’s not.

I think there are a number of west teams that could at least give the Cavs a good 2-3 games in a playoff series. Of course the top 3 can. I also think the Grizzlies, Jazz, Rockets and Thunder would have a decent chance, better than any east team. The west has forever been a Fight Club fight on the way to the finals. Injuries and grind show in the Western Conference playoffs. Just ask the Clippers, Warriors, and Spurs.

I picked Cleveland as the favorites for this season anyway. Now they’ve added a top shooter with this lineup and still don’t even have JR Smith back yet. This will be the year Kyrie shows his self-worth that has been overlooked since LeBron decided to go back home.
The Warriors are good but very vulnerable. They have patented their routine and they don’t know who’s going to shoot the last shot. I say Steph Curry every time.

Cavs vs Anybody in the finals. 4-1. LeBron coasts, Kyrie wins finals MVP finally, another ring for “The Land”. Comparison to Jordan ensues. Blasphemous commentary on this subject continues as LeBron gets closer to 6. He’s great, maybe he’ll wind up being second best. Maybe he’ll wind up winning the next 5 thanks to this garbage Eastern Conference. Man up Eastern Conference! Continue to slaughter them, Bron.

NBA Basketball

​Real Quick: Russell Westbrook for MVP

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By: Opinionated MJ



Why not? The man has been on a tear lately and does not look to let up anytime soon. Of course everyone forgot he was trying to get a triple double record last season. I expected 2006-07 Kobe from him but he’s doing even better than that with overall game. He’s getting his teammates involved. He’s also kept his team in the top 5 of the west and is flirting with being a top 3 seed, if he and the Thunder continue to win games.

Let’s give him some acknowledgement for surpassing, tying, and constantly trading triple double leads with LeBron James. Let’s understand that the west is a bit weaker than last year and the year before due to the strengthening of strong teams like the Spurs and Warriors. The Mavericks also picked up a couple Warriors along the way. Only real exit that didn’t really impact the conference was Dwight Howard going back east. So let’s give him proper credit for elevating his team. I’m certain he’s on track to have the highest usage rate. All while still keeping a winning record.

The only thing I see wrong is his volume of shots but I’m sure they’re required, sort of how Kobe did with the Lakers, in order to make the offense work. Why wouldn’t the offense run through him? He’s got the teammates around him to help him at least get to the second round of the playoffs and should they hit a hot streak they very well could be a dark horse candidate to flirt with the conference finals. I wouldn’t bet against it. He’s staying ahead of Lillard’s Blazers and he’s jousting with the Harden’s Rockets at the current time. Should the Clippers face another losing streak, things could get interesting at the 3 & 4 seed.

I want to close by saying that we should consider Russell Westbrook a great player. I know he hasn’t done anything alone but he has the opportunity to do so now. He’s matured and he has the tools to carry this team. They should improve next off-season with the cap set to rise again. As it currently stands though, don’t be surprised if he wins MVP and maybe even lands the scoring and assists titles on the year and maybe the next couple.

He’s my early pick for MVP.

NBA Basketball

Far Fetched? LeBron, Melo, Kyrie, Dwight in Cavs Uniforms Next Season

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By: Opinionated MJ (Michael Tolliver)

Oh he’s so stupid! This would never happen! Wait, this could become a reality. I know Stephen A. Smith and others have actual sources and agents and personal relationships, true. I’m just a lifelong NBA fan with a passion for the game. I love this game! I’ve been watching these players, these storylines, and I’ve come to this imaginative idea! The prerequisite though is Cleveland not making it to the NBA Finals. I don’t think they actually will. So why not Extend some careers and give a champion LeBron James some players with hunger and individuality enough to be able to flourish with him at the head of the group? Yes! LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kyrie Irving, and Dwight Howard all teaming up to chase after an NBA Championship, IN THE LAND!

It can’t be too far out of reach with the cap growing, with Kevin Love’s huge contract and with Tristan Thompson’s huge contract. It’s setup to actually happen. We all know the story that’s developing with Carmelo Anthony. Rumors are swirling that he might actually waive his trade clause and move on from NY. Kevin Love could be the piece to go back to NY in this deal and Love’s contract would actually help this become much more of a reality. I believe Cleveland may also want to move Shumpert, maybe not back to NY but maybe in a separate deal to free up more cap space. This move would make it where LeBron doesn’t have to worry about taking big shots from outside so much or at least free him up in those areas with a true floor stretcher being there in Carmelo Anthony. I trust Carmelo more to score in a LeBron system than I do Kevin Love. Kevin Love needs to be at least a second option to be effective. I make this deal quickly!

Dwight Howard could come to the Cavs straight from free agency or with a sign and trade deal that sends Tristan Thompson to the Rockets. I’d honestly try to keep Tristan if I were to acquire Dwight though. That could be a really formidable defensive and rebounding duo if they mesh well together. I’d also make sure that Timofey Mozgov is my backup. The depth they could instantly possess would be nicer than it is now depending on how the rest of the team takes shape. I’m sure either JR Smith or Shumpert would be sacrificed in one of the deals. Looking for roster stability, I may get rid of JR Smith but that may hamper their shooting ability a bit. They should look to acquire a defender at the shooting guard position that can also stretch the floor and occasionally create his own shot.

This NBA offseason is sure to be a crazy one, especially if the Warriors repeat. I don’t think the NBA is ready to wrap their heads around that reality and we will see some major moves made in order for someone to be able to honestly compete against the Warriors. Someone has to have the will and potential to be blessed with a chance to actually win. What makes things worse is the potential for the Warriors to land Kevin Durant in free agency. I would keep the team the way it is right now, though, and add another role player or 2 and continue forward. This team needs to maintain its pecking order to continue to be successful.

Golden State has a team that can compete at a high level, as constructed, for another 2-4 years without making any major changes. I’ve seen Steph Curry cross LeBron, KD, Westbrook, Chris Paul, and others. This leads me to believe that he is currently unguardable. I also believe that Golden State is not playing their best ball currently. Yes, the 59-6 Warriors are NOT playing their best ball. They haven’t fully stepped into their individual potential as a TEAM. Barnes hasn’t fully shown his current potential, Iggy hasn’t either, nor has Bogut. This team is designed to mix and match with any team in the league on any given night and at any given time. Whoever can defeat this team is blessed. So unseating them may take something like this to happen. Surround LeBron, Melo and company with shooters and defenders and watch them make some magic happen.

Lineup 1-5:

 

  1. Kyrie (Scorer, although he needs to pass more and improve on defense)
  2. JR/Shumpert/Anonymous (honestly doesn’t matter as long as they can produce)
  3. LeBron (back to his “natural” position and best position to facilitate and attack from)
  4. Melo (stretch 4)
  5. Dwight (Rim protector)

 

That could be a nightmare for anyone especially if LeBron still distributes the ball to everyone in a half Rondo-like fashion. This means he will basically have different guns to play with at all times and be able to explode himself. You can’t double team any one man without the other having an advantage, period! I also think bringing in two players who are truly hungry to win a championship would make them buy in immediately and turn the Cavs into a clear favorite not only in the east but in the entire league. The only problem that would remain is guarding the Splash Brothers. LeBron, I’d make this one happen for The Land if you want to bring a championship to Ohio. This might be the only way. The only thing better is to land Kevin Durant in place of Melo. What are the chances of that happening? Then maybe Westbrook for Kyrie the next season? Let’s stick with this story first. Kevin Garnett said it best, “ANTHING IS POSSIBLE!” Your move LeBron!

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