NBA's New Public Enemy # 1

On July 8, 2010 at approximately 9:30 p.m., LeBron James uttered the words "I'll be taking my talents to South Beach" on his ESPN special called "The Decision". Those eight words took LeBron from media darling, and fan favorite into NBA Public Enemy # 1. People treated him like they did Hulk Hogan when he leg dropped Macho Man, and joined the NWO . They burned his jersey in the street, cursed his name, and even the Cavs owner dropped an open letter to LeBron where he sounded like a jilted sophomore in high school who's boyfriend left her.This was all for a man who simply played out his contract, and decided to leave in free agency for another team. Granted, the TV special was over the top, but other than that, he did nothing wrong. My question is, if "The Decision" merited that, what does Dwight Howard's indecision earn him?

Dwight Howard has had the world at his fingertips since entering the NBA in 2004. He has been on multiple All-Star, All-NBA First, and All-NBA Defensive teams. He won the dunk contest in 2008, and NBA Defensive Player of the year in 2009-2011. He is widely regarded at the best center and one of the top 10 players in the world. While he still has improvements to his game to make, there isn't much disputing that fact. The problem now is his behavior off the court, and in the locker room. That has been beyond questionable.

During this last season, he has went back and forth about whether or not he wanted to stay in Orlando. He spent the first portion of the season letting it be known that didn't want to re-sign with the Magic, and would go join the (then)New Jersey Nets as a free agent. That wouldn't have been bad at all, except on the day of the trading deadline, he waived his right to opt out of his contract and signed to stay with Orlando for one more season. This move was baffling because of all the dust he kicked up about leaving earlier in the season. Still, Orlando's organization seemed to be willing to do whatever it took to keep him. Part of that was firing Stan Van Gundy.

Howard and Van Gundy always had a contentious relationship. It was more obvious than ever last season. Between rumors of Howard going to Magic mangagement with an ultimatium of Van Gundy or him. To the absolutely awkward interview where Van Gundy informed the media that he was told Howard wanted him gone, and Howard came over like everything was cool, it was a cluster of immaturity and weak power moves by both guys. Finally, the Magic in an effort to appease Dwight Howard fired both Van Gundy, and general manager Otis Smith. That should have been good enough to keep Dwight Howard happy right?


Well it was not, because not long after the Free Agency period started, Howard let the Magic know that he wanted to be traded to the now Brooklyn Nets. He accused the Magic of "blackmailing" him into opting into his contract for one more year. He has since denied that statement, but with his history of flip flopping statements, I tend to believe he made it. He wants out of Orlando, but teams are afraid to pull the trigger on a trade because he has made it known that he will only sign with the Brooklyn Nets. Personally, I say the teams who are hesitant, are better off for it. 


As great as Dwight Howard has been on the court, he is a huge headache off of it now. On top of that, he is coming off of a back surgery that may keep him out of action for a portion of the season. There is no telling what the injury will do to his athleticism, and how he plays the game. So, is he really worth the potiential headache that could come if things go wrong? I'm not sure of that at all. 


As I take my seat, Dwight Howard's behavior has been far worse that LeBron's. He has held an organization hostage with his childish behavior. Orlando pulled the trigger on moves that they shouldn't if they were going to lose Howard anyway. They have pacified, and babied him for far too long. He has proven to be a waffler, flip-flopper, and done it all while the season was going on. As bad as LeBron's show was for his look, it wasn't anything that took away from, or distracted his team in season. 


With LeBron winning a Championship, and the tide turning back to people beginning to like him again, it's time for Dwight Howard to take his seat on the throne as NBA Public Enemy #1. He can recover, but it will take a lot of work, and some serious winning for him to do so. For now though, he's Hulk Hogan leg dropping an entire organization, and keeping many teams and players in limbo. Good luck making things right big fella. We'll be watching. 


I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message. 

Game 1 Thoughts

Going into Game 1 of the NBA Finals, I predicted that the Oklahoma City Thunder would win in 6 games. That seemed to be the prevailing theme as I looked at Twitter and Facebook. Last night did nothing to sway me from that idea. In the spirit of not overreacting to one game, I'll keep my prediction the same, but won't be shocked if this one goes a little shorter. Here are a few of my thoughts from Game 1:

Cleveland South: Watching the Miami Heat play, I can't help but think LeBron has to be experiencing deja vu. Watching him play right now, is similar to watching him when he was in Cleveland. The guys around him will do pretty good, get some good looks in the first half. Come the fourth quarter, they are standing around waiting on him to do something, and it backfires. He definitely has a couple of great pieces around him, but with Chris Bosh being less than 100%, and Dwyane Wade playing like he knows he has a pass win or lose, LeBron seems to be a one man wolfpack. It is to the point that he'll have to score 45 for the Heat to be in the game. He honestly can't do much more, and I hope that after this series people are honest about that, and don't try to throw another Heat failure all on LeBron's back. 

Robert Horry Back: Is that Chris Bosh or Robert Horry coming off the bench for the Heat? It is a well-known fact that Bosh is a jump shooter. He has made a career of knocking down pick and pop shots from mid-range. However, after going 3-4 from the three point line against the Celtics in Game 7, he seems to think he's Big Shot Bob. The Heat are already devoid of consistent shooters for LeBron to kick it to when he drives, and kicking to Bosh in the mid-range was a great thing. With him venturing further and further out, he is making himself a non-factor. Spolestra needs to remind Chris Bosh, that he's Chris Bosh, and not Robert Horry, so he can get back to his sweet spots and knock down shots if the Heat want a chance in this series. 

Pass Me Not: Bottom line, Dwyane Wade has been less than spectacular during this Playoff run. In a previous blog, I gave him credit for the few big games he's had, but other than that, he's looked bad. I'm sure when the season is over we'll hear about a nagging injury that is slowing him down. However, his pass has to expire. The Heat last won a championship in 2006. Wade has been flying clear of criticism due to that. That has to stop. In order for the Heat to win, they need monster games from LeBron and Wade. Wade isn't holding up his end. Here's hoping that fans and media members begin to be honest in our assessment of Wade's play. 

Too Many Weapons: Any objective basketball fan knows that the Oklahoma City Thunder are the more complete team of the two in the Finals. They have a starting five with guys that can all contribute in some way. There isn't much of a drop off when they go to their bench either. People are asking what the Heat can do to combat that during the rest of this series. There isn't much they can do, unless David Stern gives them a special pardon to change the roster around the Big 3.

He's only 23?: When the commentators mentioned Kevin Durant's age during the game, my lady looked up from her homework and asked that question. When I told her yeah, she shook her head, said "that's not fair", and went back to her homework. This is coming from a casual fan that has seen Durant play a few times. I can only imagine what the NBA coaches, players, and front offices are saying. Barring any significant injuries, I believe Durant can lead the league in scoring for the next 5-7 years easily. His offensive game is beyond superlatives, and he isn't close to his prime yet. It is a joy to watch him play, and I hope that he is spared any major injury so we can enjoy his game for years to come.

Be Careful Russ: Russell Westbrook is one of the better point guards in the NBA. He had a great stat line last night with 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 11 assists. However, there were moments where he reverted to I have to get a shot for myself mode. I don't mind his drives to the basket. A lot of those were good, and timely plays. My problem is when he takes a jumpshot, and Kevin Durant doesn't touch the ball on that trip down the floor. That had me yelling at the TV for him to get the ball to Durant. You have the best scorer in the world on your team, he can't go multiple trips in a row without at least a touch. This dynamic works for the Thunder, but it is something that could get them in trouble down the line. Freezing your big gun when he's hot is a dangerous thing. Good aggressiveness in the flow of the offense is good, but once you start forcing, it becomes a problem. Here's hoping Westbrook continues to produce well, but not at the expense of his team.

That is all I have for Game 1. I'm looking forward to seeing if the Heat can make adjustments in Game 2. In a game where James Harden only scored 5, and barely played in the second half, they still lost by 11. Harden won't play that bad, or that few minutes the rest of the series, that among other reasons lead me to believe the Heat are in big trouble. I hope you enjoyed the read, and please make sure to follow me on twitter @jimmylwilsonjr.

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message 

Sit Back and Enjoy: NBA Finals Preview/Thoughts

We are hours away from Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat. It has been stated over and over, but this is the Finals matchup most people expected coming into the season. That doesn't make the anticipation for the series any less. I could spend my time giving a typical preview, instead I want to ask that we all enjoy what we are about to see. There are so many points of intrigue that will go a long way to make this a special series.

This Finals has arguably the two best players in the world participating in them. I can honestly say it has been a good number of years since that statement could be made. Both LeBron James and Kevin Durant have played at an extremely high level during the regular season and playoffs.

LeBron has been a monster in these Playoffs. I would say that he has been the only consistent player on the Heat during this run. Dwyane Wade had a couple of big games, but the driving force and steadying influence for the Heat has been the reigning NBA MVP. His performances in Game 6 and 7 against Boston were excellent. He looked like a guy on a mission. However, he will be judged on what he does in this series. Last year in the Finals against Dallas, he came up very short. Win or lose for the Heat, he has to play at or even better than the level he has in the Playoffs so far. All eyes will be on him, and looking to see how he performs on the grandest stage of them all.

Kevin Durant has won three consecutive scoring championships. Watching him with the basketball in his hands is a thing of beauty. He is the best closer in this series. Should the game come down to a final possession for the Thunder, I believe they will be in better shape than the Heat. This is part of the reason that I picked Dallas to beat Miami last year. I felt that they had the best finisher in the series in Dirk. OKC has the best one in this series. On top of that, for those who are looking for someone to root for to take down LeBron, KD is your guy. He seems like a geniunely good dude, and is easy to cheer for. This is his first time on this stage, but I feel he has the demeanor and game to represent well.

This series also could be the beginning of a dynasty for one of these two teams. OKC is a very young team, and while Serge Ibaka and James Harden will be free agents after this season, they are still set-up to rule the West for years to come. They have a great front office, and will be able to make moves to assure that.

Meanwhile, the Heat, still have the Big 3. While I don't trust the supporting cast as far as I can throw them, they have done enough to get them to this point. I believe with a few tweaks to the roster, the Heat we be in this position a few more times in the coming years.

So, I implore you to enjoy what we are about to see. Don't let your hate for the Heat, or should I say LeBron, blind you to the fact that this will be an excellent series. There will be close, hotly contested games throughout and in the end your new NBA Champions will be the Oklahoma City Thunder in 6 games. Please enjoy it because series with this much star power don't come along very often. From the aforementioned Bron and KD, to DWade and Russell Westbrook, this should be epic. Have fun watching, because I sure know that I will.

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message. 

Random Sports Thoughts: Conference Finals Edition

There isn't much that I agree with Skip Bayless on, but on Sunday before the Oklahoma City-San Antonio game, he tweeted, "The NBA playoffs are about to start". With all due respect to the twelve teams, that are on fishing boats right now, he was telling the absolute truth. We are a couple of games into the Conference Finals. The Western final has classic potential. While the Eastern, looks like it could end in a quick knockout. I won't count the Celtics out just yet, but they might be in trouble. Here are a few thoughts on the proceedings....

Mike Tyson Syndrome: Watching the Boston Celtics in these playoffs has been pretty sad. It's been a little like watching Mike Tyson after he got out of prison. He was able to beat the Peter McNeely's of the world that were put in front of him, but it was more of a struggle than normal. You just knew when he got in the ring with a fighter like Lennox Lewis he would be trouble. The pre-fight was hype was huge based on the names, but part of you felt the result of the actual fight was inevitable. You watched hoping for one more night of glory from Mike, but it ended with him taking a beating for eight rounds before being knocked out. 

The Celtics-Heat series has that same feeling. You have Ray Allen shooting free throws and threes like someone not named Ray Allen. Paul Pierce is looking like he's driving to the basket with cinder blocks around his ankles. Kevin Garnett going up to dunk, only to fall out the sky like a busted balloon. It feels like we are watching a washed up fighter give it his all, but not have enough to give. To Garnett's credit, he has been the most consistent Celtic during the playoffs. The rest of the guys have had big games at times, but they have yet to string together good games as a group. Here's hoping that the Celtics Big 3 don't go out like Mike Tyson, bloodied, battered, and on their back getting counted out. However, that's where I'm afraid they are headed.

Extra Heat: Since Game 4 of the Pacers-Heat series, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James have looked like the unstoppable duo that everyone expects. They are 2 of the top 5 players in the world, so their production, while very special, has to be expected. What has been less than expected though, is the production coming from the D-League all-star team surrounding them. 

When Chris Bosh went down, I was of the belief that getting out of the Indiana series would be tough for Miami. Yet, once Wade and James stepped up, and got contributions from "the others", it was smooth sailing. They also played well in Game 1 against the Boston Celtics. There is this thing called admitting when you're wrong, and I'm willing to do so in this case. In all honesty though, I still don't trust that collection of role players to help the Heat win the Championship. I picked against the Heat in the Finals last year for the same reason, and was right. That is the same way I'm feeling this year too. No championship team has won without contributions from role players, and guys you don't expect to come up big. Putting your hopes in guys like Mike Miller, James Jones, Joel Anthony, and Norris Cole is a dangerous proposition. Even if you have DWade and LeBron on your team. I'll gladly eat a big chunk of humble pie and chase it with a cup of shut-up juice if I'm wrong. 

Thunderstorm Warning: The Oklahoma City Thunder looked very good for three quarters against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals Sunday. The bottom fell out in the fourth, and they fell apart. Kevin Durant had a tough time getting easy looks. Russell Westbrook reverted to make a play by myself mode. James Harden played like he should have won the 12th Man of the Year award. It was a horrible fourth quarter for a team that has played with a lot of poise thus far in the postseason. 

I really think this series has the potential to be a classic. All the ingredients there. However, OKC is going to need their big guns to come up bigger from here on out. They need to figure a way to get Durant easier shots late in the game. Steven Jackson gave him no room to breathe in the fourth. James Harden needs to play like the Sixth Man of  the Year. He was thoroughly outplayed by Manu Ginobili, and even outscored on his own team by Derek Fisher. Harden has been one of the most consistent players in the league, and the Thunder need that from him to stay in this series. Westbrook just has to play within himself and avoid taking "hero shots". He is most dangerous when getting his points within the flow of the offense, and not forcing things. I am really looking forward to seeing what adjustments the Thunder make in Game 2 tonight.

Texas Tornado: In the previous topic I spoke on how bad the Thunder looked in the fourth quarter against the Spurs. The Spurs had everything to do with that. It was like the first three quarters were the calm before the storm. Then the Spurs erupted with devastating efficiency in the fourth quarter. They played great in all phases, and made the Thunder look like a young team with no answers for the first time all playoffs. 

The Spurs have been playing so well during the playoffs that they have flown under the radar. Now, they are center stage, and there hasn't been a drop off yet. The scary part about game one is that the Spurs didn't play well the whole game. The first half they were turning the ball over like they were Brett Favre facing a pass rush. They tightened that up dramatically in the second half, and come fourth quarter changed the entire tone of the game. So, it'll be interesting to see how they look in Game 2. Will they come out and play a complete game? Or do they not even need to do so to beat OKC? As I said a couple of weeks ago, it's to the point where I'll be shocked if they don't win the Championship. However, the Thunder are going to do everything in their power to make them earn a trip to the Finals. Tonight should be another fun game to watch.

So, there you have it. Just a few thoughts I needed to get off of my chest. I hope these series(especially the Western Conference) are as good as I think they might be. What do ya'll think?? Get at me and let me know. Also, follow me on twitter @jimmylwilsonjr, and hit me with any feedback on there. Ya'll be easy and until next time...

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message.

Random Sports Thoughts: NBA Playoff Edition

The NBA playoffs are underway, and here are a few thoughts that I have so far.


Boof Of The Week- All of my people who went to school in the Lansing School District between 1994-2000 was either on the receiving end of, or gave a boof/rig at one point. A boof/rig was when someone would come up to and snap your neck after you said or did something extremely stupid. So, this week, I'm going to present my first Boof of the Week. Drumroll please....The Boof of the Week goes to: Amare Stoudemire! I was questioning Amare's sanity for being in public, in the year 2012 with those struggling braids. He's out here with those OG Bobby Johnson braids(word to "South Central" for those who don't know...). All of my questions were confirmed when at halftime of the OKC-Dallas game they said that he punched the glass on a fire extinguisher in frustration after the game. Even when Sherm told Bobby Johnson "Ray Ray got your son stealing car stereos", he got mad, but didn't punch anything that would damage his hand. Now, Amare is out for the rest of this series, thus killing the slim to none chances that the Knicks had to beat the Heat. So, Amare for your act of genius, please come up here and receive your boof from the good folks here at mrwilson42.blogspot.com.



"No one man should have all that power"-Kanye West- We all know that as one of the most arrogant people ever, Ye was talking about himself. However, a few years later it is the perfect way to describe his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls. When Derrick Rose tore his ACL on Saturday most people, myself included thought they would still be able to get past the 76ers. After last night's performance though, I'm thinking they'll lose in 6. I'm not breaking any news by saying, playing without your best player in the playoffs is different than doing that in the regular season. C.J. Watson, and John Lucas are serviceable, but you can't win a championship with them as your starters. So at this point, here's hoping that the Bulls show some pride and heart on the way out, and for a full, healthy recovery for D. Rose. The league needs that guy to be a factor for years to come.

"Where amazing happens"- Show of hands if you were stunned when you woke up on Monday and saw that the Clippers came back and beat the Grizzlies. Thankfully, I stayed up and was able to see it as it happened. It was one of the sneakiest comebacks ever. I wasn't really paying it attention, but then I looked up and it was down to 15, then kept decreasing. Kenny Smith after the game had the perfect analogy. When a building is on fire, everyone can't run around in a panic. Someone has to take control and get everyone out in an orderly fashion. No one did that for Memphis. Once Memphis started missing all the threes they made earlier in the game, they didn't have an answer. They completely buckled under the pressure of the comeback. I give the Clippers a ton of credit for not tapping out when down by 27, but Memphis gave it away as much as the Clippers came back. I am very interested to see Memphis can shake this epic choke job, or if there is a carry over in game 2.


"Playoff Basketball"- Last night while watching the Bulls game, I counted 10 times in the first half that Reggie Miller said, "that's playoff basketball". Chris Webber is a flagrant offender in using that line also. My question is, why keep harping on that? I believe everyone that is tuned in knows it's playoff basketball. Those who don't, figure it out quickly when they see the Playoff logo on the court, the playoff graphic by the score, or when it says NBA PLAYOFFS on their TV guide. There is no reason to use that as a line to describe every hard foul, or the strategy that goes into the game. As an analyst, their job is to describe what is happening in the game, not give me a reminder of what I'm watching. Please stop insulting our intelligence and talk about what's happening in the game without using that weak cliche. Thanks.

Spur'd Up- This one is for my boy D. Duncan. He's the ONLY true Spurs fan that I know. I've never been a fan, but I definitely respect their work. My cousin Jarret asked this question Monday on Facebook: How are the Spurs the #1 seed in the West and completely slept on by everybody? My knee jerk response was, "Consistency, no drama, no ego(at least outwardly), and not being flashy always goes under the radar. People find that boring and miss the fact that they are one of, if not the best organizations in the L". There is also the fact that they have choked in the playoffs before. That makes it easy to pick against them once this time of the year is here. However, I will not be shocked if they are hoisting another trophy at the end of this year. You asked me to know leave your boys out, so there you have it D.Duncan.

So, there are just a few thoughts that I have on the Playoffs so far. I could go on all day, but I'll leave it there for now. Please be on the lookout for more as the Playoffs roll on. Ya'll be easy.

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message.

Blinded By Hate

In my years as a sports fan, I've learned that hate and loyalty can completely blind people from the facts. We have a hard time accepting defeat, and always try to justify it with an excuse. We are also quick to dismiss someone we don't like as a person as horrible on the court. This is a huge problem. 

It takes a lot for me to get offended. However, when I see on Facebook, or have a conversation with someone and they utter the words "Kobe sucks", "LeBron sucks", or "Floyd sucks", it makes me throw up in my mouth a little. You may not like the individual, but you're frankly being unreal with yourself and others around you if you think any of those three "suck". You my friend are blinded by hate, and this is an intervention. 

I'll be the first to admit, Kobe Bryant absolutely sucks off of the court. He has made more mistakes in his personal life than Bill Hendrickson had wives and kids(word to HBO's Big Love). From snitching on Shaq when he got in trouble in Eagle Colorado, to giving himself a nickname(how corny is that), his off the court career has been horrible. However, on the court, he is brilliant. He has had some of the more epic nights that our generation has seen. I would go into stats, but I'd be here all day, so check his player profile right here http://www.nba.com/playerfile/kobe_bryant/bio.html. Bottom line, he is the closest that we will probably see to Michael Jordan that we will ever see, don't let your hate keep you from seeing that.

In my opinion, LeBron James really hadn't done much to educe the hate he has received. A lot of people felt he had a lot of hype coming out of high school and that caused a large group of haters. Then came "The Decision" where he announced where he was "taking his talents", and that brought all of the haters out in full force. I definitely feel that he has room to improve on the court, but if you don't think he is one of the top 3 players in the world, you are crazy. He has the total package of what you would want in a player. The league has never seen a dude his size be able to do the things he can. The fact that I said he has room to improve should really make the entire league shudder with fear. So, please don't let the fact that he left Cleveland, or was anointed "the chosen one" in high school keep you from seeing how great he is right now. 

I have been a die hard boxing fan for as long as I can remember. I am going to say this, and would defy anyone to disagree. Floyd Mayweather is the best boxer of our generation. Point blank, period. A lot of people see him on HBO's 24/7(he's the only reason that show is great actually), they hear all the trash he talks, and it turns them off. Yet, they always watch, so he's doing something right. One of the biggest complaints I hear is that he doesn't knock people out and his fights are boring. That is absurd to me. The game of boxing is hit and don't get hit. I can't be mad at a dude who is quick and crafty enough to not get hit, yet give you a 4 piece combo after avoiding your shots. If you can do that, why stand in the middle of the ring and trade haymakers? That is just dumb. It is really sad that people have taken the fact that he has embraced being the "bad guy" and let that distort the fact that he is a genius in the ring. 

I guess what I'm trying to say to you all is, don't let your hate distract you from that fact that we are watching some of the best to ever do it in their sport. Kobe, LeBron, and Floyd all have their faults off the court and outside of the ring, but you can't ever come up with a logical reason that they "suck" when they are performing their craft. So please, accept this intervention, and stop sounding stupid to those around you when discussing these guys.

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message.

Early 2012 Sports Thoughts

What up everybody. I've been gone off the scene for a lot longer than I would like to. I apologize for the inconsistency of my blogging. This last month has been pretty crazy, and knocked me off my square. I'm slowly getting back though, and plan to start blogging consistently again. Without further adieu, here are a few topics that I've been thinking on.  

Can't We All Just Get Along?- The homie Rodney King said it best. I say this in response to the ridiculous sniping back and forth between MSU and UofM fans following their bowl wins. For those who may have forgot, MSU beat Georgia 33-30 in the Outback Bowl(http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=320020061). The following night, UofM beat Virginia Tech 23-20 in the Sugar Bowl(http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=320030259) Our teams are the ONLY reason that the B1G wasn't seen as a joke at the end of bowl season this year. Yet, we went back and forth like Avon Barksdale and Marlo Stanfield fighting for territory on the Wire. It was beyond ridiculous. I'm not saying go out and start wearing t-shirts for the team you hate(as a State fan I would NEVER do that), but be willing to put the guns down for a minute when both teams accomplish something that big on a national level. It makes us look stupid to outsiders arguing back and forth like that. 

That's why they're on defense- In each of the NFL Wildcard games this weekend, there were interceptions thrown right to the defensive backs that were dropped. Not too long after that, the offense scored touchdowns to either change the momentum, or put the game away. I'm not a huge believer in all statistics, but I feel this one needs to be charted a little more. Football is a game that can truly turn on one play, and a dropped pick can be the difference in winning and losing. Coaches, start getting those DB's on the jugs machine so they can get some hands and make some plays. 

Don't plan the parade just yet- With all due respect to the Lebron James and the Heat on their early season start, I'm still reserving judgment until the playoffs. I can definitely see the improvement Bron has made. I always said if he adds a post game, and stops relying on shooting the three it would be unfair for the league. Heck, it was pretty much unfair without that already.  However, he has to get to the Finals, and be a monster once they get there for me to give him ultimate props. I just don't know if he has that natural born killer in him that you need to be the guy on the big stage. Kobe has it, Kevin Durant has it, D Wade has it, Dirk has it, Melo has it, but I'm still on the fence about Bron. I'm looking forward to seeing them come playoff time to see if he proves he has it. 

Addition by subtraction- Anyone who has watched Michigan State basketball the last few years knows they have been extremely talented. They also had HORRIBLE chemistry and attitudes which led to a couple of sub-par, head scratching seasons. Losing Kalin Lucas, Durrell Summers, Korie Lucious, and Chris Allen was supposed to be blows that set the program back a few years. However, it has been a blessing in disguise. Behind Draymond Green's leadership, great chemistry, and a hardworking, grimy group reminiscent of late 90's/early 2000's MSU basketball, the Spartans are riding a 14 game winning streak and ranked #6 in the country. This team is proof that addition by subtraction can definitely be a good thing. Keep an eye out for the Spartans for the rest of this season.

That's all for for now. Just a few random thoughts I've been pondering lately. There will be more to come as the weeks go by or news permits. I don't normally do this, but I want to give a R.I.P. to my Little Big Brother David Welcome. Continued prayers to his family and friends. I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message.