Will the 'Jordan effect' diminish with time?

Michael Jordan could be one of the most effective closers of all time. Not baseball, of course. We all know how that turned out. I'm talking about recruiting. 

It's no secret that North Carolina benefits greatly from the "Jordan effect" with recruiting. I can imagine what it's like when those recruits get a letter from Air Jordan, even though I've never witnessed it or seen the letter, I still have an imagination. And if you don't get a letter from Jordan, you're could still play basketball where he did, and for some guys, that carries a lot of weight. 

But it's been a while since Jordan has played and it can be easy for some to forget just how good he was. With each passing year and each incoming recruiting class, we grow further from a generation that grew up watching Michael Jordan. What's going to happen when recruits only know Michael is the best, but never witnessed it?

Will the "Jordan effect" mean less? I think it's unavoidable. 

A letter from Jordan will always mean something; I mean, come on, it's Jordan we're talking about here. But his luster won't last forever. I think UNC may find that part of its recruitng slightly less compelling within five to ten years from now. The Tar Heels can always boast about its professional products, but by then, the program may need to sell itself a little more. 

I guess that's when UNC should be happy that it's, well, UNC.

He is who we thought he was

It's finally over. Stephen Strasburg has made his Major League debut and what a debut it was. Seven innings, four hits allowed, two earned runs and 14 strikeouts and no walks.

The fourteen strikeouts were the third most in any Major League debut, the most in Washington Nationals franchise history and only five short of the nine-innning record. It's like Strasburg told the rest of the Nationals, "Listen guys, I really only need you for a third of the time I'm in there. You guys just get me an out an inning and I'll do the rest."

It's safe to say that Strasburg is good. We knew that when he mowed through the Minor Leagues but to do the same in the Majors is another thing. Strasburg is beyond good. I'm ready to call him very good, and if he does this for much longer, he'll be pushing great. All that's left to be seen is if he can continue to be this good consistently, but he's definitely the best pitching prospect ever.

I'm not sure how careful the Nationals will be with Strasburg's arm, but if he stays in the rotation, I could see Strasburg winning up to 14 games. That would be quite a feat for a pitcher that debuted as late as he did and for a pitcher on the Nationals. Not to mention only 21 pitchers recorded more wins then that last season.

Fourteen games is a lot and it almost sounds impossible, but if there was something Strasburg has taught us it's that impossible can be reached.

Amore, I mean Amare Stoudemire

I've really come to love Amare Stoudemire over the past few seasons.

It has nothing to do with the fantasy basketball numbers he brought my team. Nothing to do with the crossover he put on Pau Gasol in game three of the Western Conference Finals (I am still looking for when Amare super-glued Pau's shoes to the floor somewhere between 0:10 and 0:12). It's not for his athleticism or his comments regarding Lamar Odom (who I'm beginning to think really was just lucky), or can somebody really just be that good one day and then so much worse another? Nope, none of that.

Amare Stoudamire is Steve Urkel. Period. That's all I need to love him. When he shows up to press conferences he's well groomed, wearing a boring sweater that fits him like a wetsuit and donning those big-ole glasses. He's well-spoken and almost acts a little timid. A la Steve Urkel.

But minutes before all those press conferences, Amare is a beast on the court, the absolute opposite of his dweeby alter-ego. Sure he's got glasses on but he owns those glasses. Look at the man hold his jersey up (in the clip) like he just pulled Excalibur out of the ground. This isn't Steve Urkel. This is Stefan Urquelle.

C'mon all you Family Matters fans, show your true colors. Gimme a high-pitched, swelling, "Hidey ho neighbor!" or a, "Did I do that?" It's just like the show. Stefan is this impressive, cool, smooth guy and Steve is a clumsy nerd who's just a considerate guy. I'm here to tell you that I think the Amare-Steve-Urkel is delightful and I'm glad that Amare-Stefan-Urquelle seems to have room for him. Question is, whichever team signs him next year, which Amare will they get?

I'm reminded of a time Steve once tried to make himself become Stefan permanently in Family Matters, but eventually he realized how great he is. I'm hoping Amare realizes the same because I don't think I would like him without both personalities.

Picking apart the LeBron dilema

My God, where to start?

There are so many issues with this franchise. The team isn't good enough and they aren't getting much better. Mike Brown seems to be as effective at coaching as Zydrunas Ilgauskas would be at running a marathon. And then there's all the LeBron James free agency questions. The last time there was an unknown this big it was if the world is flat or not. So now the question is what happens next?

If you're the Cleveland Cavaliers, disecting this situation is like trying to pick apart a Jenga tower. One wrong move and the whole thing comes crashing down. Like it or not, James has the franchise and entire city on a leash. What do you do about Mike Brown? He seems to have a good working relationship with James. If you fire him now does James leave? Do you fire him at all? The answer is yes, and this leads me to one of James' biggest thorns in his side: his loyalty.

There's no question that James is a very loyal guy. He loves Cleveland, and it seems that he and his teammates like each other. But James can't let that hold him back from what's best for him. Mike Brown isn't the best coach. He's not even close. How he managed to win coach of the year I'll never know. I never thought he had much to do with it. He just isn't going to make the Cavs a NBA Championship team.

So let's recap. Mike Brown = bad. Got that LeBron? I know you like the guy, but right now you two are on a one way street and he isn't helping you at all. So then there's the problem of the team. The Cavaliers are a team with one superstar and a few decent guys. The problem isn't a lack of talent, it's a lack of determination.

I know James wants to win a championship. I'm sure Antawn Jamison would like it. Mo Williams probably thinks it would be cool and Shaq wouldn't mind adding another to his resume. But I have yet to see any of them willing to do what it takes to win it. The only exception would be James, but even he doesn't always show it. Saluting celebrities before the game or whatever he's doing doesn't make me think that he's in a "do or die" mode.

And then of course there's James' decision. I hate to say it Cleveland fans but I don't see James returning next year. Let's face it, James has a better chance of winning with other teams. I mean, the Bulls already have Derrick Rose, a good supporting cast and room for at least one more guy. The Knicks could grab a few. The Nets may have John Wall, and they could bring in James and at least one other top tier free agent. Can you compete Cleveland?

Sure you can, like Calvin Borel in a high jump.

Look, I'm rooting for you Cleveland, well second to Prince James coming to Charlotte (my favorite team). It would be nice to see him stay and win there but it just isn't going to happen. This is how the world works. So here's how I think this summer is going to unfold: LeBron is going to New Jersey.

Not many people are talking about it. Avery Johnson mentioned it as a possibility on Mike and Mike in the morning. Remember his relationship with Jay-Z? He's a part owner of the Nets. Remember New Jersey's new owner, Mikhail Prokhorov? You think James won't like playing for a rich party boy? Sounds to me like it's just up his alley. The Nets already have a few good guys you can work around in Brook Lopez, Devin Harris and Chris Douglas-Roberts. They are building a new stadium in Brooklyn that will be available in two years. And by then, with the cap space they have, (and a assumed first pick), they could have the best team in the NBA.

Now you say, "What about New York?" I thought about that and I think the Knicks would be the second place team in the LeBron race. The Knicks just don't have quite the options New Jersey does and the biggest difference is that round-one pick.

The Bulls? Not gonna happen. You think LeBron wants to build his legacy in a city that will always be Michael Jordan's city? He isn't going to put himself in the shadow of Jordan more than he has to. Trust me LeBron has a much bigger ego than you think he does. Remember how he "spoiled" you Cleveland? I bet that when James leaves we'll hear about a few of his flaws from the teammates who took a back seat during his reign with the Cavs.

I can't predict the future. I'm only 20 years old. But I'll bet the house that I'd like to own one day that James will end up in Jersey.

NBA Mock Draft Version 1.0

With the NBA Draft a little over a month away, now is a good time for me to put out my Mock Draft of the entire first round. I'm not posting all 30 picks right now, but I'll add the remainder day-by-day. So let's just get right to it shall we?

Round 1, Pick 1 - New Jersey Nets
John Wall - 6'4" PG
NBA Comparison: Derrick Rose
Analysis: Very agile, very athletic point guard with great size. Wall will be an elite point guard within his rookie season. My favorite for Rookie of the Year. His comparison is with fellow Kentucky guard Derrick Rose, but Wall could be even better. He has elite court vision and play-making ability. Sorry Devin Harris, but the Nets aren't going to pass on this prospect.

Round 1, Pick 2 - Minnesota Timberwolves
Evan Turner - 6'7" SG
NBA Comparison: Joe Johnson
Analysis: It's hard to ignore the numbers Turner put up last season at Ohio State. He isn't a great athlete but he's long and can shoot. I don't see Turner being a star or even a team's number-one option, but he could be a great second option in Minnesota or anywhere else.

Round 1, Pick 3 - Sacramento Kings
Derrick Favors - 6'9" PF
NBA Comparison: Al Horford
Analysis: Favors has a ton of upside. He's has good size and great athleticism. Favors has a  good mix of post moves but he needs to work more on his face-up game. Favors has a tendency to take plays off, but when he's on, he's tough to defend. Good rebounder, good defender. Favors should add some much-needed depth to Sacramento's frontcourt.

Round 1, Pick 4 - Golden State Warriors
DeMarcus Cousins - 6'11" PF/C
NBA Comparison:  Andrew Bynum
Analysis: Cousins has potential to be a 18-10 guy. He's tall and strong. He's a little shorter than Andrew Bynum, but like Bynum, Cousins hasn't shown he can be consistently dominant. But I don't see the Warriors passing on him. Cousins is an upgrade at either the PF or C position and he has the athleticism to run in that offense.

Round 1, Pick 5 - Washington Wizards
Wesley Johnson - 6'7" SF
NBA Comparison: Danny Granger
Analysis: I really like Granger as a prospect. He's got excellent athleticism, a good shooting touch, good ball handling skills and is a good passer too. It's possible Johnson could become the second best player from this draft. He's going to be a good NBA player, the question for him is "how good?" But Lord knows the Wizards need something.

Round 1, Pick 6 - Philadelphia 76ers
Greg Monroe - 6'10" PF
NBA Comparison: Poor man's Pau Gasol
Analysis: There's a lot to like about Monroe. He's tall, has a decent mid-range shot, and a good post game. Monroe is an excellent passer for a power forward which is what draws the Gasol comparison. I wouldn't expect Monroe to dominate a game, but he can be a great teammate. He's one of my favorites in this year's class.

Round 1, Pick 7 - Detroit Pistons
Al-Farouq Aminu - 6'8" SF
NBA Comparison:  Marvin Williams
Analysis: Aminu is a good all-around small forward. From watching him at Wake Forest, I don't see him becoming a dominant player but he has the skills to score from the outside in. The Pistons could use a good jolt of young talent, but I'm not willing to bet on Aminu just yet.

Round 1, Pick 8 - Los Angeles Clippers
Cole Aldrich - 6'11" C
NBA Comparison: Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Analysis: I'm not sold on Aldrich. He had a decent year in a decent basketball conference. I also hate to compare him to big Z but I just can't watch the guy run without thinking about Ilgauskas. Size is appealing and Aldrich has it, but don't expect great things from him.

Round 1, Pick 9 - Utah Jazz
Ed Davis - 6'9" PF
NBA Comparison: Brandon Wright
Analysis: OK, the comparison is too easy to make. Two lanky athletic guys with good up-side but without much of a mid-range game. Davis is going to have a hard time in the NBA without a face-up game. He isn't going to tower over guys like in college. Still, a pretty good pick at nine for the Jazz.

Round 1, Pick 10 - Indiana Pacers
Ekpe Udoh - 6'10" PF
NBA Comparison: Lamar Odom of late
Analysis: Udoh has a lot of potential. He can score inside or create off the dribble. He's most likely going to be an average Odom, not an explosive one. The Pacers take Udoh, hoping he develops into something special but it's a gamble at best.

Round 1, Pick 11 - New Orleans Hornets
Patrick Patterson - 6'8" PF
NBA Comparison: J.J. Hickson
Analysis: Patterson would fit in well in New Orleans. He can shoot , he's smart, and he can carry his own in the paint. Emeka Okafor has been playing as an undersized center his whole career so there's no reason he couldn't continue to do it. Patterson could add some depth to the frontcourt.

Round 1, Pick 12 - Memphis Grizzlies
Xavier Henry - 6'7" SG
NBA Comparison: John Salmons
Analysis: Henry has an NBA ready body. He's a good all-around player that put up good numbers on a really talented team. Henry has the size to play small forward as well. I see Memphis going small here and taking a guard. It may take a few years but Henry could be effective in the NBA.

Round 1, Pick 13 - Toronto Raptors
Hassan Whiteside - 7'0" C
NBA Comparison: JaVale McGee
Analysis: Raw, raw, raw. Whiteside has as much potential as anyone in the draft but he is only 20 years old and he is as raw as they come.  But let's be serious, Chris Bosh isn't staying in Toronto and the Raptors are going to look for someone to fill the whole. Whiteside could benefit in his development from playing with Andrea Bargnani. If Whiteside plays well enough to start, Bargnani could move to the four and Toronto would start two seven-footers.

Round 1, Pick 14 - Houston Rockets
Donatas Motiejunas - 7'0" C
NBA Comparison: Andrea Bargnani
Analysis: Motiejunas is an interesting prospect out of Lithuania. He's a true seven-footer with a soft touch. He's prefers to play a finesse game instead of banging on the inside. His European-style game would allow him to play alongside Yow Ming or behind him, but that's assuming he pans out. Motiejunas, like Whiteside, is still very raw.

Round 1, Pick 15 - Milwaukee Bucks
Avery Bradley - 6'3" SG
NBA Comparison: Monta Ellis
Analysis: Bradley is undersized and not a great passer. At times he tends to force things offensively and doesn't have great court vision. That said, Bradley is an offensive lightning bolt. He can score quickly and shows a lot of potential to continue doing that in the NBA. The Bucks are pretty old at shooting guard and Bradley could be a good addition, assuming he isn't snagged before pick 15.

Round 1, Pick 16 - Minnesota Timberwolves
Daniel Orton - 6'10" PF/C
NBA Comparison: LaMarcus Aldridge
Analysis: At Kentucky last season, Orton averaged 13.2 minutes, 3.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. The only decent stat there is his blocks-per-game. So why do people think he could be a lottery pick? Two words: athleticism and potential. The NBA Draft is such a gamble already that taking a leap of faith on this guy really isn't that big a leap. He could be very good. He can run the floor and would be a decent addition to the Timberwolves.

Round 1, Pick 17 - Chicago Bulls
Gordon Hayward - 6'8" SF
NBA Comparison: Hedo Turkoglu
Analysis: So its no secret the Bulls will be lobbying for LeBron James, and Hayward is a guy that could do well with LeBron or even Dwayne Wade. Hayward can shoot the ball well, has a high release and a quick one. Hayward is an adequate ball-handler but not explosive. He's going to excel when the defense is rushing to meet him, making him a great kick-out option for a Wade or James type player.

Round 1, Pick 18 - Miami Heat
James Anderson - 6'6" SG
NBA Comparison: Steven Jackson but a worse ball-handler
Analysis: James Anderson may not slip this far but I don't see Miami passing on him. He's got good athleticism and can shoot well but his biggest weakness is handling the ball. Anderson will need to work on that but I don't know how much it will improve. He reminds me of Gerald Henderson last year but with more of a traditional shooting guard game.

Round 1, Pick 19 - Boston Celtics
Damion James - 6'8" SF
NBA Comparison: James Posey
Analysis: James has a NBA-ready body and good athleticism. In college, he excelled at everything a gifted athlete would, but he still has work to do with his ball handling and passing. He's only average in those categories. He's an above average shooter but hasn't shown a nice enough touch to make me confident in his shooting. James is a Boston player though, he just seems to fit in well there.

Round 1, Pick 20 - San Antonio Spurs
Eric Bledsoe - 6'1" PG
NBA Comparison: A lesser Aaron Brooks
Analysis: Bledsoe is another one of those guys with a lot of potential. He's quick, athletic and very aggressive. Bledsoe doesn't have great court vision and he isn't a great shooter. He really hasn't even shown he can be a true point guard, he's more of a scorer. But it's hard to ignore the great quickness and athleticism he has shown.

Why LeBron is his own greatest opponent

I'm not riding the Cavaliers bandwagon. I was never on that one. To be honest, I'm not even on the LeBron James bandwagon. Don't get me wrong, I think he's the best player in the NBA, but I don't think he's the best teammate.

Yeah, I said it. I'm calling out the guy who has averaged 8.6 assists-per-game over his career. In fact, he's on track to record the ninth highest assists-per-game average in the history of both the NBA and ABA. But he's also on track to lose in the NBA playoffs and fall short of his goal once again. I know what you're thinking. You're crazy Mark. Cleveland is nothing without LeBron. That's true, but give me a chance and I'll tell you why they'll never win until LeBron changes.

Now, before I incriminate myself, I think it's important that I note that Charles Barkley hinted at this in TNT's post-game show. I want to take what he said a step further.

This has been going on for over a year, but I think we saw a good example of it in last night's game against the Chicago Bulls. LeBron had 40 points on 16-23 shooting. On top of that, he had eight rebounds and eight assists.  He was hotter in the fourth quarter than asphalt in the middle of a Florida summer. He couldn't be stopped. But it's important to remember that there were two people who also took notice to this: The Bulls and LeBron's own teammates. That, is where the problem lies.

As good as LeBron is, let's face it, he won't be that good every night. Nobody is, and when LeBron isn't, he's going to need his teammates to make plays. He's going to need Jamison and Williams and Delonte West to step up. The Cavaliers don't want to become the LeBron show when they are in close games. Right now at the end of close games, LeBron takes the ball down the court, passes off, gets it back, and then jostles inside the three-point-line for five second before pulling the trigger on a low-percentage shot. When he does that, what are Williams and Jamison thinking? I guess I'll just try and get the rebound. Where should I stand? What exactly is that tattoo on Delonte's neck? 


With LeBron doing everything, the rest of his teammates will not feel their pressure to perform or much individual importance on the team. Barkley said LeBron needs to be building the confidence of his teammates and he's absolutely right.

Last year the Cavaliers lost to a better Magic team, and LeBron needs to understand that he can't win without his teammates. Could Jordan win without Pippen? Could Kobe win without Shaq or Gasol? No. And the analogy stretches beyond basketball. Jimmie Johnson can't win a NASCAR race without a great pit crew. Peyton Manning can't break any NFL passing records without receivers there to catch his passes. In almost every sport, it's a two-way street.

The great ones become great because they lead team's to championships. They don't win them themselves. If I'm Cleveland, I want LeBron taking the last shot every time, I just don't want him taking almost every shot before that.