It's no secret that I've been a critic of LeBron James over the years, there have been no shortage of anti-LBJ diatribes here: but I gotta say, I'm now a bit of a fan.  I know when I decided to try appreciate him, I'm not sure when it happened - becoming fully appreciative of the guy. 

Nearly a year and a half ago, I posted:

I for one am going to try to be less critical of him. It's something I've oft-pointed out to the anti-Kobe crowd: you're missing out on some amazing basketball if you focus too much on your hate. I'm definitely not as rabid as some are in the way I've regarded LeBron, but it's not been positive.
I think focusing less on what I don't like about LeBron and looking more towards simply enjoying basketball will be a good thing for me. No reason I can't be a Laker fan and enjoy LeBron's basketball.

And it's become a truth for me.  I'm kind of aghast at how fundamentally enjoyable it's become to "like" LeBron - but it's not just me.  LeBron's changed too.  That's become really apparent of late.

First there was this: 

I can't even imagine LeBron doing that earlier in his career (pre-title), and if he did - it would probably have come across as contrived... which it most likely would have been.  But this was pure.  Just joy in what some middle-aged dude had just achieved, and partaking in his ability to share the moment with Michael Drysch (the guy who hit the shot). 

Then more recently, there was this:

Which... if at all possible, was even cooler.  

I guess it happens with age, and the fact that he now has a title makes it easier for him to relax... and have fun with it.  All that past madness - march on by.  I'm guessing he's just happy to put it all behind him.  I'm happy to do the same.

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The way the Lakers have played this season, and the way the fans have reacted, has had me thinking about 'passion'... and the differing levels of fandom.

Something that I find interesting, is the fandom expressed by College fans as compared to their NBA counterparts.  The NBA fan (in general) doesn't define themselves by being a fan of their team, that's precisely what many college fans do.  Additionally, being a complete and utter fanatic is a quality admired in the college ranks, yet in the NBA you'd be considered as going perhaps a little overboard.

For example, these guys:

As Duke fans, their passion and and the lengths they will go to, to express their fandom is something to be admired, whereas if the same guys were say... Charlotte fans - they'd be considered a bit nutty.  A bit extreme.  I mean, what are the odds in basketball that you'd find fans like this in the NBA?  Well... whilst they do exist - they're on the fringe.

With regards to my own LA Lakers, many fans tend to be a) front-runners... and b) of the "Chicken Little" variety.  Lakerfans tend to express dissatisfaction with the slightest straying outside of expectations.  And expectations for a Lakers team generally include a title in them.  That doesn't look like happening, then "The Sky Is Falling". 

Thus the sunny skies have been ominously heavy for Lakerfans, to the point where many Lakerfans aren't even talking basketball now.  2 games below .500, and frequent struggles have meant that for a lot of fans, the only time they're talking basketball now is to complain about what's occuring with the team... if at all.

Me?  Well, whilst a 12-14 record is not exactly what I envisaged when LA signed on Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, the team's had very little opportunity to gel as a unit under Mike D'Antoni.  Agreed, they *should* be playing better, and there have been few bright spots beyond the youth and vigor of Kobe Bryant's play... but I still believe the team's going to be one helluva competitor come the pointy end of the season.

Overly optimistic?  Delusional?  Perhaps... but I'm just refusing to buy into the negativity.

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Want these?

Thought you might.  Well, With Malice in conjunction with SOL REPUBLIC are giving you the chance to win a pair of awesome looking SOL REPUBLIC Tracks HD Anthem headphones!  All you have to do is:

In the comment section, state which basketball team you follow, and why you love your team!

It really is that easy.  Just do that, and in a week (because that's how long the contest goes for!), I'll pick an entry to be the winner.

(note: this is open to anyone, anywhere.  You don't have to be a resident of the US to win - as so many contests require!!)

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 Kevin Love goes all Kojak to raise $$ for breast cancer.  Tweet and/or like (on youtube or facebook) then Love (and Larry Fitzgerald who does the barbering!) will donate cash to charity.

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Gotta give it up to Roy Hibbert.  This is the coolest thing I've seen an NBA player do in a very, very long time.
 
 

Rock it out Roy.  Winning fans left, right & center.  Even Lakerfans. no comments

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Well, only games away from the end of the season.  End of season awards will soon be announced (LeBron almost sure to win his 3rd MVP), and that includes the All NBA teams. 
For the most part, it's pretty clear-cut.  Generally speaking, the 1st team's easy.  Almost.  Sports betting has it a certainty of LeBron/Durant/Kobe making the 1st team.  There's some contention at the other guard spot... and I believe that there should be some contention at center.
Anyway... my teams:

First Team All-NBA
Guard: Russell Westbrook
Guard: Kobe Bryant
Forward: LeBron James
Forward: Kevin Durant
Center: Andrew Bynum

For all the panic surrounding Dwight Howard at the trade deadline, the Lakers and fans should be absolutely stoked that a deal never went through.  I think Bynum's playing at a level on a par with Howard, and whilst Drew can be immature at times, none of his behavior could be considered as franchise-destroying as anything Howard's undertaken this season.  Guy is an amazing basketball player... but a complete and utter flake.  Westbrook gets the nod ahead of several other highly-touted guards, no-one on his level tho'.  There are some that have had Love in the 1st team, ahead of Durant.  Despite the excellent season Kevin Love is having, would be stupid.

Second Team All-NBA
Guard: Rajon Rondo
Guard: Chris Paul
Forward: Kevin Love
Forward: LaMarcus Aldridge
Center: Dwight Howard

Whilst there's altogether a very good chance that it is Bynum here rather than Howard, the level of play since the All Star break has been almost identical... yet with Howard the drama's been there on a far grander scale.  Most seasons, Kevin Love would be a first team lock.  However, versus LeBron or Durant this season?  Sorry K-Love.  Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul find themselves in a similar position.  Almost epic seasons, but Westbrook/Bryant are better.

Third Team All-NBA
Guard: Tony Parker
Guard: Dwyane Wade
Forward: Pau Gasol
Forward: Dirk Nowitzki
Center: Marc Gasol

Tony Parker.  Other seasons, he'd be in 2nd or even 1st teams - but the reality of the NBA at the moment is that it is point guard heavy.  At the top end, it's very competitive.  Pau Gasol and Dirk Nowitzki get the nod ahead of Blake Griffin (who just misses out), because other than some thunderous dunks, Griffin simply doesn't have much to offer.  No jump shot to speak of, and almost a liability on defense - both of these guys are better options.  DeMarcus Cousins has also been great this year, but misses out on the strength of Marc Gasol's season.
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Front page of ESPN: WHAM!  Dunk of the Night: Blake on Ibaka.  Except it wasn't.  Griffin should have been called for an offensive foul on that play.

No clear view from that angle, but in all likelihood Griffin uses his off-hand to clear obstacles.  That's his 'modus operandi'.  Have a look at the supposed "Dunk of the Year" on Pau Gasol:



Griffin clearly uses the off-hand to push Gasol down - this one ended up basically strikes Gasol in the face with an elbow. That's an offensive foul.
Additionally, look at the much-publicized dunk on Kendrick Perkins.  Foul.
The dunk on Channing Frye.  Another Foul.
Even the dunk on Mozgov is pretty bad.
Griffin's dunk on then-Knick Gallinari was egregious - he actually grabs Gallinari's attempt at a block, and pushes it aside... yet no foul called.  Look for yourself:


There's no doubting that Blake Griffin's an amazing athlete, and that he does do some amazing dunks.  But as often as not, these high-flying aerialist dunks, are an example of how the NBA have become a slave to the hype.
Decide for yourself.
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Henry Abbott of True Hoop interviewed Scott Raab, self-confessed LeBron James hater, and author of the book, The Whore of Akron.

It is a pretty interesting interview.

Some thoughts... but first: full disclosure.  I do not like what Abbott's become.  At one point in time, Henry Abbott was inventive, creative - and had a very good mind for basketball.  No doubt, those things are still true - but he's also become far more more obsessive about being anti-Bryant, and generally anti-Lakers.  Obviously, that's going to stick in my gullet.

• Haven't read the book. That said, I think the premise is pretty amazing... in that I'm astounded (like most of you) the degree of hate LeBron James generates. Sure: I don't like the guy, but it's not like it really matters to me.
• Does start with a misnomer tho'. To declare that this is a bigger story than Michael Jordan, or even Kobe Bryant - because of internet traffic - ignores the reality of the growth of the internet over the past few years. Definitely not a bigger story than MJ, and not even a bigger story than Kobe - Kobe saw far more hate in the mid-2000s... unless LeBron doesn't win the MVP this season.
• Abbott comes across pretty poorly. He has his mind made about Scott Raab. Even the initial picture they use for Raab is absolutely unflattering. He cuts Raab off, speaks over the top of him - Abbott goes out of his way to make the interview confrontational. The way he conducts the interview is disappointing, even if he doesn't agree with Raab.
• Henry Abbott's being obtuse if he thinks that if Larry Bird wouldn't have been drawn & quartered had he worn a Yankees cap to Fenway for the opener of a playoff series.
• Abbott completely dismissive of the notion that players have a responsibility to the team, to the locale to be *part* of that area. I agree with Raab in that I do think a pro-athlete should be supportive of other teams in that area. You really do have to become vested in that area. Or at the very least: be politic about it.
• Despite my dislike for the concept of the book, I think Raab comes off pretty well. At least he's honest about who he is: he describes his book as "a crazy, bitter fan's memoir". He even states that "...the book became unfair to LeBron. There's no question about that." He is absolutely honest about the fact that his despising of Miami #6 says more about him, than it does about LeBron. He is astute, intelligent... and comes across as such during the interview.
• Abbott questions whether that's an ok thing for a fan to do, only a minute or so after stating that it's fine for an athlete to not be at all vested in the city/area they play for. That kinda surprised me. Even if it's not somewhat a double-standard (and I think it kinda is), it's odd.

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