As Soon As I Know, You'll Know

Happy Game Day NBA fans! I know I haven't been posting as consistently as I once was so for all of you that get updates and insight from The Rundown I apologize. I have however come up with a new method to get you all the latest and hottest topics in sports.

Introducing The Rundown to Instagram! This account is the same as our Twitter handle @RealRundown. This is a great way for you all to get constant breaking and developing sports news from day to day. Feel free to comment and share your views on each story. Be sure to look out for The Rundown expanding even more soon all in an effort to bring you more sports updates as quickly as possible. As soon as I  know, you'll know!

GO FOLLOW NOW!

New Kidd In the Bronx

Recently retired NBA player Jason Kidd has been chosen by the Brooklyn Nets as their new head coach. Kidd played for the Nets, when the franchise was still in New Jersey, from 2001-2008 and led the team to 2 NBA Finals. At 40 years old, Kidd becomes the 1st player to become a head coach in the season immediately after retirement since Mike Dunleavy in 1990 with the Lakers.

There is no doubt that Kidd is a great player and will eventually become a Hall of Famer. He is still the Nets franchise leader in assists, steals, and 3 pointers. Still, as great and influential of a player he was, this was not a good move by the Nets.

The Brooklyn Nets spent this first year in a new city re-branding and rebuilding a bit. They had all the pieces to be a viable threat in the East, especially with their hot start going 11-4 in the month of November. But things cooled off quick. The Nets made the playoffs as the 4th seed in the East but ultimately faced a first round exit. This team is still trying to build its chemistry and develop role players. Surely a few roster changes will be made this summer but Brooklyn still obtained good playoff position. The Nets definitely want to be a championship contender in the East and are in line to improve along with many other Eastern Conference teams. Hiring a head coach that has no experience is just not the right move by the Nets. Had Kidd gone to a team like the Bobcats, the Pistons, the Magic or a team that aren't forseeable contenders, I would have no problem with it. He has a great basketball mind but this is too high risk and doesn't seem to be as high reward.

This could turn out very well. Kidd already has a great relationship with Nets franchise player Deron Williams. He could also make the transition from seeing the game as a player to seeing it as a coach more easily than we anticipate.  On the other end, Kidd can fail to make necessary adjustments that take place day-to-day and over the course of the season. The kind of adjustments that one learns how to more easily and wisely make with assisting experience. He could also have trouble feeling comfortable managing a group of 15 grown men. Rather than being one in the group, he would be required to motivate, teach, and instruct the multitude. I hope that he succeeds but I can't co-sign to this ill-advised move.

There are a few players and broadcasters around the league disagree with me however. On Wednesday night many of them sent out congratulatory tweets to Kidd of excitement and encouragement.

Tebow in Foxborough: Blessing or Curse?

Tim Tebow signed a two-year deal with the New England Patriots on Tuesday with no guaranteed money. He will reunite with former Florida Gators teammates Aaron Hernandez and Brandon Spikes as a Patriot.

Surely Tebow belongs in the league but there is much speculation as to whether he should truly be a quarterback or not. Tebow has much developing to do as a passer having a less than 50% career passer rating. There aren't many better QB's to "shadow" in this league than the one he now has in Tom Brady but is this opportunity a blessing or a curse?

On one hand its great that Tebow now has another chance in this league because he deserves it. He's a hard worker and competitor. The New England Patriots organization is the perfect one to silence the "circus show" that practically inevitably comes with having Tim Tebow on a roster. Tebow will also be allowed the opportunity to gain first class experience and development behind the scenes from Tom Brady while still a young 25.

Tebow said on Tuesday while addressing the media: "I'm looking forward to working hard every single day and getting a lot better, and learning under some great people."

On the other hand, there is no guarantee he will make the team. Tebow has training camp and the preseason to prove himself. If things don't work out to the Patriots liking, they can cut him. If he does make the team, there is no guarantee he will play. Tebow would be a third string quarterback on a team that Brady threw over 98% of the passes for last season. The likelihood of Bill Belichick taking Brady out to replace him with Tebow is about as good as that other 2%. Being signed two years to sit would be a waste of the time he has in his NFL career (which we know those don't typically last long).

If anyone, Belichick can come up with a way to effectively use Tebow but will it be in the way he wants to play? Will it allow him to perform to a level that parallels the rightfully hype of TebowMania? I sure hope so but that still remains to be seen.

Sources: NFL.com
Image Source: New York Daily News

And Then There Were Two...

Its funny how things work out. In early March I actually predicted that the Spurs would come out of the West and meet Miami in the Finals despite Tony Parker's ankle injury. Many thought there would be a Finals repeat or even gave the Clippers a shot, but I knew. Now that there are two, who wins it all? I've thought long and hard about this and frankly this series has so many variables that it becomes difficult to chose. Still, a choice must be made. In short, I predict the Miami Heat will be back-to-back NBA Champions in 6 games. But in detail, it is much more complicated than that.

For Miami to win: Two words: Dwyane Wade. Although clearly hurt, he will have to find a way to work it out. We saw good signs of life in Game 7 and if he is that active throughout the entire series he puts Miami in a great position to win another title. After Game 7 Wade told the media:

"There will be some moments next series where I won't be looking so great. I'm sure there will be some great headlines about myself. I'll continue pushing. I'll continue to try to do what I can to help the Miami Heat win another championship."

We know Wade has the heart of a champion. The question is: how often will that passion translate physically into his game during this series? He also won't have to expend as much energy on defense now guarding more spot up shooters rather than those that can beat him off the dribble like the guards of the Pacers.  Aside from him, Bosh also has to get going. He too showed good signs in Game 7 but surely wasn't the Chris Bosh of the regular season. I believe that Bosh can come out of his funk attributing a lot of that to having a considerably (physically) easier matchup than the physical beatdown he endured with Roy Hibbert and David West in the previous series. Over the last three years, Bosh has averaged about 23 points per game on 60% shooting from the field against Spurs. Norris Cole's ball pressure can't stop Tony Parker but he can surely do a good job guarding him. Miami will need the Big 3 and at least one more role player to consistently step up to close this series out in 6.

For San Antonio to win: Manu Ginobili's performance will be big. He has been nursing a hamstring injury but with the Spurs resting for 9 days, he will likely come back much healthier than he was in previous series. The spark and skill he can provide off the bench is almost unmatched by a Miami bench player. Tiago Splitter is definitely coming into his own and plays great defense. He isn't Roy Hibbert but he can surely protect the paint and rim for the Spurs and cause problems for the smaller Heat. The Spurs are definitely more healthy than Miami is right now which is another advantage for this extremely poised team.

Tony Parker and Tim Duncan are having great post seasons and I don't see them slumping on this stage. I wouldn't at all be surprised if San Antonio won this series and I wouldn't be surprised if it went 7 games. But all in all in my opinion, it will be the team that has the strongest and sharpest supporting cast to the superstars that will come out victorious.

The full NBA Finals Schedule is below. I will be at Game 2 so I will try to take as many pictures for you all as possible and give a better analysis of what I see from the players (and fans) witnessing a piece of this series in person.

New Beginnings!

Trying to make it in the Broadcasting field takes a lot of trial, error, and determination to improve. I surely have a lot of improving to do and that will come with time but I am still excited to present to you all my FIRST sports reporting video via the Central Florida Future (my school newspaper). Let me know what you think!

http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/sports/cff-sports-weekly-wrapup-1.2829089#.Ua39IbWsiSo

Hibbert's Fine: Fair or Foul?

Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert has been fined $75,000 by the league for using "inappropriate and vulgar" language during a post game interview Saturday night after Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Hibbert said "no homo" while answering a question asked by a reporter.

In 2011, Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 for calling an official a "f*cking f*ggot". Now two years later in spite of  Hibbert issuing a "sincere apology" he was fined just $25,000 fewer than Bryant. Did he deserve to be fined although he apologized? If so, was the fine too severe?

I think the fine could have been $50,000 but I definitely think he deserved to be fined. Hibbert made this comment during a nationally televised interview, that many outlets likely ran live, while not only representing the Pacers organization but the international brand which is the NBA. You simply cannot say things like that. With millions of fans watching, who knows how may he may have offended if not a reporter in that very room. Letting the slur go without league action implies that the NBA tolerates that kind of speech and/or supports homophobic mentalities  Hibbert may also have children out there that look up to him that may have taken his comment as justification in publicly making homophobic slurs of that nature or go on to adapt a homophobic mentality.

The First Amendment does include free speech but the NBA is a private company which gives them the right to discipline those that work for them in any way they see fit. This explains why coaches and players are fined for commenting on officiating. I'm sure Hibbert sincerely did not mean to offend anyone but as a professional and public figure he has to learn that you cannot say everything that comes to mind, comical and innocent or not. What better way to remind himself than with a $75,000 receipt.

If you missed the interview, check it out below (starts at :25):

Celebrity Sightings

While in Puerto Rico on vacation this past Memorial Day weekend I ran into a few athletes. I won't let my encounter influence or shape the opinion you may have of these men so I won't go into detail of each experience.

 Darrelle Revis, cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and I at Club Brava (05/25/2013). He seemed to be a very nice man and really kind to his fans. Good luck on your season and recovery Mr. Revis

James Harden, guard from the Houston Rockets, at Isla Verde Beach (05/25/2013) with his friends.

Harden and friends after leaving Club Brava (05/25/2013)

 I apologize for the blurriness of the James Harden photos but I could not get close enough to him to take a clear picture. It appeared, though not confirmed, that Revis may have been staying at the Conrad San Juan Condado Hotel Plaza (per fan testimony). Harden appeared to be staying in a villa right behind Isla Verde Beach. 

Can Miami Fly Without Birdman?

 Miami Heat forward Chris "Birdman" Andersen was suspended by the league on Friday for one game without pay for shoving Indiana Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough in Game 5. As a result Andersen is not eligible to play in a potential close-out game 6 tonight in Indiana.
 Birdman has shot 100% from the field (15-of-15) in this series, blocking shots, being the Heat's "enforcer" and being another bigger body on the floor for a small Miami team. Can the Heat finish this series in 6 games without him? Sure they can.
  No doubt Miami has a better chance with Andersen being active and able to play. If you recall last year's Game 6 close out in Indy though, Miami was without two of their bigs in Chris Bosh (abdominal strain) and Udonis Haslem (suspended for one game) yet still pulled off a convincing 105-93 win. Dwyane Wade dropped 41 points that night and with his now hindering knee injury he won't likely explode for that many points tonight. Still, Wade is a competitor. Miami head coach Erik Spolestra called him "a warrior" after Game 5. He is definitely giving his team all he's got but in a desperation game for both teams as this one is, it is essential that if he can't get his shot going or get in the lane, he makes plays for his teammates in anyway possible.
  LeBron has assumed the role of the leader of this Heat team even more so now than he had during last year's series. His 16-point third quarter performance in Game 5 was spectacular and he put the Pacers and those watching on notice that he is capable of doing that again and will if need be.
  Chris Bosh will need to be more aggressive. The ankle he tweaked in Game 4 seems to be making him a little uncomfortable but he too has to push through it. Start off rolling to the basket to get himself going then work on finding his touch from the perimeter again to draw Roy Hibbert out of the low post. Bosh will also have to make a concerted effort to box out and rebound more, regardless of if his shots are falling or not, to avoid Indiana getting those easy offensive rebound put backs and second chance points that have really been hurting Miami all series.
 To close a strong Pacers team out like this one, it is going to take more than just the Big 3. Haslem has shot 8-of-9 from the field in two of the last three games and has proven that he can be just as much of an enforcer as Andersen. Miami has great depth but it is all for show if someone doesn't step up and step up big. If UD stays in rhythm while Wade and Bosh give more production than in Game 5, Miami can be heading to the NBA Finals for the 3 straight year after tonight's game.

Do you believe Miami can pull it off? Tweet me your thoughts: @RealRundown