Miami Heat's primary mission should be defeating the Boston Celtics

Heat picked to be champions this upcoming season. Pfft. Too pre-mature. And I think the notion is caused by the success of the earlier formed big three, the Boston Big Three. But contrary to popular impression that the Heat will go all the way to the finals I stand as opposition. One big obstacle stands in the way and they're "green-ing" to get their hands dirty.

Boston have been overlooked in the discussion of potential NBA finalist because of the LeBron show that overshadowed the whole off-season (even casting it's big shadow in the Finals series). But let us not be fooled, the guys in green maybe old news but they're standing tall. This off-season they shored up their artillery by adding old dogs O'Neals. They present the biggest problem for the Heat as well as the Lakers because they got height and they got might. The O'Neals maybe old but they're not as feathery as Chris Bosh or Lamar Odom, they will use their bodies to their advantage, physical and that's what Boston is even was. Add Kendrick Perkin's to the equation later in the season and you got potent post defenders. Shaq is the only individual left who can play Dwight Howard one-on-one, Bynum even in old age. Jermaine is still useful down the block scorer. Trivia: Have you noticed how the last 3 finals have been dictated by length of players? Boston had better height advantage in 2008, Magic was overwhelmed by the Lakers in 2009, 2010 was the same after Kendrick Perkins went down.

Looking at the entire Celtics roster is like looking at an entire collection of anique superstars, Garnett, Allen, Pierce, The O'Neals. Add to that the motley crüe they assembled this last 3 years where they were present in two finals and getting at least one championship in those appearances. They play hard ball and seemed focused on what they're doing, and the heart Garnett's eternal fire to get to the championship never seemed so vagrant as when he played his best game of the recently concluded finals in Game 7 itself. They maybe old but they are still the bad dogs... the yardstick of the East.

Best advice to Carmelo: Stay put

It has been reported that Carmelo have shown up in their team's media day. After the circus he generated coming to this training camp, Carmelo did the wisest thing, play basketball and be mum. With trade talks taking a slight pause, he could use the silence to ponder what he wants.

Turning down the extension offer from Denver swirled numerous rumors about Anthony's unhappiness with the way things are going for his squad. It's really frustrating when you have been that close (2 more games win could have catapulted Denver to the 2009 Finals), and not being able to duplicate it the very next season when you are expected to do better things. But in the NBA it's not an isolated case. Dallas is one big example (2006 finalist, NBA top seed in 2007 only to be upset by no.8 Golden State). Yet it's also true that with the way the Lakers have put up their team they'd be in contention way beyond after Kobe Bryant retires from the game. And that is the reason why in my opinion throngs of former Western Conference superstars have bolted out of the conference and found the East enticing.

Which brings us to the present situation, Melo seemingly wanting to go Eastside, with the alibi of wanting to play close to the Manhattan area. Anthony is a Brooklyn native. Wanting the big stage that his friend LeBron James shied away, seems a valid reason for moving. Great scenario. But that's until he swings another great city into the mud... Chicago. The New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls are known superstar makers not named LA. Those who have played in the MSG were showered with big love from New Yorkers, even if their teams were not so great (remember the Marbury era?), and what about Chicago? The city ranked as one of the highest in gate attendance even in their troubled years in 1999-2005. And from Chicago rose the universally recognized best player ever (Now what's his name? I guess you know). Both teams have the tradition of winning and creating stars. So why is he not traded there yet?

For the Knicks, their lack of tradeable pieces hurt them even draft picks are a scarcity for the club for Chicago, them not wanting to include Noah in the mix (good for them). This resulted for a search for a new trade partner. Enter New Jersey, Utah and Charlotte. New Jersey and Denver are the principal teams in the proposed trade with Utah and Charlotte as secondary trade partners. Denver gets draft picks, Andrei Kirilenko, and Derrick Favors, Charlotte gets Devin Harris and Jarvis Hayes, Utah getting Boris Diaw and Quinton Ross and New Jersey getting Carmelo and DJ Agustin.

What halted the negotiation? Carmelo. New Jersey felt (and rightfully so) that unless they get a commitment from Anthony long-term then the negotiation is a waste. True. But if I was Carmelo why would I like to be there? Because of Brook Lopez? Lopez have yet to prove he can play high level basketball with a winning NBA club. If New Jersey trades Devin Harris, Melo would be stuck with secondary level players like Farmar, Hassell, Morrow and the likes. With the East continuing to upgrade I don't think New Jersy could compete right away and might need for Chris Paul. But there is no guarantee also that Paul might wind up there, even if they relocate to Brooklyn. It's wise that Carmelo thinks the only way to win is to partner right away with another all-star something the Knicks and Bulls can offer right away.

So if I was Carmelo I'd stay put for now, wait 'til the contract is over then move on. I don't think any other team can trade for him mid-season if he doesn't commit long-term anyways. It would be disastrous.

In balance of good and evil

I love Charice's voice. I do. And I like her on Glee. That is why it was such a buzz here in the Philippines that our very own petite girl was casted on the hit TV show. But on the hindsight I must balance adulation and criticism as part of being a good viewer. Good voice doesn't translate to being a good actress as Charice also demonstrated in her pilot appearance on the show. Let me give you an example.

If you were confronted by a serious and commanding presence would you smile or back-off a little? In their restroom scene, Lea Michele confronts Sunshine Corazon (Charice's character) in an intimidating manner, and instead of being annoyed Sunshine smiles throughout the "Telephone" sequence. Really awkward.

One more thing that bothers me is Charice's hand gestures in her audition piece which is very reminiscent of her other famous video "Pyramid". It's eerie that the performances shown in the music vid and the audiotion piece is the same. I hope Charice does a little more creativity the next time. I'm Filipino and I don't want to be biased to my "kababayan" (compatriot), and I only point this out as means of improvement. Having said that I wish her all the well.

Shalom.

Does the Miami Heat have what it takes to win the championship this year?

You know the rants NBA legends like Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and Magic Johnson have thrown over this new-formed triumvirate. We know how Cleveland reacted when James bolted out of town to go South Beach. Even Phil Jackson takes a jab at this newly minted contenders (“I always refer to when Wilt Chamberlain was traded from Philadelphia to Los Angeles and that put Baylor, West and Chamberlain together — three of the top scorers in NBA history — and they never won a championship together the four years they were together. It’s not always scorers and talent that wins it. But it’s teamwork that does it.”).

Phil obviously has a point, but I think he also missed on the issue that those three partnered near their dog days much like this edition of the Boston Celtics. These three are young driven individuals who want the championship. But can they? That is the question.

Honestly THEY can. But will they win it this year? Maybe not. Maybe yes. And I'll break it down for you.

Recently the Celtics tried the same stacking formula and it worked in their favor. But you need to remember how they did it. Just before their season ended the team fortified the little chinks in their armor. They added veteran Sam Cassell and PJ Brown. Sam may not seem much at the time but an aging former NBA all-star guard, but the guy has been a winner all his career. He knows how to win it all -he was a rookie when he won his first ring - and is a steady guy down the stretch heck he even help that awful Los Angeles Clippers make the play-offs his first year there. How about old reliable PJ Brown? PJ honed his game in the rough 90's. This guy was an enforcer. Remember the Knicks-Heat rivalry near the end of the 90's he was in the middle of it (PJ flipped Charlie Ward to the sidelines, body-slamming him, and a melee ensued. They also got Tony Allen and James Posey as defenders. Now you know what kind of fortifications the Celtics did yo ensure they get to that elusive crown.

Which brings us to Miami. Does the Heat have that kind of depth to make a serious run at it. Yes they've shored up on the big men but I don't think their big men is as talented or would be capable of stopping the likes of Shaquille O'Neal (even in his down years) and Dwight Howard. With the kind of Bigs they have, mostly offensive minded guys, I don't think they'll be stopping lots of talented big guys out there. Their backcourt is as depleted as well, with Mario Chalmers probably their best stake at PG. Yes the Miami Thrice is there but those three can only do as much and will be limited to 6 fouls. I'm also not that high on Chris Bosh, as he always shy away form contact and prefer the perimeter to take his shots. I think the Heat would benefit more from playing a conventional back to the basket power forward than play another perimeter wannabe guy like Bosh in their offense.

The Heat have lots of things to do before they can really be a real threat to the Lakers crown. But mind you the talent is there, team chemistry is another thing and if the Heat can shuffle it's roster one more time middle of the season... They might just pull it.


Picture: From Web