To mourn the death of Kings.

Currently Listening to: 周杰倫 – 安靜

It’s too bad that ingenuity, creativity, and greatness is judged by the people instead of a person… or instead by the person who judges the people.  I’d like to think I’m rational, and that numbers dictate what I do and how I do it.  Of course that’s not true,  I’m very much driven by my emotion and feelings;  there are certain things that are, despite inefficiencies, sacrifices and so on, necessary for my personal view of a better world.

But I digress.  In certain cases, things exceed a level of great, better, or excellent that define greatest, best, and brilliant… and it is in those moments where, no matter what the numbers say or what the numbers indicate, you feed it and water it so that it grows.. not only within itself but onto the people.

I very rarely rave about a show as I am about to now, and I do not dedicate this level of… effort… into praise, but the loose retelling of King David’s story is worth the time.  NBC’s decision to cancel it is a travesty, especially in consideration of their lackluster efforts to promote it.  Nothing against ER, but this show doesn’t even compare and our loveable super secret human computer (..its Chuck) with a conscious doesn’t even pale to David Shepard.  Plus I think Allison Miller brings a new meaning to “classic American.. I mean Gilboan… beauty”.  The show is written beautifully, well directed and holds a wonderous sense of “art”… but you notice its rushed, and that each episode locked in its 47 or so minutes, should be five episodes, with story archs and growth, depth.  Even in its alotted time and expiration, the characters given are so much deeper and hold so much more potential then shows that have gone on year after year after year.  To keep it fittingly brief… the show makes you think, and its not very often NBC, or television for that matter, does that.

To share his thoughts about the Artest/Ariza Signings.

Currently Listening to: Esperanza Spalding – I Know You Know

This is a reaffirmation on sabermetrics and Moneyball, why its crossing over to the NBA should be wonderous, and how Daryl Morey is the spearhead for the push for better management.

There are two teams that have effectively stayed within legitimate contention within the last decade or so.

1) The Spurs -  A decade of dominance starting from 98 and onwards.  Brilliant drafting, great signings, great philosophy, patience, and focus.  The front office of legends.  If every team had Spurs management, the NBA would be watched by martians.

2) The Pistons -  They started the trio before people started picking up on it. Sheed, Billups, and Rip?  That’s like the Version 1.0 to the Pierce, Garnett, and Allen Trio.  Built a team around role players and had a starting five to die for with Prince and Big Ben.  Remember 2004 Lakers fans?  It’s because your management sucks that happened.  7 straight conference champs.

There are two, three teams that are in position to be great.

1) Raptors are supposed to be brilliant, that team should be great but for some reason isn’t.  Headed by Bryan Colangelo..  maybe I just have too much faith

2) The Blazers.  I think they’re the next Spurs.  Just another piece away… I don’t know why they’re so silent this year.. probably saving up for next year.

3) The Zombie Sonics.  Sam Presti has done wonders with that team in just two years.

4) The Rockets.  They have to be cursed.  You lose 40 million dollars in cap for teh last 3 years, and still stay relevant.  I think Daryl Morey is a genius

The ehh’s.

The Magic and the Nuggets.  They just don’t do enough.. and I feel like they get lucky and sometimes over pay.\

Onto the point at hand.  I’m going to explain why the Lakers blow as a management group, despite winning the title.

1) The Pau Gasol thing is some fluke.  Chris Wallace is retarded, and I mean certifiably, institutionally mentally ill.  That deal wasn’t even a deal.  Its one of those things where, if you play a lot of EA Sports games, you would restart the game because the trade was so dumb and you realize .03 seconds after you commit it that you could’ve gotten a deal 10 times better.  He didn’t listen to any other offer.  Half the teams didn’t even know Gasol was on the trading block.  Who is that dumb to not find a better offer?  I bet even Hollinger’s PER had that trade at Lakers +10 PER by just getting Gasol.

2) Vujacic is making five years a year.  He’s making about the same amount of money Ron Artest is, Trevor Ariza is, and so on.  Is he worth that? NO.  Is Luke Walton? No?  WHY IS HE MAKING THE SAME AMOUNT?

3) Jerry West is/was a genius.  You’re living off his blood.  Shaq, Fisher, Bryant?  That’s all West.

4) http://www.basketballreference.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BYNUMAN01

We’re going to look at a very basic statistical reference (I’m going to discuss this later.. but Daryl Morey’s formulas are secret, no one else has them besides the Rockets)

Two players jump out, Tyrus Thomas and Craig Smith.

Here’s how much Bynum is making

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/la_lakers.htm

and here’s how much Thomas and Smith are making.

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/chicago.htm

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/minnesota.htm

In a fictional world; if I could trade Thomas and Smith for Bynum (which, if my team has reached the cap limit I can’t because I’m paying Bynum so much… )  I would.  He’s a rich man’s Samuel Dalembert, and you’re paying him 8 digits.  Not that Dalembert’s contract isn’t ridiculous.

5) Congratulations.  You got a player to play in LOS ANGELES.  Unless you like clean air instead of Hollywoood stars, beaches, the party life, and great weather 365 days a year, you’ll want to live here.  Besides Miami, your team, based purely on the city and such, is probably the most attractive to NBA players.

This brings up Daryl Morey.  Moneyball principles apply to the NBA because it is a softcap, meaning teams who have good owners are willing to pay the luxury tax, and teams who have Donald Sterling have to sit through an incompetent coach who also happens to be GM, when a guy like Michael Curry gets fired after a year.

Daryl Morey, bless his heart, has to sit on 40 millions dollars (about half the cap next year) because of injuries, so say he operates in 50 million dollars…  You know what?  I’m going to let the 2009-2010 season talk for me.  I would put money on the Rockets finishing over 42 wins next year, despite having shitty pickings at the FA market this year.  Wait for my follow up on statistical analysis and its benefits in the NBA… and why Brandon Jennings and Jrue Holliday are busts because they’re horrible statistically (and one has a horrible attitude.. next Darius Miles?)