45 Kings

"Still ballin' in the mix..."

Slim Thug - Still Tippin'

The Mavericks defeated the hapless Nets 96-87...last night for their 45th win on the year and 13th in a row.

Major Figures

There is a saying that states: slow and steady wins the race, and if that is the case then the Dallas Mavericks are on pace to go deep into the upcoming playoffs. Since the trade for Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, and DeShawn Stevenson...this squad has quietly gotten better, stronger, and faster.

Its never my practice to award a team or predict their future, however the Mavs are a legit threat to win it all. This group is better than the 2006 team that lost in the Finals to Miami...the reason is they are an experienced group of veterans featuring Jason Kidd, and Dirk Nowitzki, as they boast a solid bench with depth at numerous positions.

With injuries to Jason Terry, and Jose Juan Barea...others have stepped up like rookie Rodrigue Beaubois who is an all around talent...playing well at both ends of the floor.

Much has been made about Caron Butler and his preference to chew on McDonald's straws during games...however the bigger story is how the Mavs continue to win, putting the league's best teams on high alert.

There is a new kid on the block and if they are not given respect...they will gladly take it...and the win!

Photo: Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images

True Story

"I'm going through it...mom dukes too..."

Jay-Z - This Can't Be Life

There is a phrase that I heed whenever times are more difficult than usual...and it simply states that life's not fair.

Get Familiar

Basketball is my catharsis, and while I don't participate on an organized team anymore, attending games, and writing about it, helps fill the void from not playing. It is now within certain athletes that I can see myself, which allows for a vicarious euphoria that I once had as a shooting guard.

All-Star Weekend is currently taking place in Texas, and while last night's so-called dunk contest failed to entertain, the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge proved what I had been told a few weeks ago in a conversation with Caron Butler after a Wizards win over the Kings.

Sacramento's Tyreke Evans walked into this weekend's setting a heavy favorite for Rookie of the Year honors, and by halftime on Friday, he had closed the door on any doubts about his basketball prowess. The last thing I want to do is crown him, and make predictions...however the things he is able to do on the court is greater than his follow neophytes.

I covered Evans during his prep days at American Christian and while I liked his strength, and IQ, I didn't think his jump shot or play to the crowd style was the makings for an elite player. Let this serve as an official record that I was wrong. He's matured, and his time in this league is now. I'm not jumping on the bandwagon...I just feel that I didn't appreciate him as much as I should have...nevertheless I do now, and I stand corrected.

I started to notice a change last season during his freshman campaign in Memphis...however I saw him play numerous times, and I think it was the accessibility to him that pulled the wool over my eyes. The same scenario played itself out when I watched Kobe Bryant go from Philadelphia's main line, to the Los Angeles Lakers. I knew he was good, and I respected his talent...but I had no idea that he would become the best guard in the world.

These are interesting times for me, as I move ahead with things going on in my life...and running parallel to that are my responsibilities as a journalist...documenting the happenings of others.

Hugo earned the MVP award leading the first year players to a 140-128 win over the sophomores...and he did it with the same heart, flair, and toughness that he always had as a child growing up on the painful, unforgiving, basketball courts of Chester, Pennsylvania.

Game recognizes game, and Evans is looking very familiar.

Photo: Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

The Wizard

Respect

"Keeping on trucking baby..."

Eddie Kendricks - Keep on Trucking Baby

Last week I traveled to my favorite NBA city to work on an assignment...today I was saddened by some disheartening news.

Legacy

Abe Pollin passed away after losing his battle with a rare neurological disease. After my initial shock wore off...I emailed my friends on the Wizards PR staff to give them my regards and condolences.

There are a few reasons why DC stands head and shoulders above the other 29 teams in the league.

1. The PR staff do their best to assist the smaller media outlets. In fact when I first started AXG, it was the Wizards who allowed my photographer and I access to the team and games.

2. Milt Newton, Vice President of Player Personnel and I used to work together at the League offices in New York, and he always offered me advice and a helping hand.

3. Brian Sereno, Director, Public Relations is the one that believed in my talent as a writer, granting me media passes to cover games under AXG.

4. Proximity to Philadelphia.

5. It is after all Chocolate City...

6. Free ice cream sundaes at halftime.

7. Daren Jenkins, Senior Coordinator, Public Relations...he and I have become good friends, as I respect how he has risen from an intern to a senior member of the PR staff...his story reminds me of mine.

8. Caron Butler is not only one of the best players on the team, but he allowed me to work as a counselor for his summer basketball camp at McNamara High School in 2007. He's a really great player and even better person.

9. Nick Young is the future of this league...he is truly a diamond in the rough, and his best is yet to be made evident.

10. The Wizards/Cavaliers "rivalry"

Photo: Ned Dishman/NBAE/Getty Images

Standing Tall

Power

Strength

Courage

"Shooting air balls at the basket...what you call money, I pay more in taxes..."

Jay-Z - Oh My God

Pennsylvania is a well known football state, much like Florida, Texas, and Ohio, however the Keystone state is also home to some of the best basketball athletes to play the game. Names like Dawn Staley, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kobe Bryant come to mind, but one of the most known unknown great basketball players is none other than Richard Hamilton.

Native Son

I interviewed Rip Hamilton last summer for GAME TIME, during his annual Rip City community event in his hometown Coatesville, PA. Prior to that trip to the small coal mining city, I had only been there once. My friend and fraternity brother Jordan "JJ" Jackson lived there and attended Coatesville High School, and as I drove through the town, I was surprised at how different it was than I thought. I expected rural farm land, with a quaint boondocks feel, but what I saw was a town ravaged by the collapse of the industrial revolution. 

I am not a fan of Coatesville, Pennsylvania. I am however appreciative of the people that have lived there, that have navigated their way out, and have made a better life for themselves. This is no suburb of Philadelphia, this town is unlike anything I've seen, and I travel a lot. In essence, people grow up tough there, and if you see toughness and strength in Rip Hamilton's game, then you can only guess where he got it from.

The other day, Jordan Jackson visited the site, and posed the question about Hamilton playing less minutes with the Pistons, while coming off the bench. He made a point that Iverson's days are numbered in the Motor City, and that Rip is a proven scorer and winner within the NBA. He wanted my opinion, so here it is:

Rip is one of my favorite players within the spectrum of all sports and competition. He is a leader, and I believe that leaders are born, not made, therefore he is a legit athlete that has done nothing but win, and lead by example. I first noticed him during one of his many classic high school battles against his best friend Kobe Bryant. At 6'7", and approximately 190lbs, the lithe guard plays with an easy Sunday morning flow, almost lulling the defense to sleep as he creates baskets for himself and teammates. He's a shooter, but unlike most players of his caliber, Rip can put the ball on the floor, further putting the defense on the alter, at his mercy. 

For his size and ability, he is a special player. Imagine if he were never traded from the Wizards? That team could have been built around him, with Caron Butler, and Jamison? He has the basketball version of the Midas touch, because he has won, and proven himself on every level. He was the #2 high school player in Pennsylvania behind Kobe...won the NCAA Championship with UCONN, and earned a ring in Detroit. 

At 29...30 next month, he is still in his prime, so the Pistons need to figure out what they want to do. I believe the curse of Carmelo Anthony is haunting this team, and for those who need me to spell it out...the Pistons didn't draft Anthony in 2003 because they felt they were a team coming into their own with a championship on the horizon...that didn't need an established player like 'Melo...instead they choose Darko Milicic with the 2nd overall pick and the rest is history...and while the Pistons won it all in 2004, things haven't been the same since. 

This team is in such a state of discord that will not be fixed anytime soon. Things will get worse, before they get better, and that is so unfortunate for Richard Hamilton. However his saving grace is that he was born and raised in Coatesville, and because of that fact, he can handle this and a lot more.

Photos:  Doug Pensinger/Allsport

Black Thought

"You ain't got to feel no way about Jay...so long...but at least let me tell you why I'm this way, hold on..."

Jay - Z - December 4

I attended the Washington Wizards home game on Sunday, January 4th...as they played host to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In recent years, these two teams have played in some memorable regular season and playoff matches...however I had no idea what would transpire that day at the Verizon Center.

Box Score

I've had time to reflect since my afternoon in the nation's capital, and the aftermath of that game is the exact reason why I am so passionate about writing. You see, the words journalist and writer are given to people, and while most are very deserving, there are many that take that honor for granted. 

The Wizards outlasted the Cavs as Antawn Jamison hit a baseline jump shot with 10.6 or so seconds left in the game...setting the stage for LeBron James to force an overtime session or win it all. My ace cameraman and friend Jeff Young turned to me and said, 'Bron is going to drive to the basket...naturally I agreed with him. At 6'8", 250lbs, he is a force, and at full speed...he equivalent to a runaway train...and true to form, after a Cleveland time out, James received the ball on the left elbow, made his hesitation "crab dribble" move...took a hit, and connected on the basket. The game was now tied, and with an opportunity to go to the free throw line, the outcome was in LeBron's hands...however the referee called a traveling violation, and the media or so-called media took the "crab dribble"...and traveled with it. 

I'm sick of these folks that didn't attend the game, that have great insight and an expert opinion. I go to games, I conduct pre and post game interviews. I am a JOURNALIST. GAME TIME with AG. is not your typical blog...I'm not sitting on the couch watching television, spewing venom. My job is to ask questions, and type up the answers...and as a black man, I want to build and uplift my heritage, because if I choose not too, then who will?

The video above took place directly after the media left the vistor's locker room. Prior to that, I made my way amongst my colleagues, and this is what LeBron had to say...addressing us all after a tough 80-77 loss...scoring 30 points, to go along with 10 assists, and 6 rebounds. He did however have 7 turnovers, and even for the best of the best, that is 7 too many:

LeBron James

On the game:

"It seems like we don't get going, when we don't make shots. When we make shots, it allows us to flow better. We held them to 41% from the field, which is better than our season average...we have to work on turning the ball over on the road, and improving our second chance opportunities."

On the Washington Wizards:

"The Wizards did a great job of outworking us today. They had 19 offensive rebounds which helped them a lot. They're a team that shoots a lot of long jumpers, so it is important that we rebound at our end better."

At the end of the game what did you talk to Caron Butler about?

"I just told Caron to continue to play hard the rest of the season. He is one of their [Wizards] leaders and very talented. I hope I get to see him at the All-Star weekend."

This is journalism, in fact, over at our sister website, The Starting Five, my friend Michael Tillery has been writing and working at such a high level, that this morning on ESPN First Take, his work from this very game was topic of discussion via Jemele Hill, and Skip Bayless. If you have detected a hint of anger, then you my friend are correct. I'm just tired of the garbage that people write, and get paid top dollar for...they should be ashamed of themselves. 

Meanwhile, my friends and I will continue to do the right thing, creating our own path, while writing it like it really was, and is. Most of the people writing never played the sport that they cover...and not only did I play basketball on several levels, but I also let the actual athletes do the talking here on GAME TIME, thus nothing is taken out of context or misconstrued.

Peace.

The Most Known Unknown.