NBA (Barkley) Cares

I am glad Charles Barkley is back on TNT. We need his candor on the air. The other night at halftime of a Game 3 rout of the Atlanta Hawks by the Miami Heat, Chuck said he was mad at the "stiffs" playing in the league compared to the competition he had to face. Fellow former player Kenny Smith chimed in names like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Isiah Thomas, etc. Even the role players to those superstars were formidable: Scottie Pippen, Joe Dumars, Bill Laimbeer, John Hornacek, Maurice Cheeks, Norm Nixon, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and I could go on...

I'm mad too, Chuck!


Random Notes:

I don't think there is any question Derrick Rose is rookie of the year, but how about Ben Gordon, and Ray Allen shooting it out? Rajan Rondo averaging a triple double? In the best first round series by far, I am pulling for the Bulls in this series and being a Knick fan that has never happened, ever.

The Cavaliers totally dominated the once formidable Pistons. Who knew taking away Chauncey Billups would totally dismantle that team? I mean everyone else from the 2004 championship team was in place, minus Ben Wallace but Jason Maxiell filled in for him nicely especially on offense. I didn't think Billups was that much of a difference maker. I stand corrected.

In my opinion, Allen Iverson has joined Stephon Marbury and A-Rod as superstar players who no matter what team they are traded to will never win a championship. There innate ability to throw off the chemistry of a team, and a jinx comparable to the Chicago Cubs black cat and billy goat and old Babe Ruth sale that plagued the Red Sox, will keep them from ever winning. In short, Boston will not only NOT win the championship this year, but probably won't get out of the first round, not because Garnett is hurt, but because Marbury is on the team. Harsh, I know.

The Yankees will not win another World Series until they stop trying to buy the best players, but I digress.

Cavs are looking good. If LeBron wins the championship this year will he come to New York in 2010? Will Wade come to New York? Will the Knicks show they can play defense to entice those two to come to the Big Apple? Somebody get me on the phone to Donnie Walsh.