Links to the Present: November 20th, 2009
2009-11-20
-Apparently this LeBron football thing is something I’m supposed to care about. He was a pretty darn good receiver in high school, and as a tight end might be a force. I feel like a lot of this story is LeBron responding with some confidence to a fairly leading question, and that it’s been made into something a lot bigger than it needs to be, which I suppose is par for the course with LeBron at this point.
I’ll float this out there: I don’t think tight end would be LeBron’s best NFL position. There’s a precedent for guys LeBron’s size and freakish quickness excelling in the NFL-it happens at left tackle. Look at Jonathan Ogden of the Ravens, and one of the most interesting things in “The Blind Side” is that Michael Oher honed his quickness because he grew up wanting to be a basketball player. (Quickly: I CANNOT BELIEVE THEY TURNED A NON-FICTION BOOK THAT COMPELLING AND AMAZING INTO A FEEL-GOOD SANDRA BULLOCK MOVIE. I HAVE NEVER BEEN THIS MAD AT HOLLYWOOD. READ THE BOOK.)
Just my two cents. And yes, the notion that LeBron James would ever play offensive line does make me laugh out loud, but that’s probably where he could make the greatest impact if he wanted to give up the glory and put on some weight.
Amazing article in the New York Times from a very cool USC grad on the pick-and-roll’s importance. For all of those who rip the Cavs leaning on simple PnR sets with LeBron too much, notice how good LeBron is when he runs the Pick-and-roll, and that’s with roll guys nowhere near as good as Amare.
MJ on LeBron’s possible number change.
Every blogger in the league is currently dreaming about a trade that would bring Chris Paul to their team. I’m not even going to allow myself to start daydreaming about this until real rumors start.
Also, Kevin Martin+Sergio Rodriguez’s contract for Z’s expiring would work, and I love K-Mart a bundle, but see a lot of obstacles on both sides that would keep this from happening.
Alright, that’s all for now. Pacers tomorrow-get excited for what should be a bounce-back game.
Kevin Martin is always hurt though, although I absolutely love his game. His shooting plus is ability to create his own shot…perfect for this team offensively. Is this just John dreaming about trades or are there actual Kevin Martin rumors out there? Wouldn’t trading David West make more sense for the Hornets then trading Chris Paul? Chris Paul is worth more to that franchise than can be calculated in dollars and cents, and they have him for 3 years before they need to worry about resigning him. Trading West would allow them to tank, they would probably get a good… Read more »
The Kevin Martin thing seems somewhat possible. I don’t think the Kings need him and his big contract when Tyreke Evans is their long-term 2. If they move him, they can go to the OKC route. Rookie contracts, cap space.
p.s. pacers could be a trap-game: supposed bounce-back game + injuries + danny granger = trouble
this whole lebron-nfl story is just another overblown lbj story. i find it hard to believe there really isnt any better news stories out there to cover. that four-letter website actually had the poll question there for 2 days, asking if lebron would make it in the nfl, and even changed the wording after the wizards game, saying something like “would lebron james, who hurt his wrist dunking last night, make it in the nfl?” so pathetic. i really wanted to see “the blind side” until i realized it was about a guy on the baltimore sloppy-seconds (thanks, simmons)…and that… Read more »
Kevin Martin on this team would be an absolute godsend of a second scorer. That would be Christmas and a whole lot more.