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Phoenix Suns' Draft: Rondo, Jackson, and Deng, One Time Suns, Now Gone

May 15, 2009

Now that the Suns' are officially going into the fourth week of their offseason, they have time to reflect on the past. Not just this season but from years back as well.

With the draft fast approaching, I believe its time to remind Phoenix Suns' fans and followers just who they missed out on thanks to Suns' management.

By the way, reports are that owner Robert Sarver may actually sell the pick to any team in the league in hopes to avoid slipping further in the luxury tax.
Here are three missed opportunities by the Suns' in the last 8 years:

Rajon Rondo
Selected by the Suns with the 26th overall pick in 2006, Rondo has proved he has all the intangibles to be one of the top Point Guards in the league for years to come.
He's posted three triple-doubles so far in the postseason and has the championship experience and integrity of a full-fledged veteran.
Playing alongside future Hall of Famers in Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett certainly has accelerated his development, but most of his production is a result from his own sole eggression. 
The next step for Rondo will be to work on his mechanics when it comes to outside shooting and at the free-throw line but the sky is the limit for a player with the potential of Rondo.
Rondo averaged 27.5 points, 8.5 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game against the Suns' in the regular season and dissected the Suns' mediocre defensive zones to get his teammates involved.
If only Phoenix would have hung on to Rondo. Think: the Suns' would have the next heir to Steve Nash's throne and the fact that he's the best defender at his position in the league certainly has to sting a bit.

Stephen Jackson
Selected by the Suns in the second round of the 1997 NBA Draft, Jackson has bounced around the league with the Nets, Spurs, Hawks, and Pacers, before emerging as the leader of the Golden State Warriors, thanks to his passionate attitude and his leadership on the floor. 
Stephen Jax was also a prominent figure in the Warriors' memorable postseason run a few years ago in which they upset the then-No. 1 seeded Dallas Mavericks before losing to the Utah Jazz in five games in the next round.
At 6-foot-8 with immaculate ball-handling a soft touch from the outside to match, Jackson plays both guard positions for the Warriors' along with his normal position at the three.
If nothing else, from Jackson, you're going to get emotion every night and consistent play on both ends of the floor.
Against the Suns this season, Jackson averaged 21.3 points, 8.3 assists, 6 rebounds including his first career triple-double with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.

Luol Deng
Selected seventh overall by the Suns in the 2004 NBA Draft, Deng helped the Bulls' upset the Wade-O'Neal led Miami Heat in 2007 the following year after the Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.
The series proved to be his coming-out party as Deng posted 26 points, 9 boards, and 1.8 steals in the four game mopping of the defending champs and scored in double-figures in all six games of their next series against the Detroit Pistons.
He's evolved as one of the game's young rising stars when healthy and is an exceptional rebounder and defender for a player of his girth.
With long arms and the physicality of an ox, he utilizes those tools on offense as well, digging into the people and creating space for a steadily improving mid-range jumper.
This season he averaged 15 points and 5.5 rebounds against the Suns' with a 17 point-10 rebound effort to highlight the Bulls' season sweep over Phoenix.

Nuggets Vs Lakers: An NBA Western Conference Finals Preview

May 14, 2009

The Nuggets' streaked by the Hornets' and the Mavericks in only 10 games and are awaiting their opponent in the Western Conference Finals.

Los Angeles on the other hand have been battle-tested going against the physical likes of Utah and Houston so far in the first two rounds and have gone to sleep in several of their games.
Should the Lakers' advance here are the matchups for a possible Nuggets'-Lakers' series:
Chauncey Billups vs Derek Fisher
Two of the game's smarter point-guards will clash in this series with veteran leadership being the focal point of their respective operations.
Billups' has been a significant reason why the Nuggets' have gotten this far in the postseason and they will need another push from Mr. Big Shot to get to the Finals.
In the Western Conference Semis, Billups reverted more to his face-up game than his usual post when being guarded by a guard of his body type (Jason Kidd) and consistently was able to slash to the basket.
Against L.A., Billups will be greeted by the tandem of Gasol and Bynum in the paint, making his lay-ups and inside shots much tougher than they were against the likes of Dampier and Dirk last round.
When being guarded by Fisher, Chauncey will look to orchestrate the offense through his post-up game and if he elects to pass it will be through a double-team and to an open man. If he elects to attempt the jump-shot it will be with ease, he can shoot over the smaller Fisher and see over the defense with his height advantage as well. 
For Fisher, he can't be content with just settling for the three-ball and must take the ball to the basket as out of his element as he sounds. It bails out his defenders and gives them time to rest and doesn't get any of his teammates involved unlike when a drive occurs and the chance for a dish when the defense collapses towards him does. 

Dahntay Jones vs Kobe Bryant
Now that the Lakers have Trevor Ariza back and at full strength, Bryant won't have to expend as much energy guarding Anthony during crucial stages of the game.
However, this also is true for the Nuggets' where Kenyon Martin was assigned to guard Bryant late in the fourth quarter during their first-round series last year.
Bryant does it all in the sense that he is the perfect game manager, pushes the tempo when needed and can get to the basket and create contact when his team needs points. 
Jones won't be able to single-handedly stop Bryant but if he wants to help his team he must play exceptional defense and continue that when the help arrives. If you can force the ball out of Bryant's hand the Lakers' are a less effective team.
The Nuggets' applied this very logic in the first round against the Hornets' and forced Chris Paul into 24 turnovers and Dirk Nowitzki into 15 more.
If Denver can frustrate Kobe, Los Angeles' offense will become stagnant and the result could be catastrophic given the Nuggets' prowess on their end of the floor.
Though with that being said, Bryant is extremely crafty and will find ways around the Nuggs' litany of defenders.
I give this edge to Kobe Bryant due to his abundance of wisdom and knowledge of the unflappable triangle offense.

Carmelo Anthony vs Trevor Ariza
Anthony was a non-factor in the meetings during the regular season and averaged less than 15 points per game in their four meetings against Los Angeles but he's recently picked up his play and is starting to resemble all the qualities of a superstar.
He averaged 30 points in their five-game demolition of the Dallas Mavericks and sank the game-winning three from the right elbow in Game Three that spelled the end for Dallas and the beginning of advancement for the Nuggets.
Melo is also becoming more committed on the defensive end, a trend we haven't seen prior to this season. With the even scarier thought of Anthony becoming a true two-way player in the future, the Lakers' have much to contest with.
Defensive ace Trevor Ariza will be assigned to guard Carmelo should the Lakers advance past the Rockets in the Western Conference Semifinals. Ariza is long and is a good perimeter defender.
He has quick feet and his athleticism really helps him on both ends of the floor. On defense it allows him to maneuver around opposing screens and spring into the air to contest shots and on offense he converts on drives and more often alley-oops. 
This will be Ariza's toughest assignment of his young career and it will be a tall order. Anthony likes to operate preferably from the elbows or from the the top of the key which gives him the advantage when taking his man off the dribble and creates the right angle when getting to the basket.
If that is negated by weakside help, Anthony executes a few dribbles and takes a sweet pull-up jumper to soften up the defense.
Because of his new-found motivation, I give the edge to Melo in this matchup.

Lamar Odom vs Kenyon Martin
This appears to be the most interesting match-up of the starting lineup when comparing the two teams.
Despite Odom's bad back, it's unlikely Phil Jackson will continue to insert Andrew Bynum in the starting lineup when the reward is greater for the Lakers' should Bynum come off the bench.
Take into account that the Lakers' can close out the Rockets' with Odom in street clothes and there's a high chance Odom will be in the starting lineup pitting him against Denver Nuggets' F Kenyon Martin.
This will be the first time Lamar will be guarded by the opposing team's best one-on-one defender and it will be key to see how he handles the situation.
He can react by being flustered with Martin's abrasive tactics and turn the ball over or by calmly mulling over his options, taking a few between the legs dribbles and figuring out the best interest for his team.
Odom will be L.A.'s X-factor and if he's bottled up by Martin the Lakers' will lose a big dimension of their offense and their team as well.
Martin's activeness around the basket will cause problems for the thinner Odom whose game flourishes out on the perimeter and gradually develops down near the post. 
Both of their games heavily rely on finesse, so it will be interesting matchup.

Pau Gasol vs Nene'
Gasol is longer, more skilled, and is a monster on the offensive glass. He had 18 offensive rebounds in three games against Denver this season and totaled 45 boards in those meetings.
If the Nuggets' want a shot they must do their work early and begin to box out the Spaniard as soon as the shot is being hoisted, Second-chance points prove to be real killers and against a team like the Lakers', Denver can't afford not rebounding the ball.
As for Nene' his task is simple: get into the body of Gasol and score points. The Lakers' struggle with Gasol in foul trouble and his slimmer body will be a disadvantage when guarding Nene'.
The Brazilian must use his mass and barrel into Pau instead of using his finesse moves which he was forced to do against the slower centers he faced in the first two rounds. 
The Nuggets have outscored their opponents by an average margin of 15 points in the Playoffs when Nene' scores in double-figures and boast a sparkling record of 6-0.
I'm going for the underdog and giving the edge to Nene'.

NBA 09 Playoffs: Mavericks Chances, Magics Hopes, Lakers Fate

May 13, 2009

What an intense and exciting NBA 2009 Playoffs it has been thus far.

Ranging from the elbow from Dwight Howard to the head of Samuel Dalembert, to the "what did I do?" football truck stick hit from Derek Fisher on Luis Scola, to the outstanding buzzer beater wins, and without a doubt, one of the best first round series matchups (Celtics-Bulls) in NBA history.

The NBA is where amazing happens. You know that, I know that, we all know that.

With only six teams remaining in the second round—Cavaliers advance, so they do not count—there are still many eyebrow raising questions that come about when discussing who will make it to the Conference Finals.

Maverick's Got a Chance?

Alright, so the Mavs are down three games to one against an outstanding Denver Nuggets team. Do they really have a chance at coming back and advancing?

Let's see since next game is going to be played at Denver.

On the season, the Mavericks went zero and two at Denver. The one eyebrow raising concern is they lost both those games by three points or less.

During the two games at Denver, the Mavs lost by 14 and the other by 12.

So, I come to ask the question once again, do the Mavericks have any chance at winning this series?

Game Five will really determine the fate of that question.

If Dallas can somehow pull out a victory in Denver, their chances of making a historic comeback will sky rocket to extreme heights, especially since Game Six would be played back in Dallas.

Magic's Hopes Down the Drain?

After an upsetting buzzer beater loss at home and an outstanding 11 point comeback victory in the fourth quarter by the Celtics, the Magic have one final hope in advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Down three games to two in the series, Orlando will get the golden opportunity to redeem themselves (once again) back at home.

The burning question is whether or not they have it in them to capture a Game Six win.

We all know the Magic must have been completely devastated after last night's loss. But guess what, they deserved to lose.

They gave up, and not only did they give up to just any team, it was against the defending champions. The team with probably the most heart left in the entire playoffs, especially without their "Big Ticket" in Kevin Garnett.

So are the Magic's hopes and dreams more than half way down the gutter, or can they pull out a victory at home?

You decide. Post a comment, I would like to hear your opinions on this one.

Laker's Fate in Their Own Hands

With Yao out for the rest of the playoffs, you know the Lakers gained all the confidence in the world to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Now up three games to two against the Houston Rockets, the Lakers are determined to finish the series back in the big state of Texas.

Can they do it? Of course they can, they have the best player in the entire league.

Will they do it? That fate of that question lies in the players themselves.

Will they come out playing like they have all season long, or will they start the first quarter down 17 points to four like they did in Game Four?

I know the true answer to that and most LA fans do as well.

The Lakers will ultimately end this series, once and for all in Houston. S

orry Rocket fans, your team played absolutely phenomenal, even with all the terrible injuries that came along the way, but the truth of the matter is that the Lakers will crown themselves victorious in Game Six.

Will Kobe Bryant Retire At the End Of the Season?

May 13, 2009
Will Kobe Bryant retire at the end of the season? As puzzling as it sounds, it could become a sad reality for the game of basketball to cope with. He has accomplished a multitude of achievements; three rings, MVP, and worldwide adulation being among the most notable.
Compound that with the fact Bryant has a clause in his contract which allows him to opt out this season and sign with another team, and KB24 has plenty of options.
Should the Los Angeles Lakers win the championship this year, Bryant may feel that he has accomplished all that he could. In that scenario, he would have taken the Lakers to two straight NBA Finals appearances with out O'Neal and presumably defeated the best phenom since Michael Jordan in LeBron James.
He averaged 26.8 points, five assists, and five rebounds per game for the ninth straight season, dating all the way back to the '99-'00 season and led the Los Angeles Lakers to the best record and the top overall seed in the Western Conference for the second consecutive season.
Bryant could go out a winner, something he has been almost his entire career, and if he elects to do so, I would not be surprised. I would be disappointed, along with millions of fans worldwide, but not surprised.
Bryant's played 13 seasons (all with the Lakers) and has three championship rings as a part of the legendary three-peat along with Shaquille O'Neal and head coach Phil Jackson. He has an upcoming documentary coming that will be shown Saturday on ESPN about his journey as a basketball player, directed by acclaimed director Spike Lee I might add.
If this is the end, I will give my salute now. Farewell, Kobe you have been great!

Golden State Warriors' Draft: The Search for a True Point Guard

May 13, 2009
With combo guards like Monta Ellis, Marco Bel, Anthony Morrow, and Kelenna Azubuike on their roster, the Warriors' are in need of a true point guard to funnel the ball to all of those scorers.
Jason Kidd may be an option, but it's clear he's on the downside of his career. This is why Golden State will look towards the draft.
Here are three prospects that should be on the Warriors' radar.
 
Ricky Rubio
The Warriors' crave a true point guard—and Spanish sensation Rick Rubio is the closest thing to it in this year's draft class. Some scouts have gone as far as to deem him the "Spanish Pete Maravich"—and with the way he can accurately deliver the ball during crucial interludes of play, I agree.
At 6'4", he's taller than your typical point guard, which is another plus. The fact that he's more elongated then most at his position will allow him to see over the defenses and find the open man—similar to what NFL Quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady do.
He's also a lefty, which can cause havoc on defense, because nine times out of 10 they're playing and defending against someone who thrives on their opposite hand.
Overall, Rubio looks as if he has the complete skill set of a true distributor, one that could work wonders with the Warriors' However, the only way Golden State will have a chance of selecting him is by garnering the No 2 overall pick or higher. Currently, the Warriors' are stationed at No. 7 and have a 4.3 percent chance of winning the lottery.
 
Jonny Flynn
Standing only 6'0", Flynn uses his stout frame to elude backcourt traps and knife through defenders, causing havoc on the defense and leading to him find the open man. He's a great assist man, is active in the passing lanes, and his leadership is outstanding for a guard of his age.
In terms of NBA, his stature is his greatest weakness. But we're starting to see a trend develop in diminutive point guards playing above their heights and becoming valuable to their team at the next level—see Aaron Brooks, D.J. Augustin, and Nate Robinson, among others.
Flynn had a historic Big East Tournament and proved to be one of the best game managers in college basketball the past season. He played courageously against Oklahoma, and expects to perform well in the upcoming draft workouts.
Golden State can use a guy like Flynn—a playmaker with a tough attitude and can really ignite the fastbreak. Pair him with Monta Ellis in the backcourt, and the Warriors' now have one of the most aggressive, athletic, and finesse-minded tandems in the NBA—perhaps even the best under 20 years old.
Picking Jonny Flynn at No. 7 looks like a mistake, but given the Warriors' need for an unselfish playmaker, they may have to make the sacrifice in this year's draft.
 
Ty Lawson

Lawson is the most unselfish candidate of the three, and is also the fastest player in the draft from one end of the basketball court to another. He's currently riding a hot streak that was further inflamed by the Tar Heels victory in the NCAA Championship.

Lawson was undisputedly the most-important player of the NCAA Tournament. His performances during UNC's run—21 second-half points against LSU on a bad ankle, a near triple-double in the Final Four—and his five-to-one turnover ratio in the Big Dance were miraculous.

The Thunder are in dire need of a distributor, as they finished second to last in their division in assists and almost dealt their best passer (Earl Watson) at the trade deadline.

With scorers like Monta Ellis, Anthony Randolph, and Brandan Wright all still developing as scorers, a crafty player with amazing speed and who actually prefers to dish the ball maybe the right prescription for the Warriors.

Though the seventh-overall pick seems like a tad high, Lawson could vindicate the Warriors' decision by having a good series of workouts—similar to what Thunder G Russell Westbrook did in last year's draft.

Or if he has a bad series of workouts with NBA teams has he did last offseason, Golden State can easily trade down and acquire more pieces toward their future and still nab Lawson.

What if the Nuggets Traded Away Carmelo Anthony Last Summer?

May 12, 2009

As I wrote a year ago, what if the Denver Nuggets traded Carmelo Anthony? That type of question can't be answered within one statement but volumes. For one, you must take into account the players returning in the deal, the players going out and the salary cap bonuses or restrictions.

Here was my outlined deal:



Its also likely, the Nuggets wouldn't have been able to afford contracts to key pieces like J.R. Smith and Chris "Birdman" Andersen down the road and without them the current Nuggets are no where near the same team. With Birdman missing, Denver faltered in the 4th Quarter and the Mavericks took Game 4 of their series.

Smith is their best scoring reserve and certainly their most athletic. Without him, points simply aren't being scored off that Denver bench.

Now for the biggest part of the equation: trading Carmelo Anthony.

If the Mark Warkentien pulled the trigger, he would've lost the face of the franchise and questions arise whether Chauncey Billups would've been acquired.

Denver would be without their most consistent scorer; Melo has averaged over 20 points per game in each of his first six seasons as a pro and the best dual threat in the Western Conference north of Kobe Bryant. In addition, Melo is beginning to learn to play defense thanks to the teachings of Team USA, and is developing into the superstar that everyone envisioned of him when he was selected third overall out of Syracuse after leading them to a National Championship as a freshman.

Even with the talent they would have received and lets say the Nuggets tremendously overachieved, there's no way they would finish second in the Western Conference and only a few nights away from advancing to the Conference Finals.

In return though, the Nuggets would have gotten Devin Harris, Anthony Randolph, and Richard Jefferson.

By the way that isn't too bad either.


New Jersey Nets send
Marcus Williams/Devin Harris
Richard Jefferson
10th overall pick
for
Denver Nuggets send
Carmelo Anthony
Marcus Camby

The Nuggets sent away Marcus Camby later in the summer to the Los Angeles Clippers anyway, but if he would've been traded to the Nets', the ramifications would've been huge.
For starters, Denver wouldn't have flushed away $10 million the way they did by sending him out West for a second round pick. The New Jersey deal would have required Denver to take back over $15 million in salary and in return the Nuggets would have been over the salary cap and in the luxury tax.


How the Atlanta Hawks' Franchise Would've Changed if They Drafted Chris Paul

May 12, 2009

It's been three years since the 2005 NBA Draft, the day when all 30 franchises were changed forever—some for the better: New Orleans, Utah, and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Hawks' fans may have grown numb, so picking at the scab certainly doesn't help.

With the second overall pick, the Atlanta Hawks selected Marvin Williams and bypassed the likes of Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Andre Bynum, Danny Granger, and Monta Ellis.

They selected a forward even though they already had Josh Smith, Al Harrington, and Antoine Walker on their roster, instead of drafting a point guard. 

So, for another painful moment, let's think "What if?" one more time. What if the Atlanta Hawks had taken Chris Paul instead of Marvin Williams?

For starters, the Hawks would have a nucleus of Paul, Johnson, Smith, and Horford and would be in position to either draft a small forward or go after one through free agency. Ron Artest, anyone?

Or the Hawks could used their versatility and properly plug-in Josh Smith at his right position at the three and signed a power forward in the offseason.

If Atlanta would've had Chris Paul, it's a high-tide bet that they would have defeated the Boston Celtics last season instead of going down in gut-wrenching fashion in Game Seven. Though it's more likely they would have never been the eighth seed with the offensive prowess of Johnson and Paul, along with the defensive abilities of Horford and Smith.

By adding Paul to the mix, Smith's development on offense would be further along; the same can be said for Al Horford—he would be a double-double machine. Paul's current center, Tyson Chandler, had 38 double-doubles last season, despite being extremely limited on the offensive end. The majority of his baskets came from put-backs, tip-ins and alley-oops from Paul. Al Horford had 20 double-doubles this season and is resourceful down low on the blocks. 

You can imagine for yourself how many double-doubles Horford would have notched with CP3 as a teammate. The same goes for Josh Smith, who also had 20 double-doubles and is one of the best talents in the league at his position. 

As Atlanta finished fourth in the Eastern Conference this season, their post-season matchups have been simply asinine. They played, arguably, the greatest collection of NBA Stars in the Boston Celtics last season before being sent home for the summer in seven games. This year, they narrowly escaped a war with one of the best players in the league (Dwyane Wade) and now they're playing the newly crowned MVP, LeBron James.

All of this strain could have been avoided if they simply would have taken Paul. It's fair to say that the Hawks would have been able to challenge Orlando for third in the East and would've been playing a passion-filled Celtics' team, undermanned or not.

Plainly, Paul has the ability to make those around him better, which is what the Hawks need. Too often that task falls into the hands of Joe Johnson, which takes away from his duties as being their main-scoring threat.

Not to mention the obvious fact that Paul would have become the face of the franchise. Positions one, two, three, four, and five would've been capable of making an All-Star team. You've seen the wonders he worked with David West, Chandler, and even James Posey.

That could have been yours, Atlanta.

GSW Offseason: Will The Warriors Sign Jason Kidd?

May 11, 2009

After the Mavericks pulled off the trade that sent Devin Harris away and brought back Jason Kidd, they were pegged to be contenders.

That assumption has proved to be wrong, with the Mavs' garnering two playoff berths. Still, both were seven and lower and the Mavericks just squeaked by the Phoenix Suns as the season came to a close.

Kidd is a free agent after this summer and will have the right to sign with any team.
Dallas will be looking to make changes this offseason and so will the Golden State Warriors. The Mavs' need to inject youth at point guard and will most likely take one through the draft, electing not to re-sign Jason.
Meanwhile, the Warriors covet a true point guard, which is why they should sign Jason Kidd.
Kidd would give Golden State the true point guard that they've been looking since before Baron Davis, since the Run T-M-C era at a reduced price.
In effect, it would allow Monta Ellis, in his first full season coming back healthy, to be inserted at shooting guard (his natural position) where he thrived alongside Baron Davis.
Kidd also doesn't demand touches in terms of scoring, but only to integrate his teammates into the offense. This means more scoring opportunities for Stephen Jackson, Ellis, Maggette, Randolph, and Biedrins, and permits J-Kidd to rifle passes to their legion of scorers.
Jason also has improved his three-point shooting and shot over 40 percent this season for the first time since 96-97.  He continued his ways of wizardry, compiling 19 double-doubles and three triple-doubles.
Throw in his exceptional three-point shooting and Golden State has almost solved the problems at the floor general position. He's unselfish, has been accustomed to pushing the basketball his whole career (which plays into the hand of Don Nelson), and can knock down the open three when needed.
The Warriors had two players going 1-2 for the top three-point shooters in the NBA, with Morrow leading the way at 46.7 percent and Kelenna Azubuike at 44.8 percent.
With Kidd in the lineup, Golden State can keep Kidd at point guard, allow Morrow to remain at shooting guard, and push Azubuike to the three because of his strength.
Throw in Corey Maggette at the four, and Golden State is just about deadly from position's one through four.
Of course, these lineups can be mixed around. For example, they could add Stephen Jackson to the mix.
Compound that with his active hands in the passing lanes (he averaged two steals this season third in NBA), his leadership, and the fact the he's one of the best rebounding guards of all time, and he could really be an asset to the Golden State Warriors.
Furthermore, the Warriors wouldn't have to spend their potential top-10 lottery pick on a point guard in June, and would be able to either draft in an area of need (such as power forward or center) or possibly package that deal to acquire either a veteran presence or a superstar, i.e. Amare Stoudemire or Chris Bosh.
I believe the Warriors should sign Jason Kidd. Kidd grew up in the Bay Area and was often found battling on the playgrounds of Oakland against future hall-of-famer Gary Payton. 
He then went to UC Berkeley and from there he began his journey into the league. He's vented his desire to return to the Bay Area and has yet to rule out a return to his home state of California.
What a fitting end it would be for Kidd to retire in the same range where he spent the majority of his childhood? A great one, for a great player.

Did The Refs' Cost The Dallas Mavericks Game 3?

May 9, 2009

With the Mavericks up 105-103 and trailing 2-0 in their series against the Dallas Mavericks, shooting guard Antoine Wright was ordered to foul Carmelo Anthony before he could attempt a shot in an effort to preserve their lead and win the game.

As the ball was being inbounded. Wright carried out those attentions and bumped into Carmelo Anthony hard enough to cause Anthony to loose his grasp on the ball and come close to turning the ball over and thus handing Game Three to the Mavs'.
However, Carmelo regained his dribble and preceded to get off a shot attempt. Wright again collided with Melo and forced him closer to the sideline.
Expecting a foul to be called, Wright backed off Carmelo and Anthony knocked down the uncontested bomb, winning the game for the Nuggets' and dealing Dallas into an insurmountable 3-0 deficit.
After the play, Wright mouthed "I fouled him" repeatedly to the refs as the air was let out of American Airlines Arena.
You can make a debate for either side that Wright cost the Mavericks the game or the referees did.
When the Nuggets' gained possession of the ball off of Dirk Nowtizki's missed fade-away, they called time-out with 6.5 seconds remaining.
If Antoine Wright knew he would be assigned to defend and intentionally foul Melo', he should have softened up the officials' by letting them know I'm going to foul Carmelo before he can get up an attempt.
By doing this the refs' understand their game-plan, and would be able to anticipate Wright's actions towards Anthony.
Instead the result was a clean look and dirty words spewing out the mouth of Mavericks F Josh Howard and Maverick owner Mark Cuban after the game. 
As for the guys with the whistles, you would assume that they would be aware of Dallas' predicament and their late-game situations.
However if you've learned one thing its you can't assume you must know (for obvious reasons) and obviously the officials didn't know that.
It wasn't just Melo's jumper that doomed the Mavs', it was Wright's failure to communicate with the referees and the referees failure to make the blatant call.
The Vice President of Officiating released a saying statement admitting that they missed the fact that is was an intentional foul and they apologized for that.
Either way, the Mavericks are down 3-0 and can look forward to yet another downtrodden off-season.

Carmelo Anthony — Where Amazing Happened

May 9, 2009
As Jason Terry swished a late-game three from the right corner, the score ballooned from 102-101 to a two-possession lead in a matter of seconds with only 31 ticks to go.
Terry then began emphatic celebrations and yelled out "Let's Go" hyping himself and the sellout crowd of 20,620 as Dallas cemented the game.
Presumably I might add before one of the game's greatest players simply took over.
First, Anthony aggressively drove to the basket and closed the gap to only two (105-103). Denver played sound defense and got a stop. With 6.5 remaining the ball was inbounded to Melo.
From there the unexpected as well as the expected happened. The Mavs' had a foul to give and Antoine Wright was ordered to execute that strategy. Wright did make contact with the former Collegiate Champion causing him to fumble the ball near the out of bounds line.
But then he recovered rose up and Carmelo calmly drained the game-winning 3 with one second left and catapulted the Denver Nuggets' to a 3-0 lead over the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Semis'.
Nevermind the fact he seemingly may have re-injured his elbow during a scruffle in the 3rd Quarter or the fact he was playing with 5 fouls since early in the 4th. All those factors went out the window as Melo elevated and released. He went up with hope, passion, and belief and landed as a winner, littered with support and adulation from his teammates.
Sure Chauncey Billups' had the better second half (statistically) but it was Anthony's 18 points in the first-half which gave Denver a three-point lead at half-time, that provided the Mountain Men with any shot at a win.
What else did he do? He accounted for 7 of Denver's final 9 points either by assisting or scoring and held Josh Howard without a field goal the last 4:35. Anthony also contributed to the Nuggets' win without even knowing it. 
Anthony fouled Howard with 1:28 left with the score at 101-99 Dallas. Howard in turn only made 1-of-2 and left a window for the Nuggets' which Carmelo later opened.
Carmelo finished with 31 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and got to the free-throw line making 11 of 14 shots. The Nuggets' were 18-3 on the year when he attempts 9 free throws more with three wins over the Mavericks, including Game 2 and now Game Three.
Perhaps this is just what you expect from a player selected No. 3 overall in 2003. I'd say your right and the Nuggets' are getting their money's worth.
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