Jump Ball

A ‘tie-up’ is resolved with it.

The clock doesn’t start without it.

It’s one of those rare moments in a game where the officials have all control.

Two opposing players face off with one hand slightly raised anticipating the ref to toss the basketball in the air; and for a split second it’s a fair game. The ball is up for grabs.

Welcome to the current state of the Eastern Conference.

Two weeks ago, The King decided to leave his throne in Cleveland, so he could begin a new quest out west. LeBron James since 2011 has been the most selfish player in the league refusing fans to enjoy an NBA Finals without his face. To put it in perspective, the last time I watched a LeBron-less team in the Finals was my freshman year of high school. (I’m a college graduate now.)

All eyes have been on the West since the start of free agency, but ironically, LeBron’s decision made the East more entertaining.

The King is now where he belongs. Unlike the East, the West doesn’t shatter merely because of LeBron’s presence. They play with a different edge. Mainly because they have to if they have any chance of taking down the Golden State All Stars.

However, LeBron’s exit did birth a new revolution. His greatness overshadowed the conference’s quality, so teams never received the appreciation they deserved. Those days are over now.

Speculations can come to a cease and mysteries are about to get solved: Will the Raptors reign with their nemesis out of the picture? Can Brad Stevens and a healthy Kyrie uphold Boston’s rich tradition? Can we really Trust The Process? Does the Greek Freak have a coach he can trust? Just how good are the Pacers? And will the Wizards ever play up to their potential?

I’m out of questions, but you get the point. The throne in the East is up for grabs. Everyone can either put up or shut up, and not look at LeBron as a scapegoat. Who’s willing to fight for it?

Kawhi’s Cry

Strange. Odd. Apathetic. Peculiar.

These are some of the adjectives I think of when Kawhi Leonard’s name is mentioned in conversation. This is not to antagonize or condemn him for staying true to his self, but one can’t deny that Kawhi is a little…different.

However, ‘The Klaw’ is a special talent. There’s not another player in this league that can frustrate players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant with suffocating defense, while managing to put up 30 points efficiently. He wasn’t expected to be a star; let alone the face of a franchise. But when Kawhi became the centerpiece in the Spurs’ championship run in 2014, the basketball world thought San Antonio had a new king ready to continue tradition.

Don’t skip past that word so quickly. Yes. We thought.

The Spurs this past season has been everything I described Kawhi as: strange, odd, apathetic, and peculiar. And the only question that remains unanswered is ‘Why?’

Why doesn’t anyone know the status of Kawhi’s lingering quad injury? Why did Tony Parker question the heart of San Antonio’s superstar? Why is the NBA’s most respected franchise in total disarray? Why isn’t Kawhi saying anything?

Okay. Excuse the last question because that one will remain a mystery unsolved.

But as you can see, this entire phenomenon is a paradox to everyone. All of us are confused—except for the focal point of this whole scenario.

“What are you saying, Dariel?”

I’m saying that Kawhi Leonard is very conscious of his situation. He understands that the San Antonio Spurs are a first class organization operated by a Hall of Fame coach. However, he’s very aware of the changing landscape of the NBA.

The days of teams being powered by a 1-2 combo are pretty much extinct. To win a title in 2018, it’s a requirement to have 3 superstars (and Jesus). San Antonio isn’t an attractive market, so the Spurs historically are forced to build through the draft. Kawhi rightfully doesn’t have the patience for that. He wants to win now.

The only resolution that stands for Kawhi is to get out. He has felt betrayed by the organization. Veterans have disrespected him in public. If he’s looking for a more perfect time to leave, he’ll miss it.

Is he out of line for ‘allegedly’ threatening to sit out a season? Maybe. But then again he’s ‘injured.’ No one really knows the truth.

Nevertheless, Players have the freedom to do what’s best for their careers, and Kawhi is in his prime.

At the end of the day, Kawhi is looking out for self. We don’t question franchises for being selfish, so why are we questioning the player? It’s business, right?