After a few days of letting the first part of the balance of power post settle in, I think it is time to finish up my premature and angry emotions about the upcoming NBA season. If you need to find out what I am talking about, take a read of my previous post. It’s actually right below this one. There are a lot of things bothering me and maybe I should have expressed them when they occurred, but compiling them altogether simply sounds more effective when expressing emotions of disgust and disdain. Delving deeper, I finished reading JB’s post about Lebron’s Decision and Opportunity again and before I continue, if you haven’t read it, do. It truly is a great piece of writing. It honestly is the most balance and logical article of Lebron James’ future with the Miami Heat. Even I, when I first read it, was taken back at how simple it can be for James, especially when comparing ones game plan to John Wooden’s practices and execution. I agreed with JB’s post, so much that I believe Lebron did the right thing.

However, after reading it again and putting more thought and research into it, I can’t disagree more. It’s humanly impossible for me to invest myself emotionally and mentally into ‘The Kings’ move without cringing. I read Shooter’s article and then started to smile. Again, another great piece of NBA literature. I know this should be a continuation of Item #3 from my previous post, and I apologize for getting carried away, but my emotions get the best of me (See my girlfriend).

Without further ado, and hopefully with more cheer and positiveness, here is the rest of my balance of power list:

4.The Joe Johnson signing is the worst free agent contract…ever! Move over Eddy Curry, you are free from the sole position of unintelligent, most unnecessarily lucrative, and ridiculous binding your team’s future signing. The Atlanta Hawks bailed you out, with the signing of Guard Joe Johnson. Before I rant a bit, I want it to be known, I like Johnson, I even respect him. He shouts his mouth, plays the game with everything he has and produces solid numbers, but let’s be honest. Six years, 124 million dollars for a 29 year old player who can only really score is absurd. Johnson is a great spot up shooter but Mike Bibby is no slasher and Jamal Crawford is not a passer; therefore, the Hawk guard has to dribble around, run off the shot clock and throw up a shot. He is such a good shooter that 43% of the time, it goes in, but this is no way to build a team around . Johnson is a second option at best. He is not a leader. He can take over games on a extremely rare occasion, but when I think about the Hawks, his name name doesn’t immediately come up. I refer to players Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Jamal Crawford coming off the bench before I ponder his existence and now he is one of the highest paid players in the league. How can Atlanta do this? I respect and comprehend the front office want to keep him and don’t want to see him join a division rival but for 6 year-124 million dollars. You could have dropped off 24 million off the deal and he still would be overpaid. Did they not watch him in the playoffs? He was terrible, even against the Bucks. Hell against the Magic, he could have stayed at home and Atlanta would have done better. I don’t have the stats in front of me but he was atrocious, anemic, and embarrassing. I thought no would want to sign him. Another second round exit with no promise and honest chance to win a championship in the near future. It’s pathetic. The Hawks can be so good. They should be great but bad coaching and idiotic front office work will never get you where you need to go.

GM Rick Sund has done a terrific job in the draft taking chances on Josh Smith and Al Horford . He also brought in Jamal Crawford, Maurice Evans, and Mike Bibby to develop an 8 -deep team. The things are in place. All Sund neeed to do is bring in a solid back up point guard, an experienced coach, and resign Joe Johnson for a reasonable price. He has done none of those, but the signing of an aging shooting guard for ridiculous amount of money has completely halted any possible of a future but a bad one. Good Luck Atlanta, you have secured a player with 3 years left in his prime and early exits in the playoffs.

5.Steve Nash will revitalize Josh Childress and Hedo Turkoglu’s career…or whats left of it. Nice segway from the Hawks. Josh Childress went over to Europe for a few years to play a different style of game, obtain more money, and leave a franchise who had a promising future. Steve Nash will bring the absolute best out of Childress, he already plays great defense and is a high flyer. He is of course not Amare Stoudemire, but the ex-Hawk forward can’t get to the basket on his own but can finish around the basket and make momentum changing plays. In a way, he may be an improvement to Stoudemire. Childress plays actual D, attacks the boards, and is a team player. I haven’t watched him since he played with the Hawks, but this is what European basketball is all about. Team play, unity, and togetherness, and who better to utilize this asset than Nash. He has structured a career on improving teammates abilities and strengths. See Tim Thomas, Quentin Richardson, Raja Bell, Shawn Marion, and Boris Diaw. There are a plethora of others. Now, he can do it again and with another ailing and aging shooting forward, Hedo Turkoglu.

Turkoglu had a terrible season for the Raptors. He was lost the entire 82 games and for what he did to Portland, karma can be a bitch. His slow but effective scoring style became irrelevant. He was not draining shots like he did for Orlando and his desire was not existent. His career is coming to an end, but joining up with Nash. The sky is the limit. With the 2-time MVP at the point, slashing, creating, Turkoglu can be reborn. He doesn’t have to force drives, shots, and create turnovers. He can take what Nash gives him, which is a lot. I know Nash is going to be 37 this season, but he is timeless. He constantly fights, works his ass off, and delivers on a night to night basis. The Suns are the most underrated team going into the season. Everyone is talking about the Heat, Thunder, Lakers, and other power houses, but did everyone forget the Suns swept the Spurs. The Spurs owned Phoenix for years. Nash had nightmares about Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and specifically, Robert Horry. It was unbelievable and it’s all due to Nash’s demeanor. He never backs down, never whines, and never runs away from a challenge. They should be a favorite to win a title with Grant Hill finally healthy, Robin Lopez establishing himself as a Top 10 Center, Jared Dudley developing into a great asset off the bench and new faces to make everything fresh. Honestly, for years, the Suns needed to get rid of Amare. He was a downer. A selfish, brash, and childish big man who has no skills other than throwing it down hard. Granted, Turkoglu and Childress aren’t winners, but I know they are invigorated and reborn to play with best distributor in the game. The Suns are for real!

6.The SouthEast division is the most exciting division in basketball! This is a close one with the Northwest including teams Utah Jazz, Portland Trailblazers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Denver Nuggets battling it out on a nightly basis but the balance of power has shifted. The SouthEast division is loaded with Lebron James and Chris Bosh joining the Heat. The Bobcats are getting better, the Magic are still 8 deep and have the most dominant center in the league, and the Hawks can still play on a night to night basis. Even with the Wizards, this division is exciting. John Wall tries to make Abe Pollin’s death not in vein. How will Gilbert Arenas respond to his recent treachery? The Wizards storyline is almost as exciting as the Heat. Ok, that was an over exaggeration but honestly, Wall is like Kevin Durant coming into the league. He was the most watchable and thrilling player in college and everyone is wondering if can he make the same transition. Now, he has to go against the best teams in the league. How cannot anybody be excited about this? I am going to be watching all of his games (Translation: Only 16) and eagerly await a Holy S*** moment.

With Magic and Miami going against each other 4 times this year, we are treated to a newborn rivalry. Before this year, the Magic had it easy. They easily won the division without any qualms, worries, or nonsense. This season, it’s all different. You have Wade, Bosh, and Lebron on the same team. Granted, the Heat aren’t clearly as deep as the Magic. Honestly, nobody is, but with this talent and Stan Van Gundy’s inability to rise above a tough situation, these games are going to be filled with hatred, tension, dirty play, and drama. The casual fan should be wetting their pants under witnessing this matchup. It’s stellar. It’s what the NBA is all about. The race is going to be close from Day 1. They already started the arm’s race. After Lebron announced his arrival in Miami, Orlando did everything in their power to draw Chris Paul in. The talks were fierce and I thought Paul was going to take the bait. I am glad he didn’t because I would be forced to hate him. It would have been exciting for these two teams, but bad for the NBA. It didn’t work out but the animosity is there. I don’t like either of these teams but I can feel the tension. You could cut it with a knife. It’s terrific. It’s a soap opera, but with good acting. Kevin Spacey and Meryl Streep joined Days of Our Lives. Could you imagine it? The ratings would go through the roof. It’s setting up for great drama and it’s great for basketball fandom, because unlike college, the NBA needs to lean on other crutches to support the load of these big names changing teams like a 15 year old girl changes boy toys. It’s thrilling, it’s terrific, it’s f***ing exciting.

This is The Ref signaling I’m out until next time and remember: We miss calls, you miss lay ups.