“The Baby Faced Champion”

(June, 9th 2015)  By: Ira Barasch 

Stephen Curry is an enigma, wrapped in mysticism and spiced a bit with a dash of awe inspiring, spine tingling, jaw dropping talent. The kid can flat out ball. It's been obvious since he was picked seventh overall by the Golden State Warriors in 2009 and he has been torching the league ever since. The Warriors have slowly built around him, adding key pieces through the draft such Harrison Barnes (2012), Klay Thompson (2011) and Draymond Green (2012). They've also added pieces through free agency and trades such as David Lee, Andrew Bogut, and Andre Iguodala. All of these pieces were put together to fit around Curry and this year, it all paid off.

Although, Curry is in an interesting predicament. He is in his 6th NBA season and has the chance to become immortal. Not many have had this chance, and even fewer have actually accomplished the goal. John Stockton and Karl Malone made the finals in back to back years in 1997 and 1998 and didn't win. However, both are Hall of Famers. Patrick Ewing also never won, neither did Charles Barkley nor did Reggie Miller. Yet they're all Hall of Famers. More modern players would be Steve Nash, and even Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant (though the latter ones still have a shot), all are probable Hall of Famers. The list goes on, and in multiple sports; great player and a Hall of Famer, but without a title. This is what sets the truly immortal elite from the rest. That ever elusive ring. Some switch teams and warm the bench after illustrious careers just to get a shot at one, others create super teams to finally push themselves over the hump. The end goal though is to call yourself a champion. This is what Stephen Curry has a shot at, being elite, being a champion.

The case can be made that this won't be his only shot, that he can make it back here and win a different time, yet that's not always the case. Ask Dwight Howard, or Kevin Durant if they would rather have won on their first try. They got a taste of being on the biggest stage in basketball and haven't been able to get back since. 

This is the distinguishing factor the separates the very good from the truly great. Being the best player on a great team, and winning it all. Adam Morrison (drafted #3 in 2006, in the dictionary under 'total bust') actually has something every single player named in this article would kill for, a championship (granted, he didn't do very much; see video on the left)

Therefore, the Baby Faced Assassin is actually in a perfect situation, with a great team built around him. He now has an MVP and a chance to accomplish what some great players wait their entire career for, yet never can accomplish. It's not a guarantee that he'll ever come back here, or even if he can duplicate this season before an injury hits and sets him back (see: Tracy McGrady and Derrick Rose). After his performance in game 2 of the Finals it has become clear that Stephen Curry has to elevate his game to the next level, and take his place as one of the best players in the NBA. He can possibly  be one of the greatest shooters in history. To do that he must win, and there is no time like the present.

“I'm coming home”

(June, 8th, 2015)  By: Ira Barasch.       It took three words for LeBron James to shock the world, three words that made free agency last summer turn into a frenzy. The Cleveland Cavaliers then acquired Kevin Love by actually trading their past two number one overall picks in Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett. He also joined an already blossoming point guard in Kyrie Irving. The beginnings of a super team seemed to be in the making. From James getting his buddies James Jones and Mike Miller to come for reduced salaries, to the Cavs hiring David Blatt from overseas to coach, this team seemed primed.

Yet the struggle that ensued was incredible; Love was not fitting in, his game was just not conforming to LeBron's. Anderson Varejao went down with a season ending injury before even playing in the regular season, thinning their front court dramatically. David Blatt and the team was hovering near a .500 record when January came along. 

Again the team changed, with the Cavs acquiring J.R Smith and Iman Shumpert from the Knicks, and Timofay Mozgov from the Nuggets. Suddenly they were blowing out teams; their record skyrocketed. J.R. Smith looked like his old self, he was playing with confidence and making his shots. Mozgov was finally living up to his potential and looked like a dominant big man and a rim protector. Things started to look up for the Cavs as they entered the post season. Until Love went down with a dislocated shoulder vs. the Celtics, and Irving's injuries started to act up, eventually leading him to fracture his kneecap in the first game of the finals.

So where does that leave LeBron? It seemed like he was playing a five on one at times in game 2 of the finals. Back to carrying the whole team on his back. He has mostly role players around him and no other All Stars. This is dramatically different than when he won his two other titles with Miami. There is no Dwayne Wade to rely on, no Chris Bosh to turn to, and no Ray Allen to make a clutch three. This is all on LeBron's shoulders now, yet it seems so fitting that it should be. This is his team, it's his city, and most importantly, it's his time to prove his worth. Never before has so much been on the line for James as far as his legacy is concerned. This is his chance to pick up a team, practically by himself, and bring them to the promised land, like he wrote about in his article last summer. This is his chance to bring the city he spurned their first title since 1964 when the Cleveland Browns won it all, and complete his tale of redemption after being swept by the Spurs in '07. Finally, this is also his chance to establish a legacy that won't be in the shadow of the older “23” so many compare him to. The time for excuses are over, it's time for LeBron James to officially establish himself as the best player in this generation. If he can overcome the odds, if he can push the distractions and the detractors away, he can finally establish himself to be among the great players to ever play the game.


However for James, who has been blamed for not being a clutch player over his career, this is a huge task. So what will it be LeBron? You said you're coming home. Talk is cheap, and actions speak louder than words. Now is the time to show all the people who don't believe in you, who hate you, an

d root against you, that you are the player we knew you could be when you came into this league. It's not going to be easy, but if you win, the glory is all yours. It's right there for the taking, now we will just have to sit back and see if you can.