CAVS.SPACE

Here are the updated NBA Team Chemistry Rankings for the 2011-2012 season. Noted preseason contenders --Oklahoma City, Chicago, San Antonio, Memphis, Miami, Dallas, and Boston--all find themselves in the current playoff picture. Of these 7 teams, only the Grizzlies at 4-6 have played sub-.500 ball in their last 10 games. Overall, the Western Conference remains the stronger conference, with 13 of 15 teams at 20 or more wins this season; in comparison, the Eastern Conference has only 9 of 15 teams at 20 or more wins. Regarding team chemistry, there appears to be balance across the conferences, with 5 teams from each conference currently ranking in the top 10. It will be interesting to see how the final month of the season goes and where teams end up in the playoff seeding. Rank Team Notes Previous 1. Oklahoma City Thunder The Thunder continue to look like 'the team of the future'--i.e. the championship team of the next defining era of NBA basketball, a la Magic and B

Reviewing analysts' and fans' comments from TV, online discussion boards, Twitter, and other sources, it sounds like the Ramon Sessions trade received mixed reviews. While it may hurt now to lose Sessions' point guard skills, work ethic, and will, the Cavaliers were wise to obtain a 2012 first-round draft pick and the right to swap first-round draft picks with the Lakers in 2013. Following the season, Sessions was expected to exercise an opt out clause in his contract to pursue the opportunity to start for another NBA ballclub. The Cavs did him a favor, as Sessions may now get a chance to start in Los Angeles for the Lakers' championship contending team. The scenario with trading or keeping Sessions brought attention to a critical decision point that all NBA teams face. Teams often face the prospect of losing players via free agency. While clearing salary cap space can be helpful for future development (signing free agents, draft picks, and contract extensions), teams

The NBA's trade deadline this season comes next Thursday at 3pm. For the second straight year, an injury has helped keep Cavaliers forward/center Anderson Varejao off the trade market. As analysts and fans have discovered this year more than any previous year, Varejao is critical to the growth, development, and future success of the Cavaliers. Retired star and current analyst Reggie Miller has referred to Varejao as a "glue guy" --someone who helps hold the team (and its performance) together. As I have stated in past blog posts, there are many parallels between sports and business and sports and life. A couple years ago, a friend of mine referred me to bestselling author Seth Godin's book, Linchpin  ( Are You Indispensable?) . As Godin notes, "Every successful organization has at least one linchpin ; some have dozens or even thousands. The linchpin is the essential element, the person who holds part of the operation together. Without t