Opinionated.  o•pin•ion•at•ed

adj.
Holding stubbornly and often unreasonably to one’s own opinions.

Now, to me, there is a fine line between stubbornness and persistence...especially in the world of fantasy basketball.  Sure, I can choose to like 28 points a game, but I can also choose to despise the four turnovers that come with it.  You see, I’m not a big fan of “baggage.”  I’m a firm believer that you shouldn’t have to “give and take” in this sport, thus I choose to hate on certain big name players from time to time for the things that they don’t do…

With that said, I present to you, the soon-to-be (if not already!) dedicated readers of DroppingDimes.com, the first Sargent Says of the 2006-07 basketball season.

During the NBA season, I’ll be sure to have plenty of statistical based rants and raves.  However, with the World Championships underway, I’m provided with a whole different focus at this point.  What can the WC’s tell us?  Well, they can lend insight to how a group of stars get along with one baskeball, or they can show how much of a disgrace Larry Brown was with his World Championship team (and his unwillingess to play Lebron James and/or Carmelo Anthony).  Well, to me, this tells us who won’t be rested up for the 82-game NBA season that awaits them this year.  And while I don’t put a ton of weight on this, you can’t deny that the wear and tear that occurs on these guys’ bodies over the course of the summer will have some sort of adverse effect on them come the All-Star break.  I mean, already, Carmelo Anthony has hyperextended his knee.  While it may not be much, you can’t tell me that you would want anyone on your fantasy squad to have hyperextended ANYTHING this past summer…But maybe that’s just me.

I love Chris Paul just as much as the next guy (unless that “next guy” is Dennis Velasco), but he has gone from college to an 82-game season, to now playing summer ball, so how will it transition into the next 82-game season?  Heck…I’m even concerned about Anderson Varejao playing all summer.  Yes, I love his double-doubles in international play, but I’m sure the Cavaliers or deep league/dynasty league owners would rather hear about his latest hair cut - knowing that he’s safe and sound, ready to rebound like crazy this coming season. 

Now, don’t get me wrong.  If some players are using these few summer months of competitive play to work on certain portions of their game - that’s all the better.  If I come across an article on how Coach K wouldn’t let Dwight Howard have any post-game food until he made 5 straight free-throws…awesome.  If Gilbert Arenas gets pulled from games for turning the ball over…all the better.  But if I see highlights of Dwyane Wade crashing to the hoop like it’s Game 6 of the NBA Finals, just waiting for a foul to be called on Dirk Nowitzki (even though the USA isn’t playing Germany…but that’s a whole ‘nother story), I’m getting nervous.  The 8th man on the Brazilian National team isn’t going to be suspended by David Stern.  No chance he’s going to be reluctant to lace into a Team USA member if the game is on the line.

Now, I love what Colangelo is doing with this group of guys.  I love the depth that this roster of “stars” provides, even if one of those aformentioned is Bruce Bowen.  While I do think that Allen Iverson is a better player than Luke Ridnour, does anyone in their right mind disagree with the fact that if anyone needs a summer of rest, it’s the 40-minutes-a-game Iverson?  Iverson fans, trust me when I tell you that it’s a good thing when your guy is at home with his Xbox 360 for a few months…

In the end, I’m just as excited to see this talented group of players mold together on the court, and bring a championship home to the US of A…even more so after that whole Larry Brown debacle that we had to experience the last time a team was put together.  I just hope that it doesn’t catch up to these guys come NBA time.  Some guys will perform better than ever, while others may wear down…Only time will tell.