Before they play their first NBA game, a select group of rookies are sold as potential talents. Then the waiting game starts in earnest. Year one, show a spark. Year two, build on experience. Year three, break out. At some point, the waiting becomes tiresome, a burden, and so everyone just quits. Then it changes…
A little more than three years ago when Harrison Barnes played on Christmas Day, his stat line of 12 points on 38% shooting but 13 rebounds was a perfect illustration of Barnes as a player. There was always going to be some ying and yang, pluses and minuses. It was hard to wrap your arms…
Who knew that one defection would alter the career trajectory of Russell Westbrook. Whereas he was happy to be the Kevin Durant partner two seasons ago, Westbrook is now the triple double machine, the I stir the drink in OKC, and I just got paid. Westbrook was offered and accepted the largest contract in NBA…
In 2012, after Magic Johnson bought the Los Angeles Dodgers, he quietly confessed to reporters that the team he really wanted to buy was the Los Angeles Lakers. But they weren’t for sale. He settled instead on the second most popular team in Los Angeles (sorry Clippers) the Los Angeles Dodgers, a good runner-up. Since…
When the last true villain exited the NBA on April 13, 2016, no one expected he would be replaced. The modern NBA is a league of friendships, comaraderie and respect. Social media requires likeability and political correctness. Saying the right thing and making sure fans understand that you appreciate them is the rule of the…
The draft is eight days away and if you believe what you read the Lakers are not feeling team Lonzo. Magic Johnson has been very complimentary about the skill set of the UCLA point Lonzo Ball but not overly gushing. His workout was good but nothing that blew the Lakers away ala when Kobe Bryant…
Eight months ago, Pelicans point guard Jrue Holiday announced he was taking a leave of absence and was going to miss training camp and the beginning of the regular season. Holiday’s wife Lauren who was in the midst of a medical crises while pregnant had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Holiday could not say…
The Draft Lottery is tomorrow and 13 of the 14 teams that didn’t make the playoffs are all vying for a chance at the number one pick. (Brooklyn traded their pick to Boston). How important is the #1 pick? Here are the number one picks and what has happened in their NBA career. 2007: Greg…
How do we judge Ray Allen given the evidence of Monday night when the Boston Celtics crew, title winners in 2008, title losers in 2010, went all in on Ray Allen and not in a positive way. Friends break up. It’s life. But the residue of hurt feelings that should have been buried still are…
Bucks Free Agents: Tony Snell, Jason Terry, Michael Beasley 2016-17 Bucks Weaknesses: 30th: Shooting Guard Points. 29th: Total Rebounding, Backcourt Scoring, Non-Paint Points. 28th: Defensive Rebounding, Point Guard Points. 26th: Pace. 25th: Offensive Rebounding. 21st: Free Throws Made. 20th: Free Throws Attempted, Points Scored. 2016-17 Bucks Strengths: 1st: Power Forward Scoring. 2nd: Frontcourt Scoring, Points in the Paint. 4th: Field Goal Percentage. 5th: Assists. 6th: 2-Point Percentage, Blocks. 8th: Bench Points, Small Forward Scoring. 9th: Opponent Points. 10th: 3-Point Percentage, Steals, 3-Point Defense. Largest…