For the casual fan, Christmas Day is the de facto start to the NBA season. The slate of games lets fans know who's good this year by placing the year's marquee matchups all on one day. Christmas also lets them know that the NBA has an endless amount of shoe and uniform ideas that get flashier every year. So, here's how the today's five games went down.
Celtics 93, Nets 76
As expected, this one got chippy late after the ejection-filled meeting they had last month. The Nets failed to show up for their first Christmas Day game in Brooklyn. Shooting 40% on the day and a poor 58% at the line, the Nets couldn't climb back in the game after a rough second quarter buried them by 14 at half. Rajon Rondo lead all scorers with 19 points, helped by Jared Sullinger and Jeff Green giving strong efforts off the bench. Kevin Garnett dominated the floor defensively, directing the game while fans heard his chatter (he was mic'd). Deron Williams could never get anything going for Brooklyn, and now these teams share identical 14-13 records.
Lakers 100, Knicks 94
This was a thoroughly entertaining back and forth contest that featured Kobe and Carmelo (the NBA's two leading scorers) duking it out for all 48 minutes. The Lakers found a pulse thanks to Steve Nash and his 16 point-11 assist game. Metta World Peace was huge off the bench with 20 points while containing Melo in the fourth quarter. Dwight Howard had a 14 point-12 rebound game, but was 6-9 at the line, continuing his lukewarm foul shooting. While the first three quarters were dominated by the two superstar scorers, the Lakers won thanks to a better team effort in the fourth. Only J.R. Smith helped Melo carry the load for New York, while Pau Gasol scored the biggest basket for L.A. His dunk with 12 seconds left put his team up 5, effectively clinching a fifth straight Laker win.
Heat 103, Thunder 97
This rematch lived up to the hype with the Heat walking away six-point winners over the Thunder. LeBron and Durant played like the best two players on Earth, both carrying their teams with not only scoring, but playmaking too. In the end, it was LeBron who found Chris Bosh for a dunk, putting the Heat up three with less than a minute. The Thunder's chances ended on the ensuing possession when Durant and Russell Westbrook both missed three-pointers that could have tied the game. Westbrook then got a technical for punching the scorers table and Ray Allen his three free-throws to seal the win for Miami. LeBron got good games around him from Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers to help the Heat win this one. This game had all the intensity of a playoff game and after seeing these teams play, a Finals rematch wouldn't surprise anyone.
Rockets 120, Bulls 97
This game got away from the Bulls in the second quarter and was downright ugly mid-way through the third. Omer "Turkish Hammer" Asik had a great return to Chicago with a 20 point-18 rebound game. James Harden, Jeremy Lin and Chandler Parsons all had good games for Houston, whose starting lineup outscored Chicago's 99 to 47. The Rockets just shot lights out in the second and third quarters and the offensively-limited Bulls just couldn't hang. For what it's worth, Nate Robinson lead all scorers with 27 points as he was dominant during garbage time.
Clippers 112, Nuggets 100
The Clips scored 42 in the second quarter and never looked back, winning a franchise-record 14th straight game. In a matchup of two of the deepest teams in the West, the Nuggets were outclassed and just looked like a playoff team getting crushed by a legitimate contender. Matt Barnes and Jamal Crawford lead the way off the bench for L.A., while Chris Paul and Blake Griffin didn't have to do much in the second half of this one. The Clippers (yes, the Clippers) are the hottest team in the league right now, and were just way too much for the 15-14 Nuggets to handle.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Top Five Young Point Gaurds
Point guard has been the emerging position in the NBA for the last few years. An influx of athletic, score-first point guards have changed the style of NBA play and this trend isn't about to stop. In this article, a "young" point guard is one drafted in 2008 or later. There are a dozen names that were considered, but these are the five that made the cut.
5. John Wall
Okay, so he's on a horrible team and hasn't played at all this year, but can anyone deny his ability? His baseline to baseline speed is astonishing and only Rose and Westbrook are as athletic. Shooting is the one issue and that is fixable. His miserable sub-10% from three last year will go up once he gets back on the court. Before hurting his knee this preseason, Wall made the smartest move of his career. He hired trainer Rob McClanaghan this summer. And yes, McClanaghan, is the guy who improved Rose, Westbrook and Kevin Love in the summer of 2010. The Wiz are having a rough year, but once back Wall will make them a much more competitive and respectable team.
4. Stephen Curry
His ankles are healthy this year and Curry is doing great things for the Dubs. He is back up around 20 PPG and leading a Golden State team that is thinking playoffs. Coming out of Davidson, Curry answered skeptics who said he couldn't play point in the NBA. He's not a great athlete, but his passing has improved and his shooter's touch is as natural as it gets.
3. Kyrie Irving
Even though he has had multiple injuries since college, Irving is clearly a star in the making. He's just a prototypical modern point guard with his size, speed and shooting ability. Irving's Cavs are probably two years away from winning a playoff series, but there is not doubt around the league that he can carry a team. The guy is 20 years old and averaging 20 points a game. Not bad, young man. Not bad at all.
2. Russell Westbrook
Westbrook's career will be known for playing second fiddle, so number two seems appropriate here. Of all the players on this list, he is the hardest to rank for that reason. At the end of the day though, Westbrook has so much going for him. He's a physical freak who is a top-ten scorer in the league. Yeah, his shot selection could be better, but the Thunder would be worse off without him.
1. Derrick Rose
Not gonna punish him for being hurt this season. He's the only young point guard who's won MVP. Rose is the Bulls. No fan base loves a player like Chi-town loves Rose and that's because he's a winner. Sure, guys like Curry or Irving would be thrilled to lead their team to the playoffs, but Rose is only 24 and his mindset is ring or bust. He lead Chicago to two straight top seeds in the East and as long as he's on the floor, the Bulls will be a top-three team in the conference.
Five who missed the cut and why.
-Ty Lawson- Turnover prone, surrounded by similar talent on a deep team.
-Ricky Rubio- Need to see more scoring and a playoff appearance.
-Damian Lillard- Sample size, or lack there of.
-Eric Bledsoe- Good production, poor minutes. Welcome to a Del Negro coached team.
-Jeremy Lin- Just kidding! He wasn't considered.
-Jrue Holiday- Improved every year. Has size and athleticism. Playoff tested. Underrated. Bynum's presence could boost his stock.
5. John Wall
Okay, so he's on a horrible team and hasn't played at all this year, but can anyone deny his ability? His baseline to baseline speed is astonishing and only Rose and Westbrook are as athletic. Shooting is the one issue and that is fixable. His miserable sub-10% from three last year will go up once he gets back on the court. Before hurting his knee this preseason, Wall made the smartest move of his career. He hired trainer Rob McClanaghan this summer. And yes, McClanaghan, is the guy who improved Rose, Westbrook and Kevin Love in the summer of 2010. The Wiz are having a rough year, but once back Wall will make them a much more competitive and respectable team.
4. Stephen Curry
His ankles are healthy this year and Curry is doing great things for the Dubs. He is back up around 20 PPG and leading a Golden State team that is thinking playoffs. Coming out of Davidson, Curry answered skeptics who said he couldn't play point in the NBA. He's not a great athlete, but his passing has improved and his shooter's touch is as natural as it gets.
3. Kyrie Irving
Even though he has had multiple injuries since college, Irving is clearly a star in the making. He's just a prototypical modern point guard with his size, speed and shooting ability. Irving's Cavs are probably two years away from winning a playoff series, but there is not doubt around the league that he can carry a team. The guy is 20 years old and averaging 20 points a game. Not bad, young man. Not bad at all.
2. Russell Westbrook
Westbrook's career will be known for playing second fiddle, so number two seems appropriate here. Of all the players on this list, he is the hardest to rank for that reason. At the end of the day though, Westbrook has so much going for him. He's a physical freak who is a top-ten scorer in the league. Yeah, his shot selection could be better, but the Thunder would be worse off without him.
1. Derrick Rose
Not gonna punish him for being hurt this season. He's the only young point guard who's won MVP. Rose is the Bulls. No fan base loves a player like Chi-town loves Rose and that's because he's a winner. Sure, guys like Curry or Irving would be thrilled to lead their team to the playoffs, but Rose is only 24 and his mindset is ring or bust. He lead Chicago to two straight top seeds in the East and as long as he's on the floor, the Bulls will be a top-three team in the conference.
Five who missed the cut and why.
-Ty Lawson- Turnover prone, surrounded by similar talent on a deep team.
-Ricky Rubio- Need to see more scoring and a playoff appearance.
-Damian Lillard- Sample size, or lack there of.
-Eric Bledsoe- Good production, poor minutes. Welcome to a Del Negro coached team.
-Jeremy Lin- Just kidding! He wasn't considered.
-Jrue Holiday- Improved every year. Has size and athleticism. Playoff tested. Underrated. Bynum's presence could boost his stock.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Quiet Thunder
They have the best record in the league. They have won 10 straight. They have two superstars and were in the NBA Finals last season. So, why is no one talking about the Thunder?
Amid all the Laker turmoil and Knicks hoopla, OKC has been lost in the fold. They got all the attention for about a week after trading James Harden and struggling to start the season, but then the media backed off them. But with a guy like Kevin Durant, how are the Thunder escaping the public eye? Maybe that's just what they want.
The first reason is that they have not had many nationally televised games. Oklahoma City is a small market, but these guys are the defending West champs, with a perennial MVP candidate to go along with a big fan base. Of course Miami, New York, Boston, San Antonio, and the two L.A. teams lead in national appearances. But wouldn't the Thunder be a logical addition to that list? You'd think. But Denver and Dallas have been the beneficiaries over the Thunder in terms of national exposure. Of course that will change Thursday once OKC kicks off a week of three national games, including the Christmas Day entree versus Miami.
It's not that the Thunder are boring either, they have just haven't played a signature game yet that has been worthy of headlines. OKC leads the NBA in scoring at over 105 PPG, but it's their defense that has improved from last year, giving up only 96 PPG. They lead in point differential at +9.3, so there's been no need yet for Durant's last minute heroics.
The star power isn't drawing as many eyes this year though. We all know about Durant and Russell Westbrook by now and their scoring averages are down, although KD is playing the best ball of his career. Also without James Harden, Serge Ibaka blocks are really the only other plays of interest that come from OKC. Kevin Martin has done a solid job as sixth man, but he is a run-of-the-mill scorer and doesn't have the highlight-reel creativity of Harden.
So that's why we have come to an oxymoron, Quiet Thunder. In the end, no one is concerned about the Thunder except for the opposing coaches that must game plan for the two-headed monster that is OKC. This team is as elite as any and everybody knows it. And I promise they will be anything but quiet come playoff time.
Amid all the Laker turmoil and Knicks hoopla, OKC has been lost in the fold. They got all the attention for about a week after trading James Harden and struggling to start the season, but then the media backed off them. But with a guy like Kevin Durant, how are the Thunder escaping the public eye? Maybe that's just what they want.
The first reason is that they have not had many nationally televised games. Oklahoma City is a small market, but these guys are the defending West champs, with a perennial MVP candidate to go along with a big fan base. Of course Miami, New York, Boston, San Antonio, and the two L.A. teams lead in national appearances. But wouldn't the Thunder be a logical addition to that list? You'd think. But Denver and Dallas have been the beneficiaries over the Thunder in terms of national exposure. Of course that will change Thursday once OKC kicks off a week of three national games, including the Christmas Day entree versus Miami.
It's not that the Thunder are boring either, they have just haven't played a signature game yet that has been worthy of headlines. OKC leads the NBA in scoring at over 105 PPG, but it's their defense that has improved from last year, giving up only 96 PPG. They lead in point differential at +9.3, so there's been no need yet for Durant's last minute heroics.
The star power isn't drawing as many eyes this year though. We all know about Durant and Russell Westbrook by now and their scoring averages are down, although KD is playing the best ball of his career. Also without James Harden, Serge Ibaka blocks are really the only other plays of interest that come from OKC. Kevin Martin has done a solid job as sixth man, but he is a run-of-the-mill scorer and doesn't have the highlight-reel creativity of Harden.
So that's why we have come to an oxymoron, Quiet Thunder. In the end, no one is concerned about the Thunder except for the opposing coaches that must game plan for the two-headed monster that is OKC. This team is as elite as any and everybody knows it. And I promise they will be anything but quiet come playoff time.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Can the Knicks Beat the Heat in the Playoffs?
It's a realistic question. The Knicks have the best record in the East and are currently drubbing the Lakers at home. Carmelo might be the frontrunner for MVP, playing the best ball of his career. No one is saying that they will beat Miami or should even be favored, but right now it really looks like these two teams will meet in the Eastern Conference Finals.
It Starts With Melo
This might be the first time that Carmelo has really grabbed hold of the reins for a team. On that very good 2009 Nuggets team, Melo starred, but the leader was Chauncey Billups. Four years later, he's coming off another Olympics and playing out of his mind. Since coming back from that lacerated finger, Melo has averaged 40 points a game. He's just taking over when it matters and even Kobe said that he's the toughest player to guard in the NBA. Remember that Melo was taken in the same draft with LeBron, Wade and Bosh at number three overall. Playing the Heat has to be personal for him. Against the Heat, Melo will go one-on-one with LeBron late in games. Could you ask for a more entertaining head-to-head battle?
Downtown
No, I'm not giving directions to MSG, just saying that the Knicks are the best three point shooting team in the league. They make the most and attempt the most 3's in the league, and are third in percentage. Around Anthony and Chandler, the Knicks have the right guys to hit open treys. Steve Novak is on his way to leading the league in three-point percentage for the second straight year. J.R. Smith is a complete gamer who can go unconscious from three when hot. Raymond Felton has played very well lately, leading the Knicks to that big upset in Miami when he hit six 3's. And let's not forget Jason Kidd. He has completely turned himself into a great three-point shooter who can be counted on in the clutch (ask the Nets). Miami's defense is aggressive, but great three-point shooting is as effective an offense as any against them.
They're Old
The Knicks are the oldest team in NBA history. You may think this is a bad thing, but think again. Jason Kidd is 39 and a starting point guard. 38-year-old Rasheed Wallace signed during the season and is averaging 7.2 PPG. Kurt Thomas and Marcus Camby don't play as much, but they're both 39. They also have a 35-year-old rookie! The youngest guy in their rotation, Ronnie Brewer, is 27! This veteran presence will prove to be helpful. Even though Carmelo is 28 himself, the championship pedigrees of Chandler, Kidd and Wallace won't hurt come playoff time.
No playoff matchups can be set in stone in mid-December, but anyone who watches basketball can see that Miami and New York are the best two teams in the East. As these teams weather the regular season, it will become clear that it will take a seven-game series to decide East supremacy.
Monday, December 10, 2012
The West's Second Tier
A top four has developed in the West this year. The Spurs and Thunder are there again and the Grizzlies and Clippers have climbed into that mix too. If the Lakers can ever figure things out they will be in this group. So assuming, the talent on the Lake Show works itself out, those five teams form the West's top tier this season. But what about the other three playoff spots? There are six teams that have a chance for those spots (sorry Blazers, you're not one of them). Here's where they are now and their outlook for the stretch run.
Golden State Warriors
The Dubs are 13-7 right now with a winning road record. Mark Jackson has to be a Coach of the Year candidate, guiding this young team by first improving their defense. Stephen Curry is fully healthy and averaging a team-high 20 points a game, with forward David Lee right behind at 18.5 PPG. Klay Thompson looks like the real deal in his second year, not just as a shooter, but also as a stout perimeter defender. Carl Landry has provided solid scoring and rebounding as a sixth man and Jarrett Jack has been more than capable as a back-up point guard. It really looks like their tanking last season helped as Harrison Barnes is playing like the guy they selected seventh overall.
Outlook: Great. There are plenty of shooters here that other teams (Lakers) would love to have. If Andrew Bogut can ever get healthy, this team should be able to hold court as a playoff team out West.
Utah Jazz
No they're not as fun to watch as the Warriors, but the Jazz are in the same comfortable position in the West as they were last year. As usual, they are dominant at home behind the frontline of Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap. Randy Foye/Mo Williams is not an ideal point guard situation and the trade deadline may shake this team up depending on where they are in February, but right now the size and home-court advantage of Utah has the Jazz over .500.
Outlook: Fair. They get good scoring across the lineup and both Millsap and Jefferson are reliable commodities at this point. They beat the teams they're supposed to.
Dallas Mavericks
You think O.J. Mayo likes being the go-to-guy? The number say yes. Mayo is a talented scorer who has been the one guy for Dallas that can create his own shot. Chris Kaman has provided stability since returning and Vince Carter is playing his best ball since his last year in Orlando. Once Dirk returns, this Mavs team will look more familiar, maybe not the 2011 champions, but definitely more inspired than last year's team.
Outlook: Good. Cuban's not worrying here, but he is looking into the future. Dirk and Rick Carlisle are too experienced to miss the playoffs.
Minnesota Timberwolves
My sleeper team in the West. Sure a lot has gone wrong, but here they are at 9-9. Kevin Love has provided the expected boost and Ricky Rubio will do the same when he returns. Alexey Shved is this year's free agent rookie steal. He's provided solid guard play with Luke Ridnour. Brandon Roy's injury is sad, but not surprising and Chase Budinger's knee injury further hurts their perimeter play. The Wolves play great D, but right now don't have the personnel to compete with all the high-scoring teams out West.
Outlook: Fair. Every story out of Minnesota has been injury-related. Shopping Derrick Williams wouldn't be a bad idea.
Houston Rockets
Well, they overpaid Jeremy Lin and anyone who wants to look into his struggles will only see that he's just not that good a player. James Harden is a stud who looks on track to be the next great scorer on mediocre team for this half-decade. Omer Asik and Chandler Parsons are mainstays in Houston's plans, but this group isn't one that can win now. The Rockets want to land another star, but they may have to wait until the summer to do it.
Outlook: Poor. This team just can't stop anybody and James Harden needs to produce a Herculean effort night after night to keep them competitive.
Denver Nuggets
Along with Houston and Golden State, the Nuggets are the third really fun team to watch on this list. A deep team with balanced perimeter scoring, Denver needs more defense and less turnovers. If George Karl can get that, which I believe he will, Denver should reel off a string of wins. Lots of talent here with Ty Lawson, Andre Iguodala, Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried, and Javale McGee. The Nuggets need to get the rotation solidified in order to maximize that talent.
Outlook: Good. Only played six home games (5-1). Denver is a couple of dominant home stands from being over well .500.
West Projections
1. Thunder: Durant is playing great and the Harden trade worries seem distant now.
2. Spurs: Duncan and Parker just don't miss a beat. The Spurs like getting no preseason hype every year.
3. Grizzlies: The toughest team in the NBA. There's not a bad loss on their schedule yet.
4. Lakers: A mess right now, but you have to think the ship will get on course eventually.
5. Clippers: Chris Paul will keep it up. Can Crawford and Griffin do the same?
6. Mavericks: Assuming Dirk is back by January, her and Mayo would provide a nice 1-2 punch.
7. Warriors: People have started to buy in to Golden State. Do you believe?
8. Nuggets: Way too good to miss the playoffs. Need to cut down on the sloppy basketball though.
9. Timberwolves: It just feels like the Wolves will the that snake-bitten team that just misses the playoffs.
10. Jazz: Doesn't have the look of a playoff team. Even less so if they trade Jefferson.
11. Rockets: By the end of the year, Jeremy Lin may be struggling to get minutes.
12. Trail Blazers: Pretty solid trio in place, but too young and no bench to speak of.
13. Suns: Scola and Dragic are nice players, but Beasley can't be the guy on any team that wants to win.
14. Kings: Evans should be back soon and Cousins is playing well, but an implosion is likely coming.
15. Hornets: Rivers has struggled, Davis has been hurt twice already and Gordon hasn't played. Not good.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
How Far Can Chicago Go?
Without Derrick Rose, the Bulls season was supposed to be in shambles. Experts were predicting them to miss the playoffs and fans were hoping the they would mail in the season to get a high draft pick. Well Tom Thibodeau isn't one to mail in anything and he has the Bulls at 11-8 this year. A quarter through this season and Chicago is fourth in the East. There's no date yet for when Rose will return. So, with or without their star, how far can these Bulls go?
We know that all roads go through Miami in the East, but who comes next? The Knicks are for real and look to have the inside track on the number two seed. But after that it's wide open. Boston seems to always figure things out, but they're old and inconsistent on defense. Brooklyn has the players, but they're inconsistent as well. The Sixers and Pacers have too many questions, and the Hawks may be a product of a soft early schedule. So all that being said, here's the case for the Bulls.
The Bulls lost a lot of things in Rose, but never once did they lose effort or defense intensity. They remain a top-five team defensively and never take a night off. The key for the Bulls has been shutting down the 3. Against the Knicks yesterday, the NBA's best 3-point shooting team, the Bulls won by holding the Knicks to a low percentage beyond the arc. But even more importantly, they they held the Knicks to only 23 attempts. New York is at their best when shooting 35 plus 3's, so the credit goes to the good perimeter D of Luol Deng and Jimmy Butler for not surrendering open looks.
The scoring was bound to suffer without Rose, and then even more so when second-leading scorer Rip Hamilton went out indefinitely last week. But the Bulls are getting the points at the line. Chicago ranks second in the NBA in free-throw percentage. They do not have the most talented scorers, but they are getting the easy points. For example, they were a perfect 18-18 against the Knicks last night.
The Bulls can get a top-four seed in the East. Deng continues to play well year after year and could be an All-Star for the second straight year. Joakim Noah plays his heart out every game and is the emotional force for Chicago. Despite a void at point guard, Butler and Taj Gibson represent young Bulls players who are willing to buy-in completely to Thibodeau's defensive philosophy. With a top-three coach and a huge, supportive fan base, the Bulls will make noise in April and will be downright scary if Rose is back in time to give them that emotional lift. Right now, the Bulls look like they can win a playoff series and give a team like Miami or New York a competitive series in the second-round.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Knicks-Heat Rapid Reaction
No Melo, no problem. The Knicks just went down to Miami and smacked the Heat in the mouth, winning 112-92. Raymond Felton tied a career-high with six made 3's in route to a season-high 27 points. Steve Novak chipped in with 18 off the bench and this one was all Knicks in the second half.
LeBron was the only Heat player to really show up tonight, finishing with a standard (for him at least) 31-10-9 line. Wade's struggles continued as he was 3-13 for only 13 points. Bosh was similarly awful going 3-12 with 12 points.
It's still painfully early, but the Heat have problems defensively. Their lineup is too small to really be an elite defensive team and Wade appears to have lost a step. LeBron is as good as ever, but right now, Miami's focus just isn't there.
But hey, let's make this one about the Knicks. They played great tonight despite missing Melo. Their 40+ 3's attempted per game is working right now and they shouldn't stop until the offense goes south. New York is now 2-0 against Miami and it's starting to look like more and more of a dogfight at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
The Next Wave
Yes, this is an NBA blog. Yes, these five guys have not played a single NBA game and are not guaranteed to even play in the league next year. But with college basketball in full swing, plenty of bright NBA prospects are emerging. Here are five names that you'll here in he lottery next year.
Nerlens Noel, Kentucky
The top-ranked freshman this year, Noel will be under the pressure of Anthony Davis's season last year. Noel is not the offensive talent of Davis yet because his mid-range game is far from polished, but his athleticism makes him a dominant shot-blocker and rebounder. In typical Kentucky fashion, Noel is the top prospect on a roster loaded with one-and-dones. He probably won't win any player of the year awards, but there's not an NBA scout that doubts Noel's ability to star in the NBA.
Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA
Similar to Noel, Muhammad is the best prospect on a talented young roster. Even though he spent the first two weeks of the season ineligible, Muhammad is on the court now and making an impact. The Bruins are struggling, but Muhammad has come in averaging 16 points a game. The kid can flat-out score and will likely be the first perimeter player taken in the 2013 draft.
Cody Zeller, Indiana
The third and last super-obvious name on the list, Zeller is the most famous man in college basketball this year. He is the best player on a top-ranked Indiana team and he's got an SI cover to prove it. He is a more talented prospect than both of his brothers who are in the NBA. Zeller has the ability to be a Kevin Love-type with his all-around game for a big man.
Tony Mitchell, North Texas
This is a good year for mid-major stars in college, and Tony Mitchell might be the best NBA prospect from those small schools. He's a solid forward with the ability to get a double-double every night. Mitchell is a sophomore who will stay under the radar if North Texas misses the tournament, but don't think a team his reaching when you see him on draft day.
James Michael McAdoo, North Carolina
If you watched UNC last year, McAdoo got limited minutes but made highlight-reel plays every so often. Now a starter, McAdoo has assumed the starring role for the Tar Heels this season. With opponents focusing on him, all McAdoo has done is average 16 points and 9 boards. And oh by the way, he's a great athlete too. He's a sure fire lottery pick if he enters the draft.
The top-ranked freshman this year, Noel will be under the pressure of Anthony Davis's season last year. Noel is not the offensive talent of Davis yet because his mid-range game is far from polished, but his athleticism makes him a dominant shot-blocker and rebounder. In typical Kentucky fashion, Noel is the top prospect on a roster loaded with one-and-dones. He probably won't win any player of the year awards, but there's not an NBA scout that doubts Noel's ability to star in the NBA.
Similar to Noel, Muhammad is the best prospect on a talented young roster. Even though he spent the first two weeks of the season ineligible, Muhammad is on the court now and making an impact. The Bruins are struggling, but Muhammad has come in averaging 16 points a game. The kid can flat-out score and will likely be the first perimeter player taken in the 2013 draft.
The third and last super-obvious name on the list, Zeller is the most famous man in college basketball this year. He is the best player on a top-ranked Indiana team and he's got an SI cover to prove it. He is a more talented prospect than both of his brothers who are in the NBA. Zeller has the ability to be a Kevin Love-type with his all-around game for a big man.
This is a good year for mid-major stars in college, and Tony Mitchell might be the best NBA prospect from those small schools. He's a solid forward with the ability to get a double-double every night. Mitchell is a sophomore who will stay under the radar if North Texas misses the tournament, but don't think a team his reaching when you see him on draft day.
If you watched UNC last year, McAdoo got limited minutes but made highlight-reel plays every so often. Now a starter, McAdoo has assumed the starring role for the Tar Heels this season. With opponents focusing on him, all McAdoo has done is average 16 points and 9 boards. And oh by the way, he's a great athlete too. He's a sure fire lottery pick if he enters the draft.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
So Who's the MVP?
Through a little over a month, the usual suspects are in the MVP conversation. While it's way too early to hand out any hardware, here are the top five MVP candidates so far this season.
1) Kevin Durant
His scoring is down compared to the last three years, but Durant's all-around game has improved. Rebounds, assists and blocks are all career-highs and Durant's Thunder look formidable once again after a bumpy start to the season. The consensus second-best basketball player on earth will win an MVP eventually, so why not this year? His summer training with LeBron may be the reason for his well-rounded game this season.
2) Carmelo Anthony
Under constant scrutiny in New York, it has to feel good for Carmelo to be the best player on what looks to be the second-best team in the East. As expected, he is thriving under Mike Woodson's isolation offense, but now Melo has also taken on an increased leadership role. He is third in scoring, but that talent of his has never been in question. At this point in his career, Melo's goal is to string a playoff run together. He looks to be off to a good start this year.
3) LeBron James
The phrase "second-best" has been used in the first two sections, but no need to use it here. LeBron is the best player in the league, so third may seem too far down on the list for him. As usual, he has added more to his game this season. Shooting at the best clip of his career and closing out games with his tremendous play-making ability, it would be no surprise at all to see LeBron at the top of this list at some point. The expectations are higher for LeBron than anyone else, so it will be a great feat if he can win a fourth MVP.
4) Rudy Gay
Memphis has the best record in the West and Gay is their best player. He is the leader of a tough and balanced Grizzlies team. Gay's numbers have always been good when he's healthy, but never has he played this well for such a good team. A supreme athlete, Gay is on his way to an All-Star appearance and the Grizzlies look to be onto much more.
5) Kobe Bryant
The only guy on the list who's not a small forward is none other than the Black Mamba. Kobe's Lakers have disappointed, but he has not. Leading the NBA in scoring and shooting the highest percentage of his career, Kobe truly looks ageless. The Lakers will form into a contender with time this year, and Kobe will be in any MVP conversation if he keeps playing at this level.
1) Kevin Durant
His scoring is down compared to the last three years, but Durant's all-around game has improved. Rebounds, assists and blocks are all career-highs and Durant's Thunder look formidable once again after a bumpy start to the season. The consensus second-best basketball player on earth will win an MVP eventually, so why not this year? His summer training with LeBron may be the reason for his well-rounded game this season.
2) Carmelo Anthony
Under constant scrutiny in New York, it has to feel good for Carmelo to be the best player on what looks to be the second-best team in the East. As expected, he is thriving under Mike Woodson's isolation offense, but now Melo has also taken on an increased leadership role. He is third in scoring, but that talent of his has never been in question. At this point in his career, Melo's goal is to string a playoff run together. He looks to be off to a good start this year.
3) LeBron James
The phrase "second-best" has been used in the first two sections, but no need to use it here. LeBron is the best player in the league, so third may seem too far down on the list for him. As usual, he has added more to his game this season. Shooting at the best clip of his career and closing out games with his tremendous play-making ability, it would be no surprise at all to see LeBron at the top of this list at some point. The expectations are higher for LeBron than anyone else, so it will be a great feat if he can win a fourth MVP.
4) Rudy Gay
Memphis has the best record in the West and Gay is their best player. He is the leader of a tough and balanced Grizzlies team. Gay's numbers have always been good when he's healthy, but never has he played this well for such a good team. A supreme athlete, Gay is on his way to an All-Star appearance and the Grizzlies look to be onto much more.
5) Kobe Bryant
The only guy on the list who's not a small forward is none other than the Black Mamba. Kobe's Lakers have disappointed, but he has not. Leading the NBA in scoring and shooting the highest percentage of his career, Kobe truly looks ageless. The Lakers will form into a contender with time this year, and Kobe will be in any MVP conversation if he keeps playing at this level.
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