The concept of payback often results in conflicting feelings. Revenge at its worst could be considered a character defect and something you would not teach your kids. But in the right context, proving someone made a mistake – payback – and doing it with class, can be delightfully rewarding. Although it likely occupies only a tiny part of his daily thought process, you have to believe that on occasion, when alone, James Harden looks at the NBA standings and salivates at
Basketball in March means the NCAA Tournament to a whole lot of people. While it’s looking unlikely that my Maryland Terrapins will make it, it will be a lot of fun anyway. It always is. [Read more…]
March Madness has officially begun. Florida Gulf Coast became the first team to punch its ticket to the Big Dance this afternoon, capturing the Atlantic Sun championship by defeating top-seeded Mercer, 88-75. The Eagles will be heading to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history when the brackets are announced next Sunday. [Read more…]
There is an old saying that you can’t teach scoring. Ask any NBA general manager what they need more of, and the answer is almost always scoring. With the Sloan Sports Analytic Conference reaching a mainstream following, the need to understand statistics and data is at a premium. Despite many complicated numbers and formulas to uncover gems and underrated players, one truth exists: Teams value players that create extra possessions. In a given playoff game, each team may have 80 possessions.
Refuse to lose. The amazing Kobe Bryant (41 PTS, 12 AST, 6 REB) willed his team to another victory despite fatigue and sore shoulders. Dwight Howard (24 PTS, 13 REB, 5 BLK, 3 STL) was also heroic and Steve Nash (22 PTS) hit four triples as the Lakers rallied from down 15 to force overtime. [Read more…]
We thought that Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams had the most spectacular night on Friday. He did, after all, break the all-time record for most 3-pointers made in a single half with nine total (he finished with 11 for the game) and scored a season-high 42 points on 15-of-24 shooting. And then Kobe Bryant happened. [Read more…]
Chris Sheridan on Waddle & Silvy on ESPN Chicago discuss the imminent return of Derrick Rose. [Read more…]
Who is Tobias Harris? Tobias Harris is a second year NBA player (the 19th pick in the 2011-’12 draft) who was recently dealt in the J.J. Redick-to-Milwaukee trade on February 21. To most, he was a throw in. Redick was clearly the best player in the deal (and dealt at the deadline)… [Read more…]