I’ve learned many things through my 25 years in the game evaluating players at every level. The first is that nothing basketball-related in this day and age is an exact science. There are high-tech methods to track a player’s every move statistically and analytically and, of course, there are countless strength coaches, player development and workout gurus and top training methods available to players now like never before. But sometimes, as many old-school basketball people will tell you, whether or not a
Gonzo: Five Things We’ve Learned About the NBA So Far
The NBA season is only 10 days old, but there’s been a lot to take in and observe. The “Big Three” in Cleveland have a big three losses against one just one narrow win. The Sacramento Kings didn’t get the memo about returning to the lottery. The Los Angeles Lakers are finding out that winless and glamorous usually are mutually exclusive. The New York Knicks look like a different team from game to game. Here are five things I’ve learned so far
Gonzo: Breaking down best matchup in East: Chicago vs. Cleveland
Training camps begin in a little over a week, the start of the regular season is 40 days away, and what awaits us this season is going to be special — a renaissance in Cleveland, Kobe’s return in L.A., a chance for the Spurs to chase that elusive repeat championship. But let’s be realistic here for a second. There are 15 teams in the Eastern Conference, and there is a very slim chance at best that anyone other than the Cleveland Cavaliers
Gonzalez: Manimal, Uncle Mo Are Keys for Team USA
I hate to say I told you so, but after the first day of Team USA training camp in Las Vegas, I wrote that Kenny “The Manimal” Faried must be the first guy selected for the roster and everyone else should come thereafter. My reasoning was Faried’s motor, toughness and energy level with intangibles such as putbacks and garbage points would be invaluable to this team. In Sunday’s come-from-behind victory against Turkey, Faried led Team USA team with 22 points and
Gonzo: Leaving Las Vegas — Three Things You Didn’t Know About Team USA
LAS VEGAS – Team USA’s training camp ended disastrously with the gruesome leg fracture suffered by Paul George. Team leaders Jerry Colangelo and Mike Krzyzewski postponed indefinitely any decisions on the makeup of the roster, which was the right thing to do. For the time being, our thoughts and prayers should be with Paul George and his family. With that being said, the U.S. national team will eventually move forward. And after having been with them for a week, up close and
Gonzo: What to Watch for in Tonight’s Team USA Scrimmage
As the week here in Vegas is coming to a close and Team USA will play an exhibition showcase tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center, here are five things to keep an eye on. [Read more…]
Gonzo: Shall we call Team USA “The Unknowns?”
LAS VEGAS — This summer’s USA team does not yet have a nickname or a real identity, so I decided after talking to several staff members I would call them “The Unknowns.” Team USA history is replete with nicknamed versions, from the Dream Team to the Redeem Team to the Nightmare Team to the B-Deem Team that won the Worlds four years ago. Why “The Unknowns” for this group? There is a fear of the unknown for the staff in trying to
Gonzo: Boogie Cousins Finding a Different Groove With Team USA
LAS VEGAS – Day 1 of Team USA’s training camp was point guards. Day 2 is frontcourt bigs. Right now, it seems as though the consensus is condor-like Anthony Davis is the only sure thing to make the 12-man roster going to Spain for the World Cup. After that, everything else is up in the air. The other candidates are power forwards Kenneth Faried and Paul Millsap and centers Andre Drummond and DeMarcus Cousins. And the guy I want to talk about is