While Victor Oladipo and Trey Burke chase Michael Carter-Williams for Rookie of the Year, a handful of other rookies are helping their teams chase postseason berths and higher seeds. The Eastern Conference has three teams in the playoff chase whose finish will be somewhat impacted by the play of their rookies. The Western Conference has five teams in the hunt with rookies playing a prominent role. The team relying most on rookies is undoubtedly the Atlanta Hawks, who have two rookies in
Rookie Rankings, Week 15: Bennett’s Big Game No Surprise
Many people were surprised by Anthony Bennett’s first career double-double on Tuesday. Bennett’s struggles as the top overall pick in the draft have been well-documented. So when he broke out for 19 points and 10 rebounds in Cleveland’s home win over Sacramento, there was somewhat of a collective gasp across the NBA. Yes, Bennett established season highs in both points and rebounds in the same game. And yes, it appeared to come out of nowhere. But the truth is that Bennett has
Rookie Rankings, Week 14: Take a Seat, Kid
Another lottery pick has lost his starting spot. First it was Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo, who began the season as a starter and has shifted back and forth from the bench to the starting lineup as teammates have become healthy or injured. To Oladipo’s credit, it has not had a serious impact on his performance. Then it was Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore, who began the season as a reserve, was elevated to starter as coach Mike Malone became disenchanted with
Rookie Rankings, Week 13: A Brief History of the Rising Stars
It has taken a generation, but the NBA has finally figured out the format for the All-Star Rookie Game. Now known as the Rising Stars Challenge, the league’s midseason showcase for young players didn’t always look this way. And it wasn’t always a good game, either. When the game debuted in 1994, it featured only rookies playing against each other. The teams were called the Phenoms and the Sensations. The following year, the teams were simply called White and Green. Now there’s
10 Things You Should Know About Nick Young
Los Angeles Lakers swingman Nick Young has become one of the league’s most interesting personalities we’ve seen in years. From his boundless energy and his Instagram antics to his alter-ego Swaggy P, where he has over 400,000 followers, we here at SheridanHoops thought that you should get to know the SoCal native better. So here are some things you should definitely know about Young, from his Lakers teammates to the man himself. Young doesn’t do pregame interviews- This reporter learned that Young
Tweet of the Day: NBA, Players Remember Nelson Mandela
Many amazing men have walked the earth having had a profound impact on the world with their lives. Men like Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr.. Their deaths were monumental and the cause of grief to many. Former South African President Nelson Mandela died Thursday at the age of 95. Mandela was instrumental in bringing about the end of Apartheid (racial segregation) and ushering in an era of ethnic equality in South African politics. His efforts earned him the Nobel
Tweet of the Day: NBA Thanksgiving Edition
Thanksgiving Day. A day that many people assess their lives and give thanks for whatever — whether it is to the god of their faith or to other people in their lives — they may be grateful for. Studies have actually shown that expression of gratitude can lead to a longer and happier life. There is a lot to be grateful for in life, regardless of what is going on in yours. Simply having life is something to be grateful for. NBA athletes have
March Madness: Sweet 16 Preview
The first weekend of the NCAA Tournament is pure mayhem; games begin and end simultaneously, buzzers sound from TV’s, iPads, iPhones, and computers, celebrations are loud … and defeat is inevitable for more than three-quarters of the field… Which brings us to these next four days of college basketball: Games are fewer than the week before, but the stakes continue to rise as the Sweet Sixteen turns into the Elite Eight, and, eventually the Final Four. [Read more…]