There were more than a few folks wondering if Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal had hit the Rookie Wall. To silence those folks, Beal broke through it. Right about the time rookies start to feel the rigor of their first NBA season – somewhere between 30 and 40 games, with back-to-backs and extended travel college players don’t face – Beal produced his best week of the season and showed why everyone was so high on him in June. [Read more…]
Over the last two weeks, readers of this weekly feature have let it be known that I am undervaluing Detroit Pistons big man Andre Drummond. [Read more…]
In the 2012 draft, Thomas Robinson and Damian Lillard could not have been closer together. Robinson went fifth to the Sacramento Kings and Lillard went sixth to the Portland Trail Blazers. In their rookie seasons. however, Robinson and Lillard could not be farther apart. To be fair, Lillard has had a better opportunity to show his wares. Portland basically gave him the point guard position with carte blanche to learn on the job, dumping everyone from last season except Nolan Smith. Robinson wasn’t
Anyone who plays in Rotisserie leagues knows it’s a long six months and patience is required. Even the one-week mini-seasons of Head-to-Head leagues create matchups that ebb and flow. On DraftStreet, there’s a new opportunity every day to put your basketball knowledge to profitable use. [Read more…]
Given his precocious play and the piles of praise he is receiving, Damian Lillard appears to have a stronghold on this season’s Rookie of the Year. And the calendar hasn’t even changed. Some of that recognition came recently from San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who along with a national TV audience watched the point guard light up his squad for 29 points last week. “I think he’s a wonderful player,” said Popovich, who normally isn’t prone to effusive praise. “His skills
Here at Sheridan Hoops, we’d like to think that we’re a little ahead of the NBA curve. Case in point: This morning, most of the basketball world is talking about how the Golden State Warriors went into Miami and stunned the defending champions by making more plays down the stretch of a hard-fought game. Three days ago, however, we already had made the case that the Warriors have been the biggest surprise of this season and have been flying under the mainstream
During Wednesday’s game, the NBA announced that Charlotte Bobcats forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had won Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors for November. Kidd-Gilchrist later celebrated by throwing a terrible cross-court pass in the closing seconds that became a turnover and led to a buzzer-beater by New York’s J.R. Smith that sent the Bobcats to their fifth straight loss. This is how it often goes for rookies. One minute, they are surprising us all by playing above our expectations and showcasing an
It’s pretty hard to fault Gregg Popovich, unless you’re David Stern. Pop’s controversial decision to sit four starters in Miami on Thursday seemed to pay off two nights later, as Tony Parker (30 points, 6 assists) and Tim Duncan (27 PTS, 15 REB) were outstanding. [Read more…]