It’s been said for years that Dean Smith coach at University of North Carolina did the best defensive job on Michael Jordan. Nowadays with James Harden setting fire to the NBA, the same might be said about Herb Sendek, his coach at Arizona State university.
Observations on the Phoenix Suns For Mr. Research Since you asked — 1. You cannot play three (3) point guards and keep them all happy. 2. You can play fast and swift — “Sun-N-Gun” — but you had best have a half-court, inside game when April rolls around. 3. […]
Terminology Update Okay, last year we had the Stretch 4. Now, for the new year, we have the Stretch 5 — yet more proof that the big, low-post centers are being regarded as obsolete … at least for now. ++++
Mr. Research and I are back from holidays and it’s only fitting we begin 2015 with the quote of the year in 2014. Nick Young of the Los Angles Lakers said this after his team, minus a “resting” Kobe Bryant, spanked the high-flying Golden State Warriors: “Some guys just played like ‘Django Unchained’ […]
Most of the time, his observations are squarely on target. But, the other night on NBA-TV’s “Open Court,” he missed big time. He said: ”Shaquille O’Neal was more athletic than Wilt Chamberlain.” I almost fell out of my chair. Trust me, Charles — it is not even close. ###
So, once the season begins, we’ve can look forward to … “The Starters,” Isiah Thomas and Bill Simmons? Throw in a bunch of little guards dribbling the ball all over the gym, and you’ve got a game that is hard to watch and experts (?) who are difficult to listen to.***
This exhibition season, palming violations are not being whistled. Is it because the NBA has become a guard-oriented league and the high-profile guards have been doing it since grade school? Is it any wonder that the Big Man is becoming more obsolete? Think of it another way: imagine Kyrie Irving accomplishing some of his […]
Kevin Durant has averaged 42.3 minutes in 73 playoff games for Oklahoma City since 2010 … in other words, the equivalent of nearly another full season. He is the NBA leader not only in scoring, but also in minutes played. His summers are often busy, busy, too. In 2010, en route to the […]
Last year in October with the help of Mr. Research, my blog, “Last Man Standing,” it was noted that Kevin Durant was the only client of the summer work-out guru, Rob McClanaghan, who had escaped serious injury in the preceding two seasons. Now, though, with Durant’s “Jones” fracture, the roster is complete: Every one […]
Just as I was getting ready to applaud their decision not to sign him to a big contract, the Phoenix Suns signed Bledsoe – to a big contract. There are reasons why NBA teams failed to make an offer in this summer’s free-agent market. 1. He is in the small guard category. […]