Luka Garza is the greatest men’s basketball player in Iowa Hawkeye history. Garza is the Hawkeyes’ all-Time leading scorer, finishing his career with an astounding 2,306 points. Last season he led the Hawkeyes to a 22-9 record, a 2 seed in the NCAA tournament, Iowa’s highest seed since 1987, and he won the prestigious John R. Wooden Award, given to the best college basketball player in the nation. These are just some of the many accomplishments on Garza’s resume, but how does this Hawkeye legend project at the next level?

Pros:

Luka Garza does many things well on the court. He was 2^nd in the nation in scoring this past season, averaging 24.6 points per game. He is a highly skilled post player, has soft touch off the glass, finishing ability with both hands, and is able to create the space he needs to get his shots off with a variety of post moves and step backs jumpers. Garza can also get to the line effectively, as he ranked 5^th in the nation in total free throws attempted last season and shot 70% from the free throw line on 6.4 attempts a game. His silky smooth jumper gives him stretch big potential in the NBA; he shot 44% from 3 for the Hawkeyes on 100 total 3PA last year.

Garza is also a very good rebounder, pulling down 8.7 boards a game for the Hawkeyes last season, with 3 of those rebounds coming on the offensive end. His large frame (6’11”, 285 lbs.) and strength should help him be at least a decent rebounder in the NBA. He is an adequate playmaker for his size. Even though he only averaged 1.7 assists per game last season, he has shown that he has a high basketball IQ and knows how to find the open man when faced with a double team. Lastly, Garza is a capable shot blocker, averaging 1.6 blocks per game last season. NBA teams will also love how respected Garza is. Former and current coaches alike rave about his insane work ethic and coachability, and his teammates will be the first to speak on his leadership and humility.

Cons

Luka Garza is not a high-level athlete. He lacks lateral mobility and high IQ guards will take advantage of him in the pick-and-roll. His perimeter defense is extremely sub-par, and he does not do well against big men with a strong face-up game. His size & strength will not be enough to stop the likes of elite big men like Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic, so his technique must improve. He has also had trouble scoring in the paint against big men who are larger, stronger, and have length on him. Lastly, his ball-handling is only average at best, and has much room for improvement.

Projection:

Luka Garza is a multi-talented big who can score from all 3 levels on the floor and rebound effectively. His ability to spread the floor at his size is a very desirable trait in today’s NBA. He will need to improve his mobility substantially if he is to ever to play big minutes, and his overall defensive ability is only average at best. Teams with an already sound defense in need of bench shooting and/or a stretch big should consider drafting Garza. If he is drafted, look for his name to be called in the mid-to-late 2^nd round.

Potential Fits:

Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz.

The post Luka Garza 2021 NBA Draft Profile appeared first on KRUI Radio.

As the 2021 season begins and a few NBA games have been played, it’s time to predict who will take home the NBA Season Awards! These awards include Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, 6th Man of the Year, and Most Improved Player of the Year.

Most Improved Player of the Year

Christian Wood, PF/C, Houston Rockets

Christian Wood is on his 6th NBA team in 5 years, but his days as a journeyman may be coming to a close in Houston. He signed a 3 year / $41 million contract with the Rockets this offseason after his breakout performance last season with the Detroit Pistons. A high-level rebounder who can score from all 3 levels, he is poised to be a strong running-mate with offensive superstar James Harden.

Honorable Mentions: DeAndre Ayton, Jaylen Brown, Michael Porter Jr.

6th Man of the Year

Lou Williams, G, Los Angeles Clippers

This prediction feels a bit lazy, but the 15-year veteran has proven to be one of the greatest 6th men of all time. In addition to winning the award 3 times already, he was a finalist for this award last year. The other finalists, Dennis Schröder and Montrezl Harrel, are both starters for the Los Angeles Lakers, whereas Williams has maintained his 6th man status for the Clips. There is no reason why Lou Williams can’t win 6MOTY for a 4th time.

Honorable Mentions: Danilo Gallinari, Jordan Clarkson, Goran Dragic

Rookie of the Year

James Wiseman, C, Golden State Warriors

#2 overall pick James Wiseman could not be in a better situation with the Warriors. Superstar Steph Curry will be the primary focus of the opponent’s defense, and Steve Kerr’s offensive system will give the former Memphis Tiger the space he needs to dominate inside. Still only 19, Wiseman should be a franchise building block as the Warriors look to return to contention next season when Klay Thompson returns from injury.

Honorable Mentions: Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Obi Toppin

Defensive Player of the Year

Ben Simmons, G, Philadelphia 76ers

Ben Simmons is one of the most divisive players in the NBA. His unusual size and skillset for an NBA point guard are the cause of endless debate, but one thing that cannot be disputed is his ability to defend. He is one of the most versatile defenders the league has ever seen, being able to defend the post with his 6’10 and 240 lb. frame, but also having the length (He has a 7′ wingspan) and the agility to keep up with guards on the perimeter. The 76ers star led the league in steals last season, and with the Sixers hiring the defensive-minded Doc Rivers as their new head coach, look out for Ben Simmons to be a defensive force this season.

Honorable Mentions: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Marcus Smart, Anthony Davis

Most Valuable Player

Luka Dončić, G, Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks have done it again, landing another European NBA star with the 21-year old Luka Doncic. After he averaged 29-9-9 for Dallas last season, all eyes are on Doncic to take the next step in his progression. He has it in him to average a 30 point triple double, if he can shoot at an efficient level and lead the revamped Mavericks to a top 3 seed in the West, it would be well within reason for “Wonder Boy” to bring the MVP trophy back to Dallas.

Honorable Mentions: Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, James Harden

The post 2021 Way-Too-Early NBA Awards Predictions appeared first on KRUI Radio.

#1- The Los Angeles Lakers

Notable players in: G Dennis Schröder, F/C Montrezl Harrell, C Marc Gasol, G/F Wesley Matthews.

Notable players out: G/F Danny Green, C Dwight Howard, C JaVale McGee, G Rajon Rondo.

The reigning-champion Lakers somehow managed to get even better. They addressed their weaknesses with this free agency group, bring in capable outside shooting with Schroder, Gasol, and Matthews, reliable defenders in Harrel, Gasol, and Matthews, and secondary scoring with Schroder. All signs point to the return of superstar big man Anthony Davis as well. The Lakers are going all-in for another championship this season, and if this group of free agents can play well around LeBron, there is no reason why they can’t.

Loser #1- The Milwaukee Bucks

Notable players in: G Jrue Holiday, F Torrey Craig, G D.J. Augustin, G Bryn Forbes.

Notable players out: C Robin Lopez, G Eric Bledsoe, G George Hill, F Ersan Ilyasova, F Wesley Matthews, F Marvin Williams, G Kyle Korver.

The Bucks are getting desperate. After many believed them to be legitimate championship contenders, a disappointing 2nd round playoff loss to the Heat last season has the team worried. Franchise superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo could walk if they underperform in the postseason again. They had to make a move, and boy did they, trading all of 5 1st round picks. These were George Hill and Eric Bledsoe for Jrue Holiday, a player who is about the same level as Eric Bledsoe (the team’s original starting point guard). They also failed in acquiring Antetokounmpo’s preferred target in G/F Bogdan Bogdanovic, which would not have been difficult to do if they had not tampered. Overall, the Bucks spent a fortune to improve their roster by a negligible amount and if Antetokounmpo leaves this offseason, the Bucks may be in a bad place for a long time.

Winner #2- The Philadelphia 76ers

Notable Players in: G/F Danny Green, G Seth Curry, G Tyrese Maxey, C Dwight Howard.

Notable Players out: F/C Al Horford, G Zhaire Smith, G/F Josh Richardson

The Sixers are showing signs of life again. Newly hired Team President Daryl Morey wasted no time fixing the plethora of issues that plagued this roster, starting with sending the underperforming 109 million-dollar-man Al Horford-along with pick #34 and a future 1st-to the Thunder for Danny Green and Terrance Ferguson. His acquisition of C Dwight Howard came as a bit of a shock, but he will serve as a solid backup behind Joel Embiid. Combine that with the multitude of talented guards Morey acquired in Seth Curry, Tyrese Maxey, and Isaiah Joe, and the Sixers are looking like the contender they should be.

Loser #2- The Boston Celtics

Notable players in: F/C Tristan Thompson, G/F Aaron Nesmith, G Payton Pritchard, G Jeff Teague.

Notable players out: F Gordon Hayward, G Brad Wanamaker.

Rarely ever does a team that made the Eastern Conference Finals the year before have 3 First Round picks in the subsequent draft, but this year’s Boston Celtics did. Unfortunately for them, they did not use them as they should have. The Celtics have one of the best duos in the league with star forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and an elite scorer in Kemba Walker. They are competing for a championship NOW. The Celtics should have packaged those aforementioned draft picks, along with Hayward (he was traded to Charlotte earlier this offseason), for a high-level player who can contribute to a championship run. Or, even if you must use those picks, at least address the gaping hole at center that allowed Joel Embiid and Bam Adebayo to have their way against the Celtics in the playoffs. Ainge did neither, and instead drafted 2 scoring guards, which the team has plenty of, and traded the 3rd pick for a future pick. Ainge’s refusal to part with his treasure chest of assets has led to the stagnation of the Celtics thus far this offseason, and unless the team’s needs are addressed, may lead to disappointment this upcoming season.

Winner #3- The Oklahoma City Thunder

Notable players in: F/C Al Horford, F Trevor Ariza, G George Hill, F/C Aleksej Pokusevski.

Notable players out: G Chris Paul, C Steven Adams, F Terrance Ferguson.

The Thunder appear to be entering a 76ers-Process-style rebuild with their offseason moves so far. They have traded every asset they have (minus young star G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) for future picks, amassing an astonishing 14 1st round draft picks from the 2021 NBA Draft to the 2024 NBA Draft. The Thunder will not be a very good team next year, but that’s okay, as they still own their 2021 1st round pick.

Loser #3- The Detroit Pistons

Notable Players in: G Wayne Ellington, F/C Jerami Grant, F Josh Jackson, C Mason Plumlee, F Saddiq Bey, G Delon Wright, G Killian Hayes, F/C Isaiah Stewart.

Notable Players out: C Tony Bradley, F Tony Snell, G Bruce Brown, F/C Christian Wood.

The Pistons were one of the most active teams in free agency, but many of their moves were questionable. For starters, they let forward Christian Wood walk in free agency even after his breakout season. Then, Detroit created a massive logjam in the front court. In addition to having forwards Blake Griffin and Sekou Doumbouya, the team signed reserve center Mason Plumlee to a questionable 3 yr/25 million dollar deal, as well as center Jahlil Okafor to a 2-year deal. They also signed combo forward Josh Jackson to a 2-year deal and power forward Jerami Grant to a 4 yr/60 million dollar deal. In the draft, The Pistons added two more forwards in Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart. They still have former MVP Derrick Rose and one nabbed of the best prospects in the draft with combo guard Killian Hayes, but overall this offseason the Pistons have not built a team for the future as they should have.

The post 2020 NBA Free Agency Winners and Losers appeared first on KRUI Radio.

All player stats and measurables are from Tankathon.

1. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Pick- LaMelo Ball, , Point Guard, Australia

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’7″, 190 lbs., 19 yrs.

The Timberwolves have been actively shopping this pick and it is becoming increasingly likely that a trade happens. But, if the ‘Wolves stand pat, LaMelo Ball makes the most sense here. It is tough to pass up the scoring ability of Anthony Edwards, but LaMelo Ball’s natural playmaking ability better fits the team’s established stars in D’Angelo Russell and Karl Anthony-Towns.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 19.6 pts, 8.7 reb, 7.9 ast, 0.1 blk, 1.2 stl.

2. Golden State Warriors

The Pick- James Wiseman, Center, Memphis

Ht./Wt./Age- 7’1″, 240 lbs., 19 yrs.

Despite winning only 15 games last season, the Warriors’ dynasty is far from over. As they return 2-time MVP Steph Curry and all-time great shooter Klay Thompson from injury, the Warriors are looking like a real contender again. They stand to fix a problem that has plagued them for years with James Wiseman. A dominant interior force, he will fit very well in Golden State’s system as his 7’6″ wingspan makes him an elite shot blocking, rim running big man that the Warriors have been missing for years. He only played 3 games at Memphis due to an eligibility issue, but when he played he was the best player on the court.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 30.8 pts, 16.7 reb, 0.5 ast, 4.7 blk, 0.5 stl.

3. Charlotte Hornets

The Pick- Anthony Edwards, Shooting Guard, Georgia

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’5″, 225 lbs., 19 yrs.

The Charlotte Hornets are in a bad place. Their roster is in need of a serious overhaul, and Anthony Edwards is the piece that they need to begin their rebuild. An all-around offensive star, Edwards will thrive being the undoubted #1 scoring option in Charlotte. He can shoot the 3-ball, get to the rim, and finish through contact. His NFL-linebacker frame makes him a formidable defender. His playmaking ability is sub-par and he needs to improve his efficiency in order to become a true “star” in the NBA.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 20.8 pts., 5.7 reb., 3.1 ast., 0.6 blk., 1.5 stl.

4. Chicago Bulls

The Pick- Deni Avdija, Forward, Israel

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’9″. 215 lbs., 19 yrs.

The Bulls are on the verge of being a playoff team. They have an elite scorer in Zach Lavine, a rising star in Coby White, and a solid young front court tandem in Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Junior. Deni Avdija is the type of “glue-guy” that the Bulls could use. While he may never be a 25 point-per-game scorer and he may not be a great shooter, he makes up for it with his ability to do it all. Avdija can pass, handle the ball, rebound, defend both the perimeter and the rim, and his basketball IQ is extraordinary. He could very well be the final piece that the Bulls have been looking for.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 15.0 pts., 7.7 reb., 3.3 ast., 1.1 blk., 1.1 stl.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Pick- Obi Toppin, Power Forward, Dayton

Ht./Wt./Age-6’9″, 220 lbs., 22 yrs.

Shockingly enough, the Cavaliers do not take a point guard here and instead take the high-flying National Player of the Year forward from Dayton, Obi Toppin. Toppin has the potential to be a Blake Griffin-level player in this league, but there are questions still. His competition in the weaker Athletic 10 Conference raises concern if he is ready for the rigors of the NBA, and he is a shaky perimeter defender. Overall, Toppin is a very good all-around prospect and will make an immediate impact for the Cavs.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 22.8 pts., 8.6 reb., 2.5 ast., 1.4 blk., 1.1 stl.

6. Atlanta Hawks

The Pick- Onyeka Okungwu, Center, USC

Ht./Wt./Age-6’9″, 245 lbs., 19 yrs.

The Hawks have an elite young offensive core with sharpshooting point guard Trae Young and rising stars DeAndre Hunter & Cam Reddish. However, this team will never succeed if they do not improve on their league-worst 119.7 points allowed per game. Their abysmal 53.6 points in the paint allowed also ranked dead-last. Onyeka Okungwu fixes both of those problems. At about 6’9″, he can not only defend the perimeter well, but he is also a very good rim protector. Offensively, he makes an effective rim runner and not much else, but if utilized properly he could become a valuable player in Atlanta for a long time.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 19.0 pts., 10.2 red., 1.3 ast., 3.2 blk., 1.4 stl.

7. Detroit Pistons

The Pick- Killian Hayes, Point Guard, France

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’5″, 187 lbs., 19 yrs.

Detroit is in need of a savior. They lack a foundational piece to rebuild around, and Killian Hayes can be that player. He is a dynamic do-it-all guard, he has the basketball IQ of a veteran and can also score in bunches because of his crafty isolation game. His frame allows him to be a good perimeter defender, but he is not a true lockdown defender yet. If Detroit can put the right system around Hayes, he could be the player that they have been desperately searching for.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 16.1 pts., 4.1 reb., 7.8 ast., 0.4 blk., 2.1 stl.

8. New York Knicks

The Pick- Isaac Okoro, Small Forward, Auburn

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’6″, 225 lbs., 19 yrs.

The New York Knicks are the league’s most consistent dumpster fire and have been for the better part of a decade. Their roster needs everything, and Isaac Okoro does it all. He’s advertised as a forward who can score, rebound, make plays, defend. Although his jump-shot needs work the potential is still there. He may not be the prospect with the highest ceiling, he makes up for that by being one of the safest picks in the draft, and guaranteed talent of any kind is something that the Knicks need.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 14.7 pts., 5.1 reb., 2.3., 1.0 blk., 1.1 stl.

9. Washington Wizards

The Pick- Devin Vassell, Forward, Florida State

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’7″, 194 lbs., 20 yrs.

The Washington Wizards view themselves as a competitive team with the return of the John Wall-Bradley Beal backcourt duo, and they are going to draft for fit over value. Because of this, they take a slight reach here in Devin Vassell. Vassell projects as a 3&D Forward initially and has a budding offensive game that could allow him to be more than a role player. His sharpshooting and lockdown defense fill the needs that the Wizards have in their quest to return to relevance.

Per 36 Minutes Stats– 15.9 pts., 6.3 reb., 2.0 ast., 1.2 blk., 1.8 stl.

10. Phoenix Suns

The Pick- Tyrese Haliburton, Point Guard, Iowa State

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’5″, 175 lbs., 20 yrs.

Phoenix has something special brewing. After Devin Booker led the Suns on an 8-0 run in the Orlando bubble, this team showed that they have the talent to compete with the best. Their biggest need is someone to star alongside Devin Booker in the backcourt and Tyrese Haliburton has the skills to do so. His exceptional basketball IQ and high-level passing ability make him a natural fit to run the point, but he can also thrive off the ball as he shot 42% from 3 last season. Haliburton also is a talented perimeter defender and can contribute right away for the Suns. Phoenix is on the cusp of something special, Tyrese Haliburton may just be the final piece they need.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 14.9 pts., 5.8 reb., 6.3 ast., 0.7 blk., 2.4 stl.

11. San Antonio Spurs

The Pick- Patrick Williams, Forward, Florida State

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’8″, 225 lbs., 19 yrs.

After the Spurs’ unbelievable 23 year playoff streak ended this season, it looks like the Spurs are entering a rebuild. Patrick Williams, the versatile forward, is the perfect prospect to build around. Willing to be the 6th man at FSU despite being a 5 star recruit, he fits San Antonio’s “team first” culture better than any prospect here. He has the raw talent to be a true star in the league, but he may take some time to fully develop.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 14.8 pts., 6.4 reb., 1.6 ast., 1.7 blk., 1.6 stl.

12. Sacramento Kings

The Pick- Aaron Nesmith, Small Forward, Vanderbilt

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’6″, 213 lbs., 21 yrs.

The Kings have a long offseason ahead of them. De’Aaron Fox is an exciting young player when healthy, and former 2nd overall pick Marvin Bagley Jr. has the potential to be a high-level big man, but has been hurt a lot and inconsistent when he does play. Sharpshooter Buddy Hield has expressed his frustrations with his role on the team and wants out, and the Kings could replace him with Aaron Nesmith. Possessing an absolute torch of a jumper, he can shoot the lights out of the gym from anywhere on the court. He is an average perimeter defender but has upside, and his playmaking ability, both passing and off the dribble, could use some work. Overall he could prove to be an effective plug-and-play option for the Kings as they try to end their 14 year playoff drought.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 23.2 pts., 4.9 reb., 0.9 ast., 0.9 blk., 1.4 stl.

13. New Orleans Pelicans

The Pick- Kira Lewis Jr., Point Guard, Alabama

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’3″, 180 lbs., 19 yrs.

While some argue that the Pelicans take a stretch-big here, the Pelicans have to be tempted by Kira Lewis Jr.’s ability to run the fast break. Franchise savior Zion Williamson is at his most useful in the fast break, where he can exploit mismatches and catch lobs all day long. This is contingent on Zion being in shape, but all signs are trending positively. Kira Lewis Jr. is more than a speedy point guard, however, he can also space the floor well (37% from 3) and knows how to hit the open man. His size limits his defensive versatility, but he can match up okay with players his size.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 17.7 pts., 4.6 reb., 5.0 ast., 0,6 blk., 1.7 stl.

14. Boston Celtics (From Memphis Grizzlies)

The Pick- Tyrese Maxey, Guard, Kentucky

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’3″, 198 lbs., 20 yrs.

The Celtics are fresh off of their heartbreaking Eastern Conference loss and are looking to re-tool with their 3 first-round picks this draft. They use their first pick to strengthen their bench with Tyrese Maxey. His stats don’t jump off the page, but that is more a product of the system he played in at Kentucky. Maxey is not a great shooter, but his compact form and high free- throw percentage suggest that there is potential. He is a very capable defender, and his intensity & hustle make him a perfect fit to come off the bench for a hungry Boston team who is looking to contend for a title.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 14.6 pts., 4.5 reb., 3.3 ast., 0.4 blk., 0.9 stl.

15. Orlando Magic

The Pick- R.J. Hampton, Point Guard, New Zealand

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’5″, 188 lbs., 19 yrs.

Orlando is not looking for anything particular in this draft, they just need a star. R.J. Hampton is a prospect with a very high ceiling, arguably one of the highest in the draft, but also a very low floor. His fit next to former #1 overall pick Markelle Fultz is questionable, as neither are great shooters. However, Hampton’s upside as an elite perimeter defender and playmaker make him a prospect that Orlando will find tough to pass on.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 15.4 pts., 6.8 reb., 4.2 ast., 0.6 blk., 1.9 stl.

16. Portland Trail Blazers

The Pick- Saddiq Bey, Forward, Villanova

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’8″, 216 lbs., 21 yrs.

The Blazers were one of the most fun teams to watch in the Orlando Bubble, with superstar point guard Damian Lillard taking home Bubble MVP. This team is not a true contender and was barely a playoff team, and part of that is because of their lackluster perimeter defense and (except for Lillard and McCollum) outside shooting. Saddiq Bey would solve both of these problems. His playstyle is emblematic of the modern NBA, a 6’8″ forward who can light it up from outside, play lock-down perimeter defense, and create for others. He struggles off the dribble and does not have much of an isolation game, but that is not what he is drafted to do. If the Blazers can utilize Bey properly, expect him to blossom into a very good 3&D player.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 17.1 pts., 5.0 reb., 2.5 ast., 0.4 blk., 0.8 stl.

17. Minnesota Timberwolves (From Brooklyn Nets)

The Pick- Precious Achiuwa, Power Forward, Memphis

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’9″, 234 lbs., 21 yrs.

Back on the clock with their 2nd pick of the 1st round, and the Timberwolves address their defensive need here with Precious Achiuwa. He may be bit undersized and still raw, he is a high-energy athlete who can defend multiple positions with his 7’2″ wingspan, box-out and rebound well, and is an adept playmaker from the post. Achiuwa can be the defensive stalwart that the Timberwolves need to be competitive.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 18.7 pts., 12.8 reb., 1.1 ast., 2.2 blk., 1.3 stl.

18. Dallas Mavericks

The Pick- Desmond Bane, Shooting Guard, TCU

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’5″, 215 lbs., 22 yrs.

The Mavericks have been blessed by the basketball gods once again with generational talent and MVP favorite Luka Doncic and 7’3″ sharpshooter Kristaps Porzingis. They have a championship-caliber core, but they lack bench depth. Desmond Bane can come in immediately and make an impact off the bench. He is a fantastic shooter from deep (43% in 4 years) and possesses the defensive IQ and ability that the Mavericks desperately need. He struggles a bit when trying to create his own shot, but he has shown flashes of improvement. Expect Bane to make a big impact for the Mavs early.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 16.6 pts., 6.3 reb., 3.9 ast., 0.5 blk., 1.5 stl.

19. Brooklyn Nets (From Philadelphia 76ers)

The Pick- Jalen Smith, Power Forward, Maryland

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’10”, 225 lbs., 20 yrs.

With the return of superstar Kevin Durant from injury, the Nets are instantly a title contender. They have talent all throughout the team, and no real needs. Jalen Smith goes here because of his ability as a stretch big, rebounder, and rim protector. He can camp out in the corner for 3, being a safety net as Durant and Kyrie Irving will be doing the bulk of the ball-handling. Smith does lack a decent playmaking ability, and his perimeter defense is weak, but he will have plenty of opportunities to learn and grow under new head coach Steve Nash.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 17.8 pts., 12.1 reb., 0.9 ast., 2.7 blk., 0.8 stl.

20. Miami Heat

The Pick- Robert Woodard II, Small Forward, Mississippi State

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’7″, 235 lbs., 20 yrs.

Robert Woodard is not the flashiest player in the draft, as he barely averaged 11 points a game and not many have heard of him. However, there is no better fit for the Miami Heat culture than him. He dives for loose balls, plays with intensity and heart, defends anyone on the court, rebounds, passes, and shot 42% from 3 his sophomore year. Woodard is the ideal player for the Miami Heat to add to their rotation if they hope to return to the finals. His offensive game is limited, he struggles to create opportunities for himself, but he more than makes up for it with his plethora of other basketball abilities.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 12.4 pts., 7.1 reb., 1.4 ast., 1.1 blk., 1.2 stl.

21. Philadelphia 76ers (From Oklahoma City Thunder)

The Pick- Tyrell Terry, Point Guard, Stanford

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’3″, 170 lbs., 20 yrs.

The Sixers have one person on their roster who can both dribble effectively and shoot well in Shake Milton. They have a serious lack of perimeter shooting and playmakers, so Tyrell Terry instantly makes an impact on this team. His flamethrower jumper and seemingly limitless range, combined with his ball-handling and playmaking prowess, make him the perfect fit in Philadelphia next to stars Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. Although he has the quickness to be a good defender, he is very undersized and opposing players can easily overpower him. The Sixers are a very good defensive team and will be able to hide Terry on defense. Ben Simmons leads the league in 3-point assists since he entered the league in 2017, making this pairing feel like a match made in heaven.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 16.2 pts., 5.0 reb., 3.5 ast., 0.1 blk., 1.5 stl.

22. Denver Nuggets (From Houston Rockets)

The Pick- Josh Green, Shooting Guard, Arizona

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’5″, 214 lbs., 19 yrs.

The Nuggets were another entertaining team to watch in the Bubble, with stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray showing that they can lead a team in the playoffs. But, while Denver is an offensive juggernaut, they are lackluster on the defensive end. They would also benefit from more 3-point shooting from their supporting cast. Josh Green is the perfect fit because while his statistics may not jump off the page, he was a 36% 3-point shooter at Arizona, and is a very good athlete and perimeter defender. He needs some time to develop before he can become a real contributor, but if he pans out then Denver may have gotten yet another late-round steal.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 14.0 pts., 5.3 reb., 3.0 ast., 0.5 blk., 1.8 stl.

23. Utah Jazz

The Pick- Cole Anthony, Point Guard, North Carolina

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’3″, 184 lbs., 20 yrs.

Once touted as a top-5 pick, Cole Anthony falls to 23 due to a combination of inconsistent play and injury last season. Despite this he is still one of the best prospects in the draft, with the ability to seemingly score at will. His jumper and playmaking ability needs improvement, but Utah has a great coaching staff and veteran point guard Mike Conley for him to learn from. If Utah can develop Anthony properly, he could be a very dynamic backcourt mate for franchise star Donovan Mitchell.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 19.1 pts., 5.9 reb., 4.1 ast., 0.3 blk., 1.4 stl.

24. Milwaukee Bucks (From Indiana Pacers)

The Pick- Tre Jones, Point Guard, Duke

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’2″, 185 lbs., 20 yrs.

The Bucks are in serious danger of losing back-to-back MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. They need to surround Giannis with players who can hold their own defensively, pass the ball well, and shoot from outside. Tre Jones fits the bill. He may be undersized and his isolation skills are lacking but his strengths are what they need.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 16.5 pts., 4.3 reb., 6.5 ast., 0.4 blk., 1.8 stl.

25. Oklahoma City Thunder (From Denver Nuggets)

The Pick- Jaden McDaniels, Power Forward, Washington

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’10”, 184 lbs., 20 yrs.

The Thunder are at a fork in the road in terms of franchise direction. They could either trade Chris Paul for picks and rebuild, or keep him and try to remain competitive. Going Jaden McDaniels at 25 actually works out well in both directions. If the Thunder begin a rebuild, he has lots of potential and can be a building block next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. If they decide to remain competitive, he fills a positional need as an all-around small forward who can score at all 3 levels. Once he adds some weight in an NBA weight-program, he projects to be a very good defender because of his mobility.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 15.0 pts., 6.7 reb., 2.4 ast., 1.6 blk., 0.9 stl.

26. Boston Celtics

The Pick- Udoka Azubuike, Center, Kansas

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’11”, 260 lbs., 21 yrs.

The Celtics use their 2nd pick in the 1st round and add some much needed rim protection with big man Udoka Azubuike here. In the playoffs this past season, Joel Ebriid and Bam Adebayo dominated the Celtics. Azubuike fixes that problem and even provides a bit of offense as a roll man and lob threat.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 17.9 pts., 13.6 reb., 1.2 ast., 3.4 blk., 0.6 stl.

27. New York Knicks (From Los Angeles Clippers)

The Pick- Aleksej Pokusevski, Center, Serbia

Ht./Wt./Age- 7’0″, 201 lbs., 18 yrs.

After taking one of the safest picks with Isaac Okoro, the Knicks take a gamble here and take arguably the biggest boom-or-bust prospects in the draft with Aleksej Pokusevski. At his highest, he is Kristaps Porzingis with the handles of a guard, and at his worst he is an unplayable defensive liability due to his weakness. If Pokusevski can reach his full potential, he may be the savior the Knicks have been looking for.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 16.7 pts., 12.2 reb., 4.8 ast., 2.8 blk., 2.0 stl.

28. Los Angeles Lakers

The Pick- Malachi Flynn, Point Guard, San Diego State

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’1″, 185 lbs., 22 yrs.

Fresh off of a championship run in the Bubble, the Lakers have a lot of questions this offseason. Key members of their title run are free agents, arguably the most important of these being guard Rajon Rondo. If Rondo does not return, Malachi Flynn can be the next man up. A pro-ready natural playmaker, he has a knack for finding the open man and has great court vision. Flynn is also a very capable outside shooter, unlike Rondo, but he is not a lock-down perimeter defender, also unlike Rondo. The Lakers are aiming to be back-to-back champions this coming season and Malachi Flynn can be a contributor right away.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 19.0 pts., 4.8 reb., 5.5 ast., 0.1 blk., 1.9 stl.

29. Toronto Raptors

The Pick- Zeke Nnaji, Center, Arizona

The Raptors are in immediate need of a big after starting center Marc Gasol announced that he would be playing in Spain for his final years. Zeke Nnaji is a natural replacement for the Raptors, as a potential rebuild looms. Nnaji is not the same player as Gasol, but he very well could be. He has a very versatile offensive skillset and projects favorably as a stretch 5 that can also be a lob threat. His defensive ability needs improvement, but he has all the tools to do so.

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’10”, 247 lbs., 19 yrs.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 18.9 pts., 10.1 reb., 1.0 ast., 1.0 blk., 0.8 stl.

30. Boston Celtics (From Milwaukee Bucks)

The Pick- Tyler Bey, Small Forward, Colorado

Ht./Wt./Age- 6’7″, 213 lbs., 22 yrs.

The Celtics use the last of their 1st rounders and take Tyler Bey, an intriguing player who, if developed correctly, could be yet another outside scoring 2-way wing. He is a good 3-point shooter and despite being used as a center in college, he is a capable defender on the perimeter as well as inside. Bey will need some time in the G-League to progress as a perimeter player, but once he gets some experience playing the wing he could be a valuable bench piece for Boston.

Per 36 Minutes Stats- 17.2 pts., 11.2 reb., 1.8 ast., 1.4 blk., 1.9 stl.

The post 2020 NBA Mock Draft appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Staying in Cleveland

Pros: Staying in Cleveland would allow LeBron James to stay in his hometown for what would likely be the remainder of his career. This would allow him to theoretically win several more NBA titles back to his hometown team, while perhaps completely making up for his departure from Cleveland to Miami.

Cons: Reports already indicate a rift exists between LeBron James and Cavaliers’ owner Dan Gilbert. If true, that seems unlikely to improve by LeBron remaining in Cleveland. Further, given the state of the rest of the team, LeBron would likely be spending his mid and late thirties as a one man show on an increasingly untalented team (for the sake of reference, in this year’s first round series against the Indiana Pacers, LeBron scored 36.4% of Cleveland’s points with 28.1% of the team’s shot attempts, a phenomenon likely to only grow more LeBron-centric out of necessity rather than design, should LeBron stay in Cleveland).

Leaving for Philadelphia

Pros: Going to Philadelphia would allow LeBron to play with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, and to do so without taking a pay cut. He could also remain in the (weaker) Eastern Conference. Heading to Philadelphia just as “The Process” seems to be bearing its full fruit is LeBron’s best chance of winning titles out of the East, and perhaps his best chance period. Plus, the NBA benefits from the rekindling of the Celtics-76ers rivalry in the form of LeBron James vs. Kyrie Irving.

Cons: Leaving Cleveland to play on a team that seems to finally be on its way towards a peak will likely be seen as bandwagoning, except this time getting ready for the twilight of his career rather than as a superstar in his prime creating a super team with two other such individuals.

Leaving for Houston

Pros: At minimum, LeBron would get to play with James Harden, and would be able to play against the Warriors more often during the regular season (and possibly up to seven more times in the post season). Assuming Chris Paul stays in Houston, a LeBron led Rockets team might be even better than the James-Wade-Bosh Miami Heat teams. Additionally, from a financial perspective, Texas lacks a state income tax.

Cons: Assuming Houston doesn’t want to blow past the salary cap and develop a significant luxury tax deal, someone is going to have to take a pay cut. If LeBron James leaves Cleveland for Houston, it would seem unlikely that taking a pay cut is high on Mr. James’ wish list. Assuming he refuses a pay cut, Chris Paul is likely to be gone. Further, James Harden was traded from Oklahoma City in part due to his concerns over being in the collective shadow of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Is it likely that becoming the 1B to LeBron James’ 1A would work?

Leaving for the Los Angeles Lakers

Pros: Los Angeles is the second largest media market in the country, and the Lakers are one of the most successful franchises in professional sports. Similar to Philadelphia, coming to Los Angeles would allow LeBron to play with up-and-coming talents such as Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram and to do so without a cut in pay. On those lines, the NBA benefits from a rekindled Celtics-Lakers rivalry in the form of LeBron James against Kyrie Irving, as well as a Lakers-Warriors rivalry combined with the LeBron James-Warriors rivalry. LeBron also reportedly already owns a home in Los Angeles, making the transition easier for him and his family.

Cons: Coming to Los Angeles would mean LeBron James would be walking into the jaws of a fan base still in love with Kobe Bryant. Further, while LeBron would be the chief attraction in Cleveland and Houston, and at worst a slight second in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, with two baseball teams with devoted fans and two football teams (a de facto three teams if one acknowledges the plurality fan base of the soon to be much closer to Los Angeles Raiders), anything but immediate and long term success could see LeBron James fall down the ladder of his own city.

Verdict

Ultimately, I suspect LeBron James will channel his inner Village Person and go west to Los Angeles. The fact he already owns a home in the city, and can move teams without taking a pay cut will likely influence his decision. LeBron has also shown his respect for the history of the game of basketball, and I ultimately suspect the ability to finish his career by helping to bring back a long dominant franchise to the forefront of basketball, and perhaps try and silence any Kobe-phile naysayers in the process, will be enticing enough for LeBron James to pick Los Angeles over Houston, Philadelphia, or Cleveland.

The post Where Will LeBron Go? appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Iowa has had the best of luck with these kinds of stories. Just this year, the Kinnick Wave captured the hearts and minds of the nation, even winning the annual Disney Spirit Sports Award. But, if you had the chance to be at the Purdue-Iowa slaughter at Carver, the annual Chris Street reminded the Iowa faithful of why we love sports.

January 19^th, 2018 marks the 25^th anniversary of the passing of Hawkeye legend Chris Street. Street lived out his dream, even if it was marked short. The legend of Chris Street was never about his stats. Street’s passion was such a high intensity that the only thing you’d be able to do is be in awe. And smile. Chris did that a lot, another level of the legend. Not only did Street have an unparalleled passion for the game, but his lovable personality and magnetic smile was equally a force to be reckoned.

Iowa fell in love with Chris Street because Street was Iowa embodied. Street had the “Iowa Nice” personality commonly found in the Hawkeye State and held the tenacity of the court that is a by-product of his tough, blue collar work ethic. But, more than anything, Chris Street woke up everyday wanting to do nothing more than to play basketball for his Hawkeyes. The University of Iowa released a video and showed the same video during halftime of the Purdue-Iowa contest one day after the 25^th anniversary of his passing. The following link goes to the inspirational tribute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48dGMn_muYk.

The game prior to and following the Chris Street tribute did not have the match the intensity of the Iowa legend. Purdue put Iowa out of the game in the first ten minutes of the first half and merely poured on the point. Making the game seem like nothing more than a morning stroll, the Boilermakers sliced through the soft Iowa defense on its way to a Big10 record in most 3-pointers in a game. 20 shots fell out to 33 attempted from beyond the arc for the third nationally ranked Purdue squad. Iowa could and would not come close after taking an early 3-0 lead in an eventual 87-64 loss.

Purdue will be taking their talents back home to West Lafayette, Indiana in a matchup against Michigan on Thursday, January 25^th at 6 pm CST. The next game for the Iowa comes with another tribute to Chris Street. However, in this Tuesday contest against the hated Wisconsin Badgers, Iowa will be wearing the Gold jerseys. Iowa faces Wisconsin on January 23 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena at 6 pm CST.

The post Forever 40: Remembering Chris Street appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Into the Darkness

You know what doesn’t look too bright in the season, though? As the title of the article answers that question for you, it is the Cleveland Cavaliers and their sluggish start. A team that was expected to have a learning curve looks like they haven’t even reached the point of ascending.

They are currently 9th in the Eastern Conference, with a 5-6 record and 5-5 Eastern Conference record. The word ‘YIKES’ is very applicable to this scenario. Oh yeah, did I mention that they lost to the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets in the same week? I’ll say it again, ‘YIKES’.

I won’t give them too much of a hard time on the Knicks loss, because Kristaps Porzingis has been averaging 30 points and 7.5 rebounds a game, putting him into early MVP discussions. But the Nets? Many words other than ‘YIKES’ can be used for describing the Cavs’ efforts in that game, but ‘sloppy’ will have to do.

A Quick Glimmer of Hope

Now, don’t get me wrong, the Cavs looked quite impressive in their season opener at home vs the Celtics. Not only was this a huge preview on what to expect for the rest of the season, but this was also Kyrie Irving’s first time playing in Cleveland in another jersey. While the Cavs did show some rough defense and inconsistent offense in that game, they got the mission done and got the win. Would they have gotten the win if Gordon Hayward didn’t break his ankle early in the first quarter? My pride says yes, but reality slaps me in the face making me say no.

As a fan, I was pretty stoked. The Kyrie Irving drama was irritating me all summer and I was happy for the organization for starting off the season with a statement win. But I haven’t felt that stoked since that game, for reasons but most obvious is that they aren’t winning.

More Drama

As a sports fan, I love some drama. However, when it is with a team I like and affecting them on the playing field/court, I do not like it. No sir.

The whole “who should be starting at the two-guard, Dwayne Wade or J.R. Smith?” debacle really told me that maybe things aren’t so smooth in the locker-room like LeBron says they are. Dwayne Wade made the big boy, mature move and elected himself to come off the bench. J.R. did seem pretty unhappy with his time on the bench, and rightfully so facing the fact that he started for the organization and has gotten a ring doing so.

I thought this would clear things up a bit, but sadly it didn’t. J.R. has looked quite bad. Shooting 17% from the 3-point line isn’t a good stat to have, especially when that is his go-to weapon. When J.R. is hot, it creates space on the floor for LeBron or other players to drive. This forces J.R.’s defender to either play help defense or stay out on the perimeter with J.R. When J.R. is this cold, defenders don’t have the urge to cover him around the arc, and that is what has been happening. Am I saying Dwayne Wade is a better 3 point shooter? Absolutely not. Wade is past his prime, but he is still more of an overall threat on offense than Smith.

What about their defense? J.R. can play defense when he wants to, and same with Wade. Consistency on that end of the floor is much desired, especially with how this season has gone so far.

Hurting

The Cavs have had what seems to be a minor injury bug. Derrick Rose had and still is going to sit out of a couple of games already this season due to an ankle injury vs the Milwaukee Bucks. Rose has looked more aggressive this season than he has in awhile, but still not as slashing as his prime years with the Bulls. Nonetheless, he his playing some quality point-guard while Isaiah Thomas heals that hip.

Wade has also had to sit out a couple of games due to a minor knee injury. I’d like to say that his absence on the floor was the reason they lost to the Nets, but that wasn’t the case. All-round inefficient shooting and lack-luster defense is.

Tristan Thompson is out for a month at the least with a strained left calf. His tenacity in the paint and on the boards is a huge igniter to this team. To go a month without his physical abilities can dig this team even deeper into the hole, which indeed can lead to more worries .

Take a Deep Breath in…

We also have to realize that the Cavs still have one of, if not, the best player to play the game in LeBron James. Although he is mortal and can age like the rest of us humans, he did say to the media after dropping 57 points on the Washington Wizards that, “…this is the best I’ve felt in my career.”

Hmm, excuse me. WHAT? Did he just say he feels better than all the times he won rings with the Heat and the one with the Cavs? This man is a legend and if I were an opposing team, I know I wouldn’t rest easy after a quote like that.

Joking aside, LeBron is still playing at the highest level. He is averaging 28.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game. Talk about a solid stat-line. He can’t do it all, but he can do most. The 57 point game vs the Wizards exemplifies that he can still put the team on his back when it is necessary.

And Out…

We still have to remember that there were a lot of new pieces added to this team in players such as Dwayne Wade, Derrick Rose, Jose Calderon, Jeff Green, Jae Crowder, and Isaiah Thomas. They still need to work out the kinks, as any new players on new teams do. Isaiah Thomas, when healthy, can be a huge boost of offense for this team. Mix that with the spread game that Crowder and Love can play, with LeBron doing anything possible, this could be a potent offense no doubt.

Besides, the expectations are high and so is the rate of criticism. There will be growing pains, but it will most likely get worse before it gets better. All in all, the season is only 11 games young. This leaves a lot of room for improvement, or decline. I predict they pick it up when Thompson is back healthy. And when Thomas steps on the court, I see them heading to the Finals once again. Like the Cavaliers promote on social, it is ‘Believeland’. Anything is possible.

The post Don’t Worry About The Cavs…Yet appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Opening Night

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics

The first game to be played on opening night, and a battle of two teams that many people though would meet in the conference championship game come playoff time. When the Kyrie Irving/Isiah Thomas trade went through this summer, the game had even more meaning behind it. Sadly, neither of these points were why this game will be reminded. Instead the disturbing image of Gordon Hayward’s injury will be held in people’s minds as they think about this game. What a terrible way to start an NBA season. Hayward is a player that I was extremely excited for this season as he finally was going to get the chance to show his ability to contribute and lead a team. Unfortunately, he will not be able to do that this season for the Celtics

A little more on the actual game itself, the Celtics came out an impressed despite having lost one of their key players 6 minutes into the first quarter. The major key for the Celtics was the performance of Jaylen Brown, who proved he made big strides this off season and was worth the 3^rd pick in the 2015 draft. This is also huge for the Celtics because he will help fill the role that was emptied by hayward. Jason Tatum also had a good start to his season which continued through he first month, showing his skills set will transfer well like many people believed it would.

Finally, the Cavaliers played about as you would expect the Cavaliers to play. Lebron James topped the stat sheet and was followed by Kevin Love. The rest of the new pieces that they acquired in the offseason did a fair job in their respective rights, with Dwayne Wade, Derrick Rose, and Jae Crowder all putting up solid numbers.

Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets

The score line of this game started out as many people may have thought, with the warriors holding down an early lead, and carrying around a 10-point lead consistently into the start of the 4^th quarter. Now the interesting thing was that they got to this lead at the hands of . . . Nick Young. Yes, you read that right, Nick Young was having himself a great night in his debut for the Warriors. This 10-point lead was not enough as the Rockets bench came up big in the 4^th quarter and brought the rockets back into the game. All of this lead up to a game winning shot opportunity by Stephen Curry with 5 seconds left, which hit rim and was rebounded by Kevin Durant who put the shot up but had a finger on the ball for about 0.1 second too long and the shot was no good.

The Warriors could compete as they always do, and plated a great game against a top team in the Rockets. The only thing that was potentially worrisome for any fans was that they were in a 1-point game with needing Nick Young to put up big numbers, something that will not happen even close to consistently. If the Warriors make either one of the last shots no one is talking about any downsides that may have come from the game, therefore I don’t see anything to point out as to why they lost, the just simpler weren’t able to close out. Now you can play now your favorite games online and win incredible prizes.

Worry comes for the Rocket team when looking at the poor performance and injury that hindered Chris Paul from playing well. Paul was one of the main reasons that this team was going to do be a force this season and he has been a shaky piece of the team to start that season. That being said the team should be optimistic as to how well they played despite Paul’s lack of contribution in the scoring department. The bench contributed a good amount of points, as well as brought the game back due to performances of the 3 bench players that logged minutes: Eric Gordon, Luc Mbah a Moute, and P.J. Tucker.

Panicking on Cavaliers or Warriors?

If you are currently panicking on either the Cavaliers or the Warriors getting off to the start that you may have not expected, stop. This is a lot more relevant for Cavs fans who are seeing their team struggle, but the Warriors more losses on their record than one would expect. There is no need for either of these teams to worry though, because they are in fact the best teams in their respective division. Every team has to shake off the dust in whatever sport they are playing, but eventually a team with the talent these two teams have will come together and be a well-oiled machine a little way into the season. There is no doubt in my mind that both teams will get back to the performances that we expected from them going into the season

Who’s Real and Who’s Fake

All of the following teams have in my eyes outperformed their projections that I had for the team in the regular season. The west coast sees two teams that were fringe playoff teams, playing with top talent in the league right now. The east has many teams that I would have said had under a 50% chance of making the playoffs, but are currently a top 8 seed in the east.

Magic – Fake

The top team in the Eastern Conference, sorry Magic but I don’t think so. While this team has been off to a hot start I don’t think that it is too bold to say that they are going to slow down. The big reason this team has been playing better than years past is the performance of recently signed Jonathan Simmons, as well as the emergence of Aaron Gordon as he is finally playing Power Forward, rather than Small Forward that he was playing last week. This fits much better with his game and has allowed for him to make major steps in his game. This team is young an trending in the right direction, and may finally move closer to making the playoffs, but their fall from the top of the Eastern Conference is just waiting to happen within the next couple of weeks.

Clippers – Real

I slept on the clippers going into the season, and I feel like I owe and apology to Clippers fans everywhere. This team has showed consistency week in and out, and have a very good bench to support the starting line-up. Through a lot of offseason movement with the lineup, the team acquired players from many different skills sets creating a great offense/defense balance. If Blake Griffin is able to stay healthy, we may see this team make a low end playoff push easily, something that was up in the air for me at the start of the regular season.

Detroit – Real

Another team that I was doubting going into the season due to their performance last year.I thought this lineup had potential last year, but I gave up hope after, yet another mediocre year was produced from Detroit. This doesn’t look like this will be the case this year, as Tobias Harris is having a big start to the year to lead the team, and the pieces around him are all starting to play well at the perfect time. I believe that the Pistons have the ability to make the playoffs in a weak eastern conference, and maybe even push up into a 6^th seed.

Indiana – Fake

I have been extremely impressed with the Indian Pacers, specifically Victor Oladipo. Oladipo has yet to find a place to call home in the NBA, but it looks like he may be settling in nicely in Indiana. This is a team that has a very interesting mess of players in different career stages on their lineup, and I don’t believe the talent is there for them to squeak out close games leading to them just missing the playoffs.

Memphis – Fake

This team has some extremely good wins (Houston twice, Golden State once) but it is their lack of depth in the starting lineup that worries me. The Grizzlies are always a fascinating team that finds ways to use a few of their stars, along with some gritty G-League or college players to field a team, and always do well with them. This Is the same type of team, but the wins against the top tier teams won’t be there for long when all it takes is one player for Memphis to do bad and they don’t have many others to pick up the slack. I still see this team potentially making the playoffs, but they will not continue to play as a top team like they are right now.

My Predictions

Western Conference Playoffs –

1. Warriors
2. Rockets
3. Spurs
4. Thunder
5. Grizzlies
6. Timberwolves
7. Clippers
8. Jazz

Eastern Conference Playoffs – 

1. Cavaliers
2. Celtics
3. Wizards
4. Bucks
5. Raptors
6. Detroit
7. Charlotte
8. Philadelphia

MVP Race – 

• Giannis Antetokounmpo
• Stephen Curry
• Blake Griffin
• Russel Westbrook
• Lebron James

Rookie of the Year Race – 

• Jayson Tatum
• De’Aaron Fox
• Dennis Smith Jr

The post A Month in Review: October Basketball appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Four Years, Two Teams?

It may be to the point where these teams have faced each other so often that it is now considered a war by international law, but odds have it that the Warriors and Cavaliers will play each other in the NBA Finals once again. The argument remains as to whether or not the dominance of these two teams is good for the NBA, but anyway you put it this is the outcome for the 2017 season and maybe even a couple more years down the road. Buckle up NBA fans, this one may be a long ride. On another note the question remains, can anyone challenge either of these teams? No. At least not this year, and it is hard to see a new team emerging if both superpowers stay together this off-season.

Moves, Moves, and more Moves

There was a major shopping spree on players this off-season, as this it was one of the most active and exciting off-season’s that NBA fans have seen in a long time. Big names all seemed to move to and throughout the western conference. So much that it sparked the league to change the format of the All-Star game so that the West would not be so lopsided. One team in each conference stood out to me, as well as many other people, in making the most enticing moves this off-season.

In the east it was clearly the Celtics who had the best additions to their team. Adding Gordon Hayward through free agency and trading for Kyrie Irving were two great moves that helped the team get a lot younger and have a true identity to go along with the youth of their bench. There is still the aging Al Horford who does not fit the long-term plans of the team, but for right now he is good veteran help. This team is not going to stun the Cavaliers and take the eastern conference championship, but they should at least make the east finals competitive. The Celtics will be a force in the eastern conference for years to come, whether or not they do anything depends on the future of the Cavaliers roster.

As for the west the most intriguing team this off-season was the Oklahoma City Thunder with the additions of Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. The fact that both of these trades were pulled off is incredible, especially considering that Sam Presti technically flipped Serge Ibaka (traded to Magic for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis) for Paul George (Traded to Thunder for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis). This team now has a very interesting dynamic, as they have 3 guys that love to operate with the ball in their hands. Will they figure out a way to make it work? Yeah, I think they do but I do not think they reach a level that is higher for the Warriors. Sorry Thunder fans.

Lastly, some quick hitters regarding the rest of NBA and free agency moves. In the East everyone seemed to get worse and is entering rebuilding stages as the Bulls, Pacers, Hawks, and Knicks all traded away key pieces to get younger assets. All those stars migrated to the West where there were shuffles on most of the rosters. The Rockets propelled themselves into the top of the conference even further with the addition of Chris Paul. The Timberwolves made a big acquisition in getting Jimmy Butler, a move that they hope will help them in the long run as they have an extremely young roster. Lastly the Nuggets and Clippers both made additions that will likely keep them on the edge of the playoffs, but will not amount to major success in the West.

Graduating Class of 2017

Just about every team not mentioned above decided that it was a good move to invest in the draft, and it looks like the draft class is not going to disappoint. While it seems like the draft prospects have always busted in recent years, the rookies this year seem to be of a different breed. Going into the draft there were talks that this could be the best class since 2003, and from the little film we have seen in the summer league and preseason this looks more than formidable.

The number one overall pick by the 76ers Markelle Fultz not only looks like a stud, but so do his teammates around him. This is a team that has the potential to be really good in years to come if all of their young players tend to pan out how they should. While this pick was a no brainer for the 76ers, he is a perfect fit for their team as he provides the outside shooting needed to spread the floor.

The second overall pick went to the Los Angeles Lakers and they selected Lonzo Ball, as I am sure everyone on the planet knows by this point. Put his dad and all the drama aside and consensus has it that this kid is going to be a star. The pieces around him seem to be in place, but it is just a matter of how everyone progresses in the coming years. The interesting thing to follow with this roster is what happens next year in free agency, as the Lakers have a lot of money to spend and a lot of big name free agents should be available.

Some other noticeable draft picks were Jayson Tatum to the Celtics at three, Josh Jackson to the Suns at four, De’Aaron Fox to the Kings at five, and Dennis Smith Jr. to the Mavericks at nine. All of these players have potential to shine almost immediately in the league, and could very well be superstars in the making. Tatum is in a very interesting scenario as he is going to develop on a team that will likely get a lot of playoff success and experience. Jackson is on a young, but extremely talented team as he prepares to pair up with Devin Booker for years to come. Fox and Smith will not have any enticing prospects around them, but both are extremely explosive and quick players at the point guard position and should have long careers ahead of them.

The post Recapping the Chaotic NBA Off-season appeared first on KRUI Radio.

1. A dark horse has to have better odds than slim-to-none
2. Must have a winnable path to the title
3. Under the radar
4. Irrelevant from the past 5 years, yet prevalent and “good” today

With all of these Criteria, there is a team in each conference that would fit perfectly into the dark horse category.

Like Louis Armstrong, I’m going with the Jazz

Back in the heyday of Salt Lake City basketball, there were two men who led the charge against a great Bulls Dynasty. Karl Malone and John Stockton were at the epoch of basketball in the western conference in the mid-90’s. Now, great basketball has returned to the Beehive state, and the Vivint Smart Home Arena couldn’t be happier. The Jazz have had an awakening of sorts this year. Jumping from 9th in the west to now 4th today is no easy task. To surpass teams like the Clippers, Thunder and Grizzlies is remarkable, to say the least. Their big “Crutch” is their defense. Currently ranked 3rd in the NBA in efficiency and 1st in total points scored against them (96.4), The Jazz have their defense to thank. In a Western Conference where offensive battles rage between teams like Houston, Golden State and OKC, Utah can suppress and contain these high octane teams like no other team in the west.

The probable path for the Utah Jazz is as follows: Vs. #5 Clippers Vs. #1 Warriors Vs. #2 Spurs Vs. #1 Cavaliers. Taking this one series at a time, The Utah Jazz have struggled mightily with the Clippers. Only winning one of 4 matchups. However, the answer to beating them is clear-cut and very achievable. The Jazz have only scored 95 points or less in the three losses (two games with only 73). Their win had them posting a cool 114. If Utah’s offense can be as potent as their defense, The Clippers don’t have enough help on the defensive end of the court to beat the Jazz. The

Warriors, however, seem to have it all. Superstars, Offense, Defense, Coaching. It’s seriously going to be a handful. The Warriors have so far won all of the games of this season series. Winning one in overtime, they have held the Jazz to under 100 each game. However, Kevin Durant was healthy and a huge factor in each of those games. If the Jazz catch a banged up Warriors and continue their offensive momentum from the Clippers series, We could see the former western conference champions fall. Finally, the San Antonio Spurs. Gregg Popovich is no stranger to the NBA playoffs. His coaching style as well as respect earned over the years is unmatched by anyone in the NBA today. This year was another testament to how well the Spurs are as a franchise. Bringing San Antonio a trophy every so often makes being a Spurs fan all the easier. The Utah Jazz are in a Western Conference that is jam-packed with talent and great teams, but if they can beat the Clippers and Warriors, the Spurs are just another rock in the road. The Jazz and spurs split the two games they’ve played this season, and they have two more. The style of play for these two teams is similar, protect the rim and don’t forget the fundamentals. With both teams ranking high in defensive efficiency, it will come down to if Rudy Gobert can win his matchup versus Pau Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge.  The games between these two teams will be won and lost in the paint.

David Vs. Goliath

In the case of the Jazz versus the probable eastern conference champions, Cleveland Cavaliers, no odds are greater than these. LeBron James with his merry band of players are the biggest powerhouse in the east. And probably, in the NBA. The Cavs have had a rough stretch as of late. Losing to Washington last night and an odd tailspin in the past 5 games, losing 3 and allowing 100+ points in every game. Utah’s defense is the clear-cut crutch for their team, and if LeBron and the Cavs can’t hold a mediocre offense under 100, they won’t be able to score a ridiculous amount on the Utah defense. Not to mention LeBron has not won in Utah since 2011.

Nothing Short of a Miracle

Not since the 1994 Houston Rockets with Hakeem Olajuwon has a team lower than a third seed win the NBA Championship. And really, to be

honest, there is a great chance that we will have a Golden State-Cleveland championship once again. That’s just what the league has been trending towards. It’s exhilarating, however, to see a team like the Utah Jazz, who have not been a serious playoff contender since the days of the Mailman Karl Malone. Utah is the one team I would hitch my wagon to if not Cleveland or Golden State. These playoffs will be fun to watch, and if Katy Perry tells us anything, don’t underestimate that dark horse.  

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