2018 NBA PLAYOFFS: 'Show Tito Some Love'

The Kevin Love that used to be will never be again, but could become the Al Horford that is and continues to be.

When defenders become spectators. 

It takes Al fractions of a second to decipher
a mismatch and immediately backs his man into the post.

Guarding Horford in the post is a hopeless position, as he can finish with either hand over either of his broad shoulders.

His perimeter game is at it's best when he's trailing on a fast break.  The man guarding him helps stop ball and Horford stops at the 3-point line, feet set and square, ready to take the open shot.

The indifference towards physical contact on offense sets the tone for his defense.  It's like he wants to play you tough on defense, so he can quickly get back on offense, in order to wear you out some more.

Tito shows no love in the post.

Love will have a first hand view of what he could be in this series, although the view might not be too savory.

4 Things the Golden State Warriors MUST Do To Win Game 7 and Avoid an Epic Collapse

Kerr has probably been on the phone with Pop and Phil these past couple days.  He has to find the right mixture to get his team back to looking like the one that won 73 games.

Keep Steph Curry out of foul trouble.

Not sure how much zone defense the Warriors have played this year but it probably wouldn't hurt them to use some in Game 7.

The Cavs are putting LeBron James in pick and roll situations with whoever Curry is guarding in order to get Curry switched on to James.

Curry guarding LeBron is probably the most physical mismatch between any two players that could occur in this series.

The Warriors can't afford to have Curry on the bench and it is utmost to find a way to keep the Cavs from exploiting this matchup.

Also, Curry needs to stop reaching and play defense with his feet.  

Foul or not, the more you reach, the higher the chance of you getting the whistle blown.

Barbosa over Livingston.

Shaun Livingston was arguably the best reserve guard in the NBA this season, and brings unique versatility both offensively and defensively because of his size and length, but Leandro Barbosa needs to be the first player off Kerr's bench.

Barbosa is more similar to Curry in style of play in that he is aggressive on offense and forces the tempo.  Too many times has the Warriors offense gone on a scoring drought (11 first quarter points in Game 6) and Barbosa has proven on many occasion that he can provide that intensity.

Exploit Kyrie defensively.

Games 1 and 2 were blowouts in favor of the Dubs, and much of it had to do with Cleveland's ineptitude as a team on defense, and also the fact that Kyrie Irving is a great offensive player but also a notorious defensive liability.

If the Cavs are successful exploiting Curry's defensive ineffeciencies then why not do the same to Cleveland's weakest defender?

What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Iguodala is good in many positions...this ain't one of 'em.

Who's gonna do the Iggy?

Andre Iguodala was the MVP of the 2015 NBA Finals, not for his greatness as a scorer, but for the job he did defensively on Lebron. 

Iggy's lower back was clearly bothering him during Game 6 and it's difficult to think that he will be able to contribute much of anything in Game 7.

Problem for Kerr is that as deep and talented the Warriors' bench is, there is no player that can replicate the physical tools and skill set that Iguodala provides.

Kerr may be forced to use Klay Thompson as the main LeBron-stopper, which could also hinder his offensive production, but it's basically pick your poison at this point. 

Throwbackz: Worst NBA Draft Picks of All-Time: 'The Best Is Yet To Come?'

It's pretty well documented how awful rookie forward Anthony Bennett has played this season after being taken 1st overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.  But where does his terrible rookie campaign stack up against the most notable big men draft busts of ALL-TIME???  Below I have compiled statistics to illustrate performance (or rather futility) through the first 50 career games of 1st and 2nd overall NBA draft picks that never quite panned out.
All research and statistics compiled on basketball-reference.com

The ball just hasn't bounced Bennett's way this year.

F - Anthony Bennett, UNLV, 1st overall, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2013 (2nd, Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic)

games started: 0
games with less than 10 minutes played: 20
games with 30+ minutes played: 1 (33rd career game, 31:16 vs. New Orleans, L(-11) )
high point total: 19 (40th career game vs. Sacramento, W(+10) )
games played to reach 10+ points scoring:  32
high rebounds total: 11 (42nd career game @ Philadelphia, W(+29) )
double-doubles: 2 (40th and 42nd career game)


C - Greg Oden, Ohio State, 1st overall, Portland Trail Blazers, 2007 (2nd, Kevin Durant, Seattle SuperSonics)


GS: 39
games w/ less than 10 MP: 2
games w/ 30+ MP: 9
high PTS:  24 (35th career game vs. Milwaukee, W(+17), previous high scored 22 points @ Golden State, L(-5), 5th career game)
GP to reach 10+ PTS: 3
high REBS: 15 (twice, 19th and 35th career game)
double-doubles: 16

Even MJ couldn't steer Brown right.

F/C - Kwame Brown, Glynn Academy (GA), 1st overall, Washington Wizards, 2001 (2nd, Tyson Chandler, Los Angeles Clippers)
GS: 3
games w/ less than 10 MP: 21
games w/ 30+ MP: 4
high PTS: 14 (49th career game vs. LA Lakers, L(-21) )
GP to reach 10+ PTS: 2
high REBS: 12 (13th career game vs. San Antonio, L(-15) )
double-doubles: 1 (13th career game)

C - Michael Olowokandi, Pacific, 1st overall, Los Angeles Clippers, 1998 (2nd, Mike Bibby, Vancouver Grizzlies)

*played 45 games, 36 starts

games w/ less than 10 MP: 1
games w/ 30+ MP: 16
high PTS: 17 (twice, 3rd and 17th career game @Vancouver, L(-6) and @Boston, L(-34), respectively)
GP to reach 10+ PTS: 1
high REBS: 17 (37th career game @Vancouver, L(-3) )
double-doubles:  7


F/C - Pervis Ellison, Louisville, 1st overall, Sacramento Kings, 1989 (2nd, Danny Ferry, Los Angeles Clippers)
*played 34 games, 22 starts
games w/ less than 10 MP: 0
games w/ 30+ MP: 13
high PTS: 25 (33rd career game vs. Seattle, L(-12) )
GP to reach 10+ PTS: 9
high REBS: 12 (23rd career game @Indiana, L(-10) )
double-doubles: 4


C - Sam Bowie, Kentucky, 2nd overall, Portland Trail Blazers, 1984 (3rd, Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls)
*not all game logs available
high PTS: 24
GP to reach 10+ PTS: 4
high REBS: 20


C - Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut, 2nd overall, Memphis Grizzlies, 2009 (3rd, James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder)
GS: 0
games w/ less than 10 MP: 25
games w/ 30+ MP: 0
high PTS: 10 (28th career game @Phoenix, W(+25) )
GP to reach 10+ PTS: 28
high REBS: 9 (twice)
double-doubles: 0

Melo, Wade, and Bosh were drafted AFTER him...

F/C - Darko Milicic, Serbia, 2nd overall, Detroit Pistons, 2003 (3rd, Carmelo Anthony, Denver
Nuggets)
*played 34 games, 0 starts
games w/ less than 10 MP: 31
games w/ 30+ MP: 0
high PTS: 6
high REBS: 6 

ADEDS 2013 NBA Draft Prospects: 'Getting Defensive?'

Overrated.

Nerlens Noel, Center, Kentucky. & Victor Oladipo, Guard, Indiana.

Noel can block shots but doesn't do much else at this point.

Both of these guys have the potential to be very good if they can ever learn to play offense.  Noel has been slated to be the top pick of this draft for over a year now, but did very little to solidify that in his one year in Lexington, as he struggled to develop any kind of low post game.  Oladipo has drawn the Tony Allen comparisons and rightfully so.  But does that type of player warrant a top five pick as most pundits have him projected as?

Underrated.

Shane Larkin, Guard, Miami (FL).
The primary player involved in the "U" being talked about more in basketball than football last season is ready for prime time.  Larkin is one of the most athletic players in this draft (44-inch vertical leap at 2013 NBA Draft Combine) and orchestrated the Miami offense mostly out of the pick-and-roll.  Strikes defenders with a quick first step and can penetrate to the basket or burry the outside shot using a devastating step back.  Low risk of the spotlight getting to his head as he's had to deal with it his whole life being the son of a guy whose name is in Cooperstown.

Myck Kabongo, Guard, Texas.
Quick, shifty, point guard that can get his own shot fairly easily in isolation   Inconsistent outside shot but always a threat to drive.  Has shown the ability to score in bunches in games, such as Feb. 28 when Texas hosted Oklahoma.  Kabongo led the Longhorns to a 22-point comeback win while scoring a  career-high 31 points with 28 of them coming in the second half and overtime.


We Could Have Something Here.

Len is a big man with coveted low post skills.

Alex Len, Center, Maryland.
Smooth offensively for a player that is still very raw.  Long arms with a slight build but doesn't shy away from contact.  Decent faceup game and can play with his back to the basket but needs to get better as a passer in that capacity.  Could possibly be a Roy Hibbert-type pivot man in the future.

Michael Carter-Williams, Guard, Syracuse.
Big point guards haven't faired well in the NBA in recent years (see Shaun Livingston) but Carter-Williams is trying to end that trend in 2013.  At 6-6 and with long arms, the Hamilton, MA native will be a pest on the defensive end for smaller point guards without question.  If he can develop a consistent jumpshot and take better care of the basketball, we could be looking at Anfernee Hardaway 2.0.



Gotta Have 'Em.

Ben McLemore, Guard, Kansas.
Played inconsistent basketball in his only year at Lawrence but there's no denying the raw ability McLemore owns.  He has top-of-the-square ups and the release on his jumpshot is very reminiscent of 2012 NBA Draft Lottery pick Bradley Beal's.  Has the quickness and strength to guard three positions.  Best case scenario: he's a slightly better version of Paul George.


Otto Porter, Jr., Forward, Georgetown.

Porter is clutch...and clutch is everything.

His stock took a big hit after the Hoyas lost to Florida Gulf Coast in the 1st round (2nd round?) of the NCAA Tournament, when many college basketball experts had him as a frontrunner for Naismith Player of the Year.  Despite not being able to help his team pull out the W that day, Porter is still a player with the potential for NBA stardom.  Learning offense in John Thompson's Princeton-style offense will help Porter transition easily to being a facilitator, but the kid can score if called upon, too.  He scored a career high 33 points against Syracuse Feb. 23.  Porter is also has a knack for coming through in the clutch.  He led Georgetown to a double overtime win over UConn earlier this year while making a play on every key offensive and defensive possession down the stretch. 

WeekleeInsperayshunFrumThaWurldUvSportz

The best of times and the worst of times.

 To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.  ~Confucius

The first time that LeBron James returned to Cleveland as a Miami Heat, the Cavaliers fans were more concerned with booing LeBron than cheering for their own team.  I think this was deflating for the players that are on the current roster, because people were more concerned about what they had lost rather than moving on an being excited for the future.  Now that the fans have witnessed their team lose an NBA record 26 straight games, are they still bitching that James decided to leave, or are they thinking about whether or not freshmen forward/center Jared Sullinger will leave Ohio State after a year and declare for the NBA Draft.  If I were a Cleveland fan, I would do the latter, because it makes no sense to dwell on the past now. 
LeBron is truly a great player, and by losing him with out getting anything on the roster to atleast balance the level of talent lost, maybe this epic collapse was inevitable.  However, I would be interested to see how the Cavs would be playing if they took this Confucian advice.