TrueHoop Network Roundup
2015-02-09
Morning everyone. As a part of the True Hoop Network revival, we’re hosting this week’s Roundup and 3 on 3. Welcome TrueHoop readers. CtB readers, check out these awesome TrueHoop writers.
From Brooklyn’s Finest, David Vertsberger breaks down the play Lionel Hollins called to get Jarrett Jack a wide open three in crunch time (above): http://
The Alphabet, Giannis Antetokounmpo, set a new career high Wednesday with 25, and then broke it just days later, “On a night where he scored 27 points on 11-16 shooting, he also grabbed 15 rebounds, dished out four assists and had a highlight block.” Jeremy Schmidt at Bucksketball, says, “Come look how good he is!”
Hoop76’s Eric Goldwein makes the case that the Sixers — since their 0-17 start — have been just as competitive as all the other middling Eastern Conference playoff teams.
Every year, the San Antonio Spurs galvanize themselves with their February “Rodeo Trip,” while the AT&T center plays host to the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. GothicGinobili’s Aaron McGuire examines the 12 year history of the Rodeo trip. They’re 71-29 in those trips, a 71% clip, which is even more impressive when you consider that home court advantage is worth roughly three points a night.
The Bobcats from last season and the Hornets from this season have quite a few similarities, but also some troubling differences. Queen City Hoops’ Greg Pietras compares the two here: http://queencityhoops.
The guys at MagicBasketball give us a 3 on 3 on Jacque Gone’s firing: Fair? Unfair? Properly timed? Who should replace him? Eddy Rivera also penned a Jacque Vaughn coaching obituary entitled, “Jacque Vaughn failed to live up to his potential.“
The Pelicans are passing to win says bourbonstreetshots’s Chris Romaguera.
Before these past seven games, 54.8% of their made field goals came via an assist. That was good for 26th in the league. That number has skyrocketed up to 61.2% for the streak, a number good for 10th in the league. This is clearly shown in the 3-pointers made stat, where the Pelicans went from 84.8% of their makes being assisted, to 95.7%
A Q&A on what’s possible and what’s likely for the Jazz to do at the trade deadline is presented by SaltCityHoops’ Dan Clayton.
I keep thinking the Jazz are about to turn the corner from asset accumulation into putting some pieces in place. Given how young they are, they’re certainly not keeping all those players and drafting 15 times in the next four drafts. But more to the point, the Jazz are 11-13 since December 17. They’ve clearly hit the bottom of the rebuild curve and started their way up the other side, and that’s when you have to start thinking about cashing your chips in on smart moves.
Finally, CavsTheBlog’s Nate Smith and Cory Hughey take us on a tour of the best place for cheap booze on game night in Cleveland, then they narrowly avoid a fight in the stands over Matthew Dellavedova. After these adventures and more, they try to chase the night at the Horseshoe Casino on a cold February Monday in the ‘Land.
If The Alphabet reaches half of his potential he’s going to be a top 10 NBA player. If I had to pick a team to overtake the Cavs in three or four years for Eastern Conference supremacy, it would be them. The Jazz are in a strange place. I wouldn’t cash in assets yet. They aren’t going to make the playoffs this year, and next year will be a tall order too. I think I’d stand on the current roster and possibly deal Kanter to the highest bidder at the deadline. Favors and Gobert could be a vicious frontline in… Read more »
Not taking Smart was baffling. I do like Payton though, but he’s super raw. That probably did Jacque in more than anything. For all the talk of how deep the league is at point guard, the 2015 free agency class features Monta Ellis, Aaron Brooks, Lou Williams, Andre Miller, Jeremy Lin, Donald Sloan. Outside of Ellis, that’s some pretty slim pickings, and I doubt he’s leaving Dallas. Getting someone to mentor Payton is a must.
The Jazz are another team that needs a point. Trey Burke is best suited as a bench sparkplug. He’s just never going to be big enough to starting NBA point guard. Figuring out what Dante Exum is good at is another task for the Jazz. That kid needs to be in the gym and do some shooting drills. So far, it appears that picking the right agent might have been his best NBA skill. Agree that Ennis Kanter seems superfluous, but another part of me says: Kanter, Favors, and Gobert, could make a fantastic big man trio, and you can… Read more »
In 3 or 4 years the Cavs will still have Kyrie, LeBron and Love. No one is going to be overtaking them in the East. Unless the Wizards get Durant, of course.