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patrickjones-blog · 4 years ago

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“When a movie character is really working, we become that character. That’s what the movies offer: Escapism into lives other than our own.” ~ Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times film critic from 1967-2013

Although Chicago’s 1863 World’s Columbian Exposition was home to the world’s first movie screening, the storied history of the Chicago film industry officially dates back to the early 1900s. At that time, Chicago was a world leader in the rental of moving picture films and general patronage of motion pictures. By 1907 more than 15 film exchanges were in operation in Chicago, controlling 80% of the film distribution market for the entire country. Even after Chicago studios departed for Hollywood, Chicago remained an important distribution market. The 800 to 1500 blocks of South Wabash in the Loop housed high-profile distribution offices for MGM, Columbia, Warner Brothers, Republic, Universal, RKO, and Paramount.

During the early 1900s, Chicago also had more film theaters per capita than any other city in the U.S., with five-cent theaters or nickelodeons playing a significant role in commercial development throughout its neighborhoods. The Balaban and Katz chain was the largest theater chain in the studio era (1919-1952), with 50 theaters in Chicago alone. They were known for building beautiful movie palaces to show movies and present popular stage shows. Among these are the still thriving Chicago Theatre (formerly Balaban and Katz Chicago Theatre) which opened in 1921 and the James M. Nederlander Theatre built-in 1926 (formerly Oriental).

Early Chicago Movie Studios

Based in Uptown, Essanay Studios (originally The Peerless Film Manufacturing Company) was founded in 1907 by George Spoor and Gilbert Anderson. The studio released more than 2,000 shorts and feature films in their 10 years in Chicago, most notably 15 comedy shorts starring Charlie Chaplin. The studio produced silent films by other great stars such as Gloria Swanson, Wallace Beery, and Gilbert “Broncho Billy” Anderson, who won honorary Academy Awards for his time at the studio. While Essanay packed up and moved to Hollywood in 1917, the building at 1345 Argyle Street was designated a landmark in 1996. The original Essanay lettering and terra cotta Indian head Essanay trademarks still greet visitors.

In 1907, William Selig, a former magician and theatrical troupe manager founded the Selig Polyscope Company at 3900 N. Claremont. Bordered by Irving Park Road and Western Avenue, the studio covered three acres, employed more than 200 people, and specialized in animal productions. When Thomas Edison’s motion picture patents became a barrier, Selig “borrowed” technology from the competing Lumiere Brothers. In 1909 when legal issues caught up with him, Selig moved to Los Angeles, where he created the first Hollywood movie studio. Selig stopped film production in 1918, transitioning from an animal and prop supplier to other studios and a zoo and amusement park operator.

The Windy City is Home to Many Film Productions

The Chicago Film Office, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, has been instrumental in attracting the production of feature films, television series, commercials, and documentaries. Since 1980, more than 1,100 feature films and television productions have been shot in Chicago, including the popular and award-winning films Ordinary People, Risky Business, Sixteen Candles, The Color of Money, The Untouchables, Home Alone, A League of Their Own, Groundhog Day, Chicago, and The Dark Knight. Together, these 10 films won 14 Oscars. Recent television programs filmed partially or entirely in Chicago include Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Empire, and the fourth season of Fargo.

Famous Chicago Movie Locations

A beautiful lakefront, Lake Shore Drive, the Loop and “L”, landmark architecture, attractive suburbs, and more offer enticing backdrops for movies and television shows. Here are a few locations you’ll likely recognize if you’re a movie buff who calls Chicago home.

The Dark Knight: Lower Wacker Drive, LaSalle Street

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: Chicago Board of Trade, Wrigley Field, Art Institute of Chicago

High Fidelity: Wicker Park

Home Alone: Winnetka, Oak Park

My Best Friend’s Wedding: Lake Shore Drive, Comiskey Park, Union Station

Public Enemies: Biograph Theater

The Untouchables: Union Station, Chicago Cultural Center, Blackstone Hotel, Chicago Theater, etc.

In the long tradition of movies and filmmaking in Chicago, ScanCafe is proud to offer film digitizing services in the Windy City. Converting old movies is the best way to preserve celluloid memories for posterity.

The post History of Chicago Film and Movies appeared first on ScanCafe.

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jbuffyangel · 6 years ago

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Entertainment Weekly Arrow Article

We never get any big articles of Arrow, so yeah I am posting the whole damn thing. There were some interesting little tidbits and of course discussion around Emily Bett Rickards’ exit. Is it wrong that I am low key pissed that of course Arrow gets the cover of EW after she leaves? Is it also wrong that while I’m happy Arrow is getting some attention, I’m annoyed it wasn’t an Olicity cover? Cuz that’s where I am at. (X)

How Arrow saved the TV superhero — and why it had to end

As 'Arrow' prepares for the end, Stephen Amell and the producers reflect on its origin story and preview the 'Crisis'-bound eighth and final season.

Stephen Amell is dreading the eighth and final season of Arrow, though you wouldn’t know it on this hot, sunny July day in Los Angeles. Wearing Green Arrow’s new suit, the CW star seems perfectly at ease as he strikes heroic pose after heroic pose on a dimly lit stage. But once he’s traded heavy verdant leather for a T-shirt, jeans, and baseball cap, his guard drops and the vulnerability starts to creep in as he contemplates Arrow’s last 10 episodes, which was set to begin production in Vancouver a week after the EW photoshoot took place and premieres Oct. 15.

“I’m very emotional and melancholy, but it’s time,” Amell — who is featured on the new cover of Entertainment Weekly — says as he takes a sip from a pint of Guinness. “I’m 38 years old, and I got this job when I was 30. I’d never had a job for more than a year. The fact that I’ve done this for the better part of a decade, and I’m not going to do it anymore, is a little frightening.”

Developed by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg, Arrow debuted in the fall of 2012. The DC Comics series follows billionaire playboy Oliver Queen (Amell), who, after years away, returned to now–Star City with one goal: to save his home-town as the hooded bow-and-arrow vigilante who would become known as Green Arrow (it would take him four seasons to assume the moniker). What began as a solo crusade eventually grew to include former soldier John Diggle (David Ramsey), quirky computer genius Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards), lawyer-turned-hero Laurel Lance/Black Canary (Katie Cassidy Rodgers), and the rest of Team Arrow. Together they’ve defended their city from a host of threats — dark archers, megalomaniacal magicians, and the occasional metahuman — while Lost-like flashbacks revealed what Oliver endured in the five years he was away, first shipwrecked and then honing his skills around the world to become someone else, something else.

The premiere gave The CW its most-watched series debut since 2009’s The Vampire Diaries. But before they launched Arrow, Berlanti and Guggenheim had to suffer through a failure: 2011’s Green Lantern, starring Ryan Reynolds. The duo co-wrote the script but lost creative control of the film, which flopped. So when Warner Bros. Television president Peter Roth approached them in late 2011 about developing a Green Arrow show, they were wary. After much deliberation, Berlanti and Guggenheim agreed, on the condition that they maintain control. Says Guggenheim, “As long as we succeed or fail on our own work, and not someone else’s work then maybe this is worth a shot.”

Their take on the Emerald Archer — who made his DC Comics debut in 1941 — was noteworthy from the beginning. Taking cues from films like The Dark Knight and The Bourne Identity and series like Homeland, the writers imagined a dark, gritty, and grounded show centered on a traumatized protagonist. “As we were breaking the story, we made very specific commitments to certain tonal things, such as ‘At the end of act 1, he has his hands around his mother’s throat.’ And, ‘At the end of act 2, he kills a man in cold blood to protect his secret,’ ” says Guggenheim.

A hero committing murder? That was practically unheard of then. Having Oliver suit up in a veritable superhero costume by the pilot’s climax was radical too. Sure, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was deep into Phase One when the producers were developing Arrow, but TV was traditionally more apprehensive about comic books. Smallvillefamously had a “no tights, no flights” rule and only introduced superhero costumes in the last years of its 10-season run, and there weren’t any masked avengers running around NBC’s Heroes or ABC’s No Ordinary Family, the latter produced by Berlanti (Let’s not even mention NBC’s The Cape, which was essentially dead on arrival and never did get its six seasons and a movie). But Arrow not only fully committed to the idea of someone dressing up like Robin Hood to fight crime with a bow and arrow, it introduced a second costumed rogue, the Huntress (Jessica De Gouw), in episode 7.

“It’s just comic book to the extreme and the fans seem to really love it,” says Batwomanshowrunner Caroline Dries, a former writer on Smallville. “They still maintain it very grounded, but it’s very different with everyone in costumes. The appetite for superheroes has changed in my mind in terms of like they just want the literal superhero [now].”

Not that the team wasn’t meticulous about creating Green Arrow’s cowl. “We had to have so many conversations to get it approved, but that’s why we got [Oscar winner] Colleen Atwood [Memoirs of a Geisha] at the time to [design] the suit,” says Berlanti. “We were determined to show we could do on TV what they were doing in the movies every six months.”

“It’s really easy to make a guy with a bow and arrow look silly. We sweated every detail,” says Guggenheim, who also recalls how much effort it took to perfect Oliver’s signature growl. “I actually flew up to Vancouver. On a rooftop during reshoots on [episode 4], Stephen and I went through a variety of different versions of, basically, ‘You have failed this city,’ with different amounts of how much growl he’s putting into his performance. [We] recorded all that, [I went] back to Los Angeles, and then sat with the post guys playing around with all the different amounts of modulation.”

That process took eons compared to the unbelievably easy time the team had casting Arrow’s title role. In fact, Amell was the first person to audition for the role. “It was Stephen’s intensity. He just made you believe he was that character,” says Guggenheim, recalling Amell’s audition. “We had crafted Oliver to be this mystery box character, and Stephen somehow managed to find this balance between being totally accessible in a way you would need a TV star to be, but he’s still an enigma.” After his first reading, Amell remembers being sent outside for a short time before being brought back into the room to read for a larger group: “I called [my manager], and I go, ‘I know this is not how it’s supposed to work, but I just got that job.’”

In the first season, the show’s chief concerns were maintaining both the “grounded and real” tone and the high quality of the stunts, and investing the audience in Oliver’s crusade. Beyond that, though, there wasn’t much of an over-arching plan, which allowed the show to naturally evolve — from introducing more DC characters, such as Deathstroke (Manu Bennett) and Roy Harper (Colton Haynes), sooner than they initially intended (the shot of Deathstroke’s mask in the pilot was meant as a harmless Easter egg), to promoting Emily Bett Rickards’ Felicity from a one-off character in the show’s third episode to a series regular in season 2 and eventually Oliver’s wife. Even the whole idea of a Team Arrow — which, over time, added Oliver’s sister Thea (Willa Holland), Rene Ramirez/Wild Dog (Rick Gonzalez) and Dinah Drake/Black Canary (Juliana Harkavy) — was the result of the writers allowing the best ideas to guide the story. “Greg used to say all the time, ‘You have a hit TV show until you don’t, so don’t save s—,’ ” says Amell.

Also not planned: Arrow spawning an entire shared universe. “We went on record a lot of times during the premiere of the pilot saying, ‘No superpowers, no time travel.’ But midway through season 1, Greg started to harbor a notion of doing the Flash,” says Guggenheim. “I’m a very big believer that it’s great to have a plan, but I think when it comes to creating a universe, the pitfall is that people try to run before they can walk. The key is, you build it show by show.” And so they did. First, they introduced The Flash star Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen in the two-part midseason finale of Arrow’s second season. From there, Supergirl took flight in 2015, then DC’s Legends of Tomorrow in 2016, and Batwoman is due this fall. “It’s like the hacking of the machete in the woods and then you look back and you’re like, ‘Oh, there’s a path,” says executive producer and Berlanti Productions president Sarah Schechter. But even though Arrowis the universe’s namesake, Amell doesn’t concern himself with the sibling series outside of the now-annual crossovers. “I never think about any of the other shows,” he says. “I want all of them to do great, but they’re not my responsibility. My responsibility is Arrow, and to make sure everyone from the cast to the crew are good.” His sentiments are seconded by Flash’s Gustin: “I don’t understand how he does it — his schedule that he maintains with working out, the conventions he goes to, the passion he has for it, and the love he shows towards fans. He’s always prepared. He cares more about that show being high quality than anybody else on the set.”

That said, the universe’s expansion precipitated what is widely considered to be Arrow’s best season, the fifth one. After focusing on magic in season 4, the show returned to its street-crime roots as part of “a concerted effort to play not just to our strengths but what made the shows unique,” Guggenheim says of balancing their four super-series in 2016. “Because Arrow was the longest-running Arrowverse show, we were able to do something that none of the other shows could do, which is have a villain who was basically born out of the events of season 1,” he explains of introducing Adrian Chase/Prometheus (Josh Segarra), whose criminal father was killed by Oliver. “That gave the season a resonance.”

It was midway through season 6 when Amell realized he was ready to hang up Oliver Queen’s hood. “It was just time to move on,” the actor says of pitching that Oliver leave the series at the end of season 7. “My daughter is turning six in October, and she goes to school in L.A., and my wife and I want to raise her [there].” Berlanti persuaded him to return for one final season, which the producers collectively decided would be the end. “We all felt in our gut it was the right time,” says Berlanti. Adds Schechter, “It’s such a privilege to be able to say when something’s ending as opposed to having something just ripped away.”

But there’s one integral cast member who won’t be around to see Arrow through its final season. This spring, fans were devastated to learn Rickards had filmed her final episode—bringing an end to Olicity. “They’re such opposites. I think that’s what draws everyone in a little bit,” showrunner Beth Schwartz says of Oliver and Felicity’s relationship. “You don’t see the [love story of] super intelligent woman and the sort of hunky, athletic man very often. She’s obviously a gorgeous woman but what he really loves is her brain.” For his part, Amell believes the success of both Felicity and Olicity lies completely with Rickards’ performance. “She’s supremely talented and awesome and carved out a space that no one anticipated. I don’t know that show works if we don’t randomly find her,” says Amell, adding that continuing the series without Team Arrow’s heart is “not great. Arrow, as you know it, has effectively ended. It’s a different show in season 8.” And he’s not exaggerating.

The final season finds Oliver working for the all-seeing extra-terrestrial the Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) and trying to save the entire multiverse from a cataclysmic event. “[We’re] taking the show on the road, really getting away from Star City. Oliver is going to be traveling the world, and we’re going to go to a lot of different places,” says Guggenheim. “Every time I see Oliver and the Monitor, it’s like, ‘Okay, we are very far from where we started.’ But again, that means the show has grown and evolved.” Adds Schwartz, “This is sort of his final test because it’s greater than Star City.” Along the way, he will head down memory lane, with actor Colin Donnell, who played Oliver’s best friend Tommy Merlyn in season 1, and Segarra’s Adrian Chase making appearances. “Episode 1 is an ode to season 1, and episode 2 is an ode to season 3,” teases Amell. “We’re playing our greatest hits.”

But season 8 is not just about building toward a satisfying series finale. “Everything relates to what’s going to happen in our crossover episode, which we’ve never done before,” says Schwartz. Spanning five hours and airing this winter, “Crisis on Infinite Earths” will be the biggest crossover yet and may see Oliver perish trying to save the multiverse from destruction, if the Monitor’s prophecy is to be believed. “Oliver [is told] he’s going to die, so each episode in the run-up to ‘Crisis’ has Oliver dealing with the various stages of grief that come with that discovery,” says Guggenheim. “So the theme really is coming to terms, acceptance.”

If there’s one person who has made his peace with Oliver’s fate, it’s Amell. “Because he’s a superhero with no superpowers, I always felt he should die — but he may also not die,” says Amell, who actually found out what the show’s final scene would be at EW’s cover shoot. “I cried as [Marc Guggenheim] was telling me. There are a lot of hurdles to get over to make that final scene.” Get this man some more Guinness!

#arrow #arrow season 8 #stephen amell #marc guggenheim #arrow interviews #oliver queen #olicity #emily bett rickards #felicity smoak #arrow spoilers #spoiler theoretical

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arrowdaily · 6 years ago

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Stephen Amell is dreading the eighth and final season of Arrow, though you wouldn’t know it on this hot, sunny July day in Los Angeles. Wearing Green Arrow’s new suit, the CW star seems perfectly at ease as he strikes heroic pose after heroic pose on a dimly lit stage. But once he’s traded heavy verdant leather for a T-shirt, jeans, and baseball cap, his guard drops and the vulnerability starts to creep in as he contemplates Arrow’s last ten episodes, which was set to begin production in Vancouver a week after the EW photoshoot took place and premieres October 15.

“I’m very emotional and melancholy, but it’s time,” Amell—who is featured on the new cover of Entertainment Weekly—says as he takes a sip from a pint of Guinness. “I’m thirty-eight years old, and I got this job when I was thirty. I’d never had a job for more than a year. The fact that I’ve done this for the better part of a decade, and I’m not going to do it anymore, is a little frightening.”

Developed by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg, Arrow debuted in the fall of 2012. The DC Comics series follows billionaire playboy Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), who, after years away, returned to now–Star City with one goal: to save his hometown as the hooded bow-and-arrow vigilante who would become known as Green Arrow (it would take him four seasons to assume the moniker). What began as a solo crusade eventually grew to include former soldier John Diggle (David Ramsey), quirky computer genius Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards), lawyer-turned-hero Laurel Lance/Black Canary (Katie Cassidy-Rodgers), and the rest of Team Arrow. Together they’ve defended their city from a host of threats—dark archers, megalomaniacal magicians, and the occasional metahuman—while Lost-like flashbacks revealed what Oliver endured in the five years he was away, first shipwrecked and then honing his skills around the world to become someone else, something else.

The premiere gave the CW its most-watched series debut since 2009’s The Vampire Diaries. But before they launched Arrow, Berlanti and Guggenheim had to suffer through a failure: 2011’s Green Lantern, starring Ryan Reynolds. The duo co-wrote the script but lost creative control of the film, which flopped. So when Warner Bros. TV president Peter Roth approached them in late 2011 about developing a Green Arrow show, they were wary. After much deliberation, Berlanti and Guggenheim agreed, on the condition that they maintain control. Says Guggenheim, “As long as we succeed or fail on our own work, and not someone else’s work then maybe this is worth a shot.”

Their take on the Emerald Archer—who made his DC Comics debut in 1941—was noteworthy from the beginning. Taking cues from films like The Dark Knight and The Bourne Identity and series like Homeland, the writers imagined a dark, gritty, and grounded show centered on a traumatized protagonist. “As we were breaking the story, we made very specific commitments to certain tonal things, such as ‘At the end of act one, he has his hands around his mother’s throat.’ And, ‘At the end of act two, he kills a man in cold blood to protect his secret,’” says Guggenheim.

A hero committing murder? That was practically unheard of then. Having Oliver suit up in a veritable superhero costume by the pilot’s climax was radical too. Sure, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was deep into Phase One when the producers were developing Arrow, but TV was traditionally more apprehensive about comic books. Smallville famously had a “no tights, no flights” rule and only introduced superhero costumes in the last years of its ten-season run, and there weren’t any masked avengers running around NBC’s Heroes or ABC’s No Ordinary Family, the latter produced by Berlanti (let’s not even mention NBC’s The Cape, which was essentially dead on arrival and never did get its six seasons and a movie). But Arrow not only fully committed to the idea of someone dressing up like Robin Hood to fight crime with a bow and arrow, it introduced a second costumed rogue, the Huntress (Jessica De Gouw), in episode 7.

“It’s just comic book to the extreme and the fans seem to really love it,” says Batwoman showrunner Caroline Dries, a former writer on Smallville. “They still maintain it very grounded, but it’s very different with everyone in costumes. The appetite for superheroes has changed in my mind in terms of like they just want the literal superhero [now].”

In the first season, the show’s chief concerns were maintaining both the “grounded and real” tone and the high quality of the stunts, and investing the audience in Oliver’s crusade. Beyond that, though, there wasn’t much of an over-arching plan, which allowed the show to naturally evolve—from introducing more DC characters, such as Deathstroke (Manu Bennett) and Roy Harper (Colton Haynes), sooner than they initially intended (the shot of Deathstroke’s mask in the pilot was meant as a harmless Easter egg), to promoting Emily Bett Rickards’ Felicity from a one-off character in the show’s third episode to a series regular in season 2 and eventually Oliver’s wife. Even the whole idea of a Team Arrow—which, over time, added Oliver’s sister Thea (Willa Holland), Rene Ramirez/Wild Dog (Rick Gonzalez) and Dinah Drake/Black Canary (Juliana Harkavy)—was the result of the writers allowing the best ideas to guide the story. “Greg used to say all the time, ‘You have a hit TV show until you don’t, so don’t save s—,’” says Amell.

Also not planned: Arrow spawning an entire shared universe. “We went on record a lot of times during the premiere of the pilot saying, ‘No superpowers, no time travel.’ But midway through season 1, Greg started to harbor a notion of doing the Flash,” says Guggenheim. “I’m a very big believer that it’s great to have a plan, but I think when it comes to creating a universe, the pitfall is that people try to run before they can walk. The key is, you build it show by show.” And so they did. First, they introduced The Flash star Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen in the two-part midseason finale of Arrow’s second season. From there, Supergirl took flight in 2015, then DC’s Legends of Tomorrow in 2016, and Batwoman is due this fall. “It’s like the hacking of the machete in the woods and then you look back and you’re like, ‘Oh, there’s a path,” says executive producer and Berlanti Productions president Sarah Schechter. But even though Arrow is the universe’s namesake, Amell doesn’t concern himself with the sibling series outside of the now-annual crossovers. “I never think about any of the other shows,” he says. “I want all of them to do great, but they’re not my responsibility. My responsibility is Arrow, and to make sure everyone from the cast to the crew are good.” His sentiments are seconded by The Flash’s Gustin: “I don’t understand how he does it—his schedule that he maintains with working out, the conventions he goes to, the passion he has for it, and the love he shows towards fans. He’s always prepared. He cares more about that show being high quality than anybody else on the set.”

It was midway through season 6 when Amell realized he was ready to hang up Oliver Queen’s hood. “It was just time to move on,” the actor says of pitching that Oliver leave the series at the end of season 7. “My daughter is turning six in October, and she goes to school in LA, and my wife and I want to raise her [there].” Berlanti persuaded him to return for one final season, which the producers collectively decided would be the end. “We all felt in our gut it was the right time,” says Berlanti. Adds Schechter, “It’s such a privilege to be able to say when something’s ending as opposed to having something just ripped away.”

If there’s one person who has made his peace with Oliver’s fate, it’s Amell. “Because he’s a superhero with no superpowers, I always felt he should die—but he may also not die,” says Amell, who actually found out what the show’s final scene would be at EW’s cover shoot. “I cried as [Marc Guggenheim] was telling me. There are a lot of hurdles to get over to make that final scene.” Get this man some more Guinness!

#stephen amell #beth schwartz #marc guggenheim #greg berlanti #cast #s8 #interviews #news

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shervonfakhimi · 6 years ago

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The Nerdtastic Blog Boy Unscientific 2019 NBA Mock Draft 1.0

Everything was all good just a week ago. Even in the span of one week, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson both got hurt for an exponential amount of time, the Raptors won the NBA Finals and Anthony Davis got traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. No one could have expected all of that to happen in one damn week. So, with that in mind, it is damn near impossible to predict how these future draft picks will perform in their careers. No one has any damn clue. However, I always love to try to guess. So, here’s my 2019 NBA Mock Draft that I’m sure will look stupid not too far from now. Enjoy!

1. New Orleans Pelicans - Zion Williamson PF/C Duke

Umm, duh. One building block leaves New Orleans, another one walks right in with new pieces to fit around him that New Orleans was never able to surround Anthony Davis with. Zion is built for the modern game with the way he can run the floor, finish around the rim, create off the dribble (though he could afford to add more tools to his bag) and play anywhere defensively. He’s the obvious pick.

2. Memphis Grizzlies - Ja Morant PG Murray State

Not as obvious as Zion, but this one should not be up for much debate either. Ja is the ideal point guard for today’s NBA; a solid enough shooter who can burn dudes and transition and put anybody on a poster to go along with his pristine playmaking and feel. He and Jaren Jackson Jr. are going to be a lethal duo for years to come.

3. New York Knicks - RJ Barrett SF/PG Duke

Turns out New York will get two former Duke stars… just not the one they wanted. RJ Barrett isn’t Zion, but he has the size and scoring ability to become a mismatch nightmare. New York is the place RJ wants to be and I’m thinking they grant his wish.

4. New Orleans Pelicans - De’Andre Hunter SF Virginia

New Orleans gets this pick as part of the monster haul the Pelicans got from the Lakers for Anthony Davis. This pick could go any number of ways and might not even be made by the Pelicans, as reports are circulating that the Pelicans could trade the pick, per Jonathan Givony of ESPN, but if it is, let’s say they add Hunter. Scoring is not as pressing a need for the Pelicans after selecting Zion earlier and adding Brandon Ingram alongside Jrue Holiday. However, neither Lonzo Ball, Ingram or Zion are great shooters at this stage of their careers. That’s where De’Andre Hunter comes in. He can spread the floor and guard bigger forwards that continue to push Ingram around a little bit. Adding him essentially solidifies New Orleans will be hell to score against. Hunter doesn’t need the ball, which makes him a perfect fit in the Big Easy.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers - Jarrett Culver SG/SF Texas Tech

The Cavs need a little bit of everything. Jarrett Culver brings a little bit of… well, everything. While not a great shooter yet with mechanics needed to be fixed, Culver is a very solid playmaker and has potential as a scorer to score from all three levels and wreak havoc across the floor defensively. He’s a home run pick for the Cavs.

6. Phoenix Suns - Darius Garland PG Vanderbilt

The Suns need a point guard. They *finally* get a point guard. Garland and Devin Booker can play off each other beautifully as Booker has enhanced his playmaking skills in the NBA. Garland will need to do the same and learn to make his teammates better, but his backcourt has baby splash brother potential. It’s a perfect pick for the Suns.

7. Chicago Bulls - Coby White PG North Carolina

The Bulls need a point guard. They *finally* get a point guard too. White is a beast in transition and will need to learn to slow down and settle his team in the halfcourt, but is a great shooter and dynamic scorer in the backcourt, something the Bulls desperately need. He’s more of a combo guard than a pure point guard at this stage, but he’ll be able to play through mistakes in Chicago. He’s well worth the pick.

8. Atlanta Hawks - Cam Reddish SG/SF Duke

Cam Reddish is… an enigma. One play he looks like Paul George, the next he looks like Andrew Wiggins. His handle is suspect, he isn’t much of a playmaker yet, there were games where he disappeared, his jump shot was inconsistent, yet you see glimpses of the exact type of dynamic scoring wing everyone craves that was stuck in a situation with zero spacing. Atlanta seems like the best place for him to develop with Trae Young able to create easy looks and John Collins there to take the pressure off as a scorer. Hopefully, it pans out for Reddish.

9. Washington Wizards - Sekou Doumbouya SF/PF France

Ok, I’ll be painfully honest: I don’t know a lot about Doumbouya or much of these international guys. But Pascal Siakam has been a trendy comparison for him. That’s good enough for me!

10. Atlanta Hawks - Jaxson Hayes C Texas

Hayes is the prototypical rim-running, rim-protecting big man. Reddish, Collins and Hayes would make for one of the more modern and athletic frontcourts in the NBA to fit Young’s up-tempo pace. He’s a great fit here with Atlanta’s second top 10 pick.

11. Minnesota Timberwolves - Brandon Clarke PF/C Gonzaga

Clarke is an awesome fit in Minnesota. He helps bring a defensive impact in the frontcourt Minnesota has lacked with Towns, he can play center in small ball lineups next to Dario Saric, is a really active shot blocker, athletic around the rim and is a very solid passer inside the lane. He’d fix many of Minnesota’s problems right away.

12. Charlotte Hornets - Rui Hachimura PF/C Gonzaga

I thought about Charlotte potentially taking the shot on Bol Bol here due to the position they find themselves, thinking the risk is worth taking. But, I sided against it and went with Rui Hachimura instead. Hachimura reminds me a lot of John Collins when he came out of Wake Forest Frank Kaminsky is not the answer there and Charlotte has to find spacing anywhere they can. Hachimura was comfortable with the three this season and can be another option offensively while still learning how to grow his game. He’ll be a solid player, Kemba or no Kemba in Charlotte.

13. Miami Heat - Nassir Little SF/PF North Carolina

Little was kind of lost in the sauce during his year in North Carolina. There were times it looked like the game was a bit too fast for him, but he at least always played hard. He was a top 5 recruit for a reason. He can be a dynamic scorer and is a freak athlete. Miami can develop him about as well as anybody could. He could thrive and be the steal of the draft if he lands in the right spot like this.

14. Boston Celtics - PJ Washington PF/C Kentucky

Boston could use more punch in the frontcourt, and Washington should be able to provide it. He is tough and really improved both as a shooter and playmaker this season at Kentucky. He’ll be able to soak up all the wisdom Al Horford has accumulated during his career, assuming Horford opts in to come back to Boston. This is a really nice, solid pick for Boston.

15. Detroit Pistons - Tyler Herro SG Kentucky

The Pistons really need shooting. Like, really bad. Incredibly bad. Poor Blake Griffin simultaneously had to do everything and had no room to do anything. Tyler Herro is one of the better shooters in this draft, raising his stock like Kevin Huerter did last year. This makes a lot of sense. That hasn’t stopped teams from doing something not as sensical before though.

16. Orlando Magic - Romeo Langford SG/SF Indiana

A long, athletic wing who isn’t a great shooter yet? He sounds exactly like a Magician (that’s what we call somebody on Orlando, right? Does anyone know the correct answer for this?). Assuming Nikola Vucevic returns, shooting can surround Langford in the form of Vuc, DJ Augustin and Evan Fournier, at the very least. We’ll see if Markelle Fultz’s jump shot is resurrected from the dead. But Orlando can’t count on it and needs shot creation in the half court from the perimeter. Langford excels in this area and has defense all around him. Steve Clifford can coach him out of some of his bad habits and would appreciate the toughness Langford showed playing through a broken thumb all season long. I think this could really work.

17. Atlanta Hawks - Mfiondu Kabengele PF/C Florida State

I doubt Atlanta keeps all three of their picks, but let’s just go with it. Mfiondu Kabengele is one of my favorite players in this entire draft and should fit in perfectly alongside this uber-athletic frontcourt. He can run the floor, protect the rim, plays super hard and has potential as a shooter. He can play alongside either Hayes or Collins. Trae Young should make his life really easy. He can be a major spark plug off the bench and has the potential to be much more.

18. Indiana Pacers - Nickeil Alexander-Walker PG Virginia Tech

Darren Collison and Cory Joseph are free agents and Tyreke Evans got booted from the league (hopefully he’s doing ok) for violating the drug policy. Aaron Holiday will get more looks at point guard but Indiana could use more playmaking alongside Victor Oladipo. Nickeil Alexander-Walker would be great for the Pacers, fills a need and fits their style of play.

19. San Antonio Spurs - Goga Bitadze C Republic of Georgia

Again, I don’t know much about Goga. But I do know San Antonio could use a more dynamic center than Jakob Poeltl next to LaMarcus Aldridge and have made a killing in the international route. It looks like a match made in heaven for Popovich here.

20. Boston Celtics - Bol Bol C Oregon

Danny Ainge can get a little frisky with this pick. Bol Bol has top 5 upside but has concerns with his motor, his frame and his foot injury he suffered this year playing for the Oregon Ducks. If Boston gets the most out of Bol, this is a home run. If not, then they just move on. It’s a risk worth taking here for Boston. Just handcuff Bol with Al Horford and make sure Bol never leaves his sight.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder - Cameron Johnson SF North Carolina

Remember how I said the Pistons needed shooting? Well, Oklahoma City might be the one team that needs it more. Cam Johnson is probably the best shooter in this draft. Oklahoma City needs more wings alongside Paul George and Russell Westbrook. If Johnson is on the board and Presti passes on him, I’d get visibly upset and I’m not a Thunder fan at all. They have to take him if he’s here.

22. Boston Celtics - Kevin Porter Jr. PG/SG USC

With Kyrie likely gone and Terry Rozier possibly bolting out of town, Boston could use more creation out of the backcourt. Had things gone swimmingly this year in Los Angeles, Porter would likely get drafted way higher. He’s a dynamic scorer. I like this pick for the Celtics.

23. Utah Jazz - Ty Jerome PG Virginia

Utah has already told Ricky Rubio they aren’t prioritizing him in free agency. I don’t think Donovan Mitchell is ready to take the reins at point guard quite yet, making Ty Jerome a great fit. He can get Utah solidified offensively and involve the rest of his teammates while Mitchell brings his much-needed scoring punch.

24. Philadelphia 76ers - Grant Williams PF/C Tennessee

Philadelphia desperately is in need of depth anywhere they can find it. With a team trying to win games now, they should be looking for guys who can play now. Grant Williams can do so and still has room to grow. Drafting him could unlock lineups where he or Ben Simmons serve as the ‘center’ on the floor. He’s smart, tough and does all the dirty work. Philly didn’t have anybody for that last season.

25. Portland Trail Blazers - Keldon Johnson SF Kentucky

Portland could use shooting on the wing. They’ve neglected it for years, so hopefully, they come to their senses. He shot well at Kentucky last season and won’t be counted on to create much offense. He can play to his strengths, strengths Portland could very well use.

26. Cleveland Cavaliers - Luguentz Dort PG/SG Arizona State

Collin Sexton did not provide a ton of playmaking or defense. They get that and another scoring punch in Jarrett Culver, but double down with Lu Dort. Basically a Marcus Smart clone, he can bring toughness and versatility in their backcourt.

27. Brooklyn Nets - Eric Paschall PF/C Villanova

Eric Paschall was miscast last season at Villanova. If Brooklyn is going to go star-hunting this summer, which by all reports they are, they need to surround the team with cheap, versatile players who can fit around said stars. Paschall can do exactly that. He’s smart, plays hard and has the chops to guard multiple positions. It’d be another smart pick on the Nets’ part to take him here.

28. Golden State Warriors - Dylan Windler SG/SF Belmont

It didn’t take long for the Warriors to come to the realization that they really need to cash out on this pick after the injuries suffered in the NBA Finals to Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. They need depth and shooting. Dylan Windler brings both. After playing in a free-flowing, ball-movement offense at Belmont, he should fit into the Kerr-ism system in Golden State.

29. San Antonio Spurs - Talen Horton-Tucker SF/PG Iowa State

I have no idea what the hell Talen Horton-Tucker is. I do think his skill-set is intriguing enough to go in the first round, I just don’t know what he is as a 6’4” 235-240 pound bowling ball who can push it in transition and jet by dudes. If anybody could figure him out, it is San Antonio. Give him a year to develop in the G League then let him loose.

30. Milwaukee Bucks - Jontay Porter PF/C Missouri

I don’t expect Porter to be picked in the first round. The Bucks may even trade this pick to shed some salary, per Marc Stein of the New York Times. But it’ll be difficult for Milwaukee to bring Brook Lopez back, which would mean the gravity he brings at the center spot to allow Giannis to terrorize the rim walks out the door with him. I’m not sure where else Milwaukee will be able to find that. Jontay has torn his ACL twice, but if he’s healthy, he wouldn’t go even this low. The medical has to check out, but if it does, his scoring versatility could fit very nicely with Giannis and the rest of this Bucks squad.

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hvilleicehockey-blog · 5 years ago

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Affiliate marketing

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demitgibbs · 6 years ago

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Top 10 of the Week

SUPERSTAR – Elton John

Presents his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour. Elton has sold more than 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world. He has more than fifty Top 40 hits, including seven consecutive number one albums in the U.S. His tribute single “Candle in the Wind 1997“, rewritten in dedication to Diana, Princess of Wales, sold over 33 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling single in the history of the UK and U.S. singles charts.

Sat, March 16; 8pm; BB&T Center (1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise), Tix: Start at $244: thebbtcenter.com.

IRISH – St Patty’s Day

Saint Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick is a cultural and religious celebration is the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks. IT is also associated with eating Irish food and alcohol consumption.

Sunday, March 17

VOICE – Jackie Evancho

Jackie Evancho has moved past the exuberant promise of a child prodigy vocalist, becoming a mature young adult with a clear direction as to where she, as a creative artist, is taking her career as a singer. Since she first dazzled American television audiences at the age of 10 – gaining global recognition with her stunning debut on NBC’s America’s Got Talent – Jackie Evancho has released a string of platinum and gold albums, with sales of over 3 million in the US.

Thurs, March 14, 7:30 pm; Coral Springs Center For The Arts (2855 Coral Springs Dr.); Tix: $42.80 to $64.20; thecentercs.com.

HATERS ROAST: The Shady Tour

Murray & Peter present an outrageous evening of unapologetic comedy starring the contestants from RuPaul’s Drag Race on VH1. They’re all sisters when they walk on stage, but that’s when everything changes as the queens read each other for filth – all in good fun. Starring Willam, Latrice Royale, Ben DeLa Crème, Thorgy Thor, Lady Bunny, Mimi Imfurst, and hosted by Darienne Lake.

Wed, March 20; 8pm; Parker Playhouse (707 NE 8th St, Fort Lauderdale); Tix: $41-$58 (VIP Meet and Greet also available); Dragfans.com.

TELEVISION – Project Runway

This runaway runway-reality hit in which players compete to become a professional fashion designer returns. . The new The new host is Karlie Kloss with returning judge Nina Garcia and new judges Brandon Maxwell and Elaine Welteroth. The new mentor is fashion designer, and Project Runway Season 4 winner Christian Siriano. The winning prize includes $100,000 to start a clothing line.

Thurs, March 14; 8pm; Bravo

SOLAMENTE TÚ – Pablo Alboran

The Spanish musician, singer and songwriter is a multiple Latin Grammy Award-nominee. He broke through in 2011 with his self-titled debut album, featuring the single “Solamente Tú.” He is touring in support of his recent “Prometo” release.

Sat, March 16; 8pm; Bayfront Park Amphitheatre (301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami); Tix: $35-$254.50; Livenation.com.

MAGICIAN – Jon Dorenbos

He became famous as a Football player being and after playing for 11 seasons for the Eagles he was traded to the New Orleans Saints in the 2017 preseason. Immediately it was discovered Dorenbos had an aortic aneurysm that required immediate surgery and ended his career. Jon also had a parallel career as a professional magician. He was a finalist on season 11 of America’s Got Talent, and finished in third place.

Sat, March 16; 8pm; Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood (1 Seminole Way); Tix: $60 & $80; seminolehardrockhollywood.com.

PAGEANT – Mr. and Miss. Pride South Florida

Owned and operated by Latrice Royale, Inc., is a competition for Female Impersonators and Male Entertainers who compete in Creative Presentation (with a “Show Your Pride” theme), Swimsuit, Talent, Evening Wear, and Question & Answer. The winners receive a stellar prize package to include a cash prize, a custom crown, and a contract with LRI Talent & Management. Cash prizes are also awarded to the winner of each category. Interested contestants call Christopher at (954)507-2089.

Mon, March 18; 8pm; Aventura Arts and Cultural Center (3385 NE 188th St, Aventura); Tix: $20 & $30.

COMEDIAN – Michele Balan

After leaving a high-paying executive position, Balan’s honed her comedy skills making the rounds at local New York comedy clubs. Los Angeles soon came calling and Michele soon became a regular fixture at the Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory and the Hollywood Improv. NBC tapped her to appear on Last Comic Standing, where she was a finalist and also was The Last Woman Comic Standing on Season 4. Fri & Sat, March 15 &16; Boca Black Box (8221 Glades Road #10); Tix: $35 & $45; bocablackbox.com.

CHORUS – Ft Lauderdale Gay Men’s

The FTLGMC is honoring the 100 years of American Composer Leonard Bernstein and the legacy of Matthew Shepard – a college student who more than two decades ago was the victim of a brutal gay-hate murder – during “A Celebration of Life, Love and Music.” A portion of show proceeds will benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

Sun, March 17; 5pm; All Saints Episcopal Church (333 Tarpon Dr., Fort Lauderdale); Tix: $25, and VIP is $40; ftlgmc.org.

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2019/03/12/top-10-of-the-week-28/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.tumblr.com/post/183409209045

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cynthiajayusa · 6 years ago

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Top 10 of the Week

SUPERSTAR – Elton John

Sat, March 16; 8pm; BB&T Center (1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise), Tix: Start at $244: thebbtcenter.com.

IRISH – St Patty’s Day

Sunday, March 17

VOICE – Jackie Evancho

Thurs, March 14, 7:30 pm; Coral Springs Center For The Arts (2855 Coral Springs Dr.); Tix: $42.80 to $64.20; thecentercs.com.

HATERS ROAST: The Shady Tour

Wed, March 20; 8pm; Parker Playhouse (707 NE 8th St, Fort Lauderdale); Tix: $41-$58 (VIP Meet and Greet also available); Dragfans.com.

TELEVISION – Project Runway

Thurs, March 14; 8pm; Bravo

SOLAMENTE TÚ – Pablo Alboran

Sat, March 16; 8pm; Bayfront Park Amphitheatre (301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami); Tix: $35-$254.50; Livenation.com.

MAGICIAN – Jon Dorenbos

Sat, March 16; 8pm; Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood (1 Seminole Way); Tix: $60 & $80; seminolehardrockhollywood.com.

PAGEANT – Mr. and Miss. Pride South Florida

Mon, March 18; 8pm; Aventura Arts and Cultural Center (3385 NE 188th St, Aventura); Tix: $20 & $30.

COMEDIAN – Michele Balan

CHORUS – Ft Lauderdale Gay Men’s

Sun, March 17; 5pm; All Saints Episcopal Church (333 Tarpon Dr., Fort Lauderdale); Tix: $25, and VIP is $40; ftlgmc.org.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2019/03/12/top-10-of-the-week-28/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazin.blogspot.com/2019/03/top-10-of-week_12.html

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hotspotsmagazine · 6 years ago

Text

Top 10 of the Week

SUPERSTAR – Elton John

Sat, March 16; 8pm; BB&T Center (1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise), Tix: Start at $244: thebbtcenter.com.

IRISH – St Patty’s Day

Sunday, March 17

VOICE – Jackie Evancho

Thurs, March 14, 7:30 pm; Coral Springs Center For The Arts (2855 Coral Springs Dr.); Tix: $42.80 to $64.20; thecentercs.com.

HATERS ROAST: The Shady Tour

Wed, March 20; 8pm; Parker Playhouse (707 NE 8th St, Fort Lauderdale); Tix: $41-$58 (VIP Meet and Greet also available); Dragfans.com.

TELEVISION – Project Runway

Thurs, March 14; 8pm; Bravo

SOLAMENTE TÚ – Pablo Alboran

Sat, March 16; 8pm; Bayfront Park Amphitheatre (301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami); Tix: $35-$254.50; Livenation.com.

MAGICIAN – Jon Dorenbos

Sat, March 16; 8pm; Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood (1 Seminole Way); Tix: $60 & $80; seminolehardrockhollywood.com.

PAGEANT – Mr. and Miss. Pride South Florida

Mon, March 18; 8pm; Aventura Arts and Cultural Center (3385 NE 188th St, Aventura); Tix: $20 & $30.

COMEDIAN – Michele Balan

CHORUS – Ft Lauderdale Gay Men’s

Sun, March 17; 5pm; All Saints Episcopal Church (333 Tarpon Dr., Fort Lauderdale); Tix: $25, and VIP is $40; ftlgmc.org.

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2019/03/12/top-10-of-the-week-28/

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flauntpage · 7 years ago

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The Outlet Pass: Jazz Should Tank, Cavs Should Try; Let's Measure Legs

1. Eric Gordon Has Been Great, Chris Paul Can Make Him Better

Eric Gordon entered the league as a scorer who could shoot. As the years went on, injuries hit, his function on different teams began to change, and he transformed into a shooter who could score. But this year, with a spike in usage and his points per 36 minutes average at a career high, Gordon is balancing the two labels splendidly.

Chris Paul is expected to return on Thursday night, which will bump Gordon back to the bench and diminish his role just a bit. But even if Gordon can't average more than 22 points per game the rest of the way, Paul’s brilliant ability to lull defenses to sleep will help Gordon find even better options from behind the three-point line and at the rim (where he’s shooting a ridiculous 66 percent—up 10 points from last season).

Gordon has slayed defenses with pull-up threes, nailing an unsustainably awesome 41.5 percent of them on more attempts than everyone except James Harden and Damian Lillard. Those opportunities will dwindle, assuming he’s always on the court with Harden and/or Paul from this point forward.

But if we imagine Gordon assuming a similar role to what J.J. Redick had as Paul’s backcourt mate on the Los Angeles Clippers, all of a sudden Houston’s offense becomes even more dynamic in a half-court setting than it already is.

The Rockets already have actions designed to provide Gordon with solid catch-and-shoot looks, and he’s a pro’s pro at shaking his defender and creating separation before the pass hits his hands. But Paul sets the table in a way few others can. Here’s one example: a baseline inbounds play wherein Paul casually takes a dribble handoff and feigns like he’s going to flip the ball to Luc Richard Mbah a Moute over on the weakside.

Instead, in one motion he spins back to Redick (who pops off DeAndre Jordan’s screen) and feeds him for an open three. Defenses have to be alert during every second Paul has the ball. He’s a magician who thrives off misdirection. As the Rockets try to fit him into their offense (which already ranks fourth in points per half-court play), guys like Gordon will recalibrate their current responsibilities. It’s not an easy process, but Paul eventually will make life easier for everyone involved.

2. Dear Utah Jazz: Please Tank

The Utah Jazz are flailing in the face of a few unlucky events that have struck over the past few months. They were spurned by Gordon Hayward in free agency, watched Dante Exum suffer another soul-crushing preseason injury, and most recently lost Rudy Gobert for 4-6 weeks to a bruised right tibia. Even though Utah has been better on both sides of the floor when their franchise player is off the court, no team in the West (except to nobody's surprise the San Antonio Spurs) can compete without an All-NBA contributor in the lineup for an extended period.

The bad news gets worse after a quick glance at Utah's schedule, which turns into The Perfect Storm during Gobert’s expected absence. The easiest, broadest, and most annoying response here is to call for the Jazz to tank, but assuming they're ready to face the harsh realities of an impending rebuild, it's also the correct response.

Already submarined by an offense that can’t generate anything substantial sans Hayward, Utah’s focus now that making the playoffs is incredibly unlikely should be morphing into sellers at the trade deadline (moving on from Derrick Favors’ expiring contract is what most point to as a no-brainer, but what could they get for Rodney Hood or Joe Ingles?).

They own all their draft picks and have one of the 10 oldest rosters in the league. This is a perfect chance to tear down a group that's going nowhere and build around a Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, 2018 lotto pick core. It's not fun, but opportunity is knocking on Utah’s door; to ignore it now could cost them down the line.

3. Why Is Effort Still An Issue In Cleveland?

Kevin Love has spent the last three seasons as a scapegoat. Whenever things look bad in Cleveland, Option A is to fire up the trade machine and scrounge around for semi-realistic transactions that would theoretically improve the Cavaliers' championship chances and rid them of Love.

Even though they play, at times, like a grotesque abomination, the Annual Round of Kevin Love Trade Speculation has yet to pick up steam for a few reasons: A) integral Cavs aren’t healthy, B) Love’s value isn’t nearly what it used to be, and C) it’s not even Thanksgiving. Cleveland’s defense is atrocious whether Love is on the floor or not, as a standalone center or beside another beefy body in the frontcourt.

This isn't Love's fault, and there are some things he can’t help. Athletic limitations put a hard cap on how effective he can be trying to prevent the other team from scoring. That, combined with a supporting cast of mostly below-average individual defenders, makes his margin for error paper thin.

For the most part, he makes up for it with intelligence and admirable effort—rotating over to take a charge against Dwight Howard, as Love did on Wednesday night, deserves a medal. Knowing opponents plan to attack him relentlessly in the pick-and-roll, he shuffles his feet and executes whatever coverage Ty Lue has deemed appropriate. But for whatever reason, one seemingly inconsequential and unrelated sequence during last week’s loss to the Houston Rockets stands out in my mind.

Midway through the first quarter, the Rockets deflected a pass and sent the ball rolling towards Cleveland’s baseline. As its intended recipient, Love watched it go out of bounds instead of sprinting to pick it up. It was a simple lack of hustle that forced Cleveland to inbound the ball from beneath its own basket, and allowed Houston to set up its defense with a full-court press. Here’s what happened next:

Harden went on to draw a foul at the rim. This criticism might come off as a bit harsh; on its face it has nothing to do with Cleveland’s wretched defense. But effort matters! And moments like this one are a symptom of bad habits that will come back to bite the Cavaliers when it matters most.

4. Lauri Markkanen’s Wrists Make All The Difference

Everyone who made fun of the Chicago Bulls (my hand is raised) for not just trading Jimmy Butler, but also selecting Lauri Markkanen—every draft prognosticator who I read leading into the 2017 draft's punching bag—has to do 25 pushups.

Even more impressive than the rookie’s startling per game averages (14 points and seven rebounds isn’t bad!) is a shot release that’s faster than a snapping rubber band. Only four players in the league are launching more threes per game with a touch time between 0-2 seconds.

A seven-footer who can shoot threes is still one of the finest luxuries any team can have. The space he figures to provide for a very long time will make life easier for guards like Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine as they come off high screens, and, down the line, could even make Chicago a more attractive free agency destination for ball-handlers who enjoy wide driving lanes. (According to Synergy Sports, Markkanen is currently the NBA’s most efficient pick-and-pop scorer. Anyone who’s ever watched J.J. Barea play basketball with Dirk Nowitzki knows how enjoyable this can be.)

Beyond the ancillary benefits, Markkanen’s quick release sharpens how convenient he can truly be. Unlike uniquely useful yet limited stretch bigs like Kelly Olynyk—someone who will pump fake his way into a phone booth whenever a defender’s closeout gets too close for comfort—Chicago’s rookie combines his height with crackling wrists and enough confidence to fire away even when he isn’t wide open. That’s all very nice to see, and could speed up Chicago's rebuild.

5. Jaylen Brown’s Closeouts Are Hysterically Passive Aggressive

The Celtics allow 99.1 points per 100 possessions when Jaylen Brown is off the court. In almost any other context that number would be a bad thing. But in Boston, where the best defense in the NBA is currently being played, that’s the highest on/off defensive rating for any individual on the team. (The Celtics only allow 94.2 points per 100 possessions with Brown in the game.)

Even if his strength, length, quickness, and ability to walk on water theoretically makes people think he’s one of the best on-ball defenders in basketball, the 21-year-old is still a work in progress who hasn't quite reached the All-Defensive team level he is striving for. He’s fouling less than a year ago, but is still antsy on the ball, prone to falling for ball fakes; all too eager to show off his leaping ability when staying grounded is the better call.

Here’s what Brown had to say after he got a key stop against DeMar DeRozan at the end of Boston’s win last Sunday: “He’ll pump fake and pump fake and pump fake until he gets you off your feet. I’m thinking like, ‘He’s gotta be shooting one of these (bleeps).’ But he’ll keep pump faking and pump faking and pump faking, and you have to do a good job of staying down.”

This leads us to his closeout technique, which, in all honestly, makes me laugh out loud just about every time I see it. Instead of leaning in at a diagonal angle to try and contest the shooter or even block the shot, Brown halts his momentum, bends his knees, and jumps straight in the air, sometimes with both arms stretched high above his head.

On one hand, he eliminates any chance of committing a foul and can’t be condemned for laziness. On the other, I’m not sure this has any impact whatsoever on the shooter—other than him thinking to himself “what the hell is happening right now?”—as he launches the ball. It’s so much effort doing something that probably has no tangible positive impact. It will never not be hilarious. Jaylen for President.

6. I'm (Still) Not A Fan Of Julius Randle

It’s fair to label what Julius Randle is experiencing “a breakout year.” The 22-year-old is averaging 21.1 points and 12.4 rebounds per 36 minutes, with significant bumps in usage, block percentage, free-throw rate, and True Shooting. All this is promising and nice and may convince one of the league's 29 other teams to draw up a hefty offer sheet this summer.

But even beyond his strange spells of in-game apathy, Randle still doesn’t make any of his teammates better, turns the ball over a ton, and remains prone to clueless mistakes on the defensive end. Despite his new and improved body, bad habits and physical limitations feel like they will forever outweigh all the good he does.

Julius Randle is not a smart defender

Randle's outside shot is still cracked, and it’s unclear what his role/position would be on a good basketball team. A couple years ago I asked former Lakers head coach Byron Scott if he thought about experimenting with Randle at the five. He, somewhat understandably, began his response by laughing out loud. When you’re a big whose range doesn’t extend beyond the paint with a wingspan equal to Nick Young’s, it’s hard to be much help without a very specific cast of supporting skills at your side. Randle is more Kenneth Faried than Draymond Green.

In a fit of curiousity, I looked back at the 2014 draft class just to see how many players I could talk myself into taking ahead of Randle, who was selected seventh overall by the Lakers. I came up with 10 guys. In order of personal preference, they are:

10. Doug McDermott 9. Elfrid Payton 8. Jusuf Nurkic 7. Rodney Hood 6. T.J. Warren 5. Dario Saric 4. Clint Capela 3. Gary Harris 2. Zach LaVine 1. Nikola Jokic

Randle is still extremely young and there’s obviously plenty of time for him to round out the worrisome parts of his game and become a winning player, but so far all he's done is max out on strengths he already possessed.

The fact that Kyle Kuzma has played 159 more minutes in the same number of appearances is quite alarming. According to Cleaning the Glass, L.A.’s Expected Wins total drops by 11 games when Randle is on the court—by far the best number of his career.

(The following take is fresh out of an oven, but I think I’d also prefer Pascal Siakam.)

7. Tobias Harris vs. Robert Covington

Photo by John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports

These two aren’t identical, but close enough to make a worthy comparison. They exist as similar 6’9” pivot points who play for a pair of hungry teams in an Eastern Conference. Both are now (wildly) exceeding individual expectations and, in the process, somewhat dramatically elevating their team’s ceiling.

Now here’s a fun question: As two versatile wings with varying yet proportional strengths and weaknesses, who would you rather have?

It literally feels like every time I flip to a Sixers or Pistons game, one of them is about to catch a kick-out pass and nail a three. Only three players have made more threes than Covington this year, and only six—including Covington—have made more than Harris. Also, only three players have been more accurate from beyond the arc than Harris, while just seven are more accurate than Covington. Long story short: Right now they’re two of the best three-point shooters alive.

Covington gets the edge as a defender, but isn’t nearly as effective creating his own shot. Nearly 25 percent fewer of his field goal attempts are unassisted relative to Harris. Covington turns 27 next month and Harris turns 26 this summer. According to Synergy Sports, Harris ranks in the 93rd percentile as an overall offensive weapon, while Covington is 96th. Neither passes the ball.

When you take the average annual salary of Covington’s reported extension, both earn about the same ($15-16 million). It’s hard to choose one over the other, but by roughly 0.5 degrees my personal taste shades towards Covington. Even though he may not have the same offensive impact when his outside shot doesn’t fall at a 50 percent clip, he’s more plug-and-play than Harris, and—debatably—more accepting of his role within his roster’s hierarchy.

Ideally, RoCo would get far more minutes at the four than he’s afforded in Philadelphia, while Harris is able to slide up and take advantage of slower bigs. Here are the numbers if you want to toggle around and see how close they are for yourself.

8. How Does T.J. Warren Do It?

T.J. Warren is a well-rounded offensive basketball player whose primary skill is the willingness to attack in myriad ways. Warren will back cut you to death. He’ll pull up off a high screen. He’ll Eurostep in the open floor. He’ll worm through a maze of screens. He’ll put back a missed jumper (even his own). He’ll post up smaller defenders. He’ll face up against stronger fours.

Very few of these qualities stand out or are aesthetically pleasing, but when jumbled together they work just fine. Phoenix’s offensive rating is 8.7 points per 100 possessions higher when Warren is on the floor, and the team is never more feeble than when he sits, in part because him turning the ball over is a weekly occurrence. (Warren doesn’t pass.)

The lack of three-point shooting is a scarlett letter, but this year he's still exploded for 40 points and 35 points in a pair of wins against the Washington Wizards and Minnesota Timberwolves, respectively. Warren isn’t a minus defender, either. He moves around, hustles, and generally seems to understand how to execute Phoenix’s scheme.

It’s unclear how this diverse skill-set would fare in an environment where winning games is a priority, but until then Warren continues to stand out as a unique being in an increasingly homogenous league. Applaud him.

9. Believe It Or Not, The Kings Did Something Nice

The Sacramento Kings have stumbled into their own tier of incompetence, slightly below the Atlanta Hawks (a team that beat them by 46 points on Wednesday night), Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls, and Phoenix Suns. They shoot themselves in the foot on a regular basis—if Dave Joerger has to watch Willie Cauley-Stein leap out of position trying to steal an entry pass one more time he may pack back on all the weight he lost over the summer—and are less talented than their opponent every single night.

But this is the NBA, where even the worst of the worst is still the best of the best. Here’s one example, where Sacramento’s offensive execution trips up the Washington Wizards.

It's a standard split cut, but instead of coming together and then breaking off in seemingly random directions, George Hill spontaneously dives into the paint before the Wizards have time to deal with their assignment. John Wall and Brad Beal don’t realize they have to switch until it’s too late, and it forces Marcin Gortat to lean in the wrong direction. Garrett Temple breaks free for the open three. Good job, Kings. Good job.

10. Let's Measure Legs

Last Saturday night, I sat down to watch a few games with a good friend of mine who only casually dabbles in NBA basketball. About 20 minutes into Bucks/Lakers, he made an astute and obvious point: Players with long legs have a clear advantage over players with short legs, even if they pencil in at the exact same height.“Brandon Ingram’s waist is where his belly button should be.”

This isn't a new discovery, but it made me think about how wingspan has superseded height in the eyes of talent evaluators around the league. Along the same lines, do teams measure leg length the same way? I don’t know the exact answer—I’d guess there’s a 99% chance NBA teams do in fact measure legs from the waist down—but what I do know is the information isn’t listed on NBA.com, where everything from wingspan to hand width to body fat percentage is calculated. Same goes for DraftExpress.

Maybe the length of a player’s legs doesn’t matter, and useful information regarding how much ground they’re able to cover is already quantified with shuttle runs and lane agility drills. But given the obvious advantage someone like Ingram or Giannis Antetokounmpo has on drives to the rim, maybe stride-spans (a working title; I’m also a fan of glide-span) should be added to the long list of characteristics used to evaluate prospects and players.

11. On/Off Numbers Still Hate Avery Bradley

Photo by Aaron Doster - USA TODAY Sports

For the third straight year, Avery Bradley’s team is significantly better on defense when he isn’t on the floor. There are caveats and explanations—Bradley’s help defense is ineffective, he’s perpetually undersized, every starter on the Pistons has poor on/off numbers right now, etc.—but it’s still strange because Avery Bradley is the last person alive I’d want guarding me in a pickup game.

Last season, Bradley’s Real Plus-Minus ranked one spot below Lou Williams—someone opposing offenses intentionally abuse on a regular basis—and this year he’s 67th at his own position. This continues to be one of the more confusing stats vs. eye test battles in the NBA.

12. The New York Knicks Are the NBA’s Most Likable Team

I know everyone is talking about how fun the New York Knicks are, but speaking as someone who’s seen them play in person multiple times this season, I can confirm that yes, the rumors are true. They are an energetic, fresh, and endearing group, with spunky personality, youthful ignorance, and just enough talent to make it all feel respectable.

When you watch them play, you aren’t thinking about the yolk that’s permanently smeared across James Dolan’s forehead, or the disheartening cap sheet that serves as a reminder of their longstanding off-court dysfunction. Instead they play like a snake that’s shed its skin. Jeff Hornacek is liberated to run his own system. Kristaps Porzingis is able to shoot anytime he wants. (The shedding of Carmelo Anthony and Phil Jackson in one offseason has clearly had a profound impact on everyone involved.)

I wrote a couple weeks back that their newfound identity is essentially Porzingis + Putbacks. That’s still true, but their reason for success goes even deeper. Everything revolves around the franchise player. He is Beyonce surrounded by a dozen Kelly Rowlands. It’s a brittle dynamic that doesn’t work without everyone (including Tim Hardaway Jr.) embracing a back seat. From Lance Thomas to Enes Kanter to Jarrett Jack to Doug McDermott, everybody has.

They screen for each other. They drive and move the ball. They siege retreating defenses in transition. Their offense is an endless reel dish and swish, prompted by a group of castaways, retreads, and rookies. (Your personal definition of "loud noise" will forever change after you witness Frank Ntilikina make a jump shot inside Madison Square Garden.)

There will be time for big-picture analysis, and questions remain as to how they can/should build around Porzingis. But for the moment, let’s all enjoy this team for what it is: the NBA’s Cinderella.

The Outlet Pass: Jazz Should Tank, Cavs Should Try; Let's Measure Legs published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

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amtushinfosolutionspage · 7 years ago

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The Outlet Pass: Jazz Should Tank, Cavs Should Try; Let’s Measure Legs

1. Eric Gordon Has Been Great, Chris Paul Can Make Him Better

Chris Paul is expected to return on Thursday night, which will bump Gordon back to the bench and diminish his role just a bit. But even if Gordon can’t average more than 22 points per game the rest of the way, Paul’s brilliant ability to lull defenses to sleep will help Gordon find even better options from behind the three-point line and at the rim (where he’s shooting a ridiculous 66 percent—up 10 points from last season).

2. Dear Utah Jazz: Please Tank

The Utah Jazz are flailing in the face of a few unlucky events that have struck over the past few months. They were spurned by Gordon Hayward in free agency, watched Dante Exum suffer another soul-crushing preseason injury, and most recently lost Rudy Gobert for 4-6 weeks to a bruised right tibia. Even though Utah has been better on both sides of the floor when their franchise player is off the court, no team in the West (except to nobody’s surprise the San Antonio Spurs) can compete without an All-NBA contributor in the lineup for an extended period.

The bad news gets worse after a quick glance at Utah’s schedule, which turns into The Perfect Storm during Gobert’s expected absence. The easiest, broadest, and most annoying response here is to call for the Jazz to tank, but assuming they’re ready to face the harsh realities of an impending rebuild, it’s also the correct response.

Already submarined by an offense that can’t generate anything substantial sans Hayward, Utah’s focus now that making the playoffs is incredibly unlikely should be moprhing into sellers at the trade deadline (moving on from Derrick Favors’ expiring contract is what most point to as a no-brainer, but what could they get for Rodney Hood or Joe Ingles?).

They own all their draft picks and have one of the 10 oldest rosters in the league. This is a perfect chance to tear down a group that’s going nowhere and build around a Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, 2018 lotto pick core. It’s not fun, but opportunity is knocking on Utah’s door; to ignore it now could cost them down the line.

3. Why Is Effort Still An Issue In Cleveland?

This isn’t Love’s fault, and there are some things he can’t help. Athletic limitations put a hard cap on how effective he can be trying to prevent the other team from scoring. That, combined with a supporting cast of mostly below-average individual defenders, makes his margin for error paper thin.

4. Lauri Markkanen’s Wrists Make All The Difference

5. Jaylen Brown’s Closeouts Are Hysterically Passive Aggressive

Even if his strength, length, quickness, and ability to walk on water theoretically makes people think he’s one of the best on-ball defenders in basketball, the 21-year-old is still a work in progress who hasn’t quite reached the All-Defensive team level he is striving for. He’s fouling less than a year ago, but is still antsy on the ball, prone to falling for ball fakes; all too eager to show off his leaping ability when staying grounded is the better call.

6. I’m (Still) Not A Fan Of Julius Randle

It’s fair to label what Julius Randle is experiencing “a breakout year.” The 22-year-old is averaging 21.1 points and 12.4 rebounds per 36 minutes, with significant bumps in usage, block percentage, free-throw rate, and True Shooting. All this is promising and nice and may convince one of the league’s 29 other teams to draw up a hefty offer sheet this summer.

Julius Randle is not a smart defender

Randle’s outside shot is still cracked, and it’s unclear what his role/position would be on a good basketball team. A couple years ago I asked former Lakers head coach Byron Scott if he thought about experimenting with Randle at the five. He, somewhat understandably, began his response by laughing out loud. When you’re a big whose range doesn’t extend beyond the paint with a wingspan equal to Nick Young’s, it’s hard to be much help without a very specific cast of supporting skills at your side. Randle is more Kenneth Faried than Draymond Green.

10. Doug McDermott 9. Elfrid Payton 8. Jusuf Nurkic 7. Rodney Hood 6. T.J. Warren 5. Dario Saric 4. Clint Capela 3. Gary Harris 2. Zach LaVine 1. Nikola Jokic

Randle is still extremely young and there’s obviously plenty of time for him to round out the worrisome parts of his game and become a winning player, but so far all he’s done is max out on strengths he already possessed.

(The following take is fresh out of an oven, but I think I’d also prefer Pascal Siakam.)

7. Tobias Harris vs. Robert Covington

Photo by John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports

Now here’s a fun question: As two versatile wings with varying yet proportional strengths and weaknesses, who would you rather have?

8. How Does T.J. Warren Do It?

The lack of three-point shooting is a scarlett letter, but this year he’s still exploded for 40 points and 35 points in a pair of wins against the Washington Wizards and Minnesota Timberwolves, respectively. Warren isn’t a minus defender, either. He moves around, hustles, and generally seems to understand how to execute Phoenix’s scheme.

9. Believe It Or Not, The Kings Did Something Nice

But this is the NBA, where even the worst of the worst is still the best of the best. Here’s one example, where Sacramento’s offensive execution trips up the Washington Wizards.

It’s a standard split cut, but instead of coming together and then breaking off in seemingly random directions, George Hill spontaneously dives into the paint before the Wizards have time to deal with their assignment. John Wall and Brad Beal don’t realize they have to switch until it’s too late, and it forces Marcin Gortat to lean in the wrong direction. Garrett Temple breaks free for the open three. Good job, Kings. Good job.

10. Let’s Measure Legs

This isn’t a new discovery, but it made me think about how wingspan has superseded height in the eyes of talent evaluators around the league. Along the same lines, do teams measure leg length the same way? I don’t know the exact answer—I’d guess there’s a 99% chance NBA teams do in fact measure legs from the waist down—but what I do know is the information isn’t listed on NBA.com, where everything from wingspan to hand width to body fat percentage is calculated. Same goes for DraftExpress.

11. On/Off Numbers Still Hate Avery Bradley

Photo by Aaron Doster – USA TODAY Sports

12. The New York Knicks Are the NBA’s Most Likable Team

They screen for each other. They drive and move the ball. They siege retreating defenses in transition. Their offense is an endless reel dish and swish, prompted by a group of castaways, retreads, and rookies. (Your personal definition of “loud noise” will forever change after you witness Frank Ntilikina make a jump shot inside Madison Square Garden.)

The Outlet Pass: Jazz Should Tank, Cavs Should Try; Let’s Measure Legs syndicated from http://ift.tt/2ug2Ns6

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junker-town · 7 years ago

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Which NFL teams are contenders and which are pretenders midway through 2017 season?

Heading into Week 9, 16 teams have a winning record. Which ones are for real?

We have now reached the halfway point in the 2017 NFL season. We are starting to get a good idea of each team’s strengths and weaknesses and who has a legit chance to make the playoffs. This won’t be a Super Bowl preview article, but rather how I think each team will fare coming down the stretch and if they have a chance to do damage in the postseason.

So it’s time for a favorite game: Contender or Pretender?

AFC

Let’s start with the AFC, which has the clearer picture at the top of the conference than the NFC. There are three 6-2 teams. The Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2): Contender

The Steelers’ defense is under the radar because we focus all our attention on the shiny offensive parts, but it’s their defense that’s kept them afloat recently. Their defense is second in the NFL in points per game and it was on display Sunday against the Lions. They forced five red zone field goals — and no touchdowns — on the road. The Steelers’ offense will always have big-play ability with Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and Big Ben, but they are around average in most offensive categories.

Kansas City Chiefs (6-2): Contender

The Chiefs’ offense is rolling. They lead the NFL in yards per play and have only committed three offensive turnovers. Alex Smith has turned into this downfield passing machine and the Chiefs are starting to get their offensive line healthy. Their concerns are once again on defense, where they still can’t stop the run. They are a bend-but-don’t-break defense, which I just don’t trust in the postseason. They also need to solve their Pittsburgh Steelers issue — the Chiefs have lost to them three times since last season — to win the conference.

New England Patriots (6-2): Contender

With Tom Brady at the helm, the Patriots are always contenders. Plain and simple. Their defense has improved over the last few weeks, too. They have missed Julian Edelman, who was Brady’s favorite target on third down, but have made due with the other parts on offense.

Buffalo Bills (5-2): Pretender

This will be a theme throughout this article, but it’s all about quarterback play. Last season, 11 of 12 playoff games were won by the better quarterback. Tyrod Taylor is playing well within the Bills’ offense, but they are near the bottom of the NFL in passing. In the playoffs, they will need a passing game to keep up with any of those three 6-2 teams.

The Bills’ staple of rushing the football is still there, but I don’t think that would be enough in the playoffs. The Bills’ defense can stop the run, but they are venerable against the pass without much of a pass rush. However, they are +14 in turnover margin, leading the NFL. That’s outstanding but it’s hard to always rely on forcing turnovers to win games

Miami Dolphins (4-3): Pretender

Jay Cutler? No thank you.

AFC South: Pretenders

Do you trust anyone in this division? The Titans’ secondary is still a huge issue and so is Marcus Mariota’s health. Whenever we assume the Titans will take the next step, they don’t. So I’ll believe it when it happens.

The Jaguars don’t pass the quarterback test, even though their defense can rush the passer. However, their defense is 32nd in rushing yards per play, which would be an issue against Kansas City or Pittsburgh.

The Texans’ defense can’t stop anyone, and while I love Deshaun Watson, they just traded their left tackle. Watson can’t carry this team if the defense can’t stop anyone.

NFC

The NFC is wide open and it will be awesome seeing how this shapes up.

Philadelphia Eagles (7-1): Contender

The Eagles have the best record in the NFL and it’s not a surprise why. Carson Wentz has vastly improved from year one to two. He actually has wide receivers who can catch the ball and a run game that can chew yards. They are also second in the NFL on third down, which shows how efficient the offense is on earlier downs and that allows the Eagles the ability to convert big on third down.

However, the loss of left tackle Jason Peters is a tough one for the Eagles. There’s no replacing him and the Eagles will try giving the new LT, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, some help to compensate for the loss of Peters. So that would worry me. The Eagles have an attacking defense, and are excellent against the run. This forces teams to be one-dimensional and allow the Eagles to rush the passer. Hopefully Ronald Darby comes back soon to bolster that secondary.

Minnesota Vikings (6-2): Pretender*

Look, the Vikings’ defense is nothing to be messed with. They are legit and can carry this team far. They can stop the run and rush the passer with much success. However, until I get proven wrong, I don’t trust Case Keenum in a playoff game. At some point, Keenum would have to carry this team to victory, and I don’t see it happening.

Like I said earlier, the better quarterback won almost every time in last year’s playoffs. That matters in the NFL, especially during crunch time. But they have an asterisk because of Teddy Bridgewater. Though he hasn’t proven anything in the playoffs, I want to see if he will be back this season. I might change my mind on the Vikings.

New Orleans Saints (5-2): Contender

I stand by what I wrote about the Saints last week. They are legit and have similar parallels to their 2009 Super Bowl-winning team.

Seattle Seahawks (5-2): Contender

I felt like the Seahawks were gliding under the radar before their game against Houston last weekend. Russell Wilson is a magician with the ball in his hands and does it all with a poor offense. Well, it was a poor offensive line until they traded for Duane Brown. What an outstanding job by the front office to get Wilson a blind side protector. The run game is still average to below average, but Wilson can carry this team, as he has done in the past.

Seattle’s defense is surprisingly average this season, but I wouldn’t want to see them in the playoffs, especially in Seattle.

Los Angeles Rams (5-2): Pretender

The Rams are the most improved team this season. It’s a great story. They just aren’t totally there yet. You have to know how to win intense, close games, and I don’t feel the Rams are there yet, as evidenced by their first Seahawks game. Show me they can win those close games against quality teams and I’ll change my mind.

Lastly, they have a rough schedule for the back eight: Texans, at Vikings, and Saints for a three-game stretch, and Eagles, at Seahawks, and at Titans for another. If they sneak into the playoffs, they will have earned it.

Carolina Panthers (5-3): Contender, but I don’t feel good about it

The Panthers’ defense is everything you’d ask for in a defense. They are aggressive, attacking, and physical. They get the job done. But that offense, yikes. So I’m putting them as a contender because, while I don’t exactly trust him, Cam Newton has shown some 2015 brilliance at times. He’s way too up and down, but if he’s up for a long stretch of time he can do some damage to an opposing defense

Atlanta Falcons (4-3): Contender

They clearly have issues on offense, but they have been there and done that, and I believe their offensive issues can be fixed. If they get hot, watch out for the Falcons.

Dallas Cowboys (4-3): Pretender

They still have to play the Eagles twice, plus the Chiefs, Seahawks, and Falcons. Ain’t happening. And without Zeke, for sure not happening.

Green Bay Packers (4-3): Pretender

Poor Packers. They had been playing so well until Aaron Rodgers got hurt.

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spideymagic · 3 years ago

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Los Angeles Trade Show Magician For Hire

Trade show magicians are always a hit on the exhibit floor.

Looking for the Best Los Angeles Based Trade Show Magician For Hire?

Hire Spidey Magician. Spidey’s magic will stop people in their tracks and get them interested in your company.

https://spideymagic.com/cws-fool-us/

#Comedy Magician Toronto Magician In NYC Party Magician San Jose

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spideymagic · 4 years ago

Photo

Los Angeles Trade Show Magician

Trade show magicians are one of the best ways to build booth traffic and separate your company from others on the floor.

Looking for a Los Angeles Based Trade Show Magician For Hire? Hire Spidey Magician.

https://spideymagic.com/cws-fool-us/

#Comedy Magician Toronto Magician In NYC Party Magician San JoseComedy Magician Toronto Magician In NYC Party Magician San Jose

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spideymagic · 4 years ago

Photo

Los Angeles Trade Show Magician

Trade show magicians are one of the best ways to build booth traffic and separate your company from others on the floor.

Looking for a Los Angeles Based Trade Show Magician For Hire? Hire Spidey Magician.

https://spideymagic.com/cws-fool-us/

#Comedy Magician Toronto Magician In NYC Party Magician San Jose

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flauntpage · 7 years ago

Text

The Outlet Pass: Jazz Should Tank, Cavs Should Try; Let's Measure Legs

1. Eric Gordon Has Been Great, Chris Paul Can Make Him Better

2. Dear Utah Jazz: Please Tank

3. Why Is Effort Still An Issue In Cleveland?

4. Lauri Markkanen’s Wrists Make All The Difference

5. Jaylen Brown’s Closeouts Are Hysterically Passive Aggressive

6. I'm (Still) Not A Fan Of Julius Randle

Julius Randle is not a smart defender

10. Doug McDermott 9. Elfrid Payton 8. Jusuf Nurkic 7. Rodney Hood 6. T.J. Warren 5. Dario Saric 4. Clint Capela 3. Gary Harris 2. Zach LaVine 1. Nikola Jokic

(The following take is fresh out of an oven, but I think I’d also prefer Pascal Siakam.)

7. Tobias Harris vs. Robert Covington

Photo by John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports

Now here’s a fun question: As two versatile wings with varying yet proportional strengths and weaknesses, who would you rather have?

8. How Does T.J. Warren Do It?

9. Believe It Or Not, The Kings Did Something Nice

But this is the NBA, where even the worst of the worst is still the best of the best. Here’s one example, where Sacramento’s offensive execution trips up the Washington Wizards.

10. Let's Measure Legs

11. On/Off Numbers Still Hate Avery Bradley

Photo by Aaron Doster - USA TODAY Sports

12. The New York Knicks Are the NBA’s Most Likable Team

The Outlet Pass: Jazz Should Tank, Cavs Should Try; Let's Measure Legs published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

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