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doubleattitude · 4 years ago

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Radix Dance Convention Nationals, Las Vegas 2021 Results

Core Performer:

(Top 3/4 in Bold)

Mini Female

Top 20:

Emily Jungmann

Isabella Kouznetsova

Skylar Wong

Madelyn Murphy

Carrigan Paylor

Kate Baldwin

Madison Carmody

Karyna Majeroni

Elizabeth Bilecki

Sasha Milstein

Diana Kouznetsova

Ellary Day Szyndlar

Tiara Sherman

Fiona Wu

Savannah Manzel

Camila Giraldo

Victoria Martinez

Georgia Beth Peters

Addison Price

Regan Gerena

Winner: Carrigan Paylor

Mini Male

Top 7:

Elias Elkind

Karson Koller

Santiago Sosa

Julian Aranda

Michael Cash Savio

Nico Dahl

Josh Lundy

Winner: Michael Cash Savio

Junior Female

Top 20:

Kendyl Fay

Daniela SanGiacomo

Kinley Andrews

Laci Stoico

Haileigh Brennan

Crystal Huang

Giselle Gandarilla

Kira Chan

Rylee Young

Kaili Kester

Taytum Ruckle

Maddie Ortega

Angelina Elliott

Anya Inger

Gracyn French

Aaliyah Dixon

Brinkley Pittman

Breanna Bieler

Alexis Mayer

Madison Ronquillo

Winner: Crystal Huang

Junior Male

Top 6:

Johnny Gray

Zachary Gibson

Haiden Neuville

Wyatt Brisson

Ayden Nguyen

Coltrane Vodicka

Winner: Coltrane Vodicka

Teen Female

Top 25:

Destanye Diaz

Izzy Howard

Kaitlyn Ortega

Jada Specht

Emily Madden

Harlow Ganz

Sabine Nehls

Dyllan Blackburn

Antonia Gonzalez

Brooklyn Law

Isabella Lynch

Avery Cashen

Charlie Kautzer

Valadie Cammack

Kiarra Waidelich

Isabel Joves

Olivia Magni

Rachel Loiselle

Mia Ibach

Cydney Heard

Madison Marshall

Kaylinn Rees

Hayden Frazier

Addison Middleton

Carly Thinfen

Winner: Kiarra Waidelich

Teen Male

Top 21:

Trent Grappe

Jack Brokaw

Luke Barrett

Nathan Scott

Antony Curley

Sam Fine

Louis Sloot

Rosendo Archiga

Harrison Robinson

Christian De Jesus

Xander Perone

Noah Ayden Grady

Jonah Daquigan

Samuel Sharp Jr

Jackson Koressel

Gavin Warfield

AJ Storey

Nicholas Bustos

Tucker Gokey

Ronnie Lewis

Sam Suro

Winner: Antony Curley

Senior Female

Top 22:

Camille Fehr

Rina Kanamaki

Elisabeth Pabich

Kayla Pereira

Sara Eberhardt

Ava La France

Selena Hamilton

Anna Miller

Skye Notary

Priscilla Tom

Mackenzie Jarrett

Libby Wiley

Makayla D’Ambrosio

Camryn Bridges

Maddie Thanos

Lola Coghill

Zoe Lemelman

Makenna Okamoto

Vanessa Valenzuela

Peyton Martineau

Erin Wienke

Izzy Burton

Winner: Erin Wienke

Senior Male

Top 13:

Wysdem Caesar

Garren Garcia

John Mays

Seth Gibson

Raiden King

Alec Brown

Bronson Dahmer

Jackson Roloff-Hafenbreadl

Sam McWilliams

Levi Sherman

Konnor Kelly

Zach Buri

Thiago Pacheco

Winner: Sam McWilliams

Finals:

High Scores by Age:

Cash Prizes:

1st: $200

2nd: $100

3rd: $50

Rookie Solo

1st: Mila Renae-’Soldier’

2nd: Lucia Piedrahita-’Fields of Gold’

2nd: Aliya Yen-’Loyal, Brave and True’

3rd: Melina Biltz-’Welcome Home’

4th: Zoey Brooks-’My Boyfriend’s Back’

5th: Lexi Menjivar-’I Will Survive’

6th: Moriah Peralta-’Up, Up & Away’

7th: Kaiya Carrillo-’Love Shack’

8th: Kinsey Fitts-’Can You Imagine That’

8th: Shale Herrera-’Dream’

9th: Madison Skapyak-’Songbird’

10th: Eden Hernandez-’Chocolate Box’

Mini Solo

1st: Camila Giraldo-’Welcome to Miami’

2nd: Skylar Wong-’Lovefooll’

3rd: Carrigan Paylor-’Orange Colored Sky’

4th: Regan Gerena-’My Boyfriend’s Back’

4th: Michael Cash Savio-’Rhythm’

5th: Tiara Sherman-’Cielo’

6th: Isabella Kouznetsova-’Trouble’

6th: Emily Jungmann-’You Sleep On’

7th: Winter Eberts-’Hit The Road Jack’

7th: Esme Chou-’Unravel’

8th: Addison Price-’Je Te Laisserai Des Mots’

9th: Avery Maycunich-’Wild is the Wind’

10th: Abigail Pucylowski-’Menace’

Junior Solo

1st: Crystal Huang-’Moonlight Sonata’

2nd: Gracyn French-’A Character of Quiet’

3rd: Angelina Elliot-’Out’

4th: Aaliyah Dixon-’That’s Life’

4th: Alexis Mayer-’Vanished’

5th: Laci Stoico-’Mein Herr’

6th: Daniela SanGiacomo-’Restless’

7th: Lexi Godwin-’Debut’

7th: Brenna Bieler-’Moonlight Sonata’

8th: Naia Parker-’Lit’

9th: Vivienne Robillard-’Immigration’

9th: Zoe Zielinski-’Z’

10th: Maddie Ortega-’A Winged Victory’

10th: Zachary Gibson-’Unknown’

Teen Solo

1st: Sophia Cobo-’Do You Feel Real’

1st: Izzy Howard-’Mer de Velours’

1st: Cydney Heard-’Je T'aime’

1st: Kiarra Waidelich-’The Resemblance is Uncanny’

2nd: Angelika Edejer-’One Giant Leap’

3rd: Kaitlyn Ortega-’Ain’t No Sunshine’

3rd: Harlow Ganz-’Breaking the Surface’

3rd: Antonia Gonzalez-’Like The Wind’

4th: Xander Perone-’Elijah’

4th: Dyllan Blackburn-’Silver Screen’

5th: Charli Ortiz-Ringenbach-’Is This Love’

6th: Ava Greendwaldt-’Countdown’

6th: Sammi Chung-’Eight’

6th: Isabella Warfield-’Nicest Thing’

6th: Jadyn Saigusa-’Wonderlust’

7th: June Hurley-’Don’t Think Of Me Like That’

7th: Kenzie Jones-’Flightless Bird’

8th: Finley Williams-’We’ll See’

9th: Sarah Laskowski-’For You’

10th: Addison Middleton-’ERROR’

10th: Rosendo Arechiga-’Thanks for Asking’

Senior Solo

1st: Thiago Pacheco-’The Poet’

2nd: Selena Hamilton-’Black Car’

3rd: Jackson Roloff-Hafenbreadl-’Darkness’

4th: Maddie Nemeth-’Sycamore Tree’

5th: Olivya Sessing-’House on the Hill’

6th: Sheridan Naugle-’Irreplaceable’

6th: Mia Tassani-’Mam’

6th: Seth Gibson-’Mind Bugs’

7th: Makayla D’Ambrosio-’Consider’

8th: Leigha Agins-’Prerogative’

9th: Milan Furtado-’As We Appear’

9th: Georgi Carmack-’Creature’

9th: Minda Li-’On Her Shoulders’

9th: Britton Moore-’Radiator’

9th: Libby Wiley-’Running Up That Hill’

9th: Sara Eberhardt-’Sticks and stone’

10th: Yasmine Quintana-’Hate’

Rookie Duo/Trio

1st: Danceplex-’Stand By Me’

2nd: AVANTI Dance Company-’It Must Be Love’

3rd: AVANTI Dance Company-’Never Enough’

4th: Notion Dance Concepts-’MILK $’

5th: The Industry Dance Academy-’Don’t Go Without Me’

Mini Duo/Trio

1st: Woodbury Dance Center-’Yesterday’

2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Something’s Gotta Change’

3rd: AVANTI Dance Company-’Gracious’

4th: Studio X-’Vogue’

5th: Studio 19 Dance Complex-’Gonna Get Ya’

Junior Duo/Trio

1st: AVANTI Dance Company-’Go Girl’

2nd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Everything Is In Line’

3rd: Elements Dance Space-’Separate’

4th: Danceplex-’This Is Me Trying’

5th: AVANTI Dance Company-’Wild Life’

Teen Duo/Trio

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’Make Me High’

2nd: The Rock Center for Dance-’Last Light’

3rd: Woodbury Dance Center-’Hey’

4th: Evolution Dance Complex-’Before You Go’

5th: AVANTI Dance Company-’Crystalized’

Senior Duo/Trio

1st: Mather Dance Company-’Trust Me Again’

2nd: The Difference Dance Company-’3′

3rd: MVP Dance Elite-’Bitter

3rd: CanDance Studios-’Revolution’

4th: The Difference Dance Company-’June 7th’

5th: Studio 413-’Black Flies’

Rookie Group

1st: Danceplex-’Little Wonders’

2nd: Danceplex-’Lets Hear It For the Boy’

3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Lullaby’

4th: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Girls Night Out’

5th: Notion Dance Concepts-’Firework’

Mini Group

1st: Project 21-’Fan Tan Fannie’

2nd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Searching For...’

3rd: Woodbury Dance Center-’Don’t Give Up On Me’

4th: Evoke Dance Movement-’I Think I Love You’

5th: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Queen Bees’

Junior Group

1st: Project 21-’No Fear But Anticipation’

2nd: Project 21-’Stuff Like That There’

2nd: Orange County Performing Arts Academy-’Wind It Up’

3rd: Prodigy Training Center-’School of Prodigy’

3rd: Orange County Performing Arts Academy-’Sing, Sing, Sing’

3rd: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Un Momento Finale’

4th: Cypress Dance Project-’What Is Love?’

4th: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Wolves’

5th: The Difference Dance Company-’1977′

5th: Woodbury Dance Center-’Alright’

Teen Group

1st: Project 21-’Bring On the Men’

2nd: Project 21-’Girls, Girls, Girls’

3rd: The Difference Dance Company-’Cellophane’

3rd: The Rock Center for Dance-’Heavenly Bodies’

3rd: Mather Dance Company-’Overdose’

3rd: The Difference Dance Company-’Unchained’

4th: AVANTI Dance Company-’The Cuckoo’s Nest’

5th: Orange County Performing Arts Academy-’Boom POW’

Senior Group

1st: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Prague’

2nd: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’I Love America’

2nd: Mather Dance Company-’We The Soldiers’

3rd: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Hard Voices’

4th: Impact Dance Studio-’Fame’

4th: The Industry Dance Academy-’When Dirt Meets Water’

4th: The Difference Dance Company-’Wolves’

5th: Mather Dance Company-’For All We Know’

Rookie Line

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’Innana’

2nd: AVANTI Dance Company-’Ooh La La’

3rd: AVANTI Dance Company-’Wash & Set’

4th: Cypress Dance Project-’Bat Dance’

Mini Line

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’6 Out of Six’

1st: Project 21-’Dive In the Pool’

2nd: Impact Dance Studio-’Go Your Own Way’

2nd: Impact Dance Studio-’You Can’t Stop the Beat’

3rd: Woodbury Dance Center-’Always’

4th: Woodbury Dance Center-’Booty Swing’

5th: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Distance’

Junior Line

1st: Impact Dance Studio-’Derniere Danse’

2nd: Impact Dance Studio-’Mein Herr’

2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Whole Lotta Woman’

3rd: Project 21-’Proud Mary’

4th: Impact Dance Studio-’Hallelujah’

5th: The Rock Center for Dance-’All Good People’

5th: Summit Dance Shoppe-’It Wasn’t Always Like This’

5th: Woodbury Dance Center-’Mahala’

Teen Line

1st: Impact Dance Studio-’New York New York’

2nd: Studio 413-’Hold On Tight’

3rd: Project 21-’Post That’

4th: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Dream Girls’

5th: The Rock Center for Dance-’Hey!’

Senior Line

1st: Impact Dance Studio-’Here Comes the Rain’

2nd: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’No Colors Anymore’

3rd: Mather Dance Company-’Voice of God’

4th: Project 21-’The Dictator’s Dream’

5th: The Difference Dance Company-’Cody Banks’

Rookie Extended Line

1st: AVANTI Dance Company-’Brave’

2nd: The Industry Dance Academy-’Hard Knock Life’

Mini Extended Line

1st: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Trouble’

2nd: The Rock Center for Dance-’Settle Down’

3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Choo Choo’

4th: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Boy Meets Girl’

5th: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Dream In Color’

Junior Extended Line

1st: Evoke Dance Movement-’Purse First’

2nd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Hold Your Own’

3rd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Better Than Ever’

4th: Studio 413-’Girl Boss’

5th: Studio 413-’Goodbye’

5th: Evoke Dance Movement-’Lose Control’

Teen Extended Line

1st: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Euphoric’

2nd: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Hush Up’

3rd: Project 21-’Desoleil’

4th: CanDance Studios-’Throw It Back’

5th: Evoke Dance Movement-’Adios’

5th: CanDance Studios-’The Colony’

Senior Extended Line

1st: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’My House, My Rules’

2nd: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’So What Now?’

2nd: The Difference Dance Company-’The Ravens’

3rd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Terrified’

Junior Production

1st: Impact Dance Studio-’One More Time’

2nd: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Eminence’

3rd: Studio 413-’Electricity’

Teen Production

1st: Woodbury Dance Center-’Fly Away’

1st: AVANTI Dance Company-’Gone Too Soon’

High Scores by Performance Division:

Rookie Jazz

1st: Danceplex-’Lets Hear It For the Boy’

2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Girls Night Out’

3rd: AVANTI Dance Company-’Ooh La La’

4th: AVANTI Dance Company-’Wash & Set’

4th: AVANTI Dance Company-’Spice Up Your Life’

5th: The Industry Dance Academy-’Material Girl’

Rookie Contemporary

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’Innana’

Rookie Lyrical

1st: Danceplex-’Little Wonders’

2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Lullaby’

3rd: Notion Dance Concepts-’Firework’

4th: AVANTI Dance Company-’Brave’

Rookie Musical Theatre

1st: The Industry Dance Academy-’Hard Knock Life’

Rookie Specialty

1st: Cypress Dance Project-’Bat Dance’

Mini Jazz

1st: Project 21-’Dive In the Pool’

2nd: Impact Dance Studio-’You Can’t Stop the Beat’

3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Trouble’

4th: Summit Dance Shoppe-’What Have You Done For Me Lately’

5th: Evoke Dance Movement-’Money Heist’

Mini Ballet

1st: Summit Dance Shoppe-’This Way’

2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Whistle A Happy Tune’

3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Rosamunde’

4th: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Cats’

5th: Summit Dance Shoppe-’A Lovely Night’

Mini Hip-Hop

1st: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Queen Bees’

2nd: Prodigy Training Center-’JR Prodigy’

3rd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Get Up’

4th: Prodigy Training Center-’Money’

5th: Heat Dance Studio-’Work It Out’

Mini Tap

1st: Studio 19 Dance Complex-’L.O.V.E’

2nd: Woodbury Dance Center-’Booty Swing’

2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Choo Choo’

3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Swing in the Mood’

4th: Studio 413-’Critical Level’

4th: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Charleston Charlie’

5th: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Aye Carumba’

Mini Contemporary

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’6 Out of Six’

2nd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Searching For...’

3rd: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Distance’

4th: The Difference Dance Company-’Lying’

5th: AVANTI Dance Company-’Glad It’s Raining’

Mini Lyrical

1st: Impact Dance Studio-’Go Your Own Way’

2nd: Woodbury Dance Center-’Don’t Give Up On Me’

3rd: Woodbury Dance Center-’Always’

4th: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Lego House’

5th: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Soon You’ll Get Better’

5th: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Dream In Color’

5th: Artistic Motion Dance-’What A Wonderful World’

Mini Musical Theatre

1st: Project 21-’Fan Tan Fannie’

2nd: Woodbury Dance Center-’Wedding Bells’

3rd: The Industry Dance Academy-’Revolting Children’

4th: Summit Dance Shoppe-’I’ve Got Rhythm’

4th: Summit Dance Shoppe-’All That Jazz’

Mini Specialty

1st: Evoke Dance Movement-’I Think I Love You’

2nd: The Rock Center for Dance-’Settle Down’

3rd: Studio 19 Dance Complex-’Come Little Children’

4th: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Youth Strong’

5th: Studio 19 Dance Complex-’Child of Light’

Junior Jazz

1st: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Whole Lotta Woman’

1st: Impact Dance Studio-’One More Time’

2nd: Project 21-’Proud Mary’

3rd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Purse First’

4th: Project 21-’Stuff Like That There’

4th: Orange County Performing Arts Academy-’Wind It Up’

4th: Woodbury Dance Center-’Mahala’

5th: AVANTI Dance Company-’Can You Dig It?’

Junior Ballet

1st: Woodbury Dance Center-’Combust’

2nd: The Industry Dance Academy-’Spring’

3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Bathers’

Junior Hip-Hop

1st: Prodigy Training Center-’School of Prodigy’

1st: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Eminence’

2nd: Studio 413-’Girl Boss’

3rd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Lose Control’

4th: Cypress Dance Project-’Plain Jane’

5th: Heat Dance Studio-’Up’

Junior Tap

1st: Cypress Dance Project-’What Is Love?’

2nd: Woodbury Dance Center-’I Love It’

3rd: Studio 413-’Into The Night’

4th: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Valerie’

5th: Cypress Dance Project-’Halftime’

Junior Contemporary

1st: Project 21-’No Fear But Anticipation’

2nd: The Rock Center for Dance-’All Good People’

2nd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Hold Your Own’

2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’It Wasn’t Always Like This’

3rd: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Un Momento Finale’

4th: Woodbury Dance Center-’Wasted Air’

4th: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Wolves’

5th: Studio 413-’Goodbye’

5th: Woodbury Dance Center-’Alright’

Junior Lyrical

1st: Impact Dance Studio-’Hallelujah’

2nd: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’You Are The Reason’

3rd: Stars Dance Studio-’Dawn of Love’

3rd: Impact Dance Studio-’Time After Time’

4th: To The Pointe Dance Centre-’It’s All Coming Back To Me’

5th: Studio 19 Dance Complex-’When I Look At You’

Junior Musical Theatre

1st: Impact Dance Studio-’Mein Herr’

2nd: Cypress Dance Project-’Elle’s Big Day’

3rd: The Industry Dance Academy-’West Side Story’

Junior Specialty

1st Impact Dance Studio-’Derniere Danse’

2nd: Orange County Performing Arts Academy-’Sing, Sing, Sing’

2nd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Better Than Ever’

3rd: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’You’re Mine’

4th: The Difference Dance Company-’1977′

5th: Stars Dance Studio-’Spa’

Teen Jazz

1st: Project 21-’Bring On the Men’

2nd: Project 21-’Post That’

3rd: CanDance Studios-’Throw It Back’

4th: Orange County Performing Arts Academy-’Boom POW’

5th: Studio 413-’Social Media Overload’

Teen Ballet

1st: The Industry Dance Academy-’To The Pointe’

2nd: Cypress Dance Project-’Hunted’

Teen Hip-Hop

1st: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Hush Up’

2nd: CanDance Studios-’Panaramic’

3rd: AVANTI Dance Company-’Runnin’

4th: AVANTI Dance Company-’Clones’

5th: Studio 413-’Ready or Not’

5th: Studio 413-’Savage’

Teen Tap

1st: Studio 413-’No One’

2nd: Woodbury Dance Center-’I’

3rd: Woodbury Dance Center-’Go’

3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’25 Miles’

Teen Contemporary

1st: Studio 413-’Hold On Tight’

1st: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Euphoric’

2nd: The Rock Center for Dance-’Hey!’

3rd: Project 21-’Desoleil’

4th: Project 21-’Girls, Girls, Girls’

5th: CanDance Studios-’Can I’

5th: The Difference Dance Company-’Unchained’

5th: The Difference Dance Company-’Cellophane’

5th: Stars Dance Studio-’Through our Strength’

5th: The Rock Center for Dance-’Heavenly Bodies’

Teen Lyrical

1st: Mather Dance Company-’Overdose’

2nd: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Take Me’

3rd: Studio 19 Dance Complex-’Particles’

4th: Danceplex-’If I Say’

5th: Heat Dance Studio-’He Loves Me’

Teen Musical Theatre

1st: Impact Dance Studio-’New York New York’

2nd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Singular Sensation’

3rd: Woodbury Dance Center-’Almost Like Being In Love’

Teen Ballroom

1st: CanDance Studios-’I Got the Boom’

Teen Specialty

1st: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Dream Girls’

2nd: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’The Future Is Female’

3rd: AVANTI Dance Company-’Gone Too Soon’

4th: Heat Dance Studio-’Freedom’

4th: The Difference Dance Company-’Pale’

5th: The Industry Dance Academy-’Flashing Lights’

Senior Jazz

1st: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’My House, My Rules’

2nd: Impact Dance Studio-’Fame’

3rd: Mather Dance Company-’Prisoner’

4th: AVANTI Dance Company-’Need U Tonight’

5th: Woodbury Dance Center-’Cleopatrs in New York’

Senior Ballet

1st: Woodbury Dance Center-’Illumination’

Senior Hip-Hop

1st: Woodbury Dance Center-’CrAzY’

Senior Tap

1st: Woodbury Dance Center-’Funkytown’

Senior Contemporary

1st: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’No Colors Anymore’

2nd: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’I Love America’

2nd: Mather Dance Company-’We The Soldiers’

3rd: Project 21-’The Dictator’s Dream’

3rd: The Difference Dance Company-’Wolves’

3rd: The Industry Dance Academy-’When Dirt Meets Water’

4th: The Difference Dance Company-’The Ravens’

5th: The Difference Dance Company-’The First Time’

Senior Lyrical

1st: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Prague’

2nd: Impact Dance Studio-’Here Comes the Rain’

3rd: Mather Dance Company-’Voice of God’

4th: Mather Dance Company-’For All We Know’

5th: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Wash’

Senior Specialty

1st: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Hard Voices’

2nd: The Difference Dance Company-’Cody Banks’

3rd: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’So What Now?’

4th: CanDance Studios-’I Won’t Complain’

5th: Cypress Dance Project-’To This Day’

Best of Radix:

Rookie

Winners:

The Rock Center for Dance-’Innana’

Danceplex-’Little Wonders’

Mini

1st: The Rock Center for Dance-’6 Out of Six’

2nd: Evoke Dance Movement-’Searching For...’

3rd: Project 21-’Dive In the Pool’

4th: Impact Dance Studio-’You Can’t Stop the Beat’

5th: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Trouble’

6th: Woodbury Dance Center-’Don’t Give Up On Me’

Junior

1st: Impact Dance Studio-’Derniere Danse’

2nd: Project 21-’Proud Mary’

3rd: Woodbury Dance Center-’Mahala’

4th: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Whole Lotta Woman’

5th: Evoke Dance Movement-’Purse First’

6th: The Rock Center for Dance-’All Good People’

7th: Orange County Performing Arts Academy-’Wind It Up’

Teen

1st: Impact Dance Studio-’New York New York’

2nd: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Euphoric’

3rd: Project 21-’Bring On the Men’

4th: Studio 413-’Hold On Tight’

5th: The Rock Center for Dance-’Hey!’

Senior

1st: Impact Dance Studio-’Here Comes the Rain’

1st: Nor Cal Dance Arts-’Prague’

2nd: Mather Dance Company-’Voice of God’

3rd: Project 21-’The Dictator’s Dream’

3rd: The Difference Dance Company-’Wolves’

4th: The Industry Dance Academy-’When Dirt Meets Water’

Best in Show ($10 000):

Winner: Impact Dance Studio-’New York New York’

#radix dance convention #nationals #las vegas #2021 #dance #dance competition

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thethoughtreport · 9 years ago

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Focus: Sports

The Toronto Raptors’ unbeaten run came to an end on Friday night, as they fell to the Orlando Magic 92-87. In contrast the LA Lakers won their first game of the season, beating the Brooklyn Nets 104-98. On Saturday the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off an impressive win over the Chicago Bulls in OT. It was a close game throughout regulation but the Bulls did not score a point in OT. The final score was 102-93 to the Timberwolves with 31 points from Andrew Wiggins. The Philadelphia 76ers and the New Orleans Pelicans both fell to 0-6 over the weekend and the Brooklyn Nets fell to 0-7. The 76ers lost to Orlando, the Pelicans to the Dallas Mavericks and the Nets fell to the Milwaukee Bucks. Golden State Warriors remain undefeated with a 103-94 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

Chelsea lost to Stoke City 1-0 on Saturday, making it their 3rd successive defeat, something which hasn’t happened since 1999. Jose Mourinho’s men have now lost 7 out of 12 of their league games. Marko Arnautovic’s 53rd minute strike was enough for Stoke to come away with 3 points. Jesse Lingard scored his first Manchester United goal as his team beat West Brom 2-0. The other goal was a late penalty scored by Juan Mata. On Sunday Liverpool lost 2-1 to Crystal Palace after a late goal from Scott Dann stole the win for Palace. Tottenham almost beat Arsenal 1-0 but Kieran Gibbs scored in the 77th minute to steal a point in the London derby.

Things are really heating up in the NCAAF as Notre Dame took on the Pittsburgh Panthers. DeShone Kizer was impressive as he threw for 5 touchdowns and ran for another. Will Fuller caught 7 passes for 157 yards and 3 scores as Notre Dame won 42-30 to improve to 8-1. Clemson Tigers took on the Florida State Seminoles, a team they haven’t beaten in 4 years. That changed on Saturday as Clemson’s defense rallied to come back from a 10-6 halftime deficit to win 23-13 and remain undefeated. They clinched the ACC Atlantic Division with the victory. The Ohio State Buckeyes also remained undefeated with a 28-14 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers. I expected a lot from the LSU Tigers and Alabama game but in the end the Crimson Tide totally dominated to win 30-16.

The Cincinnati Bengals played on Thursday night, beating the Cleveland Browns 31-10 to go 8-0. The 3 unbeaten teams heading into the weekend were the Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos. The Panthers had a thriller against the Green Bay Packers when Aaron Rodgers rallied late. It was 37-29 to Carolina but Green Bay were at 1st & goal. Panthers’ defense came up strong and at 4th & goal, Rodgers threw an interception and that was the game. Carolina remains perfect at 8-0 and Cam Newton is now being talked about as a potential MVP. The New England Patriots easily beat the Washington Redskins 27-10 to also remain undefeated. The New York Jets beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 28-23 to snap a 2-game losing streak and go 5-3. Their next game is on Thursday against the Buffalo Bills and former coach Rex Ryan which will certainly be interesting. The New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans game was a close one and went to OT. In the end, Marcus Mariota came out on top, throwing a TD in OT to get the 34-28 win.

In La Liga, Real Madrid suffered their first loss under Rafael Benitez, losing 3-2 to Sevilla and allowing Barcelona to go top of the table. Sergio Ramos scored after 22 minutes with an incredible bicycle kick to give Real the lead but Ciro Immobile equalized 10 minutes before halftime. Ever Banega and Fernando Llorente added to Sevilla’s goals. James Rodriguez scored in stoppage time but it was too late. To make matters worse, after Ramos scored he landed heavily on his left shoulder, the same one he recently dislocated and had to be substituted. Now comes the international break and then it’s Clasico time. All bets are off.

#sports #soccer #football #nfl #nba

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shervonfakhimi · 5 years ago

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The 18 Players To Watch During the 2019 FIBA World Cup

Much of the discussion regarding the 2019 FIBA World Cup was surrounded by who *wasn’t* going to play in the tournament. As star after star elected not to play for Team USA and various other countries around the world, interest began to wane for this tournament. But, like Lupe Fiasco once said, the show goes on. And as the show goes on, not only will the hoops be worth watching, but there are still some big-time and interesting players worth watching in the competition. Some may be superstars; some may not even be in the NBA. But all 18 players listed are worth watching all the same during the FIBA World Cup this summer.

Giannis Antetokounmpo SF Milwaukee Bucks (Greece): Well, duh. Giannis is the reigning NBA MVP and real-life human cheat code. He’s got the box office appeal to watch the FIBA World Cup, but I’m putting him here for different reasons. He still has areas to improve upon his game, as he let us know when he told ESPN he is (frighteningly) at just 60% of his potential. How can he fulfill that last 40%? By adding a reliable jump shot or post-game to his repertoire. Per NBA.com, last season, while Giannis shot 69.3% from shots within 0-8 feet, he struggled shooting elsewhere, shooting 30% on shots outside of 8 feet. You could see that rear it’s head last season in the playoffs once Kawhi Leonard took away Giannis’ drives since he didn’t have an effective jump shot to keep him honest. I’ll be watching to see if there is any progress on his shot and its mechanics during the World Cup.

But, that isn’t all. Though it has become a bit antiquated in today’s NBA, I think Giannis would benefit from adding a post-game to his bag. Milwaukee surrounds him with shooting, and he typically does not get guarded by centers not named Al Horford or Joel Embiid because those brutes typically cannot contain him on the perimeter. With his massive size and length, he often is defended by guys smaller than him with the goal of trying (keyword: trying) to take his dribble away. With a spread floor and a smaller defender, I’d like to see if he could improve on his post-game during the World Cup. Last regular season, Giannis scored 0.99 points per possession on post-ups, ranking in the 63rd percentile of the NBA. That’s good, not great. However, in the playoffs, that number fell to 0.73 points per possession on post-ups, which ranked in the 43rd percentile of players in the playoffs. That is… not good. Certainly, it’s an area Giannis could improve upon. What better way to incorporate that into your game than against live competition in the World Cup?

Giannis is a top-five player in the league. He very much deserved his MVP last year. He’s told us he can still get better. Flashing improvements in these areas could give us an indicator he’s ready to take *another* leap and a possibility he could carry Greece toward a gold medal.

Nikola Jokic C Denver Nuggets (Serbia): Again, duh. Who wouldn’t want to watch the Joker? Big Honey is arguably the best passer in the NBA who is an MVP candidate. From the FIBA World Cup tournament perspective as a whole, Jokic legitimately can lead Serbia to a gold medal. From the Team USA perspective, the Americans had troubles with the big trio of Andrew Bogut, Aron Baynes, and Jock Landale, who, are not nearly as good as Jokic, to put it nicely. Serbia has the second-best player in the tournament whose toughest opponent is light on size. Jokic is fun, to begin with, but he could really make himself a marquee name with the gold medal, something that is certainly more than plausible.

Donovan Mitchell SG Utah Jazz (USA): There may not be anybody more intriguing on Team USA than Donovan Mitchell. Both Bill Simmons and Brian Windhorst (while chatting on ‘The Bill Simmons Podcast’ had heard that Mitchell, in particular, was among the many in Team USA camp who stood out whose light shined brightest. Similarly to Jokic, the World Cup is a bright stage for Mitchell to cement himself as one of the premier faces in the NBA since he doesn’t get that type of national or global exposure with few nationally televised games playing in Utah. Though it is easier to become get that type of exposure nowadays with social media, a strong showing could raise Mitchell’s budding stardom (and signature Adidas shoe) to another level.

But I’m not all that interested in that. That will likely come for Mitchell regardless. I want to see him improve his efficiency as a scorer. Like with this Team USA squad, he won’t be asked to carry a heavy offensive burden like he has been forced to do in his first two years in Utah. Last season, Mitchell ranked 7th in the NBA with a 30.9% usage rate. The year prior as a rookie? He had a 28.3% usage rate. That’s led to Mitchell posting roughly below-average effective field goal percentages his first two seasons, per Basketball-Reference. Where could Mitchell improve to boost up those percentages? How about improving his 2-point efficiency? In the first couple of seasons of his career, he has shot 34% and 36.2% on roughly seven three-point attempts per game. While not the greatest efficiency, the numerous attempts, many of them tough and contested, indicate Mitchell is a more than capable shooter from deep. However, Mitchell shot below 50% from every level below the three-point line. He shot only 46.8% from 2 last season, a decrease from 50.2% his rookie season. Playing more off-ball with Mike Conley heading to Utah will help Mitchell drastically next season, and he’ll gain experience playing more off-ball with Team USA. If Mitchell can show he’s poised for a leap, the talk of Utah as serious championship contenders will become all the more legitimate. His time with Team USA could be a precursor for that jump.

Kemba Walker PG / Jaylen Brown SG / Jayson Tatum SF / Marcus Smart PG Boston Celtics (USA): Last year’s Boston Celtics team hated each other. I think that was pretty obvious to see later in the playoffs once Kyrie Irving torpedoed any last chance they had against the Bucks after a season full of turbulence that was not *all* Kyrie’s doing but played a big part in. Getting Kemba Walker alleviates the loss of Kyrie. Their numbers and games are more similar than not and Walker is generally more regarded as a leader and teammate than Kyrie was last year as a Celtic. However, the Celtics lost Al Horford, their versatile big man who could fix any hole that presented itself. In his place, the Celtics signed… Enes Kanter. The defensive drop off is more drastic than any cliff Wile E. Coyote fell off of.

To ease the blow of losing Al Horford and fix the chemistry disaster of last season, Boston will need it’s two dynamic young wings in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to take a step. They, along with Donovan Mitchell, were mentioned to be looking great in camp on the aforementioned Bill Simmons Podcast with Brian Windhorst. Both will be playing roles on Team USA they were hesitant and/or unwilling to fill last season. Playing these roles and getting a head start on chemistry will only help not just Team USA’s chances, but the Boston Celtics’ as well. We know Kemba will provide scoring the same way Isaiah Thomas and Kyrie Irving brought it for Brad Stevens’ squad. We know Marcus Smart will do his glue-guy thing. But for the Celtics to raise the ceiling for their season (which, in my opinion, is last season’s floor because of the loss of Horford), Tatum and Brown will have to raise their games. I have liked what I have seen from them defensively in Team USA’s scrimmages vs Australia. Boston will need that effort from them as well as the scoring punch they flashed in the 2018 playoffs. It’s in them somewhere. Hopefully, their time with Team USA will help get harnessed onto the NBA stage as well.

Myles Turner C Indiana Pacers (USA) & Domantas Sabonis PF/C Indiana Pacers (Lithuania): Though these two will not be playing together during the World Cup, these two big men likely will be starting together for the Pacers this season now that Thad Young and Bojan Bogdanovic left for Chicago and Utah, respectively. Turner is a career 36.3% three-point shooter, though shot a career-high 38.8% last season on a career-high 2.6 attempts per game. Sabonis shoots 34.3% from 3 for his career, but only shoots less than one shot per game for his career. For this duo to work, at least one (maybe both) will have to get comfortable not only making threes but taking a heavy amount of them (I’d bet on Turner becoming that guy). Defensively, Turner is among the best bigs in the league and has/will find himself in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation for years to come. Sabonis is not the most agile big on the perimeter but can hold his ground enough. Last season, Indiana had a +3.4 Net Rating when Turner and Sabonis shared the floor together. Indiana’s defense with those two on the floor would’ve been the best in the NBA. Their offense with those two on the floor… would’ve been the worst in the NBA. The East is up for the taking. Indiana is on the periphery of that conversation behind Milwaukee and Philadelphia (but in it for sure), but could really make things interesting if these two can complement each other more gracefully offensively.

Bogdan Bogdanovic SG Sacramento Kings (Serbia): I’ve already mentioned Serbia can win this World Cup. If they do, not just Jokic, but Bogdan Bogdanovic will play a big part in that. What makes Bogdanovic interesting to watch is he could be auditioning for a future team. Though the NBA salary cap is projected to increase from $109 million to $117 million, Sacramento may have to choose between Bogdanovic and Buddy Hield, both of whom will be restricted free agents next summer in a less than inspiring free-agent class, Anthony Davis aside. Sacramento already has $104.5 million locked up for next year’s team. De’Aaron Fox will extension-eligible next summer and Marvin Bagley III and Harry Giles III the summer after that. Bogdanovic is a better playmaker than Buddy Hield, but Hield is a superior shooter who enjoyed a breakout season last season. Unless Sacramento doesn’t mind paying the luxury tax for a team that isn’t in title contention or they can shed some of the salary they signed this summer, they likely will have to choose between one of these two guards. My guess would be that Sacramento re-signs Hield over Bogdanovic. BB8 (a truly great Star Wars-NBA nickname) is a really good player who can help just about any team. A good showing in China could allow Sacramento to sell high on Bogdanovic between now and the trade deadline.

Josh Okogie SG Minnesota Timberwolves (Nigeria): Josh Okogie burst onto the NBA scene last season for his stout defense, most notably when he engulfed one of James Harden’s signature step-back threes. With defense already a firm part of Okogie’s game, I want to see him improve on his offensive game. While Okogie is not a guard who has the ball in his hands creating offense, it would be nice to see him do a little more of that for his Nigerian National team, though I’m not expecting a lot of that. At the very least, I want to see Okogie shoot well from deep. He shot just 27.9% from deep in his rookie campaign. Playing more off-ball, Okogie has to hone in his catch-and-shoot jump shots from three. On 2.5 catch-and-shoot attempts per game last season, he shot just 29.4% on such shots last season, per NBA.com. If his three-ball improves, Okogie could make Andrew Wiggins all the more expendable and help Minnesota be better than people expect them to be (I personally expect Minnesota to compete for one of the last playoff spots in the West a la New Orleans, Dallas, and Sacramento, among the scrappy young teams in the West). He’s a three-ball away from becoming the epitome of a 3-and-D player the NBA is bending over backward trying to find. Hopefully, we see some glimpses during the World Cup.

Rui Hachimura PF Washington Wizards (Japan): Rui Hachimura was one of the more polarizing non-injured draft prospects in this 2019 class. I personally was not as high on him as Washington apparently was, but, I think he still can be a very good pro. A tighter handle, more comfort from three (he only took 76 threes during his three-year career at Gonzaga), perimeter defense and more comfort making plays for others would go a long way for Rui to add to his scoring ability. He’s *the* guy for the Japanese national team. He’ll get plenty of attention from opposing defenses. I’m really curious to see how he handles it and if he can not only rise above it but make his teammates better because of it. If he doesn’t, that’s not the end of the world either, for him or any other young player in this competition. He’s still super young and a late bloomer as someone who did not play a lot of basketball growing up. But it’s always great to see a progression in a young player’s game.

Boban Marjanovic C Dallas Mavericks (Serbia): Here’s over nine minutes of Boban Marjanovic highlights. Who doesn’t love Boban? Everyone loves Boban. You can never get enough Boban in your life. Never!

Frank Ntilikina PG New York Knicks (France): France has a lot of marquee players playing for its national team, Rudy Gobert and Nicolas Batum chief among them. But perhaps none of them have more to prove than Ntilikina. Frankie Smokes has never been able to find his footing in New York and now doesn’t seem to have a place in New York’s present or future after the acquisitions of Dennis Smith Jr. and Elfrid Payton. Ntilikina could really use a strong showing to make someone believe in him as an NBA guard, whether it is the Knicks or someone else. He *just* turned 21 this July. I think it’s too early to write the book on Ntilikina’s NBA career. Playing well in China would help get his career back on track.

Bruno Caboclo SF Memphis Grizzlies (Brazil): I’m sorry, I can’t get enough of Fran Fraschilla telling us on draft day 2014 that Bruno was ‘two years away from being two years away.’ While Bruno will likely never be the ‘Brazilian Kevin Durant’ he was mythologically prophesized to be, he’s settled himself as the Brazillian Jerami Grant at least! That’s still fun! Bruno has found a home in Memphis. He’s still only 23 years old and shot 36.9% from deep on a career-high 3.8 three-point attempts per game in his 34 games as a Grizzly. He’s still very long and athletic, suited to guard almost every position in today’s position-less NBA. He’s more than just a funny line now. The man can play, as evidenced when he gave the Oklahoma City Thunder a 24 point, 11 rebound double-double performance. He’ll be fun running with Ja Morant in Memphis. He should be fun in China too.

Andrew Nembhard PG Florida Gators (Canada): I highlighted a rookie earlier in Rui Hachimura, now we get our first college prospect. Andrew Nembhard contemplated entering the NBA Draft after his freshman season in Gainesville but elected to come back for his sophomore season. He’s sort of a Fred VanVleet type of guard. He’s not flashy, but he’s solid. Playing well in China could boost his draft stock and lead to big things for what will be a very good Florida team. He’s worth watching.

Isaac Bonga SF/PG Washington Wizards (Germany): Isaac Bonga is a really intriguing prospect. As a Laker fan, I called him ‘Baby Ingram’ because he has long strides and has a pretty good ability to pass and playmake off the dribble. He’s just super raw. He needs as many reps as he can get. Getting reps in this competition will be great for him.

Marcos Louzada-Silva SG New Orleans Pelicans (Brazil): We highlighted Brazilian Jerami Grant in Caboclo already. How about Brazilian Josh Hart? That’s a comparison Marcos Louzada-Silva got coming into the draft before the Pelicans, the team that traded for Josh Hart (an NBA Spider-Man meme!) selected him in the second round of the 2019 Draft. He likely will be stashed overseas for the first year or two of his career. I’m interested to see what he has before he comes into the league.

#FIBA World Cup #Giannis Antetokounmpo #Nikola Jokic #Donovan Mitchell #Kemba Walker #jayson tatum #jaylen brown #marcus smart #myles turner #domantas sabonis #bogdan bogdanovic #josh okogie #rui hachimura #boban marjanovic #frank ntilikina #bruno caboclo #andrew nembhard #isaac bonga #marcos louzada-silva

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tortuga-aak · 7 years ago

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The coach who designed the offense that changed the NBA nearly failed before he started

Business Insider

Ralph Freso/AP

Mike D'Antoni is the architect behind the NBA's most popular style of offense.

D'Antoni's offensive philosophy was developed while playing in Italy, where he became a star after a forgettable NBA career.

D'Antoni has emphasized up-tempo offenses that rely on a heavy dose of three-pointers while playing smaller lineups.

D'Antoni's coaching career has taken many twists and turns, but he's left an undeniable footprint on the NBA.

The lightbulb went on for Mike D'Antoni in his third year coaching Olimpia Milano in the Italian basketball league LBA, though maybe it was always there and he had been ignoring it.

It was 1993 and D'Antoni was coaching "traditionally," as he calls it, but he wasn't getting much out of his team. D'Antoni decided to mix things up.

"I just one day just decided to do it the way I wanted to do it, and be damned the consequences," D'Antoni told Business Insider.

What followed were the seeds of a style of offense that would eventually sweep across the NBA. That year, Olimpia Milano won the FIBA Korac Cup, and D'Antoni's confidence in his preferred style of playing grew.

It was a style that D'Antoni did not invent, but helped popularize — up-tempo, spread-out offense with a reliance on pick-and-rolls and three-pointers that can be seen around the NBA today.

"There aren't many innovators in coaching," Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told Business Insider. "There's usually a few key figures who change the way everybody else thinks ... I think what makes Mike unique is he is one of those innovators."

A forgotten NBA player, an Italian legend, a twice-failed NBA coach, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, and an offensive innovator — all of these things describe D'Antoni.

'One of the lowest points of my life'

D'Antoni grew up in West Virginia and learned basketball under his father, Lewis, a successful high school basketball coach who influenced Mike's basketball philosophies.

After D'Antoni graduated from Marshall University in 1973, he was taken in the second round of the 1973 NBA draft by the Kansas City-Omaha Kings.

His NBA career was brief and forgettable. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard played three seasons with the Kings, never averaging more than the 19 minutes per game he played his rookie year. After one season with the Spirit of St. Louis and one with the San Antonio Spurs, he was cut and suddenly facing a crossroads.

"Probably one of the lowest points of my life," D'Antoni said of being cut. "I was 26 and not knowing whether I should go back to school and do something in the real world or continue playing basketball. You're kinda lost a little bit."

He eventually decided to take an offer to go play for Olimpia Milano in Italy.

"I think he had to," cackled D'Antoni's brother Dan D'Antoni, head coach of Marshall men's basketball and a former NBA assistant coach, to Business Insider. "It was a necessity."

Olimpia Milano TV/YouTube"It was the best decision I ever made," Mike said.

D'Antoni became a star in Italy. Over the course of 13 years, he became the club's all-time leading scorer while leading Milan to five Italian league titles and two FIBA Euroleague titles. Olimpia Milano's website declared him "the greatest point-guard in the Italian basketball history."

After D'Antoni retired in 1990, he became head coach of Milan, leading the way to his offensive revelation.

An offense was born

Dan D'Antoni remembers when his brother began to change how he thought an offense should look. It was around 1979, when the NBA introduced the three-point line, and Mike called Dan on the phone to tell him how the number of threes attempted coincided with where teams finished in the Italian league. He noted that his own team, the league champions, shot and made the most threes.

Mike D'Antoni told his brother, "You might wanna start seeing how valuable that three-point line is."

Here's a simple version of how the D'Antoni offense works: Spread shooters around the floor and run a high pick-and-roll with the point guard and big man. With a 5-on-4 opportunity (with the opposing point guard blocked by the pick), the point guard can shoot, attack the basket, hit his big man rolling to the basket, or kick the ball out to any of his shooters. In almost any variation of the play, somebody is open and defenses are scrambling to recover. And it's even better to play this style at a fast pace.

Dan said this was a popular style in West Virginia growing up, and Don Nelson, the NBA's leader in career coaching wins, was known for running fast, "positionless" offenses.

D'Antoni didn't immediately impact the NBA with his vision. He was hired as head coach of the Denver Nuggets in 1998, but was fired after one season. He said he was still too scared to go against the grain and feared his resume was not strong enough to convince players to ditch normal post-ups and slow pace for three-pointers and fastbreaks.

D'Antoni worked as a scout for the Spurs afterward and later as an assistant for the Portland Trail Blazers. He returned to Europe to coach Benetton Trevisio in 2001-02 and once again found success coaching his style of offense. That success caught the eyes of Phoenix Suns CEO Jerry Colangelo. D'Antoni became head coach of the Suns in 2003-04, replacing fired head coach Frank Johnson and was kept on board for the 2004-05 season.

Seven seconds or less

In the Colangelos, D'Antoni found management that supported his vision. And the key to his vision was the acquisition of All-Star point guard Steve Nash, who gave D'Antoni the engine to his offense. D'Antoni moved Amar'e Stoudemire, an explosive power forward, to center. Around this dynamic pick-and-roll duo, D'Antoni unleashed three sharpshooting, athletic wings, a rare structure at the time.

The run-and-gun Suns went 62-20 during the 2004-05 season as D'Antoni won Coach of the Year and Nash won MVP. The "seven seconds or less" Suns — a term used to describe the pace of their offense — went 170-76 over the next three seasons, with Nash winning a second MVP in 2005-06.

Matt York/AP

"That was, to me, the beginning of the shift in the NBA in terms of how teams were gonna play," said Kerr, who was an advisor with the Suns and became GM in 2007.

"Mike was the first guy to really just downsize and just makes his threes into fours and fours into fives and just not play a traditional center. And as a result, to me, that was the beginning shift that you're seeing now, 13 years later."

Repeated playoff failures, however, wore on the team. Twice they made it to the Western Conference Finals and lost in excruciating fashion. Concerns arose about the Suns' commitment to defense, and the logic of playing smaller and shooting a high number of jump shots was questioned.

In 2008, Kerr, then the general manager, swung a trade for Shaquille O'Neal in an attempt to get bigger, compromising the team's identity.

"In hindsight it was a mistake," Kerr said.

D'Antoni left after the 07-08 season, in which the Suns went 55-27, but lost in the first round to the San Antonio Spurs.

Pit stops in New York and Los Angeles

Stubbornness, ill-equipped rosters, and bad timing plagued D'Antoni in stops with the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers. D'Antoni continued to push his offensive style on rosters that didn't have the make-up of his teams in Phoenix. In New York, he was reunited with Stoudemire, but had a hard time getting Carmelo Anthony to buy in to his vision. In Los Angeles, he was reunited with Nash, but couldn't sell Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol on their roles.

Meanwhile, concerns remained about his style and his commitment to defense.

"Innovators tend to be very headstrong, otherwise they wouldn’t be innovators," said Kerr. "They really believe in something that most other people don’t believe in. I think there’s a psychology to it where the only way to be successful is to be really prideful and persistent on what you’re doing."

Jae C. Hong/APMike called himself spiritually richer for the experiences in New York and LA, but one gets the sense he remains resolute in his ways.

"I mean, there's always things you'd do differently," he said, but added there's no proof that playing differently would have changed the outcomes in New York and Los Angeles — just two playoff berths over six years.

However, Mike also understood the hesitancy of some star players to buy into his scheme.

"Some years you're paying players $20, $30 million and then you [tell] them, 'Well what you were doing to earn all that money is completely gone.' That’s tough," D'Antoni said, laughing. "So, if they don’t have the inclination that makes it tough."

After D'Antoni resigned as Lakers head coach in 2014 following a franchise-worst 27-55 season, doubts about him as a coach were stronger than ever. Perhaps his success in Phoenix had been unique to that team.

The Warriors revolution

"Thank goodness for Golden State," D'Antoni says now.

In 2014, D'Antoni was away from the NBA for the first time in years. He had returned to West Virginia and spent his days golfing, reading, and hanging out with his dad and his family. At night, however, he couldn't help turning on the TV to watch a dynamo that looked awfully familiar, run by a former colleague.

The Kerr-led Warriors were like D'Antoni's Suns — on steroids. Stephen Curry was in the Steve Nash role, but was quicker and more deadly of a shooter. The Warriors pushed the pace and spread the floor with shooters, cutters, and defenders in Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, and Andre Iguodala. And more importantly, they had playmaking and defensive big men in Draymond Green and Andrew Bogut, something D'Antoni never had much of in Phoenix. The Warriors played like a souped-up Suns, and D'Antoni loved it. He found joy in the Warriors winning the 2014-15 championship.

"I think the biggest thing was when Steve and [the Warriors] won the championship," Dan D'Antoni said of his brother. "He relaxed. He goes, 'My point has been made. I didn’t make it, but somebody else made it.'"

Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

Kerr disputes how similar the two systems really are. D'Antoni offenses focus heavily on high pick-and-rolls, and the best player controls the ball, picking out teammates like a quarterback finding receivers. Kerr's Warriors actually run some of the fewest pick-and-rolls in the league, and Curry, despite being the engine of the offense, spends a great deal of time off the ball.

"I think our philosophy of pace and three-point shooting was something that I definitely agreed with and Mike had sort of set the tone in terms of the way he was playing with his teams," Kerr said, adding, "We took elements of Mike's offense and implemented those elements into a bigger system that was more our own."

A Rockets renaissance

D'Antoni made his return to the NBA in 2016 as head coach of the Houston Rockets. In Houston GM Daryl Morey, D'Antoni found a kindred spirit. Morey's basketball philosophy is analytically driven — three-pointers, layups, and free throws are basketball's most efficient shots. Throw out midrange jumpers, deep twos, and post-ups; there are better shots to be taken. The two systems align.

In Rockets guard James Harden, D'Antoni had a new Nash in-waiting. D'Antoni thought he could tweak Harden's playing style, and he was right. He unleashed Harden at point guard in 2016-17, and the results were immediate: the Rockets won 55 games and made the semifinals. Harden, meanwhile, had a career year and finished second in MVP voting.

In the offseason, the Rockets took it a step further, adding Chris Paul to the back-court after a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. This season, D'Antoni is facing a somewhat familiar challenge — blending in two ball-dominant stars whose games may not necessarily complement each other.

D'Antoni's approach for blending Paul and Harden could be seen as a sign of growth. Paul has historically been a slow-it-down guard who prods the defense and dictates the offense. His game is more midrange heavy than typical D'Antoni player.

"You gotta be Chris Paul," D'Antoni said of his approach to coaching Paul. "I can't just say I wanna take a Hall of Fame point guard and make him into something else."

Chuck Burton/AP

D'Antoni's offense still has some doubters, but turn on an NBA game on any given night and his influence can be seen. Teams across the league have downsized and turned away from traditional big men, preferring the spacing and quickness smaller players provide. Call it "The Warriors effect," but it wouldn't have been possible without D'Antoni.

D'Antoni still thinks there's room for his offensive approach to grow. Players can now play even faster, he said, because the science around health has improved. His Rockets team frequently takes three-pointers well beyond the three-point line because it spreads the floor even more — he thinks there's room to keep pushing that, too.

He doesn't know who or what will be the next innovation in the NBA. But eventually, someone will come along and change the league, just as he did in 2004.

A telling sign about the D'Antoni impact on the game — the 2004-05 Suns led the league in pace. Today, at that same pace, they would rank 22nd in the NBA.

"In another ten years, we won't even be on the same page," D'Antoni said.

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newstwitter-blog · 8 years ago

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New Post has been published on News Twitter

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Huffington Post: These Are The Top 25 Freshmen Of Men's College Basketball

The 2017 freshmen class is once again brimming with potential, perhaps even more than last year. Duke, for example, has a wealth of talent: Power forward Harry Giles, while small forward Jayson Tatum and combo guard Frank Jackson have also flashed tremendous ability, albeit not in consistent doses.

John Calipari’s quartet of ESPN Top 100 recruits in Lexington isn’t too shabby either. Malik Monk stole all the headlines when he dropped a school-record 47 points ― including the eventual game-winning triple ― against highly touted North Carolina in Las Vegas. But his backcourt mate, De’Aaron Fox, is a lightning quick point guard with splendid creative abilities and exceptional on-ball defensive characteristics.

Maybe the best freshman of all, however, is Washington’s Markelle Fultz, an enticing playmaker with few flaws. The 6-foot-4 guard hailing from the basketball-rich Washington, D.C., area averages over 23 points per game, which ranks sixth in the country. And he could very well be the No. 1 pick in June, should he turn pro.

With that in mind, here are my top 25 freshmen ― not ranked in order ― for this college hoops season.

All stats are through Feb. 8.

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Fultz is the biggest recruit in Washington history, and that includes decorated names like Brandon Roy, Nate Robinson and Spencer Hawes. Lorenzo Romar’s club isn’t particularly good elsewhere, which gives the 6-foot-4 Fultz a real opportunity to display his array of skills. A highly fluid scorer without any real weaknesses — he hails from the basketball hotbed of Upper Marlboro, MD — Fultz is terrific in pick-and-roll and with the tricky in-between game. He can really shoot it as well, a huge plus for a young guard who already has the ball skills to be immediately effective as a pro. Fultz’s 23.2 points per game slot him sixth in the country.

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Jackson was widely regarded as the top prospect in his class and you can’t help but draw comparisons with him and former Jayhawk Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, was probably a better shooter at this point, but Jackson displays similar athletic traits, along with the ability to drive the basketball and lock down three positions. He is the type of player every NBA team covets — a lockdown defender who can get to the rim whenever he wants. And Jackson can pass, too: He averaged over six assists as a high school senior and has flashed his passing prowess in Lawrence as well. Plus, he has excelled playing the four spot for Bill Self.

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Ball dazzles with the rare ability to control a game without scoring. He is likened to former UCLA star point guard Russell Westbrook. Lofty expectations come with being the Gatorade High School Player of the Year. At 6-foot-5, Ball is a slashing playmaker who excels in transition. As he continually develops in pick-and-roll and further masters the tempo at this level, he will have a chance to exceed to the expectations bestowed upon him by bringing a national championship back to Westwood for the first time in over two decades. His 7.8 assists per game rank second in the country.

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Leaf may not have been as heralded as Ball, but he’s arguably been even more important. The former Arizona commit was the 13th rated player in ESPN’s Top 100, and he’s burst onto the scene for Steve Alford. His all-around game at 6-foot-9 is complemented by a fluidness we rarely see with young bigs. He is fantastic as both a face-up scorer and passer. And he had one NBA head coach gushing to me over his offensive prowess. Leaf leads the Bruins in both scoring and rebounding (17 and 9), as well as 3-point percentage (47 percent).

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Standing nearly 6-foot-11 and somewhere between 222 and 235 pounds, Giles reminds us of Chris Webber. Add in a 7-foot-3 wingspan and a maximum standing reach an inch taller than Anthony Davis, Giles has the body to play either position on the front line. He tore his MCL and meniscus in his left knee, and he’s torn the ACL in both knees — all before turning 18. So don’t let his limited sample size fool you. The returns on Giles will come.

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Tatum has emerged as a top-notch offensive weapon for Duke. At 6-foot-8, he can post up, as well as face up out to the 3-point line. His ability to handle the ball is a huge bonus as well. While Tatum isn’t a special athlete nor a great finisher at the rim yet, his immense skill stands out. He is a typical new age NBA wing.

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Jackson is a combo guard and one of the main reasons Duke will contend for a sixth title under Mike K. Similar to teammate Grayson Allen — the Wooden Award favorite — Jackson can fill it up from deep, while attacking the paint and using his elite leaping ability to finish among the trees. Remember, “Frank from Utah” was named the McDonald’s All-American game MVP and the dunk contest champion as well.

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Smith’s smooth handle and creativity is sensational. He was a great get for NC State head coach Mark Gottfried. Not only did he replace an NBA caliber point guard in Cat Barber, but he entered Raleigh amid ACC Player of the Year expectations. A downhill player with elite quickness, Smith impresses with his finishing and passing ability, as well as an eagerness to compete defensively. Averaging nearly 19 points and 7 assists, he is likely to eclipse 200 free-throws as well. With respect to Kansas’ Frank Mason III, here isn’t a more all-around guard — regardless of class — in America.

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Alkins hails from basketball-rich Brooklyn and is a pure power guard (think Lance Stephenson). At 6-foot-5, he attacks with ease, flashing tremendous scoring ability. Alkins would be well served to become a more consistent perimeter shooter to complement his driving, but there is no question that his blend of size, dynamic ability and defensive prowess will take him to the next level.

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Simmons is a dynamic scorer and not much more at this point, but that’s OK. The Atlanta native possesses the prototypical size at 6-foot-4 for a lead guard. He must add weight to a lean frame for the next level, but Simmons has assumed most of the playmaking responsibilities of formerly suspended guard Allonzo Trier. He’s not a great pick-and-roll operator yet, but Trier’s ability to get into the paint is undoubtedly impressive.

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Markkanen is a wonderfully skilled, classic new-age NBA big who can spread the floor as a shooter. Don’t let his shooting overshadow his interior game, though. The 7-foot Finnish product is constantly mixing it up in the paint, while showing the capacity to score with either hand as well. He is deft out of the pick-and-roll as well.

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Monk, an Arkansas product, is one of the most ready NBA guards to play for John Calipari. The comparison I would make is former Temple product and NBA All-Star Eddie Jones. Monk is 6-foot-3, so he’s not as big. But he’s a rangy athlete with unlimited shooting range. Monk is decent enough in the pick-and-roll, as well as in isolation opportunities and clearly relishes primetime: He lit up North Carolina for a school-record 47 points, including the game-winning triple. If he can become a more versatile playmaker for others, that would be the icing on the cake to this exciting young talent.

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Gabriel is Calipari’s junkyard dog. He can defend and finish in the paint, but isn’t asked to do much more. At 6-foot-9, though, Gabriel’s length and athleticism make him a highly intriguing NBA prospect, especially if he stays in school another year or two to further his offensive game.

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The fastest guard in America — and it’s not even close. Fox, who is 6-foot-3, runs the show for John Calipari and Kentucky. Calipari has called this maybe his quickest backcourt ever — or at least since the John Wall/Eric Bledsoe combination. The dynamic Fox is most lethal in the open floor and is an effective isolation player. He is a total non-shooter at this point in his career (has only attempted 31 3s) and that’s OK. The lefty more than makes up for it with his passing (5 assists) and ability to finish (16 points per game).

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The 6-foot-10 Adebayo is a physical specimen who also happens to play with a relentless motor. Like Bismack Biyombo, but maybe with more offensive upside. Adebayo is a potentially dominant rebounder and defender with a decent enough touch around the rim to get double digit points as well.

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Bridges is the most explosive dunker Tom Izzo has had since Jason Richardson, and he might be the most exciting prospect as well. The Flint native — Izzo’s favorite — can score in a variety of ways, using his powerful frame and athleticism to get back to his left hand. He has enjoyed an exceptional freshman campaign — averaging 16 points and 8 rebounds — despite an uncharacteristically subpar Spartans team.

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The McDonald’s All-American has flashed for the Heels, but hasn’t dominated. An excellent rebounder (about 15 per 40 minutes), the 6-foot-10 Bradley is a fluid young four man with a decent set of skills. His mobility and length (7-foot-4 wingspan) are very hard to ignore.

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Allen, who hails from Austin, has a deft shooting touch in the paint and displays good dexterity for a 6-foot-11 freshman. While he must improve his toughness, he isn’t soft — just really young. The upside isn’t as high as his peers on the list, but he will play in the NBA for a long time.

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Isaac, a Florida native, is an impressive talent who impacts the game in a variety of ways. He can score when needed, but his rebounding (8 per game) is more noticeable, as is a tireless motor to lock down his man. At 6-foot-11, he is a natural small forward, with the potential to guard three or even four positions.

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Moore was an ESPN Top 100 guy and has quietly become one of the most underrated guards in the Pac-12. He can really shoot it (40 percent 3s) and is an explosive scorer who can get his in bunches. The challenge for the 5-foot-11 Chicago product is simply to become a more harassing defender and more consistent offensive weapon.

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Collins, the 6-foot-10 freshman from Las Vegas, has quickly become a terrific weapon for Mark Few. He converts an incredible 66 percent of his field goals — though most are in the paint — and displays a capable shooting touch out to 15 feet. Collins is a big reason why the Zags have achieved the best start in school history, along with a No. 1 ranking.

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Creighton continues to pile up wins, in large part to Patton, the local product out of Omaha. At 6-foot-11, Patton is a really big kid and surprisingly nimble athlete. His 18-point (9-12 shooting), 8-rebound, 2-block effort against previously undefeated and No. 1 Villanova proved he doesn’t mind the big stage either. He knows what to do with the ball on the block and, like North Carolina’s Tony Bradley, runs the floor extremely well.

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Williams is oozing with potential. At 6-foot-9 with an insane 7-foot-4 wingspan, he plays really big. From a defensive standpoint, he is a natural shot-blocker with impeccable timing. Offensively, he understands spacing well and likes to post up on both blocks. He can shoot it as well.

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Heron — ESPN’s 25th rated player in his class — was a big fish to land for third-year head coach Bruce Pearl. And he’s yet to disappoint. After averaging 30 points per game in high school, the powerfully built 6-foot-4 Heron has averaged over 16 points per game on 40 percent 3-point shooting for the Tigers. Plus, he is an outstanding guard rebounder (5.7 per game).

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LoVett is a better version of fellow freshman standout guard Shamorie Ponds. Firstly, he possesses a prodigious ability to score the ball (17 per game). He’s constantly probing the lane, using his terrific handle and first step to attack gaps and straight-line drive. What is most impressive about the Indiana native is his efficiency: LoVett converts 48 percent from the floor and 41 percent from 3, both sensational numbers.

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