2018 NBA Draft Recap

June 22, 2018June 22, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

Draft night, in any sport, is a special time….

Everyone becomes an expert for a day. Thursday night’s NBA Draft was no different.

Before these prospects ever step foot on an NBA court, “experts” think they know (definitively) who will be a bust,or a superstar.

They don’t know. I don’t either, but I’m going to give you my best (educated) guess.

To see the entire draft results, click here.

Deandre Ayton was selected with the #1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. Considering Ayton was an Arizona Wildcat, this should be a seamless transition. Ayton can be summed up in two words; physical specimen.

At 7’0″, 261 pounds, Ayton should contribute at the NBA level immediately. While I like Ayton’s game, I believe the Sacramento Kings were gifted the best player in the draft.

Marvin Bagley III. What experts call unpolished, I call raw talent. Bagley’s game fits the NBA perfectly. He is a skilled scorer and rebounder with a high motor. His energy level, and ability to outwork opposing big men, will lead to a long, successful career in the NBA. The Phoenix Suns may regret passing on Bagley.

The Dallas Mavericks must love them some Luka Doncic. They traded the rights to Trae Young, and their 2019 protected (top-five) 1st round pick, for Doncic. I don’t care who you are, international players are a complete mystery. The track record of players from other countries is less than stellar, and all of the tape in the world can’t paint the whole picture. The NBA and international games differ so greatly, international stars either excel right away, or crash and burn.

There’s no in between.

By the way, Trae Young will be the biggest BUST in this draft!!

The New York Knickerbockers

Por fin, I am NOT mad about a Knicks’ 1st round pick; Kevin Knox. While I believe Collin Sexton is a star in the making, the Knicks couldn’t pick a player who wasn’t available (Sexton went 8th to the Cleveland Cavaliers). The Knicks’ only other option was to choose Mr. injury-in-waiting, Michael Porter Jr. The Knicks, as well as 12 other teams, felt Porter Jr.’s injury was too risky to gamble on, as he fell to the 14th pick (Denver Nuggets).

The question is: Will Michael Porter Jr. be the next Joel Embiid, or Greg Oden??

You know where the comment section is. USE IT!!!!

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2018 Basketball Hall of Fame Class

April 5, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

Greatness. Sustained excellence. A career of incredible achievements. The 13 newest members of the Basketball Hall of Fame share this common thread. The 2018 Hall of Fame Class is highlighted by:

Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Ray Allen, and Grant Hill

The other inductees include:

Maurice Cheeks, Tina Thompson, Lefty Driesell, Charlie Scott, Rick Welts, Rod Thorn, Dino Radja, Katie Smith, and Ora Mae Washington

Jason Kidd (1994-2013)

Jason Kidd was a walking triple-double. He is currently 3rd on the all-time triple-double list (107), behind Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson. Playing for the Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets, Phoenix Suns, and New York Knicks during his career, Kidd won one NBA Championship (2011; Dallas Mavericks).

Steve Nash (1996-2014)

Steve Nash, like Jason Kidd, is a top-10 point guard of all-time. Winning back-to-back MVPs in 2005 and 2006, the only thing missing from Nash’s resume is an NBA Championship. Nash averaged double-digit assists seven times during his career and is regarded as one of the best shooters the game has ever seen. He ranks 9th all-time on the 3-point % leaderboard (42.78%), and 1st all-time on the free throw % leaderboard (90.43%).

Grant Hill (1994-2013)

Grant Hill was LeBron James before LeBron James. Through Hill’s first six seasons in the NBA (with the Detroit Pistons), Hill averaged 21.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.6 steals. And then, injuries took over. Hill would play just 47 games combined over the next three seasons. While he had a nice resurgence later in his career, and played until he was 40 years old, I’m not convinced he deserves to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Ray Allen (1996-2014)

Ray Allen played an integral part in multiple championships, in multiple cities. First with the Boston Celtics. And later with the Miami Heat. Regarded as one of the best shooters of all-time, Ray Allen hit big 3-pointer after big 3-pointer throughout his career. Nobody was more active in trying to find an open shot. Memories of Allen running off screen after screen for an open shot continue playing in my head. Allen also ranks 7th all-time on the free throw leaderboard (89.39%).

The official induction ceremony will take place on September 7th, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Do you think the NBA Hall of Fame got it right?? Tell me in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:10 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

The NBA Has Multiple Personalities

January 23, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

Monday had it all.

The good. The bad. And the ugly.

An NBA season is often filled with more storylines than your Grandma’s soap opera. And this year, is no different. Monday exposed the many faces of the NBA.

The Good

Demarcus Cousins accomplished something that hasn’t been done since 1972. Just 46 years ago, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar posted a game with at least 40 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists. “Boogie” followed in “Cap’s” footsteps Monday night, posting 44 points, 24 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block.

What was the most impressive part?? Cousins’ historic performance fueled an epic comeback late in the 4th quarter — duh! With just 5:06 remaining in the game, the New Orleans Pelicans trailed the Chicago Bulls by 17 points. Cousins scored 9 of the Pelicans’ final 23 points, forcing overtime (114-114). Oh yeah, Anthony Davis fouled out in the 1st overtime, so Cousins singlehandedly won this game. Cousins went on to score 7 of their 10 points in double overtime, sealing a 132-128 victory over the Bulls.

The Bad

75. 75 points. It’s hard to score 75 points in an NBA game. But the Washington Wizards figured out a way. The Wizards (26-21), currently the 5-seed in the Eastern Conference, fell to the lowly Dallas Mavericks Monday night, 98-75. The Mavericks hold the 2nd worst record in the Western Conference (16-31).

Believe it or not, 75 points is not a season-low for the Wizards. They scored just 69 points against the Utah Jazz last month. As for Monday, the Wizards had just 2 players in double figures (Beal 18, Wall 11). You may want to shield your eyes before I rattle off their horrid shooting stats:

They shot 30.6% from the field, 21.9% from 3-point range, and 59.3% from the free throw line. Yikes!!

The Ugly

Do you know what you shouldn’t do?? You shouldn’t fire the head coach your superstar player really likes. At the very least, you should consult your franchise building block before making a major decision. The Milwaukee Bucks circumvented that conversation with Giannis Antetokounmpo and fired head coach, Jason Kidd, Monday. I’m not saying Kidd didn’t deserve to be fired. I’m not saying Kidd was doing a great job. But, I know Antetokounmpo liked Jason Kidd — a lot.

Upon hearing the Bucks were going to fire his head coach, Antetokounmpo called Kidd. Antetokounmpo simply asked, “What can I do? I’ll call the owners. I’ll call my agent.”

That doesn’t sound like a player who’s on board with his organization’s decision.

I’m not one to pander to a superstar’s every whim, but keep my 23-year old, superstar, top-10 player happy would top my to-do-list. I’m just sayin’.

Is Demarcus Cousins’ performance the best of the year?? Why was Jason Kidd fired?? Post your thoughts in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports .

The “Zen Master” Strikes Again

June 26, 2014June 26, 2014 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

Wednesday afternoon, the “Zen Master” showed us once again why he earned such a prestigious nickname. Don’t know what I’m talking about? That’s okay, I’m going to fill you in. Who needs ESPN when you have DaveTalksSports right?? Phil Jackson made a splash yesterday by making his first trade as New York Knickerbockers President. You would be hard pressed to find some one with a brain to tell you this was a bad deal for the Knicks. The Knicks will be shipping Tyson Chandler back to the Dallas Mavericks along with Raymond Felton for Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert, Shane Larkin, Wayne Ellington, and 2 2nd round picks (34th and 51st) in tonight’s draft.

For starters, I can’t believe the Knicks were able to offload Raymond Felton (Hey Ray, don’t forget to register those guns in Texas…..oh what it’s Texas, never mind). The Knicks get a definitive upgrade at the point guard position in acquiring Calderon. Calderon is going to do exactly what a “true” point guard is supposed to do. He is going to manage the floor, limit turnovers, knock down the open 3-pointer (which he showed he can certainly do), and most importantly keep the ball out of Carmelo Anthony’s hands (assuming Melo is still on the Knicks next season). The other thing that most people probably don’t realize is that Calderon is one of the best free throw shooters in the NBA. Now, you’re probably saying that’s not a big deal, but when you think about it, clutch free throw shooting is often the difference between winning and losing. The Knicks do commit to Calderon for 3 years seeing as he is under contract, but this is the type of point guard Phil Jackson wants in his “Triangle” system anyway, thus making the $8 million per year easier to swallow. The Knicks do take an obvious downgrade at the center position by bringing in Dalembert, but he can play some semblance of defense and give you 8 points and 8 rebounds on a consistent basis. And most importantly, he is an expiring contract. Even if Tyson Chandler goes back to Dallas and returns to his 2011 form, the Knicks still cleared his $15 million from the salary cap. As for Larkin and Ellington, these are 2 young players that could turn in to solid role players. They are in the wait and see category, which is exactly what this Knicks franchise NEEDS!! Rebuilding while also having a solid foundation if Melo comes back?!?! Who could have thunk up that genius idea?

Now that Phil Jackson has gotten his feet wet, I am excited to see what he does with his 2 draft picks this evening. This is easily the best part of this trade by the way. No, it’s not that the Knicks are going to find the next Michael Jordan with the 34th or 51st pick, but it is the concept of draft picks that I love. That sounds silly to say, but if you are a Knicks fan then you know EXACTLY what I mean. I am also intrigued to see how many more tricks Phil has up his sleeve. I wouldn’t be surprised if he finds a team with plenty of salary cap space to take on Amar’e Stoudemire or Andrea Bargnani a year earlier than anticipated. This would give Phil immediate flexibility to chase free agents. I think the moral of the story is: Never Doubt The “Zen Master”.

If you enjoy my writing, follow me over to intheneutralzone.com where I am a contributing author there as well. Also you can follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like me on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!

NBA Playoffs to be Overshadowed No Longer

April 30, 2014April 30, 2014 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

So far, the 2014 NBA Playoffs have been nothing short of spectacular. There have been 8 overtime games (including 4 in a row in the Memphis Grizzlies/Oklahoma City Thunder Series), and we still haven’t gotten out of the 1st round. More importantly, The Los Angeles Clippers and their fans showed up for Game 5 last night in L.A. and showed their support for the team. The Clippers held off the Golden State Warriors, winning the game 113-103 and now have a 3 games to 2 lead in this best of 7 series. As I mentioned earlier, The Grizzlies and Thunder did what they do, and played a 4th consecutive overtime game. The Grizzlies eked out a 100-99 victory over The Thunder to take a 3 games to 2 lead in that series as well. Another series concluded last night with The Washington Wizards defeating The Chicago Bulls and advancing to their first 2nd round appearance since 2005. Behind the youth of John Wall and Bradley Beal and the leadership of Nene, the Wizards will look to continue their run through the playoffs against the winner of the Atlanta Hawks/Indiana Pacers series. Side note: Roy Hibbert, why are you terrible at basketball? Anyway, outside of the Wizards series and the Miami Heat/Charlotte Bobcats series (that has been over for some time now), every other series has been ultra competitive and every game has been fun to watch. The biggest surprise of the 1st round has to be The Dallas Mavericks hanging in there with the battled tested San Antonio Spurs. And even though there have been 8 overtime games, I personally believe the best game so far has come from that series as well. Vince Carter’s buzzer-beater in Game 3 on Saturday was just the icing on the cake of an exhilarating final minutes of a great basketball game. In the final Minute and forty-six seconds The Mavericks and Spurs went a combined 7 for 8 from the field. Monta Ellis put forth an outstanding effort (scoring 29 points on 12-22 shooting), singlehandedly keeping his team in the game. And despite Manu Ginobli and Boris Diaw’s best efforts, Vince Carter put the nail in the coffin of Game 3 with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the corner. This series is now tied 2-2, and Game 5 will be played tonight in San Antonio.

Another important news story that has been completely overshadowed thanks to Donald Sterling, is the passing of Dr. Jack Ramsay. It’s a shame that a story as pathetic as Donald Sterling’s can overshadow the remembrance of one of the greatest NBA coaches of all-time. But, let’s see if we can pay the proper respects to a man who was so vital to the progress of the NBA. Dr. Jack Ramsay coached in the NBA for 20 years, and is currently 13th on the all-time wins list. He won an NBA Championship in 1967 as the General Manager of the Philadelphia 76ers and also won a Championship in 1977 as the Coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. After retiring from coaching in 1988, Ramsay got into Broadcasting where he did play-by-play for The Philadelphia 76ers and The Miami Heat for 9 years. Ramsay was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992 capping off a truly memorable career.

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