“You Blew IT!!!!”

May 23, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

The NBA is stupid.

How can you win by 41 points on Sunday, and lose by 3 points on Tuesday?! The answer SHOULD be, you can’t.

Warriors Collapse

Game four of the Western Conference Finals was played Tuesday night. With a 2-1 lead, the Golden State Warriors, at home, were looking to secure a commanding series lead. After jumping out to a 12-0 lead nearly halfway through the 1st quarter, that looked like a certainty. If only the Warriors knew the NBA gods were about to stuff them into a locker.

Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson collectively went ice cold. They shot a combined 23-for-63 from the field. That’s 36.5%. That’s not good.

Despite their lackluster performance, they returned to Warrior form, if only for 12 minutes. They scored 34 points in the 3rd quarter. Like I told you Monday, the Warriors should ©, ®, or ™ the 3rd quarter. However, when you score 30 points in the 2nd and 4th quarters combined, you don’t often win basketball games. 95-92, not Golden State.

Game five will be played in Houston on Thursday @ 9:00 P.M. EST on TNT. Expect a bounce back performance from Golden State.

Matt Harvey Sucks A Little Bit Less Than He Used To

Matt Harvey landed in the win column Tuesday.

Allow me to repeat myself: Matt Harvey landed in the WIN column Tuesday!!

This is the part when Mets fans throw things at their wall. Now, I know it’s been just three games, but Matt Harvey, all of a sudden, resembles a Major League pitcher….

(Insert Mets’ Fan Screaming Sound Here).

In eight appearances with the Mets, Harvey surrendered 21 runs in 27 innings.

In three appearances with the Reds, 4 runs in 14 innings.

Hmmmmm, very interesting.

Don’t get me wrong, Harvey’s not going to turn back into an ace, but his e.r.a. has dropped from 7.00 to 5.49 in just three starts. I’m just sayin’….this is the METS’ WAY.

But hey, at least they signed Jose Bautista….

Christian Hackenberg

From the Mets’ way to the Jets’ way.

Christian Hackenberg was drafted in the 2nd round (51st overall pick) out of Penn State in 2016. The Jets hoped Hackenberg could turn into a future star at the QB position. However, he never saw the field. This draft pick is an epic failure in the long list of epic failures for the New York Jets.

And now, Hackenberg has been shipped off to Oakland to compete for the backup QB job with the Raiders. Only the Jets know how to turn a 2nd round draft pick into a 7th round draft pick in two years.

Don’t make fun. That’s not easy to do.

How many games will it take the Warriors to win this series?? Do the Mets care about winning — at all?! Spill your guts in the comment section below.

You can find me on the Radio as well. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’m on live, every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. Each show is also broadcast on Facebook Live via: http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports.

Since you LOVE 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 OF YOUR FRIENDS!!

If You Were Looking For Close Games, You Came to The Wrong Place

May 21, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

It was only a matter of time.

Stephen Curry, with his three by his side, would not be held down forever.

LeBron James, and losing streaks, don’t often collide in the same sentence.

The Conference Finals are slowly, but surely, taking form. And soon (but not too soon), LeBrons Vs. Warriors Part IV will hit the big screen.

Well, that was close….

If you’re a Houston Rockets fan, and you turned off game three early, you didn’t miss much. There was no effort. No energy. No EPIC comeback. Instead, a 41-point drubbing.

Steph Curry led the way with 35 points, hitting 5-of-12 three pointers. After combining for 34 points, on 3-of-12 from three in games one and two, Curry found himself. His 18-point, 3rd quarter outburst reminded the world the Warriors have ownership rights over the 3rd quarter. If they were smart, they’d ©,®, or ™ the 3rd quarter.

Speaking of numbers:

41, 20, 16, 2

The Warriors, 41-point victory, 126-85, marked the largest playoff victory in Warriors’ franchise history.

Kevin Durant dropped 25 points Sunday, bringing his consecutive 20-point playoff game streak to 20.

Sunday’s victory was the Warriors’ 16th consecutive home, playoff win, breaking the Chicago Bulls (’90-’91) record.

And 2. The Warriors are just 2 victories away from their 4th consecutive NBA Finals.

Remember when you thought the Rockets had a chance in this series?! Silly you….

LeBron Brings Fanatics Down From The Ledge

LeBron James doesn’t lose three games in a row very often — especially in the Conference Finals.

Game three of the Eastern Conference Finals was played Saturday, after an inexplicable three consecutive days off. This was one of the more predictable outcomes in NBA Playoffs history. Anyone who thought the Boston Celtics were going to march into LeBron’s house, after three days off, and back LeBron into a corner, were sorely mistaken. Or they were really high on drugs. Either way.

The Cleveland LeBron’s handled their business, putting a 30-point whoopin’ on the Celtics, 116-86. There was a LeBron teammate sighting (extremely rare), as five other LeBrons put up double digits.

If only LeBron’s teammates were consistent. Think of the possibilities.

LeBron’s work isn’t done. Tuesday night he’ll even up the series at two. Somewhere in the 2nd half the momentum will shift, and the young Celtics will realize taking down LeBron isn’t as easy as it seemed.

How many games will it take for LeBron to win this series?? Will the Rockets win another game?? Post your predictions in the comment section below.

You Can’t Fix Stupid!!

May 18, 2018May 18, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

There’s a lot of STUPID running around.

It’s a good thing it’s not contagious….

Or is it?!

NBA Playoffs Schedule

This one makes my brain hurt.

The NBA Playoffs are in full swing. The Boston Celtics lead the Cleveland LeBrons 2-0, while the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets are tied 1-1. While both series’ required a travel day after game two, Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, I didn’t realize they needed THREE TRAVEL DAYS!!!!

What are they doing, walking from Cleveland and Boston?!?!

That’s right, game two of the Celtics/LeBrons’ series was Tuesday. Game three is Saturday. The Warriors/Rockets’ series will follow suit, turning Wednesday into Sunday. Listen, I get it. The NBA Finals is a pre-determined date, so they want to spread out their off days rather than get stuck with a full week of radio silence. This also begs the question: Why MUST the NBA Finals be a pre-determined date??

If only there were simple solutions to simple problems….

Mets 9th Inning Delay

Common sense is rare nowadays.

The New York Mets hosted the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday afternoon despite steady rainfall — all game. MLB and the Umpire’s crew determined the conditions were playable.

This game shouldn’t have been played.

If player safety was an actual concern, MLB would have postponed this game along with the 1,900 other games that have been affected by weather conditions this season.

Fast forward to the 3rd inning. Zach Wheeler’s bat slipped out of his hands, traveling a healthy distance toward 1st base. The umpires then asked the grounds crew to spread a drying agent on the field, causing a 15-minute delay.

Hit the fast forward button again. We arrive at the bottom of the 9th inning, with two outs, and the Mets trailing 12-0. The umpires decide this was the RIGHT time for the grounds crew to spread more drying agent on the field!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! In a 12-run game, and one out to go, why would anyone in their right mind think a 5-minute delay, to keep the players “safe”, is a good idea?!

You can’t make this stuff up.

Cleveland Browns Being Featured On Hard Knocks

The Cleveland Browns are the epitome of failure. They didn’t win a single game this past season. And only won one game the season before. Free agents don’t want to play for the Browns. Coaches don’t want to coach the Browns. And fans don’t want to watch the Browns. So, who was the genius who thought featuring the Cleveland Browns on HBO’s Hard Knocks would be a good idea?!?! I thought HBO was in the money making business….

I am NOT tuning in to HBO to watch the Cleveland Browns’ training camp. Yeah, maybe 15 people will tune in to watch Baker Mayfield, but the other 327,875,985 people in the United States will opt for a Netflix show, or golf, or watching paint dry. Because anything is better, for entertainment value, and your health, than watching the Cleveland Browns “play” football.

Dez Bryant Saying No To Money

Dez Bryant is an idiot.

After being cut by the Dallas Cowboys for sucking, Dez Bryant is unemployed. Bryant, once one of the most promising young wide receivers in the NFL, has wildly underperformed over the past three seasons. At just 29 years old, a one-year, single-digit contract would seem to be in his near future. However, he’s not smart enough to understand that.

I wonder what it’s like to look in the mirror and see platinum and gold, when reality is showing you sterling silver.

The only team to offer Bryant a contract is the Baltimore Ravens. The details of the offer haven’t been publicized, however, Bryant turned it down. Seeing as Bryant is known for his poor attitude, and his play has greatly diminished, his thought process is baffling.

NFL teams will put up with bad attitudes, and off the field troubles, IF the production on the field is there, but without the latter, Bryant may remain unemployed longer than expected.

Post something stupid in the comment section below.

Doing The Same Thing Every Single Year Is Not Boring In Any Way, Shape, Or Form

May 11, 2018May 11, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

The time has come!!

Not just for Mother’s Day, and my wife’s birthday (May 14th), and my birthday (May 14th), and my dad’s birthday (May 14th)….but for the NBA’s Conference Finals.

It’s an exciting time to be alive!!

The question, we already know the answer to, is who will advance to the NBA Finals??

East – (4) Cleveland LeBrons (Cavaliers) vs. (2) Boston Celtics

West – (2) Golden State Warriors vs. (1) Houston Rockets

LeBron

Sunday, at 3:30 P.M. EST, the Eastern Conference Finals will tip-off with the Cleveland LeBrons taking on the Boston Celtics. No need to rack your brain, this is a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. The LeBrons are currently heavy favorites to win the series (-285), and one-point favorites in Game One, on the road.

Listen, the Celtics young core is playing GREAT. But, as long as LeBron is playing at this level (no matter how bad his supporting cast is), he’ll continue to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. Like him, love him, or hate him, you have to respect his game and understand he’s the best basketball player the world has seen since Michael Jordan.

The Dynasty

The Golden State Warriors aren’t just the best team in the NBA right now, they’re the best team the NBA has seen in 20 years:

Late 90’s Bulls

Early 90’s Bulls

Showtime Lakers

Bird’s Celtics

Bill Russell’s Celtics

In no order, that’s the level we’re talking about.

This Warriors team is four victories away from playing in their fourth consecutive finals. And they’re just eight victories away from their third championship in four years. Since Kevin Durant joined the Warriors, they’ve lost just three playoff games. Don’t expect many more anytime soon.

James Harden has had a great season. He led the NBA in scoring (30.4 ppg), led his team to the best record in the league (65-17), and is about to win the MVP Award, however, allllll those accomplishments will be for naught. The only thing that matters, besides $$$$, is winning. Without a championship, regular season accolades are meaningless.

The Toronto Raptors know what I’m talking about….

Chris Paul, enjoy your first Conference Finals, for it won’t last long.

Series Prediction: Warriors in 6

Post your predictions in the comment section below.

Who Knew Tuesday Could Be So Exciting?!

January 31, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 3 Comments

Who said the only thing to talk about is the Super Bowl??

As players, coaches, and fans arrive in Minneapolis for Super Bowl LII, teams around the NFL are making their own Super Bowl push….

Dominoes Are Fun

Once the first piece goes, the rest fall into place. Tuesday night, Alex Smith was traded to the Washington Redskins. Instantly, Kirk Cousins’ muddled future in Washington D.C. became a lot clearer.

Redskins Get: QB Alex Smith

Chiefs Get: CB Kendall Fuller and a 3rd round pick

This trade can’t become official until March 14th (start of the NFL year). This secures Patrick Mahomes’ future as the starting quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, and assures that Kirk Cousins will don a different jersey next season. The question is: Which one??

Reportedly, Alex Smith (33 years old) will sign a 4-year extension worth $94 million, including $71 million guaranteed. The $94 million part is believable. The $71 million part can’t possibly be accurate. The Redskins would be really, REALLY DUMB to give a 33-year old quarterback that much guaranteed money….

I Want To Be Part Of History

We’re all part of history, just not equally. James Harden’s role in history is slightly different than ours. Harden, without the services of Chris Paul, Trevor Ariza, and Eric Gordon (for nearly 3 quarters), literally put the rest of his team on his back. Okay, not literally, but he scored more than half of his teams points en route to a 114-107 victory over the Orlando Magic. And broke 2 records along the way.

Harden’s 60 points broke the Houston Rockets’ record for most points in a single-game (Calvin Murphy, 57 points). That record stood for 40 years. Harden also became the 1st player in NBA history to record a triple-double with 60 points:

60 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, 4 steals, and 1 block

Ummmm, holy crap!

The Injury Bug Is Real

Injuries are contagious. In the past week, not 1, not 2, but 3 All-Stars have gone down with significant injuries. First, DeMarcus Cousins’ season ended with a ruptured Achilles. Then, John Wall needed a knee scope, putting him on the shelf for 6-8 weeks. And now, Kevin Love will also miss 6-8 weeks with a fractured left hand.

Today, I plead with the players of the NBA. Be extra careful when you cross the street. Don’t run down the stairs in socks. And don’t go skydiving. For you never know when the injury bug is coming for you.

The Knicks Actually Won A Game?!

It’s hard to believe, but yes, the New York Knicks won a basketball game last night. It’s a lot easier when you’re at home, against the Brooklyn Nets, but as they say, a win is a win.

I attended this game and had a great time!!

If you haven’t been to Madison Square Garden since Patrick Ewing played for the Knicks, make an effort to go. The renovations have improved the fan experience, and concession lines have greatly improved. As for television sets lining each section’s front row, I’ll never understand that. Why would you pay for tickets and then watch the game on TV from your seat?!?!

As for the game, Kristaps Porzingis was on, dropping 28 points while shooting 6 for 8 from 3-point range. Enes Kanter had the quietest 20 point/20 rebound game you’ll ever see. And the Knicks took down the Nets 111-95.

The Knicks have now won 2 games in a row.

“If they win tonight, that’s called a winning streak. It has happened before.”

Were you surprised the Redskins traded for Alex Smith?? Where do you think Kirk Cousins will play next season?? 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 6:00 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 .

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 Is Really Stupid Sometimes

December 27, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 4 Comments

kevin-durant-lebron

Christmas is a special day.

Family. Friends. Cookies (oh so many cookies). Santa. And a quintuple-header of NBA basketball games. Most notably the NBA Finals rematch between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. Monday’s game marked the 1st time they’ve played since last year’s NBA Finals. A highly competitive, hard fought game was overshadowed by a handful of “missed” calls.

Let’s start with the facts. The Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 99-92. The Warriors now hold the best record in the NBA at 27-7 while the Cavaliers sit in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference at 24-10. That’s enough facts for 1 minute. Now, let’s get to my ever popular opinion….

Despite their early success, the Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics don’t stand a chance. Barring major injury to 1 or more key players on the Cavaliers or Warriors, the world will be watching Cavs Vs. Warriors Part 4 in June. Hopefully there will be less complaining about fouls come June.

During the last few minutes of Monday’s game, Lebron James felt he was fouled multiple times, by Kevin Durant. The league agrees. We know the league agrees because since March of 2015, the NBA brain trust decided it would be a good idea to release a “Last Two Minute Report”. This report was implemented to publicize a play-by-play review of all relevant calls and non-calls made (or not made) by referees in the final 2 minutes (and overtime) of games contested by 5-points or less. Said reports will not retroactively change the outcome of any game. They’re solely in place to make the league “more transparent”.

Oh yeah, that should help Lebron James sleep at night. The league might as well say this:

“Hey Lebron, we just wanted to confirm your suspicion that you were fouled by Durant (twice). No no, we’re not going to change the calls or award your team a victory, we just wanted to rub salt in the wound.”

To which I’m sure Lebron would reply, “Thank you so much!!”

**What’s funny is, no one’s talking about Lebron having more turnovers (7) than assists (6) in this game. No one’s talking about Lebron going 2 for 7 from 3-point range. No one’s talking about the Cavaliers scoring just 16 points in the 2nd quarter. And no one’s talking about the Cavaliers shooting just 31.8% from the field.**

Listen, a “Last Two Minute Report” is a REALLY STUPID idea. The league, players, and fans need to accept that there’s human error involved in every sport. Calls made by referees, in a split second, are subjective. Not subjective in a ‘biased’ way. Subjective in a ‘that’s the way the referee happened to see it’ way. The same referee, on the same play, may make the exact opposite call a day later.

Dear NBA,

Unless you’re going to expand your replay system to include foul calls, please don’t give me a detailed criticism of every call made, or not made, the following day. This LITERALLY doesn’t help anyone. Thanks.

Sincerely,

DaveTalksSports

What do you think of the officiating in the NBA?? Don’t hold back. Tell me what you think in the comment section below.

Wednesday Was Upset City In The Basketball World

December 21, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

kuzma

No More Win Streak For You

Heading into Wednesday night’s showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Houston Rockets had won 14 games in a row. That’s a lot of games. On the other hand, the Lakers had lost 3 straight games (and 8 of their last 10). Escaping from Houston with a victory would take a miracle for this young Lakers squad. Good thing it’s holiday season….

Wednesday was Kyle Kuzma’s night. Yes, I’m aware James Harden scored 51 points. Wouldn’t you rather score 1 point and win than score 51 points and lose?? Kuzma dropped a career-high 38 points on 12 of 17 from the field. The method to his madness was the trifecta. He made it rain last night, draining 7 of 10 three point attempts. That’s a lot of threes.

Harden’s individual performance was nothing short of spectacular. However, when Chris Paul left the game early in the 4th quarter, the Rockets’ chances left with him. The Lakers would go on a 10-0 run, seemingly putting the game out of reach. The Lakers held on, 122-116, handing the Rockets their 5th loss on the season.

So Much For A Tune-Up Game

When high profile college teams make their schedule for an upcoming season, they always sprinkle in nice, cushy matchups. Whether it’s Alabama vs. Mercer in football, or Duke vs. Evansville in basketball, these are supposed to be tune-ups. Well, every so often, said tune-up turns nice and cushy into a living nightmare. Welcome to North Carolina’s nightmare.

Wednesday night, the North Carolina Tar Heels lost to the Wofford Terriers 79-75 — in North Carolina!! The Terriers, led by Fletcher Magee’s 27 points, would never relinquish their halftime lead. Magee, who entered the game 2nd in the nation in scoring, put his team on his back. Assuredly, this will be the highlight of Wofford’s season, as #5 North Carolina is the only ranked team on their schedule this season.

*By the way, my previous example of #4 Duke vs. Evansville, happened last night too. Duke won 104-40. Just sayin’….

Take That Former Team!!

Isn’t it funny how players always show out against their former team?? Why is that?? Are you angry you decided to leave in free agency for more money?? Kelly Olynyk is the latest example of misplaced “revenge”. This past offseason, Olynyk left the Boston Celtics to sign a 4-year, $50 million contract with the Miami Heat. Last night, he played against his former team. Olynyk decided that was a good opportunity to drop a career-high 32 points. For a guy who averages 9.5 points per game in his career, let’s call this an anomaly. The Heat took down the Celtics, 90-89.

Which basketball upset did you watch on Wednesday night?? Tell me about it 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 .

Celtics D Stifles Warriors, Headline Busy Thursday Night

November 17, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

jaylen brown

You’ve done it again Thursday.

My thumb was reacquainted with the ‘Prev Ch’ button. Football to basketball, basketball to football, NFL Network and TNT got my ratings Thursday night (until I fell asleep on the couch). To the hardwood we go….

NBA Finals Preview??

Thursday’s nights matchup between the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors pinned the 2 best records in the NBA against each other. The Warriors were winners of 7 straight, as they travelled to Beantown to take on the red hot Celtics (winners of 13 straight).

The Warriors looked like the Warriors, carrying a 17-point lead past the midway point of the 3rd quarter. Then, Jaylen Brown happened. Over a 49 second span, Brown scored 8 consecutive points. After learning of his best friend’s death just hours prior to tip-off, Brown played inspired basketball (22 points and 7 rebounds). He dedicated his performance to Trevin Steede.

The Celtics didn’t win their 14th straight game because they scored 142 points. They won because they do something that’s very rare in the NBA. The play defense. They held a Warriors team, that’s averaging 117.5 points per game, to 88 points. Unbelievably impressive, but I wouldn’t expect Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green to shoot a combined 11 for 43 (25.5%) from the field again — ever.

The Celtics will revel in their 92-88 victory during their day off on Friday. They’ll seek their 15th straight win on Saturday against the hapless Atlanta Hawks (3-12).

A 4th Quarter To Forget

Marcus Mariota let’s it fly. Rishard Matthews comes down with the deep bomb, scampering 75-yards for a touchdown. That’s one way to start the 2nd half. 16-7 became 16-14 in the blink of an eye. And just like that, we had a football game on our hands. Or so we thought. The Titans final 3 possessions: punt, interception, interception. That, plus Antonio Brown’s 3-touchdown night, put the game out of reach in the 4th quarter. 17 unanswered points brought the totality of destruction to 40-17.

The Steelers now own an AFC best record; 8-2. That is, until the New England Patriots play on Sunday. As for the Titans, they drop to 6-4, leaving the door wide open for the Jacksonville Jaguars to grab an AFC South division lead.

You Scored How Many Points?!

Chris Paul made his return to the court Thursday night. After missing 14 games with a knee injury, Paul played 21 minutes against the Phoenix Suns. Effective minutes I’d call them.

Chris Paul’s Evening: 11 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals.

Paul was merely a pedestrian contributor to the absolute smack down the Rockets laid on the Suns. He was 1 of 7 players to score in double figures, led by James Harden’s 48 points. The Rockets set a franchise record Thursday night, scoring 90 points in the 1st half.

No need to readjust your spectacles. The Houston Rockets scored 90 points in the 1st half. I know the Suns are bad, but that’s absurd. The final score of 142-116 included 6 Rockets’ going a perfect 35 for 35 from the free throw line. Only Clint Capela would miss a free throw (0-3).

Harden, Paul, and company will look to improve on their 12-4 record when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies Saturday. Paul will look to ramp up his minutes, while Harden continues his MVP charge.

What were you watching Thursday night?? Tell me about it in the comment section below.

Knicks Hire Life-Size Marionette

July 14, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

scott perry

They’ve done it. They’ve finally done it. The New York Knicks actually found someone who wants to work for them. It’s a Christmas Miracle in July!! And even though you’ve never heard of him he actually has NBA front office experience. Crazy right?! Knicks fans..meet Scott Perry.

Before I introduce Scott Perry, we must fully understand this hiring. Scott Perry might be the Knicks’ general manager, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be making decisions. Oh sure, he’ll make suggestions, but they may be acknowledged, or ignored, depending on what side of the bed Steve Mills and James Dolan wake up on. That sounds empowering to me!! Essentially, Scott Perry is a life-size puppet. So why would Perry take the job you ask?? Because he gets to put Knicks general manager on his resume, and his pay will increase — a lot. Now let’s meet the poor bastard.

Scott Perry has over a decade of experience, working for 5 different franchises. He has worked for Seattle, Oklahoma City, Detroit, Orlando, and Sacramento. His most successful tenure was in Detroit. Perry was the Pistons’ director of player personnel when they reached 6 consecutive Eastern Conference Finals, including 1 championship (2004). The past 4 months of his career haven’t been quite as stable. Perry was fired by the Orlando Magic (uhhh, hi red flag) in April. He wasn’t a bachelor for long though, as the Sacramento Kings hired him later that month to be vice president of basketball operations.

Okay, so he showed some resiliency in getting hired quickly, however, the Kings are letting him walk away after only 4 months on the job. What does it say when the Kings don’t want you?! Nothin’ good.

I’m not going to sit here and completely bash this move, but there are moving parts that make me slightly uncomfortable. The first is Steve Mills. Upon hiring Perry, Mills will be promoted to president of basketball operations. So Perry will have to report to Mills. Enjoy that!! Second, the Knicks will be required to give some form of compensation to the Kings in exchange for Perry. This compensation better be money, because if the Knicks just TRADED A DRAFT PICK TO BRING IN SCOTT FREAKIN’ PERRY, I’M GOING TO LOSE MY MIND!!!!

There goes another blood vessel. Oh well.

Once the dust settles on this sand storm, the attention will revert back to Carmelo Anthony. As his first order of business, what will Scott Perry “do” with Carmelo Anthony?? Trade him, keep him, or buy him out?? As of now, trade talks between the Knicks and Houston Rockets have been put on hold.

And now, it’s opening night. The theater is sold out, and the stage is yours (as Mills lowers Perry onto the stage). It’s time to start the show Pinoch….I mean Steve Perry. Break a leg!!

What do you think of this hiring?? What do you think of Scott Perry?? Tell me your thoughts in the comment section.

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. – 7:00 P.M EST.

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 called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

Gordon Hayward Takes The Road Less Travelled

July 5, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

brad stevens

When everyone is running one way, are you willing to run the other way?? I bet you are if running the other way is smart as hell. That’s what former Utah Jazz star, Gordon Hayward did on Tuesday upon signing with the Boston Celtics. While every NBA star imaginable has been taking their talents to the Western Conference, Hayward packed his bags and headed East. This will help his legacy in a BIG way. Now, rather than having to get past the Thunder, Rockets, Timberwolves, Spurs, and Warriors to get to the NBA Finals (sounds fun), there’s only Big Bad Lebron James standing in Hayward’s way. Hayward may still come up short of reaching his first NBA Finals, but he certainly increased his chances. It’s all in the numbers.

The numbers that help Hayward sleep at night are the six 0’s at the end of his contract. $127,000,000 over 4 years (max contract). That’s what the Celtics have offered Gordon Hayward. This contract will cause a domino effect in Boston. The Celtics will need to pull the qualifying offer on that ugly guy they call Kelly Olynyk, waive Jordan Mickey and Demetrius Jackson, not re-sign free agents Gerald Green, Jonas Jerebko, and James Young, and trade either Jae Crowder or Marcus Smart. Those are the moves staring Danny Ainge in the face in order to clear the necessary salary cap space for Hayward’s contract. It sounds worse than it is, and it’s worth it.

Hayward is a very solid small forward. At 6’8″, he scores, rebounds, and plays defense. He is an outstanding addition to the Celtics’ roster. Check out his stats here. This signing does a few things. First, it reunites coach and player. Hayward played under Celtics’ coach Brad Stevens at Butler University. Stevens was the coach at Butler from 2007-2013, until he made the leap to the NBA. Second, it brings the number of teams that can actually compete in the NBA to 7:

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors are still the team to beat. Kevin Durant just took a $9 million pay-cut to keep their team intact, so I like their chances.

*Key Players – Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green

Spurs

The Spurs roster doesn’t look as formidable as it once did, but my days of doubting Gregg Popovich are over.

*Key Players – Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge

Minnesota Timberwolves

This is a very young but very interesting team. Don’t be surprised if in 2 years the Timberwolves are representing the Western Conference in the NBA Finals.

*Key Players – Karl-Anthony Towns, Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins, and Jeff Teague

Oklahoma City Thunder

A walking triple-double and one of the best two-way players in the NBA sounds like a good combination to me.

*Key Players – Russell Westbrook and Paul George

Houston Rockets

How many point guards does it take to screw in a lightbulb?? Apparently 2.

*Key Players – James Harden and Chris Paul

Cleveland Cavaliers

Will this be the year Lebron’s NBA Finals streak comes to an end?? I wouldn’t bet on it, but the Celtics just made the road a little more bumpy.

*Key Players – Lebron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love

Boston Celtics

And last, but for the NBA’s sake, hopefully not least, the Celtics. Does the addition of Gordon Hayward make them the best team in the Eastern Conference??

*Key Players – Isaiah Thomas, Gordon Hayward, and Al Horford

I still believe the Warriors will complete the 3-peat next season, but the NBA’s super teams are multiplying, setting up a more watchable NBA season. So, we’ve got that going for us….

Do you think the addition of Gordon Hayward makes the Celtics a legitimate contender?? Tell me what you think in the comment section below.

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

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