Spurs Hire Tim Duncan As Assistant Head Coach

Spurs Hire Tim Duncan As Assistant Head Coach

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by | Jul 22, 2019 | Featured, NBA

While the precedent of former franchise greats serving as advisers to their younger mentees and current team members is not new, asking your Hall of Fame Power Forward to fulfill a critical coaching spot on your staff surely sounds like a new mountain to climb.

For the San Antonio Spurs, an organization and team enriched in the advice of its successful predecessors, asking a talent like The Big Fundamental to coach alongside his greatest adversary in Gregg Popovich seems like such a Spurs way of doing things.

The standard of treating excellence as a habit is a Spurs tradition, and on Monday afternoon, the Spurs organization seemed to uphold this tradition, as they announced to the NBA universe that Tim Duncan will rejoin sides with Gregg Popovich as an Assistant Coach for the 2019-2020 season. Duncan, a 1997 Wake Forest graduate, played 19 seasons with the Spurs and won five championships, two league MVP awards, three Finals MVPs, made 10 All-NBA First Teams and became the franchise leader in points before retiring in the summer of 2016.

The legendary Power Forward will join a voluminous coaching staff, along with a former assistant coach of his in Becky Hammon. Also joining the staff with Duncan will be Will Hardy, a former Spurs basketball operations intern that graduated from Williams College in 2010.

When asked about the familiarity of his new coaching acquisition, Popovich spoke highly of Duncan’s loyalty to the franchise he called home for nearly 20 years.

“It is only fitting, that after I served loyally for 19 years as Tim Duncan’s assistant, that he returns the favor,” Popovich said.

Spurs fans and fans of the big three will be more than excited to see their towering (literally and figuratively) example of class, leadership, and professionalism on the Spurs coaching staff for every minute of every game this upcoming season.

Jul 22, 2019 No Comments
AFC West Fantasy Outlook – 2019-2020

AFC West Fantasy Outlook – 2019-2020

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by | Jul 22, 2019 | Featured, NFL

The AFC West, our last spot on the journey through the AFC. Potentially the best division in the AFC, the West has so much fantasy firepower. From elite QBs to TEs, you could roster a championship level team from just these four franchises.

Denver Broncos:

QB: Joe Flacco

RB: Phillip Lindsay, Royce Freeman 

WR: Courtland Sutton, Emmanuel Sanders, Daesean Hamilton

TE: Noah Fant, Jake Butt

D/ST: Position Rank = 10

2018 was a tough year for the Denver Broncos. Although their defense kept them in a lot of games, their lack of consistency on the offensive side of the ball killed them. Them found a gem in the rough with undrafted rookie Phillip Lindsay, who proved himself as a very capable back in the league. Expect Lindsay to continue as the lead runner and pass catcher out of the backfield. He should be drafted somewhere in rounds 3-5. They signed Super Bowl Champion QB Joe Flacco, but his best playing days are behind him. They have some talent at WR, but both Courtland Sutton and Daesean Hamilton are very young and inexperienced. Emmanuel Sanders is coming off of an Achilles tear as well. They drafted a TE out of Iowa, Noah Fant, who will definitely have a pretty big role in the offense. Denver might have some trouble moving the ball this year, especially when the opposition can gameplan Lindsay out of the game with many defenders in the box. Outside of Lindsay, there really isn’t anyone else that should be drafted before the start of the 7th round.

Los Angeles Chargers:

QB: Phillip Rivers

RB: Melvin Gordon III, Austin Ekeler

WR: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Travis Benjamin

TE: Hunter Henry, Virgil Green

D/ST: Position Rank = 12

The LA Chargers have one of the best rosters from top down in the entire league. They have a hounding defense, electrifying playmakers at wideout and running back and a veteran QB who loves to air it out. Star running back Melvin Gordon III wants a new contract, and he might even hold out until they reach an agreement. If Gordon III doesn’t suit up, the Chargers still have a solid backup in Austin Ekeler. Gordon is a top tier fantasy RB and if his contract dispute is not an issue, he should be drafted in the first round of almost every fantasy draft. Over the last three seasons, Gordon’s lowest TD count was 12. He missed a few games last year and in 2016, but he has yet to sustain a season ending injury. The Chargers also have some great receivers in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. After missing huge portions of the 2015 and 2016 seasons, Allen has played all 16 games over the last two years, totalling over 1150 yards and 6 TDs each season. His TD numbers aren’t crazy high, but he is always around 100 receptions. Mike Williams proved last year he is the preferred Red-Zone target of Phillip Rivers. Williams, standing in at 6’4” 220 llbs is a monster on jump balls and his 10 TD grabs on only 43 catches shows that. His TD rate will definitely drop, but don’t sleep on him this year. Allen will be taken before Williams in most drafts, somewhere around the 3-5 rounds, but don’t sleep on Williams! TE Hunter Henry is coming off of a season long injury but should see a lot of action this season. He is a mid-tier TE that should be drafted in the later rounds, far after the likes of Travis Kelce or George Kittle. 

Oakland Raiders:

QB: Derek Carr

RB: Josh Jacobs, Jalen Richard

WR: Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, Hunter Renfrow, JJ Nelson

TE: Darren Waller, Luke Willson

D/ST: Position Rank = 32

The Oakland Raiders are a team that underwent a lot of construction this offseason. After a very disappointing first season under Jon Gruden, management decided to bring in the All-Pro WR Antonio Brown. Brown is a world class talent, but how effective will he be in this new system? He should still be picked in the first 3 rounds, but the 1300 yards, 12 TD certainty is just not there this year. Derek Carr got his huge payday in 2017 but hasn’t shown much since. Oakland drafted RB Josh Jacobs out of Alabama who should have a big role in his first year with the club. He shouldn’t be overdrafted though, as this offense still has much to prove. How effective is a power running back if they are losing and aren’t constantly moving the ball? Jacobs should be selected in the 4-6th rounds. The Raiders also added Clemson rookie Hunter Renfrow who should be a nice addition as a slot and possession receiver. As of now, Antonio Brown and Josh Jacobs are the only two players with enough value to see them drafted on fantasy boards. This could all change if the Raiders prove to be better than expected on offense. Their defense certainly won’t be stopping anyone, which ranked last out of all teams in 2018. 

Kansas City Chiefs:

QB: Patrick Mahomes

RB: Damien Williams, Carlos Hyde

WR: Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson

TE: Travis Kelce

D/ST: Position Rank = 17

Perhaps the best fantasy team in the whole league, the Kansas City Chiefs. Led by superstar QB Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs seem to put up 30 points/game in their sleep. Patrick Mahomes is by far the best fantasy QB,  as last year he averaged over 3 fantasy pts/game more than QB2(Big Ben)! If you are to reach on a QB early, Mahomes should be the one. Still, you shouldn’t take him over any top 10 RB/WR. Star WR Tyreek Hill was found not guilty in his child abuse investigation, meaning a full 16 games of the cheetah. The Chiefs released their RB Kareem Hunt, but Damien Williams played outstanding in his short tenure as the starter at the end of 2018. The Chiefs also signed backup RB Carlos Hyde. Not sure how big of a role Hyde will have, or if he is just an insurance policy. After Tyreek Hill, their second leading receiver is TE Travis Kelce. Kelce had his best year as a pro in 2018 with over 100 receptions, 1300 yards, and 10 TDs. Kelce should be the first TE selected in every single fantasy draft, somewhere in rounds 2-4. Kansas City also drafted speedy WR Mecole Hardman out of Georgia. With a similar skillset to Hill, just imagine how dangerous having them line up on opposite sides of the perimeter will be for opposing defensive coordinators. Overall, the Chiefs have weapons everywhere. Mahomes, Williams, Hill, Watkins, Kelce and Hardman will all be selected in every fantasy draft. There is no other team in the NFL with this many fantasy options. Expect Hill to be the first off the board in round 1 with Kelce coming off the board in rounds 2/3. Mahomes will inevitably be picked by someone who overvalues QBs in the 3rd round as well. Damien Williams could go as early as the second round, as he will see a ton of goalline work. Hardman and Watkins will be late selections, somewhere after round 5. By the end of the year, don’t be surprised if Hardman ends with a better season than Watkins. 

Jul 22, 2019 No Comments
MLB 2019 Trade Deadline: Buyers and Sellers

MLB 2019 Trade Deadline: Buyers and Sellers

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by | Jul 19, 2019 | Featured

The 2019 MLB Trade deadline is quickly approaching. Front offices around the MLB are on the phones tirelessly preparing their final packages before the July 31st deadline. For many teams, it’s time to start loading up their rosters in order to make a run at the Pennant this fall. Others are approaching the deadline with hopes to spark a rebuild and prepare for the 2020 season and beyond, as their postseason hopes are dwindling. Here we’ll take a look at six teams from each league that we believe will be most aggressive in their pursuit of getting a deal done before the clock strikes 4pm EST, on the 31st.

Your 2019 Trade Deadline Buyers and Sellers:

BUYERS

AMERICAN LEAGUE:

NEW  YORK YANKEES (62-33)

1st in AL East

Team Need: PITCHING DEPTH

Potential Target: DET- SP MATTHEW BOYD

HOUSTON ASTROS (61-37)

1st in AL West

Team Need: POSTSEASON STARTER

Potential Target: TOR- SP MARCUS STROMAN

MINNESOTA TWINS (59-36)

1st in AL Central

Team Need: MIDDLE RELIEF

Potential Target: SF- RP WILL SMITH

NATIONAL LEAGUE:

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (64-35)

1st in NL West

Team Need: MIDDLE RELIEF

Potential Target: PIT- RP FELIPE VAZQUEZ

ATLANTA BRAVES (58-40)

1st in NL East

Team Need: VETERAN PITCHING

Potential Target: ARI- SP ZACK GREINKE

CHICAGO CUBS (52-44)

1st in NL Central

Team Need: LINEUP BALANCE

Potential Target: MIA- SS MIGUEL ROJAS

SELLERS

AMERICAN LEAGUE:

TEXAS RANGERS (50-46)

3rd in AL West

Team Need: ROTATION DEPTH AND A BIG BAT

Potential Trade Piece: OF HUNTER PENCE

LOS ANGELES ANGELS (50-48)

4th in AL West

Team Need: SALARY FLEXIBIITY

Potential Trade Piece: SS MATT HARVEY

SEATTLE MARINERS (39-60)

5th in AL West

Team Need: PROSPECTS AND SALARY FLEXIBILITY

Potential Trade Piece: SP MARCO GONZALES

NATIONAL LEAGUE:

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (49-48)

2nd in NL West

Team Need: PROSPECTS AND SALARY FLEXIBILITY

Potential Trade Piece: SP ZACK GREINKE

CINCINNATI REDS (43-51)

5th in NL Central

Team Need: OVERALL DEPTH

Potential Trade Piece: OF YASIEL PUIG

PITTSBURG PIRATES (45-50)

4th in NL Central

Team Need: YOUNG CATCHER

Potential Trade Piece: 2B ADAM FRAZIER

Jul 19, 2019 No Comments
End of an Era: Nike’s Famed ‘Hyperdunk’ Line to be Replaced with the ‘AlphaDunk’

End of an Era: Nike’s Famed ‘Hyperdunk’ Line to be Replaced with the ‘AlphaDunk’

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by | Jul 17, 2019 | Featured, Sneaker Releases, Sneakers

If you’re a hooper, or were a hooper sometime after the year 2008, then you should be familiar with the Nike Hyperdunk basketball line. For the first time since 2007, a new Hyperdunk installment will not be on store shelves this summer. Nike has chosen to stop production of its highly successful line of sneakers adhering to a wide range of basketball players, and opting to level-up to a new shoe: the Nike AlphaDunk. The Swoosh will introduce a new material on this AlphaDunk called AirKnit. The shoe will also feature forefoot zoom air.

 

          

 

I remember where I was when I first saw the original Nike Hyperdunk back in 2008. I was 14 at the time and at a basketball camp with my high school team. A team from out of the area walked in to the arena and the entire squad was wearing the all black colorway of the newly released Hyperdunk. Everyone wanted a peak at Nike’s latest and greatest shoe, their lightest basketball shoe ever and this new “flywire” technology. It also helped having Kobe Bryant be a key marketer of the new model with him “jumping” over an Aston Martin while wearing a Lakers colorway of the sneaker. I ended up sporting a white/red/black colorway of the Hyperdunks that 2008-09 season. All the way from modified teams up to varsity and college, players were wearing the Hyperdunks on the court in droves. A lot of your favorite NBA players like Kyrie Irving, Paul George, and Giannis Antetokounmpo wore Nike Hyperdunks on-court before getting their own signature sneaker. Take a look below at the 10-year run the successful Nike Hyperdunk line achieved as well as some players who wore them on the hardwood.

 

 

         

Nike Hyperdunk (2008)

 

 

             

Nike Hyperdunk 2010

 

 

         

Nike Hyperdunk 2011

 

 

             

Nike Hyperdunk 2012

 

 

             

Nike Hyperdunk 2013

 

 

             

Nike Hyperdunk 2014

 

 

           

Nike Hyperdunk 2015

 

 

            

Nike Hyperdunk 2016

 

 

             

Nike Hyperdunk 2017

 

 

             

Nike Hyperdunk X (2018)

 

 

Jul 17, 2019 No Comments
Battle for Los Angeles 2019-2020: A Lakers-Clippers Rivalry

Battle for Los Angeles 2019-2020: A Lakers-Clippers Rivalry

NBA

by | Jul 17, 2019 | NBA

This offseason has led to some of the most interesting Free Agency moves that NBA fans have seen in quite some time. And while we are left to speculate of how our favorite teams will stack up in the upcoming season, there has been an underlying question in the back of some fans’ minds regarding the state of Los Angeles basketball and which team will prove to be the better ball club.

In years past there has always been one team to show its dominance over the other whether it had been the Los Angeles Lakers or the Los Angeles Clippers. Looking back into the history of the league, the Lakers moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles in 1960, while the Clippers moved to Los Angeles fairly recently in 1984, starting the “rivalry”. History would also tell you that the Lakers have been typically been the better franchise between the two with the overall All-Time Series being 101-52, favoring the Lakers. This is not, however, a fitting representation of the two teams in their current respective states.

As a full disclaimer it is only right to state that making comparisons of which team is better than the other is utterly speculation and cannot fully be assessed due to the many variables that go into an 82-Game NBA Season. However, if we can assume that both teams are at their healthiest, playing a 4-Game Regular Season Series, would one team emerge victorious over the other, or would we find ourselves tied a two games a piece.

Upon review both rosters in their current states, the point can clearly be made that while both teams are stacked respectively, the Clippers depth is more young with loads of potential versus the Lakers’ multitude of veterans with a handful of young players. Aside from the bigger off-season acquisitions in Davis and Cousins, the Lakers have been able to sign exceptional role players such as Avery Bradley, Jared Dudley, Quinn Cook, and two-time NBA Champion Danny Green. The Lakers seem to have found fitting pieces to surround their stars with, hopefully able to provide for their team while the others are off the floor. For the Clippers, aside from the obvious George and Leonard, have not acquired many big names other than Maurice Harkless in the Jimmy Butler deal that sent him to Miami. That is mostly in part by the fact that the Clippers had no need to fill up a roster quite like how the Lakers did. In terms of depth, however, I give the edge to the Lakers.

Now that we’ve talked a bit about the entire rosters, I suppose we should now focus on the potential starting units of these teams and how their match-ups play out. We can assume that the starting five would look something like Beverly, George, Leonard, Harrell, and Zubac assuming that Lou Will comes off the bench as per usual for the Clippers, while the Lakers have Lebron at point guard, either Bradley, Green, or KCP, Kuzma, Davis, Cousins for the Lakers. From an offensive standpoint the Lakers would seem to have the upper hand, perhaps by only slightly, but more specifically through individual scoring, while the Clippers would be absolutely terrifying on the defensive end. Not to take away the fact that the Lakers have very solid defenders on their team, but the sheer grit feeling that fans get from Beverly and Harrell alone, to not even mention Defensive Player of the Year Candidates Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, is ridiculous. When discussing starting fives, I give the edge to the Clippers.

To say what team would win in a regular season series between the Lakers and Clippers is too hard to tell, especially when these teams come with fresh acquisitions that really change the face of the team. I personally believe that every game between the two clubs will be nothing but a tightly contested game from wire to wire, and to say who comes out on top, we’ll just have to wait and see once the season rolls around.

Jul 17, 2019 No Comments