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4 Biggest Overreactions From The First Week of The Playoffs

5/30/2021

By: Jack MacCool

The NBA Playoffs have a way of altering basketball fans' perspectives in an instant. Whether it be one poor performance from a supposed star, or an underdog pulling off the upset, fans tend to overreact to shifts in the basketball universe that they may or may not have seen coming. This year is no different, with a plethora of things impacting almost every team in the postseason, be it health and safety protocols or injuries spreading from one player to the next like the plague. These playoffs are bound to alter the makeup of basketball discussion for a long time, so what better way to prepare for these storylines than overreacting to the results of the first round? Take everything you read with a grain of salt as they are opinions and overreactions.

Julius Randle isn’t ready for primetime

Julius Randle had an amazing season, taking home the Most Improved Player Award alongside an All-Star berth and heaps of praise from the media. Unfortunately he has not been able to replicate that play in the Knicks’ series versus Atlanta. Randle is shooting an abysmal 24.1% from the field as New York has fallen behind 2-1 in the series heading into a pivotal game four in Atlanta. It isn’t all bad for Randle however, as he has recorded a double double in each of the first three games of the series and has managed to get to the charity stripe more as the series has gone on. However, if the Knicks want to win a series for the first time since 2013 or continue their success next season, Randle has to be better, as simple as that.

The LA Clippers aren’t who we thought they are

The Clippers have had a very poor start to the playoffs after finding themselves down 0-2 to the fifth seeded Dallas Mavericks. The Clippers were able to bounce back and cut the deficit to one game, but they have not looked like the team NBA fans thought they were or a team that has genuine championship aspirations. The Clippers have gotten excellent play out of their two stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George so far in the series but have not had an answer for Luka Doncic and the Mavericks’ potent offence. The Clippers have given up 108 or more points in all three games thus far, with their defence looking non-existent. On paper LA should win this series and do so without an abundance of trouble, however based on what we’ve seen so far if the Clippers are able to come back and win the series it seems unrealistic to think that they are going to make a deep run. Is this another epic collapse the likes of which we haven’t seen since their dismissal from last year’s playoffs? Or will the Clippers figure it out and actually contend for a title? The latter is looking unlikely.

The Bucks are the best team in the playoffs

The City of Milwaukee got sweet sweet revenge on South Beach in the first round when they embarrassed the Heat en route to a 4-0 sweep. Giannis and the Bucks played amazing on both ends of the floor, making the Heat stars look average and having their way on the offensive end. The addition of Jrue Holiday is paying off in a big way as he was able to hold Jimmy Butler to just 29.7% shooting and -86 +/- in the playoffs. The Bucks were also able to pull off the sweep with Antetokounmpo averaging just 23.5 points per game. While the Bucks looked incredible in their first round series, other top teams have faltered a little bit. Brooklyn lost to a depleted Celtics team to make the series 2-1, the Lakers fell to Phoenix in game one of their series, and Philadelphia has looked good but not spectacular in their matchup against a ‘just happy to be here’ Wizards team. The Bucks are looking like an immovable force coming up the bracket of the Eastern conference and I wouldn’t bet against them going forward.

The NBA is in impeccable hands moving forward

This isn’t so much of an overreaction as it is a pleasant realization. With a lot of the superstars that have cemented their legacy the last decade moving into the later end of their careers, this begged the question of what the NBA might look like a few years down the line when they moved into retirement. Well the answer that I’ve gotten thus far is that the league is in amazing shape going forward. The NBA’s young guns have done nothing but exceed expectations so far in the playoffs and have generated a lot of buzz. Players like Luka Doncic, Ja Morant, Jayson Tatum, and many more have all been unreal in the playoffs so far. Many of these young players have been must-see TV as they have pulled off some incredible stat lines and upsets over veteran stars in the first round. Just take Ja Morant’s 47 point explosion against the league’s best record holder Utah Jazz, or Luka being the best player on the floor in a series that includes Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. The NBA has relied on these aging superstars for a long time, and now it’s time to pass the torch to the next generation as they set their sights on creating legacies of their own.

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Contenders or Pretenders: Part 2

5/10/2021

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By: Jack MacCool

Welcome back to part two of Contenders or Pretenders. In this article the upper echelon of the Western Conference will be examined and theorized about in order to figure out which teams have a true chance at striking gold or whether their dreams of being a champion are a little premature. Once again this is an opinion piece so make sure you have your grains of salt handy as you read this one.

Los Angeles Lakers: Contenders

There has been a great deal of turbulence in recent weeks as the defending champion LA Lakers have had to play without Lebron James and Anthony Davis due to injury. The Lakers are just 3-7 in their last ten, but with Davis back on the court and the return of James getting closer by the day, Lakers fans can take a sigh of relief. Both the health and effectiveness of those two are make or break for this Lakers team that finds themselves on the wrong end of the playoff standings sitting one game back of the Portland Trail Blazers for 6th in their conference. If James and Davis can return to the lineup and elevate their play the way they’ve done so many times in the playoffs then the Lakers are absolutely a contender to win the championship for a second year in a row. However that is a big ‘if’ considering James said that he would never be 100% again following this injury. As well, the biggest question surrounding the Lakers in my eyes is whether their surrounding cast can do what it has to do to provide enough support for their two stars. The acquisition of Andre Drummond has not been what many fans thought it would be, with Drummond averaging just 11 points per game in 17 appearances for the purple and gold. However, as long as they get consistently good guard play from both Dennis Schröder and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope this team’s ceiling is a championship.

Los Angeles Clippers: Contenders

Staying with the Los Angeles theme, should all things go well the Clippers are definitely contenders for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The combination of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are a very tough duo to beat in terms of two-way players. Both can defend at an elite level and are extremely tough matchups at the other end. The Clippers’ ceiling got even higher at the trade deadline when they obtained Rajon Rondo from Atlanta. Rondo was stellar in the playoffs last year for the Clippers’ stadium roommate and should he provide that sort of value to the Clippers, the rest of the West should watch out. The Clippers have also added valuable veterans to their roster this season, including Serge Ibaka and Nic Batum who should help the depth of the team when PG and Kawhi sit down. I think it is highly unlikely we see the same sort of collapse from the Clippers as we did last season but stranger things have happened. The Clippers are contenders.

Phoenix Suns: Pretenders

The Suns surprised everyone this season with their play and excellence all year. The addition of legendary point guard Chris Paul was questioned in the beginning with many wondering if CP3 could still elevate a team like he used to, and boy can he ever. Paul is without a doubt a honourable mention for the MVP award this year and has helped to improve the Suns’ win total by 14 wins with four games remaining in the regular season. The reason Phoenix are listed as pretenders is because of their depth and playoff experience. Phoenix currently ranks 21st in the NBA in paint scoring so it’ll be interesting to see how they respond to a slower half-court game in the playoffs if they cannot score inside. As well, this will be the first playoff appearance for a number of Suns, including Devin Booker, DeAndre Ayton, and Mikal Bridges. While there are a few veterans who have playoff experience like CP3 and Jae Crowder, it will be imperative that the young guns come to play for the Suns going forward. Given the youth of this team and the lack of a consistent bench performer it would be a surprise to see the Suns represent the Western Conference in the NBA finals regardless of their regular season success, and for that reason the Suns are pretenders.

Denver Nuggets: Pretenders

The Nuggets' run to the conference finals in the bubble was an incredible spectacle. Unfortunately, the Nuggets are now missing the biggest spectacle from that playoff run; Jamal Murray. With Murray falling victim to an ACL tear in mid-April the Nuggets title aspirations fell with him. Of course this is no knock on Nikola Jokic and the rest of Denver’s roster with Jokic having a historic MVP season and the supporting cast stepping up in Murray’s absence. However, without the explosive scoring of their best guard, they’ll have a tough time beating the other elite teams in the West four out of seven games. The other question surrounding the Nuggets is where their secondary scoring will come from without Murray. Michael Porter Jr. has been stellar in Jamal’s absence but when Jokic moves to the bench other rotation players must fill in the gaps both in terms of playmaking and shot making. With Murray, the Nuggets could’ve made a splash come playoff time, but after a devastating injury to their best guard, Denver are pretenders.

Utah Jazz: Contenders

The Jazz have the best record in the association four games out from the postseason and have been without Donovan Mitchell since April 16th which is very impressive. The Jazz have gotten over the hump this year unlike in recent years. Both Rudy Gobert and Jordan Clarkson are the favourites to win Defensive Player of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year respectively, and they’ve received excellent contributions from Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic. Utah also leads the NBA in both 3PM and 3PA while shooting the third best percentage from downtown. Of course that is impressive and equates to a successful regular season if you have the roster that Utah has, however it is also my biggest question heading into the playoffs regarding the Jazz. There’s the cliche ‘you live by the three you die by the three’ and this will be the story of the Jazz’ playoff run whether short or long. If they are able to maintain that shooting clip against the best teams in the NBA during the playoffs they are absolutely primed for a run at the title. Though once the game slows down and matchups become even more important in the half-court, can Utah maintain their scoring and shooting? The signs from the regular season point to yes and if that is the case, the Jazz are major contenders.

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Contenders or Pretenders? Part 1:

4/28/2021

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By: Jack MacCool

It seems as though each year the NBA Playoffs come around and teams who shined in the regular season come crashing down to face the reality that they weren’t a true contender for the title. Whether that was the 60-win Hawks team who ran into Lebron James and the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals only to be swept, or the unfortunate case of the 59-win Raptors who also ran into Lebron James, and well, we know how that went.

This season has been a strange one to say the least, with the obvious impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic, as well as the shortened season and newly implemented play-in tournament to determine the seven and eight seeds in each conference. So, with the postseason quickly approaching let’s take a look at who the true contenders among the elite teams versus which teams are the ‘pretenders’. This will be a two-part article with this article covering the Eastern Conference and the next the West. Of course this is an opinion piece so take everything you read with a very large grain of salt.

Miami Heat: Pretenders

Like many people, I was shocked by the Heat’s dark horse run to the NBA Finals in the bubble last year. After finishing the regular season as the fifth seed, their defence, composure, and will to win was impeccable throughout their playoff run as they proved the doubters wrong, however the results of last season have brought about a different set of expectations for Miami. Unfortunately they have not been able to recreate that success this season. After battling injuries and COVID outbreaks, the Heat are currently sitting at seventh in the Eastern Conference. Miami will have to figure it out quickly if they plan on making a run at their first round matchup, otherwise a first round exit may be looming in their future. However, if the Heat can enter the playoffs healthy and mimicking their play from the bubble they may be prime for an upset. With Bam Adebayo playing the best basketball of his career and the leadership of Jimmy Butler this battle hardened squad isn’t the team you want to face if you’re at the top of the conference, but unless another miracle run takes place in South Beach the Heat are pretenders this year.

Boston Celtics: Pretenders

Both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum made great leaps for Boston this year, elevating their young games to the next level. Despite this, Boston has not had even close to the season that they had hoped for. So what happened to the Celtics? Before the season began they were my pick to represent the East in the NBA Finals, and now they’re the sixth seed coming off a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder that saw the Thunder’s 14-game losing streak come to an end. The Celtics appear to lack a true team identity this season. They are not an elite defensive team, ranking 12th in defensive rating despite the tools to clamp opposing teams. They also are not elite at the offensive end either, also ranking 12th in offensive rating. Though Boston does have the roster and the talent level to make a run similar to Miami’s in the bubble in 2020, the Celtics will certainly need to figure out their problems soon if they hope to make it out of the first round and be actual contenders to make the finals. As of now however, they are most certainly pretenders.

Milwaukee Bucks: Contenders

The Bucks are an elite team through and through, currently sitting at third in the Eastern Conference as well as 5th in offensive rating and 6th in defensive rating respectively. They also can lay claim to having the reigning DPOY and 2x MVP in Giannis Antetokounmpo on their roster, though that hasn’t translated to a ton of playoff success in the past. However this season is different for the Bucks. They’ve overhauled their roster since that disappointing loss to Miami in the second round last season, adding the likes of PJ Tucker, Bobby Portis, and most importantly, Jrue Holiday. These acquisitions are what put the Bucks over the hump in my eyes. Portis brings depth to their bench while Holiday is an elite perimeter defender which will greatly help Milwaukee when the game becomes more half-court oriented in the postseason. He also brings playmaking ability that allows Antetokounmpo and Middleton more time off the ball. Tucker also adds some defensive minded depth to the forward position as well as an elite corner three shooter that can help space the floor for Giannis in half-court sets. The Bucks have paid their dues over the last few seasons and it feels as though this is the year that they can break through and make a serious run for the championship. Milwaukee is a contender.

Philadelphia 76ers: Contenders

The 76ers have a clear identity this season, they are a team that will bring it on the defensive end. Ben Simmons is making a serious case for Defensive Player of the Year helping to propel the 76ers defensive rating to second in the NBA. They also have greatly improved from a coaching standpoint after adding Doc Rivers to their staff as well as improved their depth. The addition of guys like Seth Curry and Dwight Howard (despite his new goon role) have helped the 76ers a lot, as Curry spaces the floor for Joel Embiid and Simmons and Howard allows the 76ers to still play an aggressive and athletic brand of basketball even with Embiid on the bench to rest. Also, how could we not mention the play of Embiid? He has elevated himself into a bonafide MVP candidate this season while dominating his opposition each and every night while averaging 29.8 points per game along with 11 rebounds. If the Sixers are going to continue contending for the title this year, it will be behind the play of the club’s star centre. The Sixers have been at the top of the conference all season and they are legitimate players for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Philly is a contender.

Brooklyn Nets: ???

It seems a little bit irresponsible to say that Brooklyn isn’t a contender just based off their record alone, which currently places them at first in the East. It may also seem irresponsible to say the Nets are pretenders simply because of their big three and the talent they possess. Due to these reasons, I considered the Nets as a wildcard that would depend on a few things. First off, Brooklyn has played just SEVEN games this season where Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving have all been active. Though this may seem like a testament to how well Brooklyn is doing despite this, I interpret it as a negative heading into the postseason. We’ve seen what a lack of chemistry has done in the past to elite teams come playoff time. It will certainly be interesting to see if the Nets can figure out how to successfully play and gameplan with their big three sharing the court at the same time, especially when Harden has not only missed the final portion of the season with an injury but also sustained setbacks in his recovery. As well, another big question I have surrounding Brooklyn is their defence and effort. The Nets rank 24th in defensive rating with just 10 games remaining in the season and their effort on that end of the floor is terrible at best. Brooklyn is simply trying to outscore their opposition every night, and they are doing that with a lot of success thus far, boasting the best offensive rating in the league. Their effort level will certainly go up when their season is on the line each game but can that increase in effort make up for a total lack of defensive game planning and good defensive players? As of right now, I’m extremely skeptical of Brooklyn but can’t quite say confidently that they are pretenders rather than contenders, but much like Miami last year, teams have a tendency to make me feel silly so let’s wait and see how it all goes down come playoff time.

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Canadian Hoops: Erasing the Stigma

4/18/2021

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By: Jack MacCool

   There’s always been that stigma that drove Canadians and Raptors’ fans off the wall, the notion that NBA players don’t want to play/live in Canada, specifically Toronto. Whether it was Vince Carter requesting a trade from Toronto in 2004, or Lou Williams publicly explaining how players “can’t wait to go on the road sometimes, just to be in America”. While those moments in Raptors lore still sting to this day, the present has brought with it some new attitudes and premonitions about the NBA's northern outlier. As basketball in Canada continues to grow and flourish, so too will the basketball world’s perspective on Toronto, and basketball in Canada in general.
   As recently as last week, newly acquired Raptors’ big man and Montreal-native Khem Birch explained that playing for the Toronto club was a dream come true. While it seems like a typical cliché that players drop when joining a new team, this was so much more. As the most recent in only a handful of Canadians to ever lace up for the Raptors, Birch is setting the tone for Canadians in the future that playing for the Raptors is an honour and a dream come true for a lot of Canadian basketball players and fans. What makes this even more impactful is that Birch was sought after by teams in championship contention as well as the Raptors, but chose to move home and join a franchise whose culture, and winning habits have failed to draw big name free agents in recent years.
   With more Canadian talent in the NBA than ever before, the opportunity for home-grown talent to come play for the Raptors is better than ever. Though a lot of the top-level Canadian NBA talent likely won’t be going anywhere soon, with players like Jamal Murray or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander either signing a maximum contract extension or warranting one with their play, the Raptors may see role players like Kelly Olynyk, Dwight Powell, or Trey Lyles look to join the Raptors in the future.
   We’ve even seen Americans in recent years express their admiration for both the franchise and the country after coming to Toronto. Of course there are Toronto icons like DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry who have expressed their love for the country both orally and through their willingness to re-sign in free agency. Other guys like Danny Green also have shown love to the 6ix and America’s northern neighbour, going on road trips throughout the country and even returning after his tenure with the team ended. Hopefully this trend continues in the future as more American players recognize the culture of the team and the country are heavily sought after.
   As more and more Canadians enter the NBA and elevate their teams, basketball in Canada will continue to grow and bring more prestige to both the Raptors and Canada Basketball. American players will no longer yearn for road trips or request trades if things aren’t going their way. Canada is an undeniable power in the basketball world now and things will only continue to move in that direction especially with an Olympic berth for the country. Canadian basketball fans should be excited for what the future holds.

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WATCH Gary Trent Jr!

4/10/2021

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By: Jack MacCool

   With the trade deadline two weeks in the rear view mirror, players and teams have had time to adjust to their newly implemented rosters. A lot of trades have made large impacts on their teams as last week’s article covered, however has anyone made quite the impact on their new team’s fan base quite like Gary Trent Jr. has? In this installment of WATCH we’re going to take a look at what Trent Jr has done to make such an impact on his new squad, and how young players should pay close attention to his attitude, drive, and appreciation for new opportunities.
   Trent Jr didn’t arrive without some skepticism and built-in resentment from Raptor’s fans due to the departure of a longtime fan favourite in Norman Powell. Those emotions were soon replaced by positive ones when Trent Jr’s excitement for the new opportunity started to shine through. That and his play on the court. Gary struggled in his first two games with the Raps but it was clear he was no stranger to adversity. At only 22 he took the transition of being traded in stride when he exploded for a career-high 31 points to go along with six threes. Any young basketball player should try to mimic Trent’s transition if they are sharing the experience of joining a new team. The acceptance of adversity and recognition of it as a chance to grow and improve is everything, and Gary has done this perfectly.
   Trent Jr’s success with the Raptors can also be attributed to understanding and welcoming his role. He knows that he doesn’t need to be the Raptor’s volume shooter, he has to defend, shoot the three, and bring intensity and energy to a struggling team. He is certainly checking off all of the above so far, shooting 39% from three on the season and bringing the energy on the defensive side of the floor. He also laid claim to the second highest plus/minus rating ever recorded in a monster win against the Golden State Warriors, boasting a +54 rating. Understanding who you are as a player and how you can best help the team is arguably the most important aspect of championship caliber rosters. This is something that young hoopers can learn from and implement at any level. To be cliché, the name on the front is more important than the name on the back, and Gary Trent Jr recognizes this.
   As well, Trent Jr definitely knows how to play to the crowd, and he’s done this multiple times in his short-lived tenure. He showed up to his first post with the Raptors decked out in their global ambassador Drake’s OVO gear. Not a bad first impression to make on the job. He then was spotted outside the Raptor’s temporary Tampa arena sporting a custom Toronto Blue Jays jersey as if he couldn't get any cooler in the eyes of Toronto sports fans. Basketball fans and players young and old should pay close attention to Gary Trent Jr and the way he has handled the adversity of getting traded. He has handled it in stride, using the new opportunity with the Raptors to showcase his skill and potential along with winning over the hearts of fans across Canada with his swagger and ability. On or off the court, Trent Jr’s display of heart and energy is something that not only those from the basketball world but anywhere can use as inspiration to fight through adversity. WATCH Gary Trent Jr!

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Biggest Winners of 2020-21 Trade Deadline So Far...

4/2/2021

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Written by: Jack MacCool

Every year when the NBA trade deadline hits, fans all over the world flock to Adrian Wojnarowski's Twitter page to see if their favourite player got dealt, if their team got any closer to the elusive Larry O’Brien Trophy, or if the number one pick looks any more appetizing. Sometimes all it takes is the smallest acquisition to catapult a team into true title contention. One week has now passed since the 2021 NBA trade deadline, so what better time to look at the early ‘winners’ of this year's deadline? As a disclaimer, this is an opinion piece and of course open to debate. With that being said, let’s take a look at the biggest winners of the deadline so far.

Denver Nuggets: Acquire Aaron Gordon

Denver made a bold move at the deadline when they acquired Magic forward Aaron Gordon in exchange for Gary Harris, RJ Hampton, and a first-round pick. Gary Harris had been having a less than ideal season for the Nuggets while dealing with injury problems. While it is too bad seeing a first-round pick and a young prospect like Hampton go, Denver has an opening behind Murray and MVP candidate Nikola Jokic to make a real push for the title, so sacrificing a small part of the future is a mandatory evil.

This move was necessary as Denver’s defence has looked weak this season after essentially giving last season’s best perimeter defender in Jerami Grant to the Pistons. Gordon adds some length and crazy athleticism to help defend the Western Conference’s strong wing roster.

So far the Nuggets have taken the roster shakeup in stride, with the five man lineup of Murray, Gordon, Barton, Porter, and Jokic going +48 in just 64 minutes of action. During that time they’ve had the best offensive rating and defensive rating in the NBA. If Gordon can continue bringing what he offers to the table during the playoffs, Denver could easily be looking at another conference finals berth. Score one for Calvin Booth and the Nuggets.

Los Angeles Clippers: Acquire Rajon Rondo

Everyone remembers how good Rajon Rondo was for the reigning Champion Los Angeles Lakers during the bubble last Fall, or at least they should. The guard was an X-factor for the Lakers despite only averaging 8.9 points per contest. Rondo found a way to have his fingerprints all over the game in ways that don’t show up in the box score. He also brought a veteran presence to the court and locker room, having spent significant time in some deep championship runs.

If Rondo is able to replicate the way he played last season again for the Clippers it will greatly boost their odds at making a better run in the Western Conference. Facilitating is not the primary skill of either Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, so the addition of Rondo will take a lot of playmaking pressure off of the two stars. Rondo brings a higher level of IQ to the table than the other Clipper guards which will help to get good looks for their big men on the roll and Kawhi and George on the outside.

Rondo also brings excellent ball pressure to a team with an already elite defensive roster. Averaging 1.4 steals in sixteen playoff games in 2020, Rondo creates easy offence, and if he can get his own offence going, the Clippers will look like a juggernaut in the spring.

Toronto Raptors/Portland Trail Blazers: Norman Powell traded for Gary Trent Jr. & Rodney Hood

They say there are seven stages of grief, so as a fan of the Toronto Raptors this entry is my own stage seven. The stage of acceptance and hope. Norman Powell is absolutely a part of the Raptor’s lore, and he will be for a long time, but boy will he help Portland. Powell is having a career year and has been one of the lone bright spots in Toronto’s season. Averaging just south of twenty points per contest he has been outstanding. Portland fans certainly have to be thanking their GM so far, with Norm shooting 58.3% from outside for the Blazers and scoring 22 in his debut. Even though he is entering unrestricted free agency this summer, what could be a rental for Portland was justified the way Norm is playing this year.

While Portland appears to have won the trade this season, the Raptors might be the victors in the future. Both Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood are young and eager for more opportunity. Trent Jr. bumped his scoring average up to fifteen in his third season and that number has remained the same in his four games with Toronto thus far. Trent’s string of games with his new team included a 31 point outburst against the Thunder where he looked like a prospect overflowing with potential. Trent is coming up on restricted free agency, so hopefully Toronto will be able to retain the 22-year old. This is looking like a successful trade for all parties so far, with both teams headed in different directions heading into April.

Miami Heat: Acquire Victor Oladipo

Oladipo has been witness to a lot of change in the 2020-21 season, having played nine games for Indiana, 20 for Houston, and now starting his journey with the Miami Heat after being traded for the second time this season. Oladipo has not been the same player since suffering a catastrophic knee injury in the 2018/19 campaign. Since then he has not been able to replicate the level of scoring he showed earlier in his career, and has struggled to be efficient from the field. However, Victor Oladipo has the ability to put the clamps on his check.

While his scoring still rounds back into form, he has been able to maintain a high level at the defensive end of the floor, averaging almost a steal and a half a night this season. Miami’s culture of hard-nosed basketball will welcome Oladipo with welcome arms. In his first game with Miami he showed he still defends at a high level with some suffocating defence on Stephen Curry in a one-on-one situation. When you’re giving up very little, for the chance at Oladipo returning to the player he once was, Heat fans have to be excited about this swap after a slow start to this year.

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WATCH Paige Bueckers!

3/19/2021

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Written by: Jack MacCool

In this installment of WATCH we’re going to take a look at freshman phenom Paige Bueckers. In her first season at the University of Connecticut (UCONN) Bueckers has been nothing short of spectacular, breaking school records and collecting accolades left and right. Though she is extremely young (born in 2001) Paige is a veteran of international play, having represented the United States on several occasions. She has won four gold medals for her country during her amateur playing days and will certainly look to continue that trend as international events draw closer. If you love watching playmakers, Buecker’s passing ability jumps off the page and is something that young hoopers should pay attention to when she hits the hardwood.

Bueckers describes herself as a pass first player, which is quite impressive, given her prowess in the scoring department, however her ability to find open teammates is something to watch. Any young player, guards especially, should pay attention to the way she lets the game come to her. She ranks sixth in the NCAA in total assists and ninth in assists per game which is a testament to her playmaking ability, especially playing on such a strong team. Earlier this year, the Minnesota native set the UConn program-record for assists in a game with fourteen.

Any coach will tell you to to get a foot inside the paint then look for your teammates along the outside. The pass-first guard does an excellent job of using her agility to get inside the painted area then kick out to open shooters, or find her teammates on a cut to the rim. Her passing doesn’t just stop there, she also is able to find teammates on the break very effectively, or when the play has broken down and things get scrambly.

Of course it is difficult to just learn how to see the floor, however watching Buecker’s work as the primary ball handler can help young players with their ball movement a lot. One thing to take away from her playmaking is the way in which she head mans the ball in the open court. Her teammates know to get out wide and be prepared to receive the ball every time they run the floor. Young players should note that as soon as the ball enters Buecker’s hands in her own end, her eyes are up the court fishing out an opportunity for an easy score. This is a very important habit to get into and an important skill to possess as a ball handler as it creates easy scoring opportunities for your squad, and not many at the NCAA level do it better than Paige Bueckers.

Another aspect of the UCONN freshman’s playmaking kit that basketball fans should pay close attention to is her ability to run the pick and roll and find the deep pass inside. We’ve talked at great length about Paige’s playmaking ability, however it is her feared scoring touch that allows her to be so great in pick and roll situations. Bueckers allows the defence to overextend towards her when she uses a screen, in turn opening up the screener or wing position if the defence rotates, who Bueckers finds expertly. She flawlessly throws bounce passes or perfectly floats the ball over the reach of the defender into easy scores for her bigs.

Passing is a skill that not all players can do naturally at a high level. However, young players looking to improve their playmaking should most definitely tune in to any UCONN game in the Women’s March Madness Tournament to see Paige Bueckers set her teammates up constantly. Examining the way she draws in the defence to find her teammates, or lets the game come to her to open up opportunities at the offensive end will certainly help hoopers add some new tools to their bag. Make sure to catch Bueckers and the Huskies face off against No. 16 High Point on Sunday March 21st at 8pm on ESPN. UCONN’s stiffest competition in their side of the bracket is likely Baylor, so be sure to tune in if these teams match up in the tournament. With all that being said, WATCH PAIGE BUECKERS!

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WATCH LU DORT!

3/9/2021

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Written By: Jack MacCool

Welcome to the ‘WATCH ____’ series. This series will take a look at which players to watch in the NBA to improve your skills on the basketball court. Of course there are certain players you should watch all the time to learn, however this series is going to go a little bit more in depth and cover who, as a fan or player, you should watch in order to improve your understanding of specific fundamental areas of this beautiful sport.

If you value defence in basketball there are a select few players in the NBA who you should really hone in on in order to learn how to tighten your clamps. Of course defence varies based on your size, position, system, etc. Of course you have the Antetokounmpos and Goberts of the world roaming the paint, blocking shots, and hedging or switching high screen and rolls, but you also have the elite defensive guards of the association like Avery Bradley, Dejounte Murray, or Marcus Smarts getting their mitts on loose balls and causing mayhem for ball carriers. However, if you’re really looking to improve your technique at the defensive end of the floor, feast your eyes on the Montreal-native Luguentz Dort of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Dort is a suffocating defensive guard who consistently checks the best perimeter player on the other team whether they have a size mismatch or not. Dort’s defensive numbers as of now don’t really jump off the page in terms of being outliers, however watching him work at the defensive end will give you a totally different idea of just how good this guy is.

The biggest takeaway from watching Dort lock up opposing guards is the way he moves his feet. For a guy who is built like a refrigerator the way he is able to move laterally is unbelievable. His ability to cut off his check and chest them up without committing fouls is amazing. Just look at what Lu was able to do against James Harden, (who is arguably the greatest volume scorer of all time) last year in the playoffs. Dort harassed Harden all series long during their time in the bubble earning high praise from everyone who watched him. It also should not be forgotten that Dort was an undrafted rookie that season who played on a 2-way contract for the majority of the season.

Lu Dort’s defence prowess has carried over flawlessly into his sophomore season with excellent performances at that end of the floor being a regular occurrence. Just a few weeks ago, Dort matched up on Lebron one-on-one for the game in OT. Dort stayed on the balls of his feet taking away the drive, while at the same hounding the ball with swipes and blocking James’ vision with his off hand. It was phenomenal defence through and through forcing the miss from the all-time great. Dort really proves that you don’t just need physical tools to be a premier defender, but defence is also a very cerebral process as well. The Thunder guard knows exactly what his check’s tendencies are and the best way to counteract them. For example, Damien Lillard loves having the ball in his hands in order to make plays. When the Trailblazers and Thunder matched up this season, Lu held Lillard to just eight of twenty-two shooting from the floor to go along with three turnovers. He did this by picking Lillard up full-court in order to get the ball out of his hands, and when the Blazers tried to free up their star guard, Dort ran around screens like a madman in order to force a miss.

One thing to truly admire about Luguentz is how he is fully willing to pick up star guards full court. He does his best to disrupt the rhythm and flow of his check all night long. Dort’s effort is really something to be admired as he busts his butt up and down the court all game long. If you want to mirror anything from the Canadian, mimic his effort and you’ll be one step closer to being an excellent defender.

It probably should feel like a crazy statement saying that Lu Dort has Defensive Player of The Year level defence in just his second season, but it is not unreasonable at all cause he’s just that good at that end of the floor. He can truly do it all at that end of the floor and is a huge piece for the Thunder going forward. For the final time, WATCH LU DORT!

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Canada Basketball's Ideal Olympic Roster

3/1/2021

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Written By Jack MacCool

With Canada ranking second overall in terms of NBA player representation with 20 players (trailing only the United States), one would think Canada could put together a fantastic roster of NBA players for international play. Well in the past you’d be wrong, with many Canadian NBA players opting out of playing for their country in order to focus on the offseason or their upcoming NBA seasons. As we as Canadians hope that this will change in the future, the good news is that should Canada qualify for either the 2021 Olympics or the Tokyo 2024 Games, this will hopefully persuade some NBA players who were a little shy about wearing Canada on their jersey to come out and compete.  So, with Canada officially only having one more hurdle to qualify for the 2021 Summer Olympic Games, what better time than now to take an in-depth look at the ideal 12-man roster Canada Basketball could put together for this tournament and future Olympic Games.

Starting Five:

Point Guard: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a future NBA All-Star without a doubt. He’s having the best season of his young career thus far, with averages of 22.3 PPG, 6.4 AST, and 5.4 RBS. Shai is the backbone of his Oklahoma City team in terms of offence, consistently leading them in scoring while also successfully running OKC’s sets with efficiency and poise. SGA would be an excellent starter for Canada as he would present a tough-nosed, high IQ guard who could handle the different style of international play. SGA can easily play alongside other scorers like Jamal Murray and have success through his playmaking and improved off-ball offence. Shai is going to be a staple of Canada Basketball moving forward and is definitely one of the best players Canada has ever produced.

Shooting Guard: Jamal Murray

Jamal Murray is the best scorer Canada has, so sliding him in at the two guard spot alongside a strong Point Guard in SGA is a no-brainer. Murray can score at high volumes in both regular season play and when the game slows down in highly competitive situations, just look at his numbers from last year’s run to the conference finals by his Nuggets. Murray has a history of play with Team Canada from his time as an amateur so don’t expect Jamal to bow out of competition without very good reasons. Murray will be very successful in this starting five due to the fact that he’ll have other outlets for scoring in order to take some of the load off of the scorer’s back. Watch out for Canada’s ideal backcourt with Murray averaging 20 PPG so far this season.

Small Forward: Andrew Wiggins

Andrew Wiggins is having a bounce-back year in a big way in his first full season with Golden State. The Canadian small forward is averaging 17.7 PPG with some serious improvements on the defensive side of the ball. Wiggins brings extreme athleticism and experience to this ripe Canada Basketball squad as he is in his 7th season in the NBA. With Wiggins’ new found defensive identity he’ll be a welcome addition to this starting five. With the brunt of the ball handling duties falling with SGA and Murray, Wiggins will have an opportunity to slash to the basket and shoot the three-ball with efficiency while his teammates set him up. Expect a big showing from Wiggins should he come out for international play in the future.

Power Forward: Brandon Clarke

Brandon Clarke might not bring the flashiest playstyle to this Canada Basketball team, however he brings extreme effort and hustle to the game. The Vancouver native rebounds and blocks shots very well, and his tenacious style of play will translate very nicely to the international style of play. His energy will be infectious and with the other scorers alongside him in the starting five, his primary responsibilities will be defence, screens, and being a spark plug for this team. Clarke is averaging over a block per game and almost a steal per game in the NBA, so with the loose whistle in international basketball, he is going to be great for Canada.

Centre: Chris Boucher

Chris Boucher is having a massive jump in the Montrealer’s fourth NBA season. He has boosted his averages by huge increments now averaging; 13.2 PPG, to go along with 6.6 boards, and 2.0 BLKS. These numbers jump off the page for a guy who isn’t even starting in Toronto. With more opportunity on the national team, expect those numbers to climb even more. With Boucher already being familiar with Coach Nick Nurse’s systems, it will be a smooth adjustment for Chris to switch to international play. Playing alongside crafty playmakers will allow him to find easy looks on offence, while at the other end of the floor, he and Clarke will be tough to score on in the paint.

Reserves:

RJ Barrett

RJ Barrett loves representing Canada in international play after winning FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup including a massive win over The United States. Barrett will provide an excellent lift off the bench with his ability to create his own shot and rebound the basketball. Barrett is having a much better Sophomore year averaging close to seventeen points per contest for a Knicks team who is competing every night. While Barrett is slotted as a reserve in this list, he would be an excellent replacement for a starter in regards to injury, or if he plays like he has in the past for Canada.

Luguentz Dort

This guy is one of the greatest defenders in the NBA currently, and when the whistle becomes a little more relaxed in FIBA play, only look for his defence to get even better than it already is. Dort would certainly be this team’s primary defensive stopper of non-big men. Dort’s uncanny ability to move his hips and his feet in order to stay in front of the very best guards in the world will help this team to become more complete. Dort’s production doesn’t end at the defensive end however, with his offence really coming into its own in his second season in the NBA, with averages of 12.6 PPG on 33% 3PT. Look for Lu to get spot starts on this team if the opposition has one dominant player who needs to get the clamps.

Dillon Brooks

Brooks has proven to be a starting caliber player in the NBA the last two seasons. He has shown his ability to adequately defend at the NBA level and his career 41% three-point percentage will bring great shooting off the bench for this ideal Canada team. Like Brandon Clarke, Brooks has adopted the hard-nosed style of Memphis basketball. Brooks is a good leader who plays with a chip on his shoulder which will only help this team.

Dwight Powell

After a devastating injury in last year’s NBA season, Powell is progressing well to return to the form he was in when the injury occurred last season. Powell will bring a high IQ, high-effort style of play to Canada’s second unit. Dwight rebounds the ball effectively and is used to playing alongside great passers like SGA and Corey Joseph due to his relationship with phenom Luka Dončić. Once Powell is back to 100% he will definitely bring a big boost to Canada’s second unit.

Kelly Olynyk

Kelly Olynyk brings a very strong veteran presence to this team with a lot of young players. Olynyk is a wonderful international player as he plays with a huge chip on it’s shoulder and can do it all on the court. He can shoot the three at a high level and has international experience under his belt. Olynyk will be able to slide seamlessly in and out of the starting lineup as well as crunch time lineups should he be outplaying starters. Watch for Kelly to be the 6-man of the tournament if he stays coming off the bench.

Corey Joseph

What more can be said about Corey Joe than his unbelievable commitment to Canada Basketball and his extreme veteran leadership he’ll bring to the team. He can come off the bench and continue to run the offence at a high-level while getting great shot opportunities for his teammates. Joseph has been around for a long time and his presence on Canada’s bench will only help the young guns like SGA and Jamal Murray.

Khem Birch

Last but not least is Khem Birch of Orlando. Birch’s energy and rebounding will be what he brings to the table for this team. In limited minutes he’s averaging almost six rebounds a night which is exactly what this second unit needs. Birch has played for Canada in the past and should he again, he should be awarded for his service and his determination. Birch will complement the more perimeter-oriented play of the rest of the reserve big men like Olynyk and Powell.

Conclusion:

Now this would be Canada’s roster if EVERYTHING went according to plan, of course that is not always the case so should any of the listed players opt-out of playing for Canada for some reason (that hopefully isn’t lack of interest), Canada has a multitude of options to fill those spots.

If you’re looking at employing strictly NBA players, then there are still a lot of good options on the board, with the likes of Tristan Thompson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Michael Mulder, and more. All of these players would be able to effectively fit a role on Canada’s team should anything happen to the reserves or starters.

It also important to mention the players who may not be NBA players, but have played for Canada in years prior and helped them reach a spot where the national team even has a chance to make the Olympics. Guys like Phil Scrubb, Anthony Bennett, and even a USPORTS player Kadre Gray made large impacts on the recent Team Canada squad who qualified Canada for the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup Qualifier.

Overall, Canada has a wealth of talent to choose from for their national team program so expectations are high for what this country can do on the hardwood. With the Olympic Games approaching, watch out for Canada as a sleeper to win the gold.

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