In the NBA today, there are certain players that get overshadowed, whether it be because of higher hyped stars on their team, in their division, or because of their low lying profile in the media. But these are the players we as fans need to take note of, and one that has stood out to me since his rookie year is Jimmy Butler. In the NBA, what completes a team? Well first off we” get the standard responses out of the way. At this day and age, you have to have a MVP caliber candidate, your team has to be bought into the process and playing as a TEAM, you have to have a coach that is experienced in the ways of winning and gaining his player’s respect, and you have to have a solid defense. One key component that gets over looked in today’s game is having that guy that is a do it all kind of player, who completes the team on both offense and defense. We are talking about those guys whose stat lines on a night in, night out basis, are complete across the board, and who adds the consistently occasional 30 or high 20 point game. Who do I think in the NBA is the most overlooked complete player, the Chicago Bull’s Jimmy Butler. Let me start this off with his stat line from last season, where the Chicago Bulls played without their MVP caliber point guard Derrick Rose. On an average of 30 minutes played a game, Butler averaged 12 points a game with a field goal percentage of 46. He averaged 5 rebounds a game, 2 assists, 2 steals, and one block. Okay, so to the average fan those numbers don’t pop out as MVP level, but that’s not the main point here. We are talking about a guy who is a 6’7″ 2 guard, who played his latter 3 years of college at Marquette University, after playing his freshman year at Tyler Junior college. At the end of the day, stats are just numbers, and numbers don’t lie, but the main factors on a high caliber NBA player are the intangibles. At 6’7″, Butler is one of the premier back court defenders of the NBA, who consistently locks down his opponents. He is a supplementary role to a healthy Bulls offense, who runs the majority of their offense into post presences of Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah. The number that screams out the loudest is the 46% shooting. When you have a guy you can run your perimeter offense through, you space out the floor, while trying to get the ball into your stacked post, but have him readily available to knock down open jumpers almost half of the time. The stat that would validate Butler’s presence and is not readily available, is his opponents nightly scoring average. He plays high energy lock down defense and can fill any role they need him, as a readily equipped scorer and passer, along with his defensive attributes. The scary thing, is Bulter is only getting better. I’ll say it here, right now, Bulter will be an MVP in a max of three years. Getting D Rose back will only elevate his game, and increase his role in the offense. So why don’t you know Jimmy Butler? That’s the real question. Take my advice, and when we see him dressed out at All Star break, you won’t be surprised. Go back and watch his tape of his career high 34 point game. Watch him defend All Star caliber guards, and give them fits on the offensive end. Until next time. #CruzSportsCorner
The Luol Deng Controversy
So it’s finalized, Luol Deng has been traded, Andrew Bynum has been waived, and sports fans everywhere are skeptical, and they have every right to be. As a Chicago Bulls fan, (I know being a Celtics fan and experiencing the pain this very year), you have to be frustrated and confused on just why was Deng dealt? Our society has come to operate on instant gratification, and as sports fans, we don’t want down years on our notoriously successful teams, such as the Chicago Bulls. The point that is missed in this reoccurring theme is the process, and the side benefits of moving a player due a large amount of salary, and one who is unfortunately only getting older. The true reality that Bulls fans and fans of the NBA have to realize are the side benefits and realities. Luol Deng is 28, which in all reality isn’t that old, but he is no longer an up and coming 23 year old, and isn’t ever going to be again. The thing about this season is that the high hopes of Derrick Rose making an MVP caliber return, and leading his team through the Eastern playoffs with title sights, were halted with his second knee injury. The team still has key components, and wins against some very strong teams, but lack the consistency that their All Star brings to the table, and their record shows. The Bulls, 32 games into the season, are a sub 500, 14-18, which contextually puts them in the 6th seed of the playoffs. Taking that into context with the weak Eastern Conference, that just isn’t that impressive. The GM Gar Forman is seeing what I and many other basketball enthusiasts are seeing also, the inability to compete with a Miami Heat or Indiana Pacers in a 7 game playoff series scenario. So put that information into context. You are the Chicago Bulls organization, one who prides itself in being a top competitor in the Conference and the NBA, and you are realizing without Derrick Rose you just don’t have the necessary pieces to contend. This is where it gets hard for the fans. Do you suck it up and try your luck for the remainder of the season, risk making the playoffs in hopes of a miraculous deep run, or do you accept reality and begin the rebuilding process, piecing together a squad that will be able to aid Derrick Rose to NBA Title contention? The decision is easy when broken down like this, and unfortunately Luol Deng was where it started. With this trade, and the waiving of Andrew Bynum, the Bulls have saved nearly 20 million dollars in salary cap, and have gained three future draft picks. What is the current significance in this? With 2014, we are looking at the most storied free agency year in NBA history, and a draft with the potential to rival that of the Lebron, D Wade, Carmelo class of 2003. So the Bulls have positioned themselves to make off season moves. They have 20 million dollars they didn’t have before, to try and lure in a Melo or other high level free agent to raise the bar with Derrick Rose. They now have three future draft picks that they can deal and use in attempt to get the likes of an Andrew Wiggins, Marcus Smart, Jabari Parker, or Julius Randle. So does losing Deng seem all that bad now? Sure it takes a certain kind of humility to let down your pride and realize Title dreams are just not realistic this year, but in the end, can you give up this years hopes in hopes of winning 1, 2, 3, or more in the future? That’s what this trade has began, and the doors it has opened. The 2014 offseason will be legendary, and the Bulls have now positioned themselves to make a move. Not only is this move good for the Bulls, but it has also positioned the Cavaliers. They have added another piece, while freeing salary, in Luol Deng. They have added a proven scorer and prolific defender/rebounder, to go along with their core of Kyrie Irving, Anderson Varajeo, Tristan Thompson, and others. Not only have they added a great piece, but they have voided three future salaries, opening up room to make a move on one of these great 2014 free agents. Does Lebron think the Cavaliers have pieced together a team that satisfies his liking in search of more NBA titles? Can the Cavaliers make a move with Anthony Bennett to gain a prospect to further entice LBJ? This is all the speculation and doors that this Luol Deng trade has opened, and now we all get to wait and see how everything plays out. Until next time #CruzSportsCorner
The Chesapeake Energy Arena Experience
Sunday January 5th, 2014, my Boston Celtics took on the task of battling the Oklahoma City Thunder in their “Loud City” Arena, a task that rarely seems to to end in triumph by opposing squads. So here I sat, Cruz Buchanan, luckily placed by the Celtics entry way, experiencing my first NBA game in one of the loudest arenas in the NBA. The first move that was made after the tickets were purchased was of course one call, that was a call to the Arena on how early the doors opened before the game started. The answer I received was 90 minutes before scheduled game time, so you bet, I was there 90 minutes before game time. With the Packers and 49ers battling out an “Ice Bowl” like playoff game, I sat and watched the players warm up, took in the beauty of the arena, and admired the passion of the local fans. The little things are often overlooked when looking at a basketball game. Things like who the first person is out on the court warming up, how they warm up, and the interaction between squads before games (or lack their of). Like I said, I was waiting at the doors as they were being opened, in what felt like -30 degrees, with my Celtics championship jacket and Larry Bird Jersey on, in a sea of blue and orange. I made way to my seats with my dad and brother (who may I say were cheering for the Thunder) and got to observing. The first Celtic out of the locker room was a veteran, not very household name, Keith Bogans. He spent his first ten minutes or so working on his release around the rim. The thing that impressed me about Bogans and his routine, is that he spent more time around the basket and practicing off the glass shots, than he did other spots on the court. On the other end of the court for the opposition was Thabo Sefolosha. From my seats, and being he was the only guy on his side of the court, this guy looked massive. His 6’7″ frame spent most of his time around the arc and working with trainers on contested threes and pump fake to dribble schemes. At one point in time I counted 14 threes in a row that reached the bottom of the net. We are talking about Sefolosha, a guy who is not a house hold three point shooter, making 14 contested threes in a row. His shot was pure, his rotation was consistent, and his confidence was high. You never will realize how good these guys are until you see them in real life. Through the rest of the warm up period I saw the likes of Derek Fisher and Nick Collison for the Thunder, and Jeff Green and Kris Humphries for the Celtics (awkward mention of the game was the coincidental playing of a Kanye West song during Humphries warm up, nice tactics Thunder.) That didn’t prove to have any effect on the massive power forward, as he played a very solid game both offensively and defensively. The pre game ceremony at the arena was priceless. The stands were packed, the arena was loud, and the light show was perfect. There’s a reason why they nicknamed the arena “Loud City.” The stadium holds a mere 4,000 more fans than that of Mizzou Arena, but turned out to be twice as loud as the last home Mizzou v. Kansas game, and from experience, that is ear piercing. The announcers gracefully announced the Celtics starters, very monotone and unenthusiastic, and mispronouncing Jared Sullinger’s last name, which I still think to be intentional. Then the show was on. The lights went off, the surround sound was activated, and the opening video was brightly portrayed on the big screen, highlighting SportsCenter Top 10 like plays from this season and the seasons passed. Then the announcer seemed to find a second wind, and screamed out the starting 5 for the Thunder, highlighting at the end, the man, Kevin Durant. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard a crowd cheer so loudly for one player, but he truly is their savior. Oklahoma City only has the Thunder to claim alliance to, and this is where their passion and loyalty is derived from. He is to OKC as Nick Saban is to Alabama, Lionel Messi is to Argentina, Dennis Rodman is to the USA….(That last one was a joke, in case you actually believed I thought the Korean embracing former Bulls star, is admired by more than ten people in our country). All this is rightfully so too. He is consistently the leading scorer in the NBA, is always performing high flying dunks, Pistol Pete like assists, or falling away threes over an undersized defender. As a Celtics fan, I held strong to the belief that Jeff Green was up to the task to guard Mr. Durant, and that he was equally equipped to score his points on him on the offensive end. That shows my beliefs in Green’s talents. He is a 6’8″ guard that plays lockdown defense, always gives 100%, and has a very smooth offensive game from the rim out to downtown. The first half went by, and the overmatched Celtics were holding their own. Durant was cold in the first half, but still managed to score 17 points, along with a technical foul for what I lip read to include one or two F bombs. Jeff Green gave him fits though. He was playing tight defense, and was driving it into his chest on the offensive end. For the Celtics, the highlight player of the first half was Kris Humphries. Before this game, I’m going to be brutally honest, I was not a fan of Humphries, at all. He always seemed like an arrogant prick who was riding his Kim Kardashian wave from team to team in the NBA. After watching him warm up, after seeing his energy on both sides of the bench, and seeing his chemistry and leadership with his teammates, my opinion was altered for the better. He crashed the boards hard, and used his thick structure to get what he wanted on the offensive end. Jordan Crawford also kept the Celtics spark alive, with ankle breaking crossovers and quick pull up threes, that seemed to find the bottom of the net more often than not. Jeff Green played solid, hitting big threes and getting to the rim various times in the first half. The clear star for the Thunder the first half was point guard Reggie Jackson. He was very much so taking advantage of the opportunity to start in the mist of the Russell Westbrook injury. He showed his ability to score, throw precise passes, and run the offense, and lead the Thunder in all of these categories. What most impressed me about Jackson was his composure and ability to get to the rim, accompanied with high flying posterizations, unfortunately. The second half proved to be a different story for my Celtics. Kevin Durant came out of half time ready to score, and he did so. Reggie Jackson kept scoring, and the Thunder created turnovers that turned into easy fast break baskets. After trailing the Thunder ten at half, my Celtics found themselves in a 22 point hole, one that they would never chip away at. What did I learn about my team and the opposing team this game? Thats the main focus of this article. I had always understood the Thunder won games because they had an MVP candidate, and played high intensity basketball. The thing most people miss, including myself, is their depth, something the Celtics lack, a lot. The Thunder were missing their second best player and offense controlling Westbrook, but they replaced him with a readily equipped Jackson. They started a beast in Kendrick Perkins, incredible shot blocker in Serge Ibaka, stretch guard in Sefolosha, all alongside Kevin Durant. Off the bench they brought out the likes of Nick Collison, Jeremy Lamb, Perry Jones, Derek Fisher, Andre Robinson, Hasheem Thabeet, and Steven Adams, all who scored besides Adams. That is a 12 man squad, that is ready to bring in fresh legs, change the offensive and defensive looks, and to intermix to create mismatches based on the opposing squad. The Thunder are incredibly deep, and most people don’t realize that, all they see in the Kevin Durant/Russell Westbrook show. Their last player they brought in, the LAST player they brought in, was former NUMBER ONE pick in Thabeet. Yes, he didn’t live up to his hype, but he is a 7’0″ center that could start for a multitude of NBA teams, and he was the last guy in rotation for the Thunder. That is how they win games. Oh, Westbrook is out? Lets just put in the stud in Reggie Jackson. Kevin Durant is in foul trouble? Lets just put in future MVP Jeremy Lamb (Give it two years, this guy will be an MVP. He’s long and lanky, scores in every way on the offensive end with a pure shot, and plays great defense disrupting passing lanes). So what was the difference in the second half? While my Celtics were getting minutes out of sub 6 foot Phil Pressey, 36 year old Keith Bogans, and were without now traded guard in scorer in Courtney Lee, the Thunder were putting in skilled fresh legs, using all of their bench, and stretching their lead. On the Celtics side, I was most impressed with Jeff Green. He is my favorite member of the Celtics currently, and showed a leadership and poise during and after the game that assured me he will give Rondo a future All Star to turn this team around. His 6’8″ structure gives him the ability to shoot over defenders, take contact, and guard anyone effectively at his position. After the game, a game where they suffered a 23 point loss, he took the time to go over and congratulate and chat with the opposition, and take pictures with young Celtics fans who were in attendance. That shows more than any 30 point game ever will. Personality translates into leadership. What are my observations and suggestions for the Celtics? I have three key things that will help, besides the return of Rajon Rondo. One, we need to fill the bench with impact players. Our starting core is solid, and with the return of Rondo, will mean we have a Jordan Crawford for a sixth man, and I like the look of the first six. We need another scorer, another high energy player, and we need a Center. If we add a solid Center, someone like the little minute playing Omer Asik for the Rockets, we can play Brandon Bass at his true power forward position as a starter or impact bench player. Bass guarding Perkins, or Hibbert, or Marc Gasol, just won’t work out. So you add an Asik like center, and another young scorer, like say, a Nick Young, than our starting rotation all of the sudden looks like Rondo, Bradley at the 2, Jeff Green at the 3, Jared Sullinger at the 4, and a solid center like Asik at the 5. Then you are brining Crawford off the bench to play 1 or 2, Brandon Bass to give the overweight Sullinger fresh legs (I’ll get to that soon), a scorer in a guy like Nick Young, and still solid contributors in Humphries and Olynyk. All of the sudden this team goes from slumping late in games, to being deep and adding more consistent scoring outputs on night in to night out. My next point, Jared Sullinger needs to lose weight. I was astonished at how obese he appeared in real life. He has an easy 40 pounds to lose. If this is accomplished, he will add endurance and speed to his already fundamentally sound game. This needs to happen. We can’t have one of our best scorers and starting forward, not be able to give it 100% for the duration of an NBA game. Let me tell you, he was frequently sucking air on the bench during his rest periods while others seemed composed and calm. The final and third suggestion is make Green your go to guy. He is a high energy player who causes matchup problems, has a great quick release shot, is able to take contact, and passes the ball well. OKC ran their offense through KD, and that didn’t mean he shot every time, but he was touching it multiple times, creating double teams from the opposition and opening the floor for his teammates. Jeff Green is the guy that can go all of the things for the Celtics that Durant is doing for the Thunder. With an increase in role, will come an increase in confidence, and the only thing All Stars need is the chance to shine. So their you have it, my first NBA game, and first live viewing of my Boston Celtics. The game didn’t go our way, but opened my eyes to the NBA atmosphere, the potential of the Celtics, and the greatness of the Thunder. Don’t be surprised when the depth of this team takes them straight to the NBA finals, 7 game series will be their strengths, and Westbrook will be back. As for the Celtics, the road ahead looks tough, with games against Denver, Golden State, and Portland, but sticking in their until Rondo is back will prove crucial to the positioning to win the division. This live experience furthered my interest in the NBA and will prove beneficial in future articles also. Thanks for tuning in! Go Celtics. #CruzSportsCorner
Tolton Basketball and Columbia’s Finest: Michael Porter
It’s 2014, and looks like it will be the year of the 14 year old, Michael Porter. This 6’6″, incredibly athletic freshman is dropping 30 point games like Jaguar’s receivers drop passes, well lets just say, more often than not. Not only is he often the tallest player on the court when he suits out for the Father Tolton Basketball team, but he is also the best shooter, most athletic, and for Class 2 basketball, one of the two that can dunk (The other being his teammate Josh Boyer). His decision to come to Tolton to play his high school basketball deserved a Lebron James like press conference that would go a little something like this, “I’m taking my talents to Father Tolton, where I plan to posterize as many kids as possible, hit as many buzzer beating shots as I can, and bail my coach out of potential losses to less than average teams.” (We will get to that last part later) So lets get to it, breaking down the kid’s game and his potential moving forward. At 6’6″ and growing, Michael looks to fill the role of a 3 guard, or stretch 4 for the years coming up in his highly anticipated college career. To make a direct NBA comparison, watch side by side highlights of Porter and Texas year Kevin Durant. He has a long, lanky frame, slotted into that 3.5 position. He has a very smooth jump shot, with a perfectly timed release at the apex of his jump. This form allows him to do what KD does best, which is elevate over defenders and give him a clear shot at the basket almost every time. For a 14 year old, this kid can jump out of the gym, and he knows it. Just come to a game, and watch his eyes when a potential fast break opportunity comes around, it’s all gears ahead to the other basket where the crowd holds their breath in the anticipation of what rim breaking, SportsCenter Top 10 highlight we are about to witness. He has all the shots. He can hit deep contested threes, or work his man down in the paint with post moves, almost always ending in and one free throw chances. The most impressive thing about his game is the confidence. Obviously, with this stature, he’s been dominating kids his age on the basketball court for years now, but this is his first year of high school basketball, where every game counts, and his teammates count on him, but he never shies down from that spot light. When college coaches come and watch him, they will see a super athletic freshman, who is still growing, is going to put on weight and strength, is going to mature on all levels on the court, and who has the confidence to be a star for whatever team he ends up on. Just ask Frank Haith, Missouri’s basketball coach, what he thinks, or easier yet, just check his twitter. Looking through his accounts followed we see his players, Dick Vitale, Kim Kardashian, ESPN, and oh yea, the freshman, Michael Porter. He is on every college coach’s map, and if you are in the Columbia area, you need to take the chance to see this kid and his team play. With all players at any level though, their are flaws to their games and areas to improve on. Now there are many possible contributing factors, but the only apparent down side to Michael’s game is sometimes the lack of intensity on defense. Now he has been dominating kids his age for years now, so this could be the leading factor, but at this level, his team relies on him to not only lock down his man with the same intensity he displays on the offensive end, but also to give 100% when shifting on defense and closing down driving lanes. He can make a bigger impact on defense for his team than he does on offense, but sometimes the effort seems to be lacking (which could very well change with maturity). By his senior year, not just the people in Columbia and people reading this article will know his name. Now, on to the rest of the team and the Head Coach..Tolton has an INCREDIBLY talented squad, so talented that this year is State Championship or bust. The team stars the Freshman, and is accompanied with a very talented Center in Josh Boyer, solid knockdown shooters in Ryan Chappell and Brennan Church, a grinding hustler in Cameron Baggely, and off the bench presences in PG Isaiah Wilson, Jack Cooper, and the rising star in Cole Buchanan (STUD). Josh Boyer is a 6’5″ center who hustles on establishing position on the boards, has very solid post moves (including a deadly spin), and is a lockdown defender on any opponent. Wilson and Cooper are both guards off the bench that bring top-notch ball handling skills and intensity on the defensive end, accompanied with knockdown shooters and fresh legs, this team is destined to be great (Oh yeah, there are no seniors on the roster). So how does a team like this not blow out every opponent at their level that they face? Well I have been to four games this year to personally observe the show, and I have seen some minor flaws in the Head Coaching position. To all my readers, this is in no way a roast, this is just mere constructive criticism from a fan and basketball enthusiast, observing from the bleachers. I see three major flaws, that are easy fixes, in the operation of this powerhouse. One, there are never any screens set. I challenge you tonight to watch one-quarter of any NBA or high level NCAA basketball game, and count the number of on and off ball screens that each team sets. The significance of the screen on the offensive end is that it disturbs the defense, it creates open shots, creates driving lanes, and gives players the opportunity to roll to the basket and make the defense make split second decisions on how to switch and adjust to the sudden change in man positioning. The screen is very effective in man to man defense, but is essential when facing a zone. When no screens are set, it allows the defense to rotate freely and routinely, making the task of guarding the opponent easy. The rolling man on the setting end of the screen creates match up problems, and when facing a defense, you are looking to create holes and disturb their play, creating open shots in route for your team. While we are on the topic of a zone, lets address critique number two. It has been a reoccurring theme this year, of Tolton’s players getting into foul trouble, and has also been a reoccuring theme of playing man to man defense 100% of the game. Referring to the start of this article, the one negative with Porter was the intensity on the help defense side of things. So you look into the roster. Just for a second, close your eyes and imagine this beauty of a defense. Michael Porter, an ungodly athletic 6’6″ jumper in the middle of a 2-3 zone. A 6’5″ Center in Josh Boyer to his right, a hustler in Cameron Baggely to his left, with closeout speed on the shooter, and mix and match your four guards at the top two positions. In this formation, you eliminate a few key problems. You keep your team out of foul trouble, you leave Porter under the basket to purely defend, and he successfully will, any oncoming slashers and pass receiving players in the paint, and you create a very solid under the basket rebounding core, who can immediately beat the opposition with outlet passes to their speedy guards. The zone is a beautiful, and in this specific case, an underused gold mine. The last and final critique I have, which is very justifiable, is the relying on Porter to win games for you. This would be very easy to do, as you see a kid who will never face a defender that can successfully guard him at the Class 2 level, but at the end of the day, you have to be committed to the process of your true offense. Run plays and get the ball into Josh in the post, run the offense THROUGH Michael rather than TO Michael. If you make sure he gets his touches, but encourage quick passes, the defense will shift, leaving your shooters and cutters open. You have enough talent on this team to have 4 or 5 guys in double figures every night, but as a coach, you can’t get caught in the middle and the end of games just looking to get the ball to Porter and have him work your team to victory. If the load is taken off his shoulders, you will probably see a smoother offense, a more active defensive participator, and at the end of regulation, a scoreboard that reflects this. At this point in time, their is no reason to have lost to Sacred Heart and Palmyra, both inferior teams. The losses can be easily fixed by implementations of simple basketball fundamentals, and as a fan, I beg that they are. I don’t want to have to watch Michael hit a game tying 3 to send it into overtime against a HORRIBLE Eldon squad. I want to watch solid performances against solid teams, and blowouts against inferior teams. The coach has the talent on his team to hang multiple banners in that gym, but if the process is not respected, we might see a falter in the first season, causing an evaluation of what went wrong (Where everyone can refer back to this masterful analysis, and land me my first head coaching job). One last thing to add on Michael. I once heard a great quote/analysis that is very applicable to the freshman. It was that when looking at a superstar in Class 1 or 2 basketball, you can determine their ability to transition at the next level on whether they can carry their team to a title. This saying that if a kid who is dominating basketball at Class 1 or Class 2, has the skill set to make it at a high D1 level, he will carry and will his team to victory (See Sikeston’s Otto Porter and his career stats, very similar situation). There you have it, a full analysis on the Tolton basketball team to this point, and their Superstar in Michael Porter. I hope this critique be taken lighlty, but also eye-opening to some solutions that could lead to a dynasty, one that we can refer back to when we watch Michael guarding a Lebron at the next level, that is the skill we are dealing with. Until next time! #CruzSportsCorner
HIGHLIGHT VIDEOS OF PORTER
Do you know wha…
Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play-Mike Singletary
2014 has rolled in, as fast and blended in as it may have seen, but now is the infamous time for resolutions and self reflection. Most of the time the New Year brings in new goals, and lofty achievements we look to set and better ourselves. When looking at your goals this year, look at what you want, what you want for yourself, because those will be the goals you will have the most self discipline to achieve. Everyone always talks about wanting to lose weight and reach their maximum potential on health and physique, but is that what you truly want, or is that what society has brain washed you into thinking? Look at what you have around you, and learn to appreciate the small things. If getting in shape is something you personally want to achieve, then you will achieve it, but if it is something you are doing to have a better appearance in society, you will more than likely struggle. So make goals that will push you, but are achievable, so when December 31st comes around, you can look back at your list and be satisfied and proud of the goals you can check off. And always remember, take the little things to heart. This quote shows that sometimes we don’t appreciate the opportunities we have, because we expect loftier achievements in those fields. So maybe you didn’t lose your twenty pounds last year, maybe you weren’t the salesperson of the year, maybe you didn’t make your all conference selection, but at the end of the day, you can say you were healthy enough to be able to work out, you had a job you were able to work and provide for your family, and you were able to play a sport that you enjoyed. So set goals this year that you personally want for YOU and no one else, because at the end of the day, a happier and more satisfied you, leads to happier and more satisfied people around you. #CruzSportsCorner
The Debut of 2014, What Does it Have to Bring?
This week has a multitude of topics that will undoubtedly bring together masterful pieces from yours truly. What do you, the reader, have to look forward to? This week I will publish intriguing stories on my first NBA game (Celtics @OKC..GO GREEN!), My take on Johnny Football and his skill set at the next level, A look into the 2014 PGA tour season, Columbia’s own Michael Porter and his Tolton squad, A breakdown of Mizzou basketball’s season so far, and many other possible topics that will jump to my attention as 2014 progresses. I look for a great year in sports that brings home many heart racing memories, records broken, and successful ventures for my Missouri and Boston alliances. So to everyone out there, stay tuned, and Happy New Year! #CruzSportsCorner
Among The Ranks, NBA Edition
2013 is coming to a close, and we are 29 games into the NBA season (give or take for certain schedules). The topic that many of us NBA enthusiasts ponder on a day to day basis is, who are the best teams in the NBA and how do they rank? Looking into each conference, I’m going to rank the top 4 teams, in their respective order (although the East should probably be a two team ranking, being that there are a mere three teams over .500 at this point). With that aside though, I will finish off this strongly supported article with the overall NBA rankings, and justify these rankings while doing so. Lets start with the easy side, the Eastern Conference. Yes, yes i know, my beloved Celtics are in this wonderful side of the NBA realm, and yes I also know, we are not leading arguably the worst division in the lesser conference of the NBA. BUT I STILL HAVE HOPE (Let’s be honest, it’s not hard to have hope when to get the four seed all we have to accomplish is beating out the Raptors, Knicks, 76ers, and Nets, who are a combined 41 and 77, OUCH). But let it be know, the man, the myth, the legend, Rajon Rondo, is on pace with his recovery and staged to make a historical comeback where we take out the Heat and Pacers in 7 Games and add a 18th banner to the rafters at TD Garden (optimistic right?). Anyway, back to the rankings. Lets start from the top and work our way down. (Drumroll please…) The Indiana Pacers take the cake as the best team in the East! Now it’s a close race at the top right now with the two time defending Champions Heat squad closely behind, but to this point, the Pacers have proved that they are a legitimate title contender, and are not afraid of the Heat. All this has been behind the story making lead of Paul George, who has blazed into this season in MVP fashion, and is making his case for the best player in the league. The reason the Pacer’s squad is having so much success is they are a TEAM. At 24-5, The Pacers have an MVP leader in Paul George, a footwork savvy center in Roy Hibbert, a monster in the paint Power Forward in David West, and a supporting Cast that features the likes of Danny Granger, George Hill, and oh yeah, the league leader in triple doubles, Lance Stephenson. This cast crashes the boards hard, passes incredibly well, moves off the ball as good as any other team in the NBA, and when it comes down to it, they have Paul George to put the team on his back if need be in the fourth quarter. This guy isn’t afraid to shine, and he sure isn’t afraid of making the Heat take Lebron off of him because he is lighting him up in the fourth quarter (see highlights from this season’s first matchup). So in a close second, there are the Miami Heat. Now there is no close third from here, the rest of the teams are bathing in mediocrity and struggling to fight the animal in Mr. .500. The Heat, when healthy, are posed to make a very strong contention at their third title in a row. Lebron James is at MVP form again, shooting incredible numbers from the field, and showing that when it comes to the fourth quarter, he is ready to run the offense and get himself and his teammates high quality looks around the rim. Speaking of high quality, I hope you all watched the game in Christmas against the Lakers, a man should not be able to fly like that, nor have the coordination to catch an off the glass “Dinner’s Served” with his left hand, finish it, and avoid the backboard with his head. (I only dream of the day I would have to duck under the backboard, well, to be honest I have dreams of the day I will be able to touch the rim, as the years go by this seems more and more optimistic). The Heat cause matchup problems. Lebron James is a 6′ 8″ Point Forward, Linebacker, Tight End, UFC Fighter, that is nearly impossible to guard. Dwayne Wade, when healthy, has one of the best drive and slash games we have seen over the past decade, and a court vision to compliment it. The real underlying matchup problem that is often overlooked is Chris Bosh. I know, Chris Bosh isn’t your Dwight Howard, Roy Hibbert, crash the glass and bang around center, but he stretches the floor. He can hit any range of jumpshot, and with this ability, when he is getting guarded by a true Center, he is bringing them out of the paint opening the lane for LJ23 and D Wade to drive to the rack and finish, or look for open shooters in Battier and Ray Allen. Lead with two strong point guards in Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole, the Heat have a deep squad that will contend this year. So now the infamous third ranking, who does it go to? I would like to say it was a given to give it to the Atlanta Hawks, because they are the only other team over .500, but it was a tough decision. In the end, I decided the loss of Al Horford was still not quite enough to move them out of the three spot. The Hawks will need to fill his void, as he lead the team in points and rebounds, but to this point, they have shown that their cast of Jeff Teague, Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver, Louis Williams, and former Mizzou paint moster Demare Carroll, can mesh well together and give opponents match up troubles. The question from here on out is, can Carroll step in and keep up Horford’s rebound pace, along with the help of Elton Brand and two Centers I won’t bother mentioning because I know you haven’t heard of them. So coming in at the last spot, who is it?? That’s right baby, it’s the Green and White! Now most of you are probably blaming this acclamation on the part of my alliance with this squad, but really, is it that far of a stretch to say that we are better than the Toronto Raptors or Detroit Pistons? This spot is very much so, up for grabs. So here’s to justify it. The Boston Celtics are a game back in the division. We have been toying with the roster, trying to establish a point guard that can fill the Rondo void until he is back. So far Courtney Lee and Avery Bradley, along with another Mizzou alum Phil Pressey, have done a fair job. (MIZ!!) Let’s see how good the Heat do if Lebron misses half the season, if Paul George misses half the season for the Pacers, and I am about to prove my very point with how the Hawks will struggle with the loss of Horford. ALL STARS MATTER. We are talking about a guy who has the court vision of Pistol Pete, the speed of Chris Johnson, and the hand size of Shaquille Oneal to go with it (maybe a slight exaggeration, but I mean come on, look at this dude’s hands). His consistent over 11 assist games are gone, his ability to score 30 points, get triple double numbers, and steal the ball at key times in the game, of course we are going to have a void that is not quite fillable. To this point though, Jared Sullinger has shown a vast improvement in his game, Jeff Green is making his case as a worthy all star, and Avery Bradley is an excellent defender, and with Crawford off of the bench, this team will be just fine when Rondo comes back. So there it is! The Top 4 Teams for the East. Just like they say, opinions are like as….yea I’ll leave that analogy in my pocket but I feel very confident that the contenders in the East will be down to these four teams in the end. Now to the WILD WILD WEST. The West has proven to be deep this year, and I mean very deep. There are a legitimate 8 playoff contending teams, and even the bottom feeders of the division have matchups that can cause the bigs of the league to struggle (See the Sacramento Miami game from this weekend). The West is DEEP! So that makes it that much harder to rank a top four teams, but after the pain staking research was finished, and the countless 60 odd games I have watched this season, I have narrowed it down. Atop the list is clear, for right now, and when I say right now I mean this week, because the division leading OKC Thunder have lost a star point guard in Westbrook, and that load will now be dumped onto the back of the already league leading scorer in Kevin Durant. But still, they have shown form of this point that they are ready to get back to the finals and give the Eastern Conference winner a run for their money. Durant clearly highlights this squad, with the ability to score in a vast arrangement of ways, and the height that makes it hard to distinguish his role as a 2,3, or 4. The supporting cast stars the up and coming Jeremy Lamb, Thabo Sefolosha, Serge iBLOCKa, death staring Kendrick Perkins, Reggie Jackson, and Veteran Guard Derek Fisher. (Which by the way, when is that guy going to retire? I seem to remember him throwing an alleyoop to Wilt Chamberlain, or maybe I’m just mistaken, but to his credit, this guy is in great shape for his age and a great leader to have on the squad. Hopefully he doesn’t make the mistake Jason Kidd did and become a coach and the scrutiny of the Brooklyn Nets. Jason, may the Illuminati be with you (Jay Z reference). Back to the topic though, this team plays well with each other, and is not afraid to give up a good shot for a teammate to get a great shot. The number two spot in the West is clear, and is frankly giving OKC a run for their money also. That is the Portland Trailblazers. With the rise of dominant Lamarcus Aldridge, and Ice Veins Damian Lilliard, this team is set for great things. With guys who don’t get enough credit in the league with Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum, Thomas Robinson, and “The Other” Lopez, this team has a strong defense, and the belief that they are contenders THIS YEAR. (I think 2014-2015 is their season though, a little early to be claiming Championship rights this year). So who falls in third? I have never liked the San Antonio Spurs, and when looking at the top teams in the league aren’t we looking at teams who could win the conference and win it all? I just can’t see the Spurs slow roster doing this, so they have fallen right out of my top four. (Take that Tony Parker). Coming in third….we have the Super Splash Bros and the Golden State Warriors. Steph Curry has been a scoring legend since his Davidson days, and Klay Thompson is eqaully as good from downtown. When you combine this with paint powerhouses in David Lee and Andrew Bogut, and oh yeah, mix in a health Andre Igoudala, this team is STACKED. Arguably, well not even arguably really, they have the best back court in basketball. When you have the best backcourt in basketball and you add two post forces that can get rebounds and second chances, you have a team that can match up against anyone, and they have done so thus far. The only downfall to this team is they have seemed to struggle when Curry has an off night, although that didn’t prove harmful against the Clippers on Christmas. And rounding uo the West, we have the Los Angeles Clippers. This team has the best point guard in basketball in Chris Paul, a surprisingly improved Blake Griffin, excellent 6th man Jamal Crawford, Deandre Jordan, and 3 point sniper in JJ Reddick. This team is posed to make a run and create those match up issues that prove relevant in 5 and 7 game series. Take note that every good team has a good 6th man, and in this case, the Clippers have a great sixth man in Crawford, this guy can burn the nets down. So the Clippers round off the top 4 in the West, and an honorable mention goes to the Rockets, with a star in James Harden and a maturing Dwight Howard. So how do they all rank..well here we go. The NBA top 8 rankings!
1. Indiana Pacers 2. Miami Heat 3. OKC Thunder 4. Portland Trailblazers 5. Golden State Warriors 6. Los Angeles Clippers 7. Houston Rockets 8. San Antonio Spurs (Yes, I put two honorable mentions over the other two teams in the East, it’s a down year, don’t count the Celtics out though!)
So there you have it, if you don’t follow the NBA, I hope you have gained some knowledge that will propel you in any argument you come to face, and that you have a VERY reliable source in Cruz’s Sports Corner. This is my opinion, but again, the numbers don’t lie, and I think the likes of Bill Simmons, Jalen Rose, Magic Johnson, and the ever so knowledgable Skip Bayless would tend to agree also. So there you go! Broadcasted live from a booth in Panera Bread Co., with a coffee that is way too bold, and a baby that is crying in the background, the Commandments of NBA Rankings has been established, 2013 has came to an end, but Cruz’s Sports Corner has just surged into its arrival. Until next time Knuckleheads (Wilbon Voice) #CruzsSportsCorner
The Reason Retros are Relevant
Let us all take this Monday to marvel on the highlights of the Greatest Of All Time, Michael Jordan. Here is 50 plays that you can pull out of your back pocket anytime someone tries to tell you different. I’m a die hard Celtics fan, and Larry Bird is in the conversation (along with Bill Russell) but at the end of the day, when all factors are combined, MJ takes home the cake. One of the most polished offensive games of all time, multiple First Team All Defensive selections, the most clutch playmaker ever, the most fierce competitor ever, and the man who took flight. Now in 2013, all we have to marvel on is highlights, and hundreds of colorways of the famous Jordan 1-28 retro sneakers. ENJOY
The Tip Off, Cruz’s Corner vs The World
Today my NFL alliance brought up a reoccurring yearly theme and argument that tends to bring in both positives and negatives to the table. In case you don’t know what I am addressing, that is the Kansas City Chiefs benching their starters, and going with the professional JV squad, the backups, because they have indeed locked up the 5th seed in the playoffs, win or lose against the Chargers. It is currently 7:20 PM, Sunday December 29th, 2013, and the Chiefs have lost their last regular season game, 27-24, against the San Diego Chargers. For those who did not watch the game, our starting lineups on defense and offense featured ten players who were making their first career start, one of those including former Missouri Tiger standout, quarterback Chase Daniel. Chase Daniel is often the center of mockery, whether it be his Spud Webb like height, his Rex Ryan beer gut, or his Professional career as the Practice Squad General. The fact of the matter for today was though, that he was the man in charge, the man in charge, of beating the Chargers (No pun intended). As a loyal Chiefs fan, I watched our squad shock the world, starting the season 9-0 with a rejuvenated lineup, featuring newly acquired QB Alex Smith, and a promising new coach in Andy Reid. The next three games featured tough conference opponents in Denver and San Diego (both now playoff bound), and needless to say, we started a three game slide to move to 9-3 on the season. The defense showed glorious moments that brought back reminiscence of the ’85 Bears, and also head shaking moments that resembled the 2001 Panthers. Needless to say, we rose back to the challenge with back to back wins against the Washington Redskins and the Oakland Raiders. Okay, maybe that doesn’t deserve a “jump out of my chair” reaction, but our offense was on an upward trend scoring 45 and 56 respectively, and the team had regained their energy and momentum heading into week 16. Week 16 featured a tough home matchup against the questionable Indianapolis Colts, whose season featured Super Bowl Champion like moments, and also moments that sympathized with that of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts came out ready to prove themselves, and the Chiefs looked like exactly what we were all thinking, a team who had clinched playoff birth, and more than likely clinched their seed with two games to play. The Colts took that game 23-7, and that would turn out to be the last time the majority of the starters touched the field. So going into week 17, the Kansas City Chiefs have lost four of their last six, but had locked up the 5 seed in the playoffs regardless of the outcome of this week’s game. So what do you do, do you play your starter’s and try to win the game, gaining momentum and sending a divisional rival home with tears and a remote to watch you in the playoffs, or do you start the back ups, taking out any risk of injury and giving the reserves a chance to shine, while the starters rest? I have a very clear opinion on which one of these situations should have happened, but I will entertain the positives and negatives of both sides. For me, the decision is an easy one, you play the starters. Any momentum heading into the playoffs where you will face an upward trending Indianapolis Colts, is a bonus on all levels. You started off the season coming out with a vengeance, showing the NFL world that the 2012 two win Chiefs were a thing of the past, and if you treated us like that, you were getting left in the dust. But now you sit having lost 4 of the last 6, and skeptics are starting to question the strength of the Kansas City Chiefs. (I would like to point out one of those is not me, I believe we have the tools to make a playoff run, regardless of the outcome of week 17) So you play your starters, you come out, you beat the Chargers by at least 14, send them crying home to their Cali bros, you prove to the nation we are in the conversation for best defenses in the NFL, and that we can put up the points to compliment it, and you go into the playoffs ready to take the LUCK out of Indy. (Pun intended) Win or lose..what am I talking about if the starters play we leave the Chargers in the dust. But the other side of the argument also comes into play. Why would you risk your starters health status when you are the 5 seed regardless. I UNDERSTAND this side of the argument, and like I said, I stated my opinion and I believe it, but see the other side of the green grass also. Why would we put Charles, Berry, Flowers, Hali, and Smith (although I think Chase can bring an equal amount to the table) for the chance to gain momentum, and no chance to gain playoff seeding? Well we can all look back now, having lost the game, and still realize we are the 5 seed regardless, and have our hands full in a tough Colts team, but there is always room to speculate. Momentum proves to be crucial in the playoffs, and I’m not saying we don’t have any, nor that we are not prepared, but the way I see it, if we can ride into the playoffs with a win, why not ride in like the jockey on the Secritariat. To close off this post, let us Chief’s fans hope that national coverage in all NFL GM’s offices was down today, and that none of them saw the 21/30, 200 yard, 59 yards rushing, no interception throwing performance that Chase Daniel put on. Chase Daniel proved it at Missouri, he knows how to run a football team, he’s not afraid to risk it, he’s not afraid to initiate a hit, and he’s ready at all times to come in and make an impact. So while the Giants were stuck with the Ray Charles like Eli Manning, the Jaguars were stuck with the inferior “Sunshine” in Blaine Gabbert, and the Texans were stuck with Pick 6 Schaub, the Chiefs have two QBs that are impact starters, and ready for the task. The regular season is concluded, we more than quintupled our wins from last year, and we are playoff bound. I can tell you one thing about these playoffs, Andy Reid will have this team ready, he’s been there, and he knows how to get it done. So what do you all think? Comments Below! Until next time, #CruzsSportsCorner
Allow Me To Introduce Myself (Jay Z Voice)
Cruz’s Sports Corner, America, my name is Cruz Buchanan. Just a sport’s fan obsessed with watching, analyzing, and following sports, all sports. A thing most of us dedicated sports fans think about, I am putting into action. A place where I can state my opinions, observations, predictions, hell anything about sports that I feel I want to voice, this will be the spot. I would love to gain followers to engage in epic Stephen vs. Skip Bayless battles (No I will not use Caps Lock to emulate the obnoxiously loud shout produced by Stephen A’s big mouth, southly located of his receding hairline). I feel that I should first clarify my alliances. I am a die hard Chiefs, Celtics, Cardinals, Blues, and Missouri NCAA athletics fan. When we start talking about the other “football,” I tend to be a mere fan of the Championship League, but support Barcelona and the good ole USA on a national level. So if in any of my posts you seem to sense a bias towards any of those powerhouses, it probably is indeed, a personal bias I have towards them, but every opinion or argument will defended with the statistics, because hey, numbers don’t lie. The National Basketball Association receives most of my attention in this wonderful world of sports, and I enjoy speculating on the future, analyzing the present, and stating my opinion and observing the greats of the past. When I say greats of the pasts I hope you all think about the Green and White, 17 banner hanging, Larry Bird and Bill Russell claiming, Boston Celtics! But on a serious note, I live for sports and love to hear other sports fans opinions too. Competitiveness is in my blood, so I love to engage in any and all arguments, and I tend to represent my New England stationed powerhouse, and WIN. #CruzsSportsCorner
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