Spurs Hire Tim Duncan As Assistant Head Coach

Spurs Hire Tim Duncan As Assistant Head Coach

Featured

by | Jul 22, 2019 | Featured, NBA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AFC West Fantasy Outlook – 2019-2020

Featured

by | Jul 22, 2019 | Featured, NFL

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

Denver Broncos:

QB: Joe Flacco

RB: Phillip Lindsay, Royce Freeman 

WR: Courtland Sutton, Emmanuel Sanders, Daesean Hamilton

TE: Noah Fant, Jake Butt

D/ST: Position Rank = 10

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

Los Angeles Chargers:

QB: Phillip Rivers

RB: Melvin Gordon III, Austin Ekeler

WR: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Travis Benjamin

TE: Hunter Henry, Virgil Green

D/ST: Position Rank = 12

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

Oakland Raiders:

QB: Derek Carr

RB: Josh Jacobs, Jalen Richard

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

TE: Darren Waller, Luke Willson

D/ST: Position Rank = 32

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

Kansas City Chiefs:

QB: Patrick Mahomes

RB: Damien Williams, Carlos Hyde

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

TE: Travis Kelce

D/ST: Position Rank = 17

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

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

MLB 2019 Trade Deadline: Buyers and Sellers

Featured

by | Jul 19, 2019 | Featured

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

Your 2019 Trade Deadline Buyers and Sellers:

BUYERS

AMERICAN LEAGUE:

NEW  YORK YANKEES (62-33)

1st in AL East

Team Need: PITCHING DEPTH

Potential Target: DET- SP MATTHEW BOYD

HOUSTON ASTROS (61-37)

1st in AL West

Team Need: POSTSEASON STARTER

Potential Target: TOR- SP MARCUS STROMAN

MINNESOTA TWINS (59-36)

1st in AL Central

Team Need: MIDDLE RELIEF

Potential Target: SF- RP WILL SMITH

NATIONAL LEAGUE:

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (64-35)

1st in NL West

Team Need: MIDDLE RELIEF

Potential Target: PIT- RP FELIPE VAZQUEZ

ATLANTA BRAVES (58-40)

1st in NL East

Team Need: VETERAN PITCHING

Potential Target: ARI- SP ZACK GREINKE

CHICAGO CUBS (52-44)

1st in NL Central

Team Need: LINEUP BALANCE

Potential Target: MIA- SS MIGUEL ROJAS

SELLERS

AMERICAN LEAGUE:

TEXAS RANGERS (50-46)

3rd in AL West

Team Need: ROTATION DEPTH AND A BIG BAT

Potential Trade Piece: OF HUNTER PENCE

LOS ANGELES ANGELS (50-48)

4th in AL West

Team Need: SALARY FLEXIBIITY

Potential Trade Piece: SS MATT HARVEY

SEATTLE MARINERS (39-60)

5th in AL West

Team Need: PROSPECTS AND SALARY FLEXIBILITY

Potential Trade Piece: SP MARCO GONZALES

NATIONAL LEAGUE:

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (49-48)

2nd in NL West

Team Need: PROSPECTS AND SALARY FLEXIBILITY

Potential Trade Piece: SP ZACK GREINKE

CINCINNATI REDS (43-51)

5th in NL Central

Team Need: OVERALL DEPTH

Potential Trade Piece: OF YASIEL PUIG

PITTSBURG PIRATES (45-50)

4th in NL Central

Team Need: YOUNG CATCHER

Potential Trade Piece: 2B ADAM FRAZIER

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

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

Featured

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

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

 

          

 

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

 

 

         

Nike Hyperdunk (2008)

 

 

             

Nike Hyperdunk 2010

 

 

         

Nike Hyperdunk 2011

 

 

             

Nike Hyperdunk 2012

 

 

             

Nike Hyperdunk 2013

 

 

             

Nike Hyperdunk 2014

 

 

           

Nike Hyperdunk 2015

 

 

            

Nike Hyperdunk 2016

 

 

             

Nike Hyperdunk 2017

 

 

             

Nike Hyperdunk X (2018)

 

 

Jul 17, 2019 No Comments
Jadeveon Clowney’s Position Switch Saved His Career But Could Cost Him $2 Million

Jadeveon Clowney’s Position Switch Saved His Career But Could Cost Him $2 Million

Featured

by | Jul 16, 2019 | Featured, NFL

2013 Outback Bowl, Michigan versus South Carolina. First and 10, Michigan ball, leading 22-21 with 8:32 left in the fourth quarter. This was the moment when Jadeveon Clowney announced his presence to the football world at large.

The Wolverines snapped the ball and Clowney shot through the line from the right end and met running back, Vincent Smith in the backfield as the ball was handed off. Then Monday Night Football announcing tandem Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden were on the call, Gruden recapped what just happened best, “Clowney says, ‘I’ll take care of business'”.

It would be a full year before Clowney would enter the NFL draft, but that highlight along with his combination of freakish athletic ability, strength, and size would make the defensive end the first overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

With that smashing hit still fresh on everyone’s minds, Clowney was expected to immediately dominate in the league, especially with a player like J.J. Watt bookending the other side of the Houston Texans defensive front.

However, Clowney dealt with injuries and inconsistent play for the better part of his first three seasons in the NFL. By 2016, the Texans announced that they were going to move Clowney from outside linebacker to defensive end in their 3-4 alignment. After making a name for himself rushing off the edge at South Carolina, Houston was opting to kick him inside and use him more as a run defender and edge setter.

Yet, halfway through that season, a confluence of injuries along the Texans front seven resulted in Clowney moving back to outside linebacker and getting to try his hands again at being a pass-rushing presence off the edge. He registered three sacks through the first 12 weeks but he recorded a sack in each of the games from Week 14 through Week 16.

In their Wild Card win over the Oakland Raiders Clowney had an interception multiple quarterback pressures, and two deflected passes helping the underdog Texans hold their opponents to just 14 points.

Clowney would be named to the Pro Bowl that same year.

Since then, he’s been operating at outside linebacker, or “JACK” as it is listed on the Texans official website. His presence has been very important and entering this offseason the Texans opted to place the franchise tag on him to ensure that they would keep him with the team for at least one more season.

Yet, that tag is the reason for some recent controversy between Houston and Clowney. When a player is tagged by a team, they receive a one-year salary that is the average of the five-highest contracts for players at their position. The problem, what position is Clowney?

He wants to be tagged as a defensive end, where Houston wanted him to play in 2016. That would make his salary $17.13 million for the 2019-20 NFL season. The Texans want to tag him as an outside linebacker, where he’s been playing on and off for the team since being drafted in 2014. His salary would drop to $15.44 million for the upcoming year.

Clowney is at his best when he can attack off the edge, in 3-4 defenses those players are usually listed as outside linebackers but in 4-3 defenses, those players are usually listed as defensive ends. This confusion has led to draft prospects similar to Clowney to be billed as “EDGE” defenders rather than a defensive end or an outside linebacker.

The NFLPA is expected to file a grievance for Clowney in an attempt to secure him a higher salary.

Labeled as a DE/OLB on the Texans roster this issue isn’t as simple as it might seem. For instance, Aaron Reiss of The Athletic tweeted that mostly lined up at defensive end last year.

With Houston electing to bypass having a true general manager it isn’t a surprise that the two sides couldn’t come to a long-term agreement but a dispute over $2 million dollars could create some bad blood and tension between the team and player when it comes time to negotiate a new deal next offseason–unless they choose to tag Clowney again.

Clowney isn’t the first player to face this problem and likely won’t be the last. With CBA talks intensifying as a lockout looms on the horizon, it’ll be interesting to see if the NFL adopts “EDGE” as a position like draftniks has recently.

Jul 16, 2019 No Comments
NBA 2k20 Ratings Revealed: Who’s The Best In The Game?

NBA 2k20 Ratings Revealed: Who’s The Best In The Game?

Featured

by | Jul 16, 2019 | Featured, NBA

In what had become easily the most memorable and tumultuous NBA offseason in recent memory, or maybe ever, the anticipation and impatience for basketball to get back on television has seldom been higher. As per the tradition of every offseason, the hard-working folks at 2k Sports are cooking up their annual iteration of the game of basketball in virtual form.

NBA 2k20 is practically right around the corner and fans of the game, and NBA players alike, cannot wait to take to the sticks to play as their favorite team and players, create their own MyPlayers, control NBA franchises in GM Mode and much more.

Ronnie Singh, known as “Ronnie 2k”, the curator of the NBA 2k brand, recently took to Twitter to inform the 2k community of their widely anticipated rating show, showcasing the official ratings of the 20 best players in our 2020 iteration of virtual basketball on the Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch and Playstation 4. Ronnie and his game-developing partner in crime, Chris Manning, let their fans

It has become a yearly tradition of Ronnie’s this time of year to drop some exquisite in-game screenshots and debate-inciting numerical grades on the league’s most prominent players. And accordingly, shock, jubilation, and contempt are felt by each and all fanbases around the NBA as they catch wind of their favorite player either being snubbed from the 90 club, being severely underrated or having an inaccurately-high rating.

Nonetheless, check below to see where your favorite players lie on the best-in-the-game scale. With a new year approaching, some numbers may pop out more than others so do not (or do, they’re your favorite players anyway) be surprised how 2k rated the game’s best hoopers in their new game.

2k20’s 20 Best Ballers

Year after year, LeBron James has been unanimously dubbed the best player in the world, and according to NBA 2k, he is still considered to be the most lethal player in the video game.

News flash: he still is.

Coming into his 17th season, the astoundingly conditioned King of Basketball is the best player to use in the game. James will be a 97 overall, which is a one-point improvement from his 96 overall rating in 2k19. This rating follows his one-year hiatus from the top spot, since 2k19 standard cover athlete and 2018-19 MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, heralded the spot a year ago.

Just below LeBron (but not by much) stands his new roommate of sorts in LA’s Staples Center in Kawhi Leonard. The two-way dynamo brought some extra company to California by acquiring Paul George, on the same exact night he committed to the Clippers over the Raptors and LeBron’s Lakers. Yet this year, he is more than ready and willing to challenge LeBron for the throne in LA. Leonard eclipsed his “system player” adage this year by winning a title over the behemothic Golden State Warriors in one of the most impressive individual postseason runs anyone has ever seen and has evolved into being a trusted, all-around threat that can transform a franchise into a contender in a matter of a season.

Leonard also earned a 97 overall rating, which means by year’s end, basketball fans of all sorts will hopefully be treated to not only the Battle of Los Angeles and a pantheonic battle for the ages but the first-ever neutral western conference finals in league history.

Right after those two is the current league’s Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo with a 96 overall rating. The Bucks’ homegrown superstar put up historically gaudy numbers this year, nearly earning both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors, as he had the second-highest defensive rating in the 2018-19 season (only behind the Heat/Trailblazer’s Hassan Whiteside).

It is debatable conveying the point that Giannis felt the sting of the cover curse, as he has his best season as a professional basketball player. Antetokounmpo took to social media on Sunday to follow one measly request to Bucks fans next year: do not call him “MVP” just yet.

Here is the complete list of the 20 best-rated players in NBA 2k20.

1. LeBron James, 97 overall

2. Kawhi Leonard, 97

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, 96

4. Kevin Durant, 96

5. James Harden, 96

6. Stephen Curry, 95

7. Anthony Davis, 94

8. Paul George, 93

9. Damian Lillard, 92

10. Joel Embiid, 91

11. Kyrie Irving, 91

12. Nikola Jokic, 90

13. Russell Westbrook, 90

14. Klay Thompson, 89

15. Karl-Anthony Towns, 89

16. Jimmy Butler, 88

17. Kemba Walker, 88

18. Donovan Mitchell, 88

19. Rudy Gobert, 88

20. Blake Griffin, 88

NBA 2k20’s Best Dynamic Duos

Ronnie 2k and Chris Manning also announced the averaged total overalls of the league’s five-best dynamic duos at the beginning of the rating broadcast, which was live on Twitter. A league that changes more than a fitting room at a clothing store, the NBA was welcomed to two new duos for fans to enjoy watching and playing as in 2k20 when the game gets released to the public in September. So many superstars teamed up this year to create a new sense of leverage in the league, so that the era of big threes and superteams takes a backseat to the re-emergence of impactful all-star duos, seemingly all throughout the league.

Kevin Durant and Kyrie teamed in Brooklyn, the Klutch Sports business conglomerates in LeBron and Anthony Davis plan to sell out the Staples Center this offseason, Russell Westbrook reunited with his former Thunder buddy James Harden in Houston, and those are just to name a few of the superstars teaming up to contend for a title in the most open field to do so in nearly a decade. Check out below who made the top-five list of the best “Dynamic Duos” in NBA 2k20.

NBA 2k20’s Highest Rated Rookies

This year is just like every other year when fans of struggling teams can only hope that a rookie is talented enough to flip the fortune and future of their NBA franchise in their first years as pros. In the draft this year, we are being treated to one of the deepest draft classes at just about every position, and the kids that are coming into the league plan to make the most tectonic of impacts as they take to an NBA court for the first time. In the long wait for 2k20’s release, Ronnie 2k and Chris Manning additionally dropped the ratings for the top 5 best rookies to be in the game.

NBA 2k20 is set to release on all consoles (Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, Android, iOS and Nintendo Switch) on September 6, 2019.

Jul 16, 2019 No Comments