The Pressure is Mounting for Scott Brooks

by Ronnie Hamp

scott brooksA few years back in the 2008-2009 season Scott Brooks and the Young Thunder were the perfect compliments to each other. With Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook leading the charge it appeared as if the Thunder were next in line to take over Western Conference supremacy. Predictions in the forecast were right.

The then nucleus of James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Durant matured faster than what many people expected and made a NBA Finals appearance in the 2012 after playing three seasons together. Though, the Thunder lost to the Miami Heat many people were excited about what the Thunder could become.

This summer OKC GM Sam Presti made a contract offer to James Harden that he turned down. Harden was then traded to the Houston Rockets days before the NBA season had begun. In return the Thunder received Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, as well as a few future first-round draft picks.

The trade created a lot of controversy, but in reality the Thunder did not have a way to pay Harden the money that he had expected. This past season Martin filled the role of the 6th man position pretty well (except for the playoffs). As James Harden blossomed into a top-tier shooting guard it made Thunder fans cringe. Without Harden the Thunder finished first in the brutal Western Conference. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook’s game went to new heights while head coach Scott Brooks just managed the troops.

Some people say when adversity strikes you see people’s true colors. In the early part of the opening playoff round against the Houston Rockets Russell Westbrook tore his meniscus after a bush league play by the Houston Rockets Patrick Beverly. Life was not so rosy after that moment. Kevin Durant had to play the role of Mr. Everything as he lost his side kick. Reggie Jackson played pretty well, but when you are replacing a superstar it is hard to expect anything less.

One of the biggest question marks that had rose after Westbrook’s departure was the game management of Scott Brooks. Brooks’s mishaps were often clean up by superb play by Durant or Westbrook. With one of his warriors out it was clear as day that Scott Brooks is not what we think he is.

The Oklahoma City Thunder lost to the Memphis Grizzlies in 5 games, and Scott Brooks was badly outcoached by Lionel Hollins. From having Kevin Durant guarding Marc Gasol in game 4 to leaving Kendrick Perkins in the game for an extensive period of time. There were many head scratching moments that would make you wonder about Brooks.

The Thunder will get a pass for their playoff failures this season, because Russell Westbrook was out due to injury. If this trend continues what will Sam Presti do? I know that Scott Brooks’s job is safe for now, but if he fails to take this team to the next level he may end up in the unemployment line. Memo to Brooks: Shape up or you’ll be shipped out!

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Norris Cole yams on Noah

by JT

First off I want to say Norris Cole has been ballin’ all playoff long. Cole has been puttin’ on for Dayton, Ohio for sure and Cleveland, hell the whole state.

Noah has one person to blame for Cole flushing it down in his face…. points to Carlos “Bigen my baldy” Boozer. Did you see that weak ass attempt to try to stop Cole from driving down the lane?

Cole went all left hand everything on the Bulls defense. Check out how the kid from the city threw it down on the Bulls.

Tayshaun Prince posterizes Ibaka and Jackson at the same time

by JT

Prince has been a self check all series, if you don’t know what self check is you didn’t play any street ball in your youth. Mike Conley was leading a semi-fastbreak with Prince trailing the lane, received the pass and just took off on the leaping Reggie Jackson and Serge Ibaka. I personally didn’t think Prince had that in him at this point in his career. I guess he got tired of being a self check superstar on the court.

The Grizzlies are heading to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in their franchise history. Check out the dunk.

Buckeye Football Can’t Come Soon Enough

by Ronnie Hamp

braxton miller

Last season was magical as the Buckeyes went 12-0. No the team wasn’t rewarded from a national standpoint, but to win twelve games in a row without a loss is a testament to how far this group of young men came from a season ago. With Coach Urban Meyer in the fold for years a come this may be a trend to how football seasons will be at THE Ohio State University.

The spring game was exciting to see. Players such as Mike Thomas, Chris Fields, Noah Spence, Curtis Grant, and Aldophus Washington opened a lot of eyes with their play. We all know that Braxton Miller, Bradley Roby, Ryan Shazier, Carlos Hyde, and the Offensive Line brings to the table, but it is good to see that other players are stepping up as well. I am itching to see the Bucks suit up this season. With last season’s success it is only right to expect a similar output.

The Buckeyes have a not so tough schedule on paper, but knowing how the season will play out there will be a lot of obstacles and tough games to overcome.

The anticipation of this season is probably the highest it has been in several years. Can this team average 50 points a game? How much has Braxton improved? How good will Jordan Hall be if healthy? Can the offensive line and defensive line duplicate last season’s dominance? These are just a few questions that will be answered in three months or so.

I don’t know what to do until then. I guess I have to be patient like all of #BuckeyeNation. With all of that said I have August 31st marked on my calendar. Signing off Go Bucks! O-H

High School Phenom Andrew Wiggins Selects Kansas Jayhawks

by Ronnie Hamp

Bill Self is probably feeling like Pete Bell off of the move Blue Chips after landing All-Everything player Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins selected Kansas over Kentucky, Florida State, and North Carolina. Wiggins will likely enter the season as a pre-season All-American and the Jayhawks will be a favorite to bring home the championship.

Wiggins, who has been anointed as the best prospect since Kevin Durant is a gifted swing man that has the ability to score from all over, and he is blessed with freakish athleticism. It will be interesting to see how things shape up with Wiggins. I know fans in Lawrence are excited. The Rock Chalk Jayhawks will have a lot to be happy due to Wiggins arrival. Here is a mix of Andrew Wiggins doing what he does best. S/O to my guy @CITYLEAGUEHOOPS for the footage.

 

The Weight of the World is on KD35’s shoulders

by JT

kevin-durantThe Oklahoma City Thunder were heavy favorites to come out of the West when the playoffs started. The young guns out of the Western Conference just made it to the finals last year and seemed to be a little bit better despite trading away last year’s 6th man of the year and current all-star guard James Harden. I was on board with the trade because they couldn’t afford Harden for the long haul but I would’ve kept him until the end of this year but no matter what they still had Russell the Great.

The Thunder happened to get matched up with the Rockets in the first round, karma I guess. Everyone had the Thunder in a sweep or 5 games which made sense to anybody who watched basketball on a semi-normal basis. What people didn’t count on was the Thunder’s second in command to injure his knee. Russell Westbrook aka the mutant, because he hadn’t missed any games during his nba career. Westbrook tore his right meniscus during game 2 calling a timeout when Patrick Beverley banged knees with him. The play wasn’t dirty but it pointed a microscope at the feisty Beverley. Westbrook had surgery on his knee and is out for the rest of the playoffs.

The Thunder went on to beat the Rockets in 6 games and now are locked into a battle with the physical Grizzlies. After Westbrook went down two things went through my head man KD is going to have to show the world he can be a LeBron double or something similar and damn not having Harden is a big loss because it puts either Kevin Martin or Serge Ibaka as your second option. With Westbrook playing the trade was solid but with him out Martin isn’t a playoff tested player even though he’s a veteran so with that being said Durant has to go into super saiyan mode on a nightly basis for the Thunder to have a shot.

As far as picking up the slack of his Robin not being in action KD has done a great job and being a scorer, rebounder, defender and creator for his team. During the 7 games AW(After Westbrook) he has been filling up the stat sheet like people with their EBT cards do their carts on the 1st and 3rd. KD is averaging 34 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 6.1 apg and 1.6 spg AW.

Durant is putting up good numbers as I write this post. The Thunder and Grizzlies are battling as we speak by the end of the game it may be tied 2-2 heading to OKC or OKC could be down 1-3. Reggie Jackson is holding his own being thrust into action but they miss Westbrook a lot and with that being said KD has a lot of extra pressure on his shoulders without his 2nd in command around to help him with this heavy lifting.

Ankle Insurance: Ginóbili clips Harrison Barnes wings

by JT

With game 4 tied with less than a 30 seconds left the Warriors playoffs lives were on the line. Manu sized up Barnes with a behind the back dribble that make him crumble. As I realized Manu missed the shot I damn near didn’t write this post but make or miss isn’t what Ankle Insurance is about, as I was reminded by the homie Ron Hamp.

Harrison “Black Falcon” Barnes had a career game during this crucial game 4 vs the Spurs. Big ups to Barnes for balling in a very important game but it doesn’t stop the fact that Manu claimed those ankles in crunch time.

I guess Manu didn’t like that No Country for Old Men pic floating around on the internet.

Yes, the Warriors did win and this is a very exciting series but check out how Barnes got clipped.

There will be better moments young homie keep your head up.