Courtside Conversations - February 2016 by Courtside Conversations

February 2016

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COOKING 101: STEPH CURRY

onversatons Courtside January 18th This was the day that the lesson Curry has been teaching came full circle and blew the minds of NBA fans everywhere. Let’s rewind a little bit back to June of 2015 which at this point is recognised by fans as the series that Golden State was always going to win, but was overshadowed by LeBron and questions around the Cavs team health. The Warriors dominance was not as apparent at this point as this was their first finals as a team and a first finals experince for every player on that roster at the time. Regardless, they got the job done and the games they lost were more about LeBron James pure skill and his will to win playoff basketball games. So fast forward now, the 2015-2016 NBA season has started and the Warriors start exactly where they left off. Week by week the NBA world watched as the Dubs racked up win after win. Before we knew it the Warriors had made history was the best NBA regular season winning record and season start. Even with all this going on it seemed like the talk had started about a certain game on the Warriors schedule. There was conversation about how the Dubs had coasted with a reletively easy record to begin their season and for their dominating start to be valid they need to face a “difficult team”.

LESSON 1: CHRISTMAS IN CLEVELAND

December 25th This game that everybody wanted to see was none other than the conveniently scheduled christmas day game where the Dubs would face the Cleveland Cavaliers. Curry, dealing with injury, showed up and his team took a close game win although not in the spectacular fashion we would soon see.

Curry Statline: Pts: 19 Ast: 7 Reb: 7 Stl: 2

FG %: 40 % 3P % : 25 % PAGE 2

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LESSON 2: JANUARY STRETCH Pt.1 Curry Statline: Pts: 35 Ast: 4 Reb: 5 Stl: 3

FG %: 66.7 % 3P % : 58.3 %

January 18th After the christmas day showdown there was still some uncertainty to the Warriors dominance over the top teams and on this day we would be treated to a re-match of the re-match. After a close game in thier first meeting, it was thought by many that Cleveland would take this game in spectacular fashion, in no other place but the Cavs home of the Q. As the stars were out and the larger part of the NBA fans tuned in, what would unfold was one of the worst defeats that LeBron himself would personally recieve. How bad was it exactly? Cleveland were getting it handed to them from the tip-off and did not see one lead change throughout the entire 48 minutes of play. The Warriors made the Cavs look ridiculous, the Dubs played at their own pace, bothered every Cavs player defensively and never looked back. The Cavaliers isolation ball was the Warriors guilty pleasure, as soon as the Cavs thought they were working their way on offense it was quickly altered by the swarming Warriors defense. On the other side of the ball, The Cavaliers could not figure it out at any point and this was highlighted with multiple Warriors players finding wide-open spots from mid-range and the 3 point line especially. If not there then it was a clear lane to the hoop or an onslaught of fast-breaks that even the Cavs couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t justify using the energy to even try and stop. The Warriors made it look easy on that night in Cleveland where Cavs fans were left with their face in their hands and the heads shaking in disbelief. It seems that visitors locker room really did give Golden State that edge and took them back to June 2015.

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January 25th Here it is, the 1 vs the 2. The match-up that everyone was waiting to see, as the 2 best teams not only in the west but the two best teams in the league faced off. Both are well coached and play both sides of the ball with extreme execution. As it turns out the Spurs were in for one hell of a night, as the Warriors picked apart one of the NBA’s most well-oiled machines for the last 2 decades. Before we go any deeper into this synopsis, it should be pointed out that Tim Duncan did in fact miss this game due to a condition better known as “Pop-said-to-rest-itis”. Apart from this minor detail, and it really is minor, the Spurs struggeled throughout the contest, as they couldn’t find an answer for the kid out of Davidson. Curry lit the Spurs up for 37 big ones and in usual blow-out fashion didn’t play the majority of the 4th quarter. Thats right, the Warriors best player sat the final quarter against the NBA’s second best team. Ok so maybe we’re jumping the gun here, but the dominance that the Dubs held over the Spurs that night was something of a wake-up call. Lets take some perspective on this though, in a 7 game series between the Dubs and the Spurs, would the conversation be different, let’s just say that theres a good reason to believe that we’ll find out in Western Conference Finals. Until then, the Spurs are to be on high alert, to be regarded as a defensive juggernaut is all well and good until you get exploited. Thats said however, there is no other team close to the group down in the bay area and consistency will be the key. As of right now, consistency doesn’t seem to be the problem and for Steph and the Warriors it is on display for the whole world to see. So watch. And learn.

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LESSON 3: SHOCKING THE SPURS Curry Statline: Pts: 37 Ast: 3 Reb: 2 Stl: 5

FG %: 60 % 3P % : 66.7 %

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Written By: Warren Estcourt

SOLUTION: CAN IT BE STOPPED? I

n the fifth century Pope Leo met with Attila the Hun who had just vanquished all of Rome and its dependants after sweeping across Europe and decimating Legions of Roman Centurions: “Now we pray that thou, who hast conquered others, shouldst conquer thyself. The people have felt thy scourge; now as suppliants they would feel thy mercy.” Rome - the greatest Empire on the face of the earth was reduced to begging to save themselves. So it is with Steph Curry and the rest of the NBA. At the time of writing this, Curry had sat out 14 fourth quarters, a league high for starters this year and has also hardly played in another half a dozen as well - all whilst averaging 32 ppg. If he’s in the mood witness his multiple 20 point quarters this year and also his 36 point 13/14 FG performance in the first HALF earlier this year - then maybe he just simply can’t be stopped - he’s that good. But can he be slowed down? Let’s see.

Make him play D - sounds simple right? Curry is an above average defender - he defends the ball handler well and also gets in the lanes (2.2 spg) he has a high basketball IQ and knows when to take chances. You simply MUST make him guard you. Run him off multiple on balls and if the Warriors switch - re-screen and go at him again. And again. And again. He’s too small to pick up NBA forwards and centres rolling to the basket. Also post him up. Make him play D on the block. Curry is listed at 191 cm (6-3) and 84 kg (185lb) Teams rarely try and post him - it’s physical in there - get him on the block. Coaching in the NBA is predictable - if he gets two or three fouls early - he will sit.

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2. Physicality - you simply HAVE to get

Every now and then foul him - hard. Make him earn it. He’s an excellent FT shooter (91.4%) but it’s not about that - it’s about making him look over his shoulder. Backscreen and hard up screens are also the order of the day. All within the rules of course. And he hates hands on him off the ball. So, hands on it is.

I like the idea of rushing him PRIOR to him using the on ball and getting it out of his hands. He’s so smart though you need to experiment with multiple covers to try and keep him from getting into a rhythm. At the very least the bigs need to “show their numbers” and not play him flat. That’s a recipe for disaster, and embarrassment.

after him. Back in the day - a lot of NBA teams had the “three knock down rule.” Third drive by the same player - then you fouled them - hard. Obviously the NBA has changed but Curry is rarely hit in his numerous forays to the basket.

3. Make him go backdoor - everyone would

have seen Curry turn Kawhi Leonard in circles last week and then hit a three - at least if you make him go backdoor he’s going towards help and he will then pass it out make someone else shoot it. Plus you simply MUST pressure the ball and make it a difficult pass.

Hack-a-Shaq. I can hear you saying what? I’m talking about his teammates - not Curry. Bogut is 12/29 from the stripe this year, good for only 41% and is a career 55% FT shooter. He is only playing 21 mpg this year but I’d be taking advantage of his poor free throw shooting to upset the offensive rhythm of Curry. Also Iguodala, 57% FT and 27mpg - if nothing else it makes them go to a small ball line up earlier than usual which impacts minutes and rotations. I’d make those two shoot 40 free throws between them. Iguodala is the only NBA Finals MVP to be subbed off so he couldn’t be fouled by the opposition and go to the FT line.

5. Go at Green - Draymond Green is an

excellent passer and also part of Curry’s success. He leads the Warriors in assists and is sixth in the league in that category. Be physical with Green. Elbow him. Push him. You may be poking the Tiger but the reward is worth the risk of you can get him thinking about something other than helping Curry score.

Hard Traps and sending the stronger defender at Curry off the double team. A few NBA teams have tried this. The trouble is Curry is so good he can see the double coming and beat it with a quick three or a pass off the dribble to the rolling Green and company.

Deny him the ball - like I said earlier easier said than done - especially when Curry usually carries the ball. It’s like the great MJ once said, “it’s easy to get it out of my hands. But it’s hard to keep it from me.” Eventually Curry will get open. He’s that good and requires less than no room to heave it - but I’d still rather have someone else shooting it. Overplay him and make him go back door towards the help.

Push him to the right or left - he’s great going both ways. Pick your poison and send him towards help.

Find him early in transition. Curry gets a lot of threes in the open court and according to 82games.com he shoots just over half of his FGA in the first 10 seconds of the shot clock with an eFG% of 45%. He also shoots almost a quarter of his FGA between 11-16 seconds with an eFG% of 64%. Pick him up early. I’d almost keep the man he’s guarding on him so there’s No delay in picking him up. And I’d face guard him off the ball. No leeway. No help. In the end it may be Curry’s team mate Draymond Green who is correct, “stop him? You can’t. Slow him down maybe....maybe.”

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NBA ALL STAR 2016

onversatons Courtside onversatons Courtside T his year the NBA has taken the All-Star game to the North and along ourtside it brings a multitude of the NBAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best talent to participate in a range of onversatons Cwith

various events throughout the most exciting weekend in the NBA.

Much like the big games of the regular season it is always fun to get our writers opinions on some of the results that they think will happen in the many different events. This year will host some of the greatest players ranging from rookies to veterans. A star studded Dunk Contest will see Zach Lavine of the Timberwolves defend his crown after a dazzling aerial display in Brooklyn last year against the likes of Will Barton (Denver), Aaron Gordon (Orlando) and Andre Drummond (Detroit). In the 3-point Contest, sharp-shooter and NBA MVP/Champion Stephen Curry will be put up against some of the leagues best snipers from the arch inlcuding being placed up against his other half of the splash brothers Klay Thompson (Golden State) as well as J.J Reddick (Los Angeles), Khris Middleton (Milwaukee), Chris Bosh (Miami), James Harden (Houston), Devin Booker (Pheonix) and Torontoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own Kyle Lowry (Toronto). The Skills Challenge gets a shake-up this year introducing a few big men into the equation as it hosts defending champion Patrick Beverly (Houston), Jordan Clarkson (Los Angeles), Isiah Thomas (Boston), DeMarcus Cousins (Sacremento), Draymond Green (Golden State), Anthony Davis (New Orleans), Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota) and CJ McCollum (Portland). Finally the weekend is capped off by the ever-entertaining All-Star game as a favoured Western Conference faces a worthy Eastern Conference where the action should be non-stop from start to finish. Find out what our writers think below.

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ALL STAR

PREDICTIONS written BY Keon West

Dunk Contest: This years dunk contest looks decent. Nothing special, but still promising. I don’t understand why DeAndre Jordan wouldn’t be in place of Drummond, someone he compares to, yes he is a far better dunker but Drummond still has hops that deserve recognition. Will Barton has been a shock player this year, a bench SG making a claim to be either Most Improved Player or Sixth man of the year. He rebounds well for his size, largely due to his impressive hops. He definitely will let people know who he is this up coming contest. Aaron Gordon is the sleeper, not a very well known player, but I’ll say this... he dunks like Blake, similiar anyway and could shock some people. So finally we have the defending champ, a point guard with massive hops, in Zach Lavine. He reminded us all last year of a prime Vince Carter and stole the show. Prediction: Zack Lavine repeat. I see this kid coming up with new, unseen material and making himself relevant again with another outstanding and entertaining performance.

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3-Pt Contest: We have some clear and obvious selections and a couple unexpecteds. Chris Bosh celebrates his breakout 3pt year by being invited to the contest and I think he will put up a solid performance. Devin Booker as a rookie has impressed us with his range early on, thus earning a spot. Lowry, Redick, Middleton, and Thompson have all certified themselves as some of the best three point shooters, especially Khris and Kyle this year. Of course, there is Curry, defending champ, who won his first contest last year after numerous failed attempts. He is in a league of his own. Prediction: Stephen Curry repeat. Considering that this year he showed us he could play even better, shoot even more, just as accurately, its too impressive. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see him slipping up during this contest, I see him dominating like he does in real games.

Skills Challenge: With the addition of more big men, this part of the All star weekend has become a little more interesting. We have all kinds of sizes, play makers, and ball handlers in this field. I think this is how the field should look every year. Prediction: Draymond Green. I have a lot of admiration for this guy. He has become the best playmaking, passing big man in the game (excluding LBJ). This breakout season has been a sign to fans of what he can really do, and I believe this year he will win the Skills challenge and certify his guard style play.

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East vs West: I’m quite excited about this years game, we get to see Kobe have his last ASG ever and we have a few first timers and the lineups are some of the most well rounded we’ve ever seen. Don’t you love the time of year where we see all these stars play together? Such a beautiful thing. Unfortunately we won’t have such talents like Blake Griffin and Damian Lillard. Prediction: West All Stars. We all know that East has two MVP calibur players in LBJ and George... But the West’s starting lineup has 4-5 of the top 5 MVP candidates alone, not even considering having Harden, Green, and Cousins off the bench. I don’t see this game being a blowout, but I see a convincing win for the West. Only way the East will win is if the veterans have a prime like game, all of them. Miami’s former big 3 plus Carmelo. All-Star Game MVP: I personally would like Lebron James to win this, as I think at this point in his career he should win one more of these as he isn’t getting any younger. Prediction: Stephen Curry. Due to his continued hype and added scoring dominance, I see Curry dribbling past his defenders and making pretty layups. I see him making long shots... all on his way to a very entertaining and powerful performance.

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NBA ALL STAR 2016

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All Star Game Mark James Warren Kevin Rob Brandon Dave Jordan Tom

WEST WEST WEST WEST WEST WEST WEST east east

2016 Kevin Durant Draymond Green Steph Curry Steph Curry Draymond Green Kevin Durant Steph Curry LeBron James Paul George

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Mark James Warren Kevin Rob Brandon Dave Jordan Tom

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Challenge

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3PT Contest

Mark James Warren Kevin Rob Brandon Dave Jordan Tom

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DUNK CONTEST For this years dunk contest we had an overwhelming agreement that Zach Lavine would repeat as champion. That prediciton was not farfetched at all if you saw last years dunk contest, but as we all know by now, this was a prediction that almost did not come to fruition. Nonetheless no matter the winner I think we would all agree that what we reicieved was one of the greatest dunk contests that would rival the likes of Jordan vs. Wilkins and Vince Carterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s take over in the 2000 slam dunk contest. However, it should not go unmentioned that one of our writers did pick aaron gordon as his winner and we should give props to rob and perhaps we can hope that gordon and lavine will be back to do it all again next year.

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Death of the NBA Max Contract By: Robert Macmillan

he inevitable increase in cap room next off-season opens an interesting debate to the worth of players. We’ve already seen the effect last off-season with high priced contracts given to players on the assurance of “it won’t be so bad when the cap is raised.” Head offices right now seem to throw out lucrative max money contracts to players who seemingly don’t warrant it based on talent but rather because they overvalue a players worth. Usually the unnecessary use though isn’t all a teams fault, but a response to high market value for players for no discerning reason. Teams want superstars at any cost and the max contract devalues the games elite from the “just good”. I have no problem with major contracts being handed out to players deserving of one or off of possible potential, however when teams are looking for the next superstar for there roster having a capped max contract forces players of different talent levels to be worth the same contractually. It’s impossible to argue that Reggie Jackson’s worth is as much as LeBron James, but due to the max contracts on paper they are. Teams try desperately to lure talent or keep talent, and max contracts often make players overvalued when compared to deserving maxes. This has frequently been the case for many years, players such as Joe Johnson, Brandon Roy and Chandler Parsons were all given max contracts but there output doesn’t translate to other elite maxes.

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Max contracts should only be for the elite and by giving them to just regular role players it then tires to become a justification of the idea that they are of that level contract. A key example of a player who leveraged his team for a max due to the leagues overvaluing is Tristan Thompson. There is no doubt that Thompson is a very good player but no case can be argued statistically as to why he deserved a max deal. The only solid argument for this is the fact that if Cleveland, a team in a win now situation, knew if they didn’t pay out this lucrative deal that somebody else would. Many argue that’s what a bidding system does, it makes that player a value that teams are willing to pay for them, however max contracts force a players worth to hit a ceiling to which they arguably don’t deserve compared to other max contracts.

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This coming off-season brings the overvaluing of players to an all time high as the cap increases. This gives teams a little bit more spending money and allows them to go on bidding wars that will result in many front officers overpaying and handing out max contracts. We’ve already seen it begin last off-season. Coming of a major injury from a team in which he was a valuable role player but not a star, Wesley Mathews was deemed by the Mavericks to be a max contract player. Considering the recent trend to giving skilled role players max contracts this next off-season should be great for fans that love to watch teams who are in desperate win now situations throw big deals at minor role players, as we all hope our team isn’t throwing out the next Roy Hibbert type max deal.

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Written By: Mark Bruty @markbruty

WORK ON YOUR FREE-THROWS

klahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant made headlines late last year when he weighed in on the “hack a whoever” strategy that teams were using to exploit the free throw issues that plague a number of big men in the NBA. Frankly, KD delivered a message. “Don’t want to get hacked? Work on your fucking free throws”. Andre Drummond recently set a record for the most missed free throws during the Detroit Pistons victory over the Houston Rockets. 23 of them in fact. The Pistons centre went 13-36 from the charity stripe as the Rockets used KJ McDaniels to foul Drummond 5 times in less than ten seconds. In doing so, a real problem was highlighted. No, not just the inability of players to make FREE throws, but the just how the strategy / tactic / refereeing of the “hacking” strategy is taking place. I’ve heard bandied around the internet, that it’s “just not basketball”. That intentionally fouling a notoriously poor foul shooter and putting them on the line is not just ugly basketball, but it isn’t within the spirit of the game. Fouling players 80 feet from their hoop (in the third quarter) mightn’t be just as James Naismith envisaged, but believe it or not – it’s basketball. You play to your strengths, exploit the opposition’s weaknesses and you win games. The Houston Rockets failed to get the W by employing the “Hack a Drummond” strategy and so all’s well that ends well for big Andre, but if he wants to avoid costing his team important games – he needs to heed the advice from scoring champ and MVP Durant.

For years, teams have not only employed the “hacking” strategy, but they have been adjusting their game plans to take advantage of any shortcoming that a team or a particular player has. Can’t shoot from long range? Watch as we sag off you and help double team your scorer. Prefer to drive left? Watch us force you right. Not strong enough little man? Let me back you down in the low post. It’s nothing new. The reason teams like the San Antonio Spurs have been super successful is because they adjust, adapt, are highly skill and very well coached. Coach Pop knows who to use when and where, his dedication to stopping the opposition is exemplary. It has been drilled down into his players as well – you only have to look at Kawhi Leonard (Western Conference All Star starter this year) to see how important it is. Aussie Patty Mills was told quite frankly – you will not play regular minutes until you MAKE me play you regular minutes. Mills then got into terrific shape, worked on hit fitness and played on both sides of the ball and is now a big part of the rotation. This season, we saw Thunder coach Billy Donovan really push to get Russell Westbrook in the post against other point guards. Russ is a physical beast – strong enough to back you down, quick enough to get position and skilled enough to finish. Why wouldn’t you take the weaker, smaller floor generals to task? It just makes sense. @AboveTheRimBlog www.abovetherim.com.au

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COMBINED FT %

43%

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Now, because “hacking” is annoying the fans and making for ugly basketball, teams should stop using the strategy? I agree that it looks hideous and really takes the sting out of some games, but I can’t fault the players nor the coaches for doing what they can and what is within the rules to rack up numbers in the W column. You can’t applaud one strategy and hate another simply because you don’t like how it looks. The Spurs were often criticised for playing “boring” basketball (the same has been said of the collegiate game which focuses more on teamwork, ball movement and structures than individual brilliance) and now everyone wants to copy them (Golden State Warriors) because they have seen it reap rewards. The onus HAS to be put back on the players. I’m a Thunder fan, and we have struggled to find two way guards over the journey. If you’re a defensive liability, it doesn’t matter how well you can score in transition. You won’t carve out a role if you cannot do what the team needs you to do to win games. And let’s face it – as much as the NBA is entertaining and wants to produce the best quality and most entertaining product imaginable (hence the removal of handchecking, the restricted area below the basket, the “turn a blind eye to a travel call if the play looks brilliant” etc). Durant was speaking the truth when he addressed this very issue. If you have a flaw in your game, expect it to be exploited and work on it so it’s no longer a weakness. If you need a lesson, go and ask the GOAT. Michael Jordan worked meticulously on improving himself and his game – it’s why he is the greatest to ever lace them up. Seen only as a scorer? Won multiple defensive player of the year honours. Can only drive and dunk? Developed a wonderful jumpshot with range beyond the arc. Drummond, Dwight Howard, DeAndre Jordan – you’ve all been warned. Work on your game or cost your team wins. It’s a FREE THROW. It is unguarded. It is the same shot, every single time, from the same spot. You CAN get better, you just need to want to. Stop looking for a bail out.

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Work on your fucking free throws.

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The NBA’s Newest Generation of Rising Stars

In an era where basketball is ruled by the superstars of the league, have we, the fans, forgotten about the little guys? It’s about time we started recognising the meteoric rise of some of the NBA’s newest sensations, the race for Most Improved Player is heating up, and it’s about time someone took notice. In the early stages of the year, nearing the All Star halfway point, the race for the NBA’s Most Improved Player has been a most unusual one; a mix of young talent rising to stardom epitomized in CJ McCollum, Will Barton and Andre Drummond. Mixed with a plethora of already established players such as Kawhi Leonard, Draymond Green, Stephen Curry and a dark horse in Rajon Rondo. Since its inauguration in the 1985/’86 season, the Most Improved Player award been won by the likes of NBA superstars Jimmy Butler, Paul George, Kevin Love and in earlier years Tracy McGrady. Yet of the 31 players to win the award, Boris Diaw of the San Antonio Spurs is the only player to have also won an NBA Championship, if this tells us anything its that a top 5 player in the league in any given year, has never won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award and probably never will, that is unless last years league MVP Stephen Curry has something to say about it.

Written By: James Seymour

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30.1 points per game, 5.4 Rebounds, 6.6 Assists, 2.1 Steals. These are the season stats for the reigning MVP at the hallway mark in the season, Curry has improved in areas some never even fathomed, on track to break his own record of 286 made three-pointers in a season (currently sitting at 204), his advanced stats are off the charts with a player efficiency rating (PER) of 32.6 and an overall plus-minus of +12.8, both career highs. Perhaps the most baffling aspect of Curry’s improvement is not his phenomenal spike in output, but the fact that his Golden State Warriors lead the league in win-loss record and at this point in the season are biting at the ankles of Michael Jordan’s historical Bulls 72 and 10 record; Curry has evolved as an offensive juggernaut with solid improvements on the defensive side of the ball, he has developed as a leader and spearheads the leagues best team, in Golden State. Averaging nearly 7 points per game more than last season along with steady efficiency increases across the board, Stephen Curry is showing us that he wants to take home more than one trophy this season. And now come the young guys. In any season there are breakout young stars chasing the gilded trails of their all star predecessors, the torch isn’t exactly being passed yet but that doesn’t mean things aren’t heating up for these kids. Perhaps the safer bets in this year’s MIP battle are young studs CJ McCollum and Will Barton, these two young shooting guards are taking the league by storm and are standing up in almost every measurable category. For McCollum you can argue that his improvement from last season stems from his role change from benchwarmer on a playoff team to the new starting 2-Guard on a team struggling through the regular season, though regardless McCollum as exploded onto the scene as one of the best young players in the league.

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In his 2014/’15 campaign McCollum struggled for minutes and consistency and finished the season averaging 6.8 points per game, 1.0 assists and 1.5 rebounds; McCollum broke out in the trail blazers injury riddled playoff run to average 17 points and almost 4 rebounds per game and has carried that momentum through to the present season, throwing up much improved totals of 20.8 points, 4.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. McCollum has played an integral part in what little success the Trail Blazers have had, coupling with Damian Lillard for the second best scoring backcourt tandem in the league (44.3 points per game) and has solidified his case for the NBA’s most improved player. Will Barton of the Denver Nuggets is a player often lost to the superstardom that shines so bright in the NBA, though along with McCollum, Barton is competing with other incredible young players and emerging as one of the more proficient improving players in the league. Currently averaging 15.4 points, 2.4 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game, Barton has broken out into the fresh season after last years trade from Portland, where he averaged a lowly 3.0 points per, along with 1.1 rebounds and less than one assists per game. When you look at Barton, its not just the stats that talk but the electrifying highlight plays, clutch moments and emergence as a leader on a young and often lost Denver team struggling to be relevant, given perspective Barton’s 2015/’16 campaign is tribute to his case for Most Improved Player. When we as fans its so easy for us to see the simple things, to take the dunks, passes, overtime thrillers and the superstars that define those moments; but behind the scenes there is a plethora of young talent that are making us take notice, the best players in our league today are the ones that improve every year and whether it’s a defending MVP in Steph Curry or a bench warmer turned heroine like McCollum or Barton there are so many players (many that I haven’t even mentioned) vying for this years Most Improved Player award, and I think we’re finally taking notice.

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A Foye Story

Written By Mark Bruty @markbruty

@AboveTheRimBlog www.abovetherim.com.au

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Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti generally has something up his sleeve. He is shrewd and savvy and tends to make all the right moves at all the right times. He is one of the main reasons the Thunder remain competitive year after year and why they are sustainable long term. During this trade deadline period though, Presti didn’t “wow” us with anything of great substance. Well at least not at first glance. The Oklahoma City Thunder have the league’s third best record. They’re on pace to push yet another 60 win season (with a tough schedule on the run home they might have to “settle” for 55+ wins) but due to the incredible records of the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors, they are largely perceived as “needing something more”. I don’t see it and clearly the Thunder organisation didn’t see it as the trade deadline came and went with barely a blip on the OKC radar. Sam Presti did his greatest work last trade period when he secured Dion Waiters and Enes Kanter – two key pieces that have the Thunder right back in the mix for a deep post-season push. This time, the move was to trade DJ Augustin and Steve Novak (two journeymen who are certainly no strangers to finding a new location at the deadline!) to the Denver Nuggets for veteran shooting guard Randy Foye. Outsiders (and some fans) believe the Thunder need a “3 & D” guy to steady the perimeter scoring and defence. Not many view Foye as that guy. After all, Foye is having a down year with limited minutes as the Nuggets prefer to play for the future by starting Garry Harris at the two spot. While other teams made larger moves (the Los Angeles Clippers acquisition of Jeff Green for Lance Stephenson for example) to try and get them over the hump – the Thunder opted to not disrupt chemistry, bring in a veteran leader who has the required skillset to fit in and strengthen what they already have – not change it entirely.

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Now this is where I get to the crux of the deal for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Randy Foye is not really a game changer – but the Thunder don’t need that. They do need some assistance defending the three point line and they would also love someone who can shoot the basketball from deep. Dion Waiters has been the “best” at this but he is inconsistent. Anthony Morrow is highly skewed towards shooting, while Andre Roberson is more at home of the defensive end. Foye is hopefully going to provide a balance of both. More importantly, Foye is highly regarded in the locker room. That is only going to pay dividends as the Thunder enter the business end of the season. When OKC took on Golden State and came up short, it was clear that the Warriors bench was stacked with heady veterans and it did the damage against the Thunder second unit. Cameron Payne is going to be a star, but as a rookie he struggled against the strength and basketball IQ of the GSW elder statesmen. Foyhe helps negate that – not just by being inserted into the fray but also by guiding and mentoring Payne to learn, develop and improve.

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Now, when you think of the Oklahoma City Thunder, you can’t help but think of money. It has shaped their sustainable success model and has forced some tough decisions over the journey. And it’s only going to get tougher as Kevin Durant (this off-season), Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka (next season) become free agents. The move to rid themselves of the contracts of DJ Augustin and Steve Novak not only frees up a roster spot, but it also saves the Thunder over $9 million in salary and luxury tax bills. That’s a pretty big saving. Not to mention that Foye is an expiring contract after this season giving the Thunder front office flexibility. So at first glance, it seems like quite a pedestrian trade. The Thunder bring in Foye to essentially replace Augustin (who had lost his minutes to Payne anyway) as the veteran backcourt presence while also shedding the rarely utilised sharp shooting and solid money earning Novak. It’s not ground breaking, earth shattering – actually it doesn’t even create a tremor. When you have the third best record in the NBA with room to improve and are only trailing two teams that are having historic seasons, you don’t need to make a big splash at the trade deadline. You only need to make it in the playoffs. The Thunder made a solid if unspectacular move in acquiring Randy Foye and we look forward to seeing what he can add to OKC. PAGE 50

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