What happened to Tyreke Evans ?

One of the biggest mysteries in the NBA over the past few years has been Tyreke Evans. Evans is an extremely talented player.  He is 6"5 and a burly 220lbs.  His stature combined with versatile skills make him a nightmare match up for guards around the NBA.

Evans had one of the best rookie seasons for a point guard in NBA history.  He captured the 2009-2010 NBA Rookie of the Year award.  Evans is only the fourth rookie in NBA history to average 20.1ppg,  5.3rpg and 5.8apg.  Magic Johnson averaged 18ppg,  7.7apg and 7.3apg as a rookie back in 1980.  Evans is certainly in elite company.  Watching Evans during his rookie campaign was similar to watching LeBron James as a rookie.  A beautiful combination of size,  speed and grace flying down the court with the awareness and skill of a man six inches shorter.  Evans magical rookie year concluded with him capturing a spot on the all rookie first team and co MVP of the NBA rookie challenge.  Tyreke Evans had a better rookie season than Derrick Rose.  Rose came into the NBA in a better situation.

Those were the good old days for Evans.  His sophomore year didn't begin promising.  Evans appeared to have gotten lazy after a stellar first year in the league.  He reported to camp out of shape,  which is a not a good sign in a league as tough as the NBA.  Evans minutes decreased with the emergence of Isaiah Thomas and was often slid over to the off guard position.

The remainder of Evans time in Sacramento would prove to be tumultuous.  Often coming off the bench his numbers slipped to 15.2ppg, 4.4rpg and 3.5apg during his final year with the Kings.  A change of scenery was certainly needed.

This change would come on July 10, 2013.  Evans was shipped to the New Orleans Pelicans via a three team trade involving the Portland Trailblazers.  Adjusting to a new team can be a difficult transition.  Being a guard only enhances the pressure.  In his first year in New Orleans Evans numbers have dropped drastically.  He averages a career low 12.7ppg and 4.3rpg.  Evans has never been a good three point shooter.  His average has dropped to a putrid 14.9% this season.

Evans experienced another low point on Sunday.  He was benched by head coach Monty Williams against Brooklyn for conduct detrimental to the team.  The issue has gotten more publicity than expected.  Players get benched all the time,  right?  Evans shied away from media attention when asked about his latest run in with his head coach.

Evans response to being benched was classic.  He returned to the line up Monday to post 23 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assist and 3 steals while logging 32 minutes.  Evans was a blistering 10-14 from the field with only two turnovers. 

Evans fall from grace has been mind boggling to say the least.  His performance Monday is indicative of what he is capable of doing.  People get annoyed when I say this but Tyreke Evans reminds me of LeBron James when he is focused.  Hopefully after this latest hick up Evans can return to elite form.  New Orleans is a guard loaded team.  Evans has the potential to be the best of those guards.  Tyreke Evans and Anthony Davis have the potential to be a guard forward combination to reckon with for years to come in the NBA.

Hardaway Jr. a pleasant surprise

During a season marred by disappointment the one bright spot for the Knicks this year has been Tim Hardaway Jr.  Hardaway Jr. was the 24th overall selection during the 2013 NBA draft.  He's averaged 9.3ppg while shooting a solid 46% from the field.  Hardaway Jr.'s most impressive asset this season has been his three point shooting.  His 39% from downtown along with an average of 82% from the free throw line has made him a pleasant addition off the bench for Mike Woodson.

With Iman Shumpert's inconsistent play and J.R Smith going through a myriad of issues this season Hardaway Jr. has filled in at the off guard position more often than expected this season.  Not only has Mike Woodson trusted his rookie during key moments this season but he's played well in those situations. 

As Hardaway Jr.'s minutes have increased so has his confidence.  During his last ten games he's averaged 13.6ppg, 2.1apg while shooting 48% from the field.  The NBA has been on notice as well.  Hardaway Jr. was an early selection in the NBA rising stars draft by assistant coach Chris Webber.

No matter how good of a season new players in the NBA are having at some point you can expect to hit the rookie wall.  The Knicks have no real expectations for Hardaway Jr. this season.  He hasn't played a high volume of minutes this season which should keep his legs fresh heading into the last quarter of the season.

At Michigan Tim Hardaway Jr. showed progress each of his three years.  He deferred to Utah Jazz rookie Trey Burke his last two college seasons which shows his unselfishness and dedication to winning.  His work ethic is second to none as he has been one of the last players to leave the Knicks facility after practice.  This rookie appears to get it. It doesn't hurt to have a former NBA all star and one of the best point guards in NBA history as your father either.

With all that said there is still one factor that I can not help salivating over.  Tim Hardaway Sr. stood at 5"10.  During his early years he dominated the NBA despite his modest height with a wicked cross over along with a chiseled upper frame.  Growing up the younger Hardaway could not have expected to a towering 6"6.  Hardaway Jr. may have more to his arsenal than we have had the opportunity to see.  I'm pretty sure Hardaway Jr. wants to be known as an individual but the cross over is in the blood.  Lets see it kid.

It will be interesting to see just how good Tim Hardaway Jr. can become.

Was the Carmelo deal worth it?

It's been three years since the New York Knicks and the Denver Nuggets pulled off the blockbuster trade that sent Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks.  In return Denver received Wilson Chandler,  Danilo Gallanari,  Timofey Mozgov and draft picks.  Denver owns the Knicks first round draft pick this year.  If the Knicks fail to make the playoffs,  Denver will have a shot at the lottery regardless if they make the playoffs or not.  Denver has dropped off dramatically since last season.  This season may not be going particularly well for Denver.  However,  the franchise is headed in the right direction.

The Knicks on the other hand have some hard hitting issues to deal with in the near future.  Carmelo Anthony as we all know plans on opting out of his contract this summer to test free agency.  The roster is aging,  Mike Woodson is currently a lame duck head coach and the salary cap situation is abysmal.  I can go on and on about the miss management of the Knicks franchise, but who really has time for that?  I'm pretty sure everyone gets my drift.

The Knicks defeated the Nuggets pretty handily at MSG last night.  Both teams are having disappointing seasons.  The Nuggets recent struggles were predictable.  The Knicks off season moves did not result in any improvements.  I personally picked the Knicks to finish number six in the east.  Knick fans ripped into me pretty well for this but the lack of continuity was easy to see.

The Knicks traded key pieces as well as draft picks to acquire Carmelo.  Carmelo still has moments where he can be a bit more unselfish.  On the other hand he's been an offensive juggernaut.  Only the second player in Knicks history to capture the scoring title.

The Knicks got the best player in the deal no question.  Basketball is a team game and the NBA is  business.  Careful planning and maneuvering sometimes with less ammunition than competitors is the task of an NBA teams front office.  I have to say right now Denver looks like the winner in the Carmelo Anthony trade.

2014 NBA dunk contest

So the dunk contest at NBA All Star 2014 weekend may turn out to be a memorable one.  If you follow the contest on a yearly basis then you should be familiar with seeing a player you have never seen before.

Most people would prefer to see relevant players.  The dunk contest was most popular when the best dunkers who happened to be some of the best players at the time were contestants.  Julius Erving,  Michael Jordan,  Dominique Wilkins and Larry Nance to name a few.

This year Paul George has decided to enter his name onto the ballot.  Its exciting to see a player of his caliber show what he can do with all that god given athletic ability.  Damian Lillard and John Wall will be in the dunk contest as well.  I'm still waiting for LeBron James and Kevin Durant  to step up to the plate but mean while it should be fun watching these all stars give us a show.

My early prediction is Paul George.  Paul's athleticism should give him an advantage over the other contestants.  Harrison Barnes is my sleeper pick.  Lets go Knicks!

Are the Spurs too old?

I  recently heard someone ask Stephen A Smith a question about the San Antonio Spurs that bothered me a bit.  Stephen A was his usual hostile self towards the young man.  I usually don't agree with Stephen A being abrasive towards fans but in this instance the reaction was well deserved.

The man asked Stephen A if he felt the Spurs were over rated.  I began to ask my self.  How could a team that was one defensive possession away from capturing the NBA championship on the Miami Heats home court be considered over rated?  Some teams get to the final round and get steam rolled right into a second place finish.  Remember Jason Kidd and the New Jersey Nets against the Lakers.  Or maybe The Spurs last title over  an over achieving Cleveland Cavalier team.  Those teams got trounced to the point where you had to question wither or not they even belonged in the championship round.

Don't get me wrong I am well aware of the fact that the defending champions reside in Miami.  But to not view San Antonio as a team to reckon with come playoff time is a big mistake.  The Spurs finished last season playing at an elite level. Good enough to be champs. Gregg  Popovich is known for resting his stars sporadically throughout the season,  although he hasn't done it as blatant as we've seen in years past.

So why would you expect something different from this rugged group of veterans?  I know there are doubts.  Manu Ginobili played horrible at moments during last years playoff run, Tim Duncan must stay healthy and the fact remains that the Spurs have never made the NBA finals in back to back seasons.  San Antonio has also been pretty bad against the NBA's elite this year.  If the Spurs have a real shot at defending their Western Conference crown they must play better against the Miami's and the OKC's of the NBA.  They may also need a favorable match up or two in a wide open conference.  Last year Golden State felt comfortable against the Spurs and at times looked like the better team during their second round match up.  That's the type of young team the Spurs must be ready for come playoff time.  Remember the upset loss to the Grizzlies after leading the league in wins a few years back.

The teams nucleus remains intact from last year.  Patrick Mills has assumed more of a role in the offense which makes up for the loss of Gary Neal.  Marco Bellinili has fit in well thus far.  The Spurs may be under the radar right now but that's just how the like it.  Last June was the first time the big three walked away from the NBA finals with a bad taste in their mouths.  Tim Duncan wants to go out with a fifth championship.  The Spurs have the drive, the belief and the team to win the NBA title come June.

So are the Spurs over rated. No!

Can the Knicks Stop Portland?

The Knicks are still 10 games below the 500 mark with all star weekend right around the corner.  If not for an extremely soft eastern conference and playing in the worst division in the NBA,  this season could already be a wash.  New York currently sits at 10th place in the east.  Oddly enough the team is still only seven games behind Toronto for the Atlantic Division title which would guarantee a first round home playoff series.  The Knicks need to stop the bleeding and try and creep towards the 500 mark before NBA All Star Weekend.  That way the team can go into the home stretch still with high hopes.

If the Knicks have any shot of making the playoffs they absolutely must do two things.  Beat the teams they are supposed to beat and defend their home court.  Right now I don't think any team in the NBA is afraid to come to the garden.  Last year was a different story. 

The Knicks failed to defeat a Milwaukee team that has struggled all season long.  Losses like that is what may ultimately have the Knicks on the outside looking in come playoff time.  Every time New York takes on a playoff team it is an opportunity to turn the season around.  With Portland coming into the garden the Knicks need to make a statement and get their 20th win.

This will not be a simple task.  The Portland Trailblazers have been the surprise of the NBA this  season.  Portland is currently 34-14 which is good for third in the western conference.  Their 15-9 road record is one of the best in the NBA.  With the Knicks still struggling this game may not appear to be of great importance around the NBA.  LaMarcus Aldridge is having a career year.  In his eighth NBA season Aldridge appears to be ready to transition from all star to super star level.

Damian Lillard has been arguably the most impressive player in the NBA this season.  Last years rookie of the year award winner is having what I would call yet another break out season.  Lillard was unheralded coming out of Weber State University and plays with a chip on his shoulder.

The trip to MSG gives both Lillard and Aldridge another opportunity on national television to show the world they are for real.  The two were named all star reserves in a conference full of guards and forwards  playing excellent basketball. 

Tune in later tonight for the game recap.  LETS GO KNICKS!

Peyton's Legacy

When everyone realized the weather wasn't going to be as much of an issue as previously believed talks around  Super bowl 48 switched from Peyton Manning's ability to perform in cold weather to what will Peyton's legacy be after the clock hit triple zero's Sunday night.

Unfortunately For Peyton after last nights debacle his list of disappointing playoff losses got longer.  At the age of 37 this has to be the most disappointing loss in a career of marvelous regular seasons followed by heart breaking losses in the playoffs.  If Peyton were 10 years younger the initial thought process would be  "lets get em next year guys".  At 37 you would have to say this was Peyton's last opportunity to win the big game.

After Sundays 43-8 blow out loss to the Seattle Seahawk's I truly don't believe Peyton Manning's legacy took a real hit.  What actually happened is Peyton simply lost out on a huge opportunity to further supplant his legacy as one of the greatest quarter backs in NFL history.  With a win Peyton would have pushed himself right to the top of the list of multiple championship quarter backs.  He now boasts a disappointing 11-12 career postseason record and worst is now 1-2 on Super bowl Sunday.  Peyton should send a thank you card to his younger brother because the only reason his resume still stacks up to the great Tom Brady is due to the two upset victories Brady suffered to the younger Manning.

Despite the embarrassing loss you cannot hang this loss solely on Peyton.  For Denver to have any shot at winning this game they needed to get off to a fast start and failed to do so.  In fact Denver got off to the worst start possible allowing the vaunted Seattle defense to score the first two points of the game with a safety.  Following the game Peyton was quoted  saying that he would not call the 43-8 loss embarrassing.  Well ill do it for you big guy.  At times it looked as if Seattle had 12 men on the field.  They were faster, hit harder and dominated wire to wire.  Peyton Manning and  the Denver Broncos were in over their heads from the start.

You cannot judge a players career based on one game.  I recently heard the great Joe Montana saying that Dan Marino who was great in his own right deserves more recognition as one of the best.  Marino like Peyton boasts gaudy regular season statistics along with a lack of postseason success.  Perhaps Montana was hinting that he may get too much credit.  Montana played on some of the greatest teams in NFL history.  In 1984 Montana's 49ers walked into the  Super bowl with a number one ranked defense.  In 1989 he won another Super bowl with a number one ranked offense.  Some guys are blessed to play with immense talent.  Not making any excuses for Peyton but these are facts.

Peyton manning will undergo mandatory neck procedures early this spring.  These tests are said to determine much of Peyton's playing future.  With a positive test result Peyton should be able to play as long as he wants barring injury. A negative test result could force Peyton to retire as early as this summer.  Lets just hope that this is not the last we have seen of the great Peyton Manning.