Ranking Calipari Era players at UK based on legacy left behind
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Spurs’ Parker getting MRI on troublesome left calf (Yahoo! Sports)
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker plans to have an MRI on Thursday on his troublesome left calf, although he doesn’t expect to miss any playing time in the Western Conference finals.
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NBA Playoffs 2013: Highlighting Hottest Players Left in the Field
Winning playoff games in the NBA requires a team effort, but inevitably the team that ends up winning the championship has the hottest player in the league on its side.
For the purposes of this column, we’ll be looking at the best player left in the playoffs in three different categories: hottest guard, hottest forward and hottest big man.
These players are playing excellent ball under pressure, and as a result their teams are still alive and kicking in the 2013 NBA playoffs.
Hottest Guard: Mike Conley, PG, Memphis Grizzlies
Stephen Curry was brilliant this postseason, but his Golden State Warriors couldn’t stop the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night.
Conley has been just as impressive for the Grizzlies, and he’s moving on to face the Spurs in the Western Conference finals.
The Grizzlies point guard has raised his game to another level during his team’s postseason run. His points (17.6), assists (7.6) and rebounds (4.8) are all up, and he’s actually turning the ball over less in the playoffs than he did during the regular season.
With an ability to create his own shot, Conley keeps defenses off balance because he can also make big plays when driving in the lane. He can beat teams by scoring inside, but he’s equally adept at hitting open teammates outside when the defense sucks into the lane to stop him.
As good as Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph have been, Conley is the catalyst for Memphis’ postseason success.
Honorary Mention: Tony Parker, PG, San Antonio Spurs
Hottest Forward: LeBron James, SF, Miami Heat
As if any other forward could possibly be ahead of James right now…
Truth be told, no other player compares to James at any position. He’s simply the best player in the world, and he’s been phenomenal during the playoffs this year for the Heat.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls specifically game-planned against James. They tried to clog up the lane and force him to rely on his teammates, but he still managed to have his way on the offensive end more often than not.
James is averaging 24 points, 7.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per contest. He’s hitting nearly 52 percent of all his field-goal attempts, which is remarkable for a player who shoots as many outside shots as he does.
The most impressive aspect of James’ game these days, however, is his ability to dominate on the defensive side. He’s a formidable presence in the paint, can run down anyone from behind on fast breaks and is adept at getting into passing lanes for timely steals.
Nobody compares to James right now, and it appears he’s ready to win another championship in 2013.
Honorable Mention: Carmelo Anthony, SF, New York Knicks
Hottest Big Man: Tim Duncan, PF, San Antonio Spurs
It’s hard to believe that Duncan is still capable of playing at such a high level at his age. Duncan is 37 years old, but he’s outplaying young men who are darn near half his age.
Even on nights when Duncan isn’t hitting his shots, he seems to somehow conjure up 16-plus points and 10 rebounds. To this point in the playoffs, “The Big Fundamental” is putting up 18.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, one block and one steal per game.
Watching the old man perform with such consistency from night to night is a study in perfect mechanics and peerless character. He’s always in the right place at the right time, always stays respectful of his opponents and the referees and still takes instruction as if he were a rookie.
He’s a dominant presence on both ends of the court, and until he retires, the Spurs will be a title contender every single year.
Honorable Mention: Zach Randolph, PF, Memphis Grizzlies
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Andrew Wiggins Will Fill Void Left by Ben McLemore at Kansas
With Ben McLemore headed to the NBA, Kansas had a major void to fill for next season.
The Jayhawks filled that void on Tuesday with the No. 1 recruit in the country, Andrew Wiggins.
Wiggins—who signed his letter of intent at Huntington Prep (h/t CBSSports.com) alongside family, friends and one reporter on Tuesday—has just about everything you would want in a prospect. He has the versatility, length, fluidity, athleticism and explosiveness to be a threat at both ends of the floor, and the shooting range to complete the package.
The son of former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins and former Olympics track star Marita Payne-Wiggins, he averaged 23.4 points and 11.2 rebounds in his senior season at Huntington Prep.
McLemore—who figures to be a top-five pick in the 2013 NBA draft—averaged 15.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 50 percent from the floor and 42 percent from beyond the arc in his freshman campaign at Kansas. In the process, the Jayhawks made it all the way to the Sweet 16 before losing in overtime to Michigan.
The reality is, Wiggins could be better than McLemore ever was. He’s being labeled as one of the best basketball prospects to come along in years, particularly because he has an all-around game to back up his jaw-dropping explosiveness. Several draft experts have projected him as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, including ESPN’s Chad Ford.
Of course, McLemore isn’t the only starter the Jayhawks lost this offseason. In fact, they lost all five of their starters, including Jeff Withey, Elijah Johnson, Kevin Young and Travis Releford. Wiggins isn’t going to make up for all of that himself.
But not only does Wiggins have the talent to lead Kansas deep into the 2014 NCAA tournament, he can play shooting guard, small forward or power forward, which will allow coach Bill Self to mix and match to find the right combination. Naadir Tharpe and Perry Ellis return, while the Jayhawks also boast 5-star shooting guard Wayne Selden and 4-star recruits Joel Embiid, Brannen Greene and Conner Frankamp.
Wiggins passed up Kentucky to join Kansas. Now the Wildcats have some competition for the national championship.
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Why Wiggins left his parents in the dark on Kansas decision
Mitchell and Marita Wiggins knew their son had selected a college, yet still unsure which one.
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Sanders left off both NBA all-defensive teams
Though he garnered more votes than the center on the second team, Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders was left off both of the NBA’s all-defensive teams.
Sanders received four first team votes and 16 total points, tying him with Denver’s Andre Iguodala for the most votes for a player not on either of the two teams.
Though he won the league’s Defensive Player of the Year honors, Memphis center Marc Gasol garnered just five first team votes and 12 total points. The only explanation for Gasol making the second team over Sanders is that Milwaukee’s big man had to have been listed on the ballot as a forward.
The media votes on Defensive Player of the Year, while NBA coaches vote for the all-defensive teams. Gasol is just the fourth player in 31 years to win Defensive Player of the Year and not make the first team, as Tyson Chandler (2012), Dikembe Mutombo (1995) and Alvin Robertson (1986) suffered a similar fate.
Sanders, 24, finished second in the league in blocked shots per game, averaging 2.86
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Marc Gasol left off LeBron James-led all-defensive team
Tony Allen and LeBron James were the most popular picks for the first team.
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Dwight Howard’s Image Would Be Forver Tarnished If He Left LA Lakers
Dwight Howard‘s image has been on life support since he joined the Los Angeles Lakers, and if he spurns them this summer, it would be tarnished beyond repair.
There isn’t an illustrious history that exists between Howard and the Lakers organization. He was traded to them less than a year ago. Leaving Tinseltown wouldn’t be like him deserting the Orlando Magic.
It would be worse.
Los Angeles isn’t more entitled to Howard than Orlando was. The Lakers haven’t invested more in him than the Magic did. Not even close. But they’re prepared to. And they have the means to. Because they’re the Lakers.
Howard wanted to play in a bigger market, and Los Angeles is one of the biggest there is. He wanted to play for a team that would contend for a championship, and given who the Lakers are and the financial flexibility they have moving forward, they’re going to do just that.
So why leave? Why exit left from one of the most prominent stages in all of sports? Why would you dissociate yourself from a franchise that exists only to win titles?
You wouldn’t. You just don’t. Especially if you’re Howard.
Superman has spent the entire 2012-13 campaign attempting to restore his once-infallible image. Leaving would undo everything he has done and push him to the point of no return.
To believe Howard would do that to himself after the Orlando debacle borders on inconceivable. There shouldn’t even be a decision for him to make. But according to Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com, there is:
According to several sources familiar with Howard’s thinking, Howard will likely explore free agency before reaching his final decision. In today’s media landscape, that means there will be a circus in July while Howard hears pitches from the likes of the Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Even if it is merely Howard doing his due diligence before making a major life decision, the frenzy it is sure to create will give Howard a taste of the backlash he could face if he ultimately decides to uproot from L.A. just one year removed from the “Dwightmare” that surrounded his exit from Orlando.
Howard doing his due diligence is hardly surprising. What would be shocking is if he opts to sign with the Dallas Mavericks or Cleveland Cavaliers, or worse, the Atlanta Hawks. It would be character-crippling as well.
Again, it’s not as if Howard is forsaking the Magic all over again. The bonds that existed between him and the city of Orlando were far more convoluted than his ties to Los Angeles (for now). That doesn’t change that Howard forced himself out of Orlando to be put in a situation like he is in now.
The big man didn’t beg and plead to be traded to Kobe Bryant‘s team. He had his sights set on the Brooklyn Nets first, then came every other big-market team, the Lakers included. And he inevitably got his wish, or some version of it.
What would it say about him if he leaves the environment he pined for? More than a year was dedicated to the Dwightmare. Once he got what he wanted—a trade to a contender—it was supposed to be over.
Should he decide to sign elsewhere this summer, those memories will be relived and his selfishness rehashed. It would be the equivalent of LeBron James requesting a trade from the Miami Heat in 2011.
Laugh if you want, but James had a difficult enough time re-establishing himself as a “good guy” even after he remained loyal to his new team. And he made it to the NBA Finals in his first season with the Heat. Defecting yet again, after just one season, further pollutes an already afflicted image.
Dwight finally has what he wants, and he can’t justify foregoing the opportunity at hand in favor of something else. Not without being portrayed as a coward and narcissist.
Los Angeles isn’t going to win a title this season, but the Lakers will have more than $30 million in cap space in 2014 even after re-signing Howard. That summer, players like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade, among so many others will be free agents. The Lakers will be able to make a play for anyone of the big names available, because athletes want to play for an organization dedicated to winning.
Tinseltown’s jovial big man can’t rationalize the decision to give that up. He’s not in Orlando, he’s in Los Angeles. There is (realistically) no better opportunity to win.
Howard’s supposed affinity for the Nets has become financially impossible, so there’s no other option. What is he supposed to leave the Lakers for, the ambiguity in Dallas? A diminutive market in Cleveland? A nonexistent market in Atlanta?
Let’s be real.
If Howard wants to win, there is only the Lakers now. Had he not wanted to play in the spotlight, he never should have forced a trade from Orlando. He would have been free to remove himself from the Magic this summer and play for whoever and play wherever the hell he wanted. He has no such luxury now.
After spending more than a year not-so-secretly bemoaning his future, Howard has shackled himself to his personal desires. He customized a set of parameters, a list of preferences. He didn’t leave Orlando because it wasn’t willing to pay him or try to win. He left because he wanted what he wanted—the glitz and glam that came with contending in a gargantuan-sized market.
And he got it. He’s now “The Man” in Los Angeles. Even if he has to share the reins with Kobe, he’s the future of the Lakers, the one Mitch Kupchak and the front office will do anything and everything for.
This isn’t about money. Howard would be giving up one year and approximately $31 million worth of job security if he leaves, but it’s not about that. It’s about preserving what’s left of his image and putting himself in a position to rebuild it.
Wherever Howard goes, he’ll make strides toward reconstructing the public perception that now eludes him. But it will never be the same. Not like it was in Orlando. And not like it can be in Los Angeles.
“Dwight is our future,” Kupchak had said earlier in the season (via McMenamin).
And the Lakers are his. Or rather, they should be. Otherwise he’ll cross the line of villainy he has toed since last season and never completely come back.
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Wolves’ Love to undergo surgery on left knee
After nearly six months of worrying about a right hand, the Kevin Love injury saga has shifted to a left knee.
The Timberwolves announced Monday evening that their star power forward, who has missed all but 18 games this season with a broken right hand, will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee later this week to remove a buildup of scar tissue. The surgery, which the team describes as minor, will effectively end Love’s season, although hopes of him returning from the broken hand have decreased as the season has progressed.
This is the first major knee issue of Love’s five-year career; he was listed as day to day with a left knee problem in February 2010, but he did not miss a game.
Love underwent surgery to repair a broken right hand on Jan. 15 after breaking it for the second time this season on Jan. 3 in Denver. He first broke the hand during training camp in October. After the surgery, Love was given an expected recovery time of 8-10 weeks, but nearly 12 weeks after the surgery he stil
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Bracket Briefing: Who’s the top coach left in Elite Eight?
USA TODAY Sports provides your March Madness therapy.
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