Month: April 2016

Sam Hinkie is a graduate from the Mike Price School of Business at the University of Oklahoma. He’s from a small Oklahoma town named Marlow. After graduating from OU he went on to get his MBA from Stanford. My son graduated from OU as well and heard Hinkie speak at some function at the OU School of Business. He said he seemed like a fairly smart guy. But maybe not some guy you hire to run your entire basketball operations for the next seven years.

As this yarn has played out in Philadelphia–I’ll say this, Sam Hinkie may be a guy you hire as someone to head your analytical department of your team, but not someone to be ultimately making basketball decisions on his own. Consequently–the blame for most of this goes to the people who endorsed Sam Hinkie’s ascension to the job in the first place.

Here’s the actual 13-page manifesto resignation ‘letter’ he wrote and beneath a critique of the entire situation in Philadelphia as of now.

In all honesty, what OKC had in the beginning was an extension of the Fab Five, only at the NBA level because of the fact Sam Presti and Clay Bennett were putting a pro team in what’s basically a college market. They knew their team needed a certain youth feel about it to connect it to this market.

Obviously, when Portland took Greg Oden it was a no brainer to take Kevin Durant, but to Presti’s credit the remaining picks to fill out OKC’s Fab Five were pretty spectacular for the most part. Jeff Green was selected in the same draft as Durant. Westbrook and Ibaka came a year later. Then, a year later when most were clamoring for OKC to pick either Ricky Rubio or Jerrod Bayless–Presti surprised everyone by taking James Harden. And even more to Presti’s draft savant status—he was smart enough to see in Reggie Jackson what could be a hedge to eventually losing Harden.

In essense, I call them the Super Six who are now three…Durant, Westbrook, and Ibaka. Jeff Green it seems has been with every team in the league at one point now. Harden is with a mess of a team in Houston currently. While Reggie Jackson lives the life of a minimalist starting point guard for the upstart Detroit Pistons.

Just think what these guys could have become in another era without social media when championships drove what a player did rather than following dollars.

 

 

With last night’s 112-101 win over the Spurs in Oakland the Golden State Warriors become the second team in the history of the NBA to win seventy games in a season. With three games remaining the Warriors stand at 70-9 with a home and away against the injury decimated Memphis Grizzlies and a road game at San Antonio where the Spurs will be striving to close out a perfect 41-0 home slate.

Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr has said he feels inclined to rest his players, but the young Warrior players have been vocal in their desire to either tie or break the Bulls’ ’95-’96 best ever record of 72-10. Ironically, Steve Kerr played on that Bulls team.

It took last night’s win in Oakland by the Warriors to officially clinch the No. 1 seed in the West which should tell us something about the type of season San Antonio has had to date.

Maybe something to keep an eye is the finger injury LaMarcus Aldridge suffered last night. He never looked the same shooting the ball after his finger basically dislocated sideways several times last night.

Congrats to the Warriors for being the story of the league this season coming off their championship run of a year ago.

Not to run this into the ground, but this is where most thought the Thunder would be after getting to the Finals in 2012. The difference is Golden State didn’t trade Klay Thompson, got a break with the drafting of Draymond Green, while the Thunder lost it’s sixth man and co-pilot at the point in clutch time for Steven Adams, Jeremy Lamb, and Mitch McGary.

It’s ironic for Harden as well as last night his Houston Rockets were in essence eliminated from playoff contention by losing at home to the tanking Phoenix Suns.

The Harden trade will make for one of the best ever ESPN 30/30 films as far as NBA related subject matter if OKC doesn’t make a deep run this season and Durant ends up leaving to get his ring elsewhere. It’s the NBA’s version of the Michigan Fab Five never winning a championship.

Portland Trailblazers 120 — Oklahoma City Thunder 115

With Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, and Roberson sitting it became a night to watch OKC’s bench play Portland on the road. OKC got torched for 72 points in the first half and fell behind 23 points at one point, but to the Thunder’s credit they hung around and actually closed to single digits late in the game.

At one point Michael Cage gushed, “This Oklahoma City bench has been the strength of this team all season.” My eyes not only rolled on that one, but fell out of their sockets upon hearing this, but OKC did play admirably considering some of the putrid bench performances earlier this season. Note to Michael Cage…No. 35 and No. 0 are the strength of this Thunder team. Sigh.

Enes Kanter had the first 30/20 game in Thunder history with 33 points and 20 rebounds in 36 minutes. Dion Waiters tied his season high with 25 points on  an efficient shooting night. Anthony Morrow shot the ball well. Cam Payne got 31 minutes of developmental time. Plus, Sam Presti’s pet project Josh Heustis got significant minutes and is actually looking like he might be able to play a bit at this level in a niche role.

Unlike the Detroit game when Durant and Ibaka rested and the team looked horrific with Russell trying to do too much, OKC takes some nice things from this game as far as confidence and playing time for some young players like Payne and Huestis.

Most focus in the West will be on the Spurs at Golden State tonight. Warriors have played a bit like a worn out team of late. I think most in Oklahoma City are just ready to see some playoff basketball again in what could be Kevin Durant’s exit from Oklahoma City depending on how OKC plays in post season.

To Kevin Durant’s credit, he has been very quiet about all of this during the season and not allowed it to be a distraction. Objectively, I would say if OKC plays poorly and does not show its on a par level with the Spurs or Warriors in this tournament, then it would not shock me if he decided to leave for one of a few teams where there are things in place which could give him a chance to win a championship.

To me, only Golden State and San Antonio offer these things. Good general managers, great head coaches, cores on both teams which Durant would mesh with easily. Some cite Toronto as a wild card…maybe. But if it’s about winning a championship, then I’d think Golden State and San Antonio are the two serious players if OKC plays poorly this post season.

But again, to Kevin Durant’s credit, he’s handled all of this very well and even if he leaves he has me as a fan for life. I want to see him win a championship. As a fan, I’m completely at peace with this. One of my favorite hockey players of all-time, Boston Bruin defenseman Ray Bourque, finally had to leave my beloved Bruins to win his championship with the Colorado Avalanche. Whatever Durant decides, he’s had my heart ever since he said those things to his mother during his MVP speech.

On a personal positive note for me, my former favorite team the Philadelphia Sixers, finally fired Sam Hinkie and have put an official end to that bullshit. So–at least I have my favorite team in the East once again trying to win games next season instead of going for the lottery every season. Nice thing for the Philadelphia fans that Villanova gave them a national championship amidst all the Sixer tanking. The basketball gods work in mysterious ways sometimes.

OKC at Sacramento on Saturday in a game where Russell Westbrook will be going for his 18th triple double and a place in basketball history.

Mike Jackson

 

 

Oklahoma City Thunder 124 — Denver Nuggets 102

I have to admit up front I only half watched this completely meaningless basketball game. More of my attention was steered to the election results in Wisconsin where Lyin’ Ted Cruz was used by the Republican establishment to keep Donald Trump under the 1,237 delegates he needs to avoid a brokered convention this July in Cleveland. Wisconsin voters with clearness of mind did the math and possibly did the country a favor assuming Lyin’ Ted Cruz will be cast aside in July as well.

So, to this meaningless game. OKC from what I saw looked decent, but when you’re playing bad teams who struggle defensively the Thunder do usually look better. Durant and Westbrook were good. Westbrook garnered his 17th triple double of the season tying him with Magic Johnson.

Ibaka had a nice 7-11 shooting game. Kanter scored 18, as did Dion Waiters.

Again I read nothing into this game except OKC looked fresh. They looked like they were having some fun and didn’t look like a team worn out mentally. Which brings me to mention Golden State. The Warriors lost at home for the second time in less than a week. This time it was to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bogut played, as did Iguodala. All their starters played. As we navigate thru this last handful of games, maybe we need to be paying more attention to the Warriors. Have they worn themselves out in pursuing the Bulls’ record?

OKC improves to 54-24 with only four more of these practice games left on the slate. The Thunder play in Portland tonight on the second night of a road back to back. I’d assume some guys will be sitting as they did in Detroit.

Watching the Warriors’ last four games might give us a better feel of the Thunder’s chances than watching the Thunder play their last four games.

Mike Jackson

 

 

 

Ted Cruz apparently will win the Wisconsin GOP primary as predicted. We don’t get one of Trump’s victory pressers from the Florida vacation estate after losses. But still, a big night for Lyin’ Ted Cruz and GOP operative Nicole Wallace who has created the domain Lose With Cruz 2016.

And the Loser responds to the Loser. Hope Michael Lewis is getting all this in his notes.

 

 

 

Villanova 77 – North Carolina 74

This one made up for the two horrible national semi-final games.

Just wow.

This one had everything you’d want in a game and left you almost wanting to see five more minutes. Marcus Paige’s three tied it at 74 all with 4.7 seconds. Timeout, Villanova. Then a beautiful play where senior Ryan Arcidiacono set up Kris Jenkins at the right elbow for a wide open look and the game winning finish.

Villanova led by ten points with six minutes left, but North Carolina fought back and tied it on the Paige double pump three point jumper with 4.7 seconds left.

With the win, Villanova claims its second national championship.

No fluke. Villanova made a run which included beating Miami, Kansas, Oklahoma, and North Carolina. North Carolina, Kansas, and OU were all ranked No. 1 at various times this season.

Sophmore sub Phil Booth led the winning Wildcats with 20 points. Senior Ryan Arcidiacono finished with 16 points and was named the tournament’s MVP.

This marks the first national championship for Villanova head coach Jay Wright.

Deserving champion. Great tournament run.

Fantastic game winning finish.

 

While we wait for Villanova’s One Shining Moment a look back at last year’s thriller. It never gets old.

 

I’m not much of a North Carolina fan, so hoping Villanova has a little magic in their tank tonight and can win another championship. After two really bad national semi-finals it would be good to see a great game tonight.

 

 

Houston Rockets 118 — Oklahoma City Thunder 110

For the 13th time this NBA season, the start-studded OKC Thunder lost the fourth period and the game. Stunningly, OKC leads the entire NBA in this category with two of the league’s four best players on their team.

But I’m not even sure anyone should be writing recaps on the Thunder down the stretch of this regular season as it appears the team and Thunder organization feel like they turned some sort of corner winning eight games in a row before unilaterally ending their best stretch of basketball in two seasons by not playing Durant and Ibaka against Reggie Jackson and the Pistons.

Three games in a row have now been stinkers with flashes of the mentally lazy, entitled basketball which has plagued the Thunder at times this season.

The same things which it appeared OKC had worked thru are now back in full view again. Harden going off for 41 points. The Rockets as a whole scoring 38 in the fourth. Westbrook with 8 turnovers, Durant with 6. As a team 19 assists to 21 turnovers. Ugly basketball which screams ‘we don’t care’.

So with five games left in this regular season I’m not sure any of us blogging about the Thunder should be writing all that much. Maybe they’re rope-a-doping the Warriors and Spurs into a sense of false complacency. Only problem with that though is guy named LeBron has basically owned them and will be waiting for them if they somehow do basketball’s version of Miracle by winning eight games in successive series against the Spurs and Warriors.

My advice would have been to work hard down the stretch and actually try to become a better basketball team. So much for that. Five games left against Denver, Portland, Sacrament, Lakers, and then the Spurs on closing night.

Thunder are 53-24 and none of these games mean anything at this point to a team which quite frankly has been the most underachieving team in the entire NBA for their almost four year body of work since the NBA Finals season.

Their doesn’t appear to be much hunger. Doesn’t appear to be a team with a mission or a desire to get better. Just a team which pretty much does what it did through the course of the Scott Brooks era, namely hope Durant and Westbrook are enough to win games against most of the teams in the league.

Mike Jackson