Sonics Rising: All Posts by Kevin NesgodaThe sane voice of the Sonics' return to Seattlehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51481/sonicsrising-fav.png2019-12-20T11:58:20-08:00https://www.sonicsrising.com/authors/kevin-nesgoda/rss2019-12-20T11:58:20-08:002019-12-20T11:58:20-08:00SonicsRising supports fired California SB Nation Bloggers
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<p id="Lt8lb6">SB NATION NBA BLOGGERS’ STATEMENT REGARDING RECENTLY ANNOUNCED CHANGES FOR CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS:</p>
<p id="YuUpsP">We are the bloggers. SB Nation calls us “<a href="https://www.sbnation.com/2019/12/16/21024100/thank-you-california"><strong>Community Insiders</strong></a>.” Deadspin has referred to us as an “<a href="https://deadspin.com/how-sb-nation-profits-off-an-army-of-exploited-workers-1797653841"><strong>Army of Exploited Workers</strong></a>.” We call ourselves fans.</p>
<p id="wt5858">For almost 15 years, team site bloggers have been the passionate heartbeat of SB Nation. That heart skipped a beat when most of us learned along with the general public that Vox Media/SB Nation planned to terminate their independent contractor agreements with bloggers who live in California or work for California-based team sites.</p>
<p id="rzckBR">These are our friends, colleagues, and peers. We are heartbroken that many of them will not be able to continue doing something they love because of this decision. While we acknowledge SB Nation was forced to make changes due to the <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-09-18/gavin-newsom-signs-ab5-employees0independent-contractors-california"><strong>recent passage of AB5</strong></a> in California, which defines and limits the nature of independent contractor arrangements, we are deeply disappointed in how they chose to move forward and how they chose to announce these decisions.</p>
<p id="N9yBj0">These hard-working bloggers were not informed of their imminent termination prior to SB Nation’s public announcement on Monday, December 16. This, despite numerous efforts by SB Nation bloggers to discuss a path forward months ago when AB5 was passed. That is shameful. We should have been told of the planned changes months ago, ahead of the general public, and given a voice in how to best help our communities with these transitions.</p>
<p id="FvfmLS">We have built SB Nation through a late night recap after a game that goes into 2OT on the West Coast, by interacting with our fans through social media, comments, and watch parties, and by providing amazing journalism well above our pay grade. We are also your friends at work in the cubicle next to you reporting on breaking news on our lunch break, your classmate cramming for the test while also moderating a comment section, and the fan sitting next to you in the nosebleeds while providing in game updates.</p>
<p id="g9xrwt">We also build and curate communities which serve as vital online “homes” for so many sports fans. Our network not only stands to lose an immense amount of talented writers, creators, and managers, but vast reservoirs of institutional knowledge and the trust of our community members that can’t be replaced with just any employee. All of that work for limited compensation has generated huge value for SB Nation and its parent, Vox Media.</p>
<p id="kOo1tH">And make no mistake, there are alternatives. SB Nation could have offered full or part time employment to their current California site managers, while maintaining the independent contractor model for contributors on a lesser scale. The law permits this, but SB Nation decided, without consultation, to instead terminate all independent contractor contracts and with that, so many fantastic team sites with their own voice and loyal followings.</p>
<p id="jLsuCI">California bloggers and team brands deserve a lot more than a pat on the head and the opportunity to battle it out for a handful of jobs. The rest of us deserve the assurance that we won’t be the next ones to <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2019/12/16/21024619/nba-2019-did-vox-just-fire-the-entire-golden-state-of-mind-staff"><strong>learn from a tweet</strong></a> that our contracts have been terminated.</p>
<p id="pIvkoe">We call on SB Nation to open an honest dialogue with us and our communities about these changes, and to give us a greater voice in any future decisions affecting the heart of our work and communities. We deserve at least that, and frankly we deserve a lot more.</p>
https://www.sonicsrising.com/2019/12/20/21031971/sonicsrising-supports-fired-california-sb-nation-bloggersKevin Nesgoda2018-10-01T16:00:01-07:002018-10-01T16:00:01-07:00Gary Payton: A Sonics Legend
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<p id="QfDfEQ">In a few short nights there is going to be NBA basketball back in Seattle. Sadly, it is not the return of the Sonics. It is the return of <span>Kevin Durant</span>, arguably the greatest player to ever put on a Sonics jersey. It did get me thinking about the greatest Sonic ever. </p>
<p id="QSHSpt"><span>Gary Payton</span>.</p>
<p id="JFE3KP">It’s hard to imagine that this 2013 Naismith Hall of Famer isn’t the first player that will pop into your head when you think of the Sonics. Payton is the first play that pops into my head. I see that #20 talking trash, throwing up lobs, breaking hearts on defense. </p>
<p id="1ypdU1">We are talking about the Sonics all-time leader in games (999), minutes (36858), field goals (7292), assists (7384), and steals (2107). There are some even smaller records as well. </p>
<p id="xCpyxJ">Think back to his rookie season and the energy he brought to the floor. You could tell that he was going to be something special. The Sonics were not a terrible team. They had a lot of talent, but with Payton he brought something extra that the team was missing.</p>
<p id="bETJPx"><span>Gary Payton</span> brought swagger to Seattle. </p>
<p id="VXltwR">He brought a lot fo swagger to Seattle and he almost brought a championship to Seattle in 1996. Could the Sonics have beaten the <a href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Bulls</a> in ‘96 had they been healthy? It’s tough to say because there were some greats that didn’t come close to beating Jordan in his prime. </p>
<p id="gkCvon">It might be the homer in me, but I think the Sonics would have beaten the Bulls in seven had Payton and <span>Nate McMillan</span> both been healthy. </p>
<p id="YTl9Dv">I have had to take some pauses writing this as I flashed back over Payton’s amazing career in Seattle. The lobs to Kemp, the between the legs pass to Pierce, taking John Stockton to the verge of tears on numerous occasions, the dagger defensive plays to save games, the way he’d post up smaller point guards. </p>
<p id="2VdTmM">At present moment I cannot think of a player in the 90’s that could break another team offensively and defensively like Payton. In his prime there was no better two-way player than Gay Payton. </p>
<p id="tWQHtL">As we watch <span>Kevin Durant</span> tear down the house that Payton built, I’m going to look up to the rafters and imagine #20 hanging up there. Once the new arena is up and the Sonics are back we know that is going to happen. </p>
<p id="OkQAm5">What are you favorite Gary Payton memories? </p>
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https://www.sonicsrising.com/2018/10/1/17918912/gary-payton-a-sonics-legendKevin Nesgoda2018-04-13T17:00:01-07:002018-04-13T17:00:01-07:002018 NBA End of the Year Award Roundtable
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<figcaption>Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><strong>We dole out our awards for MVP, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, Most Improved Player, and Defensive Player of the Year</strong></p> <p id="QWSXAD">On the 10th anniversary of our Seattle Supersonics leaving we are going to a roundtable to talk about award season. We give you a breakdown of all the regular season awards. A few former Sonics and people who grew up in the 206.</p>
<p id="ZCOgvn">What do your awards look like?</p>
<h3 id="Pouqek"><strong>1. Who is the Rookie of the Year?</strong></h3>
<p id="fdGjF0"><strong>Phil Naessens: </strong>I really, really, REALLY want to say the award should go to <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Utah Jazz</a> shooting guard <span>Donovan Mitchell</span>. Unfortunately, I can’t do that with a straight face. Not even on April Fools Day. The Rookie of the Year belongs to <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/">Philadelphia 76ers</a> point guard <span>Ben Simmons</span>. Averaging 15-8-8 with a couple of steals is no joke. Leading the 76ers to a 50 plus win season and who knows how far they can go in the playoffs is a big deal. Good on him too!</p>
<p id="fSxw2o"><strong>Chris Meirose:</strong> No, Ben Simmons is NOT the ROY. Donovan Mitchell is. I don’t care that the NBA will give the award to Ben Simmons. Simmons is <strong>NOT</strong> a rookie. If you were paid by the NBA last year, that was your rookie year. If you spent all of last year with an NBA team, that was your rookie year. If you spent all of last year with the strength coaches, learning the offense, bonding with teammates, working with the nutritionist, flying on the team plane, staying in the team hotel room, learning from the team coaches, that was your rookie year. Donovan Mitchell <strong>IS </strong>the Rookie of the year for 2017-18. /rant</p>
<p id="283ZMz"><strong>Kevin Nesgoda</strong>: I think it should go to Donovan Mitchell as Ben Simmons is not really a rookie. He lost the rookie denomination when he accepted his first paycheck from the Sixers back in the summer of 2016. Simmons had a lot of good pieces around him while Mitchell led a team of nobodies to the playoffs.</p>
<p id="rq22ID"><strong>Miles DeCaro: </strong>Ben Simmons. Despite missing last season due to injury, Simmons has been historically good in his first NBA season even without shooting beyond 15 feet. His size and passing ability are a rare combination that puts his first year up there in the rarefied air of <a href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Magic</a> <span>Johnson</span>, Oscar Robertson, and <span>LeBron James</span>. Donovan Mitchell has had a great year in Utah and is one of the only rookies in NBA history to lead his team in scoring and make the playoffs, but Simmons is the right pick. </p>
<p id="zeCI8T"><strong>Dontae Delgado: </strong>It was nice to include Donovan Mitchell in the conversation based on his role as the lead ball-handler and scorer for a Utah team that many thought would be in the lottery when <span>Gordon Hayward</span> left. Yet, Ben Simmons, not only has the Sixers as a 3rd seed in a season where most picked them to win maybe 30-40 games (let me point out the Sixers had a .500 record, 25-25, on Feb. 3), but he’s averaged a ridiculous 16/8/8 for the season. I know any detractors will point out <span>Joel Embiid</span>’s impact and maybe even <span>Markelle Fultz</span>’s return, but it’s Simmons that has had a steady hand on the ship since day 1. </p>
<h3 id="NkJxCN">2. <strong>Who is the Defensive Player of the Year?</strong>
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<p id="LzGhwZ"><strong>Phil Naessens: </strong>There are a few names I could give this to but for my money and even though he missed a bunch of games this season Utah Jazz center <span>Rudy Gobert</span> wins this one by a nose over Draymond Green. The Jazz have a defensive efficiency rating of 97.5 when he is on the floor. Without Gobert’s defense, the Jazz go fishing again.</p>
<p id="syMVAD"><strong>Chris Meirose:</strong> I’m going to agree with Phil here. Gobert just changes the game when he’s on the floor at a level nobody else is doing. He is more than just a big body, though his physical presence is part of it. He’s smart in his positioning and erases a lot of teammate’s mistakes.</p>
<p id="55ataU"><strong>Miles DeCaro: </strong> <span>Rudy Gobert</span> aka the Steiffel Tower is the DPOY. Utah’s surprise run to the playoffs in the West is directly tied to his health. His defensive real +/- and impact on the Jazz defensive rating is amazing. He just missed leading the league in, both, Defensive Real Plus/Minus and Win Shares being narrowly edged by the feel-good story of the last week of the NBA, <span>Andre Ingram</span>. </p>
<p id="ogD6yY"><strong>Kevin Nesgoda: </strong>I have to go with Rudy Gobert as well. He anchored the defense that got Utah got into the playoffs and also statistically the second best defense in the league behind Boston. He’s not top five in any major category, but his overall defensive play has been the best in the league.</p>
<p id="f53k1T"><strong>Dontae Delgado: </strong>Rudy Gobert. The Jazz are 2nd in the NBA in DefRtg, 9th in Blocked shots (of which Gobert would be 2nd in the league if he had played enough games), and 2nd in opponents points in the paint. The only other team that can boast of a better defense is a <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> squad that doesn’t have one stand-out defender (hello <span>Brad Stevens</span>). </p>
<h3 id="nsKyn3">3. Who is the Most Improved Player of the Year?</h3>
<p id="Z65yx4"><strong>Phil Naessens: </strong>After much thought, I am giving this one to <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/">New York Knicks</a> SF Michael Beasley. He’s had a few “comeback” attempts over the years but this time he looks focused and for real. Played the most minutes since 2012 and best ppg since 2011. Had four games this season with 30 points or more. I would absolutely call this comeback of the year worthy..</p>
<p id="QIdBY3"><strong>Chris Meirose: </strong><span>Victor Oladipo</span> is where I want to go here, but his is more improvement over what was already pretty good than comeback over something. I think he wins it because there isn’t a second category. <span>Lou Williams</span> gets the 6th man, so he’s probably out here too. But my vote goes to <span>Clint Capela</span>. His game has really come a long way, and the stats bear that out. He still has plenty of room to grow, and with CP3 and the Beard already, that’s frankly frightening if he keeps improving at his pace. I used to cringe when I watched <span>Capela</span> on offense, and that is no longer the case. <span>Fred VanVleet</span> gets an honorable mention here, but can’t and won’t be close to winning.</p>
<p id="jS315T"><strong>Miles DeCaro: </strong>I want to say, <span>James Harden</span>, because improving just that small amount when you are already that good is harder than moving from being the 8th man to a starter, but the award is <em>Most</em> Improved. </p>
<p id="ysAuHs"><span>Victor Oladipo</span> won this award handily. Oladipo averaged career highs in scoring in points (23.1), rebounds (5.2), assists (4.3), steals (2.4, which leads the league), field goal percentage (47.7), and 3-point percentage (37.1). </p>
<p id="dlrIKq">Moving from being a guy that was borderline unplayable for OKC last year to a top 20 player is unheard of. There is something about playing in Indiana that brings out the best in Oladipo. </p>
<p id="6vTa7D"><strong>Kevin Nesgoda</strong>: This is Victor Oladipo’s going away then coming back and picking up the crumbs. He never lived up to the hype in Orlando, fell flat on his face in Oklahoma City and here we are. He played his best overall season, led a lottery bound Pacer team into the playoffs and I would not be shocked if they upset the Cavs in the first round.</p>
<p id="JRqrGu"><strong>Dontae Delgado: </strong>Victor Oladipo. First of all: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScB892Sg0OU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScB892Sg0OU</a> watch that. Secondly, he improved by 7 points per game, doubled his steals, doubled his assists, improved his Free Throw shooting by 4% points, increased his 3PT shooting by a percent, increased his FG% by 3 points…….I mean you get my point, there is literally not one standard or advanced stat that Oladipo did not improve, except for TOs (and I literally looked at <em>every stat</em>…..I’m talking VORP, PER…..WAR, OPS+, +ERA, BABIP…..wait, wait…..yeah probably those too).</p>
<h3 id="L34gOt">4. Who is Coach of the Year?</h3>
<p id="QdDn3m"><strong>Phil Naessens: </strong>I am giving this to Utah Jazz Head Coach <span>Quin Snyder</span>. <a href="https://www.sonicsrising.com/2018/3/24/17159160/does-triple-double-really-matter">See my notes as to the reason why</a>.</p>
<p id="W64U3U"><strong>Chris Meirose:</strong> It should be <span>Gregg Popovich</span>. What he has done with that roster is nothing short of miraculous. Truly one of his very best years of coaching. But we’ve become so accustomed to Pop doing just that that it has become blasé. So I’m going with Dwayne Casey and his great year in Toronto.</p>
<p id="OsMtRb"><strong>Miles DeCaro: </strong>A lot of deserving candidates this year, but I’d go with Dwayne Casey. He completely overhauled his offensive system to fit the modern NBA, going from 22nd in 3pt field goals attempted last season to 3rd this season. His team won the conference and they are the only team in the top 5 for both offensive and defensive efficiency. He did one of the hardest things a coach can do. Casey stopped using an approach that was working for him and went with something even better. </p>
<p id="3KZ9T1">Runners up: <span>Nate McMillan</span> in Indiana, Quin Snyder in Utah, Brad Stevens in Boston and Gregg Popovich as usual. </p>
<p id="DnjdDr"><strong>Kevin Nesgoda</strong>: There are a lot of deserving coaches this year; Nate McMillan, Gregg Popovich, Brad Stevens and <span>Dwane Casey</span>. The award belongs to Quin Snyder though. I do not want to take anything away from the other coaches, but Quin Snyder got a team with zero All-Stars into the playoffs and was in contention for the third seed in the West up until the last three hours of the season. An unbelievable job the man from Mercer Island did.</p>
<p id="px9Fpo"><strong>Dontae Delgado: </strong>Quin Snyder. It boils down to Gregg Popovich, Brad Stevens, <span>Doc Rivers</span> (double-take), and Quin Snyder. I’m not including Dwane Casey, because though I like his moves to play the young players, he didn’t acquire said players and he didn’t improve <span>DeMar DeRozan</span>’s offensive variety in shot selection. Quin Snyder did more with less. Pop, gets overlooked way too often, <em>but </em>he does have <span>LaMarcus Aldridge</span> and they still ended with the 7th seed in the West. Snyder lost 26 games of Rudy Gobert, suffered a mid-season trade of two key rotation pieces (<span>Joe Johnson</span> and <span>Rodney Hood</span> for essentially a slumping <span>Jae Crowder</span>), <em>and </em>his franchise player (<span>Hayward</span>) in the summer. Utah ended up as the 5th seed out West. That is amazing.</p>
<h3 id="ButVkr">6. Who is the MVP?</h3>
<p id="LE9d51"><strong>Phil Naessens: </strong><span>James Harden</span> is the people’s choice but I am voting for <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">San Antonio Spurs</a> PF <span>LaMarcus Aldridge</span>. He went from darn near traded to having a career year seemingly overnight. I don’t think the Spurs make the playoffs without him and to me, that’s what makes an MVP.</p>
<p id="Mlzz4h"><strong>Chris Meirose: </strong> Can I vote for Pop here? No? Well then, it’ll be Harden. <span>Giannis Antetokounmpo</span> and King James both can lay claim to it, but Harden will get the hardware, and frankly, I can’t argue against it.</p>
<p id="7o21l8"><strong>Miles DeCaro: </strong><span>LeBron James</span> deserves this for the decade, but for this single year, it’s James Harden by a mile. </p>
<p id="hb1zYh">D’Antoni Ball inflates total numbers, but Harden’s efficiency numbers are staggering. Harden scored 1.24 per possession in isolations this season. This is better than any team has scored in TRANSITION during the past four seasons, per Synergy Sports. </p>
<p id="XL4jJR">In addition to efficiency, he is also huge in volume. Harden has also scored more total isolation points (868) than any other TEAM this season (the <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cavaliers</a> are next closest with 801). </p>
<p id="iP748y">Harden has more makes (79) and takes (176) on step-back 3-pointers than any team in the NBA; the next closest teams are Portland (45 makes) and Denver (122 takes). No team is featuring those shots in its arsenal, while Harden is hitting them at a 44.9 percent clip. Wow. </p>
<p id="6JEaNQ">He is the leading scorer and the most efficient scorer in the league. He is the Most Valuable Player. </p>
<p id="zjJyqN"><strong>Kevin Nesgoda:</strong> As Miles said, this award belongs to LeBron James until he retires, the dude should have 10-12 of those awards on his mantle right now. That’s not how the media works though. The media works on what have you done for me lately and James Harden has taken the <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Rockets</a> to the best team in the league and he’s the best player. And he doesn’t pad his stats either, wins are more important to him.</p>
<p id="e5UfTw"><strong>Dontae Delgado</strong>: James Harden. Don’t look at the dreaded “<span>Kobe Bryant</span> - but he should have got it last year” or the “Karl Malone - we’re tired of voting for the best player in the league” vote attached to this pick. Harden has been the best player on the best team and has <em>consistently </em>destroyed the NBA this season. My personal/emotional pick would be LeBron James, but I can’t snub a guy that took his game to a higher gear this year over the consummate pick for every year. </p>
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https://www.sonicsrising.com/2018/4/13/17236060/2018-nba-end-of-the-year-award-roundtableKevin NesgodaInfomantaeMrCLMMilesDeCaroPhil Naessens2018-02-22T08:00:05-08:002018-02-22T08:00:05-08:00NBA Second Half Roundtable
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<img alt="Houston Rockets v Golden State Warriors" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8Eg8FhIuwYKed7SJC1F43AKPeZM=/0x0:2589x1726/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58777547/862617466.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="l7Dn9f">The second half stretch of the NBA season is kicking off tonight with a stacked slate of games. This week we have a long time friend joining us to talk about the second half of the season. <a href="https://twitter.com/kingofthornton?lang=en">Jeff Morton</a>, a long time writer for Denver Stiffs and now working with <a href="https://milehighsports.com/">Mile High Sports</a> and <a href="http://www.coloradosportsguys.com">The Colorado Sports Guys</a>, also a long time support of getting the Sonics back to Seattle has decided to sit down with us. </p>
<p id="4U384X">If you all have some questions you would like to see answered or a guest columnist let us know. Enjoy the questions!</p>
<p id="SKfaPu"><strong>Does </strong><span><strong>James Harden</strong></span><strong> lock down the MVP or does a dark horse emerge?</strong></p>
<p id="3HseOc"><strong>Chris Meirose</strong>: I largely think Harden has it locked down already. And I won’t argue that it isn’t for deserved reasons. LeBron is certainly worthy, have just another insane Lebron kind of year. Giannis too has had a bonkers year doing everything impressively well. And KD has been stellar in GSW - particularly with his blocks - but suffers from so many good surrounding parts stealing some opportunity and spotlight. </p>
<p id="nAvZh0"><strong>Jeff Morton</strong>: I am of the same mind as Chris. The MVP seems to be largely James Harden’s to lose. Unless LeBron James has a post All-Star stretch of the gods, Harden has this on lock and everyone else is looking for second place.</p>
<p id="H8dHbM"><strong>Kevin Nesgoda</strong>: This is Harden’s to lose. The only other people that have an outside shot are <span>Kevin Durant</span> and <span>Giannis Antetokounmpo</span>. Hell Harden could go down for the rest of the season and he could still win it. He’s that important to the <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Rockets</a>. They’ll win a series with <span>Chris Paul</span> at the helm, but Harden is going to carry them into the Finals.</p>
<p id="M5sqpf"><strong>Miles: </strong>James Harden very much looks like the MVP. I went to a Rockets game this year where he was just coming back off an injury and he is very much their best player despite also having a top 5 PG of all time on their team. Houston will finish with close the best record in the league, KD and Steph split the GS MVP votes. LeBron will get consideration, but it seems like he gets some voter fatigue. As Kevin said, its Harden’s award to lose. </p>
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<p id="zmUB2Y"><strong>What stops the </strong><a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/"><strong>Warriors</strong></a><strong> from reaching the </strong><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-finals"><strong>NBA Finals</strong></a><strong> for the fourth straight year?</strong></p>
<p id="azTGHk"><strong>Meirose</strong>: Short of a team plane crash, nothing. I think Houston can push them for a game or two, but they just don’t have the overall tools and talent to take down GSW.</p>
<p id="xLS8xH"><strong>Morton</strong>: <em>Maybe</em> the Houston Rockets. The big test for the Rockets will be to see if coach Mike D’Antoni’s three-heavy approach can translate in a seven game series. This isn’t the high pick and roll <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Suns</a> of the mid-2000’s. This is something different. If the Rockets can prove that an offense constructed with that much extreme reliance on threes can win playoff series then a Houston vs. Golden State WCF will be epic. Otherwise it’s Golden State’s title to lose.</p>
<p id="c9SKw6"><strong>Nesgoda</strong>: The Houston Rockets. I think with adding “ISO” <span>Joe Johnson</span> to help carry the scoring burden of the second team you are going to be able to rest Harden and Paul more so down the stretch. Harden has been exhausted the last few years the Rockets have made the postseason and it showed. This year they have a chance to have a fresh lineup.</p>
<p id="TZfGOV"><strong>Miles: </strong>An injury to KD or Steph. <span>Kawhi Leonard</span> being healthy and some really lucky breaks for San Antonio, OKC or Houston. Other than a combination of those things, Golden State will be in the Finals again. </p>
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<p id="cP1J0x"><strong>What stops the </strong><a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/"><strong>Cavaliers</strong></a><strong> from reaching the NBA Finals for the fourth straight year?</strong></p>
<p id="47lAVO"><strong>Meirose</strong>: Talent. Depth. The <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Celtics</a>. The moves Cleveland made did help the team, but they aren’t the solution to solving the problem of beating the Celtics in a 7 game series.</p>
<p id="EgeWbv"><strong>Morton</strong>: The Cavs seemed to right the ship with their wholesale changes during the trade deadline. It remains to be seen if it’s sustainable. Right now, you have the Celtics (who were playing well above their heads without <span>Gordon Hayward</span>) tailing off and the wild card being the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/">Toronto Raptors</a>. If this change of cast is legit … then the Cavs will be in their fourth straight finals.</p>
<p id="TftEQJ"><strong>Nesgoda</strong>: As Jeff said, the Cavs seemed to have righted the ship just as the Celtics seemed to fall off a bit. Cleveland had a little ground to make up to get home court throughout the playoffs, but I don’t think they’ll get past the Celtics in either home court or in the playoffs. The Raptors are such a wild card. I’m just not sure I’m willing to bet on <span>Kyle Lowry</span> in the playoffs yet. </p>
<p id="rjuWJG"><strong>Miles: </strong>LeBron getting injured. Other than that, this team will win 4 out of 7 games against anyone in the East. </p>
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<p id="tQI47l"><strong>What current playoff team falls to the back of the pack or out all together?</strong></p>
<p id="Cr00if"><strong>Meirose</strong>: I think New Orleans has to be the trendy pick here. Losing Boogie was a big blow, and it will really be seen over time as Brow continues to have to push that much harder on a nightly basis to drag this team into the playoffs. </p>
<p id="NLih7T"><strong>Morton</strong>: Likely the <a href="https://www.thebirdwrites.com/">New Orleans Pelicans</a>. Without Demarcus Cousins they seemed to have lost much of their dynamic offense and they don’t have enough shooters to compliment the still tremendous offense of <span>Anthony Davis</span>.</p>
<p id="DSzBAO"><strong>Nesgoda</strong>: The Pelicans. If I were them I would look at tanking a little bit and getting down into the lottery. They currently hang around the 17th pick and that’s not going to get them anything to push them up to the next level. If they hang around where they are they are a team that will get swept by the Warriors or Rockets in the first round.</p>
<p id="plpTb4"><strong>Miles: </strong>Miami will likely get overtaken by Detroit now that they have <span>Blake Griffin</span>. Spoelstra has done an incredible job this year, but they don’t have the players that Detroit has to finish the year. One injury to any of their guys and they’ll be in free fall. </p>
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<p id="uuvIM0"><strong>What team might the scariest to play down the stretch?</strong></p>
<p id="2JwANb"><strong>Meirose</strong>: I might say Jeff’s <a href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Nuggets</a>, but more so I think it is the <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Utah Jazz</a>. They’re white hot having won their last 10 games, and as they adjust to their recent trade they will continue to improve. <span>Donovan Mitchell</span> is a superstar in the making and it’ll be a crime if he doesn’t win the rookie of the year. <span>Jae Crowder</span> was a solid addition. Gobert and Favors are a formidable front line. And this team has a handful of strong contributors that keep opponents from focusing too much on any given player. Mix that with the ability to at times play some great defense, and you have a very tough matchup for many teams. Much credit to Quinn Snyder for the job he’s doing there.</p>
<p id="FAbRM6"><strong>Morton</strong>: I may be a bit biased but, I’d say no one wants to play the Denver Nuggets - particularly when they get <span>Paul Millsap</span> back. They have shown the ability to score on anyone, and <span>Nikola Jokic</span> is finally playing like the <span>Jokic</span> of last season. I would watch out for the Nuggets coming down the stretch.</p>
<p id="IZFXUS"><strong>Nesgoda</strong>: As the other two guys have said the Jazz and the Nuggets are two young and hungry teams that are going to pose some problems for teams down the stretch. Utah has won 11 games in a row and hasn’t been healthy all year. The same can be said for the Nuggets. When Milsap comes back they are going to give a nice compliment to Jokic and <span>Jamal Murray</span> continues to grow and look like a star in this league. Donovan Mitchell is also the steal in the draft over the last decade. I feel sorry for whoever draws the Jazz and Nuggets in the playoffs. </p>
<p id="gXljKo"><strong>Miles: </strong>As much as I hate to say it, the Zombie Sonics (OKC). With as much star power as they have in PG, Carmelo, Russ and <span>Steven Adams</span>, they have a shot against anyone including Golden State. They are a sleeper contender as each of their top 3 guys can win a playoff game on their own. Nobody will want to play them in the playoffs and they may just get to the Western Conference Finals for another showdown with the Warriors. </p>
https://www.sonicsrising.com/2018/2/22/17039114/nba-second-half-roundtable-harden-rockets-warriors-cavs-nuggetsKevin NesgodaMrCLMMilesDeCaro2018-02-17T14:00:33-08:002018-02-17T14:00:33-08:00NBA All-Star weekend predictions
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<img alt="2018 Mountain Dew Kickstart Rising Stars Game" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yw5tdqHK-1zKtD2LCP5Ltc8_oZc=/0x0:2259x1506/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58729169/919185474.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="LXVRHu">One of the best weekends for basketball every year is All-Star Weekend. We don’t basketball in its purest form, but we get it in its most fun and relaxed form. I have been watching All-Star Saturday Night and the All-Star Game for as long as I can remember. A lot of the hoopheads here at SonicsRising have been as well. After you read our picks we want to see yours in the comments. </p>
<p id="Vwn7cm"><strong>What team is going to benefit most from the ASG layoff?</strong></p>
<p id="qh9vW1"><strong>Kevin Nesgoda</strong>: Despite most of the team being involved in the ASG festivities, I think it is going to benefit the <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors</a> the most. They looked tired and liked they did not care that much over the last month of basketball. They remind me of the 2005 <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Detroit Pistons</a> where they think they can just turn it on at any moment and beat any team. How did that work out for the Pistons? They got handled in the Finals by the <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">Spurs</a>. At current rate I expect this Warriors team to lose in six to the <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Rockets</a> in the Western Conference Finals. </p>
<p id="3pqtKK"><strong>Taylor: </strong>Before the trade deadline, I probably would have said the Cavs. But they overhauled their roster and have been on a tear since so the break may actually cool their hot streak. I think the break may actually help the <a href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Denver Nuggets</a>. They looked to finally be crawling out of the cellar but they are dealing with a handful of nagging injuries to players like <span>Paul Millsap</span>, <span>Mason Plumlee</span>, and Richard Jefferson. Getting those guys time to heal up should help them get back on track.</p>
<p id="nCYpjL"><strong>Miles</strong>: The <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a>. After starting the season strong, the Celtics are just 10-9 since the calendar turned to 2018 and have lost 4 of their last 5 games. The schedule gets a little easier until the see the Rockets on March 3rd, and they should be able to pull back ahead of the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/">Raptors</a> for the #1 seed in the East by then. </p>
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<p id="qE8sBH"><strong>Who is going to win the Skills Challenge?</strong></p>
<p id="GFs1m3"><strong>Nesgoda</strong>: I want to say <span>Joel Embiid</span>, but it’s going to end of being <span>Jamal Murray</span> of the Denver Nuggets. I don’t know why, but I feel he’s the smoothest out of the bunch.</p>
<p id="TmctMT"><strong>Taylor: </strong>Spencer Dinwiddie. Out of everyone in this event, I think Dinwiddie has the most diverse skill set. He may not be the best shooter, but he’s got a better handle than any of the bigs (or any of the other guards for that matter) and is an accurate passer. </p>
<p id="Vz0Ntk"><strong>Miles: </strong><span>Lou Williams</span>. Hometown players seem to have a way of out-performing expectations during All Star Weekend (Shoutout to Tom Chambers, ‘87) and Lou will be looking to prove something since he was “snubbed” during his best year. The Skills Challenge rewards ball handling guards and Williams is one of the best with the ball in his hands. I think it would be interesting if Embiid won it more for the social media but think its LouWill. </p>
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<p id="BDMa9r"><strong>Who is going to win the Three-Point Shootout?</strong></p>
<p id="0DzDAY"><strong>Nesgoda</strong>: <span>Eric Gordon</span>. The guy is on fire this year. His stroke is locked in. I think he takes out Klay in the final round. I think <span>Devin Booker</span> and <span>Paul George</span> will end up embarrassing themselves the most.</p>
<p id="pEXmpK"><strong>Taylor: </strong><span>Devin Booker</span>. He has the quickest release and has gained a confidence in his shot this year that should help him in this competition. The biggest question will be if he has any jitters with it being his first time competing. If that happens, I expect <span>Klay Thompson</span> to take home another trophy.</p>
<p id="MkkVg3"><strong>Miles: </strong>Klay Thompson. He’s won it once already and is back to reclaim the throne from Eric Gordon and show the Rockets that the W’s are still the best shooters in the league. The 3 point shootout is all about getting hot and Klay’s 37 point quarter shows that he can get the hottest. Throw in his LA heritage and it’ll be Klay. </p>
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<p id="Ma9UDV"><strong>Who is going to win the Slam Dunk contest?</strong></p>
<p id="BYfXAm"><strong>Nesgoda</strong>: <span>Donovan Mitchell</span>. He’s going to run away with this event and when they hand him the trophy for the night’s winner, they are also going to give him the Rookie of the Year trophy because no one is beating him in that either.</p>
<p id="okjMzu"><strong>Taylor: </strong>Donovan Mitchell. Aaron Gordon was my pick as the runaway favorite until he had to bow out with a hip injury. Now I’m going with his replacement in Mitchell. Nance has bounce but he strikes me as more of an in-game dunker and Oladipo was mostly forgettable the last time he competed. Smith has a fighting chance, too, but did you see Mitchell’s off-the-glass dunk in the Rising Stars Game???</p>
<p id="HtB70w"><strong>Miles: </strong>Dennis Smith, Jr. His game is perfectly set up for this and the Dunk Contest is one of the only events in basketball where being shorter is an advantage (s/o to Nate the Great). Donovan Mitchell will be the finalist with him, but Smith Jr’s <a href="https://youtu.be/cEkURzw-JyE">48” vertical</a> and showmanship will give the people what they want. *<span>Jalen Rose</span> voice*</p>
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<p id="qrhoF4"><strong>Who is going to win the All-Star Game?</strong></p>
<p id="ZcvlSo"><strong>Nesgoda</strong>: Team Steph in a close one and I hope we get close to 200 points by one team. I think <span>Giannis Antetokounmpo</span> wins the MVP with a near quadruple-double.</p>
<p id="93wfvU"><strong>Taylor: </strong>Team Steph. Everyone has been gushing over LeBron’s roster, but that roster has been depleted since the draft with Porzingis, Cousins, Davis, and Wall all out with injuries. Team Steph has Giannis and The Beard, plus three Warriors (continuity counts). </p>
<p id="MSVtun"><strong>Miles: </strong>Team LeBron. A crunch time lineup of <span>Kyrie Irving</span>, <span>Russell Westbrook</span>, <span>LeBron James</span>, <span>Kevin Durant</span> and <span>Anthony Davis</span> isn’t fair. Injuries to the other players or not, Team Steph doesn’t have a top end like that and when they actually start to try on defense in the 4th quarter, Team LeBron will put the clamps on Team Steph. </p>
<p id="t8kdks"><strong>Bonus Question: What is your Finals match-up right?</strong></p>
<p id="kMMeNQ"><strong>Nesgoda</strong>: I am sticking with my preseason pick and saying the Houston Rockets vs. the Boston Celtics. </p>
<p id="OLW6em"><strong>Taylor: </strong>Sigh. Warriors and Cavs. The Rockets are stacked after adding <span>Joe Johnson</span> and the Western Conference Finals should set records for scoring this year. But as Rudy T once said, “never underestimate the heart of a champion.” Also never underestimate LeBron, who has a new cast around him and it has been paying dividends. </p>
<p id="2L2nsA"><strong>Miles: </strong>Warriors and Cavs. The Rockets are going to the Warriors a run for their money in the Western Conference Finals, but the Warriors have so much firepower AND great defense, I just don’t think that Harden will be able to maintain his MVP level offense and guard KD, Steph or Klay enough to beat them 4 times in a 7 game series. Until LeBron doesn’t make the Finals, I’m rolling with whatever team he’s on in the East. </p>
https://www.sonicsrising.com/2018/2/17/17023396/nba-all-star-weekend-asg-2018-predictionsKevin NesgodaTaylor MadeMilesDeCaro2018-01-19T07:00:04-08:002018-01-19T07:00:04-08:00Theory of Basketball: Surpises, Westbrook, Harden, Pacers and more!
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<img alt="New Orleans Pelicans v New York Knicks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Q9ijPW3vTEWPbcFV4BgTs7jF8Z8=/0x96:3712x2571/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58377069/905739470.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="aqZP24">We decided that we needed to get some hoops talk being a little more prevalent on the site once again. So welcome to our first weekly installment of our Hoops Roundtable. This week we have the pleasure of having <a href="https://twitter.com/flashtennis31">Phil Naessens</a> join us for the hoop talk.</p>
<p id="tEU1My">Join the discussion down in the comments.</p>
<ol><li id="9tumoK"><strong>What team below a four seed needs to really think about tanking?</strong></li></ol>
<p id="3mmvTm"><strong>Phil Naessens: </strong>Just for the record, I don’t like this tanking business. Unfortunately, there’s really no other way for small market teams to hit the jackpot so I suppose the team with the most to gain from this would be the <a href="https://www.thebirdwrites.com/">New Orleans Pelicans</a> as that team isn’t going anywhere but a maximum eighth seed and a first-round playoff loss. They first need to figure which of the twin towers they want to keep because you can’t tank with both Boogie Cousins and <span>Anthony Davis</span> in the lineup for a full season. I suppose the best way to decide is which one will fetch more picks which is probably Davis. So you trade Davis and convince Cousins that he will be the King of New Orleans. Then you dangle <span>Jrue Holiday</span> and see how many first round picks you can get for him. If the Pelicans are able to do this they should be in decent shape in a couple of seasons. </p>
<p id="6D6lje"><strong>Kevin Nesgoda</strong>: I want to say Oklahoma City, but they don’t have a first-round pick this coming draft, so I’ll go with Phil on this one. The Pelicans need to move one or both <span>DeMarcus Cousins</span> or Anthony Davis. The Twin Towers (no matter how talented) will not work in the modern game. You have assets that rebuilding teams want and a playoff team need. Could you imagine the <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/">Nets</a> pick cake this team back to 1995 and they are going to hang with Jordan’s <a href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Bulls</a> in the finals? Could you also imagine either ending up in Cleveland or Boston for the stretch run?</p>
<p id="1d0ufh"><strong>Chris Meirose: </strong>Crazy as it may sound, but the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a>. They still are a superstar or two from having any sort of identity in the west. While L.A. is a desirable destination for players for numerous reasons, having valuable assets - high picks - enables them to smooth the way for teams to work deals with them. </p>
<p id="X5vct9"><strong>Taylor Bartle: </strong>The <a href="https://www.atthehive.com/">Charlotte Hornets</a>. They seem to be heading in the wrong direction, despite having so much talent on paper. <span>Kemba Walker</span> is a perennial All-Star candidate, <span>Frank Kaminsky</span> was supposed to be the next big thing, and <span>Dwight Howard</span> is an upgrade over Al Jefferson. The problem with them tanking is that they haven’t had much success in the draft. <span>Cody Zeller</span> was a number four pick. <span>Michael Kidd-Gilchrist</span> was a number two! Neither has lived up to their draft position. </p>
<p id="qMU2Ma"><strong>2. Will Russell Westbrook ever win a title?</strong></p>
<p id="El9RIt"><strong>Phil Naessens: </strong>Enormous talent and exciting to watch but if padding his stats is what he wants to do then he’s in the right place to do his thing. The only way I see Westbrook winning a championship is if he gets a coach that can actually reign him in. I don’t ever see that happening in OKC and it’s probably why he stayed in OKC in the first place. In OKC he gets to do whatever he likes and that doesn’t bode well for him winning a championship in OKC or for that matter anywhere else.</p>
<p id="sUahq5"><strong>Kevin Nesgoda</strong>: No, and I don’t think he cares. Russ is going to do Russ no matter the situation. He’s going to pad his stats, he’s going to hold a few individual records by the time he retires, but he’s never going to win a ring unless he takes the minimum and becomes the sixth man in Golden State.</p>
<p id="87uMyN"><strong>Chris Meirose: </strong>No, and I don’t think it is his priority. Why? Because if it was, there’s no explaining why he stayed in OKC. He had the opportunity to leave OKC, and I suppose at some point down the road he can still potentially leverage himself against the team, but with his contract, it seems unlikely. Beyond that, his game just doesn’t show me that he’s ready to do what it takes - self-sacrifice - to make it happen. He can’t do it himself. And frankly, I don’t feel bad about that. At all.</p>
<p id="ECi0M9"><strong>Taylor Bartle: </strong>I think he could, but he has to learn to defer. <span>Paul George</span> should be the man in OKC right now but Westbrook wants to recapture that MVP season he had last year. He wants to get triple-doubles and make all the highlight reels and that seems to be his priority right now. He wants to single-handedly will his team to victories, which is great and all, but more victories will come from a team game and I don’t believe a team can win a championship with Russell as its number one option.</p>
<p id="fnV8cD"><strong>3. Who is your MVP right now?</strong></p>
<p id="iD19ro"><strong>Phil Naessens:</strong> I’m going with James Harden. Partly because he should have won last year and partly with the way the <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Rockets</a> have played in his absence. But mostly because he’s 1st in points, 2nd in assists, top 100 in shooting percentage PLUS his team wins! </p>
<p id="jZFfkC"><strong>Kevin Nesgoda</strong>: It’s very hard to argue against Harden. He should have won it last year. Team performance and doing things within the game do matter. People should not be rewarded for padding stats. I could also make a case for <span>Giannis Antetokounmpo</span> too. The kid is going for 29-10 every night and plays some of the best defense in the league. Giannis could officially be one of the three best players in the league now.</p>
<p id="tiFgkb"><strong>Chris Meirose: </strong>I want to say something brilliant here and amaze you with why Giannis or Lebron or even <span>Kevin Durant</span> should be MVP. But they shouldn’t. It’s Harden. You see it in his play, but even more in his current absence. I watched the Rockets two nights ago, and they were solid against the <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Suns</a> without Harden. But with him in the lineup, they are an absolute delight to watch. Harden has become a must-watch player in my book, and that’s saying something because he used to drive me nuts. His usage rate, his creativity, his ability to take over a game at a moments notice. He makes everyone on that roster, including CP3, better. Sure, there’s still plays where he mails it in defensively. But I can just see his mind calculating how he’ll get those points back at the other end.</p>
<p id="FyjdlM"><strong>Taylor Bartle: </strong>The important thing to remember here is that this is Most “Valuable” Player. It’s not just an award for the best player in the league. It’s hard to argue that anyone on the <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors</a> should get it since they have so much other talent. A big part of me wants to say it’s Giannis because the <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/">Bucks</a> would most likely be cellar dwellers without him. However, James Harden’s current injury and the Rockets’ parallel slump have shown why he should be the MVP. He is a guy who can single-handedly take over an entire game at any time. Yes, his defense is still suspect, but it’s actually improved somewhat. I think Mike D’Antoni is the ideal coach for Harden.</p>
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<p id="7TMlgX"><strong>4. Who is the biggest surprise?</strong></p>
<p id="8tvCoB"><strong>Phil Naessens: </strong>For me its been the <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/">Indiana Pacers</a>. They trade Paul George for two underachievers in <span>Victor Oladipo</span> and <span>Domantas Sabonis</span> and turn that into a potential playoff team. Trading <span>C.J. Miles</span> for <span>Cory Joseph</span> and signing Free Agent Darren Collison turned out pretty well so far. The Pacers have picked up their pace you have a nice young team trending upward. President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard should win Executive of the Year and it will be a shame if he doesn’t. Not to mention Head Coach <span>Nate McMillan</span> has done an exceptional job with this team. </p>
<p id="ek941A"><strong>Kevin Nesgoda</strong>: At the beginning of the season I would have said the <a href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a>, but then they regressed back to being the Orlando Magic, so I have to go with Phil yet again. The Pacers have been a fun surprise. I had them on the outside of the playoffs this year and having a top-five pick in the draft, but nope. Victor Oladipo is on the verge of becoming the star we all thought he would be. Kevin Pritchard won the Paul George trade when everyone (including myself) thought he was taken. When George isn’t in OKC next year and the <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Thunder</a> don’t get any compensation from George leaving then we’ll know for sure. Nate McMillan is also a legit coach of the year candidate. </p>
<p id="HL0sSo"><strong>Chris Meirose: </strong>The <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Celtics</a>, and it isn’t close. Why? Defense. When Gordon Hayward went down, I wondered about their scoring options and whether they’d be able to consistently be able to put up enough points to be elite. Rather than find ways to score more points, they’re taking them away from their opponents. Nightly. They’re currently giving up fewer points than THE SPURS. I expected them to be a middle of the pack team that nobody wanted to meet in the playoffs, and they’re simply just killing it at this point. Their point differential is lower than other teams, which shows they are winning close games and not getting blown out. The other team that is a distant 2nd in for me in the “surprise” category is Memphis. I expected a decline. But they fell off the cliff.</p>
<p id="cxBGaS"><strong>Taylor Bartle: </strong>I, too, have to say the Indiana Pacers. When they traded Paul George it looked like they were going into a rebuild. However, Victor Oladipo is, in my mind, worthy of an All-Star bid this season. He is averaging a career-high 24.4 points per game and has had several clutch shots to lead his team to victory. Domantas Sabonis is finally looking like the player he was at Gonzaga again. The team is also 17th in pace. That may not sound great but remember this is a Nate McMillan coached team.</p>
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<p id="3lyCyw"><strong>5. When do you think the Sonics come back?</strong></p>
<p id="sKRUwy"><strong>Phil Naessens: </strong>I would love to say next season but honestly speaking I don’t foresee the Sonics coming back unless the NBA expands the League to two more teams. I really don’t want to get a team because another city lost them. I know how that feels and it sucks. </p>
<p id="Vm2iZX"><strong>Kevin Nesgoda</strong>: I am going to go with what Payton and Haywood have both said and say 2020-21. I really do think there will be an NBA team in the new arena when it opens. In Tim I Trust.</p>
<p id="r7TJQr"><strong>Chris Meirose: </strong>2022. Looking at the timeline, I think 2021 is just too quick, though sooner is absolutely better in my book. And unlike Phil, I’ll take it however it comes. Sure, I’d prefer the Thunder to go bankrupt and be forced to return to Seattle or expansion. But I am no longer willing to be picky. Enough is enough, and Seattle needs a team. And I’m not going to feel bad about that.</p>
<p id="wUiHvS"><strong>Taylor Bartle: </strong>The wheels are already turning to have the NHL here in 2020. Since similar wheels are not turning for the NBA it’s hard to say that a similar timeline is possible. We’ll see if that changes once construction actually begins in the new arena, but even if so I think 2021 is the earliest. I think 2022 is more likely.</p>
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https://www.sonicsrising.com/2018/1/19/16908102/basketball-westbrook-pacers-lakers-pelicans-hardenKevin NesgodaMrCLMTaylor Made2018-01-15T12:00:02-08:002018-01-15T12:00:02-08:00The next Reign: What you know about Jamon Kemp?
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<p id="D63nh0">How familiar are you with the Class of 2019’s best basketball prospect from the State of Washington? He’s a 6’6” small forward who plays his high school ball in the Central District, putting on the uniform of Garfield High School. You may have heard of his father, former Seattle Supersonic icon, Shawn Kemp. </p>
<p id="xcamBg">It is time for you all to begin to get acquainted with Jamon Kemp because this kid has the skills to be the next great player to come out of the 206. </p>
<p id="tTRBux">Kemp is not only the highest ranked player in the State of Washington, but according to Max Preps he is the 51st best player in the whole country. As of writing this he only has an offer from the University of Montana, but in a recent interview, he said that there are numerous other schools that are interested in him. These schools include Washington, Washington State, Gonzaga, Oregon, and a whole host of other programs all over the country. </p>
<p id="AL2G8y">Check out one of the few highlight videos of the young Kemp. </p>
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<p id="TRngOJ">I’ve watched a couple of his highlight videos and the thing that jumps out most about him is how silky his game is. </p>
<p id="ILI1Zv">The kid is smooth. </p>
<p id="rPJtes">Kemp looks like he is playing at half speed with the other kids around him. His handles are a bit loose, but he’s seventeen and can get away with it. He does have the ability to tighten it up quick though. He goes from open court dribbling around his shoulders and once in traffic that dribble gets low to just above the knees. </p>
<p id="wcjBn1">The next thing that stood out to me is how unselfish he is with the ball. He’s more than likely the best player on his team, but he gives up the ball to his teammates in the right spots. His passing is so crisp; no-looks, pocket passes, chest passes, bounce passes, etc. The passes are right on the mark and it looks to be the right pass too! </p>
<p id="SvyriU">The videos didn’t show off his shooting a whole lot, but from the two clips that I saw he has a form just like his dad’s. It’s not pretty, but I bet it gets the job done. It is better than Lonzo Ball’s shot for sure. There is nothing uglier on a basketball court than that shooting motion. And the final thing I’ll mention is how quickly he gets off the ground. He can jump and he’s a quick jumper. I see him having quite a few highlight dunks throughout his career. </p>
<p id="kYIEpd">Check out the video, head out to one of his games to check him out in person. A high-profile game worth checking out is on the 23rd at fifth-ranked O’Dea High School. If you don’t live in Seattle you can stream that game. I think I just might do that. </p>
<p id="WCM6zE">Late addition: </p>
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https://www.sonicsrising.com/2018/1/15/16888554/jamon-kemp-shawn-kemp-garfield-college-recruitingKevin Nesgoda2018-01-02T08:30:02-08:002018-01-02T08:30:02-08:00Why Steelheads should be Seattle’s NHL Team Name
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<p id="2XWDdr">Here we are in the Final Four of the Name the Seattle NHL Team contest. This has no official bearing on what we should end up naming the team, but it’s the most complex and thought-provoking analysis on the subject. We’re doing more than polls slapped up on a website here.</p>
<p id="LN4cy9">There are quite a few people who spend very cold mornings in the winters months wading into the rivers of the Pacific Northwest to catch one certain fish, the Steelhead. If you’re like my brother then you’ll be in that water when it’s ten degrees going after these bad boys.</p>
<p id="1cJfKR">The steelhead, or metal-heads as some anglers call them, spends most of its life in the ocean waters while coming into freshwater rivers to mate and spawn. It’s a feisty fish that takes a lot of patience to catch and to reel in. They are a fish that never says die, deceptively strong, fast. Yes, they are food for other species, humans included, but they are also a predatory fish. </p>
<p id="Aeo8aU">I asked an avid steelhead angler, Nate McKinney, why we should consider the name of the NHL team. </p>
<p id="O0O289">“Steelhead are the, in my opinion, the hardiest and most determined salmonoid species.” said Nate, “They will endure whatever it takes to achieve that end goal”</p>
<p id="C4QRcb">Steelheads have some history in Seattle as well. It was our <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Steelheads">Negro League Baseball</a> team back in 1946. Even though I hate alliteration and think it’s lazy there is something to be said about the teams and alliteration in Seattle. Every team that has alliteration in their name has won a title. Sonics, Storm, Sounders, Seahawks are all champions. The Mariners? Sometime superstition is a real thing. </p>
<p id="htUR2p">Steelheads over Totems is a no-brainer.</p>
<p id="2olYOx">Here’s Nate and his group out fishing for Steelhead. Some good shots of how hard these fish fight.</p>
<div id="X3PpLM"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ePMridoFR5w?rel=0&" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="uja7hU">Go to the polls, vote for Steelheads as the team name for our soon to be NHL squad.</p>
https://www.sonicsrising.com/2018/1/2/16839962/steelheads-seattles-nhl-team-nameKevin Nesgoda2017-12-21T08:10:36-08:002017-12-21T08:10:36-08:00SonicsRising’s Christmas Wish
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<figcaption>Around Seattle</figcaption>
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<p>What does the blog without a team want this Christmas?</p> <p id="d3pHHc">We’re once again partnering with the Mothership to bring all the blogs together and the theme (obvious by the title) is a wishlist for our NBA franchise. Well -- as we don’t have a franchise we are going to ask Mr. Leiweke (Hi, Tim!) and Mr. Silver to provide us a Christmas miracle and deliver the Seattle area their Supersonics back. Preferably not via relocation, we don’t want to be a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9lMMM3L9Yg">grinch</a>. I do not speak for everyone on staff on this. There are some who will take a team by any means necessary. I would too, but I’d prefer not to break another fan base’s heart.</p>
<p id="wfJAIf">What do the staff want to specifically?</p>
<p id="MiSzOy"><strong>Kevin</strong>: We know teams are going to come, but I want to the whole thing to go as smoothly as possible. Be it anything with the leagues or with the City of Seattle and King County. No more roadblocks, nothing weird, only smoothness. </p>
<p id="b27ZYt"><strong>Jeff:</strong> Obviously, we desperately want the Sonics back. We’ve spent over 10 years trying to save and now bring back the Seattle SuperSonics. My biggest Christmas gift from the NBA beyond that would be for the NBA to start showing a more proactive voice in returning a team to Seattle, similar to how the NHL has been very open about their interest in Seattle. I want to see the NBA’s attitude change from “Seattle was a great market, but we have no interest in expanding or relocating at this time” to “With Seattle’s new arena, the league will look to put a team back in Seattle as quickly as possible.” Little things like that could go a long way to rebuilding a great relationship with the league.</p>
<p id="B2V6HN"><strong>Miles: </strong>I want a new (will accept newly renovated) arena before the recent MOU is complete. </p>
<p id="705XK2">While the overall goal is bring the Sonics back to Seattle, getting a new arena done has been an issue for (gasp!) almost 20 years. It’s going to be good for the city and I’m hoping it gets accomplished. </p>
<p id="c8Vilu">From there, the path to Seattle having winter sports teams becomes much easier as we can show the leagues that we can actually build an arena (or two) to house them. </p>
<p id="IQBjQs">I’d also like an official, Red Ryder, carbine action, two hundred shot range model air rifle to shoot t-shirts into the stands. Ho, ho, ho! </p>
<p id="6GuopM"><strong>Chris:</strong> Kevin Durant. In Green and Gold. Again. And...Kraken.</p>
<p id="jNw0SD"><strong>Taylor: </strong>The easy answer is to just say the Sonics back, right? Well, no matter what, I think we can all resolve that that isn’t going to happen in 2018. So my Christmas wish is continued progress on a new arena (new renderings!) and hopefully a little whisper of news coming from the NBA.</p>
<p id="ZrtRh2"><strong>Paul</strong>: I want what they want, and what every other fan that came to Sonics Rising and spilled their guts, and gave everything they had, wants. I want the NBA to love us as much as we love it. That’s what I want. In case you’re wondering, I didn’t steal this from Rambo at all.</p>
<p id="wT8N2h"><strong>Otto: </strong> The Sonics back and to get back to the playoffs and have another ‘Rally in the Alley.’</p>
<p id="jLQgGU"><strong>Dontae: </strong>I can say the easiest thing and that is a NBA team (somehow, anyhow) secured…..as a matter of fact, I do wish for a NBA team waiting in the wings, with the new arena easily clearing the EIS, and any other hurdle necessary to put shovels in the ground.</p>
<p id="ZCcsOE">For the readers, I want<em> sustained </em>hope. We've had so many ups and downs waiting for things to line up to get a new arena, every reader deserves to have that hope, rooted and grounded in tangible evidence that the SuperSonics are “sooner, than later” coming home.</p>
<p id="aruPcy"><strong>Matt:</strong> I want the Seattle SuperSonics back in the NBA as soon as is possible. With arena things moving here and direct interest brewing in Mexico City, the path seems to be opening. Yes, I could see a team relocating here, not specifically by want but by reality. Owners are talking about addressing markets/teams that are underperforming, so it’s possible we could see the Sonics back by that method here. Expansion preferred.I want the arena timeline to go smoothly and for the NHL to award expansion to christen the new building. As quickly as the process went for CenturyLink Field, I could see Seattle Center Arena going the same way.</p>
<p id="4odB7G">How about you, reader? What do you want for Christmas?</p>
https://www.sonicsrising.com/2017/12/21/16805794/sonicsrisings-christmas-wishKevin NesgodaJome20MilesDeCaroMrCLMTaylor MadeyearsagoPaul RogersMatt TuckerInfomantae2017-12-13T23:00:01-08:002017-12-13T23:00:01-08:00Seattle Hockey Name Tournament: Region Two
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<p id="mQbCSB">I have not exactly been a hockey guy from the start. Guys like Paul, Otto, and John have been on this from the word “go” on this movement. Hell, I think this is the first hockey article I think I’ve ever written. But this stuff is a lot of fun. Who doesn’t love a big tournament? People without internet in East Timor, that’s who! The fans actually have a voice in what the potential NHL team name is. How cool is that!? Thanks to Tim Leiweke for giving the fans a voice in the process. By no means is this an official poll, but it’s a lot of fun none-the-less. </p>
<p id="UFTMWU">Results from the 5-Hole Region:</p>
<p id="xMq2HY">Sea Lions defeat Mountaineers, 52-48<br>Wolves defeat Black Bears, 60-40<br>Emeralds defeat Navigators, 60-40<br>Metropolitans defeat Otters, 62-38</p>
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<p id="sze7lM">The Metropolitans had the biggest showing the region, much to the chagrin of Jeff Brown. Dude hates the Mets name. </p>
<p id="hMlVee">Now time for the Poke Checking Region, which contains my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGfIIjN-P7o">favorite</a> name and my brother’s <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=steelhead&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS768US768&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjzpejz9IjYAhUB6WMKHZenApoQ_AUICigB&biw=1677&bih=832&dpr=2">favorite</a> name.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">First Match. The Poke Checking region <br><br>Steelheads vs Grays<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SeaHockeyTourney?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SeaHockeyTourney</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetOVGKnow?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetOVGKnow</a></p>— The Sin Bin (@SeattleSinBin) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeattleSinBin/status/941017115754033152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Second Match. Poke Checking region<br><br>Freeze vs Cascades<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SeaHockeyTourney?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SeaHockeyTourney</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetOVGKnow?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetOVGKnow</a></p>— The Sin Bin (@SeattleSinBin) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeattleSinBin/status/941042672688435200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Third Match. The Poke Checking region<br><br>Sasquatch vs Grunge<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SeaHockeyTourney?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SeaHockeyTourney</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetOVGKnow?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetOVGKnow</a></p>— The Sin Bin (@SeattleSinBin) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeattleSinBin/status/941073741634723840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fourth Match. The Poke Checking region<br><br>Breakers vs Triton<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SeaHockeyTourney?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SeaHockeyTourney</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetOVGKnow?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetOVGKnow</a></p>— The Sin Bin (@SeattleSinBin) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeattleSinBin/status/941102723566526464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2017</a>
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<p id="0UPR1v">What are your favorite names? Sound off in the comments! Even the new people who have been looking at the site recently and all the lurkers out there who have yet to comment. Welcome to SonicsRising! Hope you enjoy your stay here. </p>
https://www.sonicsrising.com/2017/12/13/16775434/seattle-nhl-hockey-name-tournament-region-two-poke-checkKevin Nesgoda