Tag Archives: Marcus Smart

2014-15 NBA Team Preview: Boston Celtics

Since Bill Simmons is currently on suspension, someone has to step up and write a Boston Celtics team preview, right?

The Celtics were really hoping to land one of the first two picks in last year’s NBA Draft, but Cleveland got lucky once again (and Philadelphia/Milwaukee were both stupid bad).

Head coach Brad Stevens didn’t do anything to make us think the stage is too big for him. That is all Boston really wanted to see in his first year. They are in the middle of a rebuilding process, so win-total expectations were very low.

We will be posting a team preview for every team up until the start of the regular season.

Here is the 2014-15 NBA season preview for the Boston Celtics.

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2014 NBA Draft Analysis – First Round

2014 NBA Draft Andrew Wiggins Jabari ParkerMy favorite night of the year has arrived!

I love the anticipation and the speed of the NBA Draft. You don’t have fifteen minutes in-between picks like the NFL and you actually know these players, unlike the NHL and MLB.

If you can stomach two-three hours of Bill Simmons, it will be a fun night.

We give analysis for every pick in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Andrew Wiggins (Kansas) – No surprise here. Cleveland is looking to rebuild and they don’t need a player like Jabari Parker to be an instant boost. They loved Embiid, but they couldn’t risk a #1 overall pick on a player who is a major injury risk.

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2014 NBA Mock Draft: Who Will be #1?

Joel Embiid 2014 NBA Mock Draft Cleveland CavaliersNow that the NBA season is over, let’s focus on the NBA Draft. I personally think the NBA Draft is the best draft in any major sport. There’s usually more trades, the impact of these rookies is usually felt immediately and it doesn’t go on and on like the NFL Draft.

You will begin to hear a lot of rumors about what’s wrong with these prospects. You rarely hear anything positive until a day or two before the draft. Teams know how to leak information to attempt to hurt a player’s draft stock. It’s all smoke and mirrors at this point.

I try to forge through the piles of trash out there and give you where I think the player will be drafted. I personally wouldn’t draft a few of these players in the lottery, but it’s the NBA and there are a lot of bad General Managers in the league.

Here is my 2014 NBA Mock Draft for the first round.

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2014 NBA Draft: Top 20 NBA Prospects

Jabari Parker Duke Blue Devils 2014 NBA DraftThe 2014 NBA Draft is stacked. NBA teams have been tanking all season to get the most ping-pong balls in hopes of landing the #1 pick. Two players in particular have NBA teams drooling, Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker.

Not only does this draft have two potential All-Stars, but it’s deep. You could get a player late in the Lottery that could start right away. You don’t see that in most drafts. Actually, the top five players in this draft would have been #1 overall picks in last year’s draft.

Players will begin to announce their intentions to either declare for the draft or stay in school. You have the usual suspects, but there are always a few wild cards that declare, but end up going back to school after the NBA Draft Combine

We list the top 20 prospects in the 2014 NBA Draft.

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2014 March Madness: #8 Gonzaga vs #9 Oklahoma State

Marcus Smart Le'Bryan Nash Oklahoma State Cowboys 2014 NCAA TournamentWe are picking every NCAA Tournament game in an effort to help you fill out your bracket and win your office pool.

Oklahoma State was supposed to be a title contender. Marcus Smart would have been a top three pick in last year’s NBA Draft, but he decided that he needed to work on his shot, so he returned to school. Things haven’t worked out as planned and at one point, looked like they may not even make the NCAA Tournament.

Gonzaga has been a mainstay in the NCAA Tournament for the last fifteen years. They were once a Cinderella, but have been a favorite for a decade. They have yet to reach the Elite Eight. Is this the year Gonzaga makes history?

Who do you think will win? We help you fill out your bracket.

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March Madness: Midwest Region Picks

CoachKNetDukeThe Midwest Region is loaded with inconsistent teams and a few that are very underrated.

Michigan State did not get any favors from the selection committee. They are a #3 seed in a bracket with Louisville and Duke (a team that would be a #1 seed if Ryan Kelly was healthy all season).

We go through the bracket and pick potential matchups from the second round until the Final Four.

Who do you have making the Final Four from the Midwest Bracket? We pick our winners and help you fill out your bracket. Continue reading

2013 March Madness: #5 Oklahoma State vs #12 Oregon

Marcus+Smart+Oklahoma+State+2013If you’re looking to pick an upset, look no further than when a #5 seed meets a #12 seed in the first-round. These matchups are the most common upsets in the history of the NCAA Tournament.

#5 Oklahoma State (24-8) vs. #12 Oregon (26-8) could be a special game.

In December, it was unthinkable that Oregon would barely make the NCAA Tournament. They were 18-2 through January before hitting the heart of their Pac-12 schedule.

Can Oregon join the long list of #12 seed upsets?

Who do you think will win? We help you fill out your bracket. Continue reading