#wizards famers market

[precariouswizardry]

anyone want some potions?

I have:

potion of rubber ducks traded for a handful of rocks

a potion that mutates horses to look like bears

1 & 1/2 potions of nontoxic cyanide traded for hyper toxic cyanide

a potion that is actually a wooden orb traded for a stone orb

this suspicious green potion traded for a glowing amulet!!

and a trustworthy blue potion

first come first served!!

#wizards famers market #barter for potions if you dare #i dare you #please buy my wares #shadow wizard money gang #wizard posting #wizardposting #wizard #wizardcore

[nightmare-afton-cosplay]

Selena Gomez Buys Tom Petty’s Former Mansion—Let’s Spin Through Selena’s Property Past

realtor.com; Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images

Pop singer and former Disney star Selena Gomez has hit a high note with her latest real estate purchase. The chart topper picked up Tom Petty’s former estate in Encino, CA. She paid $4,895,000 for the place, according to Variety.

Petty estate’s perks

The 9,000-square-foot property was custom-built in 1989. Though Petty, a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, moved out after his divorce in 1996, his spirit lives on with elements such as the recording studio and a sunken performance space. 

Last sold in 2018 for $4,485,000, the home was recently renovated and flipped for a small profit. 

The front entry opens to a living area with a high ceiling, canyon views, and a dramatic fireplace. The first-floor master suite comes with two closets and spa-quality baths, and there’s an upper-level suite and four additional bedroom suites.

The large kitchen opens to a family room, and a formal dining area features walls of windows. 

But it may have been the lower level that clinched the deal for Gomez. Petty’s original recording studio space has been updated to include a wine cellar, gym, massage room, creative work area, kitchen, vocal booth, den, and guest suite.

Tom Petty’s former estate

realtor.com

Living room

realtor.com

Bedroom

realtor.com

Performance space

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Recording studio

realtor.com

The Instagram queen (173 million followers!) has dabbled in high-end real estate in the past. Here’s a look at three other abodes where the social media star has stayed.

Sheltering in Studio City

With L.A. in lockdown, the artist is hunkering down at her current home, a charming cottage in Studio City. Gomez, who recently celebrated her third Billboard No. 1 album with “Rare,” posted a photo from her open kitchen on Instagram.

After purchasing the 3,188-square-foot, three-bedroom home in 2017 for $2.24 million, Gomez almost immediately changed her mind. She placed the house back on the market in 2018 for $2.79 million, and again in 2019, but found no buyer as of yet.

The warm and chic home features herringbone-patterned brick floors, privacy hedges, and white wood. Inside there’s wide-plank oak flooring and updated lighting.

An open kitchen, media space, library with fireplace, and casual dining room are ideal for entertaining guests. The backyard comes with a kitchen, dining area and pool, as well as a guesthouse.

View this post on Instagram

Trying to take a cute/serious pic of me cooking but then felt embarrassed so I’m using the candid where I look so happy but I really feel kinda cheesy. 😏 Anyway, I shared a few lists in my stories of things I’m watching, listening to and reading to keep me positive and help pass the time. Hope it helps you 💖 For music: “If the World Was Ending” – JP Saxe & Julia Michaels “You Say” – Lauren Daigle “Snowchild” – The Weeknd “The Blessing” – Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes & Elevation Worship “The Box” – Roddy Rich For movies: Invisible Man Jennifer’s Body American Hustle Uncut Gems Clueless Sugar and Spice After the Wedding Zodiac Election Flirting with Disaster For shows: The Morning Show Good Girls The Servant SNL (re-runs) The Mind Explained For books: “Becoming” – Michelle Obama “The Undocumented Americans” – Karla Cornejo Villavicencio “Signs” – Laura Lynne Jackson For podcasts: On Purpose with Jay Shetty Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me A New Earth – Oprah & Eckhart Tolle Get Sleepy For accounts to follow: @tinykitchentm @jessicayellin @selenagomez.doll @chloeiscrazy @nostalgia.video

A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) on Mar 30, 2020 at 7:07pm PDT

Cool on Calabasas

In 2015, the “Wizards of Waverly Place” star placed her Calabasas estate on the market for $4,495,000. The celeb-filled enclave wasn’t enough to persuade Gomez to settle there. She had purchased it the year before for $3.7 million.

The custom house on 3 acres has five bedrooms, five fireplaces, a chef’s kitchen with breakfast nook, a formal dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows, an outdoor courtyard, a theater, a gym, and a guesthouse.

Calabasas mansion

realtor.com

The property includes an outdoor kitchen with pizza oven, a pool, and a cabana. The swanky spot had problems with intruders, which, according to TMZ, probably led to Gomez’s decision to sell it in 2016 for for $3.3 million.

Texas-size transaction

Naturally, the Texas native owned property in Fort Worth. She picked up a Texas-size property in 2015 as a spot to stay while she visited family.

But then her fickle property ways struck again. She listed the home in early 2016 for $3.5 million, before taking it off the market shortly thereafter.

Texas home

realtor.com

In 2018, she relisted the 10,000 square-foot mansion once more, this time for $3 million. It was reduced to $2.7 million months later, and the home was finally sold.

Set on 1.5 acres, the stone-clad mansion offer a range of impressive amenities, including an open living area and entertainment features such as a home theater, game room with wet bar, crafts room, and coffee bar.

The lush grounds include a lagoon-shaped saltwater pool, putting green, sport court, and two garages.

The post Selena Gomez Buys Tom Petty’s Former Mansion—Let’s Spin Through Selena’s Property Past appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

from https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/selena-gomez-picks-up-tom-petty-mansion/

[bluemagic-girl]

The Wizards view the Clippers as a model for their restructure, but the work has just begun

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Wizards proprietor Ted Leonsis, proper, introduced final week that Tommy Sheppard, left, would grow to be the crew’s full-time common supervisor, heading up an unconventional and “collaborative” entrance workplace. (Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Put up) LOS ANGELES — Ted Leonsis nailed the straightforward stuff. As the months-long search to exchange former president Ernie Grunfeld lastly concluded final week, the Washington Wizards proprietor checked off some vital gadgets from his to-do record. He took accountability for years of mediocrity, admitting that he had “let down” Wizards followers. He recognized central weaknesses of the Grunfeld period: an unhealthy focus of energy and a lack of substantive communication at the high. And he surveyed the league for fashionable finest practices, arriving on the ascendant Los Angeles Clippers as his model for success. “The decision-making, particularly round what I’ll name the ‘large moments’ — who you draft, who you commerce, who you signal — these won’t be made in a vacuum,” Leonsis advised The Put up in an interview earlier this month. “These will likely be made in a collaborative, well-reasoned space. The crew doing that in a great way is the Clippers, and we hope to even be seen that approach. [Owner] Steve Ballmer has a nice coach, presidents, common managers. He’s obtained a mind belief, and that was very interesting to me. Many arms make gentle work.” Leonsis was so taken by the Clippers’ strategy that he praised Ballmer and his “nice individuals” once more when he unveiled his new, nontraditional entrance workplace, which incorporates first-time Normal Supervisor Tommy Sheppard, chief strategist Sashi Brown, medical chief Daniel Medina, athlete growth head John Thompson III and assistant GM Brett Greenberg. The Clippers’ rise — which culminated in July with the acquisitions of superstars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George — presents many classes for the Wizards, with the virtues of team-based decision-making being just one. L.A. positioned itself to be this summer season’s large winners by years of diligent work and spending, turning an intensive self-assessment into clear organizational philosophies whereas pursuing new experience so as to add to their management workers. As Leonsis undertakes what’s sure to be a painful rebuilding effort, he ought to draw inspiration not solely from the Clippers’ “collaborative” type, but additionally how and why Ballmer assembled his many collaborators. “[Washington’s] new plan will go as far as [Leonsis] takes it,” one rival govt stated. “Being invested [now] and staying invested are two various things.” Changing into a ‘blacktop crew’ To be able to signal Leonard and commerce for George, the Clippers first needed to confront the elephant in the room: They weren’t the Los Angeles Lakers. Titles. Corridor of Famers. Celebrities. These would eternally be the Lakers’ aggressive benefits, and so they left the Clippers to deal with existential questions. As the Wizards know properly, a checkered previous can solid a lengthy shadow. When Lawrence Frank took over the entrance workplace from Doc Rivers in 2017, he launched a dogmatic branding strategy. In interview after interview, he solid the Clippers as “blue-collar,” “hard-playing” and “resilient.” The Lakers have been “Showtime,” but the Clippers have been a “blacktop crew.” With the public message set, Frank set about conducting a full “audit” of the group’s infrastructure. After many years spent withering below former proprietor Donald Sterling’s neglectful watch, there was loads to repair and Ballmer proceeded full pace forward. Rivers, who arrived in L.A. in 2013 as each coach and president, had as soon as loved whole autonomy and delivered blended outcomes, very similar to Grunfeld. To take the subsequent step, Frank’s audit led to a sequence of hires in 2017, together with Normal Supervisor Michael Winger, marketing consultant Jerry West and assistant GMs Trent Redden and Mark Hughes. “We have been doing the proper issues,” stated Frank, a former NBA coach who oversees the entrance workplace and takes the lead on communication with Rivers, gamers and brokers. “But we wanted to do it at a greater degree. We focused individuals from high-level organizations.” Winger, who arrived from the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder after a number of deep playoff runs, is the strategist. West, who has been a part of title groups with the Lakers and Golden State Warriors, is a trusted sounding board for Ballmer. Redden, who was with the Cleveland Cavaliers throughout their 2016 championship, focuses on the draft, whereas Hughes handles professional analysis. Ballmer’s investments continued from there, as L.A. sought to build up sufficient good minds with overlapping expertise to make sure wholesome debates. He made further entrance workplace hires in 2018, enhanced the Clippers’ G League operations, and significantly expanded their medical division, scouting workers and analytics crew. To take care of momentum, Ballmer rewarded Rivers with a contract extension this spring, and retained Winger and Redden after they have been approached by rival organizations this summer season. Though it bordered on overkill, Ballmer even launched twin building tasks: an intensive renovation of the Clippers’ current apply facility and a $1 billion plan to self-finance an enviornment advanced scheduled to open in 2024. “He’s upgrading a constructing that will likely be empty in 5 years,” one staffer stated. “The cash helps on each degree. He hardly ever says no.” Importantly, the Clippers’ beefed-up entrance workplace stored its participant personnel strikes aligned with the “blacktop crew” mantra. Out went Blake Griffin, an all-NBA degree expertise whose persistent harm points and max contract made it troublesome to construct a championship crew round him. The Clippers retooled round the less-heralded Patrick Beverley, Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams, overachieving their strategy to 48 wins in 2018-19. All the whereas, the Clippers remained centered on a franchise participant who embodied their id and will make them contenders: Leonard. They despatched high-level executives to attend his video games and prepped their wage cap so they may purchase two max-level stars this summer season. When Leonard indicated that he needed to play with George, the Clippers might make it occur. The Clippers added Kawhi Leonard and Paul George this summer season, validating years of cautious planning by Coach Doc Rivers, left, and proprietor Steve Ballmer. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Pictures) Enjoying in Southern California, the place each stars are from, actually aided the Clippers’ efforts, but the acquisitions of Leonard and George additionally validated their groundwork. The famous person arrivals match proper in, with Leonard saying that he was serious about profitable reasonably than media consideration and George declaring that their hard-nosed, two-way strategy was a “misplaced artwork.” “We have now one in all the finest organizations I’ve ever been a a part of,” stated West, whose NBA profession started in 1960. “I’ve had a lot enjoyable being round them.” Loads of work to do The Wizards want their personal model of “blacktop crew,” a unifying id and most popular type of play. They should construct a extra optimistic and productive inner tradition, as Leonsis has acknowledged. They may profit from Sheppard conducting a full audit. They usually badly want an exit technique with John Wall, a la the Griffin commerce. Sheppard’s tenure has opened on a quiet observe, with no main free company signings and solely minor asset-building trades. This cautious begin is wise provided that he spent the previous few months in limbo. However, main choices are looming on Wall and franchise guard Bradley Beal, who will seemingly go on Washington’s latest contract extension supply. Requested to evaluate the Wizards’ newest hires, a number of rival executives praised Leonsis for his open-mindedness in bringing Brown and Thompson from exterior conventional NBA circles. One famous that the affable Sheppard, in distinction to Grunfeld and different present GMs, has the proper persona to steer an inclusive and diversified entrance workplace. Nonetheless, different executives questioned whether or not Leonsis would wish to double-back to make additional additions or modifications to his basketball operations division. “I’m glad Tommy obtained a shot,” one skeptic stated. “I hope he has the proper assist and other people. They’ve a lot to be taught. Their workers appears gentle.” Over the previous decade, Leonsis has usually seemed to be the anti-Ballmer: content material to let a Grunfeldian malaise seep into his group. If the Wizards are to comply with the Clippers’ model, then he should comply with Ballmer’s lead. A correct course correction would require greater than empowering a new group of voices. Leonsis should search to determine, appeal to and retain the finest voices, typically at nice expense. And he should do it season after season. Learn extra: Steve Ballmer unveils $1 billion dream: A brand new enviornment advanced for the Clippers Why new Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard higher begin taking part in extra video video games John Thompson III’s Georgetown expertise ought to serve him properly in newly created Monumental position Clippers welcome Kawhi Leonard, Paul George on board, vow most interesting second but to come back ‘Lies, lies, lies’: Turkish consul upset by NBA participant’s declare ‘goons’ canceled his youth camp Join for our weekly NBA e-newsletter to get the finest basketball protection in your inbox (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

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[startegypt49-blog]

Ask Sam Mailbag: 04.05.2019

Is Zion really that much of a "cant' miss" No. 1 overall pick?

Is it a concern that he couldn't lead his team into the Final 4?

LongGiang Le

Sam: It would be a good study to compare the NCAA tournament success versus NBA career success. It's hardly an indicator, no offense to Ryan Arcidiacono, who was an NCAA tournament most outstanding players for a title team. Certainly, there were great winners like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (nee Lew Alcindor), Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Walton, Earvin (Magic) Johnson, Isiah Thomas and Hakeem (nee Akeem) Olajuwon. And guys who dominated the tournament like Jack Givens, Tony Delk and Mateen Cleeves. Kevin Durant, James Harden and Paul Pierce were out in the second round, Ben Simmons and Paul George never even made the tournament and even though Michael Jordan's shot won a title, his junior year his North Carolina team didn't get to the Final Four. So we won't hold that against Zion.

You mean a can't miss player like Greg Oden, Markelle Fultz or Joe Barry Carroll? There's no such thing as can't miss. Though the large majority of overall NBA No. 1 picks have had good careers, if not always superstar. Which is the "can't miss" question on Williamson. Someone and likely several in the draft will be All-Stars, though team building is about getting that one star. The 76ers have made some really good deals and other drafts, but without Embiid they're still about a .500 team. Since I've been following the draft starting in the early 1960s, I'd say Zion's in the top 10 of most hyped players. I'd probably put him after Kareem, Magic, Olajuwon, Walton and LeBron. And in a group with Oden, Shaq, Patrick Ewing and maybe Elvin Hayes or Tim Duncan. Cazzie Russell is just on the edge. Most, obviously, went onto big careers, and Zion should also. Though Walton's and Oden's were sidelined by injury, and Williamson does put a lot of torque on his body. Ewing never led his team to a title even as a Hall of Famer. It still requires luck after lucking into the No. 1 pick.

More than ever if we get the no 1, I'd trade it. I really don't want Zion. A lot of these kids look awesome against the other kids, they won't against an NBA talent. Maybe he will be as good as this generation gets. But I remember everybody was hot and heavy for Eddy Curry, and I'm wondering, "he can't even beat high School kids for the State Championship, let's get real". I know we need a point, and a shooting /scoring defensive All NBA, Klay Thompson, or a realistic version of him.

Tom Golden

Sam: I believe some personnel people have doubts about how Zion will hold up and where he fits at his size. But it would take the boldest and most secure executive in history (Pat Riley? Popovich? Red Auerbach?) to pass on Williamson, especially since the presumed No. 2 pick is a late blooming point guard who we're not sure could bench press a rack of basketballs. Zion has been the media story of college basketball and, at the very least, would be the best merchandise and ticket seller to come along in years. There probably isn't a team business and marketing department that would let him pass if only for the media coverage the team would get for the next six months. ESPN already is interviewing reporters to embed with Zion. I'm guessing, but would not be surprised. That alone should equal the value of his contract. You'd be able to make a great trade if you had Williamson, though no one will. I know I'm getting the No. 1 pick right this year in my mock draft. Probably two and three also, but from there I'm done. And probably many teams as well.

Lemon Jr. drives

Now that we are down the season stretch. Which of these young players that are getting time that you would like to see stick on with the Bulls to try to and or make this roster going into next season? Lemon, Jr. Jakkar Sampson, Shaq Harrison, Arch, and TLC.

Thomas Brackeen

Sam: I'd like to see many of them as they are hard playing, good, tough kids. Perhaps one or two will be there. As I noted the other day after the Wizards game, there basically are about 10 Bulls roster spots taken already without any of those guys: Dunn, LaVine, Porter, Markkanen and Carter, basically next season's starting five (if no Zion), and none are playing now. Then there's a potentially decent bench with Valentine, Hutchison, two draft picks and one or two free agents with about $20 million available. And that doesn't include Cristiano Felicio, still under contract, and Robin Lopez, a free agent who could return. Of course, there could be trades. I've been a fan of Walt Lemon's since watching him all season in the G-league, though I suspect the team for now is most comfortable with Arcidiacono and Harrison. But it's possible there will be just one roster spot available since the Bulls like to carry 14 to keep a spot open in case of a trade opportunity. And some of those guys might find better opportunities for more playing time considering the way they've improved as NBA players. I'd say most deserve to be on NBA rosters next season. Most have done a good job with the Bulls in a tough situation and are the kind of players you'd like for your bench.

Goran Dragic drives

I'm a huge fan of team building and unlike most of our fans, actually have patience and see potential in our roster. My biggest fear in free agency this year is acquiring players that may push our young players already on the roster, further down the rotation. There's something to be said for on-job training. Hutch and Valentine specifically. The drop off from the starters to the bench is too dramatic. So I've compromised a list of pieces that I think will fit and compete.

Bulls possible new roster: All UFA

Pursue Dinwiddie or Dragic as starter

If Dragic is starter, still attempt to sign Dinwiddie as backup

Keep Arci as 3rd pg

Niko or Taj (backup PF)

Re-sign Robin

Pursue Hood/Justin Holiday/Glen Robinson III

Trade Dunn! For picks/cash if necessary

Maybe waive Blakeney, Felicio, if no one bites in trade talks

Still have Hutch & Valentine

Valentine has to show and prove

Keep Selden? Maybe G-League prospects Lemon & Sampson?

Brandon Evans

Sam: If I can figure that out, you seem mostly to be looking for the Bulls 2015 roster. Dragic, by the way, has a player option for about $20 million which I assume with his injuries he'll pick up. I would. Been there, done that. I know there's been talk about bringing back many from that ol' gang, like Derrick, Taj, Jo. Dinwiddie recently signed a three-year extension, as I recall. The Bulls still need some veteran guidance in addition to Otto Porter Jr. But when you bring back players you had in more golden times, the tendency is for the community to expect them to be who they were and not who they are. It could change, but I suspect the Bulls will look for younger veteran types like Porter.

Lemon Jr. attempts layup

Toronto was an enjoyable first Bulls game because of the refreshing team effort and Lemon. You have to like his burst, the way he distributes the ball and his drives to the basket. We don't know if he can shoot beyond eight feet and certainly the league will adjust but for one night he was fun to watch.

John Petersen

Sam: Then he didn't look good, and then Wednesday in Washington he did again. It's difficult to put too much into what goes on these days between teams not playing for anything. But it is something when you can make a winning shot and/or free throws like Lemon did in Washington. It shows more than just about Lemon that there are players—as there are people in all professions—who need a chance, that opportunity often transcends ability. We generally accept that if you have the job or perform, it's because of you and that others would not be able to. It's not necessarily the case, but those who have the positions like to write the narratives. Walt Lemon could have been a rotation regular this season on a dozen or more NBA rosters. He just wasn't because he wasn't before. It's often the flaw of scouting and personnel in many fields. Some people need a chance even though they don't have the appropriate credentials.

The latest collegiate cheating scandal has shined a light on what we all knew, that wealthy and connected people can get their kids into places that assure a foot in the door that others don't have. It's been the great inequity of American society, and many others, undoubtedly. After all, how many of those European queens ever sounded smart? And the kings sounded like absolute idiots. Like so many of these presidents and world leaders with Ivy League credentials. After listening to them, you know they didn't take their SATs.

Guys like Walt Lemon and before him at Windy City, Alfonzo McKinnie, were NBA players. They just didn't have the right resumes, the right college or awards or camps. It's why you so often see scouts travel in packs. If they all make the same mistake, then it's not wrong. That's why so many of these mock drafts you see are consensus. The best way to keep your job is to make sure the other guys see things the way you do. The outlier is the risk taker, and we find so few. Why take a chance on a guy like Walt Lemon if no one else does? Sure, sometimes those guys slip through, and sometimes like with Lemon and McKinnie, they improve with time and experience. Most of us can recognize obvious talent. Guys like Lemon and Sampson aren't All-Star, franchise changers. They actually are like many of us, who could do many of our bosses' jobs better than they do. If only the opportunity. It's the greatest of gifts. Then it's on you. And, really, what more can you ask.

Wendell Carter Jr. looks to move to the basket

You wrote that the Bulls didn't have anything resembling what it would have taken to move up in last year's draft. I found this opinion to be surprising as I thought they could have bested Dallas' offer, though admittedly I wanted them to take Jackson Jr. at the time, not Doncic. I was worried about Doncic's seemingly so-so athleticism, which as you wrote hasn't held him back so far.

Anyway, I thought the Bulls could have offered the #7 pick (Dallas offered #5) and next year's first round pick (same as what Dallas gave up, both are young/bad teams so you'd assume one's 2019 first wouldn't be much more highly valued than the other's). But what I thought could've put the Bulls offer over the top was including the #22 pick used for Hutchison. I suppose Atlanta specifically wanted Young and feared losing him to Dallas if they moved all the way back to #7, but at least that Bulls offer would have been very close to what Dallas offered, right?

Anyway, I hope Carter turns out to be a good one. He is who I wanted them to take if they couldn't move up and hasn't disappointed me so far. Not sure I saw any star potential this year before he got hurt but I didn't expect to.

Cameron Watkins

Sam: I actually think it's possible the Bulls would have been with you and taken Jackson, who also looks like he'll be really good. After all, let's not judge all the drafts after six months. Remember, three months ago Young was a bust. But it's moot because I knew they were trying to move up and couldn't. They hope Hutchison becomes a contributing player, but No. 22 never is quite enough to get you much. They could not beat Atlanta's offer without giving up Markkanen. LaVine coming off knee surgery recovery and as a free agent didn't have as much value even if he could have been traded. We haven't talked about Carter much because he's been gone so long. BO, as it were, Before Otto. And before Lopez' Leap.

But when next season begins—assuming the Bulls don't get the No. 1 pick and Zion says he's a center—Carter will be back starting at center. There are concerns and questions, though there should not be that many as he'll have just turned 20. He really had an impressive (half) season considering he was deferring offensively at the time trying to fit in and going through two coaches in his first season with half the starters out. He had some huge scoring games, several double/doubles, and played with unusual poise. He probably cannot work on his height in the offseason, which has been the main concern as he was overwhelmed at times by the bigger centers. He's said he considers himself more of a power forward. But he is unusually physical for someone his age and has the potential to do so many more things offensively inside and outside. His injury was perhaps the freakiest of the freaky. He probably could trip over someone like that 100 times and reach down to regain his balance and never do that again. It's a setback after playing just a half season and most under a different coach. He'll be the Bulls starting center next season. We're all anxious to see how good he can be. At his age, there's plenty of room for excellence.

Zach LaVine passes the ball

What do you think of Zach Lavine's development as a playmaker in the latter half of this season? In this era of position less basketball it seems like we need a primary playmaker and ballhandler rather than necessarily a point guard, so Zach filling that role well could potentially open up our options in the draft.

Cameron Lam

Sam: I guess it's not so position less if the Bulls need all that. This talk about position-less basketball is mostly a term for playing zones on defense (switching) and players having multiple skills, you know, like they had in the 1960s. The game hasn't changed that much other than the demand for a while to specialize—some dribblers, some shooters and some rebounders—to where now it seems like an innovation to have players who can do multiple things. Players once were supposed to do that because, you know, that was basketball. Sure, most people can do one thing better than other things, but players were once taught to do more things. There were various reasons for specialization, some insidious so you wouldn't have to pay certain players more money since they were, say, just rebounders and not scoring. Clearly, Robin Lopez isn't going to be your facilitator on the fast break. Players do have certain special skills. Zach is a very talented guy, which means he can dribble, he can pass and he can shoot. Imagine that. That's why he has the chance to be a great player. But he does some things better than others. I'd rather see him, at least for now, specialize more as a scorer since he's got an uncanny ability to shoot and get to the basket. So far he's tended to defer when he's had to run the team. But perhaps the biggest issue with a player like Zach now is how long he's been associated with losing. It's the biggest problem with these rebuilding situations. It sounds great to get those lottery picks and build when you've had a run of finishing in the middle. But there's also a line when you expose a player to losing too long. Zach began in a Minnesota rebuilding, got hurt, and came to Chicago in the ground zero of its rebuild. He does seem like a player who cares about winning since he seemed really depressed as the losses mounted into December and January and seemed to recover after the Porter trade and some success. It's a positive that he has multiple talents, but the Bulls still have some needs to address.

Do you think today's NBA players are the laziest defenders you have ever seen ? You only need to look at the steals and blocks per game leaders over the last 45 years to see that the last 3 seasons leaders rank near last in both statistics. You could only imagine MJ's numbers playing against today's NBA defenses.

Adam Palmer

Sam: I hadn't noticed that comparison and I'm not sure if that's an actual defensive measure, though they are lower in both categories. I think a lot has to do, especially with blocks, that there are so many more threes shot and when players go to the basket they'll often pass up a layup attempt to try to assist on a three. Everyone over 40 winces. But the defenses, I will agree, are not always as aggressive individually because the teams play so much switching and zone-like systems, which lead to lazy defensive principles.

Of course, the irony is that in the years you are referring to in the 70s, especially, the NBA was known as a league in which the players didn't play defense. The NBA players can defend better than you think because they are so much more athletic now. But the systems of play, perimeter shooting and load management make it look worse than it is. I plan to try to work "load management" into as many columns as I can since among all the stupid things said in sports, it might be the absolute stupidest. We used to use the term, but it referred more to working with Michael Sweetney.

NCAA: From what I've read, there are absolutely zero one-and-done prospects in the Final Four. I love that. It would be nice if GMs figured out that most college freshmen are not ready to help you win in the NBA. But I'm afraid it's going the other way. We'll soon have 18 year old's coming straight out of high school, which will hurt both the NBA and NCAA. My call would be to go the other way – require 2 years of college or 21 yrs. old. That sets up college as the (slightly) faster route to the NBA, and hopefully would encourage kids to go to school. Or here's another idea: base the rookie contract scale on number of yrs. in school, so that staying in school helps you earn more during your first contract. There's also the idea of paying college players. I'm not opposed, but I wonder if schools can pay them enough to keep them away from the NBA for an extra year or two.

Art Alenik

Sam: I've never fully understood why the players' association has been so adamant about helping teenagers leave or avoid school and come into the NBA. I know this lame argument about everyone has a right to earn a living and tennis players can play at 16 and whatever. It's not in the Constitution. I also know you can't be a lawyer at 16. I have some lawyer jokes to use there, but they are lame as well.

The collegiate example this season is an aberration since Duke could have been there and Kentucky has been with a roster filled with NBA-to-bes. Though the point is salient that you can beat those teams more now with experience and savvy. It's why the NBA has taken a step back in quality because so many unprepared teenagers and 20-year-olds have to be on NBA rosters. It's like the old, ridiculous bonus baby baseball rule when a high paid young player had to start on a major league roster. It usually ruined his career, though he didn't have to play. Good luck benching your lottery pick. I don't much care about the NCAA and college since so many of the major universities are a sewer of corruption with either the parents buying their way in or the administrators forcing the kid through easy courses to assure eligibility for sports or even as I've heard from some NBA players keeping kids from taking more sophisticated courses because it takes away from sports training.

The NBA, like any business, should have a right to protect itself from hiring unprepared employees. Sure, some players are ready, but between so many young players breaking down physically because their bodies aren't ready and teams having to go back to so many basics with unprepared players, the game suffers. I'm for extending the waiting period, which obviously is about to go the other way because it seems even the NBA has given in. I know the argument about kids in unfortunate and hardship financial situations and the need to make money, and I'm pleased to see what the NBA is doing regarding the G-league and increasing salaries. If only those kids like in baseball could play there for a few years and learn to play. And perhaps make Hoffman Estates a destination for other than the Poplar Creek Buffalo Wild Wings.

As we all seem to be focusing on the upcoming draft and this is assuming the lottery falls in standing order with the bulls picking number four.

My thought is that Jarrett Culver from Texas Tech would be a good fit with the rebuilding core, if... LaVine is pushed back over to point. Everyone is looking for a scoring point guard who can distribute as well, surely he fits the bill and Culver would be a very good 3 and d slashing guard alongside him.

Could work?

Alex Kansas

Sam: Ooops, I just dropped Zach above from point guard responsibilities. Trying not to contradict myself, Jim Boylen has employed some sequences with different players handling the ball into the scoring area. Many teams do so. You don't have to have an exclusive point guard. Steph Curry is Golden State's point guard, but Green and Durant do plenty of playmaking. OK, Green. I believe Culver still is playing, so we can both scout him. I remember last year the 3-D guy to get was Mikal Bridges. It seems like it's been an adjustment for him. Though I'm not sure Booker will let him have the ball. It seems the first three picks in the draft will be in order Zion, Morant and Barrett, the latter because it seems he'll just figure a way to score. From there it seems, at least for now, that someone will like someone at 5 who someone else will see at 12. But that's the way Donovan Mitchell gets to 13. You have to pick right and be fortunate. The Bulls clearly need three-point shooting perhaps as much or more than any team in the NBA. So he could work.

I am sure we will add a quality player as long as we stay in the top 5.

Lots of draft experts seem to be down on RJ Barrett. I have not seen him play a lot at Duke, but he seems to have decent physical tools, comes from a strong basketball background, is competitive and has been winning at all levels. To me this feels like a case of everyone expecting him to be the best player in his class, which he was not and now everybody is extra negative about him. What is your take?

Sven Ruppert

Sam: Barrett is the tough call for me, and as I said above I expect he'll be taken third. I haven't been that impressed watching him because he's not super explosive, but we all said that about that Doncic guy. He seemed to figure out a way to score. And he seems to know how to make plays. The league likes explosive players for their star potential. But then you can get someone like James Harden, who just knows how to score. Barrett looks like he'll figure a way.

LeBron James and Lonzo Ball

The television program I was watching this morning while exercising asked the question, "Is Zion the best Duke player ever?" ......huh? he doesn't have a midrange jumper. He brain-fades on defense and it hurts his team. BTW, nothing personal aimed at Williamson, who seems to be an okay kid. Also on the LeBron Channel, saw an interesting graphic. Did you realize that Jordan never missed a post-season as a Bull? Comparison to LBJ might not be fair (different types of players in different eras), but he asks for these when he declares himself the best of all time, which he has. Come to think of it, I don't remember Magic or Bird or the Doc ever missing a post-season. West? Wilt? Oscar? Kareem missed one season, but he played until he was in his early 40's plus the year he missed he was league MVP - I'd say that's a competitive guy. Not buying the idea that LBJ walked into a lousy Cavs team as an 18 year old. For one thing, no one made him skip Ohio State. For another, the Bulls team Jordan joined had big time problems which Jordan will acknowledge if you ask him. Jordan didn't take days off. He busted his butt dragging some serious bozos into the post-season. I'd add here that he didn't have roster input, otherwise Walter Davis and Johnny Dawkins would have been Bulls. Jordan took the lemons and made lemonade. That's what great players do. Players today often mind their personal corporations, frequently reverting to their AAU roots as they seek to play with their buddies. Jordan wasn't allowed to play with his buddies and built Jumpman/Air Jordan anyway.

None of this makes LBJ any less a player. LBJ is the best player of his generation. Hall of Fame penthouse with Kareem/Jordan/Wilt/EJ/Bird/Oscar/Russell? he takes pre-season pretty indifferently, takes personal days off in-season and then there's this. Plus he walked into a turn-key situation NBA-wise. I think that Kobe has missed the playoffs, too. These guys get their own tier with Hakeem, Ewing, Iverson, Karl Malone and Barkley, which isn't bad company. Of this lot, LBJ might be top dog though Kobe has more rings, Malone's stats are in important areas somewhat better, and Hakeem produced head-and-shoulders the very best basketball of any of 'em when he had all of his game working.

Pete Zievers

Sam: It is what LeBron brings on himself with some of those pronouncements. I guess part is getting swept up in that, but one thing with Jordan was he never declared himself better than greats. I remember when Julius Erving came to Chicago Stadium for the last time in what the media was calling a passing of the torch. Jordan was gracious in suggesting no one would do the things Dr. J did. It's somewhat inaccurate, of course, to compare the eras since Jordan the season he was hurt made the playoffs with a 30-win team (and then scored 63 in the playoffs and was swept). I'm sure the Lakers would have made the playoffs if LeBron didn't miss a month hurt and then sabotage the rest of the season with the Anthony Davis gambit, which he likely wouldn't have if he didn't get hurt and desperate. This is one debate that is never ending. But will anyone ever believe in 20 years either was better than Zion?

Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan

So let me start by saying that Kobe is a great player. Having said that, I truly don't understand how anybody can look at his career numbers and put him in the same conversation as MJ and Lebron, just like I wouldn't put Iverson in the same conversation as Kobe. But even beyond that: the guy was an incredibly difficult teammate. How the heck is it that he's become sort of an elder statesman now quoted all over the place? If people want quotes from a 5-time champ on being a leader or whatever, you could ask Tim Duncan.

Media narratives are nuts.

Alejandro Yegros

Sam: Perhaps it's more a lesson in modern media, though media narratives are wacky. Just wait out the bad days until they move onto something else, and then you can be whoever you say you are.

Source: https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/ask-sam-mailbag-04052019

#read more #see more #check it out #interesting #learn more

[nbablog-blog1]

You Can’t Blame KD for Going to Golden State in Today’s NBA Written by Jarrett Adams on DEC 28, 2016

           There were many moves this free agency season, but only one that would change the entire landscape of the NBA. That free agency move was Golden State declining to resign Harrison Barnes to a max deal, trading Andrew Bogut to the Mavericks, and letting go of a bunch of bench players to go after 7-time all star, 4-time NBA scoring champion, and one time NBA MVP Kevin Durant.

KD’s departure from the Thunder is big news; no matter what team he chose to join. Personally, I would have loved to see KD pair up with Anthony Davis in New Orleans, go home and play for the Washington Wizards, or even re-sign on a one-year deal with the Thunder. Instead, KD decided to go to Golden State, which caused a lot of uproar considering Golden State’s recent success and their place already on the NBA landscape. We’re talking about a team that finished with the best regular season record in NBA history, coming off their first ring in 2015, and the reigning Western Conference Champions. The same team I must add, that the Thunder, (KD’s team at the time) was up 3-1 against in the Western Conference Finals, only for the Dubs to come back and win three straight, sending them back to finals to face the Cavs (They would eventually lose in a gut wrenching game 7).

Even with losing in the Finals to the Cavs, and losing key contributors to what we all thought was a championship team – key role players like Barnes, Bogut, Mo Speights, Leandro Barbosa are all gone – Kevin Durant was still joining a team that featured the reigning back to back MVP, Steph Curry, splash brother no. 2 in Klay Thompson, and do-it-all all star Draymond Green. To really analyze why we shouldn’t be blaming KD, lets now focus on why people are mad, and then debunk the thinking behind it. Usually the first thing people are going to say is… 

But the Thunder we’re already up 3-1 in the WCF, why would KD want join the Team that beat him?

Okay, Lets start here. Basically what is in question is the competitiveness of 7-time all star, 4-time scoring champ, and one time MVP Kevin Durant. Because had KD been more competitive, he would not have joined the team he almost took out the previous year. This argument really holds a lot of weight in why Kevin Durant has turned into the biggest villain in today’s NBA.

There are a few things to consider; the first being a player of Kevin Durant’s caliber hitting the open market for the first time in his career. The only team/franchise the Durant has played for has been the Seattle Supersonics (RIP) and the OKC Thunder. With a guy as talented as Kevin Durant – we’re talking about a 6’11 scoring machine that can shoot lights out, play every aspect of the game, and a matchup nightmare night in and night out. KD hitting the open market is like the IPO of Facebook stock. Everyone in position to make the deal were quick to do so, making a pitch to swing the superstar and future Hall of Famer in their favor.

Here in lies why it’s so difficult for me to blame Durant for choosing the Warriors. This has nothing to do with questioning the competitive spirit of a generational talent in Durant. Instead, we should be giving credit to Golden State’s approach and overall pitch to Kevin Durant. Whereas the Thunder pitched Kevin Durant sharing career superstardom with Russell Westbrook (a generational talent in his own right) and building the team around the two of them, Warriors pitched Kevin Durant on adding to a dynasty, winning multiple championships, and joining the NBA’s most talked about team. From a free agents perspective, not only was this career move that would help grow KD’s name and relevancy worldwide, but would also a move that would give him a better shot at defeating Lebron.

Speaking of Lebron – With Lebron defeating the Splash Brothers & Dubs in Game 7, and finally delivering a championship to Cleveland, Lebron Proved there will always be redemption stories of great magnitude in the NBA 

          To better understand the point I’m trying to make here, lets breakdown the storyline and teammates of LeBron’s career in the past few years. Lebron left a 61-21 2009-10 Cleveland Cavaliers team that lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Boston Celtics. This Celtics team consisted of vet all-stars Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and KG, had good bench scorers like Nate Robinson, Rasheed Wallace and Glen Big Baby Davis, a great wing defender in Tony Allen, and a prime Rajon Rondo running the show at point guard. Looking back on it now, I don’t blame Lebron for leaving. His 2009-10 Cavs roster consisted of 37-year-old Shaq, 34-year-old Zydrunas Ilgauskas, 33-year-old Antawn Jamison, and two adequate guards at the time in Mo Williams and Delonte West.

           However, hindsight is 20/20, and at the time, when Lebron chose to take his talents to South Beach and join a prime D-Wade, and prime Chris Bosh to win not 5, not 6, not 7 championships he was vilified to hell on a rocket. It took Cleveland fans all but 3 seconds to start burning his jersey while the city lost its mind. And the media took the opportunity to hype up the NBA as a brand and product and build publicity for the game itself. Anybody that had an opinion on Lebron’s decision had the platform to either accept it or diss Lebron for joining up a “SuperTeam” at the time. Looking at the NBA Champs that year, years prior, and years that have followed, its easy to argue that almost every NBA Champion either had either multiple all stars or hall of fame players. Only the 2003-04 Pistons do not fit this mold. I bring up the 2011-14 Miami Heat just to point out that even when Lebron left the Heat, he went back to a Cavs team that still had multiple all stars in Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. That’s right – technically when Lebron had the opportunity in free agency, he chose to create a “Superteam” not once, but twice!

           After Lebron won his ring in 2016 and brought a championship to Cleveland, most of this has been forgotten. Which really means that no matter how different KD’s decision was from Lebron’s, lets not forget that Lebron still has set the precedent of Superteam creation through free agency in the NBA. KD is now just the new face of something Lebron has already done twice. Only difference is that KD has not won championships. Until he does so, then he will never get the respect and redemption he truly is chasing before his career is over. 

Brand Awareness, The Bay Area Expansion and Gold Rush for Technology

           Kevin Durant was already deservedly a mega star around the world and in the NBA. But with an injury two years ago that saw the rise of Golden State basketball, including two straight finals appearances, it was clear the Dubs had overtaken the popularity contest of the NBA Landscape. I like the compare the 2015 and 2016 Warriors to the 2011 and 2012 Oklahoma City Thunder, which of course featured KD, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. To KD, I know for a fact he misses those good ole days. They were the NBA’s most watchable product in the Western Conference and this was a time where all three players began to see their brand and popularity really take off. The final two years of James Harden’s time with the Thunder resulted in a Western Conference Finals loss and a Finals berth the next year. When people say present day that “No one could have predicted James Harden would be this good in a star role” it really makes me cringe – any bench player that can lead the league in free throw attempts and still good enough to get you to a finals appearance as a third wheel at 22 is worth keeping at all costs, no excuses.

           I like to rather look at this grave mistake and injustice to the fans of Oklahoma City as either arrogance or incompetence. Someone has got to look into Sam Hinkie’s dealings as a GM. There’s no way a franchise that cares about winning championships would make this move. When KD left in free agency of 2016, this was the silver lining. Oklahoma City Thunder were using KD to sell tickets, sell jerseys, be competitive enough to be contenders but never recovered from the Harden trade. Had Harden been there the past four years, there’s no doubt the Thunder win at least one championship. And I think that is what played a big factor in KD’s decision to not just leave, but in choosing a team like the Warriors.

           Bottom line, the Warriors have all of sudden become a franchise focused solely on winning championships and expanding the franchise into a NBA dynasty. They became the perfect fit in today’s NBA to attract a Kevin Durant caliber player, for more reasons than one. It’s not just the roster KD gets to play with everyday, but the ability to compete for championships against LeBron’s Superteam in the East. The Warriors and KD know that winning, above all else is what will last in people’s minds once it’s all over.

           And with the expansion of social media making the game more universal than ever, the bigger the dynasty, and the bigger the stakes, the bigger legacy you will lead. You could argue that KD joining the Warriors only helps the brands of Steph, Klay, and Draymond individually off the court. They all become bigger stars because they play together. Northern California and the Bay Area also seem to be the perfect location for this as well; it features a top five market with all the advantages of being on the West Coast. San Francisco and surrounding suburbs are already one of most expensive places to live in the U.S. per capita. The Warriors already have great fans, and that’s before their ticket prices skyrocketed. Lets not forget the tech boom in Palo Alto, where the biggest tech companies in the world like Apple, Google, and Facebook all have large offices and workforces. The entire Bay Area just seems like the right fit right now for Kevin Durant and ultimately the NBA. I’m just letting everyone now before they make history that I am a willing participant in witnessing it.

[lvicente17]

Final Blog Entry

My final blog entry will discuss the history of the National Basketball Association and the how the sport of basketball was officially created, starting with the fact that basketball was invented by an educator named Dr. James Naismith. Prior to inventing the game of basketball in 1891, James Naismith was a 30 year old educator at a YMCA facility located in Springfield, Massachusetts and was given an assignment to come up with an activity to be played indoors during winter and he was only given two weeks to do, that was the year he invented the sport of basketball. Naismith then created all the rules to make the game fair and playable such as "travelling," "goaltending," fouls, and even the rule that a ball must be thrown in-bounds within five seconds. In 1898, the National Basketball League (NBL) became the first professional basketball league created, but six years later the league had ended due to its poor organization and lack of structure. Exactly 48 years later in 1946, the Basketball Association of America was founded and numerous teams from the NBL joined the BAA to form a professional basketball league that still exists today called the National Basketball Association (NBA). The NBA first started to become noticed in the 1950s when the Minneapolis Lakers added former DePaul University basketball standout George Mikan to their roster from the Chicago American Gears before the start of the 1947-48 season. George Mikan became the NBA’s first superstar when he averaged 27.4 points per game (ppg) and led the Lakers to the first NBA championship defeating the Syracuse Nationals in the 1950 NBA Finals, which became the start of the Lakers winning the championship seven years in a row. The 1960s later formed a new rivalry in the NBA and a very fierce one when the St. Louis Hawks drafted a center University of San Francisco named Bill Russell who was immediately traded to the Boston Celtics on April 29, 1956 and three years later the Philadelphia Warriors added a center from the Harlem Globetrotters named Wilt Chamberlain. The Wilt Chamberlain-Bill Russell rivalry was especially noticeable in 1965 after the San Francisco (originally Philadelphia) Warriors traded Wilt to the Philadelphia 76ers as both teams had competitive battles against each other in the regular season and the playoffs, this is what started the NBA rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers. Wilt Chamberlain spent most of his NBA career leading the NBA in rebounding and scoring while playing for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (1959-1965), Philadelphia 76ers (1965-1968), and the Los Angeles Lakers (1968-1973). During the 1959-1960 season, Wilt Chamberlain became the only player in NBA history to win All-Star Game MVP, Most Valuable Player, and Rookie of the Year in the same season while averaging 37.6 points per game and 27 rebounds per game. On March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scored an NBA record 100 points vs the New York Knicks and averaged an NBA all-time high (50.4) rebounds per game while becoming the only player to score at least 4,029 regular season points. On the other hand, Bill Russell spent his entire 13-year career with the Boston Celtics and won a total of 11 championships including winning the title 8 consecutive seasons from the years 1959-1666. Bill Russell and coach Red Auerbach were both a huge reason for the Boston Celtics having the most titles in league history with 17 total championships. Eventually, the NBA would take a hit for the worse when a new rival basketball league called the American Basketball Association (ABA) came into existence in 1967, and it caused tension between both leagues for most of the 1970s. The ABA was joined by 11 franchises – New York Nets, Pittsburgh Pipers, Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Muskies, Virginia Squares, Anaheim Amigos, New Orleans Buccaneers, Denver Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Kentucky Colonies, and San Diego Conquistadors. Among the greatest ABA players were names like Julius Erving, George Gervin, David Thompson, Spencer Haywood, Artis Gilmore, Rick Barry, Connie Hawkins, and Dan Issel, who all became NBA superstars after the NBA-ABA merger took place in 1976-77 season and all have been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. The NBA’s biggest rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics really became noticed when two basketball legends named Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Larry Bird joined the league for the 1979-80 NBA season after facing off against each other in the NCAA title game during their time at Michigan State University and Indiana State University. Even though the rivalry between the Celtics and the Lakers was mostly due to the intense battles in the 1980s between Bird and Magic, both teams also big names who were eventually inducted into Hall of Fame like the NBA’s all-time leading scorer (38,387) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Bob McAdoo, Nate Archibald, Dennis Johnson, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and even Bill Walton who became the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year for the Celtics’ 16th championship over the Houston Rockets in the 1985-86 NBA season. The “Showtime” Lakers won five NBA titles in the entire decade with Magic, Kareem, and James Worthy, while 3 time MVP (1984-1986) Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics won three championships in that decade as both of these teams spent most of the 1980s making it to the NBA finals against one another; along with facing the Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Detroit Pistons. The year 1983 was when free agency and the salary cap first came into existence to make the NBA better, the league and the player’s union later signed a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to help the NBA to make strides for a better market. The 1990s was a legendary decade that included many Hall of Famers like Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan who is perhaps the greatest basketball player of all-time. The 1990s was mostly dominated by North Carolina Tar Heel great Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls as they won six NBA titles in two three-peats (1991-1993, 1996-1998). In between the two three peats, Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets won back to back titles against the New York Knicks and Orlando Magic who defeated Jordan’s Bulls and Reggie Miller’s Indiana Pacers; Michael Jordan had also retired from the NBA prior to the 1993-94 NBA season to play baseball for the Chicago White Sox organization in the minors and didn’t come back to the NBA until March 1995, which led many people to believe that Jordan would have won eight consecutive titles if he hadn’t retired in between the two three-peats. The 1992 Olympic men’s USA basketball Dream Team was another exciting part of the 1990s, the roster consisted of the NBA’s greatest basketball players such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, David Robinson. Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen (Jordan’s teammate on the Bulls), Chris Mullin, Clyde Drexler, and Christian Laettner, who was at the time a rookie from Duke University. The 2000s decade was mostly dominated by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal’s Los Angeles Lakers who had won five championships in 11 years under the leadership of former 1990s Bulls head coach Phil Jackson (2000-2002, 2009-2010). The Lakers enjoyed their start of the new decade during their three-peat until their dynasty was ended by arguably the greatest power forward of all-time Tim Duncan, who along with David Robinson, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and coach Gregg Popovich built a dynasty themselves with the San Antonio Spurs winning three championships in five years (2003, 2005, 2007) after winning their first ever championship title in the NBA lockout shortened 1998-99 season. The NBA later gained another superstar named LeBron James who was drafted out of high school 1st overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, a draft that involved other superstars including Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. LeBron James quickly made a name for himself among the NBA’s best players in the 200s winning back to back MVPs in (2009 and 2010) and was easily the greatest basketball player of the 2010s making it to the NBA finals 8 consecutive seasons (2011-2018), first half of the journey with the Miami Heat and the second half returning to his original team the Cleveland Cavaliers along with winning three champions (2012, 2013, 2016). The most noticeable accomplishment of LeBron’s career would have to be when his Cleveland Cavaliers, who were also led by Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love came back and won the 2016 championship series down 3-1 against the defending champion Golden State Warriors led by Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, a team that had broke the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls 72-10 regular season record with a 73-9 record in the 2015-16 season. The Golden State Warriors then acquired 4 time scoring champion Kevin Durant from the Oklahoma City Thunder, who themselves blew a 3-1 series lead against the Warriors in the 2016 conference finals, with Durant the Warriors would win back to back NBA titles in 2017 and 2018 leading them to win three championships in the last 4 years. As of the 2019-2020 NBA season, there are a total of 30 NBA teams with 15 of them being in the Eastern Conference and another 15 in the Western Conference and each conference also has 3 divisions with five teams in each division. In the Eastern Conference, the Atlantic division is joined by the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets and the Toronto Raptors. Meanwhile, the Central division is joined by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, and Detroit Pistons; also, the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, and Atlanta Hawks are in the Southeast division. In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder (formerly the Seattle Supersonics), Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Portland Trail Blazers belong to the Northwest Division. The Pacific division includes teams in the West Coast like the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, and the Phoenix Suns. Finally, the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, and New Orleans Pelicans are the five teams in the Southwest division. References Pearson, Steve. “Basketball Origins, Growth and History of the Game.” The People History, www.thepeoplehistory.com/basketballhistory.html.

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Procrastinate better features a peek into development queue of slowed

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