My Thoughts on Jason Kidd

Luke Ferranti outlines how we got to where we are, a disturbing pattern thats emerged, and the real question that needs to be answered.

Man… What are my thoughts on Kidd?  Kind of like the Bucks I guess, it’s all over the place.  Some nights all is well and good and some nights it’s what the hell are you doing Kidd?  You never know what to expect.  It’s been hard not to notice a lot of the uproar from Bucks fans on Twitter calling out Kidd, and even ramping up the #FireKidd campaign.  With all that going on, I felt obligated to give you my thoughts on Kidd as the head coach, and what the real question is that’s going to need to be answered.       

Before I get into it, I want to first speak directly to those in the #FireKidd movement.  I hear your criticisms, and totally get where you’re coming from.  This team is no doubt currently falling below expectations.  But I’m just gonna be real with you - Kidd isn’t going to get fired in the middle of this season.  Just not gonna happen.  For one, this organization is so far deep invested in him and will hold on until there’s nothing left to hold onto.  Even if they just make the playoffs and aren’t a Top-4 seed, that’ll still be considered good enough as “steps in the right direction for the future.”  Essentially, barring absolute catastrophe (which I guess with the Bucks, anything’s possible), Kidd is gonna be the coach for the rest of the season.  That’s just the reality. 

Now let’s get into my thoughts on Kidd.  I want to show you Kidd’s season by season results thus far during his time as Bucks head coach, and then elaborate on how each season has gotten us to where we are:

Year 1: 2014-2015

Record: 41-41    Playoffs: First round, lost to Bulls in 6 games

Year 2: 2015-2016

Record: 33-49    Playoffs: Unavailable

Year 3: 2016-2017

Record: 42-40    Playoffs: First round, lost to Raptors in 6 games

Year 4: 2017-2018

Record: 9-9        Playoffs: Currently 10th (yikeeeessssss)

Luckily for Kidd, there was nowhere to go but up for his first season as Bucks head coach.  Coming off the worst record in the NBA the year previous, there really weren’t expectations of what the season was going to be.  However, getting a team to 41 wins the year after winning only 15 AND making the playoffs?  That’s even with losing your #2 draft pick, Jabari Parker, for the season.  On a team that was by no means the most talented, that was impressive.  Hence, why he was voted 3rd for Coach of the Year.  And who can forget we traded away BK and got MCW?  Kidd was going to be the man to craft the rookie of the award winner, they said.  Just in his first year, Kidd garnished a lot of leeway and was hailed as the coach of the #OwnTheFuture movement.  And let’s be real, who wouldn’t have thought that at the time?  That was a fun and successful season.  (Besides going to Game 6 and seeing us get blown out by 50, of course). 

However, this is where the root of a pattern began, a pattern that Bucks fans are getting to the point of being no longer willing to accept… Giving a pass.    

In year 2, this was where the first pass for falling below expectations was given to Kidd, for a multitude of reasons.  We had just acquired Moose in the offseason so it just takes a little more time for it all to gel right.  Jabari was coming off his ACL injury.  And my favorite, “we’re young.”  Basically, Kidd was given a pass for posting a record of 16 games under .500 and missing the playoffs.  This season was just considered growing pains, and in year 3, we were going to get back on track and continue to #OwnTheFuture.  And honestly at the time, all the reasons kinda made sense, right?  Granted, given his first year success and Giannis’ continual improvement, Kidd was going to be on board for another year.   

Before the 2016-2017 season even started, Kidd was going to get another pass no matter what happened.  K-Midd tore his hamstring and wouldn’t be back until February.  That would’ve been enough to grant a pass, but then even more things happened to “justify” it.  The season starts, and we ended up trading MCW for Tony Snell.  Well, we got a new player in our starting lineup, that’ll take time.  On the night we finally get K-Midd back, we lose Jabari for the rest of the season again.  On the heels of an embarrassing loss to the Denver Nuggets, when it looked like all was lost for the season, the Bucks went 14-4 in March and climbed up to the 6th seed.  We even made some noise in the playoffs and pushed the Raptors to 6 games in the first round.  At one point, it looked like the year was going to slip away and it ended up being a good growing experience.  There were good signs #OwnTheFuture was still heading in right direction with the core we’d built and Kidd at the helm.

Here is where the first real expectations were placed under Kidd’s tenure.  Notice how the hashtag changed from #OwnTheFuture to #FearTheDeer?  With Giannis’ rise to being a superstar in this league, along with the talent around him, there were reasonable expectations that the Bucks could compete as a Top-4 team in the Eastern Conference coming into the 2017-2018 campaign.  Hell, even the Prez said “we want to make it the Eastern Conference Finals,” before this season even started. 

Thus far this year, a 9-9 record and 10th in the East is pure mediocrity.  There’s no other way around it.  But I promise you’re still going to see passes for Kidd this year.  You’ll hear some like “well we just traded for Bledsoe, it takes time...” or “well Jabari is going to return soon, that’ll take a little time too.” However, there’s still a lot of season left for the Bucks to meet expectations.  We’ll just have to take it a game at a time and see what happens.  As bad as a start as it’s been, the season is still far from over. 

Finally, with all of that in mind, I give you my thoughts on what it all means regarding Coach Kidd…

There’s been some ups and downs.  Can’t argue the Bucks are in the best position they’ve been in for a long time.  Also can’t argue the Bucks aren’t meeting expectations with the talent they have.  Extensive injuries to Jabari and K-Midd have hindered Kidd’s chances to show us what he can do with a full healthy arsenal.  Moreover, the Bucks have made a multitude of moves over his tenure, the team you see today is far different from the one he started with, or even just two years ago from the 2015-2016 squad.  I keep all that in mind, along with some of the criticisms you’d see from the #FireKidd campaign, like defensive ineptitude despite being a long team, losing games you should win (EVEN ON TWO FULL DAYS REST), and starting GPII in an actual basketball game. What is certain is that Bucks fans are at the point of no return in giving Kidd more passes, and I can’t blame em. 

With a new arena on the horizon, and a window in the Eastern Conference beginning to open, the Bucks have a real opportunity to do something special over the coming years.  There simply isn’t time to continually give passes.  At some point, you’re just gonna have to be real.    

No matter what happens this season, there is one question that needs to be answered going into 2018-2019 and the future…

If the ultimate goal is to one day bring a championship back to Milwaukee, do you believe Kidd is the coach capable of leading us there?  If not, what’s the point?

Think about it. 

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Bucking Preseason Form, Showing Postseason Talent. 

Milwaukee continues to hover around .500, but this team is looking like a 4 seed. 

Tuesday evening’s victory over the Spurs came as a surprise around the NBA. The Spurs were ultra hot in their home building, and the Bucks were without All-Star Giannis and have consistently struggled to win games on the road. Under the legendary Greg Popovich, the Spurs are not a team to get blown out; the game was likely to be close, causing further dismay to Bucks fans who’ve seen their team blow lead after lead in the second half of games. One fantastic team effort later, and the Bucks prevailed 109-107. Despite the Bucks’ season long close-game struggles, this victory over the Spurs served as the greatest indicator yet: This team has playoff talent.

Despite showing the shakiness and inconsistency that reminds fans of the preseason, the road victory against the Spurs gave several reasons why the Bucks are a team to be feared come April.

-Michael Beasley can be The Guy. Being without Top-10 NBA Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks face a steep uphill climb in beating anybody, let alone San Antonio. The Spurs are so talented, so well rounded, so well coached, it seemed an impossible task to knock them off on the road without Giannis. That’s when Beasley showed talent that has been forgotten to so many – he took over the game. In crunch time the Bucks ran the entire offense through Beasley, despite Jabari Parker being readily available. As inconsistent as he may be, Beasley showed a fire in his game so many of the Bucks players seem to lack, and would not be denied. Each offensive possession the Spurs knew he was getting the ball, and Beasley would either score or command enough attention to find the open man, sending San Antonio’s normally disciplined defense into disarray. There’s the talent that got him drafted number 2 overall despite sleeping through workouts. When the Bucks need a guy to step up, take over, and be the unlikeliest hero, Beasley can be that guy.

-Depth taking over. When Money Middleton returns, expect him to be (Countin' Up That Khris) reintegrated slowly. In the short term, this strengthens the bench immensely, adding a smart, versataile, 3 & D player with the clutch gene Kidd can go to. In the long term, as Khris retakes his spot in the Big 3, everybody’s roles will slightly reduce by default, further strengthening the depth and bench. With Monroe, Brogdon, Beasley, Snell, Henson, Delladova, and Thon Maker serving as role players, very few teams can match the Bucks offensive and defensive firepower up and down the squad. Over the course of an 82 game season, this should help the Bucks separate themselves from the pack in the East, and hopefully lock up home court advantage in the first round.

-Teletovic and Terry reduced minutes=close road win over a contending team. Teletovic and Jason Terry were brought to Milwaukee to play respective roles, but the victory over the spurs should serve as a reminder: They CAN NOT be on the court in close games. Despite Terry and Teletovic getting extended minutes due to Giannis being out, they are both massive defensive liabilities and will need to pick up their play in order to earn their way back into the rotation of a playoff bound team. Terry brings veteran leadership and rah-rah, but he should be doing that from the bench, as his PER (Player Efficiency Rating, league average every season is 15.0) of 7.4 makes him less than one half of an average NBA Player. The Bucks are essentially playing 4.5 on 5 whenever he’s out there. While Jet contributes intangibles, he shoots 37% from the floor, and is too slow and small to play any D (Watch him out there).  Mirza is even worse, contributing a 10.5 PER and offering a single skill: 3 point shooting. The problem is, his 37% from deep doesn’t make up for his 39% from the floor, his complete lack of passing (0.8 assists/g), his inability to guard anyone (0.13 steals/g, 0.28 blocks/g), his terrible shot selection, and (no offense to the PC crowd) his lack of basketball intelligence. Mirza’s costly turnovers, terrible shot selection, and consistently awful defense should alarm everyone in the organization; is he going to adjust to a proper role? Or will he continue the trend towards “unplayable”? One more thing… he’s 6’9 and cant seem to dunk.

*(Mirza played 5 minutes against the Spurs, missed his only shot, and finished with a -8 during his time on the court)

These two need to have their minutes shortened and reallocated to the rest of the bench, most notably to Thon Maker, with a dash of Shoddy Vaughn to replace Teletovic’s 3 point attemps.

While the 2016-17 Bucks have suffered from extreme inconsistencies, being able to beat established championship contending teams, such as the Cavs and Spurs, signal our length can win games against anybody, on any floor. When this team is at full strength, the Bucks’ will overwhelm lesser teams with length, defensive intensity, shooting, athleticism, and camaraderie. Yes the future looks strong, but in reality the future is now.

Bucks Ceiling: 3 seed.

Bucks Floor: 8 seed.

Most likely: 4-6 seed.

PER Leaders on the Bucks (above average {15.0} below average)

Giannis Antetokounpo: 28.2

Greg Monroe: 22.5

Jabari Parker: 20.1

Thon Maker: 19.1

Michael Beasley: 17.0

Other Notables

John Henson: 14.5

Malcom Brodgon: 14.0

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Milwaukee Bucks 2016-17 Season Preview

Bucks season tips off at 7pm against the Hornets, IkeSportReport has the preview. 

A new season brings new hope for the young Bucks, but fans are beginning to lose their patience. With Khris Middleton already declared out for the majority of the season, the Bucks will only be as good as Giannis (left), Jabari (right), and Coach Kidd (center) lead them to be.

Before we get into breaking down the Bucks in this year’s 2016-17 campaign, here’s a timeline of what happened:

July 9, 2015 - BLACK THURSDAY. The Bucks trade Zaza Pachulia to the Dallas Mavericks for a future second round draft pick and Jared Dudley to the Washington Wizards for a protected second round draft pick. Bucks sign FA Greg Monroe to a 3-year, $50 million contract.

October 27, 2015 - April 13, 2016 - The Bucks finish at 33-49, 12th in the Eastern Conference.

June 23, 2016 - The Bucks select Thon Maker 10th overall and Malcolm Brogdon 36th.

July 7, 2016 - The Bucks agree to a sign and trade with Cleveland, acquiring Matthew Dellavedova.

July 8, 2016 - Bucks sign FA Mirza Teletovic.

August 22, 2016 - Bucks sign FA Jason Terry.

September 21, 2016 - Bucks star Khris Middleton suffers Torn Hamstring, will miss 6 months.

September 22, 2016 - Bucks trade Tyler Ennis to the Houston Rockets for Michael Beasley.

October 17, 2016 - Bucks trade Michael Carter-Williams to Chicago for Tony Snell.

And now we’re here. Opening Day.

Coaching Staff:

            Jason Kidd - Head Coach

            Stacey Augmon - Assistant Coach

            Greg Foster - Assistant Coach

            Tim Grgurich - Assistant Coach

            Joe Prunty - Assistant Coach

            Sean Sweeney - Assistant Coach

            Scott Williams - Assistant Coach

Projected Starters:

PG: Giannis Antetokounmpo

SG: Matthew Dellavedova

SF: Tony Snell

PF: Jabari Parker

C: Miles Plumee

Key Bench Contributors:

6. John Henson

7. Greg Monroe

8.Mirza Teletovic

9. Michael Beasley

10. Rashad Vaughn

11. Thon Maker

12. Jason Terry

13. Malcolm Brogdon

Projection: 43 - 39

Here’s what I see:

There are 3 keys to success for the Bucks this season.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Greek-Freak is ready to take off. The details of his extension are done and he’s going nowhere. He’s coming off a monstrous second half and is set to be the premier ball handler for the deer this season. Already proclaimed the best International in the NBA by his peers, this season should see Giannis entrench himself as a superstar. With a developing jump shot, a willing attitude, and athleticism that is impossible to account for, Giannis is set to surprise a lot of people, and prove to skeptics that he is one of the elite pieces in the NBA.

2. Jabari Parker

He’s hitting his head against the rim. His confidence is growing. His skill set can’t be guarded by men his size.     Jabari looks like he’s having fun out there, and has been groomed for these moments since he was just a youngster. It’s year three, and this looks to be the year where Jabari’s touches should increase to the point where he can establish himself as one of the game’s premier scorers. He will be leaned on to help replace Middleton, but Jabari should embrace the challenge, as few players can match his feel and explosiveness. Jason Kidd is dropping hints about his 3-point stroke being something that will surprise us, and if that’s the case, Parker could be an All-Star.

3. Jason Kidd

Coach Kidd’s tenure in Milwaukee has been confusing and inconsistent. He thrived in year one, establishing a culture that played hard every night, offered no excuses, hammering home his signature phrase of “Next man up”. The team surged in defensive ratings, and despite lackluster offense, made plenty of noise in the playoffs before bowing out to heavy favorites, the Bulls. Year two, something drastic must have happened because under Coach Kidd, the team stopped playing defense, and excuses that seemed unacceptable in year one, now became a main crutch. “We’re a young team” seemed to be Kidd’s favorite phrase, and favorite way of ducking responsibility as a coach whose team had taken a massive step back. Excuses weren’t a thing in year one, why were they so common in year two? Its opening night in Kidd’s third year, and he is already offering up excuses as insurance policies, possibly to protect himself should the Bucks not fare well this season. Kidd has seemingly abandoned his “next man up” philosophy, stating that there was “no way” the Bucks will be able to replace Khris, and offering plenty of wiggle room for the Bucks to underachieve, declaring this year “all about learning how to win”.  For someone who commanded such respect as a Hall-of-Fame player, Kidd’s coaching so far has left a lot to be desired.

CONCLUSION.  There will be talk about injuries. There will be talk about floor spacing. There will be talk about shooting, youth, and dozens of other variables meant to explain the Bucks success or lack thereof. The bottom line is that success will come if Giannis and Jabari realize their talent, and exercise it on the league. A big part of that responsibility falls on Coach Kidd in helping the two young stars realize that they can play with anyone. The Bucks don’t lack the potential to beat elite teams, they snapped the Warriors streak and nearly beat them at Oracle as well. The Bucks don’t lack the potential to play defense, they already proved in 2014-15 they could be elite in that category. The Bucks don’t lack the potential to make the playoffs, they earned the 6 seed with a team with a far less polished Giannis, and without Jabari Parker. The Milwaukee Bucks can be good this year, and the last thing they need is excuses. A Hall-of-Fame player/coach needs to lead his team, and let his stars be stars. Cleveland has the East temporarily, but the Bucks can play with anyone in the NBA. And they are coming. 

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We Are All Witnesses

Luke Ferranti details how this year's NBA Finals brought forth the true greatest player in the world

Game 7 of the NBA Finals.  Two minutes left in the game.  Golden State Warriors – 89 vs Cleveland Cavaliers – 89.  2-time MVP Stephen Curry vs 4-time MVP LeBron James.  The Larry O’Brien trophy is on the cusp of being had if one of these MVP’s will go and take it.  Stephen A. Smith says it best about superstars in these types of moments—“What you gon’ do?” 

There’s been a premediated passing of the torch in the sports media industry as to who’s the best player in the world.  Stephen Curry, the back-to-back MVP, has been proclaimed to have taken King James’ throne.  With step-back 3’s, unlimited range, and crazy ball handles, along with being the reigning MVP and an NBA Champion, it’s hard not to fall in line with agreeing that Chef Curry is the best in the game.  But what story does the last two minutes tell?    

In respect to Curry, he missed three 3’s, two of which were from 26 feet.  One was to take the lead, one was to tie, and one was to cut the deficit to 1.  This is what the “best player in the world” did in the biggest moments.  More importantly, he had no impact in the waning minutes to help his team capture a world championship. 

LeBron told a different tale.  

With the game still tied 89-89 with 1:53 left to go, Curry pushed the ball on a 2-on-1 fast break and found Andre Iguodala slashing to the rim.  It was inevitable the Warriors were about to regain the lead and Oracle was going to erupt.  Out of nowhere, LeBron James comes and denies Iguodala the bucket.  Take a look below. 

Think about this play.  Think about this moment.  With so little time in the game, any and every point is critical, and momentum often makes the difference.  Iguodala is ahead at the free throw line and LeBron is all the way at the left wing of the 3-point line.  This is the epitome of LeBron’s greatness—the ability to impact the game on both ends.  However, on this play, it was more.  This was sheer will and determination not to lose.  There’s no one else in the world who could’ve made this play.  To make it even more crucial, it eventually lead to granting Kyrie Irving the opportunity to hit the dagger 3-pointer, putting the Cavs up 3 with 0:53 to go. 

With 10 seconds left in the game, Kyrie drove to the hoop and hit a cutting LeBron as he got fouled at the rim and sent to the line.  Free throw shooting has never been LeBron’s strong suit, in fact, it could be considered one of his Achilles’s heels.  With the Cavs up 3, if he makes one free throw, it’s over.  He missed the first.  He stepped up for the second.  In this moment, LeBron’s 13 year career flashed before his eyes.  He can deliver a championship to Cleveland for the first time in 52 years if he hits one free throw.  His dream of winning one for Cleveland as the kid from Akron, Ohio, after 13 years in the league simply comes down to a free throw.  The Larry O’Brien trophy is literally in his hands.

What you gon’ do LeBron? 

Only a free throw, it was one of the biggest made shots of LeBron’s career.  A player of his caliber has to make that free throw to end the game.  A single free throw was the difference between securing his third championship or giving the Splash Bros one more possession with a chance to tie the game and go into overtime. 

Contrary to anything Steph Curry did in the last two minutes, LeBron’s block and free throw had significant impact on the outcome of Game 7.  The block kept the game tied with under two minutes to go and the free throw made it a two possession game with only 10 seconds left.  Without the block and the free throw, the Warriors win game 7.

Congratulations to the Cleveland Cavaliers.  2015-2016 NBA Champions. 

If there’s anything this NBA Finals has taught us, it’s this: LeBron James is still the best player in the world and to appreciate greatness. 

This series came down to games 5, 6, and 7.  With the Warriors up 3-1 in the series after 4 games, it couldn’t have set up better to show who the best player in the world actually is.  Ball don’t lie, and neither do numbers. 

Take a look at the stats of Steph Curry and LeBron James from each of these games. 

Stephen Curry

Game 5 – 25 pts, 7 rebs, 4 asts

Game 6 – 30 pts, 2 rebs, 1 ast

Game 7 – 17 pts, 5 rebs, 2 asts,

LeBron James

Game 5 – 41 pts, 16 rebs, 7 asts, 3 blks, 3 stls

Game 6 – 41 pts, 11 asts, 8 rebs, 4 stls, 3 blks

Game 7 – 27 pts, 11 rebs, 11 asts, 3 blks, 2 stls

Curry’s performances weren’t terrible.  However, when he’s been proclaimed the best player in the world, it doesn’t match up.  17 points in a Game 7 of the NBA Finals in your house is not good enough.  Draymond Green was the best player for the Warriors in Game 7.  The most eye popping thing about Steph’s stat lines were his assist totals.  Seven assists in 3 games?  The best point guard in the league has to do better than that.  He even had two hot hands he should’ve made a conscious effort to keep feeding.  In Game 6, Klay Thompson had 37 points and was 6-11 from the 3-point line.  In Game 7, Draymond Green started 5-5 from the 3-point line and finished with 32 points.  And lastly, who was guarding Kyrie Irving when he hit the biggest shot of the series in Game 7?  Steph Curry.  Ultimately, Steph had a 3-1 lead in the series and only needed to win one more.  If you’re the best player in the world, you find a will and a way to get it done.  What Steph needed to do to win the NBA Finals is nothing compared to how LeBron performed in seizing the ring for himself. 

LeBron’s stats speak for themselves.  Back-to-back 41 point performances in games 5 and 6, with a triple-double in Game 7, he did it all—scoring, rebounding, distributing the basketball, impacting the game on both ends. These performances could be enough to say LeBron is still the best player in the world, but it was two things he did in these Finals that had never been done before that makes me believe that even more. 

First, he was the first player in any NBA playoff series ever to lead all players (ON BOTH TEAMS) in total points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals. How can one player do so much?  And it’s not like he did this against an eight seed in the first round.  He did this in the NBA Finals against the team that broke the 1996 Chicago Bulls record of regular season wins and went 73-9.  Only the best player in the world could produce like this.

Second, LeBron’s chances of winning a championship looked slim to none after Game 4.  No team had ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in an NBA Finals, with the previous teams who tried having posted a combined record of 0-32.  He needed to win three straight times against a team that didn’t even lose back to back games all year until the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Two of the three games he needed to win were on the road at Oracle, where the Warriors had only lost 3 times at home the whole year (Twice in regular season, once in the Western Conference Finals vs OKC). 

How was LeBron James able to capture a championship after trailing 3 games to 1, when it had never been done before? There’s only one reasonable explanation.

He’s the best player in the world. 

More importantly, I hope we as basketball fans understand that this won’t last forever.    

Let’s appreciate greatness while we can.  LeBron still has years to give to the game, but we don’t have as much time to marvel watching him play like we used to.  In his 13th season, at age 31, it’s uncertain how much longer he’ll be elite. 

We lost a legend to retirement in the Black Mamba this past year.  Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see him compete at a high level the last couple of years due to injuries and poor upper management in the Lakers organization.  We will never see another Kobe Bryant ever again.

But I can promise you this. 

We will never see another LeBron James either. 

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KNOW THIS NAME: Thon Maker

Meet the highest ceiling in this years draft

As the 2016 NBA Draft draws closer, NBA fans have begun to grow acquainted with young starlets Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram, and maybe the Croatian forward Dragan Bender. However, lurking deep in the murky waters of the draft pool is another prospect sure to cause a stir and shake things up.  A prospect with a ceiling high as the sky. His name? Thon Maker.

Fans may not have heard of Thon because he wasn’t originally in this draft class. Hailing from Sudan before emigrating to Australia to escape civil war, Maker applied to enter the 2016 NBA draft without attending college, and due to the fact he spent some time at a prep academy in Ontario, a “foreign” country, he was able to bypass the normal requirements, and is treated as a foreign prospect.

Why should fans care? Because Maker is about to shoot up draft boards. After the Milwaukee Bucks somehow managed to snag a young man by the name of Giannis Antetokounmpo with the 15th pick, NBA GMs have been on the lookout to find the next diamond lurking outside the top 3.  Why is Thon Maker a diamond? Because to NBA scouts and executives, he looks like one.

NBA scouts and personnel referred to Giannis as “Two years away from being two years away”, and now they’re saying the same thing about Maker, attempting to act like he wont be drafted in the 1st round. Standing at 7’1, yet possessing uncanny handles (check YouTube), Maker already resembles a young Giannis. Adding a 7’3 wingspan to the fact that he is able to knock down NBA 3’s with ease (see his workout with Chad Ford), Maker is making the case that like Porzingis and Karl-Anthony Towns before him, he is this year’s most polarizing, jaw-dropping workout.  Able to run the court like a deer, Maker leaps toward the rim with ferocity, recording the highest vertical leap (36.5 inches) of any player over 6’11 in NBA Combine history, giving him hops exceeding Andre Drummond. Maker may be young and raw, but that shouldn’t stop NBA GM’s from pulling the trigger on upside like this.

Players like Giannis and Drummond have blazed the trail for Thon Maker to go from being labeled as an athletic specimen to someone who can contribute on both ends of the court.  He’ll hold a physical and athletic advantage over nearly every player he ever goes up against, and if paired with the right coaching staff and veterans, can develop his skills to reach his Burj-Khalifa-esque ceiling.  Mock drafts all over have Maker going late first to second round, but once draft night arrives, don’t be surprised if he’s picked much higher. 

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Deer In Headlights: Closing Thoughts On the Milwaukee Bucks Season

Ike Co-Founder KJ Eichstaedt offers his thoughts on the 2016 season

The 2015-16 season was a trying one for Bucks fans all around. To the casual fan, it was nothing new; the Bucks have always been bad, why should this year be any different? To the diehard fans, it was a letdown of epic proportions. The Bucks finished the 2014-15 season as the single biggest turnaround in the NBA, making the playoffs and nearly pulled off a major first round upset, giving the Thibodeau-led Bulls all they could handle before eventually bowing out in game 6.

Fast-forward a year later, and the wheels have fallen off. The Bucks went from a 41-41 record to an abysmal 33-49. Expectations doomed the team from the start, and eventually defense was a luxury rarely found. The surprising jettison of super-vets Jared Dudley and Zaza Pachulia didn’t help things, and the team lacked leadership. It was a season to forget, but not all is lost. As the youngest team in the NBA with a diamond core, fans in Milwaukee have a lot to look forward to.

The Core: (Untouchables)

Giannis Antetokounmpo – Call him Point Giannis, the Greek Freak, whatever floats your boat. Make no mistake—Giannis will be legendary, and the rest of the league knows. Blessed with Olympic athleticism, he truly is a one-of-a-kind, two-way player.  Since becoming the team’s primary ball handler, Giannis has transformed from an awkward wing into a walking triple double threat, averaging around 19/7/7 after the move. He’ll be eligible for a 5 year $144million extension this offseason, and is among the top assets in the NBA.

Jabari Parker – The Robin to Batman, Jabari Parker made tremendous strides in his first full season. Showcasing an explosive first step and the ability to get to the rim at will, Jabari Parker upped his scoring nearly 7 points after the Rising Stars game, showcasing a smooth mid-range game and averaging around 19 points post break. A bonus for Bucks fans, Jabari appears to have made tremendous strides with his defensive IQ, and looks to be a star in the making.

Khris Middleton – One of the few shooters on the Bucks, Middleton has a lightning quick release, plays defense, and isn’t afraid to take the big shot. He upped his scoring to 18 points per game, making his 5-year $70million contract look like a bargain. Middleton continues to add to his game, showcasing an old-school savvy that sometimes resembles the late Kobe Bryant…just don’t expect him to put up 60.

The Complimentary Pieces: (Supporting Cast)

Miles Plumlee, Michael Carter-Williams, Rashad Vaughn, John Henson, Damien Inglis

Miles Plumlee was a revelation when he received regular playing time, looking like a perfect fit as a big who can run the court with Giannis and Jabari. High flying and able to protect the rim, the Bucks will hope to have him back, as he’s a restricted free agent.

Michael Carter-Williams is perhaps one of the most hated players by the fans, but he too was victim of high expectations, and the constant comparisons to Brandon Knight (Bucks fans, PLEASE move on). Obviously he lacks a 3-point shot, but he has a developing mid range game and has a physical and athletic advantage over nearly every point guard he goes up against. He is a coachable player with the right attitude and is in tune with his role, making a modest $2.4 million against a $90 million salary cap. Bucks fans have every right to be frustrated, but he deserves one more season.

Rashad Vaughn looked like a completely different player once returning from the D-League. With refreshed confidence, “Shoddy” impacted the game more on both ends of the court and was able to knock down the trey at a decent clip. On an extremely team friendly contract for the next three seasons, Vaughn is in the plans going forward.

John Henson signed the Larry Sanders contract, and experienced a trying season with inconsistent playing time. Like Plumlee, he is able to fit in well with the team’s fast paced running style, and showcases a silky smooth jump hook with the left hand. Defense is what got him paid and is his greatest asset—A bona fide shot-alterer, he led the NBA holding opponents to the lowest field goal percentage on shots within five feet of the basket.

Damien Inglis is part of the plans? Although he played very sparingly, he showed he has an NBA body and wingspan capable of holding a physical advantage against other players of his position. After playing in France, Damien also showcased a basketball IQ superior to typical first year players, and even was able to knock down some threes. A new-school 3, Bucks fans should keep their expectations in check; he’s a dirt-cheap bench piece with upside.

Free Agents

Jerryd Bayless, Steve Novak, OJ Mayo, Greivis Vasquez

Jerryd Bayless has been a key piece as the Bucks have re-vamped their identity the past two seasons. A legit 3-point shooter, the only negative with Bayless is that often he appears to want a role and usage rate larger than the Bucks can give him. It’s Giannis and Jabari’s team now and nobody questions Middleton’s ability to make it rain. If Bayless is okay with that, the Bucks’ should welcome him back with open arms. VERDICT: Re-sign

Steve Novak barely played before sustaining a season ending injury. A local lad, he’s a fan favorite who can knock down the 3-point shot, but struggles to do much else. The Bucks could use his leadership, but any lineup with Novak on the floor for an extended period can expect to get torched on defense. VERDICT: Re-sign on the cheap

OJ Mayo had his ups and downs in Milwaukee, and has morphed from a flamboyant wannabe star to a player that can be looked at as a big brother to the young players on the team. OJ can get hot, but he’s never been effective in his three seasons in Milwaukee. VERDICT: Let go

Greivis Vasquez played sparingly this season due to injury, but he was a different man once he came back healthy. Showing the spark and attitude of a veteran the team so desperately needed, Greivis opened the door for a possible return. He's a shooter, but doesn't play much D. VERDICT: Try and bring back on a 1-2 year deal

Gotta Go

Greg Monroe – Disaster. That’s the only way to describe Monroe’s season with the Bucks. The big-ticket, max free agent signing was disappointing in nearly every way, posting an abysmal 107.4 defensive rating. Combining non-existent defense with terrible body language that made the refs neglect the Bucks on other calls, the cheers of Mooooose were rightly mistaken for boos. Utterly incompatible playing in the Bucks’ up-tempo style, Monroe must be moved at all costs. The good news is he put up respectable offensive numbers, and there may be a desperate team willing to take him.

Wildcard

Jason Kidd – While the team regressed horribly, so did Kidd as a coach. Having already run himself out of Brookyln, Kidd appears to be safe to return next season, although it’s not clear he should. A bona-fide excuse maker, Kidd consistently failed to acknowledge the team’s defensive collapse, or do anything about it. His favorite phrase became “We’re a young team”. Yeah, well young teams should be able to play defense. Young long teams should be motivated to play defense, motivation the coach is supposed to provide. To make matters worse, Kidd offered the biggest “Cop-out” statement to end the year, saying, “We need more shooters”. For lack of a better term, duh. Any GM in the NBA would like to add more shooters. How about taking care of the things you can control, such as defense, and competitiveness? Kidd has a long leash, partly because the owners went through so much trouble to bring him in, and also because he is Giannis and Jabari’s “Coach”. If next season doesn’t offer drastic improvement, the Hall-of-Famer’s seat will be hot. 

In conclusion, the 2015-16 season was a disaster, but there is hope on the horizon. The Bucks took a definite step back, but the core of Giannis, Jabari, and Middleton all showed tremendous improvement. With a few crucial additions and subtractions, a renewed attitude to compete, and a renewed commitment to defense, the Bucks should be considerably better in the 2016-17 season, and hope to return to the playoffs. 

Follow KJ Eichstaedt on Twitter: @kjeichstaedt

2015-16 NBA POWER RANKINGS - By Conference

We're back with our 2nd annual edition of NBA Power Rankings. How will your team fare in the upcoming season?

Western Conference Power Rankings

15. Denver Nuggets – Far into the post–Carmelo Anthony era, the Nuggets are still rebuilding. The offseason jettison of Ty Lawson paves the way for the team to go forward with Emmanuel Mudiay as the starting PG. As talented as he may be, he's only 19 and they will endure some growing pains. The team actually has a decent nucleus in Faried, Gallinari, Nurkic, and Mudiay, but in the west they have a long way to go.

14. Portland Trailblazers – Times are changing in Portland, with LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum moving on to greener pastures.  Damian Lillard remains, fresh off signing his new 5 year $120 million dollar deal. Unfortunately for him, this is the year he likely gets exposed. The NBA is flush with point guards, and Damian Lillard got paid like an elite one.  Without the supporting cast he’s had in recent seasons, Lillard will be forced to assume an even larger role in the offense, and the forcing of shots will hurt his game, much like last year when he failed to earn an All-Star birth. Better days are ahead for Blazers fans, but 2015 is not their year. 

13. Phoenix Suns – The suns offer a lot of talented pieces, with not much cohesiveness. Eric Bledsoe has acted like “the guy” on this team in part because he has had little choice; the only other realistic option to assume a large role would be Brandon Knight, and he hasn’t been the same player since coming over from Milwaukee. Markieff Morris is upset he can’t play with his brother, and whether he admits it or not, that will translate to his play on the court. Tyson Chandler will provide a veteran defensive presence, but he's in the twilight of his career, and it's unfair to expect the Dallas Mavericks Tyson Chandler fans have come to love. Still, Phoenix does have several talented guards, if they can knock down 3’s at a decent clip, they should be able to compete for the 8th spot.

12. Los Angeles Lakers – Kobe Bryant, Roy Hibbert, Lou Will. Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, D’Angello Russell.  Add all these pieces up and you get a fringe playoff team.  Its hard to imagine the Lakers could be any worse than the past two seasons, but in comparing them with the rest of the West, they simply aren’t that impressive. This is likely Kobe’s last season and the entire country will be pulling for him, but unless he’s a magician, he might have to accept that these Lakers won’t be contending anytime soon.

11. Minnesota Timberwolves – This team is inspired. Flip just passed, and Garnett is on a personal mission to honor him.  He will keep this team motivated, and will inspire the otherworldly talents of Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns in becoming the Bucks-of-the-West. Ricky Rubio returns to dish the basketballs around and should provide a leadership boost. With him and Garnett to serve as the veterans, this Wolves’ team will surprise some people, and maybe even snag one of the final playoff spots.

10. Dallas Mavericks – Although Dallas endured the nightmare of the offseason, things could get worse before they get better. Despite having multiple talented players on the roster, Dallas isn’t in a position to seriously compete in the west, and will soon be forced to face a rebuild.  Unfortunately for them, they have no choice but to pull out all the stops this season, because even if they finish with a terrible record, the Celtics will get to keep their first round draft pick as part of the Rajon Rondo trade.  Mark Cuban’s win-now attitude has slowly cost his team position, and when Dirk finally runs out of steam, the bottom will fall out. Still, Deron Williams has nowhere to go but up, and Zaza Pachulia and Wes Matthews make for some smart veteran contributors. Expect the Mavs to contend for the final two playoff seeds.

9. Utah Jazz – The Jazz playoff hopes took a hit when Dante Exum suffered a devastating knee injury, sidelining him for the season.  Now, the Jazz will be forced to rely on Trey Burke to run the team, a far cry from a playoff point guard. Nevertheless, they will be just fine on the defensive end, as Rudy Gobert is back anchoring the paint. Since Gobert’s emergence, the Jazz were the best defensive team in the NBA.  With Gordon Hayward running the wing and Derrick Favors manning the power forward spot, the Jazz have a solid nucleus that should continue to grow and learn how to win more games.

8. Sacramento Kings – Everyone is saying they can’t. Too many problems. Too dysfunctional of a front office. Not enough talent. The Kings, led by surefire elite big man DeMarcus Cousins, will surprise some people.  Former lottery pick Ben McLemore has improved his efficiency during his time in the league, and appears poised for a breakout. Rajon Rondo and George Karl are tired of hearing all the critics, and have more than enough talent, intelligence, and skill to shut them up.  Rudy Gay has been around forever, but maybe this is the season he prioritizes winning over stats.  The Kings are as dysfunctional as it gets, but they should compete for one of the final playoff spots in the west.

7. New Orleans Pelicans – Anthony Davis – What else do you need? The Pelicans have one of the best young NBA superstars in recent memory, a two-way force that will be looking to expand his dominance in his fourth season.  The team should be solid on the defensive end with Davis and Omar Asik manning the paint, and will look to translate that success to the offensive end. Enter Alvin Gentry, the man tasked with unlocking New Orleans true potential.  He has a trio of talented guards in Eric Gordon, Jrue Holliday, & Tyreke Evans, and sharing the basketball could prove to be a difficult task. Still, Anthony Davis is so vastly superior to any other player on the roster, he should get the majority of the touches by default, and that in itself is enough to make New Orleans a near lock for the playoffs.

6. Memphis Grizziles – No respect. It sure seems like that’s been the story for the Griz of late.  The team bangs and bruises with perhaps the most deadly 1-2 big man combo in the league.  Elite center Marc Gasol could’ve gone anywhere over the summer, but showed his loyalty by only entertaining the Grizzlies' offers. Tony Allen and Mike Conley continue to improve each year, and make up an underrated backcourt that punishes opponents who overlook them.  Z-Bo has been around forever, and veterans Matt Barnes and Vince Carter should keep the team focused on a top-four conference finish. In the West, however, that’s easier said than done.

5. Los Angeles Clippers – Finally, after all the drama unfolding in the summer, the Clippers finally have their team ready to contend. DeAndre Jordan pulled a 360 and ended up back in LA, and Doc Rivers was able to add top NBA veteran Paul Pierce, as well as Josh Smith.  Factor in the most talented floor general in the league, and this team is LOADED. The Clippers should be ready to contend, (for real this time) but will they actually? It all depends on how far you think Paul can go (he’s never made it past the 2nd round).  Expectations are the true enemy of the 2015-16 Clippers. A team consisting of Paul, Griffin, Jordan, has to do better. With so much expected to go right, something will surely go wrong, and the Clippers, despite making the playoffs, will once again be telling themselves, “Next year”.

4. Houston Rockets – James Harden can flat out BALL. The addition of Ty Lawson came at a price where the reward should outweigh the risk, but the true x-factor for the Rockets this year is Dwight. Dwight Howard is in a contract year, and that means surely he will try harder than in years past. Since coming to Houston from LA, the former “best center in the NBA” has been anything but. Although still massively effective when on the court, Dwight Howard’s added motivation to be a difference maker should be enough to propel the Rockets to a top-four finish in the West.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder – Its only been a year, but how things have changed. The Thunder were formerly looked at as a surefire contender, but now people don’t know what to think of them. Russ Westbrook and KD are two of the top 10 players in the NBA, but how will they fit together? How will Billy Donovan respond to them, and how will they respond to him? If healthy, this looks to be the best Thunder team ever assembled. With Westbrook & Durant at the top of their games, and Serge Ibaka & Enes Kanter serving as solid secondary options, only the conditions of an extremely unforgiving conference should impede the Thunder from returning to the Finals.

2. Golden State Warriors – As complete of team as we’ve seen in recent memory, this Golden State team featured a rookie head coach and defied every expectation on their way to winning the NBA Finals. The Splash Bros make up the most prolific backcourt in the NBA, capable of filling it up at an astonishing rate.  Elsewhere, the team is relatively young and athletic, mixing in fantastic vets such as Andrew Bogut & Andre Iguodala. Everyone understands their roles, and the style of basketball is smooth, fun to watch, and hard to stop. The Warriors, barring a team-wide shooting slump, should be right back in contention this season.

1. San Antonio Spurs – If there were such thing as a Basketball Blueprint, it could be nicknamed “the Spurs”. San Antonio is back with reinforcements in the form of LaMarcus Aldridge and David West, and will look to reestablish their dominance over the league in hopes of winning one more title before Tim Duncan hangs up his shoes. In terms of locker room culture, talent, depth, intelligence, the Spurs are at or near the top of the list in all categories. Although they may start off slow, it’s going to take an elite team in the form of Cleveland or Golden State to derail the Spurs title hopes in 2015-16. 

Continue Scrolling Down for IkeSportReport's Eastern Conference Power Rankings

Eastern Conference Power Rankings

15. Philadelphia 76ers – When will it end? Unfortunately for 76ers fans, the teams owners appear to stand behind their radical, tanking GM, Sam Hinkie.  Besides 3rd overall pick Jalil Okafor and longtime Hinkie building block Nerlens Noel, there is very little to get excited about for the 2015-16 season.  While the future could mean brighter days, it’s foolish to expect this team to finish with a winning record, and if this were soccer, the Philadelphia 76ers would be a lock for relegation.

14. Brooklyn Nets – Years ago, when Mikhail Prokhorov bought the Nets, he infamously guaranteed a title within 5 years.  Fast-forward to the present day, and the Nets have become a laughingstock franchise. Its 2015, and if you still get excited about Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson, this team is for you. In attempting to buy a title, the Nets traded away nearly all of their future assets, and took on far too much salary in the form of aging stars, only to lose hundreds of millions to the luxury tax in the process. To make matters worse, they are poised for a rough season in which they don't even own the rights to their first round draft pick. If there’s such thing as an opposite of the 76ers, it’s the Brooklyn Nets - and that’s not necessarily a good thing.

13. New York Knicks – They have a can’t-miss executive leading their franchise (do they?) They have a superstar in Carmelo Anthony (do they?) They have a suitable player-coach that the team will respond to in Derrick Fisher (do they?) They have several new, exciting free agent acquisitions in the form of Robin Lopez and Aaron Afflalo (seriously?) Very much like their predecessors in 2014, the 2015 New York Knicks are about as “pretender” as it gets. Unless Carmelo Anthony undergoes a miracle change in philosophy in terms of the way he plays basketball, the New York faithful will endure another disappointing season from their team, despite the high ceiling of lottery pick, Kristaps Porzingis.

12. Detroit Pistons – Motor City is going to have to wait a few years. The Pistons have a nice franchise building block in Andre Drummond, but even though he stuffs the stat sheet, he is far too raw to be the centerpiece of any team hoping to contend. Reggie Jackson was a solid contributor after Brandon Jennings went down, upping nearly all his numbers after the midseason trade. It's going to be up to Stan Van Gundy to effectively find a way to coax efficient offense out of this team, and although nobody is acting like it, the loss of Greg Monroe will surely be felt.  Playoffs appear unlikely.

11. Orlando Magic – The magic are a lot of potential with not very much production. They are a very young team with good young athletes at nearly every position on the roster, and upside is showcased on a nightly basis. The Magic look to be a force to be reckoned with on the defensive end. However, despite all the good young talent on the roster, there is little great talent that could produce a superstar, with the exception of 2015 lottery pick Mario Hezonja. Unfortunately for Magic fans, Scott Skiles – a known rookie hater – has been brought in to be the coach that turns all this potential into production. Based upon his previous track record, its hard to see any “stars” developing under him.

10. Charlotte Hornets – Al Jefferson in a contract year? Fans can expect the Hornets to contend for a playoff spot. Yes the loss of Kidd-Gilchrist will hurt the team in defending opposing wings, but this team has quietly accumulated some talent. Frank Kaminsky more than held his own against Jalil Okafor & Karl-Anthony Towns, and should be able to contribute immediate minutes as a stretch 4.  Batum is a versatile addition on the wing, and Kemba Walker will continue to lead. The loss of Lance Stephenson is addition by subtraction, and should help get this team back on the right track.

9. Boston Celtics – The East is getting better and the Celts, for the most part, are running in place. The reason? Lack of a star. Marcus Smart and Thomas make up a dynamic backcourt, but how many backcourts in the NBA are better? It doesn’t matter how many draft picks Danny Ainge accumulates, or how many mediocre players Brad Stevens helps overachieve.  The Celtics are the definition of an 8 seed – Good enough to make the playoffs, talented enough to get blown out in the first round.

8. Indiana Pacers – Paul George is an elite player when healthy; a wing capable of going toe-to-toe with the opposing team’s best player. His return will be fascinating to watch.  The rest of the team has been overhauled, with George Hill being the only other notable contributor to return. “Smallball” is the new philosophy, and the Pacers will be hoping Monta Ellis can become an effective sidekick to PG13.  In Indiana, they are excited. The rest of the NBA? Not so much.

7. Toronto Raptors – Although it should count for something, having the biggest rapper in the world passionately rep the Raptors doesn’t make them a contender. This team is talented and becoming more familiar with playoff basketball each season, but the roster still lacks players that will take them from good to great.  Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozen are playmaking guards, but in the NBA, those aren’t exactly scarce. This team will rely heavily on the newly extended Jonas Valanciunas, and free agent acquisition DeMarre Carroll as they look to compete against the upper teams in the East.

6. Washington Wizards – John Wall is a star, and Bradley Beal is coming on strong. But looking at the rest of the roster? It’s surprisingly bare. The big men are on the wrong side of 30, and Paul Pierce isn’t around to stoke the fire in important moments. Yes, they are planning on making a run at free-agent-to-be Kevin Durant, but is there enough talent to convince him to return home? The offseason pickup of Jared Dudley will help in ways that can't be quantified, and while fans shouldn’t expect this team to compete in the conference finals, a playoff appearance looks like a lock.

5. Atlanta Hawks – The Hawks defied expectations all season long until finally meeting their match in the playoffs. DeMarre Carroll left for Toronto, but the team was able to bring in Tim Hardaway Jr and Tiago Splitter, two useful players coach Bud will integrate quickly. It’s hard to argue that a team in the East has a more cohesive squad than the Hawks, with nearly every player providing individual skill(s) essential to a winning team. Thabo Sefolosha is back to defend elite wings, Kyle Korver is an elite 3-point specialist, Shelvin Mack is about as good a 3rd string point guard as it gets, not to mention their depth, depth, and more depth – look for the Hawks to be strong in the East.

4. Milwaukee Bucks – Back with a new court and jerseys, the Bucks will be dangerous. The longest, lankiest team in the NBA, passing the ball against these deer has been proven difficult, with defensive ratings spiking under Jason Kidd.  The Bucks feature surprise acquisition Greg Monroe at the 5, and budding superstars Antetokounpo & Parker at the forward spots. Sharpshooter Khris Middleton will team up with Michael Carter-Williams in the backcourt, forming a young, talented, lineup that will have leave opposing GM’s envious of the team in Milwaukee. With surprising depth and a year more experienced, the Bucks will look for a top 4 finish in the East, with their ceiling being as high as the 2 seed. Come playoff time, these deer will be even more dangerous.

3. Miami Heat – The Heat’s starting lineup is loaded: Dragic, Wade, Deng, Bosh, Whiteside.  Unfortunately, it takes a team if they wish to advance far in the playoffs, just ask Golden State or San Antonio.  The Heat are banking on the health of their players, as Pat Riley’s cap strategies cater most of the salary to high priced starters.  If Wade or Bosh should go down for an extended period of time, this team’s aspirations will take a hit. Wade says he’s coming for LeBron, but he’ll soon realize it’s more than a two horse race in the East.

2. Chicago Bulls – Jimmy Butler is back in town, but so is a new coach.  The Bulls appear to be the easy second choice in the East, but lingering questions persist. Who’s team is it? Will Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose get into a power struggle? Can new coach Fred Hoiberg effectively manage the locker room in a big market such as Chicago? Will Pau Gasol be able to replicate his stellar play of last year? Don't sleep on Nikola Mirotic. These Bulls are good, but they’re vulnerable.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers – King James. Kyrie, and K-Love, if you need him. One can’t help but wonder what would have happened in last years Finals had the Cavs been healthy. LeBron is the best baller on the planet, but even his superhuman efforts couldn’t single handedly carry the Cavs to victory. Sensing they needed more than Matthew Dellavadova, the Cavs made sure to sign Mo Williams and extended Tristan Thompson. Despite the bone-headed move to bring back the one-dimensional JR Smith, this team is very strong on paper. If the trio of stars can remain healthy this season, there’s no easier choice for the 1 seed – it belongs to the Cavs. 

Follow KJ Eichstaedt on Twitter: @kjeichstaedt

Rise of a KAT

The Journey of Karl-Anthony Towns

Unlike many of his eventual peers, a term that describes very few people who have ever stepped on a court with the young man, Karl-Anthony Towns started his journey in the game of basketball the day he was born. On the 15th day of September, 1995 in the town of Piscataway, New Jersey, a place known best for being the home of Rutgers University in the heart of the old Big East, Towns was brought into the world with a goal already set for him.

When you are the son of a former college basketball player, much less a current high school basketball coach, you cannot help but feel the expectation to succeed in the sport. Born to former Monmouth star Karl Towns Sr. and Dominican mother Jacqueline Cruz, basketball was literally in his blood. From the moment Karl-Anthony stepped on a court he was #1 everywhere he went. As a 5th grader, he would ride with his father after school to Piscataway Prep and practice with the JV squad while Karl Sr. coached varsity on the next court over.

His dominance was such that one year in middle school he told his father he was quitting basketball. He was tired of being the best all the time and wanted a challenge, so he took up baseball, a sport that, while he threw an astounding 80mph fastball, he was not the best at. After a short run on the diamond, Towns realized he couldn't stay away from the game he loved, or his teammates.

Towns was soon faced with choosing a high school at which to ply his trade. He was heavily pursued by hall of fame coach Bob Hurley and his hugely successful program at St. Anthony, but that would have been the easy way. Towns instead chose St. Joseph's because of, rather than in spite of, their lack of trophies and reputation. He wanted to build something himself. Build he did, leading his school to back, to back, to back New Jersey state championships before he was done.

When Towns chose to play for his mothers native Dominican Republic national team and made the squad as a 9th grader along side NBA star Al Horford, he was suddenly making a huge name for himself.  He became the subject of a 90-minute documentary titled “center of attention”, something that would make almost any kid that age grow a serious ego. But Towns was raised with humility, taught to work hard, and give to others. Barely 16 years old, he soon found himself on the court against LeBron James and the rest of Team USA coming off the bench for the Dominican team and their then-coach, John Calipari. But while the player-coach relationship made the headlines, it wasn't the most important one he made with the team in his eyes. That was Al Horford, who recognized his immense potential then, and remains a mentor to the 19-year-old Towns.

Karl-Anthony was known as simply Karl or Karl Jr until he left for college. When people were finally corrected that his first name was in fact Karl-Anthony, it was so unknown by everyone following the young man that his Gatoraid player-of-the-year award read Karl Towns Jr. It certainly didn't hurt his popularity when he eventually chose Kentucky over the likes of Duke, Kansas, Florida, and his hometown Rutgers that the correction of his name gave him the initials KAT.

During the lead up to his one and only season at UK, the team took a pre season trip to the Bahamas. Not to play in the sand, but to play a series of 6 games very close together and against grown men playing professionally in Europe as well as his own Dominican national team. Every game was covered live by ESPN—something unheard of for a college team’s preseason trip. It was then where UK started to look unbeatable, winning their first five games while having barely any time to practice as a team. Their lone loss came against the Dominican team, fielding their full strength roster ahead of an impending match against Team USA. Even then, the Cats held their own.

As the season started and UK were steamrolling through Kansas and UCLA as if they were high school teams, people started to think that maybe 40-0 wasn't out of reach. Not for a team with more All Americans than any before. First, it was finishing the non-conference slate without a loss. Then, surviving back-to-back overtime scares to start the SEC season before bouncing back to their more dominant selves. Those games did expose potential issues. The team had lost F Alex Poythress, a loss that would have been detrimental to almost any team in America, but only seemed to shorten the rotation to 9 instead of swapping a straight 5.

All the while, Towns’ lack of full-time minutes allowed Duke's fellow freshman sensation Jalil Okafor to steal the spotlight, and for a while, led people to project him as the #1 pick in this year’s NBA draft. However, there is a difference between playing 20 minutes a night on the deepest team in history and playing full games with a team consistently running an offense through you, as was the case with Okafor. As a result of this, Towns’ averages of 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game do not jump out, but the 21.1 minutes in which he got them, his 56.6% shooting, and 81.3% on free-throws should.

As the season wound down and UK was still chasing perfection heading into the NCAA tournament, the country was growing fond of cheering against the Cats, despite the team being a group of unselfish, hard working, and intelligent kids who all did well academically, including Towns 3.6 GPA.

Towns and his teammates weren’t fazed by the public desire for them to lose. Las Vegas bookmakers stood to lose a record sum of money if UK won, based on long odds they placed on a 40-0 season and the numerous takers of the bet, and there was growing tension among the country’s most basketball-crazed fan base as the tourney came hurdling toward the final 4. It was openly speculated before the tourney began, that with so much money at stake, UK “may not be allowed” to win.

We all know how the season ended. Greatness is judged by the final result, but Towns was a part of something very special. The Fab 5 Michigan team had two tries and never cut down the nets or even come close to 38-0, so all will not be forgotten. If the Minnesota Timberwolves get their wish, it will be remembered as the season that landed them a super star. While there have been excessive rumors the Timberwolves informed Towns he will be selected with the #1 overall pick in the draft, Towns has come out and said no such promise has been made. However, all the arrows point toward Towns joining Anthony Davis and John Wall in a growing list of Calipari’s UK alumni to receive the honor of going 1st overall.

In the scouting report, Towns has almost limitless potential. His size, athletic ability, ability to be physical down low, or step out and nail the jumper are extraordinary. Towns went from a high school player with a great shot to a college player who only attempted three 3-point shots all season—a result of Coach Cal forcing him to toughen up and build his inside game. His 25 point, 10-13 display against Notre Dame in the elite 8 showed how much he’s grown, but it made scouts and NBA execs forget all that Towns was capable of.

As a result, they sat stunned during his pre draft workout when Karl-Anthony hit 71 of 100 three pointers. At 6'11” 250 lbs, Towns has the body and strength to bang down low in the NBA that virtually no other 19 year old kids have had. His athleticism will surely earn him free-throws, and the ability to knock them down at an 81% clip will be an easy way to accumulate point. But what really separates Towns from Okafor is defense.

While it was always accepted that Towns was better defensively, it was the distance between the two that most didn't realize. Towns block rate of 11.4 absolutely destroyed that of Jalil, who mustered only 4.5. This resulted in Towns having 34 more blocks than Okafor in 321 fewer minutes. Chad Ford of ESPN, when speaking of Towns, said “What if Dwight Howard could shoot, dribble, and move the way James Harden does”. A truly astonishing concept to imagine, but that is the promise Karl-Anthony Towns has.

If Towns comes anywhere close to his ceiling, fans of the long suffering Minnesota Timberwolves will quickly forget what all the fuss was about over some players named KG and Kevin Love, and instead be on their knees before bed every night praying that the organization can keep this big KAT well fed and happy in order to avoid the eventual exodus of another superstar to a “premier NBA market”.  With a core built around Andrew Wiggins, and KAT, Minnesota might become a new market to attract superstars hungry for championships. It all starts on Draft Day, June 25, 2014. 

Follow Ike Sport Report on Twitter: @IKE_SportReport

No Love Lost - A Look Back at The Trade 

Six NBA seasons. Zero postseason appearances. Kevin Love had been waiting a long time. It was a hectic summer, but he finally made it to a surefire contender.  Now one year later, Love is silent once more in the NBA Playoffs. It all started with then-teammate Ricky Rubio telling us what we already knew: “He is a special player, his numbers are unbelievable but maybe our leader must be other player. He is our leader in points and other things but can’t be or he doesn’t want to be our ‘voice’ leader”.  Meanwhile, with LeBron spearheading his hometown team to yet another NBA Finals, one can’t help but think what could have been, had the Cavs never made The Trade.

When referencing The Trade for Cleveland, it refers to when the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for top picks Anthony Bennett, and Andrew Wiggins. The plan was to surround LeBron with “superstars” Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, to form the latest, greatest version of the “Big 3”.  However tempting it may have been to add a player of Love’s caliber to the mix, the Cavs over-eager decision to jump the gun cost them the opportunity to grandfather Wiggins into becoming top-of-sport.  By trading him to the T-Wolves, the Cavs cost Wiggins the opportunity to learn the ropes from his predecessor, a legend and MVP. Superstars are a rare breed, and grandfather opportunities such as this are few and far between, with Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers being the most prominent example. Wiggins, 19, went on to produce stellar highlight-reel plays, and posted numbers of 16.9/2.1/4.6, looking every bit the part of a future superstar en route to winning Rookie of the Year for the T'wolves. Love, meanwhile, faces a long road to recovery after separating his shoulder in the opening round of the playoffs. Call it a missed opportunity.

Perhaps the most frustrating thing from the Cavs perspective is they didn’t even need Kevin Love to make the finals out of the east, and to add insult to injury, once Love was ruled out, the team started firing on all cylinders. LeBron took the opportunity to reassert himself as the focal point, using his legendary powers to elevate the play of his teammates to the point where NBA misfits JR Smith & Matthew Dellavedova look like world class role-players. It is they, not Kevin Love, who are earning the headlines for this trip to the finals. JR was a salary dump, Dellavedova, an undrafted rookie. But they are earning every bit of praise that comes their way. Make no mistake – the Cavs individual pieces are nothing special; Hell, Anthony Bennett would probably be throwing up double doubles if he were balling with the King. It is simply the LeBron Effect, which makes it that much more polarizing to wonder how the team would look with a focused, motivated Andrew Wiggins patrolling the perimeter, and bringing his LeBron-esque athleticism to this years Finals. Matching up against a squad featuring Curry, Klay, Barnes, Livingston, Barbosa, Iguodala, and Draymond Green, the elite wing defense Wiggins brings would be a welcome addition. 

Lastly, the Cleveland Cavaliers were wrong to jump the gun and trade Wiggins for Love in part because they overvalued his “Superstar” label. The term “NBA Superstar” is a very volatile, with new members entering (Anthony Davis, John Wall, Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard) and exposed players (Rajon Rondo, Kobe Bryant) exiting the elite brotherhood each season.  In order to make this trade, the Cavs must have thought they were getting a surefire top 10 player, one firmly labeled a “Superstar”. However, the Cavs narrow-mindedness not only cost them the long-term potential of Wiggins, but also caused them to miss out on several other young stars they deemed not good enough. New stars emerge every year, this year being no different. Had they Cavs kept Wiggins, they would still be in the NBA finals, but with his trade value might have been able to hand-pick LeBron’s sidekick from a group that included Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Kevin Love, instead of a close-minded group that just included Kevin Love.  This is crucial because it would allow the Cavs to consider offense and defense as well as team need and fit, two elements that have been extremely important in the Cavs roll to the finals. With Kevin out and Kyrie battling injury, there’s no questioning it’s LeBron’s team, and him stepping into his Alpha-Male role directly correlates with the team getting better each series. How might the team look with Kyrie, LeBron, and Kawhi? Or Kyrie, LeBron, and Klay?

In conclusion, Kevin Love hasn’t been a superstar, and the Cavs ability to easily navigate their way to the finals in his absence is a clear indicator. Love is a fine player, but is going to have to work extremely hard to shed the stat-guy label. In no universe was he worth giving up a generational talent such as Andrew Wiggins for. The Cavs were clearly the best team in the East all along, and could very well win the NBA finals this year or next. Kevin Love may return with a vengeance to prove all his doubters wrong, and secure his status as a Superstar in the NBA—With LeBron James, anything is possible. However, short-sighted moves such as the Wiggins for Love blockbuster are responsible for depriving the city of Cleveland of titles for decades. One can only hope the Cleveland Curse doesn’t strike again this June. 

Follow KJ Eichstaedt on Twitter - @kjeichstaedt

Are things OK in OKC?

Are things OK in OKC? Your answer would be no.

Despite having 2 of arguably the top 5 players in basketball on the same team, the Thunder continue to disappoint. With a 44-37 record and the reigning MVP sidelined for the remainder of the season, the Thunder must look to forward to the offseason. Their current squad won’t win a championship this year and probably won’t in the future as well. Rising powers Golden State and Houston are improving each game and their stars, Stephen Curry and James Harden, continue to grow more confident.

So what must the Thunder do to regain that top spot in the West and finally win that championship?

2 things.

First off, replace Scott Brooks.

Second, trade either Westbrook or Durant.

Having both Westbrook and Durant on the same team equates to too much money invested into just two players, made clear by the Thunder’s 5-13 record without their two stars. Westbrook is signed to a 5-year nearly $80 million contract ($78,595,310 to be exact) while Durant is penned to a 5-year almost $90 million deal ($89,163,134).  With the NBA salary cap at 63 million, the duo takes up about 54% of the Thunder’s budget. The question becomes, which star do the Thunder keep and build around?

I asked a couple of IKE writers for their thoughts on the matter and with whom they'd rather build around, and here’s what they had to say:

KJ Eichstaedt: Westbrook. He’s the best athlete the PG position has ever seen, leads the NBA guards in Player Efficiency (28.92) and plays with an elite motor that inspires his teammates. He also plays through injuries (check the masked dominance), and is the definition of a 2-way player. One more thing - Triple Doubles. 

Christopher Trafton: Durant. People are too quick to forget how dominant he can be offensively. Just look at what he did last season when he won the MVP, averaging 32 points, 5 assists, and 7 rebounds a game. Westbrook may be more spectacular or flashy, but Durant’s rare scoring ability gives him the edge.

Robbie Dombrowski: Durant. And it’s not even close. He can defend the 1-4 and, as evident by his numbers, score the ball on anyone. Not only that, but the guy dedicated the MVP award to his mom – that’s the guy I’m building my franchise around.

Dan Hively: (Healthy) Durant. Team basketball is what wins in the west, and Westbrook takes 22.0 shots per game.

Sam Mathison: Durant. Westbrook has poor shot discipline and can be a turnover machine. He’s putting up huge numbers, but they haven’t been winning enough to warrant championship talk.

Sheldon Allen: If they were smart they'd keep both - Durant's presence on the court results in Westbrook taking better shots. Westbrook would naturally play more effectively, not always having the ball in his hands. In their time in OKC, KD & Westbrook have never really had an effective low post presence in Kanter; Kendrick Perkins & Steven Adams aren't exactly guys you can throw the ball to. 

It’s a highly debated, difficult question to answer. Here’s a brief breakdown of where both players are at in this stage of their careers:

First up, the most explosive player in NBA history.

This season, Russell Westbrook is putting up MASSIVE numbers. At 26 years of age and still improving, his averages of 27ppg, 8apg, and 7rpg put him on pace to become 1 of 4 players to ever accomplish that feat, joining legends Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James.  He’s racked up 11 triple doubles, a rare sight in today’s game that defines all around players (Durant has 6 total in his career). However, the most impressive aspect of Westbrook’s game cannot be seen in stats. His intensity (apparent through 15 technical fouls this season) and determination to play through scary injuries such as the gruesome skull fracture suffered this season pushes his teammates to perform and has fans begging for more. On the down side, he’s only shooting 42.5 percent from the field and averaging 4.4 turnovers a game, both consequences of his daredevil-like mentality.

Durant’s 2014-15 campaign has been a season to forget. In the 27 games he played, his averages of 25ppg, 4apg, and 6rpg, were his lowest totals since his sophomore season. These numbers can be contributed to his inability to stay healthy. On the flip side, his MVP 2013-14 season was historic. His average of 32 ppg put him in a class with Tracy McGrady, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and Lebron James as the only players since 2000 to average over 30 ppg. However, that statistic doesn't entirely define Durant’s elite scoring ability. His career scoring efficiency rating of 1.432 is better than Bryant’s, Jordan’s, and Lebron’s. Westbrook’s most efficient shooting season earned him a rating of 1.290. In addition to his elite scoring ability, Durant is also growing as a defender. His defensive rating of 100 during his MVP season, tied him with Jimmy Butler for fourth best in the league behind Paul George, Deandre Jordan, and Lance Stephenson. Unfortunately, this number is extremely skewed and will only fool those who don’t watch the NBA into thinking Durant is a good defender. The MVP rarely matched up against the other team’s best offensive player and has never been in consideration for the NBA’s 2nd team all-defense, unlike Butler and George. Another note of concern with Durant’s game is his inability to perform in the playoffs, as he’s managed to shoot drastically worse and even as low as 35 percent one season. Not only that, but his Player Efficiency Rating in the playoffs is about 24, significantly less than his career regular season average. In contrast, Westbrook steps up his game in the playoffs, his numbers seemingly increasing in every statistical category each year.

If OKC wants to win a championship, they’ll need to trade one of these stars. Look for them to trade either Durant or Westbrook for a kings ransom or be surpassed by other teams in the West. In my humble opinion, they should build their franchise around Westbrook, but league indication dictates that Durant is the player OKC is most likely to keep. Winning in the regular season is something this team has shown it can accomplish, but long gone are the times where early playoff exits are acceptable. This team needs championship aspirations, and only time will tell which star will take them all the way. One thing is clear: This team is no longer "on the rise". They have arrived. The time for "next year" is over, and it will be up to management to upgrade accordingly.

Follow Alex on Twitter: @AlexEichstaedt

Can They Win It? Contenders & Pretenders

Top to bottom, the NBA has never been more competitive than it is now. The gap between the one and eight seeds is as close as it’s been in years, foreshadowing a postseason full of surprise and excitement. The Oklahoma City Thunder, led by MVP candidate and triple-double machine, Russell Westbrook, might just be the most intimidating eight seed in league history. The West is absolutely loaded with talent, and the East is full of teams focused on proving they’re elite. Down to last quarter of the regular season, IKE writer Sam Mathison separates the title true contenders, from the pretenders. If viewing this article through a laptop, hover your cursor over the image to discover if they are a pretender or contender. If viewing this article on a mobile device, lightly tap the images to discover the verdict. 

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

It’s hard to believe that only a year ago the Spurs were dominating the western conference, having the luxury of giving players like Timmy D, Manu, and Tony Parker as much rest as they wanted. As the returning NBA champs, the Spurs have looked like age might FINALLY be catching up to them. Reigning Finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard, has had a frustrating season, missing several games with a nagging hand injury, and even when healthy, he hasn’t yet proven able to carry the load all by himself. The deeper problem lies with Tony Parker, who is having one of the worst seasons of his career. His sudden inability to get to the hoop has resulted in him and his teammates having to settle for low percentage outside jumpers. Parker is averaging 14 points a game and just 4.8 assists, the lowest numbers since his rookie campaign. With Duncan playing at 38 years old, Manu at 37, and Parker at 32, this team will have to defy the odds yet again to avoid an early playoff exit. 

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

The Clippers give no reason to believe that this postseason will be any different than their prior, disappointing, early eliminations. The Clips are known for complaining, consistently showing poor body language on the court, conveying the idea that they feel entitled. After years of Clipper hype, its time they look in the mirror. Chris Paul has never been a winner, no matter what talent he’s surrounded with, and the absence of Blake Griffin, lost for much of the second half of the season with a staph infection in his right elbow, adds to the likelihood they’ll be bounced in the first round. Deandre Jordan has blossomed into a 20/20 animal in his contract year, but I’m convinced he wouldn’t be able to sink a free throw if his life depended on it. Jordan’s 40% shooting from the charity stripe has put the Clippers at an extreme disadvantage in fourth quarter situations, a weakness that will only be magnified in the playoffs. Opposing teams have resorted to intentionally fouling him at the end of games, and the strategy has been working. In addition, when scouting the Clip’s roster I see several weak spots. Matt Barnes, JJ Redick, Austin Rivers, Spencer Hawes, and Big Baby Davis all play sub-par defense, even under Doc Rivers. These players get consistent minutes but have been extremely unreliable when it comes to making a championship run. Los Angeles Clippers? More like Los Angeles Dippers. 

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Yet another regular season has gone by where the media and NBA fans have given little attention to the success of the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizz are known for their grit and grind behind the most dominant frontcourt in the NBA, Zach “Zbo” Randolph and Marc Gasol. Strong defense and star big men have this team constructed for a deep playoff run, and this postseason the Grizzlies will prove they truly are elite. Mike Conley excels flying under everyone’s radar, and has quietly been one of the top point guards throughout the past few seasons. The addition of Jeff Green might just be what pushes Memphis to the top, as a forward who can stretch the court and add valuable scoring is exactly what the Grizzlies were missing. Tony Allen has the ability to shut down any team’s star player, and takes pride in doing the dirty work on the court. Once considered a playoff afterthought, don’t be surprised if the Grizzlies emerge from the west.

ATLANTA HAWKS

Nobody expected the Atlanta Hawks to be where they are today, perched atop the eastern conference with a 10.5 game lead over the next best. Nobody expected the Hawks to place practically their entire starting line up in the All-Star Game (sorry DeMarre Carroll). The Hawks have been the team version of Linsanity, except the difference is that Atlanta is no fluke. The Hawks took the league by storm, winning an amazing 19 straight games during the first half of the season. Coach Mike Budenholzer has implemented the Spurs brand of basketball, dominating the NBA playing a team first style without a true superstar. The strategy so far has worked to perfection — The Hawks have only lost 12 games all year, with a meager 3 losses to the almighty western conference. Atlanta is going into the postseason with a chip on their shoulder, as their critics have never been louder. These Hawks are here to stay, expect greatness.

CHICAGO BULLS 

The Bulls have been plagued by the injury bug for yet another season. D-Rose has been forced to compromise his season for the third straight year (what’s new?), which is demoralizing to the Bulls franchise and their fans. Even so, Bulls fans would do well to stop living in the past, as Rose hasn’t been in the same league as his old MVP self that NBA fans have come to idolize. The real concern that could be detrimental to Chicago’s playoff success is the shoulder injury to Jimmy Butler. In the midst of a breakout season few saw coming, the Bulls have become Butler’s team but the uncertainty surrounding his return is worrisome. Pau Gasol has been another bright spot for the team, but a soft big like Pau isn’t the type of player to ride through the playoffs. Even in a weaker Eastern conference, injuries have placed the Bulls as pretenders.

TORONTO RAPTORS

The Raptors are young, talented, and eager to prove their time is now. Unfortunately for Toronto, this isn't the year. The Raps started the season at the top of the eastern conference at 13-2, shocking the league and resulting in team ambassador Drake boasting on Instagram about how his team was among the elite. It appears they have fallen back to Earth. Since the white-hot start, they’ve been nothing more than average, and even mediocre at times. Entering the All-Star Break, Toronto went 3-7, including an ugly 21-point defeat to the playoff-bound Atlanta Hawks. Right now, the Raptors have slid down to the fourth spot and are clawing at the Bulls for third. No matter what their seed they’re going nowhere. Sure they have a quality point guard, but so do 20 other NBA teams. Players like Demar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry are a scary tandem having both been all-stars early in their careers, and under GM Masai Ujiri the team is in good hands.  As of now, however, they’re running through the 6 with their woes.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

When LeBron James is on your team, there's always room for a title run. Factor in Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and a supporting cast of JR Smith, Iman Shumpert, Tristan Thompson and Timofey Mozgov to go along with budding chemistry and now you’ve got a squad that could make some serious noise.  The Cavs have been clicking at the right time, recently having won 14 of 16. LeBron is playing like an MVP, and is determined to deliver Cleveland their first ever championship. A huge key to the Cavs postseason success is the play of Kevin Love. If Love can put up his Minnesota numbers should LeBron or Kyrie have an off night, then Cleveland could be unstoppable. The only true competition in the eastern conference with hopes of keeping up with the Cavs is Atlanta, but things are different this time. With an exceptional supporting cast and hometown fans to cheer him on, LeBron James will be on a mission to get his third ring. 

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

It’s time to believe the hype. Not only do the Warriors have the best record in the NBA, they also have the undisputed best home court advantage in all of basketball. No team wants to set foot in Oracle Arena during the playoffs. The Warriors offense is nearly unstoppable, leading the league at almost 110 points a game, and they’ve made a name for themselves with their ability to shoot the three ball. Front-runner MVP candidate Steph Curry, and sharp shooter Klay Thompson are the deadliest combo in the NBA. The two have combined to hit more threes this season than several NBA teams, earning the well-deserved nickname “The Splash Bros.” The key to the Warriors championship run is the health of big man Andrew Bogut, whose presence in the paint as a rebounder and defensive stopper (1st in NBA in Real Plus-Minus) elevates the team to an all-around contender. As if the Warriors weren’t stacked enough, they also possess the deepest team in the NBA, with former all-stars Andre Igoudala and David Lee bringing scoring and veteran savvy off of the bench to gives opposing teams nightmares. Even in a brutal western conference, the Golden State Warriors have the DNA of a team looking for championships.

Look for an updated version of Contenders & Pretenders come playoff time, as well as an article on the dark horse of the league, OKC.

Follow Sam on Twitter - @Sam_Mathison