Wichita State: Resounding Shock

The Kentucky-Wichita State game this past Sunday was bar none, the best college basketball game this season. While the Shockers entered the contest as the undefeated 1 seed and Kentucky as the underachieving 8 seed, the narrative was still ironically archetypical. The Wildcats boast more NBA-caliber talent on this team than Wichita has had in their entire program history.

It's the oldest story; David vs. Goliath, Empire vs. Rebellion, dark vs. light. But in the world of sports, these battles don't always end the same way. I suppose that's the beauty of it. The unpredictable human drama of it all can't be paralleled. But with that double-edged sword comes heartbreak.

As Fred Van Vleet scampered around a high ball screen and launched the would be game winner, the pulse of America running rampant, the heartbreak began to surface. As the ball clanked off the rim, the disappoint that came over me is something I've never felt from a non-Philadelphia loss. 

As I sat in my history class the next day, I overheard people in the row in front of me talking of how "Wichita State was never that good" and "they didn't play anyone all year." This infuriated me. You don't win 35 straight Division-I college basketball games on accident. Anyone who watched that game saw that it took 110% and a hell of a lot of luck from the "most talented team in the country" to beat the Shockers. Yet this was bound to be the discussion. 

So why did this game bother me so much? Before Sunday I watched maybe 3 Wichita State games this year. I've rooted for march madness Cinderella's before, like Butler and Davidson, but this was different. The end-game buzzer felt like a punch to the gut.

Was it beacuse I hate John Calipari's face? Maybe. Was it the self-loathing that occurred when I realized the Harrison twins are a month younger than me? Probably a little. Do I have a bit of a man crush on Ron Baker? You bet. Does 2006 Ben wish he could have Baker's killer middle school haircut? You know it.

For all of the unpredictability of March Madness, the one lasting effect is the finite nature of the games. The results are final, never to be tampered with. The 2013-2014 Wichita State basketball team is no longer. It does not exist. Kentucky will play again Friday night. This hardly seems fair but it wouldn't work any other way. 

David may have lost to Goliath this time, but the Shockers won't soon be forgotten by the college basketball world. Kentucky can go on to win the national title for all I care, but the eternal memory of this tournament will be the Wichita State that almost was.
 

Late Night Thoughts on the San Antonio Spurs

For the most part I've greatly enjoyed where I grew up. I am under the undying belief that the northeast region of the United States has everything anyone could ever want and the rest of the world may just revolve around it. I get all four seasons, I'm within driving distance of at least 4 or 5 major US cities, the landscape of suburban Philadelphia (borderline rural, shout out to Unionville) is gorgeous but there's some part of me that always wishes that I was born in San Antonio. For those of you that know me, you may be surprised at this. I'm not really into the whole accented, hokey, immensely prideful of your state, Texas forever thing that seems to be going on down there. But I am really into basketball and good basketball at that.

My somewhat new found love of the San Antonio Spurs is at least partially born from the routine beat-downs I put on unsuspecting foes with them in NBA 2K14. I suppose it also has to do with my eternal love for Danny Green thanks to the monstrous, disrespectful slam he threw down on the pompous, court-slapping, walking stereotype that is Duke's Greg Paulus. I also have an affinity for one-dimensional, pasty white jump-shooters like Matt Bonner. And let's not forget about the most creative pick and roll passer--and the most glorious bald spot--I've ever seen in Manu Ginobili. From Tim Duncan to Kawhi Leonard to Tony Parker, and even the towel-waving Aussie Patty Mills, I've come to hold all of these Spurs close to my heart. So what clip have I chosen to show you? A silky smooth Parker floater? An exquisite Duncan post move? Not even in the slightest. What you'll see below is three generational superstars who want nothing more than to win and win often, giggling like 12-year-olds thanks to a perfectly-executed prank on the sidelines of what I can only assume is yet another blowout. Because this team isn't like any other team. They know what it takes to win including a level of comfort with one another; a camaraderie and friendship that transcends basketball. So enjoy the video below, and enjoy the San Antonio Spurs because who knows if we'll ever see another true team like this one.

Tanking Rankings Part 2- 12/1/13

I initially intended for this to be a weekly thing, but not only did I forget about it, but my computer is supremely broken and I haven't had the chance to keep up with my posts. I apologize to all 2 of you that read this.

1. Utah Jazz

What a sorry excuse for an NBA team. I've got to hand it to the Jazz, they know how to tank. They barely average 90 points a game and are allowing roughly 100 which has led to 3 wins. They're young, inexperienced and way in over the heads. I wish the Sixers would take notes. Well done Utah.

2. Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks came under much scrutiny prior to the season for not tanking. The team's front office would rather contend for the 8 seed-- and in turn fill the seats--for the next five years than suck now to build a contender. Adding bonafide NBA scorers in O.J.Mayo and Caron Butler, Milwaukee rode their high horse of self-righteousness across the NBA landscape, scoffing at the idea of tanking, ruining the integrity of the game. However, the Bucks forgot that Mayo is actually a glorified spot-up shooter/homeless person (have you seen his beard) and Caron Butler hasn't been good since he was running and gunning with Gilbert Arenas in Washington (pun intended). So congratulations Bucks fans, your inept front office may have accidentally salvaged your future. 

3. Sacramento Kings

Speaking of inept front offices, the Sacramento Kings are yet again an NBA bottom-dweller. In a rather intriguing move however, they acquired former number 2 overall pick Derrick Williams from Minnesota last week. While it seems like he's a major bust, I think Williams can salvage an NBA career. Through no fault of his own, Williams was stuck in a crowded front court in Minnesota. He often struggled to find minutes at power forward behind superstar Kevin Love, forcing him to play on the wing where he's far from comfortable or productive. Now I know what you're thinking, doesn't Sacramento have an equally crowded front court? Of course they do, they're Sacramento. But unlike the T-wolves, the Kings have virtually nothing to lose. Acquiring Williams is a classic low-risk, high-reward move and since nothing else in recent memory has worked out for the Kings, I'm all aboard the Derrick Williams bandwagon. 

4. Philadelphia 76ers

After a sizzling start, my Sixers are starting to show their true colors. Thanks to injuries to Spencer Hawes, Thaddeus Young and Michael Carter-Williams, my nightmares of a .500 season have all but disappeared. No longer must I swallow the bittersweet taste of victory. Evan Turner trade rumors and MCW regression have eased my worried mind. However, the Sixers are still second in the Atlantic Division thanks to the two New York teams treating their NBA contests like YMCA pick-up games. So here's to the continued "success" of the 6-10 Raptors and the continued losses of the 76ers.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers are the most traumatized, paranoid and delusional franchise in sports. The scars left by the departure of Lebron James won't heal any time in the near future. In fact, the fans and front office alike are holding their breath, hoping that somehow, someway Lebron will opt out of the final year of his contract with the Heat and sign with the Cavaliers this summer. But Lebron left Cleveland for basketball, financial and I'm sure many other reasons, and the only thing the Cavs have done right since he left--aside from their awesome new uniforms--is luck into superstar Kyrie Irving in the draft. Which brings us to their more immediate goal of making the playoffs. The Cavs desperately want to prove to Kyrie that they can build a contender, or at least a playoff team, out of fear that he'll spurn them the way Lebron did. So when yet another number one pick fell into their lap this past summer, they totally screwed the pooch and took Anthony Bennett, supposedly the most "NBA-ready" player who would push this young team over the hump and into the playoffs. Unfortunately, Bennett is making Kwame Brown-like strides toward being a massive bust thanks to his 2.2 points per game on 22% shooting. I beg you Cavs fans, don't do this to yourselves. He's not coming back.

6. Boston Celtics
The Celtics have a plethora of combo guards, a myriad of undersized big men and Jeff Green. If you're looking for a formula for mediocrity in the NBA, that's it. But I'd like to take this time to talk about Rajon Rondo. Purely for the sake of my entertainment, I would like him to come back from his knee injury. If you thought his post-game interviews were abrasive and angry when playing with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, imagine what he'll say after playing a couple games with Jordan Crawford, Marshon Brooks and Kris Humphries. At his best Rondo makes this team a fringe playoff contender, but it's the regular season so odds are Rondo will be coasting and racking up meaningless assist numbers. I actually love Rondo, I really do. I've just come to accept that he's a streaky, hot-headed star who is somewhat passive-aggressive and supremely confident. But guys like this are why I love the NBA. Oh right, tanking rankings. The Celtics suck. Let's move on.

7. Orlando Magic
I hate to beat up on Cleveland again, but why didn't they take Victor Oladipo with the first pick? Even before the draft I thought he was actually the most NBA-ready player, and on top of that he still has much potential. Instead he fell into the lap of the Magic with the second pick. An athletic wing player who can guard multiple position with a rapidly growing jumper is the prototype for young shooting guards in the modern NBA, and that's exactly what Oladipo is. He's a big reason why the Magic have been respectable so far this season. Nonetheless, they're no playoff team but have done perhaps the best job of any team on here of being exciting while also ensuring losses.

8. Phoenix Suns
The only team on this list with a winning record is perhaps the most surprising team so far this season. At the beginning of the year it looked like they were headed straight for a top 3 pick, but thanks in large part to the Eric Bledsoe growing up before our eyes, Phoenix fans should be panicking. But there is some silver lining in a recent home loss to the Jazz. Is this an anomaly in what is a productive season for the Suns, or a sign of more losing to come? My gut tells me it's the latter which is why the Suns find themselves in these rankings, but trust me, they're playing a whole lot better than anyone expected.

Dwight Howard is Six Years Old

The most expensive man at the least necessary position in the game has struck again. Dwight Howard, your friend who always tells you that his parents let him curse in his house, got a tech last night for tossing ball at a fan who was heckling him, and somehow managed to get shown up in the process. 

The real fault for Dwight's constant "antics" (for lack of a better word) lies with the NBA GMs who continue to see him as a legitimate star in the Association. Both of the last two summers have been Dwightstavaganza's; 24/7 Sportcenter coverage, non-stop rumor-mongering, just a constant stream of mediocre dunks from the restricted zone with some no-name center watching in the background. Dwight just ate it up, he felt loved again. "People want to see me play" he said, "They probably actually like me" he would tell himself. And so he rode that horse of rampant self-appreciation to the only city in the world where he'd be only the second most egotistical player on the team, LA. Kobe was the man in LA, and he ran Shaq out of town. The only person on that Lakers team who thought adding Dwight would help was the man himself. We know how that story ended, so we can fast forward to today.

Dwight on the Rockets is still the same Dwight Howard, he wants to spike every shot into the third row, cannot move without looking like a rusty old robot, and desperately wants everyone to like him. He's not the worst player on an NBA roster, but he's certainly the most overvalued. Yes he can block shots, yes he can rebound, but he's seven feet tall, so if he can't do either of those things his vocation would probably be helping me change the batteries in my smoke alarms. So he posses at least a modicum of talent (read: height) but what does he do to set himself apart from every other seven footer on a roster? He's not an exceptional passer (both Gasols, Kevin Love (basically a seven footer)). He can't shoot (Spencer Hawes, Kevin Love). He's not an enforcer (Kendrick Perkins). He's not quite a walking arthroscopic punch-line (Bynum, Oden) He's not young enough for his actions to be remotely excusable (Boogie Cousins). He's not explicitly labeled as a role player (Tyson Chandler) And he's not cheap (Asik, Greg Monroe, Vucevic, Hibbert, Lopez, every other center I haven't mentioned). He's Dwight. He steals Defensive POY's from LeBron, nicknames from Shaq, and probably extra Creatine supplements from the athletic trainer. But teams still think signing him is going to lead them to the promised land, and as long as they keep doing that, Dwight's gonna keep on being Dwight. Doing hints like making funny faces at the ref after he traveled, carefully grooming his The Temptations era mustache, being loved by eight-year-old boys and liteally no one else, and ruining your team.

At least he won that dunk contest, that was really cool too.

Hero of a Generation

This season has already seen the retirement of some of the game's all-time greats, each accompanied with undying questions about his legacy. Where is Jason Kidd's place among the greatest point guards of all time? How should we view the injury-plagued yet phenomenal careers of Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady? But among the pundits and talking heads of ESPN and NBATV, the career of the recently-retired Allen Iverson is the most puzzling. Iverson was given his well-deserved recognition, no doubt, but all talk came with qualifying statements about how much greater he could have been, playing on raw talent and not honing his god-given ability. ESPN's professional troll Skip Bayless even went so far as to say that Iverson was a "waste of talent." Not to mention all his off-court troubles from casinos, to weapons charges and all the rest. But all these people talking at you from your television aren't giving you the whole story. For those who witnessed Iverson in his prime, especially the people of my generation, he isn't the frustrating, lazy thug that the adults in the media would like you to think he was. For an entire city, and maybe even country, of kids and teenagers alike, Allen Iverson is a hero.

Courtesy of NBC Sports

I knew a little about Iverson's legal troubles and of course his infamous "practice" rant growing up, but it didn't much matter. His size and style of play seemed just attainable enough for any kid that dreamed of playing basketball in the NBA someday, no matter how delusional it may realistically have been. As a kid, I wasn't aware of his "last one to the gym, first one out" reputation. You would never know watching him play. Iverson wouldn't be caught dead dogging it on the court. He played harder and wanted to win more than any athlete I have ever seen. We were too naive to see his imperfections, and perhaps too free to care. His greatness was beyond evident, but the fact that it coincided with the fantasy world of childhood made it that much sweeter.

When Iverson officially retired a few weeks ago, the talk amongst my friends, 18- and 19-year-old college students, was about how lucky we were to see Iverson in his prime; what we would give to see those mediocre Sixers teams one more time just to see the Answer in all his glory. The people of my generation talk about Iverson in the same glowing light that our grandfathers talk about Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain, even if he has half the credentials of those two basketball giants. His impact on the game can't be overstated. Every player you see today wearing a headband or a shooting sleeve or sporting infinite tattoos can thank AI for paving the way. How many players, hell how many people in this world, can say they touched an entire generation the way Allen did?

I can still see it now: 9-year-old Ben, running around the driveway with a cut-off sock around his arm thinking it's an arm sleeve, black headband around his head, Reeboks tightly laced, simulating a step-back jumper, pretending to step over an invisible Tyronn Lue. Those are the memories I'll cherish. Those are the memories Allen Iverson made possible.

Underrated Greatness: Andre Iguodala

Andre Iguodala spent the first 8 years of his career just around the corner from me with the Philadelphia 76ers. I had a front-row seat to watch Iguodala go from Allen Iverson's sidekick, to Sixers savior, to scapegoat, to All-Star/gold medalist and ultimately a massive trade chip. Iggy was all of these things some of the time, but never any of them all of the time. Drafted 9th overall in 2004, he was supposed to be the third wheel behind scoring champ and MVP Allen Iverson and the newly-acquired, perennial All-Star Chris Webber. What the Sixers organization never accounted for was Iverson's inevitable path to self-destruction, Webber's rapidly-diminishing knees, and both players' apathy about playing on such a supremely mediocre team. The 2007 season saw the departure of both Iverson and Webber, leaving Iguodala to clean up the mess. Benefiting from increased touches--and borderline All-star numbers--as well as the expert point guard play of Andre Miller, Iguodala was granted an $80 million contract making him the face of the 76ers whether he liked it or not.

Thus began a tumultuous relationship with Philly fans. The team continued its mediocrity, which was more the fault of a rotating crop of under-qualified GMs and coaches than it was Iguodala. Nonetheless, the $80 million dollar man dealt with the wrath of angry fans who expected more out of the team. On the surface it would be easy to view Iguodala as an all style, no substance star thanks to his ever-so-emphatic dunks and perpetually clanky jumpers. As the number one option, his flaws were more magnified than his strengths. His defense was consistently spectacular, but the average fan either doesn't see that aspect of the game or doesn't care for it.

 The closest Iguodala got to the love from fans was the 2012 season. An All-Star appearance and a 7-game series against the Boston Celtics in the second round (shoutout to Derrick Roses's knee) followed by a selection to represent the in the US Olympic team in London gave Iguodala his long-awaited national attention. But that same summer, he was traded to Denver in a deal that sent Dwight Howard to Los Angeles, Andrew Bynum to Philly and Iguodala to the Denver Nuggets (Still not sure how the hell Orlando won that trade). In Denver, Iguodala was supposed to be the piece that sent Denver into the next level of the NBA elite. And while the Nuggets did win 57 games in 2013, they lost in round 1, something all too familiar to Iggy.

This brings us to this past summer, when Iguodala garnered massive interest--and massive contract offers--from defense-troubled teams like the Pistons and Kings, but ultimately found his way to the Bay Area. Lurking in the rapidly expanding shadow of Stephen Curry and his band of lovable Warriors, Iguodala isn't needed to be a 20 point scoring machine or the face of a franchise. His greatest strengths lie in his elite defense, basketball IQ and ability to create offense thanks to a greatly improved handle and supreme passing ability for a player his size. Matching up every night against the other teams best player and handling point guard duties when Curry hits the bench, in front of some of the league's most adoring fans, Iguodala appears to be home. For the first time in his career, he seems happy. On a team that appreciates him and in a role he was born to play in, the versatile greatness of Iguodala is quickly becoming recognized. Oh, and did I mention he's shooting 50% from three?

Iguodala is a better player than he was when he was drafted in 2004, that's obvious. But he hasn't necessarily changed his game. He's honed his craft, becoming an elite defender, much-improved scorer and playmaker and revered leader. Though it took 10 years and 3 teams, it seems that Iguodala is finally thriving in the third wheel role that the Sixers imagined him to be all those years ago.


P.S.- this jumper is pretty much what prompted this post. I honestly couldn't be happier for this guy.

About Last Night

Last night ESPN showed a glimpse into the future. After seeing all that Freshmen Julius Randle, Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins had to offer, it's clear why so many NBA teams are seduced by their talent and driven to such a drastic tanking extravaganza.

In the first game of the star-studded double-header, Randle led his #1 ranked Kentucky Wildcats against #2 ranked Michigan State. Trailing the entire game, Kentucky lost 78-74 despite a furious second-half comeback. But the real story has little to do with the outcome of the game. Randle ended the game with 27 points and 13 rebounds, his third straight double-double. But perhaps most impressive in this monster performance, was the resilience the young phenom showed. Struggling mightily to get going in the first half, and suffering from turnover problems all night, Randle was never discouraged. Fighting through double and triple teams for most of the night, he looked like a man amongst boys.

In any other year, Julius Randle would be the consensus number 1 pick in the NBA draft, but this isn't like any other year. When Duke and Kansas faced off following the Julius Randle show, Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker proved why NBA GMs are drooling over the talent in the 2014 draft. In the first half, Parker left no doubt as to who the more polished player is. This is of no surprise to me however. I expected Jabari to play with a chip on his shoulder all season considering he was formerly the top recruit in the country before Wiggins reclassified. Jabari was also on the cover of Sports Illustrated more than a year ago, long before Wiggins and his mangy afro graced newsstands. The second half was a different story however. With the game tightening, Wiggins blew it open with transition dunks and a VERY NBA-looking step back jumper. Jabari finished with 27 points and 9 rebounds while Wiggins tallied 22 points and 8 boards.

Despite stellar performances from all 3 stars, what I most took away from the games last night was that Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins and Julius Randle, are all younger than me. They're on ESPN as well as the minds of every basketball fan in America. And I have this blog. So that's demoralizing. But It's unfair to compare myself to them in terms of current success. I had dreams of playing D-1 ball, but after realizing that I'm barely 5'8", have hands the size of an 11-year-old girls and have maybe average at best athleticism, I decided to pursue a different career path. And much like the development of their basketball skill sets, I have a long way to go. Sure they'll all be millionaires this time next year and I'll still be a broke college student with nothing more than this blog, but I feel emotionally invested in them. Like they represent my generation. These players are destined for stardom, and I can't wait watch them dominate. But even more so, I can't wait to grow up with them, even if it's from afar.