There is an NBA team that started this season with a roster that included an MVP winner from this decade; a recent Defensive Player of the Year; the runner-up in the most recent Rookie of the Year voting; and two All-Stars, including one deemed the league’s Most Improved Player. The roster also included some highly promising youngsters and a handful of savvy, playoff-tested veterans. The team seemed to be a lock for the postseason, having made the playoffs every year but
This is the time of year when we give out our midseason awards. But before we get to the drudgery of Sixth Man Award and Most Valuable Player, let’s start the festivities with a special award for individual achievement that goes to Rashad Vaughn. Vaughn is a shooting guard for the Milwaukee Bucks and the second-youngest player in the NBA. He is one of the dozens of rookies who have made virtually no impact in their first season. He is averaging 2.5 points
For the first time in roughly two decades, the Eastern Conference is better than the Western Conference from top to bottom. Nine East teams are at .500 or better – nearly twice as many teams as last season, when sixth-seeded Milwaukee finished 41-41. And the East actually has a winning record against the West this season at 100-98 What changed so quickly from last season, when articles were written about how there was the greatest disparity in conference strength in recent memory? “I
The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers are preparing for the start of the NBA Finals, but 28 other teams already are evaluating their ever-changing draft boards. Sheridan Hoops has done three mock drafts thus far and probably will do at least three more. Why? Because players can help or hurt themselves with their performances at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago and in team workouts. Four players who have improved their stock considerably are Richaun Holmes, Rakeem Christmas, Jordan Mickey and
You’ve heard the saying: “The kids are alright.” Well, these kids are more than alright. As the NBA’s ever-evolving landscape of perimeter-oriented and multifaceted skill sets take the basketball world by storm on a nightly basis, the youth who aspire to compete against their heroes (in 2015 or beyond, thanks to the one-and-done rule) have keenly paid attention to the changes in the game and what they mean for their own personal development as players. SheridanHoops caught up with nine of the 24
The NCAA early signing period for basketball ended Wednesday and the big winner was Duke and coach Mike Krzyzewski. The Blue Devils landed three of the top 15 players in the Class of 2014 and three players pegged to go No. 1, No. 11 and No. 15 in the 2015 NBA draft, according to DraftExpress.com. With the additions of 6-10 center Jahlil Okafor, 6-1 point guard Tyus Jones and 6-5 wing Justise Winslow, as well as 6-4 shooter Grayson Allen, Duke now
The NCAA early signing period for basketball ended Wednesday and the big winner was Duke and coach Mike Krzyzewski. The Blue Devils landed three of the top 15 players in the Class of 2014 and three players pegged to go No. 1, No. 11 and No. 15 in the 2015 NBA draft, according to DraftExpress.com. With the additions of 6-10 center Jahlil Okafor, 6-1 point guard Tyus Jones and 6-5 wing Justise Winslow, as well as 6-4 shooter Grayson Allen, Duke now
The NCAA early signing period for basketball runs from Nov. 13-20, and even with Tuesday’s commitment by Trey Lyles to Kentucky, there’s still a slew of elite prospects and future NBA lottery picks left on the board. Here’s a look at the top 10 uncommitted and committed prospects in the Class of 2014, including perhaps the projected top three overall picks in the 2015 NBA draft. [Read more…]