Week 4 is here, and there are some major developments. I will make this column a larger version of my weekly SLEEPERS and SLIPPERS piece. Shout out to Mr. Watrous. I think we were about dead even in our sleepers last week You definately get the nod with your anti-Leftwich sentiment and I’ll give you Patrick Crayton who had a normal, ho-hum day.. I’ll take a nod on Devon Hester, Ray Rice, and Mike Sims-Walker who all performed well above their fantasy expectations.
Week 4 SLEEPERS:
Glen Coffee (SF vs. STL) Coffee has to be everyone’s start of the week. He is replacing Frank Gore as the every down back and faces a team that has allowed feature backs to run all over them in the Rams. This could be a dynamic week for the rookie RB and I wouldn’t be surprised at 140 total yards with 2 scores.
Cedric Benson (CIN vs, CLE) It has become evident that any RB going against the Browns is a must start and has a god shot of bringing a fantasy victory to your team. Cleveland is last in the league against the run and Benson is running well against all teams this year. Pencil him n for over 100 yards with a score, but don’t be surprised if he soars well past those numbers.
Kyle Boller (STL vs. SF) I you have Kurt Warner or Matt Ryan and are looking for a bye week replacement, look no further than the Rams new man under center. Boller came on strong in last weeks replacement duties and will have to throw with the week Rams defense giving up major points. He is not a huge number guy, but look for 250 yards with two TDs and two picks.
Pierre Garcon (IND vs. SEA) With Anthony Gonzalez out, Garcon has filled in with two long TD’s the past two weeks. Look for that trend to continue against a mediocre Seahawk secondary. He won’t catch a high volume of balls (so PPC leagues might not get great value), but look for 5 catches for 85 yards and a TD.
Washington DST (WAS vs. TB) This marks the first time a defense makes my Sleeper list. This week, however, is a no-brainer for me. The Skins just lost to the NFL’s doormat Lions, and everyone’s job is in jeopardy. Look for a mammoth rush to force a number of turnovers from Byron Leftwich and a big fantasy points day for Washington. 7 points allowed, 3 picks, 4 sacks, and a forced fumble seems likely.
Week 5 SLIPPERS:
Marques Colston (NO vs. NYJ) The Jets have shut down every #1 WR they have faced this year (Randy Moss, all Titan WRs, and Andre Johnson). You can pencil in Colston to that list. Drew Brees is fantastic at finding alternate tragets and will not look to force the ball in to the tightly guarded Colston. Darrelle Revis will make sure he’s banketed. Look for 4 catches for 40 yards.
Ted Ginn Jr. (MIA vs. BUF) Ginn single-handedly beat my fantasy team in week two with his breakout performance against he Colts. This week, however, he has a bad matchup against the Bills. It is not so much that the Bills shut down WRs, its more that Chad Pennington is out, Chad Henne is in, and Ginn went from #2 WR to as week to week desperation start. Look for 3 catches for 42 yards.
Matt Cassel (KD vs. NYG) Usually, I wouldn’t put a QB who is likely to be playing under a 20-point + deficit on my slippers list, but last week’s Chiefs game against the Ravens has forced Matt Cassel on the permanent do not start list. The Chiefs played at a deficit for most of the game but Cassel only had 90 yards passing in their comeback attempt. This game will be a blowout and Cassel might have 170 yards and 1 TD plus 2-3 picks.
Fred Taylor (NE vs. BAL) Taylor had a breakout game last week in the Patriots big victory. The party ends this week. The Ravens have a staunch run defense, and Bill Belichick is perfectly happy to throw the ball 50-60 times if he feels the running game is ineffective. That is another mark against Taylor who is not the Patriots featured pass-catching RB. 8 carries for 25 yards, 2 catches for 22 yards seems about right.
Percy Harvin (MIN vs. GB) Harvin is among the top rookies this year and has been a integral part of the Vikings offense through the first 3 weeks. However, this game on Monday seems like it might be a little bigger than what Harvin has been doing and I see Brett Favre looking elsewhere in this huge game. He might get some screens and short looks, but I don’t see him being a contributing factor on the positive end. I see 3 catches for 34 yards and 2 rushes for 8 yards.
Thats what I have for this week. Do yourself a favor, watch the new comedy “Community” on NBC Thursday nights. It will make you laugh out loud. You should also be watching “How I Met Your Mother”, Monday’s on CBS ,and renting old seasons of the USA Network’s’ “Burn Notice” and “Psych”.
Have a good night, and drive home safely.
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twitter.com/adayonsports
For two weeks the 49ers have been screaming at us to believe in them as a legitimate team. They have passed two huge tests – Seattle and Arizona – and look to week three to complete their coming out party against the 2-0 Minnesota Vikings. There is no question Frank Gore is legit. This week will tell us if the rest of the 49ers are poised to follow.
Will the real Matt Schaub please stand up. He went from fantasy bust in week 1 to a fantasy stud in week 2. Look for week 3 against the Jags to flip the scales in favor of fantasy stud. He is not going to be a top 5 QB (he will not at all resemble Drew Brees or anything), but he will be a solid start in most weeks. Let’s face it, if Schaub is your #1 QB, you drafted him late enough to solidify the rest of your team.
Kurt Warner is not done yet. Drew Brees is what I said he was, the premier player in fantasy sports this season. Mark Sanchez can throw well when they let him. Darren Sproles, at this point in their careers, is clearly a better option than LT.
The only player worth starting consistently for the Rams is Stephen Jackson. As soon as they start throwing him the ball, he will live up to his top 7 RB rating. The Rams are a pretty good lock to go 0-16 (2-14 at best) and will be the #1 team to draft in 2010 where they will almost certainly take there shot at a franchise QB (NOT Tim Tebow).
I was very high on 2 WRs before this season started and they have just not performed to potential through week 2. Laverneus Coles had a TD last week but has been invisible on every other play. Part of this is due to the emergence of Chris Henry. The other is the reemergence of Ocho Cinco. The third, and probably most significant reason is that he has yet to develop a chemistry with Carson Palmer. Once Carson gets more comfortable playing again, look for Coles to become more of a factor. The other WR is Derrick Mason. He is the only WR on the Ravens who has yet to catch a TD (he only has 7 catches for 78 yards). I think that Joe Flacco is trying to get acquainted with the rest of his corp and will lean on Mason later in the season when the stakes are higher and he needs someone to trust.
Week 3 SLEEPERS : Mike Sims-Walker (JAX vs. HOU), Patrick Crayton (DAL vs. CAR), Devon Hester (CHI vs. SEA), Byron Leftwich (TB vs. NYG), Ray Rice (BAL vs. CLE)
Week 3 SLIPPERS : Mark Bulger (STL vs. GBP), Jamal Lewis (CLE vs. BAL), Cedric Benson (CIN vs. PIT), Chris Johnson (TEN vs. NYJ – start him but don’t expect fireworks), Kevin Smith (DET vs. WAS)
That’s it for this week. Please remember to follow me on twitter : twitter.com/adayonsports
Have a good night, and drive home safely.
If I get to it I will try to put a few fantasy notes up on the blog before every new NFL week. I will try to keep it general because there are so many different formants out there…
The 49ers have always been a team which greenlights their opponents players for a fantasy game. Last week, however, they shut down the Cardinals high-powered offense. After this week we will know if that is more about the San Fransisco defense or the Arizona Cardinals offensive woes.
I own Chris Cooley in all my leagues and I have a feeling he might be the #1 TE in all of fantasy football at year’s end. He catches everything (including passes through wood) and will be a big target in the red zone this year. Zach Miller will also be a top 5 TE.
Aaron Rodgers should allow his owners to celebrate properly after they chose to take a risk and spend a top 30 pick in him. Despite modest numbers last week, he should shred the Bengals defense this week.
Mark Sanchez is my boy. I’m just gonna put it out there. The Jets this season remind me of last year’s Falcons. Great running game, solid defense, and a beyond-his-years rookie QB who makes good decisions and is already the face of the franchise (the Franchez if you will). He might be a good sleeper pick vs. the Patriots.
Adrian Peterson might run for 300 yards this week. Brett Favre might only have to throw 10-15 passes. Detroit’s defense is awful.
Will the Matt Forte who owners drafted in the top 4 picks please show up. Not this week. The Steelers are for real and Jay Cutler targeted Forte out of the backfield zero times last week. Until Cutler realizes that utilizing the drop off pass to the RB opens up the deep ball later in a game, both he and Forte will underachieve fantasy wise.
Drew Brees might be this year’s version of the 2007 Tom Brady. He has a ton of weapons at his disposal, the skill set and accuracy to deliver balls on target and on time, and a coach who will let him throw all game if necessary. He will single handedly win 4-6 weeks for you this year.
This week’s sleeper picks : Jamaal Charles (KC vs. OAK), Darren McFadden (Oak vs. KC), Correll Buckhalter (Den vs. ), Todd Heap (Bal vs. SD)
This week’s busts: Cedric Benson (Cin vs. GB), Ronnie Brown (MIA vs. IND), Steve Slaton (HOU vs. TEN), TIm Hightower (AR vs JAX)
Thats all for me this week. Have good night and drive home safely.
Its not really a conscious thing. I’m not going to the TV and turning on a basketball game to choose which white player I like. Its not even that I like that many caucasian players. But somehow, someway, my top 3 NBA players of all time happen to be white.
Lets trace this back to the beginning. My first experience as a kid with some semblance of what the NBA was and some confidence in my ability to navigate the game, read the stats, and critique the play was in the fall of 1988. The Lakers were the local team and their first round draft pick was the Serbian 19-year old Vlade Divac. He was like a child coming into a new surrounding. He didn’t speak the language, wasn’t use to the physicality, and was carrying the weight of an entire continent as he attempted to become the first successful star to translate his game. He was already an icon in his native Yugoslavia (his wedding in the early 90s was broadcast live on Yugoslavian television). Under the wing of Magic Johnson he flourished into a player that was exciting, fun, and easy to cheer for. He was a good guy. He was as skilled a center as there was in the league. All of this was enough to make me a fan but when I met him in the summer of 1999 and just talked to him for a few brief minutes, that was it. He was going to be my first favorite NBA player.
I followed his career through his trials and tribulations with the Lakers. I endured the verbal jabs at him when he was traded for Kobe. I watched him fade into obscurity in Charlotte and was disheartened as I couldn’t see any of his regular season games. In 1998, however, he returned with thunder a he signed a six-year contract with the retooled Sacramento Kings. I was a Vlade fan first, then a Kings fan 2nd.
That same year, the Kings drafted a point guard out of the University of Florida named Jason Williams (J-Will). His original nickname of White Chocolate (which did not stick due to obvious racial stereotypes) was easily the most accurate nickname of the time. People who were used to n0-flash white point guards like John Stockton were in for a treat. J-Will was flashy and fun and dangerous all rolled into one. When he came down the court, heads were on a swivel because no one knew when or where he was going to throw the ball. Was it behind the back to a back door cutting Chris Webber or a cross-court pass that was to hot to handle and ended up with the fan in the 5th row? No one knew and that made it more exciting. Kings basketball was an event, entertaining, what sports illustrated called “The Greatest Show on Court”. Vlade was my favorite. J-Will was my second.
After three amazingly fun years in Sacramento, the Kings sent J-Will packing to the lowly Vancuver Grizzlies for Mike Bibby. Bibby was the safer player. Probably a more playoff-type point guard. The Kings went on to any great years including multiple trips to the conference finals with him and I was still a fan. However, my loyalties were split and, thanks to the NBA League pass, I was able to follow both Vlade and J-Will.
Vlade played out his contract with the Kings and Divac is one of four players in NBA history to record 13,000 points, 9,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists and 1,500 blocked shots, along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kevin Garnett and Hakeem Olajuwon. More than that, he was named NBA’s citizen of the year multiple times and runs the Divac Children’s foundation which helps refugeed children in his native Serbia. His jersey was retired by the Kings earlier this season and I was lucky enough to be in attendance with my brother and two of my good friends. He will always remain as my favorite player of all time.
In 1999 J-Will was headed to Vancouver. He still had the flash, but now he was the leader expected to put butts in the seats for a failing vancouver franchise and help to turn their losing program around. Before he played his first game, the Grizzlies traded their franchise player Shareef-Abdur Rahim to the Atlanta Hawks for number four overall draft pick Pau Gasol from Barcelona, Spain (he happened to be white). This young, unproven player was now dubbed the future of the franchise and he and J-Will were given the job of getting the Grizzlies to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
Once again, with thanks to the NBA League Pass, I was able to watch every game these two played together. Enjoying their maturity as individuals and as teammates. After two seasons and a franchise move from Vancouver to Memphis, the Grizzlies had made the playoffs and would for three consecutive years,the only playoff years that franchise has ever know (and possibly will ever know). Pau became an all-star, J-Will became a leader. They played four seasons together and combined for dozens of highlight-reel alley-oops.
As stated before, this was the Grizzlies so you could sense that the success would not have a very long shelf life. After the 2004-2005 season, J-Will was traded to the Miami Heat. This presented a large problem for me because I had no interest in cheering for the Heat especially since they had acquired my least favorite player in NBA history, Shaq. But thank God for TIVO. I was able to record the games and only watch the parts where J-Will was playing. That year the Heat won the NBA title and Williams was a key to their Miami’s success. He played one more year before reitiring due to knee problems. However, after signing with the Orlando Magic, he’s baaack.
Gasol stayed in Memphis for two more years, now clearly my favorite player to watch in the NBA. In their most successful season, every Grizzlies possession went through Gasol. He averaged 20 points , 10 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2 blocks while shooting 54% from the field. In their infinite wisdom, the grizzlies decided that they should trade himto the Lakers for Kwame Brown and some change (actually, I think that Kwame is considered change as well, but I digress). SInce that trade the Lakers have been to the NBA finals twice, winning one championship, and the Grizzlies have seats reserved every year for the lottery.
The loss of Gasol from Memphis is definitely my gain. On top of that, my players that I cheer for have come full circle. This season, just like the early 90’s, I can’t wait to cheer for a 7-foot, white center from Europe to lead my local Los Angeles Lakers to another successful and, more importantly, enjoyable season. If you are watching the NBA finals this year and you see it hyped as Kobe vs. Vince or Kobe vs. Dwight II, take solace in knowing that in my mind it will be Pau vs. J-WIll for the championship.
Have a good night and drive home safely.
twitter.com/adayonsports
Okay, so its draft day and you are looking to make a splash in your fantasy football league. Your goal is to impress your friends, compete and have fun, and win your league. Also, if you are like me, you are looking to shut up the one guy in your draft that is convinced that he is the best fantasy player ever. Just like in life, there are a lot of players that everyone likes (Larry Fitzgerald, Maurice Jones-Drew, Tom Brady, etc.), some players than nobody likes (I’ll let you fill this in yourself), and then there are the players in the middle who usually win the fantasy league (except in 2007 when whoever drafted Tom Brady probably won your league). It is these middle players who go from rounds 3-8 that determine the overall success of a fantasy team. It is my goal to help you and let you see some players who are being consistently drafted at least a round too late. So here are 10 players that I see tremendous value in for the 2009 season:
1) Kurt Warner – Anyone who knows me knows that I am a Kurt Warner fan and that I take him in every draft. I usually go a round early to make sure that I get him. Last year, I was laughing all the way to the bank. He put up MVP type numbers and was a top 3 fantasy quarterback. I got him in the 9th round. This year he is moving up but not as much as I think is necessary. He is a steal in the 5th round, a bargain in the 4th, and a solid pick in the 3rd. With his history of injuries you need to spend a 12 round pick on Leinart, but its well worth it because he looks like a new and more focused player this year, even as a backup.
2) Thomas Jones – Who is the 3rd leading rusher in the NFL over the past four years? I have no idea. But I do know that Thomas Jones is number two on that list, just behind LT. Last year, under a former MVP quarterback, he had over 1300 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. This year he will be playing behind talented rookie Mark Sanchez in a system that is sure to be run first. I know that the ultra talented Leon Washington will steal some touches, but not enough to move Thomas Jones out of the top 10 RBs taken. If Jones is in your plans, you can grab a top tier WR in the 3rd round and wait for TJ to fall to you in the 4th.
3) Darren Sproles – His 2008 numbers overall are very average. But let’s look at the last part of the year. In the last three games (final regular season game and two playoff games) he averaged 130 total yards and had 5 touchdowns. I know LT was playing sparingly at the time,but whose to say that that trend won’t continue? They resigned Sproles for this season and I don’t think that they plan on using him as a back-up. He is going in the 6th round around pick #65 overall in PPR (Points Per Reception) leagues. That is clearly a round too late and he is a great contingency plan if that QB and WR you loved were available early.
4) Derrick Mason – He decided not to retire after all and draft boards across America are trying to adjust. They are not moving fast enough. He is the #1 receiver on a playoff team who has averaged 90 receptions and over 1100 yards the past 7 seasons. Last year he caught 80 balls for a rookie QB who will have lots more passing attempts this season. I look for him to push the 100 catch mark this season and go well over 1000 yards with 6-8 TDs. A steal anytime after the 5th round.
5) Laveranues Coles – He becomes the number two receiver for Carson Palmer in the Cincinatti offense, a role previously filled by TJ Houshmenzadah. The truth is, the Bengals WRs have always been a two-headed monster much like Boldin and Fitzgerald in Arizona. There is a great chance for Coles to establish himself as a consistent, quiet, and loyal target unlike his counterpart lined up on the other side (Ocho something or other). 75 catches along with 1000 yards seems more than likely. He is much more valuable than the 10th round draft pick he has been.
6) Marion Barber – This guy has KILLED me the past few years in fantasy football. From my perspective, he scores every Dallas touchdown. Romo throws the ball to him every other pass. He leads the league in rushing every week. I know that it is just when he plays me, but someone who does what he does slipping out of the top two tiers of RBs is just wrong. I know that Felix Jones is there, but he does way too much on a weekly basis to not be a 2nd round pick. If you play PPR, he needs to be gone by midway through the 2nd round. If he’s there for you in round three, steal him.
7) Devin Hester – Jay Cutler is now in Chicago. I cannot name another Bear WR. Hester has been a consistently improving receiver every season. Look for him to break out, putting up Bernard Berrian type numbers for the Bears.
Vicente Shiancoe – Do not drink the cool-aid with Tony Gonzalez or Antonio Gates. They are great players, but they play in systems with too many pass catching options for them to be premium for the whole year. Wait two or three rounds and get a great value in Mr. Shiancoe. Brett Favre loves tight ends. Maybe thats why he does those wrangler jeans commercials. Seriously though, in the prime fantasy time of Favre’s Packers, Bubba Franks and Mark Chimura were consistent top 5 TEs. Shiancoe should be that player this year.
9) Hakeem Nix – While most Giant WRs were dropping passes in the battle for New York this past weekend, Hakeem Nix was catching everything thrown to him, running by everyone on the field, and hitting up the end zone with consistency. In my home draft he wasn’t even drafted in 21 rounds. He may not be a big number guy right away, but I think that he is the best WR on the Giants and its only a matter of time before they realize that.
10) Chaz Schilens – This is a super flyer pick who won’t even be ready to play until week 4. However, if you have room, store him on your bench until he gets a shot. I watched a Raiders pre-season game the other day (we can have discussions on the sadness of my life later) and 75% of Jamarcus Russell’s balls went to Schilens. The Raiders will be down often this year so they will be throwing the ball a lot. He could be in for some big garbage numbers.
Anyone knows that you are not going to pick Thomas Jones ahead of Michael Turner or hit up Derrick Mason before you go for Reggie Wayne. However, there are many situations where you can get both of the players if you play your draft board right. Have a great night and drive home safely.
I have always wondered why people who have all the money that I could only dream of making, often time choose the most ridiculous ways to spend their time. Hosting dog fights, going to strip clubs and “making it rain”, cheating on your wife, drinking and driving, and going into the stands to fight drunk fans are just a few of the things I would NOT do if I just inked a contract that would pay me more money than I would ever need. It doesn’t help that most of these athletes are going from no money to too much money in a matter of hours (1st round signing bonuses now in the tens if millions of dollars). However, at twenty years-old, does all of your common sense go out the window?
When I was twenty, I was nowhere near as smart, experienced, adjusted, or mature as I am now but I wasn’t a total moron. If I had say, won the lottery, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have called my local farm and ordered some chickens to start an elicit cock-fighting operation. I wouldn’t have gone to my local jeweler and purchased a diamond crusted “ADAY” to hang around my neck. Most definitely, I wouldn’t have downed a bottle of Crown Royal and hopped into my car to drive home. Why, then to these athletes who are called to make smart, split-second decisions on the field make such lousy choices off of it?
I think that we can first point to role models. Look at some of the established stars that the young people of America have to look up to. Terrell Owens has a reality show that celebrates the fact that he is a 35 year-old child. Eminem spends most of his songs lashing out violent, drug-popping, women beating lyrics and he is seen as an icon. Ron Artest gets signed by the Lakers and (with all thoughts on his violent past) says he wants to bring more “thuggery” to Los Angeles.
When I was growing up, I thought being a thug was something that one tried to avoid. The life of a thug was something that I was given skills to avoid at home and at school. I went to school and graduated to not have to live like a thug. Thugs have always been people who lacked the skills, resources, and money to be anything else. Why, then, at the top of the athletic food-chain, is it such a celebrated thing to be a thug?
Don’t get me wrong. All of these people are tremendously talented and bring a lot to their respective activities. They are uber talented and have had success in their fields. But what happened to the most important thing being success in life? What happened to people taking care of their personal lives first, then worrying about their professional lives?
Here lies the core of the problem. Many of the elite athletes have been contacted by agents and business men since junior high. Money has been the light and the end of the tunnel for years. So, when then get to the age where the money is about to manifest, they lose perspective. Young athletes are so concerned with their reputation, money making, and acceptance that they neglect the responsibilities that they have to themselves an their families. They put aside the basic functions of someone existing in society to live the life that is fast and furious. They want the house on MTV Cribs. They glamorize the life of “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll” (or rap) that has been so prevalent in our society.
The problem with twenty year old young men getting money is not that they are not smart enough to deal with it in a responsible manner. The problem is that they live in a culture that tells them that when you have money, you flaunt it, you spend it, and you don’t have to answer to anyone. When I was twenty years old, not having to answer to anyone seemed pretty appealing.
So what do we say to a young man who gets drafted and is preparing to sign a multi-million dollar deal? Hopefully, there are people out there in the community who can reach out to young athletes and offer proper perspective. Many pro sports require athletes to attend orientations where they are warned of the dangers of being a professional athlete.
For me, I would require every new pro athlete be required to hear the story of Len Bias. The University of Maryland all-american basketball player who had been working his whole life to make the NBA. The night of the 1986 draft he was selected 2nd overall by the Boston Celtics. This was a guy who was compared, favorably, to Michael Jordan. Did he go to several all-star games? Was he an all-NBA player who led the Celts to the finals? Unfortunately, no. The night he was drafted, Len Bias decided to celebrate the draft in style with some friends and members of the UM football team. This high society celebration included booze and cocaine. The excess caused cardiac arrhythmia. Less than 8 hours after he was drafted and before he could sign his first contract, LenBias was dead.
Money comes and goes. Fame is, at best, fleeting. Friends you make after you make money usually have an agenda. Life is fragile. These basic ideas should cross the minds of young men preparing to enter their professional careers. Men who enter at the penthouse, not like the rest of us who can barely make the studio apartment payments. If this were the perspective that our big stars held then maybe we would open ESPN more with accomplishments on the field instead of the tales of woe from off of it.
As always, feel free to email me
misteraday@hotmail.com
This is another Aday on Sports
After arriving back in the OC, I felt like I would give some of my takes on the 2009 NBA Summer league.
1) Is Las Vegas really the place to have 19-22 year old young men, some of whom have real money in their pocket for the first time, participate in the first event of their pro career? Probably not. Unless of course the FBI and the powers that be in the association are using it as a testing ground to monitor the merits of their rookie symposium where players are encouraged to avoid the trials of bookmakers, predatory women, and sleazy businessmen. If they are indeed under constant supervision, this would be a great field test for these players. You couldn’t create a better simulation of strung out gamblers, scantily-clad gold-diggers, and dozens of other people looking to make a buck off anyone who has one (not to mention the millions that some of these kids have).
2) I’ve said it for almost two years and nothing in the two games that I saw on Friday and Saturday did anything to make me change my mind: “Stephen Curry WILL be a STAR in this league.” I don’t usually agree with Dick Vitale but his statement that teams that picked 2-6 will be regretting the day that they passed on him was right on the money. The day he was drafted he became, at the very worst, the 3rd best shooter in the league (Jason Kapono and maybe Ray Allen would be the only other shooters in his class). He is a bit undersized, but he is still 6 foot 3, not exactly Mugsy Bogues or Spud Webb. However he is ultra quick, handles and passes above average, and his moves to the hole make you wonder how Rick Bucher of ESPN said his main weakness was his limited athleticism. Vegas should have him as the odds on favorite for ROY.
3) Would the real Adam Morrison please stand up. Having watched every Laker game this year I wondered who the lucky fan was that won the right to sit on the bench during Laker games, wear their uniform, and participate in warm-ups. Turns out it was Adam Morrison. Yes, the same Naismith award finalist whose out-of-his-mind college scoring drew comparisons to Larry Bird and made him the number 3 pick in the draft by the Bobcats was riding the pine, trying to rebuild his game following major knee surgery. On the first two days of the summer league, it was a rebirth of the potential superstar that the Lakers acquired in order to unload the contract of one Vladimir Radmonovic. Morrison has clearly learned the triangle and his impressive play should trigger a move by the Lakers. Either they trade Morrison, or (my preference), they agree that Morrison is their back-up 3 and deal away (please) Luke Walton.
4) Remember this name, David Monds. He is a 2nd year pro out of Oklahoma State who spent most of last season as a D-Leaguer. He is playing for the Lakers in the summer league and his post-up game and mid range jumper, along with monster size, should put him on the radars of several NBA teams (he won’t end up with the salary cap strapped defending champs). Saw Geoff Petrie and Paul Westphal there and was wondering if they had made some calls to draw up a contract for the Kings whose “future” big men Jason Thompson and Dante Green blended in more with the undrafted rookies and journeymen talent than they did with some of the actual NBA talent that was there.
5) Austin Daye is very good.
6) The NBA summer league is the best value of any sporting event I’ve ever attended. $25 gets you a full-day admission and great seats to four games. The general admission seating means that if you are there early you can nearly sit court side. The players are fun to watch, great with the fans, right up-close, and seem to be excited to put on a show. You will run into (and I mean physically run into) many NBA coaches, execs, and players. Mark Cuban, Don Nelson, Rick Carlyle, and Kevin Martin were just a few of the big names who sat or stood inches from fans. If you can get there, you need to. Definitely a place where NBA action is FAN-tastic.
That’s my take on the summer league. Feel free to email me with any feedback or check out my facebook page. Until next time, this is Aday on Sports
It has finally arrived. Aday on Sports is now online. Ryan Aday’s take on the world of sports is now available. For the fans who have been waiting, enjoy. To those of you who aren’t sure what this is I have one thing to say, “Oh you didn’t know? You better call somebody.”
