Who is the Best Shooting Guard in the NBA?

Written by Dylan Hunter Carter

Over the past few weeks of NBA Basketball, we’ve witnessed some of the best competition at the Shooting Guard position since the primes of Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady. Although the position may not have the immense depth of other positions, it certainly has the talent to match. Young talents such as Jimmy Butler and Klay Thompson have taken the league by storm with their explosive styles of play while familiar faces such as Dwyane Wade and James Harden continue to lead their respective teams toward victory. While each player is holding their ground, only one can be named the best shooting guard in the NBA. Here are the NBA’s top 5 shooting guards.

Honorable Mentions:

Victor Oladipo, Bradley Beal, C.J. McCollum, Manu Ginobili, and Khris Middleton

5. Dwyane Wade

Although we are far past the glory days of Dwyane Wade, he still remains one of the top players at his position, even at 33 years old. In 30 MPG, Wade is averaging 18.1 PPG with 4.6 RPG, 4 APG, and a steal. Wade also has the fourth higher PER at the SG position with 20.55. Although his stats are not spectacular, there is no number value to prove Wade’s worth as a leader, competitor, and spark plug for the Miami Heat. Wade’s resurgence in his 12th year in the league has been an invigorating experience for basketball fans everywhere.

4. DeMar Derozan

For years, DeMar Derozan has put up consistently strong numbers without much recognition. Even as the Raptors have emerged as a strong contender in the Eastern Conference, Derozan has been overlooked by the rest of the league. Now, through 37 games player, DeRozan averages a solid 22.8 PPG on 44% shooting along with 4.6 RPG and 4.1 APG. He also has the 3rd highest PER at the shooting guard position and 29th in the league. DeRozan’s fast paced and athletic play style makes him a matchup nightmare for any defender.

3. Klay Thompson

Klay Thompson’s shooting prowess is nearly unmatched at this point in time. His ability to create shots and to extend above defenders to release his is a sight to behold. Although he is primarily known for his shooting abilities, Thompson is actually an incredibly skillful all-around player. Thompson is currently averaging 20.5 PPG on 46% shooting and a stellar 44% shooting from 3 Point territory. Thompson’s size, quickness, shooting abilities, and defensive capabilities make him one of the best underrated players at the shooting guard position.

2. James Harden

Although he has had ups and downs in his 4 years as a Houston Rocket, there is no question about James Harden’s scoring abilities. Whether it be in isolation, catch and shoot, or fast break scenarios, Harden is always a threat to the opposing defense. Harden currently leads all shooting guards in PER with 24.35 in his 45 games played. Harden currently averages 27.6 PPG on 42% shooting along with 6 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game. While his stats do portray his fantastic offensive prowess, they do not reflect his atrocious on-ball defense. Harden and his defense have become a laughingstock amongst NBA fans and players everywhere. If Harden could push himself to improve as a defender, he could easily solidify himself as a top 5 player in the NBA, but he will not reach that status until his defense improves.

1. Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler is often criticized as “overrated” or a “system player”, but the past few weeks have been a true testament to the skill of this young shooting guard. In the month of January, Butler is averaging 26.5 PPG on 46% shooting from the field along with 5.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists. Through the downfall of a once dominant Bulls team headlined by Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah came the growth of Butler as a player and as a leader. Butler’s ambition, leadership, and Basketball IQ have all grown immensely in his 4 years as a Chicago Bull. Butler’s defensive abilities and strong all around presence have defined him as the best at his position.

http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/307/files/2014/02/8312134-850x560.jpg

There Must be a Change in the All-Star Game

                                                      Written by Taylor Odenat

As of January 21, 2016, the All Star Starters for the 2016 NBA Star Game in Toronto, Canada were announced for both conferences. The starting lineup for the Eastern Conference will be: Kyle Lowry and Dwyane Wade in the backcourt, followed by Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Paul George in the frontcourt. For the Western Conference, their starting lineup will consist of: Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook in the backcourt, followed by Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Kobe Bryant in the frontcourt.

Every year there is a problem with what the fans have decided through their voting. Last year, it was Kobe Bryant starting over MVP-candidate James Harden. This year, the popularity contest strikes again, as several worthy players were not voted into the starting lineup. Players such as Andre Drummond, Hassan Whiteside, DeMarcus Cousins, and MVP-candidate Draymond Green will all miss out on the joys of being voted by the fans to be the first five on the court. Andre Drummond is averaging career numbers across the board. He’s pulling down a career-high 15.5 rpg to go along with a career-high 17.7 ppg. Not to mention his Detroit Pistons are sixth in the Eastern Conference at this point in the season. Hassan Whiteside has blocked the most shots in the league and leads the league at a massive four blocks per game. Draymond Green may be on a team with current MVP Stephen Curry, but he is the Most Valuable Player on that roster by far. He can score, pass, rebound, and defend at a high level, and is redefining his position.

Fan favorites Jeremy Lin and Kyrie Irving both almost snuck their way into the All-Star starting lineup as well. So on top of the first five having a lack of centers, they would also have a player who comes off the bench for his team, and a player who has only played 15 games this season. At some point, the mantra “All-Star Weekend is for the fans” gets a little out of hand when players who have barely played or don’t start for their teams can almost crack the starting lineup.

A few seasons ago, the NBA wiped away the center position from the All-Star Ballot, thus making it harder than ever for an actual big man to be selected in the big game. Granted, there are spots coming off the bench for players to be chosen, where coaches decipher who they believe is worthy of being a reserve. Nevertheless, even that is not enough; there will still be deserving players who will be shunned in the eyes of the coaches.

The NBA should revert back to its original voting of each position, instead of combining the positions into frontcourt and backcourt. In that format, big men who work hard every game for their teams receive some recognition. Especially the big men who are actually heading their team to a playoff spot, unlike a forward such as Carmelo Anthony starting; whose team is sitting behind the Miami Heat at ninth in the Eastern Conference. To give Anthony credit he is finally learning to distribute the ball, averaging a career-high 4.1 apg. However, him nor James should be receiving minutes at the five when there are eligible and more deserving players who could take his place.

Additionally, fans shouldn’t have as much total influence in the voting of the All-Star Starters as they do now. Regardless of who is the first five to play, the game will be entertaining to watch. There will no defense played, alley-oops thrown, and ESPN highlight-reel plays no matter who's on the court. Fans should have weight of who gets selected, but players should also have a say in who is chosen. The players can select who they believe should be starting and they can’t chose themselves or players on their own team. That way, it's a mixture of the fans and the players and the results will lead to a starting lineup of personnel who have played top notch basketball for the first half of the season.

While changes may never be made to the popularity contest that is All-Star voting, Adam Silver and the fans need to understand that although it is a weekend “for the fans”, the players who play and make the league millions of dollars earned some recognition on the big stage as well. The popularity competition needs to cease; effective immediately. Hopefully with the leadership of Adam Silver, the NBA will find a compromise so the game is based on merit and not entirely on fan favoritism.

http://www.sbnation.com/nba-news-basketball/archives/4, http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2016/01/21/all-star-starters-announced/, http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/i/irvinky01.html, http://www.nba-allstar.com/ballot/how-complete-coaches-nba-all-star-reserves.htm, http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/whiteha01.html, http://www.hothothoops.com/2016/1/5/10707322/100-games-hassan-whitesides-greatest-statistical-accomplishments

Fixing the Milwaukee Bucks

                                                        Written by Taylor Odenat

Just a season ago the Milwaukee Bucks were a team on the rise. They finished the 2014-2015 season with a record of 41-41, and entered the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. That playoff berth was the franchise’s first trip to the postseason since getting swept by the Miami Heat two seasons prior. Coming into this season, it would be expected that the Bucks would build on their semi-successful season; however, that would not be the case. Their record at this point last year was two games above .500 at 21-19. Currently, their record is 18-25, and they are on the outside looking in of the playoff picture. There has to be changes in Milwaukee before the trade deadline approaches, otherwise the Bucks will fall back into their strong habits of being mediocre and non-threatening in the Eastern Conference.

The Bucks have an apparent fear of shooting three-pointers. They shoot 15.9 threes per game, which is the second-lowest clip in the league. The Bucks possess no three-point shooters besides Jerryd Bayless, who receives 29 mpg, and their million dollar man Khris Middleton. They both shoot above 40% from three, but beyond those two players it’s hard to find another shooter on that roster. The Bucks personnel is stacked with players who live in the paint and aren’t capable of consistently making jump shots. Michael Carter-Williams has improved his stroke since arriving to Milwaukee, improving from a putrid 14% from three to an average 36%. However, this team needs more than Middleton, Bayless, and Carter-Williams slightly improving his shot to make it out from their low rank of thirteenth in the Eastern Conference.

The Bucks have three bigs with loads of potential in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker, and Greg Monroe. In a perfect world, the Bucks would be able to keep all of these non-shooters and excel in their conference. That hasn’t been the case so far, as they all work in and around the painted area. Parker displayed potential of developing a jumpshot through his 35 games in Duke, where he shot 36% from three. It obviously has been a rough transition seeing as Parker has attempted only 6 threes and missed all 6 of them. Giannis isn’t one to favor jumpshots either as he is only shooting 22% on three pointers so far this season. Greg Monroe was never really known for his three-point shooting and hasn’t taken one to this point. So the main question is, which player has to go?

Greg Monroe leads the Milwaukee Bucks in win shares at 4.0, rebounds per game at 9.8, and is second on the team in points per game at 15.2. Which makes this a difficult decision for the Bucks but it has to be done; Monroe must be the player that gets shipped off. Some may question the logic of trading Monroe after signing him to a three-year, $50 million deal over the offseason. However, although he is young, Giannis and Jabari both possess more potential and talent/skill to become two of the league’s best forwards if they continue to develop. Additionally, Giannis and Jabari are both still on their rookie deals;  Antetokounmpo from ‘13 and Parker from ‘14. 

It would be wise for the Bucks to take advantage of the great season Monroe is putting together. In return, they should look to receive a player with a consistent jump shot, a veteran to assist in further team progression, or a lottery draft pick in this upcoming draft. A possible trade that the Bucks should explore is:

Milwaukee Bucks        New Orleans Pelicans

Greg Monroe      $16.4 million                        Ryan Anderson          $8.5 million

     Omer Asik                  $9.2 million

With this trade, the Pelicans get a young, low-post oriented big man to lineup next to superstar Anthony Davis, while the Bucks get in return a veteran big man who will play his role and a stretch-four to fill their desperate need of a shooter.

Whether the Bucks make a trade similar to this or not, something needs to change because this season will be a lost one if they don’t evaluate their issues and figure out what has to be done to fix them.

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/new_orleans_pelicans/, http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/monrogr01.html, http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/team/_/stat/offense-per-game/sort/threePointFieldGoalPct, http://www.landofbasketball.com/results_by_team/2014_2015_bucks.htm, http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/teams/Milwaukee-Bucks/16/Playoff-History, http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAS/2016.html

NBA Players in Dire Need of a Change of Location

A change of scenery can cure the careers  of these NBA stars.

The 'Money' Manziel Experiment in Cleveland is Ready to Conclude

Written by Taylor Odenat

Johnny Manziel, formerly ‘Money’ Manziel, out of Texas A&M touts an above-average college career, headlined by his 2012 Heisman Trophy victory. After waving off his junior season of collegiate football, Manziel entered the 2014 NFL Draft. He was questionably selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 22nd pick of the first round, and criticism of his game would appear to increase from that point on. He was widely regarded as “immature” off the field and some didn’t think he would be able to overcome that and make the transition to the NFL. Even a teammate of Johnny’s on the Browns, who gave his statement anonymously, stated that his 2014 season was an “100% joke.” Manziel hardly got off the bench and played a total of seven quarters in that season, finishing the season with 18 of 35 passes completed with two interceptions. 

After mustering up a disastrous rookie season for the Browns, he hoped that his sophomore season would be different. The Browns had faith in Manziel, trusting that he would improve from the season prior. Inevitably, that trust and faith would be misguided as Manziel continued his nightlife shenanigans. He eventually seemed more dedicated to his life after football, rather than his career on the field. Manziel may have not been drafted with the intention of leading the franchise to an above .500 record, however; the quarterback position was not set in stone so he had the chance to be the cornerstone. Manziel was given several opportunities to prove he could be the man for the Browns, and the franchise quarterback for the future that the franchise so desperately needs. Following a temporary injury to fellow quarterback Josh McCown, Manziel was declared the indefinite starter and given that supreme opportunity to convince his team and the rest of the NFL of his worth. However, instead of making use of the valuable chance he was given, Manziel was demoted back to third string after videos arose of him partying during a bye week. Manziel was given the torch by the Browns, but he preferred to drop it rather than run with it. 

No mistake should be made in suggesting that Manziel is an insufficient quarterback. He is a terrific athlete, great on the run and has a capable arm to go along with his large hands. The situation just boiled down to the Browns being an under the radar team, and Manziel not being an under the radar personnel. Cleveland tried to distort and transform him into the kind of player they wanted him to be. The type of player who would rather sit at home and study plays or analyze the playbook, rather than go partying in Vegas; as he did this past Saturday. Nonetheless, there is a team that fits Manziel’s personality mold: The Dallas Cowboys. 

In retrospect, this may turn out to be a disaster. Dallas headed by their owner, president, and general manager Jerry Jones, who is a known fan of Manziel, is not one to cower to the spotlight; and neither is Manziel. He was getting months of media coverage before he was even in the league and didn’t mind the continuous attention. Going to Dallas would definitely put all eyes on Manziel and the Cowboys, but he would be able to handle the adversity. The young QB even expressed interest in the organization. The Cowboys have a hole at the quarterback position with Romo’s constant injuries, leaving Kellen Moore to lead the charge in times of need. Tony Romo missed 12 games of this past regular season and he’s certainly won't be getting any younger or durable. ‘Money’ Manziel has potential and upside, he just requires the correct environment to grow. 

By no means does the change of scenery to ‘America’s Team’ automatically signify that Manziel will change his ways, but the QB desires to go there. Being in a comfortable situation with a GM who will suit his needs could be just what the 23-year-old needs in his development to recapture his, so far, failing NFL career.

http://www.footballnation.com/content/cowboys-owner-jerry-jones-7-reasons-we-love-to-hate-jerr-ah/11993/, http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/johnny-manziel?id=2543462, http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24986501/report-teammate-said-johnny-manziel-was-a-100-percent-joke, http://deadspin.com/johnny-manziel-is-about-done-in-cleveland-1750887128

Are the OKC Thunder a Stepping Stone to Brighter Opportunities?

                                                   Written by Taylor Odenat

The Oklahoma City Thunder are excellent at drafting, training players, and assisting in the progression of their skills and talents. Kevin Durant was drafted second by OKC in the 2007 NBA Draft, and is arguably a top-three player in this league. Russell Westbrook was drafted fourth in 2008 NBA Draft, and is a top-five player at his position. However, it’s the careers and improved numbers that certain players have been able to put together after their departure from Oklahoma City that has surprised the masses. 

           James Harden, Reggie Jackson, and now Jeremy Lamb, all share a common similarity. Beside the fact that they are all shooting guards that previously played for the Thunder, the comparisons go beyond that.

           Harden was traded from the Thunder to the Houston Rockets in the offseason leading up to the 2012-2013 season for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb and a few draft picks. Since then, James Harden has been the undoubted star of the Rockets and has taken the squad to heights as far as the Western Conference Finals. Back in Oklahoma City, Harden was a mere sixth man. Although he was rather successful in that role, winning the Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2011, he was being underused in Oklahoma City.

           During his tenure, the team elected to start the defensive-minded guard Thabo Sefolosha in lieu of starting Harden; deciding to bring offensive energy off the bench. In retrospect, the lineup was rather rewarding as the Thunder battled to the promise land and reached the 2012 NBA Finals. Be that as it may, Harden had the potential to be much more than just a sixth man playing behind an aging Sefolosha. His trade from OKC was the best case scenario for his career, the Rockets were a team who needed a star and Harden was a player who needed to head his own team. With the addition of Dwight Howard a season later, the Rockets now are a significantly better team that they once were because of Harden.

           Next up in line to receive the good fortune of leaving the Thunder was Boston College attendee; Reggie Jackson. Similar to Harden, Jackson served as an offensive punch off the bench. Once Harden was traded away, he needed to be that strong presence behind Westbrook at the point. Jackson did thrive in that role, but desired much more from his basketball career. Tensions would eventually brew in the OKC locker room as Jackson saw himself to be a starter in this league. Westbrook started ahead of him, and although Reggie is a superb player; he was not starting ahead of the league’s most athletic point guard. Jackson eventually requested a trade, believing that his talents weren’t being used to the fullest. Players in the Thunder locker room didn’t take kindly to his attitude and leaders such as Kevin Durant made it known verbally through statements such as “We felt like everybody wanted to be here except for one guy."

           Jackson inevitably got his wish and was soon traded in a three-team deal to the Detroit Pistons, who were in dire need of a point guard following the season-ending injury to Brandon Jennings.  From that point onward, Reggie Jackson proved that he actually was worth more than the role OKC gave him, identical to Harden a season prior. He finished the 2014-2015 season averaging career numbers in points, minutes, rebounds, and assists. While he may not be able to maintain any friendship or even business relationships with the men on OKC’s roster, his trade was the best thing that could have happened for him and Detroit. Jackson left a situation where he was unable to climb a ladder or progress to instead lead a up-and-coming Pistons team with hope for the future.

           The most recent sixth man to leave the Thunder to experience greener pastures is Jeremy Lamb of the Charlotte Hornets. Lamb was traded to the Hornets for Luke RIdnour and a second round pick leading up to this season in an effort to clear cap space. He never really complained about his role, but he is in a more advancing situation with Charlotte. Nicholas Batum, who starts over Lamb, isn’t a superstar so there is possibility of earning a starting spot down the road over the aging forward. Additionally, the Hornets seem to have immense faith in Lamb seeing as they granted him a three-year, $21 million contract extension. In 22 games, The Hornets are already utilizing Lamb more than OKC did giving him 24 mpg as opposed to the 14 mpg that he averaged playing for the Thunder. Jeremy Lamb may not make as much consistent noise for his team as Harden and Jackson do, but leaving Oklahoma City is definitely putting his career in an uphill direction.

           Now, the big question entering this offseason for the Thunder is; will Kevin Durant be the next to leave Oklahoma City? Granted, his reason for leaving or getting traded wouldn’t be for lack of minutes or insignificant role. His reasons would lean towards Oklahoma City not going beyond the Western Conference Finals since the 2013-2014 season or him having to share the spotlight with guard Russell Westbrook. Keeping in mind the examples of Harden, Jackson, and Lamb, Durant will have to decide if he will sign an extension and continue to attempt to bring the Thunder a championship or if he will leave a gain new opportunities in a new city.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2012.html, http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--thunder-trade-jeremy-lamb-to-hornets-164852904.html, http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6603/jeremy-lamb, http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2015/2/19/8073009/kevin-durant-seems-pretty-happy-reggie-jackson-got-traded, http://www.hngn.com/articles/48643/20141107/nba-rumors-oklahoma-city-thunder-locker-room-controversy-between-reggie-jackson-and-kendrick-perkins.html

The End of an Era: Kobe Begins His Retirement Tour

Written by Dylan Hunter Carter

19 seasons, 5 championships, 1 MVP, 2 Finals MVPs, 17 All Star Selections and 3 Gold Medals all add up to one legendary career. On November 11th, 2015, Kobe Bryant announced his retirement from the NBA. He did so through an open letter to the game of basketball sharing his love for the game, but accepting that it's time to say goodbye. While it was not totally unexpected, Kobe’s retirement is a huge shock to the basketball world. Since he was drafted out of Lower Merion High School in 1996, Kobe has amazed fans and players everywhere with his fierce competitive spirit, graceful skills, astounding athletic ability, and his unmatched devotion to the game. Although the past few years of his career have been riddled with injury and the downfall of his beloved Lakers, the Black Mamba will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the greatest players of all time.

The mark that Kobe has made on the history of the NBA is matched by few. The Black Mamba ranks as the NBA’s 3rd highest scorer of all time with 32,703 points after surpassing Michael Jordan in December of 2014. Kobe also ranks second in all time All Star selections with 17. This is a true testament to Kobe’s reputation as a player and as a person, as his popularity has remained consistent through the ups and downs of his career. Through thick and thin, Kobe has persevered and worked his way to a successful career. Whether it be because of his 36 game winners or 5 Championships in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, and 2010, Kobe has become one of the most marketable and recognizable basketball players of all time.

Through the first 17 games of the 2015-2016 season, Bryant’s Lakers hold a dreadful 2-15 record and the second worst record in the league. While this may not be the ideal ending to Kobe’s career, fans everywhere are celebrating the legend’s career. The crowd roared with appreciation and admiration on December 1st for Kobe’s final visit to Philly to face the Sixers. It was a great night for Philadelphia sports fans who watched their team earn their first win and witnessed the hometown hero’s final showdown against the team he grew up with. Kobe’s father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant,  was born and raised in Philadelphia and spent the first 4 years of his career with the Sixers. Although he spent some time growing up in Italy, Philly was Kobe’s first home.

Over the past 19 seasons, fans have witnessed a high school kid from Philly develop into our generation’s Michael Jordan. Basketball enthusiasts everywhere will be focused on the final season of one of the greatest basketball players of all time as he finishes out an amazing career. On the behalf of basketball fans everywhere, thank you Kobe Bryant for the memories and excellence you’ve given us over the past 19 seasons.

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0618/nba_g_kbryant_sy_576.jpg

The Next Big Thing? The Ben Simmons Story

Written by Taylor Odenat 

Phenom prospects who display the extraordinary skill and talent to drastically alter the fate of a franchise don’t come around often. Over the last few years we’ve seen players drafted who exhibit the potential to drastically influence the future of an NBA team. In the last few NBA Drafts, players such as Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, and Andrew Wiggins have all been lottery selections. Anthony Davis is a once in a generation player at his position, Damian Lillard is an All Star and clutch playoff performer, and Andrew Wiggins heads a young Minnesota squad with loads of potential moving forward. In June of 2016, LSU forward Ben Simmons potentially could be an addition to this list if he continues dazzling the eyes of basketball fans, announcers, and coaches everywhere.

Ben Simmons was born out of Melbourne, Australia and has been publicized for years as the No.1 overall prospect out of the 2015 recruiting class. Scouts foresee stardom in this young forward, as he delivers to the court several skills that not many players are adept in. His basketball IQ and court awareness are high on the list of abilities that he possesses that make basketball fans drool at the sight of him play. Many have gone as a far as to compare the Aussie to that of Lebron James, where both contain elite vision and superb knowledge of the game; Mike Greenberg of Mike and Mike being one them. He stated on the radio and television show that he believes “this kid is going to be the Next Lebron.” While some may believe this to be somewhat of a stretch, the remark was not outrageously far-fetched.

Lebron James is obviously a player of great stature so it’s not to say Simmons is directly comparable to James. However, in play style the two do share similarities in their abilities to be cognizant of the players around them as well as their uber athleticism. Both players defend efficiently, rebound effortlessly, and run the fast break with ease and at their own pace. Neither has a set position, because regardless of where they play on the court they’ll be productive. Their passing, shooting, and defending capabilities all allow them to lineup from the point guard to center position. Once he is drafted, Simmons will eventually make his own name for himself, but until that day arrives the Lebron comparisons will be relentless.

Journalists with widespread clout, and online publications with credibility around the world are comparing this forward to the likes of greats such as Lebron James, as previously mentioned, and Lamar Odom.  With such evident notoriety so early in his career, Simmons seems destined for long term production. Granted, Simmons has only played 4 games for LSU thus far. However, in those few games Simmons has averaged 19.3 points to go along with 14.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists topped off by a super efficient 57 % from the field. Recently, Simmons was even able to hold his own against another top ranked freshman, 6’10 post-player Henry Ellenson, in a loss to Marquette where he dropped a near triple double finishing with 21 points, 20 rebounds and 7 assists.

Along with his on court superstar potential, Simmons may possibly revise the landscape of the college picking process for a high school senior. Simmons chose LSU, a college not known for pushing out All Stars and NBA Champions. He bypassed the powerhouses of Kentucky, Duke, and UNC, to join forces with a university that hasn’t seen one of their players drafted in the lottery since Anthony Randolph was selected in the 2008 NBA Draft; who then produced rather lackluster tenures around the league. By electing to attend LSU, he showed future aspiring athletes that going to a lesser known school or a school not known for NCAA postseason success might be a better situation for them. Attending a school such as LSU puts the spotlight on the high ranked individual; in this case Ben Simmons. Whereas attending a college with the championship pedigree of Kentucky, there are a ton of players with hordes of potential all trying to get minutes. He may set a precedent that if you want to shine individually to NBA scouts and fans, then go to the college who hasn’t seen the NCAA tournament in a few years, rather than the program whose there year after year, with players struggling for consistent minutes.

Simmons has superstar potential with the metaphorical strength to cause a franchise to tank their season in the hopes of selecting him. Ben is an elite athlete with extreme versatility and quickness, controlled pace, exceptional defense, high rebounding and passing IQ, and a consistent lefty stroke; when he actually decides to take a jump shot. He is the next best thing and the talk of this Australian is guaranteed to be nonstop until he puts pen to paper on his first rookie contract.

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/show?showId=mikemike, http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Ben-Simmons/Summary/41364, http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=400827731, http://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/draft.cgi?college=lsu

Iverson, Jordan, Kobe, Dirk, and Curry? Steph's Influence on Basketball Today

                                                      Written by Taylor Odenat

Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, and now Stephen Curry are all individually completely different players on the basketball court. They play opposing positions, possess different playstyles and project various personalities in their locker rooms. However, with all these differences they all share one common characteristic; their ability to monumentally change the game of basketball. 

During the time of each of these players prime popularity they each brought something unique to the table. Allen Iverson was “The Answer”, rocked unparalleled cornrows, and carried himself with a street-style, “me against the world” persona that everyone noticed and adored. Michael Jordan is arguably the most marketable person on the planet and the most noticeable face and name in the sports industry. He owns a billion dollar shoe company ,Air Jordan, and majority control of the Charlotte Hornets, causing his name to remain in the public eye more than a decade after he retired. Kobe Bryant is debatably the only player that can be compared to Michael Jordan in playstyle, so of course his influence is worldwide and has reached European countries where he is practically a legend in China. Lastly, Dirk may not be as marketable as the others with his laid back, non expressive attitude; but he has altered the way basketball is played for a man of his stature. Young 7-footers no longer find themselves in the paint grabbing boards, trying to perfect their left and right hooks. They watch Nowitzki shooting from beyond the three-point arc and want to emulate the actions of the German native.

All these players have already made their mark in NBA history and in the hearts and minds of the millions that play basketball around the world. They have all made strong impressions on their fans and influenced the game greatly, and after winning his first NBA Championship in 2015, Stephen Curry is swiftly on his way to having that same influence.

Miami started a trend back in the 2012-2013 season of small ball where Chris Bosh, originally a power forward, played the five and excelled at it. However, Golden State took small ball to a whole new level and dawned a lineup with no player taller than 6-foot-8. Their strategy worked wonders, leading to their eventual championship win against the Lebron-led Cleveland Cavaliers. However, his team’s influence of super small-ball on the game of basketball is only the beginning.

Stephen Curry accomplished an extremely impressive feat of winning the Most Valuable Player Award in the 2014-2015 season as a guard. Guards winning the award is highly uncommon and hasn’t been done since Derrick Rose in 2010. His achievement displayed to young guards that is possible to be a smaller player and reach greatness without being super fast or uber-athletic. Curry isn’t the biggest guard at 6’3 and isn’t the strongest at 190, nonetheless with his limitations he is able to break countless records. He set the record for most made three-pointers in a regular season in the 2012-2013 season, then to top his own performance he broke it again in the 2014-2015 season.  He also owns the record for most made three-point field goals in the playoffs at 59; topping former Indiana Pacers guard Reggie Miller’s record. Additionally, he isn’t among the elite yet in career three-pointers made sitting at No.45 with 1,235; but he is creeping up on his father Dell Curry’s spot of No.42 with 1,245 made threes. By the end of Steph Curry’s career he is bound to be in the top-3 of this category with the 10 three-pointers he attempts per game.

In an era of basketball where mid-range jumpers are discouraged, Steph Curry is leading the charge of taking his shots behind the arc. Last season he excelled with a mindset of “if a play breaks down, I’ll just pull it back out for three”, and this season he came with the same mindset. For the second season it’s leading to results, as the Warriors stand as the lone undefeated team in the NBA at 9-0.

Curry’s name is reaching heights similar to Kobe’s and the branding similar to “Like Mike”, his electrifying shooting and crowd appeasing highlights remodel the way future guards  play basketball. He is showing in an age where guards are getting bigger and longer, see Michael Carter-Williams and Emmanuel Mudiay, that one can still excel at the position with less height than others. Curry is the face of the combo guard position currently and will maintain this honor as long as his jumper keeps falling and his handle is equally as amazing. With both of those aspects of his game still in tact, every ball player at parks and gyms will continue to scream “Curry!” when they rise up for a shot behind the three-point line.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/curryst01.html, http://khqtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Screen-Shot-2015-02-06-at-2.31.47-PM.png