The Good Point

Basketball Archives

Basketball

Coach of the Year Fired: George Karl and History

Back in May, Denver coach George Karl won the NBA’s Red Auerbach Trophy, the award given to the association’s best coach, as selected by a panel of sportswriters. Within a month, the Nuggets fired Karl. It wasn’t a case of things going south for the Nuggets; if anything, they surpassed expectations this year. Despite lacking […]

Basketball

An Open Letter to Nerlens Noel’s Dumb Hair

Five years ago, Austin Kent published an open letter addressed to Greg Oden’s neck beard. Five years later he exhibits a glaring lack of development both in terms of maturity and the quality of his content. No matter, sometimes we can tell a lot about an individual by the way they choose to wear their hair. Sometimes it’s the only thing holding them back.

Basketball

The Cleveland Cavaliers and the 2013 NBA Draft

The Cleveland Cavaliers made history recently by becoming only the second team in NBA history to win the first pick in the draft two times in three years. The Cavs could make history again at the 2013 NBA Draft by becoming the first team to trade the first overall pick since the Orlando Magic dealt away Chris Webber back in 1993. Gerard Spalding considers their options.

Basketball

Shaka Smart and the mid-major contender

While college basketball lore is filled with stories of underdog programs rising to great heights under the national spotlight of March Madness, the reasons such teams are considered underdogs in the first place is because they have no proven track record of success. These days, coaches like Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens are giving their previously unheralded programs the stability needed in order to contend year in and year out.

Basketball

Inside the Spurs Dynasty

Dynasty is defined as a powerful group or family that maintains its position for a considerable time. It is seemingly difficult, then, to argue against the fact that these San Antonio Spurs are, and should be considered, as such. Over the past 15 years, San Antonio has compiled an 832-350 (.704) record. Dwayne Riley-Grant considers why.

Basketball

LeBron James does it again, again

Just when you think LeBron James is done making a case for himself as one of the NBA’s greats, he raises the bar. While the Miami Heat have their backs against the wall against the Indiana Pacers, the nerve-wracking 2013 postseason has only revealed more about just how singlehandedly dominant King James can be when he needs to.

Basketball

Appreciating the masterfully aged San Antonio Spurs

With all due respects to Kobe Bryant, who’s renamed himself Mamba Vino, the San Antonio Spurs are your vintage Bordeaux. The Spurs have aged with grace, and through their aging process, they have taken on different noses; David Robinson to Tim Duncan to Tony Parker and back to Tim Duncan again. Is this the year they win their fifth NBA championship?

Basketball

The Times and Life of Larry Hughes: A Biography in Reverse

Let’s talk Larry Hughes, and I mean let’s really talk Larry Hughes, from the beginning to the end and everywhere in between. Hughes may not have ever ended up being the next Michael Jordan, or even an NBA superstar by most definitions, but that doesn’t mean his story isn’t still one of the most inspiring of our generation. You just have to tell it in reverse.

Basketball

The New Orleans Pelicans: What’s in a Name?

Logos, mascots, and team colors are all extremely important factors in creating a sports team’s identity. There have been some teams that have managed to become far more popular than others simply based on the fact that more people want to wear their merchandise. When the New Orleans Hornets announced that they’ll be changing their team name to the Pelicans they accepted the task of totally reinventing their marketing identity.

Basketball

Charlotte Hornets: Where to go from here

When the New Orleans Hornets decided to rebrand themselves as the New Orleans Pelicans for next season, it opened the possibility of the Charlotte Bobcats reclaiming their former name. While the nostalgic marketing potential alone is endless for the franchise, it’s left many wondering and waiting to see if they can translate that into on-court success.