NBA 2017-18

[imref]

Cavs  just picked up Larry Nance, Jr and Jordan Clarkson from The Lakers. The Lakers will receive Isiah Thomas, Channing Frye, and 1st round pick

Trading Kyrie seems to have crippled the Cavs.

[mitlen]

Trading Kyrie seems to have crippled the Cavs.

I watched a bit of the game last night and the announcers made several references to the falling star of Thomas.    How lucky he was to play with the Celts, then the "thing" with the Cavs  ....  then the Cavs move him to the Lakers  !!!     It was bad enough up to last night, now he's in LA.      Think he went there to team up with LJ next year?   It's all fixed anyway.     

[Natsinpwc]

Trading Kyrie seems to have crippled the Cavs.

They'll be in the finals again

[mitlen]

They'll be in the finals again

They gotta go through the Wiz.   

[Natsinpwc]

I watched a bit of the game last night and the announcers made several references to the falling star of Thomas.    How lucky he was to play with the Celts, then the "thing" with the Cavs  ....  then the Cavs move him to the Lakers  !!!     It was bad enough up to last night, now he's in LA.      Think he went there to team up with LJ next year?   It's all fixed anyway.     

One of those guys that needs the ball all the time. He really carried Boston as they didn't have the other shooters. Will be interesting to see who signs him and what he gets.

[imref]

They'll be in the finals again

maybe.  Boston is good.  Ironically this deal improves the Cavaliers now, while making it more likely LeBron goes to the Lakers next year.  The Lakers will have enough space to have a shot at signing 'both' Lebron and Paul George.

  Think he went there to team up with LJ next year?   It's all fixed anyway.     

He's a FA after this year.

[Natsinpwc]

maybe.  Boston is good.  Ironically this deal improves the Cavaliers now, while making it more likely LeBron goes to the Lakers next year.  The Lakers will have enough space to have a shot at signing 'both' Lebron and Paul George.

He's a FA after this year.

Cavs have turned over about half their roster. They will be in the finals. Book it. Dwayne Wade back to the Heat.

[imref]

Cavs have turned over about half their roster. They will be in the finals. Book it. Dwayne Wade back to the Heat.

And Rose to Utah.

Do they trade LeBron before this is over?

[bluestreak]

And Rose to Utah.

Do they trade LeBron before this is over?

These moves only make sense if you anticipate keeping Lebron

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Hoping the Celtics do not move Marcus Smart.  It's so much fun to say his name with a Boston accent.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/mahcus-smaht-learned-about-boston-accent-in-hilarious-way-at-at-t-store/

[Natsinpwc]

These moves only make sense if you anticipate keeping Lebron

They picked up four actual players today for some has beens. Not sure what is up with Crowder but he was not the same player as in Boston. I think all the guys they traded were free agents at year end? And they kept the Brooklyn number one pick.

[mitlen]

It's all Kevin Love's fault.

[imref]

New look Cavs are stomping on Boston.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Eh, the Pierce jersey retirement ceremony was the highlight of the day. 

[imref]

GS let the players coach the team last night. The Suns weren't happy.

[OldChelsea]

LaVar Ball threatens to take Lonzo off Lakers unless they sign his two younger brothers: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/02/12/lavar-ball-says-son-lonzo-will-leave-lakers-if-they-dont-sign-his-two-brothers/?utm_term=.0887177babe6

Doubtless a lot of Lakers supporters are hoping the Balls just get out of that organisation altogether and hook up with a league in Pakistan or the Central African Republic or something.

[HalfSmokes]

I actually feel bad for lonzo. If I’m the lakers, I trade him to Minnesota just to freak with lavar

[imref]

I actually feel bad for lonzo. If I’m the lakers, I trade him to Minnesota just to freak with lavar

Or Phoenix.

[HalfSmokes]

Or Phoenix.

I wonder how his act would play in Utah? maybe the Jazz would take him

[mitlen]

I guess my question is "What is a 20 something year old pro ball player doin' lettin' his dad dictate terms?"   

"Look dad, I love you.    Go away."

[mitlen]

I was checkin' the celebrity line ups for AS weekend.     I'm not sure I know who half of 'em are.

Team Clippers:

Anthony Anderson (ABC’s “black-ish”)       Nope
Brandon Armstrong (actor, social media star)         Nope
Miles Brown (ABC’s “black-ish”)                Nope
Win Butler (Arcade Fire)                 Nope
Common (actor, recording artist)             Nope
Andre De Grasse (Olympic sprinter)              Nope
Stefanie Dolson (WNBA’s Chicago Sky)            Nope
Jamie Foxx (actor, singer, musician)           Yep
Paul Pierce (NBA legend, ESPN analyst)      Yep
Dascha Polanco (actress, activist)             Nope
Bubba Watson (two-time Masters champion)          Yep
Jason Williams (NBA legend)             Yep

Team Lakers:

Sterling Brim (MTV’s “Ridiculousness”)        Nope
Nick Cannon (actor, recording artist, star of MTV’s Wild’N Out)        Nope
Terence Crawford (boxer)            Nope
Rachel DeMita (NBA2KTV host, actress, model)             Nope
Jerry Ferrara (STARZ’s “Power”)            Nope
Marc Lasry (Milwaukee Bucks co-owner)            Nope
Tracy McGrady (NBA legend, ESPN analyst)          Yep
Caleb McLaughlin (Netflix’s “Stranger Things”)          Nope
Candace Parker (WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks)         Yep
Nate Robinson (NBA legend)           Yep
Drew Scott (HGTV’s “Property Brothers”)          Nope
Kris Wu (actor, singer, music producer)      Nope

Guess I ain't the target audience.   

[nats2playoffs]

AU alumni: Kobe Bryant floored by Lakers' 32-year-old rookie Andre Ingram's debut: 'Are you kidding me?'


American University's Andre Ingram makes his NBA debut April 10, 2018 at age 32, scores 19 points.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2018/04/11/kobe-bryant-lakers-rookie-andre-ingram-you-kidding-me/508119002/

If anybody knows what it feels like to have a special night at Staples Center, it’s Kobe Bryant. So when the retired Lakers legend joined Andre Ingram’s chorus of the inspired on Tuesday night, tweeting “LOVE IT” to his 13.9 million followers while attaching a video of the 32-year-old’s NBA debut that was a decade in the making, it brought the story full circle in a surreal kind of way.

Ingram is basketball’s answer to Moonlight Graham, the baseball player immortalized in “Field of Dreams” who spent years chasing a dream in the minor leagues only to get his one shot in the pros. Not only did Ingram get called up on Tuesday after spending 10 years playing in the NBA’s Development League, but he answered the call by scoring 19 points against the best team in the league, the Houston Rockets, while hitting six of eight shots (including four of five three-pointers). And for Bryant, who has gone from Hall of Fame player to Oscar winner in short order after his animated short, “Dear Basketball,” won the honor last month, it’s the kind of Hollywood script that you simply can’t make up.

“It's a gorgeous story,” Bryant, who is airing a new ESPN show called “Detail” that debuts on Thursday and will run throughout the playoffs, told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday... Ingram’s path has all the elements you need for a good show on the silver screen. When he wasn’t making $19,000 a year in the minor leagues, the Richmond, Va. native, well, moonlighted as a math tutor as a way to make extra money while also caring for his wife and young daughter. Along the way, he became the most prolific three-point shooter in the history of what is now called the G-League (713 over 10 years, including a mark of 55% from beyond the arc last season). When the Lakers suffered late-season injuries and needed another capable body for the final few games of their season, Ingram finally got the call.

“Dude, (the story is) ridiculous. Like, are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? I mean to have the courage and resolve to stick with that dream, and to now get your shot and to come through in that way? I mean, that's impressive, man.”

---

I saw the headline and said WHAT? Andre Ingram played college basketball for American University in Washington, DC, (2003-2007) where he finished his four-year career as the school's fifth all-time leading scorer with 1,655 points. I'd heard years ago that he was in the NBA minor league, but assumed that he left or got dropped. He graduated one or two years too early, before AU finally won the Patriot League berth to March Madness.

The first and only American U team to make the NCAA March Madness tournament was in 2008, and they returned in 2009, losing to Villanova. Villanova did not take the lead until 6:21 left in the second half. American had Garrison Carr, one of the NCAA's 3-point-goal leaders, and his teammates shooting 3PGs. As Villanova crushed their opponents to win the 2018 national championship, I couldn't help but think that coach Jay Wright learned the power of the 3PG from that game with American.

[mitlen]

AU alumni: Kobe Bryant floored by Lakers' 32-year-old rookie
Andre Ingram's debut: 'Are you kidding me?'

I've seen the high lights throughout the day   ....   That   ....  is pretty cool.

[nats2playoffs]

I've seen the high lights throughout the day   ....   That   ....  is pretty cool.

Ingram only had 5 points in the Laker's final game. Hope they play him next year, or another NBA team picks him up. He set a Lakers' franchise record for most 3-pointers made in a player’s first game with four.

The highlight reel for his debut (Fixed):
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=23109350

Lakers Exit Interviews 2018: Andre Ingram Reflects On NBA Debut:
http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-exit-interviews-2018-andre-ingram-nba-debut/2018/04/12/

[mitlen]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/19/sports/basketball/gregg-popovich-wife-spurs.html