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Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Kemba Walker Should be an All-Star

This article originally appeared on QueenCityHoops.com
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Over a third of the way into the 2015-16 NBA season, the Hornets sit right in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Charlotte is just 3.5 games out of the conference’s top spot, and possesses both a top-10 offense and a top-10 defense, in terms of efficiency.

While much of the team’s early season success can be credited to the solid play of new additions like Nicolas Batum, Marvin Williams, Jeremy Lamb, and Jeremy Lin, an equal amount of credit has to go to the improved play and leadership of Kemba Walker, who continues to build a case for his first All-Star selection.

Friday, December 25, 2015

Jeremy Lamb's productive play

Jeremy Lamb has fit in his role nicely in Charlotte thus far. While some feel that he should be in the starting five, Lamb has made the most out of his reserve role, as he has provided the Hornets with some reliable depth and a legitimate offensive option off of the bench.

Lamb is averaging a career high 11.8 points per game; not bad for a guy in a reserve role.

In fact, Lamb leads the entire NBA in points per game by a player without a single start in the season.




Lamb's productive play off of the bench has been a big factor in the Hornets' strong start to the season.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Richaun Holmes: Dunk of the Year Candidate

One of the bright spots for the Sixers this season (there haven't been many) has been the play of second-round pick Richaun Holmes.

Holmes has demonstrated an ability to finish around the rim, and he has also shown some extreme athleticism, as demonstrated by his vicious dunk on Al Horford on Wednesday night:


Introduce yourself to the league, Mr. Holmes.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

The Hornets Should Bring Al Jefferson off of the Bench

This article originally appeared at Queen City Hoops

An untimely left calf strain forced the Hornets to adapt to life on the court without frontcourt fixture Al Jefferson. A violation of the league’s substance abuse policy will extend Jefferson’s stay on the sideline.

In past seasons, extended absence from Jefferson would be a major cause for concern, especially on the offensive end. However, instead of stalling without their highest paid player out on the court, the 2015-16 Hornets have flourished. The Hornets have gone 4-2 in the 6 games Jefferson has missed thus far, and they have averaged an impressive 103 points per game over that span.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

The Spurs are Flying Under the Radar, Again

The Golden State Warriors have dominated headlines over the first quarter of the 2015-16 NBA season, and for good reason.  The Warriors are off to the best start, well ever, and they look every bit the part of a repeat champion. The rest of the league is operating within the shadow of the Warriors. 

Largely underplayed in this Warriors-centric news cycle however is the San Antonio Spurs extremely solid start to the season. The lack of national attention is par for the course for the Popovich-led Spurs who have consistently shunned the spotlight in their nearly two-decade long run of success.


Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Jerami Grant a rare bright spot for Sixers

One of the few bright spots of the Sixers’ struggle of a season so far has been the promising play of second-year forward Jerami Grant. With increased opportunity, Grant has demonstrated an ability to play multiple positions on both sides of the ball, while also bringing a distinct energy to the floor.

Drafted in the second round of the 2014 Draft, Grant has been a beneficiary of “The Process”, as he has been afforded the opportunity to develop through actual on-court action. With no immediate intention to contend, the Sixers can allow players like Grant to learn on the go and play through mistakes. For Grant, the approach has proven beneficial. After starting only 11 games in his rookie season, Grant has started in a vast majority of the Sixers’ game in the 2015-16 campaign, and he has utilized the increased exposure to make an impression.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

76ers Report: The Sixers Won a Game!

Jeff McMenamin and Michael Kaskey-Blomain return with a new episode of the 76ers Report. Jeff and Michael had a whole lot to talk about this week. Topics include Kobe Bryant's Philadelphia finale, the Sixers' first win, the suspension of Jahlil Okafor, Robert Covington's impressive play, Tony Wroten's return, and more.

Listen to the new episode below, via blogtalkradio:


Check out past episodes of the 76ers Report here.

Nicolas Batum thriving in new role with the Hornets

This article originally appeared on QueenCityHoops.com

In Portland, Nicolas Batum’s role consisted largely of playing defense, getting out in transition, and being ready to knock down open opportunities. Though he was a well-respected role-player, he was often an offensive afterthought, looked to only if Damian Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Wesley Matthews were unable to create something themselves. Batum was rarely an offensive initiator, or a beneficiary of plays called for him. He was Portland’s fifth leading scorer last season – behind the three players mentioned above, and center Robin Lopez – and would occasionally even go possessions without a touch.

His role with the Hornets this season is slightly different. While he is still relied on for his perimeter defense, and expected to get out on the break, he is no longer an afterthought on the offensive end. Instead, he is a central piece to an offense that ranks fifth in the entire league in points scored per game.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Kobe Bryant's Philadelphia Farewell

There were some boos, more cheers, and even more emotion.

Draft implications aside, Kobe Bryant's last professional game in Philadelphia went about as well as it could have for a Sixers supporter also appreciative of Kobe's career.

There were vintage Kobe moments - like his three three pointers in the game's first two minutes*. The game also had its share of modern day Kobe gaffes - he was 7-for-26 from the field - which served to remind the packed Wells Fargo Center, and the player himself, why he is walking away from the game after two dominant decades with the Lakers.