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TSN Basketball Analyst

Archive

1. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (16-0): The defending champs broke the NBA record last night for best start to a season and were awesome doing it. Can they keep this going? Sure.  Can they get to 70 wins? Possibly. Ultimately, this is about making sure you continue to progress and grow and be at your very best come playoff time. They are a wonderfully balanced offensive team with lots of sound defensive players. They are the essence of a two-way team. Interim coach Luke Walton has done an impressive job in Steve Kerr's absence, while Steph Curry has been nothing short of superb. The Bay Area fans are spoiled!                  

2. KOBE BRYANT (Lakers): The Lakers legend was 1-14 from the field last night against the Warriors. The team was woeful, putting up a paltry 77 points. This is a difficult spot for coach Byron Scott - you're trying to develop your young players while your oldest guy is taking the most shots on the floor. That’s a tough balancing act for any coach to manage.  This ultimately has to be about the long-term and the development of the team’s young prospects. Kobe is obviously a legend and a proud/competitive guy who looks around and sees young guys he knows aren't ready - and in some cases doesn't respect - and says to himself “I'll do it.” It’s a dangerous environment for a young team to make progress in.              

3. STEVE CLIFFORD (Hornets): Not one of the best-run operations in the NBA, but I like this move by the franchise. The Charlotte coach signed a contract extension on Wednesday. The new deal is well earned and well deserved. He's a tireless worker who holds guys accountable and gets everything he can out of them. Clifford is a very good coach who has a handle on what works for his roster. It’s important for some stability to be established in Charlotte and Michael Jordan clearly likes what he sees in terms of the positive foundation being laid.        

4. EMMANUEL MUDIAY (Nuggets): Yes, he needs considerable work on his shooting, but he's a talented young guy who is being given the opportunity to figure it out in Denver. The point guard is playing significant minutes, averaging a very respectable 12.5 points and 6.3 assists per game. There’s a long way to go, but I like the approach the Nuggets organization is taking with him. They know that the playoffs are a long shot, so the smart move is to develop their top pick. The payoff will come down the line.          

5. JONAS VALANCIUNAS (Raptors): The injury is a tough setback for the fourth-year centre. So far, I've seen a guy that's made nice progress in his development. Is he there yet? Not quite, but he’s trending in the proper direction. His defensive awareness is noticeably better this season. His post game and work to establish position have been better, and he's rebounding well. The tough part about an injury is trying to maintain a decent level of conditioning so he can help when he returns The Raptors will miss him and have to re-invent themselves to a degree with some non-traditional lineups that are fast becoming the new norm in the NBA. If the Raptors can weather the storm it will benefit them long-term.