Sports & Perspective
Robby Anderson is no longer a question mark for the New York Jets, he’s become their answer.
He’s not the answer to all of their questions, but his play has given fans a vision for their team’s future.
Anderson has gone from undrafted free agent out of Temple to an emerging NFL wide receiver. He’s become the home run hitter the Jets need in their passing game. Continue reading “Robby Anderson Gives Jets Their Home Run Hitter”
The Nets may have uncovered a new role for Caris LeVert which can benefit both sides. The youngster is beginning to thrive as a spark in their second unit.
Injuries to Jeremy Lin and D’Angelo Russell have created an opportunity for head coach Kenny Atkinson to settle on a rotation with defined roles.
With Spencer Dinwiddie and Allen Crabbe finding their groove as the new starting backcourt, LeVert has become Atkinson’s energy guy off the bench.
After getting off to a tough start this season finding his shot, Levert is beginning to pick it up. This past week, in a loss to the Celtics, he scored 15 points, on 6-of-7 shooting, in 22 minutes. He followed that up with a 10-point effort, also in 22 minutes, along with four rebounds to help Brooklyn defeat Utah.
LeVert can shoot the three, but he’s now slashing more to the basket and getting high-percentage shots. He has hops and shows it whenever he’s out on the fast break. Atkinson loves his effort on defense.
It shouldn’t go unnoticed LeVert’s improved play also aligns with Dinwiddie taking over as the starting point and Crabbe finding his own comfort zone off the ball. The Nets are beginning to find their rhythm on offense with players becoming more comfortable in their roles.
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At 6’7, he has the tools to excel long-term at whatever role the Nets have for him.
Right now, however, they need his energy off the bench. He can contribute positive minutes from the point, play defense, and create favorable matchups on the perimeter.
He’s taller than Vinnie Johnson, but LeVert has “microwave” potential for the Nets as their sixth man. He has the ability to check into a game and create instant offense with his athleticism.
In this time of transition for LeVert and the Nets, this will only serve as a plus for both sides in the short-term and the bigger picture.
Spencer Dinwiddie is writing one of those feel-good chapters which has become difficult to ignore around the NBA. He’s a key piece for the Brooklyn Nets in their rotation.
For a second consecutive season, the Nets’ backcourt has been ravaged by injuries. The news just broke that lead guard D’Angelo Russell will be out indefinitely after having arthroscopic surgery to his left knee.
Dinwiddie was already receiving more playing time with Jeremy Lin lost for the season to a knee injury. Now with Russell sidelined, the opportunity has widened for the 6’6, 24-year old to take advantage of an unexpected job opening for Brooklyn’s full-time point guard.
If there’s any doubt remaining that Dinwiddie’s up for the challenge, he’s doing his best to erase it one game at a time. He was masterful in a 25-point performance which lead the Nets to a 118-107 win over the Utah Jazz, Friday night at Barclays Center.
Besides the points, a career high, Dinwiddie was everything and more on this night. He also tallied eight assists, five rebounds, and brought a calm and poise to the game for the Nets.
But what stood out the most, in 31 minutes of play, is Dinwiddie registered zero turnovers. It’s another reason he’s earned the trust of his teammates and head coach Kenny Atkinson.
Especially when the Nets began to show signs of slippage in the third quarter. They allowed Utah to slice a 22-point lead down to nine heading into the fourth. That’s when Atkinson went back to his guy.
“That was huge,” Atkinson said afterwards, almost now at a loss for words on how well Dinwiddie’s performed for him. “We got Spencer back in the game to get us organized and stabilized. It’s good for our morale, good for our confidence, but it’s not a surprise. We’ve talked all year that Spencer has made a step in development.”
He’s also on pace for a career high in three-point percentage, he was 6 of 10 against the Jazz.
Dinwiddie’s work ethic and style of play have made him a fan favorite at Barclays. He can break his opponent down off the dribble, but picks his spots when to do so. He’s capable of making the flashy pass but puts an emphasis on making the right one. The team thrives with him on the court.
There’s no denying the improvement across the board in Dinwiddie’s game. When the Nets signed him last December there were plenty of unknowns for where he’d fit in the team’s plans. Give him credit for making his own way by putting in the work.
Dinwiddie isn’t an overnight success story. He’s been putting his time in since the Detroit Pistons used their second round draft pick in 2014 on him.
Through hard work and not giving up on himself, he’s earned every minute the Nets are now trusting him with to be their leader.
St John’s has the talent in their backcourt to compete for a spot in the postseason. But it’s going to take more than strong guard play to make headway in the Big East.
Chris Mullin is in his third season as head coach, it’s been a slow climb for the Red Storm but there’s plenty of reason for hope.
With sophomores Shamorie Ponds and Marcus LoVett, St. John’s has one of the conference’s more exciting backcourts.
College basketball game, much like in the NBA, has evolved into more of an emphasis on the guards and perimeter-oriented players. But this doesn’t take away from the importance of being able to rebound. This is where the Red Storm may struggle.
In their season opener on Friday night, the Red Storm came away with a 77-61 win over New Orleans.
LoVett and Ponds played well, as expected. St. John’s was also outrebounded, 42-27, but found a way to still win.
Against a team like New Orleans, no disrespect to them, Mullin’s team was able to rely on the talent of their guards. But that won’t always be the case as the season progresses.
If St. John’s is going to take the next step in their growth, they’ll need an improved effort on the glass. There’s size upfront with 6-11 Tariq Owens and 6-7 forward Kassoum Yawke. The knock on 6-7 Bashir Ahmed is he remains erratic and needs to find more consistency in his game.
The arrival of Marvin Clark III could be key to this team’s rebounding issues. He’s 6-7 but sat out last season after transferring from Michigan State. Clark III brings Big 10 experience with him, that’s going to be valuable this season for Mullin.
LoVett and Ponds will supply the offensive firepower for St. John’s, but they can’t do it all alone. Mullin is doing a good job at getting this team to take on his identity. They’re tough, play defense, and they’re scrappy.
This could be the breakthrough season St. John’s has been waiting for, if they find a way to improve on the boards.
Can anyone blame Seton Hall for feeling their time has come?
The Pirates are ranked 23rd in the nation, the feeling around campus is they’re a team ready to contend for a spot in the Final Four.
They’re loaded with the right mix of old and young on its roster. Seton Hall’s senior class has come of age together. They came in together and have endured their fair share of growing pains while learning how to win together as a unit.
Angel Delgado, Desi Rodriguez, and Khadeen Carrington are more than just talented basketball players. The trio came in together and have endured their fair share of growing pains. They’re now experienced veterans ready to finish their collegiate careers on the highest of notes.
On a cold Friday night in Newark, the triple-threat provided the spark Seton Hall needed to power past Fairleigh Dickinson with a 90-68 win in their season-opener.
After the game, Pirates head coach Kevin Willard pointed towards the strength of this year’s team.
“When you have as many seniors as we have, you have a lot of confidence in them,” Willard said. We’re like an aged steak.”
Delgado is a walking double-double, this is nothing new to fans of Seton Hall. He had 10 points and 10 rebounds against FDU, he’s been the heart and soul of the Pirates with his enthusiasm and effort.
You put Delgado with the offense of Rodriguez and Carrington and Seton Hall gives headaches for opponents trying to matchup against them.
Willard, along the way, has been great at surrounding his core group with a strong supporting cast. Freshman Myles Cale played a strong game with 12 points off the bench.
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Expectations for Seton Hall this season are high, as they should be. It can’t go unnoticed they’re the only Division I team with three 1,000-point scorers in Rodriguez, Delgado, and Carrington.
After three years of growing together through blood, sweat, and even tears – this team’s ready for their spot at the big table with the nation’s top contenders.
It’s time to serve the main course, the Pirates are ready to eat.
If there’s anything to take from watching Fordham lose their season opener to Miami (Oh) it’s they’re still a team in search of consistent offense.
The defense is still a strength for this team. Third-year head coach Jeff Neubauer does a good job with making sure the Rams play hard on every play.
But the problem area for Fordham this year came up late in Friday night’s loss to Miami (Oh). When the defense struggles to get stops, where will the offense come from on this team?
Fordham had a 54-48 lead with 2:20 left in the game, that’s the time when you’re supposed to put your opponent away. Instead, while the Red Hawks were coming alive on offense, the Rams missed their last three shots.
Miami (Oh) went on a 7-0 run to escape Rose Hill with a 55-54 win over the Rams. It’s a frustrating beginning to a new season for Neubauer.
In the offseason, the Rams lost graduate transfers Christian Sengfelder (Boise St.) and Antwoine Anderson (UConn). They played key offensive roles for Fordham during their time there.
Junior guard Joeseph Chartouny is back for Fordham, they’re going to need his scoring just as much as his leadership.
Chartouny was aggressive in looking to get to the basket against Miami (Oh). He’s an excellent defender, but Neubauer will need more from him and Will Tavares to keep the Rams in ballgames.
Neubauer has brought a sense of stability to which was missing before he arrived on campus. He’s no-nonsense when it comes to teaching the fundamentals to his players. But he’s also aware this is still very much a process with getting the program out of the lower tier of the conference.
In order to take that next step, Fordham has to get more from their offense. That’ll be their challenge this season.
Whenever Kristaps Porzingis touches the basketball now it’s become must-watch television.
A “very comfortable” Porzingis has been torching the league since the start of the season. The Knicks have been the benefactors of his emergence as their go-to guy.
For all the doubters who questioned if he was ready to take Carmelo Anthony’s spot as the face of the franchise, the 22-year old is methodically putting those questions to rest. Continue reading “With Kristaps Porzingis the Knicks Are Actually Exciting”
If the Giants and Ben McAdoo are looking to prove they’re not quitting on this season, they’re going to need a different approach. It certainly seemed that way during their 51-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The Giants looked like a team already planning out their vacation plans. They certainly didn’t look like they were ready to play a football game.
The Rams are a good football team, there should be no more debates about this. This is a well-coached team, with a young franchise quarterback, playmakers at running back and wide receiver, and a game-changer on defense.
In other words, the Rams are everything the Giants are currently not.
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The Giants are missing Odell Beckham Jr., the injuries to their roster were body blows to their season, and the offensive line remains a joke. These issues are not why they embarrassed themselves against the Rams.
Nothing better summarizes the fall of the Giants than the second quarter of this game. On a third and 33, the Rams called a screen play likely just to make for a manageable fourth down. Jared Goff hit Robert Woods and, 52 yards later, found himself in the end zone celebrating a touchdown.
How an NFL defense allows a touchdown there is beyond me. Woods ran right through the Giants’ defense; the secondary took terrible angles on the play. They looked out of position and eventually shell-shocked.
Just as inexcusable was the Giants allowing Goff to find Sammy Watkins for a 67-yard touchdown pass which basically put the game away before halftime. Again, the secondary, specifically Landon Collins, looked caught off-guard.
The body language from Dominque Rodgers- Cromartie, after Woods scored again on a four-yard touchdown pass, said it all. Woods was wide open in the end zone when Rodgers-Cromartie was in coverage on another receiver. He turned and saw Woods and could only throw his hands up in disgust.
In that one gesture, Rodgers-Cromartie likely summed up the feelings of every Giants’ fan this season.
Effort shouldn’t be taught, it’s either there or it’s not. No matter what anyone on the Giants say about this game, there’s no justifying lack of effort and players continuing to blow their coverage assignments.
After the game, McAdoo spoke having to keep fighting and learning about people during times like this. The Giants could be looking at McAdoo exactly the same way. And it’s not just McAdoo, it’s the entire coaching staff and general manager Jerry Reese.
If I’m the Giants, I’ve seen enough to know major changes must take place after the season. They probably won’t, but it can’t hurt to start now.
Because no matter what they say to convince anyone otherwise, they look like a team which has already pulled the plug.
Matt Forte spoke his mind after the Jets lost their third straight game, the veteran running back had plenty to say.
Before the Jets go about the business of putting their season back on track, they better make sure everyone’s on the same page. Continue reading “For Matt Forte and the Jets, Two Wrongs Don’t Make It Right”
The narrative for the basketball landscape in New York City lately has centered around the Knicks and Nets heading in different directions.
The Knicks are under new management with team president Steve Mills and general manager Steve Perry. On the court, the trade of Carmelo Anthony signaled the official beginning of the Kristaps Porzingis era.
Brooklyn is in year two of a massive rebuild which has caught the attention of everyone around the league.
Where the Knicks have struggled with cohesion, the Nets have thrived. For proof of this, all you would have to do is take a quick look at the standings.
Coming into Friday night’s matchup at Madison Square Garden, the Nets were 3-2 and coming off of an impressive home win over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Meanwhile, not only were the Knicks looking for their first win of the season –- they were also looking to silence any whispers of their team heading in the wrong direction.
There was plenty to feel encouraged about for Knicks fans, starting with the play of point guard Frank Ntilikina.