This is my monthly (ok probably closer to weekly) posting al ink from grantland because it is so much better than all other sport websites. This is Bill Simmons analysis on Ben McLemore:
Ben McLemore: Turns 22 next month. Hold on, lemme check my "One Of The Three Texas Teams Will Steal Him Someday And Turn Him Into A Valuable 50-40-80 Guy" checklist.
• Lottery pedigree (CHECK)
• Younger than you think (CHECK)
• Drafted by the wrong team (CHECK)
• Never had a good coach or good point guard (CHECK)
• Fits easily into a specifically useful role (CHECK)
• Will be available soon because his current team is dumb (CHECK)
(Shaking my head.)
(Also, here's how smart the Spurs are: I am convinced they took a "chance" on Austin Daye, even though he isn't good at basketball, because they know they need to screw up every so often. Why? So the other 29 teams won't get suspicious every time they pursue someone they actually like. Almost like a world-class poker player chasing a hand with no good cards just to throw people off. That was the Austin Daye move. It was the Spurs saying, "We have a four of hearts and an eight of diamonds we're gonna stupidly chase a straight and RAISE. See, we're not perfect! We're dumb sometimes!" And it pays off for those moments 13 months from now when McLemore is mired in a shooting slump and they call the Kings just to, you know, see what's up. I'm onto you, San Antonio.)
Link
Ben McLemore: Turns 22 next month. Hold on, lemme check my "One Of The Three Texas Teams Will Steal Him Someday And Turn Him Into A Valuable 50-40-80 Guy" checklist.
• Lottery pedigree (CHECK)
• Younger than you think (CHECK)
• Drafted by the wrong team (CHECK)
• Never had a good coach or good point guard (CHECK)
• Fits easily into a specifically useful role (CHECK)
• Will be available soon because his current team is dumb (CHECK)
(Shaking my head.)
(Also, here's how smart the Spurs are: I am convinced they took a "chance" on Austin Daye, even though he isn't good at basketball, because they know they need to screw up every so often. Why? So the other 29 teams won't get suspicious every time they pursue someone they actually like. Almost like a world-class poker player chasing a hand with no good cards just to throw people off. That was the Austin Daye move. It was the Spurs saying, "We have a four of hearts and an eight of diamonds we're gonna stupidly chase a straight and RAISE. See, we're not perfect! We're dumb sometimes!" And it pays off for those moments 13 months from now when McLemore is mired in a shooting slump and they call the Kings just to, you know, see what's up. I'm onto you, San Antonio.)
Link
