[Editor's Note: Yeah, this is a sports post. Expect lots more of em'.]
This NBA season hasn't been too fond to me thus far. My team, The Washington Wizards, had some critical injuries in the preseason and now find themselves as the league's only winless team at 0-5. Yes, even the hapless Clippers and should-be expansion Oklahoma City Thunder (what a corny a$$ name!) have at least one win. So, it's hardly been happy days in DC.
One of the few bright spots has been watching the emergence of rookie OJ Mayo. Mayo, who did one year at noted hoops factory USC before becoming the #3 overall pick in last summer's draft is the Memphis Grizzlies leading scorer at a sizzling 21ppg on a respectable 46% shooting from the field. The team (3-5) isn't winning much, but they're competitive, and I'd rather be 3-5 than 0-5 anyday.
This might sound like blasphemy to some bball purists, but the guy, to me at least, looks like the second coming of Kobe Bean Bryant. After watching him explode for 26 first half points last night, it's hard to argue.
Yeah, he was shut down in the second half and only finished with 31, but that's beside the point. Dude was halfway to half a dollar in his eighth NBA game.
The guy has off the dribble moves, can take it to the rack, and shoots well from 3pt range (a respectable 44%) and the line (88%). Sure, he could lay off the treys and get to the charity stripe more often, but that's just being nitpicky.
Other rookies like Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose are getting lots of attention, but I'd bet my NBA League Pass that OJ Mayo (what an NBA name!) wins RoY come June.
Question: Have you peeped OJ Mayo yet? Do you even care about NBA ball while the NFL is still in season?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Third Coming?!?
Tags Popped: NBA = Nuthin' But Africans
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Since my Philly Eagles are fcuking up right now , I'm taking in the joys of the Atlanta Hawks being 5-0...Joe Johnson for MVP! (Yeah, I know it's too early, but whatever lol)
As for O.J. Mayo. I've watched him play in college and I will say this: If he played on a better college squad , or actually gave a damn for that matter, he would have seriously contended for a title on some Carmelo ish.
Mayo isn't even the best player on his team (Rudy Gay). He's only eight games into the season. We'll see how he does after All-Star Break.
By the way, I don't think anyone cares about the Wiz besides you. Since the Skins are winning, you know how the Metro is.
(I didn't make any Wizards jokes. Are you proud?)
Although the NFL is first for me, it's hard for me to remain hopeful with Tom Brady out.
But I'm still finding time to watch my Celtics from time to time.
OJ Mayo the third coming? Are you kidding me? We'll be doing some rookie reviews soon on my site, but Mayo is just a scorer and that's it. I don't think he's that good. He's just on a team where he's getting a lot of shots because other than Rudy they can't score. Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley has this one in the bag. The sleeper is Rudy Fernandez, he'll get some love too. I like Kevin Love to get it before Mayo.
I'm in school right now bout to go crazy....but i'd pick NBA over NFL.
I'll catch up over christmas break.
NFL. The NBA hasn't been the same since MJ (sorry, I cannot let go). I'll watch the second half/playoffs, finals. I'm more interested in the college game.
Let's just see how Mr. Mayo is looking come All-Star Weekend in February.
I can't support the Charlotte Bobcats because:
a) The team sucks.
b) Bob Johnson sucks.
c) The uniforms and colors suck.
d) I still have bitter feelings for the Hornets (not owner George Shinn)
e) I'm starting to favor the Houston Rockets.
I have the NBA League pass too, but honestly, I haven't watched a full game on it yet. I have been watching Hockey Night in Canada on Saturdays. As for the NFL, my Vikings are going from suck to blow, even though Adrian Peterson is the MAN.
EG
@ Inq Mind
Did you re-up on your League Pass this season? The guy is mostly a scorer, but c'mon, cut him some slack. He's not as physically gifted as Kobe, but he can get his shot off at will, and can already shoot. He'll learn to defend and create for others down the road.
I'd peg him as a one dimensional scorer if he was shooting sub 40%, but dude is shooting well from the field and grabbing his share of rebs. He actually pretends to play D too, not "passing lane D", but real "stay in front of your man, D".
I like the guy. Fernandez is nice too.
@ Blk Bond
More on college ball later this week. Stay tuned.
@ Ciara
I knew you couldn't resist a dig at my Wiz, or props to Joe Johnson.
I'll give it to you, the Hawks are off to a nice start. They may finish Top 5-6 in the East this year.
Anyone think about how funny it is that the teams best players are called GAY and MAYO?
For the record, Rudy's better now, but you can watch OJ and tell he wants to be the better player. In 2-3 years, if they add some vets, they could be nice.
@ EG
The Bobcats just stink. Even Larry Brown can't save that band of LOSERS.
The alternate road jerseys (the blue, Knick-like ones) are kinda nice though.
@ciara (WARNING! Extreme hater-a-tion to follow)
Yes, your beagles are messing up. Badly! But don't you expect that? I mean they have won absolutely nothing. All of the other teams in the NFC East have 2 or more SuperBowl rings except.....oh I can't think of the team, can you help me out here?
@AB
Listen, the NBA Season starts in April. Up until then it's just the pre-season. So in the NBA you have openeing day which is only recoginzed because it's usually on a Tuesday or Wednesday which doesn't interfere with Football. Then there's the Christmas game, NBA All-Star weekend, April games before the "Season" then the "Season". So many things are happening before then like....football and not just pro football(BCS Championships, NFL Playoffs, SuperBowl). But outside of football you have college basketball which is way more interesting/exciting. Not to mention you have 2, possibly 3, Duke vs. UNC matchups. ACC Tournament, March madness.
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