The Dugout - January 29

Kevin Durant (USA Sports)

News Reel:

  • Riverboat Ron Rivera has been given a 3 year extension as coach of the Carolina Panthers after getting them to 12-4 despite a 1-3 start, though they couldn’t take that form into the playoffs, losing to San Francisco 23-10.
  • Yasiel Puig has had his reckless driving charge dropped. He was pulled up last month driving 110mph in a 70mph zone. This was not his first driving conviction. Puig now has his cousin drive him around.  
  • Aussie college baller Dante Exum has officially declared for what’s gonna prove the most stacked NBA draft in years. Exum is an Australian international, and you definitely haven’t heard the last of his name. Expect a top five selection from this fella, he’s gonna be a superstar.

Superbowl Primer #1

Incredibly Premature MLB Power Rankings:

  1. LA Dodgers
  2. Detroit Tigers
  3. Washington Nationals
  4. Texas Rangers
  5. Boston Red Sox

Russell Wilson’s Baseball Card

He’ll probably never play an MLB game in his life (though he’s keen for a spring training knock around), but Topps have issued this wonderful slice of cardboard memorabilia. Wilson was picked up in the Rule 5 draft by the Texas Rangers late last year.

NFL Pro Bowl Highlights:

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Oh, wait. There weren’t any. Because it’s a joke and the players don’t care about it.

Superbowl Primer #2

Here’s Richard Sherman Talking About Strippers:

And Some Other Stuff From Superbowl Media Day:

Weekly Pondering:

Supposing Carmelo Anthony doesn’t re-sign with the Knicks, and that this stage we’re not expecting him to (though his wife is…), where does he end up? Melo is undoubtedly a top 20 player in the league, potentially a top 10 guy even, yet a lot of people are really cold on him joining their teams. The thing is that Melo sits on the low end of the franchise player radar, so to get him means, for most teams, he’d have to be, for salary reasons and ego reasons, the best player on the team, and who honestly thinks you can win a title with Melo as your best player? This is why the Bulls are such an enticing option for the neutrals. They have Derrick Rose, who’s the go to guy when fit, but still have the cap room and motivation for Melo, who they’d presumably convert back to a catch and shoot type player. Imagine an opening day line-up of Rose, Anthony, Noah, Boozer and Butler. That’s your best shot, Melo.

Good Week:

Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks) – Speak of the devil, the reason he’s such hot property now is that he’s been lighting it up on the court. 62 points the other day against Charlotte broke a franchise and a MSG venue record. Melo at his elusive best. Enjoy:

Oklahoma City Thunder – 8 straight people. Right now they’re the best team in the league (maybe Indiana withstanding), and even Steven Adams is chipping in with some handy contributions. Kia Kaha.

Age Tm Pos G GS MP FG FGA FG% 2P 2PA 2P% FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
20 OKC C 46 2 15.2 1.3 2.7 .476 1.3 2.7 .476 .640 2.1 2.5 4.6 0.7 0.5 0.7 1.0 2.8 3.8
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Patriotic NBA Fact of the Week:                                                    

Steven Funaki Adams is number one in the NBA for contested rebound percentage (55%).

Bad Week:

American Sports Fans Who Don’t Watch Basketball – y’know, because there was nothing else on.

Player of the Week:

Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder) – KD is showing no signs of stopping this dominant stretch, even a shoulder injury hasn’t halted him one bit. 11 consecutive games of 30 points or more, and 5 of those games over 40 (he has 6 overall) – only 3 other people even have 2 40+ games (Kyrie, K.Love & Melo - Great name for an R’n’B slow jams group). This is pretty special.

Superbowl Primer #3

Upcoming Dates (NZ Time):

February 3 - Superbowl XLVIII

February 17 - 2014 NBA All-Star Game

February 26 - MLB Spring Training Begins

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Written by Nick Robinson On Tagged , , ,