{"id":53460,"date":"2015-10-24T07:33:51","date_gmt":"2015-10-24T04:33:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hoops.co.il\/?p=53460"},"modified":"2015-11-01T18:11:43","modified_gmt":"2015-11-01T16:11:43","slug":"15-%d7%a2%d7%9c-%d7%94%d7%91%d7%95%d7%a7%d7%a8-15-%d7%a2%d7%9c-%d7%90%d7%97%d7%94%d7%a6-%d7%9e%d7%a0%d7%97%d7%9d-%d7%9c%d7%a1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hoops.co.il\/?p=53460","title":{"rendered":"\u05db\u05dc \u05d4-30 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d9\u05e6\u05d9\u05d0\u05ea \u05e9\u05d1\u05ea \/ \u05de\u05e0\u05d7\u05dd \u05dc\u05e1"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"article-header\">\n<h2><\/h2>\n<header class=\"article_header cf\">\n<h1 class=\"article_title\">'Kareem: Minority of One' HBO Documentary Preview, TV Schedule<\/h1>\n<address class=\"article_author-info\">By <a class=\"article_author-link\" title=\"Alec Nathan\" href=\"http:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/users\/748421-alec-nathan\">Alec Nathan<\/a>, <span class=\"author-rank\">Featured Columnist<\/span><\/address>\n<h4 class=\"article_author\"><time class=\"article_timestamp\" data-updated_at=\"1446375602\">Nov 1, 2015<\/time><\/h4>\n<div id=\"top-share-buttons-region\">\n<ul class=\"share-buttons cf share-buttons--top\">\n<li class=\"share-button button button--facebook \" data-source=\"facebook\" data-position=\"top\" data-url=\"http:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/articles\/2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule\"><a title=\"Share on Facebook\" href=\"http:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/articles\/2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule#\" target=\"_blank\"> <span class=\"share-text\">SHARE<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-button button button--twitter \" data-source=\"twitter\" data-position=\"top\"><a title=\"Share on Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule&amp;text=%27Kareem%3A+Minority+of+One%27+HBO+Documentary+Preview%2C+TV+Schedule&amp;tw_p=tweetbutton&amp;via=bleacherreport&amp;counturl=http%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule%3Futm_source%3Dtwitter.com%26utm_medium%3Dshare%26utm_campaign%3Dweb-des-art-top-19\" target=\"_blank\"> <span class=\"share-text\">TWEET<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"total-share-count team-color-text\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article_pages\">\n<section class=\"article_page  js-article-page-1 cf  is-active \" data-page=\"1\">\n<header class=\"article_page-header\">\n<div class=\"article_nav-bar br-texture--sudo br-texture--sudo-fade-to-white\">\n<div class=\"paginators paginators--top\"><a class=\"paginator paginator--primary paginator--next\" title=\"Next Article\">NEXT ARTICLE <span class=\"aquo\">\u00bb<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"bar-headline\">Use your \u2190 \u2192 (arrow) keys to browse more stories<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article_image\">\n<div class=\"article_image--main  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/img.bleacherreport.net\/img\/images\/photos\/003\/540\/266\/hi-res-0d3af4cf4e448c5f4fb965549e173dc2_crop_north.jpg?w=630&amp;h=420&amp;q=75\" alt=\"'Kareem: Minority of One' HBO Documentary Preview, TV Schedule\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption-overlay border-box\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"article_image-accreditation\">Paul Morigi\/Associated Press<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article_info team-color-border cf\">\n<div class=\"total-reads article-stats\">\n<div class=\"team-color-text article-stats_count\">1.4K<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-stats_label\">Reads<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article_comments js-open-comments article-stats \">\n<div class=\"comments-count team-color-text article-stats_count\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"comments-label article-stats_label\">Comments<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article_body cf\">\n<p class=\"ui-droppable\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/kareem-abdul-jabbar\">Kareem Abdul-Jabbar<\/a> is arguably the greatest player to ever step on the <a href=\"http:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/nba\">NBA<\/a> hardwood, and the Los Angeles Lakers legend is primed to grace television screens Tuesday when HBO debuts\u00a0<em>Kareem: Minority of One\u00a0<\/em>to audiences across the country.<\/p>\n<p>Before previewing the documentary, here's a rundown of when and where you can catch the program. For reference, a full list of<span class=\"spellcheck\"><span class=\"spellcheck\"><span class=\"spellcheck\"><span class=\"spellcheck\">showtimes<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> beyond the debut is available at HBO's <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hbo.com\/sports\/kareem-minority-of-one\/article\/about.html\">official website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Date:\u00a0<\/strong>Tuesday, Nov. 3<\/p>\n<p><strong>Time:\u00a0<\/strong>10 p.m. ET<\/p>\n<p><strong>TV:\u00a0<\/strong>HBO<\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"spellcheck\"><span class=\"spellcheck\"><span class=\"spellcheck\"><span class=\"spellcheck\">Online<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hbogo.com\/\">HBO Go<\/a>\u00a0and <a href=\"https:\/\/order.hbonow.com\/\">HBO Now<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Preview<\/h2>\n<div class=\"article-video  full-width youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"WeuYhaPmwMI\" class=\"video_embed\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WeuYhaPmwMI?wmode=transparent&amp;autoplay=0\" width=\"630\" height=\"450\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ul class=\"share-buttons share-buttons--video share-buttons--youtube  cf border-box \">\n<li class=\"share-button button button--facebook \" data-source=\"facebook\" data-position=\"vid\" data-url=\"http:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/articles\/2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule\"><a title=\"Share on Facebook\" href=\"http:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/articles\/2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule#\" target=\"_blank\"> <span class=\"share-text\">SHARE<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-button button button--twitter \" data-source=\"twitter\" data-position=\"vid\"><a title=\"Share on Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule&amp;text=%27Kareem%3A+Minority+of+One%27+HBO+Documentary+Preview%2C+TV+Schedule&amp;tw_p=tweetbutton&amp;via=bleacherreport&amp;counturl=http%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule%3Futm_source%3Dtwitter.com%26utm_medium%3Dshare%26utm_campaign%3Dweb-des-art-vid-19\" target=\"_blank\"> <span class=\"share-text\">TWEET<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-button button button--email \" data-source=\"email\" data-position=\"vid\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>The documentary traces Abdul-Jabbar's upbringing and his decision to attend UCLA, where he connected with legendary head coach John Wooden before making his ascent to the NBA.<\/p>\n<p>However, his professional journey remains one of the more fascinating stories the league has ever seen\u2014particularly to younger fans who weren't able to watch the league's <a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/leaders\/pts_career.html\">all-time<\/a> leading scorer in his prime.<\/p>\n<p>After getting drafted No. 1 overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1969, Abdul-Jabbar captured Rookie of the Year honors behind staggering averages of 28.8 points, 14.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists. One year later, Kareem led the Bucks to a title as Milwaukee swept the Baltimore Bullets in the NBA Finals.<\/p>\n<p>And while he lasted six seasons with the Bucks, Abdul-Jabbar ultimately<a href=\"http:\/\/nypost.com\/2011\/01\/28\/kareem-maneuvered-way-to-lakers-but-not-publicly\/\">wiggled his way<\/a> out of the Midwest and moved back to Los Angeles\u2014where his profile exploded as a member of the Lakers.<\/p>\n<p>Back in California, his sky hook became the stuff of legends as he helped lead the Lakers to five titles between 1980 and 1988.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-video  full-width youtube\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"LbogCRa6PJI\" class=\"video_embed\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LbogCRa6PJI?wmode=transparent&amp;autoplay=0\" width=\"630\" height=\"450\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ul class=\"share-buttons share-buttons--video share-buttons--youtube  cf border-box \">\n<li class=\"share-button button button--facebook \" data-source=\"facebook\" data-position=\"vid\" data-url=\"http:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/articles\/2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule\"><a title=\"Share on Facebook\" href=\"http:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/articles\/2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule#\" target=\"_blank\"> <span class=\"share-text\">SHARE<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-button button button--twitter \" data-source=\"twitter\" data-position=\"vid\"><a title=\"Share on Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule&amp;text=%27Kareem%3A+Minority+of+One%27+HBO+Documentary+Preview%2C+TV+Schedule&amp;tw_p=tweetbutton&amp;via=bleacherreport&amp;counturl=http%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule%3Futm_source%3Dtwitter.com%26utm_medium%3Dshare%26utm_campaign%3Dweb-des-art-vid-19\" target=\"_blank\"> <span class=\"share-text\">TWEET<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-button button button--email \" data-source=\"email\" data-position=\"vid\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>But Kareem was a transcendent presence beyond the basketball court.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I figured that there are a whole lot of questions about my life that really everybody is still in the dark about,&quot; Abdul-Jabbar said, according to <em>Newsday<\/em>'s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.newsday.com\/sports\/basketball\/kareem-abdul-jabbar-clears-the-air-in-hbo-documentary-1.11017132\">Mike Gavin<\/a>.\u00a0&quot;I didn't want to go to my grave as a mystery man.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Specifically, the documentary is said to focus on Abdul-Jabbar's conversion to Islam and his emergence as a prominent public role as a social activist.<\/p>\n<p>According to Gavin, one of Abdul-Jabbar's primary objectives was to use the platform as a way to convey his feelings regarding his role as an opinion leader:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Just the motivation for a lot of the stances that I took. Sometimes people would question me as to my motives, and not speaking about it publicly really just maintained the mystery. So I wanted to clear the air on so many of the instances that people bring up when they talk about my life.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Abdul-Jabbar's compelling story is difficult to sum up in 90 minutes, but by all accounts, <em>Kareem: Minority of One\u00a0<\/em>does an excellent job of painting the six-time MVP as a man who had just as significant an impact off the court as he did on it.<\/p>\n<p>Basketball enthusiast or not, there are plenty of reasons to tune in and admire the way Abdul-Jabbar evolved as a person while transforming into arguably the most dominant force the sport has ever seen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<footer class=\"article_footer\">\n<ul class=\"share-buttons cf\">\n<li class=\"share-button button button--facebook button--medium\" data-source=\"facebook\" data-position=\"bot\" data-url=\"http:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/articles\/2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule\"><a title=\"Share on Facebook\" href=\"http:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/articles\/2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule#\" target=\"_blank\"> <span class=\"share-text\">SHARE<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-button button button--twitter button--medium\" data-source=\"twitter\" data-position=\"bot\"><a title=\"Share on Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule&amp;text=%27Kareem%3A+Minority+of+One%27+HBO+Documentary+Preview%2C+TV+Schedule&amp;tw_p=tweetbutton&amp;via=bleacherreport&amp;counturl=http%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F2584708-kareem-minority-of-one-hbo-documentary-preview-tv-schedule%3Futm_source%3Dtwitter.com%26utm_medium%3Dshare%26utm_campaign%3Dweb-des-art-bot-19\" target=\"_blank\"> <span class=\"share-text\">T<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/footer>\n<h2 class=\"m-entry__title\" data-remote-headline-edit=\"title\" data-remote-headline-promo-headine=\"Stevens is the Celtics' biggest reason for hope\" data-remote-admin-entry-id=\"9384897\">Brad Stevens is the Celtics' biggest reason for\u00a0hope<\/h2>\n<p class=\"m-entry__byline\">By <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/authors\/paul-flannery\" rel=\"author\" data-ref-index=\"1\">Paul Flannery<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"m-entry__top-header l-chunk\">\n<header>\n<p class=\"m-entry__byline\"><span class=\"m-entry__byline-tw-handle\"> <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/Pflanns\" data-ref-index=\"2\">@Pflanns<\/a> <\/span> on Oct 28, 2015, 10:30a <span class=\"m-comment-count no-chorus-optimize\"> <a class=\"m-comment-count__bubble\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/2015\/10\/28\/9620856\/brad-stevens-boston-celtics-profile-nba#comments\" data-ref-index=\"3\">10<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"l-chunk has-rail \">\n<div class=\"l-main\">\n<div class=\"l-main-float\">\n<div class=\"m-entry__top-hero m-entry__top-hero__default\">\n<div class=\"m-entry__photo m-shareable-content__wrap\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"vox-lazy-load lazy-loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.vox-cdn.com\/thumbor\/ArZinzBWM9-oDpruQB-6RLFn4cI=\/0x0:2734x1823\/500x333\/cdn0.vox-cdn.com\/uploads\/chorus_image\/image\/47527115\/usa-today-8877901.0.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-dim=\"490x327\" data-shareable-content=\"pinterest\" data-original=\"https:\/\/cdn1.vox-cdn.com\/thumbor\/ArZinzBWM9-oDpruQB-6RLFn4cI=\/0x0:2734x1823\/500x333\/cdn0.vox-cdn.com\/uploads\/chorus_image\/image\/47527115\/usa-today-8877901.0.jpg\" data-ratio=\"1.5\" data-imgkey=\"47527115:standard:15\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"m-entry__photo__caption\">Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports<\/div>\n<div class=\"m-entry-admin-pane\" data-remote-admin-entry-type=\"pane\" data-remote-admin-entry-id=\"9384897\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"m-entry__intro\">The Celtics are banking on heightened win totals and an expanded rotation. They have reason to expect big things because of their blossoming head coach.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"m-entry__upper-social\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><a class=\"p-button has-icon twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Brad%20Stevens%20is%20the%20Celtics%27%20biggest%20reason%20for%20hope&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbnation.com%2F2015%2F10%2F28%2F9620856%2Fbrad-stevens-boston-celtics-profile-nba&amp;via=sbnation\" data-analytics-social=\"twitter\" data-analytics-placement=\"top\"> <span class=\"p-button__social-text\">Tweet<\/span> <span class=\"p-button__count\" data-twitter-share-count-url=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/2015\/10\/28\/9620856\/brad-stevens-boston-celtics-profile-nba\" data-use-parens=\"true\">(156)<\/span> <\/a> <a class=\"p-button has-icon facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbnation.com%2F2015%2F10%2F28%2F9620856%2Fbrad-stevens-boston-celtics-profile-nba\" data-analytics-social=\"facebook\" data-analytics-placement=\"top\"><span class=\"p-button__social-text\">Share<\/span> <span class=\"p-button__count\" data-facebook-share-count-url=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/2015\/10\/28\/9620856\/brad-stevens-boston-celtics-profile-nba\" data-use-parens=\"true\">(1286)<\/span> <\/a><\/h2>\n<div class=\"m-entry__upper-social\">\n<div class=\"m-entry__social\"><a class=\"p-button has-icon pinterest\" href=\"http:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?description=The+Celtics+are+banking+on+heightened+win+totals+and+an+expanded+rotation.+They+have+reason+to+expect+big+things+because+of+their+blossoming+head+coach.&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn0.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fi_I5BYdzaW_PclQJumtOJ4rUVMA%3D%2F0x0%3A2734x1538%2F1050x591%2Fcdn0.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_image%2Fimage%2F47527115%2Fusa-today-8877901.0.jpg&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbnation.com%2F2015%2F10%2F28%2F9620856%2Fbrad-stevens-boston-celtics-profile-nba\" data-pin-do=\"true\" data-analytics-social=\"pinterest\" data-analytics-placement=\"top\"><span class=\"p-button__social-text\">Pin<\/span> <\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"m-entry__body\">\n<p id=\"paragraph0\" class=\"pgh-paragraph has-dropcap\">BOSTON &#8212; There\u2019s an interesting dynamic heading into this latest Celtics season. Most people think the C\u2019s will be fairly decent, which is to say around the .500 mark and safely into the lower end of the postseason for the second straight season. Others who rely on more intricate models see something quite different, with win totals in the high 40s, maybe even in the low 50s.<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph1\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">While no one thinks the Celtics are ready to contend for a championship, that\u2019s still a significant spread. In the East, it\u2019s the difference between hosting a round or two in the playoffs and having a shot at reaching a conference final or getting overrun in the first round again by a more talented opponent. It\u2019s the difference between making progress and marking time.<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph2\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">The cautious projection represents the general consensus. They see a team of perfectly average players that lacks that one true game changer around whom the franchise can build a roster. Indeed, there isn\u2019t a single All-Star candidate among the regular rotation players, unless you count Isaiah Thomas who is likely to come off the bench.<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph3\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">The optimistic models take into account that while the Celtics do not have a franchise player, they do have a number of good ones. To put it another way, they have depth and lots of it. They\u2019re likely to use up to 10 players in their regular rotation and maybe even more if the situation calls for it. That depth can be used in multiple ways, from killer reserve lineups to recovering quickly from injuries and managing game-to-game fatigue.<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph4\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">&quot;We\u2019ll see how our minutes end up, but I envision this team being a hand the baton off, let\u2019s go. Next guy up,&quot; Brad Stevens said after practice last week. &quot;Somebody gets tired? Great, let me know. It\u2019s not a situation where you gut through it for the next three minutes. If we have to go 11-deep, which is not normal, or 12-deep in a game I\u2019m very comfortable doing that right now.&quot;<\/p>\n<div class=\"must-reads-compact-only-container\">\n<h4><span class=\"must-reads-star\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/cdn2.sbnation.com\/assets\/3608771\/star.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/span> Time to Tip Off <span class=\"must-reads-star\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/cdn2.sbnation.com\/assets\/3608771\/star.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/span><\/h4>\n<div class=\"must-reads-compact-link-container\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/a\/nba-2015-season-preview\" data-ref-index=\"4\">SB Nation's 2015 NBA Season Preview<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/a\/nba-2015-season-preview\/boston-celtics\" data-ref-index=\"5\">Boston Celtics team preview<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"paragraph6\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">And now we get to the real reason for optimism: The coach. What good is depth without someone to deploy it? If the Celtics lack a true star on their roster, they have an up-and-coming one on the sidelines. Entering his third season in the NBA after a fantastic run at Butler, Stevens has garnered praise from colleagues and opponents alike. From Gregg Popovich to LeBron James, the masters of the game have nothing but love for the unassuming Stevens. He\u2019s the first name people talk about when they talk about the Celtics, and all of that makes him a tad uncomfortable.<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph7\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">&quot;It does. These guys are the reasons we\u2019re good,&quot; Stevens said. &quot;There\u2019s a lot of people who can coach, but it takes special players to play together. It takes special players to be willing to be one of 12 as opposed to one of eight. It takes special players to stick to their strengths. This is a lot more about them.<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph8\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">&quot;Hey, I\u2019m boring. I come here to the practice facility, I go home. I feel bad sometimes because I don\u2019t have any good stories to tell. These guys are lot more interesting than I am.&quot;<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph9\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">He\u2019s not lying. Stevens is not a natural storyteller like Doc Rivers. No one has ever suggested he might have been an international spy like Pop. His fondest memories from a summer with USA Basketball involve Skyping with his family and discovering a bunch of actions run by a team he was scouting that he thought were pretty great. What you see is pretty much what you get.<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph10\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">Still, we\u2019re always enthralled by the possibility of genius in our midst. That a wunderkind may have cracked some kind of encrypted code that unlocks the secrets of a game with sheer intellect and intuitive gifts. Yet this line of thinking runs counter to the coach\u2019s philosophy and fails to shed any illuminating light on the subject. We can see the ethos buried in plain sight within his standard lines of pregame coach speak.<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph11\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">&quot;I\u2019m not focused on being results oriented,&quot; Stevens said before a preseason game last week. &quot;I\u2019m more focused on that process and that progress. We\u2019re going to stick to it. That\u2019s been good to us as far as creating a good environment for growth. That\u2019s where we\u2019ll stay. I\u2019m not worried about it.&quot;<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph12\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">* * *<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph13\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"photo\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn3.vox-cdn.com\/thumbor\/Smiu7MZgn9sM9-ciREbgohZByGg=\/0x125:4576x2699\/2400x1350\/cdn0.vox-cdn.com\/uploads\/chorus_image\/image\/47534883\/GettyImages-464289440.0.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"100%\" \/><br \/>\n<i>Isaiah Thomas and Brad Stevens, Photo credit: Christian Petersen\/Getty Images<\/i><\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph14\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">Stevens loves to focus on the process; that systemic catch all for grinding through an 82-game season. That approach has its advantages when you\u2019re playing three or four games a week for six months. Don\u2019t get too high after a win, don\u2019t get crushed after a loss, rarely pick up a technical foul. Stevens is a sphinx on the sidelines, which is a fairly accurate representation of his personality.<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph15\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">&quot;When I first got the job at Butler somebody told me, \u2018Just be yourself.\u2019 Don\u2019t try to be the guys before you because they were successful, just try to be who you are and be comfortable with that,&quot; he says. &quot;What I\u2019ve felt like if being myself isn\u2019t good enough, cool. I\u2019m going to do it as well as I can and that\u2019s that. It allows you to sleep at night. It doesn\u2019t get you flying over the clouds when you win. It doesn\u2019t freak you out when you lose, it keeps you in that spot. I want to win. I want to win when I\u2019m playing Scrabble. There\u2019s nothing I want to see more than the 18th banner. But I know how far away that is because it\u2019s a day to day process.&quot;<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph16\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">When he was younger, Stevens was not always so patient. He was an achiever, in search of the validation that came with getting good grades and other tangible measures of success. Ultimately, he found that approach limiting.<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph17\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">&quot;When I was a young guy, I was a box checker,&quot; Stevens says. &quot;I was a guy that tried to get good grades. I cared more about that than actually learning. I was scared to death of making mistakes, even as a young assistant and maybe my first year of coaching. Then you\u2019re in coaching long enough that you realize there\u2019s only so much you can control. I was fortunate enough to already have this unbelievable job. It was just like, 'You know what? I\u2019m going to be me and hopefully that\u2019s good enough.'&quot;<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph18\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">Stevens references the work of Dr. Carol Dweck, a psychology professor from Stanford whose seminal work entitled &quot;Mindset&quot; explores two distinct ways of learning: What she calls fixed and growth. The idea is simple. Those who believe that achievement is tied directly to inherent intelligence or natural talent have a fixed mindset and will often struggle when presented with more challenging obstacles. Those who believe that intelligence can be developed through hard work and creative diligence will often thrive in more advanced, competitive settings with a growth mindset.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pullquote\">&quot;Life is so much more enjoyable when you\u2019re focused on your effort and your growth, rather than on something that can be lost or gained.&quot;- Brad Stevens<\/div>\n<p id=\"paragraph19\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">There are all kinds of practical applications to be gleaned from Dweck\u2019s work from education to parenting to managing people, and it\u2019s no surprise that her research would gain currency with coaches.<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph20\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">&quot;We\u2019re a society that\u2019s been built generation by generation on the pursuit of trophies, not on the pursuit of growth,&quot; Stevens says. &quot;Life is so much more enjoyable when you\u2019re focused on your effort and your growth, rather than on something that can be lost or gained. I know that\u2019s big picture, philosophical stuff, but it\u2019s real. For me, that\u2019s the best way to be a coach because I don\u2019t get too high or too low.&quot;<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph21\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">Consider an NBA basketball team. It\u2019s filled with driven, talented people who have already succeeded beyond most people\u2019s wildest dreams. Yet even within this tiny universe, some players succeed beyond the perceived limits of their abilities. Some maximize their gifts while others stagnate. It\u2019s the coach\u2019s job to bring out their best attributes and put them in a position to succeed as part of a collective.<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph22\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">That sounds wonderful, but it\u2019s a rather radical notion in a league where there\u2019s an almost cynical acceptance that stars dominate and talent wins. It\u2019s a maxim that\u2019s been proven over and over again, but the cynical part of that equation is that everyone else is simply wasting time while waiting for that great player to come along and save them. Stevens\u2019 job isn\u2019t to do more with less, it\u2019s to do more with more; to take up to a dozen players and win games where eight or nine would usually suffice.<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph23\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">&quot;Every team loves those transcendent players, but there only are so many of them,&quot; Stevens says. &quot;We probably deem that there are more than there actually are, which is another discussion. But everybody else has great strengths otherwise they wouldn\u2019t be in this league. They do something at such an elite level that they\u2019re in the league and on our team. So, find those. Bring them out together. Figure them out together. All play the right way on one end and cover for one another and then support one another and let the chips fall where they may. To me, it\u2019s about soaring with your strengths as a group.&quot;<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph24\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">* * *<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph25\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"photo\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn3.vox-cdn.com\/thumbor\/UuUgM21Zr_gWjyWdEY3CWP5UJf0=\/0x172:3000x1860\/2400x1350\/cdn0.vox-cdn.com\/uploads\/chorus_image\/image\/47535437\/usa-today-8823302.0.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"100%\" \/><br \/>\n<i>Brad Stevens during media day, Photo credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports<\/i><\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph26\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">Despite his Midwestern roots, plainspoken manner and mid-major coaching background, it would be a mistake to cast Stevens in Hoosier-esque terms. Given a choice he would gladly take a transcendent superstar or two. Ask his rotation preference and he says eight or nine players, like most coaches. There is nothing mythic or magical about any of this. He has begun to succeed where so many former college coaches have failed by understanding that there is still far more for him to learn at this level.<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph27\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">&quot;I have to work. I have to watch. I have to learn. I have to figure it out,&quot; Stevens says. &quot;It was like starting a whole new sport. For me it was like I was starting over in a lot of ways. I had this foundation, or this shell of basketball. But we had to play a lot differently in the 82 games and the lack of practice was a huge difference. I\u2019m so much more comfortable entering Year 3 then I was Year 2 then I was Year 1. The more hours you put into it the more comfortable you get. You\u2019re not an expert with zero hours. You\u2019re an expert as you put in time and I\u2019m far from it but I\u2019m putting in time to try and catch up.&quot;<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph28\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">Here\u2019s another NBA maxim: You can\u2019t fool NBA players. By the time they reach the league they\u2019ve seen coaches at all levels and the more they get around, the easier it is to identify the ones they want to play for. All players want minutes, shots and opportunities, but they also want direct, honest communication and a confidence that the coach is prepared to put them in a position to succeed. That\u2019s where Stevens truly connects with his players.<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph29\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">&quot;His attention to detail and his knowledge of the game is as good as anybody\u2019s I\u2019ve seen,&quot; says veteran forward David Lee. &quot;He has a great way of teaching and getting his message across to everybody. He\u2019s a very positive coach, which makes it fun to come to practice and come to work every day.&quot;<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph30\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">After a preseason game against the Nets, Stevens and his staff identified gaps in their pick-and-roll coverage. That was the focus of the next practice. It\u2019s a simple and direct approach that players appreciate, but what seems to separate Stevens at this early juncture of his career is the ability to call plays and make adjustments during the course of the game.<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph31\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">&quot;He\u2019s a great X\u2019s and O\u2019s coach, and what I mean by that is he can draw up a play and change the whole perspective of the game,&quot; Amir Johnson says. &quot;Some coaches can\u2019t do that during the game. He sees a play or he sees something defensively and puts guys right in the spot. He\u2019s great for us.&quot;<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph32\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">The playoff loss to Cleveland has stayed with Stevens throughout the summer. What good was it for a team to overachieve their way out of the lottery and get swept in the first round? For the coach, it was about gathering more information and for the players it was a litmus test. There\u2019s a push and pull between accentuating the positives and identifying the weaknesses in order to get better. Stevens often says that, in a perfect world, he\u2019d take the emotion out of things, but emotion can also be a powerful motivator with driven people when channeled into development.<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph33\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">&quot;We did some good things against Cleveland,&quot; he says. &quot;If you look at the game on a possession by possession basis and you take out transition, which was up and down for us and rebounding, which killed everybody against them, we were pretty darn good. We need to shore those two points up. We need to get a little bit better in our techniques but we saw some things that we can build with. All of our guys had good moments in small snippets at least. Those are all positives. Then the other thing now is you should be confident, but you should have a chip on your shoulder. Human nature says those two things should happen based on how our season ended.&quot;<\/p>\n<p id=\"paragraph34\" class=\"pgh-paragraph\">The process continues. There are expectations now, roles to be filled and games to be won or lost. Stevens isn\u2019t worried about the big picture. For him, and the Celtics, it\u2019s still evolving. Projections mean little in this environment and prognostications aren\u2019t relevant when there is so much room for growth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"pgh-paragraph\">*********************<\/p>\n<div class=\"headline\">New hope for the Raptors<\/div>\n<div class=\"byline\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/authors\/paul-flannery\" target=\"new\">Paul Flannery<\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"intro\">BOSTON &#8212; For the last few years the Toronto Raptors have existed at the intersection of hope and reality. They have been an objectively good team, good enough to make the playoffs the last two seasons and claim a pair of division crowns. The reality is they have failed to advance past the first round and that division accomplishment is one of the most hollow in the sport, especially coming as it did in the weakest five-team grouping in the league.<\/p>\n<p>The Raptors have been a team of contradictions. They started last season with a 15-4 record and entered the All-Star break comfortably in second place in the conference. But they faded late, going 13-16 down the stretch and were swept rather rudely by the <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/teams\/washington-wizards\">Washington Wizards<\/a> in the first round. They have All-Stars in the backcourt in <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/21730\/kyle-lowry\">Kyle Lowry<\/a> and <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/71909\/demar-derozan\">DeMar DeRozan<\/a>, whose games have been picked apart by critics as much as they\u2019ve been heralded by supporters. Until proven otherwise, <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/4345\/paul-pierce\">Paul Pierce<\/a>\u2019s stinging critique &#8212; that they fail to inspire concern in opponents &#8212; hangs over them like one of the dagger 3-pointers he buried in their back during the playoffs.<\/p>\n<p>Between Cleveland and Philadelphia, the East is one big jumble of cautious optimism. The Raptors are just one of many with playoff aspirations. The <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/teams\/chicago-bulls\">Bulls<\/a> have a former MVP, a breakout star in <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/149913\/jimmy-butler\">Jimmy Butler<\/a> and a host of up-and-coming players to mix with a roster full of veteran All-Stars. The <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/teams\/atlanta-hawks\">Hawks<\/a> won 60 games. The <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/teams\/miami-heat\">Heat<\/a> loaded up for yet another run. The Wizards have a backcourt that\u2019s bursting with potential. The Raptors, well, the Raptors are good. You can\u2019t take that away from them, but can you build on it?<\/p>\n<p>&quot;First, we\u2019ve got to get back to the playoffs,&quot; Raptors coach <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/98718\/dwane-casey\">Dwane Casey<\/a> said following the team\u2019s shootaround. &quot;Nothing is given there. Our goal is to move beyond, but again, I\u2019m going to emphasize this: The playoffs are not a given. Nobody\u2019s going to walk in and earn a playoff berth just because you did it last year. We\u2019ve got to earn it. We\u2019ve got to prove ourselves after how we finished last year that we\u2019re for real. Everybody in the East has gotten better. There\u2019s more balance in the East this year so there\u2019s no nights off at all this year.&quot;<\/p>\n<div class=\"chorus-snippet browser_wide_media\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.vox-cdn.com\/uploads\/chorus_asset\/file\/4218443\/shoot-2.0.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<p>There is hope in the form of a 7-foot center <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/150194\/jonas-valanciunas\">Jonas Valanciunas<\/a>, still just 23 years old, who has made incremental but steady progress on the offensive end. There is also the distant promise of <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/246157\/bruno-caboclo\">Bruno Caboclo<\/a>, the 20-year-old Brazilian prodigy who has played a grand total of 23 NBA minutes. Neither has shown nearly enough to warrant franchise building block status, and so the Raptors return with a familiar core of players augmented with a handful of free agent additions.<\/p>\n<p>In the offseason, general manager Masai Ujiri added point guard <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/150317\/cory-joseph\">Cory Joseph<\/a> and big man <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/150201\/bismack-biyombo\">Bismack Biyombo<\/a> to bolster their depth, while also signing veterans <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/24219\/luis-scola\">Luis Scola<\/a> and <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/71927\/demarre-carroll\">DeMarre Carroll<\/a>, who are the new starting forwards. All of them are part of the rotation, but Carroll is the key.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;His versatility is one of his great strengths,&quot; <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/teams\/boston-celtics\">Celtics<\/a> coach <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/224409\/brad-stevens\">Brad Stevens<\/a> said. &quot;He can shoot it. We all know that he\u2019s got a great way about him and a demeanor and a passion that\u2019s contagious. He\u2019s a winner. He impacts winning.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>With Carroll on board, Casey has a proven perimeter defender. He can also play big or small, which has a trickle-down effect on the rest of his roster.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;He\u2019s as close to a 2-way player as you can get at the three position,&quot; Casey said. &quot;With that, DeMar DeRozan doesn\u2019t have to guard the bigger threes and <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/157954\/terrence-ross\">Terrence Ross<\/a> doesn\u2019t have to guard those guys. So it frees them up to guard guys at their position.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Carroll\u2019s addition will also have an impact on the offensive end. Long an ISO-team that relied heavily on Lowry, DeRozan and <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/21577\/lou-williams\">Lou Williams<\/a> (now a Laker) to create shots for themselves, Casey has begun to implement a scheme more in line with the current trend toward spacing and shooting. The Raptors were surprisingly efficient on offense last season, but Carroll\u2019s long-range shooting adds a much-needed element to the mix.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;We needed the toughness, the grit that he brings to the table,&quot; Casey said. &quot;Not only on the defensive end. He plays with a grit and an edge on the offensive end: attacking the basket, cutting, shooting the three.&quot;<\/p>\n<div class=\"chorus-snippet floated_images\">\n<div class=\"float_right\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn1.vox-cdn.com\/uploads\/chorus_asset\/file\/4218445\/shoot-3.0.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<p>Friday\u2019s game against the Celtics was instructive. The Raps launched 26 threes and their guards picked the Boston defense apart with drives and kickouts to open shooters on the perimeter. Carroll knocked down 4-of-7 shots from long range and with room to operate, Lowry and DeRozan lived at the free throw line. And with Carroll guarding opposing forwards, Terrence Ross was able to thrive at his natural off-guard position. On defense they were active and jumped passing lanes, which led to numerous fast break and transition opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>Early season statement games mean little in the grand scheme of things, but this was still an effective reminder that they remain the team to beat in their little corner of the universe. Still, the Raptors have had early-season success before. They have to prove they can sustain it.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Our biggest expectation that I always tell the team is we want to be better later in the season than we are at the beginning,&quot; Carroll said. &quot;You don\u2019t want to be the same team Game 81 that you are in Game 3. It\u2019s just about getting better. You\u2019ve got to understand it\u2019s a marathon. Coming from Atlanta, Coach (<a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/98774\/mike-budenholzer\">Mike Budenholzer<\/a>) really taught me that you\u2019ve got to get better each game.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>While Carroll was the one member of the Atlanta starting five who didn\u2019t make the All-Star Game, in many ways he became the unlikely face of the Hawks\u2019 stunning turnaround last season. His journeyman background was less a hindrance than a source of pride for a team that achieved beyond expectations by playing a tightly-connected team game that accentuated positives and trusted development.<\/p>\n<p>Never was his importance more understood than in the conference finals when he gamely tried to play through a knee injury. With Carroll at less than full strength, the Hawks were limited and compromised against the <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/teams\/cleveland-cavaliers\">Cavaliers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The lesson from the Hawks is that if you get enough good players committed to playing for and with each other, then you can excel beyond the perceived limits of your abilities. Carroll was a backup forward without a position when he joined Atlanta. When he left, he was a coveted free agent.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Coming from Atlanta helped me understand this game, understand what it takes to win at a high level,&quot; Carroll said. &quot;It don\u2019t happen overnight. A lot of people forget, our first year we won 38 games. When you win, all that losing, people forget about that.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>It will take a lot for the Raptors to get over the sting of back-to-back playoff disappointments. Winning cures all, however, and in Carroll, they have one of the game\u2019s unheralded winners. It\u2019s enough to give a team hope that this time, things will be different in the end.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tl\" class=\"big-section\">\n<div class=\"lede-box right\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>The ListConsumable NBA thoughts<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"main-wrap\">\n<p>We\u2019re done with predictions and prognostications. Now is the time for way too early observations about the Association.<\/p>\n<p><b>The <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/teams\/detroit-pistons\">Pistons<\/a> look like a <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/99612\/stan-van-gundy\">Stan Van Gundy<\/a> team:<\/b> I came very close to slotting Detroit into one of the final playoff positions in the East and I\u2019m already regretting not going with SVG\u2019s squad. <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/157959\/andre-drummond\">Andre Drummond<\/a> is a beast in the middle and with <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/150206\/reggie-jackson\">Reggie Jackson<\/a> running downhill in pick-and-rolls, they have a dangerous combination. There are caveats: The lack of shooting remains troubling (losing <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/71940\/jodie-meeks\">Jodie Meeks<\/a> to a broken foot doesn\u2019t help) and depth could be a major concern if injuries start to pile up, but no one should underestimate Van Gundy\u2019s sideline acumen.<\/p>\n<p><b>The <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/teams\/new-orleans-pelicans\">Pelicans<\/a>\u2019 schedule may be their toughest opponent: <\/b>Lost amid all the injuries that have decimated <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/157860\/anthony-davis\">Anthony Davis<\/a>\u2019 support system is a brutal opening slate of games. After getting run by the <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/teams\/golden-state-warriors\">Warriors<\/a> on opening night, they were in Portland the next night and looked like a shorthanded team on the second night of a back-to-back. It didn\u2019t get any easier with a home opener against those same Warriors. Things will lighten up a little this week, but then they hit the road for eight of their next dozen games. Unless they can cobble together a couple of wins in November it will be a tough uphill climb to make a run at one of those final playoff spots.<\/p>\n<p><b>What if <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/111936\/demarcus-cousins\">DeMarcus Cousins<\/a> is really the next great big?<\/b> Let\u2019s do the old compare and contrast thing. Player 1 has averaged 22 points, 12.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per 36 minutes during his career. Player 2 has posted 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per 36 minutes. Player 1 is DeMarcus Cousins. Player 2 is Anthony Davis. Now, AD is two years younger, has been to the postseason and is playing for a coach in a system designed for him. Cousins has yet to reach the playoffs and is on his fifth coach in seven years. AD\u2019s support system, while far from perfect, is still way more coherent than the dysfunction Cousins has endured. Both are great players, but maybe Cousins is the one poised for a breakout into the elite. Ziller and I will debate this at greater length this week.<\/p>\n<p><b>Let\u2019s save time and get on that <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/teams\/orlando-magic\">Magic<\/a> bandwagon now:<\/b> This is a team that has been steadily acquiring talent under GM Rob Hennigan since trading away Dwight Howard. What they lacked was a sense of direction, but with <a class=\"sbn-auto-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/nba\/players\/98858\/scott-skiles\">Scott Skiles<\/a> running the show they\u2019ll get that and then some. The Magic may be a year or even two away from playoff contention, but they\u2019re no longer an easy win on people\u2019s schedules.<\/p>\n<p><b>Pour one out for Grantland:<\/b> The NBA media landscape got a little worse on Friday and while I have no doubt that Zach Lowe, Kirk Goldsberry, Jason Concepcion, Andrew Sharp et. al. will find other avenues and venues for their work, reading them was, and is, a joy. You all pushed everyone to be better, smarter and to work harder.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>'Kareem: Minority of One' HBO Documentary Preview, TV Schedule By Alec Nathan, Featured Columnist Nov 1, 2015 SHARE TWEET NEXT ARTICLE \u00bb Use your \u2190 \u2192 (arrow) keys to browse more stories Paul Morigi\/Associated Press 1.4K Reads 5 Comments Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is arguably the greatest player to ever step on the NBA hardwood, and the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"on","ocean_gallery_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53460","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-all-posts","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hoops.co.il\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hoops.co.il\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hoops.co.il\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hoops.co.il\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hoops.co.il\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=53460"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/hoops.co.il\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53460\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54190,"href":"https:\/\/hoops.co.il\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53460\/revisions\/54190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hoops.co.il\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=53460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hoops.co.il\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=53460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hoops.co.il\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=53460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}