Author Archives: @DrewP617

Kemba Walker Deserves More Respect

Leave a reply

The moment Kemba Walker became the ninth overall selection out of UConn in 2011, Hornets fans had high expectations. Many draft picks from Charlotte have been producing lackluster careers, but Kemba Walker has become a special talent. Walker is one of the most underrated point guards in the NBA. It is about time that he receives more respect from fans across the league.

Walker is the Franchise

At age 27, Walker is on pace to become the all-time franchise leader in numerous categories. He came into Charlotte and from his rookie season, he has been the franchise cornerstone that this team has desperately been searching for.

The Hornets have not yet been able to stabilize a lineup for longer than a couple years. The amount of turnover Walker has been playing through has had little effect on his overall numbers. He is proving that this season as well as the team made a trade for Dwight Howard over the offseason. So far in 2017, Walker is averaging 22 points, 7 assists, and 3 rebounds a game. All without fellow star Nicolas Batum attracting other team’s defense away from him.

The chemistry that Walker has been able to develop with Howard is impressive. Charlotte has the ability to compete in the Eastern Conference this season. People were ready to give up on Howard after poor performance with the Atlanta Hawks last season. The Hornets were able to get Howard back on track. Now he and Kemba look like a new dynamic duo in the East.

How Walker Stacks up with Top Point Guards

Most people entering the 2017 season would not put Walker in their top 10. That is absolutely ridiculous and people need to stop sleeping on him. Although defensively he is not a threat, he is a dangerous scorer on the drive and from beyond the arc. It is hard to imagine him being ranked so low for defensive reasons. James Harden gets ranked somewhere in the top three and literally never get back on defense. That is a joke.

Now before you start questioning whether I know anything about basketball, do not twist my words. I am not saying he is better than the elite guards such as Steph Curry or Russell Westbrook. Those players are in a league of their own in terms of point guard play. Kemba Walker falls somewhere along the lines of Damian Lillard, Eric Bledsoe, and Kyle Lowry.

The difference between Walker and the rest of the guards named is the supporting cast. Lillard has CJ McCollum, Bledsoe now plays alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Lowry with Demar Derozan. Kemba has been having to make plays for himself for the better part of his career. Statistically, he is putting up almost the same numbers as the other guards in terms of points and assists. It is about time people start realizing all he has done for Charlotte virtually alone and give him the respect he deserves.

Is It Panic Time Already for the Hurricanes?

Leave a reply

It has been nine long years since the Hurricanes were last in the playoffs. After a disappointing 4-0 sweep to the Pittsburgh Penguins (2009 Stanley Cup Champions), the team has not been the same. Carolina is off to a slow start and it makes people wonder whether it is time for a major change.

Hurricanes Continue to Lack Competitiveness

In the early going of the season, the Hurricanes are currently 30th in the league in goals. On top of that, they are 6th in the league for goals against. This has a direct impact on Carolina’s record of 6-5-3. The Hurricanes are last place in the Metropolitan Division, and the chances of them improving this year are slim.

It is shocking that Hurricanes’ Coach Bill Peters has not been fired yet. His team is underwhelming and are steadily inconsistent. Until this team finds a strong goaltender and consistent goal scoring, they will remain bottom feeders of the Eastern Conference.

The Carolina Hurricanes Fan Base is Fading

If you want to see this first hand, just take a trip to the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. You might wonder if this game even counts as a home game for the Hurricanes because all you see are away team jerseys. As of lately, there are even talks about a possible relocation of the Canes due to their recent failures as an organization.

Although I do not see a relocation occuring any time soon, Carolina needs to fix this problem. It is hard to have a successful franchise when a team can not get fans to support them. There are those who are still loyal to the team but as the failures continue, the number of loyal fans depletes.

Young Talent is Going to Waste

With players such as Jeff Skinner and Justin Faulk, you would think Carolina would be able to build a solid roster. That has not been the case, as both of these players have yet to see playoff action. The Hurricanes have done these players wrong by not properly building around them and giving them a chance to compete.

If the Hurricanes have no plans to start winning within the near future, a rebuild should be in consideration. Skinner, Faulk, and other Canes players hold significant trade value. They could be key to other teams that could give Carolina draft picks in return.

A rebuild is never enjoyable for the fans but it appears necessary for this team. The Hurricanes have not been relevant in a long time. It is time for the ownership to make a change and get this team back on track for legitimate success.

 

Benjamin trade leaves Panthers community clueless

Leave a reply

After Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, Panthers fans, and players, are currently in shock. Carolina dealt Wide Receiver Kelvin Benjamin to the Buffalo Bills, for virtually nothing (3rd and 7th round pick). There is almost no way this trade looks good for the Panthers, these are some reasons why.

Benjamin was a first round pick

In 2014, Carolina selected Benjamin with the 28th pick, in the first round. He was fresh off of winning the NCAA Championship in 2013, at Florida State University. At 6’5”, Benjamin was the tall, primary receiver Carolina needed. His impact on the team was showing great chemistry with Quarterback Cam Newton. As a rookie, Benjamin posted 1,008 yards, and nine touchdowns.

Although his production has been decreasing over the years, due to injury, he was clearly Cam’s number one receiving option at wide receiver. Without Benjamin, the Panthers won a franchise best 15 games in 2015. Cam was missing Benjamin, as the Panthers only put up 10 points on the Denver Broncos in the loss.

Unless the Panthers see some hidden talent in the upcoming 2018 NFL Draft, a 3rd and 7th round pick seems like a loss. Carolina now has very little depth at the receiver position without Benjamin. They will have to get creative to score the football. If it was not already obvious that Cam was struggling in 2017, it’s hard to imagine he will be able to hide it without Benjamin.

Carolina is not in a rebuilding stage

Halfway through the 2017 NFL season, the Panthers hold a 5-3 record. This is not a Cleveland Browns situation, where they remain without a win on the season. They currently stand a half game behind the New Orleans Saints for first place in their division (NFC South). Carolina has a very good chance of making the playoffs, and will not receive a high first round pick.

The loss of Benjamin will put pressure on the offense to find new ways to score to remain competitive. If Carolina fails to make the playoffs, they will likely end up with a mid-first round pick which is never ideal. You do not usually see a team trade away one of their best players when they are not rebuilding. It is very hard to imagine why Carolina thought it was a good idea to trade away Benjamin for some draft picks that hold little value.

Benjamin trade upsets Carolina’s players

If it was not evident that myself, and most of the Carolina fan base are upset over this trade, take a look at the players. Various teammates of Benjamin have been expressing their thoughts on the trade via Twitter. This is the reaction of several Panthers players:

 

Benjamin’s absence will likely disrupt team chemistry between the players and ownership. Cam no longer has his top option, which is never a recipe for success. If Carolina is able to come out on top of their division, I will be surprised.  We’ll see how the Panthers play this week against the Atlanta Falcons without Benjamin.  Meanwhile, the Bills are even more competitive, and New England better be ready to defend the AFC East crown.

 

Has Aguayo Found A Home In Carolina?

Leave a reply

With Graham Gano possibly suffering a leg injury, the Carolina Panthers signed Kicker Roberto Aguayo to the practice squad. The initial reaction: “This could be great, he was outstanding in college!” However, upon returning to reality, let’s remember he has been cut by both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears. Is the time now or never for Aguayo in Carolina?

Aguayo Could Return to College Form

During a three year stint with Florida State University, Aguayo put up impressive numbers. He had a total of 405 points on 198 extra points and 69 field goals for the Seminoles. When Aguayo decided to enter the 2016 NFL Draft, most expected a late round selection.

The Buccaneers made the decision to use their second round pick on Aguayo. Although he had impressive college stats, most saw this pick as questionable at best. After eventually being cut by the Buccaneers and Bears during the 2017 season, he now belongs to Carolina. If he could return to his godly college ways, the Panthers just might have found a steal.

 

Evaluating Aguayo in the NFL Thus Far

In 2016, Roberto Aguayo’s kicking stats were rather ugly. Although he went a solid 32 for 34 on extra points, his field goal numbers were quite the opposite. From a distance longer than 39 yards, he made four out of 11 field goals. In other words, when looking for a clutch kicker for the team, this is clearly not the guy.

On the other hand, the majority of Gano’s kicks in 2017 have come from 39 yards or less. Out of 17 field goals attempted this season, only five have come from 40 yards or farther. This shows that Carolina has the ability to drive down the field, but is unable to finish drives with touchdowns.

 

Overall Grade for Carolina Signing Aguayo

After considering what he did in college, the NFL, and the contract which he signed with Carolina, I give this move a B. Before you wonder, “How could he rate this so high after trashing his NFL career!?,” hear me out.

The Panthers signed Aguayo to the practice squad. His contract is not very expensive, and he is not currently the primary kicker. Carolina’s current kicker, Gano, is thought to be suffering a leg injury, and may need to take some time off. This window of time could provide a test run for Aguayo with the Panthers, and prove if he has any NFL value.

 

“Keep Pounding”: Explaining the Carolina Panthers Early Success

Leave a reply

“Keep Pounding,” a phrase all Carolina Panthers fans say when cheering on their hometown team. This phrase has been shouted quite often in the early going of 2017. Carolina currently holds a 4-2 record (1st in NFC South), and do not appear to be slowing down. Here are some reasons for the Panthers early success.  A few may surprise you.

On the Road Again, Winning away from Carolina

Playing on the road has benefited the Panthers heavily thus far this season. They are currently 3-0 playing away from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, and Detroit Lions have fallen victim to Carolina’s road success.  

As of right now, the Panthers average just under 28 points per game on the road. This number looks much better than the 15 points they average at home. Most teams in the NFL find their success on their home field, but the Panthers have flipped the script this year. Although this has been key in the early going, Carolina will look to improve their home record (1-2) in the second half of the season.

Where is SuperCam?

Quarterback Cam Newton has been under-performing early on in the 2017 season. Luckily, this has not affected the team too much. Carolina very well could be undefeated right now if Newton improved his efficiency. In their two losses, he has one passing touchdown, two rushing, and six interceptions along with an ugly 57% completion percentage.

If Newton’s play picks up in the second half of the season, more dabs and Superman poses could be on the horizon. The defense has been able to pick up his slack thus far holding opponents to 20 points per game. As the quarterback, he will need to lead this team if they want to be competitive come playoffs in January.

Young Guns Making Noise

The emergence of wide receiver Devin Funchess and Running Back Christian McCaffrey has been fun to witness. Funchess, in his third season, leads the Panthers receivers with three touchdowns so far.   He is a 6’4”, 225 pound receiver with elite speed and jumping ability. Some of his catches this year have left fans with their jaws on the floor. Carolina very much needed Funchess to breakout this season and that is exactly what he has done.

When the Panthers drafted Run CMC out of Stanford with the eighth overall pick in the draft, fans immediately set high expectations. Although Jonathan Stewart has been solid in the backfield in the past, Carolina was ready for a new weapon.

Christian McCaffrey has great catching and running abilities which make him a dual threat back like Dion Lewis or James White. So far, CMC has posted 397 all-purpose yards and two receptions touchdowns. For a rookie, his effective production is a positive sign of things to come in the Panthers future.

Closing Thoughts

Through the first six games of 2017, Carolina has enjoyed early success. Their record puts them up with the likes of New England, the Kansas City Chiefs, among others. If Cam Newton can return to his Superman ways, watch out for this team in the second half of 2017.

Funchess and McCaffrey have proven to be solid youngsters for the Panthers and their production has been key. What the team has been able to do on the road has been a pleasant surprise. Carolina must tighten up their play in Charlotte if they want to continue their early success.

Is it time for a Charlotte Hornets Rebuild?

Leave a reply

The NBA has a garbage problem?

With the NBA season officially upon us, fans everywhere are excited to see what their teams will do in 2017. Some would argue the league has more balance this year. Others will claim that the Golden State Warriors will still smoke past the competition. Did the Charlotte Hornets improve this off season, or are they miles behind the Warriors like everybody else?

Hornets Owner Michael Jordan is one of those who agrees that the level of competition in the NBA is weak. “Twenty-eight teams are going to be garbage” is what Jordan had to say about the state of the league this season. Most will assume that his Hornets are on the “garbage” side of NBA teams currently.

With the Hornets owner even believing that his team cannot find success this season, what are the next steps?  Charlotte has consistently been a mediocre team since changing the franchise name back to the Hornets in the 2014-2015 season. Winning anywhere between 33-48 games per season qon’t provide fans with much to look forward to.

Charlotte Needs a Change

So what is the plan for the franchise moving forward? Currently, it appears Charlotte still envisions competing. The Hornets acquired Dwight Howard from the Atlanta Hawks on Draft Night 2017. The team gave up virtually nothing and hopes he returns to his Orlando Magic form. Call me crazy, but I say it is about time the Hornets enter rebuild mode for a fresh start.

Jordan’s team made the playoffs once since changing the franchise back to its original name. In the 2015-2016 playoffs, the Hornets lost in the first round by a post-Lebron James Miami Heat squad, in seven games.

With little success in recent history, the team should enter a rebuild and prepare for the 2018 off season. How they will go about this rebuild is the major question. The Hornets have been known for terrible drafts (trading away the rights to Kobe Bryant for Vlade Divac in 1996 for example), and have made few attempts to acquire top free agents.

Copy the Celtics!

Some recent questionable draft picks include Noah Vonleh (9th overall in 2014) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (2nd overall in 2012). Both of these players came into the league with high expectations and little to show for it. Vonleh has since been traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. Kidd-Gilchrist remains on the roster, but has suffered consistent injuries during his time.

If the team plans to rebuild through the draft, they should emulate the Boston Celtics. Their first step —  enter full on Danny Ainge-mode and acquire as many draft picks as possible. Charlotte has players like Kemba Walker that have value for trades that could get the team high draft lottery selections. It can be hard to part ways with your top players. The Celtics did so when trading away Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett for draft picks in 2013 to the Brooklyn Nets. This move lead to a quick rebuild and now they are  one of the top teams for the 2017-2018 season.

Choosing this route will put a lot of pressure on the team’s executives. With their poor draft history, they will really need to get it together and draft the right players to make the rebuild a success.

Hornets Make Some Buzz in Free Agency

Another option would be to aim for the 2018 NBA offseason and attempt to lure in free agents. Lebron James, Paul George, Isaiah Thomas, Demarcus Cousins among others enter free agency next off-season. The Hornets could shed some cap space and attempt to make a major move.

Although the chances of acquiring King James and PG13 are slim, Demarcus Cousins might be a more realistic option. If his stint with the New Orleans Pelicans ends up a failure, he will try to join a new team in the off season. Charlotte could use a more modern option at the center position such as Cousins as an inside presence but can hit outside jump shots.

Adding Cousins alongside Kemba Walker and Dwight Howard would make for a new exciting big three in the Eastern Conference. This, along with other minor moves, would put the Hornets in a position to compete and make noise in the playoffs.

What’s the Plan?

Whichever choice the Hornets make, their worst option would be not doing anything at all. Although rebuilds can be dreadful in terms of tanking, they set teams up for future success which is better than not having any clear plan for improvement.

Today, Charlotte is a mediocre team, and if they want to sell out the Spectrum Center like they did in the 90’s, they must make a future decision that will set the team up for believable success. With the greatest of all time as your team owner, what could go wrong?

Amendola Meeting Pats Expectations

Leave a reply

The Next Wes Welker?

When the New England Patriots signed Danny Amendola in 2013, fans were ready to call him Wes Welker 2.0. This opinion quickly shifted from Amendola to Julian Edelman. Edelman put up more than 100 receptions and 1,000 yards that same year.

Amendola put up solid numbers in his first season with the Pats (54 receptions for 633 yards), but for most of his Patriots tenure, his production has mediocre when compared to Edelman.

The 2017 season has provided different circumstances (Edelman out for season with torn ACL, Gronk on and off injuries), and Amendola is flourishing, becoming the player that fans were hoping he would be. He is the most experienced player in the wide receiver group for the Patriots this year. Quarterback Tom Brady is beginning to show trust in Dola as a top option in the passing game.

Can’t Cover Amendola

Brady is calling Dola “uncoverable” this season, adding “he’s just been so great for us this year.” This trust has been shown during the early part of the 2017 season, with Amendola already matching the number of receptions from the previous year (23 receptions total in 2016).

Second year Patriots receiver, Chris Hogan, has been Brady’s go-to option in the end zone. Dola has made some huge plays down the stretch when needed most. On 3rd and 18, Amendola caught a pass to set up the game winner against the Houston Texans in Week 3. A pass from Brady to receiver Brandin Cooks, in the endzone, sealed the victory.

Currently, Amendola is on pace for 854 yards this season. This would surpass his previous season high of 689 (2010) by nearly 200 yards. His efficiency has been key, he has 23 receptions on 27 targets. Opposing teams usually place a linebacker on him, while they put their defensive backs on Hogan and Cooks. This leads to many match up problems that have been key to Dola’s efficiency thus far.

Next Man Up

It is safe to say that Edelman’s sudden rise to stardom was unexpected in the 2013 season. His production has been consistently high as the number one receiving option for Brady. Sadly, his preseason injury will keep him on the sidelines for the entirety of 2017.

In his absence, Amendola is becoming the reliable option that Brady needs to be successful at 40 years old. Brady is currently on pace for his best season of his career in terms of yards. Danny Amendola has been a key factor, along with Hogan, Cooks, and Gronkowski.

Most expected Cooks and Gronk to perform at a high level. Few expected what they have seen from Dola. His emergence as Brady’s go-to option has been exciting for fans to witness each game this season. If he continues to perform this well, the Patriots offense will be very dangerous down the stretch.

Do Your Job

Amendola has gone under the radar since signing with New England. He is quickly emerging into a receiver Brady can look to in the clutch. Brady has connected with Amendola in clutch situations before (both Super Bowl XLIX and LI featured a clutch touchdown from Amendola), and is now connecting with him in the regular season as well.

Whileans dearly miss Edelman, and hope for a speedy recovery from the ACL injury, Amendola is doing his best to fill the void in the offense. The Week 1 Loss to the Kansas City Chiefs showed a lack of trust between Brady and his receivers. As the season has progressed, Brady has developed a strong rapport with Amendola, and the offense has clicked.

Dola started out the season being considered a third or fourth option in the passing game. Now, opposing defenses will need to key in on Brady’s most trusted option of 2017. If Brady’s mentions of Dola being “uncoverable” are true, defenses will struggle heavily trying to stop him.

Horford-Baynes Front Court Resembles 2008 Celtics?

Leave a reply

Laying the Foundation

After a wild 2017 off-season for the Boston Celtics, one key player remains from the 2016 club. That player is Al Horford, and he is entering his second year with the 17 time NBA Champions.

Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge made various offseason moves after a 2016-2017 Eastern Conference Finals exit. One signing that goes under-the-radar is that of Center Aron Baynes.

The 6’10” Australian-born Baynes is entering his sixth NBA season and will be given a bigger role this year. A possible starting front court of Horford at power forward and Baynes at center seems ideal for both players.  Horford would play at his natural position and focus on his offensive strengths (moving the ball, spreading the floor). Baynes would be the physical bruiser the Celtics have lacked who can primarily grab boards and defend the paint.  This front court would be comparable to the 2007-2008 Celtics duo of Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins. This pair was important to the team 10 years ago, and could be the blueprint for this upcoming season.

Horford to Garnett Comparison:

Before you freak out, I am not saying that Horford is on the same level as “The Big Ticket.”

Garnett was the 2004 NBA MVP with the Minnesota Timberwolves and 2008 NBA Defensive Player of the Year for Boston. Horford has never acquired either of these accolades and likely never will, but that is fine.  KG was a post-up nightmare for opposing defenses who also had solid rim protection skills. During the ’07-’08 season, he averaged 18.8 points per game and 1.2 blocks per game.

Horford averaged 14.0 points and 1.3 blocks for the Celtics in 2016-2017. A key advantage he holds over Garnett is elite passing ability (5.0 assists per game last season). He also has the ability to stretch the floor with a consistent three point shot (.355% last season).  With the addition of Aron Baynes, Horford will likely get to move back to his natural position. This will allow him to put more focus on his offensive game.

KG was at his best when playing power forward for the Celtics. Upon the departure of Perkins after the 2010-2011 season, Garnett was forced to play center. He saw many of his averages drop, including points, rebounds and blocks per game.

Do not expect Horford to emerge as the next “Big Ticket” for the Boston Celtics in 2017-2018. Instead, while playing at his natural position alongside a true center in Baynes, expect his offensive production to increase.

Baynes to Perkins Comparison

Aron Baynes was not a name that stuck out to most people during the 2017 “Summer of Ainge.” Kendrick Perkins was not a name that stuck out to most people during the “Big 3 Era” of the Celtics.   Baynes does not hold the same value as the additions of Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. Instead, he has the chance to be a key role players for a championship contender.  The Aussie has been making a case for himself to be a starter during the pre-season. He can provide a “space and pace” offense at Center for the Celtics with a surprising mid-range jumper.

“Aron Baynes really encouraging. Can move laterally, great defensively, offense has been better than we thought.” said Coach Stevens about the Aussie thus far in the pre-season.

Those are words that could never have been said about Perkins. He played his role on the 07-08 Celtics team as an interior defender and glass cleaner. Perk could not shoot effectively outside of the paint (10-31 from shots 10 feet outside paint to three point range).

Importance of Role Players

None of Perkins career stats will amaze you, but his presence in the lineup was valuable. Boston was missing Perk during the 2010-2011 NBA Finals Game 7 against the Los Angeles Lakers.   Perkins was lost to a torn ACL in Game 6 and veteran Rasheed Wallace had to start in his place (Wallace got exposed, Lakers won the championship, Celtics fans were left disappointed).

Players like Aron Baynes or Kendrick Perkins are important to championship-caliber teams. They assume the primary duties of rebounding and rim protector, allowing others to provide the offense.   Baynes will need to take the leap in terms of improving his rebounds and blocks per game (4.1 and .4 respectively through 14.1 minutes per game during his career). If he does, fans will begin to love the addition of #46 for the Celtics in 2017-2018.

Horford-Baynes, Garnett-Perkins Final Thoughts

Boston’s front court for the 2017-2018 campaign looks very comparable to that of the 2007-2008 championship team.   Horford and Baynes will be playing alongside All-Star talents in Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. This will allow them to be key contributors by playing to their strengths.  Garnett will go down as one of the Celtics biggest acquisitions in franchise history and it paid immediate dividends. The team captured Banner 17 during his first season with the team.

Perkins was a valuable role player for the Celtics when they last were competing for championships. This was because he allowed Garnett to play his natural position.  Baynes could have the same effect in the starting lineup this season. Starting the other new-comer Marcus Morris would force Horford to play Center. The Celtics would have to take that into consideration if they decide not to start the Aussie.

Boston has a similar front court situation to the 2008 Championship roster. Playing alongside the additions of various new talents provides the ability to compete for Banner 18.