In Field of Dreams, Terrance Mann, played by James Earl Jones, who voices Mufasa in The Lion King, gave a passionate speech about the power of nostalgia when Ray was about to sell his farm. Mann said, “Ray, people will come, Ray. They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. They will turn up your driveway, not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. ‘Of course, we won’t mind if you look around,’ you’ll say. ‘It’s only twenty dollars per person.’ They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it. For it is money they have and peace they lack.”
Nostalgia is a powerful concept. Channel it correctly and people will react without even thinking. As Mann said, “They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it.” That is exactly how I feel about the live-action version of The Lion King. There could have been zero well-known actors in the new remake and yet people would still rush to the theaters to see Simba become King.
The summer box office may be down from 2018, but the studio that continues to make money at an alarming place is Disney. The Disney machine keeps on churning out box office success after box office success. This year, Disney has the four highest-grossing films domestically (Avengers: Endgame, Captain Marvel, Toy Story 4, and Aladdin). It’s safe to say that The Lion King will join those films in a short amount of time.
The Lion King is the latest Disney animated film to receive the live-action* treatment. Directed by Jon Favreau (The Jungle Book, Iron Man), it’s the first Disney live-action film to have no human characters. That being said, the visuals are absolutely stunning. The visual effects are groundbreaking and so lifelike that it’s a masterclass in technical precision. Watching animals speak didn’t always work. At times, the sound did not match with the animal’s facial movements. However, sometimes you don’t have to critically analyze the jaws and mouths of computer-generated animals. At the end of the day, animals talking is pretty cool to witness onscreen. Five-year-old me and twenty-six-year-old me were very entertained.
*There is an argument to be made that this version of The Lion King is not live-action because of its lack of human characters. Every character was built on a computer so, therefore, it’s still an animated film.
Once the sun rises and the first note of “The Circle of Life” is heard, the nostalgia strings are violently pulled inside anyone who has ever seen the film. The main plot in 2019 remains the same as it did in 1994. Simba, who after the murder of his father, Mufasa, by his uncle, Scar, must return to the Pride Lands and claim his role as King. The 2019 version of The Lion King stays almost exactly to script as 1994 original, which is not always a good thing. Most viewers are going to be satisfied with the plot remaining the same (which is where I fall), but there was a missed chance to develop a few more characters besides Nala.
Although The Lion King lacked some originality, the star power of the cast was extraordinary. Highlighted by Donald Glover as Adult Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Adult Nala, and James Earl Jones returning as Mufasa, the cast was an eclectic collection of stars across all mediums.
For the most part, every actor did an acceptable to a slightly above average job, but the two standouts were Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen as Timon and Pumbaa. The comedic duo had the most chemistry between characters in the film and perfectly played off of each other. It can’t be understated how charming they were especially Eichner. Following up Nathan Lane, who voiced Timon in the 1994 version, was no easy task, but Eichner gave an admirable new twist to the character. Who knew he had a great voice?
Speaking of voices, what can’t be denied is the music of Elton John and Tim Rice still holds up 25 years later. “Circle of Life,” “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” “Be Prepared (most underrated song of the film),” “Hakuna Matata,” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” all still draw huge reactions from the crowd. Plus, having accomplished singers and performers like Donald Glover and Beyoncé to sing familiar anthems is a cheat code.
Despite the similar plot, The Lion King‘s visuals and music carry this live-action film that will win over audiences and become an immediate box office triumph.
What are your thoughts on The Lion King? Leave them in the comments or tweet at us, @Unafraidshow.
The year is more than halfway over and the field for Best Picture at the 2020 Oscars is hazy, to say the least. Most of the films that are drawing buzz have not premiered yet at major film festivals, which means their theatrical release date will be in the fall. There’s no such thing as a “sure thing,” but this year, in particular, has more questions than answers.
Where are all of the contenders in the first half of the year? If you’re looking for this year’s Get Out or Mad Max: Fury Road, which both hit theaters before June in their respective years, your search will come up short. That’s not to say there haven’t’ been any critically acclaimed films or box office success that will garner awards consideration. Us, Apollo11, Toy Story 4*, and The Farewell have all been lauded by critics across the board. However, the likelihood that these films receive Best Picture nominations is slim.
*Toy Story 3 was the last animated film to be nominated for Best Picture. Depending on how the back half of the year goes will determine if Toy Story 4 can sneak into the Best Picture race.
The lack of Best Picture buzz for the first half of the year is concerning, but not problematic. The majority of films looking to be in awards contention position their release dates between September and December/early January so they stay fresh in voters’ minds and can be seen at the box office while the awards are happening. In fact, the last film to win Best Picture that had its release date before July was The Hurt Locker, which had its release in late June 2009.
Although the first half of the year provided little hope, the future is still bright. The film community won’t have to wait until September to see a contender. In fact, the first film that will receive major Oscar buzz premieres on July, 26. That film is Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
If you could draw up the perfect film to receive awards consideration, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood would be the blueprint. It includes huge movie stars like Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, and Leonardo DiCaprio, who is returning to the big screen for the first time since his Oscar-winning performance in The Revenant. The film involves a well-known and well-received director in Quentin Tarantino, who previously won two Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay. Plus, the Academy loves films about Hollywood that capture the true essence of cinema, which is the very nature of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave the film 5/5 stars and said it’s “entirely outrageous, disorientating, irresponsible, and also brilliant.”
Speaking of festivals, there are three major ones that typically serve as launching pads for the Best Picture race. They are the Venice Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, and Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). All three festivals will occur over the course of a few weeks at the end of August through the middle of September. Last year’s Best Picture winner, Green Book, premiered at TIFF. In 2017, The Shape of Water premiered at Venice. In 2016, Moonlight premiered at Telluride. It’s no secret as to why films with awards’ aspirations premiere at these three major festivals. If a film has a strong premiere at one of the three festivals, it’s odds for entering the Best Picture conversation dramatically increase.
According to Variety, Joker with Joaquin Phoenix, Bradd Pitt’s space epic Ad Astra, Tom Harper’s The Aeronauts, Fernando Meirelles’ The Pope, and The Burnt Orange Heresy starring Mick Jagger are all rumored to be showing at Venice. Since 2014, at least one film has been nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars that was shown at Venice so expect the same to happen this year. The lineups have not been announced for Telluride or Toronto, but it’s a guarantee that films from the festival will draw Best Picture hype.
Films that should also accumulate serious Best Picture conversations: Martin Scorsese’s star-studded The Irishman, Ford v. Ferrari starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale, the musical adaptation of Cats featuring Taylor Swift, Greta Gerwig’s Little Women, Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, The Goldfinch starring Ansel Elgort, Ang’s Lee Gemini Man starring Will Smith, and Jay Roach’s Fair and Balanced about the former head of Fox News, Roger Ailes.
There’s bound to be at least a few films not previously mentioned that sneak up on the film community and join the Best Picture race. That being said, here are my best guesses for Best Picture nominees at the 2020 Oscars as of July 17.
Best Picture Predictions
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Ad Astra
Cats
Fair and Balanced
Ford v. Ferrari
The Irishman
Little Women
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Toy Story 4
Only time will tell as to which films receive nominations. However, with an abundance of films premiering these next five months, the Best Picture race is about to take off.
If you missed this year’s rendition of the Home Run Derby, the premier pre- MLB All-Star game event, then you missed one hell of a ride. Two rookies, Pete Alonso (Mets) and Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. (Blue Jays), put on an absolute show, blasting home runs left and right and shattering previous derby records.
Of course, for the first time, the derby actually had a massive prize: a cool $1,000,000. Even to professional athletes, that’s a lot of cash.
However, because of baseball’s archaic rules that prevent rookies from getting paid big money until six years into the league, this year’s winner, Pete Alonso, only has a salary of $555,000 this year. His performance in the derby ended up earning him double what he will get paid for the rest of the season with the Mets – even though he is an All-Star and potential MVP candidate.
This begs an interesting question, that was originally discussed on the Effectively Wild Podcast: Could the home run derby survive as its own ‘sport’? After all, watching players blast home runs off pitches right down the middle during a timed event is completely unlike real baseball. The only similarity is the equipment and the field – both things that could be altered in a theoretical new league.
Who Would Participate?
Would people pay to see players participate in a home run derby on a regular basis? Hard to say. Clearly, a startup league would struggle to pull professional players from the major leagues into a new derby league. So the talent level probably wouldn’t be there right away. There are certainly plenty of recently retired players or players who didn’t make the major leagues – but who had serious home run power – who could probably excel in a sport dedicated exclusively to hitting dingers.
If the league could get guys like Jose Canseco, Adam Dunn, Chris Carter, David Wright, and the Barry Bonds types to come out of retirement to blast some home runs, perhaps fans would tune it on a semi-regular basis. And with a cash prize, it’s not impossible to think some of these guys would do it.
Other Home Run Derby Innovations
However, eventually, people would get bored watching the same event over and over, even if they were attached to the performers. But what about having a derby on a football field? Over a lake? In the Grand Canyon? These are pretty ridiculous ideas, but if enough fans showed up and cared about watching, maybe they could pull this off.
Fans have proven that the best part about sports is watching people hit or throw a ball as far as possible. The home run in baseball, the three-pointer in basketball, hail mary’s in football, long goals in soccer, whatever it is, humans tend to love their feats of strength.
A sport dedicated to the home run derby probably wouldn’t survive, but the concept is there if they found the right people and the right gimmicks to make it last without the MLB All-Star game.
Though the above is a live look of the New Orleans Pelicans ticket staffers learning their team won the 2019 NBA Draft lottery and right to draft Zion Williamson, it’s safe to say the Brooklyn Nets sales team experienced this same joy at the start of NBA Free Agency. The signing of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving signifies a coming of age story for the Nets and the end of an era for their crosstown rival. Once heralded as the “Mecca” of basketball, the aura that surrounded Madison Square Garden is gone. New York Knicks’ owner James Dolan was reportedly hesitant to sign Kevin Durant to a maximum deal. But if your team’s president has to release a statement responding to angry fans, that’s clearly not the correct business decision.
NBA Star Market Value
Nets sign Durant and Irving on the first day of NBA free agency…
People pay to see stars, and teams know it. Immediately after signing the two-all stars, an all-out race for Nets season tickets ensued. Currently, the cheapest ticket available is $4,000 a seat, which is quite an expense for a team that won a total of 48 games prior to the 2018-2019 NBA Season.
NBA stars do more than put fans in the seats; they serve as an economic catalyst for all other aspects of their team’s city. When Lebron James announced his “Decision” in 2010, not only did he take his talents to South Beach, but also $48 million in annual revenue. When James re-signed with Cleveland in 2014, Professor Leroy Brooks estimated his return added nearly $500 million to the local economy. The Cavaliers suffered another negative swing when Lebron moved west to the Los Angeles Lakers.
NBA teams lack profitability and marketability without a star player. Fans routinely discuss how players aren’t worth a certain contract. When Kobe Bryant became the league’s highest-paid player in 2014, he did so to show players should not feel forced to take less than their worth and stated:
“Athletes are the ones that are in the public eye the most. And so their salaries are constantly talked about, so it’s very easy to look at the athlete and say, ‘You should be doing more and you should be taking less,’ when the reality is that your market value is so much higher than what people understand.
” ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, but you still should be taking less to win. Why do we have to do that? Because the owners locked us out and imposed a hard cap where we ‘have to’ take less in order for them to generate more revenue. Right? But meanwhile, they go and sign a TV deal that’s a billion dollars up from the last one, but that doesn’t get talked about. Nobody complains about that.”
Maximum Value Under The NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement
Credit: Larry Coon / CBA FAQ
Maximum salaries are the product of the 1998-1999 NBA lockout initiated by owners who feared player salaries were getting out of control. After the Minnesota Timberwolves gave 21-year old Kevin Garnett an extension worth six years, $126 million, billionaire owners decided they couldn’t “have the inmates running the prison.”
Now, maximum salaries are dependent on the player’s years of services. In a truly open market, superstar players such as Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Stephy Curry, Joel Embiid, and Anthony Davis would be worth at least $75 Million. Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook, and Nikola Jokic would easily pull in contracts worth $50 million to $60 million per year. Hell, Zion Williamson is on the verge of signing a $100 million shoe deal; it makes no sense that his perceived NBA value is $45 million over four years.
Despite the league’s continued growth, it’s unlikely that the cap will rise to a level that will allow players to receive their true worth. While it may be hard to quantify the value a superstar brings, one method would be to allow teams the ability to sign a player outside of cap space. Instead of retiring jerseys, if owners truly want to show their appreciation, this is the route they should take. Then, the future Lebrons, Durants, and Antetokounmpos would be able to live in the world Kobe hoped to create for his fellow stars.
Brooklyn, stand up. You just pulled off the heist of the summer. Kevin Durant was expected to take meetings throughout the next couple of days and then make a decision on his next NBA team. That didn’t happen. On his sports business network, The Boardroom, Durant announced that he would be signing with the Brooklyn Nets on the first day of NBA Free Agency.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzWZV18lRxx/
For Nets fans, it gets better. Kyrie Irving is also signing with the Nets.
Sources: Durant will sign a 4-year, $164M deal with the Nets; Irving will sign 4-years, $141M.
Brooklyn did the damn thing. Knicks, who? Six years ago, the Nets made arguably the worst trade in NBA history when they traded an abundance of players and 1st round picks for Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. In six years, the Nets were able to erase their mistake and build a franchise that is set to make a run at a championship in the next few years. Sean Marks, the GM of the Nets, should have a statue of himself outside the Barclays Center.
Although many teams and fans (myself included) prefer their teams to tank, Brooklyn did the complete opposite. The Nets hired a coach, Kenny Atkinson, who was capable of building young talent and inspiring players to reach their full potential. The Nets took a chance on D’Angelo Russell, who after being run out of LA, showed his true potential by making the All-star game last season. With a young and inexperienced roster, the Nets won over 40 games and made the playoffs.
Now, the Nets signed two superstars that will allow them to take the next step towards a championship. If Kawhi Leonard leaves for Los Angeles, the East will once again be wide open. Milwaukee and Philly would be the favorites, but the Nets and Raptors would not be far off. The Nets should compete for a playoff spot this year with Kyrie and then when KD comes back in 2020, the Nets should be the favorite to make the NBA Finals.
Where Brooklyn at? Well, they’re going to be at the top of the Eastern Conference and maybe the entire NBA in a few seasons. Better days are ahead for the Brooklyn Nets.
Megan Rapinoe Refuses Any Notion of White House Visit
Just a day after the USWNT victory against Spain, Megan Rapinoe firmly opposed the idea of visiting the White House. If the USWNT repeat, she refuses to step foot on White House premises. And though she regrets the use of an expletive in her statement, Rapinoe holds the same stance.
"I stand by the comments that I made … with the exception of the expletive."
Like her protest of a White House invitation, Rapinoe has stood for justice for years. Just days (not weeks) after Colin Kaepernick kneeled for the first time during a national anthem, Megan Rapinoe did the same. It was a nod to Kaepernick and support to the protest. She’s been at the front of this movement, helping lead and bring awareness to the cause.
“it’s important to have white people stand in support of people of color on this.”
Megan Rapinoe
In kneeling, Rapinoe sparked heavy backlash from many. The majority of that negativity came from those both straight and white. Fortunately for her, she wasn’t blackballed like Kaepernick. Although the U.S. Soccer Federation did attempt to silence her efforts by requiring standing during the national anthem, she still has her job.
Co-captain Megan Rapinoe used to kneel during the national anthem but after US Soccer changed their policy requiring players to stand, she stands silently during the anthem.https://t.co/SIQ7PW6dVw
Like Kaepernick, there are so many misguided ideas surrounding Megan Rapinoe. She is not anti-American, against our country and out to ruin the lives of our children and military. Instead, it’s quite the opposite. Rapinoe is speaking for the marginalized and oppressed. Police brutality and racism still intertwine themselves in our country. Like this ridiculous and obscene behavior from Phoenix Police Officers:
“I’m gonna f***ing put a cap right in your f***ing head.”
Officer Christopher Meyer, Phoenix Police
It’s 2019 and cops are still willing to threaten and shoot unarmed persons of color over seemingly anything. Officer Meyer threatened to “put a cap” in a mom’s head in front of her children over a stolen Barbie from a dollar store. A dollar store! He equated a black person’s life to one dollar. That’s how much worth he gave her. A single dollar. He was willing to murder her over a dollar Barbie. It’s sickening.
It’s a Long Road Ahead
This country is certainly not perfect and we still have volumes to discuss. Because of this, Megan Rapinoe protests during the national anthem or refuse invitations to the White House. She’s not alone either. A multitude of athletes have joined this opposition to President Trump. Food goodness sake, the last NBA team to visit the White House was the Cleveland Cavaliers, during President Obama’s second term. So why is everyone so outraged by Megan Rapinoe? Rapinoe believes that the president is “sexist, misogynistic, small-minded, racist and not a good person.” She has every right to protest the power. In fact, it’s incredibly American and Patriotic to rise up against injustice. That’s how our country was founded in the first place. Through protest and the restructuring of power.
This shouldn’t be a big deal anymore. Regardless, Rapinoe and her protesting are still bringing light and discussion to our country’s inadequacies. And for that, we should be thankful.
Tom Hanks has played some of the most recognizable and iconic characters in movie history. All of Hanks’ roles all have one common trait: screaming. Hanks loves to yell and we love him for it.
Jamie Lee Curtis is universally known as the Scream Queen. Ever since Curtis played Laurie Strode in her feature film debut, Halloween, Curtis became the staple for scream queens in horror films. Just like Curtis is the top scream queen, there is a top scream king and the answer might surprise you. The Scream King is Tom Hanks.
Tom Hanks? The two-time Academy Award winner and one of the most decorated actors ever is a scream king? It’s more like a yelling king. While Curtis screams in terror during horror films, Hanks yells to emphasize his feelings, thoughts, and emotions. These screams range from complaints, exclamations, and even starling revelations about toys. Start running through Hanks’ filmography and almost every film includes the actor raising his voice and letting off a trademark howl.
The time he yelled at a volleyball
WILSON! WILSON! Who knew that yelling at a volleyball would automatically go into the Hall of Fame of Tom Hanks Quotes. Not everyone has seen Cast Away, but I’d argue that if you drop a “Wilson” around someone, they’re going to understand the reference. It’s a gut-wrenching scene that made the world care about a volleyball. A volleyball! Don’t forget that Hanks showcased his trademark squeal earlier in the movie when he learned to build a fire.
The time he yelled at Buzz Lightyear for being a toy
The truth hurts and when that truth goes against your entire system of beliefs, it hurts even more. Woody executed a heel turn that would make Vince McMahon jealous. Woody screaming “You are a toy” to Buzz in Toy Story was flat-out mean. Was Buzz delusional? Yes. Was Woody too harsh? Absolutely. It’s one of the few moments where Hanks became the villain, not the hero.
The time he yelled that there’s no crying in baseball
Remember when I said Hanks went full heel in Toy Story? It turns out Hanks had another personality shift in him when he went full asshole as the manager in A League of Their Own. Is it ok to cry in sports? Depending on what era you were raised in might effect your answer. It’s ok to cry tears of joy after winning a championship. It’s ok to cry tears of despair after blowing the game on your mistake. However, as Tom Hanks screamed, “There’s no crying in baseball.” I don’t make the rules. I only enforce them.
The time he yelled that he was not a fish
Because of giant romantic comedies like Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail in the 1990s, Splash tends to be forgotten when mentioning Hanks’ best romantic comedy roles. However, Splash may be the most underrated movie in Hanks’ filmography. Surrounded by two comedic legends in John Candy and Eugene Levy, Splash was the match that lit the career of Tom Hanks. Per usual, Hanks had some memorable screams including his “I am not a fish” speech in the tank. It’s safe to say that Tom Hanks is indeed, not a fish.
The time he told Jenny to go home to Greenbow, Alabama
Oh, Jenny. Why couldn’t you just listen to Forrest and go home to Greenbow, Alabama? All Forrest ever wanted was to protect you and keep you safe. You would’ve had a nice life on the Gump estate after the Apple stock kicked in. Instead, you chose a life of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. I’m not mad, Jenny. I’m disappointed.
These aren’t the only movies where Hanks will let off a signature yawp. Youtube User Owenergy created a supercut of Hanks yelling throughout his career and includes additional clips from Big, Turner & Hooch, and Dragnet.
Here’s to a lifetime of screams Tom Hanks movies. Hanks will play Fred Rogers in a biopic later this year. If anyone can make Mr. Rogers scream in the neighborhood, it’s Hanks.
Welcome to the 2018-2019 Unafraid Show NBA Awards. We don’t have an official vote yet for the NBA Awards, but here are the players and coach that should receive the awards. I can’t remember a year where so many of the major races are still up for grabs. It’s all highlighted by the MVP race between Giannis Antetokounmpo or James Harden. NBA Rookie of the Year and NBA Coach of the Year is a close race as well. What’s your pick?
While you debate your picks, here are my NBA Awards selections.
MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo
They say ties are a lot like kissing your sister. However, this year more than ever, there should be Co-MVPs. It’s impossible to state whether Giannis Antetokounmpo or James Harden is more valuable to their team. It’s a true catch-22. When comparing stat lines, take your pick. Each guy set records. For Giannis, 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 30.99 per, with the latter ranking first in the NBA. Giannis joins Kareem Abdul Jabbar as the only other player to average 27 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block per game. For James Harden, the scoring numbers are off the charts. Harden averaged the seventh most points in a season in NBA history with 36.1 to go along with 6.6 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and a 30.67 per, with the latter ranking second behind Giannis. Plus, there was the historic streak of scoring at least 30 points per game in 32 straight games. I usually don’t use wins as the determining factor in the MVP race, but in this particular race, it helps. Giannis led the Bucks to an NBA best of 60 wins, which is 12 more than the win total set by Oddshark back in October. Harden, who single-handily carried the Rockets for long stretches where both Chris Paul and Clint Capela were out, led the Rockets to 53 wins, which is two less than their predicted total on Oddshark. Because of the wins jump and the defensive numbers (which will be mentioned later), my MVP vote by the slimmest of margins goes to Giannis.
With two nights remaining in the NBA season, here's how James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo's 2018-19 stats compare. Who would get your vote for MVP? https://t.co/7K68WBprenpic.twitter.com/tvU6MFIkBC
The hype is real. I am guilty of catching Luka fever. Luka Doncic flat out put on a show this season. Luka was the only rookie to average over 20 points per game and led all rookies in scoring with 21.2 points per game. Since 1990, only 15 first-year players have scored over 20 points per game and just four of them have been 19 years old or younger. Luka’s 21.2 points per game are the most among those four players. The rest of Luka’s stat line was impressive. To go along with the 21 points per game, Luka added 7.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.3 3-pointers made, and 1.0 steal per game in 32.2 minutes a night as a rookie. As a comparison, Luka had higher numbers than LeBron James as a rookie in all of those statistical categories besides assists (tied) and steals (LeBron averaged 1.6). Despite a late push from Trae Young, Doncic’s historic season deserves to be honored with the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
Defensive Player of the Year:Giannis Antetokounmpo
This is not your typical Defensive Player of the Year award winner. Rudy Gobert is most likely going to win this award if Giannis wins MVP and I’m positive neither player will argue those outcomes. Gobert is one of the best rim protectors in the league and leads the league in defensive real plus-minus. However, Giannis is one of the most feared defenders in the league and the best two-way player in the game. Although Giannis is 14th in defensive real plus-minus, it’s his ability to force bad shots and help on defense that gives him the edge over Gobert. Giannis joins Andre Drummond as the only two players in the NBA to accumulate 100 blocks and 90s steals. Imagine driving to the lane and having a pterodactyl come flying over to alter your shot. That’s what happens when opponents drive on the Bucks’ defense, which ranks first overall in the NBA.
If you could award this to a pair of teammates. the easy decision would be Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell. I wanted to make sure Harrell was given a shoutout because of his outstanding season. That being said, Lou Williams is going to win this award. “Lou Will” is a scoring machine as the guard once again leads all sixth men in scoring with 20.3 ppg. What’s even more impressive is that Williams leads the Clippers in scoring and is a big reason why the Clippers are headed to playoffs despite this being a rebuilding season. It’s not often the sixth man is the team’s best player, but that’s exactly the case in Los Angeles. Williams will win his third sixth man of the year trophy.
Most Improved Player: Pascal Siakam
If you ask a casual NBA fan about Pascal Siakam, they might say, “who?” I don’t mean that as a dig at Siakam. The causal fan better get used to hearing his name this postseason. As great as D’Angelo Russell and De’Aaron Fox have been, this is what they were projected to do coming out of college. Pascal Siakam is an anomaly. Siakam didn’t start playing basketball until he was 18. Look at the jump that Siakam has made in almost every statistical category.
Siakam is 6’9″ matchup nightmare who has developed into one of the best two-way players in the NBA. Siakam is an integral part of the Raptors’ success and will play a key role for Toronto during their playoff run. When the NBA announces its most improved player, the world will never forget the name, Pascal Siakam. He may be a staple on the NBA Awards All-defensive team.
NBA Coach of the Year: Kenny Atkinson
Kenny Atkinson from the Brooklyn Nets should win NBA Coach of the Year, but it’s not going to happen. It’s going to Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks. What Budenholzer has done for the Milwaukee Bucks should not go unnoticed. Budenholzer raised Giannis’s game to an MVP level and guided the Bucks to the best record in the NBA with a 60 win season. Credit to him for a job well done. However, my vote for Coach of the Year goes to Kenny Atkinson of the Brooklyn Nets. I can’t comprehend how good of a job Atkinson has done since he arrived in Brooklyn three seasons ago. Atkinson had to come in and try to clean up the mess from the Paul Pierce / Kevin Garnett trade that left the Nets in shambles. However, Atkinson rebuilt the right way. Teams should take notes on what the Nets have been doing the past few seasons. Sign and trade for young, under-valued talent and let them mature while you clear cap space. Who would’ve thought that D’Angelo Russell, who was deemed “not a leader” by Magic Johnson, would revitalize his career and become an All-Star? The Nets won 28 games last year. This year, the Nets have won 40+ and are going to the playoffs. Congratulations to Kenny Atkinson on a magnificent job.
. @BrooklynNets just clinched playoff spot. Hard to overstate how remarkable their turnaround is. Left for dead (justifiably) after Pierce/KG trade. Now back in postseason after mere 3-yr absence. And without the benefit of lottery picks. Incredible job by Marks, Atkinson and Co.
Injuries and the free agency status of Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson put the future of the Golden State Warriors up in the air. However, with healthy recoveries and a solid core, the dynasty may not be over just yet.
The worst case scenario happened again for the Golden State Warriors. With a little over two minutes left in the third quarter, Klay Thompson went up for a dunk and landed awkwardly on his left knee. At this moment, Klay was the best player on the floor with 28 points. It was typical “Game 6 Klay.” However, once Thompson slammed the floor and agonized in pain, something was terribly wrong. The dynasty was in trouble.
After tearing his ACL, Klay Thompson came back onto the court to hit two free throws 😳 pic.twitter.com/dyUEcpFm4R
Despite stretching, jumping around, and making two emotional free throws, all hope was lost when Thompson went to the back and could not return to the game. 72 hours after Durant’s season ended due to a ruptured Achilles, Thompson was done for the year as well with a torn ACL. Despite leading the game when Klay exited, the ending was inevitable. Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors prevailed in Game 6, 114-110, to win the NBA Championship.
What seemed like an inevitability at the beginning of the season became an impossibility once KD and Klay suffered horrific injuries. Injuries happen so credit the Raptors for taking advantage of the depleted Warriors. They flexed their dominance and earned this title. Now, the future remains uncertain for Golden State. Durant can opt out and become a free agent and will most likely miss the entirety of next season. Thompson is a free agent and won’t be able to return until next winter or spring. Without those two stars, can Steph Curry and Draymond Green handle the scoring load? Although it was a small sample size, Curry and Green both struggled at times especially late in games when both KD and Klay were out. The question on everyone’s mind revolves around the Warriors’ dynasty. Is it dead?
Even if Warriors are able to keep Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant in free agency, it'll be a fight to reach playoffs in the Western Conference. Thompson's ACL rehab could take him into February or March — and Durant likely misses entire season. Devastating turn of events. https://t.co/xKXayv9p34
Dynasties tend to end abruptly. After winning two straight championships, the “Bad Boys” Pistons lost to Michael Jordan and the Bulls in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals and did not win a playoff series until 2002. Speaking of Jordan, the 90s Bulls won six titles. After defeating the Jazz in the 1998 NBA Finals, Jordan retired, Phil Jackson resigned, Scottie Pippen was traded, and the Bulls didn’t win a playoff series for almost a decade. Does this loss to the Raptors signify the end of the Warriors’ dynasty?
Let’s state the obvious. Steph Curry is a three-time NBA Champion and two-time MVP. Draymond Green is a three-time NBA Champion and a former Defensive Player of the Year. They are not falling off a cliff. Despite long recoveries in their future, Brian Windhorst said that the Warriors plan to offer both Klay and KD max contracts this offseason.
Windhorst's 'understanding' is that the Warriors still 'intend' to offer Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant five-year max deals, which would push payroll with luxury tax to about $350 million pic.twitter.com/JLmCqp5OTx
Bob Myers cried his eyes out while announcing Durant’s Achilles injury. I appreciate the passion and love for a player, but let’s not act as though Durant died. KD is going to come back in two seasons. Whether or not he’ll be the best player in the world again is up in the air, but I’m confident that Durant will become a prolific scorer again when he returns. The same goes for Klay. Thompson showed that he’s a freak athlete and competitor when he returned to shoot the free throws on a torn ACL. Expect Thompson to undergo a full recovery and return sometime next March.
The elephant in the room revolves around their free agency. Will Klay or KD leave the Warriors this offseason? I’m inclined to believe that Klay will resign with the Warriors for a max contract. It’s hard to believe that Klay won’t want to continue playing with his fellow Splash Brother. Durant’s status is up-in-the-air. Durant has been rumored to sign with the Knicks for months now. The Knicks and a few other teams will most likely still offer Durant a max contract, but the injury makes a return to the Warriors more possible than ever. Durant can either sign a max contract with the Warriors or opt into the final year of his current deal and become a free agent after next season.
The long-term dynasty might still have a chance, but next season is going to be a struggle. The Warriors glaring weakness this year was their lack of depth on the bench. However, when you have most of your money tied up in four players, creating a bench full of depth can be tough. Even if both Klay and DK both resign with the Warriors, they are not going to play for most of, if not all of next season. For as great as Steph Curry is, without any offensive help, it will be difficult to win games if he’s the singular piece for opposing defenses to guard. For as versatile as Draymond is, 7.4 points per game average is not a viable number two option. Who can the Warriors sign to make up the difference? Steph, Draymond, Andre Iguodala, and Shaun Livingston are all under contract next season. Demarcus Cousins is open to returning, but without a lot of cap flexibility, it may be difficult especially if Cousins has a high asking price.
Could DeMarcus Cousins return to the Warriors next season? “I’m open (to it)” pic.twitter.com/CIyn0VK1HZ
The Warriors dynasty may also be in trouble due to the potential shift in the competitive balance. If Kawhi Leonard signs with the Clippers, he automatically elevates them to a playoff contender. A healthy LeBron James will return to the Lakers and if they trade for Anthony Davis, the Lakers will be the favorite to come out of the West. The Rockets are still a force. Plus, the Thunder, Nuggets, Blazers, Jazz, and Spurs should all be in the mix for the playoffs. Simply put, the Western Conference is a juggernaut. Unlike the previous five seasons, Golden State will have to fight hard for a playoff spot next year.
The five straight appearances in the finals might come to an end next season, but don’t be so quick to declare the dynasty, “dead.” The Warriors will need to develop a stronger bench, but thankfully, they still have one of the best President of Basketball Operations in the league, Bob Myers, to build a roster. The Warriors still have Steve Kerr, who is in the upper echelon of NBA coaches. If Golden State can at least resign Klay, the core of Steph, Draymond, and Klay will continue to be one of the best combinations in the game. Plus, you never know if Durant will change his mind about leaving and come back to the Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors will take their lumps next season, but don’t expect them to die. Push the pause button and wait a season. The dynasty is delayed, not dead.
The USWNT Forwards Are The Strength of the U.S. Team
At last, this roster coverage turns away from the goalkeepers, defense and midfield and to the strength of the U.S. Women’s National Team roster: the forwards. Attacking ability is the utmost importance to the Americans. Oddly enough, even with the talent of the three starters (Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Tobin Heath), Jill Ellis brought four additional forwards. Some of them, especially a clutch veteran like Carli Lloyd, could see action as a midfielder as well. They have incredible depth at the position, filled with diverse talent. Any other country would dream of this level of security and upside. Creating scoring opportunities is what the USWNT forwards do better than anyone else. Here is the most dangerous attacking group in the World Cup.
The USWNT Forward Projected Starters
Alex Morgan | Age: 29 | Caps: 163 | ST | Team Captain
When soccer fans think of U.S. soccer, Alex Morgan is who they think of. She is the face of the USWNT. Morgan is among the most prolific goal-scorers in U.S. history. Morgan’s 101 goals rank 6th all time and her 0.62 goals per game is elite. Morgan was the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 2012 and 2018, in addition to being the CONCACAF Player of the Year in 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2018. She is, beyond a doubt, a pure goal-scorer, through and through.
Peculiarly, Morgan never found her footing in the NWSL. Her 0.36 goals per game is significantly lower than her international average. Additionally, Morgan never earned an NWSL Best XI appearance. She also was only NWSL Player of the Week once in her career. In the NWSL, Morgan is just another player. But internationally, Alex Morgan is sensational.
https://youtu.be/2JtyKAqinaU
For the USWNT forwards, Morgan is the electricity. When she broke out for the USWNT, Morgan displayed game-breaking speed and a knack for scoring. She was raw, fast and powerful. Morgan’s skillset gives her the ability to get behind the defense. She routinely gains position with speed and strength. Her athleticism and shooting ability were always dangerous. But, in recent years Morgan’s developed into even more of a threat.
Alex Morgan Evolved
In her growth, Morgan evolved into a well-balanced striker, willing to also be a role-player. In games, Morgan is seen making clearing runs or setting up the pass before the assist. She sets up her surrounding teammates for success. Her intelligence and knack for field position have also upgraded. Morgan makes phenomenal off-ball runs and has an impeccable first touch.
So, remember that Morgan can and likely will score in plenty. She has incredible upside, scoring 28 goals with 21 assists in 2012. In her arsenal, she has:
Three. In her soccer career, Megan Rapinoe has suffered three different ACL tears. But, each time she has returned to all-pro form. Her last ACL tear was in 2015 and many have placed partial fault of the USWNT’s loss to Sweden on Rapinoe’s recovering knee. But no more. Rapinoe is back and dangerous as ever.
Not long ago, Megan Rapinoe felt “on the outs” with the national team. She’d torn her ACL & joined Kaepernick in his peaceful protest of racial injustice. She enters the World Cup with her voice & game stronger than ever: https://t.co/I4w8u4Zj32
There are two words that describe Rapinoe best: versatile and creative. Rapinoe is comfortable and a threat with either foot. She beats opponents on the left side to send in assists from the byline or cuts inside to create her own right-footed shot. Rapinoe can score or assist from every piece of grass on the attacking third.
Based off of her assist count, Rapinoe is an easy choice for playmaker. Her 57 assists ranked 5th all-time for the USWNT. In the 2015 World Cup, Rapinoe serviced up key passes on the regular. Her vision and feel of the game is brilliant. She is the Andre Pirlo of the UWSNT forwards. Rapinoe can and will set up her teammates to succeed.
After fouls, Rapinoe is at her most potent. Her dead-ball service is top of the world. She delivers upper-v strikes to the back of the net or lofty passes to a teammates head. Rapinoe’s intelligence and placement is unmatched. When, not if, the opposition gives her a dead ball opportunity, be ready for the spectacular.
Tobin Heath | Age: 31 | Caps: 150 | RW
Get your highlight reels ready because Tobin Heath’s footwork is ridiculous. It always has been. In her first USWNT cap, on her very first touch on the ball, Heath nutmegged two Canadian defenders. This is her story. Heath is confident and aggressive with her foot skills. She’s much like Brazilian footballers in that way. Why dribble around a player when she can nutmeg them?
https://youtu.be/__Dt95vqx3M
Best of all, Heath is entering the 2019 Women’s World Cup in her best form. She notched 10 international goals since the start of 2018. Additionally, Heath earned an NWSL Best XI in 2018 and Best XI in the CONCACAF Women’s Championship. Her seven goals and six assists in just ten games in 2018 are exceptional.
On the right side of the pitch, Heath can be left alone. Because of her technical strength, Heath is difficult to guard one-on-one or even two-on-one. She can beat people off the dribble on any touch, has pace to run down a through ball, and plays through contact. Heath frequently makes professional and international defenders look inadequate.
She scores dope goals. She's got video game moves. She's also the coolest person.
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) May 29, 2019
In her third World Cup, Heath is expected to be great. She made four appearances in the 2011 World Cup and started five of the seven 2015 World Cup games. Big tournaments are not foreign for Heath. She is 31 years old and is a veteran winger. Barring injury, Heath should start all seven games and continue her 2018 success.
Wait. Carli Lloyd is a reserve? That’s almost as shocking as watching the NBA playoffs without LeBron James. To those new to the soccer world, Carli Lloyd is a USWNT legend. She’s ranked in the top-ten for caps, goals and assists. In the 2015 Women’s World Cup, Lloyd was clutch as could be. She scored in each of the USWNT final four games. In the final, Lloyd unleashed the beast and scored a hat trick to push the USWNT into victory. She was unstoppable, topping off her hat trick with a half-field strike.
Lloyd, after that ridiculous finals effort, was obviously granted the tournament’s Golden Boot. She was also the 2015 FIFA World Player of the Year. Everything went right for Lloyd and she is the last memory of the 2015 FIFA World Cup.
After the World Cup, Lloyd spent a few professional seasons with sub-star levels of performance. Adding to that is her age. Lloyd is 36 years old, 37 in July. She’s not fit enough to efficiently play a full-90 anymore. But, with the talent around her, she doesn’t have to be.
“And here I am, once again, facing a new struggle.
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) June 6, 2019
Instead, Lloyd gets the chance to come off the bench as a super-sub. Ellis moved the attacking midfielder to a reserve forward for one reason: come off the bench and shoot. Lloyd never hesitated to shoot as a midfielder and will certainly not pause as a USWNT forward. She always goes for goal, aggressively and determined. Though she’s not as fast as her younger self, Lloyd can play technical and crafty. Judging by her latest performances on the USWNT roster, it appears she’s once again found her footing. Lloyd scored five times in her last three matches. Once again, Lloyd is ramping up her international clutch gene. Get ready to watch the return of a legend.
Christen Press | Age: 30 | Caps: 116 | ST
If ever there was a player you don’t want the opposition to bring off the bench, it’s Christen Press. Press is a track-star, soccer player with incredible speed. She is a change-of-pace phenom with a high ceiling. Press will use her acceleration, along with a lethal cut back to her left-footed shot, to drive the ball into the back of the net.
At her best, Press is a goal-scoring machine. She set Stanford’s all-time scoring record with 71 goals. Press was the fifth player in USWNT history to score double-figure goals in three consecutive years (2014-2016). She slotted in with USWNT giants Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, Tiffany Milbrett and Carli Lloyd. In those seasons, she also earned a spot on the NWSL First XI in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Additionally, she captured the 2013 Damallsvenskan Golden Boot. Those years were excellent for the striker.
https://youtu.be/Li9FE5ONycc
Tale of Two Christen’s
But since then, she’s taken more of a backseat in USWNT scoring. After scoring 41 international goals from 2013 to 2016, Press only has 7 goals since 2017. Again, Press has game-breaking abilities. On four occasions, Press tallied an international hat trick. In one of those, she had four goals. Also, Press recently was Damallsvenskan Player of the Month after scoring four goals in three games in April of 2018. When she’s on, she’s on.
However, Press’ inconsistency as a USWNT forward is an issue. Then again, as a reserve, Press holds unbelievable upside. Her speed and scoring ceiling can open up large leads for the U.S. team. Whatever the case was for her slip in goals since 2017, Press remains an excellent reserve with World Cup experience and the ability to catch fire.
At just 21 years of age, Mallory Pugh already has 53 international caps. Amazing. She is without a doubt a rising star on this USWNT roster. Pugh was U.S. Soccer’s Young Female Athlete of the Year in 2015 and Gatorade’s National Female Soccer Player of the Year in 2016. For good reason.
https://youtu.be/Qp_lzERSugY
Pugh is Technically Sound
On the USWNT forward depth chart, Pugh is a pure winger. She doesn’t hesitate to take on defenders directly with strong dribbling and precise footwork. When on the field, Pugh provides consistent, progressive runs. Attacking the defense like a seasoned veteran is what she does. Pugh has fantastic spacing and makes great runs off the ball. She understands the game and what the defense gives her. Her position makes it easy for teammates to find her. She is a technically savvy winger and that is deadly.
Speed kills but technical speed absolutely annihilates defenders . Mallory Pugh is for real.
Adding to her winger skillset is a natural ability to score goals. In her first cap against Ireland, at just 17 years of age, Pugh came in off the bench and score. In her first cap. At 17! In 2016, she also became the youngest American player to score in the Olympic Games. Pugh knows how to get the ball in the back of the net. She is an excellent winger and will continue to rise.
66': Mallory Pugh comes on as a sub 67': Mallory Pugh scores
With that being said, Pugh is still not as good as Megan Rapinoe and Tobin Heath. And that’s okay. Those are elite players. Pugh is still so young. She has more time to develop and master her craft. Still, if she is called upon this 2019 Women’s World Cup, she undoubtedly will shoot. Pugh is impressively efficient and has an uncanny ability to score.
Jessica McDonald | Age: 31 | Caps: 7| ST
Though she’s 31 years old, Jessica McDonald is the least experienced on the team, internationally speaking. She only has 7 caps to her name, gaining her first call-up in 2016. The reason behind her lack of international play is mostly because of injury and pregnancy. During her rookie season in the WPS, she suffered a devastating, knee injury with an 18-month recovery. During recovery, McDonald also became pregnant. By age 23, every other player on the USWNT roster had at least one call-up. McDonald, on the other hand, had an injured knee, a pregnancy and the dissolving WPS to worry about.
But, like many hero’s journeys, McDonald continued to persevere. It wasn’t simple either. In the last ten years, she’s played for nine different professional teams. In her son’s first two years, she played for four different teams, one in Australia. Being traded from team to team and moving from city to city, as a single mother, is not easy. Even so, McDonald made the most of her opportunities.
Paving Her Own Path
After moving back to the states for the inaugural NWSL season in 2013, Jessica McDonald began to make waves. She was the first player in the NWSL to reach 33 regular-season goals.
Even so, she still played off the bench or jumped from team to team. It wasn’t until 2017 that McDonald played on the same team for consecutive seasons. Because of their loyalty, the North Carolina Courage got the best of McDonald’s play. She helped lift them to two NWSL Shields (2016, 2017) and an NWSL Championship in 2018. In the closing moments of the 2018 season and the playoffs, McDonald was exquisite. She finished the regular season with four goals and four assists in her final seven games. Then, McDonald scored the only goal in the NWSL semifinal, then two goals in the title game and earned an NWSL Championship MVP.
McDonald may be 31, but her play is peaking. She’s finally getting the respect she deserves and a spot as a USWNT forward. McDonald is the best substitute striker in NWSL history. Now, she gets to patiently await her opportunity to strike.
If the Defense Falters, the USWNT Forwards Need to Score Multiples
After review, the USWNT forwards are without a doubt the strength of this squad. They will send volleys of shots at opponents, no matter the score. Ellis is an attacking-minded coach and her seven forwards display this. Each of them could earn a roster spot on another country’s team. This depth will serve the USWNT roster well. Especially considering the lack of depth, experience, and health at defense and goalkeeper. In order to win, the USWNT needs to score multiple goals in every game. Their defense and style will fail to shutout opponents. Nonetheless, they have the firepower needed to do so. Get ready for goals. And goals in abundance.
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