Links to interesting NBA articles - Blueprints for teams

[bwgood77]

Zach Lowe's rankings by tier

Phoenix Suns: This is the hardest team to peg in that nebulous range between 38 and 48 wins, in part because the Markieff Morris situation could turn volatile at any moment. These guys are deep at every position, they can play with four-out spacing over entire games, and they’ll be well-coached on both ends. In our rush to coronate Utah and the Stifle Tower, we might be overlooking a solid team here.

Jeff Hornacek and Ryan McDonough should get the time to see their vision through. They’ve done artful work building a winning roster while keeping the cupboard stocked with extra picks and cap room — money Aldridge damn near took in July. We have to see how Knight and Eric Bledsoe mesh after their late-season collapse on offense in 2014-15, and whether Tyson Chandler can instill some discipline in this foul-happy crew on defense.

https://grantland.com/the-triangle/our-annual-tiers-of-the-nba/

[Sunsss]

I'm gonna post some tidbits from Coro articles in here. I feel like not many people read them. He writes interesting stuff, quotes from players, coaches etc.

Weems’ woes

Suns guard Sonny Weems was happy for his family and friends from West Memphis, Ark., to be able to see him in the NBA again on Sunday but he never imagined they would never see his uniform under the sweats that he has not been asked to pull off in a while.

After four seasons in Europe, Weems returned to the NBA this season with the Suns intending to make him their first guard off the bench. He held that role for the first six games, but only appeared in the second halves of the first two. Since then, he has been relegated to spot mop-up duty.

“I think I could help,” Weems said. “I don’t know what it is. Defense. I could rebound the ball. I could pass. Europe has taught me a lot. I can pretty much do everything out there. All I need is a chance. I don’t think I got a fair chance in the beginning but it’s a business and I understand the business part. I guess I still gotta wait.”

Hornacek has said that he expects Weems will return to the rotation at some point this season. Weems is on a two-year, $5.8 million contract with a second-year team option.

Suns center Tyson Chandler (hamstring strain) did not play during the six-game trip.

“He did a little work before the game (Sunday) and said he still felt it,” Hornacek said. “We’ve got to get him 100 percent. If we have him get out there too early and he strains it more, now he’s out another two to three weeks. That’s not going to help us.”

* Hornacek on Markieff Morris, who he did not play Sunday at Memphis: “Markieff’s been great. He does everything we ask. He’s trying hard. I don’t know if he’s pressing a little bit. Shots that me made last year when he had all the clutch plays, he hasn’t gotten it going yet. We’re still hopeful that he’ll do that.”

Markieff Morris 'happy' with Suns win despite reduced role

There is one thing clear about how Suns power forward Markieff Morris feels. He is happy that the Suns won Monday night. He said as much four times to in answers to questions about being benched Sunday and having a reduced role Monday.

Until Sunday, the last time a coach sat Markieff Morris out for an entire game was when Alvin Gentry did it once during Morris’ rookie year.

Gentry’s team, New Orleans, was the one being added to Morris’ trade interest rumor mill in a Yahoo! report Tuesday after ESPN reported Monday that Houston had interest. It would be the result of Morris asking for a trade during the summer after his twin, Marcus, was traded to Detroit and how his previously perennial improvement has turned into a career-worst season.

After sitting out a game against his twin last Wednesday because of a knee bruise, he lost his starting job for Friday’s game at Washington, got benched for all of Sunday’s game at Memphis and then played only seven first-half minutes Monday at Chicago. That stint was prompted by Alex Len’s foul trouble.

“It is what it is,” Morris said after the Suns’ win Monday. “It’s a coach’s decision. There’s nothing I can really say or do about it. I’ll be there for my teammates and I’m happy we got the win.”

Morris said he did not anticipate being benched, but Hornacek talked to him about it before Sunday’s game at Memphis.

“That’s part of the transition,” Morris said. “Coach said he wanted to try something new. I’m just here for when they want to play me and I’m happy we got the win.”

Asked if still wanted to be traded, he said: “I’m part of the Phoenix Suns. I’m happy we got the win tonight.”

Asked if his relationship with the organization has improved, he said, “I’m happy we got the win tonight.”

Morris grabbed three rebounds in seven minutes Monday, when his season field-goal percentage dropped to a career-low 38.6. He continues to be tight with several teammates and has been engaged from the bench with emotional reactions to the Suns’ ups and downs.

“I’ll contribute any way I can, whether it’s cheering my teammates on or being in the game,” Morris said. “We needed this win big.

“Coach is a great guy. Our team fought real hard. He put me in for a little bit of time and I just wanted to go out there and play hard and contribute any way I can. I didn’t score but I got a couple stops. We got the win. That’s what is important. I keep in high spirits and keep my confidence. Whenever my number is called, I’ll be ready always.”

[aIvin adams]

^^ gotta give kieff some credit for at least saying the right things there. it's in everybody's interest for him to do that so good for him.

from a Lowe article published last night regarding teams which are juggling lineups to find their rotations still:

Phoenix Suns

This is getting interesting. Stay tuned.

the only team that got this treatment.

Dec 15th is circled in purple on my calendar...

ETA - http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14316675/running-league-nba-hits-quarter-mark

[Sunsss]

Alex Len stays as starter after strong 5-game stretch

Len earned the right to keep the job during Chandler’s first two games back Sunday and Monday, and it also allowed Chandler to ease his way back into the fold. His strong play did not hold up at Dallas, where he made one of seven shots for a two-point, four-rebound effort in 21 minutes.

“We have two guys (power forwards) in Jon (Leuer) and Mirza (Teletovic),” Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said before the game. “We’ve got to find out which guys pair up better with the other one to see which way we are going to go. (Chandler) was the starter before, and he’ll probably be again at some point.”

Until Len went scoreless in Monday’s first half, he had put together a career-best streak of five double-digit scoring games. During that stretch, Len averaged 15.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 28.6 minutes per game while shooting 54 percent from the field. He averaged nine free throw attempts per game during the recent three-game homestand.

“I really liked the way Alex is being aggressive when he gets the ball, he’s got a little room where he’s dipping in between there and he’s springing into a dunk,” Hornacek said. “He is doing it quick. It’s not a slow move. When he does things quick, when you’re 7 feet and 1 inch, it’s really only the other 7-foot that can get to you.

“He is being smart about his moves. We saw glimpses of it last year and he’s starting to do it every night, which is a big sign.”

Knight slams bode well

Indications of Brandon Knight’s lingering left ankle issues began with a bench-rising, driving dunk at Brooklyn on Dec. 1 and continued with two more dunks on the homestand.

Knight’s April left ankle surgery left him feeling like it was not at full strength when the season began, but the explosiveness and confidence appears to be returning, despite that ankle also being sprained last month.

“It’s been feeling better,” Knight said. “There are some days that are good, some days that aren’t as good. But, overall, it’s been much better. I’m thankful for that and improvement with my health. This training staff has been doing a diligent job each and every day just trying to make sure it’s on the right path.”

The first one was the most impressive, driving past Nets guard Shane Larkin in a half-court set with such momentum that Nets guard Wayne Ellington decided against trying to block it from under the rim.

“The first time, I just, ‘Let me see what I can do,’" Knight said. “Even this (last) one, I didn’t jump the way I really wanted to. I just kind of put it in softly. My confidence is getting more and more.”

Knight scored all 12 of his points Monday in the first half. He played all of the third quarter and took one shot, a missed 3-pointer on the second possession.

Warren slowed

T.J. Warren was turning into an explosive bench scorer for the Suns until a string of five consecutive single-digit scoring games entering Monday night’s game at Dallas. He had not scored in single digits for more than two consecutive appearances previously.

Sunday’s game provided a sign of Warren’s offensive aggression returning when he went three for 10 from the field in 14 minutes. He carried that over to Monday, when he had 10 points in 19 minutes, including a seven-point fourth quarter when he was part of a Suns lineup that closed Dallas' lead from 23 to six.

“He was trying to make the right play probably but, for T.J., he has to aggressive offensively,” Hornacek said of Warren's quiet offensive stretch last week. “That’s kind of his game. It may look like a quick, bad shot but that’s how he plays. He’s a great scorer. We expect when he comes off those picks that he doesn’t just take one or two dribbles and pass it to the next guy. He’s in there for that scoring.”

[Sunsss]

“We’re not where we need to be,” said Chandler, who came off the bench for the past two games after an eight-game absence with a hamstring strain. “We’ve got to be honest with ourselves. The biggest thing is understanding how to play as a team. We have a lot of talented individuals but that’s what we are. Until we break through that and come every single night looking like a team, we’re in for some tough battles. You can’t do it individually in this league.”

“It shouldn’t be so much about what other teams are doing, compared to what we’re trying to accomplish,” Chandler said. “Right now, I think that’s too big of a focus.”

Weems stays ready

Suns general manager Ryan McDonough talked to guard Sonny Weems after Sunday’s home win, telling him to stay ready for an upcoming chance.

Weems already had been ready for it. With Dallas routing the Suns, coach Jeff Hornacek turned to an unusual fourth-quarter lineup that chopped the Mavericks’ lead from 23 to six with Weems providing a nine-point boost.

It was not just that Weems had not played since Nov. 27. He really had not been in the Suns' game mix for a month.

Weems opened the season as the Suns’ top reserve off-guard, playing 32 minutes in the first two games before being relegated to first-half appearances only in six of the next seven games. He made 3 of 11 shots during that time and missed all three of his 3-pointers before Hornacek turned to Archie Goodwin and eventually rookie Devin Booker, who was averaging 20.3 minutes over seven game until Monday's five-minute outing.

In the fourth quarter at Dallas, Weems hit both of his 3-point shots, drew two shooting fouls with his aggression and nearly had an alleyoop assist to cut the Mavericks’ lead to four but Jon Leuer did not catch it.

Weems credited first-year assistant coach and player development coordinator Nate Bjorkgren, the Suns D-League affiliate’s head coach last season, for keeping him sharp with individual work before practices and games.

“I think it was just me being more comfortable out there with playing and the different style of game, coming from Europe,” said Weems, who was a star for CSKA Moscow. “It was just me settling down. I think I was nervous when I first got out there those first couple of games at the beginning of the season. I haven’t been here for four years. I just calmed myself down. That’s all it was.

“I’m going to be ready, whether my game is coming next game or 10 games from now.”

Goodwin also had not played since Nov. 27. His turn in the rotation lasted seven games in mid-November. In Monday's fourth quarter, he scored six points with his rim-attacking ways on a drive, an alley-oop and an off-ball cutting reverse layup. He also added four rebounds and a steal in 11 minutes but missed all five of his free throws.

“They’re practicing hard,” Hornaacek said. “That’s what you’re supposed to do. You’re a professional player. You’re getting well-paid. You’re prepared for any time. When situations like this come up, you get an opportunity and you play well. That gives the coaches confidence to go back to you.”

[Sunsss]

Nice article on our backcourt: http://bballbreakdown.com/2015/12/16/13373/

[Sunsss]

“It’s not Coach’s fault,” guard Ronnie Price said of Hornacek. “It’ s not one individual player’s fault. It’s a collective effort. The coaches come up with a game plan and it’s our job to do that. We’ve talked about it enough. That’s the difference between playoff teams and non-playoff teams – executing when the game is on the line. Hopefully, at some point, it clicks. It’s not just us. Across the league, teams are going through it, too. It’s just who figures it out first.”

“We’ve got to be more physical, got to be stronger, got to beat guys to stops and we’ve got to realize what it takes to do that,” Hornacek said.

“Good teams don’t fragment when things aren’t great,” Knight said. “We have to try to find a way to keep fighting through. We can’t let go of the rope.”

“Our communication is horrible,” Tucker said. “We give up so many points just from not talking, not fulfilling our schemes that we come up with for games. That’s a big part of it.”

Price said it is not for lack of coachspeak. Hornacek and his staff pound the message daily, only to see any good things happen in spurts be overwhelmed by floods of mistakes.

“This isn’t anything that’s new,” Price said. “Coach talks about this and drills it in us every day. We just have to do it. I feel so bad because Coach is probably pulling his hair out. The staff is working really hard trying to figure it out.

“It’s little, different things each game. The promising thing is you look at the standings and it’s so crazy. We have all these games that don’t go our way or we don’t show up to play and you look at the standings and, if we just get on a streak, we’re the fifth seed.“

The last word goes to Suns guard Ronnie Price: “It’s really hard because we have so many good spurts during games to where you’re like, ‘Dang.’ But on the flipside, we have a lot of letdowns. Sometimes, our letdowns are so bad during a game. Maybe guys not playing as hard or whatever it is that game to dig a hole.”

[plonden]

NBA.com's David Aldridge on a potential Suns trade:

Houston-New Orleans-Phoenix
Houston: G Ty Lawson to New Orleans
New Orleans: C Omer Asik to Phoenix; G Norris Cole, F Quincy Pondexter, F Dante Cunningham to Houston
Phoenix: F Markieff Morris to New Orleans, F P.J. Tucker to Houston

Who knows if Dwight Howard is unhappy in Houston, as the website Sheridan Hoops reported last week. Whether or not he is, Houston can't get much for him right now, the way both he and the Rockets have been playing this season (not to mention he's likely to opt out of his deal after this season to again become a free agent). And they certainly can't get Miami's Hassan Whiteside, as Sheridan reported.

On the other hand, the Rockets didn't give up much of anything for Lawson, so getting rotation guys in return for him would be a win. He just doesn't fit playing behind Patrick Beverley, or off of James Harden. Cole does. He spent a couple of years in Miami waiting for LeBron or D-Wade to pass him the ball; he knows where to go on the floor. Pondexter (who hasn't played yet this season after offseason knee surgery), Cunningham and Tucker would give the Rockets a surplus of vets who could provide depth at three positions, and give them alternatives to the oft-injured Donatas Motiejunas and Terrence Jones. Asik is a luxury the Pelicans can't afford; Alexis Ajinca has been putting up virtually the same numbers in the middle at a fraction of the cost.

Make no mistake: it would be a gamble for the Pels to count on Lawson or Morris long-term. But where are they going, exactly, with their current roster? If Alvin Gentry wants to play fast, it would be worth it to take a good look Lawson. At the least, New Orleans wouldn't have to wait for Jrue Holiday to be ready to play big minutes the rest of the season. Morris would also fit right in with a pace and space game, and with his more than reasonable contract he could always be moved again if he turns out to bring the same baggage to the Pels that he's carried the last year with the Suns.

For its part, Phoenix just wants to turn the page. The Suns don't need another center with Tyson Chandler and Alex Len around, but both Chandler and Len tend to get hurt during a season. And taking on Asik's contract is the cost of getting rid of the 'Keef headache. Asik can always be re-routed in the offseason. And T.J. Warren's ready to step in at the three for Tucker.

It's honestly hard to imagine a worse trade for the Suns. Asik is extremely overpaid (2015-16: $9,213,483; 2016-17: $9,904,494; 2017-18: $10,595,505; 2018-19: $11,286,516; 2019-2020: $11,977,527 with an early termination option). He's currently 29 years old. He has virtually no offensive skills. He plays a position we don't need. And he's a basically a relic of the old NBA. Asik's signing was arguably the worst offseason contract, period. Terrible, terrible deal. I'd also want two unprotected first round picks coming back if we made this deal.

[bwgood77]

“It’s not Coach’s fault,” guard Ronnie Price said of Hornacek. “It’ s not one individual player’s fault. It’s a collective effort. The coaches come up with a game plan and it’s our job to do that. We’ve talked about it enough. That’s the difference between playoff teams and non-playoff teams – executing when the game is on the line. Hopefully, at some point, it clicks. It’s not just us. Across the league, teams are going through it, too. It’s just who figures it out first.”

“We’ve got to be more physical, got to be stronger, got to beat guys to stops and we’ve got to realize what it takes to do that,” Hornacek said.

“Good teams don’t fragment when things aren’t great,” Knight said. “We have to try to find a way to keep fighting through. We can’t let go of the rope.”

“Our communication is horrible,” Tucker said. “We give up so many points just from not talking, not fulfilling our schemes that we come up with for games. That’s a big part of it.”

Price said it is not for lack of coachspeak. Hornacek and his staff pound the message daily, only to see any good things happen in spurts be overwhelmed by floods of mistakes.

“This isn’t anything that’s new,” Price said. “Coach talks about this and drills it in us every day. We just have to do it. I feel so bad because Coach is probably pulling his hair out. The staff is working really hard trying to figure it out.

“It’s little, different things each game. The promising thing is you look at the standings and it’s so crazy. We have all these games that don’t go our way or we don’t show up to play and you look at the standings and, if we just get on a streak, we’re the fifth seed.“

The last word goes to Suns guard Ronnie Price: “It’s really hard because we have so many good spurts during games to where you’re like, ‘Dang.’ But on the flipside, we have a lot of letdowns. Sometimes, our letdowns are so bad during a game. Maybe guys not playing as hard or whatever it is that game to dig a hole.”

I REALLY wish our communication was better. I think now that Warren is starting, Chandler starting, even though Len need to start, will help with communication, and then we also only have one black hole on offense, and our bench is pretty strong with Price, Booker, Tucker, Kieff or Telly, and Len. I really like those two units.

[bwgood77]

Reached overseas, Sarver took full responsibility. He said the Suns lack championship culture. He said that organizational leadership is to blame, and it all starts with him.

Clearly, the head coach is not the only one on the hot seat in Phoenix.

“The reality is, there’s only a half dozen championship-caliber organizations in the NBA over the last 25 years,” Sarver said. “My job is to find the right people and the right culture to eventually be one of those organizations, and it starts with me. I’m not shirking responsibility.

“The blame is to be shared from the top down. Our leadership needs to communicate better. It needs to provide a better culture that provides for more accountability and more motivation. We have a lot of good, young players. They need to be playing hard, aggressively and on the same page whether we win or lose. That’s what I expect going forward.”

With a clean slate, the Suns might look different. Some of their young players speak to a bright future. Most notably, they are Brandon Knight (24), T.J. Warren (22) and Devin Booker (19).

The other night against Cleveland, Booker received a rare start. On the very first play of the game, his pocket was picked by Kyrie Irving, who stole the ball for an uncontested layup. It was the kind of embarrassing moment that could make a teenager shrink, especially with LeBron James in town. Instead, Booker showed remarkable poise.

We all know our NBA team is stuck in the middle, where franchises can wither for years without relief. If nothing else, General Manager Ryan McDonough has shown a knack for drafting the right players. If we can just get through one or two truly awful seasons … if the team can luck into a franchise player the way Carson Palmer fell into the Cardinals’ lap … maybe the Suns can finally stage a revival.

Except there’s no patience in the Valley for losers, and little faith in this organization. And Sarver is right. It starts at the top.

Last year, the Suns allowed Marcus and Markieff Morris to act like fools without fear of repercussion. While Jerry Colangelo would’ve shipped both of them out of town on the very next flight, Sarver did the opposite. He was extraordinarily patient with the twins.

Sarver also refused to pick up Hornacek’s option, which allowed him to enter the current season as a lame-duck coach. The ensuing chaos should not surprise anyone. And when Colangelo and former head coach Mike D’Antoni rolled into town together, with a one-win 76ers team that somehow beat the Suns on their home court, the outrage was palpable.

McDonough is partially to blame for the culture problem. Too many ex-players and coaches have lashed out at the Suns on their way out of the Valley, expecting a little more connectivity and honesty from above. The 2014-15 team was left suspiciously void of veteran leadership, a mistake you might expect from a general manager lost in the numbers, playing fantasy basketball.

Yet Sarver’s actions might also be unspoken confirmation of what we all feared when Hornacek took over as head coach. When hired, he was one of the most popular figures in team history, and one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. But could he communicate hard truths on a daily basis, like Bruce Arians? Could he be tough enough to command respect from today’s NBA players?

The handling of Hornacek leads to one conclusion: The team thinks he needs to get better at reaching the jagged personalities and dealing with the everyday dysfunction of an NBA locker room.

“I’m not sure it’s just the NBA,” Sarver said. “My whole view of the millennial culture is that they have a tough time dealing with setbacks, and Markieff Morris is the perfect example. He had a setback with his brother in the offseason and he can’t seem to recover from it.

“I’m not sure if it’s the technology or the instant gratification of being online. But the other thing is, I’m not a fan of social media. I tell my kids it’s like Fantasy Land. The only thing people put online are good things that happen to them, or things they make up. And it creates unrealistic expectations. We’ve had a number of setbacks this year that have taken their toll on us, and we haven’t been resilient. Therefore, it’s up to our entire organization to step up their game.”

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/2016/01/02/bickley-cardinals-suns-have-traded-places-fans-eyes/78207820/

[Lillard2LA]

Suns' Losing Streak Begins With Defense:

http://valleyofthesuns.com/2016/01/03/suns-losing-streak-begins-defense/

[bwgood77]

Suns' Losing Streak Begins With Defense:

http://valleyofthesuns.com/2016/01/03/suns-losing-streak-begins-defense/

I see you are a Blazers fan. Are you just suddenly writing Suns columns? If so, good, because VotS was dead for a while.

[bwgood77]

Good column about the Suns state and our three young players. http://basketball.realgm.com/analysis/240329/Going-Back-To-McDonoughs-Original-Plan-In-The-Suns-Lost-Season

[Lillard2LA]

Suns' Losing Streak Begins With Defense:

http://valleyofthesuns.com/2016/01/03/suns-losing-streak-begins-defense/

I see you are a Blazers fan. Are you just suddenly writing Suns columns? If so, good, because VotS was dead for a while.

Yeah, I'm trying to breathe a little life into that site. I would cover my Blazers, but I have the opportunity to take over as editor at Valley of the Suns next month. We should be getting more writers and content out soon.

[bwgood77]

Suns' Losing Streak Begins With Defense:

http://valleyofthesuns.com/2016/01/03/suns-losing-streak-begins-defense/

I see you are a Blazers fan. Are you just suddenly writing Suns columns? If so, good, because VotS was dead for a while.

Yeah, I'm trying to breathe a little life into that site. I would cover my Blazers, but I have the opportunity to take over as editor at Valley of the Suns next month. We should be getting more writers and content out soon.

Well feel free to find content, stats, arguments, etc to back up your columns from here because many people make very good points and really research advanced stats to back things up on their arguments here.

[Lillard2LA]

I see you are a Blazers fan. Are you just suddenly writing Suns columns? If so, good, because VotS was dead for a while.

Yeah, I'm trying to breathe a little life into that site. I would cover my Blazers, but I have the opportunity to take over as editor at Valley of the Suns next month. We should be getting more writers and content out soon.

Well feel free to find content, stats, arguments, etc to back up your columns from here because many people make very good points and really research advanced stats to back things up on their arguments here.

Thanks. I appreciate it.

[Lillard2LA]

I think it's in the best interest of this team to go ahead and relieve Hornacek of his coaching duties. There's no reason to continue playing this game if it's going to hang over the franchise like a dark cloud. Time to move on and figure out what to do with the roster while there is still a glimmer of hope left. The season is still young and they are only five games behind Houston.

http://valleyofthesuns.com/2016/01/04/time-fire-jeff-hornacek-move/

[bwgood77]

I think it's in the best interest of this team to go ahead and relieve Hornacek of his coaching duties. There's no reason to continue playing this game if it's going to hang over the franchise like a dark cloud. Time to move on and figure out what to do with the roster while there is still a glimmer of hope left. The season is still young and they are only five games behind Houston.

http://valleyofthesuns.com/2016/01/04/time-fire-jeff-hornacek-move/

I really do wonder if McDonough's job is basically tied to Hornacek's at this point. Since he isn't fired yet (I figured he would have been right before the New Year, right after that, and then when that didn't happen, certainly after this recent stretch of games. Because normally it would be the next day after a game. Sarver said the problems start at the top.

I'm also not sure how usual it is for a GM to be tasked to hire a coach with only one year left on his own contract, or if Sarver would just clean house completely and let a new GM pick the new coach. I'd just love to know the inner dynamics of all of this.

[bwgood77]

A great article by Lowe, about offensive rebounds vs not trying for them and just focusing on transition defense, which is the Spurs mantra, followed by quite a few teams....but then it talks about how advantageous offensive rebounds are later in the column, and how that's how the Cavs stopped fastbreak opportunities in the finals for a bit, because they went so all out for offensive rebounds, that GS had to focus more people on getting the defensive rebound, taking away their fast break that way, an occasionally getting the rebound and scoring. Other teams focus on it too, Brad Stevens puts in his two cents, Indy, Utah, Portland, etc.

Good column..

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14505051/transition-defense-left-offensive-rebounds-cutting-room-floor

[bwgood77]

Nice Zach Lowe column on the Raptors...talks about what they should do..says maybe they should take a flyer on Kieff. I like his discussion on the "almost triple double" part in his list of 10 and comparing it to almost acing a test.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14550490/toronto-spent-money-drafted-young-talent-next