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Anthony Davis trade rocks NBA

Photo courtesy of USA Today

The Anthony Davis trade has finally happened. The plan has been executed. This trade changes the landscape of the NBA.  Ever since Davis signed with Klutch Sports, the NBA world knew AD was looking to become a Laker.

Klutch Sports finally got their wish.  Davis and LeBron James will dawn the purple and gold next season. It was a steep price to pay, sending Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and three first-round picks to New Orleans. With Davis, it gives the Lakers a chance at a title.

But, the question remains how the Lakers will fill out their roster. While the Lakers might be looking at a third star, it might also be better for them to spread the wealth. Here’s a look at the best free agents to compliment the superstars. With the Lakers being in a position to retain Kyle Kuzma, they’ll still need two starting guards.

Asset Analysis

J.J. Redick

J.J. Redick is a sharpshooter James has always won championships with. Last season, he signed a one-year deal with the 76ers for $12.5 million. If the Lakers sign him, they’d have room to spare. He’s a high-level player who’s proven to be great in the playoffs.

Terrence Ross

Ross averaged 15 points per game last year on nearly 40 percent from the Land of 3. The Lakers’ lack of players who can shoot and get buckets was on display when James went out with injury. Ross is a great pick-and-roll player. With James being a ball-handler, Ross would free up LeBron to play off the ball.

Danny Green

Shooters shoot, and with James, that usually equals a championship run. This is a perfect fit for James and Davis. Green has helped the Spurs and Raptors win championships. He shot 45.5 percent from deep. On the defensive end, he can guard 1-3 and has a championship pedigree.

Darren Collison

Darren Collison provides strong point guard play. He’s one of the most underrated players in the league. Collison is a gritty point guard who would be an upgrade from Rondo, who shot 40 percent from 3 last season. The Lakers would lose nothing with Collison on the defensive side.

Spur of the moment: Parker’s retirement marks end of era

Photo courtesy of USA Today

One of the greatest San Antonio Spurs of all time has given his curtain call, marking the true end of an era. “The Frenchman,” Tony Parker, announced after 18 years, he’s calling it a career.

And what a career it was! Parker was a six-time All-Star and the Spurs haven’t missed the playoffs for the better part of two decades. For the most part, they had one floor general leading their remarkable run.

The French Connection

A diamond in the rough, Parker was selected 28th overall in the 2001 NBA draft and helped carry the team to unparalleled success.   During his tenure, he averaged 15.5 points, 5.6 assists and 2.7 rebounds.

His only season with another NBA team was 2018-19 with the Charlotte Hornets under former Spurs assistant coach James Borrego. Parker is the final of the Spurs’ “Big 3” comprised of Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili to retire.

That trio will be in the Hall of Fame sooner rather than later. Originally, Parker wanted to stay in San Antonio and play 20 season with one team, however things changed.  

“A lot of different stuff ultimately led me to this decision,” Parker said. “But, at the end of the day, I was like, if I can’t be Tony Parker anymore and I can’t play for a championship, I don’t want to play basketball anymore.”  

Parker was one of the best point guards during the prime of his career. The second option to Tim Duncan, he stamped his own legacy as possibly the best French-born player to compete in the NBA.

Helping guide the Spurs to four championships, he joins the Hall of Fame alongside Dwayne Wade and Dirk Nowitzki as first-ballot selectees.    

For any other backup point guard, Parker’s numbers of 9.5 points in 17.9 minutes per game with the Charlotte Hornets would’ve been a great season.

But, when you’ve been one of the best, average is not an option. Now, Spurs fans await Parker’s eventual jersey retirement and their last chance to celebrate the Big 3 together.  

Content Streaming Competition by the Numbers

Images Courtesy of the Associated Press (Apple: Tony Avelar/AP)

With more competition arriving, Netflix subscriptions will undoubtably fall (by 49%) with the entrants of Disney+, which now owns the FOX entertainment assets and soon to be 100% of the Hulu platform through a deal with Comcast/NBCUniversal.  Apple+, WarnerMedia, and Amazon are also competitors.  There are four reasons Netflix will face stronger competition in the coming months.      

1. More Streamers

Disney+/Hulu, AT&T/WarnerMedia, Amazon, Apple+, and potentially others like DAZN and FloSports.  Comcast/NBCUniversal has also yet to enter the streaming space with its own streamer.

2. Loss of Licensed Content on Netflix

Due to expiring licensing deals (e.g., Disney and Marvel properties and eventually the FOX assets to Hulu), plus other streamers who enter the space. 

3. Netflix Originals

The streamer did not make many of the popular originals and now must produce and develop more of its own content versus licensing owned-properties. 

4. The “Go it Alone” Approach

Netflix chose not to integrate with Apple+ because it sees Apple as a direct competitor.  Disney did the same when it decided not to continue licensing its properties to Netflix late-2019.  Disney also owns 66% of Hulu and will likely purchase the remaining 33% from Comcast/NBCUniversal by 2024.  Where Disney’s family-friendly content and FOX’s adult content cannot be on the same platform, Hulu will be the place for sports and the Disney-owned FOX content.  The lack of cooperation and new entrants will lead to more competition like the cable and satellite companies of old.  This may also lead to lower revenues.

Depending on whether consumers view Hulu and other streamers as a substitute, complimentary, or independent streaming service compared to Netflix, consumer subscriptions will be at risk.  Disney will own and control two major streaming platforms by 2024 (Hulu and Disney+), not to mention ESPN+ and ABC.  Netflix will be raising its prices to $13-16 per month.  Hulu is already cheaper than Netflix, as will be the Disney+ platform ($6.99 per month).  Apple+ will be $5 a month.  Amazon is $9 a month.  Hulu is free for Sprint customers and is bundled in other deals for students (Hulu, Showtime, and Spotify Premium for $4.99 a month).  Until AT&T figures out HBO pricing, the WarnerMedia streamer pricing is unknown.  Interestingly, Netflix prices around the world vary significantly.      

Disney has a massive content library, and with FOX, that much more.  Disney will be able to put price pressure on Netflix through its platforms and decrease demand where it offers great content for less.  Consumers cancelling their Netflix subscriptions may be a concern when Disney+ and Apple+ go live since the two together with free Hulu will likely include more content than Netflix and for the same price.  Amazon also has an advantage because Prime includes ecommerce benefits and is still welcoming in its practices of licensing content. 

Netflix is an innovative company, however, and may take the following approaches to keep up with the competition.  Here are three things Netflix needs to do to retain its market share and mitigate the loss of their pricing power.

1. Add more Content 

Netflix must keep up with the Joneses.  This could be done through live and classic sports content and/or continuing to pay high fees for licensing other studio content.  Netflix needs to be the one stop shop for all content like Amazon is to ecommerce. 

2. Look at Purchasing a Studio(s)

Lionsgate and smaller studios to own the content libraries.  Netflix and Paramount have already entered into a multi-movie deal. 

3. Look at Exclusively Licensing another Studio(s) Content

Comcast/NBCUniversal just purchased Sky News in the UK.  NBCUniversal has a massive entertainment library.  Comcast/NBCUniversal does not have a streamer and is about to give up its 33% control in Hulu.  Seems like a prime relationship, pun intended.  Viacom is looking at combining with CBS.  Maybe some synergy there.  New FOX is not looking at creating a streamer, but maybe their sports and news content would find a home on Netflix. 

Netflix has already begun purchasing movie theaters to control the entire distribution model, raising questions about how the United States Justice Department might view the matter.  Congress members on both sides of the isle are already circling the wagons while looking at the tech giants, while entertainment companies have done far more mergers and acquisitions of each other.  This likely also helps their awards season push by controlling the venue.  It could also be a liability.  

Netflix is the largest streamer by the subscription numbers, but challenges await. 

What happens when the Chinese Film Market Overtakes the United States?

Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press | Ng Han Guan

The population in China is 1.4 billion people.  The population in India is 1.4 billion people.  The population in the United States of America is nearly 329 million people.  With developing and growing economies in China and India, not to mention the communist versus democratic versus representative governments and economies in each country, it was arguably only a matter of time that the population in China would pass the United States in annual box office spending

According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), for 2019 the U.S. box office is likely to reach $12.11 billion in comparison to $11.05 billion in China.  Those numbers are expected to grow in 2020, with the United States and China switching places as the leader in box office spending.  There are three possible consequences/reactions to the Chinese consumer potentially outspending the American consumer in 2020 and beyond. 

The New [Continued] Frontier

The truth is, Netflix and other streamers and studios have tried to break into the Chinese market for years.  It is a difficult dealmaking situation to navigate because of the communist government and its controls over the consumer, content, and distribution.  That control affects production and distribution both ways (as seen by Google/YouTube employees who did not appreciate the censorship controls parent company Alphabet, Inc. was allowing Chinese officials to require/implement) and for actually gaining traction with the Chinese consumer.  Chinese consumers cannot currently be reached without the Chinese government’s blessing.  India, by comparison, has been much more accommodating with their love for content through Bollywood.  The aforementioned does not mention another key component in this, specifically that existing entertainment companies in China like Tencent are favored by the Chinese government.   

Needless to say, as spending and profits grow in the East, entertainment companies in the West will continue their pursuit of reaching consumers in that part of the world.

Influence

Similarly, as profits grow in the East, entertainment companies in West will want to and possibly be influenced to create and distribute local and non-American based content.  There is proof that this is already happening with Netflix’s investment in India, Google’s/YouTube’s attempts at breaking into the Chinese market, and Comcast’s purchase of Sky in the United Kingdom.  Interestingly, and importantly, foreign-based content will likely also be available to American consumers to consume, particularly where streamers are concerned.    

Headquarters

American and Japanese companies in entertainment and beyond have for years utilized each other’s geography to invest and have local headquarters (Sony is the most obvious example).  American companies like studio Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, and others have international offices in London.  If all is fair in love and war, American entertainment companies would be wise to get boots on the ground in mainland China to begin developing relationships and implementing the strategy for dealmaking.  Chinese investment in entertainment has already occurred in the United States to some extent, which makes sense for an open and capitalist economy. It is expected. History has shown that content can have an effect on relationships between countries and consumers, so in addition to more content there could also be some broader dealmaking.    

We The North: Raptors Win Game 1

Photo courtesy of USA Today

Toronto rocked Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena as the Raptors posted a convincing, 118-109 win over the Golden State Warriors during the first match-up of the NBA Finals.

The game, an international affair swirling in an atmosphere the NBA dreams of, lived up to the hype. The biggest storyline of the night was Kevin Durant’s hope-dashing injury. While DeMarcus Cousins was cleared to play, KD has been the driving force behind the Warriors’ last two championship runs.

Without him, all eyes were on Seth Curry and Kawhi Leonard. And the superstars shined while the Raptors’ bench and role players gave them the punch they needed for victory.

Dissecting the tactics

For Golden State, it was the two-time defending champions’ second loss in an NBA Finals game since 2016. Pascal Siakam had 32 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Kawhi Leonard added 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Marc Gasol chipped in with 20 points and seven boards and Fred VanVleet continued his strong playoff run with 15 points.

The Warriors’ Stephen Curry scored over 30 once again with 34 points. In doing so, he became the first player to reach 100 three-pointers executed in the finals. Klay Thompson had 21 points. With a triple-double, Draymond Green did what he could for the Warriors, but it was not enough.

“We’ve got to stay solid,” Siakam said when asked about going forward against the Warriors. It’s a great team we’re playing against,” “It’s gonna be tough. We’ve just got to be ourselves. They’re gonna make adjustments. We’ve got to be ready for that.”

The Raptors opened up the game striking from 3-Point Land going 5-14, while rust showed on the Warriors from the long lay-off and turning the ball over seven times. The Raptors didn’t look back as they took the lead at halftime 59-49.

The Warriors’ customary third-quarter burst was nowhere to be found as the Raptors clinched down tough, holding them off every time they attempted a spurt. The Warriors only outscored the Raptors by 3.  

But, as the game drew to a close, Siakam made big play after big play. As the Raptors celebrated, the Warriors held their breath as Andre Iguodala limped after hitting a floater with a little over two minutes left.

Durant has carried the Warriors throughout their championship run in the half-court when shots were hard to come by. Golden State went 5-0 in its first five postseason games without its all-star forward. Faced with long and active defenders, the Warriors couldn’t overcome the Raptors’ defense.

Bottom line? This game underscored how valuable Durant is and any conversations about the Warriors being better without him should be put to bed.

The net result: Our NBA Finals ranking

Photo courtesy of USA Today

It’s NBA Finals time and summer is upon us! This event could be a classic because with Kevin Durant injured, the Raptors look to have a true chance at winning their first title.

That being the case, SportsRadioAmerica.com examines the top five players this year.

1. Kawhi Leonard

The Claw has been the best player this postseason. KD is out for what seems like most of the season and Leonard plays defense on the opposite team’s best wing.

He’ll be matched up against Klay Thompson or Andre Iguodala and be more of a rover on the defensive end. Leonard scores so easily, it’ll be hard to stop him. He has strength, length and skill above all players not named Kevin Durant.

2. Steph Curry

Curry has been unstoppable since KD’s injury. He’s averaged 35.8 points, 6.6 assists and 7.6 rebounds. Per usual, his jumper is falling as he’s shooting 46.5 percent from the field.

Durant is expected to miss at least game one and it’ll be up to Curry to carry most of the load this finals. Even so, the Warriors are a great team with or without KD. Curry can catch fire at the blink of the eye.

3. Klay Thompson

Speaking of catching fire, Thompson shines when the lights are brightest. He hit a number of big shots to swing the momentum during the Warriors and Blazers series.

The Warriors are almost impossible to beat if Thompson is locked in. The key in this match-up is to predominantly pit Klay against Leonard. If he has to use his energy on the defensive end, it’ll impact his offense and give the Raptors hope.

4. Draymond Green

Mr. Do Everything, Green took his play to another level during the Western Conference. The old Draymond returned. He can attack the rim, play all five and defend all five positions. He can run the break, too.

Whatever you need, Green gets it done on the basketball court. The three-time All-Star unleashed on the Blazers. He’s always been able to create good shots for his teammates, who have been suppressed by KD.

5. Kyle Lowery

Finally, there’s the savvy veteran point guard who’s has had an up-and-down career in Toronto. Lowry finally broke through with the playoff run of an All-Star in the Eastern Conference finals, averaging 19.1 points per game while shooting 50.7 percent.

In fact, Lowry might be the most important player for the Raptors. His size and defensive prowess and ability to be physical with Steph Curry on defense will be Key. While he isn’t the best offensive scorer, he’ll make Curry work on the other end of the floor.

Lowery actually might be the key player in the entire series. If Lowery has a great finals, it might just be enough to put the Raptors over the top with KD.

Howard’s In: Michigan’s new head man

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Photo courtesy of USA Today

Now that Juwan Howard has been named new head basketball coach of the University of Michigan Wolverines, will this signal the rebirth of the Fab Five?

In one, full-circle swoop, Howard accepted a five-year deal starting at $2 million. He also interviewed with the Cavaliers, Lakers and Timberwolves. Howard takes over from John Beilein, who’ll be the new head coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Michigan has been a top basketball program under Beilein.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to lead the University of Michigan’s storied basketball program,” Howard said. “I have been very fortunate to be part of a great championship organization in the Miami Heat for the last nine years — three as a player and six as a coach. It was always going to take something incredibly special to for me to leave Miami; however, I know in my heart this is the right place and the right time.”

A date with destiny

Howard was a member of one of the most famous recruiting classes which included Jalen Rose, Chris Webber, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson. Howard, who went on to be an All-American, helped lead the Wolverines to back-to-back NCAA National Championships in the early 90’s.

Four McDonald’s All-Americans in one recruiting class was unheard of at that time. The record stood until 2013, when six McDonald’s All-Americans were part of the 2013–14 Kentucky Wildcats’ team.

The Fab Five legacy has diminished to off-court benefits, but as the nation has become more understanding of player needs, the Wolverine faithful hope Final Four Banners return to their rafters.

Under Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley’s leadership since 2013, Howard has been an assistant coach with the Miami Heat. He was the fifth pick by the Washington Bullets.

Howard was in the league 19-years, playing for the Dallas Mavericks, Washington Bullets, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, Charlotte Bobcats and Portland Trail Blazers before joining the Heat in 2010.

The Wolverines hope Howard can bring that Fab Five flavor back to UM. Beilein certainly established Michigan as a top program, but now Howard has been brought on to win the championships that escaped him as a college player.

His time as a top player at the school and a successful run in the NBA should bring top recruits to the land of the Maize and Blue.

Diamonds and Walls: Building the Perfect Ballpark

The Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles play in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 11, 2015, in Baltimore. It's been 25 years since the Baltimore Orioles began playing in Camden Yards, the start of a nationwide trend of major league teams moving into new ballparks. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Downtown Baltimore, Maryland. Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Influenced by visiting twenty-two of the current thirty Major League Baseball (MLB) ballparks, including some no longer in existence (old Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium, RFK, and the Metrodome), there are certain things that attract regarding baseball diamonds and walls.  With news of the Angels being courted by the City of Long Beach and Paul Goldberger’s comments about his book “Ballpark: Baseball in the American City” that baseball like America has always been a battle between urban and rural, this article discusses what makes ballparks great. 

Indeed, the greatest American ballparks, current and gone, have some very similar characteristics.  When arriving to Fenway Park, you can walk through the neighborhood or take the “T” subway to watch the Boston Red Sox play a home game.  Similarly, you can walk the neighborhood, enjoy the restaurants, bars, and pubs, after hoping off the subway, before arriving to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.  Camden Yards, Oracle Park, Petco Park, PNC Park, and many more have easy access (in varying degrees) and great neighborhoods to enjoy before taking in America’s pastime.

Similar to the book “If I were President” by Peggy Gavan, “If I were Owner” of a baseball team, the following would be things the perfect ballpark would include.    

1. City-Centered and Focused

Ballparks that incorporate the city, existing buildings, and either add to or begin a revitalized neighborhood would be the start.  The ballpark should be a place where rich and poor can afford to attend a game.  It should also be a place where events and activities can be held beyond the game so that the ballpark becomes a community space.  Beautiful facades once draped Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, where Citi Field in Queens now takes a resemblance of that ballpark of old. Facades are a key component to any beautiful ballpark.

2. Public Transportation

Traffic is inevitable, ballclubs can make their fans treks to the ballpark easier by master planning and working with local and state governments on providing adequate public transportation.  The key to alleviating traffic is by providing multiple, but similarly equal options in ways to travel.  Equal travel options alleviates congestion. 

Ballparks are an experience and that includes ingress and egress.  Arriving by subway, and proceeding above ground to see the beautiful expanse of a ballpark, a painting of grass, dirt, and cheering inside of a city amongst concrete is like no other.  Imagine all that, with the addition of experiencing the neighborhood specific to that ballpark, its history, and fans. 

3. Local Flair

For years ballparks have had four food staples, hot dogs, Peanuts, Cracker Jack, and beer.  Fine and dandy, and that speaks to America’s pastime and history.  However, it speaks nothing to the local cuisine.  Petco Park did something amazing some years ago after opening its confines and that was to bring into nothing but local vendors in terms of food and beverage.  Petco Park is now not only a venue to watch a ballgame, but to eat and drink some local flair.  Camden Yards has its crab cakes and Hoagies, the Phillies and their cheesesteaks, the Padres and Phil’s BBQ, and much, much more.  The local flavor adds to the experience and distinctiveness between ballparks. 

4. Gardens and Parks

A cherished relic, unfortunately, of the pastForbes Field in Pittsburgh probably did it best, but Dodger Stadium has beautiful gardens around the entire stadium prior to entering its gates along with a secret Japanese garden.  A park or gardens adds to the welcome site of a city-center especially alongside a beautiful ballpark, a stark contrast to the concrete jungle surrounding it.    

Team success also never hurt the welcomeness, attractiveness, or forgetfulness of a good or bad ballpark.

Ballbreaker: Is it Dame time?

Photo courtesy of USA Today

Magic Johnson should show the NBA a magic trick and make LaVar Ball disappear. That’s because many fans thought LaVar’s bluster would go away once Lonzo Ball was drafted, but it’s only gotten worse.

Johnson is the face of the Lakers and the assumption is, even Ball knows not to push him too far. We saw last season how well that worked. LaVar apparently thinks he’s the face of the team.

The King and the court jester

At this point, LaVar Ball will throw anybody without the last name “Ball” under the bus. As a young team last season, the last thing Luke Walton needed was his rookie PG farther talking about his coaching ability. 

Maybe LaVar thinks he should coach the Lakers. Kyle Kuzma got the brunt of the blame for a back-and-forth rap battle in which Lonzo was a full, willing participant. The NBA is were professional basketball players perform, but last season was a circus.

The King is now in LA and that makes the exposure of LaVar even more maddening. Therefore, to think LaVar Ball will simply be seen and not heard because James is in town is delusional. Remember, this is a father who thinks he can get all his sons on the Lakers.

Consequently, any hopes LeBron James’ arrival would simmer down LaVar’s hot takes were destroyed in a few days. LaVar has already made the media rounds proclaiming Lonzo the King and better than newly-acquired PG Rajon Rondo whom he described as   “little back-up.” This same Rondo won a title with the Celtics.

So, with all the nonsense LaVar Ball has caused, is it time for a change? Is it Dame Lillard time? The Lakers are James’ team now, but LeBron most certainly needs a co-star with the landscape of the NBA. 

According to some speculators, one Western Conference All-Star point guard could be a target for the Lakers via a trade. It makes sense. The Portland Trail Blazers have been a playoff team for five straight years with three first -round exits. In the Pacific Northwest, it’s been tough to recruit marquee free agents to come, no matter how much Lillard’s respected around the league.

Four on the floor

A package of Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram and a pick might get the job done. Lillard could be what Kyrie was in Cleveland, taking some pressure off LeBron.

With Rondo signed, it’s possible Dame could play the off guard. It makes even more sense because Kawhi Leonard, who’s the Laker’s preferred trade choice, will be a free agent next year. A combo of James, Lillard and Leonard would be a contender to the Warriors’ throne.

Now that LeBron’s in the latter part of his career, there‘s no time to wait on the young roster to grow. The time to win is now. Lillard has shown he has the makeup of a champion and clutch shot-making ability. He just needs to be paired with a team that can help him get over the playoff hump. For the Lakers, there may be no time like Dame time.

Gridiron Grace: Michael Vick’s football camp gets second chance

Image courtesy of S.K. Patrick

Former Pro Bowl quarterback Michael Vick and Pro Bowl wide receiver Chad Johnson were set to host a football camp in Louisville, Ky.

However, due to the controversy from his dog fighting ring in 2007, administrators at Jeffersontown High School rejected the camp one month ago. The camp was also punted by Paul Laurence Dunbar High School.

But, St. Stephens Church stepped up to the plate and opened their football field to the camp. According to church organizers, it was important for the church to allow Vick to have a positive impact on the youth of Louisville and show second chances can go a long way in life.

Hope and Change

Football camps have traditionally had a huge impact in the black community for youth. When these young players see others from similar backgrounds achieve success, it gives hope.

Vick and Johnson participated in drills with the kids. Johnson was more active in the drills, going head-to-head playing defense against the wide receivers. Vick devoted the bulk of his time giving pointers to the young QB’s.

“It’s important for the black athletes who have done well in the NFL or NCAA to come back home,” stated Langston Gaither, Community Outreach Coordinator for St. Stephens Church. “Even if they don’t live here anymore, they bring their own teams. They can tell you I grew up on this street or I played for this team.”

The camp, held from 12 noon to 6 p.m., originally had a registration fee of $110 dollars. But, it was waived and the event was sponsored by the company Created Players, LLC. Thirty-five coaches helped lead the camp. Approximately 600 kids attended the camp to be inspired and become better athletes.