Off topic, but I am a big fan of basketball. After the $TWTR trade of 2013, I treated myself to a season ticket package for the home team out here going out a few years. I wasn’t a particular fan of the team, so I opted for seats behind the visitors bench, next to the tunnel they come out of. This way, I get to see a new team every night. My boys love this, because they get up close to the players, who are nice enough to pass out their sweaty headbands, wrist bands, jerseys, and sometimes their shoes. For the wife and I, it creates a date night a few times a week…but the kids absolutely love it. Here’s a couple shots of my son trying to get some love from the players.
I figure, since Fly blogs on the topic of cinema, I am going to blog about sports – specifically basketball. 44 home games, and an impossible race to find a playoff spot in the Western Conference. I’ll try to grab a few photos from my view points, but will try to break down each team that comes to town…and how the local team continues to find it’s way as a young up and coming team, with a few great players and a very impressive coach at the helm. I’ll do these in the evenings, a day after each game. This topic likely appeals to the minority, but it will give me something to write about occasionally other than stocks. Since it’s Friday, I’ll get started with Opening Night: #PORatUTA
The Blazer front office cleaned house in the off season after Aldridge decided to jump ship. They managed to scrape together a few pieces to make a competitive roster, but are more focused on the future and the new cap space they have after letting 4 of their starting five leave town.
This team exposes a major weakness in Utah’s game, and that is defending the point. I was super optimistic on them after they overachieved at the end of last season, but the Dante Exum injury leaves them vulnerable at defending a guard, such as Damian Lillard.
Dame went off in this game. 35 points, shooting better than 50% and few of those points were at the rim. CJ McCollum was lights out as well, going for 27 points on 10-13 shooting.
Utah was never really in this game. They couldn’t defend the high pic and roll, and Derrick Favors played very little with a flu. It was a horrific game in the sense that you want to get the fans and crowd excited about the upcoming season.
Final thought, there should be zero doubt about Damian Lillard being an all-star this year.
If you enjoy the content at iBankCoin, please follow us on Twitter
Very cool and thanks for the glimpse into real life. Still remember sitting in the old Boston Garden with my Dad. Then the Target Center with my son. Nothing better!
I’m 38 and grew up watching Michael Jordan. I still remember him dropping 63 points on you guys in the 85 playoffs at the Boston Garden.
I’m hoping they’ll look back and remember this, more than they will me sitting on my computer as much as I do.
count on it
My Dad and I sat in something close to your seats (a dozen rows behind the 76ers bench) for a Russell vs Chamberlain playoff game in 1968
I’ll forget my own name before I forget that
+1.
That pic of my son giving a high five to the King? Pfft…he was in heaven.
I was 15 years old in 1968 and watched that game with my father. We were avid 76ers fans. Awesome memory you provoked!
But.. it’s all the hard work you put in each day to understand these markets, get in front of rotations and share your knowledge with us that allows you to make the money to do things like that. Most kids that have a dad in the markets losing his ass.
I am a huge NBA fan and live in Chicago, and grew up here. I feel like I’m the sole person defending Derrick Rose these days.
I’m pretty excited about this, maybe you can get me back into basketball. I usually just watch hockey.
Don’t go to the dark side, raul, stay with hockey…My nine year old already started practice!
Lillard is definitely an all star and a center piece to build around. Would love to see him create for others more (althought right now, no one on the squad for him to create for). My fear for him is he becomes a Steph Marbury shoot-first type point guard that gets you into the playoffs every year but doesn’t make much noise other wise. Has a great 1-2 punch in port when Aldridge was there. But with the free agent market in today’s basketball world, impossible to have faith that your top players will stick around. it’s a shame.
Hey OA – does Trey Burke play much? How do you think he looks? Haven’t heard his name since he left Mich.
He’s a gifted player offensively. He is a liability on defense. He accepted a role to come off the bench, and quite frankly, this was a genius move. Trey’s scoring average should increase a lot this year, because he’ll come in to play against the second unit, and won’t have to guard the starting point. That coaching play get’s so much more production out of him, IMO.
Utah on the other hand, has some good building blocks with Heyward and Favors. How’s Dante Exum doing? Being a west coast guy, i remember there was a lot of talk about the Lakers going after him in the draft but they obviously went a different direction. I haven’t followed him since
Tore his ACL. That will be what keeps Utah out of the playoffs, IMO. Great facilitator and defender. He has a great frame to play the point in this league.
dam. that sucks. I remember him having an all around game and a PG with size.
Are you a fan of $EXPR in part because of Steph Curry?
My son walked by that massive sign in there and asked if he could go look. He’s 12, and not really in their demographic yet. But the fact that he would wear jeans because Steph wears them was funny.
OA – Do you do any sports betting. There is a guy being written about now (Google Vegas Dave) who is a fulltime sports better. He was the first to win 2.5 million at a sports book as he bet the KC Royals at the beginning of the year to win the world series. His specialty is baseball but he does some NBA and football as well. He is the OA of the sports betting world. http://itsvegasdave.com/
No, but I asked Zombie if he would consider giving us a tutorial at some point. A convo with him in NYC got me interested.
Is he a pro sportsbetter? I know him a little bit and he does live out there but wasn’t sure what he did. Man he is a super cool guy.
The way he described it, I would say so. Talks of hedging, etc. Got me very interested.
Haralabos Voulgaris is hands down the best NBA bettor on the planet. @haralabob is one of the best follows on twitter. Google this guy and read the articles on him, or better yet find a podcast of him with Bill Simmons. Pure gold.
Dude uses a proprietary algorithm to kill the bookies in Vegas.
Awesome article OA. I love the NBA too. I think Lillard has to improve his defense if he wants to be an all-star. He was Harden circa 2013 bad on defense last season. Dude clearly has offensive talent, but opposing PGs often get their’s against Portland. Love his game tho.
I love this jeff, looking forward to it.
Very cool. Big basketball fan myself. Looking forward to it
Great to see you switch gears here, OA. Great looking seats too. Amazing that Weeeeber State got their hooks on Lillard. Ogden, Utah!
Yeah, still wonder that myself. Love that guys attitude and work ethic.
That is awesome. Love the pics.
Jeff – I take it you’re living in Utah? I thought you were in Sacramento? How is it out there?
First traces of snow on my grass today. Fall is beautiful out here. Winter sucks ass.
Do you own Nike shares in their college funds?
$UA, $AAPL, $DIS, $FB, $NFLX
Just came across this – https://vine.co/channels/nba-top-10-plays-of-the-week
Nice continued integration of $TWTR to the sports world, and cool highlights
Gold falling apart……..$RUT making a statement….good god.
Nostraoptionsaddictdamus?
I really like this idea. I was thinking of having a weekly college football rundown.