Last week, my focus was on Sixth Man of the Year front-runner Jordan Clarkson who has done nothing but push his lead for the award further since my last post. This week, my focus shifts to players who may thin the gap of Clarkson's lead if the opportunity presents itself. Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon … Continue reading NBA Sixth Man of the Year Mini-Series: Eric Gordon
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Series: Jordan Clarkson
To tip-off this mini-series, I had to start with Utah Jazz combo guard Jordan Clarkson. Jordan Clarkson has been an NBA journeyman since his selection out of the University of Missouri in 2014. Despite his frequent change of scenery, Clarkson demonstrates nightly that the one constant in his career is his ability to put the … Continue reading NBA Sixth Man of the Year Series: Jordan Clarkson
James Harden’s Houston Breakup
James Harden and the Houston Rockets suffered two debilitating losses in a row to the Lakers this past week. After the second loss, the aforementioned disgruntled superstar let the world know his situation was beyond repair. https://twitter.com/DimeUPROXX/status/1349208156048666626?s=20 In response to Harden's demands, the Rockets dealt their former franchise player to the Brooklyn Nets in a … Continue reading James Harden’s Houston Breakup
Basketball Fans, Please Don’t Overract
Sunday night, the Wizards beat the loaded Nets 123-122, and Washington displayed they have the offensive firepower to hang with any team in the league. Playing up, or as Wizards fans are frequently subjected to, down to the level of their opponent is a Wizards staple under coach Scott Brooks, and it seems the trend … Continue reading Basketball Fans, Please Don’t Overract
NBA Preseason Takeaways and Stories to Watch
The NBA regular-season is approaching fast, and here are some trends to note before the games start to count. Here is a quick rundown of a few NBA stories to watch heading into the year. The Lakers rotation looks deadly After winning the NBA Finals in the bubble, many people expected the league to catch … Continue reading NBA Preseason Takeaways and Stories to Watch
The End of the John Wall Era
Wednesday night, The Washington Wizards traded franchise cornerstone John Wall and a 2023 first-round pick to the Houston Rockets in exchange for MVP guard Russell Westbrook. https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1334307601841070080?s=20 To analyze this trade, we have to consider how this trade impacts the following.1. The Basketball Court 2. The Fanbase Before getting into the emotional impact, it's time … Continue reading The End of the John Wall Era
Draft Notes: First Round
The 2020 NBA Draft was as eventful as ever, and keeping track of the moves is tough, but don't worry, I've decided to share with you some notable news from the first round of the draft. LaMelo Ball The first three selections in the draft went as planned, and LaMelo Ball going 3rd overall to … Continue reading Draft Notes: First Round
NBA Draft 2020: Part 1
The 2020 edition of the NBA Draft takes place this Wednesday, and I'm leaving the mock drafts for my second post and focusing today on the atmosphere surrounding such a unique draft, along with answering some draft questions I received from a few readers. A Unique Player Evaluation Period Due to the rampaging pandemic, the … Continue reading NBA Draft 2020: Part 1
Nets Set On Nash
The Brooklyn Nets ended their search for a head coach with the hiring announcement of former Phoenix Suns Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash. The hiring has seen mixed reviews among the NBA fan community, and today I wanted to take the time to analyze some of the potential pros and cons that could … Continue reading Nets Set On Nash
District of Buckets All-NBA Bubble Team
The NBA bubble games have lived up to the hype. Every team in the bubble is playing hard, and the level of basketball has mimicked the first week of the regular season as many players have fresh legs and a rejuvenated hunger to compete among the world's best. With the final seeding games approaching, and … Continue reading District of Buckets All-NBA Bubble Team
Walking Bucket: Montrezl Harrell
Heart, Passion, and a true example of a blue-collar hooper, Montrezl Harrell brings maximum energy when he steps on the floor — the self-proclaimed "modern-day Rodman" will bring his toughness to the Clippers title hunt when he returns to the NBA bubble. https://youtu.be/jrTfbO4YwME Harrell finishes everything at the rack, as is evidenced by his 18.6 … Continue reading Walking Bucket: Montrezl Harrell
Walking Bucket: Emma Meesseman
In honor of the return of basketball this week, I wanted to remind you of—or introduce you to, one of the best scorers in the game, Washington Mystics forward Emma Meesseman. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuHpfJAGfEI Meesseman is a surgical scorer. She picks her spots well, and when you mix good shooting with good shot selection, you get efficient … Continue reading Walking Bucket: Emma Meesseman
TBT 2020 Recap
TBT 2020 lived up to the hype and served as an oasis in the middle of the sports desert during a tumultuous year. The tournament showed us that with a strict quarantine bubble and vigorous testing, sports can still take place even during a pandemic. It was a pleasure to be granted media access to … Continue reading TBT 2020 Recap
The Tournament: An Introduction
BASKETBALL IS BACK ON ESPN JULY 4th. The Basketball Tournament, also known as the TBT, tips off this weekend on ESPN, so I wanted to quickly catch you all up to speed before the teams hit the floor in Columbus. The TBT is an open 24-team tournament, with a winner-take-all prize of $1,000,000. The TBT … Continue reading The Tournament: An Introduction
No Asterisk, The Winners of the NBA’s Orlando Reboot Are Legit
This past Friday, the NBA released the schedule for its reboot in Orlando. While it has been a pleasure to discuss upcoming NBA action, a developing argument about the legitimacy of a 2020 NBA Championship has gained popularity over the past few weeks. More specifically, an argument stating a Finals win in the Orlando bubble … Continue reading No Asterisk, The Winners of the NBA’s Orlando Reboot Are Legit
John Wall’s 202 Assist
Pro athletes in 2020 are displaying the power their platform holds within local communities. During this mass period of demonstration, athletes have been incredibly visible. However, the question of how they can use their status to find concrete and quantifiable ways to improve the lives of others often arises. Luckily in the D.C area, we … Continue reading John Wall’s 202 Assist
Flashback Friday: The St. Louis Hawks
The Hawks hold one NBA Championship -won in 1958- and while we associate the Hawks with their current location in Atlanta, Georgia, their time as the crown jewel of professional basketball occurred in America's gateway to the west, St. Louis, Missouri. The Hawks' time in "The Lou" lasted from 1955 to 1968, and in that … Continue reading Flashback Friday: The St. Louis Hawks
Black Lives Matter: The Importance of Black Activism and A Shoutout To Stephen Jackson
In the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, we've witnessed iconic images of the United States that will define this time in history. We've seen everything from the ugliness of police brutality, to images of citizens uniting across the country, expressing their first amendment rights. In a changing world, and amidst a potential return … Continue reading Black Lives Matter: The Importance of Black Activism and A Shoutout To Stephen Jackson
District of Buckets 2K20 Challenge: ’96 Bulls Vs. ’13 Heat (Games 1 & 2)
In the 70 plus days since the NBA shut down operations, the same old conversations comparing basketball eras have been recycled incessantly. I decided I was tired of it and started lining up hypothetical matchups between NBA greats on NBA2K20. NBA 2k20 is a cool tool to visualize how in-game matchups might work. For all … Continue reading District of Buckets 2K20 Challenge: ’96 Bulls Vs. ’13 Heat (Games 1 & 2)
Walking Buckets: 2020 NBA Draft Prospects
In the past week, we learned the NBA Draft process, like much of life, will face a few setbacks. The dates of the NBA Draft Combine, Lottery, and Draft are moving to a later undetermined date. Even though we don't know exactly where teams are picking, or the final opinions teams my have on prospects, … Continue reading Walking Buckets: 2020 NBA Draft Prospects
Like Mike: Kobe Bryant
Episode 5 of "The Last Dance" gave us a look at the public image of Michael Jordan. The highlight of his marketability, in the public eye, was without a doubt his "Like Mike" Gatorade commercial. https://twitter.com/ErickFernandez/status/1257127613354688513?s=20 The importance of this ad is the way it lifts Jordan on the highest pedestal for athletes. Reaching this … Continue reading Like Mike: Kobe Bryant
Walking Buckets: 2020 NBA Draft Prospects
Due to the postponement of major sports, and the release of "The Last Dance" Jordan documentary, basketball fans are stuck in the past. It can be great to reminisce about those who made us love the game, but now is the time to focus on players that can give fans the same feeling in the … Continue reading Walking Buckets: 2020 NBA Draft Prospects
How The NBA’s Interests In China Gave The League Foresight On The Impact of COVID-19
COVID-19 is re-writing daily routines across the globe. The response to the pandemic differs across the world, but no group is handling the crisis with seamless flexibility like Adam Silver and the NBA. Commissioner Adam Silver discussing the NBA suspension on ESPN The NBA's response is impressive due to how league prioritized instant isolation and … Continue reading How The NBA’s Interests In China Gave The League Foresight On The Impact of COVID-19
Pre-Weekend Posters
We're nearing the end of the week, so here are some poster dunks to help get you through the day. Vinsanity on Alonzo Mourning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7EvwWBnBHM This Vince Carter dunk is forever in my top 5 of all time. This dunk easily checks all the boxes for a legendary poster. HangtimeContacton a 7-footerPower Just another example … Continue reading Pre-Weekend Posters
All-Star Reserve Reaction
Yesterday, the reserves for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game were released. As the names dropped, people across the globe have offered their opinions on if the pool of players was an adequate representation of All-Star level talent in the league. Every season, a few players get snubbed from the All-Star game, but before we get … Continue reading All-Star Reserve Reaction
Myles Powell, Walking Bucket
In March, the basketball world shines a spotlight on the NCAA Tournament, and basketball players across the country, especially those who play for smaller schools get their chance to erupt on the national scene. One player that caught my eye during the tournament was Seton Hall guard Myles Powell. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q8tN8WtGg8 Powell is Bucket of the … Continue reading Myles Powell, Walking Bucket
LeBron James, Wizard Killer.
The most talented player of all time has garnered a bit of ill will during his career and diehard Wizards fans are close to topping the list of true LeBron Haters (Bulls fans are without a doubt #1). I will forever admire LeBron's play and appreciate what he does off the court, but I will … Continue reading LeBron James, Wizard Killer.
NBA free agency 2019…so far
On Sunday afternoon the NBA free agency moratorium period opened and within only a few brief seconds the power dynamic of the NBA started to shift dramatically. So far we have witnessed one of the most active and lucrative free agency periods ever as NBA teams agreed to shell out an estimated $3 billion dollars … Continue reading NBA free agency 2019…so far
“I’m Back”
Like the NBA this past summer — I have decided to terminate my hiatus and rededicate myself to producing the best content I can deliver during these trying times, but this time, at a more consistent rate. Before I dive into basketball content, make sure you follow @BucketsDistrict on Twitter for real-time updates on happenings … Continue reading “I’m Back”
