Friday, October 31, 2014

Greg Crawford On Basketball, For October 31st, 2014

By Gregory Crawford---TV, Radio and Print Basketball Analyst----on twitter @wchoops @crawssportsbiz @kcsportsmgmt

NBA---- Always important to look at early "statement" games in the NBA. Tonight will be one of those games, as the Spurs travel to Phoenix. Phoenix has been for many years, out of the NBA limelight, but a resurgence is taking place in the Valley of the Sun ever since Jeff Hornacek took over as the Suns' head coach last season.

While this game tonight is not going to make or break any season, it will be well worth taking note of the final score.

Scores----I started the year out 3-0 in my NBA score predictions, so let's keep it going tonight with 3 late games.

Spurs 82 @ Suns 95
Blazers 112 @ Kings 102
Clippers 135 @ Lakers 109

Nov. 1st---- If you are in the Portland, Oregon metro area, there will be some great small college basketball on Saturday.

For the 21st straight year, Clackamas Community College will host their annual jamboree. This year 10 outstanding teams will visit Randall Hall. The games will begin on two different courts at 9:30 a.m. and the day will end around 4:30 p.m. This is a basketball lover's dream day.

It keeps going with fine basketball, at 7:00 p.m. across town Concordia University will host University of British Columbia.   in what should be a great game, between two really good teams.

email Gregory at gregcrawfordbasketball.blogspot.com

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Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Greg Crawford On Basketball, For October 29th, 2014

By Gregory Crawford---TV, Print and Radio Basketball Analyst--- on twitter @wchoops @crawssportsbiz @kcsportsmgmt

2nd Opening----- Night number 2 of the NBA season has a full slate of games, no real blockbusters, but here are a few things I will be watching and all fans should be watching tonight.

1. What kind of game will the Lakers put up in Phoenix, after a hard loss to Houston on opening night and another big loss, with the leg injury to top draft choice rookie Julius Randle, which will put him out of action at least several weeks.

2. Derrick Rose is back with the Bulls and just how good will he be this year. One game does not make a season, but a great showing by Rose tonight could be a wonderful confidence boost for him and his Bulls' teammates.

3. The deadline of Friday is looming for the Golden State Warriors to give Klay Thompson a max NBA contract. Just how big of numbers will he put up tonight.

It is always fun to predict scores in any sport and since I do not bet, for sure these scores each day will be for entertainment purposes only.

Tonight's games of which I picked 3 contests.

Chicago 93 @ New York Knicks 79

Golden State 134 @Sacramento 121

OKC 94 @Portland 101

email Gregory at gregcrawfordbasketball@gmail.com

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Monday, October 27, 2014

Greg Crawford On Basketball, For October 27th, 2014

By Gregory Crawford---TV, Print and Radio Basketball Analyst--- on twitter @wchoops @crawssportsbiz @kcsportsmgmt

UCLA--- The Bruins are finally back on their home court at Pauley Pavilion after months of not being able to use the floor, because of extensive water damage from a broken pipe.

The floor is expected to be in full use come October 31st, when the Bruins play an exhibition game against Azusa Pacific. Two years, past, Pauley Pavilion went through a major $136 million renovation.

Adam Silver--- NBA commissioner Adam Silver, will lead off a relay team of 24 men and women, who are former basketball stars in this Sunday's New York City Marathon. The relay is to bring attention the importance of exercise for kids, as each team member will have a young person racing alongside of them in their leg of the relay.

Silver is not in marathon condition, but he does run four to five times per week.

Rule Change--- This is the start of the next few days of rules changes which could immensely help the game of college basketball, which in the past few years is losing both popularity and fans.

(Bring back pre-game dunking. People love to see dunks and it is stupid not to allow it in the pre-game, when it is perfectly fine to do it during the game.)

email to Gregory at gregcrawfordbasketball.blogspot.com

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Sunday, October 26, 2014

Greg Crawford On Basketball, For October 26th, 2014

By Gregory Crawford---TV, Radio and Print Basketball Analyst---on twitter @wchoops @crawssportsbiz @kcsportsmgmt

D-League---- While everyone is excited for the start of the NBA season this week, many people are also excited for the start of the NBA Development League on November 14th.

The Development League has turned into a tremendous business property for the NBA and as of recent years,  a huge success. With the season starting on the 14th, the regular season will end on April 4th.

18 teams make up the D-League, with all but one having a dedicated affiliation with one NBA team. Ironically the defending champion Fort Wayne Mad Ants is the only team in the league who works with multiple NBA teams.

Starting the 2013-14 NBA season, 103 players with D-League experience were on NBA rosters. That number could rise this year, as final NBA starting rosters for 2014-15 will be out this week.

One of the real highlights of the D-League season is its Showcase event, which is attended by almost every prominent front office person in the NBA. This year, the Showcase moves from Reno to Santa Cruz on January 15th-19th. The Santa Cruz Warriors are the D-League affiliate of the Golden State Warriors.

Obviously the D-League is great for basketball and another golden opportunity for many players to reach their dream of playing in the NBA.

Small College Hoops----Do not forget the Portland Metro Small College Hoops Show tonight in its usual time of 9:30 PDT on blog talk radio. To listen to this exciting and informative show, the link is http://tobtr.com/s/6951847.

email Gregory at gregcrawfordbasketball.blogspot.com

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Saturday, October 25, 2014

Greg Crawford On Basketball, For October 25th, 2104

By Gregory Crawford----TV, Print and Radio Basketball Analyst---on twitter @wchoops @crawssportsbiz @kcsportsmgmt

Klay Thompson----If you were the Golden State Warriors, would you give Klay Thompson a max deal, which would pay him $15 million per year?

The deadline for the Warriors to do as such is this Friday? So far Golden State has been reluctant to even think of it happening, which apparently is causing some concern in the Thompson camp.

Time Off--- After taking some forced time off from writing Greg Crawford On Basketball, cause of some previous commitments, this blog will be back 7 days per week starting today, so please come back often and your readership is greatly appreciated always.

We cover in this blog, the NBA, D-League, NBA Draft, all of four year college basketball and community college basketball. Enjoy please.

Clackamas Community College----If you are in the Portland, Oregon metro area, next Saturday, November 1st will be a good chance to see some great basketball at Clackamas Community College, with their annual jamboree. The action starts at 9:00 am and ends about 4:30.

125 in 120----Last year I saw 137 college basketball games live, start to finish. This year I am going for at least 125 in 120 days. Last week I saw 3 games, 2 at Multnomah University and 1 at Clackamas Community College. I will keep everyone updated as the year goes on.

Thanks for reading, if you ever wish to email----- gregcrawfordbasketball@gmail.com

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Sunday, October 12, 2014

Greg Crawford On Basketball, For October 12th, 2014

By Gregory Crawford----- TV, Radio and Print Basketball Analyst---on twitter @wchoops @crawssportsbiz @kcsportsmgmt

Craig Robinson--- Good for ESPNU for picking up former Oregon State coach Craig Robinson as a studio analyst and color analyst on college basketball games this coming year.

I always wonder about the thought process of schools giving contract extensions to coaches and then firing them as Oregon State did with Robinson in the span of a less than two years. Robinson did as well as anyone has at Oregon State since 1990, the last time the Beavers were in the NCAA tournament.

One good thing, by ESPNU hiring Robinson, it will reduce the amount the Beavers will have to payout to Robinson in future years after letting him go.

Shame---- Sports is sports and injuries will always happen. But it was disappointing in my hometown of Portland, Oregon to hear some people almost in joy over the broken foot injury to Kevin Durant. Durant's Thunder play the Blazers in the season home opener in Portland on October 29th.

As I say all the time, if you can't beat a team with their best players playing, then you really are not that good of a team to begin with. Of course this year, Portland will challenge Oklahoma City for the upper tier in the Western Division of the NBA.

Never earn sports show glee over injuries, cause they are coming your way very soon, it always happens.

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Saturday, October 11, 2014

Greg Crawford On Basketball, For October 11th, 2014

By Gregory Crawford---TV, Radio and Print Basketball Analyst---on twitter @wchoops @crawssportsbiz @kcsportsmgmt

iPads----You will not see any iPads in the hands of Los Angeles Clipper players this season. Pretty simple reason, Steve Ballmer, the new owner of the team earned enough money to buy the Clippers by having a great career at Microsoft.

You also really have to doubt if any players will have iPhones as well, almost certainly not. It makes sense, although the debate will rage forever, Apple vs. Microsoft in the world of technology.

Heat vs. Cavs----There is obviously not the best of feelings between LeBron James and his former teammates on the Miami Heat. You have to think that Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade have to think they kind of got jilted by LeBron, even though they have not come public with it, but the tension is there. Not one-all to way to seven championships materialized from that famous media conference in the summer of 2010.

Of course two championships is pretty good, as most players do not even win  one championship in their entire career.

Coaches---- We moved closer to my power rankings of coaches. In all of basketball, who do you think are the top five coaches of all time? You can mix and match professional and amateur basketball, as well as both genders.

I will get your started right here:

1. John Wooden

2. Phil Jackson

3. Coach K.

4. Red Auerbach

5. Pat Summitt

Ok, now is it your turn for sure.

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Sunday, October 5, 2014

Greg Crawford On Basketball, For October 5th, 2014

By Gregory Crawford----TV, Print and Radio Basketball Analyst---on twitter @wchoops @crawssportsbiz @kcsportsmgmt

AN NBA Finals Team----In the short version, here is why I think the Portland Trail Blazers will be in the NBA Finals this year and eventually lose to the Chicago Bulls in 7 games.

If you really look at the entire NBA, the Blazers' have a winning big time formula, that has won many teams,  many regular season victories and playoff wins.

There is no question they have an experienced and very good coach in Terry Stotts, who seems to have a great perspective on not only the NBA, but life.

There is also no question that the Portland Trail Blazers have one of the top 5 starting line-ups in the NBA with players like Damian Lilliard, Robin Lopez, Wesley Matthews, Nicholas Batum and LaMarcus Aldridge.

Of course everyone knows that Lillard and Aldridge are in the top 3 of their respective positions in the NBA depth charts.

It is totally fair to say that no one wins in the NBA without a good bench. The addition of Chris Kaman could turn out to be huge. We have never really been able to see how good Kaman is, because of his constant injury problems. If the Blazers can even get 10 good minutes out of Kaman this year, they will have a tremendously elevated bench.

Another player who has shown signs at times, especially in playoff performances off that bench is Will Barton. He very easily could have a breakout season in 2014-15.

These players also can be very good at times and will help with bench depth, giving NBA quality minutes: Thomas Robinson, C. J. McCollum, Joel Freeland and Allen Crabbe.

Of that group, Crabbe could really become a future star in the NBA, with his ability to big time shots under pressure as he did at California during his college career.

The best might be last. Portland has a great NBA owner in Paul Allen and he has now tasted a championship with his ownership of the Seattle Seahawks, but for sure basketball is his first love and he knows this team has the capability of winning it all and will be supportive when needed.

Yes, they called me crazy 3 years back when I said Damian Lillard would be a super-star in the NBA, enough said. Blazers in the NBA Finals in 2015.

Gregory Crawford's other blogs:

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Every Sunday Night, we feature small college basketball on blog talk radio. To listen tonight at 9:30 PDT, http://tobtr.com/s/6877579

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Greg Crawford On Basketball, For October 4th, 2014

By Gregory Crawford---TV, Radio and Print Basketball Analyst---on twitter @wchoops @crawssportsbiz @kcsportsmgmt

Atlanta to Seattle---- Why not, why not. The Atlanta Hawks last played a regular season NBA game in Seattle, during January of 2008.

Perhaps it is time for the Atlanta Hawks to make Seattle their permanent home. NBA basketball has never been great in Atlanta and that is nothing against the city, it is just plain a fact.

So it is time for Seattle, potential owners to make a strong run to bring the Hawks to Seattle. The team is for sale as we all know, Seattle's potential NBA owners need to make their move. And you know what, I bet the league under Adam Silver would not get in the way.

What do you think?

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