The Straight Hoop

       The NBA is in a very good place at the moment. Franchise value is skyrocketing, viewership is up, and a new TV deal has NBA salaries and league revenue higher than they’ve  ever been. Most importantly, the product is as compelling as its ever been. Every team has a player or storyline that will make the season interesting. So I decided to crown the Most Interesting Team in the league. What makes me qualified to do this? Why, I have the internet and a keyboard and I have a knack for spotting interesting things. What makes a team interesting? A lot of things, none of which are winning a lot. We all know the Warriors are going to win 60+ games and will be the 1 seed in the west. That’s not interesting. So with that lets start with some of the more interesting teams in the league. 5: Minnesota        The Northern-Most NBA team has a ton of interesting things going for it. Reigning rookie of the year KAT looks like he may be able to d...

I will never like David Stern for obvious reasons. Being from Seattle, this shouldn't come as a shocking revelation. Once Stern steps down as commissioner the lasting image I will have is  this  press conference, but particularly what he said not 5 seconds into this particular presser. This is Stern at his Sterniest; the NBA's lovable villain. I'm willing to bet that Stern is the smartest person in whichever room he walks into. He is meticulous in choosing exactly the right words to convey what he wants to. If you're to slow on the uptake you will completely miss the words behind his words. That's why that statement in that presser cuts pretty deep. The funny thing is that this is exactly why people will miss him when he is gone.  Stern understands that no matter what he does there will be a segment of people that dislike him no matter what; such is the life of a figure head. So Stern, in all his wisdom, decided to own that disdain and relish in it. he wante...

The Utah Jazz seem to have an embarrassment of riches of big men. Two veteran pivots, in Paul Milsap and Al Jefferson, and two young bigs, Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors waiting in the wings. With the quality of players at both positions the problem becomes minutes. Here's a hint why, there isn't enough. This leads us to another question, who goes and who stays. Of course not a simple question to answer. With the news breaking that the Jazz will entertain trades for either Jefferson or Paul Milsap I thought I would throw my two-cents into the bloggesphere. Cause there aren't enough opinions there already right? I got to say, the more I think about it the more I think that the Jazz could be a scary playoff opponent if they make one more move. The jump to semi-contention is waiting for the Jazz and it starts with Derrick Favors. Derrick Favors is getting around 21 minutes off the bench and it is becoming clear that he deserves more. If don't get where I'm going wi...