For the people that read TalkBasket every day, basketball is a part of us, to some it’s our life. One of those people was Milwaukee Bucks’ Larry Sanders. But his love affair seems to have drifted away.
SANDERS QUITTING BASKETBALL?
The Bucks’ big man Larry Sanders signed a four-year contract worth $44million at the start of last season.
Now, with injuries, drug violations, bar fights and even animal cruelty naming and shaming Sanders, his passion for basketball is getting thinner by the day, possibly even the minute.
He is currently off the Milwaukee roster due to “personal reasons”.
Sources tell me that Bucks center Larry Sanders recently told some Bucks officials that he doesn't want to play basketball anymore.
— Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) January 5, 2015
Some friends of Sanders told me last summer they were concerned Sanders wasn't committed to basketball and wanted to explore other options.
— Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) January 5, 2015
It's hardly a secret Bucks have been trying to trade Sanders.Asked f the Bucks could trade Sanders now, an NBA official said: "Good luck.''
— Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) January 5, 2015
KENTUCKY DOMINATE AP POLLS
Via SLAM Online:
College basketball’s two weekly polls have been released, and per usual, the 13-0 Kentucky Wildcats are the No. 1 team in America. Kentucky received all 64 first place votes in this week’s AP Poll, while it received 31 of a potential 32 votes in the Coaches’ Poll. The final remaining No. 1 vote in the Coaches’ Poll went to the Duke Blue Devils, who are also 13-0 this season.
Here is how this week’s AP Poll looks:
- Kentucky (64 first place votes)
- Duke
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Louisville
- Gonzaga
- Arizona
- Villanova
- Utah
- Texas
- Maryland
- Kansas
- Notre Dame
- West Virginia
- Wichita State
- Oklahoma
- Iowa State
- North Carolina
- Seton Hall
- Virginia Commonwealth
- Baylor
- Ohio State
- Arkansas
- St. John’s
- Old Dominion
While the teams are largely the same, the order for the Coaches’ Poll is slightly different:
- Kentucky (31)
- Duke (1)
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Louisville
- Arizona
- Gonzaga
- Villanova
- Maryland
- Texas
- Utah
- Notre Dame
- Kansas
- West Virginia
- Wichita State
- Iowa State
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Seton Hall
- Ohio State
- Virginia Commonwealth
- Baylor
- Northern Iowa
- St. John’s
- Arkansas
PIERCE: MELO IS THE TOUGHEST PERSON TO GUARD
Well, Paul Pierce is nicknamed The Truth.
Via The Players Tribune:
If I had to single one guy out who is the most difficult player to guard in the league, it would have to be Carmelo. He’s a unique blend of being big, strong, and athletic while also having a world-class shooting touch and a natural ability to get to the rim. That’s what sets him apart — every facet of his game is elite.
Some great players will have one or two particular skills that make them special. But Carmelo can do everything, which puts you in a baaad situation as a defender. A lot of guys might shoot better from certain areas, so you try to force them elsewhere on the floor. Carmelo doesn’t have a spot on the floor where he can’t consistently hit shots. […] In my opinion, his combination of physicality and shooting touch is unmatched in the NBA. You can’t take one second off when you’re matched up against him.
Kobe is one of the best scorers in NBA history, but I don’t have as much trouble with him in the post as I do with Carmelo. LeBron is a great post-up player, but if you get him to settle for the jumper on some nights, you might be able to slow him down if his shot is off. That’s not the case with Melo. If you give him space to shoot, he’ll make it many more times than he misses it.