Hawks Lose to Spurs

Was able to catch a good portion of the Atlanta Hawks - San Antonio Spurs

game Wednesday night.  I rarely get to see the Hawks play so it was a treat.

Atlanta lost 107-99.  The Spurs looked pretty good even without LaMarcus

Aldridge and Tony Parker, and Kawhi Leonard not playing up to his normal

standards.  No big surprises for me.  The Hawks are who I think they are.

They are a very good team that could still make noise in the Eastern

Conference playoffs if everything falls right but they just don't have a

scorer to put them over the top.  They have guys who can get buckets but no

true blue get you a basket guys.

 

Milsap is very good but won't necessarily take them to the next level - at

least not alone - and Atlanta may regret not trading him at the deadline if

he walks in free agency.  Dennis Schoder is a good young point guard and Tim

Hardaway has become a good scoring option but Kent Bazemore is not the

scoring threat they had hoped he would develop into while Thabo Sefolosha is

good supporting player but that is it.  Dwight Howard is playing well but as

in this game his free throws cause him to be off the floor in close games.

Pickup Ersan Ilyasova is a nice addition to the team but comes off the

bench.  I just can't see Atlanta ever being better than a fifth (currently)

or fourth seed but also wouldn't be surprised if they drop further in the

standings.  They need a dynamic wing player.  We'll see how it plays out but

I think the playoffs will end similarly to years past which isn't that good.

A Look Back at NFL Player Williams Andrews

WilliamAndrews is one of all-time great Atlanta Falcons players.  His career was shortened due to injuries but when he was at the top of his game there were few better.  He starred at Auburn University sharing carries with fellow star running backs James Brooks and Joe Cribs.  Andrews has stated this probably helped lessen the wear and tear on his legs during his college days. 

His rookie year, 1979, Andrews was the feature back for the Falcons and rushed for 1023 yards averaging 4.3 yards per carry while adding 39 receptions.  This was good enough to earn him a spot on the NFL All-Rookie team that year.  The next season Andrews rushed for 1,308 yards averaging a career best 4.9 yards per carry and caught 51 balls.  Atlanta was 12-4 that season and looked like they could do some damage in the playoffs but lost to the Dallas Cowboys after blowing a big lead late in the first round game.  1980 was also the year he was elected to his first of four straight Pro Bowls.   

Andrews had another good year in 1981 with 1301 yards at a 4.5 yards per carry clip, 10 touchdowns and added a career high 81 catches for 735 yards and two more touchdowns.  Atlanta didn’t make the playoffs that year but did the next year in the strike shortened 1982 season.  In nine games he averaged 4.1 yards per carry for a total of 573 yards while his 10 touchdowns were good for fifth in the league.  He added another 42 receptions that year.  Atlanta unfortunately lost again in the first round of the playoffs in a close game to the Minnesota Vikings. 

1983 was Williams Andrews’ finest year racking up 1567 yards rushing, averaging 4.7 yards per carry, 59 receptions and a total of 11 touchdowns.  The team struggled as it only won 7 games and missed the playoffs.  In the preseason of 1984 Andrews sustained nerve damage to his knee that would ultimately keep him out of the game for two seasons.  The Falcons also suffered mightily only winning a combined eight games in those two seasons.  Andrews attempted a comeback but was no longer the lead back.  In 1986 he only had 214 rushing yards but still managed to average over four yards a carry.  I didn’t know this but have read that he even played some tight end that year.  1986 was Williams’ last year in the NFL. 

He retired owning 19 Atlanta Falcons’ team records and was just the second running back at the time to have two 2,000 combined yard seasons.  O.J. Simpson was the other.  Andrews also had more total yards than any other player during his first five seasons in the league.  It is truly a shame his career was cut short.  It isn’t a stretch to think he could have been mentioned among the all-time greats with just three more healthy seasons.  He finished his career with 5,986 yards, a 4.6 average, and 277 receptions for 2,647 yards.  He was inducted into the inaugural AtlantaFalcons Ring of Honor class in 2004. 

I was 10 years old during William Andrews’ rookie year and he made a huge impression on me and I’ve been a huge fan ever since.  I loved his bruising running style and talent.  He also was a guy who could catch the ball out of the backfield which was a big part of his game.  Andrews will always be one of those “what if he had stayed healthy” guys but his career is still worth remembering and I remember it very fondly.   

 

Card Show Find #3: 2016-2017 NBA Hoops Trading Cards

This is the last of my "finds" from last year's card show put on by After the Game Inc. in St. Louis.  A 2016-2017 Hoops hobby box isn't technically a find since I went looking for these cards.  This was the first new hobby box I've bought in 30 years?  Who knows, a long time.  I did purchase a box of the Star Wars Rogue One series 1 cards earlier this year so hopefully this doesn't become an expensive habit.  I like these cards.  Nothing too splashy but they get the job done.  Good photos though I would have liked a few more of players playing defense or showcasing their ball handling skills. Those probably aren't that sexy on the fronts of cards so I get why we don't see as many of those shots.   

Each box came with two autographs.  I nabbed Seth Curry and DeAndre Bembry of my Hawks.  Not spectacular pulls but I'm still happy.  The other notable was the #116/149 Karl-Anthony Towns green parallel though I also grabbed an artist proof #/25 and two silver parallels #/99.

The cards have a nice design and the photos are good.  I pulled very few doubles and grabbed most of the big stars so I can't complain with the makeup of the box.  The different inserts and parallels were ok though nothing that just wowed me.  Doesn't mean they weren't fun, just that I probably won't go searching for many of those later.  The NBA 2K17 cards were really duds for me.  They are video game screen shots I guess and were very underwhelming.  Considering I got three of them I would have been happy with something different.  I was hoping for a Champions Trophy Portrait card which I think look really cool. The Road to the Finals cars were my favorite insert.  They highlight players in particular playoff games.  Again good cards. 

BREAKDOWN:
288 - Total Cards
1 - Hot Signatures (Seth Curry)
1 - Hot Signatures Rookies (DeAndre Bembry)
7 - Road to the Finals
3 - NBA 2K17 Kobe Bryant
3 - Silver Parallel (1 Artist Proof #/25 & 2 silver #/99)
2 - Blue Parallel
1 - Green Parallel (#/149)
2 - Team Leaders
1 - Courtside, Picture Perfect, Spark Plugs, Highlights, Tip Off, Bird's Eye View, Action Shots

Kong: Skull Island Review (NO Spoilers)

Saw Kong: Skull Island Thursday night and really enjoyed it.  It may not be perfect but it is entertaining.  My recollection from watching Godzilla from 2014 is a bit different from the review I actually did.  That movie suffered from a long build up prior to seeing some real action involving the real star of the movie, Godzilla.  King Kong didn't make the same mistake.  He makes an early appearance here and has quite a bit of screen time.  The basic plot isn't that far off past iterations but enough to give you something different to look forward to.  I won't go in to great detail but think this was a very entertaining movie.  I like the early 70's setting, the actors (especially John C. Reilly's character), and the action.  There is a bit of a lull midway thorough the movie but nothing that isn't overcome later.  Much better than Godzilla, another monster property I am big fan of.  Everyone should go see this movie if you are at all interested and I'd be curious to hear what you think.

Atlanta Hawks Team Set - 2010-11 Panini Basketball

When I was reviewing the group of Atlanta Hawks Team sets I purchased last year I lost this set but finally came across it. This is the 2010-2011 Panini Donruss set.  This set borrows the 1984 Donruss baseball card design which is one all-time favorites.  The cards look good to me and the backs have the Donruss design we are accustomed to.

With this set I also got a team card and a rated rookie card.  Overall these are nice cards.  The photos seem to be a tad dark or just off for some reason but it isn't a big negative.  I like these and am very happy I was able to add these to my collection. 

A Look Back at NBA Player Latrell Sprewell

Latrell Sprewell is a guy most folks don’t look back on too fondly.  For me I had a connection with him as he attended, and played for, Three Rivers Community College (Poplar Bluff, MO) while I was a student there.  I get that he had his issues, major issues, and I do not forgive him of those but I am fan (probably contradicting myself there).  To that end I am looking back at his career as I have some other players lately.  Drafted in the first round of the 1992 NBA Draft he is most remembered for choking Warriors coach P.J. Carlisimo.   Sprewell was suspended for the rest of the season after the 1 December, 1997 incident and traded him to the New York Knicks after the 1998-1999 lockout ended. 

Before all that the SG was a three time all-star who

averaged 20 points, 4 rebounds and almost 5 assists per game while shooting 43% from the field (33% 3P).  Sprewell also garnered the All-Star Game MVP in the 1997.  He was a really good player who averaged a career 24 points and 6 assists per game in the 1996-1997 season.  The Warriors as a whole were not good and only made the playoffs or won more than 36 games once in his time with Golden State.  His time there ended with a trade to the New York Knicks for John Starks, Chris Mills and Terry Cummings in January 1999.

With the Knicks Sprewell moved to small forward and though struggling with injuries helped lead the team to through the playoffs as a number eight seed.  The Knicks surprised everyone by making the NBA Finals before finally bowing to the San Antonio Spurs four games to one.  Sprewell played well for the Knicks averaging almost 18 points per game though his two-point shooting declined while his three-point shot improved.  Sprewell made another all-star team with New York and the team made the playoffs three out of the five seasons he was with the Knicks. 

Sprewell was traded in July of 2003 to the

Minnesota Timberwolves as part of a blockbuster that also included Philadelphia and Atlanta.  His play wasn’t up to his career stats and had a career low 12 points per game.  But he did pair well with Kevin Garnett and Sprewell’s first year with the team saw them advance to the Western Conference Finals before falling to the Los Angeles Lakers.  His last year in Minnesota, his career worst statistically, the team won 44 games but did not make the playoffs.  After the season he was offered a three year $21M contract, a $5M per year pay cut.  Sprewell then uttered his famous line “I have a family to feed” and declined the contract.  While Sprewell had other contract offers later in the season he wouldn’t swallow his pride and take the lesser money they offered and never played another NBA game.

 

Latrell Sprewell was his worst enemy.  An excellent player he continually found trouble and his image was a detriment wherever he went.  And for the most part his issues made those opinions well deserved.  After his playing days he ran through what money he had and his financial woes are well documented.  Sprewell is definitely one of those players who sabotaged himself over and over which is too bad.  He was so talented and could have been a fan favorite, not the villain he became.  He was seen lately at Knicks games and I was impressed by his statements after the game.  I’m hoping that means he has matured some but that is no guarantee.  I will always be a fan of Latrell Sprewell with the caveat that he isn’t necessarily a feel good story. 

Logan Movie Review (SPOILER ALERT)

SPOILER ALERT:  We watched the movie Logan on Thursday and really enjoyed it.  I've heard some say this is the way the hero movies should be made.  It is gritty, has a different tone than other hero movies and showcases violence during the action.  The movie shows Wolverine (Logan) and Professor X in the future where the world isn't dominated by mutants as it once was.  Logan is trying to care/protect Professor X who is now prone to causing destruction when having seizures.  This causes Logan to hide him while using drugs as well as a Mutant named Caliban to help keep him safe.  Logan's goal is to make enough money, as a limo driver of all things, to get them to a place where they can live out life safely.

But things happen as they like to say.  When a special little girl enters their life, the bad guys force Logan and Xavier on the run as they now have X-23 with them.  She is a young female Wolverine with all the ferocity of an adult.  She rarely speaks but is good at getting her point across.  As they head North in an effort to meet up with other mutants making their way to Canada, a safe haven, they all "bond" and learn to rely on each other.  Along the way we learn Logan is being poisoned by the admantium inside him.  He doesn't heal as fast from wounds.  We also know the bad guys have been engineering children to raise as weapons or soldiers using DNA from Logan and other mutants.  Professor Xavier and Caliban dye during attacks by the bad guys.  Still the relationship shown between Xavier and Logan is very well presented and thought out.     

This all culminates in fight with the bad guys that involves other child mutants, Wolverine and X-23. While we don't see the other children showcase their skills to a great extent it does seem to foreshadow something bigger (maybe a future movie?).  Wolverine and X-23 take center stage as they take down the bad guys and save the day.  Unfortunately in doing so Logan dies.  X-23 and remaining children continue their journey to Canada as the movie ends. 

This is an excellent movie.  It is rated R so you must be ready for the violence and language that ensues.  That is where X-23 really shines.  The fight scenes are excellent and you really get a feeling for close hand fighting done by super powerful beings.  The tone of the movie seems right for what our heroes are facing and I think it sets up for a post Wolverine/Professor X centric X-world.  We'll see where it goes from here but hopefully it can build on this very good start.  If I had a negative, it is that you could probably shave about 20 minutes from the movie.  Pacing seemed slow a few times but I think this is probably trivial considering how well the movie is done.  This is based off the Old Man Logan comic books from Marvel.  I haven't read them all but they are of a similar vane as the movie though it is done differently.  If you like the X-Men movies, Wolverine, comics, or hero movies this is a must see.