2008 Woodie Awards
Talking Hoops: Pro Picks and Citrus Love
Adam Casas
Issue date: 2/9/05 Section: Sports
My brother and I have a bet going. Of course, it involves money, bragging rights and who washes the dishes. The bet is on which L.A team will make the NBA playoffs first, Lakers or Clippers? Speaking of the NBA, here are my top five teams in the NBA:
San Antonio: They're still whooping every team in the west, and they run the floor better than anyone in the league.
Detroit: The brawlers of Motor City remain the reigning champions and you can't take that from them.
Miami: With Shaq leading the league in field goal percentage they are 10-10 against teams in the west.
Cleveland: 27-19 not too shabby. As long as Lebron James keeps scoring triple doubles.
Phoenix: The Suns are a great team headed by free agent acquisition Steve Nash. They always play well during the season but choke in the playoffs.
My starting All-Stars for the West are: center Yao Ming,forwards Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady as guard and Kobe at the point.
For the East: Shaq at center,forwards Ben Wallace, Jermaine O'Neal and lastly my guards are Allen Iverson and Lebron James.
Owls basketball, let's talk about it. I like where James Hyneman, men's basketball head coach, is taking this program. He's bringing a Big Ten style of basketball to an area not known for banging the ball in and outside the arch.
Past Citrus teams were often immature and didn't have the discipline to buy into the concept of "team play."
The Owls team offense is ranked 27th in the state. Mark Kelley, who is 6-9, leads the Western State Conference in scoring.He is also ranked 3rd in rebounding. In the top 50 players who lead the WSC in scoring, the Owls have three scores on that list, including Chris Minardo,scoring 14.5 per game.
Aaron Kornegay leads the Owls in three-point percentage, having made 30 out of 64 three-pointers.
He also is 10th in the conference in assists.
Four players from last year's team have signed with four-year universities. Former Citrus All-state forward Chris Dean signed with Nebraska-Kearney. Chris Reaves accepted a Chaminade University scholarship.
Former Bonita High School All-CIF selection and two-year Owl starter Ramsey Jarred signed with San Francisco State, Jamaal Simmons is at Cal State-Stanislaus, and this year Mark Kelley will be receiving a full scholarship at UC Irvine.
Hyneman is recruiting players that fit his style of offense.The players have bought into the system and are flourishing in it-he is tough, but fair. Citrus is no longer a doormat for JC hoops but is now a contender to be reckoned with.
San Antonio: They're still whooping every team in the west, and they run the floor better than anyone in the league.
Detroit: The brawlers of Motor City remain the reigning champions and you can't take that from them.
Miami: With Shaq leading the league in field goal percentage they are 10-10 against teams in the west.
Cleveland: 27-19 not too shabby. As long as Lebron James keeps scoring triple doubles.
Phoenix: The Suns are a great team headed by free agent acquisition Steve Nash. They always play well during the season but choke in the playoffs.
My starting All-Stars for the West are: center Yao Ming,forwards Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady as guard and Kobe at the point.
For the East: Shaq at center,forwards Ben Wallace, Jermaine O'Neal and lastly my guards are Allen Iverson and Lebron James.
Owls basketball, let's talk about it. I like where James Hyneman, men's basketball head coach, is taking this program. He's bringing a Big Ten style of basketball to an area not known for banging the ball in and outside the arch.
Past Citrus teams were often immature and didn't have the discipline to buy into the concept of "team play."
The Owls team offense is ranked 27th in the state. Mark Kelley, who is 6-9, leads the Western State Conference in scoring.He is also ranked 3rd in rebounding. In the top 50 players who lead the WSC in scoring, the Owls have three scores on that list, including Chris Minardo,scoring 14.5 per game.
Aaron Kornegay leads the Owls in three-point percentage, having made 30 out of 64 three-pointers.
He also is 10th in the conference in assists.
Four players from last year's team have signed with four-year universities. Former Citrus All-state forward Chris Dean signed with Nebraska-Kearney. Chris Reaves accepted a Chaminade University scholarship.
Former Bonita High School All-CIF selection and two-year Owl starter Ramsey Jarred signed with San Francisco State, Jamaal Simmons is at Cal State-Stanislaus, and this year Mark Kelley will be receiving a full scholarship at UC Irvine.
Hyneman is recruiting players that fit his style of offense.The players have bought into the system and are flourishing in it-he is tough, but fair. Citrus is no longer a doormat for JC hoops but is now a contender to be reckoned with.