ENGAGE. DISCUSS. ARGUE. LEARN.
Table Talk takes sports to the core.
FEATURED QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Which NBA team can pull off a first round playoff upset?
Mason Kern (San Diego, CA):
“As of right now it looks like Chicago might pull off an upset over Boston, but that may be an obvious choice. Jazz/Clippers is an interesting series that deserves our attention as well. However, I don't think it will matter in the end with the way the Spurs are playing. I have a feeling the Spurs will win the whole thing.”
Luke Van-Buskirk (Portland, OR):
“Blazers. If Jusuf Nurkic comes back soon then they can pull it off: no one on Warriors can guard him.”
Dylan McKim (Houston, TX):
“The Bulls can pull off an upset if they continue to play the way they played during the first two games of their series against Boston.”
Growing into himself on and off the court...
THE STORY OF BARRET BENSON (FOR NOW)
“It motivated me, but their success was also a blueprint for me. I pretty much followed my brother’s footsteps and tried to improve upon the foundation he built for me”
He was just a kid from Chicago. He was just a kid from Portland. “Hey how tall are you? How’s the weather up there? Can you dunk? Hey Jacob, who’s your tall friend?” That would be Barret Benson.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK: #3
Who is the best backcourt in the NBA? In 5 years? What about 10?
Sevrin Lavenstein (Cranston, RI):
“What makes a strong back court is a fairly even spread of passing and scoring. Too few assists from your guards and your offense isn't spreading the ball enough. Assists with no points means the guards aren't getting their shots, and in this league you need buckets from your 1 and 2. When healthy, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan make up the best back court in the NBA. While many will say the splash brothers, the Raptors duo is more well-rounded inside the three point arc, and they are a true duo unlike the Wizards back court of mostly John Wall and a little Bradley Beal.”
Ethan Grossman (Oakland, CA):
“You know my answer here: Steph and Klay. Best backcourt is something where the two players work seamlessly together: not just two great individual players, but a unit that works well. When your nickname has "bros" in it, that means that they are working together. They have full trust in each other and know what shot the other one wants, always giving the ball to the one who is in rhythm.”
Nate Post (Portland, OR):
“Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Being able to work together and not caring who gets the majority of the touches.”
QUESTION OF THE WEEK #2
March Madness: Who will win it all? Who are the sleeper teams? Cinderella's?
Mason Kern (San Diego, CA):
“I think this year's bracket was very tough in terms of the first few rounds. However, I think once the elite eight hits most everyone's bracket will have the same teams. I feel as if Villanova will repeat as NCAA champs based on their experience and length along with their offensive capability. It honestly could go a number of different ways though.”
Vikram Nallakrishnan (Portland, OR):
“As I was filling out my lone bracket for this year, I kept two things in mind: who has a legitimate star, and who can 'get hot' at any given game. Call me foolish, naive, or just straight stupid, but Iowa State is my pick to go all the way. Where does it start? Monte freakin' Morris. His ability to control a game as a floor general, combined with his outstanding assist/turnover ratio coalesces into the 'perfect' point guard. Then there's their matchup nightmare: Deonte Burton. The Marquette transfer is in his second season with the Cyclones, and at 6'5, plays as a de facto power forward, averaging just under 15 points, six boards, two assists, two steals, and two blocks per game. Like versatility? Coach Promes can unleash the shooting prowess of Naz Mitrou-Long, Matt Thomas, and Donovan Jackson, further opening up driving lanes for the main man Morris. Oh, and I can't forget the fact that the squad is coming off a Big 12 Tournament Championship (hush all you "Josh Jackson was out" claimers). A senior point guard, 6'5 power forward, and three-point shooters all around, get ready Ames, it's Cyclone time!”
Zach Keenan (Cleveland, OH):
“It's Gonzaga all the way this year. I can't imagine a repeat game between UNC and Villanova, as many brackets and "experts" predict. The West region shouldn't see too many upsets (apart from Xavier, who always seems to show up in March), and Gonzaga should have a free ticket to Phoenix, and that includes a victory over Arizona if they aren't out by then. The Big East teams have been wildly successful this year, and I'd expect to see at least 2 teams from the Big East in the Elite Eight. I would put money on Butler, and despite the classic 11/6 upset, Creighton should escape Rhode Island and pull an upset over Oregon. Speaking of upsets- I wouldn't be overly surprised to see UCLA and Lonzo Ball overtake Kentucky just as they did in early December. To reiterate: Big East schools will see prosperity in the Midwest and south regions, Kentucky will find it difficult to squeeze out of the Elite Eight, and the Gonzaga Bulldogs will cut down the nets in Phoenix.”
Avi Gupta (Portland, OR):
“Before I begin, I’d like to preface this with one qualification: I know little to nothing about college basketball. I haven’t watched a single game this season, so I’m basing this off of the games I watched in the tournament last year and on the coverage I’ve read to this point. For me, it’s hard to bet against Villanova. Their offensive nucleus of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins seems unstoppable, and though they are placed in the toughest region, Nova seems to be almost a lock to make the Final Four. For sleeper teams, I’m going to cheat a little bit and pick Kentucky. Malik Monk is always a threat to score 40+, and his versatile offensive game can produce instant points for the Wildcats. I can’t wait to watch Monk take on Lonzo Ball in the battle of the nation’s two most dynamic freshman guards (with all due respect to Markelle Fultz) in the impending matchup between UCLA and Kentucky in the Sweet 16. In the realm of fairy tales, Florida Gulf Coast has a legitimate chance to make a deep run and become this year’s Cinderella team. “Dunk City”, FGCU’s 2014 Cinderella team, remains fresh in my mind as one of the most exciting teams in recent memory, and this year’s roster, led by Brandon Goodwin (18.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.0 apg), matches the offensive potency of the 2014 squad, and coach Joe Dooley has improved their defensive potential considerably.”
Is James Harden MVP?
QUESTION OF THE WEEK #1
Avi Gupta (Portland, OR):
"Honestly it's hard to argue with his candidacy. Curry and Durant individually have had lower stats this year because they're sharing the ball, and Westbrook plays on a worse team."
Vikram Nallakrishnan (Portland, OR):
"In addition to the obvious jaw dropping statistics, he has also managed rejuvenate the career of a seemingly lost Eric Gordon, making him a potential 6th Man of the Year award winner. I'd argue, however, that he's met a perfect match in Mike D'Antoni. The rampant pace of play, a trademark of D'Antoni's system, is conducive to the style of Harden. Yes, Harden isn't a great defender, but who cares when your winning games. So, as of now, barring Westbrook Westbrook-ing to an even greater degree, Harden is the MVP this season."
Luke “Sports Oracle” Van Buskirk (Portland, OR):
“Yes James harden deserves the award over the people who have a chance (Westbrook) because he’s on a better team. Also defense in today's league not critical. Furthermore, Harden’s defense has improved, but Kawhi really deserves this award, best defender in the league, great shooter close to 50-40-90 numbers, and has better team. Harden deserves the award over Westbrook because he is making the players around him better, and is doing more with similar quality teammates, but Kawhi Leonard should win the award.”
Ethan Grossman (Oakland, CA):
“I do not think James Harden deserves MVP. Russell Westbrook is going to average a triple double on a far less talented team. I personally believe the Rockets could be a playoff team without Harden, the Thunder on the other hand would be one of the worst teams in the west if it were not for Westbrooks heroics this season.”
Dylan McKim (Houston, TX):
“James Harden has had a great season putting up great numbers and breaking some Rockets' records. But to me, an MVP is someone who is a all-around great player in every aspect of the game. James harden might be one of the greatest scorers in the game, but his defense is nonexistent. I don't know if it's laziness or he just doesn't care, but it's something he needs to try harder on. Just think if he could play some defense along with the rest of the team they would be unstoppable. If I had to vote for an MVP, I would vote for Kawhi Leonard. He is the best perimeter defenders and he is starting to really become a force on the offensive side. It showed last night where he beat the Beard with 39 points (1 more than Harden's 38) and had a huge block at the end of the game to beat the rockets in a close matchup. Kawhi also plays unselfishly and is team player, he is a person that I think all NBA players should strive to be.”
Mason Kern (San Diego, CA):
“I feel as if Harden's abilities and efforts this season definitely put him in the running for MVP. Averaging 28 points and 12 assists would be great in any other league, but with so much talent from other teams surrounding him, I think he is still getting outplayed. Westbrook's ability to take his otherwise lackluster team into the playoffs, Isaiah Thomas and his fourth quarter heroics to help Boston this season, and obvious candidates LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard all have a feasible chance to win the honor this year. As much as I disrespect Harden's style of play, I do respect and acknowledge his talent.”