Andy Rautins tears up the twine at the Chicago NBA Draft Combine.

If the NBA was mainly a shooters league then Andy Rautins would be a guaranteed Lottery pick. Top 5 even...Unfortunately athleticism and scoring ability is just as valuable in the world's greatest basketball league.
But Rautins...who of course comes from great basketball pedigree with father Leo Rautins a former NBA player...has a great shot of making the League due to his ability to make shots and play a heady type of basketball. Rautins Syracuse career is over...but his pro career whether in the NBA or an overseas league is looking very bright! He's a natural leader and great team player who really showed his all-round game this past season with the Orange.

Now Rautins is not all shooter and no game...he's got pretty good lateral quickness and ups...and can definitely make team-positive basketball plays on the court.
Some people will simply say he'll get selected in the draft because of his father's name and influence...but that's baloney. He's put in a lot of work and it shows. Here's an article in the Toronto Sun by Steve Buffery that talks about Rautins work ethic and winning attitude.

At the recent Chicago NBA Draft combine featuring some of the top college players...Rautins shot a blistering 77.7%...good for first overall...making 87 out of the 112 shots he took. Only 4 players shot over 75% and Rautins was one of them.
He shot 66.7% right elbow to baseline...83.3% elbow to elbow and 71.4% left elbow to baseline.
On spot up shooting he drained  80% from the college 3-point line and just slightly lower at 76% from the NBA 3-point line. He also drained 83.3% of his 15' to 18' jumpers off the dribble.

Rautins clearly has turned heads with his performance. In my opinion his shooting ability and size at 6'5" will enable him to get his shot off especially if aided by screens and miss direction kick outs to the 3-point line.
He's also a team-first guy who is a winner. I don't see him as a star but I do see him as a situational PG/SG who can come in and run the offence and/or make crucial shots and spell the starter or backup at those positions. NBA comparable...JJ Redick

He will also gain valuable experience and confidence playing for Canada this summer at the World Championships in Turkey. He's played for the national team before and will be looked upon to be one
of the leaders of the relatively young squad.

As the draft approaches Rautins will have to prove himself against competition in one-on-ones etc but I can see Rautins stock rising as more GM's realize that the NBA is a shooters league after all and a hungry kid like Rautins can do some damage if afforded the opportunity to do what he does best...SHOOT THE BASKETBALL!

Check out the results of the combine here...courtesy of NBADRAFT.NET...

Kevin Pangos....the next one?????

Kevin Pangos...Steve Nash....Kevin Pangos...Steve Nash....
Kevin Pangos is only 17 years old but the comparisons to the 2-time NBA MVP have been coming
on strong lately as this Newmarket, Ontario native is rising up the ranks of Canada's basketball elite
point guards list.

He's got the demeanor and basketball IQ...but it puts a lot of pressure on the young man to compare him to the future Hall of Famer in Nash.

Let's just say that Pangos a pretty good basketball player...FOR NOW.

Pangos, 6'0", played for Dr. Dennison High School and his OBA rep(AAU) squad is the York North Basketball Avengers.

This summer...Pangos will join the Canadian cadet national team as they head to Hamburg, Germany for the inaugural FIBA U17 World Championship for Men(July 2nd-11th).

Pangos has been tearing up the baskeball hardwood for the past couple of years...check it out.

THE GOODS:

Was named MVP and a tournament All-Star at the Victor Rho Milan International tournament in May, 2009. His Hoop Factory Elite squad downed Sabonis Kaunas of Lithuania 93-86 in the championship game.

Last year represented Canada on the Cadet team at the FIBA Americas U16 Championships helping the team to finish 3rd behind the U.S.A. and Argentina. He led all scorers with 28 points.


Helped Dr. Denison reach the OFSAA AAA quarterfinals where averaged 25ppg and 7apg.

In early April 2010 he was MVP of the Junior Invitational tournament in Italy. His Team Hoop Factory Elite team finished 2nd losing the championship game to Torrolondones, Madrid(Spain).

On April 17th, 2010 played in the Jordan Brand Classic International game at Madison Square Garden for the Black squad where he scored 9 points and grabbed 5 rebounds and blocked 2 shots. Unfortunately his side went down to the White Squad(Duane Notice 23 points, 8 rebs, 2 assts) 72-71.

Despite not having a spectacular game Pangos' basketball skills were appreciated by his coach in the game Miles Simon(Former Arizona Wildcat and now assistant coach).  Simon praised his smarts, quickness and shooting and called him an "excellent player".

I got a chance to catch up with him at Hoopdome in Toronto after his team was knocked out of the tournament there on the weekend of May 14th-16th.

Peep the interview below:

 

HAVE U NOTICED?????

In case you haven't...the dude's name is Duane Notice. Sick baller...great personality...ready to take on the world.

THE GOODS:
15 years old
6'2" 200lbs who is highly developed physically for his age. He's already blessed with a College/Pro Body.

In grade 9, as a starter on the Toronto St. Michael's Sr. Basketball squad averaged 30ppg, 8rpg and 5apg.

Last year was named MVP as his Ontario team claimed the national Under-15 championships, while averaging 24.8ppg, 6rpg, 4.7apg and 2.3spg.

Last year represented Canada on the Cadet team at the FIBA Americas U16 Championships helping the team to finish 3rd behind the U.S.A. and Argentina.
Notice scored 18 points in the Bronze medal win against Venezuela.

Notice just completed his sophomore season High School season at St. Mike's where he averaged 22ppg, 6rpg and 5apg. The Blue Raiders finished with a 31-12 record and won the Independent Schools Athletic Association to qualify for an OFSAA(Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Association) birth. In OFSAA they made it to the quarterfinals of the Quad A(top classification of the province) tournament.

Here's Part 1 of my interview with Duane Notice at Hoopdome on May 4th 2010...



On the weekend of April 17th, 2010 Notice took part in the Jordan Brand Classic International game at the "World's Greatest Arena"...Madison Square Garden.
His White team downed the Black team 72-71 as Notice dropped 23 points(10-19FG) and pulled down 8 boards, 2 assists and 1 blocked shot while earning Co-MVP honours with Germany's Malik Muller.
The game featured 16 of the top 15- and 16-year-old players outside of the U.S. in the world!
Newmarket, Ontario class of 2011 sensation Kevin Pangos aslo joined Notice in the game...taking the floor for the Black team.
Another Canadian baller, rising star Anthony Bennett(6'8") played as well. Bennett is currently enrolled at Mountain State Academy(WV).

To cap off a great experience in which Notice got to meet Michael Jordan, the Vaughan, Ontario native clinched the win in the dying seconds with a steal of Pangos and a reverse slam as the impressed NYC hoops crowd looked on.

Notice says he will play out his high school career right here in Canada and forgo heading down to a U.S. prep school.

Notice will compete this summer for the Canadian basketball squad in the first ever FIBA U17 World Championships in Hamburg, Germany.

Check out part 2 of my interview with Duane Notice on May 4th, 2010.
Also on Youtube at dunkuverymuch4life.

Eagles lose to the Cowboys in a thriller: How come no one noticed the stretch for the tape by T.O.?

Those were the days!!!!!!!!!!

What a great football game that was on Monday night. Eagles at the Cowboys...in my opinion...one of the best games I have watched on any night! Eagles fans of course hated the outcome...but for pure entertainment value the game stood head and shoulders above most games I have ever seen!
In an obvious tribute to Jamaica's world conquering sprinter Usain "Lightning" Bolt...Terrell Owens...upon reaching the goal line on his 72 yard first quarter touchdown leaned forward as if to stretch for the tape on a hundred meter sprint race. I was kinda shocked that none of the MNF crew...and we know who they are...pointed this out to many watching who obviously could put 2 and 2 together.
C'mon Monday night crew...wake up and smell the you know what...
Well a fellow blogger Arash Markazi of Fannation noticed what TO did at the end of his run...click here.

One other note...is Deshaun Jackson still on the Eagles roster today?...because I have a feeling Eagles coach Andy Reid had a few choice words for the apparently "cocky" player after what could have been the most boneheaded play
in NFL history when he threw the ball away before actually crossing the plane of the end-zone. I'm an Eagles guy but damn...even I would have been tempted if coach to boot this showboat straight back to Long Beach, California...or maybe somewhere like Compton where they could have slapped some sense into the guy.
You know the poolies that had Jackson in their lineup must have lost it when they saw the replays that clearly showed him tossing the pigskin about 1 yard from the goal line. What on EARTH was he thinking???????????????????

Read more here

I thought the Eagles should have and could have won this game...if not for Donovan McNabb's constant inability over the years to hit receivers in the flat at crucial moments for short 5-8 yard passes. With the game on the line...McNabb threw a high ball over the outstretched arms of Brian Westbrook that would have surely gotten the Eagles a first down and a shot at a touchdown to win the game. I'm not sure if it's McNabb's technique or he just gets too excited at times throwing the football...but I'm tired of seeing his dump off passes land either in the ground or too high and out of the reach of potential receivers. C'mon Donovan...10 years in the league man and you still haven't mastered the dump off game ala Tom Brady? What gives.
I don't even want to talk about the mix up between McNabb and Westbrook in the 4th quarter...simply inexcusable in a such a big game!
Now I must say...McNabb looked very mobile on Monday night at times easily out running persuing Cowboys defenders...his long throws were for the most part on the money...but the short passing game of the Syracuse alum leaves alot to be desired. Former Eagles pivot Ron Jaworski pointed out several times in the broadcast about Donovan's missing fundamentals in terms of his throws. Here's hoping Jaws can corral McNabb at some point to correct the flaws in his form because come playoff time it will be crucial for McNabb to hit the receivers on short routes and medium routes.

Game highlights courtesy NFL.COM
Game recap

Lebron James invades Toronto for premiere of Documentary "More Than A Game"

This past Saturday I had the pleasure of attending the Premiere of Lebron James' new documentary "More Than A Game" at the Ryerson Theatre on Gerrard Street in Toronto. The Gala screening was part of the Toronto International Film Festival 2008(TIFF 2008).
Safe to say the venue was packed from top to bottom. All people there to see the film that chronicles the lives of James and the rest 4 of his teammates...dubbed the Fab 5. 4 of the Fab 5 were present at the showing including James...Willie McGee...Dru Joyce III and Romeo Travis as well as head coach Dru Joyce II(Dru Joyce III's father). Sian Cotton...did not attend.
I must say...More Than A Game was about 100 minutes long but left the audience wanting and needing more. It was a very uplifting film that showcases the dynamic relationship that these 5 young men have playing basketball together throughout their high school years culminating in the team winning the National High School Basketball championship in the U.S. Of course...James is larger than life now...but this movie wasn't all Lebron. It downplayed his star status and really gave equal treatment to all 5 kids as they grew up in Akron, Ohio as well as featuring Coach Joyce(father of little Dru) who metamorphosed from a Football player and coach to a Basketball coach trying to help his son find success in the game he loved.
I was touched at several points in the film and almost shed a few tears. Throughout the screening I could also hear several people crying as it was more touching than people realized.
Overall I would recommend this movie to all hoops fans and people looking for reason for hope as these 5 young men overcame very long odds to become the best players and people they could be.
After the screening...the players, coach, and director and producer took the stage to a standing ovation and talked about the film and what it meant to all of them. James' feisty and passionate mother Gloria was also at the premiere and was also a fan favourite!
When finished the players all headed down to Dundas Square to judge a dunk competition that was won by Justin"Jus Fly" Darlington. King James and the crew were busy handing out 9's and 10's as well as giving interviews to the over 30-40 media members present. Some of the media on hand included The Score, CTV, E Entertainment, The Toronto Star and many more from all over North America.
It was pure pandemonium any time Lebron came near the fences where the adoring fans were gathered outside! Fans clamored to get pictures of Lebron and some screamed at King James trying to garner a response from the recent Gold medal winner as a member of the U.S. men's basketball team at the Olympics in Beijing, China.
After dealing with all the media and fan madness Lebron and the rest of his entourage scurried out in blacked-out Escalades north on Yonge Street...a scene not unlike that of a sitting Prime Minister or President as the mighty King James came, saw and conquered Toronto...leaving his subjects clamouring for more!

Click here for a link to the TIFF "More Than A Game" info page!!!

See pics below: