David Pick, veteran pro basketball reporter, talks with NbaPassion.com about the hot topics that rule in NBA: the Golden State Warriors, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, the new Cleveland Cavaliers led by Tyronn Lue and the future career of Kevin Durant, great protagonist of 2016 free agency. Pick, which collaborates with Bleacher Report and Basketball Insiders, also commented on the performances of the italians players Marco Belinelli, Danilo Gallinari and Andrea Bargnani, and, at last, he tolked about the Kobe Bryant’s retirement.

David Pick.
The Warriors are continuing to dominate the NBA, with Stephen Curry still great protagonist. Is officially started their dynasty? How many chances have to take the repeat? How important Draymond Green in the economy of the team?
I think the lone team that can challenge GSW are the San Antonio Spurs. Unlike the Warriors, though, the Spurs are much older and have been resting key players throughout the season. I think the age might come into play late in the postseason for Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, might even kick in with David West, though he hasn’t been logging big minutes and looks springy. I think the only team can beat the GSW are the GSW. They have all the crucial pieces back for round 2.0 at a ring, and I don’t see anyone taking it from Steph Curry.
Here is a funny story I like to remind myself when thinking on Steph Curry. Back in 2010 after the finals on the World Championship in Istanbul when Team USA beat Turkey, I asked Stephen Curry how it felt to be called “The B Team”. He laughed it off and said “the “B” stand for Beat, and we Beat everybody.” I think Steph is still riding out that mission.
Draymond Green is super-duper-so important to the success of Golden State. In a normal world, he should have been playing right now in Israel or Italy, or any one of the undersize leagues in Europe. Overlooked and drafted at No. 35 in 2012, he morphed into an elite shooting threat with an amazing feel for the game and a great basketball IQ. It takes a team to win titles, not individuals, and I think we’ve seen that just this week against Philadelphia when Steph Curry – the MVP- passed up on a shot, to give it to Green, who also passed up on a shot, for Harrison Barnes who hit a wide-open dagger. The GSW have officially challenged and perfected the SAS ball movement.
Is Luke Walton ready to lead a team as head coach? Which team would you see it better?
Sure, I think Phoenix or Minnesota, are teams he could land in leading them. An NBA champion mind, played for the best, grew up in the same house with the best, he has proven he can handle the egos and situation of a title caliber team, he definitely deserved a shot. By the wait, I am so upset with the NBA for NOT letting Luke coach in the All-Star game. It’s embarrassing.
Have the Cleveland Cavalies made a right move with the dismissal of David Blatt? How important was the head-coach relationship with LeBron James in this case? Is Tyronne Lue the right man to revive the cause?
I think Cleveland made the right move to make LeBron happy. From a record and goal-achieving standpoint, it’s loony and unreal, but the relationship, or the inexistence of one between Blatt and James had the team doomed. I think Lue is the right man for the job right now because he has been with the team long enough to know what changes are needed, and how to handle the locker room. His record 4-1 speaks for itself. Plus, Blatt was 0-3 vs SAS and GSW. Lue is 1-0 against SAS.
Are you convinced of the rebuilding project of the Philadelphia Sixers? It did well in the NBA supervise the franchise? Is Sam Hinkie a genius or his moves are debatable?
No, I’m not convinced in the current squad the Sixers have developed. Dario Saric won’t change that either. PHI needs to tweak a lot more to be successful.
Kristaps Porzingis denied the skeptics with a performance worthy of note with the New York Knicks. Has he a chances to win the rookie of the year award? It can really become one of the stars of the upcoming league?
Porzingis will win ROY 1000%, it’s not even up for debate. I feel so stupid because looking back I called him a “bust” and didn’t think he could translate into what he is projected in being – an NBA superstar. He has the complete package between handles, shooting, passing, IQ to be great. I believe in him now, I’m like the NYK kid-fan who cried when he was drafted but now I jumped on the Porzingis bandwagon.
Will Kevin Durant re-sign with Oklahoma City Thunder or will change team in the next summer? Where he could land if they decide to go elsewhere?
No. Kevin Durant will not re-sign with OKC. There are a lot of open doors for him, from going home to WAS, to LAL, to most recently published GSW.
Which European prospectus has the credentials to land in the NBA?
Dragan Bedner and Ante Toni Zizic, particularly
What do you think of the season of Danilo Gallinari, Marco Belinelli and Andrea Bargnani?
Gallo has been fantastic for Denver, he has total control of the team, and I like the way he molded into a star player for them. Still, though, he doesn’t have all-star numbers, and he hasn’t been mentioned in the same breath with other star notable players, I feel he should be there right now, he is underachieving. Belinelli, clearly I love him because he is with Omri Casspi in Sacramento – has more control and a bigger role than in San Antonio, and his experience should help if and when the Kings reach the playoffs. I think Bargnani kind of lost the respect of a lot of NBA GMs around the league, and he has slowed down more than a bit. It be best for him to return to Europe and fight for a Euroleague title.
Olympics 2016: Team USA is unbeatable or there could be some surprises?
USA will be unbeatable. No. I don’t believe Canada will win a medal. Euro teams are much tougher, the game overseas is different and I think that right now going into the Olympics the Canadian team lacks veteran experience. They’ll be doing serious damage though in the future.
Kobe Bryant will retire after this season: in your opinion, what this player meant for the NBA?
EVERYTHING. Kobe. The Black Mamba. I grew up calling out his name in the playgrounds when I was shooting the ball. He is the best player of our generation and the 1-2 punch greatest ever with Michael Jordan. His farewell celebrations at each arena, especially in Utah, Boston, Sacramento, and San Antonio, his biggest rivals, strengthen how great he was and how much he meant to the NBA.




















NEW YORK, 23 dicembre 2015 – Una tradizione del periodo natalizio prosegue anche in questa stagione: la NBA scenderà infatti in campo nel giorno di Natale per la 68° volta nella storia della Lega. Cinque partite saranno trasmesse venerdì (di seguito la programmazione) in 215 nazioni, in oltre 40 lingue, con un seguito di oltre 940 milioni di fan sui social media.








